by Peterson, Tracie; Davis, Mary; Hake, Kelly Eileen; Stengl, Jill; Warren, Susan May
Marty held her breath. Please don’t get hurt. Logan walked up to her and laid the knife gingerly across her lap and ran off to play with his blocks. Marty let out a sigh of relief only a moment before Cinda and Ginny did.
“We got the knife. Now what do we do with it?” Aunt Ginny asked.
Cinda scooted her chair around to Marty’s lap, but she couldn’t reach the knife with the way she was tied. Marty tried to wiggle it off her lap into Cinda’s waiting hands.
“Here it comes,” Marty said.
The knife slid off her lap and hit its target. Cinda fumbled with it before it toppled out of her grasp and landed on the floor with a devastating thump.
Marty vigorously rocked her chair back and forth until she toppled over again. She hit the floor hard. It seemed much harder than the first time she did it. She would have a dandy bruise. Cinda guided her verbally until she had the knife within reach. She worked on the ropes that bound her. Her hands ached and cramped, but she kept at it until she was free. Then she cut loose Cinda and finally Aunt Ginny.
Cinda rushed over to Dewight, who was leaning against the wall asleep. Cinda’s sudden appearance startled him.
“I wasn’t much help, Miranda,” he said to Cinda.
“You did your best,” Cinda said. Marty joined her.
A single tear rolled down Dewight’s cheek. “I’m sorry, Miranda.”
Cinda brushed back his hair. “It’s okay.”
Marty was about to cut Dewight free but noticed the dish cloth wrapped around his wrist and ankles. They weren’t even knotted, just loosely tied. He could have gotten free anytime. He was bound in mind more than physically. Why hadn’t the man named Keegan tied him securely? She took off the bindings and went upstairs to change.
She returned a few minutes later in her layered riding attire, complete with chaps for protection and warmth.
“Where do you think you are going?” The trill in Aunt Ginny’s accusation grated on Marty’s nerves.
She strapped on her Colt and ammunition belt, then donned her calf-length canvas duster. “I’m going after Dani and Davey.”
“You can’t be serious. Those are dangerous men. We’ll send word to your brothers, and they will get them back,” persuaded Aunt Ginny.
“They will be long gone by then. The best chance we have is for me to go, and go now.” Marty would leave with or without Aunt Ginny’s approval.
“Cinda, tell her she can’t do this. It’s dangerous,” Aunt Ginny demanded.
Marty looked at Cinda. Would she support her or try to stop her? Not that it would do any good.
“What is it you think I can say to change her mind?”
“I don’t know,” Ginny snapped. “Say something. It’s not right for a lady to go gallivanting across the countryside by herself.”
Marty kept her eyes locked on Cinda’s. Marty had never acted like a lady. She wasn’t about to start now. She wondered what her sister-in-law would say. It didn’t really matter; Marty was going anyway. No one could stop her from getting her nieces back. No one.
Cinda reached out a hand and clasped Marty’s forearm. “Bring them back safely.” There were tears in her eyes.
“What?” Ginny exclaimed. “You can’t be serious.”
Cinda caressed her plump belly with her other hand and said, “If I could, I’d go with you.”
Marty knew she meant it. Cinda loved the girls as much as Marty did. Marty also knew her delicate sister-in-law wouldn’t survive the trip. Cinda would be a liability, and Marty would have to look after her as well. She put her hand over Cinda’s and squeezed. “I won’t come back without them.”
“It just isn’t right, I tell you.” Ginny shook her head.
“I’ll pack you some food,” Cinda said and headed for the kitchen.
Chapter 5
Marty took the loaded Winchester and filled her pocket with additional bullets. She plopped on her Stetson and headed out to the barn to saddle Flash. Marty had raised him from a colt; he had lived up to his name. After saddling him, she tied on saddlebags, a bedroll, and a canvas for extra warmth. In the saddlebags were a compact cook kit and a hunting knife. She had to be prepared in case it took longer than she expected to find these slippery men.
