Damsels through the family. MMM/ F part 2 is 5M/F Part 3 M/F part 4 4M/F
Posted: Sun Dec 27, 2020 8:47 pm
[mention]noggip[/mention] here is the first part of your generational story I hope you like it.
Texas 1872
Rebecca Burdette rides the low grassy plains of her fathers ranch land. Brown and white Hereford cattle dot the landscape. Gently grazing the dry prairie.
Rebecca’s slim frame sat in the light brown leather of her saddle. Wearing a light brown split skirt for riding. Her upper frame was covered by a red buttoned flannel shirt. A blue cloth hung low around her neck and a white stetson sits upon her hair the shade of jetta. Her skin was sun-browned from years of working with her mother and father to build the ranch into what it is now.
Watching the cattle Rebecca vaguely remembered when they had first come here. Her father had fought the war and lost. Of course she was to young to understand. He had packed up his family taken all they had and moved south to land in Texas he owned.
Travelling with everything they had. They settled in Texas and built up a good farm. Breeding Longhorns from Mexico with Herefords of the east. Now their stock remained strong and powerful in Texas fickle weather conditions.
The greatest challenge for the Burdette family ranch. Was every man wanted the Burdettes herefords and the water on their land. Jacob Burdette had decided to put up wired fence. Keep their herd safely behind the barbs.
Of course with the defences raised so did the risk. Every month or so someone would come along cut the fences to allow their cows to ramble. The last few attacks had left the wires cut and the posts burned.
Her father has taken precations to ensure the safety of their livelihood. Instead of two guards at night now he had six men sitting guard every night. Hence why Rebecca was checking the fences this mid morning.
Riding the fence line she did not see anything of note until she came upon. Two hundred hards of fenceline cut and cattle tracks leading her away from the fence. Frustration raged in Rebecca as she gave her horse a gentle spur to follow the tracks.
Her father had put nearly five hundred dollars on credit to buy thousands of yards of barbed wire. It has gotten to the point where the shopkeeper has gently asked him to stop buying it. And plainly the hands were getting annoyed with everyone pulling the damn wire down.
Who would do this? Break someone’s property wreck their livelihood. Mavericks free grazers old time ranchers who wanted things to be done the old fashioned way. Most of Texas is unorganized the only law was the Texas rangers and the law man acted on themselves.
It did not take long for Rebecca to find the small herd of fifty or so longhorns sitting by a pond. Three cowboys sit on horseback watching their cows gobble the water from the earth.
Seeing the cows thin and maltreated Rebecca had half a mind to tell the cowboys to get off her families land and she would keep the cows, Mavericks seldom branded their stock anyhow.
Approaching the men two peer at her before they approach. Rebecca’s instincts kicked in. Realizing three on one were not good odds. And the fact that the closest was drawing his pistol.
Giving her horse the spur. Rebecca turns around galloping away. But she heard two of the men shouting after her, a shot rang over her head and she knew she had to speed away. Using the end of her rein she gave her horse a forceful tap.
The wind blowing in her face removing her stetson from her head. Peering left and right hoping her men had heard the gunfire. Realizing they were on the far side of the property.
Her options low. Any hope she had was cut through the thicket or try and ride for the homestead. Surely a few hands around there will back her up. Giving her horse another dig of the spur.
She did not bother looking behind her. She knew if she did they would catch her. But she had to see how close they were. As her horse nears the bush she glances over her shoulder. Seeing the two men were a mere five lengths away she was about to spur her horse again. But the horse stopped to a fierce skid.
Sending the rider falling to the ground. Rolling over grass and rock. Bumping her head against the hard wood of a fallen log. Pressing a palm to her eyebrows she looks up to see the two men guiding their horses at a leisurely canter.
Understanding it was no longer a time for flight she decided to take up her gun and fight. Drawing the old Remington her father gave her to use. Drawing the hammer back with her left hand. She readied the gun in both hands. Taking steady aim on the man closest to her. His gun old and rusted as it was, did not hone on her.
