~ Chapter Three ~
Lost And Hurt
The night had turned very cold and damp the grass becoming very heavy with dew his body soaked with it as he continued on his knees loosing his balance every few feet falling flat on his face. He stopped a minute shaking violently he couldn't decide if it was his body going into shock from the gunshot wound or just from the plain cold and dampness of the early hours.
"Do you see him any where?" He could hear one shouting to the other. He judged that the one asking the question couldn't be more then a few feet away from him. Crouching as low as he could to the ground he held his breath hoping to go undetected.
"Come on Jack this is pointless," the second one called out. "We'll come back when it's daylight when we can track him. For all we know you may have hit him and he is laying here dead in this field."
"Yeah all right," Jack replied giving another quick look around into the black night.
Sumner lay motionless his eyes closed waiting for the two assassins to be gone before he chanced getting up and walking. He let his mind trace back the events of what happened but they didn't make any more sense now then they did then. He was just coming out of the store to get in his truck when these two had come up behind him…
"Just take what you want," Sumner told them thinking they were wanting to rob him and not wanting to any trouble.
"Don't worry Ranger Sumner we are going to do just that," the bigger one had answered. "Now you are going to keep your hands where we can see them… that's right," he smiled as Sumner leaned his hands against the doorframe of the truck.
"Get his gun Jack," he had ordered the younger who immediately reached around to take his weapon.
"Who are you and what do you want?" Sumner demanded to know.
"Let's go Ranger," Lyttle answered.
"Not until you tell me what's going on," Matt dug his heels in.
"Your little wife just got home minutes before you called her and you just live round the corner from here," Lyttle was reciting before asking, "Would you like us to go get her to join you for the same fate as you?"
"Leave her out of it," Matt replied feeling the muzzle of the gun being shoved harder into his side.
"That's what I thought," Lyttle smugly smiled as they began moving towards the car. Stopping at the trunk he held the gun on Matt while Daines opened it to reach in for a role of heavy duct tape.
"Put your hands behind your back," Daines ordered wrapping the tape securely around his wrists umpteen times before ordering him into the trunk. Once there he plastered a swatch of the same tape across his mouth.
"Now don't you give us any trouble or Annabelle is as good as dead," Lyttle was warning again. With that he slammed the trunk down.
Sumner could hear the sound of the trunk slamming and his fear for Anna B's safety jolted him back to the reality of where he was. "I've got to get to a phone I've got to get a hold of Gage and Trivette," his thoughts verbalizing into a muffled noise beneath the tape as fear for his wife tore at his mind and wrenched his gut. "God Gage look after her until I can get home," he silently screamed out before forcing himself to his feet.
Standing for a moment he headed in the direction he thought the woods were in. His head pounded and dizziness waved down on him slowing down his every step. With his senses dulled it was no wonder he lost all sense of direction becoming disoriented. That and the fact he was unfamiliar with the terrain he was unaware that he was headed toward a ravine. He swaggered for a few steps along the edge of the drop before loosing his footing to plunge the fifteen or so feet below hitting his head loosing consciousness.
Jonas Blake's Estate
"Where have you been?" Jonas Blake demanded of his grandson as he came into the room.
"I went to see Annabelle…" he began to say only to be cut off.
"Didn't I tell you to stay away from her?" Jonas bellowed sitting straight up in his chair.
"You don't have to worry Grandfather her watch dog Gage was there. He and Sydney wouldn't let me any where near her. In fact they took me in for questioning warned me to stay away from her or they'd throw me back in jail," Hunter whined. "I want Francis Gage dead Grandfather. Annabelle will never be mine as long as he is alive."
"Hunter if you do as you are told you will get everything that you want. This is the time we even the score… they will pay for what they did to you and Annabelle will finally be your wife," Jonas smiled assuredly at his grandson.
Sydney And Gage's
"Chris, Chris can I come in?" he could hear his sister Piper outside his bedroom door. Getting up from his bed he went to the door opening it so she could quietly sneak in.
