Part 7 (1/2)

He flexed the fingers that held Cathy's arms penned to her waist and Cathy trembled at the feel of his huge chest pressed against her back. He had the strength to do it, without a doubt. But she couldn't give up. . . .

”I'm not lying, Big Jim,” she whispered urgently.”My father. ...”

”Even if you're notlyin ', wench, your fatherain't here, is he?” Cathy had to forlornly shake her head. Big Jim looked sad. ”I didn't think so. Then we gotnothin ' to talk about, do we?”

”Big Jim. . . .” Cathy began desperately, only to be silenced by his impatient snort.

”What you so scared about, anyway? These fellowsain'tgonna hurt you none. They just want a little fun for tonight, and tomorrow they'll let you go about your business as nice as you please.O'course , you might be a little sore, but that don't matter to the likes of you.”

Cathy wanted to scream, to cry,to laugh hysterically. Apparently he thought she was of the same type as the women who worked for him! Oh, G.o.d, this was out of the frying pan and into the fire-with a vengeance! But she wouldn't make it easy for them, she vowed. She would fight. . . .

The two men who were arguing the loudest about which of them had seen her first suddenly jumped to their feet, knives flas.h.i.+ng. Before they could fall on each other, Big Jim's meaty fist crashed down hard on the bar beside Cathy, making her start nervously.

”Hold!” he bellowed. ”There's to be n.o.bloodlettin ' in here! I say every man who wants the wench should roll for her!”

”Aye!Aye! We'll roll for her!” The suggestion was enthusiastically embraced by all. Cathy was frightened as well as bewildered.Roll for her? What in the name of heaven-or should she say h.e.l.l-was that? She was enlightened seconds later.

'Who's got some dice? All right, high roller gets first turn, second roller next, and so on.That agreeable?” The men boisterously indicated their approval. ”In case of a tie, the winners roll again.Right?”

”Right!”

The men gathered around a large round table in the center of the room. One of them produced a pair of dice from his pocket. Another looked back over his shoulder at Cathy, his eyes glistening appreciatively.

”Bring the prize!” he roared suddenly. Cathy blanched.

”Yeah, put her in the middle of the tableso's we can see what we're gaming for!”

Two men crossed the room eagerly to grab Cathy away from Big Jim. He let her go without a murmur. Cathy kicked and clawed in a frenzy of fear as she was carried bodily across toward where the rest of the men had gathered in a tight little circle about the table. The man who was holding her under her armpits took advantage of his position to squeeze her bare breast painfully. Oh, G.o.d, this couldn't be happening! She bit savagely at his arm. He cursed, almost dropping her. The man holding her feet chortled at his companion's pain. Cathy tried to kick him, but he was holding her about her ankles and she couldn't get free. When they set her on her feet at last, the man she had bitten drew back his arm and deliberately slapped her across the face. The blow was so hard that Cathy reeled backwards. Another man caught her, grinning, and ran his hands over her body intimately. Cathy kicked him in the s.h.i.+n. He howled, grabbing the injured place. Before he could retaliate, Cathy was grabbed from behind and swung off her feet.

”Tie the b.i.t.c.h up!” the bitten man growled. His companions needed no urging. Before Cathy quite knew what was happening, she was hoisted to the center of the table, and her hands were tied tightly behind her back. She tried to kick at her tormentors only to have her ankles bound too. For good measure they even pa.s.sed a rope around her waist securing it to ameathook high overhead. Cathy was completely immobilized, and unable to help herself in any way. The only thing shecoulddo was express her terror and rage with her tongue.

”You filthy pigs, you'll answer for this!” shescreamed, her voice shaking. ”If you don't let me go . . . !”

Her words were choked off abruptly, as a grimy rag was thrust into her mouth. Cathy gagged and spat, but she couldn't rid herself of it. G.o.d, she was suffocating! But that would be preferable to the fate these animals had planned for her. Through a haze of shame and horror she felt her s.h.i.+rt being ripped completely off.

Cathy's knees threatened to give way as she stared down at the leering circle of men. She couldn't faint! Then she would be completely at their mercy. Grimly, she forced herself to breathe deeply through her nose. After a moment she felt her strength returning. The man she had bitten reached both hands up to pinch hurtfully at her bare nipples. Cathy cringed in pain and fear.

”Hey, Billy, thatain't fair! Yougotta wait your turn like the rest of us,” one of the men protested. The man called Billy dropped his hands reluctantly. Cathy tried her best to s.h.i.+eld her body from their devouring gazes, but it was impossible. She was forced to stand, gagged and bound, in the center of that table, surrounded by drooling men whose eyes feasted on her bare b.r.e.a.s.t.s. Summoning the last reserves of her will, Cathy stiffened her spine, standing straight and glaring at them ferociously.

