Sign of the Times (Arthur Morgan x Reader)

Chapter Twelve

"Ouch! Watch where yer puttin' yer hands!" Sean squealed from behind me. I turned around to see Charles attempting to dress Sean's head injury, but the Irishman refused to be still. I chuckled lightly to myself and walked over.

"Mind if I cut in?" I asked, giving Charles a small smile. He returned it, a look of relief evident in his eyes.

"Knock yourself out." He said, taking a step back from Sean. I observed the growing knot on his head, and gently placed my hand on it. It felt quite warm to the touch.

"Wait right here." I said, stepping over to Pearson.

"Mr. Pearson, you wouldn't happen to have any ice leftover from when you were up in the mountains would you?" I asked, and he thought for a moment.

"Lemme just check real quick, Miss (L/N)." He said, pulling out the insulated box underneath the wagon. The shade had kept the box nice and cool, so hopefully there would still be a little.

"Yes, I believe there is still a bit." He said, I grabbed my scarf and held it out to him.

"Could you place a bit in here, please?" I asked, and he gave me an odd look.

"What is it ya need it for?" He asked.

"Sean's got a good-sized lump on his head. I was thinkin' a bit of ice might help with the swelling." I said.

"I'll give ya the ice, if ya promise to bring me some game before tonight." He said, and I nodded.

"You've got it." I said, and he nodded, placing the ice in my scarf.

"There ya go. Don't forget your promise now." He said, as I started to walk away from him.

"You know me, I'm good for it." I said, approaching Sean who was getting grumpier by the minute.

"Could you just shut up?" Charles asked, getting frustrated.

"Here Sean, this should help." I said, gingerly placing the ice-laden scarf on the bump. He winced at first, but then hummed as the ice helped to soothe the inflammation.

"Oh yeah, that's the stuff..." He sighed, and I rolled my eyes.

"Now hold that on there for a bit while I fix you up some tea..." I said. I turned to Charles before walking away.

"Charles, would you mind helping me?" I asked, and he gave me a questionable look before nodding.

"Of course." He said, following me over to my tent.

"Yer an angel of recourse, ya are, (F/N)!" Sean laughed, and again, I rolled my eyes. I gathered everything I needed for the tea, started heating the kettle of water over the campfire, and began to crush some Turmeric in the grinder that Pearson had given me.

"You didn't need my help... looks like you've done this a million times." Charles said, standing above me as I was kneeled by the fire.

"I have, but... It looked like you could use a break from Sean." I admitted, and he gave a somewhat playful smile. I plucked a few leaves from the line where I was drying them out and steeped them in the water that had begun to boil.

"Arthur tells me it was your mother who taught you these things." Charles said, and I hummed in response.

"She taught me what she could. I was really stubborn as a child, but luckily I was a fast learner." I said, grinding in come chamomile alongside the Turmeric.

"My mother taught me a few things, but everything else I picked up on my own after I left home." He said.

"It must have been really hard for you." I said, checking the tea. It was a lovely green color, indicating it was the right uniformity to add the herbs.