Chapter 3
The sheriff spoke first. "I'll start with Eddie Tree again. He may have overheard something or picked up a clue as to where they may have taken her. Why don't you two talk to your mom and the kids, I imagine they're pretty upset."
Rick nodded, and he and A.J. headed down the block to Chief Joseph's home.
The door was opened by Cecilia on the first knock, and seeing the boys expressions, her face crumpled. A.J. took her in his arms and tried to comfort her, as Rick went inside and found much the same reaction from Robin. She started crying, "Uncle Rick, where did they take Aunt Laurie?" He picked her up and taking a seat on the living room sofa, comforted her as best he could. When her sobs diminished, he quietly said "We don't know, honey, where they took your Aunt, but Uncle A.J. and Uncle Rob and I will find her. I promise you that." Her brother put an arm around her as she raised her tear-stained eyes to Rick and replied "I know you will, but I'm scared they're going to hurt her. I heard Aunt Ceci say they tried to shoot at anyone who tried to stop them." Rick took a deep breath to control himself; this was worse then anything he ever could have imagined. "They won't hurt Aunt Laurie, I won't let them, hon, now you go to bed and I will go try to find your Auntie, ok?" She sniffed, then kissed Rick on the cheek, "ok, but be careful".
Tears came to his eyes, she sounded just like Laurie. Searching for a Kleenex himself, he came upon a card in his pocket and ..
"A.J., I'm going to the pay phone, I think it's the only secure one in town." Rick rushed past his startled brother, only to find Chief Joseph in the doorway, he held up his hand and said "I have a phone you can use, Rick, it has a direct outside line." He led Rick back to his office, opened his drawer and pulled out a state of the art cordless. "Thanks, Chief, I'm going to call Steve Austin, he might have heard something.. " Something from Light, yes, knowing her that is a possibility". The elder smiled. "She told me one day about her gift, I know it has saved her life before". Rick nodded and punched in the number Steve had given him a few months before.
The excitement he had felt died after the 20th time he tried Austin, so he put the phone down for a moment, standing and stretching. Looking at the clock, He realized it was after midnight. Eight hours to find Laurie.
He tried the OSI emergency number several times in the next hour; only a service and they promised only to take a message. He called Austin again, no answer. A.J. brought over Laurie's watch to him, and as he stared at it, he realized it might have more then a directional hook up on it. What if it transmitted more than morse code?
He pushed the stem in. Nothing. He pulled it out two clicks. Nothing.
He twisted the stem counterclockwise, then pushed it in. Suddenly it sounded like static.
Rick cleared his throat. "This is an emergency. This is Rick Simon. I have To get in touch with Colonel Austin. Can anyone hear me?"
Suddenly he heard a familiar voice. "Rick".
"Steve, thank God you're there. Laurie is in danger".
"I knew something was wrong. It happened around dusk, right?".
Rick beckoned to A.J. to listen in. "Yeah, Steve, and the two men who took her are holding her in exchange the sale of Laurie's land and another ranch. Can you reach her, Steve, we have to find her before they kill her."
Steve was silent for a moment, then said "She's a little disoriented, her head hurts. She doesn't think they took her far, but wherever it is , there's not much air, like a shack or something."
Rick yelled, "that's it, I think they took her to Lost Valley, Steve, can you reach her, ask her if she recognizes the place."
Silence. Then "yes, that where she thinks she is. She wants you to be careful, the path was ok coming in, but in rubble on the far side. She says she's having trouble getting air, it's freezing".
Rick thanked Steve. "I'll call you as soon as we know something."
"Be careful, Rick.", Austin added, "you too, A.J. go find her."
Rick started for the Jeep, figuring it would be more suited for the terrain. The sheriff met him at the car, waving a scrap of paper at him. "Tree got himself a lawyer. He's refusing to talk now, but we found this note in the van, I think she's only a couple of miles out of town."
A.J. filled him in on Steve's information and he insisted on going with them. Rick agreed to have him ride with him in Laurie's jeep, and after seeing the portable lights Rob placed in the jeep, he was glad of the company.
Riding out to Lost Valley took almost an hour, having to stop and start to verify they were still on the road. Finally reaching the fenced off portion on the north side, Rick put the car lights on high, with A.J. following suit to provide light on the valley floor.
