Chapter 48: Old Blood Feuds

Arthur was chatting with Sadie on the porch of Shady Belle when Dutch approached them both.

"Come on, we need to talk." Arthur got up to follow Dutch into the house. "Mrs. Adler, will you excuse us?"

"When are you gonna let me come robbin' with you, Dutch?" Sadie asked.

"My Lord, you're just like Lilly. A few more like them," he walked in with Arthur, "we could take over the whole world."

Arthur chuckled. "A few more like them, there wouldn't be much of a world left."

"Yes, perhaps. Speakin' of, where is Lilly?"

They both ascended the stairs. "She's out huntin' with the boys. She was pretty lively today."

"Good. Glad to see the twins ain't tirin' her out anymore. Heh," Dutch stopped and looked at Arthur with a big smile. "I still can't get over it. Hosea and I are gonna be grandfathers." Dutch put a hand on Arthur's shoulder. "And you, my boy, will make a great father."

"Thanks, Dutch. That means a lot."

"Heh heh heh, so, at Dar...uh, what is it again?"

"Darach ar an gCnoc," Arthur said. "Means "Oak on the Hill"."

"Right. At Oak on the Hill, is there a nursery?"

"Yes, although a second crib is gonna be needed."

Dutch and Arthur walked out onto the balcony. "Yes. She didn't get a trousseau, but she will be gettin' a birthin' party, that's for sure." Dutch gave Arthur a cigar and lit it for him, then lot his own.

"What's a birthin' party?" Arthur asked before taking a puff.

"Oh, it's a party where only girls are allowed. They give gifts to the mother-to-be. But after these jobs, we'll have enough to get everybody to Ireland and then we can start plannin' all that."

Arthur took a deep breath. "It's finally happenin'. We're gettin' the hell outta here."

"Yes we are. Now, the trolley bus station...I went down there. I took a look at it. I think we can hit it." Dutch inhaled his cigar.

"You sure about trustin' Bronte's information on this? Lilly doesn't. Says he's a prankster."

"Hmm, that must be where she got it from. You remember when she buried all your guns and ammo and gave you a treasure map for 'em?" Ditch laughed.

Arthur burst out laughing. "Yes I do. I was so god damn mad at her." He took another puff from his cigar.

"Yeah, but you got her back, didn't you?" Dutch said with a mischevious smile.

"Yeah, I tied all her clothes up and sunk 'em in the lake."

Both the men laughed. "God, she hasn't played pranks for a while, huh?"

"Well, she's been busy, you know. We've all been busy."

"Yes." Dutch let out a deep chuckle and smoked. "You both have been busy with each other."

Arthur felt his cheeks get red. "Well, I uh..." Arthur cleared his throat. "I-"

"Oh, don't get embarassed, Arthur. We're all adults. Just because she's..." Dutch looked behind Arthur. "Someone's here." Arthur turned around and Dutch pointed. "Look, there in the tree line." Arthur got a glimpse as the shooting started. "Everybody take cover! O'Driscoll boys are comin'!" Dutch yelled.

Lilly drove Doc through the woods as quickly as she could. Kieran hung on for dear life as Doc leapt over a fallen log. Lilly found the trail again and charged faster. "God, Doc, I need ya tah go faster! Hyah!"

Doc increased his speed tp what Lilly thought was almost inpossible for a big Shire horse for him but she was grateful. Even Brian and James were accelerating. Lilly started hearing gun shots to the south but she didn't stop. "Adair, if ya can hear me, I could use yer help right now!" she said to herself.

"Who's Adair?" Kieran asked. Suddenly a bright light surrounded Lilly's body.

"Hold in here. Stay away from the windows," Arthur said to people as he ran down the stairs to the front of the house. He burst through the doors and saw Mary-Beth, Strauss, Abigail, Jack, and Susan came running. "Get inside fast! Come on, quickly! Don't let anyone back through that door!"

Arthur aimed his rifle and shot before Arthur went into cover next to Sean and John. All three men kept shooting and ducking back behind sandbags. It was then that Arthur heard wolves howling. Lilly was back. Arthur looked over and was amazed at what he saw. It wasn't Lilly charging in on Doc. It was Adair. "Oh shit, haha!" Sean said. "Now they're in trouble."

