Just Like Old Times Chapter 19: The Siren, a red dead redemption fanfic

Song is "Siúil A Rúin". Chapter is rated M for mature content.

Chapter 19: The Siren

17-year-old Lilly, in a white undershirt and beige shorts was doing her laundry with the other women in the lake. She was scrubbing a pair of green pants with soap. Karen came bounding up to her with Sean.

"Hey Lilly!" Karen giggled happily. "Sean and I are headin' into town. You wanna come with?"

Lilly smiled and was about to accept the invitation when she saw a shirtless Arthur Morgan by the wood chopping area. He was smoking a cigarette and motioning to her suggestively. Oh boy. Lilly looked at Karen and Sean with a frown. "I got laundry to do, guys. Otherwise I would."

"Oh, you can do that later!" Sean spat out. "Come oooonnn, I heard that one guy is back in town. The one that likes ya. Tommy somethin' or other."

Lilly bit her lip. "Sean, I really need to finish my chores."

"Yer always doin' chores! That and sneakin' about in trees like a monkey! Come on!"

Lilly took a quick glimpse at Arthur before sighing. "Look, I...I really gotta finish these but can I meet you guys in town later?"

"Sure. Don't be long," Karen said with a smile.

The two went running with their hands clasped. Lilly chuckled as she watched them both leave on Ennis. She was happy for the both of them. Love was hard to come by. Once they were out of sight, she looked for Arthur. He was heading out on his own horse Boadicea, though he did put his blue shirt back on. Shame. Lilly quickly hung her wet clothes and ran to Holly to chase after her guardian. As she mounted up, she looked down the trail and saw Arthur peeking behind himself to smile at her. Holly caught up and they went running together. But then Arthur's horse increased its pace and Lilly, with a frown, was left in the dirt. Holly was good for stamina but she was not built for speed. Not like a thoroughbred was.

"Arthur, wait up!" she laughed.

"No chance in hell, slow poke!" he yelled back.

Lilly lost sight of her guardian but she knew how to track.

Lilly walked out of her tent in a white buttoned shirt, fingerless gloves, black pants, and black boots. Her hair was down in wavy auburn locks. She looked around for Arthur and Jack. She found them both with Brian and James by the horses and she strolled over. Arthur had his back to her.

"...wait here. Aunt Lilly's comin' with, so let me go get her."

"I'm here!" Lilly said behind Arthur. She beamed brightly at Jack. "Hey there, mo nia." [my nephew.]

Arthur turned with a smile. "There she is," was said by Arthur affectionately.

Lilly's face softened. There was something about the way Arthur said it that made her heart pump faster. She swallowed hard. "Yep, she is here. We ready to go? Oh, do I have a fishing pole?"

"It's on your saddle, m'lady."

Lilly smirked and narrowed the gap between them. She whispered to Arthur. "Do I have the proper enticements for my prey?"

"...What?" Arthur said breathlessly.

"The fish. Do I have the right bait?"

"Yes," he whispered with a gulp that followed.

Lilly smirked even more. Interesting. Although Lilly was unsure why she did it, perhaps there was something to this flirting and teasing her former self thrived on. It did feel good. It felt like hunting. "Let us go, then."

Lilly called her boys over and saddled up on Doc. She was glad Doc was unbothered by Brian and James. She looked over at Liath who was grazing with the other horses. "I took the liberty of retrieving Liath for you, your ladyship," Arthur said as he picked up Jack to sit on Rose.

"Thank you, Mr. Morgan."

"Aunt Lilly?" Jack said. "Why does Uncle Arthur keep callin' you 'm'lady'? You used to hate bein' called a lady."

"I...hmm," Lilly pondered how to word the reason. "Did you know I'm a countess, mo nia?"

"A countess? What is that?"

"I'm a noble, kid. The peerage of Ireland. The titles of nobility, go in this order. Duke, marquess, earl, viscount and baron. A countess is a wife of an earl."

"What about the wives? Why is it just men?"

