Rebecca didn’t know what to think about these two ruffians and her unpredictable situation. It would be foolish to call their bluff and behave boldly. If she were careful not to provoke them to violence, she might compel them to back down and leave. Was there any remote chance of persuading them to alter their iniquitous plan? What if she made matters worse? Everything hinged on how these villains would react. She realized that men so close to the edge of lust, greed, and cruelty shouldn’t be pushed over the precipice without careful deliberation. She couldn’t bear for her children to be harmed or frightened. She was determined to discover the best way to handle this precarious situation, and until then, she would merely watch and wait.
Rebecca suddenly recalled the extent of some men’s base natures and evil acts from days long past. If these men were ensnared by wickedness, she was doomed to face it. Yet, if there were a small light hidden in this dark moment, she would try to seek it out and reveal their sins to them. The beast called Lester seemed to enjoy ordering women around and fully expected to be obeyed without question or resistance. She promptly concluded that arrogance and boldness on her part would be unwise. Even so, she couldn’t behave as a terrified, weak-willed, groveling female, or Lester’s sense of power over her would increase. She had to walk an extremely fine line. If she physically fought him, he would become rougher with her. For now, she had to ignore his gropings and insults. If at all possible, she would use logic and reasoning to end this matter. Often ruffians were confused and rebuffed by genteel ladies…
She decided to use partial truth and an unspoken plea for mercy. Her goal was to protect her children. No matter how much she despised being touched and intimidated, it was vital that she appear calm and pleasant, as if in control of this ominous situation. Perhaps her mood and manner would take them off guard and she could escape, for they wouldn’t be expecting such behavior.
Using her most educated and ladylike tone, she told them, “My husband is hunting and trading near the Black Hills. Clay trades furs to the Cheyenne for the gold, but they’ll only give him a small bag once a year. He doesn’t know where they get it, so he couldn’t tell you even if he were home. We’ve used all of it, and we’re almost out of supplies. He’s gone to trade all of last winter’s furs for more gold or food.” Her tone became firm as she stated, “Don’t go in that cabin and frighten my children. If you have any God-fearing decency, you’ll leave us alone. And I’m not a squaw; I’m white,” she announced fiercely, hoping that this news would inspire a change of heart if they bore ill feelings toward Indians. Her voice had not exposed her panic or lies, and it was obvious that her news didn’t sit well with either man.
“You ‘ear that, Lester?” Jess stormed angrily. “We done come all this way for nuthin’. Now how we’s gonna git rich? We cain’t ride into no Cheyenne camp,” he scoffed. “I said it was a dumb plan. Let’s git outta here afore someone comes.”
The wily Lester was deep in thought. He casually asked, “When’s yore man coming back? When’d he leave?”
Rebecca didn’t want them hanging around waiting for her husband’s return, which she assumed they wouldn’t do if they believed he would be gone for many days. Jess’s voice and reaction gave her hope, for he had sounded ready and eager to give up and depart. She pressed her presumed advantage. “Early this morning. I suppose he’ll be gone for a week,” she replied carefully. “We’re poor folks, Lester. We have nothing worth stealing. You can’t harm little children.”
“What’cha think, Jess? Think we should leave emptyhanded?” he asked, winking surreptitiously at his disgruntled cohort.
“She said she don’t have nuthin’ worth nuthin’, Lester. I ain’t killin’ no woman and babies, least not if’n they ain’t Injuns.” He chuckled and his eyes rolled dreamily, as if recalling some exciting event.
Rebecca almost sighed aloud with relief. Surely she had reached that tiny spot of conscience and had won her battle. She cautioned herself not to say or do anything to tarnish her success. She patiently waited for Lester to agree and order their departure. He did neither.
“I say she’s got somethin’ worth somethin’,” Lester announced, grinning lewdly at Rebecca. “If’n she’s so poor, we’ll just put our best treasure in her little bag,” he suggested, stroking his erect maleness. “Yep, we’ll just make a little trade—their lives for a little fun and relief. You ‘member when we caught us that Pawnee squaw? Boy, was she e’r a fighter, but good on them blankets. She had nice tits like these. What a good time we had us! And that squaw got to liking it. Took us three days to tire her. Martha don’t hafta know about men’s dealings. I ain’t sent you down no wrong path yet. Old Clay ain’t here to stop us. You want some of this squaw?” he enticed his friend, yanking Rebecca’s arms behind her and holding them at an angle that made her full, firm breasts jut out temptingly.
