"You think he's flaunting them on purpose," John T. murmured to Wesley as they remounted.
"My guess is he's culling them, the bad from the good. Naw…John T. this man don't understand life as we do. That's the hard part about it. What makes us sick is merely part of his everyday."
"I'm not gonna have a bit of trouble killing him. I guess I just don't see him like you do."
Wesley nodded and sighed aloud. "Yeah…well, we're getting' closer…" Wesley finally said when Pepper noticed their silence and frowns.
Pepper stared at them all. Although her face had paled, she showed no other sign of fear. "That's what we want…right?"
John T. nodded, "Yeah, that's what we want…"
Instead of pressing onward, none of the men felt like going any further for the day. Therefore, they made camp earlier than usual. Pepper moved about as usual, not understanding their reluctance to push on.
"If we're closer…why don't we push on?" she finally asked.
Wesley firmed his lips and put one leg on a log near the fire. An ember crackled breaking the silence over them. He looked around at them all, his expression saying more than words "We gotta figure out how we're gonna do this… We go after him half cocked, we'll get ourselves killed."
Pepper nodded pushing her hair back from her face. "You can use me as bait. So, how do I go about attracting his attention? Do any of you know?"
"We know…" Rascal nodded his sigh louder than his words.
Wesley closed his eyes, Rascal looked at her, "We all got to think about what we are doin'. We all got to use our heads. This ain't some ordinary fella, we all know that. He obviously has no respect for the females of the world. But…It's the children…honey. He thinks…well, somehow that he is protecting the children. In every situation, he's defended the children."
"From what?"
"From being punished. 'Cept maybe that whore in the hotel back at your place. That maybe the only woman he hasn't meant to kill. And the other one in the saloon. I don't think Victor has any way of understanding a whore. He's never dealt with them and they are a mystery and probably upset him, with their actions. She probably got a little too friendly and a man like that….wouldn't know what to do…. And the whore back in your town…well, he wasn't after her, but she probably got in his way."
"What's he protecting the children from, Wes?" Pepper asked.
"When he killed my Ma, he said I was better off without her. But before he did it. I was standing in the corner, 'cause I knew the punishment for not minding her. When Frank found out why I was standing there. That's when he hurt her. He seems to go crazy when he sees a child being punished for something."
"Discipline?" Pepper gasped. "That's…incredible. He thinks he's saving the children?"
"Something like that," John T. nodded.
"Yep, that's it." Wesley nodded. "Don't make much sense to me, but somehow Frank thinks he's doin' a good deed."
"Well, that sounds easy enough. I'll just find a kid and start hollerin…" she almost chuckled.
John T. stood up and came to stand in front of Pepper, "I don't want you in this….It isn't a funny situation, don't you see. He don't use no gun, he strangles them. So if you were close enough…."
"Now look, John T. that was the plan all along. I'm in…" she answered. "No matter what. Besides, I'm the best chance you got of getting' him once and for all. I can stay in plain sight and if I’m hateful enough he's bound to come after me. Then you fellas can get him."
"I won't have it…" he demanded, his body tensing with every word she spoke.
Pepper eyed him, with a mutinous glance, "Oh yes you will."
"It's the only way…John T." Wesley explained. "Besides, we'll take care of her."
"But…"
"We'll protect her. We won't let anything happen…" Wesley promised. "Pepper is one of our own and we protect our own…you know that."
Rascal nodded.
Pepper frowned at them. "There is one thing..."
"What's that?" John T. asked.
"Well," Pepper came to stand between them all and looked from one face to another. "If I got room I can aim a shotgun but if not, well…I can't best him. I need to be able to shoot a six shooter."
"Aw now Pepper, you don't think he's gonna give you time…" John T. began.
Rascal nodded, "Hush boy. She's right. I can give her some lesson about protecting herself. That's a good idea. Only you don't need a gun."
"Now that's about the most stupid thing I've ever heard…" John T. protested again.
