“Will it help you talk if I torture your daughters?” Rusty said. He sauntered toward Charlotte and tugged her away from Emily.
“Don’t hurt me,” Charlotte sobbed. “Please, don’t hurt me. I’ve done nothing wrong. I’m innocent.”
Bart and Captain Van Ness stood by impassively, witnessing the whole scene.
“Look at this, old man,” Rusty said, procuring a knife from a sheath on his leather belt. He positioned himself behind Charlotte, fisted her long blond hair, and drew the blade across her neck.
Charlotte sucked in a breath and sobbed as a thin line of blood oozed from the slash.
“Stop hurting my sister!” Emily yelled. “If you want to torture anyone, torture me. But leave Charlotte alone.”
“Oh, I’ll get to you, Miss…Emily? Is that your name?” He grinned at Emily.
“You don’t deserve to call me by my given name,” Emily said, her voice shaking.
I was itching to unleash my fury on Rusty, but what could I do, tied as I was to the wagon? Besides, my legs ached from the long journey, and I didn’t think I’d have the strength to do much damage.
Rusty laughed. “Listen to you. You been taking tough girl lessons from the bitch next to you?” He stroked Charlotte’s cheek with the knuckles of his free hand. “See what I can do to your sister? And this is only the beginning. Men like us have needs, ain’t that right, gentlemen?”
“That’s right, Rusty,” Bart said, his gaze focused on Emily as if he longed to jump her bones.
“And, we also have ways to wield control.” Rusty drew the tip of his knife down Charlotte’s cheek.
Charlotte screamed and jerked her head away from the blade.
Philip turned his head away, staying mute.
“Say something, old man,” Rusty said. “Tell us who put you up to trading arms with the Indians.”
Philip pressed his lips into a thin, white line.
“Well, then…” Rusty moved behind Emily, gathered her hair into a ponytail, and yanked it.
Emily winced but said nothing.
Rusty slashed at the hair, cutting off the end.
Charlotte screamed, but Emily stayed as silent as her father.
“Well, lookee here. I got me a hank of your hair, Miss Emily. I’m going to use it to keep me warm at night.” He shoved the lock of hair down his pants and laughed.
I couldn’t take it any longer. “Good God, Philip, do something! This monster will continue if you don’t tell the soldiers what they need to hear. What kind of father are you, anyway, allowing his daughters to be tortured by these ruthless men? My father would give his life to save me!”
The thought of Papa wrapped itself around my heart and squeezed.
“You’d better listen to her,” Rusty said, pinching Emily’s rump, making her yelp. “Or I’m going to have my way with your daughters.”
Philip barely moved.
“And I’m going to be rough with them both,” Rusty continued. “I’m afraid I won’t be able to help myself with these succulent young things.”
He strode to the front of Emily, cocked his arm, and let loose, landing a blow to her belly.
Emily doubled over, groaning. But then she gathered herself together and stood upright, defying Rusty in her own quiet way.
Her bravery impressed me, but I wanted to destroy each man before me.
Charlotte began to sob.
