Good evening!
Sorry for the long delay in posting this chapter. I have finally been recalled to work as cabin crew so I have had to study for exams and prepare myself for flying around the world again! Yay! Only problem with that is it throws me off my timing and my sleep pattern gets wrecked; not fun. I'm trying to get back into a routine of writing a little bit everyday, so hopefully I won't make a habit of making you wait so long for the next chapter!
**Just a warning for this chapter**
This chapter does contain hints at racism; (this story is set in 1890(ish)) I tried to write it in a respectable way, without including any vile language but I also didn't want to downplay the severity of the situation so I hope I done it justice and that you all appreciate what I was trying to put across for this chapter to be what it is. With that said; any feedback is greatly appreciated, if you have a problem with this chapter (I really hope that's not the case) but if you do, please tell me so that I can make any appropriate changes!
Finally; enjoy!
Chapter Nine
Bella found it difficult to sleep that night; wonderful dreams evaded her, instead her mind could only conjure poisonous green eyes which caused her to toss and turn through the dark hours. When Jasper crawled through the tent entrance much later and witnessed his sister's distress, he carefully lifted her from the bedroll on the uneven floor, to the much more comfortable cot in the corner. For a moment she appeared to settle into a relaxed slumber, but it did not last long; as emerald vines began to ensnare her consciousness once again.
As the first rays of sunlight pierced through the canvas walls at dawn, Isabella emerged from her fitful sleep, feeling worse than when she had closed her eyes the night before. She rubbed aggressively at her eyes wishing to erase the lasting image of Madsen's glare which seemed to be imprinted in her mind, but to no avail; it still lingered. She groaned internally at her pathetic obsession and glanced over the edge of the cot where she noticed Jasper was completely lost to sleep. His forearm was tossed over his eyes as he attempted to block out the morning light, and his mouth was slack as his lips twitched in harmony with his breathing.
Isabella allowed herself a peaceful moment to study her brother's features, the corner of her lips tugged up into a small smile. His face had aged slightly; the signs of him becoming a man were new to her, such as the stubble across the lower half of his face and the little lines around his eyes. The scar was something she would grow used to over time, the angry, raised skin was a permanent reminder of his past struggles but also a sign of his inclination to survive. The scar did not detract from her brother's handsome face and once she accepted the changes, she could see for herself that he really had not changed all that much.
An uncomfortable fluttering in Isabella's stomach forced her to abandon her thoughts. She quickly tugged Rosie's skirt up over her legs and secured it around her waist. She did not bother changing out of the thin, white vest that she had slept in, figuring that no one else would be up at such an early hour after last night's festivities. After yanking on her boots, Isabella quietly tiptoed from the tent leaving Jasper undisturbed.
At her sudden appearance, a couple of the horse's flinched. Isabella recognised Nexus towards the back of the herd. His striking, black coat standing out amongst the browns, beiges, and whites of the other horses.
Isabella hurried into the surrounding trees until she felt sufficiently sheltered, and quickly relieved herself, constantly checking over her shoulder to ensure no one was peeking at her. When she was finished, she had fully intended on heading straight back to camp, but the nearby sound of trickling wate called to her and she found herself drifting off course to find the source.
The tall grass tickled her shins as she carefully stepped between the low hanging branches of a rosewood tree; the leaves caressed her palms as she cleared the path ahead of her. The sound of the flowing water grew louder as she finally reached the bank and stepped out onto a collection of rocks that jutted out over the shallow but fast-moving stream.
Delicately, Isabella sank to her knees and cradled her hands together so that she was able to cup some water. Goose pimples broke out along her arms as the chill from the icy water raced along her skin and down her back. She brought the water to her face and scrubbed away the remnants of sleep. Blinking rapidly to clear her eyes, she tilted her face towards the rising sun, smiling gently as the rays instantly warmed her cool skin.
