Chapter 64: Adventures Part 1

"How many charms do you think this area has?" Karen asked as she shot down another one.

"Who knows?" Arthur replied, looking for more across the river. "This guy is an idiot. Talkin' about demons and shit." Arthur grabbed a charm and broke it.

Sean giggled. "Demons? Oh, the boys better stay away from the village, then."

Lilly brushed off some of the charm wood that scattered on her arms, then looked at the wolves who were lazing about in the shade. "Maybe, but I don't give two shites about what those people think. They're nuts."

"That ain't their fault, Lilly. They got that damn moron convincin' them it's some dark curse," Arthur explained.

Lilly shot another charm. "I don't see any more around here, do you guys?"

"No," Karen said.

"No...wait, found another one." Sean shot it down. "You got any more, Arthur?"

"Yeah, just a few more across the river," said Arthur as he waded through the murky water.

He coughed a little and Lilly eyeballed him. "You alright?" she asked him.

Arthur turned around and rolled his eyes at her. "Lilly, you don't need to keep askin' me if I'm alright every time I cough."

"Yes I do. Drink some of your milk. It's already been four hours since your last dose."

Arthur scoffed. "Why am I drinkin' this if I'm gonna be healed?"

"Because we," Lilly jumped and yanked another charm down, "don't know when that will be and I want you to," she dropped the charm and stepped on it, "have the least amount of coughing fits as possible."

"What's this about Arthur bein' healed?" Karen asked Lilly.

"Apparently The Morrigan says he's gonna be healed, just...eh, just not yet."

"Well shit. That's good news, ain't it?"

"Yes. Still," Lilly started crossing the river to help Arthur with the rest of the charms. "Arthur, take a god damn drink please or I'll shove the milk down your throat."

Arthur laughed and pulled out a leather pouch. "God, I love you."

Lilly beamed at him as he drank his milk. "I love you too."

Arthur wiped his mouth and put the milk away. He shot two more charms and Lilly shot one more. "I think that might be it," he said.

"Good grief, where were these demons that guy was tellin' you about? I don't see any demons around here, do you?" Sean asked everyone.

"That man is full of malarkey," Karen said to her husband.

Arthur and Lilly crossed back in the river and met up with Sean and Karen. "Alright, let's head back to Butcher's Creek."

The gang members and the wolves headed back to Butcher's Creek and saw Obediah and the shaman sitting on Obediah's porch. The shaman stood up and pointed at the wolves. "Demons! Away!"

Lilly laughed. "They ain't demons, they're my wolves, ya silly man."

"Hey! I thought I was your silly man?" Arthur said with a frown at her.

Lilly giggled and kissed him. "You are."

Arthur chuckled and spoke to Obediah. "Remember me? I helped with those dogs. I been...well, we been seein' about this curse of yours. This is Lilly, my wife. That's Karen," he pointed to Karen, then Sean," that's Sean, her husband, and these two misfits are Brian and James." Arthur pointed to the wolves in order.

The shaman hissed and backed away from the group. "Demons, I tell you! Demons!"

Sean rolled his eyes. "Really, man, they're not demons. They're just...big wolves."

Lilly chuckled and scratched behind their ears. "Yes, calm down. They're just big wolves. I've had them since they was pups."

"It's a dark omen," the shaman said to Obediah.

"Those charms, out in the woods. They all been broken," Arthur said.

"All of them?" the shaman said in shock.

"So, I guess that's it for your sufferin'."

"Ah!" Obediah stood up. Haha, it's a miracle, we're saved. The darkness lifted." he exclaimed happily.

"Not saved," the shaman interrupted. "Cursed. He...broke the charms...and the spirits are set loose."

"W-w-we're doomed, then?" Obediah stuttered as he sat back down.

Lilly rolled her eyes. "Hold on," Arthur started. "You said the charms was protectin' the curse."

"I said...it was a dark omen. I said he had the demon's tongue. And look. He has brought two demons into the village."

Lilly pinched the bridge of her nose. "Oh, as ucht Dé...me wolves are not demons, ya fuck! They're just wolves! Yes, they're a bit...abnormal in size, but that's it!"

