45 "buffalo branding"

Slowly I lifted my sore body from the cott.... My head pounded like a drum set on a stage. I laid in walkers arms all night, he never left my side. He kept his arms around me Until I felt safe enough to fall asleep. I found myself waking up at around 6pm. I slept all night and all day. I slept off the loads of pain and medication. I woke up to see that I was alone. I was shocked I was alone. There wasn't anyone around other than Jake and Ethan whom sat at the table to eat supper. As groggy as I was I stood up.. slowly and eagerly... I wore pj bottoms and a very light tank top. "Mornin Willie" Jake smiled. I gave him a warm hum of a smile. "Where uh.. where is everyone?" I asked. "I was afraid you were gonna ask that. They left a few hours ago. Business that ain't our business. If you get what I'm sayin" he looked down at his beer as he spoke. "No I understand completely. Wish someone would've woken me up" I reached under my bunk to strap my shoes on. I was almost in a rush to catch up with them. "That's the thing. Rip said if anyone woke you up we would have to clean stalls" he chucked. I shook my head. "Im not surprised. Thanks" I rushed outside as fast as I could. I needed to find them as soon as possible. I felt it was only necessary for me to help. This was my problem to begin with. I knew rip made me over sleep On purpose. Not only because I wasn't a great sleeper, but because he believes I'm a child and that I shouldn't see the things that I do. The world is different now. I've been through too much to stay innocent. I followed their tracks. I followed their tracks for about a mile. That's where I found them. I watched as a body stood Infront of a tree. His guilty old face sparkled in the setting sun. I watched as rip handed walker a knife. Walker stared down at the knife like it was a peice of gold. "If you give a shit about her,  you to avenge her. Take her damn name back" rip pointed into wades chest after ripping open his shirt. On his skin sat the same brand that is burned  in to my torso. I watched and listened as walker Contemplate if he was going to do what he was told to or not. He spun the knife in his hand as he listen to the old man grumble "I was hopin to kill that girl. Kill her like you did my boy! I should've taken her from ya. Tie her to a tree just like this. Do what you were bout to do to her in that creek. I would've made you watch boy. I would've made you eat your fuckin words! I would've skinned that blonde head of hers" he spat at walker. Walker.. who never really had a temper of his own lost it... he stabbed that man straight into the chest then skinned off his brand while he was still alive. The man shouted in agony. Almost the same agony he made me feel just a few hours ago. "String em!" Rip shouted as Ryan and Colby yanked a rope to hang the evil bastard by his throat. I watched as he swung in the pink sun With no mercy and zero regret. The men stepped back from their creation. Their faces were not phased at all. The new comers, Ryan, Colby and teeter look as if they saw a ghost. Rip welcomed them into the real world by telling them to meet him behind the bunkhouse later that night. Walker wiped the knife off the pant leg of the swinging body. He then folded it up to shove into his pocket... that's when he noticed me along the tree line. His face had a frown, his satisfied demeanor from killing the evil man saddened when seeing my beaten face. I stepped through the dead brush under my feet. "That outfit tells me you just woke up" he teased as he pinched my pj pants. I didn't reply. I kept my head down shamefully. "You didn't have to do that" I said quietly. His hands, oh so gently lifted my face to look up at him. "I told you I'd do anything for you" he repeated. "...I know" i gulped. He leaned down to kiss my lips softly a few times in a row. "You should be in bed" he said. I shook my head as my hands took his. It hurt to use my arm. It felt like a knife stabbing me and twisting it. I wasn't sure how I wouldWork in the morning. "Those guys.. they're gonna be stuck here like us" I said as he walked beside me holding my hand. "...it seems they're okay with that. I've become okay with that too" he replied. Not me. I'm not okay with it. "What made you okay with it?" I asked. He smiled slightly. "You" he said simply as he smooched the back of my hand. I looked down at my feet as we walked. I stopped in my tracks to see the three people fall victim to the brand. We listened as rip said "there is No going back from this. Under this brandYou're protected, taken care of. You're one of us" my arms clung around walkers waist as I listened. I felt as if this was all my fault. At the same time It wasn't a terrible thing to them. It was an honor. Walkers hand rubbed my back soothingly as we watched their lives being trapped. "You'll skate have a roof over your heads. No matter what..." rip stared down at the brand as he spoke.. he then looked over at walker and I "Willie. Here. Now." Rip pointed to the ground below him. I glanced up at walker then back at him before loosening my arms to stand next rip beside the fire. I looked down at the flame as he pointed to the rod sticking out of it. "Go ahead" rip pointed to Ryan's bare chest. Ryan's mouth held a stick that was ready to be nawed on in pain. I gulped as I lifted that brand up again. It took me back to my murderous times. Or even reminded me of jimmy when I hurt his soul. I held the brand one handed as my other arm was in agony. "I'm sorry" I said softly down to Ryan. His eyes wilted at the boiling brand. Gently I pushed it Against him for a few moments. He grunted. Whimpering in pain. As I dropped the brand back in the flame he shouted "Jesus Christ! That was worse than I thought" he panted. Rip nodded to Ryan before walking me back to walker. "When he breaks your heart, don't come crying to me. I ain't the one" he said to me with no empathy for me at all. I furrowed my brows "when my sister eats your heart then spits it out don't go crawling back to her like  you do every damn time" he made me mad. I never did a thing to him. He was slowly becoming cold. I want sure why. Rip looked walker up and down before walking back to the pit without another word. "...let's get you back to bed. Them pj's arent ment for branding"