”h.e.l.l, what're wewaitin ' for? Let's get on with it!” Billy said impatiently. A man grabbed the dice, shook them with intense concentration, and released them to roll across the table. They came to rest at Cathy's feet. With a tremendous effort she jerked both her feet against the dice, sending them flying to the floor.

”G.o.d, it was a ten!” the man who had cast the dice mourned, while Billy jumped up on the table beside Cathy. He made her wait as he very slowly drew his arm back. The blow, when it landed, snapped her head back on her neck. She straightened slowly, tears starting in her eyes. Her jaw throbbed with a strange, burning numbness. She was afraid it was broken.

'Try that again,b.i.t.c.h, and I'll take my knife to you,” he growled. ”You won't be sopurty with a slit nose!”

Cathy had enough sense to realize that he meant it. He was a man who enjoyed inflicting pain on others, especially women. It made him feel good.

The game began again at Cathy's feet. This time she ignored it, staring with intense concentration at the smoky lantern that hung from the ceiling.

”Oh, G.o.d, please help me,” she prayed desperately. A tear coursed helplessly down her cheek. Her jaw ached badly, she was mortally ashamed by her nakedness, and, looking at the repulsive men below her, she was conscious of a shaft of mortal fear. Was there to be no escape from these animals? She would welcome the devil himself if he would set her free!

”Is this an open game, gentlemen?”

Cathy's head swung around disbelievingly at the velvet drawl. Jon!Thank you, G.o.d, she thought fervently, not caring about the incongruity of seeing Jon as her deliverer. Her eyes met his with joyous relief, but he looked back at her warningly before ignoring her and walking over to the crowd of men. Cathy suddenly realized that her rescue was very far from being a sure thing. Jon was alone, armed with only one visible pistol, while there were at least a dozen, all armed to the teeth. Still, just the fact of his presence made her feel very muchbetter, she believed that no harm would come to her while he was there to prevent it.

The men turned, as a body, to stare at Jon as he approached them.

”Who the b.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l are you?” Billy demanded suspiciously, his bushy brows coming together in a menacing frown.

”Name's Jon Hale.I'm captain of the 'Margarita,' anch.o.r.ed yonder in the bay. Big Jim knows me, don't you, Jim?” Jon's tone was easy, but his eyes never left Billy's.

”Yup,” the barkeepagreed, his brow furrowing. ”We don't see you in here much any more, Captain. What brings you tonight?”

”I was on my way to visit a certain lady when I heard all the commotion. My curiosity was piqued. Now that I've seen the cause-she's certainly worth the noise. Does she belong to any of you gentlemen in particular?”

Cathy glared at Jon with unfeigned viciousness as his eyes ran over her insolently, lingering with languid appreciation on rosy peaks that quivered at him as she drew an outraged breath. His glance just touched on her swollen jaw before moving away, but the sudden glitter in his eyes rea.s.sured her. She had known him long enough to know that it boded ill for someone!

”The wench's what we're gaming for!” a voice explained jovially.

”Ah, I see. Well, then, may I join you?” His voice was very calm. As Cathy knew from experience, that deceptive quietness was a mask for fierce rage.

”Idunno .” Billy sounded dubious. ”You weren't here when she came in. I don't see how as it would be fair to let you take a turn.”

The others nodded with solemn agreement.

”Suppose I buy one of your turns, then?” Jon proposed. ”Say, two hundred dollars to the man who sells me his place. Two hundred dollars will buy a cathouse full of wh.o.r.es!”

”Three hundred and you can have my turn!” a man who hadn't spoken before said.

”Two hundred and fifty.”

”Done!”

Money exchanged hands and the game resumed. The first three throwers rolled a three, a five, and a two, respectively. From their curses it was plain that they knew themselves to be out of the running. Throw after throw was made. Billy rolled an eleven, which stood as the throw to beat. Finally it was Jon's turn. Cathy held her breath. What would they do if he didn't win? The possibilities were unthinkable.

Jon picked up the dice, shook them, and let them go almost casually. They landed near Cathy's feet. She had to strain to see them. It looked like ... a five on one, and a six on the other. An eleven!

'We roll again,” Billy growled.

He cast the dice and came up with a nine. Jon threw. The onlookers muttered appreciatively. This was more sport than they'd hoped. Another nine!

”Castagain!Billysnarled.

”This could go on all night,” Jon answered lightly. ”And I for one prefer to get on with more pleasurable matters. Why not let the lady choose her partner?”

”Aye!Let the wench choose!” Those who had lost their chance were eager to prolong the fun. There was nothing Billy could do but agree.