Chapter Four
Rachel and Charlie immediately returned to the hotel room after her mad dash and close encounter with the speeding stagecoach. The air had grown tight with tension as Charlie opened the door angrily, shoving Rachel inside and slamming it abruptly behind him.
"What did ah tell you about runnin'?" Charlie shouted, watching Rachel crumple up into a sobbing ball on the bed. She placed her hands around her legs which she'd pulled up to her chest and rocked backwards and forwards rhythmically.
"I got scared. That man thought I was a prostitute," Rachel half stuttered, looking up into the outlaw's angry eyes. "I have respect for myself, okay?"
"And dashin' like that almost killed ya!" Charlie roared.
Rachel shook as he shouted, juddering against the bed sheets and tightening her grip around her knees. Fright engulfed her at the sound of Charlie's voice, making her shake harder. "I…got…scared," she muttered, chewing on her thumb nail anxiously. "Don't tell me you're so fearless." With that, Rachel looked up at Charlie who sighed and rested himself down on the edge of the bed.
"We all get scared from time to time, but ya have to keep a wise brain inside that head'a yours," Charlie replied, his voice growing quiet in comparison to his previous roaring. His eyes searched for her from under the edge of his hat brim and grew softer in compassion.
"I don't belong here, Charlie," Rachel said again, looking at him, her small lips juddering as she fought away another round of tears. "Everything about this place scares me; I want to go home, back to mom and dad."
Charlie smiled weakly and turned his head away for a brief second, contemplating, before he turned back to look at her. "Ah wish ah had parents to go back to," he said quietly.
Rachel shifted uneasily on the bed, taking her arms from around her knees. "Can I ask what happened?" she asked timidly.
"Ah never told anyone this before, so God only knows why ah'm tellin' you," he began, removing his black hat and glancing at it for a second. "Mah Pa was a drunk and he'd always come home ready to beat me. Ah took it at first, but when he started on mah brother, Tom, ah couldn't take it no more. Mah brother was sick and he still hit him, so when Tom died ah caught outta Pa and gave back to him what he gave to me and Tom. Then ah run away. Later ah heard that Pa died from the drink and Ma killed herself. Ah even have to carry round the name of that bastard; his name was Charlie too."
"Why don't you change your name?" Rachel proposed.
Charlie hung his head. "Ah thought about it from time to time, but is it worth it now?"
"I'm sorry," Rachel said quietly. "No one should have to go through that."
"Then I found Ben Wade and he let me ride with him, but ah still to this day don't even know where they buried Tom. Ah can't even go and see him," Charlie continued, becoming lost in his memories, yet feeling some kind of relief. "He was such a handsome kid," he said with a broad smile, yet his eyes were full of sadness and remembrance. "He got all the looks."
Rachel giggled lightly, watching Charlie as he looked up at her. "I wouldn't say that," she said quietly, smiling at him again. Through her eyes, Charlie was indeed handsome, although the facial hair he sported wasn't usually to her liking in the opposite sex, but on Charlie it somehow looked right.
"You'd better get some sleep," Charlie replied, ignoring her words referring to his looks. "The Boss should be here tomorrow. Ah hope so anyway." With that, Charlie got up from the bed and headed for the room door. "Ah'll be back later," he said simply and shot out the door, never even bothering to lock it this time.
Furrowing her eyebrows in confusion, Rachel leaned back on the bed and rested her dark head against the white pillow. She couldn't understand why his general attitude had changed towards her so quickly. The man was so unpredictable. Never even noticing, Rachel's lips drew into a small smile as she closed her eyes.
Eyes watched Charlie as he stepped into the bar area and up to the pretty maid who as making sure there was enough drink to keep the patrons satisfied for the rest of the evening. "Whiskey, please," Charlie said quietly, not able to look the maid in the eyes. Immediately he began inspecting his dirty fingernails which peeped from his cut off gloves. Whilst the maid poured a shot of whiskey, Charlie let his gaze drift from under the brim of his hat and move around the room.
The fat man who had intimidated Rachel earlier, causing her almost fatal dash was still seated in the corner of the room. His beady eyes stared at Charlie as he drew on his cigar. Charlie felt the unwanted gaze burning into the back of his neck as he leaned on the bar, awaiting his drink. "Here ya are," the pretty maid said politely, placing the shot of whiskey next to Charlie's outstretched hand across the bar. The whiskey soothed him somewhat as it slid down his throat, leaving behind a long trail of fire. But it soothed his nerves which had been put on edge since his unexpected conversation with Rachel.
Charlie tightened his hand into a fist and lowered his head, trying hard to ignore the still staring man from across the room. "Where's ya little whore?" a deep, gruff voice came suddenly from behind. A stale breath swept across the base of Charlie's neck, causing him to grimace. "Ah hope she didn't harm that pretty little body'a hers."
Seething in pure anger, Charlie turned suddenly on his heel, grabbing the fat man's neck and pressed hard. His long fingers buried themselves in the folds of fat and double chin of the man. The man's brown eyes widened in shock as he gagged for breath. "Ya don't wanna mess with me!" Charlie growled evilly, watching his face turn bright red and his large mouth open in search for badly needed air.
