Cort sat quietly in the far corner of the saloon. He watched as some drank, some shot new holes in the ceiling and others wrestled with the local whores. Cort shook his head. Lately a feeling had been coming over him, one he hadn't felt since his riding days with Jarod. The urge to ride into a town. The urge to ride hard and fast, taking what you pleased. The urge to kill. Cort stood up and hurried out the saloon, heading quickly to the church. He didn't like this feeling, he didn't know if he could control the urge.

"Oh no you're not young lady! I forbid it!" Her mother snapped as Christine headed for the door. "Mother, I'm old enough to make my own decisions and if I want to leave I can!" She said as she opened the door. "You'll get yourself killed!" Her mother cried out. "And for what, HIM!" She added pointing to a man on a horse. Christine turned and looked at her mother then up to the man. "I'm doing this for me." She said as she climb on her horse. "Sorry mother." She said as she gave her horse a kick.

Cort sat in the church, praying for this terrible feeling to go away. Bent on his knees, hands together he softly whispered. "Lord please guide my trouble soul, please forgive me for the terrible things I have done. Please forgive me." He whispered, his head falling to his hands, a gentle tear falling from his eye.

Christine gasped in horror. "Jake, what are you doing? You can't do this!" Christine said as she watched Jake hold up a couple in a wagon. "Shut up!" He said turning and glaring at him. "I won't let you do this!" She called out as she hit him over the head with the butt of her rifle. Jake's body went limp and fell to the ground. She looked up at the couple. "I'm so sorry, please go before he comes to." She said as she hurried to her horse. "Miss, what about you? He'll kill you for sure." The man said looking at her. "I'll be fine, please go." She said as she climbed onto her horse.

Cort slowly walked down the streets of Redemption, still trying to figure out how he got here. He had often thought about going back, rebuilding his church. But the Lady trusted him to watch over the town. Why? He didn't know. "Mornin' sheriff." Lilly said smiling as she walked passed him. "Mornin' Miss. Lilly." Cort said, tilting his hat. "Cort, just the man I want to see." Billy said walking up to him. "Don't have time, Billy." Cort said, shaking his head. He knew Billy was here trying to convince him that something had to be done to make the town bigger and better. Cort told him he would talk to him later about it and quickly walked off.

Christine bent down taking a drink from the cold stream. Jake would surely catch up to her fast if she didn't keep moving, but she was tired and so was her horse. She splashed some cold water on her face then decided to continue with her journey. "I can't believe this, ya know boy, this is where I say, I should have listened to my mother." Christine said patting her horse on the head. The horse snorted as if understanding her.

Cort watched as the stranger rode into town. His head tilted when he noticed it was a woman. "Not again." Cort said shaking his head. The town's people seemed to notice her too. "They act like they've never seen a woman riding a horse or something." Christine whispered as she rode by the people. She stopped in front of the saloon. She climbed down from her horse, stopped and looked at everyone. She smiled, which looked like a side ways frown. She walked into the saloon, yet again to nothing but stares.

"Any rooms around here for rent?" She asked the bar tender. "Yeah got a couple, one dollar a week." He said glaring at her. "I'll take it." She said tossing a dollar at him. He nodded to a young woman, who quickly came over. "Show her to a room." He said tossing her a key. "Yes, pa." She said as she started out the door. Christine followed her out, stopping at her horse to get her bag. "Would you like your horse in the stables?" A young man asked. "I'll do it in a minute, thanks anyways." She said looking at him. "I can do it." He said smiling at her. "I'd say yes, but my horse don't like anyone but me to tend to him." She said frowning at him.

"I can handle any horse." He said grinning at her. "I'm sure you could, but this horse is special, and I don't want you to get hurt." She said touching him on the shoulder then walking up to the young girl. "So where are you from?" She asked smiling brightly at her. "No where." Christine said shaking her head. "Well if you need anything, just let me know, I'm Lilly." She smiled again as she opened a door. "This is it." She added. Christine's nose went up. "What was I expecting." She sighed. "Well I better go, what's your name anyways?" She asked quickly as she turned in the door way. "Christine." Christine answered without looking at her. "Nice to meet you, bye." Lilly said walking out and shutting the door.

