"Jarrod," Nick whispered as he came up to one side of his brother who was crouched behind a rock. "Did you see?"
"I did," Jarrod answered. "What did he tie up with Mother's scarf?"
"I couldn't tell," Nick shook his head. "Good thing we figured right though. "You and Heath can flank the mine when someone rides out for the money."
"Mmmm," Jarrod nodded. "As long as we get the opportunity. They may send someone to walk out with it being that close to the mine."
"I wish I was in it with you," Nick scowled.
"Nick," Jarrod eyed him sternly. "You were right about you being the one who had to take the money. I didn't recognize him. They know you are one of the two Barkley brothers they know about. You have to make it look good. You take that money up and then you ride out of sight."
"I know," Nick nodded and his ears perked when he heard foot falls.
"Nick, Jarrod," Heath whispered loudly to announce himself.
"Heath," Jarrod waved him in.
"What's the move," Heath asked.
"We have to even up the odds," Jarrod assured him. "We ride out around and come back in behind the mine. We'll leave the horses in the grove there and then come the rest of the way on foot, maybe half mile. When they send one for the money, we flank the mine."
"Right," Heath nodded.
"Nick," Jarrod grabbed his brothers arm as he stood to go. "Remember, you have no idea where that marker is. Make it look good. And find out what they put there."
"Right," Nick nodded. "Come on, let's get out of here."
The three of them kept low and winded their way the mile back to their horses. They kept quiet the whole way. They were not going to give the kidnappers any chance that they might be spotted or that they might hear an errant echo. Nick reluctantly handed his rifle and pistol to Heath as they prepared to split up. It was nine o'clock until Jarrod and Heath left Nick a few miles outside of Indian Springs. The deal was that Jarrod and Heath would be in position to flank the mine by eleven and Nick would ride in at eleven-thirty. They figured the kidnappers wouldn't question Nick arriving a bit early; they would chalk it up to an abundance of caution. When the man who went to retrieve the money was halfway to the marker, they would make their move. Jarrod would fire a shot off well behind the mine to grab the attention of the other two. Heath would sneak around to the front of the mine. If all went as planned when the other two came to investigate, Heath would take them by surprise and Jarrod would be close behind and able to make sure the third man kept moving toward the money. Whether he did or not, Jarrod would have plenty of time before he got back to the mine and could be any danger to their mother.
"This should be good," Jarrod pulled his horse to a stop in the midst of the grove of trees.
"Right," Heath dismounted and tied his horse to a tree next to Jarrod's.
"Heath," Jarrod asked without looking at him.
"Yeah?"
"This is going to work right?"
Heath nodded. "Barkley luck Jarrod. What could possibly go wrong," he paused a moment and then pulled his rifle from his saddle and then thought better of it. "You think she is alright?"
"She better be," a look of unadulterated rage washed over Jarrod. "If anything happens to her…"
"Right," Heath cut him off and waited until his face returned to a normal color. "I'm right there with you on that."
Jarrod nodded. "Come on, let's get up there."