"Why've you been so grumpy lately?" Sadie said as she came to stand beside Arthur on the dock. The sun was high in the sky with no clouds in sight.
"What you mean? I'm always grumpy, woman." Arthur stated, but there was a gentle tone in his voice. Sadie and him had grown closer since the whole Pearson ordeal, he liked her spirit.
"No, you weren't grumpy when you was leaving camp at night… which you ain't done in awhile, so what happened, she finally realize she was smitten with an ugly, old outlaw?" Sadie chuckled, her tone playful.
"Sure, sure, something like that. Ha you wanna talk about smitten? How goes you and good ole' Pearson, I mean you already read letters from him, you could be that suitor he was going on about." Arthur jabbed back, smiling.
Sadie's reaction was to punch Arthur, but she couldn't stop herself from laughing, "That's just wrong an ya' know it."
Their laughing died down and Sadie's voice took on a caring tone.
"Arthur, you know we can talk...if ya' want. You're the only one I trust around here. So, I guess what I'm saying is if you need me, I'm here." Her eyes were deep as she looked to Arthur. Since her husband died she hasn't trusted or cared for anyone. But, ever since Arthur stood up for her, she's been able to see through his hard exterior and into the person that lies beneath, the good man. She considered him a friend, a friend that you don't take for granted.
"Ah, come on now don't get all women-like on me. I'd rather you trying to kill Pearson than get emotional." Arthur chuckled, but then seriously looked to Sadie, "But I know what ya' mean, ain't making no promises I'll take ya' up on it, but I appreciate it."
Before Sadie could reply Dutch was shouting to Arthur from his tent. "Arthur! Come over here son."
Sadie gave Arthur a small smile before he walked away. Arthur nodded his head slightly and headed towards Dutch's tent.
Dutch stood with his hands on his hips, "I was thinking about what Trelawny said, these bounty hunters? I think you should pay him a visit and find out exactly what he knows and who he spoke to." He stated, with a cool exterior.
Arthur hadn't seen or contacted Trelawny for four days now. He figured it'd be easier if he worked out his doubts and just avoided him while doing so, which won't working out for him so far. This visit Dutch was requesting must be a sign from above that he needed to face his damn problems and stop avoiding them.
"You don't sound very worried about these bounty hunters. But, sure I'll head that way now." Arthur said as he turned from Dutch and started towards the horses.
"They ain't nothing yet to waste good alcohol sweating on. Take Charles with you!" Dutch shouted. Welp, there goes facing his problems head on.
"You trust Trelawny?" Charles questioned on their way to his caravan.
"Sure, he's a weasel but he's alway been loyal to the gang. Given us no reason not to trust him, yet." Arthur stated, trying to sound uninterested in the topic.
Charles and Arthur rode up to Trelawny's caravan, but his horse was nowhere to be seen.
"Great. He's not home." Charles said stoically, "Might as well check the place while we're here, maybe he'll be back soon."
Arthur gave a nod and they climbed down from their horses and made their way inside the caravan, Arthur had an uneasy feeling.
Charles walked up first, but as soon as he hit the door he pulled a gun from his waistband, "Looks like someone got here first."
Arthur drew his gun out as well. He tried to push down the feeling of dread. His heartbeat was so intense, he was sure Charles would be able to hear it.
"So it seems." His voice came out shakier than he wanted.
Arthur walked into the caravan after Charles, "Let's look around, might be a clue to where he was taken." Charles stated.
Arthur took a moment at the threshold to compose himself, he was no good to Trelawny worked up.
He moved to where Josiah's bed was, the covers and sheets were thrown about. "He always makes his bed, must've left quick." Arthur muttered, too concerned to notice the puzzled look Charles gave him. They found blood on the floor leading out the back of the caravan, which only weighted Arthur's stomach down further.
"There's tracks." Charles said as he jumped on Taima.
Charles and Arthur followed the tracks to a small campsite, two men inhabited it. They climbed off their horses and approached them, one sat in a chair while the other sat on a bedroll.
"Excuse me." Arthur said, his voice unwavering."You seen.. We're uh… we're looking for our friend, he's real formal looking."
The man sitting in the chair laughed, "I don't think he's here, I seen a man, but formal.. Well ha no."
Charles walked up silently, "He uses a cane, looks a lot like this one." He said, pointing to the fancy cane that sat between the two men.
Arthur recognized the cane immediately, "Where the hell is he?" He ground out through clenched teeth.
Arthur was ready as soon as the man in front of him jumped up. He threw the first punch which landed on the side of the man's cheek. The man staggered back before coming for another swing. He got one punch to Arthur's eye before Arthur knocked him out, tired of playing games. He needed to find Trelawny.
Charles had the other man pinned to the ground, Arthur jumped to stand over top of him. He grabbed a fistful of the strangers plaid shirt, "Where's Trelawny?" He yelled, fist pulled back ready to swing.
The man just shook his head, " I don't know nothing!" He yelled.
Arthur's face got deadly close the the mans, "You better tell me now, you son of a bitch!"
"Okay..Okay… They took him to a cabin, over by the cornfields near Braithwaite Manor." The man took a steadying breath.
