Just Like Old Times

The Madness

Arthur and Lilly, after leaving the train station, decided to go see Micah next just outside of Van Horn. They both wanted to keep a close eye on him now that he was the number one rat suspect. By the time they got there, it was late in the afternoon. The wolves trailed in behind them.

"Ah, there they are. Old black lung Morgan, the ginger, and her two giant freaks of nature," Micah said, sitting on the steps of an old house's porch. Bill was near him sitting on a box. Brian and James growled at Micah a little.

"Shut up," Arthur said spitefully.

"Was you followed?"

"Excuse me?" Arthur asked in disbelief.

Lilly sighed. "Here we go," she said with a shake of her bowed head and hands on her hips.

"Was...you followed?" Micah asked again, but slower.

"Do you know who you're talkin' to?!" Arthur snapped angrily at Micah.

Micah stood up. "I ain't sure. I ain't sure about much no more. All I know is there's law whenever you're around."

Lilly clenched her fists. The fucking nerve of this guy, but Lilly kept herself silent...for now. "Oh, is that so?" Arthur asked Micah. "Because it seems to me," Arthur pointed a finger at Micah, "that since you been ridin' with us, there ain't been nothin' but trouble!" Arthur growled. "Stirrin' things up all the time, gettin' in Dutch's ear. Seems wherever you is, there's Pinkertons, and vice versa! So you," Arthur pointed again, "better watch your god damn mouth, boy!" Arthur started coughing into a fit.

Micah began to laugh. "Take it easy, cowboy," Micah said as he walked away from Arthur a bit. "You're gonna do yourself a mischief way you're headin'."

"Micah, shut it!" Bill snapped. Lilly scowled again, wanting to help Arthur but she wasn't about to emasculate or nanny him in front of the men. Instead, Lilly went and shoved Micah from behind, sending him flying and sprawling into the dirt. Bill cackled at the spectacle and pointed at Micah. "Ha! Micah got pushed around by a girl," Bill wheezed out with a giggle, bending over and holding his stomach.

Micah got up, brushed his clothes off and spit out dirt. "What the hell was that for?!"

"Fer insinuatin' that me husband is in bed with the law, ya feckin' gobshite! Now stop stirrin' the pot or I'll fuckin' snap ya like a twig!" Lilly threatened furiously.

"He started it!"

"Oh, he started it," Lilly mockingly repeated in Micah's voice. "Yer the one who started it by bein' yerself, ya motherless twat!"

Arthur recovered from his coughing bout and started chuckling. "Micah, I would warn you to not make my wife mad, but...honestly, I hope you do just so I can watch her kick your ass."

Lilly crossed her arms. "What are we doin' here, Micah?"

Micah spit out more dirt and growled. "Dutch says we is to go on with plans to create a diversion. We gotta get some explosions to blow up the bridge. Keep the army out of here for a few days."

"I think it's a real bad idea," Arthur said, leaning against the porch post weakly.

"I don't think Dutch cares too much what you think."