White Bear pulled on his horses' mane as he directed the animal towards a small clump of mesquite bushes a few miles from the small town. Elizabeth eyed him as he dismounted from the horse in one swift motion and then held his hands out to help her down as well. She allowed him to position his hands around her waist and lift her down; all the while her wary blue eyes remained fixated on his warm brown ones. When he released her and stepped away, she found herself staring into the distance ahead. She could make out the buildings, the people, the town that would bring her one step closer to home.
Today, Elizabeth was making her way into the white world.
It had been nearly a month since she was kidnapped and watched her family be butchered in front of her eyes while she was being dragged off by the viscous Indians who had their way with her. The nightmares were dying down and the terror that someone would once again come for her was subsiding. She was beginning to feel as if she was able to breathe again and the man standing beside her was a big help in that. She only wished that she could thank him the way he wanted, by staying in his world but Elizabeth knew that his world was not where she belonged.
"I must leave you here," he said causing her to swing her panicked eyes back to him, "You will be safe walking the small distance to the town center. If I were to accompany you, neither of us would make it past the places where the horses are held."
"The livery," Elizabeth said quietly as she looked back towards the town again.
"I must go, fiery spirit," he said as he moved around her, towards a saddle bag that he had tied to the horse's tail, "There is water and jerky in here for the walk into town. I am aware of the surroundings, I ask that you trust me when I say that you are safe."
"I wish…" Elizabeth said quietly as she took what he handed her, "I wish I was able to live in your world, White Bear. You have been kind to me, more kind that some of my own family members have. Thank you for allowing me to stay with you. Thank you for feeding me and clothing me. Thank you for rescuing me and trying…" she looked down as a tear fell from her eye to the dusty ground, "Trying to keep me safe."
"I shall pray to the Great Spirit that He gives you guidance back into the white man's world," he said as he grabbed his horses mane and swung back on top of the animal, "May you be safe, fiery spirit. May you find what you are looking for."
Elizabeth watched as he nodded his head and turned his horse around, galloping away from the spot where he left her. She hoped for him that he found the peace he was looking for. She was aware that her protection and safety rested solely on the fact that her eyes resembled that of his mothers. Her heart broke at the thought of White Bear one day coming face to face with the woman that abandoned him at first. She hoped that he didn't have to do it alone.
Taking the strap from the bag that was in her hands, Elizabeth looped it over her head and adjusted it by her waist. It was time to start moving. If she kept a steady pace she would be able to make it to the town's center by sundown. She would finally be back in her own world.
Sonny turned away from his window and looked at the sleeping creature that resided in his bed. This would be the third day that he tried to step out of this room and he was intent on making it successful. He hadn't been downstairs since the night before Lesley Lu Spencer's party and all of his meals were provided on a tray which was always left outside of his closed door. He blamed the disruption of his life solely on the minx that was curled up amongst his black sheets.
Two nights ago, in the gardens at the Spencer's house, Sonny was made well aware of how he was treating Samantha McCall. She was a whore in his establishment but she was a decent woman when she was on his arm. She was being pulled back and forth and he had no idea when that had started. He knew she was a beauty the moment that she walked through his swinging doors, he knew that he had to have her and he knew that she was going to bring a lot of money into his place of business. What he didn't know was that after only being here for a few months Sam stopped being a regular for the customers and started being one for him.
Sonny had a general rule. He never allowed himself to become close with anyone, let alone a female. He had his son and Johnny O'Brien whom he knew from his Boston days. Jason was someone that he took under his wing because he remembered what it was like to want to do one thing and have your parents force you to do another. All the other friends that he had, Luke Spencer, Ric Lansing, Lorenzo Alcazar, were kept at arms length. They socialized, they hung out, but they were not someone Sonny shared his dark secrets with. The last time he shared anything other than sex with a woman was when he say goodbye to his wife before she left him on that fateful day. She kissed him, he told her that he loved her and he gave her more money than she needed to buy whatever she liked.
Now he found himself wanting to buy things for another woman. He found himself thinking about her while working on the saloon. He found himself wanting to wake up every morning with her there next to him. He found himself thinking of her and no other. He found that he didn't like this one bit.
