Chapter is rated M for sexual content. Also, I put this in the first chapter recently and in the description but for translations of Gaeilge, I use Google translate, www.focloir.ie and www.teanglann.ie/en/

Chapter 45: The Party

A day later, Lilly went hunting with her brothers and brought back pelts and meat from boars, deer, rabbits, and even a whole panther carcass she had managed to track and kill. Apparently, killing all these wild and dangerous animals made her more of a confident expert in the area. Much to Arthur's chagrin, though. He'd been a little disappointed, but not so much to start an argument. Instead, he just smiled in defeat and helped her unload all the remains of her prey to bring over to Pearson.

"I just wish you would've asked me to come with, that's all," Arthur complained.

Lilly rolled her eyes. "Alright, alright, Mr. Morgan."

Arthur handed the last of the pelts to Mr. Pearson and pulled Lilly into a warm embrace. "Don't you patronize me, woman," he said with a laugh.

"I ain't patronizin', I'm merely gettin' bored with your mouth," Lilly said, smirking at her husband with a playful look in eyes.

"Oh, you're gettin' bored with my mouth?" He flashed his teeth at her. "Well," he leaned in close and bit her neck and she yelped. "How's that for borin'?"

"Mr. Morgan!" Lilly gasped. "You fuckin' bithiúnach!"

Arthur laughed. "I love it when you call me that."

Lilly hummed and started strolling quickly to their tent. "Let's go inside and I'll call you a hell of a lot more than that!"

Arthur chased after her but Lilly started running. "Hey! Don't run away from me!"

Lilly giggled and turned to run backwards. "Yer gonna hafta work for me, Arthur! Like I said, yer mouth is so borin'!"

Arthur's jaw dropped and he went faster. Lilly yelped and turned, running straight into Sean. "Hey! Lilly!" Sean giggled. "Be careful!"

"Oops, sorry," she said, covering her mouth. "Are you-ack!"

Arthur lifted Lilly up and walked in the direction of their tent. "Hey, where are you two goin'?" Sean asked with a laugh.

"I'm about to go fuck my wife!" Arthur shouted.

"Arthur!" Lilly scolded with a laugh. "You can't just-ooh!"

Arthur kissed her deeply and Lilly wrapped her legs around his waist. "Yes I can, Lillian Rose! You made me chase after you!"

Lilly giggled and moaned into his mouth. "Oh, I love you, Arthur."

"Mmm, I love you too," Arthur growled before kissing her again. "And I'm goin' to show you how much I love you right now."

Lilly and Arthur laughed and kissed again as Arthur walked into the tent. He tossed Lilly on the bed and climbed on top of her, kissing her once more and holding her in his arms. He bit her neck hard and Lilly nibbled on her lower lip. "Mmm, Arthur, you bithiúnach..." she moaned.

Arthur took off his shirt amd tossed it. "Yes I am." Suddenly Lilly heard giggling outside their tent. It was distinctively Sean. That little pervert. Lilly started laughing. "What's so funny?" Arthur asked her.

"I think Sean is listenin'," she whispered. She heard another giggle. "And Javier."

"Those fuckin'-"

Arthur went to get up but Lilly yanked him back down. "No no, let's have fun with it," she whispered again.

"You serious?" Arthur laughed.

"Yes. It'll be the closest thing they get to hearin' a woman scream without payin' for it."

Arthur laughed again. "Oh, you naughty little minx."

Lilly nodded. "Go on and strut your peacock feathers," she breathed with a wink.

Arthur chortled lightly into her neck. "I ain't sure-"

"Oh, you scared, Mr. Morgan?"

Arthur glared at her. "No."

"I think she's callin' him out on somethin'," Lilly heard Micah whisper.

"Micah's outside now. Now we can really rub it in his face," Lilly said softly. "We should talk dirty, too. It'll be fun."

That obviously convinced her husband because Arthur suddenly ripped her shirt open to expose her breasts. "Oh, if we're doin' that, you won't be able to keep up with the dirty talk."

He clasped his mouth on a nipple and Lilly moaned loudly. "Oh, try me..." she dared him.

Arthur laughed almost evily and sighed. "Okay. You asked for it." He roughly undid her pants and belt, then yanked them down. "On your knees," Arthur demanded.

Uh oh. Lilly wondered if she had unleashed his dominant side again. "Mmm, you're gonna have to make me, Mo Fear Álainn."

