This chapter is rated M for mature content.

Chapter 22: The Fight

After explaining everything Karen and Sean were not up to date on, Sean started laughing. He thought all of it was hilarious. Three different men were willing to pay significant sums of money for Lilly's capture, her estate was worth about a million dollars, and a man from her past was fighting Lilly's husband for the right to claim her. Lilly, however, was not exactly amused.

"I fail to see the humor in any of this, Sean," Lilly stated.

"That's because you're missin' out," Sean said with a giggle as he pointed to the fighting men. Lilly looked over. It was still a tie. Both men were looking bruised and a bit bloody. "Yer man is doin' well, at least. How old is that Patrick fella?"

"Thirty two."

"Ha! He's got two inches on Arthur, too. And maybe about a few stones above him as well."

"Well, any man who can't take no for an answer can't be that good."

"Why can't you just end the fight, Lilly?" Karen asked in a confused tone.

"Testosterone," Sean said casually.

"Hey!" Lilly shouted. "Can ya knock that shite off now?! I wanna go drinkin'!"

"No!" Arthur and Patrick shouted together.

With a growl of irritation from Lilly, she stood and ambled in the direction of the quarreling pair. "Arthur!"

"What?" he snapped as he punched Patrick in the jaw who almost fell over from the force of it.

"STOP IT! BOTH OF YOU!"

Patrick stopped in his tracks but Arthur punched him again and he went over. Patrick got up as Lilly stepped in front of Arthur. The younger man and cracked his neck. "Ow...how come he kept going?!"

"He's immune to the damn thing!" Lilly snarled at Patrick.

"That's cheating!"

"Get out of the way, Lillian!" Arthur belted out in anger. "I'm in the middle of kickin' his ass into next week!"

"Why?" Lilly snapped.

"Because he challenged me for you! I'm fightin' for my woman!"

"I don't want you to fight, I want you to stop!"

"But Lilly, I-"

Lilly held up a finger. "Dún do bhéal! Tá mé ag caint!" [Close your mouth! I'm talking!]

"Ná inis dom mo bhéal a dhúnadh! Dúnann tú do bhéal, bean!" Arthur got in her face and shoved her fist down with both hands. [Don't tell me to close my mouth! You close your mouth, woman!]

"Dúnann tú do bhéal!" [You close your mouth!]

"Tú!" [You!]

"TÚ!" [YOU!]

"Knock it off, you god damn wench!"

"No, you knock it off, ya piece of shite bastard!"

"Trollop!"

"Prick!"

"Bean Éireannach dúr!" [Stupid Irish woman!]

"Sasanach dúr!" [Stupid Englishman!]

"Woa woa woa!" Sean came running and got in between them. "Now now, no need tah shout at each other like this!"

Lilly huffed. "That's it. I ain't marryin' either one of yas! Come Karen, let's-"

Arthur pushed past Sean and kissed Lilly passionately. "Don't you be talkin' like that, woman!"

"Why are ya fightin' him when ya know I can very well beat him tah kingdom come?!"

"You're my wife! I'm supposed to fight for you!"

With a roll of her eyes, she kissed his lips briefly. "Yes, but I'm not just any ole' wife, am I?"

Arthur chuckled and wiped blood from his chin. "No, you ain't, mo stóirín, and I love that about you."

Lilly smiled and kissed his chin. "Aww, does Mo Fear Álainn have a boo boo?" she teased.

Arthur nudged her shoulder. "Shut up, Lillian," he wheezed with a laugh. "But yeah, your beautiful man got a boo boo. He's got lots of boo boos everywhere."

"Should I kiss 'em so they feel better?"

"Excuse me!" Patrick shouted. "I'm still here!"

Lilly grabbed Patrick by the shirt collar, pushed him to the railing, and hung him over the side. "I am busy with my husband, Patrick! Ya gave him boo boos!" she laughed.

Arthur, Sean and Karen laughed excitedly. Patrick looked down at the water. "Are ya kidding me? Now ya have super strength?!"

"Yes! Now stop fightin' me husband and listen when I say I ain't marryin' ya and that's final!"

"Now you listen here, ya damn-" Patrick's watch went flying out of his vest and into the water. "Oh no! Me watch!"

Lilly flung Patrick back up, shoved her boots off, and went diving in after the golden time piece. "Lillian!" was all she heard before she hit the water.

"Jesus Christ! Lillian!" Arthur shouted as he looked over the side. She was gone. "Is she nuts?!" The wolves started howling and barking.