Tying the end of a rope to the bumper of the jeep, Rick played the rope out as he gingerly followed a sloping path to the bottom of the valley. Once he reached it, he started calling Laurie's name, and entering a clearing, he thought he heard something. Drawing his gun, he crept forward, and came upon a small shack, windows partially boarded up. He stopped and called again, "Laurie, it's Rick". A "Thump, thump" sounded from within, a muffled cry followed.
"Sweetheart, I'm coming in", he answered frantically. Shining a flashlight on the darkened building, he saw a new padlock on the door and shot it off. Pulling it off the latch, he opened the door and felt the icy air rushing out. He shone the light inside and found Laurie blinking in the light, stretched out on a rusty bed with her wrists tied. Darting forward, he pulled a scarf from her mouth and untied her from the bed. She gasped for air, and tried to speak. "Rick, thank God." "It''s alright, Laurie, you're safe". He held her against him, and freeing her ankles, lifted her up and carried her out of the stale air. Once outside, she started to shake, "They tried to force me to sign the ranch away, and I.. I wouldn't do it, so they grabbed my hand and made me scribble on that contract." "Don't worry, sweetheart, when I get ahold of those bastards, they'll be sorry they ever touched you", Rick growled, seeing her bruised face as he stopped to wrap a blanket around her. She tried to smile at him. "I'll be ok just as soon as we get out of here". Swiftly he started through the canyon.
Coming to the path back to the top of the valley, he called up to Rob and A.J., "I found Laurie, we're coming up". Suddenly a shower of rocks came down, and Rob's voice reached them. "Can't come that way, Rick, the trail has collapsed." Rick looked around for another way up. Laurie caught his attention. "Rick, there's a secret path over here we can use".
She pointed to the canyon wall, where ivy and a misshapen tree covered the rocks. Rick lowered her to her feet and slowly walked her over, peering around in the car lights and moonlit shadows. "Where is it?" She looked at the overhang, and said, "Right here". A gust of wind blew through the trees and lifted the foliage, revealing an opening in the rocks. Rick shone his flashlight in and said, "are you sure this is safe?" She nodded, so he helped her through the tunnel and up a broken, winding path, where faint moonlight shone at the top. Coming out through overgrowth, they saw the lights of the cars less then 20 feet away.
"Guys", Rick called, grinning, and saw both men turn toward them, surprised. A.J. ran toward them and hugged Laurie, then helped her make her way over to the Jeep where Rob waited. She smiled with relief when she saw Rob, and when he embraced her, said "I was so worried, Kingston said he left you for dead when they shot out your tires." Rob shook his head. "Nope, thanks to these guys, he failed. That's a mistake he's going to regret."
Lifting her into the jeep, Rob took the wheel while Rick sat in the back with her, with A.J. following behind in the rental. On the way back to Silver Rock, Laurie told both men how she was kidnapped. "I had opened the car door, when I heard screeching brakes behind me. I started to turn around to see if there was an accident when I felt someone grab me and drag me backwards. I didn't even have time to yell before I saw a car door close behind me and I felt the vehicle take off. I tried to fight back, but Kingston slapped me and tied me up, then threw me onto the floor of the car. I guess that's when I hit my head, I was so dazed I didn't even realize Rob was right behind us until I heard them say he had crashed. Somehow I knew exactly where they were taking me.
When we got to Lost Valley, they carried me down the slope and put me in the shack, where Kingston told me I could go home once I signed the sales contract. When I refused, he threatened to go back to Silver Rock and grab one of you guys to force my signature." She lowered her head and wiped her eyes.
Rick took Laurie in his arms and held her until she was able to continue. "They left me by myself until about an hour ago, when Kingston came storming in and untied my left hand, threatening to break it if I didn't sign the contract. I told them it wasn't any good, I wasn't going to sign anything. Kington said if it wasn't believable enough, he was going to come back with you or A.J. To help persuade me."
Rick kissed her, and told her "Don't worry, we'll be ready to face him at the tribal council. I'm taking you to the clinic, you'll be safe there until after the council meets." She shook her head. "No, Rick, I need to be at that hearing, if I'm not there, it'll make it too hard to stop Kingston." She took his hand in hers, and as he started to protest, said "I love you, Rick, in everything else I'll do as you ask, but I have to be present, to say what they did to me."
Rick looked at Rob, who shrugged his shoulders and said, "Don't look at me, she's right about what happens if she doesn't show up, the Council will just sign off on the sale."
