"Maybe, Baby, he wants to apologize," she grinned up at them, wild eyes held daggers. "If it came from the heart, we could see fit to let you boys walk out of here."

"Yeah, Pig," Leah pulled free of her mother. I'm sick of everyone in this town, she thought.

He sneered, "I won't apologize to two drifter outsiders, and the whore daughter of traitors."

Hemi, Red, and Clay looked to Tracy, who looked away. Leah looked down, tears rose, and her face burned. Harry laughed, and the four men guffawed.

Red was before them, though Leah never saw her move. "How about I slap you, until you cry," she laughed, but sparks of hellfire red burned in her eyes.

The men looked to Harry, all wore equal smirks. Harry's face turned red as Lily's hair. "Stupid slut," he snapped, and snatched at her chest.

Leah grabbed his arm, but Red lifted him. Through the air he sailed, and Hemi tackled two of them. Clay stepped up, as Tracy crawled under a table. So fast was the attack, all the bar's patrons stood to see who battled. Harry busted a table, which cast beer over a Confederate. He turned to see a son of the Union spit out his drink. A laugh jumped out, but a fist closed it. Other Union boys, seeing one of theirs struck, rushed Confederates a table over. Since Prohibition, no one had dared to start a fight in the General's Shine. The waitresses fled to the back, but the bartender tried to stop the brawl. A punch clocked him out for the night. Leah looked for her mother, but saw men, laid off and angry, working on their frustrations with their fists. Begrudged calm gone, the bar became bedlam.

She looked about the room, as a chair flew through the air. Leah stepped back from two bearded men, who held the other with one hand and punched. One bumped into her, and she nearly toppled. They look like idiots; she mused, and darted out of their way. Another man shoved her aside, so he could club a gentleman, drunk as he was foul mouthed, over the head with a bottle. Harry crept through the brawl with a chunk of table. Red threw punches as Hemi slung men like dolls. Clay threw a beer, which knocked a fellow flat. Leah looked at Harry, and kicked a chair. It slid in front of him.

Harry tripped to fall at Red's feet, and the chunk of wood slid across the floor. She grinned at Leah. "Thanks, Countess," she howled with a fierce grin.

Leah smiled, but Tracy pulled her towards the door. They stumbled out into the parking lot. Harry knocked people aside, and his brothers followed the two women. Red pulled Hemi, who slammed two heads together with a laugh. Clay set down his beer, after a moment to finish it.

"Come on," Tracy snapped, "this is YOUR fault!"

"That jerk grabbed ME!" Leah screamed. Tracy whirled on her daughter, but the bar door banged open.

"Where are you going, Chaney?" Harry growled.

Leah backed up, but her mother already ran behind her. Mom can move fast, she mused darkly, when her bacon is in the fryer. "Why don't you just leave us alone?" she asked, and saw they had parked far away.

"Oh, we are far from done with you," he laughed, and his brothers walked behind him.

The bar door banged open. Red and Hemi grinned at the five men. Clay stepped out with a smile. "Gentleman, I forgot to introduce my family," he hooked thumbs in his pockets. "We're the Bliss family." Tracy frowned, but she couldn't recall the strange name.

"Whoever you are," Harry frowned, though something flickered inside, "you're all going to Lear County Medical."

Clay looked at Tracy, and then to Leah, "NO slight should remain unanswered."

"Who is going to make us answer?" Harry laughed.

Clay's eyes stayed on Leah, "It seems you've been dealt a bad hand. Some are given a loving family, but some, they have to find them." He smiled at Hemi and Red, but looked back to her. "They're laws, old ones, which never change."

"What do you mean?" Leah breathed. I want to be no one but me, she thought. They're their own masters. Like a dream, they're like something from a…nightmare.

"No slight should be left unaddressed," Clay smiled, but looked at Harry and his brothers.

"What can I do?" she looked down.

He stepped closer, and the other members of the Bliss family laughed. "No one can save you, even if they love you. In the end," Clay lowered his hands, "you'll have to be your own savior."

Red stepped up, "We're family, but we have to be our save ourselves."

"That's right," Hemi put an arm around his wife.

"You people are crazy," Harry shook his head.

Clay stood beside Leah, "We don't abandon our Blood."

"That's right," Red winked at her, but turned a feral smile on Harry.

Hemi laughed, "Show'em baby!"

"I'll show you," Harry looked at the other men, "what happens, when you mess with the Rangel brothers."

"Rangel family," Hemi bellowed out a laugh. "I thought you idiots would wipe each other out."

Clay held up a hand, "Red, would you please?"

She looked at Leah, and then stood between them. Red smiled, eyes danced. "We are going to see if you boys are as useless as your forbearers. I'll tell you what, piggy poker, I'll give you a free shot," she stuck out her chin.

"What," Harry looked at the others.

"Come on, you cowardly cur," Red laughed.

Harry swung; face flushed, and caught her jaw. He grabbed his knuckle. "That'll teach you," he said, but shook his hand.

Red smiled, blood smeared teeth. Leah saw her incisors were longer. Inside wild green eyes were a hellish flame. None but the Bliss family saw the slap, but all heard it. Harry staggered, eyes searched for the source of the blow. The next slap was loud, and blood began to drip from his nose. She held up her fists like a pugilist, and Leah laughed. Other members of the Bliss family chuckled. Harry swung, but she danced away from each punch with a laugh. The palm of her hand landed with a sharp crack. He staggered, but each blow landed with incredible speed.