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garyofrivia · 6 years ago

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For They Shall Be Satisfied

Arthur Morgan x OC

Chapter 2

(masterlist in bio)

A/N: first update!! let me know what ya think :) I plan to update pretty regularly, so stay tuned!!

Warnings/Categories: Violence, Angst

(WC: 7,319)

It was the next morning when Annie finally rode into camp. She had spent the night sitting on a riverbank, restlessly skipping rocks in the gently flowing water and the lack of sleep was written all over her face with the bags under her eyes. On the bright side, she ended up being able to find a pronghorn by the water just before dusk as well. Pearson was happy with her haul and put the stew on with the first batch of fresh venison they’d had in a few days.

A dreaded decision she knew would have had to come eventually was at her doorstep. She could stay with the gang, put them all in danger and take the risk of something worse happening to them than another sabotaged job, or she could make a run for it to keep all of them safe.

Over the years she’d been with Dutch, the conflict with Colm settled a bit and she made the mistake of getting comfortable. He seemingly forgot about his quest for vengeance, until about a year ago. She was passing through a town out west and ran into Colm’s right hand, Thomas Sawyer, at a saloon. Long story short, it ended with the pair of them getting shot on the street. One in the gut and one right between the eyes. In his attempt to hit Annie with as many shots as possible, Sawyer also hit a bystander, killing her instantly before Annie could down him. The person he shot just so happened to be Colm’s sister, an incident that he immediately decided to blame on Annie.

Since then, they saw more and more O’Driscolls everywhere they went, but it never seemed like they were following them as blatantly as this. There’d be a few in the saloons, in the woods hunting, or on the roads here and there. They were apparently better at tailing than Annie gave them credit for.

As she was sharpening her hunting knife, Hosea surprised her, coffee cup in hand. “I hope you had a bit of breakfast. Mary-Beth brought in some fresh bread this morning,” he said, pulling up a crate to sit opposite her.

She shook her head and took the cup from his outstretched hand. “This is breakfast enough, thanks, Hosea.”

“You seem tired, Annie. It’s not like you to take off from camp for days on end like that.”

“I didn’t come up with much out hunting, so I took a little longer than I should’ve. Then I came up on them O’Driscoll boys.”

“After the job,” he started. He seemed hesitant for some reason, as if he didn't want to know the answer to the question that followed. “Where’d you go?”

“Just went to go finish my hunt, that’s all.”

“Your deer had been killed quite some time ago by the look of the blood on its pelt. You were gone all night.”

“What, I can’t leave camp for a night? I just needed some air, Hosea. It can... get crowded here.”

“You’re not wrong with that,” he shrugged. “Look, Annie. Arthur talked to me. About what you said to him. About leavin’.”

Annie rolled her eyes and a feeling in her stomach plummeted to the floor. “Son of a bitch.”

“Don’t worry, he just shared it with me. Dutch doesn’t know.”

“I’ll kill him,” she mumbled as she gulped her drink, letting it burn her throat as it went down.

“No doubt about that, surely.” It seemed like he wanted her to say something more about it, but she kept her eyes shamefully trained on the ground between them. “I understand why you think you have to do this.”

Annie glanced up at him in surprised. “You do?”

“Yes, of course. You’re a good kid with a better heart. You care far much more about others than you do yourself. It’s an admirable trait, might I add. But I want you to think about what you have here. What you’ve made for yourself.”

“Like what?”

“A family. A name, a life. It’s not the prettiest life, sure, but one day it’ll be prettier.”

Annie nodded and looked at her feet, unsure of what to say. She’d come to love Hosea like a father. It was easier to pretend it all meant nothing, like the gang was just another band of outlaws and she’d find a new home. But she couldn’t. There was a reason she stuck around so long when she had the option to leave many times over. When they took her in, Hosea taught her to read and write a little better, and the ins and outs of robbing. Dutch showed her how to strategize for and with a team, how to dance, and the names of the different composers playing on his phonograph. Arthur… was Arthur. He had made her his friend-his family. John, too. Remembering everything was something she tried to avoid because suddenly, it all became a lot harder than she thought it would be.

“I can’t let anything happen to them, Hosea. To you or Dutch or...”

He nodded, understanding the words she couldn’t say. “Like I said, I understand. I just want you to think about this, is all. Dutch has had Colm on his tail for nearly a decade, it’s not something he hasn’t been able to handle. You could talk to him, you know.”

“Yeah, well, I ain’t Dutch. They chose to follow him. I don’t have a loyal gang of gunslingers watching my back ‘round every corner.”

“Annie… I’m telling you, you do.”