He knew that Michael approved of Sam. He knew that his son had a soft spot in his heart for the young woman who fought her way from Georgia to here. He knew that if something was to happen between himself and Sam, Michael would approve of it. Sonny didn't want anything to happen. He was fine with the way things were; long nights of passion with no promises made. He was the way he wanted to live his life. It was something he decided as soon as he started building the saloon. The whores were allowed entrance into his domain but not his heart.
Sam somehow found a way through his thick exterior and while he was not ready to move her clothes into his fancy western dresser, he was ready to do what he could not do for his wife. He was going to protect her. He was going to make sure that she was safe. He was going to make sure that Sam had the life that she wanted. If it was California, he would make it happen.
Moving away from the window, Sonny walked up towards the bed where he saw her sigh softly and then roll over, burying her face in his pillow. He wanted to shed his clothes and climb between the sheets, he wanted to pull her into his arms and make passionate love to her until neither of them were able to move. He knew that if he did that he would put himself right where he didn't want to be. He moved away from the bed, reached for the doorknob and stepped out into the hallway. The time had come for him to have a conversation with Rachel Adair.
Making his way down the stairs in a pair of jeans and an open shirt, Sonny saw the woman standing behind the bar with a glass in her hand. She had an empty plate beside her and the town newspaper in front of her. Thankfully there was no one else around. He cleared his throat as he approached the bar and made himself as comfortable as he could on a stool.
"Good morning Sonny," she smiled as she reached beneath the bar for a bottle of bourbon. She slid it in front of him along with an empty glass. "Is there anything else I can get you?"
He watched as she smiled, her eyes promising many things while he poured himself a small amount of bourbon. He smiled back at her while he took a long sip, the smile did not reach his eyes and Rachel could see that.
"There was something that I wished to speak to you about," he said as he placed the glass back down on the wooden bar, "I was hoping that I could have a minute of your time."
Rachel moved her elbows from off of the bar and took a step back. Sonny's eyes were unusually dark and she knew that wasn't a good sign. The man had been stuck in a room with the Georgia whore ever since they returned from the Spencer's party. She thought that was a good sign for her since he made no mention of the incident involving Sam while he was away a few weeks ago. Now that he was sitting across from her, taking another sip of his bourbon, she wasn't sure.
"I noticed something while we were at the Spencer's the other night," Sonny said as he poured some more of the fine liquor into his glass, "I noticed that you know how to drum up some business. You can be a very classy lady when you put your mind to it Rachel and when you walk into a room, men take notice."
Rachel smiled as she relaxed and moved back towards the bar, resting her elbows on it again and leaning closer to Sonny, "I was raised to believe that my first priority in life is to keep a man satisfied. I thoroughly enjoy keeping you satisfied, Sonny."
Sonny smiled slowly, revealing his dimples, "I also noticed that you've been keeping yourself busy trying to help me with the books. I hate that I'm pulling you away from the customers. I know the kind of life that you like to live and I'm afraid by taking you off the floor you aren't earning the kind of money that you want to be earning."
"Oh I have no problem with that Sonny," Rachel smiled easily; "I have enough coins stuffed under my mattress to last me quite a few months. I'm able to give you my attention," she reached out and ran her fingers over his hand as she lowered her voice, "My undivided attention."
Sonny grabbed her hand and brought it to his lips, placing a warm kiss along her knuckles. She smiled and purred softly as she leaned towards him but her smile faded when she felt her hand being squeezed in Sonny's firm grip.
"Was this the hand that was raised to Sam's cheek?" he asked coldly before he reached out and grabbed her other one, "Or are these the fingers that I should break?"
"Sonny, wait," Rachel said as she struggled against his grip, "Let me explain. I can assure you that whatever Sam told you there is more to the story."
"Oh I'd love to hear it," he said quietly, "Because Miss McCall hasn't told me anything."
"I knew that stupid twit couldn't keep her mouth shut," she seethed as she still struggled against him.
"I wasn't aware that Courtney knew of the situation," he said throwing her arms away from him, "But I'll have a conversation with her. I won't be too hard on her. I know how you can be around the other doves, Rachel, a pure bitch. If you ever…"
"She was in your room," Rachel hissed as she rubbed her hands, "She was making herself at home in a place that she was not wanted."
