Disclaimer: I own very little, especially not CSI NY.

Author: Lily Moonlight

Notes: Chapter 17: Meanwhile back in Hattanville…

Thank you very much for reviews, please continue! They're a great help with writing, and I love knowing what you think - please boost my writing confidence! Thanks to everyone who has helped me discussing this story, and the sequel, I really appreciate all your help and time. Particularly for this chapter, thanks to: Andorian Ice Princess-AIP and Forest Angel for confidence boosts; Blue Shadowdancer (who locked me in my own cottage and deprived me of tea until I wrote this XD) and I must also thank my mum (does this sound too much like an Oscar speech?!) for reading this over and encouraging me with the ending… It's all her fault :P

Once Upon A Time In the Old West

Chapter 17: Montana Desperado

Jessica Angell:

After breakin' the news about the kidnappin' of our friends, my heart's poundin' fit to burst. Don's eyes have gone wide, Miss Stella's mouth's dropped open, and poor Mrs Hammerback's caught hold of the back of her chair, and I'm worried she's about to fall to the ground in a swoon. Though she maybe ain't the swoonin' type. Sure hope she ain't. Mr Taylor's the only one who don't show no reaction. Which would be 'cause he's still unconscious. Well, his eyes are closed anyhow. Seems to have a smile on his face, so maybe he's dreamin' of somethin' nice.

Sure wish all this would turn out to be a dream. As if we didn't have enough trouble with the town facin' destruction, now we gotta deal with our friends being kidnapped!

"K - kidnapped?" Don finally splutters, "Danny? Lindsay? You sure?"

"Sure as sure." I tell him in no uncertain terms, "Though I sure wish I weren't! Ain't no other explanation for it though. Thought at first they'd disappeared for some time together without the rest of us, but there's evidence of a struggle outside the back door, not to mention the mess of footsteps and tracks, and then there's drops of blood spilled and all."

Guess that's the real worryin' thing. Drops of blood in the snow ain't ever a good thing, 'specially when they could've come from your friends. Gotta keep calm about all this though. If Mr Messer and Miss Monroe are in trouble, then we gotta be calm to help them. They'll be relyin' on us, so we can't let 'em down.

"Can't believe this…" Don sits down heavily on a chair and his eyes are sorta dazed as he stares at me, "Can't believe this is happening."

Miss Stella gives his shoulder a squeeze, even though the shock ain't left her face neither.

"What exactly did you find, Miss Angell? You said there was blood, some of their personal effects?" She glances at Mrs Hammerback, "Was… was there much blood? You see any tracks, anything like that? Anything at all that might help us find them?"

"There were tracks." I reply, pleased to be able to give her a hopeful answer. I move so I'm standin' next to Don; guess I'm hopin' my presence next to him might give him a bit of strength. Sure feel I'm a bit stronger when I'm next to him. Guess we're gonna need all the strength we can get from each other to get this all sorted out. Feel sorry for Miss Stella as she's standin' there, and poor Mr Taylor's still lyin' in the bed lookin' pale. Reckon she's been usin' up a fair amount of her own strength helpin' him and worryin' about him. Now she's got a fresh thing to worry about…

But there's suddenly a keen look appearin' in her face, "What kind of tracks? Any we can follow?"

I nod, and start to feel a little more hopeful. Tracks gotta lead somewhere, and to someone. And reckon whoever's taken our friends maybe weren't the brightest candle in the chandelier, 'cause they didn't think about the fact that we got a thick coatin' of snow on the ground, and that a thick coatin' of snow's just the thing for leavin' an impression in.

"Yeah, reckon so." I answer, "Seems whoever took them was usin' some kinda wagon - got tracks that lead outta town. Also got footprints, though they're all kinda jumbled up. Looks like we got a few different people involved - recognised what must be Miss Monroe's, as they were the smallest of 'em all, then Mr Messer's boots…"

I stop at the quizzical look Miss Stella and Don are givin' me, and decide to give a quick explanation, "Used to follow my brothers round when I was a little girl, when they'd head off on fishing expeditions and leave me behind. Never stood for them doin' that, so I'd teach myself to follow their tracks. Got real good at it too, always found 'em too. In the end they realised they were better off takin' me with them in the first place. Turned out I knew the best places for fishin' and all! "

Don's got an amused look on his face, which makes me smile. Reckon that's given him a bit of hope, knowin' I got some skills that are gonna help us find our friends. Miss Stella's smilin' too, and even Mrs Hammerback has let go of the chair and looks relieved.

