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A single shot rang out in the canyon.
The clicking of his .45s put him in a meditative state. The rumbling of passing thunder overhead was the only sound in the valley, and the air was tense with the soft murmurs of the Dead Horses checking in with each other. Some carried the bodies of their fallen, and some helped the injured walk back to camp. He looked towards the late evening sky, the stars making their nightly appearance. 'I can’t help but wonder if the heavens know they’re shining down on the badlands?' he thinks as he walks on scorched earth, that beautiful sacred land now razed by violence.
His wrath painted those canyon walls, his anger a “righteous” guide once again leading him down that path. He had Salt-Upon-Wounds exactly where he wanted him, cowering in fear and begging for mercy. Just as his family had done. Just as his conquests before him.
“Is this really how you want this to go down, Graham?”
Six’s gaze focused squarely on him. Her tired eyes had an unreadable expression that put him on edge. He brandished his .45 and shoved the barrel in the cowering man’s face. “He has a debt to pay for what he's done, and I've come to collect... And so he's chosen to cower in the water like a dumb animal.” Six raised her hands to show she was unarmed and slowly made her way closer. “Joshua, you've already won. Look around you...” He takes a quick scan of his surroundings. Follows-Chalk slumped against a boulder, cradling his side. The scouts scattered about holding their ground and trying to keep it together for their war chief. He glanced back at the courier. “There's no need for you to kill him.”
Her eyes showed such understanding it made him feel exposed, as if the eyes of God were upon him. She placed her hand on his weapon, his eyes snapped to hers. “The Sorrows don't need to see you do this.” Her voice took on an unfamiliar soft lilt. His head fell as his shoulders sagged. “I want to take from them what they took from me... from my family,” he murmured.
“I know.” She whispered and gently pried his .45 from his rough grasp as she slipped her fingers between his own. His eyes fell in shame; how could he not see he was burning again? “I want to have my revenge. Against him. Against Caesar.” His voice lingered as Six squeezed his hand knowingly. He simply released a defeated sigh and away Salt-Upon-Wounds went, banished back to the Great Salt Lake.
The fighting had ended, the Sorrows and Dead Horses parted ways to recover and bury their dead. Joshua returned to the Three Marys with the Dead Horses and to open arms. Six decided to inform Daniel of the news. They exchanged no words and went their separate ways. The clicking of his .45s continued well into the night. It had been at least a few hours before Follows-Chalk walked into the Angel Cave and informed Joshua of Six’s return. “What is she doing?” Joshua asked, never taking his eyes off the pile of .45s he maintained. “Well see that’s the thing, she’s just standing there.”
Joshua let out a small hum. From what he gathered, Six had returned from visiting Daniel and the Sorrows but she was acting out of sorts. Gripping onto the rock walls and stumbling until she made her way to a small spring and had been wading in the water talking to herself.
“You don’t think… maybe they gave her something over there?” Follows-Chalk inquired. It wouldn’t exactly surprise him; the Sorrows are very spiritual. They use their shamans and medicine as a way to heal all types of maladies, both physical and emotional. Daniel didn’t agree with their supposed “superstitions”. Joshua knew that it wasn’t his place to intervene more than he already had. His beliefs were his own.
“It’s possible…she should be fine,” he stated as he began to clean the last rounds of his .45s. The Sorrows use sacred datura in their ceremonial elixirs. A mild hallucinogen, it’s probably nothing compared to the chems she’d taken before. He gazed over at the young man; apprehension colored his tired face, his eyes held so much exhaustion.
“Joshua,” Follows-Chalk snapped him out of his thoughts. “I really think you should go and see her; it’s too cold to be out there just standing in the water. I don’t think she’s doing well,” his worried eyes begging for help. Joshua looked away briefly and stopped his handgun maintenance as he reached for his ballistic vest.
“Lead me to her,” he requested.
The pair walked through the throng of Dead Horses, some being patched up while others were served bowls of bighorner stew and maize tortillas. They sat, ate, and sang joyously while others silently prayed. The air was celebratory and yet a tad solemn; there is no victory in war without casualty.
