Luther lunged forward and grabbed her by the ankle. She felt dirt and grit fill her mouth as she fell face down on the ground.
“That was a dumb thing to do, bitch.” He rolled her over and jerked her to her feet. “Why don’t you accept the fact I’m going to have you? It can be nice and easy or it can be rough. Don’t matter to me. All I want to do is get between them lily white legs of yours.”
“You fifthly beast. I can’t stand for you to touch me.” She pulled as far away from him as she could.
“Ah, come on. You’re going to like it. I got a lot to give a women like you. I bet under that cool reserve of yours you’ve got a passion that won’t quit.” He reached for the front of her blouse and ripped it down the center with one jerk, sending buttons in all direction. Now only her chemise covered her breasts.
“Why do you damn women want to hide all your best assets?” He made quick work of the chemise. It ripped to her waist with one jerk. “Now, look a’ here. Ain’t that a pretty sight? You’re prettier than your sister-in-law was even if she was bigger.”
Fiona gasped. “What do you mean?”
“Come on, now, Fiona. You know I was the one who killed them. I killed Jonathan first, then I amused myself with Marian before I slit her throat. She fought and cried all the time, but she wasn’t as good as I bet you will be.”
“No! You couldn’t have!”
“I knowed you’d figured out I’d killed them at the funeral. I could tell by the way you kept looking at me you was thanking me for getting rid of them for you.”
“Oh, God. How could you? I loved my brother and his wife. How could you have killed them?”
“It wasn’t hard. I knowed he had all that money on him and I was a little low at the time. I figured I could use it and have a free shot at you at the same time.” He shook his head. “I never guessed you’d run away like you did, but it worked out for the best. This way, we can go to California and start a business. We won’t have anybody to stop us now. I can’t wait, can you, honey?”
He grasped one of her breasts and squeezed it until she screamed.
“Didn’t hurt you, did I? I bet ole Larson’s had his hands all over this. Now it’s my turn.” He jerked her back against him and captured a breast in each of his hands. “Yes sir, Fiona, we’re going to have us a ball in California. You’re so damn pretty if we get down on our luck, I bet I can raise some money by letting some of the finer gentlemen have a night with you. I bet they’ll pay good.”
“You’re mad, Luther Markin.”
“I’m mad about you. I didn’t know how much until I got you in my arms. You’re worth all the trouble I’ve been through to get you, Fiona. One day you’re going to know that.”
“You’re crazy.”
He laughed as he mashed and pulled and squeezed. As he pinched her nipples between his thumbs and forefingers she thought he was going to pull the ends off.
The pain made Fiona lunge forward, breaking his hold. Running toward the fire, she grabbed the still hot frying pan. “You killed my brother, you deranged animal.”
When she felt him grab her from behind, she turned and hit him across the side of the face with the pan.
He yelled and knocked it from her hand. His fist caught her in the face and she fell backward as blood spurted from her nose. “You bitch. I thought I could love you like a woman likes to be loved, but you’ve proved you like it rough. If rough is what you want, then rough is what you’ll get.” He began slapping her across the face.
She moaned and felt blackness begin to encompass her as he pushed up her skirt and began pulling down her pantaloons. As sudden as he started, he stopped and sat up.
Fiona didn’t know why. She didn’t care. At least he wasn’t going to rape her. Now yet anyway.
“Shit. Somebody’s coming.” He rolled off her and moved to the side of the cave where he’d propped his rifle.
Fiona managed to get herself over to the side of the cave a few feet away from him. She waited. When she saw Luther raise his gun to fire, she yelled, “He’s going to shoot. Be careful, whoever you are.”
Fury showed on Luther’s face as he whirled around and hit her in the head with the butt of his gun. Fiona sank to the ground, unconscious.
* * * *
When Clint saw Luther strike Fiona, he couldn’t control himself. He ran into the cave toward her. A shot at his feet stopped him. Herman and Bruce froze at the entrance.
Luther laughed. “Come on in, gentlemen. We’ll have a party. Soon as she comes to, we’ll have a go at her one at a time. ’Course since I’m in charge, I’m going to be first.”
