Chapter 10 – Disappearing Act

"Benny?"

"Yes, Maudie?"

"I feel funny. Like we're being watched or somethin'."

"You're imagining things," Benny told her.

"No, really. I feel like we're bein' watched."

"There ain't nobody out here but the trees, Maudie."

"Don't make fun of me, Benny. Somebody's watchin' us."

Benny shook his head and laughed. "The horses, maybe ."

Maudie was not amused. "You go right ahead and laugh at me, Bentley Jenson Maverick, but my poppy told me when I get a feelin' in my gut, that I should trust it. And that's exactly what I'm gonna do. I'm goin' back to the ranch because somebody's watchin' us." And Maudie turned Zanzibar around and headed back to the B Bar M.

Benny pulled Colton to a stop. He didn't hear anything, and he didn't feel anything, but he trusted Maudie's instincts. He swung his horse around and headed off after the girl at a canter. He wasn't gonna take any chances. "Hey, Maudie, wait for me," he called, doing his best to catch up with her. It didn't take long until they were once again riding side by side.

"I thought you didn't believe me," she huffed.

"I ain't takin' any chances."

"Smart boy," she mumbled under her breath.

Of course, Maudie was right, they were being watched, by Richie, Jackson, Art and Bill. "Headin' back a little early, ain't they?" Bill guessed.

"Seems that way," Richie murmured.

The rustlers followed the two youngsters at a discreet distance, making sure they stayed out of sight all the way back home. When Zanzibar and Colton headed into the barn, Bill was ready to take off, but Richie stopped him. "Not until they walk into the house."

It was almost an hour later before the horses had been groomed, fed and watered, and the boy and girl were headed inside. The men were still over at Bret's house, having started a poker game, and the women were sitting in the kitchen drinking tea and eating cake when Benny and Maudie walked in. "You're early tonight, aren't you?" Doralice asked.

"A little bit. Maudie thought . . ."

"Never mind what I thought. Obviously I was wrong." Maude had just finished talking when everything outside became deathly quiet for a split second, followed by unexpected sounds – whinnying and barking; frantic hoof beats stampeding east, away from the ranch. The occupants of the house froze for just moments before Maudie let up a great cry and ran for the door, Benny right behind her. It took seconds longer for Doralice and Ginny to follow.

The girl and boy sprinted for the barn as the last of the horses in the corrals disappeared into the woods. "Stop! Bring them back!" Maudie cried as she rushed for Zanzibar's stall. It was empty, as was every other stall in the barn. She dashed back out, towards the breeding barn, and found one mare in the far corner that had been missed and stood with a perplexed expression on her face. Maudie grabbed a bridle and hurriedly put it on the animal, while Benny flung open the gate. There was no time for a saddle and the girl scrambled up on the mare, with the boy clambering up behind her. They could hear the women screaming as they came roaring out of the barn, and Maudie caught a fleeting glimpse of her father and uncles running from Bret's house towards the empty barns. It was no use, there was no time for them to stop and explain. She pointed the mare in the direction the horses had gone, and they disappeared into the trees.

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The rustler's headed the herd towards Bryce Canyon, unaware there were two children following them. Richie was sure they'd gotten all the horses close enough to the house to prevent anyone from giving immediate chase, and felt reasonably certain they would be long gone before there was anyone on their trail.

Back at the B Bar M, a frantic search was underway for a horse, any horse, and the men finally came to the conclusion that the only mounts left were in the far pasture. Bart and Beau ran for it as best they could carrying saddles and bridles, while Bret gathered everyone in Bart's house. It would be easier to protect them if they were all in one location, should the need arise.

The herd wasn't hard to trail; Richie and the boys were making no attempt to cover their tracks. There was no need to do so; no one was following them. Or so they thought. They'd decided at the last minute to take every horse they could find, and the size of the herd was slowing them down. That and the fact they now had half a dozen foals with them, including Spreckles, and some of the younger ones were having a hard time keeping up. By the time they got to the Canyon, they were within sight of Maudie and Benny.

"What do we do now?" Maudie whispered to the boy behind her.

"I don't know. Just watch 'em for a while, I guess. See if they go anywhere else," he whispered back. "Let's hide behind those rocks." Benny pointed at a large outcropping of boulders to the west of the canyon entrance. "That way we can keep an eye on them."

"Alright, but let's get down and walk Dusty over there."

Benny slid off the horse and then helped Maudie down. They did their best to stay out of sight and soon were hidden where they could see but not be seen. Now all they could do was sit and wait.

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"Looks like they're headed towards Bryce Canyon," Bart told his cousin. "And the kids are followin' them."

"Why, in heaven's name?" pleaded Beau. "Don't they know how dangerous it is?"

"That's the last thing they're thinkin' about, Beau. All they know is somebody stole our horses and they're tryin' to get 'em back. It's up to us to rescue the whole bunch of 'em."

Beau let out a big sigh and bowed his head. "I just need 'em to be safe, that's all. If anything happens to either one of them . . ."

"It won't," Bart stated firmly. "It won't."

They rode on in silence for another forty-five minutes before Bart stopped again. "They've gotta be close around here. That's Bryce Canyon up ahead. Looks like they stopped and then headed towards those rocks. That's probably where they're hidin.' You stay here, I'm goin' in after 'em."

Beau nodded and drew his gun. "Be careful. I don't want to explain why I came back without you."

"Don't worry about that, just get the kids outta here." Bart dismounted and led his horse over towards the stand of boulders.

When Bart got within sight of Benny the boy nudged Maudie and, without thinking, she burst out with "Poppy!" It was enough to cause her horse to snort loudly, and Bart to look down and see the children. Art Decker heard the noise and let out a yell.

"Look out!"

It was enough of a warning to set everything in motion. Collins was near the mouth of the canyon; he wheeled his horse around and came barreling over, firing wildly in the direction Decker's warning had emanated from. There was a dull 'oof' sound and Benny and Maudie came racing out from behind the rocks, urging Dusty on as fast as she would go, straight at Beau. Benny glanced around quickly and saw Bart's horse heading down into the canyon, riderless. There was no Bart in sight.

Sorry, I posted the wrong chapter first today, so I had to post two chapters to straighten it out. The right chapters are in the right order now.