SEEING AUGUSTUS GRAY she drew back startled, and turned nearly immediately, attempting to run, hoping to reach her rifle but he threw out his leg and she fell to the ground. As she attempted to rise, he grabbed a handful of her long hair, and pulled her back toward him, and that was when she realized it was her rifle that he held in his hands.
"Ah, now, not so fast missy! Or is it mister. You know there's only one way to know for sure." He laughed darkly, and despite the fact that she was still being held by her hair, she twisted, attempting to escape his grasp.
"Let me go!" She said fiercely. They were just a few paces from where Daniel lay and in any other circumstances, he would've already been beside them, but his exhaustion, injuries and pain had dulled his senses. She knew that she would have to somehow extract herself from Gray's grasp. She began to try and lead him away from where they'd made their hasty camp, but this only made him laugh.
"You think you are a clever one. I saw your camp already. Where is that giant? Seems he doesn't notice your absence. Trouble at home?" He sneered down at her, and then leaning in close to kiss her, he was enraged when she spit in his face. The slap he dealt her left her momentarily dizzy, and yet she felt victorious for he had not kissed her. Instead, pulling her up by her hair he began to drag her to where Daniel was still resting.
"Daniel," She called out in Irish. "Breathnu amach! A fhail amach! Ta deacracht ag teacht!"
"What is that?" Gray asked her. "What are you saying?"
"Ta se ina gunna agus ta se ag teacht ar do shon!" She called out again, ignoring her captor and trying to warn her husband.
***DB***
Daniel tried to keep his eyes open. He knew that continuing their journey home was the most important thing. He knew that Rebecca's life depended on it - and yet, even this dire realization was no match for his wounds. His broken rib, and deep scratches brought him unending pain. There was no position that did not bring him suffering. He pushed down, his fist in the muddy grass, trying to will himself to rise, when a jarring sound pulled at him; it was Rebecca and she was yelling.
His brain was foggy with pain, but still he could understand the words. She was calling to him in Irish - something she did only in times of stress, or when she wanted no one to know what they were saying. He tried to focus in on her words, intent on understanding.
"Daniel, get away. He is coming for you!" "He has a gun! Get away!"
He found himself upright, without understanding how he accomplished it, and taking a few steps forward he could see them. Augustus Gray, holding Rebecca by her beautiful long red hair, a rifle in his hands.
"There he is!" He sneered. "He looks a little worse for wear." Moving closer he punched Daniel in the chest, and the pain was so searing that he staggered back, nearly losing consciousness from it.
"An bhfuil tu ceart go leor? Na bi buartha!" Rebecca said, her voice calm, but unusually high-pitched.
"I'm fine." He gasped out. "Who said anything about being worried?" He responded, trying to match her cool tones. Honestly, he was panicked. He knew that his injuries put him at a tremendous disadvantage, and Becky was held fast by Gray. He tried to keep his pain-wracked brain focused on the problem. He had to find a way to get them both to safety.
"Eist, is feidir leat a bhuail e. Feicfidh me lacha agus a fhail saor in aisce. Is feidir liom a fhail ar do gunna."
"Enough! What is she saying?"
"She's telling him to hit you, and then she'll make a grab for your gun." A blond man stepped out of the shadows. He was followed by three other men. He turned toward Rebecca who studied him wide-eyed. "Te se chomh maith a fheiceail ar dhuine on tir d'aois."
"I don't know that. What did he say to you?" Daniel asked.
"He said it is good to meet someone from the old country." Becky responded angrily. "I can't say the feeling is mutual."
"Ah, now lass, we've both travelled a long ways, we can at least share a love of the beautiful hills of home."
"Roinnimid rud ar bith, agus go bhfuil tu aon rud ach bastaird!" She replied angrily.
"Now, that is a word I recognize." Daniel said, shaking his head. "Rebecca Anne." He chastized.
"Really?" She said to him. "My language is what is bothering you right now?"
"Well, it's not the only thing, darlin'. I just am a little shocked that a fine lady such as yourself would . . ."
"Enough!" Augustus Gray cut him off, angrily. "What became of that wagon of supplies of yours? You got it tucked away somewheres?"
"There's no wagon. We haven't even got our packs. So unless, you want to rob us of the muddy clothes on our backs, I'm afraid we've got nothing of value. So, if you wouldn't mind, let go of my wife, and we'll just be on our way." He had inched himself closer, so that now he was just one step away from Rebecca. He kept his voice even and casual, but truthfully his heart pounded in his chest. All he wanted was to get away from them with Rebecca's hand in his. Gray had shifted from holding her by her hair, to holding tightly to her forearm, and he knew that later his finger marks would be there; dark marks on her arms.
"Get back!" Agususts said. "We know you were going for supplies. Where are they? You've got them stowed somewhere!"
"Nach bhfuil sé ag dul a bheith ag éisteacht, grá. Ná smaoineamh ar troid do bhealach amach as seo. Tá an iomarca." Rebecca said to him recognizing the steely look of determination in his green eyes.
"She's right. There are five of us, and just the two of you, and much as I imagine this hell-cat can hold her own in a fight, coming after us will leave you dead, and then where will she be?"
