Mary heard that voice and it pulled her into consciousness. In a hazy minute of confusion, she thought that she was just dreaming. She peered over at the cowboy, a myriad of expressions crossing her face as she started to realize that he was actually here.
"Johnny?" she whispered back. "You found me."
Her voice was a little scratchy with disuse and didn't come as easily as she would have liked. She struggled a bit against her bonds, wanting more than ever to be free right now. He'd see to that soon enough though, she was sure.
---
He moved forward after hearing her voice, she was still alive, and he needed to be next to her. He didn't care anymore about the sounds his boots would make on the floor, or the noise of his jacket over his holster. He'd found her. That was what mattered.
"Of course I did." he said, his voice still mostly quiet. "I'd never let anything happen to you if I could avoid it."
He was angry with himself. It would be easy to hear. "I should have told you to stay. I could have slept in one of the booths in the bar. I should have stopped you from leaving, Mary. This wouldn't have happened."
He knelt before her, wanting to check her wounds before beginning to untie her. If by chance her bonds were keeping blood from pouring out of a certain cut, it would be better to know that. What he saw was horrifying. Johnny hoped that Mary hadn't had access to any reflective surfaces.