He comes in to your home. Not even when it's dark and you're asleep. When you feel most vulnerable. No. He comes when you are the most vulnerable. Alone. Unsuspecting. In the bright sunshine of the afternoon, a time you think that no one could come to hurt you. Oh, but you find out you are so wrong, so very wrong.
And when he's done, and you're on the floor or the bed, crying and trying desperately to gather the shreds of what's left of your dignity, your spirit and even your mind, he throws down those two quarters, like you were one of those women.
He smiles. He says something along the lines of how much he enjoyed it. That he knew you had as much fun as he did. Then he walks away. Not looking back, not knowing or even caring about the life he just destroyed.
But what's worse is when HE comes back. Not the one that did this to you, but your man, father, or brother. The male kin. When he finds you sobbing and vomiting and you barely able to get out what happened. They usually figure it out. It ain't that hard. Sometimes, he'll hit you himself, saying you been acting like a whore or he'll be real sweet and clean you up and put you to bed, but he ain't never going to want to touch you again.
And always, it's "shhhh." Can't tell no one about this. You'd be an outcast. People will talk about you. Say what a whore you've been and serves you right for wearing that fancy dress that one time or talking too much to them boys.
And so it goes. You stay quiet. You tell no one and pretend it was all a bad dream.
You add a brick to that wall of silence and he just goes on doing what he does.
+ + + + + + +
Mary stormed into the saloon with blue fire leaping from her eyes. She had mercilessly driven Homer back from the O'Donnell farm. With her fists tightly clenched, she strode into the crowded room and headed directly for the seven lawmen who were lounging around at their usual table. She had never been in here when it was so crowded, but she ignored the stares and the silence that had descended.
She stopped in front of Chris and the others and they could see her trembling. Her voice was unsteady.
"I need to speak to all of you." It wasn't a request, but a flat out order.
Worry and concern crossed their faces. They have never seen her this upset before. It was a mixture of anger, disbelief, pain and something else. Chris nodded silently and indicated with a tilt of his head that the others should follow. He placed his hand under Mary's elbow and escorted her out of the saloon and to the sheriff's office.
When they had all settled down in the office, Chris looked inquiringly at Mary.
"Sara O'Donnell was raped this afternoon," Mary said flatly.
The men sucked in their breath sharply and shook their heads.
"What happened?" Chris asked quietly.
"I went to go see Sara and her baby. I found her crying and practically naked," Mary continued. She began to pace in the small amount of room available. "I finally managed to get out of her what happened."
"She know the guy?" Vin asked.
Mary shook her head. "It was a stranger. He came in late in the morning while her husband was working in the fields." Mary's upper lip curled slightly and her eyes began to burn with anger again. "Ross O'Donnell didn't want Sara to report this."
"Was she able to give you a description, Mary?" Chris queried.
"Tall. Brown hair. Dark coat. Sara could barely talk. But the monster did leave this." Mary withdrew two coins from the pocket of her dress.
"Two quarters?" JD asked.
"After-," Mary closed her eyes a moment and swallowed hard. "After he was done. He threw these at her and said something along the lines of thanks for the service."
"Sweet Jesus," Buck breathed out. He slammed his fist into his other hand and began to pace agitatedly back and forth.
Chris's jaw had clenched tightly and he gave a sharp nod. "Nathan, Vin, what say we ride out to the O'Donnells to check up on them? Maybe Vin can pick up a trail or something."
+ + + + + + +
Ross O'Donnell came out of the farmhouse when he heard the horses. He looked impassively at the three men. He casually cradled the shotgun in his arms.
"Heard there been some trouble out here," Chris said without any preamble.
"No trouble," Ross replied as he leaned on one of the supports of the porch.
"Miz Travis tells us differently," Vin said quietly.
"She's wrong," the farmer shot back harshly. "Ain't nuthing here that I can't take care of myself."
The three men looked at each other. Nathan tried next. "Miz Travis said that Miz O'Donnell hurt herself. Maybe I should take a look at her."
"She don't need no darkie doctor looking at her!" Ross snapped out. "Now git off my land!"
"We ain't leaving until we're sure Mrs. O'Donnell is okay," Chris responded in a calm, cold voice.
"I'm fine," a soft voice said from behind Ross' large body.
Sara O'Donnell moved out of the shadows of the front door to stand by her husband. She was buttoned tightly and snugly into her calico dress with a shawl wrapped around her shoulders. Her arms were folded before her and she kept her eyes downcast.
"Do you want me to check you over, Miz O'Donnell?" Nathan asked in his gentle voice.
"No!" she yelled out. She flushed darkly. "Thank you. I'm fine."
"There! I told you she was okay. Now git off my land!" Ross ordered as he turned triumphantly back towards the men.
They had no choice but to comply. After tipping their hats, they turned around and started back on the road to town. Vin turned back once to look back at the couple. He saw them watching their progress, lighted by the late afternoon sun.
And not once did Ross O'Donnell touch his wife.
+ + + + + + +
Mary Travis was pacing on her front porch waiting for the men's return. When she finally saw their familiar shapes in the distance, she hastily ran to meet them at the stables.
The three men dismounted as Mary danced impatiently by their sides. "Well?" she questioned.
"They say nothing happened," Chris reported as he led his horse into the stables.
"Nothing happ-," Mary began incredulously until she shut her mouth with a sharp snap. She let out a breath with a hiss and a strange shadow came over her normally clear eyes. "Of course. It's not something anyone wishes to discuss." She followed Chris into the stables with the other two men trailing after her with their own horses. "So what do you do now?"
Chris began to brush down his horse with thoughtful strokes. "Not much we can do. Ain't got too much of a description. Don't even know what kinda horse this guy's riding." Stroke, stroke. "Best we can do is step up patrols. Keep our eyes open."
"That's it?" her voice rose up with her bewilderment. "That's all you plan to do?"
"Ain't much else we can do ma'am," Vin interrupted softly. He was rubbing down his mount. "According to the O'Donnells, there ain't been no crime. Can't do anything if they say nothing's happen."
"'Sides," Nathan added. "We ain't go much to go on."
Mary was silent of a moment. She stood in the shadows where the light of the lantern did not reach. They couldn't see her expression, but they could tell from the slight trembling in her body that she was attempting to control herself. They heard her take a deep breath before letting it out with a sigh. "No, you're right. Of course. There's not much else we can do." She nodded her head. "Good night gentlemen." She turned to go but Chris's voice stopped her.
"Mary." She paused. "Wait up a minute." He gave his horse an extra pat and gathered his things. "I'll walk you back home. Long as this guy's roaming around, I don't think it's safe for you to be wandering around alone at night."
Mary nodded mutely. She inclined her heads towards Vin and Nathan who tipped their hats. She turned back towards the door and felt the gentle pressure of Chris's hand on her back. She jumped slightly and shied away from him. Her eyes went to his face and saw surprise register there.
"I'm sorry," she stammered out, feeling a hot rush of blood flow to her face. She adjusted her shawl and hurried forwards.
Chris followed her with a thoughtful look on his face. While he admitted that it was probably more familiar than he had any right to be with her, Mary had never shied away from his touch before. He caught up with her and easily matched her small, rapid steps with his long strides.