She abruptly stood and put on her hat, adjusting her revolver in its holster with fidgeting fingers. “Can we finish this later? I have to go give Mister Morgan somethin’.”

“What’s that?”

“A black eye.”

He chuckled and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Take it easy on him. I had my suspicions and may have pried a bit.” While she was only a few inches shorter than him, he dwarfed her in demeanor. He was everything she wanted to be. “Don’t run off without saying goodbye, at the very least.”

“Of course not, Hosea. I… Thank you.”

“Anytime, Annie. Let me know if you need anything.”

She nodded and he left her alone under her lean-to. Scanning the camp for Arthur, she didn’t see a sign of him anywhere apart from his horse hitched near the scout fire.

“Hey Sean, you seen Arthur this mornin’?” she asked as he walked by with a plate of food.

“Mornin’, Doll! Saw him leave a bit earlier to go down fishin’ by the lake with Lenny,” he said as he shoved a hunk of bread into his mouth.

“Fishin’?”

“Right? I haven’t ever seen that man catch anything bigger than my pecker, though that’s not sayin’ much,” he snorted at his own joke.

“Bye, Sean.”

Starting towards the lake just northwest of camp, surly enough, Arthur and Lenny were casting and chatting near the bank. Slowly, she crept up behind them and took a seat on a boulder when she was in earshot, watching them closely as if she was stalking prey.

“So then I told her, ‘Ma’am I do not have nearly enough money or nearly enough drink in me to be having to deal with this right now,’” Lenny said. The pair of them burst out laughing at whatever the context was.

“That’s the last time you go to El Paso, my friend,” Arthur cluthed his stomach with the hand that wasn’t holding the rod.

“I have no argument with that.”

“El Paso is a fine place,” Annie said as she struck a match on her boot to light a cigarette.

They both jumped, spooked by Annie’s sudden presence. “Jesus Christ!” Arthur exclaimed. “I hate when you do that.”

“Annie,” Lenny said after clearing his throat. “Good to see you. How, uh… How long were you there?”

She ignored him and turned her attention to Arthur, staring him down with a look that said more than anything she could put into words.

He returned the glare, but eventually gave in with a sigh. “Lenny, you keep at it. I’m gonna take a walk with Miss Bolton.”

“Good day then, you two.”

Arthur set his fishing rod down on a boulder and followed Annie as she strode further up the bank. Once she was sure they were far enough away from camp, she suddenly whirled around to face him. “You fuckin’ told Hosea?!”

It didn't appear to her that he was angry. He seemed more annoyed with her than anything. “I did. Figured I’d try to get him to talk some sense into that thick skull of yours.”

She shoved him, nearly knocking him into the lake. “I’m gettin’ real damn tired of the three of you goin’ behind my back about things concernin’ me.”

“No one’s goin’ behind your back, goddamnit. Dutch knows nothin’ about this, for your and his own good.”

“I shoulda never said anything. You’re makin’ this harder than it needs to be.”

“No Annie, I ain’t,” he said, through clenched teeth. He stepped toward her but she matched his stance. She knew he’d never lay a hand on her, but she refused to let him feel like he had all the power. “You’re the one that’s leavin’.”

“That’s right.” She threw her cigarette butt on the ground and twisted it into the rocks with the sole of her boot. Now he was angry.

“You’d just abandon everyone? After all these years?”

“I’m not ‘abandoning’ anybody. How would you feel if you were me? If one day you came back to camp with Jack, Abigail, and John’s throats cut? Lenny gutted from head to toe, Grimshaw and the girls shot in the head? Hosea and Dutch burned to ashes? Me hung by a limb? All done at the hands of O’Driscoll Boys because you wanted something for yourself more than you wanted to protect them? How would you feel?”

His brow furrowed and his mouth tightened as the anger in his eyes turned to confusion and frustration. He understood, but he didn’t want to. He wanted there to be another way.

“I don’t want to do this,” she continued, the anger in her voice fading. “All I want is to be happy, robbin’ and scammin’ with all you crazy idiots. But… what I want doesn’t matter. Not more than their safety. I shouldn’t have to explain that to you, let alone Dutch or Hosea.”

He looked down as he spoke so that his hat hid his expression. “I know. I know. I’m sorry.”

“What?” She was taken aback. Arthur never apologized, especially not to her.

“I should have understood. I know this ain’t what you want. It’s a rare thing in this life to get what we want.”

She didn’t say anything, fearing that she’d get emotional again. Maybe she preferred it when he was upset at her. Not whatever... this was.

“We can fight. You and me. Just enough to send him the message that you’re not layin’ down your guns. They’ll back off.”

