Chapter 6
There was a click, then the sound of a dial tone.
"Damn it, A.J., they think we have a tape of what Ian heard in Vegas. One of those goons said for me to go in back of the caverns at 8pm or they'll kill her!"
Rick told him. "Don't worry, Rick, we'll get her back, I promise. The first thing we need to do is see if we can track her through her transmitter!" A.J. replied, squeezing his brother's shoulder.
"You don't need to do that, Mr. Simon, I know where your wife is," a quiet voice interrupted them. Turning, they saw Chief Redfern in the doorway.
As he advanced he smiled at Robin then added, "I was suspicious of some strangers near the ranch, so I followed one of them this afternoon. I saw him take your wife from the man they call Randy, then carry her into the caverns. Fortunately I've had to go in and rescue tourists so I had an idea where she might be. They've got her tied up in a small cave they call the bluebell room. We need to get her out of there as quickly as possible."
"Chief, I don't know what to say, except, thank you!", Rick said, grabbing his weapon and a blanket. "No thanks necessary, Mr. Simon, your wife is a very special person. I know why she is so good with my grandson; I need to make sure she's around so I can get to know her!", Redfern said, patting Ian's shoulder.
Driving to the Caverns, Rick left Ian and Robbie to watch over Robin in the car as he and A.J. followed the older man through the dark to a side entrance to the caverns. Careful to stick with the Chief, the Simons walked through several caverns, then the Chief stopped to listen for footsteps.
Satisfied there wasn't anyone else, he led them into a small inner cave, where Rick gasped to see his wife lying motionless on the cold earth. "Laurie!" he called, then sprang forward and took her in his arms. She stirred and moaned as he untied her, then her eyes opened.
"Rick, oh, my love. You found me!" she looked up at him as he kissed her gently, then wrapped her shivering body in a blanket. "Shh, darlin', it's all right, you're safe, we'll take you back to the motel!" he promised, stroking her face then carefully lifting her up. "Rick, they're going to take Robbie and Robin; I heard someone say they were going to grab them to stop you from going to the police!" she gasped. "They're safe with Ian in Rick's truck, honey, now you just relax, we'll get you out of here!" A.J. told her. Laurie managed a smile at her brother-in-law, "Thanks, A.J., I knew you guys would come, how did you find me?"
"The Chief here followed your kidnappers darlin', then he came to get us!" her husband explained as the older man came to tell them the way was clear. "Thank you, Chief, I owe you my life." she said. Taking her hand, Ian's grandfather replied, "Your safety is important, there are too many people who depend on you." Squeezing his hand, Laurie smiled back at him, then he led the three Simons out of the caverns as quickly as possible. As they left the cavern, Rick noticed it was nearly 8:00 pm. "Laurie, I'm going to leave you with Robin and Ian, Washburn and his thugs should be here any moment. Please stay put and don't leave the car until we have them in custody, ok?" he insisted.
"I don't want you to go darling, but I know you have to get them, so please be careful, Rick!" she begged. "Sweetheart, I will be back, I won't leave you again!" he promised, then kissed her.
Robbie opened the door to the car as soon he saw his parents, then tearfully embraced his mother. "Mama, are you all right?" Robin asked, as Rick set her down in between her children. "I am now, honey!" she assured her, then hugged her. Ian and his grandfather locked the doors as Rick reminded him, "Don't come out until I give the high sign, son, Captain Ron and his men should be here in a few minutes!" "I understand, Mr. Simon, we won't let anything happen to them!" he answered, then closed the door. Rick stopped to pull something from the trunk as A. J. and Robbie stationed themselves on either side of the caverns. As Rick walked to the back entrance, an engine was heard, then a small van pulled up to within a few feet of where the older Simon stood. "Did you bring it, Mr. Simon?" a voice called from inside?
Rick smirked, oh yeah; he was going to bring it! "Yes, I brought mine, now where's my wife?"
"First we see the tape, Simon, walk forward and place it on the hood, then step away!" the voice snarled. From behind the van Rick saw two shapes move, then realized one of them was Captain Ron. Taking a phony tape from his pocket, he advanced toward the vehicle then placed the tape on the hood. Backing away, he saw a masked man come out from the passenger side, and snatch the object off the car.