They made their way silently down the street to her building. Chris stole a glance or two at his companion's profile, puzzled by her agitated demeanor. Yeah, it's upsetting knowing that there was that type of man out there, but her reaction seemed to go beyond that.
"You mind telling me what's bothering you?" he asked softly when they finally reached her door.
He watched as she fumbled with the lock and key, not looking at him, but concentrating on the door before her. She was quiet for a few seconds and he was wondering if he should repeat the question again when she spoke in a low voice. "Such a crime," she began haltingly. "It's difficult for a man to comprehend. To understand."
Chris blew out a breath and tilted his hat back. "Ain't going to lie and say I know what Mrs. O'Donnell's going through. I can only imagine and it still ain't enough."
"Because of that," Mary continued quietly. "I'm not sure if you men know what you're really up against."
"How so?" Chris asked sharply as he swung his piercing gaze at her.
Mary looked up at him with eyes lighter than her fair skin. Her dark dress blended in with the night and his attention was riveted to that pale oval crowned by gold hair. "Not only do you fight against the criminal, but you have to fight the victims and their families. Rape is not something one likes to talk about. It's going to be very hard, if not impossible to find this man. The O'Donnells are prime examples of what I'm talking about."
Chris nodded. "Yeah, I thought about that. Hate to say it, but unless Miz O'Donnell gives us more help, only way we can catch this guy is if he attacks another woman."
He saw her shiver in the darkness and he made a move to comfort her. Memories of how she had shied away from his touch minutes earlier flooded his mind and he stopped himself before he made contact.
"Don't worry, Mary," he said softly, sensing her fear. "We'll find him." He won't come near you, he added silently to himself.
She nodded absently. "Good night, Mr. Larabee."
"Good night, Mary."
+ + + + + + +
One of the stable hands finished hitching Mary's horse to her buggy. He helped her up to the seat and handed her the reins when Vin Tanner walked by.
"Ma'am," he greeted politely. He looked at the buggy with a shrewd eye. "Visiting?"
Mary nodded stiffly. "I thought I go out and see how Sara O'Donnell was doing." She spoke impatiently, as if anxious to be on her way, but Vin was standing before her horse.
Vin sighed and adjusted his hat. "Ma'am, you know Chris don't want no woman wandering alone out in the open with this man loose. Especially you."
"I'm quite capable of taking care of myself, Mr. Tanner," Mary replied, her posture rigid and unyielding.
"Yes ma'am, I know that, but Chris'll skin me alive if he knew I let you go alone." He smiled disarmingly at her. "And I kinda like my skin where it's at."
Mary drew in a deep breath. "Mr. Tanner, Sara might be more willing to talk to a woman. If you're there, you'll only make her more closed mouth."
"I ain't saying I'll go in, Miz Travis," Vin said earnestly. "I want to take a good look around the place to see if I can pick up anything."
"Why didn't you do that yesterday?"
"Ross O'Donnell wanted us gone. Didn't have time to look around. Ma'am, I promise I'll stay outside."
"What makes you think Ross will agree to let you look around today?"
"What makes you think he'll let you talk to Miz O'Donnell?" Vin shot back.
Mary stared at him a moment as he grinned at her. Grudgingly, she returned the smile. "Touché. You're thinking the same thing I am, that Ross will be out working the fields."
"Harvest time, ma'am," Vin returned easily. "Man's gotta work or lose everything."
Mary sighed loudly. "Very well. I'll wait."
+ + + + + + +
It was a beautiful fall day. The leaves had just turned out in all their autumnal glory and splashed the countryside with a riot of red, orange and gold. The fields were a honey amber with their crops and here and there, Mary and Vin could see the farmers working to get their income in before the prairie winter descended.
They saw the O'Donnell place before them. It no longer held the hospitable look of a farmhouse during harvest. No doors were open to let in the cool, but not cold air to freshen the house. The windows were shuttered tightly, giving the small home a fortress like atmosphere. No washing hung swaying in the breeze or any woman sitting on the porch shucking corn for the dried corn to eat in the winter months. If the plume of gray smoke did not spew forth from the chimney, the house would have looked deserted.
"Sara?" Mary called out as she stopped her buggy by the front door. She tied her horse to the hitching post and shot a look at Vin who, true to his promise, remained at a distance from the house. Picking up her skirts, Mary mounted the steps to the porch. She knocked on the front door and repeated her call. "Sara?"
The wooden door opened a crack and Mary saw one china blue eye peeking out. She smiled encouragingly and the door opened a few inches more. Mary turned her head to Vin and nodded. The tracker tipped his hat to her and nudged his horse towards the back of the house to look for some clue.
"Who was that?" Sara asked in a frightened tone.
"Vin Tanner," Mary replied. "He escorted me out here." She watched as Sara nodded absently. "May I come in?"
Sara hesitated a moment and then silently stepped back from the door. Mary pushed it open and walked into the darken room, illuminated only by one lamp and the light of the fire in the hearth. The stove was also lit, making the room stuffy and hot, but she could understand why Sara did not want to open any windows or the doors.
They stood awkwardly in the middle of the room, uncertain who should start.
"I came to see how you were doing," Mary began haltingly. The baby made whimpering noises and Sara hastened to pick it up.
The farmer's wife cradled her child in her arms and rocked it back and forth, humming a small tune. The oppressive silence descended upon them again and Mary looked around the room as if searching for something to say.
"Won't you sit down?" Sara said at last. With a jerk of her chin, she indicated the chairs at the small table.
Mary nodded and sat down. She took a few moments to settle her skirts, carefully smoothing out the pleats as she still tried to think of something to say. She heard Sara pull out another chair and sit opposite of her.
"Sara," Mary began. "I wanted to make sure you were all right."
The young mother continued to gently jostle her baby in a soothing motion. "I'm fine," she said in a bland voice.
Mary bit her lower lip and looked compassionately at the other woman. "I know it's hard, but Mr. Larabee can't find the man who did this if you won't talk to him. Please, Sara."
"I don't want to talk about it," Sara snapped out as she stood up abruptly. Mary watched her with worried eyes. "Ross says it's best to just forget it ever happened. Ain't no call to let anyone else know." She turned angry, flashing eyes on Mary. "And you had no right to go and tell them men what happened to me!"
"Sara!" Mary exclaimed as she stood. She moved towards her. "A crime, a horrible, terrible crime was committed. They had to know. I had to tell them so they can find this monster and put him in jail!"
"You had no right to do that! I didn't tell you to do that!"
"But it's okay to allow this man to wander the countryside, perhaps to do it to another woman?" Mary asked incredulously. "Sara, I had to tell them."
"It was my business," Sara returned forcefully.
"Not when there is a danger to others!" Mary's voice had the force of a slap to the face. Her eyes simmered with suppressed anger and some other emotion. "I don't regret telling the men and putting them on their guard, not if that gives them any chance of stopping this man before he violates another woman."
Sara's arms had grown tighter and tighter around her baby. The child began to cry from the embrace, breaking the quivering tension between the two women. Sara immediately dropped her eyes towards the baby and began to comfort it.
