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

Chapter 6

Arthur didn't know what to think when he walked closer to his tent. He wasn't able to control his heartbeat and the shaking in his hands as he pushed one of the flaps aside that covered the entrance of his tent. Entering his tent, he let go of the flap, blocking the view inside.

His eyes were fixed on the motionless figure lying on the cot in front of him. Katie, his beloved partner, lied there unconscious and wounded, her face pale and body fragile. Her upper body was covered in bandages due to the cuts on her back. Parts of her skin on her arms and legs had turned dark and yellow. She must have been beaten to cause this kind of swellings.
Arthur pulled a blanket over her to cover her body and to keep her warm. Without taking his eyes off of her, he placed a chair next to the cot and sat down.

His hands were trembling as he reached out to hold Katie's limp hand. He squeezed it tightly, desperately to get any kind of response. Noticing the engagement ring on her hand, he leaned forward to place a kiss on Katie's hand.

"You're one of the strongest people I know, darling. Don't give up on me now. We still have so much left to do together." Tears welled up in his eyes, threatening to fall down. He swallowed, fighting to hold them back. He didn't want to show his vulnerability in front of Katie.

"I'm so sorry, Katie. This shouldn't have happened. I should've protected you. I wasn't there for you. This is all my fault. I should've been out there to look for you." Arthur never let go of her hand, as his voice cracks with guilt, blaming himself for the situation.

He took a deep breath to push through his fear, as determination replaced his pain, holding her hand even tighter in his.
"You're going to wake up. You have to. Because I can't imagine my life without you. You're my everything, my reason to keep going. Please, open your eyes."

Arthur continued to hold her hand as the room went silent. His eyes fixed on her face, never releasing the grip on her hand. Filled with a mixture of fear, hope, and love, he did something that he never thought that he would do. He started praying.

For the next two days, Arthur had refused to leave Katie's side. He had barely slept and only left the tent for a couple of minutes when it was necessary. Hosea had brought him food and coffee from time to time to make sure that Arthur would at least eat something. Arthur hadn't talked to the other gang members, sending them away when they came into the tent, offering to watch over Katie so he would be able to sleep.

A gentle knock on one of the tents' posts caught Arthur's attention. Hosea entered the room, offering the younger man a small smile, a cup of coffee in his hand.

"I know you don't want to hear it, but Dutch wants you to head out with John and Javier to Caliga Hall. Something about stealing the Braithwates horses." Arthur started to shake his head, holding Katie's hand in his, running his thump over her skin.

"I'm not leaving her, Hosea. Dutch can find another moron to steal some horses. He hasn't checked up on Katie since she showed up, and now he wants me to do the dirty work?" He looked up at Hosea, who placed his other hand on Arthur's shoulder, giving him a slight squeeze.

"There is no one else who can do it. John and Javier need help to pull this off. The Gray's know you since you're one of the Sheriff's new deputies. You've already been at Caliga Hall, the guards know you. John and Javier wouldn't even get on the property to talk to the Grays to find out what to do with the horses. And Bill is too dumb for this." Hosea placed his coffee on the nightstand next to the chair and motioned for Arthur to stand up.

"I'll stay here and watch over her while you're gone. It won't take long. You guys will be back before night falls. John already tacked up your horse."
Arthur led out a sigh as he looked at Katie, who was still unconscious. He ran a hand over his face, contemplating his options.