September Rain (2 page)

One flailing hand collided with his face, so she curved her fingers instinctively and clawed.

“Argh! Bitch!” he shouted. He hit her again, sending daggers of pain through her temple.

She shoved and bit and kicked but to no avail. The filthy hands were under her skirt, tearing at her petticoats, groping her legs.

Finally, she managed to gather enough breath to scream. The hands stopped their disgusting pawing. They closed around her throat. She couldn’t breathe. She fought desperately.

Her throat burned. Her vision blackened.

Then nothing.

No suffocating weight. No disgusting sour breath. No choking blockage of her throat. Nothing but the strain in her chest as her spasming lungs fought for air.

CHAPTER TWO

A hand touched Hallie’s shoulder.

“No, no, no,” she mouthed, trying to force air past the pain in her throat. She opened her eyes, preparing to scream again. But the face she saw wasn’t sweaty and bearded, and the finger touching her cheek was gentle.

She stared into a familiar sun bronzed face with hollowed cheeks, a strong mouth taut with concern, and sky blue eyes that searched hers.

“I’m all right,” Hallie whispered, her voice no more than a hoarse croak as she responded to the man's unasked question. She put a hand to her throat. “Where is--?” she shuddered as the other, awful face loomed in her memory.

Then she blinked and looked at her rescuer.
Jacob Chandler.
He crouched beside her, his hand gently brushing her cheek as his gaze assessed her in silent concern.

It occurred to her that she was sprawled in an unladylike heap on the dusty road. She tried to sit up, to take stock of her condition. But before she could move, Jacob’s callused palm cradled the side of her face, as if to reassure himself that she was indeed all right. His thumb touched the corner of her mouth. Hallie instinctively responded to the gesture, leaning gratefully into the warm strength of his hand.

A shadow fell across his outstretched arm. His finger scraped along her bruised cheek as a beefy hand hauled him up by his buckskin collar and a huge fist drove into his lean belly.

A second man caught Jacob and pinned his arms behind him. Then Brent Myers stepped into Hallie's line of vision. He nodded at the two ruffians, then turned to Hallie.

“Mr. Myers, no!” Hallie cried, her voice nothing more than a croak.

“It’s all right Miss Hallie,” Myers said, bending down. “My men’ll take care of him. You’re safe now.”

“No, wait!” she whispered. “It wasn’t --”

Brent Myers picked her up. “Don’t try to talk. I’m taking you over to Doc Ketchum’s. I told you it was dangerous to be out alone this late in the afternoon.”

“Put me down right now, Brent Myers.” She struggled ineffectually, but Myers’ grip was insistent. Looking over his shoulder, she saw one of Myers' men holding Jacob by his arms while the other pummeled him mercilessly. Blood gushed from his nose and spattered his shirt.

“Oh no! Stop! Don’t let them!” she cried, trying to squirm out of Myers’ arms. The unmistakable sound of fists hitting flesh echoed in her ears. Jacob Chandler had helped her, and he was being beaten for his trouble, while her attacker was probably halfway to the next town by now.

“Don’t get all upset, Miss Hallie. My men’ll make sure Crazy Jake doesn’t ever hurt you again.”

The sickening sounds of Jacob being beaten rang in her ears. “It wasn’t him,” she whispered frantically. “Put me down!”

She struggled out of Myers’ arms but when she was upright, her stomach turned over and her vision went dark. She barely knew when Myers put her in his buggy and clucked at the horses.

Later, as the doctor dabbed the cut on her cheek, Hallie pushed his hand away and sat up. “That’s enough, Doctor Ketchum.” Her voice was hoarse and it hurt to talk.

“What are you in such an all-fired hurry for anyhow, Hallie? You had a bad experience. I don’t think you’re in any shape to go home alone. You’ll sleep here tonight so I can keep an eye on you.”

“I’m fine,” she whispered. “Not dizzy at all.” She moved to stand, only to sit down again immediately when the edge of her vision went black.

“Hardly at all.” She allowed the doctor to cover her with a blanket. “Maybe I’ll rest for a while,” she said faintly.

There was a knock on the door. The doctor went to open it. “Sheriff, Mr. Myers,” he said.

“Doc.” Sheriff Waites nodded at the doctor as he stepped into the office. “Miss Greer, you feel like telling me what happened?”

“Miss Hallie, how are you feeling?” Myers was solicitous as he took her hand.

Hallie pulled away.

“She really shouldn’t be talking, Sheriff. Not until she’s had some rest,” Doc Ketchum said.

