dust in the wind | arthur morgan

chapter four

V.D.L CAMP, WEST ELIZABETH
9:07PM

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As the end of the week grew to an end, Estella had resorted back to her classic jeans. She had given them a wash that morning, allowing them (and the other articles of clothing she washed) to dry throughout the day.

She thought over what had happened in Arthur's tent a lot. She wasn't sure what it was, but she enjoyed it maybe more than she should admit. The gravitation and attraction was electrifying. She was worried that Arthur would avoid her, embarrassed of the short moment but he surprisingly seemed fine, though never brought the moment up. Estella was grateful it hadn't hindered their friendship, but then began to doubt if it was a moment at all.

Meanwhile, Estella had been observing Abigail for the past few days, trying to figure the girl out. Miss Grimshaw was hasty to get her onto doing chores but Dutch, and especially John and Bill, were very defensive against her doing such.

At that moment, Abigail had been sat around the campfire, fixing herself up in a pocket mirror. Estella finished wiping down the table before making her way over to the raven-haired girl.

"Hey." Estella greeted, grabbing ahold of her belt. Abigail glanced at Estella for a second, comprehending that she was indeed talking to her. She immediately put the mirror down and into her coat pocket.

"Hello, Miss Gómez." She politely greeted back. Her hands gathered on the familiar space on the top of her thighs. It was a weird quirk she had.

"Call me Estella, please." Estella hid her grimace of such formality. Abigail nodded, respectfully.

Estella took a deep albeit quick breath, diverting her gaze around the camp swiftly before stepping closer towards Abigail.

"Look, Miss," Estella hushed. "I don't want to scare you but you realise you're running with a gang right?"

"I do. The Van der Linde gang?" Abigail swallowed. Her thumbs began to fumble with one another, fidgeting and tugging.

"Yeah," Estella sighed. She narrowed her eyes, almost puzzled. "You're aware of the dangers you're in by running with the gang?"

"Yes." Abigail answered, pursing her lips.

"Can you shoot a gun?" Estella raised an eyebrow.

"...No." Abigail shook her head.

Estella groaned. Her hand rubbed against her forehead.

"So you decide to join a dangerous, outlaw gang with no shooting skills? A gang known for robbing, shooting, killing, vandalising, all sorts of treacherous things? What made you think that was a good idea?" She tried to keep her tone calm but it was evident that Estella was tense.

"I, uhm, I was promised better pay. I just wanna collect enough money to buy a small cottage and live a peaceful life."

"Oh Miss..." Estella sighed, her thumb and index finger rubbing the bridge of her nose. "You don't realise."

"Don't realise what?" Abigail tried to not snap. Her anxiety was all over the place.

"The most important thing to Dutch, is loyalty. I've seen the way you look at him, you're shit-scared of him enough already. If you even attempt leave the gang, one of us is bound to track you down and kill you. You'll automatically be a traitor in our eyes."