Hostage: Kitty's Fate, The Morning After

Chapter 6

Gunsmoke

She held her breath as his rough hands skimmed over her belly, as if trying to touch the child within. Bonner took his knife, slid it into the waistband of her skirt and began to cut it away from her body.

"No! No don't!" She cried as she tried to sit up and stop him, but he did not listen to her. He was ripping her undergarments away when she once again, flashed back. He had her shoved over the table in his tent and he was thrusting fast and furiously into her. "Oh God, please no." She squeezed her eyes closed as he ripped her blouse from her body. He touched her again, his hands splaying over her swollen belly, caressing her soft skin. Suddenly, the baby moved against his hand and he stopped. Kitty continued to quietly sob as his hand held against her lower belly. He slowly sat back on his haunches and kept his hand against her belly. Kitty never opened her eyes, so she never saw the look of tenderness in his eyes, or the awe with which he caressed her. All she knew was that the man who had repeatedly violated her, had his filthy hands on her and she couldn't stop him. She couldn't push him away, because he would probably kill her. "I'll be back, Reds. You won't be able to hide from me. This is my child and I'm going to be a father." He said as she looked up at him. There was pure horror in her beautiful blue eyes, and he could feel himself becoming hard at the thought of taking her. But not while she carried his child, he would not hurt her or the child, because they were his. Moving so that he was only a few inches from her face. "You have no idea, how very beautiful you are. How much, even now, how much I wanna crawl inside of you." He touched her cheek as she felt her heart leap into her throat. "You remember how good it was, Red. How good it felt, being inside of you. You were so tight, so ready, and you enjoyed it." Suddenly he pressed his mouth to hers, his tongue pressing for entrance. When she refused, he brutally squeezed her breast till she cried out and his tongue was inside of her mouth. It wasn't the gentle loving kisses she had been used to with Matt, but Jude's tongue was punishing, brutally caressing her mouth and reminding her of what he was. Pulling away, he stood up and stared down at her. He smiled as he gently began to massage himself.

"Nooooo." It came out as a long exasperated whisper, and she closed her eyes to him and his ideas. She felt him move off of the bed, but again, she refused to open her eyes. She had seen the look of lust in his eyes, that last time. The end of the conversation that LaFete and Bonner were having rushed through her head like a speeding locomotive. She couldn't stop the memories if she tried. They still haunted her. But she heard his harsh reply to LaFete swimming in her brain. "She don't belong to him either. If I wanted her, I'd keep her. But I'm gonna take her back. We leave at first light. Now leave me alone." He said without looking at LaFete. He continued to gaze at Kitty as she lay there on the cot. When Lafete left the tent, Jude turned down the lamp completely. He could still see her. The fire outside gave off a great deal of light. He could still see her pale skin which was mostly covered in bruises. Getting to his feet, he walked over to the cot and stood there. Kitty knew he was staring at her and she turned her head to look up at him. She saw the lust in his eyes and knew that he wanted her again. Her body ached from head to toe, but she knew that she would not get out of this place without satisfying him at least one more time. She lowered her head a moment as if to think on it. Slowly she turned her body over so that he was now gazing down at her naked breast. His gaze moved over the firmness of her bosom, down to the slight curve of her belly, over her bare hips. He was amazed that any woman, especially a white woman could make him feel so much. Lying back on the cot, she watched him staring at her nude body. He wanted her again, and she could see the powerful lust in his eyes. She then heard the floorboard creak by the door and slowly opened her eyes. When she realized that she was alone, she pulled the sheet over her naked body, covering her from the top of her breast to just below her knees. Then she heard movement on the stairs. Terrified, that he was returning, she closed her eyes and held her breath. She heard the door hinge squeak as it was slowly opened and she stopped breathing altogether, waiting for Jude to come back because he had decided it would just be easier. She felt the bed go down behind her as someone sat down. She wanted to get up and run, but fear kept her there on the bed, now curled up, trembling and sobbing.

"Kitty! Honey, it's Matt." Before he could move closer, she grasped the sheet that was covering her and turned quickly and flew into his arms. Matt took her into his arms and rubbed her back as she trembled. Festus stood at the door, a single tear slipped down his cheek. He was afraid, from the looks of the room, her clothing torn and tattered on the floor, that Bonner had taken something from of her once again.

Doc slowly made his way up the stairs and to the door. He saw Festus standing there, his hat in his hands, his head hung down. Gently grasping his old friend's shoulder, he let him know he was there. Festus slowly turned and left the room. He headed down stairs and began to pick up a few of the remaining objects that lay scattered. A few moments later, Matt came down stairs, but not before looking back up at the now closed bedroom door at least half a dozen times. He saw Festus cleaning up and began to pick up Kitty's clothing. He folded the white blouse in half then laid it over the arm of the couch. Then He picked up her skirt and folded that as well. As he looked at the black skirt and the white blouse, he was reminded of the clothing she had been wearing the day she had been taken. She had a black skirt and pale yellow blouse she had been wearing, that Matt had found among her things that Doc had piled up after relieving her of them. Sitting down, his heart began to break. Had Bonner violated her again? How could a man do such a thing to a woman with child? He wanted to retch. His stomach was in knots at the thought of that animal touching her again. Hurting her and hurting his child, he wanted to kill him. Kill him slowly and make him suffer for everything he had done to Kitty. For the rapes, the humiliation, the pain, both physical and emotional. He wanted Jude to know half of the pain Kitty had endured in his clutches. Festus stopped what he was doing and went over to the liquor cabinet where he poured Matt a full shot of whiskey. Handing the glass to Matt, he took the skirt out of his hands and laid it on top of the blouse. Festus then placed the bottle of bourbon back into the closet.