Patrons watched in amazement and fear. The maid who was serving customers held a glass in her hand and a cloth in the other, glued in position as she watched Charlie. She didn't dare try and intervene in arguments and fights. That was down to the boss' discretion, and most of the time he just watched from the bar as testosterone-charged men stood their ground, but immediately became distracted by something else and later forgot about the very reason the argument began.
"Not makin' trouble again ah hope, Charlie," a familiar voice came from the door.
Charlie spun around, still holding the fat man's neck in his grasp. A faint smile spread across his thin lips as he watched Ben Wade enter the saloon, complete with Kinter, Campos, Jackson and Tommy Darden in tow. Upon sight of the Boss, Charlie released the man from his grip and watched him stare at him a few seconds before turning around and returning swiftly to his previous seat in the corner.
"Good ta see ya, Charlie," Ben said, giving his second in command a broad smile. Jackson, a red-haired, heavy built man, immediately walked in the direction of the bar, ready to order a round of drinks.
"Good ta see you too, Boss," Charlie replied, smiling in return and seating himself with the rest of the gang at the back of the saloon. "Got plenty of news."
Charlie in turn reported all information he had gathered on the opening of the new post office and bank down in the town of Millville. "A coach passes down that way every week, deliverin' money an' mail. But caus' it's only just bin built, ah reckon there'll be a shit loada money goin' down there. What use is a new bank without money?"
Ben leaned in, trying to shield the conversation from prying ears and eyes. "What day do they pass through?" he asked, his face stern and almost expressionless.
"Tuesdays, Boss."
"That gives us two days to catch up with it. Millville is about fifty miles from here. It's gonna mean continuous ridin' for a day and a half at least," Ben said, removing his black hat and brushing his hands through his dark locks of hair.
Tommy turned to face the Boss, his young face full of enthusiasm. "Come on, ah'm sure we can manage it. We got here in a day's ride. This is the best break in ages for us."
Charlie's green gaze locked on Ben. "Whatcha say, Boss?"
With a sigh, Ben looked at each of his men in turn. "Lets do it," he said simply, then rested back in his seat, downing his latest shot of whiskey.
"Ah kinda have somethin' else to tell ya, Boss," Charlie said suddenly, lowering his head. He knew he'd have to tell them all about Rachel. She was alone and needed protection. Something inside him knew that he couldn't leave her to fend for herself. All those years ago Ben had been generous enough to allow him to become a member of the outfit and practically raise him through his teenage years. The least Charlie could do was help Rachel out and reflect Ben's generosity in his own way.
"What ya mean kinda?" Ben asked.
"Ah met a girl on the way here," Charlie began, instantly noticing interest from the other men. Tommy grinned perversely and Jackson leaned in closer. Campos, however, remained quiet as usual. "She has no one and nearly died tonight. The least we can do is help her out."
"What makes ya think I'm gonna take a girl in?" Ben asked, his eyes growing darker in irritation. "Let her make her own way. She'd only hold us back."
"Boss, she has no one and ah think she could be of help," Charlie said again, keeping his eyes locked on the table beneath his fidgeting hands.
"How could she help us, Charlie?" Jackson asked suddenly, almost shouting. "Women are good for nothin'. Leave her."
"Maybe she could act as a diversion or somethin'?" Charlie asked, finally letting his gaze unglue from the table and look Ben straight in the eyes. "That way we can get the money while she diverts the Marshall."
"Are you sweet on her?" Tommy asked, grinning at Charlie.
"Fuck you," Charlie hissed at Tommy angrily.
Ben looked straight at Charlie. "Okay, you want her to come with us so much. She rides with you and if anythin' happens we get rid of her. I ain't bein' held back caus' of some girl you found."
"Come on, Boss. Maybe we could have some fun with her," Tommy laughed. "At least we ain't gotta be charged for a good fuck now."
"Enough, Tommy!" Ben called. "Is that all you ever think about?" he asked, smacking his hand into the tabletop. "If she rides with Charlie, it's only him she's holdin' back. I ain't holdin' any responsibility for her that's for sure."
xxxx
Charlie returned to his hotel room late that night after spending much time in the saloon with Ben and the rest of the outfit who were now also in rooms across the hotel. In the darkness of the room he threw his leather jacket onto the end of the bed and watched the sleeping form of Rachel. A few stray strips of light danced across her face.
His mind wondered back to his first encounter with Ben Wade; on the run, hungry, thirsty and scared. Having just beaten his father black and blue, Charlie Prince had abandoned his family home. Scared, he hid at the nearby train station, huddled from the biting cold of the night. It was later on, just before sunrise when a man in his mid thirties come riding through with a group of men behind him. Charlie left the train station, now accompanying a group of notorious outlaws, unaware of where his future would lead him.
