Chapter 36: The Renewal

It was the next day and Lilly dressed in her black summer gunslinger outfit with fingerless black leather gloves on and her auburn locks in a loose braid. She took her aspirin and her dramamine. She had a very rough day yesterday and a very sleepless night. She looked for Arthur and spotted him talking to John, but as soon as he saw her, Arthur walked away, got on his horse, and trotted off. Lilly made a decision. She didn't know why she made it, but it felt like the right thing to do. Lilly went over to Dutch's tent. "Hey Da," she said.

"Hey sweetheart. What's goin' on?"

"I'm gonna leave for a while."

"Okay. Well, where you goin'?"

"Just...away. For a while. Away from camp." Lilly fiddled with her fingers. "I don't think I can stay with the gang or Arthur anymore, Da."

"What?" Dutch got up, as did Molly, and they went to her. "Lilly, what's wrong?"

"I really messed up, Da. I accidentally called him a false husband."

"Oh dear," Molly said.

"Yes. Oh dear, indeed," Dutch said. "But Lilly, you're havin' his child."

"He hates me. I can't have a husband that hates me." Lilly covered her face and began to sob. "What if he hates the child for bein' part of me?"

Molly put her arms around Lilly. "He doesn't hate you, love. Gearr amach é. Is breá le Arthur tú." [Cut it out. Arthur loves you.]

"He won't talk to me after what I said. If he ignores me for one more day, I'll...I'll..." Lilly broke into tears and Molly and Dutch hugged her.

"God dammit, where is that boy?" Dutch asked.

"What in the hell?" Karen came over. "Why is Lilly cryin'?"

"She thinks Arthur hates her," Dutch said. "Lilly, where's your herbal medicine? The stuff Cornwall gave you?"

"Shouldn't we get her tea instead of letting her smoke something?" Molly asked.

"No! Ya feckers ain't sedatin' me!" Lilly snapped, then sobbed again. "I know about all of that, how ya been sedatin' me fer years! And the feckin'...things breakin' and...why am I actin' like this, Da?!"

"What the hell?" John said. "Oh Lilly, you're...are you havin' a mood swing?"

Dutch sighed. "If she's cryin' in front of people, then yes. You know Lilly hates that."

"Arthur keeps it on him. Said he doesn't want Lilly overdoin' it," Karen explained.

"Abigail!" John called out. "Come here for a minute!"

Dutch pat Lilly's back. "You're gonna be okay, just breathe, sweetheart."

Lilly nodded and nuzzled into Molly's shoulder. "I...I...are all pregnancies like this?!"

Molly laughed. "I haven't a clue, Lilly."

"What's goin' on?" Abigail asked. "Oh. Mood swing?"

Lilly's breathing became shallow rasps. She felt dizzy all of a sudden. "Uh oh. I...I gotta sit down!" Molly directed her to a chair and Lilly held her face, still sobbing. "I hate bein' pregnant!" she snapped. "How has the human race not died out? How are women happy bein' pregnant?!"

Some of the group laughed amongst themselves. "Lilly, Arthur went into town," John said. "You want me to go get him?"

"Oh, he's in town, huh?" Dutch said. "No, I'll go get him. God damn boy makin' my daughter cry over nothin'," Dutch snarled as he brushed by everyone.

"I'm comin' with," John said.

Lilly watched the two of them. "Don't bother talkin' to him, he won't care! Just get my damn medicine!"

"We got this, Lilly, just relax," John said.

Arthur was getting drunk off his ass at the saloon in Rhodes when Dutch and John found him. Arthur waved them over with a drunk smile.

"Duuuutch! C'mere, old man! What are ya doin' 'ere?" Arthur laughed as he got up. He was in a conversation with a bunch of other folks. "Hey, this is my father-in-law! Oh, Jooohn! Johnny Boy! Get over here, have a drink!"

"Do you have Lilly's medicine?" John asked.

"Her herb pipe? Yeah, why? Is she okay?" he asked, guffawing. "Am I really in the dog house now?"

"What do you care?" Dutch asked bitterly.

Arthur laughed and pulled out a pipe and bag, handing it to Dutch. "I care enough to ask."

Dutch snatched it from him. "Then you should be askin' her. That's if she hasn't left yet."

Arthur blinked. "Left? To where?"

"Lilly was talkin' about leavin' us all...before she broke down cryin'. Not that it matters to you, of course," Dutch said coldly. "I'd sober up and come home if I were you." Dutch turned and walked out the door.

