Kay, another long chapter. I have a lot of shit from the original story bevause I'm merely tweaking the story line a tad. Changing some events and results of said events here and there. Anyway, review, fav, and follow! And thanks for reading!

This chapter is rated M for sexual content.

Chapter 12: The Bedsheets

For the next two weeks, when Arthur and her weren't necking, petting, and engaging in sexual intercourse, Lilly spent a lot of her time hunting. The wolves, who were males, would often help her with that. Lilly's affection for them grew each time she camped out. They would sleep just outside when she was doing overnights, they'd engage in play with her, and they'd watch out fir her as she did them. In those two weeks, though, the boys grew significantly bigger and their gray and black colors started fading over the time. Lilly knew they were still just pups, but how old were they? They were already larger than most of the wolves around the Heartlands, standing about 3 1/2 feet at the shoulder, but they weren't from here. What was even stranger were their eyes. They'd gone from yellow to green. Wolves didn't have green eyes. It made her think about the creature she saw outside her cave. That one had piercing blue eyes. Animals in Canada or near it were unusual. But still, as abnormal as they were, the boys refused to come into the main camp.

The horse Lilly was using for her hunts was the chestnut morgan. A spare. She missed Holly, and as much as she liked the morgan, she needed a permanent horse and she couldn't imagine having this one as her next true mount. Morgans were small and since she was 5'9", she felt a bit like a giant riding a donkey. So after the two weeks had gone by, Lilly decided she needed to aquire a new horse. As she was getting dressed in her red and black summer gunslinger attire, Arthur walked into the tent with two cups of coffee.

"Mm, thank you, mo chuisle," Lilly cooed gratefully as he gave it to her.

Arthur took a sip of his. He was in his own summer gunslinger outfit with the sleeves rolled up and the collar undone. Same as her. "So, what's on your agenda for today, Miss O'Callaghan?"

Lilly drank some of the coffee. "A new horse being one item on the list."

"Hmm. Really?"

"Yes. Gonna go out and catch one. And not one that'll make me look freakishly tall."

Arthur laughed as if he knew something she didn't. "Well, now that you mention it..."

Dark blue eyes squinted at him. She had scruples. "What did you do now?" As much as she loved the gift giving he'd been doing, it was starting to become a little...much. Only because she'd been so busy trying to keep people fed Lilly had no time to give Arthur any presents. It made her feel awful.

Arthur seemed to sense her inner conflict. "Hey, what's wrong darlin'?"

"Ya keep givin' me stuff and I haven't given ya diddly squat."

A cackle escaped Arthur. "You been preoccupied. I understand that. But if it will make you feel better, I'll stop with the gifts for now, okay?"

"Now I really feel bad."

Arthur kissed her. "Don't. Just...don't be sorry about giftin'. But I do have one for you outside, and...I think it'll suit you."

Lilly huffed and chuckled happily before drinking more coffee. "You got me a horse, right?"

Arthur drank his coffee. "Yes. Hosea and I went huntin' for a bear and, well, I happened to acquire this steed beforehand. But you will like this one, I promise. He will not make you feel freakishly tall."

"Bear huntin', huh? Is it safe to assume we got two new bear killers in the camp?"

"Ha! Nope. That's just you. But maybe we can stop by the area some time and you can help me get him." Lilly grinned with a nod. She went to go outside but Arthur stopped her. "What's your rush? Ya got a horse. What else is on your agenda?"

"Huntin', of course."

Arthur finished his coffee. "Pearson says we got enough meat and pelts. You and Charles did good. So please take a damn day off."

Lilly laughed. "Okay, fine. I suppose I've earned one of those." She finished her coffee. "So..." she gave him a soft and tender kiss. "Any idea how I should spend my day off?" she asked seductively.

Arthur tossed his cup and kissed her deeply. Lilly put her arms around his neck. Both their hats fell off. Lilly had planned on braiding her hair but, well, screw that. The man was insatiable and she loved it. Arthur's stubble tickled her face and she giggled. They started undressing. Lilly was now prone to wearing undershirts since her nipples were now...more sensitive to cloth. Constant stimulation was the culprit for that, not that Lilly was complaining. It didn't protect against Arthur's hands, but again, she was not complaining.

Lilly moaned into his mouth as he played with the nubs. One of her hands went to the front of Arthur's pants and she groped him. She reached in and felt the warmth of his flesh and it immediately grew in her hands. Arthur grunted.

"Mmmmmm, darlin'? Might I ask you to try somethin' different?"

"Uh huh."

"I'd very much like it if you sucked my-" Arthur groaned out as Lilly yanked his pants down and sucked on the tip of his member. "Oh...well, okay..."

Arthur's hand gripped into her hair and Lilly's mouth started salivating, so she opened her mouth wider and put him into it further. Lilly started making soft slurping sounds as her head bobbed to and fro. Her hand went up and began to stroke him as well.

"Oooohhh Lillian...w-where did you...how...?"

Lilly stopped for a moment and looked up at him. "Karen. She coached me."

Arthur laughed. "Karen? Why?"

