A Life Of 'Shine - Lem Fike

12

Nora had planned to return to the Van Der Linde camp later that day with a few provisions she thought could help with the large group of people that called the place home, despite her protests in returning she still went through with her decision.
She didn't even need to ride into the old campgrounds to realise that they had all packed up and fled, the only remnants of what was the gang being some items they left as well as a patch on the ground that was black from the fire. The people of Valentine were all still shoock up from a shooting that had taken place a few days prior, Lem re-telling the events to Nora when she visited him. It was obvious that the shooting was the Van Der Linde gang and they did as all outlaws did, fled.

Despite waisting money on food she didn't need, she was more upset that she hadn't a chance to bid farewell to Mrs Adler or maybe Javier, two of the nicest people she had met many months ago. Despite the feeling, she knew they couldn't have wondered far and that there was potential of running into them again some time soon.

"It's nice here ain't it? Too bad some mean lookin' folk had hid here for some time." Lem's voice woke her from the trance she was in, turning behind to look at the man as he emerged from behind a few trees that blocked her view of the path that used to serve as an entrance. When she finally processed the man's words all she could do was nod, not having anything else to say.

"I knew some of those folk. Four of them, friends of mine you see."

"I bet they're real nice then. We should go however, I don't want no lawmen showing up and thinking we were apart of that gang."

She let out a small chuckle, nodding just as she began to walk the path to Valentine, following closely behind Lem as she usually did.

"I bought them some food, seeing as they ain't here perhaps you would like it?" She offered, holding the cans in her arms as if they were an infant. The male only nodded in thanks, smiling at his companion before helping himself to mount the females own horse. While any other person would received a bullet wound to the shin, Nora always allowed for her partner to take front of her beloved animal knowing he would take good care of him.

"They'll make a lovely addition to my homestead, ma'am."

Valentine was always a short trip away, the two arriving at the town in a matter of minutes since their departure from Horseshoe Overlook. While she could simply dismount and sulk around town for a bit, she took but more joy in sulking around Lem's house. Nobody to judge her there, nobody but a man she loved dearly and did not mind seeing her sulk.

"I never did ask, but why did you decide to name your horse, Beanz?" Lem asked, hitching the horse at the appropriate station with that familiar twinkle of curiosity in his eye she never failed to miss. With a shrug Nora passed over the cans to make it easier for her to jump off the steed, taking them back once she hit the floor.

"Harry was messing around, named him Beanz to annoy me but got annoyed himself when I said I liked the name. I guess it suits him though." Lem nodded, holding the door open for her to his own home like the gentleman he had the potential to be earning himself a nod from the female as she walked past into the warmer interior.

The two were quiet once they had both entered the small home, carefully putting away the foods Nora bought into their correct places until there was nothing out of place. Nodding, Nora walked past the male as she entered the guest room she claimed for herself when she stayed for the nights, most times Lem ending up by her side as she suffered another nightmare.

"I'm going to change from these clothes, covered in mud." She told him from behind the wall. She peeled the clothes from her arms with a frown, her favourite jacket being covered in a mess. Her dirty clothes found home on a chair while she changed into something cleaner, that being a simple white shirt and blue skirt and finally satisfied with her appearance she bundled up her clothing before dropping them off in the washbasket just outside their second door.

"I'll clean those tomorrow, I'm a little tired for today." She smiled, sitting at the dining table the two found themselves having many conversations at. As if scripted, Lem took his seat opposite the female always the same chair facing the kitchen cabinets behind her that lined the wall.

"I've got some whiskey if you want a glass."

"Tryin' to get me drunk are you?"

"No, of course not." 

Nora chuckled at the tease, placing her hand on his arm to calm him down.

"I'm playing. A glass sounds nice." She smiled at her partner, pulling her hand away to allow him to stand from the table too pull the drink from the cupboard, a pair of glasses too for the beverage. He poured two glasses out, placing the bottle on the table before returning to his seat. Nora had helped herself to the glass as per usual, drinking the bitter drink that left a satisfying burning down her throat.

"I need to run a few errands in Rhodes tomorrow, Trelawny mentioned needing my help and then I gotta go to Saint Denis for my brothers- claim to need to speak with me. Why not at camp I'll never know." She frowned, drinking the rest of the whiskey in one swig of the drink before placing the empty glass on the table. From that drink alone her head began aching, a feeling that wouldn't normally affect her until she was three or four glasses in.

"You okay, Nora?"

"Yeah, just got a bed head. I should lie down for a minute." Nora answered, pushing herself from the table to stand. She was too quick and stumbled back a few paces, lucky enough to not fall as she was quick to regain her composure from the moment. By now Lem had moved to help her stand upright and proper, gently guiding her into the bedroom so she would not trip again, something she appreciated greatly.

"Just rest and call if you need anything. I'll be in the other room as usual." He helped her lay down before leaving, pausing in the doorway for a minute longer before leaving her to her own peace. Not closing the door in order to watch and make sure she was okay.

He felt partially responsible for this, having been the one to give her the alcohol that triggered the response. She had drank it before countless times and one glass wasn't enough to cause her to feel ill in the past, same for him. He truly cared for Nora, being the best thing to happen to him for a long time and he wasn't just prepared to let anything bad happen to her, not now and not ever.