Thread: Bound to Grace

Joanna remained curled over the frightened youngster, her hand covering her mouth to muffle the screams as she pleaded with the girl. Sarah, I know you are frightened but you have to be quiet until we know that the bad men are gone, please. Joanna's eyes met the elderly woman's as the arrow tore through her frail body, her effort to protect her dying husband of no worth at that point. Joanna's eyes filled with tears. She didn't know if it had truly been the older couples time or if their time had come to soon, as she couldn't tell if any angels of mercy had been present to take the couple home, but a prayer would escape her lips that the man and woman would be guided to heaven and received at the gate with welcome arms. Her eyes conveyed a softness to the other woman as she saw her body heave with a last breath, and then the woman would join her husband in death. It wasn't until the shooting had ended and the sound of hoof beats thundered away from the coach that Joanna returned to an upright position, still holding Sarah. Sarah whimpered at the sight of the deceased couple in such close proximity to her, and Joanna's cooed and consoled the young girl the best that she could. Her ears, however, had picked up the sound of an approaching horse and rider. It was a single horse, not many like before. Joanna peered cautiously from behind the broken glass window out into the daylight and saw the figure of a rider in duster coming closer and closer to the coach but from the distance Joanna could not determine yet if rider were friend or foe. With the child still shaking in her arms, Joanna had to make a decision that literally broke her heart. She could get out of the coach herself to face the lone man, and ask Sarah to hide and pretend that she was also dead in case the man were foe, perhaps buying Joanna the time she needed to get him to leave the coach alone, and possibly leaving Sarah abandoned. But it was better that the child be abandoned and alive than to allow some strange, possibly deranged killer to know that the child lived. Or, she could take the child with her out of the coach and pray that the rider was friend. It was not a risk Joanna was willing to take. She had to protect Sarah, just like she had when she'd made the decision to fall from grace all of those years ago. Joanna smoothed the child's blonde curls as she spoke to her, softly but firmly. Sarah, I need you to stay in the coach on the floor. Sarah's eyes widened and she whimpered out no Mommy but Joanna insisted Sarah honey I know this is hard but you have to do as I tell you. It's the only way I can protect you, do you understand? Sarah whimpered but nodded affirmatively and Joanna helped her to the floor, instructing her to remain still and quiet while she partially covered her body with that of the old woman. Stay here Sarah, don't come out or make a sound until you know that it's safe, do you understand? Despite the terror in the young girls eyes, again she nodded and Joanna would kiss her forehead, fearful that it would be the last time she would ever see the girl but certain that if she could make it appear that everyone in the coach had perished but herself, the child would be safe and would live. Joanna moved inside of the carriage, and with one last smile Remain quiet, no matter what Sarah, stay quiet and don't move until you know it's safe. With that, Joanna opened the door of the carriage and stepped outside, gasping at the sight of the bullet holes and the dead coachmen, along with the dead horses and bandits who appeared to be Native Americans, apparently the savage type. Joanna knew that most Native Americans were peaceful and not savages, and found it odd that these had chosen to attack the stage coach. Steam still poured from the stack, the coach should have still been pressing closer to their destination and the old couple should still be alive. Once again Joanna had to question why God had allowed this to happen but in her heart knew that in his great wisdom, she should not be questioning his reasons. As the rider drew near she fell to her knees, her hands behind her head and already she was begging for her life, trying to draw any interest from within the inside of the coach. Please, don't kill me please. Take what you want, it's all tied to the top of the coach but please, don't kill me. Her lithe form shook with her tears and fear that Sarah would be found, she too afraid to look up to see whether or not the intruder was a good guy or bad guy. If she weren't dead soon, she would have her answer.