What if Tilly Jackson wasn't already a member of the Van Der Linde Gang when the story begins in Colter? It's not until they leave the snowy mountains and move to the warmer camp at Horseshoe overlook that she becomes a part of the story?
Arthur M...
Arthur smiled, watching Tilly sleeping, body tangled with his. He wanted to get her something to eat. Realizing all she'd had in three days was coffee and whisky. The man carefully removed himself from her, untangling her arms and leg from his body. She moaned in her sleep, rolling on her side when he stood up. He groaned and stretched, shoulders popping when he did. Before grabbing his coat and placing it over the girls body. The sun was coming, Arthur took a deep breath, socking in the new day before grabbing his hat from the ground and headed out to find something for the girl to eat.
Arthur frowned when he thought of leaving her alone. Something told him it wasn't the greatest idea. But the thought of her not eating in days had him decided to go and try and hunt something fast. "Okay." He muttered to himself. Walking to his horse. "Let's go boy." He muttered. Crossing the steam before heading into the tree line.
Arthur had a deer in his sights, ready to pull the trigger when he heard a familiar voice yell his name, the deers head shot up from the face, ears twitching from the sounds of the approaching horse and yelling man. The animal ran off and Arthur cursed under his breath. "Damn it Lenny."
"Hey Arthur!" The man yelled again. "Lenny! I was trying to hunt and you-You scared it off!" The man snapped, kicking the dirt. Arthur was honestly starving himself. "Why don't you just come back to camp? Pearson started on breakfast when I headed out to find you! Dutch isn't happy with an Arthur. Hell he already sent Micah after ya, Micah said you were hiding out with a woman." Lenny said now standing close to the other man. Arms crossed and a smug look on his face. Arthur huffed. "I ain't hiding anywhere. I just- Tilly is something special. I just don't want everyone scaring the poor thing half to death. " Lenny was grinning ear to ear. Arthur rolled his eyes at the younger man. "Lenny, Micah really freaked her out! She told me last night she doesn't like the feeling she gets when Micah looks at her." Arthur said sadly. Hated that she'd have to constantly be around the rat. Lenny was still grinning now pointing at Arthur. "Who doesn't he scare?" Arthur chuckled. "So Arthur, what else did you do last night?" Lenny asked laughing. Arthur shoved the man. "Micah said you're sweet on her!"
For once Micah wasn't wrong.
"You know no body would hurt her. She wanting to stay with us?" He asked leaning against a tree. "Yea. She's been alone a long time." Arthur said with a sigh. "How long? You know?" Lenny asked. "Five years." Lenny's eyes doubled. " The world to her must be a dark and scary place. No wonder Micah scared her." Lenny said sadly. "Why isn't she freaked out by you then?" Arthur scoffed. "I might be a bad person Lenny Boy, but I'm nothing like that son of a butch Micah Belle!" Arthur snapped. Lenny held his hands up. "No way Arthur- Not what I was saying man. I know you're nothing like him. Micah's like a demon. You're more like a dragon." The anger on Arthur's face flashed away and he started laughing.
"I just meant if she's been on her own so long then why doesn't she get freaked out by you or me?" Arthur sighed. "Probably because I saved her in Valentine from being rapped in an ally and got her away from a prostitution job." Lenny blinked, taken back. "Oh." He muttered. "She's only seventeen years old Lenny! She didn't want to do it, she just didn't have a choice. Being on her own like that."
"She's only- Arthur aren't you like-." Lenny started to asked shocked before Arthur cut him off. "Thirty-six. Yea I know that-Tilly knows that. I've tried to talk her out of wanting to be with me-But." Lenny noticed how Arthur smiled fondly.
"She says I'm the best man she's ever known. The only person how gave a shirt about her. Lenny she's-Tilly might be young in age but in every other way she's-She's perfect and I can't help the way I feel about her. If she wants me and I need her like I do then damn it if I'm gonna fight her on it." Lenny blinked. "Okay then. If you're both happy nothing else should matter. When can I meet her?"
Arthur smirked. "Right now. If you don't mind riding to the camp and keeping an eye on Tilly. When I left to hunt she was sleeping, I just don't want her afraid if she wakes up and I'm not there- Just let her know you're in the gang okay? " Lenny grinned.
"So I get to meet your special girl Tilly?" Lenny asked with a smirk. "Woulda just please go keep her safe for me. The poor thing hasn't eaten in days." Lenny frowned. "Really?" Arthur sighed. "She got bit by rattle snakes yesterday and I never had a chance after that because I was afraid to leave her be. Lenny, she's really frightened by most men-She was a working girl in Valentine's saloon after all so whatever creep payed then they got to do whatever they wanted to her. She didn't want to do it but the girl had no other option-Until now anyway. I'm not gonna let anyone hurt her anymore." Lenny grinned. "What?!" Arthur snapped upset that he kept looking at him like that. Like he was a baby or something.
"Arthur's gotta girlfriend! Arthur's gotta girlfriend!" The man said in a sing song tone. He smiled seeing the annoyed look on the older man's face and started laughed. "Shut up!" Arthur snapped, mounting his horse to go track the deer that got away.
Lenny followed the smoke in the sky to find the camp. He dismounted his horse and slowly walked to the fire. He glanced at the sleeping girl and his smile doubled. Arthur's girlfriend was young and not exactly what Lenny pictured. Micah did run his mouth but to the asses credit he didn't make any unsavory jokes. Most likely because he knew Lenny wouldn't have it. The man smiled, happy that Arthur was going to finally have someone in his life.
Tilly opened her eyes and stretched. She noticed Arthur missing from bedroll and frowned. Her heart skipped a beat when she noticed a stranger sitting by the fire. Pouring some coffee , back to the girl.
Tilly slowly moved to grab the rifle Arthur left her. Taking a deep breath the girl looked around for Arthur, fearing he was hurt. Who was here? Where was Arthur! Tilly didn't see him or his horse.
Lenny gulped when he felt a gun in the back. He held his hands up in defiance. "Who are you?" A female voice asked. "Arthur wasn't kidding!" Lenny said shocked. "You know Arthur?" She asked happy to know the man wouldn't be warmed if the two were friends.
"Yes ma'am. Arthur asked me to sit with you and keep you safe why he went hunting.But seems to me you don't need protection." Tilly lowered the gun and walked around to face Lenny. Tilly was taken back by the playful look on the man's face. After all she still had a gun pointed at him, even if it wasn't jammed in his back.
"Arthur likes you." He said with a snicker. Tilly grinned, putting the gun down. "I like him too." Lenny giggled and Tilly felt nothing but comfort around the man. Like she could feel that he meant her no harm, nothing evil on his Brain. He was just laughing and smiling, talking with the girl like he'd known her forever. Tilly relaxed, talking with Lenny and hearing story's from the gangs past. The two shared story's over coffee.
Updated.anyone liking the story?
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