"I wanted to learn how to please you," Lilly said with a smirk and a raised eyebrow. "She taught me other stuff, too..."

Lilly went back to what she was doing and Arthur groaned. "And you said you had no time for gifts," he chuckled before groaning again. "Lilly I wanna sit down for this."

Arthur sat on the bed but Lilly shoved him so he's go flat on his back. "It'll be better if you lay down."

"What?" He looked down at her. "What do you-ah!" he almost shouted as Lilly sucked on one of his testicles.

"Did that hurt?"

Arthur laughed breathlessly. "No, I just wasn't ready for that."

Lilly grinned devishly. "Then you better prepare yourself for the next part. Oh and uh...you're gonna have to tell me when you're close."

"Oh shit." Lilly laughed and bobbed her mouth on his shaft. She watched Arthur relax his head and once his cock was wet enough, she took her hand and stroked him as she tasted his scrotum. His hands caressed her hair and head. Now for the next part. Lilly took her free hand, took two fingers, and massaged the area behind his balls. "What...the...hell?"

Lilly put his dick back into her mouth and her other hand tickled his nuts. Her fingers massaged his taint still and Lilly felt Arthur tremble beneath her. Her fingers made a forward stroke and Arthur grunted loudly. She stroked again as she sucked and bobbed on his member and caressed his testicles. When Lilly started kneading him again, he started bucking his hips gently. Lilly wanted so much to please him and she didn't want to screw this up. The Irish woman put more pressure on his taint and Lilly heard Arthur growl in pleasure.

"Lillian, I'm...fuck, why am I so close this fast?"

Lilly once again increased pressure and she sucked on him harder. She felt his scrotum start to shrink up into his body and Lilly knew he was about to come. Lilly pressed on his taint harder and massaged it faster. She heard Arthur start to pant and groan deeply before he let out a really loud and deep guttural sound. Hot liquid shot into her mouth and she almost choked on it. It tasted funny, but it wasn't terrible. She released pressure on his taint as his cock spasmed and slowly let go of his balls as he finished shooting into her mouth. Lilly swallowed it all. She gave his cock one last suck before looking up at him.

"So, how was that?" she asked as she wiped the sides of her mouth with her fingertips. She had some of his seed on her chin. He looked at her just as she took a fingertip, swiped the remaining come off her chin, and put it in her mouth.

"Did...did you swallow?!" he asked with shock in his voice.

Lilly stared at him, eyes wide as the eyes of an owl. "I...um...should I not have done that? Karen said men like that."

Arthur relaxed on the bed and chuckled happily. "Oh God, Lillian, that was...hoo...take your pants off."

"Um, okay, but why-"

Arthur sat up and grabbed her belt aggressively. "Now," he demanded.

Lilly's breath hitched. She got up and wiggled out of her pants. Arthur pulled her hips to him and he instantly put his mouth on Lilly's womanhood. Lilly gasped and he took her with him as he laid back down. Lilly fell on her hands and moaned as his tongue explored every crevice inside and out. She whimpered with pleasure.

"Arthur...what..." she cried out. He forced her to lift up and he put two fingers inside her. Lilly gasped loudly as he massaged a familiar spot. Oh no. He was going to make her gush. "Arthur, please don't do that!"

Arthur stopped. "Lillian, please. I...what you did to me was so god damn good, I gotta make you feel that good."

Lilly frowned at him. "I know...but...I..." Arthur rolled his eyes, groaned in frustration, and shoved her off him. He got up and put his pants back on. "Wait, where are you goin'?"

"Out."

"But why?"

"None of your business." He buckled his pants.

Lilly scoffed, got off the bed and stood up at him. "Excuse me! What the fuck are ya mad at me fer?!"

"You won't let me please you, woman!"

"I think ya mean "ya won't let me please ya in a way I see fit even if it makes ya fuckin' upset no matter how good it feels", Arthur!"

"Oh screw you Lillian! Just because you're emotionally repressed doesn't mean I have to be patient with you all the god damn tine!"

"Emotionally repressed? I'm emotionally repressed?!" Lilly scowled and grabbed her pants while Arthur grabbed his short. "Ya wanna know what else was on me agenda today, Arthur?" she shouted as she yanked her pants on.

"Fine, what was it?!"

Lilly grabbed her boots, her gun belt, her hat, and her gunslinger shirt. "Tellin' ya I'm in love with ya, ya god damn eejit!" she yelled.

Arthur stopped buttoning his shirt and gaped at her. "...What?"

"Yeah, Arthur, I love ya! And I was gonna tell ya today! I had a whole-"

Arthur grabbed her and pressed his lips on hers. He wrapped his arms around her tightly. Lilly struggled in his grasp but Arthur just held her. He took his mouth off hers. "Ah, um...taw may e n...n...graw let, ma store ine! Shit, store een! Ma store een!"

Lilly gaped at him. "...What did you just try to say?"

Arthur let her go and sighed. "I'm tryin' to speak gae...guy...dammit, Irish! I'm tryin' to speak Irish, okay!?"

