Page 39 of The Enchanted Land

In spite of her situation, she enjoyed the food. Her favorite was a roll made of a kind of corn bread, but very flat and thin, wrapped around a mound of mashed pinto beans. It was covered with onions and the thick, hot, chili sauce, and then sprinkled with white cheese.

“This is very good,” she murmured.

Cat Man laughed. “My wife,” he watched her intently lest she contradict him, “is new to this country and our food.”

Don’t trust him! she wanted to scream to these people, these generous people who offered him hospitality.

“You sure can cook good, ma’am,” Ben said. He pushed his plate away, having filled it three times.

Morgan helped the woman clear the table, and as they went to the end of the room where the washtub stood, she tried to manage a way to warn the woman. But she constantly felt Cat Man’s eye on her. Maybe they’ll just go away, maybe they won’t hurt them, she offered a silent prayer.

When the dishes were done, she returned to where the others were sitting and smoking home-rolled cigarettes. Cat Man pulled a chair close to his own, smiled at Morgan, and patted the seat of the chair. To all the world it must have looked like a loving gesture between a husband and wife. With her back to the others, she allowed her face to show all the hate she felt for him. That secretive, catlike smile never faltered.

“Where was it you said you was headed?” the man asked Cat Man.

Before Cat Man could answer, Morgan saw Ben look at him with questioning brows. Cat Man nodded slightly toward him, and Morgan gripped the arms of the chair until her knuckles were white. If it was going to start, it would be now.

In an instant, Ben’s arm reached out and grabbed the woman, Meg, around her ample waist. She was a large, strong woman, and she began to fight Ben with success.

Her husband reacted instantly, quickly crossing the room to his rifle. The second his fingertips touched the rifle barrel, a shot exploded beside Morgan, and she saw him crumple. Ben and Joe stopped to stare at the man lying in the corner. Meg jerked free and ran to him.

“John, John,” she whimpered.

“I’m all right, Meg.” His eyes caught hers, and motioned to the rifle at his side.

“Touch the rifle, and he won’t live another minute.” Cat Man had dropped the fake-sincere voice and returned to the lower, sly voice Morgan knew so well. “I didn’t mean to kill him. I thought he might like to watch the boys here in action.”

Both John and Meg looked at Cat Man with horrified eyes. Morgan whispered, “No, no.”

Cat Man turned to her. “Sit!” he ordered, “unless you want to see them both dead.”

Shaking with fear, she sat down again, turning her head to the wall.

“She’s yours, boys,” Cat Man said with a sneer.

As Joe and Ben advanced on Meg, she began to scream. John raised himself up, holding his bleeding thigh, and started again for the rifle.

Ben kicked the rifle away and then started to kick John.

“No!” Cat Man told him. “Tie him up and gag him—so he can watch.”

At the sound of tearing cloth, Morgan jerked her head around to see Meg’s large body exposed. Ben held her arms, while Joe fondled her large, sagging breasts and turned to grin at Cat Man.

John writhed under the ropes and gag, but his eyes remained fixed on his wife. Meg stopped fighting and stood as if she were made of stone, staring at the ceiling.

Morgan couldn’t stand it any longer. “No,” she screamed, “you can’t do this! You’re animals! Stop it!”

Cat Man slapped her hard against the mouth. “Shut up, or I’ll let them have you,” he growled.

He sat down and pulled Morgan into his lap, putting a thin hand across her forehead, holding her head toward the sight of Ben and Joe holding the woman. “Look,” his voice was soft. “Look at what I’m saving you from.”

Ben roughly lowered the woman onto a rag rug. Morgan looked away, but it was difficult with Cat Man holding her head in his steely grip.

Joe pulled his pants down and mounted the woman. Morgan closed her eyes and ears to the sight. She tried not to think, but Cat Man’s rapid breath in her ear made it impossible for her to escape the reality.

“Me next.” Ben’s voice was as excited as a five-year-old’s.

As Joe left the woman and Ben removed his pants, Morgan looked at Meg, her head turned away from her husband, staring at the wall by Cat Man’s feet. Her eyes were glazed, like a dead person’s.

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