Sign of the Times (Arthur Morgan x Reader)

Chapter Six

*Several weeks later*

I was cooking up some rabbit gumbo when I felt a presence behind me. I stood and turned towards Pearson who offered me a plate of raw, sliced vegetables. I accepted, and quickly scooted the assortment of vegetables into the tantalizing brew.

"Good call on the Sage and Oregano, Miss (L/N). It smells fantastic." Pearson complimented. I stirred the mixed a few more times before replacing the lid.

"Did ya need help with anything else? I still need to take some hay over to the feeding station." I said, dunking my hands in the wash bucket, and drying them off on my apron.

"No ma'am, that'll do. I appreciate the help." He said nodding and giving a smile.

"Anytime." I returned the nod, untying my apron from around my waist and hanging it up on a peg that stuck out from the wagon. Tilly and John greeted me as I walked across camp to retrieve the hay for the horses, I gave them a slight nod as I passed, not wanting to get distracted from my chores.

I approached one of the bales of hay and lifted it with ease. I had carried it halfway back through camp when I heard someone call my name.

"Hey, miss (L/N)." Lenny greeted. He hurriedly walked over to me with Arthur hot on his heels. Both had troubled looks on their faces.

"Everything alright, you two?" I asked.

"Micah's been arrested." Lenny announced. The three of us stood in awkward silence for a moment before I broke it with a half-hearted chuckle.

"And...?" I asked, shrugging. Arthur was trying his best to hide a mischievous grin beneath the brim of his hat, but Lenny just looked troubled.

"Dutch wanted me to take Lenny here into Valentine. Get some alcohol in him." He said, pausing for a moment before lifting his head up and meeting my gaze.

"We were wonderin' if you might like to tag along." He added, and I shrugged them off, turning to continue carrying the increasingly heavy bale of hay.

"I've got chores to do... and besides-" I placed the bale of hay down near a tree where the horses could get to it, and turned back to them, a hand resting on my hip.

"Couldn't ya find someone more... I dunno... 'lively' to do that sorta thing with?" I asked, wiping the sweat from my brow.

"You've done more than your share of work around here. Take a load off." Arthur insisted, and I thought for a moment before shrugging.

"Yeah... why not?" I sighed, giving in. A huge smile spread across both Arthur and Lenny's features at my agreement.

*Later that night*

I sighed deeply, standing with my back to the bar. It had been awhile since I had seen Arthur or Lenny. They had had quite a bit to drink, and I was beginning to get anxious. I stared down at the whiskey in my glass and swirled it around a bit before bringing it to my lips.

"Ah, finally, a woman of credible taste in this roughneck, scrapheap of a town." I glanced up slowly to take in the appearance of the man before me. He was very well put together. He was wearing a tailor-made suit and a top hat with his hair slicked back. His mustache even had a hint of salve in it to maintain a polished look. I finished my whiskey before pacing the glass back on the bar and sliding a bill towards the bartender.

"Apologies mister, but I'm here with a couple of friends. You haven't seen em' by chance, have ya?" I asked politely. He seemed like the only sober person in the bar, besides me. Maybe he saw where they went.

"Now that you mention it, there was a bit of commotion around the side of the building as I was coming in. Is there any way I can assist you, milady-" I cut him short by walking straight out of the bar and hurrying around to the side of the building where I could hear the hubbub the man mentioned before. Arthur stood behind another man, holding his head submerged in a drinking trough. I rushed over and pulled on Arthur's arm, begging him to release the man. Surely, he was running out of air by now.