Marty led her brown stallion out of the barn, across the farmyard. Cinda and Ginny waited on the porch for her.
Cinda handed her an old flour sack. “There’s some dried meat, hardtack, and beans,” she said. “Oh, and coffee. I put in some coffee, and…” Cinda paused, trying to think.
“It’s all right. I’ll make do with whatever you packed. I won’t be gone long.” Her reassurance was as much for herself as for her apprehensive sister-in-law. She hoped to be back tomorrow or the next day at the latest. “I’ll be fine.” She stuffed the sack of food into her saddlebag.
Aunt Ginny stepped forward and handed her a lady’s reticule.
Marty took it cautiously. It hung between her thumb and index finger like a dead rat. What was she supposed to do with it? “I don’t think I’ll be needing this on the trail.”
“Open it,” Aunt Ginny said, her lips pulled back in a straight line.
The bag did have weight to it. Marty opened it and pulled out a neatly folded cloth with something in it. She unwrapped it. A pearl-handled derringer lay in her hand. She never would have guessed proper Virginia Crawford would be packing a gun.
“It’s a parlor gun,” Ginny offered. “In case you run into trouble.”
That’s what she had the Colt and Winchester for…trouble. “Thank you.” She rewrapped the gun, put it in the reticule, and in her saddlebag. Aunt Ginny wanted to do her part to help. She, too, cared for the girls. “I’ll get ’em back,” Marty said as she mounted Flash. “I won’t bring them back here. I’ll hide them. Tell Lucas, ‘Stone Face.’ He’ll know where to find us.”
“Be careful,” Cinda said earnestly. “I’ll pray for you and the girls.”
Marty nodded and rode away. She didn’t need Cinda’s prayers. Marty was more than capable of doing this on her own. And with the way she got along with God, He’d probably just get in her way.
She headed due west. They said Seattle. If that was the truth, which Marty believed it was because her sister had lived with her husband’s family there, then this would be the way they would go.
She picked up their tracks before she had even left Rawlings’ land. West, straight as an arrow. She got off Flash and studied the imprints. They obviously weren’t concerned about hiding their path. They didn’t expect anyone to be following them so quickly.
There were two sets of hoof marks, one behind the other. That meant that Davey and Dani were riding on the horses with the men; therefore, they wouldn’t be traveling very fast. Good.
It was going to be a clear night. The full moon would light the way. Marty could catch up to them after dark.
The advantages to being raised by three brothers were being an expert tracker and having survival skills. She would put them both to good use now.
At age four, when her parents died, Marty’s three older brothers didn’t know the first thing about raising a little girl. To them Marty was just another brother. She filled the role well and with pride.
Since she was too young to stay home alone, they took her along and told her to keep quiet. She stalked them like a shadow, not making a peep. It was a game to her, seeing how quiet she could be. Soon they started explaining what they were doing and how they were able to follow an unseen animal. She learned well and put her share of food on the family table.
She swung up into the saddle and took off. She slowed her pace every once in a while to make sure the men hadn’t changed direction. The fools were so easy to follow. Tracking was a thrilling challenge for Marty, second-guessing where the prey was headed. These guys were heading west by the straightest means possible. She could follow them blindfolded.
As the sun set, the temperature dropped. She figured they couldn’t be much farther ahead. She slowed her pac
e.
Marty stopped completely when she heard the rush of a stream. If the men had half a brain between them, they would camp by water. She got off Flash and tethered him to a tree.
Marty moved silently through the underbrush until she had the stream in sight. She found the spot where the men had crossed. She studied upstream and down, trying to determine which way they made camp after crossing. When she heard a rustling noise upstream, she ducked behind a fallen tree. It was Wylie collecting water.
She chose a place farther downstream to wade across and made her way back upstream. Finding a good spot below their camp, she watched them. Dani and Davey were huddled together. They seemed well enough, although a little frightened. Reece gave them a blanket. Marty was glad Cinda had insisted on everyone wearing their coats to church this cool fall morning, even though they didn’t really need them. They needed them now.
