“We’ll have a lot of fun with this one,” Al said with a snicker.
Al had a thin face with a hangdog expression. He was the uglier of the two.
“Please, don’t hurt my baby.” She glanced around, frantically looking for Zac.
“Ya man can’t help.” Frank gave an evil, maniacal laugh. We smashed him on the head with a tree branch.”
Instinctively Holly lashed out at him with her feet, then she lunged at him, trying to scratch his ugly face. He slapped her so hard she fell to the ground.
“Open ya legs and let us have our fun, and we’ll let ya go.”
“I’d rather die than be violated by pigs like you,” she shrilled.
He pushed the blanket off Merry and wrapped his hands around her neck. “I’ll kill the brat if ya don’t do want we say.”
“Please, don’t hurt my baby. I’ll do anything you ask.”
“Ooh, mumma bear gunna fight for her cub,” Frank sneered.
“Forget the brat, I want the gal.” Al kicked at a stone with a shabby, scuffed boot. She could smell his sweating anticipation, and was revolted by it.
She had to do something, but what? How did Zac let them get the jump on him?”
These men were vermin, unlikely to have any decency whatsoever. She had to try though. “I’ve only recently given birth.”
“Don’t matter to me.” Al lunged at her. “I’m having first go.”
She was trapped against the wall of the canyon with nowhere to go. Putting her hands up to her face, she tried to protect her mouth from his slack, wet lips. It only made him laugh. He smelt like a dead dog that had been rotting in the sun.
“No.” She struggled with all her might.
Merry screamed when Frank dropped her on the ground so he could grab Holly by the hair, and drag her away from the wall. He forced her to her knees, then pushed her back on to the floor of the canyon floor with such force, she feared he might have broken her shoulders. Al fumbled with his trousers, while Frank pushed her skirt up.
She screamed, twisted and turned. Against two men she had no chance. Her strength was waning. Everything started to go black.
A shot rang out, and Al fell backward. A second shot had Frank toppling over near her feet. Terrified, she looked up. A man dressed all in black stood a few feet away, two smoking guns in his hands.
“You all right, Ma’am?”
“Y…Yes, thank you.”
He moved closer and kicked Al and Frank’s bodies to one side. At least he was clean, if she had to be raped, she’d prefer it to be him, rather than those smelly, revolting creatures who now lay dead.
The man holstered his guns, leaned down and pulled her up. “Those two skunks aren’t worth much, only thirty dollars a piece.” Disgust etched his weather beaten face.
“Don’t worry, Ma’am, I’m not going to hurt you. What are you doing out here with a baby?” He leaned down and picked up Merry, and placed her in Holly’s trembling arms. “Gus Moncrief, at your service.”
“I’m Holly O’Leary. Thank you so much, those creatures were going to violate me.”
“Yeah, they’re the worst type of scum.” He spat, and his spittle landed on Frank’s face.
Zac! She had forgotten him in all the drama. “Mr. Moncrief.” She shivered with cold. Thankfully Merry’s fall had been cushioned by the blanket wrapped around her. Holly hugged her close.
“Call me Gus, Ma’am.”
“Zac was with me. Those men did something to him. He might be dead,” she babbled. “He was collecting wood for a fire.” Her lips quivered, and she fought to get herself under control.
“That wouldn’t happen to be Zac Goodman by any chance?”
“Yes. You know him?”
“Sure do. We go back a long way.”
Holly heaved a sigh of relief and sent up a silent prayer of thanks to God. Gus wouldn’t hurt them. “Please, can you find Zac? He’s probably hurt and needs help.”
“Wait here, I’ll search for him. Don’t worry you’re safe now. Those two stinking varmints were alone. I’ve been tracking them for days.” He touched his black Stetson, and walked away with the rolling gait of a man who spent a lot of time in the saddle.
She moved back under the shelter of the overhanging rock. The wind had intensified, the gusts kicking up dust, swirling it around until it covered everything. I am not going to cry. I’m not. Gus would find Zac. He just had to.
Since Merry’s birth she had been easily upset, quite weepy. It had to stop. She was a grown woman for goodness sake. She had a baby to care for, and couldn’t afford the luxury of being weak and needy.
