Post by sandymarek on Mar 17, 2012 20:43:31 GMT -4
Part 408
As they head out front with the two horses there in tow, “I just thought of something,” Gene then says.
“What?” Nick asks.
“If we all ride double,” Gene brings up, “One of us rides alone.”
Replying “Mother gets to ride alone, the rest of you will double up,” Nick then says, “Mount up!”
As Jarrod helps Victoria into her saddle, Bill and Heath mount up with Gene asking, “Who’s going to ride with whom?”
“Gene,” Nick says, “Don’t you ever stop asking questions?”
“Gene,” Jarrod suggests, “How about if you ride back with Heath?”
“Okay,” Gene answers.
“And how about if I help you up?” Jarrod offers with Gene accepting his help.
Being placed in front of Heath, “How’s that” Jarrod inquires.
“Fine,” Gene replies, “Heath you alright with this?”
“I am,” Heath admits, “Are you?”
Nodding, “I am,” Gene states.
As each of the other boys mount up, Kyle shares the saddle with Bill, Vernon shares the saddle of the next horse with Billy, Ferdinand shares his saddle with Neil, Paul shares with Todd and Terry and Dean wind up sharing the saddle of the last horse.
“Oh Heath,” Jarrod says, “Do you know where you need to go?”
“You mean to find Johnny and Jim?” Heath asks.
“Yes,” Jarrod replies.
“I remember the letter saying,” Heath brings up, “The instructions were for the delivery man to go down Columbus and Broadway and to look for a place called the Chinese Fortune Cookie.”
“Very good Heath,” Jarrod then says, “When you get back take a look at the map.”
“I will,” Heath replies.
“Jarrod,” Victoria then says, “Be sure to tell the governor everything.”
“I plan on it,” Jarrod states.
“We’ll meet you back at the house,” Victoria then says.
“Gene,” Heath handing him the reins asks, “Would you care to?”
Taking them, “Thank you,” Gene answers, “I would.”
“Bill,” Nick says, “Heath, watch your backs. Remember, there is one still unaccounted for.”
“We will,” Heath answers, “And you do the same.”
“Don’t worry about us” Bill mentions “We’ll be fine” as he takes hold of the reins.
After they ride off and upon making eye contact with each other Nick says to Jarrod “What?” and then not waiting for an answer “I know what you are about to say so I will spare you and tell you that you were right. I do get short with Gene and I will work on correcting it.”
“At least,” Jarrod mentions, “You managed to catch yourself. But I was also thinking about Heath.”
“What about him?” Nick asks.
“I’m not sure he is fully up to it,” Jarrod states.
“I know he’s not,” Nick mentions, “I know he hasn’t slept, I know he should be resting, I know we have a lot of work to be doing yet and there is only so many of us at the moment that I didn’t have much of a choice. And speaking of which, I wonder who those men are with Mother.”
“I’ve been giving that a lot of thought,” Jarrod says.
“And?” Nick replies.
“Didn’t you hear Billy say something about seeing men sleeping on the floor in the cellar?” Jarrod says.
“You mean?” Nick asks.
“Yes,” Jarrod answers, “I believe they were being held by the same people that were holding Mother for ransom. This is shanghai district and I think they were about to be placed on board a ship when ever the one they work out of came in.”
“That’s why” Nick brings up “You said the governor may want to talk with them.”
“Exactly,” Jarrod says.
“Let’s go see the governor then,” Nick insists, “The sooner we get him out here, the sooner we could go and catch up to Heath and Bill.”
“Now, you’re talking,” Jarrod says and as they quickly leave the alleyway Ray escorts Jim to the doctor while Jarrod leads Nick, Oscar and Austin to the nearest livery to borrow horses from.
Once they’ve mounted up and separated Jarrod and Nick head for the governor’s mansion while Oscar and Austin are both instructed to round up as many of the men as possible and have them head back to the ranch.
Columbia and Broadway
Coming up onto Columbus and Broadway Jim atop his horse stood on the crest of a low hill and gazed to the south. In the distance he could see the outskirts of town.
As the sun was poised in the eastern sky, heralding the beginning of another new day Jim being considered the best tracker of the ranch continued riding with his gray eyes carefully surveying the terrain ahead. The wind stirred his dark hair, causing his bangs to fall down above his right brow. His brawny hands holding the reins rested on his lap in between as he moved along.
Glancing over his right shoulder, he could see the heart of San Francisco’s China Town district and as he kept moving he kept thinking to himself, “Here I am, looking for what, a building called the Chinese Fortune Cookie,” and at the same time watching for any sign of the kidnappers who are waiting on the delivery of the money to come.
Never before been to China Town, he cautiously and carefully takes in the sparse landscape on both sides of the street he is traveling down. Except for a few trees here and there, there was nothing out of the ordinary that caught his attention.
Studying the various buildings and symbols he comes upon he crosses a set of tracks and wonders where they would take him to but decided to continue on the destination at hand. Hoping to see some sign of either the kidnappers or the building he notices most of the activity down this way was rather quiet for this hour of the morning.
He does catch sight of two Chinese men maybe in their early to mid 30’s talking amongst themselves, as well as two women who are getting their market operation ready for business. Not understanding what they are saying he just resumes keeping his attention on the road ahead that he is following.
Meanwhile, arriving at Jarrod’s, Heath assists Victoria out of her saddle while everyone else dismounts on their own.
Turning to the men, “Here,” Victoria says, “Come with me,” and upon going with Victoria they are led inside.
Upon entering the front room they are quickly met by Jim who first greets Victoria with opened arms. Then as he begins to shift his attention to the boys, Heath and Bill, followed by the rest of the men standing besides them, “I could see you have a lot of questions on your mind” she mentions.
“I do,” Jim admits.
Gnawing on her lower lip, “Jim,” Victoria says, “The questions could wait a bit.”
As she places her hand on his arm, “Is something wrong?” he asks.
Nodding her head, “There is,” Victoria answers.
“What is it?” Jim asks concerned.
“Jim’s been hurt,” Victoria informs him.
“Hurt?” Jim asks, “How bad?”
“He took a hit in the shoulder” Victoria mentions “Ray is bringing him to the doctor’s.”
Running his hand over his face, “Oh my god,” Uncle Jim says.
“Mr. Barkley,” Bill offers, “Would you like me to take you there?”
“Please,” Uncle Jim answers.
“Would you like me to go with you?” Victoria offers.
As he shakes his head, “No,” Uncle Jim answers, “Stay here.”
“We’ll be alright with him,” Bill mentions.
“Do you know where to go?” Victoria asks.
“I will get directions,” Bill mentions, “Once we get down town.”
“I could take you there,” Kyle offers.
“You need to be getting some sleep,” Victoria says.
“I will be alright,” Kyle mentions, “And right now they need help with getting Mr. Barkley to the doctor’s office. By looking for directions it will only slow them down. Your other two sons wanted them to go after the men they are aiming to reach. My going with them is the only logical answer.”
“I’m afraid he’s right,” Heath says.
“Maybe so,” Victoria replies.
“Uncle Jim,” Heath asks, “Where’s the map?”
“Back at the cabin,” Uncle Jim informs him.
“We need to look at it for a moment,” Heath mentions.
“Go ahead,” Victoria urges.
Squeezing his shoulder with his hand “Come on,” Heath replies, “We’ll be back.”
“Be careful out there, Heath,” Victoria insists.
“We will,” Heath vows and with that he, Uncle Jim, Kyle and Bill go out the door and upon grabbing four horses that are out front they quickly head for the cabin.
“Are you boys’ hungry?” Victoria then asks of them.
“I am,” Neil admits.
“How about if I make you all,” Victoria offers, “A nice hot breakfast?”
“Mmm,” Terry replies, “Sounds like a tempting offer.”
“All of us?” Billy asks.
“Of course all of you,” Victoria says.
“I think I better,” Billy mentions, “Let my mother know I am alright first.”
“I’ll come with you,” Victoria says, “But first let me go see to Audra, let her know I’m alright. I’ll be right down,” glancing over at Gene, “Gene, in the meantime, how about if you show our guests to the bathroom where they could freshen up?”
“Sure,” Gene answers, “Come with me,” and as he escorts them up the stairs Victoria follows right behind and quickly heads to the room occupied by Audra.
After going up the stairs, Gene takes the men down the hall to where the bathroom is. Victoria walking into the bedroom sees Audra sound asleep and as she moves towards the bed lets out a smile as she is looking down at her. Sitting alongside her she quietly calls out to her. Then gently shaking her she calls out to her again until she starts to awaken.
Upon opening her eyes and glancing about, “Mother,” Audra says as she sees her sitting there quickly sits up “Oh Mother” and grabs hold of her in a tight embrace “You’re here, you’re really here.”
With a huge grin on her face “I’m really here Audra” Victoria asks “You alright?”
“I am,” Audra answers, “Are you?”
Nodding her head, “I assure you I am,” Victoria states.
“Mother,” Audra asks, “How did you get here?”
“I came here with Gene and Heath,” she mentions.
Trying to comprehend everything “Gene and Heath” Audra then inquires “What happened? I heard you were kidnapped.”
“I was” Victoria then says “And I know you’ve just only woken up and this is all a lot to be comprehending, so quickly and so early...”
Running her hand through her frazzled hair, “You have no idea,” Audra admits.
“I know its way early yet for you” Victoria suggests “But, if you’re up to it, how about coming downstairs and I’ll make you a hot breakfast? From there we could talk further and go into everything that took place.”
“Let me get dressed,” Audra replies.
“Take your time dear,” Victoria says, “I have go next door for a minute. I’ll be right back,” as she gets up off the bed, “Okay,” Audra replies.
And while still half-asleep yet Audra watches as Victoria leaves the room.
Columbia and Broadway
After giving Jim a five minute head start, Johnny finally makes his way to the entrance of Columbus and Broadway. As he begins moving down the street he takes in the various buildings and symbols on both sides of the street. Catching sight of what appears to be a bank, a small market and a couple of saloon type developments he doesn’t see anything indicating the Chinese Fortune Cookie and continues down the road. He also is watching for any sign of the kidnappers and Jim but not seeing either one, he proceeds onward and to his right he sees what appears to be a quaint park and next to that a side street to it’s left.
Not knowing what’s down there but following his intuition, Johnny decides to move onto the side street and as he in search of the building he catches sight of a raucous flock of starlings in a nearby tree chirping about.
After managing to borrow a new pair of horses from the livery and Nick and Jarrod depart, Oscar and Austin begin traveling down Freemont and Pine looking to find the men and do as instructed informing them about returning to the house.
Going up and down Pine they look on both sides of the streets for Davy and Chad remembering the long detailed information given them about each street each pair was to go down.
“Do you see any sign of them?” Oscar asks.
“No,” Austin replies, “But they were given this street, so if they are down this way, we should run into them at some point. Let’s keep looking!” and they continue going up and down the street.
Back at the house
Seconds later, Audra gets up out of her bed grabs her robe and proceeds on down the hall to the bathroom.
