JD swallowed hard and leaned against the house. He’d just watched Talbot disappear inside the barn, the man’s hulking gait resembling that of a gorilla he’d seen once in Boston at the fair. Fear swelled inside his gut when he imagined facing the man alone, but with Buck and Chris and the others back in town, he had no choice. He’d been sent out to the Simpson farm to help the widow repair a fence.
Shock stole his breath anew when he remembered finding the bloody body of Widow Simpson draped face down across the kitchen table. He’d covered the poor woman’s nude body, looking away to offer her dignity in death. A loud clanging lead him out to the lean-to next to the house, and that’s when he’d seen Talbot. The broad shouldered behemoth hadn’t noticed him and JD had slunk back into the shadows beside the house.
Talbot was wanted for a string of murders, rapes, and assaults from several counties all over a wide, 50 square mile area. Telegrams had been arriving in Four Corners for over a week, describing the man and his bizarre and cruel deeds. Chris held a meeting and warned the seven, urging them to increase their diligence and watch their backs. The place John Talbot was last spotted was well over 45 miles away, and JD felt certain they wouldn’t have to worry about the criminal.
How wrong could a person be?
Clenching his fingers around his twin colts, JD doubled over and ran to the barn. He flattened himself against the rough outer wall and stayed low. He knew Buck was going to have his hide for taking such a daring risk, but the imagined surprise and respect on Chris’ face after he caught Talbot pushed him past the point of caution.
Grinning to himself in anticipated glory, JD slipped around the dark opening of the barn and stepped into the shadowed interior. He stood framed by sunlight, his guns pointing menacingly towards innocent bales of hay.
"All right, Talbot. You’re under arrest. Come on out."
Proud of the way his voice rang in the stillness, JD didn’t notice the movement in the darkness to his left until it was too late.
Something huge rammed into him and he dropped both colts to the floor. He struggled against his attacker but the bigger man’s brute strength overpowered him. Talbot pulled back his arm and JD saw the tight fist heading his way, but the hold his captor had him in wouldn’t allow him to duck. The fist exploded against his cheekbone and his head snapped back painfully, wrenching his neck. His hat tumbled from his head. Blackness tunneled his vision and he blinked against the fuzzy spots dancing before his eyes. Another blast of pain caught him high on his other cheek and he was abruptly let go to drop to the floor. He landed on his back and flailed weakly, control out of his grasp.
Two hands grabbed his wrists and jerked him from the ground. His arms felt weak and useless when Talbot slung him over his shoulder and carried him to a deep corner of the barn. The man’s well muscled shoulder bit into his gut and he grunted with each breath forced out of him. He was dropped to the ground and looked up in fear at the man towering over him.
"Well, what have we got here?" The voice was shocking in its normality. He expecting barking or grunting and small syllables, not this intelligent sounding smirk.
JD shifted backwards on his rump, desperate to gain distance between he and Talbot. The man seemed unconcerned.
"It’s just a boy."
Being dismissed so casually brought irritated anger to the surface. "I’m the law around here, Talbot, and you’re under arrest for the murder of Widow Simpson."
One quick stride brought Talbot in his face again. The criminal reached down and grabbed him by the labels of his jacket. He was lifted and shoved hard against the barn’s wall. JD wrapped his hands around Talbot’s massive wrists and clawed frantically at the tremendous hold keeping him aloft. His heels beat against the wall behind him; his toes no longer touched the floor. His throat was slowly squeezed off and he gasped when nothing entered his starving lungs.
"You’re nothing but an bug under my boot, boy. I have the power to stomp you out of existence."
The pressure around his throat lifted but an immediate pain stabbed through his belly. He looked down to find Talbot’s fist boring into him, holding him up against the wall. In disbelief, he grabbed the man’s wrist again and pulled against the intrusive arm. His abdomen compressed farther when Talbot shoved harder into him and JD gasped. He dropped his head back against the wall and let go with one hand to try and find something – anything -- to hold onto for support and release this incredible pressure in his gut.
Agony caught at his insides just as Talbot let go and he fell to the floor to land on his knees. He stayed where he was and hugged one arm against his aching stomach.
"So, you found the Widow Simpson."
JD lifted his head and nodded, unable to speak as he struggled to catch his breath. He gulped and finally forced the words out. "Yeah. And you’re going to prison for that." His threat sounded weak and JD wondered where his earlier bravado had fled.
