'Are you plumb loco, Bickley?' one of his friends asked in a nervous whisper. 'Let go of her before her brothers start shooting.'
'I ain't letting go of her until she begs me real nice. I'm hurting her all right. I know I am. I'm gonna keep squeezing her arm until I snap her bone clear in half if she don't start telling me how sorry she is for sassing me. If her brothers try to stop me, I'll shoot every one of them. Just see if I don't.'
Mary Rose had been temporarily stunned by the attack, but she quickly recovered. She could taste blood in her mouth and knew the corner of her lip had been torn. Her chin felt wet too, and she thought blood was pouring down from the injury. She didn't waste time worrying about it. Her mind had cleared sufficiently for her to remember what her purpose was. She was going to keep Bickley from going up on the ridge, no matter what the cost. She kicked the horrible man once again, much, much harder this time, and when he doubled over, she used her fist to knock him clear off his feet. Adam had always told her she had a mean left hook. She meant to prove she was worthy of the compliment.
She expected Bickley to let go of her, but he held tight until he had almost hit the ground. Then he sent her flying into one of the hitching posts. She struck the side of her head and collapsed to the ground.
She was knocked unconscious. She awakened a minute or two later, with pain exploding inside her head. She closed her eyes and tried to concentrate on making the throbbing inside her skull stop. There was a horrid roaring sound ringing in her ears.
She couldn't make it go away. The sound intensified, even after she'd opened her eyes and her vision began to clear. She thought she was feeling better because she wasn't seeing sparkling lights everywhere. Men were suddenly tripping over her to get to their horses. One man kicked her in the stomach. She cried out and doubled over and tried to roll onto her side. Another man used her hip as a stepping stool in his haste to get up on his horse. He tore her skirt with his spurs.
She was still in too much of a daze to protect herself. It was a miracle she wasn't trampled to death by the horses or the cowards trying to run away. She couldn't seem to make her eyes stay open. She felt someone lift her, and then her mind went black again. She floated between darkness and light for several minutes, and when she next awakened, everyone was running away. She sat up just in time to see Bickley kick his horse into a full gallop. She tried to stand up, thinking she had to go after him before he hurt Corrie, and she almost made it to her knees, but what happened next so surprised her, she fell back on her bottom again.
Sweet and gentle Harrison had been transformed into a barbarian. He appeared like an avenging angel out of thin air and literally leapt up into the air to attack Bickley. The bellow of rage she was hearing came from Harrison.
He was in a fury. He plucked Bickley from his saddle and threw him halfway down the road. Then he went after him. Everyone was shouting at the same time. Mary Rose wished to God the racket would stop. The noise made her head hurt all the more. Harrison wasn't making any noise now. He was fully occupied killing Bickley with his bare hands. From the look of deadly calm on his face, she didn't have any doubt about his intentions. If someone didn't stop him, he would kill the man who had attacked her.
She was stunned speechless. Harrison 's expression sent chills down her spine. He looked so… methodical. He certainly didn't fight like a gentleman. For that matter, neither did Bickley. He tried to pull his gun out and shoot his tormentor, but Harrison kicked the weapon out of his hand. Bickley reached for his knife then. Harrison seemed pleased by his tactic. He actually smiled. He waited until Bickley lunged toward him, then moved as quick as lightning and snatched the knife out of his hand.
A rifle shout sounded in the distance. Mary Rose spotted Douglas walking toward her. He had the shotgun propped against one hip and his six-shooter cocked and ready in his other hand. The men who'd tried to get away weren't riding their horses now. They walked back to the saloon in front of her brother. Douglas must have caught them in front of the stables, Mary Rose concluded.
Cole stood behind Harrison. He had his arms folded across his chest and smiled with satisfaction as he watched Bickley try every dirty trick possible.
Travis was suddenly kneeling by Mary Rose's side. He gently lifted her into his arms and stood up.
'Dear God, sister. Are you all right?'
He sounded frightened. She didn't nod for fear the movement would make her head hurt more. 'I'm fine, really. You've got blood on your shirt. Are you all right?'
'It's your blood, not mine. It's all over the side of your face. He really belted you, didn't he?'
'Travis, what took you so long to get here? I've been waiting and waiting.'
'Mary Rose, it all just happened. You must have gotten knocked senseless. Are you sure you're all right?'
'Why is Harrison pounding Bickley? He isn't supposed to know how to fight. Go and stop him before he gets hurt. Bickley's mean enough to kill him, Travis.'
'Now, why would I want to do that? We all saw what the bastard did to you. Harrison 's fast, isn't he? He was on top of Bickley before Cole or I could even get to the corner.'
'Please put me down. I can stand on my own.'
'You'll only go after Harrison if I let go of you. He won't kill Bickley,' he promised. 'Cole probably will though. Just wait until he gets a gander at your face. You're a real mess, little sister. You've got blood spewing out of your forehead and more pouring out of the side of your mouth.'
Henry and Ghost hovered like old-maid aunts behind the pair. Travis turned to the men. 'Watch my sister while I go help Harrison, will you?'
'Give her to us,' Henry said. 'We'll protect her. Won't we Dooley?'
'Of course we will,' his friend promised. He was still panting for breath. He had only just reached the general store to get the brothers when Bickley came outside and started hurting his Miss Mary. 'Everything happened mighty fast.'
'That's the truth,' Henry agreed. 'Lickety-split was how quick it happened.'
Henry lifted Mary Rose into his arms and held her tight against his chest. In his attempt to comfort and shield her, he was inadvertently making it impossible for her to breathe.
'She don't weigh more than a feather,' he remarked.
'Please put me down. Let me lean against you and Dooley.'
'All right,' he agreed. 'But if you get dizzy, I'm picking you up again.'
'Make her promise to stay here,' Dooley suggested.
Henry thought that was a grand idea and made his hostage give him her word.
Ghost had come outside the saloon and was standing near the doorway. Henry turned to him. 'Go and fetch a chair for Miss Mary, will you, Ghost? We'll sit her down against the wall. Then get us a bowl of water and some clean towels. They're behind the bar. We got to clean up Miss Mary before Cole sees her.'
'I'm thinking you should be more concerned about that Harrison fella. He's a bigger worry than Cole.'
'He's already seen her,' Henry said. 'Why do you think he's so mad?'
'Looks like he's about finished with Bickley. Think he killed him?'
'No. Bickley's still wiggling in the dirt.'
'Could be the death wiggle,' Dooley suggested. He rubbed his jaw and squinted at the man writhing on the ground.
'Knowing Harrison and how he feels about the law, I don't think Bickley's a goner.'
Dooley didn't agree. 'Make you a nickel wager.'
'You got it.'
'If Bickley's dead, I win.'
Henry nodded. Mary Rose sincerely hoped both men would stop talking. She kept her attention focused on Bickley's cohorts. Douglas was forcing the five men to walk toward Harrison. They were still armed, and she was worried one or two of them might decide to try to shoot Harrison or Cole.
'I saw one of them fellas kick our Miss Mary right in her gut,' Henry whispered. 'Another one stepped on her, hard. Yes, sir, he did. Ain't it a pity for men to treat a lady like that?'
Dooley agreed it was a pity. He thought about it a few seconds more and then felt compelled to tell her brothers and her avenger what the men had done. He hurried over to the edge of the walkway.
' Harrison? Cole? One of them fellas kicked your Miss Mary right in her gut. The ugly one stepped on her. Hard too. Almost killed her, he did. Someone else tore her pretty dress. Yes, sir, that's what they did all right.'
