Chapter 5 An old friend
Molly struggled but could not get untied. So, she settled down and waited. She was in a place somewhere in Seattle. She thought she was still in Seattle because it had not taken them long to arrive at a destination. She was not gagged but that did not matter since there was only one window and it was too high for her to shout out of it. She waited and waited in the dark, there was no light coming from the window. She fell asleep and woke with a start when there was a sound on the door. It opened. Someone stepped in with a candle, then another someone was there as well. She did not know who it was, but she waited until someone spoke.
"Well, Miss Molly, I hope you don't mind the accommodations! I did not have time to prepare for your arrival, but, I do hope that you will be a 'good girl' and relax her, these are after all only temporary lodgings. We will be leaving soon!" the man smiled, and Molly felt a shiver up her spine.
Molly stared at him, keeping her composure she sat very still. He came over to her and looked at her, blonde hair, blue eyes, she would fetch a nice price in San Francisco.
"Little Miss Molly, you were such a cute little girl, I didn't pay attention to you, but you have grown to be a very beautiful woman." He said touching her hair and twirling it in his fingers. She moved her head away from him, but he held on to the lock of hair tightly so when she moved, she could feel it pull.
"Now, girl, if you do that again, I will hit you, you already have a black eye, if you want another, I can give you another. Where I am going to take you, they don't mind if the merchandise is a little damaged!" He said angrily, his accomplice opened the door, and he went out without saying anything further. A few minutes later some food and drink were brought to her. Her hands were untied, and the food was set on a table. There was light so she could eat. She was hungry so she did eat, she wanted to keep her strength so she could escape. She remembered this man; he had been about 15 when she and her brother had arrived. He was one of the boys whose father was a trapper and mother Indian. They had traveled from Wyoming to Washington looking for work. His mother found work at Lottie's in the kitchen and then when the dormitory was turned into a hotel, as a cook for the kitchen there. His father, was still a trapper and gone much of the time. He had been trapped as well and had been back and forth between several states. He was also known in the states of Wyoming, Texas and Montana as an outlaw, who dealt in selling and buying anything or anyone for a price.
His name was Monty Peltier. He had attended the school that Molly was in with Miss Essie but had not remained long. From the first he was enamored of Molly and swore she would be his, at least first then he would sell her.
Christopher, Jeremy, Jamie and the others were sitting in the saloon working out who or why Molly had been kidnapped.
"Well, it wasn't The Kid he is in jail up in Texas!" said Jason.
"I know who it is!" a woman's voice said. It was Miss Essie, who came in to the saloon.
"It is Monty Peltier!" Everyone looked at her and waited for her to explain.
"Monty arrived two days ago on the stage. He stopped by the school and said hello. He was asking a lot of questions about Molly and Candy. But he was most interested in Molly. I think he always was interested in her, because when attended school, he would watch her very intently!" Miss Essie said.
Swede looked at his wife and then Christopher asked her:
"I don't remember Monty, what does he look like?"
"He has dark brown hair blue eyes and he is tall slightly on the chubby side! Although when he was in school he was very thin!" Miss Essie said. Christopher looked at her and said:
"Thank you Miss Essie, I remember him now, I almost got into a fight with him because he said something bad about my sister at school!" Miss Essie looked at Christopher and asked:
"When was this?"
"I think it was about a year later, and he went over to Molly and tried to make her come with him behind some bushes. Me and Charlie Bates and Fred Withers went to him, and he ran from us! I don't think he went back to school after that!" Christopher said.
Fred Withers was still in town, he had gotten a job working at the livery and said:
"I think that maybe she is still here. I was down near the old mill; you know where that old cabin is that used to be rented out to trappers?" The men listened, Jamie said:
"I think that is one of the places you showed me on the tour here Jeremy?" Jamie questions. Jeremy looked at him and was about to answer when Candy came in. It had been now three weeks since they lost their baby, but she was looking better.
"If it is that old mill, it is a dangerous place. Molly might be hurt!" Candy said looking at Jeremy who swiftly moved to her side to comfort her.
"Fred, do you remember that the cabin had a cellar behind it?" Christophe asked. Fred said"
"Yes, we used to play cowboys and Indians, Chris, you almost got stuck in that old cellar overnight remember?"
"I do, I wonder if he is holding her there?" Chris said
"Why don't we go look?" Jamie said. Jason said then:
"It may be true, but it is dangerous, that old cabin and cellar are falling apart if they haven't already! I think we should look elsewhere!" Christopher and Jamie both disagreed with Jason and said so. In fact, Chris, Fred and Jamie took off before Jason or anyone could do anything.
