Chapter Twenty

[Arizona, June 1887]

Rachel felt her body jolt suddenly and her insides churn uncomfortably. Already she felt herself shaking, her nerves on edge. But her stomach fluttered with anticipation at the thought of being beside Charlie once more.

She glanced around, taking in the view of stores, saloons and old wooden buildings, tatty with age. Gunshots cracked in the distance, one after another. Rachel soon filled with dread at those sounds, breath catching in her throat as she ran as fast as she could down the street. Not caring about anything but Charlie, she began calling his name loudly.

Tears of frustration slipped down her cheeks as she called again and again, following the sounds of the gunshots. People rushing away from the scene glanced at her in confusion.

"Yah'd better get inside, lass," one old man called from the doorway of his small shop.

Rachel shot across to the man, breathing loudly, it coming out in small gasps. "Please help me, sir. I'm looking for Charlie Prince." Her face was flushed and already her legs began to ache as the muscles pulled in her calves.

The old man's eyes grew dark. "No, ah don't know!" he snapped, slamming his door behind him. Rachel's mouth fell open; she couldn't believe it. The man obviously knew of Charlie because as soon as his name rolled off her tongue, the old man's facial expression of concern dissolved.

"Please," she begged under her breath, running down the street and slowly noticing the bodies littering the ground. Her eyes surveyed each one in turn, silently thanking God each and every time she discovered that Charlie was not among them. "Charlie?!" she called loudly, half screaming.

The gunshots became louder, almost deafening as she saw the Contention train station in clear view; a train waited, smoke pouring from it. A huge smile lit up her face as she made out the distinct form of Charlie. "Charlie?" she called again, running to him. But he never turned.

Her eyes widened in horror as she saw Ben staring at Charlie, his face knotted somehow in anger and grief. He fingered the gun in his hand.

"No, no!" Rachel screamed as loudly as she could, racing the many yards towards Charlie. In that moment, thankfully, he heard someone calling him, a familiar voice.

"Rachel?" he mumbled to himself, turning around, only to see his beloved flying through the air towards him. His heart seemed to skip a beat as he lost all feeling in his body; no more pain, only love. His head was thumping and he felt dazed, as if it was all a dream, or Ben had already pulled the trigger and he was now experiencing some kind of euphoria before travelling to his final resting place.

Rachel caught hold of Charlie and rushed in front of him, glaring at Ben Wade with venom in her eyes. "You even think about pulling that trigger and it'll go through me first!" she called out.

Ben's lips seemed to curl up into a slight smirk. "Charlie's an animal, Rachel. We all know he is."

"He is because no one cares enough about him. He rides around after you day after day, treating you like some kind of god," Rachel spat.

Charlie stood motionless, listening to Rachel defend him so loyally. No one had ever spoken to Ben Wade in such a manner- not even the toughest of men. Even those still standing of Ben's gang stared at Rachel, admiring her blazing courage and now, finally, seeing why Charlie loved her so much.

Ben looked down at the body of Dan Evans who had escorted him to Contention, and watched as his son attended to him, and then stepped up onto the train. There was simply nothing more to say.

William, Dan's son, couldn't help but get to his feet and stare Rachel in the eyes, his ice blue eyes fierce yet full of unshed tears. "How could you possibly love him? He killed my father, and you're willin' to just forgive him for that?" he asked, knotting his brow.

"I'm sorry for your loss, but one day you'll realise something," Rachel began, stepping closer to William, her face full of genuine sadness and grief for the boy's loss. "Love knows no boundaries. When you love someone you'll do anything for them. I hope you appreciate that some day."

Rachel turned around and looked at Charlie, his face caked with blood and dirt. His eyes were glazed with tears and the realisation that his devotion to Ben Wade had been futile. A lump caught in his throat as the train carrying his Boss began to move off down the tracks. The pain filled him up once again and his legs suddenly shifted from beneath his body.

