A/N: Thanks for the reviews guys, had some awesome comments for the last chapter :) Not so sure you will all be happy so after this one though, eeep. Don't blame me, it's the hats fault, I swear. He's kinda taken over. Hehehehe.

Thanks to my amazing friend and trusty beta SSC for your continued support. And tut, tut, blaming me for your current chapter changes. *Shakes head*. It was all the hat, again, so not my fault. LMAO.

Hold onto your hats…I am! LOL!

Chapter 77

Hand in hand, the couple ran through the main doors and began descending the steps, coming to an abrupt stop half way down when McKeen appeared, Jared to his left holding a revolver and Robert to his right.

"Going somewhere?" the colonel asked calmly.

Grissom released Sara's hand, pulling her behind him and immediately aimed his rifle at the three men. Swallowing hard and breathing heavily, he floated his aim between them. He could hear his heart pounding and the slow thud caused his ear drums to throb.

Thud…thud…thud…

McKeen sniggered and held up a finger. "I suggest you drop the gun," he said without a hint of alarm in his voice. "Your revolver too," he finished, pointing to Grissom's holster.

"Or what!" Grissom shouted back. "This looks pretty even to me." Grissom knew he was outnumbered but Jared was the only one with a gun.

Again, McKeen laughed but suddenly his smile faded. "Boys!" he shouted taking a step forward.

Suddenly Cal, plus another armed man stepped out from the house. Sara turned first, quickly followed by her savior and now they had three guns pointing at them. Swallowing hard again and with his finger tensing on the trigger, Grissom looked back to the colonel.

"How do you like the odds now, lad?" the ranch owner cooed.

Sara gripped tightly onto his arm and his eyes floated to her. He could feel her hand trembling as it clung to him.

"Drop them, Grissom," the colonel commanded. "My patience is wearing very thin. Put the weapons down now or I will…drop you both."

Taking another look behind him, Grissom knew they didn't stand a chance and if he didn't surrender then they would both die. With a heavy sigh, he lowered the rifle, his glance shifting to Sara who now looked more terrified then she did when he found her. He bent slowly and placed his rifle on the step in front of him then pulled out his revolver and placed it next to the rifle.

The second he stepped back from the weapons the men behind them advanced. Cal grabbed Sara's arm, yanking her away.

"No!" she screamed and Grissom reacted quickly, lunging for Cal in an attempt to protect her. Sadly for him, the other man was quickly upon him and raised his rifle, bringing the butt down forcefully onto the back of Grissom's head.

The rancher's legs gave out instantaneously, his knees hitting the hard stone below him and he tumbled down the steps with a painful cry. Wincing heavily, he rolled onto his back as a sharp pain cursed through the back of his head. His blurry vision caught McKeen hovering over him with a smug grin on his face.

"Robert, would you be kind enough as to go and find your cousin," the land owner said but didn't remove his stare from Grissom.

"Yes, Father," the young man responded and he disappeared up the steps and into the house.

A deep frown crossed over Grissom's brow as McKeen bent over him. Had he just heard that right? The Colonel is Robert's father?

"I trust my nephew is still breathing?" the colonel asked but Grissom didn't answer, he just stared at his tormentor trying to process exactly what was happening.

The older man chuckled. "You look a little confused," McKeen began. "Oh, did you not know Robert is my son?" he then mocked sarcastically.

"You are an evil…malicious excuse for a human being," Grissom groaned, struggling to push himself up.

The land owner stepped back, his eyes darkening and he looked to his men. "Give her to Jared and pick him up," he commanded.

Cal and his associate nodded, pushing Sara into Jared's groping hands. She struggled as the two men approach her lover. "Leave him alone!" she cried, doing her utmost to break Jared's hold.

The two men towered over Grissom, grabbing his arms and began hauling him to his feet. As they did so, McKeen approached Sara and a swift hand shot to her face, painfully cupping her chin in strong grip. "Why do you care so much about this piece of trash, huh?" he breathed into her, "Why him?"

She whimpered as McKeen tightened his hold but she refused to answer.

