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

CHAPTER 45 - Clemens Point

My eyes snapped to the treeline, adrenaline surged through my veins. „Get in cover!"

Gunfire erupted, I dove behind a box while Arthur jumped behind the huge tree. The warning bought us precious, livesaving seconds. I peaked around the corner to get a view of the attackers. They stood between the trees, mocking us with their lack of cover. I narrowed my eyes and took aim.

I took one down with a headshot, splattering bits of brain and blood onto the bark of the surrounding trees. Before the other men could react, Arthur and Charles bullets shattered the skulls of two more. The remaining guy whipped around and fled into the woods. But before he could escape out of our view, a flash of black and white rushed towards him. He tumbled over, disappeared between the ferns and bushes for a moment. I could hear him cursing and crying out in pain, then his head appeared between the foliage. I ended the struggle with a precise shot, piercing the back of his head.

A pang of anxiety filled my chest while my eyes searched frantically for Cats silluette somewhere between the plants. For a second that lasted an eternity, everything was silent and I jumped up and sprinted over to the treeline. My dog met me halfway, I almost stumbled over her. I let out a breath of relief and wrapped my arms around her. She licked my face while I lifter her up. A wide smile forced itself onto my lips while I scratched her behind the ears. „Gotta be careful, girl. Don't get yourself hurt, alright?"

I put her back on ther ground. My racing heart calmed down while I slung the shotgun back over my shoulder and walked back to my companions. With a quick glance, I checked if both of them were unharmed. Charles kneeled next to the german man with his knive ready. The poor guy was still lying on the ground, his legs tied together. Charles freed him.

Meanwhile, Arthur pushed his revolver back into his holster and whistled for his mare that had gotten spooked off by the gunshots. She returned while Arthur stepped over to me, looking me up and down in the same fashion I had examined him a moment before. His brows were furrowed, his lips pressed together. Angry lines had formed on his forehead. When he reached me, he gripped my shoulders firmly. „You can't just go runnin' like this, 'specially not when we don't know if it's clear."

I wanted to step back, but his unrelenting grasp forced me closer, close enough to feel his heavy breath on the tip of my nose. Now I could see the worry shimmering in his eyes, hidden beneath the deep creases of anger in his expression. „It's a dog, for gods sake.", he cursed. „You can't risk your life like that. I... We need you out here. "

I had pressed one hand against his chest to push him of me, but the sight of his eyes made me stop. My gaze fell to the ground, my shoulders softened. I swallowed the defensive answer on my tongue. „Yeah... Right. Sorry. I wasn't thinking. You're right."

His grip had lightened, I probably could have pulled away. But I didn't. Arthur closed his eyes for a moment, then he lowered his hands. Overtaken by a wave of confusion, I turned away.

„(Y/n)!" Charles voice called me back to reality.

„Yeah!" I jogged over to the outlaw.

He had freed the captive and helped him up. The man stammered something incoherent. „You recon we can set up camp here?", Charles asked.

„Sure. It's well protected and not that easy to find."

„How 'bout you, Charles, go get Dutch and the rest to pack up.", Arthur chimed in and stepped next to me. „We'll clear this place up and get that feller back to his family."

Charles agreed. He mounted and rode away while I turned to the stranger that fidgeted with his hands and did his best to avoid our eyes.

„Hallo.", I greeted him. „Geht es ihnen gut?"