"Nope, your wrong, John T." Rascal shook his head and looked directly at John T. "Many a dance hall girl knows how to fend for themselves up close like and she needs to know as much as she can. Just in case. Now you settle down. If we are gonna protect her proper, she needs to know what she can do fer herself."
"But…"
Wesley poked John T. and frowned.
"He's right."
"Well, we've camped and you can start showin' her.…" Wesley directed.
Rascal nodded, and Pepper smiled.
After supper Rascal proceeded to teach Pepper some fundamental rules of self-protection.
"Okay, now, if I was to come up behind you, and grab you round the neck, what would you do?" Rascal asked her as the other two watched.
"I don't know; jab you in the ribs with an elbow?"
Rascal smiled and nodded, "That's a good start. However, when you are dealing with a man that's much bigger than you are, and much stronger, you want to hit them where they are vulnerable. That would be the groin…" Rascal cleared his throat, "If you can reach that particular part."
Pepper smiled and nodded, "Okay. What do I hit them with?"
"Your boot if you can. Has a right powerful impact. If not, then you can use your teeth to bite him, on the hand, or arm that is holding you, probably the hand."
Pepper nodded again. "Okay…that I can do, easy enough."
"Don't just give him a little nip; rip the skin off of him, make him hurt. It'll distract him and probably give us the edge we need. Good. Now after you distract him with that, what would you do?" Rascal asked.
"Run I reckon." Pepper acknowledged.
"If the man has a gun or a knife that ain't always the best thing to do."
"It ain't?" Wesley chimed in, with a twist to his head.
"Nope, it ain't."
"Then what is she supposed to do?" John T. hollered.
Rascal smiled, "What's least expected. Drop down and hopefully run through the back of his legs in the opposite direction."
"Oh yeah…that's good…" Pepper laughed.
"Yep, it is ain't it," Rascal laughed, "only that ain't all. While she's doin' that, he's gonna be trying to figure out, and drawing his gun and when he sees what she's up to, he'll fire."
"So then what?" Pepper asked now with confidence that Rascal knew what he was saying.
"You roll yourself up like a ball and roll as fast as you can behind anything, a tree, a fence, a barrel, whatever is out there at the time. Get behind something and we'll be sure to be there with our guns. So you see, ya don't need a gun for protection, you need to think about where you are and what you are doin', that's all. You want to take him by surprise. If you had a gun, he'd out shoot you, more than likely, while you were debating whether to use it or not. A woman does such; I've seen it too many times. Ya see, I met up with one wild female once and she taught me all this. She said she didn't need a gun, she out witted them. And she was right. There's one other place you can attack him, that's his eyes. Nobody thinks about needin' 'em until it's too late, but if you blind him, then he will spend a little time trying to focus which gives you time to get away from him."
"Sounds simple…" Pepper chuckled.
"Now wait a minute…what if he figures it out faster than we think?"
Wesley shook his head and looked at John T. "He won't, he's dim witted. And he ain't trigger-happy either. He strangles women. Obviously no woman ever thought to defend he
rself while he was doin' it."
John T. scratched his head, "Yeah, you are right about that…."
Pepper smiled now, put her hand on Rascal's shoulder, and patted him, "How'd you get so smart?"
"Been in a lot of scrapes before."
"With women?" Pepper laughed.
"With both." He chuckled.
"Just remember, to check out where you are at the time. If you are in a room, get under the bed. He'll have to crouch to get to the same level to shoot you. If he shoots at all. Wesley said he strangles them all, so he's got to have his hands on you first, so get out of reach as fast as you can."
"I can do that, Rascal, thanks…" Pepper smiled again.
After cleaning up and getting ready for the night, Pepper peered about. "Sure would be nice if we had some bathing water…"
"Reckon you could take a spit bath down by the creek. But don't go gettin' in. We're too close to get comfortable." Wesley advised.
Pepper yelped and went to get some clean clothes out of her bag on the horse.
John T.'s eyes followed her. All sorts of visions danced in his head.
Wesley nudged him, "She's pretty little gal, and a nice one, I don't want to see her hurt John. T."