Lilly blinked repeatedly. "How the fuck are ya...are ya...what?"

Arthur huffed at her angrily. "I'm tryin' to say 'I am in love with you' in Irish, woman!"

Lilly swiped her face slowly with her fingers. She was checking for face paralysis because she was clearly having a stroke. "Okay, first of all...yer tryin' tah speak Gaeilge. And second of all...okay, ya love me, but yer tryin' to speak Gaeilge. And third of all...yer tryin' tah speak Gaeilge?!"

Arthur started laughing. "I'm sorry, but yes."

"How are ya learnin'?" Arthur went to his bedside table, opened the drawer, and tossed a small booklet to her. Lilly caught it and read the cover. "Irish Terms of Endearment."

Arthur sighed. "Yeah. I ordered it. I...it's a very hard language. I figured I could at least try to learn...that stuff." He walked over to her. "...mo stoirín. There, did I say that one right?"

Lilly smiled at him. "Yes."

Arthur palmed her cheeks and smirked down at her. "Alright, well, I'll say it in a language I can speak. Myne owne hertis rote."

"What's that?"

"My heart's root. I am your heart's pulse, but you are the very core of mine because you captured it the day I met you. I loved you as my charge, I loved you as my mentee, I loved you as my protégé, but that day when you and I first started flirtin'...I fell in love with a woman."

Lilly bit her lower lip to keep it from trembling. Holy fucking shit. "Ya been in love with me fer four years and ya never told me? Why?"

"I couldn't handle the age difference. It made me feel like a-"

"Dirty old man," Lilly finished for him.

Arthur sighed. "Yes, it did.

Well, shit. Now she felt horrible. Lilly dropped the booklet and hugged him. "I'm sorry."

Arthur held her and kissed her. "I'm sorry too."

Lilly pressed her forehead to his and shut her eyes. "Forgiven."

Arthur mirrored the gesture. "Forgiven, mo grá." [my love.]

Lilly guffawed. "Oh ho ho, ya really been tryin', haven't ya?

"Yes. And now...I want to love you in the bed. And I won't make you gush. I'm hopin' you will eventually, but...I'll be patient from now on, I promise."

Lilly decided the hell with it. Crying or not, Lilly wanted to please him and she needed to stop worrying about showing weakness in front of him. He was the last person in the world who would ever take advantage of it. "Do it."

Arthur gave her a shit eating smile. "What?"

Lilly smirked at him suggestively. "You heard me, Mr. Morgan. You want me to gush so bad?" She shoved him to the bed and started undressing herself. "Then make me gush."

"But you said-"

Lilly slid her pants off. "I know what I said but now the dynamic of our relationship just got more serious. Think of it as havin' another little piece of me that no one else will." Lilly hovered over Arthur and smiled down at him before plopping onto her back next to him and spreading her thighs open. "Now be a good boy and make your woman wetter than the ocean."

Arthur rolled over onto her and kissed her. "I love you so god damn much," he said with a smile.

"I love you too, so god damn much."

Arthur cackled with glee and went down between her thighs. Lilly moaned loudly when she felt his mouth practically assault her pussy. Fingers went into his hair as Lilly arched her back. Two fingers went into her slit and Arthur began to massage her spot. Lilly grasped his hair tighter while her other hand gripped the sheets. Lilly felt Arthur's thumb on her nub and Lilly grabbed one of the pillows to scream into. This was fantastic. She could feel herself getting more hot and wet and pretty soon her pleasure began to rise. She moaned and shouted over and over into the pillow and she came hard. Lilly felt liquid flow from her as she trembled and screamed into the pillow.

She heard Arthur cackle. "Oh my God, Lilly. You got the bed all wet."

Lilly's muscles squeezed and relaxed. Tears formed in her eyes but she didn't care. Orgasms were fucking amazing and she wanted more. She took the pillow off and drew breath. "Do it again, please."

"Really?"

"Yes," she whimpered breathlessly. "As many times as you want. Just keep goin'."

Lilly covered her face again as Arthur went back to work. When she came a second time, it was even better than the first. Arthur tasted her and chuckled. "You really do taste like honey, mo stoirín." [my little darling.] He made her come a third, a fourth, a fifth, a sixth, and a seventh time before he was done. By that time, Lilly felt like her bones and muscles turned into jelly. "Well, I hope you're ready for the next thing I wanted to try on you."

"...seriously?" she whimpered.

Arthur undressed again with an evil laugh. "Oh yes, I am very serious." He helped Lilly get on her hands and knees. "Good. Think you can handle that?"

"Y-Yeah..."

Arthur chuckled. "Oh my God, Lillian. The sheets are so fuckin' soaked."

Lilly looked down and giggled. There was a huge wet spot right in the middle of the bed. "Dammit, I'm gonna have to wash these afterwards."

Lilly felt Arthur grab her hips. "No, I will. I'll change the sheets. I took the initiative and bought extra bedsheets."

"Why?"

"I can't believe you're askin' me that question."

Lilly sighed. "What's this next thing you wanted to do?"

Lilly felt Arthur enter her from behind. "This."