Obediah got back up. "Now, I-I need some light here now," he sat back down, "I don't know what to think."

"Hey, look at me," Arthur said as he motioned to himself. "I think somethin's goin' on in this holler, and it ain't a curse," Arthur said as he pointed repeatedly at Obediah. "And whatever else it ain't, this feller," Arthur pointed to the Indian, "don't want you to know."

"Liar!" the Indian stood up angrily. "I told you he would lie and dissemble."

Karen snorted. "I think the game is up, buddy."

"Somethin's up," Arthur said, pointing at the Indian. "And this one wouldn't be so quick with ideas if he didn't have some clue of it."

"I have the gift!" The shaman closed in on Arthur with his arms up high, "my ancestors..."

Arthur raised a fist to the man. "I got a gift right here!"

The man cowered and started walking around Arthur and the rest of the group, but Arthur followed him with his fist held high. "I'm...going...to commune...with the spirits!" The man fell but got back up. "Dark, dark omens!" He then ran away. "Dark spirits!"

Lilly almost fell over from laughing so hard. "Oh my God, what a moron!" she giggled.

"What is he hidin'?" Arthur asked rhetorically.

Obediah walked to Arthur's side. "He, he all-he always spoke truthful to us. There, there is a dig, o-on the other side," Obediah pointed north, "of the hill there. There was a dig, anyway. It's closed now. He always said something about not going over there."

"Well, maybe I'll take a look at that dig. See if I can see somethin'," Arthur said.

He started walking away. "Be careful, mo chuisle!" Lilly shouted.

Arthur stopped and looked at her. "You ain't comin' with?"

"As if you'd let me?" she smirked. "Not when I'm twenty weeks pregnant, you won't."

Arthur smiled with a nod. "You know me so well."

Sean ran to Arthur. "I'll go wit' yas, Arthur."

"Good. Let's go."

The two men wandered off and Lilly and Karen were left with Obediah who looked at them strangely. "So, you're pregnant, huh?"

Lilly smiled. "Yes. With twins."

Obediah brought out a chair and the girls and him sat and talked for a bit about life in Butcher Creek. As the conversation went on, Karen pulled out a bottle of whiskey and gave it to Obediah. Lilly thought this strange that Karen was not drinking. Was she finally laying off the hooch? The boys went walking about the area being nice to the townsfolk. Some were scared, others were curious. But before long, the shaman was back, spewing his nonsense about the wolves being demons. Lilly only shook her head and called her brothers over. They obeyed but the shaman walked over to them.

"Your demon wolves are dark omens!" she shouted.

Karen rolled her eyes. "Oh blah, blah, blah!" Karen stood up and got into the shaman's personal space. "Now you listen here, mister. These wolves are kind and gentle and they only attack when Lilly says so, so you better watch your mouth or else I'll sick myself on you!"

Lilly cackled and stood up. "Please do not upset my best friend. She's real mean."

Karen looked back at Lilly and giggled into a fit. "I sure am!"

Both the girls laughed hysterically. "Oh, how I miss bein' drunk!"

They laughed again but the shaman looked at them strangely. "Obediah, I have found a way to break the curse."

Lilly snickered. "Oh have ya, now?"

"Yes. Obediah, gather everyone."

Lilly and Karen kept giggling into fits as the shaman gathered all the townsfolk around and stood on a box. "I told you I would save you!" the shaman said. This caused a positive reaction from the crowd. "I said I would lead you out of the darkness!"

"Yes!" cried the people. "Show us the light!"

"I shall!"

Lilly saw Arthur and Sean heading over and both of them looked mad. "Uh oh," Lilly said. "Our men look mad."

Karen peeked over. "Oh shit, I don't think I've ever seen Sean that mad. That there's a new face on him."

"Aye, that it is, Karen. Wonder what's got their knickers in a twist..."

"This is a powerful magic that will protect you on your journey," the shaman laughed.

Lilly looked over and saw Obediah reading the paper out loud. "I-I-I hereby r-release, absolve, a-and in-indemnify the aforementioned Roanoke Fuel Company?"

The shaman slammed the paper down. "Stop reading. You didn't tell me you could read!"