"So you think you could follow where these tracks lead?" Miss Stella asks me, and I can tell from her voice that she don't have much doubt as to the answer. Gives me real confidence as I answer her.

"Reckon I can. Like I say, whoever's taken them's been real careless. Shouldn't be too difficult to follow and find Mr Messer and Miss Monroe, and whoever's been so foolish as to kidnap two residents of Hattanville!"

Miss Stella gives me a nod, and then turns to Don. Turn to him myself, and see he's got a mighty strange look on his face.

"Mr Flack, are you all right my love?" Mrs Hammerback gets in first before either Miss Stella or I can say anythin'.

Don frowns as he answers her, "Yeah, but…"

Suddenly I realise what the problem might be, and take a hold of his hand. He wraps his fingers round mine as I do so, and opens his mouth. Before he can say anything though, I'm gettin' out what I want to say.

"Now listen, Don. Reckon I know what you're thinkin', and what you're about to object to, but you gotta hear me out. I ain't some tenderfoot who don't know what she's doing, nor am I a woman who's prepared to sit back whilst she could be helpin' out when folks are in need. Here's the plan I got; you and I take our horses and follow these tracks to wherever they lead. We go armed and we go with the element of surprise. Whoever's been doin' kidnapping ain't gonna be expectin' anyone to follow, so we got an advantage there. Reckon we can take 'em by surprise. Both of us know what we're doin' out there, and we got each other."

Can see Don ain't entirely convinced.

"Miss Jessica, you ain't gonna hear it from me that you're anythin' less than a brave and courageous woman, but I gotta tell you, I don't like at all the idea of you ridin' out after men who ain't hesitated to use force to kidnap people. It ain't gonna be safe…"

"Course it ain't gonna be safe!" I've still got a hold of his hand and I'm pressin' it hard, "Which is just the reason you need me there! I been in many situations that ain't safe, and I got myself outta each and everyone of 'em, and learned each time how to avoid gettin' into that particular circumstance again. Means too I got plenty of skills. Miss Stella'll vouch for me in bein' skilled with a pistol fr'instance…"

I look over at her as I say that and she gives Don a candid look.

"Sure will. Ain't met many others as good at sharp shooting as Miss Angell is."

I don't give him any time to argue with her. "And though you ain't gonna be askin' him on this occasion, as he might well be objectin' to his only daughter ridin' out after outlaws, my pa would tell you that there ain't any woman he knows of better than me at trackin' people. Now, that may sound like boastin' and forgive me if it does, but I'm a girl who speaks plain and don't have any false modesty." Realise that I just made somethin' of a long speech there, so I kinda take a deep breath as I've finished speaking, and wait to hear what the others have to say to it all.

Reckon Don don't know what to say; he's starin' at me, and I can see he's figurin' out what to do next. Mrs Hammerback's lookin' thoughtfully at me, but I can see she don't object to what I said. Miss Stella's the first one to respond, and she nods her head slowly at me.

"I gotta say, Miss Angell, that you made some persuasive points, and I for one ain't gonna be stoppin' you. Ain't got no right to, and ain't got no inclination to do so neither. Know for a fact that you've got one hell of a talent for shootin' straight with a pistol, never known you miss a target, and I don't doubt your skills in tracking neither. As to facin' danger, well, you know, that ain't somethin' I shy away from myself, so guess it'd be wrong of me to tell someone else they ought to do so." She glances at where Mr Taylor's lyin', "Though you could maybe say that Mac and me might've been sorta' hasty about ridin' into danger yesterday..."

As she says this, she switches her gaze to outta the window, and seems to be avoidin' lookin at Don particularly. He glares at her and gives a sound that sounds somethin' like a snort.