She flinched suddenly as the morning birds and peaceful moment were interrupted by the sound of splashing water, her hair fanned around her shoulders as she quickly searched for the intruder. At first Isabella did not recognise the mop of thick, dark locks as the man emerged from the water; it had darkened them past the point of recognition. She silently climbed to her feet and scurried back towards the treeline, where she could spy in private, holding her breath the entire way.
As Madsen stood to his full height, Isabella chewed on the inside of her lips as a bright blush appeared on her high cheekbones. She released a small sigh of relief when she realised that he had not yet discovered her. But then a feeling of shame and guilt swarmed her as she continued to watch Madsen. Even as she mentally reprimanded herself, she did not turn away from the sight before her; her curious eyes followed the water droplets that flowed down his chiselled back and merged back into the river.
She studied him from her concealed position as he extended his arms high above his head, the muscles beneath his clear skin flexing with his movements. His fingers splayed out in a satisfying stretch before lowering them into the water and repeating her actions from moments before. He was less gentle in his ministrations as he scrubbed at his face roughly. Even now, at his most vulnerable Madsen seemed to be on guard; his shoulders tensed, and his head twitched with every sound.
In her nearly eighteen years of life Isabella had never studied a man's body so closely before. The brilliant light from the sun reflected off the water and onto his back, the rays dancing across the water droplets on his skin made it seem like he was shimmering; it took her breath away. As he turned slightly, she noticed an angry, dull scar that started at his left shoulder blade and spread across to his right hip. Isabella silently wondered how close to his heart the wound had been and if the attacker was still alive to tell their version of the tale?
As he continued to rotate in her direction, she quickly withdrew behind the trunk of the nearest tree, hoping that it was thick enough to hide her. She pulled in a lungful of oxygen and then held her breath as she listened for signs of him leaving the river.
Isabella shook her head in disapproval at the situation she found herself in. If the roles had been reversed, she would have been humiliated to learn that he was spying on her during her moment of privacy. She had no idea how Madsen would react to her intrusive behaviour and she really did not want to stick around to find out. With a silent prayer, she darted from behind the tree and sped off in the direction of camp.
The young, fleeing girl did not dare look over her shoulder until she reached the edge of the clearing. The trees behind her were silent, with no signs of Madsen following her. Isabella breathed a sigh of relief and approached Rosie and Louisa, who were seated on the grass outside there own tent.
"Hey Bella? Where did you disappear to last night?" Rosie asked, a look of concern marring her features as she brushed Louisa's hair.
"I went to bed early, I guess all that travelling really took it out of me after all."
"Are you sure you're okay? You look rather flushed." Rosie squinted at her from her position on the ground. Isabella shielded her cheeks with her hands, cursing her body's untimely responses. Her mouth hung open like a fish, as she searched her mind for a suitable reason for her blush. But thankfully she was spared the pain as Emily interrupted their conversation.
"G'morning," she beamed at them. "Leroy is heading into Crestview to pick up some supplies and I thought I'd join him, would either of you like to come too?"
"I'm going to stick around here today, settle in a little more and help Esme with some camp chores. But Bella, if you are feeling up to it, you could probably head into town and pick up some new clothes? I mean that colour blue looks glorious on you but I'm sure you would prefer to wear something that actually fits." Bella glanced down at her outfit, silently agreeing but unsure as to whether she felt like venturing out.
Before she could respond, she noticed Madsen had returned to camp; he was stood not too far from them. His hair was still slightly wet, droplets of water rolled down the side of his neck and soaked the collar of his black shirt. Bella felt her eyes widen as he scanned the camp and quickly turned to Emily.
"Sure, I'll just let Jasper know."
"Great, meet me over by the wagon, over there." Emily pointed towards a covered wagon that had a couple of horses already fixed to the front. Isabella kept her chin tucked down towards her neck and her eyes focused on the ground as she scurried back to the tent that she and Jasper were sharing. The man in question was barely awake; he was seated in the mouth of the tent half dressed, his shirt hanging open and a cigarette dangling from his lips. Isabella grimaced as the smoke floated past her sensitive nose.
