Chapter 2
“Come on, follow me this way.” Allen pulled her along. Liz pulled back on his arm trying to look around the ship as much as she could.
“Here come in; this is my room on the trip.” He opened up a door to a huge room. There was a bed in the far corner of the room. Liz looked at it and hoped that they would use the bed soon. She had been hot thinking about him all day long, and after the kiss, well it had only increased.
“Wow, this is so big.” Liz said looking around the room. She walked around and finally made her way to the bed. She plopped down on the edge of it. “Nice and sturdy, want to use it?” She asked.
Allen looked at her and she saw a flash of something come over his eyes. She wasn’t sure if it was another color, or maybe another eyelid? He walked over by her and pulled her up. Liz licked her lips in anticipation of the kiss she hoped was coming.
“I have to check in first, but I’ll be back. Remember that you need to stay in the room though. I’ll come back as quickly as I can. If anyone knocks on the door, don’t say anything, and don’t answer it. Do you understand?” He said looking at her for confirmation of this.
“Yes I understand. But can you please hurry back?” Liz kissed him and pushed her tongue into his mouth. Allen responded back by snaking his tongue around hers and squeezing it. She moaned loudly, wondering what that tongue would feel like licking her lower regions. She felt her pussy get wet at the thought.
He kissed her a little longer and then pulled his tongue out of her mouth. “I’ll be quick.” He said and left the room.
She was tempted to simply undress and wait for him like that, but changed her mind and instead began to investigate his room. Liz looked through a closet that was built into the wall and saw a few uniforms in there. She imagined him dressed in one and them play acting some sort of kinky sex scene. Her mind ran wild for a bit as she pictured him as the alien warrior trying to conquer a princess!
The window drew her full attention as she noticed the stars begin to float by. Liz looked out and saw the Earth getting smaller and smaller behind them. Suddenly there was a whoosh sound and she was propelled forward hard against the wall. She hit her head hard and slide to the ground.
Liz woke up and looked around; she wasn’t on the floor, but on a bed. Her head hurt badly. She sat up and heard.
“Don’t move too much you took a hard fall.” A deep voice said.
She looked to where the voice had come from so quickly she felt dizzy. “What are you doing here?” She asked Rich.
“You mean in my room? Why wouldn’t I be here?” He stated.
Liz could have sworn it was still Allen’s room, unless they all looked alike, or had Allen set her up. It was possibly she guessed, but no he wouldn’t do that would he? He wanted her, she was sure of that. She thought of their shared kiss again and groaned as she thought of Rich.
“What’s wrong there sweetie?” Rich said as he approached the side of the bed. He touched her hair and she pulled her head away. He snapped her face back to him by pulling her hair. He placed his face right in front of her, she was scared he was going to try and kiss her, so she turned to the side. “Don’t fight it, we can do this the hard or easy way, it’s your choice, but either way I’ll be sure to have fun!” He scowled at her.
Liz spit in his face. He slapped her hard with the palm of his hand.
“I like pain, so it will only turn me on more.” He smirked.
She tried to move away from him quickly and run for the door. But he blocked her at every turn. He was bigger than her and couldn’t move as quickly as her though for long, or she was counting on it.
“Look just let me go back to Allen’s room and I’ll never say anything about this.” Liz tried to negotiate with Rich.
He laughed at her. “You think you’re going back to his room? Never, I’ll use you until we get back home and then sell you like the rest of the girls.”
Rich saw the look on her face. “Oh so he didn’t tell you what we really do did he? That’s funny, what line did he use? Finding wives for lonely men, or was it looking for women who just want to travel? It doesn’t matter, because you’ll get a pretty price I’m sure.” He stated.
She couldn’t say anything she was processing the information he had told her. “What do you do?” She finally asked.
“We take Earth girls from conventions like the one today and sell them on our planet.” He said matter-of-factly.
“Take or ask them to go?” Liz asked slowly.
“We never ask, some of them beg to go, like you. While other’s we just tell them it’s a tour of our ship. We drug most of them, some of the others we test out for the guys back home.” He laughed deeply.
Her stomach turned at the thought of Allen being involved in something like this. She wanted to know if he tested out the girls too, but then again changed her mind. For all she knew that was why he had left in the first place. Perhaps he was comparing Earth girls to see what they did differently when having sex? “Oh I don’t feel so good.” She said and held her stomach.
“You’re not going to get sick are you?” He asked, his face turning green.
Without another word her lunch came up and out.
“Oh gross.” He turned away from her and made gagging noises himself.
Liz took the chance and ran for the door as the food was still coming up from her stomach. He didn’t react quickly enough and she made it out the door.
“Allen, help me.” Liz screamed at the top of her lungs.
She could hear Rich right behind her. “It’s no use bitch; he’s probably down playing with the other girls.” He said and it sounded like he was right next to her. She pivoted to the other side of the hall and saw his hand go to where she had just been.
Please let me run quicker, she prayed silently. There was a corner coming up and another hall. She didn’t know where she was or where it might take her, but she turned quickly. Liz hit hard against something and was knocked back off her feet.
“I thought I told you to stay in the room?” She heard Allen’s voice from above.
At that point Rich came around the corner chasing her. He stopped as he saw Allen standing above her.
“I didn’t I was knocked out and when I woke up he had me.” She cried out and pointed at Rich.
Allen turned to look at Rich again. “Is that true?” He asked.
“Yeah it is what are you going to do about it?” Rich stuck out his chest.
“Did he touch you?” Allen asked her without turning towards her.
“He slapped me.” Liz responded.
“You know she’s my property right? You had no right to take her out of my room.” Allen said to Rich. Then he began talking in a foreign tongue and she couldn’t understand anything.
“I’m the captain’s son, if I want her, I can have her.” Rich stated.
“No not this time. Remember what he said about you always taking privileges? No you don’t, of course. You’re done Rich.” Allen stated and turned towards Liz. “Come on.” He pulled her with him.
He went to his room and got her inside once again. “Are you sure you’re okay?” He asked looking over her closely.
“No I’m not okay. You are kidnappers? Why did you tell me you ask them to go?” Liz asked him.
Allen looked at her. “I do ask the girls if they want to go. We don’t use the tactics that Rich uses. He’s the one who will do dirty things to get the girls to come on board. I always try to explain to the girls that we have plenty of men who are looking for Earth girls to marry. See we have a shortage of women on our planet. The only way to find them is to go to other planets and get them.” He explained.
“Do you ever test them out?” She asked.
“Yes I have in the past. I have needs that need to be fulfilled.” Allen said.
She appreciated his honesty about that part of the conversation. “So do you sell the girls?” She asked.
“That’s how we make money.” Allen stated.
“Do you always ask them, or have you taken some in the past too?” She asked it was something she couldn’t quite get past yet.
“I don’t want to lie to you. So yeah I’ve taken some in the past. But only when we had a special order and she would fit the bill perfectly. If she seemed hesitant to come along, I would take her.” Allen admitted. “But I’m not proud of it. Honestly, there are times in the past when someone didn’t bring back the order correctly and they were killed for it. Not that it justifies what I did, but it’s a big reason for it.” Allen added.
He had moved closer to her and was looking at her with his Amber eyes burning brightly. Liz looked at his eyes and was mesmerized. Allen kissed her and slipped his tongue into her mouth, he hoped it would make her stop thinking about what he did for a living. He had been walking around thinking about their last kiss for far too long.
Liz forgot about what she was upset about as his tongue did amazing things inside of her mouth. Her loins responded to his touch and soon she was soaked.
Allen moved her over to the bed and undressed her slowly. He admired her body along the way with a low whistle. “You are amazing naked!” He complimented her.
She turned a bright red at his compliment. “Thank you.” She said lowly. He lowered her onto the bed.
“Where to start, so many things I want to share with you.” He smiled and lowered his mouth to hers. His hands moved down to her breasts and she felt him manipulate her nipples until they were little rocks. “You have some beautiful breasts.” He stated and then covered one of her nipples with his mouth.
