Not exactly

The heavy wagon doors opened to the sound of excited voices hollering but they quickly fell silent as Lisa's eyes adjusted to the bright sunlight. After a moment someone spoke, their voice croaky and rough.

"Well fuck me Bill, ain't you lookin pretty today!" the man said theatrically. After a stunned pause several voices broke out in laughter but there was no real mirth there. In fact as their chuckling faded away the concern left in its wake was almost palpable. Lisa's vision cleared to reveal several men peering into the wagon at her, their scruffy garb and guns in hand suggesting them bandits of some sort.

"Who the fuck 'r you, and where the fuck is Bill?" the man closest to Lisa asked to which she shook her head lamely.

"I... don't know. Sorry." she blurted causing the man to shake his head in disgust and storm away. He reappeared a moment later dragging a man with him, clearly injured - one of the police escorting her, she figured. A gun was thrust in the law man's face as the bandit leader shouted, "What the fuck is this!? Who is she, and where is Bill?"

The injured law man was clearly terrified. "I... I don't know!" he stammered, "I just deliver the prisoners as I'm ordered. Don't know nothing more 'bout em..."

"Well fat lot 'o good you are to me then." the bandit sneered, cocking his pistol.

"Wait!" Lisa called out, finally finding her voice. "Bill... big bastard. Mean... right?" she asked.

The bandit leader looked to her and nodded, then without breaking eye contact, squeezed the trigger, blowing a hole through the law man's head.

"Tha's right..." he said, rising and taking a step towards Lisa. "What about 'im?"

Lisa yelped as she winced and looked away, shaking her head before finally responding, "He was in the lockup with me... sheriff said he was bumped for me."

"That right? And what makes you so special?" the man asked curiously, gesturing for Lisa to come closer to him.

"I... shot some men back in Deadneck." Lisa said, grimacing in pain as she rose from her seat and made her way to him, stooping low as she gingerly stepped down the carriage. "They attacked me..."

The bandit leader nodded at Lisa - a command to sit on the edge of the wagon which she did, grunting and groaning as she moved into place, then sat on her excruciatingly sore posterior, hanging her legs over the end.

"Did that to ya did they?" the bandit leader asked.

Lisa lowered her head in shame, "No... that was Bill." she answered quietly.

Again came the brief pause, the men needing a moment to process her words before they broke out in laughter once more - this time much more sincere.

When the hubbub died down the leader chuckled, "That's our Bill alright. Well guess this is yer lucky day... consider this a rescue." He stepped away, walking as he continued, "An even luckier, we be travelling light today an need to be well clear o here by nightfall. Yer on yer own."

A thrill shot through Lisa, hope rising in her heart... she was free! She leaned out to peer up past the wagon roof noting that the sun was still high in the sky and as she scanned the small section of landscape she could see, she realised she had no idea where she was. Her dry throat reminded her how long she had been without a drink and without knowing which direction the nearest stream was, let alone town she knew staying out here alone was a significant risk. When she spotted a buzzard circling overhead she took pause.

"Wait... please." she called out to the men. "I'm injured and won't last long out here on my own. Couldn't you take me with you?"

"I tole ya... we're in a hurry." the bandit leader called back, "Besides, ain't got no use for a broken whore... got plenty 'o them already. Unless ya got somethin ta offer I don't know about?"

Lisa gulped. She knew her life would be in serious danger if she was left out here alone and yet the thought of throwing herself upon the mercy of these men repulsed her. If they were associates of 'Bill' she had no doubts about their character, but if swallowing her pride meant survival, then was there really any other option?