John looked at Arthur who had a stunned look on his face. "I'm an idiot too, so..." John threw up his hands lazily. "Good luck." John exited the saloon.

Arthur staggered and stumbled to the door to catch them both.. "Wait, wait! Dutch, John! Wait!"

Dutch and John were already mounted up. "What?"

Arthur walked with a drunken gait to Rose, got up, and shook his head vigorously. "She...she really was cryin'? In front of everybody? My Lilleh?"

"Yes. Now, I think it was just her bein' emotional, not that your behavior toward her has been helpin', but she was talkin' about leavin'," Dutch said, sounding a bit peeved.

"Why am I the bad guy here?" Arthur asked as they galloped off. "She's been so god damn unreasonable lately! And a hell of a lot meaner!"

John chuckled. "I'll tell ya, pregnancy is hard on a woman's brain. Abigail went through a lot of it, too. Maybe you should talk to the doctor here?"

"Oh, he will, but first let's get back before she does somethin' stupid, like gettin' shot on a job," Dutch said.

"Oh, she ain't..." Arthur hiccuped. "She ain't doin' any jobs like that. Not without me goin'. I'm her god damn husband."

"Then act like it, you dumb sod!" Dutch snapped. "You go and apologize to your wife, my daughter!"

"Why?! Because she's been uppity? That ain't my fault!"

"No? Because she is more emotionally sensitive now than before and you have been makin' it worse by pissin' her off and ignorin' her!"

"She'd be emotionally sensitive anyway because of the baby!"

Dutch stopped his horse in front of Rose. "Arthur! Stop bein' a stubborn asshole and go fix the mess you made! You hear me, boy?"

Arthur sighed. The only time Dutch called him "boy" was when Dutch was angry with Arthur. And by the look on Dutch's face, the man who raised him was livid. "Fiiine..." Arthur grumbled.

Lilly was pacing around a tree, trying to decide whether or not to leave, when Uncle quickly walked up to her.

"Lilly! How are you feelin', kid?" he asked enthusiastically.

Lilly frowned sadly. "Better, I suppose. Did I worry you?"

"Very! But I think I can help make you feel even better, maybe even turn that frown into a smile."

"What is it?"

"I bring a gift; the great gift of information."

Lilly smirked. She was intrigued. "Go on."

"Well, it's...uh oh," Uncle said as he looked past Lilly. "Your husband is back, and it looks like he's had a few drinks."

Lilly pivoted at the waist to look behind her and saw Dutch and John arriving with Arthur, who almost fell off Rose. He steadied himself with a deep breath and Lilly looked back at Uncle with a snort. "Oh...bloody hell! she huffed.

"Lilleh!" Arthur belted out.

Dutch stopped him. "You wait until she's had a smoke." Dutch walked to Lilly as John pat Arthur on the back and walked off somewhere. Dutch handed her the pipe and bag. "Here you go."

"Thank you, Da." Lilly packed a little herb into the pipe, lit a match and took a big puff. She instantly felt a lot better when she exhaled. "Ooooh boy..." she giggled. "Much better."

Dutch laughed. "Good."

Lilly glared at Arthur before sitting down and stuffing the medicine in her satchel. "Okay Arthur, now you can approach."

Arthur staggered over, stared at her with blood shot eyes and pointed at her. "You...just what in the hell do you think you're doin'?!"

Lilly blinked. "Excuse me?" she asked with a crinkled brow.

"You ain't leavin' me or the gang, you hear me? I won't allow it! Not when you're carryin' my kid!"

A scoff came from her throat. "Tryin' tah tell me what tah do, are ya? Go lay down and sober up, yer completely steamed!"

"Oh. Yes, I am steamin', but not because I'm drunk, you wench!"

Dutch grabbed Arthur by the arm and yanked him away, whispering to him. Lilly could overhear, of course, since her hearing was super acute these days. "That is not how you apologize to your wife, Arthur," she heard Dutch scold Arthur.

"I can't apologize when she's bein' unreasonable," Arthur replied with a low growl.

"She's only like this because of how you approached her. Be. Nice."

Arthur huffed and walked back to Lilly slowly. "Lillian. I-"

"Ugh! Go fuck yerself for callin' me unreasonable, ya shite! Now, I'm havin' a talk with Uncle here, so excuse me..." Lilly looked back to Uncle with a drugged smile. "You were sayin'?"

