Chapter Eight:
He was so close; she could feel his hand as it just missed her arm, running, running to safety. Down the street, through the crowds of people trying to place their order for breakfast, running away from the man at her heels. She was almost to safety, almost to the saloon when she felt his hand close around her neck, yanking her back to stand next to him. Impossible to flee, impossible to fight, she stood by his side as his men brought the horses. People passed by, casting glances her way before continuing on their way, their business needing attention.
The saloon doors swung open and her husband stepped into the street; his pistol aimed at the man who held her prisoner. 'Let her go.' But he held a tight grip on her arm and aimed his own gun at the man who stood between him and his horse. Two guns fired, two bullets soared through the air, one following the path of sound, a warning to the man who held her prisoner, the other's was a path of death, burrowing deeply into the chest of the man who stood in its path.
'Hank!!!' she screamed, the red stain spread across his chest. 'Hank!!!' as he fell to his knees, blond hair swaying with the movement. 'Hank!!!' when he took his last breath, her name upon his lips, a whispered prayer of love and forgiveness. 'Hank!!!' though she held him in his arms there was no warmth to his skin, no beating within his chest, no love shining out from his wide blue eyes.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The bed shifted again and he rolled over, mumbling for her to hold still, it was still to damn early to wake up, but the scream that ripped through the air as it ripped through his very soul woke him instantly. As he sat up and looked at her she screamed his name for a second time, a third as he pulled her into his arms, and a fourth as he tried to wake her from the hell of her mind. Awake she stared at him, her eyes filled with the fear of a woman who was seeing a ghost, before they filled with tears and she began to sob, clinging to him desperately.
"Get out," he ordered as the door creaked open, before they had a chance to stick their head into the room, the intruder retreating when his command met their ears. Holding Aingelina tightly he was silent, letting her cry for whatever she had seen. Though it unnerved him and he wished he knew what to do, Hank did nothing but hold her, letting her know he was there with the arms that held her to him. Only after she had calmed, her tears abating, did he speak. "What happened?"
Aingelina told him what she had seen in her nightmare, her voice soft, scared. "That's not going to happen, Aingel, it was only a dream, a nightmare. He's not going to get you and I'm not going to die. I promise you, that won't happen." Reassured by his words, but still unable to shake the image of him dying in the street, Aingelina kept her arms around him, clinging to him with all the might she had. Her Pa would be here soon, and everyday it got harder to fight her need to flee, even knowing Hank would protect her. The instinct to run from her tormentor was buried twenty years deep in her mind and heart, calling to her day and night to flee before he got there.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The sun was shining brightly into the room when Hank woke alone in bed on the third morning of their marriage. It wasn't unusual; she was usually up before him to go serve at the café, though she stayed up all night with them in the saloon as well. Aingelina would be back sometime after noon, when the lunch crowd was over, to catch a small nap before the day continued. If Hank let her sleep, that is. Grinning he got up and dressed. It was an interesting feeling being a married man, not bad, not good, but interesting. He did love her, and he was glad she would be with him everyday, but it had shifted the view of the people in town in a way he didn't know what to think of yet.
All Sunday afternoon people had been stopping by the saloon to see if it was true, Hank Lawson... married man. Would he still sell his 'entertainment'? Had she tamed him or was he still the rough, nasty man they had always known? Why had she married him? That was the most popular question, though few came right out and said it. Why in Gods good name had such a wonderful woman married such a mean, rude man? Hank had to laugh at the expressions on their faces when they stopped by; once again he had the people in town off kilter, never sure of what to expect from him.
After a few of the same questions over and over Aingelina had begun to get irritated and by the time night fell she was down right mad at the things being said. Who the hell were they to judge anyone? How did they know what was in her heart, or in his for that matter? Did she question their marriage to each other? No. Then why did they feel the need or see the right to do so to hers? Halfway through the night Hank had to pull her out to the back of the saloon to calm her down before she hit someone. As fun as that would have been to see, it would have been bad for her business.
'Why the hell do you care what they think?' he'd asked her. 'I don't care what anyone thinks and neither should you. All that matters is that we know.'
'How can you not be mad at the things they are saying about us!?!'
'Of course I'm mad, but I'm not going to give them the satisfaction of knowing that.'
She was still livid, but she calmed down, though she didn't go back out to the saloon for the rest of that night, spending her time in their bedroom, adding her few things to his before he too joined her for the night. Monday morning she went to the café and had came back fuming. Once again he had to calm her down, they went for a ride to the meadow as they had done so many times before, it was there that Hank calmed his wife with his touch and his lips.
Now, Tuesday morning had come and Hank went to the café to get some coffee and see how much the town was still talking. He was sure they would be for some time to come. Sliding into a chair he watched Aingelina smile at a customer as she poured his coffee, a man sitting at a table with two other men he recognized from the saloon last night. It wasn't her normal smile and Hank could tell the day had not been going well. Moving away from the man she approached Hank with a tin mug, filling it for him, although slowly, to give herself a chance to cool her temper. "Why the hell can't they just leave us alone?" she asked him in a low voice.
"Ignore them, Aingel," he replied, his voice also low so that only she heard him. "Remember you've got a respectable place to run. Loosing your temper would be very bad for business."
Closing her eyes for a moment Aingelina took a deep breath and tried to smile, a small weak version, but it was a true smile, no false politeness in it. Winking at her Hank kept his grin hidden and watched as she moved away to collect orders from the kitchen. A few moments later she emerged from the kitchen laden down with plates to distribute, from table to table handing them out to the people who ordered them. When she approached the table of men, placing their plates down before them, the one man again spoke to her, his voice carrying over the other conversations so Hank could hear what he was saying.
"You know you didn't have to marry the man to whore for him. You could have done that anyway."
Enraged Hank stood from his seat and had the man in his hands before Aingelina could open her mouth to speak the words that had been blistering her tongue all morning. Yanking him up from his chair Hank gripped his neck with a strong hand and forced him out the door into the street, the two companions following to help their stupid friend. The anger that had been simmering inside of him for two days had exploded when he heard the words said to Aingelina and with flying fists he knocked the man to the ground. Knowing better than to step in right away the other two men let the third get hit a few times before reaching in to haul Hank off the man.
