Chapter 21 – Fighting for Love

Love is much like a wild rose, beautiful and calm,
but willing to draw blood in its defense.

~Mark Overby

The call was over by the time Jenny reached the cabin. She found Enos standing at the hearth with his hands braced on the mantel, his arms stretched wide. Her stomach dropped when he didn't acknowledge her arrival.

Jenny looked to Gus. "What's happened? Is it Dan?"

"No, sweetheart. There's been no word." Gus took her hand, squeezing it gently. "Ya' need to talk with Enos alone. We'll give ya' some privacy. Is everything packed and ready?"

"Yes sir." Jaxon answered. He had taken the lead on arming everyone. "We have enough ammo for a small war, but we'll need to spread the weight between the horses. It's too much for one pack mule."

"And the food?" Gus asked.

"I hope everybody likes military rations." Jenny replied. "The jerky you asked for is in your trail bag and the canteens are on the table."

"Good, good." Gus sighed. "I have a few supplies and canned goods at the line shack, too. We'll do alright."

She could feel Luke's tension like a flaming meteor. "That's all fine and dandy," he said. "But I could care less about military rations. What did Monroe say?"

"Not here, Luke. You boys come with me and I'll fill ya' in." Gus gestured to the kitchen and leaned to whisper in Jenny's ear. "Enos is hurting mighty bad. Go easy on him."

She braced herself mentally and nodded her understanding. The men left the room. Approaching Enos felt like walking the edge of a very high cliff. He stared into coals that hissed and glowed as they dwindled to ash. Tension coiled around him, creating a suffocating sense of dread. She already knew what he would say.

Jenny curled a small hand over his arm, feeling his warmth and the tense vibration beneath her fingers. His eyes slid shut and he balled his hands into fists, tightening his muscles like steel bands.

"Please talk to me." Jenny said, her heart riddled with guilt for bringing Monroe into his life. "Let me help you."

He dropped his arms from the mantel and turned. Hazel eyes drifted over her face, helplessness and anger lurked in their depths.

"He'll give Emily back," he said, his voice gravelly from emotion. "But only if th' three of us turn ourselves over to his men at Coyote Point."

"Ah, I see." They were definitely in Devil's Gulch. Jenny took a deep breath and slipped into years of military training to fine-tune her focus. "How long do we have?"

"Nine o'clock Monday mornin'."

"Three days. What about Drake and Daisy?"

Enos closed the space between them. She inhaled deeply. He smelled of crisp after-shave and soap, but profoundly male. She pressed her hands against his chest, grateful for the comfort. Large palms took her cheeks, lifting her face to his. His expression was grim. "I'm sorry, hon. They ain't part of th' deal."

Even though it was expected, Jenny's bones grew cold. It was time to shut off the emotions. Unbidden, Drake's voice called out across time. We take care of each other, wee lass. Always. She swallowed the rising panic, forcing it down and straightening her spine.

"We better hurry." Jenny lowered Enos's arms and rushed to the door. The broken glass crunched under her boots and the plywood waiting against the wall was a painful reminder that lives were at stake. If she kept busy, maybe she could eradicate the images of Dan's blood-soaked body, or the fear of finding Drake dead in the forest.

Enos was right on her heels. "Hon, there's more. We gotta talk about th' plan."

Here it comes. Gus warned her. Maybe if she ignored it, or postponed the conversation…

"We'll work out the kinks on the trail." Jenny exchanged the rain slicker for her heavy oilskin duster and hat. "We'll only have a few hours to search before dark. Let's not waste a minute."

"Jenny, stop." Enos's hands gripped her shoulders, turning her around and pining her with his eyes. "I can't turn ya' over to him. Not after all th' things he said he'd do to ya'. I just can't do it. I know it's selfish, but I-"

"Don't get ahead of yourself, Deputy. If we have to turn ourselves in, Gus and Luke will ambush Monroe's men when we reach Drake and Daisy. Focus on the here and now."