“We can’t, Arthur. Colm won’t ever stop this, you know that. It’s too dangerous.”

“More dangerous than the time you dove in after John right into white water rapids when he fell off the boat in the middle of the Colorado? Or when you tackled a lawman off a bridge to save me from gettin’ my head blown off and nearly broke your own neck? Or when you somehow pulled me from that fire in San Juan and still ran back in after Karen?”

“Yes.”

“No it ain’t-.”

“It is. Those times were different. I won’t let you risk your life for me, not when I can do somethin’ about it before it comes to that.”

“Please, just-. You don’t have to be a martyr here... I won’t argue with you. And if there’s really no changin’ your mind. then… so be it.”

“I'm… I’m sorry. ”

For a moment, they stood in heavy silence. She half expected him to call his own bluff and beg her to change her mind. But then a hint of a smile tugged at the corners of his lips and he gave her a pair of mischievous eyes. “You wanna go into town with me?”

“What? Why?”

“I needed to pick up a few things for Dutch and Hosea. They’re hatchin’ one of their damn plans, you know how it is. C’mon, we can make it fun.”

Annie shoved her hands in her pockets, apprehensive. He was furious at her a moment ago, but now he wanted… to have fun? From the day she met him, she hadn’t been able to figure that man out. “I mean… I guess.”

“Good. You sure could use a bath.”

***

Blackwater was the biggest town they’d come across in their journey east, but still somehow remained unimpressive to Annie. It was too busy and too plain for her to take any interest in staying there any time soon. The bank was the most enticing building there, and for reasons other than the architecture.

“I ain’t havin’ much fun, Arthur,” Annie said, spitting out dust as they approached this hitching posts outside the general store.

“Quit complainin,” Arthur said, sliding down from his horse. Annie rolled her eyes. She didn’t know why she agreed to go with him to town. Maybe she wanted more time away from camp. Or maybe she wanted more time with Arthur. She didn’t dare think about it too much. “What does Dutch need from town anyways?”

“Just a few things,” Arthur said with a sly look on his face. “It won’t take too long, don’t worry.”

“What ‘things’?”

He sighed. “I’ll explain later. I just need someone to keep an eye out, if you’d be so kind.”

“You’re bein' strange,” she said, jumping down from her horse and hitching him to the post.

He ignored her and pulled out his journal. “Andrew Crawford…”

“Why do I know that name?”

“Dutch mentioned him a few times a while back. He’s a, uh… businessman of sorts.”

“‘Businessman’?” Annie said, putting her hands on her hips. “Arthur, what the hell is going on?”

He winked at her and grinned. “Head over to the saloon to wash up, I’ll be right behind you.”

She huffed and and reluctantly made her way to the saloon building. A few double takes and dirty looks were thrown her way, but she just nodded at the men who gave them. They weren’t used to seeing a woman in “men’s” clothing, but she could care less about what they thought of her. The barkeeper was polite, but she could tell that even he was passing his own judgement on her.

“That’ll be 50 cents, Ma’am.”

“50 cents? It’s usually 25 other places.”

“Well, for men perhaps it is. Sorry, miss.”

She narrowed her eyes at him and snatched the bath key from the counter. Heading up the stairs to the bathroom, she passed a couple of working girls chatting in the hall. She nodded at them and while one looked away politely, the other’s eyes lingered curiously.

“Ladies,” Annie cleared her throat. “Pardon me.”

When she entered the small room, the refreshing scent of the soap and oils wafting up from the tub filled her nostrils. After locking the door, she immediately shed her clothes, tossed her hat into the corner, and poured herself a brandy from the tray as soon as she got in the tub. She took a long swig and closed her eyes, letting out a long sigh as the alcohol tingled her throat.

She was just beginning to relax when there was a knock at the door. “Were you interested in our deluxe bath, miss?”

Annie’s brow furrowed with curiosity- this was the first time she was offered bath service. “I, uhh… No, thank you.”

Despite her answer, the locked clicked and the door opened steadily. She recognized the working girl from the hall- she had stunningly sleek, dark brown hair and deep brown eyes, complimented by the light blue dress that she had tied up in the front. Her face was bright and young, likely not older than twenty. Her eyes lingered on Annie for a moment and she immediately slid her upper body below the surface of the soapy water in embarrassment.

The woman giggled. “No need to be shy, ma’am. You’re not anything I haven’t seen before.”

“Oh, um, how do you mean?” Annie stuttered, a bit too quickly.

The woman raised an eyebrow and looked down at her own chest and then back up at Annie. She blushed and the look of embarrassment on her face made the woman laugh. “Just relax, darlin’.”