"Sorry Bee," he redirected the smoke, exhaling away from where she stood above him. "What are you up to?" He asked as he followed her actions around the tent. She quickly found the matching blue wrap that Rosie had lent to her along with the skirt and drew it around her shoulders, crossing the loose ends across her chest. She had forgotten to ask Rosie if she could borrow her brush, so she settled for running her fingers through her hair in a hopeful attempt to tame it.
"I'm going into town; Crestview, with Emily and Leroy." She found her little bag and threw it over her shoulder so that it rested against her hip.
"Bee, I- Carl said that you couldn't leave camp without an escort." Jasper slowly got to his feet as he gazed at her awkwardly.
"Oh," Bella froze just outside of the tent. "Couldn't you take me?" She asked optimistically.
"I was going to go riding with Jacob, go hunting and test my arm out. But Madsen was heading to Crestview to look for Clay and George; I'll ask him if he doesn't mind watching out for you." Bella felt the blood in her veins freeze as the colour drained from her face. Before she could stop him, Jasper was shouting across the camp.
"Hey Madsen?!" Isabella wanted the ground to open and swallow her whole. The hairs on the back of her neck rose to attention as Madsen joined them. Isabella kept her eyes fixed on her brother; she was nervous that she would not be able to control her darn blush if Madsen were to make eye contact with her. What if he had seen her spying this morning? Would he call her out, here, in front of her brother? Isabella cringed at the thought.
"What's a' matter Jasper?" His deep, husky voice gave nothing away and when Bella finally felt courageous enough to look at him, she noticed that he was not paying her any attention. Maybe he hadn't seen me spying on him this morning? She wondered to herself.
"I don't suppose you could keep an eye on Bella for me? She's wanting to head into Crestview, and I know you said you were going there."
"She's riding in with Leroy and Emily?" Isabella rolled her eyes as they discussed her as if she was not even present.
"Yeah. Do you mind?" Jasper asked. Madsen glanced at Isabella, his eyes swiftly scanning her face before sighing heavily and reluctantly agreeing.
"Great, thank you! I owe you. Have fun Bee!" Jasper wrapped up the conversation and retreated into their tent, leaving Bella alone with Madsen who looked just as uncomfortable as she felt. Isabella huffed noisily, clearly unhappy with the outcome before spinning to go and join Emily at the wagon, suddenly not as enthusiastic about their excursion as she had been only a few moments ago.
"Don't worry Bumble Bee, you won't even know I'm there."
Isabella paused, her jaw dropped open and her eyes narrowed at Madsen, who strolled leisurely past her towards Nexus without sparing her another glance. The casual use of the nickname that only her brother used left her feeling unsettled, but she was hooked and wanted to hear it again.
"Hey Bella, are you coming?" Isabella jolted as she was pulled from her wicked thoughts. She hurried over to Emily and Leroy; the latter was already seated on the front bench with the horse's reins in hand waiting for the two girls to join him. They both clambered into the back of the wagon, which began to move as soon as they were seated.
Madsen cursed when he noticed the wagon already leaving camp. He quickly finished saddling up Nexus, then mounted him. When he gently kicked his heels, the horse immediately responded, and they were off; within a minute he had caught up with the much slower moving carriage. The two girls were seated in the rear, their heads bent close together as they conversed. As he rode up behind them, Isabella glanced his way, her gentle face instantly transformed into a scowl. Good, he thought. If he could make her hate him, then she would keep her distance and he would not be tempted…
The young man had woken up that morning in his tent, covered in a light sheen of sweat and Isabella's expression from the previous night imprinted in his mind. He had quickly banished the image from his thoughts, refusing to relive the fear and confusion he had witnessed in her eyes.
