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You and Arthur had traveled everywhere searching for this bounty.
This damn bounty. He was a wormy type of man that kept sneaking out of your grasp. How? You’re not exactly sure. But one thing was for certain, this man was either dangerous or lucky.
What was supposed to be a quick day trip, ended up taking three and a half days of hunting him all over the Grizzlies.
To be honest you were about ready to give up. You hadn’t packed for this type of trip. You were cold and miserable, and weren't quite sure if all this hassle was worth a hundred dollars.
And you really didn’t want to hear it from Arthur.
He was always so quick to fuss over you. And you weren’t positive as to why. The two of you got along great and always had, but something was different lately. You’d caught him staring a little harder, offering to help ya when ya didn’t need it. Which, in retrospect, didn’t really bother you. You knew what a kind soul he was even if it was shielded by the big broad shoulders and all around rough exterior.
“You know Arthur, maybe we should just turn around.” You called up ahead. It was getting late, your stomach was gnawing, and you felt a headache coming on. You were just ready to return to camp, eat a bowl of questionable stew, and lay down on your lumpy bedroll and not exist for a couple of hours.
He knew you were right, of course you were, you were the smart one. The Grizzlies were dangerous not only because of the wildlife, but also the Murphee brood. They were dumb but unpredictable and dangerous. So all of this wasn't really his best idea. But this particular bounty by the name of Jim, Gold Tooth Jim, had gotten under his skin. He’s never had a bounty make him feel inadequate before. Usually if you gave him the poster in the morning he’d give you your bounty by nightfall. What made Jim so different? Why was he able to string them along for so long? It was infuriating.
Plus, if he were being honest. He really wanted to impress you a little. He knows he doesn't deserve you, but dammit if he couldn’t stop thinking about ya. You were pretty much the only topic in his journal as of late. And he knew you were not a shallow woman, but this whole big-strong-tough-guy was the only thing he felt he had going for him. The only thing that might possibly tempt you.
Thus, it was his stupid pride that wouldn’t let him quit. Even when he felt the exhaustion deep within his bones.
“Just a little while longer.” He called back.
You rolled your eyes. He didn’t even turn to speak to you. You could tell by the tension in his voice and how high he was sitting on his horse that he wasn’t playing around. So you bit your lip and dropped it. This Jim fellow, for some reason or another, had obviously gotten to him.
A few moments later, you blame it on your hunger or maybe even your boredom, missed the sound of a horse coming in hot. And before you could you could even process what was happening, two horses went skidding and two riders went flying.
“Arthur!” You practically screamed jumping off of your moving horse and ran to him gun drawn.
“I’m al’ight.” He said slowly through his wheezing breath. “What the hell happn’d?”
It was getting too dark to see, and from what your sluggish memory could recollect the man was dressed in dark colors, so you kicked around a bit searching for the son of a bitch who apparently had some kind of death wish.
You were distracted, yet again, this time by the sound of Arthur making his way to his feet. You were still slightly concerned for him, it was a hard hit at full speed. Your eyes checked him over just as the stranger leapt forward pinning you to the ground.
You hit the ground hard and your cheek landed on a rock, you yelped at the sudden contact.
Then the human pile got even heavier as Arthur tackled the man. You heard a faint-familiar “sonofabitch” before you stood quickly, relieved that the two men were off of you, and cocked your revolver aiming it at the dark pile of limbs.
“You are one big idiot aint’ ya mister.” You said as Arthur hauled the tall man to his feet.
The man smirked wildly as the moon reflected in his gold teeth, which you recognized immediately.
You returned the wicked smile “Well, Arthur I believe our luck has changed.”
“Wha the hell you talkin’ about?” He looked up at you and worry flooded his features. “Hey you ok?”
You wiped the blood from your cheek, realizing it was bleeding heavier than you thought. “I’m fine.” You responded with more venom than intended.
“This here is ol’ Gold Tooth Jim.” You said bringing Arthur’s attention back to the matter at hand.
Arthur whipped his head to study the man, and when he seemed to be in agreement, gave you a big grin.
He was so handsome. And it broke you every time you saw him happy. It was so rare that he ever was, it hurt your heart. Your eyes locked with his and his smile slowly disappeared. Worry crept back to his face as a large drop of blood landed on your collar.
A horrible creepy chuckle broke the moment.
“I see you finally caught me. Well done!” The sarcasm was palpable.
You were shocked to hear a british accent, the smooth voice not fitting the appearance of the dirty stringy man before you.
“Why did you run into my horse?” Arthur asked, sounding more than a little confused, he too seemed a little thrown off by the man.
“To be perfectly honest, I hate being hunted like some animal. And since the two of you were so relentless, I thought I’d just...give it up.” He chuckled again giving you goosebumps.
“By trying to kill em’?” You were annoyed that he had almost hurt Arthur. It frustrated you that that was what he called ‘giving up’, plowing into a man with a horse.
“Don’t get me wrong I was hoping it would kill you. In fact I was hoping to kill you both.” His eyes seemed to darkened even further as he stared you down, but his smile was cut short by Arthur’s fist hitting him square in the face.