Annie cleared her throat. “I, uh, don’t really need…”

“It’s free of charge,” she said. “Not to worry. So, what brings you to these parts?” She took a seat on the stool next to the tub and began tying her hair back.

Free of charge? Am I getting robbed? “Really, I don’t want any service here.”

“Then, would it be alright if I just sat over here and kept you company? I’m a bit bored today, that’s all. Won’t cost you nothin’.”

Annie was beyond puzzled at what was unfolding in the room, and also a bit suspicious. All she expected - all she wanted - was a simple, relaxing warm bath, alone. Arthur was likely next door by now, and would probably finish up soon. That gave her an idea

“I think there might be a willing customer in the room over.”

The young woman shook her head. “Already barked up that tree. I figure you’re a mysterious woman passing through town and you probably have some interestin’ conversation.”

“Sorry, do you have a name?” Annie asked sharply.

“It’s Madelyn,” she said, smiling. “Maddie is fine, though.”

“Well, ‘Maddie’, if you wouldn’t mind, I’d like a bit of privacy.”

Madelyn paused a moment and re-crossed her legs. “Look, I’m just trying to bide some time while the boys downstairs clear out. Nasty lookin’ sons o’ bitches, came in just after you did. You can understand my reservations about spendin’ time with a group of big ole cowboys, considering my line of work.”

“Considering your line of work, I’d figure you’d be used to that,” Annie blurted out before she could catch herself. “Oh, I- I didn’t mean it like that, I’m sorry.”

Madelyn laughed. “None taken. You’d think I would be, wouldn't you? To tell you the truth, I’m just not in the mood for all that ruckus at the moment. You’re right though, I could be makin’ a pretty penny down there. But if you’re uncomfortable with my stayin’, I understand."

Eyeing her gun holster, she kicked herself for throwing it on the other side of the room. She wasn’t sure what to make of the situation, but she knew this could end in a mess. “Right. Well, I guess in that case, make yourself at home.”

“I do appreciate it,” Madelyn smiled, showing a beautiful set of unusually pearl-white teeth. “You never answered my question, stranger. What brings you around these parts?”

“Oh, uh, Annie. Annie McMarin. I’m travelin’ with a group of us goin’ East. Bounty hunters, lookin’ for some more business out of Saint Denis.”

“They let women take on bounties now?” Madelyn said, as she fiddled with the skirt of her dress. “I suppose times really are changin’.”

“They sure are. Though I do get a lot of shit thrown my way. Literal and metaphorical.”

Madelyn laughed, genuinely this time. It was melodic and warm, almost calming. “I’m sure you do.”

With her suspicions getting the better of her, Annie tried testing the waters with the stranger. “It’s tough out there for us.”

“‘Us’?”

“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean any offense. I just mean, since we’re both women and everything-.”

“No, no I don’t take any offense,” Madelyn laughed again. “Most people just think down on me, that’s all. Women included.”

“Well, they shouldn’t. We should stick together. Lord knows it’s a man’s world out there.”

“You don’t have to tell me that twice. You seem to be makin’ it just fine.”

“I could say the same for you. I figure it’s all the same, at the end of the day. Breakin’ a few rules here and there, just doin’ what we gotta do to get by. Nobody's better than anybody else, let alone in a place to judge someone for somethin’ as commonplace as their line of work.”

Madelyn smiled politely. “Well said, Miss McMarin.”

Annie continued washing, scrubbing her skin beneath the water, hesitating every time she took her eyes off the woman next to her. Something felt wrong, and it surprisingly wasn’t just the fact that she was bathing in front of a stranger. She felt vulnerable, which is not something she usually allowed herself to be. Moving quickly, she dunked her head under the water and grabbed the soap to start washing her hair. She had to wrap this up soon. “How long have you lived here?”

“Just a few months. I’m originally from Pennsylvania. My daddy’s a miner and well, since my ma died things haven't been easy for him and I needed to make some money to send home. He thinks I’m a maid for a rich family.”

“I won’t tell if you won’t,” Annie said, making Madelyn chuckle. “What happened with your mama?”

“She caught a fever last winter. We couldn’t make it down the mountain in the snow and the doctor sure couldn’t make it up, so she only made it about a week.”

“Sorry to hear that.” Annie stood and immediately wrapped herself in the soft towel from the rack next to the tub in a swift motion. “I think I’m about finished. Sorry to have to rush out the door, it’s just that I’m late to a meeting.”

“Well, thank you for the company.” Madelyn handed her clothes to her and smiled again. Annie noticed her gun belt was still on the ground, just out of reach.