Arthur scowled as he rolled her over and lifted her hips up. She pushed up on her hands but he pushed her chest back down. "Stay down, Mrs. Morgan. You're goin' to need the cushionin'."

Lilly's jaw dropped and she laughed. "Oh my," she teased. "How hard are you plannin' on fuckin' my pussy cat?"

Lilly heard a wheezed laugh come from Arthur. "Actions speak louder than words."

Lilly felt his cock ram into her and, being true to his word, it made Lilly cry out. "Oh my God!"

Soft laughter emanated fron outside their tent as Arthur continued to plow into Lilly with his hands on her waist. Arthur chuckled maniacally. "God ain't gonna help you now, my prey."

Shit. Now Lilly knew she was in trouble, but she couldn't even protest because of how forceful his strokes were. "Oh, oh, fuuuuck, Arthur," she whimpered.

"Oh boy, I think he's really goin' at it," Lilly heard Sean say.

Lilly chuckled and grabbed a pillow to scream in but Arthur reached over and tossed it. "Nope. You ain't mufflin' your voice this time, woman!"

Lilly grunted and groaned as Arthur pressed a hand into her back. He went faster and it made Lilly almost cry out loudly. "Oh mo chuisle! I...I-I...you feel so good!"

"Just good?" He asked. He smacked her bottom and she squealed. "Louder, woman. I can't hear you." He slapped her butt again and Lilly screeched. "God, Lillian, your ass is so...mmm, I could just bite it!"

"Holy shit," Micah said outside. "Are you boys hearin' this?"

"Yes, you idiot," Bill said.

Lilly covered her mouth to stifle her laughing. "Bill is outside now too," Lilly giggled quietly.

Arthur pounded harder and faster. "That's it!" He yanked her up by her braided hair and pressed his mouth to her ear. "The next thing outta your god damn mouth better be good, Lillian, or I will stop."

"No no no, don't stop," she pleaded. "It feels good, I swear!"

"Are you sure?" He stopped pushing into her. "Níl mé sách garbh duitse?" [I'm not rough enough for you?]

"You are! You are! Don't stop!"

"Agair, Lillian. Agair." [Beg, Lillian. Beg.] Lilly squirmed and pouted. Arthur placed a hand on her clit and rubbed, which made her arch back and moan. "Táim ag fanacht," [I'm waiting] Arthur cooed. "Beg for it."

"Ha, I don't think she's gonna beg," Lilly heard Charles say outside. "She's too proud."

"I don't think he can make her beg, either," Micah chuckled.

Lilly bit her lip. Being talked to in Irish was her weakness. Arthur continued to rub her clit. "Beg me to keep fuckin' you and I will make sure you can't sit for a whole god damn week, mo bean chéile."

Some guffaws came from outside and Lilly's resolve melted away. "I-Impím ort, mo fear álainn," [ I ask you, my beautiful man] she said, turning her head and kissing his cheek. "Please don't stop."

Arthur bit the side of her neck. "That's my girl."

"Ha, he got her to beg," Sean said.

Arthur gave a harsh thrust and Lilly screamed out. He gave another thrust and Lilly screamed out again. "How much do you want me, Lillian?" he asked.

"I want you so much, Arthur, you're killin' me...just fuck me, please!" Lilly pleaded.

Arthur went at a steady but fierce pace inside of her. "Mo bhean chéile. Mo grá. Mo chúis maireachtála. Tá tú chomh fliuch. An é sin domsa?" he said into her ear, massaging her more harshly. [My wife. My love. My reason for living. You are so wet. Is that for me?]

"Yes, I am wet for you!" she moaned.

"In Irish, woman."

"Sea! Tá mé fliuch duitse!" [Yes! I'm wet for you!]

Sean giggled outside. "Oh my God, Arthur really knows what he's doin'..."

"What are they sayin'?" Lenny asked.

"He's basically demandin' her to talk dirty, and she's doin' that."

"I'll be god damned," Bill chuckled.

"Shut up!" hissed Javier. "They're gonna hear us."

Lilly moaned out loudly each time Arthur thrust into her. He continued his vicious assault on her nub with his fingers while pinching her nipple with his other fingers. This felt like pure ecstasy and Lilly was loving every moment of his dominance. Soon Lilly felt herself close to orgasm and she moaned even louder than she was before.

"Fuuuuuuck, god dammit, I'm so close..." Arthur stopped everything and Lilly whined. "Why'd you stop?"

