Chapter
Gone Again
In the early morning hours the camp begrudgingly came to life. Too early as far as Joe was concerned. After breakfast and a round of coffee for everybody but the captives, the men began to get to work. Junior brought food and water to first Danny and then to Joe. The others began to pack. As they did Bogs noticed the jacket covering Danny and flung it aside exposing his bare skin to the crisp morning air. Danny balled up tight as the air hit him, perhaps afraid that the cold chill wouldn't be the only thing to hit him. Junior reclaimed his jacket under the scrutiny of the other men.
Chapman directed the men to secure the horses to the wagon. When this had been done, Danny was released from the wheel and drug inside. Junior and Senior loaded up with him and the wagon trailed off. Danny was going with them. Joe was losing him again.
Chapman ordered Squirrely to go out the direction they came. He disappeared up over the precipice. Chapman and Bogs waited by the fire kept low now. Prepared he guessed to leave at a moment's notice. They kept Joe tied to the tree for an hour or more after the wagon was out of site. After some time, Chapman and Bogs came over, Chapman holding a canteen and knelt next to him, pulling the dirty rags from his mouth.
"You got what you wanted. Let Danny go." Joe spurned.
"Don't worry Little Joe. We intend to."
"When?"
"Soon."
"How soon?"
"As soon as plausible."
"Why not now?"
"What? Now?" Chapman smirked.
"Yes now. Why not? You have me. That's what you wanted. Now let him go."
"Boy Little Joe, people call us heartless." Joe shot him a cross look. "Little Joe, there's nobody out here for miles. Look at what shape he's in. He'll never survive out here on his own. Wolves will get to him before any man will."
"He's only in that shape because you put him there."
"Well that's beside the point."
"So what's your plan with him then?"
"Don't worry Little Joe. We're going to take real good care of him."
"Yeah, I see how good of care you've taken in him so far." Bogs smirked with satisfaction.
"I'm going to have my men take him on up ahead and we're going to find him a real nice doctor." Somehow especially seeing how bad he'd been hurt he had a difficult time believing the leopards would change their spots and suddenly start being nice to the boy. He hated to think that after finally laying eyes on the boy that he would once again be taken away. He didn't believe their stories for one minute about finding a doctor. For all he knew they would take him just far enough out of hearing range and put a bullet in him or cut his throat. Of course after everything he'd been through that would be might's more merciful than letting the wolves tear him apart and that might even be more merciful than letting Bogs have his fun with him again. Oh he just had to get him out of here. He could not let these men separate them.
"Why is he going ahead? Why aren't we going together?"
"They're a little bit slower than we are. It takes them a bit longer to get to where we're going. Don't worry we'll catch up to them."
"You're keeping us separated for a reason. Why?"
"Not for one reason. For two. The first is that we know all about you. Let's just say, your reputation precedes you. You're a fighter with a heart of gold. The do-gooder." His tone was mocking. "We knew as soon as you'd lay eyes on him, your only thought would be to escape with him. Then you'd go and get yourself hurt, or worse and well, you're not much worth to us dead."
"Why can't he know I'm here?"
"That's part of the second reason. You and I both know he's not going back with you. It would be cruel to give him that hope."
"Why? Why can't he go back with us?"
"We made a mistake in taking him admittedly. But we still can't let him go. Not without a price. He ain't worth much. But he's worth something and we plan on getting what we can for him."
"He can go with us."
"Not without a price he can't."
"Yes. A price. My father will pay. He was going to pay. He had the money and everything. He went to go meet with you."
"You're saying he was willing to pay for a boy that wasn't his?"
"That's right." Chapman and Bogs exchanged glances.
"But now we have you, so that's not even an issue anymore."
"He will. He still will. Bring him back. He'll pay for him too."
"How loaded is your pa? To go around paying other peoples ransoms."
"He'll pay for him. He has enough to pay for him." They let the conversation rest there.
"Lean forward."
After untying him from the tree, they released his binds and bound his hands in front of him. They got him on his horse and secured his wrist to the saddle horn. Chapman took control of the reigns of Joe's horse. The luxury of the hands free day of yesterday had past. This was how he was to spend the day. Completely under their will. Every bit of the captive he knew he was. They wanted him incapacitated to squash any ideas of insurrect that may arise.
Little Joe was sore from sitting in that frozen position the whole night with his arms tied to the tree and having nothing to rest his head on but hard bark. He was exhausted too. The day prior had already taken a lot out of him and having no real way of recuperating he felt the strain that much heavier today. He just wanted to rest. A good proper rest. He was still in his layers which only added to his misery. He was in no position to complain in comparison to the boy who took his place. Joe's misery could in no way compare to what Danny had gone through in his stead, and what hell he continues to live through.
He wonders where they had taken him. If he'll ever see Danny again. Doctor. He scoffed. What were their real plans for him? He wondered. Thinking about Danny kept him from focusing too much on his own miseries. He couldn't ignore his miseries altogether though. He could feel his crabbiness rise because of them. He had to work extra hard to control his own ill-temper. He wasn't with his brothers right now. He knew what his brothers were capable of. In the times Joe would get out of line or start getting a bit mouthy, maybe start getting too big for his britches; they were there to get him back in line. He knew what they were capable of. These men on the other hand, he wasn't entirely sure what they were capable of. He got to see a bit of it in the way they treated Danny and it was atrocious. God, poor Danny. He wondered how long he'd been going through that. By the looks of him, since the very first night. He thought about the shirt that his brother's had found caked in dry blood. The white bandage, well dirty now, just under his ribcage. These were monsters they were with. Monsters. Who could do that to someone, and not be a monster? I'll get you out Danny. Just hold on. I'll find a way.