"Yes. I got information," Uncle said. "It's-"

"Woa woa woa," Arthur said, standing in front of Lilly and pointing at Uncle. "So you got some tip off, so now Lilly can risk her neck, and you can make some money while you lounge around."

"You know, Arthur? Bitterness, it-it works on the inside as well as on your sour face," Uncle pointed out.

Arthur put a hand on the tree to steady himself. "If you say so, but you can find some other fool to run your errands because Lilleh ain't goin'!"

"Arthur!" Dutch snapped.

"No! I ain't lettin' her do some job where she can get shot!"

Dutch sighed and looked at Lilly. "Sorry, I tried." And Dutch walked off. Lilly snickered to herself. Poor Da.

"Bill! Charles! Come here! Will you be my other fools?" Uncle asked.

"What are you talkin' about?" Bill asked as the two came walking over.

"Arthur says Lilly and him is above a little stick up I heard about," Uncle explained.

"No we're not!" Arthur and Lilly said.

"But you just said..."

"If Lilly's goin' on a robbery, I am comin' with. And you are ridin' with us, Uncle, because if anythin' happens to her or the baby, I'm holdin' you responsible," Arthur said, lighting a cigarette. Lilly was shocked at how sober he seemed now.

"Oh, I got a serious medical condition," Uncle said.

Arthur cackled. "Yes. You are a compulsive liar!"

"No need to be like that. Charles, have I ever lied to you?"

"I hardly know you," Charles said in confusion .

"Exactly! Now you guys should do this! It's easy! And I'll only take a small commission for my information, but it's now or never."

"Then it's never," Arthur said, walking a few feet away and winking at Lilly. Her face scrunched up. What the hell was he winking for?

"Oh, God help me..." Uncle said in desperation. "Fiiine! I'll do it!"

Arthur laughed. "Well, what is it?"

"It's a supply wagon carryin' payroll," Uncle said as they all walked over to their horses. "But very briefly unguarded apparently as it passes through a crossroads near here where there's an old ruined church, befooooore," Uncle groaned as he saddled up, "it connects with the rest of the wagon train. Very easy pickin's."

Arthur looked at Lilly with a grin, then took one more drag and tossed his cigarette. "As long as we get paid, or you get shot, I'm happy," Arthur said as he approached Tessa.

"You are a sick man, Arthur Morgan. A very sick man indeed," Uncle said lightly. Lilly mounted Liath and they all began to gallop out of camp. Lilly was finally going to do something fun without being hassled about "protecting the baby"...she hoped. "This way...bunch of smart alecks."

"How you get wind of this, old man?" Bill asked.

"So," Arthur said to Lilly. "Can I have the medicine back so you don't do it too much?"

Lilly scowled. "You don't trust me with it? Why are you actin' like this, Arthur? You've been so god damn controllin' lately, I feel more like a possession than a wife."

Arthur sighed. "Fine, keep the damn stuff."

"Hey, if you don't want in on this, Williamson, that's fine by me," Uncle said. "Do us all a favor. Head home."

"Just give it a rest, you two," Arthur groaned.

Lilly ignored the conversation as Charles got up next to Lilly. "You shouldn't be so hard on Arthur," Charles said.

"Why shouldn't I? He's been real harsh with me."

"He's under a lot of stress with the baby and...all the other things that's happened."

Lilly looked at him. "What do you mean?"

Charles frowned at Lilly. "Perhaps you should ask him how he's doin', Lilly, because I don't think it's my place to say, but we did have a talk and I think this all can be resolved if you just ask if he's okay. Because he's not."

Lilly looked at Arthur's back and sighed. "Thank you, Charles, for speakin' with him. He's not one to talk about things like that. Not with me, anyway. He's a man like that."

"No man wants to feel less than a man in front of his woman."

"Well, I don't want to feel less than a man in front of him, neither," she joked.

Charles laughed. "Yes, you are very manly, Lilly."

Lilly and Charles cackled and they caught up to the rest of the group. "Okay, hold up here," Uncle said.

"We should cover our faces," Charles mentioned

"They'll be passin' through the crossroads up ahead."

"When?" Bill asked impatiently.

"Soon, Williamson. Chrissakes. It should be due any time now."

"Let's this quiet and clean. Nobody needs to die here," Charles pointed out.

Just over the ridge, a wagon came into view. "There! See, gentlemen? See, Lilly? Heh haw! Just like clockwork."

