Chapter 10: Play Things

Lilly was still feeling euphoric as the gang trudged on. Euphoric, satisfied...sore. Soreness, however, could not keep Lilly from smiling like a idiot. She was at the very back of the caravan, at least for a while, until Arthur told her to come up for a chat. Lilly trotted up beside him. "Yes, mo chuisle?"

"How are you feelin'?" he asked.

Lilly smiled at him suggestively. "As if ya need to ask."

With a devilish smirk, Arthur twinkled his eyes at her. "Oh, that ain't what I'm askin' about. I was inquirin' after, uh..." he motioned between her legs. "...that."

Lilly smacked his arm playfully. "Bithiúnach."

A low, joyful chuckle erupted from his throat. "I can't decide what I like bein' called more. Macushla or...big hoo nah."

The mispronunciation made Lilly's eyes roll. "Meiriceánaigh." [Americans.]

"Now, Lilly, you know how I feel about you talkin' like that."

"Yes, I do," she giggled at him. "Faigheann sé tú ag dul. Nuair a théimid chuig campa, ní stadfaidh mé." [It gets you going. When we go to camp, I won't stop.]

Lilly leaned over closer to him. "Mo coinín. Tá sé fliuch duit," Lilly murmured seductively. [My pussy. It is wet for you.]

Arthur gaped at her. "You little minx."

"Yes I am. Tiocfaidh mé chugat. Beidh mé ag focáil tú,. Beidh níos mó de dhíth ort. Beidh tú ag impí ar do ghlúine chun ithe mo mhil." [I will come for you. I will be coming all for you. You will want more. You will beg on your knees to eat my honey.]

Arthur's mouth went slack as he stared at Lilly. "Lillian..."

"Is mian liom go raibh a fhios agat cad a bhí á rá agam. Is mian liom go bhféadfá labhairt liom i nGaeilge." [I wish you knew what I was saying. I wish you could speak to me in Irish.]

"Get us out the stream!" Hosea shouted. Arthur blinked and focused on driving. "You gotta keep us movin', but calm."

Lilly giggled and leaned close to Arthur's ear. "Beidh mise leatsa go deo má fhoghlaimíonn tú mo theanga, mo fhear álainn," she whispered. [I'll be yours forever if you learn my language, my beautiful man.]

Lilly saw Arthur's body tremble briefly and the back wheel of the wagon broke off. Lilly started cackling as she trotted away from the wagon. "Hahahaaaa!"

"Ah, shit!" Arthur shouted. "Dammit, Lillian!"

Lilly could barely restrain herself from giggling. "I'm sorry."

"Okay...let's take a look," Hosea said begrudgingly.

"You alright back there?" Bill yelled from the wagon in front of them.

"Does everythin' look alright?" Arthur grumbled loudly as he jumped down.

"Well, what's goin' on?" Javier asked.

"Gaaah! I broke the god damn wheel!"

Lilly dismounted and chuckled as she walked over to them. "Alright, alright, get yer knickers out of a twist, Arthur. I'll help lift the-"

"No, you will not lift the wagon, Lillian! You stay put, you little troublemaker!"

Lilly stopped walking and scoffed. "Fine, fuck you then." She turned and growled as she walked to the stream. "It ain't my fault ya can't think with both yer heads simultaneously!" Lilly bent down to fill her hands with water and scrubbed her face. "Feckin' grumpy arsehole..."

"Don't be like that, Lilly! He was just jokin'!" Hosea shouted.

"Yeah yeah yeah, I'm sure he was, the grumpy old fart!"

"I wasn't jokin'!" Arthur belted. "And watch your mouth, woman!"

"Or what?! Yer gonna take me over yer knee and spank me?" She stood and glared at him.

Arthur scowled and lifted the wheel while Hosea and Charles pushed the wagon up. "I just might, you stubborn little shit!"

"Arsehole!"

"Trollop!"

"Dickhead!"

"Bitch!" Arthur yelled while shoving his shoulder into the wagon wheel to secure it back on. "God damn bitch!"

"EXCUSE ME?!"

"Not you! The wheel!"

"Yeah right, ya feckin-" Lilly got interrupted by barking and she jerked around to see two wolves in front of her. A broad smile formed on her face. "Well look who it is! Did ya chiselers follow me all the way from Colter?" They padded up to her and she bent down to stroke their fur. "Haha! I'll be damned!"

"Hey! Are those them bear killers?"

