Hello All! Back with another chapter! I had this written for awhile but I haven't had the chance to post it until now. Hope y'all enjoy!

Samuel burst into his room, throwing down his pajamas and quickly changing. He rushed to his gun safe, threw it open, pulling out a revolver and a shotgun, loading both firearms with as much rounds as they could hold.

He jammed the revolver in his belt and slung the shotgun over his shoulder before sprinting outside to the stables. He ran for the tack shed to get Gunsmoke's saddle, running even faster when he saw that Gale and Ranger were both missing.

It had to be only a minute in the space that Samuel had came outside to when he was galloping Gunsmoke through town.

But instead of headed straight for the trapline, he turned down a few streets, until he came to the door of a small cabin with a simple lawn.

Samuel jumped off Gunsmoke and ran to the door, pounding on it with his fist.

"CHRISTOPHER!" He yelled.

A few moments later the door opened. Christopher, who was in his pajamas, seemed bewildered by Samuel's appearance.

"Samuel!" He said. He rubbed his face. "Is everything alright?"

Samuel started to speak, but he was talking so fast Christopher couldn't understand him.

"Samuel, slow down! I don't know what you're saying."

"Hailey and Zane are missing!" Samuel cried, panting heavily from his frantically beating heart. "I need to find them!"

"What?!" Christopher shouted, his face going pale. "What do you mean?! What happened?!"

"I don't know! They snuck out sometime during the night. I can't find them anywhere in town! I need Red!"

"Oh my god…"

Christopher leaned back in the doorway and whistled. There was the sound of scrabbling paws and jingling metal before a large rusty brown bloodhound with a chocolate colored collar appeared in the doorway.

Christopher looked from his dog to Samuel. "Do you have anything she wore recently?"

Samuel thought for a second, then jumped on Gunsmoke and galloped off. He came back a few minutes later with Hailey's pajama top he had found on her bedroom floor.

He dismounted Gunsmoke and held out the shirt with a shaking hand.

"Go on." Christopher said to Red.

Red walked forward, wagging his tail as he sniffed the shirt. Then he sniffed the ground.

Christopher had left and now returned with his own shotgun in hand.

"Do you need help?" He asked.

But Samuel didn't have a chance to answer as suddenly a deep baying came from Red. He had caught Hailey's scent.

Still barking, Red ran off, Samuel jumping on Gunsmoke and soon were hot on the bloodhound's heels. They followed as Red ran through the square, past the sign, and down the road.

…

Samuel looked around the small clearing Red had brought them to. He reached in his saddlebag and pulled out a small flashlight.

The first thing he saw was a large broken branch, and shining his flashlight up above discovered that it belonged to the old oak tree that covered half of the open sky to the clearing.

Around that he found more of Hailey's shotgun shells scattered around, as well as her gun laying on the ground. Based on the way the dirt was disturbed, there was clearly a struggle.

A flash of bright light caught Samuel's eye. He shined his light and saw a smudge of silver on a nearby tree trunk.

It was Zane's blood.

"Oh my god…" Samuel muttered as he jumped off Gunsmoke and ran over. The horse and bloodhound followed him.

He shone his light and touched it. It was wet and cold. At his feet lay a spent bullet casing.

Fearing the worst, Samuel looked around frantically.

"Zane!" He called. "ZANE!"

But the woods were dead silent.

He shone the flashlight around the trees, trying to see if he could find a trail. But then he saw something else.

It was laying at the base of another tree, half covered in dirt, crumbled like it had been stepped on.

Samuel bent down to pick it up. It was Hailey's camo Browning hat.

On the front, there was a spatter of red.

The blood drained from his face and the oxygen left his lungs as he looked at Hailey's blood. He felt bile rising in the back of his throat.

"H-HAILEY!" Samuel screamed. "HAILEY! HAILEY!"

But there was no response.

Samuel fell to his knees, shaking as he felt tears well up in his eyes.

She can't be gone. Not like this. Samuel let the hat fall from his hands as he buried his face in them and cried.

"N-no…" he sobbed. "Not like this…n-not ag-again…"

Red, who had been patiently standing next to Gunsmoke, now came forward, tail wagging. He sniffed the hat Samuel had dropped.

