Chapter 7
Many thanks, once again, for your support.
Adam and Hoss were making good progress. They had found hoof prints where the foot prints stopped and an even greater find was a break in the right rear horseshoe. But they had come across a rocky plateau, leaving no signs. As it was beginning to get dark Adam reluctantly decided they needed to return home and get more men to search around this area and find that broken horseshoe mark.
They arrived back at The Pines, and just as Adam was about to enter into the house to collect a few things, he spotted an envelope attached to the door. He grabbed it and ripped it open.
"Hoss," he shouted, which brought him running across from the water trough where he had been giving the horses a rest and a much needed drink of water.
"What you got there, Adam?"
"A ransom note for $50,000."
"Our suspicions have proved right." Hoss stated the obvious.
"I don't think they can be too far away. It's taken little time to get this note here. I'm sorry I doubted Davy would disobey again."
"Look Adam, the same horseshoe tracks. I think maybe Davy could be just the other side of that rocky plateau. Otherwise, as you said, they can't be that far away."
"Okay, let's get to Pa's, get extra men organised and we'll start afresh first thing in the morning." Adam told Hoss.
"Right. Let's go."
As soon as they reached the front door of the Ponderosa, Cathy rushed to hug her Pa. And ended up in his lap in the blue chair as Adam and Hoss relayed what they had found and needed organised. Adam showed the note to Ben. Grace was numb with shock. Her precious Davy had been kidnapped.
"Have you any idea who it could be, Adam?" Ben asked in a much concerned voice. His little grandson was in trouble.
"None at all, Pa."
"He'll be frightened to death, Pa." Cathy said, voicing her own concerns.
"I'll just see who's around, Adam and enlist their help for tomorrow. I think three will be enough." Hoss said as he made his way out the front door.
"As many as you think, Hoss." Ben added.
"Three will be enough, Pa. We have a good idea of where they might be. We followed their trail, I say they, but we believe only one took Davy."
"I'm going with you, Pa." Cathy announced.
"You certainly will not." Grace admonished. "I will not have you missing too."
"And don't even think of following us. Understand?" Adam ordered.
"Yes, Sir." Cathy answered, under her breath.
"What did you say?"
"I said, Yes, Sir, I understand."
"You'll stay here with me for safety," Grace said. "Who knows, there could be someone waiting to capture you too."
"I don't think so Grace." Ben said. "We wouldn't have had a ransome note if they wanted both the children."
"True, sorry. I didn't think of that."
"It's alright, sweetheart. We're all on edge and not thinking straight. I just want to make sure you're both safe." Adam said, as he kissed Cathy on the cheek and stood up and put her on her feet.
"Dinner ledy." Hop Sing announced. Not knowing of what had been happening, he soon found out when Ben explained that nobody was eager to eat. Even Hoss had to be tempted. "You need to keep up strength for search tomorrow."
"You're right, Hop Sing." Ben said. "We'll do our best."
They all had an early night.
Adam held Grace close in his arms.
"Do you think Davy will be all right?" She asked Adam, with tears in her eyes.
"Yes, I believe so. I have to believe that. He'll be scared I'm sure, but more worried about wetting his pants than anything else." Adam said, trying to ease the worry from Grace's mind and of her thinking the worst scenario. "He has become a Cartwright and we let nothing stand in our way."
"But he's only a little boy."
"I know, but I believe he'll find the strength to endure this crisis."
"Pa will get the money tomorrow and leave the hands all around the house to protect you and Cathy until we ALL return."
"Please make sure Cathy is with you at all times. I wouldn't put it past her to disobey me and try to follow us. After all it's her brother who's in danger. I would do the same if it were one of my brothers or for any of my loved ones."
"I will tie her down if necessary." Grace said, trying to make light of it.
"Right. Now let's try and get some sleep."
"God bless you, Adam."
"Night, sweetheart." ….
Not much sleep had been had by anyone, but were up the following morning very early. Hop Sing had provided food and a change of clothes for Davy in a small carpet bag as everyone took to their allotted task. Since the kidnappers hadn't specified who was to deliver the money, that was to be Ben's job after he picked it up from the bank. Deadline was 6pm and drop-off point was to be in a crubling old shack in Bear Creek. This place was just beyond the rocky plateau.
