Matt quickly called a meeting at the Long Branch. He hoped that anyone in the saloon would be willing to help, and of course they were. There was a lot of table chat as Matt stood by the swing doors.
"This is awful," Kitty sighed looking over to the town doctor.
"That's putting it mildly," Doc said as he watched the marshal as he swiped his right hand quickly across his moustache. He scanned the room trying to get a read on the people in the saloon. Many of them were angry at the raiders for their mere existence and others who suffered damage to their livelihoods.
"I want your attention," Matt's voice filled the room. "As you all know we had raiders come through Dodge last night. And we brought four back to face trial. Three others died and so did one man from Buckner," Matt said looking over to Sheriff Fuller and the other two men. Fuller had his wounded leg propped up on a chair. Matt could tell Fuller was equally eager to end this nightmare.
Matt continued, "However, two of the wanted men got way. I believe that they have taken Wilbur Jonas hostage," he stated with his voice low and full of anger. "I need your help to locate the men and Jonas. Those of you here that I deputized, are still deputized until this is over and the men are caught and Jonas is safe," Matt added.
A murmur arose from the crowd.
Matt put his right hand up to try and regain composure of the group. "There's an added problem," he stated. "With this heavy rain tonight, we'll have trouble tracking any movement from the general store," he said.
"From as far as I can make out, Matthew," the hill man's twang was rich, "They took ol' Jonas out through the alley," he furled out in front of himself.
Kitty leaned to Doc, "This really isn't looking good," she whispered. Doc shook his head slightly in agreement. Doc placed his hand on the saloon owner's and gently squeezed it. "I better talk to Ellen," he said as he looked over to Matt. The marshal nodded as he knew the doctor's intentions.
"Come on," Festus motioned. "Let's find these scamps and Mister Jonas," he motioned. "Just mind yer foot prints," he added as the men left the saloon, including the two men from Buckner.
Kitty was left with Sheriff Fuller and Sam Noonan. She sighed and looked over to Sam. "They'll find Jonas," he tried to smile.
"I sure hope so and before it's too late," Kitty felt hopeless. The best she could offer was drinks and coffee for the search party through the rainy night until there was news of Wilbur Jonas' whereabouts.
The three men reached the abandoned mill, which was well outside of Dodge. The mill was a thriving business for years until the lumber business gave way to cattle. Both Rusland and Buck found it a suitable place to stash the store owner as they had also stored other supplies there for their raid on Dodge.
Rusland pulled his horse to a stop and dismounted. The rain seemed heavier as Wilbur Jonas blinked way the water streaming down his face, "Get down will you!" Rusland ordered as Buck climbed down off his horse.
Jonas hesitated; he was still on the horse. He weighed heavily the odds of making a run for it, but figured in the end he'd be shot in the back. Rusland noted the looked on the store owner's face as Jonas conceded and stepped down from the animal, "You made a wise decision," he growled and pushed Jonas toward the building, "Get in there," he pushed harder. Jonas almost lost his footing, but remained standing. Slowly he walked to the open door. There was a faint light from within.
Doc knew it was late in the night, but he couldn't let Ellen not know about what was happening. There were a few lights on in the house, which looked warm from the damp rainy night.
Things raced through Doc's mind as he tried to think of what to tell Ellen of the events leading up to the here and now.
Ellen reached the door, "Who's there?"
"It's me, Ellen. Doc Adams," the doctor said in a gentle tone.
Ellen froze at the door. She didn't want to open it after what happened the night before.
"Mrs Jonas, I need to talk to you," Doc said as he leaned toward the door.
Ellen's hand shook as he unlatched the deadbolt and opened the door, "What's happened, Doc?" tears were already streaming down her cheeks.
Doc stepped into the house and closed the door. He guided Ellen over to the sofa and sat down beside her and began to fill her in on what was happening. The older woman became distraught and buried her face into the doctor's shoulder. All Doc could offer at the moment was a gentle caring hug, "Now, now, Ellen. We can't get ahead of ourselves. Matt and Festus have a search team out looking for Wilbur. They'll find him and you know that," he tried to smile. There was no indication from Ellen that she understood or agreed – she continued to cry, wrapping her arms tightly around the man.
"How about I take you to the Long Branch where Kitty can talk to you while we wait," Doc urged. He heard Ellen swallow and she slowly nodded. She had no desire to stay in the house with the two men on the loose and her husband missing. Slowly Ellen Jonas released her arms from around Doc, and wiped any visible tears away, "Let me get my handbag and hat," she said in a hushed voice.
Doc stood as she did and waited. He felt bad for the Jonas, in fact he himself fought to moist eyes as he watch Ellen gather a few things and blow out the lanterns before she met the doctor at the door. "Thank you for this, Doc," she tried to smile.
Wilbur Jonas hated being tied up – there'd been too may times in the past and few came with a good ending. But he hated being gagged the worst. Jonas rolled his head sideways after Buck had tied his hands behind a post and bound his feet.
The only light in the room was an oil lamp that sat on the little keg near the store owner. Jonas tried to think through the situation and tried to calculate what was happening back in Dodge.
He watched the two men as the prepared to leave the mill with their message to the marshal. Jonas want nothing to do with being a bargaining chip with the two raiders. The store owner saw the men leave and close the door. With a huff he leaned his head back and struggled with the hemp rope as it cut into his wrists. He was getting more angry by the minute at everything about his situation.
With a huff he looked around and spotted an old chisel near his left hand – it was barely visible in the dust on the floor. With a little manoeuvring he was able to grab it with his right hand and draw it close to his hands. Now the process of cutting the ropes. Every now and then he flinched at he jabbed himself in the wrist.
As the store owner seem to gain a little more with the chisel he began to wriggle and what he didn't realize at the time that the lantern sat upon the keg of blasting powder. With several more attempts, Jonas inadvertently hit the keg with his feet enough to topple the lantern. It was then he could read the black print on the side. The oil lamp flame began to spread. Jonas' heart skipped a beat as he fought the ropes on his wrists. Jonas' eyes were wide in fright and panic.
Rusland and Buck rode past the Long Branch and tossed the message through the open door. The rock landed at the foot of Sheriff Fuller.
Fuller picked up the rock and read the message, "They want an exchange," he stated as he handed the letter to Kitty just as Doc and Ellen entered the saloon. Kitty stepped quickly to Ellen' side and guided her to a chair. Kitty then looked at Doc – they were both at a loss for words.
