by Rita Hestand
When she attempted to scream, he gaged her with his bandana and galloped off in the distance. They traveled for miles in unfamiliar country. Jen tried to keep her wits about her. But laying across his saddle, she couldn't make out anything.
Jen was shaking by the time they reached a clearing and a small shack.
He put her down and followed closely behind her, shoving her into the dirty old abandoned shack. She didn't recognize it either.
"Get in there and stay put." He ordered as he hobbled the horse and brought a bucket of water inside behind her.
"Who are you? What do you want with me?" She asked.
"Don't you fret now. You do exactly as I say and we'll get along." He ordered her.
"Why am I here?" she asked looking around at the cabin. She didn't recognize anything. Nor him.
He was tall, and slim and looked mean. He frowned all the time. He had dirty dark hair and dark piercing eyes that cut her when he stared.
"Are you going to tell me why I'm here?" She asked when he found a couple of chairs and set them down.
"No ma'am. And I'd appreciate you not asking me questions either." He informed her. "There's coffee fixin's and beans and bacon, better rustle us up some supper," He informed her.
"How long do you intend keeping me here?" She gasped with horror.
"As long as it takes, ma'am." He laughed. "As long as it takes."
"I don't know you. I've never seen you before. Why are you doing this to me? I have no money." She told him.
"Never mind why. Just rustle us up some supper, I'm hungry." He demanded.
He went outside and tended his horse. She glanced about the place. It had been abandoned long ago and she figured as long as they traveled that she was fifteen or twenty miles from Noah's place.
She saw the old coffee pot on the stove and she opened the door. There was a well out front and she went out to get some water for coffee.
He was right outside. "I'll need some wood for a fire." She told him.
He nodded, and brought back some wood. "Can you manage now?"
"Yes," she said curtly. "Can you at least tell me your name?" She asked in a calmer voice now.
He stared at her, "My name is Roy. And I don't know you any more than you know me. You do exactly as I tell you from here on out and we'll get along fine."
She nodded and started slicing the bacon.
He went outside again. "Call me when it's ready." He instructed.
She nodded again.
It made no sense why a complete stranger would kidnap her like this. What could he possibly be after, she wondered. Was there someone else behind this? And if there were, who was it?
Long experiences with controlling type men made her more patient than most women. She knew she couldn't afford to agitate him. She had no idea what he might be capable of.
But she couldn't help but wonder if he intended to kill her or not. After all she looked forward to her wedding with Jace, now it might never happen. Tears welled in her eyes, but she squashed them down, swallowing hard.
I can do this. I can survive!
***
When Jace and Noah got back, they had a dozen horses. They were tired from all the work they'd done, but very satisfied with their find. After putting them away and dusting themselves off they went into the house.
That's when they found the note.
"What is this?" Noah cried as he jerked the note off the door.
Jace stared, that uneasy feeling creeping up his back.
As they went inside Jace lit the lanterns and came back to Noah who was reading it.
"We've got Jenny and if you don't do as we ask, we'll have to take care of her. We'll be in contact." There was no signature.
"They took her?" Jace's eyes widened with anger and fear combined.
"Now calm down boy, we got to think this through." Noah told him.
"It's got to be Kate behind this." Jace stormed. "She's the only one that's wanted this place that bad."
"You're probably right about that. And they should be showing their faces before long…" Noah told him.
"I'll go over there, confront her!" Jace told Noah.
"No, we gotta wait until they make the next move. Just sit tight. We can't be sure who's behind this."
"I can't stand by and do nothing Noah. They might hurt her."
"They won't do nothin' yet, Jace. People who kidnap want something, usually money."
"Maybe I can find her before this gets out of hand." Jace tried to reason it in his mind.
"Yeah, I can see why Kate would want the place bad now. She could turn this place into some money I suppose." Noah mumbled to himself. "Either that, or they want money so they can leave here. If I thought they'd leave I'd sure give it to them. I think it's Kate too!"
"You can't give them this place."
"I know that," Noah scratched his chin. "But we gotta figure something out, and pretty fast."
"What?"
"We need to get a hold of Doug." Noah glanced at Jace. "But not let them know it."
"You think he'd help us?"
"I think he would. But how we gonna contact him without the others knowing?" Noah shook his head.
Noah went to the coffee pot and saw it was nearly full. "They must have taken her this morning, there's hardly any coffee out of the pot."
"Then they got a head start on us." Jace muttered miserably.
"Let's have some coffee and sit down to figure this out. Kate or Bill are bound to be over here before too long, so we gotta do our thinking now. We gotta know what we are going to say to them and stick with it, and try to get Jen back."
"I agree on that." Jace lit the stove for Noah.
As they sat and sipped their coffee they wrestled with what to do first.
Noah nodded his head. "We got to get a hold of the Sheriff. If we let him know, then he can let Doug know."
"That's an idea, alright. But what do you think Doug can do?"
"I'm not sure yet. Maybe he knows something, saw something, heard something. I'm just grasping right now. All right, you stay here, I'm gonna ride in to town tonight and talk to him." Noah announced boldly.
"Why you?" Jace frowned.
