ROCK CREEK ADVENTUROUS TALES
PART 2

GHOSTS FROM THE PAST

by Debra © 2001

CHAPTER TWO

He impels his horse to gallop just a little bit faster. He peers out over the flat plains ahead of him and the gang of men behind him. He needs to put as much distance between them and the territory they just came from. They had left in a hurry with a few good memories, but too many bad memories were starting to bind the noose around their necks just a little to tight for his comfort. The brilliance from the moonlight shines enough warm light for him to catch anybody riding toward them with determination to capture the gang. He had ordered his men to stay quiet on this trip. If a posse were to follow them, he would need to be able to hear the sound of stampeding horses galloping behind them.

After two days of riding, he realizes that if a posse had started to pursue them, they had long ago given up. Yet he is still being cautious. Being cautious is what has kept him and his brother alive for the past few years. He wouldn't jeopardize their lives at this stage of the game. He loves the game too much to ever want to give it up. There are times when Jesse senses that his older brother is ready to call their life of crime quits, but whenever his brother starts feeling that way, Jesse is always able to persuade Frank that they wouldn't be suited for an honest way of life.

Frank often dwells on their life of crime. But, when Frank is honest with himself, he knows deep down in his soul that he or Jesse could never do an honest man's work. The James Gang just isn't suited for the exhausting arduousness of an everyday job. Besides, there isn't a lawman within a few hundred miles that would ever allow the James Gang to live a normal life.

Jesse and the gang reach a hill that overlooks a large ranch. Jesse and Frank dismount from their horses, and walk slowly to the edge of the hill before it descends onto the other side to the ranch.

"You sure he got your letter?" Frank asked his brother with a hint of worry in his voice.

"I'm sure," Jesse answered bluntly.

The two men watch over the quietness of the ranch down below them. There are a few strong horses grazing in the corrals. Jesse has his eyes envisioning a plan to take the animals without endangering any of his gang. There stock of horses are becoming worn out from the vigorous effort the horses had to endure to get the gang out of danger in the last town they were visiting. The horses would have to wait for now. He has the safety of his gang to take care of first.

The two brothers continue to wait patiently while the horses behind them give out repeated impatient stomps.

"He'll get here before dawn, won't he?" Frank asked nervously.

"Frank it isn't even ten yet. Try to relax," Jesse spoke harshly to his brother.

"You know we shouldn't stay in one town for too long. We killed an innocent bank teller and possibly the marshal during our last bank robbery. You know the town's gonna send out a posse sooner or later," Frank spoke stuttering through each word with every muscle in his face tense due to stress.

"Frank why do you think I chose Rock Creek? Remember, I have family here."

"They were family Jesse. That don't mean they will still consider you a member of their tight little clan. They have to know what kind of life you've been leading since you left here six years ago."

"Shut-up Frank. I need for you to stop whining so I can come up with a plan. A full proof plan that will surely have Marshal Teaspoon Hunter welcoming me back after six long years."

"You best start thinking fast, cause I don't think he's meeting with us."

"Frank you should try calming down those jittery nerves of yours," Simon Davenport spoke quietly as he takes his last step up the hill he had just climbed to reach the James Gang who are standing at the top.

Simon reaches his hand out to shake Jesse's hand. The two men continue to stand facing each other, while Frank stands off to the side of them.

"I don't want to sound pessimistic Jesse, but staying here could put the gang in serious danger," Simon spoke.

"We need a place to hideout for awhile. Our last bank robbery didn't go as well as I had planned," Jesse spoke calmly.

"You got the money, didn't you?" Simon asked cautiously not wanting to create an argument with Jesse right above the Anderson Ranch.

"We got the money Simon. That isn't the problem. A bank teller decided he wanted to be a hero. He went for a gun he had stashed under his window. We had no choice but to kill him. The gunshots woke up the marshal, and on our way out of town, Frank here decided to shoot at him. Problem is Frank's aim is just too good."

"Did you kill the marshal?" Simon asked turning his attention to Frank.

