His Prairie Duchess

by Kit Morgan

  “I say, has anyone seen Sadie?” Harrison asked. I can’t find her.”

  “While you men were fetching Mr. King, she went into the barn with Aunt Irene to help get the cake ready.” Belle told him.

  “Very good then, I’ll see if Cozette is with her. In the mean time dear brother, you had better run upstairs and get mother’s ring!”

  Duncan slapped his hand against his forehead. “Gads! I forgot about the ring!” He took off toward the house at a fast walk. He wasn’t quite strong enough to make it a run.

  “I’d better go help with the cake and make more punch. We’ll serve it right after the “I do’s” and the kiss.” Belle said to Grandma who stood nearby. She started for the barn just as Harrison came walking toward her.

  “No one is in the barn. I can’t understand where she’s got to.” Harrison said.

  Belle looked about. “My guess is the kitchen then. I’ll got fetch them.”

  Belle turned and started for the house. By the time she entered the kitchen Duncan was just coming down the stairs.

  “I found it! I can’t belive I forgot!” Duncan told her as he made for the back door.

  Belle laughed then suddenly realized they were the only ones in the kitchen. “Duncan, where’s Sadie? Was she upstairs?”

  Duncan stopped dead in his tracks. He looked out into the barn yard at the people, the decorations, the barn itself. A cold dread suddenly gripped him. It coiled about his gut, and he knew. Knew something terrible had happened and that he hadn’t been there to stop it.

  He burst out the back door and all but flew off the porch. “Harrison!”

  Harrison came running, Colin close behind. Belle ran out the back door as Duncan again stopped and stilled himself as if listening.

  “She’s gone.” He whispered. “Something’s happened to her.” He looked Harrison right in the eye. “Where’s Sadie?”

  “I dare say, Duncan. But you’re beginning to scare me.” Harrison told him.

  Colin’s eyes widened. He turned to the townsfolk and ran into their midst. He spoke in low tones to several of the men who quickly began to look about.

  “Sarah!” Doc yelled as he looked for his wife.

  Other men began to call thier wives to them and soon the women had been rounded up. All but a few.

  “Good Lord.” Harrison breathed. “Where are they?”

  “Who else is missing?” Duncan asked as Sheriff Hughes approached.

  “What’s going on? Someone gone missing?”

  Duncan nodded. “We can’t find Cozette or Sadie. Two of the settler’s women have also disappeared.”

  “And Aunt Irene.” Belle added, her eyes wide.

  Sheriff Hughes looked at her in shock. “Your aunt Irene is missing too? Now don’t that beat all.” He said and scratched the back of his head. “Well, only one thing to do. Let’s go find em.”

  “But Sheriff!” Belle began. “We don’t even know where to look!”

  Duncan’s entire face turned positively murderous. “I have a pretty good idea.” He pushed out and stormed toward the barn.

  Thackary Holmes had just emerged with a glass of punch in his hand. He managed to take a sip just before Duncan’s fist came out of nowhere to hit him square in the jaw. The blow knocked the dandy to the dusty ground and sent the punch glass flying into the air. Harrison caught it before it could hit the dirt and shatter.

  The two brothers glanced at each other in triumph.

  “You bloody well better have a good explanation for that, Cooke!” Thackary spat.

  Duncan slowly looked at him. “The name is Sayer, and I bloody well did have a good reason for that. Where are they?”

  “What are you talking about? Where is who?” Thackary asked as he picked himself up from the ground.

  Mr. Ashford suddenly appeared. “You struck him without proper cause. That’s considered assault you know.”

  Duncan and Harrsion exchanged a quick look. “Shut up and stay out of this.” Duncan spat and shoved him out of the way. He grabbed Thackary by his coat. “I said, where are they?”

  “And I said, what are you talking about?”

  “You good for nothing bloody bast...”

  “Duncan! Harrison! Come quick!” Colin yelled from inside the barn.

  Duncan seethed, his eyes narrowed to slits, and pushed Thackary from him. He turned to the nearest man, Mr. MacDonald. “He doesn’t leave.” Duncan pushed out.