Talbot laughed. He threw back his head and laughed harder before looking down at JD. "What makes you think you can stop me, kid? I’ve evaded the law up till now, and believe me, I’ve had more experienced men on my tail than you, a still-wet-behind-the-ears boy."
"Because I’m not alone." He’d regained his breath and JD pushed up from the floor to stand in front of Talbot. "I’ve got friends to back me up, some of the best gunslingers in the West."
"Oh, you do, do you?"
JD nodded, pleased to find his fear displaced with faith in his friends.
"Where are they?"
"They – they’re –" He faltered when Talbot’s point became blindingly clear. Making a quick decision, JD dove to the right and tried to get past the big man blocking his way. Talbot moved faster than he would have thought possible and slammed his fist into his gut.
Crying out in pain, JD dropped to his knees and cradled his belly with one hand. His other arm shook, barely supporting him from falling on his face in the dirt. He’d taken hits before. Hell, everytime the Seven got into a scrape, it seemed he added another bruise to his list. But he’d never taken such powerful punches before. He knew he couldn’t stand up against Talbot. The man could kill him with just a few more hits. His belly already burned with pain and the fear of internal damage threatened to paralyze him.
"The Widow Simpson and I had a good time together."
He froze on the floor, listening to his tormentor talk, and gained time to recuperate from Talbot’s powerful fist.
"She was soft, tender. She had a tiny little waist, slender legs, and nice cleavage. You ever had a woman before, boy?"
JD closed his eyes; he didn’t want to hear this. If felt like he was betraying the dead woman. He could imagine her standing there, a look of intense shame etched on her kind features. A spasm clenched tight inside his stomach and he squeezed his eyes shut and groaned softly. Moving slowly, he sat back on his haunches but kept his eyes lowered. He continued to protect his belly with one hand while the other pressed to the ground for support when he swayed.
"I asked you a question."
The menacing tone snapped his head up and JD shuddered and flinched away from Talbot’s penetrating stare. "Yeah, I’ve been with a woman before."
Talbot smiled and JD swallowed in revulsion. "I’m sure you have. Not like this, though. Ever take one against her will?"
JD’s breath grew faster and he glared up at the man. "No!"
"You don’t know what you’re missing. Overpowering a fighting woman gives a man a thrill beyond anything this life has to offer. Forcing her to submit, to spread her legs for you, to open herself –"
"Stop!" JD surged up from the ground and rammed into Talbot. The man’s sick words penetrated his mind and his heart and made him feel ill. His thoughts had turned to Casey, and imaging something bad happening to her pushed his fear back and filled him with more courage than was safe at the moment.
He was caught in a vice like grip and held at arm’s length away from the giant. Struggling in the man’s hold, JD swung his fists through air and ground his teeth with frustration. This was impossible! How could he hope to win against such strength?
"You gotta lot of fight left in you, boy." Almost casually, Talbot swung his fist around and backhanded JD across the face. JD felt the blow like a sack of bricks against his head and he tumbled to the ground. He lay panting heavily and looked up toward the high rafters in the barn. Sunlight filtered through some of the spaces between planks but couldn’t dissipate the darkness he seemed to be wallowing in.
Through the fading tunnel of his thoughts, he heard Talbot speak. "You kinda remind me of the Widow Simpson. Yeah, she had a lot of fight in her, too. She just got me warmed up, though. You might be what I need to make my day complete. How ‘bout it, boy? You ever been taken by a man before?"
Unspeakable terror opened in his chest and clawed its way up his throat and JD was up and struggling in Talbot’s crushing embrace before he realized he’d even moved. "NO! Dammit, no!" Words became too hard to form after that as he began to fight for his life.
Talbot hit him hard and he rocked under the blows, but his determined mind refused to give in even as his body weakened. His face felt shattered into a million pieces when the man turned him and slammed him into the barn wall. He twisted in the man’s arms until they were face to face. A hard knuckled fist thrust explosively into his lower gut and his body automatically tried to curl forward. He straightened up instead and continued to fight. Raw agony caught him by surprise when Talbot hit him again in the abdomen and JD wailed and slumped forward, both hands going to his aching belly.
The pummeling continued when Talbot hit him twice more, higher in the gut, avoiding his clutched hands, and JD fell helplessly against his attacker. Numb shock permeated his system and he grew limp and pliant. He felt himself being lifted and opened his eyes to an upside down view of the barn’s interior. Talbot carried him like a child, cradled in his arms. His throat arched back, stretching his neck painfully, but he had no strength to lift his head. He felt Talbot’s arm where it supported his back and thick fingers dug into his armpit. His own arm swung and bumped against the man’s thigh, but the power to draw his limbs to himself was gone. Talbot’s other arm supported him under his knees and he felt his boots bump together as the man walked.
