A/N: deals with implied mature material and thematic themes. If you are easily offended or you are uneasy reading these types of stories, please do not proceed further. Thank You.

Chapter One

The shadows lay over the ground as Ike made a quick fire. He wasn't due back from his run for three days but he figured if he pushed it a bit then he'd be back in two. He glanced up at the sharp crack of a branch under a heavy tread; his eyes searched the night uneasily. The sharp bite of something as it struck his head raced over his even as he struggled against the rapidly approaching darkness within his vision. Hitting the ground he barely felt the rock that jabbed into his hip, or saw the dust-covered boots that appeared before his eyes a moment before darkness swallowed him.

Surfacing slightly, Ike felt the shifting of a wagon bed beneath him even as he slid back into the darkness of unconsciousness. The next time he awoke the terrain was different, rougher, steeper, and the thick columns of the trees rose toward the blue sky above him.

The muted tones of several men and the clanking of spurs, bits, and rigging ran together to create a dull, confusing echo in his mind as he slid back into sleep.

"Get him inside," the low baritone belonged to a rather tall, overweight man who sat a large grey gelding. His fat stomach folded over his belt, hiding the elaborate buckle completely. Large, beefy hands rested on the saddle horn and his six-gun that hung low for obvious reasons. Cold, grey eyes surveyed the area and fell to rest on the battered frame of an older woman who'd died sometime in the night. A sick, twisted little smirk crossed his face and he glanced back at the unconscious man. "Where's Tyler?" he snarled as he shifted his bulk.

"Probably inside with the girl," one of the men grunted as he lifted the prone body out of the back of the wagon. He'd watched him for several days in Rock Creek, followed him on more than one run and discovered his inability to talk. After careful consideration, Harley had finally agreed he was perfect; after all a mute couldn't scream anymore than the girl could.

"I told him I didn't want her touched till we got back," dismounting the man grunted and stalked toward the shack. He jerked open the door, stepped inside and glanced around. Huddled in a corner, a chain around her wrists and around the support beam was the girl. Her dress was torn in more than one place and she had several bruises on her face.

"Harley, he in here?" the question had the girl stiffening but she remained silent.

"Not as far as I can see. Best find him Marty or I'll have someone's liver for lunch."

"Yes sir," Marty drawled dumping the unconscious man on the ground and stepping over him before heading back out of the door. Cursing, his younger brother Marty headed for the creek a few yards off, ignoring the body of the miner they'd killed, and barely glancing at the remains of the woman they'd toyed with for several days before Harley had decided that they needed someone else to play with.

"Bind him tight. Don't wanna haveta trail him, take up too much of our fun time," Harley ordered and looked at the girl.

Despite the lack of a bath, and a comb for her dark hair she was a pretty little thing. Young, probably same age as his daughter back home - the one thing that would keep his boys off her. "He bother you whilst we was gone?" he grunted as he moved toward her.

The girl shook her head firmly, terror in her eyes even as she stared back at him. The red welt around her neck had healed slightly, but Harley knew the damage had been done. Her voice had been ruined, and she could barely talk much less scream.

He smiled and glanced at the young man to his right, yep they were gonna have some fun. None of his boys were gonna hang for hurting the young girl, but this feller would. Besides, as he'd discovered in the past few days watching was more fun than doing at times.

Beth sat huddled in the dankness of the shack and stared at the young man they'd chained to her leg and the wall. He was young, not more than seventeen or eighteen she figured with a kind face. He had obviously lost his hair, if the bare scalp she glimpsed was any indication and his clothes although well worn were in good condition. A slight bruise on his temple told her he'd hit his head at one point but other than that his face was unmarred. Feeling an instant liking for the boy, Beth inhaled and shifted uneasily.

Closing her eyes as she remembered listening to her mother's garbled screams, and the crude talk of the man they'd left to watch over her, Beth knew that she'd be lucky to escape with her life. Shifting as her companion struggled into an upright position, Beth tensed and waited. Being young didn't mean being stupid and she knew whatever they had planned would happen with her new companion. She wondered how long it had been since that horrible day when they'd ridden in terrifying everyone and everything at the mine. Closing her eyes, she turned her head away as she realized that time had long since lost what little meaning it had. There would be no mercy for her, or the young man who now lay tied to her. They would share the same fate of that Beth was certain.

Groaning silently, Ike pulled himself into a rather awkward upright position and glanced around uneasily. Taking in the shabby interior of the shack, he noted that the streams of sunlight were bright and figured it to be closer to mid-day than midnight. The soft rustle of cotton mixed with chains had him shifting his attention to the huddled figure a few feet away from him.

Dark hair tangled and unwashed surrounded a pale face that bore the evidence of abuse. Mottled bruises covered one side of her face, a split lip, and the obvious scaring of a rope marred her pale throat. Her dress, or what was left of the once pretty calico, hung in tattered shreds around her figure revealing pale, silky skin to the sun and his gaze.

Guessing her age to be no more than sixteen Ike sighed and glanced around uneasily fear making him edgy. Raising a hand to his head, he blinked as a wave of dizziness washed over him. Finding a chain around his neck, he glanced sharply at the wall where it extended from.

"It's locked. You're shackled to me and the wall," the soft, tearful whisper drew his attention back to the young woman.

*Where are we?* he signed then shrugged. It was unlikely she'd understand him. Most people he'd encountered didn't understand sign language at all.

"Silver Point, Kansas. This was my Pa's claim until they showed up," the whisper was forced, her voice crackling and breaking as she struggled with speech. Thin, angry red welts around her neck revealed the reason for her strangled speech.

Relief filled him as he noted the dirt floor; Ike scraped his name into the loose dirt and pointed to his chest. Heartened when the girl smiled he watched for a moment.

"I'm Beth," she whispered softly into the still air.

Ike nodded as he acknowledged her words. Perhaps he'd found an alliance in the girl stuck in this madness. Her eyes were sad, pain-filled, but alive in a way he hadn't seen in a very long time. Despite the situation, Beth looked every inch a survivor.

"Looks like our friends are awake!" The chortle had both of them glancing sharply at the doorway where the tall, fat figure stood eying them.

Ike surveyed the man standing in the doorway. He was big, bigger than any man he'd ever seen including Ulysses. His greasy, stringy hair hung past his shoulders in a tangled mess. An unpleasant odor permeated the air about him even as he moved toward them his lusty gaze settling on the girl who cringed visibly beneath it!

"I imagine you two's getting pretty curious huh?" the man chuckled showing his black, rotted teeth, and tobacco stained lips clearly for the both of them to see,(.) "Well we's gonna have us some fun is all! See this is how its gonna work," he drawled looking between them. "We're gonna tell you to do something and if you don't do it," he looked pointedly at the girl before glancing at the bald mute, "She's gonna suffer. All that pretty skin, be a pity to mar it. Don't you think? After all fire is such a powerful motivator. You do what you're told she don't get burnt, you refuse we'll see how well she likes the flames."

"Please, just let us go!" the girl pleaded tearfully tugging on her chains. "We ain't done nothin' to you. There ain't even anything of value around here! You done took all the gold Pa got outta the mine already!"

"Hmm," Harley appeared to think it over before shrugging and rising to his feet. He wasn't after gold, no sir. He was after something far more precious to him. With a sick, twisted grin he shook his head. "Ain't had us a good time in a while. Not since your Ma gave out anyways. You might just make it out alive if you cooperate."

*Let the girl go. She don't deserve this,* Ike signed, not really expecting any of them to understand.

Harley shook his head at the boy's waving of his hands, "Come on dummy. Best get up you're gonna be busy for a while!" He kicked at both of them and stepped back, impatience in every line of his body.

Casting a glance at his new roommate, Ike sighed. It didn't look as though they were going to get out of this any time soon. The sinking sensation in his gut had him wishing the boys and Lou were close by.

Hearing movement outside, he straightened even as the hitched breathing from close by reminded him of the girl. Barely sparing her a glance as the door opened Ike glanced down carefully and noted his gun was gone. From the looks of the two men standing watching them, the gates of Hell were about to be opened for the second time in his life!

Chapter Two

Glancing up at the sounds from the shack the boys shifted, rising and heading toward their boss. The promise of a good show had lightened their mood and the way Harley had explained things had made them a little more inclined to like the arrangement. Still it was a bother that more than one had wondered about.

"Well time for some fun. Huh boss?" Marty chuckled and nudged his brother who'd been rather unhappy at the thought of not getting a crack at the young girl. The promise of a good show had however changed his opinion and he was looking forward to watching the mute dummy violate the girl.

Struggling against his captor's grip Ike jerked at the hands propelling him toward the doorway even as he was shoved roughly forward. Stumbling slightly he blinked at the sudden addition of bright sunlight even as he felt the chain tighten slightly before the girl brushed against him.

"Listen up you two. You do what we tell you to and maybe you'll get dinner tonight," the man barked with a light laugh. "From here on out you won't be needin' those clothes. Shuck em, and make it fast. If'n you need some he'p Marty here'll be glad to he'p you out."

A sucked in breath reminded Ike of his companion even as the shock reverberated through him. What could they possibly want with their clothes? Granted it was only late autumn but still to be naked? Feeling the shudder that raced through the girl's body he glanced at her once more and noted the fear in her eyes as she glanced sharply away from the men. Following her gaze, Ike felt his stomach drop at the figure lying on the ground a short distance away.

"C'mon dummies, we ain't got all day," Harley snapped angrily as his cohort reached ever and grabbed a handful of the tattered calico dress. The sound of fabric tearing was overshadowed by the echo of the chains rattling and the garbled, damaged scream of the young girl.

"Best hurry it up boy, Marty seems a might impatient."

With cold fingers Ike reached for the top bottom of his shirt his gaze darting to the girl's then away. Pulling his shirt off he tossed it onto the ground at his feet and swallowed even as the men's laughter began to filter around the camp. Whatever they had planned it wouldn't be good for either of them.

Watching what was left of his clothes smoldering on the campfire, Ike shivered slightly despite the warmth of the sun. Sliding a glance toward the young girl Ike noted the way she was hunched over, using her long hair to hide her nudity in some ways, although he didn't for one minute believe that she felt covered.

"Now then," Harley moved over to the fire to sit down. Taking a cup of coffee from one of the boys he pondered the situation. In his mind it was plain, easy, and simple but the boys all wanted to throw their two cents in on this and working 'round them would be tricky. "I'm an understandin' fella. So I'll explain exactly what I want you to do there dummy."

Ike swallowed harshly at the dark glare in the man's eyes. Obvious whatever he wanted from him it wasn't going to be fun or right. Wishing that he was back home with the others, Ike shifted slightly even as a soft autumn breeze whispered over his exposed skin.

"You're gonna do what we won't," Harley chuckled, "Ain't that right boys?"

Amid a chorus of agreement and raucous laughter Ike felt the brush of soft skin against his arm and glanced at the young woman to his right. *What do you want?* Ike signed angrily even as they laughed harder at him. Ignoring the pointing and the crude jokes at him, Ike waited impatiently a bad feeling in his stomach.

