Keeping the black rage away was giving Jake a headache. “Then you’re still a virgin, Annie, unless there is anything else you aren’t telling me.”
“No. That’s all.” She shook under the blanket. “I think I’m gonna be sick again.”
Jake set his cigarette in an ashtray and hurried to her side. He pulled away the blanket and picked her up in his arms to carry her to the bathtub once more, where she threw up. He helped her wash her face, his headache now more of a searing pain from a need to hit someone, shoot someone, scream out his rage. When Annie was through being sick, he kept hold of her and half collapsed to the floor, leaning against the wall and pulling Annie into his arms. He held her tight as she continued sobbing.
“Baby girl, you’ll be all right,” he again assured her.
“He said he loved me! He said he was rich and would marry me and I would live in a beautiful hacienda!”
“I know what he said. And I know your father died and you were all mixed up. You haven’t done one thing wrong, Annie. I want you to believe that, because it’s true.” He stroked her hair. “Do you want to hear a funny story about one of my little granddaughters?”
“Please don’t hurt me.”
Jake sighed. “Am I hurting you now?”
“No.”
“And I won’t. I’m just holding you to help you feel safe.”
She sniffed and wiped her tears with the sleeve of his shirt that she wore. “You can tell me the story.”
Jake told her about the ranch where he lived, and about Sadie Mae and the chickens. He needed to think about happier things or go crazy. “I came out of that damn chicken coop with hen scratches on my face and feathers in my hair. And I told my wife I was never going in there after eggs again.”
Annie actually laughed softly. “That’s really funny. Did you keep Sadie Mae’s secret?”
“I sure did. But she didn’t. She told everybody about how I used a lot of bad words when I was inside that chicken coop.”
Annie smiled. “If we really get out of here, can my mother and I come and see where you live?”
God, she was so innocent. She was reacting like the child she was. “Of course you can. My wife and children and all the grandchildren would love that.”
Annie moved her arms around his neck. “Please don’t be lying. I don’t know who to trust.”
“I have something to prove you can trust me. Let’s go back into the other room. I have a couple of biscuits in my gear. Maybe you’ll feel better if you eat something.”
Annie wiped at tears again, then got up. Jake reached up for her. “I’m getting old, Annie. You have to help me up.”
She smiled and reached out her hands. He grabbed them and grimaced with the pain in his hip as he rose. “It’s hell getting old, Annie.” He put an arm around her and led her back to the bed, then went to his gear and pulled out two biscuits and Evie’s Bible. He brought them to Annie, setting the biscuits on the table beside the bed. “My daughter gave this to me and said to give it to you. She thought it might help you feel better, and show you that you can trust me.” He handed her the Bible.
“She did?” Annie’s beautiful blue eyes widened as she took the Bible and opened it. She sucked in her breath. “She even put my name in it!”
“See? How can I be lying when I already knew who you were when I left Colorado? And if I have a daughter who thinks of things like this, would I be such a bad man?” Jake sat down in the chair again, smiling inwardly at his own words. Little did Annie know just how “bad” he could be.
“I guess not.” She met his gaze. “But you have kind of a mean look on your face.”
Jake rubbed at his eyes. “That’s because right now I very much want to kill Luis and Sidney. I’m very angry at what they did to you, and I intend to make sure they’re dead before I leave here.”
Annie glanced at his guns. “Are you a hired gunfighter?”
Jake smiled sadly. “I guess you could say that. But I’m not doing this for money, Annie. I’m doing it because I can’t stand to see a young girl like you, or even a grown woman, abused.” He glanced at the Bible. “You keep that with you all the way home, and you remember what a good person you are. You must remember that God doesn’t blame you for one thing you’ve been through. Promise me.”
“I promise.”
Jake sighed and rubbed at his eyes again, still having trouble staying calm. “Annie, I have to make this look good. Someone will probably come around later to see if we want food in here. You’ll need to stay under the covers when they do, and don’t let them think for one minute I haven’t…that you aren’t afraid of me. They’ll want to see the terrified look on your face, because men like that find enjoyment in hurting young girls. I’m going to have to be in my underwear, so don’t be afraid when I undress. If they for one minute realize why I’m really here, I’m a dead man, understand? I’ll have to crawl into that bed with you tonight, but I won’t touch you.