Forbidden love for a Barkley
Part Nine:
"The late Nick Barkley, part 2"
After Tom Barkley's birthday/life celebration ended and he parted ways with Stefania, Nick shot the breeze with Jarrod for a moment, discussing loads of things before he retired to bed. Upon retiring to bed, Nick drifted off into a slumber and had a dream that started off as nice only for it to take an unexpected turn. Then if that wasn't completely off, despite his promise to be at Stefania's house the moment the sun rose, Nick overslept, only to wake up and be in such a hurry that he rushed off to her house without eating breakfast. Meanwhile, upon waiting for a little bit, Stefania, who apparently had, had a nightmare regarding Nick's safety, became so consumed by her worry for Nick that she decided to go off and find him herself. Even before that, while Nick brushed off Jarrod's questions and concerns, he and his brother saw what appeared to be a huge black cloud in the sky. Stefania, her mother, and eventually, the rest of her family all saw the black cloud, too and believing it to be a storm, her mother tried to talk her into postponing her plans to spend the day with Nick, but Stefania insisted she was going to find Nick and spend the day with him. The black cloud would prove to be a bad omen of sorts, because while Stefania was making her way to find Nick, she was dragged into an alley where horrible men surrounded and started assaulting her. While she was being assaulted and trying to fight the men off every way she could, Nick went to her house to get her only to be confronted by her angry father who lunged at him with a pitchfork only for her mother and another brother of hers to step in and tell him where Stefania went. He would meet up with Heath and Jarrod a few moments after, tell them what was going on, and go off to find Stefania, telling Jarrod and Heath to stay back. Of course, knowing that Nick never listened to them or anybody else for that matter, they didn't listen to him and instead, decided to join him in searching for Stefania. Little did they know what she was going through at this very moment! The questions that remain are: Will Stefania endure the absolute worst? Were Seth and his gang truly sent by Leonard to assault and scare her away? Will Nick and/or his brothers get to her in time? What's going to happen? Oh, Nick, Jarrod, and Heath, where are you? Stay tuned and find out!
Author's Note: I do NOT own The Big Valley or its characters. I ONLY own this fic and the characters of: Stefania Mangano, Leonard Barkley, Seth & his gang, and the Mangano family. This is the second to however many parts as this is a multi parter, so to speak. As I previously stated, this was originally part of Chapter 7, but seeing as it would overcrowd Chapter 7, I divided it up to many sections/parts. How many? Well, you'll find out :D
WARNING/TRIGGER WARNING: There's going to be some graphic & violent moments in this chapter plus offensive terms and possible s***al assault. If you can't bring yourself to read/stomach it for obvious reasons, I understand and urge you to go back now! I do NOT condone such offensive terms to be used or such ungodly actions like...well, you know. Don't say I did not warn you. Rated 'T' for a reason.
(Flashback to part 8)
Stefania had been walking all over town looking for Nick. Her dream from last night was still fresh in her mind and clearly haunting her, because every second she hadn't been able to find Nick made her anxiety levels skyrocket. As she kept on searching around, unbeknownst to her, there were men peeking out from corners of buildings. It appeared as though these men were watching her. After she was a good distance ahead, the men started to follow her.
At first, it didn't seem to phase her until she started hearing footsteps behind her.
"Huh?" Stefania stopped in her tracks, lifted her foot, looked at her shoe, shook her head, and kept going.
The footsteps got closer and closer and pretty soon, before the blink of an eye, a hand came over her mouth. The person whose hand was over her mouth started trying to pull her into the alley, but she put up a fight almost immediately.
"Oh, come on now, honey. Me and my friends just want to show you a good time!" the man tried to gain the upper hand, but to no avail.
Stefania yelled in Italian and kept on fighting with fiber of her being ranging from squirming to scratching to hitting all at the same time.
"Hey now, you best cut that out!" the man said in a threatening tone, "Or I may call my friends!"
Stefania ignored him and continued the fight like there was no tomorrow. She scratched the man again, drawing blood and leaving semi-deep scratch marks.
"I said cut that out! You hear?!" the man was getting angry.
Stefania scratched him again and bit down very hard on his hand, breaking the skin.
"That tears it!" the man threw her to the ground, pounced on top of her, held her down with one hand, and started beating her about the face with the other.
"Feccia! (Scum!)" Stefania spat at the guy.
"We speak English here!" the man slapped her for the umpteenth time.
"Wait until Nick Barkley hears of this! He will have your head!" Stefania reverted back to English.
"So, it's true?! Nick old boy is seeing one of your kind...a swarthy hot blooded olive picker! Leonard was right!" the man cackled, before yelling over his shoulder, "Oh boys! Looks like I got the right dame! We don't have to go to Leonard after all in order to get the description."
Four other men came running into the alley and formed a circle around Stefania and the obvious ringleader of the bunch.
"Man, ain't she pretty!" the first of the four men wolf whistled.
The second of the four men didn't say anything and just nodded, before grinning like a Shark.
"We're going to have ourselves some fun with you, baby!" the third of the four men took a puff on his cigar, leaned down where he was practically nose-to-nose with her, and blew the smoke right into her face.
Stefania closed her eyes tightly and started coughing which resulted in the man repeating his actions three more times.
"Okay, Orville. I think she's had enough smoke. Wouldn't to get her sick now, would you?" the leader snickered, as he got up from the ground and joined Orville and the others in the circle they formed around Stefania.
"No, that wouldn't be a gentleman thing to do to such a pretty girl. Besides, if she gets sick, why it would spoil the fun." Orville threw his cigar onto the ground and stomped it out.
"Oh, honey. You know somethin'? You're prettier up close." the fourth man spoke up after getting close to Stefania and sitting next to her.
Stefania didn't say anything and tried to scoot away from him.
"Oh no, you don't! You don't do that now!" the fourth man scooted close enough to grab her and forcefully kiss her.
Stefania fought against the forced kiss as much as she could, but the man quickly overpowered her.
Orville and the other men watched as the forced one-sided make-out session ensued, laughing like a group of Hyenas.
"Help me! Help me, please!" Stefania broke away from the kiss and tried to crawl away.
"Oh no, you don't!" the second man dragged her back into the center of the circle he and the others formed around her.
"Now, that was very rude, missy! You don't leave without saying: 'Goodbye'. Plus, we ain't ready to say 'goodbye' as of yet!" the third man pulled her by her hair before tossing her back to the ground.
"What shall we do, Seth? You're the one leading this party." Orville turned to the leader.
"Well, Zeb got to kiss her first, so the next one to kiss her will be Jeff then Dodie then you then me. After we get through with the kiss, well...naturally, we all take turns having our way with her, if you catch my drift." Seth grinned and winked at Orville, before turning back to Stefania and sinisterly rubbing his hands together, "Honey, you'll be thanking us for showing you such a wonderful time."