Christine walked outside, looking around she shook her head. "Town don't agree with you?" A man said from the side. "Well I've seen better." She answered turning to face him. "Well sometimes a person can't be too picky." He said staring at her. "So you're the town sheriff, didn't think it had one." She said looking at his badge. "See you around." He said as he turned and started to walk away. "So you got a name?" She asked quickly. "Cort." He answered quickly and walked away. "Yeah, well I'm Christine nice to meet you." She whispered shaking her head.

"Already know she's trouble." Cort mumbled as he took a sip of his beer. "Now how do you know that, you don't even know her." Lilly said shaking her head. "Trust me, I know, that girl's running from something." Cort said, as he took a shot of whiskey. "Well I don't think she's trouble." Lilly said, turning and walking away from him. Cort watched her walk out of the saloon, only to see Christine walk in.

"So you always this talkative?" Christine asked walking up to the bar. "Can I help you with something, if not leave me alone." Cort said standing up to leave. "Actually yeah, you can." She said glaring at him. Cort sighed and sat back down. "What." He said without looking up at her. Christine pulled up a chair next to him. "I've got a problem." She began but he interrupted her. "Wouldn't have guessed." Cort said with a grin. "Anyways, Jake's gonna come looking for me here, and well you need to do your job and arrest him." Christine said staring at him. "Ok, I must have missed something, who's Jake, and why would I arrest him?" Cort asked looking at her.

"Because Jake's a killer, and I didn't know it when I first met up with him, anyways, he's gonna try and kill me." She said tilting her head. "Why would he want to kill you?" He asked eyebrow raised. "It's a very long story, basically he did bad things while I was with him." She began but yet again he interrupted her. "And you didn't do anything, listen lady I don't have time to baby-sit." Cort said standing up. "This isn't some kind of game, your suppose to be the sheriff so do something!" She snapped standing up. "Well you let me know when you see him and I'll think about doing something." He said turning and walking away.

Christine went back to her room. "I don't believe this, that man is... is a jackass!" She said kicking the wall. "That wasn't smart." She whispered rubbing her foot. She walked over to the window. Why wouldn't he help, why was he acting like this, she wondered. She thought that if he was the sheriff, he'd have to have some goodness in him. Christine shook her head, she didn't want to think about her problems anymore. She picked up the bottle of whiskey she got from the saloon and opened it. "Here's to tomorrow and let's hope I get to see it." She said, taking a big drink.

Cort knocked on her door, at first there wasn't an answer then the door opened. "Oh great what the hell do you want." She said almost falling to the floor. "You shouldn't drink this stuff if you can't handle it." Cort said taking the bottle from her hand. "Hey that's mine! Get the hell out of here!" She said pushing him. "Do you want my help or not, this is a one time offer." He said glaring at her. Christine looked at him. "Ask me again in the morning." She said as she passed out, falling to the floor.

Cort put her to bed. He looked down at her, something about her face touched his heart. Can't let her get to you, he thought. Cort walked to the door, glanced one more time at her then left. He stood outside her door for a minute, maybe she was what he needed. The feeling he's been having, maybe this would get rid of it. "God, give me strength." Cort whispered looking up to the heavens.

Cort stayed outside her room most of the night. He paced back and forth deciding on what he should do. His thoughts drifting back and forth between lust, hate and his killer instinct. He often looked towards the church and his faith for answers. Was this some kind of test, was this a test of faith, was this another test to see if he could resist the temptations of killing in cold blood again, he shook his head. He didn't know the answer to any of those questions. He just prayed that when the time came, he would do the right thing.

Christine slowly woke up, she immediately felt the effect of her drinking. "Shit." She said as she tried to sit up. She finally managed to sit up, she rubbed her head. She saw a figure moving outside her window. She held her breathe. She reached over and grabbed her gun, though she wasn't fast with it, she could shoot straight. She slowly stood up and headed towards the window. Her heart was pounding fast, he can't be here, she thought. She slowly moved the curtain, at first she didn't see anything, but then the figure moved back in front of the window. "Damn it." She said shaking her head. Cort just tilted his head and grinned.