Madsen had been hoping to head into Crestview unaccompanied, to allow himself some time to clear his head, but of course fate had other plans for him. When Jasper had asked him to escort Isabella, he had wanted to outright refuse, but Carl had assigned the job to the both of them and if he started to shirk his responsibilities then people might start asking questions. Madsen cringed as a small voice in the back of his mind whispered to him that he was a liar, that there was another reason that he did not decline the task.
He shook his head angrily as he made a conscious effort to change the direction in which his thoughts were heading, instead thinking about his mission for the day. He adjusted his grip on the reins, pushing for Nexus to overtake the wagon so that he would no longer be distracted by the brunette enchantress.
Clay and George often went missing from time to time, generally falling into trouble in one way or another. They were irresponsible and uncontrollable, and Madsen had a hard time acclimatising to their existence and putting his faith in them. But somehow, over the years they had managed to prove their worth to Carl and Bill, so they were permitted to stick around.
It took nearly an hour for the group to reach Crestview, the wagon was a hindrance that severely slowed their pace. The ground was uneven and rocky, making it difficult for the large, wooden wheels to traverse over. As they drew closer to the town, the pathways became smoother, worn down by the many people that used it daily.
Crestview was a quaint town that was bustling with activity; a group of teenage boys were playing on the outskirts, kicking a tin can around between them. Close by were a couple of young girls that were braiding each other's hair; their bonnets discarded on the ground beside them. As they entered the town borders there could hear a few cowboys discussing the price of their cattle with the market owner, their voices raised slightly in obvious disagreement. Outside the saloon, a woman displayed the fresh, unblemished flesh of her thighs as she enticed men into the saloon with promises of physical pleasure and liquor. In the distance a train tooted it's horn, signalling its imminent departure and a butcher called out his daily specials to passer-by's in the hope of making enough sale's to please his overbearing wife.
Figuring it best to leave the wagon at the edge of town Madsen signalled to Leroy that they were stopping and led them over to the nearest hitching post. He dismounted and secured Nexus to the post, by the time he was finished he noticed that the girls were waiting a short distance away.
"Right Mr. Madsen," Leroy rounded the front of the wagon and paused beside Isabella and Emily. "I will be heading into the general store for my supplies, then I'm going over to the butcher, if Jacob and the others come back empty handed I wanna' be prepared and have some meat for my stew. I'll wait in the saloon for you when I'm finished." He explained.
"Remember the budget," Madsen replied gruffly. Leroy rolled his eyes to the sky causing the girls to giggle.
"You're a real fuddy duddy Madsen. Girls, enjoy shopping with this one." Leroy promptly disappeared into the throngs of townsfolk before Madsen could draw his gun and threaten the old codger. Madsen turned to the girls, their smiles vanishing as he turned his hard stare on them both.
"I don't have time to follow you girls around shopping, so go do what you need to do and then go and find Leroy if I'm not back here when you're finished. Stay out of trouble and just, blend in, we should be safe here but..." Madsen took in the uneasy expressions on the girls faces and stopped himself from continuing. "Get outta here." He muttered, turning away from them to head straight for the saloon.
"Hey there Mister, I haven't seen you 'round here before." A woman stepped into Madsen's path, her dress was so short in the front that her silk drawers were just visible beneath the layers of her dark, red skirt. The matching corset pulled in her waist and gave the appearance of a larger chest that she thrust towards his face.
"Hey Nina, I've got this one." Madsen smirked as he recognised the voice of an old acquaintance. As he drew his eyes away from Nina and her assets, he watched as another woman, similarly dressed but slightly older, sauntered over to them. Nina quickly dismissed herself and retreated into the saloon leaving Madsen alone with the voluptuous, raven haired mistress.
"I didn't think I'd be seeing you around here again." Madsen grinned as he reached for the woman's hand and raised it to his lips. Just before his lips could touch the skin of her hand, she snatched it from his grasp. "You haven't paid to touch the goods, darlin'." She smirked and winked before heading into the saloon, assuming that he would follow. Madsen quietly chuckled to himself, it seemed the town wasn't the only thing that hadn't changed since his last visit.
