No Time To Die- ARTHURMORGAN x O/C

part 7- The Truth

Claudia and Tilly get back from collecting supplies from the general store in Valentine. She places the wagon to the side and loads off the crates to Pearson.
"Miss Jenkins, I've seen that you and Miss Jackson here are getting along" Dutch states as he places his book down on the table.
"Ye she's nice and kind" Claudia says placing the last of the provisions down on the floor.
"That's a lovely holster you've got there" Dutch mentions as he looks down at it.
"Yes it was my mothers before she handed it to me" Claudia responds taking her hat off and wiping the sweat off her head. She sits down next to him.
"Tell me now, how did you come over here if you were from near New Austin" Dutch asks as he wants to know more about her. He just needs to put all of the pieces together.
"Well I lived there until I was 18 when my mother got killed by damn O'Driscolls, luckily I got away and since then I've been on the run because I needed money somehow, so I started to rob which turned into killing but I would only kill them if they needed to" She explains crossing her leg over the other.
"Same here we only save fellers as need saving, kill fellers as need killing and feed fellers as need feeding" Dutch agrees. Claudia could tell he reads books as how poetic he is when he speaks.
"Well I better get back at doing my jobs and thank you Mr Van De Linde for changing your mind" She thanks placing her hat back on her head.
"Please call me Dutch" She nods at the response and makes her way back over to the horse to tend to them.
Dutch sits there and watches her care for the horses, just like her mother. Her mother always loved horses and any animal to be honest. She is an exact image of her, how she acts, how she speaks. He gets up from his spot and makes his way to her.
"Miss Jenkins would you go on a ride with me" Dutch asks her, she looks up at him in confusion.
"Sure I'll mount my horse" She says.
They both leave camp, Claudia has no clue what's happening. Is she in trouble? Or is he going to kill her? "So where are we going" She asks him as they both ride side by side.
"Just follow me and you will see" Dutch assures her, you could tell that he was hiding something. The way he was riding was stiff, his hands look sweaty and he isn't making eye contact. Dutch slows down The Count as they arrive.
"It's beautiful" she whispers to herself, they both sit on their horses just taking in the scenery.
"Let's hitch the horses and sit under that tree over there" Dutch suggests getting Claudia's attention. They both get off their horses and both sit down under the tree. 
"Is there a reason for this, I feel like Miss Grimshaw will be mad if I don't do my chores" Claudia laughs as so does Dutch.
"It's ok I've already told her that your jobs will have to wait" He takes his hat off and places it on his knee. He puts his hand into his pocket digging for something. He brings out a picture folded up. Dutch unfolds it and straightens it out, he gives it to her.
"That's my mother" she hesitates still staring at the picture with the date at the bottom of it. 
"22nd November 1862" Dutch mumbles looking up at Claudia.
"It can't be" She gasps, her eyes start to water. She stands up trying to relax her breathing.
"Claudia sit down" Dutch insists trying to calm her down.
"what was her middle name?" Claudia questions him as she wipes the tears from her face.
"Marie, Elenor Marie Jenkins" He answers. More tears form in Claudia's eyes as she paces back and forth.
"You left us, you fucking left us" She yells. He gets up and makes his way over to her. "Don't you fucking go near me" Claudia stumble back making Dutch stop in his tracks. 
"I had to, to protect your mother" He clarifies, this is not the reaction he was hoping for.
"Protect us from what exactly?" She snaps making her horse.
"Claudia wait" Dutch pleads and follows her.
"What were you protecting her from" She asks again, Dutch just stands there not replying. "That's what I thought" She takes the reins and rides off into the distance ignoring Dutch calling her name.

Claudia wasn't angry about the fact that he is her father but the fact that he just left her mother for no reason to raise a child by herself.