Loyalty Divided

Chapter Forty One

Evangeline awoke by the river, the early morning sun casting a golden hue over the water. She blinked, her eyes adjusting to the soft light, and looked over at Arthur. He was still asleep, his face etched with the remnants of sorrow from the previous night. The exhaustion was evident in the lines around his eyes and the way he lay, as if even in sleep he couldn't escape the weight of his grief.

She shifted slightly, trying not to disturb him, and took in the tranquil beauty of the morning. The river flowed gently beside them, its murmur a soothing backdrop to the chaotic thoughts swirling in her mind. Despite the calm of their surroundings, the camp would soon be stirring, and the reality of their situation would come crashing back in.

Arthur began to stir, his eyelids fluttering open. He blinked a few times, disoriented, before his gaze settled on Evangeline. The pain in his eyes was raw and unfiltered, and her heart ached for him all over again.

"Morning," she whispered softly, her voice gentle.

Arthur rubbed his eyes and sat up slowly, looking around. "Morning," he replied, his voice rough from sleep and lingering sorrow.

Evangeline reached out, brushing a stray lock of hair from his face. "How are you feeling?"

Arthur sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. "I don't know. Just... empty."

Evangeline's heart ached for him. "It's okay to feel that way. You've been through so much."

Arthur looked down at the ground, his expression weary. "It's just hard to make sense of it all. Everything feels so heavy."

She squeezed his hand. "You're not alone."

He gave a small nod, the pain in his eyes still evident but softened by her presence. "Thank you, Eva. I don't know what I'd do without you."

Evangeline leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to his temple. "You don't have to do it alone. I'm here."

They sat by the river for a few more moments, the silence between them filled with unspoken words of comfort and love. Finally, Evangeline stood, offering her hand to Arthur. "Come on, let's head back to camp. They'll be worried about us."

Arthur took her hand, allowing her to help him up. "Yeah, you're right. Let's go."

They walked back to camp in silence, each step bringing them closer to the reality they had to face. The camp was beginning to stir, the gang members moving about with a sense of quiet urgency. Dutch was already up, discussing something with Hosea, while the others prepared for the day ahead.

As they entered the camp, everyone turned to look at them. The concern and unspoken questions were evident in their eyes. Arthur gave them a brief nod before heading towards the center of the camp, Evangeline still by his side.

Dutch approached, his expression a mix of determination and understanding. "Arthur, Miss Thornton," he greeted, his voice low. "How are you holding up?"

Arthur glanced at Dutch, then down at the ground. "I'm managing," he said quietly, though the weight of his grief was still evident in his eyes.

Dutch nodded, his expression softening. "Hosea, fetch the boy some coffee," he said, looking over his shoulder.

Hosea nodded and headed towards the campfire to prepare a cup. Dutch turned back to Arthur and Evangeline, his eyes filled with a rare compassion. "Take your time, Arthur. We're here for you."

Arthur gave a small, appreciative nod. "Thanks, Dutch."

Evangeline squeezed Arthur's hand gently, offering him silent support. Dutch's understanding meant a lot, especially in these moments of vulnerability. She could see the strain on Arthur's face, the pain still fresh and raw.