Ella and Doc re-entered the house a short time later. Ella placed the wood beside the fire and stoked up the flames.
"That's my girl" came Dave's voice as he reached out and grabbed her around the waist pulling her onto his lap. He nuzzled into her neck, she could smell the reek of whiskey upon his breath and within moments Ella could feel his lust pressing hard against her thigh.
"Back soon Doc" he said, turning to his friend, he stood and grasped Ella's wrist in his hand. "Been quite a few weeks since I last spent some time with my wife." He wore his wolfish grin.
Ella's eyes widened, at least while he was away she was spared his attentions, the possibility that she may have a child's mouth to feed was pushed from her mind until he returned. She had means to prevent it but she hadn't found the time to get more of the substance since his arrival was unexpected. Doc made no reply but poured himself another drink, his jaw becoming set.
Ella let Dave lead her towards the back of the small shack, her determination growing with every step, she couldn't afford to have a child, she just could not chance this. When the small curtain had parted them from where Doc sat she pulled her hand roughly from Dave's grasp.
"Not tonight Dave, we can't" she hissed, hoping that her voice did not carry into the other room.
"What?" Dave turned to face her, his face contorted into an angry frown.
"We can't afford to, we don't have the money if… an' I've just been ill, it just ain't the time."
Dave's hand again grasped her wrist, this time tighter, pinching her skin.
"I say when it's the right time, I'm your husband and you'll do as I say!" he hissed back his voice bearing malice.
Ella shook her head and wrenched her hand from him once again, backing towards the small door that led out to the side of the house. Her back connected with it and her hands fumbled a moment as she stared at Dave, his eyes glinting dangerously.
"Get back here!" he said in a dreadful whisper.
"No." She breathed the word, the effect sounding more as if it had been a sigh, her fingers found the latch and with one fluid movement she had released it and slipped out. Her instant thought was to get to Maria's, at least until Dave had drank himself into a stupor, although by the looks of him he was near enough there even before he had arrived home.
She did not hesitate but began to make her way across the street, thinking that Dave would turn back, preferring a good drink to the trouble of coming after her, it was only a moment before she found out she was wrong. She had not advanced more than two houses worth of street before she felt a hand clutch at her upper arm, the surprise catching her off guard. Before she could register fully what was happening she was being pushed roughly backwards and her back connected with a dull thud against a house wall, knocking the wind out of her for a moment. She had no chance to catch her breath as a stinging slap came hard and fast against her cheek, the aftermath leaving a numb, burning sensation. Within seconds Dave's face was swimming before her eyes.
"Don't you ever, ever do that again!" he said gruffly, poking a finger hard against her breast bone.
Without speaking another word to her he buried his face into her neck, his mouth leaving soft drunken kisses across her skin as he fumbled a moment with his belt and britches.
"Dave…" Ella breathed, hoping that she could get through the intoxicated barrier that had formed around him, "don't…"
He gave a small laugh as if her request were foolish, "Just be quiet."
Ella gave a small struggle against him but his hand curled around her throat pressing her head back against the wall.
"If you hadn't had your little outburst we could be at home in our own bed instead of out in the street" he hissed, meaning for it to sink in that this was her fault. "You're lucky it's late and everyone is asleep." His lips crashed against her own, hurting. She pushed against his shoulders trying to remove him from her, his grip tightened around her neck making her choke and gasp a little, she became still, deciding in that moment to just let him and get the whole thing over with.
He felt her resistance falter and gave a grin. Without another word being spoken between them he pulled her skirts around her thighs and maneuvered her body upwards to rest upon his hips, pushing his full weight against her so that the wall supported her back. With one quick, violent movement he entered her, Ella clutched at his shoulders as her body tried to tighten and reject what was happening, the result only making the experience painful. As he carelessly thrusted, her eyes watered, the tears caused not only by the discomfort but by the humiliation, by hatred for this life…
As his hips ruthlessly continued, his fingers digging into her flesh, sure to leave nasty bruises in their place, Ella glanced up her face twisted in a look of distressed disgust. She saw the outline of a figure upon a horse not too far away, the rider had stopped and the horse pawed the ground a little in impatience. Ella sniffed hard trying to focus upon the person and horse instead on what was happening to her body. The animal moved forward into the light of a nearby window and Ella could make out a man dressed in a large poncho, wide brimmed hat and he appeared to have long hair, although through the darkness she could see no more details but she became acutely aware that he was looking their way, watching them with great interest.
