Sign of the Times (Arthur Morgan x Reader)

Chapter Sixteen

"It's gonna work out, Arthur... it's gonna work out, listen to Dutch." Hosea urged.

"I don't expect you to understand this, but I have never been more proud of you... than I am right now, brother. You're doing the right thing." Dutch assured.

I pushed my hair back out of my eyes and adjusted my hat before shaking my head.

"If I don't get her back safe... I'm..." My voice faded out as my thoughts took over.

"I know, but... looking at this logically, (F/N) is fine. They took her to scare us." Dutch explained.

"He's right, Arthur." Hosea nodded.

"What do you think, Charles?" Dutch asked, gesturing to him.

"I'm sure (F/N)'s fine, but... it's understandable that Arthur's worried. We killed all those people... we stirred up all that trouble between those two families... for nothing." Charles said, obviously concerned too.

"No, no, not for nothing. For living. Now we get (F/N) back... and we go. Trust me." Dutch said.

"Hey Dutch, we got a problem." Lenny announced. We all stood and turned towards the two familiar faces walking into camp.

"Not a problem... visitors. A solution. Good day, fine people." Milton spoke, stepping over to the table we were all sitting around.

"Mr. Van der Linde... Mr. Mathews, I presume. And... who are you?" He asked, gesturing to John.

"Rip Van Winkle." John said sarcastically, reaching for his pistol.

"Huh, good day sir. Agent Milton, Pinkerton Detective Agency. This is Agent Ross." He said gesturing to the man next to him, clutching a shotgun. I stepped closer to Milton as Dutch remained seated where he was at the table. The rest of us began to close in on the two of them.

"Ah, Mr. Morgan... nice to see you again." Milton mused as I stood about five foot away from him.

"And to what do we owe the pleasure... agent Moron?" Dutch asked.

"I don't know if you're aware of this, but this is a civilized land now. We didn't kill all them savages only to allow the likes of you... to act like human dignity... and basic decency was outmoded or not yet invented. This thing... it's done." Milton spoke. Dutch then stood, and slowly turned toward Milton.

"This place... ain't no such thing as civilized. It's man so in love with greed... he has forgotten himself and found only appetites." Dutch spoke.

"And as a consequence, that lets you take what you please... kill whom you please, and hang the rest of us? Who made you the messiah to these lost souls you've led so horribly astray?" Milton asked, scanning his eyes across everyone in camp who had accumulated around us.

"I'm nothing but a seeker, Mr. Milton." Dutch said.

"You ain't much of anything more than a killer, Mr. Van der Linde... but I came to make a deal." Milton said.

"It's time. You come with me... and I give the rest of ya three days to run off... disappear, and go and live like human beings someplace else." Milton offered.

"You came for me? Risked life and limb in this den of lowlifes and murderers... so that they might live and love?" He nodded curtly.

"Ain't that fine." Dutch said, and there were a few scattered laughs.

"I don't wanna kill all these folk, Dutch... just you." Milton said. Again, Dutch nodded, and lifted his hands up in surrender.

"In that case... it'd be my honor... to join you. Excuse me, friends... I have an appointment to keep with-" Dutch didn't get a chance to finish his sentence as everyone in camp readied their firearm at the same time.