Arthur's anger raised inside of him, the thought that this scumbag would be the reason Josiah died ate him up. He began punching as hard as he could, clipping the mans face everywhere. He didn't stop until he felt Charles pulling him off.
"He's not worth it, Arthur. Come on, we need to go." Charles said calmly, still holding onto Arthur"s middle.
"I'm good, I'm good." Arthur said, breaking out of Charles's hold, he bent over and grabbed his knees with heavy breaths. He looked up and watched as the man ran away from them, he was bleeding badly. He shouldn't have messed with Trelawny, because if Charles hadn't been there, Arthur surely would've beaten him to death.
Arthur stood up straight, "Come on." He stated, heading towards the horses and grabbing Trelawny's cane on the way.
They rode out towards the cornfields. Once they saw the cabin with a fire burning outside they climbed off their horses and walked up with caution, guns drawn.
Arthur and Charles stopped when the door to the cabin slammed open. Two men had Trelawny by his arms, they dragged him down the steps. Trelawny's face was full of cuts and so was his body.
"Put the man down!" Arthur shouted, pointing his gun at the two men.
They immediately dropped Trelawny and took off towards the cornfields, Arthur shot one man down quick, with one bullet through his skull.
"You make sure he's okay, I got this one." Charles said, taking off after the other man.
"That the lot of them?" Arthur asked, voice calm until Charles was out of sight.
"I...I think so." Trelawny said, trying to get himself up off the ground.
Arthur breathed a sigh of relief as he helped Trelawny up, "So you're alive."
"Allegedly." Trelawny said, flinching from his wounds but leaning into Arthur as he cut his hands free. Arthur gave him a once over to make sure he was okay.
"Well, don't worry. They won't be for much longer." Arthur said, his voice deadly. Josiah leaned his shoulder on Arthur's chest, Arthur's hand came around his side to hold him there.
Trelawny brought his hand up to cup Arthur's face, "I'm okay, dear boy. Just a few cuts and bruises, you see?" Trelawny's eyes wandered down to Arthur's lips,"Gods how I've missed you."
Arthur pulled him into a tight embrace, reassuring himself that Trelawny was safe and alive as he tucked his head into the curve of Josiah's neck.
"I'm… I'm sorry Josiah, ...I …" Arthur looked up to see that Charles had killed the last man, meaning he'd be on his way back. They pulled apart and put some distance between them.
Arthur began his questioning when Charles rejoined them, "Who was they?"
"They were bounty hunters...attached to Cole Stoudemire , they weren't looking for me, per se." Trelawny answered, stumbling a bit without Arthur to hold on too, but regaining his balance.
"What'd you tell them?" Charles questioned.
"Not much, told them I was an Intellectual. Come down from Oregon looking for a university job, course… they didn't believe me. Seems you stirred up quite a hornets nest in Blackwater."
"Guess so." Charles stated, climbing on Taima.
"It might be best if I stay with you gentlemen for awhile." Trelawny said looking between Arthur and Charles.
"You wanna take him back Arthur? I need to hunt." Charles asked, already heading towards the forest.
"Sure, we'll see ya' back at camp." Arthur climbed on his horse, taking Josiah's hand and helping him up behind him.
Once Charles rode away, Trelawny wrapped his arms around Arthur's middle, laying his head on his back, "I'm so glad you're here." he said, breathing in Arthur's musky scent.
Arthur rode back to Trelawny's caravan.
"Come on, let's get you fixed up and get your stuff." Arthur said, helping Trelawny off his horse.
"Didn't like this place anyways." Trelawny scuffed as he looked around the destroyed caravan.
"Sit on down, gotta clean those cuts. Take your shirt off." Arthur demanded, searching through Trelawny's cabinets for alcohol and cotton.
"Oh, I do love it when you use your demanding voice, you should use it more often. Quite the turn on, if I do admit." Trelawny said shamelessly as he peeled his shirt off and sat down on the edge of his bed.
"That all you think about?" Arthur questioned, a smile on his face.
"Well it has been four days, has it not? I fear we must do something you hate and talk, my dear."
Trelawny continued, noticing the way Arthur's shoulders tensed, "you are having doubts, I assume. With me, and with my relationship with Mirabelle, this scares you, yes? I understand...I do.. If you wish to end whatever this is then… with great sorrow, I will comply. But, if not, then you must tell me what you are thinking so we may talk. We used to talk about everything." Trelawny was staring at Arthur.
Arthur walked over to where Trelawny was seated, "Sure, we talked, but it was never this hard. It was never about us… this is new and… well, I just don't know how to go about it. But, after today I know one thing for sure… I need you, and that's that. I'd burn the whole damn world if something happened to you." Arthur's hand reached out to the back of Trelawny's neck as they both stared at each other.
Trelawny smiled as he looked into Arthur's vulnerable blue eyes.
"Why, Arthur Morgan, that's the sweetest thing I've ever heard." Trelawny stated, eyes serious.
He stood as Arthur pulled him up and brought him to his lips. The kiss was tender and sweet, a show of just how much they needed one another.