Doc raced past them to the front of the house. She had Kieran with her. Adair lifted Kieran off her horse and banged on the door. "Hey! I have one of your mortals here! Let me in!"

The door opened to a very shocked woman in a red dress. "Lilly? What in the world are you wearin'?!"

"I am not Lilly!" Adair walked past her and set Kieran down before walking back outside. "Close that door!"

The lady did as she told and Adair went walking boldly across the lawn, shooting at her enemies with a rather large bow. Each time she hit a man, he went flailing through the air. The wolves tore through the lines as if the O'Driscolls were wet bags. Adair dropped her bow and pulled out a sword. "Come and fight me, you cowards!" she yelled.

"Lilly!" Charles yelled. "What the hell are you-"

Adair swung her sword down and split a man at the shoulder, then she turned and sliced through another man's neck. Bullets hit her but they only bounced off as more men tried to attack her. With an upward swing, Adair cut through a man's head. She felt a hit to her head and she turned around slowly with a glare. The man looked frightened. Adair chuckled with an evil smile before lifting him up by his throat and throwing him into a tree. A wagon came riding through but Adair took a high jump from the ground and landed on it, making it shatter and break. Screams escaped men's throats as she stabbed and gutted them, slicing them up piece by piece. She took two throwing knives hidden inside her belt and with a sideways swing of her arm, they hit the two drivers in the neck and they fell off.

"Adair! We got more comin' in 'round back!" she heard her vessel's husband yell. "Brian, James, come on!"

The wolves obeyed and Adair jumped down as Arthur went running. She was impressed. "Such bravery, for a human."

Adair ran to the back and continued the assault on her enemies. She heard a woman screaming in anger and she went running, cutting down men as she closed in on the sound. She ran past a broken down shack and stopped to see a woman in a yellow shirt and brown pants stabbing a man to death. She laughed as the woman stood, covered in blood. Sadie looked at Adair. "What's so funny?"

"Your savagery pleases me."

"Sadie!" Arthur came and stopped next to Adair. He stared wide eyed at the woman. "Sadie," he said with a shock but impressed tone of voice. "Why didn't you get inside?"

Sadie grunted as she reached for the dead man's repeater. "And miss all this?" Sadie asked. She stood once more and glanced at Adair. "What's with the outfit?"

"I wear the clothes of a warrior, human." Adair walked past the two and sighed. "Come. We have a battle to finish."

"Why is she talkin' like that, Arthur?"

"It's a long story. Come on."

Adair continued her walk through the area, bullets still bouncing off the goddess like small rubber balls. She stabbed one man in the neck and grabbed another by the arm, flinging him into the swamp. As she mowed down the men, she saw a man in a blue shirt jump out a window with another and he stabbed his opponent with some sort of sword she did not recognize. He looked up at Adair with fire in his eyes. "Are you alright?" he asked, his expression softening.

"I am fine. Why?"

"You got blood all over you."

Adair looked down at herself and laughed before looking at the man again. "This is the blood of our enemies. None of it is mine."

"Lilly watch out!" the dark man yelled.

Adair felt something hit her back and she turned around to see a man holding a knife. She sighed. "None of you fools learn, do you?" she asked.

The man hit her again but it didn't penetrate her skin. "W-What are you?"

Lilly raised the man by the throat and glared up at him. "I am Adair, daughter of The Morrigan and The Dagda. I am a goddess of war, death and hunting. Do you have any other inquiries?"

The man tried to free her hand from his throat. "No," he choked. "Please don't kill me, lady."

Adair squeezed and bones crunched beneath her palm. She dropped the body then turned and walked to the front of the house. Adair saw a dark haired man with a black hat and a black vest shooting and killing without cover as the rest of their opponents went running. "Cowards!" he yelled. He turned and looked at the goddess. "What's with the dress, Lilly?"

Adair sighed in frustration as she sheathed her sword. "I am Adair, not Lilly."

"Uh, Lilly? Are you feelin' alright?"

