Chapter 73: The Goodbye

After escaping Van Horn and the Pinkertons, the gang members and the wolves found a spot to stop so Arthur could rest a little bit. He was wheezing like crazy and Lilly gave him another bottle of Rains Fall's strength tonic. He took it and told her he was feeling better, but her husband still looked like shit.

"Arthur, there's no time," Sadie said.

"There's time," Arthur disagreed breathlessly. He stretched out his arms to Abigail, who was on the rump of Sadie's horse Bob.

"What happened to John? Where's John?" Abigail asked.

"I-I don't," Arthur began. "I think..." Arthur held out his arms again and helped Abigail down. Sadie and Lilly also dismounted.

"Arthur..."

"He..." Arthur began with a shaky voice.

"What?"

"He got killed or he got captured."

Abigail lowered her head. "No." Sadie grabbed a hold of Abigail.

"I'm really sorry, Abigail, I'm...

"No!" Abigail cried out.

"I was on the train and didn't see it."

Lilly lowered her head. "No-o-o-o-o..." Abigail sobbed.

Arthur closed in on her. "Listen. We got Jack. He's safe. Mrs. Adler will take you to him, but...John...I want you to know this...he loved you. He loved you and Jack, he did. He wasn't perfect, but he did. Now...you gotta go get that boy. Go on, get outta here."

Sadie started to climb on Bob. "Arthur, what are you doin'?"

"I gotta go have a little chat before I get much sicker."

"Oh, Arthur," Abigail cried.

"Don't you "oh, Arthur" me...neither of you two, not now. You both know." Arthur put Abigail on the back of Sadie's horse. "You're good women...good people. The best. You go get that boy...there'll be time for sorrow later."

"I-If you're headed back there, Arthur," Abigail reached into her shirt, "take this. I don't," Abigail showed him a key, "need it anymore."

"What's that?"

"There's a chest in them caves. In the back to the left. Hidden under a wagon. Dutch's chest. With all our money. I know John told you I knew where it was." She gave the key to Arthur.

Arthur let out a breath of surprise. "Abigail Roberts."

Abigail took Arthur's hand. "I always was a good thief."

"That you was. Go on, get outta here." Arthur turned away from them and got on Rose as the women left.

Lilly fought the tears in her eyes. "Sean, you better go with 'em. Your wife is waitin' for you.

Sean nodded. "We'll wait at Copperhead's Landing for you, deirfiúr."

"Yes, deartháir."

Sean took off after the women and Lilly blinked. "Wait a minute. I thought we wasn't stealin' the money."

Arthur frowned and looked at her over his shoulder. "Lilly, Dutch abandoned you and Abigail. When Tilly came to tell us you guys got captured, he basically listened to Micah and went back to camp rather than save you two."

Lilly's jaw dropped. "Are ya feckin' serious?!"

"I'm afraid so, Lilly," Arthur said. "I couldn't believe it, either, but he did."

Lilly shut her eyes. "I need to go destroy that orb. Then maybe he'll stop actin' like a fool. I saw where it was, Arthur. It...come to think of it, it was right next to a chest I saw. You think that was the money?"

"Maybe. Well, let's go. We also need to expose Micah. I figured out that "he who is like the Lord" shit."

Lilly chuckled. "Did you?" she asked, kissing his cheek. "Well, don't worry. Milton spilled the beans on who their rat was. But tell me how you figured it out."

"I'll explain on the way, darlin'."

"Get them bags packed up quick, Miss Grimshaw," Micah demanded. "Come on! All of you!"

"Well, we're doin' our best!" Susan snapped.

"Hurry, we ain't got long...hurry!"

Arthur and the boys rode in as Lilly got off and started walking. "Oh, we got plenty of time, Mr. Bell!" she shouted. "Arthur and I need to have a chat with the lot of yas!"

"Mrs. Morgan, you're back with Black Lung. That's great!" Micah said, outstretching his arms with a bow. "Hurray."

"We uh, ahem, I was taken captive by the Pinkertons, Dutch!" Lilly exclaimed, bitterness coating her voice. "Now, is it true that you chose money over comin' to save me? Your very own kid?" Lilly stopped and shook her hands. "You know what? That ain't important."