Ella wiped a hand across her eyes, ridding herself of the tears: if the perverted man was truly watching them, getting some strange thrill seeing a woman in distress at the hands of her husband, she would not give him the added satisfaction of seeing her cry. She set her jaw as her body moved in jerked movements against her own will as Dave continued, her eyes locking upon the stranger, her state becoming rigid as Dave let out a low grunt of a moan. After pressing his brow against her breast a moment to catch his breath he roughly pushed her from him, the process making her lose her footing and she ended up crumpled upon the ground as her body only just began to register the shock she felt, she found she was shaking.
Dave buttoned his britches and belt and glanced down at her. "Come back home when your mood is better, you give me a damn headache acting like some woman from the North." He kicked a small amount of dust in her direction and Ella flinched. "You better learn your place or I'll throw you out, ya hear, I don't have time for your shit Ella!"
Ella glanced up at Dave, taking her eyes from the stranger for a moment, knowing he was listening to their conversation.
"You stop drinkin' first!" she retorted, knowing that her words would only fuel his anger further.
"Ah goddamit," Dave said, "stay out here then, see if I mind." He gave her a mock bow. "Don't think I'm playin', you deny me again…" He moved closer, his hand finding a clump of her hair, "I'll get rid of you, ya hear." He roughly let go of her, pushing her backwards. "Tidy yourself up, I don't want Doc seeing you looking… like this." He curled his lip in distaste and then turned from her and began to make an uncertain-stepped journey back to their house.
Ella sniffed again, wiping her sleeve across her nose. After a moment she again turned her attention back to the stranger. He had moved, his horse had taken a few steps forward. She glanced up, suddenly feeling slightly uneasy of what this stranger might be thinking, if he came any closer she'd be certain to scream and bring everyone in the village running.
She struggled to her feet, brushing the dust from her skirts before straightening up with a wince. She again looked up, her eyes connecting with his. Now he was closer she could tell he was young and his eyes gave a glint as the light caught them but his features were still in shadow. For a few seconds they stared at each other before the man pulled casually on his horse's reins and went on his way through the village.
Ella watched after him for a moment before turning in the opposite direction and making her own way back home, at least for tonight she'd sleep at the table with Doc…
---
Ella stopped outside the front door to her home and hesitated, perhaps she'd do well to wait until both men had fallen asleep, if she still looked a mess Dave would surely be unhappy and Doc would fuss far too much. She stood a moment thinking over her predicament and then the destination she had been originally heading for came to her mind, having been forcefully pushed from her thoughts by Dave. She glanced up at the cloudy sky and gave a silent prayer that her friend would still be awake.
As she walked slowly through the deserted streets, she became aware of just how badly her body ached and protested against what had happened to her, Dave had been as rough as he could be, his drunken state not helping the situation but it was not a situation that was new to her by any means. She walked up the small slope that led to Maria's adobe house. She breathed a sigh of relief as she saw that candles were still lit within.
She mounted the steps that led to the door and paused as she heard a raised voice, it sounded like Maria, and by the tone she was angry. Ella wavered a moment, thinking that perhaps now was not the best time to be calling - after all it was a late hour, she shook herself inwardly knowing that Maria would scold her for thinking such a way, Ella knew that she was always welcome at the Garza's. She knocked softly and the voice came to an abrupt halt, then a flurry of hasty whispers and things moving met Ella's ears.
"Who is it?" Maria's voice asked near the door.
"Maria, it's me, Ella, I'm awful sorry to be callin' at such a late hour."
"Ella…" Maria sounded relieved and within a moment the door was opened and Maria's face appeared.
Maria was a Mexican woman in her forties, even after having three children she'd kept a good figure and a fair face but by far her best feature was her beautiful long black hair that she wore loose most of the time.
"If it's a bad time I can go" Ella said, feeling that it was indeed a bad time.