"Get the hell out of here!" he roared to the trio.
Without a backward glance Hank strode down the street, away from the crowd that was gathering, Aingelina staring after him with mixed emotions. Torn in two, part of her wanted to go with him and the other part knew she needed to take care of things here. Turning to the men the glared at them and repeated Hanks warning. "Get the hell out of here, now!" Whispers flew within the crowd that had gathered, flying back and forth between the people who had seen the explosion but not the reason behind it, the same question getting asked once more. 'Why would she marry him? Didn't she see now what a horrible man he is?'
"Listen to me, people!" she cried, her patience all but gone. "What the hell does it matter why I married him!?! The fact is that I did and I had my reasons. So go find another topic for your little gossip sessions and leave us the hell alone!!!" Tearing off her apron she flung it down to the ground. "Grace... I'm sorry," she said before walking away from the crowd and the trio of men who still had not left.
Grace picked up the apron and watched her leave for a moment before turning to the crowd that stood before her. She knew that the Lawson's were in love with each other, it was as plain as the broken nose on the mans face. "Why can't you just leave them be?" she asked before returning to the café to finish her work. The crowd began to disperse since the show was over, a few of them looking down the street to see Aingelina disappear into the saloon.
Barging into the saloon Aingelina saw Hank standing at the bar, glass in hand as he knocked back a shot of whiskey. "What happened to 'keep your cool' and 'it'd be bad for business'?" she demanded, angry at the world and taking it out on him. "Was that just for me or did you plan on taking your own advice as well?"
Hank glared at her. "You heard what he said. I don't care who the hell they are, no man is going to say that and get away with it!" he yelled, pointing his hand in the direction of the café.
"So it's fine for you to beat the shit out of someone but I'm not allowed to? What the hell is that all about, Hank!?!" Aingelina cried to him, waving her hands between them.
"I was protecting you and your getting mad at me!?!" He didn't believe what he was hearing!
"I am not mad that you hit that bastard!" she yelled. Why was he yelling at her?
Planting his hands on the bar Hank lowered his head to stare into her eyes. "Then why the hell are you so damn mad?"
"Because you got to beat the tar out of him and I didn't!" she yelled back.
Staring at each other in shocked silence it was Hank who laughed first. Though she tried to hold out, Aingelina soon joined him. Folding her arms on the bar she dropped her head onto them as she laughed at the absurdity of their argument. Still laughing she felt herself being picked up and carried off. After all, every good fight deserves a good make up.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"I guess it would be the time that I blew up the outhouse with Jake in it. That would be one of my stupider moments." Aingelina laughed at the thought. "Put us both in the clinic. Next time I'll have to plan it a little more carefully."
Grinning as he remembered that event Hank looked down at Aingelina sitting next to him on the saloon porch as she laughed. People passing by looked at her with curious eyes but kept going when they saw Hank sitting next to her. Word had spread of what had happened yesterday, like wildfire in a drought season, not only of what he had done to the man but also of what the man had said. People had soon realized that they had better choose their words, and the places they said them, a little more carefully, lest they risk his tempermental fists. And that suited him fine.
Tired from getting up early that morning Aingelina rested her head on his shoulder, staring out at nothing, but seeing everything before her. His feet resting on the rail Hank was comfortable and had no intention of moving when he saw Matthew Cooper approaching. Watching the young sheriff as he passed by, not stopping, he saw him nod; everything was in motion. Returning the gesture Hank stayed where he was but placed his arm around Aingelina, pulling her a little closer.
Two days ago, after the night of her first nightmare, there'd been a second last night, smaller, no screams that time, Hank had gone to see Matthew to organize something for when Paolo Bowry came to Colorado Springs. Men were armed and stationed through out the town at all times. Looking across the street Hank saw a man on a rooftop holding a rifle as he scanned the town and the streets leading in and out of it. With one nod Matthew had told hank that the town was ready to defend who was now one of their own.
Loosing track of the time as they sat on the porch Hank saw the sun was just setting as a small group of men, no more than five, rode into town, their horses moving at an unhurried pace. His gut instinct telling him they were bad news Hank called for one of his girls to come out. "Stand in front of her so no one can see her," he ordered, keeping a close eye on the posse. Two of the men dismounted and walked into the clinic.
"Can I help you?"
"Evening ma'am, we're looking for my little girl. I was told the doctor here was going to patch her up."
"I see. What was her name, I'll have to check my medical journals," Michaela answered, stalling for time. She was sure the men had seen this group ride in and were alerting Matthew as they spoke.
"Aingelina Bowry. I'm sure you remember her, it's not often a pretty little doctor like yourself gets many women who've been shot."
Though she bristled at his tone Michaela smiled. "I'll have to check my journal's just to be sure." Turning to her desk she flipped though the pages one by one, making a show of scanning each page. "Ah yes," she said after almost half the book had gone by. "Here it is. Aingelina Bowry, gunshot wound to the chest. I must say I was surprised she lasted the night on that one. Bullet wounds to the chest are almost always fatal. Wasn't it one of your men who shot her? I really do hope you brought him up to the sheriff in your town for that. Goodness knows our sheriff wanted to lock him up but your son rode off too quickly."
Enduring through her little speech Paolo was running out of patience. "Is she here?" he demanded.
"Well no. You see I can't keep a patient once they've recovered. Her stitches were removed last week. You might check with the storeowner. I know she did make a few purchases from there, maybe they could tell you something."
Turning on his heel the man left the clinic, Peter following him out the door and down the street toward the general store. Already the cry had gone out to gather the men in town, a rider heading out in each direction to spread the call to arms. The proverbial 'wild goose chase' had begun. Once in the store the Bowry men were told that she had purchased some bullets and some candy, no mention made of the skirt, shirt or hairdad. When Loren was asked if he knew where she would have headed he said, "Well now that I don't rightly know. But if I recall correctly her horse was in the blacksmith shop to be re-shoed. He might know something."