Catching sight of Gene standing there, “Gene,” Audra asks, “What happened? Where did you come from?”
“We went looking for Mother,” Gene mentions.
“Yes I know,” Audra says, “But she’s home now.”
“We just came home,” Gene notes.
“What happened?” Audra asks.
“A lot,” Gene replies.
As she is about to reach for the doorknob, “Audra,” Gene then says, “There is something you need to know before going inside there.”
“What’s that?” Audra asks.
Part 409
Just then as Terry comes out of the bathroom and upon seeing Audra standing there he says, “Hello.”
As she is asking defensively, “Who are you?” Gene noticing the puzzling look on her face says, “Audra, this is Terry. He came here with Mother and us.”
“Us?” Audra mimics.
“Heath, Bill and myself” Gene says.
Audra asks, “Gene, what’s going on?”
“A lot,” Gene then says.
“You said that already,” Audra mentions.
“Well” Gene says “He and the others downstairs were being held with Mother.”
“Others” Audra wanted to know.
“There’s four others” Gene mentions, “Mother, brought them back with us.”
“What happened out there?” Audra asks, “And where are Jarrod, Nick and Jim? They went out with Bill.”
“Jarrod and Nick are on their way to see the governor,” Gene states.
“Now?” she asks, “This time of the morning?”
“Yes,” Gene replies, “Jarrod wants him to see what took place out there.”
“What did take place out there?” Audra asks again.
“A lot,” Gene repeats.
“You keep saying that” Audra says, “Stop saying that and tell me what happened.”
Gene mentions, “Mother said we’d talk about it more when she gets back.”
“That’s what she told me,” Audra replies, “Tell me what you know.”
“I don’t know it all,” Gene mentions, “Everything happened so quickly.”
“Tell me as much as you can then,” Audra says.
“Going down one of the back alleyways” Gene explains “A fight broke out and in the process we managed to find Mother or she found us, I don’t know exactly which way it went to be perfectly honest, but then people that were holding her tried to kill us.”
Taken back, “Kill you?” Audra says “They tried to kill you?”
“They had that in mind,” Gene mentions.
“You alright?” Audra wanted to know.
“I’m alright,” Gene says, “Maybe a little shakened up, I never had anyone try to kill me before; one of them had plans on using a sharp knife.”
“Wow, Gene!” is Audra could think of to say at the moment.
“It’s okay,” Gene says, “It did happen all so quickly and before I knew it Jarrod, Nick, Heath, Jim, Bill and Mr. Denton all showed up. Mother happened to be in one of the cellars of one of the buildings nearby and she managed to get out with the help of Terry here and the other men she brought back with her.”
“Thank you,” Audra informs him.
“No problem,” Terry answers.
“And everything else,” Gene continues, “Just happened. There was shooting, we were trying to dodge the bullets that were flying about, we ended up taking refuge behind one of the buildings, Jim wound up getting shot in the process…”
“Jim was shot?” Audra asks, “How bad?”
“He got a bullet in the shoulder” Gene says “Bill and Heath just left here with Uncle Jim. The rest might be better if we waited until Mother gets back and you got dressed and came down the stairs. I still have questions I still need answers to.”
“I’ll be right down,” Audra tells him.
“Don’t take too long,” Gene advises, “Make it a short and quick one.”
“I will,” Audra vows.
As Terry is moving out of the way “We’ll meet you downstairs” Gene then says “Come on Terry” and while Audra closes the door behind her Gene leads Terry down the hallway mentioning “She’ll probably be a little longer than that.”
“If she does I wouldn’t be surprised,” Terry mentions, “That comes a part of being a girl and being your sister.”
“It does,” Gene says, “Do you have a sister?”
“Two” Terry answers.
“Are they younger or older?” Gene wanted to know.
“One’s older,” Terry states, “One’s younger” as they go down the stairs.
8/15/11
Pine Street
As Davy and Chad travel down Pine Street they begin hearing music.
“Listen,” comes from Davy.
“I hear it,” Chad replies and as they follow the direction it’s coming from they are drawn to a white two-story structure.
“We’re being watched,” Davy announces.
“Yes, I know,” Chad answers, “We have been since we came down this way,” looking over at the entrance and observing a stocky man, dressed in black who suddenly disappears from view as they are feet away from the building.
Cautiously going towards it, “Should we” Davy asks as they begin dismounting.
“Yes,” Chad answers, “Let’s just proceed with caution,” as they start walking.
Meanwhile coming up Fremont Street, “Is that what I think I hear?” Oscar asks of Austin.
“Music?” Austin queries.
With his brow narrowed, “Yeah,” Oscar answers, “Isn’t it a bit early for someone to be playing music at this hour of the morning? It’s barely 7.”
“It is,” Austin notes, “Let’s see where it takes us,” and immediately resuming their search they continue following the sound of the music.
Alfredo’s Saloon
As they enter the saloon they find the music has stopped and glancing around the room Davy and Chad first notice the piano that was playing is now idle and looking over at the bar they catch sight of two men in conversation, one being somewhat of a husky build in his 40’s, wearing blue pants and a brown shirt with a gun strapped around his waist. The bartender happens to be somewhat short, bald and obese.
From over near the counter, “Well, well, well,” the Husky man looking over at them says, “What have we here?”
“Don’t like it,” Davy mentions.
“Just keep your head,” Chad tells him, “And we should be able to get out of here in one piece.”
Going up to them with his hand extended out smiling “Good morning” the man says.
“I don’t trust him,” Davy whispers.
“Sh!” Chad replies, “Goodmorning,” as he takes the offered hand.
“It isn’t often” the man says “We get new faces around here; my name’s Bert.”
“Greetings,” Chad replies, “We are happy to meet you.”
Eying them quizzically, “Is that a fact?” Bert asks.
“It is indeed,” Chad affirmed, “You are the first person we have…talked to…since our journey began. We are extremely pleased to meet you.”
“Why don’t you come inside and meet some of the others?” Bert asked.
For an instant Bert’s brown eyes narrowed, “Certainly,” Chad replies with Davy noticing quickly but keeps his thoughts to himself.
Placing his right hand around Chad’s shoulder, Bert leads him over to the bar with Davy reluctantly following.
“Oh,” Chad says, “I forgot. I am Chad and this here is my friend Davy.”
As they continue walking they notice four men gathered at one circular table having a drink while at the second round table are three men engaged in a card game, “You certainly play cards early,” Davy notes.
“Sometimes,” Bert mentions, “We do, depending who comes in here.”
“I see” Davy answers watching and observing the men carefully and as he shifts his glance he catches sight of another pair, one which happens to be rather tall, broad at the shoulders, wearing his brown hair long with the other who happens to be the man they saw outside, talking amongst themselves near the railing of a flight of stairs. Raising an eyebrow Davy comes to the conclusion that the second man must’ve been the one who was playing the piano prior to them coming in there.
As they continue moving towards the bar one of the men at the card table says, “Howdy there, friend.”
“Howdy,” Davy replies then upon noticing all the men in the room studying him and Chad very carefully inquires, “Do you find something interesting about us?”
“Why?” Bert asks.
“Everyone in this room” Davy notes “Seems to be interested in us for some reason.”
“No,” Bert mentions, “We’re just a friendly group in here, we like to welcome strangers whenever we see one.”
“You must forgive my friend here, sir,” Chad says, “But he’s not very trusting.”
“Oh?” Bert asks, “Why is that?”
Shaking his head, “Oh,” Chad replies, “No reason. He just likes being very cautious of anyone we should meet.”
“I see,” Bert says.
As they are steps away from the counter Davy feels the hairs of his neck prickling in the back, getting a very uneasy feeling but holding back his thoughts allowing Chad to give him the benefit of the doubt.
Battery and Pine Street
As Austin and Oscar make their way to Pine and Battery they are quickly met by Sam and Chris who were doing the same thing following the music they heard playing. After exchanging hellos and informing them about Mrs. Barkley being found they hear the music come to a stop.
“It stopped,” Sam notes.
“I wonder why,” Chris says.
“Who knows?” Austin retorts, “But it did manage to bring you to us.”
“True,” Chris replies.
“Let’s see if we could find Davy and Chad,” Oscar suggests, “That is what brought us down this way in the first place.”
Separating once again Sam and Chris go down one side of Pine while Oscar and Austin take the other.
Alfredo’s Saloon
Reaching the bar, the man behind it quickly extends his hand and upon taking it, “Hello,” Chad says, “My name’s Chad. Thank you for welcoming us.”
“My pleasure,” the man behind the bar answers, “As Bert said, we don’t usually get strangers passing through. Most customers are people who either live around the area or come and visit here often. My name is Joe,” shaking Chad’s hand and upon indicating the empty seat on the other side of the counter, “Won’t you please take a seat and allow me to get you a drink?”
“Thank you,” Chad replies taking a seat.
With Davy cautiously following his lead pretends to be interested in the room and leisurely moves several paces to his right looking down at the floor carefully while smiling at the man behind the counter and as he takes a seat next to Chad, places his hands on the edge of the bar.
“Something wrong?” Joe, the bartender asks of him.
“No,” Davy lies, “Just thought I dropped something.”
“Like what?” Joe inquires.
“A coin,” Davy answers.
“If you dropped a coin,” Joe mentions, “I am sure we would have heard it.”
“True,” Davy says, “Maybe it was my imagination.”
“Could be,” Joe then asks, “What could I get you fellas?”
“Do you have any fresh milk?” Davy wanted to know.
“Milk?” the barman laughed.
“Yes,” Davy answers, “Milk,” smiling with his eyes gleaming.
“Do you know where you are?” the barman asks.
“Alfredo’s,” Davy notes.
“Yes,” The barman says, “But this is a tavern. We don’t usually serve milk in here, besides we ate our cow a while back ago.”
“Cute,” Davy then asks, “What do you have?”
“The real article,” Joe, the bartender notes and as his hand reaches under the bar Davy quickly jumps out of his seat and pulls his gun from his holster.
“Hey, did you see that?” comes from the man near the railing “Did you see him draw?”
“I saw,” comes from his companion.
“He sure is fast,” the man at the card table says to his companions, “Maybe the fastest I’ve ever seen.”
“Oh,” the second man at the table replies, “I don’t know. I know of one person that may be able to match him.”
“Now,” comes from the first man at the table, “Who would that be?” baiting the second man.
At the bar “Hey Davy” Joe says “I wasn’t doing anything except reaching for a bottle.”
“You have to excuse my friend, Joe,” Chad joins in, “He does get jumpy when he feels unsure of a place.”
Replying “I see that” Joe quickly glances over at Bert and then turns his attention to Davy.
Holding his pistol on him “Bring your hand up slow” Davy orders, “Real slow.”
The barman complies and upon raising a bottle and gently placing it on the counter, “This is what I was after. You wanted something to drink remember?”
“But I also said I wanted milk,” Davy mentions, “I didn’t say anything about a bottle of whiskey,” as he looks at it.
“That is true,” Joe answers, “But I also told you we don’t serve milk in here.”