~.~
Ben watched his oldest who hadn't said much since they'd set out. What words he did speak were pedant. Giving orders and discussing tactics. Adam's mind was set on the task before him. He was strong. He could handle it. Sometimes he saw him as so strong he uses him as a scratching post. Someone to whom Ben could vent his frustrations. Like yesterday. He was strong. He could take it. What he did to Adam yesterday was unjust. Adam had done his best in the absence of his father and he was right. In every decision he had made he was right. Ben had yet to tell him that. Nor how proud he was of him for how well he'd performed. Adam doesn't need to hear things like this to help him be strong. Unlike his other two son's whose emotions flowed like rivers. In this way Adam was vastly different. Closed off. It's not that you couldn't tell what he was feeling. If he was angry or hurting you'd know it. But he wasn't as open to discussion when it came to matters of the heart. He was hurting now and Ben knew it. In the long periods of silence as was now he'd watch his son. The way he carried himself. He'd get lost in his own wanderings. His shoulders were fall laden with the weight of his torment. Sometimes it pained the pater to know how much Adam held in. The boy who never cries. Who'd come so close to tears only yesterday. He'd done that to him. Nearly broken his boy. He'd used Adam, in a time when he was struggling with pain insurmountable, he'd augmented his suffering by using him as a whipping boy. In a time when his son would need him, when he should have been a beacon of support, instead he'd abused him. Inflicting on him more pain than he'd know what to do with and what he'd gotten as a result, was a boy who had shut himself in. Since then Adam has checked his emotions and placed them in a locked box to be buried deep within his soul.
It was Ben who'd been wrong. If Adam had gone chasing after them, than Ben would have had to come home to all of his boys missing and no clue with where they were. He'd have had to start out at square one. He'd have the same choice to make when he'd finally come across the tracks left behind. Set out alone or go back to town for a posse. Going back would have put him so far behind them it would leave him no hope of ever catching up. Setting out alone would have left his family without any protection from the law. Yes. His boy had made the right decision. He'd come back to a prepared posse and a place to start. His boy had been right in every decision he'd made, he was just too distraught to see it. Telling himself that his son didn't need to hear words of affirmation like 'I'm proud of you' was a comfortable lie with which he had cloaked himself in.
He kicked Buck ahead until he was side by side his son. His son acknowledged him with a subtle glance. His brows furrowed and his head drooped. Adam was expecting more scorn. What Ben had done to his son. He had a lot to make up for.
~.~
Night had fallen this time before Joe's group had met back up with the first. That evening turned out much like the night before. Squirrelly rode on up ahead before them. Joe guessed now, that it was to inform the others that they were arriving. Joe was kept away and out of view until Danny was secured and blindfolded to the wagon's wheel. Joe's hands which had been tied in front of him for the duration of the day had been temporarily released in order to secure them again behind his back. At the moment of his release he'd considered fighting back. Seriously considered it. With no plan, he wasn't sure exactly how that was supposed to play out. Subdue these men then somehow take on the other three down in the camp. Go in screaming like a wild Banshee. It wasn't a great plan, but he wasn't the type to get too hung up on plans. His brothers would joust him about that. While they plan and plan and run ideas into the ground, Joe was the type to just do and hope for the best. He wouldn't plan out a fight before it happened. He had the mental and physical agility to move and sway with the punches as they came. Both metaphorically as well as literally. That was the way his mind and body worked best. Thinking on the go. He usually came out on top too. Usually. His brothers would say that's what made him special. He had have a mind to go for it right then and there. In fact he wasn't sure what stopped him. Logic and reason that this was a fight he couldn't win. Or was it cowardice for not even trying? Perhaps it was what was at risk if he did fail. Danny couldn't know he was there. If he did what he had half a mind to do and it didn't work, what would come back on Danny?
Chapman seemed to know what was on his mind. By the way he looked at him it was as if he was expecting Joe to try something. To make a move. A large man like him in front of him would be challenging enough to take on but double that by adding another to his rear. His chances were slim if not non-existent. He considered as his hands were again secured behind him.
Bogs pulled his hair back and forced the rag into Joe's mouth, securing it in place with the other. Again finding a tree on the outskirts of camp, they tied him to it, facing in.
When they had finished, Bogs had gone straight to Danny, pressing his boot down into his bandage forcing Danny to cry out. Joe winced imagining how painful that must have been for him. It was as if Bogs was just letting Danny know he was there and the comforts he might have felt throughout the day were over now. Night had fallen and his tormentor had arrived. Squirrelly laughed with delight. Bogs left Danny like this grunting in pain as he rejoined the group serving himself up a heaping spoonful of whatever was on the menu.
Joe bit his anger and watched the men eat. Grateful at least that food was enough to occupy Bogs, at least for the time. The more he ate the more he drank the safer Danny would be. Of course it only takes a moment to kill someone or to cause irreversible damage.
He watched Junior move about the other men and serve up a plate. When Junior had made his way to him and pulled the rag from his mouth Joe spoke to him.
"Can I ask you something?" Junior was hesitant to agree but nodded subtly. "Why are you here? What's making you do this? Is it the money?" Junior looked out at the men in the camp. "I know you got some good in you. You don't like what they're doing. You and your brother don't participate. You can't like what you're doing."
"Eat your food or don't. I'm not here to make conversation." He responded dismissively. Joe submitted, drinking and eating everything that was offered afraid that if he pushed the matter the food would be denied. When he had finished, Junior reached down for the rag. "You know, by doing nothing, you're just as guilty." Joe blurted out. He had to say something before he could no longer say anything. "In the eyes of God you're just as guilty as the ones who are doing this. You're going to stand before him and be judged same as them. If you have the ability to do something and you do nothing then he'll condemn you same as if you struck him yourself." Junior let these words resonate with him for a hairs breadth, then shoved the scarf in his mouth and secured it.
