The next day had Blaine competing in the moving target shooting competition. Essentially, things were tossed in the air and competitors had to shoot them. It would be a lot less orderly than the still target competition because it meant each competitor went one at a time.

Since Blaine had done so well the day before, his ranking went from underdog to favorite overnight. Kurt still intended to bet however, as any gain he got on the bet would be more than he started with.

There weren't as many competitors in this competition, as hitting a moving target was vastly more difficult than a straight shot. The brothers of David and Sebastian were both there though, as well as most of the higher ranked competitors from the day before. Kurt grinned as Blaine's advance to the field was met by a cheer from the crowd, who definitely loved it when an underdog rose up. Blaine however, didn't pose for the crowd, or even wave. He was all business as he readied himself for the tosses.

In each toss, Blaine only needed one shot. Plates were the first target for this competition, and Blaine hit each and every one at the peak of their throw, causing an increase in the scatter of plate bits over the ground. Just like the day before, Kurt was completely tense throughout Blaine's time on the field, while Blaine himself looked bored with what he was doing.

Kurt didn't pay much attention to any of the other competitors as they went through the first round on the field. Every now and then he would lock eyes with Blaine, who was leaning once again against the fence to the side, and smile supportively. Blaine managed not to smile back. Since so many eyes were on him, he didn't want anyone to realize that he was with Kurt and put him at risk.

Once again, the competitors were reduced to five and lunch was called. Again Blaine and Kurt went to the bakery to eat together. Again, David watched them leave together, seething.

After lunch, Kurt excused himself to go to the washroom, when he returned he found Blaine and Sebastian toe to toe, scowling at each other. Kurt came up beside Blaine to see what was happening.

"Get back Kurt... I may need to punch this ass." Blaine said, without looking back to see Kurt's approach.

"You'd better keep your dog in check there Hummel." Sebastian directed to Kurt. "I'd hate to have to put him down."

A smack reverberated through the area in front of the bakery as Blaine punched Sebastian across the jaw as soon as he had finished speaking. Sebastian stumbled back a couple steps, his own hand moving up to his reddening jowl. "Da' 'ell!"

Kurt stepped forward quickly and put a hand on Blaine's shoulder, trying to hold him back, "Blaine... don't! You'll get yourself jailed!"

Blaine let loose a low snarl, but stayed in place, not taking his eyes off of Sebastian who retreated backwards a few steps before turning and walking quickly away, hand still holding his jaw.

Kurt could feel the tension in Blaine lessen from where he had a hand on his shoulder and Kurt rounded the space in front of Blaine to look him in the eye, "What just happened?"

Blaine stretched out the fingers of the fist he had used to cuff Sebastian's jaw and sighed, "He suggested I needed to throw the competition if I wanted to keep my genitals attached."

Kurt blanched at the thought. He should have suspected that the Smythe's might try to interfere with the competitions. There was a certain amount of prestige that went along with winning shooting competitions in this town, and for some outside to win it would be unheard of.

"Blaine... You know it's a serious threat right? They get what they want."

Blaine rolled his eyes and started walking back to the competition, Kurt following along. "I'm serious Blaine. I don't want you to get hurt."

Kurt didn't get a response right away, but right before they got to the stands, Blaine turned in place and looked straight at him, "Kurt. If no one says no to them, they'll never change. I'm not afraid of them and you need to stop being afraid of them too."

Kurt mulled on that quietly, walking away from Blaine to sit in his place in the stands. Blaine watched him sit and sighed before entering the competitors area again.

Again, it ended up coming down to Blaine, Paul Karofsky, and Zain Smythe. Sebastian had joined David at the sidelines, an angry red welt on his chin. Both were glaring at Blaine, as if they could bring him down with the force of their eyes.

Again, Blaine won, his hand lifted into the air to the cheers of the crowd, women around Kurt screaming and shouting out requests for him to bed them, which Kurt just silently smiled about.

Again, they met at the payout centre, Kurt getting double his bettings and suggesting again that they head to the post office so he could send off the profit to his family. This time however, they were delayed by Blaine's new fans who requested he give them his signature. Kurt watched as Blaine complied with the requests, hands tucked into his pockets. He was actually glad Blaine hadn't thrown the competition. He was proud of him, and not just because he had won, but because he had been true to his values.