Arthur and Sean marched over. "What kind of trick you pullin' now?" Arthur asked furiously.

"Oh, you're back! We thought the curse had got you!" Obediah said.

"Nope, but," Arthur pointed at the shaman, "but he nearly did."

Karen and Lilly looked at each other than back at the shaman. "What?!"

"Bastard nearly killed us with dynamite!" Sean barked. "And we almost suffocated to death in that dig!"

"Yeah. We was down in that dig and we found this," Arthur pulled out a small glass vial. "Leakin' all the way into the lake. You've been poisoned."

Obediah blinked. "N-now w-we-we were warned not to heed what you say."

Lilly narrowed her eyes at the shaman. "Ya tried tah kill me husband and me brother?"

Karen was also mad as hell. "You tried to blow up both our husbands?!"

The wolves' hackles raised and their teeth were bared as they neared the shaman. He started backing up. "I didn't do anything!" he claimed.

Lilly approached the man. "Why don't I believe you?"

The shaman tried to leave but Lilly let out a high pitched whistle and James flanked the man. Brian stood at the man's side, growling and drooling.

Arthur sighed. "Lilly, please calm them down."

Lilly eyed her husband, then eyeballed the shaman and snarled. "Boys, relax."

The boys sat on their haunches and did as they were told. Arthur approached the man and looked at Obediah. "Let him tell ya what this shit is." Arthur waved the vial at the shaman. "What's this?"

The shaman looked almost frightened. "It's nothing," he laughed nervously.

"Nothin'?" Arthur grabbed the man. "Oh, then you won't mind takin' a drink!"

Arthur shoved the man to the ground and the crowd tried to stop him but the wolves blocked their way. The shaman begged Arthur but he didn't listen as he forced the liquid into the shaman's mouth. Sean, Karen, and Lilly just stood and watched in satisfaction as the man rolled over and groaned. "You've killed me, I'm poisoned," the shaman said.

Arthur faced the small crowd. "Poison now, is it?"

"Ugh, the dig. All they found was arsenic and lead. They dug down into the cave system, it spread, I was meant to get you all to go," the shaman groaned out as he was curled in on himself, holding his stomach.

"Now you heard it."

"It's taken me! Ooooooh..."

"Oh dear, dear God..." Obediah said in horror. "There's no arguing, it's clear as day! We're cursed!"

Lilly's eyes widened, as did Karen's and Sean's. "Cursed?" Arthur said in disbelief. "What are you talkin' about?!"

The shaman groaned and screamed as he got up and ran away. "Powerful forces have taken on this town."

"It ain't spirits! It's a mining company!" Arthur argued.

"No, it is spirits! Spirits talkin' through a mining company! Brothers and sisters, we got some praying to do."

Arthur turned and face palmed himself. Lilly started giggling as the people started walking away. "Don't pray! Do somethin'! You'll die...or worse!"

"Just go! It's our curse, it's ours to deal with. Now the medicine man left some money there," Obediah pointed to a table, "just take it if you want."

Lilly shook her head, walked over to her dumbfounded husband and put a hand on his shoulder, trying to suppress her laughter. "Well, at least you tried, darlin'," she said.

Lilly and Karen were laughing all the way to Van Horn while the two men scowled at them. "Us nearly dyin' is not funny!" Sean barked out.

Lilly waved her hands back and forth. "I know, Sean, but the..." Lilly started laughing again. "That fuckin' shaman was such an idiot and they all believed him! And they still think they're cursed!"

Karen and Lilly laughed hysterically and then they finally calmed down as they got to Van Horn. They went to the general store so Lilly could get her carrots and chocolate, but she also got apples and peaches. On the way out, she melted a chocolate bar and covered an apple in the mess. She gobbled up the apple and smiled. "Where to, Lilly?" Arthur asked. "Where's this big man with a small head?"

Lilly looked around then bit into a carrot. "Hmm. We could try the saloon," she said, aiming her carrot in the bar's direction.

The group walked over to the saloon with Brian and James, then as soon as they walked in, Lilly saw him. He was tall. He was with a blonde haired lady.

