Setting the old west

[Friendly Dragon]

Sam

Her musical laugh and teasing words quickly brightened my brief dark mood, as I softly soaped her slender arms. "Darlin', you make me feel like I'm eighteen all over again."

It was true; the dangerous life I'd led over the past ten years had conditioned me to trust no one, hide my emotions and always keep a pistol handy. But when I was with Virginia I felt like a whole different person, like the carefree kid I'd once been, and I'd let my guard down for the first time in a long time.

After I'd finished washing her arms, I lightly kissed her on each hand, tickling her palms with my tongue. I gently lifted one of her shapely legs up out of the water, and ran my soapy hand from her ankle up to her inner thigh. I then rinsed the fragrant soap off her leg and retraced my path with the tenderest of butterfly kisses, ending tantalisingly high on her thigh. Leaning back, I kissed each of her dainty toes before lowering her leg back into the water.

Switching to her other leg, instead of holding it up out of the water I positioned it between my own legs, her petite foot nestling between my thighs. Pausing briefly to apply more of the sweet scented soap to my palms, I delicately grasped her ankle in both hands and ran them up her leg, one inside and the other outside. As I reached the very top I reached out a finger and brushed her clit with the faintest of touches before sliding my hands back down her leg. She responded to my teasing by playfully playing footsie with my rigid cock, the sensations driving me wild.

I took her hands in mine and pulled her to me, turning her around so her back was against my chest. My hands slid under her thighs and I lifted her onto my hardness, her welcoming warmth enveloping me. I wrapped my legs around her as my hands glided up her sides and around onto her divine breasts, kneading and caressing them as I toyed with her ripe nipples. We started to rock gently together, our previous frantic couplings replaced with a delightfully tender joining as our bodies and souls seemed to merge into one. As I continued to soap her breasts with a velvet touch, one of my hands crept down between her legs. Lightly stoking the fires of her pleasure, I lay my head back and closed my eyes, immersing myself in the comforting warmth of our union.

 

[Countess DeWinter]

Virginia

I closed my eyes as I slid down onto Sam's hard cock. I will never get enough of this. His hands roamed over my breasts with the soap, then one dipped down to my clit teasing with tantalizing little circles.

I'd been so young when I'd gotten into this...profession. My first time had been violent, an attack I sometimes relived in nightmares. I had encased my heart in barbed wire after that. It protected me from hurting too much when my parents died. When I had to turn to prostitution to survive. When the man who wanted to marry me was gunned down by a jealous customer in front of me.
But Sam made me want to unwrap my heart. He made me want to offer it to him. I found myself in a quandry. How would I refuse his money without making him feel uncomfortable. There had been one or two men I'd wanted to give it to, but they hadn't responded well. I wanted to give more to Sam than just my services. I wanted to give him my heart, but I was afraid it was too torn and dirty for him to want.

I put my hands on the sides of the tub and leaned forward to give myself a little more leverage and rode a little faster on Sam's cock. He grasped my hips when I started to shudder and clench his cock with my orgasming pussy. He held me against him hard and...

 

[Friendly Dragon]

Sam, and a guy in a black hat

As she rode the wave of her orgasm, I embraced her tightly and upped the tempo of my fingers on her clit. Pressed together as we were, the energy of her release spread like wildfire through my own body too, providing all the spark needed to ignite my fuse, and I quickly detonated deep within her.

As our twin tremors finally subsided, Virginia sighed contentedly and lay her head against my chest.. I gently stroked her soft cheek, and as we lay there, our bodies entwined, I silently prayed this moment would never end.

Meanwhile...

On the outskirts of town, a lone horseman approached on a midnight black steed. He halted, and raising the brim of his hat, surveyed his surroundings.

"What a dive." he thought, as he chomped on a wad of chewing tobacco. There'd only be slim pickings here, that was for sure, but it was easy money and that was his favourite kind. He scratched the jagged scar that ran along his left cheek, and spat the tobacco at the faded town sign in disgust. He wouldn't have given a damn what the town's name was, even if he had known how to read.

As he rode into town, the few people on the street gave him a wide berth and watched him warily. He headed straight for the saloon and dismounted his horse, tying it's reins to the wooden beam outside. He noticed a familiar tan-coloured horse tied there too ... good, so Sam was still here. He reached into the pocket of his pants and brought out another wad of tobacco, pushing it into his mouth. He drew his favourite Bowie knife from the sheath on his gunbelt and wiped it on the leg of his pants, removing the traces of blood from it's wicked blade. He slotted in back into it's home opposite his pistol, and spurs a-jingle, he entered the saloon...

