The bankers daughter

[Tigerjaw]

Closed for Papillon24

Arizona, 1887

Cole Matthews stepped of the train. His feets and hands was secured with iron shackles. He staggered down the ramp with his escort guarding him with Winchester rifles in their hands. The two guards pushed him on, using threats to keep him going. Cole just smiled at them. His contempt showed what he thought of their empty threats. He knew they needed him alive. Otherwise they would have left him in prison where he spent the last year and a half. He had no idea what they needed him for but it must be important. The only thing the warden said was that if he did well he would never have to come back.

Cole was now 28 years old and did not look forward to spend more years in prison. He walked as fast as he could with the shackles holding his ancles together. It wasn´t fast but eventually he stopped in front of the impressive figure of a man in his late fourties. Cole raised his head and looked the other man in his eyes.

"So... You are Cole Matthews i presume? the famous bankrobber." The voice was dark and commanding. "Of course you are, otherwise you would not be here." His smile was completely humourless. "I am Connor Donovan. The most influencial banker in the state of Arizona. You are here to make me happy. In return i will make you happy. If you like that deal we will get along well." Connor looked at the guards and waved them of. They obliged without question.

When the two men was alone Connor turns to Cole again. "If you don´t like the deal it is a one way ticket back to prison on your part. With no chance to get out until you are 80."

Cole let all his distaste of the older man show in his face. "What i need to do?"

"One simple thing Mister Matthews. You will rob my bank." this time his smile showed some sense of humour.

 

[papillon24]

Mary woke that morning to the sound of the train pulling into the station. It was odd for the train to be in so early. Something special must have arrived or bad news came in.

She got up and went to the armoire picking out a light blue dress and laid it across the bed. Quickly she tied her auburn hair into a neat bun on her head and went to the wash basin. The water felt cool as she splashed her face and washed her hands. Mary looked into the mirror and checked to see if everything was in place. When all was right she went back to the bed and slipped the dress over her head. It was simple butfit her form nicely.

Mary remembered the times in New York. She thought of the satin dresses and tight corsets. The parties were extravagant with men in long tails and women in hoped dresses. She once knew that life. Now at twenty three and already a spinster she had given up that life. That life was over for her five years ago when after her mother’s death, her father drug her out to the heat of Arizona to startup a bank. There was no use for fancy dresses and corsets here. The dresses just got dusty and the corsets made it hard to breath in the heat.

She sighed as she left her room and went down to the kitchen and began breakfast for her and her father. She started up some bacon and potatoes. She also put on a pot of tea. Soon the kitchen smelt good and breakfast was ready.

She was just setting the table as her father walked in.

“Oh, thank you darling. I was just at the bank finishing up something. It smells wonderful. ”


They ate in silence with only the sound of the townsfolk waking up around them. Her father got up quickly and kissed her on the cheek.

“Gotta make it back to the bank. Can’t leave Sam in charge for too long.” He stopped and looked at here. “you’ve grown so much. It’s a shame you never married. I would have loved to have grandchildren by now.” He sighed and walked out the door.


She sighed. She knew it was true but always ignored it. Mary always thought she could be a teacher or leave on go back to New York to find work, but she couldn’t leave her father. He would be lost without her now.

 

[Tigerjaw]

The outskirts of Holbrook, Arizona

Frank Gunn grinned at his three companions. "Are you ready to shake this town and steal their hard earned dollars?" A unison cheer told him that they did not mind. The four men looked like the hardened outlaws they where. Frank himself was dressed like a typical cowboy and so did the others. Only difference was their posture. They all carried themselves like seasoned gunfighters.

Cole Matthews cheered together with his fellow outlaws. He was the one that brought up that the bank of Holbrook was loaded with dollars. He told them that it was important to rob the bank before the bounty was shipped away. He smiled to Frank. The man that saw to it that Cole himself was arrested and brought to jail. It took some time and plenty of greed to convince his former friend that the bank was worth to rob.