Arthur came up to the man. "Dutch, this is Adair. It's a very long story. Adair, can you let Lilly back out now?"

The boys went to Adair's side and she pet them gently. Adair scoffed at Arthur. "No she can not."

Arthur blinked a few times. "Why not?"

"She is resting and I have been asleep for far too long. I wish to enjoy being outside."

Arthur huffed. "Fair enough."

Adair looked around and smiled. "Do you require assistance with the cleansing of your home?"

"Yes, thank you."

Adair lifted a body. "The swamp. Is that a suitable burial ground for our fallen enemies?"

Arthur laughed. "Sure."

Adair nodded and picked up another body, hoisting them both over her shoulders. Dutch gaped at Adair then looked at Arthur. "Arthur? Explain, please?"

Arthur crossed his arms. "You want the long story or the short one?"

After Arthur told Dutch and the gang who Adair was, Dutch rubbed the back of his neck and chuckled. "Well, that explains a lot about Lilly, don't it?"

"An Irish goddess, huh?" Charles sighed as he crossed her arms.

"Well, we always knew Lilly was special, but...but this?" Hosea said. "Very unexpected. And Bill, Micah, you and Sean saw her once before?"

"Yeah, when uh...well, she..." Arthur sighed. "She kinda died again."

"What? When?"

"In Rhodes. Grays thought she was a witch and burned her at the stake...with Uncle Levi's help."

Dutch narrowed his eyes. "Leviticus god damn Cornwall tried to kill her?!"

"Yeah. Mr. Pierce and Brutus, too. We was all locked up when it was goin' on, but then Adair came out and killed, well, almost everybody. Apparently they're Freemasons and think Adair was behind all the recent famines in Ireland."

"Was she?" Sean asked.

"No. She was framed. It's all in Lilly's journal."

"Her journal? What journal?"

Arthur pinched the bridge of his nose. "Lilly got a journal because after she died from the poisonin', she started havin', uh, visions." Arthur looked at Sean. "You were supposed to die in Rhodes but Lilly stopped that."

Sean's jaw went agape. "She saved my life? I mean I knew that already but I didn't know she knew. Why didn't ya tell me?"

"Lilly kinda wanted all this kept secret until she knew more. I feel bad for sayin' all this, but, well, then you all saw Adair."

"WHAT IN MY FATHER'S NAME ARE YOU?!" Arthur heard Adair shout. He went running over to the swamps with the others and started laughing. Adair had just killed an alligator and was pointing at it. She looked at the group. "What is that thing?!"

Arthur walked over to Adair and pat her shoulder. "That's an alligator."

"What is an alligator?"

"An animal. Nasty ones, too. One of the most dangerous animals in the world."

Adair shook her head. "Does it bear good meat?"

"Of course. You wanna carry it over to Pearson's cart?"

"Pearson's cart?" Adair asked with a puzzled look, picking up the dead alligator and walking with Arthur.

"He's the cook."

"Oh." Adair followed Arthur and put the creature down in front of Mr. Pearson. Pearson gaped at her and she narrowed her eyes at him. "What is the matter with you?"

"Nothin'. I just...well, Arthur just told us who you are, and...well...to be honest, I'm terrified of you."

Adair blinked a few times then smiled. "Why? Do you think I will rip you limb from limb? Stab you? Cut off your head?"

"Well, I don't know," Mr. Pearson stammered as he backed up a little. "Are you gonna do that?"

"No, as long as you do not become an enemy. Because if you do, I might eat you instead, Cook."

Mr. Pearson gulped. "You eat people?"

"Yes. Humans are delicious, you know."

Mr. Pearson went running away and Adair giggled. Arthur frowned at her. "Is any of that true?"

"No."

"Then why did you say that to Mr. Pearson?" Dutch asked.

Adair turned and saw a lot of people. She smiled again. "My vessel...Lilly, she told me to do it."

Arthur barked hysterically. "Is, is Lilly awake now?"

"Yes."

"Can she come out now?"

"She says she does not want to come out."

Arthur frowned. "Oh, why not?"

"She is afraid to come out. She knows everyone will have questions."