"Just hold on," Arthur said into her neck. "I'm delayin' it, mo bean álainn." [my beautiful woman.]

"But why?"

"Just trust me," he said with a few slow thrusts. "It'll feel real good."

"Ugh, no it won't," she whimpered.

Arthur chortled. "Yes it will. I would do anything to enhance your pleasure, mo grá. And we are just gettin' started." Arthur started pumping into her again, but slowly. "Now, tell me when you're...oh, nevermind," he said and stopped once more.

"Oh good grief. How can you even tell I'm gettin' close?"

Arthur kissed her earlobe. "Because your insides twitch when you get close, and then you clench around my cock, and you clench so fuckin' hard, Lillian. Out of every woman I've ever had...you, my wife," he thrust hard into her and she gasped, "have the tightest, hottest, tastiest little honey pot and I am the luckiest man alive to fuck you every single day."

Lilly's heart fluttered and she grinned when he began to pump in and out again. "Oh, such things you say..."

"Yes. And only I can make you feel this way, right?"

"Yes, only you, mo fear chéile. No one else can ever compare to you," she whimpered. "Oooooh, Arthur...yes, keep goin'. Keep talkin'."

"Jesus Christ," Lilly heard Bill say. "Who woulda thunk it?"

"What?" Micah asked.

"That Arthur was such a smooth talker."

Arthur grazed her ear with his mouth. "Mo ghrá amháin. Mo bhean chéile le croílár na tine. Ní stadfaidh mé riamh grámhar duit. An bhfuil grá agat dom?" [My only love. My wife with the essence of fire. I will never stop loving you. Do you love me?]

"Sea! Beidh grá agam duit go deo!" [Yes! I will love you forever!] Lilly felt her orgasm peak once more and this time Arthur went so hard and fast that when she did come, her wetness spilled all over him and the bed. She cried out loudly with her shout. "OH MY GOD, ARTHUR!" The intensity of her climax made her whole body twitch, including her legs. "You animal!"

More guffaws came from outside the tent but Lilly heard footsteps approaching quickly. "Just what in the hell are you boys doin'?" Lilly heard Karen yell.

"N-Nothin'," Sean stuttered.

"Sean! Shame on you!"

Arthur tossed her ragdoll of a body on the bed and pulled up his pants. He covered her up while Karen argued with the boys and chuckled. "Keep lookin' tired, Lilly," he whispered before leaving her side.

"I am tired, but where are you goin'?"

"Just struttin' my peacock feathers," Arthur said as he ambled with confidence to the entrance. He opened the flaps and Lilly saw Sean, Micah, Javier, Bill, Charles, Lenny, and Karen staring at Arthur. Arthur looked back at his now exhausted wife with a giant smile, then at the gawking spectators. "And that, gentlemen, is how you please a woman." He shut the flaps. He strolled back to the bed and laughing echoed outside their tent. "Now, where were we, Mrs. Morgan?"

Lilly and Arthur went to the doctor in Saint Denis during her fourteenth week of pregnancy. Sure enough, based on the size of Lilly's belly, the doctor confirmed they were having twins and that all three humans were nice and healthy. Lilly's breasts felt less tender but much to Arthur's delight, they were getting bigger. The fatigue, dizziness and nausea were finally over for good. Lilly still had cravings for carrots and chocolate, but pickles and salted beef were still her go-to pregnancy foods. Lilly and Arthur, after the appointment, stopped at the general store and Arthur bought her more pickles and salted beef, which she happily chewed on the way home. When they got back to camp, Lilly and Arthur decided to make an announcement about having twins since they couldn't tell anyone before.

"Ah, Arthur, Lilly," Sean said as he closed in on the couple. "How did the appointment go?"

Lilly munched on some salted beef. "Good. In fact, we got even better news."

"What could be better news than havin' a baby?" Sean laughed. Lilly and Arthur looked at each other with smiles then back at Sean.

"Two babies," Lilly replied.

Sean's mouth dropped. "You're havin' two?!"

Lilly nodded excitedly. "Uh huh!"

"Haha! Hey Dutch! Hosea! Everybody! Get over here!" Sean went walking around to collect everyone. "Gather 'round, folks. Lilly and Arthur's got good news."

When everyone was crowded around the couple, they both smiled. "Well, we do have good news. Dutch, Hosea, you're gonna be grandfathers, you know that," Arthur said.