"Charlie!" Rachel called out, grabbing him quickly before he hit the ground. "I've got you," she whispered, kissing his cheek softly and preparing to take him somewhere quiet. "Help me get him inside," Rachel called to the rest of the gang who were behind Charlie. Together, Rachel holding Charlie and the other men of Wade's gang made their way through town to the hotel. Slipping in and out of consciousness, Charlie succumb to the pain where the bulls had stampeded him.

xxx

In an old room somewhere at the back of a hotel, Rachel sat beside Charlie, gripping his hand tightly as a doctor peeled his clothes from his body, taking a better look at his injuries. The greying fellow prodded the thick bruising which was forming on Charlie's sides. He'd been cornered downstairs and bribed with a hundred dollars cash to check Charlie over.

Suddenly he wailed in pain. "Get off me," Charlie yelled angrily at the old, shocked man. "Leave me."

Rachel leaned across, grabbing his arm quickly. "Charlie, calm down. He's only helping you," she reassured. Instantly she noticed his posture calm considerably as he went to lie back down on the bed. His glare however remained glued to the doctor.

"I don't want him touchin' me," Charlie whispered to Rachel.

Rachel glanced up at the doctor and the few men of Wade's gang surrounding the bed. "Can you give us a while, please?" Rachel asked politely.

Charlie watched as the men filed out of the hotel room door, leaving just him and Rachel on their own for the first time in four days. Not caring anymore, Charlie jumped up from the bed, his shirt open and rushed at Rachel, grabbing her around the waist. He pulled her in against him and kissed her fiercely, listening to her moan beneath his kiss. "God, ah missed you," Charlie groaned as his lips kissed gently down her neck.

Even though Charlie was still covered in dirt and dried blood, Rachel didn't care. She was reunited with the one she loved and that was all that mattered to her right now. The flame in her heart was burning brightly once again and she smiled, almost laughing as she and Charlie embraced tightly, kissing furiously.

The pain numbed as all Charlie felt was love and true happiness. Rachel rested her head against his chest and kissed the skin tenderly, then rested her hand against where his heart was. She closed her eyes and snuggled against him. "Let me stay with you this time," she begged quietly.

Charlie closed his eyes and rested his head against hers, brushing his gloved hand through her long locks of brown hair. "Ah couldn't watch you go again," he whispered, letting all emotion he had within him flow into his voice. "It was the hardest thing ah've ever had to do in mah life."

Rachel looked up at him, watching his eyes begin to fill with tears which she'd never seen before. In just three weeks, Rachel had broken the ice within Charlie's heart. "I'm sure it wasn't. You've killed people in the past. Seeing me go I'm sure wasn't that hard."

Charlie brushed Rachel's flushed cheek with the back of his hand and smiled. "But outta all them people, I never fell in love with none of 'em."

After the small heart to heart with Rachel, Charlie allowed the doctor to check his wounds which only seemed superficial, but the bruising hurt like a bitch. As the elderly doctor washed his wounds with a special medication to stop infection, Rachel remained next to Charlie, watching and thanking whoever was above that she'd been given a second chance. If she hadn't, Charlie would be lying amongst the dirt and filth, dead.

The town had grown quiet down below as the doctor left the room quickly and Charlie got to his feet. He stood next to the window and glanced out, feeling one stab of sadness make itself known in his heart. Would Ben have pulled the trigger? "How did ya know?" Charlie asked suddenly, turning back around to face Rachel. "You knew."

Rachel looked up into his eyes and stopped in her tracks. "I found out what Ben would have done to you. I couldn't let that happen," Rachel said quietly, but soon she became choked with tears. She found herself swallowed by Charlie's embrace. "I'd have done anything to stop that....I couldn't-"

"Shhh," Charlie whispered. "Nothin' happened to me, did it? And it was because of you."

"I'll be with you now wherever you go," Rachel said with a broad smile.

Charlie chuckle to himself and tightened his grip on her. "Mah little Lady Prince," he said, watching and listening to her laugh in his arms.