"Is there something more I should know about you two?" His eyes pierced through hers. They knew about her and Grissom, well that she had feelings for him but if he were to find out about the baby... Lord knows what he would do to her or him if they found out.

"Let her go!" Grissom struggled as the two men finally got him to his feet and suddenly finding an inner strength, he managed to push Cal to the ground.

"God damn it!" the colonel shouted releasing Sara's face and taking her arm. "Hold him will you!" McKeen commanded. "Help them, Jared."

Nodding quickly, Jared rushed to help his colleagues and didn't mess around. He aimed his revolver straight at the rancher.

"Enough, Grissom!" he shouted. "No more fooling around."

The second Grissom's eyes caught sight of the gun pointing at his head he froze, his shoulders slumping in defeat as he sucked in several well needed breaths. His head throbbed in pain. He needed to think, form some kind of plan but his brain wasn't co operating and he had no time before Hank emerged from the house.

The colonel's nephew bounded down the steps holding a handkerchief to his nose, Robert close behind him. When Hank reached the bottom he rushed towards the group but didn't acknowledge anyone, he went straight for Grissom. Without a word he drilled a heavy fist into the ranchers gut and he cried out, doubling over with a painful grimace but he was quickly pulled straight by the two men who held him.

"Scum!" Hank hit him again and once more, Grissom fell forward as the younger mans fury cracked him full on in the stomach.

Grissom was sure his legs were about to give out when he heard Hank commanding his men to once again pull him up and he sucked in a deep, terrified breath as he was grabbed by the hair and his tormentor raised his fist above his head this time. "You're gonna pay!" Hank spat.

"Stop!" Sara shouted, attempting to pull from McKeen's grip but she was unsuccessful as the colonel's grip remained strong. "Please stop…" she whimpered as Hank held his arm in mid air and turned to look at her.

"She's right, my boy," the colonel said and Hank lowered his fist, looking to his uncle a little confused at his sudden change of heart.

Sara too tilted her head to look at the man holding her but when he grinned, her eyes suddenly shot back to Grissom. He captured her eyes with his, attempting not to look as defeated as he felt but he knew this had only just begun.

And he was right.

"Take this to the back," the colonel continued, looking around. "If someone comes and sees what's happening we are in trouble. I think the worker deserves to have a few things explained to him before we end this, don't you?"

A sinister smirk passed over Hank's lips and he nodded. "Take him," he demanded looking to Jared, Cal and his associate and the three men quickly dragged Grissom towards the stables. He tried to struggle but when a revolver was thrust under his chin he ceased fighting and could do nothing but be pulled away. Robert tagged along and followed them but he didn't look particularly happy about what was happening.

Hank stepped towards Sara as she watched the man she loved being dragged away and her head snapped around when she sensed him approach. He again wiped his nose as a little blood still trickled from his cut and he glared at her. "You would still take that worker trash over me, huh?" he scowled. "Time to obliterate the problem, I think."

The colonel smiled at his nephew's enthusiasm and pushed Sara in the back. "Follow them," he instructed.

Sara trembled, almost slipping when she was nudged but she did as she was told and followed the group pulling Grissom out of sight, Hank and his uncle followed very closely behind.

CSICSICSICSICSICSICSI

When Sara rounded the back of the stables she saw Grissom on his knees; Jared was at his side with his revolver pointed at his head. How much she wanted to run to him, to hold him…to make every single one of these hideous people disappear…to turn the clock back…just a few weeks. They were so happy, why had she pushed Grissom away? Why hadn't she trusted him? Her choices…all her choices…

She felt him come up behind her and his hand was upon her shoulder. "Look at how pathetic he is," Hank sneered in her ear. "But he's had a wasted journey, don't you think?" He rounded her and their eyes met. She glared at him and wanted to slap him, so, so hard but her attention snapped away from him as the colonel passed and approach Grissom. Her eyes were now firmly set upon the land owner and she heard Hank snigger as he stood by her side.

