Carmen had been sitting in this god forsaken carriage for over two hrs now, it was extremely hot and the amount of clothes she wore weren't helping. Her corset was choking her, and her petticoats were now drenched in sweat.
Looking over at the other two riding with her, an elderly couple, he was about 62 and she was about 55, they were nice people and she had enjoyed their company, but now somehow they slept in this heat and racket.
Carmen was on her way to see her aunt lizzy, it had been 5 years since she had seen her, Carmen was 18 at the time. And now at 23 everyone called her a spinster for not marrying. But Carmen hadn't found the right man yet. She was by far the most beautiful creature you have ever seen, long brown locks of hair fell down her shoulders from her pinned hair and wide beautiful green eyes shone lightning up her lovely face.
Time seemed to pass by slowly and Carmen shut her eyes, deciding better to sleep maybe the remaining 5 hours would pass by quickly. She then dozed off.
The carriage came to an abrupt stop throwing Carmen to her knees brining her fully awake and stunned. She looked about to see the other two elderly couple stunned as she was and heard the coachman yell, highway robbers!
"No! No! No!" Thought Carmen.
This could not be happening to me.
The elderly man and lady shook as they looked at Carmen and said, "don't fret young one they shouldn't want to hurt us, just prepare your valuables."
"that's the problem, I don't have any, I am here only on a visit and what I brought with me is just this gold necklace that was given to me by my aunt many years back." she said petrified.
Suddenly their door was swung open and there stood three masked men, only their eyes visible.
"Out now!" one of them yelled.
As they scurried out of the carriage, Carmen noticed a fourth man still riding his horse, pistol in hand and watching his men at work.
"Give us all your valuables now!" yelled one of the men.
The elderly couple began remove their valuable and money throwing them into a bag one of the men had. As they approached Carmen she had nothing in hand.
"Now lady!" the man said.
"I have nothing but this chain, and it was a gift from my aunt I shall not give it to you." Carmen said.
Without being prepared Carmen felt a sharp sting to her face, he had back handed her with a sharp slap that left tears in her eyes.
"Now lady!" he yelled again.
"No!" she screamed, tears now flowing down her face.
Then she saw him once again raise his arm to slap her again. As she prepared herself for the second blow to come she heard the man on the horse yell
"No!"
Then hand that was about to strike her stopped in midair and he turned to the commanding voice questioning.
"Bring her here." he said.
The man before her grabbed her by her hand and yanked her before him pushing her towards his boss.
As she stood by his horse's side he looked down at her with those grey piercing eyes, she was a sight for sore eyes and the red mark on her face was visible.
James leaned down and pulled her up onto his saddle before him. Swiftly grabbing a rope he tied her hands securely before her.
"Finish up here and meet me back at camp, this one goes with me" he yelled out.
"And Tom no one is to be hurt." he said looking down at the man who had slapped her.