It was Tuesday, the day that Millie received her merchandise shipments. That meant two things: Dinner at the hotel with his Pa, and a new candy stock at Millie's store. There were two things Mark McCain loved more than life itself: Dinner at the hotel (which meant he didn't have to dishes) and candy.
14-year-old Mark had a rather large sweet tooth for candy and dessert and looked forward to fresh apple pie at the end of dinner at the hotel. If you had candy or pie and offered Mark McCain some of it, you'd have a friend for life. At the end of the school day, Mark hopped on his horse Blueboy and raced into town where he'd sit in Sheriff Michah's office and finish his homework so he wouldn't have to do it when he got home. Tonight's load wasn't too bad, a little arithmetic and a few chapters of his history book. Mark did love his history and got through it in no time.
Meanwhile, someone stood across the street, having watched Mark rid into town. They had been watching the McCain's for some time, waiting for just the right moment. They had to strike when Lucas, Micah, or no witnesses were around. This had to be perfect if they wanted to get away with kidnapping the son of the infamous Rifleman.
Michah had stepped out to investigate a disturbance at the bar across the street, leaving Mark alone to finish his studies. The boy was responsible enough to be left alone for a few minutes, and his father would be by his errands so they could all go to the hotel and eat.
"If anyone stops by, I'll be back in a few minutes," Micah told him. "Hold the fort down."
"Yes, sir," Mark said as he went back to his homework. He felt the dime in his pocket his father had given him for some candy burning a hole in his pocket. He could taste it now and had been looking forward to seeing that full candy jar all week.
"Where's the sheriff?" a man asked as he looked through the door. He was a man Mark had never seen before, and he wasn't one of the locals.
"Across the street at the tavern," Mark told him. "He'll be back in a few minutes."
"This can't wait, I need a doctor," the man said. "My wife is passed out and the doctor's not in."
Mark knew he shouldn't, but his Pa had raised him to always help someone in trouble, even if it was just getting some water. Mark grabbed his hat and followed, wondering if there something he could do. Doc Burrage was probably helping the pregnant woman at the edge of town. If the situation was really bad, he'd ride out to get him."
"I'll see if I can help," Mark said as he followed the man, who led him into an empty alley. "Where's your wife at—" Mark asked as he was hit in the head hard enough to render him unconscious. He fell to the group as the man scooped him up.
"Let's get out of here before anyone sees," the man said as he looked down at Mark. "Don't worry, we'll get our new little brother home to Ma in no time."
"This'll repay McCain for what he took from us," the man's other brother said. "Get the boy's hat, we can't leave any trace behind."
Lucas tried to restrain his anger and not punch the wall. It had been two hours and they had combed the town, finding no trace of Mark. Blueboy remained roped up outside and Mark's books were still on the table, his homework nearly done.
"I don't get it, Mark wouldn't take off without telling someone," Lucas said. "Millie hasn't seen him all day, and he wouldn't leave town without spending that dime in his pocket. Something must have happened."
"We'll get together a posse and form a search party," Micah told him. "We'll find him, don't worry."
"If anyone's hurt Mark, they'll pay with their lives," Lucas promised. "Don't worry, son, I'll find you."
Mark moaned as he opened his eyes, his blurry vision coming into focus as he sat up on a bed. He realized his clothes were changed into those befitting a mountain boy. A pair of overalls with no shirt and he was barefoot at the insistence of his kidnapper so that if he ran away, he wouldn't get far.
"He's awake," an elderly woman said as she sat in a rocking chair. "Jeremiah is awake. Our family is whole again."