What if something bad had happened to Zac? It would be her fault. He wouldn’t have bothered stopping or building a fire for himself. Wouldn’t even be here.
“Please God,” she prayed desperately. Let him be all right. Let Gus find him.
About ten minutes or so had elapsed. Holly paced up and down under the ledge with the baby snuggled against her shoulder. The black, threatening clouds opened up and a few drops of rain fell, followed almost immediately by a downpour. Any footprints Zac might have left would be washed away, making it more difficult to find him.
Panic rose in her breast, restricting her breathing. It was then she knew for certain. Beyond any doubt. She loved Zac Goodman and always would. He didn’t want her, but if she stayed with his friend Flo, at least she would sometimes get to see him. That’s if those evil creatures hadn’t murdered him.
Through the driving rain, two figures appeared. Gus and Zac. If she hadn’t been holding Merry, she would have raced out to meet them. She stood where she was, her feet suddenly riveted to the ground. “Zac, are you all right?”
“Yep, luckily they picked a branch that was full of white ants to clobber me with. It was soft with rot, otherwise it would have smashed my head in.” His eyes were hard as diamond chips, his voice rough. “More importantly, are you all right? Gus said they tried to violate you.”
“Yes. I fought them, but they were so strong, it was a losing battle. Thank God Gus came along when he did.”
“I can’t believe I let them get the drop on me. If Gus hadn’t shot them, I would have castrated them.” He rubbed the back of his head.
Gus grinned. “You were distracted by your two purdy gals.”
Zac gave an exasperated snort. “I was trying to beat the rain. If I’d been on my own, I wouldn’t have bothered stopping.”
Was he deliberately trying to make her feel bad? Hadn’t she suffered enough already?
“You can’t go anywhere in this storm,” Gus said. “I’ve got myself holed up in a cozy cave a couple of hundred yards away. I knew those varmints would have to go through here to reach the Black Hills. All I had to do was wait.”
“I’m glad you were here, Gus.” Holly shuddered. “I couldn’t have held them off for much longer. Wha…what about the bodies?”
“They ain’t going anywhere, not until I hand them over to the sheriff in Deadwood, that is. Bring the wagon, there’s space near the cave entrance for it. I’ve got my horse tethered there.”
“Forked Creek is much closer,” Zac said.
“Yeah, but I got other business to attend to in Deadwood.”
It was Gus who lifted Holly and Merry into the back of the wagon. He jumped into the driver’s seat and Zac sat next to him. He made a clicking noise with his tongue, and flicked the reins to get the horses moving.
They travelled for about a hundred yards in the pouring rain. Driven by the wind it made a popping noise as it hit the rock face. Holly put the shawl over her head in an endeavor to keep out the cold wetness. She hugged Merry tightly to her chest, with the ends of the shawl covering her as well.
The canyon opened up and split into two directions. They turned left and proceeded another hundred yards or so. She saw a black horse tethered to a bush that half covered what appeared to be a crevice in the canyon wall.
“Dead Man’s Cave,” Zac exclaimed. “I’d forgotten about
it. Haven’t had to use it in years.”
Gus chuckled. “I find it a mighty handy hideout. Did you know some outlaw gang tried to blow it up a few years ago. Got themselves killed, but it’s much more spacious now.”
He climbed down and reached for Holly. With a scowl, Zac stomped off. He shoved the bush aside, revealing an opening wide enough for two men walking side by side, to enter.
“Welcome to my humble abode. Go straight in Ma’am. No point all of us getting soaked. Go to the back, it’s warmer there.”
Holly hurried inside. She was freezing, her legs now felt weak and shaky. She removed the shawl and it was wet, but had kept her relatively dry. The bottom of her gown was only a little damp.
Merry slept soundly, fortunately unaware of what could have befallen them. The men’s voices drifted over to her, but she couldn’t distinguish what they were saying. Didn’t care really. All she wanted to do was rest and get warm. Her eyes felt gritty. Her head ached, and she was shivering, a mixture of cold and shock.
