Chapter 4

Laurie came to slowly, her eyes were heavy and she found it hard to open them. Blinking, she realized she was in near-darkness, only a single lamp in a cold room, no, a cave of some kind. A familiar smell, like wet earth tickled her nose. When she tried to move, she discovered her wrists were bound around a support pillar. A gag was stuffed in her mouth, dry and uncomfortable. Suddenly her memory returned, and she wriggled her hands until she could press the button on her transmitter.

Frantic, she closed her eyes and called out for Rick, then picked up a feeling that he was near. Abruptly she heard his voice on the transmitter, "Laurie, darlin', where are you?" Unable to pull the gag out of her mouth with her nearly numb fingers, she tapped Morse code on the transmitter face, telling him she was tied up in a cave of some kind, then got a response. "Sweetheart, it's all right, we'll find you."

"Ramona's uncle, he's not her stepfather, he's a fugitive who stole her father's identity. He's the one who cut Robbie's brake line; he must have put something in the glass of water he offered me." she managed to tap out. Suddenly she heard footsteps, and frantically she let Rick know someone was coming. Tears came to her eyes when he told her "I'm on my way, sweetheart, we think he's hiding you at Lost Valley."

A light suddenly shone on her, blinding her, then a figure came toward Laurie, and she wanted to scream. A devilish mask glared down at her, then a voice, "Who are you to encourage the mixing of the cultures, you witch, you are going to pay for your sacrilege against tradition, and unless you do as I say, so will your son!"

She shook her head, terrified. At once, she realized the voice belonged to Martinez; oh God no, he was going to kill Robbie. Her captor came closer, then his hand reached out and pulled the gag out of her mouth, causing her to gasp and choke.

"Perhaps another sip of water might help you make your decision, Mrs. Simon." Martinez threatened, waving a bottle in front of her. "No!", Laurie whispered, leaning against her wrists. She heard Rick tell her, "Darlin', agree to whatever he wants, we're almost there." She cleared her throat, "I'll do what you want, only spare my son." she begged.

"Of course, Mrs. Simon. Wait right here, I'll fetch a piece of paper, you will write what I tell you to, then I will take you to the desert and set you free. By the time someone finds you, you will have forgotten everything that has happened." he promised.

Martinez turned, then disappeared into the shadows. Laurie sank against the support beam, "Rick, did you hear his voice, it's Martinez, he's crazy!" she said. "Laurie, I see him, I 'm coming in, Robbie's going to go around the back of the site. Just hold on, I'll be with you in a minute." he replied.

Abruptly, Martinez rushed back into the cave ,swearing, the mask pushed back from his face. "The police are here, I've got to take care of you now, Mrs. Simon. I promise it will be quick!"

In horror she realized he held dynamite in his hands. Frantic, she screamed "Rick!" He came at her and forced the gag back in her mouth, then tied the

dynamite to the beam. Unrolling the rest of the rope behind him, her captor got to the cave entrance then pulled out a lighter.

Laurie closed her eyes, "Rick, I love you, don't come in, he's going to blow the cave up. Stop Robbie, otherwise he'll be killed." she thought to him.

All at once she heard Rick yell, "Drop it!" She opened her eyes to see Rick shoot the lighter out of Martinez's hand, then watched him run to her, as Robbie came from the other side and held a gun on her kidnapper. Dazed, she leaned against her husband as he pulled the gag from her mouth, then cut her free. "Rick, darling," she managed, her voice breaking with relief. Lifting his wife off the ground, he cradled her in his arms, then told their son, "Bring him outside, Rob, you can read him his rights before I forget he has any!"

Suddenly, Rick saw the would-be killer move his hand toward his pocket, and called out "Look out!" Robbie fired his weapon, catching the crazed man in the shoulder. He tumbled to the cave floor, then rolling over, came up with the lighter. Rick hollered, "Son, run for it, he's going to set off the dynamite!"

Hesitating only a second, Robbie ran toward them, then helped lead them out of the darkness into the early evening light. As they made it out of the cave, the three Simons heard an explosion from deep inside then felt the ground shake.

Rick saw A.J. and Sheriff Gomez waiting at the edge of the excavation. Seeing the cloud of debris coming at their backs, the men helped Rick carry her up the slope, then gave a hand to their son.

Just as they got to the top, the shockwave of the explosion flung all of them down on the ground. Once the debris settled, Rick looked down at Laurie, tucked safely in his arms.

"Sweetheart, it's all right now, open your eyes." he told her. Blinking, she focused on his face, then whispered, "Darling, you've been hurt, you're bleeding." Putting a hand to his forehead, she wiped a trickle of blood off, then tears welled up in her eyes.

