Arthur was getting more agitated by the second and seriously starting to rethink the whole mission of getting Sean back. The red-headed turd was prancing around camp like some sort of king… had been like that for the last two weeks. Arthur could only take so much.
"Imma kill 'em. I can't take much more of that irish prick." Arthur ranted while walking up to Dutch who was looking out over the water. "He hasn't stopped sense we saved him. Partying every night, bothering me, 'oh arter, I luv you I do', we should've left him with the damn bounty hunters." Arthur finished gruffly.
Dutch shook his head, smiling. "I know son, but he's just letting off some steam and celebrating to be back with family. You should do the same, celebrate a little. Let loose some, we've found a good camp, we're all together and safe. Those are things worth celebrating." He said, still looking over the water calmly.
"Well, i'm sorry if I can't see it that way… Dutch, we barely escaped Blackwater. Now we barely escaped valentine, we should be laying low and being as quiet as possible, not being loud and celebrating." Arthur said with his hands on his hips.
Dutch turned to look at Arthur, "Come on son, let's get you away from camp for a bit. Sounds like you need it," He chuckled, " I'll talk to Sean later about giving you some space, he's spirited though, Arthur, you've gotta give him that."
Arthur just shook his head and nudged his hat down a bit, knowing what the real source of his agitation was, sure the law and Sean drove him mad but he hadn't heard from Trelawny since they saved Sean, which angered and worried him. Why hadn't he told Arthur where he was or what he was going to do like he usually does?
Dutch led Arthur over to Hosea who was sitting on an old wooden chair reading a book, "Come on, Hosea, come fishing with Arthur and I!" Dutch said, excitement evident in his voice.
Hosea looked up from his book, a small smile playing at his lips, "We haven't all been fishing together since you were little, Arthur." Hosea slowly stood, with a deep cough, "Let me grab my pole."
This was the second time seeing Trelawny had left Arthur shocked and speechless.
And he STILL looked perfect, even sitting in a jailer cage, on a wagon, surrounded by deadly criminals. But Arthur was still angry with him for not writing or telling him anything at all. It had made Arthur worry, which angered him more because he now felt weak and vulnerable.
Arthur tried to hide his emotions and gave Trelawny a plain look, which let Trelawny know yep, Arthur was defiantly mad about him not writing.
"Well hello gentlemen, what a pleasant surprise." Trelawny greeted them all, giving a pointed look to Arthur saying 'let me explain'.
"Well look what the cat drug in." Dutch said, clearly not too surprised to find Trelawny in this predicament.
"I seem to have gotten myself in a spot of bother, you see." Josiah said, silently asking Dutch to get him out of this situation.
"Alright, just sit tight a minute, old friend." Dutch said as he rode towards the two police officers steering the wagon.
"Hello friends!" Dutch greeted, "This is one beautiful country you have here, i'm Hoagy Macintosh, these here are my two deputies." Dutch said with ease.
"You a scot?" The one officer asked, seeming uninterested in whatever Dutch had to say.
"Partly...the best part." Dutch's response was the right one because it had both men looking to Dutch and laughing.
"Well Mr. Macintosh! It's a pleasure to meet you! I'm sheriff Leigh Grey and this is officer Archibald Macgregor. I'm pleased you've decided to stop by good ole Rhodes." The Sheriff said, accepting Dutch's tales.
"Now tell me sir, what did the silly fancy fop back there do? Nothing too terrible I trust?" Dutch inquired.
"He was accused of running a gold-mining investment scam." Leigh Grey answered.
"Oh no no no, i'm sure he wasn't, you see he is a friend of mine and a magician. He is a fool but not a bad feller I assure you."
As Dutch kept talking to the officers the criminals in the back had managed to pick the lock and jump out of the cage.
Arthur had tried warning them not to do that but they didn't care to listen, and of course Dutch had to volunteer him to help this Archibald feller go get them. great.
"Where you been staying, old friend, there's always room at the camp?" Dutch asked as they walked out of Rhodes. Arthur followed silently behind with Hosea. His mind still clouded with why Josiah hadn't said anything to him about where he was.
"Oh around, i'm renting… a caravan on the edge of town, behind the church," He pointedly looked back at Arthur, his eyes conveying the message, come see me, " it's horrible, but no one comes looking."
"Also, i've heard some talk of bounties on you Dutch, good bounties." Trelawny said.
This made Hosea pipe up, "Where you hear this?" He asked.
"At a camp up by the state line, there was talk of super agents. I'm sure it's all just talk but I wanted to let you know." Trelawny said, stopping on one foot and making a show of turning around to look at the three of them.
"Thank you, Josiah. We appreciate it. Now, stay outta trouble." Dutch said with gentle sternness.
"Thank you, gentlemen." Trelawny gave a bow to them and discreetly winked at Arthur before walking away.
"Strange man." Hosea grumbled before turning around to head towards their horses.
That night Arthur rode out to Trelawny's caravan.
Thank god Josiah was out sitting by the fire with a book because there were many surrounding caravans and Arthur wouldn't have known which Trelawny inhabited.
Trelawny stood with a smile when he saw Arthur approach on his horse, he put his book down and walked towards Arthur but stopped when he saw the expression on his face as he climbed down from the black shire.
Arthur didn't walk any closer to Josiah, "Where the hell were you?" Arthur said with a deep rumble. He stood with his hands on his belt buckle and his head tilted towards the ground, face hidden by his hat and the dark.
If Trelawny hadn't been so shocked by Arthur's mood, he would have stated that he could win the world over with that pose, all tense and taut, it was the sexiest thing Trelawny had ever seen.
"I'm sorry my dear boy, I was deep into a scam and had no way of contact without outting the scam. Also it came on right after we helped the irish lad, so there was no time to let you know," Trelawny slowly moved to stand in front of Arthur, "If I worried you I had no intention of it."
Arthur looked up at trelawny from under his hat, loosening up a bit. He could feel his anger slowly dissipate when he looked into those blue eyes.
"Don't like being worried, that's all." he grounded out.
Trelawny slowly and gently reached out to grip Arthur's chin to pull him close enough to kiss but Arthur jolted out of his touch looking everywhere to make sure no eyes had seen the exchange.
"What the hell are you thinking?" Arthur whispered quickly.
Trelawny looked into Arthur's alert blue eyes, "I am sorry, my dear. Please forgive me, I seem to have lost myself" Trelawny said tensely, he smoothed down his jacket and turned to go inside the caravan, motioning for Arthur to follow.
"It's ok" Arthur mumbled quietly, still a little tense.
Once inside the caravan, Trelawny slowly put his hands on either side of Arthur's arms, rubbing gently, "Arthur, you mustn't be afraid to tell your feelings out loud… I know you're not used to it, but, listen to me, it is not a weakness of any sorts, okay? I dare say, but I believe I have feelings for you and you for me, meaning we must tell eachother our emotions to keep whatever this is afloat." Trelawny said quietly, eyes searching Arthurs.
"I'm sorry, I've got a lot of learning to do when it comes to this... I feel like I'm always messing up or not understanding-" Arthur rambled, reaching up to rub the back of his neck awkwardly.
Trelawny cut him off with a chaste kiss, "That is why we must talk about our feelings my dear Arthur."
Trelawny kissed him again, yet harder this time. "But I do believe we've had enough talking tonight, my dear, I wish to show you just how much I missed you." Trelawny said, leading Arthur to the bed.