Back Story 5


It was later that night that Bill called Matt, Colin, Rob, Jay, Luke and Kathleen to come to town and they had a discussion with Josie and Abigail about what had happened with McCallister in the backyard earlier that afternoon.

"When I pointed the rife at him, I was sure I was going to have to pull the trigger." Abigail explained, a little shaken. "I've never been so frightened of someone in my entire life."

"Thank God it didn't have to come to that." Josie said as she stood up and grabbed another cup of coffee. "It really would have been awful to have you had to of done that, Abigail. He would have got you arrested for attempted murder."

"I don't understand it." Bill said, quite unsure what to make of the situation. "He's paid off Mike Granger's debts. He seemed like a."

Abigail cut him off. "That changes nothing, Bill."

"I'm so sorry, about all this." Rachel spoke up, feeling a mite embarrassed.

"Oh, Rachel, please."

"Abigail, your upset, let Rachel speak for herself." Bill gently reprimanded.

Abigail turned to Rachel. "You must show them."

Rachel gasped. "No."

"They're my friends, Rachel. Trust me please. I didn't understand until I saw. Let them see."

Bill and Matt looked at each other, the boys doing the same, wondering what Abigail was talking about.

"You have to, for David." Abigail encouraged. Rachel finally gave in and turned so that Abigail could unbutton her blouse. Gently Abigail pulled Rachel's hair to the side and unbuttoned it far enough for them to see. Then she moved Rachel around.

Rachel's back had quite a few deep stripes from a whip across her shoulder, and they were badly infected and weeping. She turned back around and faced the startled family. "I wont let him do this to my son."

Matt walked over to her. "I think it might be best for you to come and stay at Langara until this is over. McCallister wont try anything while we're around." He said, looking at his boys. "Emily, you and Colin and the kids can come stay out here too. There's no knowing what he could try to do."

Rachel bit her lip, then turned to Abigail. "Do you think I should?"

Abigail nodded. "Yes. It will be safer for us all."


Linsk walked onto the porch of the boarding house where Granger and McCallister were waiting for him. "Your wife has gone out to a place called "Langara" Josie Blackwell's place. Matthew McGregor lives there with his family and they take care of it."

"Has she really?" McCallister asked meanly. "Are the men staying there?"

Mr. Linsk nodded. "There's Matt." He pointed. "He's down there with his son, Rob and Josie."

McCallister watched as they rode to the store, Matt pulling the wagon to a stop, and Josie dismounting her horse.

Granger spoke up. "He tried to help me. I don't feel right about causing them trouble, not with the sheriff still in town."

"I've taken care of the sheriff, he's conveniently had to leave town. I'm not looking for trouble, Mike." He turned to him. "But what am I to do? They've taken my boy. How many children have you got?"

"Five." He said after a pause.

"And if they were taken from you, would you roll over and go to sleep?" He watched as Granger shook his head. "Let's hope McGregor feels the same way."


Josie walked over to Matt and Rob. "Have you guys fixed the fence in the south pasture yet?" She asked as she patted Rob's horse.

"Nope." Matt replied as got down off the wagon. "We're going to work on it tomorrow." He kicked the bags waiting for him. "We came in to get the shipment of oats you ordered."

"That's fine. Thanks Matt. Rob, when your finished, do you want to come looking for strays with Montana and me?" Josie asked as she turned to lead the horse to the water trough.

Rob sighed. "Sorry Josie, I have work back at the ranch, another time perhaps." He said as he got down off the wagon.

"Okay, fine with me. Come on, Comet." She said as she led the stallion away.

"Right, let's get these loaded." Matt said as he passed the first bag to Rob. It didn't take long for them to load the wagon, then Matt quickly paid Mr. Yost the money. As he walked back out, Rob had tied the bags down.

"Are we heading straight back?"

"Yep."

"Mr. McGregor." McCallister said as he walked over to them. I'd appreciate a few moments of your time."

Matt walked down the stairs to him. "Well, its not going to do you much good, McCallister."