Kurt wanted to be true to what he believed was right too. In that moment, he knew that he needed to be doing more than just believe in what was right, but act in a way he knew was right, even if it meant being afraid. He was afraid anyhow, at least if he faced his fears, he could live with integrity.

"You ready?" Blaine asked and Kurt was shaken from his thoughts. He nodded to Blaine and they headed to the post office, sending off the profits with a note in which Kurt told his dad that he had met someone, someone he wanted him to meet one day. He smiled over to the side and peeked at Blaine who was waiting by the door. He would take Blaine to meet his family before they left Lima. He wanted nothing more than to show off Blaine to the other loves in his life. He wanted Blaine to see where he had grown up and know who his family was.

When they left, Kurt made a bold choice and reached down to take Blaine's hand in his own, right in the middle of the street. Blaine blinked and looked down at the union of their hands and then to Kurt in shock. "Kurt...."

"I should be able to walk down the street holding hands with whomever I want." Kurt announced back to him, ignoring the stares they were receiving.

"It's not that I disagree Kurt... but..." Blaine was also noticing the looks, but instead of ignoring them, he shot back threatening glances. "... I don't want you to do something you'll regret."

Kurt interlaced their fingers, strengthening the link between their hands. "I'll never regret being with you. I meant it last night... nothing can touch what we have together."

Blaine sighed softly, resigning himself to having his hand held, and even giving Kurt a little squeeze to the palm. "You always zig when I think you're going to zag. You were afraid of what would happen if I threw the competition earlier and now you're out here asking for trouble..."

Kurt smiled to himself, "I found myself inspired by you."

"What on earth are you talking about Kurt?" Blaine said as they got closer to the saloon, feeling the burn of stares in his back.

"You didn't compromise what you believed was right... and you're right. I need to stop being afraid."

"This isn't exactly what I meant Kurt...." Blaine said as they entered the saloon through the front door for everyone to see. Everyone to see, that is, that they were going in together.

Kurt stopped and turned to Blaine once they were inside, "Well that's what I heard." He leaned into Blaine and pressed a chaste kiss to his lips. Blaine pressed back and moaned softly, the chaste kiss creating very unchaste thoughts.

Kurt pulled away and released a small breath of air, setting his head on Blaine's shoulder and wrapping his arms around him. "I never want to act like I'm ashamed to be with you. I want you to know how proud I am to be with you."

Blaine's breath hitched in his throat and he wrapped his arms around Kurt in return, "I hope you are... I want you to be."

After a moment, they retired to their room to share in the same mundane but euphoria inducing domestic life they had begun the day before.

Kurt awoke the next day to find himself uncovered and Blaine gazing over his almost fully named body, the wraps still around his chest. Blaine was breathing heavily and had a hand stroking his erection up and down as he lustfully scanned over Kurt's body until he noticed Kurt was awake and watching him and then they both blushed deep red.

"You're just so gorgeous Kurt... The sunlight was hitting you just right as the sun came up this morning and I couldn't keep my eyes off of you."

Kurt dipped his head towards his chest, the blush spreading across his face. He reached for Blaine's hand and put it on Kurt own penis, now fully hard as well, and watched as Blaine took in a sharp breath and looked down at Kurt's erection.

"So goddamn gorgeous...."

Kurt whimpered softly, his cock dripping precum onto Blaine's hand. He had been spoiled before David attacked him, being able to enjoy Blaine daily in bed, and had missed his touch.

Blaine suddenly stopped and looked at Kurt worriedly. "Kurt..."

Kurt whined and pushed his hips forward, making his cock move up in Blaine's hand. "I'm fine... We'll take it slow so you don't have to worry about my ribs."

Blaine was shocked for a moment by the jerk of Kurt's hips but didn't continue stroking the shaft, even as Kurt began thrusting against Blaine's hand needily.

"It's not that... Well it is, but not just that."

Kurt whined again, but this time because he felt pain shoot through his heart. Blaine thought he was disgusting after what had happened with Karofsky and didn't want to touch him. He pulled himself away from Blaine and drew up the blanket to cover his body, turning himself away from Blaine so he wouldn't see the tears forming in his eyes.

"Oh Kurt...." Blaine cooed, putting a hand on his shoulder. "I do want this with you... But I'm afraid not only that I'll hurt you, but I need to make sure you're actually ready for that. Mentally I mean."

Kurt whimpered and rubbed his eyes with his hands, the tears havin began to trickle down his face. "You think I'm all screwed up."

