Thornton hovered before Daisy and Cap like a specter, blotting their view of the barn and all inside who were oblivious to the peril. Daisy studied her former beau from over Cap's shoulder, her chest pressed against the back of her protector as if she were giving him a hug. Truly, she was frightened beyond any sort of fear she had ever known in her life, and Cap was the only thing that grounded her desperation. She heard the breath fall out of Cap in calm and easy gusts, subtle and light compared to the heaving that Thornton exhibited. As Daisy squinted her eyes, she was suddenly overcome by a bout of shame in ever having fancied Thornton a good and kind man. She wanted to burrow her head into the ground and stay there, hidden, only the dirt knowing the bright fervency of her remorse.
"Thought I'd find you two out here," Thornton mumbled, and the moonlight caught the unmistakable glint of a knife, lightly clutched in his large hand. "You know, you really oughta be more careful, Daisy. The whole barn was watchin' you dance with this here Hatfield."
Daisy froze, the splendor of her time with Cap momentarily forgotten under a veil of panic. She had not even considered the very real possibility that the young folk at the party had held any interest in the activity of one simple girl. Thornton's words reminded Daisy that even here, in the most jovial of settings, she was still a McCoy, and Cap was still a Hatfield, two people who were meant to work against each another like oil and water. Surely someone would take notice of the merging of two elements that should otherwise be opposed.
"You don't need to be talkin' to her," Cap said coldly, and Thornton's head snapped, his face twisting in a sinister grin.
"Is that so, Hatfield?" he asked lightly, bemused by the threat. "I don't need to be talkin' to the woman who was practically my bride before you come and steal her away? The woman who, as far as I'm concerned, still belongs to me?" Daisy's blood boiled at the audacity of Thornton's claim, as if she were nothing more than a common sow.
"I most certainly do not belong to you!" she shouted, and the smile melted off of Thornton. His brows furrowed, his eyes screwing up into angry black dots.
"What the Hell did you just say to me?" he nearly whispered, his tone thick with incredulity.
"I said I don't belong to you," she repeated, her voice stronger, clearer. Somewhere, somehow, the memory of Thornton and all that he had done to Daisy had disintegrated, leaving behind only the confidence in his shortcomings. Daisy relinquished the pity for herself, knowing that she was worthy of the affections of someone better, someone who would treat her as a partner rather than property.
"The Hell you don't, you little bitch," Thornton began, taking a step forward, pointing an accusatory finger directly at Daisy. "You think you can go and fuck whoever you please, and then come crawlin' back to me…"
Thornton never finished the thought. In one fluid motion, Cap shoved Daisy to the ground with his left arm and lunged and swung at Thornton with his right, his fist connecting with the big man's solid head. Thornton stumbled backwards, his senses dulled by the blow, but he did not falter. Rage boiled in his eyes, and he clumsily came at Cap, the knife poised to maim. The alcohol in Thornton's system stalled his limbs, rendering his movements slow and leaden.
"Cap!" Daisy screamed, pulling herself to her feet a good distance from the brawl. Cap had sighted the knife and was easily pulling away from Thornton's labored stabs, connecting one punch after another. Thornton growled with each new bruise, his anger building about him like a mountain. The two men circled round each other, performing the dance, until Thornton's nose bled, matching the red of his stare. Cap was still as yet unharmed, his shoulders hung low in preparation of the next attack. Daisy was certain that the fighting would be over soon, Thornton's drunken ire no equal match to Cap's energy and experience.
In the flash of the moon, Cap craned his head towards Daisy to assure himself of her safety, and Thornton drove himself forward. He tackled Cap with all of his weight, pinning the smaller man to the ground, the knife sent flying through the night air. Thornton began to pummel Cap with his large fists, first to the chest and then to the head, where Daisy heard the sickening crunch and splatter of battle. By sheer instinct, Daisy acted. With what little force she had, she jumped upon Thornton's back, wrapping her arms around his thick neck in an attempt to pull him off of Cap. She screamed and howled and bit at Thornton's skin, her assault undeterred by Thornton's attempts to shake her off. She fumbled with her hands until she found the delicate skin around Thornton's eyes, digging her nails deep into him. He stalled his assault of Cap, shouting in pain and thrusting one elbow up into Daisy's stomach. She went flying across the ground, landing with a thud that knocked the wind from her sails.
Daisy was momentarily stunned by the pain that shot through her back. She felt as drunk and inhibited as Thornton, her arms and legs heavy and unusable. She could not stir, but could only comprehend. She knew that Thornton hovered above her, panting with the exertion of his fight. She knew that Cap was rocking with his injuries, trying desperately to pull himself to his feet. He stumbled several times, falling back down onto his knees, spitting blood into the dirt. Distantly, Daisy felt a meaty paw wrap around her ankle, dragging her across the ground to where Thornton stood. Slowly and methodically, his eyes never leaving Daisy's face, he began to undo his belt buckle. Daisy turned her head away, but she could not free herself of the press of Thornton as he sprawled between her legs, his hands pushing her skirts up around her waist. This is monstrous, she thought. This isn't real.
Daisy shut her eyes. She saw her mother in the garden behind the family home, watering her flowers, talking to them as if there were no one around to hear. She saw her sister Roseanna, cheerful and bright, smiling as she taught Daisy to read. She saw her brother Calvin, an earlier version of himself, slowing the pace of his step to match that of a young Daisy. And she saw Cap and the way he had looked only hours before, glowing in the firelight, looking down upon her with pure elation.
Daisy opened her eyes again, the tears spilling forth like rain rolling off a roof, and caught sight of something metallic on the ground. Slowly, she crawled her hand along the grass, her fingers dancing towards the object. She strained and pulled, Thornton oblivious atop her as he tried to free himself from his britches. Daisy's hand wrapped around the hilt of the knife, and she turned her gaze towards the sky and the stars that twinkled there, innocent of the faults of man.
"I'm sorry," Daisy whispered as she drove the knife up and into Thornton's stomach.