Sue and the men were saddling their horses and discussing the work for the day that needed to be completed.

“We need to complete the fencing on the north pasture and those dams before the rain comes.” said Sue as she tightened the girth on Satan’s saddle.

Hank, Curly and Bill volunteered to fence while Harold and Pedro would finish building the dams to catch water for the cattle to help them through any dry seasons coming up. Davey and Jose would spend the day working with the string of horses they purchased from Mrs. Swenson.

“Miss Sue! Miss Sue!” Maria called from the yard.

Running out of the barn, they saw Jack’s empty horse with reins trailing. Walking up slowly and talking quietly, Sue grabbed the reins of the frightened animal. Rubbing the neck of the chestnut, she stopped paralyzed with fear as her eyes caught the sight of the blood on the saddle.

Spinning around she shouted, “Hank, get the buckboard. Pedro and Maria get some bedding and bandages. Bring the wagon down the road til you see us. HURRY!”

Sue and the rest of the crew ran to their horses and galloped down the road that Jack would’ve taken back to the ranch. The faces of the riders grim as they wondered what condition their friend was in. Praying the fates would be kind to them that morning.

Seeing a body laying in the dust of the road, Sue jumped off Satan and ran to his side. Kneeling in the blood pooling around his body, she reached a shaky hand to his throat, praying for a pulse. ‘Come on Jack!’ she thought desperately.

“Yes! I can feel a faint pulse. Davey, get the doc!” shouted Sue as she took the sling hanging around her neck and pressed hard onto his wound with her hands, concerned about the lack of color in his face.

Bill, took over when the strength in her arms was fading, keeping the pressure tight to help stem the flow of blood while Sue whispered words into his ear.

“Fight Jack! You can do it!”

Harold and Curly rushed to the buckboard when Hank and Pedro arrived. Grabbing more bandages, Hank took Bill’s place and held the new bandage over the blood soaked sling. The pressure on the wound slowly ebbing the flow of the precious red liquid.

“Alright, lift him up and bring ‘em to the wagon. Hank keep the pressure on that wound.” said Sue as she climbed in the back of the wagon.

The men gently lifted Jack’s body and placed him on his stomach in the wagon while Hank kept the pressure on the wound. Sue covered him gently and looked at Curly. “Curly, you better go get Charity Jones and the sheriff.”

“Okay, boss.” said Curly as he hurried to his horse and raced him to Stockton.

Pedro climbed in the driver’s box of the wagon while Bill and Harold mounted their horses. Bill grabbed Satan’s reins and heard the boss say “Pedro, lets go but take it slow and steady. I don’t wanna cause him any more pain.”

“Yes, Boss.” replied Pedro as they started back to the ranch with Sue whispering encouragement steadily on the long drive home.

“Jack, we’re almost home. Stay with us. We need you my friend.”

Sue relieved Hank and kept pressure on the wound as they continued their steady journey. Her mind was reeling with thoughts of anger and revenge.

Looking up, Hank held his breath at the look in her eyes, “Whoever did this is as good as dead. Mark my words, Hank, it’s not gonna be a quick death, either.”

Seeing her arms tremble, Hank covered her hands with his. “I’ll take over now, boss. He’s in good hands.”

Sue smiled gratefully at the gentle giant, “I know Hank. We all love him.”

Pedro nodded as he listened to the conversation between Sue and Hank. ‘We’ll find out who did it boss’ he promised as the ranchhouse came into sight.

Maria held the door open as the men carried the foreman inside. Bringing him to the Boss’ bedroom, they gently laid him on the bed.

“Maria, the doc’s gonna need some water boiled. Pedro, fill that basin with water and bring me a washcloth. Bill and Harold, take off his boots and pants. Hank keep the pressure on and I’m gonna cut his shirt off around your hands. I don’t want to loosen any clots that may have formed.”

Working gently and steadily, Jack was stripped of his garments and covered with a blanket. Sue washed around the wound as much as she could while Hank kept the pressure on.

“Let’s see if he’s still bleeding.” said Sue as Hank slowly lifted his hands and she peeked under the bandages. “Looks good, boys.”