Lilly laughed as they all started walking out of camp. "It's a man's world. I'm the only heir of the Moycullen title, so that leaves me as a real bonafide countess. But females are as follows: Duchess, marquisess, countess, viscountess, and baroness."

"You're right in the middle. What's higher than a duke and duchess?" Arthur asked.

"Royalty."

"You're two titles below royalty?"

"Yes, but it's not that big of a deal. Most titles have been around for centuries, but my father was the first Earl of Moycullen. He...earned his title."

"How?" Jack asked.

"You know, I don't really...oh yes. He slayed a goddess named Adair."

"A goddess?!"

"Yes. Not much was known about her. Rumor has it she was the daughter of The Dagda, Father to the Gods, and the..." Lilly gasped and stopped her horse.

"What's wrong?" Arthur asked, his voice full of concern.

"...The Morrigan was her mother. Goddess of War..." she looked at Arthur. "...and Death." Arthur and Lilly stared at each other in shock.

"Tell me about The Morrigan! Is she the one who brought you back from the dead?!" Jack exclaimed happily.

Lilly blinked a few times. "Who told you I died?"

"Uncle Javier. He said it was a miracle! And I'm glad you came back! Everyone missed you, especially Uncle Arthur! I heard you two got married! Wait, why aren't you two calling each other by your first names?"

"Well," Lilly stared wide eyed at Jack. He was a clever, inquisitive little boy. She loved that, but this was very personal territory he was treading on.

"They're pet names, Jack," Arthur intervened. "She calls me Mr. Morgan because she is Mrs. Morgan. And m'lady, well, that's a new thing. I didn't know she was a real lady until recently."

Lilly sighed in relief. Arthur was quick on his feet. "Exactly."

The horses dashed on towards the river before settling at the riverbank. "Alright, this looks good a spot as any," said Arthur.

Brian and James started play fighting and barking. Lilly giggled and got off her horse. She looked for her fishing pole. "Fishing pole, fishing pole..."

Arthur laughed and pointed. "It's on the other side."

Lilly chuckled and found it. She pulled it out and extended it. "Ah, okay."

"Where should we stand, Uncle Arthur?"

"Down by the shore. Follow me. First, we need some bait."

Lilly trailed after the two and looked around in her satchel. "Bait, bait, hmm..." she muttered. She just realized she had no idea what bait actually was. "Ugh, as ucht Dé..."

"Cheese will work, m'lady..."

Lilly nodded. "Right." Lilly found cheese. She stood out on the shore, baited the hook, and...god, how was she supposed to do this?

"Cheese?" Jack asked.

"The smellier, the better," Arthur replied. Lilly sniffed her cheese. Oh, yes. The smell was quite potent. "Need some help there?"

Lilly narrowed her eyes at Arthur who looked highly amused. "No, I do not, thank you very much."

"If you say so," he chuckled. "Now," he said to Jack. "To cast your line, swing the rod back over your shoulder..." Lilly followed what Arthur and Jack were doing. "Then bring it forward in a smooth motion."

Lilly watched both of them do it and their lines flew out. She tried...but her line went and hooked her pants. "Ack! Shit!"

Arthur cackled. "You sure you don't need help?" Lilly unhooked and tried again. Nope. Didn't work. She was so focused on trying to get her line undone from her shirt, she jumped a bit and tensed when Arthur grabbed the pole from behind her. "Fishin' was never Lilly's, uh, favorite pastime," he whispered. "Huntin' was her preference. So don't be embarassed, okay?"

"Alright..." Lilly stiffened more from the feeling of Arthur's warm body behind her. She looked down at his blue rolled up sleeves and suppressed herself from trembling. His arms were so...manly.

Arthur's lips were on her ear. "Lillian," he whispered. "You have no idea how long I've wanted you, mo grá."

"How long?" she asked seductively.

"A very long time."

Her lips parted as her mouth went dry and her cheeks burned. Her breathing got heavier and her heart raced but she didn't notice any of it until Arthur gently ahemed into her ear. "What?" she asked.

"Are you payin' attention?" Arthur questioned with a chuckle.

