Gill knew he was going to die if somebody didn’t come upon him soon. He, Fred and Critter had done everything they could to free themselves but it had been useless. That bastard, Jonah Winchester, had tied them up real good and proper.

                Poor Fred had screamed and sobbed like a newborn babe for the entire first day until his voice had finally left him. His broken arm was twisted up in his hogtied position and making the pain the man was in unbearable.

                Critter had taken the hardest lick to the head and the bloody welted lump stuck out a good four inches off his forehead. Gill’s head was pounding as well from that bastard’s gun being brought down on the back of it.

                It had been days the men had been tied up here in the heat. Days with no food, no water and Gus’s dead body beginning to stink worse and worse with every passing hour. Gill had turned his body away from Gill to avoid the sight of the crows and other scavengers feasting on his dead friend’s face.  Though there was nothing a man could do to block out the sound of his flesh being picked, plucked and torn from his bones.

                “We’re gonna die, Gill.” Critter mumbled, his voice raspy and weak from lack of water. Gill nodded limply.

                “Sure seems that way.”

                “How come that bitch didn’t tell us how tough a job that would be?” Critter added and Gill just laid there and didn’t answer. Fred was doing little more than moaning and rocking back and forth on the ground, his face a sickly shade of green and his eyes squeezed  shut tightly.

                More endless minutes passed by as the three men waited on death and then Gill thought he was hearing things when a horse whinnied in the distance and he heard a man’s voice mumbling.

                “Hello!?” Critter hollered out as loudly as his parched throat would allow, causing Gill to realize that he wasn’t just hearing things, or that if he was that Critter was hearing the same thing. “Who’s there?”

                Normally Gill would have cursed the man for crying out to someone while they were helpless and didn’t know if the approaching person was friend or foe but it seemed that desperation made a man’s good sense take flight because Gill found himself calling out to the stranger as well.

                A man rode into sight slowly. He cursed under his breath and quickly covered his face with his bandana.

                “You men need some help?” he asked and Gill fought the urge to yell at the man for asking such a stupid question.

                “Yes, sir.” Critter replied.

                Gill watched the man take in the sight of Gus by the fire and the man gagged as he slid from his horse. “Damn, what happened here?”

                “We was attacked.” Critter replied. “Untie us please.”

                The man pulled his knife and quickly went about cutting all three men free. Fred groaned and simply lay there on his back, his eyes never opening. Critter and Gill took their time getting to their feet. Pain filled Gill’s body as the blood was suddenly rushing to places that had been immobile for so long.

                “What happened to you, boys?” the man asked. “Who did this?”

                “That ain’t important.” Gill replied before Critter could speak. “Thanks for helping us, sir.”

                The man shook his head. “Hell yeah it’s important! I’m gonna have to report this to the law. Whoever did this to you boys deserves to pay. Hell there’s a man dead with a broke neck over in the woods and then that man over there. And you men don’t seem to be in real good shape. Hell I think he’s dying while we stand here talking…”

                Gill glanced down at Fred and realized the stranger was right. Fred certainly appeared to be on the darker side of dead.

                “We don’t need no law.” Gill insisted. “But do you have water?”

                The man sighed and turned back to his horse. “I don’t care what you men say, I’m going to the law….” The man never got to finish his statement before Gill brought the rock down hard on the back of his head and he slumped to the ground.

                Gill shook his head and then slit the man’s throat with the knife that had just given him his freedom.

                “What the hell, Gill!” Critter demanded.

                “He was gonna go to the law, Critter. I ain’t got no interest in gettin’ the law involved in this.”

                “Dammit, that Jonah fella needs to pay for what he done!”

                “You honestly think the law would be on the side of a bunch of murdering kidnappers?” Gill demanded with a shake of his head as he pulled the canteen of water from the stranger’s saddlebags and took a long swallow before handing it to Critter. “If you wanna make him pay, then you go ahead and find him and make him pay. I don’t want no more to do with any of this. I didn’t sign up to get killed.”

                “I’m going back to Scarlett and letting her know what happened.”

                “I’m not.” Gill replied, taking the canteen back and then crouching down beside Fred. He placed it against Fred’s lips and the man drank greedily. “I’m gonna get Fred’s arm in a sling and then use this horse to get him to a doc.”

                “Dammit, Gill! That woman is the most desirable damn woman I’ve ever seen! And the best roll between the sheets any of us had ever had before!”

                Gill had to nod because it was the truth. Hell she’d taken all seven of them at once as part of their payment for going after those she wanted brought back to her. And she’d promised to give it to them again once the job was through, as well as a good heap of money.

                “Not worth it.” Gill replied with a shrug.

                “Dammit, Gill! She offered us ten thousand dollars! That’s a lot of damn money! Let’s go back to her, get a few more men and then get the job done!”

                “Critter, I don’t care if that damn woman was to lie naked on a big heaping pile of gold and told me I could have both if I got the job done, it wouldn’t be enough to get me to agree to go after Jonah or his folks again.”

                Gill stood, took another drink from the canteen and then put it back into the saddlebags of the horse. He searched some more and found a sack of hardtack biscuits. Drool pooled on his lip as he dug into the sack and sunk his teeth into his first bit of food in days.