"So, what brings you back to my neck of the woods?" Viola asked as she poured them both a generous glass of whiskey, the barman glared at her as she reached over to put the bottle back from where she had stolen it from. "How's that big native American guy friend of yours? Jake was it?"
"Jacob? He's doing just fine." Madsen threw some money down on the counter in the barman's direction to appease the angry man.
"He told me I could call him Jake; he must like me more than you." Viola grinned before pushing his drink towards him, the amber liquid spilled over the sides as he gratefully accepted the crystal tumbler. They clinked their glasses together and took a large sip of their drinks before resuming the conversation.
"So come on, spill, what are you doing here?"
"Looking for a couple of men-"
"Well, honey, I hate to break it to ya, but you've come to the wrong place, I only have women to offer here." Viola laughed at her own joke as Madsen rolled his eyes. "Okay, okay, sorry. I'll listen." She pretended to seal her lips as she sat back on her bar stool.
"A couple of our men said they were heading here a few days ago and they haven't come back since. Brothers, sandy coloured hair, about this tall," Madsen indicated their height. "Kinda scruffy looking."
"I think I know who you mean," Viola began, she took another sip of her drink. "Two guys came in here three days ago and got pretty sewn up. They caused some trouble between one of my girls and a couple of other patrons, they were just gagging for a fight."
"Sounds like them," Madsen muttered irritably. "You have any idea where they went?"
"I sure do. They're sitting in a cell across the street." Viola said happily. Madsen swore under his breath as he dragged his hands over his face in frustration. "Why you bothered about these boys? Who are they to ya?"
"Nobody, but Carl wants them around. I'd happily let them rot but I've got a feeling Carl isn't going to let that happen."
"Sounds like you're in for a fun time." Madsen raised his eyebrows and took a swig of his drink in agreement.
"You have no idea," he muttered. "I need to go and sniff around, try and speak to them."
"Well, they aren't going anywhere in a hurry, so why don't you stick around for another drink?"
"I think you have enough clothing now," Emily laughed to herself as she helped Bella carry the parcels of clothing back to the wagon. "I thought I was going to lose you in all that fabric."
"I know, I hate fittings and garment shopping." Bella huffed as they reached their wagon and tossed her purchases into the back. "It looks like Leroy bought more than me at least." Isabella indicated to the covered boxes that now occupied most of the passenger seating in the wagon.
"Do you think that means he's in the saloon?" Emily wondered, looking towards the wooden structure that was overflowing with drunk men and women. Their loud voices and obnoxious laughter carried across the street putting the two girls on edge.
"Well, guess there's only one way to find out." Bella mumbled to Emily as she marched towards the saloon.
"Erm Bella, I'm going to wait here." Emily called after the brunette. Bella turned to her new friend, the uncertainty clear on her face. "I don't think I'll be welcome in there." Emily kicked at the dirt with her feet, shuffling nervously as her eyes flitted back and forth between the saloon and Bella's face.
Isabella looked over her shoulder at the saloon, noticing the disgusted stares that were directed at them- no not them, Emily. She understood immediately, her own rage rising to match that which she saw in their drunken eyes.
"Just go get Leroy, see if Madsen is in there too and I'll wait by the wagon." Emily reassured her. Isabella hesitated; she studied her friend's anxious face before reluctantly agreeing. She hurried towards the entrance of the saloon, attempting to ignore the men's furious looks, but her skin crawled with the burning, hateful intentions she felt ebbing from them as she grew closer. She held her breath as she passed through the middle of them, only releasing it when she was inside the saloon and the doors were swinging shut behind her.
Isabella hastily searched the ground floor of the tavern, her eyes breezed over Leroy at first, he blended in so well with the other patrons. She recognized him the second time and rushed over to him, her mind constantly wandering back to Emily waiting outside alone.
"Hey Leroy, we're ready. Where's Madsen?"