While the two men headed off to Robert E's Hank felt Aingelina stir in his arms, waking from her slumber, softly moaning as she stretched the kinks from her back and neck. Opening her eyes and seeing the men, her brothers, at the clinic she gasped before Hank could close his hand over her mouth. He could feel her trembling slightly in his arms and motioned for the rest of the girls to line up so they could get into the saloon without being seen. Once inside, moving her away from the door and the windows, Hank wrapped his arms around her for a moment.
"You have to trust me on this," he whispered. "The town is ready, the men are armed and waiting for a signal from me or Matthew. He's not taking you out of here. Stay out of sight!" Kissing her forehead he whispered once more, "Everything will be okay, trust me."
Leaving her side Hank emerged to stand in the middle of his girls, watching the men in the street, noticing that one of the men had disappeared though his horse was still waiting with the pother two. Paolo and Peter had left the blacksmith with no more information than they had started with. Frustrated Paolo was livid. Frantic for a way to appease his father Peter saw Hank and moved over to speak with the saloonkeeper. "You remember my sister, the girl who was shot?" Hank nodded. "You know which way she headed? Which road she took out?"
"Nope. Didn't see."
Opening his mouth to ask again Peter was interrupted when a man walked Charlie out into the middle of the street. "Pa! Look what I found behind the saloon!"
Paolo Bowry sneered when he saw Charlie. "So she's still here."
"That's my horse. Won it from her in a poker game," Hank lied. "She lost more money than she had so I took the horse.
"Not likely," the Pa countered. "She'd have knocked you flat before letting anyone take Charlie from her. No, she's still here in town." Raising his voice Paolo pointed his pistol at Peter's head. "Come on out, girl! Don't make me kill your brother. You always did like him best."
"You'd kill your own son!?!" Michaela cried from her spot on the clinic porch.
The man, the monster, didn't answer. Cocking the trigger he called out once more. "His blood will be on your hands, girl! You could have stopped this if you weren't so damn selfish!"
Standing still, eyes wide, Peter waited. His Pa would pull the trigger; of that Peter had no doubt. Scanning the crowd for some sign of Aingelina he winced when the gun was cocked, praying she was here after all. He sagged in relief when she appeared in the doorway of the saloon, pushing her way through the group in front of it. "Stop!"
Paolo smirked at his daughter. "I knew you couldn't let this one die. He always was your favorite." Lowering his gun she glared at her. "You've caused enough trouble, girl. It's time to come home."
Standing across the street from him Aingelina's heart raced in her chest like a locomotive. "No, Pa. I'm not going back with you."
His lips curling into a sinister smile Paolo approached her, slowly edging closer to her. "You don't get it. This ain't your choice. Your place is at home."
Backing away from him with each step he took Aingelina retreated from him. Widening his steps he was but a few feet away when she bumped into someone and saw a hand holding a gun appear over her shoulder. Hank! "Back away from her." His voice was like ice and his tone venomous.
Stopping Paolo glared at the man who pointed a gun at him. "Who the hell are you to tell me what to do when it comes to my kin? You're just the saloonkeeper."
Meeting his eyes Hank stared at the man he'd grown to hate, more and more with every passing second. "I'm her husband, back the hell away."
Behind his father Peter stared at his little sister. "Aing, you got married!?!"
"Shut up boy!" Paolo yelled. He was infuriated at the turn of events. Narrowing his eyes he glared at Aingelina. "I suppose you think you was smart, getting married before I got here. It don't matter. You're my kin; you'll do as I say. Get over here girl, or so help me I'll whip you again when we get back."
"No."
Shaking with anger Paolo knew her one weakness and put it to the ultimate test. Still only a few feet away from her he motioned to his other three sons and in the blink of an eye they were holding Pete, he was unable to move. Once more Paolo pointed his pistol at his oldest living son. "Don't make me kill my boy, Aingelina. I do so hate having to kill one of my children." On instinct Aingelina took a step forward, reaching out to Peter, the only brother she'd ever loved. His advantage clear Paolo grabbed her wrist, hauling her toward him and away from Hank with a violent jerk. She fought him and he hit her over the head with his pistol, she slumped unconscious in his arm.
Hank stepped forward, his pistol aimed at the mans chest, and he wasn't alone. Each man armed, a group of twenty men took aim at the various members of the Bowry family. Dropping Aingelina to the ground Paolo took out a second pistol from its holster and aimed both guns at Hank. Silence reigned as the men took stock of one another. Darting out into the street Claire took hold of Aingelina and dragged her away from her Pa, back to the safety of the crowd that was gathered. "Well now this could be interesting," Paolo said. "Twenty men to five. Seems to me we're a little our numbered, boys."
His bothers having let go of him to draw their weapons Peter stepped out of their reach and stood a ways away from anyone's reach. "Wrong Pa. It's twenty one to four." Raising his weapon Peter pointed it directly at his father. "This time you've gone too far."
Surrounded by the girls of the saloon, out of sight from the men facing off before them, Aingelina woke, putting a hand to her bloody head and biting back a moan of pain. Shakily she stood and pushed her way back into the middle of the crowd. "Enough! Just get the hell out of town and leave us be!" she yelled.
"Time to make a decision, girl. One of us is going to die today and you get to choose who. Your Pa or your husband? Which one will you let live?"
Caught between the two men, her heart torn in two Aingelina knew the time she had dreaded had finally come. Did she choose her Pa, the man who gave her life and love for some of it? Or did she choose Hank, the man she loved with all her heart, and who loved her in return? Sighing she faced her Pa. "I do love you Pa. I still remember the days when your hands were gentle and kind, the times when you would laugh and love and take away the pain instead of inflicting it. I do still love you, because I know that somewhere in there, beneath all the pain and the anger, is the Pa that I remember."
Taking a few steps backward Aingelina stopped next to her husband. "But I also love Hank. There is no choice, no decision that needs to be made. My place is by his side until the day I die."
"Bitch!!!" Paolo yelled.
Taking aim he pulled the trigger and a single bullet soared through the air toward the woman who had claimed her independence from him. Pulling her to him Hank turned them around, his back to the oncoming bullet, protecting his Aingel. The bullet struck him in the shoulder; the force of both the bullet and the pain threw Hank to the ground, his head hitting it, crushing Aingelina into the dirt beneath them. Even as they fell another gunshot echoed and a second bullet soared through the air, it's aim truer, and Paolo also dropped to the ground, dead before the dirt touched his face. Peter stared at his father, his eyes burning from the powder of his still smoking gun.