Dutch looked at her shamefully. "Lilly, I-"

"SHUT UP!" Lilly's voice boomed. Dutch remained silent. "Anyway, I had a chat with Mr. Milton. Brian and James ate him, by the way." Brian and James went to her side, snarling at Dutch then at Micah. "So, he let it slip that Mr. Bell was, well, very well acquainted with him."

"What the hell are you talkin' about, you witch?" Micah asked her.

Lilly "ooo-hoo-hoo'ed" at Micah and paced, placing her arms behind her back. "Hmm, a bit testy, huh? Well, I guess I would be too if I was found out by the camp's witch. Not that I'd ever be a feckin' rat," Lilly said.

"That's a god damn lie."

"Oh, is it now? Mr. "He who is like the Lord", heh heh heh."

Dutch eyed Arthur and Lilly. "Now, what does my name have to do with this?" Micah asked.

Lilly stopped pacing amd guffawed as she looked at Arthur. "Well shit. That's a two-fer, my love. I was not expectin' that. You see, Micah," Lilly looked at him and went back to pacing. "I have it on good authority that you are bein' manipulated to influence Dutch here to become the very type of man he always opposed on bein'."

Micah laughed. "I have no idea what you mean."

"The orb, Micah. I know about it and I know exactly where it is." Lilly saw Micah's face go pale and she smiled evily. "Oh, did I hit a nerve, Mr. Bell?"

"Lillian Rose Morgan, you stop this nonsense!" Dutch yelled.

Lilly glared at him. "You do not get to address me that way ever again, Dutch van der Linde."

"Lilly, please, I-"

Lilly held up a hand. "I'm still talking. Anyway, Micah is the rat. It all makes sense now, don't it?"

"No," Micah said. "It damn well doesn't."

Everyone drew out their guns and aimed them at various people. Brian and James' hackles went up and they showed their sharp fangs. Arthur and Lilly aimed at Micah. Micah, Bill, Cleet and Joe aimed at the married couple.

"Dutch, think!" Arthur snapped.

"Dutch, beee practical now," Micah warned.

"Dutch!" Lilly heard John yell and she gasped.

"John?" Bill said.

John came in, limping and holding his shoulder. "You left me...you left me to die!" John growled.

"My boy..." Dutch said as he walked from his tent. "I didn't have a choice. John I didn't..."

"You!"

"I didn't have a choice."

"Left me!"

"Oh, was that your reasonin' for leavin' Abigail and me behind too, Dutch?" Lilly asked him.

"It wasn't like that!" Dutch snarled at Lilly.

"The hell it wasn't!" Lilly shouted, her guns shaking as she aimed at Dutch with tears in her eyes. "I was your daughter! And you left Abigail and me to die!" Lilly aimed her guns back at Micah.

"All of you...you pick your side now, because this is over," Arthur said calmly. "Aaall them years, Dutch...for this snake?!"

"Oh, be quiet, cowpoke," Micah said. "Be quiet. You live in the clouds."

"No," Susan said, approaching the gun ring with a shot gun. "You be quiet, Mr. Bell, and put down your gun."

Lilly saw crows coming in as Javier came in. "There's Pinkertons comin', fast!"

Micah shot Susan before Lilly had a chance to say anything. "God dammit! I was supposed to save her, too!"

Dutch pulled out his guns and aimed at Arthur and Micah. "Now! Who amongst you," Lilly listened to Susan groaning and crying from the pain but she couldn't do a thing about it, watching Dutch walk along sideways through the ring, "is with me..." he turned, still

aiming at Micah and Arthur. "And who, is betrayin' me?"

John joined Arthur and Lilly's side but everyone else moved to Dutch's side. "Arthur, I need to get to that orb."

"I know. Bill, Javier, think, think for yourselves!" Arthur said before he started coughing.

"He's lyin'," Micah said. "Heee'sss lyyyiiinnnggg."

Dutch looked at Lilly. "Lilly, you're gonna betray me?"