"I don't think so. I got him in the shoulder."

That's enough talk. We need a place to stay Simon until things cool down some," Jesse spoke getting a bit impatient himself.

"Jesse there's no way you can stay here. The ranch is too crowded with workers, not too mention the family that owns the damn place," Simon bellowed out quietly.

Jesse gets quiet for a moment. He lets his mind work out their problem at hand. He walks slightly away from Simon and Frank. Once again his eyes glance down at the strong stock of horses in the corral. He'll have to depend on Teaspoon being soft in his old age. Teaspoon and Rachel always did have a soft spot in their hearts where he was concerned. He's hoping it is still there. He turns and walks back to Frank and Simon.

"You got a plan?" Frank asked.

"We can hide out in the mountains for a few days until I can persuade Teaspoon Hunter to cover for us."

"He's the marshal in Rock Creek Jesse. Are you sure he'll hide you out knowing you and your gang are wanted?" Simon asked not quite sure that Jesse's plan is plausible. After all, he is a member of the James Gang. He knows if Jesse and Frank are ever captured, that both men would spill their guts about him.

"Teaspoon once cared about me as much as he would care about his own son. All I have to do is convince Teaspoon that I want to turn my life around. Be a law-abiding citizen. If I can succeed in getting Teaspoon to trust me again, then I'm sure he will do whatever he can to keep me safe until the law forgets that Jesse and Frank James ever existed."

"I hope you're right. I have to get back down to the ranch. I don't want to keep my lovely fiancée waiting too long. She's a very suspicious woman. I don't want to ruin what her father has offered me once a wed the little tramp!" Simon proclaimed with a sour tone in his voice.

"Perhaps that should be our way out of this life of crime. We'll marry you off to Anderson's daughter, and then we kill the old man. You will inherit the ranch, and we all have a place to work out an honest living for a change," Frank spoke seriously.

"You sound like you're turning a bit soft Frank in your old age. Except for the part about killing Oliver Anderson, that is rather morbid," Simon spoke wondering what is up with Frank James.

"Enough talk. You need to get back down to the ranch, and we need to find someplace to camp for the night," Jesse spoke commandingly.

"Where will I find you?" Simon asked.

"I'll find you," Jesse spoke to the point.

Jesse and Frank walk back to their horses and mount up. They ride out with the rest of the gang following. Simon waits until the gang is out of his sight. He turns and walks briskly down the hill. He doesn't want to be missed. Oliver Anderson is an intelligent man. He wouldn't want to have to start lying about his whereabouts. Up to this point whenever he rode with the James Gang, he always made up an excuse that he had business out of town that needed his attention. Oliver Anderson had never once questioned him about his business affairs away from the ranch. He didn't want Oliver to suspect anything about his secret life with him being so close to marrying the man's daughter and obtaining the Anderson fortune.

Once he establishes himself on flat ground again, he briskly walks across the front of the ranch to get to the house before he is spotted.

"Where have you been Simon, on foot no less?" Oliver asked as he is approaching Simon while coming from the barn.

Simon stops dead in his tracks. He tries to hide the guilt that he knows must be pasted on his face. He clears his throat and proceeds to turn around to face his future father-in-law. "I thought I heard a noise up over the hill. I went to check it out."

"What kind of noise? I've been out in the barn and I didn't hear any noise animal or human," Oliver spoke demandingly. He walks over to Simon and stands in front of him. "What kind of man would leave his fiancée because he thought he heard a noise?"

"The kind of man that wants no harm to come to his fiancée," Simon spoke confidently. Confident that he has once again fooled Oliver Anderson into believing he is an upstanding citizen, and the man who loves his daughter completely.

"You found nothing worth investigating further on the hill?"

"Everything seems fine," Simon answered.

"Well then, I suggest you attend to your bride-to-be. I know my daughter. She enjoys being fussed over and spoiled."