"So, you're a successful foreman and horse breeder. A leader. We're men forged on the same anvil. We should understand each other."

Matt wondered where this was going. "Yeh, I'm listening."

"My son stands to inherit an empire. Shipping, newspapers, mining, banks. I'v a duty to teach him the business."

Matt nodded. "Regardless of who gets hurt."

"What would you do? See everything you've fought for lost because of a woman's fairy-tale view of life."

"Rachel is a guest of our home, and our family. She can stay as long as she likes." Matt turned and went to walk to the wagon.

"David's my firstborn. Are we so different?"

"Yeh," Matt nodded. "I'd like to think so. I've never whipped my wife." He said as a parting comment, much to Mr. Lisnk's surprise, who was hiding behind the side of the building.

Matt hopped on the wagon. "Let's go, Rob." He left McCallister glaring after him.


Josie rode up later in the day to see how the men were going in fixing up the stock yards on Baker's flat. Rob saw her riding up and couldn't resist being cheeky. "Have you come to help?" He asked as he and Colin lifted a log together and took it over the fence they were building.

"Nope." Josie said as she dismounted and led Comet to a section of finished fence and tied him to it. "I've been teaching this one a thing or two. I've brought lunch for you all." She turned to Rob. "But you're not getting any." She teased.

"Haha, very funny." Rob replied as he and Colin lifted the log into position.

"Rachel and Josh are over there." Colin pointed. "He's been bugging her to take him for a walk."

Josie laughed. "I'll go see them in a minute. But first I'm helping myself to the kettle." She said as she walked over to the fire.

"Hope your not too thirsty." Colin teased. "Rob's coffee tastes like tar."

"Nope, I've brought my own." She said as she dumped out the contents. "I'll make myself a decent batch thanks very much."

Colin and Rob walked over to the fire, Colin watching out for Rachel and Josh as he sat down on the log next to Josie.

Rob noticed it as he poured himself a cup of coffee, knowing what Colin was thinking. "She'll be alright."

"I don't think it's over, yet." Colin replied, quietly still concerned about McCallister.

Josh and Rachel were a little away from where the men were working, lying in the grass playing with David.

"There." Rachel said as she finished a flower crown she had been working on. "What do you think?"

Josh took it and placed it on Rachel's head. "You look like a fairy princess."

Rachel laughed. "And if I could grant you three wishes, what would they be, kind sir?"

Josh sat and thought for a little bit. "How about a walk to the pond, like you promised."

Rachel sat up and picked up David. "Alright, come on then."

"Wishes don't really come true, do they?"

"Sometimes." Rachel said as they walked to the pond. "I bet you couldn't have wished for nicer people to take care of you."

"Neither could you."

"Neither could I." Rachel repeated.

As they got to the pond, Josh ran ahead. "Look, Rachel, a frog."

Rachel looked down, then she heard hoofbeats fast approaching. She began to run back to where the men were working.

"Stay. You'll hear me out, woman." McCallister shouted as his horse got closer.

"Tell the men, run." She quickly encouraged Josh, and he took off to get help.

"That will do you no good. Collect your things. I expect you and David to be in town by morning. Understood?" He said, quite bluntly, then looked to make sure Mr. Linsk and Granger were backing him up.

"Understand this Thomas." Rachel shouted back. "I didn't leave you because of your infidelities, or your beatings, I'm leaving you so that I can raise David to bear no resemblance of you."

"I shall be returning to Vancouver tomorrow, with my son. Your place is with us. I shall do my best to forgive you."

Rachel shook her head. "I'm never going back." Then she turned as she heard more horses coming, the three men with Josie at the front at a fast gallop. She gave a satisfied smile as Josie pulled her horse to a stop beside her.

"Do not cross me on this, Rachel. Or I'll destroy you and your protectors." McCallister threatened as he and his men turned around and galloped back into the scrub.

"You alright?" Josie asked as she dismounted.

