Chapter Five
Madam Beaubien's Cabin
The sun was slowly filtering through the window the warm rays falling gently across Sydney's face as she snuggled closer to her partner. A slight frown creased her brow consciousness trying to wake her from her sleep. "Umm," she softly moaned her eyes drifting open.
Slowly she began to take in her surroundings the only thing familiar to her were Gage's arms around her. Taking hold of his hand she tenderly moved his arm from around her pulling herself to sit up. Looking down at the white gown she wore she frowned slightly memories of how they came to be there coming into her mind. Suddenly Madam Beaubien's words hit her, her hand immediately going to her tummy. She smiled to herself finding that she hoped the woman's prediction was true; she liked the idea of expecting Gage's child. Leaning over she kissed his cheek he barely moving his eyes staying tightly closed.
Again smiling to herself she threw the covers back intent on dressing before waking Gage up so they could make their escape. As she swung her legs over the side of the bed her eyes caught sight of a red velvet sack that was tied with a thin gold braided rope on her pillow. Curiously she reached for it rubbing her fingers over the material before picking it up. Tugging gently on the cord she pulled the little bag open and reaching in found a small amount of dried herbs, a smooth shiny stone and a piece of folded parchment. Dropping the stone back in the bag with the herbs Syd began to unfold the paper surprised to see written on it… Protect Sydney the chosen one from all that is evil and protect our prince who she carries.
Staring at the paper Syd read the message over not once or twice but three times dumbfounded by what it was suggesting. Still holding the parchment she slipped out of bed her feet touching the floor to find she was standing in thin line of sand that seemed to circle the bed. Walking to the end of the bed she found three candles that had been burnt completely down and a small talisman statue sitting in the center of the circle of candles.
"Syd what are you doing?" Gage's voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Gage I want to get out of here right now," she hissed out making a dive for her clothes that had been hung over a chair the night before to dry.
"Slow down Syd what is it?" Gage was questioning her climbing out of bed to go to her.
"She's after me and the baby she thinks I'm going to have," Syd blurted reaching for the hem of the night gown and pulling it over her head to leave her standing there naked.
Gage reached her side just as Madam Beaubien appeared in the doorway. "Back into bed my child you are not fully rested," the woman began ordering again her eyes on Sydney's body focusing on her abdomen.
Stepping in front of her Gage attempted to hide her from the woman's scrutiny as he answered her. "We really appreciate all that you've done for both of us but we really need to be getting back to town."
Syd scurried into her clothes as Gage talked with the woman turning as she began buttoning her blouse she added, "Really I am feeling much better."
"You must look take care you must not take risks with the new life that grows inside of you," Madam Beaubien insisted her eyes narrowing as she spoke.
"I'm going to make sure she is looked after," Gage interjected again. "We really do appreciate all you have done for us. Maybe we can get back this way once our business is taken care of," Gage began to offer only to have Sydney give him a good hard poke in the side. "Time permitting," he feebly added.
"I am quite sure we will meet again," a smile widened on Madam Beaubien's face as she took a step towards Sydney raising her hand to cup her cheek, "won't we ma cher petite?"
Involuntarily moving closer to Gage and clinging to him Sydney remained silent. Gage too could feel the woman's overbearing powers his arm tightened around Sydney too. Clearing his throat Gage addressed his partner, "If you're ready…"
"Yes, any time you are," Syd answered her eyes meeting Madam Beaubien's a shiver going down her spine.
"Heed my warning," the old woman cautioned, "You are in great danger. There is evil surrounding us."
"Ah well that's our specialty we've put a lot of evil people behind bars," Gage cut in feeling more that he was in element.
"Not an evil like this," Madame Beaubien snapped her attention focused on Gage.
"I'm sure what ever this evil is we're going to be able to handle it," Gage replied pulling Syd closer to him. "Again thank you for everything but we have to get moving."
With out another word Madame Beaubien stepped back and out of the doorway allowing the rangers to pass by her, through the tiny cabin and out the door. She watched as they disappeared from sight into the swampy bayou. "You'll be back Sydney our time together has only just begun," she muttered in a low voice. "We have a bond the babe you carry will be mine."
Ranger Headquarters
Walker was sitting in his office when Jimmy Trivette came in. Trivette had thought he was early until he saw his partner all ready sitting there drumming his fingers impatiently waiting for him. "Something up?" he asked waiting for Walker to bark out the answer.
"They missed their last check in," he gruffly answered. "They're twelve hours past due and I didn't hear about it until just now."
"Twelve hours," Trivette repeated all ready knowing Walker was intending to head for Black Bayou.
"Get us two seats on the next flight out," the seasoned ranger ordered knowing the type of man Ferris Clayton was and what the junior rangers were up against.
