𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐄 𝐈𝐍 𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓 ─ arthur morgan ✓

¦¦ 9 ¦¦

a few months later

Adeline's Pov

It's been at least four months since the last Abigail incident and she's finally left me alone. I mean, Micah hasn't left me alone but that's another story for another day. We've also moved camp, to a lovely spot called Clemens Point. It's quite close to Clemens Cove and we are right next to a huge lake. Arthur asked me to be his woman and, of course, I accepted.

Hosea has been helping me take my mind off of Abigail and John has been doing much better. He's spending less time with her. None of the women like her and the men are starting to drift away from her. Jack doesn't have a clue what's going on so he's sticking to his mother.

Sean's been rescued from bounty Hunters who would of happily hung him if it wasn't for us.

The men have gotten themselves tied in a family feud that has been going on for generations. The Braithwaites and the Grays. Arthur and Sean have burned the Grays' tobacco fields and John, Javier, Bill and Arthur have stolen and sold the Braithwaites' prized horses. I know something bad is going to happen, and it's not gonna be pretty.

°×°

It's a beautiful morning as the sun reflects on the river. I put my boots on and begin walking around camp. Usually Jack would be wondering around but I haven't seen him. He's probably still asleep.

I shrugged it off and went over to Snowball. I rode to the stable in Scarlett Meadows and went inside. I managed to sell Snowball for $1,000. I then bought a cremello gold Dutch Warmblood for $600, naming him Buell. I buy a few provisions as well as a new saddle, stirrups and small wing charms for the halter. I thank the stable owner before riding back to camp, hitching Buell on a post.

By now, it's about 3pm since I woke up later than usual today. I walk around camp again and there is no sign of Jack. I check down by the river. He's not there. I check by the horses and in the trees. He not there. I go up to Arthur, who's chopping firewood.
"Have you seen Jack today?" I ask him as he lodges the axe in the tree stump.
"I haven't seen him, why?" Arthur wiped the sweat off his forehead with the back of his hand.

"I think he's been taken," I say quietly, looking around the camp. No one suspects anything but Hosea is frantically walking around camp and visibly stressing.
"Excuse me," I say before going off to Hosea.
"You ok Hosea?" I ask, putting a hand on his shoulder.
"Jack's gone," he says, turning to look at me as strands of grey hair fall in his face from under his hat.
"I know, and everyone is unfazed by it," I reply, taking my hand off his shoulder and looking around at everyone.
"Even Abigail," Hosea remarks, scratching his chin.

"Have you two seen Jack anywhere?" Sean jogs up to us.
"No," I reply, shaking my head.
"I think I saw them Braithwaite boys ride in an' take 'im las' night," Sean says. Me and Hosea exchange a look before looking back at Sean.

"We gotta tell Dutch," Hosea says urgently. Me and Sean agree, going over to Dutch where he's smoking a cigar at the edge of his tent.
"Dutch Jack's no where to be seen," I say.
"I saw some Braithwaite boys ride in las' night an' take him," Sean adds and Dutch puts out his cigar.
"Abigail!" he shouts and Abigail comes running over.
"Where is Jack?" Dutch asks as Abigail looked completely unfazed by the fact that her own son is missing.

"I don't know," Abigail shrugs, still seemingly not caring.
"How can you not know where your own son is?" Dutch asks again, raising his voice in frustration. John comes running over.
"I said I don't know Dutch," Abigail dismisses the situation as she walks away.
"John, your son is missing and we are going to get him. Now," Dutch growls. "Boys, Jack has been taken. Ride with me!" Dutch shouts as the men gather. "Adeline, you ride with us," Dutch adds, gesturing for me to follow him.

(play song above now, Way Down We Go - KALEO)

I gladly do so, mounting Buell as the rest of the men also mount up.
"Let's ride!" Dutch shouts at the top of his lungs.
"Hya!" we all shout, spurring our horses in to gallops. We ride in formation all the way to Braithwaite Manor.

Once we ride past the fence surrounding the land, we form a line and ride to the entrance of the manor. Me and John are either side of Dutch, the rest of the men riding next to either of us. The sun began to set as we dismount. I pull the Lancaster repeater off of Buell, holding it tightly.

We walk, in formation, towards the stone archway.
"We need to speak with Catherine Braithwaite," Dutch announces to the two men stood at the arch.
"No," one said, making Dutch straight up shoot him in the head. More Braithwaites started to pile out of the building, shooting at us.

I took cover and began shooting.
"I'm going in, cover me," I say to Arthur. He nods as I begin sneaking my way in, killing a few Braithwaite boys. No more men were coming out of the house as I entered, hearing the gang run in after me.
"Jack!" I shout, walking in to every room of the house.
"Where's that woman?" Dutch asks as we make our way upstairs.
"Jack are you in here?" Arthur shouts.

As I walk in to the last room, two Braithwaite boys jump me, pining me down.
"Help!" I shout, being able to slit one's throat with my knife. I shut my eyes as the body falls limp on me. I push him off and stand up, seeing Arthur stood there with his gun up.
"Thank you," I breathe, wiping the blood off the knife and putting it away.

Arthur smiles, putting his gun in its holster. I open up the closet, seeing the Braithwaite woman hidden in there.
"I have the woman!" I shout loudly, pulling her out by the collar and pinning her against the wall with force.
"Let go of me you rat," Catherine threatens. I quickly pull out my knife and hold it against her throat.

Dutch comes running in with the others.
"Nice one Adeline," Dutch praises, coming to stand next to me. I smirk, pushing the woman harder against the wall as she tries to wriggle out.
"Oh Catherine you ain't gettin' out of this one," Dutch says, shaking his head as he stands upright.
"You killed my sons," she cries.
"You stole his young son," Dutch retaliates, pointing at John who's stood behind me.
"Where is the boy?" Dutch asks, his voice deep and threatening.
"I ain't telling you anything," Catherine says, a smirk growing on her face.

"You can deal with Miss Caldwell here then," Dutch says calmly, stepping away. All of the men's eyes are on me, watching my every move.
"Now Catherine, you're gonna tell me where that boy is or I'm gonna kill you just like we killed your sons," I threaten, speaking through gritted teeth as I press the knife harder against her throat without drawing blood.

"Fine, fine! My sons took him to Angelo Bronte, i-in Sant Denis," she cries out, tears running down her face. I let go of her, putting my knife away.
"Now you run away and tell no soul of this, you hear?" I threaten. She nods frantically. Dutch picks her up, dragging her downstairs and outside.
"Light this place up!" Dutch shouts from outside.

Arthur pulls out a match and lights it, dropping it on the ground. The fire quickly spreads as we leave the building.
"What're we doin' with her?" I ask Dutch, referring to the Braithwaite woman.
"Leave her, she's crazy," Dutch says as the house begins to fall down in flames.

We walk up the pathway in formation again, this time with me in the middle of the line instead of Dutch. The burning house lights up the dark night as we mount our horses.
"Let's ride, boys!" I shout as Buell rears, neighing loudly in to the quiet night.
"Hya!" everyone shouts as we spur our horses in to quick gallop back to camp. Looks like I'll be taking the lead now. We're gonna come for you Jack, no doubt about it.