Johnny and Murdoch hurried their horses towards the Flack Farm. As soon as darkness had fallen and Teresa hadn't showed up they knew something was wrong. Without a word both men had walked out of the house and saddled their horses. Their worry escalated as they neared the Flack house and could see only darkness at the windows.
Johnny threw Barranca's reins over a rail and hurried to the door. He pounded on it until he heard someone shouting angrily from inside.
The door was pulled inward and an irate James Flack stood before them, "What's the meaning of this?" he asked.
"Jim, is Teresa still here? Did she decide to spend the night?" Johnny asked hopefully.
"Teresa left here long ago. You mean she never got home?"
"No she didn't," Murdoch answered. "Did she say if she was going home?"
"Yep. She wanted to get home before it got dark so she was taking the shortcut through the trees."
"Thanks, Jim. I'm sorry we woke you up," Murdoch told the man.
"No need to apologize, Murdoch. Teresa has been a great friend to my June since we moved here. I hope nothing's happened to her."
"Me too, Jim," Johnny said turning away and heading for his horse.
"Any word on your other son?"
"Not since the note was delivered," Murdoch answered.
"I'm sorry for your troubles. If there's anything we can do just let us know."
"Thanks, Jim," Murdoch said as he got on his horse and rode away.
By the time they reached the ranch both men were exhausted. They'd found Teresa's horse in a strand of trees. The reins had tangled in a low branch of a tree and the horse had stayed where it was. They'd searched the area for Teresa but had been unable to find her. Johnny had found the signs of a struggle and another horse but the sky had clouded over and they'd been unable to continue the search. Dejectedly they rode back to Lancer, worried over the fate of the girl.
Scott opened his eyes and tried to move his numbed body. He regretted it immediately as the movement shot red-hot pain through his shoulder. 'That was a stupid move,' he thought. He closed his eyes and rested his head back on the cot. He shivered uncontrollably as the pain began to recede.
A commotion at the entrance to the cave made him lift his head. 'Please, God, let it be help,' he thought hopefully. His hopes were dashed when he heard the cries of a woman.
Teresa struggled against her antagonist. She balled her hands into fists and lashed out at him. "Put me down!" she cried.
Recognizing the voice Scott lifted his body as much as the restraints would allow. Angrily he fought against the ropes in an effort to help his 'sister'. He ignored the pain caused by the struggle and tried to yell. "Leave her alone!" he shouted in a hoarse, pain-filled voice.
"You gonna make me?" Ron Smith laughed as he tried to keep the girl under control.
"Where'd ya find this pretty little thing?" Billy asked his brother as he helped him hold Teresa.
Teresa heard Scott's voice and renewed her efforts. She struggled and kicked and finally pulled herself free. She hurried to the cot and knelt beside her 'brother'. "Oh, Scott," she said as she took in his gaunt features and the state he was in. She could see a bulky bloodstained bandage on his shoulder. Tears filled her eyes.
"Its ok, Teresa," Scott said, trying unsuccessfully to put her at ease.
She placed her hands on either side of his face and immediately felt the telltale signs of fever. Anger replaced fear and she stood and faced his tormentors. "What have you done to him?" she yelled.
Rob grabbed her arm and twisted her around to face him, "I oughta teach you a lesson," he said.
Teresa watched the mans face cloud with rage. "Let me go!" she ordered. She could hear Scott struggling to help her and worried more about him than herself. "Please, I need to help him," she begged.
Rob Smith was not a smart man but he could tell there was something between the two captives. "Kiss me and I'll let you help him," he said.
"No, Teresa, don't do it," Scott said as he continued to struggle with the ropes.
"You shut up!" Rob told him. "You gonna kiss me, girl?" he asked his full attention back on the girl in his arms.
Teresa twisted so she could see Scott. She saw the pain and anger in his voice. The beads of perspiration from his struggle and his fever told her he needed her. Closing her eyes she placed a quick kiss on Smith's face.
"That's not the kinda kiss I had in mind," Smith said as he pulled Teresa into a tight embrace.
Teresa's stomach churned relentlessly as she was forced to endure his chapped lips on her own tender ones.
