Chapter Four: The Best Laid Plans:

English Caves, Missouri :

The wagon stopped and an old black man clad in working clothes sat there and Robert grinned. This was his own father Colton, a man that Grant had helped rescue and would help out when he could. He liked to travel and did so quite a lot and had been in the area when he saw the airship sinking. He saw his son and the men with him and lit a pipe and puffed away for a minute before he spoke. He liked to think before he said anything, this was partially self preservation for the times he had been a slave. One wrong word could really get one in trouble.

"Good evenin' you gents need a ride?" Colton asked.

"Yes my good sir, we were enjoying a fine flight and alas now are flightless and in need of transportation." Manzeppi said. "have you seen a small man about?"

"No, come on, I kin get ye out of here well enough." Colton replied. "Some bad business around here just t' warn ya."

"Sounds about right." Jim said climbing on board with Manzeppi.

"I put extra things in your suit, should help." Manzeppi said, "I was hoping the retrieval of Loveless would be easy."

"Thank you." Jim said.

They rode off slowly they did not need for anyone to suspect and old tired looking black man with his wagon after all. But Colton played his part well and got them to a set of caves as the rain was setting in to rest. They did not know it but they were not far from St. Louis at this time. They settled in and Jim did his best to not grimace, he was still feeling the effects of what Loveless had done to him. Robert gave him some painkillers in a liquid form that were very bitter. Manzeppi handed him a goblet of wine from seemingly no-where. Then they sat and waited and did not have long before Loveless arrived with inventions of his own and quite a few henchmen.

"You cannot escape as it is I who now have you trapped!" Loveless said.

"Try the inside pocket." Manzeppi said, "should be interesting, not sure how many it will take out but it should be spectacular."

"Nice, should be fun." Jim said.

He took out to small halves of a sphere and put them together. Then when the little key he turned that three times as Manzeppi instructed. Then he threw it as hard as he could out of the cave. Manzeppi was right, it was spectacular and took out the majority of Loveless's henchmen here. Jim had no intention of getting captured again, he knew that Loveless would be far, far worse to him if he were. He was still in pain but he did not have time to do anything about that now. Instead he fought on and as instructed used the gadgets well and with little instruction from Manzeppi.

"You are impressive Mr. West." Manzeppi said, "your ability to take on foes in such an inventive way."

"I just use the tools given." Jim replied.

"There is dynamite here." Colton said, "we want the doctor alive?"

"Yes, but do use it, he will be far back out harms way." Manzeppi replied.

The battle that followed was fierce and short. While Jim decided to engage in a shoot out, Robert used weapons of his own making and Colton used dynamite. It had been created for mining but it was now used for so much more. Right now it was being used to put an end to Loveless's private army once and for all. He simply had to be permanently stopped. If someone like Manzeppi thought so than he really was that bad. Then again Manzeppi did respect the federal agents as they were noble and loyal to America.

"It seems that we might have an end to this battle sooner than later." Manzeppi said.

He was right, and in short order Loveless was without his henchmen and it was Robert who captured him again. They put him in the wagon and headed back to St. Louis and to the prison there to lock up Loveless. Jim was not too happy with him nor was Robert and on having words with the guards they left the small prisoner there to await his fate. Manzeppi actually added a few things so he could not escape this time (they hoped) and followed the two agents to where the president was staying. Normally Jim reported to the colonel but not today, today he was reporting directly to the president. He was not going to show how weak and hurt he was, he would heal just fine.

All three entered the building taking their hats off as they did. They made fine figures in their well tailored clothing, Jim and Robert of course were very handsome and walked as if they owned the place. Colton was not here but he was proud of his son and what he was able to do and Robert knew this. Jim wished he had what Robert had with his father but for now he was going to show he was doing better than he was. He walked up to where the president was, nodded to the security here and entered the room to find Artie reading over a map. He looked up seeing Jim there and saw that while he seemed okay there were faint bruises, just because he did not look hurt did not mean he was not.

"We got Dr. Loveless." Jim said.

"Yes he is rather violent." Manzeppi said, "where is my fair bride?"

"Here Count." Grace said walking in, "you are hurt?"

"Not much." Jim said, "nothing that will not take care of itself."

"I will the judge of that" Grant said.

Jim knew that Grant cared about those that served him, and that was what had made him a great general in the civil war. He respected those that served under him and Jim knew he cared now. He was still in some pain but he knew that he would be alright once rested. He looked over at Grace, some things did not need to be shared with a lady present. For Mrs. Manzeppi was a lady and should be shielded from the dark things of the world. Yet Jim did not know her, that she was far more than she seemed and he really should have known that.

"I am a doctor myself. Grace said, "I was in the thick of the civil war, on the battlefields, nothing you say will shock me."

"Some of those battles." Jim said, "fine, but this is classified."

"She is cleared." Grant said taking out a cigar and lighting it.

Jim gave a run down of what had happened, how Loveless had captured him and what he had done. When done Grant sent a messenger to make sure the Loveless never got a chance to escape. Then he turned to talk with Manzeppi, normally he would not want to work with a criminal but Manzeppi had proven himself and what was more he wanted to work with him again. Manzeppi might not want that, but then in a way they both did believe in the same things. The way he treated Robert as an equal, well Grant respected that. He wanted all people treated equal but there were just so many that did not.

"Thank you for your help." Grant said.

"It was a pleasure Mr. President." Manzeppi said.

"As for you Mr. West, I need to see the damage." Grant said, he was always concerned for his agents after all, "see what he did to you."

"It's not bad, I can just sleep it off." Jim replied.

"That was an order Jim." Grant said.

Jim knew Grant cared but he really wanted to go to sleep still he would do as asked then go to bed. Grace was here, a doctor and had seen far worse. Well she had never seen someone who could heal like he did after all. Jim did as ordered and put his hat on a table and slowly removed his coat, cravat and vest. He refused to show pain and removed his shirt to show very little physical damage but his nerves certainly remember every bit of the pain. Grant walked around to check his back, as always there was little there to show he had been hurt. He hated when his agents, and before his soldiers had to die, seeing them hurt, in agony would haunt him all his days.

"He will be charged to the fullest." Grant said.

"As well he should be, he has an unhealthy fixation on Mr. West here." Manzeppi said, "I would if you would allow like to work with you in the future."

"I think something could be worked out." Grant replied.

Grace was looking at Jim, she liked that he was in such fine form, and that he really was a handsome man. However she loved her Count his wit, how he cared for her and treated her as a full equal. She had something most women did not and cherished that. A muscle bound man was good to look at but the only man for her was standing right in front of her smiling down at her. There was love in his eyes and a deep respect for her as well. Jim put his shirt back on and decided that going to bed was the best thing to do for now.

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So yes, Loveless is finally captured as he should be. He simply has done far too much damage to be allowed to run free. I see Grant as caring and he would not take kindly to anyone harming one of his agents just because they could.

Anyway do review please!