Mary took a deep breath and watched the two before her. "Tell me," she began softly. "How's Ross handling all of this?"
The young mother started. "My man is my business." Sara glared at her. "Or you gonna tell me how to deal with my man too?"
Mary shook her head. "No. I'm just asking. It must be hard for a husband to deal with-," Mary waved her hand, "Something like this."
"He does his best," Sara said as she dropped her eyes. She turned her back on Mary to resettle her baby in the crib. After taking a moment to adjust the blankets, she turned back to face the widow. "You best be goin'. Ross'll be back soon. He don't like having company around."
Mary nodded. Hesitantly, she reached out and placed a comforting arm on Sara. "Let me know if there's anything I can do for you. If you want to talk or something."
Sara nodded. "You best go."
At that moment, the door swung open.
"Woman! I told you to keep this locked-," Ross O'Donnell broke off when he saw Mary Travis standing in the room. For a moment, an angry scowl crossed his face and he directed it's full venom at the widow. "Whatcha doing here?" he asked in harsh tones.
The anger she felt from the man took her breath away. Mary straightened her back and stared defiantly back at the farmer. "I was visiting your wife. I wanted to make certain she was okay."
"It ain't good to meddle in other folks' business, ma'am. I'm telling you now to git off my land and don't come back. We'll call you if we need you or them men or yours."
"If you're referring to Mr. Larabee and the men he works with," Mary began through tight lips. "They are the law in this area."
Ross snorted. "If you say so. But some say differently. Way you familiar with them and all."
Mary's eyes grew wide and her mouth dropped open in shock. "Wha-, what on earth do you mean?"
"Ain't decent way you go on with them ma'am. Looks bad." He stepped towards the widow. "And I don't want no loose woman hanging around my Sara." He looked the widow up and down with a disdainful air. "Trouble begets trouble."
Mary bristled immediately. She took a deep breath and barely managed to rein her temper in. The man had been through a lot, as had his wife. No need to create a scene. Her voice was quiet when she spoke. "I'll go now Mr. O'Donnell, but I assure you there is nothing but a business relationship between me and any of those men. Your wife has been through an ordeal. She needs you now." Mary turned her attention to Sara. "Sara, I'll be available to you whenever you want me." She nodded to the couple and quietly left the house.
Ross O'Donnell slammed the door behind her and she could hear him immediately berating his wife for letting someone into the house. Mary turned and was about to go back in when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned startled eyes around and found Vin Tanner standing behind her.
"Best let it go, ma'am," Vin said with a nod towards the door. "They'll have to work it 'tween themselves. We ain't got no right interferin' with the marriage."
Mary sighed heavily and nodded. She allowed Vin to escort her to and help her into the buggy. "Did you find anything?"
The ex-bounty hunter swung himself up into the saddle before replying. "Found some tracks near the back of the house. Wore some fancy type boot, kinda like Ezra's so's I know it ain't O'Donnell's or anyone he likely knows. Judging by the stride, he's a tall feller. Horse was tied up by that oak tree yonder." Vin pointed to a tree about 100 yards away. "Followed the horse's tracks down to the creek. Feller's smart. Went into the creek and traveled that way. No more tracks."
"And no way of tracking him."
"Didn't say that, ma'am," Vin replied. "Horse'll have to come out the water at some point. Just don't know where."
"Did you check the creek?"
"Doing that tomorrow."
"Well, why not now?"
He gazed at her thoughtfully when he heard the angry tone in her voice. "Ma'am, it's almost dark and we don't know how far he may have gone down and which way. Going to need more men to do that and I gotta get you back to town. 'Sides, can't see anything in the dark."
Mary flushed slightly and nodded. She slapped the reins and urged her horse down the road back towards Four Corners.
They rode in silence for a while but Mary finally spoke in a hesitant voice.
"Mr. Tanner?"
"Yes ma'am?"
Mary paused for a moment, choosing her next words carefully. "Am I too forward?" She looked over at the Texan and saw his eyebrows go up. She added hastily, "What I mean is, do I make you men feel," she paused again, searching for the best way to put this, "uncomfortable?" She felt her face aflame with embarrassment.
"Ma'am?" Confusion dripped from that one word.
"Nevermind," Mary mumbled as she fell into a quiet brood.
Vin gave her another glance. He had seen Ross O'Donnell returning to the house and quickly made his way back. He was walking towards the building when he heard Ross' raised voice. While he could not make out what was being said, he saw Mary emerge a moment later looking flushed from anger and embarrassment.
As a bounty hunter, Vin had learned how to study people and knew a little bit about human nature. Obviously, Ross had said something to Miz Travis to upset her, and when someone heard something upsetting, they brooded upon it. And usually, people didn't brood upon things unless it was about themselves. And now she suddenly asks a question about her being too forward with him and the other men.
It wasn't too hard to figure out what O'Donnell's comment must have been then. He must have made a remark about Mary's relationship with them.
Vin sighed. He never really gave much thought about the relationship he and his friends had with the widow. If asked to classify it, Vin would have merely said they were friends. Nothing more, nothing less. She was someone he would help and who he would turn to for help, and Vin suspected that was how the other men viewed her as well, but perhaps on different levels of intimacy.
Nathan he knew was very good friends with her and she was often the one he called on the most when he needed help in a medical emergency. Mary was working with Josiah on church matters. Womanizing Buck was friendly and courteous to her as he was with all women. Vin suspected JD was a bit intimidated by the widow. Ezra didn't seem to have much contact with her, but Vin had a sneaking suspicion that Ezra admired the pretty widow on some level.
Chris. Vin paused for a moment. Vin suspected something more on Chris's part than he was letting on. Again, it was Vin's experience with human nature. There was just a different way the gunslinger handled the widow. Sure, they be snapping at each other like mad dogs on one thing or another, but Vin had seen the man willing to go through hell and high water for her. He was the one she leaned upon and he was always there, no questions asked.
That could be interpreted badly by others.
Vin shook his head. He never knew what to make of gossip. What someone else did, long as it didn't hurt no one or was against the law, was their business. Always seemed to Vin that the people who talked about others just didn't have any type of life that'll keep their interest so they had to poke their noses into others.
"No ma'am," Vin said quietly.
"What?" Mary asked, startled out of her thoughts.
"I don't think you're forward or nothing," Vin replied. He looked over at the widow. Sure didn't help that she was so young and pretty. "I know me and the rest appreciate it that you been real kind and friendly to us. Standing by us and all when the town ain't been too happy with things we do."
She looked at him meditatively for a moment until she smiled gently. "Thank you," she said softly. Her eyes clouded over when she saw Vin suddenly become alert and stare off into the distance. He unhooked his mare's leg and every muscle in his body was tense and ready. "What is it?" she asked nervously as she turned her gaze in the direction he was looking in.
"Rider coming up," Vin answered as he continued to stare off into the distance as a small dot gradually became larger. After a few moments, he relaxed as he recognized the familiar shape. "It's Chris."
They pulled their horses to a stop and waited for the gunslinger to reach them. Chris reined his horse in and regarded them curiously. He nodded politely to Mary and turned inquiring eyes to Vin.