He started thrusting into her slowly and she groaned. "Jesus Christ..."

"Problems?"

"Yes. I need to lay down."

Arthur laughed at her and plunged into her deeply. This made her gasp loudly. "Really? I think you can handle it."

He went faster and harder and Lilly buried her face into the pillow. She knew exactly where this was leading: her screaming in pleasure.

Arthur sat on the bed with an armful of dark blue bedsheets and in his summer gunslinger outfit. The sheets got changed before he laid Lilly to rest. She was naked, covered with a blanket, and exhausted out of her gourd. She went to sleep almost immediately after they were done having sex. Lilly looked peaceful and content. He really couldn't believe his luck. Lilly could be with whoever she wanted, but she chose him. And she loved him. As much as he wanted to lay down and rest with her, he had laundry to do. Normally the women handled that, but Arthur didn't want to embarass his young lover. He bent down and kissed her lips gently. "I love you, Lilly."

"...mmm...love you, Arthur..." she mumbled.

Arthur smiled, kissed her one more time, and exited the tent. The sun was shining and Arthur felt happy and satisfied. It really was a beautiful day. He went walking across the way to the horses when he heard Hosea call his name. Arthur stopped and waved at him.

"Hosea." The older man brought Arthur some coffee and he chuckled breathlessly. Hosea chuckled too.

"Quite a day," he said.

"Heh, let's hope so," Arthur responded as he took a drink of coffee.

"There's a bunch of the boys already in Valentine. Bill, Charles, and Javier. And Swanson found somethin' down at the train station by the lake apparently. And Strauss came back with that creepy little smile on his face. I'm sure there's a whole list of unfortunates he's forced money upon."

Arthur chuckled and took another drink. "Thank you. But uh, Strauss will have to wait. Lilly isn't very fond of him or his profession, you know."

Hosea looked at the bedsheets. "Hmm. Where is Lilly anyway?"

"Asleep. I told her she needed the day off and, well, I guess that's how she's gonna spend her leisure time. Huntin' must be exhaustin'."

Hosea looked at Arthur with a suspicious grin. "Oh really? Lilly is asleep because of huntin' too much?"

"No, she ain't, but I figured you didn't want to know the real reason," Arthur sighed knowingly.

"Ah. I take it that's why you need to wash those bedsheets," Hosea smirked. "God, you two are worse than rabbits."

A wheezy cackle was Arthur's response. "Nothin' gets by you, old man."

"Not really, no."

"Hmm. Well, I-"

"Mr. Morgan. Are you bringin' me those bedsheets to wash?" Susan came walking up.

Arthur looked at Hosea. Hosea held up a hand. "Nope. They're your bedsheets."

Arthur took a deep breath and looked at Miss Grimshaw. "Actually I was gonna go wash these myself."

Susan laughed. "You? Washin' bedsheets? Do you even know how to do that?"

"...Can't be that hard, can it?"

"You don't wash bedsheets like regular clothes, Mr. Morgan."

Arthur's cheeks turned pink. "Okay, Susan, there is a reason why I'd like to wash these and not have you or any of the girls see why they gotta be washed in the first place."

"...Oh. I see. Well," Miss Grimshaw laughed a little. "Okay, how about I go with you to wash 'em? I'll show you how. I'm, uh...assumin' Lilly ain't up to the task right now?"

Hosea burst into laughter. "Nope!"

Miss Grimshaw sighed. "Alright, Arthur. Let's go."

"Hosea, if Lilly gets up before I get back, can you direct her to the horse I got her?"

Hosea glanced over at it. "You got that one for Lilly?"

"She's tall and...well, she's Lilly. A war horse suits her."

"This is true. Yes, I'll let her know."

Arthur tipped his hat with a smile and followed Miss Grimshaw.

Lilly stretched and yawned as she woke up. She was sleeping on dark green bedsheets. Strange. Weren't the sheets...oh. Lilly giggled to herself. Man, she felt so satisfied. As she got out of bed she fell over and she cackled to herself. Her body still felt a bit wobbly. Lilly tried to stand but it was difficult. "Jesus Christ, Arthur," she giggled with joy.

Eventually she got her previous outfit back on. She found her brush in her chest and brushed out her auburn locks before braiding her hair. Lilly exited the tent as she put on her bulldogger hat. She tried to walk confidently but actually lost her balance and fell over. "Shit!" she laughed.

"Well, look who is up!" she heard Hosea shout.

Lilly got up and looked around. She spotted him. "Athair. Hi."

He chuckled and patted her shoulder. "Have a nice nap?"

"Yes?"

"So, ah, I know it's your day off, but..."

Lilly laughed and nodded with awareness. "You talked to Arthur, huh?"

"Yep. Grimshaw took him to go wash the...bedsheets."

Lilly blushed. "As ucht Dé."

Hosea laughed. "But on the bright side, you got a new horse." He pointed behind her.

Lilly turned around. What she saw made her eyes bug out and her jaw drop. "...Wow. That's..." Lilly giggled and ran over. It was a iron gray colored Ardennes. "He...Arthur got me a war horse?!"

