Disclaimer I own very little, especially not CSI NY.

Author Lily Moonlight

Notes Chapter 16: More discoveries, and more peril…

Thank you very much for reviews, please continue! They're a great help with writing, and I love knowing what you think.

Thank you SO much to everyone who nominated and voted for me in the fan fiction awards! I'm really delighted and honoured to have won what I did, including best AU story (jointly with 'Different Beginnings' by LivelyStevens), best Mac/Stella story, and best team story for 'Old West'. Please excuse a little conceitedness in listing them :D

Thank you to everyone who has given me a poke to update, and who has helped with discussion about this story and the possible sequel, yes, I'm thinking about that already ;) I'm also writing a couple of stories collaboratively; 'Big Sky Country' with Brinchen86, under the name of RoseBrina - we'd love you to read and review! Shortly to be posted is 'Hidden Agenda' written with Forest Angel, under the name of Woodland Flower. '12 Days' by Lily and Blue will also be finished, we promise!

Apologies this has taken ages to update; oneshot ideas took over, as well as work and collaborative stories, also I was nervous about posting this chapter. It's taken me a long time to write, so please review and tell me what you thought of it! I really hope you like it. Okay, these notes are now very long… On with the chapter!

Once Upon A Time In the Old West

Chapter 16: She Wore A Yellow Ribbon

Lindsay:

"Danny! Danny, wake up!"

Oh lord, what am I going to do? I'm nudgin' him with my foot as best I can, seein' as my hands and ankles are tied, but he don't hear me, and I don't know what to do! Truth is, I'm rapidly realisin' I can't do much at all in the situation we've gotten into. Well, that we've been kidnapped into. Certainly ain't a situation I'd have chosen to be in. Know I'd much rather be back inside the warmth of the Saloon, instead of bein' tied up in the back of a dirty old wagon…

But we were overpowered! Oh, and it was my fault, all my fault! Should have been more careful. Should have taken more notice in that kitchen when I heard the noises outside. Can hardly believe I let myself get caught by that man. But he surprised me! Creeping up behind me so silently I didn't hear him till it was too late. I ain't ever been so thankful to see a sight of someone as when my Danny came through that door, but I ain't ever been so afraid for someone. 'Cause I knew in that instance, that Danny was in trouble too, 'cause he ain't the kind of man to stand by when he sees someone needin' help. That's the thing though, don't mind so much myself bein' in trouble, but not anyone else. Feels like I've gotten him into trouble, and that ain't fair.

He did what I knew he would, what he can't seem to help himself doin'; he tried comin' to my rescue. Only took a moment for him to take in the situation, then he was tacklin' the man who had hold of me. Jumped right at him, didn't even give him time to yell out, and it meant I managed to break free for a moment. Weren't enough though, 'cause Danny got himself overpowered, despite his bravery. Reckon the knife hidden in the man's hands turned the advantage his way. I ain't ever been so afraid as when I saw him pull out that wicked lookin' blade, and saw it headin' towards my Danny. Tried to help, I tried. Got my hands around his neck, but he pushed me back with his elbow so I fell, knocked the air right outta me and all. Then when I scrambled to my feet, he was waitin' for me with another shove, and I was knocked clean over. Last thing I remember is topplin' backwards, and my head hittin' the table leg, until I woke up not more'n a few minutes ago and found myself and Danny lyin' in a heap of straw in the back of a wagon. Can only speculate as to what happened to us; guess Danny must've been knocked out too. Reckon then we must have been tied up and dragged out. I ain't hurt bad though, and can't see any injuries to Danny other than a great big lump I can see on the top of his head. Can't say how thankful I am the knife that brute of a man had in his hands don't seem to have found its way into the skin of my Danny.

Gotta be thankful for small things; seems the only things that got hurt are our heads. That weren't no small hurt though; Danny ain't showin' no sign of wakin', and even though I wouldn't be tellin' him, my head's hurtin' a fair bit. Guess if I'm honest, this one's the worst I've ever had.

