"Spread your legs wider, and put as as much strength in your elbows as possible.  Line up the sights to your target, and remember it's going to kick very hard.  Pull the trigger when you're ready." 

Oliver has been helping me learn how to shoot a musket and a revolver.  He is certain I may be left to fend for myself sometime soon.  He says if war breaks out, he will be leaving to fight the lost souls of the confederates.

BOOM!

I pulled the trigger on the musket and fell back on my behind.  Somehow Oliver managed to catch the gun before it also fell to the ground.

"Are you okay?"  He helped me up.

"Yes, but my arm won't be as bruised as my ego."  I assured him.

"Let's work with the revolver." 

He isn't just teaching me to shoot for my own safety, but it's also to hunt.  So far I've learned how to built a fire, shoot a musket, fish, and last but not least, how to maintain the animals on the farm.  In the spring, we will plant corn in the fields and butcher a hog and cow.

I've also spent time in the kitchen when Oliver is working. He isn't always able to be here.

We finished target practicing and went back to the house, when we heard screaming. We ran quickly into the barn and saw one of Oliver's men bleeding.

"What happened here?" Oliver was taken by surprise.

"Sir, Thomas Vest is on his way up the hill.  His men spotted me and shot with no apparent reason."

"Robert!"  Oliver called out to his friend.  "Go get Dr. Sams and Colonel Rutherford.  Naomi, help me get him into the house." 

With one arm around me and the other around Oliver, we quickly made our way into the house and to the guest quarters. 

Claire ran to get fresh water, while Oliver ripped open Bubs shirt.  I've never seen so much blood in my life. 

The wound is on his side where, if it went through, it must have hit his lung. 

"Bub, are you having any trouble breathing?" 

"No, sir." I can tell Bub is in a lot of pain.

"Okay, it must not have made it past your ribs.  Naomi, run down and get some whiskey from the parlor.  Which one doesn't matter, just move quickly." 

I again did as he said, and that's when I heard the roar of hooves running toward our home. 

I ran back upstairs and told Oliver with a whisper in his ear.  He helped Bub sit up and take a few swigs, before laying him back and telling me to help tie the man to the bedpost.

"I'll get the bullet out, but I'll need you to sew him.  We don't have much time." 

He grabbed for his belt and stuck it in Bubs mouth.  "This will hurt, but I need you to stay as quiet as possible." 

Claire set down the water and had supplies tucked into her apron.  I cringed as I watched Oliver cut into the man's skin to make a larger hole, then insert his fingers to dig around for the bullet. 

"Got it."  He said as he dropped it into the bowl of water and he washed his hands. "Get him sewn up."  He said before leaving the room.

I took out the gag and had him drink more whiskey before I started sewing.  My hands shook as he tried not to cry out in pain.  "Claire, is this right?" 

I needed her reassurance, because I haven't sewn much in my lifetime.  We always had staff for such things.

I heard yelling from downstairs just as I finished the last stitch.  "Clean him up and wrap those rags around him.  I need to be seen so it's not suspicious."  I washed my hands and tried to remove the blood, but my nails seem to be stained.

"Absolutely no person on this property is a slave. The man you shot this morning is a free man!"  Three men are holding Oliver back. 

"Naomi, go!  You don't need to be here!"  He screamed. 

A man grabbed me.  "Get your hands off my wife!"

"It seems the beautiful Misses is quite the rebel. Did your mother teach you to dress so casual?  I must say, your hair is quite the turn on."  Mr. Vest said, and I can feel the man holding me back sniffing my hair.

"Let go of my wife!"

"You'll fight for the cause Mr. Westlake, or would you sacrifice this beautiful woman?"

"Get your claws off me. He will never fight for your cause. I'd die before I let you take away the freedoms of the ones I love."  I tried to wiggle away.

"I guess you'd die for that slave we shot at this morning?  He is one of yours I believe."  Mr. Vest said.

"He is his own free man and is here by choice."  Oliver struggled, and it took three men to hold him back.