"Labhairt go maith di no beidh me tu a mharu fein, tu bastaird!" Daniel growled angrily, but the man only laughed.
"You teach him to speak Irish?" He asked Rebecca. "He speaks like he was born there."
"What are they saying Kenny?" Gray asked in frustration.
"Well, she was telling him that there are too many of us to fight, and he was reminding me that she is a proper lady, and I'd better mind what I speak or he'll make me pay for it." Kenny said laughing. "And I bet there was one word you understood."
"I've heard it a few times." Gray nodded. "Usually aimed at me or one of my compatriots here."
"I can't imagine why?" Rebecca said sarcastically.
"'Becca . . ." Daniel warned.
"Daniel!" She responded in frustration. "They already plan to rob and kills us. Are you afraid I'm going to upset them?" Her voice was fiery, but he could hear the ragged edge of panic.
"We'll be fine, love. Don't worry, ah grah." He was overwhelmed with compassion for her, and his arms ached to pull her close to him; to reassure her.
"Killing you isn't the main theme of our plan." Gray told them. "It only becomes necessary if things get complicated. We offer a simple solution to all our problems. You give us your supplies, and we leave you to your sight-seeing."
"But we've no wagon of supplies." Daniel pointed out.
"Well, I guess things are complicated then." Gray said, pushing Rebecca down so that she was forced to kneel in the mud. "I'd hate for things to get more complicated."
Silence hung heavy over all of them, and everything remained frozen for the longest of moments. He was mulling the problem over and over, trying to figure a way out that would leave both he and Rebecca safe. He caught her eyes and swallowing hard, he recognized the only clear path. She must have realized it, too, for her bright blue eyes filled immediately with tears and she shook her head.
"No. Daniel, no. There is another . . ."
"We got no wagon, here." He told them. "But I can take you to where it is. My only condition is that we leave her behind." He nodded at Rebecca but did not meet her eyes.
"Daniel! No!" She shouted at him. "You drag me all the way out here, and now you are going to . . . No!"
"It seems like we'd be giving up the guarantee of your cooperation if we leave her behind." Gray told him.
"It is the only way I'll agree, and I think you've heard that I'm a man of my word. I'll telling you, if you release her, I'll make sure you get what you came looking for."
"Uimh! Ni bheidh me a fhagann tu! Ni feidir liom. Is e mo chroi mise!" Rebecca shouted angrily.
"Well, now, ain't that sweetness itself!" Kenny said with a chuckle. "It seems that she don't approve of his plan." Kenny said to Gray.
"I can't imagine she does." Gray rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I'll tell you what. I can compromise with you. We will leave her here. We can bind her to that tree over there. If things go according to plan, you can come back and set her free yourself, and if they don't, well I'll know where to find her."
"No!" Daniel shook his head. "There are panthers in these hills. She would be easy pickings. No."
"I don't really think you are in a position to bargain." Gray pointed out. "We could just end things here and now."
"You wouldn't get the wagon of supplies, then." Daniel countered.
"We could stand here talking til darkness falls or we can start this journey now, and you can be done with us." Gray told him.
"No, I won't . . ." He began but lifting her the three men dragged her to a tree, and began to wind rope around her. "No!"
Rebecca for her part was bravely silent. She said nothing even as they tied her to the tree, even as tears streamed down her face.
"Let me speak to her!" Daniel said, as Gray and Kenny, flanked him, a hand on his arms. "Let me speak to her."
"Fine!" Gray shook his head. "You got one minute, and remember whatever I don't understand, Kenny here does."
They allowed him to walk to where she was tied, and reaching out he lifted a hand to touch her face, wiping away her tears. "I'm coming right back. I bet if you start counting, you won't even get to 100 before I'm back here again with you darlin'."
"Yes." She managed softly.
"You are too quiet." He tried to manage a smile. "It makes me nervous when you are quiet."
"When you come back, I'll talk 'til your ears bleed." She managed, shakily.
"Is breá liom tú, mo storin agus tá mé ag teacht ar ais chugat. geallaim é."
"Come on! Let's get moving!" He felt a hand on his arm, pulling him from her.
"I will be right back." He told her, even as they pulled him away. "I swear it. 'Becca, don't you fret, love. I'll be right back."
***DB***
The silence seemed to fill her ears, overwhelming her with its power. Daniel had called out to her until he was too far to be heard. She wished suddenly that she had called back to him; had declared her love for him. She felt it unlikely that she would ever see him again, and she wished she had at least told him that she loved him. She had been too terrified to speak, and was frightened that if she had, she would have only cursed in bitter frustration, and fear, and so she had remained silent. She regretted it now.
Sighing, she knew that she had to begin to work. Daniel had once told her that every trap has a weakness somewhere, and she was bound to discover the weakness. She began to wiggle, ignoring the way the ropes cut into her wrists. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest, as panic began to overwhelm her. She paused in her struggle, drawing in a long slow breath. "Every knot can be untied." She told herself, remembering the phrase that Daniel had said to her more than once.
The light was already beginning to fade, and she was running out of time. She doubled her efforts knowing Daniel would need her help.