He looked back at Laurie, then sighed and said "All right, but just until we catch Kingston, then you go stay at the ranch."
Arriving at the hospital, Rick insisted on carrying her into the emergency room, where Doc Walker was waiting. Shaking his head at Laurie's bruises, the physician had Rick bring her into a treatment room where he started to examine her. Rick had sent A. J. to let their mom know Laurie was safe, and somehow he wasn't surprised that less then 15 minutes later Cecilia returned with Robin, Robert and his brother in tow.
After Doc had finished his examination, he called Rick inside "She's very lucky, Mr. Simon. She doesn't have a concussion, but she's dehydrated and in some pain, so I would keep her in bed until tomorrow." "But I have to go to the Council meeting today, I have to tell what happened", Laurie interrupted frantically, sitting up on the gurney. Rick went over and comforted her.
"All right, Laurie, I'll take you over there, but you have to promise to rest until the meeting and then afterwards, right to bed." He looked at the doctor. "I'm afraid she's right, Dr., she does have to go, otherwise the jerks who did this might get away." Walker nodded, reluctantly. Ok, Mr. Simon, but she stays here until 8am, that should give you plenty of time to take her over there." He gave her some asprin, then told the nurse to have Cecilia and the kids to come in.
As tired as Rick was, he got an adrenalin rush seeing the kids come in to see their aunt, followed by his mom. Robert hugged her and assured her their neighbor had fed the horses the night before, Robin was quieter, insisting on sitting next to Laurie the entire time.
Aunt Ceci came over to the bed and embraced her, "Thank God you're safe, are you alright?" Laurie smiled, "I am now, thanks to the guys".
Just then the nurse came in, reminding them all that Laurie needed some rest. With Doc's permission, Cecilia stayed with Laurie, so Rick sat outside her door. A.J. got the kids to settle down on a sofa in the visitor's lounge and then camped out in the rental car while Rob went back to the sheriff's office.
Having been in and out of emergency rooms all his life, Rick was astonished at how busy this small clinic could seem with so few visitors. When Doc Walker stopped by to offer him some coffee, he said as much and got a stifled laugh from him. "You're lucky we had a slow night, some days its wall-to-wall patients twenty four seven. We only have ten beds in the clinic and two emergency rooms, so it can be a real squeeze." Rick shook his head, "How do you handle it, where's the nearest hospital to you?" "Try Window Rock , we're it for miles around. As for handling it, well, the people here help out in the most amazing ways. " Doc looked at the clock. "It's only four thirty, if you want to trade with your brother, he's in the car. I could stand watch for a while."
Rick shook his head. "I'm ok, I can manage for a couple of hours. Are you going to get any shuteye?" "Oh yeah, around 9 Dr. Jackson from the University will relieve me, so I can attend the tribal council. Just in case there's any trouble or someone gets too rowdy." Rick grinned. "I may take you up on it, I'm sure Rob can handle his end but." Doc frowned, "You think the guys that assaulted Laurie will actually show up?" "Yeah, if forcing her to sign the sales contract was any indication, I'm afraid they mean to do the land grab today."
Doc suddenly crushed his empty cup in his hand, "Count on me, Rick, nobody takes our land without a fight".
Rick waited until almost 7 to wake Laurie and his mom. Getting A nod from the nurse, he went into the room and found Cecilia fast asleep, and Laurie quietly getting dressed in the restroom. Embarrassed, He tried to sneak back out, but she turned and whispered, "It's Ok, I'm decent". He smiled at her and waiting until she finished putting on her shoes then lifted her in his arms and kissed her.
Finally pulling away from her, he said, "I promised you I would take you to the council meeting, now if anything happens you stay put until A.J. or I come back."
The arrival of Robert and Robin ended further talk of the meeting as Laurie woke Cecilia and Rick went ahead to have A.J. pull the car around. .
When they arrived at the tribal center, there was already a crowd waiting outside. Rick and A.J. pulled the jeep around to the rear entrance, where Chief Joseph was waiting. He had Rick take Laurie inside to his office to wait, then A.J. drove round the front to drop off Cecilia and the kids. The Simons had all thought it best for Robert and Robin to stay away from the meeting, but the Sheriff told them it was important for them to be seen as a part of the Community.