Sonny smirked, "Samantha is very much wanted in my bed. You, however, are not. If you ever lay your hands on her again you will have me to deal with. I'm keeping you around because you bring in good money. At least your mother taught you that much."
Rachel watched as he moved away from the barstool and took the paper and the bourbon with him. He was heading back up the stairs, back up to that soiled dove that was no doubt naked and waiting for him. She had opened her big mouth, she had told Sonny that Rachel had lost her temper and hit her and now Rachel wouldn't able to get within fifteen feet of her before Sonny would step in.
The former belle was going to pay. There was no way in hell Rachel was going to let that woman replace her side of the bed with Sonny Corinthos. It would take time and patience but somehow, someway she would make sure that Samantha McCall was seen for the slut that she really is.
"Are you going to stare into space all day or are you going to wait on your customers?"
Kristina shot up from where she was leaning on the counter and glared at the laughing Michael Corinthos in front of her. She scoffed as she grabbed his things while her eyes quickly searched the store, making sure she didn't miss any other customers or would be thieves.
"I wasn't day dreaming," she said.
"I didn't say you were," Michael grinned, "But since you've fessed up I'm going to take a gander and assume that the person on your mind was Lucky Spencer?" he laughed when he watched her face turn as red as her hair, "Ah Kristina, we are but fools for the Spencer family."
"I'm sure I have no idea what you are talking about Michael," Kristina said as she pulled some paper from underneath the counter to wrap his purchases, "Although tongues were wagging the other night when you spent your entire time on the dance floor with Lu Spencer."
"You sound like your jealous?" he smiled as he leaned his elbows on the counter, "I apologize for abandoning you and leaving you for all the elder gentleman to drool upon. When I came to fetch you I found you in the arms of Lucky. I mean, next time if you'd rather I…"
"Oh really," she huffed as she grabbed his coins from him and deposited them in the cash drawer, "Stop being so dramatic and don't waste your charm on me. I can assure you, as Lu's best friend, as well as your own, that she is positively smitten with you," she chuckled, "It's pathetic."
"Isn't it?" Michael grinned, "Had I known what a beautiful woman she was going to turn out to be I think I would have followed her back east."
"You might have to after all," Kristina said as she brushed a strand of red hair from her face, "You know that she has her heart set on going back to Philadelphia, Michael. Are you going to be able to do that? Are you going to be able to drop all of this and leave, your family, your women, your poker?"
Michael looked at her with raised eyebrows, "First of all, poker travels, cards go with me and second," he said grabbing his wrapped up purchased, "I don't have any women. There's only one woman that I have my eyes set on."
"Tell that to Courtney," Kristina muttered.
"You shouldn't be talking about things of that nature anyway," Michael said, "A saloon is no place for a real lady to be in or talk about. Although I'm well aware that you often use the back of my father's place to change in and out of your britches."
Kristina gasped, "Lucky told you!"
Michael laughed, "Lucky found you there? I was shaving one morning and I happened to look out the back window and I saw…"
"Don't you dare repeat what you saw," Kristina hissed as she leaned closer to him, "Michael Corinthos if you dare share that piece of information with anyone else I swear I will tell Lu about the time that you ate that…"
Michael threw his hands up in surrender, "Don't worry your secret is safe with me. I can't say the same for Lucky," he looked over his shoulder when he heard the door chime behind him, "Speaking of."
Kristina stood up straight as she watched Lucky Spencer walking into her parents Mercantile. His eyes were searching the store for something before they came to rest on her and Michael. He smiled slowly as he made his way towards the counter and she couldn't help but smooth out her old brown dress she wore for working.
"Go," Kristina whispered to Michael, "I know Lu is waiting."
Michael looked at her surprised, "How did you…"
"Please," Kristina said as Lucky neared them, "I was the first person she ran to when you offered to meet her for lunch this afternoon. Now shoo."
Michael laughed, "Could you be any more in love," he turned to Lucky with a grin, "I'll see you at the tables tonight, Spencer."
"I'll have to get back to you on that," Lucky nodded on Michael, "I might be out of town."
"Oh?" Michael said as he looked at Kristina with raised eyebrows before turning back towards Lucky, "I'll have to hear about it later. I have to meet your sister for lunch and you know she doesn't like it when people are late."
