Chapter 19 – Storm Front

"If you want to see the sunshine, you have to weather the storm."

~ Frank Lane


Enos knew all about bad luck, but between his riding accident at the ravine and Big Levi's attack with a baseball bat, he'd come to believe most instances of good luck were divine intervention. When Luke's horse went lame on the trail to Whiskey Falls, Enos and Jenny agreed to leave Abby behind for him to continue the journey, not thinking about luck one way or the other.

It didn't bother Enos to make the trip another day. Having Jenny all to himself, her warm curves pressed against his back, was one of his favorite ways to ride trails. While she ponied the injured horse, she wrapped a delicate arm tightly around his middle and chattered away about happy times in Montana. He laughed when she told him about Cynthia's clever banter with Drake at the last Thanksgiving the four of them spent together. Apparently the two had been an item for awhile, but thought nobody else knew.

Being with Jenny warmed his heart and calmed his soul. Bad luck wasn't on his mind, even when the sky's turned grey and storm clouds loomed on the horizon.

It wasn't until they crested the hill above the Rafter G that harsh reality returned with a vengeance. Enos peered through his riflescope, the weapon steady in his hands, not sure if he could believe his eyes. He knew Jenny saw the same thing through her binoculars when she suddenly went rigid and shouted. "No! Dan's on the floor! Shoot him, Enos! Shoot him!"

The sharp 'crack' from the rifle echoed off the ridge. Below them, the cabin's window shattered and the bearded man aiming a gun at Dan's prone figure jerked back and fell out of sight. Enos took a quick scan of the yard and called over his shoulder, "Drop th' reins and hold on!"

Adrenaline surged through Enos's veins as they thundered down the hill. Fear of what they would find bled into his composure, but he forced it aside, saying a prayer that Drake had gotten Daisy and Emily out. They reached the front steps and Jenny leapt from the horse with practiced ease, her Glock firmly clasped in her hands. Enos swung from the saddle and met her on the porch.

The front door was open ajar and they crouched to the right of the frame. Handing Jenny his rifle, he drew his service pistol and pushed the open door wide with his foot, sweeping into the room. He heard Jenny's sharp intake of breath. The gunman lay dead at their feet, his dark eyes wide and seeing nothing. Dan lay nearby in a pool of blood.

"Dan!" Jenny's pained cry sliced at Enos's heart. She stepped over the gunman and dropped down to check the wrangler for a pulse. "He's alive. Dan? Can you here me?"

Dan remained perfectly still, not making a sound. She looked to Enos, her eyes filled with raw anguish and disbelief. "He's been shot in the chest! This can't be happening. Not again! Where is everyone?"

"It's gonna be alright." Enos had no idea how. The metallic smell of blood ablated his senses and he fought the bile rising in his throat. He put a calming hand on Jenny's shoulder, both gaining and feeding comfort. "I'm gonna check th' rest of th' house. Stay with Dan and call for help. Watch your back." He grabbed the cordless phone and handed it to her before starting a thorough search of the cabin.

Relief and terror battled for control with each room he cleared. No gunmen. No sign of Emily or Daisy. Fear ratcheted higher when he saw the aftermath of a struggle in the kitchen. There was blood on the floor and Drake's Ruger was found beneath an overturned chair. He'd never leave his gun behind, which meant the blood was probably his.

Enos whirled and made a quick check of the upstairs, finding an open window with a jimmied lock in one of the vacant rooms. Being careful not to touch the sash, he looked outside. A lone horse stood saddled and tied to a deck beam behind the cabin. Even from here, the wide swath of trampled land cut a visible scar in the earth as far as the eye could see. The assailants had ridden in and out, taking Drake, Emily, and Daisy with them. What did it all mean? Why would Monroe take Emily, but not Dan?

The answer hit him like a freight train, but before he could give it much thought, thunder rumbled in the distance. A large stone settled in his gut, aching and cold. The clock was running. Rain would wash out the horse's tracks, taking away their best chance of finding their lost loved ones. Enos shook himself out and hurried downstairs.