"Come on, Bertram, please!" she said to him.

"No. Bertram said no," the tall man said.

Lilly went to sit down so she could watch the spectacle. Sean and Karen joined her. "Oh, that's nice, that's very nice. "Friends for life" we said and now the two of you have betrayed me at once. Do you know what betrayal means, Bertram?" the woman said to Bertram.

"No..."

"It means hurting Miss Marjorie. Well, I thought you liked me? I've clothed you, I fed you."

"Bertram does like Miss Marjorie."

"Yes. And Miss Marjorie likes Bertram."

As the woman kept talking, Arthur looked at his wife. "You sure about this?" he asked her.

Lilly shrugged. "Hey babe, you don't have to do it. I just thought it'd be fun."

"Fun for me or fun for you?"

Lilly smirked and bit into her carrot. "Obviously fun for me. If he gets too carried away, I'll jump in."

Bertram turned around and saw the wolves. He gasped, jumping up and down and clapping his hands. "Doggies! Doggies! Such big doggies!"

Lilly cracked up as Brian and James backed up near her. "Oh, don't be shy, boys. Go on, say hello to the man."

They whined at her and Bertram came running. "Oh Bertram, those aren't doggies! Those are wolves!" Marjorie blurted out. "Come back here!"

Betram outstretched his arms not listening and Lilly stood up, blocking Bertram from her wolves. "Woa woa, easy big fella. You're gonna scare them if you go after 'em like that."

Bertram frowned and grabbed his head. "But Bertram wants to pet the doggies."

"Well sure you can!" Lilly said with a beaming smile. She looked at Marjorie who looked frightened. "They're good boys, I promise." She looked back at Bertram. "But you must be gentle with them. Here, I'll show you."

Lilly had Bertram hold out his hand and the wolves smelled him. James licked his fingers and Bertram giggled. Lilly held Bertram's hand and helped him pet James' fur gently. "See? Nice and sweet."

"Bertram likes doggies. Doggies are so soft."

Brian came up to Bertram and he pet Brian gently with another giggle escaping his large form. "There we go. Nice, Bertram."

Brian and James whined at Lilly then at Bertram who started clapping his hands. "Yay for Bertram! Yay for Bertram!" And he went running back to Marjorie. "Bertram pet the doggies! Bertram pet the doggies!"

Marjorie smiled sweetly at Lilly then at Bertram. "Would Bertram like a sherry?"

Lilly sat down and looked at Arthur with a grin. "Well? Bring on the show, my love," she purred with a flamboyant wave of her hand and a crossing of her legs.

Arthur sighed and tilted his head in her direction. "Is there a way I don't have to fight him?"

Lilly shrugged. "Mo chuisle, gettin' visions is half the battle. Makin' sense of 'em is the other half."

Arthur chuckled and walked over to Marjorie. "Everythin' okay?" he asked the woman.

"Imagine saving people, taking them to your breast, metaphorically, I mean, like a mother. Caring and raising them, and then they go and stab you in the back!" Marjorie explained. "Have you ever betrayed a close friend? I hope not."

Arthur looked confused. "Well, uh..."

"Treachery! And these are sad, low, unlovable people, and I made them stars..."

Lilly watched with amusement as the woman went on and on, then she noticed Bertram drinking the whole bottle of sherry. The barkeep saw and tried to take it back. Lilly giggled as the woman went on and Arthur saw what was happening but he couldn't even get a word in. He looked at Lilly helplessly and she giggled. "Alright, alright..."

Lilly got up and walked as the barkeep and Bertram fought over the sherry. "Sir? I'll buy the-"

The bottle went flying and Marjorie stomped her foot. "Oh fucketty!" Bertram started strangling the barkeep and Lilly took a step back. "Bertram! Bertram!"

"More!" Bertram yelled.

"Bertram! Woof, woof!" Bertram!" Marjorie clapped her hands. "Put the nice man down! Do somethin', he'll eat him!"

"Umm, uh..." Arthur said before walking over to Bertram.

Lilly went back to the table and winked at Sean and Karen. "Now the fun begins," she whispered.

