WILD WILD WEST

[Jonas]

Meanwhile back on the trail,

Lynn riding in the back of the Jone's wagon, takes a deep pull on the pipe offered him by Charlie.
"Lynn, we will get children back. They will not be harmed."
Charlie took the pipe from Lynn and handed it to Jones.
"Listen to him Lynn, Charlie..." Jones inhales deeply from the pipe, "...knows what he's taking about. We can sense it. As long as Lucinda remains safe, they will."
"I wish I could be as sure as you boys are. Lucinda, shes what this is all about? What about John Cooke.?" Lynn looked at one man and then the other. The old men turned to each other in a silent agreement. Charlie nodded to Jones who spoke.
"Lynn, for John the chances are not good at all. We must do what we can for the girl."

 

[Moneytalks]

Travis Duncan watched Vixen carefully. Where was she finding all her strength? He knew she was having trouble with her memory. He was sure of it. He noted hoofbeats drawing nearer. He carefully peeked behind the heavy curtain and saw the familiar figures on horseback. He turned to his employer. "Jodie is back."
"How many?"
"He has maybe four men."
"Hmmm"

Vixen listened to this exchange with wide eyes, trying desperately to find some sort of hope of escape from these two lunatics. There was a sharp tap on the side of the carriage. That deep voice replied, "Jodie... did you complete your task?"
"Ummm... boss... it was kinda more complicated than we imagined..."
Silence.
Travis smiled a cold amused smile that made Vixen shiver uncontrollably.
"So you failed then?" Cook Snr continued.
"Sir... they ambushed us... even the women fold were armed... we got the Sheriff though and the deputy's young'ns"
Another silent pause.
"Did I ask for the deputy's children?"
"N..n..no Sir..."
Cook Snr sighed. "Well then... looks like you've made sure that the deputy follows us haven't you?"
"I... err..."
Travis' eyes gleamed merrily as he listened to Jodie's stammering. Vixen was suddenly sure she didn't want to have anything to do with any of them.

Travis suddenly caught her frightened stare and held her eyes with his. She was caught. The eyes glowed and her own glowed in response. She felt suddenly calmer.
"Let me have the children, they know me..." She found herself saying.
Cook Snr looked at his daughter and smiled slowly.
"Good idea..."

 

[Jonas]

Lynn jumped out the back door of the wagon, onto his horse that was tied to the back. He rode up to the drivers seat and tipped his hat to Dawn.
"Keep it moving, we got a long ways to go." He had to trot to catch up to Lewis's rig.
"Lewis, you got any idea what we are gonna do once we catch up with these boys?"
"Other than shoot'em, can't say I've given it much thought." Lewis slowed the pace of his horse. "Why Lynn, you got a plan?"
"Not me, but the old men got an idea. There's an old abandoned mine about a mile outta' Capital City. We'll make camp there and talk this over."

In the wagon, Charlie chanted as Jones stirred a small pot, fired by several candles.
"The other Charlie, how strong is he?" The old Indian stopped his chant and took several deep breaths.
"I fear him Jones. Even together, we not have the medicine to match this one." Jones looked into Charlie's eyes. Then he joined the medicine man in his chant.

 

[Moneytalks]

Lucinda felt strange like she was living in a dream. She wasn't scared, but she felt... different. The children sat quietly either side of her. They remembered her and she would smile at them comortingly when they whimpered in fear. She would sometimes feel the fog lifting and then that little man would look into her eyes as if reading her very mind and she'd feel... calm again.

Travis Duncan watched Lucinda and smiled to himself. She was adorable, even more attractive than he had imagined from the reports he had read. It was an added bonus, if she really was the product of John Cook and "that woman's" union then she would be perfect. He could sense something in her. It was pure and largely untapped from what he could tell. He felt himself responding physically to her beauty and was surprised at himself. He finally found his link with her again though and he intended to keep it unbeknown to her dottering old fool of a father. He frowned as he considered his plan.

 

[Jonas]

The travelers sat in a circle around a small fire. Weary from a day of hard riding, they sat in silence. Lynn couldn't remember the last time he had slept. He felt he had to keep moving, he had to find his children. Jones finally spoke.
"We dare not approach in the darkness. The best time will be dawn. Lynn, you must wait. Laura and Dawn are best suited to enter the city as our scouts. They can find out where the captives are being held without raising alarm. You and Lewis must rest and prepare for the battle to come?"