Trivette didn't hesitate he went right to his desk and began dialing he had been with Walker and CD when they had first met Ferris Clayton and his boys, he too knew the type of man he was.
Quickly he booked the flight letting partner know that it didn't leave for four hours. Nodding his head he picked up his own phone putting a call into his wife. Trivette took the opportunity to do the same dialing his wife Erica. "Honey, Walker and I are going after Sydney and Gage," he was speaking the moment she had picked up. "I know that we had plans with your father but they've missed their last check in," he paused to listen to her answer. "As long as it takes," he answered her question adding, "Of course we'll bring them home safe… I love you too," he finished the call hanging up the phone just as Walker did the same.
Thinking back over what he knew about the case this time Trivette suddenly called out, "Anything on Marie LaBrowd or her son?"
Grabbing up the phone Walker began to dial wondering how he had let Marie slip his mind. "Lieutenant Dan O'Neal," his voice boomed into the phone Trivette once again walking back over to Walker's desk. "Nothing on either… all right my partner and I will be at your office later this afternoon." Hanging up the receiver Walker stared straight-ahead deep in thought going over what little they knew.
"There's nothing we can do until we get there," Trivette offered as worried as Walker was.
"Yeah Trivette I know you're right but that doesn't mean I have to like it."
The Edge Of Black Bayou Swamp
The old familiar Cadillac owned by Ferris Clayton roared up to a stop almost running into Bull Clayton. The driver's door swung open the old overweight man struggling to get out no one daring to move. Slamming the door he looked over the bedraggled group before addressing them his deep threatening voice directed at Kyle. "Can't I trust you bunch of sorry loosers to do anything right?" he questioned them his voice rising in anger. "Damn it Kyle two rangers and one of them a girl. Two rangers two bullets that's all it takes what's the matter with you?" he asked slapping his son in the side of the head.
"Pa it wasn't that simple that witch Madam Beaubien… I'm sure she is protecting them," Kyle bawled out.
"That crazy old woman," Ferris glared at his son. "I think it's time she met with an accident. Do I make myself clear?"
Kyle nodded his head yes before asking, "What about Marie?"
"Don't you go worrying yourself bout Marie your brother Small caught up with her she'll be back at the house by the time you finish up this business," Ferris informed him taking his son by the arm to lead him away from the others. In a low voice he continued, "I gave you my word son you can keep her as long as she ain't no bother, as long as she satisfies your needs," old man Clayton told him before opening the door of his car and hoisting himself inside to disappear in another cloud of dust.
Turning to the rest Kyle took charge again. "All right you heard him let's get to it," he hollered out.
A Short Few Miles Away…
The path leading away from Madam Beaubien's was not a path that was used a lot. It was narrow and over grown with weeds forcing the partners to walk along single file. With Sydney in the lead they trooped along silently until Gage finally asked, "Think that Marie made it back to town and help is on its way?"
Sydney stopped so short that Gage walked right into her. In a flash she had spun around to face him meeting him with a glare. "What makes you think that she didn't? Marie is just one of those people who looks after number one no matter who she steps on along the way," Syd stated daring Gage to say other wise.
"Sydney she was just upset…" he began to say only to have Syd cut back in.
"Is that how it looked to you Gage? Is it?" she demanded not budging an inch. "You forget I know her from a way back," Syd cried hot tears of anger forming in her eyes at the recollection of what had happened popped into her mind…
"…Put them in with the girl we'll take care of things tonight," Ferris ordered all guns trained on Sydney and Gage who had all ready been disarmed.
With Bull Clayton prodding Gage with the barrel of his riffle they headed around the side of the house to a set of old cellar doors that had been locked with a chain and a padlock. Fumbling with a ring of keys Kyle finally found the one that opened the lock. "Get back Marie," he called down, "I've got some company for ya."
Hearing Kyle call out Marie's name Syd gave Gage a quick sideways glance. "Get down them stairs," Kyle ordered in the next breath Bull once more moving forward to make sure the order was carried out.
Moving first Syd began climbing down the rickety wooden stairs into the dark dank basement Gage a step behind her only to be met with Marie LaBrowd's scream, "Come on Kyle let me out of here, you know we was always good together." Her answer was a loud snicker which was lost to her as she caught sight of Sydney's face.
"What are you doing here," she gasped out the heavy wooden doors slamming shut behind the two rangers.
"Looking for you among other things," Syd answered the women embracing each other in a hug.
"How did you ever find me?" Marie cried still holding tight to Syd.
"We suspected that you might be here but we didn't intend to get captured to find out though," Syd began to explain.
"Charlie, have you found Charlie?" Marie anxiously asked.
