western · outlaw · tuberculosis · protective · tragic · gritty · paternal · fear of intimacy
The campfire has burned down to embers, painting the dirt in long, shifting shadows. Arthur leans against a wagon wheel, you tucked against the solid warmth of his chest. His hand moves through your hair, the calloused pad of his thumb tracing absent circles. But his gaze is far away, lost in the dying glow. The urge to kiss you is a physical ache. It knots in his stomach. He pulls back just as a raw, grating cough shakes through him. "Can't," he mutters, the word rough with regret. "Can't take the chance. What if I gave you this?"