“Where would one go around here,” Davy asks, “To get some milk?”
“Try the restaurant down the street,” Joe answers.
“I could go for a whiskey,” Chad says.
Pouring him a glass, “Are you sure,” Joe asks, “I can’t persuade your friend here to change his mind?”
“No” Chad replies “Right now he doesn’t like drinking whiskey. But I don’t mind.”
As Davy re-holsters his gun and sits back down, “You sure I can’t change your mind Davy?” Joe wanted to know as Chad takes a sip of his drink.
Part 410
“Sorry,” Davy replies, “It’s much too early for that now.”
“So,” Bert asks, “Where are you boys from?”
“Here and there,” Davy answers.
Keeping his gaze on Davy “Don’t mean to be nosy” Bert says “Just trying to start conversation, is all. I mean if you’re down this way, someone must’ve sent you to us.”
“No,” Chad answers, “We just came down this way on our own and just decided to come in here.”
Studying Davy for a second or so, “So Davy,” Joe says, “Is there something on your mind?”
“Why?” Davy asks, “Why do you ask?”
“You look like a man with a question,” Joe replies “What’s the question?”
“Okay,” Davy says, “You say your name is Joe.”
“That is correct,” Joe answers.
“And,” glancing over at Bert, “You said your name is Bert,” he notes.
“It is,” Bert states.
“And yet,” Davy says, “Outside it says Alfredo. I would think that if either of you owned this saloon,” thinking carefully of his wording, “Would have the place named after either one of you.”
“There is a good explanation for that Davy,” Bert brings up.
“Oh?” Davy asks nonchalantly, “What is that?”
“Alfredo,” Bert says, “Who does own this saloon, owns one other and while he is there running it, he has me running this one and Joe here, works for me.”
“Interesting,” Davy retorts, “Where does this Alfredo run his other one?”
“In a town,” Bert says, “That may be rather new on the map. It’s called Thief River Falls, have either of you heard of it?”
Shaking their heads, “Can’t say I have,” Chad followed by Davy answers.
“Where is that exactly?” Chad inquires.
“Oh,” Bert says, “Up north aways.”
“Is this Thief River Falls,” Chad wanted to know, “A big city?”
“Not really,” Bert says, “It is rather small at the moment. Which is why he decided to open up the second saloon, he figured it was a great place to run and meet new people whenever they should come by his way.”
“Smart thinking on his part,” Chad notes.
“Yes,” Bert says, “Alfredo is rather intelligent. And you know,” running his hand along his chin, “If you fellas were looking for maybe some employment, maybe I could put a good word in with him and maybe get you hired on for something.”
“I don’t think so, Bert,” Davy answers.
“Depends,” Chad asks, “What kind of work do you have around here or there?”
“What kind of work do you do?” Bert inquires.
“Oh,” Chad answers, “We could do anything.”
“What kind of work do you do now?” Bert wanted to know.
“We do ranching” Chad says “But we also could run errands; do trades etc. with various people.”
“Interesting” Bert states, “Maybe we could find you something along those lines for you to be doing.”
“Not right now,” Davy says.
“Oh,” Bert asks, “Why not?”
“Right now,” Davy mentions, “We have a job. We only came in here to possibly find someone.”
“Oh?” Bert inquires, “Who would that be?”
“We are looking for someone named, “Sammy,” Davy replies, “Sammy Louis.”
“Don’t think I know a Sammy Louis,” Bert says, “Do you Joe?”
“No,” Joe answers, “Doesn’t ring a bell,” shaking his head, “Where does this Sammy live?”
“Not really sure,” Davy answers “But if we did, we wouldn’t be in here looking for him.”
“That is true,” Joe says, “Why are you looking to find this Sammy?”
“We did some errands for him awhile ago,” Davy notes, “When he came to our ranch and said if we ever come down this way to be sure to look him up, but he didn’t say exactly where to go to look him up and so we thought by coming in here, maybe one of you nice gentlemen here would’ve heard of him and could tell us where to find him.”
Shaking his head, “Sorry,” Bert replies, “Wish we could help you fellas. But if you’ve noticed this is a big city.”
“Yes,” Davy says, “We found that out. We’ll go and check down the street, maybe someone there may have heard of him.”
“That’s possible,” Bert replies.
Placing two coins on the counter, “Thank you for the drink,” Chad says, “And the hospitality.”
“My pleasure,” Joe replies, “Good luck with your find. If you should change your mind and need work come back and I will see what I could do in way of accommodating you.”
Tipping his hat “Thank you” Chad says “We just might” and as he gets up “You don’t have to leave just yet” Bert tells him.
“Sorry” Chad says “But we do” and as he and Davy begin walking “That was close.”
“Let’s get out of here,” Davy answers, “Quickly.”
“What about Mrs. Barkley?” Chad whispers to Davy who responds, “Not now,” as they keep walking.
“Good going Bert” one of the men at the first table says “You know we could use them.”
“And now,” comes from a second man at the table, “We don’t have neither one.”
“Wrong Dipper” Bert notes, “They’re not going anywhere, in fact,” snapping his fingers, “We have both.”
“Oh?” Dipper asks, “How could you say that? They are leaving.”
“Are they?” Bert replies, “Watch!”
As Chad and Davy move to the exit they are immediately blocked by the two men that were over by the stairwell “Hey” Chad asks, “What is the meaning of this?”
With their arms folded in front of them “Bert wants a word with you,” comes from the man with the long hair.
“He doesn’t like it,” comes from the second man says, “When someone refuses his job offer.”
“We said we needed to be going,” Chad mentions.
“And we already said we have a job already,” Davy points out.
“We suggest the two of you,” comes from the man with the long hair, “Turn back around and go see Bert.”
As they reluctantly turn back around, “What is the meaning of this Bert?” Chad asks as he and Davy notice the men keeping their attention on them.
“Take a seat,” Joe says placing two more drinks on the counter, “And have yourselves a drink.”
With the two men remaining right behind them they do as instructed and take a seat.
“We don’t want you to leave fellas,” Bert tells them, “In fact we want you to stay on with us here.”
“Stay on?” Chad mimics.
“Stay on for what?” Davy asks.
“Somehow,” Bert says, “You are not in here by chance.”
“What do you mean by that?” Davy asks.
“You,” glancing at Davy, “Davy,” Bert says, “Are just too antsy and too curious to be just coming in here by accident.”
“It was by accident,” Davy begins to reply.
“You want to know the truth?” Chad asks.
“By all means,” Bert says.
“We heard the music and then saw this man here,” referring to the man in black, “Come inside,” Chad notes, “We wanted to see what was so fascinating about us that we just had to come in here.”
“That does seem to happen quite a bit,” the man with the long hair says.
“What is that suppose to mean?” Davy wanted to know.
“Oh,” the man suppressing a grin replies, “Nothing.”
Bert says, “We would like it if you stayed on and worked for us.”
“But we already told you,” Davy replies, “We have jobs.”
“I am sure,” Bert notes, “They won’t miss you.”
“Sure they will,” Davy says.
“Now,” Bert tells them, “You could make this easy on yourselves or make it hard it’s really up to you.”
“How?” Davy wanted to know.
“First,” Bert informs them, “Remove your weapons.”
As they pull their guns out of their holsters “Slowly and carefully place them on the counter” Bert instructs them “We wouldn’t want anyone to get careless now, would we?”
Doing as instructed, “Of course not,” Davy retorts.
“Now,” Bert says, “We want for you to have a drink,” moving the glasses that have been poured closer to them.
“I already told you,” Davy replies, “I don’t drink this early in the morning.”
“Well it’s time,” Joe mentions, “You made an allowance and drank.”
“I rather not,” Davy moving the glass away from him answers.
“Neither do I” Chad adds doing the same.
“We suggest,” Joe says, “You think again on that.”
“What’s in it?” Davy asks.
“Nothing,” Joe replies.
As Bert brings up his gun, “We said drink,” orders, “Now drink!”
Exchanging glances Chad and Davy slowly bring up the glasses to their mouths. Just before the glass meets their lips Chad quickly flings the whiskey at Joe the bartender while Davy flings his at Bert standing beside him and then without hesitating Chad quickly elbows the guy in black while Davy elbows first Bert and then punches the man in the face with the long hair standing behind them.
As the men at the two tables get out of their seat and are about to join the mayhem “Uh, uh, uh” comes from Chris, “Wouldn’t do that if I was you,” holding a rifle as he quickly enters the building with Sam saying “We suggest no one to move.”
Coming in right behind them, “All of you” Austin commands “Raise your hands high in the air” simultaneously with Oscar on the other side of him.
“Good timing,” Davy calls out.
“You know one another?” Joe wanted to know.
“We do,” Chad answers.
As the men all raise their arms in the air and freeze into positions as they stare at the men holding the rifles on them “We’ll take these” comes from Davy “We wouldn’t want anyone to get careless now would we” throwing Bert’s comment back at him as he and Chad take their guns back and then quickly disarm Bert and Joe.
“Good going George,” Bert says.
The man in black answers, “How was I to know?”
“No one’s to move,” come from Oscar who keeps sweeping his rifle in various directions at the men standing.
“Excuse us,” Chad says as he and Davy begin disarming each of the men standing there while Oscar, Sam, Austin and Chris keep their guns aimed on them.
“Hello fellas,” Davy calls out, “Nice to see you.”
Chris replies “Hey Davy.”
“Feelings likewise” Austin says.
“How did you know we were in here?” Davy wanted to know.
“We didn’t,” Sam replies, “We only knew this was the street you were to travel on and figured you had to be down here somewhere’s.”
“Glad you could make it,” Chad tells them.
“What should we do with them?” Sam inquires.
“Good question,” Chad replies.
Glancing about the room and catching sight of a set of keys hanging on a hook nearest the bar and then a door to the bar’s left, “I have an idea,” Davy answers.
“What do you have in mind?” Oscar asks.
“First,” Davy insists “Let’s take care of them; doing to them what they probably had in mind for us,” and as he quickly grabs strands of rope he then says, “Chad, give me a hand.”
“With pleasure,” Chad replies and upon following Davy’s lead he grabs rope and they begin securing Bert and Joe’s hands behind their backs while Oscar, Austin, Sam and Chris continue keeping their guns on them
“If you need some more,” Oscar mentions, “We have some.”
“Stay here,” Davy informs them and as he and Chad quickly go out the door and grab more rope they see coiled around each of the horses they go back inside and taking the man with the long hair Davy secures his hands behind his back while Chad works on the man in black next to him.
They then proceed on binding each of the other seven men that are gathered. Once they’ve finished, “There,” Davy announces, “That’s done.”
“Now,” Austin asks, “What do you want to do with them?”
“Let’s do with them,” Davy suggests, “What they had in mind for us.”
“What’s that?” Sam asks.
“Stay here” Davy commands “Keep watch of them” taking the set of keys from off the hook and going over to the door nearest the bar “Where you going?” Chad asks.
“Downstairs,” Davy answers, “Just a thought.”
“If you’re looking for Mrs. Barkley,” Austin mentions, “She has been found.”