"Darlin', don't cry, it's just a scratch," he said, alarmed at her distress. Sitting up, he lifted her off the dirt and she buried her face against his shoulder. "Rick, I almost got you and Robbie killed, ", she gasped. "Laurie, angel, you didn't do anything wrong. You didn't know, darlin'. He fooled everyone!" "I know, when I didn't hear from Angelina, I was just going to reason with Martinez. When I saw the phony passport on his table, I got up to leave and that's when I realized something was wrong." she sniffed.

"Darlin', I left a message on our message machine. I told you I was on my way home." Rick replied. "I never heard it, Rick, I called the office when I left Robin. That's when I decided to stop by and cancel lunch, I just wanted to talk to that man for a minute." Laurie explained, still distraught.

He kissed Laurie, then stroking her face, said, "Darlin', you're safe, that's all that matters. Your grandmother was right, we should have kept in touch better." She calmed down, then returned his kisses, saying, "I promise to always listen to you, my love."

Looking around, she asked, "Where's Robbie?"

"Mom, I'm here, are you all right?" their son joined them, then produced a handkerchief and dabbed at the cut on his father's forehead. She reached up and hugged Robbie,"I'm ok, just very woozy,", she admitted, then the two men lifted Laurie up and carried her to a waiting patrol car.

Ramona was there, an anxious expression on her face as she watched them approach. "Mrs. Simon, I'm so sorry", she cried, kissing her cheek. "Honey, it's going to all right, we're safe. I'm only sorry you've had to live with this nightmare." Laurie told her softly, embracing the upset girl. Ramona helped her inside the car, then went around to the front and rode shotgun as Rick slid in next his wife.

"Head straight for the clinic, Robbie, Rudy and the Chief want to find out what Martinez drugged your mother with." he said. holding her in his arms. As they sped towards town, Rick felt his wife shivering in her thin dress. Concerned, he took his jacket off and wrapped it around her. "Thank you, darling, I'm so cold, I can hardly move." she said, leaning against him for support.

As they pulled into the medical loading zone at the town's clinic, they saw Doc waiting with a wheelchair. As Rick went to help Laurie out, her legs buckled and he caught her before she hit the curb. Lifting her up in his arms, he bypassed the wheelchair and carried her straight into the hospital.

"Take her in here, Rick," Rudy told him, directing him to the first treatment room. As he laid her down, Laurie looked up at Rick's frightened face, and grabbed his hand. "I love you, Rick, if anything happens..." she started to shake.

"Shh, sweetheart, it's going to be ok, I love you too." he comforted her.

Sitting next to his wife, he watched as their friend drew blood, then covered her with a blanket. "I'll run the test on this myself, Rick, I'll be right back." he assured them both, then practically ran out the door. Scarcely had he left when Robbie and Oscar came in, "Pop, I brought in that water Martinez gave Mom, what does Uncle Rudy think?" he asked, leaning over his mom and kissing her cheek.

"He just went to run some tests, son, we'll know something in a few minutes." His father replied, giving a worried look to Oscar.

Smiling weakly, Laurie looked at the three men, then said, "Rudy'll find out what that killer gave me, maybe this is what Grandmother Casey meant about listening to the elder?"

Rick nodded, "You're right, Laurie. If what Rudy said is true, the Chief'll know what the antidote is."

A few minutes later Rudy came back into the room, followed by Chief Joseph. "It's as we suspected, Rick, Martinez put some desert herbs called cholla in a glass of water for Laurie to drink. It's extremely poisonous, honey, how much did you drink?"

"Only a couple of sips, it tasted nasty. When I put the glass down, I started to feel lightheaded. Then I heard Rick calling on my transmitter." she answered. Looking at the tribal elder, she asked, "Is there an antidote?"

"Yes, Light, but it is very strong, it will make you feel sick before you feel better. "he warned, "I need to make sure you can take it."

Glancing at Rick, she raised her hand to his cheek, then turned and told the Chief, "As long as I have all of you, I can handle anything."

Moved, Rick kissed her hand, then sitting on the bed next to Laurie, held her in his arms as Rudy measured out the dark liquid the Chief had prepared. Drinking it down as fast as she could, Laurie made a face, "I thought that cough medicine Mom made me drink was bad, that's worse.

Oscar, would you and Robbie wait outside for Robin and Mom, I don't want them to worry." she begged, starting to feel sick. "Sure, honey," her uncle kissed her cheek and putting an arm around Robbie, led him outside.