It’s all too familiar to Graham, those nights after a victory where the air was completely electric. The thrill of a well-earned victory was not found here; instead, he simply felt shame. Shame and a bit of relief. He continued to trail behind Follows-Chalk as his thoughts turned to her. That courier. An intervention from the Lord truly, he thought.
The sounds of water sloshing around brought him back to reality, Follows-Chalk had suddenly stopped. “She’s right there, I tried talking to her but she doesn’t want to listen, thought maybe she’d hear you out.”
Joshua placed his hand on the young man’s shoulder and nodded. “You should rest, I’ll take it from here.” Follows-Chalk gave him a small smile and made his way back towards the campground.
He looked out towards the dark water's edge. A lone figure emerged from behind a boulder. The courier paced in a circle, her head bowed low and hand on her chin as if she was deep in thought. Joshua waded into the spring, “I wondered if I’d see you again.” His words caused her to freeze. He made no sudden movements, “You had left in such a hurry, I didn’t have a chance to thank you.” Her head turned slightly to face him, the moonlight shone on her visage.
Six is a woman resurrected. Shot at point-blank range and rose again. It was almost Christ-like if it wasn’t for the sacrilege of that statement. Her eyes bored into his as he made his way deeper into the water. She gave him no signs of wanting to flee; if anything, she seemed less guarded than before the fight.
“Thank… me?” she managed to ask. As Joshua came closer, he could see she had removed her armor and vault suit; Six had kept on a battered tank top and underwear. He wondered if she meant to come here to bathe and tend to her wounds. A large open gash on her side from a hunting knife was only one injury coupled with a myriad of bruises and smaller cuts.
“Why thank me? I didn’t… didn’t do anything really.” She asked. Her large brown eyes looked like black voids peering into nothing. Joshua extended his hand towards her; she looked down at it curiously. “It’s not wise to stay out here in your condition. Zion gets quite cold at night.” She looked at his outstretched hand and he could see her making the mental connection. She should get out of the spring.
“You’re too far… can’t really, um….” She hesitates, “Can’t really walk…” She stayed rooted in place, slightly swaying as she clung to the boulder for stability. Joshua took the initiative and closed the distance between them. She braced herself as if she expected him to strike. He wondered for a brief moment if she was afraid of him, if his violence frightened her. He raised both of his hands to show her he was unarmed. She took that as a sign to place her hands in his, her fingers interlacing with his. Six stepped a bit closer, her chest slightly pressed against his as she attempted to steady herself.
“May I carry you?” he asked in a tone so soft she nearly didn’t hear it. “I won’t hurt you?” Yes, it will hurt him, it will make him ache and burn, but the need for her touch has overwhelmed him. He merely shook his head no. Six pressed herself against him as he hoisted her up, he noticed a small groan emit from her. “Shut your eyes, it will help with motion sickness.” She did and rested her head against his Kevlar vest. Her ear was directly over his chest; she could hear the rhythm of his heartbeat. She could feel his calloused scorched palms supporting her bottom as her legs wrapped around his waist. The steady movement of him taking her back to the Angel Cave made her feel slightly nauseous.
The raucous conversations of the Dead Horses became whispers as they watched their war chief carry his second-in-command back to his domain. Joshua caught a glimpse of a few bandaged fighters giving each other knowing looks of approval. He pushed that thought out of his mind.
He entered the cave and headed towards a small well-lit alcove, gently placing Six on a makeshift pile of Yao Guai pelts. She looked up at him as he adjusted her top and handed her a small glass bottle from his vest. “Drink this.” She struggled to move it towards her mouth without missing, he placed it on her lips as she took large gulps of the strange liquid. She pulled away.
“Bitter.”
“Antivenom usually is. Keep going.” He placed it back on her lips.
A warmth bloomed within her as his rough hands helped her to steady the vial. It’s rare to find affection for free in the Mojave, and there’s so much tenderness in his touch that she hadn’t felt from anyone before. “You imbibed one of the Sorrows' elixirs earlier, didn’t you?” he asked. Six slightly nodded her head yes, her eyes glazed over as she lifted her head to meet Joshua’s gaze. His blue eyes softened. ‘It’s a bit endearing to see this side of her,’ he thought. She’d only been in Zion for maybe two months. Other than looking for Daniel’s provisions, she lent her combat and medical skills to the Dead Horses, offering suggestions for tactics, teaching the men how to properly dress combat wounds, and preparing the women in case the fight were to spread to the Three Marys. Day in and day out, they worked side by side to ensure the victory for the Dead Horses and Sorrows. He’d seen her shed blood and sweat for them. She rejoiced in their celebrations, cried in their lamentations, broke bread with them as if they were family and not strangers she met by happenstance.