"You're gonna take this here little sprig of a thing. And you're gonna do it now, or else you'll find out how bad things can go for both of you," Harley said amid whistles and laughter.

With a firm shake of his head, Ike glared at the man but didn't move. He'd be hanged if he'd hurt a girl, any girl for any reason. He'd never taken anyone without their permission and he wasn't about to start.

"Don't believe me?" Harley asked as the young man stood glaring at him a mulish, unwilling look upon his face. When the young man did nothing but stand there staring at him Harley shrugged. "Well then we'll see."

With a slight nod, he leaned back against the log and waited. His boys would make things interesting and he hazarded a guess that the young man would be more than willing shortly. Wincing at the first few blows, he watched the panicked expression on the girl's face, noting the way she seemed to be struggling not to cry even as his boys beat the young man soundly.

"Enough," Harley barked for a moment before moving to the young man who lay wheezing, and bleeding on the ground. "You gonna do it now?"

Ike shook his head firmly despite the fact that his entire body, especially his head ached fiercely. Pushing against he ground in hopes of getting off his stomach, Ike sucked in a deep breath ignoring the pain of his battered frame.

"Oh come on boss, let us take her," Tyler drawled watching the commotion with undisguised longing. He wanted the girl or at least that's what he was tellin' the boys. If they knew where his interests were, they'd string him up as easily as they'd shot that old miner. No, he'd just bide his time until he got what he was after.

"No," Harley shook his head firmly. "We got us a plan and we stick to it. As it stands nobody's got anything to hang us on. We dispose of those bodies and they'd never know. That young woman there would mean they'd do more than just hang us. We'd probably spend a good chunk of time in jail before they killed us. I ain't hanging for nobody! Hush up Tyler."

Frustrated with the situation, Tyler whirled around and kicked the young man as hard as he could in the ribs, knocking him back into the dirt even as the girl began to cry in earnest.

"Stop! You're gonna kill him," Beth pleaded moving to protect Ike with her slim frame. "Leave him alone!"

"All he's got to do is exactly what we say and we'll leave him be," Harley chuckled as the girl knelt next to the boy. The way she wiped at the blood revealed her caring personality and Harley had to admire her grit. Many youngsters in her position would have done things differently, fought hard, cried, begged for themselves; she'd remained stoically silent until they'd picked on the dummy. With a shrug he shifted, maybe the dummies stuck together or something. Pushing the thought aside for later, Harley looked at the girl. "Your choice. See if'n you can talk him around to it."

Beth wiped at the tears on her face and helped Ike to his feet as much as she could considering her stature. "Please, don't do this Ike," she whispered softly looking at him. "They'll kill you."

Ike shook his head and looked at her. He wouldn't hurt her that way, not in this life. It wasn't who he was.

"It's okay," Beth shrugged at his stubborn expression. She knew that they'd find some way to have their perverse fun with or without their cooperation. The mere thought of any of those men touching her, invading her was enough to make her sick. "I don't want you to get hurt anymore."

Ike shook his head, *I won't do it. Ain't proper and it ain't the way I am.*

Shaking her head slightly Beth sighed, "Ike we don't have a choice. If we don't do it they'll just think of something else to torture us with. I don't want you to get hurt anymore."

Blinking against the pain in his battered body Ike stared at her, there was no way she could possibly understand what they wanted. She was too young, too sheltered to really understand and it pained him. He didn't know how to make her understand.

"I'd rather it be you," Beth whispered softly shuddering slightly at the slight movement behind her. "I couldn't handle the things they'd do to me."

Slapping his chest, Ike shook his head firmly. He didn't want her to get hurt, but then he didn't want a lot of things in this life that had happened. With a hitching breath, Ike struggled to remain standing even as he felt the waves of dizziness come and go.

Turning to what was obviously the leader of the gang, Beth sucked in a breath for courage. "He needs a few moments to regain his strength that is if you want your fun."

Harley took a breath before nodding glancing at Marty, "Get some water and a clothe. Let the girl clean him up. A bit of a rest will make all the difference."

Marty nodded quickly and grabbed the bucket. With a swift glance at the pair he headed for the creek and a bucket full of cold, clear water. A few minutes one way or the other wouldn't make no difference.

Sitting in the shade with a scrap of what had once been her dress, Beth bathed the bloody wounds on Ike's face and chest. Wincing as the water trailed slowly over, smooth tanned skin Beth knew it had to be hurting Ike like hell but he didn't make even a whimper or wince once.

"Trust me, Ike," Beth whispered softly. "The more we fight them the worse it's going to get. I don't want them to kill you, if they do I'll be alone.."

Ike sighed; the thought of Beth on her own with these men scared him even more than the thought of hurting her. He knew that if they killed him she'd be at their mercy and he didn't think she'd get away with her life much less any semblance of her dignity.

Nodding slowly he smiled crookedly at her and felt a little easier as she smiled back at him with an understanding look in her eyes. Regardless of what happened, they'd survive this or die together.

Chapter Three

Glancing down the road Buck shifted uneasily. Ike was due in from his last run and Buck couldn't shake the bad feeling he had. Glancing up sharply at the sound of hoof beats he eyed the bay horse galloping toward them.

Smiling in relief, Buck watched the rider come into the yard and toss the mochilla at another rider before dismounting. The stilted way he got down had the relieved feeling fading and Buck glanced at the door to the bunkhouse as it opened slowly to reveal Kid standing there.

"Where's Ike?" Kid asked quickly looking at Buck then at the strange rider.

"McSwain never showed up at Giffers Station, his horse came in with the mail but no Ike," the young man replied jerking his hat off and swiping it against his leg to knock off some dust. "Station master couldn't figure it out so I finished the run."

"Means something happened between Harris Station and Giffers. I'm gonna go see if I can get a track," Buck declared and headed for the barn as Kid glanced behind him before heading for the barn as well.

Saddling up, Buck glanced down the line of horses at the familiar ease with which his friends saddled up. Smiling slightly Buck paused, "This is only too familiar guys."

"Lets find Ike," Kid said leading Katy out of the barn and swinging into the saddle.

"Where are you boys off to?" Teaspoon's voice barely had them pausing.

"To find Ike. He never made it to Giffers Station," Jimmy explained as he checked his guns and gathered his reins.

"Could have just slipped a shoe."

"His horse made it but he didn't. If he's hurt out there I ain't about to leave him," Buck replied sharply.

"Neither are we. He's one of us," Lou drawled as she tightened her grip on her mount. "He'd do no less for us."

"Best be careful," Teaspoon advised. "Don't get yourselves killed or I'll string ya up myself."

"Sure Teaspoon," Noah replied swiftly. "We'll be as careful as we always are."

"That's what I'm afraid of!" Teaspoon muttered as the riders galloped out of the yard. Standing there watching them he felt a shiver race down his spine, whoever or whatever had happened to Ike had better watch out. His boys and girl stood together and faced whatever came their way with ease. He'd seen it from the first time Ike had had a problem back when he'd witnessed the brutal murders back in Sweetwater - his boys had just stared him down and gone on with their business like family did.

"That half-breed can track good?" the rider drawled spitting out the last of his water.

"Better than anyone else I know," Teaspoon drawled looking at the young man. "But that's irrelevant to you. Seein' as how they've gone on official business as my deputies, you'd best get some rest. There are chores to do around here."

"Uh.." the young man stood in shock and stared as the older Station master and Marshall walked away an unreadable expression on his face.

****

Buck pulled up suddenly and dismounted, his bay huffed and blew as he stood there. Experienced eyes scanned the ground easily, hands familiar with the motions touched prints many would have passed by. Reading the land, Buck began to feel the pounding of pure rage in his blood, the need for answers gathering like a wave before crashing over him with untamed fury. Someone had hurt Ike and they would pay for it.

"You find something?" Jimmy asked quickly noting Buck's posture and the sudden tension in his shoulders.

"Yeah, something or someone knocked him from his horse. You can tell by the way the horse jerked to a halt and then he hit the ground before his horse ran off. There were six horses that showed up, they headed south."

"How long ago?"

"Nearly a week. One horse carried him out. See where the indentations are deeper than when they arrived. If I was guessing I'd say they were laying in wait for him."

"But why? I mean if they didn't take the mail, what could they possibly have wanted with Ike?" Noah frowned as he glanced down the southern direction. It didn't make any sense to kidnap the rider and leave the mail unless they were after Ike for some reason.

"I don't know," Buck said mounting easily in one smooth motion. "But I intend finding out."

"Damn it," Kid grunted and shifted. "This is downright scary. If they're pickin' riders off what's next."

"Let's just find 'em. Once we do we can get answers." Jimmy drawled angrily as he fingered the reins in his hand. For someone to hurt one of them was reason enough for him to get gun happy. Ike had better be alive or whoever had taken him was going to die slowly and painfully!

"South it is then," Buck said coldly and with a glance at the tracks nudged his mount into a lope down the nearly invisible trail.

***

Shivering, listening to the soft sobs of the young woman laying next to him Ike wrapped his arms around his legs and prayed hard for someone to help. Four days of degradation and pain were enough to drive even the most even tempered person mad. He longed for a gun or a knife or something with which to kill himself to end this torture.

The men who'd taken them hostage were sick perverts driven to increasingly disgusting things that made Ike feel sick. He could only imagine what the young woman felt and he blamed himself for her discomfort. He'd long since given up on trying to keep clean; instead both of them had blood, dirt, and other excrement on their skin. Yet deeper than the surface filth was the darkness of guilt, of a useless, self-loathing feeling that contaminated him more than the dirt.

"I'm so sorry," Ike signed as he turned to her. "I wish I could make 'em stop, make this end."

"None of us can," Beth whispered painfully her body wracked by the shudders and coughs from the abuse she'd suffered. "They'll get theirs soon enough I reckon."

*I can understand if you hate me. I don't particularly like myself right now anyway.*

The girl smiled shakily and shook her head, "I'm cold. Can I sit against you?" she asked sitting up slightly before diving into his arms and snuggling against the only solid foundation in a world rocked with violence and pain.

Harley had shown his impatience when they didn't move as fast as he wanted, and often both of them felt the sting of a whip across their backs. Ike had taken more than one beating to protect her, but it hadn't only been on him. She'd awakened one morning to see Tyler watching them and the look in his eyes had made her sick. He'd been watching Ike and Beth had shuddered and moved a little closer to him. In the face of the insanity around them, they'd struggled to keep their sanity a hard task to accomplish.

Ike nodded slightly and opened his arms to let her snuggle against him. As part of their sport, their captors had refused to give them back any clothes and nights were cold especially with no fire, and nothing to cover their nakedness with. Ike began to wonder if the elements wouldn't kill them before their captors.

*They have to get bored soon. How much more can they think of?* He signed into the night. After all they'd forced him to take her more times than was right or fair. Forced her to accept him regardless of how sore she was or how uncomfortable it was.