"You betrayed me first. Besides, I made an oath to Arthur, to always have his back," Lilly growled. "You may be my father but he is my husband."

"Put your guns down!" a man yelled.

Shooting started and everyone ducked. "God dammit! Move!" Dutch shouted.

Lilly took cover behind a box. "You ready, John?" Arthur asked as he also took cover behind a box.

"Yeah," John replied.

"Everyone get down!" Dutch shouted.

"Brian, James, kill!" Lilly shouted. She watched as her brothers started chasing after men on horses. Lilly started shooting Pinkertons down. "This would go much faster if you let me out, Lilly," said Adair.

"I know, but they got iron spikes and shit. They'll shoot you down as soon as they see you.

"...You have a good point."

"This is Agent Ross with the Pinkerton Detective Agency! Put your guns down!"

The firing of guns echoed through the air as Lilly kept on shooting. "The others have run for it!" John shouted.

"It's just us anyways, John!" Arthur pointed out.

"Where's Van der Linde? Get after them and find him!" Ross shouted at some men.

"Come on, guys! Into the caves!" John yelled.

Lilly whistled for her boys and they came running as she ran into the caves with her husband and John. Perhaps this was her chance to destroy the orb. "Arthur, I gotta get that orb!"

"We don't got time for that!" he yelled at her. "Just run!"

Lilly pushed on with her group as they were chased from behind. Lilly passed the wagon and saw the orb. "I gotta do it!" She shot at it but it did nothing. "Shit!"

"You have to burn it, Lilly!"

Lilly went for it but Arthur grabbed her. "Lilly, there ain't time!"

Lilly scowled and went running after Arthur. "Those bastards left me for dead!" John snarled.

"Seems that's what they do now!" Arthur barked.

"Micah was the rat, John! Milton told me!" Lilly snapped out as John found a ladder and started climbing.

Arthur coughed. "We should've killed him months ago!" John said.

"Shit! What about..

oh." Lilly changed into Adair and scruffed Brian and James. "This is going to be uncomfortable, boys." She flew up and landed on a ledge with them. Arthur coughed and hacked as he ran. "Damn, Arthur, this is taxing you a lot. Let me carry you."

Arthur waved her off. "I'm not about to be carried off like a fuckin' maiden!"

Adair laughed as she grabbed the boys again and flew up to the exit. John and Arthur followed up the ladder just as Adair changed back into Lilly. It was dark now. Once they were up, Arthur bent over and wheezed out a few coughs. Lilly gave him another strength elixir and he took it. They ran down the hill and whistled for their mounts.

Arthur coughed again. Lilly knew that Rains Fall's wasn't working so well with Arthur as he was doing a lot of running around today. "Abigail...Abigail's safe. So's Jack," Arthur breathed out.

"Where are they?" John asked him.

"They're with Sadie...at Copperhead Landing."

John took Arthur's hand. "Thank you...brother."

John went to go but Arthur kept his grip on him. "I want you...to not look back...like I said."

Doc, Tessa, and Old Boy came up and they all mounted up. Just then, the remaining Van der Linde gang members came riding up on them and started shooting. Arthur, Lilly and John started running quickly. They got down the trail quite a ways when more Pinkertons showed up, but the three of them dealt with those bastards rather quickly. But more kept coming. More blocked the road so they had to turn around. Lilly just kept on shooting and riding and shooting, her boys doing a lot of the work of killing but soon she lost sight of them. It was in that moment that Lilly went flying off Doc. He'd been shot. Lilly fell on her ass, got up, and started shooting every Pinkerton in sight. Apparently Old Boy and Tessa had been shot too. Lilly went to Doc's side but was already dead. Lilly kissed and hugged his neck. Oh, her poor Doc. Her poor, insufferable bastard of a horse. Lilly, with tears in her eyes, looked up as Arthur calmed his own dying horse. She'd have to go back for Liath as well as the orb...once all the Pinkertons were gone.

"Lilly, let me finish them all off!" Adair snarled in her brain.

"No, Adair. I gotta go back for the orb." Lilly grabbed her bow, her arrows, her shotgun, and her repeater from her dead horses' saddle.