"Because Kate can't get any answers unless I'm around, and if I'm not, then she'll have to wait longer. So I'll go in."
Jace agreed.
It was dark outside now, too late to track them and Jace felt a restlessness inside him that was about to explode. He'd kill them if they hurt Jen. He knew that. Whether it was wise or not, that is how he felt.
He wished now he'd paid more attention to that eerie feeling and come home sooner. But they had so much luck in getting this pack of horses that they couldn’t afford not to bring them home. It was money in their pockets.
***
It was late when Noah got to town. He went to the Sheriff's office first and got nothing. Knowing where Al lived he went to his house and rousted him out of bed.
"What are you doin' here in the middle of the night, Noah?" The Sheriff's voice boomed as he pulled his pants on and suspenders up. His wife rolled over in the bed and went back to sleep.
Noah stared at the man in his drawers and scratching what little hair he had left on his head. "We've got a real situation. And I need help."
"What could be so all fired important this time of night?"
"Kidnapping is what."
"Kidnapping? Who?" The Sheriff's face was a wad of frowns.
"Jenny Carter has been kidnapped and here's the note," Noah handed him the note.
Al sat down at the kitchen table to read the note. "Someone kidnapped her, for what reason?"
"I'm pretty sure who, and why."
"Who?"
"Kate Williams and her boyfriend Bill Peterson." Noah barked.
"How do you know they did it?" Al stared at the note again.
"She's been over several times about me selling her the place. She probably needs my land more than ever now. And since the Double W doesn't belon
g to her any more, she'd want it."
"But why would she kidnap Jenny?"
"Because Jace Harrison is in love with Jenny, and she knows he'll do anything to get her back. And so would I?"
Al leaned back in his chair. "You think she wants your place that bad?"
"I know she does. Especially now! Look," Noah glanced at Al again. "I need you to get word to Doug what's going on, and see if he can help us."
The Sheriff scratched his bald head. "Doug?"
"Maybe he's heard something. Maybe he might have an idea where Jen is. Maybe he can help us in some way."
The Sheriff nodded dully, still not fully awake or aware. "I can do that. I can send a message with my deputy tomorrow morning. Tell him to get back to you or me one."
"That would be good."
"Maybe I need to go myself so I can question them. Have you heard any more from these people?"
"No, nothing but this note." Noah explained.
"I'll work on this, and get some answers to you Noah. Meanwhile don't do anything rash yet. I'll get a scouting party together and see if we can find her in the meantime. This isn't Kate's handwriting, I'd bet my life on that, but it could be Bill's. Kate writes real fancy."
"She wouldn't leave her brand on anything, Al and you know it." Noah told him.
"That's probably true."
Noah shook hands with the Sheriff and left.
But before he went home, he decided to stop off and see Hank. It wasn't a good hour, but Hank would want to know.
Hank was in bed too, but he wasn't upset about being awakened.
"What's goin' on Noah, I know it has to be something for you to come in the middle of the night," Hank smiled as he wrapped his robe around him.
"Someone kidnapped Jen and left a note saying they would be in touch." Noah told him.
Hank's face screwed up in a huge frown, "They took little Jen?"
"Yep."
"But why her?"
"I guess they figured I'd act on the demands faster." Noah shrugged. "And, they are right."
"Got any idea who 'they' are?"
"I think it's Kate, she wanted that land, she asked me to sell several times. It would benefit her now to own it. Maybe she thinks she can get it this way." Noah told him.
"Got any proof of it yet?" Hank asked.
"Not a bit, yet." Noah sighed heavily.
Hank reached his arm around Noah's shoulder. "She's come to mean a lot to you too, hasn't she?"
"She's such a sweet little gal, to have gone through all she has." Noah's voice cracked.
"Hey now, we'll get her back. We've had tough times before." Hank assured him. "This is very upsetting Noah. I think a lot of that kid, myself. I did everything I could to get her to not go into that saloon, Noah. She was only thirteen years old. This whole town should have been ashamed to let such a thing happen. But she wouldn't take my money. Nor support. Too proud. I tell you what. In the morning, I'll tell my foreman to take charge and I'll come out there myself. We need to organize a search party too."
"The Sheriff is tending to that."
"Good. Anything else I can do?"
"No, just wanted you to know."
"I never thought Kate would go to this length. But then I never thought she'd bring a lover into the house a few days after her husband's death either. I figured she'd have too much pride to stay there."
"Not enough money I don't think. That's the reason she married Sam. But I'll have to admit, neither did I." Noah shook his head. "But she's the only one that seems interested in my place and being so close to The Double W I figure would benefit her too in the long run."
"It certainly would. Don't deed that land over. We'll find Jen…" He told him.
"I hope so." Noah looked at his old friend. "I didn't mean to disturb you Hank, but I wanted you to know what is going on."
"I'm glad you did. I'll be up there tomorrow." He told him. "I'll stay with you a few days."
"All right…glad to have you." Noah nodded. "Well, I'll be on my way."
"Take care…" Hank smiled at him.
"I always try." Noah smiled sadly.
Chapter Twenty-Three
"Did you deliver the message?" Al asked his deputy the next afternoon.