"Hank!!!" Aingelina screamed, crawling out from under him. "Oh my God, Hank!!!" Tears fell from her eyes, mixing with the blood that still covered her face. Pulling him into her lap she held onto him tightly, his blood seeping into her skirt. "You can't do this to me, damn you! You promised me!" Tears choking her she cried. "Damn you Hank, you promised me!"
Already confirming that Paolo was dead, Dr Mike moved over to Hank. "I need to get him into surgery!" she cried. "Help me get him into the clinic!" Sully and Andrew picked up the unconscious man, carrying him into the clinic. Aingelina followed closely but was stopped at the door by a firm hand. "I need to take care of him, Aingelina. Let Colleen take care of your head and I promise you can see him the moment I'm finished."
Arguing with her Aingelina was pulled away from the door and it was shut and locked in her face. Not caring who was holding her she turned her fists on him to make him release her but his grip was too strong. "Calm down Aing! He'll be okay!" Stopping her abuse of her keeper Aingelina heard rather than saw that it was Peter and threw her arms around him, holding him tightly for assurance that he was there and alive. After a moment Peter spoke again. "Pa's dead, Aing. I killed him," his voice was choked but his eyes dry.
For the first time Aingelina looked to where her father lay in the street, blood pooling around his dead body. Here eyes filled with tears once more as she acknowledged the fact that her Pa was dead. Her words had been true; she did still love him for the man he was twenty years ago. "Take him home, Peter. Bury him next to Mom and then go live your life the way he never let you." Looking to her other three brothers, Antonio, Victor, and Alexander, her voice turned cold. "And you three... I don't give one damn about what you do. Just get the hell away from me and don't you ever come back here, you hear me?" Pulling the pistol from Peter's holster she pointed it at her brothers. "Now."
Lifting their pa onto a horse the three brothers mounted their horses and began to move out of town, guns still trained on them the entire way. Peter, too, moved toward his horse but Aingelina followed him. "Pietro..." she said, using the name their mother had chosen. Pausing he turned and looked at her. "Come back someday. We can have a few drinks and talk."
"I'd like that Aing. Someday," he whispered as he pulled her into a brotherly hug. "And get your head taken care of. Wouldn't want all the common sense to get knocked out of you." With a parting smile he took after his brothers, now the head of the Bowry family.
Aingelina watched him leave town for a few moments before Colleen pulled her into another part of the clinic to clean up her head wound while the town got back to its business as usual... gossip. "You're probably going to have a headache for quite a while but you don't need any stitches. If you feel sick or dizzy come see Dr Mike immediately," Colleen said as she cleaned Aingelina's wound. Her work complete she allowed Aingelina to leave. The woman began pacing in front of the clinic, unable to sit still as she waited for news of Hank, the small crowd that was gathered watching her pace.
After what seemed and interminable wait the door opened and Andrew stepped out, followed by Dr Mike. Ignoring the young man Aingelina looked to Dr Mike, her eyes searching the doctor's face for some sign of news of her husband. Michaela smiled at her. "He's okay. We've moved him up to the recovery rooms, you can go see him but be very careful of his left shoulder."
Immediately Aingelina raced up the stairs to a room she had lived in for almost two months. Opening the door she found him laying on the bed, his shirt off and his shoulder bandaged. Quiet as a mouse she shut the door behind her and slipped onto the bed with him, lying on his right side to avoid the wounded shoulder. No sooner had she settled in than his arm moved to encircle her, his eyes opening to meet hers. "Hey, don't look so scared, I'm fine."
Trying to glare at him Aingelina said, "You scared the life out of me Hank Lawson. Don't you ever do that again!"
"Which? Scare you or get shot?"
"Both!"
Grinning at her Hank squeezed as best he could without hurting his other shoulder. Staring up at the ceiling he grew serious. "What happened?"
"He's dead. Peter killed him when he shot you. They're gone." Aingelina was silent for a few moments as she let that information sink into her heart. "I guess it's finally over. It's kind of funny though, I'm not as sad as I thought I'd be."
"He's not the man you loved. That man died along time ago."
"Yeah, it's still a strange feeling though."
Lying together in silence, each one safe in the knowledge that the other was alive and well, neither one knew how much time passed, though the stars and moon were a good indicator, it was Aingelina who spoke again. "You really messed up you know."
"How's that?"
"When you risked yourself for me you let the town know what a nice guy you actually are. They're never gonna think of you the same way again."
"Damn," he teased. Hank new perfectly well that the town's view of its rough and tough saloonkeeper had changed the day he got married. "Guess I'll have to start beating folk up again."
Aingelina laughed. "They probably think I've tamed the Great Wild Lion of Colorado Springs."
"You did."
"No, not really. I just looked past the roaring and the claws and saw what a big ole kitty cat he really is."
"Hey! I am not a...!"
Silencing him with a kiss Aingelina lost her fingers in his hair, her thumb caressing his stubbly cheek. Using his good side Hank put his hand to her head, unknowingly brushing the wound that was still sore. Breaking the kiss Aingelina couldn't stop a hiss of pain from escaping her lips. Pushing aside her hair Hank saw the red and black scar at the edge of her hairline along her temple, his anger rising when he remembered what Paolo had done. She pulled his hand away and held in hers. "It doesn't hurt. Really it doesn't."
"Just like it didn't hurt when he whipped you, right Aingel?" he asked with an edge to his voice.
"Hank..." she sighed. "It's over. I just want to forget it and get on with out life, here. I want to make a home with you, a new life together."
Staring at her for some time Hank finally gave in with a sigh. "A new life huh? A home? What exactly are you looking for?"
"You." Resting her head on his chest she stared at the wall, knowing the pattern well even though it was too dark to see it. "All I want is you."
Closing his eyes Hank stroked his hand over her hair, feeling the satiny locks under his fingers, finding comfort in them. "You've got me Aingel," he said to her. "You've got me."