The whistle of a lariat hiss through the air before the rope came around her by the shoulders. A forceful jerk sent Rebecca flying sideways her finger instinctively squeezes the trigger of her gun before the revolver fell from her grip.
Peering up a man on a brown horse slowly dragged her away a few feet before the man barks.
“Grab’er fore she gets up” already sitting up a hand on the rope around her shoulders about to rip it off. She felt two strong gloved hands come down on her. Grabbing her arms she looks up the men unable to see anything bast the brim of their stetsons on her head.
Rolling her to her back. One of the men speak his voice young no older than a late teen.
“What do we do with her Tim”
“Well now we gotta kill’er since ye mentioned m’name but, we may as well have some fun... tie’er up tie’er down”
“Let me go you vagrant curs this is my fathers land you hear me... he gets word of this... he will hunt you down like the vandalizing varmints you agh” Rebecca’s tirade was cut short by the digging in of a knee over her spine and shoulder.
Unable to do more then groan in the pain. Her wrists were brought back together behind her back. A coarse rope made of Rawhide was being looped around her right wrist then her left. Shifting her weight to wiggle free she found only a heavier weight applied to her lower back as she raises her gaze to meet the dark hairs of a horses tail.
“Dale grab the spare bridle from my saddle bag” Tim commands.
Feeling the rawhide. Begin wound between her wrists. Knotting the strings between her forearms. She gave one man a kick with the heel of her boot before he fell on her leg. An awkward pain quickly cripple her leg as she cries out.
“Ow ow let me go dammit the boys will be out looking for me... I am not supposed to leave the homestead y’know my pa will start to get worried if I am not back by uhphf”
A hard obstacle was applied to her mouth, wedging between her jaw. Feeling the hard object in her mouth. Brushing the smooth surface with her tongue, yakking into the bridle. She looks to the two rings on the side of her cheeks digging into her cheek.
As one man finishes binding her gag, the second had wrapped rawhide around her boots. Binding them tight a man peeks up her split skirt. But Rebecca was not so defenceless as to not kick her attacker in the face with the toe of her boot.
“Goddam little hure” the man draws a knife when his partner grabs his arm.
“Hold up there cowboy no point in guttin her now lash her to that tree then we can have some fun while are cattle is a grazin round here”
“We should be moving... as in now!” the last man still on his horse spoke with a voice that sounded like he had rinsed his mouth with sandpaper. The man who had approached first.
A short fat little man with bow legs from living in the saddle. His hair black and slicked down with greese. His mustache was thick and dark. As his eyebrows who shield his squinting eyes.
The younger man the one she kicked was a tall gangly man with neck long brown hair. Dark hair growing from his chin and cheeks. A dark red mark on his chin where her boot had connected. The slim blade in his gloved hand. Rebecca feared for what was about to befall her.
“Now hold on there Tim, it won’t be bad to hang around for a little while get our morale up... been too damn long since we’ve been able to go into town for more then supplies” the robust man nudges his gangly friend. As the third man Tim came forward.
A well muscular frame below a dark blue work shirt and dark pants hidden below black chaps. Two a revolver on his hip and one on his shoulder gave him the look of a more dangerous man. His dark stetson hung low showing the decorations of alligator teeth in the headband. Stepping forward he looks around.
“Come on Dale, I don’t like this were too open”
“Too open your kidding” the three men begun to argue over the exposure of their cattle should anyone come looking. To the fact they were across from a bush. A bush that they could not see well into.
While they argued. Rebecca tests her bonds. The rawhide dug bitterly into her skin. Peering over her shoulder to a tree she began to wiggle for the tree grunting quietly with each shuffle she rolled and wiggled. Using her bosom to crawl forward. Her chest small from her slim physique made the task slightly easier. Reaching the tree she begins to rub her wrist binding over the course bark.
