Chapter Sixteen-We All Go South Now and Again

Hell Bent for Leather

By EmiliosLoofah

Author's Notes: This chapter is well…pretty heavy. Please read with caution!

Chapter Summary: Well…Jessica caught Billy cheating on her…and without thinking, she took off on Pal, without telling anyone she was leaving. Pal is shot, causing Jessica to fall from her horse, and she gets hit on the back of the head, causing her to lapse into unconscious. The story continues…

Extra Author Notes: Special thanks to Tom for extra help in this difficult chapter…and to my beta, Sue! You know…when she reads my story, she uses a red pen to correct me. I believe she was a frustrated teacher in a former life! Har!!

The town of Lincoln in New Mexico was/is sometimes called Lincoln Town. I wanted to state that, in cause you thought I went nuts! Also-this chapter is pretty L-O-N-G!!

The pounding in my head woke me from being out cold. Slowly opening my eyes…everything gradually came into focus. I tried to move my arms, but I found that my wrists were tied together over my head, attached to…oh, God! I gasped with fright, fully aware that I was lying on Pal, who was lying on his side, barely alive. The ties that bound my wrists together were tied to my saddle horn.

I looked down to see my gun belt was off, along with my chaps and all my knives. I gulped, wanting to panic, to scream…but I did neither. What good would it do? No one would hear me…I gathered that I was in the middle of nowhere. The sun beat down, and I gathered it was mid morning.

I closed my eyes again, remembering the very reason why I left Fort Sumner. Damn that bloody Billy. I hope I never have to lay eyes on that low down cheating snake again.

My mouth was dry and I desperately was in the need of water. Besides my head hurting, every muscle ached from sleeping in an awkward position. I softly groaned in discomfort, wondering where the bastard (or bastards) was that shot and killed Pal.

"Ah! You're awake, querida."

I gulped with fear as I looked in front of me. There stood Dirty Sanchez, dirty and smelly as ever, with a wide grin on his ugly face. His yellowed teeth held a cheroot, and with an evil grin he blew the smoke in my face. I didn't say anything…just stared him down as best as I could.

He squatted in front of me, roughly taking hold of my chin, forcing me to look up at him. "That's right, querida…I have you now. I'm bringing you in for the reward." Sanchez told me, his tequila-coated breath almost made me vomit. "Six hundred dollars…what do you say to that?" His cheroot dangled from his fleshy lips.

I didn't respond, as much as I would have liked to. I just stared at him.

"Puta!" He shouted, slapping me across the face with all his strength. I closed my eyes, but refused to cry out in pain. I felt some blood ooze from my mouth, as Sanchez knelt in front of me; pressing his body tightly against me. "Feel that, querida?" He laughed.

Without a doubt, I did feel his member against me. "Feel what? I hardly feel anything." I lied. I might as well give him a complex before he raped me...or even killed me.

Sanchez looked very irate indeed. "A bitch to the very end, no? Maybe I'll just kill you." He stated with a hiss, tossing his smoke to the ground, and pulling out a large knife. He held the tip to my throat. "The authorities state they want you dead or alive…which shall it be?" He pressed the knife deeper against the side of my throat and I could feel my own blood slide down my neck from the small cut he made.

I laughed right in his face, wondering if I was mad. I didn't even care if he killed me or if Sanchez collected his reward. I no longer cared about anything. Billy's dishonesty ruined me. "Do what you want…I don't care."

Sanchez looked puzzled for a moment. His face concentrated on my last statement, I could tell it bothered him. Sanchez was a man that took his women kicking and screaming. I hoped I would not do either, perhaps that would put him off. His moment of silence soon passed, as he snorted, playing with his knife, twirling it around his fingers, trying to scare me, I supposed.

All of a sudden, he grabbed the front of my shirt and sliced it open with his knife. My shirt fell apart in two pieces, exposing the white camisole I wore underneath-the only garment I wore under my shirt.

"You bloody bastard!" I yelled, kicking him in the shin. I grinned as I heard him howl in pain.

My grin was short lived, due to Sanchez grabbing my long, black hair. My head jerked back as I was forced to look in his eyes.

"You…fucking…puta. You'll pay for that." He shouted.

I kicked and bucked against him, but to no avail. My bonds were securely tied. I could hardly fight him in this position.

