(Chapter Thirty-Eight)

Kidnapped

A/N: I'm so sorry I've left y'all hanging. Life's been pretty busy lately. I wanted to write a more intense chapter, so here it is! Enjoy!

Rosemary was at the Mercantile doing some shopping. She bounded down the stairs when she saw a familiar face.

"Faith!" she called. "I have a favor to ask of you."

"Oh, what's that?"

"My Olivia. Would you watch her for me tomorrow morning?"

"Of course. What time?"

"Nine o'clock?" I'll be back by eleven."

"Great. I'll be there!" she replied but was cut short when a man bumped right into her. He did not even bother to apologize.

"How rude!" Rosemary almost screamed for the whole town to hear.

Faith recognized the man immediately as the man from the infirmary. The man who had been shot!

"Will you please excuse me?" Faith asked and started off on a run even before her friend had a chance to answer.

"Sir, sir," Faith called after him.

He slowed down a bit when he felt she would never stop chasing him. He certainly did not want her to find out who he was or where he was staying.

"Sir, please."

"What is it, Missy? Oh, you."

"Yes, me. I just wanted to know if you were alright. I mean, after the surgery and all. How did you get shot?" she dared ask. As soon as the words were out, she wished she could take them back.

He pulled a gun out of his jacket and pointed it straight at her. "Enough with all the questions, Missy," he scowled at her.

"Sir, I promise, all I was interested in was your health."

"Yeah right?! You just didn't know when concern changes to outright meddling."

"Sir, that is not true. I am sorry if I have overstepped my bounds. Or if I have offended you in anyway."

"Well then, I guess since you're sorry, we can spare your life," he mocked her. "Play by the rules and you'll be just fine. Now move!" he yelled, sticking her back with the gun.

"Alright, alright."

The sun was setting when they reached a small tent in the forest. She assumed that it would be called "home" for the night.

"Here – get in."

Faith was exhausted from all that walking and being jammed by the gun. She reluctantly crawled into the tent. She curled up to fall asleep after some pretty tough orders from her captor. If she tried to run, he would kill her. The thought terrified Faith. She shut her eyes to clock out the unfamiliar sights and her mind traveled to sweet dreams.

The next day in Hope Valley, Rosemary was in a kerfuffle. When Faith didn't show up, she began to panic.

Faith always kept her word! What had happened to her? Had she forgot? Was there a medical emergency? Each thought brought more worry to Rosemary's mind. I suppose I will bring Olivia to Mrs. Redwood. Then I will tell Jack of Faith's disappearance, and go on to my errands for the day.

Jack was just walking towards the jail when he heard the usually ecstatic voice of Rosemary.

"What wrong, Rosie?"

"I think someone is missing," she replied gravely.

As they walked down the street, Jack searched for answers.

"Who?"

"Faith," she cried.

Carson, who had just walked out of the infirmary, overheard Rosemary's shout.

"Faith?" he asked quite loudly from across the street.

"Yes," Rosemary was quite amused that she had caught the attention of the town doctor.

"Rosie, when did you last see her?" Jack questioned her.

"Hmm . . . Yesterday afternoon. I saw her in town and asked her if she would be willing to watch Olivia for me. She was supposed to be at my house at nine this morning. But when she didn't show – " she left the thought hanging.

"I see. And did you see anything strange when you were talking with her?"

"No . . . Actually, Yes! I did notice something, quite unusual."

"And what was that?" Jack asked calmly.

"Well, we were talking and than this man ran right into Faith. He didn't even bother to apologize. He just kept on running, and Faith ran after him. She knew him, I could tell."

"Thank you, Rosemary," Jack said, scanning mental notes. "Carson, would you help me look for her?"

"Of course. I wouldn't dream of doing anything else."

"Thanks. Rosemary, would you please go to Faith's house? See if there's any sing of her or clues to where she may have gone."

She nodded.

"Thank you, Rosie. Oh, did you happen to remember which direction they were headed?"

"Yes, they were going north."

"Thank you. Now, let's go, Carson," Jack ordered gruffly, and Carson was right on his heels.

This was so much fun to write! I hope you liked it. I might not post new chapters regularly. I might write a lot, then post them all at once. We'll see. Thank you guys so much for reading my stories. It means so much! I will post a new one soon.