The End
He was so close; she could feel his hand as it just missed her arm, running, running to safety. Down the street, through the crowds of people trying to place their order for breakfast, running away from the man at her heels. She was almost to safety, almost to the saloon when she felt his hand close around her neck, yanking her back to stand next to him. Impossible to flee, impossible to fight, she stood by his side as his men brought the horses. People passed by, casting glances her way before continuing on their way, their business needing attention.
The saloon doors swung open and her husband stepped into the street; his pistol aimed at the man who held her prisoner. 'Let her go.' But he held a tight grip on her arm and aimed his own gun at the man who stood between him and his horse. Two guns fired, two bullets soared through the air, one following the path of sound, a warning to the man who held her prisoner, the other's was a path of death, burrowing deeply into the chest of the man who stood in its path.
'Hank!!!' she screamed, the red stain spread across his chest. 'Hank!!!' as he fell to his knees, blond hair swaying with the movement. 'Hank!!!' when he took his last breath, her name upon his lips, a whispered prayer of love and forgiveness. 'Hank!!!' though she held him in his arms there was no warmth to his skin, no beating within his chest, no love shining out from his wide blue eyes.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The bed shifted again and he rolled over, mumbling for her to hold still, it was still to damn early to wake up, but the scream that ripped through the air as it ripped through his very soul woke him instantly. As he sat up and looked at her she screamed his name for a second time, a third as he pulled her into his arms, and a fourth as he tried to wake her from the hell of her mind. Awake she stared at him, her eyes filled with the fear of a woman who was seeing a ghost, before they filled with tears and she began to sob, clinging to him desperately.
"Get out," he ordered as the door creaked open, before they had a chance to stick their head into the room, the intruder retreating when his command met their ears. Holding Aingelina tightly he was silent, letting her cry for whatever she had seen. Though it unnerved him and he wished he knew what to do, Hank did nothing but hold her, letting her know he was there with the arms that held her to him. Only after she had calmed, her tears abating, did he speak. "What happened?"
Aingelina told him what she had seen in her nightmare, her voice soft, scared. "That's not going to happen, Aingel, it was only a dream, a nightmare. He's not going to get you and I'm not going to die. I promise you, that won't happen." Reassured by his words, but still unable to shake the image of him dying in the street, Aingelina kept her arms around him, clinging to him with all the might she had. Her Pa would be here soon, and everyday it got harder to fight her need to flee, even knowing Hank would protect her. The instinct to run from her tormentor was buried twenty years deep in her mind and heart, calling to her day and night to flee before he got there.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The sun was shining brightly into the room when Hank woke alone in bed on the third morning of their marriage. It wasn't unusual; she was usually up before him to go serve at the café, though she stayed up all night with them in the saloon as well. Aingelina would be back sometime after noon, when the lunch crowd was over, to catch a small nap before the day continued. If Hank let her sleep, that is. Grinning he got up and dressed. It was an interesting feeling being a married man, not bad, not good, but interesting. He did love her, and he was glad she would be with him everyday, but it had shifted the view of the people in town in a way he didn't know what to think of yet.
All Sunday afternoon people had been stopping by the saloon to see if it was true, Hank Lawson... married man. Would he still sell his 'entertainment'? Had she tamed him or was he still the rough, nasty man they had always known? Why had she married him? That was the most popular question, though few came right out and said it. Why in Gods good name had such a wonderful woman married such a mean, rude man? Hank had to laugh at the expressions on their faces when they stopped by; once again he had the people in town off kilter, never sure of what to expect from him.
After a few of the same questions over and over Aingelina had begun to get irritated and by the time night fell she was down right mad at the things being said. Who the hell were they to judge anyone? How did they know what was in her heart, or in his for that matter? Did she question their marriage to each other? No. Then why did they feel the need or see the right to do so to hers? Halfway through the night Hank had to pull her out to the back of the saloon to calm her down before she hit someone. As fun as that would have been to see, it would have been bad for her business.
'Why the hell do you care what they think?' he'd asked her. 'I don't care what anyone thinks and neither should you. All that matters is that we know.'
'How can you not be mad at the things they are saying about us!?!'
'Of course I'm mad, but I'm not going to give them the satisfaction of knowing that.'
She was still livid, but she calmed down, though she didn't go back out to the saloon for the rest of that night, spending her time in their bedroom, adding her few things to his before he too joined her for the night. Monday morning she went to the café and had came back fuming. Once again he had to calm her down, they went for a ride to the meadow as they had done so many times before, it was there that Hank calmed his wife with his touch and his lips.
Now, Tuesday morning had come and Hank went to the café to get some coffee and see how much the town was still talking. He was sure they would be for some time to come. Sliding into a chair he watched Aingelina smile at a customer as she poured his coffee, a man sitting at a table with two other men he recognized from the saloon last night. It wasn't her normal smile and Hank could tell the day had not been going well. Moving away from the man she approached Hank with a tin mug, filling it for him, although slowly, to give herself a chance to cool her temper. "Why the hell can't they just leave us alone?" she asked him in a low voice.
"Ignore them, Aingel," he replied, his voice also low so that only she heard him. "Remember you've got a respectable place to run. Loosing your temper would be very bad for business."
Closing her eyes for a moment Aingelina took a deep breath and tried to smile, a small weak version, but it was a true smile, no false politeness in it. Winking at her Hank kept his grin hidden and watched as she moved away to collect orders from the kitchen. A few moments later she emerged from the kitchen laden down with plates to distribute, from table to table handing them out to the people who ordered them. When she approached the table of men, placing their plates down before them, the one man again spoke to her, his voice carrying over the other conversations so Hank could hear what he was saying.
"You know you didn't have to marry the man to whore for him. You could have done that anyway."
Enraged Hank stood from his seat and had the man in his hands before Aingelina could open her mouth to speak the words that had been blistering her tongue all morning. Yanking him up from his chair Hank gripped his neck with a strong hand and forced him out the door into the street, the two companions following to help their stupid friend. The anger that had been simmering inside of him for two days had exploded when he heard the words said to Aingelina and with flying fists he knocked the man to the ground. Knowing better than to step in right away the other two men let the third get hit a few times before reaching in to haul Hank off the man.