Dutch laughed. "Of course."

"But what you don't know is that you are goin' to be grandfathers twice."

Hosea blinked. "What?"

Lilly giggled. "We're havin' twins!"

"Oh my God!" Dutch shouted and hugged both Arthur and Lilly. Everyone cheered and gathered closer to examine Lilly's baby bump.

"No offense, but I did think you were showin' a bit much real quick," Abigail said.

"I thought that too!" Lilly said with a laugh.

"Hey! Let's celebrate!" Hosea and Dutch shouted. "For the happy couple and their twins!"

And of course, a lot of music, dancing and drinking ensued after the announcement. And it continued well after the sun set. As the music played, Lilly felt real movement in her belly and touched it. Sure enough, her palm was grazed by a small boink and Lilly laughed. It was a kick, or a punch, or a roll or something. She looked around for Arthur and power walked to him while still holding her belly. "Arthur! C'mere!"

He was talking with some of the boys with a beer in his hand when he saw her walking over. "What's goin' on?"

Lilly grabbed his hand and put it to her stomach. "They moved!"

Arthur turned all his attention to his wife's belly. Lilly felt another boink and Arthur laughed. "I felt it. Barely, but it was there."

"I wanna feel!" Jack came running and put his ear to her stomach. "Oooh, are your babies hungry? Your tummy is grumbling."

Lilly laughed. "Probably." Lilly reached into her satchel and grabbed a carrot, chomping down on it. "Mmm, good."

"Yuck! Carrots are gross!"

Lilly smiled and grabbed a candy bar next, grasping it tightly to melt it. "Not when combined with chocolate."

Jack scrunched up his face. "What?"

Lilly opened the bar which was now slightly melted, dipped the carrot, and handed it to Jack. "Try it."

Jack took a bite and a gleam in his eyes appeared. "Oh wow! Delicious!"

Lilly giggled and gave him the rest of the candy bar. "There you go. On me, kid."

Jack ran off to his mother and father to tell them all about the wonderful treat and Lilly grabbed salted beef from her bag with a smile. She chewed happily and walked over to an oak tree as she watched everyone continue with the celebration. When she touched the tree, though, images burst through her head.

Horses running. Rain falling. Kieran coming in on a horse, his head decapitated and his eyes missing. A ship sinking in a storm. Arthur falling off his horse. Hosea being shot in Saint Denis. Lenny being shot on a rooftop. Angelo Bronte. Grass, trees, and flowers dying.

Lilly gasped and stepped back from the tree. "What the fuck?" She touched it again with both her hands.

Lilly is on the banks of Tír na nÓg again and sees her parents and little sister playing in the river."Soon, my child, you will speak with them."

Lilly looks to the old washer woman. "Badb. Pleasure to see you again."

"Ah, so you know my name now," she says, washing clothes. "And you figured out a new source for our meetings. Clever girl."

Lilly notices it's Kieran's clothes that the woman washes."Is Kieran next?"

"Yes."

Lilly kneels down and begins to wash clothes from the basket. "And my Athair?"

"Yes. And Lenny, I am afraid."

"Can I save them?" Lilly asks.

"Of course. But be wary, my child. Just because you can save them doesn't mean they will be saved."

Lilly blinks. "I don't understand."

"You will soon, my dear. I am afraid you will very soon," Babd sighs. "Now, as for your husband, his death is unclear."

Lilly blinks again as she washes Hosea's clothes. "My husband? Is he still marked for death?"

"Yes, but as I said, it is unclear. My visions of late have been failing me."

"...How is that possible?"

Badb sighs again. "I'm an old woman."

"You're a goddess, though."

"Even gods and goddesses can fade, my child. I've lived for thousands of years and I feel my time is near."

"Is that what's happenin' to The Dagda? Is he fadin'?"

"No. He has lost his mind, I'm afraid. Losin' a child will do that to some. Adair was always his favorite child."

Lilly frowns. "Can he be cured?"

"I haven't the slightest clue."

Lilly pats Babd on the back. "You seem in low spirits today, my friend."

"Yes. I am. I do not look forward to the misery you are going to face soon."

"What misery?" Lilly asks with a frown.

"You will see. Now, your husband is coming. Tell him all you know. It is hard to carry the burden on your own. Relying on him will be your strength."

Lilly was pulled away from the tree by Arthur. "Lilly, what the hell was that?"

