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warnersister · 16 days

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Chapter 9 - Please, not another 5 years

The Highwayman Series | Chapter 8 | Chapter 10

BANG

The fire has shot and you whimpered, grasping at Rooster’s shirt as you struggled to gather your breath. Slowly, you unpeeled yourself from his neck and turned. Cain was lying dead on the ground with a clean bullet wound between his eyes. Bradley finally loosens his grip on you, and you sprint to your father, dropping to your knees besides him “hey baby, don’ don’ look at me.” He says, embarrassed for his little girl to see him in such a state. You shake your head and your eyes well up with tears, smiling at him “don’t be silly, daddy. ‘m right here” you comfort, stroking the side of his face then looking to Bob. “We’re gonna have to try find the bullet somehow, gonna have to get him to stick it out” you turn and search for the doctor’s wife, one of the many shallow on lookers who just watched on in horror. “He’s alive! Get ‘im! Get the doctor!” you instructed, and she snapped out of her hypnotic trance and ran back inside to collect her sleeping husband.

A few moments later, a pyjama-clad doctor hurries out to the scene before him: ignoring the dead traveller and going straight to the Sheriff “plugged the wound, aint hit nothin’ serious, just need to dig it out ‘nd stitch ‘im up” Bob explained and the doctor raised his brows in surprise “physician back in Sacramento” Bob says quickly. “Grab a big sheet, a..a bed sheet, or somethin’!” the physician demands and penny rushes outside with her finest table cloth “will this do?” she asked and the doctor nodded “perfect. Go steady with ‘im now, don’t know where that damned bullet is” he said, as the men managed to slide the sheriff’s limp figure onto the cloth and heave him off the ground and into his practise, lying him on the table as all hands busied themselves trying to both help and comfort their beloved town’s protector. “m’kay daddy, just let ‘em do their thing” you tell him, kissing his forehead “I love y’, sweetheart” he smiles and you shake your head “I love ya too, daddy. But don’t say that, don’t say nothin’. You're gonna be damn fine. I know you love my momma but you aint leaving me yet, not like this” you tell him “you're just like her, have her eyes” he says dreamily. “he’s goin’ into shock” Bob says “nothin’ y’can give ‘im?” you ask and the doctor shakes his head “no, ma’am. Nothin’ strong enough within a week’s travels. Bob searched into one of his deep pockets, pulling out a rattling jar of pills. “two o’ these should do the trick” he says and the other two eye him wearily, but with little option, they pop two into the man’s mouth “swallow ‘em” you tell him and he does so “there, tha’ comfier?” you ask and your father nods.

“M’sorry miss, but could ya wait outside? Gonna have to do things to your daddy you don’ wanna see.” He says and you sigh but understand, nodding “thank you, Doctor Bates” you say “he’ll be alright, darlin girl. Go on now” he says with a small smile for additional reassurance, but it sure as hell didn’t make you feel any less queasy. You step outside, and jake is stood at the other side of the door, face white and covered in blood. “tell me tha’s his blood” he smirks “sure as hell aint mine, pretty girl” he says and you run into his arms, relieved, allowing him to embrace you as your body goes limp against his. “c’mon, lemme clean y’up” you tell him, slowly making your way into the saloon and over to the sinks kept in the bathrooms, wetting a rag to drag across his face. “your daddy alright?” he asks and you exhale shakily “he says so, but he looks ready to see my momma again” you say and he strokes the hand tending to his face with his calloused thumb that produced a shockingly caring touch. “he’ll be alright, baby” he comforts and you offer a small smile.

“I love you” he says and you smile genuinely, tears welled harshly in your eyes as you wrap your hands around his neck, face now clean “oh, I love you too, Jake” you tell him and he wraps both arms around your waist and pulls you in to a tight hug, not letting go as long as you’d let him hold you. You pull back and allow him to wipe the tears from beneath your eyes “there’s my pretty girl” he says and you laugh “scared, don’t know about pretty” “y’ll always be pretty t’me, darlin” he admits, kissing you gently before reaching into his breast pocket and thumbing the object inside.

“god this aint how I wanted t’do this” he sighs “but I love ya, so damned much ‘nd I think it might kill me if I don’t do it now” he says, descending from your touch onto one knee “but please, don’t make me go another five years without ya, honey. I need ya. We can settle down, twelve kids, get married, build a home, cattle ranch ‘nd all” he lists as you smile down at him “but please, d’me the honour of bein’ my wife, will y’ marry me?” he asks and you throw yourself into him “’s tha’ a yes?” he chuckles and you nod vigorously into his neck “of course it’s a yes, jakey” you whisper, allowing him to slip the small band onto your finger. “god my daddy’s gon kill ya” you say, jokingly “don’t worry baby, he already promised.”

Chapter 8 | Chapter 10

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