Jason Smiedel and Terry Garner was as easily convinced. The only outlaw that was doubtful and still suspicious was Shaw Carr. The most dangerous pistolero of them all. Only Cole himself could match his skill and then only under good conditions. One reason Shaw seemed to distrust Cole was personal. He just did not like to have his peer in the band.

The four outlaws mounted their horses and started the slow ride towards Holbrook.

 

[papillon24]

Mary picked up the plates and cup and put them all in the washbasin carefully washing each one with the greatest care. Quickly she dried them all and put them away in the cupboard stacked in their neat little piles and rows. She wiped down the table and wiped her hands dry on a rag.

When all satisfied her in the kitchen she made her way back up the stairs to her room

She took one look in the full length mirror and gasp. Her hair was still a mess and the dress simply would not do.

Mary changed lifting the soft blue dress over her head letting the cool air wash over her bare body. She then went to the wardrobe to find something new.

She found a light green dress that suited her form and matched her eyes. She then madder her way to the vanity and fixed her hair, tucking all the strays in with a silver comb that shimmered a bit in the light.

She stood at the mirror and nodded with satisfaction.

She went down the stairs back to the kitchen where she grabbed a few sandwiched and the pie she had baked the night before and placed them in a basket.. She headed out the door.

Their home was not far from the bank, but in the heat of the midday sun it seened liked forever. She walked through the doors and few the cool of the shade.

“Hello Sam” she greeted a short fat man at the first desk. “Is my father in?”

He nodded towards the office door

She never knocked when she entered. She never had the need to.

“Father.. ” She opened the door slowly. ”I brought you a bit of lunch and a peach pie to share with Sam, if you like.”

“Oh , how sweet of you. I was going to come home for lunch. “

“It’s nothing father. I know you work hard and this way you don’t have to leave and have your business interrupted.” She smiled and set the basket down on the desk.

 

[Tigerjaw]

The four outlaws enter the town in a slow pace. Careful to not attract attention from the law. Cole is quite sure that they are expected but he tries to be as confident as he look. When the shooting start it only take one stray bullet to end his life. Frank´s grin seemed attached to his face as he looked for the bank.

To their luck, or coincident the street was nearly empty. Cole checked the surroundings carefully. He could see at least three men with rifles standing on the roofs of nearby buildings. None of his companions saw the riflemen. Cole felt the tension of his body. It was the sign of a gunfight in the near future.

Donovan had told him to lead the bankrobbers into the bank. When they where about to leave the lawmen would strike. Hopefully without killing Cole.

Cole brazed himself as they dismounted outside the bank. Terry took up the position as a sentry as the other three entered the bank. It was nearly empty as the street had been. The only person they could see was a short, fat man at the first desk. No customers. Cole let out a sigh of relief. The more peaple in the bank, the more of a mess it could be.

The outlaws drew their Colt´s and pointed them at the man. "This is a robbery." Frank exclaimed. "Now little man. Give us all your money." The grin on Franks face was very close to evil.

Just then the door to the office opened and a young woman, wearing a green dress stepped out with curiousity written over her face. Cole sighed at the sight. Damn it, he thought to himself. Shaw Carr saw her at the same time and a vicious smile appeared on his lips. "Ah, i think they have a gift for us." He started to walk closer to her with his Colt directed against her stomach.

 

[papillon24]

Mary watched as her father got edgy about her being there.

"Y, you must leave now. i have very important buisness o take care of today and I do not need any distractions..."

His voce filled with urgency as he spoke.

"Go on. Go home. I have a package that will be delivered sometime today for you."

"Alright Father but something is not right. You're so tense. Tell you what, tonight when you get home I'll draw you a nice hot bath so you can relax." she turned and reached for the doorbnob.

"All right see you later, darling. now hurry Along now."

"I love you. Don't work too hard."

She opened the door and left the office closing the door behind her. To her surprise, men with guns stood inside the bank pointing them at Sam.

She gasped as onecame her way pointing his at her.

"Please no." She began backing up against the door, reaching for the knob..

The man cocked his gun. "Come away from that door. I want a better look at you."

Mary nervously moved towards him. She could feel her body shake in fear. He moved around her eyeing her up and down.

