Chapter 52

Izzy screamed at the sound of my gun goin' off, and Forrest turned to look at me, the surprised expression on his face almost comical, afore he slumped to the floor in a heap.

Seemed like my bullet had hit its mark.

I flung that door open wide afore scramblin' inside the train car and over to where Izzy was now lyin' on her back starin' at me with wide frightened eyes. She was gagged, and I swallowed hard at the sight of her bloodied face. The bastard had torn open the front of her dress, as well, but not the shift that was underneath. I didn't know quite what to make of that…

I knowed I shoulda' checked on Forrest first, but nothin' could keep me from Izzy.

I laid one hand against her cheek as I pulled the gag away with the other. "Darlin', I got ya." I telled her afore leanin' down to gently kiss her forehead.

"Ed," she spoke in a raspy voice, her lip was cut and swollen, but the fear in her eyes was gone.

"Let me get these ropes off ya," I said afore rollin' her carefully back to her side. I'd just gotten the last of the knots undone when Izzy yelled. "Ed, look out."

I seen movement out of the corner of my eye, and realized that Forrest warn't dead. I went to grab for my pistol as I seen him reachin' for his gun where it had fallen beside him.

Afore I had a chance to shoot him again, however, Jack come flyin' out of nowhere and tore into the bastard.

I warn't sure how he done it, but considerin' how high off the ground that doorway was situated, Jack must've taken a mighty leap to make it through.

Today, me and him were of the same mind: warn't nothin' gonna keep us from Izzy.

As soon as I was certain that Forrest warn't goin' for his gun again, I pulled Jack off him. "Stop boy," I said as I kicked Forrest's gun away.

Suddenly, we was surrounded by the sound of voices. The other door to the freight car slid open wide, and several men bounded inside, guns drawn. I held my hands up in surrender.

"Sheriff, that's the feller whose wife was kidnapped," I turned to look at who was speakin' and recognized the proprietor of the store.

"That true?" I turned to find the sheriff holdin' a gun aimed at my chest.

I nodded my head, "Yes sir, that's the feller there what took her. Can I please see to my wife." My voice broke with emotion then, and I swallowed back the lump in my throat, knowin' how badly Izzy needed me.

He glanced down to where she was lyin' on the floor, all curled up on her side and sobbin'. The Sheriff give me a look of pity and nodded afore lowerin' his gun.

I immediately dropped to the floor and pulled Izzy against me where she continued to cry into my shirt.

"Sherriff," one of the men surroundin' Forrest called, "this here feller's dead."

His words barely registered in my mind.

"Go fetch Doc Miller," the Sheriff said in answer.

"Didn't ya hear me? The feller's dead. Doc ain't gonna help him now." The same voice answered.

"Not for the dead man, ya idiot; for the lady."

I didn't look up or pay no heed to the goin's on around me after that.

None of it mattered.

My girl was hurtin', so I held her close and rocked her like a babe; Jack sittin' right beside us all the while.

Chapter 53

When the doctor arrived, he conferred with the Sheriff afore examinin' Forrest's body. "Well, the cause of death is the bullet wound to the chest, but his arm and shoulder got mauled pretty good by the dog." I heared him say.

So it was for certain that I'd killed a man. It warn't the first time, but it was the first time I actually took joy in the killin'. God forgive me, but it was the truth.

The doctor approached us then. "Mister, I'm thinkin' it may be better if you take your Missus outside," he telled me in a quiet tone.

Of course he was right. Here I was, holdin' my wife while the man who tried to kill her lay in a pool of his own blood not ten feet away.

Chapter 54

Listenin' to Izzy's account of what she'd suffered at the hands of James Forrest was almost more than I could bear. I swallowed hard as I listened, and buried my feelin's deep afore she was aware. The last thing she needed was to be worryin' 'bout me.

Even though Izzy wouldn't remove her tattered dress, she did let the Doc examine her through her clothes, after which he determined that nothin' appeared to be broken. When he was finished, he and I stepped into the outer office while Izzy changed into her red dress. It was the only one she owned now that warn't tainted by the memory of James Forrest.

Afore I left the room, she give me a look so sad and forlorn, that I almost stayed there with her, but there was somethin' needed doin', and it was better if Izzy didn't know about it just yet.

I wrote a brief letter and handed it and the letter sent by Jake, to the Deputy waitin' there. "I need ya to kindly give these to the Sheriff. My wife ain't in any condition to speak with him today, but these two letters will explain more than enough of what he needs to know 'til we come see him tomorrow."

After Doctor Miller explained to the feller that what Izzy needed most was rest, he seemed satisfied that we warn't gonna skip town.

After leavin' the horses and wagon in the care of the livery stable, I secured us a room at a boardin' house not far from there. The place was run by a pleasant old widow lady named Missus Duval.

It was a sore trial watchin' Izzy say goodbye to Jack for the night, even though he was only gonna be as far as the back yard. As we turned to go inside, I felt as if I was leavin' a little part of me out there, so I could only imagine how hard it was for Izzy.

"Come on sweet girl," I telled her, "Ya's just about dead on your feet."

It was early evenin' when we arrived at our room, and Missus Duval, gentle lady that she was, had a table with our supper laid out, waitin' for us there.

Even though we hadn't eaten since early mornin', Izzy barely touched her food.