Hosea scratched the horse's nose. "Yep. You like him?"

The horse nudged his nose into Hosea's hand, then he sniffed Lilly's face. Lilly laughed as the horse's lips grazed her cheek. "Awww, I love him!" She stroked his neck. "He's a beauty. Hmm...what to call him..."

"Well, call him somethin' Irish."

Lilly laughed. "Alright, well, he's gray, so...Liath Macha. Let's try that name out for now." Lilly reached into her satchel and pulled out an apple. Liath ate it immediately. "So, you were sayin' about me day off?"

"Well, we got somethin' with Bill, Javier, and Charles in town. Strauss has debts to be collected, although I know you abhor that kind of thing."

"Yes I do."

"Then there's Swanson. He's got somethin' goin' at the train station down a ways."

"Hmm, alright, Athair." Lilly got up on Liath and smiled. "Perfect fit. Arthur got the saddle on and everythin'. But yes, I do like this boy. And I'll go see what Swanson is up to."

"Thanks, Lilly."

Lilly clicked her tongue and Liath went trotting out of camp. When she got out, her wolves were waiting for her. Surprisingly, Liath didn't seem to mind. "Well, buddies. I suppose I better come up with names for ya too, hmm?"

Lilly studied them both. One of them was a little smaller than the other one. As they galloped along by the train tracks, two names came to mind. Hmm. Lilly looked at the bigger one. "Alright. I'm gonna honor me dead brothers. You're gonna be Brian. And you," she pointed to the smaller wolf. "You're gonna be James."

Lilly tested out her new steed and was inpressed. He wasn't the fastest horse, but he was a huge bastard and she liked that. He also wasn't scared of much which was also a plus. It wasn't long before a station came into view.

"That must be it," Lilly said to herself. She trotted up to the place and hitched up Liath. "Uh, Brian, James, you might want to skip out on this one?" The boys didn't budge and she sighed. Whatever. Lilly called out for the man she was seeking. "Swanson! Reverend Swanson!"

"Come on, play your damn hand already!" someone yelled from inside. Lilly walked through the open door to see Reverend Swanson at a table with two other men. "Play it!"

"As ucht Dé," [For Christ sake.] she mumbled to herself. She could tell Swanson was drunk off his god damn ass.

"Alright...wait," muttered Swanson. He lifted his head and saw Lilly. "Miss O'Callaghan!"

Lilly sighed in frustration. "Reverend, what are you doin' here?"

"I decided to take Mr. Morgan's advice," he replied.

Lilly put her hands on her hips. She was having such a good day today, but no. It had to go downhill because of this shlossed eejit. "I don't think Arthur told ya tah get drunk off yer arse and get it handed tah ya in a game of cards, Reverend!"

"No," the Reverend explained. "Not in those words, but I did take his advice." He began standing up. "I have removed myself from Morpheus' embrace." He placed his hands on her shoulders. "No more shall I sink, madam!"

Lilly could smell the alcohol on him and it was strong enough to knock anyone out. He started going on about how 'he was free' and Lilly groaned. "Ya not free, Swanson! Ya feckin' circlin' over Shannon!"

The strangers laughed at the uncommon word. "He's what?" the one in the hat asked.

"Malafoostered. Sloshed. Bogmheisce. Three sheets to the feckin' wind! Plastered! Alco!" she emphasized. They still looked confused. "He's drunk, boys."

They both gave a long 'oooooh' and laughed. "Malafoostered. I like that word!" the first guy smiled. "But hey, you ain't finished, friend. Play your hand."

Lilly stared at the strangers in disbelief. "Oh, he is finished," she dared to say. "Look at him! The man can barely stand upright!"

"None of us forced liquor down his throat, friend," the man in the hat spoke once more. "I just want him to play."

Lilly placed her hands on the table and leaned in. "Perhaps ya not hearin' me properly, boys! The man is shite-faced! He is seein' triple of ya! He is done playin' the feckin' cards, ya git me? Now ya either let him on his way, or yous fellers will be dealin' with me!"

The man in the hat scoffed. "I just want him to finish the game!"

Lilly grunted. That was it. She pulled out her gun and aimed it at the man. He raised his hands. "Say it one more time, and I'll plaster ya brains tah the god damn wall!"

"Why can't we all just get along?" Swanson asked drunkenly. "These are good men, Miss O'Callaghan. They're children of God...they're children of God." Swanson suddenly fell over and all three of them watched him pass out.

"Oh, well," the man in the hat said. "How's about you play in his place? That seems fair."

"Fair?!" she replied.

"Sure," the man with the mustache finally said.

"You wanna game?" Hat man asked.

Lilly holstered her gun and groaned. She knew she'd regret this. "Fiiiiine," she said.

"Well, sit yourself down, then."

Lilly sat in Swanson's chair. "Now Reverend, you ne-" Lilly stood up. The man was gone. "Oh what in the bloody god damn seven fuckin' hells?!"

Lilly ran outside and started calling out for Reverend Swanson. She saw two men outside and asked them if they saw him.