"Oh hey Miss. Bella. I ain't seen him yet, where's Emily? You girls want a drink? I won't tell Madsen." He whispered in jest, winking at Bella before taking another large swig of his drink.
"She's waiting outside. Maybe we could find Madsen and go?" Isabella suggested hopefully. Leroy peeked at her suspiciously over the edge of his glass.
"What's a matter Miss. Bella?"
"It might be nothing but-" Isabella drifted off as she was interrupted by the sound of boisterous laughter and raised voices flowing through the swinging saloon doors. A nagging feeling pulled at Bella's insides. Without consciously deciding to she began putting one foot in front of the other, increasing her pace as she burst through the doors.
She stumbled as she witnessed the spectacle that was unfolding on the street, her mind struggling to grasp what was going on. Emily had been shoved to her knees before a man; her face hardened, she glared through her eyelashes at her aggressor, Bella could see the unshed tears present in her eyes from where she stood.
"That's how you present yourself to your masters." The man shouted down at her; spittle rained down on Emily who clenched her fists around the material of her skirt. Her body shook with the effort to not retaliate, knowing that if she attempted to defend herself then it would not end well for her.
"Hey!" Bella could not control herself as well as Emily; her heart rate soared, her body vibrated, and her mouth became bone dry as the adrenaline flowed through her. She could not recall how she suddenly appeared beside them, but she was there, positioned in front of Emily who quickly took the opportunity to climb to her feet.
"Get outta the way girl. I'm teaching her a lesson in respect." The man jabbed his finger at Bella and Emily. Isabella shrunk back from him as he bore down on the two young girls, using his sheer size to terrorize them. The stench of whiskey mixed with body odour filled Isabella's nostrils causing them to flare in disgust as she fought the urge to retch. He was standing close, close enough that Isabella was able to see the individual pores on his nose which were wide and clogged with dirt, his skin was oily and sweat rolled down the side of his face. But it was the violent intentions Isabella could see in his eyes as he regarded Emily over her shoulder that really terrified her.
"Only respectable men deserve respect." Isabella spat back, taking a brief moment to appreciate the noticeable disbelief and annoyance on the man's face. Her victory only lasted a second before the fear began to slither back in. She watched as the man drew his right arm back, his open palm began to descend in a cutting down motion, faster than she had time to react. She tensed, her body naturally preparing for the pain she knew was imminent, her eyes scrunched shut as she raised her arms.
Isabella could hear Leroy screaming their names as he sprinted towards them, but he was too far away and physically not capable of reaching them in time. Emily noticed Madsen approaching before Bella and quickly used the distraction to yank her by the back of her vest, removing her from immediate danger.
Isabella opened her eyes and tried to focus on the actions of the men before her. She was stunned to see the back of Madsen as he threw himself at the man that had been ready to strike her only seconds ago. He swung a closed fist with tremendous force at the man, both Emily and Isabella flinched at the sound of the bones in the man's nose shattering. The blood that erupted from the broken appendage arched through the air and sprayed across Madsen, though it did not seem to faze him. The man groaned as he crumpled to the floor in a heap.
With the skills and speed of an experienced gunslinger Madsen drew his gun and aimed it at the other men that had circled around them. His feet were spread wide, his shoulders levelled as he challenged them to advance. Everyone swiftly withdrew, raising their hands in a clear show of surrender.
"That's enough." A cold, feminine voice called from among the gathering of onlookers. But Madsen refused to relax from his defensive position. Unhurriedly the crowd began to melt away as they realised that the show was over. Only when Madsen had decided that the threat had vanished, did he finally drop his pistol to his side.
"Cool it Madsen, the sheriff won't take too kindly to you shooting his brother-by-law." One woman remained, slightly off to the side, her eyes unwavering as she instructed Madsen. The two seemed to be engaged in a silent battle of wills, in which she won. Madsen sighed heavily and waved his hand at her dismissively. With a satisfied smirk, the woman turned to address Emily and Bella.