Red had lost her scent at the clearing, hers being mixed with more unfamiliar to him. But her hat gave him a fresh trail. He let out a long low bay to let Samuel know what he had found.

Samuel's head shot up as Red began trotting west, following the fresh scent. He stopped a distance away and looked back as if to wait for him.

Gunsmoke snorted urgently and began to follow Red.

Samuel hastily got up, wiping his eyes and stumbling as his knees were still weak. Gunsmoke stopped to let him catch up.

Samuel felt a bit of hope in him as Red slipped through the trees.

They hadn't found a body yet. She could still be alive.

At that thought, Samuel spurred Gunsmoke to go faster to keep up with Red.

'Hang on Hailey!' Samuel thought fiercely as he squinted to see Red through the thick cover.

'I'm coming for you…'

…

It had to be no less than an hour before Red stopped at the top of a wooded rise. He lay down, staring intently at what was ahead of him.

Gunsmoke loped up the hill and came to a halt next to the bloodhound as Samuel scanned where Red had lead them yet again.

They were at the edge of an even larger clearing than before. Several tents were spread about next to a campfire. Horses were tethered next to tents, others were tied near the edge to trees.

At the opposite end of the clearing, just beyond the dying firelight, he saw Hailey and Zane tied to a tree.

Samuel heaved a shaky breath of relief, that invisible grip around his neck easing up somewhat.

'Oh my god, they're alive…' he thought. 'Praise the Four Legends!'

But they weren't out of danger yet.

It was clear that they had been kidnapped. And based on the sheer number of horses, twenty five he counted, he had a good idea who their captors were.

Anger and spite boiled up in Samuel as the thought came to his mind. With a firm resolve, he dismounted Gunsmoke and looked across to where the two were being held. If he laid a finger on her in harm, he was going to shoot him dead.

"Stay here." He said quietly to Gunsmoke and Red. Unslinging his rifle, he switched the safety off and began to tread lightly as he stalked the edge of the clearing.

He wasn't going to get away with this. He almost did once, but not again.

Not on his watch.

…

Zane was still trying to formulate an escape route when suddenly his sixth sense alerted him of an unknown presence.

He scanned the trees that his eyes could reach, but there was nothing out of the ordinary. However, because of his enhanced hearing he could very clearly pick out the sound of someone walking in the trees.

Zane furrowed his brow. He craned his neck.

"Hailey." He whispered. "Hailey!"

The girl stirred. "Huh?" She said groggily. She yawned.

Zane shifted in his ropes. "Do not panic now, but my sixth sense has notified me of an unknown presence."

A confused look passed over Hailey's face and opened her mouth to speak.

But suddenly she was cut off and a pair of rough hands clamped over both of their mouths. Hailey looked at Zane in shock, her eyes wide.

It wasn't until the hands' owner moved from behind the trunk and spoke that they were recognizable.

"Shh. Don't talk." A very familiar voice whispered. "I'm getting you both out of here."

Zane literally felt like he could laugh with relief. He could only imagine how Hailey felt. Samuel had found them!

Samuel pulled a pocket knife from his jacket and began cutting the rope, wincing as each length broke with a snap!

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, he freed both of them. No sooner had her ropes come off that Hailey flung herself into him. Zane could see the relief on Samuel's face as he held her close.

"I'm sorry Uncle Sam…" She choked into his shoulder. "I didn't know what I was doing, I was just so mad…"

Samuel held her close and soothed her.

"It's okay, Hailey, I'm here now." He replied I quietly. He gently pried her off of him. He took his hands in hers as he looked her over.

"Are you okay?" He asked. "I thought they killed you. Did they hurt you? Did they punch or hit you? Did they…" his voice trailed off.

"I'm okay." She answered.

"She did take quite a few physical blows." Zane explained. "She has two bruised ribs and two minor open wounds."

Samuel glanced up from Hailey.

"Are you okay Zane?" He asked. "I was worried sick about you also…"

Zane nodded. "I am fine." He answered. "It is her that I am concerned about."

Samuel nodded. "Right."

He held Hailey closer.

"Oh my god, I'm so glad you're safe." Samuel said. He stood up.

