Cline, Wyoming 1890

Gwendolyn Marx Cline was tired of bouncing in the stage coach and was more than ready to arrive at their destination. She simply did not know how much longer she could tolerate the way the blonde floozy was making eyes at Ramsey. Not that her husband was responding in any way, she admitted, but Gwendolyn wanted to rip the woman’s hair from her head and kick her big butt from the stage and let her walk the rest of the way in those high heels she was wearing. With as much skin as the flashing blonde was exposing in her low cut red dress, she would be sunburned in no time at all.

Ramsey gave his wife a meaningful look when he heard her exasperated sigh. He was well aware that she was not impressed by their fellow passenger, but he would not permit her to behave without decorum. They had been traveling for several days now, mostly by train, and he knew she was tired and out of sorts, but he still expected her to behave as a lady. “It should not be much longer before we arrive in Cline,” Ramsey said, hoping that the prospect of impending arrival would turn her thoughts away from the overly perfumed blonde woman. Ramsey personally thought the young woman needed a rag full of soap applied to her face to wash off the years. In reality he doubted the girl could be his wife’s age, even though she appeared ten years older. The roots of her hair were a deep, dark brown, and at one time she was a very pretty young woman instead of the caricature sitting across from them on the other seat.

“Oh, it’s at least another two hours, dearie,” the blonde said with a knowing wink. “You meetin’ someone there?” she asked curiously, making another attempt to learn their personal business.

“No,” Ramsey replied quietly as he felt his wife tense.

“My husband is not your ‘dearie’ and I would thank you to stop looking at him as if I am not here!” Gwendolyn’s temper finally exploded.

“Oh my, aren’t you the princess!” the blonde taunted.

“If I am the princess, then you must be the concubine!” Gwendolyn stated, her green eyes flashing fire.

The blonde suddenly produced a knife, holding it in her hand threateningly. “I’m going to carve you!” she hissed, but Ramsey disarmed her before she could move. “Give that back!” she yelled angrily.

“Not until we reach Cline,” he answered calmly.

Gwendolyn opened her mouth to speak but Ramsey cut her off. “Unless you wish to discuss this matter here and now, Mrs. Cline, you will be silent until I tell you otherwise.”

Gwendolyn took one look at the set of her husband’s jaw and she realized that it was in her best interests to remain quiet. It would be the ultimate humiliation if he were to put her over his knee in front of that horrible woman, and if she pushed him right now, he would do precisely that. She should have kept her mouth shut but the woman was really too much to tolerate. Gwendolyn hated the way she was fawning all over Ramsey! She turned her head and looked out the window, determined to ignore the blonde… and Ramsey!

Gwendolyn’s temper had been the bane of her existence for years, and her mother and father despaired of her ever finding a suitor. When Ramsey Cline came to her father and asked for her hand in marriage, her father was quick to accept the offer, but he was careful not to tell Gwendolyn of her impending marriage until the day she was to be wed. Predictably, Gwendolyn did not react well, refusing to marry Ramsey. In fact, she would not sit down and have a discussion with him on the subject because her temper was raging. To her shock, Ramsey sat down, turned her over his knee and spanked her soundly. He then informed her that they would be married. Gwendolyn managed to sneak out of the house and went to hide in the home of an elderly friend, but Ramsey and her father found her, and Ramsey was able to talk her into marrying him. In the short time since their wedding, Gwendolyn had fallen in love with her husband. He treated her with love and cherished her. He also punished her when he felt she was deserving of punishment. Ramsey believed in maintaining decorum, and when she acted in such a way as to embarrass herself… and him… he took umbrage with her and was compelled to show her the error of her ways. Thanks to the blonde, Gwendolyn’s first night on the Cline Ranch would be spoiled with a sound spanking! It simply wasn’t fair, but as usual, Ramsey wasn’t interested in hearing excuses.

Bethie could see the twin spots of anger on the redhead’s face and she felt bad. Most women reacted that way to her, but if they knew what she’d been through growing up they would think it a miracle she escaped, and they would know she was doing the only thing she could in order to survive. She could barely read or write her name and she couldn’t do sums for anything. She didn’t know how to sew, either. Working in a saloon was her only option if she wanted to eat, and with her hair bleached out the way it was, it made it easier to hide from Deke. Tears filled her dark eyes as she thought of the man who bought her from her Pa when she was only thirteen. Pa needed drinking money, and with her gone, he didn’t have nobody but himself to worry over. He accepted Deke’s ill gotten money, in spite of the fact she begged him not to do so. Bethie was terrified of Deke, and five years later, she was still terrified of him. He used her savagely, and he beat her just to hear her scream. He was truly an evil man and she was fortunate not to have scars from all the whippings he gave her with his belt. The only peace she had was when he was off robbing banks or stealing cattle or horses. Even then, he locked her in a small shed and barely left her enough water and food to survive while he was gone. There wasn’t even a window in the shed. She escaped three years ago when a drifter came by and she yelled until he heard her and let her out of the shed. Bethie did not look back; she ran from Deke, and she did not stay in one place longer than three months. She was terrified he would find her.

