“Hmm, you’re right; it looks as though that’s the way of it. So what happens now?”
Tey leaned forward, “Well…”
***
Cold raindrops seemed to be dropping on her face as Stephanie dragged her way out from a deep sleep. She heard a dog yelp and a door slam shut as she came to and stretched, slowly opening her eyes, assuming that Tey had returned.
Kelly stood in her bedroom, glowering down at her. With tremendous shock she scrabbled onto her side ignoring the aching flesh of her backside.
“What are you doing here?” she gasped.
“Fetching you… I see he taught you a lesson.” He nodded at her pinkly swollen bottom. “Perhaps I should have taken a strap to you to keep you faithful. Believe me, girl, I won’t hesitate now… if’n you don’t get up an’ do as I say!”
Stephanie frowned but stayed put. “But why, why would you want me now? I mean, I’m a happily married woman. We mean nothing to one another, Kelly. I don’t understand why you’re doing this?”
Kelly’s face darkened. He yanked her off the bed by her arm, picked up her discarded dress and shoved it at her. “Put that on and stop with the damn fool questions,” he snarled. Stephanie gratefully pulled on her dress, uncomfortable with him seeing her in such a state of naked undress. She ran a brush through her hair and picked up a number of ribbons securing her hair in a ponytail.
Kelly lost patience and, pulling her roughly to him, he opened the door peering out into the corridor. Seeing all was clear, he towed her out of the room and led her down the stairs, through the back of the house, out of a side screen door and into the yard that led through to the stables where his horse stood. He lifted Stephanie into the saddle, keeping hold of the reins as he swung up behind her. He covered Stephanie’s mouth as he sensed she was about to scream, tipping her head back against his chest making it difficult for her to bite. Clicking his tongue, he rode off, away from town, heading in the direction of the mountains.
As Tey strode back toward the boarding house, he became aware of a small streak of brown and white hurtling in his direction and realized it was Scamp. The dog barked for all he was worth. When he reached Tey, he leapt up at him, yapping raucously. When Tey stopped and stared at the crazy little dog, Scamp took to nipping at Tey’s heels. Fear suddenly coursed through him as he realized the dog was trying to tell him something. Tey instantly guessed it was to do with Stephanie. He broke into a run, the dog streaked ahead of him, racing toward the boarding house.
It took only a moment to establish that she had gone. The bed clothes were half tossed onto the floor and the bedroom door was left flung open. Tey wasted no more time. He turned and ran back into the street heading for the Red Petticoat because maybe, just maybe, Steph had gone there. He needed to check that before he went to the jail house to alert Jeb.
“I’m coming with you,” Gabe stated firmly. Tey wasn’t going to argue with the man. “John, you’re in charge of the women folk while I’m gone.” John nodded. “Jewel, stay inside the Petticoat until I return. I need to know where you are,” Gabe told the pretty madam, pulling her in for a quick kiss before placing his hat on his head and following Tey outside and across to the sheriff’s office at the jail house.
“We need to search the town,” Jeb stated.
“Fine, you and your deputies do that. I’m going out of town an’ following Dog, I mean Scamp. He keeps running out that way and I’m gonna follow him.”
“I’m coming with you. There’s a chance that if he has taken Stephanie, he might have taken Bessie too,” Deputy Slade pointed out.
“I’ll go with you as well,” Gabe said.
“All right, come on.” Tey turned and he and Gabe left but, as they stepped outside, Kendrick barreled into them demanding to know what was going on. Without breaking stride, Gabe filled him in and Kendrick insisted on accompanying them.
Tey stopped and turned to his new father-in-law. “Look, sir, no disrespect but we need to ride hard and you’ll slow us up. Go offer help to the Sheriff, he needs the town searched and he’ll welcome your help.” Kendrick nodded and turned around leaving Tey, the deputy and Gabe to stride off in search of their horses.
Once mounted, they followed the dog that raced ahead, stopping every so often, sniffing the ground while running in half circles before racing off again. Mustang too seemed to understand that something was wrong, because the horse’s ears were pricked forward, his concentration focused solely upon his canine friend.