  The tall Scot eyed Thackary as if amused. “Dinna worry, laddie. This Sassanach devil isna going anywhere.”

  Much to the horror of Thackary Holmes, the Scotsman grabbed him by the back of his collar and picked him up off the ground with one arm. Mr. Berg stood next to him and smiled as he watched Thackary’s feet helplessly dangle above the ground.

  Duncan stormed into the barn followed by Harrison. Within moments both men stormed back out. They went straight to Thackary Holmes. Duncan got to him first. “You worthless scum! You’re behind this!”

  “Behind what?” Thackary choked out as he began to kick his feet in mid air.

  “This!” Duncan said and shoved a piece of paper in front of him.

  “What does it... say?” Thackary gasped.

  “Read it!”

  “I can’t with this brute choking... me!”

  Duncan nodded to Mr. MacDonald. The big Scot shrugged and dropped Thackary. He landed on the ground in a cough-filled heap. Mr. MacDonald took the note from Duncan as Thackary continued to cough and gasp for air.

  “Bring 100 pieces of gold to the old mining cave on the ridge in three days or we kill your women. Come by yourselves, or they’re just as dead.” He lowered the note and took in the shocked faces surrounding him. “Weel now, that’s a problem.”

  “Indeed.” Duncan snarled.

  “Kidnapped! I can’t beleive it!” Harrison said. “How?” We had our backs turned for only moments. How could they have planned such a thing?”

  “Ask him!” Duncan snapped and kicked at Thackary.

  “I hate to be the bearer of bad news, lads. But I dinna think this one had anything to do wi’ it.” Said Mr. MacDonald.

  “What? Of course he did!” Colin put in as he came out of the barn.

  “I arrived just before you ruffians went to yank your precious preacher from the privy!” Thackary argued. “I got dragged along with the rest of you!”

  “He’s right. I saw him there.” Doc Waller said as he got in on the conversation.

  “But if he had nothing to do with it, what happened to our women?” Harrison said as he seethed.

  “Weel lads, I suggest ye get yerselves up to that ridge and find out.”

  “Sheriff Hughes!” Harrison called.

  The Sheriff came running out of the barn. “Someone done took them all right. There’s signs of a struggle near the other barn door.”

  “Harrson, Colin.” Duncan began on a low hiss. “Saddle up. Let’s go get our women back.”

  * * *

  The townsfolk had never seen one of the Cooke brothers angry. Really angry. But that night they witnessed all three brothers not only angry, but ready to kill.

  They saddled their horses.

  They checked their guns.

  They mounted up as one.

  If Mrs. Dunnigan had been there, she would have surely swooned. But Fanny Fig filled in and did enough swooning for the both of them. It was a sight to behold, the three brothers as they turned their horses and galloped away. But it wasn’t just Duncan, Colin and Harrison that set out. Others followed, including the two giants Mr. MacDonald and Mr. Berg, both of which didn’t look any happier about the stolen women than the Cooke brothers.

  “C’mon boys!” Sheriff Hughes called to his newly formed posse. “Let’s go hunt us some scum!”

  Eleven men rode out after the Sheriff who in turn was behind Mr. MacDonald and Mr. Berg. Colin and Harrison were several lengths ahead of them, and in the lead was Duncan. A very angry Duncan.

  But what none of them not
iced were the three riders who brought up the rear. Mr. Mullmerk and his ‘dancing partner’. An elderly gentleman from the wagon train. All any of the townsfolk knew was his name was Angus and he seemed to fidget a lot.

  And behind them, came Thackary Holmes.

  Twenty men rode out that night. Jeb and his outlaw gang had no idea what was coming.

  And the men in hot pursuit of the outlaws, had no idea what was waiting.

  * * *

  Cozette was sick to her stomach and knew if they didn’t stop soon, she’d make a horrible mess. At least they hadn’t gagged her. Probably because it didn’t take them long to figure out she was mute. But the other women didn’t fare as well and had been tightly bound not only individually, but lashed to one another by the ankles. Why she herself had been set apart she had no idea. Mrs. Dunnigan didn’t look like her stomach felt any better than Cozette’s. The woman’s face had a definite green tint to it and only grew worse the longer she was jostled about.