“You low-down bastard, you—” Before Clint could finish the sentence Luther hit him across the face with the gun. Clint crumpled to the cave floor.
Luther turned to the Fritz men. “Either of you want to say anything?” When they shook their heads, Luther added, “I didn’t think so. Now, come on in here.”
They obeyed.
“You look like a bright boy. Take that rope there beside my saddle bag and tie Larson’s hands and feet. Tie them tight now.”
Bruce was trembling, but he did as he was told.
“Now tie up the old man.”
“But...”
“Don’t argue, son,” Herman said quietly. “Do as he says.”
“That’s telling him, Pops.” Luther laughed. “How old are you, son?”
“Sixteen.”
“You look younger.”
“No. I’m sixteen.”
“Well, most of my customers like boys younger than you, but you’ve got an innocent face. I think I could get a pretty good price for you.” Luther knew from the way the boy looked at him that he had no idea what he was talking about. Maybe it was better he didn’t.
After Herman and Clint were tied Luther said, “Now it’s your turn.” Luther took the rope and tied Bruce’s hands and feet, but he was careful not to make the knots too tight. He didn’t want to bruise the boy. He knew the men who paid good prices wanted their merchandise fresh and unmarked.
Clint groaned and opened his eyes. He struggled but found he couldn’t get out of the ropes. “Damn you, Luther Markin.”
“Well, well, well. The would be hero is waking up.” He sneered at Clint. “Thought you’d come in here and save your woman, didn’t you?”
“You bastard.”
Luther laughed. “Call me any name you want to, but it ain’t going to do you no good. As soon as Miss Webb over there comes around, I’m going to strip her naked and lay her right down beside you. Then you’re going to watch me take her over and over again until she’s so satisfied she’ll never want you anywhere near her. Then me and her and the boy are going to ride away and leave you and the old man tied up here in this cave. If you’re lucky, they’ll find your bones a hundred years from now.”
Fiona moaned.
“Looks like the time has come.” Luther stomped to where Fiona lay and jerked her up by one arm. She staggered and fell against him, unable to stand on her own. He dragged her over beside Clint and dropped her to the ground.
* * * *
Clint was working at the ropes and he thought he felt them loosen a little. “Fiona, can you open your eyes? Are you—”
“Ah, shut-up. She don’t want to talk to you. She’s waiting for me to show her what a real man can do.”
Fiona tried to pull away and Luther grabbed her by the hair.
“You rotten bastard.” Clint was livid.
Luther laughed as he unbuttoned his pants and dropped to his knees. “I think this will give you a good idea of what I can do for your woman.”
Clint was seething and straining to get out of the ropes. He almost had his hands free. If only he could distract Luther a little longer, he could do it.
“Mister, why do you want to hurt such a wonderful young woman?” Herman spoke for the first time. “She’s needed back at the wagon. There’s a baby...”
“If she wants a baby, I’ll give her one.” He snorted an
d began pushing up Fiona’s skirt.
“Daddy, is he going to hurt her?” Bruce said with a sob. “I like Miss Fiona. I don’t want to see this happen to her.”
“Shut up, boy, and take lessons. Believe it or not, they fight you, but they like it. The rougher you are, the more it shows them how much a man you are.”
“Damn you!” Clint screamed.
“Clint? Are you here, Clint? Help me. Please get me away from him. I want...”
“Shut up, bitch.” Luther slapped her. “Forget about him and concentrate on what I’m getting ready to do to you.”
As Luther bent over Fiona, Clint’s hands slipped free of the rope. He lunged toward the man, knocking him off Fiona. As Luther tried to stand, a shot rang out in the cave. The men jumped and Fiona screamed as Luther fell on top of her.
In an instant Mac was inside. He grabbed Luther’s shoulder and shoved him off Fiona. In one sweep, he pulled down her skirt and turned to Clint. “Damn, if that wasn’t cutting it close.”
