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Part 4: An Extra Hand
"Where they go?!" Jim called out,
"Probably toward town", Ted responded. "Where else could they go in the dark?"
"Okay. We'll cut them off before they make it there. To your horses!" Jim called out. He, Ted, and Dan rush out of the barn to their horses. Bill followed after untying Joe. "Why I'm gonna..."
"Easy there Joe", Bill said. "We'll get them."
"Good, I'll show them real rope work!" Bill and Joe quickly exited the barn and mounted their horses. They gave chase while leaving the burning barn. In the distance, the burning barn is noticed by a group of men.
"Can you run faster?!"
"I can't! These boots...", Danielle complained. Her high heeled boots limited her speed. She and Becky continued to run in the deserted, dark fields. Out in the distance were lit windows. Carson. Both were going toward the town. Suddenly, a noise is heard behind them. Galloping. "They already caught us?!" Danielle responded.
"No, the sound is still far away, and it's dark", Becky replied, looking for some place to hide, but finding any place to hide, especially at night, in the open, is hard to do. "Where are they?!" A voice called out from behind them. One of the bandits. "I can't see crap out here?!"
"Looks like that will help us Danielle. Dani?" Becky looked around. She lost Danielle. Becky backtracked a little bit, but couldn't find a sight. She couldn't even hear the trots of the horses, nor any of the voices of the bandit. It was dead quiet. While walking, she tripped over an object on the ground. Becky tried to push herself back up. Suddenly, a hand over her mouth and a weight brought her back down. "Shhh..." The voice whispered. "Play dead."
"They couldn't have gotten far?! Could they?"
"Nonsense Ted", Bill replied. Both were still on their horses, scoping the area. It was hard to see in the night, and they haven't heard anything from Joe, Dan, or Jim. "Two ladies, one with high heels. How far could they have gone?"
"You would think they would be easy to spot in the open plains."
"Yeah, but it shouldn't take this long."
"Bill! Look!" Ted pointed at a small light in the distance. "That must be them!" Ted took up toward it. "Wait! Ted!" Bill followed. Later, they were closer to the source of the light. A campfire. Ted already dismounted his horse. Bill arrived and did the same. "Darn it Ted. Can he just wait for once?!" Bill mumbled to himself. Slowly, he walked toward the campfire, drawing out his pistol, and holding a lasso out, ready to catch. As he got closer, he finds Ted, but not only him. Joe and Dan were with him, and all three were hogtied and gagged. "What in tarnation..." Just as he was about to finish up, a lasso flies over and around him, tightens up, and pulls him to the ground. Quickly, weight is put on top of him, and his hands and legs are tied together behind him. A bandanna is stuffed into his mouth, and another used to keep it in over his mouth. He is flipped over to see an old, bearded man standing on top of him. "Well, well, well, if it isn't Bill Cummings? Perhaps you can answer my questions. Where is Jim, and where is my daughter?!"
"So we just wait here Dani?" Becky whispered. Both she and Danielle are laying on the ground in a ditch. "Yeah." Danielle responded. "It's dark. They can't find us. We can hide until dawn, then we can head back."
"But they will think the same thing."
"And would they think of us hiding in a ditch out in the open?
"Hmm... Good point, and I don't hear anything." It was very quiet. Perhaps they fled the area, she thought. Both girls, huddled together, waited out the night, and fell asleep.
A poke alerted Becky and Danielle. Both opened their eyes. "Get up you two." Both slowly turn to see a pistol poking at their sides. "I said get up!" Suddenly they sat up, and are looking into the eyes of Jim Cummings. "Well now, I never thought you would cause me this much trouble!"
"And what about you?!" Becky responded . "You wanted more money, right? Well you didn't have to kidnap me!"
"Well, you see, this is how we do things. If we steal, we want the biggest payout. For your Daddy, he has a lot of money, but no valuables. So what's the easiest way to get that kind of money? Ransom! That's what! And now, you're coming back with us, and we're going to get our payday! But first..." He turns to point the pistol at Danielle. "Huh? Where did your friend go?!"
"Right here." Suddenly, Jim's arms are grabbed from behind and pulled back. "Becky! Some help here?!" Becky was surprised to see Danielle behind Jim. Quickly, she got up on her feet and dove for his legs. His pistol went off as he went down onto the ground. Danielle loosened her grip and went for the pistol in his right hand, but Jim freed his arm, and thew her off. Becky also went for the pistol, but Jim pointed it right at her forehead. "Don't even think about moving Becky!" Slowly, Becky put her hands in the air and moved off of him. Jim slowly stood up, still pointing the tip of the pistol against Becky. "Hey girly!" He called out. "If I were you, come here or else..."
"Or else what Jim?" called out a Man's voice. The click of another gun is head. Jim turned around to see an old, bearded man, and with him five other cowboys with their rifles loaded, and Danielle. "Are you okay, Becky?" he asked.
"I'm fine Dad."
"How the heck did you find us, Bob?"
"Well funny thing. One of our cowboys was going to the saloon for a drink when he saw one of the maids abducted in front of the saloon. He also noticed the wanted posters and pointed your picture out. We rounded up and started looking, and the fire at the barn was the dead giveaway. That lead us straight to your brothers."
"Brothers?"
"Yep. All four of them are with us, and with you, you all will fetch us a nice payday, so if I were you, I would listen if you want to see your family again." Jim realized he was defeated. He dropped the pistol. "Good choice." Quickly, the cowboys tied his hands behind his back, and tied a rope around his waist to pull him, so he won't get away. Bob and Danielle approached Becky. "You need to make better choices with Men."
"Oh don't start this right now!" Becky responded.
"I don't plan on it. I think you already know."
"Umm..." Both turned to Danielle. Bob spoke first. "Thanks for keeping my daughter company."
"Sure, but really it was the other way around."
"Oh, well then..."
"Actually", Becky interrupted "Danielle will be joining us on the rodeo."
"Wait, what?!"
"Yeah, I need a new assistant to help out. It will make things easier and faster."
"Well it's your call", Bob replied. "I hope it not going to cost."
"No it's not!" Becky replied. "She is working for me."
"Hey! Don't I have a..."
"Great! I'll see you both later!" Bob replied and walked back with the cowboys to Carson. Danielle looked at Becky as if she was bought. "Umm Becky, I..." Quickly, Becky pull her arms behind her and covered her mouth with her hand. "Before you respond, I wan't to let you know that what I'm offering is a lot more worth while, and you don't have to deal with drunken jerks at the saloon every knots. Plus you get food and a place to sleep. Does that sound good?" Danielle nods with approval. "Great!" Becky replied. "Beside, you need to know how to tie knots. I know a thing or two from Jim" She gives Danielle a wink. Becky lets go of Danielle and both head back.