Rebecca had gone rigid and pale. She now realized that these disgusting men, especially the nefarious leader, were not going to withdraw peacefully. She was alone, at their mercy and whims. She squirmed in Lester’s iron grip and shrieked, “Let go of me, you sorry bastard! My husband will kill you for this!”
Lester howled with amusement, knowing she was helpless. “Feel them soft tits, Jess,” he coaxed, a fiery wildness controlling his senses.
As the lusty episode with the Pawnee woman flashed through Jess’s mind, spittle left the corner of his wide mouth and eased down his chin. His eyes were large and glittery with eagerness. He wiped the saliva away before it could drip onto his dirty shirt, then fondled her breasts as gently as if they were made of some fragile material. Touching her kindled his blinding passion and his emotions quickly shifted from apprehension to lust. “Kin I be first this time?” he asked, sounding like a child speaking of a harmless game. “You always git the best part. Let me take her down first. I know lots of tricks. After I take my piece, I’ll git her ready and begging fur you.”
“You wouldn’t dare harm me!” Rebecca screamed, her terror mounting. “I have children inside that cabin. Only an animal would do such an evil thing,” she bravely reasoned, yanking free.
Jess’s mood was revealed when he grinned and barked like a wild dog, then panted comically. Lester seized her arms and cruelly pinned them behind her before she could flee or gain any advantage. When she tried to knee Jess in the groin, he threatened maliciously, “Fur every time you hurt me balls and stick, I’ll make another cut on one of them half-red nits inside. You gonna fight me?” he snarled.
Lester answered for her. “I bet she’s gonna be nice to us, Jess, even nicer’n that Pawnee whore. She don’t want her babies all cut up. And she ain’t gonna scream and bring ‘em out here to watch Mama get rammed by two horny stags.” He turned to Rebecca and continued, “It’s been a long time since we had us a female, ‘specially a good looker like you. Ole Jess here has a bad temper when he’s riled. He don’t like folks refusin’ us nothin’,” he informed her with a cruel laugh. “She’s gonna let us take our fill and be on our way without no trouble. Right, squaw?” When she didn’t respond, Lester demanded, “You best do as told, woman, or I’ll head inside that cabin and bring out somethin’ to convince you.”
Rebecca knew if either man entered the cabin the truth of her children’s parentage would be revealed, for all three girls were unmistakably Indian in looks and coloring. She had to keep them out, no matter what. “I don’t trust you, you varmits,” she gasped, struggling to gain time.
“And we don’t trust you, Ma’am. We ain’t leaving here without some reward fur our troubles. I give you my word we’ll leave after you let us take our fill. ‘Sides, we kin do as we please without your say. Course if we gits mad, we could be rough on ever’one.”
“Reward?” she sneered sarcastically. “I should reward you for trying to rob us and attack me? Like a fool, I should believe you?” she scoffed, stalling for time to plan, time for her husband to return.
The evil-minded Lester drawled, “We’s taking your word about no gold insi
de. We gotta be paid some way. Like Jess said, we don’t kill females er little’uns, less theys savages. But we don’t mind hurtin’ ‘em a bit to gits our way. Ole Jess here’s nice unless you goes against us and our wants.” He clasped one of her hands over his stiff manhood and the other one over Jess’s matching condition. Then he informed her, “And right now, we wants these hards to go real soft and happy. Then we’ll just mount up and be gone, real friendly like. We won’t even wait on old Clay to return with the gold. Might be best fur all of us if’n he don’t know how you paid us to leave his family alive. What’cha say, woman? Won’t take long. We got us a deal?”
