The Gunslinger (Barnett Ranch) (9 page)

             
The man backhanded her again, and she spit blood on him in retaliation.  The two men who’d taken her were two of the men who’d been with the man that twisted her arm in the restaurant.  She recognized them as soon as they removed their bandannas.  She didn’t know who the others were.  They’d joined up with them about two or three miles from town.  She wondered where the other man from the restaurant was, and she wondered if they were taking her to him.  If only her hands hadn’t been shaking when she fired that shot, she would have most likely escaped with her Granny in tow. 

She watched as the man she’d shot doctored his shoulder
.  She’d not missed by much.  He kept glaring at her.  He would retaliate the first chance he got.  She knew it.  She could see it in his eyes.

Virginia did not sleep at night refusing to close her eyes, while they were camped.  She could sleep in the saddle, but she refused to let her guard down when all the men entered the camp.  She could see the lust in their eyes.  They would rape her
,
the first chance they got.  She wondered what was holding them back.  Were they saving her f
or something, or perhaps somebody
?

             
She tried to slip the small knife she kept, out of her boot, but she could not get it. They had bound her ropes too tight.  They’d tied her hands behind her and tied her legs, too.  They also tied her to a tree.  The knots tightened every time she tried to wiggle her hands free, and they were chaffing her wrist causing them to bleed. 

             
She fought off sleep as her eyelids kept trying to close.  She was exhausted.  She
could only hope and pray that Jax would come for her and find her before they done their worst to her.  She sent up a prayer to God asking for his protection.

             
She managed to keep herself awake that night, just barely.  She was not used to going without sleep, but she had to.  They awoke bright and early, before it was fully daylight.  She needed to use the bathroom, but didn’t dare say so.  She would rather piss her pants than have to squat in front of one of them.  She held it
in;
in spite of the
pain,
it caused her stomach. 

             
One of them tossed her across the saddle and tied her feet to her hands.  She hurt but she would not complain.  She allowed herself to fall asleep after they started riding.  She had to rest and it would be her only chance.

Jax

             
Jax searched the creek bank as soon as it was light out.  He rode South in the creek, until he found where they’d left out of the creek.  He found the evidence of their camp.  He found two places with blood on the ground.  Both small traces, and he wasn’t sure if either one was Virginia’s.  He hoped not.  He knew without a doubt he would kill the men, who took her, but if they laid their hands on her or worse, raped her, he’d do more than just kill them.  He’d massacre them. 

             
He struggled to keep his head clear.  The thought of losing her was not something he wanted to think about, especially when he’d never even claimed her for his own.  He regretted it now.  She was everything he’d wanted in a woman.  He’d been blind, telling himself she was a child, convincing himself that she irritated him.  She was no child, she was a woman full grown, and he needed her, like he’d never needed another. 

             
He pushed his self and his horse harder than he ever would have in other circumstances.  He wanted to get her back in one piece.  He prayed to God, she would not suffer the torture of rape. 

             
Several times, he lost the tracks then had to circle back and pick up the trail again.  By the time he found the cabin, they were long gone.  He cussed himself for losing the trail.

             
It was now three nights, since they’d taken her.  He hoped they would slow down soon, and it looked as if they’d done just that.  He walked the horse again, following the tracks on foot in the moonlight. 

He heard them before he saw them. He tied his mare to a tree, took his rifle out of the scabbard and eased his way through the woods.  He took a good look at the campsite.  One man knelt before a fire stirring beans or something in a pot.  Another was changing bandages on his shoulder.  He remembered hearing a shot ring out from the bank, and Mrs. Ellen saying something about Virginia shooting one of them.  He must be the one, because he was glaring at Virginia.  He took in the others and got a good look at Virginia, when one of the men moved to go pee. 

Her face was black and blue.  Her eye was swollen shut, and her wrist, were bloody.  He would have to take them out one at a time, but he wanted to make them suffer for what they’d done to her.
 

             
He took out his bowie knife, and snuck up behind the man who’d escaped to the woods to pee.  He eased up on him and grabbed him covering his mouth, so he could not let out a yell and slit his throat.

             
Jax drug the body into some bushes, covered it with leaves, and then went back to his lookout spot and waited for his next opportunity. 
He wouldn’t get another one.  The man with the injured
shoulder
must have decided he could wait no longer.  He got up from his bedroll and made his way over to Virginia. 

             
Jax watched as he put his hands on her, running his hand over her breast.  Virginia couldn’t fight back the way she was tied, but she took the opportunity to spit on him.   He
ripped her shirt open, grabbed her face and pulled her mouth up to his, while he rubbed his other hand across her breast.  Jax could take no more. 

             
He couldn’t shoot him because of the proximity to Virginia.  He never had been as accurate with his rifle as he was with his pistol, and he refused to take a chance with Virginia’s life.  He chose instead to shoot the cook stirring the beans.  The one with his hands on Virginia wrapped his arm around her using her as a shield, as he fired in Jax’s direction.  The others fired too, and Jax took them down one by one with his rifle. 

             
Jax left the
rifle and his hat on the where he’d been shooting from, and snuck down the hill.  He eased into the camp with his hands in the air.  “Let her go, and I’ll give myself up.” Jax said.  The man turned in surprise, to see him standing in front of him.  Virginia fought to stay on her feet but the man was tall and he lifted her off the ground with the arm around her throat.  “Lay your guns on the ground, now.  The man held his gun on Jax and his grip tightened on Virginia’s neck. 

             
Jax lowered his hands slowly to undo his
gun belt
.  Virginia chose that moment to pass out, and her dead weight caused the man to lose his grip on her providing Jax with just enough opportunity to pull his gun from the holster and let her fly. 

