Ghosts of the Past [ RDR2 - Arthur Morgan ]

Chapter 43 - What's left of Loyalty

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Chapter 43 - What's left of Loyalty

The sounds of two horses galloped into camp. Odd. There should have been three. Rose and Abigail were on their feet in an instant at the sight of Sadie, with John on the rump of her horse, and Arthur riding in Beavers Hollow. Knowing better than to immediately enquire about the absence of Jacob, Rose stayed back. Waiting on the inevitable blow-up.

"You brought him back to me." Abigail hummed happily as she rushed to embrace John.

Ever dismissive of gratitude, Sadie shrugged "Said we would." As she too, slipped off her saddle and began hitching her horse.

"JOHN!" And there it was. Dutch was already storming across camp, comically angry. Nostrils flaring and eyebrows near to his hairline, he observed what should have been a happy reunion between father, mother and child as though watching his own personal horror show. "What are you doing here?" His demand was followed by a distrustful glance at Abigail as she embraced John.

"It's good to see you too, Partner." John replied simply. Taking his moment to embrace his woman, regardless of his father figures feelings.

"I meant- I hadn't sent for you yet." Dutch's voice sounded closer to a growl as he and Micah marched towards the situation at the entrance to camp.

The next words brought pause. Arthur leaned against the hitching post, lazily striking a match on the sole of his boot. "I went." He lit a cigarette, taking a slow, full draw before finally meeting Dutch's gaze.

Dutch went still, blindsided. The man he'd always seen as his most faithful, loyal son had just gone against him. "I said-"

"Yeah. I know what you said." Arthur rumbled, pushing off the post and sauntering over as he took another drag. Meeting Dutch's eyes as he blew out a slow stream of smoke to the side. "I felt different."

Still determined to keep the air of authority, Dutch squared his shoulders, giving Arthur a once over. "Is that so?"

And the answer was as short and straight as the rest of it. "Yes."

Even the birds knew to stop singing now. Shallow breathing filled the silence between them as Arthur and Dutch locked eyes. For a moment it almost felt like he might draw his gun. Instead, he spoke. "And when springing John brings the law on all of us?"

But it seemed his son had an answer for that too, another controlled puff of his cigarette, exhaling a curl of smoke before answering with a small raise of his brow. "Then I guess we'll have another fight on our hands."

The chill of the mountain air wasn't what made Rose pull her jacket closer around her. It was the look in Micah's eyes. He wasn't troubled by the impending consequences of John's return—no, he was watching something far more satisfying: the breakdown of Dutch's bond with his best man. And he was excited by it. As though the crumbling of this relationship had been what he had been building to for months. Micah couldn't hide the smirk on his face as he sat back on a crate of boxes.

"Loyalty, Arthur." Dutch pushed on like a scratched record. Cursed to repeat that line again and again. Dutch's gaze dropped, brows knitting tight. "It ain't- I had a plan." Dutch insisted "I had a goddamn plan!" He shot his gaze back to his younger protege "John- You are my brother." He exclaimed, lifting his arms as though in a show of embracing him. Yet he did not move closer. "You are my son." Hollow as his promises of plans "I was coming for you."