When Hearts collide (An Arthur Morgan Rdr2 fanfiction)

Chapter 25: Gone

If ever there was a time, to cut out of the gang life, it was now. Things had gone from bad, to worse, within the first few days, we'd been at Shady Belle. Instead of our usual sleeping spot out in our tent, Dutch had placed us in a room, in the big old house, right next to his own. Arthur had claimed, it would be better, for the both of us. We'd be more shielded from the elements. As if the elements had ever posed a problem for us, before. No. It had absolutely nothing to do, with shielding us from the elements. It had nothing to do with hospitality, either. Dutch could play that card, all he wanted. I knew he'd done so, to keep a close watch, on the relationship between Arthur and I. I knew, as well, that Dutch knew there was something between us two. I didn't like it, one bit. Yet, I put up with it, regardless of how I felt.
"It won't be like this, forever," Arthur had said, one night, upon joining me, in our bed.
"It better not be. I hate the feeling, that we're being monitored, by the man," I say.
"I know. But, it will be over, soon. I promise," Arthur says.
"How soon, is soon?" I'd asked.
"Soon as we get Jack back, I plan on speakin' with John. See if I can convince him, to leave with us," Arthur whispers, so only I could hear him.

That had been a few weeks ago. They'd already gotten Jack back. So, what were we waiting for? Why hadn't Arthur kept his promise? And why, for the love of God, was he out in Rhodes, with Bill, Micah, and Sean? What could they possibly be doing, that required them, to go back there? The sound of horses approaching, roused me from where I sat, on our bed. Making my way to the window, I gaze out and am horrified by the sight, that greets me. They were back. But, Sean was lying across the back of Bill's saddle, a nasty looking wound, to his head. By the looks of it, someone had shot him down. Shot him down and killed him. Heart in my throat, I rush out of the room and down the stairs. I'd barely made it to the front foyer, before Arthur and the others walk into the room, carrying Sean.
All it took, was a glimpse, and I took flight back upstairs, and to the broken window that looked out onto the yard, below. I retch, vomit piling on the ground below. Good thing, no one was down there, right now. Breathing heavily, I lean against the nearest wall, sliding down it, till I was on my butt on the floor. What the hell, had happened in Rhodes?

Drawing my knees to my chest, I rock back and forth. What if that hadn't been Sean? What if it had been Arthur? The thought alone, sent shudders, through me, brought tears to my eyes.
I was so shocked, I didn't even realize, that Arthur had come into the room, and was keeling beside me, wrapping me in his embrace.
"Sean's gone," he says.
"I know. I...I seen," I say, nausea creeping up on me, once more.
"What...what happened?" I ask, gulping.
"We went back to Rhodes, to pick somethin' up for Dutch. We were ambushed. Poor Sean, he didn't see it comin'. There was no warnin," Arthur says.
"That could've been you. What was Dutch thinking, sending you all back there?" I ask.
"I don't know. But, he ain't himself. That much, is obvious," Arthur says.
"No, he isn't. When has he ever, not been reckless?" I ask.

Shrugging his shoulders, Arthur helps me to my feet, and over to the bed.
"We should leave," I whisper. "Leave and never look back. Things are only gonna get worse, from here," I continue.
"I hate to admit it. But, you're right. Things is only gettin' worse, the longer we wait around," he says.
"Have you managed to speak to John?" I ask.
"I have. But, he's too oblivious, right now. He's not seein' what we're seein'," he says.
"Then, why worry bout him?" I ask.
"He's my brother, Peyton. I can't leave him," Arthur says.
"Then, make him see. Make him realize, what could happen, if he stays," I whisper.
"I can try. Don't think he'll listen to me," Arthur states.

Placing my hand on my abdomen, an idea crosses my mind.
"Abigail. She can talk some sense into him," I say.
"How? He barely listens to her, as is," Arthur says.
"We tell her," I say, gesturing with my gaze, to my small baby bump.
"That's too risky. What if she tells the others?" Arthur asks.
"It's a risk, I'm willing to take. Maybe if we tell her, she can convince him, how much family means, to them both. She can relate, Arthur," I say.
Releasing a sigh, Arthur nods.
"Okay. But, tell her, when the others are asleep. I don't wanna give Dutch more reason, to pry," he says.

Needless to say, I'd done just that. And Abigail, it seemed, was a rather trustworthy person. She'd promised not to tell anyone else, about my being pregnant. But, she did mention that she'd try to reason with John. Like me, she agreed that cutting out, was a good option. That had been two weeks ago. I'd still had yet, to hear word, on whether it had worked, or not. Arthur was in Saint Denis, with Dutch and company doing some real big mission, according to what they'd told Ms. Grimshaw. I never could've prepared myself, for what I would hear, that night. I paced our room, worrying, seeing as they should've been back, by now. When Abigail came into the room, she had tears in her eyes. But, that wasn't all. Charles was with her.
"Peyton, I'm afraid we have some not so good news," Abigail sobs.
"What happened? Arthur, is he alright?" I ask.
"He and the others are fine. But, they won't be coming back, anytime soon," Charles says.
"What do you mean? What were you all up to?" I ask.

I'm in shock, by the time he finished explaining, the business that had gone down, in Saint Denis. A bank robbery, and Arthur hadn't told me? Why would he keep something like that, from me? Was it because, he knew I'd prevent him from going?
"Where are they, Charles? Tell me," I say.
"They're on a boat, headed to Cuba, till the heat dies down," Charles says.
"He's gone, without a word?" I ask, stunned.
"He told me, to tell you, that he promises to make it back to you, as soon as he can," Charles says.
"You don't get it. He left us. He left us alone," I say.
"You can trust him, can't you?" Abigail asks.
"I can. Charles, please, don't tell anyone else. Arthur and Abigail, they're the only ones that know, right now," I say.
"Know what?" Charles asks.
"That I'm pregnant," I say.

Charles takes a step back, at this news.
"Is it Arthur's?" He asks.
"Yes," I whisper.
"Your secret, is safe with me. And I will protect you, till Arthur comes back," Charles says.
"He'd want you to. Arthur trusts you, Charles," I say.
"He'd also, not want you to stress yourself out," Charles says, and I take a deep breath.
"You're not alone. You got us," Abigail says.
They were right. But, it still hurt, knowing that Arthur was gone. And I had no idea, when I'd see him, again.