  The outlaws stopped only once during their rapid flight from the ranch to steal horses from some poor unsuspecting farmer. One who was probably at the Triple C for the dance. After another couple of hours they switched out the horses, then continued on. They hadn't traveled in a direct line to the hills. Instead they cut diagonally across the prairie as if purposely taking the long way around. But if they were heading for the hills they were up against some mighty slow going. For one, they wouldn’t be able to get far with the wagon, and unless they planned on doubling up on the horses to transport their prisoners, they were out of luck. Especially whomever got put in charge of Mrs. Dunnigan.

  But after another hour it became apparent they were not going to head directly up into the hills. Instead they travelled along the line of trees bordering the prairie until they came to where the hillside turned into an incredibly steep incline. So steep it would be nearly impossible to climbed even on foot. A small creek flowed along the hill side’s base and they followed it upstream for awhile before they finally came to a stop.

  “Get em out and get em up!” Jeb ordered.

  Several of the men dismounted. One hopped into the wagon, grabbed Cozette, then tossed her down to another man. He turned and cut Sadie loose from the other women and tossed her down as well.

  “Take the wagon inside and put the fat one to work.” Jeb ordered. “I’m hungry.”

  Cozette and Sadie watched as one of the men drove the wagon around some trees, past some large bushes, and disappeared.

  “You two are gonna spend the night topside. Get em out of here. Johnny, you go with em.” He grabbed the younger man to him. “And make sure those Randall cousins don’t touch em. Especially the quiet one. Our new benefactor has plans for her.”

  “Er... Jeb? What’s a benefactor?”

  “Someone that’s gonna see to it we get mighty rich off these here gals.”

  Johnny scratched his head. “Oh, well if you say so.” He motioned for the two men to follow him. They carried the women in the same direction as the wagon. Around some trees, behind some large bushes and right into more bushes. Lots of them.

  Two more men rode up behind them. They dismounted then proceeded to shove some of the bushes aside. Cozette heard Sadie moan through her gag. The bushes concealed a cave entrance. A rather large cave entrance. Big enough in fact to get a single wagon through.

  Their captors carried them into the cave. Torches had just been lit and a fire was being built. Cozette caught the looks of fear of the remaining women as the men began to take them out of the wagon.

  Johnny grabbed an unlit torch and the scene quickly disappeared as Cozette and Sadie were carried into another cave. This one pitch black, as least until Johnny lit his torch. But the cave was so dark and so large, even his torch didn’t give enough light to see anything other than a big rock and part of the cave wall they were standing next to. Cozette and Sadie looked at one another. Just how big was this place?

  Johnny continued to lead them along the rock wall. If Cozette’s guess was right, they were moving on a decline as they traversed deeper into the cave. After about five minutes they reached what she hoped was the bottom.

  Johnny stuck his torch into a small crevice in the rock wall, disappered into the darkness a moment, then reappeared with more torches. He lit two and gave them to the men who had just set Cozette and Sadie on their feet. Bound as they were it was difficult to stand and both women collapsed onto the cold, cave floor.

  “Lets load em and head up.” Johnny said. He turned and walked away, the light of his torch still only enough to light their immediate surroundings.

  Dark, cold, and deathly silent was the enormous cavern the women found themselves in as the men lifted them up and threw them over their shoulders. They carried them for several moments through the intense darkness and stopped. Cozette listened as Johnny fiddled with something out of her line of vision. It squeaked and sounded as if a big heavy bucket was being drawn up from a well. There was a loud bang as something large hit the cave floor. The men then carried the women to where the sound had come from, and stepped onto something. They again set the women down and Cozette and Sadie were able to see what had made the noise.

  It was a small wooden platform about four feet wide and six feet long. It reminded Cozette of a raft she and her father had built once. Rope was attached to all four corners by heavy metal rings which in turn were secured to large bolts that had been screwed into logs that were part of the wooden frame. Each line of rope was then attatched to a large hook and pulley and more rope which disappeared into the darkness far above them.

