A Life Of 'Shine - Lem Fike

16

The location which the duo had to ride to with their latest batch of moonshine turned out to be a bunch of caravans just outside of Rhodes, a place Nora knew all too well. She began having suspicions on who this new customer was, but didn't want to say anything incase she was wrong.

The law was close and delivering moonshine was a task she made sure to be careful in; slowing to a stop just outside of the town. She turned to Lem, asking him to stay put while she went to investigate the caravans for a tell tale sign of their new customer.

"Ah Nora, it seems you do not have my moonshine." Trelawny's greeting confirmed her suspicions, the female rolling her eyes as she got closer to the posh friend.

"Never knew you to drink shine. Besides, I don't think twenty bottles of shine is going to fit in your caravan Josiah." Trelawny chuckled at the female's words, grabbing hold of her hand to walk her back to the wagon he watched them pull up in.

"Dutch asked for me to buy it, some party they were having and decided they should order the strong stuff." He explained, climbing on the back of the wagon to inspect the produce. "And you, sir, must be Lemuel Fike."

Lem turned around, looking on in confusion as the male walked up to converse with him. Nora drowned out their conversation entered as she looked over to bottles; as if believing her friend to have tampered with them.

"Why ask us to bring them here then?"

"Didn't want to give away the gangs location you see, he said that once you get here however that I should take you to their camp. Giving both you and Lem access for a moment in order to deliver the produce."

Nora nodded, looking up to Lem who only looked concerned with this idea. All the female could give was a shrug before a simple nod, her way of indicating them to be trusted.

"You sit up there and tell Lem where to go, I'll sit on the back. Lem, you drive." Everyone silently agreed with the plan, all moving to get into place before the wagon jerked forward at Lem's command. The entire journey was spent with Trelawny rambling in Lem's ear as he guided them on the trail to the gangs new hideout, a place Nora had yet to visit.

She was wary of course the entire trip, keeping an eye out for revenue men as well as the infamous Lemoyne Raiders. She didn't let her guard down for one minute until she was nearly thrown off the wagon as it jerked to a stop. She looked behind to see the gangs new location, a pretty place by the lake. Although she was mostly hidden by the wagon she could no doubt see th gang busy at work, the girl's doing their chores under the harsh command of Grimshaw while the other boys all planned heists and drank. Dutch stood proudly by his tent- cigar in hand as he watched the members of his gang around him, eyes moving to look at the wagon and Lem suspiciously.

"Now what Josiah? I don't exactly care to walk into this gathering. Neither does Lem and the others don't seem to have noticed we're here." Nora frowned as she walked around in order to talk with the conman, Trelawny never faltering in the cheerful act he had on. He looked around before spotting the most reliable of people in camp, walking away from the two in order to fetch the helping hand; one Arthur Morgan.

"Let's go sort this out and then we can leave. Okay?" Lem could only nod, going shy in the situation he was put in. Nora felt sympathetic towards him before walking around the back to deal with the bottles they needed to be rid off.

"Told Dutch we could've stolen from the Braithwaite's but he insisted we buy from you." Arthur chuckled as she got closer, already helping himself to the bottles of shine in Lem's hands to take away. Nora smiled down at him, a greeting no doubt as she concentrated on passing the crates over to Lem.