Saving Arthur Morgan | rdr2

Chapter 6

Because this chapter relates to this so much 😂

A few nights later

"Bella?" Mary-Beth approaches me slowly, no one here has given me a nickname yet, I smile despite myself. "Do you wanna join us? I mean Sean is back and you ain't met him. And there's beer and whiskey.." she sighs. "I hate seeing you all by yourself." She sits down beside me, my tent blocking the view of the others.

"I like to be..to myself." I say, she eyes me with concern.

"You seem to like being around Arthur. I cant say I blame you, he is real handsome." She sighs dreamily. "I'd like to fall in love one day with a man like him."

I can't hold back the smile. "I'm sure a beautiful girl like yourself can have any man you like." She looks at me with wide blue eyes.

"I think love ain't for me. I LOVE romance but...not for myself." She giggles. "Arthur stares at you a lot." She says suddenly.

I laugh. "Yes. Because he can't stand me." She shakes her head.

"No! I think he admires you." She has a look that says she knows more.

"What makes you say that?"

"Well...don't say nothin but I was laying some of his clothes on his cot and I saw his journal- oh don't look at me like that." She laughs. "Anyways I cracked it open and there was an entry about you going hunting with him. He says no one has showed that much interest in him in a long time. He even sketched a picture of you holding a rifle." She sighs sweetly. "It's real romantic if you think about it."

"That doesn't mean anything." The blush on my cheeks is bright, she notices then smiles.

"You find him handsome don't you?" Her smile widens mischievously.

"Of course I do." I agree, she nods with a big smile on her pretty face.

"Well I won't bother you anymore. But why don't you join us?"

I nod, "in a moment." She winks, smiling as she leaves me. Oh that girl..she's very smart but a little too hopeful for silly things.

Four shots & two beers later

"Well baby I have been here before I've seen this room and I've walked this floor, ya know I used to live alone before I knew ya!" Javier quickly picks his guitar up, playing some cords to match the rhythm of my singing.

Everyone in camp has started listening to us sing and play. Luckily I was so drunk I won't regret it until the morning.

"You sing beautifully!" Javier compliments me. "Even for a drunk woman." He chuckles, winking

"And you're very handsome..to this drunk woman." I flirt shamelessly, he smiles charmingly in return.

"Ahh yes señorita. Maybe we can..make sweet music in another way." He flirts back now.

"You bet your ass we can." I laugh, leaning into him. He lays the guitar down then places his hands on my waist pulling me into his lap then nuzzles my neck tenderly causing me to giggle.

"Okay, okay." I gasp as I'm being lifted from Javier's lap roughly then turned to see a very angry Arthur, he straightens me up and narrowing his blue eyes at Javier and I both.

Javier staggers away quickly, lookin back with amusement on his dark features. Arthur shakes his head, staring at me angrily then grabs my wrist, hauling me away from camp.

"Hey! Stop!" I fight back but he is too strong.

Once we're away from everyone, he lets go. I almost stumble from the abrupt stop, my head swimming from the alcohol.

He turns his back to me, running his fingers through his thick blonde locks. The moonlight dances across the highlights in his hair. "I don't know what the hell Im doing." He says, turning to eye me. "But I ain't letting anyone take advantage of you..or any woman in this camp who's clearly drunk off her ass."

"You ain't my dad." I basically yell, glaring back.

"No I ain't." His voice lowers an octave. "You don't belong in this gang. So why would I sit back and watch you do something that you'll regret later and bring Hell down on us." He growls.

"Listen-" I barely get the words out as vomit hits the back of my throat. I turn away from him, puking my guts out. I hear his chuckles over my retching..
After I'm finished and I have a pity party for myself on the damp ground, I ignore his presence the best I can. He crouches down beside me with a smirk. "You need to sleep it off." That's all he says, then walks off. I watch his slow but graceful strides while also staring at the man's ass. Drunk me equals no shame. But I will say...Arthur Morgan may be a bastard but he has a great ass.

____________

The next morning my head is booming. I wash my face off, slowly making my way to the coffee. I grab a cup, pouring the black liquid, and quickly take a swig ignoring the sizzling burn.

"Feelin' better Miss Monroe?" Arthur prepares his own cup, smiling mischievously.

I narrow my eyes. "I feel wonderful." The sarcasm slips out before I know it.

"Seems that way." He takes a sips. "Would you like to go on a run with me?" He asks, surprising me enough to almost spit my coffee out.

I eye him suspiciously. "Sure.."

"Alright. We're going to take little Jack fishing later. John ain't much of an father figure to the kid. I feel like kicking his ass for all he's done but I don't for the sake of that kid and his mother." I nod not pressing the issue.

"Okay. That sounds lovely."

"If your fishing skills are as good as your huntin skills then we're hurtin." He chuckles.

He's actually joking. Where did grumpy Morgan go??? I look at him in shock. I can't stop staring in disbelief. "What?" He questions.

"Nothing...actually why are you being so nice?"

He shrugs his shoulders. "I guess I feel guilty."

"Why?"

"Well I let you fall down a hill, then I jumped on you last night while you was drunk." His scowl returns remembering the events from last night.

"No, no it's not your fault and I'm glad you stopped me. I would have regretted it, most definitely. I should thank you actually."

His face relaxes, nodding. "All is good." He gives me a tight smile. "Anyways I'll let you get back to it while I get the stuff ready."

"Okay Arthur." He walks away, shoulders squared.

Maybe after today he'll trust me..one can only hope.