"Miz Travis wanted to visit Miz O'Donnell to see how she was," Vin answered his unspoken question. "Knew it wouldn't be good to have her going alone, so I tagged along. Also wanted to take a good look around the O'Donnell farm."
Chris nodded. "Find anything?"
"Tracks that led down to the creek. Looks like he went in. Think we should go back there tomorrow at first light with two parties to see if we can spot where he left the water."
Chris nodded again. "Sounds like a good plan."
"Did you find anything today?" Mary asked.
Chris turned his attention towards her and noticed again the tenseness in her body language. She must be pretty scared. "No. We spent most of today warning as many farms as we could, but we didn't learn anything new."
"Chris, you heading back to town?" Vin interrupted.
"Yeah, why?"
"Mind taking Miz Travis the rest of the way? We ain't too far from Nettie's and I kinda like to drop in on her."
Chris nodded. Vin tipped his hat to Mary and turned his horse to the right as the buggy continued towards town with the gunslinger as an escort.
+ + + + + + +
"Well, I hope you're staying for dinner," Nettie Wells said as she greeted the lanky man.
Vin grinned. "Depends on what you're having, ma'am."
"Fried chicken, potatoes, and some of my green peas."
"Then I'm staying," Vin replied. He looked around. "Where's Casey?"
"Out in the barn."
"Anyone been by here today?" Vin asked sharply.
"If you mean to warn us about the son of a dog that's going around attacking women, JD came out here first thing in the morning." Nettie set an extra place at the dinner table. "I'm making sure Casey's armed and that gun doesn't leave her. And of course I've got my handy Spenser."
Vin grinned at the old woman and took a sip of the coffee she set before him. "Nettie," he began slowly and thoughtfully. "For a woman, is it the worst thing in the world?"
She turned around from the stove and looked him. "You mean being violated?"
"Yeah," Vin replied as he continued to look thoughtful. "I mean, it's a crime and all, why don't a woman want to say anything to make certain that the guy that did it is caught?"
Nettie sighed heavily and sat down opposite Vin. She stared at him hard and realized he didn't understand. "You ever know a woman who's been raped?" Vin shook his head. "It ain't just the body that's being violated. It's the person that you are. He takes something away from you. Dignity, peace of mind. And if you have a man? Lord Almighty! Lot's a time, he ain't going to want to touch you again!"
"Why?" Vin was confused. "It ain't the woman's fault."
"Vin, you were a bounty hunter and you've hunted your share of rapists, right?" He nodded. "But you ain't ever seen what it does to his victims. I have. The woman is destroyed. Not only by what he gone and done to her, but by the talk of the people who know about it. Folks start to say that maybe she deserved it. Set herself up to be attacked. She gets closed in from all sides and then she finds out her man ain't by her side anymore.
"He starts thinking the same as them other folks do. That she's to blame. Or he blames himself for not protecting her. Either way, gets real bad between them. Women have killed themselves because it's happened to them."
"I just don't understand it," Vin said as he shook his head.
"A woman's reputation is all she's got. Once that's gone, ain't no one that's willing to have anything to do with her. She becomes alone. And how many women can get by on their own? Hell, it ain't like they're men and can pick up and go to some town and get work. And if they're married and your man is making your life an absolute misery? Not like they can run off. A runaway wife!"
"But to kill themselves?"
"When Guy Royale first came onto my land, I gave Casey a gun and told her to save the last bullet for herself. Death is preferable to the hell you're going to have to live through after it. Death before dishonor."
"That's crazy talk," Vin said stubbornly.
The old woman shrugged and stood up to get the rest of the meal. "Perhaps so. But then, Vin, you ain't a woman."
+ + + + + + +
Every now and then, Chris stole a look over at Mary. Ever since they separated from Vin, she had remained silent. For once, Chris felt the need for conversation. Her silence didn't feel right to him.
"Mary," he began softly. "I think it might be best if you stick near town until we catch this guy."
He watched as she slowly nodded her head. "Mr. Tanner, mentioned something along those lines."
"It's just that we don't know who he is, so you ain't got any warning if you come across him. We also need as many of us out there hunting him, and well,-" he trailed off.
"You can't spare the man to play escort for me," she finished with an ironic twist of her lips.
"Nuthing personal," he returned.
She nodded again. "I'll be okay, Chris."
He looked at her suspiciously, noting she had promised nothing. "You will stay in town?" he barked out.
Mary turned unreadable eyes towards him and for some reason, he felt alarm. Usually, her eyes were clear and open. He could always tell what was going on behind them, but now, they were as inscrutable as his own.
"I'll be careful," Mary replied.
His lips thinned in annoyance as he realized that was the best he was going to get out of her.
+ + + + + + +
The next morning was another brilliant fall day. Vin, Chris, Buck and Josiah had set out just before daylight for the creek near the O'Donnell farm. Nathan, Ezra and JD were about to go on patrol when a rider came flying into town.
"Nathan! Nathan!"
The other three men turned their eyes to see Rex White, a local farmer, rushing pell mell for them. He reined his horse in sharply and nearly fell out of the saddle.
"What is it Mr. White?" Nathan asked.
"Mattie Harper!" gasped Rex. "She's gone and taken a bad fall! Needs your help!"
Nathan quickly swung himself up onto his horse and followed Rex out to the Harper farm. They arrived a bit later at the small house nestled in a grove of trees. The boards had been weathered to a soft gray that was washed out by the gay fall foliage. No smoke came from the chimney and the entire place had an air of desolation about it.
The two men rushed quickly into the house where they found Neal Harper kneeling by the bed of his wife Mattie. Nathan hastened forward and bent over the woman only to draw back in surprise.
She was pale and still, rigor mortis already setting in. Her hands were clasped across her stomach and her face had dropped into lines of peace. But what was odd was that she was wet.
Just to be certain, Nathan quickly examined her, but knew she was already dead. He shot a sharp glance at Neal who had yet to react to his presence. Behind him, he heard Rex quietly leave the house.
"What happened?" Nathan asked gently.
"I woke up this morning and she was gone. Went out by the creek and found her in there."
Nathan nodded. That would explain the wetness. He moved to examine her head, but could find no sign that she may have hit it. He frowned. Did she faint? And what was she doing up so early and by the creek?
"My fault," Neal continued as he began to rock back and forth. "It's all my fault."
"How do you mean?" Nathan asked quietly as he watched the man before him with an intense look.
"I wouldn't have nuthing to do with her after it happened. Like it was her fault! She was too small. So, so small!" A sob tore through Neal Harper's body. "God Mattie! I'm sorry!" He broke down and put his head on the bed beside his wife and wept his sorrow out.
"What happen to Miz Harper?" Nathan continued in his soft, non-intrusive voice.
"She was too small! She couldn't fight him off! And then I go and blame her! Like she wanted it to happen to her!" He sobbed loudly as Nathan began to piece the disjointed story together. With mounting horror, realization dawned on the healer.
"How long ago did it happen?" Nathan's voice became sharp.
"Two weeks," snuffled Neal. "I said not to tell anyone. Folks start to treat you different when they know something like that. But I wouldn't talk to her about it! I wouldn't touch her. And then she gone and done sumthing like this-. God Mattie! I'm sorry! Sorry!" His words dissolved into sobs once more.