Lilly put her bandana over her mouth and nose and the gang began racing down the road toward the oncoming wagon. As it made a left turn, Bill started yelling at the driver. "Stop the wagon!" When the driver refused, Bill pulled out a gun. "I said stop the damn wagon!"

"Whoa!" the driver said to the horses to slow them to a stop.

"Now, don't try anything stupid and we won't do anything unkind."

Lilly shuddered. "God damn, Mr. W. That gave me the chills. Woof!" Arthur and the other men laughed.

"You know, boys, miss, I...I don't, I don't want to get shot, but this is a mistake. I work for Cornwall Kerosene and Tar. Mr. Leviticus Cornwall."

"Ah. Well shit," Lilly said with a sigh. "Alright, well, we can't very well rob 'em now."

"Oh, Mrs. M, I think we can. I hear he's rich enough to share the wealth around and-"

"Mr. W!" Arthur snapped. "Mr. L made us swear to stay away from Cornwall's shit! Now let's go before someone else shows up!"

"But Mr. M!"

Lilly sighed and heard horses approaching. "We need to leave! Someone is comin'!"

"I don't hear shit!"

"Well I do! Now let's get the fuck goin'!" Bill and the rest of the men scattered. "Our apologies, gentlemen. Surely I can trust you not to mention this to Mr. Cornwall or anyone else?" she said with a gun raised.

"Yes ma'am."

"Much obliged, gentlemen." Lilly holstered and went racing after the men. They got away just in time when another wagon was on the approach. Lilly was furious. As she removed her bandana, she started talking to Arthur. "I'm gonna kill Uncle."

"Ha! I bet you would, but you can't kill him, honey."

"Oh, don't you call me honey, ya shite! I'm still mad at ya!"

Arthur laughed and they all slowed to a stop. "Oh come on, let's not fight right now, mo stór."

"I think we need to focus on Uncle's fuck up instead of your fuck up!" Lilly walked Liath to Uncle and glared at him. "You're an idiot."

"How was I to know?" Uncle asked.

"How was you tah know?! It was yer god damn score, Uncle! Ya did all that mother feckin' "research" yet ya couldna find out who the supply wagon belonged tah?!"

Arthur trotted up. "You're lucky she heard someone comin', Uncle. I would have been very unhappy had my wife gotten harmed in all this. Now, let's split up. Make sure you ain't followed."

The boys scattered except for Arthur, who stayed by Lilly's side. "Well, that was a god damn bust."

Arthur chuckled. "Well, it's a good thing you came along. If it wasn't for your, uh...very good hearin', we would'a been screwed."

"Quite."

Arthur cleared his throat uncomfortably. "Listen, I uh...ahem, I think we need to talk."

"Yes. I think we do as well."

"...I'll allow you to go out on jobs, but only if I'm with you."

Lilly eyed him. "You'll "allow" me, as long as I have you with me as a frickin' supervisor?!" Lilly belted angrily. He was still trying to control her.

"That ain't what I meant!"

"Oh really? Then change your god damn phrasin'!"

"Why should I?"

"So ya dunna sound like a fuckin' controllin' husband! I'm not a wee lass in need of protection! I can take care of the baby by myself if I hafta, Arthur!"

Arthur cocked his head and eyeballed her with a squint. "By yourself? By yourself?! No, we are in this together!"

"Not if ya keep pushin' me around! I swear to God himself that I will fuckin' leave everybody, especially you, and never come back!"

Arthur grabbed her arm and yanked her to close in on her face. "You promised never to leave!"

"Yeah, well, ya vowed never tah dishonor me so bad I wouldna forgive ya, and I dunna think I can ever forgive ya!" Lilly pulled her arm away from him and sat up straight. "Ya used me tah get yer fuckin' rocks off then was gonna leave me standin' there like some god damn whore! Ya shamed me!"

Arthur glared at her. "Well it's about god damn time you feel shame for once in your life! Might make you a bit modest!"

"What's that supposed tah mean?"

"You, runnin' around with all that fuckin' flirtin', you think people didn't talk about it behind your back? You think you're such hot shit that no one would ever think of you in a bad way?"

Lilly swallowed. That was harsh. "Did ya think of me badly because of that? The very thing that made ya love me in the first place and ya thought ill of me fer it?"

"That was before I fell in love with you, ya damn tart!"

