Mystic Mountains

Agnes saw their visitor, saw Johnny lying on the ground. "Aw, missus, what's he done to Johnny? Shall I go and help him?"
    "No, stay with us," Isabella ordered, putting a hand on Tim 's shoulder as Jones neared. The hand that held her weapon trembled. Lord, would she be able to use the thing if she had to? "What do you want?" she asked. Stupid question, for it was clear he was up to no good.
    She glanced over to see that Johnny had scrambled to his feet and was advancing on Jones, a shovel held high, ready for attack.
    "Now then, girlie, put yer weapon down. Or the girl gets it," Jones snarled, pointing his pistol at Agnes' head. Agnes screamed and Isabella's hand wavered.
    "Now, you don 't want to be sent up for murder, do you?" Isabella asked in a shaky voice, thinking to distract him long enough to allow Johnny time to get near.
    But Jones must have ear s like a cat for he sensed Johnny coming up behind him and with a speed that amazed Isabella leapt at her, clamping a hand around her wrist as he knocked her pistol to the ground, his own weapon now aimed at Tim's head.
    Turning with more agility than she would have thought him capable of, he held her before him as a shield, and facing Johnny shouted, "Now, don't be daft, man, I just want a word with the woman here. Put the shovel down. You don't want to see the lady harmed, do you?" Bending, he pushed her gun down his belt while he held his own weapon pointed straight at Tim's head. For a moment she debated whether it was worth the risk of trying to disarm him. But then thought better of it. The pistol could go off and any one of them would be shot. Fear for her family made her hold back. Perhaps once he took her away from the campsite, which no doubt he would, she could find a way to get the weapon from him.
    Filled with sickening fear she squirmed away from his rum-laden breath. Shaking her head at Johnny she told him with her eyes to keep his distance.
    Why did she have to get herself involved with men like this? Was she to be plagued by his sort all her life?
    "Let me go, Jones," she ordered, trying to sound assured, when inside she was quaking. "What do you hope to gain? Tiger will kill you if you harm me." She wasn 't too sure of that, but his face twisted with what looked like fear, before he grinned evilly.
    "Don 't matter none. By then it will be too late. Keep away," he warned, when Johnny moved nearer, still wielding the shovel. "I'll use this on you, then her. After I've got what I came for." He waved the pistol about. Isabella groaned.
    Johnny looked appealingly at Isabella before letting the shovel drop to his side. "What you hope to gain by this foolishness?" he asked.
    "You must be mad—or blind. I think every man in our party wanted what I'm gonna get from this little lady." He brandished the pistol when Johnny and Agnes both moved towards him.
    Annie began to cry and Isabella shot her a worried glance. "Pick the brat up," Jones ordered Agnes, pointing the weapon at Isabella 's belly. "And you, kid, get over there with her," he shouted as Tim raised a hand with the clear intention of hitting him.
    Isabella screamed, "No, Tim!"
    The dog growled, its hackles rising. "And keep a hold of that bloody animal," Jones ordered.
    "Mama?" Tim cried.
    Isabella nodded, trying to smile as she said, as evenly as she could, "Do as he says, Tim, take the dog and go over there with Agnes and our Annie. Mama will be fine."
    "Sensible lady. " Jones moved slowly backwards, the pistol held at her throat. "We'll be off, now. One false move and you get it in the gut. Understand, Johnny boy? I've got nothing to lose, have I?"
    Johnny nodded, but Isabella feared he would do something silly and get himself injured. "Johnny, just do as he says." She sent him a pleading look and he nodded again.
    Jones began to drag Isabella slowly towards a stand of small trees about a hundred yards from where they'd pitched the tents and built the fire. Isabella shook her head at Johnny when he bent to pick up a piece of wood.
    "Now that would be daft, wouldn 't it?" Jones said, also seeing what he intended. "Just you stay here like a good lad and don't follow us. I'll have the pistol handy, so I'll use it on the little lady here, have no doubt, if you interfere. You wouldn't want to see her pretty face all messed up would you?"
    "Mama," Tim screamed again as they edged nearer the trees.
    Isabella's mind worked extra fast. Jones could not use the weapon and do what he intended with her at