Somehow, thinkin' about headaches gets me thinkin' about Ma, and suddenly the tears I been tryin' so hard to hold back all this time are slippin' down my cheeks. What would she say now, to see her girl in this mess? But not even she'd have anythin' to help me now. Besides, she's too far away, she and Pa. Miles and miles and miles away, back in Montana, not even knowin' what's goin' on. Maybe that ain't a bad thing though. Wouldn't want them knowin' I was in trouble and worryin' about me 'cause they couldn't do anything about it. Couldn't have that…

Guess I'd better wipe these tears off my face. Tears and wantin' my Ma ain't gonna do me and Danny no good. I'm a grown woman, independent too, and I didn't leave home to come all the way to Hattanville only to be cryin' for my Ma, soon as I get into a little difficulty. We're in trouble, Danny and me, that's the truth, but it don't mean we can't get ourselves out of it. I'm thinkin' now of Stella and the Sheriff, and the trouble they got into only yesterday. They managed to get themselves outta that. Neither of them have a Ma or Pa to get them out of a fix. Least, I know Stella ain't got any parents, and Mr Taylor don't ever speak about his. Heard someplace that his Pa died many years ago, but I don't know anythin' about his Ma. She must be a real old lady, or maybe she's passed away too. Real sad that would be; feel sad for Stella too, bein' an orphan. Can't imagine what that'd feel like, 'cause I've always known I got my Ma and Pa there, even if I'm a long way from them.

It's because they're all that way away in Montana, that they ain't even met Danny yet, but I know they're going to welcome him into our family, soon as they lay eyes on him. That occasion ain't far off, 'cause I heard from Ma only a few days ago, when she sent a little parcel of cookies for me and Danny to enjoy, and a letter to tell me how they were gettin' ready to travel here for our weddin'. Got Danny to write a note back to her, 'cause I reckon she'll have appreciated that. I know she's going to like him when she meets him finally, Pa too. I just know it. And that's another reason for me to wipe these tears from my eyes and start thinkin' about how we're going to get out of this situation. 'Cause me and Danny have got a wedding to be havin', in only a couple of weeks time!

Oh Danny…

All this time I been thinkin', and he still ain't opened his eyes. His face is real pale and he's got a streak of blood that's run down his temple. If I could get my hands free, I'd reach for my handkerchief and clean it up for him, but at the moment, that ain't possible. Oh I hate whoever's done this to us! I hate them 'cause they've hurt my Danny! Soon as I can get my hands on them, they're going to be real sorry they ever laid their hands on us! Soon as I can get my own hands untied that is. Darn it! Whoever tied us up sure didn't use a soft sort of rope. Ouch! My wrists are going to be red raw by the time I've worked loose. Guess if that means freedom though, it's a price I'm willing to pay.

Rope cuttin' into my wrists ain't the only thing that's painin' me though. We're bumpin' about all over the place now. Guess the wagon we're in's only small, 'cause the two of us are lyin' pressed close together. Can't have much in the way of wheels neither, going by the way we're joltin' about. Wish I knew how long I've been lyin' here, and where we are. Must be somewhere away from the road, well, I'm guessin' that anyhow. Can't say honestly for sure.

We've gone over another real big bump, and it's bumped me and Danny closer together so I'm almost lyin on top of him now. Wouldn't be mindin' that in any other circumstances, but this ain't good at all. And he ain't in any state to be respondin' with his arms tight around me. Can't even put my arms round him neither, and offer him some comfort, and brush the pieces of straw he got sprinkled all over him.

Wouldn't normally mind lyin' in a heap of straw with Danny either; it's got a real warm and welcomin' scent to it, fresh straw. Like how it feels kinda prickly against my skin. Almost as prickly as Danny's skin when he ain't taken too much care over his shavin'. Smell and feel of straw always reminds me of home and the ranch. And times when me and Danny have enjoyed each other's company… Not that that's somethin' that happens often. Only when there ain't other folks around, and when old Mr West's left his barn door open, and we've needed to take shelter from the cold, as it were. Guess though we're almost married so we ain't doin' no wrong. This ain't fresh or welcomin' straw though; it's dusty and dirty, and's stickin' into me real uncomfortably. Gotta ignore that though; gotta try and wake Danny up

"Danny! Danny!"

Aint' gettin' no response. Why, when I get my hands on the men who've done this, they'll be regrettin' the day they laid hands on my Danny! The bare-faced audacity of it! Kidnappin' people! It just ain't done in polite circles! Guess there ain't much polite about the man who's done this though. Whoever he is. Can't figure out why this has happened. What does he want with us? I'm lyin' back in the straw now, tryin' to figure out a reason for all this. Can hardly get my mind to thinkin' straight, way my head's still poundin'. Feel kinda dizzy too, guess hittin' your head against a table leg can do that to you.