"The very same!" Lilly pulled meat out of her satchel and gave the chunks to the wolves. They gobbled them up and licked her face which made Lilly laugh. "Haha! Ya both are so unusual. Ya..." Lilly looked up at the cliff and saw three men on horses looking down at her and the group. Three Native American men. Lilly got up slowly. "Uh, Athair? Arthur? Charles? We got an audience, me thinks."

Arthur, Charles, and Hosea all looked up at the men on horses. Lilly put a hand to shield her eyes from the sun. It felt as if they were mostly interested in watching her rather than the other members of her group, but why? Because of the wolves? Lilly gazed down at her two friendly companions who didn't seem bothered by the onlookers. Arthur walked over to her. "Looks like you got admirers, darlin'."

"I guess." Lilly waved up at them but they just sat on their horses. "Huh. Not very friendly, are they?"

"Lillian." She glanced at her lover. "I'm sorry for bein' cross."

Lilly smiled warmly and kissed him. "Me too, mo chuisle."

He wrapped his arms around her and nuzzled her ear. "Are you still sore?"

An intrigued chuckle escaped her lips. "A bit. Why?"

"Sit in the wagon the rest of the way. I got plans for you once we get to camp."

"Oooohhh, do ya now?" Lilly looked up at the cliff. The men were still there, and she smirked at Arthur. "Are ya bein' serious or are you markin' your territory again?"

Arthur laughed. "Both. Is that a problem?"

"No. I don't mind any attention ya give me, Mr. Morgan. Just remember I'm your woman now, you're my man, and we're more than just play things now."

Arthur grasped her butt and kissed her deeply. Lilly wrapped her arms around him. God, he was such a man. Kissing him was so incredibly wonderful. "Mmm, you are my woman, and when we get to camp I'm goin' to make you feel like a woman."

"Hey, let's not push our luck and get goin', you crazy lovebirds!" Hosea snapped humorously.

Arthur smirked and lifted Lilly up by her rump. A high pitched giggle came out of her and she put her legs around him as Arthur strolled over to the wagon. "My goodness, Arthur, such a big, strong man you are!" Lilly teased.

"All the better to carry you you around..." he placed her on the wagon edge, "...and enrapture your tight little muff until you beg me to stop, my dear," he purred into her neck. "And even then, I won't stop."

Lilly felt her cheeks go red and she let out a silly guffaw. "Oh my God, Arthur. You're a fuckin' animal."

"Yeah I am. And I can be whatever animal you want. A gentle one, or..." he bit her neck hard and it made Lilly gasp. "...A savage one." He kissed the spot he bit and stood up straight. "Alright, let's go."

Arthur winked at her, gave a short wave to the men on the cliff, and went to the front. A heated blush was still on her cheeks and Charles grinned at her. "What?" she asked defensively.

"Nothin'," Charles said with a smile and climbed on. "I just like seein' you both happy."

"Oh."

"Poor bastards. We really screwed them over down here," Hosea said.

"What happened?" Arthur asked.

The wagon started going and Lilly's horse and the wolves started following them. Lilly smiled at the animals. Hosea continued on. "So, yes. The Indians in these parts got sold a very raw deal. This is the Heartlands we're goin' to. Good farmin' and grazin' country, they lost it all. Stolen clean away from them, it was. Every blade of grass. Killed or herded up to the reservations in the middle of nowhere."

"And how's that different from anywhere else?" Charles asked.

"Well, maybe it's not. I just heard some of the army out here was particularly, uh...unpleasant about it."

"Unpleasant? How do you rob and kill people pleasantly? We don't, in spite of Dutch's talk."

"I fear I was perhaps trying to simplify somethin' more complicated for the benefit of our blockheaded driver here."

"Athair!" Lilly protested. "Don't ya be insultin' me man! I'm the only one allowed tah do that! Besides, I'm the one that distracted him!"

Hosea laughed. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. I won't insult your "macushla" again."

Lilly scowled, got up, and scrambled to the front. "Alright, I've had enough of this malarkey! That term of endearment is not fer popular use among the gang! That term is fer Arthur and me only! So the next feckin' mingin' melter tah say it is gonna have a go with me! And speakin' of havin' a go, which dodgy bloke spied on Arthur and me? Was it Micah or Javier?!"

"It was Micah," Charles said.

Lilly looked at him. "What? How do ya know?"

"I heard him talkin' about it while you and Arthur were...um...gone all night."

Lilly got in Charles' face. "What did he say?" she snarled.

"He said...uh...well..."