"Who said I'd hurt her?" John T. stared at his friend.
"Now I don't want to ride herd on you boy, but we got a job to do, and maybe after wards you can go make some plans, but now is not the time."
John T. scowled. "I know that…"
"She ain't like the little whore…she ain't never…" Wesley began only to be cut off by John T.
"I know that too." John T. frowned.
"Good. Glad to hear it." Wesley smiled and patted him on the back. "I was just pointing out the difference, son."
"I seen the differences…"
John T. followed her trail later though, determined to make her see where she was putting herself.
When he caught up to her, she'd washed her hair and was nearly dressed again, she kept trying to untangle her hair with a big comb, looked almost like a currycomb, but he caught her arm and whirled her about to face him.
"Look, I don't think you understand the dangers here….and I don't want to see you get hurt."
"Of course I understand, but you can be right there with a gun and shoot him dead while he's tending to me…" Pepper shouted.
"What if I'm not fast enough?" John T. probed.
She looked down, shielding her own fear from him, "You will be…"
"What makes you so sure…?" he questioned, tipping her chin up.
Her chin trembled, "'Cause you're half in love with me…and you wouldn't let anyone hurt me…would you?" she whispered, staring into his eyes.
He frowned, and then he pulled her to him and kissed her for all he was worth. This time her lips moved slightly beneath his and her mouth opened to him like a shy flower meeting the sun for the first time. His hot tongue danced against hers, slowly, savoring.
He groaned, and wrapped his arms around her.
Breathlessly they pulled away and stared into each other's eyes.
"If we were some where's else…I'd show you how much…" he whispered, then pulled her back into his arms and kissed her again, this time with a white hot fury. His lips seemed to brand her, as they traveled against her neck and ear, and back to claim her waiting lips.
His hands went under her breast, against the camisole, he groaned, "Ah…hell, this is pure torture…." He mumbled.
"What…" she gasped for air between his hot kisses.
"Being this close and not having you…" he murmured against her ear so no one could ever hear him but her.
"I'm not a whore…John T….I'll be married before I give myself…to a man." she whispered when he came up for air.
"Pepper, this ain't the time nor the place…to tell you how I feel." he rasped.
"Maybe not, John T. but if you want me, you'll have to say the words…"
"You want the words…okay….okay….I—I think I love you." John T. called towards her.
Pepper whirled about, "You think….well…let me know when you know for sure…." She murmured and walked away.
"Pepper…wait…I just didn't want to jump the gun again. Say something I'd be sorry for later." He murmured towards her.
She stopped, turned around, and looked at him. "I wouldn't want you to be sorry later, either. Goodnight, John T."
He stood there staring after her.
Pepper shook all the way back to camp. What had just happened?
It seemed John T. wanted no part of marriage.
Back at camp once more a man had ridden in. He wore a Mexican outfitted in black and gold and a hat that matched, he looked quite handsome as he was young and had a brilliant white smile against his tan features. Wesley seemed to know him and evidently he was a friend.
"Pepper, I would like you to meet Antonio Del Lavaga Enqriues, a friend…this is Pepper Hardy. Sheriff Hardy's daughter, the man that put Victor Frank in jail the first time, and died trying to recapture him."
Antonio's eyes sparkled as he took her hand and brought it to his lips. John T. frowned as he come upon them.
"It is an unforeseen pleasure to meet you, even under these circumstances." Antonio smiled into her face. His dark good looks and big open smile warmed her.
Pepper returned his smile and couldn't stop herself from glancing over at John T.
"How come you are out here?" Wesley asked. "You been following me?"
"Si. Someone told me you were hunting him again. I followed your trail, it was not hard since you've stopped at so many places and spoke to so many people. I figured you must be hot on his trail. Forgive me, but it is hard to imagine such a thing of a man. So, you see, I had to come. The story you tell of him is not the same as I remember of him. After all, he saved my life. And…at the time I was just a boy, but…I couldn't help thinking this man was such a loner, and had no one to protect him. Although I cannot return that favor under the circumstances, it is important to be there when it happens. No man should die alone, senor. Not even Victor Frank…."