Suddenly she gasped, and Rick felt heat coming from her skin, as if she was feverish. "Chief, it feels like I' m b.burning," she breathed." "The poison is in your blood, so the chano tea you drank is destroying the acids that are making you sick." the elder explained.

Rick felt helpless as Laurie moaned, then tears ran down her cheeks. "Sweetheart, just hold on, you're going to be all right." he soothed her. "Tell me, how did you find out Martinez cut Robbie's brake line?"

"He told me, practically bragged about it, Rick! I was trying to get away from him, and he said he could kill my son as easily as he was going to take care of me." she said, upset at the memory. Rick stroked her hair, calming Laurie.

She managed a smile, then continued, "He was being so polite when I walked in, I thought he was regretting his behavior from last night. He offered me a cup of coffee, but I felt something was wrong, especially as he was kind of evasive about Angelina.

He insisted I at least have a glass of water while he looked for her. When he left the room, that's when I saw his passport on the desk, I opened it and saw another man's picture with his name, that's when I started to get dizzy. You heard the rest, the last thing I remember before passing out was him telling me he'd make sure Robbie would never marry Ramona."

"It's ok, sweetheart, he's gone, he'll never hurt anyone again." Rick promised, wiping her forehead with a cool cloth. Sighing, she opened her eyes, then said, "Rick, the burning stopped, maybe the tea worked!"

Rudy came forward and felt her skin, then took her blood pressure. "Laurie, how do you feel, any pain or dizziness?" he questioned.

"No, kind of sticky, but, I feel, better. Oh, Rudy, it worked, thank you!" she put her arms around him and kissed him.

"You're welcome, honey, now I'll have to make the Chief an honorary doctor, he saved the day!" Rudy grinned, then went to tell the others. Rick looked at his wife, tears in his eyes from relief. "Oh, my love, it's all right." she told him, embracing him and holding him for dear life.

"Sweetheart, don't scare me like that, please. I can't face losing you!" he said, kissing her face. "I won't, I promise, my love. Just never let me go!" she said, kissing him back, then snuggling against his chest.

After an hour, Rudy and Doc redid her tests, then told Rick and Laurie the poison had been neutralized and she could go home.

"Under one condition, missy," Rudy added, sternly fixing her with a look. "You stay in bed for the next day, no chores, no horses, understand?"

"I'll make sure she stays put, Rudy," the older Simon assured him, gazing at his wife. She put her tongue out at him, then smiled at the two friends. "All right, guys, I'll be good, but can I at least have a bath?" she pleaded.

The doctors burst into laughter. "Yes, Light, I think a quick dip won't hurt you, it might ease any soreness." Doc Walker replied, shaking his head at her request.

As they got ready to leave for home, Rudy went to tell Oscar and Robbie and A.J., the good news, then greeted Cecilia and Robin and Ramona.

"Thank God she's all right, Rudy. Is Laurie going to have any side effects." Cecilia worried. "No, honey, she's going to have to stay in bed for a day or so, and no heavy chores or activities for a week at least. Maybe you can help Rick with her, God knows she'll listen to you!"

Cecilia grinned, "She knows better then to try anything with me, Rudy, don't worry, I'll make sure she takes it easy."

Just then Rick wheeled his wife out of the treatment room, and seeing all their family And friends, found himself choking up with gratitude over Laurie's recovery.

After embracing and hugging her family, Rick carried his wife to the truck, as everyone else got into their cars. Laurie insisted that Ramona go home to her mother, then come to their place for breakfast. "We can't hog you for ourselves, honey, but at least Robbie can see you in the morning." she explained. The girl put her arms around both Rick and Laurie. "Thank you for saving us from that man, I feel weird saying that, but I hardly ever saw him and he, well he was never family to me!"

Robbie leaned over and kissed her, then looking at his parents, promised, "She'll be there, even if I have to pick her up and carry her home!"

"All right, son, now get your sister and I'll see you guys at the house!", Rick laughed. Sliding in next to Laurie, he belted her in, then saw with dismay she had tears in her eyes.

"Darlin', what wrong, does something hurt?" he asked. She gazed at him, then whispered, "He would have left me to die in the desert if it hadn't been for you, I never want to leave you, ever!"

"Oh, Laurie, my angel, I won't let you go, don't cry, please," he kissed her, upset at the thought of what could have happened. Holding her for a moment, he saw her smile up at him. "No more tears, my love. Let's go home." she said, kissing his ear. "All right, just don't tickle me like that, otherwise it'll take us all night for me to drive us home!" he teased

As they drove off, Laurie snuggled against him, saying, "Promises, promises!"