Sharon Poppen

by Hannah

  Coralee openly assessed Hannah as if debating a purchase. A good minute passed, and then Coralee nodded. “I’ll do it.”

  “Thank you.” Hannah gushed.

  “But, I want something up front.”

  “Up front?”

  “Yes. Clothes for my girls don’t come cheap.”

  “I said I’d pay.”

  “And, so you will. I’ve a couple of boys who’ve gone through my girls and want something new.”

  “Two?” Hannah asked.

  The steely eyes waited.

  Hannah closed her own. She tried to remind herself of Caleb’s murder and her rape, but found thoughts of Liam, and his concern for her, chiseling at her resolve. No. I must do this! I owe Caleb. I must remember. Drake’s lewd face, contorted in lust, appeared. Hate absorbed her every thought wiping away all emotion for Liam. Her eyes opened. “I’ll do it.”

  Coralee smiled. “Follow me. We’ll get you bathed, and then you’ll entertain the men.”

  *****

  Hannah pulled the sash of the pink, satin robe tight against her nude body. A large brass bed filled the room. Pink, candlelit globes adorned a table by the bed and two walls. She peeked through the rose-colored, velvet window drapes.

  The door opened. “Turn ‘round. Let’s see if yer purdy.” A male voice ordered, while another laughed.

  Hannah gasped in recognition of the men who’d killed the baby’s mother.

  “I’ll be damned, Hank. It’s the woman from the train.”

  “Shore is,” agreed Hank. “And ya know, Charley, I think you’re right. She is the gal Drake shared with us. The one Benny was ‘posed ta kill.”

  “Drake’ll owe us good for doin’ what Benny shoulda done. That’s fer sure.”

  Hank closed the door, unbuckled his holster and hung it on a hook by the door. Charley followed suit. One on each side of the bed, they approached her.

  Hannah was cornered. Her only chance for survival was the window. She began to back up. Hank reached her first and grabbed her arms. She kicked and twisted as he threw her onto the bed.

  An agonized howl confirmed that one of her kicks had struck Hank. He loosened his grip and doubled over. Hannah continued to twist and kick at Charley until he wrapped his hands around her throat and squeezed.

  “Stop, you bastard.” Liam’s voice roared above Hannah’s screams as he buried his fist in Charley’s side. The man lost his grip on Hannah’s throat and fell to the floor. Hannah’s robe had opened during the melee leaving her body open to Liam’s gaze. Hoping he’d been too busy with Charley to notice, she blushed and pulled the robe tightly around her. Liam lifted her into his arms and set her by the door.

  While Liam collected the killers’ weapons, Hannah wished for a hole to open up for her to disappear into. To make matters worse, Hannah noticed a small crowd gathered in the doorway.

  “Get the sheriff,” Liam yelled.

  “I’m the sheriff,” admitted a barefoot man elbowing his way into the room with a cocked pistol.

  Liam identified the men on the floor as having murdered the woman from the train. The sheriff nodded, lowered his weapon and told a couple of the bystanders to keep watch until he got dressed.

  Liam led Hannah away. Gripping her arm, he urged her along until they were back in the hotel room with the door locked. Hannah had followed in a daze. Her emotions ran the gamut from indignation, to horror, to relief. She felt drained and could do no more than follow.

  “You are the most stubborn, driven woman I have ever met.”

  Hannah, nude under the silky robe, fidgeted. “Liam, I –”

  “I’m not through,” he interrupted. “Now, you’re about to see how stubborn and driven I can be. The only way you’re getting out that door is to tell me what the hell is so big, so bad, so important that you’d allow yourself to get cornered by those bastards in that disgusting house.”

  Hannah could not deny his determination. She sat on the bed with her head lowered. She’d received nothing but care and concern from Liam and his brothers over the past few days. He was a genuinely good man, like Caleb. Both men deserved better than death and the gory details of a death and her rapes. She had decided over Caleb’s grave that the only way to remain true to his memory, and make good on her promises to him, was to avenge his death. He was beyond help or explanations. She looked up at Liam. This kind man needed to move on, but she knew he wouldn’t as long as he thought he could help her. She needed to be honest with Liam, but she suspected that once he knew everything, he’d be so disgusted he would move on. Hannah wasn’t sure she wanted that, but Liam deserved the truth. She looked up and began, “Liam. It’s hard to tell these things.”

