STANDING
BETWEEN LOVE AND BETRAYALSTANDING
BETWEEN LOVE AND BETRAYAL
He hadn’t deserved to die the torturous way that he did. How cruel the mind of an outlaw can be. Does an outlaw have no conscious mind at all? When an outlaw draws on and kills a human being, does this coward who hides behind a gun not comprehend that his victim has a family who loves him, and will grief for him for the rest of their life? An outlaw simply takes what HE wants, and he has no compassion for the family and friends left behind. An outlaw will do whatever it takes to benefit his own agenda, his own passions, and his own needs. An outlaw will acquire the assistance of innocent law-abiding citizens for a simple task that he may need accomplished. Once an outlaw has exploited that innocent individual, that person is expendable! An outlaw feels no remorse over the action that he must take to secure his own well-being or the well-being of HIS family!
She feels her body thrashing wildly on the bed, but she can’t persuade her eyes to open. The screams in the night, had they really come from her vocal cords? She feels the dryness of her throat pleading for her to wake up to suppress the gasps that are hindering her breathing.
Her screams in the night had been piercing. Surely someone would hear her cries for assistance. Her vociferating had been in vain. She feels panic begin to sweep over her body, as she becomes a spectator to the tragic way he had been killed. No one had heard her cries to help her save the man she loved.
The smoke had been so thick she could barely see the elderly man that was slumped over at his desk. The fire and smoke were surrounding his still body. Upon the floor beneath the chair that he sits on, lay a horrendous puddle of blood, his blood! She hears a frightening jocosity flourishing around her. She can’t see the man behind the hideous laughter. She reluctantly pulls back the curtain to her papa’s jewelry and engraving workshop. The utter fear that she feels catches in her throat. Her voice is silent. Her eyes become wide open with horror as she views the demented being of Emery Pike!
His warm and gentle touch envelopes her body like no other man has ever been able to do. His gentle, but hard-worked hands cup her face tenderly as he pulls her softly to him for a passionate kiss. She loves this man more than life.
The gunfire rang out amongst the trees that the outlaws used to conceal their whereabouts from the lawmen hunting them down. Her body loses control and cold shivers invade her restless sleep. She follows a trail of blood, clad only in her white nightdress, through the moon lit town as she frantically searches every building for him. Her mind is making her mad with anguish with every door that she opens, and he is not behind it. Yet, she knows that he is near.
She wonders through every dark alley, with his voice softly calling out for her to find him. She stumbles her way around Rock Creek for what seems like hours before the trail of his blood takes her to Doc Barnes clinic. She starts to raise her hand to turn the knob that will open the door, but it opens before she even touches the doorknob. The smoke from long ago appears again, but this time there is no fire! There are only the echoing sounds of gunfire!
She begins to walk apprehensively through the doors with her arms wrapped tightly around her chest as if she is trying to protect herself from the chills that run down her spine. She walks into a cold and dark room, and immediately witnesses Teaspoon and Kid pacing in rabid fashion back and forth, and then back and forth again. Neither man senses her presence. Their heads are lowered while they both stare blindly at the wooden floor beneath their boots.
The first perception of his demise that she observes is that both Teaspoon, and Kid’s clothes are covered with blood! His blood! She walks past them, and they don’t even acknowledge her presence in the room. She enters a dark corridor. She stumbles through it, finding her way by clinging to the walls.
She approaches yet another door that is tightly closed shut. She lightly pushes on this door to open it. It creaks open to allow her visual entrance to the room. She stands in the doorframe screaming at the sight of his unresponsive body, sprawled on a bed covered with blood, his blood!
An astounding scream comes from within her quivering body. Having been startled out of her nightmare, Jane abruptly sits up in her bed! Her breathing is laborious as she clasps her hands to her chest hoping to bring her gasps for air under control! She wipes the sweat off her face with the back of her hand. She feels the light moisture that reminds her of the reason behind her feverish trembling.
Rachel doesn’t bother to knock on Jane’s bedroom door. She heard Jane scream out in horror, and feels the need to make sure the young woman is all right. She thrusts open the door to Jane’s bedroom, and quickly makes strides to get to the woman who has her knees drawn up to her chest with her hands clasped around them as she rocks her body back and forth on her bed. The color has completely drained from Jane’s face. Rachel slowly walks to the edge of Jane’s bed and sits down, not allowing her eyes to move off the frightened young woman.
“Did you have the same dream again?” Rachel asked barely above a whisper not wanting to upset Jane any further.
“Rachel, I know he’s hurt somewhere. Why haven’t they returned home yet?” Jane spoke her voice cracking with emotion.
Rachel brings the young woman to her chest and holds her tenderly as Jane becomes overwhelmed with emotion. “It is only a dream, Jane. I’m sure everyone of them will be returning home unharmed,” Rachel spoke almost trying to convince herself as much as Jane that the men are all coming home unscathed.