The one time she'd refused, that she'd struggled and been unwilling to follow their instructions Harley, the obvious leader had taken a whip to Ike. Beating him even more badly than the first beating, so badly that the others had started questioning him about getting a turn on her again. After that when they said do it, they did it regardless of comfort.

"How long has it been?" Beth whispered softly to Ike. She didn't think of the lack of clothing, the filth that covered both their bodies at being forced to couple in the dirt like animals, or the gnawing hunger that rumbled through her body. Instead she counted the days, the hours until darkness fell and the reprieve would start.

*Four days. Tomorrow'll be the fifth.*

Neither of them really considered the ease with which she'd taken to watching his hands, or the apparent understanding. The mere fact that they were communicating; that they were surviving was enough for them.

"I'm sorry about this," Beth whispered, tearfully her voice trembling with emotion. "I'm afraid I wasn't much of a fighter."

*Don't matter.* Ike signed shifting at the stinging reminder that came from his back and legs. *I'm only sorry that we had to meet under such circumstances.*

"I'm glad to have met you, regardless of the circumstance," Beth smiled tearfully as she snuggled into his warmth. Sharing body heat was the only way they could survive the nights and she wondered how much longer before the men lost interest in their game and killed them. She prayed it would be soon, she wasn't too sure how much longer she could stand to live like this.

Closing her eyes she shivered at the shameful way she'd given in. What good girl in her right mind would willingly do what she'd done to survive? No, death was better than life now, no man in his right mind would want a woman so soiled.

Chapter Four

The cool night air brushed over Ike's bare skin, pulling him from a dreamless sleep. He sat up groggily; his eyes searched the shadows, the partially opened doorway of the cabin. A few flickering flames from the fire were all that greeted him yet he knew something had pulled him from his slumber.

Beth sighed in her sleep, her body shifted, rolled into a ball, bloody and bruised by the violence with which they lived their days. He smoothed her with a gentle hand on her shoulder, a familiar touch, one that meant they were safe. Careful not to wake her, he shifted and looked further out the door. Fear clawed at his throat as he saw that all but one of the men had gone. The flames of the fire lit the twisted, evil features of the man he despised most of all.

Ike shook Beth awake with a rough shove, his gaze on the man who had rose to his feet, the gleam of fire on a blade bright in the darkness. He'd been the most sadistic in his torment, using his knife as easily as one would a hammer to get what he wanted. Ike himself bore the long, painful wounds of that blade along his back, his legs. Ike's hand was heavy on Beth's as the watched Tyler walk toward them. Each slow step methodical, designed to torment and terrorize as he spun the key to the chains that bound them on one finger.

"Get his attention." Beth whispered in Ike's ear as she leaned toward the wall. The flash of moonlight on the object in her hand drew a sadistic smile from Ike. He shifted, rose to his haunches as the door swung open

"Well lookee what we got here, and me all alone up here." Tyler taunted as he stepped into the filth Ike and Beth lived in. He kicked at the door and it swung clumsily from the lone hinge at the top.

*You're a coward.* Ike signed as he shifted, every muscle in his body tensed while he waited for his attacker to come closer. *Not even good enough to be called a dog.*

Tyler stopped a few inches from Ike and leaned forward. "I'm gonna take her, make her scream and there ain't a damn thing you can do about it dummy. Gonna show her what a real man is, when I get finished with her I'm gonna kill both of you."

"Not if I kill you first." Beth hissed and swung. Ike ducked at her sudden movement, throwing himself weakly to the side as the blade came round to sink into Tyler's soft flesh. The spray of blood hot and wet against his face welcomed as a sign that they could escape with their lives. He grabbed the keys from Tyler's trembling fingers as the man lay twitching on the ground. Fingers made clumsy in their haste scrambled to unlock them from their prison. With his chains unclasped and his legs free, Ike made short work of Beth's irons and tossed them aside.

Tyler lay panting, his breath hissed from between his teeth as he stared at them. Hatred and rage in his eyes so potent that for a moment Ike felt a bolt of fear before rage took over. His hand wrapped around the hilt of the knife Tyler'd demonstrated his skill with and pulled it from his fingers.

The night's silence was broken by the pains agonized screams as the cold steel of the blade sank into his flesh, separating muscle and tendons from his bones. Beneath him the dirt ran red with his blood, turning to a sticky, steaming mud that stained everything it touched. Slowly, the screams faded to whimpers of agony and pleas for mercy that fell upon deaf ears.

Beth stared at the convulsing figure on the ground before her, her hands knotted at her sides as Ike wiped the blade on his pants and rose to his feet. She met his eyes and nodded. Her bare feet were silent as they padded out to the fire and returned with a burning branch. The wheeze from their captor told of the life within him, the fear in his eyes as he watched them tear the place apart. Dried kinder was stacked around him, and the familiar smell of Kerosine filled the small dwelling.

"I hope you burn in hell," Beth whispered tightly. "I pray that you do."

Ike nodded and glanced around. *Beth we need clothes. We can't go anywhere like this.* he waved at their naked bodies.

Beth frowned; her eyes scanned the room only to stop on the half buried trunk her mother had used for all their possessions. She pointed to it. Hopeful, desperate, she watched Ike open it and begin to pull out remnant of clothes. In silence they dressed, familiar with the others movements and in that comforted by them. With her mother's dress shoes on her feet, Beth stomped over to the man dying at their feet. A cold, sick smile twisted her features horribly as she lifted the branch and dropped it in the tinder at Tyler's feet. His pitiful screams echoed after them as they slipped out into the night.

Ike tilted his head back and inhaled the smell of the night air. Relief washed over him suddenly, terrifyingly free and he clamped down on the emotion. He couldn't afford to relax, to feel anything yet - he had another life to free before his own. He glanced at Beth who stood wrapped in a shawl that was too big for her, her bruised face hidden by the dark waves of her hair.

*We can't stay here. If they come back-" Ike let his thought go as she nodded quickly. Both of them turned at the pained groan of the building behind them and watched it collapse in on itself. *Which way?*

"I have kin in Fedderson Falls. It's about two days west of here, Momma's sister lives there. We may be able to get sanctuary there."

Ike nodded and offered his hand, he ignored the tremble that echoed in hers as he wrapped his fingers around her hand and started for the tree line. He paused and glanced behind him, a dead man would tell no tales and a horse would carry them faster.

*** The lanterns along the street flickered and blew in the window as Ike guided the tired sorrel beneath him through the shadows. Behind him, Beth clung to him, her face buried in his back as they avoided the busier street. When she tightened her grip slightly he pulled up and stared. Before them a house rested. Two stories of eastern elegance seemed out of place in this small, quaint western town. The white picket fence around it only made it stand out more.

"This is Aunty Essie's house." Beth whispered in his ear. "Please, Ike don't leave me alone. I promise I'll be good."

Ike glanced behind him and smiled, he patted her hands gently and nudged the horse up to the fence. He dismounted and turned to help her down before wrapping a supporting arm around her waist and starting for the door. A solid day of riding had brought them here, but would they be as welcomed as Beth hoped they would be?

Ike knocked soundly and stepped back, pulling Beth tighter against him as they waited. A moment later a lantern flickered on the other side of the door and a shadow appeared in the frosted glass.

The door swung open to reveal a stately woman of about fifty, her long pale hair pulled back beneath a night-cap, and a heavy woolen shawl was wrapped around her shoulders. She stared at them for a few seconds. "If you're looking for the rooming house its that way." She pointed, her eyes scanned them. "I don't offer charity to…"

"Aunty Essie?" Beth whispered, her hands clutched at Ike's sleeve. "I'm sorry to bother you."

"Elizabeth Warren, oh thank heavens!" The demeanor of the woman changed instantly. "The Marshall went to see your folks, I sent him after your Mother didn't come for her visit. He said that the cabin had been burnt down and he couldn't a trace of anyone of you."

Beth nodded quickly and smiled up at Ike. "Ike helped me get away from the men that showed up. They hurt Momma and killed Pa, if it wasn't for Ike I'd probably be dead myself." Estelle Warren turned to the silent young man holding her niece and stared at him. His eyes were as haunted as Beth's, and the bruises and burns that she could see told her that he'd suffered as greatly as the young girl. "Come inside both of you, no sense in airing out things on the porch after dark. Come, quickly now. I'll fetch you something to eat and the doctor."

*No doctor!* Ike protested quickly. *No, I don't want anyone touching me again. Please, ma'am, please, no no doctor.*

"We're alive Aunty, that's good enough for us." Beth whispered softly as she glanced at Ike's terrified face. "Something to eat sounds good."

Estelle ushered them into her home, closed the door and led the way into the kitchen. As she made sandwiches and put some cold soup before them she studied the pair. Battered, bruised, and obviously bloodied they looked as though they'd walked through hell and come out a bit less than when they'd gone in. As she sank into a chair and watched the young man all but force feed her niece, it struck Estelle that the monsters these two children had met were unlike any that had ever been seen before.

Chapter Five

Staring into the flames of the roaring campfire, Buck wondered where Ike was. He'd never known the man to get himself into trouble like this, and he knew his friend needed him. They'd been on the trail for a week now and the tracks were getting fresher and more fluent. Maybe come morning they'd find them, when they did he was going to take his time - show those that would hurt a gentle man like Ike the meaning of pain.

"We'll find him," Kid spoke softly, soberly as he stared into his coffee cup. "We've been gainin' on them steadily. You said so yourself."

"I know. It's just bothersome. I trust Ike; I just don't trust those that took him. It ain't like he's wealthy or powerful. He's an express rider for crying out loud!"

"How long till we come upon them?" Jimmy asked quickly noting the darkness in Buck's eyes and feeling it to. He rubbed a soft dry clothe over his guns and checked the loads. Trouble was brewing and he wanted his share.

"Should be there in the morning." Buck shifted and glanced up. "You realize we've rode hundreds of miles since he disappeared? God why would they take him? And it's a good chance that they don't even have him anymore. They may have killed him by now."

"I don't know," Lou shrugged and looked at her friend. To tell the truth she was just as worried as he was, maybe more so. Ike was a good man, one who worked hard, didn't drink, or carouse, and could be counted on to do what he had to. For someone to snatch him was unsettling. "But we'll get him back. He's family."

Buck nodded at the softly worded statement and turned his attention back to the flames. Ike would do what he had to, to survive that much Buck knew. But would he be able to survive with the odds stacked against him?

Sinking down into his saddle Buck pulled his hat down over his eyes and closed them. He'd know tomorrow and if Ike was dead, he'd show who ever killed him the high cost of their actions.

***c>

Rising with the dawn Buck remained silent as they saddled up and turned south. Keeping the horses at a fast jog they followed the older trail until it turned into a fresh one. Catching the freshness of the trail, Buck kicked his horse into a gallop aware the others followed him wordlessly.

