Chapter Twenty One

Vivian and the children sat inside a mine; the children were tied to the same post while she was tied to another. The driver and the man who had ridden alongside the wagon, who turned out to be brothers- Owen and Adam Gray from Modesto-and Cliff had stepped outside the mine to talk. Vivian took advantage of the time alone to question Thomas, who had had a look of recognition come into his eyes as they drew near the mine. "You know this place don't you?"

Thomas hesitated as he did know it, only he wasn't supposed to. After a moment he nodded. "It's one of the old mines father said my grandfather once tried to mine only there's nothing in it. My friend Corey and I have explored it many times when our families have gone on short camping trips." He then admitted they'd explored it without permission and that he knew the area well, well enough to get back to the ranch without a problem, as the ranch was only a few miles away. While Vivian knew what chances he and his friend had taken, she wasn't about to lecture him on the point. "Do you still have your pocket knife in your pants pocket, and is there a back way out of here?"

Again, Thomas nodded and grew excited as he saw what Vivian was getting at, or at least at what he thought she was getting at. "Yes, to both questions." He bit his lower lip and started trying to get to his pocket knife. It took a few moments before he had the knife in his hands. He began to cut at the ropes, only to be shocked as Vivian began instructing him to take his cousin once he and she were free and flee through the tunnels he'd admitted to knowing. "Get her out the back way and hightail it back to the ranch."

"But what about you?" Tommy didn't like the idea of leaving Miss Vivian behind. "You can come with us."

"No," Vivian forced herself to stick with the idea that had come into her head. "Mr. Hyatt thinks he has two scores to settle. He's thinking to settle those scores at one time. He can't do that if we're not together. Now, hurry! Get yourself and Hope free!" She urged him as she could hear Cliff and the Gray brothers talking loudly, though it sounded like Cliff and Owen were the angrier of the three. They were arguing what to do with the children and her. She was afraid they'd stop arguing and come back inside before the children had a chance to escape.

Tommy wanted to argue with Vivian only he was too afraid too. Soon he had cut through the ropes securing him and Hope to the post.

"Get out of here now!" Vivian urged them.

Hesitating only a moment, Thomas took a hold of Hope's hand and started running down a nearby tunnel.

Vivian let out a long draw out breath and prayed like crazy that Thomas would successfully get his cousin and himself out of the mine. She then waited nervously for Cliff Hyatt and his 'friends' to return.

Had Cliff known what was going inside he wouldn't have argued with Owen so long. As it was, the two men argued a solid forty five minutes before Cliff, tired of trying to convince Owen to settle for whatever money he could get from selling the children to the gypsies as he, Cliff, had his own plans for Vivian, put his foot down and told the man that 'it's my way or no way.' Before he knew it, Cliff found himself having to shoot Owen or be killed himself. He silently cursed and then asked Adam if he had anything else to say. While he was angry at Owen being killed, Adam decided any revenge he now wanted from Cliff would just have to wait until he, Adam, got paid when he got rid of the children.

"I'll do it your way." He told Cliff and then agreed to stay outside and act as guard. Cliff then went back inside, telling himself that at least now he only had to find a way to cheat one man out of the Gypsy's money instead of two. However, the moment he walked in and saw the children gone, he exploded.

"Where are they? How did they get loose?" He screamed as he stormed over to where Vivian sat still tied to the post; Vivian said nothing.

"I asked you where they went!" Cliff screamed again as he let his hand fly across Vivian's face.

Although the slap hurt like all get out, Vivian continued to remain silent. There was no way she was going to betray any member of the Barkley family, adult or child made no difference to her. They all meant the world to her. And, every moment she held out held a better chance for Thomas and little Hope; they had been gone almost an hour. Vivian prayed they were at least safe, and dared to hope help was also on its way.

Naturally Vivian's silence only served to infuriate Cliff and he knelt down in front of her and slapped her again. "If you don't tell me where those brats are, I'll make you pay! I promise you that!" Cliff eyes took on an even wilder look as his eyes wandered over his prey.

Inwardly, Vivian gulped but she said nothing. If her silence meant the children's safety, then she wasn't speaking a word.

~oOo~

Nick, Jarrod, McColl and the others that had joined them had found the wagon wheel tracks had had been following them for a solid hour. Now, the stopped long enough to water their horses and to talk about just where the wagon carrying Vivian and the children could be going-as the tracks were exactly heading towards any nearby towns. While the rest of the men dismounted, Jarrod remained in his saddle looking around the area and thinking and wondering, doing his best to control the feelings that were fighting to overtake him every time, he thought about all the possibilities that existed when it came to what Cliff might be willing to do. Only when Nick let out a shout and pushed his horse towards a clearing off to their left did Jarrod come out of his thoughts.

Everyone's eyes widened as they saw what had caused Nick to shout and move so fast….Thomas and Hope had emerged from some trees! "HOPE!" Jarrod called out as he too pushed his horse towards the clearing, the whole time looking to see if Vivian too would appear.

"Pappy!" Hope screamed and flew up into Jarrod's arms the moment he dismounted his horse while Thomas called out his father's name as he too embraced Nick. Once both children, who were shaking rather badly, calmed down enough to talk they told Nick, Jarrod and the other men who were in the clearing also. By the time they were through, Jarrod was vowing that while he would not lose control of himself as he had with Cliff's brother, he would make the man pay dearly if he hurt or killed Vivian before he, Jarrod, and the others freed her.

A/N The scene with the children, Nick, Jarrod and the others is actually taking place before Cliff ever goes back into the mine. I just don't know how to write it to make that clear. So, please, keep that in mind.