Dutch's Daughter [[RDR2 Arthur Morgan x OC]]

chapter 29; show no weakness

"Hot coffee, fresh off the fire." Arthur's worn hands wrap around a tin mug, extending forward to Charlotte's; hers delicate in comparison, spared from hard work.

"I can get my own coffee, Mr. Morgan." She groans, taking a long sip anyways.

"No, you can't." Arthur chuckles, leaning back on the railing. "'sides, I like bringing you coffee on the porch."

"Oh yeah?" Charlotte smiles.

"It's nice takin' care of you for a change." Old chair legs squeal against the splintering floor boards as he takes a seat, lighting a cigarette and having a puff before passing it to her. "I thought I was gonna lose you."

"Oh please. It'll take a lot more than one silly bullet to take down this ole gal." Charlotte snorts. "Besides, how many close calls have you had in the last week alone Mr. Morgan? First with the trolley station being a set up and then that close call with giant alligators in the swamps. If I'm gonna keep on loving you, Arthur Morgan, which I plan on doin', I'm gonna have to become a praying woman because you seem all too determined to die young."

"Don't worry darlin', we'll go out together, guns a-blazing after one of Dutch's plans goes haywire."

"I like this sound of that." Charlotte beams, clinking their coffee cups together.

Dutch steps onto the porch then, his hands on his hips. "How's our girl?"

"I'm just fine and have been for days now. I wish you'd all quit worrying about me already and let me get back in the saddle."

"You're still too weak -" Dutch starts but is cut short.

"Weak, oh please. If I were a man, you'd have me runnin' again the day after I got shot." Charlotte bites, narrowing her eyes at her father.

He squints, focusing on reading her face. "Alright. You want a job, you got one. You're coming with us tonight."

"Tonight? Dutch, I-" 

"Arthur, the girl says she's ready so she's ready. Tonight will be easy anyway. We'll take along John and Charles, too."

Arthur grinds his teeth, still unhappy but willing to drop the fight for now. At least she'll have people to protect her.

"Good. We ride at dusk."

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"Devil Wears A Suit and Tie" by Colter Wall

Dutch and his men manage to cram into one tiny canoe. Arthur extends a hand out to help Charlotte in but she pushes it aside, eager to show her father that she can handle herself just as well as any of the men in the gang. She takes a seat next to him just as he starts poking fun at Bills past. For near an hour, the two bicker back and forth as the canoe is slowly rowed through murky swamp water.

"Interesting way you boys got of preparing for a killing." Arthur grumbles, sick of listening to bill's whining, shielding a rough cough with the crook of his arm. Charlotte looks back at him, concern lit across her face as he offers a nod of assurance.

"I'm sorry I wasted my life trying to teach you three, love you though I do." Dutch groans.

"Well, leaving love aside..." Arthur stammers another cough, clearing his throat. "You think we got this?"

"Don't you never leave love aside, Arthur. It's all we got." Dutch pats his daughter on the shoulder, squeezing it lightly before returning his attention to the water ahead.