Abruptly bright lights came on, and Captain Ron's words pierced the evening air. "Police! Freeze!" At once the masked man started to pull a weapon, only to draw a single shot which knocked the gun from his fingers. Yelling for him to hit the ground, Robbie ordered the other person in the van to get out, hands up. From inside Rick's truck, Ian drew a sharp breath, "It's Jonathan, and I would have bet anything he wasn't involved!" Robin patted his shoulder, "It's all right, he fooled a lot of people, honey."
As Rick advanced toward the man on the ground, his gun drawn, he saw the Phoenix captain coming from the rear of the vehicle. "Thanks, Captain Ron, you got good timing!" he grinned, then covered him as he holstered his weapon. Signaling that it was safe to get out of Rick's truck, Rick turned as the policeman asked "Is Laurie and the kids all right?" concerned. "Yeah, thanks to Ian's grandfather!" Rick answered, as the captain dragged the suspect off the ground then pulled the mask off. Instantly Rick's eyes narrowed, "So that's how you did it; you lured my wife to the back stage area then drugged and kidnapped her!"
Brad Grayson smirked at him, "Well, you won't be able to prove it, will you, Mr. Simon. You'll never find where she is without making a deal with me! Cause if you don't, I'm sure the locals will tell you about all the carbon monoxide that fills the caverns from the cars leaving." Horrified, Rick started toward the video director, only to have his brother grab him by the arm. "Let it go, Rick, he'll get his in court!" "He's right, darling, that jerk isn't worth it!" Laurie added, coming up to him. A look of shock appeared on Grayson's face, "How did you...where did you come from?" he stammered.
"I came from where you would have left me to die, if the Chief and my family hadn't rescued me!" she replied scornfully, as her husband put his arm around her.
Infuriated, Captain Ron cuffed the kidnapper, telling him "You'll have plenty of time to regret what you did to this lady, a very long time!"
Watching the two conspirators led away, Laurie shuddered, then felt Rick tighten his arm around her. "It's all right, my Laurie, he won't hurt you again.
What gets me is I should have figured it out, who else would have known when a particular rider would be needed, and when to tamper with the equipment! When I heard that you were last seen going to talk to Grayson, I should have located him."
"Darling, you couldn't have known, I mean, he timed it perfectly. When I went toward the backstage area, all the performers had just left to change. I never even heard him behind me, one moment I was calling his name, then next there was a cloth over my face. I tried to fight him off, only he said if I didn't stop struggling, he'd take Robin instead!" Laurie said, starting to shake at the memory.
"Sweetheart, it's all right, he won't touch you again." Rick comforted her. "Thanks to you, my love. One thing doesn't make any sense, though." she frowned, seeing Ian and Robin talking next to the truck.
"What's that, darlin?" Rick turned for a moment to wave at Captain Ron and his men, as they pulled out of the lot.
"Where Jason Washburn figures in all this, I haven't seen anything of him since this morning." Laurie wondered.
Abruptly, hoof beats sounded and a rider dressed in black came thundering through the parking lot. At once both Rick and Laurie froze, remembering his nightmare.
"No!" she screamed, seeing the rider bearing down on Ian and Robin. Dashing toward her daughter, Laurie fell then getting up, turned to see the man riding at her daughter, then grabbing her with one arm and carrying her away. Laurie frantically ran after them, as Rick yelled, "No, let her go!"
Seeing a security cart he jumped into it and zoomed off after the horseman and his wife. As he drove through the woods, he could see his wife starting to tire, so he pulled even with her and reached out to her, pulling her on to the cart. "Hurry, Rick, he's heading toward the highway, please hurry!" He saw Robin struggling with Washburn, then suddenly she tumbled to the ground as they reached a clearing. Stopping the cart, Laurie vaulted off and rushed to her daughter's side, as the horseman turned and rode back to where they were.
Rick jumped out of the cart and pulled his weapon, just in time to hear Washburn snarling at Laurie, "I'll finish you first, then your husband!" Rick saw him raise his gun as his wife flung herself over Robin. In an instant Rick called out "No! One move and you're dead!"
Washburn whirled on him and fired at the same time Rick emptied his weapon at him. Laurie had gotten to her knees and tried to knock the attacker off his horse, only to see him fall wounded to the earth. Turning, she saw Rick look down, then collapse backwards.
Screaming, "No, no!" she got to her feet and kicked Washburn's gun away from him, then ran in Rick's direction, stumbling and crawling the last few feet. Reaching for her husband, Laurie sobbed "No, not again, please God!" as the rest of their family entered the area. Ian ran and picked Robin up as Robbie grabbed Washburn's weapon, while A.J. made sure he didn't pose any further threat.