"Christ, she didn't have to go after it!" Patrick yelled.

"Hey!" A bystander shouted. "Did I just see a girl jump in?!"

"No!" The small group shouted.

"Yes I did! Woman overboard!"

"Ah shit!" Arthur snapped. "Here we go. Dammit."

People came running over. One of them had a life saver. "She jumped off the side, I swear she did!"

"What crap are you talkin', Charlie?" another man said. "What crazy woman would jump off the side of a ship?!"

Arthur picked up Lilly's boots and his coat before strolling along the side with the rest of the entourage. "If she ain't dead, I'll kill her!" Arthur growled.

"If she isn't dead, I'm buyin' her a drink!" Sean said and giggled.

"Sean!" Karen yelped. "She just jumped off a movin' ship! She ain't invincible!"

Arthur was mad. Ever since she came back to life, Lilly acted like she was the most powerful creature in the world. Arthur didn't know how she got her new powers or why but he'd be damned if he didn't chastise Lilly about her stupid and reckless behavior. Just then, Lilly popped up at the side of the ship and jumped on the deck. She shook the water out of her hair and smiled at the stunned group as if nothing strange just happened. Brian and James ran to her excitedly. Lilly held up Patrick's watch and put it in his hand. "I ain't goin' after this a second time. Don't drop it again."

Arthur furiously grabbed her arm. He dragged Lilly along the deck, fully intent on chewing her ass out. "You are in big trouble, Lillian Rose Morgan! Biiig trouble!"

"Why?" Lilly giggled. "What did I do?"

Arthur pulled her close. "What did you do?! You coulda gotten killed doin' that, you stupid girl!"

"But I didn't," she said innocently as they walking along. "I'm fine, obviously."

"None of us knew if you would be!"

Lilly scoffed. "Oh, excuse me, I didna know I was a wee bairn tah be coddled!" Lilly glared at Patrick. "And you! What is feckin' wrong with ya!? Disrespectin' me when I say no?! Has anyone besides me ever said no tah ya, ya spoiled little shite?!"

Arthur yanked her inside and kept guiding her aggressively. "Knock it off, Lillian!"

They marched through the public areas until they got to their living quarters. Arthur shoved her in and shut the door in Patrick's face but the wolves stayed with him. Arthur fumed as he went locking the door behind him. He shoved Lilly further in.

"Hey! What is yer problem?!" she snapped.

"Are you out of your god damn mind?!" Arthur shouted in her face. "Jumping off a ship for a fuckin' watch?! It wasn't even your watch!"

"I know! But it was his family watch! You know how important things like that are to me!" Lilly shouted right back in his face.

"But it wasn't even your watch!"

"Why are you so upset? I am fine! It's not like I...oh."

"Yes! Lilly, I thought you died again," he said sighed and dragged his calloused palms over his face. "Don't do it again, please. I can't..." Arthur hugged her. "I don't know what I'd do if I lost you again, darlin'."

Lilly pushed him back gently and put her palms to his cheeks. "Arthur, look at me." Arthur glanced at her face. "You are not gonna lose me again. I am not goin' anywhere, but I won't do anythin' like that again, alright?"

Arthur inclined his head sadly. "Thank you."

Lilly smiled then shoved Arthur over to the bed. He landed on his back and Lilly crawled on top of him with a suggestive smirk on her face. "Now. How's about a seventh round, mo chuisle?"

"Yes, I'd like that very much, mo stóirín."

Lilly began undressing Arthur out of his blue shirt and black pants. "Are you gonna get worn out or are we gonna go drinkin'?"

Arthur sat up and undid her buttons. "Depends on how hard you ride me, I'd imagine."

Lilly got him undressed, then undressed herself and sat on top of him. "Should I be gentle, or should I act like you're a wild bull?"

"Hey!" Karen yelled through the door. "Are we gonna go drinkin' or what?"

"We'll catch up!" Lilly shouted in response. "I need some alone time with my husband!"

"Again?"

"Yes again!"

"Lillian Rose O'Callaghan, you better not be doing what I think you're doing!" Patrick's muffled shout came from behind the door.

Arthur rolled his eyes. "Give it a rest, Sir Patrick! I'm-" Lilly directed Arthur's member to slide inside her and he shut his eyes when the warmth of her womanhood enveloped his head and shaft. "Lillian, you...oh..." he mumbled, grasping her hips as she pivoted them.

"An mothaíonn sé sin go maith?" Lilly asked in a husky voice. [Does that feel good?]