The ceiling of the cave soared upward for twenty or more feet. It wasn’t dark, just gloomy and full of shadows. No rain had seeped on to the sandy floor as it looked bone dry. The walls were rough, full of cracked and jagged rocks, probably caused by the explosion Gus had mentioned.
In a surprisingly short time, the men had a fire going inside the cave near the entrance. The red flames were somehow soothing. Smoke didn’t appear to be a problem, either. She smelt it, but it wafted on the damp air outside before disappearing.
Zac walked over to where she was slumped against the wall, with his usual purposeful steps. “We’ve got coffee and beans on. We’ll have to spend the night here, too wet and dangerous to proceed now.”
“I’m sorry for causing you all this trouble.” She brushed a wet, curling tendril from her forehead. “I thought those filthy creatures were going to rape me. If Gus hadn’t arrived on the scene.” She shuddered, and tears filled her eyes. She angrily brushed them away. “Why am I crying like this? I’m not usually a cry baby.”
He squatted beside her. “You’ve been through a dreadful ordeal, most women would have swooned, or gone into screaming hysterics.”
“Zac.” She picked up his hand, holding it against her cheek. “I feared they had killed you.”
“I’ve got a hard head.”
She dropped her hand. Without speaking, he stared unblinkingly into her face. Moving forward a fraction, his lips touched hers in a gentle caress. He raised his hands and cupped her face, deepening the kiss, and her mouth responded, eagerly accepting him.
Suddenly he pulled back. His eyes blazed, the heat quickly being replaced by cold aloofness. “That shouldn’t have happened.” He edged away. “Gus thought you should put his saddle blanket under the baby, to keep her blanket clean and dry.”
“Thank you. I…I’m not sorry you kissed me.”
“You should be,” he growled. “I took advantage of you. It won’t happen again.”
It was Gus who brought her a steaming mug of coffee and a plate of beans. “Zac’s got a burr under his saddle. Dang, but he’s a moody hombre sometimes.”
“We quarreled. Thank you for giving me your saddle blanket.” Hatless, he looked older. His complexion was dark, his hair completely grey and starting to thin. His eyes were kindly, his expression benign. Hard to believe this man was a bounty hunter. A killer.
He returned to the front of the cave and squatted near the fire. Zac was at the front of the cave also, leaning with his back against the wall, balancing a plate of beans in one hand, coffee in the other.
Holly drifted in that void between sleep and full wakefulness. When Merry woke up, she fed her. She needed changing, but the trunk containing her clothes was in the wagon. Carrying Merry, who whimpered because she was wet, Holly walked to the front section of the cave.
“Zac, I’m sorry, but I need Merry’s trunk from the wagon. She needs changing.”
“All right.” He gulped down his coffee and stood. “You’re every wish is my command, pretty baby. Dang, but this little gal has got me hog-tied.”
Gus grinned as Zac dashed outside.
“He’s very good with her,” Holly said. I wish…”
“That he was her pa?”
She nodded, reminding herself not to say too much. This man was Zac’s friend.
“I heard about your husband, I’m sorry.”
“Thank you. It would have been quick, that’s a comfort. It wasn’t a happy marriage. I’d feel a hypocrite mourning him. Not that I wished an awful death like that on him.”
“I understand. You’re a fine looking gal, you’ll have no difficulty finding yourself a good man.”
She didn’t say so, but she had already found a good man. A good man who didn’t want her.
Chapter Six
Zac sat with his back against the cave wall, his feet stretched out to the fire. Gus puffed thoughtfully on a cigar.
“I didn’t want to say this in front of the gal, but did you know Kitty McDonald escaped from prison?”
“Sonofabitch. No one mentioned it to me.”
“It was a couple of months ago. She’s on the top of my wanted list. Five hundred dollars dead or alive, and I aim to collect. I’d send her to boot hill for nothing after what she did to you.”
“I’d like to kill her myself, even if I swing for it.” Zac jumped to his feet and started pacing. “That damn sheriff, should have warned me.”
“Don’t stomp around,” Gus said. “Calm down.”
