“He was going to make me leave,” I try to explain. “He was going to take me with him.”
“That’s not going to happen,” Aiden reassures me, his hand moving slowly down my arm until it’s over mine on the gun. He nods, still holding my gaze, and at his silent direction, I finally let the weapon fall, releasing into his grip. “It’s all right,” he says again as I do. “No one is going to take you.”
“No one is going to make you do anything, little bird,” Cypress agrees. He’s still standing over David, his next words for him. “That clear to you? I understand head injuries can make you confused. Which is how I presume you thought it prudent to come here.”
“Fuck you,” the man says, spitting at Cypress’s feet. “That little bitch—” Cypress lifts his boot and presses the heel down on the man’s leg, making atsk tsksound as the other man screams. I don’t even realize I’ve shut my eyes until Aiden tucks me behind him, my arms wrapping around his middle as one of his hands comes to rest over mine and the other keeps hold of my gun.
“I’ve already warned you once that there is a lady present,” I hear Cypress say. “Now, why are you here?”
“You fuckin’ knowwhy. I want the money.”
“All things considered, you didn’t lose a large amount yesterday. One could argue that you’ve lost more now. You’ll be incredibly fortunate if you manage to keep that leg.”
I think I hear the man whimper, and I peek out from behind Aiden to see the way he’s still clutching his leg. His skin growing pale and waxy.
“Not just me you’ve robbed though, is it?” the man asks, laughing bitterly. “You think I’ll be the only one who comes?There’s others who will be looking.”
“And I can assure you they will find a similar reception,” Cypress tells him, bending so that his face is inches from David’s. “Beginning to think you’re going to lose more than your leg.”
“You’re a fucking devil,” David shouts at him before looking to me and Aiden. “All three of you will burn for what you’ve done. Mark me. You’ll find your way to the noose.” His eyes lock with mine, his grip tightening on his leg. “And you’ll find your way to far worse, you littlewhor—”
I shut my eyes again before the resoundingbangreaches my ears, along with the accompanying thump of a body slumping over into the dirt.
“Dammit, Cy,” Aiden mutters, and it takes me a second to realize he’d also had his gun—mygun—raised to fire.
Cypress turns toward us and shrugs. “I did tell him about his language.”
“And Itoldyou—”
“Hand slipped,” Cypress says, cracking his rifle open and reloading from his belt. “Besides, we can’t let the scales tiptoofar in your direction. Surprised he found us… Honestly, I didn’t think he would have it in him.”
Aiden shakes his head. “Must not have hit him as hard as I thought.”
“Or he was simply more motivated than we thought.” Cypress snaps the rifle closed again with one smooth jerk of his hand, then looks at me. “Are you all right, Cora?”
I nod, although the way I’m still clinging to Aiden likely isn’t very convincing. I loosen my grip and step forward, surveying the man who now lies dead.
“He snuck up on me,” I say. “All of a sudden he was there and I… He was by the bedrolls and…”
Whore. My mother’s voice, rather than David’s, echoes in myhead, their twin convictions that I am already marked by sin. I look at Aiden and Cypress, and it feels as natural as breathing to want them both, but what if… “Have I done something wrong?”
“No.” Aiden cups my cheek, and he bends down so that we’re at eye level. “You did nothing wrong, Cora. It’s my fault. I should have moved us last night. You did the right thing. You kept yourself safe. You did everything right.” He kisses my forehead softly, and it feels so good that I don’t have the heart to tell him that hadn’t been what I was asking.
“Cy,” he says, straightening back up. “Get us packed and get going. Make sure the tracks are hid. I’ll bury the body and catch up in a while.”
I half expect Cypress to argue, but he doesn’t. For once, he only nods and steps forward, bringing me under his arm as Aiden whistles for Helios.
“Wait,” I say when we’re no more than a few steps away. “Shouldn’t we help him?”
“No,” Cypress replies, gently. “He’ll want to sort through it on his own.” We reach the wagon and he pivots me to face him, looking me over himself to make sure I’m not actually hurt. “You were magnificent, little bird,” he says when his eyes land back on mine. “Truly.”
I smile, wishing I was more convinced. “Thank you.”
He helps me up into the wagon before gathering our last few things, and I try to focus on watching him rather than what Aiden is doing or, much later, why it’s taking him so long to come back.
“Can I ask you something?” I say to Cypress just before dusk, standing at the edge of our relocated camp with my eyes on the path out of the pine tree grove. We’d taken a winding route to get here, changing direction more than once, disguising our efforts through streams and brush until we’d finally landed in this small valley. That had been hours ago though, and when I had grownanxious, Cypress joined me in keeping watch.
“Of course. You can ask me anything.”