Arthur sighed. "Well, I kinda explained what was goin' on, so they already know."

Jack walked up to Adair. "Excuse me, lady?"

Adair looked down at the child and blinked, then arched an eyebrow. "Who is this tiny human?"

"I'm Jack." He held out his hand. "Nice to meet you."

Adair stared at his hand then at Arthur. "What is he doing?"

Arthur chuckled. "You're supposed to shake his hand. Gently."

"Oh." Adair shook Jack's hand. "Uh, nice to meet you? Jack, is it? I am Adair."

"You need a bath."

Adair looked down at herself and chuckled. "I do need a bath." She looked over at the swamps. "That is not a proper bathing spot. I will go find one, Little Jack." Adair let go of his hand and started walking. "Where is the local bath house?"

"Woa, wait a second," Arthur said. "You can't just go walking into the city covered in blood, Adair."

"Why not?"

Arthur gaped at her. "You'll scare people."

"Oh. Am I not supposed to scare people?"

"Not innocent people!"

Adair cocked her head to one side. "Alright. Calm yourself, fear chéile. Where shall I find this lake?"

"Follow me." Arthur went walking to Tessa and Adair followed. "Take Liath. Doc is...where is Doc? Doc!"

Doc came out the tree line and neighed gently. "Lilly says she has boar meat and pelts to offer," Adair said.

"Hey, Hosea? Can you grab the meat and pelts from Doc? Insufferable bastard will only tolerate you and Lilly."

Hosea came walking over to Doc. "Come on, old boy. Let's get you settled."

As Hosea walked away with Doc, Adair spotted Liath. "That is Liath Macha?"

"Yeah. That's his full name."

Adair mounted up and smiled. "Does Lilly have a preference to big hor-oh. Something about not being "freakishly tall"?"

Arthur cackled. "Yep, that's my Lilly."

Adair looked at herself. "Am I freakishly tall too?"

"Neither one of you is freakishly tall. At least not to me."

Adair smiled at him. "Shall we go?"

The two set off northwest to Flat Iron Lake. They took the wolves because they, too, needed baths. When they got just south of Clemens Point, Adair declothed and walked right into the water. Arthur did his best not to stare. It was his wife's body, but not her mind. Brian and James chased after her and she played with them in the water for a few minutes before they went off on their own.

Arthur sat on the shore. "Hey Adair, can I ask you something?"

"Yes," she said, unbraiding her hair.

"Are you and Lilly two separate people or are you the same?"

"We are both separate and one."

"I don't understand."

"We are two souls in one body. That is the best explanation I can give you."

"So, you're in my wife's body."

"Yes. Why?"

"Well, I..." Arthur averted his gaze when she turned around to face him. "Nevermind."

Adair laughed. "Are you worried about staring?"

"Yes."

"I see." Adair turned back around and got deeper into the water. "Now you may look."

Arthur lifted his eyes and sighed in relief. "Thank you."

"You are welcome. It is a shame, though. I have not made love in a very long time."

Arthur's eyes widened. "What?"

Adair turned her head and smirked at him. "You heard me."

Was she flirting with him? Was a goddess actually flirting with him? "Yes, but, you don't expect me to cheat on my wife, do you?"

"Would it be cheating?"

"Well, yes!"

"Well, if I were to take a lover of my own, would your wife be cheating on you?" Adair dipped her hair into the water.

Arthur narrowed his eyes. "I...I don't know. Ain't she conscious right now?"

"Yes and she is all for my sexual hunger, and," Adair turned around and started walking toward Arthur. "I am so very hungry, Arthur."

Arthur gulped and stood up quickly. He knew that look in her eyes. Lilly had the same one whenever she flirted. "Adair, what are you doin'?"

"Lilly has given me permission to have my way with you."

"Sh-she what?" Arthur started backing up as the naked woman walked out of the water and stalked him. "She wouldn't do that. Let me talk to her."

Adair grinned from ear to ear. "You do not wish to make love to a goddess, Arthur?"

Arthur backed up more. "No, I don't." The bulge in his pants proved the opposite, of course. Now he felt horrible for being turned on. "Adair, please stop."