“It’s okay,” Hallie whispered. “What happened to Jacob Chandler?”

“No, no, Miss Hallie,” Myers broke in. “You should listen to the doctor. Crazy Jake is in jail, right where he belongs.”

“What?” She turned to the sheriff. “You put him in jail? But--”

“Of course we did,” Myers soothed. “Look what he did to you. Why the man ought to be hanged.”

“He didn’t attack me,” Hallie said. “He saved me.” She coughed and put her hand to her throat. “You must release him, and search for the real attacker.” She coughed again.

The doctor fetched her some water. “Can’t you do this tomorrow?” he asked, looking meaningfully at Myers.

Myers tried to take Hallie’s hand again but she ignored him and moved her hand to rearrange the blanket. “That’s right, Sheriff. We need to allow Miss Hallie time to recover. She is obviously confused.”

“I am not confused,” she retorted.

“Of course you are, my dear,” Myers said insistently. “Sheriff, I’ll give you a statement. I saw Crazy Jake attacking her.”

Shock reverberated through Hallie. She stared at Myers. He was lying. Why?

“You actually saw it, Brent?” the sheriff asked.

“That’s right. When we happened upon them Crazy Jake was choking the life out of her.”

“No he wasn’t,” Hallie interjected. “Why are you saying this? He saved me.”

“Miss Hallie,” the Sheriff said. “What are you talking about? Who was it if it wasn't Crazy Jake?”

"I don't know who it was. I was walking home when someone came up behind me and grabbed me.” Her voice broke as the memory of the man’s leering face, his groping hands, and her helplessness resurfaced. She shuddered and wrapped her arms around herself.

“Sheriff,” the doctor said warningly.

“It’s okay.” She lifted her chin, forcing herself to remember exactly what had happened. “I had just stepped off the boardwalk down toward the end of town. He grabbed me and dragged me behind the livery.” She swallowed hard and smoothed her hands down her skirt, noticing for the first time that the hem was torn and dirty. “He was fat and he stank. His hands were dirty. His breath was foul. He was missing some teeth.” She took a long, shaky breath, trying to calm her increasingly shrill voice. “He pushed me down on the ground. He tore my skirt--”

The doctor started to speak but Hallie held up her hand. “I screamed, and he began--choking me with those filthy hands.” Tears started in her eyes as she remembered how helpless she’d felt when his fingers had stopped her breath.

“Then Jacob Chandler pulled him off me. Mr. Myers is mistaken. Jacob didn’t attack me. He saved me.”

The sheriff shook his head. “I ain’t seen anybody fits what you’re describing. Fat and missing teeth? Probably a drifter.”

Myers’ face turned red. “I’m telling you, Sheriff, it was Crazy Jake. I was right there. There was nobody else.”

“Can you find the man?” Hallie asked she sheriff. “I’ve always thought I could take care of myself, but he was so mean, so rough. If it hadn’t been for Jacob--”

The sheriff sighed. “I’ll ask around in the morning. See if anyone saw him, but he’s probably long gone.”

“What -- what if he’s not?” Reaction began to set in and Hallie’s whole body trembled. She pulled the blanket up to her chin, but she still felt cold. Cold and exposed and alone.

“Don’t you worry yourself, Miss Hallie,” Myers soothed. “I’ll protect you.”

Hallie didn’t look at Myers. The idea of him protecting her was not comforting. In fact, it made her want to shrink away. Suddenly the enormity of what had happened overwhelmed her and tears welled in her eyes.

“Now look what you’ve done, Sheriff. You’ve gone and upset Miss Hallie.” Myers' oily voice slithered around Hallie like a snake.

The sheriff picked up his hat and reached for the doorknob.

“Sheriff?” Hallie hated the way her voice quavered.

The sheriff turned back. “Yes’m Miss Hallie?”

“What about Mr. Chandler? Are you going to let him go?”

“Of course he’s not,” Myers said impatiently. “Chandler’s guilty.”

The sheriff broke in. “If Miss Hallie says it wasn’t him, I got no reason to hold him.”

Hallie closed her eyes against the tears that still threatened and shook her head carefully. “It wasn’t Jacob Chandler.”

Myers got in the lawman’s face. “And I say she’s not herself right now.”

“I don’t know what you’re so het up about,” the Sheriff retorted. “Chandler won’t get far, bad as your men beat him.”

“Oh,” Hallie gasped. “Doctor? You’ll go to see him won’t you? Treat the injuries he suffered because of me?”