"What do you want?" he asked her closing the door behind her.
"How come Anna B is here and why is she crying? Where's Sumner? Did they have a fight?" she fired the questions at her brother.
"No they didn't have a fight they're too much like Mom and Dad," he told her not saying anything else.
"Well what's going on then?" she persisted.
"Something happened to Sumner… Dad, Uncle Walker and Uncle Jimmy are trying to find out where he is and what happened. Now go back to bed," he told her.
"Is that why Mom's crying then? Dad's all right isn't he?" Piper persisted.
"Mom's crying again?" Chris asked ignoring Piper's questions.
"Chris Dad is okay isn't he?" she questioned again.
"Yeah Piper Dad's fine he's not doing anything dangerous just looking for Sumner," he told her going to the door. "Where's Mom right now?"
"She's in her bedroom but she didn't quite close the door that's how I know she was crying," Piper answered.
"Well you go back to bed I'm sure she is just upset about Sumner and you know Mom right now she cries about almost anything," Chris tried to soothe his little sister.
"If you're sure?" Piper still questioned.
"I'm sure," he replied hoping he was convincing. "Now go back to bed," he repeated almost pushing her out the door.
Watching Piper go down the hall Chris waited for her door to close behind her before he stepped out to go see what was up with his mother. Approaching her door he could hear the quiet sounds of his mother's tears. Bringing his hand up to knock on the door he hesitated but a minute before rapping and asking, "Mom can I come in?"
"Umm yeah just a minute Chris," Syd replied wiping her face as she went to let him in. "What's wrong Honey?" she asked looking into her son's face.
"That's what I was going to ask you."
A half smile came across her face before she spoke. "You know me these days," she told him.
Chris smiled too before becoming serious, "Dad's all right?"
"Yes your father is fine," she answered her arms going around him in a hug.
"Mom what happened to Sumner?"
Syd hesitated a moment choosing her words carefully before answering, "Chris I can't tell you exactly what happened to Sumner because I don't know…" she left the rest unsaid hearing the door open and Gage come into the house. "Honey we'll talk in the morning for now how bout you go get a good night sleep."
"Okay," Chris reluctantly agreed leaning forward to give his mother a good night kiss before heading back to bed. Syd followed her son down the hall pulling his door closed before heading out to the kitchen and study where she knew she would find her husband and Anna B.
"Gage can't you just beat it out of him?" Anna B was asking as Syd came in the room.
"Honey if I thought I could get the answer I wouldn't hesitate for a minute," Gage answered seeing his wife come in the room. Seeing her puffy eyes he held out his hand to let her move against him his arm enfolding her. "Okay Syd?" he asked concern in his voice.
"Sydney maybe I shouldn't have come over you've got enough to do without me being here…" Anna B couldn't finish she broke down in tears and ran from the room. Gage was about to go after her but his wife stopped him.
"I'll go talk to her Gage," Syd volunteered pulling away only to have Gage grab her arm.
"You sure?" he questioned.
"Yeah I know exactly how she feels," Syd smiled back. "Meet me in bed?"
"That's the best offer I've had all day," Gage replied giving her cheek a quick peck.
"Better be the only offer," she teased scooting out of his reach.
He shook his head slightly smiling after her before letting his mind go back to his friend hoping that Hunter hadn't just taken him out and shot him. He could hear Syd call through the closed door to Anna B the door opening and Syd going inside before he headed down the hallway too.
~~~~~
"Anna B we don't want you leaving," Syd began as she stepped in the guest room with the girl closing the door behind her.
"Syd you've got enough to do and you're not feeling well, you don't need me here in the way."
"Will you listen to yourself Gage and I wouldn't have it any other way. Just because you are married doesn't mean that you still aren't part of our family. You know once Gage takes you under his wing you can't get rid of us that easy," Syd teased getting a small smile from Anna B amid the tears.