"Yes. I'll be fine." Rachel replied, still shaking slightly.


"Well, when your husband leaves tomorrow, that will be the end of it." Matt said as they sat down to eat dinner with the family that night.

"Yes, I'm sure it will."

"Do you have any plans, Rachel?" Kathleen asked.

"I'm not sure what I'll do."

"Well, there's no rush, you've got all the time in the world." Emily handed her the plate of potatoes.

"I feel better already." Rachel smiled as she handed the plate onto Josie.

"Listen, ah." Rob began. "Montana's brought a new Andalusian stallion, she's invited us all over to take a look. She reckons it's pretty special."

"Oh, I'm busy at the printery. Maybe another time." Kathleen apologized.

"Well, I'll come." Danni said excitedly.

"Danni, we promised Josh we'd bake some cakes with him, remember?" Emily reminded.

"Oh, scratch Danni then."

"Well, I wouldn't mind having a look at him, what about you, Colin, Josie?"

"Yeh, well we can't let Rob go on his own, now can we?" Colin smiled at Josie. "You coming?"

Josie nodded. "Sure."


As Matt, Rob, Colin and Josie rode on the path to Montana's the next morning, they failed to see McCallister and his men hiding in the trees as they rode past. Mr. Linsk motioned for them to turn and they rode towards the house.

Rachel gave David a kiss as she placed him in his crib on the porch, "Watch him, Lassie." She instructed the collie, who promptly took her place beside the crib, then she went back inside the house for a moment.


"Everything alright?" Emily asked as she saw her walk into the living room.

"Forgot my book." Rachel said as she picked it up.

"Oh, I'm going into town shorty, is there anything I can get you?"

"I'm fine." Rachel replied as she went back out the door. She heard a dog whimpering, but took no notice of it as she walked back to where she'd left David, then, as she looked down into the crib, she saw that David was gone, and Lassie was lying on the floor, with blood dripping from her head.

She looked up and saw her husband and his men galloping away, the baby in his arms. "No!" Rachel flew down the stairs and jumped onto the horse that Danni had left tied up. "Yah." She dug her heels into the mare's side and galloped off after them.

Emily heard the commotion and ran out. She saw the empty crib and Lassie on the ground, wounded, then she realised what had happened. "Danni!"


The black stallion reared as Montana took off his lead rope. "Midnight, meet the McGregors."

"What a beauty." Josie said as she looked at the horse. "Still no where as good as Thowra." She teased as she gave her favourite stallion a pat.

Montana rolled her eye's. It was no secret that Josie thought her stallion was the best around, because he was. "You like him huh?"

"He lookd great." Rob replied, quite inmpresed. "He's in good condition. He's even got your hair."

The stallion reared again, his curly mane and tail flying in the breeze. "Come on." Montana laughed, "Is that all you can think of that's good about him? Or me?"

Matt chucked, then he heard a horse stop behind him.

"Dad!" Danni shouted as she stopped the horse. "Dad! They've taken the baby. Rachel and Emily have gone after them."

Rob, Colin, and Montana ran for their horses, Josie quickly jumping on Thowra who was next to her, Thowra catching Josie's excitement and he began to dance in place.

"You head back to Langara." Matt said as he got on his own horse.

"But dad." Danni complained.

"You heard me." He replied as they galloped off towards town, taking the forest shortcut.


Rachel pulled her horse to a stop infront of the boarding house. She looked up at the balcony, her husband standing there holing her son. McCallister gave her an evil grin.


Emily ran into the café, not bothering to close the door. "Abigail, where's Bill?"

"He had to go out of town? Why?"

"You need to come with me right now"

Abigail stood up. "What's wrong?"

"McCallister."


Rachel was about to get into the coach when Abigail and Emily ran up. "No, Rachel, you can't." Emily shouted to her from across the street

"Get in." McCallister commanded, his face empty of emotion.

"You don't have to do this." Abigail said as she stopped beside Emily.

Rachel sighed, "I have no choice."

