Ghosts of the Past [ RDR2 - Arthur Morgan ]

Chapter 26 - The Good Die Young

A/N - we all knew it was coming. But I'm still sorry about Sean.

WORD COUNT - 2981

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The men left together, leaving Pearson and Micah behind to tend the camp. Jacob Coors had been sent away, spared for his help with Sean and Arthur's word of trust. For a long time, the only sounds in camp were Mrs. Grimshaw, Rosemary Levenson, and Pearson rushing around in Sean's care. Now, however, only Abigail's quiet sobs broke the silence. The camp waited, holding its breath for the hopeful return of little Jack Marston.

Mrs Grimshaw had long since left the wagon and was sitting quietly by a bucket of cold water, scrubbing absent-mindedly at the blood on her arms and clothes. Her eyes were blank, though almost wistful. Rosemary was not outside.

That was when the menfolk returned. A group of fairly unhappy people, and no Jack in sight. Arthur's gaze swept over the camp, taking in the hollow faces of those left behind. The sight of Abigail slumped in a chair, her shoulders shaking with sobs, gnawed at his gut. No Jack. And now Sean was gone too. He stepped toward Rosemary's wagon, unsure of what he'd find, but dreading it all the same.

The back door was wide open, revealing Rosemary's whole upper body and lap which were covered in blood. Sean's pale Irish skin was drained of its last hint of colour. Her eyes stared unseeingly at Sean's dead body. "Rose..." Arthur rumbled quietly.

Her voice was small, fragile, as though the weight of Sean's death had crushed it. "Did you find him?" voice trembling as she clung to some thread of normality, her hands still resting on Sean's blood-soaked chest. The words barely registered. A doctor losing a patient was never easy, but losing Sean—young, reckless, full of life—was more than she could bear.

"No. The Braithwaite shipped Jack off to some high society man in Saint Denis." Arthur replied, "Let's get you out of there." he added, stepping onto the dicky and into the wagon, offering a hand to Rosemary. The wagon reeked of blood and death, a smell that clawed at Arthur's stomach as he stepped inside. "We'll bury him good and proper."

Still not taking Arthur's offered hand, she replied with another question. "Where's Jacob?" Rosemary asked.

Arthur's hand tensed a little, still out stretched for Rose. "Back to Rhodes I presume."

"To do what? He ain't got no work there now." Rosemary's gaze dropped back to Sean. The gang had killed every Gray in Rhodes, tearing apart the town's fragile fabric for their own survival. What would become of the people left behind? No matter where Arthur, Dutch, or the others went, they left only ruin in their wake. Dust, ruin, and blood.

Seeing Rosemary's eyes were still firmly trained on Sean's body, with no intention of taking his hand, Arthur leaned forward and took a gentle hold of her hand instead. The cool, thick, partially dried blood from the failed surgery coating his palm as he gently tugged Rosemary to her feet, and led her from the wagon. She did not argue. Though her eyes remained on Sean as long as they could be she was forced to snap them back to watch her feet as she left the wagon.

Arthur's voice was quiet as he addressed Bill. "You take Sean somewhere? Give him a proper burial." Turning back to Rosemary, he gently led her to a chair outside the wagon, his touch careful, as though afraid she might break. "Rose," he murmured, "Sean wouldn't want you blamin' yourself"

Rose's eyes closed over as she sat, the sound of her wagon creaking as Bill climbed into it to retrieve the body only seemingly to upset her further.