Lilly blinked and looked at Arthur. "I...what?"

"Your hands were inside the tree, Lilly! How did you do that?"

"I don't know! I just touched it and...I had visions again." Lilly pulled put her journal and began to write. "Kieran is next. Then...oh..." Lilly started to sob. "Athair and Lenny, too. And...oh! Oh! I need to...oh, so much information!"

Arthur groaned while rubbing his face with both hands. "Jesus!"

"Ugh, I can't see in this light." Lilly shut the book and went walking. "I'm goin' to the tent."

Arthur followed her. "Lillian. What are we gonna do?"

"Well, I found a new source for my visions. Maybe...hmm...I'll go back in when-" Lilly looked around, finding no one. "Did everyone go to bed?" She looked up, seeing that it was early morning. "How long was I attached to the tree? I swear it was only a few minutes." It had been the middle of the night when she first interacted with the oak tree.

"You were there for at least two hours, Lilly. Do you feel okay?" he asked, holding her shoulders. "You look pale."

Now that Arthur mentioned it, she did feel tired. "Hmm, I thought the tired shit was over." Lilly huffed.

Lilly walked in the tent with Lilly, finding the boys on the bed. "Boys, off," Arthur said. Brian and James jumped off and snuggled together on their bear rugs.

Lilly lit a lantern and began to scribble down words in her journal. "Do you think we should tell someone about this? Maybe if we-"

"Lilly..."

She looked at her husband. "What?"

He sighed and sat next to her on the bed. "I'm worried. You haven't shown me your entries lately and you won't tell me about that...Adair person."

Lilly frowned. "I'm sorry. I...there's just a lot goin' on, ya know? Seein' Papa again, the jobs we been goin' on lately, and all the things goin' on in my visions...but I...Arthur, please don't freak out when I tell you this."

"What is it?" Arthur asked.

"...I'm Adair, reincarnated. Just like my brothers."

Arthur gaped at her. "Really?"

"Yes."

"Well...shit," he chuckled. "That explains a lot about you, doesn't it?"

"I suppose." Lilly finished her entry and handed the book to him. "You can read now."

Arthur smiled and tucked his wife into bed. "You get some sleep while I read, mo stór."

Arthur went to the other side of the bed and Lilly rolled over to face him. "You gonna be up long?"

"No no. Got things to do tomorrow. Got that damn," Arthur got into bed after kicking his boots off, "garden party to go to. You sure you don't wanna go?"

Lilly frowned. "I'd rather not put myself in a position where I am unarmed around that old coot."

Arthur laughed. "Fair enough."

"Ah, the two expectant parents!" Hosea said as he walked up to Lilly and Arthur. "How are things?"

"Good," both Lilly and Arthur replied.

"Come on!" Dutch shouted suddenly. The three looked in Dutch's direction. "If we're gonna make it to this party, we sure as shit better clean up a little," Dutch saud as he walked over.

"So we're doin' this?" Arthur asked Dutch.

"Oh yeah," Hosea answered. "Old friend Dutch van der Linde has finally shown his true colors...social climbin'."

"Old Signor Bronte, that horrendous snake, has invited us to the ball, Cinderella, so my suggestion is we go get you a gown," Dutch said to Arthur humorously with a laugh.

"You son of a bitch," Arthur groaned.

"But uh, Lilly, are you goin' or stayin'?"

"Stayin'. I'm in no mood to upset myself by seein' that awful man," she said. "You boys have fun." Lilly kissed her husband on the cheek. "Make sure Arthur gets the best gown in all of Lemoyne," Lilly said as she laughed.

Arthur scowled as Dutch and Hosea laughed. "You are somethin' else," Arthur chuckled.

"Yes I am. Now go on." Arthur turned around and Lilly smacked his rump.

"Ow!" Arthur laughed when turned back around. "Frisky little shit!"

"God damn bithiúnach!" Lilly said playfully.

Arthur picked her up in his arms and kissed her deeply. "Lovin' wife of mine."

"Oooh, my darlin' fear álainn..." Arthur set her back down and gave her a quick peck. "Go have fun if you can, my love." Lilly smirked as she watched her three men walk off. Brian and James came walking out of the woods to her side and Lilly smiled as she reached for her personal invitation to the party from the mayor. "Well boys, let's go get ready."

