Wild Fire (Book II)

No More

     Lilah turned with the dish in her hand. She washed the bits of supper away from eating alone again last night. She knew John would go running anytime the gang asked him to. It was something she had accepted long ago when she decided to stay with the loving outlaw. They were his family, and she knew it, but it didn't make it any easier for her to wander in the empty cabin without him. She missed his touch. The sweet way he would wake her in the morning mimicking the first time he had brought her coffee in the saloon which seemed so long long ago.

     She was admittedly spoiled to his tender ways of holding her close on chilly nights. Rubbing her tired shoulders when he himself had worked fingers to the bone throughout the day, but still relished the need to put his hands on her somewhere come nightfall. His kiss was tender. His touch was fire. And he loved her unconditionally. A gift she would never take for granted.

     She stared out the kitchen window thinking all of this when she saw the black blur of a horse tromp into view just at the peripheral of her sight. Gently, she dried the dish and sat it down and walked to the front door, opening it and looking out. What looked back at her made her blood freeze. Standing in the middle of the silky grass, perched the pitch-black shine of a mighty stallion. Its head swung back and forth with a snort seeming to acknowledge her as she stepped onto the expanding porch. On its back sat a beast of a man. Tall and broad, dressed all in black. His one good eye that wasn't patched staring up at her with icy disdain. But what scared her the most was the vision in front of him. There resting against his expansive chest leaned Emma. Her eyes were closed, and she sat motionless, a red stain against the huge man in one of Dutch's long shirts.

     Lilah's hand raised to her mouth in horror. "Emmi..." She whispered into her stretching fingers. The man on the horse smiled up at her, wrapping both arms around Emma, pulling her ear up to his mouth making to speak to the unconscious girl. "See, she's happy to see you little lamb." He blinked back up at Lilah pleasantly, as if he were bringing the girl to her for a perfectly normal visit. Lilah lowered her hand, fisting it by her side.

     She took a step forward, anger replacing the fear on her face. "Who are you? What do you want?" she demanded down at the rider. He chuckled against Emma's ear." Funny, this little one asked the same thing. We have a score to settle Miss Preston. You don't know me, but you knew my brother... very well. So well in fact, you took the grand liberty of taking him from me, no doubt a service to some. But... He was my blood. So that makes it a problem." Lilah's mouth fell open in recognition. "Micha..." The man on the steed gave a single nod. "Indeed. Amos...Amos Bell, at your service darlin."

     Lilah looked down at the railing of the front porch. The tiny pistol John kept there lay hidden just by the roof post. The man kept guns all over the house, she could never be too safe in his eyes. She slid up to the railing slowly, one tiny step at a time. Her hand reached out leisurely resting over the butt of the nestled gun. "I need no service of yours Sir. Your brother was a bastard cold-hearted son-of-a-bitch. He got what he deserved. I feel no regret for his loss of life or the decision to make it so. Let go of my friend Mr.Bell. This doesn't need to concern you."

     The man snickered again. "Ohhh, but I think it does Miss Preston. See I am a firm believer of giving back to those who take from me. You took my brother. And I know she ain't blood, but she is the closest thing that you have to a sister. And I intend to do you the same courtesy." Lilah didn't hesitate, she snatched up the gun aiming it at the man's head, but quick as a wink his knife was out and at the edge of Emma's throat.

     "Ah-ahh" he tutted. "I don't think so Miss Preston." A thin stream of blood trickled down the side of Emma's neck. Lilah watched as the splinter of pain stirred her and her big blue eyes fluttered open, wide, and searching.

     The little blonde gasped, looking around wildly. She could see Lilah on the porch with the gun, feel the knife at her throat and the tightly wrapped arms around her. Her voice hitched, locking onto Lilah with hollowed fear. "Li?" She squeaked.

     "Throw it down Miss Preston. Don't make this harder than it has to be." Lilah cursed, tossing the gun beyond the bottom steps of the cabin. "There's a good girl." Amos praised pulling the knife away from Emma's bleeding neck.

     He dismounted then, sliding easily to the ground with Emma tucked under one arm. She stood in front of him like a baby foal, her legs barely holding her up from shaking. "Walk little lamb." He whispered against the back of her head.

     Emma did as he asked, never taking her eyes from Lilah. "Let's go inside Miss Preston." he waved the blood-stained knife towards the door urging Lilah to follow. She did so turning, and opening the door, still half facing him, and walked to the center of the room. Once inside, he locked the door behind him and marched Emma to the closest chair. "Move and she dies." He said darkly at Lilah, plopping Emma down and taking the rope from his pack to bind her to it. Lilah stood still.

     Once Emma was tied, he walked around the table towering over the dark-haired girl cocking his head from side to side studying her pretty face. Lilah could feel her heart pounding in her chest. She could see Micha in the older man's face. The same almond shaped eyes, the same twisted snarl of a smile. It made her sick. The memory of the foul rat man touching her, taking her against her will. It all come flooding back like a buried nightmare.

     He slid his gloved hand around the side of her neck under her hair, lifting her chin with his thumb L'd under her jawline. "I can see why my bastard brother wanted you. You areee beautiful sweetheart. Your little friend too. Perhaps I should taste a little of what Micha tasted. Hmmm? Try out those sweet lips of yours myself, see what all the fuss was about."

     "LEAVE HER ALONE YOU BASTARD!" Emma found her voice from within the fog. The medicine's effect was beginning to wear off, and she couldn't just sit there and do nothing. The man now known as Amos looked over at her, the tugging sneer pulling again at his lips. "Oh, don't worry little lamb, your time is coming." He turned back to Lilah with a sneer, crushing his mouth to hers. Emma watched her hands fly up bracing against him, pushing him back. But his clasping hand on her neck held her firm, dragging her to him, forcing the kiss into her mouth.

     "STOP IT! JUST LET HER GO!" Angry tears threatened her eyes. How much more could she take? Either of them. Her mind soared back to the tender stroke of Dutch's thumb across her cheek. What had she done? She had run from the one person that had ever shown her kindness. The one man, for all his mistakes, who was willing to love her, care for her, overlooking who and what she was despite the wasted remains of what she felt inside now. And suddenly, she didn't want to run anymore. Not away. She wanted to run to him. Run right back into those commanding stubborn arms and stay there until he could make her feel safe again. As Amos continued to kiss Lilah, pulling her struggling body against him, Emma bowed her head and silently prayed. Dutch...oh god.....please find me...