Garrett watched as Hart slapped Genisis hard one last time to no avail. Even from a distance he saw Hart’s anger grow enough that he dragged her off the bed and over to a post where he proceeded to bind her arms around it. Now that Genisis was tied up and could not get away, something she not likely to do since she had remained unconscious from the moment her head hit the rock. Hart rejoined Carl and Tom while the Carter Brothers tended to their horses. Carl had just put a pot of coffee on to boil to keep them going.

As the coffee boiled, Tom watched as Hart paced back and forth between the horses and the shack, wearing a grove into the ground. Tom knew what Hart was thinking for he too was thinking the same at least he thought they were. Hart’s thoughts were this but also ones far more sinister.

‘What if Genisis dies? How do we cover it up and get the money?’ thought Tom for he never signed up for that. 

Despite his hatred for Nathan and his family, he would never harm her either physically or sexually. The same he couldn’t say for his compatriots at least when it came to the Carters and Frank, Carl was an unknown and so to were his loyalties. Looking over at the Carter Brothers, Tom mumbled to himself “Bastards!” this thought was shared not just by him but another too.

Far away and yet so close to them, Garrett knelt among the bushes watching the men’s every move. As hard as he tried to rationalize their reason kidnapping - he just couldn't. He couldn’t understand why these five so-called honorable men would kidnap Genisis because they were all leading citizens of the town despite some only being in Jasper for a short time apart from tom who had lived here all his life. Garrett kept very still like he was hunting and waited for the perfect opening only this time his game was men not animals. Even though these men were more animal than man.

Though he could not hear clearly from his foothold Garrett could see all five sitting around the fire drinking coffee and discussing something he knew was far from innocent. Only he didn’t know what but he could imagine.

The discussion between the men was about the ransom note and what it should contain.

After much arguing it was decided that they would ask for not only money but supplies and ammo though this they might change. Carl wrote down everything on a piece of paper since he had the least recognizable writing but also he was the one with the most education between them. With the note written Hart decided to let Tom deliver it to her father. 

Hart instructed Tom to leave the note under the door so that when her father opens the stores door he will see the note. Tom was also instructed to hold back and wait amongst the people to see the outcome before rejoining them at the creek by the bend with the results. Only when they got the ransom money they would return the girl to her father, something they all agreed on apart from Hart who had planned to kill her all along.

“Kill Her! Are you crazy?!” Tom shouted in disgust at the very mention of it.

“If we let her live she will tell everyone that it was us. But if we kill her there won’t be any witnesses and we will all get away scot free.”

Rubbing his short beard Carl started to say“…I 'm having second thoughts about this…” Tom cut him off by shouting to the brothers.

“You too! What about you two?” Tom questioned the brothers. Yet the look in their eyes told everything. 

“I agreed to the kidnapping but I am not going to kill that girl!”

“Tom, is right. I agreed to the kidnapping but not to murdering this young girl.” Carl calmly told them while stirring the fire. “Her death would be with me for the rest of my life.”

“Yes but I will have to live with her death too just like the rest of you.”

“Only you will, friend.”  Hart coldly stated.

Seeing the look in his eyes which were the same look the others had, a look of lust and death. Tom knew he and Carl were alone on this matter.

“Fine…”

“Good, now Carl will remain here to watch over the camp and Genisis. While the rest of us will go back to our farms, Carl, it’s bad to say but you won’t really be missed right away. Nobody will care if you are gone.”

“I understand, nobody else ever missed me either not even my family.”

Throughout everything Garrett patiently waited for them disperse, and now seeing four of the five men ride out leaving only Carl behind. It was time to strike since one against one was better than five to one. Waiting for the men ride further away and for the sun to go down Garrett readied to attack.

With Carl’s back turned toward him and his attention focused on chopping more wood, Garrett stepped into the fading light and quietly hurried towards Genisis before Carl turned around. However he was not quick enough. From the corner of his eye Carl saw a figure of a man running towards the shack. He did not know who it was but he knew this man heard their plans - all of them. Throwing the axe into the stump Carl ran with all his might, tackling the stranger to the ground. In the dwindling light Carl saw the stranger was no other than the village freak.

He did not have any time to reflect or say a word, as Garrett threw a hard punch to his face. A punch he was able to dodge at the last moment taking the full force of the blow to his shoulder. The blow was enough to knock the wind out of Carl and off Garrett, stagger back enough to allow Garrett to find his footing and regain the upper hand. Though not for long. Regaining his breath Carl threw a left handed punch to Garrett’s jaw knock back a mere foot. Unlike Carl, Garrett fought animals tougher than him. Looking up at Carl, Garrett smiled a bloodied smile and without hesitation he rushed him. Carl punched Garrett in the stomach, causing him to double over - slightly. 

Catching his breath quickly Garrett turned around on a dime and tackled Carl into the mud hard. The mud from the previous night rain splashed up around the two spraying both with mud all over their bodies. Carl feigned that he was out of breath only to feel for the knife that was in his pocket. Wiping the mud from his brow Garrett rushed Carl tackling him back to the ground just as he was standing up. Wrestling in the cold mud Carl found his knife fast enough to deeply slash Garrett’s left shoulder.

Garrett could feel the blood running down his arm but ignored it – for now. The warmth of his blood flowing down his arm only fueled the fight in him more. Now it was more than personal, now it was blood for blood. Throwing a hard punch to Carl’s face, one enough to break the skin on his brow and knock the knife from his hand.

Catching the knife as it fell from his hands Garrett thrusted the knife into Carl's shoulder before hitting him once more on the jaw. This only staggered Carl but it was enough of an opening for Garrett to tackle him back into the mud. Sitting on top Carl, Garrett started to hammer down on him with left and right hooks to his face. 

Garrett’s preoccupation with hitting him, allowed Carl to reach for the knife that was hidden in his boot.

Gathering what consciousness and strength he had left Carl shoved Garrett back before advancing straight into Garrett. The knife tore through his coat and shirt, stopping just short of his skin, as Garrett quickly jumped back. Regaining what composure he could muster Carl feigned to the left, and moving right. Piercing his right side below his ribs, Garrett felt the coldness of the blade pierce his body. This only made Garrett mad to the point where he wanted to put Carl down like a rabid animal. With one last punch to his jaw Carl fell back into the mud. 

Breathing heavily through his mud covered hair Garrett saw that Carl was out cold. Catching his breath Garrett felt a warmth running down his side, running his hand under his coat Garrett felt something was not right. Removing his hand he saw that it was covered in blood, blood that he needed to ignore in order to get to Genisis.

 Any pain he felt was worth it in order to save her.

Looking down at Carl, Garrett spat onto his face as he held his side. 

“Fuck!!” he shouted in pain. A pain that echoed throughout the coulee but a pain that needed to be released. 

Running to the shack, Garrett tried to muster the strength to carry on. Knocking the door down he saw Genisis was sitting unconscious tied to the post. Quickly cutting the ropes that bound her, he checked for wounds finding only scratches and a deep wound behind her ear. Taking a deep breath as he threw her gently over his shoulder, Garrett took her from this place of hate and pain to his awaiting horse. 

The closer he got to his horse; it shied away from him for the smell of blood hit her nose and the sight of Garrett covered in mud spooked her slightly. Grabbing the reins of his horse, Garrett calmed her down assuring his old friend that everything was alright. Grabbing saddle horn Garrett carefully climbed on with Genisis over his shoulder. Letting her slide gently down off his shoulder and into his lap, He kissed her forehead and whispered gently into her ear “Don’t worry Genisis I got you.”

 Turning his horse around Garrett spurred her to a fast gallop to get out of the area, before anyone returns and to get the help Genisis needed