Chapter Forty Two

Henry woke up with a terrible nightmare. He called out for his Mother.

Audra and Victoria ended up for the past two nights alternating between Nick and Henry. One night they found Henry asleep at the foot of Nick's bed. They both slept sounder close to each other so Victoria left them be. They were all past the point of exhaustion.

Nick had not regained consciousness; his color was better from the transfusion but his pulse was still weak and erratic. His breathing was labored and he seemed to be in pain. His only cognizant moment, he called out for Anna—then Jarrod. And fell back into his disturbed sleep.

—&—-

"Jarrod if this goes south—".

"Heath,understood. Grete and Kai will be well taken care of—Brother."

"Brother,"

Midnight came around and the group was in place. One Barkley hand every few feet, Jarrod and Heath at the front door; Macklin at the back.

"One, Two, Three—" Heath kicked the door in and the three guards went for their guns.

Heath dove for Grete and Kai, covering them with his body as bullets boy screamed as his leg snapped from Heath's weight on the intricate, braided rope design. Macklin kicked down the pillar that held Anna upright. It fell into his arms.

Jarrod ducked once and hit the first guard straight in the chest; he shot the second one in the neck as he turned to his side. Macklin killed the third guard as he aimed for Heath.

Jarrod checked to see if all the three men were dead as Heath cut off the ropes that sadistically secured Grete and Kai. He knew from the sickening pop that he had broken his stepson's leg. He had seen such rope maneuvers in prisoner of war camps and south of the border in gangs.

"Oh Heath, thank God." She clung to him crying as he struggled with the rope and not hurting Kai any further.

"Buddy, your leg is broken. Try to stay still until I get you clear."

He yelled to his men, "I need some help here and something for a splint."

Jarrod leaned down to Grete, "Where is Lisette and the fourth guard?"

"They haven't been with us at all. We don't know where Henry is either."

"He is safe at the ranch. He escaped and led us to you."

"Grete? What happened to your jaw?"

"I think it's dislocated. I was trying to stop them from hitting Kai."

Heath raged and trembled at her injury. He was devastated he had broken Kai's leg no matter the circumstances. He was barely thinking straight from all the emotions running through his veins. Grete put her hand on his arm to calm him.

"We are safe with you, my love." she whispered through her tears.

—-&—-

Kai gave a big smile, "My friend is alive?" despite his pain.

Jarrod ruffled his blonde curls, "Yes he and he will be so excited to see you."

All the men extricated Kai and Grete; they brought in a splint and gurney to get him back.

Macklin tore up a blanket and helped Anna bind her bloody wrists and ankles. He put his jacket on her to cover her slashed bodice and dress. She crossed her arms and rocked on the floor. Macklin comforted her as best as possible.

Jarrod walked over to them and kissed her on the forehead.

"Anna, it's important. Anything at all?"

"No, whenever I asked about them, they would prick my dress with their knives or cut my hair or touch my uh—-and pinch."

"Sounds like the devils at the hotel. There is a fourth one out there and I am afraid that are holding Lisette."

"Have you buried Nick? I want to visit his grave. Jarrod, I have no token from him but we were to be married." she whispered, "I want to pay my respects."

"Oh honey, my sister Anna," Jarrod pulled her into a tight embrace, "He's alive but in bad shape. Those animals left him for dead."

"Alive? Thank you Jesus Lord."

He heard Grete and Kai express relief too.

"They told us they killed him."

"It will take a lot more than a bullet to take my brother down. Let's get you back to the ranch and I suspect you will be good medicine."

Heath supervised Kai's splinted leg and loaded him onto the wagon brought down from the ridge camp. He gave the boy a taste of whiskey to ease the pain. The pain of causing the leg to break was clouding Heath's mind and soul along with Grete's bruised face.

"Let's get them all to a doc in Modesto and then onto the train for home."

Jarrod and Macklin helped Anna out. Her legs were weak from being tied and she was embarrassed at her soiled, torn clothes. They tried not to cause her more indignity.

Grete watched over Kai carefully with Heath's arm around her. She looked down at her dress that too, reeked of her body tied up for days.

Heath realized, "Honey, nothing matters but you all being alive."

She kissed him on the cheek, "I am praying for Lisette. Those men said awful things about what they wanted to do to her. They hated Nick as well. Said they were going to hurt Anna as soon as the boss said they could."

"Pure damn evil," he spat.

—-&—

The group got slowly to town. They woke the doctor and he set Kai's leg. They put him under chloroform and set the bone. The doctor gave Heath laudanum to get the boy back home. Anna and Grete's wounds were cleaned and a salve given. The doctor's wife braided what was left of Anna's long curls, cut unevenly by the cruel men.

Jarrod rented a private car from the railroad and had it hooked it up. It was owned by an elderly rancher and rarely used. He gave permission for it to be rented in the short term by acceptable clients. Jarrod paid for it to be readied with food and hooked up for the next train south.

Grete and Anna bathed at the doctor's home. His wife went out to the mercantile when it opened and purchased them dresses and undergarments to wear home. Heath paid her handsomely for her kindness and left the Doctor double his bill for his services.

Heath said goodbye to Jarrod at the station. Macklin was staying with Jarrod and they headed to the casino to investigate more.

"Three of them in a pauper's grave. They better dig a fourth while they are at it to save time." Jarrod told him with sheer hate.

"Jarrod, are you going to sell the casino?"

"Yes, to get Lisette back. I will do anything to have her back—Henry to his mother," he backtracked.

Heath nodded to Macklin, "Keep an eye on him."

"I will keep an eye on him." Jarrod sardonically chuckled.

"Just don't go through any plate glass windows."

"I will try," Macklin answered.