Getting up Anna B walked to the window to stare out into the night as if magically Matt would appear as if nothing had happened. Her hand unconsciously went to the small of her back rubbing up and down. "Syd I just need him back… I need to tell him…" she swallowed hard unable to continue.
"How far along are you?" Sydney asked coming up quietly behind her.
"How did you know?" Anna B turned to her friend.
"You forget this is number four for me and I may not be an expert but I can read the signs," Sydney replied.
"Oh Sydney I only found out this morning I was going to tell Matt tonight but I never got the chance," she burst into tears as she spoke.
Putting her arms around Anna B Syd whispered, "But you will we'll find him and then you will tell him."
~~~~~
Quietly opening the bedroom Syd slipped inside just as the shower turned off in their bathroom. Going to her side of the bed she pulled back the covers and got in waiting for her husband to appear.
"Everything all squared away with Anna B?" he asked as he towelled his hair.
"Gage we are going to find him aren't we?" Syd answered with a question.
"I don't know Syd with Hunter being involved…" Gage left the sentence unfinished as he sat on the edge of the bed beside her.
"He has to be alive Gage she needs him so much especially now…" it was Syd's turn to let her voice trail off.
"Why especially now Syd?" Gage had taken her hands.
"She… well they… but she hasn't told him… maybe I shouldn't say anything…"
"To late Cooke tell me what's going on," Gage demanded his hand cupping her chin so he could look into her eyes. "What hasn't she told him? What has she done now?"
"Hey she didn't do this alone."
"All right so she had help…" Gage shrugged his shoulders as he spoke, "What is it?"
Taking a deep breath Syd looked into Gage's face to say, "The Sumner's are going to have a baby."
"A baby? Are you sure?"
"Gage! Yes I'm sure she just found out this morning she hasn't even been able to tell Matt yet. We just have to find him and soon."
"I concur," he answered resting his hand on Syd's tummy and their own unborn child. Leaning forward his lips caught hers for a quick peck before he got up to finish in the bathroom.
"Honey?" Syd called after him watching him in the mirror as he brushed his hair and hung up the towel.
Turning off the light he asked, "What?"
"I think we should alert Chris about Hunter," she told him as he slide into bed beside her taking her in his arms letting her snuggle against him.
"Maybe but I don't think that Hunter is doing his own dirty work," he told her explaining to her about finding Jack Daines' print on Sumner's truck and who he was to Blake.
"God Gage he really does have something to do with it then," she said her voice cracking in recollection of her last encounter with him.
"Hey you care to tell me what's going on with you?" Gage quizzed her moving his hand under her t-shirt rubbing against her bare belly eliciting a kick from the baby.
"Don't encourage him," Syd scolded.
"Then start talking Ranger," Gage threatened helping her to turn over to press her back against his chest his hands once again rubbing over the baby inside her. "Come on Syd spill it."
"Gage I just keep hearing Piper's frantic phone call that Hunter was here in our home, I can't get the picture of him dragging Anna B down the driveway out of my mind." The tears were back as she choked the words out.
Rising up on his elbow he pulled Syd to her back to lay across his arm brushing her tears with his free hand. "Shh Honey it's not going to happen again…"
"I just wish it wasn't now when I'm expecting… I just feel so totally defenceless and vulnerable…" Syd tried to explain.
Catching her chin Gage leaned forward to gently kiss her lips. "How bout you work with me tomorrow following up leads on Jack Daines?" he asked.
"What's the catch Gage?" she asked trying to read his face.
"No catch we could use you out there," he answered seeing she wasn't buying it. "If you feel up to it tomorrow I just want you with me. Trivette and Walker are going to be looking for Daines too. We are still going to have a car sitting in the driveway here," Gage was rambling on.
"Wait a minute since when did you want me out on the street when I was pregnant?" she asked pushing herself up to face him.
Gage let go of her to sit mutely up in bed staring across the room feeling Syd pull herself up on her knees to lean in against his back her arms going around him. "What is it Gage?" she asked kissing his shoulder and neck.