"Sorry. Ahem."

"Were you distracted, m'lady?" he mocked in a heavy voice.

"...Another memory. I get those a lot when you get close."

"Oh. What was this one about?"

"...If it's all the same to you, I'd rather not..."

"I'd rather not say, Mr. Morgan," Lilly said while nuzzling his cheek. "A woman shouldn't say such things."

"You ain't a normal woman, Lilly," Arthur said while kissing her neck gently. "Tell me, please."

"No. You won't ever break me into sayin', my doting prey."

Arthur pulled her closer and grasped her hair. "Wanna bet? Because you got a strong threshold, but mine is stronger." Arthur licked her jaw line and Lilly shuddered.

"I'll bet ya me fuckin" maidenhead, Arthur Morgan. I'll bet ya me whole god damn body, pussy and all the feckin' rest."

Lilly shivered from the memory and dropped the pole. "Oh my goodness, the mouth on her."

Arthur laughed as he picked up the pole. "You mean the mouth on you. You're gettin' more and more like her every day."

Lilly turned her head and beamed at him. "Am I?"

"Well, you was flirtin' with me earlier."

"I did no such thing," she lied.

Arthur flashed his white teeth. "Liar."

"Bithiúnach," she whispered.

Arthur turned her to face him. "Little trouble makin' prankster."

"Arsehole."

Arthur pulled her closer. "Little minx."

Lilly blushed as they narrowed the distance. "Mr. Morgan, you are getting very bold."

"I am. Shall I get even more bold?"

"I don't know, should you?" she teased.

"There she is," he chuckled. "There's my wife."

Lilly felt her heart flutter then pound so hard she was sure it would break in two. "I...um..."

"You got a bite, Uncle Arthur!"

The moment passed and Lilly backed up. "You um, hmm, better check your fishing pole, Mr. Morgan."

Arthur smiled gently, gave Lilly the fishing pole, then went and picked up his own. Lilly tried casting again and was successful this time but she was no longer paying attention to anything Arthur was saying. What the hell just happened? That moment. It was a very nice moment. Why did she shy away from him like that? Wasn't she supposed to let Arthur kiss her? Lilly wanted it. Lilly knew she did. What was holding her back? No, her mind was going in circles now. Lilly felt a tug on her line and instinctively hooked the fish. "Oh! I got one!"

"There you go!" Arthur said. "Now just reel him in when he ain't fightin' you. Pull the rod around when he is."

The fish was fighting and Lilly tugged on the pole lightly then she pulled the rod back. And...the line snapped. "Bloody hell!" she yelled.

Arthur burst into laughter. "Did your line snap?"

"Yes! No wonder I hate fishing!" Lilly dropped the pole and growled angrily. "Can't I just go grab them?"

"You can try!" Arthur was still giggling.

Lilly glared at him. "It's not funny!"

"Sorry, m'lady!" Arthur tried to restrain himself and succeeded. Lilly marched into the water and when she got deep enough, Lilly bent at the knees and put her hands in. "Oh, that is another way to catch fish but it's hard to do! Good luck!" Arthur laughed.

"Okay!!!" Lilly sighed. "Mother fu-" Lilly froze when a fish came swimming between her legs. It was a big fish, too. Lilly lowered down slowly and inched her fingers toward the unsuspecting creature. Lilly smirked and when her hands were barely around the animal, she grabbed hard and pulled him out. "Ha! Gotcha, bitch!"

Lilly went wading through the water back to Arthur who was beaming with pride. "That's my girl!"

The fish wiggled but Lilly held on tight. "I like fishing now!"

"I bet you do!"

Lilly smiled at him but then she frowned. "Where's Jack?"

"He's pickin' some flowers."

Lilly's eye twitched. That word made her feel uncomfortable. Lilly got out of the water and Arthur reeled his fish in. "Now what should I do with the fish?"

"Gotta clean it. Cut it up. Do you remember how to do that?" Arthur asked as he ambled over.

"Maybe. Is it like skinning other animals?"