"Drink it down, Mathew, it ain't gonna do you no good starin' at it." He said as he looked back at Matt.

Gulping down the liquid fire, Matt clenched his throat at the burning liquid as it slipped passed his tongue then down his throat. The burning continued past the throat, down into his esophagus, and felt as though it were burning a trail through his heart and chest, to splash hotly into his gut. Festus took the shot glass from Matt and set it on the table next to the couch.

Doc slowly came down the stairs and Festus retrieved the bourbon and another glass. Slowly he made his way over to the chair across from Matt and sat down heavily. His head hurt like hell and his tired old body wanted to fall into bed and not get up for at least a month. But his friends were in need of comfort and tending to and that was what he did for a living and what kept him alive.

"Doc, how is Miss Kitty?" Festus asked as he handed Doc the shot glass of bourbon. Doc took the glass and guzzled it down in one quick motion. The burning sensation not even noticeable to his old throat, as it glided down.

"She's resting Festus. Why don't you go unhitch my buggy. I think I'll be staying here the night." He looks at the couch where Matt was sitting, now holding a satiny piece of material. It was a pale blue blouse that Matt had bought her in St. Louis.

"Sure thing, Doc." He said as he headed out the door towards the buggy.

"How is she, really?" Matt said, not looking up at him.

"Really? Well, she's just been visited by a real life nightmare, she's terrified, but she's gonna be alright." Doc said looking at the empty glass in his hand.

"Did he….?" He didn't have to finish the question, Doc knew he wanted to know whether Bonner had raped Kitty again or what.

"No. No, Matt, he didn't do that. She said that he grabbed her belly, was touching her, he kissed her hard on the mouth and told her that she was his and he would be back for her and the baby. He didn't violate her in that way, Matt." He said as he got up from his seat and went over to the bottle of bourbon which sat on the desk now. "He did a good job scaring her though, that Bastard. I'd kill him with my bare hands if I could." Doc said angrily.

"I've never heard you talk like that before, Doc. You'd never hurt a living thing." Matt said looking up surprised at Doc by his anger.

"I've never hated another human being in my life as I do this Jude Bonner, for everything he's put her through and you as well." He pours another and swallows the dark liquid and sets the glass down. "You, Kitty, Festus, you're my family. My only family." Doc turned and walked back over to his chair and sat down.

"There's more, isn't there?" Matt asked looking up at him as he passed him on the way to the chair.

Doc sat down with the heavy weight of another burden sitting on his shoulder. "He took her wedding ring from her, Matt. Just ripped it off of her hand and took it." He scratches his scruffy beard. "She's afraid to tell you, because she feels as though she failed to protect you."

"I'm going after him, Doc." He said as he stood up. Doc looked up at him.

"I figured that much, but have you taken a look at yourself lately. You got yourself a nasty bump on the back of your head as well as the swelling on your nose. You need to get some rest yourself." He said trying to get him to understand.

"I can't just sit here, Doc, I'm going after him." He said as he paced back and forth in front of Doc. "He's not going to get a chance to hurt Kitty again."

"I understand how you feel, Matt." Doc said as he stood to meet the brooding man.

"Then you know that I'm going after him." Matt said turning to look at Doc.

"If you do, I won't be here when you get back." Kitty said calmly from the steps.

"You should be in bed, young lady." Doc said turning to see her standing there in her robe. She slowly stepped down the last few steps.

Matt just stared into her dark blue eyes. He knew that when they became dark, she was angry. Not sure if she were angry at him or Jude Bonner, he slowly stepped towards her, still keeping a good two to three feet from her.

"I couldn't protect you tonight, Kitt, I may not be able to protect you if he comes back. I'm going after him and I'm gonna end this, once and for all." He said pleading with her.

"If you go, I won't be here when you get back. I won't be left here alone, do you hear me, Matt." She asked him as the fear crept into her bones once again. She couldn't bare the thought of him going after that animal.

"I…" He didn't get a chance to finish.

"No! You don't after go after him. I can't bare the thought of you going after that Bastard. No matter what happens, I need to know that you are safe. Please, Matt." She began to cry. "Please, I beg you, don't go after him."

"All right, Kitty." He said grabbing her by the upper arms and holding her at arms length as he leans down to try and see her eyes. "All right, I won't go." He heard her hiccup, as she tried to get a hold of her emotions. "I won't go, Kitt." He said as he pulled her into the warm comfort of his arms.

"I love you, Matt, I couldn't bare to be without you." She said burying her face in his chest. She could feel his body begin to tremble in her arms. He leaned down, burying his face in her neck. Kitty knew this was an awkward position for him. She looked at the stool a few feet away. Doc walked over to the stool and placed it within reach. He then watched as she hooked it with her foot and pulled it closer. She then stepped up on it, without disengaging herself from Matt. His face continued to hide in her neck. She could feel the wet heat of his tears falling against her skin. His body trembled in her arms, and she held him to her. Giving him all the warmth she could offer him. "We will find a way, Cowboy. I promise you, we will find a way to stop this."

To be continued………….