She screamed when he bit her nipple and dragged his teeth over there hardness. “Oh, I like that.” She murmured.
He lowered his other hand to the space in between her legs and pushed her lips apart to gain access to her slit. Liz arched her back when he pushed two of his fingers deeply into her hole. She moved her hips up to help push his fingers deeper into her pussy.
“Let it go, I want you to cum.” He whispered into her ear. It was enough to push her over the edge and she screamed out as a climax rocked her body.
“There you go baby, let it go!” He kissed her hard on the lips, and pushed his hard member into her waiting and wet spot.
She met his thrusts and they were soon both moaning loudly. He rolled her over and placed her on top of him. Liz smiled down at him and began rocking her body back and forth, feeling his cock as it hit her g-spot.
He pulled her up and pushed her down by grabbing her waist. Liz cried out as another orgasm hit her body. “Here I go again.”
Allen slammed her down hard on his cock a few times and released his juices with a shout. “Oh damn, wow.” He thrust her down on him a couple more times and then held her still as he could feel her walls pulsing in another climax.
Liz slid off of him and lay beside him on the bed. “Wow is right, damn that was amazing.” She admitted.
He pulled her close to him and kissed the top of her head. She nestled on his chest and sighed. Liz started to doze off when she heard a knocking on the door.
“Allen, you in there?” They heard through the door.
“I have to get that it’s the captain. I knew he’d be around, I’m sure Rich spun the story a different way than it happened. Get dressed; you’ll have to talk to him.” Allen said and got up to throw on his clothes, he tossed Liz her clothes on the bed.
“Okay.” She said and hurried up and dressed. She really didn’t want anyone but Allen seeing her naked. Liz had barely finished dressing when the captain was in the room.
“Miss, I hear you had a run in with my son, can you tell me about it?” He asked and looked at her closely.
Liz knew she had the look of a woman who had just been made love to well, and she turned red at what the captain must be thinking right now.
“Go ahead Liz.” Allen came to her and held her hand while she talked.
“I didn’t know the ship would jump and wasn’t ready, I hit the wall hard. When I woke up he had me in his room, Rich. He told me that he was going to use me and then sell me when we got to his planet. He said that you sell girls who you’ve taken from Earth. When he tried to kiss me I spit in his face and he hit me.” Liz explained what had happened to her.
The whole while she was talking the captain was rubbing his chin. He seemed like he was deep in thought for a bit, and then he looked at Allen.
“How did you find her?” The captain asked him.
“She came running around a corner. I had just heard her yell and was on my way to her. Right after her was Rich. He said that she was his, and that I didn’t have a choice in the matter.” Allen said.
Again the captain shook his head and thought. He spoke to Allen in the foreign language that Liz couldn’t understand. They talked back and forth for a few minutes. She tried to watch their body language and figure out what was being said. She knew it had to be about her and maybe Rich too.
The captain stood up and said. “I’m sorry for my son’s bad behavior. It seems that he has little sense in matters of dealing with people of any type. He will be locked up; don’t worry about him bothering you at all. As far as what we do, Allen stated he explained it to you. I hope that you enjoy your trip.” He shook her hand and was out the door.
Liz looked at Allen. “Wow that had to be hard for him, his own son.” She said.
He breathed a heavy sigh. “Rich has had far too many chances. The captain knows that if he let one more thing go, the rest of us would turn him in as well. That would mean that not only would Rich be in jail, but so would his father. In the long run his son can find another job. But the captain would be banned from most everything on our planet. He might not ever be allowed to even leave again. He’s a man who’s been in space almost his whole life. So he would blame himself for how Rich acted all the time. No matter how many times everyone would try and explain to him that it wasn’t his fault, he would still take the blame.” Allen explained the situation to her.
“Still, I feel bad for him.” She stated.
“Don’t feel bad for either of them. Rich needed to be off of the team, he had hurt many girls in the past. The captain will still be here, Rich though; I’m not sure what will be done to him.” He said.
Liz caught a hesitation though as he was talking to her. She noticed it was the same type of hesitation he had when earlier he told her about what his job was. “I think you know what will happen, tell me.” She pushed.
“He’ll be put to death. Everything that he’s done in the past will now come out. There is no use of hiding it. Somehow the captain will have to explain why he didn’t say anything in the past, but that’s on him. I don’t care; if he leaves I could be moved up and promoted.” Allen stated.
“What does that mean for you?” Liz asked.
“It means that I will be in charge and I could settle down with a woman. The captain can have his wife, or a chosen woman on board with him.” Allen said.
“You can’t do that now? I’m on board now, right?” Liz asked.
“I had to get approval from the captain, who had to call the planet. If I’m captain, I don’t have to do any of that. It’s a more prestigious job, and more benefits.” Allen explained.
“So it was a pain for you to get me allowed to come with you? But you still did it?” Liz probed.
He looked down at the ground. “It was a pain, but I really wanted to get to know you better. I didn’t want to have to wait until later in the night when we got back. I like you a lot, maybe even more than like.” He said.
Liz laughed. “What is more than like?” She asked him, trying to see if he was thinking the same way she was feeling for him.
“I think I may be in love with you. It was how you stared at me and grabbed my attention today. When I first walked up to you, I could feel my body beating in time with you. It’s one of the many ways my type can tell they are in love. From what I hear it makes it a lot more simple for us then it is for humans.” He added.
“What are some of the other signs?” She asked curious. Then added, “Yes it’s more difficult for humans because we can be fooled by feelings of others and how they are with our hearts.”
“One of the main one’s is the body seeming to beat in time with the person you are attracted too. Another is a flaring of our eyes with multiple colors.” He said.
She stopped him. “Does it look like your blinking another eyelid?” She asked.
“Yes it can I guess to a human.” He said.
“I saw it earlier.” She pointed out excited about the discovery. “Are there more signs?” She asked.
“Just one more and I’ve had it already. The only one I wasn’t sure about was the eyes. But I had thought I was before you told me that anyway. Not always will we have all three signs. That makes it interesting, because our body might be off a bit. Kind of like what you said, it isn’t always easy, and we do make mistakes.” He added.
“Yes mistakes happen.” She agreed. “You aren’t saying we are a mistake are you?” She had forgotten that he had said the other sign had happened. Her fear was that he was going to push her away from him. Liz knew that she shouldn’t love him yet, but her heart was screaming out for him to touch her again.
“No you aren’t a mistake; no all three signs happened with you, I’m sure of it. But that doesn’t mean that you feel the same way. I mean you’ve already said that you’ve made mistakes. Plus how do you realize you love someone?” He asked.
“It’s just a feeling we get inside. I noticed you in the morning and couldn’t stop thinking about you all day long. I can’t tell you how many times I tried to find you in the room. Some people may say I fall in love too easily though. I just love the feeling of having someone to hug and kiss, and well of course do other things with!” She laughed a light laugh. “But I don’t know if you are telling the truth about how you tell for your species either. I have to take a chance, and I don’t know there is something a connection that seems to hold us together. I don’t get how I can feel this way about you. I am scared, my last boyfriend did say he loved me, well then he cheated on me. Wait what about the girls you take back and the testing? How do I know that you won’t do that still?” Liz questioned.
“In our species we can only mate with many women before we marry. After the ceremony of marriage, our bodies will no longer respond to another female. That is why it is so important to make sure we have the right person. We can’t marry more than one time in our lives.” He explained.
“Wow, if humans did that there would be a lot of people who would be extremely unhappy. I can’t imagine that, is it the same for the female?” She asked.
“Just for our species. You won’t be changed in that way. We don’t mess with DNA’s of any other races.” He stated.
“Does that mean we can’t have children?” She asked.
“I’m not sure, there haven’t been any successful births on the planet as of yet.” He admitted.
She wasn’t sure if she was happy or sad about it. She hadn’t thought much about whether she wanted children or not. Liz looked at him; she felt that just being with him would be enough for her.
“We can always adopt a child. I don’t mind raising an Earth child.” He stated. “Or maybe we’ll be successful at mating. Really right now I think that is moving far too forward. I just need to know if you are willing to marry me or not.” He asked.