Jenny had rolled Dan to his back and used a blanket to put pressure on the wound. Enos had seen blood before, but he would never be comfortable with it, especially not like this. Blood soaked through the makeshift compress, covering Jenny's hands and seeping into her clothes. Dan looked more dead than alive, his skin a sickly grey pallor.

Jenny turned to him, a question in her eyes. "Drake? The others?"

"There was a struggle in th' kitchen." He couldn't bring himself to tell her about the blood he found. Not yet. "They're not here. They've been taken. Has Dan said anything?"

"No." Grief flickered in Jenny's eyes and was quickly replaced with a steely determination. She grabbed Enos's hand and pressed it against the fabric covering Dan's wound. "Hold it tight while I try to wake him."

Helplessness threatened to drag him away as he watched Jenny cradle Dan's head in her lap. Dan didn't deserve this. No one did. While they waited for help to arrive, she gently patted his pale cheeks and spoke firmly, encouraging him to wake.

An eternity passed before Dan's eyes fluttered and opened to narrow slits. In a weak voice he said, "Cowgirl...baby is that really you?"

"I'm right here. Don't move."

"Hurts…hard to breathe…" Dan groaned, his face twisted in agony.

Tears ran down Jenny's cheeks unhindered and she gently stroked the pain lines etched in his brow. "I know. I'm so sorry. Help is on the way. Just be still. We're right here with you."

Enos leaned closer. "Hang in there buddy roe. Can ya' tell us what happened?"

"Th-they took Emily. Daisy and Drake, too. At least four men with guns. They were wearing camo and ski masks." Alarm shown in Dan's face. "Th' one who shot me…wh-where's…h-he had a beard…"

"Easy. You're safe. Enos got him." Jenny said. "Did you see the others leave?"

"No, but they must've gone through the back." He paused, as if speaking took all the energy he had, and raised tear-glazed eyes to Jenny. "I tried to stop them, b-but..."

"Shh. Rest. You need your strength."

"Cowgirl ... I ain't gonna make it."

"Don't say that. Fight it, jackass. You don't have my permission to give up and die." Her voice wavered with repressed emotion. "Not because of me."

Dan's fingers trembled as he reached up to touch her cheek. "Baby, this ain't your fault. None of it."

Jenny took Dan's hand, squeezing it tight. "You will not stick Gus with that ill-mannered horse. Peanut needs you and so do I."

A fist clutched at Enos's heart as empathy swamped him. He was terrified for Daisy and the others, but Jenny had seen more darkness than a soul should have to carry. How much more could she take before it broke her?

He focused his attention back on Dan. The wrangler gave Jenny a wry smile and his eyes grew heavy. "I need ya' to tell ma I'm sorry for stretchin' th' truth. I got carried away. It just felt nice … to pretend, you know? I thought one day, I'd bring a nice girl home."

Jenny clicked her tongue. "You and your tall tales. She just wants you to be happy. You can apologize yourself when you're better. We'll find you a nice nurse to make your recovery interesting."

"Aw, Cowgirl. I wish…" Dan again turned to Enos, this time a deeper pain shone in his pale blue eyes. Tears slid down his cheeks as he fought for life. "Ya' gotta take care of Cowgirl for me. P-promise you'll be good to her?"

Enos firmly met his gaze, knowing Dan's regrets were heavy. "I promise."

A sense of peace stole over his features. "We sure had good times, didn't we Cowgirl? I never forgot that starry night by the river. I've…always…" Dan let out a weary sigh and his eyes slid shut.

"Dan? Dan!" Jenny muffled a sob and checked his pulse. "He's still with us. Where are the paramedics?" Enos knew she was at her breaking point when she began to shake and cried out, "We never should've come back here! All we do is bring pain and death!"

"Jenny, this ain't your-"

"I'll kill Monroe! Even if I have to do it with my bare hands, I will kill him!" She huddled over Dan, pressing her forehead to his and whispering a Gaelic prayer between her sobs.

"If I don't kill him first." Enos thought his heart might rip in two. His skin felt too tight and hate burned in his gut, blurring his vision and clouding his thinking. Gus would be devastated. How would he possibly explain this to him, or Uncle Jesse? Daisy and Emily must be terrified.