Rick opened his eyes, feeling tears on his face. He tried to struggle into a sitting position, realizing the bruise he was going to have was a doozy. "No, darling, don't move, you'll bleed to death, please Rick!" she wept, putting her arms around him.
"Laurie, my sweetheart, it's all right, you don't understand, help me sit up!" he gasped, then once he got her attention, he took her hand and put it over his heart. "What is it, my love, he shot you in the heart?" she replied in a ragged breath. "No, angel, there's no wound, feel right here!" he told her, guiding her fingers over his chest. At once she realized what he was telling her, "Rick, darling, you have a bulletproof vest on?" He put his arms around her as she hiccupped, then kissed him all over his face. "I love you, oh I love you!" she murmured, trying to smile at him through her tears.
"Oh, my brave girl, don't cry anymore, I'm ok." he soothed her, seeing the faces of his brother and children surrounding them. Kissing her, he then held out a hand to his brother and had him help him up, then lifted Laurie to her feet.
Just then Captain Ron and his men returned, having been alerted by Robbie to Washburn's abduction of his sister. Taking a short statement from the Simons, the captain ended his questions when he saw that Laurie was still shaky from her ordeal.
"It's all right, Laurie, if I need anything else, I'll come to you at the motel." Captain Ron added, then gave her a hug. "Thank you, Ron, you're so good to us!" she beamed. Suddenly Rick got a good look at her torn and bleeding knees, then the numerous cuts and scrapes all over her arms. "Darlin', I need to get you to the hospital, you've been hurt!" he said, stroking her face.
"I'm all right, my love, I just need some rest and not to let go of you for
days and days!" she told him, leaning against him and kissing the spot where the bullet smashed into the Kelvar padding.
Cuddling her to him, Rick walked Laurie to the security cart, then climbed into the back with her and Robin as A.J. and Robbie took the controls and Ian and Chief Redfern piled into the cart bed. Waving good bye a second time to the policeman, A.J. drove everyone back to the parking lot where Ian and his grandfather insisted on hosting everyone for breakfast the next day.
"It's a date!" Rick grinned, as Laurie hugged both men. "Thank you again, Chief, we'll see you two manana!"
Heading to the motel, the five Simons found that Captain Ron had arranged for a police doctor to meet with them, to examine both all three Simons.
Fortunately, other then a large upper chest bruise, Rick was in good condition, with Robin only suffering a few bruises but the doctor shook his head on the state of his wife's injured knees. Bandaging them and the graze marks on her arms and legs, the physician left a sedative for Laurie to take when she went to bed. Walking the doctor to the door, Rick asked the doctor if Laurie should take some anti-inflammatory medication.
"Not yet, but have her see her regular doctor when she gets home, I don't like the instability of her left knee, there may be severe cartilage damage there." Concerned, her husband thanked the man and closed the door, then heard Laurie call for him. "I'm here, darlin'," he replied, entering their room. "Rick, what did the doctor say. Did he look at your chest?" she asked, reclining on the bed with Robin sitting next to her.
Smiling at his two girls, Rick leaned over and hugged both of them. "Yes, Laurie, and it's fine! Now I'm going to order something to eat and then we're all going to get some rest."
Robbie came in from the other room to hear this and volunteered, "Pop, I'll take care of calling in some dinner, why don't I get us burgers and fries with chili and cheese and onions!" His sister groaned and shook her head. "And spend the night listening to you and your stomach ache-no thank you! I want a burger with cheese only please!"
"All right, all right! You two order and I'll buy-only no onions on mine or your mothers!" his father grinned. "Now scoot!"
"Oh, okay, Pop!" Robbie snickered and went to place the order, trailed by Robin who was giggling "Onions-who knew?"
As the door closed, Rick came over to his wife, then took her in his arms. "Now, my sweetheart, I want you to promise me you won't ever rush into danger like that. I mean it, he was going to shoot you, Laurie." Abruptly he found tears in his eyes from the frightening picture of that gun pointed at his love. Seeing his anguish, Laurie answered, "I promise, Rick." then stroking his cheek, kissed him and told him softly, "You saved me, darling, and what's more, you loved me enough to take my premonition seriously, " "Darling, I'm always going to listen to you." Rick replied with a kiss. "I love you, besides, someone has to take care of my princess, and that's me!"