“It was nice meeting you.” She slid on her shirt and pants quickly while the other woman noticeably didn’t avert her eyes.

“Likewise. Make sure you stop by here on one of my good nights.” She winked.

Annie smirked to herself as she finished the last of her shirt buttons. Ah... So that’s the game we’re playing. “I’ll have to buy you a drink before I leave town.”

“I definitely will hold you to that. It’s nice to make a friend every now and then, even the unexpected ones.” She reached around Annie for the door smiled.

Before she could even touch the doorknob, Annie suddenly whipped out the small knife hidden in her boot and pressed it to Madelyn’s throat. She grabbed her mouth from behind and yanked her head back into her shoulder, muffling the sound of a cry.

“Shhh, now we don’t want to draw attention to ourselves, do we?” Madelyn quickly shook her head. “Are you gonna scream if I take my hand away? Last time this blade was on someone’s throat it did not end very well for them.” She shook her head again and Annie slowly removed her hand, the knife still in place. “What part of Pennsylvania you say you were from again?”

“W- West near Pittsburg, you wouldn’t know the town.”

“Try me.”

“I’m-, I-.”

“I only ask ‘cause I had a feelin’ that you ain’t who you say you are. I’ve been to this saloon quite a few times now, and even though you said you’ve been here a few months, I’ve never seen the likes of your pretty little head before.”

“Please, I’m sorry, don’t kill me,” Madelyn breathed, the panic rising in her voice.

“I won’t if you tell me how many men you have waiting for me outside this door.”

“None, I swear!”

Annie sighed and shifted her blade so that it was only just pricking the soft skin of Madelyn’s throat, drawing only just a drop of blood. “This knife is gettin’ awfully twitchy. It might take your head off before I can stop it.”

“No, no, please, I ain’t lyin’. I was just supposed to steal the bullets outta your guns and belt.”

Annie grabbed Madelyn’s hair, spinning her around so she could reach her revolvers. Sure enough, both cylinders were empty, along with her belt. It didn’t occur to her to stop to think about when or how she did it without her noticing. She’d been on the other side of this enough times to know enough. “Who are you workin’ for?” she hissed as she returned her blade to Madelyn’s trembling throat.

“I don’t know their names. They said they knew you, some Irishman, I think. I’m sorry, please don’t kill me.”

“Stop askin’ me and maybe I won’t. Are they the ones downstairs?”

Annie shook her head. “Y-yes, but they left. They’re waitin’ outside of town for you and your friend.”

“Listen here, little Madelyn, or whoever the fuck you are,” Annie purred. “I’m gonna let you walk outta here on the condition that you give me my ammunition back. And that you just keep on walkin’ in the opposite direction ‘till you can’t walk no more. If you cross my path again, one of those bullets you stole is gonna be the last thing you see right before I put it through your eye. You can count on that.”

“Yes, ma’am, I understand.” Madelyn reached into the pocket of her dress and pulled out a small but heavy sack of the stolen ammo.

“Good girl,” Annie breathed into her ear, making her shudder. “Now, go on and tell those nasty men that you got caught and to call off their hit.”

“P-Please, no, they’ll kill me!”

“You’re lucky I ain’t killed you yet. Go on. Get out of my sight.”

Without another word, Madelyn hurried out the door, careful not to catch Annie’s eye as she shut the door behind her.

Arthur was smoking a cigarette on the bench outside the saloon when Annie emerged from the building, hat in mouth, furiously trying to pull her wet hair into a braid. “What took you so goddamn long?”

“We got a problem,” she said, her voice muffled by the hat.

“Christ, what is it this time?”

“O’Driscolls hired a girl to come ‘meet’ me.”

“In… the bath?”

“No, Arthur, at the goddamn circus.”

“Well, what’d she say?”

“Some boys are waiting for us outside town. Tried to steal my ammunition so they could ambush us.”

He looked down at his own gun belt and found everything still in place. He tilted his head, puzzled. “Why would they send someone to take yours and not mine?”

Annie shrugged and finally finished tying her hair, adjusting her hat on her head until it fit properly. “I don’t rightly know. Maybe they’re lookin’ to separate us. I told her to go tell them it didn’t work, but she’s probably halfway to Timbuktu by now. ”

“We can worry about that later, I guess. No point in lookin’ for a fight when it’s about to come to us. We’re late, let’s go.”

She followed suit when he grabbed his horse and started leading her down the street. “Where’s this fella at?”

“He’s stayin’ in the hotel, but he said he’d be at the sheriff's office.”

“Odd meeting place.”

“Probably paranoid we’ll turn our guns on him, I don’t know.”