  Cozette and Sadie instinctively began to struggle. Who wouldn’t knowing they were about to be lifted high above the cave floor through pitch blackness?

  “Stop that!” Johnny warned. “You might tip us and get us all killed!”

  The women stopped, thier breathing panicked as the men positioned themselves to get the best possible balance.

  “Now I’d be real still like if I were you because trust me. If’n you fall from this here lift, your life won’t be worth a plug nickle.”

  Cozette and Sadie both froze as one of the men pulled on a rope the women hadn’t noticed. A bell rang from somewhere high above. Within seconds there was the sound of pulleys and the platform began to lift up from the ground.

  Cozette and Sadie both closed their eyes in response as they left the cave floor and traveled up, up, and continued to do so. And still, the light from the torches could not cut through the darkness to illuminate the surrounding walls of the cavern.

  Cozette had never been more frightened in her life.

  * * *

  The posse slowed, they had finally reached the tree line. “Good Lord, Duncan!” Harrison said. “The horses need a rest or they’ll never make the climb.”

  His brother spun Romeo around to face him. “We stop for only a moment, do you hear?”

  “Duncan, you need to rest too.” Harrison began again. “You’re not yourself with this nasty business and still weak. How would Sadie and Cozette, not to mention the other women, feel about a half dead hero come to rescue them?”

  “Harrison’s right,” Colin added. “Slow down, man. They’ve not harmed them yet. There’s been no time.”

  Duncan took a deep breath. “Yet.”

  “Come again, man?” Harrison asked.

  “They’ve not harmed them, yet.”

  “Look,” Harrison began. “If anyone knows about this, it’s me. I remember what it took to rescue Sadie from the same sort of business. It’s my wife up there too, you know. And Colin’s...”

  Both Duncan and Harrison looked to Colin. “Well,” Colin began. “Mrs. Dunnigan is part of the family now, so to speak. We have to rescue her!”

  Duncan smiled and calmed somewhat. “You’re right of course. I apologize. My rash actions could have put us all in danger. Thank you for reminding me of my duty to you both.”

  Sheriff Hughes rode up. “What’s the plan, gentlemen?”

  “
Now that we’re here, I suppose it’s time to make one.” Duncan said.

  “How far up to the cave in question?” Colin asked.

  “A few miles. Slow going too as I recall.” Said the Sheriff.

  “Ah, can I say something?” One of the nearby riders asked.

  All heads turned in his direction. Mr. Mullmerk walked his horse forward.

  “What is it, son?” asked Sheriff Hughes.

  Mr. Mullmerk pulled out his watch. “It seems to me that at the rate we’ve been traveling, and considering the time involved with any head start the kidnappers might have, not to mention if one calculates the extra weight from the women their carrying, shouldn’t we have over taken them long ago?”

  Everyone stared at him a moment before his words began to sink in.

  “Er, ah...it’s just a thought.” Mr. Mullmerk added.

  “By jove,” Duncan began. “The man’s right. As hard as we’ve been driving the horses we should have easily overtaken them.”

  “Good Lord, we’ve been going in the wrong direction!” Harrison put in.

  “This is my fault.” Duncan said angrily. “Who knows where they are by now!”

  Mr. MacDonald rode into their midst. “What if they cut across the prairie in another direction? Seems to me that’s what I would do if I wanted to send someone on a wild goose chase. Would buy me the time I needed to get away, ye ken.”

  The Cooke’s and the Sheriff looked at one another.

  “Boys, we’ve been hoodwinked!” Sheriff Hughes exclaimed. “Those fellas were counting on us to hightail it after em!”

  “And in the wrong direction.” Colin said.

  “But the note said bring the gold to the old mining cave on the ridge in three days.” Harrison stated. “The only mining cave I know of is up this hill.”

  “Is there more than one cave?” Mr. Mullmerk asked.

  “This is the one everyone knows about, especially after what happened to Sadie.” Harrison told him. “It’s the cave one would think of first.”

  “But are there others?” Mr. MacDonald asked.

  “Yes. But no one goes there on account those mines are extrememly dangerous. Folks been known to go up there and never come back.” Sheriff Hughes explained.