"Let's go." He muttered. Zane and Hailey nodded as Samuel ushered them to the trees.

"You thought it would be that easy?"

Surprised, the three whirled around.

Picazo and his men stood there, mocking grins on their faces. Some of them twirled their revolvers in their hands. Picazo walked a few steps forward.

"Back for another round, veo?" He asked, smirking.

Turning to face him, Samuel nudged Hailey behind him protectively.

"Leave us be." He growled.

This caused a ripple of laughter among Picazo's men. The leader himself walked a few steps forward, close to Samuel, who held his ground.

"Fiesty I see." He said. "Your sobrina reminds me so much of you."

He continued to close the gap between them.

"Just let us go." Samuel said. "We don't want to have anything to do with you."

Picazo tsked and shook his head.

"You see, mi amigo, it doesn't work that way. No soy estúpido. You will turn us in the very chance you get, I bet."

Samuel shook his head. "We won't. We just want to leave." He reached back to touch Hailey's arm.

Picazo shook his head again.

"I'm starting to have deja vu." He said. "Nine years ago. Your remember, don't you?"

Samuel clenched his jaw in response.

Picazo searched his eyes for a moment. Then he sighed.

"You see, I'm afraid I can't let them go. They know too much now." He gestured to Hailey and Zane.

"So I'll give you a choice." He continued. He was only feet from Samuel at this point.

"Try to escape with them and you'll be next, or let me keep them and I will let you go about your merry way."

The two men stared each other in the eyes. Picazo now stood directly in front of Samuel, inches from his face.

"Over my dead body." Samuel growled.

Picazo chuckled and shook his head.

"Oh, I'm sure you wouldn't, over your dead body." He said coldly, a sinister smile playing on the corners of his lips. "But…"

Then, quicker than a snake's tongue, the outlaw leaned over and seized Hailey, dragging her and putting her into a headlock, kicking her knees from under her. He pressed the muzzle of his revolver to her head. Samuel and Zane both cried out in surprise.

"What about hers?"

"LET GO OF HER!" Samuel roared as he lunged forward with his rifle.

He was immediately pushed back by the other horse thieves, who rushed forward and slammed him to the ground. The impact knocked the wind from Samuel's lungs.

As he lay there, gasping for breath, Picazo laughed.

"Ves lo que quiero decir?" He said to his group. "Son tercos, verdad?"

Groaning, Samuel got up, assisted by Zane.

"You're really pushing it, señor." Picazo said as he watched. He gave Hailey a light shake. "I've been waiting for this day for many years, and I have no problem taking my revenge out on her. I know how dear she is to you. That's what makes it so perfect."

Hailey struggled against him, but he kicked her in the back. She grunted in pain.

Samuel gasped.

"Don't hurt her!" He cried. "Please!"

Samuel hated the way he was begging. He had been hardened by war, and there was no room for begging to your enemies.

But here had had no choice other than to swallow his pride. Besides, it wasn't his life on the line, it was Hailey's.

Picazo smirked.

"For what price?" He asked. "You must make it worth my while, señor."

Samuel just stood there, clutching his rifle. He didn't know what to do. He couldn't just leave them here. And if he tried to leave with them, then he'd be taken too. And that didn't include them going free either.

Suddenly, he seemed to have deja vu, back to fifteen years ago.

The image of Rolland being held by the throat by the Calusán soldier flashed before his eyes.

No. Not again.

Samuel groaned and rubbed his face, warding off a flashback. He couldn't afford it right now.

But this was almost like the same thing. Except he couldn't shoot Picazo. He was outnumbered and outgunned. Picazo had Hailey. He had Zane, but he would be shot. If Samuel tried to get her, there was no doubt Picazo would shoot her, if he wasn't shot by one of his men first. He couldn't bear the thought of her watching him die right before her eyes. The odds were stacked against him.

Samuel's eyes drifted to Hailey's, which were wide with fear and pleading. She must have known what he was thinking. She shook her head.

He glanced behind him to Zane. He was concerned, looking desperately at Hailey.

Samuel looked back to Picazo and sighed. Never in his life would he thought he would do this.

But right now, Hailey's life was more valuable than his.

He tossed his rifle to the ground.