“Why exactly are we meeting him again?”

“Dutch seems to think he can help us clear our names. ‘A fresh start’, as he put it. We have to do a few things for him first, though.”

“What ‘things’?”

“We’re about to find out.”

“Dutch seems… on edge,” Annie said after a beat. It wasn’t something he was always open to talking about.

“We’re on the run, of course he is.”

“We’re always on the run.”

“Not like this, we ain’t.”

Well, I am. She wanted to say. “Sure.”

They rounded the corner and continued down the street along the water. Annie looked out over the lake and watched as the ripples shimmered in the sun. It was a clear day, a slight breeze sweeping through the town. For a moment, she had a desire to take the boat on the shore out and enjoy the water. Arthur and her often used to go fishing, making fun of John’s inability to swim all the while. She remembered a time when everything seemed simpler. Sitting around a campfire with plenty of food and drink to go around. But the memories faded to almost as quickly as they came.

“Buck up, the fella with the fancy vest is him,” Arthur mumbled as they arrived at the last building on the block. “Mister Crawford?”

At the sound of Arthur’s voice, the man jumped to his feet from his seat on the porch steps.

“Oh, yes, hello,” Crawford said in a chipper English accent as he smoothed out his pants. He was sporting an intricately embroidered blue vest and spotless white shirt and black trousers. His bowler hat had a small white feather attached by a jeweled pin and a white band.

Over his shoulder in the window, the sheriff peered out at them. Annie eyed him carefully, but he sank behind the pane out of view. Annie tipped her hat at the man in the vest and let Arthur do the talking for once.

“Arthur Callahan,” he said, shaking the other man’s hand.

“Andrew Crawford, though I suppose you already know that. Who is this lovely lady?”

Annie flashed a pearly smile and glanced down at her feet bashfully. It’d been a long time since she used her “innocent” wiles on a man. “Annie McMarin. Pleased to meet you, mister.”

“You as well,” he said, returning her grin. “Is, ehm, Mister Kilgore joining us today?”

“I’m afraid not, sir. He had some prior business to attend to,” Arthur said.

Annie looked up and once again, the sheriff was watching them suspiciously from the window. Maybe it was that she was a bit paranoid and was still unable to shake the uneasiness from the encounter with “Madelyn” earlier. But something still didn’t feel right. A man who could actually clear their names with the law was likely in a questionable line of business himself. Why he would want to meet them at the sheriff’s office seemed… wrong. She didn’t see anything else out of the ordinary, but she decided to act on her hunch anyways.

“Hi there, sheriff!” she said loudly, waving and grinning widely at him.

Arthur shot her a glance but she didn’t acknowledge him. She trusted that he’d catch on soon enough. A moment later, the sheriff emerged from his office, brandishing the signature silver star on his chest and double revolvers in their holsters.

“I’m not in the habit of crowds gathering on my doorstep. State your business or move along,” he said, bluntly.

“Sorry, sheriff,” Arthur started, cutting Crawford off when he looked like he was about to say something. “The pair of us were just passing through, and just happened to see an acquaintance of ours that we shared a drink with last night.”

“Well, reunite somewhere else.” He watched the three of them carefully.

“Sheriff,” Annie said, approaching him. “I heard you managed to bring in one of those bad outlaw boys from out west just last week. I’d like to thank you for keepin’ these towns and roads safe for travelers like us. It’s a welcomed change.”

The sheriff relaxed a bit, intrigued by Annie’s bubbly tone. “Yes, ma’am my deputies and I did. Mean son of a gun, but there’s no thanks needed. Just doin’ my duty.”

“Of course, sir,” she smiled again, knowing she had him on the hook. She just had to reel him in. “This country could use more men like yourself.”

“Thank you, miss. Where are you folks from?”

“The Carolinas, sir. My brother has a ranch out in New Austin and we were just on our way to pay him a visit, seein’ as we’re newlyweds and all.”

Arthur glanced at her, stunned. She knew that if she saw the look on his face she’d burst out laughing and blow their cover.

“Well, my congratulations to you. Seems you got yourself quite a woman, mister.”

“That I do,” Arthur said, cautiously.

Annie took Arthur’s arm with her free hand. “I’m sorry for wastin’ your time. We’ll get out of your hair.”

“Good meetin’ you all. Take care, now.”

“Ehm, excuse me-,” Crawford started, but Annie threw her other arm around him and turned him away from the sheriff’s office.

“Robert! Weren’t you in the middle of tellin’ us about your fishing trip?”

When they were out of earshot, Arthur threw his hands up, exasperated. “The hell was that?”