Let's get things figured out though. So me and Danny've been kidnapped. By a man. From the Saloon. Got that much clear in my mind. Guess that's a start. Why we've been kidnapped and who this man is, well, that's a mystery still. One I'm sure goin' to be figurin' out. Don't like to be faced with somethin' I don't understand. Remember when I was real small, and Pa used to find things out amongst the fields for me, little bits of things he'd picked up from the fields and prairies, feathers and flowers. Used to get me to work out what plant or what bird they'd come from. Used to get myself real frustrated when I didn't know the answer, but I'd keep trying until I knew. Guess that was somethin' that made Pa proud of me. Don't like to be boastin', but I reckon I'm pretty good at figuring out mysteries.

Thinkin' on that, I remember how Mr Hammerback heard me talkin' once about mysteries, and next day, he called round to the school house with an armful of mystery stories that he'd enjoyed readin' himself. Real kind of him that was. He's a good man, if a little odd at times. Guess everyone in the town kinda overlooks that, even if he does get himself and the rest of us into danger at times. Remember the time he was studying insects, entymology he called it, and managed to gather a whole collection of flyin' creatures of some variety. Didn't ask him what exactly they were, didn't want to be gettin' too close to them. Kept a glass case full of them in his parlour, and used to invite people to come look at them. Course he looked after them real well and kindly, but it didn't take long for disaster to strike. Happened when I took my children to look and little Mary-Sue Garrett was pushed by Billy Jenkins, and knocked into the tank, sending it crashin' to the floor. Sendin' a whole cloud of flyin' insects all round the room and out into the street. Ain't never seen anythin' like it. Folks were screamin' and yellin, runnin' to get outta the way. Ended up with Mr Sinclair pushed right into the horse trough. Danny and I happened to be close by, as he'd come out on hearin' the commotion and wanted to check I was all right. Course, Danny was tryin' real hard not to laugh. Wanted to laugh myself, but that wouldn't have been right and proper at all, and certainly not with all my children lookin' to me to set them a good example. We helped Mr Sinclair up, though I suspect that Danny losing hold of his hand at the first attempt so he fell back with a tremendous splash weren't entirely accidental…

Poor Mr Hamerback, it fair devastated him, that he'd caused distress to folks. Felt real sorry for him, 'specially when Mr Sinclair started yellin' and shoutin' and threatenin' him with all sorts of dire consequences. Real glad to see Mr Taylor come over at that point, followed closely by Stella. They got it sorted out between him. Stella took Sinclair over to the Saloon for a glass of brandy to calm his nerves, and Mr Taylor had a quiet word with Mr Hammerback about the unsuitability of certain hobbies. As did Mrs Hammerback, 'cause me and Danny happened to pass by their house later that day. Didn't take much eavesdroppin' to hear Mrs Hammerback havin' a 'quiet word' with her husband.

Now I'm wonderin' what it's gonna be like for me, havin' a husband. Guess it's gonna mean things'll be different for me and Danny, once we're married. Or maybe they won't be. It's a big step for both of us, but not somethin' to be feared. Been lookin' forward to the day we'll be married since even before Danny asked me officially.

Oh Danny…

I'm whisperin' his name, letting' him know I'm there, even if his eyes are still closed. Got tears burnin' my eyes now. And I'm angry too. I ain't a girl who gets angry real often, but when I do then it comes explodin' out of me and I can't stop it. Got heat risin' up in me and a sorta' boilin' feelin' inside my stomach, and it strikes me that I'm real mad. 'Cause someone's hurt the person I love most, and they ain't gonna get away with it! Don't care about myself bein' hurt, that don't matter. I ain't hurt bad anyhow, headache's don't take much to be fixed, but someone's hurt my Danny!

