Page 10 of Westbound Awakening

"Fine, then go, but be warned next time, I'm leaving you, even if it's out in the middle of nowhere. I'll break my word to Miss Lady." Rounded eyes swung to him, and she bowed her head so her hair would conceal her face. "John, stop." She made her way back toward the wagon.

He'd caught a glimpse of her bruised jawline and a split on her bottom lip. He caught up to her and blocked her path, his hands on her forearms "My God, what happened to you? You're hurt."

Her hands flat on his chest and twisting her face away, she pushed against him. "Let me go."

"Not until you let me see your face." He glanced over toward the wagon to see that Jefferson had his back to them, carrying the bedrolls to the wagon. "Mae please, let me see." He loosened his hold on her, keeping his fingers curled around her biceps. Until he saw it all, he would not release her arms.

Head held high, she finally turned and met his gaze. In addition to the bruising and the lip injury, there were scratches on her neck.

Her lips twisted into a sneer, and she spoke slowly past clenched teeth. "Let me go John."

"Why didn't you call for help?" He refused to release her until she would answer.

Finally she relented, her shoulder's slumping in surrender. "I did call for you. You didn't come." Seeming to be startled by her words, she gasped and closed her eyes.

"Did he..."

"No I fought him off," she interrupted her eyes focused past his shoulders. "Now let me go." The whispered words were barely audible.

John finally released her, and with a quick jerk, she picked up her skirts to avoid the low branches and made her way back toward the wagon.

She'd needed his help. Had called for him the night before. The thought sickened John. One thing he could never stand was for a man to hurt a woman. How had she managed to fight him off? His gut clenched, at thinking how terrified she must have been to call for his help. He understood her anger at him for not coming to her aid.

Heat infused his body at the thought of Jefferson accosting Mae right under his nose, while he lay there close enough to help her. Instead, he'd supposed the worst and ignored the sounds. A red fog colored his vision until it became like a long tunnel, everything dark except for the lighted center. The only thing he saw clearly was Jefferson, who now stood next to the wagon glaring at Mae as she stopped walking and stood next to the horses.

With long strides, he went straight to where Jefferson stood and before he knew it, John had two fistfuls of the man's shirt and was dragging Jefferson away from the wagon.

With a loud growl, John drew back his fist. The solid hit took Jefferson by surprise, and the younger man landed flat on his back with his legs and arms outstretched. Without giving the coward the opportunity to get his wits, John lifted him by the collar and punched him again and again. Jefferson growled and bucked him off.

"What you hittin' me for Captain McClain?" The younger man attempted to scramble away. "She asked for it. She ain't nothing but a whore. We both know it."

John tackled him, and once again they began to hit at each other. The pair tumbled one over the other throwing punches until Mae screamed, startling them to a stop.

"Enough! Stop at once before you kill him." Her face impassive in spite of her high-pitched statement, she stood a short distance away with one hand flat on her chest, her face flushed. "Let's go, we need to keep moving."

John held Jefferson down on the ground. "You will remain here. I don't give a damn how you get where you're going," He got up leaving the young man on his side panting. "Get your belongings off my wagon now."

Jefferson scrambled to his feet and attempted to move toward the wagon, only to bend over and throw up.

Mae watched him with a dispassionate expression, her eyebrows lifted. Then she gave John a once over as he approached. "You need to go to the stream and wash up. Then we'll go to the nearest town and drop him off." She motioned with her head toward Jefferson, who was now an unseemly shade of green and sat on the ground leaning against the wagon wheel. "He's in no shape to be left here alone."

John approached her. "Mae I'm sorry. You called me, and I didn't come to help you. I should have been there for you instead..."

"Instead you thought the worst of me. Go wash up so we can leave please." She went toward the front of the wagon giving him her back.

Guilt crushed down on his shoulders as John walked away to do as she bid. With his energy depleted and his leg throbbing, he collapsed at the water's edge when reaching it and splashed cold stream water onto his face. The burning of the cuts on his hands and face numbed at the coolness of the water, relieving some of the ache. He pulled off his shirt, boots and pants, not caring at this point if Mae watched and waded further into the water. With eyes closed, he dove in and then surfaced to float on his back.

Anger clung to his gut, and his stomach clenched with a sickness from letting Mae down. Not protecting her like he'd promised Miss Lady. So soon into the trip, he'd already failed. He'd also thought the worst of her while Mae off an assault.

John dove underwater once again then surfaced and swam to the shore. When he reached his clothes, he began to dress while praying Jefferson was in the back of the wagon when he returned to it hidden from his sight. He was not sure how long it would be before he could keep from reacting. Yes it was best if he didn't see the bastard right now.

It was going to be another long day.

6

"Listen here little Maebelle and you remember what I tell you. Words are men's greatest weapon. If you let what somebody says cut into you, it can tear you wide open. You gonna have to be strong and always hold your head high." Miss Lady held out her hand, palm up. It was empty. "Take this from my hand." Mae's small fingers curled over it, picking up the imaginary item. "Now push it into your chest." Mae pretended to push it into her body and giggled at Miss Lady's pleased expression. "That's a good girl, now you got strength inside you. As long as you do, cain't nobody hurt you." Miss Lady pressed her hand over Mae's on her small chest. "Do you understand?" Mae nodded not quite understanding. "Now repeat after me. I am a strong, valuable lady. Repeat it." Mae began repeating the words. "I am a strong, valuable lady. I am a strong, valuable lady."

Mae clung to the words Miss Lady ensured she repeated many times over the years. Then John rounded the wagon and forced Jefferson from the back.