"Lilly, Arthur, let's go!" John yelled.

"Well, what about the orb?!" Lilly snapped. "I need to destroy it!"

"Even after all this, you still wanna save Dutch?" John asked her with disbelief in his voice.

Lilly bent at the waist. "Yes. I have to try."

"I head down there, I'm dead in five minutes. I got a family, that's more important."

"You're right, John. But...he's my family. I have to try."

"You wanna try? You head down. I gotta go to my family."

Lilly nodded. "Okay. Arthur?"

Arthur sighed. "I'm gonna help John get to his family." Arthur walked to her and gave her the key to the chest. "Just in case you got time."

Lilly chuckled and kissed her husband passionately. Arthur held her close in his arms, then he pressed a forehead to hers. "Tá grá agam duit." [I love you.]

Lilly's eyes welled up with tears. "Tá grá agam duit." [I love you.]

Arthur kissed her forehead and held her face in his hands. "If I don't make it, I-"

"Don't ya be sayin' that, ya bastard," Lilly sobbed. "I will see you again...mo chuisle, mo fear álainn, mo bithiúnach." [my pulse, my beautiful man, my reprobate.]

Arthur kissed her again. "Mo grá, mo shaol, mo bhean chéile. [My love, my life, my wife.] "Myne owne hertis rote."

"Oh, my fhear céile..." [my husband...]

"Arthur, we gotta go," John said quietly.

Lilly and Arthur kissed again before he knelt down and kissed her stomach. "I love you, Aoífe and Arthur Junior. You two be good."

Arthur got back up and kissed Lilly one last time. "Copperhead Landing, remember?"

Lilly nodded. Arthur turned and walked away from her to John. "Let's go, John."

As they passed over the ridge and out of sight, Lilly fell to her knees and wept silently for a few moments. Then she wiped her eyes, got up, and started running back down the hill. She ran into her brothers and Brian lowered to the ground. She laughed sadly and climbed on him, surprised that he was big enough to carry her. Brian and James began running back towards Beaver Hollow and Lilly fired upon and killed Pinkertons as they went. When she reached Beaver Hollow, she saw the camp was on fire. Shit. All her belongings...fuck it. She would get more. Brian and James ran into the cave amd Lilly got to wagon where the orb was. She got off Brian, took off her jacket, and put the orb in the cloth. She looked at the chest for a moment before getting back up and running back to the front of the cave with her brothers. Lilly ran out, swung her jacket, and threw it into one of the fires. A loud screeching noise came from the orb as it cracked and black smoke rose from it. Lilly covered her ears from the noise and she watched as it melted. The sound dissipated and Lilly uncoverred her ears.

"Boys, we need to track Arthur."

Arthur, beaten and bloody, started crawling towards the gun. "Oh Black Lung," Micah said. "You ain't gonna reach that gun. You ain't." Micah started getting up. "You lost, my sick friend. You lost."

Arthur still crawled anyway, wheezing his way up. "In the end, Micah, despite my best efforts to the contrary, it turns out I've won," Arthut wheezed out. "God damn ya," he said as he grabbed the gun only for Dutch to put his foot on Arthur's hand, which made Arthur cry out a little.

"It is over now, Arthur," Dutch said. "It's over."

"Oooh, Dutch," Arthur said breathlessly. "He's a rat. You know it and I know it."

"He's sick," Micah said. "He's dyin'...he's talkin' crazy."

Arthur looked up at Dutch, shaking and struggling to breathe. "I gave you and Lilly all I had...I did." Suddenly Dutch and Micah started convulsing and black smoke came out of their throats. It came with a mighty roar, as if their insides were in fire. They screamed but the smoke disappeared and they fell to their knees. Arthur started to laugh breathlessly. "She did it. Lilly actually did it. Heh heh heh..."

Dutch looked at Arthur and blinked a few times. "What in the...oh Arthur...what have I done?" Dutch said with the most depressed voice he'd ever heard.

Micah coughed a few times and grunted. "Boy, what in the hell happened to me?" Arthur watched Micah stand up, looking confused as ever. "Oh...I did bad a thing, boss. Bad things."

