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That rat bastard! It took anything in your right mind not to just poison him with either some food or whatever he got his damn hands on to drink! Micah was an insufferable bastard. Everybody in camp wanted to end his life. But no, Dutch wanted him around.
After the altercation with the bastard you had left him and walked around the camp. Pretending to watch over and take guard. But soon, you got on your horse and snuck out of camp. Riding out of Clemens Point, the current place where camp laid, you went east and toward Valentine.
Eventually, the only place that was relatively safe besides Valentine was where the last camp was. So after hitching your horse to a tree you stepped over toward a nearby tree and slouched down against it.
After an hour of trying to clear your mind by drawing the surrounding landscape around you and then changing to sharpening your knife. The sound of hooves caught your attention as you looked up and saw Arthur.
“There ya are, darling.” He sighed, almost one of relief as he gave his horse a treat before walking over to you. “Was looking all over camp for you. Though I didn’t see your horse anywhere.” He gently took off his hat so he could run his hand through his hair. “Are you okay? It’s not like you to run off without saying anything.”
You sighed, pocketing your knife as you could feel him walk closer and sit down next to where you were slouched. “It’s Micah.”
“Why am I not surprised?” Arthur shook his head, “What did he do this time?”
“What doesn’t he do?” Your voice raised immediately as you decided to vent. Arthur was always there to listen, he was your partner and best friend. So it made it so easier. He always listened, cared and tried his best to help. “I was minding my own business before he decided to come around and provoke me. I tried not to let it get to me! But he kept asking me when I’d be the next person to go! He kept going on about how we had too many mouths to feed.”
A beat of silence from the both of you and you just grabbed at your hair, tugging it softly until you felt Arthur’s hand come up. “Now, now, none of that now.” He gently wrapped his arm around your shoulder, bringing you in against him as his hand interlocked with yours to prevent you from tearing yourself in any way.
“You and I both know Micah likes to provoke. He likes to say shit out of his ass.”
“Why can’t we kill him? He’s not even useful.”
Arthur laughed softly at that as his thumb rubbed against your knuckles. “Well, Dutch certainly won’t like it if he found one of his best suitable men were down in one number.”
“And it’s better Micah than you, John, Javier, Charles or Lenny!” You shifted, getting comfortable next to him as you sighed. “Besides, look at all the insanity he’s done. He got himself locked up in Strawberry, he’s always racist and misogynistic toward the woman in camp.”
“I know, darling.” Arthur frowned, “I ain’t like the shit he says, or the actions that he causes. It raises suspicions for everyone in camp. Gets us in danger.”
“Why did you have to save him from Strawberry?”
“Believe me, if it wasn’t for Dutch I would’ve let him hanged.” Arthur huffed out a smirk, "Would've been a real pretty sight.”
“And I think if you had paid the sheriff a good price to get him hanged. Then they would’ve.”
Arthur looked down at you, noticing the devilish smirk on your lips. “It sure as hell would’ve been a good time. If I did that.” Arthur mused, rubbing his beard. “Though what would I say to Dutch?”
“That you got there and he was being set up for hanging. Or you could’ve just lied and said it was too late. That he was already hanged and dead by the time you arrived into town.”
“Damn! Why didn’t I think of that? Next time I go on a mission, I’m definitely taking you. You’re smart.”
“Hah! And I’d love to go on a mission with you, Arthur. I need to get out of camp more often! Grimshaw has me working on guard duty, Micah’s annoying and Dutch makes me want to put a bullet in his skull.”
He laughed, leaning down to kiss your crown. “Then when I need some company, perhaps I’d request your assistance. I plan on going hunting again. In fact, it was one of the reasons why I was trying to find you.”
“Oh? And what’s the other reason?”
Arthur felt his cheeks warm up as he soon reached into his satchel and pulled out some flowers. They were quite squished but they still held their beauty. “I remember once you telling me about your favorite flowers. I wasn’t sure where to find them, but uhh, while I was trying to find a good hunting spot I saw them in the corner of my eye.”
“Oh! Arthur, you didn’t have to.” You took them, fixing the way they seemed to droop from possibly being smushed while he rode through the heartlands. “They’re beautiful, thank you.”
“Of course.” He noticed your smile and he felt his heart race. Quite frankly he was thankful that you seemed to be in much better spirits. “Now, how about tomorrow morning we head out and go do some hunting. I told Grimshaw I was going to do so, before she yelled at me.”
“Would we spend the night here?”
Arthur looked around the old camp that was now empty. “Yes, it’s a nice and open area. Have you eaten anything?”
“Not for dinner, no.”
He shifted, standing up and dusting off his pants as he walked over to his horse and got out his tent and other things for camping. “Then, I think it’ll be in our best interest to get camp settled and cook us some dinner.”
You stood up, smiling softly as you watched him set the tent up. While he got busy with that you walked to the edge of the opening near the trees to get some sticks and rocks to make a campfire. When you returned, you set it up a bit far but close enough to the tent as you sat down and worked on it. Lighting up the wood it successfully started as Arthur prepped dinner for the both of you.
“Thank you for listening to me vent, Arthur.” You looked up at him, admiring his beautiful features. His hat was set aside, revealing his light brown, dirty blonde hair. Honestly, it always confused you what color it was, especially in specific lighting. But, honestly you didn’t mind it all too much because either way he was absolutely beautiful.
Leaning over, you kissed his cheek, the scruff of his beard tickling you. “You’re a good friend to have.”
“Aww, shucks, I always don’t think I’m much of a good friend. But…I always try my best.” He smiled, continuing to use his hunting knife to flatten the meat down so it could cook. “I will, though, always listen to you vent. No matter what it is, as long as you’re comfortable telling me.” He looked over at you, his blue-green eyes flickering beautifully in the fire. “I don’t want you to hurt yourself by having so many thoughts locked up in your pretty head.”
“Pretty? Arthur, you’re quite a flatterer.”
He smirked, “I can be when I want to be. But I truly mean it. I care for ya, I don’t want no harm coming to you. Not if I can help it.”
You let out a small huff, it was a laugh of amusement as you took the food he offered you and blew on it before taking a bite of it. “Delicious. Thank you.”
“Of course.” He set down another set of meat and started cooking his own dinner. “I’m glad I was able to find ya, I had to follow your trail. But, I ain’t surprised you came back to our first camp. I ain’t counting that damn mountain.”
“Colter? We all hated that place. The snow, although felt quite nice. I’d rather be freezing cold than sweating my ass off.”
“I can’t argue with that. But damn, a blizzard! In May? Insanity.”
“Oh don’t whine too much. I remember the look on your face when I told you we were to share a bed. There wasn’t much space. And we cuddled up quite nicely. Your chest is a good pillow.”
He laughed, reminding how after they saved Sadie and he was told by you where his room was. The shock and other feelings that were felt. “Then perhaps tonight you can use my chest as a pillow again.”
“I’d absolutely enjoy that, thank you for offering.”
The rest of the night was spent with slight conversation, mostly whatever he was up to before he found you. And after you both were satisfied with dinner and some water in his pouch you both got into the tent. Arthur immediately held you close after he finished putting his guns aside. It took less than a few minutes for the both of you to be in a deep sleep. Cuddling the other to provide some warmth and comfort—just like always.