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Josiah Trelawny had long since learned to expect everything and nothing when it came to the world. And Dutch and Hosea were not exempt from that notion. Well, usually they weren’t.
Josiah had had heard word about them settling somewhere in Scarlett Meadows, a costal clearing called Clemens Point to be exact. Josiah guides Gwydion down the dirt track that winds through the trees before he enters a clearing. The camp is bustling with life, everyone no doubt enjoying the heat after being stuck on the mountains Josiah had heard about through word of mouth.
It was the talk of Blackwater when Josiah arrived, about how the Van der Linde gang had escaped by the skin of their teeth through the snow. Many had spoke it with disdain and disgust at the mere thought of the gang escaping, other spoke as if it were a wild adventure. Josiah liked those people, they were open minded, they were true.
“Trelawny!” A voice yells, “Everybody, Trelawny’s here!” Young Lenny shouts as Josiah slows to a stop, multiple members walk up to him with excited chatter and he grins, climbing down of his horse.
“Hello everyone.” He greets with a smile, turning to look through the faces, he frowns, “Where are your dear leaders?”
He gets a chorus “in the tent.”
“Many thanks-oof” Josiah says as something smacks into his legs, near knocking him off balance. He looks down in confusion, expecting the Marston boy but instead sees an entirely different child. A naked child.
“Now, if I’m not mistaken, children are supposed to only age in one direction, so who is this young sprite?” Josiah says, looking down at the top of the boy’s head, blonde hair mussed with sweat, as he gets his bearings, tiny hands propped against Josiah’s shins.
Blonde hair gives way to bright blue eyes as the child looks up at him with a grin, brows furrowed in confusion at the new man.
“That’s-”
“Arthur!?” Josiah looks up as he sees Dutch running around the corner, wet shirt plastered to him, arms rolled up past his elbows, a towel hanging in his hand. His hair hangs in his face, stringy with how wet it is.
“Morning Dutch!” Josiah greets, tipping his hat as the man comes to stand in front of him.
He bends down to pick up the naked child and wraps him in the towel, the boy sitting on Dutch’s side, laughing at the man.
“You are a pain.” He whispers into the boy’s, Arthur’s, hair.
“Been sniffing around old friend?” Dutch says, finally addressing Josiah.
Josiah nods, “Heard some tales of some filthy outlaws harassing the towns, could have only been you lot.” He laughs and Dutch grins.
“Now Dutch, forgive me but who is the newcomer?” Josiah asks, head tilted as he looks down at Arthur.
“Ah yes! This is young Arthur.” Dutch says grin blooming across his face as he looks between his son and the man.
“You seem quite taken with the boy, Dutch.”
“Well, I should hope so. He is our son after all.” A new voice says behind them. Josiah turns around to see Hosea walking over to them, a two rabbits thrown over his shoulder.
The boy squeals and begins kicking about in Dutch’s grip, hands reaching out for Hosea.
“Alright, alright, I hear you.” Dutch laughs, handing the boy over to Hosea.
“Hello my sweet boy.” Hosea greets, rubbing his nose against Arthurs. “Josiah.” He greets, before taking a step further into camp, turning back to look over his shoulder. “Shall we?”
“Lead the way.” Dutch gestures for Josiah to follow as they make their way into Dutch’s tent.
“He’s still got dirt in his hair Dutch.” Hosea tsked, running his hands through Arthur’s hair.
“Well, I’m sorry, the boy don’t like me bathing him. Only his mama.” Hosea rolls his eyes, “I can see that, you’re drenched.”
Josiah looks between the two, they seem happier, like they did when Hosea had first introduced him to Dutch.
“What are you staring at?” Hosea asks, looking at him.
“’Mama’?” Josiah asks with a raised brow. Hosea shakes his head,
“Shut up.” Hosea grumbles and Dutch laughs.
“You two have caused quite the ruckus in Blackwater” Josiah says, leaning back on the bed as the two other men move around him. Dutch to change out of his wet shirt and Hosea as he collects clothes to dress young Arthur.
“Mm, and who’s fault is that Dutch?” Hosea says.