“Just have him come by here, Sheriff. I’ll fix him up.”

The Sheriff nodded.

Myers glared at the Sheriff. “We need to talk, Sheriff Waites.”

The sheriff shot a venomous look at Myers Hallie couldn’t fail to see. “I’m still the law in this town. And I’ll do what I think is right.” He turned and stalked out of the doctor’s office, slamming the door behind him.

Myers patted Hallie’s shoulder and spoke to the doctor. “You going to keep an eye on my little Hallie tonight, Doc?”

“Your little--?” Hallie croaked indignantly, jerking away from his touch.

“I think so," the doctor said. "She probably needs a sleeping draught. She's not too badly bruised, but she might have nightmares about the experience.”

Myers’ hand tightened on her shoulder. Hallie tried to slip out of his grasp by leaning back against the pillows, but his fingers, while not hurtful, were insistent. She didn’t like him touching her. His touch seemed as snake-like as his voice.

“I’ll come by in the morning and take you home. How’s that?”

Hallie closed her eyes to avoid responding. Maybe if he thought she was exhausted, he would leave. The idea that he had unfairly accused Jacob Chandler of being her attacker worried and confused her. Why would Myers deliberately lie about Jacob? And how could he have been there so quickly, but failed to see the other man, the man who really attacked her?

“It would probably be best if you left now, Mr. Myers,” the doctor said. “Miss Greer needs some rest. She’s looking awfully pale.”

After Myers left, Hallie sat up. “I’m going home now, doctor.”

The doctor frowned at her. “You should wait until morning. You’re still shaky and weak.”

Hallie looked at him. “I don’t want Mr. Myers to take me home,” she said as clearly as she could with her hoarse voice.

“I see,” the doctor said, raising his brows.

Hallie nodded. "I'm glad you do."

“Then I will take you home tonight.”

At first Hallie was relieved. Then a thought occurred to her. “No, doctor. You have to wait for Jacob Chandler. You have to treat his injuries.”

“I tell you what Miss Hallie. I’ll see you home then come back by the jail and check up on Craz -- on Mr. Chandler. How’s that?” Doctor Ketchum smiled at her.

“I appreciate it,” Hallie croaked, coughing again. “I won’t be able to sleep unless I know someone is looking after him.”

CHAPTER THREE

When the doctor delivered her home, Hallie thanked him and hurried inside, leaning against the closed door in sudden exhaustion as a wave of dizziness engulfed her. She had lied to the doctor by telling him she was no longer dizzy and weak. He’d glanced at her unbelievingly, but had demurred, admonishing her to take a stout dose of whiskey before she went to bed. Hot tea with whiskey and honey sounded very good to her.

Straightening, she turned and fumbled with the key, locking the door, then testing it to be sure it was secure. She clenched her fists to stop her hands from trembling.

“Fine spinster I am,” she muttered to herself. “Afraid of my own shadow. I will not allow myself to be frightened by one incident with a drifter who has probably already left town.” Her father had never locked his doors. She reached out to turn the key but her fingers wouldn’t work.

She was just tired. After a good night’s sleep, she was sure she’d feel much better. She made her tea, poured in a little bourbon and a spoonful of honey and took it into the bedroom. But the fear would not leave her. There was a lot on her mind, and tea and rest weren’t going to fix it.

She lay down and pulled the covers up over her head, but every time she closed her eyes she saw soft, blue ones staring at her in kind concern. Her ears rang with the sound of fists meeting flesh, and it seemed the smell of blood pervaded her nostrils. All she could think about was Jacob Chandler, beaten and bloody because of her, and jailed unjustly.

Doctor Ketchum was probably treating his injuries now, and the sheriff had promised to release him, so there was nothing else Hallie could do. Still, she couldn’t forget the rage on Brent Myers’ face when the sheriff defied him.

As she began to drift off to sleep, Hallie’s thoughts wandered. Jacob Chandler had smiled at her this morning. Right now, she thought sleepily, the morning and her innocent pleasure at the light in his eyes seemed a lifetime ago.

##

HALLIE WOKE AT sunrise, anxious to make sure Jacob was all right. Rising gingerly, she found she could stand without dizziness, so she quickly bathed, dressed, and headed up the street to the jail. As she passed the livery she averted her eyes, unwilling to look upon the place where she’d been attacked.

She stepped into the jailhouse. “Good morning, Sheriff.”

He stood. “Why good morning, Miss Greer. You sure seem a lot more chipper this morning.”