Liz was taken aback by his lackadaisical way of asking her such a big proposal like it meant nothing much. “I don’t know it doesn’t seem like a proposal that holds much for the future.” She stated.
“Liz, remember I’m not part of your species, I don’t know how they do it on your planet. If you want something different, I can only offer me. I will make sure you are happy for the rest of your life, and never lacking for anything. But there may be times I do something that seems rude or insensitive. I don’t mean it to be that way. I can only tell you I love you and want you to be my wife.” He explained.
“Now that was a lot sweeter! Yes I would love to marry you.” Liz said. “But if you don’t get the promotion how much will I see you? You already said that the men on board can’t have women stay with them.” Liz added.
“Don’t worry I have my ways, since you’ve agreed to marry me now!” Allen said.
She laughed, sometimes he seemed to make little sense to her. Liz smiled at him. “I hope so, it would be sad to only see you every once in a while.” She admitted.
He stopped and looked at her. “No that won’t ever happen, I’ll make sure of it, and I promise you.” He said to her, his face showing how serious he was.
“I appreciate that very much Allen. Liz said.
“Let me ask you this though, if you had to would you be willing to live part time on Hasastasha and the other part on Earth?” Allen asked.
Liz thought for a few minutes about it. “I wouldn’t be opposed to it as an idea. If that means we get to see other more than if you are on the ship and I can’t go.” She stated.
“Good because I might be able to find something to do, but also so you know, if I’m not able to make enough in half a year, it might be longer we stay on my home planet.” He explained.
“Can’t you get a job on Earth?” She asked.
“I have parents and relatives who still live on my home planet. The money I make working goes to support my parents now that they are older.” He explained. “My planet won’t take Earth money as a payment though. So if I didn’t work there, well my parents wouldn’t be able to stay in their home. I can’t do that to them, they really don’t deserve to be treated that way.” He told her.
“No I agree, I didn’t know you had parents you were supporting.” She answered. “I can see your thinking, and I don’t have to worry about parents to look after either. So if I’m not working on Earth it’s not a big deal. Oh by the way what kind of work will I be able to do on your home planet?” She questioned.
“Work, oh you can’t do that. You don’t know our language; most people don’t speak any language but our mother tongue.” He explained.
Liz thought about how lonely it would be to not talk to anyone. She wondered if it was such a good idea to agree to stay on his planet, perhaps year round.
“You can learn it, or we can look at getting you a translator. It can be implanted and you’ll be able to understand everyone. You talk and it will change your language into Hasastashian” He stated. “But I’m not sure how much they are and if we can afford it right away.” Allen could see the look of fear in her eyes about loneliness being overwhelming. He wasn’t sure how to make her feel better; he tried to search his mind for an easy answer.
“I don’t know, I mean if you are around at least I could have you to talk too. Is there any way to at least visit Earth once in a while?” She queried.
Allen looked down. “I’m not sure. I get free passage because of my job. If I’m not working on the ship it costs a lot of money. I’m not a rich person. I have some money, but my parents take a lot to care for, they aren’t healthy.” He explained.
Her fear of completely changing her life and leaving behind everything she ever knew was building at a rapid pace. She could feel her heart as an ache settled inside of it. Will this work, she wondered, but didn’t ask.
“If it wasn’t for my parents I wouldn’t mind being on Earth more. The half a year at my planet and half a year on Earth would only work with a really good paying job. I’m not sure if I can find that, I only have a certain set of skills.” He admitted. “But Liz I don’t want to lose you either because of whatever it is your feeling. Please let’s just try to work it out in a way that will be fine for both of us?” He pulled her chin up to look deep into her eyes.
Liz could see his eyes as they changed color, one of the signs of his love. She just wasn’t sure what she wanted to give up being with him. Jason had been human, so this question of living on another planet would never come up. Perhaps she was dumb to ever get involved with an alien, yet alone fall in love with him.
“I don’t know. I can’t lie to you and say that I’m okay with it, because I’m not sure if I am or not. I lived on my planet my whole life; it feels like my safe place in a way. I haven’t ever been on your planet, will I like it? I’m not sure yet. I guess the only way to really be fair is to say, let me see your planet first. After that I can think a little bit more about this decision.” Liz finally said.
He looked down sad that she couldn’t make up her mind. “I understand it is a lot to ask you, especially since you’ve never been to my planet yet. But we’ll be there soon, and you’ll see it. I’ll try to not push you or confuse you anymore.” He stepped away from her, no longer standing close to her and touching her.
She felt lost without him close to her, but she knew why he was doing it. If she didn’t want to live on his planet, they may not be able to make their relationship work out. He wanted to prepare himself for a pain that might come all too soon. Plus she knew that he was trying to help her out as well, but it hurt for him to move away and not touch her.
Liz could feel the tears as they threatened to slip from her eyes and take a stroll down her cheeks. She tried to hold them back, but the sadness was so overwhelming. “I feel so lost right now.” She cried out as the dam broke and tears ran down her face.
Allen saw her crying and came to her side. He wrapped his arms around her and said, “Shh, its okay, everything will be fine.” But she could hear the uncertainness in his voice. “I love you nevertheless, and I can’t see you be in such pain.” He held her and let her cry a bit longer.
Liz felt Allen rocking her in his arms and soon felt her eyes closing shut. Her head was heavy from being so tired and the confusion. Her mind didn’t want her to be prepared for happiness, but a disastrous ending. Her dreams guided her into a scene where she was telling Allen, “I can’t live her. No I’m sorry, I just can’t do it. I have to leave.” She heard her mouth saying in the dream. Liz could feel the tears in the dream and the moment seemed so real,
“Hey are you okay?” Allen shook her awake.
She looked around confused and saw that they were still on the ship. “It was just a nightmare, it was horrible. I hope it isn’t a sign of what’s to come.” Liz sighed heavily.
“Dreams are often based more on our fears, over anything else. You can’t let your fear control you.” Allen said as he patted her head.
“It just seemed so real.” Liz commented. But as her mind began to wake up she realized it was simply a bad nightmare.
Allen pulled her closer and lowered his mouth to hers. Liz sighed deeply as his kiss deepened and he probed her mouth with his tongue. But he pulled away, “I don’t want to cloud your mind with sex, we shouldn’t do this again.” Allen said.
She didn’t want to admit that he was right, but in her mind she knew it was the right thing to do.
“Hey I’ll tell you what, how about I show you some pictures of my parents?” Allen said.
“Sure I’d love to see them.” Liz perked up a bit.
He pulled out an album and was flipping through the pages showing her the pages and explaining them. “This is my mom and dad.” He said.
“Oh you look a lot like your mother!” Liz commented.
“This picture is of when I was little.” He stated.
“Oh you have a sister?” She asked when she noticed a younger girl in the picture with them.
“She died a few years ago. It really broke my mom and dad up. Ever since then they aren’t the same. I swear I don’t even know if they talk to each other now. When I visit them, they barely say two words to each other.” Allen explained.
“I’m so sorry to hear that. Death of a child has to be hard on parents.” Liz said.
“This is why I can’t leave them; all they have left is me.” Allen said.
Liz knew he was right. They had lost a daughter, how could they lose a son too? “I understand, really I do. So tell me about your planet, what is it like? Is it green? What is the weather like? All those things that will help me make up my mind.” Liz asked.
Allen thought of the best way to explain his planet. “Really it’s a lot different than you could ever imagine. We don’t have the same types of flora or fauna as Earth. I think it’s beautiful, but this is what I grew up with. The weather is decent year round, you don’t need coats. I think the best thing is for you to see it, and then decide.” Allen stated.
“Alright, so how close are we now?” She asked, excited yet nervous about her first views of the planet that may soon be her home.
“About 10 minutes and we’ll go out of warp drive, you’ll see the planet and then we’ll be there. It’s all very quick near the end of the trip. I hope you like it.” Allen said and hugged her.
She wanted to kiss him and have him make love to her, just in case it was the last time. But she tried to think about her life in a positive way. Instead they stood by the window and looked at waited for the ship to come out of warp drive.