Blaine cursed himself under his breath, "No, that's not what I meant. Kurt, you were attacked, violently attacked. I don't want what I do with you to remind you of what he did to you...."

Kurt's brow bunched up and he turned his face, now red and blotchy, back to look at Blaine, who I turn looked pained. "Blaine... I could never think of you like I do him...l hate him. I love you."

Blaine tenderly wiped some of the tears off Kurt's face with his fingers, "I know.... Which is why I'm so afraid of doing anything to you that might remind you of him."

Kurt pushed himself up and smashed his mouth against Blaine's then, spending a moment tasting his lips and tongue before pulling back slowly to respond. "You make me feel safe, and loved, and have never been anything but tender and gentle with me. Those are things that would never remind me of him. You make me feel amazing when we have sex, and I want that, I want you, so badly."

Blaine licked his lips when Kurt pulled away to speak, eyeing him with hunger and desire of his own. Kurt realized that Blaine must have been avoiding instigating anything sexual for fear of pushing Kurt away, and that act of thoughtfulness, however misguided, make Kurt even hungrier for Blaine.

"Now I want to do things to you that I don't ever want my dad to hear about and that would make the girls next door blush, so you'd better be alright with that." Kurt added after a moment.

Blaine moaned and the pairs lips collided against one another as their hands began roaming up and down the others. Their groins ground against one another, erection rubbing against erection between them and Kurt was so sensistive he thought he would come just from the feel of Blaine's cock against his own.

Blaine apparently thought the same and groaned loudly into Kurt's mouth, his hands moving down to grasp Kurt's testicles and squeeze them gently which set Kurt over the edge immediately, his hips jerking up as he came across their stomachs.

"Oh dammit Kurt... Those noises you make....." Blaine moaned, listening to the whimpers and cries coming from Kurt as he orgasmed. Within a minute of grinding, Blaine came too, making a sticky white mess between them.

They laid there for a few minutes, both in bliss and totally worn out. A nagging voice in Kurt's head told him that he was disgusting and needed to wash, which he tried to ignore for as long as possible until it became too much and the drying cum started to feel cold on his otherwise warm body. "Need to clean off...." He murmured into Blaine's ear.

Blaine made a noncompliant grunt beside him so Kurt nudged him a few times in the hip before Blaine finally got himself out of the bed and collected a clean wash rag from Kurt's water basin. He gently wiped Kurt clean before using the rag on himself and then set about getting dressed for the days competition.

Kurt wouldn't be able to watch all the action today. The competition would be focused on gun hunting. Contestants would ride a horse from the livery stable and let loose in a lot where several deers, rabbits, and foxes would be set free. Each of the animals was worth a set amount of points, and whomever shot the most in points that day, would win.

Blaine made sure he let Kurt know how much hunting for sport went against the values of his mother's side of the family. "You kill what you need to survive and nothing more. You use all theanimal."

"Then why are you competing in this event Blaine... if it goes against what you believe?"

"Because I also believe that no Karofsky or Smythe should win anything at this point." He winked and laid a kiss on Kurt's lips, who chuckled at the rub of the beard against his face.

They delayed a little before heading out to the stable where competitors would get their horses and pay their registration fee, taking time to make sure they remembered the feel of each other's lips. Kurt promised to come back to the room after he dropped Blaine off at the stable, since he had been ignoring the mending for the past two days. He also needed to write up notes to all his regular customers letting them know that he would be moving on from Lima.

They held hands on the way to the stables, again getting more looks and shakes of heads. Kurt didn't care. The feel of Blaine's hand in his own was worth the stares. It made him feel stronger and more sure of himself.

When it was time, they pulled apart and Kurt sighed, his hand empty and making his heart feel empty.

"Hey. I'll be back before you know it. We'll make a supper out of something I kill." Blaine smiled and patted Kurt's shoulder before saddling up in the brown stallion given to him.

Kurt wrapped his arms around himself and looked up at Blaine on the horse. "We'll need to get ourselves a pair of horses before we leave..."

Blaine shook his head, "No. We'll need to get you one. I told you Minnie would come back."

Kurt chuckled and shook his head, "So damn sure of yourself."

Blaine chuckled and winked at Kurt, "Why shouldn't I be when I've got the best looking man in the world waiting for me when I come back?"

They shared a smile and Blaine blew Kurt a kiss as he headed off to the hunting site, Kurt watching until he could no longer make Blaine out in the distance anymore.

