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

CHAPTER 7 - Setting off

Short filler chapter before the interesting stuff happens. I promise the next one will be more entertaining.

Also, the „I broke the goddamn wheel"-line might be one of my favorite lines in this whole game. I don't know why, it always cracks me up for some reason.

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Our breath painted small clouds in the air that dissolved in seconds, only to escape again from the lips of each gang members. I had to squint my eyes to avoid being blinded by the sun that was reflecting off the bright white snow.

Arthur had allowed me to sit with him in the front of the wagon after he had ordered me to join him. The way down the mountain was slow and tiring, but I was glad to finally leave it behind. The snow was slowly replaced by grass, and the sun seemed warmer now. I listened to Arthur and Hoseas conversation and watched how the landscape changed as we drove through it.

After a while, we reached a river. Hosea seemed unsettled, he advised Arthur: „Get us out of the stream. And watch for the rocks. You gotta keep us moving, but calm."

We reached the other side, but our wagon seemed to shake and wobble more than before. Then a loud crack, the sound of bursting wood filled the air. The horses stopped abruptly.

„Ah, shit!" Arthur jumped of the vehicle to examine the damage.

I followed him, ready to help fix the problem.

„What's wrong?", Hosea asked.

„Ahh, I broke the goddamn wheel.", he cursed, gesturing at the scene in front of us.

„Alright, let's fix this.", I suggested and suppressed a chuckle, stepping to his side to pick up the ‚goddamn wheel'.

Hosea had gotten of to help Arthur prop up the wagon so that I could reattach the wheel. I had to bash against it a few time, but it worked.

„There you go."

Arthur walked past me, a derogatory grin on his lips. „See, you ain't so useless after all."

„How fortunate.", I replied coldly.

I was quite happy today. The warm weather and finally feeling the suns warmth on my skin did wonders for my mood. I was optimistic again. It would take some time to get used to this rough sense of humor again, but maybe I could accept it as that. Maybe Arthur and I would finally get along when the weight of possibly starving or freezing wasn't on our shoulders anymore. I picked up one of the barrels that had fallen of and put it back up with a slight smile on my lips.

With the wheel reattached, we continued our journey. I listened to the conversation of the men, sometimes throwing in a comment.

Hosea turned towards me. „How come you left O'Driscoll?"

„Colm doesn't value his members. He would send you out to die and if you did, he wouldn't care." I was quiet for a moment. „I wanted to decide myself what I get myself killed over."

Hosea chuckled. „That's a respectable choice."

Arthur hurried the horses into a slow canter, attempting to catch up with the others.

„So you've been an outlaw for some time?", Hosea continued.

„Depends on how long ‚some time' is to you. Must've been ten years at least now. What about you?", I replied and turned towards him.

„My entire life.", Hosea hummed, and Arthur nodded.

We continued our way and our conversation. I was surprised that their company was actually quite enjoyable. Arthur was his usual grumpy self and he didn't talk to me much, the dislike in his eyes was still clearly visible whenever he looked at me. Hosea was much friendlier, I liked his calm, reasoned way of speaking. It was a fun ride, although I wouldn't admit it.

We passed through a small forest, then Arthur stopped the wagon. The small clearing was already filled with people, horses and wagons. Everyone was busy building up tents and cleaning up.

Arthur jumped of the carriage and gazed up to us.

„Here we are."

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-675 words