He was dropped to a low stack of hay bales. His back arched painfully and his arms stretch out over his head. His knuckles scrapped across dirt and hay and his boot heels thudded against the floor. He searched for a source of strength to draw his feet under him and run for the door, but his reserves were empty.
He felt Talbot fumble at his belt and squeezed his eyes shut. This can’t be happening. Fear and utter shame combined to replenish some of his waning strength and he lifted one arm and reached down to push futilely at Talbot’s groping hand.
"Now, now, none of that, boy." Talbot’s voice sounded husky and low and the man pressed against JD’s crotch to pull his arm away and drape it back over the hay. JD opened his eyes when Talbot leaned against him and rested one hand on his throbbing belly. "You don’t need anymore incentive to be quiet, do you?" Fingers probed gently but demandingly into his bruised abdomen and JD gasped.
" –no, please, don’t –"
Talbot chuckled. "I didn’t think so. Lay there and take it, boy."
JD wailed and turned his head away when Talbot brushed a hand against his crotch. " –*no* –"
"Yes, I’m afraid so."
His pants were unbuttoned and Talbot began working them from under his hips. JD started to struggle, despite the promise of more pain, but the big man easily held him down with one palm pressed to his belly. When the garment was down to his knees, Talbot straightened up and began unbuttoning JD’s longjohns.
The feel of the man’s hot breath against the chilled skin of his belly created a sudden surge of strength and JD brought his knee up hard into Talbot’s crotch. The man bellowed and bent forward, clutching himself. JD slid from the stack of hay and collapsed to the ground.
"I’ll kill you!"
The scream of rage rattled in his head and JD cringed. He looked up to see Talbot reaching for him when an explosion of noise blasted through the barn and a bullet sprayed the area at the man’s left foot. Talbot froze.
"Move again and I’ll kill you."
JD looked up and squinted at the silhouette framed in the barn’s wide opening. The man stepped forward and sunlight from a side window caught Buck’s features in sharp detail. The gunslinger’s nose flared with anger and his eyes narrowed as he glared at Talbot. He held a rifle pointed unerringly at the big man.
"I don’t need another excuse, you sorry bastard. You’ve already done far more than I can let you live for."
"Buck."
Chris’ dark form joined Wilmington. Larabee didn’t even glance Talbot’s way, his gaze stayed locked on his old friend. "JD needs you."
Buck’s eyes squinted farther and he nodded once. "Keep your eye on this one, Chris." With that edict, he lowered his gun and walked over to JD.
JD felt his face heat with embarrassment. He struggled to draw his pants up and stand at the same time, but the unrelenting pain in his gut kept him bent double. With a little sob of frustration, he tugged harder at the material, desperate to work them on over his long johns. He just wanted them buttoned before Buck made it to him, was that too much to ask?
He saw Buck kneel next to him out of the corner of his eye but continued to deal with his pants.
"Need some help there, son?"
JD shook his head but remained silent. Finally, he worked the garment up to his knees and fumbled awkwardly to stand. When he leaned too far sideways and nearly toppled to the ground, Buck caught him. With one move he let go of his stubborn pants and threw his arms around the older man. Sobs worked their way painfully up his chest and strangled through his throat before scraping raw and wounded out of his mouth. He held on tight and cried, letting all the fear and frustration and terror in his heart bleed into Buck. He knew the older man could handle it better than him.
When the sobs quieted down to soft hiccups, JD pushed back from Buck’s arms. He discovered they were both sitting on the ground, legs intertwined. Buck didn’t seem embarrassed by the closeness and reached up to brush tears from JD’s cheeks.
"Sorry."
Buck shook his head and reached out to lift JD’s chin gently. "Nothing to be apologizing for, pard. Let’s get those pants up and get you home."
JD nodded and with Buck’s help, he stood up and finally got his pants back on. He leaned heavily on his friend, one arm wrapped around his hurting stomach.
"You gonna be okay?" Worry turned Buck’s usual lilt soft and JD looked up when the man wrapped a gentle arm around his waist.
"Yeah. Thanks, Buck."
He watched as Buck smiled and they left the barn -- and the awful memories of Talbot -- behind.
THE END