"Yes and no. Here, we'll put the monster in my bag." He reached for it.

Lilly pulled away. "Oh no you don't! You'll just take all the credit!" Lilly laughed.

"No I won't! Gimme that fish!"

"No!" Lilly backed up. "I'll just put it in my saddle bag!"

A smirked of evil spread on Arthur's face. "Not if I get it first."

Lilly's mouth puckered in amusement. "Oh really? You do realize I can just knock you over, right?"

"Yes but that ain't gonna stop me from gettin' it!"

He ran towards her and she raced away laughing. "You'll never take me alive, Morgan!" Brian snatched the fish out of her hands and she gasped. "Brian!"

The two pups began devouring the fish and Lilly pouted. "You little shitebags!"

Arthur bumped into Lilly and picked her up. "I'm takin' you alive now, lady!"

Lilly laughed in his arms as he went running into the water. "Wait, what are you doing?!"

Arthur smiled at her. "Carryin' you, what's it look like?" he asked as he trudged through the water.

"But why?"

Arthur grinned down at her. "Because I feel like it."

Lilly clung to him and smiled. "You're up to something, I know it!"

"No I'm not. What could little ole' me be up to?"

"Are you goin' to drop me?!"

"Now that you mention it..." And Arthur dropped her in the water. "Yes!"

Lilly stood up and wiped her face. She sputtered and groaned. "You ass!"

Arthur's face was serious and he was staring at her body. "Oops. I should've known better than to do that."

Lilly raised a brow then looked down. Her nipples were showing through her shirt. Lilly gasped and covered them. "Arthur! What the hell!"

Arthur sighed and began to unbutton his shirt. "Sorry, m'lady. I got caught up in the moment."

"I should say so!" she laughed. Lilly raised her head. "I should-" her mouth dropped. "Oh."

Arthur took his blue shirt and wrapped it around her, then began buttoning it up. The smell of pine trees brushed against her nostrils and she shut her eyes gently. "Somethin' wrong?" he asked.

Lilly looked into his eyes dreamily. "You smell like pine trees."

Arthur stopped buttoning. "Yes. I do. My wife likes it."

"Yes, she does," Lilly said. "It was always quite intoxicating."

Arthur yanked her to him. "Is it now?"

"Yes."

Arthur studied her face. "You smell like apples, Lillian. I always loved how you smell."

"Oh Arthur...I..." James came swimming up and barked at them. Both the adults looked at the shore and saw two men talking to Jack. Brian was guarding the boy. "Who are they?"

"I don't know. Come on!" Arthur grabbed her hand and they ran through the water. James raced off and joined Brian at his side.

"...fine young man, and in such complex circumstances," one of the strangers said. "Such fine animals, too. Are they yours?"

Lilly picked up Jack. "Yes, they are mine," Lilly said bitterly.

Arthur confronted the men. "Who the hell are you?!" Arthur belted out.

"You okay?" Lilly asked Jack.

"I'm okay. Look at this necklace I made!" Jack showed Lilly. "It's for Mama!"

"Arthur, isn't it? Arthur Morgan?" the first man asked. He was in a dark gray suit with a red and white striped vest and a gray bowler cap with a red ribbon circled around it. The other man had similar attire. Both of them had badges of some kind, but Lilly didn't recognize the symbols. "Yes, Arthur Morgan. Van der Linde's most trusted associate." The man motioned to his partner. "You've read the files. Typical case. Orphaned street kid seduced by that maniac's silver tongue and matures into a degenerate murderer. Agent Milton, Agent Ross, Pinkerton Detective Agency, seconded to the United States Government." Both the men closed in on them and Arthur moved Lilly and Jack behind him. "Nice to finally meet. We know a lot about you."

"Do you?" Arthur asked.

"You're a wanted man, Mr. Morgan. There's five thousand dollars for your head alone."

"Five thousand dollars?" Arthur emphasized. "For me?" He looked at Lilly with a grin, then back at the men. "Can I turn myself in?"

"We want Van der Linde."

