Hidden Destinys || RDR2 - Arthur Morgan x OC ||

9. Money Lending and Other Sins

'Been a hell of a week. Haven't been out of camp lately. With Arthur and Hosea gone most days, and the rest of the men in the camp either hunting, or drinking themselves to death, I've started to find solace in the company of the women around camp, particularly Mary-Beth. I've heard multiple things about Arthur getting beat up, and being called pretty boy? I don't know, heard from the rest of the men. Arthurs ego seems to proud to tell me the story himself. Every time I ask, he just turns away, or practically immediately changes subjects.

Arthur Morgan occupies my thoughts more than I care to admit. His rugged demeanor belies a complexity that intrigues and unsettles me in equal measure. There's a raw honesty to him, a kind of rough-edged charm that draws people in, myself included. Yet, beneath his gruff exterior, I sense a profound loyalty and a deep-seated burden he carries for this ragtag family we've found ourselves in.

It's not just Arthur who occupies my thoughts; it's the entire gang. Dutch's charisma is undeniable, his vision for a life outside the confines of society is both exhilarating and daunting. And then there's Charles, whose quiet strength and wisdom remind me of the values I once held dear. Mary-Beth's kindness and unwavering optimism bring a ray of light to our otherwise shadowy existence, while Javier's music and humor offer moments of respite amidst the chaos. Each member of this makeshift family brings their own story, their own reasons for being here.'

I wonder, sometimes, about my place among them. My arrival here was not by choice, yet fate seems determined to keep me tethered to these people and this time. I feel a sense of duty, a responsibility to help where I can and to find a way to make sense of the peculiar dreams and visions that haunt my nights. But amidst the uncertainty, there's a strange comfort in their camaraderie, in knowing that despite our differences and the dangers that surround us, we are bound together by a common thread of survival and, perhaps, something deeper.

~ Emma

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Emma found herself seeking solace in the company of the other women of the gang, away from the ever-present tension and watchful eyes of the men. As the morning sun filtered through the towering pines of Horseshoe Overlook, she joined Mary-Beth, Tilly, and Karen near the edge of camp where they were mending clothes and sharing quiet laughter.

Mary-Beth looked up with a warm smile, setting aside a needle and thread. Her hands were nimble and skilled, evidence of years spent adapting to the rugged life of an outlaw. "Emma, darling, come join us. We were just swapping stories about the most outrageous things we've seen since joining this ragtag family."

Emma settled beside them, the familiar comfort of female companionship easing the weight of her recent worries. "I could use a good laugh," she admitted, a small smile playing on her lips.

Tilly chuckled, her eyes bright with mischief. She was known for her quick wit and infectious energy, a stark contrast to the solemn moods that often swept through camp. "Remember that time we had to convince Bill that bath day was a thing? Took half the camp to drag him into the river!"

Karen, with her sharp wit and no-nonsense attitude, added, "Or when Uncle tried to out-drink Lenny and ended up singing 'Danny Boy' to a tree stump?"

They all erupted in laughter, the sound carrying a sense of camaraderie and shared experiences that only those living on the fringes of society could truly understand. Emma found herself joining in, her laughter mingling with theirs as she shared anecdotes of her own encounters with the eccentricities of their outlaw life.

"I swear, some days I think we're the only ones keeping this place from falling apart," Mary-Beth quipped, her eyes sparkling with a mixture of amusement and affection for their unconventional family. She resumed her sewing, the repetitive motion soothing in its familiarity.