No Time To Die- ARTHURMORGAN x O/C

part 5- Just A Friend

Arthur hitches his horse up against a post outside of sheriff office in the new town Valentine, he wants to get some extra money to support the camp and pay some bounty off. He walks into the sheriff's office looking for the notice board, "Jenkins" Arthur mumbles to himself tearing the paper off the wall. He thought he would of never hear that name again, it was like a gift on christmas day.
"You know her?" The Sheriff questions looking up from his writing to Arthur.
"No Sir just heard of her" Arthur covers himself up as he stares at the paper with a picture of her on it. It must of been a picture from a while back as she looks younger in it.
"Well it's $200 for her alive or dead, she robbed a stage coach yesterday morning along with murder of 4 people" The Sheriff mentions as Arthur puts the poster in his pocket.
"She was last seen near Flatneck Station in the last day, I would watch out for her if I was you as the last bounty hunter didn't come back after looking for her".
Arthur leaves Valentine questioning if he should go and look for her or leave her be but he wonder if she's ok. He rides towards Flatneck station checking if she's camping near by. He sees smoke coming from the trees in the distance, probably her. Arthur follows the tracks of horse hooves in the mud.
"I knew you would come looking" A women's voice speaks as Arthur enters the little camp.
"Well maybe you're just easy to find" Arthur turns around hitching his horse.
"I should hide better then" Claudia looks up to him as she rests next to the fire. "Want some?" she holds up a whiskey bottle. Arthur nods and takes the bottle off her. She looks a mess, her skin as pale as a ghost.
"Well don't you look like shit" Arthur sits on the log across from her.
"Shut it Morgan" She snatches the bottle from his hands and take a sip of it.
"You should come with me or there will be bounty hunters riding up here to kill you" Arthur grunts getting back on his horse.
"But you heard it Dutch don't trust me" Claudia picks up her gun and starts cleaning it.
"He just needs to get to know you, we've got a lot of enemies at the moment" Arthur explains.
"Fine" she huffs and starts packing up her camp.
"Got a new horse I see" Arthur notices the Black Arabian grazing next to the tent.
"Ye her name is Nyrah, I stole her in Dewberry Creek when they were transferring horses from a town called Rhodes I believe."
"Well we should get going" He help her putting the last of the things on the back of her horse.

The ride is silent on the way back to camp, Arthur didn't really want to ask any questions to make it more awkward than it already is.
"So what are you going to say to the gang, i can't just storm out then come back like nothing has happened" Claudia asks as they both ride together, side by side.
"Just walk in with me and we will go from there" He suggests looking over to her, forcing a smile. She just looks away taking in the scenery. Claudia never wanted to be apart of something like this, she always thought it would be too much commitment. It's going to be different of course as she has lived most of her life alone and as well as traveling across the country. They both enter camp seeing that everyone is huddling around the campfire.
"What the fuck is she doing back here"Bill shouts from across the camp.
"Bill mind your own damn business" Arthur snaps back at him as he hitches his horse. Dutch walkers out of his tent to see the commotion that's happening outside.
"That's a good question Bill" Dutch agrees places a cigar on his lips. Claudia hitches her horse next to Arthur's, ignoring what everyone is saying. "I thought you didn't trust us" Dutch strolls over taking his time.
"Arthur, I knew this was a bad idea" Claudia whispers to him turning her head away from the rest.
"Dutch just give her a chance, she can have a bedroll next to mine and she will pay to stay in the camp which is fair" Arthur insists, Dutch never liked having orders from other people; it made him feel weak.
"Fine" He storms back to his tent where Miss O'Shea is waiting for him. Dutch has always had trust issues, if he didn't like you that means he doesn't trust you.

"Miss Jenkins will you like to join us" Hosea calls out to her as he sits around a table. Claudia makes her way to them, it looked so cozy in this camp. A roaring fire, music being played and drinks being handed out. "Miss Roberts, Charles and Javier this is Miss Claudia Jenkins" Hosea introduces her to the others.
"It's nice to meet you Miss Jenkins, I'm Abigail"Abigail shakes Claudia's hand and gives her a drink as she sits down next to her.
"It's nice to meet you guys" Claudia replies, she has never seen so many women in a gang before. Usually it's just some whores getting some extra bucks but this was different you could tell they were being respected and treated well. The night goes on and so does the drinks go down, Dutch still in the tent which is unusual when everyone else is outside having fun. Claudia calls it a night and gets her bedroll out near Arthur's but not too close like it's weird.
"Good night Miss" Arthur stumbles into his bed, you could tell he's been drinking. Him saying good night to her made her happy like a warm feeling but he is just a friend.
"Good night Morgan" Claudia mumbles, she lays there until everyone has falling asleep. She will never fall asleep, she doesn't remember the last time she had a proper good nights rest.