"Old Dutch? I haven't seen him for months."

"That so? Because I heard a guy fitting his description," Milton said while removing his hat and wiping his brow, "robbed a train belonging to," he continued as he put his hat back on, "Leviticus Cornwall up near Granite Pass."

"Oh, ain't that a little...old fashioned nowadays?" Arthur chuckled uncomfortably.

Lilly grabbed the back of his undershirt. "Ná tabhair tú féin ar shiúl," Lilly whispered. [Don't give yourself away.]

"Apparently not. Listen," the man said with his hands up. He took a few steps forward, as did Agent Ross. "This is my offer, Mr. Morgan. Bring in Van der Linde, you have my word you won't swing."

Lilly had enough and put Jack down behind Arthur before standing up to Milton. "That's far enough! Any closer and I will sick my wolves on ya both! It'll be a less painful death than what I can do tah ya."

"Ha! Lillian Rose O'Callaghan. Another orphan, but not so much a degenerate. A noble. Second Countess of Moycullen, I believe, but seein' as how you saw your whole family die, I can understand why you'd grow up to be a killer. Death seems to follow you everywhere."

The boys growled at the men and each wolf pup took a step forward. Death did follow her everywhere, it seemed. It followed her all the way from Ireland and brought her back to life. "Seems ya know an awful lot about me, Agent Milton. Ya must be a good detective. What else did me file say?"

"Somethin' about you bein' a 'valuable commodity'?"

Lilly remembered that all too well, but she was not about to dwell on that memory. Still, it unnerved her and she figured Arthur didn't know about it. "Ya best not mention more in me file. You will only upset me nephew."

"Well, it seems Sir Patrick Nolan, Leviticus Cornwall, and a man known as 'Papa' are all interested in you, Miss O'Callaghan."

The name 'Papa' unnerved her even more. Arthur moved Lilly behind him. "An fáinne. Cuir ar aghaidh é. Tá sé i mo mhála," [The ring. Put it on. It's in my bag.] he said as he adjusted his satchel. Lilly did as she was told and discreetly got the engagement ring out. As she put it on, Arthur continued. "If you think you're gonna take my wife, you're in for a world of trouble."

"Wife? Sir Patrick won't be happy about that," Milton said with a frown. "Said her infertility was the least of his concerns so he was going to have her anyway, but quite frankly, we only plan on givin' her to the highest bidder. Much like how Papa aquired you in New York City, wasn't it?"

Lilly dug her face into Arthur's back to hide from Jack the blood draining from her face. "I think you're done speakin' to my wife. Do you have any other matters to discuss before I sick the wolves on you?"

Brian and James growled and snapped their chops. Agent Ross pointed his gun at Brian but Arthur pulled both his pistols out and aimed them at the men. Jack gasped and Lilly picked him up. "Ah ah ah, that's far enough, Agent Ross," Arthur said.

Agent Milton motioned for Ross to lower his gun and he did. Arthur did the same. "Boys, behave," Lilly said. They both calmed down.

"No," Milton said. "But uh, I thought you should know about Mac Callander. Gave me quite a philosophy lesson. He was pretty shot up by the time I got to him. So really, it was more of a mercy killing." Lilly saw Arthur tense up. Uh oh. "Slow, but merciful."

"Fanacht socair. Gheobhaidh sé bás ón méid a rinne sé, ach ní roimh súile Jack," [Stay calm. He will die from what he did, but not before Jack's eyes.]Lilly whispered to Arthur. The last thing she wanted was for Jack, her little nephew, to see someone die. Seeing death changes a person, as it did her when Lilly was around Jack's age. Actually, Lilly had been about a year older. She clung to little Jack but she tightened her grip on Arthur's shirt. "Iarraim ort. Le do thoil." [I ask you. Please.]

Arthur sighed in irritation. "You enjoy bein' a rich man's toy, do ya?" Arthur said calmly, but with a very angry undertone.

"I enjoy society, flaws and all. You people venerate savagery, and you will die savagely. All of you."