"Sure, we saw him...and smelled him...and avoided him..." the two men laughed, and they pointed towards the tracks. "He went that way, I think."

"Thanks," she said and started running off in the direction they pointed at.

"Guy looked kinda crazy, lady!" they yelled.

"Ugh, ya have no idea!" she yelled back at them. She kept running and yelling for him when she spotted him on the hill fighting with another man. "What are ya doin'?" she shouted.

"Hey, calm down!" Swanson shouted at his assailant.

"Jesus Christ Almighty! HEY!!!" she shouted.

The man dropped Swanson and turned around to look at Lilly. "Who the hell are you?!"

"That man's handler. What the feck were ya doin' that fer?"

"He said somethin' to me!" the man snapped.

"What did he say?" Lilly snapped back.

"I don't know but it was bad!"

"...Alright, I'm done dealin' with eejits today." Lilly walked up to the two. "I'm not in the mood fer this shite, Swanson! Now git yer bollocks up, ya damn malafoostered moron!"

The bald guy blocked her path. "I don't think so, little lady. I don't care who you are, you-"

Lilly knocked him in the throat and he went down. Lilly rolled her eyes and walked around him to get Swanson. "Come on, man! Git up!"

Lilly felt something hard hit her back and she went down. She turned over and the bald man was about to stomp on her but she rolled away in time. The man pursued her and kicked her in the gut. Oh fuck, that hurt. He kicked her again, this time in the face. Lilly swore she heard something break in her face but now she had a bad headache. She rolled away and got up with her knives out. The man charged her and she twirled away and sliced his arm. He yelled out and grabbed his arm. "You dumb bitch!"

"Ugh, spare me! Can't men think of any other word tah call a woman besides bitch? We ain't dogs, ya fuck!"

The man ran at her and she sighed. What an idiot. He swiped at her and she dodged. He reached for her again and she sliced him. He grabbed her arm and shook it so hard Lilly lost her grip. Lilly sliced at him with her other knife but he headbutted her. Lilly went down. Good Lord. The man grabbed one of her knives and went to stab her but she used both her arms to block it. God, he was a large burly fucker. She's taken down worse but this guy was gettin' the best of her. That wasn't fucking normal. Intermittent grunts left her throat as the man got the blade closer and closer to her chest. Shit. Shit shit shit.

Lilly deflected the knife from going straight into her chest but it went just under her collarbone and she screamed out. The man laughed, pulled it out, and went to stab her again when Brian and James launched themselves at him and started tearing him apart. Lilly scooted back in shock as she watched the man scream and beg for mercy before Brian tore his throat out.

"Oh no, you killed him," said an unknown voice. "I'm gonna get the law on you!"

Lilly grunted. He was blaming her for the god damn wolves? "Guys, please go get that idiot, but don't kill him."

As if they understood, the boys went running after the man. They herded him back to her as she slowly got up. As she got near, Lilly grabbed him by the shirt collar. "Don't ya say a god damn word, ya understand?"

She pushed him to the ground and he whimpered in surrender. "Alright, alright! I swear I won't say anything!"

"Good, now get the hell outta here!" She shouted. She watched the man run off before she started yelling again. "Swanson! Ya better pray I don't beat yer arse too! Where are ya?" Ugh, she was hurting bad.

Lilly looked around, yelling for him, grasping her chest, when she finally saw him on the train bridge. Lilly once again began walking towards him. Lilly noticed his foot was caught between the planks. "I'm stuck, Miss O'Callaghan!"

"As ucht Dé. Boys, go help him please." Lilly was now as angry as a bull with a tied up nutsack. "What did ya do, ya gobshite?" she yelled as she closed the gap between them. Lilly then heard a train in the distance and realized it was on the other side of the bridge heading for them. "What did ya do with yer foot, man?!" She grabbed his leg and started to pull on it. The wolves tried to pull too but they only managed to rip up his pants legs. "Ugh, boys, just go, ya ain't helpin'!" she laughed hysterically. The boys ran off.

"It appears to like this place and wants to stay!" Swanson stated.

Lilly noticed the train coming closer and pulled more. "As ucht Dé, twist yer feckin' leg, man!" Swanson did as he was told, but the foot wouldn't budge. The train was now on the bridge and it wasn't slowing down. Lilly started to panic. "Swanson! Help me out or we're both dead!"

She gave his leg one last tug and the foot came free. Lilly grabbed the priest and pushed him to the side of the bridge, then she jumped out of the way of the train just in time. Swanson almost fell over the rail but she grabbed him and pulled him back up. Lilly and Swanson were both breathing hard, and as the train passed by, Lilly put his arm over her shoulders. Holding him sideways at the waist, she started walking with him off the bridge. She whistled for her horse, and soon Liath came into view.

Lilly was shaking from the adrenaline rush as they got to the end of the bridge. Swanson suddenly let go and started wandering off. "Thank you, madam!"

Lilly grabbed him by his collar. "Don't ya even dare, ya drunken bastard!" she tossed him onto the grass and he fell on his back. Lilly felt ready to tear her hair out. "What the feck is wrong wit' ya?!"