"Are you girls okay?" Isabella nodded shakily, finally grasping who this woman was, although she still did not have a name for her. She had discreetly spied on Madsen when he had left them earlier and had seen him greet the dark-haired beauty that stood proudly before them now.
Bella turned to examine her friend, eager to check her over for any injuries. Emily grasped Bella's hands in her own pausing her ministrations, reassuring her that she was unharmed.
"Emily are you okay? I'm sorry, I shouldn't have left you."
"Don't blame yourself Bella. You couldn't have done anything to stop him anyway. Unfortunately, I am used to that kind of behaviour, as he pointed out before you arrived; 'my kind are not welcome around these parts'." A dark look passed over Emily's features as she appeared to fade into a memory. Isabella sought to remove her friend from the path her thoughts were obviously taking her down, but Leroy was the one to provide the distraction.
"I think it's time we head on home. Girls, shall we?" He quickly pointed to the wagon, indicating for them to jump on. "Mr. Madsen? Will you be joining us back to camp?"
"You have your iron with you?"
"Of course I do, it's in the wagon." Leroy seemed offended by Madsen's doubt; only a fool travelled without their weapon.
"Good. I'm goin' for a ride. Get them straight back to camp, no stopping along the way and make sure you aren't followed." Madsen briefly glared at Bella before he strode over to Nexus, untethered the horse and rode to the edge of town where he disappeared from view.
Miss. Bella?" Leroy called. Isabella glanced around, noting that Leroy and Emily were both settled on the wagon, ready to leave. Isabella made to board the wagon, peering over her shoulder thoughtfully in the direction that Madsen had vanished in one last time, when Viola stepped in her way. She looked up at the older woman, an unspoken question clearly written on her face.
"Be careful with that one, he's not capable of loving anymore." Bella's eyes widened in confusion, which immediately transformed into doubt.
"I'm not in love with him." Bella quickly stated.
"I know you're not, but I've seen that look before." Viola's eyes traced Bella's features tenderly before she moved away from the wagon and back towards the saloon. From there she watched as the young girl climbed into the back of the wagon and left the town.
The ride back to camp was subdued and tense, all three passengers kept to their own internal thoughts and conversation was non-existent. Bella was still shaken from the events that had unfolded in Crestview, she continuously peeked at Emily; trying to gauge how she was feeling and wondering if she should say something but decided against it. Her own thoughts and worries were selfishly keeping her occupied as she attempted to work through her emotions.
Fear lingered from the near attack, disgust and loathing at the man's actions and words towards Emily, bewilderment at Madsen's reactions to her, insecurity in her current predicament… the list continued to grow. She understood Madsen's need to ride away hard and fast, she could feel the urge building in her too; but knew she would not have the satisfaction of giving into that compulsion.
Isabella was grateful when she spied the tents from their camp through the trees. When she usually felt overwhelmed, she would go for a long, peaceful walk. But that option would probably not be granted to her, so she felt the next best thing was to hide away in Jasper's tent.
As the wagon rolled to a stop, Bella gathered her packages together, thanked Emily and Leroy and bid them a good afternoon, then she hurried to Jasper's tent. Camp was eerily quiet and when Isabella realised that the tent was unoccupied, she assumed most of the men were out on the hunting trip.
For the rest of the afternoon, as the sun set Isabella remained hidden away. The camp noise steadily grew, drifting in through the open flaps of the tent. But no one disturbed her which she was happy about, until the men returned from their hunting trip in high spirits. Jasper was oblivious as he came into change out of his bloodied shirt with a grin on his face. Isabella attempted to crush her foul mood so that she would not dampen his, which seemed to work for the most part.
After switching into a fresh cotton shirt Jasper tried to lure her out of the tent with the promise of freshly caught and cooked deer for dinner, but she feigned a headache. He left her alone after that, vowing to bring her a bowl so that she would not miss out.
