Ella Matthews - A RDR2 Fanfiction

Chapter Five: Lost Souls

A horse trots back into a camp, carrying someone. They're passed out.

It's a Palomino Dapple American Standardbred.

Arthur's horse.

And suddenly I realise that the slumped, bloodied figure is Arthur.

I rush over as Arthur falls off his horse.

"Arthur? Are you okay?" I ask. He doesn't respond. "Stupid question," I mutter.

Mary-Beth materialises. "Arthur..."

Then Karen appears.

Then Dutch.

"I told you it was a set-up, Dutch..." Arthur murmurs.

"My boy... my dear boy, what?" Dutch asks.

How doesn't Dutch know? The whole O'Driscoll thing? How about that?

"They got me... but I got away," Arthur says.

Dutch was insisting that Arthur was fine, and we shouldn't concentrate all our efforts on finding him.

I have a feeling Micah was involved in that opinion.

"Yeah, that you did," Dutch pauses.

"Miss Grimshaw, I need help! Reverend Swanson?" Dutch yells.

"They was gonna set the law on us..." Arthur croaks.

"Oh, of course they was," Dutch says, a shadow crossing his face. That can't be good.

We lift Arthur up and Pearson says, "I'm sorry, Arthur,"

"It's a bit late for apologies... Swanson!" Dutch yells again.

Swanson comes over. "Mr Morgan, you're safe now," he says.

"Let's get him to bed," Miss Grimshaw says.

"You're safe now, Arthur. You're safe now," Dutch repeats.

"That's pretty, Dutch," Arthur almost laughs as they lay him on the bed. "That's real pretty."

"Miss Grimshaw. Would you sit with him a while?" Dutch asks quietly.

"Of course," she replies, and sits down next to Arthur. "You'll be okay, Mr Morgan. You're home,"

I hover, unsure of whether I'm needed or if I should just go to bed.

"You should sleep, Miss Matthews. Arthur's okay," Dutch says gently.

I suddenly realise how tired I am. The last time I properly slept was the other day, when I fell asleep on Javier. He teased me about it, but I know he didn't mind.

"Okay," I murmur, and head to my tent.

I'm asleep within about five seconds.

*

A few weeks later and Arthur's up and about, and generally feeling much better. Well, I hope he is, because Bill, Micah and Sean have gone into Rhodes and are currently waiting for him for a job. Some Grays wanting some security work.

Oh, yeah. The feud.

Grays and Braithwaites have been in a feud for who knows how long. Some gold went missing or something. Each family thinks the other took it.

Dad reckons we can play this for both sides. To get money in the end.

I don't really know. I don't know enough about it. Dad knows how to play people, string them along, manipulate them... and more things than that. I've tried, but I can't do it nearly as well as him.