A Life Of 'Shine - Lem Fike

58

He wasn't sure if he had ever ran so fast before, the world had seemed to pass by in such a rush that it felt as though everything had stopped moving with him. He was out of breath and sore by the time he returned to the makeshift shack but did not let it stop him; not yet anyway.

He threw that door open with so much force it's a wonder as to how it was still on it's hinches and not broken into pieces on the floor. He heard Cripps curse at the loud sound the wood made hitting the wall but paid it no mind.

"How's Nora?" He asked quickly, too quickly. He was met with weird looks before James had managed to decipher what it was the male had asked.

"I-I'm okay.. barely." James hadn't the chance to answer before his sister had answered for him. She was sat upright with her arms folded against her stomach, posture poor and face twisted in that of pain.

Lem couldn't manage any words, instead he collapsed to his knees as the emotion overwhelmed him, tears falling freely at the relief of seeing her awake and not quite dead.

Cripps managed to quietly usher everyone out of the shack, unnoticed by the pair of them as they became entranced with eachother's company.

Oh how desperately Lem wanted to jolt forward, placing his hands on her face and plant so many kisses on her just to make sure that she was really here but the soft touch of her hand ontop of his own was enough for now, while he desperately wanted to do it he also did not want to hurt Nora more.

"I thought for sure we lost you, Nora. I was scared."

"I ain't gonna leave you so soon, Lem. That's a promise I ain't gonna break." She whispered, slowly sliding off of the cot she had been confined to these past few days. She knelt right in front of Lem in what little room he had left, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him in for a hug. "I love you."

He heard the words, just as he had heard them before and everytime they gave him a warm feeling as well as butterflies. Slowly his arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer for their bodies to be pressed together.

"Nora." He pulled back a little to look at her face, giving her a warm smile in doing so. "C-C-Can I kiss you?"

"There's no need to ask." This was his invite, his permission and she wasted no time in leaning forward and kissing her. It was something he hadn't done it what felt to be all eternity and he for sure did not want it to be over. He could stay this way, holding onto eachother in this embrace until they were both on their last life but unfortunately their moment was cut short with Harry throwing the door open.

"I'm all for reunions, but we gotta leave. Hidin' out here too long Nora and it's a matter of time before we're caught." He spoke frantically, arms waving in the air to further enunciated his worry.

"Now here's what I'm thinkin', we get costumes and go in disguises on the train.. all the way to Valentine and from there we ride to Blackwater- start a new until we can get to Tumbleweed, then we can build a little shack and start a new, completely new people."

She chuckled at the unreal dream he held, knowing it possible for people who hadn't taken up their line of work.

"We ain't gonna keep runnin'. Look, we can leave the state for a few years.. return later on in the future as new people maybe." She let out one sigh, struggling to her feet but eventually getting there with Lem's assistance. "We can't fight 'em and we can't hide in the part of the country they're lookin' for us."

"I know.. I know."

She gave her brother a moment to catch his breath, never had she seen the boy just as worried as he was now and in a way it was a tiny bit amusing.

"We can easily ride as far as Strawberry if need be." She began. "Hide there for a few days, leave for New York."

"New York?" Kieran questioned to which Nora chuckled and gave a small shrug.

"I'm just sayin' the first city I thought of."

The group shared their moment of silence before collectively nodding with their agreements. "Lem, you an' Nora move out now, I think it better if we all split up into two." Cripps suggested or more told and the male more or less felt obligated to agree.

Nora took a look around and gasped when she had noticed. Hesitantly she asked the following question; "Where's Danny-Lee?"

Lem laughed sarcastically. "He left ages ago.. while we were worryin' a-about you that bastard took off."

"So none of y'all know where he is."

"None."

Nora didn't seem surprised in the slightest at this news. He ran to them for help and the minute he realised he had put them in more danger he ran.

Perhaps they all should have thrown him out when they had a chance, maybe they would have had a few days to run and none of this mess would have happened.

"When you ride out try an' travel lightly. In fact I think it better if we leave all our stuff here, ain't got much use now." Cripps spoke once more, this time sounding a little sadder than previously.

Between them they all exchanged looks, silently agreeing that running was now their only option.

"Will Kieran be okay to travel with either Harry an' James? With the O'Driscoll's still about.. well.. I don't think I'll be at ease if he weren't with one of 'em." She asked Cripps who had somehow became the leader amongst their silence. Not that either minded, he was a lot smarter than he let on most to believe but he was also annoying which would mean that if his run as their leader was cut short there would most likely be no surprises.

"Well, you Morgan children are the best guns we got in this small group. We'd be a damn lot safer if one of us travelled with one of you."

Nora chuckled at Cripps response before bringing herself to shake her head at his claim. "I doubt I'll do much good shootin', but if me and my brothers split amongst you three I think we'd all have a safer journey." She turned towards the two men in question. "But if you pair don't like this idea,, we can work somethin' else out."

Harry scratched at his beard in thought, but the idea pleased him in a way. "No, I like the idea."

"Well then it's settled. Tonight me an' Lem will leave and we can say at tomorrow noon Cripps and James head out.. leavin' Harry and Kieran to leave for tomorrow night, how's it sound?"

Simultaneously everyone nodded, liking this plan the best. The pairings made sense, given James reputation as a bounty hunter was a good cover and Harry was a good shot out of the duo. They all gave the female a smile, with Cripps following it up with a simple. "Sounds as good as plan as any, Nora."

Now.. they just needed to play the waiting game.