Chp 17

Matt struggled hard against the ropes binding him but try as he might, he couldn't break free. It wasn't bad enough he was trussed up like a turkey, but every so often Parson's, or one of the other two, would kick him or slap him, in order to get a reaction.

Kitty had several times begged them to stop but they ignored her. Matt said nothing until one of them started to pick up Georgie when he started to cry and whimper, trying to break free of the ropes binding him so that he could go to Kitty. They had tied Kitty's hands above her head to the top railing of the rusty iron bed and though she jerked and pulled she couldn't free herself. Her distress was scaring the child.

"Leave him alone!" Matt hollered at Parsons as he raised a hand to strike the child.

"He's just a little boy." Kitty joined in the protest. "What kind of men are you, anyway to hurt a child? He can't do you any harm."

Without a word, Parsons turned and slapped Kitty hard across the face. "Shut up." He growled.

"That'll be enough." Graham said from the doorway, as he walked in, looking around at his three hostages. He looked at Matt with a grin. "I see you got him."

Parson's nodded. "Jes like you said. Weren't no problem at all."

Graham nodded as his gaze left Matt and settled on Kitty. "Good job." He said with a pleased grin as he stepped over to Kitty and reached out, brushing her cheek with his hand. "Now, get out." He turned back to his men. All three of you, get out. I want to entertain my guests alone."

He gave Kitty a hungry look that made her skin crawl and she knew what he had in mind. She also knew, she'd not be able to stop him or defend herself, tied as she was. "Please," she whimpered as he took a step towards her. "Please, not in front of the boy. Please. He shouldn't see this."

Graham stopped and gave her a thoughtful look and then looked back over at the wide eyed and frightened toddler. "You care about that brat, don't you?" He asked, knowing the answer already. He had seen the look in her eyes when Parsons had threatened the child a moment ago and earlier had also seen what she was willing to do to protect him when Parsons and Brewer were trying for her.

Kitty swallowed hard. "Just don't let him see it." She pleaded. She kept her eyes locked on Graham, not wanting to see the look on Matt's face. She figured Matt knew as well as she did what Graham was planning on doing to her and she knew how much it must be killing him to know that he couldn't stop it. That he'd have to watch it being done.

Graham studied her thoughtfully for a moment before finally reaching down and picking up a screaming, kicking Georgie and carrying him towards the door. "Parsons," he called when he got the door opened. "Take this brat and keep him until I'm done in here. But don't lay a hand on him unless I say. You hear? He wants to cry or holler, let him but don't hurt him."

"Yeah, I hear." Parsons unhappily agreed, pulling Georgie from his boss only to feel a kick as Georgie flailed his legs and tried to get away. "Stop that." Parsons snapped at him.

Graham watched him cart the child towards the tree where he and the others were taking shelter from the sun. "Tie him to a tree if you have to but don't hurt him." He warned again, as he turned back into the shack and shut the door behind him.

"Graham, you touch her and there won't be any place you can hide that I won't find you." Matt warned as the rancher started over towards the bed, divesting himself of his jacket and vest as he went. "Leave her alone."

Cayden Graham ignored Matt and continued his pace over to where Kitty lay, bound and helpless. "There now," he said to Kitty as he sat down on the bed beside her and reached out a hand in her direction. "Kid won't see nothing as long as you behave."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Bud once again stood in the dense underbrush surrounding the cabin and looked in irritation to see his baby brother tied to a tree. The Marshal and Miss Kitty were nowhere to be seen. He knew that meant they were in the cabin and God only knew what was being done to them.

Motioning silently to those he'd brought with him, he pointed out different spots he wanted them to go to and gave them a nod. They had already devised a plan to rescue the three hostages and only needed to put it in place. He just hoped they weren't too late.

Moving as silently as he could, Bud moved himself into position, just behind the shrub nearest the house. A quick glance around to the chosen spots, for the others, confirmed everyone was in place. It was time to act.

Gripping his father's gun tightly, Bud was just about to raise a hand to the others, a signal to act, when he heard Miss Kitty scream.

TBC