Lilly scowled. "Well, thank ya fer clearin' that up! That makes me feel so much better knowin' ya was judgemental before I gave ya the god damn time of day!" Lilly spat sarcastically.

"Oh for chrissakes, as if you would've done anythin' about it had you known!"

"About what everyone else thought? Tah hell with what they thought! If I'da known what you thought of me, I would'a been devastated!"

Arthur's expression softened. "Really?"

"Yes! I would'a stopped flirtin' all together!"

"No you wouldn't."

"I would'a. I would'a done any god damn thing tah get ya tah...tah love me..." she lowered her head. "I loved ya the moment I saw ya, Arthur. I just didna know it, and I've told ya this! I suppose I flirted tah make up fer me emotional repression and I...I suppose I wanted ya tah feel jealous."

"...Lillian, I..."

Lilly looked back up at him. "But seein' as how the complete opposite was goin' on, and that ya kept it tah yerself, and not once did ya mention others talkin' behind me back, I think I'll list that as more offenses against your oath. Ya been breakin' it over and over again fer quite some time, it seems!"

"How was that dishonorin' you?"

"Not that, ya eejit! Tah always have me back! And by not tellin' me about it, ya didna have me back!" And with that said, Lilly turned and galloped away, thankful that Arthur didn't follow her. Or was she?

"Hey Lilly!" Sean shouted when she got back. "I heard about that bloody Cornwall stick up. Bad business that was, aye?"

Lilly chuckled as she ambled over. "Aye, that it was, deartháir. But I took care of it and got us out before the real trouble could start."

Sean giggled. "Right you are, girly. Hey, can I ask you somethin' about Arthur? Was his people Jacobites or English lovers?"

"Hmm. Ya know, I never asked. Ask him yourself, or I will once we're done fightin'."

Sean frowned. "You sure you twos will be alright? Ya been fightin' non stop for two weeks now."

Lilly shrugged. "Hope for the best, prepare for the worst." Lilly really hoped Arthur and her would be okay, but these days, she didn't know. Still, she didn't want folks to worry. Lilly took a gander at Sean's map, but before she could ask about that, Lilly had a more pressing matter. "Sean, I need to ask you somethin'."

"Alright?"

Lilly crossed her arms and looked at Sean in his eyes. "Did people talk about me behind my back? About my flirtin'?"

Sean suddenly looked uncomfortable. "Yes."

Lilly huffed and knocked his hat off. "Why'd ya never say nothin'?!"

"Ack! Because, Lilly!" Sean bent down and snatched his hat up. "I didn't think ya'd care! And it's not like Arthur and I didn't have our fair share of fightin' people about it."

"Wait, you and Arthur? You guys did what, exactly?"

Sean was sitting with Arthur enjoying a few beers in the Blackwater saloon. It was full of people that night. The two gang members were having a few laughs and Sean was having a right good time until Micah came walking to them and sat down. Sean hated Micah so much.

"Hello boys," Micah said with a smile. "What are you up to?"

"Just havin' some beers," Arthur said. "Do you need somethin'?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact. I want to talk about Lilly."

Arthur snapped his head in Micah's direction. Lilly and Arthur were still not on speaking terms since their fight a couple weeks ago. Lilly was very upset about it but would only talk to Sean about it. No one else. They were family like that. "What about Lilly?"

"Well, since you are no longer her favorite, I'd like some advice on how to become her favorite."

Arthur wheezed out a laugh. "Didn't you learn your lesson already?"

"Nope! Come on, tell me. What was your secret before you screwed it all up?"

Arthur took a drink. "Watch your mouth, Micah," he warned.

"No, really? I mean, you were close, but you never got close enough. Now I have to compete with Mac and Davey. They seem to be toe to toe near the finish line."

Arthur slammed his hand down. "Lilly will chew all of you up and spit you out!"

"Oh ho ho!" Micah laughed. "Jealous, are ya?"

"Leave him alone, Micah," Sean interjected. "He ain't jealous. He's protective."

"Oh is he? Well, seems like she doesn't want his protection anymore, even when she finds herself as a sheep among the wolves. But I plan on bein' the alpha."

"Micah..." Sean said. Arthur was getting red in the face. Micah was oblivious.

"What is it, Mick?" Micah laughed.

That bastard. "You know what? Nevermind. Go ahead and tell us your master plan on how to get Lilly." Sean just wanted to see Arthur kick Micah's ass. "Éist, ansin buille an cac as dó." [Listen, then beat the shit out of him.]