"By all means, go," Lucky laughed as he watched his friend head out of the mercantile. He turned back and smiled at Kristina, "Hi."
"Hi," Kristina smiled back, "Mama and Papa decided to take off today. I'm still on punishment for…" she looked down at her hands, "I have to work the store by myself and then go straight home afterwards. I've only had a chance to see Lu when I was working and of course I was allowed to go to the party."
"Some party too wasn't it?" Lucky asked as the smile grew on his face.
"Yes, yes it was," Kristina said, finding herself smiling back, "Um, you said something about not being in town tonight. Are you going somewhere?"
Lucky looked away from her and back towards the store, "Yeah. It seems the party was a good time for a lot of reasons. I was seated with the Alcazars and I got to speaking with Lorenzo. Apparently he is in need of a new foreman and he's looking into a few guys from around here. He knows that I have no experience but through Em he found out that I was a hard worker and he's willing to give me a chance. It's the break I've been looking for."
Kristina could feel the smile growing wider on her face but her heartbeat started to slow down a little. This was the dream that Lucky Spencer had been chasing all of his life. He was being given the opportunity to be a foreman of a large ranch operation and even if he wasn't chosen this experience could help him land a future job. She was happy for him but part of her was miserable because being a foreman for a ranch meant that you lived on that ranch and no longer in the town of Charlesville.
"So I guess that means that you're here for supplies," she said as she stepped out from around the counter, "New saddlebags, jerky, beans, materials for coffee, blanket, a few new pants, the works, right Mr. Spencer?"
Lucky winced as he followed her down an aisle, "That's my father's name and I am definitely not my father."
"No, you are not," Kristina smiled as she handed him a bar of soap, "You need to keep clean no matter how many other cowboys do not."
"I'll keep that in mind," he chuckled as he watched her head to the clothing section of the store, "You have no idea what size denims I wear."
"I'd like to guess," she grinned as she held them out, "Am I correct?"
"Wouldn't you like to know," he said pulling them away from her and putting them back on the shelf, "Your eyes were a little brighter before I told you the news. Can I ask you what's wrong?"
Kristina looked away from him and back down at her hands, "You won't be living here anymore. I mean I know the Alcazar's don't live very far but if you don't get the job with them they might recommend you elsewhere which could mean Texas or the Dakotas or the Oklahoma territory. Charlesville just won't be the same without you Lucky. I mean who else's heels am I going to be nipping at? Whose parents are going to yell at you for being a bad example for their daughter?"
Lucky laughed as he reached up and grabbed a pair of jeans when she wasn't looking. He then put his fingers under her chin and pulled her face up until her beautiful green eyes met his blue ones. He then waved the denim in front of her face and smiled.
"I'm good," he said, "And just so you know, no matter where I go, I'll make sure that I don't stray too far from home. Yeah, I want to be a cowboy, a rancher, but I want to do it in the Arizona territory," he walked past her and made his way towards the flannel shirts, "As crazy as my father is I've come to realize some things."
"What's that?" she asked as she put back one color and chose another.
He winked at her, "There are a few things work sticking around for."
Lu laughed at the end of another one of Michael's stories. They had been sitting in the small diner for over an hour having lunch and enjoying one another's company. He had been sharing with her the times that she had missed while she was back in Philadelphia. He told her of the time he and Kristina followed Lucky down to a water hole where they all wound up drenched in mud. Then there was a time Michael and Kristina were caught kissing because the two wanted to see what some of the local men made such a big deal about. There was also the time he was caught stealing some peppermint sticks from the Mercantile only to be threatened with a belt by Sonny but he was saved in the end by Lu's brother who came to his rescue saying that he dared Michael to do it.
Lu was saddened that she missed it all. She loved her life back east and she wouldn't trade a minute of it for this dusty lifestyle out here but she did miss her friends and family desperately. She wished that she could have the best of both worlds; the hustle and bustle of a big eastern town to the eerie quietness of the desert night. She wanted to have tea with her friends back east as well as Kristina and when the boys came to court she wanted them all to be like Michael Corinthos.