"We need to get you cleaned up," Rachel said, looking up at Charlie and smiling. "How about I go downstairs and get the maid to fill up the bath, and you get undressed?"

Charlie grinned from ear to ear. "Or you could help undress me," he said softly, pulling her in closer still, her waist pressed firmly in against his. "We got four days to catch up on." Rachel felt shivers and tingles of anticipation rush through her body at Charlie's arousing words.

"Nothing would delight me more, Mr. Prince," Rachel replied, stepping away and looking at him with a teasing smile across her face. "I'll go and get the water, you wait here. Then we can see what happens." Rachel winked at Charlie and left the room quickly, heading back down the stairs to the main counter at the front of the hotel.

Charlie waited impatiently in the small room and took off his dirt encrusted shirt, throwing it to the floor. Then he slipped off his cut off gloves and sat down on the edge of the bed, smiling to himself. Maybe there really was someone watching out for him after all, even after all the atrocities he had committed in his twenty six years. Night after night since Rachel left he'd prayed for her to come back to him somehow. And now she had. She'd saved his life. Charlie knew that he would be forever in her debt.

"The maid should be up in a few minutes," Rachel announced as she re-appeared at the door and stepped inside.

Charlie stared at her longingly for a few seconds, watching her step around the bed toward him. The bed lowered somewhat as she sat beside him and placed her soft head on his shoulder. Rachel ran her index finger teasingly up the inside of his thigh, moving on towards his groin. Charlie swallowed hard and remained still as she straddled him slowly, making sure she didn't hurt him further. "I missed you so much," she whispered to his ear, kissing his cheek and then down his jaw. Her hands ran idly down his back, approaching the waist of his pants.

The outlaw groaned as Rachel clasped her legs shut around his waist. "I'm not hurting you, am I?" she asked, kissing his shoulder. "I don't want to hurt you."

"Just shut up and come here," Charlie replied huskily, pressing his lips against hers.

Rachel groaned loudly under Charlie's demanding kiss, having missed this so much about him. "I love you," she muttered, breathless. Quickly, however, to Charlie's surprise, she began shedding her shirt quickly, leaving only a white bra beneath.

Charlie's hands instantly curled around her body, tackling the clips furiously. He remembered trying to unclasp her bra last time they were intimate and winded up letting her do it due to his inexperience with modern clothing. With a huge grin set on her face, Rachel pressed Charlie down firmly on the bed and unclasped the bra herself, pushing her body further against his crotch.

"Now you can see what it's like to let someone else take the lead," Rachel said softly, leaning over and leaving a trail of warm, loving kisses down his chest. Her tongue flashed out, catching around his nipples, teasing his small buds. Charlie growled, closing his eyes whilst clamping his hands firmly on her curvaceous waist. Rachel couldn't help herself and forced her hips down onto him with a heavy force.

For a moment she looked into his bright eyes, falling in love even more with him as he placed her hand against his lips and kissed her small fingers gently. His eyes were a pale green, laced with ocean blue, so turbulent and wild.

Charlie knew this was the only time his heart would ever truly feel love and he wanted to feel this way for eternity beside her. Never did he realise that true love existed; visiting prostitutes and eyeing up the ladies for his own satisfaction and indulgence. Intimacy with Rachel was unlike anything he'd ever felt before: it felt right and made his whole body, heart, mind and soul fill with an emotion he had never come close to feeling before. She opened him up, defrosting the ice which had accumulated over time across his heart.

Rachel let herself loose in Charlie's arms, letting his hands caress every inch of her slowly. He wanted her to feel everything, enjoy everything and be content.

Suddenly the door knocked, dissipating the spell from around the couple. "Damn it!" Charlie hissed as Rachel pulled herself from him. He watched Rachel longingly as she walked to the door, leaving him to spread across the bed and stare at the white washed ceiling for a short period.