Of course the dry wood bark was brittle under any pressure. Putting all eight pounds of her weight into the rubbing had caused two things. The bark to shatter, and Rebecca fell forward crying out in frustration. Gaining the attention of the three arguing vandals.
“Goddammit’ Tim pushes past the gangly fellow grabbing Rebecca hard and hurling her into the tree trunk pressing a foot onto her leg Tim calls out.
“John grab that rope from my horse be quick bout it” he looks down on Rebecca smiling. As Rebecca’s blue eyes bore daggers into the man he seemed to enjoy her visibly struggling under his weight. When the tall boy came back rope in hand John and Tim began to bind the rope above and below her chest. Wrapping girls torso with the entire trunk of the tree.
Stepping back from their handiwork the three men peer down on their captive and smile.
“Alright what do we do now?”
“Well we can watch’er squirm or unbutton some of those buttons and feel up those little boobies” Dale spoke a frolicking smile crossing his lips. Looking up to these men Rebecca furrows her brows and digs the heels of her spurs into the dirt pushing herself up these foold want to touch her, she will make them work for it. She tells herself.
When John steps to touch her. A fourth male voice calls out. Blending with the clink and clock of a weapon’s lever.
“Or lastly you could leave ehr alone and take your mangy poorly bred Longhorns off this property” the three men turn to face the fourth man. Standing firm at six foot three his Winchester repeater swerves the cover the three men with ease.
“Oh thank god” relief thick in her sigh as Rebecca peers at Daniel Rogers. His brown stetson low over his brow. His lean muscular frame dressed in brown chaps and a light grey wool shirt with a pale grey vest.
“Easy cowpoke... we was just havin a little fun”
“Well the funs over, get your cows off this range and back to public grazing lands where you belong”
Daniel’s dark brown hair cut short and tucked behind his ears framed his ruggedly handsome face. Marred by nature and man alike giving him the rakish air of dangerous and wild. On the business end of a brass Winchester gave his dangerous appearance more merit.
“Hell cowboy wants to swap sum lead huh” John retorts revolver grip in his palm as he and Daniel match eyes. The standoff lasts for a mere moment but to be in the circle it felt an eternity. The three Mavericks spread themselves apart.
Daniel stood his ground rooted like a mighty oak strong and sturdy.
Rebecca could see her man was outnumbered maybe he was outmatched one man against three did not give her a swell of confidence. Deciding for herself she needed to escape she began to wiggle. Shifting her shoulders and torso. Bending her wrists to her ankles she found the rope below her bosom grow painfully taut.
Shuffling her boots. She began to unbuckle the spurs on her boot holding the spur in her left hand as she rips the boot down. Using the spur she began to brush the sharp barb of the spiralling blade against the rough rawhide.
Her concentration was broken when the first clap of gunfire erupts. Startling her she peers up to see the tall man John had fallen a gunshot in his chest. Daniel bent his knee turning his rifle to fire at the Dale the heavyset man smoke explodes from Dales revolver as Daniel had just fired his rifle.
Dale had fallen over his backside tripping on a stone. Leaving Daniel to stand against Tim alone. Holding her breath Rebecca’s gaze fell on Daniel as he raised the rifle to his shoulder and fires. Tim using both revolvers fire rapidly in Daniel’s directly.
Folding to a crouched position he fires his rifle again striking Tim in the hip as the wounded man fell back the pistol in his right hand discharged. Striking dust between Daniels legs.
“Damophf Dam” Rebecca calls to her rescuer seeing him tense and firm. Rifle in hand as his eyes shift and shuffle around the battlefield. Before answering her.
“I’ll be over in a minute Reb!” Daniel’s western drawl spoke her name with a familiar ease. They were good friends without encrouching the position of Ranch owners daughter and Ranch hand. Rebecca never felt threatened by Daniel but he did give her the feeling of being human being down to earth.
Watching Daniel move his rifle barrel to examine the men who lay before him. Tim whines as he curled to the fetal position around his wound. Dale had began to crawl to his knees in a feeble attempt to flee. Daniel rushed forward kicking the man in the stomach before setting the rifle barrel just above the mans throat.