There was a click, then the sound of a dial tone.
"Damn it, A.J., they think we have a tape of what Ian heard in Vegas. One of those goons said for me to go in back of the caverns at 8pm or they'll kill her!"
Rick told him. "Don't worry, Rick, we'll get her back, I promise. The first thing we need to do is see if we can track her through her transmitter!" A.J. replied, squeezing his brother's shoulder.
"You don't need to do that, Mr. Simon, I know where your wife is," a quiet voice interrupted them. Turning, they saw Chief Redfern in the doorway.
As he advanced he smiled at Robin then added, "I was suspicious of some strangers near the ranch, so I followed one of them this afternoon. I saw him take your wife from the man they call Randy, then carry her into the caverns. Fortunately I've had to go in and rescue tourists so I had an idea where she might be. They've got her tied up in a small cave they call the bluebell room. We need to get her out of there as quickly as possible."
"Chief, I don't know what to say, except, thank you!", Rick said, grabbing his weapon and a blanket. "No thanks necessary, Mr. Simon, your wife is a very special person. I know why she is so good with my grandson; I need to make sure she's around so I can get to know her!", Redfern said, patting Ian's shoulder.
Driving to the Caverns, Rick left Ian and Robbie to watch over Robin in the car as he and A.J. followed the older man through the dark to a side entrance to the caverns. Careful to stick with the Chief, the Simons walked through several caverns, then the Chief stopped to listen for footsteps.
Satisfied there wasn't anyone else, he led them into a small inner cave, where Rick gasped to see his wife lying motionless on the cold earth. "Laurie!" he called, then sprang forward and took her in his arms. She stirred and moaned as he untied her, then her eyes opened.
"Rick, oh, my love. You found me!" she looked up at him as he kissed her gently, then wrapped her shivering body in a blanket. "Shh, darlin', it's all right, you're safe, we'll take you back to the motel!" he promised, stroking her face then carefully lifting her up. "Rick, they're going to take Robbie and Robin; I heard someone say they were going to grab them to stop you from going to the police!" she gasped. "They're safe with Ian in Rick's truck, honey, now you just relax, we'll get you out of here!" A.J. told her. Laurie managed a smile at her brother-in-law, "Thanks, A.J., I knew you guys would come, how did you find me?"
"The Chief here followed your kidnappers darlin', then he came to get us!" her husband explained as the older man came to tell them the way was clear. "Thank you, Chief, I owe you my life." she said. Taking her hand, Ian's grandfather replied, "Your safety is important, there are too many people who depend on you." Squeezing his hand, Laurie smiled back at him, then he led the three Simons out of the caverns as quickly as possible. As they left the cavern, Rick noticed it was nearly 8:00 pm. "Laurie, I'm going to leave you with Robin and Ian, Washburn and his thugs should be here any moment. Please stay put and don't leave the car until we have them in custody, ok?" he insisted.
"I don't want you to go darling, but I know you have to get them, so please be careful, Rick!" she begged. "Sweetheart, I will be back, I won't leave you again!" he promised, then kissed her.
Robbie opened the door to the car as soon he saw his parents, then tearfully embraced his mother. "Mama, are you all right?" Robin asked, as Rick set her down in between her children. "I am now, honey!" she assured her, then hugged her. Ian and his grandfather locked the doors as Rick reminded him, "Don't come out until I give the high sign, son, Captain Ron and his men should be here in a few minutes!" "I understand, Mr. Simon, we won't let anything happen to them!" he answered, then closed the door. Rick stopped to pull something from the trunk as A. J. and Robbie stationed themselves on either side of the caverns. As Rick walked to the back entrance, an engine was heard, then a small van pulled up to within a few feet of where the older Simon stood. "Did you bring it, Mr. Simon?" a voice called from inside?
Rick smirked, oh yeah; he was going to bring it! "Yes, I brought mine, now where's my wife?"
"First we see the tape, Simon, walk forward and place it on the hood, then step away!" the voice snarled. From behind the van Rick saw two shapes move, then realized one of them was Captain Ron. Taking a phony tape from his pocket, he advanced toward the vehicle then placed the tape on the hood. Backing away, he saw a masked man come out from the passenger side, and snatch the object off the car.
