“Put her over here next to me,” Liam told him. “Get some rope and tie her to the chair and gag her.”
Victor put her in the Chair and Jeffrey tied her up and gagged her. Victor laughed at Jeffrey.
Jeffrey looked at him and asked, “What the hell are you laughing at me for?”
You let a w woman knock you out. You’re pathetic.”
“Oh yeah, I’m pathetic am I?” Jeffrey pulls out a knife’
Liam yells, “Knock it off you two! You’re driving me crazy with all your bellyaching. Jeffrey, you go watch the front door. Victor, did you cut the telegraph lines like I told you?”
“Yes Liam. I cut the wire like you told me. No messages are going in or out. I can promise you that.”
“Good,” Liam says.
“Liam. Why can’t we just get out of here?” asked Jeffrey. “Start over. Before it’s too late?”
“You idiot. I told you I ain’t never leaving this town. This is my town. As soon as this sheriff is dead, things will go back to normal. Besides, if we left now this sheriff will have everyone after us. We need to end this now. If I have to, I’ll burn this damn town down. Now get back up there and watch the streets like I told you to. Victor, you get up there with this idiot and help him watch the street.”
Looking at Abagail, Liam smiles at her as he reaches and touches her hair. Abagail pulled her head back trying to get away.
“Abagail,” Liam began. You know it ‘cause of the sheriff? As soon as I kill him today you’ll be all mine.”
Abagail shook her head. Liam reached and pulled her gag down.
“Did you have something to say?”
“Please don’t kill Adam? He doesn’t even carry a gun. He’s unarmed. Please, I’m begging you.”
“Don’t worry, today he will use a gun. I’ll give him a fighting chance before I kill him.”
“He won’t use it,” Abagail said between sobs.
“He will today. If he won’t put on a gun belt, I’ll have Victor kill you.”
He put the gag back in Abagail’s mouth, and laughed. “Don’t worry. It’s will all work out I have it all planned out. You don’t worry about a thing. It’s all gonna work itself out.”
Owen dressed and noticed Abagail’s note stating that she went into town to make Adam and Nate breakfast asking him to join them at the sheriff’s office. So Owen decided to walk to town and stretch his legs. That way he could pick up his buggy in town, saving Adam the trip to bring it back.
Adam woke at dawn. His ribs were sore from last night. Nate walked out of the back room and said, “You’re up early. I heard you walking around.”
“Ribs hurting a little. That and I’m worried for you today. That’s a hurricane you’re going into.”
“Don’t sweat it. I’ll be fine. I charted the course exactly and if I follow the same exact path, the tear in time or portal or whatever you call it, will get me home. And tonight I’ll be back at the harbor, pop open a few cold ones, call up a few ladies I know have a party and forget this crazy experience.”
“I’m happy for you. Go and enjoy your life. I know you think I’m crazy, but I like it here. And, I found the love of my life here. As soon as this Liam thing is done, I’m going to ask her father for permission to marry her, if she’ll have me?”
“I’m truly happy for you man. And I will miss you, but I know this is what you want.”
Just then Owen walks into the office. “Good morning boys,” he says.
“Good morning,” they say together.
“Where is Abagail?” he asked. “She was going to make a going away breakfast for you.”
“I haven’t seen Abagail last night,” Adam said concerned.
“Strange, she left this note,” Owen hands the note to Adam.
Adam reads it and says, “I see what it says, but we haven’t seen her.”
Nate speaks up and says, “I bet she hasn’t finished it yet. She’s probably at her restaurant cooking it, as we speak.”
“Maybe. But there is something a little weird? She’s always up and going early.”
Owen looks out the window and says, “Her horse is there in front of the restaurant. But, I don’t see any smoke coming out the stove pipe. I’m going over there and check on her. I’ll be right back.”
“Hold on,” said Adam. “I’ll go with you.”
“It’s okay, you guys rest. I’ll be right back.”
Owen started across the street toward the restaurant.
“Liam,” said Jeffrey. “We have company coming.”
“Who is it?”
“It’s Owen. Abagail’s father.”
“Let him in. It’s about time to get this party started.”
Liam laid it on the table in front of him. Abagail’s eyes had a look of terror in them.
“Calm down. I ain’t gonna kill your father. I’m just gonna scare him a little and have him take a message to the sheriff.”
Owen walked up to the door of restaurant, opened it and stepped inside. “Abagail,” he called. “Where are you?”
“Right here Owen. Liam said.”
Owen saw Abagail tied and gagged seated next to Liam. He felt a gun in his back. He glanced back and saw Jeffrey and Victor behind him.
