Ghosts of the Past [ RDR2 - Arthur Morgan ]

Chapter 19 - Wild Horses

word count - 1931
PLEASE VOTE AND COMMENT

"It's freezing." Was the next words to crack to night air, just above the thundering of the rain. Arthur Morgan listened to Rosemary's words.

The tent was filled once more with the sounds of only thundering rain for a long moment as Arthur mulled over her simple two words. "Sorry, Rose, ain't no chance of starting a fire in this weather."

It seemed each sentence was broken heavily by silence. "No, I s'pose not." She muttered.

"C'mere."

Although it took Arthur a great deal of thought to force that word out, he felt immediate regret when Rosemary did not respond at once.

"I said C'mere." There was a moment of debate, hung in the air, before the sound of movement preceded Rosemary's body gently joining at Arthur's side. It was all in complete silence for a long moment as he placed his arm around her shoulder and pulled her into his chest. "Can't have you losing toes." He excused.

"No, that wouldn't be much fun." She agreed quietly.

It was quite tense for a moment, but Arthur simply thought back to that night by the lake. How easily they had laid together. Fell asleep together. Been together. After some time, the tension in Rosemary seemed to ease as Arthur enjoyed the soft warmth of her presence against him. Absently his arm gently traced patterns on her arm, his eyes closing.

"Sleep well." He whispered.

· · ─ ·𖥸· ─ · ·

When Arthur awoke in the morning he found the rain had stopped, and that his side was no longer warmed. But the smell of fresh coffee wafted through the tent. Clearly Rosemary had awoken first, and he found himself surprised he had not been woken up by her movement. He was so deeply comfortable that he slept more soundly than he had done in many years.

Arthur sat up with a groan, stretching out his back as he did "That smells like coffee." He said with a low rumbling chuckle as he pushed out of the tent.

"I took a good guess you'd have some in your saddle bag." Rosemary said simply, pulling the quietly whistling pot from the fire with her hand wrapped in a cloth. "I see you treat yourself well. That's damn expensive coffee grounds."

Arthur took a seat on the ground across the fire from her and accepted the hot tin mug when offered. "Sometimes." He agreed, "Or maybe I just stole them off of Hosea."

A small laugh was shared at that as Rosemary poured her own cup "Well then I don't feel as bad stealing some off you."

"What's mine is yours." He didn't even have to consider that. "So where's this herd of horses you were talking about?"

"Not far." Rosemary replied, recovering quickly from Arthur's gentle words "They often drank at Cattail pond."

Humming in response Arthur pulled a cigarette from his bag and put it between his lips "You spend a lot of time 'round Cattail pond? I thought that was bear country."

Rosemary shrugged, "Never saw no bears when I was there."

"Well we best get going. Lord knows how long it might take to find these horses of yours." He said, finishing his coffee and getting to his feet.

Together both of them broke down the camp and mounted up to ride the rest of the way, under the railway bridge and up towards Cattail pond. It was a rather picturesque area, the pond circled by rising rocks that formed a short cliff edge. Filled with life of local fauna stopping for drinks. "I was thinking." Arthur mentioned "After we get you one of them Appaloosa's we should head into Valentine and get cha a new saddle." He commented off handily.