Sign of the Times (Arthur Morgan x Reader)

Chapter Eighteen

*Later that evening* (Still Arthur's POV)

The law was hot on our trail, but we had somehow managed to avoid them altogether. Finally, we could get back to (F/N). We rode up to Bronte's gate, and hitched our horses before approaching the house. Dutch was standing outside, but he was alone, which made me worry.

"(F/N)'s not with ya...?" I asked as John and I entered through the gate.

"She upstairs... apparently she's been asleep for the last few days." Dutch said, his brow knit together in worry.

"Asleep? Wh- how could someone sleep for three days straight...?" I questioned.

"I'm not sure, but Bronte has called in a physician to take a look at her, so c'mon. I've been waitin' on you two." He said, turning to walk back inside. We were led back through the sitting room where we had previously spoken with Bronte, and up a winding staircase.

After two more turns, we were directed to the end of a hallway, and instructed to go through the last door on the right. We hadn't even approached the door to open it yet, when a man shouted out in pain, screaming something in Italian.

"LEI MI HA MORSO!" (SHE BIT ME!) He shouted, and something made of glass shattered against the floor.

"LET ME GO- STOP!" I heard her scream, and that was enough for me to put my boot to the door.

One of Bronte's men were holding her back as, what I assumed was the doctor, was approaching her with a syringe. Before the three of us had any sort of chance of reacting, she brought her foot up in a high kick, and nailed the doctor in the jaw, knocking him backwards. He shouted in pain and grabbed his jaw.

Bronte's lackey held her from behind, reaching his arm across her chest in an attempt to get her under control, but she promptly elbowed him in the gut, stomped on his foot, swung around, grabbing his arm, and flipped him forward onto his back. She straightened her back, catching her breath, and pushing the fallen hair out of her face. It was in that moment, she noticed that we were standing in the doorway, none of us able to speak.

"What the hell took ya'll so long?!" She demanded, fury evident on her features. I had never been more afraid... and admittedly... turned on by a woman in my life. Dutch stepped forward with his hands held up in submission.

"My girl... I am sorry we took so long... but you don't know how relieved we are to see you're alright." Dutch sighed, smiling.

"She's not..." The doctor slurred, still holding a hand to his jaw as he struggled to stand. It was obvious just by the look of him, his jaw was broken. In a beat, (F/N) pulled my gun from its holster and pointed it at the doctor. He raised his hands in the air, dropping the syringe to the floor in the process.

"Don't come any closer!" She demanded, the white nightdress she was wearing swirled around her feet as she turned the gun on him.

"Hey now! There's no need for that!" I said, carefully placing my hand on the gun, and lowering it.

"Just... give it here... it's alright..." I said. She was trembling violently, and her face was flushed of all color, but she listened as she finally released her grip on the gun. I placed it back in my holster and watched as the doctor slowly stood back up.

"She... she ain't alright..." He tried to speak, attempting to compose himself after what had just happened.

"She... got hit real hard in the head... she's been asleep for the last three days..." He explained. I glanced over at her still shaking body, and then looked back at the doctor.

"What were ya tryin' to do to her?" I demanded.

"All I was tryin' to do was give her somethin' for the pain, and she-" He was cut off by (F/N) speaking up.