Setting Things Straight

by Patricia Pacjac Carroll

Spencer prayed for Jillian that she wouldn’t take sick again. That she could get away from her pa and brothers.

  Then he prayed for himself and Theo. They were riding into danger. There could be gunfire. They both had their pistols and rifles. Spencer didn’t know how good he’d be with a gun. Theo had taught him how to shoot and hit a can at a distance, but he didn’t know if he could shoot at a man. Then again, to save Summer, he could do anything and would do anything.

  The sliver of a moon provided little light, and they had to slow down. Jillian stopped to rest her horse. She whispered to them. “We need to keep an eye out. We might not be that far behind them, and we sure don’t want to ride into them without knowing it.”

  Jillian took a swig from her canteen. “If we see riders ahead, I want you to grab your horse’s withers and pinch it hard. We’ll dismount and grab our horse’s muzzles to keep them from telling the gang that we’re behind them. Trust me, it works.”

  Spencer whispered. “You think they’ll be going slow?”

  “I don’t know. My pa has no reason to risk riding hard over the land at night. And they might know by now that Summer isn’t me. Watch for a campfire.” She pointed toward an area where huge boulders scattered the ground and lead to the rocky ridge. “More than likely, they stopped along the big rocks and made a camp.”

  Spencer took the lead, pistol out, and horse at a walk, he rode toward the dark looming boulders and prayed for Summer’s safety.

  Chapter 11

  Summer gave up struggling and wished she’d brought a warmer jacket. So much for keeping up with fashion as the pretty little jacket that matched her skirt did nothing to keep the cold out. From her shrouded perch above Jillian’s horse, she figured it had to be the girl’s father and brothers. They sounded like a rough bunch.

  What they would do with her when they found out she wasn’t Jillian, she wasn’t sure and probably didn’t want to know. Still, she regretted dropping her reticule that had her notebook and pencils inside. She’d have to remember everything in detail.

  Though she doubted she’d have to work too hard to remember the intense fear that she’d felt when they threw that sack over her head and the rough hands that had grabbed her from behind. For a while, all she could feel was fear.

  But now, she was taking note of all of her senses to put in the story she’d have to write when this ordeal was over. At that thought, she took in a gulp of air, which was hard to do with a sack and gag in her mouth, leaving only her nose to do the work.

  What would they do to her? Despite the cold, sweat worked its way down her face. She was afraid. Jillian had said they were ruthless and evil. She would have to tell the girl that she agreed with her.

  So far, the men hadn’t said much to her and were keeping the horses at a slow but steady pace.

  “We’ll camp over there.”

  A younger voice but just as guttural and evil answered who she thought must be the father. “Won’t someone see us?”

  “We just come to get what’s ours.”

  The horses stopped, and rough hands yanked her from her horse. Summer kicked out, and her booted foot met the leg of one of them.

  “Ow!” He rewarded her with a slap that sent her to the ground, and her ears ringing.

  Another set of hands grabbed her and hauled her to her feet. “Come on, Jillian. We missed you.”

  He sounded a bit nicer and treated her gentler than the other two. But she wasn’t fooled, he was just as dangerous. She didn’t know who they were anyway. Jillian hadn’t supplied any names to her pa or brothers and only referred to them as a gang of evil outlaws.

  Soon she was shoved down, and the gag was taken out of her mouth. “We’re hungry and traveled all day to rescue you. Now, make us some supper, and don’t give us more trouble, or it won’t go well with you.”

  That was the older one, the pa speaking. Summer didn’t answer but did wonder how she was supposed to cook with a sack over her head.

  Just as she was wondering, someone pulled the sack off of her.

  “Well, what have we here? She ain’t Jillian.”

  Summer blinked and then stared about her. The older one, he was a tall one. In the flickering flames, he looked downright diabolical. He glared at her, and she didn’t like the look in his eyes at all.

  She stood. “I’m Summer Vance. The veterinarian’s daughter. If you let me go, I won’t tell anyone you took me. It’s your only chance.”

  The old one laughed an evil, rasping laugh. “Is that right. Looks like we got us a little wildcat.”

