“Morning Nick, Heath” Tim Curtis called to the two Barkley brothers as they passed his store on the way to the general store to collect some fencing supplies.

“Morning Tim” Nick called back.

“Hey Tim lookin’ good.” Heath responded “You’re really getting things into shape.”

“You bet.” Tim laid down his checklist and approached the Barkley wagon. “Most of my goods came in on the early train, me and my help have been going at it since that time. Hoping to open tomorrow” He eyed the brothers “Say if it looks half respectable when you boys are on your way out stop by, maybe you might find something you’d like. Or if I don’t have it on hand I should be able to order it for you.”

“Thanks Tim we may just do that.” Nick waved the reins at the horses and they moved off.

“Nice sort of chap” Heath commented

“Suppose so”

“Hope of his sake it all works out.”

“Come on Heath move it.” Nick called from his spot in the drivers seat of the Barkley wagon. “We’ll never get home and make a start on those fences if you don’t hurry.”

“Who won’t be able to make a start?” Heath looked up at his older brother as he swung a load of barbed wire onto the wagon bed. “Anyway we’d get done a lot quicker if somebody got down here and helped.”

He was so intent on having a little dig at Nick that Heath failed to notice Fisher coming up behind him. Fisher ducked as the wire sailed harmlessly over his head and onto the wagon bed.

“Hey watch it cowboy.” He shouted.

“Sorry mister” Heath turned and faced Fisher. The pair glared at each other for a few seconds.

“Well just watch it in future.” Fisher continued to stare. Something about this particular cowboy was vaguely familiar. He could’ve sworn he’d seen him somewhere before.

Heath, staring at he retreating back of Fisher, had the same feeling. That was a face from his past somewhere. But where?

“Heath, hey Heath everything alright?” Nick looked at his brother with concern.

“Yeah no problem Nick” Heath reassured his brother. “Just a face that I can’t place. I’ve seen that guy from somewhere before but just can’t place where.”

“Well come on boy there’s fences that need mending.”

“Well Tim this is all looking rather good.” Jarrod commented as he entered the store “And I’ve already spotted a few things I wouldn’t mind buying.”

“Jarrod just place an order and I’ll have it filled within a few days. And for you, seeing how you’re a friend, I’ll even cut the price.”

“Now Tim I don’t want to take advantage of you.”

“Jarrod none taken, just think of it as a thank-you for helping getting this place going.”

Jarrod made a quick list of things he’d spotted. With the twins birthdays coming up soon this was indeed a stroke of luck.

“Tim, Mother asked this morning if you’d like to come out to the ranch and say have lunch with us tomorrow?”

“Thank Mrs Barkley very much and say I would be delighted.” Curtis smiled. This was just what he had been waiting for. A chance to look around the Barkley ranch and house.

“Right we’ll expect you about twelveish.”

Curtis just nodded.

Once Jarrod was out of sight Connors and Fisher emerged from the back room. They had heard every word.

“Things are falling into place nicely.” Curtis smiled again. “A change of plan, see if you can collect the last of the order tonight, then have the caravan ready and close to the Barkley lands tomorrow. See if you can find out the locations of as many lookouts, beauty spots on the Barkley range as you can, the information may come in handy. I’ll see if I can arrange for the special order to be filled at that time. Once all the orders are in place leave the area as quickly as you can. I’ll stay here a little longer and try to keep the Sheriff off your trail until you cross the county line.”

The sound of horse’s hooves put any further planning on hold.

“It’s the other two Barkley brothers. Look busy.”

“Boss I had a run in with the blonde one earlier.” Fisher told Curtis “And I’m sure that we’ve met before.”

“Alright get out the back and stay there. Connors stay with me.”

Curtis again picked up his stock list and Connors busied himself in the corner opening one the many boxes, most of them empty, that were stacked there.

Nicks spurs clinking on the wooden porch told both of them that the Barkley boys had entered the store.

“Nick, Heath come on in” Curtis greeted them “You just missed your brother.”

“Well thanks Tim.” Nick retuned the greeting. “This place is looking good.”

Nick picked up a rather expensive looking vase. Then his eye fell on the most beautiful jewellery box. Like Jarrod, Nick too was on the lookout for birthday gifts for his twin brother and sister.