Wiping the face of her foreman, she continued talking to him as if he were awake, “So Jack, when ya’ gonna marry Charity? Don’t tell me you’re not, cause me and the boys know better, don’t we guys?”

A chorus of “yes” could be heard from the men who watched their boss tenderly caring for their friend.

“Miss Sue, Davey and the doctor are here.” said Maria as she carried fresh water in.

Davey and Dr. Merar entered the room. Nodding to the men, Howard walked to the bed as Sue started talking, “We finally got the bleeding stopped, doc. He lost an awful lot of blood before we even got there. We didn’t want to break any clots that had formed so we left the part of the shirt where his wound is. He’s also got a fever.”

Howard smiled as he examined the wound, “Very wise of you not to remove the shirt, Miss Weston. I need some more light. We may need to do a transfusion. Has he ever had one before?”

Sue sighed as Harold brought another lamp to the bedside table, “Yeah, one other time before. Both Hank and I’ve given him blood.”

“That’s good. He’ll need some from both of you. Hank, come sit over here and I’ll get you all hooked up. Maria, can assist me. The rest of you can wait outside.”

Stunned, Sue looked at Howard, “I’m not leaving doc.”

“I need my full concentration on helping this young man. I’ll come get you when I’m done.” explained Howard softly.

The others walked out and Bill gently took his boss’ arm as he lead her from the room , “Com’n boss, let the doc work.”

Curly raced down the street of Stockton and stopped in front of the sheriff’s office. Jumping down, he quickly tied his horse and ran inside the building.

“Sheriff!”

Nick and Heath looked up as Curly burst in the room. Fred looked at the frazzled man, “What’s the matter?”

“Someone shot Jack Franklin in the back!”

“What?” the three shouted at once and jumped to their feet.

“The boss said to get you and Miss Jones. The doc’s on his way out there now. It’s bad.” said Curly in a paniced voice.

Heath grabbed Curly by the shoulders and calmly said, “Go get Charity and bring her to the ranch. We’ll take the sheriff out there.”

“Okay, Heath” said Curly before he ran out the door and turned his horse towards the mission.

Heath, Nick and Fred rode to the Weston ranch, not speaking, but all with dark thoughts running through their minds. ‘Who would shoot a man like Jack in the back’. ‘Is it related to the shots someone took at Sue’. ‘Does this have anything to do with Barrett who’s at the morticians with a broken neck’.

Tying their horses in front of the house, they walked to the door where they were let in by Bill.

“Thanks for coming.” said Bill softly.

“How is he?” asked Heath as they followed Bill into the living room.

“Doc’s in with him now. Hank’s giving him some blood.” informed Bill as he gestured with his head towards the boss who was staring out the window with her back to them. “I’ll get ya’ some coffee.”

“I’ll help ya’” said Fred knowing the Barkleys wanted some time with alone with Miss Weston.

Heath walked over and stood by his friend, “Sue, he’s gonna be fine. Jack’s a tough man.”

Taking a drink of her coffee, Sue continued to look out the window, not speaking just staring.

Heath, concerned with the lack of response, said quietly, “Curly’s bringing Charity out. They should be here shortly.”

Looking back at Nick, Heath’s blue eyes were overfilled with concern when she didn’t speak or acknowledge his words.

Nick started to approach when the bedroom door opened and Hank exited.

Seeing Sue at the window, he walked over and spoke quietly, “Boss, the doc needs your blood now.”

Handing Heath her coffee cup, she turned and walked into the room closing the door behind her.

Hank, seeing the frowns on the faces of Heath and Nick, sighed “She’s upset and worried. I think she’s in shock and it hasn’t fully hit her yet.”

Heath nodded as Hank put an arm on his shoulder, “Lets go in the kitchen with the rest of the men.”

The three joined the rest of the crew and the sheriff in the kitchen where they were updating him on what happened that morning.

