"How do you know they ain't gonna come up from the other side," the second man was demanding of the leader out around the corner of the entrance.
"They are not going to risk her life I keep telling ya. We keep watch that way, toward the ranch. If they come in, that is where they will do it from. When we see the man bring the money, you go get it and the kid and I stay here with her until you get back."
"How come I have to fetch it," the second man snarled.
"Because you are so darn jumpy," the leader retorted. "Any little noise and I don't trust you with that woman. I'm not lettin' things go sour just 'cause you feel some type of way."
"You're 'fraid I'll do her in."
"Some," the leader answered honestly. "Now, kid, you go back in and sit with her. Make sure she don't want no more water."
"Right," the kid said and then appeared around the corner. He holstered his gun and looked at Victoria. "You want some water lady?"
Victoria was suddenly struck by how young the boy looked. He couldn't be more than fifteen or sixteen. "I would," she nodded. "Thank you."
The boy grabbed a canteen and just as gingerly as the leader had tipped it up so Victoria could sip it comfortably. "Had enough," he asked.
Victoria nodded. "Can I ask you something," she whispered.
"What," the boy nodded while he screwed the lid back on the canteen.
"Are you going to kill me," Victoria allowed a tiny bit of the fear she felt creep into her voice and she looked toward the opening of the mine to be sure the other two had not heard her.
The boy looked too and then turned back to Victoria. "That ain't what we plan ma'am," he tried to reassure her quietly. "So long as your kin do what we said, we don't aim to harm you none."
Victoria allowed herself to sigh as a sign of relief and nodded. "Thank you for the water."
"You're welcome." The boy went back toward the opening and sat down.
"Spell me a minute kid," the second man appeared about an hour later. "I need to sit a spell and have some water."
"Right," the kid nodded and went around the corner.
The second man flopped himself on the ground and swilled some water from his canteen. "Whole thing makes me antsy," he looked at Victoria. "You best hope that your kin folk do like we told them."
Victoria scowled. "I don't think my family will risk my life. Like the man said," she nodded to the opening. "They wouldn't risk my life. But if anything happens to me, they will find you, someday, some way."
The man chuckled, "sounds like we know where that girl of yours got her spunk. But," he sighed and swigged more water. "like the man also said, I ain't lookin' to give anyone a reason to chase me nowheres."
When he got up and walked back around the corner, Victoria allowed herself a real sigh of relief. He was the one who had talked about killing her in spite of the plan not to. Maybe, just maybe this would all work out ok. "Hurry up boys," she thought. "Please hurry."