The wild, wild West (Arthur Morgan x f!reader)

CHAPTER 4 - A job well done

After a moment of consideration, I galloped up to Dutch and gestured over to the forest. „Think we're being followed."

He squinted his eyes and then furrowed his brows when he spotted the person. „Probably one of our friends from earlier. Go and get him. Take Arthur with you. We're heading back to camp. Just bring him back alive, could be useful."

Arthur, who was riding to Dutch's left, nodded and urged his horse forwards. I turned my own mare around and kicked her into a hurried gallop.

We crossed the river to our left in full gallop. The ice cold water splashed up to my legs and soaked into my pants. I silently cursed. That'll take ages to dry.

We bolted through the snow, chasing after the stranger. I did my best to keep up with Arthur and his much faster horse.

„Go left and cut him of. I'll come from the back and catch him.", Arthur ordered, almost yelling, so I would hear him through the howling wind.

„Alright!", I agreed and steered to the left.

My horse slowed down considerably in the deeper snow apart from the path. I kept pushing her, desperate to catch up with the stranger.

The schemes of him and his horse were slightly visible through the trees. Thanks to the curve of the path that I had cut, I was slightly ahead of him. That was my chance.

With a sharp turn to the right, I crossed his way and forced him to stop.

In the same moment, Arthur reached him and threw the lasso he had been holding. The man didn't see him coming, as he was still busy with calming his horse, so he didn't stand a chance to escape the outlaw. With a harsh tug on the rope, he was of his horse, that took of running when it became aware of its freedom.

Arthur swiftly jumped out of the saddle and crouched down next to our squirming and cursing victim.

The man looked up with pleading eyes. „Please don't hurt me."

Arthur ignored his begging and tied him up with routined, calm movements. „You're comin' with us."

„Please don't...", the stranger whimpered.

My companion looked up at me. „You're takin' him, you've got the stronger horse."

„Yeah.", I mumbled. „And the slowest."

Arthur ignored my complaint and placed our prisoner on my draft horse. „Do ya know him?"

I took a closer look at the strangers face and shook my head. „Never seen him." Then I added bitterly: „But I haven't been with Colm for a few years, remember?"

I got on and the captive behind me started to shuffle around, trying to free himself.

„Would you stop that?", I asked impatiently, the threat in my voice was audible. „What's you name?"

„I don't know.", he muttered.

„You don't know your own name?", Arthur questioned.

Seeing that lying would be of no use, he admitted: „It's Kieran."

„Kieran what?"

„Duffy. Kieran Duffy."

We sped up a little, cantering along the snowy path. The hooves of the horses made made muted thumps when they connected with the ground. It was getting dark.

„Well, I ain't gonna lie to you, Kieran Duffy... This a real bad day for you.", Arthur declared, slight amusement in his voice.

„Where are you taking me?" Now the young man sounded like he was about to cry.