Chapter 4: Reunited

Micah and Lilly headed into Colter, the abandoned mining camp that Dutch and the gang had taken shelter in a few days before. Micah gave her the rest of the details as they rode in. Lilly regaled her own story about the bear, her horse, the cave, the wolves, and everything else until they met up. Micah glanced back at Lilly and frowned.

"You've been through quite a bit, O'Callaghan, but Dutch and Hosea and everyone else will be happy to have their little Irish lady back."

Lilly quirked a brow. "I thought that was Molly?"

Micah barked with laughter. "Right, I forgot. A woman of fine and rich breeding, that one. No, I suppose you're not really a lady, are you?"

Lilly would have been offended if she had, in fact, considered herself a lady. But as she contemplated what he meant, she spotted Lenny. He was there to greet them. She waved at him enthusiastically and jumped off the horse.

Lenny stopped midwalk and gasped in surprise. "Holy hell, Lilly! We all thought you got eaten or somethin'!"

The Irish girl shrugged as she ambled up to Lenny. "As a matter of fact, I almost did get eaten. By a bear."

Micah slid off Blaylock and handed the reins to Lenny. "Here," he said. "Ain't gonna tell this negro what to do." And then Micah chuckled and walked towards one of the shacks.

Lenny rolled his eyes up in irritation and took a deep breath. "Why is he so...so..."

Lilly placed a hand on Lenny's shoulder. "Hey, don't worry about that gobshite. Every time he talks, manure comes spilling out." She leaned in and smirked. "That's why his breath smells so bad."

Lenny laughed and hugged Lilly. "Thanks, I feel better already. But I'm so glad you're back!" he exclaimed.

Lilly chuckled happily and nudged his shoulder. "Ah, shucks, you sweetheart. Here, let me help you with the horse."

Lenny disagreed. "Nah, you better get inside and get warm. Folks was worried about you. Especially Arthur."

Lilly took a sharp breath in. "Was he? How worried?" she inquired curiously. Had Arthur missed her after all?

"Eh, he spent most of his time lookin' for you. More than anyone else."

Lilly smiled to herself and gave Blaylock a thankful pat on the rump. "Well, uh...okay!" she scanned the area before making her way towards to what she assumed was the main shack. Lilly paused at the door, suddenly feeling awkward. Was Arthur in there? Should she just walk in? Should she announce herself? Should she make an entrance of grandeur? Lilly took a step back. Why was she so anxious? Lilly's heart was pounding so tremendously, she thought it might burst from her chest.

"LILLEH!" someone shouted.

The Irish girl snapped around with a pivot. It was Arthur in his winter gunslinger attire. He was dashing to her. Lilly thought this was odd, considering their estrangement, but seeing Arthur again...made her shout awkwardly. "Hey there, partner!" she replied in an attempted American West accent. "As ucht Dé, Lilly, what is wrong with you?" she growled at herself.

Arthur slammed into her with a fierceness that Lilly hadn't expected of her friend to do. He clutched her as if she were a cherished doll or teddy bear. Lilly was surprised at the behavior. The severance of their bond made her presume Arthur no longer desired any interactions with her, but now? Ha, that didn't seem to be the case, and Arthur's body against hers bestowed upon her a rush of overwhelming feelings she could not categorize. Lilly clung to him tightly in response to him. One of the feelings she recognized was...needing him. In what way, she was unsure of, but it was amplified as his natural scent of pine trees filled her nostrils.

He released his hold and stared at her with blue eyes. He held her face in his gloved hands. "Are you alright, Lilly?" he asked, his voice gruff and husky.

Lilly felt her breath catch as Arthur examined her, checking for scratches and bruises, touching her as if he was making sure she was real. Their eyes locked and Lilly felt like her knees might give out because Arthur's gaze was that intense. "I'm alright, Arthur. Were you really that worried?" she asked, searching his eyes for answers.

Arthur blinked a few times and cleared his throat in an aggressive manner before increasing the gap between them. "Well, Micah barged in and told me he found you...said you was attacked by wolves? Chased by a bear?"

