No Time To Die- ARTHURMORGAN x O/C

prologue~ The Day We Met

1879
little town in New Austin~
"Claudia Amber Jenkins you get your self down here right now" her mama calls her from downstairs, Claudia rushes down the stairs still tryimg to her damn earings in.
"Yes ma'am" Claudia brushes down her dress, getting the creases out of it. Her mother looks straight at her in digust.
"Look at you, I thought you hung the dress up" she drops the brush down from sweepimg thr floors and straightens out the dress.
"I did it must of fallen during the night ma'am" Claudia panics looking in thr mirror to see if she looks alright.
"You look gorgeous baby" Her mother reasures her "Right you better get going or your going to be late" Miss Jenkins ushes her out of the door.
A carrage with horse is waiting for Claudia outside, today was the day. She was going to meet the man she was going to marry, her mother and the Thorn family made an agreememt that if she marries their son, Jullian, then there would be some money involved.
She steps intot the carrage holdimg up her dress from thr mud, the man closes the door behind her. The thorn family has got alot of money in the town and own most of it, so it's hard to make money in these parts unless you work for them, a prostitute, a bounty hunter or are part of their family.
"Ma'am the lord wanted to tell you that Mr Jullian is so happy to meet you" the coach driver shouts back.
"Well I'm glad to hear that sir" she responds holdimg her hands in her lap. She has to look presentable, if not then no money.

They arrive at the manor, it was a bug place but not too big; Claudia steps out of the carrage whilst holdimg on to the mans' hand for support.
"Miss Jenkins welcome to Thorn Manor, may you follow me the Lord and his son are waiting for you" The servent orders as he greets her by the front door. She follows him until they reach a big room with a long table in with a chandellier hanging abobe, there he was standing next to his father.
"Miss Jenkins it's a pleasure" The lord, Mr Thorn, made his way towards her and kiss her hand as a mark of respect and so does Jullian "please sit". They all sit down in silence until someone speaks up.
"So Miss Jenkins, I thought your mother was joing us" Jullian speaks up taking a sip of the beverage next to him.
"She had to work, but she said to give you her apoligies and she will meet you two again" Miss Jenkins apoligieses while making eye contact with Julian.
"I heared that you will be willing to join our family then" Mr Thorn muttered while lighting his pipe.
"Yes if that's what the plan is, I will do anything" she nods smiling.
"Uhh Sir, Mr Van De Linde is here" a servant enters tapping on Mr Thorns' shoulder.
"Very well then, I've got to take care of some business" Mr Thorn excuses himself from thr table as two older men and one boy enter the manor "Miss Jenkins I hope you will love it here".
Julian gets up and follows his Father out of the room leaving Claudia in the room by herself.
"Miss Jenkins, if you would follow me please" A lady servent appears next to Claudia. She follows her upstairs into a bedroom.
"Excuse me where am I going" Claudia questions the servent as they enter the room.
"Didn't Mr Thorn tell you about this it's tradition before a male member of this family to do before marrying, please can you take your dress off" The woman explained.
"No I may not" Claudia argues against the orders.
"Ma'am I wouldn't argue against this family I've seen what they've done to the past wives, you should try and get out of this before getting stuck in it" The servent warned her. Fear struck Claudia's eyes. Claudia nods. She starts to get undress leavimg her undergarments on. The servent walks out closes the door behind her, this was Claudia's only time to escape. The door opens again, she turns around to find Jullian in a black robe.
"Miss Jenkins you look fine as hell" he walks over pushing a peice of her hair behind her ear. He picks her up amd drops her on the bed, ready to take her on.
"Mr Thorn come here" she seduce him, he leans in for a kiss. She swings in for a punch and knocks him out cold "shit".
Claudia quickly puts all of her clothes back on and aims for the window. She looks dowm to see the stables and a wagon of hay. Its her only chance. Slowly pulls the window up and climbs through it looking down to jump. She jumps as she lands in the soft hay, she gets out and looks at the horse hitched up against the fence, a brown american standardbred horse perfect. She mounts the horse and starts riding away trying not to get caught.
"Hey that's my horse" A young voice shouts as she leaves the manor.
"Get on Count son, go and get her" Another man shouts to the young voice.
She kicks the horse to make it go faster but it was tiring out quick and was getting spooked by the sudden ride of a stranger.
"Get back here Miss" The boys' voice sounds closer than it was before. Until he jumps onto the horse pulling the reins back. The boy couldn't even control the horse he was on, it was like the horse disliked him very much.
"Why you stealing my horse Miss..." The boy, about the same age as her asked.
"Jenkins and I needed to get away" She crosses her arms in a pout because she got caught.
"Why you running?" He questioned patting his horse to calm down.
"Forced to marry for money and now I dont want to marry into a horrendous family anyway who are you?" Claudia tidies up her dress.
"How do I know I could trust you" He raised his eyebrow.
"Well I gave you my name, didn't I mister?"
"Morgan, Arther Morgan" He replied tilting his hat down towards her "you better get going before they catch up ma'am".
"Well thank you Mr Morgan for not turning me back in" She nods walking past him.
"Be well Miss Jenkins" He waves goodbye and starts walking back to the manor leading thr horses back.

"Where is she did you get her" Mr Thorn runs towards the young boy Arther.
"She ran off before I could get to her I'm sorry Sir, should we get back to the others" Ather aks.
Mr Thorn nods and turns back to the direction of the Manor, Arther looks back wondering is that the last time he will see her.