Adair didn't quit, though and she pressed herself up against him. "It has been so long since I have touched a man."

"I said no, Adair."

"Oh, your resolve is admirable and your loyalty is commendable, but your body is betraying you," Adair cooed.

Arthur shut his eyes with a deep breath, opened them with an exhale, and put his hands on her shoulders. "Adair, you are beautiful. I won't deny that. But you ain't my wife and I ain't gonna do it."

"I can make you. I am more powerful than you."

Arthur scowled. "Don't push me, god dammit, or I will give you a hell of a fight and I don't care how strong you are!" he snapped.

Adair suddenly burst into laughter and started pointing at him. "Lilly said you would react that way."

Arthur's eyes went wide. "What?! Did you two just prank me?!"

"Yes! Hahaha! Now I know why she does it!"

Arthur threw up both his arms and turned about. "I don't believe you two!" Adair was enveloped in light and Lilly, fully clothed, returned.

"Oh mo chuisle, don't be mad." Arthur looked at Lilly and she had her arms behind her, twisting back and forth with an innocent look in her face. "It was only a joke."

Arthur squinted his eyes, mildly amused. "You both are assholes, you know that?"

"Yes, but you still love me."

Arthur pulled her to him and kissed her passionately. "I do, but I will get you back for that."

The couple went back to Saint Denis and explored some more. Despite choosing the wild over civilization, Saint Denis sure did have its perks. Like ice cream, for example. Lilly had to have more of that so she bought herself some at a soda fountain. Then they stopped at a bakery and Lilly got some strawberry filled cake with buttercream icing. Arthur joined in on that dessert. On the way out they passed by the stables. Lilly saw some nice horses, especially a gold colored Turkoman, but she wasn't going to by one. She was satisfied with Liath and Doc. She merely wanted a look see. Then, as they headed north, they saw two Indians with an American.

"Huh, weren't them fellers at the party?" Arthur asked.

Lilly let out a sigh. "Yes, that would be Rains Fall and his son Eagle Flies."

"Hello? Helllooooo...open up! Come now, we have an appointment." the American said.

"Should we go see what's goin' on?" Arthur looked at her for reassurance.

Lilly shrugged. "Sure, why not? Maybe Eagle Flies will like you more," Lilly said sarcastically.

"Hello? Ugh, Lord give me strength. Bureaucracy; the modern hell, and personally, I prefer the fiery pits."

Lilly chuckled as they dismounted. She grabbed some salted beef and started eating as they got closer.

"Hey, do I know you?" Arthur asked the man.

"Mr...I believe we've met," the stranger said. "At that ghastly party."

"Oh, Evelyn Miller?" Arthur pointed.

"Unfortunately so, Mr.?

"Arthur Morgan." They shook hands. "At least sometimes. And this is my wife Lilly." He turned and saw Lilly stuffing her face with beef and he chuckled, turning back to Evelyn. "I'm sorry, she's eatin' for three at the moment."

Mr. Miller glanced at Lilly's belly. "Twins, huh? Congratulations," he said with a smile. "Can I say something rude? Not about her, but something else."

"Sure."

"The mayor thinks you robbed him."

Lilly choked a little on her food and pat her chest. All four men stared at her. "Ahem, excuse me, sorry. I wasna expectin' ya tah say...well, that."

"Well, to be clear, he wasn't very upset about it. He rather liked you and...wait, you're the woman with the wolves. I didn't know you two were married."

Lilly laughed before swallowing. "Yes, we are."

"I sort of met them at the party. Charming little fellows."

Eagle Flies scoffed and Lilly snapped a glare at him before responding to Mr. Miller. "Yes, they are."

"Well, where are they now?"

Lilly shrugged. "Huntin', sleepin,' hell if I know. They come and go as they please."

"Really? They don't stay with you?"

"They do when they want to. I don't keep 'em on a leash. They," Lilly eyeballed Eagle Flies, "ain't pets, Mr. Miller. They're wild animals."

Eagle Flies' expression softened just a bit and Lilly looked back at Mr. Miller. "I see. Well, anyway, Mr. Morgan, do you, uh, well I mean to say...can you steal things?"