  He took a chair and set it against the door. “The hard things are the things that need telling.” Liam sat down. “Now, talk.”

  Chapter 13

  Liam’s Choice

  Hannah’s story unfolded; her husband Caleb’s murder, his brother Jacob’s bargain for his life in exchange for Hannah’s body, and then Jacob’s death, her rape by the man she knew only as Drake and how he shared her with his men. Hannah began in a whisper, but as she relived the horror of that day, the words began to flow and her tone grew stronger. She told of making it to Nacogdoches and about the offer of hospitality from the local minister and his wife while she healed. She told of his nightly ritual to cleanse her mind and body as he took her to his bed. His touch and biblically laced chants could not drown out the sound of his wife’s sobs and pleas as she stood outside her own bedroom door. She told of her chance encounter with Ruby and the kindness the madam had shown.

  Hannah faced Liam through the entire recount. Neither shame, nor embarrassment inhibited her. Liam had seen her at her worst when she’d offered her body for clothes. He’d saved her from her bad decision and she owed him an honest explanation, with no guile. She concluded, “It’s all I live for. I must see these men dead. They took my husband, they took my decency and they took away the baby’s mother and made her an orphan. An orphan! Like me! Well now it’s my turn to take. And take my revenge, I will!” Hannah paused and took a deep breath.

  Hannah watched as shock and outrage spread across Liam’s face. His expression told her that it was more than he had wanted to know, more than he could have imagined. During several brief pauses in her account, he’d uttered curses at the heavens for allowing such defilement. When she’d stopped talking, he remained seated and said nothing. Hannah saw his chair as his security blanket and as long as he remained seated, her story could be a dream, a nightmare. She huddled on the edge of the bed hugging her pink robe to her body while looking into his eyes, pleading that he’d see her need for understanding.

  He shook his head no, ever so slightly. “All these things you’ve told me, the killings, the ..., the violations, yes, they did these things to you. But, Hannah, they didn’t take your decency. Only you can take that away from yourself. By staying the course –

  “Staying the course of what? Forgiveness? Martyrdom?” She stood up. “They did take my decency. I’m scarred in ways that no decent man would accept, would look at.” She dropped the silk robe and stood naked before Liam.

  When her robe had opened at the whorehouse, Hannah knew Liam had gotten only a glimpse of her body. Now, before he could avert his eyes, the discoloration on her breasts and the markings from her rib cage down into her privates were bared and offered as testimony. The marks of cruelty held him spell bound. “Dear God!” He moaned.

  “God?” Her laugh was shrill. “What God?” She touched her breasts. “Teeth marks and permanent bruising.” She ran her hand from above her waist to her pubic hair. “Bites and knife carvings.” She spread her legs and pointed to her thighs. “Cigar burns.” She closed her legs. “The tears inside my body from objects they –

  Liam jumped from his chair and crushed her in a tight embrace. “Hannah,” he whispered into her hair. Her body quivered and she sighed a mournful sob against his chest. The tears came. And came. And came. L
iam held her against his chest and continued to whisper softly into her hair. “It’s all right. Cry, Hannah. Just cry.”

  Eventually, Liam realized that she wasn’t going to stop. This was months of pent-up and denied agony, grief and loss. He carried her to the bed. Still holding her, he maneuvered himself down holding her snuggly against his side, her head on his chest. He knew she was somewhere else mentally, but he’d give her the warmth of a physical embrace. Even when she fell asleep, an occasional sob wracked her body. He held her close as he worked some things out in his own mind.

  At first, he could think of nothing beyond the rage that stoked his disgust at the animals who had hurt this woman. But as the night wore on, Liam’s inner strength began to reduce the fire of his rage to smolder images. His sense of compassion brought tears to his eyes as his common sense advised him to wish this woman well, leave her to her plans and continue on to Aunt Emiliana’s with his brothers. He stroked her hair and finally admitted to himself that he could not leave her.