He landed hard and when he looked up blood was oozing from both his mouth and nose.
“What was that?!” Jim asked furiously from the ground.
Arthur landed on top of him, easily turned him over, and reached one hand back to you. You, familiar with his thought process quickly got the rope ready and passed it to him.
Then you turned to find Arthur's horse, hopefully unharmed when you heard him whisper to Jim “If you say one more goddamn word to her, I’ll smash your face in.”
Chills ran up your spine. You wish you could say that that didn’t do it for you, but that would make you a liar. You didn’t need your honor defended, you didn’t deserve it, you too were a no good outlaw, but hearing him do it made you feel special. And the fact that he hadn’t even wanted you to hear it made it even...sweeter.
You found his horse, thankfully unharmed, and led her over to the two men.
He lifted Jim easily, causing you to swallow harder than necessary at how strong he was, and placed him on his horse.
He turned to you suddenly, without any warning and lashed out with a loud booming voice. “Why did you turn your back on the man?”
Confused at first, but then you picked up on the fact he kept glancing at your bloody cheek.
But that didn’t matter, you didn’t deserve to be spoken to that way. “Like I could even see where he was Arthur.” You rolled your eyes and tried to pass him to find your horse.
He grabbed your forearm hard and turned you back to face him. “You can’t be letting you guard down like that, what if he would have had a knife!”
His voice was still too loud for your liking
“Oh like you did any better. I wasn’t the one that went flying.” You chuckled and tried to shrug everything off, this for some reason or another, was getting too intense.
His eyes squinted and he let go of your arm like it burned him. “I reckon this’ll be the last bounty you go on.” He slipped his tough guy mask on. His features turned sharp and intimidating.
It’s never worked on you. You could never be scared of him. For him, yes, everyday. But never of him.
“You can’t decide that for me.” You hissed and hated the way tears welled in your eyes.
“Sure I can.” He stood even straighter brows furrowed and lips tight.
“I’ll do whatever I want, whenever I want Arthur. I’ll catch every damn bounty the sheriff posts, in every county if I want to, and you can’t stop me.” You stood slightly on your toes trying your best to reflect his body language. You could feel your face flush as the anger flared. “Besides, if we would have turned back when I said, this never would have happened.”
You hated that you knew how to hurt him. You could see it as his eyes fell and his fists clenched. Guilt smacked you as hard as Jim and his horse did earlier to Arthur.
You reached out to him, feeling like a piece of shit “Hey…”
He backed just out of your reach. “I’m sorry. It’s my fault. I always seem to get ya into trouble.” He sounded ashamed and somehow small. You didn't like it, not one bit.
“No, Arthur, look I didn’t mean that. The camp needs money and I offered to go with you. This was your run, it was your call. I should have just been more prepared is all.”
You smiled at him but he couldn’t look at anything but your cheek.
“It’s just a scratch. Don’t be so silly about it.”
His eyes hardened and looked at you with an intensity that you’ve never seen directed towards you. But his voice betrayed him, it was still as soft as the breeze. “And what if it’s not just a scratch next time? What if it kills you instead of just cutting your pretty face?”
“You, you think I’m pretty?” You hated that that was what your mind chose to focus on, but in your defense, it caught you completely off guard.
“Dammit! I’m serious! What if next time it’s a bullet? Or a…”
You stepped forward, reached out, and touched his dirty face. In an attempt to calm him down. You were surprised by how fast he leaned in, closed his eyes, and exhaled loudly.
Jim, completely forgotten by now, chucked again and called out “Oh for god’s sake just kiss her!”
Arthur moves to turn and presumably ‘beat the man's face in’. But you didn’t want him to do that. You were certainly tired of Jim, however, you were thankful for the suggestion.
You grabbed a hold of Arthur’s arm and turned him to you, one hand pulled his collar, the other pulled his head down, and you pressed your mouth firmly against his.
At first he doesn’t move, and all you can hear is Jim's ridiculous cackling, but then, then he started to kiss back. And nothing else existed in that moment other than Arthur Morgan.
It’s delicate so very delicate. Like he was afraid you'd shatter, or maybe he was afraid that he'd shatter? He lifts up slightly and kisses the tip of your nose, and then the center of your forehead. You smile largely, it hurts but you can’t help it, and he returns it with another soft kiss to your patiently awaiting lips.
After a few moments of his mouth gently playing with your mouth, he reaches to grab your cheek to deepen the kiss.
You gasp as his hand pulls your wound and he opens his eyes horrified.
“God I’m sorry.” He reached into his coat and pulled out his favorite handkerchief, pressing it firmly, yet gently, to your cheek.
It was your turn to close your eyes as his palm comforted you.
“We’ll get Miss Grimshaw to look at that when we get back.” His voice sounded almost hoarse.
“I told you it’s nothin’.” Your voice didn't sound much better.
You opened your eyes to see his shining back, with a beautiful smile on his face as he pulled you back in and kissed you.
You had never seen him so happy.