“She has?” Davy asks.
“Yes,” Austin says, “We were sent to find you to have you return.”
“Thank goodness,” Davy replies.
“Yes,” Chad adds, “That is one load off of my mind.”
“Mine too,” Davy says, “Be right back.”
As Davy opens the door and goes down the stairs Chad follows him down while their fellow hands keep watch over the men.
Part 411
Quickly descending the steps Davy finds a room just below the bar locked and as he places the key into the hole he finds the first one doesn’t work. But as he goes through the set he finds the fourth key is the one needed to unlock the door and upon turning the key and opening it he says, “Hello there,” as he sees fourteen men huddled together.
One man in his 30’s answers “Hello.”
“My name is Davy” introducing himself says “Think of this as being your lucky day.”
“How’s that?” comes from the man in his thirties.
“Are you thinking of doing what I think you are?” Chad asks of him.
“I am,” Davy admits, “But first,” looking at each of the 14 men gathered, “I do need to know something.”
“What?” comes from one man with red-hair.
“How did you manage to get yourselves in here?” Davy asks.
“In here?” one man mimics.
“Yes,” Davy replies, “Do you know how you came to be down here?”
Shaking their heads, “Not really,” the man in his thirties answers, “All I remembered is as I came down the street I heard music playing as I came closer to here it stopped and as I saw a man go inside I came inside and then I was asked if I wanted to have a drink and the last thing I remembered is having the drink. The next thing I knew I woke up to find myself among these others.”
“That happened to me,” comes from another man, “That’s how I came to be down here,” comes from another.
“A very interesting pattern,” Chad notes.
“What do you mean?” comes from another man asking.
“That is how they seem to draw prospective clients into their” Chad says “Little establishment here.”
“That is how we were drawn into here” Davy notes “But fortunately for us luck was on our side.”
“Yes,” Chad replies, “In fact if events didn’t turn out the way they had we could very well be down here with you.”
“How’s that?” comes from one of the men.
“We had others watching our backs,” Chad points out, “Sort of speak.”
“Right” Davy says “And seeing they didn’t turn out the way they” pointing to the ceiling “anticipated we are now standing here freely being able to give all of you the opportunity to go free.”
“You are?” asks another man with red hair.
“We are,” Davy states.
“Who are you?” comes from the man in his twenties.
“Don’t understand,” comes from a third man.
“Do you know why you’ve been placed down here?” Chad asks.
“Not really,” comes from the man in his 20’s.
“I heard we were going on board a ship,” comes from an older gentleman with salt-n-pepper hair.
“That is what they indeed had in mind for all of you” Chad notes “All of us” as he looks at Davy, “If things didn’t turn out the way they had.”
“Now we don’t know how much time we have” Davy brings up “Before that ship is scheduled to come in and we don’t know who will be by here next, so if you value your freedom we recommend you take our good offer and quickly get yourselves out of here.”
“We also recommend,” Chad adds, “That you get yourselves as far away from this area, far away from the waterfront and if possible far away out of this city before you do find yourselves going on board a ship.”
“And we recommend,” Davy says, “You high tail it out of here; quickly.”
“I’m out of here,” comes from the young man in his twenties, “Count me in,” comes from another, “Me too,” as the men stop asking questions and without hesitating quickly pile out of their makeshift prison and as the last man exits, “We don’t know who you are,” he says, “But all we could say is thank you.”
“Just think of us or shall I say remember us as being you’re Good Samaritan” Davy reiterates “And that we came here to set you all free. Enjoy your newly found freedom!”
Once the men start coming up the stairs they catch sight of the men that are bound with the other men holding rifles on them.
“If I didn’t see it with my own two eyes” comes from Sam, “I wouldn’t have believed it.”
Oscar asks, “What’s that Sam?”
“The stories,” Sam replies, “I heard to be true about how this city captures and imprisons men.”
“OH,” Austin mentions, “It’s true alright and the proper wording is what this city calls shanghaiing.”
“Besides finding Mrs. Barkley,” Oscar notes, “This is why the Barkleys came here to somehow get this to all stop.”
“It’s a tall order,” Sam states.
“Which is why we need to do our part too” Davy points out.
“How’s that?” Oscar asks.
“For now,” Davy commands, “Let’s put these fellas downstairs.”
“Good idea,” Chris replies.
“Now,” holding his gun on the men, “Move it, “Davy commands, “All of you downstairs,” and with Chad following right behind they escort the bound men down the steps.
Reaching the bottom and crossing to the makeshift prison, “Inside,” Davy orders.
As the bound men do as instructed “You just going to leave us down here” Joe asks.
“I’m not even going to answer that question,” Davy replies, “But let’s just say you won’t be doing this to anybody else that should come down this way, at least not anytime soon” closing the door, “Have a good day gentlemen,” and not saying another word.
“Are you having fun?” Chad wanted to know.
Smirking innocently “Immensely,” Davy admits.
“I could tell,” Chad replies.
“Let’s go upstairs,” Davy insists and quickly they ascend the steps.
“What now?” Oscar asks as they come out of the cellar.
“Are we leaving them in there just like that?” Chris inquires.
“For now,” Davy mentions, “I didn’t lock the door so once they’ve figured out how to free themselves I am sure they will be out of there however,” closing the second door, “I don’t want them to be able to get out of there too quickly, either,” and locking the door securely, “There! That should keep them down there for quite some time.”
“Smart thinking,” Austin notes.
Placing the key ring back on its hook “Now let’s get out of here quickly” Davy insists.
“Wait!” comes from Oscar, “What happens if they can’t get out of there? They’ll be stuck down there.”
“True,” Davy mentions, “But we can’t very well go to the authorities. I heard they are just as bad as them.”
“So have I,” Sam says.
“And if we didn’t do this,” Davy mentions, “They would’ve came after us just as quickly as we got out of here. At least by doing it this way we’re not killing anyone and I think doing this to them is a lot more humane, a lot more civil for them than just leaving their dead bodies all strewn around.”
“That’s true,” Sam replies.
“When we get back to the ranch,” Chad suggests, “We could mention it to the Barkleys and see if there is something that could be done between now and the time they are able to free themselves out of there. And at least this way, they won’t be able to lure anymore naïve prospective customers into their establishment anytime soon.”
“Exactly,” Davy replies, “Come on the sooner we get out of here the sooner we could get back to the ranch.”
As they quickly exit the saloon “So what did happen in there” Chris asks.
“I think they were sizing us up,” Chad brings up.
“They were sizing us up,” Davy admits, “They wanted us to have a drink which I’m sure the bartender Joe put something in it to knock us out so they could place us downstairs with the others.”
“Is that why you asked for milk?” Chad asks.
“Of course,” Davy answers, “I’ve heard the many stories about how they drug their patrons that they consider a prospective candidate for the ships they work for.”
“What about the floor?” Chad inquires.
“No,” Davy answers, “They didn’t have one of those moveable floors, I checked.”
“That is why you pretended to look for a coin you dropped,” Chad states.
“Exactly,” Davy replies, “You don’t think I was that naïve walking in there.”
“No,” Chad states, “You were being a little more cautious.”
“One of us had to be,” Davy notes, “I thought for a moment there you were going to be taken in by them.”
“Not on your life,” Chad says, “But I didn’t want to appear too suspicious of them too quickly when we had all those eyes watching us as we came through that door.”
“At least we now know that all the stories we’ve heard about this place are true,” Austin brings up.
As they mount their horses “Unfortunately yes” Oscar replies “Now before we head back, we need to see if we could locate some of the others and have them stop what they are doing and turn back.”
“How about if we split up again,” Sam suggests.
“Good idea,” Austin says, “But if we don’t find anyone by 8 am, we’ll just have to stop, go back and allow them to return on their own. Nick and Jarrod did say to check in every 3 hours we’re almost there now.”
“True,” Chris replies, “And hopefully no one else runs into anything like Chad or Davy just did.”
“No,” Davy says, “One excitement for one day is enough for me.”
“Me too,” Chad replies, “And it’s not even seven yet” looking at his timepiece he has in his pocket.
“That gives us about an hour,” Austin insists, “To find them. Let’s use the hour wisely.”
“Then,” Oscar says, “I suggest we get a move on and make it snappy.”
“Agreed,” Sam replies, “And how about if we take Montgomery, I believe Pete and Alan had that street to search.”
“We’ll take Davis,” Oscar mentions, “That was the street Mike and Hank had.”
“I guess we’ll take,” Chad says, “Stockton, I believe that was Browne and Willard’s section.”
“If we’re successful and find all of them and have more time,” Davy suggests, “We could try looking for the remaining ones.”
“IF we have time,” Austin says, “We better get a move on if we want to find them before it reaches 8 am.”
“Agreed,” Chris replies, “See you all back at the cabin. Good luck,” as he and Sam begin moving out.
“Same to you,” comes from each of the four as they split up and begin riding away.
The Governor’s Mansion
Upon hearing a loud knock on the door, “Just a moment,” is heard from the other side of the door and upon it opening, “Mr. Barkley,” the voice says.
“Goodmorning Mr. Brady,” Jarrod replies.
“What could I do for you at this hour of the morning?” Mr. Brady asks.
“Is the governor in?” Jarrod inquires, “If he is, we need to see him.”
“He’s in having his breakfast,” Mr. Brady mentions.
“Could you get him,” Jarrod asks, “It’s urgent.”
“One moment please,” Mr. Brady replies, “Excuse me,” and just as he is about to turn around a man walking in says sternly, “May I help you?”
“Mr. Benton,” Mr. Brady announces, “They are here to see the governor.”
“Could I ask what this is about,” Mr. Benton says, “He’s busy having breakfast with his family at the moment.”
“We’re aware of that,” Nick chimes in.
“We understand that,” Jarrod replies, “But would you please get him anyway, tell him it’s Jarrod Barkley. Tell him it’s urgent.”
“Very well” the man glancing over at Mr. Brady says “Mr. Brady will you please get him.”
“Right away, Mr. Benton,” Mr. Brady answers and as he exits the room, “You don’t mind if I remain here do you?” Mr. Benton asks as he remains there between the doorway and the brothers.
“You do what you must,” Nick replies.
“Not at all,” Jarrod says and quickly entering the formal dining room, Mr. Brady whispers into the governor’s ear about Jarrod and Nick in the front room and upon quickly excusing himself from the table he walks out with Mr. Brady in tow.
“Mr. Barkley” Governor Haight says extending his hand out “It’s good to see you.”
“Thank you,” Jarrod replies, “You remember my brother Nick.”
“Not well” Governor Haight says offering his hand to him “But good to see you too.”
“Sorry to come out here at such an early hour like this,” Jarrod mentions, “I know you were just in the middle of having breakfast with your family.”
“It’s quite alright” Governor Haight says “And it must be rather important if you made the trip out this hour of the morning; any new developments regarding your mother?”
“We found her,” Jarrod mentions.
“You have?” Governor asks.
“Yes” Jarrod says “At this moment she is on her way to my house, if she’s not there already.”