Junior made his way back down to rejoin the others. His gait giving Joe no indication as to whether or not his words had any effect on him at all. Bogs drank and laughed with the men boisterously. He was doing most of the laughing. Making his own jokes while the others smiled and chuckled respectfully. After he polished off a bottle of liquid courage he turned his attention to Danny. He was ready to play. He reached for his canteen and went to get up.
"I already gave him some water." Junior said with his head low, not wanting to appear confrontational. "Before you got in." Bogs returned a queer smirk.
"Well I'm sure he's still thirsty." He turned his back on Junior and kept going. "Probably worked up quite a thirst out there on the trail today, didn't you? All that work you've been doing." Junior gave Joe a rapid glance and bit his tongue, bowing his head. Bogs unscrewed the cap and took a swig. "Probably worked up quite an appetite too. Did you feed him?"
"Yes." Bogs knelt next to the form.
"So how about it Joe? You still thirsty?" The men all looked up at that name, wondering if Bogs was going to give something away. "Oh, that's right, you're not Joe. You're…" He let his voice trail off as if he was thinking. "What's your name again?" Danny kept silent. "Oh, I forgot, you don't have one." He said mockingly. "Isn't that right? You're a nobody. Right? A nameless faceless person that nobody cares about. A nobody going around pretending to be a somebody." He pulled the kid up by his hair. "So how about it, nobody? You still thirsty?" He put the canteen to his lips. The kid didn't open for him this time. "Come on, open up. You're still thirsty, right?" Danny did his best to turn his face as Bogs streamed the liquid over his nose and mouth. "What's the matter? You are thirsty, aren't you? Hadn't you worked yourself up a thirst? Not so thirsty, are you? No of course not. Why would you be? It's not like you've been working at all."
"Bogs." Chapman said his name like a warning.
"You know what really bothers me?" He turned addressing Chapman. "We're working so hard every day. Riding these horses and pushing this trail, while this boy here, this nobody, is in there sleeping all day. I mean I'm working hard, Squirrelly here is working hard, Junior over there is working hard." Junior looked up at his name. "And this kid, nothing. I'm just wondering when we're going to start making him work. He wants to eat like the rest of us. Drink like the rest of us. Then after sleeping all day, he wants to come out here and keep sleeping. What if we didn't let him?"
"What?" Chapman asked annoyed.
"What if we made him work for it?"
"What are you talking about?"
"How bout it nobody? You willing to get off your lazy butt and work like the rest of us?" He nudged with his foot. "Get up."
"Bogs, he's tied down." Chapman said as if he was talking to an idiot. Squirrelly seemed to be having a hell of a time with this as he was the only one in the audience who seemed to be amused by Bog's antics. Bogs finding a wicked like-minded companion among the group waved Squirrelly over and whispered into his ear. Squirrelly smiled from ear to ear and went to the horses.
"Yah!" He slapped the rear of the lead horse commanding him to move. Both horses walked forward a few steps dragging the wagon with them. Danny who felt the wheel move put his knees beneath him anticipating what was to come. When his wrist were forced upward with the spoke they were bound to, he rose with it. Standing now but his wrist kept rising, uncomfortably until he leant forward. He grunted when he felt the strain.
The brothers looked to Chapman to stop them, who, though his discomfort was burgeoning, he did nothing but stare on keenly.
When Danny's wrist were at the highest point he groaned aloud. Bogs nodded to Squirrelly to stop the horses.
The other men watched Bogs play. The brothers cautious. Squirrelly amused and Chapman wary, not wanting it to get too far. Bogs whispered to Danny and pulled his face up by his wet hair. Danny trembled uncontrollably but not even he could say whether this was from cold or from fear as the two sensations felt now one in the same.
"That's more like it. Now we got you up onto your feet. Getting lazy with all that laying around you're doing. A little exercise ought to do you some good. You see when you're regular folks like us you got to exercise. Got to earn your way. Not everybody is born rich. Get to live in a rich house. Be pampered all day long." Bogs glanced at Joe looking for a reaction. He'd found a way to abase both boys simultaneously. "Most of us got to earn our way. But not you right? As long as you can go around pretending to be someone you're not. That sure didn't work out for you this time though did it?" He laughs. "I know why you did it. I really do. It's because you have no name. You ain't even regular folks like us. No, you're less than that. Isn't that right. You just wanted a name. Wanted to be somebody. Shooting kind of high though don't you think? Or was it because you're lazy and don't like to work?" Bogs kept eyeing Joe as he played. "We got you up now though don't we? How about we just leave you like this all night?" Not getting the response he wanted from the kid, he grabbed at Danny's throat choking off his air supply and whispered to him again. "Say it. Say these words. 'I'm nobody.'" Danny was silent. "Say it!" He struck him in his gut and Danny's knees buckled but he caught himself as the weight against his strained shoulders became too much. Danny opened his mouth as if to scream, but held it in. The scream stifled instead into a grunt.
"Bogs for Christ's sake, would you leave the kid alone?"
Joe was curious at Chapman's response. By the way Bogs looked at Chapman, Joe expected another strike. Bogs clenched his fist as if he was itching to. Perhaps, Joe thought, he was trying to identify with the wrong man. Chapman definitely had an evil side, but perhaps there was good in him too. Bogs though wasn't ready to quit. He turned his attention back to the boy amused at Danny's struggles. Danny coughed and his legs wobbled as he tried to regain his footing. A smirk, which Chapman couldn't see, slid across Bogs's face. Bogs put his palm between Danny's shoulder blades and gently pushed down adding to the weight, the strain. Another groan escaped his lips but didn't cease. Instead, it grew into a whimper as Bogs continued to push and the pain intensified, gradually turning into a full blown scream. Joe's stomach twisted as he could feel every agonizing moment.
"Bogs!" Chapman snapped up. "That's enough!"
This was how the night had ended. Chapman waited for Bogs, Squirrely and the brothers to bed down as he had directed before lowering Danny back down to the floor. He stayed up a while longer ensuring all was quiet. When he was ready to bed down himself he awoke Junior to take up shift and went to bed. It didn't take too much for Joe to lean his head forward and drift away.