“Will we see you again?”
“No sir not me sir” Dale replied sweat pouring down his face sleeking his mustache and beard. Snarling down on the man Daniel scowls
“get on your horse and ride straight back to wherever you came... those cows belong to me now” Rebecca watched the force Daniel had used to threaten the man. And was impressed. The man she had known and became friends.
As Dale scurries away. Daniel approaches Rebecca’s side. Looking down on her a strange stoic appearance on his dark rugged appearance. Kneeling beside her Rebecca peer into Daniels brown eyes turned soft and warm. Comforting and loyal.
Resting his rifle beside her he drew his skinning blade from his belt and quickly slit the rawhide around her wrists before he split the rawhide around her ankles cutting through with a single strike.
Her hands rise to the back of her head unbinding the bridle the men had bound to her head painfully wrapping her hair into the binds. Yelping as she unbound the knot pulling the bit free from her mouth. Yakking and couging as the bit and rings free her mouth.
Stepping away for a moment Dan returns with a canteen holding it to her lips the cool crisp water ease the burn of her throat. Closing her eyes as she nursed on the clear water. Opening her eyes to look on Daniels concerned expression.
“Are you alright did they hurt you?” he asks peering around the back of her head. His concern touching and Rebecca places a hand on his shoulder “I am alright Daniel... how did you come to be here?”
“I was checking for strays, found your horse then I... heard the gunshots” nodding Rebecca peers at Dan seeing the man returning to his timid expression. About to stand on her own she felt his strong hand under her elbow helping her up.
Standing toe to toe. She stood just below his chin she peers up and rises to her tip toe kissing his cheek. The mans face turned bright red as he drew back. His smile beaming cheekily.
“Thank you for rescuing me Dan”
“Your welcome ma’am... can I ask you something?”
“Of course Dan what?” taking her hand he held it in his big callused hand.
“Next Sunday I was wondering if I could take you on a picnic?” Rebecca smiles and nods “a picnic sounds nice” taking her hand Dan leads her away from the scene of blood and violence.
Texas 1872
Rebecca Burdette rides the low grassy plains of her fathers ranch land. Brown and white Hereford cattle dot the landscape. Gently grazing the dry prairie.
Rebecca’s slim frame sat in the light brown leather of her saddle. Wearing a light brown split skirt for riding. Her upper frame was covered by a red buttoned flannel shirt. A blue cloth hung low around her neck and a white stetson sits upon her hair the shade of jetta. Her skin was sun-browned from years of working with her mother and father to build the ranch into what it is now.
Watching the cattle Rebecca vaguely remembered when they had first come here. Her father had fought the war and lost. Of course she was to young to understand. He had packed up his family taken all they had and moved south to land in Texas he owned.
Travelling with everything they had. They settled in Texas and built up a good farm. Breeding Longhorns from Mexico with Herefords of the east. Now their stock remained strong and powerful in Texas fickle weather conditions.
The greatest challenge for the Burdette family ranch. Was every man wanted the Burdettes herefords and the water on their land. Jacob Burdette had decided to put up wired fence. Keep their herd safely behind the barbs.
Of course with the defences raised so did the risk. Every month or so someone would come along cut the fences to allow their cows to ramble. The last few attacks had left the wires cut and the posts burned.
Her father has taken precations to ensure the safety of their livelihood. Instead of two guards at night now he had six men sitting guard every night. Hence why Rebecca was checking the fences this mid morning.
Riding the fence line she did not see anything of note until she came upon. Two hundred hards of fenceline cut and cattle tracks leading her away from the fence. Frustration raged in Rebecca as she gave her horse a gentle spur to follow the tracks.
Her father had put nearly five hundred dollars on credit to buy thousands of yards of barbed wire. It has gotten to the point where the shopkeeper has gently asked him to stop buying it. And plainly the hands were getting annoyed with everyone pulling the damn wire down.