The more he thought on the matter, the more he told himself that Rachel had to come with him.
xxxx
Early the next morning, Rachel woke to the sensation of someone shaking her. "Get up. We need to move," Charlie's voice came, filtering through her dream world. She groggily opened her eyes, seeing Charlie's form leaning over her. His piercing eyes stared at her from above.
"What?" she asked sleepily, rubbing her tired eyes. "You mean right now?" She sat up quickly, rubbing her hand through her long tangled locks of hair. "My hair really needs washing," she muttered to herself.
"Fuck your hair," Charlie hissed. "The Boss arrived in town last night and expects us ready to move out in the next hour."
Rachel watched from the bed as Charlie pulled on his gloves which only covered up to his knuckles and then secured his gun belt around his slender waist.
"Come on then!" Charlie snapped again. "We ain't got forever to wait."
"Okay, okay. Bloody hell!" Rachel growled, dragging herself out of bed and sighing at the sight of herself in the small mirror. She was still wearing the hideous red dress from the night previously. "Have I got to wear this though? If I'm coming with you lot, it's not very practical, is it?"
Charlie glared in her direction and muttered a few curse words to himself. "Alright!" he began, shouting. "Ah'll get ya some pants and a shirt from the store across the street."
Charlie and Rachel vacated the room that morning only to meet up with Jackson and Kinter down by the main doors leading into the place. "Oh, so this is the lass ya met and decided to keep to yourself?" Jackson asked, grinning at Rachel wickedly and leaning in closer to her.
"Where's the Boss?" Charlie asked, ignoring the statement from Jackson and turning his attention immediately to Kinter who had his back to the door and was absently staring out into the bright morning light.
"Beats me. Ah ain't seen him since last night when ah was with you," Kinter replied, turning to look at Charlie.
Jackson chuckled as he watched Rachel tense and stare at him evilly. She backed away closer to Charlie. How she hated men sometimes. Rotten animals. "Don't worry. Ah ain't gonna bite ya," Jackson said perversely, showing her, once again, his set of stained and broken teeth.
"I'm not so sure myself," Rachel hissed, moving in a little closer to Charlie so her arm was brushing against his. For a moment she had the urge to hold his arm but stopped herself doing so. After the heartfelt conversation with Charlie the night earlier, she didn't feel as scared when in his company anymore. She could see the cracks and weakness in him. He wasn't all anger and hostility.
"Mornin', boys," Ben said, greeting his men as he appeared at the bottom of the steps with the maid from the bar last night holding his arm. "Sorry ya had to wait," he said again, as if teasing his men. "Where's Tommy and Campos?"
"Just outside seein' to the horses, Boss," Jackson replied.
Rachel felt herself shiver. One outlaw she could handle, but now she was surrounded by six of them at least. Surely there were more. "Give me a few minutes, Boss," Charlie interrupted suddenly. "Ah need to fetch somethin' from the store across that way."
Ben never answered but instead said his farewells to the woman on his arm with a deep kiss, then approached Rachel. His grey eyes were dark and mysterious. She stepped back, already feeling intimidated by him. "Charlie persisted that you come with us, and bein' the generous man ah am, ah accepted. If you hold us up any, you're on your own. Got that?" Ben half threatened, staring into Rachel's terrified green eyes.
"Erm, yes," Rachel replied nervously. She swallowed hard, already waiting for Charlie to return. In just two days of meeting him, she somehow felt at ease. It was as if she had summed him up the night earlier in just one conversation. The air soon grew tense as it fell silent. The other men began to chatter amongst themselves as Ben kept his eye on Rachel.
It only took five minutes for Charlie to return with a pair of pants and a shirt. Those minutes in Rachel's estimation seemed like an eternity. "Get these on quickly," he told Rachel.
"But I'll have to strip down," Rachel called out. "Can't I go somewhere and put them on in private."
"No, you do it here or nothin'!" Ben replied sternly. "You're already holdin' us up."
Embarrassed, terrified and shaking, Rachel stripped down. She tried to do it quickly to maintain her dignity, only to feel the persistent gazes of the men on her. Her cheeks burned bright red and tears welled in her eyes.
The pants which were a simple black only just fit her, stretching around her curvy waist and the shirt was miles too big for her. She closed all the buttons on the shirt and then looked up at Charlie. "Come on," he said quietly, feeling her embarrassment.
Everyone moved out of the hotel and headed to the group of horses which Tommy and Campos were standing by. Rachel's legs were shaking terribly as she struggled to keep up with Charlie, remaining next to him. "You'll ride with me," he told her, not even looking at her, but keeping his eyes locked on his horse which was a caramel brown with one strip of white down its face.
Rachel smiled at the sight of Charlie's horse and rubbed her hand soothingly down its face, enjoying the sensation of the animal's soft hair beneath her hand. "We need to get movin'," Charlie whispered to her.
With a great amount of help from Charlie, Rachel mounted the horse and sat behind the outlaw, holding onto his jacket around the waist. She glanced around and closed her eyes, feeling so forgotten, and sighed, internally preparing herself for what was about to come.