John T. came closer. "He's a friend of yours? Is that what you're saying?"
Antonio's forehead wrinkled with concern, "No…not a friend, but an acquaintance. I knew him as a boy. Not a man. I merely want to offer him some solace at the end…"
Rascal eyed him suspiciously. "Real noble of you, ain't it?"
"Senor I do not blame you for feeling suspicious of me, but I do not mean to interfere in this. I merely think this poor unfortunate man should have a bit of solace at the end…Is that wrong?"
John T. squinted. "No…I reckon it isn't wrong. However, none of us shares your sentiments, exactly. This man is a cold blooded killer."
"Si…a problem no doubt." Antonio frowned again. "He has killed one you love?"
"My mother.." John T. exclaimed.
"I see, and you sir…" Antonio pointed to Rascal.
"My wife…"
Then he turned back to Pepper. "And you Senorita?"
"My father…."
"Si…I can understand. Please be at ease with me…I mean you no harm. I don't plan to interfere in this killing of a man…only to offer solace…"
"In other words you won't be a part of the killing?" Wesley offered an explanation.
"Si…I will not…unless…I am driven to it."
"Frank is after his Uncle. He'll torture the man to death if he can. Just like he did his daddy. After that, there is no telling what he might do…"
Wesley studied them all a minute.
"Why does he seek an Uncle, was it not his father that tortured him so?"
"Yes, it was. However, his Uncle was there, laughing and helping his father think of ways to torture him. So he wants to see the Uncle suffer…It won't be a pretty site. Hopefully, we'll get to him first, but who knows." Wesley explained.
"And do you have a plan…to make this work?" Antonio took the coffee that Pepper poured for him and waited for the answer.
"We are i
n the middle of working one out. Its women that is his target, that and the Uncle. If we can get to him, and draw him out, we'll shoot him dead like a dog. I want to warn you we've already decided this, Antonio, so if you've no stomach for it, I suggest you ride on." Wesley prompted.
"I have seen many die before. Why would this be so different?" Antonio sipped his coffee and looked at Pepper.
"Because we don't aim to outdraw him, we don't aim to give him a chance in hell. We're just going to shoot him dead." Rascal informed him with a frown still plastered on his face.
"Is it because he kills women…because he killed your love ones that you would shoot him down like a dog?" Antonio's face screwed up with a painful look.
Wesley poured his cold coffee on the ground and shook his head. "It's neither my friend. It's because he's crazy….Look, we know the man ain't no gunman. We know in a shootout it wouldn't hardly be fair, as all three of us are faster. He strangles women with his bare hands. He cuts off their ring finger and takes it with him. He's crazy and he is like a mad dog. We can't afford to give him a chance. Now do you understand?"
"Si…I do. I-I could not do it. I don't think. And I have killed… What about the law…"
"We plan on havin' witnesses and out in the open when we do it…"
Antonio shook his head. "May I go with you…?"
Wesley scratched his chin, "Antonio, I don't understand you. I mean…I know this man saved your life once and you are indebted, but I've tried to explain that this man is a cold-blooded killer. He don't understand what he's doin'. The law won't track him down. What could they do with him if they caught him? He's been in prison before, escaped. The law wants no part of him."
"And you do?"
"And we do."
"Now if you can tell me what you want to tag along for, then maybe I can understand." Wesley eyed his friend straight forward.
"I want to pray for his soul and bury him…"
Pepper's eyes clouded for a moment. "It's a very good thing to do…I suppose…"
Antonio glanced from one to the other. "Si, it will complete my debt to this man."
Suddenly the entire camp seemed somber, as though they all needed to rethink their intentions, but Rascal shook his head.
"Wesley, if you want this fella to go with us…it's okay with me. As long as he don't try to stop us from doin' what we got to do."
Better Off Without Her (Book One of the Western Serial Killer series) Page 15