Who would do this? Break someone’s property wreck their livelihood. Mavericks free grazers old time ranchers who wanted things to be done the old fashioned way. Most of Texas is unorganized the only law was the Texas rangers and the law man acted on themselves.
It did not take long for Rebecca to find the small herd of fifty or so longhorns sitting by a pond. Three cowboys sit on horseback watching their cows gobble the water from the earth.
Seeing the cows thin and maltreated Rebecca had half a mind to tell the cowboys to get off her families land and she would keep the cows, Mavericks seldom branded their stock anyhow.
Approaching the men two peer at her before they approach. Rebecca’s instincts kicked in. Realizing three on one were not good odds. And the fact that the closest was drawing his pistol.
Giving her horse the spur. Rebecca turns around galloping away. But she heard two of the men shouting after her, a shot rang over her head and she knew she had to speed away. Using the end of her rein she gave her horse a forceful tap.
The wind blowing in her face removing her stetson from her head. Peering left and right hoping her men had heard the gunfire. Realizing they were on the far side of the property.
Her options low. Any hope she had was cut through the thicket or try and ride for the homestead. Surely a few hands around there will back her up. Giving her horse another dig of the spur.
She did not bother looking behind her. She knew if she did they would catch her. But she had to see how close they were. As her horse nears the bush she glances over her shoulder. Seeing the two men were a mere five lengths away she was about to spur her horse again. But the horse stopped to a fierce skid.
Sending the rider falling to the ground. Rolling over grass and rock. Bumping her head against the hard wood of a fallen log. Pressing a palm to her eyebrows she looks up to see the two men guiding their horses at a leisurely canter.
Understanding it was no longer a time for flight she decided to take up her gun and fight. Drawing the old Remington her father gave her to use. Drawing the hammer back with her left hand. She readied the gun in both hands. Taking steady aim on the man closest to her. His gun old and rusted as it was, did not hone on her.
The whistle of a lariat hiss through the air before the rope came around her by the shoulders. A forceful jerk sent Rebecca flying sideways her finger instinctively squeezes the trigger of her gun before the revolver fell from her grip.
Peering up a man on a brown horse slowly dragged her away a few feet before the man barks.
“Grab’er fore she gets up” already sitting up a hand on the rope around her shoulders about to rip it off. She felt two strong gloved hands come down on her. Grabbing her arms she looks up the men unable to see anything bast the brim of their stetsons on her head.
Rolling her to her back. One of the men speak his voice young no older than a late teen.
“What do we do with her Tim”
“Well now we gotta kill’er since ye mentioned m’name but, we may as well have some fun... tie’er up tie’er down”
“Let me go you vagrant curs this is my fathers land you hear me... he gets word of this... he will hunt you down like the vandalizing varmints you agh” Rebecca’s tirade was cut short by the digging in of a knee over her spine and shoulder.
Unable to do more then groan in the pain. Her wrists were brought back together behind her back. A coarse rope made of Rawhide was being looped around her right wrist then her left. Shifting her weight to wiggle free she found only a heavier weight applied to her lower back as she raises her gaze to meet the dark hairs of a horses tail.
“Dale grab the spare bridle from my saddle bag” Tim commands.
Feeling the rawhide. Begin wound between her wrists. Knotting the strings between her forearms. She gave one man a kick with the heel of her boot before he fell on her leg. An awkward pain quickly cripple her leg as she cries out.
“Ow ow let me go dammit the boys will be out looking for me... I am not supposed to leave the homestead y’know my pa will start to get worried if I am not back by uhphf”
A hard obstacle was applied to her mouth, wedging between her jaw. Feeling the hard object in her mouth. Brushing the smooth surface with her tongue, yakking into the bridle. She looks to the two rings on the side of her cheeks digging into her cheek.
As one man finishes binding her gag, the second had wrapped rawhide around her boots. Binding them tight a man peeks up her split skirt. But Rebecca was not so defenceless as to not kick her attacker in the face with the toe of her boot.