“Watch this it’s really neat.” Allen said as they heard a shift in the ship and suddenly they seemed to be stopped in the middle of space. “We aren’t really stopping, it’s just we were moving so quickly it seems like we stopped.” He explained.
Liz watched and was speechless as so many stars showed up in the window in a second. They did appear to be stopped. “It’s amazing out here.” She commented.
“There’s the planet below us.” He said and pointed out the window.
She looked down at the planet. It was a purplish color from here and looked amazing. “It looks so nice from up here, is it the same on the surface?” She asked, her hopes rising up.
“I told you I love it, but I grew up here.” Allen stated. “Once we are on the surface you can look around. But we have to go and visit my parents too. I do it after each trip. That way I can make sure they are both okay. Often times when I leave they wonder if I’m coming back or not.” He said.
“I’d love to meet them. I’m so nervous right now, this means so much to both of us. I just wish I could easily say yes I’ll stay. But I don’t want to say that and then change my mind.” Liz explained.
“I know, I get it, really I do. It would be like you asking me to only live on Earth. Perhaps if my parents were not living I could stay there part of the time. But I would really miss my planet. I’m asking you to give up everything you’ve known your whole life, just to be with me. Liz I’ll understand if you don’t want to do it. I’ll be heartbroken, and I might still try to make it work out, but in the long run I’m not sure if it will.” Allen explained.
“I know it would be far too hard if I didn’t move. I will admit I’m worried about it. After all you did tell me that not many people speak my language. Not that I wouldn’t be happy talking to you, but what about when you aren’t home? What will I do?” Liz asked.
“You can study the language and learn it; really it may not be hard for you. I don’t want you to feel lost though. Really I’m willing to think of other alternatives if we need too. I really would love to have you as my wife. I don’t know I’m so confused and just hoping you’ll love the planet.” Allen admitted. “But I’m fearful that you’ll find it too odd and unusual to like.”
“We’ll see.” Liz commented. Hoping that he was wrong and that she at least liked it enough to see herself being stuck there for who knew how long before visiting her home.
“We’re here. Let’s find out.” He said as they heard a noise of engines dying down and shutting off.
“Your right that was quick, I didn’t even know we were landing.” Liz commented. She took a deep breath and grabbed his hand. “I’m ready.”
They stepped off the ship and she looked around, unsure how to register what she was seeing. It looked nothing like Earth, or even science fiction shows. But it was amazingly beautiful. “There are so many colors, how could you not point that out about it?” She asked. “Oh wow, there’s the blue you were wearing at the expo!” She exclaimed as she pointed over at a bush type of tree thing. But not a tree, it was something else. “I love it, really I do. I don’t think I would ever tire of seeing this out our window.” She stated.
“So that means you won’t mind staying?” Allen asked cautiously.
“Yes I will gladly stay here with you. But can we try to go back once in a while? How about a wedding and my friends? How will I tell them?” Liz rattled off a row or questions.
“I’ll talk to the captain and see if we can hitch a ride back to Earth and hold at least a little wedding there. It will give you a chance to say your goodbyes to people you love. Don’t forget though, if I stay with the ship and get promoted maybe we can visit more often.” He said.
“But I can’t go with you for now. Let’s figure it out later which way we’ll do this. I think I would love to stay here for a while. I can help care for your parents too! And of course learn the language so they’ll understand me.” She added.
Allen kissed her hard on the lips. “You’ve just made me the happiest man in the whole solar system and more!” He said. “Come on let’s go meet my parents and tell them the good news! They’ll be shocked I can tell you that, they didn’t think I’d ever get married!” He stated.
“Maybe we can bring them some grandchildren too!” Liz smiled.
“I think we’ll have fun trying to see if our DNAs will match up and create life!” He gave her a wicked look.
Liz turned red and smiled. “I’m looking forward to it.
THE END
DAMAGED HEART
CLEAN ROMANCE
Night had fallen and darkness filled the small house. The only light illuminated off of the small candle Annie carried around the room. She grabbed for only what she considered to be the necessities and stuffed them into a bag. A small photograph of her late father, spare undergarments, hair rollers, some bread, and a notebook. Annie scanned the room trying to take it all in. This may be the last time she stood in this house let alone her bedroom. She had spent the last twenty years wallowing away in this room. Her small bed with a hand sewn quilt draped over it looked extremely inviting right about now. The past week she spent laying on her bed crying into that quilt in mourning over her father’s sudden death.
This place was no longer a home for her without him. Her mother would always scoff at her and her brother’s rendered her useless. Only her father truly cherished her and adored her. He would come home from the farm and sneak her bottles of sweet milk from the cow. He would wink at her and make her swear not to tell her brothers. Of course she wouldn’t tell them, that would only mean she had to share!
Her father was a hardworking man. All of his life he spent working in the fields. He earned an honest living for his wife and three children. Annie couldn’t say they really ever had much rather just enough. There was always enough food at the table that her mother would cook. When Annie or her brother’s needed new shoes, there was always just enough money saved up to buy some. When the mule had broken his leg they had just enough put away for the vet to come and mend it. However, when father unexpectedly fell ill, they no longer had enough. Money fell short for the doctor and with every passing day their love fell even shorter than their money. Annie’s love for her father grew stronger but her mother and brothers became estranged. This is why she could no longer stay at home. She had to go.
Annie hiked her leg up over the window sill and bustled her skirt up around her waist before swinging her second leg over as well. She sat on the edge of the sill with her feet dangling over the edge for a moment. Looking back over her shoulder she searched the room, waiting for her mother to come rushing through the door begging her not to go. Annie knew that would never happen. With that, she dropped herself out of the window and slid the glass pane closed behind her. She had about five hours before anyone would realize she had gone.
Even though the sun was nowhere in sight, the air was still warm on Annie’s face. She trudged her way through the darkness with no plan of what she would do next. After an hour of walking Annie’s feet became swollen and sore. She was going to have a long journey ahead of her if she didn’t figure out some sort of transportation soon.
As if to answer her prayers, Annie could see a horse and cart appearing in the distance. She was walking alone in the desert in the middle of the night with no civilization around her. What was this horse doing in the middle of the dessert with no one around to attend to it?
“Hello? Is there anyone there?” Annie called out in her rich Southern drawl. “Hello, my name is Annie Buckner. Does anyone out there own this horse? Hello?” Her calls rang empty and there was no one in sight. It appeared as though the horse had been abandoned.
“Well hello there, angel.” Annie stroked the horse’s face and kissed him on the top of the head. “Did my Daddy send for you?” She giggled to herself, happy to have the company. “He’s always looking out for his baby girl, even from heaven.” Annie tilted her head back and looked up into the sky. The stars appeared to shine brighter than any night before this one. “Do you have a name?” Annie waited and nodded toward the horse. “I will call you Puppet.” She continued to stroke the horse’s nose. “Now, Puppet. Do you have a family? I don’t see anyone else around. You poor soul, out here all by your lonesome. I don’t have a family either. Well, I suppose I do but they won’t exactly miss me.” Annie looked around again in search of this horse’s owner. There was nothing but desert for miles. “Say, why don’t you come with me? I don’t exactly know where I am headed to yet but I sure am excited to find out. I certainly could use your company.”
The horse whinnied as though to answer Annie’s question. She squealed and threw herself onto his back. A few hours later as the sun began to reveal its face, a small town appeared in the distance.
“Oh, Puppet! This might be our new home.” They approached the town just as the townsfolk began stirring in the streets. It was still quite early but people were making their way out to work and the children poured into the streets on their way to school. Annie always loved children. Her mama always said it was because she was still a child herself. Annie didn’t like it when she said that.
“Well hello. Good morning. Pleasure to see you. Hello. Good day!” Annie greeted everyone she passed in the street. Most politely smiled back at her. The rest looked at her with puzzled expressions. Who was this chatty stranger?