Rebecca’s eyes eased over the man called Jess. She marked his age at a little over twenty. He was tall and lanky, but surprisingly strong. His dull brown hair hadn’t been washed, combed, or cut in months, and his wide mouth exposed bad teeth and a lecherous grin. Oddly, it appeared he had shaven within the last two weeks, yet the garments he wore were ragged and smelly. Rebecca saw in his light-colored eyes a weakness of character that could easily lead him down a path of crime. Once Jess had understood they had the upper hand, all fear and hesitation had vanished. Standing before her now, he seemed to possess no morals or kindness. He would obey Lester’s orders and heed the sexual urgings of his body.
She focused her attention on Lester. She estimated he was about nine inches over five feet, only three inches taller than Rebecca. As she observed his girth, she decided she could almost consider him fat. Dark, wet stains at his armpits revealed his previous exertions in the heat, as did the moisture gleaming on his face. His jowls moved as if he were chewing a cud. Lester’s pale complexion was presently flushed pink, and she couldn’t determine his age, for his face was boyish and his thinning hair had streaks of gray at the temples. His nose and lips were large, but his eyes brought tremors to her very soul. They were stone cold.
Without a doubt, Lester Paul was a mean and immoral man. Although stocky and short, he had bullish strength, and she knew he was not adverse to using it on her or her children. She could not trust him, for she felt he would not leave witnesses to his cruel acts of greed and lust. She wisely realized that Jess would do almost anything Lester suggested, but she sensed that Jess had a violent, crazy streak in him, and an unpredictable male was more dangerous than a menacing one like Lester. Rebecca was repulsed by both men, and she felt she would rather die than submit to either of them. She had made love to only one man—Bright Arrow. Until recently, those times had been filled with passion, love, and pleasure. If these dirty beasts touched her, would she ever be clean again? She could not allow them to invade her body, to stain her soul. Somehow, she had to catch them off guard. They had to be foiled or killed…
“You trying to pull some trick on us?” Lester questioned as she remained silent and pensive, though eyeing them keenly.
“How could I possibly defeat two strong men?” she responded softly. “If Jess is going to be first, we could place his bedroll over there,” she suggested timidly, pointing to a thick growth of trees. “It would be easier for me in the dark,” she suggested cleverly. She had to separate them, to disarm the most deadly one! Then she would be able to sneak back into the cabin, bolt the door and obtain a weapon.
For a few minutes, Lester Paul and Jess Thomas debated who was going to have Rebecca first. She dared not run toward the cabin, knowing they could overtake her before she reached the door and bolted it. She would have to be clever and patient. Her anger and apprehension gave her courage and willpower. As she listened to the men argue over their imminent rape, rage burned brighter and brighter within her. All fear was seared away, leaving only confidence and determination.
When it appeared that Lester was winning their argument, Rebecca intervened. Such precarious times called for desperate and daring measures. She asked demurely, “Who was first the last time?” When Jess quickly told her it was Lester, she asked, “And the time before that?” She knew the answers before Jess spoke them aloud. It was evident that Lester gave the orders and Jess normally followed them. Smiling innocently at Jess, she concluded, “Then it seems fair for Jess to be first this time. You promised you won’t hurt me, so I’ll trust you.” Having felt both men’s grips, she knew Jess would be easier to battle. She was amused and astonished by the effect of her silky voice and radiant smile on the dim-witted Jess. Even so, she realized he would never free her or help her fight Lester.
Lester’s eyes narrowed. He glared coldly and vengefully at Rebecca, who pretended not to notice his silent threat. She had won; Jess refused to yield to Lester’s demands for the first time in their relationship. “Go on then! But don’t take too long or I’ll toss you off ‘er,” Lester growled. “I’ll wait me turn,” he said, his tone implying more to her.
While Jess was fetching his sleeping roll, Lester snarled, ‘Think you’s smart, don’t you? You cain’t turn Jess ‘gainst me.”
Rebecca craftily smiled at Lester and boldly placed her hand upon his barrel chest. She whispered softly as if to prevent Jess from hearing her words. ‘The best should always come last, Lester, like dessert. He’s only a boy. I’m sure you know more about pleasuring a woman than he does. Let him ease his needs; he’ll be quick. Then we can take our time. You just wait here and I’ll give Jess a good time… But a fast one,” she crooned provocatively, smiling at him once more.
