Josephine watched in silent dismay as Justin her dearest friend exchanged blows with Antonio his best friend… and her husband of five years. Her hand came up to cover her mouth as Justin hit Anto squarely in his stomach causing Anto to double over for the briefest of moments, but as quickly as her fingers touched her bruised and swollen lip she let her hand drop. Wincing at the sting as her tears rolled down her pale cheeks as she recalled the rage and disbelief on Justin’s face only half an hour ago.
Her breathing was labored and she gritted her teeth against the pain that coursed through her with each breath, she was sure he had broken a few ribs this time. Her eyes widened in horror as Anto pulled out a flint-lock pistol, the metallic click rang in her ears as he cocked and aimed it at Justin, Anto hesitated for only a second, and Jo not even thinking of herself moved between the two, hoping to stop the action she knew was coming.
The shot rang out loudly ringing in her ears, and she looked down as a red flower blossomed darkly on her dark green dress, she looked up at Anto shock in her eyes. She did not feel the pain of the wound only the pain of knowing that she had made a mistake that day six years ago. After a fight much like the one that just took place.
Justin stood there frozen staring at the dark red splotch on the front of her dress that was spreading quickly outward, the shot still rang in his ears, he saw her sway and in a heartbeat was beside her, breaking her fall to the ground and holding Jo close to him his eyes filled with fear for her.
As she sank to the ground her eyes searched for Justin, he was there holding her, how he had done that so quickly she didn’t know. “I’m sorry.” she whispered, speaking more of things past than things present. The last thing she heard before she fell into the blessed and painless darkness of unconsciousness in his arms was Justin shushing her and telling her she had no reason to be sorry. He stroked her hair as her eyes slid close, he hugged her close, rocking back and forth.
Anto watched as if hypnotized by the blood that was soaking his wife’s dress, he tore his eyes away from her and looked at the gun still in his hands. Looking back hatred filled his eyes at the site of HIS wife, HIS possession in Justin’s arms, raising his arm and aiming at Justin’s head he pulled the hammer back and without hesitation this time he pulled the trigger, but all that was heard was a hollow click. Anto looked at the gun pulled the hammer back again and tried to shoot it again, but again all that was heard was a hollow click.
Justin’s head shot up at the sound of the hollow click from the gun, his heart raced in his chest as the gun was aimed at him. He closed his eyes knowing that he did not have enough time to stop the man from shooting him, his thoughts where on Jo hoping that she would be ok. But instead of a shot he heard another hollow click. His eyes opened as he realized that the gun had, had only one shot. Kissing Jo’s forehead softly he then laid her gently onto the damp grass.
Justin stood up slowly, his green eyes dark with rage. He turned and looked at Anto who still held the pistol, his eyes held a look that could only be described as murderous. Anto dropped the pistol and pulled a dagger from his boot holding it out in protection to the advancing Justin, his eyes now filled with not only hate but also fear.
No words where spoken as he moved closer with every intention of putting his hands around Anto’s neck and strangling the life out of him, for what he had done to Jo over the past five years. Anto slashed out with the knife, and Justin barely moved back in time. His breathing was fast as he dodged the quick and careless thrusts of Anto’s knife.
Krissy watched from the cottage window her hand resting protectively on her belly where Anto’s child grew within her, the look on her face as Jo was shot was one of pure glee, she wished the simpering little witch died, then she could marry Anto and give him the child he so deserved, the child that Jo had been unable to give him in their five years of marriage. She chuckled to herself as she watched Justin dodged the dagger blade, thinking back to the day almost six months ago that Jo had hired her…
She had been almost dead with hunger and Jo had pitied her and hired her to help with the household chores, Krissy did the work and got fed. She had worked hard, and quickly regained her healthy look. She had seen the looks that Anto had thrown her way and she had returned them, he was good looking with black hair and the deepest blue eyes she had ever seen, he was well built from his work around the farm. And she could tell that Jo had not been giving him enough attention in the bedroom by the hunger she saw in his eyes. The smile on her face grew as she remembered their first encounter. She had been feeding the single milk cow in the barn when he had come in from the fields. She had turned to find him watching her, the look in his eyes left no doubt what he wanted there was even further evidence by the bulge in his britches, things had progressed rapidly she wasn’t sure how, but they both ended up in the hay naked, in a frenzy of love making, and she had to admit that for the life of her she didn’t know why Jo would even let the man out of the house, he gave her complete satisfaction. They met many times after that always in the barn.
She heard at night the sounds coming from their bedroom, the soft crying of Jo, and the grunts from Anto, she suspected that Jo just couldn’t please Anto. She knew that because Jo had not been able to bear Anto a son they fought, and often it ended in blows being landed on Jo, but Krissy did not pity Jo, the woman should know how to keep her man happy, and if she did not, she deserved every lick she received. She stepped outside and moved over to the corral watching the fight, knowing that if Justin won she would have to flee, to protect her unborn child.
Justin reached out in one quick movement and grabbed Anto’s wrist gripping it tightly and twisting making the man drop the dagger, he brought his other hand up and wrapped his fingers coldly around the man’s neck slowly tightening his grip, having every intention of murdering the man where he stood.
Josephine moaned and Justin stopped, his desire to kill Anto was almost uncontrollable but his blue eyes fell on her, and he turned and abruptly let Anto go. Anto fell to the ground gasping for breath and clutching at his throat.
Justin knelt beside Jo, and frowned cursing himself for not taking care of her first putting one arm under her knee’s and one behind her neck he picked her up as if she weighed no more than a feather, her long wavy black hair fell over his arm and he wished she would open her gray eyes so he could see them and know that she was going to be ok.
Without another look at Anto he moved swiftly toward the house, kicking the half closed door open he moved to the one bedroom in the house and lay her on the bed. Turning he turned the wick in the lamp up as high as he could flooding the room with light. “Krissy!!!” he yelled as his hands grabbed the top of her bodice and with only a moments hesitation he ripped it in two, he pulled the dress off of her and threw it the floor, grabbing a blanket he covered to her waist he then tore her chemise in two so he could see the wound. The bruises that darkened her skin and testified to the abuse she had received made anger and guilt roil inside him, but he tamped it down because he needed to take care of her now, he would take care of Anto later.
He looked behind him impatient for Krissy to come, the amount that Jo was bleeding worried him, and it looked as if the ball was still in her, he needed to get it out as soon as he could, not seeing Krissy he called her again. “Krissy!” but he received no response.
Growling in frustration he stood and moved to the kitchen pulling a pot of water over the hot water throwing in a knife and a cloth, then hearing voices outside he went to the door.
After Justin had carried Jo inside the house Krissy had rushed to Anto’s side making sure he was alright, and before he could follow Justin into the house she pulled him to her and told him her news. “Anto, I’m going to bear your child.” She said watching his face closely for his reaction. Confusion, surprise then joy ran across his face, forgetting about Jo and Justin, Anto wrapped his arms around Krissy and lifted her off the ground spinning her in a circle. Setting her down he looked deep into her brown eyes before kissing her passionately his arms holding her close to him.
When he saw was Krissy and Anto in a passionate embrace their lips locked together his face turned to stone “Anto” he said in a deadly calm voice interrupting the kiss. The two lovers looked at warily and annoyed “If I ever see you or Krissy near Josephine again I promise on my father’s grave I will kill you both with my bare hands.” Anto and Krissy looked at Justin fear etched into his face. Grabbing Krissy’s hand he pulled her toward his horse, and they mounted. Justin watched in disgust as they rode off, and wondered why Josephine had even hired Krissy in the first place.
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