Chapter Four

Hazel stood upright and held her head high. She was trying to put on an air of confidence Buck knew she did not really possess. Hank closed the space between himself and Hazel in just a few steps and she tried but failed not to shrink ever so slightly.

"Now about the payment you owe me," Hank said forcefully.

"I'll get you your money," Hazel said trying not to let her fear betray her. She turned to get him his share when he grabbed her arm and swung her back facing him.

"That's not what I'm talking about," Hank said dismissively. "I'm talking about you. You owe me a tumble missy."

"I do not," Hazel protested. "I made a deal for money only."

"You said I could have whatever else I wanted and that's what I want. Don't matter to me what you think you made a deal for. I'll be taking what I'm owed whether you're willing or not."

Hank began to circle Hazel as if to size her up or just make her feel powerless. Buck knew that type of man. That was the type of man his mother had drilled into him never to become. Hazel just stood there trying not to lose her composure.

With Hank distracted, Buck deftly covered his knife with his bound feet and moved it very slowly toward him. He would probably have to free himself now. Hazel was now shaking and Buck wasn't sure if he could get himself free in time. He would have to wait until Hank was completely focused on Hazel to free himself, but he would only have a very small window to get free before Hank hurt Hazel.

Hank pushed Hazel against the wall and started kissing her and Buck realized his window of opportunity had arrived. He quickly maneuvered the knife upright between his feet so he could cut the ropes on his wrists.

"Hey, Indian," Hank called out and Buck was forced to let the knife fall softly to the ground. "When I'm done here, I'll let you have a taste of this."

Hazel let out a frightened cry and Buck was repulsed by the scene before him. It is what he knew would happen, but knowing it didn't make any of it ok. Hank resumed his mouth's assault on Hazel's neck and lips while Hazel struggled and sobbed. Filled with resolve, Buck squirmed to try to loosen the ropes, but they were too tight. He grabbed the knife again between his feet and managed to get it stable enough to cut the ropes binding his hands. The sound of Hazel's dress ripping momentarily stopped him. Buck looked over at the dangerous lust in Hank's eyes. Hank was not a man who would stop at rape. The realization spurred Buck on as he worked the rope against the knife with more fervor. Hank started to pull up the skirt of Hazel's dress just as Buck freed his hands. Hazel's screams pierced the air as Buck severed the rope binding his legs. Jumping to his feet, he tackled Hank liberating Hazel from a tragic fate. Hank and Buck wrestled on the ground until Buck was able to gain his footing and the upper hand. It was true that Hank outweighed Buck, but Buck was quicker and more agile.

"Hazel!" Buck yelled. "Go and get the horses ready!"

Hazel stood stock still with her eyes wide. She looked down at her ripped blouse, frozen in shock.

"Hazel!" Buck yelled again, but the rest of his sentence was cut short as he lost his advantage and took a punishing blow to his midsection.

Hazel started at Buck's call and tried to pull herself together. She grabbed her coat and moved quickly to the door. She let out a small scream when something grabbed hold of her ankle. Leon was awake and smiling lasciviously at her.

"Buck, help me!" Hazel cried as Leon pulled her to the floor.

"A little busy here!" Buck grunted as Hank dealt another blow to his stomach.

Though Hazel shook with fear, she gathered some courage and started to kick away from Leon's grasp. She was nearly free when Buck collapsed to the ground with a thud, just inches from her. She stopped struggling and watched in horror as Hank kicked her would be rescuer a couple of times in the ribs. Flinching, Hazel let out a tiny scream each time Hank's foot connected with Buck's rib cage. On the last kick, Buck managed to catch Hank's foot and twist it hard upending Hank in the process. Freed from Hank's punishing abuse, Buck gave the man a taste of his own medicine with a kick to the solar plexus. He had no hope of defeating the man in this fight, so he needed to concentrate his efforts on an escape. Buck grabbed his coat and kicked Leon in the face as he grabbed Hazel's elbow. He dragged her to her feet and pulled her out the door. All the while hoping they had enough of a lead to grab a horse or two.

"Come on!" Buck shouted as he pulled Hazel along.

The snow was really coming down hard now and it was becoming difficult to see. Hazel was still in shock and moved slowly. Buck managed to pull his horse and another from the makeshift lean to barn when shots rang out. Both Leon and Hank were shooting at them from the doorway of the cabin. Buck no longer had his gun to return fire and he would probably need the knife later, so he had no choice but to try and outrun the gunfire. He managed to get Hazel on the back of a horse and vaulted himself onto his own. Buck kept the reins of Hazel's horse in his hands and pulled her horse behind his.

"Hold on," Buck shouted over the snow. He could not figure out who was more stubborn, Hazel or her horse.

"I can't stay on without a saddle," Hazel complained as she tried to sit atop her horse.

"You're gonna have to," Buck insisted.

Buck gave his horse a little kick but turned suddenly when he heard a gunshot and Hazel scream. Hazel had fallen from her horse and was now in the snow holding her arm just below her shoulder. He could see the trickle of blood coming from a wound. Buck jumped from his horse just as more shots whizzed by his head. The shots spooked the horses and they galloped away.

"Dammit!" Buck yelled as he knelt down beside Hazel. "Come on, get up. We'll have to make a run for it."

Hazel started to cry. "I can't make it," she said. "I've been shot."

Buck looked over at her arm. "It looks like a graze," he said. "I know it hurts, but you have to put that aside for now."

"I can't," Hazel sobbed a bit overdramatically. "I'm going to die, aren't I?"

"Only if I kill you," Buck muttered in frustration.

"What did you say?" Hazel asked.

Buck yanked her to her feet. "Hazel, we don't have time for this," he said. "We have to go…unless you want me to leave you behind with those two men."

"No," Hazel sniffed and struggled to her feet. Buck took her hand and pulled her behind him as they continued to dodge bullets. Buck ducked behind a tree and pulled Hazel to the ground.


A/N: Yes, this chapter is a bit short...but it would have made the chapter before or after this way too long. Thanks to the ladies on the plus for everything! Thanks to Beulah and Gert for helping me with this chapter, you two are awesome!