"Ya' ain't listening." She winced when Enos's fingers tightened painfully on her shoulders. He loosened his hold. "I'm sorry."

"It's alright. It's been a rough morning."

"Ya' know how much I love you, don't ya'?"

"Oh, Deputy." She reached up to caress his cheek. "Of course I do. I love you, too."

"Then, y-you'll stay here?"

She jerked her hand back. "What?"

"I don't want ya' going out there. I'm asking ya' to stay with Caroline and Bob at th' Triple K."

"Stay with Car-" Jenny's breath stuttered. "You know I can't do that."

"And I can't just hand ya' over on a silver platter!"

"Don't you dare start coddling me!"

So much for going easy.

"You're staying here!" His jaw was set and his mouth formed an obstinate line. "I won't lose ya' that way, Jenny! I won't!"

"We have three days!" She knocked his arms off her shoulders. "I can't stay here! That is my brother out there! My flesh and blood! Emily! And Daisy…"

"I know that!" He took a flustered breath. She could see him battle to regain his composure. "Can't ya' just stay out of th' fight this time? Please. I need to know you're safe."

She shoved him in the chest, incredulous. "You need my help! Jaxon and I are the best shooters you could ask for!"

"You're also my biggest weakness." There was no mistaking the desperation, or the love, in his eyes. "Please, hon. He'll go after you first. Once he has ya', he knows he can make me do almost anything."

"It won't come to that. Did you talk to Jaxon and Gus about this?"

A crack formed in his blustery façade. "Um…no."

"Because you knew they'd shut you down. You should've known better than to ask me!"

"Ding dang it, Jenny!" His scowl returned and his body became a rigid mass. "What if they just shoot us at first sight? Then what? Shouldn't somebody survive?"

Her limbs shook and betrayal ached deep in her soul. Blast it, she would not cry. "You said we'd fight Monroe together. If I'm not at the exchange, Emily dies. What about Daisy? Can you live with knowing you sentenced her to a fate worse then death? Because I can't. If you choose my life over theirs, that's exactly what's going to happen."

The helplessness was turning Enos's heart inside out. He was trying to keep one person he loved safe. He wasn't sure he could save Daisy, or Emily, but this might be his only chance to save Jenny. He had to take it. If they were in Hazzard, he'd lock her in a cell and make it up to her later. Maybe he was too hasty in sending the Sheriff away.

As if sensing his thoughts, Jenny's green eyes flared hot with resentment. She jammed the hat on her head, grabbed her Mossberg, and flung open the door. In her haste across the porch, she crashed into a tall man with graying hair. Neither of them had heard his car.

The man stumbled back, regained his balance, and leveled Jenny with a steely gaze. "Good god, you look just like your…" he cleared his throat. The stunned look softened to one of recognition and he forced a little smile. "You have Jaxon's eyes. It's a pleasure to meet you, Jenny. I'm Agent Patterson."

The agent extended his hand, but Jenny made no move to take it, or speak. Something else about the exchange bothered Enos. Travis seemed disappointed, like he'd mistaken Jenny for someone else.

"Deputy Strate." Travis offered his hand. "Good to see you again. I'm sorry for the circumstances. I would've been here sooner, but I had to track down a lead."

A lead in Wyoming? "Agent Patterson." Enos politely shook his hand as Jenny stood fuming. "Jaxon's been trying to reach ya' for days."

"I'm sorry about that. I can explain. Is he still here?"

"Yes sir, but we're about to ride out."

"Hunt said you were going after the hostages. That's good." He glanced at the horses in the far corral. "It's been a few years since I've ridden. Not to worry. I won't slow you down."

"I beg your pardon?" Jenny's eyes glittered with rage.

