A Life Of 'Shine - Lem Fike

40

"Well look at what the cat dragged in! Ol' Mr Fike himself, back from his journey." Cripps' voice was loud, clearly teasing as he paraded about their new camp location with crates in hand. In the time it took for Nora to find them they had already managed to unload the majority of their things, going as far as too set up tents with the additional time they had. Seeing how they had done so much work without her made Nora feel guilt, guilty over not offering a hand and leaving them to do all the work. Not that she would have been able to help anyway, knowing full well that Cripps wouldn't consider letting "a lady" do labour and Kieran would be too sweet to even argue with either person, choosing to sit off to the side and agree with whatever anybody would have to say.

"Cripps." The male retorted, walking up towards his wagon with a small smile. JB didn't say anything more, instead roughly passing over two Crates that Lem barely had time to hold onto properly before pulling away, his hand moving to grab a beer bottle as he began his break.

"You should know where that stuff goes boy, help Nora put it away for us will you." Cripps' way of speaking turned harsh, carrying venom in his words. Nora must have told everyone about his departure and so this behaviour wasn't unexpected, Lem had thought as much of himself when he ran.

He nodded, trying to adjust the position in which he was holding the crates too try and not drop them as he walked over to join Nora. She was sat on the cot in her bed, looking over a book Mary-Beth gave her with a small smile. Kieran had been sitting next to her and from what Lem had heard, they were talking about the gang before he had joined them.

"Hello." Lem greeted, gently setting the boxes down on the floor. Nora had paused their talking and turned her attention to Lem, who was standing awkwardly off to the side.

"Sorry... C-Cripps asked me too help w-with these."

"Ah they may be mine then. Kieran, why don't you go rest by the fire? Have a break, considering that most of camp is set up I'd wager you and Cripps deserve a break for now."

Kieran simply nodded, removing himself from the tent which left Lem to awkwardly stand in the centre.

Nora was crouching down by the crates Lem brought over, opening the one to inspect it's contents. She noticed a single item first, an old photograph of her and her brothers that she pulled out.

"Definitely my things, can't imagine the others having this stuff." She said with a grin, moving to place the photograph on the small desk she owned. Lem moved to pull out some of the contents too, pulling out a small jewellery box and a few books, he knew she'd keep the jewellery box on the small bedside table where as the books would most likely be kept on a small pile on her desk, not in the way of her work but placed close enough so it would look like the desk wasn't bare.

"Say, N-Nora." Kieran was standing by the tent, a shy smile on his face. She looked up, and waved him in, gently patting the cot for him to sit down on once more.

"What's up? Anything wrong?" Kieran shook his head, moving to sit where Nora had instructed him to do so. His cheeks turned a soft shade of red, his stutter becoming more apparent as if he were back at camp and talking with Arthur again. She could sense the hesitation and the fear, being here worried him more than the usual and Nora wasn't so sure as to why that could be.

"N-No. Cripps asked me to g-go to Strawberry, buy some supplies f-f-from that general store." He managed, his hands holding a piece of material, possibly to distract himself.

"I'll go with you, Lem mind staying here and helping unpack?" He nodded to give answer, digging through the boxes for more of Nora's clutter to put away in the correct places. She stepped forward but quickly froze, unsure on why she had decided to move closer towards Lem. Awkwardly she extended her hand, shaking his once they touched before walking away, embarrassed.