"There you go, Achilles." Kieran pet the andalusian's strong neck. "Gotta have you lookin' nice for Arthur." The horse snorted and stomped one of his front hooves in approval. Kieran had a way with the horses. Sometimes he felt like they were his only friends. He spent most of his time with them and he was often talking to them. Shame they couldn't talk back. Things were looking up though. The Van Der Linde Gang was starting to come around...well at least a few of them. Mainly Mary Beth. She was kind, and smart, and pretty. Kieran couldn't help but smile when he thought of her. She was always reading. If he could learn to read or get her some new books, then she would spend more time with him. That's how he came up with this idea.

"O'Driscoll, what are you doing with my horse?" Arthur called out in that harsh tone he often used with Kieran. Kieran didn't understand why Arthur was so hard on him. He saved Arthur's life for one, and he was trying his best to keep his head down and be of use to the gang. He could prove his loyalty over time if they would just give him a chance.

"Hey, Arthur, I was just gettin' him ready for you. I cleaned him up nice and good. I even cleaned up your saddle a little. I was just about to put it back on." He grabbed the heavy panther saddle and put it on Achilles with a grunt. Arthur looked Kieran up and down all suspicious like and after a frightening pause he playfully slapped Kieran on the back. "Thanks, Kieran. You are useful for something I guess."

Arthur hopped up on Achilles and started to leave. "Hey Arthur." Kieran said nervously. His twitchy movements were giving away just how nervous he was. "I was wantin' to ask you somethin'."

Arthur sat impatiently. "Well what is it? Get on with it. I got work to do."

Kieran almost gave up then but he really wanted to do this for Mary Beth. "I I I.. was hh-hopin' to go into town with you and find some books? Do you think we would find some in Rhodes or Saint Denis?"

Arthur laughed. "We? What makes you think I would go into town with you for books? Books? What are you gonna do with books anyway?"

Kieran hung his head. "Please, Arthur, I don't ask for much around here. I would go myself but those O'Driscolls will be after me I know it."

There was silence between them. Kieran's heart sank because he knew his plan had failed. Maybe the time Arthur and him spent fishing and talking wasn't as special to Arthur as it had been for him. Life hadn't been kind to Kieran, and even though the happy times were few and far between, they gave him hope that things would get better. He was going to belong, we would have friends, and he wouldn't be alone anymore.

Arthur sighed and shook his head. "How about I get the books on my own, IF I have the time. I'm a very busy man. Besides I don't wanna be seen riding with an O'Driscoll anyway."

Kieran smiled. "Really, Arthur? Thank you! Thank you!"

"Settle down. I ain't decided if I'm gonna do it yet. You just keep taking care of the horses and keep your head down and I might find the time to do it."

Kieran bowed his head multiple times and put his hands together in an appeasing gesture. "I will. I will." He watched Arthur ride off and then went back to tending the horses. "Did you guys hear that?" He said happily to the horses. "The future is lookin' bright."