Arthur Morgan x Reader

Four

The man was tall, frightening so and as well build as a man who only knew hard physical work and pressure.

The broadness of his shoulders was enough to cover the sun that was shining bright outside the church walls.

His face was also unfamiliar. But unlike the women, he wasn't as well groomed and clean.

A bit of dirt was stuck to the blue stripped cotton shirt he was wearing. The suspenders that kept the black jeans up looked loose and used.

A strange smell was stuck to him. Sweat and horses.

The brownish strands of his hair were long enough to curl on their own at the ends while the lower part of his face started to be covered by a decent amount of beard growth.

It wasn't enough to hide the sharp jawline and that angular chin of his though.

The hint of a scar on it was still peaking through the facial hair as well.

A soft breath escaped you as he lowered his head to take off his black cowboy hat.

He looked rough.

"Pardon.", he said and nodded his head. "I scared you. I'll watch where I'm going next time."

With a polite hum he took a step aside and cleared the way.

Bright light hit you in the face.

You flinched.

He noticed, but didn't react more than letting out a deep breath.

Again, your lips parted.

You felt the need to say something, to assure him that he wasn't the evil one.

But one of the unknown ladies was faster than you.

Giggling, she grabbed his hand and stole his entire attention for herself.

"Arthur!", she chirped. "Don't go round and scare the locals."

He hummed.

"Was an accident...", he said and looked around. "Where's the rest of ya ladies?"

She giggled.

"C'mon, Arthur, we found somethin' nice. Come with us."

She tugged at his sleeve.

But he refused to move.

Again, he turned to you. Your gazes locked.

"Pardon again.", he bowed his head and put back on the hat. "The little fella's outside. Scared him too."

With those words he turned on his heel and let himself be dragged away by the delicate woman.

A breath escaped you, easing all the tension that had build up inside your shoulders.

He hadn't done anything wrong but it seemed like he was already used to being the bad guy only because of his appearance.

At least the attitude didn't fit the outside. He came across as a prim and proper gent with enough manners to apologise.

That alone gave away that he wasn't from this town either.
So he and the women belonged together. Maybe he was their boss.

You turned towards the exit.

Many people just passed by. Ultimately, it would only mean more customers for you.

But this one seemed different.

He was less consumed by the world inside his head.

You shrugged and walked up to the carriage while your eyes wandered around to look for Ginny.

Every face slipped your mind soon or later.

But the strange incident that had just happened made it significantly more difficult to forget.

You couldn't help but think about him a second later.

"His voice was nice...", you mumbled to yourself. "Arthur... A Welshman?"

All of a sudden, Ginny's head popped into sight.

"Talking to yourself again?", he asked in a sarcastic voice.

Surprised, you jumped.

"Ginneth!", you pulled a face and flipped two fingers against his forehead. "Do you want to give me a heart attack?"

He rubbed the red circle that started to show between his eyebrows.

"You were daydreaming again. Did you plan business with the ones that arrived new?"

Your eyes jumped through the streets.

"You noticed?"

He shrugged and crawled back into the carriage so that you could have a seat.

"Why would I not? They are everywhere."

You frowned.

"It's just a man and his women.", you picked up the rains and ordered the horse to walk.

With a bored expression on his little face, Ginny leaned out of the side of the carriage to watch the people and buildings flow by.

"So you did meet the black hat...", he mumbled.

A hum escaped you.

"Black hat...", you mumbled. "Sounds about right."

"But he's not alone."

"No. He has women with him. You do know what prostitutes are, don't you?"

He nodded and glanced back over his shoulder to see what you were doing.

You just watched the road.

"They come and go with different men.", he said, chewing on the inside of his cheek. "They sell their bodies."

Again, you hummed.

"Sometimes that's all they can do.", you confirmed. "Or want to do. We don't judge."

He shrugged.

"Yeah, but the black hat and the women aren't alone.", he suddenly said.

The horse crossed the main road and walked back towards the saloon that was a bit out of town. The animal already knew the road by heart and didn't need human guidance.

You let the reins hang through.

The question was already laying on the tip of your tongue as you looked up by chance and spotted a man standing at the edge of a hill.

He was dressed in all black and a white shirt while dozens of rings shimmered on his fingers.

It seemed like he checked the road as his eyes fell onto you.

A strange look appeared on his face before he turned around and vanished into the hedge of green.

"Huh.", you hummed. "Now I know what you mean."

Ginny nodded. He was also looking up.

But he watched someone else.

There was a boy hiding between the bushes, not far from where the man had been standing.

He was a skinny little kid, with hair as bright and bleached as cheese.

The clothes he was dressed in didn't fit him at all.

"That's Karl.", Ginny said in a low voice. "He's spying on people. His papa told him not to spy on people. He'll beat him later."

With your lips pressed into a thin line, you pushed him from his seat.

"Go get him.", you said.

Ginny jumped off.

"Why?"

"Because he's spying on people who don't want to be spied on."

"Criminals?"

"Outlaws."