On and on they went and as they climbed in altitude, the ground became stonier and Scamp slowed, stopping and sniffing more than he had previously. Twice he doubled back and changed direction before leading them into a thicket of spruce trees. They were through the forest and nearly out of the thinning trees on the other side when Scamp suddenly ran around in frantic circles and started to dig frenetically. His tiny paws covered in dirt, he scrabbled in the dark earth. Immediately Tey and the other two men leapt down to help him. It was only after a few minutes of this frantic behavior, with Tey desperately yelling Stephanie’s name as he dug with his bare hands, that deputy Slade sat back on his haunches calling a stop to their fruitless excavation.
“You know there are mine shafts all over this area. I reckon your girl’s in a shaft somewhere deep beneath here. The earth hadn’t been disturbed before the dog began to dig. She ain’t buried here, man.”
“You’re right. Thank God, you’re right.” Tey ran his hand over his face, leaving dirt in streaks where his fingers rubbed his skin with agitation. They remounted and Tey yelled for Scamp to follow them. Once they were clear of the forest, the animal seemed to pick up a trail again and the same stop, sniff and run pattern began all over again as they traveled ever higher. They found themselves upon a sheer ridge with a huge drop down the other side. A dead end—no way down and no way forward. Tey wanted to scream aloud his frustration. Scamp suddenly howled like a wolf and the hairs stood up on the men’s necks at the small dog’s eerie behavior. When Scamp finished his impersonation of his wild ancestor, he turned and retraced his steps, zigzagging back into the darkening tree line. The bemused men turned their horses about, ready to follow him. All three felt singularly unsettled by the dog’s strange actions. Tey glanced around and realized that he knew this place. It was the same ridge that he’d discovered before where he’d found the pimp stick.
“Hey, fellas, wait up!” he called to the others as they started to move forward. Tey dismounted and walked to the edge where he’d noticed the hidden path on his last visit. He pointed down to the uneven and stony track. The men dismounted and began to search the area.
Chapter Sixteen
Stephanie was furious with Kelly as opposed to being afraid of him. She could not understand his actions but she was sure that he didn’t pose any real threat to her. He led them up in to the foothills of the Sierras, dipping through forests, in and out of dark trees onto stony tracks, before turning back into the shadow of the tall spruces.
His arm lay heavy about her waist. He no longer stopped her shouting for help but he’d laugh nastily when she did, pointing out the only help she could expect from her yells would be from a bear attack, one that was more than likely to hurt her as much as him. She fell silent, accepting the truth of his words.
They emerged from the dimly lit forest into the waning light and climbed another scree covered track toward an overhang of steep rock face. It looked like they were approaching a solid wall of stone until Kelly turned the horse to the left and skirted the rocky cliff. He pulled up the horse and jumped down. Reaching up, he lifted Stephanie down onto her feet. Keeping hold of Stephanie’s wrist, he walked to a pillar of rock, twisting sideways and tugging Stephanie after him, they slid inside an opening that Stephanie realized took them inside a natural cave. Kelly continued in for a short distance.
“Don’t move or I’ll shoot you in the leg,” he warned as he bent down to retrieve a Camphene miner’s lamp, which he lit with a match. When he stood holding
the lamp high, Stephanie saw that a wooden wall had been built right across the cave space. Kelly again grabbed her wrist and dragged her over toward it. As they drew near, she realized there was a wooden door set into the wood. Kelly withdrew an iron key and unlocked the sturdy door. pushing Stephanie inside, he stepped in behind her.
The cave had been turned into a crude room of sorts. Two pallet beds were set against opposite sides of the space. A large wooden table and four chairs stood in the center. Barrels were stacked along the remaining wall length. The cave appeared to bend around to the right at the far back, where Stephanie noticed various tools and spades were stacked to one side.
She spun about to confront Kelly. “Why have you brought me here?” she demanded.