She was surprised to find that he didn't look much like his father. When Kristina wrote letters of Michael growing up and being dreamier that she expected, Lu was shocked to come home and find someone looking like anything but Sonny Corinthos' child. She never met his mother, had never seen a picture, but she knew that the blond wavy locks and fair skin were not passed down from the Corinthos' side of the family. When she looked into his eyes however she saw his father, the warm chocolate gaze that Sonny bestowed upon the people that he cared about. That was the same gaze that Michael was giving to Lu right now as he reached across the table and squeezed her hand gently.
The men back east could never compare to the friend that she grew up with and had come to care deeply about. It was hard to believe that she had been in town for a little over a month and she found herself falling head over heels for the saloon owner's son. She had promised her parents that she would stay around for a few months at best and Lu wasn't sure what she would do when she would have to part with them and the man sitting across from her. She wanted her life back east and as each day past she found that she wanted Michael with her.
"I know that there are not a lot of places to go around here at night," Michael said as he cleared his throat, "I was hoping this Saturday, for our fist night out, maybe we can head into the next town, maybe we can stay over and do something really exciting. I heard they were a passing musical group coming through and I was hoping that I could take you to see it."
He sighed as he took her hand again, "I know that it would be improper to go alone so I was hoping that maybe we could ask Kristina to go with us. It would be awkward for our first time out together but I wanted it to be something you remember, something like those boys back east would give you."
"Oh Michael," Lu smiled, "I think that's a lovely idea but you don't have to impress me with fancy things and ridiculously expensive evenings out. I know what it's going to cost to take a mail carriage into town, believe me I was on one and we don't have to do that, we can stay right here. Why, we can come back to this diner for dinner."
"If you'd like to go to the musical, I'd like to take you," he said, "I was going to speak with Mr. Alcazar and see if we can borrow his wagon for the evening. We can have Kristina come with us and we can rent a room in the hotel there and stay overnight. Maybe we can talk her into taking dinner with someone else and then we can go to the theatre alone."
Lu's smile widened, "My brother! My mother certainly wouldn't say no if Lucky came. We can have Lucky and Kristina act as our chaperones and they can spend the evening together while we go to the musical. Do you think Mr. Alcazar would let us borrow the wagon for a whole night?"
"As close as your family is with Emily I don't see it being a problem," Michael smiled, "But I'm not sure if the Lansing's will like the idea of Kristina going anywhere with Lucky. You remember what happened a few weeks ago."
Lu did remember when her brother brought home a pale Kristina after finding her family out in the desolate land. She sighed and looked down at her hands only to look up again when she found Michael giving them reassuring squeeze.
"I will deal with the Lansing's," Lu said, "Would you mind speaking to Mr. Alcazar?"
Michael shook his head as he brought her hands to his lips and placed a kiss on each gloved one, "I promise you that you will not forget the evening that I have planned. I'm going to pay for our lunch and then I shall escort you home."
"Oh you must come in," Lu smiled as he pulled her chair out for her, "Mama will be so happy to see you again. I'll be just outside the door. I feel I need a breath of fresh air after all this excitement."
Michael nodded as he walked up towards the counter, "I'll be just a minute."
Lu smiled as he adjusted her bonnet and made her way out of the diner. She took a few steps down on the boardwalk and found a place in the shade to wait for Michael. It was a beautiful day out but she couldn't wait until the sun set. Even thought they were in September, the Arizona sun was still blazing high in the sky. The temperatures wouldn't relent until at least November or December. She smiled and waved as the familiar faces greeted her on their way down the boardwalks but her ears picked up when she heard a familiar voice and she turned slightly to see Johnny O'Brien standing in the dusty street next to a horse with a crude looking map in his hand. He was looking for directions.
"The Alcazar spread isn't too far from here," the man said pointing out Johnny's map, "You know where the Spencer's house is?"
A smile tugged at the cowboy's lips, "I'm familiar with it."
"You just go past there and keep on going. You'll run into it, can't miss the darn thing, Alcazar had it built big enough," he turned his head and spit just behind Johnny's horse, "Anything else I can help you with?"
Johnny looked at him with a raised eyebrow and shook his head, "You've done enough, thank you."
He stuck the map back into his horse's saddle bags and shoved one foot in the strap. He then grabbed onto the saddle horn and hoisted himself up in one swing, landing perfectly on top of the beast. He turned to the right when he saw someone coming towards him; someone that carried a lot of grace, a lot of beauty and a whole lot of snobbery.
