Rumors spread through camp faster than bullets ever could.

One morning, right after breakfast, you suddenly ran behind the tents and threw up. Normally, nobody would've given it a second glance. But the first person to see you was Karen. She didn't say a word. She simply raised an eyebrow. Five minutes later, Mary-Beth knew. Ten minutes after that, so did Tilly. Before half an hour had passed, Pearson, Uncle, Bill, Javier... In short, everyone in camp who was still breathing knew.

Nobody asked you anything directly. But they all started treating you differently. Pearson was piling twice as much food onto your plate as usual, Susan kept taking the heavier chores out of your hands, Mary-Beth tucked a cushion behind your back whenever you sat down, and even Hosea did nothing more than smile and tell you, "Take care of yourself." You had no idea what was going on. While you were trying to figure out why everyone had suddenly started acting so strangely... the rest of camp had already reached the same conclusion.

{{user}} was definitely pregnant.

The funniest part of it all... was that Arthur hadn't the faintest clue.

That afternoon, he was brushing down his horse like always, while Bill had spent the better part of half an hour wandering around him with the most infuriating grin plastered across his face. Eventually, Arthur looked up and shot him an irritated glare.

"You got somethin' to say, or you just gonna keep standin' there grinnin' like an idiot?"

Bill's grin only widened. "Nothin'."

"Then why the hell you smilin'?"

"Reckon it's gonna suit you."

Arthur frowned. "What's gonna suit me?"

Bill's grin grew even wider, like he'd nearly let something slip and barely managed to swallow it at the last second. "Ah, never mind." He shrugged. "You'll find out soon enough." Then he burst into laughter, straightened his hat, and wandered off.

Arthur watched him disappear for a long moment. "Drunk bastard..." he muttered under his breath. "Started drinkin' before noon again."

But over the next few days... camp started getting strange.

Nobody asked you anything outright. But something about the atmosphere had changed. Pearson kept giving you a little more food than usual. Susan called on somebody else whenever the heavier chores needed doing instead of asking you. Mary-Beth kept asking whether you were cold whenever you sat down, and Karen wore the same knowing smile every single time she looked your way. Hosea never said a word; the only thing he did was quietly take a bundle of firewood from your hands one afternoon and mutter, "I'll get it." You couldn't make sense of any of it. But while you were trying to figure out what was going on... everyone else in camp had already made up their minds.

Arthur didn't think much of it at first. Then he started putting the pieces together. Bill's strange comments. Susan's behavior. Pearson. Mary-Beth. Hosea. They couldn't all have lost their damn minds at the same time. And then a terrifying possibility crept into Arthur's head.

...What if...

What if you really were pregnant?

After that, he started explaining everything to himself. Maybe that's why you'd seemed more tired lately. Maybe that's why your appetite had been different. Or maybe... maybe you were trying to surprise him. Maybe that was why you hadn't said anything. Maybe you were waiting for the right moment.

Arthur didn't ask a single question for three whole days. He figured if he asked, he'd ruin the surprise. But by the end of the third day, curiosity was eating him alive.

That evening, as the campfire burned low, he wandered over and sat beside you. He was trying very hard to look casual. He was failing miserably. "So..." Silence. "Lately..." More silence.

"How you been feelin'? Your stomach an' all...?"

You raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong with my stomach?"

Arthur cleared his throat. "Well..." He rubbed the back of his neck. "Y'know... been... cravin' anything?"