"Let Hailey and Zane go." Samuel said flatly. He slipped the revolver from his belt and dropped it next to the rifle. He held up his hands.

"Take me instead. I surrender."

Zane gasped.

"WHAT?!" Hailey cried. "NO!"

Picazo raised an eyebrow. He smiled.

"Interesting offer…" he mused. He thought for a moment.

"Very well." Picazo said. He shoved Hailey away.

Hailey's eyes were wild with fear.

"Uncle Sam, are you crazy?!" She cried as she scrambled up. "You can't do this! They're going to kill you!"

"And you don't lay a finger on her either." Samuel growled.

Picazo chuckled maliciously. "I have someone better."

Hailey ran to Samuel, but was halted by Luis pointing his revolver at her.

"Not a step closer." He said.

Hailey looked past Luis. "Uncle Sam! Don't do this!l

"Zane." Samuel called. "Take Hailey and get her somewhere safe."

"But what about you?!" Hailey said. She had started to cry. "What's going to happen to you?"

"Hailey, don't worry about me, I'll be fine." He said, turning to her. "All that matters is that you're safe, okay?"

"Uncle Sam, are you even listening to me?! How am I supposed to know that?!" She sobbed. "What if I don't see you again?! What am I going to do?!"

"Hailey, I promised you that I would lay down my life to save yours." Samuel said calmly. "I always hoped it never came down to that point, but if it needs to be done, then so be it. You mean everything to me, and if I lost you I couldn't ever live with myself okay? Let me do this for you, if it's the last thing I do. I love you more than anything."

Hailey was so choked up all she could do was shake her head.

"I can't leave you…" she struggled. "They're going to kill you…"

"Go." Samuel said.

"I can't…"

"Go!" He repeated, more urgently. A lump had started forming in his throat. He didn't want to leave Hailey. But it was his only choice. The thought of her without him was bad enough, but him without her was even worse.

"I can't…"

"Zane, take her!" Samuel said.

Zane walked forward and took Hailey by the forearm. "We must obey your uncle…"

"Uncle Sam, no!" Hailey cried as Zane began to lead her away, tears streaming down her face. "You can't do this! I can't do this! This is my fault! Let me pay the consequences! They're going to kill you!" She fought against his hold.

"Zane," Samuel called after them. "Make sure she's safe, and don't let her out of your sight!"

Zane nodded and picked Hailey up. It tore at him to be the one to rip the two away from each other, but it was Samuel's orders.

"Go, take her!" He said as two men advanced on him.

"UNCLE SAM NO!" Hailey screamed as Zane began to run towards the trees. "NO! COME BACK! I CAN'T LEAVE YOU! YOU'VE DONE TOO MUCH FOR ME! HE CAN'T GET AWAY WITH IT AGAIN! NOT AGAIN!"

Picazo barked something indistinguishable, and two men began to draw their guns and pursue them.

"ZANE, GO!" Samuel roared. "BEFORE-"

But Samuel was cut off as suddenly he was hit in the back of the head with the butt of a pistol. The force was enough to knock him to the ground.

"UNCLE SAAAAAAAAAM!" Hailey wailed as she watched him writhe on the ground in pain.

The way Hailey screamed his name wrenched at Zane's heart. He continued running through the trees, until Samuel and the thieves vanished from sight, Hailey screaming his name until she couldn't scream anymore.

…

Samuel struggled to sit up as his vision swam. He grunted in pain while trying to get up.

The sound of footsteps made him look up and saw more of the thieves approaching. He saw one of them walking with a limp. He recognized him from the incident nine years ago.

"I have to walk like a fool for the rest of my life, no thanks to you!" He snarled before shoving Samuel to the ground and kicking him in the ribs. He grunted in pain as he bruised a few. Then he grabbed him by the collar of his jacket, with the same iron grip from all those years ago and lifted him to his feet before punching him in the face. Samuel retaliated by bringing his knee up and into the thief's "special place". The thief cried out in pain and staggered away.

Another jumped in, and this one overpowered Samuel and pinned his face into the ground. He tried to shake him off, but was unsuccessful.

"He is quite a handful." The slick voice said above him. "What's to do with him?"

"Tie him up." Picazo said. "We can use him for ransom. An officer of military will definitely catch quite a few dollars."