  “Rest easy,” he whispered. “I’ll not leave. I’ll be right here. Forever, if you’ll have me.” He continued to hold her close feeling her breathe against his skin. “I love you, Hannah.”

  *****

  Shortly after dawn, he slipped from the bed, pulled a light blanket over Hannah and left the hotel room. His brother Frank opened the door to the adjoining room at Liam’s light rap.

  “Find Hannah?” Frank asked.

  Liam nodded. “She’s asleep.”

  Touching Liam’s wrinkled shirt, Frank smiled and arched his brow. “Rough night.”

  Liam brushed away Frank’s hand as he walked over to watch his brother Daniel finish changing the baby’s diaper.

  Daniel looked up. “Frank won’t do this, so don’t make sport of me.”

  Liam touched his brother’s arm. “You’re a good man, Daniel.”

  This brought a look from both brothers. “What does that mean?” asked Frank.

  “You know me too well.”

  Daniel had finished with the baby and put it in its milk crate crib. He turned and accused. “You’re not going with us to Aunt Emiliana’s place, are you?”

  “Damn,” muttered Frank. “You’re going to help that girl do whatever it is that she has a notion to do.”

  “I found out some things last night. I have no choice.”

  “Want to tell us what you found out?”

  “No.”

  “No?”

  “Frank, some things can’t be repeated. Please, I need your trust, your support.”

  Frank struggled for something to say. He glanced at Daniel, who shrugged his shoulders.

  “Guess Liam needs to do this thing, Frank.”

  Liam smiled his gratitude to his youngest brother.

  Frank turned to the baby and then back to Liam. “Well, I have a startling notion, too. That baby needs a woman. Are you taking it with you, with Hannah, as the two of you pursue her strange notions?”

  Daniel stepped in. “Frank, we’ll take the baby to Aunt Emiliana’s. It’s only a half days ride from here.” He turned to Liam. “Take care of yourself.” They shared a brief hug. “We’ll see you, soon.”

  Liam smiled and turned to Frank.

  “We can’t help you?” asked Frank.

  “Not this time,” said Liam.

  Frank nodded, they embraced and Liam left.

  Hannah was still asleep when Liam eased back onto the bed. Decision having been made, he tried to sleep, but thoughts of where his journey with Hannah might take him began to generate questions. He knew they’d do some tracking and planning. Then, what would they do when they found this Drake and the others? They’d have to get the law involved, but would Hannah do this? What if she wanted to kill them herself? The thought made him shudder as the impact of his decision hit him like a gut punch. Do I have it in me to kill someone?

  He turned his head and looked at Hannah. Could I kill someone? For her? His innate honesty kept him from absolute assurance that he could, but the pangs in his heart assured him that she was worth whatever he needed to do to be by her side, forever. Finally, he slept.

  Chapter 14

  A Team is Formed

  Something warm rubbed against Hannah’s nude body. Coming fully awake, she realized she wasn’t alone. She inhaled deeply. After the past few days of sharing a horse and meals, she identified Liam’s scent. She opened her eyes and turned to find him on his back still clad in the clothes he’d worn yesterday. It was his arm that had rubbed against her.

  Hannah took advantage of his sleep to openly enjoy his profile and marvel at the strength of character she detected, even when he was at rest. He’s a good man, like Caleb. Oh, Caleb, she sighed. Why? Oh, why did fate see fit to tear us apart? To… She bit her lip to gain control, to stem the threat of tears.

  No tears. I can’t do that to Liam again! Memories of last night surfaced. Hannah winced remembering her foolishness at Coralee’s, that she’d finally told Liam everything about the murders and rapes and that he had seen her scarred body. She wondered why he was still here, lying beside her. An urge niggled and saved her from further contemplation. When she attempted to crawl over Liam, the bed creaked.

  “Going somewhere?” His eyes remained closed.

  Hannah eased back and covered her nude body. “How do you do that?”

  “Do what?” His eyes opened.

  “Wake up, suddenly, without warning.”

  He smiled. “My internal alarm.”

  “Internal alarm?”

