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

thirty-one; goodbye to old friends

                    "no matter how hard
                     the past is, you can
                     always begin again."
                     ~buddha

___________

Gwen

I waited a few moments scanning his face for his reaction before I repeated myself. "Arthur—I'm pregnant. Please say something."I begged as I looked up at him, I had so many thoughts running through my mind and nervous butterflies in my stomach. "P-Pregnant?"he whispered as he looked down at the floor seeming to be lost in his own thoughts. My heart dropped at those words. Was he not happy?

I dropped my head as I felt the tears start to fall from my eyes. A few seconds later I feel his arms wrap around me, pulling me closer. "I love ya Gwendolyn Washington and I will do everything I can to protect both of ya. I won't make the same mistake again."he said the last part of his sentence quietly and my heart broke. He thought losing Isaac and Eliza was his fault.

I turned my body around fully so I could face him; our eyes locked and I told him in a stern voice that losing them was not his fault and he shouldn't blame himself. He just nodded his head but the look in his eyes said otherwise. He opened his mouth to say something but the sound of someone shouting his name cut their conversation short. "Arthur!"

I grew irritated once again at the sound of someone needing Arthur's help—again. They always needed him to do something, couldn't they give him a break? Arthur looked at me with a sympathetic look as he glanced back at the entrance to the tent and back to me. "Go."I whispered motioning towards the exit, I really wanted us to talk more about this but someone clearly needed him more. "I love you."I added leaning in to press a soft kiss to his chapped lips.

I loved Arthur Morgan and I knew he would get better. He had to, we were having a baby. He stood to his feet pulling me up with him, and lead me out of the tent to see who was shouting. "Arthur, I need you to meet up with John. Stick to the plan, son."Dutch told him and I knew he was talking about blowing up the bridge. I had a bad feeling about this, using dynamite to blow up a bridge?

I tightened my fingers around Arthur's starting to get nervous. "I got it."he muttered as he turned away from Dutch to look at me"I'll be safe 'lright? I gotta come back and keep yall safe." We shared a short but sweet kiss before he left to go help John. My hand instinctively went to my stomach as I walked back to the tent, "hey."a familiar voice spoke up as I walked by causing me to turn my head and I notice Abigail sitting at a table with Jack sat in front of her, drawing in the dirt with a stick he found. 

I greeted her back with a smile as I took a seat beside her, "well...did you tell him?"She questioned with a curious look as she turned her attention away from her son and towards me.  I nodded, biting my lip to keep from smiling"I did...he didn't seem angry. Just—he blames himself for what happened when he was younger...to Isaac and Eliza."I explained remembering when he first told me about the two. The broken look on his face, the distant look in his eyes.

We sat and talked as we watched Jack play in the dirt for an hour or two, just waiting for Arthur and John to return. "Have any names picked out?"Abigail questioned as she folded her families clothes, I shrugged as I shook out one of Arthur's shirts before folding it up and placing it neatly in the clothes basket. "No—I hadn't really thought of any...I want Arthur to help. I mean after all this is his child too."

Soon after I felt a pair of arms wrap themselves around my waist from behind, and a pair of lips on my cheek. "Hey darlin' ya got something."Arthur mumbled in my ear as he held out a white envelope addressed to a Tacitus Kilgore I look at him confused as I slowly grab the letter from his hand"who would be sending me a letter? Jacob hasn't left yet."I question as I tear open the envelope and pull the piece of paper out. I scan my eyes over the letter before reading it aloud.

Dear Miss Gwen,

It is I, Fredrick. I am writing you to inform you of something your mother and father have planned. They are arranging meetings with the U.S Army and the Pinkerton Detective Agency, they plan to have the gang you are running with hanged for kidnapping. They believe they kidnapped both you and Mister Jacob. I have informed your parents that I will not be apart of any of these disgusting acts...so I will be taking a train and moving to New York City immediately. Please be careful Miss Gwen....your parents will stop at nothing to bring you and your brother home. Goodbye for now Miss Washington.

Love, your trusting and loving butler Fredrick

P.S I do hope we can meet again...I truly enjoyed your company.

I stared down at the letter in shock, not wanting to believe what I just read. "That bastard."Arthur spat thinking of my nasty power hungry father, he broke out into a cough and I rubbed his back giving him a sad smile"you should lay down my love...get some rest. You're overworking yourself." he just nodded and asked if I would join him and how could I say no?

We told Abigail,John and Jack goodnight before heading to our tent. I made sure to tie the canvas closed, listening to the sound of Arthur getting rid of all of his layers of clothing before getting comfortable on the bed. "I'm gonna try my damndest to stay alive to protect yall, darlin'"Arthur whispered as we lay together in each others arms, his hand rubbing small circles on my stomach whilst listening to the sound of crickets chirping outside. My heart broke at his words because I sometimes forgot he had tuberculosis, I just nodded because I knew if I opened my mouth to talk I'd never stop crying. I just savored the feeling of Arthur's warm embrace, I was deeply in love with this man. And we're having a baby....but he's sick. And he wasn't sure he was gonna get better.

Authors Note:

There it is! That's the secret, the unexpected news! 🤣

Sorry it sucked guys ;(

Criticism is accepted thank you lovelies! 🥰