Outside, the first drops of rain splattered against the ground as sirens wailed in the distance. Enos closed his eyes and prayed.


The grey skies fit Travis Patterson's sour mood when he arrived at the quaint lodge in Bramble Creek. He'd driven all night to get here and dragged himself inside the rented cabin, angry and exhausted. As much as he wanted to sleep, it was out of the question. He had too much work to do.

They were so close to capturing Monroe that losing his happy ever after was unthinkable. It took cornering one of Monroe's low-level thugs in a dark alley to get the first decent lead on Gidget's location in three days. He was only at the lodge to check in and tie up a loose end before getting back to the search.

Travis grabbed the phone and dragged the cord behind him as he dialed. The ringing droned in his ear, until he was about to give up hope, then a woman answered. "Hello?"

"Miss Alcott," he said, sinking against the dresser. "Thank goodness. You made it to Detroit."

There was a distinct pause. "No thanks to you. I spent two days hiding in plain sight until Monroe's cleaner decided I was harmless."

Miss Alcott was his mule. She'd met Gidget for tea every day over the last year to ferry out information obtained on Monroe. He knew she'd be upset about being left to fend for herself and perhaps she was justified. Monroe's cleaners were ruthless, but he hadn't taken action. If she was alive, Gidget was, too.

"Tell me what you found," she said, expecting no apologies. "Anything new on Gidget?"

"Monroe chartered a flight out of LaGuardia several days ago. I'm close. I'll know more soon."

"Where exactly are you?"

"Bramble Creek, Wyoming. I'm on my way to the airport in Dubois."

She shrieked, "But the Rafter G is only forty five minutes from Bramble Creek! It's a set up! How did we get this so wrong? Did you call Jaxon and warn him?"

Travis inwardly swore. "Relax. I talked to Jaxon this morning." It was a blatant lie, but Travis couldn't risk upsetting her further. "Don't worry. Everything is under control."

"Don't worry? I cannot believe you just said that. You have some nerve!" She let out an angry growl. "We need that warrant. You have to give the evidence to your boss. He'll understand why you didn't report us as informants. There are too many lives at stake. At least tell Jaxon and Jenny the truth!"

Travis clenched his teeth. "No. We wait until Gidget is safe."

"Travis…" she sighed, heavily. "Gidget would want you to protect her children first and foremost. You know it. Jaxon can help you find her."

"This isn't negotiable. Gidget needs to be the one to tell them. It's best if she explains. The twins will understand her actions."

She scoffed, "You're both living in a fantasy world if you think it's going to be that easy. Drake will never allow that."

He dropped to the bed and scrubbed his face with his free hand. "Just do what I tell you. Get on the next plane to Dubois, rent a car, and drive to the River Rock Lodge in Bramble Creek. I've already rented you a cabin."

"As if you could keep me away." Miss Alcott spoke with a sarcastic edge that grated on Travis's nerves. "Promises were made, Agent Patterson. I kept my end of the deal and kept your secrets. I'm sorry that Gidget is missing, but I'm not playing fast and loose with the lives of innocent people so she can make some grand gesture. We don't even know if she's alive."

"She's alive!" Travis bit out. "You'd be smart to remember that Gidget is innocent, too. Just don't do anything until I've found her. Please."

"Gidget is far from innocent," she huffed. "Listen, I hope you find her, really I do. But if you don't have good news by the time I arrive, I'll take matters into my own hands. No more delays."

"Is that a threat?"

"It's a promise."

The phone went dead. Travis slammed down the receiver and raked a hand through his hair salt and pepper hair. He'd have to find a way to set Miss Alcott straight. Gidget deserved her second chance. It was her right to explain. Ian MacFarland was a vicious animal and once the siblings heard what was done to their mother, they'd welcome her with open arms. No one messed with her future. Not on his watch.

He grabbed his keys and left for the airport to track down his lead. When he heard the Sheriff call the State Police to the Rafter G, he altered his route and drove as fast as possible to the ranch.