Bethie was suddenly ashamed of herself for threatening the redhead. She had no call to be doing that; the woman just wanted her to leave her husband alone, and Bethie could understand that. She was just lonely and wanted to pass the time talking. The man had his eyes closed and Bethie decided he was asleep. Gathering her courage, she whispered, “Ma’am…?”

Gwendolyn was surprised when the blonde actually spoke to her. She turned to look at her. “Yes?”

“I’m awful sorry I pulled my knife.” To her shame, tears filled her eyes. “I shouldn’ta done that.”

Gwendolyn nodded. “I shouldn’t have called you a name, either,” she admitted. “I’m sorry for that.”

“It’s no big deal,” Bethie said, then admitted, “I didn’t even know what that meant.” She smiled.

“It wasn’t very nice,” Gwendolyn admitted with a grin.

“I’m not a bad person,” Bethie said in a small voice, and Gwendolyn felt even worse. “I don’t know how to do nothin’ but work in saloons.”

“What about your parents?” Gwendolyn asked. “Wouldn’t they help you?”

Bethie shook her head ‘no’. “My Pa sold me to Deke. It took me two years to get away from him, and I’m still scared he’ll find me.”

“Can’t you go to the law for help?”

Bethie shook her head violently. “They’d never believe that I wasn’t part of Deke’s gang, and they might use me as bait to get him to come and get me from jail. I don’t trust any man who wears a badge.” She looked in horror at Gwendolyn and added, “It makes me sick to my stomach to think of sittin’ in a jail cell waitin’ for Deke to come. He’d kill me, Red,” she tearfully whispered.

“My name is Gwendolyn Cline,” Gwendolyn told her. “And you are?”

“I’m Beth Abbott,” the blonde responded, using her real name for the first time in years. “Don’t go calling me that in front of folks, though. I call myself Goldie when I am working.”

“There has to be some way to get you out of this situation.”

“I’ve been trying to think of one for the last three years now,” Bethie said sadly.

Gwendolyn was ready to say something when the driver gave a yell to the horses and the stage coach lurched forward, the horses suddenly running all out.

“Get down, ladies,” Ramsey took each of them by the arm and pushed them down on the bottom of the coach. “Stay put,” he ordered firmly, drawing a gun that Gwendolyn was not aware he owned! He looked out the small window and could see five masked men following the stage coach, shooting at them. He took aim and wounded one man, who grabbed his stomach and fell off his horse.

Gwendolyn was frightened, terrified that Ramsey would be hit by one of the flying bullets. She could hear the riders gaining on them, even as the coach teetered precariously as the driver dropped the reins and fell from his perch. The horses were running wildly!

Suddenly, Ramsey slumped and fell forward on top of them. Gwendolyn pushed him back on the seat, noting that he’d been shot. There was blood on his face and he was unconscious. She put her handkerchief to the wound, and it was quickly soaked through with blood. She felt like crying, but before she could give vent to her grief, the coach came to a stop.

The door was jerked open, and a masked bandit looked at them with glittering black eyes and said, “Well, look here at what we got! We got us some female company!”

“Pull them passengers out of there!” a sharp voice impatiently called out.

Gwendolyn heard the blonde gasp and then she fainted. She turned to help her, but was grabbed and dragged from the stage coach before she could help the other female. Infuriated, she kicked at the man who was holding her, and had the satisfaction of hearing him grunt in pain as the heel of her shoe caught him on the knee. In the next second she was tossed to the ground.

“Stay there, girl,” she was warned when she started to get up. She looked toward the speaker and his pale gray eyes looked cruel. He was pointing a gun at her. “If you move, I’ll shoot you in the leg. It’ll hurt like hell.”

The blonde was dragged from the coach next, shaking her head ‘no’, and trying to resist. The man slapped her hard and she burst into tears, her hand going to her cheek as she bowed her head. “Is that you, Beth?” the cruel man asked from atop his horse. When the girl didn’t look at him or answer, he shouted, “You answer me, bitch!”

“It’s me, Deke,” she whispered, her face streaked with the stuff she used to enhance her eyes.

“So, I finally found you,” he said in disgust. “You look like a whore. How many men have there been, Beth?” he screamed. “Oh, you’re gonna pay.”

“The guy in there is dead, Deke.”

“Lucky for him,” Deke said. “You belong to him?” he asked the redhead. When Gwendolyn tried to get to Ramsey, Deke shot his gun, and if she hadn’t moved when she did, he would have hit her! “You’ll pay for what your man did to two of my men! You’ll beg to die.”

Gwendolyn looked at him and felt rage overtake her. “You are contemptible scum, and not worth the air you breathe. I am only sorry that Ramsey did not shoot you!”

“Sassy, too. All the more fun to watch you break, not like Beth, here. She can’t stand pain.”