"Siete tutti un mucchio di luridi ratti! Ratti sporchi e disgustosi! (You're all a bunch of filthy rats! Filthy nasty rats!)" Stefania said in Italian, before spitting at them.
"We speak English, you filthy Italian trollop!" Dodie kicked her in the stomach, before turning to the other guys, "You fellas know that the girls of her persuasion tend to be trollops. It's all of that mighty hot blood they have! Same with the male counterparts of her persuasion."
"Owwww!" Stefania grunted, as she grabbed her stomach and become doubled over in agony.
Dodie proceeded to kick her about six more times, resulting in her screaming in pain each time.
*Meanwhile, with Nick*
Nick had been riding around looking everywhere for Stefania, but saw no trace of her whatsoever. Unbeknownst to him, she was being assaulted at this very moment. Oh Nick, if only you were in the same area where Stefania was!
"Stefania! Stefania! Stefania, where are you?" Nick yelled out, before riding off into a different direction.
Just as he started riding into said direction, hoof beats were heard. Nick turned around and there came Jarrod and Heath on their horses.
"Nick, where are you headed?" Jarrod rode up to Nick, followed by Heath.
"To find Stefania." Nick sighed.
"To find Stefania? Nick, weren't you supposed to pick her up from her house?" Heath asked.
"I went to her house. One of her brothers told me that she went off to search for me for some reason I have yet to find out. Her father lunged at me with a pitchfork while that brother of hers told me, but luckily, her mother stopped the old man just in time. However, that is besides the point. My point is that I've been searching for Stefania and I can't find her anywhere!" Nick had worry in his voice, despite trying his hardest not to indicate any inkling that he was worried.
"Maybe you're just not looking in the right places, Nick. Now, she couldn't have gone that far." Heath told him.
"Would you feel better if we went along with you and helped?" Jarrod asked.
"No. I'd rather do this alone." Nick shook his head, before riding off.
"Should we listen to him?" Heath turned to Jarrod after Nick disappeared in the distance.
"Does he ever listen to us?" Jarrod smirked.
Heath chuckled and shook his head.
"Let's go." Jarrod told him before riding off in another direction.
"Hyah. Let's go." Heath said to his horse, before riding off in a direction opposite of both Jarrod and Nick's.
*Back in the Alley*
Seth and his men went from taking turns forcefully kissing Stefania to knocking her around, despite her efforts to fight each of them off. Poor girl was trying to prove she had that Mangano toughness in her, but these awful men were overpowering her. In fact, they were overpowering, bullying, and assaulting her and worse, they may have been sent by one Leonard Barkley to do this.
"Hey, baby!" Zeb grabbed a hold of Stefania and ripped the left sleeve of her dress completely off, partially exposing her white cotton camisole.
Stefania slapped Zeb in the face repeatedly and kicked him in the shin which caused him to rip off the top of her dress completely, fully exposing her white cotton camisole.
"Oh man! You ripped her pretty dress, Zeb!" Orville snickered.
"And that was just the top portion." Dodie chimed in.
"You best get it all off, Zeb!" Jeff had a sinister smile forming on his face.
"Looks like, I best do that." Zeb made a move to tear off what remained of Stefania's dress.
"No! No!" Stefania pleaded, as she slapped Zeb yet again and thrashed around in his arms.
"Oh yes, darlin'! Yes, let's take it all the way...off!" Zeb started ripping at the rest of her dress.
Stefania kneed Zeb in the chest and put him in a headlock, only to be pulled off by Orville and tossed to the floor. Fully exposed in nothing but her camisole and bloomers, Stefania gasped in horror and tried her best to cover herself up with her hands.
Seth, Orville, Zeb, Jeff, and Dodie all stood there laughing up a storm at the girl's humiliation and horror.
"Why don't you filthy rats just leave me alone?!" Stefania sounded like she was about to cry, despite her efforts to hold back her emotions.
"You don't belong here in Stockton!" Seth walked up to her and back handed her in the face.
"Let alone the United States!" Jeff added.
"Well, boys, we've been having fun with her so far, but we need to do one more thing to make her time with us very memorable." Dodie looked at Stefania with lust in his eyes, before taking his gun belt off of his pants and tossing it aside.
"What do you have in mind, Dodie?" Orville turned to Dodie.
"I have the inkling that she is still untouched, if you know what I mean." Dodie removed his belt from his pants and tossed it aside, before getting closer to Stefania.
Stefania, knowing what Dodie was suggesting, got a look of fear in her eyes and shook her head while mouthing "No".
"Oh yes, baby. Ohhhhh...yes." Dodie pounced on top of Stefania and pulled at the straps of her camisole, slowly lowering them.
Stefania thrashed around on the ground and kicked her feet around.
(Now)
"Now hold still, honey. The party just got started!" Dodie laughed, as he started to slide her camisole off, slowly exposing her chest.
Stefania gasped and slapped him, again before making an attempt to push him off of her. This resulted in Dodie putting his entire weight on her in order to make her immobile.
"Man, she is very feisty! In fact, she is ornery!" Jeff laughed and shook his head.
"They always did say them Italians had a temper and knew how to put up a fight." Zeb nodded.
"They're very ornery! More ornery than a Bull seeing red! Especially, this one!" Orville chuckled, before looking around, "Say, where did Seth go?"
"A fine time for Seth to leave!" Zeb joined Orville in looking around for Seth.
"He couldn't have gotten lily livered, could he?" Dodie looked up at Zeb and Orville.
"Now, why would Seth become lily livered? He's our leader, remember?" Zeb snapped back.
"I was just askin' a question. That's all. No need to snap my head off." Dodie shook his head.
"It was a darn fool question, if you ask me." Orville replied.
"And who asked you?" Dodie turned to Orville.
"Nobody asked-Oh, don't start that, again!" Orville shot back.
"Start what, again? I don't reckon I started a thing." Dodie told him.
"Dodie, if you're trying to get a rise out of me, you're slowly, but surely succeeding!" Orville slapped the brick wall.
"Orville, everything gets a rise out of you! Why heck, you rile up very easily!" Dodie shook his head, again while unknowingly moving away from Stefania.
"That's true, Orville. You're one to get easily riled up." Jeff added.
"Now, you're startin' in on me, too?" Orville turned to Jeff and gave him a look.
Pretty soon, indistinct bickering ensued between the men. Seeing that were seemingly distracted, Stefania saw this as the perfect opportunity to make her getaway. She slowly stood up and started to back out of the alley. Once she was out of the alley, Stefania, while trying to cover herself, made a run for it. She was hoping that somebody somewhere would give her refuge for a little while until Nick would hopefully arrive and take her into the countryside away from what just transpired.
