Chapter Eight

They rode over the light brown hills, the sharp bushes growing near the horse's lower legs. Rapunzel had her arms wrapped tight around his waist again, her head pressed against his back as the sun burned from above them.

"You know, if we're lost, you can tell me." Rapunzel said.

Eugene let out a sigh. "We're lost."

"I can take bad news. Just tell me straight." Rapunzel said, pressing harder on the subject. She wanted to know if he actually knew where they were going or if they were just going to be roaming in the desert for days.

"I don't know where the hell we are." Eugene said. He knew Rapunzel wasn't understanding that he was telling her the truth. He figured she was trapped in some weird mid zone between confusion and reality. Anyway, since she didn't seem to realize he was telling the truth, he laid it thick on her

"No sense makin' it sound better than it is." She pressed.

"I reckon we're going in circles."

"Flower things up, I'll see right through it. So just tell me honestly, are we lost?"

Eugene sighed, getting sick of listening to them run around in circles. It felt like he was beating a dead horse. So, he decided to change his answer in hope that it would change her response. "Nope. I know exactly where we are."

"That's good." She said, a smile clear in her tone. She moved one of her hands, holding onto his shoulder while her arm was tucked under his. "'Cause frankly, I was getting a little worried." She said, lightly patting him.

Eugene softly smiled, looking toward the horizon. "Don't know where we're going, but there's no use being late."

Just as they headed into a valley, a gunshot echoed across the desert. Rapunzel tightened her grip around Eugene as he urged the horse to gallop. They figured they knew who the source was from.

As they got closer and closer, they could hear the cries of women and children. Men were shouting as the sounds of whips snapped against flesh. Men on horses pushed the group into a tight pack, shoving them towards the edge.

Just as Eugene and Rapunzel came to the top of a hill, Aborigines were at the very edge of the cliff. Their feet sent small pebbles tumbling down the steep edge. The men on horses rode closer and closer, till there was hardly any room to breath.

Rapunzel gasped, looping her arm into Eugene's. She swung off the horse, rushing towards the edge of their own cliff, desperately wishing she could help them. Wishing she could save them from the horrible men taunting them.

Rapunzel swung back her sunhat as Eugene swung off his horse and grabbed his gun. Rapunzel's jaw dropped as a chilling scream filled the thick air. Two bodies fell off the cliff, flipping before they hit the sharp rocks, causing their inevitable death.

Rapunzel choked on air as Eugene tightly held her arm. How could they do that? How could Gaston's men shove these people off of the cliffs. Rapunzel felt light headed, she felt like she was going to throw up.

Eugene loaded his gun, anger filling in his veins. He was going to save these people. He grabbed Rapunzel and pulled her behind some rocks as more screams filled the air. Eugene rested his gun on the rocks, aiming at Gaston's men.

But before he could shot, a bullet shot just past Rapunzel's head. She laid flat in the ground as Eugene aimed over her and fired. Hiding just a few feet above him was one of Gaston's men.

Eugene looked behind him and sat on top of his rocks. He aimed, waiting for the man to come out and exposed himself. Before he could shoot Eugene, Eugene fired and hit him first, sending him falling backwards.

Eugene took cover again, aiming again as more screams echoed through the desert. He was going to put a stop to this. He fired, hitting one of the men in the back. As a result from the bullet, both he and his horse fell off the cliff, tumbling through the air before they hit the rocks below as well.

The rest of Gaston's men shaw the scene happen. They began to hesitate, unsure what to do next. Do they go for Eugene or continue on their mission to kill off the Aborigines? "Get the bloody hell out of here!" One man shouted.

"Quickly!" Another one agreed. The group of men rushed back up the hill, the Aborigines falling behind them to get safely away from the edge.

Eugene fired again, hitting another man in the back. He let out a loud groan as he fell off his horse, smashing to the ground. The gun shot echoed through the open desert, raining in everyone's ears.

Eugene cocked his gun again as Rapunzel shook beside him. Eugene looked to the side, seeing her face scrunching in sadness. She been to shudder, thinking of the poor Aborigines that had fallen to their horrible death.

Eugene grabbed her hand, attempting to comfort her. Her large green eyes were sweeping with tears as he sadly shook his head. She shouldn't have had to see that. The Aborigines shouldn't've gone through that painful death.

Rapunzel began to cry, hiding her face. She wished she could get that horrible scene out of her head. Eugene let out a sigh, bowing his head. Quickly, she rose to her feet and ran off down the cliff. Eugene knew where she was going and let her run off. She needed some peace.

Rapunzel panted as she leaned against a tree for support. Just a few feet away from her were the bodies of the victims. They laid motionless, showing that they had died instantly. She stared at the innocent faces of children.

Her knees wobbled as she fell to the ground. How could someone do this? These were good people. They were harmless. Something filled inside of her as her eyes darted from each body to the next. They deserved something better. Whoever did this would pay.

Eugene walked over to the man he had just shot. He struggled on the ground, trying to reach for his gun that was just touched his fingertips. Eugene stood above him, glaring at him.

He knelt down, his face close to his. "My back's broke." The man said.

"Your gut's shot. There ain't nothing I can do for you." Eugene said, shaking his head.

The man panted, pressing his side to help ease his pain. "You can kill me." He strained.

Eugene run his fingers against the brim of his hat. "Where's Gaston's station from here?" He asked, ignoring the comment. Seeing that the man wouldn't reply, he went on. "Where's the nearest town?"

"Why should I tell you?"

"'Cause if you don't, I'll let you live." Eugene said, hardening his brown eyes at the man.

The man groaned, another wave of pain shooting through his side. Eugene looked around then put on his hat. "You know," he began. "I'm new here, so I'm kinda curious. Do you think the dingoes will get you first? Or the ants?" He asked.

He stood up, then began to walk away. He didn't care if he didn't get an answer. He would find a way to another town himself. But he was a man of his word. He was gonna let the man live because he didn't answer the question.

"Eugene," the man called out. "Don't leave me like this!"

The man groaned, struggling to speak. "Eugene! Gaston's station's two days' ride southwest." He shouted. Eugene continued to pack his stuff, acting like he was going to leave him alone to die in the desert. "Meekathanga's only 20 miles past the billabong." He pressed.

"Talk straight, goddamnit!" Eugene shouted. "Or I'll get the ants myself."

"It's a town, a day's ride past the dry riverbed." The man panted. The man lifted a shaky arm and pointed his finger. "That way."

Eugene slowly walked over. The man kept his word. He was gonna kill him now to save him from dying a more painful death.

"Now finish me." The man begged.

Eugene bent down and grabbed the gun, holding it out for the man to grab. He snatched it then aimed right at Eugene's forehead. Eugene stared down the barrel, clearly unafraid.

"You got one shot left in that shooter. Make the most of it." He said. Knowing he wasn't going to waste his bullet on him, Eugene stood up and walked away, his back turned to the man.

A gun shot echoed, making Rapunzel jump. Who else was just shot? Was Eugene okay? She licked her lips, forcing herself to stand up. She had to check on him. Just as she began to walk away, a baby began to whimper.

She whipped around, hearing its cries grow louder. She rushed over, seeing a blonde haired baby laying unharmed in his mother's arms. He bolted up, tears streaming down his face as Rapunzel reached out to him.

"Oh. Oh." She comforted, pulling him close to her. "All right. All right. Sweet thing." She softly said, running her fingers through his hair. She patted his back, thankful that she found him. He was going to be safe with her.

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