Heath wandered over to the magnificent chess set laid out on one of the counters. A thought struck him. This would make the ideal gift for Jarrod. He and Jarrod had spent many hours playing since he first arrived at the ranch. Jarrod had taught him the basics of the game and encouraged Heath to improve his skills by playing against him on a regular basis. Not that there was anything wrong with the set they currently played with, but this set was a cut above the rest. Hand carved in a knights and dragons theme it would look impressive in the library.

“How much would a set like this set me back?” He inquired.

“Now that’s a one of a kind set.” Curtis explained, “You’ll be looking at about one hundred dollars. Expensive I know but like I said it’s one of a kind.”

“Sold.”

“Shall I wrap it for you or will you take it as is?” This sale had caught Curtis by surprise. The chess set like everything else in the store was a front.

“I’ll take it as is.”

“Right” Curtis recovered “I’ll just pack up the pieces.

Connors shot his boss a look of surprise. The idea was to get orders, not that they would ever be filled, not sell the stuff they used as window dressing.

“There you are Heath” Curtis handed over the package.

Once Nick and Heath were out of earshot Connors confronted Curtis.

“I thought the plan was to only use this as window dressing.”

“It was, but how was I to know that the blonde Barkley would take a fancy to it. I couldn’t just refuse to sell it to him that would have made them both suspicious.” He paced the floor. “I’ll get it back while you’re delivering the orders.”

Heath found Jarrod in the study finishing up some paper work.

“I um well I” Heath began nervously after Jarrod had invited him and asked to take a seat. “ Well I just wanted to say thank-you for all you’ve done over the past year and to give you this.” He handed over the box containing the chess set.

It took Jarrod a moment or two to recover and open the box.

“Heath you’re my brother, this really wasn’t necessary.” Jarrod laid the board out on the desk and proceeded to unpack the pieces. “Heath it’s magnificent but I really can’t.”

“Yes you can Jarrod, please just take it.”

“Alright but on one condition.”

“What?” Was the cautious question.

“That after dinner you help me break it in.”

“Done.” The two brothers smiled at each other.

Later that night while Jarrod and Heath played their first game on Jarrods new chess set. Kurt Connors and Burt Fisher were out filling the last of the orders.

With the same ease that they collected the O’Hara sisters, they kidnapped a young widow by the name of Sara Carlton who worked in the Stockton Bakery and the nineteen-year-old assistant cook at the local diner, Hattie Green. Now all they had to do was hold on and hope that Curtis arranged to fill the special order quickly.

“Tim, come in” Jarrod greeted his friend. “Can I offer you a pre-lunch drink?”

“Thank-you Jarrod, a sherry.” Curtis turned to Victoria and bowed “Mrs Barkley thank-you for the invitation. Miss Audra, Miss Heather. Mrs Barkley what a lovely home you have.”

“Thank-you Mr Curtis, please allow me to show around.” Victoria took the offered arm and guided Curtis toward the entrance hall.

While they were in the study Curtis made careful notes on where the entrance and exits where.

“Jarrod I must say that that chess set certainly looks right at home in here, like it was made for the place.”

“Yes with all the books and things it does.” Jarrod quietly clapped Heath on the shoulder and smiled at this younger brother. No gift he had received or would ever receive from Heath would mean more to him then that set.

“And Jarrod mentioned that you and your husband built this?” Curtis was at his charming best.

“Yes we did” Victoria glanced toward the portrait of her husband.

“Lunch is served Mrs Barkley” Silas announced.

After a delicious lunch of soup, roast beef and vegetables followed by cream sponge. Victoria and the girls excused themselves and left the men to talk. Victoria took her sewing into the garden. Heather and Audra went upstairs to change. They were going to take a ride and hunt out local plant species for Audra’s talk to the orphans the next day.

Nick spotted the pair has they came down the stairs and were heading for the stable.

“And just where do you two think you are going?” He confronted them.

“Nick, don’t worry, we’re not leaving Barkley land.” Audra reassured him.

“We’re just taking Silverfire Lady out to Mystic Gully, Meadows Creek and Watchers Lookout.” Heather laid out the girls travel plans. “Mother knows and has already approved. We should be back before dinner.”