Lilly rolled her eyes. "Charles, if yer havin' trouble loosenin' that tongue of yers, I will remind ya that I have a list of occupations no woman within a hundred miles could ever come close tah havin'! Which includes torturin' folks tah extract information!"

Arthur guffawed in amusement. "Charles, please do not upset my woman. I've seen her kill men for less."

Hosea and Arthur both laughed. Charles sighed with resignation. "Micah said he had half a mind to shoot Arthur and...take your maidenhood himself."

Lilly's face hardened. "He said what?!" she hissed.

Arthur stopped the wagon. Him and Hosea turned their heads around. "He said what?!" they both snapped.

"Did he say anythin' else, Charles?"

"No! That was it!" Charles sighed. "Lenny and I shut him up."

Lilly smiled and patted Charles' shoulder. "I appreciate that, Charles. Thank you." Lilly leaped off the wagon and went towards her mount.

"Hey, where are you goin'!?" Arthur asked loudly.

"Athair, where is Horseshoe Overlook?"

"Lillian!" Arthur jumped down from the wagon and went after her. "Lilly, don't you be doin' anythin' drastic!"

"I'm not bein' drastic! I only have half a mind tah shoot Micah and take his manhood and shove it down his throat!"

Arthur laughed and wrapped his arms around her from behind. "Yes, I bet you do, but you can't just go and kill him."

"Why not?!"

"Because, darlin', we got rules, remember?"

Lilly huffed. This was utter bullshit, but she knew the rules. "Yes. But-"

"If you killed every person who offended you, the human race would've died out a long time ago."

A small snort and a laugh came out of her. "I know, but..." she turned around and stared at him. "But ain't you mad?"

"I am just as furious as you, darlin', but if you kill Micah, then you'll have to kill a lot of the other men in camp."

"What do you mean?"

Arthur pecked the tip of her nose. "You really think Micah's the only one who wants you all to himself?"

It was night time when 36-year-old Arthur and 21-year-old Lilly came back to camp from another skinny dipping escapade. Arthur was in his summer gunslinger outfit, Lilly in hers save for a black shirt instead of blue, when he pulled Lilly to a tree and chuckled while playing with locks of her wet auburn hair. "One of these days, Lilly, I will get you to break."

Lilly giggled and pushed her body against his. "Not if I break you first."

A small wheeze of a laugh fled Arthur's mouth. "Can I ask you somethin'?"

"Color me intrigued, Arthur. What is your question?"

Arthur peeked around the tree. Most the boys were drunk and laughing while sitting around the fire. Arthur looked into her eyes with a mischevious grin. "I know you flirt with the others sometimes, but...is it like this with them?"

Lilly shook her head. "No." Lilly leaned in more with her mouth close to his. "You're the only one brave enough to get this close to me."

This made Arthur's heart pump faster. He smiled and pinned her arms up above her head. "And if I dared to get closer? What would you do?"

"Define closer, Arthur." Lilly snapped her teeth with a seductive smile and a sharp, lustful intake of breath.

Arthur felt his mouth start to water. "If I were to..." he put his mouth to her ear and let a hand trail down her side. "...take you into the woods and decide to have my way with you?"

"Then why don't you?" she teased into his ear.

"I don't have permission to fuck you into oblivion, O'Callaghan. Not yet." Arthur felt her body shudder against him. Oh, he had Lilly by the neck now, figuratively speaking. And Arthur really wanted her to give him permission. What started out as a way for him to release tension from the sexual frustrations she caused from her ruthless flirting was now an addiction that needed something more to be sated. He was getting tired of restraining himself. "Just say the word, Lillian, and I..." he started unbuttoning her shirt. "...will drag your ass out there and make you a woman."

Lilly chuckled and caressed his face with her palm. "Is that what you want, Arthur? To make me a woman?"

"You tell me."

"Well, how about you," Lilly played with his waistband. "Tell me what you'd do to me first and then I'll make a decision. In fact, take me into the woods right now and show me."

God, Lilly was such an evil little temptress. He grabbed her hand and went running into the forest with her. After finding a clear spot Arthur laid Lilly down on her back and settled over her. "So, where to begin, Miss O'Callaghan..."

"No, no, I think I should be on top."

"Oh, do you now?"

"I don't want to be talked down to," Lilly smirked.

Arthur burst into laughter and rolled her over on top of him. "Ah, Christ. You and your puns."

A giggle made her body jerk a bit and she took in a deep breath. "Yes, me and my puns."