Sighing deeply Gage tried to put what he was feeling into words, "It's that when Hunter was standing there in cuffs after you had beat him senseless he was still shouting at you that he wasn't through with you yet. Now he's back and I can't get away from the feeling that he will attack you again. I just need to have you with me."
"Honey, you're as bad as me," she smiled sliding out of the way so she could push him back down on the bed to snuggle in his arms.
Turning towards her he gently nuzzled her neck softly whispering as his hand moved up her leg to disappear beneath the t-shirt again, "I can't help it if I need you."
"Umm Francis I don't care how I'm feeling tomorrow I'm coming with you," she purred succumbing to the passion that accompanied his kisses.
The Following Morning Six AM.
Frowning slightly Syd made her way towards the kitchen where the light was all ready on. Coming into the room she was met by Cat who sat at the table colouring. "What are you doing up Puss?" she asked surprised to see her youngest daughter up at this hour.
"Hi Mommy I'm colouring a picture for you and Daddy so don't look," She exclaimed half covering the picture with her hands.
"I'm not looking but I would like a kiss," she told her as Cat's little arms reached up for her mother.
After a big hug and kiss Syd asked, "So what do you want for breakfast Honey?"
"I had breakfast with Anna B," she replied going back to her colouring.
"You did?" her mother quizzed further. "Where is she did she go back to bed?"
"No a car with a light on the top came and beeped and then she went away," Cat explained not looking up from her colouring.
"Cat what are you talking about?"
"Ladies," Gage addressed them as he came in the kitchen.
"Hi Daddy," Cat beamed at her father.
"Honey was it the kind of car that you pay money for a ride in like we had to ride in before I got my new van?" Syd was asking.
"Yeah Mommy one of those," she answered.
"What's going on Syd?" Gage asked.
"Anna B she's gone somewhere in a cab," Syd began explaining.
"She said she was going to find Sumner she took her little black computer with her," Cat was explaining further.
"Did she say where she was looking for Sumner?" It was Gage who took over questioning his daughter.
Shrugging her shoulders Cat said, "Only that it had to be a place she had been with Hunter a long time ago."
"Why on earth didn't she wake us up?" Sydney asked looking at her husband who had rolled his eyes to the ceiling.
"Cause she said Daddy should be worrying about Mommy not her and Sumner," Cat explained.
"What's everyone doing up so early?" Piper yawned coming into the kitchen.
"We have to get to work Pipe," her Dad began to say. "Can you go and wake up Chris I have something I need to talk to the both of you about."
"I'll do that Piper," her mother interrupted, "You just take Cat with you and the both of you get dressed. As soon as you are join us here again."
Taking Cat's hand the girls headed back down the hall Syd close at their heels. "Chris," she knocked loudly on his door.
"Mommy," Cat called to her, "Chris isn't there he told Anna B she couldn't go alone and either he was coming or he would tell Dad."
"Gage," Syd shouted out in panic pushing open the door to Chris' room to find it empty.
"Chris went with her," she cried out feeling her knees going week knowing she had to get sitting down.
"What?" Gage exclaimed getting his arm around Syd and helping her back to the kitchen to sit.
"Tell Dad what you told Mom," Piper was instructing Cat the little girl repeating the story.
"But Daddy you can call him," Cat was explaining, "Cause he took your phone."
Gage closed his eyes for a moment turning his head to where he knew he had left his phone sitting on the counter knowing full well he had neglected once again to charge it.
Syd could tell by the look on his face what he was thinking. "Francis!" she jumped on him.
"I was going to do it Syd…"
"Check the redial and see if you can find out the cab company and I'll try your phone with mine and see if I can get them at all," she told him letting him help her up. "Piper, Cat can you please go and get dressed," she told them as once again they started down the hall to the bedroom.
Sitting on the edge of the bed Syd hit her husband's number on the redial listening as the numbers keyed themselves in, thankfully Chris answered on the first ring. "Dad," he shouted into the phone.
"No Chris it's Mom where are you?"
