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Lady Ravanna- Thanks for reviewing! =)
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"You and me got unfinished business."
Eabha felt worried for her rescuer, since he wasn't showing any sign of drawing his gun. She'd never been an admirer of violence, but if Snow truly intended to carry out his threat against the town, his death was preferable to Branna's by far. The girl didn't want any of the other citizens to be hurt either. They'd already suffered enough as a whole.
She still couldn't focus on what was being said, especially when the outlaw pulled out a gun. A little voice within Eabha raved about why Cullen wasn't armed yet. To her further horror, he started walking towards Snow and threatening to arrest him in an all too nonchalant manner. It was a numbing thing to watch out of the corner of her eye, as her gaze was still on Sidney's gun. There was no telling what the next few seconds would entail.
Out of nowhere, the woman saw red. The sound of a nearby pop just registered with her as the criminal stumbled with a growl of pain. It only took a few seconds for Eabha to realize that he'd been shot in the leg. But before she could think about it, a second bang filled the air, along with another burst of blood from the man's chest. She ultimately made herself look around to see who'd fired on him, and the moment that inquiry was answered, she joined everyone else in their shock.
Ruth stood on the hotel porch, smoking gun in hand. Eabha couldn't see her friend's face from where she was, but she could only imagine what it looked like. Then again, she was too taken aback to concentrate on such things.
She couldn't have…Ruth?
The ensuing silence was truly icy, but it didn't last long. Everyone seemed to break out of the trance once Cullen took Ruth's gun and led her to another woman, who swiftly steered her into the newspaper building. It made Eabha angry to hear the town's governor arguing with Bohannon about Ruth having committed a crime. He'd been the one who put Snow in a powerful position, and he had the nerve to call Ruth a criminal?
Just then, the girl quickly moved away as Cullen and a few others dragged the wounded outlaw into the hotel and hoisted him onto a table. Not wanting Branna to see anything that couldn't be unseen, she took the child outside and dashed across the walkway. All she could do was hover around for a while. Since her arrival in Cheyenne, the only places she frequently occupied were the hotel and the church. But both those places were now out of reach.
Once several minutes had passed, Eabha sat down on the porch of another establishment and held her daughter close. It was so hard to believe any of this had happened. Not even a full day had passed between the burning of the church and Sidney Snow returning to town. As shocking as all of it was, the girl was practically desensitized to chaos. Hell on Wheels was unstable enough, to say nothing about her disastrous marriage and what happened to her parents. The only things that truly had Eabha's soul unearthed were Ezra's death and Ruth's shooting of Snow. She wanted the evil man to pay for what he did, and if she were put in her friend's place, there was no question of whether or not she would do the same. But if the criminal died, what would happen to the poor churchwoman?
Unfortunately, that question was answered a bit later in the day when Cullen led an emotionless Ruth to the jailhouse. Eabha wanted to protest, but deep down, she knew there wasn't much she could do to stop it. She was only a common young woman with no influence to halt an arrest. Despite the tears falling down her cheeks, the girl did her best to reassure herself. They couldn't punish Ruth for getting rid of such a monster, could they?
OOOOOOOOOOO
"I say I am guilty."
Though it was the second time Ruth had made this proclamation during her trial in the casino, Eabha still couldn't process it. Bohannon couldn't seem to do so either, not to mention the members of the makeshift court. At first, the young woman was slightly uplifted by their apparent eagerness to offer Ruth clemency, along with a suitable lawyer. However, everything came crashing down when the churchwoman spoke again.
"I murdered that man, Governor," she said in a firm but empty voice. "Not out of fear nor aiding the law, but for no purpose other than to end the man's life who took my son's. I am guilty. I have pled so."
Nobody could say a word at this. Any sound would surely make the truth all too real. But to Eabha's utter heartbreak, one of the court officials broke the silence with deadly words.
"You, Ruth Elizabeth Cole, are guilty of murder and shall be hanged by the neck until you are dead tomorrow. May God have mercy on your soul."
People started to frantically mutter at this, but the young woman couldn't even move. Though the piercing thud of the gavel made her jump slightly, that was the extent. She barely saw her friend being led out of the casino as her feelings rushed through her mind like a freight train.
They don't want her dead. Why's she doing this?
OOOOOOOOOOO
As the hours ticked on, there was no sign of Ruth changing her mind. The scaffold being put up in the center of town wasn't promising either. Eventually, Eabha had nowhere else to go but back to her room. It wasn't quite as comforting as it had been before the attacks, but it was all she had. The girl couldn't pretend to be content anymore, not even for Branna's sake. Nothing was making any sense, and there was no way to really figure it out.
Only when the sun went down did the woman start processing things. The thought of her closest friend being executed the next morning was too awful to focus on, but Ruth's lack of resistance disturbed her just as much. She was advised to find proper representation, and they outwardly told her that she didn't have to be held responsible. Still, none of that seemed to matter to the churchwoman.
However, the more she went over it in her mind, the more Eabha empathized with her friend.
If my child were taken from me, I'd want to die. I told her that myself. My family is gone, along with our dream of finding a home, but Branna's still here. Ruth…she has lost everything and everyone.
Indeed, she understood all too well. Even though there were plenty of people in town that cared for Ruth, it couldn't possibly be enough. If the tables were turned, and it had been Branna instead of the poor orphan boy, Eabha didn't think she'd be able to go on. Ruth, Ezra, Mr. Bohannon, Charlotte…none of them would've erased the pain. They were important, of course, but her daughter was her very life, the only life remaining within her. How can one live without life?
The church was Ruth's life, as was Ezra. She doesn't have anything left, nothing that can add up to them.