Syd's eyes went to Gage as she shook her head no only to see how crest fallen Marie was and to watch the tears well in her eyes. "Do you and Charlie know a Laurel Munro?" she asked watching Marie's face as she spoke the name.
Biting her lip slightly Marie nodded. "She's a young woman Charlie met recently," Marie volunteered.
"Would it surprise you to know that she is Kyle Clayton's girlfriend?" Gage asked entering the conversation.
Hearing his voice Syd spoke up again saying, "I'm sorry Gage," before introducing him to Marie as her partner.
"Pleased to meet you," Gage held his hand out to the woman.
"Ranger," Marie acknowledged him. "And no nothing would surprise me when it comes to the Claytons," she replied venom in her voice.
An uncomfortable silence fell between the three captives until looking around Gage declared, "We need to find a way out."
"I've been over every inch of this cellar," Marie stated her eyes trained on Gage as she continued. "That door over there leads into the rest of the cellar but it's locked from the other side."
Going to the door Gage tried it only to find she was right. He put his shoulder into it hoping that it might give way quick to realize it was chained and padlocked just as the other door was. Frowning he once again began to scrutinize the room going to a tiny window the only source of light in the room.
"Hey Syd if I can get this window out do you think that you can squeeze through it?" he questioned Syd coming up behind him for a better look.
"Won't know till I try," she smiled watching her partner begin to work on it. There was no glass in the window only a wire mesh grate that was coming free where it had been screwed into the wood many years before. With a few forceful yanks Gage was able to pull it free.
"Give me a boost up," Syd was ordering even before he set the grate down.
Instead he put both hands on her shoulders looking into her face. "Listen to me Shorty don't you take any chances. If need be you get out of here and come back with reinforcements."
"Gage I'll find a way," she answered her hand going to his cheek.
He turned his head slightly his lips caressing her hand before saying, "Just be careful Cooke."
"Aren't I always," she teased, "Now give me a boost."
Rolling his eyes and letting a grin cross his face Gage bent slightly in front of her cupping his hands to lift her up. A second later she was wiggling through the window opening. Looking back once she turned to crawl along the foundation at the side of the house Gage watching until she was out of sight.
"Think she'll make it?" Marie's voice brought him out of his thoughts.
"She's good at this," Gage assured just as much for himself as for Marie who had come to stand behind him her hand rubbing on his shoulder he hardly noticing.
Turning Gage paced to the far side of the tiny room looking after him Marie spoke again, "Maybe you should try looking for another way out…" Marie began to say.
"Yeah," Gage agreed trying to concentrate on something other then Sydney's safety once more he went to the door that lead to the outside Marie close behind him. Examining the door once again he found it to be as impossible to open as the one that lead into the rest of the cellar. "I guess we wait until Syd gets back," he finally conceded.
"You think she'll come back?" Marie asked her arms shooting around Gage's neck. "She isn't just going to save her own hide is she?"
Placing his hands on Marie's arms he pulled them loose from his neck. "Of course she'll come back for us. She'll do everything in her power to get us out of here," Gage answered astounded that Marie could even question Syd's loyalty.
"But what if she doesn't come back it will be just you and me against Ferris Clayton," Marie cried again her arms going round Gage only this time pulling him closer to press her lips on his.
Pushing back on her shoulders all Gage could manage to get out was, "Whoa."
Ignoring him Marie pulled herself against him even more whispering as she kissed his neck, "She'll save herself you and I are going to have to take care of us. You aren't going to run off and leave me are you. I'll treat you real fine if you help me get away from Ferris Clayton."
As quickly as before her lips went once again to Gage's kissing him and not letting go until they both heard the soft cry of Sydney's hurt voice utter, "Francis."
Marie didn't even try to explain she only turned away from both rangers as Gage pushed her aside to go to his fiancé. "Syd she was just upset and scared…" he began knowing how foolish his words must sound after the scene she had witnessed.
"Let's go," she hissed out. "There's a truck round the back side of the barn we should be gone before they can reach us," she explained all ready heading back up the stairs.
Pushing ahead of Gage Marie was quick to follow Sydney out stopping short behind her as she checked to make sure the coast was clear. Gage took the opportunity to swing the heavy doors closed behind them before all three made a break for the barn. They made it to the barn Sydney going in first followed by Marie when Small Clayton caught sight of Gage. "Hey they're heading for the barn," he shouted sounding out the alarm.
Without a moment to loose Gage dashed in behind Sydney and Marie only to be stopped short by the sight of Syd all ready trying to fend off two attackers. As Gage went to his partner's assistance he could hear her all ready shouting to Marie to run for the truck which she did not looking back…
Both rangers were brought out of their recollections with the sounds of Kyle Clayton's voice. Aiming his riffle at both of them he sneered, "Just try moving nothing I'd like better then to put a bullet in you right where you stand."