Lilly arrived at the party with her wolves in black bow ties. She wore a sapphire blue and black satin evening gown with black satin laces on her bosom and back. The gown was off the shoulder with small sleeves, nothing like the fluffy ones she'd seen other ladies wearing. She had triangular shaped silk lacing from her bosom down to her pregnant belly. The back of her dress adorned ruffles and ribbons in both black and sapphire blue. She wore a teardrop-shaped sapphire pendant on a silver chain and teardrop-shaped sapphire earrings encased in silver. Her arms were covered in white gloves going up to the middle of her arms. Her auburn hair was braided in small celtic and trinity knots but mostly her hair was down. Not the latest fashion for hair but she wanted an Irish touch with her ensemble. Her lips were a dark red shade and her cheeks had dark red rouge. Her eyelids had dark maroon colored rouge as well. She looked around for her men but did not see them. She saw Bronte, however, on the highest balcony with some men. Lilly ignored them and went to find the mayor.

"Ah, Mrs. Morgan. I am so happy you showed." The mayor, when she found him, kissed her hands. "And you brought your magnificent wolves. I've heard much about them."

Lilly smiled and gave the mayor a brief curtsy. "Yes, they have been quite the talk of the town."

"Haha, yes. Did you raise them yourself?"

"I suppose, but I've only had them for about three months or so now. They were a lot smaller then."

"My goodness. And their names?"

Lilly pointed to each individually as she introduced them. "Brian and James. Boys, say hello."

The wolves made soft howls and the mayor laughed. "That is a wonderful trick. Do they know any more?"

"Just the basics, but mostly the tricks they know are for huntin'."

"Ah, you hunt?"

"Yes. It's my favorite pastime."

"Ha! Lovely! Now come come, let me introduce you to my other guests."

Lilly walked along with the mayor and her pups, getting stared at by practically everyone in the crowd. Lilly smiled at them as some girls came and cooed and billed over the pups, who apparently enjoyed the attention. With a shake of her head, she kept up her spirits as she was introduced to more people. Many asked about her wolves and many asked about her and she happily obliged both with answers, especially one curious couple. A Mr. Hobart Crawley and his young wife Patricia.

"Ah, so you hunt, Mrs. Morgan?" Mr. Crawley asked Lilly. "Do you take your wolves on hunts?"

"Yes I do," Lilly replied. "All the time. Helps cut my huntin' time down by half with twice the reward."

"My, you must be a progressive woman, Mrs. Morgan," Patricia observed. "Not too many of you out there."

Lilly cocked her head to one side with a smile. "Yes, that is unfortunate, but I do hope the movement will increase with supporters soon enough."

"Really, Mrs. Morgan, what benefits can you see to making us equal to men?" Patricia asked.

Obviously his wife didn't have much going on in her head. "Well, men are linear thinkers, Mrs. Crawley, which I find to be quite useful for every day life with business or politics. However, with the way of poverty, homelessness, wars, illness, and the lack of understanding of fellow men, perhaps a woman's perspective would be useful as well."

Hobart chuckled. "You know, I never thought of it that way. You may be onto something there, Mrs. Morgan."

"Mrs. Morgan?" Henri, the mayor, said behind her. "There are some Indians here who would like an audience with you."

Lilly smiled and curtsied to the couple. "Excuse me, please." Lilly turned and walked with the mayor. "I suspect they want to ask about my wolves?"

"Actually, they seemed more interested in you."

Lilly blinked a few times. "I see. Huh." Well, this would be interesting.

Mrs. Morgan and Mr. Lemieux closed in on the two Native American men. "Mrs. Morgan, may I present Rains Fall, chief of the Wapiti Indians, and his son Eagle Flies. Sirs, this is Mrs. Lillian Morgan."

Lilly curtsied to the men. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance." The younger man looked familiar to her.

The two men looked at her, then at each other, then back at Lilly. "It is nice to finally meet you, Mrs. Morgan," Rains Fall. "My son says he saw you once with your wolves."

Lilly tilted her head and squinted her eyes. She remembered being seen by three Indian men when they first got out of Colter, when their wagon wheel broke off. "Hmm. I thought you looked familiar, sir."

Eagle Flies nodded. "Why have you tamed these animals of nature, Mrs. Morgan? They belong in the wild, not at garden parties."

Rains Fall cleared his throat. "Please forgive my son. He is young and does not know his place."

Lilly smiled at them both. "Oh, I can understand your contempt, Mr..." she paused, unsure just how to address them. "I do apologize, and I do not wish to offend, but what should I call you both by?"