"Rachel, please." Emily pleaded.

"Shut up!" McCallister yelled as he punched Emily in the stomach.

Emily fell to the ground, tears in her eyes from the pain.

Abigail helped Emily get up. "You alright?"

Emily clutched her stomach as Abigail supported her.

"Take her away. She's already caused more trouble than she's worth." McCallister looked up and saw the group of people riding towards them. He realized that since Bill now had back up, he would probably try to arrest him, so he looked around for something to defend himself with, and grabbed a stock whip that was hanging on the saddle of the horse behind him

Colin saw Abigail holding Emily, and he jumped off his horse before it had even stopped. "Emily?" He ran over to her, and she collapsed in his arms.

"Right'oh, McGregor. My wife's returning to me of her own free will. Isn't that right?" He snarled at her.

Rachel said nothing, but stood staring at her husband.

"Tell him!"

"Forget it, McCallister." Matt said as he walked closer. "There's no way I'm going to let you take David and Rachel away from here."

"You'll beg for her to leave." He cracked the whip out and hit Matt across the cheek with the lash.

Josie and Rob got out their guns, Josie cocking her own weapon and pointing it at McCallister. "I don't want to have to do this."

"Wait up, Josie. You don't need to be up for murder. I'll handle it" He started at McCallister. "Don't do this, McCallister." He warned. McCallister flung out the whip again, but this time Matt put his arm out and it wrapped around his wrist, then he yanked it out of McCallister's hand.

Mr. Linsk got out his own gun then, and Rob cocked his weapon and pointed it at him, making him think twice.

"Now, it's over McCallister. So let them go." He motioned to Rachel and David.

McCallister looked around. Now the entire town had gathered to watch the spectacle. "A hundred dollars to the man who takes that whip off McGregor." He looked around, expecting someone to take him up on the offer.

"There's more than one McGregor here." Colin said, for the first time in his life hating someone as much as he did McCallister right now.

"And their friends." Montana said as she cocked her own pistol, to make the point more clear.

"Five hundred." McCallister offered. "Granger, do you want to be a rich man?"

Mike looked at his wife shaking her head, then made up his mind, and that was to do nothing.

"No one here wants your money, McCallister." Matt said as he looked at the towns people. "Rachel."

Rachel smiled, then walked over to Emily, away from her husband.

Matt looked back at McCallister. The man took his gaze away and got into his coach, and he had some parting words for them. "Here this. All of you. On this day you stood between me and my wife son. For that, I shall return, and take this place down stick my stick, until not even it's memory is preserved." His driver whipped the team, and they left the town….

A few weeks later...


It was about a month later when Montana rode into town to see if the freight wagon had arrived. She saw Rob asleep on a couple of wheat bags and decided to have a little fun. As quietly as she could, she dismounted her horse and snuck up the stairs next to him. She pinched his nose shut and waited.

Rob woke up with a start and Montana jumped back. "Oh."

"Sweet dreams?" She teased.

Rob sighed. "They were until you came along."

"You know, its great to see you working so hard." She helped him stand up.

"I've been up since four this morning, mending fences. With no help from Josie either. She's probably off somewhere still asleep too, leaving me to do all the work. I had to bring a mob of horses in down here for her to train this morning and she asked me to see if her new saddles arrived on the freight wagon. It was supposed to be here two hours ago." He looked down the road for the wagon.

"You know, there could be a tree or something across the road. It blew a howling gale last night." She replied as they passed a small group of people waiting at the depo.

"Are you riding back today?"

"Later, Josie want me to help with one of her colts."

"I'll ride back with you."

"Oh, I'm not sure when I'll be leaving."

"That's alright, I'm not tied to anytime."

"It might be late.

"I can wait."

"Why don't we just, ah see how it goes."

"No point waiting, Miss Hale, no freight wagon today." Mr Yost said as he walked over to them.

"You don't know why?" Rob asked.

"All they said was that it was cancelled. No explanations given." He walked back to the mercantile.