* * * *
While Herman, Bruce, and Mac dug a shallow grave for Luther outside the cave, Clint used what supplies they had to take care of Fiona’s wounds.
The sun was coming up when they mounted the horses and headed to catch the wagon train. Clint refused to let Fiona ride alone. He sat her in his lap and held her against his chest. She didn’t mind. She felt safe and secure in his arms even if he did feel bad because he hadn’t been able to rescue her before Luther caught him.
They were about half way back when Zeke and four other men met them. A smile spread across Zeke’s face as he rode up beside Clint and saw that Fiona was alive. “You found her. Is she all right?”
Clint nodded.
“When we get back take her by to see Granny Weatherbee. Looks like she has quite a bump on her head. Wouldn’t hurt to get the one on your forehead looked at, too, Clint.”
“As long as Fiona is all right, I’ll be fine, Zeke.”
“I’ll be fine, too,” Fiona muttered.
“I know you will, Miss Fiona.” He turned his horse toward Mac and the two of them fell into conversation. In a short time, everyone was headed back toward the wagon train.
Again Fiona dozed off. When they’d gone a few miles a gun shot jarred her awake with a start. “What happened? It isn’t Luther...”
“No, darling. Zeke was signaling the train that we were coming in.” He pulled her closer to him.
“I guess I was dreaming.” She snuggled against his chest.
“The people on the train wanted to know we’re coming in. In fact, the others have already rode on ahead of us.”
“Why are we not going in?”
“Oh, we are, honey. We’re only going slow because the horse is carrying two people and I don’t want to over tire him.”
“Oh.”
Clint grinned. “Besides the slower we go the longer I get to hold you in my arms like this.”
She smiled, but didn’t answer. They rode for several minutes then she broke the silence when she blurted, “Luther Markin killed my brother and his wife, Clint.”
“What?”
“He told me he killed Jonathan and Marian.”
“Why did he kill them?”
“For the money. Jonathan was on his way to pay off the mortgage on the farm.”
“I’m sorry, honey.”
“He also said he raped Marian before he slit her throat.”
Clint took a deep breath. “He was as far from a human being as any man can get. I’m glad he’s out of your life permanently.”
“So am I.” She sighed. “Someday I’m going to tell Joey he killed his parents, but I never want him to know about the rape.”
“Of course not. Knowing about the murder will be bad enough.”
“I think knowing who did it will give him closure. He’s asked me several times who I thought killed them.”
They rode for another distance in silence, then she said, “I’m glad Luther didn’t rape me, Clint.”
“Oh, sweetheart, you’ll never know how glad I am. I thought for sure he’d take you right there in front of me and I couldn’t do a thing to stop him.”
“I was afraid. I didn’t know men were so rough. Marian seemed to like it when she and Jonathan were together. She told me it was special when it was with the man you loved.”
Clint was a little uncomfortable with this conversation, but he wasn’t about to let Fiona know. “Marian was right. When a man loves a woman, he’s never rough with her. He only wants to give her pleasure and show her how much he cares for her.”
“I guess I’ll learn what it’s all about sometime.” Her voice was getting a little slurred and Clint knew she was about to go to sleep again.
“I’m sure you will, Fiona. Some lucky man will have the pleasure of introducing you to love.”
He almost fell off his horse when she muttered, “I want you to be the first man to make love to me, Clint.”
Finally when he was sure she’d fallen asleep again, he whispered, “I want to be your first man, Fiona. I also want to be your last. I want us to be together for the rest of our lives.”
Chapter 30
As Clint rode in with Fiona in his arms, the wagon train had stopped for the noon hour’s break. Several women ran to meet them. “Can we help?” “Is she all right?” “If you want to put her in her wagon, I’ll see to her.”
Zeke came up. “Fiona’s about half unconscious. Clint’s going to take her to Granny Weatherbee. As soon as she’s feeling better I’m sure she’ll be happy to visit with all of you.”
When they got to Granny’s wagon, the old woman motioned them in. “Put her right here on my mattress.”
Clint gently laid her down. “I think she’s...”