"Yes sir, I did." Deputy Charlie Scoggins nodded, the sunlight catching his red hair on fire as he sat in front of the Sheriff's desk. Charlie wore a lot of clothes, and always had his hat on, he claimed he burnt out in the sun.
There were two disgruntled drunks in the cells nursing hangovers this morning.
"Who did you give the message to?" Al asked him.
"Doug himself."
"Good. What'd he say when he read the note?"
"Said he'd check with you when he checked a couple of things out then with Noah too. He seemed pretty upset about it too." Charlie crossed one leg over his knee and flicked some dirt off his boot. "He also said he wouldn't put it past her to pull something like this. I didn't know for sure who he was talkin' about. Or what."
Al nodded, "Good, I appreciate you running out there for me. I had a lot of reports to make out this week."
"What's this all about, Al?" Charlie asked nonchalantly.
"Jenny Carter has been kidnapped, and a note left on the door." Al told him. "That's all we know for sure. I figure who ever did it, will contact them soon and we'll find out what they want."
"Good gosh amighty, kidnapped! Do you know who did it yet?"
"We got our suspicions but no proof yet. So keep your ears peeled for gossip or news of such." Al told him.
"I will sir. Jenny was a sweet little gal. Always liked her." Charlie told him. "You think it's Kate and Bill don't you?" Charlie asked.
"I don't want you influenced one way or another, that way I'll know I can trust what you hear to be straight as an arrow." Al told him.
"Who'd want to kidnap her and for what purpose?" Charlie shook his head.
"I don't know for sure, but we're gonna find out." Al promised. "It'll either be land or money they want. Noah has land, but he's not a rich man."
"I'll sure keep my ears open then." Charlie told him.
"Might be a good idea for you to hang out at the saloon for a day or two, see if anyone over there is talking." Al told him.
"I can do that."
"Good, let me know if you hear anything."
"Yes sir!"
***
"It's been two days; we haven't heard a word Noah?" Jace told him, his brows knitted almost in a knot. He hadn't had much sleep and he was jumpy as a grasshopper.
"I know it, but we have to be patient about this. They'll show their hand soon. They want something bad enough to kidnap her for it."
"I guess you're right. I just hope they haven't harmed Jen in any way. I might have to kill them…"
Noah stared at him for a moment. "You ain't killin' no one son. We'll handle this together. But we have to keep our heads. Going off halfcocked isn't wise. You livin' the rest of your life in jail won't help her a bit."
Jace hung his head, "You're right. But it's damn hard to bear."
"I know that too!" Noah nodded.
"Wonder what's taking them so long to show their hand?"
"They want us to sweat it out. Worry, fret, and weaken." Noah stared at him. "People do foolish things when they are upset."
Jace looked up at him and nodded, "I guess your right about that too."
Hank rode up and went straight inside. "Noah, Jace, heard anything on Jenny?"
"Not a word." Jace answered.
But no sooner had he sat down and a buggy showed up outside.
It was Kate and a man.
Noah opened the door to them, with a solemn grimace.
"I figured it was you…" He mumbled.
Kate smiled and then she saw Hank. "What's he doing here?"
"He's my guest. Now want to tell me what you are doing here?"
"We've come to talk…" She began. She eyed each man thoroughly, especially Jace.
Jace
fisted his hands at his side.
No one said a word for a long moment as Kate's glance slid around the room quickly. "Well, no use beating around the bush about it. We have Jen." She announced proudly turning her nose to the air as she always did. "But I guess you figured that out."
Jace nearly shot to his feet, but Noah pushed him back down in the chair.
"Where," Jace asked, his jaw hard as steel.
"You don't honestly think I'm going to just tell you, do you?" She laughed. "I could have fell for you in a big way cowboy, but…you're just too honest to suit me."
Bill's expression hardened on Jace.
Hank scrutinized her.
Seeing their anger, she glanced at Bill. "Oh, in case you are wondering, this is Bill Peterson, my fiancé." She smiled like a fatted calf. "But of course you all know that, don't you? Bill and I plotted this very carefully. We've seen to every detail."
"We know. It's all over town about you and Bill. I think the people that came to Sam's funeral let their feelings be known." Hank gritted his teeth. "You sure didn't make no secret of the fact that you cheated on your husband."
Kate glanced at Noah now, "I'm not ashamed to admit it Hank. I love Bill, have for a long while now. With a cripple for a husband, it's hard not to want a lover. But that's not why we are here to discuss our business. But yours. Well, we've changed our minds, Noah. We've decided we don't want your place after all."
Noah stared his jaw tightening, "Then what do you want?"
"A hundred thousand dollars in cash. You see, you told the Sheriff, and he told the deputy and the deputy told Doug. And Doug's been poking into our business and making things difficult. That's a lot of people. Doug made it clear he'd make my life miserable if I got this land. So I've decided not to bother with it. I don't want to have hell the rest of my life over a piece of land. He'd purposely make my life a living hell if he could. Although I wonder why, he's got everything Sam had. I just want cash and I'll return your precious Jen to you." She chuckled merrily. "As long as you play straight. If not, well, I can't be responsible."
