Ella Matthews - A RDR2 Fanfiction

Chapter Fourteen: Reunited

"What're we gonna do?" I ask in a low voice.

"I'll find something," Charles murmurs.

"I'm so sorry," I whisper.

He hugs me. "It wasn't your fault,"

I got robbed. I could've done more to stop it. But they got away.

And now we're almost out of money.

"Momma? Are you alright?" Arthur asks.

"I- yeah, I'm fine. Go back to playing," I call.

"Okay," Arthur says.

He's old enough to know something's up.

He walks in with a flower.

"Here, Momma," he says, handing me the flower.

"Thank you," I murmur, smiling.

"You're welcome!" he grins, reassured by my smile. He walks off.

As soon as he's gone, my smile drops, and I turn to Charles.

We don't say a word.

We had to take out a loan for the secondary extension. It would have been fine, but it's not.

Not as of yesterday.

Charles gets up after a while and kisses me on the forehead. "I'll find something. It'll be okay," he says.

I nod but I'm not sure I totally believe him.

*

I sit by the fire, coffee in hand. I'm waiting for Charles. It's been far too long. Arthur and Allie are in bed. They went to bed about over three hours ago after staying up for him.

It's now past midnight.

I hear footsteps and ready my gun just in case. I'm not going to be robbed again.

It's Charles.

"You're back!" I smile. "I was worried,"

And then my smile drops because I realise he's covered in bruises and some blood.

"What did you do?" I ask, suddenly worried.

He says nothing.

"Charles..." I say, a little scared.

"I fought. For twenty dollars," he places the money on the table. "That's gonna have to be my job for now,"

My heart drops. Is this what we've come to?

"I know," he murmurs. "But we'll manage,"

I hug him very gently because I don't know how bad the fight was.

He still winces all the same.

"I'm so sorry," I say for the second time that day. "It should be me doing the fighting. Not you,"

He laughs slightly, then grimaces. I sit him down. "You wouldn't win a fight. Look at you,"

"Thanks," I mutter, rolling my eyes. Then I get down to business. "Let's get you cleaned up,"

*

And so, life goes on.

We're all waiting at Strawberry train station for Charles to return. It tires him out too much, having to travel for three hours. He needs all the rest he can get. So he stays in Saint Denis.

I miss him not being around.

He comes home once every three days for two days before he's off again.