OOC: Waylon Cole, Sam's partner and all-around bad guy. 6'1", 180lb, cold grey eyes, short greasy black hair and an unkempt goatee.

[Edited by Friendly Dragon on 10-13-2000 at 08:32 PM]

 

[Friendly Dragon]

Waylon Cole

I strode confidently into the saloon, taking in the occupants with a surly gaze. Just the usual motley crew for the most part, although several deserved a second glance...

The man at the bar drinking beer ... he had that look about him that seperates a guy like me from just another potential victim. Still, the way he was flashing that cash...

The cardsharp who looked like he was cleaning out the rest of the players in the game. Was he good, or did the others just plain stink?

The kid in the corner, trying to keep his head down. There was something about him which didn't fit with a place like this.

And finally the bartender, who looked at me like he knew me or something. I approached him.

"I'm looking for a man."

Some dumb-looking panhandler down the other end of the bar made his first, and possibly last mistake of the day.

"We'se only got women for rent in here, Mister."

He laughed at his own joke, until I suddenly lunged toward him and grabbed his neck with a leather-clad hand. My knife quickly joined it, it's point biting into his throat.

"I done killed men for less than that, an' if ya don't wipe that grin from yer face I'm gonna cut ya a second mouth."

"S..s..sorry...Mister" he stammered. He wasn't even worth soiling my blade, so I shoved him backwards off his stool and turned to the barkeep.

"Git me some liquor quick ... that guy's paying." I said, gesturing nonchalantly to the fallen panhandler with the knife. The barkeep glanced at him briefly before sliding a bottle my way. "I'm gonna ask this one more time ... I'm looking fer a man about this tall (gesturing several inches below my height), brown hair, owns that tan beast tied out front. Who's seen him?"

I looked around the room through narrowed eyes, waiting for a response.

[Edited by Friendly Dragon on 10-13-2000 at 08:38 PM]

 

[CelestialBody]

 

[Countess DeWinter]

Virginia

Laughing, Sam and I left the room and headed up the stairs. Sam was mostly dressed, but I was only wearing my underthings. On the way up the stairs, we were stopped by a rough looking man who seemed to know Sam.

 

[Friendly Dragon]

Sam & Waylon

Waylon

The barkeep told Waylon what he wanted to know: Sam was upstairs with some cheap tramp. He wasn't in the mood to wait 'til Sam was done so he set off to look for him. Not being too high on privicy he barged into the bedrooms one by one, but there was no one about. As he left the final room he noticed the door at the end of the hall, which led to the back stairs...


Sam

As I followed Virginia up the back stairs I admired her curvy figure through the flimsy material of her shift. I reached forward and squeezed her playfully on the ass. She turned her head, giggling, and I laughed back. She had the greatest smile.

When we looked up again, Cole was standing there watching us; so he'd finally showed up.

"Figured I'd find you down here." he snickered. "If yer done with this whore then I got an itch that needs scratching". He leered at Virginia and spat the wad of tobacco onto the stairs.

I felt my blood starting to boil, the feeling surprising me with it's intensity. I didn't like the way he was looking at her, and I knew the way he treated women. My emotions were confusing me, but the one thing that was crystal clear was that I didn't want Cole going anywhere near Virginia.

 

[Countess DeWinter]

Virginia

Sam's partner grabbed my arm and headed for the first empty bedroom. I wasn't frightened, but I steeled myself for the inevitable pain that would come. I knew that look I saw in his eye. I looked back at Sam with a mixture of loss and resignation. But I had a job to do.


OCC: It's up to you whether Cole does anything bad to Virginia I'm excited either way.

 

[Talon]

Cody had become bored with the challenge of taking the hard earned money from the other players...it was just too damned easy. Back in Texas where he hailed from one of them would had accused him of cheatin' by now and provided some excitement. But nah...these men valued their lives more than thier money and just left things be. Cody tipped his hat and nodded to the men at the table...standing up as he gathered his cash up into a pile. Folding the pile of bills once, he shoved the wad into his pocket as he moved for the bar. He sat down on an empty stool and spun around to face the room, leaning back against the bar. Still no women...hmm...damn shame.