Dr. Merar completed the transfusion from Sue to Jack and looked in her eyes. “All things considering, your foreman’s a lucky man. The bullet missed his spine but nicked his spleen and I’ve had to remove it. He’s weak and he’s got a good fever going. If we can keep his fever under control and there are no complications, he has a good chance of making a full recovery. Rest will help replenish his strength and when he wakes up we’ll give him fluids to keep him hydrated.”

Sue nodded and said quietly, “Thanks doc. Can you tell the others?”

“Sure, I’ll be right back.”

When Howard and Maria left the room, Sue leaned down and kissed Jack on the forehead. “Jack, I’ll be back in a bit. You rest and Charity’ll be here shortly to take good care of you.”

Taking her rifle and extra bullets from the closet, Sue opened her window and dropped to the ground. At the corner of the house, she waited until Charity and Davey entered and closed the door. Walking over, she led Satan out of the yard before she climbed on and rode down the road to where Jack had been found.

Jose, seeing Sue leave on Satan, ran to the house. “Miss Sue rode away.”

Bill stood up. “Dammit. She’s probably gonna see what she can find out about who shot Jack. She’s so stubborn!”

Howard shook his head, “You better bring her back. She’s gonna be weak from the blood she gave to Jack.”

Nick rose and said, “I’ll go get her.”

“I’ll come with you, Nick.” said Heath.

“No, I think you should stay here, Heath. If I have to drag her back, it’s better if she holds it against me and not you.” explained Nick softly as he put a hand on his brother’s shoulder.

“Nick..”

“Heath, you and the others may be too close to her. Let me try.” urged Nick as he looked into his brother’s eyes.

Heath sighed, “Okay. I’ll wait here with the rest of the crew. Bring her back.”

“I will.” said Nick squeezing Heath’s shoulders before he walked out the door.

Approaching the spot where Jack had lain, Sue’s throat tightened with emotion as she thought of Jack laying unconscious in her bedroom. ‘Get a grip, girl! You can help him by finding out whoever did this.’

Stopping Satan a hundred yards away, she climbed down with her rifle in her hand. Walking forward, she slowly looked around the area, taking note of the landscape. Picturing in her mind, where Jack had been when he was shot and with her naked eye seeking out the areas where the shooter may have waited.

Hearing a horse approach, she looked back and saw Nick Barkley riding up and dismounting by Satan. Sighing and curbing the anger inside her, she stopped waiting for him to catch up.

“Hi Sue.” said Nick softly. “The doc’s concerned that you might be too weak to be out here after the transfusion.”

Nick waited for a response. It seemed as if he wouldn’t get one when Sue spoke quietly, “I’m gonna track a weasel, Nick. You’re welcome to come along.”

“Maybe we should wait for the Sheriff?”

“Can’t. See those clouds over the mountains, they’ll be here before you know it. I’m gonna see what I can find before it rains. It’s the least I can do for Jack.”

Nick nodded, “Okay, but I’m gonna stay with you. No telling if the shooter’s still here.”

Sue started towards the nearest possible ambush sight with Nick by her side. Stopping, she held onto his arm and said, “Can ya’ walk behind me? I don’t want any tracks messed up.”

Nick smiled, “Sure. Be the first time I ever walked behind a woman, well, other than my mother.”

Nick was rewarded with a slight smile as Sue nodded before continuing, “Thanks.”

Nick kept an eye on his chameleon and the surrounding area in case the shooter was still in the vicinity. He watched as Sue methodically eliminated the possible hiding places of the culprit. She didn’t speak or indicate that he was even there as she continued the meticulous work. Her face paled as noon approached but she didn’t stop fearful that she wouldn’t find what she needed before the rains came.

Nick, concerned at her pallor broke his silence, “Sue, you’re not looking too good.”

“I know, Nick. If I don’t find something soon, Mother Nature will put a stop to the search.” Sue replied in an exhausted voice.

Nick, looking at the clouds rolling in, almost stepped on her when she knelt suddenly to look at the ground.

“Sorry.” said Nick.

“This is the spot.” said Sue as she pointed out the boot tracks to Nick. “See he walked over behind that deadfall.”

Nick listened as Sue followed the tracks to the tree laying in the grass.