Adam and Hoss and the extra hands were almost in position at the drop-off point. The idea was to follow
the person who picked up the money and hopefully lead them to Davy. …
Meanwhile, Davy was, of course, ignorant of what was happening. Once only the woman came in to gave him some water in a canteen. That was when he had a better view of where he was, as the light through the doorway lit up the room. It looked like an abandoned shack with nothing in it. He was glad though that it wasn't too cold, but cold enough with sitting on the earth floor.
He hoped he wouldn't be in trouble with Ma for wetting his pants. He had seen a rat earlier and it had scared him. He had cried so much by now, that he seemed to have run out of tears.
"Please come find me, Pa. Please." Was all he kept saying to himself.
"It shouldn't be too long kid, so long as they pay up. You don't know who I am do you?"
"No, ma'am."
"Well, I'll tell you. Your Pa got my husband hung. That's why you're here. His name was Harry Hudson and I'm Jessie Hudson. Your new Pa, if he feels anything for you, will pay up. If not, then you won't be worth keeping. Understand."
"Yes, ma'am." She left him alone in the dark again. Now he was really scared. 'Would his Pa care enough to come get him?' This woman had sewn seeds in Davy's brain, that made him cry again. 'He loves me, I know he does. He'll come for me. She's lying,' he thought, as he fought back to fight his tears. ….
Adam and company had reached the drop-off spot and waited, hidden from view. It was 4.30pm and Ben was on his way to the same spot, and hopefully would be there by the appointed time. Roy Coffee was also around, following Ben, but at some distance. Once Ben had told him what was happening, there was no hesitation in his offer of help. …
Meanwhile, Grace and Cathy were together in front of the fire with their arms around each other.
"Everything's going to be fine, I just know it." Grace said, trying to take the tension out of the air. Even Hop Sing was sitting with them.
"Mista Adam will save Davy and bring him home." He said.
"But will he be all right, Hop Sing?" Cathy asked, with tears cascading down her cheeks. That statement made Grace tear up too.
"He will be. Mista Adam won't let anything happen to him."
…
Ben had reached the drop-off point and many pairs of eyes were watching him and waiting to see who would come to pick up the money. Ben placed the money as instructed, at the door of the so-called cabin, that was, and rode off into the distance, but not too much of a distance, as was planned. He found a place to hide.
Everyone waited with bated breath for at least a half hour when a nervous looking man came into view and picked up the money, keeping his eyes peeled for the least movement. The plan was to stay hidden and give the pick-up man at least fifteen minutes head start and then with Hoss' guidance, track him, to hopefully where he or they were keeping Davy.
The plan was working. Hoss easily found and followed his quarry. It seemed too easy or else the kidnappers were not very smart. Adam suspected the latter. Within an hour, they were watching the comings and goings at a small cabin which seemed to be built into a wall of rock, but looking run down. Also by this time Ben and Roy had caught up with everyone and wanted to charge in and get Davy.
"Pa," Adam stopped him and took charge. "Let's get organised first. There's a small window at the side there. I'll make for it. Hoss you make your way with Jim here and take care of their horses. Don't want to give them the opportunity to make a break for it."
"Sounds good to me, brother." Agreeing, Hoss and Jim slowly made their way around to the small tied off area where the horses were being kept.
"Adam, what do you want me to do?" Ben asked, not wanting to be left out.
"When you see we're all in position and the horses are away, I want you to call the cabin. I'll leave what you say up to you. Once you have their attention, I'll sneak in the window and find Davy." Ben knew of Adam's fear at finding Davy dead. He was just as scared.
Ben was waiting anxiously for everyone to be in position. At last the time had come. Roy squeezed Ben's shoulder. "I'll take over from here. Okay, Ben?"
"Okay, Roy. You'll know better than me what to say."
"You in the cabin, come out with your hands up." Roy shouted in his most authoritative voice, and contined, "You're surrounded."
An onslaught of bullets came from the front windows.
"They're certainly not very smart, they don't even know who or what they're shooting at." Roy said to Ben.
"Well, now we know they're in the front of the cabin, Adam will know that too and will be making his way inside."
"Of course Ben. We'll get all this sorted very soon." Roy said, trying to sooth the situation. …
Adam had made his way through the window and found himself in a small dark back room, and to his joy he managed to see Davy crouched in a corner, looking very scared, having heard the gunfire. Adam went up to him and Davy recognised his Pa. His eyes opened wide and his mouth opened to speak, but Adam put his fingers to his lips, which Davy understood meant not to speak.