Montana sighed. "I'm supposed to have feed coming for my calves on that wagon."

"The freight wagon has been delayed before."

"Yeh, buts its always arrived." Rob said, then he saw his father. "I'll see you around, Montana."


"Its not my fault." Katie explained. "Mr. Jenkins. I told you yesterday."

"Well, I can't keep accounts without ledgers." Mr. Jenkins protested, unaware that Emily and Rachel had walked into the store.

"I do not understand why the order has not arrived."

"Would you like me to contact them? Three weeks is a bit much."

"Oh, no." Katie said as she closed the book. "I'll get my father to contact them. He'll find out why they haven't arrived."

"Thank you Katie, I do appreciate your help."

"Your welcome." She replied as he walked out the door.

Emily walked over to her. "Hello, Katie."

"Good morning, Emily, morning Rachel."

"I placed an order for some cloth a few weeks ago, has that come in yet?" Emily asked as she placed the groceries she was buying on the bench.

"Not yet."

"Its fine, I can wait."

"Oh, you are very kind, but it is not fine. You see, we ordered once, twice, three times. No cloth, no ledgers, no hard-ware. Noting is coming when it should."

"I'm sure there's an explanation. They'll send it soon."

"They must. If we have no stock, we have no customers. You don't need a pen and paper to figure that out." Katie replied, a little worried.


Kathleen was walking out of the store a little while later when Abigail walked past and saw her. "Bad news?" She asked, concerned.

"Oh, more annoying than anything. I've just been told their no news print for at least a month. The paper mills the only supplier in the state. Unless I import, and that could take at least six months."

Rachel and Emily joined the conversation. "Has this happened before?"

Kathleen shook her head. "No."

"Why now do you think?"

"Well, I don't know. Maybe their understocked or theirs been a fire. It doesn't say." Kathleen looked at the telegram again.

Rachel looked at Abigail. "It's Thomas."

"Your husband?" Abigail was unsure of what she meant.

"There could be a dozen explanations." Emily tried to console her friend.

"It's the way he works. I've seen it often enough, I'm sure its him."

"Your being silly, Rachel. Thomas is gone, forget about him."

Behind them, the stage pulled to a stop. "Ladies and Gents, before you all disperse, I've been asked to tell you all that this is the last coach from Cape Fullerton to Hope Valley." The townspeople walked over to the coach. "I'm happy to take anyone back tonight to Cape Fullerton, but after that, you'll have to make your own arrangements."

"You can't be serious, who's going to bring the mail then?" Mr Yost asked, not believing what he'd just heard.

Abigail spoke up. "What about the other towns in the district?"

"I haven't been given any details."

Mr. Yost walked over to Bill as he rode back into town. "Bill, did you know about this? First the freight wagon doesn't arrive and now there's no stagecoach."

"Yes," Katie spoke up. "We have been having delays with services for weeks." The people gathered began to talk among there selves.

"Hold it." Bill asked for silence. "Who said the service is being cut?"

"Well, it's not by my choice. I'm out of a job until the line's reopened. If it does."

"Do you know why?"

"Mystery to me. Like I said, I'm willing to take anyone back tonight, I'll be here at five."

Rachel saw her husband's accountant get out of the stage, and she knew that she and the town were in for more trouble.


Rob was walking past the boarding house when he saw a man nailing a notice to the doorframe. He looked at the notice. "When did this happen?"

"Oh, the new management's moving in today." The man replied.

"Excuse me." Rob said as he pulled off the notice and walked across the street. "Abigail?"

She turned to him. "Yes, Rob?"

"We've got a problem." He handed the notice to her and she read it. Then she handed it to Kathleen and Bill.

"Is this something I should know about?" Rachel asked as she walked over.

"Oh, its just this stagecoach business." Bill lied.

"May I look?" Rachel asked, and Kathleen handed to paper to her. "My husband's brought the boarding house. I knew he'd come back."