“Nick, look here. See that boot track and he put his rifle on the top of the log here. You can tell by the scrap marks. They’re new cause they’re not weathered and there was a dew this morning. There’s no moisture in those scrap marks.”

Nick’s eyes picked up all the hints with Sue’s help. Kneeling, she picked a cartridge up from the ground and tossed it to Nick. “Forty four.”

Using the butt of her rifle to stand up, she looked at Nick and frowned, “I need to find where his horse was.”

Nick nodded as she backtracked the path the shooter had taken. Seeing the tracks led to a grove of trees, she cocked her rifle and Nick drew his gun from its holster.

Entering the grove, she stopped and pointed out the horse track to Nick. “See, this horse has a chip in his front left shoe.”

“Yeah, I see it Sue. What about it?”

Looking towards the mountains through the trees, she replied coldly. “Same one that was on the mountain, Nick. It’s the same bastard that shot at me.”

Nick with a shocked look on his face, followed Sue’s gaze to the mountains. “Why would he shoot at you and Jack?”

“Don’t know. But he’s uping the ante of the game, Nick. By rights, Jack should be dead.” said Sue softly as she held onto his arm to steady herself as a wave of dizziness went through her.

“Com’on, lets get you home.” said Nick as he gently steered her back towards the horses. “We can tell Fred about the tracks and he can come out and see them for himself.”

Sue stumbled to her knees in the grass as her strength gave out and tears welled in her eyes. Nick kneeling in front of her, saw the emerald eyes filling with tears, “Are you hurt?”

Sue shook her head as the tears spilled over onto her cheeks. With her shoulders shaking as the sobs started, she asked Nick, “Why Jack? He’s a decent, caring man who would never hurt anyone. How could someone be so vile?”

“Jack’s gonna be fine, Sue.” said Nick softly as he brushed the tears from her cheeks.

“What if he goes after someone else I care about? Heath, Charity, the guys, you. Why can’t he just come after me and leave the people I care about alone?” gasped Sue, covering her eyes with her hands as the sobs wracked her body.

Nick wrapped his arms around his chameleon, as the dam holding her emotions in check, cracked and broke. Stroking her hair, he held her until the rushing waters had receeded.

As she leaned into his body, spent from the emotional outpour, he said “We’ll find whoever’s doing this, Sue. Trust me.”

Sue nodded and wiped her face, smiled slightly. “Sorry for being so female, Nick.”

Nick chuckled as he helped her to her feet. He brushed his fingertips against the tracks her tears had taken, “I don’t mind you being so female.”

Sue’s skin was tingling from Nick’s touch, it burned through her soul causing her body temperature to rise. Looking in the hazel eyes, she smiled warmly. “Don’t get used to seeing that side of me too often.”

Laughing, Nick gave her a quick hug before picking up her rifle, “Can you make it to the horses if I stay by your side?”

Sue nodded as the warmth rushed through her again, “Sure.”

“You do know that when you get back to the ranch, the doc and the others are gonna give you an earful.” teased Nick as they walked up to Satan.

Sue rolled her eyes and chuckled “You’d think being the boss would give me some leeway!”

“Not with that bunch at the house.” stated Nick firmly as he helped her on Satan.

Sue leaned down, kissed Nick gently on the cheek and said softly, “Thanks Nick.”

Nick feeling the kiss all the way down to his toes, smiled and squeezed her hand. “Anytime, my dear.”

John Travis crossed to the mantle. He picked up the tintype of his mother and lovingly caressed her face and stared into her eyes, “Soon I’ll have everything you wanted me to have, mother.”

Closing his eyes, he pictured her in front of him, watching his every move with those green eyes. He remembered her, not as the woman who controlled his every thought and action with verbal and physical abuse, but as the only woman who ever truly loved him. His mother, a mentally sick woman, had systematically over the years treated her son in a manner no mother should. She did it so she could be his sole focus in life. His obsession with her would be to everyone else in society, wrong. But to him it was as natural as the grass and trees. When his mother had died two years ago, he thought his world had ended. He longed for death and contemplated suicide so he could feel her loving caress again.

