Chapter 10 Lisabeth

She turned the corner from the Saloon, she knew she did not have time to get away, but she needed to complete the mission that her aunt had given her. She really did not want to do it, but she had to. If she didn't her aunt would kill her and Marcia, although Marcia seemed to be her protégé. She hurried to plant two unremarkable 'seeds'. One by the front porch of the dorm and the other behind the Saloon. These would be enough to either kill Candy and others or a distraction so that Red Flats could get to Candy.

Aaron and Joshua saw her, they watched as she buried something in the dirt. Looking at each other, Joshua quickly took the initiative and grabbed Lisabeth. Aaron pulled the 'seed' out of the ground.

"Where is the other one?" He asked towering above her. Her small stature was to say the least diminutive. She shrunk even smaller. She did not talk. She only waited no emotion or feeling within. She knew what she was doing, she was hoping the other 'seed' would go off and then she could get away. Joshua held her arm firmly; he had a feeling something was going to happen, They saw Jeremy and shouted to him to get everyone out of the saloon! Jeremy went in and soon everyone was coming out, except for Jeremy and Candy. When he got in Candy was having some labor pains. She could not walk, he wanted to try to carry her down the stairs, but she was doubled up and in greater pain than before. Lottie had a few ladders stored in the upstairs room in case of a fire so that the guests could get out. Jeremy placed Candy on the bed and went in search of the ladders. While he was on the other side of the building, the 'seed' blew. Candy screamed and fainted. Jeremy was almost knocked off his feet. He managed to balance himself and shouted:

"Candy! Candy, I am coming!" he raced back toward the other side of the hotel, but he could not get there. A large hole between both sides of the building had opened up. For Jeremy to get to the other side, he would have to jump across the hole.

Meanwhile, outside, Joshua had kept hold of Lisabeth, who seemed to smile with pleasure, thinking that Candy was dead. She knew Red Flats was. He had not come out of the saloon before the explosion happened. Joshua took her straight to the jail cell and locked her in. He then went to help the men find Jeremy and Candy. Aaron had gotten there first and saw the hole on the stairway. He saw Jeremy frustrated.
"Jeremy, I am going to throw you a rope, it will be attached to the candle holder. I think you can swing over to the other side and get to Candy!" Aaron shouted to him. Since Jason was not there at the moment, Aaron took over for Jason. No one argued and he hoped that no one would say anything, his business arrangement did not include him helping the other business too much!

Aaron threw the rope over the candle holder and then up to Jeremy, it took a couple of tries and Jeremy finally caught it. He held on to the rope and swung to the other side of the building. Then landing just on the edge of the actual stair landing, he went to the bedroom where Candy lay on the bed. She looked like she was unconscious, but when he got to her, She was just laying quietly breathing. She smiled at him and said:

"I think it is time!" He looked at her and then said to her:

"I am going to tell Aaron and he will get what we need!" He went out the door and called to Aaron:
"She is having the baby right now, we cant move her, can you get the water and other things?" Jeremy asked Aaron nodded, he had Lottie and Katie get things, they went over to the dormitory which had not been damaged. When they got back, Joshua had helped to set up a basket to send up Katie and Lottie to help with the coming of the baby. They heard a scream,

"Candy breathe!" Shouted Lottie as she climbed in the basket.

"Jeremy help her breath!" Lottie called out. Soon, Lottie and Katie were upstairs. Jeremy was helping, he had the water and other things needed. Lottie took charge and Katie held Candy's hand. Jeremy held Candy's other hand.

Swede and Clancy opened the door, it was dark in the room, they looked for Jason. Swede saw him first. They went over and helped him to stand up.

"Jason, are you okay?" Clancy asked. Jason nodded silently, putting his finger to his lips, He showed them the fork and knife. Clancy and Swede both understood, they laid him down on the floor again and waited behind the door. Two men came in and Clementine followed. Clancy then grabbed her and tied her to the chair, while Swede and Jason took the two men. The fight was intense, first Jason had the upper hand, and the one man was unable to get to him. But Jason because he had only had a little food and water, was unable to keep going, and he began to fall. Swede had already knocked the other man out and went and punched the man that was trying to kill Jason. Swede knocked the other man out as well. When the fighting was completed. They had two men, whom they tied up and left in the middle of the floor, and Clementine. Jason stepped up to her and would have punched her in the face when Clancy looked at him and he stopped himself and with Swede's help went out of the room. Clancy took Clementine and they went down to the little boat and got in and rowed back to Seattle. Once they arrived, they went to the jail and saw that Lisabeth was also in the jail.

"Well, we will lock her in there as well!" said Clancy, who would have put both women in the same cell. But Jason said no. They had to be separated. Aaron had seen them arriving and he went over to the jail cell.

"Were Marcia?" Aaron asked. All three men looked at each other and answered:

"We don't know?" Jason said. Aaron looked over at Clementine and Lisabeth and asked:
"Where is your sister, Lisabeth!" She stood there and started to smile and then sing a song: "Little bird has flown away; little bird is not here today.

Beware tomorrow, little bird is coming to stay!"

Lisabeth then sat down in the middle of the floor and hummed to herself. Clementine just laughed and laughed, Jason really wanted to do something to her, but he heard a scream and all but Aaron left the jail.

"Mr. Stemple, Do you want the deed to that mountain?" Clementine said 'sweetly' "I can get it for you, if you let me out now!" She smiled so sweetly and in a singsong voice she did her best to seduce Aaron. He looked at her, he really looked at her. She had been beautiful once a long time ago, he even remembered seeing her in Seattle with her sister. She had been more beautiful than her sister. But then he also remembered the scandal and her leaving Seattle after he sister had died.

"No, Miss Clementine, I want the mountain but not at anyone's expense!" He said to her and then walked out of the jail to see how Candy was doing.