Jesse's POV

Jumping out of the window seemed like a good enough idea at the moment.

We were on the floor like that.

I tried to break her fall, but when she clung to me as she did, we moved faster and then she was beneath me.

I lost conscience for a brief second. She was still out cold when I checked her pulse.

A part of me thought the moment at the time was intriguing. I know I shouldn't have spoken like this. If It wasn't for this young girl, I would be dead probably. Why did she save my life? Not that I wasn't truly grateful. I was indebted to her now. But what could I do? After she woke up, she would probably be going home. Wherever that was.

Watching her move as I stared at her unconscious form, my heart gave a little flop. Had my sister's used that expression before? It only seemed like the proper way to describe how I felt. She indeed was beautiful. Why had someone so beautiful as she risk their life for me? The question still troubled me.

While transfixed in the daze that I was in, it was the cackling of the burning building that woke me up. It was quite still possible that Susannah and I would end up under all the debris. I wouldn't want it to be a waste that I died after Susannah risked her life to make sure I lived. Plus, I wanted to see how it all turned out.

I crawled over to Susannah and tried to wake her up. She wouldn't budge. So I did the next best thing and lifted her up and ran from the barn as it came down. I hoped that the horses got out okay.

I then looked to the boarding house and noticed Mr. and Mrs. O'Neil standing with a bunch of the workers.

"Senorita O'Neil!" I shouted. I wanted to get Susannah to safety. I wanted to make sure she'd be okay. I wanted her to wake up. I walked easily to them.

"Mr. de Silva? Oh thank the Lord that you are okay." She said.

"I shall thank Him later Senorita…For now I must get her to a safe place." I replied referring to the woman in my arms.

Senorita O'Neil, I suppose recognized Susannah and said the first words I can only hope that she thought of.

"Not this rubbish in my house. I run a respectable house here Mr. de Silva. Not this sort. Take her to some whore house where she belongs!"

It really hurt me the way she was talking about Susannah. I got annoyed and looked around…There was no other boarding house for miles. So while Senorita kept ranting about her 'respectable house' I thought of something to say.

"Senorita! This woman is very dear to me. If she dies, I'll blame you!" I lowered my voice "She is in need of rest and some new clothes. I wish to put her in my place in the room that you prepared for me. And have a separate room for me. Then we will leave in the morning or as soon as she can."

And before she could think of something to say I added "I shall pay for the inconvenience"

All I got was an appalled look from Senorita, but in the end she moved.

I walked gently up the stairs and to the room that I was supposed to die in. I hope the Lord would save her as she had saved me

"En el nombre del Padre, y del Hijo, y del Espíritu Santo. (in the name of the father the son and the holy spirit) En el nombre del dios esta mujer no morirá.(in the name of God, this woman will not die.)" I recited.

I laid her on my bed and wound up on my knees. I tried to break free but I felt a hand reach out and grab my shirt.

"Don't leave me." She said.

"I promise" I replied. And I stayed like that on my knees. Just smiling after she would.