Redheads on the Loose: Flame Series #21

Chapter 10

Operation Rescue

The seat was two sizes too small for a man of Dillon's size, but he gave it a valiant try in his quest for comfort. He knew the train was covering fifty miles an hour, but it still felt as if they were traveling at a snail's pace.

The sun had relinquished its claim on this day, graciously allowing the night to rule in its place. Mounted along the wall, close to the ceiling, was a row of crystal globes. The porter came by, lighting the fancy kerosene lamps, illuminating the passenger coach. The contrasting light on the window, captured Matt's brooding reflection like a mirror.

Newly stared blindly at the marshal's glass image, without really seeing it. They were about eight hours into the trip and as of yet, neither of them had said a word. Leaving had been hard for both of them. The deputy blinked slowly, his vision still haunted by the images of those small faces. Hadley had just begun to adjust to her Daddy being in charge…

==OoOoO==

It hadn't taken her long to realize that she could manipulate him, much easier than momma; but now—daddy was leaving too! And taking Newie with him! No!

That little foot stomped angrily and tears flowed from those sapphire eyes. Doc had to literally pry little arms from around Newly's neck, just as he had done only minutes before with her Daddy. Sobbing cries for Daddy! and Newie! pierced the air, as the heartsick physician carried the little one from the room. The two men had looked at each other—not as fearless lawmen, but as a pair of traitors, breaking the heart of a baby girl.

"She'll stop crying." Cooper said, as he walked between his two heroes, to the hitching rail. "Me and Poppy will play with her. You'll bring them home—right?" Unlike his sister, Cooper tried to hide his tears by dropping his head.

If it had been choreographed, the unexpected move couldn't have been any more perfect, as each man took a knee in front of the boy. Matt was the one to lift the small face up to his. "You take care of things here. Okay?"

Cooper nodded silently and then leaned forward for a hug. "I love you, daddy."

Newly watched the giant man melt under the simple gesture. He felt the lump tighten in his own throat, as his heart twisted into a knot, knowing that his turn was next. Tear-filled eyes suddenly turned to face him. "I love you too, Newly."

==OoOoO==

In a sudden move, the deputy cleared his throat and straightened up in his seat, trying to shake off the vivid memory. His sudden actions aroused the big man next to him. "You all right?"

Newly nodded and swallowed hard, trying to push his heart out of his throat. "Just thinking."

"The kids?" Matt accepted a weak nod and even weaker smile, confirming Newly's thoughts. "I don't think even jeebees could have gotten us out of that one. And Cooper; he's something else, isn't he?"

"It took you long enough to get there, but, once you made it, you sure took to being a father. When Cooper was hugging me, he whispered, 'please take care of my daddy.'"

Matt's quiet chuckle wasn't the reaction Newly had expected. "Now that's interesting, because when he hugged me, he whispered, 'please take care of Newly.'"

With a shared breath and matching smiles, the two relaxed and settled back in their seats. "I think we might be able to get a cup of coffee in the dining car."

Matt was quick to accept Newly's offer to escape the clutches of the torturous, padded seats. "Come on—I'll buy."

The Black Witch The Black Witch

The dark of night was no competition for the pitch-black of the cargo hold. The only way they could tell that the hatch had been opened, was by the rush of fresh air that flooded the musty room. Kitty took a mother's position, as she huddled protectively over her daughter. Despite the fact that their eyes had become acclimated to the dark, they couldn't put any features to the stumbling figure coming toward them.

The stench of sweat and cheap rum, arrived only seconds before Kitty felt the calloused hands reaching for her daughter. Like a wildcat, she came up butting her head against a wall of muscle. With her hands still tied, she was helpless to fend for herself when the drunken man grabbed her by the shoulders, tossing her across the room like a ragdoll.

Calleigh worked feverishly to break the last few strands of the rope, but it wasn't unraveling fast enough. She heard the sound of her mother's body, crashing into the wooden crates, but before Calleigh could cry out, the beast had lunged at her, pawing everywhere.

Fingers too powerful for her to break their grip, grabbed at Calleigh's breasts, while his mouth sought to taste the sweet flesh. Calleigh writhed under him, desperately trying to work her hands free, while also struggling to escape the appalling touch of the rough, hot tongue lapping at her neck and face.

She could feel the hardness of his body pressing against her stomach, through the layers of cotton petticoats. Words dripped from his mouth, along with drunken spittle, but not in a language Calleigh recognized. He twisted his fingers into the string of curls, pulling them so tight that she feared they would surely rip from her scalp.

Kitty began to stir, coming back to the tiny, black world she had been trapped in. Her head was throbbing from its violent encounter with the wooden keg, but the screams of her daughter overshadowed the pain. Pushing her shoulder against the wooden barrel gave her the leverage she needed to get back on her feet—although standing was only half the battle. The gulf waters kept the ship moving, making it hard for Kitty to gain secure footing, as she struggled back across the room.

Kitty followed the sound of grisly laughter to locate her target. Just as she braced herself to leap at him again, a muffled explosion absorbed the screams and groans, leaving in its wake, only a low, guttural moan. The smell of scorched flesh weighed heavy in the air.

"CALLEIGH! Where are you?" Kitty fell to her knees, crawling toward the stilled bodies.

Calleigh's words were breathless, as she rolled the lifeless body off to the side. "I'm… okay…." She squirmed to get clear of the kidnapper and scrambled over to her mother. The two leaned into each other, each needing to know the other was all right. "Turn around so I can untie you."

Kitty quickly complied. "If I said I was glad you brought your gun, you promise not to tell your father?"

Calleigh laughed, as she worked the final knot free. "Who do you think told me to bring it?" She stood up, pulling Kitty with her. As they neared the hatch, the moon kindly offered its assistance, leading them to the main deck. They crawled out of the stairwell one at time, seeking cover behind the barrels and debris. There was no sound, no movement, and no indication of life.

"Do you think they all went ashore?" Calleigh whispered, as she stretched up for a better look. In the distance, the port bragged of lights and music. "What kind of a way is that to treat precious cargo? Throw us in a hole and go get drunk. We should be insulted!" She glanced at Kitty, expecting a weak smile at the very least, but she wasn't prepared for the shocked expression that greeted her. "What? I was kidding."

The fear in her mother's voice, outranked her curiosity. "Calleigh, what did he do to you?"

"What do you mean?" Calleigh looked down, following Kitty's frightened gaze. The front of her dress was literally ripped to shreds. The parts remaining were covered in blood. "Wow, I guess with all the adrenaline flowing, I didn't realize." It took a second before she understood Kitty's fear. "It's not my blood. Really, I'm okay."

There was a breath of relief in Kitty's voice, as she reached out and pulled the girl to her chest. For a moment, they drew comfort, as well as strength, from each other. Finally, Kitty released her eldest child. "Okay, well, we need to find something to cover you." The mother's eyes scanned their surroundings, until she found something usable. "…This will have to do." Kitty snatched a burlap cover from one of the barrels. "Here. Wrap this around you for now." Kitty helped secure the make-shift garment and then grabbed Calleigh's hand. "We have to get off this ship!"

TBC