😁

Numb fingers pull the blanket closer as the icy wind threatens to tear it from your body. You've been sat in the back of this wagon for three days, battling the snowstorm with the rest of the gang as you flee the threats that follow. You trusted Dutch, you all did, but since Micah bent his ear over the Blackwater job things had taken a turn and you began to question where your loyalty should lie.

"Hang in there Y/N, we'll get through this" Abigail spoke directly to you but her eyes never left where her hands pressed over Davey's bullet wound.

"I wouldn't count on all of us making it through Abigail" your eyes flicker from Davey's wound to his face.

His eyes are closes and his breathing is shallow, it won't be long before he succumbs to his injury.

Abigail sniffs and nods, her eyes remaining on Davey. You pull your knees to your chest and sigh.

"I'm sorry Abigail, I'm cold, I'm scared, and...."

"...you're worried about Arthur." She finishes now staring at you.

You nod and bury your face into your knees as you hug them closer.

Arthur hadn't been in Blackwater, thank God, because if he had it could have been him lying in Davey's place. Arthur was the best shot the gang had and to be fair things may not have gone south as badly as they did had he been there, but he'd been sent off earlier in the week to follow up on a lead Trelawny had found. You hadn't seen him for 10 days and had no clue if he was even alive, but God did you pray he was okay.

As you begin to spiral into worry your thoughts are interrupted by the slowing of the wagon. You look up at Abigail, she's staring at you with wide eyes full of fear.

"Do think they caught up to us?"

You shake your head as you squint into the snow to try and see, you were certain only your gang would be desperate enough to venture this far North in the Winter. You begin to hear shouting, men's voices, but the wind makes it impossible to decipher what they are saying. The voices are getting closer but still, you can't hear what they are saying so you shuffle closer to the front of the wagon, Lenny and the Reverend sit huddled on the driver's bench waiting for the signal to move again. You squint harder to Dutch and Hosea's carriage ahead, they are shouting into the snow at someone, you can't tell if the shouts are angry or because the wind is stealing their voices from them.

Suddenly a figure emerges into view, a looming outline on a bay horse. At least you think it's bay, this snow and the darkness make it hard to tell. The figure on the horse moves away from the wagon in front and turns towards yours.

"I ain't going nowhere 'til I see 'er!" the figure yells back at Dutch as it moves closer.

Your eyes widen and you gasp.

It was Arthur. You want to run to him, but you're frozen in place, relief and happiness flooding through you. Overwhelmed by the emotions you let out a sob.

"Y/N what is it? Why have we stopped?" Abigail looks at you, concern wracked across her face.

"It's Arthur..." You smile and sniff, turning to the back of the wagon. Careful to avoid Davey you maneuver to the edge of the wagon just as Arthur pulls his horse level.

The light from his lantern hurts your eyes but you can't bear to look away.

"Y/N..."

It's all he can say but you understand.

His lack of words just a result of the swell of emotions currently swirling through you both. You make to leave the wagon to embrace him.

"No, no sweetheart stay there."

Your eyes stare at him in confusion.

"I just had to see yer, know yer were safe. Stay there, stay warm. We have to keep moving, we're not far now".

You nod and settle back, just relieved he's alive.

His eyes leave yours to glance at Davey and the wound Abigail is still trying to tend to.

"He gonna make it?"

You shake your head, tears threatening to spill.

"Hm.." He nods looking down.

"Arthur I thought you were dead. I was so scared."

His head snaps up to look at you. "I'm sorry sweetheart, I'm here now, we're safe. There's an abandoned town up ahead, I told Dutch we can hold up there while we figure out our next move."

You nod, relieved that you'll soon be out of this wagon and into Arthur's arms.

"The sooner we're there the sooner I can hold my girl. I love you Y/N and I'm just glad you're safe."

"I love you too." You reply, his eyes crinkling into a warm smile. A smile you'd longed to see again.

He turns his horse and heads back to the front of the convoy to lead us to the town. You settle back into the wagon and pull your knees back into yourself, knowing soon you'd be in Arthur's arms. You look over at Abigail whose focus was still on Davey, guilt washing over you as you watch her. She still didn't know where John was, hadn't seen him since Blackwater when he and Micah had gone ahead to scout a safe place, and in your wallowing, you'd forgotten that she had to be feeling exactly as you had.

Lost. Scared. Worried.

"I'm sure John will be there waiting for us"

She sniffed and nodded, still not daring to look up.

You knew she didn't believe you and who could blame her? If the shoe was on the other foot you wouldn't believe it either. You always think the worst in these situations, not that any of us had been in a situation quite like this before.

The wagons slow to a stop as you pull into the small town, a few buildings remained standing, but most had fallen victim to the harsh Winters. You pull your blanket tight around you as you hop from the wagon surveying your surroundings.

You hoped you and the rest of the gang would fare better than the buildings in the weather.

As you move to walk further into the town an arm scoops around your middle pulling you back.

"Ooof..." your back hits a solid chest.

"Sweetheart..." Arthur sighs into you pressing a long kiss to your neck.

Relaxing instantly, you spin around flinging your arms around his waist and burying your head in his chest. Arthur's arms wrap around you, blocking out the cold wind, and pressing another kiss on the top of your head.

"I thought you were dead" you hold him tighter, almost as if he'd disappear if you let go.

"Shhhh sweetheart, I'm here. Don't talk like that. As if I'd ever leave ya." He pushes you away so he can look you in the eyes.

"I was scared too Y/N, when I was in Valentine I heard about the boat, and God I thought ...."

Pain flashed in his eyes, his voice going quiet. "I thought I lost you."

He rubs his arms up your shoulders before pulling you in for a chaste kiss.

So much emotion is transferred in that short kiss, the relief of being reunited, the happiness of safety, a promise of what would come later.

"C'mon, get inside I'll meet you in there, I gotta help Lenny with Davey."

You turn towards the wagon, Abigail now holding Jack sobbing quietly as Lenny wraps Davey in a blanket. He must have passed while you and Arthur were talking. You slip your hand into Arthur's and squeeze gently. You knew he'd take Davey's death hard, blaming himself for not being there. He nods at you know you've read his mind; he squeezes gently back and slips from your hand making his way over to help Lenny.

It was four hours before the camp was finally set up and the horses stabled. Susan tried to keep you all busy while the men buried Davey.

"Y/N! Stop daydreaming and get the fire going, we'll catch our death in here. Karen! Put down that goddamn drink and help me with these sheets. And for the love of God where's that good for nothing Tilly?"

"Probably hiding from you, you old witch" Karen whispered as she passed by you to help Susan.

You smirk at the remark and busy yourself with the fire, wondering how long Arthur would be. It couldn't be easy to bury a body in frozen ground.

Once the fire is blazing and Susan is content there is nothing more to be done, she dismisses you, telling you where she'd set yourself and Arthur for the night. A small private cabin across from the main group. You smile and thank her, silently relieved you'd both have some privacy from the others. Gathering your blanket around you, you head towards your new room, wondering if the others had also been given the luxury of privacy.