Despite connecting with the older woman's agony, the girl couldn't keep her tears from falling at the notion of what the morning held. However, upon glancing out her small window, she was able to make out an unusual gleam. She went to the windows of the deserted hotel lobby and saw countless people gathered outside the jailhouse with candles. It didn't take any time to think before she returned to her room, lit her candle, wrapped herself and the baby in a blanket, and went out the door.
Not much was visible inside the house, but for a little while, Ruth appeared by the door next to Cullen. Eabha felt for her friend even more, remembering her suspicions regarding her feelings for him. That might've been another reason for her choice, since she knew he was already married. It certainly made the circumstances all the more tragic.
"Sweetheart, easy."
She tried to calm her fussing child, but was unable to stop the little girl from accidentally blowing out her flame. Glancing around a bit, Eabha didn't quite know what to do. Just then, someone to her right spoke up.
"Here, miss."
The woman quickly recognized the man helping to relight her candle as Thomas Durant. She'd heard of him during the first months of her marriage, and since arriving in Cheyenne, he'd entered her gaze a couple of times. The rumors going around about him weren't exactly of the best caliber, but nevertheless, she maintained her manners.
"Thank you, sir," she muttered, genuinely grateful for her replenished light.
After seeing him nod in response, Eabha looked back at the jailhouse. By this time, Ruth had already retreated away from the window. But everyone remained in their spots for quite a while longer. Despite the obvious compassion shown by the town's inhabitants, Eabha knew it could never truly reach her friend. And that was one of the saddest things.
OOOOOOOOOO
The woman barely slept that night, but it was just as well. Her dreams would've likely been void of mercy. Upon waking up, she remembered what would happen within the next few hours.
Oh, Ruth…you won't be alone today. I promise.
Eabha gradually fixed her hair and put on Catrina's black dress. She didn't think she'd be wearing it again for a long while, but it was all she could think of doing. The churchwoman needed to know just how many people would be saddened to live without her. Once she and Branna had eaten a little bit, Eabha wrapped the baby up again and went outside. A large crowd had already assembled in front of the scaffold, and they were also dressed in mourning. The girl gently rocked her daughter back and forth after walking towards the front of the group. It was the only way she could distract herself. But it didn't last long. When everyone turned around to stare at the jailhouse, she did the same.
Clad in a tan dress, Ruth shakily proceeded down the walkway on the executioner's arm. By the looks of it, she didn't seem to notice anyone. Her eyes were glued to the scaffold. Eabha observed a few people laying their hands on Ruth while muttering prayerful words, but she refrained from doing so when her friend passed her by. That wasn't what she needed. Deep down, the younger woman knew this angel longed to escape her pain without enduring too much fear.
We just need to be with her.
It felt like time was slowing down as the churchwoman ascended up the steps. Eabha shifted Branna in her arms and carefully draped a corner of the blanket over the child's head. The thought of her witnessing this utter injustice was unbearable. From that moment on, she didn't take her eyes away from her friend. It became more painful to do so as Ruth's silent panic escalated. She was fairly calm while her wrists were being tied, but things got a bit worse upon looking among the crowd. Eabha locked eyes with her for a brief instant before the contact was broken. It was as if Ruth was searching for something…or someone.
Just then, the girl realized Cullen wasn't there. She looked around, but the man was nowhere in sight. The churchwoman's dark eyes became more terrified with every moment of his absence, causing Eabha's tears to spill over.
You've done so much, Ruth. Please don't be afraid.
By the time the noose was on, there was no ignoring the misery engulfing everything and everyone. Despite how horrified and heartbroken she felt, the younger woman was unable to look away. No, she wouldn't, even if she wanted to. Still, restraining a soft sob was impossible. She hoped Branna hadn't heard it, but for the moment, it didn't really matter. Right now, it was only Ruth.
"Wait!" she cried out before the black hood could be put on.
Eabha quickly followed her friend's gaze, and upon seeing Cullen approaching the scaffold, she breathed a sigh of relief. As the older man came to a stop a few feet in front of her, she looked back at Ruth. Her visual terror seemed to be going away, in contrast to the tears breaking free from her eyes. The air felt almost warm for a few seconds. Then again, if her savior's spirit were at ease, Eabha would've found a glacier to be burning hot.
She pulled her child a little bit closer as the governor spoke up.
"Any last words?"
Part of the girl wondered if Ruth would save herself in these last moments, but once she saw the fulfilled smile on her friend's face, she knew the answer. Despite feeling appeased at Mr. Bohannon's comforting gesture, the young woman's dread returned the moment the hood was dropped.
Even with how windy it was, Eabha could hear the churchwoman's breathing become erratic. But she held her ground. After swiftly glancing down to make sure Branna couldn't see anything, she maintained her gaze towards the scaffold. An impulse to close her eyes prodded at her as the executioner grabbed hold of the lever, but she ignored it. Her precious angel couldn't be alone. That simply couldn't happen. In the split second that the handle was yanked, she screamed a prayer in her mind.
God, if you're there, just take her!
It was pure agony to watch, but the girl didn't turn away. Still, nobody could keep from crying anymore. Eabha didn't know how long it took. Seconds, minutes, hours, days. All she knew was grief.
Eventually, once it was certain that no movement remained, she looked down and pressed her face into the blanket. Her weeping was silent, but in her head, it was louder than the deadliest thunderstorm. After a few seconds, she turned from the scaffold and started walking towards the hotel, not seeing the point in looking upon such a despicable sight for another instant. She was only watching for Ruth's sake, and Ruth was gone now.
Her tears had stopped by the time she closed her door, but the numbness she'd evaded for so long gradually took its place. And this time, she let it.
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