Away from the teens, Rob told Rick "Some members of the people feel that the kids aren't involved enough in the tribal traditions; their coming will dispel some of that attitude". Rick snorted. "Talk about prejudice! Whatever happened to that we are family stuff?" The sheriff laughed, "Man, I'd like to see you face to face with some of these "More Navajo then you types", it would be something!"
A.J. gave Rick a high sign as he went toward the Chief's office, it meant that Kingston and his flunky had entered the meeting room. He could hear the buzz diminish as the council was called in session, then a list of items being read to the Chief. Rick waited to hear the proposed sale come up for discussion before he went to get Laurie. she was pacing nervously in the office, and as Rick entered, looked at him and tried to smile. "Don't worry, Laurie, A.J. is outside and so is Doc Walker, they aren't going to get near you", he said, and put an arm around her. She nodded. "I know, Rick, I'm alright. Let's go." They left the office and went to the door of the meeting room.
Just then they heard Thomas Kingston announce he had a signed contract from Laurie herself, selling her land for "a fair price". Before Rick could stop her, Laurie barged into the room, and pointing at Kingston, announced "That signature, Mr. Kingston, was forced out of me under threat of my life and the lives of my family. I charge you with assault and kidnapping, and I request the council to disregard that contract".
Immediately the people around Kingston started toward him and Rick could see Kingston's associate already trying to leave, only to be stopped by the Sheriff. Suddenly Kingston pulled a gun and came straight toward Laurie, yelling, "I don't know how you got out of there, but you're my ticket out of here". Before he could grab her, Laurie picked up a chair and used it to knock the gun from his hand. Not bothering to try to pick it up, Kingston reached again for Laurie and found Rick in his way. "Try some of your own medicine", he snarled and round housed Kingston in the face.
Flying backwards, Laurie's assailant crashed into several chairs, but managed to pick himself up and try to escape out the front.
Rick turned to Laurie as Cecilia and the kids rushed over and said, "You stay here, don't leave." She nodded.
Pushing past the crowd still milling around the room, he caught sight of Kingston trying to get into a car. "A.J.!" he yelled "Down here." he heard at his feet. Looking down, he saw
his brother on the floor holding his arm. "What happened to you, are you alright?" He pulled A.J. to his feet and leaned him against the wall. "Kingston has a knife, he slashed me as I made a grab for him". "Stay there, I'm going to take him", Rick ordered then took off across the street. He went to pull out his gun, then realized there were too many people in the way.
Suddenly, he heard the sheriff yell, "Rick!" Turning, he saw Rob toss a rope at him, shouting, "Get him".
Catching it, Rick turned back to see Kingston running toward the outskirts of town. He took off after him, making a loop as he ran. When he got close enough, he swung the lasso over his head, then threw it toward the fugitive.
At first he thought he had thrown it too far, as instead of catching Kingston, it caught a car antenna. Fortunately, Kingston ran into it and was clotheslined, ending up on his back, out cold.
Rick heard cheering as he ran up to the crook, turning to see a crowd of people led by the sheriff, running behind him. Dragging the unconscious man up by his shirt collar, Rick handed him off to Rob, who slapped him on the back as he bent over to catch his breath.
"Talk about luck, Rick, haven't seen anybody pull that off before; like something out of the movies!"
Rick grinned, then yelped with surprise as some of the townspeople hoisted him on their shoulders and carried him back down the street.
He had them put him down when he caught sight of A.J., now sporting a bandage on his arm, and his mom standing by the tribal center, and Laurie running toward him. She nearly knocked him over as words came spilling out. "That was wonderful, I didn't know you could lasso, how did you do that?"
Instead of trying to explain his lucky toss, he kissed her, to the background of cheers and laughter of the people assembled.
Interrupted only by Robert and Robin running up and hugging them both, Rick swept Laurie into his arms and loaded her and the kids into the jeep. Going over to check on his brother, he greeted his mom and found A.J. downplaying the wound on his arm. "Mom, it's ok, it doesn't need stitches". He looked up at his older brother, "Tell her it's alright, Doc already looked at it".
Rick winked at Cecilia and then said in mock sympathy, "Oh, but A.J., are you sure you might not have to have a tetanus shot, you don't know where that guy's knife has been!"
"No, I don't need a shot", A.J. said thru gritted teeth. "I just need breakfast and a real vacation away from you, Hopalong".