She flung the door open, "You scared the shit out of me, what the hell are you doing walking around like that!" She said glaring at him. "Hey you're the one who asked for my help, remember." He said glaring back at her. Christine just shook her head and walked back into her room, slamming the door in his face. Cort opened the door and walked in. "A little jumpy this morning aren't you." He said with a small giggle, as if her being scared gave him pleasure. She swung around, her eyes had fire in them. "You enjoyed that didn't you!" She snapped at him.

Cort grinned at her. "You did! You're a sick son of a bitch!" She said almost slapping him, but pulled her hand back. "Listen, you little stuck up bitch, you asked for my help, and that's what I'm doing." He snapped back this time his eyes lit up with fire. "Helping me! Are you sure you just don't want to see me dead! By the look in your eyes, I'd say yes!" She said stepping back. Cort just glared at her, something inside of him, wanted to say yes, that he wanted her dead. That he wanted to see blood drip from her body. Cort shook his head and quickly turned around and left.

Christine sat on the edge of her bed. The look in his eyes scared her. There was something there. He was fighting something, and it looked like it almost won. He had some demons inside him, trying to take over, what they once owned. Christine shivered, she asked for his help, maybe he was the one that truly needed the help. She got up and walked to the window and peered out. She didn't see him, where did he go, she thought.

Cort almost ran to the church. Bursting through the doors he cried out. "WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME!" He yelled running up to the front of the church. "Haven't I paid enough! I've served you! I've watched innocent people die! I never wanted to lift another gun in my life! I had no choice!" He yelled out as he fell to his knees. "I've asked for forgiveness over and over! I thought you forgave all your children!" He cried out again and again. His head held in his hands, he cried.

Christine got dressed, she feared going outside, but she couldn't stand being stuck in a room all day. She walked down the street looking around. Not much to see, she thought. She saw the church and decided to go there. She had never really been a religious person, but she felt this sudden urge to go there. She walked slowly up to the doorway. She saw Cort on his knees. His he crying, she thought. She thought of turning and going. But something was edging her forward. She slowly walked up to him. "Are you all right?" She asked taking a deep breathe. "GET OUT!" He yelled as he quickly rose to his feet. The look in his eyes would scare the devil himself.

Christine jumped back. "I said get out!" He said pushing her. Christine fell to the floor. She started crawling backwards to get away from him. "What is it with young girls, huh, they have to go out on a grand adventure and the minute they get into a little trouble they expect someone to bail them out!" He snapped as he walked closer to her. Christine felt herself back up against something hard, she turned and saw it was a wall. "Well I think its time that little miss prissy here, gets herself out of her own trouble!" He snapped again still walking towards her.

"You're crazy!" She said shaking her head. Tears began to fall down her face. Cort was breathing heavy, his eyes were full of fire and looked like a hungry wolf who hasn't eaten in a long time. "No, I'm tired of being the good guy!" He said he as bent down, his face now only a few inches from his. Christine was too scared to move, to breathe. He edged his face closer to hers. "Whats the matter, scared?" He asked with a wicked laugh.

He grabbed her by the hair and kissed her hard. Christine tried to push him away, but he harder she pushed the tighter he held her. Suddenly he let go and fell back. Christine was crying hard, and shaking. Cort hid his face. She thought she heard him say something but wasn't sure. "I'm sorry." He whispered over and over. When he finally made eye contacted with her, he had tears running down his face. Christine thought about getting up and running, but she couldn't. She didn't know why, she couldn't understand why. "What's wrong with you! Have you lost your mind!" She snapped as anger began to take over.

