The hours and days turned to weeks from the day Genisis first met Garrett in the valley, for two weeks she resisted going to pick berries out of the fear of running into Garrett again. Now with the supplies of berries getting low and their season ending Genisis needed to pick them before the snows set in. Putting on a heavy coat she grabbed a couple of satchels from behind the door and proceeded to enter the store from the back. Before she left Genisis told her parents she was going to pick berries, her parents as usual told her to be back before dark and to be careful. Especially to watch out for the freak, after her last encounter, even though she only told them a small part of their meeting leaving out everything apart from Garrett watching her at a distance. She smiled and waved goodbye to her parents as she walked out the door and down the street. Walking past a group of men she smiled innocently at them as she made her way to the livery stable to collect her horse.

The men she so innocently smiled at were anything but innocent. The men were local farmers and ranchers, they watched as Genisis rode out of town northeast to the same area she met Garrett weeks before. An area she told everyone about the moment she returned from seeing Garrett but the townspeople knew the area she spoke about because it was rich in berries for years before she arrived. They watched her until she was gone from sight, the men gathered in the tavern to discuss plans long in development – kidnapping Genisis.

Over the last few months most of the men had lost their crops to weather and drought, unable to pay the prices in the store. Nathan Edwards had raised the prices over the last few months. A few sought to kidnap and ransom Genisis as a way to get the money that they believed Nathan had stolen from them. While others in the group sought the ransom too but their motivations were far from noble. They wanted to put Genisis in her place because from the moment she first arrived in Jasper, Genisis acted like she was better than them and now with all her learning it had only gotten worse. Now she never missed a chance to correct their history, grammar or mannerisms and put them down, now it was their turn to put her in her place. It was their time to take her down and put her in the only place they deemed a woman should be – a subservient wife. One that had to be broken inorder to bend to their demands.

As they discussed their plans on how to take her down, the farmers wanted to take her when it was dark and in the back streets, in plain sight. The others however managed to convince them to do it far from town because anyone could see them grab her in town even in the dark. By grabbing her far from town they could go unnoticed. It was more than just going unnoticed it was the perfect way to blame someone else. And now would be the best time since she was alone picking berries. Something the leader knew having overheard Genisis talking to her parents and where she would be.

Gradually one by one each of the men left the village to go back to their farms as usual, if nothing was to happen. When the men were about five miles out of Jasper the men split up so that two could catch up and follow her. While the other three took a shortcut few knew about in order to get ahead and set the trap. The three men took up their positions in the trees surrounding the berry patch, waiting for when she arrived. But also making it easier to catch Genisis off guard and take her with what they hoped was very little fight. Should she decide to bolt back towards town the two following her would be able to block her path and take her. Their plan was all set, now it was a waiting game. A game which required patience, something really none of them had particularly the young ones.

As the men waited and followed Genisis through the winding and twisting path she was taking. One that took her far from the village and deeper into the forest, where she last met Garrett, though she hoped he would not be there and yet she hoped he would be. The berry patch she last picked from two weeks ago was still full of berries if not more. Excellent she thought, as she searched the other nearby bushes from her horse, finding some further back in the trees that were loaded with berries and ripe.

Moving carefully through the trees she found further on berries that hung in clumps making it easier to collect and store. Riding towards the bushes Genisis was unaware of the dangers lurking closer with each step her horse took, or how in or a few short moments her life would be forever changed.

As her horse stepped into the bushes, the wasting three men’s patience had finally paid off. Lurking in the trees no more they stepped out in front of her making her horse rear in fright.

“Whoa!” Genisis softly called out as she stroked her horse’s neck.

As her horse calmed down with her gentle words, Genisis noticed the men with their faces covered and empty eyes. Staring into their eyes, Genisis realized that the warning the freak gave her was true and she was wrong about worrying about him. Staring at the men she quickly realized Garrett was not here, none of the men were as tall or as striking as Garrett was. Though her heart froze in fright, the need to flee was ever present, turning the horse about she made a beeline for the path.

Her exit however was blocked by the two men who followed behind her. With the men all around her, Genisis really begun to see that she was trapped like a fox in a hen house. 

“Good afternoon, Genisis.” One of the men spoke as he walked towards her. “We need to talk.”