  He sat up. “Actually, it’s more of an urge than an alarm.” He swung his feet to the floor.

  She nodded. “Me, too.”

  “Well, you can’t go to the privy like that.” In his duffle bag, Liam found an extra pair of denims and a shirt. “Here slip into these for now.”

  It took only minutes and they were back in the hotel room. Liam told her his brothers had left and took the baby to their aunt’s place.

  “Why are you still here?” Hannah asked.

  “I’m not too sure, but…” He paused and smiled.

  “Yes?”

  “I’m sure that you need some clothes.”

  An hour later they were having breakfast in an eatery that was in need of a whitewash and smelled of grease. Liam was wearing the clothes Hannah had worn to the privy and Hannah was clad in new denims, flannel shirt and boots from the General Store. Hannah savored the last bite of her pancakes, took a healthy sip of tea and asked again.

  “Why are you here?”

  Liam washed down the last of his second short stack with some heavily creamed coffee. “Like I said, I’m not sure.”

  “Liam, you don’t –

  “Hannah, there are things one has to do. You know that.”

  She looked away for a moment and then faced him again. “It’s different with me. I told you last night. You saw ..., well, you saw things. Surely you understand.”

  “I saw. I’m still not sure I understand or agree that you need to track these men down. But, I can’t let you do it alone.”

  “Liam, ...”

  He touched her hand and pulled back. “You’re not going to change my mind.”

  “Liam, ...”

  He stood up. “Let’s get started.”

  “Liam, ...”

  He smiled and held out his hand. “Let’s see if a night in jail loosened some tongues.”

  *****

  “Drake who?” Hank asked from his cot.

  “Who?” echoed Charlie from a cot in the next cell.

  The sheriff shrugged. “Been like that all morning. Every question brings a question.”

  “That right?” Liam asked. “Wonder what they’ll ask the judge when he orders their hanging?”

  Hank twitched, but kept his eyes focused on the ceiling.

  The sheriff laughed. “Won’t be much askin’ then. Only minutes from the courtroom to the old oak.”

  “Shame that Drake’ll be roaming free to kill and take his pleasures whi
le these two are buzzard food.”

  “Shame,” agreed the sheriff.

  Liam turned to Hannah. “Benny say anything before his hanging?” With his back to Hank, Liam mouthed, “no.”

  “Ah, no he didn’t.”

  “Usually the way. Sentence and hanging happen fast.”

  Hank and Charlie came to their feet.

  Hannah nodded. “That’s what happened. Benny tried to talk, but the rope cut his throat when the trap door dropped. Blood everywhere, his dying took some time.”

  Hank gripped the cell bars.

  Charlie followed suit and asked, “Will I git hung? ‘Twas Hank done fired the shot.”

  “Shut up,” snarled Hank.

  The sheriff made an offer. “Maybe neither of you’ll hang, if you tell us about this Drake feller.”

  “Neither of us?” asked Hank.

  “I’ll put in a good word for you with the judge.”

  Hannah came forward. “Where are the other three?”

  “Only two left.” Charlie called over.

  “Two?”

  “Drake done killed the kid.”

  “Drake killed one of his own?”

  “The kid got goofy after we done...” Hank glanced at Hannah.

  “Go on,” she begged.

  “Well, the kid kept looking over his shoulder, talking about a ghost following us. One night we was all sittin’ ‘round the fire and the kid began to rant, started cryin’. Drake grumbled, ‘You’re gettin’ on my nerves,’ and then pumped several shots into him.”

  “Tell ‘em what them crazy bastards did next,” Charlie prompted.

  “Ma’am, it’s ugly.”

  “Go on,” Hannah demanded.

  Hank shrugged. “They cut the kid up, boiled his bones and even ate some of his flesh.”

  The jail became deadly silent at this unexpected revelation. Hannah turned away and covered her mouth. Her breakfast churned and threatened to reappear. She took some deep breaths and swallowed several times to calm her stomach. She realized she was not alone in her revulsion, when she glanced over at Liam and the sheriff. Both were a little green around the edges. The thought of eating human flesh continued to disgust her, so she was glad to hear Hank clear his throat and go on with his confession.