Gambler's Ruin Revamped (closed)

[TwistedBaby]

(Closed to Ravenloft)

Cat Freehand was getting tired of getting beaten up black and blue and with broken ribs. This time her husband, Wallace, had broken some ribs and starved her for 3 long days before she finally gave into his demands and agreed to be his arm candy in exchange for food. She didn't like flirting with others, but she knew she had no choice if she wanted to live tonight.

Wallace was a mean drunk and he was drunk all the time. She was a rich heiress and he loved spending all her money. Lately, though, he was worse than ever. He was getting angrier and angrier and more and more violent. She flinched every time he reached for her and he laughed at that.

Reluctantly, she put on the dress that he set out for her and her bountiful breasts threatened to spill out. Cat's job was to distract and flirt with any opponents. She was good at it, but she hated it.

 

[Ravenloft]

Martin Elsworth was staying the night in town after selling off a large heard of Dugan horses and was flush with money. It meant nothing to him, apart from keeping his family flush. He was bored and more than a little lonely. This world was cruel, and he knew it. He'd lost the light of his life only a few years ago. His loved ones still remained, and still held his head above the darkest of waters, but Milly and Derry, the ones who were left behind after... After...

Martin took a shot of burning whiskey, not ready for that memory. The two of them tried, and had saved him more than once. But how could they ever understand what he had lost? Milly lost a sister, Derry lost a daughter, Martin had lost so, so much more... Or was he being selfish? Purely selfish... They hurt too, he could see it in their eyes. Milly was mute because of it and Derry... He'd lost... Something... Martin never had the chance to relate to. "Maeve..." he whispered to himself setting the shot glass down and swallowing down the burning whiskey.

He looked up as a couple came down from the rooms above the saloon and lowered his hat over his eyes to hide the pain he felt at seeing them. The woman seemed... Stiff? But the man was a strutting fucking peacock! Martin instantly knew the lady was in trouble and was already forming a plan to help her, if she wanted the out.

Keeping his eyes hidden, Martin pushed out a seat in invitation for the two of them to join him in a game of Texas hold-em. "Ma'am, Sir. Would you like to join me for a hand or few?" He began shuffling his deck of well worn cards, sitting up in his seat as he did, offering the first seat to the woman.

 

[TwistedBaby]

Wallace took the seat, of course, ignoring any reaction of the man who offered to deal them in. When Cat moved to sit, he kicked her hard and she whimpered in pain.

"You know what to do, slut!" Wallace hissed at her angrily. Cat ignored him and simply got up, hissing in pain a few times as she did so. She stood at his side and tried to catch the other man's eyes, but was unable to with his hat over them. She mentally shrugged and tried to look pretty and smile pleasantly, as though she wasn't in a lot of pain.

Cat watched in horror as her husband lost hand after hand to the man. She whimpered in fear of him and he smacked her hard.

"Shut up slut, you're making me lose!" Wallace hissed at her. Finally he had no more of her money to bet with and he lost that hand too.

 

[Ravenloft]

Every time this fool of a man hissed at and struck his woman, Martin had to grit his teeth to keep up appearance and not reach across the table to throttle the bastard's throat. Martin tried to subtly invite her into a hand, tried to put any distance he could between the two of them without seeming like he was playing the white knight. But this man really seemed to have her by the short hairs...

It was torture, seeing the woman stand there and act like she was happy. Martin's stomach turned and he let out a shaky breath every time he took a glance up at her. They both probably thought they were lustful breaths. She was attractive, he had to admit, but the discomfort in her stance, in her eyes... Martin could see it all, and it made him sick for her. He had to do something.

"I tell you what." Martin spoke up for the first time since inviting them to the table. "Why don't we just deal yur lady friend in for one last hand? Hmm? We can play for what you got left, Sir... Her." Martin suggested, it was a calculated risk, and he knew that this cad would fall for it, he just hoped that the lady wouldn't be too disgusted with him. Even if she was, at least he knew he had given her the chance she needed to get the fuck out of this bad situation!

"Winner gets her to themselves for the night." Martin already knew he had this hand won, he literally had the aces up his sleeves, ready for it. He waved a saloon girl over and requested a fifth of whiskey for their table. Upon receiving it and a round of shot glasses for the three of them, he poured one for Cat, one for Wallace and finally one for himself. "But first, a toast. To a new day!" He offered to clink his shot glass with the two of them, amiably, even charmingly.

 

[TwistedBaby]

For just a moment, the other man's hat tilted back enough for her to see his eyes and Cat read the disgust in his eyes at Wallace. This reassured her as nothing else could have.