During a business trip to San Francisco, on an impulse, he had enlisted the services of a green eyed prostitute, hoping she would fill the void within him. His anger escalated as he realized she wasn’t good enough to have been able to wipe his mother’s shoes. The darkness of his soul was revealed as he felt his hands squeezing the throat of the prostitute, her hands clawing at his arms, seeing the green eyes pleading silently for him to stop and watching them slowly close as her flow of air was cutoff. Dropping her to the floor like a rag doll, he felt the arousal in him that he hadn’t felt since his mother’s untimely death. His business trips became the cover for the times he needed to feel that way again.

When Sue Weston came to Stockton, the warped mind of John Travis eventually decided it was fate. Here was a strong willed woman, similar in his depraved mind to his mother, who ruled the men of her ranch. He would have her ranch, the precious liquid that flowed underneath her ranch and he would have her. He would be rich and she would satisfy the hunger within him. His obsession with her pushed him over the edge and there was no going back. His mind was gone, his actions impulsive and deadly.

Laughing, he recalled the shock on Barrett’s face when he grabbed him on both sides of his head before he snapped his neck. His anger at his inept partner fueling the moment. He didn’t need him anyway. He would capture the green eyed beauty his way and in his own time. His shooting of Jack Franklin was an act he had taken pleasure in. That was one less person she could count on.

Kissing the picture of his mother, he replaced it on the mantle and taking his binoculars left the mountain cabin as the rain started. Riding to his lookout post, he could watch her ranch without fear of discovery and await his opportunity.

Sue Weston lay asleep in her guest room after her morning escape. When she and Nick had reappeared at the ranch, he helped her off Satan and up the stairs. Holding her around the waist as he walked beside her, he chuckled when she stopped before the door, squared her shoulders and took a deep breath before entering.

Everyone looked up at her entrance, their angry words stifled in their throat from the paleness of her face and the redness of her eyes.

Dr. Merar, immune to her appearance, strongly lectured her as he forced her to drink some juice and eat some toast. When she had choked the items down, the doc ordered her to bed.

“I wanna see Jack” stated Sue as she rose, holding the table for support.

Howard groaned at the stubborn woman, “Fine, for a few seconds and that’s it.”

As Bill walked his boss to the kitchen door, she paused and looked back at her crew. “No one is to ride alone from now on. You ride in pairs at all times. This is an order.” she stated firmly as the men nodded in agreement. “Bill’s in charge til Jack’s back on his feet.”

Nick and Heath rose, “We’re going to the ranch to let Fred know what we found this morning.” Sue nodded before leaving the room with Bill.

Opening the door, Sue walked into her bedroom feeling the full force of Charity’s icy glare. Walking over to the bed, she gazed at her friend. Feeling his forehead, she frowned at the heat the man was emitting.

“He’s too hot.” she said softly “Has he woken yet?”

Charity, biting her cheek to keep her anger in check, retorted “If you’d been here then you’d know he hasn’t woken yet.”

Sighing, Sue put a cool washcloth on Jack’s forehead, “Charity, I know you’re upset.”

“Upset! Where have you been? What was so important?” snapped Charity at her friend.

Looking at Charity, Sue spoke calmly “I had to find out what I could about who did this to him. I knew he was in good hands with you and the doc.”

“You could have waited! What if he had died while you were out traisping around? Do you know how upset everyone was when you took off? Don’t you think you should have used a little more sense than that?” replied Charity angrily.

“I love Jack like a brother. I can understand why you’re angry with me, but we each have to help him however we can. Keeping him alive, getting him back to the ranch and tracking whoever did this is what I do best. Your love for him is the best that you can do. He’ll feel it even though he’s unconscious. That’s what will keep him fighting.”

Walking to the door and blinking back the tears that threated to fall again, Sue turned and sighed wearily, “So be angry with me if you want, at this point I don’t really care. No matter what you may think of my actions or even in you understand them just know that he was first and foremost in my thoughts.”

Charity stared at the door as it was closed behind Sue as she left. Hearing a weak chuckle, she looked down at the brown eyes gazing at her.

“She’s a handful” whispered Jack as Charity’s eyes filled with tears.