After the air ambulance left with Dan, the local law had taken over the ranch. Enos and Jenny were allowed to change their bloody clothes and were sent to the porch with a deputy while the forensics team worked inside. They had just finished giving their statements when Sheriff Running Wolf stepped out of the cabin and pulled Enos aside.

Sheriff Hunter Running Wolf, "Hunt" as everyone called him, was an honorable man. He was in his late thirties, with navy blue eyes like his father, but the rest of his features were clearly Arapaho, like his mother. Despite his grim expression, he carried a serenity about him that put Enos at ease.

The Sheriff leaned against the porch rail with his hat in his hands. "I am sorry about this, Enos. I was able to reach Jaxon on the radio. Gus and the others are on the way. You know your godfather well. I expect he will be in a panic by the time he arrives. Would you like for me to break the news?"

"No sir, but I thank ya'. I'm the one who should tell him. I'll take th' responsibility." A brutal pang hit Enos dead center. "Sheriff, it would help if I had something to tell them. We can't just sit here while their trail gets washed out. Jenny and I should be out there searchin'."

"I can not let you do that." The look in Hunt's eyes said he wasn't budging. He placed a strong hand on Enos's shoulder and said, "I am doing everything I can. I sent my best men after the suspects and Buford is bringing his bloodhounds, but with all this rain, it will be tough to follow their tracks. Your place is here. We both know why they took Emily. I expect a ransom call will come from Monroe or his people."

"Yes sir." Enos looked past the sheriff to where Jenny stood at the far corner of the porch. What remained of his composure hung by a thread. She knew why Emily was taken, too.

Leverage.

Monroe wanted the twins.

At this point, Enos had no idea if Daisy and Drake were still alive. He cleared his throat and met the Sheriff's eyes. "I want to thank ya' for all you're doing, Hunt. If ya' hear anything about Dan, would ya' let us know?"

"Right away. I should call Garret Smothers and let him know we found his missing horses. Well, one of them anyway. I will give you two some time alone." Hunt replaced his hat and walked inside the cabin.

Enos made quick work of the distance to Jenny and pulled her close against his chest, molding his body around her like a protective shield. Both of them were too distraught for words and simply held each other as they watched the rain transform the yard into a sloppy mess. He wasn't sure how long they stood that way before Jenny spoke, but her voice was quiet and contemplative.

"I have this place inside myself where I keep all the memories ... special ones ... painful ones ... a few I'd rather forget. I suppose it's different for everyone, but I imagine mine in a glass jar on a sturdy shelf, filled with all the broken pieces of my heart that I couldn't put back together." She sighed, reaching up with her hand, gesturing at some unseen object. "I can take it down and look at the contents when I need to cry ... or remember. Then I put it back, high up, on that shelf so it's way out of sight. When it's up there, the pain doesn't rip my soul apart.

"There are memories from Cynthia's death, Finn and Gran's funerals, the night our mam…" Her voice drifted away and tears rolled down her cheeks in tiny rivulets. "My jar keeps filling up. It's getting so heavy that I'm afraid the shelf will break, or I'll drop it if ... if I lose Dan, or Emily, or-"

"I got ya', hon." Enos tightened his hold, kissing away her tears and rocking her gently to keep from falling into a puddle of helpless despair. "I'll hold it when you can't. If ya' need a stronger shelf, I'll help ya' build one. I love you, Jenny. We'll figure this out together."

Bootheels rapped against the wooden porch and Enos turned to the slender deputy walking their way. "Deputy Strate? I'm sorry to interrupt, but we have a group of horses coming in the back way. It's Gus." The deputy gestured toward the door. "I need you both to come with me."


When Daisy opened her eyes, the world was dark and sound distorted. The stench of sweaty horse was overwhelming. She listened to the animals slosh through deep water, as if they were riding in a river. It was cold and wet, she ached everywhere and nausea swirled in her belly.

She was hanging upside down, the saddle horn poking into her stomach with each stride. A dark hood had been secured over her head and her arms dangled, bound at the wrists. When she tried to lift them, she met with resistance. Trying a second time she felt a thick rope. It had been stretched beneath the horse, connected her hands to her feet on the other side. Whoever held her kept a firm hand pressed against her back as he urged the horse onward at a punishing clip.

