When Hearts collide (An Arthur Morgan Rdr2 fanfiction)

Chapter 18: Lemoyne Bound

Being a wanted man, was something I was growing rather tired of. Shooting up towns, another. Not that I was in the habit of that, until recently. First Strawberry, now Valentine? Why couldn't we ever just settle somewhere for once, without the constant cloud of trouble, that seemed to always follow us around? Why couldn't we all just be civil, and make an honest living, instead of taking from others? This life, was quickly becoming a thing of the past, not just to the government. But, to me as well. I'd begun to think that way, and a lot recently. This life, wasn't what I wanted anymore. Yet, I stayed, because there were those I didn't want to leave behind. There were those, I wanted to help escape the life, with me. To live better lives, too. Hosea, Charles, Lenny, Pearson, Sadie, Tilly, Ms. Grimshaw, John and his family, they all deserved to live their days in peace. The others were all stuck too deeply in their ways.

Shaking my head to clear my mind, I mount up, wincing as I do so. Nobu notices and nickers worriedly.
    "It's alright, Boy," I say, even though it wasn't entirely the truth. I'd promised Peyton I'd return to her, safely. She was probably worried sick. I'd split off from the others, once we had been given enough of an opening, to get to our horses. We'd taken off in different directions, trying to get the law off of us. Splitting up, then, had been a smart move. But, now, if the others had made it back to camp without me, I could only imagine the state she must be in, knowing I hadn't been with them. And if she wasn't in a state now, she would be when I returned with multiple gunshot wounds.

Pushing Nobu forth, I keep my eyes peeled, checking for any signs of lawmen still out looking. Thankfully, I was in the clear. As quickly as I could, yet steadily, I make my way back to camp, keeping Nobu at a gentle canter. My wounds ached and fresh blood coated my shirt, in the places where I'd been hit. Being wounded by a bullet, was no joke. They hurt like hell, and likely wouldn't stop hurting, till one had tended to them properly. I hadn't done so, yet. But, I hoped to do so soon, get any lodged bullets, out of them, as quickly as possible. No matter the pain, it would likely cause me.

Riding into camp, I groan when I notice the others had indeed, returned. Quickly, yet carefully, I dismount, hitching Nobu up to the rail. He paws the ground, nudging me. Peyton was right. He, like Legend, was a noble friend. His nudges were gentle. But, his brown gaze, seemed worried.
    "Easy, Boy," I say, patting his neck, before turning and stumbling my way, over to my tent.
When I reach the entrance, I hear her. I hear her sobbing. As quietly as I could, I make my way inside. However, I stumble slightly, groaning from the pain of my wounds. She looks up, and her gaze meets mine.
    "Arthur, you're back! I thought you had been captured, or worse killed. I tried to see, but couldn't," she says, making her way over to me.
     "Oh no, you're hurt," she cries, when she sees the spots of blood, across my shirt.
     "Looks like...I broke my promise," I say.
    "You're alive. Shot up, but you're alive," she says, kissing my cheek.
    "Yeah, barely," I say.

She moves to help me sit down. But, the sound of footsteps approaching, stops her.
    "Arthur, I need you to go check out a spot, Micah found for us to move camp to," Dutch says, entering our space.
    "You aren't sending him anywhere. Look at him. He sustained a lot more damage than the rest of you," Peyton says, quickly jumping to defense.
     "With all due respect, Ms. Sparks, there isn't anyone else I trust, to handle this task. We need to move, now," Dutch says.
    "Oh, so after shooting up half a damn town, after having brought too much attention upon yourself and everyone else, now you're suddenly worried about moving? What about weeks ago, when you said we were fine?" Peyton starts to argue.
    "Listen to him, Sweetheart. What happened in town, is likely to come knockin' on our door, if'n we don't leave this place," I say, wincing as I straighten.
     "You got hurt, because of him, Arthur. Why should you go out, in pain like you are, to run his stupid errands?" She asks.
     "Because, I'm Dutch's second. He trusts my opinion, over anyone else," I say.
   
Pacing, she drags her fingers through her hair. Finally, she sucks in a deep breath, and faces us once more.
    "I swear to God, if he gets hurt any worse than he is, you'll have more than a damn shiner, to worry about. Mark my words," Peyton says, leering at Dutch.
     "I'll take Charles, with me. I won't be completely alone," I assure her.
     "Excellent. But, I regret to say this, you need to be fast. Get there, check it out, and one of you, report back to me, so I know we are set, to move," Dutch says, dipping his head to me and Peyton, before heading back out, barking orders to everyone, as he went.