"What the hell's goin on here?" a voice boomed from the cave entrance.
Rob Smith released his captive and she hurried to Scott. Smith turned in time for his face to meet a beefy fist. He fell to the floor, blood streaming from a broken nose. "Why'd ya do that?" he asked as he used his already dirty sleeve to wipe the blood from his nose.
"What's she doin here?" Harper asked as he pulled Teresa away from Scott. Recognition clouded his features and he smiled evilly. "Teresa O'Brien!" he exclaimed softly.
"Leave her alone, Harper," Scott ordered.
"Shut up," Harper said and struck Scott resoundingly across the face.
"Stop it," Teresa cried as she saw blood form on her 'brother's lip. She pulled away from Harper and once again knelt beside Scott.
"Looks like I owe you an apology, Rob. You brought us the one thing I can trade for Harlan Garrett."
"I thought you were trading Lancer for him?" Smith asked through bloody fingers.
"I was. But I never really intended to let Lancer go. I've been trying to figure out a way to keep him as well as Garrett."
"Why do ya need em both?" Billy Smith asked.
"Cause Scott Lancer had the life that I shoulda had. I shoulda been livin in the same kinda mansion he did. I shoulda had servants to help me. I shoulda had the same things he did. Instead I grew up without any of it. I had to work for every drop of water or mouthful of food I got. Scott Lancer will pay for growing up a spoiled city brat," Harper said.
Teresa heard his voice and could tell he was in the throes of madness. She knew Scott was in even more danger now that she was here. Some how she had to get word to Murdoch and Johnny but for now she was stuck here with her captors. "Can I get some water?" she asked
"What for?" Harper asked.
"I want to clean his wound."
"Reynolds can do that when he and Frost get back. You get over to the fire and start making something to eat. I'm sure you're a better cook than Billy here," he said.
Anger spread across Teresa's beautiful face as she leapt to her feet, "I'll make a deal with you Mr. Whatever you call yourself. Bring me some clean water and clothes and I'll make you whatever you want!"
Harper glared at the girl. His anger slowly subsided and he felt a touch of admiration for her. He couldn't believe she had the nerve to stand up to him.
Teresa watched as the man's face went through several changes. She kept her face passive while inside she shook in terror. She knew this man held hers and Scott's life in his hands. She placed her hands on her hips to stop her tremors.
Harper walked past her and looked at the man on the cot. Without a word he pulled the bandage from Scott's shoulder and laughed as Scott winced. "You want to clean him up so I can kill him when the time comes?" he laughed.
"I want to keep him alive till we're rescued," Teresa replied.
Harper gazed into her eyes and saw the look of determination in them. "You may get out of here alive but he won't," Harper said angrily.
"Don't be so sure," Teresa said and turned her attention back to Scott.
Harper shook his head and walked to the fire where Billy and Rob Smith stood.
Rob's eyes had turned black and he was holding a wet cloth to his nose. "She's mine," he whimpered.
"Not any more. She's gonna help me get my revenge," Harper said. "Bring her some water and clean clothes, Billy."
Billy swallowed his protest when he saw the look on Harper's face. He hurried to do as he was told.
Teresa took the water from the man and began to clean Scott's face and shoulder. As she removed the remainder of the shirt he'd been wearing she gasped at the bruises spread over his lean torso. 'Animals,' she thought as she gently washed his face.
"I'm sorry, Teresa."
Teresa looked into Scott's blue eyes and saw the pain in them. "You have nothing to be sorry for," she assured him.
"I'm sorry you're here," Scott said.
"Not your fault. Now be quiet and let me finish cleaning this shoulder."
"Watch out for Harper," Scott said as he closed his eyes to sleep.
"I will," she told him softly, tears in her eyes for her 'brother'.
"You finished over there yet, girl?" Harper asked.
Teresa wiped the tears from her eyes and turned away from the cot. "I'm done," she said and walked to the fire.
"Bout time. Now get cooking girl," Harper said.