"Tá," he replied. It felt good indeed. "An-mhaith." [Yes. So good.]

Arthur relaxed on his back as Lilly gyrated and rode him. God, she really wore him out today with all the sex but he didn't care. They were making up for lost time yet he had a feeling they were going to make love at every opportunity. It wasn't long until she achieved an orgasm and the spasming of her pussy made him moan from the exquisite sensation. After her second, third, fourth, and fifth orgasm, he got his own and his seed spilled inside of her. He loved how easy it was for Lilly to come over and over and it made him feel like a real man. And he was far from done this time around. Arthur rolled his wife on her back and shoved his fingers inside her, suckling and licking Lilly's clit in the process, and just like clockwork, Lilly ejaculated all over the bed.

It was when she finished a tenth time when she begged him to stop but he refused her request. Arthur was far from being done with her. However, at her sixteenth time, Arthur was hard again and he placed gentle kisses up her body as he crawled up her body and thrust into her, and Lilly kept on as Arthur made love to her. He bit Lilly's nipples, neck, throat, earlobes, then planted soft pecks on her lips, cheeks, jaw line, neck, and shoulders. By the time her twenty second orgasm came around, Arthur came as well. Now he was done with her as Lilly's sweat soaked body shivered underneath him.

"That was...oh God, Arthur, you've ruined me," she whispered breathlessly.

"You ready for some beer now?" he asked softly.

"I'm ready for a nap."

Arthur chuckled and kissed her gently. "Tá mé i ngrá leat, mo bhean chéile. [I am in love with you, my wife.]

Tá mé i ngrá leat, mo fhear céile," she moaned with exhaustion as he pulled out. [I am in love with you, my husband.]

"You take a nap, mo grá. When you wake up, meet us down with the third class. I hear their drinkin' parties are much better than first class."

Lilly giggled and she licked his lips. "Okay."

"Hmm." He slithered down her body. "Ceann eile don bhóthar?" [Another for the road?]

"As ucht Dé, my love. If you insist." Arthur laughed and put his head between her legs. She quickly orgasmed for the twenty third time before rolling over and nearly dozing off. Arthur took the blankets and covered her before snuggling against Lilly. He didn't want to leave her just yet. He smirked and put a finger against her sensitive nub. She moaned out again. "Oh good grief, Arthur. You...oh...oh...ooohh..." And she came again when he played with her. Twenty four.

"I can't help myself, m'lady. So easy to please."

Lilly laughed weakly. "That's goin' to be a bedrooom thing now, ain't it..."

"Of course, m'lady..." He fingered her again.

"Oh God," Lilly yelped as she trembled. "Stoooooooop...wait, oh...ohohohohooooohh..." she groaned and number twenty five hit her. "You gotta stop."

"Nope. Five more should do me good. I gotta brag to your betrothed because I doubt he can pleasure you..." Arthur pushed his fingers in and out as he suckled. Lilly gushed all over him and he chuckled and slurped it up. "...as much as I can, m'lady."

"Okay. Four more, but that's it, Mr. Morgan!"

Arthur continued his work, Lilly's fingers working through his hair as he made her squirt four more times. Her orgasm count was now at thirty and he felt satisfied with the number. He drank her honey then sat up. "All done."

Lilly breathed heavily, covered her crotch, and rolled over on her side. "You...better be...mo chuisle...uh..."

Arthur put the sheets over her and nuzzled her hair. kissing her auburn strands lightly. "Don't sleep too long, but just enough to rest up for later," Arthur whispered gruffly.

"You are a sexual deviant, bithiúnach," Lilly said with a smile.

A chortle of delight escaped him and he kissed her cheek before getting up to dress. "Sleep, m'lady." She didn't answer so he knew she already dozed off. Arthur smiled at his wife, tempted to wake her up again but decided to grant her this small mercy. He freshened up his face, dressed in his summer gunslinger outfit and left the room in the happiest of dispositions. "What a wife," he said to himself as he ambled confidently down the hall.

Lilly is in a dark room with no light. Lilly runs to find a way to escape but there is no exit. She hears ravens cawing and a whoosh of air hits her.

"Lillian," she hears a woman say. She turns around and sees a giant red wolf with bright blue eyes before her. The wolf is almost the height of a horse. Nineteen hands at the shoulder, Lilly guesses.

"Who are you?" Lilly asks, her voice echoing throughout the area. "Where am I?"

"I am The Morrigan, my child. I am the Goddess of War and Death," the wolf responds. "And this is the black room."