                “You’re a coward.” Critter accused as he too grabbed a biscuit. “Ain’t you even gonna go after them for revenge?”

                “Nope.” Gill replied as he helped Fred sit up and helped the half conscious man take a bite of his biscuit. “The way I got it figured we deserved what he done. We asked for it. Now he could have just killed us all outright but he gave us half a fighting chance. Why I’da killed the men that went after my woman and kid so I reckon he had a right to kill us.”

                “Well you do what you gotta do, Gill, but I’m going back to Scarlett and I’m gonna get my revenge.”

                Gill just sighed and stood up, holding out his hand. Critter shook it and Gill shrugged. “It was nice ridin’ with ya, Critter. If ya live through what you’re plannin’ on doing then look me up when it’s over.”

                Critter nodded and then Gill watched the man limp away, barefoot, into the woods.

                “I agree with ya, Gill.” Fred whispered, speaking for the first time. “A smart man’s gotta know when to cut his losses and run.”

                “Yes he does, Fred. Now come on and let me help ya up on this horse so we can get you to a doc. I don’t have much of a gang left and I’ve never been good at bein’ alone so I’d just as soon you didn’t die.”

***

                “We gotta leave here tomorrow.” Jonah said over breakfast the next morning.

                “What the hell do ya mean?” Joe demanded. “This is home.”

                Jonah sighed and shook his head as he took a sip of coffee. “Not anymore. Not as long as Scarlett is out for blood. Clearly she knew where to come looking for you, or the men she has working for her did, and I’d feel a hell of a lot better if we weren’t just staying around here like a bunch of sitting ducks whenever she attacks again.”

                “Jonah, don’t ya reckon this is somethin’ we needed to talk ‘bout alone first?” Joe asked impatiently as she looked at Clayton who was chewing eggs and looking back and forth between her and Jonah. Reb was adding a bit of whiskey to his coffee and shifting in his chair.

                “Reb agrees with me, Joe, and you should too. We can go to the old cabin for a while….”

                “Jonah….” Joe started to argue and Jonah cut her off by standing and walked to the stove for more eggs.

                “Joe, I want to protect you and Clayton. I can do that better if we’re in a place that Scarlett won’t have turn by turn directions to right out of the gate.” 

                “I’ve been lookin’ out fer myself a long time, Jonah. I don’t need you to keep me and my son safe.” Joe snapped and she regretted the words instantly when she saw the hurt look on his face. Reb quickly stood and left the cabin, obviously deciding he’d heard enough and didn’t want to hear any more.

                “He’s my son too, dammit.” Jonah ground out and before Joe could say anything Clayton jumped up in his chair.

                “I knew it!” he exclaimed, pointing a finger at Jonah’s face. “I knew you was my pa!” Jonah’s eyes widened as he looked at Joe and Joe just sighed and rubbed at her face with her hand.

                “Way to let it slip, Jonah.” She mumbled.

                “Well he had to find out sometime.” Jonah replied, though Joe could hear the guilt in his voice. She glanced at her son, wondering just how mad or confused the boy was going to be but instead he was grinning from ear to ear.

                “I knew it. I knew it!” Clayton continued to exclaim as he began hopping up and down on the chair and Joe worried the thing might break.

                “Calm down, cowpoke. Yer gonna snap my chair.” She warned and Clayton stopped bouncing but continued to smile at Jonah. Then the boy’s expression turned thoughtful.

                “But why did mama say you were dead? Why weren’t ya here?” 

                Joe saw Jonah swallow hard as he stared down at scuffed up boots on the wooden floor. “Wanna take a walk with me?” he asked the boy and Clayton nodded.

                “Sure.”

                “Joe, we’ll be back.” Jonah stated. Joe wanted to argue. She wanted to come along. What was Jonah going to tell the boy? Was he going to make her the bad guy? Was he going to let her son believe her to be a terrible liar?

                She looked into Jonah’s gray eyes and saw them fill with even more hurt than they’d already been full of.

                “You know me better than that.”

                Joe nodded and let out the breath she’d been holding. She had to learn how to let go and trust someone other than herself.  She supposed when a woman got used to making all her own decisions and not counting on anyone, it was hard to suddenly share that responsibility with somebody else.

                “Come on, Clayton.” Jonah said as he grabbed his hat from the table and plopped it on his head. Clayton hopped down off his chair and followed him to the door.

                “Okay, pa!”

***

                The sound of that boy calling him pa was one of the best sounds that Jonah had heard in all his life. He led Clayton from the house and the boy was practically bouncing along beside him as they walked to the corral and watched the horses and Clayton’s pony walking around inside.

                “I guess I got some explaining to do don’t I?” Jonah asked and Clayton nodded.

                “Why did mama lie to me? Where have you been?”

                “You can’t blame your mama, Clayton. She was just doing what she thought was best by telling you I was dead.”

                “So where was ya? Was ya sick?” Clayton asked, that line forming between his brows that seemed to appear anytime the boy was confused about something. Jonah couldn’t help but notice that he had gotten that expression from his mama.

