The gun snagged for a second on the waterproof as Sir James Evans 8th baronet , tried to raise it and halt Katies's onslaught in its tracks. That second was all Katie needed and she brought the side of one hand down against Evans's arm and grabbed the gun away with the other before he had time to stop her.

Possession of the weapon presented Katie with a problem. She had not the slightest idea how to use a handgun.  The subject of firearms was a completely closed book to her.  She had heard the expression "Safety Catch", but had no idea what one looked like, or how to operate it.

"Best get rid of it, if I can.  It's no good to me and I've got to stop him grabbing it back"

She danced quickly away from the baronet, who was still nursing his bruised wrist. An inspiration!!  YES!!

Some years ago, when Katie had been a little girl, she had accidentally dropped a watch which her parents had bought her for her birthday, down the drain outside the cottage and it had, mercifully, landed on a ledge a couple of feet down.  Her clever, wonderful Daddy had pulled up the metal grille and rescued the watch and the tears which Katie had started to shed had immediately dried up. " Oh thank you Daddy, darling", she had cried.

"Yes. That's the place to put the gun out of harm's way, just hope I can lift the grille". She quickly skipped over to the drain and bent over it, clasping the metal and pulling for all she was worth! It was a lot stiffer than she would have wished for and Evans and the remaining fat pig (should that be sow?) were coming for her fast. The metal frame started to give and a sweating and desperate Katie strained as hard as she could in desperation, evey sinew crying out in protest. (The demands this girl put on her body! - not surprising it didn't always like it!)

The pair were almost on her when the grille came free and the gun was dropped down the gully pot dropping into the water with a satisfying plop.. She stepped back in time to evade their clutches and stood, facing them both, fists and feet  at the ready, a determined and alert young lady.

The remaining lady had a steely and determined look about her and made the first move against Katie, with an agility which astounded her. One short, chubby leg jerked up into Katies abdomen and caused her to gasp with pain as she danced back out of range.

Katie was ready for the next onslaught, as Evans and the fatso advanced one on each side of her and a wicked kick to the throat dropped the fat old freak where she stood. (I'd NEVER do that to dear old Angie, thought Kate) .

"Looks like it's just the two of us,  MISTER Evans" snarled Katie.

The baronet seemed to take Katie's contemptuous demotion of him very unkindly indeed and she was momentarily  taken aback by the look of cold hatred he directed at her.

 "Come on MISTER Evans .  That beating I gave you for Christmas wasn't enough I take it?.  Come back for more, have you, MISTER Evans?   Well I'm ready MISTER Evans you evil scumbag,  you fucking degenerate -  more than ready!

Luckily for Katie, the conditions for the return contest were far more favourable than those she had fought under at Christmas.  She had a firm surface beneath her bare feet - not that shifting and foot-cutting shingle. Evans was wearing too much clothing and it was impeding his movements.  She was defending her precious inheritance and the sweet memory of her lost parents against attack.  Most important of all was the ever present thought of her darling Angie and the crying, imperative need to get her inside and warm. This last alone gave her the strength she needed to finish this contest quickly.

Katie was leaping and dancing around Evans whose greater age was showing all too clearly in his relative leaden footedness.  One kick and punch after another was flicking into that hateful face, causing blood to flow from that evil no longer grinning mouth.

"How do you  like this MISTER Evans?  I'm bloody loving it, MISTER evans!  This is great, MISTER Evans." Each repetition of Mister was accompanied by another darting blow at her adversary.

The first lady to be felled was getting to her feet and making towards Katie. Another kick sent this old dear back to the floor and Katie turned her attention back to the hateful James Evans.  He was not having a good day at all, with his three companions down and out.

"Time to finish him off"

Then Evans had a bit of luck and landed a kick on Katie's nose.

"Shit - not again! This is getting boring!"

Katie remembered to keep out of the way after this and continued her campaign of attrition for a few more minutes, marking Evans's face more and more.  Then she put him on the floor and stood back to regard her handiwork, her hands on her naked  hips and her bruised and lovely body heaving as she breathed heavily, getting the air back into her lungs and the supply back into her muscles.

All four started to stir  back into life and seemed to be rising to their feet all at once.

"Never mind," thought Katie, "I've got them all nicely softened up.  Soon finish them off"

And then Sir James motioned to his recovering companions and they all made for the car and started climbing in.

"What a pathetic bunch. Four of you and you can't beat one poor  little girl.  What a sight. You fucking jerks!   Come back all of you.  I was just getting to enjoy myself.  Don't go, you miserable arseholes, I've only just started on you!"   Katie screamed these and more insults until the car had started up and left the drive and roared off along the coast road.

