No Time To Die- ARTHURMORGAN x O/C

part 37- Insults and Punches

                    The morning sun creeps over the horizon, casting a warm golden glow across the camp. Arthur tightens the strap on his saddlebag, checking the contents one last time before turning to face Claudia. She is crouched near one of the wagons, packing away personal items, her movements quick.
"I'll be back before you know it," Arthur reassures her, forcing a smile that doesn't quite reach his eyes, "Just need to talk to Sadie about John and how we can get him out of that hellhole, apparently she has found a way to get in there by flying."
Claudia nods, but the worry etches across her face tells him that she wasn't convinced, "Be careful out there, Arthur," she says, her voice steady even as her eyes flickered with concern. "Saint Denis isn't exactly a safe place these days and are you ill, you've been coughing a lot recently."
"I'm fine just a little cold. I'll keep my head down," he promises, "And I won't take any chances. Just focus on packing up. We'll be moving soon."
Her gaze lingers on him, a tangle of emotions in her gaze. Arthur can only offer her a reassuring nod before mounting his horse and riding off towards the horizon.
Claudia takes a deep breath and returns her attention to the camp. The bustling sounds around her. She feels like a ghost in their midst, moving among the living, all while her thoughts turn inwards.
She begins packing the little belongings that she has, a few precious items that remind her of her mother: her black leather holster with small flowers embroidered on it, a small trinket with her mother's bracelet in.
Once she is satisfied with her packing, she heads towards the horses, her mind setting on saddling up her own. She approaches her horse, Nyrah, she stops noticing Micah Bell leaning against the wooden fence, casually feeding his horse, Baylock, some sugar cubes. He is grinning, the kind of smile that makes her skin crawl.
"Look who it is," he calls as she draws closer, his voice dripping with false charm, "Gorgeous as ever, Claudia. You know, we should really get to know each other better. Forget about the banter from before. Maybe go out sometime?"
She feels her irritation rising immediately, a flicker of fire igniting within her, "No thank you, Micah," she replies as she continues to walk, hoping to sidestep the encounter.
"Aw, come on! Don't be like that! You think you're too good for me?" he taunts, stepping closer, the playful tone shading quickly into something more insistent.
"I don't want anything to do with you," she bites back, raising an eyebrow as he continues to encroach on her space.
"Really? Because I think you'd be surprised," he says, feeding Baylock another cube, his gaze wandering over her in a way that makes her stomach twist uncomfortably, "I mean, look at you. The way you move... You could do a lot better than that sick man you're too busy mooning over."
Claudia shoots him a sharp glare, her patience wearing thin. She feels like an animal backed into a corner, and now her defenses kicked in, "Just leave me alone, Micah!"
"Is that how you treat all the other fellas in camp? You've been hanging around them a lot, haven't you? Maybe that's why they can't get enough of you," he says, a smirk crossing his lips as he leans in conspiratorially, "But let's be honest, you could make an honest living wage, you know, as a whore."
"Shut up!" she snaps, her fist clenching around her horse's saddle straps, her frustration boiling over, "You don't know a damn thing about me."
"Sure I do," he replies, stepping even closer, a glimmer of amusement in his eyes which fuels her rage even more, "You're just a desperate little thing wanting someone to actually love you because your daddy can't."
Claudia doesn't think twice. She throws a hard punch right into the side of his face, the impact reverberating through her bad arm. Micah stumbles, more surprised than hurt, but the look of shock quickly morphs into an ugly sneer.
"You little whore!" he spits, wiping at the corner of his mouth where her fist had connected.
"Shut it, Cocksucker!" She shouts catching other people's attention. Miss Grimshaw appears, a scowl deepening her already furrowed brow as she storms over, her watchful eyes taking in the scene.
"What in God's name is going on here?" Miss Grimshaw demands, her voice cutting through the tension like a knife, "Micah! Stop harassing Miss Jenkins, and do something useful!"
"I was just having a little fun," Micah shrugs, acting innocent as he rubs his jaw where Claudia hit him, "Thought I'd compliment the lady."
"Compliments don't come with insults, you idiot! Claudia, you need to walk away!" she snaps, then turns back to Micah, "And you, try to keep your mouth shut for once. We don't need this kind of trouble around here!"
Claudia takes a shaky step back, still seething with anger but now feeling exposed under Miss Grimshaw's sharp gaze. She doesn't want to get into more trouble, especially right now when tensions were high.
"Go," Miss Grimshaw orders, her tone brooking no argument, "Walk it off and cool down."
Claudia nods, biting her lip to keep from further retaliating.she strides away from the confrontation, her heart racing. The adrenaline courses through her, mixing with indignation and disappointment. Anger alone isn't enough to make her feel better; it was a reminder of how often Micah has crossed lines without any regard for boundaries with all women in the gang.