 

[Tigerjaw]

Cole saw the fear in the young woman´s eyes. He also saw the hunger in Shaw´s. If he did not act quickly she would belong to Shaw who would rape her and beat the hell out of her. Probably killing her in the end. Shaw was not gentle with women. He knew that the outlaw would take her with them.

Cole casually walked over to the woman and his fellow outlaw. Just as Shaw gripped her arm Cole stepped in between them, forcing Shaw to let go of her. "She is mine. I saw her when i checked out this bank." Cole´s voice is low and Cold. Shaw stares at him with murder in his eyes. His Colt changes direction and points at Cole´s face.

"Come on you two, we are leaving. We have what we came here for." Franks voice reaches out to Shaw and Cole. Shaw flinches slightly, but lower the gun. "We will see who will have her in the end." Shaw grins slightly before turning and running out to the horses.

Cole turns his head towards the woman as he takes hold of her arm. He drags her to the exit. Just as he leaves he sees the pale Connor Donovan standing at the desk, inside the bank.

Just as Cole forces the woman up on his horse a shot is heard. The shot throws Terry of his horse but his friends kicks their horses in a wild ride to safety. Cole sits behind the scared woman on his horse and keeps his arms around her waist to make sure she won´t fall of.

 

[papillon24]

"We will see who will have her in the end." The thosugh of the man made her stonach turn.

Mary struggled as she was pulled out of the bank. Her body still shook in shock of what was happening to her.

"Let me go" She hollered at the second man as she lifted her up onto his horse. "Put me down...you'll regret this."

She felt his stong arm wrap itself around her thin frame holding her in place. She pushed and kicked, trying to get free but the effort was useless. He was just too stong.

She could feel his hurried breath on the back of her neck as she watched the down become smaller behind them.

Tear cameto her eyes, and then panic. She began her struggle once more causing her elbow to flail into his chin.

 

[Tigerjaw]

Cole rode behing his comanions with the woman in front of him on his horse. He held her tight to his chest to control her movements. Her elbow hitting his chin took him really by surprise as he thought he had her secured. The hit almost caused him to fall of the horse and drag her with him. Instead he managed to halt the horse and took hold of her arms. "Damn it woman." His voice was thick with concern. "I won´t hurt you and i will do my outmost to see that none else hurt you as well."

He looks after the outlaw that rides away from them. Cursing softly he kicks the horse in the side, taking up the pursuit. How the hell did he end up in this situation. What would have been a simple mission just had become very complicated. The plan had backfired in the worst way possible. Not only had the robbers gotten away but now he had a woman to keep safe. An innocent woman at that. Sighing he kept on riding. Hoping she would take his promise to protect her seriously.

 

[papillon24]

She was stunned as he slowed the horse to a halt.

"I won´t hurt you and i will do my outmost to see that none else hurt you as well." She stoped for a moment andlooked into his eyes. For some reason she trusted him.

She leaned into him as they started back up again. Sheglared back at the down as it finally disapeared into the distance.. She sighed deeply as she ran the predicament she was in.

 

[Tigerjaw]

Pleased that she was still and not struggling in front of him Cole soon was right behind the others. Their horses just left a trail of dust in their path. Finally they reached the gangs hideout. It was just a clearing in the middle of a canyon. There was only one way in and out which served them well. It was not easy to find the entrance but if it was found they where in a death trap.

Cole dismounted and helped the woman down from the horse. "Are you alright?" He whispered in her ear. He did not want the others to know that he cared.

 

[papillon24]

Mary was set down from the horse more gently than she expected. She felt his breath in her ear as he spoke.

"Are you alright?"

She nodded and then pulled away suddenly.

She could feel the other men watching her as she moved. She could feel their eyes scanning her form thinging dirty things about her. This unsettled her mind and sentan aweful shiver down her spine.

"What is going to happen to me" as she backed away

 

[Tigerjaw]

Cole sighed inwards as she pulled away from him. She sure would not make it easy for him. That he could tell. He wiped some dark hair from his brow and then slowly walked after her. Shaw Carr grinned at the woman. "I believe Cole here are not man enough to keep you. I will take care of you soon enough."

