"Home sweet home," the leader of the pack said as he pulled his horse to a stop outside the opening to an abandoned mine.
"Get down," the man who had been pulling Victoria's horse along ordered.
Victoria complied and the third man took her by the arm and led her into the mine. "You know that you are not going to get away with this," she scowled.
"Really Mrs. Barkley," the leader smiled at her. "I think we will. I think that those children of yours will be all too happy to comply with our demands if it means gettin' you back."
"But you're not going to let me go back right," Victoria scoffed. "You're going to wait until you get your money and then you're going to kill me."
"That's nonsense," the leader seemed almost offended at her hypothesis. "Now why would we do that? All we want is your money lady," he assured her.
"Here," the second man handed her a canteen. "Take a drink now."
"Why," Victoria asked but complied with the request.
"Because," he answered as he took the canteen back from her. "That's all you get for the time being."
"Gently now," the leader reminded the second man as he grabbed Victoria's arm and pulled her toward one of the support timbers. "Let's not give the Barkleys any reason to come after us when this is all over."
"Humph," the second man snorted. "I still say we should do just like she says. Get the money and drop her body before we ride out."
"Well that would be pretty stupid," the leader retorted harshly. "The Barkleys can and will do without their money. But that girl was right, we kill her and those two boys will hunt us down to doomsday. We get the money and we leave her go, it's what's best."
"Wait," the third man chimed in suddenly and the second began to tie Victoria to the support beam.
"What," the second man growled as he paused. "You got some opinion young'n?"
"Only what he said about markin' the place for them to drop the money," the third man nodded toward the leader.
"Ah yes, good thinkin' sonny," the leader nodded in approval and moved toward Victoria. "Mrs. Barkley," he backed her against the post and took hold of her wrist. "I am afraid I will be needing something from you."
"What might that be," Victoria tried hard to control her breathing. She refused to show her fear, she had to be strong.
"Well," he smiled. "First, that scarf," he deftly unknotted the scarf she wore around her neck and pulled it away.
"And second?"
"Second," he smiled and pulled her hand in front of her face. "Second, I am going to be needing this," he pulled on her wedding ring.
"No," she yelped and tried to pull away. "No."
"Now Mrs. Barkley," the man was calm but pushed her tighter against the timber and tightened his grip on her hand. "Don't worry. I have no intention of keeping it. But I did promise your daughter that your boys would have no trouble knowing where to leave the money tomorrow out by those springs."
"Please," Victoria felt a tear run down her cheek as he managed to pry her ring from her finger.
"Like I said," the man frowned. "I have no intentions of keeping it. Go to it," he nodded to the second man who resumed tying her to the timber.