Infuriatingly he shrugged, saying nothing, his eyes scanning her body. Stephanie began to feel the first frissons of fear.
“Kelly!” she yelled. His eyes returned to her face, all traces of the winsome young man he usually portrayed were gone. In his place was a mask of hate. Stephanie took a step back.
“Why am I here?” she asked, quietly this time so as not to arouse his temper. He strode rapidly over to her, grabbed her chin in a painfully harsh grip and forced her head up, glaring down into her eyes.
“You played me for a fool, an’ believe me, darlin’, nobody plays Kelly Thurgood for a fool!” he snarled.
“I-I don’t understand. What do you mean? You left me and our baby, Kelly, not the other way around!” she retorted hotly.
His eyes narrowed. “You made me believe you’d slept around jus’ so I’d end it didn’t you? Leaving you free to snare some poor sap with a better paid job than me… Well, I’m gonna be rich thanks to you an’ your loose tongue…"
"What do you mean thanks to my loose tongue?"
"Pa’s gonna work late tomorrow night because there’s a gold shipment due," he mimicked in a high and mocking voice. Stephanie blanched; she had given away the gold shipment schedule to the men responsible for the thefts. Whatever would Tey say?"
"So you’ll wanna stick by me now because I have gold but you know what, you had your chance, darlin’, and so now this is how it’s gonna be. I’m gonna poke you till I’ve had my fill, then toss you out in the dirt where you belong with all them other little harlots. You were always the prettiest of my girls; that’s why I was so damned mad at you when you got with child. Shit I only had you the once! From now on I’m gonna have your cunt whenever and however I want, whore!”
Stephanie gave an involuntary whimper. Dear Lord he was insane. He reached out with both hands and before she could react, he ripped open her bodice. She screamed as his rough hands squeezed her breasts, twisting her nipples. His face loomed over hers and he ground his mouth against hers, his teeth cutting into her lips.
He shoved her down onto the floor and ripped open his trousers allowing his member to spring free. Grasping her hair, he yanked her face to his crotch.
“Bite me an’ you’re dead.” He ground his shaft onto her mouth, which she kept resolutely shut. He pulled her back by her hair and slapped her, first one side of the face and then he back handed her other cheek, cutting her lip. He let her go and she slumped to the floor moaning, swooning where she lay. Then he was atop her, pulling up her dress, his knee thrusting her thighs apart and she fought. She scratched and bit any part of his flesh she could reach. Living up to her cat like eyes, she lashed out with feline fury. She felt the hard knob of his sex thrusting at her naked opening, for she had only enough time to don her dress when he had taken her from her room. She bucked and churned her hips away from his member, screaming her hatred for him.
It took her a moment to realize his weight had gone and she lay on the floor alone. She quickly pulled down her dress looking up to see where he had gone and she met the cold dark eyes of Bill Brown. Stephanie scooted backward on the stone floor.
“You can get up, the idiot is out cold,” he held out his hand to her and she took it, allowing him to pull her up onto her feet. She wrapped her arms about herself, shivering with reaction.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“Don’t thank me yet, darlin.’ I gotta decide what to do with you now that you’ve seen this place.”
“I won’t say anything I promise, please just let me go!” she begged.
He gave her an icy smile. “Y’ know, I almost believe you, but no, I don’t think so.”
“Wh-what are you going to do?” she asked, not at all certain that she wanted to hear his answer. He moved to the back of the cave and rummaged amongst the pile of equipment, coming back with a long coil of rope.
“For now I’m gonna tie you up. It don’t sit well with me killin’ women, but if nature takes its course well then that’s not my fault.”
Stephanie pondered his words, her stomach clenching as she understood his meaning.
“You can’t just leave me to die, that’s the same as killing me!”
“No, it’s not the same. See the way I see it, is this way you have a chance, a slim one maybe but, nevertheless, it’s a chance.”
“Please can I have some water at least?” she implored.
He hesitated before nodding. “If you stand still an’ let me bind you, then after I have you hog tied, you can drink.”