             
Virginia hit the ground first, and crumpled.  Then the man, who’d been holding her crumpled behind her hitting the ground hard.  The bullet was precise and accurate, right between his eyes. Jax ran to Virginia and dropped to his knees.  He leaned down to listen for her breathing.  He felt her breath hit his cheek and he knew sh
e was alive.  He eased his arm beneath her and shook her awake.  “Virginia, wake up honey. Wake up, please?”  She opened her eyes and coughed.  “Jax,” her voice barely more than a whisper, she said, “I knew you’d come.  I told them the Angel of Death would send them straight to hell.  I told them.”  She coughed again, and closed her eyes. 

             
Jax pulled her into his arms and picked her up off the ground.  How had she known?  How long had she known?  He wondered but did not worry on it.  He kissed the bruised eyelid as he carried her to his horse, stopping only to grab his rifle and hat.

             
The mare stood tied where he left her.  He threw Virginia’s leg over the horse and sat her in the saddle.  He climbed up behind her.  Realizing her shirt was ruined and her breast were revealed he removed his black vest and slipped her arms through the holes and buttoned it up, careful not to graze her breast with his hands.  He
wrapped his arms around her and pulled her head against his shoulder, and rode off.

             
Virginia awoke to Jax’s careful administrations to her cuts and bruises.  He dabbed a wet bandanna against her face and neck.  It took her a moment to realize he held her cradled in his arms.  He wiped the dried blood from her face and kissed her temple.  His hands shook and she w
ondered if he was hurt.  She focus
ed her eyes on his face, straining to see through the swollen eye.

             
She whispered his name, and he pulled her tight in his arms.  “Shh, everything’s going to be fine honey, just fine.  You’ll be fine, I promise.  I’ll take care of everything, you just rest.” 

             
Virginia closed her eye
s, again, her thoughts
on Jax.  Had he really called her honey and kissed her temple, or had she imagined it?  She drifted into a deep sleep, and when she awoke again, she lay in a
bedroll on a creek bank
.  She heard the water
splash and looked around
for Jax.  He was nowhere to ar
ound, so she picked up his rifle from his things and made her way down to the creek. 

             
She nearly lost
her breath at the sight
before her.  Jax stood waist deep in the water, not wearing any clothes. 
He was gorgeous.  The moonlight shined around him casting shadows that danced all around.  Virginia eased closer and accidentally stepped on a twig.

             
The snapping of a twig caught Jax’s attention. He suddenly became alert to the dangers around him.   He scanned the
tree line but saw nothing.  He began easing out of the water heading toward his clothes, so he could retrieve his gun.  As he exited the water he heard a gasp, and realized his intruder must have been none other than Virginia.  He made haste at putting his pants on,
and then
yelled, “
Come
on out Virginia.” 

             
The bushes rustled and Virginia stepped out from behind them carrying his rifle.  “I, I’m sorry, I wasn’t trying to spy on you.   I woke up and I didn’t see you.  Then, I heard splashing so I grabbed the gun and went to investigate.”  “Honey, didn’t it occur to you it was probably just me, seeing as how I wasn’t in camp.”  She shook her head. “No, I was worried it was him, the man from the restaurant.  They were taking me to him.” 

             
He eased closer to her, and reached his arm out, taking her elbow in his hand.  “Awe, honey I wish, I’d killed him that day.” 
She came into his arms, wrapping her arms around his waist, and rested her head on his chest.  “I just want to go home Jax.”  “I know you do, honey.”  He kissed the top of her head.  She turned her face up to his.  “Jax, How come you keep calling me honey?” 
“I don’t know; it just felt right I reckon.  Do you want me to stop?” 
“No, it’s nice.  I kind of like it.” “Alright then
,” he whispered.  He trailed kisses over her face.  He couldn’t help himself. 

             
Virginia caught his mouth with hers, taking him off guard.  He hesitated only a moment, before he returned her kiss.  He was careful not to hurt her, but his kiss was passionate anyway.  He was hungry for her, and she him.  He tore his mouth from hers.  “I don’t want to hurt you honey.”  “You won’t Jax, please don’t stop.”  She moved her hands down to rest over his butt and squeezed pulling him closer to her.  Jax groaned, and took her mouth in his again.  He eased his hand down the front of the vest he’d
put on her and unsnapped the buttons.  He slid his han
ds under the shirt and over her shoulders, easing the shirt and vest off her. 

             
He trailed kisses down her neck, circling his tongue around the nipple of one breast and then the other. He came back up for another kiss and rubbed his calloused hands over her breast.  Virginia trailed her hands around to the front of his pants and unsnapped his pants.  Jax stilled her hands.  “Don’t do this unless you’re sure, Virginia.  If I take you, honey, you’ll be stuck with me.  I’m not going to let no one else have you.”  Virginia didn’t
answer;
she just continued unbuttoning his pants
. 
She slid them down and Jax stepped out of them. 

             
Jax trailed kisses down her neck, on her breast suckled at each nipple then placed wet kisses on her stomach down to her naval.  He unbuttoned her jeans and slid them down her legs.  He
stood up, reached his hand down to the back of her knees and picked her up, and carried her into the water.  “Jax what are you doing?”  “Trust me, honey.  It’ll be better for you.” 

             
He let her float in the water with his arm under her back pulling her mouth to his.  He slid his other hand down her stomach and parted the lips with his fingers, then rubbed his finger over the clit before easing it inside of her.  Virginia moaned and clung tighter to him.