Jim's coffee sat untouched on the end table beside him. His nearly constant staring down the hall had not gone unnoticed. Richmond knew what had his agent's attention but he needed Jim to focus. Catching Jeremy's eye Richmond nodded toward the hallway. Jeremy excused himself and quietly made his way down the hall, Jim's eyes boring a hole into his back.

"Edward, what do you know about a man by the name of Rutledge?" Richmond asked drawing Jim's attention back to the conversation.

"Rutledge…about as much as anyone I suppose. Occasionally I tend to one of his men but he always brings them to my office."

"You've never been to the ranch?" Jim asked his interest peaked.

"No, not that I recall. I don't think anyone in town has. He seems somewhat of a recluse." Jones shrugged his shoulders.

"Recluse, or he has something to hide." Jim stated. "Sir, I think I should take a ride..." Jim started to suggest when Richmond cut him off.

"James whatever I decide will be decided AFTER I've talked with Artemus. For now you'll settle down and think before you act." Jim's jaw set tightly.

"Yes, sir." He replied resignedly.

"I'm afraid any discussion with Artemus will be out of the question for the time being." All eyes turned toward Jeremy. Jim jumped to his feet but Richmond put a restraining hand on his arm.

"Artemus is still asleep?" Jones asked, "Not to worry he was very tired, the sedative should wear off soon." Jeremy shook his head and all the hairs on Jim and the Colonel's necks were standing at attention.

"No…I mean he's gone." Jim's face became pale and he sucked in a deep breath.

"What do you mean gone?" Richmond asked not sure he wanted to know.

"Oh Jim I'm sorry!" Jeremy realized the impact his words must have had. "I didn't mean that kind of gone."

"Mr. Pike just tell us!" Richmond spoke as he swung his legs off the settee and gingerly rose to a sitting position.

"He's gone, sir. Just gone…as in, not there." Jones jumped up and headed down the hall.

The others followed and caught up to Jones as he pushed open the door. They crowded into the room and stared at the empty bed and hastily discarded bedclothes. Jim crossed to the window and looked out. He could just make out his partner's boot prints in the dusty ground below the window.

"Artie when I get my hands on you…" Jim growled.

"Stand in line, Mr. West, rank has its privileges." Richmond intoned.

"Well, gentlemen our first order of business will be to locate Artemus." Richmond spoke through clenched teeth.

"Doctor, I thought his injuries were severe enough to keep him in bed for a while." Jeremy asked.

"Pike, even you know the answer to that one." Richmond spat as he glared at Jim.

"Sir, I…" Jim let the sentence trail off knowing his superior was in no mood for listening to any kind of defense on his partner's behalf.

"I am beginning to get the sense that you gentleman are of a rare breed." Jones shook his head.

"You can say that again! And a breed you hope to never meet again." Richmond sighed as Jones crossed to the nightstand.

"It looks like he took the medicine with him."

"Is that a good thing?" Jim asked hesitantly.

"If he takes the pain medication yes, it looks like he took the sleeping powders as well."

"What happens if he takes them?" Jeremy was certain they didn't want to know the answer.

"Then we'd better hope we find him before the animals do." Jones turned and was about to head back to the parlor when they heard a scream in the kitchen.

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Artie paused and took another swallow from the canteen. Wiping his brow with his good forearm he studied the tracks before him. The men had made little effort to hide their trail and Artie found it somewhat easy to follow them. His leg felt like it was on fire and Artie sighed when he noticed fresh blood beginning to seep through the bandage. Looking around he saw a fallen tree limb, picking it up he pulled some smaller branches off of it and decided he could use this to steady himself and he took off again.

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Rutledge rubbed his hands together with glee as he looked at the grandfather clock in his study. Just about now Running Bear and his braves should be attacking the doctor's home and taking care of the one man that could stand between him and the riches he sought.

"By the end of the night that pesky Mr. Richmond will be out of my hair and I will be free to buy up all the resources in the area. After the good citizens see the example that will be made of him they will be begging me to buy their land and all that goes with it." Rutledge gloated.

"Sure they will, Boss. But what about that government man? You have them savages kill him and the valley will be crawling with soldiers." Jeff ventured from his seat in the wing backed chair by the fireplace.

"Oh no don't you see? Killing Richmond will have that agent playing right into my hands." Rutledge began pacing in front of the roaring fire.

"How do you figure?" Rutledge stopped pacing and stared at Jeff.

"Think about it…a greedy land developer is murdered, no slaughtered by Indians! All the citizens will be up in arms and wanting out of the valley. Being the kindhearted gentleman that I am I will just be helping them out when I purchase their property." Jeff nodded in agreement.

"Mr. West's untimely demise will just be a fringe benefit of it all. Of course being the dutiful government agent that he is he will jump in and try to save the good Mr. Richmond. It will still look like the Indians handiwork. And as long as I have their precious beast they won't dare try to cross me." Jeff looked up at his boss one eyebrow raised.