With that, three pairs of hands grabbed Samuel and hauled him up roughly, restraining him. He fought against their hold.

"Where do we tie him, jefe?" One of them holding Samuel's arm back asked.

Picazo pointed to the tree Zane and Hailey had been tied to.

"Luis, Angél, Alvar! Hold him down!"

The three thieves then dragged Samuel over to the tree, wresting the whole way, before slamming him into it. Angél took his gun and cracked the butt of it on Samuel's head to subdue him. It worked, as the throbbing pain caused Samuel to struggle less.

Suddenly there was a deep baying as Red and Gunsmoke came charging from the trees. There was a few cries of surprise as Gunsmoke charged at the thieves, rearing and lashed out with his front hooves. The men holding Samuel dropped him instantly, fleeing from the horse's fury. Red snarled and flung himself at Picazo, sinking his teeth into the man's leg.

Picazo cried out in pain and kicked Red. The bloodhound yelped and ran away.

Gunsmoke had knocked down the men holding Samuel and reached over to help him, but before the horse got the chance lassos came down around his neck and legs.

The ropers pulled against the fighting and squealing horse until Gunsmoke fell to the ground. He fought against the ropes as more came, but to no avail. The thieves dragged Gunsmoke away to be tied up with the others. He let out a shrill whinny as he watched Samuel leave his sight.

"Gunsmoke!" Samuel cried and tried to lunge for his horse's reins that were just beyond his reach, but the three thieves came back and held him to the ground. He could only watch as the ropers handled the grullo horse viciously to get him under control, kicking, choking, and whipping him with ropes, hearing the horrible panicked and pained snorts and whinnies as they subdued him.

The animals' attempt to save Samuel was over in seconds. Gunsmoke was stripped of his tack, hobbled, and tied to a tree with strong ropes. Red was nowhere to be seen.

After the mayhem, Picazo went around the camp, checking everything and evaluating Gunsmoke. Then he came back, hold a few lengths of rope in his hand.

"El placer que esto me trae…" He said, smiling a sickening smile as he glowered at Samuel.

One he tied around Samuel's ankles. He pulled the knot tight. Taking the closest one next, Picazo tied the rope around Samuel's knees, looping it several times. The next piece of rope, he fashioned a pair of "handcuffs" and secured Samuel's wrists together behind the tree. He used a bandanna to gag his mouth. Then, using the longest piece, Picazo took one end and ran it in a "U" shape around the tree and Samuel, with both ends at one side. Then he tied a slipknot and adjusted it to it was at Samuel's abdominal height. Picazo pulled it taught, which made Samuel grunt in pain through the gag as it snapped tight around his bruised ribs.

Picazo checked the knot to make sure it was tight to his liking before running the length around the tree trunk, which kept Samuel tightly bound to the tree. Once he tied the knot, he tested the ropes' tightness by tugging on them. He grunted, satisfied that the bonds would hold.

"But shouldn't we post a watch?" Fernando asked. Picazo raised an eyebrow and laughed.

"Look, Fernando. Do you really think he'll get out from those ropes?" Picazo jerked his head at a struggling Samuel who was tied to the tree, unable to move.

"I suppose not, Picazo," Fernando said. He stroked his mustache. "But those two that escaped are still out there. They could come and cut him free."

"If that's the case, we shoot them," Picazo said simply. "And him too. All of them. We'll leave their bodies for the birds."

Fernando nodded. "Bien entonces." He said.

"Puedo sugerir algo?"

"Qué?"

"We should move out as soon as possible since those two that have escaped could give away our whereabouts."

Picazo thought about this for a moment, stroking his chin.

"Very well." He said finally. "Punto justo."

Picazo whistled, garnering the attention of his men in the camp.

"We move out at first light! Make sure he's prepared!" He bellowed and pointed at their hostage.

"South?" Fernando asked as they began walking back to the fire.

Picazo shook his head. "No." He said as they sat down. "To the mesas, back to Camp de la Pueblo. We'll go through the pantano to cover our tracks." He replied before getting a rag from his pocket and polishing his revolver. Fernando sat beside his comrade and watched him work.

"Very clever, amigo," Fernando said before doing the same