Bad Blood // Micah Bell (Red Dead Redemption 2 Story)

39 - The Reality of It All

Natasha was able to stay away from Dutch for the rest of the night, sneaking around him once he was in her eyeline. She could tell he was looking for her as he watched him speak to Arthur and Micah about her whereabouts, each of them men either shrugging and explaining that she was either near the large water fountain or if she was inside.

After her discussion with Bill, she felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders even though she knew that she would have to talk about it with him, unsure on how that would even pan out.

She was speaking to two women, both of them seeming relatively arrogant as they discussed their husbands work, neither of it seeming important to Natasha.

"And what is it that you do?" One of the women turn to her, her nose tuck up as she scanned every inch of her.

Natasha froze in her spot, not exactly sure how to answer the woman's question. She didn't think of a job before she came to a party so was instead stood looking at the woman like she spoke a foreign language to her.

"I, uh-" She looked around, looking for ideas quickly until her eyes landed on the woman's hat. "I design hats." She nodded, forcing a smile.

"Oh, you do?" The woman asked quite impressed, her hand reaching up to her own peculiar look headdress that was made of an assortment of flowers, ribbons and feathers.

"I do. Not in Saint Denis, over in Chicago where I'm from." Natasha quickly stated, making sure they weren't going to ask where about she works in presumably Saint Denis.

"How lovely. You should have worn one tonight!" The other woman exclaimed, sipping on her wine.

"Yep. Maybe I should've." She muttered under her breath, lifting the fabric of her skirt before making her rounds. "Pardon me."

Finding a spot by the large water fountain she spotted Arthur speaking with the Mayor, someone Bronte had pointed at to her even though she didn't ask. Then again, it was nice to put a face to a name, especially when it's his party. Bronte however didn't have anything positive to say about the man. He also ushered something in Italian to his men, unfortunately she was not able to translate it quick enough as she was pulled away from him, Dutch with his hand wrapped around her waist securely.

Her thoughts were interrupted when a sudden bang was shot into the air, Natasha instantly panicking incase it was gunshots but she was stunned in awe as she watched the display of fireworks shoot into the night sky, an array of colour, sound and explosions lighting up the sky. She had never seen fireworks before and by the looks of it, she never wanted to stop looking at them. She was completely mesmerised by its beauty, but her time was cut short when she felt a shoulder nudge her and she looked to see Hosea, suggesting for her to follow. She pouted a little but did as she was told, taking one last look at the sky before following the older man, holding onto her dress as she walked up the slightly spiralled steps.

She noticed Arthur and Dutch leaning against a white railing, Natasha surprised to see Arthur up there when she was just looking at him a minute ago. Then again, she wasn't too sure how long she was looking at the fireworks for either.

"Nothing... this town is a waste of time." Bill stalked up the stairs, completely done with the event. Micah followed behind, a similar expression to Bill.

"Maybe not. Arthur?" Hosea asked, patting Bill's back to get a head of him, looking at the young man with hopeful eyes.

Arthur smirked and patted the side of his chest where his pocket would be, indicating that he did have something.

"I think we're done here." Hosea grinned, rubbing his hands together as they all turned around, leaving the party.

Arthur walked alongside Natasha, allowing her to hold onto his arm as the boots Josiah had gotten her were starting to rub and irritate against her bare feet.