Ghosts of the Past [ RDR2 - Arthur Morgan ]

Chapter 42 - The Price of Loyalty

Word count - 1959

CHAPTER 42 - The Price of Loyalty

"Beavers Hollow." Jacob muttered, shaking his head. "Bunch of animals hidin' in a damn cave." He exhaled sharply, eyeing the rocky mouth of the hideout like it might swallow him whole. "What the hell did I get myself into?" New to the gang, his position of authority was miniscule at best. He'd been put with the other men near the mouth of the cave, but so far had actively avoided venturing too near.

Arthur, Grimshaw, Sadie, and Rose had vouched for him, but it hardly mattered. Dutch didn't want him here. And when Dutch didn't want you, neither did Micah or Bill.

Currently taking a small moment of reprieve, Rosemary was sat inside her wagon sewing up holes in Arthur's shirt. Something Arthur had not asked of her, nor even noticed needing doing. There was something rather soothing about seeing his woman care for him silently. He was sat on a chair outside when Jacob had wandered over and lent on a nearby tree.

"Buck up, cowboy," Arthur muttered, but there was no real fight in it. "You're in it now." But so was he. Stuck, just like the rest of them. Like his boots were buried in the rot of this place, same as everyone else.

Arthur and Charles had been the ones to clear out the last group who lived here. Vicious men. But their presence still lingered, like the earth hadn't forgotten them yet. It clung to the gang, thick as the damp in the cave walls. They all felt it—the weight, the wrongness. Like the place was rotting from the inside out.

"So he's workin' a chain gang." Arthur's voice was steady, but his mind was already elsewhere. The gang was settled. Fine. But John? He wouldn't let his brother-in-arms end up on a noose—not while he still had breath in his lungs. Even if Dutch insisted they wait.

"S'right." Sadie cut in, dropping herself onto the dickey of Rose's wagon like she owned the damn thing. Through the absence of the men folk, Sadie had taken quite well to leadership. Despite not being the best with a gun during their stay at Lakay - that mantle was taken by Jacob and Charles - Sadie had taken charge. A title she was not quick to let go of. "Jacob managed to spot him."

This caught Arthur's attention "How d'you mean?" He asked curiously, leaning his elbows on his thigh as he looked between Sadie and Jacob.

There was a moment of quiet laughing from Jacob, clearly remembering what had gone down. "Sent him up in a balloon to get a peek at Sisika." Sadie said it like it was the most normal thing in the world. Then, grinning, "Betcha woulda loved it, Morgan. Real peaceful up there." Stretching out her arms over her chest, Sadie added with a smug grin "Till I started shootin'."

Exhaling deep and slow, already feeling the headache forming, Arthur pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'm almost scared to ask... who were you shooting?"

"O'Driscolls." Jacob answered.

At this, Rose lifted her eyes to meet Jacob's from inside the wagon. A quiet conversation - are you okay? Well aware she was the only one in the gang who knew of Jacob's past life with the Irish, green clad, gang. He gave a minute shake of his head as though to say later.

Not one to easily miss things, Arthur caught the shared look, and cleared his throat, leaning in slightly. "You have much dealin's with them? Back in your... what'd you call it? Glory days?"

"Enough." Jacob answered vaguely "Hurt my woman bad - Colm did." He added. Now I ain't saying I'm opposed to the body count. But maybe opening fire from a damn basket floatin' in the sky ain't the smartest thing you ever done, Firecracker."

Sadie shrugged. Picking dirt out from her nails with her knife. "Worked out fine, didn't it?"

Arthur settled his hat a little firmer on his head, smirking like the devil himself. "Betcha were sweatin' up there, huh?"