Mid-morning Kid pulled up in the small clearing and stared. The smoldering remains of a wagon lay by a shack that had obviously seen better days. The obvious scar of a campfire still smoldered in the yard and high above them the screech of the scavenger birds rang clearly.

A further glance around the yard revealed the charred remains of a pile of clothes, a fresh grave was covered with rocks and yet there was a stench in the air that made him sick. "Trail ends here. Fresh one headed that way," Buck pointed to where the bubbling of a creek could be faintly heard. "Five riders all riding fresh horses. Looks like they're leaving the area the way they're riding."

"Could be," Cody suggested hopefully holding his rifle across his saddle easily.

"We don't know if he's even made it this far," Jimmy snapped angrily. "We should look around don't you think?"

"Any delay and we risk losing them," Cody shot back crossly. "We can find out what we want to know when we catch them!"

"Enough," Kid snapped and glared at the pair. "Jimmy, you and Noah can have a look round. See what you can find, we'll continue on ahead."

"Sounds good." Noah agreed quickly, anything to stave off an argument. "Just watch yourselves."

"Always do." Kid smiled slightly and trotted out of the yard and down the trail. Regardless, they needed answers and squabbling amongst themselves wouldn't get them any closer to a resolution.

With the others only a few strides away, Buck pulled up suddenly a twisted grimace on his face as he noticed motion. Dismounting he pulled his knife from his boot and slipped into the trees, aware of the other riders coming to a halt. Inch by inch, step by agonizing step, he got closer to the tall, thin man hunched over by the water. A swift kick had the man planted face first into the cold water and Buck knelt on his back, one hand grabbed a fistful of hair, the other held the knife to his throat. "You lookin' for something?"

"Get off me you worthless breed," the man grunted uncomfortably.

"Where's the rest of 'em?"

"Who?"

"Don't play that game with me." Buck hissed, "Your horse is the only one that hasn't left and I know its track. Been following it for better than a week." He chuckled at the fear that crept into the man's gaze as lifted the blade, the drop of blood that hit the water washed away silently.

"Buck you find anything?"

"Yeah, one of 'em." Buck hollered back. "Come help me get him back to camp." A moment later Kid and Cody rode into the creek, their faces twisted with rage as they stared at the man beneath Buck. "Here," Cody tossed a thick coil of rope at Buck who quickly bound it around the man's wrists and around his throat before he rose and handed it back to his friend.

"Where's our friend," Kid demanded. "The one you kidnapped."

"Go to hell, along with that dummy!" The man spat at them only to cry out as he landed in the water as Cody nudged his horse into a gallop and loped up the bank.

Buck exchanged a glance with Kid who held out the trailing rein to his horse, "Come on. He's got answers to share."

Buck nodded and leapt gracefully into the saddle before following Kid at a gallop back up the incline to where Cody was dismounting next to the burnt out shack. He dismounted as Jimmy walked forward, a look of cold rage on his face. "What's this?"

"He's one of them that took Ike. Figure he might know where he is." Buck explained as he approached the man. "You gonna talk, or am I gonna make you. Personally," He smiled, "I'd just as soon you made me encourage you."

"That dummy's either dead or wishin' he was. Him and the girl."

Buck caught the look the others exchanged even as he felt the cold wash of rage building. Someone had hurt Ike, perhaps killed him and it was enough to make his blood boil. "Where are they?"

"You ain't the law, I ain't gonna tell you nothing." Marty spat angrily. He could feel the rope tightening, pulling him along the ground but he refused to break. Every instinct within his body told him the others were less of a risk than the furious Indian before him.

"What do you want me to do?" Buck glanced at Kid who studied the man on the ground. The look of indifference on the usually stoic southerner's face eased Buck's anger and doubt.

"Make him talk." Kid replied and met Buck's gaze. "We need to know about the girl to. If she or Ike is dead, he can pay the penalty for it.

Buck grinned as the color leached from the man's face and he stared at them in horror. No one would ever believe that he could be as ruthless as he would be, as he glanced at his friends, his family, Buck realized that no matter how vicious he could be the boys would be worse. His horse moved forward, pulling the rope taught anger cold and hard settled in his gut. There was nothing and no one around to stop them - and he'd know where Ike was or the man before them would be dead.

Chapter Six

Ike pulled back on the reins and halted the tired sorrel they'd ridden in on. Before them stretched out in sleepy peace a small town was lined with shadows. He felt Beth's weight shift behind him and reached to pat her leg.

"Aunt Essie's house is at the end of that street," Beth pointed tiredly, a fine tremble in her fingers. "The biggest one in town."

Ike nodded and nudged the gelding forward yet again. The animal's steps were slow, exhausted like it's riders but it kept moving forward. He blew gratefully when Ike stopped him before a white picket fence. With the familiar grace learned from Buck, Ike dismounted and turned to help Beth down.

Exhausted beyond belief there was a gauntness to her face that made his heart ache. Her eyes were haunted and pain filled and the ugly bruise that marred one side of her face was enough to make the anger rise again. *Will she offer you safety?*

"I think so. We saw her not that long ago, mid-summer for a few days. I think we'll be safe here." Beth smiled at him as he ushered her up the stone walkway to the porch. They climbed it weakly, hands clutched around the railings as they took each step one at a time. A hopeful glance was exchanged before Beth raised her hand and knocked loudly.

Silence met their summons, and they sank to the porch floor, huddled together in a familiar comforting embrace. The sound of movement from behind the door perked them up momentarily, as the rapidly growing glow of a lamp beyond the glass revealed that they'd disturbed the house's occupant.

Ike clambered clumsily to his feet and lifted Beth up, his arm around her waist as they leaned against each other. He felt the tightness of Beth's embrace, felt the tremble and heard the soft wheeze of her breathing as they waited for the door to open.

When the door opened they stared at the older woman who stood wrapped in a robe and a shawl, her long blonde hair hanging down in a thick braid with a lamp in her and. "What in the devil is the meaning of this?" She demanded. "Can't you folks go somewhere's-"

"Aunt Essie?" Beth's voice cracked under the strain as she leaned against Ike, her legs were about to give out and only the strong embrace she shared kept her up. "Please, can we come in?"

****

"Bethie? Goodness child, come inside. Both of you look as though the devil himself has walked across your path." Estelle Warren ushered the two children into her house and closed the door with a snap. Her pale grey eyes assessed them carefully, taking in the bruises, the bloody wounds, the scratches, with an experienced eye. "When did you eat last, child?"

Beth glanced at Ike who shook his head; food had been withheld more times than they counted. Their last meal had been four days ago, the left over food that their captors hadn't eaten and had tossed aside in the dirt. She shrugged at her aunt and stared at her hands.

Estelle sighed and shook her head. "Well come along. I'll fix you a bite to eat and send for the doctor. I'd best alert the Marshal as well, he'll want to speak to you both about what happened."

"No, no marshal," Beth pleaded; fear thick in her voice as she clutched at her aunt's arm. Her pale eyes glistened with unshed tears as the young man behind her pressed closer to them.

Estelle stared at the pair. Dirty, unkempt and terrified they clung to each other with a white knuckled grip, they looked done in, yet both had that aged look she'd seen before. There was no doubt in her mind they'd kill to keep the other safe. She glanced down and sighed as she spotted the tell-tale stain at the hem of Beth's dress. The pale material bore the rust colored stain of blood; her toes peeked out from beneath the fabric, the filth upon them out of place in her clean house. "I'll wait on the Marshal, but the doctor is a must. I'll not have you in this house without having a look. Wounds fester, infection is not something you fool with." Estelle declared and turned to stride into the kitchen.

In silence she made sandwiches, heated soup and the coffee before she turned to sit at the table. Astute eyes watched the young man all but give his food to Beth who ate slowly, her eyes on the young man at her side. Fear and unease made them look ready to leap from their chairs at the slightest sound.

Estelle nursed her coffee as she watched the young man push a stray lock of dark hair behind Beth's ear, his fingers gentle upon her bruised flesh. The look of pleasure and comfort in Beth's eyes was telling and Estelle determined to inform Marshall Ludkey of a terrible wrong. "Eat up young man, no sense letting good food go to waste." She admonished gently.

Ike nodded and nibbled at his sandwich, his stomach rumbled in hunger but he didn't hurry. He picked at the sandwich, his gaze darted from the older woman to Beth and back again as his companion hunched over her soup. The soft tick of the clock was the only sound as they ate Ike's attention on the silence that surrounded them. After living in the outdoors for days he'd gotten used to the sounds of the wind, birds, and such. So much so that the lack of sounds unnerved him, reminded him to much of death's final silence.

He tensed as Estelle rose and pulled her wrap tighter around her. His gaze was hard, cold as he watched her slip a pair of shoes on her bare feet and reach for the door handle. "Don't you worry none, child. I'm merely gonna go get the doctor to have a look at the both of you. You left bloody trails along the floor and I'm not entirely sure that we'll be able to get 'em out. Wounds can get festered, and I'd like to avoid it if possible." At her soft explanation, Ike relaxed in his seat; his hand gripped Beth's as they watched the door swing shut.

*We got to be careful, no point in giving the doctor any more to think on then the basics.* Ike signed.

"What do we do if he wants to look," Beth flushed as her eyes dropped to her lap. "I don't want him touching me there, Ike. Promise you won't let him."

*I give you my word he won't. He touches you and I'll break his neck.* Ike declared and nudged the rest of his sandwich in her direction. *Best eat up, we've a long night ahead of us.*

Beth nodded slowly and returned to her dinner. It would be a long, hard night and neither of them felt comfortable yet. Half an hour passed, each agonizing moment dragged like a hot coals on tender flesh. Ike sat on the floor holding Beth who lay clutching her stomach in agony. Hands covered in grime traced through her dark locks as he soothed her silent tears.

"Ike? What if there's a baby?" Beth whispered and turned her head to look at him. "What we gonna do if we made a baby?"

*Love it.* Ike replied softly, his eyes on the wall across from them. *Beth, I want you to stay here. I'm gonna go back to Rock Creek get my things then I'm gonna go hunt 'em down. Make 'em pay. You got to stay here.*

"I can't." Beth burrowed tighter against his body. "I can't live so far from you. Please, just wait before you go. Don't leave me here alone."

*You're gonna have to stay here for a bit,* Ike glanced down at her pain filled eyes, *I'll find us a place okay? Somewhere nobody knows about us. I 'm gonna need money and that means working for the Express for a bit. I'll stop by regularly but you got to stay here.*

"Why? What good is gonna come of us living so far apart?" Beth demanded and sat up.

Ike sighed and stared down at her for a moment. *You need to rest up. If there is a baby we won't know for a while, I take you back to Rock Creek and we're gonna have more questions than your aunt had. The boy's are gonna wanna know everything and I just don't think we can survive tellin' 'em.*

Beth stared at him for a moment, "I'll stay at least until we know if there's a baby." She whispered tightly. "Until I know."

Ike nodded, his body tensed as a bowstring as the door swung open to reveal a well dressed man in black carrying a bag. He inched forward and pushed Beth behind him in an unconscious attempt to hide her.

