Ghosts of the Past [ RDR2 - Arthur Morgan ]

Chapter 14 - Robbin' Houses

WORD COUNT - 2763

The following few days at the new camp - Clements point - was spent with the gang attempting to find their normal rhythm once again. As the days wore on Arthur was glad to see Rosemary was beginning to settle into her new life within the gang. Although the continued teasing and questions from John and Hosea any time they were nearby. Mostly about why Arthur had not yet made any kind of attempt with Rosemary.

The answer to this, Arthur himself could not quite work out. In reality it should have been the first thing he did once they had finally met again. And thoughts of grabbing her by the hips and pulling her lips to his to steal all the air from her lungs certainly haunted his every thought when she was near him. But there was something standing in the way. Some kind of uncertainty that kept telling Arthur Neither of you are the same people anymore.

But he was haunted by the ghost of what could have been. If he had given them the chance to grow older together, rather than apart. She wouldn't have married that man. But then again, he wouldn't have had Isaac.

At this moment in time, Arthur was returning to the camp, with Sean McGuire talking his ear off as they rode side by side. One of his hands held the reins of Laurel, the other hand was pressed against his own neck. He and the Irish-man were returning from a home robbery, and unfortunately a moment of distraction had led to someone getting a jump on Arthur. Their knife had only grazed his neck, but it was still bleeding.

Sean McGuire, much to Arthur's distaste, was now Arthur's saviour. As the small Irishman had punched Arthur's attacker before anything more than a graze could be dealt.

"I think I'll go see that new camp doctor." Sean was saying, looking at his very lightly bruised knuckles. "Have her coo over my injuries or whatever that pretty thing does."

Arthur's brows fell into a frown as he looked over at Sean "You're kidding - right?" He asked in a tone that barely hid his distaste for Sean's antics "You ain't even injured. If you're gone run to the doctor every time you punch a man, maybe you oughta rethink your line of work."

Grinning a little cheekily as Sean dismounted the horse he shrugged "See, my friend, my methods of seduction are entirely proximity based. I'll wear her down."

At this Arthur slid off his mount to the ground as well, deciding he too would accompany Sean to see Rosemary. He had a wound on his neck after all. It had nothing to do with wanting to keep an eye on Sean. Nothing at all to do with not wanting his Rose to be alone with someone else... right?

"Miss Levenson, I require your assistance." Sean called.

Rosemary was sitting at the table that had been placed against one wall of her wagon, reading absently through one of the medical journals when Sean and Arthur approached. When she turned around, it was with a curious expression, and seeing Arthur's hand pressing into his own neck, she stood and moved her chair aside. It was clear and obvious Rosemary had assumed Arthur was the patient - but when Sean jumped up on the table instead, she raised a brow in confusion. "Em... What's hurt?" She asked, looking Sean over.