Chapter 5

"I wanna call him out."

"No Jimmy! He ain't worth it."

"He deserves it."

"Then I should be the one to do it. I won't have you killing a man on my conscience." She looked at him, challenging him to tell her why he could risk his life for her but she couldn't risk her own.

"Alright," he gave in. "I won't do it."

"You promise?"

"You have my word." But if he threatens you, all bets are off.

Wicks took the old man's offer. Most of his money was returned. And Charlotte, well after that fall she was worth even less to him. He had no need for a washed up old whore when he had found that fresh young thing that got away. He had a feeling that if he stripped off her manly clothing and washed the trail filth off her, she'd be some valuable merchandise.

He just needed to bide a little time, gather some of his men, and grab her. After he'd secured his money in his saddle bag, he rode out of Rock Creek, knowing he'd be back soon.

Inside the barn, Jimmy sat on a bundle of hay watching Lou pace. He brought her here rather than the bunkhouse so they could talk privately, but she hadn't said a word. Hadn't even really looked at him. He'd never felt so helpless. She was obviously hurting, and he didn't know what he was supposed to do. He wanted to tell her that everything would be fine, but he didn't know if that was true. Charlotte might be alright, but he wasn't sure. Either way it seemed like that man Wicks was gonna get away scot-free. That made him think violent thoughts.

Unable to stand this feeling of uselessness any longer, he slipped off the hay bale and went to her, thinking he could at least console her with a hug. He put a hand on her arm but she pulled away forcefully and gave him an uncomfortable look. "I'm sorry, Lou. I was just -"

"Forget it." She turned away and resumed her pacing. It was making her sweat. This heat. The stuffiness of the barn. She was starting to feel sick.

Then they heard a commotion outside. Her first thought was that he had come for her. Jimmy gave her a curious look before going to see what the ruckus was. He swung the barn door open and found Kid leading a batch of new horses into the corral. "Kid's back," he said over his shoulder. "Bringing in some new horses is all."

She released a shaky breath and took a seat against the hay bale, knees pulled up to her chest. Jimmy leaned back on the door jamb, keeping one eye trained on Lou. He realized she hadn't let him touch her since that woman came to town.

Charlotte did not wake up that night and by the morning she had passed. Louise took it hard. She kept to herself, quietly moping around the station. The walls she had thrown up when the other woman first came to town only grew thicker and more solid. Jimmy was at a loss. Not knowing what to do, he respected her boundaries and kept an ever watchful distance.

The others filled Kid in on what little they knew. He hated seeing her in pain and shut off from everyone. Still, a little bit of hope blossomed in his chest when he saw she wasn't letting Jimmy close either. Maybe he did still have a chance. And that's exactly what he saw when, a couple days after Charlotte died, he entered the bunkhouse to find Lou alone, quietly crying at the table. If he could comfort her when the others couldn't, maybe she'd see that he was the one she belonged with, not Jimmy or any other man.

"Lou?' he questioned carefully. She hid her face, embarrassed at being found crying. "I'm sorry, Lou." He took a seat beside her and put a hand on her arm. After everything that had happened, the touch was welcome. She hadn't realized how much she had needed someone these past few days. She'd been too busy pushing everyone away to let herself lean on anyone, to let anyone share her pain. Now, she sunk into his warmth and familiar smell. He gave her a shoulder to cry on and she accepted, unable to keep it to herself any longer.

When she became silent and still, he put a finger under her chin and brought her face up to look at him. Her cheeks were tear-stained but dry. His gaze fell to her lips and he started to lean in. "Kid, what are you doing?"

"Yeah, Kid," Jimmy's voice startled both of them and Lou inched back on the bench, putting some space between her and Kid. "What are you doing?" Jimmy stood in the doorway to the bunkhouse. He'd just returned from a ride and no doubt had immediately gone in search of Lou to check on her.

"Kid came in and found me crying. He was just trying to be a friend, Jimmy. Nothing happened." Her eyes met his briefly before she looked away.

