may i stand unshaken [Arthur Morgan × OC]

Chapter 14

It was another day near that damned Valentine, and the sight of it made my throat feel queasy. It seemed that the stifling odor of the city was even in our camp. The sun was high overhead, and everyone was doing their own thing while I sat at the round wooden table, poring over cards and poker chips. An involuntary chuckle escaped my lips as I remembered Arthur's attempts to teach me how to play. He'd done it skillfully and seemingly effortlessly, as had most of the gang, but his explanations were hard to get through to me. At one point Morgan mentioned that poker was too much for my brain, and I couldn't take it anymore, so I threw chips at him. At first the bandit sat there trying to calm me down, sighing irritably after every word I said to him, but when a few chips flew into his eye, Arthur couldn't take it anymore, jumped to his feet and started chasing me around in circles. I had to thank Morgan for not turning the table upside down in a fit of anger.

- Morning, Joe.

John walked by, and I smiled back at him thoughtfully and followed him with my eyes to Abigail. The crooked scars on his face were now framed by threads. The wolf claw wounds were slow to heal, and the thought made me jerk my leg, which had once been clawed by a wild animal. Marston was finally full of strength, and some time ago he'd even gone scouting for O'Driscoll's hideout with Arthur, Bill and Kieran. The last one, surprisingly, had even been accepted into the gang after their camping trip together. I'd heard that Kieran had saved Arthur's life. Morgan, of course, didn't share that much with the others.

I was pulled out of my obsessive thoughts by Lenny's voice. I involuntarily turned my head and stared at the black-clad boy, who was quickly and clumsily getting off his horse while calling Dutch's name. The leader of the gang came excitedly out of his tent, which was just in front of me, followed by a red-haired Molly with embroidery in her hands, and Arthur was next to us, I frowned, not even noticing how he'd gotten here.

- What's going on? - black-haired man asked as Lenny scooted closer.

- They got Micah, - boy finally said, breathing hard. - He's been arrested for murder. He was in Stroberry and...

Dutch began to calm the anxious boy, and only then Lenny could breathe again. I kept my eyes down and even hunched over a little, trying to blend in with my surroundings. Just so I didn't say anything unnecessary. Micah hadn't been trustworthy since the first day I'd met him, and he hadn't been seen in the camp for a while. I hoped the bandit was just out for a walk and wouldn't come back.

- They got him in the sheriff's in Stroberry, - Lenny said, leaning forward with his hands on his knees. - And there's talk of hanging him.

- Here's hoping, - Morgan's answer was so quick and sincere that I covered my mouth with the palm of my hand to keep from laughing out loud.

- Arthur, - Dutch said sternly, glaring at the man with judgment.

- What? - he waved his hands questioningly. - That fool brought this on himself. You know my feelings about him, Dutch....

- You think I can't see past his bluster to the heart inside? - said the black-haired man, leaning his hand on his chest. - He is a fine man.

God, don't keep saying that, or I will say something. I think I was noticed at one point. Lenny sank heavily into the chair across from me and smiled at me silently, and I nodded back as I continued to flip through my cards.

- No, I ain't saving that fool, - Arthur waved his hand and jabbed a finger at the gang leader.

- I can't go, - Dutch replied irritably. - My face will be all over West Elizabeth. I am asking. He would do it for you...

I couldn't take it in this time. A loud laugh escaped my lips, and I squeezed my head back into my shoulders, hoping no one had heard it or noticed me. I didn't want to get into a fight about that arrogant blond guy with the smirk on his face, because for some reason Dutch was clinging to him.