"Is there a reason you're askin' me to incriminate myself, Mr. Miller?" Arthur asked.

"Well, sorry. Have you met?" Mr. Miller motioned to the two Native Americans. "This is Rains Fall, a great chief, and his son, Eagle Flies."

"We saw you on the wagon train crossing the river at Cumberland Falls. And at the party, you were upstairs," Rains Fall said to Arthur.

"Well, you have great powers of observation," Arthur replied.

"I didn't know you was one of the men that saw us, sir," Lilly said. "I apologize, I only recognized you, Eagle Flies."

"That is alright, Mrs. Morgan. The sun was high and bright that day," Rains Fall said with a kind smile.

Lilly smiled. "So, if I may ask, what brings you three out here?"

"My people...if we even are a people anymore, we fought hard, we've made peace treaties, and those treaties were broken. And we've been moved and punished and...punished and moved."

"I'm sure," Arthur said in response.

"And now I am told we are to be moved again."

"Clearly contravening the peace treaty signed three years ago," Mr. Miller interjected.

"This will lead to war," Eagle Flies said.

"No, my son, it will not," Rains said, putting a hand on Eagle's shoulder. "We cannot fight another war. They have got stronger, and we have become far weaker."

"It's uh, a bad business," Arthur said.

"It's to do with oil. I know it is, but I need the proof. I believe there were some prospectors who were on their land a few months ago who have filed reports with Leviticus Cornw-"

Lilly walked over to the door and banged on it...gently. "Hey, ya rat bastards! Mr. Miller made an appointment with ya fucks! Open the god damn door! Dunna make me feckin' shout!"

Arthur put a hand on Lilly's shoulder. "Lilly, honey, please don't shout. I know how you feel about Levi, but-"

Lilly glared at him. "How I feel about him?! Arthur! He-" Lilly glanced at the three shocked men, then back at Arthur. "Ya know what he did!"

"Yes, and I am just as furious as you are, but please don't make a scene."

"But Arthur, I-"

"Tá an iomarca post againn. Ná tarraing aird." He looked around and then back at her. "Le do thoil, mo bhean chéile?" [We have too many jobs. Do not draw attention. Please, my wife?]

Lilly took a deep breath in and shut her eyes. Arthur was right. She needed to calm down. They needed to lie low and ranting and raving was the exact opposite of that. Lilly nodded her head. "Tá, mo fhear céile. Tá an ceart agat." [Yes, my husband. You're right.]

Arthur chuckled. "You finally admit I'm right about somethin'?"

Lilly smirked at him and shoved his shoulder. "Shut up," she said playfully. She cleared her throat and looked at Evelyn. "I apologize for the interruption. You were sayin'?"

"Yes, um, these prospectors, they filed reports with Mr. Cornwall and the State Government claiming huge reserves of oil under their land."

Lilly shook her head. God, when did her uncle become such a greedy little fuck? The Levi she knew never would have done something like that, but then again, did she ever really know the man? Apparently not.

Arthur nodded in understanding. "So, you want me to try and steal it?"

"Obviously they can't. And even more obviously, I would be useless. Listen, I realize that it is a ridiculous request, but we're very desperate."

"No, I'm not a do-gooder, Mr. Mi-"

Lilly back slapped Arthur's chest. "I'll do it."

Arthur looked at her. "What? You?" He cackled. "You're pregnant. And I ain't lettin' that asshole near you again."

"Yes but I'm a hell of a lot stealthier than you are."

Arthur scrunched up his lips. "Sweetheart, if you get caught..."

Lilly stared at him with a defiant look in her sapphire blue eyes. "I wilna get caught. An bhfuil muinín agat as mo fhocal?" [Do you trust my word?]

Arthur frowned. "I trust your word, Lilly, you know I do. But...if you're doin' this, please let me come with."

"No, ya got that...other thing tah deal with. Let me do this. I need tah do this. Please, mo chuisle."

Arthur sighed in defeat. "Alright, fine. Just be careful."

Lilly giggled and kissed her husband's cheek then looked at Evelyn. "I'll do it."