Glancing over at Peyton, I beckon her to me. She hesitates, before she finally walks into my embrace.
    "I'll be fine, Sweetie," I say.
    "I know. I know you will. But, you really scared me, Arthur. I can't lose you," she says.
    "Nor I you. I'll see you soon, okay? But, for the love of God, make sure someone helps you round things up. Don't strain yourself, you hear me?" I ask, as I pull back enough, to press my lips to hers.
    "I'll miss you, till then," she says.
    "Same here. Already missin' you and I ain't even left yet," I say.
     "Be safe, my love," she says, giving me a gentle squeeze, before setting about, packing things up.

Heading out of my tent, trying really hard to mask the pain of my wounds, I seek out Charles Smith. Out of everyone, he was a man who could easily get the grip of the land. Him being part indian, he was able to adjust quickly, to scenery changes. He also, had a good outlook, on things. He could provide that extra opinion, of whether we should or shouldn't move to a certain location. I trusted him, knowing the wisdom he was born and bred with.
    "Where we heading?" He asks.
    "Dutch wants us to go check out someplace a little ways away from here, that Micah found. Says, Micah mentioned it would be a good place to set up camp," I say.
    "Hmm, probably best, you had me come along, then. Micah's known to be more ignorant, than most," Charles says, as we ride out.
    "My thoughts exactly. Besides, you and I don't really get the chance to ride together," I say.
     "Not since hunting in the mountains. Still can't believe Pearson believed there was no game up there," he says.
     "Me neither. But, what can you expect? Half that lot, don't know shit bout huntin'," I say, enjoying the small talk.

As we continued talking, I almost forgot my injuries. Almost. That is, until we got to the spot and had to dismount.
    "You alright, there, Arthur?" Charles asks, noticing when I winced.
     "Gonna have to be, till we get camp set up. And so far, this place seems unfit," I say.
     "Too open. Not safe enough, to hide a whole gang of outlaws. It also seems like someone else was here. And trouble found them. Recently," Charles states.
    "Reckon we should take a look around?" I ask.
     "Yeah. Find out if anyone else is here. Can't be too sure," he says.

Immediately, we begin scoping out the place. We found a corpse and a small camp. But, that wasn't what bothered me. What bothered me, were the two children who were hiding under a rickety wagon, crates obscuring their faces from view, with their mother. Who, mind you, held a shotgun.
    "Take it easy, we mean you no harm," Charles says, lying his weapon at his feet.
I do the same. No sooner had we done so, than the woman started speaking to us in German. A language I could never grasp or understand.
     "Y'all need to leave. This place ain't safe," I say.
     "They took our father," one of the children says.
     "Who, who took him, and where?" Charles asks.
     "Men dressed in old war uniforms. They went up that pathway, there," the little girl says, sobbing.
     "We'll find him," Charles says, and I turn to him.
      "This wasn't part of the plan, Charles," I say.
       "What would you do, if this was Peyton and you had kids, and you'd been taken away from them?" Charles asks.
     
He had a point there. I wouldn't sit by, and do nothing.
    "We'll go find your father. Just, promise us, that afterward, you'll leave this place," I say, following behind Charles as he whistles for his horse.
My wounds, aching dully now, I mount my own horse, Nobu moving to follow close behind. We head up the incline, following some tracks that Charles managed to spot, in the thick grass. We follow them, making haste to save the german kid's father, before it was too late. The tracks, veer into a very wooded area. Slowing our horses, we follow the path, all the way to a large clearing by the lake. It was nice, spacious, secluded, perfect for a body to set up camp. Which gave me an idea, that I would bring up to Charles, once the German man, was found.

It involved another small gunfight, but we managed to not only find, but save the man.
   "Boy, that was rough," Charles says.
   "Tell me bout it. I'll get him back to his family. You, head back and tell Dutch, to bring the gang here," I say.
    "It is better protected, here," he says.
    "Yes, much less open. Now, go on, get outta here. And make sure you ain't followed. None of you," I say.
He splits off from me, then. And I head my own way, taking the man back to his family. Along the way, I come across a sign that read Lemoyne.
     "Guess we're all Lemoyne bound, now," I mutter, as I rise an incline and spot the man's family, the looks on their faces, ones of thankfulness.