Ghosts of the Past [ RDR2 - Arthur Morgan ]

Chapter 31 - The moments after

Word count - 2415
TRIGGER WARNING
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The group rolled back into Shady Belle. Lenny steering the horses, and Bill grumbling about the flaws of society. Rosemary avoided Arthur's eyes, but it seemed Arthur was doing the same. A slight embarrassment had befallen them from their moment of weakness. Almost as though a moment they had been building to for months - no - 10 years, had just been ruined by their own impatience.

The tension was quiet. Almost underhanded as none of the others seemed to pick up on it. But the moments of hush in the carriage was when Rose or Arthur would chance a glance at the other. That was when the weight of the unspoken understanding fell between them before someone else would speak up again.

The carriage arrived in Shady Belle once more, and the five stepped out. Lenny jumped down from the drivers box, pulling off his tie as he did "Next time you men need a driver it ain't me." He said jokingly, tugging the linen bag of clothes out of the foot well and throwing it to Bill.

Hosea chuckled, clapping Lenny's shoulder as Bill dumped the bag of clothes in the laundry bucket.

The group dispersed to their own beds, intent on ridding themselves of the suffocating clothes from the party as quickly as possible. Rose cast a wary glance over her shoulder at Arthur, who was entering the house as she headed for her wagon.

Once changed and refreshed, Rose sat heavily on her cot, head in her hands for a long moment. Idiot. She thought Idiot.

But just as she was drowning in her own regrets, one of the apothecary drawers were pulled open, and out of its insert. Leaving a gap in the wall to the outside, where John's face was "You mopping in here as well?" He asked.

"Mr Marston!" Rose scolded "I coulda been indecent. Put the drawer back." She demanded.

John chuckled, but continued to address her through the hole he'd made. "I don't know what happened. But you oughta do something about Arthur. He's like a kicked puppy."

Head tilted to the side now, Rose frowned "What chu mean?"

John sighed as though already bored of the conversation and lifted the drawer back into place, before walking to the back and opening the door, offering Rosemary a hand down "C'mon, Miss Levenson. I may be a man - but I know love-sickness when I see it."

Rose took his hand to step down from the wagon "I don't get your meaning." She repeated hastily. "What's Arthur doing?"

"Making a fool of himself. Kicking boxes." John replied blankly, motioning an arm as though to say 'go' towards the house "Go sort your man out, please."

Rose had begun walking and faulted at the 'your man' comment, but decided now was not the time to stick on that point as she walked towards the house. Once inside, there was a definite noise of pacing upstairs in the corner room Arthur slept in. With each step, Rose heard a little more. Occasional mutterings of "Idiot".

She climbed to the top of the stairs, doubled back along the hall towards the room, and paused outside to steel herself. "Arthur?" Rose called "You... Alright in there?"

The pacing ceased immediately. Then a few heavy footsteps and the door was pulled open. Arthur had changed. Dressed in a worn old blue shirt rolled up at the sleeves. It was clear he had only just started getting changed, the top buttons weren't even done up. A neckerchief lay untied around the back of his neck. "Rose-" Arthur began.

In a surge of bravery brought on by - god knows what. Rose silenced Arthur in one move.

Her hands grabbed the ends of the neckerchief and tugged him down to meet her lips once more. What was the point of pretending? Why wait for a perfect moment, when the taste of each other was perfect enough.