"You youngsters are okay, this is Doc Hently." Estelle declared as she closed the door. "He's come to look at those scrapes and cuts. Mind you he ain't gonna say a word, I swore him to secrecy about this." She smiled at the pair of frightened youngsters and ushered the doctor forward. "Doc, you'll be able to do this in the sitting room?"

"Of course Mrs. Warren, I'm certain that would be perfect. Who exactly am I examining first?"

*We go together or not at all,* Ike signed as he climbed to his feet, Beth still behind him. His glare was harsh enough to peel the paint off the wall but the doctor merely glanced at Estelle.

"I don't want to be examined," Beth whispered, her hand wrapped around Ike's arm. "I'm fine; it's just a few scratches from walkin' round barefoot."

"That may be, but you'll be looked over and then into bed with the both of you. I've got two guest rooms -" She stopped at the garbled scream from Beth who clung to Ike, tears streaking down her face. From the looks exchanged between them it would be better to put them in the same room - regardless of appearances. "Or you'll stay in one room. Either way, after the doctor has tended those scratches, you two should get some rest. Come morning things'll look a lot brighter." Estelle ignored the doubtful looks on their faces; instead she chose to focus on the matter at hand.

chapter Seven

Teaspoon noted the sullen angry looks on the boys' and Lou's face as they rode back in and knew something bad had happened. Watching them he noticed Buck had an unreadable expression on his face.

"How'd it go?"

"How do you think?" Buck snarled unsaddling his horse before stomping away, leashed violence in every line of his body.

"Where's Ike?" Teaspoon glanced from one sullen face to the next as he waited for an answer.

Jimmy, Noah, and Cody glanced at Kid and Lou before making a rapid exit. "We don't know. Buck lost all the tracks the other side of Fedderton Falls." Kid explained softly glancing at Lou who'd squeezed his arm gently. "Figured it was best to come home, this is where he'd come to when he could."

"You did the best you could son. Ain't any more you could've done," Teaspoon stated easily knowing it was far from over for the boys. It would never truly be over until they knew for certain what had happened to one of their own.

"Sure don't feel that way," Lou replied shifting slightly, leaning against Kid. Exhaustion and anger hung from her slender frame like tight clothing, and the white knuckled grip she hand on Kid's arm didn't bode well for the 'romance' between her and Jimmy. "Still don't have a clue why they took Ike. And it feels wrong to leave him out there alone."

"Something we may never know. Get some rest," Teaspoon patted them on the shoulder before watching them shuffle off toward the bunkhouse. They were gathering strength from the other, bonding in a way he wasn't sure anyone else would ever understand. Seeing Rachel walking toward him Teaspoon sighed.

"I take it they didn't find out what they wanted to?" Rachel asked softly, hesitantly.

"No. Just more questions. They're hoping he's still alive, prayin' he'll come home."

"Hoping he's still alive?"

"They're trying to avoid thinking he's dead." Teaspoon explained as he watched the tired, downtrodden group shuffle into the bunkhouse.

"Did they catch those responsible?"

"I don't think we want to know what happened there. Kid's got a good head on his shoulders, wouldn't let things get out of hand, but this was one of their own. Sometimes that makes even the most aware person act like someone else." Teaspoon replied softly. "Much as I may hate to say even, hell even think it, I'm sure those boys have blood on their hands over this and it ain't over yet."

"Gonna be awfully uncomfortable around here. If they don't have his body, it'll just give them a reason to nurse their hope."

"I believe you may just be right Rachel, and that might be dangerous."

"Might," Rachel laughed humorlessly as Teaspoon walked way. "Best get supplies together. Somebody's gonna get hurt." She declared her gaze on the silent, dark bunkhouse. She didn't know which one would be the worse, but it didn't matter. If one got into it the rest would follow - something that she knew was beyond anyone's control. Family was what they'd made themselves and a family stuck together through thick and thin. Rachel cast a glance heavenward, a silent prayer for the mute rider on her lips before she headed back inside. Time would tell.

***

"Mrs. Warren if you would be so kind as to fetch me some bandages," Dr. Henley said kindly, and perhaps some clean things for them to wear. I'd like to get on with the examinations."

"Of course, Doctor." Estelle turned and scurried away.

With Beth clutched tightly to him, Ike followed the good doctor down the hallway to what was obviously a sitting room. He waited while the doctor lit three of the lamps throwing the room into a sharp relief of golden light. Couches and chairs filled it, small tables with lamps upon them sat next to the couch, and two chairs in a welcome picture. They turned at the rustle of petticoats and watched Estelle bring in a basket of fabric rolls as well as a simple nightshift over one arm and a pair of long johns in the other.

"They aren't day clothes but you're to be in bed after the doctor is finished. Come morning we'll fetch you some proper attire." Estelle smiled at them. "Would you like my assistance Doctor?"

"No ma'am, if you would be so kind as to leave us. I find that family doesn't tend to help the situation any."

"Of course." Estelle backed out of the room and closed the door as the doctor lit the remaining lamps.

"Now then, if you'd have a seat Miss, I'll have a look at those wounds." Doctor Henley said, shooting the silent young man a glance. He shivered at the blatant challenge in the other man's gaze, it was obvious to the good doctor his life depended upon doing nothing to irritate either of them.

Ike watched the doctor closely as he washed the wounds on Beth's feet. The sight of the man's hands wrapped around her ankle irritated his already aggravated nerves and he stepped forward even as Beth pulled her foot back from the man's grasp. Ike moved to stand directly behind Beth, his hands on her shoulders as he glared at the doctor, a silent warning clear regardless of words or no. He caught the discomfort and unease in the doctor's gaze but refused to back down. Beth deserved to be treated kindly, not like some cheap used up old nag.

Beth clung to Ike as Doctor Henley washed the wounds on her feet carefully, the warm solution painless. Every flinch of her body drew a sympathetic murmur from Dr. Henley who tied the last bandage into place and straightened. "There you are. You need to allow them to heal, which means staying off your feet as much as possible. Now, Mister -"

"Ike." Beth croaked softly a smile on her face for the young man she was staring at. "His name is Ike, he don't talk so don't go asking fool questions."

"No ma'am." Dr. Henley said and pushed his hair back from his face. "If you'd be so kind, Ike as to sit down, I'll have a look at those wounds for you." His eyes skirted along the young man's torso, the edge of burns readily apparent. A sick feeling in his stomach told him that he didn't want to know the details of the horror these two had survived.

Dr. Henley was slightly amazed that the young man in question was still standing as he looked at the marks on his feet and back. They weren't simple scratches like the girl's, no his feet had been cut with a knife and there were whip marks and burns all over the young man's back. Aware of the Estelle's niece's harsh stare he swallowed his questions about the myriad of nail marks that trailed down his sides, and over his arms. Instead he smeared ointment on them, wrapped the boy's chest in bandages and stood up. "Well that's it. If you've got any other problems or concerns let me know."

With their eyes boring holes in his back, he packed his bag and slipped out of the study. As he turned to close the door he saw the girl crawl into the boy's lap and wrap herself around him, exhaustion heavy upon both of them. He shook his head sadly and turned, pulling the door closed with him. "Estelle, you'd best speak to the Marshal in the morning." He whispered. "Those two have survived hell, and it ain't over yet."

"What should I tell him?" Estelle replied. "They won't speak of what happened other than to say a gang of men rode in killed her folks and they escaped. We both know what happened on that mountain was more than that, but it looks to me that they've taken comfort within each other. We force the issue, William and we're likely to alienate them both."

William Henley shrugged, "Estelle, I'm willing to bet a weeks pay that girl's gonna be with child. The only thing is whose is it? Thrown together like that, they are going to protect each other - to the death." He said as he strode to the front door. He paused, his hand on the doorknob and turned to look at her. "If she does become with child, you're going to have to think of something because that boy in there will kill anyone who threatens her."

Estelle watched him leave and sighed. She knew he was right, they had developed a bond that only those who had to fight to survive ever understood. Idly, she wondered if she could convince them to consider all their options. With a sad shake of her head, she went to get them ready for bed.

***

Estelle lay staring at the ceiling, tired beyond her years as she listened to the sobs and garbled grunts and groans from the room across the hallway. That they were masculine failed to shock her. She rolled over as the soft feminine whisper filled the echoing silence, pain and terror laced with each soft sound. Fury laced her body as the whimpers and cries faded to be replaced by soft sobs and the creak of bedsprings. It was the same thing every night for the past four, and she wondered what they were doing.

Rising from her bed, Estelle grabbed her wrap and threw it around her shoulders before she slipped from her room. With only the glow of the wall lamp to light the way she tiptoed to the room Beth and Ike shared and reached for the doorknob. Easing it open slowly so it didn't creak she peeked through the space. Ike lay curled into a fetal position, his arms wrapped tightly around himself as he rocked back and forth on the bed. Beth was wrapped around him; her long hair flowed over both of them. On the floor in a puddle of pale clothe was their clothes.

The lights from the lanterns on the street and the moonlight gave the room an eerie glow as Estelle stared. Long, jagged cuts ran up and down Ike's back, thick, painful welts danced along the tanned skin and what was obvious rope burns encircled his wrists and ankles. Estelle frowned as she saw the raised scarring of a harsh burn along one hip.

"Shhh, hush now." Beth's soft whisper as she pressed against him was barely loud enough to be understood. "I'm here, they won't hurt you again. Shh, hush my darling, I'm here." Over and over again her soft whispers seemed to finally reach Ike who rolled suddenly and pulled Beth into his embrace his shoulders wracked with harsh, gulping sobs as he cried.

Beth clung to him, her hands traced over his wounds carefully, similar wounds, fresh and brilliant in their repulsiveness danced across her flesh. Her small hands clutched his arms, his back, his buttocks as she wiggled against him. Every move had a purpose, and Estelle swallowed harshly when Beth slipped her leg over Ike's hip. The sheet that was tangled around them offered little protection to her eyes. Instead she could see the shadows of his groin; the dark curls that she knew would be there and swallowed uneasily.

Estelle backed from the room as the pair, seemingly lost in their nightly horrors sought comfort within the other's body. Touches that had been to sooth were now meant to arouse, to awaken and the pain filled whimpers turned to ones of pleasure, of need. She closed the door and leaned on it, silent tears tracked down her face. The minor wounds that Doctor Henley had treated were barely enough to mark the surface of their injuries.

Suddenly feeling older than her years, Estelle shuffled back into her bedroom and into the warm, softness of her bed. She lay there listening the creaks and groans of the old house, and the softest of sounds from across the hall and felt the nausea and revulsion come back stronger than ever. If there was a babe, what on earth was she to do? How would Beth take the possibility of losing said child - especially when she may consider it to be Ike's?

With her mind a tangled mess, Estelle lay there until the dawn's pale glow peaked over the horizon. Frustrated, exhausted, she climbed from her bed and dressed quickly. There would be things to do today of that she was certain.