“I still think you should stay in the house until this creep is caught.”

“Nick we’re big girls and we’ll be on Barkley land. Who else besides the family will know where we are?” Heather pointed out. “What do you think they’re doing? Watching the house?”

Nick just shook his head. Jarrod and Heath smiled. It wasn’t often that Nick got out argued.

Curtis listened and tried to not be seen to take too much interest. He memorized the locations the girls had listed. His associates would know the exact areas where the girls would be going to and when to collect the order.

“Sorry about that Tim, our sisters mean so much to us and with kidnappers in the area we just want to protect them.”

“Perfectly understandable Jarrod, if I had two sisters as pretty as yours I’d want to keep them safe too.” He looked at the clock as it struck. “ Look Jarrod I hate to eat and run but I’ve got some things to do in town and I need to get the telegraph office before it closes.”

“No problem Tim.”

“Thank-you for a wonderful meal and lively company. And Jarrod be sure to thank your mother for me.” Curtis and Jarrod shook hands. Jarrod handed Curtis his coat and hat.

“Gentlemen thank-you’ Curtis departed.

“Well Jarrod, Heath and me got fences to finish, care to join us?” Nick ribbed Jarrod knowing full what the answer would be.

“Brother Nick as much as I’d like to join you both I’ve got work to do in the study, but I’ll be with you in spirit.”

“Spirits don’t help mend fences.”

After leaving the Barkley’s Tim Curtis headed for the rendezvous point arranged earlier. Waiting there like they were supposed to be were Connors and Fisher.

“Okay the locations are Mystic Gully, Meadows Creek and Watchers Lookout. You know what you have to do?”

“When did the target leave?” Connors asked.

“About fifteen minutes ago. Luck for us by carriage and not on horseback.”

“Information we got from some of the hands says the best place to make a grab would be Meadows Creek. Isolated, out of the way and close to the main road.” Fisher added. “Which one do we grab?”

“Both of them.”

Audra and Heather were having a good afternoon. They had collected some good samples for Audra’s talk. Audra had persuaded Heather to join her at the orphanage, and was half way to talking Heather into giving drawing lessons to the children.

“Audra I don’t know.”

“Come on you’ll enjoy it and so will the children. And who knows the next Heather maybe there.”

“ I dare say, but children Audra I’m not good with children that’s your field.”

“They’ll behave, it’s not like they’re uncontrollable monsters.”

“Well..” Heather hesitated.

“Come on it’ll be fun, for me please?” Audra jumped on the hesitation.

“Alright” Heather agreed.

She pulled on the reins bringing Silverfire Lady to a halt by the creek. The whole area was covered with wildflowers. Heather also wanted some samples for her drawings. The flowers here were far better then what they had found at Mystic Gully, well at least for her purposes.

From behind a clump of trees Connors and Fisher watched the sisters. They were both damn pretty girls, no wonder Curtis had selected them for the special order. The two looked at each other. The time had come.

Once again bandana’s covered noses and mouths. The cloths in their right hands were soaked in chloroform. They crept out of their hiding place and towards the unsuspecting girls.

Both girls were too engrossed in finding the samples they both wanted that neither paid much attention to their surrounds. Silverfire Lady’s whinnying and pawing the ground attracted Heather’s attention.

“What’s wrong girl?” Heather crossed to where Fire was standing nibbling the grass.

An arm snaked around her waist.

“Audra run.” She called.

Something cold was pressed to her nose and mouth. Everything went black.

“I still believe we should’ve kept Audra and Heather locked in the house,” Nick said to Heath as they worked on a section of the fence.

“Nick they’re big girls and would’ve gotten outta the house somehow. I wouldn’t put it past either of them at climb out a window if it meant goin’ for a ride.” Heath attached a piece of wire to one of the posts.

“How do we know that this creep isn’t watching the house making notes of their movements?”

Heath stopped what he was doing and looked far into the distance.

“Heath?” Nick questioned.

The phrase ‘making notes of their movements’ triggered something in his memory. Then it all came back. The man outside the general store, the town where he’d worked as a sheriff’s deputy and another kidnapping.

“Nick it’s him?” Heath told his brother.

...Continued