"Christopher!" Candy shouted. Jeremy stopped her and said:
"You know, he may be right, I will follow, Joshua, Jason, coming?" Jeremy said.
"Jeremy, please find him and Molly!" Jeremy smiled and said they would.
Chapter 6 The Chase part 1
The horses were saddled, Monty and his two friends were on their horses. Monty had Molly in front of him. They were planning a long hard ride; he had provided her with boots for her feet.
"I gave you those boots because we may have to get off the horses and walk, but if you try to escape, I will take them from you! Do you understand?" Molly nodded yes.
"Good, anything you do before we make camp to make a trail or slow us down will get you hurt, do you understand?" She nodded yes and sat on the horse in front of him. She thought if she only had a knife! They took off and rode fast.
Two hours later, Chris, Fred, Jamie, and Jason were following the trail of the horses. They had stopped at the old mill and found that indeed Monty had taken Molly there. They discovered there were four horses but one was not being ridden. They looked around to be sure that Molly had not been left but she had been taken. It was decided that Jason would go with the young men to help find Molly. Joshua and Jeremy stayed behind to run the business and Jeremy stayed to help Candy.
It started to rain, they had brought rain gear, and had slowed down. Monty sent Georgie to go back to see if they were being followed. Brant set up the camp for them. He was about to start the fire when George came back and said that they were being followed. He had messed up the tracks as much as possible but instead of making camp, they took everything and moved on. It was wet and cold. Molly was shivering. Monty placed a blanket around her shoulders and kept her as warm as he could. They came to a river and soon were crossing the river in the rain.
"This rain will wipe out our tracks and by the time they get here. We will be long gone!" Monty said. They rode the horses alongside the river and came up to dry land about a mile from where they had gotten into the river.
"They will think we crossed the river and will be lost once they get to the other side!" Brant said as they made camp. He did not make a fire, so they ate cold food. Monty created a small tent for Molly so she could sleep. Between the three of them they stood sentry.
Jason and the young men stopped by the river for the night. They had seen the tracks going in but since it was too dark for them to see where they may have gone camp was made. The rain was pouring ferociously. They sat under the lean to they had made and ate a cold meal.
"So, Christopher, does Molly have any suitors?" Jamie asked. Christopher choked on his pemican and started to laugh. Jamie was confused.
"Why did you choke and laugh?" Chris smiled at Jamie and said:
"She has been asking about you as well. And no, she does not have suitors. She has been very picky about who she likes and doesn't like. She waits and watches the men that ask to court her. In fact, she dances but only one dance per man. She likes to get to know her companions first." Chris said as he finished his dinner. Jamie sat there thinking and then asked:
"So, you mother died after you came out here?"
"Yes, actually, she did not tell us she was dying, she sent us to visit with Candy then we received the telegram about her death." Said Chris who looked at Jamie and said:
"You said your mom is dead, when did she die?" Jamie looked at Chris and said:
"About a year ago. I did not have a chance to come out here until recently. I had to finish my schooling. She told me about Jason Bolt before she died. My stepfather George was very supportive and said I should find my father and since we had her letters and they knew where he lived, it was only natural and especially since I wanted to apply for a university education!" Jason had walked over and told the boys that they would be doing sentry duty, four hours each, He would take the first watch, Fred the second, then Jamie then Chris. They nodded in agreement and prepared to sleep with the rain gently falling.
At the other camp, Molly was just laying down on the bedroll but could not sleep. She did not trust Monty or any of the others to not attempt something. She had sharpened a sturdy piece of wood as best as she could just in case. It might not save her but she had some kind of weapon.
"Molly, I hope that you will resign yourself to the plans I have. It wont be all that bad for you if you do!" Monty said outside the small tent that he had for her.
"But if you do give us trouble It wont be me who you will have to deal with George or Brant would likely be the ones to have their way and they are not gentle!" Monty said. Molly stayed as still as she could.
"They may not be gentle, but they will hurt as well!" she thought. Monty walked to his own spot and lay down. He would be the last one to do sentry duty, so he wanted a good nights sleep. He had told George and Brant that they were under no circumstances to attack her unless he gave the okay. He himself wanted her but he would wait until they were well out of the state of Washington. Then he would take care of her! He smiled at the thought.