The morning worked out about the same as the previous. Danny was loaded up and taken away. An hour or more slipped by before he too was released and forced to move out. All this was done in languorous silence.
~.~
It was midday when Hoss found the spot his brother had been held. He'd found the marks in the tree from where the ropes had dug into the bark. He saw this which led him to see the broken down camp the tree stared on at. The cold ashes of fire logs. Tracks scouring the earth. The wagons wheel which marked the earth with its own impressions. He was close. He felt himself getting close. The men were up ahead still but not by much. He felt it. He saw it in the evidence left for him. They were fresh. Fresher.
~.~
Squirrelly was with Danny this time when Bogs and Chapman brought Joe in. Danny was already up on his feet with his arms at the highest point of the wheel. Squirrelly was teasing him. Taunting him. Pressing his fingers into days old bruises and slapping his face. Joe had to summon all his strength to continue to submit to these men and allow himself to be tied down. Bogs ate as Squirrelly played enjoying the show before it would be his turn to take over.
Squirrelly, feeling like it was his turn to perform for the group, or rather for Bogs, pulled the knife from his boot and pressed the blade against Danny's cheek, letting him feel it. Danny's chest rose and fell in heavy succession, indicating his breathing had picked up. He was afraid. He had good reason to be. They've already proven their willingness to cut into him. There was no way of telling whether these were empty threats or not. Joe was scared for him.
Squirrelly whispers into Danny's ear. He yanks the boy's head to one side and draws the knife down his cheek until it rested to the side of his throat. Little Joe watched horror-stricken and helpless from the tree. He's either messing with him, he thought, or he plans on slitting his throat right there. Spilling his blood over the earth like a sacrifice to the unhallowed. Squirrelly draws the knife further down past Danny's collar bone and down his bare chest, stopping it just outside the bandage pressing the tip into the white cloth. Joe furrowed his brows and gulped past the knot in his throat. Danny clenched his abdomen, taking on the pain. Joe tensed up with him.
Bogs set his plate down and went over. He guided Squirrelly's knife hand away as if what he was seeing was too much. Like suddenly he had a conscience. He gently pulled the knife from him. He looked around at the men, up at Joe, then back to Danny. With a quick jerk he tore open the bottom of the bandage causing Danny to flinch back. He slid the knife's point underneath the cloth and drew up the handle so the tip pressed against flesh. Flesh, Joe could guess that was in the process of trying to heal. In a quick motion Bogs jerked the knife forward and Danny jerked back. He cried, the most heart-wrenching wail. Blood trickled from beneath the bandage confirming to Joe that Bogs had reopened the wound. Joe was so close to tears listening to Danny's cries and feeling so helpless. Bogs wrapped his hand around Danny's side and pressed his thumb into the wound. Danny cried out. He twisted trying to get out of Bog's hold, but with his arms strained up behind him, he had nowhere to go. Joe was so wrapped up in Danny's torment he could not feel how his own binds tightened at his subconscious pulling. Bogs squeezed his victim tighter, really digging in. Danny's screams sliced through the night.
Joe was transfixed in this horror. He bore witness until he could witness no more. He shut his eyes, wishing to shut out the image, but it wasn't enough. He turned his face. Joe was trembling. If he could cover his own ears to block out the sound he would have. Even more so if his hands were free he wouldn't be covering his ears with them he'd be making them pay. The men who were doing this to Danny. But they forced him to listen. The screams chilled him to his bones. He wriggled at the discomfort against his ropes. Joe clenched his eyes unable to stand the sight, but the sounds. God, the sounds. He couldn't stop the sounds. He kept his face away wishing he could block out Danny's wretched screams but they were within him now. Apart of his very fiber. He drew his knees up, subconsciously protecting what he could within himself. Not his body, his soul. Alone, in the dark, he gave in and let the tears fall.
~.~
Joe slept through the men loading the wagon. He didn't open his eyes until it started out disappearing within the trees. He lowered his head into his knees again defeated and helpless. He felt so weak now and tired. He was tired. He closed his eyes imagining how much more time they would give him to sleep before they would release him to set out. He had time. He couldn't quite go out again. His mind was plagued with too much. He was so helpless. He hated the feeling of being helpless. He thought about Danny. What he had been through. What these men were doing to him. What they would continue to do to him. Danny had sacrificed so much for Joe and up until now Joe had failed to do anything to save Danny. He had so far risked nothing. He could pretend all he wanted that he was submitting to these men for Danny's sake but that wasn't true. He knew well enough that no amount of submitting was doing Danny any favors. They still hurt him. God they hurt him.
Joe saw a pattern emerging. Every day so far, the men would split into two groups taking Danny on up ahead, then meet back up in the evenings; eat, watch Bogs play and bed down. When morning came, the men would again load Danny up and disappear. For the last three night's Joe was bound. Each night subjugated to listening helplessly to Danny's torment. Each night growing in intensity, worse than the night before. How much worse could it get for him? He was sickened just thinking about it. His screams. His agonizing screams. He couldn't let that happen another night. What they could do to punish Danny if he failed would be no worse than what they were doing to him already on a nightly basis. He was resolute now. He had to try. For Danny, he had to try.
The only chance, he thought, to save him was to attack the men during the day and make his way as quickly as he could up to Danny. In the light of day, the group would be cut in two. That could work in his favor. Take out the three that stayed with him then catch up to the other two. They wouldn't expect him coming. He'd be able to surprise them. That was his best chance.
Every morning so far Squirrelly was told to ride back into the direction from which they'd come. This morning was no exception. Right now there was only two of them. True it was the two largest but he'd faced worse odds before, than that. Of course one could debate who came out the winner. Growing up as small as he was, he'd come to discover that big didn't necessarily mean better. Sometimes big could work against a man. He'd taken on his brothers countless times before and not always for play; both bigger. Again one could debate; but if nothing else, he knew he could hold his own.