Several snide comments sat on his tongue but he swallowed them all. He knew getting angry would only hurt her. And he saw her pull away from Kid when he went in for a kiss; that was something at least. He just nodded and began putting his things away, hoping Kid would take a hint and leave. It was Lou that left, thinking her one moment of weakness had now cost her relationships with both Kid and Jimmy.

Wicks and his men had been circling the station all morning, waiting for an opportunity. This was it. The area was deserted except for Louise and the two other riders. She came out of the bunkhouse alone and walked around the side of the building. He sent the four men in to subdue her friends. He could take her on his own. He'd been looking forward to this ever since he'd pieced it together. Charlotte had his money and could have kept running. But, being a stupid sentimental woman, had stopped in Rock Creek of all places. There was only one reason she would do something like that.

Louise rubbed at her eyes and tried to pull herself together. She couldn't go on like this. Maybe she should talk to Rachel or take a few days off and get away. She grew annoyed thinking about how Kid tried to kiss her just now and how Jimmy walked on eggshells around her. She didn't notice Wicks till he was practically on top of her. He reached for her but she ducked away from him and ran. He just smiled, knowing she'd effectively cage herself when she went running towards her friends.

"Jimmy!" she cried, turning the corner. She heard a gunshot and stopped in her tracks. She reached for her gun and then cursed herself when she remembered it was hanging from her bunk. "No!" she yelled when Wicks grabbed her from behind, easily lifting her off the ground. She thrashed in his arms but he had always been bigger and stronger than she was.

"Let's go see what's causing the commotion, shall we?" He whispered close to her ear and she felt bile rising up in the back of her throat.

Two men had Jimmy subdued while a third was beating on him. Kid was unconscious, shot, it looked like. But that didn't stop the other man from hog tying him, even as he bled from his side. He had a nasty cut above his right eye as well.

Jimmy looked up between punches and saw Wicks holding Lou as she struggled. "No," he gurgled, blood spilling out of his mouth. He strained against the two men holding him down but the one beating on him just shoved him back.

Wicks pulled Lou by the hair, bringing her ear right next to his mouth. He licked her neck before whispering something as they both stared right at Jimmy. He knew Wicks had made some threat against him when she stopped her fighting and looked away. "No, Lou!" His outburst was met with another hard thwack across his skull. Everything went black.

Wicks directed Lou out of the house and told her to climb up on his horse, a colossal black mustang. He swung on behind and as his arms came around her she closed her eyes to the nausea and fear that reared up in her guts. He promised he would leave her friends alive, if she came without a fight. They would come after her. She prayed they found her while there was still something left to save.

Even though she had not fought, he bound her wrists before her anyway. One of his gloved hands captured her right breast and squeezed it painfully. They rode south and she silently bore his aggressive fondling and the sick things he murmured to her the whole way. After hours of riding they reached a house. It was the middle of the night and in the middle of nowhere.

"Didn't Charlotte tell you? I gave up the parlor house. This has proved more profitable."

Once inside, she saw what it was. A boarding house for his men and whores, a stockpile of guns and ammunition and booze. He fisted his hand in her short hair and forced her to walk in front of him. The men and women watched them walk by and joked that the boss was gonna have some fun tonight.

"Get on your knees," he commanded before the bedroom door slammed shut behind him. When she hesitated, he reminded her, "I can still send men to finish your friends. We have a deal Louise."

She got down on her knees, her hands still bound in front of her. At least she still had her clothes on. She flinched when his hands went to his belt and she heard the clink of his buckle.

"I assume your time with those cowboys has learnt you a thing or two."

He was already semi-hard and he stroked himself while he leered down at her. Lou kept her eyes on the floor, she studied the lines of the wood, trying to steel herself for what she must do. She wanted to cry but she would not do it in front of him. It would only add to his pleasure. He grabbed her chin roughly. He smelled like sweat and horse. It was a smell she was used to.