  The oldest son was a younger copy of the father though not quite as tall. But he had the same wicked look in his eyes. “What do we do with her?”

  “We’ll trade her for Jillian. I’m sure her folks might be willing to pay for her.”

  The younger brother looked at her with a sympathetic eye. “Nobody ever paid for Jillian.”

  “And she’s made us a good cook, hasn’t she?”

  The older brother walked to her and pulled the pins out of her hair, allowing it to tumble below her shoulders. “She’s a pretty one.” He ran his fingers through her hair.

  Summer was about to kick him when the father grabbed the man and shoved him back. “Leave her be. We didn’t risk everything so you could have a plaything, Carl.”

  Stepping back, Carl kept his eyes on her. “She’s a pretty thing. Haven’t seen a woman in a dress like that in a long time. A real female.”

  The father stood between them. “Don’t touch her.” He swung to face her. “I suppose you been keeping Jillian at your house. That ought to make the exchange easy.”

  Summer straightened her shoulders and stood tall. “Jillian was sick almost to death not that you no-goods cared. She deserves a good life and wants to stay and help my father.”

  The tall man sneered. “I don’t care what she wants, and right now, I want dinner.” He gave a wicked grin. “So, if you want to stay in one piece, get over to the fire and make us some.” He turned to the younger man. “Tom, you get the supplies out of the saddlebag and help her.”

  The older man shoved her, and she stumbled, behind Tom. Summer figured she’d go along for now. She stooped by the fire and looked at the goods Tom set out for her. “You have a pan.”

  He nodded and left.

  She picked out a couple cans of beans. Some bacon. She didn’t see any flour for biscuits. She was about to see if he’d brought back the pan yet when she stood and saw the three of them by the horses arguing.

  Summer couldn’t make out their voices, only that they were angry and pointing at each other. From what she could tell, Tom was having a fight with the other two. He did seem like the nice one. Summer decided to take things into her own hands and stormed over to the three men.

  “I am hungry for my supper, too. So, if you’ll give me the pan, I’ll make it.”

  Startled, the father sneered at her. “You got no say in things. Get back over there and do what you’re told.” He raised a hand to her and then turned and slapped Tom. “I told you to watch her.”

  That he’d meant to hit her, Summer had no doubts. She stepped back and stared at him. “I can’t if I don’t have a pan.”

  Tom handed the pan to her. “Better go and make dinner.”

  Summer grabbed it from him and debated if she had time to bang all three in the head with it, but decided she’d reap worse for her efforts and went back to the campfire. Soon, she had dinner cooking, and it smelled good if she did say so herself.

  The men had quieted and sat with their backs against different rocks. She could see that Carl was on the lookout in case someone had followed her.

  Summer stared out into the dark prairie. Would they even know she was missing? Spencer was off sulking in his apartment. Father, Theo, and Jillian wouldn’t even know she was missing as she had said she might stay at the hotel. She was alone.

  Even though only a sliver of the moon was shining, she could still see the outline of the full moon. That gave her comf
ort as she thought of how God, even though she didn’t see Him, was still there in His fullness watching over her.

  “Supper is ready. Bring your plates.” She waited for the men to come.

  The father came first as if he was the top wolf in the pack and making sure the others knew it. She liked him least of all. Tall, unshaven and with a scraggly beard, his very presence reminded her of evil. It was his eyes that put fear into her. They were hard, shiny balls of dark hate. She didn’t think there was a good bone in his body.

  Summer scooped him out some beans.

  Shoving his plate back at her, he growled. “More.”

  Knowing there’d not be enough for her, she thought of Jillian, and all the girl had had to endure. Looking at the father, Summer had to believe that he wasn’t her real father. She had none of his features. Thank goodness for Jillian.

  After another spoonful, the older one grunted and moved on, and Carl came to get his plateful. Then Tom. Not bothering with a plate, Summer scooped a couple of spoonfuls from the pan to try and alleviate her own hunger.

  She cleaned out the pan with sand and set it aside. Summer decided to keep it near her just in case she needed to knock one of them in the head. She shivered as the night grew colder and wrapped her jacket tight about her.

