Her body felt heavy. She wanted to move but she couldn't. Her vision was blurred yet she strained to see a man approaching her. unable to move he tore at her blouse. She saw a second man behind him. The second man pulled the first away from her and punched him.
"Ma'am," Said the gruff voice gently. She blinked her eyes to try to see him clearly.
"Don't hurt me." She said pleading. "Don't hurt me." She pleaded with all her strength.
"I'm not here to hurt you." Said the man. She saw him lay something over her. "You're safe but I need to get you out of here to keep you that way. I'm gonna need to carry you, is that ok?"
She nodded. Even though her vision was blurrd she saw his kind eyes. He looked gruff with his hat and beard. Her vision blurred by some drink they forced upon her. The man took her gently in his arms. He carried her to his horse. He lifted her to sit upon the saddle. He then climbed to sit behind her.
"Ma'am, your shirt has been torn so I want you to wear my coat." He said gently placing the sleeve of his coat out for her to wear. After she put it on and he helped her button it. "There is a camp not far from here if you are ok with staying there?"
She looked back at him and nodded her acceptance of his offer.
"Ok then, hold on." He said signaling his horse to move. The motion made her fall back into him. He wrapped an arm around her waist to steady her. "You ok? I got ya."
She gripped tight to his arm that held her. "Thank you." She said.
He said nothing as they headed towards camp in the dark cover of the night.
She awoke suddenly to a scream. It was her own scream.
"Hey, it's ok." Said the man. She recognized the man with the kind eyes and gruff voice. As she looked into his eyes she remembered. He was safe. He rescued her. She was shaking.
He could see her shake. He rose from the blanket that was his bed next to her cot. "You're safe now." He said kneeling before her. He wrapped another blanket around her.
"Those men." She said.
"Those men are dead." He said. She looked at him in surprise. "They won't hurt anyone again. No ones hurting you again. I'll see to it."
She only stared at the man. She reached out and touched his bearded face. "Thank you." She said before collapsing into his arms sobbing.
"It's ok, Miss. You don't need to thank me." He said. He gently lifted her back to the cot and laid her down. "Just rest. I am right here."
"I can't rest. Every time I close my eyes." She said. "I see them. They meant me harm. They meant to." She angrily wiped the tears.
"You don't need to explain. I know men like that. They don't understand respect or how to treat others." He said.
She look d at him. she hesitated before speaking, "I know this ain't gonna sound right, but can you hold me. Just lay next to me so I can sleep. I would just feel safer in your arms."
"I don't think it's proper." He said.
"I know. I'm sorry. Especially if you have a wife or girl." She said.
"No, I don't got either." He said.
"I'm sorry." She said lying back down on the cot.
The man looked at the woman lying shaking on the cot. She had her back to him.
"Alright." He said standing next to the cot. She turned and looked up at him. "If it will help you calm down and sleep." She smiled at him as he laid down next to her. "You sure you're comfortable?"
She turned to face him and laid her head into his chest. He wrapped arm around her to keep himself from falling off. "You sure about this? I don't want you uncomfortable."
"I''m fine." She said with her eyes closed. She held her arms up to her chest which was pressed against him tightly. "Thank you." Her eyes suddenly shot open, "are you ok?"
"Yes. Think we've both checked in enough with each other." He said pulling the blanket over her curled form pressed into him. "Sleep well."
He found himself drifting off and falling fast asleep.