Chapter Nine

Francis reached the open window first.

"Is he---?" Dulcey couldn't bring herself to say it.

"He escaped! He tied the sheets together and made a rope." Francis stuck his head out the window.

"But why?"

Francis shrugged.

"Do you think it had something to do with what was upsetting Samantha? Was he listening in to our conversation in the kitchen? Do you think---?" She paused and exchanged worried glances with Francis.

"He killed her!" The way Francis said it sounded so brutal.

"Oh, Francis. Do you truly think so?" But she knew it. It all made sense now. The Ashleys were, as she had earlier suspected, not a real family at all. And now…

"He's heading back to the farm!" Dulcey cried out in alarm. "Francis, Jim and MacGregor are there!" It was now apparent to both of them. The whole suicide scare was the Ashleys' way of getting the marshal and his friend down to the farm. "What do you think they'll do to them?" Dulcey thought aloud, but Francis didn't answer. He was already heading for the door.

"Francis, wait!"

He turned around to face her.

"I'm coming with you."

"It could be dangerous, Dulcey. If Kip killed Samantha---"

But Dulcey wouldn't have any of it. "I'm coming with and that's that!" She followed him out the door. "Of course, you'll have to lend me some pants a-and a shirt. We're in too much of a hurry for me to ride sidesaddle."

Francis looked doubtful, "Can you even ride?"

Dulcey paused. "Good enough."

"This is crazy…"

"Francis! Come on! Be quick! These are precious seconds we're working on here. We don't have the time to stall! Now do as I say!" As soon as she was satisfied that Francis was heading to his room for the extra clothes. Dulcey (though she knew it was terrible indecent of her) began tearing off her shoes and stockings in great haste. She was barefoot when Francis returned she quickly sent him to the livery and hastily ran to her room to change.

She took a quick hopeful moment to glance out her window. Kip's horse was gone. Dulcey's frown deepened. He was headed back to the farm. She only prayed that she and Francis would get there in time to save Macgregor and the marshal.

* * *

Cold.

It was the only word Samantha could think of, as she lay alone in the darkness. She was cold. Terribly cold. Her clothes were wet and her skin was chilled and clammy. She felt as if death was on her doorstep. She had to get out of there. But where was there and how would she escape?

"Kip?" Her voice sounded small, raspy and distant, even to her. Her throat was dry and she licked her lips, trying to moisten them. She paused when she heard a sound. "Kip?" She tried again. Something furry brushed against her arm.

She tried to scream, but nothing came out and her eyes soon became accustomed to the darkness and she could see the sluggish outline of a mouse as it walked past her face. Oh, Samantha hated mice! She felt like screaming, but then remembered she couldn't. She didn't have the energy.

Where was she? What had happened? She tried hard to remember what she could last remember. She had been in her bedroom. A small sound had awoken her and then--- she couldn't remember. The memory was hazy. Everything was hazy. It was getting more and more difficult to think.

A sound came above her, like footsteps. "Kip?" She tried again, but this time only a small squeak came out. Kip! Where was he? Had he realized she was missing? Was he looking for her? Would he search for her here? Wherever here was.

She sighed and it is then she remembered. Kip. Yes, Kip! It was he who had brought her here. It was he who had snuck into her bedroom and it was he who had tried to choke the life out of her. Had he thought he succeeded? Had he left her here for dead?

The footsteps came again. This time it appeared that there were three people. She heard muffled voices; one of which she swore was Reilly's though she couldn't be sure. They were coming from above her. Yes… she was sure of it! She must be in the basement. Kip had left her under the house. Did he know she still lived? Probably not. He had wanted her dead. And now, all she could do was wait. For what, she wasn't sure. Death? Rescue? She closed her eyes again and decided: whichever one came first.

* * *

Dulcey and Francis rode hastily through the night, neither one ahead of the other, for they were both as just as anxious about the sight that would meet them once they reached the Ashleys' farm. They didn't talk. Didn't find any need to. It was quite apparent what was occurring.

Actually, Dulcey was just surprised that it had been Francis all along who was to turn into her confidant. He had believed her. Well, not all the way. He was still convinced that Samantha Ashley (or whatever her real last name was) was not capable of any malice, however, his views on Mr. Ashley and Kip had changed.

It was nearly sun up when they spotted the Ashley farm. They both stopped their horses and assessed the scene slowly.

"They must be inside." Whispered Francis, looking at the large farmhouse below.

Dulcey nodded in agreement, though she wasn't sure why he was whispering. She could see MacGregor's and Marshall Crown's horses tied up outside. But where was Kip's? "Francis," Dulcey whispered back to her friend, "I don't see Kip's horse."

"He probably left it in the barn. Come on, let's get closer." He started off towards the farmhouse and Dulcey followed hesitantly. They left their horses out behind the barn and then she followed Francis over to the side of the house. He peered around the corner of the building and into a window.

"Do you see anything?"

"No. Now quiet down."

Dulcey waited patiently as Francis continued to peer through the downstairs window. It is then, that she heard voices.

"I-I just don't understand it, marshal. She was here a minute ago." It was Mr. Ashley.

Dulcey listened closer and realized the voices were coming from a bedroom upstairs. She stepped back and noticed a window was open on the second floor. She hastily motioned to Francis to join her in the shadow of a tree, where they could hear the conversation more clearly.

"Well, where is she then?" Dulcey froze as she heard Marshall Crown speak. He and MacGregor were indeed inside. She and Francis exchanged worried glances.

"I told you, Marshal. I don't know."

"You were the only one at this farm between the time Kip came to my office and Mac and I got out here. Now what did you do with the body?"

"Nothing Marshal, I swear!"

This is queer. Dulcey thought. No body? Did that mean Samantha Ashley was still alive? She wasn't sure. But if there was no body…

"Hands up!"

Dulcey's thoughts were interrupted as another voice was added to the conversation in the upstairs bedroom.

"Kip? Good timin'. These guys were starting to get nosy."

Kip? Dulcey exchanged glances with Francis. So he was here. But what were they planning on doing to Macgregor and the marshal?

"Alright, now both of you throw your guns to the ground! Come on, quick!"

Dulcey and Francis heard the two solid clunks as the guns hit the floor.

"Alright, now turn around."

"Mighty cowardly shootin' a man in the back." Dulcey heard Marshall Crown say.

"Don't lecture me on bravery, Mr. Crown!"

Oh! That was it! Dulcey couldn't take it anymore. She knew she and Francis would have to work fast if they were going to help their friends. If they waited any longer, Dulcey was sure both MacGregor and the Marshal would perish. "Francis!" She whispered urgently to her friend, "We've got to do something!"