“Goddam little hure” the man draws a knife when his partner grabs his arm.
“Hold up there cowboy no point in guttin her now lash her to that tree then we can have some fun while are cattle is a grazin round here”
“We should be moving... as in now!” the last man still on his horse spoke with a voice that sounded like he had rinsed his mouth with sandpaper. The man who had approached first.
A short fat little man with bow legs from living in the saddle. His hair black and slicked down with greese. His mustache was thick and dark. As his eyebrows who shield his squinting eyes.
The younger man the one she kicked was a tall gangly man with neck long brown hair. Dark hair growing from his chin and cheeks. A dark red mark on his chin where her boot had connected. The slim blade in his gloved hand. Rebecca feared for what was about to befall her.
“Now hold on there Tim, it won’t be bad to hang around for a little while get our morale up... been too damn long since we’ve been able to go into town for more then supplies” the robust man nudges his gangly friend. As the third man Tim came forward.
A well muscular frame below a dark blue work shirt and dark pants hidden below black chaps. Two a revolver on his hip and one on his shoulder gave him the look of a more dangerous man. His dark stetson hung low showing the decorations of alligator teeth in the headband. Stepping forward he looks around.
“Come on Dale, I don’t like this were too open”
“Too open your kidding” the three men begun to argue over the exposure of their cattle should anyone come looking. To the fact they were across from a bush. A bush that they could not see well into.
While they argued. Rebecca tests her bonds. The rawhide dug bitterly into her skin. Peering over her shoulder to a tree she began to wiggle for the tree grunting quietly with each shuffle she rolled and wiggled. Using her bosom to crawl forward. Her chest small from her slim physique made the task slightly easier. Reaching the tree she begins to rub her wrist binding over the course bark.
Of course the dry wood bark was brittle under any pressure. Putting all eight pounds of her weight into the rubbing had caused two things. The bark to shatter, and Rebecca fell forward crying out in frustration. Gaining the attention of the three arguing vandals.
“Goddammit’ Tim pushes past the gangly fellow grabbing Rebecca hard and hurling her into the tree trunk pressing a foot onto her leg Tim calls out.
“John grab that rope from my horse be quick bout it” he looks down on Rebecca smiling. As Rebecca’s blue eyes bore daggers into the man he seemed to enjoy her visibly struggling under his weight. When the tall boy came back rope in hand John and Tim began to bind the rope above and below her chest. Wrapping girls torso with the entire trunk of the tree.
Stepping back from their handiwork the three men peer down on their captive and smile.
“Alright what do we do now?”
“Well we can watch’er squirm or unbutton some of those buttons and feel up those little boobies” Dale spoke a frolicking smile crossing his lips. Looking up to these men Rebecca furrows her brows and digs the heels of her spurs into the dirt pushing herself up these foold want to touch her, she will make them work for it. She tells herself.
When John steps to touch her. A fourth male voice calls out. Blending with the clink and clock of a weapon’s lever.
“Or lastly you could leave ehr alone and take your mangy poorly bred Longhorns off this property” the three men turn to face the fourth man. Standing firm at six foot three his Winchester repeater swerves the cover the three men with ease.
“Oh thank god” relief thick in her sigh as Rebecca peers at Daniel Rogers. His brown stetson low over his brow. His lean muscular frame dressed in brown chaps and a light grey wool shirt with a pale grey vest.
“Easy cowpoke... we was just havin a little fun”
“Well the funs over, get your cows off this range and back to public grazing lands where you belong”
Daniel’s dark brown hair cut short and tucked behind his ears framed his ruggedly handsome face. Marred by nature and man alike giving him the rakish air of dangerous and wild. On the business end of a brass Winchester gave his dangerous appearance more merit.
“Hell cowboy wants to swap sum lead huh” John retorts revolver grip in his palm as he and Daniel match eyes. The standoff lasts for a mere moment but to be in the circle it felt an eternity. The three Mavericks spread themselves apart.