Kurt went to make his bet and then returned to the saloon. Before he reached the door, he heard a winnie and glanced to the side of the building, seeing a familiar appaloosa mare, "Minnie!"

Kurt chuckled and walked up to the mare who nudged her nose into Kurt's hands, breathing heavy wet breathes on his hands. "Blaine said you'd be back. Does he speak horse?"

The mare neighed and nudged her head against the hands, and Kurt began scratching along her mane. "I guess you want something to eat then hmmm?"

Again the horse neighed and Kurt laughed, wondering how crazy he must look with this one sided conversation. "I'll go grab something from the saloon kitchen. Give me a minute."

He was in and out of the kitchen quickly and brought Minnie a few carrots and some potatoes. He wasn't sure if horses even liked potatoes, but the kitchen needed restocking and choices were limited.

Piece by piece, he fed Minnie and then led her to the back door. He didn't have a rope to tie her with, but hoped she understand. "If you stay here, Blaine will be back later. I have some work to do, but I'll check on you later."

The mare snorted and laid herself down by the door, Kurt watching her in shock and wondering if perhaps he actually spoke horse and didn't know it. Eventually the shock wore off and he escaped to his room to work on tailoring.

As he worked, he scanned over his room, contemplating how he'd need to pack up his clothing and things he owned. He'd have to perhaps sell some, or store it with his father since he and Blaine would be on the road for awhile. He could have it shipped by train then once they had found a place to settle.

Kurt found himself making a laundry list of things he needed to do like that before he left. He needed to talk to Quinn, thank her for all she had done for him. He needed to see Santana and make sure she knew how to contact his dad if she needed to get ahold of him for any help. He needed to see if there was a horse even half as good as Minnie to purchase and get a saddle, reins, saddlebag, and all the other necessary equipment for owning a horse. He would also have to let the Karofsky's know, if they hadn't already jumped to the conclusion given his absence, that he was done with the saloon.

He worked diligently, losing track of time. Eventually Kurt looked out the window and saw how much the sun had travelled the sky and realized that Blaine would be back soon. He put aside the clothing and stood up, stretching carefully. He made his way downstairs and checked on Minnie, who stood back up on her legs as he approached and sniffed towards his hands, looking for food.

"Well aren't you just greedy." Kurt mused to the mare, smiling as he said it.

"My, my, talking to a horse. Knew you must be going crazy."

Kurt's head shot up and he saw David rounding the corner of the building, approaching him. Kurt swore under his breath and tensed up, ignoring the burn in his chest. He gave Minnie a slap on the side causing her to run off with a loud neighing cry. If David was going to try anything, he didn't want Minnie to get in the way or be used as leverage against him.

"What the hell do you want David? I'm not letting you do anything else to me."

Karofsky stopped and smirked, folding his arms over his chest a few yards away. "Word is that you're flaunting your homosexuality for all to see."

Kurt narrowed his eyes "So what if I am? I think after all the shit you've put me through I'm allowed to have a bit of happiness."

David's smile fell from his face and he glared at Kurt, "See... here's the thing. I'm pretty sure I've made you mine. Your whore ass is mine."

Kurt winced a little at the term, flashing back to the other instances David had used the word on him. "I don't belong to you. You used me, and now you're coming here saying I'm flaunting the fact that I'm gay. Maybe if you were comfortable with the fact you were gay too, you wouldn't be such an asshole."

David's brows dropped and Kurt saw the familiar rage in his eyes. He braced himself, ready to fight back this time.

"You. Belong. To. Me." David spoke, enunciating each word on it's own and remaining in place for the moment. "I made you mine. Do I have to beat it into you further?"

"No I don't. Forcing yourself on me doesn't make me yours. You could have killed me for god's sake." Kurt's voice was rising as he spoke, nearly yelling now at David. "You're disgusting and I want nothing to do with you."

David moved closer to Kurt. He unfolded his arms and reached out to grab Kurt around the neck. Kurt jumped back out of reach and drew the gun in his holster, pointing it at David, "Get the hell away from me!"

David growled and stopped in place, looking down the barrel of the gun aimed for him. "You wouldn't dare."

Kurt took a couple more steps backward to give himself more space from the bigger man. His arms trembled, but he kept the gun pointed on David. "I would."

David looked at Kurt calculatingly, though stayed in place. "I'm the law around here. If you shoot me you'll be hung."