Arthur looked up at Dutch, laying on his back. "John made it. He's the only one. But the rest of us...no. But...I tried. In the end...I did." Arthur gasped, still fighting to breathe air.

Dutch looked at Micah. "You. You're the rat."

"Now now, Dutch, that weren't my fault. I-"

A gunshot rang out and Micah fell dead. Lilly was behind him with her revolver smoking. She was breathing heavily as she glared at Dutch. "I told you he was the rat."

Arthur tried to sit up but couldn't. "Lilleh...is that you?"

Lilly ran to his side and held his hand. "I'm here, mo chuisle." Dutch started backing up. Lilly looked up at him. "Da? You okay?"

Dutch shook his head. "Oh Lilly...what have I done?"

"It weren't your fault, Da."

Dutch shook his head. "What have I done?"

Lilly sighed and looked down at Arthur. "Mo chuisle, I'm here."

Arthur looked up at his wife and smiled softly. "John made it."

"Good. You did good, Arthur."

Brian and James came up with a whine. "How did..." Arthur swallowed hard. "How'd you get up here so fast?"

"Adair. Now come on, we gotta get you to a doctor."

"No," Arthur shook his head. "Lilly, I'm dyin'."

Lilly glared at him. "Like hell you are. C'mon, don't be a stubborn ox." Tears filled her eyes. "You're gonna be...you're gonna be okay."

Arthur lifted a hand and wiped a tear from her eye. "Liar."

"Bithiúnach," she sobbed. "Please don't leave me. Not now. I'm not ready for this."

Arthur wheezed again. "Who is ever ready for dyin'? At least...at least I have no regrets now."

Lilly pressed her forehead to his as the sun started to come up. "Meet me in the circle of pine trees?" she asked.

"Y-Yes...my...my wife."

Lilly kissed his forehead and looked down at him. Arthur took a few more breaths, but then he exhaled slowly and that was the end of it as his eyes closed. Lilly started sobbing and crying and laid on his chest. "No..." she wept. "No no noooo..."

Dutch went to Lilly and knelt beside her. "Lilly, I am so sorry. For everything."

Lilly looked up.at him, then she practiy jumped into his arms and Dutch held her tightly as she cried into his shoulder.

Lilly, after finding a proper burial site for her deceased husband, knelt down next to him and switched their pocketwatches so Arthur would be buried with hers and she would keep his with her, for always. "Now...I have somethin' to remember you by, my love," she sniffled.

She opened the watch and started to cry again. In it was a picture of them both with the wolves. She'd plumb forgotten to show him the pictures from Mr. Mason. Charles had managed to find them and helped bury Arthur on a small ridge in the northern peaks of Ambarino, northeast of Bacchus Station. Lilly was beyond devastated but managed to pick flowers and set them on his grave.

Lilly, Dutch, Charles and the wolves eventually made it to Copper's Landing. Lilly explained everything to eberyone, about the dark orb that had possessed both Micah and Dutch. They were all surprisingly forgiving. Now they just had to decide who was going to Ireland and who was staying there in the states. Karen amd Sean obviously wanted to go to Ireland. John, Abigail, and Jack decided to go too. Sadie wished it and decided to come with. Tilly did as well. Hosea and Dutch agreed they had to come and watch their grandchildren grow up. Charles agreed to come. So it was all decided. After hiding for a couple weeks, Lilly finally got word from Patrick that he was in Saint Denis waiting for her. The gang met up with him at The Hotel Grand. Lilly hugged him happily.

"Oh, it's so good to see you, Patrick," she said happily.

Patrick kissed her cheek. "Likewise, lass." He looked around and frowned. "Um, where is Arthur?"

Lilly tried so hard not to cry at the mention of her husband's name, but she failed and burst into tears. "He didn't make it," she whimpered.

Patrick held her close and frowned even more. "I am so, so sorry, Lillian. God...I...I don't know what to...woa!" Patrick looked down at her belly. "Did yer bairns just kick me?"

Lilly giggled and wiped her tears. "I think so."