Lilly held Jack's head to her shoulder and covered his ear. She did not want him to hear this. "Arthur, please."

Arthur whispered to the man. "Oh, we're all gonna die, Agent."

"Some of us sooner than others," Milton whispered back. "Now, Miss O'Callaghan, we will be back for you. You better hope it's Sir Patrick that raises the price for your safe return. So far, Mr. Cornwall only wants you for twenty thousand dollars. Sir Patrick Nolan wants you for fifty. And Papa...he wants you for eighty, and all of them are tryin' to outbid each other."

Lilly laughed. Oh my God, no. No no no. Oh, why did she need to be something that everyone wanted to use for their own gain? "Huh, maybe I should be the one turning myself in."

"You ain't doin' no such thing, woman!" Arthur snapped. "Now you two get the hell outta here before I beat the shit outta you both! Ya hear me!?"

The wolves snapped at the men again and they backed up. "Enjoy your freedom, girl, while you still can!" Ross said with a laugh. The men got on their horses and left.

Once they were gone, Arthur turned around and held both Jack and Lilly. She was trembling and almost burst into tears. "Who were they?" Jack asked.

"No one to worry about. No one at all," Arthur replied. "Come on, go pick up your things and let's get home."

Lilly kissed Jack's head and put him down. Jack went for his pole and Lilly looked at Arthur. "What am I gonna do? Three different men are after me."

"Dutch and Hosea should know, but no one else. But...Lillian, what did Agent Milton mean about you bein' aquired by the highest bidder? A valuable commodity?"

Lilly frowned. "I don't want to say just now. Let's just get back to camp, please." Lilly walked over to Jack. "You ready, little Jack?" she said with a smile.

5-year-old Lilly struggled in white rags and black untied boots as she was dragged into a dimly lit underground area. The place was crawling with men. Monsterous men. Lilly cried and screamed out for her brother as she was put on a wooden platform. Brian, Darragh, and Sean were dragged along with their hands tied behind their backs. The men holding them were laughing. People were screaming and shouting.

"Let's see what your little sister goes for!"

"Yeah, bring out The Siren!"

"Let's see what ya got, girl!"

"She don't look like no siren to me!"

Lilly kicked and scratched at the men as Sean, Darragh, and Brian yelled out for her. "Leave her alone!" Sean screamed.

"Deirfiúr beag!" Brian cried out. "Kick their arses!"

Lilly kicked a man in the shin and elbowed another in the groin, then she snatched a knife from one of them and held it to one man's throat. The crowd died down and Lilly glared at them all. "Let me and me men go, or I'll kill the lot of ya!" Some people on the crowd laughed. Lilly rolled her eyes. "STOP YER LAUGHIN'!" Everyone went quiet. Lilly breathed raggedly. "Good, now that I have yer attention, LET ME-"

A man covered Lilly's mouth and she screamed into it. "Get off my sister, ya bastard!" Brian yelled.

Lilly stabbed the man holding her and he went down. Lilly turned and sliced his throat open. He slumped to the ground and everyone cheered. "LET MY MEN-"

Another man grabbed her by the mouth while the other yanked the knife out of her hand. "Come on! We need to get her to the selling block!"

"Wait!" One of the men behind Darragh pulled out a knife and stabbed Darragh in the back. Lilly cried as did Brian and Sean. The man pointed a bloody knife at the girl. "That's for my cousin you just killed!"

"Da!" Sean cried.

"Let my sister go!"

The man who stabbed Darragh put a knife to Brian's throat. "You behave now, girl, or your brother dies next!"

Lilly looked at Darragh and stopped struggling. The man behind her removed his hand she sobbed. "I'm sorry, Darragh! Sean, I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'll be a good girl, just don't kill them! Please!"

Darragh was already gone and the knife was taken off Brian's throat. "Good. Now sing, girl!" the murderer demanded.

Lilly sighed. She didn't have a choice. She had to. Lilly took a deep breath. "What song would you like to hear?" she asked bitterly.

"We got a problem!" Arthur snapped vehemently as he and Lilly got to Dutch's tent.

