Sign of the Times (Arthur Morgan x Reader)

Chapter Twenty Five

"You're sayin' we're gonna 'pay Bronte a social call'...?" I asked, quirking an eyebrow as I tied my hair back, and took a quick look at my injuries to be sure they were healing properly.

"Correct, apart from one minor detail." Dutch spoke, his back pressed against the wall. He folded his arms across his chest and glanced over at Arthur who was busying himself with sharpening his knife.

"You're not comin' with us on this one, (F/N)." Dutch said, his eyes holding a sense of seriousness as my back stiffened at his sudden decision.

"I'm with Dutch on this one... bein' around Bronte is only gonna rile you up more. I don't want you gettin' hurt again." Arthur spoke up, leaning forward with his elbows now resting on his knees.

"I'm not sittin' around this camp all day doin' chores. We talked about this." I said, my brow furrowing as I crossed my arms.

"Keepin' you here wasn't actually what I had in mind, miss (F/N). I have a separate task that needs attending to." Dutch said, moving himself off the wall and making his way towards me.

"Don't tell me Pearson needs me to fetch him more hair pomade... the man hardly has any hair for it anyway..." I mumbled the last part under my breath, and Dutch seemed to ignore my statement altogether.

"The two of you remember Rains Fall from the Mayor's party, right?" Dutch asked, and I lifted an eyebrow at his question.

"Vaguely... what about him?" I asked.

"That's where you come in. Word on the street is he's in Saint Denis. Now, what I need for you to do is find him and figure out what it is he needs help with. Bein' friends with him could come in handy in the not-so-distant future." Dutch explained, and I nodded slightly.

"If you say so... although I'm reluctant of headin' back into Saint Denis after that mess we made yesterday." I said, and on that note Arthur stood to his feet.

"Maybe I ought to go with ya." Arthur offered, but Dutch immediately shook his head.

"I need you with us tonight, Arthur. We need all the muscle we can muster if we're gonna have any chance of makin' it to Bronte." He insisted.

"Besides, our girl can handle herself." He said, his air of enthusiasm returning. I laughed halfheartedly and waved behind me as I walked towards the door to head downstairs.

I made it down the stairs and across the yard to where Zephyr was tethered, my mind occupied with what sort of help Rains Fall could possibly need.

"(F/N)." Arthur's voice stopped me in my tracks, and I quickly turned towards him.

"You be careful, alright...?" He said more than asked, and I smiled sheepishly before stretching up, and planting a kiss on his cheek.

"Don't worry about me..." I said, gently running the pad of my thumb across the small scar that decorated his chin.

"Just kick Bronte's ass for me." I said, giving him a sideways grin before mounting up, and spurring Zephyr into a light trot away from camp.

Every step that Zephyr took lightly jarred the wound on my side, and I couldn't help but wince at the discomfort of it.

It only took about fifteen minutes to get to Saint Denis, and an additional twenty to pinpoint Rains Fall's location after searching around for what seemed like centuries.

I couldn't fight the uneasy feeling in my gut as my eyes scanned the area, taking note of all the extra lawmen that had accumulated in the city. Everyone seemed on edge, and rightfully so. It was a god-awful mess we had made the other day.