“You don’t have to tell me, young man. I can see for myself. She’s going to be fine as soon as I get this bleeding stopped.” She reached for a handful of herbs.
“Granny, aren’t these the ones you used on Carver?” Zeke picked up a bunch of herbs on the shelf below where Granny had selected some for Fiona’s injury.
“Of course not. I wouldn’t use those. They make a person bleed. I only use them when I need to bleed a wound to get rid of infection.”
Zeke frowned. “But I’m sure...”
“Are you going to argue with me, Mr. Zeke?” Granny eyed him. “I know what I give my patients.” She turned to Clint and handed him a little pouch. “Put this under that bandage on your head and go on to your wagon. Young Joey needs to hear that Miss Fiona is all right. Bring him over here in an hour or so. I’m sure she’ll be ready to go to her own wagon by then.”
“Are you...”
“Don’t question the doctor,” Granny said. “I don’t hold with people questioning my cures.” She spoke to Clint, but she looked at Zeke.
Clint felt sure something had passed between the wagon master and the medicine woman, but he didn’t say anything. To him it didn’t matter as long as Fiona was going to be all right.
* * * *
“What’s the matter, Zeke? Do you think I shouldn’t have left Fiona with Granny Weatherbee?” Clint was leading his horse toward the corral.
Zeke had a pensive look on his face. “Of course you should have left her. Granny will have her well in no time.”
“You have such a strange look on your face and I couldn’t help noticing Granny gave you some strange looks. Made me wondered if I’d done the right thing.”
“It didn’t have anything to do with Fiona, Clint.”
“”Do you want to tell me what it was about?”
“I’m not sure if I should.” There was doubt in his voice.
“It’s up to you, Zeke, but it sure looks like you have something you need to get off your chest.”
Zeke took a deep breath. “I’m confused about something Granny said. I’m sure she used the herb I pointed out to stop Leo Carver’s bleeding, but she said that herb was to make one bleed more. You heard her refuse to use it on Fiona.”
Clint paused. “Do you think...”
“I don’t know what to think, Clint. If I thought Granny deliberately used the bleeding herb on Carver...”
“What would you do, Zeke?”
Zeke rubbed his chin. “I would be supposed to turn her over to the authorities when we get to Fort Laramie.”
“Supposed to, huh?”
“Yeah. Still...”
“Listen, Zeke, that bastard molested and raped Rose. He took the little Fritz girl and who knows what he intended to do to her. If I hadn’t fired my rifle when I found her bonnet, scaring Carver into dropping her, he would probably have molested her. The good Lord only knows how many other little girls and young women he’s raped or molested. Does it really matter what kind of herb Granny Weatherbee used to try to stop his bleeding?” When Zeke didn’t answer, Clint went on, saying, “Personally, if I hadn’t been so upset about Rose at the time, I’d have taken him apart with my hands and never had a sleepless night over it. I bet Herman Fritz would have killed him if you hadn’t stopped him. Others on the train have said they regret they didn’t have the pleasure of lynching him where everyone could witness it.”
“So you’re saying if I say Granny used the wrong medicine, more than one person will swear my eyesight isn’t what it should be.”
“Something like that. I might even say you looked at the wrong herb myself.”
Zeke took another deep breath. “Granny Weatherbee is an asset to this train. We may need her expertise more than once more before this trip is over. She’s in her eighties and if she made a mistake, at least she made it with the right patient.”
“I agree.”
“Thanks, Clint. I don’t see a need to mention this conversation to anyone. Do you?”
“Not a single person, Zeke.”
“Uncle Clint! Uncle Clint! You’re back.” Joey ran toward him with his arms outstretched. “Where’s Aunt Fiona?”
Clint took the little boy in his arms. “Yes, I’m back and so is your ma. She has a few scratches so she’s getting them cleaned up at Granny Wetherbee’s wagon. We’re going to go back and get her in a little while.”
“I worried about you and her.” Joey clung to Clint’s neck. “Did mean old Mr. Markin get her?”
Fiona's Journey Page 22