Daisy drifted in an out of consciousness, until a loud clap of thunder pierced the haze. Rain came down in sheets and the wind picked up in a deafening roar. The ride continued, relentlessly jarring her bruised body until her teeth rattled.

Unable to take anymore, Daisy fought her binds and screamed, "Drake! Somebody! Help! Please help me!"

The horse came to an abrupt halt and her captor yelled, "Hey! She's awake!"

Another man said, "Get a move on. We're almost there."

"Everybody hold up." Daisy recognized the leader's voice. "Give me the stuff. It'll be easier."

Stuff? What stuff?

Then she remembered the smelly rag and fought harder to get free. "I said let me go you big dirtbag! Emily! Drake?"

Her captor laughed and slapped her on the rump. "We got us a live one, boys!"

Rowdy shouts and vile comments stripped her nerves. Outraged, Daisy screamed, "Get your hands off me!"

"Everybody just shut-up! Especially you, Wade." It was the leader's voice again. "Liam! Circle back and find out what happened to Richie!" Another horse sloshed closer and a hand grabbed Daisy's hair through the hood, lifting her head. "Listen up, Wildcat. I have enough to deal with without you causing problems."

"Get this thing off me! Where are you takin' me? Where's Drake?"

"Drake can't help you anymore, barmaid."

Daisy's hopes withered like a delicate flower under the blistering summer sun. Drake couldn't be dead. He couldn't be. That would mean she was all alone, at the mercy of her kidnappers, lost in the wilds of Wyoming.

The man continued, "You're gonna take another nap. When you wake up, you'll be in a nice dry cage and we'll have plenty of time to play." A mocking laugh followed.

She opened her mouth to scream, but more fabric was pressed against her face, soaked with the same dizzying stench. Images of Reid Duncan flashed in her mind and she could almost hear his voice whisper the vile things he had in store for her. It was like Bear Creek all over again, except this time, Drake wasn't able to save her.

Daisy inhaled deeply, welcoming oblivion.


Gidget jolted awake in her chair. She lost the grip on her empty teacup and it fell into her lap. Someone had poked her bruised shoulder with a blunt object. Matt Duncan stood over her with the telephone receiver.

"Wake up, Sleeping Beauty. Mr. Monroe wants to speak with you."

She gaped at him. The last thing Gidget remembered was sitting down for tea after Matt left the cabin. She looked at her watch. Hours had gone by. "You drugged me?"

"Not me. Must've been something you drank." Matt made no effort to keep his voice down. Monroe probably ordered it. Again. He shoved the phone towards her with a twisted grin. "Mr. Monroe's guest is in the next room, but he has a few instructions before you meet her."

So that was why. Struggling to maintain her focus, she grabbed the phone, making a mental note to throw away her stash of tea. "Hello, Wallace dear. It's so wonderful to hear from you. Matt says our guest has arrived?"

"Ah ... my darling Gidget. I missed your company last night."

"And I missed you, my sweet." It wasn't a complete lie. There was a semblance of control when she was with the kingpin. At least she knew when his fuse was lit.

"It's time for you to take good care for my guest. I'll return with my associates as soon as I finalize the deal. It's critical that you make sure she remains secure, but comfortable. She's not a willing guest, but be certain no harm comes to her."

"Of course. You can always count on me." The woman was obviously being ransomed, but for what? At least for now it sounded as if her life wasn't at risk.

"Are you having any difficulties with Matt?"

The bruises along her side ached and burned at his question, but she lied anyway. "Matt knows better than to cross you by touching me. Everything is fine."

"That's good to hear. Just in case, I've taken some extra precautions. If you have any trouble with Matt, tell Liam. He's second in command. I'm sending Wade and Mack to Charleston for another assignment. Liam is responsible for your safety. Everything depends on the success of my plan and I want you by my side to reap the benefits."

