The Path One Follows

Expect The Unexpected

After about two hours time, Frank was bandaged and loaded in the wagon. The stakes had been driven through his hands and feet. The fact that he was even still alive spoke to the resilience of farm folk. Grant had done the bandaging. Jolie wanted nothing to do with him. The fact she hadn't suggested slitting his throat was a miracle. Well not more than once. She knew Grant was right, and in her right mind, she'd have admitted as much. Her toughness was in full view now. She pretended that Frank was nowhere near them. To his credit, Frank did the same, though more out of fear. He'd known Jolie since they were kids and was very familiar with that dangerous look in her eyes. When hurt, that tomboy shone clearly and she was no different than dealing with a man.

The ride stayed silent until they stopped to camp for the night. It was a spot just inside a larger group of trees. There were random spots like that across the plains, but they really were no safer than being out in the open. A man could get snuck up on without being able to view the full landscape. There wasn't much in the way of choice.

Jolie went to gather some kindling for a small cook fire. They didn't need to advertise their location. Grant walked back to check on Frank.

"How you holding up back there, Frank?"

"About as well as someone in my condition can. You're wasting your time trying to bring me with you. Id have been better off dead. "

"That may be the truth, but I'm not gonna be the one to explain that to your boy. You can tell him your ownself."

"My son heard me sell his mom off as a slave. He saw her bound and gagged in the wagon. I don't think he'd care either way. "

"Not feeling sorry for yourself are ya?"

"Not at all. I'm sorry you came into our lives and ruined a good thing. That's what I'm sorry about. "

"It would've been no different if I hadn't been there. That Tim guy would've had his way with her and you'd have pushed her aside. Your ego not letting you love her anymore, calling her a w***e, and whining about it until she was gone. You know damn well it's the truth. Your own foolishness caused all this. I just happened to be there. "

b"So. What now? We should all be friends? Pretend nothing happened and go on with our lives?"

"No. That wouldn't work either. If you survive long enough to make it to the sanctuary, you'll be left in the hands of a family that can care for you. You're lucky enough so far. Flint's men managed to not do much damage to your bones, but it'll be a long process to get you back on your feet. "

"Like I said, you should've left me. What's to stop me from coming after you when Im able to?"

"Because I'll put you in the ground myself!"

Jolie walked up with the flames of hate in her eyes.

"I honestly thought you were a better man, Frank. Even when I tried my best to let you do things your way, I thought you were just stubborn. I know men don't fancy women who can think for themselves. I thought it worth the price if you could be the man I thought I married. Guess I'm just as muley headed as you. I lied to myself and called it happiness. You never saw me as your equal. Otherwise, I'd never had to of worried that you'd leave me if that man had forced himself on me. If we didn't have a son together, I'd have already put a bullet in you. Junior didn't ask for any of this.

Our boy is out there. I hope alive. They could have him as a slave, or one of those dirty old men could have him chained in a bedroom. That's all I can think about right now. If you want to throw a pity party, you've come to the wrong gal seeking mercy. Best you just keep your damn mouth shut unless you're being fed. "

Jolie walked away after dropping her kindling. Grant suspected there were tears in her voice. There's no way she'd want Frank to see how much he'd really hurt her.

"You're a damned fool, Frank. I think she was just caught up in the moment and let her gratitude effect her feelings. I didn't suspect she'd really leave you. She'd gotten so used to playing house that she'd have forgotten about me. I was so worried about me destroying your marriage that I never suspected you'd be the one that did it. I'll feed you when the food's ready. I better check on her."

Frank had nothing more to add. Grant was sure that the man knew exactly what he'd done and didn't care a lick.

It didn't take long to find Jolie. She'd taken a seat on a log that was situated beside a natural spring. Grant's appearance seemed to catch her off guard.

"I needed to sit and splash water on my face. Everything ok back there? I didn't want to hear his voice anymore."

"Question is.... are you ok?"

"Oh I'm gonna be fine. Soon as we find Junior."

"Jolie. you don't have to be tough with me. Anyone would be hurt by this level of betrayal. "

"That's the worst part. I knew how Frank was. I was never blind. Back when we got married, I had intimidated so many of the other young men into avoiding me. I had wanted love. I knew Frank was interested, but only because he considered me a trophy. I didn't care. It kinda made me feel special in some twisted kind of way. I was determined to live out my days as his trophy. I had Junior who loves me with all his heart. Frank was the man that was there. All that fear of being alone. My decision to settle down. Then meeting you. The man I'd traveled with for months without ever knowing his name. Who wasn't showing interest in me at all. But when I needed someone, you were there. Didn't even hesitate. I couldn't get that from Frank. He'd always been a coward. I've never known what its like to be shown the same amount of love that I give. I want to be seen as a partner. Not a cook or a baby maker. I want to be seen as a damn woman. I'm tough, but I have feelings".

The tears had decided to revolt and fall despite Jolie's best efforts. Grant started to speak in a low, vulnerable voice.

"I thought I'd found my life. I had a wife once. We had three beautiful children together. Things were getting hard, but we made do. Lord Basil left most of us near starvation. To make ends meat, I joined the Hunters...."

Jolie had stopped crying at the shock of this admission.

"You were one of them???"

"It wasn't my finest moment I assure you. Right after Basil's execution, the Hunter's were formed. It wasn't the same as now. We helped people back to their homes that were scared. We were supposed to escort them safely. My second in command was Flint. I believe you two have met. "

There was a wonder at how shocked Jolie could get. This was probably the moment.

"Oh, I've met him. "

My ranks were so full that I let Flint take out a secondary unit. He took those soldiers out to the field, but instead of helping people, he started robbing them. Word got around, and I took a small group to investigate. We never dreamed it would be our own men. I enlisted Flint's men to help me hunt down these raiders. We searched for a couple weeks without success.

One evening, some of Flint's boys had gotten a bit too drunk and rowdy. I heard them talking amongst themselves, wondering if I was ever gonna leave. They were talking about kidnapping women and storing them at some hideout. A few days later, I told them we'd best split up again. They watched as me and my men rode away. I sent two of them to go fetch the others. The rest of us quietly tailed Flint. He was young and brash back then. We found his base. They weren't ready for what I had planned. "