"Get the hell out of here!" he roared to the trio.
Without a backward glance Hank strode down the street, away from the crowd that was gathering, Aingelina staring after him with mixed emotions. Torn in two, part of her wanted to go with him and the other part knew she needed to take care of things here. Turning to the men the glared at them and repeated Hanks warning. "Get the hell out of here, now!" Whispers flew within the crowd that had gathered, flying back and forth between the people who had seen the explosion but not the reason behind it, the same question getting asked once more. 'Why would she marry him? Didn't she see now what a horrible man he is?'
"Listen to me, people!" she cried, her patience all but gone. "What the hell does it matter why I married him!?! The fact is that I did and I had my reasons. So go find another topic for your little gossip sessions and leave us the hell alone!!!" Tearing off her apron she flung it down to the ground. "Grace... I'm sorry," she said before walking away from the crowd and the trio of men who still had not left.
Grace picked up the apron and watched her leave for a moment before turning to the crowd that stood before her. She knew that the Lawson's were in love with each other, it was as plain as the broken nose on the mans face. "Why can't you just leave them be?" she asked before returning to the café to finish her work. The crowd began to disperse since the show was over, a few of them looking down the street to see Aingelina disappear into the saloon.
Barging into the saloon Aingelina saw Hank standing at the bar, glass in hand as he knocked back a shot of whiskey. "What happened to 'keep your cool' and 'it'd be bad for business'?" she demanded, angry at the world and taking it out on him. "Was that just for me or did you plan on taking your own advice as well?"
Hank glared at her. "You heard what he said. I don't care who the hell they are, no man is going to say that and get away with it!" he yelled, pointing his hand in the direction of the café.
"So it's fine for you to beat the shit out of someone but I'm not allowed to? What the hell is that all about, Hank!?!" Aingelina cried to him, waving her hands between them.
"I was protecting you and your getting mad at me!?!" He didn't believe what he was hearing!
"I am not mad that you hit that bastard!" she yelled. Why was he yelling at her?
Planting his hands on the bar Hank lowered his head to stare into her eyes. "Then why the hell are you so damn mad?"
"Because you got to beat the tar out of him and I didn't!" she yelled back.
Staring at each other in shocked silence it was Hank who laughed first. Though she tried to hold out, Aingelina soon joined him. Folding her arms on the bar she dropped her head onto them as she laughed at the absurdity of their argument. Still laughing she felt herself being picked up and carried off. After all, every good fight deserves a good make up.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"I guess it would be the time that I blew up the outhouse with Jake in it. That would be one of my stupider moments." Aingelina laughed at the thought. "Put us both in the clinic. Next time I'll have to plan it a little more carefully."
Grinning as he remembered that event Hank looked down at Aingelina sitting next to him on the saloon porch as she laughed. People passing by looked at her with curious eyes but kept going when they saw Hank sitting next to her. Word had spread of what had happened yesterday, like wildfire in a drought season, not only of what he had done to the man but also of what the man had said. People had soon realized that they had better choose their words, and the places they said them, a little more carefully, lest they risk his tempermental fists. And that suited him fine.
Tired from getting up early that morning Aingelina rested her head on his shoulder, staring out at nothing, but seeing everything before her. His feet resting on the rail Hank was comfortable and had no intention of moving when he saw Matthew Cooper approaching. Watching the young sheriff as he passed by, not stopping, he saw him nod; everything was in motion. Returning the gesture Hank stayed where he was but placed his arm around Aingelina, pulling her a little closer.
Two days ago, after the night of her first nightmare, there'd been a second last night, smaller, no screams that time, Hank had gone to see Matthew to organize something for when Paolo Bowry came to Colorado Springs. Men were armed and stationed through out the town at all times. Looking across the street Hank saw a man on a rooftop holding a rifle as he scanned the town and the streets leading in and out of it. With one nod Matthew had told hank that the town was ready to defend who was now one of their own.
Loosing track of the time as they sat on the porch Hank saw the sun was just setting as a small group of men, no more than five, rode into town, their horses moving at an unhurried pace. His gut instinct telling him they were bad news Hank called for one of his girls to come out. "Stand in front of her so no one can see her," he ordered, keeping a close eye on the posse. Two of the men dismounted and walked into the clinic.
"Can I help you?"
"Evening ma'am, we're looking for my little girl. I was told the doctor here was going to patch her up."
"I see. What was her name, I'll have to check my medical journals," Michaela answered, stalling for time. She was sure the men had seen this group ride in and were alerting Matthew as they spoke.
"Aingelina Bowry. I'm sure you remember her, it's not often a pretty little doctor like yourself gets many women who've been shot."
Though she bristled at his tone Michaela smiled. "I'll have to check my journal's just to be sure." Turning to her desk she flipped though the pages one by one, making a show of scanning each page. "Ah yes," she said after almost half the book had gone by. "Here it is. Aingelina Bowry, gunshot wound to the chest. I must say I was surprised she lasted the night on that one. Bullet wounds to the chest are almost always fatal. Wasn't it one of your men who shot her? I really do hope you brought him up to the sheriff in your town for that. Goodness knows our sheriff wanted to lock him up but your son rode off too quickly."
Enduring through her little speech Paolo was running out of patience. "Is she here?" he demanded.
"Well no. You see I can't keep a patient once they've recovered. Her stitches were removed last week. You might check with the storeowner. I know she did make a few purchases from there, maybe they could tell you something."
Turning on his heel the man left the clinic, Peter following him out the door and down the street toward the general store. Already the cry had gone out to gather the men in town, a rider heading out in each direction to spread the call to arms. The proverbial 'wild goose chase' had begun. Once in the store the Bowry men were told that she had purchased some bullets and some candy, no mention made of the skirt, shirt or hairdad. When Loren was asked if he knew where she would have headed he said, "Well now that I don't rightly know. But if I recall correctly her horse was in the blacksmith shop to be re-shoed. He might know something."