"Did he leave anything behind? Did she tell you anything?" Angrily, Nathan reached forward and hauled the smaller man to his feet to face him. He shook Neal Harper vigorously. "Stay together man! Did she say anything about this man?"
Neal shook his head as he continued to sob. "She said, that he-, he threw four bits at her."
Two quarters. Damn. It was the same bastard.
Nathan turned his attention back to the man he still held in his grip. Neal's gaze had gone back to his wife.
"I actually said it may have been better if she hadn't lived," the man whispered in agony. "I didn't think she go and do something about it."
+ + + + + + +
"Two weeks ago!" Buck sputtered. "You mean to tell me this son of a bitch has been doing something like this for that long?!"
They were gathered in the sheriff's office. The two parties who tried to follow the creek trail came up empty-handed. They knew where the rapist's horse left the creek, but the trail was soon lost in the rocky area.
"And we don't know who else may have been attacked," Chris said thoughtfully as he looked at a map. "But it looks like he's staying north of town. Harpers. O'Donnells." He marked the two farms on the map and then drew a wide circle around it. "We best concentrate in this area."
"But, why aren't any of the women reporting it?" JD asked in confusion.
"Because a woman who has been violated would be viewed with less than a revered eye," Ezra replied. "And having one's female relative attacked, especially if it is one's wife, would be a blow to the masculine pride. An indication of a man's inability to protect what is his." Ezra sniffed disdainfully. "A primitive viewpoint in my opinion."
"What he's saying is," Josiah translated, "That a woman's dignity and reputation would be gone. She would be regarded differently by those around her, particularly her husband."
"But why?" JD was still confused. "It ain't like it's her fault. I mean, someone did it to her."
"And that, my young friend, is where the illogical reasoning of all this lies," Ezra replied.
"If you're all through," Chris's voice cut through the chatter. "We need to figure out how to find and stop this son of a bitch."
Vin was still looking at the map. "I just wonder how many other women he's hurt."
+ + + + + + +
An air of tenseness hung over the town as the whispered rumors began. Women were terrified to be alone and more than once during the night the seven law men found themselves investigating a scream only to find a cat upsetting a can or a branch knocking against a window.
It wasn't the night time that women need fear, but the day. Farmer and rancher wives began to lock themselves in their homes with a loaded gun as their husbands, fathers, and brothers went about their work, checking in on them frequently.
People began to look at each other and silently ask themselves, Did it happen to her?
Frustration was felt most by the seven men who were hired to protect the town and the outlying areas. It was almost like fighting a ghost. They didn't know what he looked like or where he was. There were only two known victims, but there could be more.
Chris's nerves were also not helped by Mary's insistent daily questions. It got to the point where he hoped a day would pass where he didn't have to endure the widow's interrogation. He understood her need to know if any progress had been made. Until the man was caught, all women were in danger. He didn't like the possibility of Mary becoming a victim any more than he liked not being able to find the rapist.
But her demeanor and actions puzzled him. It wasn't as if she was after a story, but there was the unmistakable driven will of hers behind all of this. She was frighten, of that he was certain, but to Chris, it seemed as if she was after something more. And he wasn't the only one who noticed this. More than once after one of Mary's visits, he had caught Vin's eye. The tracker would stare thoughtfully at the retreating back of the widow and then look over at Chris with raised eyebrows. He gave Vin the only answer he knew, a shrug of his shoulders.
+ + + + + + +
Yet another scream disturbed the quiet night of Four Corners. Seven men from seven different directions ran towards the one spot where the scream emanated from. Again, they found it was another false alarm, but they couldn't ignore anything these days.
As they slowly returned to their beds after assuring the terrified woman that it was only the family dog scratching at the door, Vin Tanner spotted a pale figure standing at the end of the boardwalk outside of The Clarion.
The figure was motionless except for the wisps of long, blond hair the evening wind stirred. With his sharp eyes, he could see the terror in her face and the trembling that now seemed to be a part of her body movements. He changed directions and headed for her.
"Miz Travis?" he said gently. "It's okay, it was a false alarm."
"No, it's not okay," Mary said almost to herself. "It's not okay. The only way to stop it is to talk. To speak up."
"Ma'am?" Vin continued, worry creasing his brow. "You'd best go in. It's cold."
She turned her pale eyes towards him and he was shocked to see tears rolling down her face.
"Miz Travis?" he repeated in concerned tones. He reached out to grasp her arm. "Are you all right?"
Mary shook her head slowly. "I don't think I have been for a very long time," she whispered in so low of a voice, he wasn't certain he heard correctly. She turned on her heel and went back into her building.
Vin looked thoughtfully at the closed door, not certain what to make of her actions. He turned around and saw Chris watching him from across the street. He met the eyes of the gunslinger and for one moment, they stared at each other. But unlike their usual silent communications, Vin could not understand what was going through Chris's mind. The older man dropped his eyes first and moved towards his room.
+ + + + + + +
They received their first break almost two weeks after the O'Donnell attack. Hi Franklin tore into town on his horse, yelling at the top of his lungs.
"Baker farm!" he yelled out to Chris, Vin and Ezra. "He hit Baker farm."
The three men were about to go out to patrol the area and were already on their horses. They kicked their heels and turned their mounts in the direction of Baker farm.
The sound of a high keening came from within the house. The four men ran inside and found Ellen Baker cradling her daughter Letty in her arms.
"Letty! Letty!" the old woman cried out.
Letty Baker's dress was torn, exposing more flesh than it covered. Her face and arms showed evidence of bruises where she had been hit and cruelly grabbed.
Vin squatted beside the two women and took Letty's pulse. He looked up at Chris and shook his head.
"Damn," the gunslinger swore. "What happened here?"
"I had to take the cows out to pasture," Ellen sobbed out. "I wasn't gone but an hour. I told her to keep the gun close by, just in case, but she didn't! Oh Letty!"
"Did you see anyone?"
"A man. Riding away on a paint," Ellen tearfully replied. "I didn't get too good of a look at him."
Vin stood up and spoke quietly to Chris. "I'm going to go see if I can track him. Looks like he ain't been gone too long. We might have just gotten lucky."
Chris nodded. "Yeah, but at what price?"
Vin didn't have an answer but merely slipped out of the house. The gunslinger continued to look at the two lives that laid in shattered pieces before him. Rage boiled up within him and he tried to control it. His anger was the last thing Mrs. Baker needed to see now.
It was Ezra who took control of the situation.
The gambler dropped to his knees beside the Baker women. He put a comforting arm around Mrs. Baker and murmured a prayer.
"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want..."
+ + + + + + +
Another trail that led nowhere. He was one clever bastard.
They were all assembled in the sheriff's office trying to figure out their next course of action.
"At least we know he's riding a paint," JD said hopefully.
"But that don't bring us any closer to finding him," Nathan responded. He sighed. "And it don't look like he's going to stop neither."
"Looks that way," Chris replied, anger radiating from every syllable. "Only this time, we got murder added on to this."
"How many do you think he did this to?" JD whispered.