“Mister Crawford,” Annie said, ignoring Arthur. Her voice returned to its usual lower pitch and she narrowed her eyes. “Would you like to tell us why we were to meet you outside of the sheriff’s office?”

Crawford glanced at Arthur, but he only gestured to answer Annie’s question. “Well… To be honest, I know you aren’t who you say you are. Neither is this ‘Tacitus Kilgore’. I needed to have my wits about me, is all.”

“Why not a public place then?” Annie prodded further. “Why right on the law’s doorstep? How would that exactly inspire confidence in us?”

“Ma’am if you wouldn’t mind, I don’t appreciate being interrogated within just five minutes of our introductions,” he said in a sly tone. It made Annie’s stomach turn.

“I think you oughta get to explainin’,” Arthur chimed in.

“This is preposterous!”

Annie put her hand on the gun in her belt the instant he raised his voice, cocking an eyebrow to dare him to say more. He immediately raised his palms and backed away in submission. “Listen here, mister. We ain’t accusing you of anything. We’re just askin’ some simple questions that you don’t seem to have any legitimate answers to. So, if you want to have your ‘wits about you’, I suggest you take my horse’s reins, and lead him over to the saloon so we can get on with this meeting.”

“Certainly,” he said, gulping down his nervousness. He did as he was told, with Annie following close behind and Arthur just to his right. The atmosphere had grown tense. She noticed that Arthur even had his hand on his gun, anticipating the worst.

They hitched the horses and filed inside. Annie went over to order drinks and joined them at a table in the corner. She handed them both a beer and took a sip of her own. “See, mister Crawford? We can be civilized.”

“Who do you think we are, exactly?” Arthur said. He was sitting across from the man, glaring up at him from just under the brim of his hat.

Crawford adjusted his hat with trembling hands and hastily wiped drops of sweat off his forehead. “I was told that you’re gangsters. In cahoots with the Van der Lindes, or something or other.”

Arthur and Annie looked at each other and chuckled. “Who told you that?”

“A few gentlemen approached me as I came into town about two days ago. I merely did what I did for the sake of my own safety, I assure you it was nothing personal.”

“Do you make a habit of trusting random men on the street?” Arthur asked as he leaned back in his chair and slowly sipped his drink.

“No, sir, I do not. I just didn’t think I’d take the risk. Because if what they said was true, then I’d have put myself in quite the situation if I didn’t prepare for the worst. And… well, they showed me your wanted posters. Morgan, right? Arthur Morgan? And Annie ‘McMarin’ seems like an alias if I’ve ever heard one. Bolton, isn’t it? The notorious sharpshooting woman. I’ve got to tell you, I’m a big fan.”

Arthur shifted in his chair at the mention of his name. Annie shot him a reassuring glance and cleared her throat. “And what’s your real name, Mister Crawford?”

“Gilbert Benson,” he replied without missing a beat. He suddenly seemed smug, as if he knew something the other two didn’t. “I apologize for the deceit, but it seems as if the three of us had a similar idea. Now, I trust you won’t go advertising this information, as I will give you the same courtesy.”

“No, of course not, Mister Benson!” Annie said with an artificial smile, clapping a hand on the man’s shoulder playfully.

“But, of course, you couldn’t go runnin’ around, flappin’ your mouth if you have a bullet in your brain,” Arthur said.

“Mister Morgan here is quite correct, ain’t he?” Annie said. She leaned forward in her chair and folded her hands, propping her elbows on the table. The look in her eyes could cut diamonds and Arthur was grateful he wasn’t on the receiving end of that glare. Benson’s brief moment of confidence had quickly faded back into fear. It was more than apparent to the two outlaws at the table that he was out of his element. “So, Mister Benson. Name your price.”

“Price?”

“Well that’s why we’re here, ain’t it?” Arthur said. “We do a job for you and you do a job for us in exchange.”

“Oh, ehm, of course. I need a bank robbed.”

Annie and Arthur simultaneously raised their eyebrows in disbelief.

“You need… A bank robbed?” Arthur asked.

Benson nodded. “Yes.”

“Let’s go Arthur. This ain’t worth our time,” Annie said as she slammed her beer down on the table and stood to leave, turning a few heads with the commotion.

“Miss… ‘McMarin’, please sit down. Perhaps I wasn’t clear. It’s a merely a delivery. A cash delivery to the bank,” Benson explained.

Annie apprehensively sank back down to her chair. Her nerves were starting to get to her. The last 24 hours had been more than chaotic and it left some room for uncertainty. Whatever this man was getting at, he wasn’t being straight with them, that was more than clear. Now the mention of a bank? She didn’t know what to make of it.