Rick laughed and said "See you back at the ranch, Shane," as he climbed into the jeep and headed down the road
The sheriff spoke first. "I'll start with Eddie Tree again. He may have overheard something or picked up a clue as to where they may have taken her. Why don't you two talk to your mom and the kids, I imagine they're pretty upset."
Rick nodded, and he and A.J. headed down the block to Chief Joseph's home.
The door was opened by Cecilia on the first knock, and seeing the boys expressions, her face crumpled. A.J. took her in his arms and tried to comfort her, as Rick went inside and found much the same reaction from Robin. She started crying, "Uncle Rick, where did they take Aunt Laurie?" He picked her up and taking a seat on the living room sofa, comforted her as best he could. When her sobs diminished, he quietly said "We don't know, honey, where they took your Aunt, but Uncle A.J. and Uncle Rob and I will find her. I promise you that." Her brother put an arm around her as she raised her tear-stained eyes to Rick and replied "I know you will, but I'm scared they're going to hurt her. I heard Aunt Ceci say they tried to shoot at anyone who tried to stop them." Rick took a deep breath to control himself; this was worse then anything he ever could have imagined. "They won't hurt Aunt Laurie, I won't let them, hon, now you go to bed and I will go try to find your Auntie, ok?" She sniffed, then kissed Rick on the cheek, "ok, but be careful".
Tears came to his eyes, she sounded just like Laurie. Searching for a Kleenex himself, he came upon a card in his pocket and ..
"A.J., I'm going to the pay phone, I think it's the only secure one in town." Rick rushed past his startled brother, only to find Chief Joseph in the doorway, he held up his hand and said "I have a phone you can use, Rick, it has a direct outside line." He led Rick back to his office, opened his drawer and pulled out a state of the art cordless. "Thanks, Chief, I'm going to call Steve Austin, he might have heard something.. " Something from Light, yes, knowing her that is a possibility". The elder smiled. "She told me one day about her gift, I know it has saved her life before". Rick nodded and punched in the number Steve had given him a few months before.
The excitement he had felt died after the 20th time he tried Austin, so he put the phone down for a moment, standing and stretching. Looking at the clock, He realized it was after midnight. Eight hours to find Laurie.
He tried the OSI emergency number several times in the next hour; only a service and they promised only to take a message. He called Austin again, no answer. A.J. brought over Laurie's watch to him, and as he stared at it, he realized it might have more then a directional hook up on it. What if it transmitted more than morse code?
He pushed the stem in. Nothing. He pulled it out two clicks. Nothing.
He twisted the stem counterclockwise, then pushed it in. Suddenly it sounded like static.
Rick cleared his throat. "This is an emergency. This is Rick Simon. I have To get in touch with Colonel Austin. Can anyone hear me?"
Suddenly he heard a familiar voice. "Rick".
"Steve, thank God you're there. Laurie is in danger".
"I knew something was wrong. It happened around dusk, right?".
Rick beckoned to A.J. to listen in. "Yeah, Steve, and the two men who took her are holding her in exchange the sale of Laurie's land and another ranch. Can you reach her, Steve, we have to find her before they kill her."
Steve was silent for a moment, then said "She's a little disoriented, her head hurts. She doesn't think they took her far, but wherever it is , there's not much air, like a shack or something."
Rick yelled, "that's it, I think they took her to Lost Valley, Steve, can you reach her, ask her if she recognizes the place."
Silence. Then "yes, that where she thinks she is. She wants you to be careful, the path was ok coming in, but in rubble on the far side. She says she's having trouble getting air, it's freezing".
Rick thanked Steve. "I'll call you as soon as we know something."
"Be careful, Rick.", Austin added, "you too, A.J. go find her."
Rick started for the Jeep, figuring it would be more suited for the terrain. The sheriff met him at the car, waving a scrap of paper at him. "Tree got himself a lawyer. He's refusing to talk now, but we found this note in the van, I think she's only a couple of miles out of town."
A.J. filled him in on Steve's information and he insisted on going with them. Rick agreed to have him ride with him in Laurie's jeep, and after seeing the portable lights Rob placed in the jeep, he was glad of the company.
Riding out to Lost Valley took almost an hour, having to stop and start to verify they were still on the road. Finally reaching the fenced off portion on the north side, Rick put the car lights on high, with A.J. following suit to provide light on the valley floor.
