When Hearts collide (An Arthur Morgan Rdr2 fanfiction)

Chapter 30: Beaten

It had been days, since our food supply started to wane. None of us dared, set foot into town. Knowing Dutch, he had scouts out and about, looking for us. We just couldn't risk showing our faces, anywhere. The shops, were all closed during the night, which made getting necessary provisions, impossible. So, for the last few nights, I'd gone out to hunt, using nothing but my bow. Couldn't risk anyone hearing gunshots and coming to investigate. For the last couple of days, I'd caught small game. Rabbit and squirrel, weren't too bad. But, it wasn't enough to keep our bellies completely full. Tonight, I was determined, to find bigger game. Tonight, I would down something big, to last us for a few days.

Bow in hand, I prepare to take my leave. However, I am stopped by Abigail.
    "Hey, Arthur, you got a minute?" She asks.
    "Make it quick. I'm bout to head out," I say.
    "When are we gonna go get John? We've been here, almost a week. Don't you think, it's time to make that move?" She asks.
I am hesitant, in my answer.
    "We'll get him, Abigail. I promise. But, right now, we need to focus on ourselves and the children," I say.
    "Nobody has found us, yet. We're safe, as far as I see it," she says.
    "That don't mean, they ain't lookin'," I say.
    "John needs us. Please, Arthur, help me get him out. Please," Abigail begs.

Taking a deep breath, I realize she is right. John was waiting. Who knew how long it'd be, before they decided to hang him?
     "Okay, we'll go. Tomorrow night," I say.
     "Okay. I'm holdin' you to that, Arthur," she says, before walking away.
Preparing to take my leave again, I am stopped once more, by Peyton.
     "Arthur, be safe out there," she says.
     "I will. I promise," I say.
     "The woods are quiet, tonight. Too quiet. Be careful, where you tread," she says.
     "I will. I won't be gone long," I say, heading out and into the woods.

She was right. It was quiet tonight. Too quiet. It was eerie. Usually, I'd hear the hoot of an owl, the foot fall of small animals. But, now, I heard nothing.
Feeling uneasy, I head further into the woods, hoping that I would at least find something. However, I wasn't expecting to find a small camp, nearby. A small camp that had familiar horses, tethered nearby. Baylock and Brown Jack. I knew the horses well.
    "Shit, I need to get back," I whisper to myself.
Still crouched, I move silently, swiftly.
As I knew he would, Dutch had sent out scouts. And they were camped not too far, from us. We needed to move, and now. What was to stop them, from making their way through the woods, to us?

As quickly as I could, I make my way back to where we were settled. I was about to bolt from the cover of the woods, when I hear them. Micah Bell and Bill Williamson.
    "I won't ask, again. Where is he?" Micah's voice rings out.
    "You better answer us," Bill says.
Remaining crouched, I crept closer, staying hidden by the cover of the trees.
I could see them, now. They had the women cornered inside the nook. Jack was hidden behind Abigail's back. But, the twins, were pressed against Peyton's chest, cradling them close to her. Neither spoke. Both seemed terrified. And who wouldn't be, when there were revolvers, pointed right at your face? Seeing this, enraged me. How dare they, hold Abigail and Peyton at gun point like that.

Luckily, I had my own revolvers, on me. Placing my bow across my back, I remove them, from their holsters. I check to make sure both are loaded, before I silently move to sneak up behind the two. Once I reach them, I press my revolver tips, into the backs of their heads.
    "Back away, right now," I snarl, cocking both of my guns.
    "You goddamn traitor," Bill mutters.
    "Leavin', and goin' so far as to kill your brothers," Micah says.
    "Y'all ain't no brother's, of mine," I say.
     "How dare you," Micah spits.
     "Drop your guns. Now," I growl, wanting them to know, I wasn't putting up with their bullshit.

As they move to drop their guns, I am hit in the back of the head, by something or someone. Feeling dizzy, I falter a bit, as I turn to face my attacker. It was Javier.
    "You're gonna pay, Gringo," he says.
I move to hit him. But the other two jump me, pinning me to the ground.
    "You left us. You left us, and turned traitor. Dutch gave us our orders," Bill says.
    "He said, to make you suffer," Micah says.
Then, they kick my guns away, and started beating me.
    "Yeah, boys, beat him senseless," Micah says.

It goes on for some time, before I hear it past the ringing in my ears. The sound of rifles being cocked.
    "What's this, now?" Micah says, he and the other two looking over at where the women were still standing.
     "Payback," Peyton says, before she pulls the trigger.
     "Argh. Pull back, men. Pull back," Micah says.
     "Get out of here. Otherwise, I'll put another between your eyes," Peyton says.
     "And I'll blow your dicks off," Abigail says.
     "You go, Mama!" Jack says, from inside the wagon.
     "You'll regret leavin', Morgan. Mark my words, this is far from over," Micah says, before he and the others, retreat into the woods.

Trying to get up, I cry out in pain, holding my side.
    "Arthur, oh my God. Abigail, he needs help," Peyton says.
    "What can I do?" She asks.
    "Go to Strawberry. Get the doctor," Peyton says.
Without hesitation, Abigail mounts up and makes her way outta our camp.
    "Peyton..." I mutter, blood spluttering from my mouth.
     "Where does it hurt?" She asks.
     "R-ribs," I gasp.
She gently runs her hand along my ribcage. Even still, the pain seared through me.
I cry out again, tears burning my eyes.
     "Baby, hold on. Please, hold on for me," she says.
     "Peyton...I love you," I whisper, before I black out, the pain having overrun my senses.