 

[Moneytalks]

Finally they reached Capitol City. It was dark and she noted the ugly man who claimed to be her father seemed more spritely at night. She flinced from his offered had but he deftly grabbed it up and helped her from the carriage. The children clung to her skirts and she held them to her comfortingly. She was feeling more herself and she was starting to realise it was the little man that was making her feel so foggy all the time. He seemed irritated now when she avoided his gaze.

 

[Jonas]

Lynn waited until the others were settled in for the night, and quietly left. He walked his horse until he was out of ear shot, then mounted and rode hard to Capital City. He reined in just outside of town, hiding his horse in a gulley. The City was dark and quiet. As he approached, moving from cover to cover. He heard dogs barking and the echo of a piano from the saloon down the street. Not knowing where to look for the captives, Lynn crept down the main street watching and listening for any clue. A child's voice drew his attention. He headed towards the sound.

 

[Moneytalks]

Vixen sat with the children around her. They were scared, and truth be told so was she. Terrified in fact. The man with the twisted face had taken the little man with him and left her in his room. She'd checked the doors. Locked of course. The children whimpered and she shushed them gently gathering them close. She found a little comfort in their trusting warm bodies cuddling close to her.

The eldest spoke... "Ms Vixen?"
"Yes sweetheart?"
"Do you think our daddy will find us?"
Vixen paused before she replied... "yes sweetling... your daddy is a very brave deputy... he won't let anything happen to you." The child nodded confidently as if she only needed confirmation of something she knew very well.
The young boy looked up at Vixen... his eyes full of fear... "that man... he didn't LOOK right." Vixen's eyes darkened as she recalled her vision. "I know darlin'... but it's okay... he won't hurt you... I won't let him... okay?"
He didn't look convinced but he rested his troubled head on her lap. The youngest two sat almost unaware of the trouble they were in. They amused themselves playing with a piece of ribbon Vixen had taken from her hair for them. They giggled and laughed with each other. The sound mildly comforting. Vixen considered the time. She sighed. She was no mother... but she was pretty sure it was past their bedtime. Her brow was furrowed with worry for these kids who had helped her recover from her injuries.

 

[poohlive]

Lewis tripped, he fell down with an ooommmmffff.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
Lewis got up, dusting himself off, "Following you of course. It took a while too, you were going very fast."
Lewis followd Lynn. He didn't know where they were going, but all be damned if he didn't stay alone in a deserted alley in Capitol City, everyone knew of the stories...

 

[Jonas]

Lynn turned and gestured Lewis to silence. The men slowly approached a large house set the width of the front yard back from the main street. The yard was overgrown, with two large trees and several wild bushes. This made for perfect cover as Lynn crept up to a window. There was a lamp burning in the room. Lynn looked over the window ledge and his heart jumped. Vixen and Ryan were in the room. He rushed back to Lewis.
"This is the place, go check the back for guards, I'll try and find a way in from the second floor."

 

[Moneytalks]

The short man entered the rooms again startling the children. He was followed by Jodie and some other henchmen who quickly gathered the children dragging them outside. Vixen screamed out trying to pull them back towards her, suddenly protective of them. The short man backhanded her across the face causing her to fall to her knees. He was much stronger than he seemed. Vixen refused to cry out though. She clutched her face which throbbed painfully and she blinked back her tears defiantly. "What are you going to do to them?" She hissed at him. He seemed amused by her question... and something else... impressed maybe?

"Don't worry Ms. Malone... they will be fine so long as you co-operate."
Vixen didn't like the sound of this. The children whimpered with fear seeing Vixen fall. She smiled comfortingly at them. "It'll be okay... they won't hurt you if you do what they say okay? Remember what I told you..." she insisted catching their eyes and nodding at them... willing them to take comfort in their father's love for them. Jodie pulled them outside and Vixen bit her lip hoping against hope that they would be okay.

"Now... Ms. Malone... let's get down to business... I want you to look into my eyes..."

 

[Jonas]

Lynn climbed a tree jumping over to a porch surrounding the second floor of the house. Landing with a thud, he froze, waiting and listening for any responce. The only sound was from the town behind him, until he heard a child. Crawling to a window he saw the children huddled together on the floor of the room by a bed. The window was open.
Lynn stepped through the window and smiled at the children who screamed. Before he could turn the blow struck him in the head. He fell, dazed. Standing above him was Jodie.
"Well lookat what I got here? The deputy of Pleasant Valley himself." Lynn tried to rise, getting a kick in the belly for his effort. "Stay down deputy, I'll tell you when to move."