The lost spark in your eyes //RDR2 // Arthur Morgan

Chapter 3

"Uncle Arthur, look at this." Jack called out as he turned towards Arthur.

They went fishing for a while near the gang's camp in horseshoe overlook. Abigail, Jack's mother, had asked him to spend some time with Jack since John isn't doing it - still not accepting that the boy is his.

Arthur had agreed and took Jack fishing. But it soon became boring for the 5-year-old and he decided to do something else. Arthur, who stood near the river, turned around as the boy called out for him and walked over to the little boy, who was sitting on the ground.

"What is it?" he asked as he was crouching down next to the boy, his fishing rod still in his hand, looking at the thing that Jack was holding up.

"A necklace. For momma" he explained as he was holding the necklace made out of flowers.
Arthur wasn't able to respond to Jack, as he noticed two men that were approaching them. One of them holding a rifle in his hand.

"What a fine young man and in such complex circumstances." The other one of the two men started talking as he was still walking up to them. He also seemed to be a bit older than his companion, who held the rifle. "Arthur, isn't it? Arthur Morgan?"

"Who are you?" He responded while making sure that Jack was standing behind him to protect him. A man who knew his name usually never meant anything good. Especially when the second man loaded his rifle, he knew that it wasn't good.

"Yes, Arthur Morgan. Van der Linde's most trusted associate" both of the man were now standing next to each other, in front of Arthur, who was still trying to keep Jack behind his back.

"We know your file. Typical case. Orphaned street kid, seduced by that maniacs silver tongue and matures into a degenerate murderer. Agent Milton. Agent Ross. Pinkerton Detective Agency."
Now Arthur knew who he was talking to and they had his full attention. He started to feel uneasy. They had been on the run for a long time, and the Pinkertons were still breathing down their necks.

"You're a wanted man, Mr. Morgan. Five thousand dollars for your head alone." They started to walk further towards Arthur and Jack.

"Five thousand dollars? For me? Can I turn myself in?" Arthur responded, trying to keep calm. He didn't want to scare Jack any further.

"We want van der Linde," Milton continued to talk, now standing in front of Arthur.

"Old Dutch? Haven't seen him in months." Arthur knew that the camp was near the river. He had to try to lead the Agents into a wrong direction. Saving some time for the Gang to eventually move camp.

"That so? Because I heard a guy fitting his description robbed a train, belonging to Leviticus Cornwall, up near Granite Pass. So, this is my offer: bring in van der Linde, and you have my word you won't swing"

"I ain't gonna swing anyways, Agent Milton. You see, I haven't done anything wrong aside from not playing the games to your -" Arthur wasn't able to end his sentence as Milton interrupted him mid-sentence.

"Spare me the philosophy lesson. I've already heard it. From Mac Callander." Arthur started to feel even more uneasy as he heard the name. He knew that Mac and Katie had been together when the robbery in Backwater went wrong. They hadn't heard from them since then.

Milton saw Arthur's change in behavior as he said that name, so he continued talking.
"He was pretty shot up by the time I got to him. So it was really more of a mercy killing. And with  Miss Collins being present... I also offered her the same deal. That reminds me that I need to pay her a visit again."

Feeling the anger built up in him, Arthur threw the fishing-rod to the ground, taking a step towards Milton. Ross raised his rifle and aimed it at Arthur's head, stopping him in his tracks.