Cort looked at her. "I'm sorry." He repeated. "I don't care!" She snapped and stood up. "If you ever come near me again, I'll kill you!" She said and kicked him. "You won't have to worry about that." He said slowly standing up. Christine jumped back. "I truly am sorry." He said and quickly walked out of the church. Christine was breathing hard. She was still scared, but she was also mad. But the one thing she really was, was sad. Something was going on with him, she knew it from the first time she met him. He was fighting demons, and they were winning. She shook her head. "I don't care." She whispered as if trying to convince herself. "He's crazy." She whispered but she felt sorry for him, she could tell he was a good man. And she knew he couldn't fight these demons alone.

Cort quickly grabbed his things, the little he had. And rode out of town as fast as he could. Christine saw him ride by. She kept trying to convince herself to just forget about it, but she couldn't. "Girl, you're gonna get yourself hurt." She whispered shaking her head. Next thing she knew she was riding out of town, following him.

After a while of riding she spotted his horse at a little creek. She slowly approached it, knowing the state of mind Cort was in, she had to be cautious. She slowly climbed off her horse. She looked around, but she didn't see any sign of him. Where did he go, she thought. She hesitated for a moment, then called out his name. "Cort!" She yelled, but nothing. What if he did something to himself, she thought and suddenly felt pannicked. "Cort!" She yelled over and over, but still nothing. Maybe he got another horse, she thought.

She decided to make camp, it was getting late, and she decided that heading out now, would only get her lost. She gathered some wood and made a campfire. Her thoughts kept going back to Cort. After what he did, she couldn't understand why she was out here. Why was she looking for him. She didn't understand it. It scared her, but it also felt right. Her mother always told her that a troubled soul, no matter what, needs help. And sometimes the person they least expect to help them, does. She missed her mother. She laid her bed roll down, and decided to get some sleep. She decided she would continue to look for him in the morning, even if he didn't want to be found.

Christine woke up quickly, sweat pouring from her. She had another one of her nightmares. She noticed the campfire was still going strong. She knew she had been a sleep for awhile, so why is the fire still burning like that, she thought. She suddenly realized she wasn't alone. She began to reach for her gun. She held it in her hand and called out. "I've got a gun! I'll shoot you!" She called out. Her eyes looking all around her, but nothing. She didn't see anyone, she didn't hear anyone. Maybe she was just imagining things, maybe she wasn't asleep as long as she thought. She stayed awake as long as she could, but in the end she ended up falling back to sleep.

When Christine woke up the next morning, to her surprise Cort was sitting by the fire. The look on his face told her that he wasn't very happy to see her. "Morning." She said, almost whispering it. Cort didn't say anything, he continued to look down at the fire. Christine sat up, she couldn't tell if he was about to bite her head off or if he was going to explode. Both, she thought.

After about an hour of silence he finally said something. "What the fuck are you doing here?" He asked coldly, never looking at her. Christine didn't know whether to answer or to run. "Well after your explosion in the church, I thought maybe you could use someone to talk to." She said whispering again. Cort glared down at her. "I don't need anyone's help, especially not yours!" He snapped. "Fine, I'll leave." She said standing up. She began to pack her things up, then turned to him. "Maybe you should have stayed in that church, you're fighting some pretty bad demons, and from the looks of it, they're winning." She said.

Cort watched her ride off. "My angel to the rescue." He said shaking his head. "Yeah right, she's nothing but a pain in the ass." He continued turning away. Christine stopped her horse, then turned back towards him. She saw him mounting his horse. She shook her head, she knew if she followed him this time he would definitely go crazy. But she still had the feeling that he would need her. And now that there wasn't a sheriff in town, she couldn't go back there. Who would protect her, she would have better chances with Cort.

Christine rode most of the day following Cort. She knew that he probably knew she was there. But why hadn't he stopped to tell her? When she saw him stop, she thought for sure she was in for trouble. But he didn't do anything except start gathering fire wood. Maybe he's calmed down, she thought. She slowly rode up to him. He didn't say anything when she approached. Hope this is good, she thought. She slowly climbed down off her horse. "You don't listen do you." He said as he began to build a fire.