"It's imperative that I go with you. I need you to help me ex-"

The slap Jenny landed sounded like the crack of a whip. Travis's head jerked to the side and red finger marks bloomed on his cheek. "You have nerve expecting help after your informant set us up! Unless you want to spend the rest of your life breathing through a tube, go back where you came from! Enos, we need to go."

"Nu-uh. We ain't done talking." Enos took her elbow but she wrenched it from his grasp.

"We've already had this conversation. You wouldn't stay behind, how can you expect me to?" Her eyes burned into him and he felt like a hypocrite, but so be it. He loved her. Losing her wasn't an option.

Taking his silence as an answer, she swung her shotgun over her shoulder and said, "Don't keep me waiting. I'll be on my horse." Jenny side stepped Travis and left the porch.

The rain had stopped, but heavy fog had descended on the ranch. Enos watched Jenny splash through the puddles, her free arm swinging with each brisk step. He hated this. He ached to run after her and hold her in his arms. She'd be safe there, if only for a little while.

"I'm sorry this happened." Travis said, rubbing his cheek. "My informant truly thought Monroe was making his move in Hazzard." He glanced over his shoulder where Jenny's retreating form became a shadow in the mist. "You really care for her."

More than life itself. Enos didn't like Travis the first time he met him. He'd shown up after the shooting in June, cocky and arrogant, stepping all over Agent Ferguson's investigation. Travis had kept Chuck, and Enos, in the dark about his contact with Jaxon. Now disaster had struck. Enos wasn't about to share his private feelings.

Travis's shoulders dropped. "I understand what it's like to know the woman you love is in danger. We have the same goal, Enos. I have to get to my informant and bring her home."

"Her?" Enos knew a fox in the henhouse when he saw one. "I think ya' better tell me what you're hiding. How do ya' know th' informant?"

Travis balked, then said, "She's my fiancé."

Enos stared at him, speechless. Travis had broken every rule in the book. What was one more? He gave the agent a reproachful look.

"It's not what you think." Travis bowed up defensively. "I knew her before she was offered a job as Monroe's household manager. That was three years ago and now she's his…personal assistant." Enos caught the hesitation. Travis was hiding something. He attempted to bury his verbal slip. "She handles his calendar and escorts him to meetings and social events. She's the one who alerted the MacFarlands about Zeke Harvey. She saved your hide this summer."

Enos clenched his fists. "Jenny and her brothers saved my hide."

"They wouldn't have known Zeke's hit team was coming if it weren't for her. I need to get her out, but she disappeared several days ago."

"You son of a bitch!" Jaxon's curse startled them both.

Enos bit back a groan. Jaxon and Luke wore equal masks of fury. Gus was silent, but he would simmer quietly and explode when he could do the most damage to his target. That was his way. A brawl was the last thing Enos needed.

Jaxon advanced on Travis, his intelligent eyes dark with rage. "You knew days ago that something went wrong and didn't call us? This could've been prevented!"

Travis raised his palms. "Easy, son. Hear me out."

"You are not my father!" Jaxon leaned into Travis's personal space, poking a finger in his chest. "Never, ever, call me that again. We're here because we listened to you. People have been hurt. Dan might die. Now we're through. Leave."

"Just calm down." Travis pleaded. "I tracked my CI here, Jaxon. She's with your people."

"You're a lying bastard!"

"Hold up." Luke took Jaxon's arm and pulled him off Travis. "This is costing time Daisy doesn't have." He glared at the unwelcome guest. "Mister, I'm powerful short on patience. If ya' got something helpful to say, spill it."

Enos couldn't agree more and asked, "How do ya' she ain't a prisoner, too? If she disappeared, it might be because Monroe was on to her."

"No. No way." Travis shook his head adamantly then grinned, a sly grin that did nothing to reassure Enos of his honesty. "Last night I spoke with a tarmac worker, one that's in Monroe's back pocket. She was brought here to prepare for a meeting."

Enos exchange a nervous look with Luke. The eldest Duke gave an imperceptible nod. He wasn't alone in his suspicions. Travis would say anything to get what he wanted.