“I suggest you start speakin’ plainly,” Arthur said. “And quickly.”

Benson sighed but took Arthur’s advice. “Banks need cash to operate, yes? Well, this cash needs to be delivered somehow. There’s a shipment coming from Boston and I need you to acquire it. My employer has allowed me to offer you half the profits.”

“Your ‘employer’?” Arthur asked.

“Yes, I work for someone, Mister Morgan, same as you.”

“I don’t work for nobody.”

“You work for your the Van der Lindes, do you not? Dutch himself? Surely you have some sort of monetary value to him.”

Arthur was about to retaliate but Annie cut him off. “Convoys like that have riders, plenty of security. The law’d have to be close for a haul that big. We ain’t in the business of killin’ lawmen unless they’re tryina kill us.”

Benson nodded. “Yes, you are correct, Miss Annie. Luckily, we are not the fools you think we are.”

“I beg to differ.”

“We wouldn’t simply want you to do all the hard work for us for just fifty percent of what will be on those stages. We will offer grounds for an ambush, at night of course, with a diversion to take care of the law on the ride with them. All you would have to do is swoop in at the right moment, get the merchandise, and get out as quickly as possible. With the money.”

Annie and Arthur shared a thoughtful glance. It seemed a bit too good to be true. Whoever he was working for must be well connected to have access to this information. But to want to rob it? It presented a lot of questions that the two of them surely couldn’t answer on their own. Annie silently cursed Dutch for not thinking to send Hosea on this little parlay.

“I’ll give you until the end of the week to give an answer. I have other prospects lined up, so just remember that you lot need our help more than we need yours. We will meet back here on Saturday evening. I’ll be waiting.”

With that, Benson placed his untouched drink on the table, nodded at them both, and swiftly left the saloon.

Annie and Arthur sat in silence, thinking on the proposition. Both of their minds were working a million miles an hour trying to sort out what had just unfolded. Surely, this had to be some sort of trap. But if it was legitimate, the opportunity was too lucrative to throw away. They’d robbed hundreds of stage coaches, and this one might prove to be a bit more difficult, but they could pull it off. Especially if Hosea took point. The man could turn any situation, hot or cold, into profit.

“I don’t trust him,” Annie said, breaking the silence.

“No shit.”

“He’s playin’ us.”

Arthur studied Annie carefully. He trusted her with his life, and maybe even more than anyone else in the gang, save Hosea and Dutch. John would have been on the list as well, had he not run away for a year. They’d brought in a new member, Charles, about a month ago and while he seemed like a decent man, they hadn’t known each other long enough to tell. Lenny was just a kid, Sean and Bill were idiots, Mac and Davey were hotheads, Micah was a pig, and Javier, well… Javier was an exception.

Annie, though. Annie knew where she fit into this whole mess. In the background, watching, planning, and always trying to get another step ahead. He was the trigger and she was the brains, though, even he had to admit to her skill with a rifle. She rivaled any other marksman he’d ever met. He knew she was unsure of herself, but he also knew that in an instant she do anything Hosea or Dutch could. Her intuition have gotten them out of more sticky situations than he could count, some before they even happened.

The woman sat beside him was not who she usually was. Colm came close to getting her again, closer than he had in months. She was clearly shaken up. All her talk about leaving was out of character, but he couldn’t bring himself to blame her considering. Not to mention the added threat of the O’Driscolls who were likely still waiting for them outside town at the moment. He knew she was right in being suspicious and he didn’t doubt that there was more to Benson than he was letting on. But the decision wasn’t up to them.

“Let’s go see what Dutch and Hosea have to say about this,” Arthur finally said. Annie nodded her agreement and followed Arthur out of the saloon. She was oddly silent.

They took the road South towards camp, keeping their eyes peeled for any signs of the O’Driscolls. Eventually, they came up on a pair of horses with riders, one with a woman seated behind him. Madelyn. She looked as if she had been crying and her cheek was red and swollen. The two men eyed them carefully, but no weapons were pulled. They knew they’d lose that fight. They turned their horses off the road and started off.

Annie’s eyes lingered on Madelyn’s as they passed, the air tense. A pang of guilt rose within her at the sight of the injured woman. She was shocked that she had told them to call it off after all. Annie almost couldn’t believe it. Madelyn’s gaze begged her for help, but Annie looked away and kept up behind Arthur down the road until they were out of sight. She regretted her ignorance almost instantly.

#red dead redemption fic #rdr fic #arthur morgan x oc #rdr fanfic #arthur morgan fic #rdr oc #my oc #my fics #annie bolton #for they shall be satisfied #ftsbs

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