  Tom came over and handed her one of the horse blankets. “It’s all we got. I’ll go get some more logs so the fire won’t go out.”

  She looked around. “Not a lot of trees around here.”

  “Yeah, but there’s brush and cow chips. They can keep a fire going.”

  Summer thanked him and wondered if he’d been kidnapped too. Tom didn’t look like Carl or his father. If she had time, she’d ask him his story. Summer wished for her pad and pencil. She’d have to begin making pockets in her skirts to keep them there.

  She began thinking of Spencer. How was she going to convince him to let her write? She loved it as much as he did, and she had stories attacking her mind all the time. Why did life have to be so complicated?

  She’d just drifted off and began dreaming of Spencer when she heard a horse nicker.

  Chapter 12

  Spencer kept in front of the others. It was his girl he was rescuing, and he aimed to be the first one she saw. The night was getting colder, and Spencer knew her skimpy, fashionable jacket wouldn’t keep her warm. He grinned. She sure looked pretty in it though.

  He passed a few boulders and then stopped when he thought he saw something. Pointing to the right, he nodded toward the rocks. Then he saw it. A faint yellow glow. “Could be them,” he whispered to Theo.

  His friend nodded. “Or Indians.”

  Jillian shook her head. “Only one way to find out.” And she rode straight for the glow.

  Spencer watched her and then stared at Theo.

  His friend shrugged. “I guess we’re going to ride right up to their camp.”

  “Does that seem smart?” He stared at Jillian’s back as she kept riding toward the fire. “You don’t think she’s in on it?”

  Theo shook his head. “No, she wouldn’t be. She likes Summer.”

  “Well, she did make a fuss for Summer to ride her horse.”

  Theo nodded. “Yeah, I was thinking of that, too. I trust her, Spence.” He looked at him. “I love her.”

  “Then let’s go after the women we love.” Spencer urged his horse on to catch Jillian.

  Not far from the fire, Spence heard a horse nicker. He did what Jillian had said, and his horse remained quiet. Theo was doing the same.

  But Jillian didn’t stop. She kept going. Then she called out. “Pa, Carl, Tom. It’s me, Jillian.”

  Spencer halted his horse and went behind a boulder. Pulling out his pistol, he let the reins fall to the ground hoping the horse would stay. Theo jumped from his horse and did the same. “It would have been nice if she’d told us her plans.”

  Spencer nodded.

  Jillian waited, not twenty feet from them. “Well, answer me. By now, you know you got the wrong girl.”

  “We might keep her and get rid of you.” A gritty voice echoed from the ridge.

  “I came to make a trade. Her for me. No tricks.” Jillian looked back and shook her head.

  “I think we’ll keep you both. Come on in, and we’ll talk about it.” The man stepped out in front of the fire, making a dark but indistinguishable figure.

  Spencer couldn’t make him out. He wondered what Jillian wanted them to do.

  “There are two men behind me. They want Summer back. There’ll be trouble if you don’t release her.” Jillian stepped from her horse and walked toward the black shadow of a man.

  Theo started to go out from the cover of the rock.

  Spencer held him back. “She’s up to something. Stay here.”

  “No, she’s the woman I love. I’ll marry her or die trying to save her, but I’m not letting those animals take her.”

  Spencer looked behind them. “Come on, we can go the back way. Surprise them from the rear.” He ran to the next boulder, waving for Theo to follow him.

  Soon, Spencer could see Summer sitting by the fire. He ran to the next closest rock. Searching the ground, he found a pebble and threw it at her, hitting her leg.

  She jumped and then looked his way.

  Spencer waved for her to stay put. With pistols out, he and Theo charged into the camp. Spencer grabbed Summer and shoved her behind him.

  Carl turned and raised his gun. “Pa, they got the girl.”

  There was a scream, and then the tall man came into view with his arm locked around Jillian’s neck and the gun aimed at her head. “Drop your guns, boys. Or I’ll kill her.”

  Summer put an arm on Spencer’s hand. “He means it.”

  Spencer and Theo threw their guns down.