Travis continued, "I can't communicate directly with her without blowing her cover, but I know she'll risk everything to save Drake and the women. There's much more. I'll tell you everything if you'll just take me with you."

"That's enough yappin'! I'm makin' th' call this time!" Gus bellowed. He sneered at Travis and leveled his Winchester. "Get your ass on th' paint mare and don't leave my sight! If you're settin' us up again, I wanna make sure I got a clear shot. You just think about that. Make one wrong move and I'll blow a hole through ya' bigger than Texas. Understand?"

"Fair enough." Travis said, his wide eyes looking down both barrels. "You won't regret this, Mr. Rafferty. She'll find a way to get them out. I guarantee it."

The wood paneled walls plunged the living room into shadows and outdated decor added to the dreary appearance. Gidget glanced at the clock, it's face centered in a starburst design that formed a radius of dark wooden stakes. It was 4:30PM.

Double doors opened behind her. Matt and Liam walked out of the office wearing raincoats and hats, obviously prepared to leave. Matt moved to the front door's electronic keypad and punched in the code while she sat in the rocking chair with a book. She stole furtive glances, catching the first two digits before Liam turned around.

"Just going to clear a landing area for the helicopter," he said, smiling. "Mr. Monroe will be her Monday at 2:00 with Mr. Giovanni and Mr. Salvatore."

"The whore doesn't need to know everything we do." Matt hissed. "She's here to take care of grandma and cook. That's it."

"Watch your mouth!" Liam was an older man, but very dangerous. He snatched Matt's forearm and leaned in with a murderous glare. "Gidget is under my protection. Treat her like a lady or next time I won't give a warning."

Tension crackled in the air as the two alpha males stared at each other. Matt dropped his eyes and Liam released his grip. He turned to Gidget and said, "I apologize on Matt's behalf. This younger generation...no finesse."

Bless him. The cold-blooded killer had manners. "Thank you, Liam. What time shall I have supper ready?"

"That's kind of you, but we'll be back rather late. There's a lot of work to be done. I'm taking the other men with me, so enjoy the evening to yourself and don't wait up."

"I'll leave something for you in the fridge." Gidget smiled with her eyes, catching the last digit Matt punched in over his shoulder, but missing one or two in between. "It's the least I can do."

Matt scowled and Liam tipped his hat before walking out. The door closed and a distinct clack locked her in. Gidget waited ten minutes, then flew out of her chair to the kitchen. She struck a match and lit the stove, then put a pot of broth on the burner to heat. Next, she climbed on a stool, retrieved a plastic bag hidden in the kitchen cabinet, and raced down the hall to Matt's room.

For hours, doubt and fear had threatened to reduce her to tears. Dear Lord this couldn't be happening. Her son was locked up in Matt's room. This wasn't how things were supposed to work out, but she wouldn't walk away from him. Not again. Never again. This was her chance to right all the wrongs, to start over.

Putting the sack down, she pulled a set of lock picks from her French twist. Gidget remembered each child as she worked to open the lock. Finn, the free spirit. Brave. Not a mean bone in his body. She tensed as the heartbreak returned. He was taken from this world too soon. Drake, the protective one. He was a little too brave for his own good, but honorable and loyal, even as a child. The oldest boys were two peas in a pod. Dutch twins, everyone called them. Together they lived life to the fullest. They both had such a sense of humor. It showed in their pranks and the mischief they caused.

The tumblers clicked. Almost there...

Jaxon, the chatterbox. Brilliant, yet so sweet and eager to please. He was mum's little helper, always in the kitchen. He'd sit next to her on a tall stool and blether away about Gran's tales of the wee folk while she made bread or blueberry scones. Jaxon was her favorite, although she'd never admit it. She loved them all.