"Our full names are suitable," the young, irritable man said.

"I see. Well, Eagle Flies, I understand your contempt, and I understand your people value everything in nature, but I can assure you that these wolves are anything but tame." To prove her point, Brian and James made low growls at the men. They definitely noticed. Lilly rolled her eyes. "Boys, behave yourselves, please."

The wolves sat on their haunches to relax. Brian, however, kept his eyes on Eagle Flies as if daring him to question his sister again. "You control them, though."

"No. I merely remind them to be reasonable."

Eagle Flies scoffed. "Reasonable? They're wolves, not people."

Lilly wanted to say otherwise, but they wouldn't believe her. "I understand that, of course, but they have accepted me into their pack as one of their own, even though I am not an actual wolf. Although in some ways," Lilly took a step forward with a dangerous look in her eyes. "I can be a wolf if provoked, sir, and they most certainly understand that."

Eagle Flies gave her a nasty smile but as he was about to say something, Rains Fall put a hand on his son's shoulders. "Son, now I have questions for Mrs. Morgan."

Eagle Flies scowled and averted his gaze. "Yes, Father."

Rains Fall looked at Lilly and smiled warmly. "How did you become one with their pack?"

Lilly told the tale of her time in the cave with them, then the tale of the bear slaying, and that they'd been together ever since Eagle Flies first saw them together. Eagle Flies seemed skeptical of the bear fight but said nothing. Rains Fall asked her another question about the size of her wolves, to which Lilly explained they were Canadian Timberwolves but she had no idea why they were so abnormally large, however she didn't think they'd get much bigger. Now that she noticed, though, the top of their heads were well at her waist level now. James was just a wee bit shorter, however. Lilly saw Hosea and Bill and smiled with a curtsy.

"If you'll excuse me, gentlemen." And Lilly almost ran over to her Athair and Bill. "Hey fellers!"

Hosea turned around and gawked. "Lillian Rose, is that you? You look beautiful!"

Bill gawked too. He was speechless. Lilly chuckled. "Thank you. I know I look different, but-"

"We thought you wasn't comin'," Bill said. "You look pretty."

Lilly blushed. "Well thank you, Bill." Lilly kissed his cheek. "Well, the boys and I got invited by the mayor. We're uh, quite a popular subject, apparently. So, where's Da and Arthur at?"

Hosea pointed up toward the house. "Should be poppin' up there any moment."

Lilly turned and looked. "Oh. They're goin' to speak to Bronte. Why?"

"Dutch wants to play it cool with him and pretend to remain ignorant of your association with Bronte."

Lilly nodded. "Hmm, I suppose that is a good call."

Arthur walked up the stairs behind Dutch through the mayor's house. They were escorted to a balcony where Bronte and his men were laughing. Bronte turned and waved them over. "Ah, the angry cowboys, you've arrived! And you've washed!" Then the man said something in Italian.

Dutch shook the man's hand. "This is quite a party you've invited us to."

"Yes, quite something," he said before shaking Arthur's hand. "Although I'm not sure quite what."

"So, this is Saint Denis high society?" Dutch asked as he leaned over the balcony.

"Yes, apparently so."

"And all these people, th-these are friends of yours, Signor Bronte?" Arthur and Dutch were offered cigars.

"No no no no, not quite, but they certainly are afraid of me." Arthur looked down at the guests and saw Hosea and Bill walking about. "Like that one," Bronte pointed. "See that wretch? He's the mayor. Heh heh heh, Henri Lemieux." Arthur grabbed a man's arm to light his cigar. "He'll do anything for a dollar and I mean anything," Bronte continued.

"Politics is a foul business," Dutch observed.

"Yes, oh and that one too. That is Alberto Fussar. He owns a sugar plantation out on the island and he comes here to whore and despoil himself." Bronte almost giggled along with his men and Dutch.

Arthur looked out at the guests again and for a moment, he thought he saw a flash of white fur out of the corner of his eye, but when he looked it was gone. "No, they can't be here," Arthur said under his breath.

"Oh, oh, and that...that is Hobart Crawley," Bronte said while laughing. "A Confederate major in the war. A big hero they say, but that is his...his very young wife. I mean, a young mistress. That's the natural order of things, yes? But a young wife, it's unseemly. Oh, no offense to you, Mr. Morgan."