“What happened?” he wanted to know.
tbc
As they head out front with the two horses there in tow, “I just thought of something,” Gene then says.
“What?” Nick asks.
“If we all ride double,” Gene brings up, “One of us rides alone.”
Replying “Mother gets to ride alone, the rest of you will double up,” Nick then says, “Mount up!”
As Jarrod helps Victoria into her saddle, Bill and Heath mount up with Gene asking, “Who’s going to ride with whom?”
“Gene,” Nick says, “Don’t you ever stop asking questions?”
“Gene,” Jarrod suggests, “How about if you ride back with Heath?”
“Okay,” Gene answers.
“And how about if I help you up?” Jarrod offers with Gene accepting his help.
Being placed in front of Heath, “How’s that” Jarrod inquires.
“Fine,” Gene replies, “Heath you alright with this?”
“I am,” Heath admits, “Are you?”
Nodding, “I am,” Gene states.
As each of the other boys mount up, Kyle shares the saddle with Bill, Vernon shares the saddle of the next horse with Billy, Ferdinand shares his saddle with Neil, Paul shares with Todd and Terry and Dean wind up sharing the saddle of the last horse.
“Oh Heath,” Jarrod says, “Do you know where you need to go?”
“You mean to find Johnny and Jim?” Heath asks.
“Yes,” Jarrod replies.
“I remember the letter saying,” Heath brings up, “The instructions were for the delivery man to go down Columbus and Broadway and to look for a place called the Chinese Fortune Cookie.”
“Very good Heath,” Jarrod then says, “When you get back take a look at the map.”
“I will,” Heath replies.
“Jarrod,” Victoria then says, “Be sure to tell the governor everything.”
“I plan on it,” Jarrod states.
“We’ll meet you back at the house,” Victoria then says.
“Gene,” Heath handing him the reins asks, “Would you care to?”
Taking them, “Thank you,” Gene answers, “I would.”
“Bill,” Nick says, “Heath, watch your backs. Remember, there is one still unaccounted for.”
“We will,” Heath answers, “And you do the same.”
“Don’t worry about us” Bill mentions “We’ll be fine” as he takes hold of the reins.
After they ride off and upon making eye contact with each other Nick says to Jarrod “What?” and then not waiting for an answer “I know what you are about to say so I will spare you and tell you that you were right. I do get short with Gene and I will work on correcting it.”
“At least,” Jarrod mentions, “You managed to catch yourself. But I was also thinking about Heath.”
“What about him?” Nick asks.
“I’m not sure he is fully up to it,” Jarrod states.
“I know he’s not,” Nick mentions, “I know he hasn’t slept, I know he should be resting, I know we have a lot of work to be doing yet and there is only so many of us at the moment that I didn’t have much of a choice. And speaking of which, I wonder who those men are with Mother.”
“I’ve been giving that a lot of thought,” Jarrod says.
“And?” Nick replies.
“Didn’t you hear Billy say something about seeing men sleeping on the floor in the cellar?” Jarrod says.
“You mean?” Nick asks.
“Yes,” Jarrod answers, “I believe they were being held by the same people that were holding Mother for ransom. This is shanghai district and I think they were about to be placed on board a ship when ever the one they work out of came in.”
“That’s why” Nick brings up “You said the governor may want to talk with them.”
“Exactly,” Jarrod says.
“Let’s go see the governor then,” Nick insists, “The sooner we get him out here, the sooner we could go and catch up to Heath and Bill.”
“Now, you’re talking,” Jarrod says and as they quickly leave the alleyway Ray escorts Jim to the doctor while Jarrod leads Nick, Oscar and Austin to the nearest livery to borrow horses from.
Once they’ve mounted up and separated Jarrod and Nick head for the governor’s mansion while Oscar and Austin are both instructed to round up as many of the men as possible and have them head back to the ranch.
Columbia and Broadway
Coming up onto Columbus and Broadway Jim atop his horse stood on the crest of a low hill and gazed to the south. In the distance he could see the outskirts of town.
As the sun was poised in the eastern sky, heralding the beginning of another new day Jim being considered the best tracker of the ranch continued riding with his gray eyes carefully surveying the terrain ahead. The wind stirred his dark hair, causing his bangs to fall down above his right brow. His brawny hands holding the reins rested on his lap in between as he moved along.
Glancing over his right shoulder, he could see the heart of San Francisco’s China Town district and as he kept moving he kept thinking to himself, “Here I am, looking for what, a building called the Chinese Fortune Cookie,” and at the same time watching for any sign of the kidnappers who are waiting on the delivery of the money to come.
Never before been to China Town, he cautiously and carefully takes in the sparse landscape on both sides of the street he is traveling down. Except for a few trees here and there, there was nothing out of the ordinary that caught his attention.
Studying the various buildings and symbols he comes upon he crosses a set of tracks and wonders where they would take him to but decided to continue on the destination at hand. Hoping to see some sign of either the kidnappers or the building he notices most of the activity down this way was rather quiet for this hour of the morning.
He does catch sight of two Chinese men maybe in their early to mid 30’s talking amongst themselves, as well as two women who are getting their market operation ready for business. Not understanding what they are saying he just resumes keeping his attention on the road ahead that he is following.
Meanwhile, arriving at Jarrod’s, Heath assists Victoria out of her saddle while everyone else dismounts on their own.
Turning to the men, “Here,” Victoria says, “Come with me,” and upon going with Victoria they are led inside.
Upon entering the front room they are quickly met by Jim who first greets Victoria with opened arms. Then as he begins to shift his attention to the boys, Heath and Bill, followed by the rest of the men standing besides them, “I could see you have a lot of questions on your mind” she mentions.
“I do,” Jim admits.
Gnawing on her lower lip, “Jim,” Victoria says, “The questions could wait a bit.”
As she places her hand on his arm, “Is something wrong?” he asks.
Nodding her head, “There is,” Victoria answers.
“What is it?” Jim asks concerned.
“Jim’s been hurt,” Victoria informs him.
“Hurt?” Jim asks, “How bad?”
“He took a hit in the shoulder” Victoria mentions “Ray is bringing him to the doctor’s.”
Running his hand over his face, “Oh my god,” Uncle Jim says.
“Mr. Barkley,” Bill offers, “Would you like me to take you there?”
“Please,” Uncle Jim answers.
“Would you like me to go with you?” Victoria offers.
As he shakes his head, “No,” Uncle Jim answers, “Stay here.”
“We’ll be alright with him,” Bill mentions.
“Do you know where to go?” Victoria asks.
“I will get directions,” Bill mentions, “Once we get down town.”
“I could take you there,” Kyle offers.
“You need to be getting some sleep,” Victoria says.
“I will be alright,” Kyle mentions, “And right now they need help with getting Mr. Barkley to the doctor’s office. By looking for directions it will only slow them down. Your other two sons wanted them to go after the men they are aiming to reach. My going with them is the only logical answer.”
“I’m afraid he’s right,” Heath says.
“Maybe so,” Victoria replies.
“Uncle Jim,” Heath asks, “Where’s the map?”
“Back at the cabin,” Uncle Jim informs him.
“We need to look at it for a moment,” Heath mentions.
“Go ahead,” Victoria urges.
Squeezing his shoulder with his hand “Come on,” Heath replies, “We’ll be back.”
“Be careful out there, Heath,” Victoria insists.
“We will,” Heath vows and with that he, Uncle Jim, Kyle and Bill go out the door and upon grabbing four horses that are out front they quickly head for the cabin.
“Are you boys’ hungry?” Victoria then asks of them.
“I am,” Neil admits.
“How about if I make you all,” Victoria offers, “A nice hot breakfast?”
“Mmm,” Terry replies, “Sounds like a tempting offer.”
“All of us?” Billy asks.
“Of course all of you,” Victoria says.
“I think I better,” Billy mentions, “Let my mother know I am alright first.”
“I’ll come with you,” Victoria says, “But first let me go see to Audra, let her know I’m alright. I’ll be right down,” glancing over at Gene, “Gene, in the meantime, how about if you show our guests to the bathroom where they could freshen up?”
“Sure,” Gene answers, “Come with me,” and as he escorts them up the stairs Victoria follows right behind and quickly heads to the room occupied by Audra.
After going up the stairs, Gene takes the men down the hall to where the bathroom is. Victoria walking into the bedroom sees Audra sound asleep and as she moves towards the bed lets out a smile as she is looking down at her. Sitting alongside her she quietly calls out to her. Then gently shaking her she calls out to her again until she starts to awaken.
Upon opening her eyes and glancing about, “Mother,” Audra says as she sees her sitting there quickly sits up “Oh Mother” and grabs hold of her in a tight embrace “You’re here, you’re really here.”
With a huge grin on her face “I’m really here Audra” Victoria asks “You alright?”
“I am,” Audra answers, “Are you?”
Nodding her head, “I assure you I am,” Victoria states.
“Mother,” Audra asks, “How did you get here?”
“I came here with Gene and Heath,” she mentions.
Trying to comprehend everything “Gene and Heath” Audra then inquires “What happened? I heard you were kidnapped.”
“I was” Victoria then says “And I know you’ve just only woken up and this is all a lot to be comprehending, so quickly and so early...”
Running her hand through her frazzled hair, “You have no idea,” Audra admits.
“I know its way early yet for you” Victoria suggests “But, if you’re up to it, how about coming downstairs and I’ll make you a hot breakfast? From there we could talk further and go into everything that took place.”
“Let me get dressed,” Audra replies.
“Take your time dear,” Victoria says, “I have go next door for a minute. I’ll be right back,” as she gets up off the bed, “Okay,” Audra replies.
And while still half-asleep yet Audra watches as Victoria leaves the room.
Columbia and Broadway
After giving Jim a five minute head start, Johnny finally makes his way to the entrance of Columbus and Broadway. As he begins moving down the street he takes in the various buildings and symbols on both sides of the street. Catching sight of what appears to be a bank, a small market and a couple of saloon type developments he doesn’t see anything indicating the Chinese Fortune Cookie and continues down the road. He also is watching for any sign of the kidnappers and Jim but not seeing either one, he proceeds onward and to his right he sees what appears to be a quaint park and next to that a side street to it’s left.
Not knowing what’s down there but following his intuition, Johnny decides to move onto the side street and as he in search of the building he catches sight of a raucous flock of starlings in a nearby tree chirping about.
After managing to borrow a new pair of horses from the livery and Nick and Jarrod depart, Oscar and Austin begin traveling down Freemont and Pine looking to find the men and do as instructed informing them about returning to the house.
Going up and down Pine they look on both sides of the streets for Davy and Chad remembering the long detailed information given them about each street each pair was to go down.
“Do you see any sign of them?” Oscar asks.
“No,” Austin replies, “But they were given this street, so if they are down this way, we should run into them at some point. Let’s keep looking!” and they continue going up and down the street.
Back at the house
Seconds later, Audra gets up out of her bed grabs her robe and proceeds on down the hall to the bathroom.
Catching sight of Gene standing there, “Gene,” Audra asks, “What happened? Where did you come from?”