 

[CelestialBody]

 

[Friendly Dragon]

OOC: Countess, I've just emailed you with an idea of how we could continue.

 

[Countess DeWinter]

Ditto, Dragon dear

 

[Friendly Dragon]

Sam

I hesitated in surprise as Cole snatched Virginia's arm and started dragging her up the stairs. My first instinct was to stop him, and to protect her, but instead I froze. Virginia turned her face back toward me, and I saw a look of sad acceptance in her eyes. I just stood there as she disappeared around the corner, my mind a turmoil of conflicting emotions.

I knew I cared for Virginia, more than any other woman I'd ever met. I'd only known her a short time, but the moments we'd spent together had unlocked parts of me that I'd forgotten had existed. Feelings that I'd suppressed for so long, since Cole had drawn me into his life of crime.

When I first met him, I was a wide-eyed kid. He was older than me and I looked up to him, wanted to emulate him. He had an aura about him that people feared; no one messed with Waylon Cole. The life he led seemed so exciting to a poor farm boy like me. It was just like the stories in the dime novels I read, and I wanted the same life. He let me tag along, I don't know why, he never said and I never asked. As much as I admired him, I also feared him. He was in charge and I knew it. One mistake and he'd cut me loose, or worse...

As the months rolled by, I saw more and more what a cold heart he had, but by the time I realised how despicable he truly was, I found I'd become too much like him to care.

But I found myself caring now. I sprinted up the stairs and onto the landing. I stopped as I saw Cole again, pushing Virginia into the nearest bedroom. He turned and flashed his cold sneering grin. "You found a hot little bitch here kid. I'm gonna enjoy this one.". He followed Virginia into the room and slammed the door shut.

I wanted to burst in and save her from him, but I couldn't. Try as I might, I couldn't bring myself to stand up to Cole. I realised that I feared him now as much as ever. How would he react if I tried to take her from him? And for that matter, how would Virginia react?

That was her job after all, to entertain men. How did I know she even wanted rescuing from Cole? What if I'd gone in there and found her enjoying it?

That last thought really hurt me, as I tried to block the mental image it conjured. Staring at the door for a few more seconds, I turned and walked away, silently cursing my cowardice.

 

[Friendly Dragon]

Waylon Cole

He slammed the door behind him and turned his attention to the whore. She was a looker, he'd give her that. "Come here girl".

She was slow to respond so he grabbed her roughly by the hair. He kissed her harshly, forcing his tongue into her mouth. He held her wrists so she couldn't struggle and continued the kiss, pressing so hard that his teeth drew blood from her lip.

He pushed her away from him onto the bed, and started to unbuckle his gun belt. He gestured at the shift she was wearing. "Why don'tcha take that off so I can look at ya."

 

[intriguess]

hunkering down in corner, trying to ignore what was going on stairs, i slip just enough money across bar to pay for my drink when a lady enters door. you can tell she's a lady and slumming, there's way she walks the way her hair is done, and at same time their is hunger in her eyes and i wonder what brought such pain to tinge it. then again knowing i wasn't an angel either, and that keeping my nose out of others business was best way to stay out of notice and trouble.

 

[Countess DeWinter]

Virginia

Reality has a tendency to rear its ugly head when you least expect it. Sam's "partner" was more of what kind of customer I was used to dealing with. I had hoped that Sam would intervene, but he didn't. Perhaps I had read too much into what had passed between the two of us.
I entered the room ahead of Sam's friend. Whatever his name was. It didn't matter. I had a job to do.
He grabbed my hair painfully, bringing tears to my eyes. Some days it amazes me that I still have tears. He mashed his lips onto mine, grinding my lips into my teeth, then biting my lip. When I tried to get away, he grabbed my wrists and held them painfully behind my back, then, laughing, spun me toward the bed.
I fell onto the bed and sat there for a moment, trying to rub feeling back into my arms.
"Why don'tcha take that off so I can look at ya," he said, gesturing toward my shift while he took off his gun belt then lowered his pants. I prayed that this would be over quickly.
Like many a customer before him, he pressed me down to the bed and forced his way painfully into my dry opening. I gritted my teeth against the pain and twisted my head away from his searching lips. They settled on my breasts instead, biting so hard into my nipple I was afraid he drew blood.

He was grunting with his release when the door to the room slammed open...

