The Trouble with Drifters

Chapter 24: Brutal Truth

Inara and Jonathon rode in silence neither wanting to be the first to speak. Jonathon didn't want to unleash his anger on Inara for she wasn't the one responsible, Williams was. Inara didn't want to admit breaking Jonathon's trust. She also didn't know what to make of his past. The loss of a family drove many a man over the edge, Jonathon being one of them apparently. Should she be afraid or feel pity for him. On top of all that Inara had to deal with Jeff forcibly talking her last night. Jonathon looked over at Inara noticing worry lines. Was she afraid of him now? He sincerely hopes not. That man died in the desert years ago and a new one arose.

"I didn't have sex with Morning Feather Inara." Jonathon said bluntly. Inara didn't respond right away. She just took in what he said weighing it against what Ned talked about. "Then why was Morning Feather laying on the bed naked? Why was she smiling? Why didn't you shoot the bastards?" Inara replied back on the verge of tears. Jonathon placed a hand on her shoulder then stopped their horses. "Inara, did Jeff force you to talk?" he asked watching as tears began falling. She nodded affirming what he already figured out. "I'm not mad that you talked. I'm mad that he hurt you to do it." Inara placed a hand over his taking comfort.

Jonathon's anger at how things went down only got worse seeing Inara's tears. He also wondered what the price would be to keep his secret too. Word ever get out there'd be no place to hide from the shame. They started riding again after she explained what Jeff did to her. Inara wouldn't go into detail but Jonathon got the gist of what happened. He basically raped her then threatened more of the same if she didn't talk. This man...no monster was going to die a horrible death.

"...are you going to answer my question?" Inara asked sitting up straighter in the saddle eyeing the man beside her. She deserved an answer if the bounty hunter aka Jonathon 'Jack' O'Neill was to be trusted. Stories men told her about the Red River War seemed unbelievable at the time. Now they came across being closer to the truth. Jonathon's silence lasted to long so she prodded the man into speaking. Inara stopped Betsy forcing Jonathon to stop as well. "Look Mr. whatever you name is. I want an answer and now! We aren't going any further until I get one!" She said defiantly staring down the bounty hunter still feeling conflicted about the man.

The women had showed courage even while hurting, he'd answer her. Inara deserved that much. "We had to play our parts otherwise Ned or Jeff wouldn't have bought our act. They needed to believe I showed her such a good time that she wanted more." Jonathon replied letting his words sink in. "The idea of laying the bed naked was hers. Morning Feather knows that Ned wants her badly so she takes pleasure in teasing him, call it an act of defiance." He added noticing Inara process his words. "Then what did the two of you do all night?" Inara asked wanting to believe him. "We played Snap (A/N1) while she gave me valuable information. Just so you know I gave her my shirt to wear." He said to put her at ease. The last thing he wanted was to be lumped in with the likes of Mr. Williams.

"Morning Feather gave you information? I don't believe you Jonathon. She can't speak English, only Kiowa and Comanche." Inara responded feeling betrayed by the man. Jonathon looked at the women holding back anger at her words. "Listen and listen good Miss Serra, I won't repeat myself. Morning Feather was taken from a Christian orphanage by Comanche raiders at the age of 11. The sisters and priest had taught her to read, write and speak English. This is a secret she has kept to herself for a long time. Jeff believes she doesn't understand English so he talks freely in front of her. Therefore I have enough information to act on. The biggest nugget is when they plan to strike again." Jonathon answered making her wither under his stare.

"I...I...I didn't know. Please forgive me for..." she stuttered but was cut off. "No, you couldn't have known. Morning Feather knows this is her 'ace' in the hole'. We spoke in Kiowa as she wrote everything down on this piece of paper." He said producing a pad of paper then continued. "...as for your last question, we wouldn't be here talking. I'm good but not good enough to fight a war by myself!" Inara knew she had pushed him too far. The man had been nothing but kind to her and most everyone else in town except the sheriff. Pete didn't count in her humble opinion. He needed to be exposed as a fraud which Jonathon was doing without even trying.

"I'm sorry Jonathon. My intention wasn't to take my anger out on you. Jeff has never gotten that physical before, it came out of nowhere." Inara apologized to him. "Morning Feather never let on either. I understand why, she was just waiting for the right person to come along." Jonathon stopped the horses once more taking a deep breath the counted down from 10. "Were both out of sorts right now? Let's just get you to the oasis; I need some time to think." He answered seeing it in the distance.

"Can I ask one last question?" Inara said noticing her refuge coming up as well. Soon she'd be able to cleanse herself, mostly. "I reckon you can." Jonathon replied looking at the women beside him. "Why do you care so much about your past coming to light?" Inara asked knowing ones past can't stay hidden forever. That's why she never bothered trying to hide hers. Men on the other hand wanted to avoid the law or hide from certain people or groups.

Jonathon would lay it out for Inara if that's what she wanted. Once the truth was out there she could run or stay put, he didn't care. "We showed no mercy...none! We would sneak in during the night killing their sentries. When the tribe woke up they'd find heads of the braves on pikes, bodies never to be found. Other times it was the head of their chief or medicine man. Sometimes we'd set fire to their teepees just to watch them burn. Very few saw us and that was just shadows in the moonlight. I became what I despised leading others down the same destructive path." Inara listened as he spoke feeling chills run down her spine. Now she knew why they were called the 'Ghost Riders'.

"Does that answer your question?" he asked noticing the horror in her eyes. "Is that why Charles drinks like he does?" She asked looking away not knowing what else to say. "...mostly, the rest is because a woman that up and left him." Now the moment of truth, will she run or stay? Inara took a minute to gather her thoughts before answering. She felt the need to ride away in fear of her life. There was only one thing keeping her in place. Cassandra Frasier holding Jonathon's hand talking while he laughed and smiled as they walked down the street. Jonathon clearly wasn't the man he just described so she had nothing to fear.

"I believe you Jonathon, you're not that man any longer. I can see that clearly now. Please accept my apology for believing otherwise." Inara said looking at the man. "No apology needed, that's my past. Always will be no matter how far I ride. Our past shapes our future, makes us who we are today and beyond." He replied then started riding down the trail. Inara followed taking his words to heart. They were words of a man that had it all only to lose it. Then come out on the other end a changed and scared man. They applied to her as well she thought. Past experiences ran through her mind as they road towards the grove of trees.

A/N1: Snap is similar the game of 'Slap Jack'. The original game of Snap was published by Jaques & Son Ltd in 1866. The game is described as a family card game using 64 cards with grotesque characters.

LoneWolfO'Neill