The best time to rescue the girls would be after everyone was asleep. She could sneak in, wake the girls, and sneak out. In the morning, the two men wouldn’t know what happened. Even if they guessed someone had come and taken them, it wouldn’t matter because she and her nieces would be halfway home by then.
Marty returned to where she tied Flash and moved him across the stream to a prime location for her getaway. She put some dried meat and hardtack in her pocket, then rested the rifle over her shoulder.
When she returned to her lookout spot, Dani and Davey were crying. Wylie was glaring at them, speaking harshly.
Marty’s insides knotted. She wanted to go after him with both fists flying.
“Stop crying or I’ll give you something to cry about,” Wylie ground out in a growl, raising an opened hand above his head.
Marty lurched forward but stopped herself. Now wasn’t the right time. She had to wait. The sound of her nieces sobbing from his cruel words was unbearable. She closed her eyes, trying to block out the sound. She couldn’t. Their weeping bit into her soul. She would just charge in there and put an end to her nieces’ misery. She opened her eyes and started to stand but stopped.
“Wylie, leave them alone.” Reece stood between him and her nieces.
“I cain’t stand their whimpering,” Wylie said with fire and frustration in his eyes.
“Then go see if you can find a town. There should be one south of here. Get some more food and a couple more blankets.” Reece backed Wylie away from the girls.
Good. With Wylie gone, Marty would have only one man to mess with, if it came to that. She was relieved the nicer of the two was staying with the girls for their sake. But she had hoped for it to be the other way around. She knew she could tangle with Wylie and win. She knew his type—predictable. Reece, on the other hand, was a mystery to her. The cunning way he fought with words made him harder to figure. She wasn’t sure what to expect from him.
Chapter 6
Marty chewed on a piece of jerky while she waited, her eyes fixed on Reece, watching his every move. Every once in a while he would look around the perimeter of camp. He could sense the danger, feel the watchful eyes on him, but didn’t know by what.
Reece spread his bedroll out for Dani and Davey. The girls snuggled together. Reece pulled out a harmonica from his coat pocket. A soothing melody soon lulled the girls to sleep.
He settled down by the fire to sleep as well, his rifle cradled in his arms, his hat pulled down, covering his eyes.
Wylie wasn’t back. He could stay away all night; that would suit Marty just fine.
Marty hunkered down and waited. Although anxious to free her nieces, she knew she needed to ensure the man was sleeping. It would be easier that way. She waited for two hours past the time she figured he was asleep before she made her move. He hadn’t moved a muscle during those two hours.
She circled the camp so she could sneak up behind her nieces and wake them quietly. She hid behind a tree a few feet from the girls. She could almost reach out and touch them. She studied the sleeping man. His breathing was regular, his arms relaxed.
With her rifle in one hand, Marty crawled out from behind the tree, then froze when the man stirred. One arm tightened around the rifle like a child holding a toy, and the other flopped straight out to the side. She held her breath and stared at him. Her heart thumped hard, beating like running horse hooves. Would he awaken? Would she have to face him? That thought gave her a funny feeling inside, and her racing heart beat a little faster. He moved no more.
She crept a little closer with her eyes glued to the kidnapper. He remained still. Once at the twins’ side, she shook the closest one.
“Shh, it’s me.” She put her fingers over the girl’s open mouth. “Get on his horse with your sister and meet me across the river.”
Marty saw Reece’s hand easing down his rifle toward the trigger. She jumped over the twins. He moved more quickly to gain control of his weapon. Marty reached his side before he could and shoved her rifle barrel into his chest. He stayed his hands.
She knew he couldn’t see her from this angle. It would be to her advantage if he thought she was a man. “Don’t move,” she said in a deep, husky voice. “Throw the rifle away with one hand. Gently.”
Reece clenched his jaw as he reluctantly tossed his rifle out of reach.
“Go!” Marty called over her shoulder to her nieces.
They scrambled out from under the blanket and to their feet. Dani led Reece’s horse over to a fallen log, and the two girls climbed aboard the bareback horse. They did as they were told and headed for the river.