 

[CelestialBody]

 

[Friendly Dragon]

Sam

I walked away and started down the stairs that led back to the bar, but stopped, the image of Cole and Virginia together still burned into my mind. I slumped down so I was sitting on the top step, my face in my hands. The same thought tormented me: I had feelings for her that I couldn't deny, and she'd seemed so happy during the time we'd spent together. But what if it was an act, one she put on for every man who paid for her time? What if I was just another customer to her, and all she cared about was the money?

But that didn't seem right, after all she'd never pushed me for payment, and her joy had seemed so real, so genuine. And if this was true, how could I live with myself if I left her in Cole's vile clutches.

My mind was a storm of conflicting thoughts, but through the fog I could hear my heart loud and clear, screaming at me to do something. I hadn't listened to my heart in ten years, but thanks to Virginia I could hear it again. For the first time in a long time, I heeded it's words.

Jumping quickly to my feet, I sprinted back down the corridor. Steeling myself, I kicked the bedroom door, sending it flying open. I saw Cole hunched over Virginia, his pants pulled down. I saw tears in Virginia's eyes as she looked up at me, but also hope. Cole looked around quickly in surprise.

"Get off her Cole." I said, my voice weak and uneven, as my fear of him came flooding back.

"Git in line kid," he smirked. "You've had yer fun an' now it's my turn." He turned back towards Virginia.

"I said get off her!". My words this time were strong and full of determination, but he paid me no attention. I grabbed him by the shoulder and yanked him off her. As he turned around I swung a left hook as hard as I could, catching him square on the chin and send him sprawling backwards to the floor. I saw his eyes flash towards the gunbelt he'd discarded, but I was quicker and dragged it out of reach with my foot.

He pulled his pants up and rubbed at his jaw, a look of fury on his face.

"What the hell d'ya think yer doin'? If you was anyone else I'da killed ya by now."

"The lady's with me Cole. I don't want you hurting her."

He sneered at Virginia. "This whore? She ain't no lady.", he snickered.

"Just get out of here Cole, I don't want no trouble."

"You already got yerself some trouble kid. You just made the biggest mistake o' yer life."

"We can talk about this later, now just go."

Cole climbed to his feet and stood there for a few seconds, his cold gaze darting back and forth between my eyes and the pistol at my hip as if sizing up his chances. Eventually he turned and spat towards Virginia and then walked out the door, his eyes locked on mine the whole way. As he disappeared from view I heard a thud where he kicked the wall in anger, and then he was gone.

I shut the door and turned back toward Virginia. I took her in my arms and held her close, whispering over and over, "I'm sorry ... I'm sorry ... I'm so sorry."

[Edited by Friendly Dragon on 10-15-2000 at 07:14 AM]

 

[Countess DeWinter]

Virginia

"Get off her Cole."

I had never heard sweeter words. My guard had snapped firmly into place when Sam had turned away and Cole ushered me into the room. It wasn't an insult for him to call me a whore. That's what I was. That's what I am.

I cringed on the bed, clutching the bedding to my naked body. Cole was a big man. I knew from experience he was strong, my shoulders and wrists still smarting from his earlier treatment. But he looked mean. He looked like the kind of man who would fight dirty.

Fear held my breath at bay while the two struggled, but when Cole walked out of the room, a wrenched sob escaped my lips.

Sam came immediately to the bed and wrapped me in his arms, whispering over and over, "I'm sorry ... I'm sorry ... I'm so sorry."

"Why, Sam?" I was so confused. He'd called me a lady - something that's never happened to me. How could he overlook what I was? My questions poured out of me in a rush.
"What's going to happen now? He looks so mean, Sam! I'm afraid for you. What did he mean that this was the biggest mistake of your life? Was that a threat?" Then, in a softer voice, "What did you mean, 'The lady's with me'?"

 

[Friendly Dragon]

Sam

As I came down off the adrenaline high I'd got from standing up to Cole, her last question made me realise what I'd said, and also made me realise how much I meant it. I tried to tell her how I felt, but the words wouldn't come. I turned my head away and tried to change the subject.

"Don't worry about Cole, I'll take care of him. Once he's calmed down I'll talk to him, straighten things out.". I wasn't convinced by my words.

I felt her delicate touch on my cheek, and she turned me back to face her. I looked into her beautiful blue eyes as she whispered questioningly, "Sam..."

I struggled to put my feelings into words, "I'm not much good with pretty words Virginia, but I ... care for you ... a lot. When I'm with you it's like nothing else in the world matters. You make me feel like a different person, a good person.".