Lilly closes in on the creature. "The black room?"

"You were bound here, my child."

"Bound? I don't understand."

"You will in time. Come." The wolf turns and walks so Lilly walks with her. "I know you have questions, my child. You may ask three each time I visit."

"Alright. But...I already asked questions. Four of them."

The wolf laughs briefly. "This is your first dream visit with me. I will let it pass but just this once. Now, ask your questions."

"Am I a Siren?"

"No."

"What am I?"

"A very special mortal with very special gifts."

"Why did I get new...gifts after dying?"

"You did not die. You were reborn. And every time you are reborn, your binds will weaken. Your first rebirth awakened old gifts but you were unable to retain them. With your second rebirth, you became powerful enough to gain old gifts. And your third rebirth will unbind you completely, but I must warn you..." The wolf stops. "This third rebirth will hurt."

"Well, I guess I have no more questions to ask. For now." Lilly wanted to ask about her third 'rebirth' but she knew The Morrigan would not answer it.

"Oh, my dear Lillian, I knew you'd catch on quick. But I must show you one of your gifts. Come, on your knees, my child.

Lilly gets on her knees and the wolf presses her head to Lilly's forehead. Lilly receives flashes of images.

Horses running. Blood spilling. Arthur crying and grieving as he throws things around their tent. Young Lilly running through a forest. Her father, Sir Jack, fighting a red headed woman wearing ancient war paint and an ancient warrior dress. Binds are wrapped around Lilly's form. A fire enveloping Lilly while bound to a stake. Her old estate and oak tree burning.

Lilly woke up and gasped as she sat up. The bed was soaked from her sweat. What a strange dream. Lilly went and bathed in one of the public bathrooms to refresh her body and mind. Was she really visited by The Morrigan? Why? How? What new gifts had the Goddess of War and Death given her? What did those images mean? Lilly decided she couldn't make sense of it now and put those questions and worries in the back of her mind. When she got back to the room, Lilly dressed in her regular gunslinger attire. She brushed her hair and made little celtic braids from some of her shiny red strands before heading out the door. Lilly asked for directions to the third class level and was met with a sneer of contempt by one of the first class 'hoity toity' passengers. Lilly glared at them and walked around. She found the stairs and ran down the steps to the lower levels, Lilly's hair bouncing up and down as she went. Soon she heard the rowdy musings of the drunken passengers and followed the loud sounds. Lilly went down another flight of stairs into a crowded room with bar stools, chairs, tables, and a large platform in the middle. She saw her group and they were already shite-faced. Brian and James were receiving much love from the people. Lilly bounded up to her husband, grabbing and kissing him deeply.

"Hello, me malafoostered and handsome Mr. Morgan."

"Mmm, Mrs. Morgan," Arthur slurred as he made out with her sloppily. "I am sooooo happy you're here, darlin'. Patrick and I possibly came to an uh...to uh...what's the word? Oh, accord!" he shouted with his glass held high. "An accord! He won't force you to marry him as long as, uh, what was it, Sean?"

"He said..." Sean burped and Karen laughed. "He said somethin' about Arthur needin' tah drink him under the table."

Lilly scowled, smacking Arthur's hat off. "Are ya daft? Ya discussed this without askin' me?!"

Arthur wrapped an arm around her. "C'mon, let's not fight. Get drunk with me." He handed Lilly his glass. "Here, my lovely Irish woman."

Lilly sighed and downed all the beer. She set the glass down and looked around. "Is he around here?"

"Who, Patrick? Yes. He's getting more drinks." Lilly looked around and saw Patrick...and her jaw dropped. His new attire was a white poet shirt without the fluffs and it was tucked in tight black pants. He had black boots. His black hair was slicked back and he was clean shaven. The dimple in his chin accentuated the masculine features of his face and he was carrying a tray of shots. When his green eyes spotted her, his full lips smirked. Patrick looked like a young, handsome pirate and for a moment, she forgot she was married. "Excuse me!" Arthur snapped. "Are you ogglin' Patrick Nolan?"

Lilly frowned at Arthur. "Sorry, but I ain't dead, ya silly man! He's not that bad lookin'."

"Better lookin' than me?"

Lilly smiled at her husband. "Don't tell me you're jealous, mo chuisle. You still look so young, and," Lilly leaned to his ear. "Your body and sexual prowess are beyond compare."

Arthur chuckled and tapped her chin as he gazed into her eyes. "Don't you be butterin' me up, mo stoirín."

