<div class="floatleft">(http://www.amybrown.net/women/cowgirl.jpg)</div><div align="center"><strong>-Grant, his lackey (Jackson) and Annabel, NCP,  The Saloon – Avalon, Oh those crazy locals!!</strong></div><br/><br/><div class="floatright">(http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z466/Corvus269/The%20Gamble/Buzzards-Gulch---Grant--Jackson.jpg)</div>A menacing shadow fell over the uneven planks of the wooden walkway. It cast a dark figure of a powerful body with broad shoulders and long legs. The sound of heavy boots striking against the wooden boards counted out a lazy rhythm consistent with a lazy stride of a man in no hurry to get to his destination. Another shadow fell in time with the first, slightly taller in height and even broader across the chest. The second man had a heavy step, creating a solid thump, thump, thump, acting as a steady base to match his partner’s rhythmic gait.<br/><br/>Grant Thompson wasn’t a man known for his pleasant personality, nor was his constant companion, a man that went by the name Jackson Montgomery, best known to the locals as Jack. It was a known fact that if you wanted a peaceful existence on this dusty rock you didn’t cross either man. It wasn’t advisable to owe them a debt, or worse, a favor. If a person was unfortunate enough to owe either man it would be like living on borrowed time until they deemed it time to collect.  Local folk understood the risks when dealing with Grant Thompson, unless you had the coin up front to acquire something only they offered then it was best to go without.<br/><br/>The two men rounded the corner and slowed their pace further, exchanging a knowing glance when they spotted a slim blonde exiting the local watering hole. A slow and calculated smile spread across Grants face, shielded from the hot sun by his black stetson, as he subtly signaled for Jackson to approach the girl from behind while he strode towards her, greeting her head-on.<br/><br/>“Annabel” Grant called out clearly.<br/><br/>The slim blonde paused in her departure, knowing if she tried to run it might bring more attention to her reasons being in town than she hoped he understood. Besides, the longer she could keep him off the doctors scent the better.  Turning to look the dark haired cowboy in the eye, the tiny, slip of a girl narrowed her eyes and placed her hands firmly upon her hips. “What do you want Grant? I’ve got to get back to the farm. Some of us have honest work to do!”<br/><br/>Amusement tugged at his lips, giving the locals scattered around the town the impression that Grant’s business with the pretty blonde was friendly, as rare as that would be. The smile on his lips emphasized the dark haired man’s good looks as he grew closer, though Annabel could see his dark, soulless eyes showed nothing but disdain.<br/><br/>“Annie, what kind of talk is that? Daddy wouldn’t like you being so fresh” stepping closer to the feisty farmer Grant let his hand stroke across the side of her face, smiling as she flinched from his touch. “He raised you to be a lady didn’t he?” Leaning in closer Grant whispered against her ear before adding “tell me sweet thing if I’m wrong on that. I was with your sister…that girl was no lady, not much of a tramp as it turned out, but I bet I could train you to pleasure a man real good.”<br/><br/>His breath caused a cold shiver to run the full length of her body as Annabel placed her hands on Grant’s chest and pushed back, her first step in her plan to escape town as quickly as her legs would carry her. Unfortunately she didn’t get very far. Was it no wonder Grant allowed the pretty blonde to step away from his grip when he knew damned well she would come up against the very broad, very solid chest belonging to one, Jackson Montgomery.<br/><br/>Strong hands wrapped over Annabel’s upper arms, squeezing hard to keep her in place, not caring that the girl whimpered in pain. “You don’t gotta run Annie, have a drink with us, let’s catch up.” Grant demanded smoothly, signaling his muscle with a decisive nod of his head to have the girl brought into the very same bar she had just exited. “Make daddy proud, and be a good girl. Wouldn’t want to show up the family being rude to an upstanding member of our society, people might think you’re a bad seed” pausing as he turned towards the saloon, Grant spun back around, quickly leaning in close to the young blonde, letting her see the fire of anger that burned in his eyes “just like your sister. Nothing but trouble.” With a jerk of his head, Grant signaled Jackson to bring the young Annabel with him into the saloon, giving him the approval to force the issue if need be.<br/><br/>The doors to the saloon swung open, spilling the day’s sunlight into the dark room, stabbing it with fingers of sunrays emphasizing the dust that danced in the beams before settling upon every convenient surface without prejudice.<br/><br/>Annabel was terrified, not for herself, but for the young Asian doctor that she had tracked down in order to warn her about Grant and his problem with the Good Samaritan.  Annie had hoped to get to the doctor in time for the young woman to escape this dusty outback town. Instead she ended up bringing the devil himself to the young doctor unintentionally. She could only hope that Grant and Jackson would be preoccupied with her as their prisoner that they wouldn’t notice the young Asian Doctor.<br/><br/>The two men moved with confidence, knowing not many would come to the girl’s defense as most locals turned a blind eye at the first taste of trouble. A cheer went up from the group of Alliance soldiers, welcoming both Grant and Jackson with drunken greetings.  Without being asked, the barkeep reached into a locked cabinet and pulled out a bottle of pure amber liquid, placing it and two glasses on the stained surface of the bar.<br/><br/>“Boys” Grant replied to the soldiers “today is your lucky day. I’ve got me a fresh one starting just today. She’s gonna be needing some practice. I’m willing to offer this here filly at a fair price considering her virginity status.”<br/><br/>Alarm filled Annabel’s pretty eyes as she began to tug her arms, attempting to pull out of the iron clad grip of Jackson Montgomery without  success. “What? No!” she cried out in a panic as Jackson tightened his hold and pulled her back against the solid wall of his chest.<br/><br/>“Come now Annie. It’s your fault I’m down a girl. It’s only right that you take your sisters place.” Grant replied swiftly before turning back to the barkeep. “Gonna need another glass. I think Annie here is gonna need a taste of the good stuff.” Glancing over his shoulder Grant smiled, looking much like the devil himself “maybe I’ll take you first, let you get use to a real man before I offer you up to these drunks. Seems to me it would be a damned shame to waste your tight little body on anyone but the best.”<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>