Arthur shook his head then looked up. "Huh. Full moon is comin' out again." He gazed back at her and his heart skipped a beat. The look Lilly was giving him was tender. Loving, even. "What?" he asked.

Lilly, with the softest of smiles, only said, "you really are a beautiful man, Arthur."

"Ooohh, is this a new tactic?"

"No. This ain't flirtin'."

Arthur's expression went soft and he pushed her hair over to one side before resting on his elbows. "Lillian..."

She bent down close to his face. "Yes, Arthur?"

His heart started racing again as he made eye contact with Lilly. She was looking at him differently. Not with mischief, but with...need. The tension between them relaxed into a sort of tender passion and he pulled her down as he laid back. Yep. He had to kiss her now. Arthur smiled at her and just when the distance between their mouths closed to a hair's breath, they were interrupted.

"What are you two doin'?" he heard Bill ask.

Lilly sat straight up and Arthur groaned. Oh for fuck's sake. "Flirtin'," Lilly giggled. "I take it interruptin' us was important?"

"Damn, how many men do you flirt with?" Micah asked.

Arthur looked over and saw Bill, Micah, Javier, Davey, and Mac. "What the hell, boys? Why are you all out here?"

"We need to discuss somethin' with you, Arthur," Mac said.

Lilly smiled at them. "Oh? And what are you discussin' with my dear Arthur?"

"Your dear Arthur? Jesus, you flirt with Arthur and everyone else but he's dear to you?"

Lilly rolled her eyes. "As ucht Dé, you know me flirtin' is just a damn game to me. Y'all don't take it seriously, do you?"

"Lilly, don't be so mean," Arthur teased affectionately. "I'm pretty sure some of 'em thought you was serious."

Lilly looked down at Arthur and cocked her head to one side. "Alright, well, if that's the case, then you all should know that out of all my prey, Arthur is my first, my favorite, and boldest one. None of you boys dared to get this close, so I suggest you up your game," she looked at the men. "But I'm sure Arthur will still one up all of you. Who knows? I might just give him permission to..." Lilly smirked at Arthur. "What was it you said?"

Arthur grinned. "Fuck you into oblivion?"

Lilly snapped her fingers. "That's the one." She stood and reached a hand down to Arthur. He gladly took it and Lilly pulled him to his feet. "I'm retirin' to my tent." The Irish girl put her lips to Arthur's cheek and kissed it. "Out of all of them, I'd much rather you fuck me into oblivion," she whispered softly. "I doubt they could anyway, and uh...you are, after all, a very beautiful man, so..." Lilly backed up and pretty much made an announcement as she addressed Arthur, and cleay only Arthur. "If you're up for it, meet me in my tent in twenty minutes? We could finally do it tonight."

Arthur's breath hitched. "Oooohhh, you naughty little vixen," he chortled with glee. "I may or may not. You'll just have to see."

Lilly grinned at him. "Oof, still playin' so hard to get. Well," she turned her head back to the men, as did Arthur. "Good night gentlemen. Arthur."

As Lilly was about to walk away, Arthur slapped her ass and she yelped happily. Arthur laughed and made a deep, joyful grunt as he watched Lilly walk away. He pulled out his cigarettes and lit one. "So," he inhaled smoke, then exhaled. "What did you fellers wanna talk about?"

"That!" they all said simultaneously.

"Hmm. That so? Why?"

"How the hell did you get in so good with her, cowpoke?" Micah demanded.

"I don't know, Micah. Maybe because I'm not an asshole."

"Okay, but what about the rest of us?" Javier asked.

"Hmm." Arthur inhaled once more. "Do you all feel like Lilly owes you somethin' because she was flirtin' with you? Because I sure as hell don't. Whichever one she chooses, if she even chooses one, I will respect her decision." Respect, yes, but he sure as hell would not like it. Unless it was himself, of course. If Lilly chose him, Arthur would be the luckiest man alive.

"You only say that because you're closer to the finish line than we are."

Arthur laughed and shook his head. "That's besides the point, fellers. See," he took a few steps towards them all and took a puff of the cigarette. "This is a game to her and you boys are takin' it way too seriously. So go ahead, see how far you can get with her, but I guarantee you'll fuck it up somehow and piss her off because of this mentality you have."

"And how do you know that?" Bill asked bitterly.

"Because I know Lilly. I've known her since she was seven. I know how she thinks, how she works, and which buttons to push and avoid. And if any of you try to push her into somethin' she don't want, Lilly might just kill you."

"Ha, we'll see about that," Micah laughed and walked off.