“I want to sleep,” she murmured.
Joshua looked towards his workbench, knowing there was a can of purified water he’d put away. “Let me—” Six grabbed at his sleeve and rubbed the material between her fingers as she gathered her thoughts. “Lay down with me?” The question took him off guard for a bit. There were a thousand different answers he could give her. No, it’s not appropriate. I’m far too old for you. No, we’re not married. But the warmth of her hands felt like coming home after a long day, and underneath all the viscera and sin, a part of him was still the young man from New Canaan who didn’t have the heart to tell a pretty woman no.
“Alright,” was all he could say as he allowed Six to remove his vest. Her movements were a bit clumsy. He lay back on the soft Yao Guai pelt and watched as she removed her flimsy undershirt. Her bare breasts bounced a bit as she gave a languid stretch. He took note of a large scar spanning from her mid-navel up to her clavicle. She was covered in healed cazador stings and stray bullet wounds. “Like what you see?” she lazily chuckled as she moved a bit closer. Joshua nodded absentmindedly, his arms reaching up to bring her in.
She tried to be gentle as he pulled her onto his chest, remembering that his skin was probably aching from just laying there. “Are you sure I’m not hurting you?”
“Yes, I’m sure.” He lied, concentrating on the way her lower back felt on his burnt fingertips. He made small swirling patterns on her skin, the sensation foreign to her but not unwelcome. “You don’t strike me as a touchy kind of guy.” He hummed in response.
“I’m not.” he rubbed his palms up the ridge of her spine. “I’ve always been a bit reserved.”
“Not during your Legion days.”
He sighed, “The actions of a man possessed by sin and greed.” He murmured. She lifted her head up a bit to meet his gaze, his eyes watching her curiously. “So... you don’t deny it?”
He huffed a breath, “When have I ever? My actions are my own. My Lord will judge me.”
She laid her head back down and went quiet as if she was deep in thought. “I’ve done bad things.” she said against his chest. He shrugged ever so slightly, “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.” Her eyebrows furrowed, “What does that even mean?”
“Only those who are faultless may cast judgment.” he chuckled. “It’s easy to judge someone who falls to the wayside.”
“Do you still fall?” she raised her hand to seek his. Joshua reciprocated, taking her hand in his and gently tangling his fingers between hers.
“Every day.”
They lay in shared silence, the soft crackling of fire in the background contrasting with the hushed conversations of the Dead Horses. Joshua took a deep breath and closed his eyes. In another life, he would have met Six first. Somewhere down that long I-95 they would have met each other, just simple travelers who’d strike a conversation. They would have talked and laughed while spotting each other during firefights. They would have camped under the starry sky. He would have invited her back to New Canaan to rest for her next journey. She would have loved it, and he would have never met Edward Sallow.
“I can’t remember sleeping with a guy I wasn’t planning on killing,” she said so nonchalantly it made him question if he heard her right.
“I’m flattered. I’d be concerned if I knew you were a better shot.” he chuckled. Six gasped in feigned offense. “You’re lucky I like you, the last guy was a pain in my ass.” she laid back down on his chest.
“I’m very lucky,” he murmured as he smoothed down her dark brown hair, his attention shifting to the scar on her head. Joshua traced it lightly as his thoughts shifted to the man she killed.
“Did you make him beg?”
Her fingers slowly made their way towards his wrist under his bandages. “Beg? Like, for his life?” So tender and soft, she enjoyed stroking the palms of his hands and he indulged her. He was slowly discovering he liked indulging her, even when it hurt, even when it ached. He released a small hum as Six buried her face in his shirt.
“No, did you make him beg for your forgiveness?”
She thought a bit, “No. I just wanted him gone. And all I got for my effort was a pretty gun and a big fucking mess...” she whispered.