"It be impossible to tell," Josiah mused. "Like Mary said, it's not something people talk about. They hush it up. It's not like a horse or a clock was stolen." The ex-preacher shook his head sadly. "It's something much more valuable but you feel too ashamed to ask for help."
"I can't believe this goddamn son of a bitch is getting away with this and we ain't done nothing!" Buck yelled as he kicked the desk.
"Easy Brother," Josiah soothed the taller man. "Beating up on the furniture isn't going to help."
"Well, a fine lot of help we've been," Buck snapped back as he threw himself down into a chair.
"I feel in need of some liquid refreshment," Ezra broke in mildly, trying to relieve the suddenly tense atmosphere. "Anyone care to join me?"
They separated, some going with Ezra and others going his own way to relieve his frustration and anger. JD and Buck, however, lingered in the office.
"Buck," the young man began. "I don't understand why a man's gotta do something like this. I mean, it's not like there aren't a lot of women who're willing. Why does he have to go force himself on one?"
Buck rubbed his eyes wearily and tilted his hat back. "Son, it ain't about getting a woman. When a man treats a woman like that, it's because he's a low down coward. He's ain't man enough to get a woman the proper way. He's got to pick on someone smaller and weaker who can't fight back so's that he can feel like a real big man."
JD watched as his friends eyes gradually became angrier and angrier as he spoke. Buck appeared to be containing some inner rage as he thought more and more about the rapist.
A flash of intuition hit the younger man. "Buck, did you know anyone who was-, was violated?"
Buck stood and jammed his hands into his pockets as he started for the door. As he began to walk out, he threw over his shoulder, "Something like that hurts the woman the most, but it don't mean others don't feel it too."
+ + + + + + +
Days passed and there were no further attacks that they knew of or any other evidence that the man was still in the area. Nerves were stretched taut and the breaking point was quickly approaching. Something needed to be done and fast. The only problem was, what?
Mary Travis pulled her shawl tightly around her as she hurried down the street towards the sheriff's office. She found all seven men gathered around discussing the day's patrol that had once again yielded nothing.
Chris sighed in irritation when he saw her. He was tired and cold and the last thing he wanted to do was to undergo another barrage of questions from Mary.
"Did you find anything today?" Mary asked anxiously. She was pale and wore the same tense look that all women seemed to have on their faces. However, a few of the men saw something else there: a shadow that had been in evidence since she came rushing into the saloon a few weeks ago with news about Sara O'Donnell.
"Nothing today, ma'am," Vin answered politely. He looked at her with keen eyes. He had been watching her closely these past few days and the pieces were beginning to come together.
"It's been days," Mary began.
"We know how long it's been, Mary," Chris interrupted irritably. He stood up and brushed past her to get to the stove. "Don't need you to remind us."
"There's got to be something you can do," she almost pleaded. It was there again, that frighten tone that somehow didn't ring quite true. Chris stopped to look thoughtfully at her.
"We're doing the best we can, ma'am," Nathan broke in gently. "But we don't have much to go on."
"You don't know where he'll strike next or if he's even in the area," Mary said.
"Your point?" Chris asked wearily as he poured himself a cup of coffee from the pot on the stove.
"You set a trap," Mary replied. As the men looked at her in confusion, she elaborated. "He hits homesteads. Farms. He won't come into town. He waits until the women are isolated. It's harvest time. She's alone in the house with the exception of some small children who won't be a problem. You have a woman stay alone in her home. We have an idea of the area he seems to favor. Northwest. A lone woman with not even a man around would be too much temptation for him."
"Absolutely not!" Chris yelled out. He set his coffee cup down with a loud clatter, sloshing brown liquid over JD's desk. "What woman is going to agree to be-, to be bait?! Unless-," his eyes sidled over to Ezra.
"Now just a minute Mr. Larabee-," the gambler began as he saw the wheels turning in the older man's head.
"Regardless of what those drunken men thought in Wickestown," Mary said acidly, "Mr. Standish does not make a convincing woman." She took a deep breath. "I'll be the bait."
"Then the answer is definitely no," Chris shot out as he waved a finger in her face. "And you get that fool notion out of your head this moment. I ain't risking no woman in catching this man."
Mary held her hands out to her sides and let them fall in exasperation. "So you just let it continue? Just let him keep doing it until he gets bored and goes away?"
"We'll catch him," was Chris's tight response.
"I beg your pardon, but you haven't been too successful at it and two women are dead!"
With an angry growl, Chris swung on her and moved his face close to hers until it was only inches away. He bit off every syllable as he spoke in cold, clipped tones. "We are not using you as bait and that's final. I don't want to hear any more talk like that. And if I find you trying some crazy stunt like that, I'll lock you up in this jail until the whole damn thing is over."
Her eyes were as hard as blue ice. Mary's nostrils flared in anger and her cheeks were stained with two red spots. "You wouldn't dare," she whispered in a low tone.
"Try me."
They stood there, both immovable objects. Neither one was willing to break first. It was finally Josiah's mild voice that broke the staring contest.
"We could use your help, Mary, in speaking to some of the women. As you said before, they might feel more comfortable with you."
Mary barked out a laugh that caught all the men by surprise. "Don't you think I've tried?" she exclaimed. "They don't want to talk about it. Why go over it? It'll almost be like it was happening to them again.
"And how do I approach other women who might have been attacked? How do you propose I do something like that? 'Oh, excuse me, but you act like you were raped. Care to discuss it with me?'"
Her voice bordered on being hysterical. She was flushed and her eyes looked unnaturally bright. The men exchanged worried looks. Chris's anger left him and he moved towards her.
"Mary," Chris began gently as he turned her towards him. He felt the slight trembling in her body. Her troubled, stormy eyes turned up to look at him and he nearly caught his breath when he saw how tormented they were. He had never seen them like that before. "You're tired. Let me take you home."
She nodded mutely and drew her shawl closer around her. Chris gently placed his hand under her elbow and led her out of the sheriff's office.
"What was that?" JD asked as he stared after the couple in bewilderment.
"Don't know JD," Vin said thoughtfully as he watched Chris and Mary continue down the street. "It was kinda odd of her to act that way. Real odd."
+ + + + + + +
They walked in silence for a few moments until Chris finally spoke.
"Maybe it's best if you go and visit Billy for a while," he suggested.
They were outside The Clarion now and Mary entered the building first before answering. Chris followed her in and shut the door after them. She took her time trimming a wick and lighting a lamp before she turned around and faced him.
"Why?" was her one word question.
"Just until we catch the guy," Chris continued. He moved forward towards her and stared down at her with intense eyes. "I just feel better knowing you were out of the way."
"You mean out of your way?" she asked dryly.
"Out of harm's way," Chris replied softly. A strand of hair that she never seemed able to keep pinned back fell forward and dangled precariously over her forehead. With gentle fingers, he brushed the curl back and for a brief moment, allowed the impenetrable mask he constantly wore drop away. "I don't want to see you hurt." His fingers lingered in her hair for a moment longer.
Her eyes softened and the shadows disappeared. Chris saw the old Mary back but it quickly faded away and was replaced by this person he hardly recognized anymore. Her cheeks flushed and she quickly dropped her eyes.