Arthur walked with the rest of the men after Micah as he took another drag. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"I mean I'm goin' to her tent."

Arthur cackled loudly. "Yeah, good luck!"

The boys, besides Micah, went back over to the fire and sat. They watched as Micah approached Lilly's tent. Sean laughed. "What the hell is he doin'?"

Arthur took one last drag from his cigarette then grabbed a beer from the box by the log he was on and opened it. "He's tryin' his luck at seducin' Lilly."

"And you're okay with this?"

As he tasted the beer, Arthur nodded. "Mmhmm." He swallowed and made a manly 'ahh'. "This is some good beer. Well, why wouldn't I be okay with it, Sean?"

"FER FUCK'S SAKE, MICAH, GET THE HELL AWAY FROM ME TENT!" Arthur heard Lilly shout and he began to cackle.

"Ha! Told ya!" Arthur took another drink. Micah came sulking back to the fire and sat. He was fuming. "So, how did it go?" Arthur asked with a smirk.

"Shut up, Arthur," was Micah's only response.

"Welp," Javier got up. "My turn."

Arthur watched Javier go and he chuckled deeply. "This is funnier than hell." One by one, Arthur watched as Javier, Bill, Davey, and Mac all got turned down, and each one of them came back to the fire looking dejected. "I told you."

He took another swig of beer as Sean giggled himself into a fit. "What abour you, Arthur? Ain't you gonna give it a go?"

"Maybe. I already got an invitation."

Sean went into another burst of hysterics. "That doesn't surprise me."

Arthur cackled with glee then looked at Charles, Pearson, and Lenny. "Ain't you gonna try your luck?"

"No thank you," Mr. Pearson said. "Too young."

"She'll reject me for sure," Lenny laughed.

"Nope. I know when I'm beat," Charles sighed.

Arthur and Sean nudged each other and laughed. "Arthuuuuuur..." Lilly called from her tent. "Can I talk to ya please?"

"But I'm havin' a beer!" Arthur yelled teasingly.

He saw Lilly storm out of her tent towards all of them. With an annoyed look on her face and her arms crossed, she addressed Arthur. "Then chug it and get into my tent."

Arthur shook his head. "I know you invited me, sweetheart, but that don't mean I'm gonna accept the offer," he teased.

A devil of a smile came on Lilly's face. "Oh, is that so? Well, perhaps I should give one of these fine gentlemen another chance and-"

Oh hell no. Arthur shot up. "Don't you be jokin' like that, woman!" He chugged his beer, tossed the bottle, and smiled at her. "Lead the way."

Lilly was still smiling with the devil in it. "No, I don't think I will. Yer gonna have to earn it back now."

Arthur's eyes squinted in irritation. "Oh am I?"

"Uh huh."

Arthur ambled over to her with a dirty smirk. "I call bullshit, O'Callaghan."

"I don't care what you call it, Morgan. I'm-"

Arthur picked her up and tossed her over his shoulder. Lilly giggled. "Nope. Bullshit. Now I'm gonna have to lead the way." Arthur strolled over to her tent while Lilly cackled in amusement. They got inside and Arthur put her down. "Now...what did you want to talk about?"

"Spend the night with me please."

Arthur giggled nervously. "What? Why?"

"So people will stop tryin' tah come into me tent! I'm god damn tired!"

Arthur smiled warmly at her. "Oh. You need a snuggle buddy, huh?"

"Ya don't hafta snuggle me, ya bastard! I'm only-"

Arthur lifted Lilly up and cradled her in his arms. "So you don't want me sleepin' with you tonight?"

"Not if yer gonna make me feel like I'm bein' a child about it!"

Arthur chortled and put her down on the cot. "Oh, does the poor widdle baby need her guardian tonight?"

"Ya havena been me guardian fer years!"

Arthur kneeled over her torso and smirked. "I think I know what you need, poor widdle baby girl."

Lilly glared up at him in defiance. "What it is?" Arthur sighed happily then he started tickling her. Lilly began to squirm and giggle like an idiot. "No! No stop it! Arthur, aha! Hahahahaaaa!"

Lilly raised an eyebrow at Arthur. "Well, that explains a lot," she huffed. "God dammit," she whined.

Arthur laughed at her and pressed his forehead to hers. "I got an idea, though."

"Hmm? What's that?"

"Instead of killin' Micah, let's just rub it in his face."

"Hmmm." It was an interesting idea. "Color me intrigued, Mr. Morgan. Give me the details."

"Get back on the wagon and I will tell you what I got in mind."