"Dear, I'm sure you'll win this time," she purred in his ear. "Deal me in and win back my money."

"It's my money, bitch!" Wallace yelled and she flinched.

"No it's not! You stole it and are threatening me every single day! I'm sick of it! Fact is, if you don't disappear right now, you won't live another day!"

Cat moved to stand behind the other man, wincing with every step.

"I may not know his name even, but I do know that he's disgusted with ya, Wallace, and there's only one reason for that. That makes him a better man than you are by far!" Cat spat.

"I'm your husband and I'm not going anywhere without you, bitch! I see I need to teach you another lesson!" Wallace said, getting to his feet and stumbling around the table.

 

[Ravenloft]

Martin took in the heated words between the two of them and locked his eyes of cobalt steel upon Wallace as he shouted nonsense back at his woman. "Easy now..." Martin whispered, his hand resting on his gun, unclear who his whispered words were meant for. Truth be told, he was talking to himself. He was not in the habit of stone cold murder.

Okay, the woman stepped behind him, at least she was on the same page! What was his next move? Neverminded, the fool made Martin's next play very clear to him! He sprung to his feet, sending his seat sprawling, and had the barrel of his Six between the man's eyes in a flash. "Why don't you just shut the hell up already? You talk way to damn much!" Martin cocked his pistol to make it clear he wasn't fucking around. "You aught to sit down, put your hands on the table, shut your god damn mouth and listen to what I have to say."

Martin waited one tense minute for the man to comply and was surprised to find his seat had been righted for him, it must of been the lady. "Thanks." Martin said her way as he sat. "Now, sir... Why don't we make a deal that you can understand, huh?" Martin waved the hilt of his gun over the piles of money left scattered on the table. "You can keep all this... For one night with the woman. No questions asked. Or... I can commit stone cold murder right here, right now. Fair?" Martin's eyes burned like blue fire as he presented his offer, making it painfully clear that he was not joking around.

 

[TwistedBaby]

Cat was relieved when her faith in him was justified and he protected her.

Wallace gulped and nodded, scared for the first time in his life. He grabbed the coins and hurried away. Cat sighed and took a seat, wincing in pain as she tried to relax.

"Got anything to eat? I've been starved for 3 days. I'm Cat." She said.

 

[Ravenloft]

Martin was slightly in shock by his own actions and that it had worked. He felt like he was watching the scene from a thousand miles away and things were moving eerily slow for a few moments as the tension melted away just like the man slunk away with his "winnings", beaten.

But when the woman sat down and sighed, across from him, Martin felt himself rushing back into his body and reality going back to normal. Looking at her, he felt a lump form in his throat, and tried to hide the tears in his eye, he had for her. She was lovely, and he wanted to know her story, as awful as it might be.

But to the first order of business, Martin flagged over another server and leaned over to whisper his request for two of there finest meals and the best drinks they had to offer. Whispering, because he knew that damn lump in his throat was bound to make his voice crack like a school boy's, and he wasn't prepared to turn red with embarrassment!

"I surely do... *Ahem!* I surely do, Miss Cat. My name is Martin... Du... Elsworth." Martin began in a whisper, clearing his throat and hoping his voice didn't crack due to all the intense emotions he was feeling. He almost stumbled and used the family name that had taken him in, the name he had given up the day... She... Died. There was a story there, but it was locked away, deep and dark, being kept safe.

"Oh, but..." Martin realized he had his satchel full of apples right at his side here on the floor and quickly scrambled to retrieve one from the bag for the starving lass. "Here! Please enjoy this until our meal comes?" He offered her the glossy red apple with a slow smile. He sat back and looked her over, trying to assess just how much pain she was in. It was made difficult due to the stinging tears in his eyes, but he didn't dare make a motion to wipe them away and reveal their presence to her, his upbringing wouldn't let him, so he kept his eyes mostly shaded, although he hated it, something in his gut wanted him to show this woman everything. It aches to.

"Down boy..." Martin whispered to himself with a slight smirk. He leaned forward, placing his elbows on the table and let his hands fall flat across it, leaving them well in reach of Cats own. Not even realizing the subtle invitation that had offered. "How bad is the pain? Do you need a doctor?" Martin asked, a plan already in forming in his mind to help her, now that she was out of immediate danger! "After we eat, there is an Epsom salt bath I have being made up in my room, I'll move the vanity screen round it so you can have your privacy. It looks like you need it more than I do. I mean... If yur comfortable with that." Martin drew back just an inch, feeling slightly uncertain in the moment.

