“You are all right Molly, I will not hurt you, I am Cheyenne, you do not need to be afraid, no one will harm you.”
Molly stared wide horror filled eyes at her captor until recognition finally set in. Her breathing began to slow and she relaxed in Cheyenne’s grip. The half-breed girl loosened her grasp and let go of Molly’s arms.
The young girl’s eyes began to fill with tears and she quickly wiped them away with the back of her hand.
“I’m sorry, I, you startled me” Molly apologized. And looked around to make sure no one had herd her scream or was watching the conversation.
Cheyenne eyed the girl and also scanned the area for prying eyes. “Come,” she motioned toward Molly’s home. “I will walk with you.”
“That’s not necessary,” Molly insisted. “I’m fine thank you.” She said starting to walk away.
“You are not fine.” Cheyenne told her knowingly. “I see your fear, I see in your eyes the evil I once saw through my own eyes. You can trust me Molly, tell me what you are so afraid of. I can help you."
Molly spun around angrily “You don’t know anything about me!” She almost yelled. “I don’t need the help of the likes of you or anyone else! Now leave me alone!” With that Molly turned on her heals and ran for home.
Cheyenne for a split second moved to go after her. Then thought better of it. Maybe she was wrong; maybe it was something else that plagued the girl. Her sharp tongue had hit a nerve. The likes of you, those words struck like a knife. It seemed she had been wrong about Molly Gallagher. Maybe she was like the other townspeople. No, she was afraid, and she struck out. Cheyenne remembered doing the same thing many times to Josiah in the first few months after her attack. She vowed that one day soon she would try again to help the young schoolteacher. Why she wasn’t sure, She just knew it was something she had to do, a feeling that gnawed at her.
Cheyenne sat under the big elm tree that grew near the water's edge, leaning against its trunk her knees drawn up next to her chest. Lost in her thoughts she twiddled a small twig between her fingers. Her faithful steed Black Wind grazed near her.
Cheyenne gazed out across the sparkling pond. She loved this spot. The water was a clear blue. Shade trees surrounded the area and the aroma of fresh sage and wild flowers surrounded her. All that could be heard was the chirping of the birds in the trees, the breeze blowing faintly threw the tree limbs and the faint sound of the water as the small waves brushed against the shore. This place was so peaceful, a place she could come to when she wanted to be alone and think or just to get away from the town and all it’s people.
Cheyenne picked up a pebble from the ground and tossed it into the water. The day was hot and the cool water looked enticing. Normally this quiet and serene place had always helped to ease what ever troubled her. But the events of the last few days were still vivid and the shame of exposing herself so fully in the courtroom still hung heavily over Cheyenne’s already tortured mind.
She realized that had she not told the judge about her past she might very well be at a hangman’s noose right now or dead. Then again she knew in her heart that neither Gabe nor Josiah would have let that happen. Still she felt as if she had somehow made her self-vulnerable, and worse, lost the respect of those who were in the courtroom that day, namely Vin, Chris and Judge Travis. Gabe had always known. He had found out years ago when he and his family had come to trade in the village of her grandfather shortly after Josiah had taken her there to recover and gain her strength after her attack. He had been her friend even then and had never faltered since.
Gabe, they had much in common. But it was Josiah she longed for, her mentor her companion, her friend. From the first moment they had met ten years ago she knew that it was he who would have her heart for as long as she lived. Then tragedy had struck. Her innocence ripped from her and her life shattered.
For so long now she had kept Josiah at arms length. Learning from him, fighting at his side, but keeping her emotions and feelings locked away deep inside. She kept her gentleness and compassion buried so far behind the stone wall she had built up that she feared they could never be revived.
And Josiah had never once wavered from her side. There were times like these when she was alone, she would sit and look back on what could have been and she wondered if it could ever be again. Was there still a chance after all this time? Did Josiah still harbor the feelings she had once been sure he to shared with her. Could she ever pull from her tormented soul the humanity she once had?
It was not only Josiah she kept away; Cheyenne trusted no one. She kept everyone at such a distance she feared to even try and free her spirit, afraid that it was to late for her to be more than what she was, a gunslinger, cold, heartless and full of hate. At least to the eye that knew no better.