"Yes, I'm certainly finding that out." But only from her father. He thought to himself as he walks away from Oliver and heads toward the house and his unpleasing fiancée. As he walks into the house, he notices how majestic the inside of the Anderson home is. The front room just inside the door resembles a parlor. There are two sofas and a number of chairs in the room. The room is painted in a rich tone of fawn. The furniture is a velvet fabric in shades of mahogany and chestnut. In the midst of the parlor an elaborate staircase leads to the second floor. To his left is a magnificent living room. In this room is where most of the family discussions are held. To his knowledge most of these so-called discussions end in family arguments with some rather heated language attached to them. Behind the living room is Oliver Anderson's study. When the arguments get to be too much for the elderly man he simply excuses himself and retires to the peace and quiet of his study. Usually he goes over the ledgers that tell him that he is a filthy rich man. But, soon those riches will be Simon's to control. To his right is the dining area and a splendid kitchen is beyond the dining area.

He ascends the staircase two stairs at a time. He doesn't want to keep Charlene waiting. Of course, she doesn't even realize that he plans on visiting her bedroom tonight. He feels he has been a gentleman far too long. Tonight he plans on claiming what will soon be his to claim every night. Even though he isn't truly in love with the whore, he plans on getting from her what every man in Rock Creek has been getting from her. She can deny the accusations all she wants. He knows that both Charlene and her seductress sister Hannah are ladies of the night in Rock Creek.

He knocks on her bedroom door.

"Who is it?" Charlene asked. She is lying on her bed with a nightgown that would best be left for her wedding night.

"Simon. We need to talk."

Charlene immediately tries to cover herself with the sheer robe that is over the lacey nightgown. The sleepwear definitely leaves nothing for the imagination to wonder about. "It is late. I'm very tired."

He opens the door and walks in. "Too bad my precious bride-to-be." He starts to walk towards her bed where she had been reading another one of those foolish romance novels. He holds the book up so he can read the title. He shakes his head disapproving of her reading material. "You wouldn't have to read such trash if you would allow yourself to engage in those activities with your future husband."

Charlene slams the novel to the floor. "I don't want to engage in any kind of activity with you!" She quickly gets up from the bed. She doesn't want herself in a vulnerable position when he reaches her.

Simon makes his way to stand a few feet directly in front of her. He reaches to touch the soft locks that are hanging loose and draped about her shoulders and chest. She quickly slaps his hand away. He is sure his face must be a brilliant shade of red because he can feel the heat of the embarrassment she has left him with. Just the knowledge that Simon knows she doesn't want him fuels the fire that has been burning below his belt.

"I will have you!"

"You'll have to rape me. Which is against the law the last I heard."

Simon slowly walks closer to the woman who would much rather kill him then make love to him. "It isn't rape when it's with your wife."

"I am not your wife yet Simon. If I have it my way, I will die before I become your wife."

"That can easily be arranged my beloved," Simon spoke his mind mesmerized at the thought of what he is about to do. He'll have what is rightfully his tonight. The old man won't even fault him. He encouraged Simon to spend some intimate time with his future bride, and intimate time is exactly how he wants to spend time with her tonight.

He lunges for her, but Charlene ends up being just a little too quick for his over zealous clutches. Simon lands on the bed face down. Charlene tries to escape, but he latches onto her robe tearing the fabric, while pulling her violently down onto the bed beside him!

She starts to scream, but he manages to stifle it by cupping his hand over her mouth. He tosses his leg over her body to keep her on the bed. With his free hand he takes advantage of her position and begins to taunt her by roaming his hand all over her body as he wishes. She groans as if in pain not pleasure! She starts to squirm feverishly under his grasp! He knows he will win this battle. He is too strong for her no matter how much she loathes the thought of him taking her with force!

Simon takes his hand away from her mouth only to trap her screams with his lips pressed against hers. He tries to invade her mouth, but she keeps her lips tightly pursed together. Simon may get what he wants, but he'll have to work extremely hard to get it!