He knew that fool husband of hers was going to go out and get drunk and try to do something stupid later on tonight. It was going to be a race between his impending stupidity and how quickly Cat was prepared to take action against her abuser. Martin felt tense and on edge, fearing for her. He had to get himself back into the moment, he knew that. He was far too on guard, it would take an hour or two at least before all the bad shit he was expecting to go down. For now, Martin made Cat his focus, he had to, anything else would drive him insane with worry.

Taking a deep breath, martin took off his hat, sat it on the seat next to him and took a crisp, clean handkerchief to mop up his brow, hoping she would pretend he wasn't doing it to his tears. He hoped she had a lot to say, because his chest still felt so tight, he wasn't sure he could manage to say much more without breaking. Their meals came and it was a grant old feast, the perfect reminder of days gone by. Better days. Simpler days.

 

[TwistedBaby]

Cat gratefully took the apple and in no time it was completely gone but for the core, and even that had been nibbled and sucked on.

"I'm fine," Cat said. "Nothing that a few days' rest from daily beatings won't fix, Sir." She kept her eyes lowered so as to not offend him. "I would love a bath, but I'd hate to take it from you. No, Sir, that simply won't do. I'll just bathe after you, as is proper."

When their food came, she dug in as though she hadn't eaten in days, and she hadn't. But it wasn't long before her over full stomach protested the feast and she sat back to watch him eat in silence.

 

[Ravenloft]

The way she'd devoured that apple did something to Martin, but this wasn't the time or place to give that no mind!

Martin could not abide her meekness and looked up at her even as she lowered her eyes and acquiesced to being put second. "Really? Cause you don't look all that well to me, yur half starved and it's clear yur in more pain that you want to admit." He cleared his throat, forcing down the anger he felt over knowing she must have lived this way far too long. "I'm involved, and I intend to get you through this. Please tell me you don't intend to go back to that bastard, Cat?" Martin's jaw clenched, and his stomach was still tight with worry, but he looked upon her with great concern.

"Proper? That man sure got to you, if you think that's proper, sure I'm saddle sore and achy, but come on, you know you need that bath more n I do. If I went first you'd be taking a mud bath! No, it's gotta be you first, I insist, and while you're at it, we can work something out to get you away from that lousy excuse fer a man!" Some of Maeridd's Irish temper had rubbed off on Martin and showing through the sorrow in his heart. He caught himself and sat back, a little shocked at his sharp words. It really wasn't his place to go making plans for her, it had to be her choice, even if he sore ached to help her out. "M'sorry, I just, don't like seeing a woman beaten and battered so... Where I come from, I'd get my ass blistered for inflicting even one tenth of what you've endured! Old Oak and Little Leaf would see to that!" He used his remaining found families special names, feeling almost compelled to, although he wasn't sure why he'd let them slip.

 

[TwistedBaby]

Cat hung her head.

"I'm sorry, Sir. I don't intend to go back to him one bit," she said. "And while I'm in pain, it's nothing I haven't felt before. Nothing like losing a baby." She sucked in a breath, amazed at what she let slip. "Let's just leave here. I'm sure that he won't come after me." She paused. "I hope."

Cat prepared to jump up and go to the man's room after him. "You must've been raised differently than I was, Sir."

 

[Ravenloft]

Martin felt a lump form in his throat as this woman hung her head, it was doing something to him, bringing up feelings of protectiveness and... Tenderness, in his heart. "Good, I'm glad of that! I didn't rightly want to have to kill the man..." Martin said, a darkness crossing his eyes as he looked Cat over slowly, pondering all the ways in which he might, could help her. At hearing she'd lost a baby, Martin clenched his fists. "Did he... Know?" Martin asked, his teeth clenched, fighting the urge to go out into the night, find the fucker, and gut him for his sins.

Martin pushed the sudden rage down and shook his head. "You know he will... Unless... Unless we destroy his proof that he has claim to you! Are you daring enough, Cat, to find your wedding papers? And burn them? Set yourself free? I will back you, if you are ready." Martin offered, holding his hand out to her as he stood.

"Oh, I was a no good horse thief, until I got shot in the thigh... But that's a story for another day, right now, there's your freedom to be secured! Then a bath! Are you with me Cat?" Martin asked, standing somewhere between firm and gentle.

 

[TwistedBaby]

Cat snarled.

"Yes Sir, he knew I was pregnant, and he didn't care. He beat me daily anyway, said he didn't want no stupid kid and of course I could only have stupid kids cuz I'm such a stupid slut who can't do anything right! He beat the baby right out of me."

