take me back in time

nugget

Jack was absolutely gorgeous and very smart. He ate up everything I told him, eager to learn more and more.
Abigail and Hosea sat next to us at first, still a bit wary about me but after a few hours they both strolled out of the older outlaw's tent, doing whatever needed doing.
I tried very hard to concentrate on little Jack and his reading process, but a certain outlaw – a very handsome one – kept occupying my mind; damn.
This whole day was crazy; first the iPhone bomb, Swanson, the shooting-lesson, my dumb and brainless revelation towards Arthur.
Shit. That's not what I had in mind at all.
"T-the b-boy and h-his h-h-horse..."
Jack had his little brows furrowed in concentration, his small body sitting between my bent legs, a book Hosea gave me in his tiny hands.
He did good, at least for a four-year-old outlaw-kid, with no school education.
The evening came slowly outside of Hosea's tent, the sun setting behind these beautiful and majestic mountains, a light chill came with the dawn and goosebumps appeared on my skin. I was lost in thoughts when Jack suddenly snorted and pouted in my lap and I lifted my gaze up to meet Abigail's kind eyes, a questioning look in her blue-grey ones.
"What?"
The younger woman chuckled lightly. "Miles away, huh?"
"Yeah, sorry. What is it?", I responded.
"The boys are back, with Sean. Dutch told everyone to have a good night, so I'm taking Jack to bed."
Oh.
I hesitated a bit until my brain decided to work again.
"Uh-uh, sure. Jack, get up."
Jack stood up, placing the book in my lap, a wide smile on his cute face.
"Did you have a good time with Miss Kendall?", Abigail asked him, while scooping him up in her arms.
His giggle made me smile.
"Sure did, momma. Miss Sophie is a very good teacher.", came his reply.
"Is that so? Good for you, little one."
Jack's smile grew even bigger and I stood up as well, placing the book back on a crate next to us.
"He is a clever and smart kid, Abigail.", I said to her and she boomed with pride.
"Always knew it. You are goin' to be a lawyer or a doctor, right?"
The little boy leaned back in his mother's arms, swatting away her face while she tried to kiss him, giggling all the time.
"Stop it, momma!"
My heart swelled while watching these two. It was obvious that Abigail loved Jack more than anything else, a shame that John was still such a fool. Too bad he isn't going to realize how lucky he is, until it's almost too late.
"See ya tomorrow, Miss Sophie?", Jack asked and I smiled.
"Sure. Sleep well, Jack."
"Thank ya, ya too."
"You're very welcome."
Abigail left towards her and Jack's tent and I stood a few moments in silence, listening to the speech Sean gave currently, chuckling to myself.
I couldn't wait to meet this funny and truly unlucky Irishman so I strolled in the middle of camp, taking a seat next to Dutch's tent at the round table, Karen, Tilly and Uncle were already seated there.
Sean's eyes lingered a brief moment on me, a curious look on his face but he continued his monologue without interruption. A few gang members laughed or shot him naughty comments but the red-haired outlaw didn't even flinch and finished his oration.
I glanced around, the campfires illuminating everything in red and orange. Some people just stood around the fire; others sat on the ground. Javier played a fancy tune on his guitar and soon many voices echoed around the campground, singing songs I didn't know.
Gosh, I missed music.
Like, Luke Bryan; Hunter Hayes; Rascal Flatts.
Real music.
Not this.
Beer and whiskey were drowned and the later the night proceeded, the more members were drunk.
After a few conversations with some of the girls and a very humorous one with Sean, I found myself sitting on a barrel, beer in one hand, watching Molly O'Shea and Dutch dancing to one of Javier's songs. The fearless leader holding his woman tight, whispering sweet nothings in her ear every now and then. Her childish giggle made my nose crinkle in disgust.
Nah, Dutch wasn't my cup of tea.
Mary-Beth stopped next to me, a beer bottle in her hands and a dreamy expression on her face.
"Look at them, this is so romantic.", she said to me.
I shrugged, untouched. "They're just dancing, Mary-Beth."
"I know. But I would love to dance."
This girl was a helpless romantic.
Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw Arthur and John standing just a few feet away, deep in discussion. The older outlaw gesturing with both hands in the air, John's gaze trapped on the ground.
Interesting.
"Would you rather like to dance with Arthur or John?", I asked her gleefully.
Even in the dark I could see how her face flushed a deep red.
"U-uh, I- ... none.", she said quietly, hands fumbling with her dress.
"Ah, nonsense. Arthur! John!"
Both men turned their heads in our direction, Mary-Beth hid behind me while I motioned them to join us. They relented after a brief moment and stopped in front of us, my poor heart fluttered in my chest at the sight of both of them right in my touching range.
John spoke first, hands waving around in the air.
"What? Ya not done teasin' me?"
I chuckled. "Not in the slightest, Marston. I need you to dance with Miss Gaskill, please."
He arched an eyebrow, feet shifting uncomfortably underneath him and Arthur just laughed quietly next to him.
"And whys that?"
"Because she wants to, right Mary-Beth?"
Mary-Beth nodded slowly. "I guess."
John shot me a deadly look. "And?", he asked in his husky voice.
I stared him down, my left hand pointed at her then at myself.
"It's her or me, Marston. Your choice."
He mumbled something under his breath, dark eyes darting between Mary-Beth and me.
"What was that?", I asked him in a serious tone and his eyes dropped down, a slight flush creeping up his cheeks.
"You're a pain in the ass, miss."