Swanson got up angrily. "What the hell is wrong with you? Throwin' me off a bridge like that?"

Lilly gaped at him incredulously. "Did ya not see the feckin' train that nearly ran us down?" she yelled. "Or was that just me own imagination?! Ack..." Lilly remembered she got stabbed. The wound was flowing a bit.

The reverend gasped in horror. "Have I been bad again, Miss O'Callaghan? I'm sorry!" Swanson started crying and Lilly rubbed a hand down her face in disbelief. "I wish I was different," he sobbed.

Lilly took a deep breath and counted to the number ten inside her head. With an exhale, she patted the reverend on his shoulder. "Calm yer horses, man. Let's just get ya home."

Swanson looked up at her as she grabbed the reins to her horse. "Home," he said. "Yeah, that's a wonderful idea. I could have tea with Margaret."

Lilly blinked at him. "Margaret? Who's Margaret?"

"My..." suddenly the Reverend fell and passed out again.

Lilly shut her eyes and clenched her fists. "As ucht Dé," she said for what felt like the hundredth time today. Luckily, the priest was light. She picked him up and tossed him on the back of her horse. Lilly went and stroked her horse's neck before climbing on. Ugh, the pain she was in right now...how the fuck did that guy get the best of her?! Oh, she knew why. Because of god damn Reverend Swanson and his bullshit drunken antics! "Yer lucky Da likes ya, ya motherless bitch!"

The ride back to camp was thankfully uneventful, the Reverend's sleep talking notwithstanding, but she was still quite vexed. And in pain. She was getting woozy but at least she got the bleeding to stop. The wolves were nice enough to escort her in but quickly left as soon as she hitched Liath up. "Heh. Thanks, I guess?"

She went and slid Swanson off the horse, then dragged him through the camp by his foot. At this point, Lilly felt he didn't deserve the courtesy of being carried on her shoulder. People started gathering around as they watched her pull Swanson to his tent. As Lilly shoved his slump body onto his bedroll, he woke up and looked around, clueless as to how he got there.

"YOU," she pointed at him, "WOULD DO BEST TAH AVOID ME FER A WEE WHILE, SWANSON! DO NOT MAKE ME CHASE YA AGAIN, YA HEAR ME? BECAUSE I...wilna..." She had a wound to tend to. "Ack, I canna be bothered!"

"Lilly, what happened to you?" Pearson asked. Lilly turned around and saw pretty much the whole camp gawking at her. Lilly cocked her head to one side while putting her hand on her stab wound.

"Yeah, let's not bother helpin' the lass that's fuckin' bleedin' everywhere! Let's just gawk at her instead! It's not like she wasna beaten up, almost tattled on by a do gooder for her wolves eatin' somebody, and damn near killed by a fuckin' train because this stupid, arsehole, drunk, piece of shite, snivelin', cryin', useless and poor excuse of a man got his god damn foot stuck on a bridge!"

Dutch came up and gaped at her. "Lilly, oh my god...what happ-"

"DO NOT MAKE ME REPEAT MESELF, DA! AND SOMEONE BRING ME A GOD DAMN WHISKEY!"

Tilly came running with a bottle while Dutch asked people what was going on. Lilly opened it and chugged some as the onlookers stared at her. There we go. She corked the bottle back up and handed it to Tilly. "Thank ya, love. Now, I'm sorry fer bein' upset, but...oh, ya know why I'm upset. Am I bein' unreasonable here?"

"No, not at all," Tilly replied. "But are you okay, Lilly?"

"Weeeel, no. I needed the whiskey fer...me face, me stomach, and, well..." Lilly pulled part of her shirt back to show the stab wound. "And that too. Pretty sure I'm...oh boy..." Lilly felt dizzy and grabbed Tilly's hand. "Be a dear and help me sit down, okay?"

"Can someone bring a chair please?"

Strauss came walking with a chair and medical supplies and Lilly sat down with Tilly' help. "Ah, thank ya, Tilly. You too, Strauss. I may not like ya but at least yer chivalrous." Lilly patted his arm and he chuckled nervously. Lilly grabbed the bottle of whiskey and started drinking more. "Oooh, good stuff. I think I shall be a wee bit calmer now, so I wilna use my outdoor voice anymore. I know how much it scares people when I do that."

Dutch turned his back to hide his laughter. Hosea came walking up to her. "Sweetheart, what happened?"

Lilly took another sip as Strauss tried to clean her stab wound. "Mmm! Athair. Ya wouldna believe the day I had! I found Swanson and...wait, where's Arthur and Miss Grimshaw? Are they not back from scrubbin' the come stains out of-" Lilly gasped and her hand flew to her mouth, but she started laughing like an idiot all the same.

Dutch burst out laughing. Some others did too. Hosea especially did.

"Miss O'Callaghan, please hold still," Mr. Strauss said. "I'm almost done stitching you up."

Lilly looked down. Sure enough, he was on the last stitch. "I'll be god damned. I donna even feel it! Yer good!"

