Jim’s head spun trying to process everything that had just happened. This woman he thought was in trouble was really waiting to ambush them. She would have stabbed him if David hadn’t arrived and taken that hit for him. David was now lying on the ground with a knife embedded in his upper leg. The muscles in his leg seemed to be spasming wildly causing more blood to gush out around the knife. If that wasn’t bad enough Joe was aiming his gun at the woman and preparing to kill her right in front of his eyes. All this going on while I’m standing here like an idiot, Jim thought. I have to do something.
Jim finally snapped out of his indecision and started moving. He wasn’t sure what he could do for David, but he could still reach the woman and hopefully Joe wouldn’t shoot if he was in the way. Jim lunged at the woman and tackled her to the ground just as Joe pulled the trigger. The gunshot was loud and left Jim’s ears ringing. He had never been this close to a gunshot before and he could have swore he felt the air rush by him before the bullet struck a tree a few yards from him.
The Woman hit the ground hard. She raised her hand to try and cushion the fall, but had been taken by such surprise that she couldn’t stop herself in time. The right side of her face smashed into the path and she let out a grunt of pain. Jim was grabber her arms and pulling them behind her back twisting her shoulders in a way that sent shock waves of pain through them. She raised her head as best she could to the woods. “THEY HAVE ME, GET OUT OF HERE!”
Within seconds of the woman’s scream sounds could be heard in the woods. Bushes rustled and soon the sound of hoofs moving away joined it. The sounds came from three different points in the woods and all seemed to be moving away further in to the woods.
“AMBUSH,” David screamed through clenched teeth. He had finally gotten a hold of the knife handle and ripped it out the back of his leg. Blood gushed from the now open wounds. He reached into his backpack for an extra shirt and started wrapping it tight over the wound. He had been on the sidelines too long. David with great pain pulled himself to his feet, but the moment he put weight on his bad leg it gave way. He found himself once again on the ground. This time he was cursing.
Joe stalked over to Jim and the woman. It was obvious that he was angry, but Jim wasn’t sure if he was angry about being set up for an ambush or about Jim’s own actions to save the woman’s life. She was struggling under his weight trying to get free. Jim would not underestimate her again.
“What the hell was this? Why were you trying to ambush us?” She did not answer Joe’s questions. Instead she continued to struggle and spit at Joe’s feet. “So that’s how it’s going to be huh? Fine, I’m almost glad new blood here saved your life. He guaranteed that you will rot in a cell.” Joe was almost yelling as the anger came out in his voice.
Rick looked nervous. He had rushed to David’s side after the fall and was now helping him to stand again. “Come on man, we need to get you on a horse and get out of here. Oh god you’ve lost so much blood.” David leaned on Rick and they limped towards his horse. “All this bumping is going to make things worse. We have got to hurry.” David just grunted as Rick led him to Jim’s horse. “Jim you take David’s horse. Buttercup will be a smoother ride.” On the walk to the GC David never once took his eyes off the captive woman. Rick helped him onto the horse.
Joe walked over to Rick and the woman. “I’m going to check for more weapons. Hold her tight” Joe reached out for the woman. She struggled against Jim’s grip and finally managed to get a little movement room. She bit down hard on the inside of Joe’s hand between his thumb and index finger. He screamed out in pain and jerked back causing her teeth to rake against the smooth flesh. His hand was bleeding now.
Jim was caught off guard by the scream and loosened his grip slightly. It wasn’t much, but it was just enough. The woman was able to turn herself slightly and struck out with her knee. The blow landed on target between Jim’s legs and pain shot through him. His hands dropped as he crumpled to the ground in a fetal position. Breathing was difficult and his eyes blurred slightly. He couldn’t say or do anything, just ride the pain.
Not wasting a second of the confusion the woman ran for the woods. As she was about to disappear into the brush she reached down for a backpack that was lying on the side of the road. Taking a second too long she glanced back behind her focusing her gaze on Joe and in the process failed to make contact with the bag. He was pulling his gun out again. With only a split second to act she dove into a bush and out of sight. Joe fired in after her and listened for a scream of pain to indicate he had hit something. The sound never came.
“Guys we have to get to Fort 24 now. David has lost a lot of blood.” Rick was climbing into his saddle.
David was slumped over on Buttercup. “Get that bag,” he managed to grunt out and pointed to the bag the woman only seconds ago had failed to grab.
Jim was still struggling to get off the ground so Joe approached the bag first. He picked it up and unzipped the top. “Let me just see what’s in it then we’ll get you some help David.” He glanced into the bag. “It’s food. Canned and jarred food.” He paused. “It all had the Metropolis logo on it too. How did an Ist manage to get this much food from town without being caught?”