Jenny was the caregiver. Calm and loving. She was a free spirit and lived to play in the woods or hold tea parties in the garden gazebo. When Ian was home, she'd move her tea parties into his office. Her father never once complained. Jenny was the apple of his eye.

Ian was a good man…once…at least Gidget thought he was. It was so long ago it didn't seem real anymore. Had they truly been a happy, loving family? Like a dream, that world was swept away by a cruel reality that couldn't be changed.

Clack. She wiped a stray tear and turned the knob. The smell hit her before she stepped in the room. Gidget stood in the doorway and shuddered at the sight before her. The stench of sweat and alcohol hung in the air. Empty bottles of Wild Turkey were strewn from one end of the room to the other. That wasn't the worst of it. Her stomach churned over the lewd centerfolds plastered on every wall and the ropes tied at each corner of the bed frame.

Gidget shook off her revulsion and began her search for Drake and Daisy. There had to be a door, or a secret panel that led to another room. Then she remembered the way the floor vibrated. Her eyes landed on a footlocker. It sat on a faded rag rug between the wall and Matt's bed.

She grabbed the end of the tattered fabric and dragged the cumbersome thing out of the corner, footlocker and all, exposing a circular ring centered in a small notch. A hatch door? Horrified, she grabbed the ring and pulled. It wouldn't budge. Then her eyes fell to the hasp and padlock. Gidget retrieved her tools and went right to work, opening the lock within minutes.

The door was heavy and took all her strength to lift. There was a flashlight and a garage remote sitting on the top stair. Fearing some type of alarm system, Gidget left the remote where it was and grabbed the flashlight, turning it on and shining it into the dark hole.

She called out in an urgent whisper, "Hello?"

No one answered. Butterflies took flight in her already nervous stomach. She made her way down the stairs, searching for a light switch that was never found. She reached the bottom level, not realizing she had held her breath until the discomfort in her chest forced the intake of air. It was like a cave, musty and cold. Her keen nose alerted her to the faint smell of horses, but there was another...

"Blood." Gidget put a hand on the wall for support as she ventured deeper into darkness. Her footsteps sounded louder than life. The flashlight's bluish beam landed on iron bars. She moved closer and peered into a cell. There was a porcelain sink on the far wall, a toilet, and…

Her hand flew to her mouth to muffle the cry of agony and she gripped the bars with her free hand. Against another wall, two people were huddled together on the floor…in chains. They weren't moving. The woman's face was turned away, but the man…

The air left Gidget's lungs in a dramatic whoosh and she slid down the bars to the floor, nearly dropping the flashlight. Nothing had prepared her for this. She sat on her knees and stared at her son in wide-eyed disbelief. Drake's hair was mussed, sticking up in unruly spikes like it had when he was a little boy. Bombarded with memories, Gidget began to shake and was forced to put the flashlight on the floor.

Scenes flickered in her mind like old movies on a reel: weekends at Loch Katrine, the children's laughter as the sailboat flew across the water, the summer vacation in the States, and Christmas mornings at home.

Home. It's gone. I don't have a home anymore. Gidget came back to reality with a startling pang of regret. She'd missed so much. She'd missed everything. Would Drake ever forgive her for leaving when he needed her most? Would any of them?

Tears burned down her cheeks as she examined him with her eyes. Gone was the tall, lanky teenager, replaced by a strong, handsome man. Even in the shadows, his powerful presence touched her, wild and untamable, but what had they done to him? He was horribly pale and lay across Daisy like a rag doll. She had to get them out of here.

Gidget grabbed the cell door and shook it. Locked. There had to be a key. She searched through the darkness, checking the walls, the floor, and every corner. She started back upstairs to search Matt's room, but stopped near the top. What was she doing? If she freed them now, then what was she supposed to do? She couldn't carry them and none of them could leave until she had the rest of the code for the front door.

Slow down, Gidget. Think. She could do this. She had to talk to Drake. Taking a calming breath, she retrieved the sack and returned to the cell where she sat on her knees. Would he even know her?