“We went looking for Mother,” Gene mentions.
“Yes I know,” Audra says, “But she’s home now.”
“We just came home,” Gene notes.
“What happened?” Audra asks.
“A lot,” Gene replies.
As she is about to reach for the doorknob, “Audra,” Gene then says, “There is something you need to know before going inside there.”
“What’s that?” Audra asks.
Part 409
Just then as Terry comes out of the bathroom and upon seeing Audra standing there he says, “Hello.”
As she is asking defensively, “Who are you?” Gene noticing the puzzling look on her face says, “Audra, this is Terry. He came here with Mother and us.”
“Us?” Audra mimics.
“Heath, Bill and myself” Gene says.
Audra asks, “Gene, what’s going on?”
“A lot,” Gene then says.
“You said that already,” Audra mentions.
“Well” Gene says “He and the others downstairs were being held with Mother.”
“Others” Audra wanted to know.
“There’s four others” Gene mentions, “Mother, brought them back with us.”
“What happened out there?” Audra asks, “And where are Jarrod, Nick and Jim? They went out with Bill.”
“Jarrod and Nick are on their way to see the governor,” Gene states.
“Now?” she asks, “This time of the morning?”
“Yes,” Gene replies, “Jarrod wants him to see what took place out there.”
“What did take place out there?” Audra asks again.
“A lot,” Gene repeats.
“You keep saying that” Audra says, “Stop saying that and tell me what happened.”
Gene mentions, “Mother said we’d talk about it more when she gets back.”
“That’s what she told me,” Audra replies, “Tell me what you know.”
“I don’t know it all,” Gene mentions, “Everything happened so quickly.”
“Tell me as much as you can then,” Audra says.
“Going down one of the back alleyways” Gene explains “A fight broke out and in the process we managed to find Mother or she found us, I don’t know exactly which way it went to be perfectly honest, but then people that were holding her tried to kill us.”
Taken back, “Kill you?” Audra says “They tried to kill you?”
“They had that in mind,” Gene mentions.
“You alright?” Audra wanted to know.
“I’m alright,” Gene says, “Maybe a little shakened up, I never had anyone try to kill me before; one of them had plans on using a sharp knife.”
“Wow, Gene!” is Audra could think of to say at the moment.
“It’s okay,” Gene says, “It did happen all so quickly and before I knew it Jarrod, Nick, Heath, Jim, Bill and Mr. Denton all showed up. Mother happened to be in one of the cellars of one of the buildings nearby and she managed to get out with the help of Terry here and the other men she brought back with her.”
“Thank you,” Audra informs him.
“No problem,” Terry answers.
“And everything else,” Gene continues, “Just happened. There was shooting, we were trying to dodge the bullets that were flying about, we ended up taking refuge behind one of the buildings, Jim wound up getting shot in the process…”
“Jim was shot?” Audra asks, “How bad?”
“He got a bullet in the shoulder” Gene says “Bill and Heath just left here with Uncle Jim. The rest might be better if we waited until Mother gets back and you got dressed and came down the stairs. I still have questions I still need answers to.”
“I’ll be right down,” Audra tells him.
“Don’t take too long,” Gene advises, “Make it a short and quick one.”
“I will,” Audra vows.
As Terry is moving out of the way “We’ll meet you downstairs” Gene then says “Come on Terry” and while Audra closes the door behind her Gene leads Terry down the hallway mentioning “She’ll probably be a little longer than that.”
“If she does I wouldn’t be surprised,” Terry mentions, “That comes a part of being a girl and being your sister.”
“It does,” Gene says, “Do you have a sister?”
“Two” Terry answers.
“Are they younger or older?” Gene wanted to know.
“One’s older,” Terry states, “One’s younger” as they go down the stairs.
8/15/11
Pine Street
As Davy and Chad travel down Pine Street they begin hearing music.
“Listen,” comes from Davy.
“I hear it,” Chad replies and as they follow the direction it’s coming from they are drawn to a white two-story structure.
“We’re being watched,” Davy announces.
“Yes, I know,” Chad answers, “We have been since we came down this way,” looking over at the entrance and observing a stocky man, dressed in black who suddenly disappears from view as they are feet away from the building.
Cautiously going towards it, “Should we” Davy asks as they begin dismounting.
“Yes,” Chad answers, “Let’s just proceed with caution,” as they start walking.
Meanwhile coming up Fremont Street, “Is that what I think I hear?” Oscar asks of Austin.
“Music?” Austin queries.
With his brow narrowed, “Yeah,” Oscar answers, “Isn’t it a bit early for someone to be playing music at this hour of the morning? It’s barely 7.”
“It is,” Austin notes, “Let’s see where it takes us,” and immediately resuming their search they continue following the sound of the music.
Alfredo’s Saloon
As they enter the saloon they find the music has stopped and glancing around the room Davy and Chad first notice the piano that was playing is now idle and looking over at the bar they catch sight of two men in conversation, one being somewhat of a husky build in his 40’s, wearing blue pants and a brown shirt with a gun strapped around his waist. The bartender happens to be somewhat short, bald and obese.
From over near the counter, “Well, well, well,” the Husky man looking over at them says, “What have we here?”
“Don’t like it,” Davy mentions.
“Just keep your head,” Chad tells him, “And we should be able to get out of here in one piece.”
Going up to them with his hand extended out smiling “Good morning” the man says.
“I don’t trust him,” Davy whispers.
“Sh!” Chad replies, “Goodmorning,” as he takes the offered hand.
“It isn’t often” the man says “We get new faces around here; my name’s Bert.”
“Greetings,” Chad replies, “We are happy to meet you.”
Eying them quizzically, “Is that a fact?” Bert asks.
“It is indeed,” Chad affirmed, “You are the first person we have…talked to…since our journey began. We are extremely pleased to meet you.”
“Why don’t you come inside and meet some of the others?” Bert asked.
For an instant Bert’s brown eyes narrowed, “Certainly,” Chad replies with Davy noticing quickly but keeps his thoughts to himself.
Placing his right hand around Chad’s shoulder, Bert leads him over to the bar with Davy reluctantly following.
“Oh,” Chad says, “I forgot. I am Chad and this here is my friend Davy.”
As they continue walking they notice four men gathered at one circular table having a drink while at the second round table are three men engaged in a card game, “You certainly play cards early,” Davy notes.
“Sometimes,” Bert mentions, “We do, depending who comes in here.”
“I see” Davy answers watching and observing the men carefully and as he shifts his glance he catches sight of another pair, one which happens to be rather tall, broad at the shoulders, wearing his brown hair long with the other who happens to be the man they saw outside, talking amongst themselves near the railing of a flight of stairs. Raising an eyebrow Davy comes to the conclusion that the second man must’ve been the one who was playing the piano prior to them coming in there.
As they continue moving towards the bar one of the men at the card table says, “Howdy there, friend.”
“Howdy,” Davy replies then upon noticing all the men in the room studying him and Chad very carefully inquires, “Do you find something interesting about us?”
“Why?” Bert asks.
“Everyone in this room” Davy notes “Seems to be interested in us for some reason.”
“No,” Bert mentions, “We’re just a friendly group in here, we like to welcome strangers whenever we see one.”
“You must forgive my friend here, sir,” Chad says, “But he’s not very trusting.”
“Oh?” Bert asks, “Why is that?”
Shaking his head, “Oh,” Chad replies, “No reason. He just likes being very cautious of anyone we should meet.”
“I see,” Bert says.
As they are steps away from the counter Davy feels the hairs of his neck prickling in the back, getting a very uneasy feeling but holding back his thoughts allowing Chad to give him the benefit of the doubt.
Battery and Pine Street
As Austin and Oscar make their way to Pine and Battery they are quickly met by Sam and Chris who were doing the same thing following the music they heard playing. After exchanging hellos and informing them about Mrs. Barkley being found they hear the music come to a stop.
“It stopped,” Sam notes.
“I wonder why,” Chris says.
“Who knows?” Austin retorts, “But it did manage to bring you to us.”
“True,” Chris replies.
“Let’s see if we could find Davy and Chad,” Oscar suggests, “That is what brought us down this way in the first place.”
Separating once again Sam and Chris go down one side of Pine while Oscar and Austin take the other.
Alfredo’s Saloon
Reaching the bar, the man behind it quickly extends his hand and upon taking it, “Hello,” Chad says, “My name’s Chad. Thank you for welcoming us.”
“My pleasure,” the man behind the bar answers, “As Bert said, we don’t usually get strangers passing through. Most customers are people who either live around the area or come and visit here often. My name is Joe,” shaking Chad’s hand and upon indicating the empty seat on the other side of the counter, “Won’t you please take a seat and allow me to get you a drink?”
“Thank you,” Chad replies taking a seat.
With Davy cautiously following his lead pretends to be interested in the room and leisurely moves several paces to his right looking down at the floor carefully while smiling at the man behind the counter and as he takes a seat next to Chad, places his hands on the edge of the bar.
“Something wrong?” Joe, the bartender asks of him.
“No,” Davy lies, “Just thought I dropped something.”
“Like what?” Joe inquires.
“A coin,” Davy answers.
“If you dropped a coin,” Joe mentions, “I am sure we would have heard it.”
“True,” Davy says, “Maybe it was my imagination.”
“Could be,” Joe then asks, “What could I get you fellas?”
“Do you have any fresh milk?” Davy wanted to know.
“Milk?” the barman laughed.
“Yes,” Davy answers, “Milk,” smiling with his eyes gleaming.
“Do you know where you are?” the barman asks.
“Alfredo’s,” Davy notes.
“Yes,” The barman says, “But this is a tavern. We don’t usually serve milk in here, besides we ate our cow a while back ago.”
“Cute,” Davy then asks, “What do you have?”
“The real article,” Joe, the bartender notes and as his hand reaches under the bar Davy quickly jumps out of his seat and pulls his gun from his holster.
“Hey, did you see that?” comes from the man near the railing “Did you see him draw?”
“I saw,” comes from his companion.
“He sure is fast,” the man at the card table says to his companions, “Maybe the fastest I’ve ever seen.”
“Oh,” the second man at the table replies, “I don’t know. I know of one person that may be able to match him.”
“Now,” comes from the first man at the table, “Who would that be?” baiting the second man.
At the bar “Hey Davy” Joe says “I wasn’t doing anything except reaching for a bottle.”
“You have to excuse my friend, Joe,” Chad joins in, “He does get jumpy when he feels unsure of a place.”
Replying “I see that” Joe quickly glances over at Bert and then turns his attention to Davy.
Holding his pistol on him “Bring your hand up slow” Davy orders, “Real slow.”
The barman complies and upon raising a bottle and gently placing it on the counter, “This is what I was after. You wanted something to drink remember?”
“But I also said I wanted milk,” Davy mentions, “I didn’t say anything about a bottle of whiskey,” as he looks at it.
“That is true,” Joe answers, “But I also told you we don’t serve milk in here.”
“Where would one go around here,” Davy asks, “To get some milk?”
