Alfred Van Allen stared at his son. "Rick, are you sure this isn't one of your practical jokes? I remember the time you locked up the maid in the closet and said she ran away with the coachman."
"Oh, Father," Rick huffed, "I was only six years old at the time. Look at my face! Does this look like a joke?"
"No, I confess it doesn't. Mr McCain, I'm really very sorry about your son. Don't concern yourself about the money. I would pay any sum to get Mark back."
Luke bit his lip. "That's very decent of you, Mr Van Allen."
"My friends call me Alfred."
"I'm Lucas." The big man paced the floor. "Look, I appreciate you being willing to put up the ransom money but I can't depend on that. They were seen riding out of town on the west road and it shouldn't be too hard to track them. I'm going to put a posse together and get my son back."
"Quite right." Van Allen stood up. "I would do the same in your shoes...err...boots. I shall come along, of course."
"That's not necessary, Alfred." Luke shook his head. "We'll go faster without…" He hesitated.
"Without a city man holding you back?"
Luke tried to smile. "I didn't mean it like that."
"I'm a good shot, Lucas, and a fast rider. They only took your son because they believed him to be Rick. I must insist that I have a right to be included in your group."
"All right." Luke headed out the door. Van Allen paused to say to his son, "Rick, I want you to stay right here at the hotel until I return. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Father, I understand." The boy watched from the window as the two men went over to the marshal's office, then went and looked at himself in the mirror. He was still wearing Mark's clothes and his hair was disheveled and dusty. For a long moment he stood there, then he went back to the window, waiting until his father rode out of town with Mr McCain and two other men. Marking the road they took, he left the hotel and picked up Blue Boy. The horse was restive after being tied up for so long, but once out of town, he settled down. Rick patted his neck. "Don't worry, Blue Boy. I'll have you back to your master soon enough." He cantered along, falling back once he had caught up enough to see the posse.