Lilly rolled her eyes back, looked to the sky and made a laugh full of umbrage. "Oh. Oh, what a bastard. I wasn't so much attacked, Arthur. Well, not by wolves, but that was by a bear. The wolves, though, they...decided Holly was a better meal."

"Oh for chrissakes..."

"No, she wasn't alive. She..." Lilly's heart threatened to break as she was reminded of the death of her mount. "She broke her leg somethin' awful, and...so, I had to..."

The door to the shack slammed open, startling Lilly out of her grief. Dutch stood in the doorway with his mouth agape and his eyes bright. "Lilly! Hey, Lilly's here!"

Arthur backed up as Dutch grasped her shoulders, gave her a joyous smile, and hugged her. People started walking out of the shack to investigate the commotion. Hosea kissed her forehead and gave her a great big bear hug, which surprised her. Her Athair was getting old but he still had strength to him. Most of the group came and surrounded her, asking questions all at once. Lilly started laughing. She couldn't keep up with them all. After being overwhelmed for a minute, though, Dutch made a high pitched whistle.

"I know we're all glad to have you back, Lilly. But folks, please. Let's get her fed, warmed up, and rested before she regales us with tales of her adventure!"

Lilly cackled happily and started moving with people inside. Tilly and Mary Beth erupted into giggles of delight as they hooked arms with Lilly. They wanted her to know they were so happy she was back. Lilly, as Mr. Pearson was bowling out food for her, and as Miss Grimshaw was preparing a small bed for her, felt something warm cover her shoulders. She turned to see Arthur behind her. He gave her a soft smile as he surrounded her body with a blue woolen blanket. She was already toasty, but Lilly was grateful for his doting on her. As he tucked the blanket close over the front, Lilly smiled at him warmly, knowing that she was back where she belonged. Home.

The Van der Linde gang was still stuck in Colter, but Lilly was fully recovered from her ordeal. Unfortunately, she couldn't say the same about John. While he was out scouting, he actually was attacked by wolves. Lilly felt bad for him and Abigail and Little Jack. Which was all the more reason why she insisted on going hunting with Arthur and Charles. Ever since her return, though, Dutch and Arthur were hesitant to let her go out on her own. She wasn't even allowed to go with them when they attacked Colm O'Driscoll's camp, but Lilly was getting antsy from being cooped up. She despised being stuck in one place. Lilly marched with strong, indignant steps after Charles and Arthur. Arguing was a strong suit of hers, but Arthur was more stubborn than a bull being pushed over the edge of a cliff.

"Oh fer feck's sake, boys! It's not like I'd be out on me own! I'd be with the both of ya!" Lilly snapped in a thick Irish accent. She didn't like the harsh treatment as if she was fragile and meek. They all knew she was the exact opposite, so why was she receiving an instantaneous swap of attitudes?

However, Arthur wasn't tolerating any of her oppositions. "Lilly, you ain't never listened to reason. You ain't gonna listen now, but-"

"Arthur!" she shouted with more aggresion than intended. He stopped and turned. Skepticism and stubborness were the emotions set on his face. Lilly, however, was just as obstinate. "I can't stay coddled up here anymore! You and Da know I can handle meself! Why are ya bastards treatin' me this way? I didn't do nothin' wrong! I don't appreciate bein'...grounded like a wee lass!"

Charles decided to intercept on Lilly's behalf. "She does have a point, Arthur."

Arthur gave Charles a dirty look that was clearly a warning and Charles raised his hands in submission. Arthur went back to addressing the Irish hothead.

"Your treatment, Lilly, is because you were gone for three days," Arthur argued. "Davey is dead, Jenny is dead, and for all we know, Sean and Mac are dead!" Arthur took a step forward as if to harden his point. "This gang ain't fit to take another loss right now!"

