Chapter 9: The Pickpocket

"God dammit!"

The chaotic aftermath inside the carriage from the tumble was a horrible sight to behold. There was blood everywhere. Did the fall down the hill cause all this? There was at least...it was too hard to count the bodies piled up in there. All men. But where was Lilly? Arthur stood up and looked around. Did she fall out and he just didn't see her? No, that was stupid. Arthur threw his hat off and climbed in to move the bodies. Jesus Christ, the smell! After pushing the first, second, and third body, Arthur spotted a blood stained gray jacket. Lilly was buried under the corpses for sure. "Jesus Christ..." he choked.

"You find her? Is she alive?" Dutch asked.

Arthur shoved the bodies away. Once Lilly's body was uncovered, Arthur got a good look at her. She was face down and her eyes were shut. Lilly had blood on her face, it was in her hair, on her hands, on her feet, on her clothes...it was everywhere! Lilly wasn't moving, but was she breathing? He lowered his ear to her mouth. He couldn't hear anything. Arthur turned her over and checked her neck for a pulse. It was faint, but it was there.

"She's not breathin' but her heart's still goin'. Lilly, wake up! Wake up!" Arthur cradled her body in his lap and patted Lilly's blood smeared face. "Come on, sweetheart, breathe! Come on!!!" he demanded. Still nothing.

"Arthur, let's get her outta there first!" Hosea exclaimed quickly. "Maybe she's bleeding out somewhere!"

Arthur stood with her in his arms and held her up. Dutch and Hosea pulled her out and Arthur lifted himself out. He jumped down and grabbed the girl from the two men. Arthur opened her jacket and went to take it off when he saw what as underneath. She was wearing a black chemise shirt. Two brown leather straps criss crossed over her back and chest had knives in sheaths. Lilly had on a belt with smaller knives that were held on with loops over the blades. He took all that off and started checking her for wounds. He found a nasty gash on the back of her head.

"Shit!" Arthur took off his bandana and applied pressure to her head, then laid her down and shook her. "Lillian, sweetheart, you gotta breathe for me, okay? Come on!"

He pressed on her chest, tried to breathe for her, and anything else he could think of but nothing worked. Arthur checked for her pulse again. It was more faint than before.

"Lillian, don't you go dyin' on me!" He held Lilly in his arms as he sat on his knees and kept trying to revive her. "Wake up, Lilly! Breathe, god dammit!" But she wouldn't wake up and she wouldn't breathe. Arthur's own breathing went ragged and he started whimpering as he talked. "Lilly, please! Wake up!" he pleaded. Arthur checked for Lilly's pulse again but it wasn't there anymore. "No. No no no no no, Lilly. Don't go. Please don't go..."

Arthur gripped Lilly's body tight to his own and held the back of her head. Arthur did not want to cry. He tried not to, but his sorrow overruled his pride and he was soon blinded by tears and his body jerked from keeping himself silent. He started rocking Lilly's body back and forth. Whether this was a paternal instinct to comfort a child or a motion to comfort himself, he didn't know, but there was no escape from his grief. This child, this blue eyed, red headed, little Irish lass with the truest of grit captured his heart in a matter of minutes, and then he lost her just as quickly.

As he continued to sway Lilly to and fro, Arthur buried his face into the crook of her neck. The thought of how they met crossed his mind, and it dawned on him the aftereffect of the girl's arrival into his life was one and the same with her departure from it; in his arms because of a carriage. Fate was cruel and this realization devastated Arthur to the highest degree. Arthur felt a hand on his shoulder and the young man went tense.

"I don't know what to say, son," Dutch choked sadly. "Bein' sorry ain't enough."

Hosea put his hand on Lilly's head. "It's never easy when a kid dies, Arthur."

"She..." Arthur's breath shuddered. "I...I don't-"

Suddently the girl took a deep, wheezy breath and began to cough and hack. Hosea and Dutch came around Arthur and gaped at her. Arthur's jaw went slack and he started laughing almost maniacally. "Lilly! You're...holy shit!" he said breathlessly as he sat her up and patted her back.

"Thank God!" Dutch laughed happily. "I thought she was a goner!"

"I'll be god damned!" Hosea plopped down and let out a breathful laugh.

Arthur kept patting her back as her coughing and sputtering was ongoing. He shifted to sit down and wrapped his arms around Lilly when the coughing stopped. "You scared the shit outta me, kid!"

Lilly sucked in air and blew it out with high pitched breaths. She let out one last cough before she finally noticed who was holding her. She looked as if she was seeing a ghost. "Arthur?" she whimpered. Lilly grabbed each side of his face and goggled Arthur. "But...but ya got shot! I saw it with me own eyes, Fear Álainn! What the bloody hell!"

Arthur laughed breathlessy. "Bullet hit my pocketwatch."

"Yeah, I got the watch right here!" Dutch said. "It will only be right twice a day but it will make a great souvenir!"

Arthur chuckled and shook his head. "Shut up, Dutch," Arthur said jokingly. Lilly began to laugh and Arthur palmed her cheeks softly as their foreheads connected. Arthur closed his eyes. "Are you okay?"