“Yep, just like I thought, fire in them regions,” he jested, rubbing one hand over her furry mound through her dress as the other caressed her right buttock. He was pleased when she groaned softly and arched toward him. His eyes sparkled with eagerness and merriment as he taunted, “I got you hot just touchin’ you. That breed of yours ain’t no good or he cain’t give you enough.”
“He got hurt in May, strained himself there. He can’t… you know, Lester,” she hinted saucily, lowering her lashes flirtatiously. “I’m glad you came by while he’s gone. A woman doesn’t see a real man out here often. It gets lonely while he’s gone. He’s been talking about moving closer to the settlement. If he does, we might be able to see each other on the sly. That is, if you don’t have a woman who keeps you too busy or too tired. This Martha that Jess mentioned? Think you can keep us both satisfied?” she brazenly asked, working on his immense ego.
“No woman’s enough fur Lester Paul. ‘Cept you might be. Martha Thomas has just as many rocks in ‘er head as her brother Jess. It makes Jess happy fur me to see his sister. I been planning to rid myself of both of ‘em. Me and you got some plans to make. You git Jess to be quick. He’s young and won’t last long if you work on him good. I’ll be ready fur you when you finish him off.”
Rebecca nodded as if in full agreement. She knew she had this lecherous, vain creature fooled. She forced herself to endure his gropings but prayed he wouldn’t try to steal a kiss. If he did, she would surely be sick. Fortunately Jess returned at that moment. Winking conspiratorially at her, Lester dropped his hands to his sides, anticipating a lusty bout with her soon. He sat down and leaned against a tree, drinking from the whiskey botle which Jess had given him.
Rebecca led Jess into the thick cluster of cottonwoods where Bright Arrow had discarded the rocks from his last campfire. She told him to spread out the sleeping roll and undress. Jess was too excited to obey her instructions. He insisted on unbuttoning her dress and removing it. “I wants a good look at’cha afore we lays down.”
Rebecca stifled her pride and controlled her anger. She couldn’t reach one of the rocks in the bushes until they were on the mat. Even though she was close to a weapon, she dared not act rashly and risk being bound. While Jess was distracted, she would seize one and clobber him senseless. Then she could sneak through the dark treeline and return to the cabin by the other side. There she would get a weapon to use on Lester if he followed her.
Jess called joyously as he removed the dress, “She’s naked under this dress, Lester. Look at them beauts.”
Because of the heat in the cabin, Rebecca had not worn anything beneath the dress. She had n
o choice but to suffer through Jess’s stares and touches. She gritted her teeth in revulsion when he spread kisses over her breasts, then fastened his mouth to one nipple and sucked noisily on it. “Lawd, she tastes good, Lester,” he called out as he moved to her other breast. When Rebecca didn’t struggle with him, he told Lester, “She’s ready and willing, Lester. She wants this, man.”
In the full moonlight, Rebecca could watch Lester through the leaves, but Lester could not see them in the dark shadows. She saw Lester grin each time Jess whistled or spoke. She knew Lester was becoming highly aroused by the way he was fondling himself through his pants. To cover her impending attack on Jess, she pretended to send Lester verbal clues. “I’m giving him a good time like I promised, Lester. He’s burning for me over here.”
As Jess’s hands started to wander over her body from the neck down, he declared hoarsely, “I don’t think I kin go long, Lester. Hell, I ain’t never been first.”
Rebecca eyed the effect of that confession on Lester. The stocky beast smiled and licked his lips hungrily. He relaxed and drank his whiskey, feeling he would soon be busy.
Wanting to end this as quickly as she could, she anxiously suggested they lay down and get comfortable. Instead, Jess’s hand slipped into her dark triangle as his mouth locked on her breast again. He teased the nipples with his tongue and teeth. His forefinger wiggled back and forth across the peak between her legs. Clearly Jess wasn’t as naive as she had believed. From the way he used his hands and lips, he knew how to satisfy a woman and seemed set on arousing and pleasuring her! She knew she was right when he murmured huskily, “I been taught a woman gives good as she gits. Martha showed me all about girls and what they likes. She learned me all the tricks and let me practice on her all the time. Martha said it was important to make a woman crazy with yore hands and mouth. Then she’d do anything fur him and wouldn’t never cast eyes on another man.”
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