The colonel stepped up to Grissom and looked down at him as the rancher kept his eyes fixed upon the dirt. McKeen held such a look of distain on his face. "You filthy little rodent," he began. "You just couldn't stay away and heed the warnings, could you? And how many warnings did I give you?"

Slowly, Grissom raised his head, trying to push the pain wracking through his body away. He didn't answer.

The colonel rubbed his chin. "You know most men would get the message after a good beating but you never did, did you? You just ignored all the good advise you were given."

Grissom snorted through his nose. "I knew you were the one behind my attack."

McKeen smiled and looked to his nephew. "Well, Hank supervised, I just put the planning together."

"You're sick," Grissom mumbled. "You need help."

"Ha!" the colonel laughed returning his attention to his prisoner. "Help? You are the one that looks in need of assistance, not me."

The rancher couldn't think of anything to say to that one. Technically, the colonel was correct.

"So tell me…" the land owner continued, "…how much do you actually know, who have you told and how did you know Sara was here?"

Sniggering, Grissom returned his attention to the dirt. "I'm not telling you anything."

"No?" McKeen replied calmly.

Grissom just shook his head.

"Well…" The colonel smiled, "…we'll see about that." Cocking his head, he looked back to Hank. "Bring her here," he commanded.

As Sara was pushed towards the colonel, Grissom's head sprang back up in alarm. McKeen grabbed her, pulling her in front of him so her back was against his chest. He then shot a hand under her chin and pulled her head back.

Grissom could see her shaking and made a move to stand but then he felt Jared jab him in the back of the head with his gun, so he stilled. "Don't you dare move," the thug warned.

All Grissom could do was watch as McKeen's fingers slid over Sara's throat and all Sara could do was suffer all he was doing. Her fingers clenched into tight balls and she closed her eyes.

Suddenly his hand tightened around her throat and Sara's eyes sprang open on a sob. She tried to struggle but he was too strong. "Don't fight me Sara," he said flatly. "Fight me and I will squeeze harder. Just keep still and if your knight in shining armor tells me what I need to know, I won't have to squeeze the life out of you. I'm sure he doesn't want to be responsible for your death."

Looking back to Grissom, the colonel smirked. "But it wouldn't be the first time you have come across such a death now, would it, Grissom?"

Grissom's eyes were firmly fixed upon the hands squeezing at Sara's flesh but then he frowned, flicking his eyes to his tormentors. "What are you talking about?"

"Oh come now," the colonel chuckled. "Don't tell me you don't remember. What was her name? Hmmm…." The colonel thought for a moment and then smiled. "Ah, yes…Rebecca. Poor girl, left hanging like that."

The rancher's mouth popped open. "No one knew about that apart from me and Conrad…" he stuttered then something clicked inside Grissom and a wave of nausea crashed upon him. "You…"

The colonel's grin broadened, his fingers letting up upon Sara's throat a little and she exhaled a stiff breath, her eyes firmly fixed upon Grissom. She too had worked out what the colonel was saying.

"She was such a pretty thing," the colonel remembered. "I took a walk that night of the party and she appeared when I was taking a look around the stables. She seemed a little tipsy but rather accommodating, well…" he sniggered, "…so I thought."

"She was barely fifteen years old!" Grissom spat.

Shrugging his shoulders, McKeen continued. "She seemed all for it…she was rather soft but it seems I got a little too heavy and she tried to push me away." The colonel's eyes darkened. "No one pushes me away," he growled, his fingers once more firming around Sara's throat and she tensed, her hands now shooting to his arms and her finger nails gripping into his jacket. "Once she tried to scream that was it…I had to keep her quiet. No little hussy is going to start bad mouthing my good name. My hands were around her throat and…that was it."

Grissom looked positively dumb struck. "So then you hung her to make it look like she had taken her own life…no one would ever know any different…"

"Exactly," the colonel beamed. "And the most enjoyable thing about it was that you even took the blame…covered it up with even more lies, so there was no way anyone would ever find out the truth. You covered a lie with a lie. All this time, Grissom…you blamed yourself and even left because of it. Ha! Do you know how satisfying that is to me?"