Chapter Eight

Ike buttoned his borrowed jacket nervously; he could feel Beth's eyes on him but refused to look up. He knew what he'd see, the fear, the unease, and doubt that his departure had awakened. They'd talked about this, discussed it until it was beyond dead. They would need money to go away, money that Ike could make easily and quickly back home in Rock Creek. Didn't mean he wanted to do things this way, it was the only way they could do them.

"You'll write?" Beth whispered as she inched down the stairs toward him.

*I'll write regularly, even stop in when I've got some runs this way. If you need anything let me know, I'll see you get it.* Ike replied and stared at her.

Beth nodded; her eyes swam in tears as she stared at him. "Here," she held out a simple white piece of fabric. "I soaked it in honeysuckle; you'll be able to smell it for a bit. It might help with the darkness."

Ike nodded carefully; he feared the coming nights alone more than the days. Without Beth to hold him, to hold he didn't know if he'd survive them. *Let me know if there is…* he paused as her aunt appeared on the stairs, a basket in her hand. *Just let me know. I'll send money.*

Beth nodded and moved forward to hug him tightly, "I don't want your money Ike, just you back. I'll keep you informed of everything."

Ike nodded slowly and cupped her jaw. Everything within him screamed at him to stay with her, to take her and run but they both knew that they'd have to have money. The faint bruise that still marred her face was a silent testament to the agony she'd endured and he wallowed in the wave of rage that rose up over him before crashing back to a more manageable level.

"I've packed you a fair lunch. I hope that sorrel works out for you," Estelle smiled at him. "You're welcome back anytime."

*I come back it'll be for Beth,* Ike replied and took the bundle before mounting up quickly. He caught the look on Beth's face and swallowed against the burning of tears in his own eyes. It would be a long time before either of them was healed completely.

***

"I see the boys are still expecting Ike to come back," Rachel spoke softly as she stood on the front porch watching as Cody, Lou, Jimmy, and Noah walked toward them. The sound of a rather loud, boisterous disagreement between Buck, Kid, and the newest rider Jason had obviously emptied the bunkhouse. "How long has it been now, Teaspoon?"

"Nigh on a month." Teaspoon replied as another crash echoed across the yard. "He was on a four day run, should've been back three weeks ago."

"I don't give a damn about some dummy's things. I work here same as you and I'm sick of my belongings being kicked about like trash," Jason's rather resentful voice had everyone flinching as they settled on the porch.

"The trunk belongs to Ike. You don't like it too bad. Go buy one of your own!" Buck's voice held a note of steel in it.

"Yeah well maybe you should just learn your place 'breed. Ain't nobody likes a smart mouthed Injun."

Wincing at the loud crash from within the bunkhouse Teaspoon looked at Rachel. "How many is that?"

"He's the sixth one. He was doing good 'til he started up about Ike's trunk."

"Boys got to learn to accept the facts. Much as it kills me to say it, the boy ain't.."

"Don't even say it," Jimmy snarled glancing at the pair as they settled on the porch a few feet away from Teaspoon and Rachel. "We don't know that. He got away and is probably holed up somewhere until he was back on his feet. He'll come home!"

"Jimmy, we all loved him," Rachel started uneasily, uncertain at the choice of words from the sullen gunslinger in the making.

"You're as dumb as that fool if'n you think we've given up," Noah snapped angrily jerking a thumb at the bunkhouse. "Family is family and it's only been a few weeks. He was hurt bad, too bad to just walk back quickly. He'll come home."

"I just don't want you to be disappointed when he doesn't show up," Rachel stared at them. She knew they all felt useless and guilty as though in coming home they'd somehow betrayed him.

Out of the six of them, it was a toss up as to who was worse. Jimmy walked around in a constant sullen mood; Buck had withdrawn completely from everyone but the boys and Lou. Course he blew periodically, usually resulting in the structural types of damage or a broken bone or two for whomever he hit. The others were marginally better. Kid and Lou had become inseparable. One was never far from the other; they took any of the double runs together. Cody watched the horizon, and Noah tried to work himself to death.

"He'll be here," Jimmy shot back as the rather rumpled, bloodied figure of Jason lurched out of the bunkhouse. "Hmm, Buck must be feelin' generous. He's walking."

Rachel glanced sharply at Jimmy as Jason came to halt at the foot of the stairs. "You want some ointment for that cut?"

"No. Don't want nothing but my pay. I quit!"

With a telling look at Rachel Teaspoon rose, "Well come on into my office. We'll get you squared away."

"Should fire that worthless Indian 'fore he robs you blind or worse," Jason growled favoring his nose.

"Better watch it yourself Jason. We ain't feelin' so generous as Buck is," Lou snarled glancing pointedly at Jimmy's gun.

"Since the only one with a problem with Buck is you, I'd say the rest of us are safe," Jimmy chortled quickly in agreement, his hand moving to rest on his upper thigh. "Best get while the gettin's good."

"Indian lovers, the whole lot of you," Jason snarled before disappearing after Teaspoon.

"Reckon I'll help Buck and Kid straighten up the bunkhouse. They done their share," Cody declared easily.

"You're insane! The lot of you have lost your minds!" Rachel gaped at the boys as they followed Cody back to the bunkhouse.

"Just know what family is," Lou replied seriously. "Ike'll be back."

"To have such faith," Rachel shook her head at them. Things were only going to get worse around here until either Ike McSwain walked back into the yard or they gave up hope and Rachel didn't know which one to pray for.

***

The long shadows stretched out before Ike as he pulled up and stared at the express station before him. He could hear Lou hollering at one of the boys and smiled sadly. His mount shifted beneath him, tired and thirsty and anxious to get to the barn where he could smell fresh sweet hay.

It hadn't taken him long to ride from Beth's aunt's house, most of the day and now he was home. Only home didn't feel like home any longer, he felt out of place, isolated even more than normal, and the desire to turn and run back to Beth was strong. Ike lifted the reins, intent on going back when he heard a loud shout and turned. Buck stood in the middle of the yard, facing him, a stubborn, mulish expression on his face.

"Why didn't I stay with her?" Ike muttered to himself. "She understood me, understood the pain, the nightmares and they won't.

"What's going on?" Jimmy called from the bunkhouse, as Buck pointed at him.

"How long has he been there?" Kid joined Jimmy on the porch and stared at the silhouetted rider. "Why doesn't he just come in?"

"We expecting anyone?" Noah asked as he leaned against the wall.

"Last run was an hour ago." Buck replied, his face twisting into a scowl as the rider slowly advanced, each step seemed almost painful. He tensed suddenly; something about the rider was familiar, too familiar for it to be a trick. "It's Ike!" He grinned and took off running for the horse and rider.

"What?" Cody lunged through the doorway, "Did he say Ike was home?"

"Yeah," Kid grinned and jumped off the porch two strides behind Jimmy and Buck. "Finally."

The boys clustered around their friend as he pulled up, their questions flying in rapid succession until Ike shook his head and nudged the sorrel forward. He didn't want to talk, didn't want to answer them. He ground his teeth together when Buck grabbed the bridle and grinned up at him.

"Where have you been? We've been worried sick? You okay?" Buck patted the horse's neck, his gaze steady on Ike's face. "We went searching for you and found the camp, and an outlaw but no you. Didn't know where to start looking after that, and he wasn't a well of information."

*Wouldn't have mattered. He didn't know where we went.* Ike signed. *I'd like to get my horse into the barn. It's been a long day.*

"I'll take him." Jimmy volunteered as Ike swung down.

Buck reached for Ike as his friend's legs buckled, shock in his gaze at the gauntness that clung to the silent rider. He let go when Ike glanced at his hand and reached for his bedroll. "I'll have Rachel fix you something to eat."

*Don't bother her,* Ike signed. *Probably sleep for a week.* he shuffled painfully up the steps, the pain of his still healing feet enough to draw tears. He opened and closed the door without a glance at the riders standing in the yard and moved to his bunk. As he sank into the welcoming softness, Ike sighed as the tears slid down his face controllably.

He rolled over, his back to the door at the sound of footsteps on the porch. Desperate to escape the nosiness of the others he closed his eyes, and huddled on the bunk. A silent prayer that they'd leave him be crossed his mind even as he pulled the bandana from his pocket and put it to his nose. The faint smell of honey enough to remind him of Beth and he slid into an uneasy sleep.

Chapter Nine

Beth stared at her aunt in shock. The older woman's tone had left little room for debate as she had opened Ike's letter and sat down. "He sent you ten dollars," Estelle laid the money on the table and stared at her. "Why?"

Furious, Beth shrugged at the question. What difference did it make if Ike sent her money; she was stuck here, not with him. "What do you care? I earn my keep."

"Money can't replace what was stolen, child." Estelle sighed and leaned forward to pat Beth's knee. "I'm not stupid Beth, I know that something terrible happened to you but you can't expect Ike to make it all better. Talk to me. Let me help you."

Beth rose to her feet and paced to the window. "I can't."

"Why not?" Estelle demanded, her hands set the letter aside and she moved to stand beside her niece. "You've been unwell the past few days and you look even more exhausted then when you got here."

Her gaze flashed dangerously as she stared at her aunt, "Ike and I's business is of no concern to anyone." She snapped, a hand at her throat at the weak sound. "He doesn't look at me and see some used up charity case! Ike sees a living breathing person, a heart that's been wounded. He understands me! Why must you act so unkindly towards us?"

"I'm not trying to be unkind," Estelle wrapped an arm around her slender shoulders. "I simply want to help you. Ike's not here to do it for you, but I am. Try and understand, you're family, all I've got left and I'm determined to see that you have what you need."

"Then stop reading Ike's letters, stop trying to pacify me. I'm not a little girl anymore Aunty," she ducked her head and blushed brightly. "I'm a grown woman and you can't make me be a little girl again."

Beth left her aunt in shocked silence at the window and stalked from the room. She glanced at the front door and froze at the blurry shape on the other side. "You've company, Aunty." She gathered her skirts and darted up the stairs.

The sound of voices from the study drifted up the stairs and Beth sat huddled in her room listening to her aunt and the marshal talking. She leaned against the wall, her shoulders hunched against an unseen pain as she heard the conversation. How she wished she could be more, could have more than just a tiny room and people gawking at her. Ike had begged her to stay here, and here she'd remain until she could do it no longer.

"The boy's not guilty of anything but helping my niece, Marshal. He suffered greatly at the hands of those monsters to get her to me. I only wish I'd found out what they looked like from either of them. We could have found and arrested them by now."

"I'll do my best, ma'am. In my experience girls who have survived what your niece has gone through often become attached to the first person who shows them kindness. Keep an eye on her and again, let me know what the doctor says after his next visit."

"Of course. I appreciate you taking the time out of your busy schedule. Perhaps we could enlist a messenger to speak to the boy? Granted it has only been a few weeks since he left the house but still, I'm sure he may be more forthcoming that Beth has been."

