AN: Thank you all for reading :-) We still have a long way to go...so buckle up...
Chapter 11:
Leading the rescue group, Ben slowed Buck down and raised his hand so the others did the same. "To your posts!" Ben's out-of-character gruffness is understood by the men because they knew how worried he was. "Remember, they need to think it's just me and Candy or they'll harm Adam. Don't come out until you see the signal!"
The other men quietly nodded and did exactly as Ben asked. Some hid themselves behind trees, brush, and hills. Before long, the line shack was surrounded. Candy kicked his horse once to place himself next to Ben.
"We'll get 'em outta there," Candy said.
Ben quickly nodded, not even allowing himself to think otherwise. "I know, I know. But in one piece?"
Instead of choosing to answer Ben's question, Candy focused on the task at hand. "Tell them we're here," he suggested.
"This is Ben Cartwright speaking!" he shouted, waiting for the criminals to show themselves. "I have your money, now let me see my son!"
Once Ben had made the announcement, Issac responded, "We're coming out!" He threw the door open and pushed Adam out while pointing a gun at his hostage's head. Fresh blood slowly dripped from Adam's calf and brightly contrasted on the white bandage crudely wrapped around his leg. "Put down your weapons!"
Ben and Candy dropped their pistols, just as they had anticipated they would have to do.
"Now get down off your horse. Try anything and I'll put a bullet in his head." Issac cocked his gun, adding to the deadly threat.
Ben slowly dismounted and kept his hands up in the air to signal he would not retaliate. "The money is in my front pocket," he informed the outlaw.
Issac jutted his head forward and Jeb and Travis searched through Ben's pockets. Cutter appeared and covered Candy with a rifle.
Unable to stay silent any longer, Candy spoke hesitantly. "Where's Griff? He comes back with us, too."
"That boy was never part of plan. That big mouth of his is nothing but trouble," Issac scoffed. "I did you a favor and taught him some manners."
"Why you dirty-" Candy jumped down from his horse but Cutter stopped him from advancing any further. "If you harmed a hair on Griff's head I'll-"
"Candy, stop," Ben harshly whispered. He locked his dark brown eyes with Adam's, who silently confirmed that Griff's absence was not a good sign to his health. "Just tell me how much you want for Griff. I'll pay it."
"He wasn't and isn't part of the deal," Issac repeatedly refused to oblige. "Here's your precious son." He shoved Adam forward, who landed hard on the grass. "Ride away before I kill all three of ya." To emphasize his threat, Jeb, Cutter, and Travis all raised and aimed their guns on each of the men.
"I'm not leaving without Griff," Candy said in a low voice.
As he helped Adam climb into the saddle, Ben whispered, "We're no use to Griff if we're dead. I need you to trust me."
With a resigned sigh, Candy mounted Apple and together, the three men quickly rode toward their designated meeting point with the rescue party.
Lucas pointed in the distance at the riders heading toward them. "Wonder why they didn't give us the signal."
"Maybe something went wrong?" George surmised uneasily. "I only see three o' them."
Griff trembled as chills wracked through his aching body. Through sheer desperation he managed to rise to his knees. Seeing the cup of water on the floor, he reached out and picked it up. At first, he could not stop himself from taking liberal sips, but then he began choking. Coughing and spluttering, Griff wrapped an arm across his midsection. Despite the cold, sweat broke out on his face. He wiped the perspiration with his sleeve and willed himself to calm down and take slow, small breaths before attempting to swallow some more water, this time slowly. Putting the cup down, he picked up the dirty blanket and folded it around himself. He shuffled over to the wall and leant his back against it. Closing his eyes, he tried to imagine himself sitting in an open field instead of a small room. He knew he needed to concentrate on facing up to his fears or he was not going to make it out alive.
"Alright, they're gone. Pack up your gear. We're leavin'," summoned Issac.
"What about the boy?" Travis asked.
Cutter eagerly offered, "I can finish 'im off."
"No," Issac ordered. "Take him with us. In case Cartwright decides to follow, he won't shoot if the kid's in the way. Probably thinks he could buy him back." With a sneer he added, "Besides, I could use a little fun on the way to Carson City."