Sanchez laughed, as he threw his knife away, and then he reached out and ripped open my camisole with his hands. I screamed as loud as I could as his dirty hands roughly grabbed and squeezed my breasts.

Fear knotted my stomach as I spit in his face. "Don't touch me you asshole!" I yelled, trying to squirm away from his touch.

"Shut up!" Sanchez punched me in my lower jaw. I tasted blood as I blacked out for a moment; my vision blurred. Oh God…he's going to rape and kill me…

His stinking breath made me gag. In a few moments he had my boots and trousers off. I lay there, naked and defeated. There was nothing I could do…no one was going to save me…no one knew where I was. I could feel Pal's breathing slowing. He gave a soft whinny of pain, trying to move his head.

With a grunt, Sanchez stood up, and quickly dropped his gun belt, and threw aside his trousers. "No one can hear you," He told me, as if reading my thoughts. "No one is going to save you. Not even your dear Bilito." I closed my eyes, not wanting to see what was going to happen to me. Tears swelled in my eyes, but I refused to beg for mercy. As much as I hated Billy, I wish he was here.

I felt him kneel in front of me, and opened my eyes. "I've wanted you for a long time, querida…" He laughed loudly, his body hovering over me. "I want to make sure you are wet and ready for me." Sanchez said, lubricating two of his fingers with his tongue.

I yelled in fear, as he spread my legs, and kept them open with his knees. Oh, God!! My flesh crawled as he roughly stuck his fingers inside of me, making me scream, making me kick against him-anything to make him stop. I spit right in his face, which infuriated Sanchez, as he slapped me in the face with one hand…his other hand was busy with his fingers probing inside me. Sanchez's fingers slid in and out of me, as I struggled to break free. As I was being violated, I could feel the last few breaths of Pal…in a few seconds he was dead. I then knew, after Dirty Sanchez was done with me…he'd kill me as well.

Sanchez laughed; as if he knew Pal was gone along with my pride…he then suddenly bent down and bit my left nipple…hard. I shouted with pain, still struggling to free myself. His lips were suddenly on mine, his tongue trying to slide into my mouth. I opened my eyes, and looked at him with repulsion. He stopped what he was doing to give me an evil smile. Laughing, he squeezed my breasts hard enough to make my cry out in pain. The bastard was deliberately hurting me. "Damn you to bloody hell, Dirty Sanchez…I damn you to HELL!" I screamed.

Unexpectedly, he stopped. I looked at him, surprised to see blood trickling down from a bullet-shaped hole his forehead. Someone shot him… Sanchez gurgled for a moment, unable to speak, as smoke drifted slowly away from the hole in his head. He then fell over on his back, dead.

I opened my eyes, expecting to see Billy riding up to me. Squinting my eyes, I was surprised to see who was approaching. "G…Garrett?" I whispered in disbelief.

Garrett rode up, a worried look on his face. In his hand he held is Winchester .44 caliber rifle.

"Garrett." I whispered in relief, as he quickly dismounted and cut the rope away that was holding my arms above my head. "Garrett…" I looked up at him, rubbing my sore, bleeding wrists, my tears now falling down my face.

"I'm here, Tunstall…it's alright." He told me, sitting in front of me. "It's over."

I cried against his chest, as he gathered me into his lap. Garrett let me cry out my pain, my hurt, my anger and my relief.

After a long while, I was all cried out. "Thank you." I told him. "How…how did you find me?"

Garrett sighed, as if pondering my question. "I didn't leave Fort Sumner as quickly as you thought, Tunstall." He said, looking into me eyes. "I saw you ride out of there, hell bent for leather… I…followed you," He sighed. "But I lost sight of you for a bit. I heard a gunshot…it echoed, and I knew something bad had happened…I tracked you…heard you screams…and found you here. I'm sorry that I didn't find you sooner." He lowered his eyes. "I'm sorry I wasn't here sooner."

I could tell Garret felt really bad, but I was so relived he was there, so I reassured him. I was thankful that he arrived when he did to save me. I would always be grateful to Garrett. I didn't say anything, even though I wondered why he followed me. He apparently didn't know the reason why I left in the first place.

"Let's get some clothes on you." He told me, helping me stand up. Garrett walked over to his horse and started looking through his saddle bags. "I think I have an extra shirt in here somewhere."