"You're much more composed than you were the last time, Louise." He sneered. "You won't be, after it's all said and done." He pressed painfully on her chin, trying to get her to open her mouth for him.

A heavy knock at the door interrupted his plans, Indian trouble demanded his attention. She felt relief wash over her. He saw it and let her know this was only a small delay, backhanding her and sending her sprawling across the floor before he shoved himself back into his pants and left. Maybe the boys would find her before he could do what he wanted. She prayed to be rescued but at the same time she hoped the boys would never find this place. His men would slaughter them.

Perhaps she would get her chance. To kill Wicks. And then maybe escape. She pushed herself off of the floor and slowly searched the room for anything she could use. Something with a sharp edge would be best.

She woke up when she heard people in the room. Some men had brought in a tub full of steaming, sudsy water and there was a woman there with food and drink. She hadn't expected anything like this from Wicks, maybe some bread and water, but this?

Once the men had left, the woman placed the tray of food next to Lou on the bed. "Eat now while the water cools," she told her, taking out a knife and cutting the ropes that bound her hands together. Chafed skin and blood braceleted each wrist.

Lou drank the coffee and ate the bread and eggs provided for her. The woman watched her impassively and Lou took this time to appraise her. She was older than Lou, older than Rachel. She didn't look like a madam so she must be the housekeeper. Her black and gray hair was pulled into a tight bun and she wore a conservative dark blue dress. She just needed an apron and feather duster for the image to be complete.

With breakfast out of the way, Louise was helped into the tub. The hot water stung her wrists and scalded her skin. This is nothing, she told herself. The worst is yet to come. After her bath, she was left alone, locked in the room until he came to have his fun.

She shivered. Because of fear or the chill, she didn't know. All she had was the threadbare slip she'd been given and the sheets on the bed. Maybe that was one of his mind games. Give her breakfast and a hot bath but no blankets, certainly not a fire. She pulled a sheet over her shoulders and waited.

Lou had nothing but time to contemplate her situation. All the dressers in the room were empty. Save using the actual drawer itself to bash Wicks over the head, she had no weapon. She'd checked under the bed, the mattress, the couch, everywhere. She wasn't strong enough to strangle him with a bed sheet. She'd hoped to find a way out of what was coming but even the windows were nailed shut. And she'd tried to pry the nails out, just one sharp nail would do, but it was no use.

The afternoon brought a heavy rain, dark skies, thunder, lightning, and wind that shook the walls. Through the grubby window, she watched the storm rage and listened to the howling. He still hadn't come for her. Eventually, with nothing else to do, she slept.

The click of the lock woke her. It was him. Here to collect. She was still groggy and unprepared for the way he grabbed her and shoved her into the wall. One large rough hand held her by the neck, the other pushed her slip up over one hip. She tried to push him off and was reminded of her promise. "Would you rather I paid a visit to that attractive blonde? A bit busty for my taste but still…." He ordered her to put her hands over her head. His fingers pushed inside her. instinctively, her hand flew across his face, hard. His head snapped to the side. The same hand flew to her mouth.

He hit her and her cheek smacked the wall behind her. Twisting her arms painfully he pulled her from the wall and against his body. His expression told her that she was about to pay for that. But then, a miracle, shots and yelling could be heard outside. The call, Indian attack. Louise smiled and was rewarded with another hard smack across the face. Wicks moved quickly, pushing her back into the wall. Never breaking eye contact with her, he gripped the knife in his belt and before she knew what was happening he stabbed it through her hand and into the wall. She screamed in pain.

"You won't be going anywhere." Without another thought he turned to leave.

Lou grabbed her wrist with her good hand. Then thought better, grabbed the handle of the knife. Finally, he had given her a weapon. Summoning all her strength, she pulled with one hand and pushed with the other. She screamed as the blade came free, causing Wicks to turn back around. She leapt on him and stabbed, once in the neck, pulling it through his flesh. It was sloppy and blood gushed from his neck as they tumbled to the floor together.