"Oh, I haven't even started yet. Shut it and dance with this gorgeous girl, John.", I shot back, an amused smile on my lips.
Mary-Beth was downright shocked about my choice of words but followed a pissed John without hesitation when he grabbed her hand in his and lead her to the makeshift dancing floor.
I chuckled and took a deep gulp of my beer, feet dangling in the air, somewhat pleased with myself.
Ha, dangerous outlaws. As if!
Arthur shuffled until he stood on my left side, arms crossed over his broad chest.
"Well, consider me impressed."
My eyes locked with his for a few moments and I needed to calm my breathing.
Damn.
Why exactly was he that handsome?
"Why, thank you Mr. Morgan. Couldn't stand seeing Mary-Beth this gloomy."
His low rumble of laughter sent an unwanted shiver down my spine and I adverted my eyes again, watching the two couples dancing around the campground.
John and Mary-Beth looked cute together but he wasn't exactly a good dancer, not in the slightest.
Arthur took in a deep breath before he spoke up again: "Ya wanna dance?"
My head turned in his direction, baffled, my hand with the bottle stopped in the middle of its way towards my mouth.
"W-what? With you?"
A little smile pulled on the corner of his lips.
"Sure. I can't stand seein' a lady that gloomy.", he replied with a lopsided-grin and I couldn't help myself, I smiled back until it faltered.
"Wait a second; In the morning you nearly threatened me to death and now you want me to dance with you? Did I miss something?"
Arthur scratched the back of his neck in discomfort, the smile still lingered on his lips.
"Jus' needed to prove ma' point, Sophie. 'S nothin' personal."
"Ah, I see. Okay then, cowboy."
I put the bottle down on the barrel but before I could jump down on my own, he reached for me, grabbed me by the waist and pulled me up, dropping me back to me feet right in front of him.
His hands lingered a bit too long on my body but I didn't really mind, not at all. Every touch sent a warm feeling right down in my belly, an unnecessary reminder that I haven't been touched that way in a long time.
Way too long.
Years; to be more specific.
Arthur grabbed my hand, intertwining our fingers while leading us between Dutch and John. His hand was huge, warm, calloused and rough, but it felt better than good.
For some reason this little gesture, intertwining our fingers, made me tingly and planted a wide grin on my lips.
A small gasp escaped my lips before I could stop it, as he turned around and pulled my body flush against his, one hand at the small of my back, the other still intertwined with mine. I placed my free hand on his shoulder and I felt every movement of his muscles under my palm.
Oh Lord.
Please send help.
I was lost, totally lost.
Lost in the arms of this handsome, strong and good-smelling outlaw. I never though the smell of gun-oil, wood and horses could be this arousing.
He began moving and I simply followed, it wasn't the greatest of dances but it was nice, simple and felt wonderful.
Dutch stared daggers in Arthur's back while we were dancing and I snorted a bit annoyed before I could stop myself.
"What?", he asked, his voice way deeper than normal.
"Did Dutch told you to stay away from me?"
Arthur raised his head and looked over my shoulder towards the man in question, followed by a deep sigh afterwards.
"Yeah, he did."
Ouch.
"Dunno why, but it doesn't matter.", came his reply and I looked up in his face. He didn't wear his hat that night and I could get a good look at his face without him hiding under the brim of it.
He did this way too often.
"It doesn't?", I asked back, curious about his answer.
Arthur spun us around, the hand on my back wandering up between my shoulder blades, then he bended me backwards until I clutched at his blue shirt afraid to hit the dusty ground but he simply grinned and hoisted me back up, pressing our bodies back together.
"Nah, as ya can see, I'm a grown man an' I don't need anyone's permission for anythin'."
"Good to know."
We kept dancing and I felt myself relaxing more and more in his strong arms. He hummed the melody of Javier's song deep in his chest and the rumbling noise made me uneasy, in a good way.
As we turned around once more, my eyes locked for a brief moment with Kieran Duffy's, still tied up to that tree at the edge of camp.
"He isn't an O'Driscoll.", I simply stated and Arthur stopped in his tracks, followed my gaze and groaned.
"H-How...? Ah, yeah."
He fell silent for a moment or two but resumed our dance.
"So, ya were right again today.", he murmured in my ear while leaning down a bit.
I nodded, trying to ignore his closeness.
"Told you."
His breath brushed my cheek as he chuckled and I felt myself blush. Deep in my stomach I could feel butterflies roaming around and my pulse quickened under his touch.
Not good.
"So, what's next?"
"Next?", I looked up again, locking eyes with his. Unknowingly and out of habit, I bit my bottom lip while thinking and his gaze followed my movement down. His expression changed slightly, just a bit but I saw it. The blue of his eyes shifted a shade darker, still fixated on my mouth.
Oh boy.
My breath hitched and I felt way too hot. I wanted to kiss him, so bad. I never wanted anything that much. But he was still a video game character and this whole thing right now wasn't real, right?
But why did it feel so real?
His body heat seeping through all these layers of clothes, his scent filling my nose, his muscles moving under my touch.
In this world, he was as real as he could be.
His eyes wandered back up, searching mine all while leaning down closer, our faces just inches apart.
Before I could do something really stupid, I took a step back, releasing myself out of his embrace but holding his left hand still in mine.
"I-I- uh-uh.", I stuttered not looking at him. Taking a deep breath, I tried to order my thoughts back together.
"Kieran. You need to speak with him in the morning. Watch out for the cabin door."
With that, I turned and headed straight to bed, ignoring his calls for me.