I quickly located my trousers, and pulled them on. I then found my chaps, gun belt, knives and my hat, which had seen better days. I slowly dressed my lower half, telling myself never to go riding on my own…ever.

I tossed my now ruined chemise and shirt on the ground, and turned to see Garrett staring at me, a clean shirt in his hands. I supposed I looked a sight, completely dressed, minus a shirt, of all things.

"Thanks, Garrett." I told him, grabbing the shirt and putting it on. Of course, it was huge on me, so I tucked it in real good.

"I found your saddle bag." He stated, as he placed it on his ride. "Are you ready?"

"Wait…" I slowly walked over to Pal, and petted his neck. Pal was a good horse to me. I wanted to bury him, but there was no way we could have dug a hole deep enough, and Garrett didn't have a shovel on him.

We decided to burn Pal…it was the least I could do for him. I helped Garrett, gathering all the pieces of wood I could find in the area.

Garrett struck a match, and quickly set the fire. We were silent for a few minutes, watching the funeral pyre of Pal.

"Tunstall…I think we should bring Dirty Sanchez in to the local Sheriff. There is a 400 bounty on him. We could use the money."

"I concur, Garrett. That's fine with me."

Garrett tied Dirty Sanchez to his own horse. What a fitting ending to his miserable existence…to be led into the nearest town, so we could collect the reward money.

"We're about a thirty minutes away from Roswell." Garrett told me as he mounted his horse. He leaned down to offer me his hand. I took it, and he hoisted me in front of him.

"Let's get the hell out of here." Garrett said.

I nodded my agreement.

We rode west; the sun was getting ready to set. Even though Garrett gave me his extra canteen of water, I was still thirsty and in need of a long, hot bath. I wanted to scrub away the scent of Dirty Sanchez off of me.

I was silent most of the ride, concentrating on Garrett's strong arms that were around me, as he held firmly on the reins of his horse. I had the strangest feeling in my belly as I felt the pressure of his strong legs against mine as we rode. I felt at ease and protected in his arms. I sighed, leaning back against him.

I heard Garrett heave a sigh and mumble something under his breath as I leaned against him.

I wondered again what compelled Garrett to follow me in the first place.

"I figure you'd like to stop at a hotel and wash up." Garrett told me, his lips very close to my ear.

"Where are we going?"

"Lincoln Town."

"What?!" I turned my head, realizing I was only inches from his face. "Why in the bloody hell are we going there for?"

"I have been requested to attend an important meeting. I'd like for you to come."

"A meeting…with whom I may ask?"

"Governor Lew Wallace, John Chisum, District Attorn-"

"WHAT?!" I interrupted loudly.

"You heard me." He chuckled with amusement at my reaction.

"But why would they ask you for a meeting?"

"I have no idea-but I'm going to find out." He smiled. "And you're coming with me as well."

"You are mad, Garrett. I'm a wanted person. As soon as they see me…" I laughed loudly, thinking Garrett was mad.

"They won't do anything, Tunstall."

"I guess I'll have to trust you?"

"Damn straight." He said with all seriousness. "Don't worry…we have a few days to relax before the meeting."

Outside Roswell, Garrett stopped at the local jail, and handed them over the dead body of Dirty Sanchez. As I waited outside, they paid Garrett, and we were off again, and found a decent hotel. Again I waited with his horse as he went inside. "They only had one room left." He told me, taking the saddle bags off his horse.

"That's okay." I told him, following him inside the hotel. I didn't care if we had to share the same bed. Hell, I didn't want to be alone tonight.

We entered a small room, and Garrett tossed the saddle bags to the floor. "I ordered you a bath. It should be up here soon."

"Thanks, Garrett." I grinned up at him.

"I'll be back soon." He told me, softly touching my face. "You going to be alright?" His brown eyes were full of anxiety.

"Yes." I smiled at my savior. "I will be fine."

He accepted that and with a grin, he left the room.

Looking in my saddle bag, I found my medical supplies. Sitting at the only table in the room, I looked into the mirror. My face was a mess. I had cuts, bruises and blood on my face and neck. My wrists and hands were bloody and raw and they hurt the most. Glad to see a bar of soap and fresh water in the basin, I carefully cleaned my hands and wrists and after they were clean I also cleaned my face and neck. I used some witch hazel after my face was clean, hoping to get the swelling in my face down. The slightest pat on my face made me wince in pain, but I know in the long run, it will work wonders.