A jubilant Angie came running up from behind the dunes and leapt up at Katie, clasping her arms around her friend's neck and wrapping her legs around her waist.  She covered Katies face with ecstatic kisses and wept with joy.

When finally she could speak.

"Oh Katie, you were so wonderful!. You really, really were. It was all so beautiful to watch.   I wouldn't have believed it a few minutes ago!  I really felt myself going under. I thought I was dying.   But now I feel so bloody great.  I was going to come out and help at one stage when that woman kicked you in the gut, but it was all over too quickly.  I love you Katie, I love you.  I worship you, you wonderful darling!!!!

This effusion over, Angie started to shiver again and Katie carried her inside and started running a hot bath for them both, but particularly for her friend.

"Get into that tub  Angie, I'm going outside for a second.  I thought I saw something".

She had inded seen something.  Another car was level with the cottage containing four men. It slowed down and one man jumped out.  The car picked up speed and sped off in the drirection Sir James had driven a few seconds previously. The man walked up the drive.

"Miss O'Brien, mind if I come in?  We saw the tail end of that beautiful demolition job from a distance.  I know people who could use a girl like you!"

"Can't we talk out here, please.   I have a sick friend inside and I DONT want her disturbed"

"My friend Angela?  We're old acquaintances. I need to speak to you both, please"

"OK Come on in.  It's getting a bit chilly - not that I mind.  I don't mind one little bit. But you look perished!"

"You seem to have taken a bit of a beating, Miss O'Brien.  Those are two beautiful black eyes you are sporting and as for that poor old nose, that's a lulu!"

They went into the cottage and into the kitchen where Angie was relaxing in the zinc bath.  Katie joined her friend in the bath and they embraced and looked up at the visitor.

"Hi Steve," said Angie, "Excuse our lack of modesty, but this is our home and you must take us as you find us.  What brings you up to this part of the world?  It's lovely in the summer,so Katie tells me, but a bit bleak right now"

"I was worried about you, Angie.  Bloody hell, another battered lady!  What gives around here?  I heard you were ill on Friday when I phoned your office.  They weren't kidding.  You look terrible.  Can I help at all?  You know I'd do anything for you"

"I've got all the help I'll ever need, thanks dear old Steve"

Steve looked hurt at this.  He was obviously fond of Angie.  Maybe a lot more than fond.

"How did you two girls get roughed up like that?"

"We had a beautiful, lovely, gorgeous fight  with each other and we loved every second of it  and we loved every kick and every  punch, the ones we gave and the ones we took.  That  right Katie?"

Katie smiled her acquiescence and kissed her friend tenderly on her lips.

"I am in the presence of pure unadulterated lunacy.  You are friends and lovers and yet  you like to kick the shit out of each other - right?"

"Too bloody true"  both girls laughed in unison.

"Hang on, I'm being paged"

Steve went outside and spoke briefly to someone at the other end.

He came back.

"Well, you can spend the rest of your weekend without any fear.  We have picked up your friends and taken  them in for questioning.  We won't be able to hold them for long and frankly we're most likely not going to find ourselves too interested in them anyway - nasty bunch that they are.  It's what they can tell us about another fellow that concerns us.  I take it you are going back to Town tomorrow?"

"Yes.  But we're not scared of them whether they're at large or not.   Sent them off with a flea in their ear and we'll do the same again. As soon as Angie's better we'll both  massacre them! Right Angie? One of them had gun. A handgun, thats an offence. I got it off him.  You'll find it down the drain.

"Minus fingerprints most likely and if there are any they'll probably be yours.  I'll have someone fish it up for what it's worth.

"You a policeman, Steve" asked Katie

"Shut up Katie", hissed Angie.

Steve laughed. "Angie's right, Katie, ask no questions. Since it was you that put me on to these people by sending Angie and me up to the Flask, lets say I work with the police from time to time.  And now, if I mistake not a car has come to pick me up. Don't get too overconfident my darling amazon Angie and the lovely Katie. This business is not over yet.  Not by a long way.  I doubt our paths will cross again. These  people are pretty marginal to my terms of reference.  But you two watch your backs"

And so he left, with one last look at Angie.

"You fancy Steve, Angie, don't you. Why were you out so late that night?"

"He asked me back home with him for a coffee"

"Were you unfaithful to me Angie?"

"Five lovely times, darling. It was fantastic!!  Last fling, though before I settle down with you"

"Promise,darling Angie?

"Promise, darling Katie"

"Out of that bath, girl ,lets get dry. Then we can kiss and lick each others bottoms, like we arranged out there!!

"OOHH, Yes!

And they thought of lots of other wonderful things to do with each other. Finally they collapsed on to the bed and fell asleep, their mouths touching and their gentle breath caressing each other faces all night..