Daniel stood his ground rooted like a mighty oak strong and sturdy.
Rebecca could see her man was outnumbered maybe he was outmatched one man against three did not give her a swell of confidence. Deciding for herself she needed to escape she began to wiggle. Shifting her shoulders and torso. Bending her wrists to her ankles she found the rope below her bosom grow painfully taut.
Shuffling her boots. She began to unbuckle the spurs on her boot holding the spur in her left hand as she rips the boot down. Using the spur she began to brush the sharp barb of the spiralling blade against the rough rawhide.
Her concentration was broken when the first clap of gunfire erupts. Startling her she peers up to see the tall man John had fallen a gunshot in his chest. Daniel bent his knee turning his rifle to fire at the Dale the heavyset man smoke explodes from Dales revolver as Daniel had just fired his rifle.
Dale had fallen over his backside tripping on a stone. Leaving Daniel to stand against Tim alone. Holding her breath Rebecca’s gaze fell on Daniel as he raised the rifle to his shoulder and fires. Tim using both revolvers fire rapidly in Daniel’s directly.
Folding to a crouched position he fires his rifle again striking Tim in the hip as the wounded man fell back the pistol in his right hand discharged. Striking dust between Daniels legs.
“Damophf Dam” Rebecca calls to her rescuer seeing him tense and firm. Rifle in hand as his eyes shift and shuffle around the battlefield. Before answering her.
“I’ll be over in a minute Reb!” Daniel’s western drawl spoke her name with a familiar ease. They were good friends without encrouching the position of Ranch owners daughter and Ranch hand. Rebecca never felt threatened by Daniel but he did give her the feeling of being human being down to earth.
Watching Daniel move his rifle barrel to examine the men who lay before him. Tim whines as he curled to the fetal position around his wound. Dale had began to crawl to his knees in a feeble attempt to flee. Daniel rushed forward kicking the man in the stomach before setting the rifle barrel just above the mans throat.
“Will we see you again?”
“No sir not me sir” Dale replied sweat pouring down his face sleeking his mustache and beard. Snarling down on the man Daniel scowls
“get on your horse and ride straight back to wherever you came... those cows belong to me now” Rebecca watched the force Daniel had used to threaten the man. And was impressed. The man she had known and became friends.
As Dale scurries away. Daniel approaches Rebecca’s side. Looking down on her a strange stoic appearance on his dark rugged appearance. Kneeling beside her Rebecca peer into Daniels brown eyes turned soft and warm. Comforting and loyal.
Resting his rifle beside her he drew his skinning blade from his belt and quickly slit the rawhide around her wrists before he split the rawhide around her ankles cutting through with a single strike.
Her hands rise to the back of her head unbinding the bridle the men had bound to her head painfully wrapping her hair into the binds. Yelping as she unbound the knot pulling the bit free from her mouth. Yakking and couging as the bit and rings free her mouth.
Stepping away for a moment Dan returns with a canteen holding it to her lips the cool crisp water ease the burn of her throat. Closing her eyes as she nursed on the clear water. Opening her eyes to look on Daniels concerned expression.
“Are you alright did they hurt you?” he asks peering around the back of her head. His concern touching and Rebecca places a hand on his shoulder “I am alright Daniel... how did you come to be here?”
“I was checking for strays, found your horse then I... heard the gunshots” nodding Rebecca peers at Dan seeing the man returning to his timid expression. About to stand on her own she felt his strong hand under her elbow helping her up.
Standing toe to toe. She stood just below his chin she peers up and rises to her tip toe kissing his cheek. The mans face turned bright red as he drew back. His smile beaming cheekily.
“Thank you for rescuing me Dan”
“Your welcome ma’am... can I ask you something?”
“Of course Dan what?” taking her hand he held it in his big callused hand.
“Next Sunday I was wondering if I could take you on a picnic?” Rebecca smiles and nods “a picnic sounds nice” taking her hand Dan leads her away from the scene of blood and violence.