Her entire body was pressed against his. His grasp was steel, his arm hurting her breasts, his breath against her ear. She could feel the tip of the knife against her throat, and she was afraid."Jesus," Fred gasped, gun in hand. "Let her go!" Shoz smiled. "You might be a good enough shot to hit me," he said, "and not Lucy, but I doubt it."Lucy gave a little cry. Fred went even whiter, and Shoz jerked on Lucy to remind her to be still."Let me warn you," he said coolly, "I'm Apache through and through. You fire, and this blade is going right through her jugular vein."Lucy moaned. The pressure of his arm increased, cutting off the sound and her minute attempt to struggle."Jesus," Fred said again, sweat dripping down his brow. Lucy pleaded with him. "Don't do it! Fred, don't, please, don't!"Fred was unsure, and it showed."Drop the gun," Shoz ordered, moving forward with Lucy still in front of him, her body almost entirely shielding his. He hustled her through the cell doorway, Fred backing up until he was against the bars of the opposite cell, but still holding the gun.