“Try the restaurant down the street,” Joe answers.
“I could go for a whiskey,” Chad says.
Pouring him a glass, “Are you sure,” Joe asks, “I can’t persuade your friend here to change his mind?”
“No” Chad replies “Right now he doesn’t like drinking whiskey. But I don’t mind.”
As Davy re-holsters his gun and sits back down, “You sure I can’t change your mind Davy?” Joe wanted to know as Chad takes a sip of his drink.
Part 410
“Sorry,” Davy replies, “It’s much too early for that now.”
“So,” Bert asks, “Where are you boys from?”
“Here and there,” Davy answers.
Keeping his gaze on Davy “Don’t mean to be nosy” Bert says “Just trying to start conversation, is all. I mean if you’re down this way, someone must’ve sent you to us.”
“No,” Chad answers, “We just came down this way on our own and just decided to come in here.”
Studying Davy for a second or so, “So Davy,” Joe says, “Is there something on your mind?”
“Why?” Davy asks, “Why do you ask?”
“You look like a man with a question,” Joe replies “What’s the question?”
“Okay,” Davy says, “You say your name is Joe.”
“That is correct,” Joe answers.
“And,” glancing over at Bert, “You said your name is Bert,” he notes.
“It is,” Bert states.
“And yet,” Davy says, “Outside it says Alfredo. I would think that if either of you owned this saloon,” thinking carefully of his wording, “Would have the place named after either one of you.”
“There is a good explanation for that Davy,” Bert brings up.
“Oh?” Davy asks nonchalantly, “What is that?”
“Alfredo,” Bert says, “Who does own this saloon, owns one other and while he is there running it, he has me running this one and Joe here, works for me.”
“Interesting,” Davy retorts, “Where does this Alfredo run his other one?”
“In a town,” Bert says, “That may be rather new on the map. It’s called Thief River Falls, have either of you heard of it?”
Shaking their heads, “Can’t say I have,” Chad followed by Davy answers.
“Where is that exactly?” Chad inquires.
“Oh,” Bert says, “Up north aways.”
“Is this Thief River Falls,” Chad wanted to know, “A big city?”
“Not really,” Bert says, “It is rather small at the moment. Which is why he decided to open up the second saloon, he figured it was a great place to run and meet new people whenever they should come by his way.”
“Smart thinking on his part,” Chad notes.
“Yes,” Bert says, “Alfredo is rather intelligent. And you know,” running his hand along his chin, “If you fellas were looking for maybe some employment, maybe I could put a good word in with him and maybe get you hired on for something.”
“I don’t think so, Bert,” Davy answers.
“Depends,” Chad asks, “What kind of work do you have around here or there?”
“What kind of work do you do?” Bert inquires.
“Oh,” Chad answers, “We could do anything.”
“What kind of work do you do now?” Bert wanted to know.
“We do ranching” Chad says “But we also could run errands; do trades etc. with various people.”
“Interesting” Bert states, “Maybe we could find you something along those lines for you to be doing.”
“Not right now,” Davy says.
“Oh,” Bert asks, “Why not?”
“Right now,” Davy mentions, “We have a job. We only came in here to possibly find someone.”
“Oh?” Bert inquires, “Who would that be?”
“We are looking for someone named, “Sammy,” Davy replies, “Sammy Louis.”
“Don’t think I know a Sammy Louis,” Bert says, “Do you Joe?”
“No,” Joe answers, “Doesn’t ring a bell,” shaking his head, “Where does this Sammy live?”
“Not really sure,” Davy answers “But if we did, we wouldn’t be in here looking for him.”
“That is true,” Joe says, “Why are you looking to find this Sammy?”
“We did some errands for him awhile ago,” Davy notes, “When he came to our ranch and said if we ever come down this way to be sure to look him up, but he didn’t say exactly where to go to look him up and so we thought by coming in here, maybe one of you nice gentlemen here would’ve heard of him and could tell us where to find him.”
Shaking his head, “Sorry,” Bert replies, “Wish we could help you fellas. But if you’ve noticed this is a big city.”
“Yes,” Davy says, “We found that out. We’ll go and check down the street, maybe someone there may have heard of him.”
“That’s possible,” Bert replies.
Placing two coins on the counter, “Thank you for the drink,” Chad says, “And the hospitality.”
“My pleasure,” Joe replies, “Good luck with your find. If you should change your mind and need work come back and I will see what I could do in way of accommodating you.”
Tipping his hat “Thank you” Chad says “We just might” and as he gets up “You don’t have to leave just yet” Bert tells him.
“Sorry” Chad says “But we do” and as he and Davy begin walking “That was close.”
“Let’s get out of here,” Davy answers, “Quickly.”
“What about Mrs. Barkley?” Chad whispers to Davy who responds, “Not now,” as they keep walking.
“Good going Bert” one of the men at the first table says “You know we could use them.”
“And now,” comes from a second man at the table, “We don’t have neither one.”
“Wrong Dipper” Bert notes, “They’re not going anywhere, in fact,” snapping his fingers, “We have both.”
“Oh?” Dipper asks, “How could you say that? They are leaving.”
“Are they?” Bert replies, “Watch!”
As Chad and Davy move to the exit they are immediately blocked by the two men that were over by the stairwell “Hey” Chad asks, “What is the meaning of this?”
With their arms folded in front of them “Bert wants a word with you,” comes from the man with the long hair.
“He doesn’t like it,” comes from the second man says, “When someone refuses his job offer.”
“We said we needed to be going,” Chad mentions.
“And we already said we have a job already,” Davy points out.
“We suggest the two of you,” comes from the man with the long hair, “Turn back around and go see Bert.”
As they reluctantly turn back around, “What is the meaning of this Bert?” Chad asks as he and Davy notice the men keeping their attention on them.
“Take a seat,” Joe says placing two more drinks on the counter, “And have yourselves a drink.”
With the two men remaining right behind them they do as instructed and take a seat.
“We don’t want you to leave fellas,” Bert tells them, “In fact we want you to stay on with us here.”
“Stay on?” Chad mimics.
“Stay on for what?” Davy asks.
“Somehow,” Bert says, “You are not in here by chance.”
“What do you mean by that?” Davy asks.
“You,” glancing at Davy, “Davy,” Bert says, “Are just too antsy and too curious to be just coming in here by accident.”
“It was by accident,” Davy begins to reply.
“You want to know the truth?” Chad asks.
“By all means,” Bert says.
“We heard the music and then saw this man here,” referring to the man in black, “Come inside,” Chad notes, “We wanted to see what was so fascinating about us that we just had to come in here.”
“That does seem to happen quite a bit,” the man with the long hair says.
“What is that suppose to mean?” Davy wanted to know.
“Oh,” the man suppressing a grin replies, “Nothing.”
Bert says, “We would like it if you stayed on and worked for us.”
“But we already told you,” Davy replies, “We have jobs.”
“I am sure,” Bert notes, “They won’t miss you.”
“Sure they will,” Davy says.
“Now,” Bert tells them, “You could make this easy on yourselves or make it hard it’s really up to you.”
“How?” Davy wanted to know.
“First,” Bert informs them, “Remove your weapons.”
As they pull their guns out of their holsters “Slowly and carefully place them on the counter” Bert instructs them “We wouldn’t want anyone to get careless now, would we?”
Doing as instructed, “Of course not,” Davy retorts.
“Now,” Bert says, “We want for you to have a drink,” moving the glasses that have been poured closer to them.
“I already told you,” Davy replies, “I don’t drink this early in the morning.”
“Well it’s time,” Joe mentions, “You made an allowance and drank.”
“I rather not,” Davy moving the glass away from him answers.
“Neither do I” Chad adds doing the same.
“We suggest,” Joe says, “You think again on that.”
“What’s in it?” Davy asks.
“Nothing,” Joe replies.
As Bert brings up his gun, “We said drink,” orders, “Now drink!”
Exchanging glances Chad and Davy slowly bring up the glasses to their mouths. Just before the glass meets their lips Chad quickly flings the whiskey at Joe the bartender while Davy flings his at Bert standing beside him and then without hesitating Chad quickly elbows the guy in black while Davy elbows first Bert and then punches the man in the face with the long hair standing behind them.
As the men at the two tables get out of their seat and are about to join the mayhem “Uh, uh, uh” comes from Chris, “Wouldn’t do that if I was you,” holding a rifle as he quickly enters the building with Sam saying “We suggest no one to move.”
Coming in right behind them, “All of you” Austin commands “Raise your hands high in the air” simultaneously with Oscar on the other side of him.
“Good timing,” Davy calls out.
“You know one another?” Joe wanted to know.
“We do,” Chad answers.
As the men all raise their arms in the air and freeze into positions as they stare at the men holding the rifles on them “We’ll take these” comes from Davy “We wouldn’t want anyone to get careless now would we” throwing Bert’s comment back at him as he and Chad take their guns back and then quickly disarm Bert and Joe.
“Good going George,” Bert says.
The man in black answers, “How was I to know?”
“No one’s to move,” come from Oscar who keeps sweeping his rifle in various directions at the men standing.
“Excuse us,” Chad says as he and Davy begin disarming each of the men standing there while Oscar, Sam, Austin and Chris keep their guns aimed on them.
“Hello fellas,” Davy calls out, “Nice to see you.”
Chris replies “Hey Davy.”
“Feelings likewise” Austin says.
“How did you know we were in here?” Davy wanted to know.
“We didn’t,” Sam replies, “We only knew this was the street you were to travel on and figured you had to be down here somewhere’s.”
“Glad you could make it,” Chad tells them.
“What should we do with them?” Sam inquires.
“Good question,” Chad replies.
Glancing about the room and catching sight of a set of keys hanging on a hook nearest the bar and then a door to the bar’s left, “I have an idea,” Davy answers.
“What do you have in mind?” Oscar asks.
“First,” Davy insists “Let’s take care of them; doing to them what they probably had in mind for us,” and as he quickly grabs strands of rope he then says, “Chad, give me a hand.”
“With pleasure,” Chad replies and upon following Davy’s lead he grabs rope and they begin securing Bert and Joe’s hands behind their backs while Oscar, Austin, Sam and Chris continue keeping their guns on them
“If you need some more,” Oscar mentions, “We have some.”
“Stay here,” Davy informs them and as he and Chad quickly go out the door and grab more rope they see coiled around each of the horses they go back inside and taking the man with the long hair Davy secures his hands behind his back while Chad works on the man in black next to him.
They then proceed on binding each of the other seven men that are gathered. Once they’ve finished, “There,” Davy announces, “That’s done.”
“Now,” Austin asks, “What do you want to do with them?”
“Let’s do with them,” Davy suggests, “What they had in mind for us.”
“What’s that?” Sam asks.
“Stay here” Davy commands “Keep watch of them” taking the set of keys from off the hook and going over to the door nearest the bar “Where you going?” Chad asks.
“Downstairs,” Davy answers, “Just a thought.”
“If you’re looking for Mrs. Barkley,” Austin mentions, “She has been found.”
“She has?” Davy asks.