Christine took a deep breathe. "No, I guess that's one of my problems." She said watching him. He didn't say anymore to her. When she finally started to fall asleep that night, he woke her up. "What makes you think you can help me?" He asked leaning over her. She just stared at him, something was different in his eyes. They almost showed some kind of cry, like a cry for help. "I don't know, I just have this feeling that we can help each other." She said looking at him. Cort stood up fast. "That's why, you still want my help!" He snapped.

Christine sat up. "No that isn't why I'm here, well part of the reason, but mostly I want to help you." She said quickly. "And I'm suppose to believe that!" He shouted then quickly bent down to her. His face now a few inches from her. "It's the truth!" She snapped back, regretting it. Cort had anger in his eyes again. "Let me guess, you're one of those little rich girls who thinks they can have what ever they want! And now your greed got you in trouble with a man!" He snapped moving closer to her face.

"That's not true! My family is not rich! And I don't always get what I want!" She shouted back, this time moving her face closer to his. "I was stupid enough to believe that he actually cared about me! But all he wanted was something he could control!" She continued glaring at him. Cort just laughed. "And you want me to make things all better right, well forget it!" He said leaning closer to her, forcing her to lay back down. "Why won't you let me help you?" She asked almost in a whisper. Cort just stared at her. He was breathing heavy, his head spinning. "I can't, you'll only get hurt." He said touching her hair.

Christine shook her head. She was confused, one minute he was jumping down her throat the next he was gentle and kind. "You can't fight this alone." She finally said looking into his eyes. "I have to, they're my demons." He said, as he continued to caress her hair. "Sometimes you have to help." She said softly. What is going on, she thought.

Cort just stared at Christine.  He wanted her help, but he didn't know if he could accept it.  He didn't understand why he felt such a strong connection with her.

"I can't let you." He said quickly standing up. 

"Why? You need help, Cort.  Let me help you." She pleaded standing up.

"No its not your battle!" He snapped turning away from her.

"Cort, it may not have been my battle before, but now it is.  I won't let you go throw this alone.  You need help, please let me help you." She said touching his shoulder. 

Cort took a few steps away from her.  He couldn't let her.  Why would she want to help him, they hadn't known each other that long, only a few days.  But why was the connection so strong. 

"Go back to bed." He said coldly and walked away. 

Christine watched him walk away, why wouldn't he let her help, or let someone help.  She couldn't understand their connection either, but something about him, drew her closer to him.  Christine decided the best thing to do was get some sleep.  In the morning she would try and approach him again. 

Next morning..............

Christine woke up, slowly stretching her arms and yawning.  She sat up and stretched some more.  Her body ached, a soft bed that's all I need, she thought as she rubbed her neck.  She suddenly realized that Cort wasn't here.  She stood up and looked around.  "Damn!" She swore and began quickly to gather her things.  "Stubborn jackass!" She swore again as she packed her stuff back onto her horse.  "He couldn't just let me help! No! His royal assness has to do things his way!" She groaned as she climbed on her horse.  "I have no idea which way he went." She said suddenly realizing it.  "Ok, he was heading North, so I'll continue to go that way." She sighed then kicked her horse and took off.

She rode for what seemed like days, until she decided to stop for the night.  There was no sign of Cort.  "My luck he didn't come this way." She whispered as she made camp.  As night fell she couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched.  Cort, she thought and smiled. 

"Cort." She called out, but no one answered.  "Ok I can't be imagining things again." She whispered.  She called out his name repeatedly, but no answer at least not from Cort.

"Well you move fast, you've already taken a new lover." A man's voice said from behind her.  Christine froze, Jake, she thought.  "You know you shouldn't have run off like that.  You know things like that tend to make me angry." Jake said walking closer to her.  Run, just run, she repeated to herself. 

Jake knelt down beside her.  He reached out and grabbed her hair forcefully.  "What am I going to do with you, you've been a bad little girl." He said grinning at her.  He then threw her backward, her head hit the ground hard.  Jake then climbed on top of her, pinning her hands above her head.  "I've tried being patient with you, but you continually test my patients." He said bringing his face an inch from hers.

