"I still say you ain't got a clue about how this ought to be done," the second man was growling at the first.
"What now," the leader sighed.
"I think we out to be standing lookout. Them two boys of hers could come up and try to ambush us."
"They don't know where we are," the leader answered. "I haven't put the marker out yet either. Besides all that, they aren't gonna gamble with her life, they'll expect a lookout."
"Well I don't like it," the second man added a log to the fire. "I don't like it at all."
"We all agreed to this," the third man countered. "We all agreed to the plan the way it is. Now just leave it be."
"Why me anyway," Victoria asked no one in particular. "Why did you pick me?"
"Everyone knows that the Barkleys is the ones with all the money round these parts," the second man sneered. "Them high and mighty Barkleys that own half the valley."
"Ahh," Victoria nodded. "Just a get rich quick plan then I suppose. No special reason to pick on the Barkleys other than their money."
"You suppose right lady," the leader leaned back against his saddle and pulled his hat over his eyes. "My friends and I just need a little cash to get us over that Mexican border and get ourselves set. Now hush."
Obviously, these men were new to the kidnapping game. Victoria wanted desperately to believe the leader when he said that they were not going to kill her. He did seem like a harmless enough person. They had not been terribly rough with her to this point. They had given her water. They had allowed her and Audra to see their faces. Now they were telling her which direction they were going to head when it was all over. Was this really just a gang of misfits looking for an easy payday? She hoped so. The alternative was that they were going to take her family's money and kill her or leave her here to die. Oh how she wished she were home. Audra would be worried for her and the boys would be pacing the floors deciding who would take the money. "Be careful," she thought to herself. "Oh my boys, please be careful."
"You hungry Mrs. Barkley," the leader's words brought her back to reality.
"What," she hadn't heard the question.
"I asked if you was hungry," he pushed his hat back up and looked at her.
"No, thank you," she tried to smile. "I would like some water though,"
"Sure thing ma'am," he pushed himself off the ground and picked up his canteen. He put it to her lips and tipped it up slowly so she could sip the water. When she pulled her head away he stopped, closed the canteen and tossed it back to his mat. "I hope you understand ma'am, I just can't trust you won't try nothin' if I untie you. But, I'm gonna sit you on the ground so you'll be a might more comfortable for the night."
"I understand," Victoria nodded.
Slowly and methodically to keep her from breaking loose the leader loosened the ropes around the timber and guided Victoria to the ground. Once she was seated with her feet out in front of her, he secured her arms behind the support timber with ropes at her wrists and above her elbows. He tightened a rope around her waist and left one looser but knotted hard around her neck. Then he went and tied her legs at her ankles and just above the knee.
"You must be real afraid I'll bust loose," Victoria sighed as he finished the last not around her legs.
"Well ma'am," he looked up at her. "I just ain't much for takin' unnecessary risk is all. I'll get you a blanket." He went to the horses and pulled an extra blanket from the saddle that was still on the horse Victoria had been riding. "Here ya are ma'am," he pulled the blanket over top of her legs up to her waist.
"Thank you," Victoria nodded.
"Good night ma'am," he returned to his place and resumed his mat.
The second man snorted. "Ain't no need for all that."
'Ain't no need and no call to be rude neither," the leader pulled his hat back over his eyes. "Go on to sleep would ya."
"Fine," the second man moved to his own mat and plopped down with his head on he own saddle.
Victoria leaned her head against the timber and closed her eyes. "Please be careful boys," she thought to herself again. "Please be careful."