Lilly growled and threw up her hands in disgust. What kind of horseshit was Arthur spewing at her? "If ya was so concerned about another loss, then why do you fucks get tah go out?! I got chased by a bear, I was lost fer three feckin' days, I had tah shoot me beloved Holly, and I had tah watch her dead corpse get fuckin' torn apart by two of the weirdest wolves I've ever encountered! If anyone is fit tah survive out here', it's me, ya condescendin' bastard! Either I go wit ya or I go alone! And I ain't budgin' on the matter!"

Arthur laughed at her. "You try to go out on your own, I'll throw you over my shoulder and lock you up!"

Lilly's eye twitched. Just the mention of being locked up made her more upset and defiant. "Try it, Morgan, and I will beat the livin' shite outta ya!" Lilly pivoted on her heels and went to the stables. She had enough of this bullshit.

Arthur huffed after her like a raging giant. He was six feet and one inch tall, but he only had four inches on her. Still, he wouldn't be a giant to her even if she was a dwarf. "Did you just threaten me, little girl?"

Lilly was prepping a horse to ride, but Lilly paused. Her lower jaw shifted to one side, her eyes peered, and her head slowly turned to look over her shoulder. "What the feck did ya just call me?"

Arthur fastened his arms across his chest. "Little. Girl. G-I-R-L."

Ooooh, now he was playing dirty. As much as she wanted to yell, Lilly didn't want to scare the horses. Lilly snatched his arm and dragged him over to Pearson's food shack. "Did I not make meself clear, ya big stupid animal?! I ain't stayin' here! Ya can't make me! Ya ain't the boss of me!" Lilly screeched.

"Guys," Charles interrupted. He'd followed them. "You're getting a little...uh..."

Arthur and Lilly jerked their heads to him. "Shut up!" they both shouted. They eyed each other with red faces and heated glares.

"I have seniority, you wretched brat!" Arthur shouted. "So you are incorrect! I am the boss of you and you are stayin' put! I don't give a god damn if you don't like it!"

"Bastard!" Lilly belted out in frustration.

"Cocktease!"

"Dumb fuck!"

"Senseless little shit!"

"Curse of the snotty seven orphans on ya!"

"May the cat eat you and the devil eat the cat!"

Lilly scrunched up her face in confusion. "Wait, when did you learn Irish curses?"

Arthur grinned at her with a smug expression. He bent slightly at the waist with his hands behind him to add complacency to his argument . "Right after The Hungover Leprechaun," his face was close and his eyes focused on hers.

Lilly squinted her big blue eyes at him. She didn't know if she should be furious, intrigued, or amused. "You gave our pranks titles?"

Arthur's face was one of bright and nostalgic affection. He straightened his back. "The Ammo Treasure, The Wolf Fraud and the Meat, The Fishy Pants, The Branches of Boots, The Hidden Net, The Sticky Polish, The Mud Match, shall I go on?"

Lilly bit her lip and her eyes filled with annoyed delight, but she was tickled pink by his devotion to their crazy antics. She puckered her lips to hide a smile and shoved Arthur in the shoulder. "Yer still a bastard, Morgan."

Arthur let out an entertained cackle and tugged her body to his chest. "And you're still a cocktease."

A brow arched as she studied his face. "Hmmm. I thought we weren't doin' that anymore," she whispered.

Arthur looked at Pearson who was amazed by their high volume bickering. "You know," he casually waved a ladle at them. "Have you considered getting married? Because you two act like you are," Pearson wheezed out a guffaw.

Arthur grunted and Lilly ignored Pearson. A look of indecision was cast on Arthur's face. Lilly puckered out her lower lip and squeezed her eyebrows together to make a puppy dog face. "Please? I'm sooooooo boooooored here," Lilly whined.

Arthur laughed and looked away, then glanced back at her with an expression of resignation. He sighed. "Fiiiiine. Go get a horse."

Lilly's face beamed with sunshine. Her rosebud lips spread apart to bare her white teeth. She ran to the stables. She finished preparing the chestnut morgan she picked and quickly saddled him up. Lilly stashed her bow and repeater on herself, then hopped up and trotted out to Charles and Arthur.