"Miss Eastern," he said as he plucked his hat off of his head and gave an exaggerated bow from on top of his horse, "To what do I owe this pleasurable visit?"
"I couldn't help but overhear."
"Eavesdrop."
"That you were going to the Alcazar spread," Lu said ignoring him, "I do hope Mr. Alcazar has more sense than to hire a ruffian like you."
"Ruffian?" Johnny laughed, "That's a step up. Last week I was a cow poke."
"You're still nothing in my eyes," Lu smirked.
"Ah but Miss Spencer you can't help but be drawn to me," Johnny said, "And I must admit that I feel the same towards you. Since our inevitable kiss in the library at your home a few nights ago I have yet to think of anything else. When your warm body was pressed up against mine, I just…"
"You are despicable," Lu seethed, "I shall make it a point to forewarn my good friend Emily about the animal that she will have prowling her property. I cannot believe that Mr. Corinthos actually associates with someone as crude as you."
"And I cannot believe that you have made it as long as you have without someone unleashing all that passion in your body," he grinned at her gasp, "I'm up to the task. Let me know when you're ready, I'll be waiting."
Lu growled in frustration and stamped her new boot against the boardwalk as he trotted away laughing. She couldn't stand that man and the more she spent time with him the more she was becoming aware of the fact that he was too cocky and too handsome for his own good.
She pressed her hand against her fluttering stomach and shook her head furiously. He was not handsome, Michael was handsome, that dirty cowboy was nothing short of gorgeous. She groaned as she squeezed her eyes shut. Even her brain wasn't obeying her.
She sighed as she turned around and ran right into Michael, "Oh, I'm sorry."
He smiled as he steadied her, "Are you alright?"
"I'm good," she said looking behind her at the dust that was now settling in Johnny's wake, "I was just thinking. Wouldn't it be nice if I went with you to see Mr. Alcazar? Then I could say hello to Emily while I was there."
"I think that's a wonderful idea," Michael smiled, "Let's go check in with your mother first."
Lu nodded as she slid her arm through Michaels and they started down the boardwalk. She had no idea what had gotten into her and she couldn't back out of seeing Emily now, not when she suggested the idea. She couldn't believe that she let that man rile her up enough to make her want to go out to the Alcazar ranch and let her have the last word.
She also couldn't believe that she wanted him to kiss her again.
Elizabeth fought back the tears as her body hit the solid ground in front of the store. She was back at the edge of town after being thrown out of every place that she had tried to get into. She had no other clothes than the ones that were on her back and they happened to be Indian garb.
She didn't want to listen to White Bear when he told her that the white man's world would no longer accept her after what she had been through. She had tried to explain her story to the ladies of the town but they looked at her in horror and ran away. She had tried to send a telegraph to Charlesville but she wasn't successful at that either. She tried to barter for clothes at the Mercantile, the store she was just thrown out of, but the woman had her husband toss the squaw onto the ground outside of his store.
Now she was struggling to stand up. Her moccasin encased feet were aching, she had more cuts on her now than she did in the Indian village and she had no place to stay for the night. She was more alone in this world, her world, than she was in White Bear's. Refusing to give in to the panic, Elizabeth started to make her way out of town.
She kept telling herself that she had survived a brutal attack by heathens, she had survived two weeks in an Indian village where she was hated, she had survived this town and she was going to survive a night on her own out in the middle of nowhere. She had wished that White Bear would have packed a weapon instead of so much food.
She jumped when she stepped on a twig and pressed her hand over her heart. She was not a mile out of town and she was already scaring the wits out of herself. She would have liked to stay closer, to where there would be light so she would be able to see if anyone was coming upon her but she was afraid of what would happen if a drunken cowboy stumbled out of one of the town's many saloons. So she decided to make it through, to get as far away as she possible could from the town that looked upon her as if she were a savage herself. She just needed a place for the evening and then tomorrow, somehow she would figure out what to do next.
Elizabeth was startled when she saw a light ahead. It looked like a campfire and she knew better than to go on and introduce herself. While she was traveling out west with her family her father made clear to steer away from any bandits that might be on the road. He was only one man with one shot gun and three other woman with him. Elizabeth was grateful that was one thing she learned from her family, if not much else.