"'Sorta' hasty'?" He echoes, before shakin' his head and turnin' to me, "Miss Jessica…"

"Don, don't be tryin' to put me off." I say, but he's taken hold of my other hand, so he's now got both of 'em held in his. Can't deny, even at this point, how that gives me a feelin' of safety and the knowledge that even if we do go ridin' into the worst danger of our lives, the fact that we'd be facin' it together would allow me to meet it head on without fear.

Then he smiles at me, and I feel my heart still beatin' fast inside me, as I can't seem to pull my gaze away from his eyes.

"If you give me a chance to speak, I'd tell you that I ain't gonna try and put you off. Much as I want to, 'cause if I had things my way, you'd never have to face any danger at all, ever, I know that ain't gonna happen. So I guess all I can do is face that danger with you."

Even though there are two other people in that room, suddenly, they don't matter at all, it's just Don and me, and I'm aware of a flush of heat in my face, spreading through to the rest of me, and I almost feel like I'm bein' scorched from the inside out…

Course, the moment don't last, as the voice of Mrs Hammerback interrupts us.

"Pardon me for interrupting here, but I think before you young folks go rushing off and getting yourselves into unnecessary danger, you need to get yourselves a plan. Wouldn't you say so, Miss Stella? It doesn't do to go riding out into the snow without a plan, now does it?"

If I ain't very much mistaken, there's a twinkle in Mrs Hammerback's eye and a quirk of her lips as she says this. Seems Miss Stella might have noticed this too, as she's turned a real pretty shade of pink, and is clearin' her throat as she's answerin' her.

"Plans are mighty useful things indeed, Mrs Hammerback. Guess we should all make use of 'em, huh?"

Notice she's still avoidin' lookin' at Don, so to save her any more embarrassment, I nod my head, "Guess that's so, Miss Stella. Now, how about we come up with a good one, so Don and I can get ourselves goin'? Reckon we don't want to spend too much time debatin' and plannin' when we got more important things to do, like ridin' out to help our friends."

She nods, and gives me a grateful smile. Meantime, I can see Mrs Hammerback with a twinkle for sure in her face.

"That all sounds like sense to me." And she settles herself back into her chair. "Maybe I can give you a few suggestions myself, if you don't mind the words of an old lady?"

We're quick to reassure her, all of us havin' a great amount of respect for Mrs Hammerback. I ain't forgotten what a help and comfort she was last night to Miss Monroe and me. Any words she might have to offer us I know will be good ones to hear.

So, a short time later, we're all set with plans debated and settled. Couldn't help myself from smilin' several times at the sight of Don bein' talked down by us three ladies. Guessin' he might have found himself a little overwhelmed by bein' the only man in the room. Apart from Sheriff Taylor that is. But he was unconscious, so wasn't able to make much of a contribution to the plans. Still ain't woken up even now, despite our plannin' getting a little loud at points.

We got things all settled though; Don and me are ridin' out to track down our friends, while Miss Stella is stayin' here to keep an eye on Mr Taylor as he's recoverin'. She's kinda' taken on the Sheriff's responsibilities whilst he's laid up in bed, so she's keepin' an eye on the town as well. With the Deputy of Hattanville and me headin' outta town, it means someone's gotta be left in charge. And she ain't shy about volunteerin' to take charge.

Fact, I'd go so far as to say that even when both the Sheriff and his Deputy are in town and in full health, it's still Miss Stella who keeps things running in Hattanville. Though I'd never be so rude as to say that out loud to either Don or Mr Taylor. Nor would she. Guess that's how she manages to do it; by lettin' them think they're the ones in charge. Gotta admire her for that.

So, once our plans are settled and Don's agreed to them, he, Miss Stella and me go downstairs and prepare for our departure, leavin' Mrs Hammerback temporarily lookin' after Mr Taylor. Reckon he's gotta wake up soon. Sure has been sleepin' a long time…

Takes us a few minutes to gather what we need in the way of spare pistols, lent to us by Miss Stella, who pulls several out from underneath the bar and hands them to us with instructions to be real careful with them. She also gives us a couple of small flasks of liquor, both of which I take charge of and tuck into my petticoats, along with my own pistol. Can see that Miss Stella and I both think along the same lines with bein' prepared for every eventuality, as she gives me a real approvin' look.

