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

CHAPTER 22 - Social Calls

„(Y/n), give us a hand with our O'Driscoll friend here.", Dutch's voice greeted me as soon as I jumped of Smiths back.

„After all, you should know best how to get information out of your kind.", Bill added and grinned.

I just raised an eyebrow and ignored his comment while I tied the reigns to the hitching post. „I think you're far better at that. Are you gettin' rid of him?"

Dutch chuckled. „Not only of him, but of Colm O'Driscoll as well." His eyes narrowed a little at his last words. I ignored the dig.

„I told you, all of you, I don't know nothin'.", the captive interrupted and then got silenced by Bill, who barked a few insults at him. I leaned against a tree and watched.

„What do you want me to do, Dutch?", Bill asked eagerly and stared at Kieran with an almost hungry look in his eyes.

„Hurt him, so the next time he opens his mouth, he tells the truth!"

Bill stiffened and raised a fist, his face bare inches away from Kierans face, who let out a small, terrified whimper and pressed himself as close to the post as he could to avoid the punch. Then Dutch stopped him in a calm tone. „Who am I kidding. One of O'Driscolls boy couldn't open his mouth but he tell a lie." His eyes found mine for a moment. „No offence, Miss (L/n)." He glanced back at Bill and raised his hand, mimicking scissors with two fingers. „Geld him." The cold, sober tone of his voice sent a shiver down my spine.

Bill let out a laugh and ran off while Kieran twisted his neck to not loose sight of him. He whimpered: „Where is he going, where's he goin'?!"

And amidst all this chaos, Arthur appeared behind me.

„What the hell is goin' on here?", he muttered, close to my ear so Dutch wouldn't hear.

My eyes remained fixed nervously on the men while I replied: „They're cuttin' things off, for no real reason I think. Dutch says he won't talk anyways. I guess they're tryin' to scare him." Arthur hummed in understanding.

Then Bill returned with tongs that were still glowing a little red from the heat of the fireplace. Dutch pulled Kierans pants down with a chuckle. I grimaced. That wasn't going to be pretty.

„Don't worry, boy, they're just balls. Only gonna cause you trouble. You know, in imperial Rome eunuchs was among the happiest and most loyal of courtiers.", Dutch smirked and poor Kieran scrambled away from the approaching man with the heated tool.

„No, no, no, no. You're kiddin' me right?" His pleading gaze met mine and I looked away. I felt sick to my stomach and even though I tried to suppress it, the guilt of watching silently fought its way up inside me. I couldn't help him, otherwise they would tie me right next to him and find more fun things to do with me. Because I was an O'Driscoll as well in their eyes. Because I could turn into their enemy with one move.

„You sick bastards! No! What do you want from me?!"

„Well..." Dutch leaned a little forward. „You are gonna talk. The only question is before or after we got these little fellers off."

The tongs inched closer to the captives genitalia, Bill watched his victim with a sick grin. Then Kieran yelled: „Okay! Okay! Listen!" His breath was heavy with fear. „I know where O'Driscoll is holed up, and you're right. He don't like you any more than you like him. He's at six point cabin. I'll take you there."

Bill sighed disappointedly.

„Seriously. I don't like him. I mean, I like him even less then I like you. No offense."

„Oh, none taken." Dutch waved at Bill to lower the tongs.

Arthur took a few steps to join the group and I followed him, not wanting to be cut out of the action. „Okay, why don't you take a few of us up there right now." He turned to the leader. „I got this, Dutch. Should be fun." Then he pushed Kieran, who had been freed by Dutch towards the horses. „Come on, you. Let's go."

I glanced over at my own horse and then back at Arthur. I wanted to join them, but if he didn't ask me to come, I wouldn't object. But then he waved me over. „You too. I need a decent shoot. John, Bill, over here. We got a social call that needs makin'."

Smith had cooled down enough to go for another ride. He was drinking when I approached him and he nudged his wet nose against my hand when I patted his neck.
„Hey there, big boy. Want to go for another trip?" It would be nice to ride him after all the exercise he had today. He wouldn't be so ill tempered and jumpy.

We mounted. John rode in first place with Kieran on the back of his horse, after him came Bill, then me and Arthur. As soon as we had left the forest and crossed the railway, he trotted up to me. „Had any issues gettin' back?"

I shook my head. „Nothin'." He didn't have to know that I waited about half an hour for the train to pass before I crossed the bridge. „For how much did the Appaloosa sell?"

„Twenty bucks."

„I guess robbin' a stage coach would be more efficient.", I muttered.

„Horses don't shoot ya.", Arthur argued.

I huffed. „I sure hope so."

The conversation died down, instead I listened to the men bicker while worry started to settle in my chest. I didn't want to face Colm, I didn't want him to recognize me. But there was nothing I could do now.

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-970 words