"Mom please don't be mad…"
"Chris just tell me where you are…"
"Okay Mom I'm at a truck stop out on route forty-five called The Big Wheel."
"You two stay there your father and I are on our way."
"Mom it's just me Anna B took off and left me here not five minutes ago," Chris explained.
"Chris it doesn't matter you just stay put we are on…" there was dead silence the phone going dead.
"Gage I found Chris," she called down the hall going back to hurry into her clothes.
"Where are they?" he asked coming into the bedroom as once again she was dialing her phone.
"Just Chris," she said the phone connecting. "Erica I hope I didn't wake you but I need a favour," she began proceeding to tell her what happened. "Thanks Erica we'll be there in a few minutes with the girls.
The Big Wheel Truck Stop Ninety Minutes Later
"Do you see him any where?" Syd cried sitting up trying to focus on everything and everyone in the parking lot.
"Right there Syd," Gage answered pointing the van towards where Chris sat on the edge of the curb outside the restaurant.
"Oh thank god," Syd cried all ready releasing her seatbelt and opening the door before the car was stopped. "Chris, Chris," she was crying out to him.
"Mom I'm fine, please Mom," Chris was all ready trying to dodge Sydney's mothering of him.
It didn't matter Sydney was reaching up her arms going around her son's neck hugging him tight.
"Chris all right?" Gage asked.
"Yeah Dad fine," he answered as he explained about taking the cab to Anna B and Sumner's to get her car before heading out here, his eyes looking down to the ground as he spoke.
"What were you thinking Chris?" Syd started feeling Gage's hand on her shoulder.
"I didn't think she was leaving the city. She didn't want to tell you in case she was wrong; she's been worried about Mom like the rest of us… I just thought that if I went with her I could help keep her out of trouble and call if we found out something," Chris rattled off his explanation to them.
"Chris nobody can keep Anna B out of trouble when she gets an idea in her head I've tried for years," Gage told him. "Do you know what direction she went?"
"Yeah she was still going west she said something about an old farm that Hunter and his mother lived on when he was a little kid. For some reason she thinks Hunter took Sumner out there," Chris explained to his parents.
"Gage we need a chopper we need to find her little yellow car," Syd was all ready dialing the same time talking to her husband.
The line suddenly connected and as she spoke to Trivette Gage took Chris aside. "Chris you know that this wasn't the best solution don't you?"
"Now I do but Dad she was so upset and so determined just like Mom gets," Chris tried to explain his actions to his father.
"And that's why you should have got me," Gage reaffirmed. "Oh and Chris next time you decide to pull a stunt like this take your mother's phone."
"Got you Dad," Chris grinned handing the phone back to his father.
"Walker and Trivette will be here in fifteen minutes to pick us up," Syd informed Gage then turning to Chris told him, "The state police are sending a car to take you to Aunt Erica's."
"Syd why aren't you driving him…" Gage began to say it suddenly dawning on him why she had called the state police for a car. "Oh no you don't Syd," Gage was arguing knowing where this was leading.
"Gage I'm going with you so don't argue. You told me you wanted me with you today and now you got me," she told him her jaw set as she spoke.
"You know I wasn't figuring on… on… on," Gage was stumbling over his words as he tried to talk his wife out of coming with them.
Reaching out she put her finger under his chin to push his mouth closed. "Promise I won't get in trouble," she told him standing on her tiptoes to kiss his lips before catching sight of the state trooper car pulling in.
"Don't you say a word," Gage warned his son catching the ear to ear grin Chris wore after getting a first hand view of how his father handled his mother.
The car and Chris were just pulling out as the ranger helicopter started to descend on the parking lot. With his hand loosely on his wife's shoulder she and Gage ran for the helicopter.
"Jonas Blake, Hunter's grandfather, owns a farm about ten minutes from here," Trivette was explaining as the chopper lifted off.
Nearing the farm all four rangers kept their eyes searching the ground Syd suddenly seeing Anna B's yellow car. "Gage," she shouted over the din of the helicopter pointing to the ground.