After a few days of getting things in order, they all took the train to New York. When they got there, Lilly watched as men loaded up Rose and Liath. The Irish woman had insisted on keeping Arthur's horse. And when they finally boarded, they waved goodbye to the states. Lilly stood on the balcony of her apartment room with Sean, Karen and Patrick.

"Well, looks like we're starting a new adventure," Sean said. "That's a good thing, right?"

Lilly nodded meekly. "Of course."

Patrick put an arm around Lilly and kissed her temple. "Just remember, we are all here for you, Lilly."

Sean and Karen hugged Lilly and she hugged everyone. "Thank you. But...I just need to be alone right now, if that's okay."

They all agreed and left Lilly to her own devices. Lilly stayed there until dusk fell, staring at Arthur's watch the whole time. Finally, she kissed it and put it in her satchel. She walked back into her apartment, feeling in need of a nap.

It was a few weeks later and while everyone had acclimatized to the cold weather of Ireland, Lilly remained in her room for most of the duration. She only came out to eat and relieve herself, which was barely at all. Patrick came to visit often, but Lilly was still downtrodden and depressed over the loss of her husband. She had nightmares of his death on occasion, to which Hosea and Dutch often tried to comfort her afterwards. It was of no use, though, at least not without her regular herbs or her chamomile tea. One day, though, Patrick came calling and stormed up to her bedroom. He pushed the door open and slammed it behind him, making Lilly jump a little as she laid in bed.

"Lillian Rose, ya need to get up!" he barked.

"...I don't want to," she said meekly.

Patrick groaned and yanked off her blankets. "Lilly, get up!"

"I said I dunna wantah!" Patrick picked her up in his arms and she squirmed. "Hey! What the hell are ya-"

Patrick tweaked her nose. "Shut up and listen. Ya canna just stay in bed all day and waste away like a corpse! Arthur wouldna have wanted that, right?"

"Dunna be talkin' about me husband!" Lilly snapped.

Patrick growled and cradled her. "I'm sorry Lilly, but this canna go on!"

Lilly struggled in his arms but he was surprisingly strong despite her super human strength. Or she couldn't find the strength to really fight him. It was the latter, for she suddenly burst into tears. "Patrick, I dunna want people tah see me like this! Please!"

Patrick stopped at the door and glared at her. "Then quit yer blubberin', lass! Smile, fer fuck's sake!"

"No!"

Patrick kicked the door open and brought her down the stairs. "Then yer gonna eat like the rest of us like a strong countess should!" Lilly cried but found that she couldn't argue. All she could do was cry into his shoulder and cling to him. Patrick decreased in speed and kissed her head. "Lilly, I hate seein' ya like this. Ya gotta eat, then yer gonna have a bath, then yer gonna get dressed and yer gonna go hunting with me. As yer elder and former betrothed, I order it!"

"Fuck you, Patrick!"

"Oh, fuck you too!" he laughed. "Ya damn spitfire from hell!"

"Bastard!"

"Insufferable wench!"

"Horrible man!"

Patrick brought her into the kitchen and sat down. "Eat!"

"No!"

Patrick growled and grabbed a bowl of stew. "If not fer me, do it fer the bairns!"

Lilly started to sob again. "Just leave me alone!"

"No! We all left ya alone fer too long, Countess Morgan! Now eat!"

Dutch and Hosea came running in. "What the hell is all this yellin' about?" Dutch asked in shock.

"I'm tryin' to get her lazy, pathetic arse outta bed and tah eat fer the babies!" After ten minutes of fighting and alarming the whole household, Lilly eventually conceded and ate her stew. Slowly. During that, Patrick told Breena to run her a bath. When Lilly finished her food, Patrick dragged her to the bathing room. "Now fer a bath!"

"Christ, Patrick! I can wash me own self!"

"No! I am supervisin' tah make sure of it!"

Lilly scoffed. "Ya canna do that! I wilna allow ya tah see me naked!"

"Oh, like I havena seen ya naked before!"

"As a child, yes! Not as a woman!"

"Who said ya had tah be naked?" Patrick picked her up and dropped her into the tub, clothes and all.

"What the fuck, Patrick!?"

"Breena, please bring the Countess some clothes to go hunting in."

