When Hearts collide (An Arthur Morgan Rdr2 fanfiction)

Chapter 19: New place, New worry

Being called a hero, was something every man, dreamed of. Me, maybe once upon a time, I had. But, now, it felt weird, being called a hero. That German fellers family, they'd been in tears at the sight of seeing their loved one, alive. The woman, bless her heart, had tried to thank me. The kids, had interpreted her words, for me.
"Mother says, you're a hero. Papa, too. Said if it weren't for you, he'd have been killed," the little girl had said.
"Yeah, but, he wasn't. You saved him, Mister," her brother had said next.
Their father, patted me on the shoulder. He opened a carry box on the side of the old weathered wagon I'd found his wife and kids hiding under, and pulled out a bar made of pure gold. He'd handed it to me, uttering something in German, before hugging me tightly.
"Hey, Partner, mind the wounds," I say, as he releases me.
"You're a good man, Mister. You're a hero, and we will remember you always," the little girl says, before her and her brother both wrap their little arms around my legs, giving me their version of a hug.

Now, as I sat waiting at the new spot for the others to get here, I realized, that in a kids eyes, hero's can be anyone they meet. I wondered, if I had been Isaac's hero. Feeling a dull ache of pain, thinking about him, I take the chance to enjoy the quiet, and walked down to the small dock, that at one point could've been a small pier. I look up at the clear blue sky, watching as a few birds flew overhead.
"Eliza, I know I didn't do right, by you. You or our boy. I did my best, to try. You know, I did. Back then, I ne'er realized how much you and that boy, looked up to me. You relied on me, to make sure y'all had food on the table, money to spend on medicine, the whole deal," I begin, feeling the familiar burn of tears behind my eyes.
"I was your hero, then. But, when you needed me most, I wasn't. I won't make that mistake, again. And, I hope you approve of my bein' with Peyton. You would've wanted me to move on, and not wallow the rest of my days, o'er what could've been," I say, wiping the strays from my cheeks.
"I promise, to honor your wishes, by doin' so. And, bein' the man that I should've been to you, for her," I say.

A rumbling sound, tears me away from that private moment. And I realize, the others were finally heading in. Hopefully, none of them had seen that private moment, I had needed, to forgive myself for past events.
Turning, I didn't see any wagons, yet. Then, I see one of them round the corner ahead. It was mine. But, Hosea was driving it. Tethered behind it, were Nobu, Legend, and Sunbeam. Someone must've fetched Legend for me, knowing I'd never leave my boy behind. But, as I watched it roll in, I noticed Peyton was no where to be seen. Where was she?

Making my way over to Hosea, I gesture for him to slow up.
"Nice spot, here, Arthur. You and Charles picked well," he says.
"Thanks. But, where's Peyton?" I ask.
"Ah, Ms. Sparks. She's in the back. She fell ill, 'fore we left. Poor thing. She was retchin' up a storm, she was. Paler than a ghost, too," Hosea says.
I make my way around back, and peer through the small opening. Peyton was indeed inside, bundled in blankets. She looked green in the face, but it was hard telling, with what little light there was.
"You okay?" I ask.
Her gaze flashes to mine, and she smiles weakly.
"I should be asking you that," she croaks, making my heart ache for her.
"I'm okay. Just need to tend to my wounds from earlier. But, I'll be alright," I say.
"I can help if you need me to," she says.
"What I need you to do, once everythin' is set up, is rest," I say.

The conversation is cut short, as the other wagons make their way in.
"Arthur, my boy, this place is perfect. Well done. You and Charles, you're a wonder," Dutch says, parking his wagon next to mine.
"Yeah, the other place, it weren't safe," I say.
"Charles mentioned that. Why would Micah even think, that place would be any good for camp?" Dutch asks.
"I don't know. He's never been bright, when it comes to makin' decisions," I say.
He walks up beside me, and peers in the back of my wagon.
"How you feelin', Ms. Sparks?" He asks.
"Like shit," she responds.
"Try and relax. We will have camp set up, before you know it," Dutch says.
"Heard she fell ill, before y'all left," I say.
"Yes. Poor thing had little strength left, when Hosea and I found her. We helped her into the wagon," Dutch says.