Stephanie agreed and stood docile, staring at Kelly’s unconscious body, while Brown tied her up. He finally reached for his canteen and held it to her lips, she gulped as much as she could down, not caring that water spilt down her chin onto her bared breasts.
“Enough, you’ll only prolong the agony.” He pulled the leather water bottle away from her and replaced the top. Stephanie licked her wet lips, taking every precious drop.
“What about Kelly?” She nodded to her prone assailant.
“I’ll take him back into town and tell him that I dropped you over the ridge.” He bent his shoulder and heaved her up and over, holding her steady as he moved to the back of the cave and around the corner into the darkness where he walked a little way before dumping her on the ground.
“Please don’t leave me here in the dark. Please, Mister Brown, I beg you, don’t leave me to die! Please tell Tey where I am… I beg you. Please… PLEASE! MR. BROWN… N-OOO!”
Her voice trailed off in a sob. Bill Brown had left her. The silent darkness surrounded her. She was all alone in black nothingness.
***
As darkness fell, the three men gave up searching the area. It was too dangerous up on the ridge. One of them might inadvertently fall to his death. They carefully retreated back to the tree lined forest edge and made camp. They lit a fire and Slade shared out beef jerky strips; it was better than nothing. They sipped from their canteens, washing down the inedible food. There was nothing left to say, so the men each rolled onto their sides, hats pulled low over their faces attempting sleep, each man silently harboring his own concerns.
At some point during the night Tey awoke to the sound of horse movement and, taking his gun from its holster, he moved stealthily, keeping to the shadows. He found a position where he could gaze out at the open trail but he could see nothing. He made his way quietly back to camp, where the fire was out. Deputy Slade lifted his hand in greeting, showing he was alert but neither man spoke. He lay back down, dozing fitfully until day break.
***
Back in the cave, Stephanie wriggled onto her stomach and tried to edge her way along the floor but in the deep black, she found herself floundering about so much, she realized that she had moved away from the wall and out into the cave with no idea in which direction the cave entrance lay. Continuing her worming movements over the stony floor she felt something soft and pushed her face against it, cloth? She rolled onto her side and clasped whatever it was with her hands, which were tied behind her back. Painfully, slowly, she wriggled and moved her hands up along the soft cloth. Something unyielding lay under it and she felt something cold and smooth. Stroking her hand down the length of the object she felt lines of, what, cold smooth twigs? No, that wasn’t ri
ght. Her finger traced a smooth oval shape… dear sweet lord, a finger nail!
She screamed and screamed and continued to shriek, as she realized with abject horror that what she held in her hand were the cold stiff fingers of a corpse. Rolling rapidly away from the body, she cracked her head hard against a jagged piece of rock protruding from the uneven cave floor. Blessedly she passed out but whether from the impact to her head, or the shock combined with the overwhelming horror she experienced, she would never know.
Chapter Seventeen
The men roused early, took care of their respective calls of nature and headed back onto the ridge. They had been searching for about an hour, when there was a frantic barking and Scamp flew up and around to each man leaping up at them yapping excitedly. Then turning and spinning, he led them around the sheer rock face and disappeared. They could hear his echoing barks from somewhere, but it wasn’t until Tey squeezed his way between the rock wall and a spire of thick rock that he saw the hidden gap leading into a cave.
“Over here!” he yelled, before sliding sideways into the cave. He stood still, allowing his eyes to adjust to the darkness. Gabe appeared beside him followed by Crawford. Tey spotted the Camphene lamp and, striking a match on his boot heel, he lit the lamp. Holding it high, he turned slowly about, stopping when the dim light illuminated the false wooden wall. The men moved to it and knocked and banged on the surface ascertaining the soundness of the structure.
“There’s a door here.” Tey held the light to the heavy iron latch and keyhole set below it.
“Could be shot out,” Gabe suggested.
“We don’t know what’s behind the door,” Crawford stated, “though I expect we might find stolen gold.”
Sunny's Safe Haven (The Red Petticoat Saloon) Page 13