"Shut up Carr. She is mine and i won´t put up with any disrespect from your part." Cole felt the twitch to draw his Colt and finish of the smug bastard. He knew however that both the other outlaws would stand up in Carr´s corner.

He needed to show Carr that she was his, not only in words but in action as well. He grabbed her arms in a tight grip. Pulling her to him and covered her mouth with his. He was full of regret but knew he had to do something to prove she was his.

 

[papillon24]

She felt his mouth upon hers and it surprised her. She had trusted him back on the horse and no this. She pushed with all her strenth against him. She raised her hand and struck him accross the face.

"You pig." She pulled away his hand still holding her arm tight. She felt a rip from the thin fabric of her dress as the sleeve pulled away. she backed up pulling the loose fabic around her trying to cover her bare shoulder.

The man Carr walked up to her and grabbedher from behind dragging her off.

"you smell good" as she bagan to kiss along her bare shoulder. "Hey Mathews. I'm taking a shot with her."

"Stop it. Leave me alone you brute."

She struggled but could not pull her arms free. She felt his ht breath first and then the stubble of his beard against the back of her neck. The feel sickened her.

 

[Tigerjaw]

Cole touched the cheek she had hit with his fingers. Damn woman he thought to himself. She was making it very difficult to protect her. He could not do that if Carr saw her as open prey. Cole had to show the outlaws that she was his to dominate. Not Carr and not one of the others. He thought about giving up on her. Let Carr have her.

The only thing that told him he could not do that was his morals. Morals that Carr and Frank had none. He saw Carr kiss her shoulder and also how resentful she looked of his attention. Cole sighed and walked over to the couple. He drew his gun and smacked Carr over the scalp.

The unfortunate outlaw fell to the ground with no sound. He dragged the woman with him in the fall and she just lay there completely shocked. Cole's eyes wandered to the other two men. "This woman is mine. Next who tries something will have a bullet between their eyes." His voice was low and cold. The voice of a murderer.

He took hold of the womans arm and drew her to her feet. "Now i will have some fun with her and i like some privacy. If we are disturbed you will be sorry."

He dragged her until they where behind a big rock out of sight.

 

[papillon24]

Mary was relived when she was pulled away from the awful man. She watched as he was knocked out and as he fell to the gound.

She breathed a quick sigh of relief.

"Now i will have some fun with her and i like some privacy. If we are disturbed you will be sorry."

She gasped as she was pulled behind a large gouping of rock that compleately concealed them from sight of the other men.

She pulled her arm out of his grasp and leaned against the rock. her body trembled in both fear and frusteration. If she had only stayed home this wouldn't have happened. At the moment she would be working on dinner for her father or playing the piano.

Mary crouched keeping her eyes averted from the man that was keeping her here as she pulled the torn fabric to cover her shoulder.

 

[Tigerjaw]

After Cole had dragged her behind the rock he sat down with his back against it. He saw that she tried to ignore him and hid a smile. "Just sit down and relax. No one will hurt you unless you try another idea like that." He smiled at her, showing of his white teeth. "The name is Cole Matthews and i am not so pleased to meet you."

He tips his stetson at her and smile wider. "Seems you have gotten us in this mess and i will try to get us out.." His smile vanished. "But then you must do exactly as i tell you. No matter what it will be. These outlaws must think that you belong to me." He flashed her a grin. "And that ain't a very bad thing."

 

[papillon24]

She calmed down a bit as he spoke. Her hands stoped shaking and she looked up. A bit of a smile came to the corner of her lips.

"For some reason I believe you, Cole Mathews." She spoke soflty. She sat against the rock and studied him.

"What is your plan and how am I to get back home."

She watched his movements as he peaked over the rock to keep an eye on the other guys. He them looked down at her. She watched as he gently brushed her face with his hand brushing aside a tendril of hair that had fallen from her now messy bun.