With a small and amused giggle, Lilly nodded. "Yes, I think so. What happened?"

Arthur laughed and kept his hold on Lilly as he got up. "Carriage crashed into the tree."

Lilly spotted it and cringe. "Fuckin' 'ell. Ouch," she grunted and touched her head. "I think me head got knockered."

Arthur examined the gash to her head but he couldn't find it. "What in the hell?" The wound was gone. Had he imagined it? Lilly was covered in so much blood. Perhaps his eyes played a trick on him in his frightened state of mind. "Well, shit. Heh." Arthur smiled at her. "I'm just glad you're okay."

Lilly wiped her nose. "Arthur, why did ya come after me?"

"Well," he chuckled. "I guess I got a soft spot for you, kid. You left quite the impression on me."

Lilly clung to him and buried herself into his chest. "Thank you."

"Well, now that that's over and done with, I suggest you two get washed up," Dutch said.

Arthur and Lilly examined themselves and Lilly laughed. "As ucht Dé! I got blood all over ya, Fear Álainn! Wait, where are all me knives?" Arthur stared down at the weapons. Oh yeah. Lilly squirmed out of his arms and picked up the belt and straps. "So glad I didn't lose these. Oh!" She ran to her jacket and lifted it up. She rolled her eye and dropped it. "Ugh, stop the god damn lights! It's ruined!"

The three men laughed. "You really like cursin', don't you?" Dutch asked cheerfully.

"Yeah. I was told it gives me character."

Arthur smiled. Yeah, little Lilly O'Callaghan was a character, all right. He kept his eyes locked on her as she went running off. "Hey, where you goin', kid?"

"I need a wash! There's a river nearby! Come on, Fear Álainn!"

"Wait, you know where we are?"

"Yep. I live out here!"

"Seriously?" Arthur ran a hand through his hair, ran over to grab his hat, and followed her with the other men. "Why all the way out here?"

"I'm not one fer city livin'. Too many judgmental sheep and their droppin's in one place. Blackwater aint so bad, but New York City and Saint Denis? Good Lord, ya can smell the fear and shite fer miles!"

After their fight, Arthur and Lilly went back to the private car of Cornwall's train and made up. Repeatedly. And afterwards, Lilly grabbed a bunch of books from the train to keep. By the time they rode back into camp, the sun was about to come up. Everything was packed up and ready to go and Dutch and Hosea were waiting for them as they approached.

"Well, look who finally decided to show up after all the heavy lifting got done. We've been wonderin' what kept you two out all night," Dutch said, but his tone implied he knew exactly what kept them.

Lilly swore her cheeks were more red than the object of her middle name but it most definitely was not from the cold. She kept trying to restrain herself from smiling but Lilly's face didn't want to cooperate because she was in the thralls of euphoria.

"Hmm. Yes, one of our theories was that a bear ate you both," Hosea said amusingly. "You've been running into those lately, Lilly. They must hate you something awful."

Lilly glanced over at Arthur. He was less secretive about how he was feeling. "Naw, Hosea, I don't think they hate her. They're obviously attracted to her because," Arthur gave Lilly the most devious of smirks and put an arm around her. "She's a honeypot full of the sweetest and purest of nectars."

Lilly blushed even more. What he said horrified her but she smiled at Arthur innocently while removing her gloves. "Aww, such a charmer," Lilly chuckled and gave his cheek a forceful pinch. "Déan é sin arís agus maróidh mé thú, bithiúnach," Lilly threatened through her smile. [Repeat this and I will kill you, reprobate.]

Arthur seemed to pick up on her warning. He grinned at the older men. "But no, we didn't encounter any bears. I made sure of that."

"What do ya mean ya made sure of it? How?" Lilly asked with a quizzical expression.

Arthur looked at her with a straight face. "Why else would I lick your honeypot clean?" Dutch and Hosea guffawed hysterically. Lilly turned bright red and punched Arthur in the arm. "Ow!" he laughed.

"Yer a feckin' arsehole, Arthur Morgan!" Lilly shouted.

Lilly went to hit Arthur again but he knocked her hand away and kissed her with a chuckle vibrating in his throat. He stopped and put his lips to her ear. "Please don't be mad. I can't act like a sissy in front of the others, but I have to mark my territory. You can understand that, can't you?" he whispered.

Lilly clicked her tongue and sighed heavily. She knew all too well about keeping up appearances. The foundation of her and Arthur's individual standing in the gang was their dominance. Any sign of weakness in an alpha would draw out the hyenas and vultures. Not that Arthur or Lilly would have a problem reestablishing their prepotency within the group, of course. However, she didn't appreciate being referred to as "his territory". Lilly was a woman, not some play thing he could have unquestionable dominion over. Is that how he felt about her? No, she was just being an eejit. Lilly knew Arthur had more respect for her than that. Still...

"Yes, I understand, Morgan," she whispered bitterly before pulling away and facing her Da and Athair.

Arthur sighed. "Anyway, we gettin' outta this hellhole?"

"We're gonna try. Weather seems stable," Dutch said.

"And we just robbed a Leviticus Cornwall train," Hosea spoke bitterly.

"We got money in our pockets. The worst is behind us. So the question is where now?"