Annie lead Puppet to the nearest tavern. A large wooden sign hung over the door that read Wilty’s Tavern and Inn. “Well doesn’t this look like the perfect place to rest?” She stroked the length of Puppet’s neck. When she dismounted Puppet, she tied his lead tightly around the fence next door. She ensured her belongings were safe in the cart and pulled a blanket over them to hide them from wandering eyes. Not that she had brought much with her but it was everything she had left.
The tavern door creaked open and Annie skipped her way inside. Other than a few drunken locals who had clearly been there since last night, the tavern was entirely vacant. Annie marched her way up to the bar and threw herself onto a stool beside a burly looking man. He was hunkered over the counter with a half empty pint in his hand. His eyes were narrow likely due to the alcohol. He couldn’t keep them open. His face was scruffy and hair a mess. His clothes appeared as though they hadn’t been washed in months.
“Well hello there!” Annie piped. “My name is Annie.” She enthusiastically jolted her arm in his direction with her hand outstretched. He didn’t budge. “You know, Annie as in Oakley!”
“You’re Annie Oakley?” He grunted in a harsh raspy voice.
Annie Oakley had to be at least fifty at this point. Annie felt quite offended. “Well no sir. Of course I am not. I am just telling you that my name is Annie, just like Annie Oakley.” She jabbered on. The man didn’t appear to be too impressed. “What is your name?”
“Rick.” He belched. “You must be lost.”
“No sir. I am exactly where I had planned to be. Right here in—” she paused, searching the room for a clue as to where she was. “I’m sorry Rick, where exactly am I?”
Finally, his expression changed. He began to laugh deeply from his gut. “You’re in Wiltshire, ma’am. Specifically, you’re at Wilty’s Tavern.”
“Then Wiltshire is exactly where I planned to be! Rick are you married?” She quizzed.
“Yes ma’am. Why do you think I am here?” He laughed. As did the rest of the men who lay half conscious on the counter. “Got myself a dozen offspring too. Are you married Miss Annie?”
“Well not yet. But I reckon I should probably get married soon seeing as I left my family and all. What are you drinking?” She peered over the counter at his pint.
Rick chuckled again. “Hey, Jimmy. Get the lady a pint of house brew!” He called out.
Annie scanned the room but there was no bartender in sight. From the back, a tall man appeared. He had his dark hair brushed the the side off his face. He was clean shaven and had rich emerald eyes. His stature was quite thin however muscular. Annie’s jaw dropped.
“Rick, I think it’s time you head home.” The man placed a mug full of black coffee in front of Rick.
“I will do so when I please. Now, get this lady a drink!” Rick cheered.
The bartender laughed and did as he was told. A moment later he slapped down a pint in front of Annie and then disappeared into the back again.
In amazement, Annie turned to her new friend Rick. “Is HE married?” She jabbed her finger in the direction the man had been standing in.
“You don’t want to catch that fish. No, no, no.” Rick sucked back his coffee.
“And why not?” Annie shouted. “He is so handsome! I could certainly stand a husband like that. Easy to look at. Imagine what our children would look like!”
Rick cocked his head to the side, taking a good look at Annie. “Do you ever stop talking?”
Annie blushed at such a harsh question but then thought to herself. “Well,” she placed her palms down on the counter “I suppose not.”
Rick began to laugh uncontrollably. “Miss Annie, you are a fine woman. A catch even. Find yourself a half deaf husband and I swear you will live happily every after.” Rick finished his coffee and slammed it down on the counter. “It has been a pleasure my dear, until next time.” Rick kissed the top of Annie’s hand and put his hat on his head. Annie watched as he stumbled out the door.
The tavern was dimly lit. Most of the chairs were turned upside down on top of the tables that were scattered across the room. For the first time since she left her home Annie felt truly alone. She reached forward and cupped her pint in both of her hands, put it to her lips and tilted her head back. In one go, she emptied the glass. When she placed the pint on the counter and looked forward, the bartender was standing right in front of her with a smirk wiped across his face.
“Thirsty?” He asked and poured her another.
“Not exactly. But from what I have heard the more of these I drink the duller my sorrows will become. Is that right?” Annie brought the second pint to her lips and began tucking it back.
“Something like that.” He laughed. “Maybe you should slow down though.” He rested his hand on hers coaxing her to bring the glass away from her mouth.
Annie burped and licked her lips. The glass was foamy and half consumed. “I’m Annie.” She stuck her hand out toward the man.
He gently shook it and smiled at her. “Annie as in Oakley. I know, I could hear from the back room.”
Annie blushed, recalling her conversation with Rick. Had he really heard everything?
“I’m James. These guys call me Jimmy.” He nodded in the direction of the drunk men on the other side of the bar.
“James. I rather admire that name.” Annie took another swig and wiped the foam off of her mouth with the back of her hand.
“Tell me your story.” She pressed on.
“I’m afraid you would find it quite boring.” James began drying out the pint glasses behind the bar, looking down and away from Annie.
“I can’t say that I bore easily, James. I certainly would like to hear it!” Annie gushed.
“You first.” He played back.
“Well as you know, my name is Annie. Annie Buckner. I am twenty-one-years old and I am from Borden. I grew up on a farm with two brothers, my mother and father. Father died only a week ago suddenly from a disease. He was quite rather my favourite person in the entire world. I feel quite lost without him. I am not overly fond of my mother or my brothers so I decided to leave. Last night I packed a few items into a bag and climbed out of the window. Now I am here!” She raised her glass in the air and downed the remainder of its contents.
James waited for a moment to see if she was about to add anything further. When he was sure she was finished, he responded “How did you get here from Borden? That has to be at least a day away by foot.”
“Oh, I actually found a horse in the middle of the desert. Can you believe that? It was almost as though it was there waiting for me. His name is Puppet. He is just outside there now.”
James walked over to the window on the far side of the room. “He was alone in the middle of the desert? You rode a wild horse to Wiltshire? You can’t just leave him unattended like that. There are outlaws and thieves in this town that would take him away on a whim.”
“Hmm.” Annie thought to herself. “I hadn’t quite thought of that.” She scratched her head trying to come up with something. “I haven’t any place to put him though.”
“You can use my stable. It is just around back. I will meet you there.”
“Great idea!” Annie leapt off of the stool and almost fell to the floor as the pints finally hit her. She toppled herself to the door and stepped out into the bright sun. Puppet was exactly where she had left him. “Hello my friend.” Annie began to fumble with the knot around the fence. She leaned against him to steady herself as she led him toward the stable. James was there with the door open.
“Where did you get that cart?” James questioned.
“Oh, it came with the horse.” Annie whispered and started to giggle.
“Annie you cannot be serious. That horse obviously belongs to someone!” James scolded taking over the lead.
“No, I made sure of it. There was no one in sight, just desert. I even called out for someone to come back for him. No one answered. I think he was forgotten.” She twisted his mane in her fingers. “My poor Puppet.” She mumbled.
“The less I know the better.” James shook his head. “Let’s just get him inside.” He led Puppet into the back of the stable. “I assume you have no place to stay?” He quizzed.
“No, I suppose not. I hadn’t quite thought that far ahead.” Annie pondered.
“Well let’s go inside and get you a bed.” James motioned toward the door at the rear of the tavern. Annie hesitated momentarily. “Is there something the matter Annie?” James looked confused.
“Sir, we hardly know each other. I hardly think it would be appropriate to share a bed with you this early on. I am a modest woman.” She stomped her foot down as though to stand her ground.
James laughed to himself. “I was hardly insisting that. I own the inn above the tavern and I thought that you would like to have a room to stay in while you are in Wiltshire.”
“I am so embarrassed.” Annie took her hands to her cheeks and tucked her chin down. “Silly me.” For once Annie didn’t know what to say.
James showed Annie to the door at the back of the building. As they turned the corner James could hear unfamiliar voices coming from the behind the bar. They weren’t exactly welcoming voices. At the sound of glasses being shattered, James whispered to Annie, “Stay right there and be quiet.” Dramatically Annie threw her hands up to cover her mouth. Her eyes wide as a deer’s.