Chapman worked on releasing Joe from the tree then worked on the ropes that still held his wrist bound. Chapman kept positive control of one wrist as he took the rope off, expecting to turn Joe around and secure them again in front, but the moment Joe felt his hands were free he plunged his elbow into Chapman's liver with the arm Chapman didn't have control of, then twisting his trapped wrists he turned himself to face the leader. Chapman's focus was on the wrist he still had in his hand and not losing positive control over it which was a battle he felt himself losing. He reached his other hand up to support the first. Joe elbowed Chapman in the face which knocked him off guard giving him the leverage he needed to twist out from Chapman's hold. Bogs was quick to react, reaching to put Joe in a bear hug. Joe backed into him, knocking him off balance. Before the large arms could wrap around him, he elbowed Bogs just as hard as he could then dropped to the ground. He kicked at Chapman who was coming towards him, making contact with his shins stopping him in place and then kicked Bogs for good measure. Bogs stumbled at the kick but was right on top of him again. Joe scurried backwards to get out from underneath them and scrambled to his feet again. Bogs caught hold of his jacket as he stood, which he shimmied out of and wrapped around the big man's wrist subduing him. Tying them up, Bogs was only temporarily subdued but Joe took advantage of this and swung a hard fist into his face. The boy couldn't help but crack a smile. God that felt good. He'd been wanting to do that for a while. The stark difference between his reddened cheeks and the cool air that now touched his body was vast. He was finally glad to be rid of the burden. Bogs wriggled his hands loose and threw the jacket aside. Both men were at his front. Joe took a step back to steady his footing and was taken off-guard when his back met bark. He found himself backed against the very tree that had been his prison last night. His jaunty gaiety turned to dread. The men saw it too. His trepidation. He'd miscalculated. He thought he had more room. He was trapped.
"You like to play games huh?" The two men were blocking his egress and now their temper was fiery hot. From its epoch, the fight didn't cover the time-span of half a minute. They grabbed for him. He flailed with the energy of a gazelle caught in a snare, but they held on, Bogs grabbing his throat to still him and pinning him against the tree by it, subduing the unruly child. Joe held Bog's wrist with both hands and vainly pushed off the tree with his feet.
"We've had you for two days now." Bogs leant into him. "Did you know that in the first two day's we had Danny, we'd beaten him twice." Joe's nostril's flared. "One could argue, neither one he deserved. You Joe have it coming. We've been gentle with you so far Joe. We didn't think we'd need to use those methods with you, but all that's about to change. If violence is all you understand then that's a language I can speak." A hard fist landed in his gut. Joe writhed in pain. Unable to reel forward, his knee drew up to protect his midsection which proved to be ineffective as another found its way in.
"That's enough!" Joe look up to find the voice as the other men glanced behind themselves.
~.~
The large man came out of the tree-line pistol drawn down on them. He'd been in the shadows and had watched the fight ensue. Adam was adamant about not going in, unless he had to.
Driving his horse out early he'd come across the dying camp. Securing his horse and crawling to the edge of a bluff he watched as the men warmed themselves by the fire. There were only two of them. He'd seen Joe tied to the tree, knees drawn into himself burying his face into them. The men poured water over the dying embers then went to release his baby brother. Only then did his brother lift his head to acknowledge they were there. He appeared weak and exhausted. His face was beet red. That there was enough to make him want to go charging in, but his older brother's words echoed in his head. Unless you have to. That might have been a hard sell but this on the other hand. Fighting these men both bigger and stronger and having the piss knocked out of him. True it was a fight his brother had started and had held his own pretty well, but it was apparent now, that it was a fight he had lost. They had him pinned against the tree and were using his stomach like a punching bag.
"That's enough!" Where'd he come from? Joe wondered. He didn't know from where, nor how long he'd been standing there. All he knew was he'd never been so grateful to see his big brother. He came just in time. Standing like a white knight in King Arthur's court, ready to take on the men and save the day.
From his peripheral as Hoss's focus remained steadfast on the enemy, he could see Joe's elated grin.
"Drop it!" From his side came the sound of a clicking hammer. Hoss was distracted for just a moment as he zoned into the man coming down from the bluff. This gave the larger man just enough time to pull Joe off the tree and hold him in front as a human shield, keeping his hand on his baby brother's throat. Hoss had the upper hand for an all too fleeting moment. He was hard pressed to give up so easily though. If he dropped his pistol than there'd be nothing left to protect his baby brother with.
"Why don't you just drop the gun and we could talk?" The muscular one pushed. When Hoss didn't adhere, the fatter man who held his injured and battered baby brother's neck in his grasp, squeezed. Joe tensed up in a panic, grabbing for his own throat. Seeing this, Hoss lurched forward. The clicking of the hammer that the muscular man had aimed in at Hoss stopped him. As if he'd forgotten the first, it was painfully aware, that now there were two guns on him. Worse than that, the one Hoss really wanted to shoot had Joe's squirming body shielding him. Joe tried to pry the fingers away but couldn't. He scratched and clawed at the large hand encircling his neck. He kicked his legs and wriggled. His efforts were in vain. His eyes turned bloodshot and watery. His face swelled. Joe's efforts weakened. His gaze widened until it fixed on nothing at all.
Hoss was horror-stricken. His baby brother was being slain right before his eyes. He had to give up to protect his brother. He threw the gun down at his feet. Joe barely conscious registered the fact that his white knight, his big brother; just gave up. His last shred of hope, lost.
"That's good."
