The wind whistled past Kid's ear as he spurred his horse across the sage-covered ground. He had felt from the start that something was wrong with Stacy, and now it was certain. Just about every woman that had ever come into his life held something back, even Lou hadn't been an exception to this. After all, she was disguised as a boy! How long would she have fooled him? He often times wondered, but was glad that he didn't have to wait around to find out. I don't know what's going on now, but Jimmy, you better be taking care of that woman....no, make that BOTH of those women! In spite of the great speed at which he was moving, it wasn't nearly fast enough.

"Sorry, this area is too full for the likes of you." Lou nearly barked at their approachers.

The man snickered. His appearance was distasteful, and he was dirtier than any pig they had ever seen. "You better be getting used to our company, darlin', cuz we're going with you."

What a nightmare! Stacy thought to herself. She looked over at Jimmy, who had already fixed his gaze on her. He was making some sort of motion with his hands that she couldn't understand. Wrinkling her eyebrows she leaned forward slightly, trying to understand the message he was giving. Instantly she was distracted by someone pulling on her hair from behind. He forced her neck backwards and she had to look into his eyes.....the scariest eyes she'd ever seen too.

"And you are our 'official' trail leader." He smiled devilishly and glanced over at Lou. "Then if you try anything, Bobby over here's going to see that you're friends are taken down. One by one." He released her head and pushed it roughly forward, causing her to land on her hands. Jimmy jumped slightly, but thought better of trying anything.....yet.

Lou boldly stood up. "I thought there were four of you? What happened, did the rest of them chicken out?" She crossed her arms without a trace of fear showing.

"Lou." Jimmy said in a warning tone.

He stepped closer to her face. "Spunky, aren't you? Actually they're trailing us now. They had some 'business' to take care of first. But have no fear, they'll be with us shortly." He circled the camp. "Now, we're going to do this the right way." Motioning to Hickok's Navy Colts, he gave the signal for him to remove them. "Take those off, right now." He pointed to the two ladies. "That goes for whatever weapons you're carrying." They hesitantly agreed. Jimmy most of all. Telling him to take off his guns might has well been asking him to cut off his arms.

"Now, let's get going. And you Miss Stacy, will lead us all." Bobby pulled her to her feet. "You," He pointed to Jimmy. "Will follow." The three friends exchanged glances and then complied.

Kid thought that he heard the sound of a gunshot ringing in the distance. He slowed Katy down, and headed in the direction that it was coming from. There was smoke rising from what appeared to be a campfire. Unsure who it could be, he crept in slowly following the outline of the bushes.

"Where were we supposed to meet Patterson?" One of them asked, his speech slightly slurred.

"I'm not sure, he just said they'd get Stacy and we were supposed to catch up. Just don't fire that thing again!" He said, referring to the shot that his friend had taken at his old beer bottle.

"Yeah, but catch up to where? This ain't small country. I think he keeps forgetting that. I guess we'll just follow the trail." The other man replied through swigs of whiskey.

After waiting a few moments Kid dismounted Katy, leaving her in a position where he could make a fast getaway if needed. They have Stacy? Then that means they must have Lou and Jimmy too...unless. Kid pushed that thought from his mind. He securely grabbed his gun and held it in his right hand, while at the same time creeping closer and closer. With each step he feared that they might hear him, but they seemed so engrossed in their own conversation and drinking that they probably wouldn't have noticed a stampede of cattle come across the top of them.....until the last minute that is.

He held his breath as soon he was within a few feet of them. It's now or never. Kid surveyed the sitiuation....Okay, there's one to the right and the other......... wait, where'd he go? Oh, there by his horse. Come in closer.....just a bit closer. Yes! Good, now they're almost standing togetherw. Now, one, two....three!! "Hold it right there." Kid called out as he paraded into their camp with his gun on both of them. "I wouldn't try that." He warned as one of them started to clear his gun from the holster.

The man raised his hands instantly. "What do you want, mister? We don't have any money."

Kid moved forward looking for some rope to tie them both. "Yeah? Well ain't that just sad." He said as he came closer to them. "But what I want is where your friend is taking Stacy."

The black haired man shook nervously. "Honest........I mean honest, we don't know."

"Shut up!" Kid called out. "You're so drunk it's disgusting." He pointed to the other man, who seemed slightly more sober. "How about telling me?"

"I don't know! Patterson just said to follow them. But we're not sure where he's headed. He don't tell us much of anything." He sounded truthful, and seeing as how when they were alone they weren't sure either, Kid had no choice but to believe them.

"Fine, then you won't mind sitting here waiting for him to get back." Kid grabbed their guns and tossed them away from their reach. "Sit." They obediently obeyed. He took the rope that was wound onto the horn of one of the saddles and tied them together. "Hey, that's tight!" The younger one bellowed.

Kid was rapidly growing angrier and angrier at the whole situation. "You're breaking my heart." He tightened it even more and hit their horses, causing them to run.

As he walked away, they called out to him. "Wait! We can help you! Please mister, you can't leave us like this." Kid stopped for a moment with his back to them. He turned back around and walked towards them. "You know, you're right. I can't leave you like this." He took two socks that the men had laid by the fire to dry. "You need something to make you quiet." With that he stuffed one in each of their mouths, stifling their unbearable screeches.

Kid walked away from them with a satisfied smile on his face. Mounting Katy, he took off in the only direction that he thought might lead him to his friends........straight ahead.

On to Chapter Nine