Whatever he had planned took a back seat to her momentary relief. Liam was one of Monroe's many cleaners, capable of protecting her from Matt's warped tendencies. She could focus on the poor woman and try to find out what Monroe was after. If she was careful, she could stop it and save herself in the process.

"Thank you, Wallace. I'll go check on our guest."


Enos and Jenny quickly rushed through the cabin and out onto the back deck. Gus burst through the trees, his coat flapping behind him in the wind. Having outrun the others, Pete's grey coat was lathered with sweat and his nostrils flared as he galloped across the wet ground.

The floor tilted and Enos grasped Jenny's hand for support. "I don't know how to tell him. What am I gonna say?"

Jenny framed his face with her hands. "You are stronger than you feel right now. You can do this. I'll be right beside you."

Pete slid to a stop and Gus splashed through the puddles on his way to the stairs. He shoved his way past Sheriff Running Wolf and stormed across the deck to his godson. He was wound up tight. "What in the world is so awful that Hunt can't tell me over th' radio? Where's Emily? Why are th' police here?"

Enos stammered, "Gus, I…there was…Emily-"

"Augustus…" Sheriff Wolf stepped forward. "She's not here. Come inside so we can talk."

Gus's eyes became gigantic orbs. "Not here? What the hell do ya' mean she ain't here!? Emily!" He ran through the kitchen door, calling her name, with Sheriff Running Wolf in pursuit.

"Ding dang it!" Enos looked towards the approaching horses, then went inside. Jenny followed.

Gus was in the living room, ripping into the local law. "Hunt, if you don't start makin' sense so help me I'm gonna knock your teeth out! Who did this to my home and where's my wife!?"

"Now Gus, you have to calm down! Take off the wet coat and have a seat."

"Damn it! Somebody better give me a straight answer!" Gus shoved him aside and grabbed Enos's shirt with both fists, shaking him so hard he stumbled. He'd never seen such fear in his godfather's eyes, or heard such desperation in his voice. "There's blood and glass on my floor! Where is she!? Where is my wife!?"

Enos took hold of Gus's arms and said, "Monroe's men took her. They took Daisy and Drake, too. Dan tried to stop them, but…th-they shot him."

Gus dropped his arms and swayed. "Dan?"

Jenny's hand visibly shook as she reached for Gus. "He's in surgery. It's bad. They are doing everything they can for him. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

"Oh, God." Gus rubbed his face with both hands. "Dan woudn't hurt a soul and Emily? M-my Emily? How could anybody hurt her? She's…" He sank to the couch with his head in his hands. "Dan ... is he gonna live?"

Barney rushed in with the others, his clothes drenched, his face pale. "Dan? What happened? Where is he?"

Sheriff Running Wolf stepped in. "He's at Riverton Memorial Trauma Center being treated for a gunshot wound. We're still trying to reach his folks in Livingston."

"Jenny!?" Jaxon rushed into the room and swept his twin into his arms. "We came as soon as we could. The officers outside told me what happened. How did they get past Drake?"

"They had a small army." Jenny couldn't hold back anymore and fell apart in his arms.

Seeing Jenny's despair, Luke went white as a ghost. He approached Enos and grasped his arm, tightening his fingers around the sleeve of his shirt. "You said she'd be safe here, that Drake could protect her! Now what are we going to do?"

Before Enos could respond, Gus let out an agonizing howl and flipped over the coffee table in his rage. He turned back to Enos, grabbing his collar. "We gotta do something! I can't leave her with those monsters! Which way did they go? Son, please ... please help me find her. She's all I got that means anything! Lord help me, what am I gonna do?"

Gus went to his knees and Enos went down with him. He firmly took his godfather's shoulders and made a promise. "Whatever it takes, I'll find her and bring her home." He looked up at the eldest Duke, who was working his jaw, his fists clenched at his side. "I ain't gonna rest until we bring all of them home."

The phone rang and a young rookie picked it up. "You're who?" His eyes went wide. "Excuse me, Deputy Strate? This is for you."

Barney snapped, "Not now!"

"I'm sorry, but he has to take this." The deputy extended the phone to Enos. "It's Wallace Monroe and he says he will only speak to you."