The bigger man released his grip. Joe was about ready to collapse forward as the blood came rushing back to his head, but the big man held him in place. "Step forward." Hoss stepped in closing the gap. Squirrelly followed a few steps behind picking up Hoss's firearm along the way. His little brother didn't seem to be fairing too well. He looked so weak now. So conquered. The battle he was just in took its toll, but that's not what Hoss found most concerning. Joe's face was beet red and dry as a bone. It wasn't the fact that he was nearly strangled to death that turned it red, nor the battle he was just in, though neither helped the matter. He saw how red he was when Joe was tied to the tree. He was sick. His fever had come back with a vengeance. He knew his brother well enough to know how irritable he could be when he gets sick. He'd warned Adam this could happen. Now he got to see it play out. How his little brother thought he could take on two grown men in the condition he was in, was beyond him; but that was just like something he would do. "Your pa sent you instead of coming himself? I guess I know where your little brother's cowardice comes from."
"He ain't far behind me."
"I'm just playing about the cowardice thing. I think your brother has lived up to his reputation in regards to courage. In regards to brains or brawn, it seems he got the short end of the stick." Joe was too worn to let the insult affect him. "You have the money? Is that the money?" Hoss followed Chapman's gaze to his saddle bags. He knew full well the only things they contained were food and provisions.
"Not on me."
"Where's the money."
"I don't have it."
"How very curious. Where is it then?"
"My pa has it."
"So what brings you out here all by yourself?"
"I was sent ahead so as not to lose the trail."
"Ah yes." He smiles. "The famous tracker. We've been warned about you. That was hardly necessary though. We left tracks so wide a blind man could follow them. You see cause we want are money and it helps us none if you can't find us. I don't think that's it though. No, I think there's more to it than that. You were going to try to come in and get your brother out. Weren't you? You were going to try and save your brother? You were, huh? Weren't you? That's okay, Hoss. You can admit it. Heck I'd do the same for my brother, if I had one. Something to be said about brotherly loyalty." He smirked. "One gun against many though. Not the smartest thing a person could do. Was it? But then you don't really come from the smartest family either. This little brat here trying to take on two men, both twice his size, at the same time. I got to hand it to him though, he's got heart. You both do. Too much heart, not enough brains."
"I want to talk to him."
"You want to talk to him? You'll do everything I tell you to do. You understand?" Hoss nodded obediently.
They directed him to the tree Joe had been tied to and secured him in the same manner. It was hard for Joe to see them do that to Hoss. His big-hearted, lovable brother. Just another victim in these guys' sick game. As Hoss was trussed up, images of Danny in the same way, flashed across his mind. Trussed up and vulnerable. God he was so vulnerable. God, please don't do that to Hoss. When they felt he was secure they let Joe walk forward.
"You okay?" Joe was the first to ask only because Hoss was caught off guard by the streaks that ran through the dirt on his brother's face. He'd been crying. Long dried now, but at some point during his captivity, he had cried. They had done something to him to make him cry. He'd only just now saw them.
"Good Joe." Hoss answered. "How about you?"
"They ain't done nothing to me worth complaining about."
"Did they hurt you?"
"I've gotten worse horsing around with the likes of you and Adam." His smile was hollow. "What's the matter Joe?" Joe glanced back at the men like he was afraid to speak. "Joe?"
"Don't you worry about me. I'll be fine." Hoss could see that he wasn't. His heart ached for him. "I'm okay Hoss. Really, I am." Hoss could see something was weighing on him. He glanced behind Joe at the men standing over him. Joe glanced back at them again. He could see Joe wanted to tell him something, but prevaricated, seemingly afraid to talk with the men standing over him. Hoss wanted to hear what his little brother had to say, but was afraid to push him into it. Joe brought his head back and lowered his eyes to the floor. Whatever it was, it was big.
"Joe, what is it?" Joe gulped.
"Danny." He muttered, barely audible. "He's the one you got to worry about."
"Is he?"
"He's alive." Hoss melted back releasing a breath of relief.
"Joe, we're worried about the both of you."
"No Hoss. Not me." Joe was adamant. "Danny. Focus on Danny." Somehow, he figured that something like that would come out of his brother's mouth. Joe's chivalry was keeping him from paying too much mind about himself. His golden virtue was shining strong.
Joe could see his brother wasn't hearing him. His eyes narrowed and he tightened his jaw. "Listen to me Hoss." He distressed poignantly. "You have to listen." He stepped in closing the space between them. He needed Hoss to hear him. "They hurt him." He said through clenched teeth. He tried to speak low so the men behind him couldn't hear. He knew they heard anyways, but they did nothing to silence him. They let him say his peace. "It's bad. I've never seen done to any man what they're doing to him." Joe took on a frightfully ominous tone. "They hate him Hoss, so much, for the way he lied to them. They do things to him, just to hear him scream." Joe choked on these words.
Hoss glided his eyes past Joe, until they met the big man's, who had begun to smile at Joe's words as if he was boastful, taking Joe's words like it was an accolade. His countenance was eerie, fiendish. Hoss had difficulty keeping his gaze. "They get enjoyment out of it." He looked back at his brother at the tears threatening to fall for what he had seen. His nose flared as he fought them back now. Hoss realized now, that this might have been why his brother had cried. Something he saw that was so shocking, so horrifyingly brutal that it brought his brother to tears. His heart broke to imagine, what terrible things they had done to Danny. That boy who carried the weight of the world but was so quiet you wouldn't know it. Things that made him scream. What his brother must have seen. What he had heard. What innocence was lost on his baby brother that could never again be recovered. Hoss was hearing him now. He said it, so his brother would know.
"I hear you little brother. Where is he?"
"They took him ahead. I don't know where." His heart melted.
"Little Joe said you were willing to pay for the other boy too." Chapman interjected. "Is that correct?"
"We were. My father went to meet with you."
"But not anymore?"
"We're still willing. Where is he?" Hoss asked aloud.
"Unfortunately, Danny's no longer your concern." Came the response. "Joe is who you need to worry about now." Chapman said.