Tying the end of a rope to the bumper of the jeep, Rick played the rope out as he gingerly followed a sloping path to the bottom of the valley. Once he reached it, he started calling Laurie's name, and entering a clearing, he thought he heard something. Drawing his gun, he crept forward, and came upon a small shack, windows partially boarded up. He stopped and called again, "Laurie, it's Rick". A "Thump, thump" sounded from within, a muffled cry followed.
"Sweetheart, I'm coming in", he answered frantically. Shining a flashlight on the darkened building, he saw a new padlock on the door and shot it off. Pulling it off the latch, he opened the door and felt the icy air rushing out. He shone the light inside and found Laurie blinking in the light, stretched out on a rusty bed with her wrists tied. Darting forward, he pulled a scarf from her mouth and untied her from the bed. She gasped for air, and tried to speak. "Rick, thank God." "It''s alright, Laurie, you're safe". He held her against him, and freeing her ankles, lifted her up and carried her out of the stale air. Once outside, she started to shake, "They tried to force me to sign the ranch away, and I.. I wouldn't do it, so they grabbed my hand and made me scribble on that contract." "Don't worry, sweetheart, when I get ahold of those bastards, they'll be sorry they ever touched you", Rick growled, seeing her bruised face as he stopped to wrap a blanket around her. She tried to smile at him. "I'll be ok just as soon as we get out of here". Swiftly he started through the canyon.
Coming to the path back to the top of the valley, he called up to Rob and A.J., "I found Laurie, we're coming up". Suddenly a shower of rocks came down, and Rob's voice reached them. "Can't come that way, Rick, the trail has collapsed." Rick looked around for another way up. Laurie caught his attention. "Rick, there's a secret path over here we can use".
She pointed to the canyon wall, where ivy and a misshapen tree covered the rocks. Rick lowered her to her feet and slowly walked her over, peering around in the car lights and moonlit shadows. "Where is it?" She looked at the overhang, and said, "Right here". A gust of wind blew through the trees and lifted the foliage, revealing an opening in the rocks. Rick shone his flashlight in and said, "are you sure this is safe?" She nodded, so he helped her through the tunnel and up a broken, winding path, where faint moonlight shone at the top. Coming out through overgrowth, they saw the lights of the cars less then 20 feet away.
"Guys", Rick called, grinning, and saw both men turn toward them, surprised. A.J. ran toward them and hugged Laurie, then helped her make her way over to the Jeep where Rob waited. She smiled with relief when she saw Rob, and when he embraced her, said "I was so worried, Kingston said he left you for dead when they shot out your tires." Rob shook his head. "Nope, thanks to these guys, he failed. That's a mistake he's going to regret."
Lifting her into the jeep, Rob took the wheel while Rick sat in the back with her, with A.J. following behind in the rental. On the way back to Silver Rock, Laurie told both men how she was kidnapped. "I had opened the car door, when I heard screeching brakes behind me. I started to turn around to see if there was an accident when I felt someone grab me and drag me backwards. I didn't even have time to yell before I saw a car door close behind me and I felt the vehicle take off. I tried to fight back, but Kingston slapped me and tied me up, then threw me onto the floor of the car. I guess that's when I hit my head, I was so dazed I didn't even realize Rob was right behind us until I heard them say he had crashed. Somehow I knew exactly where they were taking me.
When we got to Lost Valley, they carried me down the slope and put me in the shack, where Kingston told me I could go home once I signed the sales contract. When I refused, he threatened to go back to Silver Rock and grab one of you guys to force my signature." She lowered her head and wiped her eyes.
Rick took Laurie in his arms and held her until she was able to continue. "They left me by myself until about an hour ago, when Kingston came storming in and untied my left hand, threatening to break it if I didn't sign the contract. I told them it wasn't any good, I wasn't going to sign anything. Kington said if it wasn't believable enough, he was going to come back with you or A.J. To help persuade me."
Rick kissed her, and told her "Don't worry, we'll be ready to face him at the tribal council. I'm taking you to the clinic, you'll be safe there until after the council meets." She shook her head. "No, Rick, I need to be at that hearing, if I'm not there, it'll make it too hard to stop Kingston." She took his hand in hers, and as he started to protest, said "I love you, Rick, in everything else I'll do as you ask, but I have to be present, to say what they did to me."
Rick looked at Rob, who shrugged his shoulders and said, "Don't look at me, she's right about what happens if she doesn't show up, the Council will just sign off on the sale."