From the crest of a small, brush covered hill, Teaspoon and the boys could look down into the valley and see the compound where they'd managed to track Lou. Jimmy held onto his left side and squinted. He was getting flashbacks of going after Boggs, only here there were a lot more men, and women.

"How's your ribs?" Cody asked, seeing the way he clutched his ribcage and the sweat beading across his hairline. Jimmy ignored the question and glanced over at Buck conferring with the Pawnee. White men had been crawling through the Pawnee lands like snakes, snatching up women when they were unguarded - washing in the streams together or foraging for food. Members of the tribe had wanted to raid the property for weeks but lacked the guns and ammunition. The riders had the weapons, but lacked the numbers. It was an natural alliance.

Men moved in and out of the valley, transporting guns and women to nearby communities. He knew Lou would still be here. The way Wicks had looked at her, taunted her, this was personal for him. Since they'd been attacked at the station, he had little to do but play the scene over and over in his mind, putting it together with the little he'd observed of Lou over the past few days. One thing he felt sure of, the man had done more to Lou than she confided to Teaspoon and him. There was a reason Charlotte put her on edge and his touch was suddenly unwelcome. He was fairly certain he knew what she was hiding and the idea made him downright homicidal.

Despite arguments from Teaspoon, Rachel, and the boys, he refused to be left behind. Sipping water from the canteen, he tried to ignore the pounding of his head, his aching ribcage and swollen eye. Still, he fared better than Kid. The other rider would live, but he couldn't ride with a fresh bullet wound. The doc had to keep him drugged so he wouldn't run off after them. Jimmy doubted he would have made it all the way here without falling off his horse anyway. Once they'd known Kid was going to be alright, his anger had returned. They would have to deal with that at some point.

If he hadn't been so damn angry and distracted, if he hadn't tossed his guns aside the moment he got back from his ride. He never thought someone would be able to come into their home and snatch her right out from under both him and Kid.

"It's time," Buck told them. The Pawnee, with their numbers, would ride in from the front and draw the men out while the riders slipped in the back and got the women, all the women, out and safe. Jimmy watched as the Pawnee men came out from the shadows where they'd been hiding to form a half circle around the head of the valley. There must have been 30 of them. They let rip a loud, thunderous cry of war, shot their guns into the air, and charged into the dale.

Teaspoon and the boys watched as men ran from the big house and the makeshift shelters catered around the yard, guns in hand, to defend their operation from the Pawnee. Jimmy strained to make out their faces. He didn't see Wicks. They rode for the backside of the main house and descended into the valley. It seemed as though their plan had worked. They found little resistance on this side of the house and easily made their way inside.

From the back door, they entered into a long hall flanked by several large, open rooms. In the center was a staircase leading up. The rooms held boxes of army issued guns and women, mostly Indian. Only a couple men had been left behind to watch the women. Teaspoon and the boys not only outnumbered them, they had the element of surprise, the majority of their focus being on what was happening in front of the house. They crept in slowly and quietly. Cody fired the first shot, taking one of the men down. With six guns pointed at him, the other quickly surrendered.

Buck led the women out of the house while Ike and Noah covered them. As they climbed the hill out of the valley, they could see that the Pawnee had been successful in their part of the plan. There were only a handful of white men left standing, some tried to run and were shot in the back.

Lou heard the commotion in the yard and down below. Indians were attacking. She didn't know why, but she did know this was her chance to escape. She looked down at her shaking hands that still held the bloody knife. There was blood on her hands and on the front of her shift. The Indians had done her a great favor, but she wasn't sure what else they would do if they found her here.

She stood up and realized her legs were shaky too. She looked at Wick's body to see if he wore a gun, avoiding his face. She had watched the light leave his eyes with both horror and satisfaction. The crimson gash across his neck stood out in sharp contrast to his pale, bloodless skin. His six shooter was still in its holster and she grabbed it, cocked it and held it in front of her, facing the door, her other hand still tightly gripping the knife. Inside her chest her heart beat violently. Whatever happened, she would die before she let them take her alive.