Arthur pat Bertram on the shoulder. "E-e-easy there." Arthur yanked Bertran away from the barkeep. "Easy there!"

Bertram looked at Arthur angrily. "Sherry!" he yelled and stomped over to Arthur.

"Bertram!" Marjorie yelled.

"Easy, big guy," Arthur said as they both went into fighting stances. Arthur and Bertram engaged in the fight and Sean looked at Lilly. "This is entertaining, but why? You could stop this so easily."

Lilly giggled. "I know, but why should I? Arthur's got it handled," she said, reaching into her pouch and grabbing another carrot to bite into.

Karen laughed. "Why is this funny to you?"

Lilly grinned. "I never said it was funny. I just like watchin' Arthur fight. It gets me goin'," she said with a smile.

Sean and Karen burst out laughing and Lilly turned back to her husband and Bertram in time to see Arthur receive a headbutt in the face from his opponent. She cringed but then watched with desire as Arthur finally knocked Bertram down.

"Come here, Bertram," Marjorie said once the fight was done. Bertram started crying, got up and hugged Marjorie." Oh yes, Marjorie's here," she pat his back softly, "no one's ever gonna hurt you again."

"Momma," Bertram whimpered.

"You should keep that thing in a cage!" the barkeep shouted as he held his throat.

"You should think about who you're servin'," Arthur said, rubbing his knuckles. "Gimme a beer, will ya?" Arthur looked at his wife and caught the look in her eyes. He smiled with self-satisfaction and leaned against the bar. "An bhfuil tú te dom anois?" he asked Lilly. [Are you hot for me now?]

Lilly smirked at him with a seductive twinkle in her sapphire blue eyes. "Sea, Mo Fear Álainn." [Yes, My Beautiful Man.]

Arthur chuckled as he got his beer. "Ha! I knew it!" he said, taking a drink.

"Knew what?"

36-year-old Arthur was engaging in a bar fight with three other men. He gave right hooks to the faces and left jabs to their stomachs. Two of them grabbed him from behind but he knocked them both in the guts with his elbows. They let go and Arthur knocked the first guy out. Arthur turned and engaged in battle with the other two. "Come on, you bastards! Take your best shot!"

One lunged for Arthur but he moved to the side and landed a blow to the nan's belly before taking his other fist and knocking it on the top of his opponent's head. That guy went down. Arthur went after the third guy and both fought toe to toe. The guy got a few lucky shots in but Arthur defeated him easily enough with a knock out to the face. Arthur wiped his bloody mouth and turned to see 21-year-old Lilly staring at him, cheeks flushed, from the saloon doors. He smiled, breathing heavily as he walked to her.

"You see all that?" he asked her.

He saw her swallow and she nodded. "Yes."

Arthur smiled and walked out of the saloon, feeling triumphant. "You okay? Is the sun gettin' to you?"

Lilly shook her head as if to clear it. "Maybe."

Arthur noticed her body language and smiled even more. Was Lilly actually turned on by his fighting? "So," Arthur looked around at the street and moved closer to her. "Seems like, uh, someone needs to go huntin'."

Lilly blushed even more. "I-I-I...um," she said breathlessly.

Arthur dragged her in between the buildings and pinned her to the wall, his light eyes piercing into her dark ones. "Lillian, are you feelin' alright?" he purred at her.

"I don't know. I feel dizzy."

Arthur chuckled. "I think I know why."

"You do?" Lilly asked him, her eyes wide.

"Yes." Arthur breathed in her scent of apples. "You're tu-"

"Arthur!" Hosea barked out. "Where are you?"

Arthur sighed. Great. "Meet me tonight at the lake?"

Lilly smiled. "Of course," she said. Once again she was breathless.

Arthur kissed her neck gently before pulling away from her and jogging off.

"Ha! I remember that!" Lilly laughed. "I was very confused at the time. I mean, I had similar feelings before, but these ones were...more intense, I should say."

Arthur, as they rode south, leaned in and kissed his wife. "Well, I'm glad you ain't so confused no more," he said to her.

Sean, Karen, Lilly, Arthur, Brian, and James were galloping down the road when they saw a little makeshift camp. Lilly saw a little man throwing stuff into a fire and she stopped the group. "Hey hey, there he is."

