No Time To Die- ARTHURMORGAN x O/C

part 10- American Inferno

"Finally you're awake" Arthur says as he notices Claudia trying to sit up in her bed roll. He has sat with her all this time to make sure she was okay.
"How long have I been out?" Claudia asks looking up at him.
"About a day but you've been sleeping since yesterday morning, Miss Grimshaw had to get that bullet out and you lost more blood then" Arthur explains while he gets a cup of coffee from the table by the side. Claudia looks down at her arm noticing the cicular wound on her shoulder, she straightens it out winces in pain.
"Thank you" She says as he passes her the cup.
"I'm sorry about how Dutch is acting" Arthur sighs "He's been acting strange recently".
"Well at least I didn't die" Claudia laughs to make the conversation brighter.
"Don't say that" Arthur nudges her.
"Hey, watch the arm!" She yelps, Arthur laughs and walks out of the tent. The new camp was based in a place called Clemens Point after the comotion that happened in Valentine. Claudia strolls out of the tent looking around to see everyone doing their part to keep the gang running.

"Miss Jenkins how are you feeling?" Miss Grimshaw questions as she inspects the wound.
"Better than ever" Claudia sarcastically smiles.
"The pain is worse is it?" Grimshaw asks.
"Correct, I can't keep it still, how am I suppose to shoot" Claudia whines as they both sit down next to the round table.
"You will just have to get used to it" Grimshaw gives an apologetic smile towards her.
"You're saying it wont go away" Claudia gulps.
"I'm sorry sweetie" She says and gets up making her way to Mr Pearson to start cooking dinner.
Claudia sighs getting up from where she was sat, she could see Dutch arguing with Molly O'Shea in his tent. Claudia could tell he never treated her right, just the way their acting now. Molly looks like she's about to cry and Dutch just looks like he doesn't give a fuck. Dutch catches Claudia's stare and so does Molly. Molly closes the tent flap. Claudia could tell they were arguing about her but Molly didn't even know Dutch when she was born and to be honest Claudia's age is more closer to Molly's than Dutch's. Claudia wanders over to Hosea and finds him sat up against the tree reading a book. Dutch's book.
"That's Dutch's isn't it?" Claudia questions as she sits down next to him.
"Yes, it's his favourite book by Evelyn Miller" Hosea closes the book and passes it to Claudia. "Well I've read it loads of times, so here you go".
"No you're reading it" Claudia protests and gives him back the book.
"Read it, reading calms the mind" He passes it back to her and gets up and leave. Claudia opens the first page and starts reading it.
"The American Inferno" She mutters to herself as she reads the title of the book. It's been an hour and she is still reading, Claudia remembers all the books she has with her mother back when she was alive. She misses her so much. Her mother would let her pick a book off the shelf and she will read it to little Claudia before tucking her into bed to fall asleep. Claudia wishes she could go back in time to make the most out of the company with her mother.

"You enjoying it?" Dutch asks as he stands over the girl sitting against the tree.
"It's okay I guess, I've read better but it's quite intresting" Claudia says back but keeping her eyes on the book. Dutch gives a small smile knowing that she likes the book. He sits down next to taking a cigar out of his pocket and lighting it.
"Well that book is my favourite" Ducth mentions as he looks to the side towards the girl.
"Why did you nearly leave me to die?" Claudia queeries, she books the book down but keeping her finger on the page she left.
"I didn't leave you, I was watching you the whole time and you didn't die" Ducth says calmly trying to not make her angry.
"Then why didn't you let them treat me when I got there?" Claudia asks crossing her arms.
"We had to get out of there before the pinkertons and law were on us" Dutch sighs taking in the scenery in front of them. "Let me ask you a question, did you have a good sleep yesterday?" Dutch asks as he puts out the cigar next to him on a little rock.
"Yes not going to lie, best I've had in a while" She says, still wondering what it's got to do with him practically torturing her.
"There you go, I knew that you were losing blood but I wanted you to rest well" Dutch says. Claudia sighs at the fact she is wrong. "And I don't want my gang members to be tired when we have to be on our toes".
Gang members.
He called her a gang member.
Claudia smiles at the fact she finally feels like she's at home.
But she will never forgive Dutch for what he did.