One of the girls pulls open the train car door and grabs the crowbar to fight back. When a gunman reaches out to catch her, she yells in pain and swings with all her strength, breaking his hand and dropping him to the ground. The girl beats at him, swinging wildly while he tries to protect himself against her onslaught. Chase leaps to stop the bludgeoning only to turn when Bronnah screams.
The third gunmen runs straight at Bronnah and Chase can only watch in horror as she runs from him. They disappear for a moment inside one of the sheds used to house railcars. A few minutes later a gunshot sounds out. "Bronnah!" Chase yells, running after them. All four girls follow and find her standing over the dead man, holding Chase's missing pistol in one hand and the lantern in the other. It is trembling in her hands.
“We should go now,” Chase takes the gun, tucking it in his holster and grabs her hand pulling her to his chest. She buries her face savoring the scent of him before looking up at him.
“Are you gonna arrest me now, Marshall?” she quips.
“Not just yet,” he snaps and pulls her along behind him.
The gunshot has people scurrying for cover out front. Whistles begin to blow, and Mason takes that as a sign. He pulls the wagon down the street, and they glance back, just as men come pouring out of the saloon at a run for the train yard. Two men skid to a stop as a wagon races away from the train yard with what looked like painted ladies!
“It’s not possible!” He runs for the train car, while the other goes after horses.
“We should go,” Chase suggests as they pass the three stacked whiskey crates.
"Yes, I have a plan," Bronnah said.
“Of course you do,” Chase snaps sarcastically.
“Stop!” A man stumbles behind them holding his bleeding nose and has a gun trained on them. They all freeze.
“Hands up!” he screams, and Chase immediately obeys. Bronnah whispers in French, “Courir!” Run! She pushes them in the direction of the alley just as she tosses the lantern into the crates.
Everything seems to happen in slow motion, the gun goes off just as Chase throws his body over top of Bronnah’s and they slide into the alley on the ground. The lantern lands on top of the broken whiskey bottles and ignites with a whoosh.
The explosion rocks the train yard and throws the man into the side of a train car with a sickening crunch. Bronnah groans beneath Chase, “Jaysus, you way a ton!”
Chase starts laughing as he pushes up on his hands and knees to look down at her. “I’m so sorry, are you hurt?” Bronnah sits up on her elbows and takes a deep breath, taking stock of her body.
“Only my bum,” Chase smile turns to one of desire as he leans down and takes her mouth in a searing kiss. The moment his mouth touches hers Bronnah becomes oblivious to everything around them.
She takes from him, clasping her arms around his head as he ravishes her mouth and lifts her from the ground in one swift movement. “Chase!” she gasps when he pushes her back into the wall and releases her mouth for a moment.
“Right.” Chase smirks as he lets her go, “Looks like I’ve found a way to close that dirty little mouth of yours.” Bronnah blushes bright red as he laughs and pulls her along the alley towards the front of the hotel. They find the girls cowering a few feet away.
"This hotel has a carriage waiting out front. I will distract the driver, and you can load the girls inside," Bronnah suggests.
Chase holds up a finger to the girls and turns on Bronnah. He cages her in against the brick wall and growls at her. “For the last time, hear my words, Bronnah you are under my care. From this moment on you will do as I say. I will not have you risking your life anymore.”
Bronnah stares into his eyes and nods in acquiesce. “Yes, Chase,” she murmurs softly.
He stares at her for a moment, “I will have your word on it, Bronnah,” he demands. Leaning closer to her mouth he waits for the soft inhale of breath and smiles before kissing her softly on the lips.
Her eyes are clouded with desire when he breaks away and demands once more, “Give me the words, Bronnah!”
“I promise,” he presses a hard kiss to her mouth and turns back around.
"I will distract the driver," he snaps, "and you load the girls in quickly. We have to go."
Chase disappears, and Bronnah points to the carriage, explaining to the girls what to expect. Chase climbs up into the front seat and pulls the carriage out without incident. Circling around he pulls up, and they quickly load in. As they are pulling away from the hotel, they watch a rider on horseback ride furiously in the opposite direction.
Slowly, Chase drives through town careful not to cause any undue attention. As soon as he reaches the edge of town, he flicks the reigns, and they fly. It is a twenty-minute ride at breakneck speed. They need to be away as quickly as possible.
“Who are you?” The youngest girls asked in English.
Bronnah lifts her wrist and they all gasp. “I’m just a girl like you with hopes and dreams," Bronnah tells them her story as the girls listen transfixed.
“So many?” An older girl sobs and pulls the younger one to her side.
“No more,” Bronnah promises.
“Merci, ma Soeur,” Thank you, my sister, another one sobs, swiping away a tear. Bronnah smiles.
“Where are you taking us?” The youngest girl asked.
"A la liberte," To freedom, Bronnh promises, and
