H E R ~ A R T H U R M O R G A N

twenty-seven; an unexpected guest

"brothers and sisters separated
by distance joined by love."
~chuck danes

__________

Dear Jacob,

How are you and Mary? How is the baby? I sure miss you...we've never been apart from each other for this long. I do wish you could come and visit but I understand you have a wife and a baby on the way now. Things are...getting scary Jacob. Arthur seems to be coughing a lot lately and he doesn't look to well either. He won't speak to me when I bring it up so that means it can't be that bad right?  Oh who am I kidding it probably is something. I'm sorry for rambling...but write back when you're able, we have a lot to talk about Jacob. A lot. I love you big brother.

With Love, your baby sister who misses you terribly.

Gwen re-read her letter for what seemed like the millionth time before folding it up and shoving it inside the envelope. She had to know Jacob was okay...she knew something was wrong with Arthur but she didn't know what—he wouldn't talk to her about it. His coughing seemed to be getting worse but he tried his best to hide it from her, she knew he did she wasn't an idiot. She also knew how he wrote everything down in his journal that he couldn't—or wouldn't speak to her about. She couldn't look.

Gwen glanced over at the leatherbound journal that sat atop Arthur's pillow as she gnawed on her bottom lip nervously but let out a puff of air as she stood to her feet and left the tent. She couldn't do that to Arthur...he would never forgive her. She greeted Charles Smith who was sat at one of the many tables, drinking a cup of coffee. "Hey Charles if you go into town later will you send this off for me? To New York City."

Charles accepted the envelope as he stood to his feet telling her he would go right now since he wasn't busy. She thanked him with a smile waving goodbye as he rode out of camp. "Miss Washington."Miss Grimshaw's voice echoed as she approached Gwen, "yes?"Gwen replied as she turned back to face the older woman. "Miss Gaskill said she has everything prepared in yours and Mr. Morgan's tent whenever you're ready."

Gwen nodded thanking her with a smile and glanced back at the dirt path leading out of camp. Oh Arthur. And then she turned and walked to her tent where Mary-Beth, Abigail and Sadie were waiting. She trusted Sadie, Sadie was like Arthur's best friend. They worked well together and she knew Arthur trusted her too. The canvas fell closed behind her as she stood face to face with the three women she trusted the most. "You needed to talk?"Sadie's voice was calming and quiet as she stood to her feet.

"Yeah...I just need some advice; and I trust all of you to not say a word to anybody. Not even Arthur...or John." Gwen added shooting a knowing look at Abigail. "We're all ears."Sadie replied with a reassuring smile and that helped ease Gwen's nerves.

___________

As Charles was riding out of camp and down the road a little ways he ran into Arthur, and a familiar face sat on the back of his horse. "Charles, look who I ran into. Ya remember him right?"Arthur greets as he motions back to the person sitting behind him. "of course, Gwen's brother Jacob."

Jacob explains how he received a letter from his father saying how Gwen was tragically killed and he had to find out for himself. Arthur's blood grew cold as they rode to camp, Christopher Washington had the nerve to lie to his kid about his sister being killed. "I was on my way into town to send off a letter for Gwen, addressed to you."Charles called back to Jacob and Arthur as they neared the entrance to camp.

"Stop! Who goes there?!"Bill yells out pointing his gun but drops it once he realized who it was. "Where's Gwen?"Jacob asked in a frantic voice as he hopped down off the back of Arthur's horse once they were safely stopped.

Gwen, who was still inside the tent with the three women, looked at them confused when she thought she heard her brothers voice. As soon as she steps outside of the tent, a pair of arms are instantly wrapped around her and she's lifted off of the ground. "Jacob!"Gwen exclaimed in disbelief as she hugged her brother tightly, "father sent me a letter saying how you were tragically killed and I had to find out for myself."

Gwen's heart dropped at her brothers words. He lied and said I was killed? What a nasty nasty man! Gwen was disgusted by their father and explained how she was alright and that they had a lot to catch up on. Jacob agreed as he followed behind her going back inside her tent.

Arthur gave them their privacy and decided to go off with Charles, Dutch and an Indian they met, named Eagle Flies. He would catch up with Gwen later, once she had time to talk to her brother and say whatever she needed to say.

___________

"I can't believe this."Jacob muttered as he stared down at his lap in disbelief. How could this happen? "And you're sure?"he questioned once again, not wanting to believe what his little sister just said to him. "Very."Gwen assured with a sigh as she plopped down next to him, "but this is just between us."

Jacob promised to not say a word and told Gwen how Mary was doing and where they were staying at the moment. "She'd really like to see you."he added with a small smile, he loved that he was able to talk to his sister but furious at their father and mother for lying to him. "How about we go now?"Gwen suggested as she stood to her feet, she gathered her small bag and pulled it over her shoulder making sure everything she needed was inside of it. "Arthur won't mind?"her brother questioned curiously as he also stood to his feet.

Gwen shook her head assuring him that Arthur wouldn't mind. He liked Jacob and was on good terms with Mary. He had no harsh feelings towards either of them; so Gwen and Jacob both mounted her horse and rode off to Saint Denis where Mary was waiting patiently for her husband and sister-in law.

Authors Note:

Yay! Jacob and Mary are back for a little bit :) sorry if it's shitty ;(

Love you guys!

Criticism is accepted thank you lovelies! 🥰