Abruptly bright lights came on, and Captain Ron's words pierced the evening air. "Police! Freeze!" At once the masked man started to pull a weapon, only to draw a single shot which knocked the gun from his fingers. Yelling for him to hit the ground, Robbie ordered the other person in the van to get out, hands up. From inside Rick's truck, Ian drew a sharp breath, "It's Jonathan, and I would have bet anything he wasn't involved!" Robin patted his shoulder, "It's all right, he fooled a lot of people, honey."
As Rick advanced toward the man on the ground, his gun drawn, he saw the Phoenix captain coming from the rear of the vehicle. "Thanks, Captain Ron, you got good timing!" he grinned, then covered him as he holstered his weapon. Signaling that it was safe to get out of Rick's truck, Rick turned as the policeman asked "Is Laurie and the kids all right?" concerned. "Yeah, thanks to Ian's grandfather!" Rick answered, as the captain dragged the suspect off the ground then pulled the mask off. Instantly Rick's eyes narrowed, "So that's how you did it; you lured my wife to the back stage area then drugged and kidnapped her!"
Brad Grayson smirked at him, "Well, you won't be able to prove it, will you, Mr. Simon. You'll never find where she is without making a deal with me! Cause if you don't, I'm sure the locals will tell you about all the carbon monoxide that fills the caverns from the cars leaving." Horrified, Rick started toward the video director, only to have his brother grab him by the arm. "Let it go, Rick, he'll get his in court!" "He's right, darling, that jerk isn't worth it!" Laurie added, coming up to him. A look of shock appeared on Grayson's face, "How did you...where did you come from?" he stammered.
"I came from where you would have left me to die, if the Chief and my family hadn't rescued me!" she replied scornfully, as her husband put his arm around her.
Infuriated, Captain Ron cuffed the kidnapper, telling him "You'll have plenty of time to regret what you did to this lady, a very long time!"
Watching the two conspirators led away, Laurie shuddered, then felt Rick tighten his arm around her. "It's all right, my Laurie, he won't hurt you again.
What gets me is I should have figured it out, who else would have known when a particular rider would be needed, and when to tamper with the equipment! When I heard that you were last seen going to talk to Grayson, I should have located him."
"Darling, you couldn't have known, I mean, he timed it perfectly. When I went toward the backstage area, all the performers had just left to change. I never even heard him behind me, one moment I was calling his name, then next there was a cloth over my face. I tried to fight him off, only he said if I didn't stop struggling, he'd take Robin instead!" Laurie said, starting to shake at the memory.
"Sweetheart, it's all right, he won't touch you again." Rick comforted her. "Thanks to you, my love. One thing doesn't make any sense, though." she frowned, seeing Ian and Robin talking next to the truck.
"What's that, darlin?" Rick turned for a moment to wave at Captain Ron and his men, as they pulled out of the lot.
"Where Jason Washburn figures in all this, I haven't seen anything of him since this morning." Laurie wondered.
Abruptly, hoof beats sounded and a rider dressed in black came thundering through the parking lot. At once both Rick and Laurie froze, remembering his nightmare.
"No!" she screamed, seeing the rider bearing down on Ian and Robin. Dashing toward her daughter, Laurie fell then getting up, turned to see the man riding at her daughter, then grabbing her with one arm and carrying her away. Laurie frantically ran after them, as Rick yelled, "No, let her go!"
Seeing a security cart he jumped into it and zoomed off after the horseman and his wife. As he drove through the woods, he could see his wife starting to tire, so he pulled even with her and reached out to her, pulling her on to the cart. "Hurry, Rick, he's heading toward the highway, please hurry!" He saw Robin struggling with Washburn, then suddenly she tumbled to the ground as they reached a clearing. Stopping the cart, Laurie vaulted off and rushed to her daughter's side, as the horseman turned and rode back to where they were.
Rick jumped out of the cart and pulled his weapon, just in time to hear Washburn snarling at Laurie, "I'll finish you first, then your husband!" Rick saw him raise his gun as his wife flung herself over Robin. In an instant Rick called out "No! One move and you're dead!"
Washburn whirled on him and fired at the same time Rick emptied his weapon at him. Laurie had gotten to her knees and tried to knock the attacker off his horse, only to see him fall wounded to the earth. Turning, she saw Rick look down, then collapse backwards.
Screaming, "No, no!" she got to her feet and kicked Washburn's gun away from him, then ran in Rick's direction, stumbling and crawling the last few feet. Reaching for her husband, Laurie sobbed "No, not again, please God!" as the rest of their family entered the area. Ian ran and picked Robin up as Robbie grabbed Washburn's weapon, while A.J. made sure he didn't pose any further threat.