Breena curtsied with a look of shock and went running. Lilly rubbed her face and scowled at Patrick as members of the gang peeked in. "Patrick, yer an arse!"

"Yes! I'm an arse, but I'm an arse who cares about ya! Now stop yer crying and let's go hunting!"

"I dunna wantah hunt!"

Patrick laugh. "Ya been hunting since the day ya were born, lass! Now wash!"

Lilly scowled, grabbed some soap and started scrubbing her arms. "I hate ya, Patrick Nolan!"

"I hate ya too! Now stop yer god damn yelling and scrub, ya bitch!"

Sean started laughing. "You sound just like Arthur."

Lilly stopped scrubbing, looked at the water and started to weep. She threw the soap at the wall and it cracked in tiny pieces. She got out of the tub and started throwing things around. She lifted the copper tub from its side and pushed it over, making water fall everywhere. She stared up at the ceiling and screamed at the top of her lungs. "FUCK YA, MORRIGAN, YA LYIN' BITCH! MAY THE DEVIL MAKE SPLINTERS OF YER FUCKIN' LEGS!"

Patrick grabbed ahold of Lilly. "That's it, girl. Let it all out."

"IT IS THE PLACE BELOW THAT IS MEANT FER YA, YA DEVIL! SIX HORSELOADS OF GRAVEYARD CLAY UPON YA!"

Patrick chuckled. "Keep goin', lass."

"CURSE OF THE SEVEN SNOTTY ORPHANS ON YA!MAY THE LAMB OF GOD STIR HIS HOOF THROUGH THE ROOF OF HEAVEN AND KICK YA IN THE ARSE DOWN TAH HELL! IF YA EAT, THAT YA MAY NOT SHIT!"

Patrick backed off as him and the rest started giggling. "Keep it up, lass."

"MAY ALL THE GOATS IN GOREY CHASE YA TAH HELL! MAY YA MELT OFF THE EARTH LIKE SNOW ON A DITCH! MAY THE FUCKIN' CURSE OF MARY FUCKIN' MALONE AND HER NINE GOD DAMN BLIND ILLEGITIMATE CHILDREN CHASE YA SO FAR OVER THE GOD DAMN HILLS OF DAMNATION THAT THE FUCKIN' LORD CANNA FIND YAS WITH A GOD DAMN TELESCOPE, YA STUPID, SACK OF SHITE, LYIN', HOOR OF A GODDESS!" Lilly fell to her knees and started breathing heavily. "She...fuckin'...LIED!!!"

Patrick knelt down and wrapped his arms around her. "You're alright lass. Let it out."

Lilly cried into Patrick's neck and clung to him, her whole body trembling. "I...I hate her, Patrick. She lied to me."

"I know, Lilly, I know," Patrick said, rubbing her back softly.

Lilly looked around at the floor and sobbed. "I...I'm sorry about the tub."

"It's alright, I'll get this room fixed, love, it's okay."

"Ya dunna haftah do that."

"Yes I do." Patrick helped her up and dried her tears. "There there, girl. Do ya feel better now?"

"A...a little."

"Good. Now, are ya gonna get dressed and go hunting with me?"

"Uh huh."

"Good girl. Now go up and get dressed and I'll have people take care of this, okay?"

Lilly sniffled and nodded. Lilly went up and got dressed, then came back down in a black buttoned shirt, black pants, and black western boots. Her hair was now brushed and in a braid. Her and Patrick went out hunting with the boys and caught two red deer to bring home for supper. Lilly skinned the deer herself and even helped cook the meat. Then when it was done, she sat down with everyone and ate. She even conversed a bit for the first time she had in weeks, really. She did feel better after hunting, which she always did when she was stressed. Patrick even got her to laugh a few times. After supper, Lilly did decide to retire for the evening. She was pregnant with twins, after all, and for the first time in weeks, she had a good dream.

This chapter was so hard to write. I could not stop crying about it. I do believe this is the last chapter to the story, but don't worry. I do have a sequel planned if y'all want me to write one. Let me know in the reviews or message me if you want a sequel. Thanks for reading!