No Time To Die- ARTHURMORGAN x O/C

part 6- Day Jobs

It's early in the morning, everyone still asleep in their tents; the sun hasn't even risen yet but Claudia is awake as always. She sits against the tree taking in the scenery as the sun starts rising, it's quite peaceful knowing that you're in a camp with the most wanted men in the country. A twig breaks behind her making her jump out of her skin.
"Calm down it's just me" Arthur stands back to show that he means no harm. Claudia nods letting him join her, "What are you doing up at this time" He asks her, he sits down beside her.
"I could ask you the same" Claudia mutters fiddling with the grass on the floor.
"Dutch will warm up to you don't worry" Arthur looks towards her as she still watches the sun rise, not making eye contact with him.
"I'm not worried about that" She says.
"Then why are you up" Arthur questions taking a cigarette out of his pocket. He offers her one but she declines.
"I'm not much of a sleeper" She clarifies, Arthur stares at her taking in her beauty. Her eyes, bright blue and her hair, the darkest you could ever have.
"I can see that" Arthur states taking another drag of his cigarette. They both sit there in silence until the noise of people waking up. Claudia found it nice that Arthur came over to her, she felt like someone actually likes her for once.
"Miss Jenkins you can't just sit there all day, move your ass" Miss Grimshaw yells from across camp, making everyone turn their heads. Claudia and Arthur both laugh, it's the first time Arthur has seen her laugh. Her smiles brought him happiness but he still denies it.
Claudia gets up adjusting her hostler on her waist, it was a black leather one with engraved flowers on it. Her Mother gave it to her when they were leaving their home, apparently it was apart of the family. She walks over to the three women who were washing the clothes and hanging them up to dry.
"You must be Claudia, I'm Mary-Beth and this is Tilly and Karen" The young woman stands up giving Claudia a hug. She never really like physical affection especially from people who she just met.
"Mary-Beth give the poor woman some space would you" Karen says squeezing the water out of some bed sheets. They brake the hug up and she gets back to her work.
"What do you want me to do" Claudia asks.
"You can help me get some supplies from Valentine, I could use some help" Tilly mentions as she wipes her dress down. Even thought Claudia is a woman she never found her self attracted to dresses.
"Yes of course, but am I allowed to leave camp" She asks, she doesn't want to get on the bad side of Dutch.
"You should be but I'll ask Hosea, he will probably say yes" Tilly gets up and makes her way to Hosea who is sat at the table playing dominoes with Jack. She could see Hosea face frown but Tilly comes back with a happy smile on her face.
"He said yes but we've got to be back in an hour" Tilly squeals grabbing her bag and heads of towards the wagon. She motions Claudia to get on and passes the reins
to her. Claudia knows she going to get bombarded with questions so it's going to be a long ride.

Dutch still in his tent reading his favourite  book 'The American Inferno' by Evelyn Miller. He has always been into books especially Evelyn Miller. "Where's Miss Jenkins" He walks over to Hosea who is sitting with Arthur.
"She is doing her part of camp and gone with Tilly to get supplies in Valentine" Hosea says taking a sip of his coffee.
"And you didn't ask me about it" Dutch questions and sits down next to them.
"She's fine Dutch, what do you think she will do" Arthur huffs, "If she goes to the law then she will get arrested, there's money on her head as well not just us" Arthur scowls staring directly at Dutch, Dutch goes quiet fixating on the fire burning in front of him. Arthur leaves them to go and do some jobs for Straus.
"I can't believe you still deny the facts" Hosea mentions as soon as Arthur leaves.
"It can't be" Dutch mutters.
"It can she looks like you, has the same attitude and is the right age" Hosea sighs standing up away from Dutch."Stop running away from it, the facts are right in front of you" Dutch never likes it when Hosea gets annoyed of him, they've been friends for ages. They met from both of them robbing each other and now they are in a gang together.
"How do I tell her" Dutch asks looking up to Hosea.
"Just find the right moment and talk to her, I know it's hard to believe but make things right" Hosea walks off towards his horse, Silver Dollar.
Maybe he just needs to forget about the past and get on with it.