Ghosts of the Past [ RDR2 - Arthur Morgan ]

Chapter 45 - The Traitor's Bargain

Word count - 2150

CHAPTER 45 - The Traitor's Bargain

"MICAH!" Rose's voice cracked with the strain of her shout. It was sheer desperation. She knew he had no moral compass, but this felt low, even for him. His cold eyes barely spared her a glance as the cuffs were locked around her wrist. "You goddamn TRAITOR!" She yelled out as best as her voice could carry. The Pinkertons weren't above roughing up a woman, it seemed.

His steely blue eyes flicked back to her. "Yeah. She'll get you what you're after." Micah affirmed to the man she recognized. Agent Milton, from Lakay. From Clements point. "Morgan ain't gonna leave her if he knows where she is." Then a long pause. "And I get my pardon?"

"Yes, Mr Bell." Milton stated. "If we apprehend Morgan, you'll get your pardon. Plus any of the gold you can carry away from that god awful camp of yours. Beavers Hollow, you say?"

"That's the place." He affirmed. Dusting off his jacket and stepping back towards his horse. "Make sure she's good and roughed up for me, will ya?" He added. "She's been whinging for months now. It'll be good knowing she's getting some comeuppance for that."

Milton looked at him with a shake of his head. "You're a foul man, Mr Bell. On your way 'fore I change my mind."

The horse snorted as Micah mounted up, and with one last look at Rose, he sent her a sneering smile. "Enjoy yourself, Miss Levenson. When the lover boy comes for ya, at least you'll get your goodbye, 'fore he swings."

"GOD DAMN COWARD! YOU ABSOLUTE BASTA-" The remainder of Roses words were muffled by a cloth rag gagging her, though even muffled her insults didn't stop.

Yet it was clear Micah Bell didn't care. He was already leaving. Back towards camp. The muffled cries of 'traitor' following him. Thousands of questions pressed into her mind. Surly Dutch didn't know this was Micah's plans. He cared far too deeply about loyalty to accept a man turning anyone into the Pinkertons. How would Arthur react when Micah returned alone? What on earth was in store for her at the hands of these rightus lawmen?

Milton sauntered over to Rose, looking her up and down. "I ain't heard of you before. You must be new to this life." He said as though it was obvious. And perhaps it was. "Listen, Miss Levenson - was it? I don't hurt folk that don't need hurting. I ain't planning on hurting you. Less you give me good reason to."

Her face fell into a frown. Unable to respond properly, she could only hope the slightly bored expression would say it all. 'Please don't give me a personal speech'.

"According to Mr Bell, you're rather special to Mr Morgan. Is that right? See I'm planning to get Dutch in custody. The issue is - Arthur Morgan is far too good with a gun." He said with a shake of his head "So all I want is him out the way. Hell - you play along, maybe I'll even cut him a deal if he can help me out with the rest of 'em."

Her muffled reply—no doubt something distasteful—earned only an eye-roll from Milton before he motioned to his men. "Take her to the cabin. I doubt Mr Morgan will be long so be prepared. If Bell's information is correct, we might have a 'Mr Coors' along for the ride. Kill him if necessary."

His words were so calm. So cold. Rose's fight waned in place of a little whimper. She had held up the persona of defiance for so long, but in this moment, as the far less pragmatic gentleness of Agent Ross's hand grabbed her by the hair to pull her away towards the wagon, suddenly she felt like that lowly farm girl again.

The girl who once thought the peak of exhilaration was sneaking away on the back of an outlaw's horse for a night. The girl who believed the most daring thing she could do was give away one of her father's horses and lie about it. Ross was her handler for the time, it seems. And he was not a gentle man.