"Make sure you keep a careful eye on Don." She tells me in a low voice when he's got his back turned for a moment, "Seems it's real easy for the men of this town to find themselves in trouble…"

The sound of Don coughing kinda' loudly makes both of us look towards him.

He raises his eyebrows and looks at her pointedly.

"Seems to me that if the men of this town do get themselves into trouble, then it's when the women of the town are accompanying them. Wouldn't you say, Stell?"

"'Cause they know we're able to find a way out of it!" She counters with her hands on her hips and a spark in her eyes.

They face each other in a challenging position for a moment, and then Don gives a sorta' grunt and lowers his eyes as he tucks another pistol into his belt.

"Well, guess we'll leave it at hopin' that there ain't gonna be much more trouble for any of us folks, men or women."

Miss Stella purses her lips, "Guess I can agree with you on that at least…"

I decide it's a fine time for me to speak up.

"Don't mean to be disrespectful, but we ain't got time for disputes here. Let's get our horses saddled up and on our way. Sooner we set off, sooner we can be back here with Mr Messer and Miss Monroe, and all of us can be playin' out part in fixin the trouble the whole town's gotten itself into!"

Don starts mumbling somethin' about women and towns and trouble, which Miss Stella and I choose to ignore. She sweeps towards the door in a dignified fashion, and I hide my smile as I guide Don in the same direction.

As we step outside into the bitterly cold air, Miss Stella casts an anxious look back inside the Saloon, so I give her a pat on the arm.

"Mr Taylor's gonna be fine."

She relaxes a little, "Thanks, Miss Angell. And I know you and Don will be safe out there together." Givin' my arm a squeeze, a troubled look comes back into her face, "But please take care of yourselves, and Lindsay and Danny when you find them. We need all of you back here safely, you hear? Can't have anythin' else happenin' to anyone. Hattanville needs each and every one of its citizens."

Strikes me then that maybe I was a little light-hearted earlier with my thinkin'. It's sure a fine thing to keep a town runnin' and folks in order, but that's gotta come at a price. Guess not all folks realise all the troubles and worries she takes on too. Both she and Mr Taylor are the same in that respect. Some days when I see him frownin', it seems like he's got the weight of the town on his shoulders. Then I see Miss Stella talkin' to him, or takin' his hand, and that frown disappears. 'Cause she's taken some of his worries and troubles on herself.

Don takes his share of troubles too of course. Bein' deputy of a town ain't an easy job, and I got all the respect in the world for him for that. He's got a mighty hard task sometimes with helpin' Mr Taylor and Miss Stella. Makes me glad I can offer him my own smile and talk and hand at times, and take a few of his troubles on myself. Guess that's how it should be between two people who love each other; it's all about sharin' things. And if that sometimes means sharin' a problem, well then, it makes the times when you share happiness even sweeter.

As I'm thinkin' all this, we've reached the stables and the next few minutes are taken up in concentratin' on saddling up our horses and mounting them ready to go. Least the snow's held off, but the stuff that fell yesterday ain't disappeared by a flake, and it's cold enough to freeze our breath almost in our lungs. Hope to heaven Mr Messer and Miss Monroe have got some way of keepin' warm, wherever they are. Couldn't bear to think of 'em freezin' out there somewhere before we can rescue 'em! Means we gotta get goin' soon as we can.

As we head out the stables, Miss Stella walks alongside us, givin' us instructions and advice, even though she's got her arms wrapped round her and is startin' to shiver. Only got a light cloak thrown over her shoulders, which ain't offerin' her much warmth. Finally Don pulls up and glares down at her as we reach the steps of the Saloon.

"Stell, we gotcha'. Don't need no more tellin' what to do! Get yourself inside and in front of that fire before you risk freezin' to death for the second time in two days!"

Seems as if she's about to argue, but I get in first. "We'll be fine and dandy." I tell her, "You go see how Mr Taylor is, guess he might be awake by now."

As I hoped it would, that persuades her, and with a final few words of advice, she turns back to the Saloon and we walk on. Can see her standin' just inside the door, but when we break into a trot and start headin' out of town, she finally moves indoors and out of sight.