He gives up on the idea that she will kiss him passionately back! He reapplies his other hand to cover her mouth again. If she won't allow him access to her mouth then he'll simply place torturous kisses all over the rest of her body! That should really cause the poisonous venom in his cold bride-to-be to heat up!

He leaves a trail of kisses down her neck and across her shoulders. Her attempts to get free of him become determining. The little tramp is getting difficult to hold down. He quickly realizes that he needs to get her undressed if he is to have his way with her. He looks back up at her face to reposition his body when she suddenly bites down on the hand covering her mouth. He lets out a horrifying yelp. Before he can take any action against Charlene, she spits her venom in his face!

When his hands go up to protect his face from any further assault from her, Charlene struggles free from his grasp.

It doesn't take Simon long to realize that Charlene is headed for the door and a way out of the misery he is putting her through. He gets up from the floor and tries to think about what he can do to sustain her from abandoning her bedroom. He leaps up and twists a large mass of her golden hair in his hands. The pressure jolts Charlene backwards, and right into the arms of the man she dislikes more than death!

She feels his arms wrapping tightly around her waist and chest. She finds that the more she struggles to free her body from his grasp, the tighter his hold on her becomes. Simon pulls Charlene closer to his passion flamed body. She lets out a hoarse scream that he stifles once again by placing his unbitten hand over her mouth. He jerks her head back in one swift motion and his free hand comes around the front of her neck. Simon embraces her neck so she is immovable. She begins to feel her life being squeezed from her. She can't seem to catch her breath. She is sure her face shows the fear that he is causing her to feel. How else is she to feel when he is choking the life right out of her and thoroughly enjoying the moment?

"If you ever spit on me again your rich life won't be worth living. I'll make a mess of that pretty little face of yours. Such a mess that no man will want you!" Simon seethed at her behind clinched teeth.

He turns her around to face him. She leans her body backwards to avoid his lips from brushing against hers. Simon won't be denied. He places his hand behind her neck and roughly pulls her face forward to meet his intimidating kiss!

Charlene struggles violently to free her body from his embrace and his disgusting kiss. The feel of his slimy kiss makes her stomach intensely nauseated. She only wishes she had the ability to retch while his lips are all over hers. That would certainly make Simon Davenport think twice about ever kissing her again. He suddenly finishes the kiss, and when he pulls his face away from Charlene's, she doesn't hold her strength back and she furiously slaps his face with all the force she can muster behind her petite frame.

The slap isn't strong enough for her to escape his grasp on her. "You just don't learn do you? You are to be my wife. I want to see what I'm going to be laying with for the next thirty years or better!" He reaches out and grabs at her before she can even think about escaping. He encircles his arm around her waist and tosses her roughly onto her bed.

Charlene closes her eyes against the pain that she is certain Simon will inflict upon her. She is weakening from the strength of this man that she feels such animosity for. But instead of pain, she feels the weight of his body suddenly on top of her! Her eyes open wide with terror when she hears the ripping of her silk nightdress.

She can't let this happen! She can't let Simon Davenport take her whenever he so desires. She musters up the strength within her mind and heart to beat this man. She slaps at him uncontrollably. She doesn't care where her slaps land. She just hopes her slaps connect and stun him to eventually he release her.

Simon tries to take control of her arms that are flinging out at him in every direction. He is totally caught off guard when her knee connects with his groin! Simon rolls his body off her grasping at his groin in an attempt to control the pain she has succeeded in giving him. His face feels like it must be fifty shades of red as hot as it feels at this moment.

Charlene watches his reaction for a brief instant. He could recover at any second, but she can't seem to get her trembling body to move up from the bed. When she sees his bulging enraged eyes watching her every movement, she gathers her body up from the bed and runs for her bedroom door.

Simon recovers quickly from the sudden painful lesson she had just taught him. He races to the door where she thinks she will be rid of him for the rest of her life! But, before Charlene can open the door, Simon is pulling her locks of hair back towards him again! Only this time he isn't as understanding about her constant attempts at escaping from his charming ways of seducing her. He laughs a loud laugh that she can only comprehend as craziness!