He looked back at Laurie, then sighed and said "All right, but just until we catch Kingston, then you go stay at the ranch."
Arriving at the hospital, Rick insisted on carrying her into the emergency room, where Doc Walker was waiting. Shaking his head at Laurie's bruises, the physician had Rick bring her into a treatment room where he started to examine her. Rick had sent A. J. to let their mom know Laurie was safe, and somehow he wasn't surprised that less then 15 minutes later Cecilia returned with Robin, Robert and his brother in tow.
After Doc had finished his examination, he called Rick inside "She's very lucky, Mr. Simon. She doesn't have a concussion, but she's dehydrated and in some pain, so I would keep her in bed until tomorrow." "But I have to go to the Council meeting today, I have to tell what happened", Laurie interrupted frantically, sitting up on the gurney. Rick went over and comforted her.
"All right, Laurie, I'll take you over there, but you have to promise to rest until the meeting and then afterwards, right to bed." He looked at the doctor. "I'm afraid she's right, Dr., she does have to go, otherwise the jerks who did this might get away." Walker nodded, reluctantly. Ok, Mr. Simon, but she stays here until 8am, that should give you plenty of time to take her over there." He gave her some asprin, then told the nurse to have Cecilia and the kids to come in.
As tired as Rick was, he got an adrenalin rush seeing the kids come in to see their aunt, followed by his mom. Robert hugged her and assured her their neighbor had fed the horses the night before, Robin was quieter, insisting on sitting next to Laurie the entire time.
Aunt Ceci came over to the bed and embraced her, "Thank God you're safe, are you alright?" Laurie smiled, "I am now, thanks to the guys".
Just then the nurse came in, reminding them all that Laurie needed some rest. With Doc's permission, Cecilia stayed with Laurie, so Rick sat outside her door. A.J. got the kids to settle down on a sofa in the visitor's lounge and then camped out in the rental car while Rob went back to the sheriff's office.
Having been in and out of emergency rooms all his life, Rick was astonished at how busy this small clinic could seem with so few visitors. When Doc Walker stopped by to offer him some coffee, he said as much and got a stifled laugh from him. "You're lucky we had a slow night, some days its wall-to-wall patients twenty four seven. We only have ten beds in the clinic and two emergency rooms, so it can be a real squeeze." Rick shook his head, "How do you handle it, where's the nearest hospital to you?" "Try Window Rock , we're it for miles around. As for handling it, well, the people here help out in the most amazing ways. " Doc looked at the clock. "It's only four thirty, if you want to trade with your brother, he's in the car. I could stand watch for a while."
Rick shook his head. "I'm ok, I can manage for a couple of hours. Are you going to get any shuteye?" "Oh yeah, around 9 Dr. Jackson from the University will relieve me, so I can attend the tribal council. Just in case there's any trouble or someone gets too rowdy." Rick grinned. "I may take you up on it, I'm sure Rob can handle his end but." Doc frowned, "You think the guys that assaulted Laurie will actually show up?" "Yeah, if forcing her to sign the sales contract was any indication, I'm afraid they mean to do the land grab today."
Doc suddenly crushed his empty cup in his hand, "Count on me, Rick, nobody takes our land without a fight".
Rick waited until almost 7 to wake Laurie and his mom. Getting A nod from the nurse, he went into the room and found Cecilia fast asleep, and Laurie quietly getting dressed in the restroom. Embarrassed, He tried to sneak back out, but she turned and whispered, "It's Ok, I'm decent". He smiled at her and waiting until she finished putting on her shoes then lifted her in his arms and kissed her.
Finally pulling away from her, he said, "I promised you I would take you to the council meeting, now if anything happens you stay put until A.J. or I come back."
The arrival of Robert and Robin ended further talk of the meeting as Laurie woke Cecilia and Rick went ahead to have A.J. pull the car around. .
When they arrived at the tribal center, there was already a crowd waiting outside. Rick and A.J. pulled the jeep around to the rear entrance, where Chief Joseph was waiting. He had Rick take Laurie inside to his office to wait, then A.J. drove round the front to drop off Cecilia and the kids. The Simons had all thought it best for Robert and Robin to stay away from the meeting, but the Sheriff told them it was important for them to be seen as a part of the Community.