                “Yeah I guess you could say that.” Jonah replied. “I got confused and made a mistake and by the time  I tried to fix my mistake it was too late…. And then somebody told me and your mama some lies and well we both just tried to move on the best we could.”

                “But didn’t you want me?” Clayton asked his voice little more than a whisper. Jonah swallowed hard and watched Clayton’s pony, Chief, nipping at Copper’s legs.

                “Of course I wanted you, Clayton. Truth is until I rode up to that cabin and found you there a couple of days ago, I never even knew you existed.”

                Clayton was quiet for a long tension filled moment and Jonah glanced down at the boy to see him chewing his lip. Then Clayton looked up at him. “Mama didn’t tell ya ‘bout me?”              

                “She tried.” Jonah sighed. “But somebody didn’t want your mama and me together and so they never told me but they told her they had.”

                “Uncle Bart?” Clayton asked and Jonah’s eyes widened. He quickly looked away from the boy just in time to see Copper grow tired of the ponies teasing and snort a hot whoosh of air in Chief’s face.

                “What makes you ask that?” Jonah asked quietly.

                “Cuz, I heard him and mama talkin’ sometimes about my pa. I figured he weren’t really dead cuz they used to talk about how he didn’t want me. But ya did want me so I figure Uncle Bart was probably the one that lied. Plus, mama, got real mad when I mentioned him yesterday morning at breakfast.”

                Jonah couldn’t believe how smart his son was. “What the hell does your mama feed you to make you so smart?” he demanded.

                Clayton shrugged. “Eggs, bacon, corn bread… Ya know, the normal stuff.” Jonah found himself laughing and then he squatted down so he was on Clayton’s level.

                “I don’t want you to worry none about the past, okay boy? Now I’m sure your Uncle Bart had his reasons for what he did…” though Jonah had no idea what those reasons were. “… and he thought what he was doing was for the best.  None of that matters now. Your mama and I are together and we’re gonna stay that way. I’m not leaving either of you again.”

                “What does a pa do?” Clayton asked and Jonah shrugged.

                “Not real sure. I’ve never been a pa before and I didn’t have one myself. I guess my job is to keep you and your mama safe, of course she’d probably smack me for saying she’d need help staying safe…” Clayton giggled and nodded in agreement. “And as your pa I’ll be here for anything you ever need. All you ever have to do is ask and if it can be done then I promise I’ll get it done.”

                “Like gettin’ me that horse like Copper?!” Clayton asked with a grin and Jonah smiled.

                “Sure thing. But you seem to have a good pony yourself.” Clayton nodded.

                “Yeah, he’s trained real good.” Clayton replied. “But I can’t get him to lie down like you do Copper.”

                “How about I help you?” Jonah asked and Clayton’s face lit up.

                “Sure!”

                Jonah heard Joe’s footsteps coming up beside them and he turned to see the questioning look on her face. He offered her a comforting smile and saw the relief that filled her green/gray eyes.

                “Get on in there, cowpoke, and show yer pa what ya can get yer horse to do.” she urged.  Clayton smiled, hugged Joe tight around her waist and then climbed through the corral fence and whistled for Chief.

                “How’d it go?” Joe whispered and Jonah wrapped his arm around her shoulders and kissed her wild red hair.

                “Just fine.” He assured her. “The boy is smart.”

                “He gets that from me.” Joe teased with a grin and Jonah nodded.

                “You won’t get an argument from me.” He replied. “About moving…”

                Joe sighed and looked up at him. “I know it’s for the best and something we need to do.” She admitted. “But from now on how ‘bout ya talk to me about stuff before just announcin’ what we’re gonna do over breakfast?”

                “Yes, ma’am.” Jonah conceded. “I told you I’ll have to learn all this as I go.”

                “We both will.” Joe agreed.

                “Can I ask you something?”

                “I reckon.” Joe replied. Jonah smiled as Clayton led Chief through his paces.

                “Why did you leave your old cabin?”

                “Better hunting.” Joe replied quickly. Jonah shook his head.

                “Why did you really leave the cabin?”

                “Because there were too many memories, Jonah.” Joe replied quietly and Jonah smiled at her ability to be honest with him. He knew she wouldn’t have given such an open and ‘weak’ answer to anyone else.

                “Then I think it fits that we go back there now.” Jonah replied. “This started there….” He motioned back and forth between them. “… and I think it should end there. That’s where I want to grow old with you.”

                Joe smiled up at him and Jonah couldn’t stop himself from pressing a gentle kiss to her lips, lingering there for several long moments while she gripped his arms tightly.

                “Pa, you ain’t even watchin’ me!” Clayton exclaimed impatiently. “Yer too busy kissin’ on mama!”  

                Jonah threw his head back and laughed. He gave Joe one more quick kiss and then focused on his son.

                “Alright, Clayton, now my attention is all yours.” Clayton’s face lit up and Jonah smiled. He might have a lot of worries, what with wondering where Scarlett was and whether or not she was going to send more men after his family, but for now, for today, life was perfect. Finally how it always should have been.