"I don't know why ya keep sayin' 'little darling' instead of just "darling'."

"Okay, mo stór. Is that better?" [my darling.]

"Yes."

Arthur chuckled happily as Patrick brought the drinks. "Lilly, so nice of you to join us. Where were you?"

Lilly grinned. "Sláinte,' she said and they all slammed down a shot. "I was nappin'."

"Napping?"

"Arthur here managed to wear me out."

Patrick gaped at them both. "You two aren't even legally married!"

"We're hand fasted. That's good enough for now."

"But you're a countess!"

Lilly sighed and slammed another shot down. "Patrick, I dunna why ya insist on tellin' me what I shouldna be doin'. I was raised a bloody outlaw, but ya know damn well I'da done what I pleased regardless!"

"But premarital sex?"

Lilly smiled evily. "Patrick, are you a virgin?"

Patrick sighed and shook his head. "That's different, Lilly. I'm a man."

"Ugh, typical male response," Karen said. "Such a man's world we live in, Lilly."

"We should change that!" Lilly laughed, clinking a shot glass with Karen before both of them drank. Suddenly, a fast-paced song started playing and when Lilly heard the familiar sounds of Uilleann pipes, spoons, a bodhrán, a fiddle, an irish flute, and a hurdy-gurdy, Lilly's eyes immediately brightened with excitement. "Dance! Dance! Dance!"

Lilly grabbed Arthur and began to dance with him. Arthur laughed and took the lead as they fast waltzed around the room. Patrick went running to the platform and Lilly smiled as Patrick danced Sean-nós style. She ran up and started competing with him. Their shoes clicked and clacked on the floor and Lilly motioned Arthur over. When he refused, Patrick laughed.

"What's the matter, Morgan? Scared of a little dancing?" he shouted.

Arthur cackled before getting on the platform. He watched the two of them and their feet, scratched his head as he removed his hat, then took a big breath and smiled brightly as his feet began tapping along the floor. Lilly was so impressed she stopped to watch him.

"Arthur feckin' Morgan, ya little sneak! When did ya learn that?"

Arthur laughed. "Cad? Cheap tú gurb í an Ghaeilge an t-aon rud a d'fhoghlaim mé?" he asked with a lively and cocky voice. [What? You thought Irish was the only thing I learned?]

Lilly laughed and watched the two men compete with each other. Patrick was still a little better, but not by much. "Not bad, Morgan. You can fight, speak Irish, and dance. And so far, ya can drink like a regular Irishman too. I got me work cut out fer me fer Lilly's hand, it seems," Patrick commented lightly.

"That you do, Nolan!" Arthur said with a laugh.

The two men linked arms and twirled with each other a few times before linking their other arms and twirling the other way. Lilly was happy they were getting along, at least. The song ended and cheers erupted throughout the whole room as Patrick took a bow. Arthur merely put his hat back on and tipped it down. He wasn't one for showmanship or compliments. He jumped down with Lilly and a slow song began. Arthur grabbed his wife and they both began to sway with the music.

"Hmm," Lilly said with a suspicious eye. "When did you learn that?"

"Around the same time I started learnin' Gaeilge. Sean's a good teacher," Arthur said with a smug smile.

Lilly looked over at Sean who made a small bow. Lilly laughed and looked back at Arthur. "Was this to prank me too?"

"Nope."

"Then why?"

"I lied. None of it was about prankin' you." Arthur's spun around once and took her with him. "It was always to impress you."

Arthur sat on the bed in Colter reading one of his books about learning Irish. He was pretty fluent now but without Sean there to guide him, he felt a bit unsure of himself. He was alone, thank God, so he sounded out the words.

"Má tá grá agat riamh do do chailín Éireannach, tá a fhios agat go bhfuil a temper chomh láidir lena croí," he said. "Ha! Ain't that the truth," Arthur laughed. [If you ever love your Irish girl, you know that her temper is as strong as her heart.]

"Are you learnin' Irish, Arthur?" Charles asked.

Arthur put the book on the bed. He thought he'd been alone. "Yep. It's for a prank. For Lilly."

"Are you two alright?"

"What do you mean?"

Charles leaned against the door frame. "Well, you two haven't spoken since before we left."

"We had a tiff, is all," Arthur said, although he knew it was more than that. It was a real fight where horrible things were said and he was quite certain Lilly would never talk to him for the rest of their lives. He'd lost her and that was his M.O. Losing people he loved.

"A tiff? Doesn't seem like any old tiff to me. Would you like to talk about it?"