He hummed in agreement. The gun she mentioned, he’d serviced it for her before the fight. He sat at his workbench and inspected the visage of the holy mother Mary that graced the grips of this instrument of death. Joshua’s thoughts wandered to the person who first owned this pistol. Who were they? The loving gaze of Mary, the vessel. Blessing each and every shot from this weapon. Each bullet shot in anger, in mistrust, and in fear had been kissed by her grace.
The evidence of its destruction is as clear as day, her scar staring him in the face. A second chance to start again, to go forward in rejuvenation. Where does he fit in that plan? He doesn’t. His prime has passed and all he has now is repentance until his Lord calls him home.
‘I don’t deserve this,’ he thinks.
“You’re very transparent, Graham.” Her voice interrupted his intrusive thoughts. As he craned his head to get a better look at her, Six began to wrap her arms around him and buried her face in his chest. He pressed her so deep into himself, he wished she could live between his ribs. Like a caged swallow, he’d keep her with him wherever he’d roam.
Her body was getting increasingly warmer. A small side effect of the antivenom. Her body pressed into his as she rubbed her face against him. He could feel her heartbeat quicken. His bandaged hands moved over her sides to the swell of her hips. He grabbed and massaged her soft flesh as she released a delicate sigh. He looked down and watched the way she rubbed against him.
“Joshua?” she moaned as his hands continued exploring her curves.
“Hm?” He answered as one of his hands began to trail behind her back, slipping under her panties. She gasped as he traced her opening with his rough middle finger, gathering her wetness and slipping his finger in. “Oh God…” She sighed as he pumped his finger in and out of her.
“Have you thought about this before?” He whispered in her ear, a second finger teasing her entrance. She nodded as he began to fill her even further. “I… have…”
“When did it start?”
“After… You told me your plan… I ah!” She yelped as his second finger fully slipped into her. Six looked up to meet his eyes, his gaze never leaving hers as he continued pumping into her.
“Go on,” he strained. “What sinful thoughts did you have after we spoke?” His voice became a bit gravely as she spread her legs over him. “I thought about… leading you to one of the empty caves… and… oh God…” Her voice wavered. “I wanted to tempt you into taking me.”
“How would you have done it?” He pinned her against him, her hips struggling to move against his hand. Six whined in protest. “I… I would have led you away from camp, asked you to teach me how to pray…” She swallowed a gulp as he teased her with a third finger, “And?”
“And then after I knew everyone was asleep, I’d kneel in front of you, maybe strip nice and slow, something tells me you’re into that.” He hummed in agreement.
“And after I’d give you a little show, play with myself until you couldn’t take it anymore and you’d have to pin me down and fuck me.”
Her admission spurned his fervor as he squeezed her ass in response. Joshua removed his fingers and placed them on Six’s willing lips.
“Is that why the Lord sent you? To tempt me?” He asked as Six sat up squarely on his strained bulge. Her breasts squeezed together as she steadied herself on his chest. He watched intently as she licked herself clean off his fingers. “Don’t you think I’m Godly, baby?” She cooed as her eyes closed while she gyrated against him. The friction burned, making every inch of him want to scream. Joshua pulled her down to bring her lips to his. It was an action driven by madness, by the need to possess. Six nipped at areas she assumed were his lips and the side of his mouth. His hands buried themselves in her short locks. As fast as he pinned her against his chest, he swiftly rolled her onto the pelts beneath them.
Joshua gazed at the writhing woman pinned beneath him. Her lips parted expectantly as he slowly raised himself off of her. Her eyes gave away her curiosity as he knelt between her spread legs and undressed her lower half.
“I think you’re walking divinity.” His voice was a bit ragged. His eyes focused on her patch of black hair. His fingers trailed up her inner thigh, and as he reached closer to her center, he could hear her breath hitch. “You should be treated as such.” He whispered as his fingers spread her bruised lips, admiring the fruits of his handiwork. Her lips glistened with her need.
He leaned down and lowered the bandages around his mouth. Warm air from his lips kissed Six’s core as he saw her drip onto his makeshift bed. He placed a soft kiss onto her swelled bud.
