A Life Of 'Shine - Lem Fike

36

While he wasn't one hundred percent healed since he stumbled back into camp, the recovery with the help of Nora and Mary-Beth went along smoothly and quicker than either expected.

While chores around camp were not necessary, Kieran had insisted too helping around while he could. Even though his wounds prevented him from doing anything too serious he did take up his old chores of taking care of the horses, making sure they were well maintained.

Mary-Beth also helped around camp, another feeling of obligation rather than being told she had to do so. She took up a little more labour while she was around instead of the usual washing or repearing of clothes she was used too. Helping with chopping fire wood this time around, which wasn't much of a drastic leap.

"How are you feeling, Miss Gaskill?"

"Mary-Beth's fine Kieran, you know that." The girl smiled, looking up from her book she had been reading during a break. Kieran had taken to sitting near her, hands together.

"I.. Uh wanted to thank you.. you've always been good to me. Didn't have too, but you were."

"You were a former O'Driscoll in a camp of outlaws, musta been scary and, well somebody needed to show you kindness." She moved closer, taking his hands in hers dropping the smile. "It's a good thing you stayed Kieran. You're a kind soul and a sweet boy and there is no need to thank me for being kind to you."

"Still an O'Driscoll over there I presume." He said, talking about the Van Der Linde gang and everyone who would remind him of what he was forced to become sometime ago.

"It took everyone a while but, well they realised you were more of a Van Der Linde than an O'Driscoll. Then again, you were never an O'Driscoll were you."

"Not by choice. No."

"Well, to me, you're Kieran Duffy and just Kieran Duffy. A kind soul in a cruel world." Kieran looked over at Mary-Beth, giving her a soft smile before looking away. He didn't notice but she gave him another smile just as he turned away.

"I don't mean to be rude or anything, but I was wondering when were you gonna head back to camp? Dutch's that is."

"Not sure. Maybe tomorrow, been a week since I was last there and I don't want nobody thinking I decided to run away, no matter how bad things are starting to appear now." She let out a reluctant sigh, looking over towards Kieran who could only manage a small nod at her answer.

"What about you?" She asked. "Will you be going back."

"No. I.. I don't think I can."

"Why's that?"

"They were kind enough to give me food and a place to stay, but well for now, I don't think I'll be welcomed back at least not by everyone in the gang. After all, I did tell them O'Driscoll's where you were, not that I needed too it appeared. Guess they wanted the satisfaction of me ratting you out."

"You were tortured, look at you Kieran you're still being tortured. None of it's your fault I'm sure it could've happened to anyone of us."

Kieran could only shake his head, looking away in shame as Mary-Beth finished talking. Neither had anything else to say, they just sat in an uncomfortable silence around the fire.

"I should get back to sewing." Mary-Beth excused, dismissing herself from the gathering as she walked over to Cripps' wagon, sitting behind where the camp was to sew.

Kieran remained sitting, watching the dirt where he had expected to be by now, buried deep within the earth where nobody could find him it was just lucky that he was here now.

"Look at you, having a break from camp but still doing chores." The voice was teasing, strained and bitter when Mary-Beth looked up she couldn't help the gasp that escaped seeing old Miss Grimshaw standing before with a scowl on her face.

"I'm sorry miss, I was going to head back soon but Nora-"

"I'm sorry I caved she wouldn't leave me alone this woman can see through a damn lie and I considered myself a good actress."

Karen quickly ran up behind the ladies, standing behind Susan with an apologetic look.

"I'm not mad. Far from it actually." Mary-Beth couldn't tell if Grimshaw was lying or not, her tone suggested that she was and yet everything else told her that this was the truth being spoken.

"What's going on?" Nora called, turning the corner with Cripps and Kieran trailing behind. Upon seeing Grimshaw, Kieran quickly turned on his heel; hiding behind the wagon but he had already been spotted.

"I already saw you boy, why don't you come out here lemme have a good look at you." For an older female she walked fast, already by Kieran before anyone had time to react.

Duffy cowered, shrinking in his place at the scowl before him. Her eyes narrowed as she took in his appearance, it was practically withered now.

"Sorry Miss. I-I..." He didn't know what to say, his excuse slipping his mind from the unnecessary fear. He was told that Susan Grimshaw was a feared woman, scary and tough and yet while he was at camp he was fortunate enough to survive her wrath, doing what he was told and keeping to himself so he wasn't disturbed.

"It's just, it's nice to see you're alright."

"Excuse me?" Everyone looked shock, Karen's words being an audible expression of the confusion around them. Then again, Grimshaw was very capable of being nice when she wanted to be, Nora had seen that plenty of times and was able to experience it first hand.

"So she comes storming in here with murder in her eye and yet she had no intentions of being responsible for anyone's deaths." Cripps mumbled, earning a cold stare and a elbow in his side from Nora.

"Camp.. you, everyone.. I didn't want them too know. Not yet,, not ever." His sentences were broken as he attempted to explain himself, slowly gaining confidence once again after that fright he received.

"Karen already told me and I ain't gonna go back and tell neither. Just wanted to see for myself, is all." The woman chuckled, amused from the situation. She gave Kieran a pat on the shoulder before turning to Mary-Beth.

"And you're comin' back to camp today, I hoped you enjoyed your vacation but we need you back there. Understood?"

"Yes, Ma'am."

Grimshaw walked, more stomped away, not a glance back as she left the gathering of confused faces that were shared with one another. Karen was next to leave, muttering a small goodbye as she approached her own horse. Grimshaw waiting for her.

"Can I borrow Branwen? Don't think Arthur would be okay with me not showing up with him. If it's okay." Mary-Beth looked to Kieran, nervously chewing on her bottom lip as if she was having a debate in her mind, her decisions conflicted her as she had to make a choice, but what was this choice?

"Course." He said, walking over with the girl to the horses with a smile. He released Branwen from the hitching post, walking the animal to where the others were waiting.

Mary-Beth looked shy, nodding towards the male as a form of saying goodbye as she approached the horse, ready to mount up.

Before Kieran had time to turn away, Mary-Beth had threw herself at him. Wrapping her arms around his neck as she pulled him into a warm embrace, holding him close to her as if it would be the last time in forever.

"Hopefully I get to see you soon. For now, be well Kieran Duffy." She said, pulling away and then mounting the horse.

He waved goodbye at all three female's as they rode off. Watching them go with a saddened expression, he wanted to follow and be with them forever but his mind was already made up, he had a plan he needed to stick too, no matter how unfair if felt.