Adam kneeled down and took Davy in his arms and in a whispered voice said, "Davy, everything is going to be all right. I've got you now." Davy clung to Adam, never wanting to let go.
"How many are there, Davy?" Davy was losing his battle to hold back his tears. So he just held up two fingers.
"A man and a woman," he managed to mumble in a whispered voice.
"Davy, everyone is here to help. We'll just move to behind the door and wait 'til it's all over, and that will be soon."
….
By this time Hoss and Jim had moved the horses out of sight and found their way back to the cabin, one to each side towards the front edge. Ben and Roy could see them and tried once more to get the kidnappers to give themselves up.
"This is your last chance to give yourselves up." Roy shouted. After a pause, "it seems they want to make a fight of it." He said to Ben.
"Well, what are we waiting for?" Ben's patience was running thin.
"Okay, Ben. Let's get this done." ….. Jessie Hudson was just as evil as her husband and told Henry, her partner in crime, she was going to finish off the boy. At least she would have some revenge, even if it meant her death. She made her way to the back room and as the door opened, Adam reached for his gun and put Davy behind him.
"I'd drop it, if I were you." He instructed.
"Who ARE you?" She hissed, as she jumped at the surprise intruder.
"I'm this boy's father and you had better drop the gun. NOW. I don't wish to use mine on you. Now drop it." Jessie dropped her gun on the floor and Adam kicked it way across the room.
They heard more gunfire coming from the other room and returning fire from outside. Davy grabbed the back of Adam's pants. Adam sensed Davy shaking. He moved his free hand around his back and clasped Davy's hand in his.
"You," he said, addressing Jessie, and pointing his head toward the doorway, "the other room." She turned and walked through the door to find Henry on the floor and another man standing over him. Adam told Davy to stay in the back room.
"I'm only going to be in the next room." He found Roy putting handcuffs on the woman.
"I'll be taking her back with me to Virginia City, along with this man." He said.
"He's not dead, is he?" Adam asked.
"No, just unconscious. He's been shot, but not dying. We'll get him to Paul Martin and when he's treated, I'll get him put in jail with this woman."
"Do we know who she is and why Davy was kidnapped?" Adam queried, just as Ben and Hoss walked in. Hoss had brought the carpet bag of goodies that Hop Song had provided and handed it to Ben.
"Thanks, Hoss. I'll get Davy sorted while you start back with these two."
"Pa, that looks like the bag with the money," Hoss said, pointing to a bag in the corner of the room.
"Yes, Hoss, it is."
"You take it with you Ben," Roy stated, "and put it back in the bank where it belongs."
"Right. But I think you should be making your way home. I'm going to stay with Adam and Davy."
"Okay, Ben." Roy turned to Adam. "Let's give it a few days, get Davy settled and I'll be out to hear what he can tell us."
"Thanks, Roy, that sounds reasonable." Adam answered. The room then cleared of the men and their prisoners. Adam returned to the inner room and found Davy sat on the floor sobbing his heart out. Ben saw the scene but left the two alone, knowing they needed time together.
"Oh, my son, my son. It's all over now, Davy. Everything's going to be all right." He sat down with Davy and pulled him onto his lap, hugging him tightly.
"Oh, Pa. I was so scared."
"I know you were Davy. It's all right to be scared. We're all scared at one time or another, but you don't have to be scared any more. I've got you now."
"You're going to be mad at me, Pa."
"Why on earth would I be mad at you?"
"Because I messed my pants."
"Oh, Davy." He pulled him closer, if that were possible. "I would never be mad at you for something you couldn't help."
"She kept me in this room all the time. She did give me some water though."
"We have some food and spare clothes for you in a bag. Pa," he called. "Can you bring me the bag and some water, please."
"Coming, Adam." Ben called back and then came in with the bag. "There are two full canteens here. You take your time you two. I'll be outside and when you're ready we'll head for home."
"Thanks, Pa." Ben left them and Adam got to work with Davy.
"Let's get you out of these clothes, then washed and into fresh clean clothes."
While Adam was cleaning Davy up, Ben was sitting outside with a sandwich and a cup of water. His thoughts turned to his relief at finding Davy alive and reunited with his father.
"There, Davy, feel a bit better now?"
"Yes, Pa. I feel a lot better now that you're here. Can we go home now."
"Just finish eating your sandwich and drink some of that water and we'll head off."