Skirting into the darkness, Elizabeth kept to the shadows as she made her way past the small camp. There was a fire going, a pot over it and a bedroll not that far away. There was no horse, no makings of food and no man or woman in sight. She thought that maybe someone had abandoned the place or that something worse might have happened.
Deciding not to stick around to find out, Elizabeth continued her walk only to be slammed up against a tree. She tried to cry out but she found her mouth encountering the scratchy bark. Her eyes stung as she was thrown around and she came face to face with a pudgy man that smelled like he never bathed. His teeth were yellow, a few were missing and his face was covered with a dirty beard. He leered at her as he kept her body pinned against the tree and Elizabeth felt as if she had been thrown back in four weeks time.
"What have we got here?" he sneered, "What's a pretty little thing like you doing out here all by yourself? Did your hubby leave you out here honey? Was he tired of ya?" he pulled her away from the tree and she found herself stumbling towards the fire with him, "Well I'll be you're a squaw!"
Elizabeth hated that word. She wasn't sure what the meaning of it was but that's all that she had been called all day. No one bothered to ask her what her name was or where she came from. They took one look at her, pointed and called her a filthy squaw.
She started to fight him. She wasn't going to give up. She didn't all those weeks ago and she wasn't going to now. Her tiny punches were having no affect as the man threw her onto the ground and quickly landed on top of her. Her screams were lost in the darkness of the night and her scratches met their mark but did nothing to stop the man for tearing at the doeskin dress White Bear had made for her.
Elizabeth cried as she felt the man grab at her breasts. She started to kick him but that didn't work either. He was pulling her dress up and she could feel the sand and the rocks digging into her tender flesh which only started healing a short time ago. She couldn't believe that this was happening again. She couldn't believe that her parents wanted to settle down in this cruel western society where men believed that could take what they wanted. Elizabeth couldn't help but stopping fighting. She no longer had it in her.
Feeling her eyes dry, her head falling back against the ground, her ears picked up the sound of his cruel laughter as he hoisted himself above her and started to undo the laces on his pants. She felt as if she was disengaged from her own body. She felt as if something was missing. Maybe it was her fiery spirit.
"I'm Bob and I'll be real gentle like, missy."
Elizabeth opened her eyes again and watched as he lean towards her again. She felt the tears come back. She felt the pain that she had felt before. She no longer wanted to be the survivor that she was. She wanted to be dead.
"Please," she cried, "Don't do this to me. Please!"
"Aw honey, it won't hurt real bad," he grinned, "You might even enjoy it."
She squeezed her eyes shut as he came towards her again and then Elizabeth heard it, the loud pop that sounded hauntingly familiar. She opened her eyes to see the man who was on top of her tumbling backwards. She scrambled up from the ground and looked down at him. He was dead, there was a bullet right between his eyes and the blood was seeping onto the ground from the back of his head.
She turned around just in time to see someone emerge from the shadows. He had a black Stetson pulled low on his head, a smoking gun in his hand and eyes the seared right through to her soul.
She turned around and ran.
Elizabeth ducked the branches from the trees as she darted through the darkness. She was unable to see her hand in front of her, let alone where she was going. She could hear the sound of scraping behind her, the sound of heeled boots as they ran after her, closing the distance between them. He was following her; he was making her his prey.
She cried out when she felt a branch swat against her cheek, stinging it and leaving a trail of red in its wake. She ignored the pain and continued to run until she felt as if her lungs were about to burst. She felt her strength draining and her feet stumbled under her own weight causing her to tumble towards the ground.
"Elizabeth!"
She froze as she struggled to get up again. He was only a few feet away and she rolled onto her back, terrorized of the man who was now looming over her. He knew her name, he called out to her and he was now he bending down towards her as he tried to catch his breath.
"No," she cried scampering away from him, "No."
"Elizabeth," he panted, "Elizabeth, please."
"Who are you?" she cried as she moved away from him again, "What do you want? How do you know my name?"
He was still struggling to get his breath but the look in her eyes caused him to lose it again. The raw fear was very visible in the blue orbs that had been haunting him for weeks. He took a step closer and stopped when she moved away from him again. Instead he held out his hand to her.
"I'm Jason Morgan," he said softly as his blue eyes met hers, "And I'm here to take you home."