Chapter 10

Cody had been trying and trying to pick his lock. He took a deep breath trying to steady himself. The darkness was coming. He heard Jimmy grunt and shift. He could do this. He tried again and almost squealed out when the lock popped open. He carefully reached around and laid the lock on the floor. He eased the door open. He held his breath as the door squeaked as it swung out. He crawled through and went for the keys on the far wall. He lifted them careful not make a sound. He started opening locks. Lloyd went and hushed all the others once he was out. Cody opened Jimmy's door but he just laid there waiting. Lloyd crawled into the cell and waited on Cody.

"Time to go. We go out together in a group." Cody said to Jimmy.

"I'm ready." Said Jimmy.

"Power in numbers. We have to believe that." Said Lloyd.

Cody and Lloyd pulled Jimmy out his small cell. Cody could feel the heat coming off him. He was sick. He just didn't want him to know. The group made their way up and into the study. The room was dark. They eased out into the hall. The able started to make a run for it. They heard footsteps coming. Several of the men started trying to hide in rooms. Cody and Lloyd moved slow under Jimmy's arms. They heard some of the young men fighting near the door. They had the door blocked.

"In here." Said Cody.

He pushed open the door to the room that he had stayed in. He sat Jimmy on the bed and listened. Lloyd went to the window to open it. They heard shots. Men screaming.

"Come on. This way."

They went back over and got Jimmy. He slightly yelled as they pulled and pushed him through the window. Lloyd looked out and saw his son fighting with Mark. He left Cody and ran to help him.

"Lloyd!"

He didn't listen. He just kept running. Cody looked frantically around. Several men were being herded back in the house at gunpoint. Two were dead. Lloyd was fighting to help his son. Cody looked down at a trembling Jimmy. He pulled the cut fabric away from his leg. He saw the purple swelling and the big knot under the skin next to the break.

"Shit."

"Run Cody."

"Not a chance. Let's go."

Jimmy groaned as Cody pulled him back up and got under his arm. He began dragging him across the yard when Cody felt someone hit him in his back. He yelled out as he fell. He went to turn over when it all went blurry. He laid there moaning beside Jimmy.

"Something's going on at the house." Said Kid.

"Let's check it out. Hurry." Said Teaspoon.

Cody was in a fog. He looked around. Jeremy was standing over him frowning.

"You just cost me money. Fuck! I had to shoot two. Two!" He screamed rubbing his head as another man walked over.

"Looks like we came at the perfect time."

"You did old friend. I appreciate the help."

"Where's my other two?"

"I'll have Mark bring them over."

Cody laid there in a daze. He faintly saw two men pulling Jimmy away as he struggled to get free. He rolled and tried to get to him. Someone stepped on his back pushing him back down. He blinked trying to focus. He saw them toss Jimmy in a wagon. He heard him cry out. They stood over him for a few. The last thing he saw was the wagon pulling away.

Buck and Kid saw men being herded back in the house. They couldn't see in the dark if one was Cody. Soon the homestead grew quiet. Buck crept into the dark barn as everyone seemed to go in the house. He looked around while Kid stood watch. He found a large group of saddlebags on the floor. He dug through them. He crept back out to Kid. They made their way back over to Teaspoon.

"See them?"

"No but they are in the main house. I found a pile of saddlebags in the back of the barn. Too many to count." Said Buck.

"These men are being held against their will. We now have to take into account their lives."

"I found this." He said pulling Cody's letter.

They made their way out away from the house. They lit a small stick. Kid opened the letter and read it through. He looked at Teaspoon and Buck.

"Jimmy's hurt. Seemed like they have been here for a while. They tried to stop a stage robbery. The coach turned and fell on Jimmy. Broke his leg."

"Shit."

"Says he needs us here. Cody."

"He date it?"

"Three weeks ago."

"Three weeks. They have been here for three weeks." Said Teaspoon shaking his head.

"We going in?" Asked Buck.

"Yeah, we are."

"I think we should get the man in the barn then the girl. For a place up to no good, he sure

doesn't have many men." Said Kid.