Guess this is what happens when you love someone; they sorta become a part of you, a real special and precious part that you know you gotta protect and care for. If anythin' happens to them, it hurts you more than anythin' happening to you. Remember the time a few months back when Danny hurt himself. He was doin' some mendin' of the wall for me, real old and tumble-down wall, when some of the bricks in it tumbled down right on top of him. Heard him cursin' and yellin, so I ran out and found him out there with a great long gash to his knee. Course, soon as he saw me, he tried pretendin' that there weren't nothin' wrong with him, but I knew there was. Didn't take the sight of his face all white and the catch in his voice to tell me that. Helped him indoors and got him fixed up with a bandage and a cold compress, but all the time I was fixin' him, I was hurtin' inside. 'Cause he'd been hurt. Felt like I was in more pain than he was. But that didn't matter; I'd have taken on ten times more pain if it meant I could've spared him some. When someone you love, and whose life means more to you than you can say, gets hurt, you hurt ten times worse. Seen that in other folks who love each other; Flack and Miss Jessica for instance - the time he got injured in a brawl with a cow puncher, I saw how upset she was as she dressed his wounds.

But love ain't just about sharin' hurt and heartache; love's about sharin' joy and happiness. I ain't ever seen a man so happy and proud as Mr Taylor when it was first made known in town that he and Stella were steppin' out together. Seen how he indulges her love of fashions too - couldn't stop myself smilin' a few weeks back when she came to tell me how he'd surprised her with a length of silk to make up a new shawl with. Fair to say, it makes me sigh in happiness to see the lovin' devotion he shows to her. Guess seein' her happy makes him real happy too. Ten times as happy, if the look in his face was anythin' to go by when I saw her fling her arms round him later that day as she thanked him.

Much as it makes me happy to see the Sheriff and Stella as in love as they are, the fact that I got my own person who loves me, is happiness that can't be bettered. But truth be told, right now, because of lovin' that person, I'm feelin' more unhappy than I can ever remember. Because he's lyin' at my side, he ain't movin', and I don't know what fate is waitin' for us! All I know is, we're in the biggest trouble of our lives, and though I almost don't dare think it, reckon this is trouble that if we ain't careful, might end up costin' our lives.

Oh, Danny, you gotta wake up! You just gotta! Can't face this on my own.

I'm wriggling and wriggling my hands, tryin' to free them from the ropes that are cutting into them. I realise suddenly that I'm winnnin' the battle here; these knots ain't so bad as I first thought. Huh, whoever tied these knots didn't know the first thing about it! Guess that's somethin' I know a bit about, tyin' knots. Pa taught me all kinds of useful skills when I was a little girl. So I know all kinds of things that maybe not all girls do. And little by little, I'm gettin' my fingers free. Just a little more… little more…

Free!

I sag back against the back of the wagon. Feel relieved, but all this bumpin' about's makin' me feel real sick. Can feel my stomach churnin', and I'm regrettin' not eatin' any breakfast. Being knocked out on an empty stomach ain't good for a girl. Heck, just being knocked out ain't good for a girl! Nor a guy neither. I'm ramblin' a touch now, hope it ain't the blow to my head…

Ain't got time to be ramblin' though, got Danny to save! Now I got myself free, should be real easy to get him free. But all this rockin' about in the wagon's makin' it hard. My fingers are slippin' and the knots round Danny's wrists and ankles ain't budgin'. Seems to me that whoever tied him up did know about knots, which leads me to think that whoever kidnapped us weren't actin' alone. Which means we got more than one enemy to face whenever we gotta face them. Guess we'll find that out soon enough. And I'm going to be ready for them.

But I still can't free Danny! My hand's are shakin', and this sick feelin' ain't going away. If only I had somethin' I could use to help…

I have! My knife! Oh I could kick myself… why didn't I think of that before now? Guess the being knocked unconscious didn't help. Now, come on Lindsay, get yourself together and get moving! Got my knife tucked away in my bodice; the buck knife Pa gave me. Come in real useful many a time has that knife. Maybe I ain't so good with a pistol as Stella and Miss Jessica are, and I know despite their kindness and patience in teachin' me to shoot, that I ain't ever going to be like Miss Annie Oakley, but I guess that don't matter. As Pa used to tell me, you can't be good at everything, that'd make life too easy, and too dull. You got to have some obstacles to overcome, 'cause it helps build up your character. So I'll keep on learnin' even if sharp-shootin' don't come easy to me. I know though that I'm real good at handlin' a knife. Pa taught me how to use it in all kinds of situations, and I'm real skilled with a catapult too. Which gives me cause for hope that I'll master a pistol soon enough.