“Let the lady go, Deke. I’ll come with you, but let her go.”

“Bitch, you ain’t got no right to ask nothin’ of me.” He gave her a hate filled look, and before Gwendolyn could guess his intentions, he dismounted and jerked the blonde to her feet by her hair. “You’re gettin’ your first lesson now, bitch!” He grabbed the bodice of her red dress and tore it down the front and clean off her body, leaving her nude to her waist. His hand fumbled at his waist as he undid the buckle on his belt, and then drew it from his belt loops on his pants. “You’re gonna be real sorry you ran away, Bethie! By the time I’m done with you, you’ll be praying for death.” He shoved her toward one of his men and growled, “Tie her to the wheel.”

“Deke, we need to get out of here. You can do what you want when we get back to the hideout.”

“I said tie her up. Do it!” he screamed.

“Noooo! Please don’t listen to him!” Bethie begged. “Please don’t tie me!”

Deke laughed, but his evil laugh changed to a scowl when the other man looked at him and shook his head ‘no’. Deke pulled his gun and fired, and the man fell dead at Beth’s feet. She screamed and tried to run and when Deke took aim at her back, Gwendolyn jumped to her feet and threw herself at him, causing his shot to go wild. Deke cursed her, slapped her face hard, and then shoved her to the ground and then aimed his gun at her. “Go after Bethie, Jim,” he ordered the one remaining member of his gang, and Jim jumped off his horse and gave chase. It didn’t take him long to catch the sobbing woman and drag her back. Once she was lying at Deke’s feet, he turned his attention back to Gwendolyn.

Gwendolyn was positive she was going to die and she did not care. She did not want to live without Ramsey. She would much rather die and be with him than keep on living, especially in the hands of this Deke monster.

“You’re gonna die, bitch!” Deke said, and pulled back the hammer on his pistol. He wanted to see her beg, but Gwendolyn just glared at him, her green eyes unafraid. This made him angry, and he raised the gun and stepped forward to strike her, but before the barrel of the gun landed, another shot rang out and Deke fell dead.

Jim went for his gun but before he could draw, another shot filled the air, and Jim let out a scream before he fell to the ground.

Gwendolyn looked toward the stage and saw Ramsey standing there, swaying groggily. She jumped up and ran to him, supporting him with her body. “Oh, God, they said you were dead!” She started crying and hugged him tightly.

“Are you hurt, sweetheart?” Ramsey asked, holding her at arm’s length to look her over. As long as he lived would never forget the sight of that bastard pointing a gun at his wife and then raising it to strike her! Ramsey’s vision was doubled and he could only pray he would hit him and not Gwendolyn when he fired. “Are you all right?” he asked again when she continued to cry.

“I’m fine now. Thank God you’re alive!” She suddenly pulled herself together. “I need to take care of Beth.” Gwendolyn rushed to her and knelt in front of her, gathering the blode close. “You’re safe now, Beth. It’s all over. Deke is dead and he can never hurt you again.” She held the shuddering woman and did her best to soothe her. “Ramsey, can you get down my bag and take out a camisole and another dress for Beth to put on, please?”

Ramsey nodded, never as proud of his wife as he was in that minute. He had heard the two women whispering in the coach while he was resting his eyes. He was proud of both of them for befriending each other as they had, and he was glad they were both alive. He could see that the blonde’s clothing was ripped and he’d heard enough to know that the leader of the gang who attempted to rob them was the same man she was hiding from. He had no idea of how long he was unconscious, but it had to have been several minutes. As he climbed up on the boot of the coach and reached for his wife’s bag, he thought he saw someone walking toward them. He dropped Gwendolyn’s bag on the ground, and hurried to get down so he could protect them from danger if need be.

“Someone is approaching on foot, sweetheart. Hurry and get some clothing on Beth.”

“Yes, Ramsey,” Gwendolyn replied, and she whispered to Beth to help her. Beth nodded and did as she was told, surprised as could be that Ramsey kept his back to them and his eyes on the approaching man.

“Thank you, Gwendolyn,” she said appreciatively. “You saved my life, and you’ve been so kind to me. I’m not used to that,” she tearfully admitted.

“It is about time you got used to it,” Gwendolyn told her. “We’re friends now,” she said, “and Ramsey and I are going to see to it you have a better life. You’ll see,” she promised, walking over and picking up a gun from the ground beside Jim’s body. She did not know whether or not Ramsey would need her help, but she was going to be ready, just in case. She saw Beth do the same and smiled at her.

“Be careful with that,” Beth warned. “Don’t aim at someone unless you mean to shoot them.”

“Good advice,” Gwendolyn agreed as they walked over to stand with Ramsey. “Can you tell anything about them yet?” she asked of him.

“No. I think you and Beth should stand behind the coach, Gwendolyn,” he said firmly.

“We are staying right here, Ramsey,” Beth said. “That man might not be alone, and he might be trying to get our attention while someone else sneaks up on us.”