“There’s the horse.” One said.

Daxton spit on the ground and rubbed it smoothly on the dirt, he eyes the speckled horse like an enemy flying in from the backside, his partner gave a low grin and unbuckled his six-shooter…it was time to find what they were looking for. Jade managed to keep out of sight until the two men came out of the dress shop and then back into space between two stores…they saw here straight on.

“Where are you going, miss?” Daxton asked with a chuckle.

Jade backed up slowly her feet turning inward, she tried to straighten them out, but it was of no use, they knew.

“Leave me alone.” Jade practically screamed inside her head, but it came out in a cool whisper that could soon be denied.

“Kitten trying to be a tiger.” Garvin gave an evil smile that showed his partly brown and yellow teeth, Jade choked in disgust.

She was back to the wooden fence that kept her in like a rabbit about to be torn about by two rabid wolves. She put her brown boot up against the fence fingering the knife that had given her hope, but the hope was drained from the bucket and the bucket could not find a well.

Jade ran past both men, if she could just get to the opening and in the dirt road of the sheriff and other men she could find freedom…her mother…and the truth. “How long does this last?” Jade mocked herself for thinking she could make it. Just as two horses rode by and Jade was at the opening a rough hand jerked her back and the two horses came in the alley.

Her heart screamed, freedom, those men were to save her.

“How is she?” The older one asked.

“What? They work…for…them.” She grasped the dagger thinking of killing herself but thought better of it, “a fool’s move…”

“Ah, just a little excited.” Garvin patted her on the shoulder roughly and grabbed onto it until she fell to the ground under his bitter command once again. She heaved. They grinned. They had won the race.

“We will take her to the base, where she can be watched carefully.” The younger one of the two new riders finally spoke over the other three. She looked at him as he looked at her, he patted his gun and looked at her with his crystal blue eyes, she returned the favor and looked with him in disgust, there was no color it seemed in her eyes…just hate. He pushed her hair back on his haunches.

He leaned in so much the smell of a day’s ride went to Jade’s nose like blood to a mountain lion… “Don’t run anymore, it is no use to you.” He whispered in her ear and pulled back, the others waited for her to say something, and she did not fail them.

“Why would I do anything you say? You have my body in your grasp, but you will never have my heart.” She waited.

“Unless we cut it out.” He smiled, and she pulled back in fear, would he do that? No, surely…yes, he would.

“Here is what you are going to do, you are going to get on that horse and ride at my side, if anyone says hello say hello back happily and be on your way, I will do the talking besides that…let’s go.” The older man of the two new riders suggested.

“Are you sure it will work, Will?” Garvin asked.

“Yes, I am.” Will replied.

“Johnny, get the horses.” Daxton commanded.

“Yes sir.”

They rode out.