Now, let's get these ropes cut though and my Danny freed up. Don't take me long, my hands are steadyin' and soon I'm rubbin' his poor hands and wrists, trying to get the blood flowin' again. Seems to be helpin' in other ways too, 'cause finally his eyes have started to flutter.

"Danny! Danny, can you hear me? It's your Lindsay!"

I'm strokin' his hair real gentle, feelin' that lump on his head again. Feelin' all that anger bubblin' up inside me again. No one hurts my Danny and gets away with it! But he's stirrin' now, and I gotta focus on helpin' him. Finally, his eyes sorta' crack open.

"Lindsay…" He croaks and swallows, "That… that you?"

"It's me, yes, it's Lindsay! It's all right, don't you worry, I'm going to make sure of that."

He sorta screws his face up and tries to move, but I hold him.

"Ssh, you just lay still."

"Where are we? Somethin'… Somethin' happened…"

"We got kidnapped, Danny." I tell him and can't stop a small quiver in my voice, "From the Saloon. You remember?"

He blinks and frowns, "Saloon… we were in the… the kitchen… been to see Hawkes, and the Sheriff and Miss Stella…"

"And you came back down and into the kitchen, remember that? Someone had a hold of me, and you tried to fight them off…"

"Couldn't let him hurt you… Never gonna let you get hurt… never…" His head droops for a moment, then jerks back up, "No one hurts my… my girl…"

He's sorta slurring his words, and that worries me real bad. Danny's taken a real heavy blow to the head. Hope it ain't damaged him too much. Trouble with Danny though, is that he seems to attract trouble that leads to him getting damaged. Like the time he fell off the roof of the Sheriff's Office. Happened after he climbed up there to rescue my favourite yellow hair ribbon, even though I told him it didn't matter and I could buy another. Couldn't stop him though, and of course as he was climbing up, he slipped and fell. I coulda' killed him. Fortunately the fall didn't, as he landed in a big old heap of horse manure. Sure made him curse though; I was blushing to hear some of the words he used. Words I ain't ever even heard before. Not even from Stella the time I was practising shootin' in the back yard of the Saloon, missed my target and almost shot the Sheriff as he was comin' through the back gate. Never heard a lady curse so loud. Mr Taylor was too shocked to say a word. Not sure if that was due to the bullet that had just whizzed past his ear or Stella's choice of words.

They were both real nice about it though, after we'd all drunk a glass of Stella's strong stuff. Couldn't help but notice she had the biggest glass. Did us all good, even though my legs were shakin' for hours afterwards at the thought that I'd almost killed the Sheriff of Hattanville…

"Lindsay… you all right?"

That brings a smile to my face; Danny's voice is soundin' stronger.

"Don't you worry about me." I tell him, "Got more cause to be worried about you! How you feelin'?"

"Better for havin' you besides me…" He manages before saggin' back onto the straw. With a groan, he presses his hand to his forehead, "Lindsay… S'all my fault…"

"It ain't your fault! How could it be?" I'm squeezin' his hand, hopin' he ain't getting' delirious and ramblin' from the bang to his head.

"No… no, you gotta listen to me… S'all 'cause of me… The man in the kitchen… Didn't recognise him at first, but I know him… One of them… one of the gang… Gang I told you 'bout, way back, when I weren't so good at keepin' myself outta trouble… when me and Louie…"

Then all of a sudden, we lurch to a stop and we're both thrown together in a heap.

There's the sound of someone jumpin' down into the snow, then the sound of footsteps crunchin' in the snow makes me and Danny look at each other in fear. Next thing, a shadow of someone tall and thin passes along the cloth sides of the wagon. Danny and me are holdin' tight to one another as there's a pause and the shadow looms in front of us. The flap of material at the back of the wagon is pulled aside and a face looks in at us. A face I don't know, but Danny lets out a curse at the sight of it. It ain't a pretty sight; he's tall and scrawny, got a deep scar runnin' down the side of his face, and I can see his teeth are all smashed up and black as he leers at us. He chuckles and it's a sound that sends a chill through me.

"Well now." He says and cracks his knuckles, makin' me feel sick again, "Looky who we got here. Little Danny and his girl. Ain't this nice."

Little Danny?

I turn to him, a hundred questions shootin' through my mind. But his face is dead white and all he can choke out is one word.

"Louie…"

Long chapter, but I really hope you liked it. Please review and tell me what you think! Thank you, Lily x