"I know. The whole thing is odd. It's like he knows no one can touch him." Said Buck.

"They don't know we are here. We take them out tonight." Said Teaspoon.

Cody woke a little later. He rolled onto his side in his cell. He felt like hell but managed to pull himself up to sit.

"They got you good." Said Lloyd.

Cody cracked his eye open to look at him. Lloyd was a sorry sight himself.

"Doesn't look like you faired any better." Mumbled Cody trying to shift.

"They took him away. My son is gone."

"They got Jimmy too. I got to get out of here."

"Why? We failed. What can we do now? They are gone. The men who leave are never seen again."

"Well, I have to try." Said Cody closing his eyes.

"We can't even hardly stand much less run down a wagon. I failed him."

"No you didn't. Give me a minute to think."

Cody closed his eyes trying to take even breaths. Damn this man and this place. He couldn't just give up. He felt himself growing weary. He couldn't think straight. He fell asleep.

Buck waited in the barn. Mark walked out the house. He strode to the barn. Buck stepped out and grabbed him from behind. He wrapped his arms around Mark's neck as the men began to struggle. As he was pushed back into the wall, Kid came rushing up. He hit Mark in the face knocking him out cold. Buck quickly tied him tight before they pulled him out the back of the barn into the darkness.

"Leanne? Where are you going?" Asked Jeremy from his desk.

"Out on the porch for some fresh air. Father, I'm feeling a little uneasy what with the problems here the last few days and tonight. I feel like it is getting more and more out of our control."

"Darling, I was really hoping to sell this last lot off then we could take a much needed break. Maybe travel somewhere for a few months before we come back. I promise you that we will leave in a few days even if I have to get rid of this last few."

"Why can't we just go now, tonight? It's not like we need the money."

"Because my daughter, this is my business. The more money the better. Always remember that."

"Greed, father. Your greed is going to be our downfall."

"Honey, go get some air then a good night's rest. Everything is going to be fine."

"Wish mom were here to talk to you. We should leave now. Take a break from it all."

"If your mom were here, those down there would already be sold and on their way...and she would say business comes first before anything else. You know that."

"Before our lives?"

"Get some air. We don't have a thing to worry with here."

"Please listen..."

"Enough. Go."

Leanne shook her head as she stomped down the long hall and out on the porch. She leaned up against the post looking out into the darkness. She sighed. She felt like he was making a huge mistake. They needed to leave. Just leave those down there to starve. Go away for a while. Come back. Dispose of the bodies and start over fresh. She was deep in thought when she thought she saw a shadow move over by the corral.

"Mark?"

She walked down the steps staring ahead at the darkness. The lanterns were lit. It looked like everything was quiet but yet she saw a shadow move again.

"Mark?" She said as she walked out farther into the yard.

Buck crept up and grabbed her from behind. She went to scream but he clamped his hand over her mouth. He hurriedly pushed her toward the barn. She fought as hard as she could until he got her in the back. Teaspoon and Kid tied her hands behind her as Buck held her against the wall. He spun her around. She went to scream again but he covered her mouth.

"We are not going to hurt you. We just want information. Now don't scream." Asked Teaspoon.

She shook her head.

"I want to know where my boys are being held. I know they are in the house but where?"

Buck let go but grabbed her around her neck. She stared back at them.

"Guess." She whispered.

"Tell us and we let you go."

"I'd kill them all first before I told you." She scraped out.

"Where are they?"

"Which ones? The ones up for sell or the ones we already sold?" She said smiling.

"Sold? What are y'all doing here?"

"Trading." She smirked.

"Trading lives?!"

"Not sure."

"Where are they? How many more men inside?"

"An army."

"She's lying." Said Buck.

"Shut her up. Let's go." Said Kid.

"You go inside and he will kill them all." She gasped out.

"Well then how about you go with us?"

"Then he'll kill me."

"I doubt that."

"Business comes first." She said.

"I don't trust her. I say leave her here." Kid said.

"Do it." Said Teaspoon.

He watched as she sat still while Kid tied a gag in her mouth. She just sat smirking. They tied her ankles and legs together before making their way over to the house.