“Take a seat, Old Man.” Pushing out a chair with his foot.
Jeffrey pushed Owen down in the chair.
Liam picked up his gun and started to twirl it.
“Please don’t hurt my daughter,” Owen pleaded. “What do you want?”
“I’m not gonna hurt your daughter. I want you to deliver a message for me to the sheriff.”
“A message? What message?”
“Tell him to meet me in the street at noon and I would recommend he wear a gun. Me and him are gonna have a shootout. If he don’t show up, Victor will kill Abagail. Just him. If I see anybody else, I’ll kill Abagail, do you understand?”
“But he doesn’t use guns.”
“That’s his worry, not mine. He better be out there at noon with a gun or your daughter dies. Now get out of here.”
Owen stood and headed to the door. Jeffrey opened it and Owen walked out. Adam met him at the door, noticing Owen looked upset.
“Owen, what’s wrong?”
Owen told Adam everything, “Liam said Adam better face him at noon and wear a gun or Abagail dies. If anyone leaves the office except Adam, Abagail dies.”
Nate asked, “What do we do? I can try to sneak out somehow.”
“No,” said Owen. “Liam will kill her?”
Nate says, “Adam can’t go out there. He’ll be gunned down in cold blood.”
“I’m going out there like he wants.”
“You can’t? He’ll kill you,” Nate says.
“I’ve got no choice Abagail needs me.”
Adam walks to his desk, pulls out a gun belt and put it on. He loaded it and pushed it into the holster. He checked his pocket watch. It said 11:51A.M.
“Nate. Promise me something.”
“Anything.”
“If I fail and I die. Please make sure Abagail is safe. That’s all I ask.”
“I will take care of her. I swear.”
“Owen, I love Abagail. I will do everything I can to protect her. I wanted you to know I was going to ask your permission to marry her once this was all over, but looks like I may never get that chance. I just wanted you to know how I felt about her.”
“I know you care for her. Thank you for doing this. Please bring back my daughter to me. And If you had asked to marry my daughter, I would have said yes.”
Adam checked his watch again. It was 11:58. He headed to the door and walked out into the street. He stood there and waited. Jeffrey turned to Liam, “The sheriff is out there and he’s wearing a gun.”
“Good. Maybe he ain’t a coward after all like I thought he was. Victor, bring Abagail outside with you. I want you to stand to the right of me. Hold your gun on her. Jeffrey, you stand on the left of me. When I draw, you do the same and shoo
t him down. Today we take this town back.”
Jeffrey opened the door and they all walked out. The people all ran back inside their houses. The town had suddenly become a ghost town. Liam stepped out into the street. Victor stood to his right and Jeffrey to his left.
“I did what you asked,” stated Adam. “Now let Abagail go?”
“Don’t worry about Jeffrey and Victor. They’re just here to make sure no one interferes.
“Does it really have to come to this?” Adam asked Liam.
“You had your chance to leave, but no, you had to play hero. Now deal with the consequences. That’s enough talking.”
Liam opens his jacket and exposes his gun. He says, “I’m gonna count to three. When I say three you better reach for your gun or not. Either way you’re gonna be dead.”
“One …” Adam glances at Jeffrey and sees his hand shaking, then notices Victor has Abagail has his gun pointed at her. Liam is standing there so calm and cool. “Two . . .” Adam takes a deep breath. “Three . . .” Liam goes for his gun and as Jeffrey started to reach for his, Victor turns his gun toward Adam. Adam draws his gun and fires three shots. Liam is shocked as he sees Jeffrey laying on the ground with a bullet hole in his head and Victor the same. Liam glances down and sees blood pulsing from his chest. He gasps for air and falls to the ground.
Adam walks over and Liam looks up at him.
“I never said I couldn’t use a gun. I said I don’t carry a gun.”
Liam eyes closed as he took his last breath.
Adam placed his gun back in the holster and rushed to Abagail. He untied her and removed the gag. Abagail threw her arms around his neck and started kissing his face all over.
“I thought you said you don’t use guns?” she said teasingly.
“My dad was in the military and before he died, he took me to the shooting range all the time. I loved it, but when he died, I refused to use guns again. But you being in danger, I put it on to save your life. You’re my everything. I’d be lost without you. I love you.”
“And I love you.”
Owen and Nate came running out of the jail and were so happy. “Adam did it,” they said. “He saved Abagail.”
“You did it man. I couldn’t believe my eyes you were so fast.”
Owen agreed, “That was the most amazing thing I have ever seen.”
“Three men are dead. I’m not proud of myself. There needs to be another way.”