Arthur made a low chuckle. "I ain't one for sharin' my feelins', Charles."

"Would it hurt to do it once in your life?"

"No, I suppose not."

Charles grabbed a chair and placed his rump on it. "So, what's on your mind, Arthur? How did the fight start?"

Arthur sighed heavily. "Well, we was flirtin', as we are prone to do, and we been skinny dippin' together for a while now. I got too close and Lilly, she...she touched me. My...you know..."

"I see. You got mad?"

"Yes," Arthur said in surprise. "She wanted to do it again, too."

"And you didn't want to? Why?"

"Because, Charles, this is just a game for her...for both of us. Touchin' those areas is off limits."

"And who set those rules? You or her?"

"What difference does that make? I set the rules. I don't want her to...to want me like that."

"What did you expect, Arthur? You had to know it would stop bein' a game for her eventually, whether or not she knows it."

"I know. Which is why I told her we couldn't do it no more. She can go and...pick anyone else to flirt with now and leave me the hell alone. She already has, I saw her doin' it."

Charles laughed. "But you were clearly not happy about it."

"Stoppin' a long term routine cold turkey is a hard habit to drop. And yeah, I guess I'm a bit jealous now but she doesn't seem to care. As far as I can tell, she's become more enthusiastic with Mac and Davey!" Arthur snapped. It really did make him mad. He was extremely jealous but it was his fault to begin with. Him and his stupid penis. "I never shoulda gave in to that game of hers."

"You don't really feel that way."

"How would you know how I feel?" Arthur asked. "How would anyone besides me know?"

"You don't have to talk about it, but Arthur," Charles sighed and slapped a hand on Arthur's shoulder. "You're in love with her, aren't you?"

Arthur shot off the bed. "No!" he yelled in a high pitched voice and it made Charles laugh. Arthur cleared his throat, regaining his composure and brushing off imaginary dust from his jacket. "No, I'm not."

"You keep tellin' yourself that, you will lose her, Arthur, and you will regret it." Charles stood up and left the room. "Don't make the same mistake twice."

Arthur knew Charles' words rang true. He loved Lilly and he'd let her go. And he felt like an idiot for it, but she was just so young. He'd known her since she was a child and he was a very young man then, but...now Lilly was a young woman. Arthur couldn't keep arguing with himself about it. In the end, he made the right call. Right? Arthur went walking out of the small shack to the bigger one. He heard Tilly talking as he walked in.

"He's strong, and he's smart," said Tilly.

"Strong at least," Abigail argued. Arthur went to the fire to warm up. "Hello Arthur."

"Abigail," he replied warmly.

She stood up and looked at him with desperation. "Arthur...how you doin'?"

Ah shit. "Just fine, Abigail...and you?" Arthur asked.

Abigail looked contrite. "I need you to-" Arthur huffed. "I-I'm sorry, I'm sorry to ask, but-"

"It's Little John. He's got himself into a scrape again," Arthur groaned bitterly as he looked back at the fire.

"He ain't been seen in two...two days."

"Your John'll be fine. I mean, he may be as dumb as rocks and as dull as rusted iron, but that ain't changin' because he got caught in some snowstorm!"

"At least go take a look," Hosea said calmly. "Javier?"

"Yes?" Javier replied.

"Javier, will you ride out with Arthur to take a look for John? You're the two best fit men we got."

"Now?"

"She's..." Hosea looked at Abigail. "We're all...we're pretty worried about him."

"Fuck John!" Arthur shouted. "Ain't none of you worried about Lilly, or did her disappearance slip all your minds?!"

"Uncle Arthur," Jack said. "I'm worried about Aunt Lilly, too. I miss her. Maybe you'll find her while you're out lookin' for Pa?"

Jack did have a point. "You're right, kid, I'm sorry for shoutin', folks. Javier, let's go."

Both the men left on horses and went to go find John and Lilly. Of course, Arthur was more concerned about Lilly being gone. Had she been captured? Was she dead? Did she decide to leave the gang? That third choice seemed highly unlikely...unless Lilly left because of him. That seemed unlikely too, but still. Arthur and Javier tracked John down somewhere in the mountains. He'd been attacked by a pack of wolves. And on the way back, they got attacked by another group but Arthur shot them dead. Still no sign of Lilly, but he assumed she had to be at camp by now. By the time they got back to Colter, it was dark out.

"Come on! Someone help John down off this horse!" Javier yelled with a wounded John sitting behind him.