"What?" Dutch said, not sounding too worried.

"We just met some guys out near the river. A fella named, uh..."

Lilly noticed how upset Arthur was. He looked and sounded quite unraveled. "Agent Milton and Agent Ross," Lilly said bitterly. Dutch shut his book.

"Yes, Milton and Ross!"

"And?" Dutch said.

"And! They are employees of the Pinkerton Detective Agency!" Arthur paced back and forth. "And they know about the train and they know we're here!"

Dutch slammed his book down and closed in on Arthur. "Were you followed back here?!"

"No! They know we're near here! And they want you, Dutch! They offered me my freedom in exchange, they did, but that's the least of our problems!" Arthur looked as if he wanted to choke someone, he was so red in the face.

"What do you mean?"

Lilly sighed. "Apparently they want me more, Da. Actually, three men want me more and those agents have been offered a lot of money for me, and I mean a lot of money."

"Which men?" Dutch asked with concern. "Why do they want you?"

"Sir Patrick Nolan wants me as his wife despite my...condition, Papa probably wants me for the same reason as before, and here's the kicker: Leviticus Cornwall wants me too! Probably because of my shout."

"Lillian, keep your voice down!" Arthur said as he confronted her. "Do not let anyone around here know that!"

"You think any of us would turn her in for any amount of money?" Dutch laughed.

"We ain't worried about you or Hosea. Just...everyone else. But it's a lot of money."

"How much money?"

Arthur huffed. "Cornwall for twenty thousand, Patrick for fifty, and Papa for eighty."

Dutch whistled. "Well shit. That is a lot. But we'll tell Hosea and no one else." Dutch sighed. "No one is bringin' you anywhere, Lilly. You know that, right?"

"I know. But...as weak as it sounds, I just don't feel very safe now." Lilly looked down and began to fidget with her fingers. "And I don't want to endanger anyone here, either. Maybe I should just leave the gang."

"No, you ain't leavin' the gang," Dutch said as he put his hands on her shoulders. "But I think you need to go take that trip now. Lilly, if you want to be safe, you gotta sell your estate and forfeit your title. I'm sorry, but I don't see any other way. Then you and Arthur and Sean and Karen come home with the money, and we get the hell out of here! We'll leave the country if we have to! Okay?"

Lilly nodded in agreement. "Okay."

"I'm gonna send one of the boys into town for trip supplies. Lilly, you stay put for now. Do not go out on your own without your wolves or an escort, not even for huntin' okay? And you keep Brian and James with you in camp."

"Yes, Da."

"Arthur. On this trip, do not let Lilly out of your sight. Not even for a moment."

"Of course, Dutch," Arthur said.

Dutch looked down at Lilly's fingers. "Oh. You put the ring back on."

"...That was so Arthur and I could say we were already married. So the agents would tell Sir Patrick that I am not for sale."

"Well, I suggest you keep it on, even if it's just for appearances. I also suggest you two start plannin' and packin'. Now, I'm gonna go find Hosea and inform him of our new situation."

Lilly nodded again. Dutch left and she bit her lower lip. Arthur lifted her chin. "Everythin' is gonna be okay, Lilly. You can protect yourself just fine, but I will protect you too. No matter what."

Lilly looked into his eyes. "You promise?"

"I promise. Now, uh...can we talk about...you know, the other thing Milton said?"

Lilly grabbed Arthur's hand and escorted him to her tent. They walked in and Lilly sighed. "Okay, I am still struggling with many memory gaps, but...Arthur, I sang. I sang in the lifeboat to get James to stop crying. People told other people, and I was...captured and..." Lilly sat down on the bed. "I was sold to Papa."

"...Sold? Like a slave?"

Lilly lowered her head. "Like a valuable commodity. They found out about my shout and my singing. They said I was a siren."

Arthur sat on the bed with her. "I'm so sorry, Lillian. I...every time you tell me somethin' about your past...it makes me angry."

"I don't want your pity."

"I don't pity you. I am in awe of you."