The words I wanted to say most of all fought with me to remain unsaid, but finally I won the battle.

"I ... I ... I think I love you Virginia."

 

[Countess DeWinter]

Virginia

"I ... I ... I think I love you Virginia."

A riot of emotions played out in my mind in the seconds those words were uttered. With a strangled cry, I tore myself out of Sam's arms and ran to the window on the other side of the room. I watched the people bustle about on the street below. I saw a few of the women of the town. One, oddly enough, entering the saloon. None of the respectable women would have anything to do with me.

"You don't really mean that." I hoped he couldn't hear the tears in my voice.

"Yes! I do." Sam said with more conviction.

I turned to face him. He looked so sincere. He was giving me those puppy dog eyes that I'm sure no woman has been able to resist. I guess I fell for it because I didn't want to resist. I wanted to love him too.

"So," I said, walking over to where he stood. I pressed my naked breasts against his chest and ran my fingers through his hair. "How are you going to make an honest woman out of me?"

Sam just laughed. He whooped for joy and picked me up, twirling me around before dropping me on the bed. Before he could join me, I saw his eyes shoot to the window and a wary expression enter his green orbs.

"What is it?" I asked, struggling around to see.

"I gotta go," was all Sam said. It took me a few minutes to get dressed so I could follow him, since I had to find that one respectable dress I could wear outside the saloon. I saw the doors to the bank shutting behind Sam as I stepped out into the late afternoon sun. With only a moment's hesitation, I hurried after him.

[Edited by Countess DeWinter on 10-15-2000 at 02:06 PM]

 

[Talon]

He let his gaze come to rest on the woman that approached him...a slight smile playing over his face. He tips his hat "Well howdy mam'...it's about time the real beauty of this town showed itself...may I buy you a drink?"
He was rather forward and didn't try to work his charm...it seemed this woman needed it as bad as he did.

 

[Guest]

Sassy Sally

OOC: yep, I'd say you need more women here! Here goes.

Sassy Sally
(They called her sassy, cause of the mouth on her.)
Very busty, wearing an emerald green bodice, and a full skirt. A little older than some of the younger gals, full hips.

IC: I had been feeling poorly, could have been a result of alcohol poisening, or maybe ate something bad, but was feeling much better. I figured I'd better get to work, if I was gonna make anything tonight.

Coming down the stairs, I see a scruffy looking man, not so happy like, and mean as hell decending before me. Hmmm, hope I don't get tangled up with the likes of him, I think.

Walking up to the bartender I say:

"(Insert name of bartender here), make me a bloody mary, and make it strong, will ya?" and look around the room. Mostly the regular crowd, with the exception of what looked like a young boy at the end of the bar, a well dressed gambler chatting with....could that be, what was Elizabeth doing in here.....I never thought she'd be caught dead in here....but there she was, bigger than life.....

The only other interesting character was well dressed, but obviously just came off the road. He had enough dirt on him to make a mud pie.

Taking my bloody mary, I decided to find out what such a young man was doing in this place. He looked so out of place.

"Why howdy, young man." I address the youngster. "What the hell are you doing in a place like this?" I ask. I never was for skirtin' the issue. Hell, I was damn blunt. Taking another gulp of my drink, I awaited his reply.

 

[Friendly Dragon]

Sam

Confessing my feelings to Virginia was like a weight off my chest, and finding out that she truly felt the same way lifted my heart so much I almost felt I could fly. But a chance glimpse of the street through the bedroom window quickly brought me back down to earth. I caught sight of Cole just as he disappeared through the doors of the town bank. What was he doing? Knowing him and the foul mood he was in, I feared the worst.

I looked around: his gunbelt was still on the floor so he didn't have his pistol or knife. But he usually carried a rifle on his horse, and that was probably tied out front. I had to do something, fast.

"What is it?", Virginia asked.

There was no time to explain. "I gotta go."

I dashed out of the bedroom and down the stairs to the bar. Ignoring the surprised looks of the patrons I rushed out onto the street. My fears were confirmed: his black horse was tethered there and the rifle sheath was empty. I had no time to think, and hurried across to the bank. I ran inside and stopped in my tracks when I saw the bank teller across the room, stuffing money into several bags. He had a look of panic on his face and I saw him glance behind me. Too late I realised my mistake, as I felt the cold steel of a rifle barrel pressed between my shoulder blades.