"Can we get some help here?" Arthur shouted as they rode into Colter. They slowed their horses to a stop and Arthur got off his horse. "Can we get some help? We need some help here!"

Abigail, Bill, and Lenny ran outside to Javier. "C'mon, help him down," Javier said.

"You're alive! Oh you're alive!" Abigail shouted with relief.

Bill and Lenny went to each side to help John down. "C'mon, there we go. Here we go," Javier soothed. John shouted in pain as they pulled him down. "Ay, careful idiotas! It's his leg!"

Bill and Lenny held on to John and walked him inside. "Come on, let's get you warm!" Abigail exclaimed. "Thank you, thank you both!" she said to Javier and Arthur.

As the men took John inside, Hosea and Strauss approached the two heroes. "Thank you, Arthur," Hosea said to him and Javier.

"Thank you."

"You got any other lost maidens need savin'?" Arthur joked.

Hosea chuckled. "Not today."

Javier left the men and Arthur addressed the two men. "Have you and Dutch talked about how we're gonna get out of this?"

"I was just discussing with Herr Strauss when the weather breaks, I suppose we'll have to keep headin' east."

"East?" Arthur snapped. "Into all that...that civilization?"

"I know. The west is where our problems are worse." Arthur sighed and nodded in agreement. "Come on, Herr Strauss. Let's get warm. Wait, you didn't see Lilly, did you?"

"No. She ain't here?"

"...No. Hmm. Now I am worried. But we'll have some folks go out and look for her, you should take a break."

"Long enough for coffee, then I'm goin' back out."

True to his word, Arthur set out after a cup of coffee was warm in his gut. He spent the whole night looking for her but not a hide nor hair of Lilly turned up. He was tired and the new horse he acquired from the Adler residence was tired but he couldn't help himself. Arthur had to find her. Sometime in the night though, Micah and Bill found him.

"Arthur, you need rest," Bill said. "We're worried about Lilly too, but she's gonna be found and she's gonna be just fine."

"I know, but I don't like not knowin' for sure," Arthur replied.

"Arthur, go get some rest. We'll find the girl, okay?" Micah said. "Maybe we should make a bet of it, though. Whoever finds her gets to have her."

"Micah!" Bill scoffed. "You know Arthur is hers. Makin' a bet out of this is in poor taste!"

"Why thank you, Bill," Arthur chuckled.

"But ain't you two on bad terms?" Micah asked. "She's been flirtin' mighty heavy with Davey and Mac."

"...How heavy?" Arthur eyed him suspiciously.

"Micah, don't rile him up with your bullshit! Just go find the girl!" Bill snapped angrily.

Micah laughed and went scampering off on Blaylock. Arthur looked at Bill and inclined his head in gratitude. "Thanks, Bill."

"You're welcome, Arthur. And don't worry about what she's been doin' lately. We all know you're still her favorite." Bill went riding off in another direction.

Arthur tried to sleep that night, but he kept waking up and looking in the stables for Holly. However, exhaustion overcame him and he managed a few hours of sleep. Lilly wasn't found the second day of her disappearance and more people were getting worried. Dutch sent some more men out in shifts to find her, but Arthur was out most of that day looking for her. The storm was hindering him in the most ridiculous way and with each hour she wasn't found, his anxiety got more intense. Dutch had found him at one point and insisted he come back to take a break or to at least let his horse rest. Arthur reluctantly obliged and they both headed back to camp. Arthur tried to hold himself together but he found it to be very difficult. Each time a hunting party came back empty handed, Arthur felt the need to break something. And by the end of the second day when Lenny and Charles came back with no news, Arthur went into one of the abandoned buildings and started kicking things about. Arthur paced back and forth, wanting to rip his hair out and beat the shit out of someone. Where the fuck was that woman? With clenched fists, Arthur began punching the walls. Holes were made from his gloved fists. Charles came in and stopped him.

"Arthur, you need to relax, alright? Anyone else sees you lose your mind like this, all the morale in camp will go down."

"Why can't we find her, Charles? Where the hell could she possibly be? Why the hell haven't we come across anything?" Arthur spoke quickly in an angry tone.

"I don't know, Arthur. Maybe she's holed up somewhere until the storm passes."

Arthur laughed bitterly, still pacing. "I know Lilly. She ain't gonna just stay in one place. It's not in her nature."

"Okay, so maybe we need to go farther out. She could be traveling in the wrong direction. This damn blizzard can make the best traveler get lost."