"Alright," said Charles. "Let's head out."

The three trotted out in the snow, all three bundled up in their winter attire.

"How're you holdin' up, Charles?" asked Arthur.

Charles turned his head to look at Arthur. "I'm okay, apart from this hand, " he replied. "Stupid mistake!"

"Still bad?"

"It'll be fine in a day or two. I just can't pull a bow right now."

A groan of insecurity escaped Arthur's mouth. "Well, I sure hope I can. Never really got the hang of it."

"You'll be fine," both Charles and Lilly said in unison. Her and Charles looked at each other and laughed.

"I remember when Da and Hosea first showed me how to shoot," said Lilly.

"Me too," said Arthur, chuckling. "You'd been askin' for weeks before you got caught tryin' to shoot some damn fish in the river!"

Lilly felt her cheeks turn red from embarrassment. "I shot SOME of the fish!"

Charles interrupted the two. "Hold on. Why were you shooting fish?"

Lilly nuzzled further into her coat. "...Because rabbits and squirrels wouldn't stay still long enough."

Charles laughed loudly. "That's the funniest thing I've heard in weeks!"

Lilly made a defensive scoff. "Yes, let's laugh at the silly Irish girl. Ha ha ha."

"And I remember Hosea saying to Dutch, 'We can't teach Lilly how to sew or make tea, Dutch. We might as well teach her the things we do know how to do.' But Dutch was happy teachin' you all those things."

Lilly smirked, no longer feeling embarassed. "I suppose he was. Can you imagine Da pickin' out little frilly dresses and shoes for me?"

Arthur laughed and shook his head. "Hell no," he replied. "But you are right, Lilly. Bein' ladylike ain't you," he smirked at her suggestively, "and I wouldn't have you any other way."

The Irish girl eyed Arthur curiously. "Have me, huh?"

Arthur seemed to remember they weren't alone. He cleared his throat and started speaking to Charles. "So, you reckon we're gonna find somethin' to kill that ain't an O'Driscoll?"

Charles and Arthur continued their banter but Lilly decided to stay silent as she followed them both through the trees and snow. "What the hell is goin' on with you, Arthur?" she thought to herself. He didn't want to flirt anymore, but now he wanted to again? And how did the conversation change from a fight to a nostalgic trip? What the fuckin' fuck?

Lilly kept to her thoughts, being vaguely aware of the conversation of her two companions. A breeze rushed through her and she shivered while cursing the cold. The girl wasn't really one to complain, but the cold, despite her warm winter clothing, was seeping into her bones. Still, Lilly was happy to be doing something productive. She hated staying in one place. Being forced to stay put inspired a level of hatred she couldn't scale.

"Hey," Charles said suddenly. "Stop here a second. I see somethin'." Lilly slowed her horse to a stop by the two men, then got off the horse just as they did. Lilly watched Charles kneel down to the ground to check for tracks. "There's deer that's been here. Recently," he stated quietly.

"How can you tell?" asked Arthur as he walked up behind Charles.

"How can you not?" replied Charles. Lilly held back a giggle, reminding herself of Arthur's lack of interest in hunting. "We'll track them on foot. You're gonna need the bow. Don't leave it on your horse. A gun will scare anythin' around."

Lilly sighed, already having grabbed her bow, quiver of arrows. "Charles, I'm goin' to go ahead and track my own deer."

"Lillian!" shouted Arthur. "I don't want you wanderin' off!"

"Shh!" Lilly hissed at him. "You'll scare all the game away, and I'm not wanderin' off," she replied as she marched furiously towards another set of deer tracks. "I'm huntin'."

Arthur started towards her, but Charles grabbed his arm. "She'll be fine, Arthur. She can handle herself, especially with hunting. You know that."

Arthur shut his eyes, then opened them and looked at Lilly. "Alright. But holler if you got trouble. Come straight back here as soon as you shoot somethin'."

Lilly rolled her eyes. "I don't know who is worse, you or Da."