Lilly gaped at him. "In awe?"

Arthur held her hand. "You are the strongest woman I know, Lilly O'Callaghan. You been through more than I could possibly comprehend."

Lilly smiled at him gently. "You will. Eventually. I...feel like I could tell you everything. Not all at once, but in increments."

"...That means a lot to me, Lillian. It truly does."

Lilly sighed. "I'm tired."

"Chamomile?"

"No. I just..." Lilly realized her clothes were wet. "Oh, I still have your shirt." Lilly unbuttoned it but she noticed her body was still visible under the shirt. Lilly also noticed that she didn't care. The look of wanting on Arthur's face trumped her modesty.

"Lilly, you're still-"

"Wet? Yes," Lilly sighed in a suggestive way. "I am still very wet."

Arthur's eyes widened. "Are you...are you flirtin' with me again?"

"I am doing no such thing, Mr. Morgan." Lilly pulled the shirt off and tossed it on the bed. "Unless you like that sort of thi-"

"Arthur? Lilly?" Hosea said outside. "Family meeting."

Arthur frowned. "Get changed then come meet us." He got up and walked out.

17-year-old Lilly tracked Arthur's horse to a secluded pond. She got off and started tracking his feet when she found him waiting for her by a tree. Shirtless. Lilly grinned and pinned him to a tree before placing a kiss on his neck. "Ya feckin' evil man, sneakin' away from yer predator like that."

"What are you gonna do about it? Spank me?"

"Yes." Lilly did spank him and Arthur yelped deeply.

"Oh, you saucy little woman. Do it again."

Lilly did it again. "Yer such a naughty boy." Lilly bit his chest and he groaned.

"God, Lilly, I didn't think we were using our mouths today."

"We are." Lilly nibbled on his throat. "You shouldn't have done it to me if it bothers you. It made me so hungry."

A deep growl vibrated in his throat. "You don't know what hunger is, Lillian." He grabbed her, pushed her into another tree, picked her up, and pressed himself against her. "You haven't a god damn clue." Arthur pushed against her again.

"Oooh, Arthur...ya make me, oh..."

"Make you what?"

"I'm not tellin' ya," she smirked evily.

"Oh come on..." he pleaded.

"I'd rather not say, Mr. Morgan," Lilly said while nuzzling his cheek. "A woman shouldn't say such things."

"You ain't a normal woman, Lilly," Arthur said while kissing her neck gently. "Tell me, please."

"No. You won't ever break me into sayin', my doting prey."

Arthur pulled her closer and grasped her hair. "Wanna bet? Because you got a strong threshold, but mine is stronger." Arthur licked her jaw line and Lilly shuddered.

"I'll bet ya me fuckin" maidenhead, Arthur Morgan. I'll bet ya me whole god damn body, pussy and all the feckin' rest."

"Jesus Christ, Lillian...don't make promises you can't keep."

5-year-old Lilly took a deep breath. "What song would you like to hear?" she asked bitterly. Everyone started yelling all at once. Lilly rolled her eyes. "ONE AT A TIME!" her voice boomed.

"An Irish Lullaby!"

"My Wild Irish Rose!"

Siúil A Rúin!"

Lilly smiled sadly. "Siúil A Rúin it is!"

Everyone cheered except for Sean and Brian. Sean was mourning and crying while Brian gave her a pitiful look. Lilly waved her hands to motion for silence. She took a deep breath and began her singing a slow, melodic tune.

Siúil, siúil, siúil a rúin [Come, come, come O love]

Siúil go socar agus siúil go ciúin [Quickly come to me, softly move]

Siúil go doras agus éalaigh liom [Come to the door, and away we'll flee]

Is go dté tu, mo mhuirnín slán [And safe for aye may my darling be]

Lilly jumped off the platform as she decided to sing faster. All the people in the room were immobile and slack jawed with big black eyes, save for the men who were on the platform. They had jimmy rigged ear plugs in.

I wish I was on yonder hill

Tis there I'd sit and cry my fill

Until every tear would turn a mill