Arthur took a deep breath and sat down on the floor. "That might be it. I'm sorry, Charles, for snappin' at you."

"Forgiven, my friend. I get why you're worried, we all are, but we will find her and we will find her alive."

Arthur chuckled at him. "You're right."

Charles sighed and sat down next to him. "You need a drink." He handed Arthur some bourbon. "It'll help take your mind off it."

"Yeah, I think I do."

Arthur took the cap off and drank some of it, then handed it to Charles who also drank some. They passed the bottle back and forth between one another, and soon they were pretty drunk and laughing while telling each other stories, then it got to a point where Arthur let his rough exterior fade for just a bit.

"You're tellin' me Lilly killed all those men that day you met her?" Charles slurred his words.

"Yep," Arthur slurred back. "Lilly's always been a lethal little shit."

"How old are you Arthur?"

"Thirty six. Why?"

"Well, Lilly's gonna be twenty two soon and I was wonderin' if her age had somethin' to do with your...hesitation."

"My hesitation?" When Charles gave him a knowing look, Arthur sighed. "Yes. It is the age difference, Charles. When she touched me, I felt like a dirty old man for wantin' her to...to keep touchin' me."

"You love her, don't you?"

"I am in love with Miss O'Callaghan, yes, but I've lost her, Charles. Not just to this god damn blizzard, but...I've lost her good opinion of me. You wanna know what I called her? When we fight, I do say things like 'harlot' or 'tart', but I flat out called her a whore, Charles, and that is unforgiveable."

"She call you anythin'?"

Arthur cackled. "Ha! She called me a dirty old man, but I deserved it."

"When she comes back, you should apologize. Don't take her for granted."

"It's hard not to. She's always been there for me. Now she ain't. She almost went with Dutch to that stupid Blackwater ferry job instead of the job she was doin' with me and Hosea."

"Because she was mad at you."

"Well I'm mad at her, Charles! She started flirtin' more with other men right in front of me!"

"Do you think it was because she wanted you to be jealous so you'd talk to her and try to work things out?"

Arthur blinked a few times, laughing at himself. "Another huntin' tactic. Good God, that woman."

The men finished off the bottle and went to sleep for the night. When Arthur woke up, he spent a good portion of the day looking for her but again, she was not found. Arthur tried not to worry but he found it hard not to be. But the next day a little after noon, Micah came strolling into the shack where Arthur, Bill and Charles were sitting in while talking.

"Hello, fellas. What are you boys up to?" Micah asked.

"Not a whole lot, Micah. Just us boys talkin'. Where have you been?" Arthur asked.

"Oh, nowhere. Just came back from scoutin' around, and I even brought back somethin' real nice."

"Oh yeah? What's that?" Charles asked.

Micah laughed and put a foot up on a log, leaning forward on his knee and grinning like he knew something they didn't. "I found a flower."

"A flower?" Bill scoffed. "How did you find a flower in all this god damn snow?"

"Oh, it was just pokin' out of the snow, wavin' in the wind," he sighed. "Such a pretty one, too. So grateful to come back with me out of the cold. Apparently it was chased by a bear and had a run in with wolves last night, but wasn't the worse for wear."

Arthur sighed and lowered his head, rubbing his temples. He was way too tired to quite get the gist of Micah's humor. "You're not makin' any sense, Micah."

"What kind of flower was it?" Charles asked with a grin.

Arthur raised a brow at Charles. "Why are you grinnin'?"

Charles laughed. "You're exhausted, Arthur, but it'll come to you."

Arthur was exhausted. His mind wasn't registering what Micah was getting at. "Micah, can you stop talkin' in riddles and..." Arthur suddenly got out of his seat and gaped at Micah when he finally got what was going on. "Oh, please tell me it was a lilly you found."

Micah held up a hand, smiled broadly and shoved his thumbs into his belt. "Yep. A red lilly." Arthur brushed past Micah and burst through the door. "You're welcome!" Micah said.

Arthur looked over across the snow and sure enough, Lilly was there. She was standing in front of the main cabin. "Oh thank God," Arthur said to himself. "LILLEH!" he shouted and ran over to her.

She turned around and waved at him. "Hey there, partner!"

Arthur reached Lilly and grabbed her tightly, breathing heavily as his heart pounded inside his chest. He felt her relax in his arms and he smiled into her hair. They stayed that way for a minute or two before Arthur pulled back and held Lilly's face in his hands. He stared down into her blue eyes and smiled at her. "

Are you alright, Lilly?" he asked.