53 reviews! Thank you all! I'm sorry it's taken so long. I've finished this story, and the rest of it will be out in another 2-3 chapters.

MandieJoe4ever: I don't remember when Joe's birthday was, but a birthday party for him occurs in Mandie and the Long Goodbye.

Fastreader: Just hold on, :) I think there will be enough Mandie-Joe scenes coming up soon.

Dear Guest Who said I'm a Copycat: I don't know if you'll ever get this, but since you don't appear to have a fanfiction account (or just didn't sign in), this is the only way I can reply to your review. :) I can take criticism. Criticism helps you to grow and improve your writing. I would just like to know where I seem to be copying Mandie and the Letter from the Past, so that I can deal with it. I am so familiar with my fanfiction that I might have overlooked something. I'd appreciate it if you could let me know! :) Sincerely, HonorGod

Joe hung his head. All he could see was Mandie's white, scared face. Was there something he could have done to prevent this? He had to get free so that he could follow the man who'd taken Mandie.

He'd always watched out for Mandie, but the despair, the helpless feeling that overcame him there, was like nothing he'd ever felt before. He glanced around the empty room, looking for something, anything, that he could use to cut the ropes, but there didn't seem to be anything. Suddenly Joe froze.

His ears had caught a slight sound behind him. He turned just in time to see the shuttered window swing open, and a lithe from clad in deerskin slip through. Joe blinked in disbelief.

"Dimar!" Joe hissed. "How—what are you doing here?"

Dimar grinned. "Helping you, of course." he took a knife from his belt and cut Joe's ropes. His smile faltered as he glanced around the cabin. "Where's Mandie?"

"I don't know." Joe leaped up, rubbing his wrists. "Come on." he crossed the cabin silently and climbed out the window, dropping into the snow. Dimar was right behind him.

When they reached the cover of the woods, Dimar grabbed Joe's arm. "What happened? Where are Mandie and Celia?"

Joe blew out a frustrated breath, "Celia escaped, but one of the men took Mandie." He ran a hand through his unruly hair. His mind was whirring, trying to think of where the Boss would have taken Mandie. Probably the stable. he decided.

"How long ago?" Dimar asked.

"Only a few minutes." Joe quickened his pace, and the two circled the cabin, keeping in the shelter of the woods. Joe spotted a form near the the stable, and the two boys froze.

"I don't see her," Joe's brow furrowed. Please, Mandie, hold on!

"They must be inside the stable." the Cherokee youth concluded, quietly taking an arrow from his quiver. "You go around that way," he motioned. "I'll come from the other side."

Silently, the two separated and made their way around the building. Joe heard voices, and he paused to listen.

"That stuff's powerful." Joe heard the voice of O'Brien comment.

"Yes." Joe heard the boss reply. A horse whinnied, and Joe heard the creaking of leather. The Boss spoke again. "Now, go back and keep an eye on that boy. Yah!" he yelled. A horse broke into the light, and Joe could distinguish the Boss riding away. In front of him lay a limp form—Joe saw a flash of blond hair. Mandie!

Joe's anger rose. What had he done to her?

O'Brien watched the Boss disappear into the darkness, and then slowly turned and went back towards the cabin. An arrow whizzed through the air and struck the man's leg. He yelled in pain and fell to the snow. Dimar ran forward, another arrow ready on his bowstring, and Joe rushed to assist him. The Cherokee youth relieved O'Brien of his pistol and handed it to Joe.

"Follow the man that took Mandie." he instructed quietly. "I'll take care of this one."

Joe nodded and ran to the stable, where O'Brien's horse stood, saddled and ready to go. Joe leaped onto the horse's back and sped after Mandie. His face was determined, but his heart was aching. God, please protect Mandie. I love her, Lord, please keep her safe.

Joe leaned low on the horse's neck and urged him faster. He glanced back momentarily to where Dimar was dragging the injured outlaw into the cabin, then he focused on the road before him. He couldn't see the Boss and Mandie in the dim moonlight, but he knew they couldn't be far ahead. His mind raced. Where was the Boss taking Mandie? What did he plan to do to her? His heart ached. He had made no secret of his love for Mandie. He set his jaw in determination and galloped on, his eyes searching the road ahead.

Soon he caught a glimpse of a dark form far ahead, and he slowed his pace. If he could follow the Boss to wherever it was he was taking Mandie, he might have a chance to rescue her. But the key was keeping the rider in sight without being seen himself.

Then Joe saw the form on the horse turn and glance back, and he realized with disappointment that the Boss had already seen him. Mandie's captor spurred his horse forward, and Joe knew that the chase was on.

Joe settled into a steady pace, just enough to keep them in sight, and prayed.

Then it happened. Four or five horsemen seemingly appeared out of nowhere, and the Boss halted abruptly as he came face to face with them. Then Joe heard the sharp crack of a pistol. His horse pranced sideways, shying away from the sound, but Joe regained control. The Boss's horse, spooked by the shot, reared and plunged wildly, and Joe watched in horror as a form flew from the horse and landed in the snow only feet from the slashing hooves. Joe raced forward and dragged Mandie out of harm's way. The Boss struggled to calm his horse, but in vain. A split second later he too fell heavily to the ground, and his horse dashed wildly back along the road.

Celia smiled up at Robert. They were seated on the settee near the fire, hand in hand. Jonathan perched on a chair nearby.

"So the deputy went to get Mandie and Joe?" Jonathan confirmed. He looked slightly bored, "Shouldn't we go and see if we can be of any help, Robert?"

Robert turned questioning eyes to his sweetheart, but it was Mrs. Johnson who replied. "I don't think that's necessary, son. Jed should be back before long."

Celia nodded her agreement. "There are five of them, and only three bandits. And they've been gone for over half an hour." she added after glancing up at the clock. "If you went after them now, you would probably meet them on their way back."

The conversation drifted to other things, and the clock ticked slowly onward.

The door swung open, and the three young people leaped up. Jed Johnson entered.

"Miss Celia," he said quickly, "Joe said to tell you that he's going to take Miss Mandie back to Franklin tonight. She's injured, and he wants to get her to the doctor as soon as possible."

Celia paled and reached for her coat. If Joe thought that Mandie's condition was serious enough to warrant a midnight ride— She turned to Robert.

"Are you coming?"

Robert and Jonathan both nodded, and Celia bade Mrs. Johnson an affectionate goodbye. Jed led them to the stable and found horses for them all to ride.

Celia came over to where Joe sat astride a horse, concern etched on her face. "Is she all right?"

Joe glanced down at Mandie, whom he still held in his arms, and shook his head slightly. "I think he drugged her." Joe said in low tones.

Celia mounted her horse and the four started off.

Joe tightened his grip on Mandie as they rode away. She was still insensible, a deadweight in his arms. But how else would he get her to the doctor in time? The dosage of drugs that Big Eye had given her had been a large one. Between that and the recent head wound and being thrown from the horse—Joe shook his head and urged his horse on.

This might very well be a race for Mandie's life.