“You did what you had to do. I’m proud of you,” Abagail told him.
“Yes, I did what had to be done. I love you Abagail. Will you be alright while I go to see that Nate gets to his boat?”
“Of course. You go ahead. It was great getting to know you, Nate. We wish you a safe journey home and come back and see us someday.”
“Thank you Abagail. I will miss you all. Do me a favor and take care of my best friend and keep him out of trouble.”
“Of course. We’ll do our best. Good bye.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Owen grabbed Nate’s hand, “We wish you a safe journey, but are you sure you want to sail out today? It’s starting to cloud up and looks like it may be rough weather.”
“I’ll be fine. Thank you.”
Nate hugged Abagail and Owen. He climbed on his horse. Adam mounted his horse and both men rode out of town. Once they reached the beach, they dismounted. The clouds were becoming very dark and the waves were getting rough.
“That storm looks like the one we went through.”
“Exactly. That’s what I’m hoping. I need to get out there. I’ve got sixty minutes before the big part hits. I have to get on the same exact course.”
“Well, my friend, be careful and get home safe and sound. I’m going to miss you.”
“I’ll miss you too.”
Nate gave Adam a big hug and the two friends said goodbye one last time. Adam helped Nate get the life raft out and helped push off. Nate paddled to the boat. He climbed up the ladder, fired up the engines and back up on the deck, he turned and waved one more time. He wiped a tear from his cheek. Turned back to the controls, using the automatic motor to bring the anchor up. He shifted into forward and headed out to sea. He kept on course best as he could. The compass was still out of sync, so he used his charts and kept the boat going out to sea till he reached the same area. He dropped the anchor and waited for the storm to hit. He went up on deck and watched as the sky got darker and the water was becoming rough. The waves were hitting the boat pretty hard. He saw the nasty clouds coming up from behind him and said, “Here we go. This it.”
He starts the engines, raises the anchor, and opens the throttle all the way. He heads back toward the harbor as fast as he can. The waves rock the boat back and forth and the storm is all around him. He holds his course, as the waves hit the boat head on. Nate holds on to the wheel for all he can. The storm is right on top of him. He knew this was an insane idea, but he keeps the engines open all the way. He battles Mother Nature every inch of the way, then he sees a giant wave coming right at him. He turns the boat directly into the wave. The boat is rocked and nearly capsized. He loses his grip on the wheel, slips and falls on the floor. He jumps up and grabs the wheel. Suddenly, the engine stops and all the power shuts off. Everything is deathly silent. He makes his way to the deck and looks outside. The silence was an eerie silence and the ship was surrounded by a thick fog as before. Just like before the fog clears and the power comes back on. He notices the satellite compass is working again. He turns on the radio and hears static and hopes the temporary fix he did to the radio worked and prays he made it home. He was almost out of fuel.
He turns on the Coast Guard channel and says, “May day. May day. Stranded at sea. Caught in a storm. Ran out of fuel, then he gives his position. He repeats the message and waits for a response.
After what seemed like an eternity there was a reply. “This is the US Coast Guard. We are deploying a rescue ship to your location. Is anyone hurt on board?”
“No. It’s just me. I’m fine. Just hit my head. Say, this is going to sound weird, but what year is it?”
“It’s 2015 sir. I will inform our medic you have a head injury. They will be there shortly.”
Nate made it home. He had tears of joy running down his face, he was so happy. About thirty minutes later, the Coast Guard came and took him aboard their ship and towed his boat back to the harbor.
The medic examined Nate and gave him an all clear. When he reached the home shore, he decided to go for a ride in his car. He enjoyed the ride very much.
EPILOGUE
Nate was so happy to be home, but he began to think about Adam and wondered how he made out. He remembered there was an old Historical Society group on the island. He was happy to see they were open and went inside. An elderly lady asked, “May I help you?”
“Yes. I was wondering if you have any records of a town near here from the 1880s? It was called Walton Town?”
“I’ll check,” and walked to another part of the building. “Actually sir, you’re standing in Walton Town?”
“What? What do you mean?”
“This area is Walton Town or at least where it used to be. The Town Elders of that town helped the town prosper and grow and it has become the city we all live in today. We have a picture of the Town Elders if you would like to see it?”
She handed Nate an old picture frame and in the picture Nate saw Adam and Abagail standing together with twin boys. Owen and Mayor Johnathan were all standing together outside Owen’s law office.
Nate handed the photo back and said, “Thank you.” He turned and walked away with a tear in his eye.
Other Books by Dennis Gager
Billy Rabbit Saves Christmas
Billy Rabbit's Halloween Adventure
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