When the Devil Cries (Arthur Morgan X Male OC)

29. For Whom the Bell Tolls

From Arthur's POV

TWO DAYS LATER, AFTERNOON

BEAVER HOLLOW

Striding across the camp, I quickly paced in Eddie's direction with my rifle danglin' off my back as I pondered the best way to approach this robbery, letting out a quiet sigh.

This had to be one of the most reckless ideas Dutch ever had in my twenty years of knowin' him, and if I was being honest, the thought of running away with Eddie was looking better and better by the minute.

Dutch meant everything to me, it was true. He, John, and Eddie were really the only ones left who I considered to be family -- and despite how much the first two might've annoyed me sometimes -- the last thing I wanted was to leave 'em behind.

I mean, I would've been dead if it weren't for Dutch comin' to my rescue when I was just a boy. He saved me. Educated me. Gave me a new life. But now...part of me feared he was gonna be the reason I'd lose that life again, and...normally, I wouldn't care. But with Eddie in my family now, I knew I couldn't leave that boy alone. I couldn't get killed.

It was just because of my goddamned loyalty and stupidity that I refused to desert the gang. It was my own conscience that was holdin' me back, but I knew that if I wanted to keep myself and Eddie alive, we wouldn't be able to stay here any longer. We would have to run the second we got the chance, and never look back.

Walkin' up to Eddie, I found the pianist sitting on a wooden crate next to Jack as he helped the kid read a storybook, his finger steadily inching across the page while Jack slowly mouthed out the words.

"...and the wolf guarded the injured deer as his f-fearsome fangs quickly scared...the other beasts away."

The pianist turned the page, encouraging him to continue. "Good. Go on."

Jack tilted his head in a puzzled manner. "Wait, I'm confused. Why would a wolf protect a deer?"

Eddie smiled warmly at the kid and glanced in my direction, his eyes twinkling with an affectionate spark.

"Well, perhaps some wolves aren't as bad as they appear."

Following Eddie's gaze, Jack suddenly noticed my presence and perked his head up in excitement, pointing to the book.

"Uncle Arthur!" He greeted. "I finished another chapter today!"

I stepped closer to them and knelt in front of Jack, praising the boy.

"That's great, Jack. You're learnin' fast. How you like reading now?"

He thought for a second. "It's still kind of hard, but it's more fun now. D'you wanna read with us, Uncle Arthur?"

An apologetic sigh escaped me. "Ah, I'd love to...but I'm afraid I got a job do to at the moment. Same with Eddie."

He lowered his head out of disappointment. "Oh, okay. Maybe next time?"

I nodded. "Maybe next time."

"Great! I'll make some necklaces for both of you. But right now, I have to find momma. Bye Uncle Eddie. Bye Uncle Arthur."

Hopping off the crate, Jack grabbed his book and scurried off to Abigail who was sitting in her tent before excitedly callin' for her attention, leaving me and Eddie alone.

The kid seemed to be doin' okay despite all that was going on -- probably because John and Abigail were sheltering him from it -- and I had to admit, it was nice to see some form of innocence still wandering around the camp. Things had gotten too bloody and brutal in the outside world recently, that it warmed this old outlaw's heart to be near someone like Jack.