Away from the teens, Rob told Rick "Some members of the people feel that the kids aren't involved enough in the tribal traditions; their coming will dispel some of that attitude". Rick snorted. "Talk about prejudice! Whatever happened to that we are family stuff?" The sheriff laughed, "Man, I'd like to see you face to face with some of these "More Navajo then you types", it would be something!"
A.J. gave Rick a high sign as he went toward the Chief's office, it meant that Kingston and his flunky had entered the meeting room. He could hear the buzz diminish as the council was called in session, then a list of items being read to the Chief. Rick waited to hear the proposed sale come up for discussion before he went to get Laurie. she was pacing nervously in the office, and as Rick entered, looked at him and tried to smile. "Don't worry, Laurie, A.J. is outside and so is Doc Walker, they aren't going to get near you", he said, and put an arm around her. She nodded. "I know, Rick, I'm alright. Let's go." They left the office and went to the door of the meeting room.
Just then they heard Thomas Kingston announce he had a signed contract from Laurie herself, selling her land for "a fair price". Before Rick could stop her, Laurie barged into the room, and pointing at Kingston, announced "That signature, Mr. Kingston, was forced out of me under threat of my life and the lives of my family. I charge you with assault and kidnapping, and I request the council to disregard that contract".
Immediately the people around Kingston started toward him and Rick could see Kingston's associate already trying to leave, only to be stopped by the Sheriff. Suddenly Kingston pulled a gun and came straight toward Laurie, yelling, "I don't know how you got out of there, but you're my ticket out of here". Before he could grab her, Laurie picked up a chair and used it to knock the gun from his hand. Not bothering to try to pick it up, Kingston reached again for Laurie and found Rick in his way. "Try some of your own medicine", he snarled and round housed Kingston in the face.
Flying backwards, Laurie's assailant crashed into several chairs, but managed to pick himself up and try to escape out the front.
Rick turned to Laurie as Cecilia and the kids rushed over and said, "You stay here, don't leave." She nodded.
Pushing past the crowd still milling around the room, he caught sight of Kingston trying to get into a car. "A.J.!" he yelled "Down here." he heard at his feet. Looking down, he saw
his brother on the floor holding his arm. "What happened to you, are you alright?" He pulled A.J. to his feet and leaned him against the wall. "Kingston has a knife, he slashed me as I made a grab for him". "Stay there, I'm going to take him", Rick ordered then took off across the street. He went to pull out his gun, then realized there were too many people in the way.
Suddenly, he heard the sheriff yell, "Rick!" Turning, he saw Rob toss a rope at him, shouting, "Get him".
Catching it, Rick turned back to see Kingston running toward the outskirts of town. He took off after him, making a loop as he ran. When he got close enough, he swung the lasso over his head, then threw it toward the fugitive.
At first he thought he had thrown it too far, as instead of catching Kingston, it caught a car antenna. Fortunately, Kingston ran into it and was clotheslined, ending up on his back, out cold.
Rick heard cheering as he ran up to the crook, turning to see a crowd of people led by the sheriff, running behind him. Dragging the unconscious man up by his shirt collar, Rick handed him off to Rob, who slapped him on the back as he bent over to catch his breath.
"Talk about luck, Rick, haven't seen anybody pull that off before; like something out of the movies!"
Rick grinned, then yelped with surprise as some of the townspeople hoisted him on their shoulders and carried him back down the street.
He had them put him down when he caught sight of A.J., now sporting a bandage on his arm, and his mom standing by the tribal center, and Laurie running toward him. She nearly knocked him over as words came spilling out. "That was wonderful, I didn't know you could lasso, how did you do that?"
Instead of trying to explain his lucky toss, he kissed her, to the background of cheers and laughter of the people assembled.
Interrupted only by Robert and Robin running up and hugging them both, Rick swept Laurie into his arms and loaded her and the kids into the jeep. Going over to check on his brother, he greeted his mom and found A.J. downplaying the wound on his arm. "Mom, it's ok, it doesn't need stitches". He looked up at his older brother, "Tell her it's alright, Doc already looked at it".
Rick winked at Cecilia and then said in mock sympathy, "Oh, but A.J., are you sure you might not have to have a tetanus shot, you don't know where that guy's knife has been!"
"No, I don't need a shot", A.J. said thru gritted teeth. "I just need breakfast and a real vacation away from you, Hopalong".
Rick laughed and said "See you back at the ranch, Shane," as he climbed into the jeep and headed down the road