Arthur looked at Sean knowingly and leaned forward, beer in his hand. "Yes Micah. Please tell us."

"I haven't figured that out yet, that's why I was askin' you, Arthur," Micah growled.

"Well, an alpha wolf such as myself never gives up their station. And I haven't given that up just yet."

"But you and Lilly ain't speakin'."

"For now. She still has a claim on me and I her, so-"

"That ain't what she told me."

Arthur's eye twitched. Uh oh. "What did she tell you?"

"Said she's free game."

Arthur gripped the beer bottle hard and Sean shook his head. "Ná creid é, Sasanach." [Don't believe it, Englishman.]

"Why are you speakin' that...whatever it is?" Micah asked. "Ain't no room for anythin' but English here."

"Haha! Says you!" Sean laughed. "Anyway, you was sayin', Micah?"

"She's free game and I plan on bein' the first wolf to snatch her up. And I mean really snatch her up. I'm goin' to screw the daylights out of her. And when I'm done, I'll feed her to the rest of the wolves. Maybe then you can have her once the little tramp's had a real man."

Arthur took a drink of his beer, set it down gently, and bared his white teeth at Micah. "Ceapaim go ndéanfaidh mé é a mharú ina ionad." [I think I'll kill him instead.]

"Níl, fuair muid rialacha," Sean reminded Arthur. "Anois buail air." [No, we got rules. Now hit him.]

Arthur grabbed Micah by the collar and tossed him to the ground, then got on top and started pummeling Micah's face in.

Lilly blinked in shock. "Micah said all that shit about me?"

"Yep," Sean said. "But that wasn't the first time anyone insulted your honor and Arthur made damn sure to shut people up. Eventually they all stopped talkin'."

Lilly chuckled. "I had no idea. God, that explains all those fights he had with most of the men." Lilly sighed then laughed loudly. "You both are such bastards for not tellin' me."

"Yes we are," Arthur said behind her.

Lilly turned around and saw Arthur with...a giant white boar pelt in his hands. She arched a brow. "Who is that for?"

"The baby," he said, taking off his hat. "I'm sorry, Lilly. For breakin' my oath."

Lilly took the pelt from him and gasped at the feel of it. "Oh, Arthur, it's beautiful. When did you-"

"The day before our fight. I wanted to wait until your birthday, but I'll find you another gift. This is a peace offerin'. And an apology." Arthur got down on one knee, bowing his head and placing an elbow on the bent knee. "Tá brón orm, mo ghrá. Le do thoil libh mo chionta." [Sorry, my love. Please forgive my offenses.]

"Arthur, what are you-"

"I failed to protect you when you were kidnapped, tortured and poisoned. I failed to have your back. I failed to honor you. I failed you with the cougar. I have broken my oath. I wish to renew it."

Lilly knelt down before him. "Arthur, this is..." Lilly lifted his face and looked at him with wide eyes, dumbfounded by his penitence. "You don't have to-"

Arthur kissed her then bowed his head once more. "I swear by the sun, moon, and stars to protect you, to always have your back, and to never cause unforgiveable dishonor to you. I swear by the gods my people swear by. I swear by the land, sea, and sky. If I break my oath, may the land open to swallow me, the sea rise to drown me, and the sky fall upon me."

She shut her eyes, disbelieving that he remembered the whole oath, and yet he did. Oh, her poor husband. No wonder he'd been so adamant about keeping her safe. Lilly lifted his chin, smiled at him, and pressed her forehead to his. "You are forgiven, mo chuisle. For everythin'."

Arthur smiled and stood. "I love you."

Lilly got up and grasped his hand, lifting both her shirts. "I love you too, but here, feel." She placed his palm on her belly. "Can you tell the difference?"

Arthur laughed and looked down. "You got a little baby bump." Lilly nodded. He knelt back down and kissed her stomach. "Dia duit, ár bpáiste beag." [Hello, our little child.]

Lilly heard people clearing their throats and she blushed when she realized some of the camp members were watching. "Arthur, get up."

Arthur looked up at her with a smile. "What?"

"People are lookin' at us."

"Oh." Arthur stood up with an ahem and looked at everyone. They were all smiling or giggling. "Yes, we made up. Now go on, git!"

People departed. Sean, Arthur and Lilly laughed. "So, is your people err, Jacobites or English lovers, Arthur?" Sean asked.