"Ain't ya hungry darlin'?" I asked as I reached over and patted her knee. She winced a little at the touch and I coulda kicked myself as I yanked my hand away. "Izzy, I'm sorry. I didn't realize…"

"No," she said in an urgent tone as she grasped my hand and held it in hers. "I'm just a little sore. I reckon it will feel even worse come tomorrow." She tried to smile, "My lip hurts, and my cheek; well, it's makin' it kinda hard to eat."

I closed my eyes and took in a deep breath. Forrest's face filled my mind, and I fought against the white hot hate that was workin' to consume me. The bastard may have been gone, but the damage he'd done would be around for days, if not longer, servin' as a reminder.

Watchin' Izzy struggle to eat caused a knot to twist in my own stomach. I was thankful when she had no trouble finishin' the bread puddin' at least.

After supper, or what there was of it, the tub I'd ordered for Izzy's bath arrived, along with Missus Duval and her granddaughter bearin' ewers of hot and cold water. She begged a word in private with my wife and, even though I was hesitant to leave her, Izzy signaled that she would be fine.

I helped carry the dinner dishes downstairs, and Jack ended up feastin' like a king on our scraps. After makin' sure he was set for the night, I made my way back upstairs.

When I arrived, I found Missus Duval and Izzy chatterin' away like they was old friends. When she seen me, Missus Duval give me a smile and hugged Izzy carefully, afore clearin' out of the room.

"What was that about?" I asked my wife.

Izzy smiled, even though it appeared to pain her, "She's real sweet Ed. She give me some clothes." Izzy's eyes teared up, "She kind of put me in mind of my Mam, I hate to ponder what she would have made of today…" She said in a whisper as a tear escaped her eye.

I quickly crossed the room 'til I was kneelin' in front of her. "Speakin' as someone who loves ya with all my heart, I reckon she'd be glad that Forrest was where he couldn't ever hurt ya again." I carefully kissed her forehead and then her cheek, avoidin' all the places where she was cut or bruised.

She give me a little nod afore I turned away and commenced to fix the water in the tub to the right temperature.

Izzy watched me silently.

When I was finished, I stood and placed the screen in front of the tub and turned to face her. "Darlin', I reckon you'll want to get in there now afore the water chills." She give me a little nod and went behind the screen.

As much as I longed to go back there and help her, I knowed she didn't want me to see the worst of what Forrest had done to her. I decided I wouldn't press her on that. Not yet.

I pulled out one of my Pa's books and settled in a chair, openin' it to the part where Gulliver awakes to find his legs and arms fastened to the ground. My mind couldn't settle on the words in front of me though, and I slammed the book shut in frustration. It was then that the sound of Izzy's quiet sobs come to my ears. Without a moment's hesitation, I tossed the book on the bed and hurried to my wife's side.

Chapter 55

Izzy had managed to get her dress off and was leanin' against the tub wearin' only her shift, her body shakin' with sobs.

As much as I wanted to hold her, I was afeared of my touch causin' her pain. "What can I do?" I begged, feelin' helpless.

"I'm tired, I'm hurt, and I'm ugly." She said, still cryin'. "I hate him Ed. I hate him so much."

I couldn't stop from wrappin' my arms around her then and kissin' the side of her face.

After a time, she got control of herself, and spoke to me in a whisper. "Can ya help me get my shift off?"

I nodded afore carefully liftin' it up, notin' the bruises on her arms as I did. Once it was clear of her body, I found myself holdin' back a gasp.

Dear Lord.

Her arms and legs had bruises on 'em, but her sides and back had definitely taken a beatin' as well. Izzy continued to look down at the floor and cry. "How can ya even stand to look at me?"

I shook my head and carefully turned her to face me. "Izzy, the worst part of seein' ya like this is knowin' I failed to protect ya. God's truth, I thought Forrest was long gone," my voice caught on the words. "I'm never gonna forgive myself for lettin' this happen." I hung my head, not able to look at her.

"Ed," she whispered as she put her hand on my cheek, makin' me look her in the eyes, "it ain't your fault. Ya saved me. Don't ya be takin' none of the guilt of this upon your own shoulders." She scolded. "I'm just feelin' sorry for myself is all, and I'm ashamed to say that it's my vanity makin' it so. Not that I think of myself as any great beauty mind ya, but at least I ain't never beenfrightenin' to look at afore…"

"Izzy, ya could never be frightenin'." I leaned in and touched my lips to hers. "Ya are and will always be the most beautiful woman I've ever known. These marks is only temporary but even if they warn't, it wouldn't change the way I feel 'bout ya." I held up my maimed hand. "Ya taught me that when ya accepted me the way I was… by lovin' me despite my flaws."

She grabbed my hand and brought it to her swollen lips, kissin' it tenderly. "Ya got no flaws, Ed. Your poor hand serves to remind me daily of how close ya come to not survivin' that war. How close I come to never knowin' ya." She kissed my hand again.

"Thank ya for helpin' me undress." She sounded defeated as she placed her hand on the side of the tub.

She looked toward me and froze, her surprise showin' when she noticed I was unbuttonin' my shirt. Her eyes studied me as I removed each article of clothin' and then silently stepped into the tub, reachin' for her hand to help her over the side as well.

Once we were settled, I washed her battered body while she cried herself out against my chest, releasin' all the fear, pain and sorrow she'd been holdin' inside.