Isabella was arranging her new clothing and placing it away in Jasper's chest at the end of the cot when she detected the presence of someone behind her.
"I told you Jasper, I'm fine." She spoke without turning, assuming that it was Jasper stood in the tent entrance. A man coughed slightly, clearing his throat to draw her attention. Bella spun, her hair flicking over her left shoulder with the movement as she realised that it was Madsen in the doorway.
"Leroy found this is the wagon, he assumed it was yours." Bella glanced curiously at the book Madsen presented to her, recognising it as one of her purchases from Crestview.
"Thank you," Bella muttered as she stretched her hand out for the book which Madsen delicately placed between her fingers. She assumed he would leave immediately but was surprised when he remained in place. She awkwardly shuffled from one foot to the other as she chewed on the inside of her lips waiting for him to explain himself. Through her lashes she watched as he seemed to be warring with himself.
"What you did today was foolish. You just can't stay out of trouble, can you?" Madsen suddenly barked. Isabella shrunk back at the unexpectedly harsh tone of his voice, her eyes narrowing in annoyance and disbelief.
"I don't go looking for trouble if that's what you're implying." Isabella's hazel eyes flicked furiously between Madsen's green ones, the dim lighting making them appear darker as the pupils expanded to their full size.
"You could have fooled me; you came searching for us after all. Do you have an ounce of self-preservation in that body o' yours?" He bit back, taking a step closer. Isabella tipped her head back so that she could maintain eye contact, absolutely refusing to back down under his heavy stare.
"Are you saying that you're a danger to me?" Isabella demanded.
"No." Madsen quickly replied, his lips parted as he exhaled aggressively. Isabella could smell the tobacco and whiskey on his breath from where she stood. "You aren't made for this life; you don't belong here."
"Well, I hate to be the one to break it to you, but I'm not leaving." Isabella stated.
"Here's some free advice for you then; next time make sure you're capable of defending someone before throwing yourself in harm's way. That move you pulled was reckless and stupid and I'm not going to keep putting myself on the line for you."
Isabella recoiled slightly at his cruel words. Emily's own words from earlier echoed in her head; 'you couldn't have done anything to stop him anyway.' Madsen seemed to understand the impact his words had had on her and drew back slightly, the fire in his eyes dampening a little.
Without another word he marched from the tent, leaving her gaping after him. She could feel her rage increasing for the second time that day, shocking herself with the realisation that she was ready to commit violence as her fists clenched around the forgotten book in her hands. She wanted to launch it at Madsen's face and tell him she could defend herself. But she knew that was a lie.
She sighed in annoyance, as she mentally formed a plan of action. Following Madsen's path from the tent she scanned the faces of the people spread out around the camp until she found Emily. The other girl appeared startled at Isabella's sudden appearance, the questions in her eyes evident.
"Will you come with me?" Isabella asked. "Please?" She quickly tagged on the end. Emily still appeared confused but agreed as she placed her bowl of stew down and got to her feet. Meanwhile Isabella was busy searching for another person, her eyes brightened when she spotted the older woman at the edge of the treeline, and conveniently she was alone.
"Bella? What's a' matter? What are we doing?" Emily called after Bella, who had rushed off.
"We are going to ask Connie for a favour." Isabella replied over her shoulder.
"A favour? What favour?" Isabella did not answer as they finally reached Connie who was leaning casually against a low hanging branch, smoking a cigarette. As she noticed Isabella and Emily advancing, she exhaled, the smoke shrouding her face temporarily before dissipating.
"Ladies?" Connie questioned their presence, she glanced between Emily's puzzled expression and Bella's look of determination.
"I- we have a favour to ask of you." Bella started. She could feel her nerve slipping but as she recalled Madsen's unforgiving words, her resolve increased tenfold. "Will you teach us to be like you? To fight? To defend ourselves?"
Connie smirked as she flicked her finished cigarette to the floor and stomped on the end.
"Well, it's about time."
It's time to kick arse ;D
See you soon for another update!