Saving Arthur Morgan | rdr2

Chapter 9

After the fiasco with the Pinkertons by the river, we are in desperate need for a new camp. They could show up anytime and considering the gang is very unprepared, we'd be screwed. Some were still recovering from the mountains..

"You wash the whites and I'll wash the colored." Tilly grabs the pile of colored clothes, taking a red shirt and scrubbing on the wash board.

I grab the pile of whites, trying not to think about everything that's went down and what's to come.

"Hey Arthur!" Tilly stops, hollering over my head. I turn to Arthur, he stops dead in his tracks, eyeing me and then Tilly.

"Yes Miss Tilly?"

"There's a letter for ya, from Mary Linton." She raises a dark brow in question, a suspicious smirk on her lips.

Arthur's face turns red slightly, nodding as he speed walks to his tent.

Tilly continues washing clothes, looking at me with an amused smile.

"Who's Mary Linton?" I ask after an agonizing minute of not knowing passes.

"I knew you couldn't help yourself." She giggles, leaning forward. "Arthur's old lover, no one in the gang likes her much." She whispers.

An unbearable heat climbs my body, my heart basically breaks right then and there.

"There he goes. Always does when that girl calls." Grimshaw basically growls, standing tall above us with hands on hips. She shakes her head and groans. "That man will never learn when it comes to her." She looks down to us, a small smile gracing her lips. "Good job girls, at least someone around here is working instead of chasing skirts!"

When she's gone to start on a sleeping Karen, Tilly stops, reaching out, and grabs my hands. "Let's go to Valentine." She said seriously, hauling me up from the ground.

"Why?"

"Well..I read the letter and I know where Mary is staying. I thought we'd go and see what's going on with Arthur. I know you-"

"Don't say it." I blush just thinking about the words causing her to giggle.

"Okay I won't. But I can tell it bothers you." She smiles knowingly.

"I'm not worried about them. Honest." I reassure her only for her to smirk, raising a brow once again. Yep she sees right through me.

"Meet me by the hitching post." She says simply, leaving me to stare after her.

__________

The short ride to Valentine was actually pleasing, having Tilly with me kept me entertained.

She's not very good in saddle so we of course had to take the wagon, Uncle drove while Tilly and I sat in the back.

"Why you girls wantin to go to Valentine anyways?" Uncle pulls the wagon next to the stables, eyeing us suspiciously as we climb out.

Tilly and I meet eye contact which makes me smile. "Supplies." We both say in unison.

"Yeah...mhmm. Well I'm gonna be at the saloon while y'all get your....supplies."

We nod, Tilly dragging me towards the general store.
We look for a moment, then she pulls me to the door to watch Uncle go into the saloon.
As soon as he disappears inside, Tilly roughly pulls me from the store and down the alley beside the general store. "Mary's stayin with a relative or somethin' like that just outside of Valentine." Tilly let's go finally, telling me to follow.

We stop outside of a sad looking house. Tilly runs to the side of the house, gesturing for me to follow. She creeps up to the edge of the porch, staying low so they couldn't see her. I of course stay close behind, peeking around her.

"Daddy has a heart?" I hear Arthur's voice basically growl. I peep around Tilly, her curls tickling my face.

"don't make me beg you Arthur." I heard the Mrs Linton, her voice sounds soft and melodic. Makes me roll my eyes..

Arthur leans on the porch banister, she stands close by him.. she nervously plays with her fingers as she stares at him with a look of despair. I have to admit, she is very pretty. Jealously twists inside me. Of course she's pretty..

"My money...my life..me.. I wasn't good enough." He talks with his hands, something I've saw him do only when stressed.

"I'm sorry, we need your help real bad. Little Jamie has joined the chelonians..that strange religion order." She gasps for air, explaining her brother's fate clearly hurts her.

"Good for him." Arthur says sarcastically.

"they're quite mad, Arthur. They'll kill him. You're the only person he'll listen to."

Arthur leans back, his broad back still turned to Tilly and I.

"So I'm too rough to marry into your family..but it's okay to ask me to help in saving your family."

"I'm sorry..I understand if you don't want to help me but I think of you often."

"Long time ago now."

"I'm begging you, Arthur."

"I say let Jamie live Jamie's life. And not the..nightmare his daddy dreamed up for him."

Arthur turns, slowly rolling his shoulders. Tilly pushes me back, almost knocking me down as he turns our way.

"Jamie is so innocent...please Arthur. Will you help me?" She begs. We could no longer see the pair but I could hear her heart break.

"We'll help!" Tilly shouts, pulling me with her as she rounds the house. Arthur and Mary jump, pure shock on both their faces.

Arthur stares at me now, a angry glare forming on his face.

"What the hell are you two doin here?" He growls, turning to Mary. "These two young ladies are...apart-"'

"No.." Mary interrupts, stepping around Arthur, a sad smile on her face. "Will you please girls. Go with Arthur. I can't go myself, my heart is too...weak for such."

Tilly nods. "Of course."

Arthur bounds down the steps, a sour look on his face.

"We don't have horses." I say, everyone looking at me suddenly with straight faces.

"That's fine. Use ours." Mary gestures to the horses hitched outside of the little white fence. Great..

"Cmon. Next time, keep your noses in your own damn business." Arthur rolls his eyes, staring down at us on his mount.

____________

The ride was long, on top of a mountain close to Emerald Ranch to be exact.

"Why on a mountain?" Tilly asks as she rides close beside me, a safe distance away from an angry Arthur.

We climb the gravelly mountain, something I'm not used to. My ass is already sore and my back is in need of a deep tissue massage now..

"No idea. I'm sure it's something to do with being a Chelonian." I say causing Tilly to shrug her small shoulders. I could tell she is having trouble as well. Bet she regrets this now considering she sucks at riding..

I hear Arthur chuckle ahead of me. "Because they're out of their damn minds that's why." His humor back now, relief flows over me. "Now you girls be ready, these nut cases are unpredictable." More chuckles.

And I find myself wondering...why am I helping this man with his ex lover? Clearly I'm a nut case myself. I'm very attracted to someone who isn't even real, also helping him with his lover's problems. What the hell is wrong with me?