“Jack, I’ve been so worried.”

“I love you.” he whispered.

“I love you too, Jack.” she smiled. “I’m gonna get the doc.”

Charity opened the door and summoned the doctor. Howard entered and smiled at his patient.

“Nice to see you awake, Mr. Franklin. How are you feeling?”

“Weak as a kitten. What happened?” asked Jack as his face grimaced from the pain in his back.

After checking the sutures, Howard gave Jack some laudanum. “Here, this will help with the pain. Get some sleep, there’s plenty of time for questions later.”

Jack nodded as the medication took affect. His eyelids drooped and started to close with Charity’s smiling face lulled him to sleep.

Fred having concluded his interview of the remainder of the Barkley family and ranch hands, was on his way back to Stockton when he ran into Heath and Nick.

“Fred, Sue found some tracks this morning where Jack was shot. They’re the same ones she found on the mountain when she was shot at.” explained Nick.

Fred nodded, “I’ll take a ride over and have a look at them on my way back to town.”

“Any luck on finding out what happened to Barrett?” asked Heath.

“No. None of the men could remember him being with anyone at the festival. It wasn’t robbery cause he still had his wallet.”

“If we find out anything, we’ll let you know.” said Nick as he and Heath continued onto the ranch.

Fred nodded as the brothers left and continued to the ambush sight. Finding the grove of trees that Nick described, Fred dismounted and knelt by the tracks. Frowning, he stared at the track, ‘I’ve seen this track before, but where?’ he thought.

Feeling the first drops of rain, Fred put on his slicker and headed back to Stockton, searching his memory as he rode.

A week of tension filled days for the crew and boss of the ranch had passed since Jack Franklin was shot down on his way home. The waiting and the constant watching of the surrounding areas to prevent another attack had tempers flaring and words being said out of haste. The only brightness of the week was the steady improvement their foreman was making. His fever broken, Jack was still weak but rest and the healing process were slowly replenishing his strength along with the care he received from Charity and Maria.

Sunday morning, Sue was sitting on the porch, drinking a cup of coffee and watching Nick Barkley ride up the road.

Stopping in front of the house and dismounting, Nick smiled at the beauty before him “Good morning!”

“Morning Nick. What brings you out this early?” smiled Sue as Nick sat by her holding a picnic basket. “You on your way to a picnic?”

“No, this is for you.” said Nick softly as he handed her the basket.

“For me?” asked Sue softly as she opened the lid of the basket. Smiling, she lifted out the calico kitten.

“Oh, Nick, she’s beautiful! I just love kittens.” said Sue as she held the kitten to her chest and stroked its soft fur. The kitten relishing the touch on its back purred its contentment.

Gazing into the hazel eyes, Sue said softly. “Thank you Nick. No one’s ever given me a present when it wasn’t my birthday.”

Nick caressed her cheek and smiled, “How about an early morning ride? I was gonna check out the Swenson place to see what kind of grazing land it had on it. I wouldn’t mind some company.”

“I’d love to. Wait here while I put my kitten inside.” smiled Sue as she carried the precious bundle in the house.

When Sue emerged from the house, Nick walked with her to the barn and helped her saddle Rio. Seeing Hank, Sue walked over and told him she was going riding with Nick.

Nick and Sue rode leisurely towards the old Swenson place keeping up a steady stream of conversation. Stopping on a hill, Sue paused and looked at her riding companion “We’re all on edge Nick. I don’t like feeling as if I’m waiting for him to make his next move.”

Nick nodded, “I know what you mean. Fred has looked all over town for a horse with that shoe, but he hasn’t found it yet. He can’t remember where he saw it, but he’s fairly certain it was in town.”

“Well, at least that narrows it down somewhat.” sighed Sue.

Nick, reached over and squeezed her hand, “Hey, you’re on the open range with me, how about if you try to forget it and just enjoy the scenery.”

Laughing, Sue grinned, “Sounds like a plan to me, even though this is not open range, its my range.”

Nick chuckled as they walked their horses down the hill and continued on slowly.

