Loyalty Divided

Chapter Five

Arthur woke up, the familiar ache in his side reminding him of the events from the previous day. He squinted against the morning light filtering through the tent's canvas and groaned as he tried to sit up. The pain was sharp but manageable. His hand instinctively went to his bandaged shoulder, wincing as he felt the tight wrapping.

"Morning, Arthur." Evangeline's voice cut through the haze of pain. She stood at the tent's entrance, holding a steaming tin cup and a plate of food. "Brought you some coffee and breakfast."

Arthur managed a weak smile. "Thanks, Evangeline." He took the cup from her, savoring the warmth and the strong aroma of the coffee. "Where is everyone?"

"Dutch sent Hosea to the nearby town to get some medicine for you," she explained, setting the plate down beside him. "Everyone else is up and about, keeping an eye out. Just in case."

Arthur nodded, taking a sip of the coffee. "How are you holding up?"

Evangeline shrugged, her eyes flickering with a mix of determination and worry. "I'm fine. More concerned about you, to be honest."

"Don't worry about me. I've had worse," Arthur replied, trying to sound more reassuring than he felt. He took a bite of the food she brought him, grateful for the sustenance. "You did good yesterday, staying calm."

Evangeline gave a small smile. "Thanks. Just trying to do my part."

As they sat in companionable silence, the sounds of the camp filtered in. The clatter of pots and pans, the low murmur of conversation, the occasional laugh-it was all comforting, a reminder that despite the danger, they were a family of sorts.

"How's John?" Arthur asked, breaking the silence.

"Shaken, but he's alright. He feels guilty, thinks he should've done more to help you," Evangeline said, her brow furrowing.

Arthur sighed. "He did fine. Kid's got heart. Just needs time to learn."

They continued to talk quietly as Arthur finished his breakfast. The camp was coming to life around them, the usual bustle mixed with an underlying tension. Arthur hesitated for a moment before speaking again.

"Listen, Evangeline," he began, his tone more serious. "About the other night, when you were drunk. You asked if there was more to life than drifting, than the way we live. I've thought about that a lot. I don't have all the answers, but I know one thing-we do what we can to survive, to protect each other. Maybe someday there'll be more. A home, a place where we can stop running. But for now, this is what we have."

Evangeline looked down, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "I don't remember everything I said. I was in a pretty bad way."

Arthur nodded. "You mentioned your family. How you felt about being with us, about finding a place. I just want you to know, you're not alone. We've all got our pasts, things we're running from or fighting against. You're one of us now."

Evangeline's eyes softened, and she gave Arthur a grateful smile. "Thanks, Arthur. That means a lot. I guess... I guess I just needed to hear it."

He reached out and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. "We're in this together, Evangeline. Don't forget that."

At that moment, Hosea entered the tent, carrying a small bag. "Got the medicine," he announced, his eyes flickering between Arthur and Evangeline as they quickly dropped hands, a hint of awkwardness hanging in the air.

"Thanks, Hosea," Arthur said, taking the bag from him. "Appreciate it."

"No problem," Hosea replied with a knowing smile. "You just focus on getting better."