(Chapter Thirty-Nine)
Rescued
"What are you planning on doing with me?" Faith asked her captor.
"If you don't shut up and stop asking so many questions, I think we both know what I'll do to you."
"Yes, sir."
"Why do you always call me 'sir'?" he asked a bit softer than before.
"Because it's the proper thing to do, sir."
"Well, I rather like it."
Faith smiled slightly. Perhaps this man wasn't so horrible as he at first seemed.
"Sir, if you would take me back home, I promise I would never speak of you to anyone. I miss my home, please sir." She thought that maybe he would be soft enough that he would set her free.
"No, Missy. I rather like the company," he flirted just a bit, but Faith ignored the comment. One thing she knew for sure, he would not let her go."
Jack and Carson were merely a few miles away. They came to a point where they could see a small white "thing" in the distance. As they got closer, they could clearly see that it was a tent. A tent in the middle of the forest? Is someone camping? Thoughts ran through both of their minds.
"Go get some water, will you?" they heard a gruff voice roar from inside the tent. Out popped a young woman. It was Faith! Carson wanted to call her name, but he bit his tongue. Faith sauntered over to the water pump and spotted the two men hiding behind a tree. She froze in her tracks.
"What's taking you so long?" the criminal yelled across the woods.
"I, ah – I'm almost finished!" she called back to him.
She stole one last glance at Carson before opening the tent flap. Carson wished her could run in and get her from that horrible man. She was in real danger!
Jack devised a plan which he hoped would play out soon. Carson would hide behind the tent and throw a rock into the trees. Jack, who would be waiting outside the tent, would get him at gunpoint and cuff him. They could then rescue Faith. They started the plan.
Carson threw a rock and the outlaw froze.
"Is – is anyone out there?" he called.
Faith sat numbly.
"I said 'who's out there?'!"
"Sir, maybe it was nothing," Faith suggested.
He shrugged, but when he heard another noise, he yelled "Someone is definitely out there!"
"Sir, it could be a wild animal. A squirrel?"
He seemed to think about that for a moment, then left the tent seeming a bit happier.
"Is anyone out here?" The man was armed but Jack carried a pistol too.
"Drop your gun!" Jack yelled from directly behind him. The man turned to Jack, pointing his gun at him. The criminal slowly lowered the gun and Jack grabbed it. But just as he got a hold on it, the man yanked it up, hitting Jack squarely in the jaw. The man began to run.
"Stop!" Carson yelled, firing a warning shot in the air. The man immediately stopped in his tracks.
Carson, pointing the gun at the criminal, slowly advanced towards him. Jack got up from the ground and rubbed his jaw before running over to help Carson.
"Well done, Carson," Jack rewarded the man with a smile.
"Thanks, Jack. You okay?"
"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. Now let's get these cuffs on, hey fella?" he roughed the kidnapper.
Faith ran out from the tent and Carson ran to her. They embraced for a long time.
"Oh Carson! I knew you'd come!"
"Did he hurt you, Faith?"
"No, no," Faith was quick to defend her captor.
"I didn't hurt your princess," the man hollered over the forest.
"Good, because if you had – " he was interrupted by Faith's kiss.
He immediately kissed her back. He pulled back after a moment and whispered, "I love you, Faith."
"Oh, Carson!" she cried, pressing her lips into his. She tried to pull back, but he would not let her so she gave in completely to the strength of his arms. "I love you too," she formed around his lips.
"Carson Shepherd, I love you," she said when he finally released her.
"Well, that's good," he teased her.
She chuckled and they kissed once more.
"Ah, nothing better than a happy ending to a love story," the criminal softened. "Yes indeed. A happy ending," he whispered, watching Carson still holding Faith close and kissing her.
"Well, it's too bad you won't be getting a happy ending," Jack said seriously, pushing the man forward. "Let's go."
"Faith, I'm so glad you're safe!" Carson couldn't hold back a tear. She reached up to wipe it away and kissed his cheek.
"I love you, Carson. Thank you for rescuing me."
He let out his breath in a little sigh. "I wouldn't think of being anywhere else."
"Thank you, Carson."
He gave her one final kiss and swept her into his arms.
She squealed happily. "Oh, Carson," she laughed. "You can put me down as soon as you get tired," she said in a more serious tone.
"I could never get tired of this," he let out a slight chuckle.
"Oh, Carson," she said, touching his cheek. "I love you," she whispered, resting her head on his broad chest. She was being carried by the man she loved. Her life would never be the same.