My heart aches further, upon realizing this notion.
"Poor thing's weaker than a newborn fawn, right now. I ain't never seen, someone fall sick as fast as she did. It's kind of scary, Arthur," Dutch says.
Before I could say anything more, Ms. Grimshaw began barking orders.
"Ms. Jones, Ms.Jackson, will you get your sorry butts off them wagons and get to work? You too, Mary Beth. Where's Ms. Sparks? We need to make this place look like a camp!" She says.
"Ms. Grimshaw, Peyton is unable to help, at this time," I say.
"Nonsense, the little faker. She just doesn't wanna work. Well, she best get outta that wagon, and get a move on," she says, making her way to the back of my wagon.

Blocking her path, I cross my arms, giving her a "don't cross me" look.
"Mr. Morgan, how do you expect camp to be set up, without her help?" She asks.
"By having a man, do it. I'm gonna help, in her place," I say.
"No sir, you are not," Ms. Grimshaw snaps.
"Yes, I am," I snap back.
"He's right. Ms. Sparks is ill, Susan. She can't help, at this time," Dutch says.
"Besides, havin' a couple of men help, won't kill you. I'm with Arthur," Hosea says.
"You two are ridiculous," Ms. Grimshaw says.
"Ridiculous, they may be. But, we wouldn't want Ms. Sparks to end up dyin' now do we, Susan?" Dutch says, throwing her to the wolves.
"Oh, for cryin' out loud. Alright, fine. Get to work. Chop, chop," she says, before walking away.

I turn to Hosea and Dutch, thankful to them both.
"That woman. She reminds me of that black shire horse, we offloaded in Valentine. Remember that brute, Hosea?" I ask.
"Ah, now I know why everyone keeps callin' her the camp shire horse. That was you?" Hosea asks.
"Guilty," I say.
"Whoo howdy, you got yourself a bad reputation, with her, she e'er finds out," he says, laughing.
"Arthur, really?" Dutch says.
"What? She can be mean and wiley. Just like a shire horse," I say.
"I won't argue. But, stop tellin' everyone that," he says, before turning and heading away.

With Hosea's help, we managed to set up camp, in half the time, it usually took the ladies to do it.
"Well, I'll be a broodin' hen. Well done, gents," Ms. Grimshaw says.
"See, having a man to help, isn't always a bad thing," I say.
"Don't you try butterin' me up. It won't work. Now, y'all go rob a stagecoach or somethin'," she says, leaving us to our own devices.
"It's a bit late, to do any of that. So, I'm gonna read a book. What bout you, Arthur?" Hosea asks.
"I'm gonna look after Peyton. Make sure she rests," I say.
"Okay. Maybe later, You, Dutch and I, maybe we can all go fishin'," Hosea says.
"Maybe. Don't count me out though," I say, as I head over to my tent.

My heart drops, when I find that Peyton isn't in bed, like I'd hoped she would be. Panicking, I head back out, preparing to search for her. I find her, though, over by the rail where our horses were hitched.
"You're supposed to be restin'," I say.
"I know. But, I had to check on Sunbeam," she says.
"You happen to know, who fetched Legend?" I ask.
"Yes. I did," she says.
"You went to Valentine, alone?" I ask.
"We couldn't leave him behind. Besides, he missed us," she says.
"Well, thank you, but, don't ever do that again," I say.
"Point taken," she says.

Suddenly, Sunbeam begins to jerk her head up and down, pawing the ground.
"What's gotten into her?" I ask.
"She wants to tell you something. Or show you," Peyton says.
"Well, what is it?" I ask.
Peyton steps forward, and gently strokes the mare's forehead. Sunbeam allows her, but only for a moment. Then, she drops her head, and very gently, presses her muzzle to Peyton's stomach.
"She's been doing this, since before I went and got Legend," Peyton says.
"Strange. I wonder why," I say.
"I wanna test something," Peyton says, moving over to Nobu.
Surprisingly, he does the same movement as Sunbeam, nickering softly.
"Now the final test," she says, moving to Legend.
Legend, whinnies softly, but moves to follow the movement the other two had done.
"Could it be?" Peyton asks, barely audible.
"What, what is it?" I ask.

She doesn't respond. Her gaze is distant. And I know instantly, she was having a vision. But, of what, I wasn't sure. She was smiling, though, as she came to me, wrapping her arms around me in a tight hug.
"Ow," I say, remembering I had wounds to tend to.
"Sorry," she says.
"What did you see?" I ask.
"Oh, Arthur. You silly man. You'll see, in due time," she says.
"What does that mean?" I ask.
"It means, you'll see," she says, before grabbing my hand, and moving with me, to head to our tent.