While the two men headed off to Robert E's Hank felt Aingelina stir in his arms, waking from her slumber, softly moaning as she stretched the kinks from her back and neck. Opening her eyes and seeing the men, her brothers, at the clinic she gasped before Hank could close his hand over her mouth. He could feel her trembling slightly in his arms and motioned for the rest of the girls to line up so they could get into the saloon without being seen. Once inside, moving her away from the door and the windows, Hank wrapped his arms around her for a moment.
"You have to trust me on this," he whispered. "The town is ready, the men are armed and waiting for a signal from me or Matthew. He's not taking you out of here. Stay out of sight!" Kissing her forehead he whispered once more, "Everything will be okay, trust me."
Leaving her side Hank emerged to stand in the middle of his girls, watching the men in the street, noticing that one of the men had disappeared though his horse was still waiting with the pother two. Paolo and Peter had left the blacksmith with no more information than they had started with. Frustrated Paolo was livid. Frantic for a way to appease his father Peter saw Hank and moved over to speak with the saloonkeeper. "You remember my sister, the girl who was shot?" Hank nodded. "You know which way she headed? Which road she took out?"
"Nope. Didn't see."
Opening his mouth to ask again Peter was interrupted when a man walked Charlie out into the middle of the street. "Pa! Look what I found behind the saloon!"
Paolo Bowry sneered when he saw Charlie. "So she's still here."
"That's my horse. Won it from her in a poker game," Hank lied. "She lost more money than she had so I took the horse.
"Not likely," the Pa countered. "She'd have knocked you flat before letting anyone take Charlie from her. No, she's still here in town." Raising his voice Paolo pointed his pistol at Peter's head. "Come on out, girl! Don't make me kill your brother. You always did like him best."
"You'd kill your own son!?!" Michaela cried from her spot on the clinic porch.
The man, the monster, didn't answer. Cocking the trigger he called out once more. "His blood will be on your hands, girl! You could have stopped this if you weren't so damn selfish!"
Standing still, eyes wide, Peter waited. His Pa would pull the trigger; of that Peter had no doubt. Scanning the crowd for some sign of Aingelina he winced when the gun was cocked, praying she was here after all. He sagged in relief when she appeared in the doorway of the saloon, pushing her way through the group in front of it. "Stop!"
Paolo smirked at his daughter. "I knew you couldn't let this one die. He always was your favorite." Lowering his gun she glared at her. "You've caused enough trouble, girl. It's time to come home."
Standing across the street from him Aingelina's heart raced in her chest like a locomotive. "No, Pa. I'm not going back with you."
His lips curling into a sinister smile Paolo approached her, slowly edging closer to her. "You don't get it. This ain't your choice. Your place is at home."
Backing away from him with each step he took Aingelina retreated from him. Widening his steps he was but a few feet away when she bumped into someone and saw a hand holding a gun appear over her shoulder. Hank! "Back away from her." His voice was like ice and his tone venomous.
Stopping Paolo glared at the man who pointed a gun at him. "Who the hell are you to tell me what to do when it comes to my kin? You're just the saloonkeeper."
Meeting his eyes Hank stared at the man he'd grown to hate, more and more with every passing second. "I'm her husband, back the hell away."
Behind his father Peter stared at his little sister. "Aing, you got married!?!"
"Shut up boy!" Paolo yelled. He was infuriated at the turn of events. Narrowing his eyes he glared at Aingelina. "I suppose you think you was smart, getting married before I got here. It don't matter. You're my kin; you'll do as I say. Get over here girl, or so help me I'll whip you again when we get back."
"No."
Shaking with anger Paolo knew her one weakness and put it to the ultimate test. Still only a few feet away from her he motioned to his other three sons and in the blink of an eye they were holding Pete, he was unable to move. Once more Paolo pointed his pistol at his oldest living son. "Don't make me kill my boy, Aingelina. I do so hate having to kill one of my children." On instinct Aingelina took a step forward, reaching out to Peter, the only brother she'd ever loved. His advantage clear Paolo grabbed her wrist, hauling her toward him and away from Hank with a violent jerk. She fought him and he hit her over the head with his pistol, she slumped unconscious in his arm.
Hank stepped forward, his pistol aimed at the mans chest, and he wasn't alone. Each man armed, a group of twenty men took aim at the various members of the Bowry family. Dropping Aingelina to the ground Paolo took out a second pistol from its holster and aimed both guns at Hank. Silence reigned as the men took stock of one another. Darting out into the street Claire took hold of Aingelina and dragged her away from her Pa, back to the safety of the crowd that was gathered. "Well now this could be interesting," Paolo said. "Twenty men to five. Seems to me we're a little our numbered, boys."
His bothers having let go of him to draw their weapons Peter stepped out of their reach and stood a ways away from anyone's reach. "Wrong Pa. It's twenty one to four." Raising his weapon Peter pointed it directly at his father. "This time you've gone too far."
Surrounded by the girls of the saloon, out of sight from the men facing off before them, Aingelina woke, putting a hand to her bloody head and biting back a moan of pain. Shakily she stood and pushed her way back into the middle of the crowd. "Enough! Just get the hell out of town and leave us be!" she yelled.
"Time to make a decision, girl. One of us is going to die today and you get to choose who. Your Pa or your husband? Which one will you let live?"
Caught between the two men, her heart torn in two Aingelina knew the time she had dreaded had finally come. Did she choose her Pa, the man who gave her life and love for some of it? Or did she choose Hank, the man she loved with all her heart, and who loved her in return? Sighing she faced her Pa. "I do love you Pa. I still remember the days when your hands were gentle and kind, the times when you would laugh and love and take away the pain instead of inflicting it. I do still love you, because I know that somewhere in there, beneath all the pain and the anger, is the Pa that I remember."
Taking a few steps backward Aingelina stopped next to her husband. "But I also love Hank. There is no choice, no decision that needs to be made. My place is by his side until the day I die."
"Bitch!!!" Paolo yelled.
Taking aim he pulled the trigger and a single bullet soared through the air toward the woman who had claimed her independence from him. Pulling her to him Hank turned them around, his back to the oncoming bullet, protecting his Aingel. The bullet struck him in the shoulder; the force of both the bullet and the pain threw Hank to the ground, his head hitting it, crushing Aingelina into the dirt beneath them. Even as they fell another gunshot echoed and a second bullet soared through the air, it's aim truer, and Paolo also dropped to the ground, dead before the dirt touched his face. Peter stared at his father, his eyes burning from the powder of his still smoking gun.