I walked back over to the bed and rustling further in my saddle bag, I found my diary-one of the many I had since 1878. I sighed, and waiting for the bath to arrive, wrote an entry for today, pouring out my emotions, fears, and hope for the future.

What future did I even have? I wondered after I was done writing. I was wanted by the law and away from the Regulators for the first time since I could remember.

A slight knock on the door signaled the arrival of the bath.

I sighed with content as I sat in the hot tub, washing myself with the lavender soap the maid provided. The nasty scent of Dirty Sanchez was no longer lingering. I immediately relaxed, and felt a whole lot better.

I sat in the tub full of hot water with plenty of bubbles, pondering what the Regulators were thinking about me leaving abruptly. Chavez and Doc will be worried, no doubt. Charlie would also be worried, but I believe he missed Manuela too much to be concerned about me. Dave wouldn't care-I was sure of that, which made me giggle. And Billy…God, I wonder what he's thinking right now. I hope he feels awful about what he did. I hope never to see him again, that bloody cheating bastard!

I had to force myself to stop thinking about Billy-the mere thought of what he did to me made me all upset again. I sighed, and lowered my head into the fragrant bubbly soapy water, switching my thoughts towards Garrett. I know he's fancied me for some time, which is flattering to say the least. I've always had feelings for Garrett, but after today, after he saved my life…something changed. I could feel it…and my guess was he felt the same way.

I came up for air, my long black hair clean and smelling like lavender. I loud rap on the door indicated Garrett was back. I shouted that he could come in, as I started to wring out the excess water from my hair.

He came in with a smile on his face, his arms full of packages, and then he stopped dead in his tracks, seeing me in the middle of the room, still in the tub. Dropping some of the brown wrapped items he purchased, Garrett started to stutter. "I…I thought you would be finished by now." He said, his face turning red. "I apologize. I will leave." He turned to go.

"No…you're okay, Garrett. Stay…please. I don't want to be alone." This was true.

His brown eyes were fixed on me in the tub. I was now laying back, my head propped up on a small folded towel. My body was hidden by millions of bubbles.

That long, lingering look he gave me with his brown eyes made my heart beat faster…I know he wants me. I could feel it down to my bones. And the truth was…I wanted him that much as well. What would he do?

I watched as Garrett picked up the packages he dropped and put them all on the bed. He sat at the edge of the bed, and picked up one of my diaries. "What's this?" He asked. "You keep a journal?"

The moment had passed. Garrett was a true gentleman. "Yes, since 1878."

"That's a long time, Tunstall." He said, taking his hat off and flipping my diary open.

"Hey!" I protested. "That's private!"

"Oh, sorry," He chuckled, tossing the book back into my saddle bag. His eyes were once again on me. "You face looks better." He said in surprise.

"Thanks." I said, touching the side of my jaw where Dirty Sanchez punched me. It still stung a tiny bit. "Witch hazel really helps."

"Tunstall…I need to know. What happened back in Fort Sumner?" Garrett asked, walking over to the tub, and kneeled beside me. "What made you leave in such a hurry?"

I sighed. "It was Billy. I…I caught him with Paulita." I looked away…ashamed at what I was saying.

Garrett didn't reply. I glanced over at him to see his eyes stare at my neck. "Your necklace is gone. The one he gave you."

"I threw it in his face, after I caught them," I explained. "I had my scatter ready, but I couldn't kill them."

Garrett's eyes widened with shock. "You burst in, while they were…together?"

"That is correct. Doc was right about Billy's…infidelities," I sighed. Damn Doc for always being accurate. "I had enough of Billy, Garrett. It's time for me to move on." I told him that, my voice soft…I could feel the tears swell up in my eyes. What was going to happen to me?

Garrett was silent for a moment. "What will you do now?"

"I don't know." I looked down at the soapy water. "I can't go home…"

"I can take care of you, Tunstall…you know that."

"I do, yes," I said, sighing. That is what Billy told me, and look where I was now. "I…I…" I began to cry again, my soapy hands covering my face. "WhatamIgoingtodo?" I sobbed, blurting out my sentence in one word.

"Shhhh…Tunstall…" Garrett consoled me, soothing my hair back.

After crying for a few minutes, I was done. "I'm sorry, Garrett…" I told him. "It's just that…Billy promised me that he would take care of me…and look what happened. Things couldn't have been worse, no?"