“Shut up. Was Micah who was so adamant about it.” Dutch grumbles.
“You two haven’t changed in the slightest.” Josiah laughs, “Still fighting as if you’ve been married for 20 years.” Josiah pulls a face, “hm, you practically have been by now haven’t you.”
“Don’t remind me.” Hosea laughs at Dutch’s disgruntled “Hey!”
After their talk, Hosea places Arthur on the floor to wreak havoc before walking off, Josiah watches as the boy makes a beeline to a nervous looking fella stood by the horses.
They must have picked up a few more faces than the boy, Josiah thinks as he casts a look over the camp. Since Black Water, there seems to be at least three new members including Arthur. The aforementioned nervous young man and a feisty looking young lady.
The day passes slowly as members of the gang walk up to him to catch up or to get him to do a trick as if he were a circus freak. He doesn’t mind though, despite not staying around, these were his family all the same.
Finally with some peace and quiet, Josiah sits at a bench, fingering through the pages of a book when he feels a little hand tug at his coat.
Stood on the floor, staring up at him, Arthur holds his hands up, toy horse clutched in his fist.
“What is it you’d like child?” Josiah asks, turning in his seat to face the boy, Arthur bracketed between his knees.
The boy bounces on his feet, whining as he walks closer between the man’s legs, arms still held aloft.
Josiah pulls out a money clip handing it to the boy.
Arthur frowns and drops it on the floor, whining still to be lifted.
“No, dear boy,” Josiah says, bending down to pick up the money clip, tucking it into the boy’s shirt, patting it, “That goes in here for safe keeping.”
“What are you wanting?” Josiah asks again as he watches the boy bounce.
“Well alright.” Arthur moves closer again, hands grasping at the man’s clothes as he tries to lift himself into the man’s lap. “I know what you want now, young Arthur.” Josiah says, lifting the boy up ignoring the look the boy gives him as if he’s saying ‘finally’.
“Why didn’t you just ask?”
Arthur stares up at him, reaching for his moustache, giggling when Josiah wiggles his mouth to move it against Arthur’s hands.
The boy squeals, throwing his hands about as the hair tickles his fingers.
“My, you are a happy little fella, aren’t you?” Josiah laughs, the little boy’s joy was truly infectious.
“Oh-” He spots the horse that sots forgotten on the table and he picks it up “Look at this!” Arthur’s head snaps around, clapping his hands excitedly as he watches as Josiah makes the horse dance through the air. Before he makes it disappear.
“Woaah, where’d it go.” Josiah says, wiggling his fingers about.
Arthur’s face falls as he frantically looks around for his toy, face growing redder by the second.
“Oh-” Josiah begins before the boy breaks down in tears, screaming as he looks around for help.
“Nono, Arthur-” he makes a movement with his hand and the horse is back, “it’s here, you see?”
Arthur snatches it and holds it to his chest as he continues to hiccup.
“What happened?” Hosea walks over, looking between Arthurs sad face and Josiah’s look of utter concerned confusion.
“I- i” Josiah stutters,
“You made the toy disappear, didn’t you?” Hosea sighs but smiles at the man, “He loves that toy not even me or Dutch are allowed to take it half the time.”
Hosea looks down as Arthur whines, holding hands out to him.
“Oh little prince, did the bad magician scare you, hmm?” Hosea says but throws a wink over Arthur’s shoulder as he comforts the boy.
“Don’t take it personally, he’s a sensitive boy.” Arthur pushes his head against Hosea’s collarbone with a huff, hands moving to clutch at his coat. “And tired it seems.” Hosea sighs, knowing the boy had missed yet another nap. “I need to go put him down…” Hosea spots the put out look on Josiah’s face, “He’s fine old friend, he’ll be over it by the time he wakes up.”
And with that, Hosea walks the boy to their tent, and places him on the bed. He frowns as his shirt sticks out at an odd angle and slides his hand down the collar, fingertips hitting something hard. “What in the world?” He mutters to himself as he pulls is out, revealing a wad of bills.
Hosea rolls his eyes, stuffing the money in his pocket. He’s going to have to tell the man not to give the boy such things.