"Hank!!!" Aingelina screamed, crawling out from under him. "Oh my God, Hank!!!" Tears fell from her eyes, mixing with the blood that still covered her face. Pulling him into her lap she held onto him tightly, his blood seeping into her skirt. "You can't do this to me, damn you! You promised me!" Tears choking her she cried. "Damn you Hank, you promised me!"
Already confirming that Paolo was dead, Dr Mike moved over to Hank. "I need to get him into surgery!" she cried. "Help me get him into the clinic!" Sully and Andrew picked up the unconscious man, carrying him into the clinic. Aingelina followed closely but was stopped at the door by a firm hand. "I need to take care of him, Aingelina. Let Colleen take care of your head and I promise you can see him the moment I'm finished."
Arguing with her Aingelina was pulled away from the door and it was shut and locked in her face. Not caring who was holding her she turned her fists on him to make him release her but his grip was too strong. "Calm down Aing! He'll be okay!" Stopping her abuse of her keeper Aingelina heard rather than saw that it was Peter and threw her arms around him, holding him tightly for assurance that he was there and alive. After a moment Peter spoke again. "Pa's dead, Aing. I killed him," his voice was choked but his eyes dry.
For the first time Aingelina looked to where her father lay in the street, blood pooling around his dead body. Here eyes filled with tears once more as she acknowledged the fact that her Pa was dead. Her words had been true; she did still love him for the man he was twenty years ago. "Take him home, Peter. Bury him next to Mom and then go live your life the way he never let you." Looking to her other three brothers, Antonio, Victor, and Alexander, her voice turned cold. "And you three... I don't give one damn about what you do. Just get the hell away from me and don't you ever come back here, you hear me?" Pulling the pistol from Peter's holster she pointed it at her brothers. "Now."
Lifting their pa onto a horse the three brothers mounted their horses and began to move out of town, guns still trained on them the entire way. Peter, too, moved toward his horse but Aingelina followed him. "Pietro..." she said, using the name their mother had chosen. Pausing he turned and looked at her. "Come back someday. We can have a few drinks and talk."
"I'd like that Aing. Someday," he whispered as he pulled her into a brotherly hug. "And get your head taken care of. Wouldn't want all the common sense to get knocked out of you." With a parting smile he took after his brothers, now the head of the Bowry family.
Aingelina watched him leave town for a few moments before Colleen pulled her into another part of the clinic to clean up her head wound while the town got back to its business as usual... gossip. "You're probably going to have a headache for quite a while but you don't need any stitches. If you feel sick or dizzy come see Dr Mike immediately," Colleen said as she cleaned Aingelina's wound. Her work complete she allowed Aingelina to leave. The woman began pacing in front of the clinic, unable to sit still as she waited for news of Hank, the small crowd that was gathered watching her pace.
After what seemed and interminable wait the door opened and Andrew stepped out, followed by Dr Mike. Ignoring the young man Aingelina looked to Dr Mike, her eyes searching the doctor's face for some sign of news of her husband. Michaela smiled at her. "He's okay. We've moved him up to the recovery rooms, you can go see him but be very careful of his left shoulder."
Immediately Aingelina raced up the stairs to a room she had lived in for almost two months. Opening the door she found him laying on the bed, his shirt off and his shoulder bandaged. Quiet as a mouse she shut the door behind her and slipped onto the bed with him, lying on his right side to avoid the wounded shoulder. No sooner had she settled in than his arm moved to encircle her, his eyes opening to meet hers. "Hey, don't look so scared, I'm fine."
Trying to glare at him Aingelina said, "You scared the life out of me Hank Lawson. Don't you ever do that again!"
"Which? Scare you or get shot?"
"Both!"
Grinning at her Hank squeezed as best he could without hurting his other shoulder. Staring up at the ceiling he grew serious. "What happened?"
"He's dead. Peter killed him when he shot you. They're gone." Aingelina was silent for a few moments as she let that information sink into her heart. "I guess it's finally over. It's kind of funny though, I'm not as sad as I thought I'd be."
"He's not the man you loved. That man died along time ago."
"Yeah, it's still a strange feeling though."
Lying together in silence, each one safe in the knowledge that the other was alive and well, neither one knew how much time passed, though the stars and moon were a good indicator, it was Aingelina who spoke again. "You really messed up you know."
"How's that?"
"When you risked yourself for me you let the town know what a nice guy you actually are. They're never gonna think of you the same way again."
"Damn," he teased. Hank new perfectly well that the town's view of its rough and tough saloonkeeper had changed the day he got married. "Guess I'll have to start beating folk up again."
Aingelina laughed. "They probably think I've tamed the Great Wild Lion of Colorado Springs."
"You did."
"No, not really. I just looked past the roaring and the claws and saw what a big ole kitty cat he really is."
"Hey! I am not a...!"
Silencing him with a kiss Aingelina lost her fingers in his hair, her thumb caressing his stubbly cheek. Using his good side Hank put his hand to her head, unknowingly brushing the wound that was still sore. Breaking the kiss Aingelina couldn't stop a hiss of pain from escaping her lips. Pushing aside her hair Hank saw the red and black scar at the edge of her hairline along her temple, his anger rising when he remembered what Paolo had done. She pulled his hand away and held in hers. "It doesn't hurt. Really it doesn't."
"Just like it didn't hurt when he whipped you, right Aingel?" he asked with an edge to his voice.
"Hank..." she sighed. "It's over. I just want to forget it and get on with out life, here. I want to make a home with you, a new life together."
Staring at her for some time Hank finally gave in with a sigh. "A new life huh? A home? What exactly are you looking for?"
"You." Resting her head on his chest she stared at the wall, knowing the pattern well even though it was too dark to see it. "All I want is you."
Closing his eyes Hank stroked his hand over her hair, feeling the satiny locks under his fingers, finding comfort in them. "You've got me Aingel," he said to her. "You've got me."
The End