Arthur sighed. "Again, is this for your entertainment?"

"Yes. Go get 'em. Don't worry. I'll get the boys to chase him soon enough."

Arthur sighed again and turned off the road to talk to the man. Sean, Karen and Lilly started giggling. It was too far for Sean and Karen to hear and even though she could make out the conversation, Lilly decided to talk to Sean and Karen instead. "So, do you know if any of the camp members are talkin' about leavin'?"

Sean and Karen looked at each other. "Some of them, maybe. Why?"

Lilly frowned. "That's a shame. You'd think they wouldn't since, considerin' the size of my house. I got room to fit everybody."

"You do, deirfiúr. But...some people don't think we'll make it there."

"Which people?"

"Mary-Beth, Tilly, John, Abigail, Reverend Swanson, Mr. Pearson, Lenny..."

"Mr. Pearson? Really? Well, Adair will be disappointed. She kinda likes him."

"What?!" the married couple said.

Lilly laughed loudly. "Yep. She does. Are you two thinkin' on dippin' out, though?"

"No!" they both said.

"We've seen the place, they haven't," Karen said. "If they had actually been there, then they'd...ope, here we go."

Lilly turned her direction to Arthur chasing after the little man and she giggled. "Well, let's follow 'em."

The three people and the two animals followed slowly after Arthur, laughing at the colored smoke bombs Magnifico was leaving behind. Lilly laughed as Arthur crossed the river, running through smoke of red, purple and yellow. The group casually crossed the river and trailed after him.

"What the hell you pullin' here? If you're here, I'm gonna find you," Lilly heard Arthur say.

Magnifico appeared in a blue cloud on a boulder and she pointed. "There he is!"

Arthur growled at her. "I can see that!" Lilly keeled over and laughed again as Arthur went chasing after Magnifico. Eventually Arthur stopped and looked about the trees. "Magnifico! Can't magic out of this, partner. Come on, she ain't as bad as all that."

"Alright, boys. Sniff him out," Lilly said. Brian and James started sniffing the ground until they ended up at a particular tree. They barked and looked up. "There's your quarry, Arthur."

"Geez, they're huge! They're bigger than me!" Magnifico exclaimed in shock.

Arthur went to the tree and cackled. "Yes they are."

"Wanna see a trick?"

"Ain't you led me on a merry old dance. C'mon down now. Lady said you had a contract."

"You want me? Come and get me!" Magnifico laughed, pulled out a tiny rocket and lit it.

"Hey, hold on there." Magnifico threw it near Arthur. "God dammit!"

"So long, dummy!"

"Hey! Nobody calls me husband a dummy! Get down here now!" Lilly snapped. Magnifico disappeared in a cloud of yellow and Arthur went chasing after him again. "Brian, James, chase that little bastard!"

The boys ran after him and Lilly followed along with Sean and Karen. Lilly had enough of that stunted shitebag. "Arthur, get on! We'll catch him!"

Arthur climbed on Liath and Lilly went charging after the trail of Magnifico as Arthur kept yelling at him. A train was coming as Arthur laughed. "Too bad about that train!"

The boys got in front of Magnifico and snarled at him. "Holy moly!" Magnifico shouted. "Too slow!" He threw down another tiny ball and was enveloped by blue smoke. He disappeared and the boys searched around for him.

Lilly and the rest stopped at the passing train. "Where the fuck did he go?" Lilly shouted.

"I don't know!" Sean yelled.

Turquoise smoke appeared on the other side of the train and Lilly's jaw dropped. "How the hell?" Arthur said.

As soon as the train passed, they chased Magnifico to the road just as Marjorie was coming with a wagon. "Magnifico!" she yelled.

"Dammit!" Magnifico said as the boys cornered him. Magnifico pulled a rabbit out, dropped it, and ran right to a laughing Bertram. "Oh, no. No, no, no!"

Bertram picked him up and tossed him into the air. "Friend!" He tossed him a second time. "Friend!" A third time. "Friend forever!"

"Put me down!"

Lilly and the rest started laughing into hysterics. "Well, look who's back!" Marjorie said.

