Arthur Morgan x Reader

Five

A strange feeling grew in the pit of your stomach as you watched Ginny run up the hill towards the boy he had called Karl.

He noticed someone coming closer, turned his head and gestured for him to stay away.

Ginny stopped.

He looked over his shoulder to exchange a glance with you.

With your lips pressed into a thin line and a gloomy look on your face, you nodded.

"Get down here, boys!", you called out, but didn't dare to shout.

But Karl just shook his head full of bright hair.

Again, he looked at Ginny and then disappeared into the bushes, right into the direction where the stranger had went.

Ginny wanted to follow.

Your heart skipped a beat.

"Ginneth!", you jumped from the carriage and rushed after him before he could disappear as well. "Don't! Do you have any idea who he's running after?"

He pulled a face.

"I need to help him.", he said with a concerned look on his face. "The man didn't look nice."

A heavy sigh escaped you.

"That's the problem. I don't think he's good people."

"But Karl!"

You tugged at his shirt to pull him back down the hill.

"We should go."

Ginny refused.

"I need to help him!"

Your gaze darkened.

"Ginneth!", you need to listen to me. "And I'm saying you won't go there all by yourself."

He froze.

For a moment, his little head seemed to work out a plan before a bright smile lit up on his face.

"Then come with me.", he freed himself from your grip, wrapped his little hands around your arm and pulled. "Hurry! We don't know what might happen if we get there too late."

With a defeated sigh and your head handing low, you let him drag you up the hill for the last two meters and through the bushes.

A clearing appeared.

About a stones throw away, tents rose into the sky.

Carriages were neatly lined up and opened for people to come and go.

Horses neighed.

"Woah!", Ginny gasped with his eyes wide open. "It looks like a gipsy camp."

You pulled a face and flicked two fingers against the back of his head.

"Don't say that.", you mumbled and looked around for the boy. "Gipsies and outlaws are two different people."

Ginny took a step towards a table stacked with fresh meat to examine the deer. It what was left of it.

A breeze sweeper through the tent that seemed to be used as a kitchen.

The smell of iron and whiskey was in the air.

"I bet this would make some good stew.", he said and poked one of the thick legs.

All of a sudden, a hand jumped out of a corner of the tent and snatched him by the neck.

A scream of surprise escaped the boy.

In one swift movement he hit torn into the air like a doll and was held like a puppy.

"(Y/N)!", he cried out.

Shocked, you remained frozen as a huge man with more than a few pounds too many came into sight.

With an annoyed look on his face and one eyebrow raised he examined Ginny from top to bottom before gifting you a glance.

"G'day.", he said in a dry manner. "Is this your little rat?"

He raised Ginny.

Swallowing hard, you just nodded.

"Please, he didn't want to steal anything.", you reached out to grab him by the hips.

The man let go and Ginny slid into your arms.

"Watch out for him better, next time. I don't like me touching all my food."

You nodded again.

Ginny didn't say anything.

Trembling, he had his arms wrapped around your neck and his breath held.

The man turned back to his work again.

"Sir?", you asked hesitantly.

He gave you a glance from the side.

"Speak up.", he growled.

"Is- did you see another boy around here?"

He lowered his huge butcher knife.

"You're one hell of a poor soul. Can't keep your kids together.", he looked around. "We don' like strangers around here. You should get lost as long you got the chance."

"I can't leave without him."

Annoyance lit up on his face.

His moth was already open as all of a sudden a sharp scream tore the idyllic silence apart.

A shiver crawled down your spine.

Without skipping a beat, Ginny jumped out of your arms and rushed into the direction from which the screaming came from.

"Ginny!", you wanted to grab him but he was already gone.

A curse left the butchers lips.

"By all the bloody hells, you're not good for anythin' ain't ya?", he asked and walked after the boy, knife in hand. "I'll teach that little fella a lesson."

You jumped after him.

The screaming intensified.

A small boys voice started begging.

Then Ginny started shouting.

Someone cursed.

Your heart started to beat faster.

Concerned, you rushed around a carriage and found yourself in the middle of a fight.

A man, the stranger all dressed in black, held Karl by his bright hair while Ginny tried to punch him.

All three of them were shouting and cursing.

"Dutch!", the butcher called out. "You found us another rat?"

The man who listened to the name Dutch looked up.

His eyes met yours.

"I've seen you.", he said and grabbed Ginny by the hair as well to get him to stop fussing around. "These yours?"

He curled his lips.

"I'm sorry!", you bowed your head. "They are just boys. They were curious."

"This little fella tried to steal from my camp.", he gave Karl a clap to the back of his head.

You eyed Karl.

The look on his face was a shameful one. Yet he seemed to be afraid of what would happen next.

"I'm sorry.", he whimpered. "I won't come here again."

Ginny kicked Dutch's leg.

Pulling a face in pain, he let both boys go.

"Don't let me see any of you here again!", he warned in a threatening voice. "And teach em' some manners."

Grabbing both boys by the collar, you nodded.

"Forgive me.", you nodded your head and rushed off.