A slight ache spread inside your stomach as Arthur walked out of the saloon and straight towards a single horse with a saddle on its back.

It was hard to tell if it was truly his horse or if he just decided to borrow some poor man's and never return it.

With watchful eyes, Ginny stood next to you, holding the door.

"You can go.", he said with a gesture of his head. "I'll stay and have an eye on everything."

You let out a deep breath.

"You think you can manage?", you asked and messed up the strands of his hair.

A chuckle made him bend. But all of a sudden a hard look appeared on his face and he pushed your hand away.

"You shouldn't worry so much. I'm all grown up now. You can trust me with the business."

A soft sound escaped you.

"Ginny... you're not supposed to say that. You're a child. Enjoy the time you have."

But he shook his head.

"When you were my age, you had to take care of me and work for little money. I think it's time for me to repay my dept."

A soft smirk appeared on your lips.

"Little brothers don't have to pay off dept.", you pinched his side to earn a broad grin and a chuckle. "Just watch out for a few minutes or so. If I'm not back in an hour, run for the sheriff."

Amused, Ginny raised an eyebrow.

"You mean the one who's all drunk?", he asked and pointed over his shoulder to one of the tables.

A very poorly looking, drunk sheriff was sitting on it. He seemed like he tried to hold onto dear life, but didn't want to stop drinking either.

You rolled your eyes.

"Of course...", you snarled and handed him the spare key for the bunker. "Just make sure everyone pays the bills this time."

Eagerly grinning, he snatched the key from your hand and pushed you out the door.

"Less talking, more working!", he said in a scolding way, just the way you always told him. "Business doesn't run itself."

You grinned.

"True words, my business partner, true words.", with one last grin you made sure that he had everything under control and walked off.

Arthur was already waiting on his horse.

With one arm rested on the saddle and the other holding the half empty bottle of whiskey, he leaned down to meet you with a confused look on his face.

"Where's ya horse?", he asked, his tongue already a bit heavy.

You pointed at the small barn not far away from the saloon.

"I'll get the carriage ready.", you said and walked past him. "Gimme a few."

"Hm?", he turned in the saddle to follow your movements. "What do ya mean, the carriage? You need a horse."

You stopped.

"Well, yeah, and a carriage to get me to camp."

For a moment, he looked at you as if you were an idiot.

All of a sudden, something lit up inside his eyes and a soft sound of surprise escaped him.

"You can't ride.", he said, almost grinning with mockery.

Annoyed, you put your hands on your hips and glared at him.

"I can.", you curled your lips. "Just not well."

A scruffy huff made his chest vibrate.

"Holy moly, you really are somethin'...", in one swift movement, he jumped off his horse and did a gesture for you to come closer.

With one eyebrow raised, you asked a silent question.
He sighed.

"Just do as you're told, sweetheart. Nothin' that'll kill ya. Not yet."

He didn't act like he wanted to make fun of you. Nor did he seem like he wanted to cause you harm.

There was nothing that told you not to follow his request, no strange gut feeling nor a little voice in the back of your head.

Yet you struggled to think there was no hook. It had always been hard for you to trust people.

Especially those who acted all nice.

There was always a downside. The world had taught you that early on.

Sighing, Arthur let his head fall to the side so he could gift you some kind of glance that was both a complain and mockery.

He lowered his hands but kept them where you could see.
Slowly, you dared to approach him.

"What?", you asked as you came to a stand in front of him and looked up.

He really was a tall fella, almost an entire head taller than you and with the shoulders of a bear.

His eyes wandered over your body for a brief moment, from top to bottom and back up again, before his hands reached out and wrapped around your waist.

Struck by surprise, you stiffened.

Without any effort whatsoever, Arthur raised you into the air and placed you into the saddle in one swift movement.

Baffled, you blinked but had to grab the neck of the horse at the same time.

The fear of loosing balance and falling overcame you.

"Wh- why did you do that?!", you asked and flinched as the horse moved its head.

With an amused smirk tugging at the edge of his mouth, he pulled himself up and came to sit right behind you.

"You're one fearful chicken, ain't ya?", he asked and reached underneath you to grab the reins. "We ain't got no time to waste. I'll get you to Dutch. Hold on tight."

He didn't have to tell you twice.

As soon as the horse started moving, you dug your nails into the leather of the saddle.

Your back straightened in fear, as if a plank of wood was screwed into it.

Arthur's chest brushed against your back.

A shiver crawled down your spine. It was hard to tell if it was one of the pleasant kind or a warning of your own senses to keep distance.

While one of his huge paws was resting on the edge of the saddle, reins grabbed right, the other was on his thigh for support.

He didn't seem to have any interest in touching.

And yet, you couldn't help but feel nervous that he might do so.

What would his skin feel like?