It took three tries to get her voice to cooperate. "D-Drake? Wake up, luv. It's me. It's...Mum." Desperation surged and she stuck her arm through the bars in an effort to reach her child. It was no use and she fought against the sobs that bubbled to the surface. "Forgive me, sweet boy. I'm so sorry. I'll get you out, luv. I swear. Whatever it takes, I'll do it! Just, please…please talk to me!"

Daisy was having a nightmare. It was pitch black. She was alone, shivering, buried beneath a crushing pile of snow. Then a woman's voice began calling her name and she fought to distinguish her nightmare from reality.

She moaned, "Aunt Lavinia?"

"Daisy? That's it, Daisy! Open your eyes, luv!"

That didn't sound like Aunt Lavinia. Daisy's teeth chattered from the cold and she raised her head, blinking against the bright flashlight. The weight was still pressed against her and she brushed her face against Drake's hair. Still in the dungeon…out of one nightmare...into another.

"Over here, Daisy. Look over here!"

She could barely see the small silhouette on the other side of the bars. Her mouth was so dry she struggled to speak. "Em-Emily? Is that you?"

"No, luv. Emily's upstairs. She's safe. She sent me to help you." The woman raised the flashlight to give Daisy additional light. "Can you tell me what's wrong with Drake? I've been calling for ten minutes and he hasn't flinched. He's a light sleep... I mean, he must be hurt or he would've heard me."

"They used a rifle like a bat and hit him over th' head." Daisy's body was even more sluggish than before and the chain weighed heavily on her wrist. Very gently, she raised Drake's head to her shoulder and patted his cheek. His skin was so cold. "Sugar? Can ya' hear me? Ya' gotta wake up."

He moaned and opened dull, unfocused eyes, just for a second, but there was no recognition in his gaze.

Daisy steadied his lolling head and tried again. "C'mon, Drake. Stay with me."

He mumbled, "Mum?" Then his eyes rolled up and flickered closed.

"No…" Daisy whimpered and pulled his body tightly against hers, rocking gently. She wanted to go home so badly and holding Drake was the only thing that controlled her panic. "Don't you die on me, sugar. Ya' promised to take care of me."

"Come now, luv." It was the woman. Daisy had almost forgotten about her. Maybe she was in worse shape than she thought. The gentle voice continued, "I've brought some things to help. Let him be for a minute and come to me."

Daisy carefully lowered Drake to the floor. At least the bleeding had stopped, but his shirt was covered in blood. Was he unconscious from the concussion, or the blood loss? She had no way of knowing. She stroked his face and prayed he'd come around soon.

"Daisy! I know you're frightened, but you have to focus! You can't help him until I help you! Come here!"

"I'm…I'm coming." Her limbs were numb from the cold and she was too weak to stand, so Daisy made the short, painful crawl across the floor. The chain dragged behind her, rattling eerily like a sluggish ghost crying out for attention. When she reached the bars, the blood had begun to circulate through her fingers again. It stung like hot needles piercing her flesh. Everything hurt, her body, her soul, it was nearly unbearable and she collapsed in tears.

A warm hand gently stroked her hair. "There, there, now. Come sit up and talk to me."

With the woman's help, Daisy was able to sit upright against the bars. The woman's face blurred in and out of focus, what she could see of it in the shadows. "How long have I been here?"

"About six hours."

Only six hours. It felt like forever. "Did they hurt Emily?"

"She's a little sore from the ride, but she's in much better shape than you. She's frisky enough to complain. Try and relax, luv. I won't let anything else happen to you. Did Matt do that to your lip?"

Matt. Jumbled thoughts clicked into place and terror gripped her. Daisy reached up and winced as her fingers brushed against the cut. How would she get out of this? Her stomach churned from the Chloroform and the abuse she'd suffered had left her body nearly useless. She was cold and her damp clothes didn't help. Shock was setting in. The woman must have realized it, too.