“Yes,” Austin says, “We were sent to find you to have you return.”
“Thank goodness,” Davy replies.
“Yes,” Chad adds, “That is one load off of my mind.”
“Mine too,” Davy says, “Be right back.”
As Davy opens the door and goes down the stairs Chad follows him down while their fellow hands keep watch over the men.
Part 411
Quickly descending the steps Davy finds a room just below the bar locked and as he places the key into the hole he finds the first one doesn’t work. But as he goes through the set he finds the fourth key is the one needed to unlock the door and upon turning the key and opening it he says, “Hello there,” as he sees fourteen men huddled together.
One man in his 30’s answers “Hello.”
“My name is Davy” introducing himself says “Think of this as being your lucky day.”
“How’s that?” comes from the man in his thirties.
“Are you thinking of doing what I think you are?” Chad asks of him.
“I am,” Davy admits, “But first,” looking at each of the 14 men gathered, “I do need to know something.”
“What?” comes from one man with red-hair.
“How did you manage to get yourselves in here?” Davy asks.
“In here?” one man mimics.
“Yes,” Davy replies, “Do you know how you came to be down here?”
Shaking their heads, “Not really,” the man in his thirties answers, “All I remembered is as I came down the street I heard music playing as I came closer to here it stopped and as I saw a man go inside I came inside and then I was asked if I wanted to have a drink and the last thing I remembered is having the drink. The next thing I knew I woke up to find myself among these others.”
“That happened to me,” comes from another man, “That’s how I came to be down here,” comes from another.
“A very interesting pattern,” Chad notes.
“What do you mean?” comes from another man asking.
“That is how they seem to draw prospective clients into their” Chad says “Little establishment here.”
“That is how we were drawn into here” Davy notes “But fortunately for us luck was on our side.”
“Yes,” Chad replies, “In fact if events didn’t turn out the way they had we could very well be down here with you.”
“How’s that?” comes from one of the men.
“We had others watching our backs,” Chad points out, “Sort of speak.”
“Right” Davy says “And seeing they didn’t turn out the way they” pointing to the ceiling “anticipated we are now standing here freely being able to give all of you the opportunity to go free.”
“You are?” asks another man with red hair.
“We are,” Davy states.
“Who are you?” comes from the man in his twenties.
“Don’t understand,” comes from a third man.
“Do you know why you’ve been placed down here?” Chad asks.
“Not really,” comes from the man in his 20’s.
“I heard we were going on board a ship,” comes from an older gentleman with salt-n-pepper hair.
“That is what they indeed had in mind for all of you” Chad notes “All of us” as he looks at Davy, “If things didn’t turn out the way they had.”
“Now we don’t know how much time we have” Davy brings up “Before that ship is scheduled to come in and we don’t know who will be by here next, so if you value your freedom we recommend you take our good offer and quickly get yourselves out of here.”
“We also recommend,” Chad adds, “That you get yourselves as far away from this area, far away from the waterfront and if possible far away out of this city before you do find yourselves going on board a ship.”
“And we recommend,” Davy says, “You high tail it out of here; quickly.”
“I’m out of here,” comes from the young man in his twenties, “Count me in,” comes from another, “Me too,” as the men stop asking questions and without hesitating quickly pile out of their makeshift prison and as the last man exits, “We don’t know who you are,” he says, “But all we could say is thank you.”
“Just think of us or shall I say remember us as being you’re Good Samaritan” Davy reiterates “And that we came here to set you all free. Enjoy your newly found freedom!”
Once the men start coming up the stairs they catch sight of the men that are bound with the other men holding rifles on them.
“If I didn’t see it with my own two eyes” comes from Sam, “I wouldn’t have believed it.”
Oscar asks, “What’s that Sam?”
“The stories,” Sam replies, “I heard to be true about how this city captures and imprisons men.”
“OH,” Austin mentions, “It’s true alright and the proper wording is what this city calls shanghaiing.”
“Besides finding Mrs. Barkley,” Oscar notes, “This is why the Barkleys came here to somehow get this to all stop.”
“It’s a tall order,” Sam states.
“Which is why we need to do our part too” Davy points out.
“How’s that?” Oscar asks.
“For now,” Davy commands, “Let’s put these fellas downstairs.”
“Good idea,” Chris replies.
“Now,” holding his gun on the men, “Move it, “Davy commands, “All of you downstairs,” and with Chad following right behind they escort the bound men down the steps.
Reaching the bottom and crossing to the makeshift prison, “Inside,” Davy orders.
As the bound men do as instructed “You just going to leave us down here” Joe asks.
“I’m not even going to answer that question,” Davy replies, “But let’s just say you won’t be doing this to anybody else that should come down this way, at least not anytime soon” closing the door, “Have a good day gentlemen,” and not saying another word.
“Are you having fun?” Chad wanted to know.
Smirking innocently “Immensely,” Davy admits.
“I could tell,” Chad replies.
“Let’s go upstairs,” Davy insists and quickly they ascend the steps.
“What now?” Oscar asks as they come out of the cellar.
“Are we leaving them in there just like that?” Chris inquires.
“For now,” Davy mentions, “I didn’t lock the door so once they’ve figured out how to free themselves I am sure they will be out of there however,” closing the second door, “I don’t want them to be able to get out of there too quickly, either,” and locking the door securely, “There! That should keep them down there for quite some time.”
“Smart thinking,” Austin notes.
Placing the key ring back on its hook “Now let’s get out of here quickly” Davy insists.
“Wait!” comes from Oscar, “What happens if they can’t get out of there? They’ll be stuck down there.”
“True,” Davy mentions, “But we can’t very well go to the authorities. I heard they are just as bad as them.”
“So have I,” Sam says.
“And if we didn’t do this,” Davy mentions, “They would’ve came after us just as quickly as we got out of here. At least by doing it this way we’re not killing anyone and I think doing this to them is a lot more humane, a lot more civil for them than just leaving their dead bodies all strewn around.”
“That’s true,” Sam replies.
“When we get back to the ranch,” Chad suggests, “We could mention it to the Barkleys and see if there is something that could be done between now and the time they are able to free themselves out of there. And at least this way, they won’t be able to lure anymore naïve prospective customers into their establishment anytime soon.”
“Exactly,” Davy replies, “Come on the sooner we get out of here the sooner we could get back to the ranch.”
As they quickly exit the saloon “So what did happen in there” Chris asks.
“I think they were sizing us up,” Chad brings up.
“They were sizing us up,” Davy admits, “They wanted us to have a drink which I’m sure the bartender Joe put something in it to knock us out so they could place us downstairs with the others.”
“Is that why you asked for milk?” Chad asks.
“Of course,” Davy answers, “I’ve heard the many stories about how they drug their patrons that they consider a prospective candidate for the ships they work for.”
“What about the floor?” Chad inquires.
“No,” Davy answers, “They didn’t have one of those moveable floors, I checked.”
“That is why you pretended to look for a coin you dropped,” Chad states.
“Exactly,” Davy replies, “You don’t think I was that naïve walking in there.”
“No,” Chad states, “You were being a little more cautious.”
“One of us had to be,” Davy notes, “I thought for a moment there you were going to be taken in by them.”
“Not on your life,” Chad says, “But I didn’t want to appear too suspicious of them too quickly when we had all those eyes watching us as we came through that door.”
“At least we now know that all the stories we’ve heard about this place are true,” Austin brings up.
As they mount their horses “Unfortunately yes” Oscar replies “Now before we head back, we need to see if we could locate some of the others and have them stop what they are doing and turn back.”
“How about if we split up again,” Sam suggests.
“Good idea,” Austin says, “But if we don’t find anyone by 8 am, we’ll just have to stop, go back and allow them to return on their own. Nick and Jarrod did say to check in every 3 hours we’re almost there now.”
“True,” Chris replies, “And hopefully no one else runs into anything like Chad or Davy just did.”
“No,” Davy says, “One excitement for one day is enough for me.”
“Me too,” Chad replies, “And it’s not even seven yet” looking at his timepiece he has in his pocket.
“That gives us about an hour,” Austin insists, “To find them. Let’s use the hour wisely.”
“Then,” Oscar says, “I suggest we get a move on and make it snappy.”
“Agreed,” Sam replies, “And how about if we take Montgomery, I believe Pete and Alan had that street to search.”
“We’ll take Davis,” Oscar mentions, “That was the street Mike and Hank had.”
“I guess we’ll take,” Chad says, “Stockton, I believe that was Browne and Willard’s section.”
“If we’re successful and find all of them and have more time,” Davy suggests, “We could try looking for the remaining ones.”
“IF we have time,” Austin says, “We better get a move on if we want to find them before it reaches 8 am.”
“Agreed,” Chris replies, “See you all back at the cabin. Good luck,” as he and Sam begin moving out.
“Same to you,” comes from each of the four as they split up and begin riding away.
The Governor’s Mansion
Upon hearing a loud knock on the door, “Just a moment,” is heard from the other side of the door and upon it opening, “Mr. Barkley,” the voice says.
“Goodmorning Mr. Brady,” Jarrod replies.
“What could I do for you at this hour of the morning?” Mr. Brady asks.
“Is the governor in?” Jarrod inquires, “If he is, we need to see him.”
“He’s in having his breakfast,” Mr. Brady mentions.
“Could you get him,” Jarrod asks, “It’s urgent.”
“One moment please,” Mr. Brady replies, “Excuse me,” and just as he is about to turn around a man walking in says sternly, “May I help you?”
“Mr. Benton,” Mr. Brady announces, “They are here to see the governor.”
“Could I ask what this is about,” Mr. Benton says, “He’s busy having breakfast with his family at the moment.”
“We’re aware of that,” Nick chimes in.
“We understand that,” Jarrod replies, “But would you please get him anyway, tell him it’s Jarrod Barkley. Tell him it’s urgent.”
“Very well” the man glancing over at Mr. Brady says “Mr. Brady will you please get him.”
“Right away, Mr. Benton,” Mr. Brady answers and as he exits the room, “You don’t mind if I remain here do you?” Mr. Benton asks as he remains there between the doorway and the brothers.
“You do what you must,” Nick replies.
“Not at all,” Jarrod says and quickly entering the formal dining room, Mr. Brady whispers into the governor’s ear about Jarrod and Nick in the front room and upon quickly excusing himself from the table he walks out with Mr. Brady in tow.
“Mr. Barkley” Governor Haight says extending his hand out “It’s good to see you.”
“Thank you,” Jarrod replies, “You remember my brother Nick.”
“Not well” Governor Haight says offering his hand to him “But good to see you too.”
“Sorry to come out here at such an early hour like this,” Jarrod mentions, “I know you were just in the middle of having breakfast with your family.”
“It’s quite alright” Governor Haight says “And it must be rather important if you made the trip out this hour of the morning; any new developments regarding your mother?”
“We found her,” Jarrod mentions.
“You have?” Governor asks.
“Yes” Jarrod says “At this moment she is on her way to my house, if she’s not there already.”
“What happened?” he wanted to know.
tbc
