The Devil You Know11
The crack was audible. Carson spun and staggered with the hit, then fell to the floor with the unexpected blow. Blood trickled along his lip as he experimentally worked his jaw. Unfortunately it wasn't the first hit and he knew it wouldn't be the last.
"Carson!" Moira cried, rushing to the doctor. She knelt to him and helped him regain his balance so he could sit on the floor. "Stop this now, please!" she insisted, turning to view the bounty hunter. "There's no need for this!"
"Whatever happens, don't tell him a thing!" Carson insisted. He tried to move to his feet but fell back, dizzy. Moira kept her hold on his arm as she knelt next to him. The doctor already had a black eye, and now his lower lip was bruising and swelling to join the increasing cavalcade of injuries.
Acastus smiled. He clenched his right hand into a fist. "I admire your courage, doctor, as well as your loyalty. However, your fate is in her hands." His steely gaze fell upon Moira. "Tell me what I need to know before I inflict a serious injury."
"We can't tell you what we don't know!" Moira insisted, turning to face the bounty hunter as he towered above them. The schoolmarm was no stranger to violence from men's hands. In fact she had come to accept it as a matter of course, except from a few such as the man who was being beaten.
And the man whom she was protecting.
"Sheppard keeps his cards close to his vest, does he? Always has, the bastard," Acastus sneered. "Still, you must know something about him. How he came to get this job and when he will be returning to town. What exactly he brought with him. Did he buy that tin star? Where does he keep his possessions? Does he care about anyone in this town?" His gaze bore into Moira.
Moira was silent. Despite the severity of the situation she couldn't speak. She wouldn't reveal anything about John, not even to spare Carson. Guilt twisted in her, but so did resolve. It was a terrible choice to make, but it had to be made.
"Fine." Acastus swung his boot this time and hit the doctor in the knee. Carson groaned and grabbed his leg as fiery pain shot along it.
"Stop this! We don't know that much about him!" Moira insisted. It was the truth. She knew very little about John's past. In fact this man seemed to know more than anyone.
"He's a loner. Always has been. And whatever else you want to know I suggest you ask him yourself when he gets back next week," Carson averred through gritted teeth as he touched his sore knee.
Acastus frowned. "Not good enough."
"No! Stop!" Moira cried as Acastus hauled the doctor to his feet by the lapels of his coat and shook him, as if he could shake the answers from Carson. Moira grabbed his arm, trying to pull him off the doctor. Carelessly the bounty hunter backhanded Moira. She moaned and fell sideways, knocking into a table. Glasses fell and shattered onto the floor.
"You recreant!" Carson charged, infuriated. He slammed into the other man. Moira scrambled out of the way as they crashed into a couple of chairs, breaking them. There was a violent tussle and suddenly a gunshot rang out in the air.
"Carson!" Moira rushed to aid the doctor but was grabbed by the bounty hunter. His fingers bore into her arm, causing pain. Carson was writhing on the floor as blood seeped down his arm heavily. A visage of agony spread across his features.
"You tell that scoundrel I'll be waiting for him with his woman!"
"Unhand her now! I will bring this town on your head for—"
Another shot rang out. "Carson!" Moira cried, as the doctor staggered backwards. The bullet had struck his lower leg.
"No you won't. Not if you want this woman back in one piece. And if anyone comes after us I will kill them. You send Sheppard alone to me. Let's go, doxy."
"No!" Carson struggled as he grasped his arm. The shot had gone through and he was bleeding badly, but as far as he could judge no major arteries had been hit. The leg injury was minor but stung like hell. "I'll get the law after you!"
Moira struggled. "Let go of me! He won't come after me! He won't fall for your trap!"
"In that case you can amuse me while I wait for him." Acastus paused and smiled at the doctor. "Tell him I've holed up in the Barrens. He knows the place. And like I said, send Sheppard alone or I will start playing with her." He pressed a pistol against Moira's side. "Any noise from you and my trigger finger will get mighty itchy. Let's go."
"Carson, no, stay there!" Moira said, as the doctor was trying to follow. She staggered as Acastus dragged her out of the medical office. The streets were deserted and snow had begun to fall, cloaking them in a white haze. Moira fought, squirming but the bounty hunter's fingers dug painfully into her arm and the muzzle of his gun pinched her side.
"Mrs. Sumner? What's goin' on here? I heard shots."
Acastus didn't hesitate. He pulled his weapon away from Moira and fired. Moira gasped as Bates went down, eyes wide with surprise. Acastus didn't even slow his stride as he dragged his hapless hostage around the body and down the street.
"Stop this! You can't be killing everyone in town!"
"I won't as long as they don't get in my way. There's only one man I aim to kill. Sheppard."
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Ronon staggered, shocked. The skinny kid had moved like lightning, striking fast and practically hurling the tracker across the newly dug grave. Ronon lifted his rifle and fired, but he only hit empty air. He whirled, glaring but the kid had seemingly disappeared. "Ford! Where are ya?"
Silence.
The snow swirled around Ronon, reducing his visibility to only a few inches in front of him. Doggedly he stepped through the snow and wind, heading for his horse. He kept a tight grip on his rifle, trying to see and hear if any threat was close. The wind whistled in his ears and his fingers felt like ice as they gripped the rifle.
There was a dark blur. Ronon caught it out of the corner of his eye. He whirled and fired. Something fell backwards and was gone.
Ronon saw a trail of blood. He grunted, making his way to his horse. The animal was pawing the snow, nervous but not leaving its master. "Hold on there, Sateda. Easy now." Ronon looked round but all he could see was a world of dizzying white. He clambered onto the horse, scowling.
Any tracks that Sheppard and McKay had left were now long gone, obliterated by the storm. Ronon debated, trying to judge which way to ride. Finally he capitulated and let his horse have free rein. The animal snorted and began to walk into the wind and the storm.
Abruptly his horse neighed in fright, rearing up and almost dislodging its rider. Ronon grasped the reins tightly and set his spurs to command the horse. Before he could speak warm air wafted over him in a rush. The snow dissolved momentarily and the tracker could see for miles ahead of him.
He stared at the distance where a bloom of color lit the sky, a multi-colored explosion that rose high in the air and then fell back on itself. Flames roared and a screeching scream rent the air. The horse tried to run, rolling its eyes but Ronon controlled it.
The snow fell back like a curtain, obscuring everything once more.
"What the hell was that?" Ronon wondered. He guided his horse to head that way. Whatever it was the tracker knew one thing: Sheppard had to be involved in some way.
Ronon failed to see that Ford was miles ahead of him, going in the same direction.