Garrett was silent, letting me talk.

"I have nowhere to go…Doc has Yen…Charlie has Manuela…Chavez…" I smiled thinking of Chavez, one of my oldest friends. "Chavez has a wandering soul. But I have decided what I want. I want to remain in New Mexico, Garrett. I'm tired of running. I'm tired of being an outlaw. I never wanted to be one in the first place."

"I know that." He responded with a small smile.

"All I want is to get my Father's land back-his store…I was supposed to take that over, did you know that?" I didn't wait for his answer. "Father was pleased that I wanted to run his business."

"You have a mind for business, I have to agree. Not many women would want that responsibility."

"Yes. It seems I am not the norm. They all want to get married and have kids."

"What's wrong with that?" Garrett asked surprised.

I smirked. "I do not want to get married. There is so much I want to do. Well, if I wasn't a wanted outlaw, that is."

Garrett stared into my eyes. "What if you haven't met the right man…until now?"

My breath was caught in my throat. What was he trying to say? I looked directly into his brown eyes…noticed he had a big grin on his face. "Garrett…" I said slowly. "Who would want…me? I'm…I'm not a virgin…" I stuttered.

"So? Neither am I." He chuckled.

I smiled back at his joke. "Garrett…you know as well as I…it's different for men, than women…and I wonder why that is. These damn men, making all the rules…if a man is not a virgin before he's married-he's considered 'sowing his wild oats'…and woman on the other hand…is labeled a soiled dove…a slut." I lowered my eyes, slightly embarrassed. I was tired of thinking.

"Tunstall…I would never consider you a soiled dove…" Garrett told me, cupping my face with his hands. I gasped with surprise. "You're a damn strong woman, you know that? You're intellectual…beautiful…compassionate…don't ever forget that, you hear me?"

"Yes." I whispered as his lips met mine. Garrett's mouth was warm and demanding. I responded by pressing my lips seductively against his…his intense kiss touching my very soul. Garrett deepened the kiss, making me moan in pleasure. His beard and mustache tickled me…but in a very good way.

Garrett broke off this kiss after a few minutes. "Get out of that tub, and get dressed. I want to take you to supper." He said with a strangled whisper.

I nodded my reply-I couldn't even speak after his passionate kiss!

Garrett stood up and grabbed his hat. "I bought us some new clothes for the trip to Lincoln Town. There's a dress in there as well…wear that tonight."

"Okay." I said, as he winked and left.

I got out of the tub, and dried off as quickly as I could. I brushed my hair with a brush I found in my saddle bag, and braided my hair down my back with some ribbon I also had found.

Going through the packages, I was pleased to see Garrett purchased me appropriate riding clothes. The dress he bought me is nice-a simple plaid dress with long sleeves. I was glad the sleeves were long, because I was planning to put medicine on my wrists, and wrap gauze around the wounds.

Garrett had also purchased me a new camisole and petticoat for the dress. I put them on first, and sat down in front of the mirror again, to tend to my wrist wounds.

Garrett knocked on the door probably thinking I was ready. I told him to come in.

"Damn it, Tunstall!" He said, walking up to me. "I thought you were decent."

I almost wanted to laugh at his red face. "Not too long ago you were kissing me, while I was in the tub. And now you're embarrassed to see me like this?" I teased.

Garrett chuckled. "I suppose you're right…"

"I need your help."

"With the dress? Do you like it?"

"I do, thank you…I need you to wrap my wrists with the gauze here," I explained, pointing at the white material. "I already have the medicine on. I can't do it myself."

He smiled, and kneeling in front of me, with the gentlest touch, he wrapped my wrists as I requested.

"Thank you."

"Now-get dressed! I'm hungry!"

I laughed, noticing through the window, the sun setting. "Just wait a bloody moment...I'm almost done."

Garrett waited by the door, his back to me. I smiled as I slipped the dress on; amazed that it fit me so well. I buttoned the front, found my old boots, slid them on and was ready to go.

"I'm ready, Garrett."

He turned, and gasped with surprise. "You are so beautiful, Tunstall." He told me, smiling as I walked up to him. "May I?" He held out his arm.

"Certainly." I replied, holding onto his arm, as we left the hotel room.

Okay…I know that was a really, long chapter! I hope you loved it! Please review-thanks!