Slowly, James made his way around the corner with his ear pressed up against the wall trying to place the voices. They were male voices and they sounded very stern.
“Tell me where he is.” The first voice threatened. James could hear one of the drunken men stammering but couldn’t form any words.
“You know the problem with rats is that they have a very distinct scent. So distinct that regardless if you tell me where he is or not, I will be able to sniff him out. Now, listen carefully. The only difference between you telling me where he is or me sniffing him out to find him is that one less person will get hurt. Do you hear me?” The second voice was deeper and shallow. Whoever this was, wasn’t someone you wanted to mess with.
“Do what he says.” The first piped up.
“Is there something I can help you fine gentleman with?” James entered the room to see two giant men standing along the bar. He could tell from the stallion sewn into their gun holsters that they belonged to the biggest outlaw gang in the state, the Fader Hallow Gang. These were not people you wanted to have on your bad side.
“Well, there he is.” The second man spoke in his booming voice. “The rat has surfaced.” He took a step toward James. “If it isn’t James Wiltshire in the flesh. I would recognize you anywhere. You look exactly like your wormy father.” He spat on the floor. “Boy I thought you already had it all? The money. The women. Hell, this town is named after you.” At this point he was so close that James could almost see what he had eaten for breakfast that morning still stuck in his yellowed teeth.
“May I ask to what pleasure I owe this visit?” James suggested.
“Smart guy.” The first man slipped in.
“You know exactly why we are here and the sooner you hand him back to us, the sooner we will leave.” He nodded and took another step into James.
“I can’t say that I do. Please, enlighten me.” James played back.
“My name is Big Ray.” The second man said. “This here,” he motioned toward the first man “is Baby Nicky. You may have heard of us before or maybe you haven’t. If you haven’t heard of us I suggest you pay attention, this could very well save your life.” He crouched down so that he was standing eye to eye with James placing his hand over his gun holster. “Give me my fucking horse back and I will give you your fucking life. The word on the street has it that they saw my horse tied up just outside of your tavern this morning. You better think twice before you answer me boy.”
“I think you are mistaken. I don’t have your horse.” James calmly noted but on the inside he began to panic. Shit, Annie had stolen a horse from the worst gang in the entire state. Thanks to that, he was a dead man walking. James knew that even if he admitted the horse was hiding in the back of his stable, this man was going to kill him. He had to think up a plan, fast! The only chance he stood at keeping his life was to get the horse back to the Fader Hallows without them knowing it was him. “Would you gentleman care for a brew? We always love new guests at our tavern!” James made his way around the counter to pour them a drink. The entire time his head felt as though it was spinning so quickly it may unhinge from his body at any given moment.
Big Ray grunted. “We don’t want your swill.” He nodded toward Baby Nicky. “Let’s get out of here Nicky. Don’t think this is the last time you’ll hear from us. We want that horse back.” He spat on the floor at James’ feet. “This is only the beginning.”
Just like that, they were gone. James collapsed on the floor in a pile. His heart was racing and he couldn’t seem to bring air to his lungs quickly enough. What had this girl done?
“You are James Wiltshire?” He heard Annie’s voice ring out. “As in the James Wiltshire? How ‘come you never told me that you were famous?”
James sighed and scrambled to his feet. Trying to keep calm he responded, “You heard that entire conversation but the only thing you really heard was that I’m James Wiltshire? Nothing about the biggest outlaw gang in the state, if not the entire country, planning to bury me? You didn’t catch any of that?”
“Well sure, but why didn’t you tell me who you were?” Annie stood in front of him clucking her tongue, arms akimbo.
Ignoring her inquisition, James paced behind the bar. “Annie we need to get out of here with that horse, immediately. I don’t know what they want with it but they cannot know that we ever had it.”
“Taking the horse again doesn’t seem like a very good plan.” Annie scoffed.
“I don’t have time to explain. Just get the horse ready and I will meet you outside in ten minutes. Do not leave the stable, stay out of sight.” James darted up the stairs and Annie pouted her way to the back door.
“Can you believe this man?” She suggested to the drunken man at the bar. He didn’t flinch.
Annie stomped her way across the yard toward the stable all the while grumbling and mumbling under her breath. “What an arrogant and ignorant man. At least I can count on you Puppet.” She fussed with Puppet’s mane. “At least you listen to me and understand me. You never snap at me.” Annie kissed him on the neck. A few moments went by and Annie fidgeted impatiently waiting for James to return. “I reckon he isn’t coming back. This is all a ruse.”
“Does your mouth ever stop moving?” James appeared with a large bag that he threw over his shoulder into the cart.
Annie puffed, “I’m sorry sir but what have I ever done to you to deserve such attitude?”
“Maybe when you put my life in danger by taking a horse out of the desert that wasn’t even yours? Just maybe.”
“If you hate me so much why didn’t you just tell them where the horse was? Why didn’t you snitch on me?” Annie folded her arms across her chest. “Tell me sir James Wiltshire.” She rolled her eyes.
“To protect you.” He stated so obviously. He walked over to Annie and reached behind her to grab a saddle. Slinging it over Puppet’s back and buckling it on.
“Why would you care to do that?” Annie pried.
James remained quiet. He mounted the horse and reached out his hand for Annie to grab. He slung her up onto Puppet’s back and didn’t say a word until they had reached the edge of town. “Because up until that moment, I could have sworn I was falling in love with you.”
Annie kept quiet. She felt disappointed in herself. How could she have been so foolish? All of her life her Daddy handed her everything on a silver platter. Hell, she didn’t even know how to boil potatoes. Every poor decision she had ever made, Daddy was sure to bail her out. More than ever, her heart ached for just one more conversation with him.
The desert was humid and the sun angrily beat down on them. Annie scanned her surroundings only to see more barren desert and the odd cactus here or there. Neither of them had dared to breath a word since they left Wiltshire. Puppet trudged forward with the rickety cart bouncing around behind them. Finally, Annie couldn’t stand the silence any longer.
“I’m sorry.” She blurted.
“Go on.” James pleaded.
“I’m sorry for making such a mess for you. I never meant it. You have been nothing but kind to me since I showed up at your tavern this morning. You have only been a little bit rude but I am eager to look past that. We all have our moments of doubt.” Annie paused, bobbing side to side with each step Puppet took. “I don’t understand why those angry men needed Puppet back so badly. I imagine they have many other horses they could use.”
James thought on that for a while and then it hit him. There was something special about this horse. Annie was right. There was no way they would go through all of the trouble to threaten his life if there wasn’t something more to it. James pulled back on the reins forcing Puppet to stop in his tracks. “My Lord, Annie you’re right.” He dismounted Puppet and began to pace back and forth.
“Why thank you!” Annie beamed but immediately became puzzled as to what he could be talking about. “Tell me again what exactly I am right about?”
“There has to be something more to it! It’s not just the horse. The horse must mean something to them.” He continued to pace until Annie was sure he would burn a hole in the soles of his shoes.
“Maybe he’s their pet! We used to have a pet mule back at home, we would have done anything to get him back if someone took him. They probably miss Puppet!” Annie was so proud of herself. She felt as though she had just solved the mystery. It all made so much sense.
“Annie you are a genius!” James bolted toward the cart and began rummaging through its contents.
“My Daddy always told me that.” She smiled. “So why don’t we just take him back? I’m sure they will be thrilled! They will be so happy that they may not want to kill you anymore James.”
James continued to rifle through the cart. “There is no way we can just return him now Annie. They can never know that you took that horse. We need to think of a way to get Puppet back to them without them knowing.” He reached down and flipped the cart over onto its side spilling all of the contents into the sand.
“James! What do you think you’re doing?” Annie jumped down off Puppet’s back and scrambled to pick up her belongings.
“You said you had a pet mule?” James tried to distract her. The cart was completely upside down at this point.
“His name was Sisco. I miss him dearly.” Annie reminisced.
“Well you had a pet mule and so do they. Puppet is their mule.”
“Puppet is not a mule! He’s a beautiful mustang.” She ran her hand along Puppet’s back.