Rick opened his eyes, feeling tears on his face. He tried to struggle into a sitting position, realizing the bruise he was going to have was a doozy. "No, darling, don't move, you'll bleed to death, please Rick!" she wept, putting her arms around him.
"Laurie, my sweetheart, it's all right, you don't understand, help me sit up!" he gasped, then once he got her attention, he took her hand and put it over his heart. "What is it, my love, he shot you in the heart?" she replied in a ragged breath. "No, angel, there's no wound, feel right here!" he told her, guiding her fingers over his chest. At once she realized what he was telling her, "Rick, darling, you have a bulletproof vest on?" He put his arms around her as she hiccupped, then kissed him all over his face. "I love you, oh I love you!" she murmured, trying to smile at him through her tears.
"Oh, my brave girl, don't cry anymore, I'm ok." he soothed her, seeing the faces of his brother and children surrounding them. Kissing her, he then held out a hand to his brother and had him help him up, then lifted Laurie to her feet.
Just then Captain Ron and his men returned, having been alerted by Robbie to Washburn's abduction of his sister. Taking a short statement from the Simons, the captain ended his questions when he saw that Laurie was still shaky from her ordeal.
"It's all right, Laurie, if I need anything else, I'll come to you at the motel." Captain Ron added, then gave her a hug. "Thank you, Ron, you're so good to us!" she beamed. Suddenly Rick got a good look at her torn and bleeding knees, then the numerous cuts and scrapes all over her arms. "Darlin', I need to get you to the hospital, you've been hurt!" he said, stroking her face.
"I'm all right, my love, I just need some rest and not to let go of you for
days and days!" she told him, leaning against him and kissing the spot where the bullet smashed into the Kelvar padding.
Cuddling her to him, Rick walked Laurie to the security cart, then climbed into the back with her and Robin as A.J. and Robbie took the controls and Ian and Chief Redfern piled into the cart bed. Waving good bye a second time to the policeman, A.J. drove everyone back to the parking lot where Ian and his grandfather insisted on hosting everyone for breakfast the next day.
"It's a date!" Rick grinned, as Laurie hugged both men. "Thank you again, Chief, we'll see you two manana!"
Heading to the motel, the five Simons found that Captain Ron had arranged for a police doctor to meet with them, to examine both all three Simons.
Fortunately, other then a large upper chest bruise, Rick was in good condition, with Robin only suffering a few bruises but the doctor shook his head on the state of his wife's injured knees. Bandaging them and the graze marks on her arms and legs, the physician left a sedative for Laurie to take when she went to bed. Walking the doctor to the door, Rick asked the doctor if Laurie should take some anti-inflammatory medication.
"Not yet, but have her see her regular doctor when she gets home, I don't like the instability of her left knee, there may be severe cartilage damage there." Concerned, her husband thanked the man and closed the door, then heard Laurie call for him. "I'm here, darlin'," he replied, entering their room. "Rick, what did the doctor say. Did he look at your chest?" she asked, reclining on the bed with Robin sitting next to her.
Smiling at his two girls, Rick leaned over and hugged both of them. "Yes, Laurie, and it's fine! Now I'm going to order something to eat and then we're all going to get some rest."
Robbie came in from the other room to hear this and volunteered, "Pop, I'll take care of calling in some dinner, why don't I get us burgers and fries with chili and cheese and onions!" His sister groaned and shook her head. "And spend the night listening to you and your stomach ache-no thank you! I want a burger with cheese only please!"
"All right, all right! You two order and I'll buy-only no onions on mine or your mothers!" his father grinned. "Now scoot!"
"Oh, okay, Pop!" Robbie snickered and went to place the order, trailed by Robin who was giggling "Onions-who knew?"
As the door closed, Rick came over to his wife, then took her in his arms. "Now, my sweetheart, I want you to promise me you won't ever rush into danger like that. I mean it, he was going to shoot you, Laurie." Abruptly he found tears in his eyes from the frightening picture of that gun pointed at his love. Seeing his anguish, Laurie answered, "I promise, Rick." then stroking his cheek, kissed him and told him softly, "You saved me, darling, and what's more, you loved me enough to take my premonition seriously, " "Darling, I'm always going to listen to you." Rick replied with a kiss. "I love you, besides, someone has to take care of my princess, and that's me!"