What were they like when they were together? It would help a great deal to know what I may be facing with their communications as they are."

"Beth's determined to get her mail before myself. I firmly believe that unless we resort to drastic measures, we may never learn what those monsters did to those children."

I'll bear that in mind. Still, I'd like to speak to the boy. Where is he living?"

"I don't know. I know he rides for the express but that's about it. His letters have no return address on them, there's never any indication of where he lives within them. Rarely speaks of his friends, family. Beth knows, she's written him a time or two but always mailed the letter before I can see it posted. I'm at my wits end to figure out what to do."

"I'll send a deputy over to Rock Creek, maybe there's a way the Marshal there can tell me what I want to know. It shouldn't be difficult to find a young, bald, mute boy. I'll leave in the next day or so."

"Remember Marshal, I do not want him arrested. He has done nothing but save my niece, if they've managed to find comfort within each other's arms that is their business. My poor Beth has been through hell and I want the men that put her there found and punished."

"Mrs. Warren, I'll do my best. As soon as I know where Ike is I'll send word I need to speak with him and go see him." The marshal's deep voice drifted up the stairs to Beth's room. "Boy deserves a medal or something for what he did for her."

"I agree. Thank you for stopping by today, I'll let you get back to your work. I appreciate your time."

Beth closed her eyes at the sound of the front door closing. The short weeks since Ike had been gone had felt like a lifetime. Her nights were spent alternately pacing the floor and crying into a pillow. Days were spent sleeping or hiding, anything to keep the demons at bay. She shuddered at the loud boom of laughter from the street and curled tighter against herself. Idly she wondered if she should write Ike and warn him - but dismissed the idea. What good would it do to give the marshal help?

***

From their places on the porch of the bunkhouse the boys watched Ike carefully. Despite the scorching heat, he still wore his shirt and a vest and his bandana. The one time anyone had suggested he take it off, he'd gotten a cold, harsh look on his face and shut down. It had taken Buck three days to get him to even talk to him.

"He still not talking?" Kid sipped at his coffee absently. The loud crack of the axe in the wood echoed across the yard, louder even than the sounds that drifted on the breeze from town.

"I asked him yesterday and he told me to leave him alone," Lou leaned against Kid's leg, a slight frown on her face. She glanced up at him. "Woke me up last night with his thrashing around and whimpering, I'm not sure him keepin' it all bottled up is a good idea."

"We don't get to choose for him," Buck drawled as he raked his knife over the stick. "Ike ain't one for talking out his problems, matter of fact he keeps things buried until they explode. Worse than dynamite that way. Lets the wounds fester until they're so ugly and hateful that they leave horrid scars on his soul."

"We're family Buck; he should know he can trust us." Cody tensed as he spotted a rider coming from town. "Rider coming."

"Anyone on schedule?"

"Just Noah," Cody replied. "And he's not due back until tomorrow night, Jimmy."

Buck nodded at Ike, "Ike's seen him to." Everyone's gaze turned to the silent young man who gripped the axe tightly in his hand, his body tensed like a bowstring as he watched the approaching rider.

The leggy bay stopped next to Ike an the rider pushed his hat back, a flicker of silver on his chest revealed his employment. Ike's mulish expression hardened even further and he turned back to the woodpile.

The wind carried the sound of the lawman's voice away from the other riders and they rose in unison. Determined to protect their friend they stepped off the porch just as Ike paled slightly and shook his head fiercely.

"Son I ain't after you," Marshal Ty Benson shifted in the saddle, aware of the group of boys that had risen to their feet at his arrival. "Mrs. Warren wants you to be rewarded, and she wants the men that killed Beth's folks found. To do either of those things I need your help."

Ike shook his head and glanced around. *Just a minute.* He froze as the law of Fedderson Falls City handed him a notepad and pencil. With a glare at the other man he scribbled a message on it.

Marshal Benson took it and read it quickly. "Miss Warren's niece hasn't said anything. Don't see her but once in the odd while. I have no idea if she agrees with this or not."

Ike scribbled quickly, fury in every movement of his wrist. He held the note up and stared hard. He waited as the man read the note and nodded. "I'll talk to Beth first, Ike. Make no mistake, Estelle Warren is bound and determined to be sure you young-uns are done right by. If Beth tells me anything about 'em I'll round 'em up and you can watch 'em dangle." He promised and turned his horse away. Ty hid a grin at the stubborn, defiant looks on the five boys staring at him from a few feet away. "Evening boys." He tipped his hat and nudged his mount into a gallop. It was high time he got to the business at hand.

Ike turned away from the concerned gazes before him, a chill in his heart. Beth would never betray him; never reveal all that had happened. Who was he to do less? How could he sentence her to a life of shame and pain by telling what he'd seen, what he'd done? He couldn't, he cared about her too much. Soundlessly, he turned and went back to the woodpile, ignoring the confused looks on his friends' faces.

Chapter Ten

Beth shifted in her seat and stared at the doctor, her aunt, and the Marshal who sat staring back at her. Her numb fingers plucked at her skirt and she glanced at the cooling cup of tea beside her. The soft tick of the clock on the mantel a steady blow like the whip she'd experienced on a daily basis only this time there was no Ike to save her.

"Beth, please, at least tell us what one looked like. Mayhap we can find him and arrest him along with his cohorts. No one should get away with murder." Estelle pleaded softly.

"No," Beth whispered desperation in her eyes. "You'll just use it to hurt Ike and I won't let you. He didn't do nothing to nobody."

Estelle exchanged worried glances with the two men in her parlor and sighed. "Beth, I know you and Ike have an unusual relationship and that Ike paid for helping you escape, but you aren't helping him by hiding him. If we catch those men we can make sure they pay for it. Please, trust us."

Beth shook her head firmly. "No."

"Ma'am, if you don't tell us what they look like and they decide to come looking for you, how can we protect you?" Ty Benson drawled, "Now I know your young man's been sending you money, writing regular, even saw him in town two days ago. If I was going to arrest him I'd have done so. Doc here says that the cuts and bruises he tended were only the surface wounds. Those men that hurt you, hurt your Momma, they deserve to pay for their crimes."

"Ike and I have paid in blood for their sins," Beth sobbed. "I ain't gonna tell you! Never! Ever! Do you hear me? I won't, dear God, how much more do we have to do, to pay on our sins before y'all will just leave us alone?" She doubled over, her arms wrapped tightly around her stomach at the searing agony that washed through her. She shifted, inched forward until she was on her knees, sobbing even as she felt her skirts become soaked. Desperate to escape she struggled to get to her feet only to stumble and hit the ground again.

"Beth!" Estelle knelt next to her and rubbed her back at she looked at the men. A slight shake of her head and Ty rose to his feet to slip out of the room while the doctor fixed a stiff drink for Beth.

****/c>

Ty sat at the table and waited impatiently as the sound of footsteps approached. He'd listened to Beth's sobs for the better part of an hour, a cold, hard knot in his gut at the heart wrenching sound. He turned his head as Estelle stepped into the room and went about silently fixing another pot of tea. "Estelle?"

"She miscarried." Estelle murmured softly, "She begged for us not to take her baby, to let her keep it. She begged God, and us, and cried until William gave her something to help her sleep. I managed to get this," she pulled a slip of paper from her apron pocket and slid it across the table. "It's a journal entry of Beth's. Tells of the men arriving. I don't know when she wrote it or anything about it other than that there were six men. The leader was an older man, fat, and extremely ruthless. They apparently have a horse that belongs to Ike." She paused delicately. "Find them, before Beth does."

Ty stared at her. "Beth is going lookin' for 'em?"

"I think she will." Estelle warned. "I think she feels like there's nothing left, they've stolen everything of value from her and she's alone. She sleeps during the day; the few nights she sleeps she does so under the bed or in the wardrobe. Marshal Benson, she's fifteen years old and she's older than I am."

"I'll do what I can. I know of a good tracker, works for the Marshal in Rock Creek, I'll ride out in the next few days and see him. I leave right away you may have that young man here with a gun trying to take Beth with him." Ty raised a hand at her protest. "They made a deal and signed it in blood Estelle, you gonna tell me that you believe either of 'em will break it?"

"Just do what you must." Estelle replied as the doctor walked into the room. "Doctor?"

"She's sleeping peacefully at the moment. I took the liberty of further examining her; there is some scarring in a delicate area. I don't believe this miscarriage will affect her future ability to have a child. She needs rest; I've given her enough to sleep for hours. Mrs. Warren, I must say this, your niece has suffered greatly at the hands of those men, and I firmly believe she may never recover fully. I've done all I could, when she wakes give her something nourishing to eat and encourage her to return to her slumber. Let her body recover."

"And the boy?" Ty asked quietly.

William Henley turned and looked at the marshal, "What of him?"

"What role did he play? I know that he got her away from them but-"

"If you ever see his wounds you would know what role he played?" Dr. Henley whispered. "The scars are a living testament to his agony. He may be Beth's only salvation at this point."

Ty nodded, "Thank you sir. I'll head back to my office then. I'm going to get a posse organized, I figure if we leave Tuesday morning we'll be able to get to Rock Creek and speak to Marshal Hunter's tracker. Don't worry Estelle, we'll find 'em."

Estelle smiled at him as she left before turning her attention to the table. "You purposely didn't tell him."

"He's the law, and I don't think the young Mister Ike wants the details known of his own sufferings." William patted her shoulder. "Beth'll sleep for hours; you should get some rest as well."

"Rest?" Estelle whispered to the silence of the house after the doctor had gone. "Those poor children, my poor Beth. How can I rest knowing that those monsters are still out there?"

***

The news that she'd lost Ike's child still haunted her, the kindness in her aunt had offered had rankled. There was no understanding of why Beth laid sobbing in her bed day in and day out. No, Aunty Essie hadn't understood that for Beth the worst thing had happened - that tiny bit of Ike she'd wanted was gone.

She didn't want to stay here, didn't want to listen to the plans for her future. Each day the Marshal would stop in and ask her questions, leaving disappointed and frustrated. Today had been no different and now, she was faced with going on alone without the support of the one she needed so desperately.

Beth moaned softly and turned to look out the window. The faint glow of light told her it was late evening and she sat up. A quick glance around the room revealed that her aunt had left her a simple grey dress on the chair and a pair of shoes sat tucked under the vanity.

Beth frowned at the faint sound of voices and rose to open her bedroom door slowly. She froze at the sound of a masculine voice she didn't recognize. The words she could hear chilled her to the bone.

"Mrs Warren, I feel in this situation, it would be best to put the young man in jail. For safety you understand. When folks figure out what's happened they're gonna want to see justice carried out."

"I see. The boy has done nothing to be arrested for. He didn't harm my niece, in fact he's done nothing but save her life and now you're saying you wish to arrest him?"

"Ma'am, I don't want to but the way folks are going on with word about what happened to the girl's folks, if I don't they're likely to start blaming. It's only until the trial you understand."