Zac sat down, grinding his teeth to stop from screaming out in frustration. “After all I’ve done for Ed, the least he could have done was tell me.”
He wasn’t scared for himself, but what about Holly and Merry? They could be in danger from Kitty. That vicious, loco woman was capable of anything.
“Aileen Vermont helped her escape.”
“Of the Vermont gang?”
“Yeah.” Gus stubbed out his cigar. “She’s their sister. Was released about six months ago. She apparently shared a cell with Kitty and they became friends. The law wants the Vermont gang for cattle rustling. There’s a price on Aileen’s head now. I’ve a hunch she’ll know where Kitty is. I hear tell they’re heading for the Black Hills. I’m biding my time. That’s why I set myself up here, all comfy like. Except for you, there are only a couple of others who know about this cave, and I hope it stays that way.”
Gus rubbed his jaw. “I plan on taking that scum I shot before into Deadwood, then I’ll be searching in earnest for Kitty.”
“I’d help you.” Zac gnawed his lower lip. “Except, I have to get Holly set up with Flo.”
“Why don’t you marry the gal and give that baby a daddy?”
“I don’t aim on getting hitched. I like to be on the move.”
“Listen to me, son. You’re only, what is it? Thirty?”
“Yeah.”
“I’m fifty two years old, and what do I have to show for it? Nothing.”
“But…”
Gus interrupted him. “Oh, I had my chance.”
“With Flo?”
“Yeah, but I didn’t want to be tied down to one gal. I preferred variety, calico queens and saloon gals. I’ve lost count of the number of women I’ve had. And, you know something?” His expression became pensive. “I can’t remember any of their faces now. I want better for you. There are too many washed up gunslingers and bounty hunters like me. Respectable townsfolk look down on us, but don’t mind calling on our expertise when they need it.”
What Gus said was true. “I’m no good. What kind of life could I give a pretty gal like Holly?” He didn’t want her living with the fear that he’d end up with a bullet in the back, or be outdrawn by some cocky wannabe gunslinger.
“You’ve got a ranch; if you spent money stocking it up, maybe breeding horses for the army rather than running cattle, you’d make a mighty fine living. Hang up your guns, and in a couple of years no one would remember who hired gunslinger Zac Goodman was.
He suddenly felt desperate and hopeless. Holly had feelings for him. He would have to be blind not to have seen them reflected in her beautiful, doe-like eyes. She was so lovely, her lips tasted sweeter than honey. As for her body. He had seen all of it, more than a man should, and every inch was exquisite.
He kicked a log that had rolled out of the fire, back into the flames. Gus’ Stetson was pulled over his face. Maybe he was asleep.
Zac stood up and stretched. He didn’t like being inactive. Outside the rain still fell, but the wind had lessened. “You asleep?”
“No.” Gus flicked his Stetson off. “How about a game of cards to pass the time?”
“Sure.”
“A few dollars to make it interesting?” Gus quirked an eyebrow.
“Yeah, why not? I’ll beat you this time.” Zac grinned. Gus was virtually unbeatable. He couldn’t be sure whether it was because of skill, plain luck, or that he cheated.
An hour or so later, and ten dollars poorer, Zac threw up his hands. “I surrender. I’m not prepared to lose any more money.”
“You’re too impatient to be a gambler. That’s why you don’t win. I’m going to have a coffee, want one?”
“Yeah, but I’ll get it. I want to check on Holly and the baby. Been mighty quiet the pair of them.”
Gus put the pack of cards into his coat pocket.
Zac went down to the back of the cave, trying to walk quietly. The baby slept soundly. He pulled the blanket up around her and stroked the smooth little cheek. “I wish I could be your pa little one, but I’m no good. You deserve better, but I swear, I’ll always look out for you and your ma,” he whispered.
He bent over Holly. Her breathing was rapid. He placed his hand on her forehead and it felt hot. Surely she wasn’t coming down with a fever. He fought to remain calm, to think clearly. Bad enough if she were running a temperature because of the weather. What if she had child-bed fever? His mouth dried up, his stomach muscles clenched. His first instinct was to run to Gus, but he stopped himself.
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