“I don’t mean he is physically a mule Annie. I mean he is hiding something for them.” At that, James pried up the boards under the cart. Annie’s jaw hit the sand and she jaunted forward to get a better look at what was inside.
“There must be millions of gold pieces in there!” Her eyes shone with desire.
“And weapons too.” James reached into the loot and pulled out a loaded pistol. “No wonder they wanted Puppet back so badly.”
“James I have never seen such riches in all of my life. We always had just what we needed, never more. What should we do with it?”
“We should return it.” He slammed the board shut and reached over to flip the cart back on its wheels.
“But I thought you said they could never know we had Puppet.” Annie didn’t understand.
“They can’t. We need to get this back to them in secret. We need a plan.” James scratched the back of his head trying to muster up any ideas.
Overhead the moon was showing his face. The sun had dipped below the horizon until morning. Soon it would be completely dark.
“We will think of something in the morning. I am going to start a fire. There are blankets in the cart, we can sleep on those. Go tie up Puppet and remove his saddle.” Annie rocked on her feet, staring at James. “What’s the matter?”
“I don’t exactly know how to take a saddle off… I have never done it before. My Daddy always took care of that sort of thing.” She nibbled on her lip nervously.
“Fine, you go start the fire, I will tend to Puppet.” James started to walk toward the horse. Annie continued to stare at him blankly. “Let me guess,” he stopped in his tracks with his back to Annie, “you don’t know how to start a fire either?”
Annie shook her head.
Without complaint, James grabbed her hand and walked her toward Puppet. “I am going to show you how to do this so watch me carefully.” James carried on every task that needed to be completed. When he finished Annie clapped her hands with excitement. “That was fantastic.” She beamed. “Where did you learn all of that?”
With the fire crackling, Annie and James huddled close to keep warm. James looked over at Annie, the light from the flame casting shadows across her cheeks. Her eyes sparkled in the night and he truly could see her beauty. When she wasn’t mumbling about, he could see an intelligent, stunning woman. Someone who he could imagine watching grow old and gray. He stared as she tucked her long wavy hair loosely behind her ear. Completely mesmerised yet confused about how this woman made him feel.
Annie looked up and caught his gaze. She either didn’t notice or didn’t bring it up because she remained silent.
“My name is James Wiltshire and I grew up in Wiltshire my entire life.” He began, tracing patterns in the sand around him.
Annie looked up at him, puzzled.
“Back at the tavern, you asked me to tell you my story.” He stood up and walked around the fire to sit at Annie’s side. He opened his blanket to her and she tucked herself under his arm.
The night was quiet with nothing but the moon and the stars looking down at them.
“When I was just a boy, both of my parents were taken away from me. We never had any money and I suppose my father struck a bad deal with an outlaw gang. They certainly made him pay. As you can probably guess, it was the Fader Hallows. They came into my house while we slept and set it to flames. I barely made it out. The last I saw of my parents was two men with their hands cupped over their mouths dragging them through the fire.” James stopped to catch his breath.
“My Lord, I am so sorry.” Annie sympathised.
“It was a long time ago Annie, it’s alright.” He pulled her closer and she rested her head on his shoulder. “After that I was placed in an orphanage until I turned sixteen. The entire time I was there, I traded and worked to save up as much money as I possibly could. I bought Wilty’s Tavern when I was just sixteen. Of course it wasn’t called Wilty’s back then, I think they called it the Honey Mill. But anyway, long and short of it is that that was how I started to build my name. Since then I have purchased the majority of property and businesses in Wiltshire. The townsfolk eventually petitioned to have the town’s name changed. I can’t say that I was completely in agreement. I consider myself a fairly modest man.” James scratched the back of his head. “I have never told anyone this story before.”
Annie reached for his hands and smiled up at him encouragingly.
“It has taken a lot of sweat over the past ten years to get where I am now.” He paused and looked down at her. He was becoming truly in awe of her. “I am especially happy with where it has led me.” He gently placed a kiss on top of Annie’s head. She looked up at him with her big doe eyes and smiled.
“I hope I didn’t mess it all up for you.” Annie whispered.
“It’s alright, we will figure something out. I don’t exactly know what we will figure out yet but I will come up with a plan.” He assured her. “But it is getting very late, we should get some rest so that we can decide what to do with Puppet on fresh rested minds tomorrow. The next town is only a few hours by horseback. We will go there and come up with a plan. Night Annie.”
Annie’s mind soared, there was no way she could possibly rest. James lay beside her, quiet. He was certainly asleep by now. Slowly Annie slipped out from under the blankets and tip toed her way toward Puppet. Going over James’ instructions from earlier, Annie lifted the saddle up to Puppet’s back and began to buckle him in. She was so proud of herself when she finally finished and climbed up onto his back. James still hadn’t budged. “I’m going to fix this.” She whispered and then rode off into the night.
James blinked away the bright morning sun. The desert was already scorching. Beads of sweat were forming along his brow. James wondered how he had slept so long and rolled to his side to wake Annie. She wasn’t there. Instead he turned to see a double barrel shotgun pointed directly between his eyes. On the other end of it, Baby Nicky stood with a cunning grin slapped on his face. James slowly got to his feet with his hands raised slightly.
“Where’s Annie?” He asked in the steadiest voice he could manage.
Baby Nicky nodded to his left. James turned to see Annie bound in ropes with Big Ray behind her. A pistol rested on her temple. “I warned you.” Big Ray bellowed. “You spoon fed me lies and for that you will have to pay.”
“I’m sorry. We should have just given you Puppet. We didn’t mean any harm.”
“What the hell is Puppet?” Baby Nicky gaffed.
Ignoring him, Big Ray brought Annie closer. James could see tears welling in her eyes. Without words, he could tell she was trying to apologize.
“You both seem like reasonable men.” James tried to negotiate. “This has all been a misunderstanding. Please, just take the horse and we will pretend none of this ever happened.”
The laugh that bubbled out of Big Ray shook the desert floor. “No, you see James, it isn’t that simple. Now that you have seen what belongs to me, you may feel obliged to squeal such information to the authorities. I’m not a gambling man.” Ray pressed the pistol to James’ cheek. “This isn’t a risk I am willing to take. If you’re wiped off the map then no one would know what is hiding under those boards.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” James tried to cover himself. Maybe if they thought he hadn’t seen the weapons and gold they might turn the other way. Sparing his and Annie’s lives.
“Don’t play stupid, boy!” Big Ray spat. “The girl told me everything.” He grabbed Annie by the neck and pushed her into the ground. James remained quiet, surprised. “She rode into town on that horse and marched right up to me. Figured that would be the end of it.” Big Ray circled Annie who was now lying in the dirt. “Now I may not be a gambling man, boy but I am a business man.” He lowered his pistol and holstered it, sure to flash the stallion embroidery.
“I can’t say I would be willing to do any business with you.” James snapped.
“Don’t be stupid like your father now. I’m offering you a chance at having your life back and you won’t even hear me out.”
James could feel the anger burning in his cheeks. Big Ricky remembered his father. He clenched his fists by his side and bit back the words he so badly wanted to say. “I’d rather die than make a business deal with an outlaw.”
Big Ray leaned in closer so that James could hear him at a dull whisper. “Your town will be up in flames by morning.” He straightened himself and tugged at the waist of his chaps. “The Fader Hallows always take what they want. Let’s go Baby Nicky.” The two outlaws made their way back to Puppet. Just maybe, James and Annie were about to survive this.
James sprinted toward Annie. She was still lying on the ground. “Are you hurt?” Annie shook her head as he struggled with the ropes to untie her. He pulled the gag out of her mouth and kiss her hard.
“I’m so sorry James.” She threw her arms around him, hugging him close. “I just thought if I went back that I could protect you. I had no idea.” She sobbed.
From behind Annie, James saw Big Ray stop dead in his tracks. “I almost forgot something.” Big Ray came running toward them with his gun raised up in the air. He was running straight at James.