Bertram put Magnifico down. "I ain't back. I'm gone, on the next train to the Great White Way."

Marjorie put her hands on her hip and bent down at the waist in front of the small man. "Really? You got enough for a ticket? Because the way Big Fanny tells it, you spent all of our takings on a case of the French pox!"

Lilly snorted and covered her mouth. "Maybe I did. So what?" Magnifico barked out. "What do you need a stump of a showman for? Same bad jokes, the same cheap tricks, in a package half the size? You got Bertram! You got dummy over there! Who is dummy anyway? The missing link?"

"Hey!" Lilly yelled as she got off her horse. She confronted Magnifico with a scowl. "Ya insult me husband again and I'll skin yer feckin' hide!

"Dummy!" Magnifico said defiantly.

Lilly growled. "SHUT UP!" her voice boomed. The trio stepped back in surprise. "Ya better apologize to me husband right now, ya tiny bastard!" When Magnifico only stared up at her with wide eyes, she huffed in frustration. "APOLOGIZE NOW!" Lilly heard Karen, Sean and Arthur cackling away in the background.

"I-I'm sorry for calling you a dummy!" he said to Arthur. "How did you do that?"

"You should watch your mouth," Arthur said. "Stop upsettin' my wife. Clearly, she means business."

"You don't need me. You're better off without me," Magnifico said to Marjorie, then pointed to Bertram. "Even you, dummy. Go on, clear off. Aim for the top all of you. I'm outta food, and I'm out of ideas. Leave me for the bears. I won't be more than a mouthful."

He turned to walk away but Marjorie grabbed him. "You robbed me. You robbed your brother." She dragged him towards the wagon. "So you are gonna be pullin' rabbits out of your ass until you are as old as you are tiny!"

Lilly guffawed. "Oh, I like her."

"Kinda reminds me of you," Arthur commented. "I didn't think another woman could have the same ferocity of your temper."

Lilly chuckled and smacked her husband's arm. "Shut up," she said playfully.

"Ow," Arthur laughed, rubbing his arm.

"Put him up there," Marjorie told Bertram.

Bertram picked Magnifico up. "Some friends. Some friends!" Magnifico protested, getting put in the passenger seat.

"We ain't friends," Marjorie climbed up, "we're family, as much as it pains me to say it." Bertram went and pet Brian and James softly and Lilly smiled.

"Family? Still, after everything?"

"Of course, you silly little man."

"And him?" Magnifico said about Arthur.

Arthur pet their draft horse. "Met him at a bar, he agreed to help."

"Ah, sleeping rough don't suit me much."

"I know, come to momma," Marjorie cooed as she held out her arms.

They hugged. "Oh, I did miss you."

She shoved him off. "Now don't you ever run off on us like that again!"

"Back together! Back together!" Bertram celebrated.

"Well, I'm glad it all worked out," Arthur said.

"Thanks to you and your wife," Marjorie chippered. "Thank them, boys."

"Thank you!" Bertram said, giving the wolves one last pet.

"Eh, thanks for nothing, du- I mean...thanks."

Bertram climbed up but Marjorie stopped him. "No, get in the back. We ought to give you a piece of the gate on our next show, you both earned it," Marjorie surmised. "We'll be playing Saint Denis next, check with the box office." Marjorie slapped the reins and they got moving.

"No one said anything about splittin' the gate," Magnifico complained.

"Oh, shut up. Half-man and half-wit."

"Bye bye," Bertram said from the back.

Everyone waved bye. "What I done to deserve you two?"

As they went down the road, the four travelers looked at one another and burst into laughter. "Oh my God, those were the funniest people I've ever seen!" Karen said.

Lilly shook her hands and head. "Not so. Arthur and I met a French artist named Charles Châtenay. He paints nudes. In fact, he..." she paused and turned to Arthur. "Say, what ever happened to Charles?"

Arthur cackled. "He had to escape Saint Denis for the South Pacific. He shat on someone's bar and owed people money."

Lilly blew a raspberry and fell over laughing. "Oh my God!"

Sean, Arthur, and Karen bega laughing hysterically once more.