No Time To Die- ARTHURMORGAN x O/C

part 39- The Woman He Loved

                          The evening sun dips low in the sky as the small group of outlaws make their way into Beaver Hollow, the thick canopy of trees rising around them like guardians of a hidden sanctuary. Claudia helps set up the tents, working alongside Abigail and a few others in silence, the sounds of wood creaking and canvas rustling filling the air. She takes solace in the patterns of their routine, trying to carve out a sense of normalcy amid the chaos that constantly threatens to tip their lives upside down. She anchores a tent pole in place, Claudia steals glances at Arthur as he rides into camp. She steps back, her heartbeat quickening at the thought of finally having a moment alone with him once the setup is complete.
Claudia fixes the finally pole into the ground, she turns her focus on Arthur, feeling a swell of affection and longing. She approaches him with a soft smile and reaches up to give him a kiss on the cheek, he steps back, like her  affection startles him.
Claudia's heart sinks, confusion mixing with concern, "Arthur, what's wrong?" she asks, her voice barely above a whisper as she searches his eyes for answers.
He hesitates, looking around at the busy camp. He takes her by the hand and guides her away from other gang members, pulling her towards the edge of the camp,  the trees standing sentinel, their shadows stretching long against the earth.
Arthur stops, his body tensing. Claudia's stomach knots as his expression grows somber, "Claudia, there's something I need to tell you," he began, his voice low.
The seriousness in his tone sends  alarm bells ringing in her mind, "What is it?" 
"I went to see the doctor," he says, the words hanging heavy in the air between them, "I've got tuberculosis."
The confession strikes her like a physical blow, the enormity of it hitting her square in the chest. Her breath hitches,  a tear slips down her cheek. She quickly wipes it away, determined to remain strong in front of him. "Oh, Arthur..." she whispers, her heart aching at the depth of his distress, "What are you going to do?"
Arthur's eyes meet hers, "I'll do what I have been doing every day," he replies, his voice steady yet tinging with an unspoken heaviness, "I'll do my job. I'll keep us safe."
"But..." she starts, her voice breaking slightly, "You can't just pretend like this doesn't matter. You need to take care of yourself!"
He shakes his head, the weight of his reality pressing down on him, "I can't afford to be selfish. Not now. Not with everything going on."
Claudia feels a swell of frustration, wanting to scream that he deserves to take care of himself, that he matters just as much as any plan or mission, "Arthur, you matter! To me.."
"I found her drunk, in Saint Denis" Uncle calls out to Dutch following behind Molly O'Shea. Claudia and Arthur turn their heads towards the commotion.
"How Jolly, Miss O'Shea" Dutch says as Molly walks up to him, tripping over her own two feet.
"It's Molly, you sack of shit!" Molly yells in his face.
"Back and drunk.." Dutch stands up from his position making his way towards the drunk woman, "Molly calm down!" Dutch raises his hands trying to calm her down.
"I won't be ignored, Dutch Van Der Linde. I ain't him, I ain't her or any of your stooges" She slurs pointing at Micah and Mary-Beth.
"Calm yourself, Miss"
Claudia and Arthur step forward, staying behind Dutch as tears start to form in Molly's eyes, "I don't owe you nothing, nothing!"
"Okay" Dutch answers.
"I'll spit in your eye, I did.. I told them!"
"I'm sorry?" Dutch questions, Molly's words hanging in his mind.
"Ye I told them and I'll tell them again, now I've got God's ear" Molly says stumbling around.
"You told who what?" Dutch asks, his voice going raspy.
"Mr.Milton and Mr.Ross, about the bank robbery and I wanted them to kill you!" She opens up, stepping away from Dutch.
"You did what?" Dutch queries, pulling his revolver out of his holster.
"I loved you, you goddamn bastard! Go on shoot me!" Molly screams, her heart aching as she speaks. Claudia looks at the sight, feeling sorry for the woman who just wants to be loved.
"She's crazy, she ain't worth it" Arthur whispers into Dutch's ear trying to calm him down.
Dutch shrugs Arthur's arm off and ignores him, "you told on me? you betrayed me?"
"Oh, you're not so big now. Are you?" Molly drunkenly laughs, the words spilling out of her mouth before she can think.
"Quiet!" Arthur yells, shutting Molly up, "just calm down."
"Arthur?" Dutch asks turning his head slightly to him.
"She's a fool, get her outta here!"
"You know the rules!" Dutch says his tone stern.
"Oh not so big now, are we your majesty?" Molly laughs stepping backwards, a loud ring of a gun echos. Molly yelps in pain falling back onto the ground, Claudia spins her head towards the gun that just been set off.
"She knew the rules, Arthur. What the hell is wrong with you?" Miss Grimshaw lowers the gun, "Mr. Pearson, Mr. Williamson get this body of out of here and get it burnt. Now get back to work all of you!"
Dutch walks off slowly away from the body of his past lover, only if he showed her a little more attention. Claudia's mouth still wide open, her mind still not comprehending what just happened. She never spoken to Molly, but she has always felt bad for her. She looks around seeing everyone getting back to work like nothing happened, she sees Arthur walking away to his cot. Claudia stays where she is, letting him have some space to himself. She strolls to her tent and flops down onto her bedroll letting her eyes shut just for 5 minutes.