“Frank…Mr. Hart?” Genisis stuttered in fear.

Knowing Genisis recognized his voice he took down the kerchief from his mouth the man who spoke revealed his face and the evil grin upon it.

“That’s far enough…” Genisis said trying very hard not to show the fear in her heart. “..Sa…say what you …wa…nt…want, then be off with you.”

“No…” Hart coldly answered.

“Please move…”        

“That won't be happening, Genisis Edwards.”

“Grab her, boys.” Shouted Hart as he lunged for the horses reins while the others hauled her off the horse and threw her to the ground kicking and screaming.

“Now, we will show that you are not better than us with your arrogance and words, you little bitch.” One of the other men shouted as she ripped the kerchief from his face.

Seeing his face Genisis recognized him as one of the Carter Brothers, James. It was then she started to realize that all around her, she was surrounded by men she thought were good and noble. Seeing James’ face, Genisis knew Harold was here too since the brothers were inseparable.

“Harold…?”

“How does she know?” Harold shouted as removed his kerchief.

“She’s smart! That’s how you moron.” Another shouted back as he removed his kerchief, showing himself to be Carl Hopken, Harts right hand man and foreman.

“It’s our voices.” The last man shouted ripping away his kerchief.

“Tom…Tom Walker?” Genisis stuttered as she knew him from her father’s store.

“Shut-up all of you! And tie that bitch down!” Hart barked out orders.

“She’s not giving up, sir!” James shouted as he struggled to keep hold of Genisis.

“Well break her! Don’t worry about that boys we will teach her how to comply.”

‘No…!” Genisis shouted with all her might in defiance. Her screams seemed only to incite their strength, anger and evil thoughts.

Struggling with all her strength and might in a vain effort to break their grip on her wrists and legs to no avail. Through all the struggling with the people once called friends, her coat was torn off her body and her dress was ripped by James and though not by accident. The rip exposed her right shoulder, arm and the top of her breast. James having never seen a woman of statures body before couldn’t help but stare at the top of her faired skin breast. The lust in his eyes told everything he wanted to do to Genisis and it was more than just kidnapping. Genisis could see the look in his eyes as he stroked her skin just to feel how soft she was in that moment Genisis realized what James wanted of her and it was more than just the feel of her skin.

It was a softness he wanted, lusted for just after one touch.

“Jimmy! Take your hands off her!” Hart shouted, seeing James’ naked lust for her.

“Not yet, brother.” Harold whispered, for he too wanted to feel Genisis against his body.

Harold and James held her arms tight while Tom tied her legs together. With her legs tied the Carter Brother’s turned her around so Tom could bind her hands together behind her back.

Genisis screamed as loud as she could over and over again, hoping that a mountain man might be in the area and hear her screams. Screams that she hoped they would follow and come rescue her. Right now she would trust a mountain man more than ever before even Red and Garrett.

“Shut up!!” Hart shouted at Genisis as he gave a hard backhanded slap to her face.

A slap that echoed through the valley and knocked her to the ground; leaving a visible red mark upon her cheek. Yet that didn’t stop their cause instead it helped them because now they expected her to behave and Genisis too began to realize her true situation.

However she was not one to break, mustering every last breath in her body Genisis screamed as loud and as long as she could. Grabbing her dress Hart hauled her up from the dirt only to strike Genisis hard against her chin. Splitting her bottom lip open, the force was so great that it knocked her back down to the ground.

Falling back to the ground Genisis became still quite fast and unconscious. None of the men seemed to care; instead they seemed grateful to have some quiet and get their plan back on track. As Hart picked up their prize he noticed a small pool of blood surrounding a bloodied rock.

Her brown hair was now streaked with blood.

Checking her head Hart found a wound behind her ear. It was a wound that had to wait. With Genisis limp in his arm, Hart picked her up and carried her to her awaiting horse.

While he threw Genisis across her saddle Frank threw the empty satchels into the bush as the others mounted their horses, eager to get going and their money. Handing Genisis horse reins to Tom; Hart mounted his horse leading all five to the hideout far from Jasper and any pesky neighbors.

And what they thought was a clean job and getaway was far from it for her scream carried throughout the valley and to one man’s heart.