Before Arthur could retort, Lilly passed some shrubs and disappeared into the trees. She studied the deer tracks and followed the trail quietly. Lilly had the stealth of a wild cat, so she'd been told. She always had a knack for it. Lilly was not one of short stature, but she adapted well all the same. Lilly's breath was visible as she exhaled. Her quarry was a ways off but she pursued the trail, going deeper through the tree line. Her feet silently crunched the snow beneath her. Her dark blue eyes darted every which way and Lilly's hearing was focused. The minutes dragged on before she finally spotted a buck off in the distance. It was eating some patches of grass.

Lilly let out a sharp breath as she walked through the snow, crouching as she drew her bow and grabbed an arrow. Lilly got to a decent length between her and the male deer and drew back her bow. She inhaled and exhaled slowly in a rythym she had become accustomed to while hunting. Lilly aimed, waiting for the right moment. She whistled and the deer lifted its head. Lilly took her shot. The arrow sunk itself into the buck's head and the animal collapsed to the ground. Lilly gave out a little 'woo', put her bow around her, and jogged to the dead deer. As she closed in on the short distance, though, a loud roar sounded through the air. A grizzly bear came out from the trees behind the buck. Lilly stayed still. "God, not another bear," she whispered incredulously.

The bear's eyes locked onto the Irish hunter. Hot breath floated around its nuzzle before dissipating into the cold air. The animal clawed the snow, tipped its massive head to the side, and opened its mouth to let loose a frightening bellow. Lilly had to remain calm. If she ran, it would chase her. Lilly took a tremulous breath and peeked over her shoulder. The other tree line wasn't far off, but could she make it in time to climb a tree out of harm's way? As she directed her attention back to the giant animal, it gave one more roar and charged. Lilly bolted back to the opposite tree line. The creature was grunting as it chased her and the sound of massive paws stomping on the ground echoed in her ears. It was gaining on her. Lilly's heart was pounding as she urged herself to run faster.

Lilly raced to a tree and pulled herself up on a branch. She climbed higher and dared to look at the large animal. It was almost right on her. Lilly got up higher and her foot was just shy of getting slashed from the sharp bear claws. Her breath came fast and heavy as adrenaline pumped through her body. Her mouth tightened into an 'o' shape as she exhaled. The angry bear rose up on its hind legs and Lilly scrambled higher. The branches were not so strong she realized as she ascended up. Actually, it wasn't that strong of a tree. The bear seemed to understand that and began pushing the trunk. Lilly adjusted her feet on two branches. This was a very fucked situation. How the hell was she going to get out of this? The raging animal gave the tree another shove and Lilly heard a snap.

"Fuck! Arthur! Charles! Where are ya? Are ya fuckers deaf?!" she shouted angrily before giving the bear a taste of her fury. "Hey you!" The bear stopped its assault and looked up at her. "Yeah, I'm talkin' tah you, ya big dumb twat! Don't ya make me come down there because I'll skin ya alive!"

It tilted its head. Froth was around its lips and drool seeped down. Lilly shut her eyes. Yes. Skin a grizzly bear alive. That was going to work out just fine. A mighty roar fled from the bear's mouth and another great shove caused the tree to shake. Lilly almost lost her balance. The Irish lass' situation was wholly dire and she was left with only one option. Fight her way out of it. Another violent push and the trunk cracked and split. As the tree made its descent, Lilly leaped out. She landed on her feet, turned and drew out her knives. The bear ambled to her with a snarl. Lilly smiled defiantly as she adjusted into a defensive position. They stared each other down but Lilly swore the bear was being cautious.

Lilly chuckled with confidence. "Yeah, that's right, ya fuck. Ya want tah kill me? Then yer gonna hafta work fer it!"

The bear and Lilly mirrored each other by circling and eye contact between them never faltered. Lilly had a snowball's chance in Hell of surviving, she knew that. She was prepared for it, but as always, Lilly wasn't going to let her death come easy. The Irish hunter and the bear closed the gap. The first move was made by the bear with a swing of its claws and Lilly jumped back with a slash of a knife. Lilly jerked her head and smirked.