A hard cold fist of agony and horror slammed into Beth's gut as she closed the door. Fury replaced the pain of betrayal and she quickly pulled the simple dress on over her night shift. She pulled a brush through her hair and with a quick look around the room grabbed a shawl, her bonnet, and the small reticule she'd put all the money Ike had sent her into. "I'll be hanged if I let anyone arrest him for savin' my life." She muttered angrily and slipped from her room.

She ignored the voices coming from the sitting room back of the stairs and hurried into the kitchen where she grabbed something to eat and the spare gun from the drawer. The backdoor offered no resistance to her motion as she opened it and slipped out into the fading light. Beth hurried along, her head ducked to avoid speaking to anyone as she approached the livery.

The interior of the barn was cool and shadowed, the rich smell of horses and hay filled her with familiar comfort as she moved down the line. She paused in front of the last stall and stared at the dark colored horse who eyed her back. The animal would surely carry her to Ike.

Beth glanced around uneasily; no one was around so she eased the animal out of its stall and into the gathering darkness. With only a bridle on, the animal would be able to move faster. Clambering clumsily onto the animal, Beth glanced at the sleepy town before she turned the horse away. With only a vague thought to her directions, Beth knew where she had to go.

Chapter Ten

Nervous at the sight of the darkened streets before her, Beth chewed on her bottom lip. Loud raucous laughter and music drifted from the saloon, men and women's voices mixed and danced on the night air.

Beth turned her horse aside and nudged him toward a large barn on the edge of town. Several lanterns hung at the doors to light the interior. Horses stood in their stalls, their attention on the new arrivals as Beth pulled up and slid from her tired horse.

The eerie yellow glow was familiar, but offered few shadows to hide in. Beth debated entering the barn. There would be few chances for escape locked in a barn, where as in the open she could see her enemies. The sorrel snuffled and blew as she stood there staring at the open barn door, and she turned to look at him.

If any of the men who'd taken her and Ike were around they'd recognize the animal. With recognition came danger and she wasn't interested in getting caught again. She'd rather die than let anyone touch her again. Terror coursed through her at the thought that one of the monsters could find her. Without a thought she urged the animal inside and into a distant stall filled with shadows and fresh, clean hay.

Beth sank into the stall's corner, her hand clutched the gun she'd stolen, her eyes on the door as she waited for dawn. With each passing hour her exhaustion grew, until she could barely keep her eyes open. A soft sigh escaped her lips as she curled up into a ball and slipped into a dreamless sleep, too tired to even fear the monsters that haunted her nights.

***

Cody groaned at the murmurs coming from across the room. He rolled over, only slightly shocked that the other riders were awake as well. Another moan drew his attention and he sat up, pushing his hair out of his face. Ike lay tangled in his blankets, fully dressed, in the throws of another nightmare.

"You think we should try and wake him?" he suggested softly.

"No." Buck swiped a hand down his face. "Last time anyone did that they got a face full of his gun. Turn up the lamp; we might as well do something constructive since we won't be sleeping."

"Wish that fella had told us where his cohorts were," Jimmy muttered as he reached for his pants. The fact that they were all awake before dawn was more than a faint line on the horizon had become routine. "I find 'em an I'm gonna-"

"We all will," Kid muttered as he snuggled deeper into Lou's warmth. "Buck? He changed his clothes lately?"

Buck shrugged and moved to start coffee. "Not that I know of, Kid. Rachel threatened to throw him in the washtub clothes and all if he didn't change 'em a week ago. He's about due for another threatened bath."

Lou yawned and stretched in Kid's embrace her dark eyes on the sleeping man. "He showered in 'em yesterday." She pulled the blankets around her tighter. "I seen him, then he sat in the sun until they were dried before he went back to work. What do you figure he's hiding?"

"Could be anything." Noah cracked his neck and pulled on his vest. He glanced at Ike's bunk, his hand on the door. "Could be a lot of things. From the look of his nightmare it ain't pretty that's for sure. I'll check the stock."

In unison they turned to watch Ike roll over, his hands twitched in his sleep and tears coursed down his face. The paler on his face was made even starker by the flush on his cheeks as he curled tighter into a ball. From the crook in his elbow, the barrel of his gun peeked out a silent testament to how dangerous it could be to wake Ike from a nightmare.

We need to get it outta him," Lou sighed. "Findin' those men might let him heal."

"Would he let us?" Cody muttered, "It ain't that I'm arguing the point here, but Ike isn't going to talk to us. He won't even talk to Buck what makes you think-"

The slam of the bunkhouse door had everyone jerking around, even Ike sat up a disgruntled, yet relieved look on his face. "What in tarnation is all the ruckus?" Lou hissed.

"Someone was in the barn last night," Noah held up a ragged coat. "Got out there and the horses were in the corral, we even got a new one."

"New one?" Jimmy moved to the window. Standing in the corral were eight horses, "So we got one more animal. Some drunk probably put 'em up and spent the night in the barn."

"I don't think so." Noah glanced at them then at Ike, "Whoever it was didn't want to be caught. I stepped into the barn and they vanished."

Ike glanced out the window and shrugged, *Maybe it's that stupid deputy back again.*

"What did he want?" Lou asked as she pulled her shirt on. "Seems to me he didn't stay very long."

*Just to ask a bunch of dumb questions he had no business asking.* Ike declared and jumped down. Even after a month and a half the cuts on his feet were still tender if he put his weight on them to fast and he winced before he reached for his boots. *I'll go look.*

The slam of the bunkhouse door made them jump as Noah glanced around, "I didn't want to say anything in front of him, not in the mood he's in."

"But?" Kid paused.

"I heard talk on my last run." Noah settled at the table. "I didn't think anything of it; the Marshal over in Fedderson Falls City has it under control. We found that fella a day's ride north of there at that mine. What if Ike was there, what if he tried to help that family?"

"What do you mean?" Buck handed him a cup of hot coffee and sat down next to him. "Ike would do something like that, try to help out, I just don't see the connection."

Noah sighed. "From what I heard - and the Marshal's keepin' it real quiet, there was a young girl involved. She wasn't that old about fifteen I think. The Marshal says that they never found her. Could it be that the girl he was talking about is the one that Ike tried to help?"

"It would explain a lot. If she died he'd take it hard, harder than he has a right to. Ike's funny that way." Buck glanced at the others, "But there's something else. We're missing something."

Noah shrugged. "Like I said the Marshal's trying to keep it quiet but when I was there two days ago he asked if Marshal Hunter would mind him using his tracker. That means Buck; we all know that whatever happened wasn't good. We may have caught one of them but what if it was a whole gang?"

Buck frowned, his mind tangled with thoughts as he stared into his coffee cup. He turned his head at the soft sound of a knock on the door. "Cody get the door."

"I didn't hear anything." Cody muttered as he moved to open the door. He froze as he stared at a slim, dark haired girl wrapped in a thin shawl. "Mornin' ma'am. You lost or something?"

Beth eyed the blonde haired man before her and shifted. Fear clutched at her throat but she refused to allow it a voice. "I'm looking for a friend." She spoke quickly. "He lives here, he told me so."

"Come on in." Cody stepped back, "Coffee?"

"No." Beth shook her head, her eyes downcast as she inched past the boy and stopped a few inches away. She clutched the butt of her gun tightly, fear a bitter taste in her mouth.

The boys nodded carefully at the young girl who shifted uncomfortably, her eyes swept the room carefully even as she kept her back to the wall. "Who are you looking for?" Buck asked softly, sharing a quick glance with Kid.

"Ike." Beth replied. "I don't know if he's on a run or not -"

"Nope," Cody smiled at her. "He's around here somewhere. I'll go see if I can round him up."

Beth ducked her head as the door opened and shifted away from it. She stared at the others who went about their business straightening up for the day. They moved with ease and a familiarity that was unsettling, her mind reminded her of what happened when folks worked so well together.

The sound of footsteps on the porch drew her attention a moment before the door swung open and the blonde stepped in. "He's being stubborn as usual," Cody shook his head and all but dragged Ike into the room. "Damn fool's gonna work himself to death."

*I have a run!* Ike started aware of the extra body in the room but not paying it much attention. Riders came and went all the time. *After all, someone has to work around here.*

Cody's put-upon look was enough to draw matching looks from the others as he moved further into the room. "I told you, ya got company."

*I don't want to talk to nobody. I have work to do.* Ike frowned as he turned to the silent figure Cody waved at. The color bleached from his face as he stared at her. *What in Sam's hill are you doing here?*

"I know I promised but it was important. I heard talk yesterday, bad talk. You said to let you know if anything happened, well now something did. " Beth smiled shakily. "They're coming."

Ike paled, a fine tremor raced over his body at her words. *How long?*

"I heard Aunty Essie talking to someone, didn't recognize 'em. They want to lock us up, Ike! Put us in jail until the trial. Ain't heard of anyone being arrested and the marshal's at the house everyday." Beth wrung her hands. "I don't know why. I heard 'em talking yesterday, they were going on about how it was best for all concerned. Aunt Essie agreed with that stupid deputy and I came here."

*But why go to her?* Ike frowned uncertainly. *The Marshal knows where I am, he's sent a deputy over here a couple of times.*

Beth sank onto the edge of a bunk and stared at him, horror and fear in her gaze. "You don't think it could be -" The terror in her voice enough to make the others skin crawl.

*I don't know. I don't want to stick around and find out either. You didn't walk did you?* Ike ignored the others as he rushed to his trunk and threw it open.

"No, I took Aunty Essie's pretty bay. Ike they ain't gonna stop you know that right?"

Ike shot her a dark glare and shifted, *You're gonna have to get changed. Dress is pretty but it's gonna be in the way.*

Beth glanced down at her clothes, "I ain't got nothing else to wear Ike. Alls I got under it is my nightshift. Aunt Essie didn't want me riding." Beth lifted the hem of her skirt to reveal lace and her bare feet. "Said I should rest."

Ike rolled his eyes and shook his head as he dug in his truck. He pulled out a pair of trousers and his spare shirt. He tossed them at her, *Get changed. I've got a run this morning, headed west. You can tag along.*

"Won't your boss get mad?" Beth whispered her hands tight on the clothes he'd given her. "I mean ain't you supposed to work alone?"

"Ike, there ain't no need to run from this." Buck started calmly. "Look whatever's coming we'll help you deal with it."

Ike glanced at him and shook his head. There was no way he'd drag his friends into this mess, all he wanted was to get to safety. Being here was a risk that they didn't need. *No.*

"Ike, we're your friends, your family." Lou glanced at the others. "There are five of 'em and seven of us. You don't believe for a moment that we'd let you go through this alone, do you? If you do, you're wrong. Family don't turn their backs on each other."

Ike glanced from them to Beth who stood clutching his spare clothes a terrified look on her face. True more guns would be better but what would they do if they knew the truth? How would his friends react to know that he'd lain with a woman to save her from being tormented by the monsters who would have taken her violently? Moreover, could he live with himself if he didn't take their help and it cost him Beth?

To be Continued...

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