'Please, somebody take mercy on me. Please! Please! Somebody! Anybody!' Stefania thought as she continued running.
*With Nick*
After nearly an hour of looking and not finding Stefania anywhere, Nick stopped off near a tree, got out of the carriage, and sat on a rock in order to take a break. As he looked off in the distance, Nick started to think hard about today and how nothing was making a bit of sense.
*Nick's POV*
'Nothing is adding up. This whole day hasn't started off nor is it going the way I hoped it would. I mean first I oversleep then I go to get Stefania from her house & get confronted by her father holding a pitchfork, which didn't surprise me in the least. Caught me off guard a little, but didn't overly suprise me. Then, I get told she went off looking for me, so what do I do? I go off and look for her. Now, it's almost been an hour and I can't find her anywhere! Nothing is adding up!'
I shake my head and run a hand through my hair.
'And here I thought I was going to be known as "the late Nick Barkley" for being...well, late.'
I start to laugh only to stop myself.
'Get mature, Nick! This is no time for jokes! You need to find Stefania!'
I get a confused look on my face.
'But I've looked everywhere! I just can't find her!'
I get wide eyed and hold one finger up.
'Then again, maybe I didn't look everywhere. Maybe I didn't look as carefully as I think I did.'
I nod.
'Yeah, I probably didn't look as carefully and thoroughly as I think I did. In that case, I best get on my way and look again. I hope I can find her.'
My eyes remain widened as a horrible thought crosses my mind.
'Oh no! What if-What if she's in danger?! Oh my God! What if the reason I haven't been able to find her is, because she is in some sort of trouble!'
I feel my heart jump into my throat.
'I gotta go into town! I gotta do something! Stefania could be in danger!'
I stand up and start to get into the carriage, only to stop when I hear hoof beats. I look over my shoulder and see Jarrod and Heath approaching.
'What in the world? I thought I told those two I was going at this alone!'
I sigh.
'Then again, they could be of some help.'
*Outside of Nick's mind*
Nick put his hands on his hips and sighed, again as Jarrod and Heath finally arrived.
"Whoa." Jarrod stopped his horse and turned to Nick, "Any sign of her, Nick?"
"No and I thought I told you two that I was going at this alone." Nick gave him a look.
"Nick, since when do either of us listen to the other?" Heath chimed in.
"We don't. Especially, not me." Nick walked back over to the rock, sat down, and looked at the ground.
Sensing that something was bothering Nick, Jarrod and Heath exchanged looks and nodded, before getting off their horses and joining their brother.
"What's wrong, Nick?" Jarrod asked.
"How do you know there's something wrong with me, Jarrod? How do you know?" Nick sounded a bit snippy.
"Nick, we know something's bothering you. You have that look on your face and plus, it is the same look we all get when something is on our minds. Now, tell us what it is, brother." Heath sat next to him.
"Something's wrong. Something's terribly wrong." Nick replied.
"What are you getting at?" Jarrod had a somewhat confused look on his face.
"It's Stefania!" Nick put his head in his hands, "Jarrod, Heath, I'm really worried about her! We've been searching for nearly an hour and there's been no trace of her. Zero!"
"Maybe we didn't look everywhere, Nick. Maybe we just haven't looked in the right places." Heath lightly suggested.
"Don't give me that! We've searched and searched and searched, but she seems to have disappeared into thin air! It's really worrying me!" Nick groaned and slapped the rock with his hand.
"Now, that may not be so, Nick. Yes, we have searched around, but not everywhere." Jarrod put his hand on Nick's shoulder, "We'll find her. I know we will and speaking of which, for being a 'good friend', you're awfully worried about her."
"Jarrod, if you couldn't find a friend of yours after planning to meet up with them, wouldn't you be worried?" Nick looked up at his older brother.
"Well, of course, but-" Jarrod was cut off.
"Case closed." Nick stood up and got into the carriage, "I have to find her before something happens, if it hasn't happened already.
"We have to find her, Nick." Jarrod corrected him.
"Yeah, Yeah...we." Nick looked at the ground, again.
"Nick, here's what we'll do..." Jarrod got onto his horse, "Heath will go one way, I'll go another, and you go the way you're going to go and we'll keep on looking. Heck, we may even search all of Stockton and possibly all of California until we find Stefania. The thing is, she couldn't have gone too far. She's around here somewhere and we will find her."
"Hopefully, unharmed." Nick had a protective tone in his voice.
"Hopefully, unharmed." Jarrod and Heath repeated what Nick just said.
"We'll find her, Nick. Don't worry." Heath got back onto his horse.
"Don't worry. If I had a dollar for every time someone said that to me, I would own all of California." Nick picked up the horse reins.
"Probably, but you can own all of California later on. Right now, we need to find Stefania." Jarrod told him.
Nick didn't say anything and instead shot daggers at Jarrod with his eyes.
"Ease up, Nick. We'll find her." Jarrod tried his best to sound reassuring.
"I hope so and I hope we find her unharmed!" Nick slightly raised his voice.
"Nick, I'm sure she's not harmed. In fact-" Heath was cut off.
"What makes you so sure she isn't harmed?!" Nick shot back.
"What makes you so sure she is harmed?" Jarrod countered Nick's question.
"What makes me so sure? Jarrod, Heath, in case you two forgot, which it seems like you both obviously have, but in case you two completely forgot, yesterday when uncle Leonard visited, he made some horrible remarks about and towards her besides his usual nasty remarks about Heath." Nick started.
"And?" Jarrod asked.
"Well, when he and I had our little spat in the kitchen, he said that if I ended up getting together with Stefania, I would live to regret it." Nick finished.
"And?" Jarrod asked, again.
"And don't you find that suspicious?" Nick asked.
"What's so suspicious about it?" Heath had a confused look on his face.
"What's so suspicious abou-little brother, don't you find it the least bit odd that Leonard said that yesterday and today, Stefania is nowhere in sight?" Nick turned to Heath.
"Nick, you're starting to sound like a conspiracy theorist." Jarrod shook his head.
"I am not sounding like a conspiracy theorist, Jarrod! I'm simply pointing out that it is odd that our uncle would make that kind of threat one day and the next day, my gir-good friend disappears into thin air! Now, big brother, don't you find that rather strange?!" Nick turned to Jarrod and raised his voice some more.
"Nick, are you saying that uncle Leonard may have something to do with Stefania being nowhere in sight?" Jarrod raised an eyebrow.
"I'm just saying that it is pretty odd for him to say that one day and for her to vanish the very next day! It's just plain odd! I mean nothing is adding up and my gut instinct is starting to tell me that something's very wrong!" Nick was starting to get himself worked up as per usual.