"We will find all of them Mr. Westlake, then I'll have my way with your lovely bride." 

"I'll kill you before you can touch her."  Oliver spit in the man's face.

"Sir, there's Union Army on their way up the hill.  What should we do?" A disgusting looking monster said.  The man was hideous with a scar that ran across his face.

"We will head out for now, but we will return.  I know you're hiding them, and I'll teach you and the misses not to cross me."  He punched Oliver in the stomach, then stopped in front of me.  "Take her out back and teach her a few things.  Make it quick."  He said it to the scarred man.

"No! Naomi fight!"  Oliver screamed as they drug me away. 

"Everyone else mount up, and Sheets will meet us on the river banks.  We've just made an enemy out of Rutherford." 

"Thomas Vest, if you ever return to my land I will kill you.  Take me now and let my wife go!"

That's the last I heard as this disgusting monster pulled me out back by my hair. 

He pushed me against a beam inside the barn and told me to hug it as he tied me up.  He ripped off my blouse and I heard something, but couldn't see. 

WHIP!  I screamed in agony.  Tear pouring out of my eyes as I felt it again.  "This is what happens to sympathizers.  It hurts your husband more to do it to you, rather to him."  He was breathing heavily, and he was doing something else as he whipped me.

WHIP!  I screamed then laughed.  "You're all idiots.  My husband doesn't love me.  It was arranged."  I laughed harder.  "All of this is for nothing." 

WHIP!

I collapsed and he stepped away.  "It wasn't for nothing.  Seeing you scream in agony gave me just the arousal I needed.  Tell me Misses Westlake, have you ever had a man's seed on your face?" 

He rubbed his hand all over my face and lips.  "Taste me."  He laughed as I vomited.  I vomited all over myself.

"Next time it won't be my hand."  He walked out laughing, and for what took forever, I waited to be untied.  Finally, I heard hooves and it was the remainer of Vest's men leaving.  I must be losing blood, or the pain is just too much, because I'm growing dizzier, and my eyes won't stay open.

"Naomi!"  I heard Oliver just as darkness took hold.

I woke laying on my stomach with my head to the side.  I can still feel his hands on me, and I scream.  I screamed the most blood curdling scream I never thought my lungs would make.

"Naomi!  It's me, you're safe."  I felt a gentle touch on my arm, but my back stings.

"It hurts."  I cried.

"I know, I'm so sorry I couldn't protect you." 

I turned my head so I can face him.  He's looking at me with concern.

"Oliver, I want to go home."  The tears cloud my vision.

"I'm afraid things are the same east of us.  You wouldn't be any safer, but Rutherford and I caught up to him and his men.  He's been detained by the Union Army. He can't hurt you now."  Oliver kept stroking my arm lightly.

"How bad is my back?"  I asked.

"You have four lacerations.  It's important to stay in bed without laying on your back.  I'm so sorry."  He whispered the last part.

I squeezed my eyes shut and I felt a tear trail down the bridge of my nose.

"He did something horrible."  I cried.

"What else did he do?"  He asked, with hatred in his voice.

"He said causing my pain did things to himself, so he wiped his seed all over my face, then pryed my lips open and made me taste him.  I got so sick." I start crying even harder.

"He enjoyed my pain, Oliver."

He let out a deep breath.  "I'll kill both of them."

I nodded.  I'm not ashamed to want that man dead.

Mae helped me into a hot bath, and lightly washed around my lacerations that still bleed here and there.

I was still sobbing while sitting in the hot bathwater.  She washed my hair, and used a pitcher to wash out the soap.  There was nothing to say.  Nothing that justifies what happened to me.

She helped me out of the tub and dried me, before putting me into a sleeper and helping me into bed.  I haven't eaten, and I'm not hungry.  Oliver insists I eat to gain more strength and heal properly.  The pain radiating from my back hurts terribly, and sleep is something the pain has chased away.  I spend most of my time crying. 

The doctor left some liquid medicine that I am to use sparingly.  Oliver gave me one dose, and I slept for hours.  I am thankful for anything that relieves this pain.