The wild, wild West (Arthur Morgan x f!reader)

CHAPTER 41 - A family man

Strauss stopped me before I could follow Arthur into Dutchs tent. „Miss (L/n), one word, please."

I sighed and glanced at Arthur who kept walking. Then I decided that he wouldn't exactly need me and nodded in defeat. „Sure, what is it?"

Strauss smiled his thin, empty smile. „There's another depth to collect. His name is Thomas Downes, he lives on a small ranch with his family."

I wanted to ask him if that wasn't Arthurs job, why I had to be the one to do it. With his family... I furrowed my brows slightly and nodded, so that Strauss wouldn't notice my insecurity, but the thoughts swirled around wildly in my head.

He kept talking, but I barely listened, until Arthur finally returned. I sighed with relief when Strauss left us alone and looked up at my friend. „I've got another job. Want to come along?"

He just nodded. I examined his face while we walked towards the horses. His expression was hardened and a worried crease had formed.

„So, we're in trouble?", I asked while we saddled the horses. What a dumb question. Of course we were in trouble.

He took a deep breath, sensing my real question. „Dutch says we're staying for now. But he wants to send someone scouting ahead for a new camp."

Our eyes met over the back of the horses. „You did good. Down by the river, I mean." He attempted a smile, but the tension that was etched in his face made it seem more like a grimace.

I raised the corner of my lips. „I suppose so... Misses Morgan." A dry chuckle escaped my throat. „Let's go now."

We mounted up and started the ride to the Downes Ranch.

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I patted Smiths neck, called out for Cat and followed Arthur, who already walked towards the small farmhouse. His broad shoulders had stiffened and the way he moved had become more predatory, like a wolf sneaking up to its prey. I was still nervous, but I hid it well.  

While I stepped across the small field of grass in front of the house, Arthur had reached the fence of the garden. I heard him call out: „Come here, you maggot.", followed by the weak, thin voice of a man.

„Please, Sir, I'm.. I'll..."

I arrived in the same moment when Arthur grabbed the rancher by the throat and shook him like a doll. His muscles flexed under his shirt with every move, his body moved like a deadly machine. The smaller, fragile looking man struggled against his iron grip, but he stood no change against the outlaw.

„Why'd it have to come to this, huh?", Arthur hissed.

„Believe me sir. I didn't want this either.", Downes stammered and swallowed thickly.

Arthur pushed him back roughly. The mans back collided harshly with the shaky looking fence before he dropped to the ground. The outlaws broad figure towered over him and cast a threatening shadow over his face. „You ain't such a do-gooder if you're running out on debts."

„I'm not running anywhere. I..." He interrupted himself with a wet cough while he raised one hand in a defensive gesture. „I'm doing my best for you."

„You are a slippery little bastard. But I got you now."

„Please, show some compassion, please. I got a family!"

His eyes met mine, as if he had only noticed me now. I could see weakness in them, pain, and most of all, fear. His gaze twisted my stomach into a knot, full of guilt and disgust. How could I even think of supporting this?

Arthur tensed up, ready to pounce on the man, but my firm hand on his shoulder pulled him back.

„Stop it."

I stepped between the two men, shielding Thomas Downes from the outlaw. In a lower, shakier voice I repeated. „Stop it."

I expected his hands on my shoulders, pushing me aside so he could finish the job, or even on my face, punishing me for my intervention with the same violence he used on Downes. But after a long moment of silence, Arthur stepped back, lowering his hands in surrender.

A woman with a teenage boy appeared from the house and stumbled towards us, her eyes wide and fearful. I ripped my eyes away from her and turned to the man behind me, who had propped himself up on the fence. A string of pathetic groans and choked coughs left his lips while the woman behind my back yelled his name.

„We'll come back, and if you don't have the money by then, you won't get away again, you hear me?", I threatened, while I secretly wanted nothing more than to apologize to him, the woman and the boy and ride away, far, far away so I wouldn't have to face Arthurs anger and the fact that I was a lousy outlaw.

Downes nodded slowly, a thin streak of blood leaked from the corner of his mouth. I wasn't even sure if he had heard me, and if it was even important if he had or not. Maybe he wouldn't even be there by the time that we returned. I walked past Arthur, shoved the boy aside and whistled for Smith.

I heard footsteps behind me, a lower whistle, assuring me that Arthur was following. In one swift movement, I pulled myself up into the saddle and hurried Smith into a fast trot.

We rode next to each other, no one dared to speak. Then I finally looked at Arthur. I could read the question in his eyes, but I kept quiet, until he spoke.

„What was that?"

I clenched my fingers around the reins. „I'm..." Admitting that I didn't want to hurt a man because he was husband and a father was to pathetic to say it out loud. Arthur would laugh at me. „He's already half dead. It wasn't worth the effo..."

„Why are you lying?", Arthur interrupted me.

„What..." I stopped myself. He was my friend, wasn't he? I breathed in deeply. „He has a family, Arthur. I can't just... I can't watch how you beat him to death. I know how...." I shook my head, stopping myself before I remembered to much.

Arthurs eyes clung to my face. He didn't ask, and I was thankful for that. „It might be better like that."

Neither of us knew how right he was. We couldn't know that Arthur would have caught the same disease Downes was succumbing to. How it would have eaten him alive, hollowing the man out until he was only a shadow of his former self.

I hadn't saved Thomas Downes, but I had saved my closest friend.

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-1114 words