"Nick, don't work yourself up into one of your frenzies. Take some deep breaths and calm yourself." Jarrod gestured 'calm down' with his hands.
"Yeah, Nick. Even though we don't blame you, what's working yourself up going to solve?" Heath asked.
"That's easy for you two to say. It's not that Sally girl or Beth, God rest her soul. You two don't have anyone to worry about whereas I do! I have someone to worry about! Yeah, she's a good friend, but I'm worried about her! It's my god given right to be worried, especially when Leonard made that threat yesterday!" Nick started to rant.
Jarrod and Heath didn't say anything and just exchanged glances.
"And come hell or highwater, I will find her and I hope to God she isn't hurt or anything! I want her to be in one piece without as so much as a tiny scratch. If I find one hair on her head messed up, whoever did it will answer to me." Nick stood up and started pacing back and forth.
"You know I just got to thinking of something." Heath spoke up after a few minutes.
"What?" Nick continued pacing back and forth.
"Maybe...just maybe, Nick, maybe Stefania could be on her way here in her search for you. Maybe?" Heath suggested.
"If she was on her way here, she would've been here waiting for a little bit!" Nick barked.
"Now, hold on a minute, Nick, Heath may be onto something." Jarrod held his hand up in a "hold on" gesture.
"What makes you so sure?" Nick put his hands on his hips.
"Well, you just never know. So, I suggest we just wait here and see." Jarrod added to the suggestion.
"Jarrod, with all due respect, you and Heath can stuff your suggestions!" Nick got back into the carriage.
"And just where are you going and what are you going to do, Nick?" Jarrod walked up to the carriage.
"That's for me to know and for you to butt out!" Nick grabbed the horse reins.
"Nick, what good is it going to do if you go into town and start shooting everything up or getting yourself into brawls over something that may not be as bad as you think it is?" Heath asked.
"Nick, be honest with us, Stefania is more than just a "good friend" to you. Now, it's alright to admit-" Jarrod was cut off for the umpteenth time.
"Jarrod, she is just a good friend. There is nothing going on between Stefania and me & even if there was-" Nick was interrupted.
"It's none of our concern?" Heath folded his arms.
"Nick, if there's nothing going on between you and Stefania, then why are you all worked up?" Jarrod put his hand on the wheel of the carriage.
"Jarrod, can't a guy get worked up over a good friend without being cross examined? Look, I'm not on trial or one of your clients!" Nick shook his head.
"Nobody said anything about a trial, Nick but ever since you met Stefania, you've only been thinking about her. Heck, you blush and smile when her name comes up. Now, a person doesn't do that in regards to a "good friend"." Jarrod gave him a look.
"Why does anybody care whether or not I have feelings for Stefania, which I do not. We're just friends and even if I did have feelings for her, it's nobody's concern, but my own and Stefania's. That's all." Nick replied.
"Nick..." Heath was cut off.
"No, I've said my piece and I'm going into town to look for Stefania. If you two want to wait out here and sit on your hands for all I care, suit yourselves." Nick got a look of determination on his face and tapped the horses with the horse reins, "Giddyup. Hyah."
"I don't know what to make of it, big brother. Do you?" Heath watched Nick disappear into the distance and turned to Jarrod.
"That makes two of us, Heath. However, I think there's more going on between Nick and Stefania than any of us knows." Jarrod got onto his horse.
"We all know there is something going on. Whether he tells us or not is up to him. However, I just got to thinking." Heath got into his horse.
"Oh?" Jarrod turned to him.
"What if Nick's hunch is true?" Heath stared at the ground.
"Heath, you know better than that. C'mon, Nick is just working himself up into one of his usual frenzies. You know him." Jarrod scoffed and lightly chuckled.
"Jarrod, I'm not so sure it was just one of his frenzies. Maybe he does have a point." Heath started to get the feeling that Nick just might be right.
"Oh? Now, what makes you say that?" Jarrod asked.
"Well, think about it, yesterday was father's birthday or it would've been father's birthday and Leonard showed up, right?" Heath started.
"Now, Heath, you know he visited yesterday unless your memory is starting to slip." Jarrod told him.
"Jarrod, I'm serious. Leonard showed up yesterday and it didn't take long for him to show off his nastiness. He said derogatory remarks to Stefania and me." Heath continued.
"Heath, we all-" Jarrod was interrupted.
"He did all of that and then, Nick tells us that he said if Nick got together with Stefania, he would live to regret it. Now, what does that tell you?" Heath asked.
"It shows that uncle Leonard is as nasty as ever." Jarrod answered.
"Not only that, but as Nick said, Leonard made that threat yesterday and what happens today? Stefania practically disappears without a trace." Heath sighed and took a deep breath, "You put two and two together & remember what Nick said and you begin to realize that maybe just maybe Nick was right. Maybe there is trouble."
"When you put all of it together like that, it does sound like Stefania may be in trouble, but Heath, I'm a lawyer. I can't jump to conclusions." Jarrod told him.
"What about Beth? When Cass Hyatt murdered her, you threw all of your ethics and everything out with the birthing water. You became hellbent on finding Hyatt and avenging Beth. You got worked up and nobody could stop you." Heath pointed out.
"Now, wait just a damn minute, Heath! With all due respect, that was different!" Jarrod's tone of voice changed from calm to firm in an angry way.
"How so, Jarrod?" Heath folded his arms.
"Beth was my wife and Hyatt murdered her in cold blood! I had every reason in the world to do what I planned on doing!" Jarrod slightly raised his voice.
"And Nick doesn't? Jarrod, you know as well as anyone else does that Nick can't afford to fail somebody again. He feels he already failed someone else..." Heath paused for a moment, "Father. Father's murder hit him harder than any of you when it happened or me when I found out Tom was my father. Nick doesn't want to fail anybody ever again. You of all people should understand, Jarrod."
Jarrod didn't say anything and just let everything Heath said sink in and process.
*Jarrod's POV*
'Heath's right. I should be a little more sensitive and understanding. Father's death did hit Nick the hardest. I mean they were like two peas in a pod and when father was killed, Nick was just wracked with guilt. I remember that aftermath like it was yesterday.'
I nod.
'Just like I remember father's murder like it was yesterday. I remember the night Nick and Eugene brought his body back to be prepared. I didn't want to believe it.'
I take a breathy sigh.
'There are moments where I still don't want to believe it and it's been X amount of years.'
I look up and think of Beth.
'The same goes for Beth. Oh, my sweet, sweet, Beth. My angel. My love. Ripped away from me all, because of Hyatt and I acted in a way that while part of me can't fault myself, the rest of me just hopes and prays to God that it never ever resurfaces. However, who could blame me? My wife was taken from me. My sweet Beth. My dear, my love.'