"Don't shut down, Daisy. Keep talking to me."

Tears welled up in hot pools. "He's gonna kill us."

"He'll have to go through me first." The woman took Daisy's hand and placed an object in her palm, wrapping her fingers tightly around it.

"What's this?"

"Protection from Matt," she said. "Keep it in your sock. I'll do everything I can to keep him busy upstairs, but if I can't, don't hesitate. Use it. It'll be your life or his."

Daisy slid the dagger out of the leather sheath and the silver blade glistened in the beam of the flashlight. "You mean, kill him?"

"You might not have a choice. If he comes near you again, let him get close, real close. As soon as you can, aim for the kidneys and strike hard. The pain will drop him and he'll bleed out fast. Can you do that?"

Daisy recalled the disgusting things Matt said he would do to her and shivered, but not from the cold. She'd die before she let him touch her that way. She slid the weapon in her boot. "Yes, ma'am. I don't know how t' thank ya'. What's your name?"

"I'm…a friend. It's best you don't know my name yet. If Matt knew I was down here…well, nevermind that." She smiled warmly and slipped off her jacket. "You're freezing. Here, put this on. I'll get us out of here, but I need a little time. While I work on that, you two need to get back on your feet physically."

"But Drake needs a doctor. I'm sure he's got a concussion." Daisy wrapped the jacket around her shoulders and pulled the lapels together, huddling in the residual body heat the fabric contained. "Can ya' at least get us a blanket?"

"For a little while. I can't leave anything down here for Matt to find. We need to use this time wisely. Matt and the others will be back in an hour or two." Florence Nightingale retrieved a small bottle of orange juice from a bag on the floor. "I brought some cheese and crackers, a few apples, and more juice. Drink this, but take small sips, nice and slow."

The O.J. burned all the way down, but Daisy immediately felt the sugar rush through her veins and her head began to clear a bit.

"Better?"

"Yes ma'am." Daisy said. "Thanks."

The woman squeezed the bag of food through the bars and pointed to the toilet. "Turn the water off at the valve, flush the stool, and hide this in the tank. I'm going to run upstairs, grab a light blanket and bring down a nice hot bowl of broth for you. Daisy, you have to get Drake to drink it, too. Talk to him. Tell him you need him, make him mad if you have to, but do whatever it takes. Keep him fighting."

"Yes ma'am." The woman took to her feet and Daisy grasped her arm. "Wait. I have a cousin and a friend that were out on a ride when we were attacked. Drake's brother and sister were with them."

"The twins..." Some strange emotion flickered across the woman's face, but Daisy couldn't name it.

"Yeah. Jenny and Jaxon. I reckon Emily already asked ya', but are they…are they prisoners, too?"

"No, luv." She forced a smile. "They're not here, but Emily made sure I knew they would rally the troops and come after all of you. Let's just pray they get here soon."

"If they don't, h-how long before we can leave?"

She took Daisy's hand between both of hers. "I'm not sure. I'll work as fast as I can and I'll come down every chance I get."

"Days?"

"I hope not, but at least one more night. Once Matt returns, it'll be morning before I can come back."

"Morning? We have to stay down here another night!?" Daisy broke down and cried. It was all so overwhelming.

"Shh, hush now, luv. You're a strong girl. Drake is counting on you."

Daisy sniffled and wiped her nose on a damp sleeve. "It's so dark. Can ya' leave the flashlight?"

"This one is Matt's, but I have something in my room that will work. I'll bring it down for you." Gidget handed her the flashlight. "Use this one until I get back. Now, go keep Drake warm. I won't be long, darlin' girl."

Daisy looked over her shoulder at Drake's prone form. "That's what he calls me. Sometimes he calls me mo ghràdh, but I don't know exactly what it means."

The woman brushed Daisy's hair out of her eyes and said, "It means you're very special to him. Go to him. I'll work as fast as I can."