"You're nothing but a joke. You bring no justice to Lima. You and your family only bring pain." Kurt's eyes were rimmed with tears as he spoke.

David moved then to draw his own gun but Kurt yelled, "Stop!" and David lifted his hands back up into sight, keeping his eyes on Kurt.

"Come on Kurt. You know I didn't mean to hurt you. I want you after all. Why would I hurt something I want so badly?" David tried negotiating, trying to make himself look less threatening in the process.

Kurt shook his head, his arms getting sore from how tense they were keeping the gun up and aimed, "I don't know. I really don't understand you or how anyone could do what you've done, but I don't want to understand either. I just want you to go away."

David tried to take a step forward and Kurt stepped back in time, bringing his back up against the wall of the saloon. A bead of nervous sweat fell down Kurt's forehead, down his nose, and dripped to the ground. David watched the whole process before speaking again.

"You don't want to hurt me Kurt. Come on. Just give me the gun and I won't tell anyone about this."

Kurt shuddered and shook his head again, "I'm not that stupid David. You tried to rape me at gunpoint - do you really think I'd willingly give you my gun?"

David licked his lips, watching Kurt with too much confidence, and not enough worry. The bigger man didn't see him as a threat at all, gun or not. "I just thought you liked that rough stuff is all. I'm not going to do that again."

Kurt kept shaking his head, wishing he could just disappear through the wall at his back and go hide. Instead he was trapped between the wall and David, who refused to back off.

"Really Kurt. Come on, just put the gun down even. You'll end up getting in a lot of trouble if you shoot me and think about how your dad would feel about that."

Kurt bit his lower lip. That was true, but he also knew that David was just trying to manipulate him. He was scared, but not stupid. He kept the gun pointed, ignoring that his palms were sweating around it.

"How about this then Kurt," David took another step forward and Kurt held the gun up a little straighter, shaking his head no to the advanced, "...you put the gun down and I'll tell my boys to call off the hit on your little half blood boy toy."

Kurt made a small gasp, "No... Blaine..." His hands trembled and he was having a hard time keeping the gun pointed straight, but regardless it was still aimed on David, shaking or not.

David smiled softly, "Well he's clearly been cheating in the games, we can't have that... so Smythe insisted we take him down - being a bad influence and all."

Kurt felt a fire start in his heart and his breathing became deeper as his mind started buzzing. "I put the gun down... you tell them all to leave him alone...."

David nodded along with the explanation, "Of course. Of course. Gun down. He gets to go."

Kurt made a soft whine, knowing that he couldn't trust David, but also knowing that any chance was better than none at all in this situation. He slowly brought his hands down, keeping the gun in hand.

Kurt immediately regretted his action as David lunged forward, closing the gap between them. In an instant he had Kurt lifted and pressed against the wall with his body, his hands holding down Kurt's shoulders against the saloon and Kurt's chest felt like it had been broken open with the impact. He cried out, "You have to tell them not to hurt Blaine!"

David grinned and slapped the gun out of Kurt's hand, letting it fall to the ground. "Now why would I do that when it would mean I would have you all to myself?" His eyes looking at Kurt with a wicked gleam.

Kurt screamed and started struggling against David, who unfortunately had a weight advantage. David brought a hand up against Kurt's mouth to muffle the noise, moving his other hand to grope at Kurt's crotch, intensifying the scream against David's hand.

"You must be the stupidest whore on the planet to think I'd let you go and him stay alive. He touched my stuff. He pays. I told them to make his death long and awful." David whispered into Kurt's ear as if speaking seductively to a lover.

Kurt's eyes went wide and David chuckled at the response, then the larger man screamed and jumped back, pulling his hand in toward him, now covered in blood. Kurt fell the ground, adrenaline compensating for the pain in him. He had bit down, hard, on the hand that David had against his mouth and now had blood dripping down his chin and the horrid taste of skin, iron, and dirt in his mouth, but it gave him the chance he needed. He grabbed his fallen gun and pointed it once again at David who was swearing and advancing back on him.

And Kurt shot.

Once, twice, three times - until David had fallen to the ground and Kurt could move away, intending to find Minnie and then find Blaine, save Blaine, as fast as he could.

"Hold it!"

Kurt paused where he was standing, a foot away from David still. He looked over his shoulder and saw Sebastian, and two of Sebastian's crew all pointing their guns at him.

He looked back out, realizing that Blaine was lost to him, and Kurt was as good as dead himself.