I cringe a little.
'Okay, Jarrod, okay. Okay, no need to get all mushy. I'm not all for being mushy. Affectionate, yes. Romantic, yes. Mushy...I think I might be making myself nauseated.'
I shake my head.
'Alright, cut out the melodrama. You're not getting nauseated, Jarrod. Anyways, enough about you. Focus on the matter at hand. Nick and Stefania. Now, you and Heath know that there is something going on between the two of them and neither party has said anything. It's almost as if Nick is afraid of saying that there is something going on.'
I get a weird look on my face and shake my head, again.
'No, no, scratch that! Nick isn't afraid of anything! Nick is just being...Nick which, for him, comes naturally. However, sooner or later, he knows that we're all going to find out about Stefania and him & that they're more than just good friends. I think we'll have to get it out of him, but as of now, that will just have to wait, because the more I think about what Heath said, the more it is all starting to add up that Stefania may be in danger and it's best that we go and help Nick find her. Otherwise, we would never forgive ourselves.'
I ran a hand through my hair before putting my hat back on.
'Nope. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I stood on the sidelines and didn't help Nick look for Stefania.'
*Outside of Jarrod's mind*
Jarrod looked around for a bit, before looking over at Heath and lightly tapping him on the shoulder.
"Heath, I just got to thinking about what you said and you're right about everything." Jarrod had a concerned look on his face.
"I am?" Heath turned to Jarrod and snapped out of his thoughts.
"Yes. Now, let's go help Nick find Stefania." Jarrod nodded.
Heath smiled and nodded, before picking up his horse reins and tapping his horse, instructing him to go. Jarrod did the same exact thing and off they went, albeit in different directions, but not before Jarrod made Heath swear to not tell Nick that he (Jarrod) admitted that someone else besides he himself was right, because Nick would gloat for kingdom come.
*Back with Stefania*
Stefania had been hiding barrels, crates, and such in order to protect her modesty and avoid cat-calling from men & nasty remarks from women, especially average looking women who saw beautiful girls as threats like what happened to Heath's friend Sally that one time and the ones who were religious fanatics. The last thing Stefania needed was to be preached to and scolded at a time like this. Seeing that the coast was seemingly clear, she made a quick run behind the saloon and upon seeing the door cracked open, she carefully made her way inside. Once inside, she hid behind more barrels and started to breathe a sigh of relief only to get a terrified look when she heard the voices of Seth and his gang followed by angry sounding footsteps. Fearing the absolute worst, Stefania found a piece of paper and a pen and wrote a short note that read: "If anyone finds this, please give it to Nick Barkley. He will know. Signed, S.M.". She was about to fold the note when she thought up another idea by taking one of her earrings off & placing it with the note followed by grabbing a nearby knife and slicing off a lock of her hair to put with the note and earring. Then, she ripped a piece of her camisole off in order to tie the note, earring, and hair together.
"Perfect. Hopefully, somebody will either find me or find this." Stefania thought before gasping when she heard another door opening and footsteps coming down the stairs.
Luckily, it was only Harry the bartender coming to get more bottles of whiskey as he had apparently run out. He was just about to pick up a barrel when he noticed a long dark strand of her.
"Who's behind there?" Harry asked in a very confronting tone.
Stefania slowly rose up from behind the barrels sporting a look of horror on her face.
"Oh, pardon me, ma'am. I thought you were one of those darn teenage kids playing a prank or something." Harry's tone changed from confrontational to gentle.
Stefania didn't say anything and scooted away.
"Hey, there's nothing to be afraid of. I won't bite or hurt you." Harry said, before getting a good look at her, "Say, you're new here, aren't you?"
Stefania just stared at him and didn't answer or move a muscle.
"Now, young lady, I asked you a question. The least you could do is give me some sort of answer. You can even spit at me, if you'd like. I just want a response of some kind. Just a communicative gesture. Please? You can even throw one of these bottles of whiskey at me." Harry clearly wanted some sort of communication from Stefania, as he was thrown off by her behavior and couldn't understand why she had a fearful look in her eye. Who could blame him? He was just a bartender who was trying to be nice and when one did their best to be nice, well it would be nice for the other person to respond. Then again, little did Harry know what Stefania had just been through.
"Do you know...Nick?" Stefania finally spoke up, but in a shaky voice.
"Nick as in Nick Barkley. I sure do. In fact, I know the whole Barkley family. Why do you ask?" Harry nodded, before sitting down on a nearby stool.
"I haven't time to explain." Stefania looked around, before looking back at Harry, grabbing the tied up note, hair, and earrings, and whispering, "Please, get these to him. He'll know."
"Why? Can't you do it and what's with the whispering?" Harry looked down at the folded and tied up note.
"You don't understand. I'm in great danger and I'm not so sure I may see him, again. Please, get these to him just in case." Stefania put the note, earring, and lock of hair into the pocket of Harry's apron.
"In case of-" Harry was cut off when the door Stefania came through burst open and in came Seth and his gang.
"Alright, hold it right there, bartender!" Seth grabbed his knife and pointed it at Harry.
"No! No! No! No! Please! Leave me alone!" Stefania yelled and shook her head.
"Get me behind me, honey. It's gonna be alright." Harry said to Stefania, before turning to Seth, "Seth McMahon. I had a feeling I would see the frozen mugs of you and your friends. I thought you all were in Quentin."
"Looks like our dear governor, wonderful man he is, decided to let us out of those bird cages you call prison cells. Anyways, it looks like you got a piece of property that belongs to us." Seth looked Stefania dead in the eyes.
"A piece of property, huh? That's how you view this young lady? Just a piece of property?! Well, I'm not giving her to you. She doesn't want to go with any of you. She's staying right here." Harry shook his head and was disgusted by Seth calling Stefania a "piece of property".
"The little gal doesn't want to go with us, boys. Now, isn't that a darn shame?" Seth smirked.
"It is a shame, Seth. She was having so much fun, too!" Zeb spoke up.
"Zebulon Williamson. I recognize that voice anywhere. Also too, if this young lady was having any fun then how come she is petrified?" Harry wasn't buying it.
"She just doesn't know how to have fun. That's all." Zeb shrugged.
"It's not that. It's the fact that your kind of fun is terrifying to her. I can see it in her eyes. Anyways, I think it is best that you boys just go somewhere else before you cause anymore trouble and terror while this young lady stays right here." Harry pointed at the open door.
"Okay, we'll leave, but we hate to leave on such a bad note!" Dodie walked up to Harry and pistol whipped him in the head, rendering him unconscious.
