To Live or To Die (A Bonanza Short Story)

(Chapter 5) The Insult

All three men step towards me, ropes ready to go in their hands. If my entrance to this shack was an example of how I'm going to be treated, then I'm in for a rough time. Mrs. Lassiter apparently doesn't care if her son and men manhandle a girl half their size.

Putting his boot on my shoulder, Carver shoves me over onto my stomach. I feel one of the other two men loop a rope around my bare ankles, they pull it so tight that it digs in and I silently curse myself for stupidly not wearing shoes. Carver grabs my hands and ties them roughly behind my back; then using his boot again, he lifts my shoulder, pushing me up to a sitting position along the wall. My skirt flips up almost above my knees but it thankfully goes back down as I stretch my legs out in front of me. As he bends down beside me, I see a fire of desire light Carver's eyes while they lazily make their way up and down my figure. His look makes me feel like I've been stripped of all my clothing and a chill of fear settles in me as he leans in loser, his right hand reaching out to caress my cheek.

"I've always been jealous of the way all the pretty gals flocked around Little Joe like crows to corn. And it really made me mad when he started sparkin' you."

"Why would it make you mad?" I ask, not liking the feel of his rough hand on my cheek or how close he is. "You've never liked me."

"That's where you're wrong," his voice almost sounds like a purr, "I like you a lot, I always have."

"If you liked me so much then why'd you bully and taunt me all those years ago?"

"Cause that's how I treat girls I like." I shutter, not wanting to know how he'd treat a girl he loved if that's how he treated one he just liked. Even though it's the last thing I want to do, I hold his gaze as he starts to talk again. "But now that your precious Joe Cartwright ain't here and can't do a thing about it, I can get a taste of what he's been gettin' for the last year or so."

His hand moves down my cheek to my chin, which he grabs in a painful grip, holding my face in place. He leans in and roughly kisses me on the mouth. As he finally lets go after what seems like ages, I look at him as he rocks back on his heels. My breath goes furiously in and out of my lungs with so much force I'm surprised that they aren't bursting.

"How dare you?" It comes out a deep and breathless, angry growl. "Little Joe'll kill you when he finds out about this."

"Oh, will he now?" He laughs. "You know what, I think I just might try to talk Ma outta killin' you so I can have a purty little wife. How'd you like that, Shelia?"

"I think you're disgusting, you're filthier than the dirt on the bottom of my feet!"

Quickly reaching out, he slaps me hard across the face. The sting of it brings tears to my eyes but I don't let them fall. He stands up as he says, "I've heard enough outta you Shelia Johnson, and if I hear you again, you're going to be the first one to swing in that tree out front."

His piece said, he strides the three steps across the room over to Judge Simpson and L.B. Merrick. Squatting down in front of Merrick, he pulls out his gun and cocks it right in his face. Merrick squirms under the taunting but relaxes a bit as Carver snaps the hammer back in place, stands up and walks out of the room. The door shuts and the click of the lock sounds loud as it echoes through the quiet room.

"Why me?" Merrick moans. "Why do I have to die because of a feud that started years before I came to Virginia City?"

"Mr. Merrick, just relax," I wish I could scrub my mouth out with soap but unfortunately that's not possible, "nobody's dead yet."

"No, but I will be if they don't do what that crazy woman asks." Merrick carries on, obviously skittish as all get out. "My wife's gonna have a baby in two months. Is hanging Harry Lassiter worth my child growing up fatherless?"

"You sang a different tune at that trail when you demanded the death penalty for Harry Lassiter." Judge Simpson reminds him. "Are you saying that you think that verdict should be changed now just because your life is in danger?"

"If I had the power to make a deal with Mrs. Lassiter right now, you better believe I'd do it." Judge Simpson gives him a disgusted look so Merrick throws back, "Alright, you stand on principle if you want to, but I'm more interested in keeping alive."

"Mr. Merrick, trust me, we're all in the same boat," I say, already tired of his complaining, "we all want to make it out of this alive. I, for one, want to walk down that aisle like I planned to in two weeks."

"Shelia, did Carver hurt you?" Judge Simpson asks after giving Merrick a final look of disgust.

"No, sir, but thank you for asking." I shift myself to the side, positioning myself in front of that nail that nearly tried to stab me. I lift my tied wrists and begin to saw the rope back and forth across it. The position is awkward and I know my shoulders are going to ache for days after this but it's the only way out of here.