"You want to go through that door. Is that what you wish to do?" Simon spoke in a maddening tone.

"Yes," Charlene spoke between her sobbing.

Without so much as a warning Simon walks her close to the door and slams her face violently into it! "When I'm through with you no man will ever want you again. You'll have no choice but to welcome me into your bed!"

Charlene cries out gravelly with every bruise her body endures in Simon Davenports clutches.

The Kid & Buck Ranch has a complete stillness over it in the early morning hours after midnight. The moonlight shines brightly on the ranch, sheltering everyone into a peaceful sleep.

The four horses that were left to gaze in the corrals are prancing back and forth in a restless manner. Three men appear in the corral with the horses. They are trying to seize the horses in a quiet, orderly fashion, but the horses have other ideas. The men finally manage to capture and attach a harness and reins to each horse. The four animals are becoming more difficult for the strange men to handle. The animal's instinct tells them that these men are not their owners. The horses prance wildly about the three men hoping to gain control of the situation. Unfortunately for the horses, the three men were warned not to leave The Kid & Buck Ranch without a few good horses.

The uneasy noise coming from the corrals wakes Buck up from a sound sleep. He hasn't been sleeping very well the past few nights, and of all nights he chooses tonight to sleep soundly. He gets out of bed dressed only in his long john bottoms and stumbles in the darkness of his bedroom to a window that overlooks the barn. He can't really see what is going on with the horses, but he can hear the fretful sighs coming from the animals.

Kid is out of his bed that he shares with Louise in a hurry. His clumsiness at getting out from under the sheet causes Louise to wake up from her dreamlike sleep. He rushes back to her side of the bed and places a gentle kiss on her forehead.

"Where are you going?" Louise stumbled through her words half asleep.

"Something is upsetting the horses."

"Oh please don't let it be another storm," Louise spoke barely above a whisper.

"It sounds like a storm, but not the kind that comes with rain," Kid spoke quietly as he slips on a pair of pants. He turns to look back at his wife to tell her he'll be right back. He grins at her. She has fallen back to sleep.

As Buck is leaving his bedroom, he meets up with Jimmy just outside his bedroom door. "You heard them too?"

"Yeah. What do you think the problem is?" Jimmy asked.

"I'm not sure. Lets get outside and check on them."

Buck and Jimmy walk down the stairs of Buck's home with only a lantern in Buck's hand to guide them.

Kid is heading toward the corrals with a rifle in his hand. As he gets closer he sees the three men on horses guiding four of their horses out of the corrals. He aims the rifle and fires a shot, but misses his target completely. His missed shot only causes the horse thieves to gallop out of his shooting range with four of their horses.

Buck and Jimmy come running up to Kid's side with guns drawn. The two men are only in their long john bottoms. The three race toward the corrals. Jimmy raises his gun to fire at the men who are now some distance away from the ranch. He fires one shot before Kid latches onto his gun and aims it down at the ground.

"What did you do that for?" Jimmy spoke angrily to Kid.

"I don't want you harming any of our horses."

"I'm not that bad of a shot Kid," Jimmy proclaimed loudly.

"Can we not argue about this," Buck pleaded softly.

"Lets go after them," Jimmy commanded.

Kid looks Jimmy up and down. "You're not dressed properly."

Jimmy looks at the small amount of clothing he's wearing. "I can tell you're finding this pretty damn amusing."

Kid and Jimmy start to walk away from Buck. Buck just watches the two men with bewilderment mixed with joy.

"Well Jimmy picture yourself riding into Rock Creek with three horse thieves in their saddles with their hands tied behind their backs, and you clad only in your long johns."

"Yeah so."

"The deputy might arrest you for exposing yourself."

"I ain't exposing myself. I have some clothes on."

Buck stands back and smiles at Kid and Jimmy. Perhaps the tension between the two men will ease up a bit after tonight. Well at least for tonight they gave Buck something to laugh about.

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