"No!" Stefania crawled over to Harry, grabbed a nearby towel, rolled it up like a pillow and gently placed it under Harry's head.
"Come on, you!" Dodie grabbed Stefania by her arm and dragged her off.
"No! No! No! Please! No! Nooooooo!" Stefania screamed, as she was being dragged off.
*45 minutes later*
Harry regained consciousness and groaned due to the throbbing pain in his head, but all of that went out the door when he realized that Seth McMahon and his gang took Stefania against her will and he (Harry) was unable to stop it. Guilt rushing to the forefront and determined to have someone save the girl before it was too late, Harry slowly made his way up the stairs and into the saloon. Just as he sat down, in came Jarrod.
"Harry, have you-Harry!" Jarrod ran over to the man and put his hand on his arm, "Harry, are you alright? What happened?"
"Jarrod, I was pistol whipped and have a horrendous headache, but never mind that. They took the girl!" Harry tried to stand up, only to be stopped by Jarrod.
"Just a minute, Harry. You obviously suffered a blow to the head, so no sudden movements for a while." Jarrod gently told him, before clearing his throat, "Now, come again. You said something about a girl and somebody taking her. Who was the girl?"
"I don't know her name, but she does have an accent of sorts. However, that doesn't matter. The point is she was taken against her will! She was taken...and I couldn't stop it." Harry sighed.
"Harry, who took this girl and did you say she has an accent?" Jarrod asked.
"Oww! Look, all I know is the girl was scared to death and just as I got her to start talking to me, Seth McMahon, Zebulon Williamson, and their friends came in and knocked me out after we exchanged a few words. The next I know, I wake up and the girl is gone. That's all I know. Well, that and that whatever happens to her is going to be my fault, because I didn't stop it." Harry rubbed his head where it hurt and was starting to get a bruise.
"Harry, whatever happens will not be your fault or through any fault of anybody's own except the likes of McMahon, Williamson, and their friends. Now, speaking of them, I take it the governor pardoned them and they got out of San Quentin?" Jarrod started pacing back and forth.
"Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that. Yeah, apparently the governor thought they turned into good little boys and decided to give them a chance, but that's besides the point. The point is this poor girl has been taken and I fear that she may get worse than just the bruises on her face and the split lip." Harry continued to rub his head.
Jarrod didn't say anything and just sighed while continuing to pace back and forth, before standing at the window and staring out of it.
"Another thing too, before I really forget, the girl says she knows your brother Nick and to give him this." Harry slowly stood up, walked over to Jarrod and tapped him on the shoulder.
"Give Nick what?" Jarrod turned around.
"This." Harry held out the folded and tied up note that held the earring and hair, "Please, give it to Nick. She said he would know."
"Thank you, Harry. I will give it to Nick." Jarrod took it and put it in his pocket, "Harry, you said this girl had an accent and said she knows Nick, right?"
"Yes." Harry nodded.
"Did this girl by any chance look exotic a little? Kind of foreign?" Jarrod started to put two and two together.
"Yes, she did. I'd say she was Greek or possibly Albanian. Why? Does it matter?" Harry folded his arms.
"Nick has made friends with an Italian girl named Stefania Mangano. Very lovely lady. Sweet as can be. Long story short, she and Nick planned to spend the day together and well, he just can't find her anywhere. Heath and I decided to help him search for her." Jarrod explained.
"I don't know a girl by that name, but now that you have said all of that, I think she was the girl who was taken against her will and gave me that note I gave you." Harry got a worried look on his face.
"Now, we don't know if she was that girl, but it is a high possibility which in that case, I better find Nick and tell him!" Jarrod ran out of the bar, "Thanks for the note, Harry!"
"I hope to the heavens above that they find that girl before it is too late." Harry said to himself as he watched Jarrod ride off.
*With Heath*
Heath had been riding around for a long time, but with no luck as Stefania was still nowhere to be found. Little did he know what just happened. After stopping for a little bit, he was about to ride off again when he heard hoof beats approaching. He looked to his right and saw that it was Nick.
"Heath, any luck?" Nick approached him.
"No luck, Nick." Heath shook his head, "She is just nowhere in sight."
"She's around here somewhere. We have to find her! Nobody disappears like this! Nobody!" Nick was agitated.
"Nick, we'll find her or who knows? She may just pop up. Who knows? The point is we've looked everywhere." Heath told him.
"No, we haven't. We haven't looked everywhere. Plus, we haven't heard anything from Jarrod!" Nick raised his voice.
"Maybe we haven't looked everywhere and you're right. We haven't heard from Jarrod, so what do you want to do?" Heath asked.
"My mind says: "Wait for Jarrod", but my gut and heart say: "Go into town"." Nick stared out at the horizon.
"So, which are you going to follow?" Heath took his hat off, scratched the back of his head, and put his hat hack on.
"Go into town." Nick replied, before riding off into town.
"Nick, we'll find her." Heath said, as Nick rode off, before realizing that he didn't hear him, "And he did not hear any of that."
He was just about to pick up the horse reins and ride off when the sound of hoof beating could be heard, yet again. Heath looked to his left and this time, Jarrod was approaching.
"Jarrod, what-" Heath was cut off.
"Have you seen Nick?" Jarrod rode up to Heath.
"Why yes, he was just here and just rode off back to town. What's the matter with you? You look like you had the shock of a lifetime." Heath noticed Jarrod looked distressed.
"I did." Jarrod nodded.
"What happened? Did you find her? Is she..." Heath stopped himself, unable to finish the last part.
"No, I didn't find her and no, she's not dead, if that's what you're thinking. Thanks be to God that she isn't dead. However, she may be in worse trouble than we, even Nick, thought." Jarrod started.
"What are you saying?" Heath asked.
"I ran into Harry. He told me that he encountered a young lady with an accent. By what he can tell, this poor girl was scared to death. He and this young lady talked for a while before she gave him a folded up note which in turn he gave to me to give to Nick." Jarrod continued.
"A note to give to Nick?" Heath had a perplexed look on his face.
"Yes. According to Harry, she said Nick would know when he gets this." Jarrod pulled out the tied up and folded note Harry had handed to him moments earlier.
"Do you think Harry could've seen Stefania?" Heath stared at the folded and tied up note with curiosity.
"I think he did, because who else has an accent and is looking for Nick? Plus too, he said that after she gave him the note, Seth McMahon, Zebulon Williamson, and their gang burst in, and had a few exchanges with Harry before knocking him out and taking the girl off against her will." Jarrod also stared at the folded and tied up note, before looking back at Heath, "Heath, is it wrong to say that part of me wants to open that note up and take a look?"
"No, because it is natural to be curious, but for ethical and moral reasons, it's best to catch up to Nick and hand it to him. Now, did I hear you correctly? Did you say that Seth McMahon and his gang, including Zebulon Williamson, are out on the loose?" Heath rested his chin on his fist.