“NO!” Annie screamed and jumped in-between Big Ray and James. Big Ray clubbed her with the back end of his pistol sending her sprawling onto the ground. He cocked his fist back and punched James square in the face knocking him back a few steps. James put up his fists ready to defend himself but was distracted by Annie lying motionless on the ground.
Big Ray continued to punch James until he crumpled into a pile on the ground beside Annie. James counted one, two, three, four kicks to his ribcage before finally blacking out.
“James. James! Oh Lord, please James open your eyes!”
James could hear Annie’s voice ringing in his ears. When he came to, he could see a huge gash along Annie’s forehead. He tried to sit up. “Annie, you’re hurt.” Ignoring his own wounds.
She gently placed her palm over her wound, it was still bleeding quite heavily. “I’m quite alright. I think it looks much worse than it feels.” She smiled weakly.
James tried to sit up again. The pain sharpened through his abdomen with each struggled attempt. Besides bruises James was sure he had several broken ribs. “I think I need a hand to get up.” He reached up and Annie helped pull him to his feet. His eye was swollen shut and he looked down to see blood smeared across his hands. This wasn’t good.
“They took everything.” Annie spoke in a shaken voice. “The blankets, the water, all of our food and firewood. There is nothing left.”
James searched their surroundings, they were alone without supplies in the middle of the desert. Judging by the sun, it couldn’t be any later than eight o’clock in the morning. “If we hurry back toward Wiltshire, we might make it before sundown.”
“James, we have no horse! We will never make it.”
“Not if we stand around and talk.” He reached out for Annie’s hand and began to pull her along. Each step was laboured. He had a massive limp. Wincing with each small movement Annie pleaded for them to stop.
“I will go find help. You have to stay here.” Annie cried.
“We have to stay together.” James trudged on.
The day was hotter than any day before it. Becoming more and more dehydrated slowed their pace. With only an hour until sundown Annie begged James to stop and rest. “You’ve pained yourself enough. We should stop here for the night and carry on in the morning.”
“We will freeze to death out here once the sun goes down Annie. We have to keep moving.” He urged.
“You have to trust me.” Annie placed her hands on James’ shoulders and placed a gently kiss on his cheek. “I will be right back.”
Knowing better than to argue, James sunk himself into the sand to rest his aching feet. Exhausted, he laid his head down and closed his eyes. The sun fell and night arose while James drifted away. A few hours later he awoke with a start. Where was Annie? Panicked he got to his feet as quickly as he could in search for her.
“How was your sleep?” Annie’s voice chimed. A fire was thriving in front of them.
James looked puzzled. “Did you do this?” He pointed down toward the flames.
Annie beamed up at him. “You have been asleep for three hours. It gave me plenty of time to search for some wood. I messed up a few times but it turned out alright. What can I say? I had a good instructor!”
In this moment more than ever James felt a deep desire for this woman. Sure, she may not understand that silence is golden but at least she wasn’t afraid to speak her mind. She was honest and passionate. James loved how outgoing she was, making friends everywhere she went. In this moment he couldn’t find the words to describe how amazing this woman was. Without a filter, James blurted “I’m in love with you.”
Annie beamed but held back.
“We have to get back to Wiltshire tonight.” James grabbed for her hand. “The Fader Hallows are going to destroy it and the families living there if we don’t do something about it.”
This time, Annie know it wasn’t her place to argue. Instead, she scattered the fire to snuff out the flame and followed in stride with James.
Wiltshire was nearing, the lights were flickering in the distance. The town was quiet, most of the townsfolk were in their beds asleep.
“What are we going to do when we get there?” Annie whispered.
“We are going to find the sheriff. He will know what to do.”
When they reached the sheriff’s doorstep, it had to be at least three o’clock in the morning. James reached up and knocked on the solid oak door. He could hear it echo inside of the sleeping house. Less than a minute later the door creaked open. A man in his pajamas and slippers stood in the doorway with a candle flickering in front of his face. He had long grey hair and a long beard. His expression was gentle and kind.
“James?” the man asked, exasperated.
“Sheriff, I am so sorry to wake you at such an unholy hour but I need your help.” James pleaded.
“James Wiltshire, I thought you were dead!” The sheriff sounded surprised. “Get inside right now before anyone else sees you.” He ushered James and Annie into the house.
It was warm indoors. Annie peered around, she had never been in such an extravagant house. The sheriff led them to the kitchen and placed a glass of warm milk in front of each of them.
“James I am so relieved to see you are alive.” The sheriff gleamed. “The Fader Hallow Gang showed up today and announced they had left you for dead in the middle of the desert. But here you are!”
“It’s true!” Annie squealed. “They beat us up and stole our supplies. We were as good as dead.” Annie slurped back her milk. It warmed her from the inside out.
“Now we need your help.” James began.
“James, there isn’t anything I can do. They have already started to obtain the town. They have killed mothers and children! They swear that this town will go up in flames if everyone doesn’t abide to their rules. Several folks have already decided to flee before things get worse. They have threatened to shoot anyone on site who looks to cross them.”
“Where are the Fader Hallows now?” James demanded to know.
“They overtook your bar, James! All of the outlaws are staking out at the inn and stealing all of the alcohol. They have claimed Wilty’s as their own. None of us knew what to do and we were extremely outnumbered so we couldn’t fight back.” The sheriff shook his head in disappointment. “In all of my years, we have never backed down from a fight. We have never given up, especially in the presence of any gang. There were just too many this time…” He trailed off.
James bit his lip and scratched that back of his head. He was thinking of something; Annie knew that look. “Sheriff, I think I have an idea.”
The sheriff helped James gather a few of the townsfolk and they tip-toed their way down to James’ stable behind Wilty’s Tavern. Annie was told it would be best to stay behind at the sheriff’s place. He had found her fresh linens and sent her to bed.
“Now listen closely,” James whispered quieter than ever before “behind the stable is a pile of wooden planks. I need each of you to grab your fill and carry it back toward the tavern. We will each be assigned a window or a door. All at the same time we will begin to board them up. It will be loud and it will be sure to wake them up so we must act quickly. When you are finished, run. Go as fast as you can and get home to your children and wives. I will then take care of the rest.”
As instructed, like worker-bees, each of the townsmen gathered an armful of planks and sauntered off to their assigned destinations. On their cue of an owl’s call they all began to hammer the planks to the side of the building covering all of the windows and doors. Unaware of what James would be taking care off, they completed their task.
Just as they had expected, people inside began to stir. This was James’ cue. He lit a match and held it in the air. “This is for you Mom and Dad.” He flicked it inside of the bar. Immediately, the floorboards caught fire which spread quickly toward the bar. He could see a silhouette walking down the stairs from the inn, Big Ray. James smiled and took off out of sight. He could hear the screams and gunshots from the Fader Hallows as they tried to escape their certain peril.
Without a word James took off running toward the rest of the townsmen and told them to go home. He knew with the amount of alcohol stored in the building, the small fire would spread very quickly and he didn’t want there to be anyone else caught it its path.
James arrived back at the sheriff’s house and walked down the hallway to where Annie was sleeping. Silently he lay down beside her. Tomorrow morning was going to come soon. It would reveal if his plan had worked or not. If not, this could be the first and last chance he would ever have to hold Annie.
Morning arrived just as it had every day prior to today. James squeezed Annie’s hand and they stepped out into the sun. “Well James, I think you saved Wiltshire.” The sheriff placed a firm hand on James’ shoulder. “As of today there is no trace of any Fader Hallow Gang members. I am sorry about your bar though.” He stepped back inside of the house closing the door behind him.
Puzzled Annie drug James down off the porch. Down the street Annie noticed the charred remains of Wilty’s Tavern. “Oh, James. What happened to your tavern?” She cried.
This only put a smile on James’ face. “I had no other choice.” He pulled her closer to him.
“But you loved that place. You didn’t set it on fire did you?”
“Like I said, I had no other choice.”
Annie remained quiet. For the first time, contemplating the proper response. “Where did you get that idea?”
“From them. Now I guess you can say that we are even.” He smirked, holding Annie for another day.
THE END