Arthur feigned a smile. "None taken, Mr. Bronte."

"Oh, oh, the redskins!" Bronte laughed and giggled. "I have no sympathy for them because whoever is stupid enough to be tricked by the Americans, they get what they deserve, huh?" Bronte laughed again. Arthur wasn't sure how much more shit talking he could take from this idiot. "Yes, hand a letter to the mayor. Oh yeah, that'll save you."

All the men laughed except Arthur. He took another puff of his cigar and looked over the crowd. He hated being up here with this "Papa" Bronte. Lilly wasn't here because of him and he'd been looking forward to seeing her in another dress. "So, anyone else we should be makin' fun of, Mr. Bronte?" Dutch asked.

Bronte laughed. "Yes, of course! That there," he pointed again. "That is Hector Fellowes. The self-righteous newspaperman. Maybe, maybe you will kill him for me one day?" Bronte asked Dutch.

"Well, we're not paid killers as such, not in cold blood, anyway," Dutch replied.

"I did not know you were so particular that uh, you wouldn't help a friend."

"Oh, I'm willin' to help in any way I can, uh, within reason."

"I'm going to pretend to understand what that means."

"I meant no offense, sir."

"None taken, none taken," Bronte laughed. "All these vulgar people. They hate me."

Arthur scowled. "I can see why," he uttered under his breath.

Bronte looked at Arthur. "Hmm, Mr. Morgan?"

"Mmm, yes?" Arthur replied, puffing on his cigar.

"Where is that beautiful, young wife of yours, hmm?"

Arthur raised an eyebrow. "My beautiful, young wife?" That son of a bitch. "Well, Lilly wasn't able to attend because she's not feelin' well. Bein' pregnant, especially with twins, will do that to a woman."

Bronte's mouth dropped. "Not one, but two bambinos? Ah, such is the miracle of life. I hope she isn't too uncomfortable at home, all by her lonesome," he laughed.

Arthur tried not to make an angry face. "Oh, she's got the wolves with her, but even so, she's more than capable of defendin' herself."

"Is she now? Is she a cold blooded killer herself, unlike yourselves?"

"No, my wife is as hot blooded as they come, actually."

"Arthur," Dutch said.

"No, Dutch, she is. She's got a real bad temper." Arthur looked at Bronte dead in the eye. "And Heaven help the man who ever crosses her."

Bronte smirked then chuckled. "Well, I'll be sure to avoid her temper."

"Arthur."

"What?" Arthur looked at Dutch as he puffed on his cigar.

Dutch pointed at the crowd with a smile. "Apparently she's feelin' better." Arthur looked over and saw Lilly. The cigar in his mouth dropped but Dutch caught it. "Be careful there. That was almost a perfectly good waste of a cigar."

When Arthur first saw Lilly in a dress, he didn't think she could get any more beautiful. Then the second time, he'd been proven wrong. And the third. And now, for the fourth time, as he watched her move through the crowd with Brian and James, his heart pounded in his chest, his breathing stopped, and his pants got really tight. His goddess of a wife spotted him and gave him a sultry smile and an innocent little wave before going about her little journey of introductions.

"Well, she certainly looks well. She has a mother's glow," Bronte commented.

Dutch laughed. "You know, I ain't never seen her in a dress before. She hates them. But now look at her, the belle of the ball."

Bronte looked at Dutch. "She hates wearing dresses? Why?"

Dutch sighed. "No idea. She's always been like that since we met her."

"Excuse me, fellers. I uh, ahem, need a private word with my wife." Arthur turned around and went walking through the house, down the stairs, and onto the lower balcony where Lilly and the wolves were waiting.

"Hello, my breathtakingly handsome lover," Lilly said to Arthur with a smile. "Do you like my dress?"

Arthur looked her up and down, grabbed a hold of her and kissed her. "God damn right I do, you beautiful woman. I thought you weren't comin'?"

"Oh, I only said that so I could surprise you. That and Brian, James and I got invited by the mayor. Us three are famous in Saint Denis now," she explained.

Arthur looked around and kissed her deeply. "I am definitely surprised, and I really wanna f-"

"Arthur!" Hosea said as he and Bill climbed up the steps. "Ah, I see you saw Lilly. Ain't she pretty?"

"She certainly is," Arthur commented.

"Gentlemen, Lilly, let's go ingratiate ourselves," Dutch said as he came strolling through the balcony doors.