"You heard me correctly. Apparently, the governor pardoned them and they got released from San Quentin. Now, they're back in Stockton and after putting two and two together, they just might have Stefania in their grip. God only knows what all they have done and will continue to do to her if we don't get our keisters back in town and meet up with Nick." Jarrod put the note back in his pocket, grabbed his horse reins, and tapped his horse, "Giddyup. Hyah."
Heath followed suit and rode off along with Jarrod, heading back for town in the hopes of meeting up with Nick and finding Stefania. Hopefully, they'll find her before lord knows what could happen.
*35 minutes later*
Heath and Jarrod had arrived back into town and were looking everywhere for Stefania and Nick. Now, Nick was nowhere in sight or so it seemed until after Heath and Jarrod got off of their horses and were about to go into the saloon to check on Harry when they heard the sound of hoof beating, yet again. They looked up and much to their delight, it was Nick.
"Any sign of her?" Nick stopped the horses and got out of the carriage faster than he usually did.
"No, but Jarrod found out something that you need to know." Heath put his hand on Nick's forearm.
"You did?" Nick turned to Jarrod.
"Yes, I did, Nick and-" Jarrod was cut off.
"Well, where is she? Is she hurt? Is she alright? Is she at Dr. Merar's office? Is she at the ranch? Where is she?" Nick started walking around very fast and looking everywhere.
"Well, if you would stop moving around like a butterfly and stand still a minute, I can tell you." Jarrod, along with Heath, followed Nick and gently grabbed his arm in order to get him to stand still.
"Stand still. First, it is 'don't jump to conclusions'. Now, it's 'stand still'. You didn't stand still when Beth was murdered. You did not, not jump to conclusions either!" Nick pounded his gloved fist on a barrel.
"Nick, I don't need a reminder, because we're not going to delve into that particular time. It's painful enough when the anniversary comes." Jarrod looked as if he was about to cry, but that quickly changed after he cleared his throat, "Anyways, putting that painful time aside, there's something I need to tell you."
"Well, out with it!" Nick raised his voice.
"I went by the saloon earlier and found that Harry had been pistol whipped by somebody as he had a nasty bruise. Long story short, he saw a girl who had an accent and looked as if the devil was on her tail. They talked and she gave him a note, saying that once you got it, you would know. Then-" Jarrod was cut off.
"A note? Where is it? Do you have it?" Nick asked in a very urgent tone.
"Yes, I do." Jarrod pulled it out of his pocket.
"Give me it!" Nick grabbed for it.
"Ah, ah! Not until you listen to everything else I have to say, Nick." Jarrod shook his finger, gesturing 'No'.
"I'll listen later! Hand me the note!" Nick grabbed for it, again.
"No, Nick! You must listen to what I'm about to tell you." Jarrod shook his head and put the note back into his pocket.
"Alright, but hurry it up. I want to see that note!" Nick reluctantly relented.
"Well, before I was so rudely interrupted, what I started to say was that after Harry and the girl talked, she handed him the note that I have and then, Seth McMahon, Zebulon Williamson, and their gang showed up, exchanged a few words with Harry, knocked him out by pistol whipping him, and took the girl off against her will." Jarrod finished.
"Oh my God! I-I-It's Stefania! I knew it! She's in trouble!" Nick ran back to the saloon and started to get into the carriage, but was stopped when Jarrod caught up to him and grabbed his arm, "Jarrod, what the devil are you doing?!"
"Nick, Heath and I believe it is Stefania, too, but we're not going to start any brawls, shoot places up, or the likes. We're going to go look for her and try to get to her before God knows what could happen." Jarrod firmly told him.
"Unhand me, Jarrod!" Nick growled.
"Nick-" Heath, who had caught up to them, started to say something, but was interrupted.
"Look, maybe you two don't want to start anything, but Stefania is MY good friend and by God I'm going to find her. If she's hurt, Seth McMahon and his gang will answer to me! Plus, while I am on the subject of McMahon and his gang, I take it the governor pardoned them, right?!" Nick gritted his teeth.
"Yes, Nick. The governor pardoned them and they were released from San Quentin just a few days ago." Jarrod nodded.
"If they laid one finger on Stefania, there's going to be hell to pay!" Nick yelled.
"We understand, Nick but you never act like this in regards to any of your friends, even your "good friends". Now, there's something more going on between you and Stefania, so spit it out." Jarrod still wasn't buying the whole "good friends" facade.
"Whatever is going on between Stefania and me is our business & by our, I mean my business and her business. Good God, you're starting to sound like mother and father, may he rest in peace." Nick gave Jarrod a look.
"Nick, you've never been protective of your friends before, especially not like this." Heath pointed out.
Nick didn't say anything and groaned out of annoyance.
"Nick, you've been dodging this for a while now. Look, if you and Stefania are more than friends, well we support you." Jarrod told him.
"That's all swell, but she and I are good friends and we want it to stay that way. Now, how about that note you were talking about?" Nick held out his hand.
Jarrod didn't say a word and gave Nick a high five just for fun.
"Jarrod, I'm in no mood for games!" Nick was clearly annoyed by Jarrod giving him a high five. Normally, he wouldn't be, but seeing that there was no time for jokes as of this moment, well, who could blame him for being teed off?
"I'm sorry, Nick. Anyways, here's the note." Jarrod lightly chuckled, before getting serious again, taking the note out of his pocket, and handing it to Nick.
Nick took the note and after untying and unfolding it, his eyes got big when he spotted the earring and a dark lock of hair.
"What is it, Nick?" Heath asked.
"This is a lock of Stefania's hair and the same earring she wore yesterday." Nick held the earring and lock of hair.
"What do you suppose it means?" Heath asked.
"It means trouble. Whenever someone sends a note with a piece of jewelry and hair, it means trouble. Usually a kidnapping or being held hostage." Nick said, before reading the note to himself.
"What does the note say?" Jarrod asked.
"It doesn't make a whole lot of sense. It says: 'If anyone finds this, please give it to Nick Barkley. He will know. Signed, S.M.'." Nick read the note aloud.
"S.M.?" Jarrod had a confused look on his face.
"Her initials. Stefania Mangano. Plus, the way she wrote it, you can tell she was in distress." Nick folded the note and put it along with the earring and lock of hair into his pocket, "She's in trouble and we have to find her & fast!"
"Knowing what Seth McMahon and his gang are capable of, let's get while the going is good." Jarrod got onto his horse and grabbed his horse reins, Heath following suit.
Nick got into the carriage, grabbed his horse reins, and sighed.
"We'll find her, Nick. We'll find her." Heath tried to ease his brother's nerves.