Abigail, Josie and Rachel were walking to the Café when McCallister rode through town, Rachel's smile fading as she saw him. Granger saw him, then Bill and Colin came out of the sheriff's office and watched as his driver pulled up in front of the boarding house.

"Mr. McCallister." His account said as he opened the door for him.

"You might as well stay in there, McCallister." Bill said as he came over and slammed the door shut, Rob and Colin backing him up. "I really didn't appreciate your trick in getting me away from town the last time you where here. There's nothing for you here."

"Your wrong there, Avery." McCallister bent down close to him. "I will get what I cam for. And if you know what's best, you won't stand in my way, or people will get hurt."

"Is that a threat, McCallister?"

"Take it as you like. Let's just say, it's a warning. Its just a matter of time."


That night, Abigail called a town meeting. "May I get your, attention, please?" The people kept talking, then a sharp whistle pierced the air.

"I think what Mayor Stanton means to say is that she wants silence." Josie butted in. "Go ahead, Mom."

"Now, the situation is this." Abigail began to pace across the front of the room. "The coach, freight wagon line and the paper mill have been brought outright. As well as the warehouses in Cape Fullerton used to supply the stores."

She was cut off by a person from the crowd. "Well I haven't worked all my life to see a person come in here and bleed us dry." A series of agreeing comments rose from those who were gathered there.

"Getting angry about it isn't going to help."

"What are we going to do without a coach service, or freight wagon?" another person shouted out.

"We've lived without a stage coach in the past." Abigail replied.

"Your they mayor, Abigail. Your supposed to be leading to town. What are you going to do about it?"

"I've gotten in touch with the atoritories, and I'm waiting for a reply."

"Where are we supposed to get our supplies while we wait?" Mr Yost asked.

"Well, for a little while, we may have to do without."

"Then how does my shop survive?" He persisted.

"Times might be tough for a while, but we've lived through though times before. Now what we need to do." She was cut off again by George Custer.

"He said he would tear this place down stick by stick."

"Now, don't tell me your frightened of just one man. McCallister has to face us all. Now, if we stand together, he can't win. What we have to do is formulate a plan."

"What have you got in mind, Abigail?" Mike Granger asked.

Rachel walked out of the meeting. The she started to walk to the boarding house to go back to her husband. "Oh, David, I'm so sorry."

Elizabeth ran out after her. "Rachel, where are you going?"

"All that talk in there, it won't do any good." She said as Elizabeth stopped her.

"You don't know that."

"Thomas won't stop until I go back."

"You're never going to stop being afraid if you don't stand up for what you believe in. You run away from him, you run back to him. You're always running." Elizabeth gently rubbed her hand on Rachel's shoulder. "Fight him, fight him for your own self-respect. We're all willing to. In the end, it's up to you."

"He'll never let me go."

Elizabeth looked into Rachel's eyes. "Then you should never give in."

Rachel nodded and they both walked back into the saloon.

Abigail was still talking. "So, we can make do until Tuesday, is that fine with everyone?" A series of agreeing comments rose from the crowd. "Ned, you've got enough stock till then?"

"I think so, Abigail."

"Good. Granger, can we count on you?"

"Corse you can."


"Did they talk about what they were going to do?" McCallister asked Granger later that night when they were alone in his room at the boarding house, planning his next moves.

"Yes, they did."

"And you took note?"

"I did." He handed the list to McCallister. "They're very angry, very determined."

"I wouldn't have expected otherwise." He opened the note. "What I'd like to know is how clever they are." Then he read it. "Not very. They have nothing else planned?"

"No." Granger rose to leave.

"Thankyou for your help. Your very thorough. I like that, Mr. Granger." He watched Mike leave.

"You're not going to make this a protraction visit, are you? Your business has already suffered." Mr. Rodcaster, the accountant commented after Mike had left.

"I'll be staying as long as it takes."

"Well, as your legal advisor, I suggest a cautious approach."

"Caution is for old women."

"It's what allows them to grow old. You must consider the legalities."

"You consider the legalities. I'll do the rest."