"I don't understand. Aren't you giving that beast back to them Indians after they kill those men for you like you said?" Jeff swallowed hard, knowing the Indians wouldn't like a double cross.

"Wake up, Jeff. If I give that filthy animal back to those savages they will go running to the nearest army fort and tell them what I did. No, I think our furry friend will remain in my custody. It will keep the Indians in line and who knows I may have further use for them yet." Rutledge went back to his pacing and Jeff watched, afraid his boss had finally lost whatever hold on sanity he may have had. Hearing a noise outside the window Rutledge sent Jeff to check it out.

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Artie backed away from the window his anger seething, his blood boiling. It was bad enough that man had taken an injured animal and was holding it hostage but to use it over Running Bear and his people in this way was disgusting. Not wanting to risk detection, he made his way back into the trees.

A man emerged from the house and made a quick circumference checking all the doors and windows. He paused under the window to the study and moved the lantern back and forth. Artie cursed under his breath when the man spun around and began looking around the area. Holding his breath Artie hoped the grass and scrub had concealed his tracks enough that the man wouldn't be able to find his hiding place.

After several minutes the man finally turned and began to head back into the house. Just as he reached the house Artie let out the breath he didn't realize he was holding and quickly sucked in another breath. The man stopped and stood by the door staring at one of the out buildings. Finally making his decision he headed toward the nearest building.

Artie watched the man enter the building and close the door behind him. Scanning the area and seeing no one else Artie kept to the wooded area and made his way over to the building. He stopped and peered in a window.

"Well, Artemus this must be your lucky day." Artie whispered to himself as he smiled, "I have found the golden ticket. Now to figure out how to get that poor fella outta there and back to the forest where he belongs."

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The doctor raced down the hall toward the kitchen and pulled the door open. The back door had been forced open and Indians were pouring into the kitchen. One brave had Hannah in his grasp one hand over her mouth. Jones grabbed the brave nearest him and flung him to the side in an effort to reach his wife. The braves turned on the new arrivals and began their advance.

"No guns in here, we might hit the wrong targets in these close quarters!" Richmond shouted as he struck an advancing brave.

The melee ensued as more braves tried to force their way into the small room. Jim spun a brave around to face him and punched him hard sending him tumbling backwards into the parlor area. As they crashed into the furniture they were joined by the others as the fight spilled out into the room. Jeremy threw a punch at one brave while ducking and narrowly missing being hit with a tomahawk.

Colonel Richmond was grappling with one young brave as they tipped over the settee. The brave jumped to his feet and grabbed the Colonel by the lapels. Richmond twisted to get out of his grasp and became tangled in the brave's war beads. The two men jockeyed for position and with a final push Richmond tried to shove the brave away from him.

The brave crashed through the parlor window onto the porch bringing the colonel with him. The brave landed on his back as the Colonel rolled past him onto the ground below the porch. Richmond scrambled to his feet ready to meet his attacker again. But the brave lay still where he fell. Richmond reached over and shook the brave but he remained still, staring up at nothing. Richmond turned the brave over to find a large piece of glass protruding from his back. Shaking his head he looked inside to see how the others were doing.

Jim had taken out two of the braves and was working on the third. Jeremy was making fast work of his adversary as well. Richmond watched as if he were watching a play, everything was in slow motion. A brave brought the handle of his tomahawk down on the back of Doctor Jones neck. Richmond cringed as he watched the doctor fall. The room suddenly became overrun with Indian braves and he watched his men go down under a sea of feathers and deerskins.

Thinking quickly, Richmond ran into the woods. If he could evade them long enough he could saddle a horse and head for the Sheriff.

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Artie made his way around to the back of the building thanking his lucky stars there was a door in the back. Luck was still with him as no one had thought to place a lock on the door. Artie lifted the lever and pulled the door open. He cringed and paused when the door squeaked, grabbing his canteen he poured water over the hinges, it wouldn't last long but then he didn't need it to. He made his way inside the building and lowered himself down to sit on a bale of hay.

Breathing heavily Artie paused to check his bandage. There was a small patch of crimson on his leg that he was certain Jim was going to give him hell for if not the Colonel. Just what was the Colonel doing here not to mention Jeremy?, Artie wondered as he did his best to adjust the bandages on his leg. He was lost in thought when he heard the main door begin to open. Without thinking Artie slid down to hide behind the hay. Biting back the groan that was threatening to escape his lips, Artie bit his lip and tried to hear what they were talking about.

"I thought the boss was giving this thing back to them Injuns? I want off this detail, it stinks in here." One man grumped to his companion.

"Guess he changed his mind. I was told he plans on keeping this thing as a way to keep them savages in line till he gets what he wants." The other man said.

"Then what…he just gonna let it loose? I don't wanna be around when that happens!"

"Nah he'll probably just kill it and keep the skin fer a rug or somethin." Artie cringed at that statement.

"Go get some hay, looks like he done scattered the last pile we left him." The man began to head toward Artie's hiding spot and Artie sucked in a breath. Looking over by the door he saw the walking stick he had been using. Cursing quietly, he realized he had nothing to defend himself with if they found him and he'd be dead for sure.