"You are nothing but a monster," Grissom returned, stunned he had covered up a murder all this time.

Pushing Sara forwards, McKeen brought her to a stop right before Grissom and squeezed even harder causing her to squeal and gasp for air. "Tell me right now what you know, lad, or watch her suffer the same fate as your deceased friend."

Sighing, Grissom licked his dry lips. He had no choice but to comply. "I know everything that Gregory overheard."

"Ah…"

Hank stepped up to the side of his uncle and McKeen looked at him. "Did you hear that?"

"Yes, Uncle," Hank nodded.

Removing his hand from Sara's throat the colonel got lost in thought for a moment. Sara just stood still, terrified to move.

"Where is Sara's young cousin now?" McKeen asked.

Grissom didn't want to answer but he just had to and he could see the distress in Sara's eyes once the question was asked. "He was at my place, injured."

"And who else have you or he told about what you know?"

Now Grissom felt angry at himself for he hadn't told a soul. "No one," he mumbled.

"I'm sorry, what?"

"I said no one!" Grissom snapped feeling defeated. "I have told no one, there was no time."

The colonel sniggered. "You know for an apparently smart man, Grissom, that wasn't really a very clever move on your part was it? I would say you are lying but the funny thing is, I believe you."

The rancher bowed his head knowing he should have sought help before ever coming here but if he had, what would Hank have done to Sara in the time it took him to get aid?

"So, I guess we just have to locate young Gregory before he starts blabbing," he said to his nephew.

Hank nodded. "As soon as we are done here I'll get over there with some of the boys."

"What are you going to do to my cousin?" Sara gasped, trying to squirm free from her captors hold.

"That…" McKeen began, tightening his grip around her and moving his lips to her ear, "…is none of your concern. You should be more worried about whether or not you will get to see another day unlike your little savoir here…his time has come…"

A sinister grin crossed the colonel's lips as he raised his head. "String him up!"

"No!" Sara screamed doing her utmost to break McKeen's hold but it did no good.

With a wicked smile Hank stepped away and disappeared into the stable. Robert watched his cousin vanish into the building; he looked panicked as if he didn't want any part of what was happening.

As Grissom struggled with his captors, they pulled him up and dragged him towards a set of trees at the far end of the stable.

Hank re-emerged from the stable with a length of rope in his hand.

"Hank! Don't do this, please!" Sara now begged and McKeen released her. She ran to Hank and grabbed his arms. "PLEASE! I will do anything you want!"

The young man just looked at her blankly as she continued.

"I will marry you; do anything and everything you say! Please, just don't kill him! Don't do this, Hank, I am begging you!" she cried. "I'll do anything!"

With a surprising tenderness, Hank raised his right hand and softly placed it over her cheek. "You will do anything I say, Sara, because you are mine. How many times do I have to tell you that?"

"I know," she agreed, trying to do anything to save Grissom's life. "I am yours." She shifted closer and pretended she was enjoying his touch. "I will always be yours. Do this one thing for me and I promise I will make you so happy. Just don't kill him."

Hank smiled. As he tilted his head forwards, Sara thought he was going to kiss her and prepared herself to accept the gesture no matter how much it repulsed her but he didn't kiss her, instead his mouth went to her ear. "Say goodbye to the trash, Sara…"

Sara's eyes widened as he stepped around her and she ran after him as he approached the man she loved who was still fighting to break free from the thugs holding him.

McKeen grabbed her just before she grabbed Hank. "Just enjoy the show, my dear," he mewed. "I'm sure it will be very entertaining."

Grissom saw Hank as he approached and his heart lunged from his body as the younger man tied the rope into a noose and dangled it in front of him.

The rancher now knew there was no escape from this.

It would soon…all be over…

A/N: Oh dear. How are they going to get out of this one? And some of you, to think their escape was going to be so easy *shakes head*. Lol. Sorry. It just wouldn't be me if it was that easy now would it? The pain is about to reach it's peek…be ready!