And Cat mourned the loss everyday she thought of it, which was everyday he beat her.

"What papers are you talking about? He bought me, plain and simple, and had someone say words over us, but that wasn't a priest. I call him my husband simply as a way to make it all right in my mind." Cat turned and saw the sheriff, marched up to him and said, "If a drunk paid you to say the words of marriage between him and a woman he bought, would that make them married?"

"No, ma'am, it wouldn't. Someone did that to you?" He eyed Martin suspiciously.

"Yes, but it wasn't Martin. Martin just bought me from the man who did exactly that and who beat me on a daily basis," Cat said. "Now do me and my dead unborn child a favor and keep Wallace away from me, please! I'm in enough pain from dealing with his beatings as it is. He killed my last unborn child, and I'd prefer to keep my next one, if there is one."

"Yes Ma'am! I will!" the sheriff promised, then went to look for Wallace.

Cat turned to Martin. "Let's go. I'm tired."

 

[Ravenloft]

Martin was impressed, Cat was one hell of a woman, the way she handled things with the sheriff was beyond anything he could have suggested. It just stung that she had to point out that he had technically "bought" her for the night from that bastard! "Well, I'll be damned..." Martin muttered as he took off his hat and led the way up to his room. "Just one thing, Cat, I didn't buy you, you're free to go at any time, but I hope you'll stick with me, at least for a while. Are you good with horses? If so, I have a job for you, a place you can stay for as long as you're comfortable with it."

Martin went about sliding the privacy screen over to the steaming tub. "You first, ma'am. I won't take no for an answer. You need some comfort more n I do right now. I'll seat myself by the window and whistle, so you know I'm not about to add to your torments." He smiled slightly, giving her a strangely haunted look, like he was struggling with some deep, dark and private thoughts of his own.

 

[TwistedBaby]

"I won't leave you, kind Sir, not when you saved me from my husband like that," Cat said and leaned up and kissed his cheek softly. Blushing, she followed him to his room and nodded when he told her what he was doing. She went behind the screen and slowly undressed. Getting into the tub, she moaned her delight at the warm water.

"This is divine, Sir. Thanks so much! I owe you for this. I can try to work with horses!"

 

[Ravenloft]

Martin's cheek burned with the heat of her soft kiss and he swallowed hard against the lump in his throat. "All I can take credit for is taking a stand against the man, when I saw you needed an out." Martin muttered, trying to stay humble. That moan she let out, it did things to him and he had to force himself to sit still, by the window, he wanted her something fierce, but he had control over that beast in his soul, so he wasn't about to let it loose just yet.

Martin chuckled, enjoying her voice and her company. "I don't know how divine it is, you make it sound like you're bathing in holy water back there!" He teased, feeling suddenly playful. "Please, call me Martin, Sir makes me feel like an old man..." He pondered her statement that she owed him anything. "Hrm... Well, if you say so, I won't argue with you, a back rub when you're done and it's my turn to take a dip would be mighty nice of you..." Again, he took his time to form a reply to what she'd said about trying to work with the horses. "You never been around horses much? Oh boy, Little Leaf is going to love showing you her friends, I think!"

 

[TwistedBaby]

Cat laughed at his comments and continued splashing around, wincing in pain every so often whenever she moved wrong.

"I'd be happy to give you a back rub, Martin, and I'll call you Sir cuz that's what you are to me. I was raised to respect men no matter what they do, and you are definitely worthy of respect, Sir," Cat said. "And no, I've been around horses, it's just been a long time, Sir. I grew up with them and last I knew, they liked me fine. But things change, you know that."

 

[Ravenloft]

Martin sat up a bit straighter when Cat used his name, and explained why she intended to continue using Sir instead. "Fair enough, if I've earned your respect, than I won't complain, even if it makes me feel old." He laughed a little. "But you know, that sort of think aught to be earned, not expected, most men are damn fools and do down right dirty things. Not worthy of your respect."



Hearing she was not a stranger to horses eased Martin's mind as they continued to chat. "Oh, that is a relief, we use a gentle method in training our horses, it's the Dugan way, as Old Oak calls it. Lots of brushing and talking, before getting on and seeing what they can do. Trick and beauty of it is we work with each horse as an individual, until we can pass that knowledge on to one of our hands and give them full training. It's a powerful bond, but it's built slow like. I think that's what make Dugan horses so sought after, no one else takes the time like we do." Martin caught himself and realized he sounded like a pitch man or something! "Boy, do I sound like a snake oil salesmen, or what?" He laughed.