Strauss chuckled. "Thank you, Miss Lilly, but I'm sure the lack of pain is from the alcohol you just consumed."

Lilly looked at the bottle. "Oh yeah. Tilly, uh...could ya kindly take this somewheres? I donna think I should be drinkin' anymore just now!" Lilly went into hysterics.

"Lilly?"

Lilly looked around and saw two Arthurs. "Oh, hi loves. I see two of yas. Oh shite, Strauss, is that because of the whiskey or do I have a concussion?"

"The whiskey," Strauss replied. "Your pupils aren't asymmetrical so that's a good sign. Although that cut on your face will need cleaning."

"Ah, okay. Crack on, then."

Arthur knelt down in front of her. "What happened to you?"

Lilly pointed to the passed out Swanson. "That mother fucker is the epitome of Murphy's law!!!"

"Did you go to the train station?"

"Yep," Lilly said with a pop to her lips. "And the man was circlin' the Shannon!"

"The what?"

"She means he was drunk, Arthur," Molly interjected.

"Ah! Yes! That's the word I had to say after usin' five different ways tah say drunk. Malafoostered. Sloshed. Um...anyway, thank you Molly! So, the bastards wanted Swanson tah keep playin' and Swanson was goin' on about Morpheus' embrace and bein' free of 'im and takin' yer advice and before ya ask me about that, please note I havena feckin' clue what he meant!"

Arthur bit his knuckles to keep himself from laughing. "Tilly, how much whiskey did she drink?'

Tilly showed him the bottle and Lilly saw it. "Oh, yeah. About that...but anyway...so, mo chuisle?"

Arthur smiled at her. "Yes mo stoirín?"

"I had tah play in his stead because he passed out. And just when I sat down...he was goooooone! I had tah chase his dumbass all over the place! I got in a fight with some poor giant bastard...he got the better of me and used me knife tah...fuck, I left me knives at the scene of the crime. Well shit. Anyway, Brian and James ate him."

"Brian and James?"

"Me wolves! Keep up, Arthur! Jeeeeyzus!"

Arthur snorted from his throat. "Sorry, go ahead."

"Well, some guy saw that happen and blamed me fer the wolves ruuuuuude but timely behavior. I was gonna die, but they saved me," Lilly sighed drunkenly. "So I had tah get me boys tah herd him back, I threatened him, yadda...yadda yadda yadda! Then, oh, the plot twist! Are ya ready fer the god damn plot twist?!"

His lips puckered in and he nodded. "Mmhmm."

"Fuckin' Swanson got his foot stuck in the...haaaaahahaha! The feckin' bridge and I got him out just before a train was gonna hit us! And he almost fell off the bridge and then he had the feckin' gall tah yell at me about what me problem was fer almost throwin' him off a bridge! And then I told him we had tah go home and then he said somethin' about havin' tea with Margaret, whoever the fuck that is! And he passed out. Again! I put the bastard on Liath...oh, by the way, I looooove the horse ya got me! Thank ya kindly, me intimate and thorough lover!"

Arthur bit his lip and looked at Dutch and Hosea. "How long has she been like this?" he laughed.

"A bit," Dutch chuckled with delight.

"ARTHUR!" Lilly shouted.

Arthur swerved his head back. "Yep, sorry."

"So, I named the horse Liath. Ya know that means grey in Gaeilge? But yeah, I took Swanson, the motherless bitch, back here! And dragged him to his tent because I wasna gonna give him the satisfaction er courtesy of carryin' his arse! And...yeah, everyone knows the...the rest. Ask them. Except about what I said about the bedsheets."

Arthur's eyes widened. "What did you say about the bedsheets?"

"I...may have let it slip that ya was scrubbin' come stains outta it," she whispered. Arthur put his head in her lap and laughed himself into a fit. "I think it slipped out so ya could mark yer territory and so ya can strut yer peacock feathers about!"

This made Arthur laugh harder. He looked at her and palmed his chin. "Oh my God, Lillian. Did you have another long day?"

"Yes," she slobbered a kiss on him. "Now, I know I had a nap already but would it be unreasonable if I had another? I did have a looong day. But, wait...why did ya take so long scrubbin' out sheets? Here I been ramblin' on and on about me day. How was yer day, mo chuisle?"

"There, she's all cleaned up," Strauss interrupted. "Miss Lilly, you mentioned your stomach?"

With a snap of her fingers and a wink to Strauss, she lifted her shirt up. Lilly looked down and saw a massive bruise on her ribs and stomach. "Yeah. That knocked the wind right outta me when the big burly bastard kicked me. He kicked me face, Arthur. That was uncalled for and rude!"

Arthur kissed her hands. "Will she be okay?"

"I believe so, Mr. Morgan," Strauss said with a smile. "I don't think anything is broken but I suggest she go and sleep off the whiskey and rest."

Arthur nodded. "Thank you, Herr Strauss. Can you walk, sweetheart?"

Lilly shook her head. "Uh huh."

Arthur wheezed out a laugh. "Okay, I think that answers my question." Arthur lifted Lilly and cradled her in his arms gently. "Let's get you to bed, mo grá."