"I know this country a little. I told you, we should set up camp in Horseshoe Overlook near Valentine. We'll be able to hide out there, no problem, as long as we keep our noses clean."

"Well, then let's go. Clean noses and everythin' else." Dutch glanced at Arthur. "Arthur, you're in that one," he said as he pointed to a wagon. "Bring Hosea. I know you two like to talk about the good old days and what's gone wrong with old Dutch. And Lilly...try not to get lost this time," he said before climbing up into a wagon.

Lilly stuck her tongue out at her Da and walked to the wagon with Arthur. "Well, guess you two can hash out-"

Arthur dragged Lilly behind the back of the wagon and kissed her. "Please tell me what I did wrong."

Lilly shoved him off gently so as not to act like his kissing disgusted her, but to have him keep his distance. It certainly didn't disgust her. Hell, that was the only recreational activity she wanted to have for a while. That and having sex with him. But she wanted him to pay attention. "Arthur, what is this tah ya, exactly?"

Arthur's eyes squinted and he looked completely lost. "What?"

She rolled her eyes and huffed. "When ya say I'm yer woman and that yer "markin' yer territory", what does that mean? Because I'm not just some female Neanderthal ya can hit over the head with a club and drag back tah yer cave." Arthur's silly guffaw was his only response. Lilly glared at him. "Are ya laughin' at me?"

"No, I'm laughin' at what you said." Arthur gave her a gentle smirk. "Lilly, you ain't just some piece of ass to me, although you do have a very nice one."

Lilly smacked his shoulder and giggled. "Bithiúnach." [Reprobate.]

Arthur chuckled deeply. "Are you ever gonna tell me what that means?"

"Nope." Lilly gave him a peck on the lips. "And if ya don't like it, tough shite."

"Hmm." Arthur kissed her deeply for a few moments before pulling away. "Then I'm gonna learn Irish."

"Liar."

Arthur held her close and kissed her cheek. "You wanna know how serious I am about you? About us?" He pecked her lips. "Wait here a minute..." Arthur went walking off towards the other wagons and Lilly smiled.

Hosea came from around the wagon and put a hand on Lilly's shoulder. "So, you and Arthur, huh?"

She smiled more brightly. "Yes."

"Well it's about damn time!"

Lilly laughed at him. "Seriously?"

"Dutch and I've been waiting a long time for you both to smarten up."

"Ya were waitin'? And ya never thought tah mention this before?"

Hosea laughed. "When it comes to love, Lilly, it's best if it happens naturally rather than be forced."

"Hey!" Arthur popped up behind her. "Alright, Hosea, let's go."

Lilly looked at Arthur. "Wait, what about-"

Arthur put a finger to her lips and flashed his white teeth. "You'll see when we get to Horseshoe."

They group got to the river and Arthur walked next to Lilly to the bank. She set her weapons down, took off her fingerless gloves, and was about to run into the water when she looked at the gauze on her foot. "Oh, I forgot about that."

Lilly sat and took it off. Arthur saw her body tense and he frowned. "How's the cut?" Lilly stood up and ran into the water. Huh. Okay then.

"Hey, after I wash up, could I interest ya gentlemen in an early lunch?" Lilly beamed as she began to scrub her arms.

Arthur smiled at the other two men. "Are you buyin'?" Arthur yelled at her with an amused tone.

"If by buyin' ya mean killin,' then yes." Lilly went under the water, then came back up and spit water out of her mouth. "Arthur! Get a wash, ya silly, dirty man!"

Arthur shook his head with a laugh. "Alright!" Arthur took his satchel, weapon belt and pants belt off. "Wanna get a fire goin', maybe?" he asked Hosea.

"Yeah, sure. I could use some coffee anyway."

Arthur unbuttoned his shirt as he kicked off his boots. Wearing only his pants, he went wading into the river. "So is that what the knives are for? Huntin'?"

"More or less." Lilly had her back to him and took the strap from her ponytail. Her wet auburn hair flowed down and she went back under the water.

Arthur smiled up at the sky. "More or less, she says." He still wanted to ask her about what happened in the carriage. He could assume exactly what happened. Lilly had an arsenal of knives at her disposal and she was precocious. Obviously she killed those six men, along with the other two that fell out during the chase. When she came back up Arthur got closer. "So...you kill people too, huh?"

Lilly turned to face him. "Yes I..." her eyes went wide when she saw him.

Arthur tilted his head to one side. "What is it?"

"Yer...um..." She jerked back around. "Yer...fear taibhseach." [Gorgeous man.]

"What?"

"Yeah, I...I kill people too."

Arthur chuckled. What a girl. He waded closer to her and patted her head. Lilly flinched. "What's wrong, kid?"

"Nothin'."

Arthur gently turned her around and bent at the waist with his hands on her shoulders. Lilly wouldn't look at him. "Lilly, look at me."

Lilly lifted her eyes and glanced at his face. She was blushing. "I...ahem, I should go huntin'."

She went underwater and Arthur watched as she swam back to the bank. What the hell was that all about?"

I know this chapter took me a while but I had a lot going on the last few days and I've had to revise over and over because I kept hating the results, but now I think it's good.