Bella's Vineyard by Quilford Sally

Author:Quilford, Sally [Quilford, Sally]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Tales From The Shed
Published: 2011-09-24T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

Vance pulled her from the horse, and threw her to the ground, covering her body with his, whilst his one hand struggled to get his gun out of its holster. Another two or three shots hit the area around them. The horse bolted, turning and running off towards Milton.

Vance fired in the direction of one of the shots, but whether it found its target, it was hard to tell. He hauled Bella up roughly and pulled her behind a large rock.

“What’s happening?” she whispered, suppressing the urge to cry out.

“We’re being shot at.”

“Yes, I worked that out, but why?”

“I think it’s likely that I’m being shot at. Obviously Milton is already tired of its new marshal.”

The reality of their situation hit Bella like one of the rocks on the ground. She began to shiver, and this time it was not a result of Vance’s proximity.

“The vineyard is less than half a mile away,” he said. “I want you to run there…”

“I’m not leaving you.”

“Bella, they don’t want you, they want me. So I think you’ll be safe. Just keep to this side of the canyon, using the rocks for cover. Then fetch help.”

“Help? Who? There’s only May.”

“Yes, and she’s pretty good with a gun, and I’m gonna run out of bullets soon. So will you please go fetch her?”

“I don’t want to leave you,” said Bella, torn between wanting to fetch help and wanting to stay at his side. “What if they kill you while I’m gone?”

“What if they kill us both when you stay?”

“I’d rather that than you die out here alone.”

Another shot rang through the air, close enough to suggest that whoever was firing had worked out their position. Bella and Vance ducked further down behind the rock, but it afforded them scant protection.

“Bella, you’re no help to me here. In fact, I’d say you were a hindrance the way you keep talking all the time. So please will you just get gone? Crawl to that next rock, then the next one…”

Even though it hurt her to admit it, Bella knew he was right. Her being there only made things worse. Vance would probably die trying to protect her. Still, the thought of leaving him to be killed tore at her heart. “I’ll bring help,” she said.

She started crawling to the next rock, only to have a bullet hit the ground near to her hand. She felt Vance yank her backwards. “They can see your white dress,” he said. “Damn! I should have thought of that.”

“You said they didn’t want to shoot me.”

“They don’t, but I’m wearing a white shirt. They won’t know if it’s me or you so they’ll just shoot anyway. Damn, damn, damn!” He leaned against the rock, but a sudden footfall caused him to spin around and fire. They heard a cry in the night.

“Well, it sounds like I hit one,” he said. “Now we just need to find somewhere to take cover.” He looked around him. “I know where we can go.”

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