"Yer gonna hafta do better than that, boyo. Now come on! I ain't got all day, ya smelly bastard!" Lilly gave the taunt of the century for sure.

The bear swiped again but Lilly ducked and stabbed the back of its paw. Lilly yanked it out and the bear roared out in pain. Blood spattered the snow and it licked the wound. Lilly released a low chuckle for this small victory.

"That's right! I got claws too! Now come and get me, ya snivelin' milksop!"

The bear smashed its paw down and gave Lilly the bear equivalent of a dirty look, or that's how it looked to her anyway. And with that fearsome gaze, Lilly realized the bear was absolutely determined to eradicate her very existence as if that was its sole purpose in life, but it was at that moment when a long, almost melodic howl pierced the air and the two opponents' concentration broke. The animal and the woman took a gander in the direction of the sound. Lilly's whole face became animated with disbelief when she found the source of the disturbance.

"Fuckin' hell," she groaned.

Two gray wolves were running full speed at them and Lilly took a few steps back. Was she going to fight wolves to the death as well? As they got closer, Lilly came to the realization that those weren't just any wolves. They were the wolves from the cave. The giant bear roared and charged them and the wolves immediately attacked the bear. The bigger threat released a loud bellow when one wolf jumped on it and clamped its teeth into the fur and flesh of the bear's neck. The other leapt out of the bear's path and attacked its back leg. The three engaged in a battle armed with sharp teeth and claws. Lilly looked around for her bow and quiver. She had to help them.

She spotted her weapon and ammo poking out of the snow and slid to get them. Lilly armed herself and smiled in bloodthirsty delight. She inhaled, exhaled, and took her shot. The arrow embedded itself into the bear's shoulder. The wolves were kicking its ass, or she hoped they were. Lilly began her journey across the field of snow while arming her bow and shooting arrows one by one. Each shot punctured the bear's skin and it roared and bellowed its hatred for her. The wolves persevered with the onslaught. Blood streaked across the snow, but Lilly was unsure who it belonged to. Lilly's quiver was now empty. The bear was losing strength, but not fast enough. Lilly unsheathed her knifes again and smirked with a jerk of her head.

Lilly ran to close the distance between her and the wild predators and got a good look at what was transpiring. Snarls, barks, roars and growls emanated from the fight almost like a symphony. The wolves weren't the worse for wear, which shocked the hell out of her. The bear, on the other hand, was getting seriously fucked up. It would slash and swing its claws and the wolves always dodged it. Lilly sighed. The fur was going to be useless but the food would be more than enough for her starving group. Lilly saw an opportunity present itself to go in for the kill. She took a running jump and stabbed her knives into the bear's back. It roared out and tried to shake her off but Lilly hung on. Lilly kept stabbing the bear over and over but the massive creature would not go down.

"Yer a tough mother fucker, ain't ya!?" she yelled.

Lilly climbed higher with her knives as her body flailed back and forth from the sporadic motions of the weakening bear. Lilly found a good spot to settle and raised her knives up. She gave a shout of exertion and plunged the blades into the neck. Another pained bellow echoed through the air before the animal finally went down. Lilly's chest heaved almost violently as the bear took its last breath. The wolves, covered in blood and drool, came up to her sides. An exhausted laugh was drawn from her body as she looked at herself. Lilly was soaked with blood.

"Ha! Well, this'll be a bitch tah wash out!" The wolves nuzzled her arms and she patted them both. "Thank ya fer savin' me life, ya wee oddball chiselers." The wolves suddenly took off. "Hey! Where ya goin?" she shouted.

Lilly grunted as she gave her knives a good tug, then she raised herself from the corpse. Lilly examined herself again and laughed. How the fuck did she manage to get so much blood on her?

"Lilly!" Arthur barked. "What the hell happened?"

With a pivot at the waist, Lilly smiled as she spotted Arthur and Charles with the horses. They shot some deer, she noticed. "Told ya. I was goin' huntin'."