  Summer put a hand to her head. “I feel so faint.” She slumped to the ground.

  Spencer could only stare at her. Summer never fainted. Never. He’d passed out after he’d accidentally shot himself in the leg and saw blood, but not Summer.

  Spencer glanced at Theo, who had a sly grin on his face. He nodded to where Summer had fallen. And Spencer almost laughed. She was laying atop the pistols.

  The outlaw came closer and saw that they had thrown down their guns. He released Jillian. “Get me the guns.”

  Apparently, Jillian knew they were under Summer because she walked right to her and knelt. Putting a hand on Summer’s back, she whispered something.

  Spencer tried to keep an eye on the girls, but the men were getting closer. Carl was just to Summer’s left. The old man was to Jillian’s right, and Tom wasn’t far from Theo.

  Spencer leaned against the rock next to him. “So, now what? Is this how outlaws get their women, they have to kidnap them. Then again, seeing such ugly faces, I guess that’s the answer.”

  The outlaw snarled. “Shut up. Carl, tie her up.”

  Summer jumped up with one of the guns in her hand and threw Jillian the other one. She ordered Carl to drop his pistol.

  Jillian spun around and aimed her pistol at the old man. “I will shoot you. Don’t think I haven’t dreamed of it many a night.”

  Tom stared at them. Theo ran at him and knocked him down.

  As they fought, Spencer grabbed the pistol from Carl and shoved the outlaw down. “Better hope Summer isn’t really mad, because you’ll have a hole in you.”

  Summer grinned but held the gun steady in her hand.

  Spencer would have taken it from her, but he knew she was a better shot than he was. He turned to Jillian and didn’t like the look on her face.

  Theo hit Tom again and then stood. Theo took one look at Jillian and ran to her.

  ***

  Theo put a hand on hers. “He’s not worth it, Jills. Let the law deal with him. We’ll tie them all up and bring the sheriff a nice package.”

  She shook her head. “He owes me a life.” She waved her gun at the old man. “You stole me, didn’t you?”

  Theo took the gun from the old man. “Bett
er answer her.”

  He nodded. “Yeah, we come upon you after an Indian raid killed your momma and papa. They were dead. You were little and would have died. We figured to sell you to relatives or slave traders.”

  The gun shook in her hand. “Why didn’t you?”

  Tom stepped back a step. “Ma liked you. She wouldn’t let us. She’d always wanted a daughter.”

  “I should just—”

  Theo took the gun from her. “No, you shouldn’t. You have a life with me, Jillian. He’s not worth worrying about. I doubt he’ll get out of prison if he doesn’t hang.”

  Spencer finished tying Carl up while Summer held the gun on him. They went to Tom and tied him. Then Spencer grabbed the old man’s hands behind his back and tied him securely.

  “There we go. All tied up.” He hugged Summer to him. “I’m never letting you out of my sight.” Spencer kissed her. “Will you marry me this weekend?”

  She nodded. “Yes. But what about the writing?”

  Spencer hugged her to him. “I don’t care if you get a hundred more books published than me. We were meant to be together.”

  Theo smiled at his friends. He’d hold them to it and take them by shotgun to the preacher if he had to.

  He turned and saw Jillian. She looked spent, and he went to her and held her in his arms. “Jillian, I love you. I want to protect you and take care of you if you let me.”

  She looked up at him and smiled. “I love you, too, Theo. That’s why I rode on ahead. I couldn’t let them hurt you. I’d rather have gone back to them.”

  “You don’t have to worry about them anymore.” He hugged her to him.

  Summer made her way to Tom and sat down beside him, wiping the blood from the busted lip Theo had given him. “Is that old man your real father?”

  He stared at her. “I think so.” He was quiet for a few minutes. “But, there are days that I remember a different place.”

  Summer nodded. “I think you may have been stolen, too. Like Jillian. We’ll get the sheriff to look into it.”

  “I’ll still have to pay for my part in rustling, I guess.”

  Summer nodded. “I think so, but maybe you can get a reduced sentence if you help the sheriff. You don’t owe those two anything.”