Gage alerted Walker and Trivette just as Syd caught sight of Anna B with two men. They must have heard the advancing helicopter because one of the men grabbed her arm to drag her into the barn.
Walker was all ready motioning for the pilot to take them down as Gage's eyes averted to his wife. "Syd please stay here," he signed to her so he knew she would and not say, "I didn't hear you."
"Until you bring Anna B out," she signed back.
Satisfied he nodded his head his concentration going back to the rescue. Before the helicopter touched down the three rangers were jumping from it. It took all the willpower that Syd could muster up to stay put in that chopper as she watched her husband disappear inside that old barn and her not follow .
Walker had gone in first sliding in undetected behind an old horse stall Trivette and Gage following suit. They could easily see the two men from their vantage point; one had hold of Anna B a gun pointed at her while the second dialed the phone.
"Mr. Blake we're out here at the farm and guess who shows up Hunter's little girlfriend demanding her husband back. And that's just the half of it she had a helicopter following her," he was explaining before Anna B cut in.
"Nobody is following me I didn't tell anyone where I was going, you two are just as stupid as the rest of Hunter's people," she shouted out.
"All right Mr. Blake," the one on the phone was confirming before hanging up to turn to Anna B and his partner. "He says to kill who ever is in the helicopter and bring the girl to his estate."
"I'm not going anywhere with you two I'll see you dead first," Anna B was shouting at the top of her lungs.
"Jack get the tape out of the car and lets shut her up, Hunter can take care of her when we get her back," the first man ordered coming over to take hold of Anna B while Daines gladly handed her over to him to go back outside for the tape.
Going to the door he cautiously looked out not seeing or hearing the helicopter from earlier. Taking a step out he let the door bang shut only to feel Sydney's gun suddenly press into the back of his head.
"Don't you say a word," she hissed in his ear. "Get your hands behind your back now," she ordered snapping the cuffs on tight before prodding him with her gun to head behind the barn and out of sight.
Inside Gage had managed to climb up above where Anna B stood struggling with her captor looking for the right moment to drop on the man. With what Syd had told him last night he wanted to make sure he didn't knock her to the ground too. Walker and Trivette had circled around ready for Jack to come back in at any moment.
Walker's eyes were on Gage wondering what he was waiting for when Jack's partner began to mumble out loud, "What the hell are you doing out there?" Dragging Anna B who was fighting him every step of the way he yelled out, "Jack," just as Gage dropped on him.
In two quick blows Gage had Lyttle down Trivette coming forward to cuff him. Walker had gone outside to take Jack into custody while Gage went to Anna B where she was against the wall.
"Are you all right?" Gage was anxiously asking.
"Gage they took Sumner I know they did," she was crying trying to get past him to get a Lyttle.
"Anna B." Gage had his arms around her trying to calm her. "Anna B Syd told me about the baby are you all right?"
She stopped struggling beginning to cry harder instead, "Gage I just want Matt we have to find Matt."
"We will find Matt but you have to promise me you are going to get checked out and let Syd look after you," Gage told her looking into her face waiting for her to nod her head in agreement.
Helping her up they headed outside where Sydney stood waiting for them. All kinds of state troopers were beginning to roll in the laneway. Trivette had all ready handed Lyttle over to the troopers and Daines was all ready in a car. Gage could see they had moved to the trunk to open it. Syd could see that too and coming forward she put her arm around Anna B to lead her towards the helicopter just in case their fears were right and Matt was in the trunk of that car.
"Come on Honey," Syd soothed letting Anna B rest her head on her shoulder as she watched her husband hurry over to the car.
Gage came up beside Walker just as they popped the lid of the trunk. He closed his eyes a moment thanking God that there wasn't a body inside. Trivette had all ready reached in though grabbing up a service weapon and an ID. "It's Sumner's all right," he stated. "They had him at one time."
"The question is what did they do with him?" Walker asked aloud.
TBC.