"By the way, cole Matthews, I'm Mary Donovan." Her voice was hushed as to try and hide her identity from the others

 

[Tigerjaw]

Hearing her say her name came as a shock to Cole. Was she related to Connor Donovan? She was young to be his wife but he had seen older men take younger wives. A daughter or sister seemed more likely though.

This was not good. Cole could imagine how angry Connor must be. This was not part of the plan. If his fellow outlaws learned of who she was they surely would try to take advantage of that. "Well Mary. Are you related to Connor Donovan?" He kept his voice low to not alert the others.

He watched her with a frown on his lips. How could he get her out of this mess? If she was relative to the banker he probably should tell her that he was working for him. The thing that stopped him was that he was afraid she might reveal his intentions to the others. Not on purpose but it would be equally bad.

"Taking you with us was not part of the plan." his lips formed into a slight smile. "As of how to get you out of this mess i will have to improvise." He took of his stetson and placed it on the ground next to him. "It is important that the others have the impression that you belong to me. Or else you are free for them to use at their whims."

 

[papillon24]

Mary watched himas he removed his stetson from his head and set it next to him on the ground. His forehead tightened as he thought.

Mary watched his features as they sat there a moment. He didn't look as old as the others and his eyes were much kinder.

She sat against the rock curling her knee against her chest. She let the ripped fabric fall down for it was useless and a waste of time trying to keep it up. She Looked up at him as he explained that taking her was not part of the main plan, but just a mistake.

"Oh..if I had only listened to father and stayed home today" She wispered to herself resting her head onto her knees.

She looked up at him again

"I am related to Connor Donovan. I'm his daughter, Why does that interest you so?" She looked inquistitively

 

[Tigerjaw]

Connor shrugged slightly. "It don't interrest me more than it complicate matters." He stood up and walked over to her. His eyes wandered to the men at the camp. He saw that they where growing restless. He turned his gaze to Mary. "The men think that i am about to rape you."

His smile showed no sense of humour at the thought. "You better make some sounds that convince them that i ravage your body against your will. Or even better. That you enjoy it."

He sits down beside her. "It is how they think a woman will react to their attention. Even if resisting they think you wan't it anyway."

 

[papillon24]

She leaned up against him feeling the warmth of his body against her's.

"It is how they think a woman will react to their attention. Even if resisting they think you wan't it anyway."

The idea of it shocked her.

"Really. There are men like that out there."

She thought on this concept a bit

"I wouldn't even know where to begin. I have never been married or even courted."

 

[Tigerjaw]

Cole sighed. there was no easy way to solve this mess. "Yes, these men are the scum of the earth. there is nothing they won't do." He looked at her. "they will get suspicious if they don't hear anything from us soon."

He tried to comfort her with one of his smiles. "I will do my best to try and get you back safely." He had no idea of how. The smartest thing should be to just take advantage of her. The thought of it turned his stomach though. Cole was not a rapist. He despised those who forced women.

"Sorry to hear you haven't been courted. You are a beautiful young woman. I will get you back and i am sure there are young men at home that will recognise what a prize you are."

 

[papillon24]

"Sorry to hear you haven't been courted. You are a beautiful young woman. I will get you back and i am sure there are young men at home that will recognise what a prize you are."

"that is not what i'm worried about. I'm more worried that with just noises they will come around that rock and see that nothing is realy happening. Then we are caught. "

she stoped anthe thought of them made her shudder. She could hear the others making their way towards the rock

Come on Mathews get it done... if you can't then we will.

yea Cole, I want a turn too

She jumped at the sound of their voices getting nearer

 

[Tigerjaw]

Cole cursed under his breath as he heard the bastards. They even got closer. He closed his eyes and said a quick prayer. He was not a believer in god but he saw no reason not to talk to the big man once in a while. It didn't hurt anyway.

He turned to Mary. "Sorry." That was the only thing he said before he quickly grabbed the front of her dress and ripped it open. If she looked to civil they would suspect that something wasn't right.

He pushed her down on the ground and covered her body with his. His mouth claimed hers and he put his hand over her breast. He heard footsteps coming closer and instinctively his tongue slipped into her mouth. He felt that his body betrayed him and he got aroused.