"JAKE PLEASE!" She cried out, but knew the please would fall deaf to his ears.

"Now, a suitable punishment, I think I have one in mind." Jake said glaring down at her.  Looking at Jake, was like looking at a pure demon, in human form. 

When Cort found her, he almost collapsed at the sight of her.  "I'm sorry." He repeated over and over.  Jake had found a suitable punishment for her.  He tied her to a tree, her back to him, and whipped her.  But he didn't stop there.  He took out his knife and made two deep cuts across her stomach, not deep enough to kill right away, but deep enough that time would.  He then tied a rope to her ankles and dragged her around, then when he thought she had enough, he cut her loose.

Cort took off his duster and placed it around her body.  Cort rocked her as if she were a new born baby.  She didn't show any sign of pain or of waking up.  Cort decided to build a fire and make a comfortable bed for her. 

After a few hours, Christine's eyes opened.  Cort never left her side, and was there when she did.  "Its ok, I'm here." Cort said as a tear fell from his eye. 

"Ja...." She tried to speak but found it too difficult.

"Jake? He did this? I'll kill the son of a bitch." Cort said his anger returning.

Christine passed out again, and Cort's heart broke. 

Cort treated her wounds the best he knew how.  But he knew she needed a real doctor, but he didn't know if she would make the rough journey back.  Frantically he built a travois. He gently placed her on it.  "I'm sorry." He said again, he couldn't say enough sorry's, he thought.  He would get her to town, to a doctor, then he would go after Jake and he would make Jake's death slow and painful, he thought. 

The journey back to town was rough.  Christine slipped away more and more.  Cort didn't know how much longer she had or how much longer she had the will to live.  When they reached town, he mounted off his horse.

"What happened?" Lilly asked running out to him.

"Get the doc!" Cort said as he went to Christine's side.  "I won't let you die! Don't quit on me now!" He whispered softly in her ear.

It took the doctor a few hours to patch her up.  He told Cort that he wasn't holding much hope for her to live.  She had lost a lot of blood and was very weak. He didn't know if her heart would have the strength to continue working. 

Cort entered the church, his head lowered he walked to the front.  

"Am I being punished! Why can't I have one thing I love! Is that too much to ask for!" He yelled out.  He collapsed to his knees.  "Why HER! Take me! Let her LIVE!" He called out, his tears fell uncontrollably.  "PUNISH ME! NOT HER!" He screamed to the heavens. 

3 days later.............

"I think I owe you something." Cort said walking up to him.

"Owe me, unless its money mister, get the hell away from me." He said turning around and facing Cort. 

"Its time I paid up." Cort said and drew his gun.  The guy fell to the floor, he never had a prayer. 

"Now we're even." Cort said as he turned and walked away.

It took Cort 2 days to find Jake.  He was a couple of towns away.  Cort was running on nothing but anger and a broken heart.  He only saw blood, and he knew who's blood he wanted.  Jake never knew what was coming, or why Cort shot him dead.  To Cort this was justice.

1 week later...........

Cort sat by Christine's bed, never leaving her side.  She had begun to regain her strength.  And day by day she grew even stronger. 

"Cort." She whispered her eyes opening to find him smiling down at her.

"Well its about time." He said kissing her forehead.

"Jake." She said starring up at him.

"You don't have to worry about him anymore." Cort said kissing her again.  Christine looked at him confused. 

"You..." She began to say but saw the look in his eyes that told her, he had taken care of Jake. 

Christine sat in her bed, she was very sore.  Cort came back from getting them some food.  She noticed a change in him, but didn't know how or why.

"Did you take care of your demons?" She asked looking at him.

"You did, thank you." He said kissing her on the cheek.

"How did I?" She asked confused.

"You gave me something to love." He softly whispered in her ears.

Cort realized his demons, were his past mistakes.  The demons he faced, were actually the demons of not forgiving himself for all the bad things he did. And the demons of not letting go of the past and moving on, not allowing himself to love, to care about someone.  And most importantly, not excepting the good things that came along.  And not allowing the forgiveness and caring of others into his heart.