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

68 - The Return of Marston

"John! John's here!" Sean's voice called out as two horses rode into camp, Sadie and Arthur just coming back from rescuing John.

Natasha was by herself, leaving against a tree and cleaning her blade when Sean's voice erupted through camp, making her look up for her black brimmed hat and smiled lightly as she noticed John was unharmed.

"You brought him back to me!" Abigail cried, running into his arms. He was shocked at her gesture since she wasn't the most affectionate but he was glad to see her alive too after she was caught by the Pinkertons.

"We told you we would." Sadie sniggered as she walked past the two lovers who embraced one another but it was Dutch's foul tone that caused the couple to break away.

"John! What are you doing here?" He asked, his voice raised and clearly irritated at the man's return.

Natasha listened closely, pushing her foot off from the tree and slowly walked towards the men, spotting Micah walking with Dutch.

"It's good to see you too, partner." John recalled sarcastically, still wearing his prison outfit, his bare feet crunching along the cold ground.

"I meant I hadn't sent for you yet." Dutch stopped in front of him, a cold look in his eyes.

Natasha walked up beside Micah, looking up to him as he too spared a quick glare at John but instantly stopped once he spotted the woman's presence beside him. "What's going on?" She mouthed to him but Micah just shook his head and kissed the top of her head lightly and turned their attention back to John and Dutch.

"I went." Arthur speaks put, walking up from behind John to stand by his side.

Dutch looked to his son, an incredulous look on his face as he slowly bopped his head and clenched his jaw. "But I said that-"

"Yeah, I know what you said. I felt different." Arthur answer back, holding his ground.

Natasha was surprised that Arthur went against Dutch's wishes but even she was starting to see the cracks unfold between the two of them. She sensed strain between the two at Guarma so this had probably worsened the situation.

"Is that so?"

"Yes."

"And when springing John brings the law down on all of us... what then, Arthur?" Dutch asked rhetorically, making sure his voice was quiet to prevent fear from spreading to the other members of camp.

"Well I guess we'll have another fight on our hands." Arthur breathed bravely, never once breaking eye contact with the man he saw as a mentor and more importantly, a father.

Dutch fell into a small silence, staring at the younger man in front of him, gazing at the thick red veins that covered his eyes, his skin becoming more yellow as the days passed by. He was sick but Dutch, Dutch didn't want to address it. He had too much to worry about.

"Loyalty, Arthur it ain't...." He cut himself off, looking to the ground as shame fills into his mind when he thought of Arthur and John, feeling instantly betrayed.

He felt betrayed by Molly, by Natasha and by Micah but now, even Arthur and John were starting to grind his gears.

"I had a goddamn plan." He snapped furiously, throwing his fist downward as he spoke as if he was banging it against a table. "John... John... you are my brother; you are my son... I was coming for you."

"They were talkin' off hanging me Dutch." John spoke, his throat strained form the lack of water he had consumed over the last few days.

Abigail went to speak but Natasha quickly pulled on her shoulder, holding her back. "Don't..." She whispered into the woman's ear. She was tense but soon relaxed under her touch, stopping herself from doing or saying anything irrational.