Cheyenne drew circles in the loose dirt with the twig she’d been holding absently as her thoughts continued to run ramped. After her rape she had been plagued by nightmares, for years sleep had meant the terror of reliving her attack and the fear of Lancer finding her again. It had been over a year now of being free of the horrifying dreams. Once Chase Lancer was dead they had slowly dissipated into nothingness. But since the trial it seemed they had returned with a vengeance.
And surprisingly it was Molly Gallagher who appeared prominently in her dreams. A young girl she barley knew but had stirred something deep with in her. She silently cursed herself for showing such vulnerable emotion toward the girl. She kept the man she loved and her closest friend in the distance, yet this girl she felt a need to befriend. She felt a kinship with the young woman. As if there were something strong that tied the two together, something terrifying.
Cheyenne stared into the dirt as the nightmare replayed itself in her mind.
Fear gripped her to her very soul. Lancer's wicked laugh echoed in her ears. She felt his hands groping over her, tarring at her clothing. She screamed thrashing franticly trying to get away. Then suddenly she was alone. More screams came from inside the darkness; it was not she, but another woman screaming out her name, begging for her help. Molly, it was Molly Gallagher. Cheyenne reached for her gun and ran toward the screams but she could not find the girl. Then from nowhere a figure stood in the shadows, it was the figure of a man. Cheyenne quietly slipped up behind him and stuck her gun barrel at his head. The dark clad figure turned and the moonlight brought the man's eyes into view. They were Lancer’s eyes.
Cheyenne blinked and as if she had come out of a deep trance startled she dropped the twig that she had had in her hand and reached for her gun as a small involuntary scream escaped her. Then the realization of where she was and the fact that she had only been remembering the nightmare she’d had last night. She quickly scanned her surroundings to be sure she was alone. Then slowly took her hand from her gun as her breathing slowed and she began to calm down.
Last night she’d awaken with a gut wrenching scream, drenched in perspiration. Josiah had come running in gun in hand. He tried to comfort her. But as usual she had shrugged him off. Much the way Molly had scorned her earlier the same night.
Cheyenne was beginning to strongly believe that the return of her nightmares had something to do with Molly Galager. She was calling for help, calling for Cheyenne’s help. Anger and frustration began to flow threw her. What did it all mean? Why now were the dreams returning? And why, was Molly Gallagher there? Screaming for Cheyenne of all people, to help her. And even more frustrating, who was the dark man hidden in the shadows why did he have Lancer's eyes? And why did he bring to her such rage and fear? Lancer was dead; he could not hurt her any more. Was he the man in the dream? She heard his wicked laughter; she’d felt his hands groping at her. Then she saw the shadow and heard Molly screaming out her name. Those eyes, she would never forget those eyes or the evil laughter.
Cheyenne was certain now, after last night at the church, that Molly Gallagher had suffered a similar if not the same fate as she had. But how to help?
Angrily Cheyenne scooped up a handful of dirt and flung it into the water. She didn’t want to think any more. She wanted to forget. Forget the nightmare, forget Molly’s terrified screams, forget the hearing, the stares and whispers of the townspeople.
She stood and walked to the water’s edge. She crouched down and splashed a handful of the crisp cool water on her face. It felt fresh and clean. Wanting to drench herself in its cleansing waves that seemed to beckon her Cheyenne unbuckled her gun belt and set it close by, then striping off her boots and clothing to her undergarments she dived in. She reveled in the feel of the water against her skin and for a while thought of nothing but the refreshing cool water flowing around her.
Finally forcing herself from the serenity of the pond Cheyenne made her way back to the shore and dressed. She wanted nothing more at this moment than to stay here in this calm and quiet sanctuary. But it was time to go back. She contemplated spending the night, but she knew Josiah would be concerned if she didn’t return. Reluctantly Cheyenne mounted her horse and rode back to town. As she rode she pushed back her thoughts, her feelings of shame and fear. Stone covered her heart and she willed her strength to once again rule her.