6. Break Away

6. Break Away

Gail stood by the window, looking out and watching Clint lead the horses away, absent-mindedly listening as the two women chattered behind her. Gail wasn't really listening 'cause honestly, she didn't want to. She didn't like hearing the tail of how -her- man had happened upon the poor female wanderer, and then insisted on taking her along. Glancing back at the redhead, she couldn't help but wonder if the woman had really sprained her ankle as she had so claimed.

Granted, her pain had seemed real enough only moments ago, yes, but Gail's mind wasn't really thinking in logical terms at this current moment in time. She had known Clint for several years now, a little over a decade if she counted right. They'd met in their early teens, and well, things just went from there...for a while there, she'd been certain that she loved him, even wanted to marry him.

Of course, back then they were too young. But, after a while...things had started happening.

Now, she wasn't so sure of those aforementioned feelings, and in reality knew they had long-sense been fading on both sides, but she'd be darned if she was just going to sit by and let some hot-headed mysterious female come between them. They had to break away from the group, and soon. Unconsciously twisting a lock of her blond hair between her fingers, Gail's green eyes narrowed upon Rose.

In the midst of briefly aqauinting the other blond woman with all the recent-ish happenings, Rosealye hadn't immieadtely picked up upon the green glare. Gradually she did feel herself being watched, and turned to see Gail's frown and quickly averted gaze. Blinking, Rose began to wonder just what this lady's problem was. Rose had no qualms with her, other than the fact that she'd flatly refused to save Adrienne, but for what earthly reason did the green-eyed blond have to be so mad with her? Rose was honest and sincere in her complete confusion. ... Well, mostly.

After a few minute or two of silence, Mrs. LaRue excused herself to go see after Adrienne. Rose nodded, would give the family a moment, then peek in to see how she was, as well. For this moment, she returned her attention to Gail, who had resumed staring outside. Taking a quick glance out the window herself, she frowned, beginning to realize that she did not see Mr. Allen anywhere.

"...He's been gone more'n ten minutes." Gail ground out to herself, standing on her tiptoes and leaning close up to the window. Rose felt her mouth go dry.

"You don't suppose...?" She asked, hesitating, causing Gail to glance at her. The blond scowled.

"No. You wouldn't either, if you knew him." She quipped, returning her gaze out the window. Sure enough, a few minutes later, Clint came creeping in. Once she saw him, in one piece, out the window, Rose turned and headed to go check on Adrienne.

"Clint, my love, I'm so glad you're safe." Gail gushed, running over to him as he walked through the door, and attaching herself to his arm. He blinked down at her, looking very tired...and worn. He said nothing, just stared, so she, leaning closer, spoke again.

"Let's get out of here. The happy group seems to know each other, she's happy with them. We're free of her, they can care for her. Let's get away, now, before anyone has a chance to notice!" Gail whispered to him, her eyes lit with an such an earnest eagerness that Clint felt a pang of guilt, knowing with a bit of difficulty that he had to turn her down.

Suddenly, as if just remembering something, Clint shook his head; he wasn't afraid of anyone chasing them anymore - he'd made sure their pursuers had been led astray and would not just yet find their little hiding place here. It was hidden well in the trees, anyway. However, there was something else of his present concern, a pressing matter at that.

"How's the girl? She could be poisoned, Gail. If she was..." Clint paused, biting the inside of his cheek and looking down briefly. If she had been, then he was the reason and the sole one to blame. He had to help out somehow, repay them in some way. It was his fault to begin with that she'd been in the path of an arrow at all. He would never forgive himself, if, if...

"So what if she was? It's not our responsibilty. Clint, we're almost free! But if we stop here...someone could spy you. We might get caught." Gail said, her eyes pleading in their gaze up at him.

"I know you're tired'a runnin'," Clint said slowly, carefully, ending in a small sigh. Then, he shook his head once more, and started to step aside. "Now's not the time, we'll talk 'bout this later." Not waiting for her respose, he stepped up to the only other door in the room, and hesitated a moment before pushing it open.

Creeeeaaak.

Clint froze by the door, which had just let out the most horrid noise, and with a most commical and perhaps even slightly frightened look on his face. If the situation in the room hadn't have been so grave, the two women standing within might have let out a chuckle. Quickly regaining his composure at the sight of the pale young one, Clint took off his hat before taking another step into the room.

"How is she?" He asked, softly, tightly gripping his black hat between both hands.

"She's been poisoned." Cyrus said shortly, looking up at Clint with a mild glare. Holding the older man's gaze for a moment, there was a knowing look there that unsettled Clint. ... Maybe Gail was right, maybe they should hightail it. Mentally shaking himself, Clint drew up a little taller - no, he'd just learned the girl was indeed poisoned! No matter what, he couldn't back down, not now.

"Rose here has volunteered to gather the herbs needed to make the antidote." The other blond, Mrs. LaRue, quietly spoke up.

"Ah, yes. I was just on my way," Rose commented, seeming to have just come back to herself. Grabbing the cane that Cyrus had lent her, she started to walk towards the door; she'd need to get past Clint to get outside.

"Please, allow me to help you. It's...it's my fault this's happened, I must 'ave a part in the remedy." This caused Rose to pause, and glance back at the other two. All was silent for a moment, so Clint added, taking another small step forward, "Please, at the very least...allow me t'help in some way. Please." Clint added once more, his gaze steady on Cyrus, as he seemed to be the father of the girl, the one who had the majority of the say 'round here.

"Rose will need assistance in getting around. You can go with her." Mrs. LaRue, Skye, spoke up as she stepped forward to put a hand on her silent husband's shoulder. Cyrus and Clint still seemed to be having a staring contest, but neither Rose nor Gail noticed this, for there sudden sighs and sagging of the shoulders. Apparently, this news wasn't all that pleasing to either of them. "Rose, you may go on my horse Bells." She spoke again, this time addressing Rosealye.

"If you're going, I'm going." Gail spoke up, appearing at Clint's side, and looking up at him with a bit of a smirk.

"All right, but I am warning you - the both of you had better keep up and not get in my way. Understood?"

Recieving a nod from each, Rose then hobbled out into the yard. Granted, she was a little limited in what she could do at the moment, but did she really need to have two other people come along just now? One that seemed to hate her guts for flimsy reasonings, the other wasn't so bad, but she hardly knew him. Hopefully, he could keep the blond in line; Rose feared Gail would attempt to hinder her search in some way. Of course, she would not be allowed to, not when her young friend's life could be on the line!

Watching her limping like that, Clint wanted so badly to step forward and offer his assistance, but, seeing as she probably wouldn't like that at all, and how Gail was currently acting, such a notion was probably not the best way to go. So, with a sigh through his nose, he put his hat back on and slowly followed.