"I hope she's unharmed. If not, McMahon and his gang will answer to me & I'll dish out justice...Barkley style!" Nick looked him dead in the eyes and tapped the horses, "Let's go. Giddyup. Hyah."
Jarrod and Heath watched as Nick rode off and followed suit, but went off in different directions. Oh, you guys, please find and save her!
*Meanwhile, with Stefania*
In an abandoned barn somewhere, Stefania woke up sweating with bruises all over her face, arms, and legs plus dried blood on her now torn camisole, nose, and mouth. It was obvious the poor girl suffered a horrible beating that rendered her unconscious.
"Ohhhh...where am I?" Stefania wiped the sweat off of her forehead and looked around, "Nick? Nick, are you here?"
Soon enough, a whiskey bottle came flying at her only to hit the wall behind her and shatter, causing her to scream and jump.
"The pretty dame is awake!" Dodie said, as he approached her and grabbed her by her chin, "How dare you fall asleep on us?! That is very disrespectful!"
"Please, let me go! Please! I won't tell anybody!" Stefania pleaded.
"Oh no, the party isn't over!" Dodie pounced on her and began to rip at her camisole, yet again.
"No! No! No!" Stefania tried to pry Dodie's hands off, despite being a little overcome with exhaustion, but to no avail as he overpowered her plus Seth and the others restrained her legs and arms.
"Let's get this camisole off of this beauty!" Dodie managed to get Stefania's camisole off and threw it aside, exposing her breast region.
Stefania gasped in horror and started breathing heavily. She had tried so hard to protect her modesty and was known to be a very modest and innocent lady, but now, little by little, much to her horror, her innocence was being taken away.
"Man, you are more beautiful than before and you have such a big chest. I love me a woman with a huge chest!" Dodie caressed Stefania's breasts much to her discomfort and wolf whistled, "My goodness gracious, your heart is beating up a storm. I knew women loved me, but not to this extent. Wow!"
"Dodie, you only got her camisole off. Don't you think we should...you know?" Zeb pointed at Stefania's bloomers.
Dodie didn't say a word, as he started sucking on Stefania's neck much to her chagrin. After a few moments of sucking on her neck, he started kissing her neck for a little bit before sliding down to her breasts and eventually, her midriff. Stefania squirmed as best as she could, considering that Seth and the others were holding her down. This was turning from horrible to nightmarish within seconds.
*Stefania's POV*
'Why is this happening to me? Why? What did I do to deserve this? All I did was meet Nick Barkley!'
I look up at the ceiling and think of Nick.
'Oh, Nick. Nick, where are you? Please, come find me! Please!'
I look down.
'Father God, please guide Nick to me! Please, guide Nick to me or intervene! Please, do something! Anything to make these filthy rats go away and leave me alone. Please!'
I sigh.
'Then again, maybe God is punishing me for not saving Dominique?'
I get wide eyed.
'Yes! Yes, God is punishing me for not saving precious Dominique! Oh, Dominique, I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! Father God, please forgive and save me. Please!'
I feel something and gasp, before looking down.
'Ohhhh! This filthy rat is touching me...touching me down...down there now! No! No! Not this!'
*Outside of Stefania's mind*
Dodie was indeed touching Stefania in her unmentionable area. Much to her horror, he had moved from her chest and midriff to that private area. As she made fearful noises, he smirked and laughed the whole time, before getting slightly aggressive in this inappropriate touching. Who did he think he was?! He had no business touching her!
"No! No! Stop it! Stop it...please!" Stefania wanted this to end.
"Oh, but if I stop now, you'll be missing out on all of the fun!" Dodie continued to touch her.
"This is not fun! This is a nightmare! Ohhhh, when Nick finds out, he'll have all of your heads!" Stefania shot back.
"Nick, Nick, Nick, Nick, Nick, Nick, Nick, Nick! If that Barkley boy cared so much about you, why he would be down here or better yet, he wouldn't have let you out of his sight. That's if he cared about you, but look around, I don't seem him here, so that means that he doesn't care about you." Dodie scoffed.
"Besides, even if he did care about you before, after we get done with you, he won't want anything to do with you, because to him, you would be damaged goods." Orville chimed in.
"And we all know that the Barkleys don't go for damaged goods." Jeff smirked.
"That's not true! Nick would still care about me! He's not a filthy rat like you guys!" Stefania spat at Jeff.
"Don't you dare spit at my friend!" Dodie backhanded her in the face, causing her to scream.
"That ought to keep her quiet for a while." Orville chuckled.
"It would, but why would we want her to be quiet when in a few moments, she'll be singing for us." Dodie winked at Orville.
"Singin'?" Jeff asked.
"Yeah, because...we'll make her sing. After all, we can't play with her knockers or her down there area forever, now can we?" Dodie slowly stood up.
"No...we can't." Seth spoke up, before looking at Stefania and getting a creepy grin on his face.
"Her camisole is off, now it is time for the bloomers." Dodie took off his gun belt and tossed it aside, before unbuckling the belt for his pants, taking it off, and throwing it to the side, making it land next to his gun belt.
"Dodie, I hope we get our turn." Jeff sounded a little impatient.
"You will, you will. Just hold them horses of yours!" Dodie took off his pants and started to lower his long johns very slowly.
"Oh no! No! No! Don't! Please! Please! I won't go to the sheriff! I won't tell anybody!" Stefania, knowing what was about to happen, pleaded as best as she possibly could, hoping Dodie would somehow change his mind.
"Oh no, sweetness. It is time for some fun. Real...fun!" Dodie exposed himself, got back on top of Stefania, and forcefully turned her onto her stomach, before grabbing at her bloomers.
"No! No! No! No!" Stefania shrieked.
"Yes, yes, you pretty little thing!" Dodie started to pull her bloomers down.
"Hail Mary, full of grace...the Lord is with thee. Blessed art...thou among women and...blessed is the fruit...of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary...Mother of God...p-pray for us sinners...n-now and...and...and at the...at the...hour of our death. Amen." Stefania prayed the Hail Mary, albeit very understandably shaky.
"She thinks the Virgin Mary will save her!" Orville laughed.
"Okay, I'm all ready to go and you will be thanking me after you sing, of course." Dodie positioned Stefania and himself, then before the blink of an eye...
To Be Continued...
Nick: Stefania, where are you? Stefania!
Stefania: Nick, help me! Save me!
Jarrod: Wait for Heath and me, Nick!
Nick: If Seth and his gang hurt Stefania, they're going to wish-
Jarrod: Nick!
Seth: This little Italian is very feisty!
Nick: WHAT?! WHO SAID THAT?!
Stefania: R&R, people and please, somebody save me!