The wagon tracks we're followin' are real easy to see in the snow, and I'm thankful we don't seem to be dealin' with kidnappers who think about things like makin' sure it's difficult to follow 'em. Gives me hope that we ain't gonna find it too difficult to overcome them.

Ain't much conversation between Don and myself as we ride on; we're keepin' focussed on the tracks, and besides, it don't always take words to talk to each other. We can say all we need to with just a few looks and smiles between us.

After ridin' for not much more than an hour, goin' by the movement of the sun in the sky, we come across an empty wagon and the end of the tracks. What we also find is a big old empty ranch down a track. Snow's real deep around it, can only see the top of the fence posts stickin' up outta' the white. We pull up and dismount as quietly and carefully as we can. Might be no more wagon wheel tracks, but there are plenty of other interestin' marks in the snow. Marks that lead us to believe that there's been another scuffle. Snow's all kinda' churned up, then there are two sets of foot prints, pressed sorta' heavily into it. Means two people carryin' heavy burdens. Such as two captives. Don and I look at each other, then takin' out a couple of pistols each, we set off quiet as the snow itself, towards the ranch.

Only a few feet away, and suddenly there's sounds of a commotion inside - yells and screams and cursin'. In a flash, Don and I have leaped forward, not carin' any more about bein' quiet and we're runnin' for the broken down door we can see. We don't even reach it though before Miss Monroe comes burstin' through it, wild eyed and dishevelled, and with a small knife clutched in her hand. She falls into our arms sobbin' and it takes us several moments before we can get her to speak.

"Miss Monroe, please! What happened? Where's Mr Messer? Are you hurt?"

Don and I are starin' at her in horror, but she shakes her head finally and manages to gulp out an answer, even as she's got tears runnin' down her cheeks.

"No… no, I ain't hurt. Not me…"

"Then who, Lindsay? Who's hurt? Where's Danny?" Don asks her frantically.

"Inside… He's inside. They… they hurt him… So… so I hurt them!"

Still with her eyes starin' wildly at us, she pulls herself to her feet, and tugs us forward.

"Two of them, two men. Danny's brother. Another man. They took us. Threatening us… They were going to do… do things to me. He… he tried to stop them… fought them…" Her voice shakes, but she keeps on, pulling us towards the door so we're almost over the threshold.

I grab her arm tightly, disgusted at the thought of our friends attacked in this way. "Did he hurt you at all, Miss Monroe?"

"Not me. Told you that. Didn't hurt me or touch me..."

She stops dead suddenly, at the door, and her eyes dart between us. Don and I exchange a careful look, both of us more than worried at the look in her face. It's kinda' reckless and dangerous, and a look I ain't ever seen in the gentle Schoolteacher's face before.

Holdin' the knife out to us, we see that's there's blood on the blade, and a muscle in Don's jaw twitches.

Miss Monroe, her face as white as the blizzard, turns to me and her voice drops to a whisper, "I hurt them… 'Cause they hurt Danny. Got them when they weren't expectin' it. Hit one of them with a piece of wood, knocked him on the back of the head. Hard…"

"And the other one?" I ask her, and takin' the knife real carefully outta her hand, I move forwards a few more steps so we're almost in the building.

Now she looks frightened and clutches hold of my hand. "I… I stabbed him… With… with my knife." She whispers. "He was bleedin', then he fell on the ground… He hurt Danny! Danny…" Her voice rises to a wail and she covers her face with her hands.

We don't wait any longer, and gentle as we can, push Miss Monroe outta the way and dash into the buildin' where a terrible sight faces us. Stoppin' still as stone, I grab hold of Don's arm, my heart almost stoppin' its beat. Lyin' on the floor, blood splashed about them and on them, are three figures - Mr Messer and two other men.

Not a one of em's movin'; not a one of em's showin' any sign of life.

Many thanks for reading; if you've enjoyed this, or even if not, I'd really, really appreciate a review! It's taken me a while to write this chapter, so I'd love to know what you thought of it. Thank you, Lily x

PS 'Hidden Agenda' has also been updated recently, and 'Big Sky Country' will be soon