The Empress & The Gunslinger

Chapter 8 - Arthur Morgan, Dark Secrets

After spending a lovely afternoon with Emily by the lake and learning a lot about the new comer, he was starting to really enjoy her company and she was really starting to grow on him. He still had a lot of questions to ask her but didn't think now was the right time to do so since they both got a little deep on each other.

As the warm sun glistened off the river, it made him really relaxed and chilled out and he loved just being here with Emily. It was perfect... maybe a little too perfect but that perfect moment was soon ruined by a small group of men on horseback approaching them. As they both rose to their feet and turned around, Arthur's stomach sank as he realised who it was, Agent Ross and his pathetic little sidekicks from the Pinkerton agency.

"Well... Arthur Morgan" agent Ross said.
Arthur tilted his head in agent Ross' direction as an acknowledgement.
"Who's your pretty little friend here?" Agent Ross asked, referring to Emily.
Arthur looked at Emily and saw her standing rather confidently; she didn't seem scared at all. It was like she was ready for a fight. Arthur didn't answer agent Ross' question regarding Emily which he could tell was pissing him off.
"What's the matter pretty boy, cat got your tongue?" He asked followed by laughter from his 2 sidekicks.
Still, Arthur did not respond.
"Look, let's cut to the chase. Are you going to give me Dutch? Or are you going to let him take you down as well?"
"Look I told you last time I don't know where he is. If I did I would have handed him over to you already." Arthur snapped.
"Temper temper pretty boy... just bring me Dutch and I'll spare your life and your girlfriend's life."
Emily quickly interrupted to correct this man on his assumption. "I'm not his girlfriend"
Agent Ross just glared at Emily before riding away with his sidekicks leaving Arthur and Emily alone again. Arthur was quick to turn to Emily.
"I'm sorry about that; you shouldn't be getting involved in this." He said feeling rather concerned for her safety now.
Emily smiled at Arthur "Don't be silly! Now come on let's get back to camp! They'll be wondering what happened to us!" She suggested.
Arthur smiled at her and led her back to his horse. They both mounted the horse and rode off back to camp.

Once back at camp, Arthur carried Emily's items over to her tent. The camp members were all happy to see the pair back and safe. As per usual Pearson's Stew was ready for the camp to eat. Both Arthur and Emily made their way over to grab themselves a bowl each. Taking their bowls they found a table to eat at together. The pair started to really hit it off with one another.

As the night started to come to an end and after yet another good few hours with each other laughing, making jokes and getting ever so slightly drunk it was time to call it a night. Arthur walked a slightly drunk Emily to her tent and helped her into bed before retiring to his own tent.

Both Arthur and Emily fell asleep quite quickly but Arthur suddenly woke up 3 hours later. He sat up in his bed and looked over at Emily. He noticed her squirming around in her sleep. Was she having a bad dream? He got to his feet and quietly walked over to her tent, trying to be as quiet as he could since the rest of the camp were also fast asleep. As he got to Emily's tent he stood by her bed watching her wiggle and squirm in her sleep whispering something about the outsider and someone she called her royal protector. He also noticed something very bizarre on her hand which was slightly covered by a piece of cloth, the black cloth she had wrapped around her hand all day. He pulled the cloth back and noticed a strange marking on her hand. It looked like some strange symbol, he wasn't quite sure what it was. He gently placed the cloth back on her hand and snuck back over to his tent where he climbed back into bed but rather than fall asleep he lay there, watching Emily.