"Where is Danny?" Hoss asked again.
"I told you, he's…"
"WHERE IS HE?" Hoss roared. Chapman stepped back, intimidated by the large man. He had to remind himself that he had the upper hand. He took solace in this. Even still, he would dread the day if he ever found himself under this man's paw.
"Like I told your brother, we plan on getting him the help he needs." He cajoled. "We're taking him to see a doctor."
"He's a liar, Hoss. Don't believe them. Not for one minute. You don't hurt somebody as bad as they hurt him then suddenly want to help them." Hoss nodded to let him know he believed him.
"Did I lie to you about taking you to see Danny?"
"You lied about letting him go." Hoss thought about what his brother had just said. They made promises to him to release Danny. That's probably how they lured him out here. How they'd gotten him to cooperate for as long as he had. He fought back, not because he was sick and grouchy, but because of what he had seen them do to Danny.
"Joe, we discussed this already. I can't let him go out here. We've got to get him help."
"Let him go to me." Hoss offered up. "I'll get him help."
"Not without a price."
"I told you Hoss." Joe rebutted. "They've got something planned for him. I don't know what it is but they've got something planned."
"I'll pay. I'm willing to pay."
"Do you have the money?"
"No, but my pa was willing to pay. He went to go meet with you but you weren't there."
"So we've heard. Well, that was just an unfortunate case of miscommunication. The question now is, are you still willing to pay for the other boy." He hated to speak for his father but he knew what the answer was going to be well enough.
"Yes."
"and of course Little Joe."
"Yes."
"Listen carefully. There will be no more rescue attempts or he dies. We have half a mind to put a bullet in him right here and take you instead. But we're going to give you one more chance."
"You come back with the money or he's as good as dead."
"Don't worry about me. As long as they think I'm valuable they won't touch me."
"As long as he plays nice." Bog's smiled barbarously.
"It's Danny, Hoss." Joe continued. "He's the one you've got to worry about. He's not going to make it if you don't get to him. He'll die Hoss. If you don't get to him, he'll die. Remember Hoss he's only here because of me."
"I know little brother."
"He doesn't deserve this."
"Neither do you, little brother. Neither do you."
~.~
Hoss had pulled and struggled with his binds, trying to get his hands free. They left Hoss like this tied to a tree. He'd worked the rope trying to get it to snap or loosen it enough to pull his hands through. Neither had happened. Each passing minute, each passing hour his baby brother was only getting further away. This was how he'd spent the day. As evening approached he submitted to the conception that it was useless. The ropes though had loosened somewhat, in the hours upon hours of him working on them he was far from escape. Disheartened and bone-weary, he gave up. He'd been on his feet the whole day without food or water and he was feeling the effects. He'd changed his direction. Instead of trying to get loose from the binds he worked on lowering them to the base so he could at least get off his feet. He shimmied and worked at them, sliding them back and forth until he was on his knees. He kept on until he was able to get his legs in front of him. It felt like giving up. Was that what he was doing? No. He wasn't going to give up. He could keep working on them, but now he was in a position that would afford him the rest needed to regain his strength.
Night had fallen, Hoss had expected his pa and brother would have caught up to him by now. An unsettling thought crept in. What if they hadn't set out at all? As soon as the thought entered he dismissed it. It was a ridiculous thought to even consider. Unless something held them up. The law maybe. What good reason would the law have for doing that? Maybe they couldn't find a posse. Well then his pa and brother would have set out without one. What if Roy wouldn't let them go alone? They would have gone anyways. Not hell nor high waters would keep his pa and Adam from coming after them. He could say that about anyone of his kin. If they know anyone of them were in trouble there would be nothing that could stop anyone of them from coming to the aid of the other, 'cept the reaper himself and even he would have a hell of a fight on his hands. Hoss smiled at the thought.
Still where are they? He didn't think they were that far behind. They should have been here by now. Maybe they got lost. Maybe the markings he left for them weren't enough. He went back in his own mind, retracing his steps. Retracing the trail. Was there a point in there that he neglected to show them the way when they would need him to. Out of the lot of them Hoss was the more experienced of them in regards to tracking. But that didn't mean that the rest of them were incapable. His marks should have made things easier for them to follow, but even without them they shouldn't have gotten lost. Where were they? Did they get hurt? Dehydrated, bitten by a snake or other wild creature, took a fall? Any number of things could have befallen them. Any number of things could have slowed them down. The posse alone could be enough to slow them down. Different men, each with their own problems.
He thought of his family growing up. How difficult it would be for them all to get out of the house sometimes when they planned on making a trip into town. Going to church was always an ordeal. Everybody running all different directions to gather their things and get themselves ready. Even after they were all loaded up on the wagon ready to ride out one or more of them would stop the progression to claim they'd forgotten something and run back inside. Even his pa thinking he would get ahead of the game by having them prepare their things the night prior couldn't keep the house from looking like a madhouse the following morning. Still now as grown men that problem hadn't completely gone away. One inalienable truth was, it was always easier for just one of them to leave the house than it was for the whole lot of them. He smiled again. He was sure the problem didn't belong to his family alone. The problem had to be a universal one. Perhaps that's just what happens with groups of people. Going out on cattle drives the same things could happen. Trying to pack up every morning to set out for the day's journey. Each added man creates its own hiccups. Having Danny injured as he was should have slowed the men down. It did. That's how Hoss was able to catch up with them. But it was for nothing. The men behind him should still be able to catch up with them. They should, that was if there was more ground to cover. But there wasn't. The city would only be a half a day's ride from where ever they decided to settle for the night. Once they got into the city he'd lose them among the hustle and bustle. Adam and pa would lose them.