Murdoch and Johnny Lancer waited for the stage to arrive. They'd spent the past few days searching for Teresa and Scott but to no avail. There had been a storm the night she'd disappeared and it had washed away any sign of her whereabouts. Both men were exhausted from lack of sleep, worry, and loss of appetite.
Murdoch paced back and forth in front of the hotel. He hated the idea of seeing Harlan Garrett again. He hated the 'I told you so' attitude he was sure he'd see on the man's face.
Johnny watched his father and knew how much this meeting would take out of him. He'd met Garrett once and was unimpressed by the over-bearing man. He looked up as they heard the rumble of the stage coming towards them. The defeated look on Murdoch's tired face didn't get past him.
The stage pulled to a stop directly in front of them and the driver jumped down. He opened the door and the moment Murdoch Lancer dreaded had arrived. He watched as his father-in-law stepped out of the coach.
Harlan Garrett wore a dark blue three-piece suit with a white shirt and tie. In his right hand he carried a black cane, topped with a silver lions head. The hair on his head had whitened considerably since their last meeting, but he was still as lean as ever. His eyes were dark with anger as he faced his son-in-law, "He should have stayed with me!" he exclaimed angrily.
"Scott made his decision," Murdoch said, biting back his own anger.
"A decision he should never have been allowed to make on his own. If he'd come back to Boston with me he wouldn't be in the danger he's in right now."
"My son stayed because he wanted to! Did you ever think he didn't want to go back with you because he was tired of your self-righteous attitude?" Murdoch told the older man.
"You were always jealous of my relationship with my grandson," Garrett said, his eyes flashing dangerously. "You'll never admit Scott was better off with me otherwise he might have turned into a no-good gunfighter like that one," he said pointing a long, well-manicured finger at the young man behind Murdoch.
Before Johnny had a chance to defend himself, Murdoch's hand lashed out and grabbed Garrett by the collar. "Don't you ever talk about my son like that again or I'll make sure you regret it the rest of your sorry life."
For once Harlan Garrett felt real fear. His words, spoken in anger had brought out a side of Murdoch Lancer he'd never seen before. He'd seen the man angered because of his wish to take his grandson back to Boston but this was different. He'd insulted Murdoch's son and now Murdoch looked ready to murder him.
Johnny Lancer knew he'd have to step in before Murdoch did something they'd all regret. It wasn't that he didn't think Harlan Garrett deserved whatever Murdoch had in mind; it was the fact that he was needed to get Scott and maybe Teresa back alive. He stepped forward, one hand resting on his gun as he placed his other on Murdoch's shoulder. "We need him," Johnny said simply.
Murdoch felt the strong touch of his younger son and released the older man. "Don't you ever speak of my son like that again," he repeated and walked to his horse.
"I see your old man still hasn't found a way to curb his anger," Garrett said, his voice betraying a lingering fear.
"My 'old man' as you put it has a lot on his mind. Let's get something straight! You don't like me and I don't like you. But there is one thing we have in common."
"What would that be?" Garrett asked sarcastically.
"We both want Scott and Teresa back alive," Johnny said, his face and eyes filled with anger.
"Scott is the only reason I'm here," Garrett said coldly. "I want him back and when he is I'm taking him back to Boston where he belongs."
Johnny's face contorted with anger; "There are two people in danger here. One of them is my brother, the other my 'sister'. I want them both safe."
"All I care about is getting my grandson back and returning to Boston," Garrett said angrily.
Johnny shook his head and walked away without another word. He could hear the older man hurrying to keep up with him.
"Aren't you gonna get my bags?" Garrett asked loudly.
'Get them yourself,' Johnny thought angrily as he stopped beside Murdoch.
Murdoch raised his head and met his son's eyes. The anger made Johnny's eyes sparkle with fire. "We need him to get Scott and Teresa back," Murdoch reminded him.
"That's right. It's about time you two realized you need me more than I need you. I will do everything in my power to get my grandson back safely, if the girl is returned as well that's fine too. Now get my bags and let's go to your ranch," Garrett said, emphasizing his loathing of Murdoch's land on the last word.
Murdoch ignored the man and helped Johnny load his bags into the wagon. Without another word he got behind the reins and they headed for the ranch.
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