“Those girls are my responsibility,” Reece said, trying to talk her out of her own nieces.
“Not anymore,” she ground out, keeping her voice low.
When she thought Davey and Dani were across the stream and waiting for her, she ordered him to roll onto his stomach and put his hands behind his back.
Let’s see how he likes being tied up.
“Slowly,” Marty barked in her deep, disguised voice, as she stepped back from him.
She kept her eyes on his hands. When he started to roll over he brought his legs up and knocked her off her feet. She lost her grip on her rifle and toppled over, landing on her backside with a whoomph. She reached out for her rifle, but Reece jumped her, struggling for control. She fought him with all her might. She had to break free. He was too strong and just as determined as she was.
He finally got both her hands in one of his and pulled them away from her face. He drew back his other hand, fisted, ready to deliver a knockout blow. She saw the realization of her being a girl and the recognition of who she was on his face. His fist hung in the air above his right ear.
Seeing his surprise, she took advantage of the opportunity. She yanked one of her hands free and struck him across the side of the head. Dazed, he tumbled off her. Marty rolled away and scrambled to her feet. She didn’t know where either rifle was, hers or his. It didn’t matter. Her best chance was to get on horseback. She whistled for Flash to come and took off in his direction.
She heard him scramble to his feet and give chase. His footsteps were heavy and gaining. Marty knew if she could get to Flash, he would have no way to follow her until his partner returned. Marty and her nieces would be long gone by then. Reece knew it, too, and closed the gap between them. Just ahead, Flash trotted toward her. She would make it. She grabbed the saddle horn at the same time she slipped her foot into the stirrup. As she swung her other leg up, she nudged Flash into motion.
Reece grabbed Marty’s foot as it flew through the air. He yanked her back, pulling her to the ground.
Flash stopped and neighed.
Marty tried to scramble away on her hands and knees, but he stopped her. She struggled with all her might. She had to get away. She couldn’t let him get the better of her. But Reece was bigger and stronger.
He pushed her flat to the ground and twisted one hand behind her back. “Just settle down.” He rested one knee on her back. He didn’t want to harm her. He twisted her arm further until it hurt enough for her to quit fighting him,
amazed at her tolerance for pain, then he backed off.
Not used to running like that, he struggled to catch his breath. “Now, where are the girls?”
Miss Marty Rawlings lay still, panting. She said nothing.
Apparently she wasn’t about to help him without a little persuasion. Reece reluctantly twisted her arm a little more. “Where are they?”
“Go ahead and break my arm,” she said through gritted teeth. “I don’t care.”
This was one tough little lady who wasn’t going to knowingly betray her nieces for anything. “I believe you don’t.” He sighed. He took the handkerchief from around his neck and bound her hands behind her back. He winced when he saw in the moonlight her red wrists from the rope Wylie tied her with earlier that day.
He pulled her to her feet. Opening her coat, he relieved her of her Colt .45 and tucked it in the waist of his pants. “For safekeeping.” He patted the gun.
Marty glared at him. He reached for Flash’s bridle. The horse stepped backward and threw his head around, neighing.
“Flash doesn’t know you. You ain’t gonna touch him.”
Reece didn’t have time to mess with a finicky horse. He had to get those girls. He figured they wouldn’t go far without Marty guiding them. He took Marty by the arm and headed back to camp but didn’t get far when she sat back on the ground.
“Get up,” Reece ordered. He had neither the time nor the patience for this.
“Make me.” She scowled at him.
Reece frowned at her for a moment, trying to decide how to deal with her. Make her? He didn’t want to make her. He just wanted a little cooperation from her.
Words were always his best weapon. There was no way she would be talked into anything, so words were useless. He could put a gun to her head and threaten her. That gave him an uneasy feeling. There was only one option left to him. He bent down and flung her over his shoulder like a sack of flour.
“Put me down!” She squirmed and kicked her feet.
“Are you going to cooperate?”