"No importa, come in child." Maria opened the door wide.
"Is everythin' alright Maria?" Ella asked, seeing the frown upon the older woman's face as she stepped into the warm inviting room.
"Si, everything is fine." She glanced towards the cloth that separated the living area from the sleeping area.
"The children asleep? Hope I didn't wake them" Ella asked, hoping to squeeze out of Maria what had gotten her so angry.
"Oh no they have been in bed for hours." She closed the door and followed Ella towards the fire. "My eldest is back in the village." Maria sat down in a chair facing the window and Ella took the one opposite, facing towards the back of the house.
"Oh, I see."
Maria sighed as she picked up a poker and probed at the fire, re-kindling it to a cozy, bright flame. "He is not liked here in the village; I just hope he stays out of trouble."
Ella nodded, not really knowing what to say, having no advice to give on the matter. Maria gave another deep sigh and then seemed to regain herself.
"Idios!" She gave a small grin. "I am forgetting you Ella, why are you here so late?"
"Oh, Dave's back home and well, you know how he gets, I needed some time away from him."
Ella felt Maria's eyes studying her intently in the dim glow of the fire. "You are welcome to stay here as always." She narrowed her eyes, something catching her attention. "What is that?" She reached out before Ella could register what she was referring to and touched the side of Ella's mouth.
Maria pulled her hand back and studied her fingers before again connecting her gaze with Ella's.
"You are bleeding!"
"I am?!" Ella's hand went to her lip and felt a warm liquid was indeed trickling from her bottom lip down her chin and dripping onto her blouse. "Ah dammit."
"I will get you a cloth" Maria said, getting up from her seat and setting about looking for what she sought. "I will get you a drink too, looks as though you need it."
"Thanks" Ella said, trying to wipe the blood from her chin. She stopped her hand still in mid air as she became sharply conscious that someone was watching her from behind the curtain at the back of the abode. She looked over and although he was mainly concealed by shadows, Ella could see the outline of a man peering out, watching everything that was going on. Ella narrowed her eyes trying to gain a better view knowing that this person must be Maria's infamous eldest.
"Here." Maria interrupted her thoughts with the offer of a drink which Ella gladly took. "Now, look up" Maria instructed as she set about the cut with a damp cloth. Ella gave a hiss of pain through her teeth as the alcohol soaked rag dabbed at the wound bringing with it an unpleasant stinging sensation. Maria glanced down at her, her look motherly and knowing.
"So, Dave is back, I gather he did this" she said matter-of-factly.
"Yeah, he was his normal charming self" Ella said in a deadpan voice. "What can I say, I married a prince."
Maria chuckled. "Well it is good to see he has not slapped the wit out of you." She gave Ella a comforting wink. "What did he think you did this time?"
Ella hesitated, her eyes flicking back to the curtain, fully aware that the man was still listening and he didn't seem bothered that she knew he was eavesdropping.
"Best not talked about" Ella said, lowering her eyes a little as Maria pressed hard against her lip, stopping the flow of blood.
Maria gave her a knowing look. "Ah… that man has to understand you cannot make children without being able to feed them." Maria tutted and Ella fought the small blush that rose within her cheeks; normally she felt so open around Maria but with a man sat practically in the room it felt wrong somehow to speak of such things so openly.
Maria removed the cloth and motioned for Ella to drink from her glass which Ella did, sipping carefully.
"You can stay here tonight… maybe you should leave him Ella… he is not good for you."
Ella gave a small smile and winced as the cut stung once more with the aftermath of being treated.
"It ain't so easy." Ella paused, "I got nowhere to go anyway." She glanced up, sensing what Maria was about to say. "Don't go tellin' me I can move here Maria, you have enough to worry about without me addin' to that burden."
"Idale!" Maria exclaimed. "Anyway it is late, let us sleep and think upon such things tomorrow, just get yourself a blanket."
"Thanks" Ella said, getting up from her seat and getting a large blanket down from a shelf before curling up upon a make shift bed on a nearby raised pallet and closing her eyes, suddenly feeling a great wave of tiredness wash over her.
"Night Maria."
Maria was already putting out the remaining candles. "Dulces sueños Ella."