“Oh God...” She begged, her legs spreading a bit more. He chuckled and lapped up her slick. His tongue swirled against her entrance, lazily working its way into her. She tasted divine to him. He released a deep moan, and she could feel it reverberating in her chest. “Oh fuck, Joshua… More, please, please, please…” His tongue was joined by his fingers working themselves in tandem for her pleasure.
“No, I need you… need you in me.” She begged. Joshua pulled away and unbuckled his snakeskin belt. He settled in front of this angel from above. Six propped herself up against the hay-stuffed pillows. She watched as he lowered his jeans, slowly unwrapping his cock. His breathing was ragged, his mouth glistening with her climax. Joshua’s half-lidded eyes focused on her as he pulled out his swollen cock and began to stroke himself. He was thicker than she anticipated. As he worked himself in front of her, he suddenly found himself becoming hot as a string of precum began to drip onto the furs.
He lined himself up with Six’s soaked pussy, her walls already clenching on nothing, making her ache. Joshua spread her out and teased her needy cunt with his tip, rubbing it between her puffy lips.
“Stop teasing me.” She groaned.
“For you have need of steadfast patience and endurance, so that you may perform and fully accomplish the will of God…” Joshua mumbled as he began to push into her. Six smiled and rolled her eyes, “Are you saying God wants us to fuck?”
The sudden jerk of his hips caused Six to let out a loud whimper. Joshua gripped her hips and shuddered. He looked down at how their bodies connected. “No. God wants you to learn patience, heathen, I’m saying I want us to fuck.” He quipped as his hips began to move in rhythm.
“Such vulgar language, Elder Graham, is that the Mojave’s influence?” She teases.
“You could say that….New Vegas and their back Alleys” he mumbles. Before she can sate her curiosity he bucks into her.
She felt heavenly around his scarred cock. Warm and willing, a beautiful sensation he couldn’t remember feeling this good. As he drilled into her, he began to press her down against the furs, pinning her into submission. His ragged voice lingered against her ear, “Is this how you wanted me to take you?” He moaned as she bit his neck, leaving a mark on him. He moved back to watch her expressions.
“Answer me.”
“Yes! I wanted this… for a long time!” She moaned out and pulled him onto her, craving the feel of his weight pinning her down, the feel of his arms keeping hers at the side of her head as he fucked into her. “You enjoy being told what to do, don’t you?” He teased, “I could keep you here, naked and subservient as long as I fill you with my seed. You’d stay, wouldn't you? I wouldn’t even need to bind you.” The mental image made Joshua buck into her harder.
“God, yes!” She moaned.
He gripped her legs and pressed into her deeper. The feeling in his gut felt like a rubber band ready to snap. As he spread her open as wide as she could go, something in him compelled him to mumble in her ear. “Take it, take all my seed… I want you to keep it until it takes.” Six began to convulse and buck under him. “Oh God, Joshua! Don’t stop! Give me all of it, fuck!!” She cried out. She wrapped her legs around him, keeping him pinned down as he filled her with his cum. He fucked into her a final time, his movements becoming slowed and lazy. Six held him to her chest, not in a hurry to remove him off of her. The increased wetness between them sparked something tender as he moved his lips to meet hers as they lay there contemplating the weight of their decisions.
He moved himself off and watched as his cum slowly dripped out of her lovely cunt. It was oddly hypnotic, the urge to do it again and again until she could carry his child overwriting a part of his brain he’d long forgotten. He shook his head at the thought and grabbed a nearby rag to gently clean her up. Six smiled in her afterglow.
“Are you even able to get me pregnant?”
He shrugged and kicked off his boots as he lay down next to her. “I’m unsure. It’s irrelevant regardless. I’m too old to have a child from someone so young anyway.” She rolled her eyes, “I’m not young. I’m probably only, what, ten or twelve years younger than you? Who’s to say I can even have kids anyway.” She said with a hint of sadness that he wanted to prod into but decided against it for now. She lay her head on his chest and breathed deep. He smelled of juniper and coffee. His hand enveloped hers, and the sounds of their breathing synchronized. Joshua lay there in bed with the woman who saved him from himself.
He was no longer burning.