It's night time now. They'd probably stopped to make camp. It looked like he was going to have to spend the rest of the night here, tied to this tree. Ironically the same tree his brother had been tied to the night prior. His sick and injured baby brother. If he could do it in the condition he was in, Hoss could certainly wade out till morning. Although they hadn't left him any water and he hadn't had any since that morning. Since before the struggle. Since before he stepped in because he saw these men pummeling his brother. His sweet, injured, sick baby brother. His brother who cared nothing of his own calamity. He wondered how much of that were chivalry and how much was truth. Could they really be hurting Danny as bad as all that? The way they beat up on Joe suggested they were more than capable. The way Bogs beamed with pride when Joe was pouring his heart out suggested he was more than capable. They liked to hear him scream. Like torture? The very thought gave him a chill. To imagine what hell this boy was living through. Joe didn't say that word but he wasn't even sure if he knew it. There would have been no reason for it to have entered his vocabulary until now. Adam and he never really talked to Joe about the horrors of the world. Slavery or war. What men could be capable of doing to another man. Joe was innocent, and as much as he bucked, and kicked, and strove to be seen as a man; they did everything within their power to keep him that way. Hearing the stories were bad enough. They wanted not to spoil Joe's mind with those indelible things. Now he was seeing it. Hearing it. In the presence of it. They never prepared him for something like that. Perhaps it was wrong for them to shelter Joe like they had. How could they have known he'd ever be where he is now? But now that he is, the poor boy's mind would be stained forever. He may never be the same after seeing it.
What was he seeing? What hell was Danny living through? It horrified him to know that any man could be going through this, especially the very man who had sacrificed himself for his brother, who took his place. It horrified him even more to think how easily Joe's fate could be Danny's if they got the inclination for it to be. He needed to get them both out. "
Hoss, Danny's not going to make it if you don't get to him." Played in his head. "He'll die Hoss. If you don't get to him, he'll die." He felt pretty helpless now, tied to this tree. Useless.
"I hear you little brother, but what can I do?"
~.~
Joe had a bit of disappointment when he saw him that night. He was half hoping Danny would have been rescued by now. Of course leaving Hoss tied like he was, he knew it'd be a long-shot that they would have passed him up and gotten to Danny. He hoped his brother was okay. He hoped someone had come along and found him.
Junior came out to Joe with a plate of beans and a canteen in hand. Joe noticed the man had Joe's jacket stuck under his arm. "I thought you might want this back."
"I don't. Give it to Danny please. I don't need it."
"It's going to get cold tonight."
"That's why you need to give it to him. He's got nothing."
"He won't have nothing. I'll give him my jacket again."
"It didn't look like they were too happy with you for doing that the last few nights."
"It's better than having him freeze to death."
"I didn't think they'd care." Junior looked like he was going to say something but stopped himself.
"What about you? You going to take your jacket back?"
"No. I don't want it."
"Aren't you going to be cold?"
"Tell you the truth I'm glad to be rid of it. I've been too hot as it was."
"You sick or something? Kind of looks like you're running a fever."
"The others didn't tell you, huh?"
"Tell me what?"
"Nothing, never mind."
"Listen, if you want, Bogs has some whiskey. I could try and bring some out to you. It'd probably help a bit. That's about all I can offer you. We don't have no medicine."
"That's alright. I'm sure I'll be alright. Just give him my jacket tonight and you could keep yours."
"I can't do that."
"Why?"
"If I give him your jacket Joe, he'll know you're here."
"Not if you're keeping him blindfolded. Are you? Are you keeping him blindfolded?"
"It's too risky. I'll tell you what. I'll take your jacket. I'll keep it for myself." He offered selfishly. Maybe he hadn't reached him. "I'll give him my jacket for keeps. He could keep it. The men might have less to say about that. Me making a trade like that." That did make a bit of sense.
The nightly routine repeated itself once again. Nothing had changed. Supper, drunk, and Danny's abuse.
Bogs was at Danny's side as he lay against the wagon wheel. "How about I just see if he's still thirsty. So how about it? You still thirsty?" He tipped the canteen so the liquid spilled over Danny's face and laughed. Danny hid his face in the dirt. Bogs threw the canteen at him. He flinched as it hit the ground and ricocheted into his shoulder and head. "How about some food? You still hungry? We got extra. It's nice and hot?" He turned to the fire and pulled the still steaming pot of beans off the fire. Joe leaned closer as he imagined the scalding hot food pouring over Danny's face which was exactly Bogs's intention as he lifted it up high to make a show of it and tipped it ever so slightly.
"Stop it!" Junior stood aiming his gun in at Bogs before the first bean fell. Little Joe wasn't the only one shocked. The whole camp seemed to be at a standstill.
"Will!" Senior stood at his brother's insurrect. "What are you doing?"
"I'm tired of listening to him scream the whole night." He justified by turning it on himself. "I've been working myself pretty hard and I need my sleep. I ain't going to get it having to listen to him scream to all hours of the morning."
"What you intending to do with that there son? You gonna kill me?"
"I don't want to. I'm just tired."
"You point that gun at me son you best be intending on using it."
"If you make me."
"Will, just put the gun down." His brother demanded. Bogs stepped forward challenging him.
"Bogs stop!" Chapman interjected, jumping from his seat. "You're drunk. Sleep it off." He commanded with authority. There was a brief moment that Bogs stared down Chapman. Each wondering if the other had what it took to take it to the next level. Chapman knew if he was going to get Bogs to cooperate then he had to first get Junior to stand down. "Junior put the gun away. Stop playing with the thing." Bogs gave junior a half-cocked smirk and change direction to his bedding. Junior released the charging handle and re-holstered his pistol. "Now, let's just all get some rest." He said with some eloquence. "We've got a long day tomorrow." Joe remained astounded as he watch them all bed down. He didn't think the kid had it in him. It was a bold thing he just did. This was the first sign of independence he's seen come out of him. He wondered at the implications. Would Bogs get the message to stop messing with Danny or would he even remember this encounter tomorrow morning?