"Perhaps you're right," she murmured. "Maybe it is safer to be at Orrin's for a few weeks."
Chris sighed in relief, happy that he didn't have to convince her further. At least he knew one woman, the one who would hurt him the most if she got hurt, would be safe.
Later, he would remember his own foolishness for accepting her easy acquiescence.
+ + + + + + +
A few days later, Chris carried Mary's bag to the stagecoach boarding spot.
"And tell Billy that'll I'll definitely take him back to the fishing hole the next time he visits," Chris said as he hefted her bag up to the stage hand. He turned to look at Mary and furrowed his brow when he saw the expression on her face.
The look was a mixture of fear, guilt and that other emotion he had not been able to identify.
"Mary?"
She shook herself back to the present and looked at Chris with those shadow laden eyes. Mary smiled a ghost of her smile. "Thank you. I'll be certain to let Billy know."
He helped her into the stage, but held her hand for an extra moment. She turned to look at him in surprise.
"It'll be okay, Mary," he said softly. "We'll find him." Unconsciously, he allowed his thumb to stroke the back of her gloved hand.
He could see the tears well up into her eyes as she fought for control. Mary nodded and looked down at their clasped hands. Her eyes swung back to his. "Good-bye, Chris. Thank you for everything that you've done for me and my family." She drew her hand away and settled back into her seat.
Chris stepped back as the stagecoach started up. Her last words troubled him. They had sounded so final, as if she expected to never see him again. He stood in that spot long after the stagecoach had disappeared from sight, his black duster swirling around him.
+ + + + + + +
The stagecoach rolled to a stop at the Bitter Creek landing spot. Mary stepped off the stage and gathered her carpet bag. She stepped briskly towards the stables and negotiated the rental of a buggy and horse for two weeks. After a quick stop at the general store, she set the horse on a smart pace towards her old homestead.
Although she had long wished to get rid of her former home, she had found no takers. She gazed at the recently rebuilt house. Consumed in a fire set by Chris Larabee in an attempt to save his and Billy's lives, Mary had been more than willing to allow the entire structure to burn down and leave it's charred remains to the elements of nature. However, Chris, for some reason or another, felt the need to rebuild at least a small, one room structure.
The boards still held some of their golden color of sawed wood. She idly noted that he had even installed glass in the two small windows. Mary withdrew the key to the door from her dress and let herself in after settling the horse in the stable.
There were two makeshift chairs and a table and a small cot. It had taken Chris, Vin and Buck two days to throw the house together, but even in that short amount of time, they had done their work well and with care.
Mary sighed aloud and began to put away the supplies she bought and her other things. From her carpet bag, she removed Steven's old revolver. She held it for a moment, feeling it's comforting weight in her hands.
She looked up to stare off into space and her eyes became as cold and hard as granite. She knew what she had to do and that only she could do it.
+ + + + + + +
"Morning Mr. Larabee," Jed Martin said as he handed Chris a package.
Chris nodded absently.
"Excuse me," a woman said as she leaned across the counter towards Jed. "But is there a newspaper in town?"
"Sure is ma'am," Jed replied. "Run by Miz Travis. It's down the street on the right, but she ain't there. She's out of town in Bitter Creek."
Chris had been about to step out the door when he heard Jed's words. He paused and turned around. He strode up the counter and leaned over it, close to Jed. "What do you mean Miz Travis is in Bitter Creek?"
"Why, I saw her there last week," Jed replied in surprise.
"Doing what?" Chris asked sharply.
"Sh-, she looked like she was renting a buggy and a horse," stammered Jed.
Chris swore under his breath shocking the woman. He spun on his heel and stalked angrily from the telegraph office towards the jail.
+ + + + + + +
"Are you sure, Chris?" Buck asked. "Why would she go and do something like that?"
"I don't know!" Chris said in exasperation as he threw his hands up in the air. "She's been acting funny lately. I don't know what the hell she's doing anymore. But we gotta figure out where she may have holed up to set this trap before she gets herself killed or -." Chris closed his eyes for a moment as he tried to banish what could potentially happen to Mary from his mind.
"Only one place," Vin said calmly as he studied a map. "Her old homestead." He tapped the paper. "It's empty so she can stay there, and it's in the general area of where he's been attacking women."
"Mount up," Chris said tersely as he stalked out of the office.
+ + + + + + +
For days she had allowed herself to be seen by anyone who might be watching. She had taken long walks along the old paths she and Steven had once used, the revolver carefully hidden underneath the folds of her shawl. For the past two days, she had felt someone watching her, studying her habits and her surroundings. When she heard the noise at the front door, she wasn't surprised.
Mary felt a sudden peace settle over her. She looked up and saw a tall, dark-haired man silhouetted in her door. Feelings and sensations shut down in her and she felt hollow and empty. She became separate from her body. Odd, it was the same feeling she had years ago when it happened.
Mary calmly marked her place and set her book down. She regarded the man before her dispassionately and without fear as if he was no more than an errant fly who happened to wander into her home.
Nonplused by her demeanor, the man paused in the doorway.
"Why do you do it?" Mary asked calmly. "Why do you hurt women?"
He pushed his hat back and laughed softly. "You know what I want little lady? Hell, this makes it easier."
"But why do you do it?"
"Darling, you're all asking for it," he smiled. He came slowly forwards. "I do so hope you won't be easy. I like it when women have a little spirit in them."
"This won't be easy at all," Mary replied as her hand dropped down to the shawl on her lap.
She brought up a revolver and took aim. The man was too close and moved too swiftly. He lunged forward and grabbed her wrist, sending the bullet speeding to the ceiling. With his other hand, he slapped her hard across the face, but Mary kept her grip on the gun.
She surged upwards and brought her knee up, catching him in the groin. He let go of her allowing her to strike him across the face with the revolver. He fell to the floor and she stood over him, the gun pointed at his chest.
"Please, please," he croaked as he held up his hands in a defensive gesture. He began to crawl across the floor to the door.
"How many times did they beg you?" Mary asked calmly as she followed him. "Did you listen?"
"I didn't mean no harm," the man said as he made it out to the front yard. "It was just for fun."
"Fun?" She repeated incredulously. "It's fun destroying a woman's life? Taking away her dignity, her self-respect, her honor?" She gazed at him in disbelief.
He could see anger and disgust on her face, but he also saw indecision. Here was a woman who has not killed before and could not kill. She was too civilized, too much a lady to sully her hands with blood.
Slowly, his hand inched towards the gun in his holster. He didn't think she would fire. If she wanted to kill him, she would have done it by now. Quickly, he withdrew his gun and aimed it at her.
The first bullet caught him in the chest. He gazed down in disbelief at the flowering red spot on his shirt. But he still did not drop his gun. The second shot went wide and hit the ground next to him. The third caught him in the leg. He aimed again, but she hit the arm next, forcing him to drop the gun. The last bullet in sweet justice hit his groin.
Click, click, went the empty chamber as she continued to nervously jerk back the trigger.
Click, click. She watched without emotion as the light in her attacker's eyes faded and his lids closed.
Dimly, Mary heard the thunder of hoofbeats that seemed to blend in with the noise of her gun.