"Didn't I teach you nuthin' boy?", came the all too familiar cold voice from behind. "That cheap whore's turned you soft."

The rifle was pushed harder in to my back, and I took the hint and stepped forward. I raised my hands above my head and slowly turned around.

Cole stepped forward from the corner of the room, his familiar sneer evident as he pointed the rifle at my heart.

"Everything I done fer you, an' you stab me in the back."

"I'm sorry Cole, but I love her. I couldn't let you hurt her."

Cole spat on the floor in disgust. "She's a two dollar slut, an' that's all she'll ever be. You was almost like family to me, boy, but you let her twist you around her finger an' she turned you against me."

"She's not like that Cole..."

"They're all like that, every damn one o' them. Only good fer one thing, an' yours weren't even no good fer that." he snickered.

My blood boiled at his words, and my left hand flexed unconsciously as I judged the odds of fast drawing against his ready rifle. It was suicide and I knew it.

Cole saw my hand twitch and he knew what I was thinking. "You gonna draw on me boy? You think you can get that hogleg out before I drill ya? Nah, you won't do it, 'cos yer yellow. You always has been."

He was trying to goad me into drawing, but I didn't bite. I just had to hope he didn't shoot me long enough for an opening to appear. I didn't hold out much hope.

"Listen Cole," I said, "it doesn't have to be like this. You can just leave."

"It's too late fer that boy. You put yer hands on me, an' don't no one put they're hands on me. Yer gonna have'ta pay fer that."

His finger tightened on the trigger: so this was it; this was the end. In that split second my thoughts turned to Virginia, and to what might have been. I tensed myself for the inevitable.

But suddenly the doors swung open and there she was. Cole turned toward her, and I saw my opportunity, but I couldn't risk using my gun because Virginia was too close. Without thinking I lunged forward and grabbed for the rifle with both hands, trying to wrench it from his grasp. He was stronger than me but I'd caught him by surprise. The rifle came loose but his finger was caught in the trigger guard, and there was a thunderous roar as the weapon went off.

My senses exploded as the bullet hit me in the left shoulder and span me around. I still gripped the rifle in my other hand, and the motion sent it flying to the polished floor, where it skidded to the far corner. I fell hard, clutching my shoulder. My whole body felt on fire from the pain, and my whole left arm was dead.

Cole grabbed Virginia, and her scream cut through my pain. She struggled with him with all that she had, but he was too strong. I blocked out the agony coursing through my body as best I could, and fumbled for my pistol with my right hand. The pain and using my off-hand made the process agonisingly slow, and by the time I'd drawn the weapon, Cole had overpowered Virginia and held her in front on him, his arm around her throat. Even worse, as I slowly climbed to my feet and raised the pistol, he reached down into his boot and drew another knife. He held it against her throat and I cursed myself; I should have known he'd carry a back up. He pressed the blade into her throat...

 

[Countess DeWinter]

Virginia

Ignoring the pointed stares of the townspeople (I usually stayed off the streets during the day, didn't want to offend anybody), I rushed into the bank.

For a split second, time stood still, then everything went crazy. With a laugh, Cole grabbed me around my throat and levered me in front of him as Sam wrenched the rifle away from him. The roar of the rifle's discharge in the small bank was deafening. My heart stopped when I saw Sam go down, a bright red flower erupting over his left shoulder. I screamed and lunged for him, but Cole leaned down and brought a knife to my throat.

Tears coursed down my cheeks as I watched Sam struggle to his feet, holding his pistol on Cole - and me. I could see the struggle in his eyes. The slightest error in aiming and I would be dead - either from his bullet or Cole's knife. I reached out to him, then stopped short when I felt the blade of Cole's knife bite into my neck. I felt a little trickle of wetness and saw the alarm in Sam's eyes. I could barely see Sam through the tears in my eyes.

"You ain't gonna try nuthin' while I got yer girlie, now are ya?" The sneer in Cole's voice was cold. The banker finished stuffing the bag with money and, at a jerk of Cole's head, brought it forward. "Why'nt ya take that, darlin', and we'll be headin' out."

I took the money with a shaking hand and, with his knife still at my throat and Cole practically dragging me, backed out the door of the bank, my eyes pleading with Sam not to do anything that would get him hurt any worse...

[Edited by Countess DeWinter on 10-15-2000 at 06:40 PM]