Rachel guided the maid over to the small bathroom and quickly she began pouring the hot water into the small tub. Over a space of around twenty minutes, the maid eventually filled the tub completely. "That should be enough, Miss," she said, giving Rachel a quick, nervous smile and then shifting her glance to and from Charlie as she left.

"Your bath is ready, your Majesty," Rachel said quietly, leaning on the bed and kissing Charlie tenderly.

Charlie tossed Rachel's shirt away again after she'd pulled it back on awkwardly to greet the maid. "No, no. Come on. You need a wash and to relax," Rachel instructed, pulling Charlie up by the arm.

"Only if ya come in with me," Charlie replied, getting to his feet and looking into Rachel's eyes. She knew full well he meant it just by the serious expression on his face.

"That sounds a good proposal," Rachel replied, walking off in front to the bathroom. On the way she began pulling down her pants, and glanced back at Charlie. "The quicker you get in here, the quicker we get to have fun."

Charlie never answered and followed her into the small bathroom, never even bothering to inspect it. He just rushed in at her, pulling her against him and kissed her.

Rachel felt her back hit the wall with a dull thump and quickly she fiddled with her pants, stepping out of them. Then she began her duty of taking off Charlie's as he continued kissing her with great vigour. "The bath is that way, Charlie," Rachel said jokingly, pointing behind him.

She unwound from his embrace and stepped over to the tub, only wearing her underwear. "You coming in or what?" she asked with a wink.

"Too right, ah am," Charlie replied eagerly, dragging off any last pieces of offending clothing.

Both of them stepped into the bath, naked, and sat before each other in the hot water.

Rachel felt over to the small table which was situated beside the tub and picked up a clean sponge and bar of soap. "Let's get you clean," she whispered, kneeling up and watching Charlie slide down into the warmth of the water, his muscles relaxing.

Nothing could make Charlie any happier than this. He'd got Rachel back, although was lying in a bath, his body filling up with deep bruising. The sponge traced the line of his jaw, taking away all the dirt and blood which had dried there. Charlie rested his hand against her cheek, sighing and smiling broadly.

Rachel dropped the soap and sponge and straddled him, feeling his erection grow once more. "I want you," she whispered to his cheek, pressing her breasts against his chest. "I want you so much."

"Do ah look like ah'd say no to you?" Charlie replied. "Ah could never say no to you." With those words, Rachel shifted herself into the appropriate position and let her opening push over Charlie's erection. They groaned in union and steadily built up into a regular rhythm. Rachel couldn't help but kiss him over and over again, letting her tongue slide into every crevice of his mouth.

Charlie kept a firm grip on her hips, helping her along his full length. Automatically he'd felt his climax approaching after being so long without her, and now here she was again, making love to him so passionately.

Rachel smiled down at him, feeling him move in and out of her as she pulled her hips back and forth. Water splashed around them as they moved, moulding with their joined bodies. The tip of his erection kept pressing against the deepest depths, pushing her closer to the edge until she gave way and moaned, the waves of her orgasm washing over her.

Just hearing Rachel enjoy their intimacy brought Charlie to his peak. With one final low growl, he spilled his seed inside her, paired with the pleasurable sensation of the waves shooting through his groin.

As Rachel pulled from Charlie, his seed washed away in the water, leaving little evidence he'd been inside her. Rachel rested her head on Charlie and sighed.

Throughout the Midwest of America, a new outlaw became known, the second in command to the new outfit fronted by Charlie Prince. She was only known as Lady Prince.

.Fin.

A/N: I have ideas for a sequel. Now, I'm not going to post the story if no one is interested. I've been posting the last few chapters of this and have hardly received any reviews at all for it. If you're not bothered with it anymore, then I just won't post the sequel. I'd be grateful if you'd just let me know one way or the other if you want the sequel or not. I sure hope you enjoyed this story. It's been a very pleasurable experience writing it. Thanks – Jay (a.k.a. Mad Furry Cheshire Cat)