Click, click. She didn't hear her name called as she watched the man's blood soak into the ground.
Click, click.
She didn't realize that she was no longer alone until she felt the gentle hand stop the continuous clicking as her finger jerked the trigger back. Chris took away her gun and gently turned her towards him. He cupped her chin and raised her face to look into his.
"Are you okay?" he asked softly, fear and concern written over every feature.
She stared glassily back at him; blank-faced and numb.
"Mary?" he asked as he gently shook her. "Did he hurt you?"
Some awareness came into her eyes and she shook her head. Her eyes went back to the body at her feet. "No," she said softly as she looked at the man she had just killed. "No. He tried. But he didn't succeed."
The men glanced at each other, unsure what to make of her faraway tone. Chris indicated with a tilt of his head that he wanted the other men to check the body while he took care of Mary.
She was still apart from her body, floating in a place that wasn't reality. She was numb. Unaware. Sensory perception returned to her when she felt Chris draw her close to him. One arm went around her shoulders and the other circled her waist as he held her comfortingly sheltered in his arms. She could smell the mixture of leather, sweat, sunny prairie wind and the sharp smell of whiskey on him. The cloth of his shirt was soft against her cheek as he pressed her close to his body and turned her to lead her away from that dead thing. The thing she had just killed.
Distantly, she heard the men dismount to take care of the body as Chris led her towards a wooden bench by the house. He sat her down and took a seat next to her. The gunslinger frowned as he looked into her face.
"I told you once that I would not become a victim," Mary reminded him.
Chris grinned faintly. "Yeah, I remember that." His smile faded. "Why did you do it? Put yourself in so much danger?" He reached out to stroke her hair. "It was too big of a risk."
She turned those magnificent eyes toward him and regarded him thoughtfully. She threw words he had once used on her back at him. "You think you know me." She shook her head. "You don't know me at all."
He felt the same shock she must have felt when he said those same words to her many months ago. Did they hurt her as much as they did him?
Again, that errant curl dangled down her face. With gentle hands, Chris smoothed it back and looked into her eyes. He cupped her soft cheek with his callused hand. "But I want to," he said softly, his words surprising him. "Why did you do it?"
Mary closed her eyes and sighed, leaning into the hand on her face. It felt warm and gentle and strong, radiating comfort to her. She opened her eyes to see him staring at her. Confusion, worry, anger and something else warred in his eyes. Her mouth opened but she slowly closed it again. It was something she had never spoken about and right now, she just couldn't explain. She couldn't go to that place where it has been locked away for so long. Mary stood and brushed off her skirt, again throwing painful words he once used on her back at him. "You have no idea what I've been through."
Chris followed her up as he too stood. Gently, he grasped her arms and made her face him. He cupped her chin and tilted her head up and watched her ice-blue eyes shimmer in unshed tears.
"Mary."
He said her name with such unspoken feeling and depth of emotion that it threatened to undue her. His face was naked and bare as he laid exposed for her to see all that he felt. It was too much for her to handle at that moment and she moved away from his hands to stand a little ways off. Mary crossed her arms over her chest and held herself, alone and apart from the others.
Chris looked at her in dismay. He saw the look on her face, it was one he often saw in the mirror. It spoke of inner pain and sorrow and it was the worse thing a human being can suffer. He had been alone with his pain for a long time and he was familiar with it. It hurt him to know that she was suffering in such a way. He moved forward and wrapped her in his duster. He allowed his hands to rest on her shoulders, trying to lend her his strength.
Mary merely stood still, never acknowledging his presence or that of the other men as she watched the sun begin to set.
+ + + + + + +
Chris climbed up into the buggy next to Mary. He picked up the reins and looked at her thoughtfully before slapping them down to urge the horse forward. They rode silently for a few minutes before he stole another look at his companion.
She sat there, immobile as a statue of ivory and gold. He could see the dark shadows creating bruises under her eyes and an actual bruise on her cheek that she received at that man's hands. She stared ahead with her hands folded in her lap and her back ramrod straight. She looked exhausted, but strangely calm.
"You can lean on me if you're tired," Chris spoke softly, tenderly.
Mary turned her head to look at him. Her eyes were unreadable and he found himself frustrated that he didn't know the whole story.
"Thank you. But I'm fine," she replied.
Chris nodded, understanding. However, a few miles from town, he felt a gentle pressure against his arm and realized she had slumped towards him a little. He stared ahead, never giving any indication that he noticed.
+ + + + + + +
The next morning, Mary was up and working as if nothing unusual had happened. A step at her front door made her look up from her desk and she saw Vin Tanner leaning in her doorway.
"Just checking to see how you were doing ma'am," Vin said as he tipped his hat.
Mary smiled gently. "I'm fine, Mr. Tanner. Thank you."
She looked at him curiously, wondering why he was hesitating.
"It seemed to me, ma'am," Vin began slowly. "That you took all this mighty personally." He saw her tense up and knew he had hit his target. "Well, ma'am, I just wanted to let you know that something like that, well, uhm, don't matter none to me or any of the others. A lady is a lady until she decides different. Not until someone else says it."
Mary gazed at him in astonishment that she didn't bother to conceal. Vin merely stared earnestly back at her. She shook her head and laughed softly. "I think I understand what you mean, Mr. Tanner. Thank you."
"If you ever, well, want to talk," Vin offered hesitantly. "It might help. I can listen or Chris-" He saw her tense up again at the mention of Chris's name. "It don't matter to him, ma'am," Vin assured her gently. "Sharing eases the burden. Got two people to help with the load." He waited for her.
Mary plucked nervously at her dress. Not even Steven knew. It was something she had tucked away in the corner of herself that was dark and where she banished all painful memories.
"Sixteen," she said softly as she continued to look at the pattern on her dress. "I was sixteen. It was the son of a friend of the family. I was so ashamed that I didn't tell anyone. No one knew until today." She turned her tearful eyes towards Vin. "How did you figure it out?"
Vin grinned slightly. "You were breathing a bit more hellfire than usual. All this seemed to hit real close to home."
Mary nodded as a few tears rolled down her face. "It did," she said softly. "I guess catching this man was making up for me being quiet all those years. My absolution or something like that."
Vin heard a step behind him and turned around. Chris Larabee stood in the doorway looking from Mary's crying face to Vin's inscrutable one.
"Vin. Mary, what's wrong?" Chris asked as he moved forward towards them.
"Miz Travis will explain," Vin replied. He shot Mary a glance. "If she wants to. Ma'am." Vin tipped his hat towards her.
Mary looked up at him. "Thank you."
Vin nodded again and in an unusual move for him, reached out to squeeze her arm. He nodded to Chris who continued to look at him with a puzzled frown and went out the door.
Mary began to dab her eyes when she felt Chris touch her arm. She looked up into his concerned face.
"Are you okay?" he asked in a worried tone.
"I'm fine." Her voice broke, betraying the fact that she was anything but fine. He continued to gaze at her with concern when she suddenly moved forward and placed her head on his chest and wept out her past pain.
Chris was stunned for a moment, but soon wrapped his arms around her and made comforting noises. Deep down, he knew he would probably never know what had just happened, but at that moment, it really didn't matter.
The End
