Saving Arthur Morgan | rdr2

Chapter 28

"Isabella!?" I hop off the horse Nigel loaned me, Mary-Beth and Tilly race towards me. They throw their arms around me, I laugh at their excitement.

"Hello girls." I hug them both.

"Oh Bella..we thought you was dead!" Mary-Beth cries, both pulling back with big smiles but their eyes look..deep and sad.

"I know...I've come to save Arthur."

"Oh he's bad off.." Tilly says now, head down. "The whole gang has..fallen apart."

"I know..I heard about Hosea and Lenny.. And the shipwreck.."

"What...how?" Tilly asks.

I panic slightly. "Um...it's been all over New Hanover." I lie.

"Really?" They ask in unison, fear in their eyes. I nod, hating myself for lying.

Sadie approaches, she stops with a shocked expression but nods her head at me. "Where the hell you been?" She asks.

"To hell and back.."

"You and me both." She bends down, grabbing a cup and pouring some coffee.. "We just set up camp here..lucky you came back and knew where." She looks at me suspiciously now.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Before I can stop myself from asking, my anger gets the best of me.

Sadie throws her cup down, staring at me. "What the hell does it sound like?"

"If you're accusing me of something just come out and say it."

"I ain't accusing you of anything but I find it funny how you show up after all hell breaks loose.." she growls. "And knows exactly where we are..after the Pinkertons ran us off from where we was at last.."

"I don't have to explain myself to you." I roll my eyes. "I haven't betrayed the gang..if that's what you're trying to say."

She shrugs her shoulders now, easing a little. "Sorry...guess I'm a little paranoid."

Horses ride up, interrupting us. I finally see Arthur, hitching his horse with an exhausted sigh. He looks so bad..

He speed walks passed us, purpose in his walk. "Dutch." He calls.

He heads towards the cave, fiercely talking with Dutch. Who seems to be..disagreeing about something.

More horses ride up, Uncle hops down and...Molly follows drunkenly, stalking towards Dutch now..oh shit..

"Dutch!" She yells, Dutch and Arthur slowly turn towards her as if she has seven heads.

"Molly?" He's bewildered by her sudden appearance.

"I found her down in Saint Denis." Uncle answers. Everyone approaches the spectacle now.

"Did ya miss me!?" She shouts as she staggers around.

"You're back...back and drunk." Dutch puffs his cigar and rolls his eyes.

"The master, the Lord God almighty, Dutch Van Der Linde! I won't be ignore!! I aren't him." She points to Bill suddenly, almost stumbling. "I ain't her!" She points at Mary-Beth. "Or any of your stooges!"

Dutch gets closer to her, hands raised in defense. "I don't owe you nothing!" She shouts in his face.

"Okay.." Dutch growls.

"Spit in your eye, I did! I told them!" She points at him aggressively.

"I'm...sorry?" He cocks a black brow, warning in his eyes.

"Yeah I told em' and I'd tell em' again! Now I've got God's ear!" She drunkenly steps around.

"You told WHO, WHAT!?" He steps dangerously close but she keeps dancing around him.

"Mister Milton and Mister Ross...about the bank robbery..I wanted em to kill ya!"

"You did what...?" Dutch pulls his gun now, the gang backs away slowly and cautiously.

"I loved you, you goddamn bastard! Go on, shoot me!" She cries.

Arthur whispers to Dutch, trying to calm him. He reluctantly lowers his gun. "she knew the rules.." Dutch growls.

"she ain't worth it.." Arthur whispers.

"You told on me!?" Dutch shouts at Molly, ignoring Arthur.

"You ain't so high and mighty now are ya!" She laughs.

Arthur shouts at her angrily. "Be quiet!" Then he continues to try and calm Dutch.

"Arthur...you know the rules!"

Molly continues to mumble about, shouting at Dutch.

"You-" Dutch starts to scold her some more but a shot rings out.

Molly gasps, collapsing on the ground. A hole in her middle, blood seeping out into the ground.

Everyone turns to see Susan. She scowls down at Molly's dead body with a shotgun in her hands, cocking it again.

"she knew the rules Arthur! What the hell is wrong with you!?" She scolds Arthur now. "Mister Pearson! Mister Williamson! Get this body out of here and get it burnt.." they grunt their okays, getting to work..

Meanwhile Mary-Beth cries, taking off towards her tent with Abigail trying to soothe her. Tilly frowns, following them and Karen looks as if she's about to explode.. Arthur just stares at the ground, shock on his face then takes off towards his tent, shaking his head..

What a great welcome..

I slowly follow after Arthur, feeling for the antibiotics in my satchel.

He's writing in his journal, I stand there..almost shocked that I'm back. He raises his eyes, they widen as they settle over me. "Isabella." He stands quickly.

"Arthur." I smile, tears stinging my eyes. I approach him but he holds a hand up.

"Don't get too close..I'm sick." He sits now, head down.

" I know...that's why I'm back." He looks at me with shock. "And what a welcome it as been."
He scoffs, sighing.

I quickly dig in my satchel for the pills, pulling the two bottles Lindsay gave me. He eyed them, questioning with his eyes. "I brought you these."

"What is it?"

"Your cure."