"Why should we give him more hay? He's just gonna spread it all around anyway. The boss said feed him he never said make a damn bed for him." The man stopped just a few feet away from Artie.

"Well ifn he asks we'll just tell him we did. Let's get goin, I don't like it in here. That beast wakes up he's liable ta try ta get us." The two men quickly finished their chores and left. Artie let out the breath he didn't realize he had been holding in. Artie waited for a few minutes to make sure no one else might enter before he moved to get up.

His right leg collapsed beneath him and Artie cursed. Pulling himself up he sat on the hay again. He took a long draw from the canteen and rummaged around in the bag for the small thin piece of metal he had put there. The bag slipped from the elbow he was using to grip it and slid toward the ground spilling some of the contents. Artie instinctively reached out to stop the bag but his left arm was still tightly wrapped.

Cursing, he scooped up the items and put them back in the bag and put the metal piece in his mouth and clamped his teeth down on it. Setting the bag on the hay next to him, Artie pushed himself up and made his way over to the cage. Using the bars he held himself up and pulled his way toward the door of the cage. He set to work on the lock not noticing movement from within the cage.

The Sasquatch opened his eyes and stared at the human. He smelled just like the one he grappled with on the mountain. The animal kept his eyes on the human curious as to what he was doing. The other humans, the ones that were mean to him always came in pairs and they never came in through the door just threw hay through the bars or shoved his food through them.

The man at the door was struggling to get the lock open and it finally snapped open. He pulled it loose and dropped it to the floor. Artie approached the animal talking in low soothing tones. The Sasquatch sniffed the air and could smell the sickness on the human. Knowing he could easily take the human he allowed him to come closer.

"Hey there big fella. I'm here to help you." Artie spoke quietly. "Let me get a look at that collar." Artie reached for the heavy iron collar around the animal's neck and pulled back when the Sasquatch bared his teeth and growled.

"Come on now…enough of that!" Artie admonished him. "Don't make me get rough on you." Artie chuckled and held his ribs.

The Sasquatch watched the human curiously. The man pulled on the chain securing the beast to a large ring in the floor. There was no lock on the chain so he set to work on the collar's lock. The man hissed and cringed when he saw the animal's neck had been rubbed raw and was bleeding. Looking through the bars of the cage Artie cursed himself for having left the bag on the hay.

Sensing what he was trying to do, the Sasquatch turned his head to allow Artie better access to the lock. Artie's fingers were trembling as he worked the lock. He didn't know how much time he would have and his concentration was taxed trying to keep his attention on picking the lock and listening for anyone approaching.

"Tell me I'm not hearing what I think I'm hearing." Artie looked at the animal and sighed. "Just what I needed to make my night complete…rain and lots of it!"

The animal made no move, hostile or otherwise, toward the human. He was being set free that was all that mattered. Why this human that had tangled with him earlier was now helping him intrigued the Sasquatch but that was a matter to be dealt with later. The animal felt the collar loosen around his neck as the lock snapped open. The human gently pulled the collar away cringing when it pulled some fur with it.

The Sasquatch stood, towering over the human, stretching and flexing it's muscles. Artie slowly made his way toward the door of the cage and left the door open. Gesturing to the animal he smiled.

"Come on Sassy…" the beast tipped his head sideways and regarded the human quizzically.

"Well I don't know if you are a boy or a girl and I can't just cal you hey you…Sassy seems to fit so Sassy it is." Again the human gestured toward the open door.

"Come on, Sassy! We gotta get you back to the Indians. There's no telling how long until we might have company." Artie went back to the hay and retrieved his bag rummaging in it for the antiseptic.

Sassy slowly ventured out but something on the wall caught his eye. Walking over to the wall Sassy grabbed the long pole that had been used to poke and prod him. Seizing the pole he growled and snapped the pole like a man would snap a simple tooth pick. Artie looked up and stared at the remains of the pole in shock.

"I guess they must have used that on you, huh big fella?" Artie gestured for Sassy to sit on the hay.

The big animal studied the human for a long moment before he cautiously approached and sat on the hay. Artie removed a bottle from the bag and pulled the stopper. Sassy pulled back at the stench that assaulted his nose.

"It's all right this stuff won't hurt you. It might sting a little but it'll help that neck of yours." Artie spoke softly as he quickly drizzled some on the cloth.

He applied the cloth to Sassy's neck making sure to continue his soft chatter. Sassy turned his head so the man could get at the back of his neck. Artie doused the cloth again and this time laid the cloth on Sassy's neck, directly on the worst open sore. Sassy roared when the liquid touched the open wound and before Artie could react the Sasquatch bellowed and struck out at Artie.

Artie was slammed to the ground as Sassy pulled the cloth from his neck. Seeing the door at the back of the building Sassy pushed his way through the door pulling it from its hinges. He stormed off into the growing storm, leaving Artie staring at the destruction.

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