Chapter 3 Jack at the bar

I looked at my feet when I spotted the strange men that attacked me earlier on. They laughed when they saw me again. The guy I had stabbed a few days ago smiled at me and looked away then hissed, "watch your back cause' I'll get my revenge today!" I set the tray of food down and walked away with a moan.

About a half an hour later I heard the door creak open from the kitchen. With a sigh I grabbed my order from and menus and peaked at how many people had come in. I found myself staring at Jack and Cliff the wanderer. Quickly I walked out and went to their table. I passed them the menus and asked, "What would you like for a drink?"

"Wine," Cliff replied with a smile.

"Coffee'," Jack replied.

I noted the order down and took the menus. Then I slowly turned around and started walking away. Before I could even take five steps the man that warned me about revenge got up and ran in front of me, glaring. "Okay I'm tired of waiting for people to leave I'll do it now." He raised his fist. Behind him I heard someone say," John you'll get in caught in the slammer again." I raised my eyes to his listening to his answer. "So what she caused too much trouble and she'll pay more than I will."

I stood there no interest in fighting with him again. I tried to run around him but punched me in the stomach and knocked me down. I held my stomach in pain and started praying to God for mercy. Again he attacked but now he kicked me in the head. I heard his men go next to me and picked me up and held me there as John rapidly hit me. I kept my eyes closed as he punched with his full force! IN pain I whimpered with each punch.

Then all of a sudden it stopped. I opened my eyes and found that Cliff and Jack had walked in front of me, stopping the blows. The men holding on to me threw me to the floor and walked over to their master's side.

"Out of the way idiots," John snapped.

Jack held onto John's fist and answered, "Leave her alone she never hurt you!"

"Never hurt me, look city slicker you go home would ya stay out of this, she is dangerous!" He uncovered his bandage and showed Jack his wound. Jack turned his head toward me and looked at me with discomfort. "Still leave her be it's over you got revenge now go slither back to the rock from which you came under you snake!" John stared in bewilderment at Jack.

"Look city boy you don't have any idea about what you're getting into. So step aside and go home little boy."

Jack stood there protecting me. I felt bad because I heard what John and his men would do to people who stopped their fights. Still I just sat there letting the foreigner take every danger in. I looked John in the eye, I could tell he was furious and was going to attack. To my surprise he smiled then with cunning laugh he walked away. Cliff then looked at Jack and walked back to the table.

Jack turned to me smiling with his supposing victory, but I knew John would get back at him. Without a word he lifted me up onto my feet. In discomfort I hit him across the face. Jack frowned and stood staring me in the eye rubbing his cheek. Then to my amazement he started to grin.

"I guess I should remember I'm new and should watch what I do around girls. Sorry Karen I just don't like see people being hurt," Jack said still grinning.

For a moment I thought of what to say. "I'm used to it so..." I stopped and walked away scratching my head in confusion.

Later I saw Cliff leave waving to Jack," see you Jack."

"See ya."

Not long after I saw Jack get up and walk out John and his men followed him out. I knew that meant bad news. Soon enough I heard shouting, a fight had begun and Jack was in big trouble. I knew Jack was in trouble and knew nothing about fighting but I stayed inside. Then I heard Jack screaming in pain then I heard him crash to the ground. I closed my eyes trying to fight from helping him. Then a flashback of him helping me came into my mind.

It became too much to take after that. I took off my apron and ran out the door. What I found made me furious. John's crew and himself were kicking Jack's lifeless body, laughing. Not wanting to pick another fight I picked out a lie to yell at them. "Hey idiots I called the sheriff so you better start running."

In a flash the gangsters left staggering every other step. Slowly I knelt down to see if he was breathing. I made a sigh of relief when I heard him breathing normally. Carefully I lifted him up and dragged him into my room and lie him on my bed. Quietly I walked over to the first aid cabinet. Without looking I placed hand over to the area where the bandages were kept. I grabbed the first thing I felt tightly in my hand.

All of a sudden I felt a sharp object go into my wound on my hand. I pulled it down finding I had grabbed a knife. Quickly I pulled it out of my hand. On the handle was a note. Silently I read it:

Dear Karen,

This ought to teach you a lesson. Don't pick fights and lie about it wasn't you. Oh ya I took the bandages so you'll learn never to mess up again.

With No Love,

Your Father, Daren

With anger I ripped the note up and threw the knife out the window. Then tended to Jack again. Since there were no bandages I ripped up some of my old clothes and used them as a replacement. As I was wrapping the last wound up I jumped back in shock when Jack sat up without warning.

"Okay Jack if you ever want my help again you can't scare me like that," I panted.

"Sorry, Karen. Uh... where am I."

"You're in my room which rarely anybody gets to go in!"

"Thanks Karen.... I mean for everything you've done for me."

I walked back over and continued wrapping the bandage. A splash of blood from my hand fell onto his bandage. Jack curiously looked at me.

"Let me see your hand Karen," Jack commanded.

I showed him my bloody and torn hands. He shook his head in dismay.

"What happened?" Jack asked.

I pulled away and said" I landed on a knife."

"I have a feeling you had a fight with those gangsters."

I turned to him with my face red from blushing. "Look stay out of this thanks for your help earlier but I don't want to see you hurt again."

Jack smiled and grabbed my hands and started pouring alcohol on them. I yelped in pain.

"What the hell was that...?" I suddenly stopped when I felt my hands go num. Soon I couldn't feel the pain anymore.

"It keeps you from being in pain it also kills the bacteria," Jack explained.

I just looked at him. Then after realizing he wanted to just be friendly I thanked him. After the thank you Jack got up and walked over to the door but stopped. "Uh.. Karen the horse race is tomorrow I was wondering do you want to come, cause I'm racing and it would be nice to get some rooting for?"

I just grinned and said," I'll see."

"Okay and uh thanks for everything you did for me!" Jack ended. Then he limped out the door.

More coming soon!