Looking over at Sue, Nick smiled “So, how is it you know how to track so well?”

Sue laughed and told Nick about her upbringing, especially about Haavi who taught her many things about the Yaqui culture and their way of life. Hearing a noise, Sue stopped and looked at Nick. “Hear that?”

Nick cocked his head sideways and listened, “Yeah it’s a calf. Sounds like he’s scared or something.”

Sue nudged Rio forward towards the noise with Nick riding alongside, “We haven’t fully explored this side of the range yet. We’ve been sticking pretty close to home.”

“Sounds like its coming from that area over there.” said Nick as he pointed to a grassy area in front of the mountains.

Riding up they saw the calf struggling to free itself from the dark liquid that had grabbed onto its legs. Pulling up, Nick tied his rope around the saddlehorn as Sue walked to the calf talking quietly, “Its okay little one. We’re gonna help you get free.” Putting the rope around its neck, Nick backed up Coco as Sue pushed on the calf. Slowly the calf made its way out of the deathtrap.

Sue sat on the ground exhausted from the exertion as Nick untied the calf and sent it on its way with a swat on the backside. Sitting by her, they stared at the black liquid.

“Black Gold. Now we know why he wants the ranch. This stuff’s worth a fortune.” said Sue quietly.

Nick rose, pulled Sue to her feet, drew her into his arms and said quietly, “Let’s go tell Fred what we found.”

Sue and Nick turned their horses towards Stockton, unaware they were being watched from afar.

Stopping in front of the sheriff’s office, Sue and Nick dismounted. Seeing Dan Baldwin across the street, Sue called over to him.

“Nick, I need to talk to Dan. Can you tell Fred what we found? I’ll be back in a few minutes.” smiled Sue as Nick nodded.

“Okay, but don’t leave town without me.” said Nick as he watched her walk with Dan into his office.

Entering the office, Nick was greeted by Fred who was pouring himself a cup of coffee.

“Want some, Nick?”

“Sure. Sue and I were riding and came across a calf stuck in some petroleum on her land.”

Whistling, Fred sat down, “No wonder this guy hasn’t let up. That stuff could make a fellar rich.”

Nick frowned, “Yeah, it could. Find anything out about that track.”

Shaking his head, Fred sighed, “No. I’m waiting for Hans, the blacksmith to see me. He’s been visiting his inlaws and just got back last night. He should be here any minute.”

“I’ll just wait with ya’ if you don’t mind.” said Nick as he sat down in one of the chairs. “Sue’s over at Dan Baldwin’s office, she should be here shortly.”

The men conversed quietly between them until the door opened. Heath walked in with Hans following “Hi Sheriff, you wanted to see me?”

Heath surprised at seeing his brother said, “Nick, what are you doing here? I thought you went over to the Swenson place”

“Sue and I were riding over there when we found the reason someone wants her off the ranch.” said Nick quietly.

Fred held up his hand, “First things first, Nick. Hans, do you know of anyone in town whose horse has a small chip in its front left shoe?”

“Sure, it’s the bankers.” said Hans as he watched the men look at each other.

“John Travis?” asked Fred quietly. “Are you sure?” Hans nodded, “I was supposed to reshoe his horse when I got back, why?”

“Thanks, Hans.” said Fred as he walked him to the door “Don’t say anything about this to anyone, understand?”

“Sure, Sheriff. Anything you say.” agreed Hans as he left wondering what was happening.

When Hans left, Heath turned to Nick, “What’d you find?”

“There’s petroleum on her land.” said Nick to a shocked Heath “We came into town to let Fred know. Right now, she’s with Dan Baldwin”.

Fred stood and grabbed a rifle, “Lets go find Travis and ask him some questions. You two are now deputized.”

The brothers followed Fred out of the office.

“Wait, I have to let Sue know what’s happening.” said Nick.

Heath nodded, “Nick, why don’t you just stay with her? Fred and I’ll find Travis.”

“That’s a good idea.” agreed Fred “Let’s go Heath.”

Heading over to the office of Dan Baldwin’s, Nick knocked. When there was no answer, he entered. Walking into the room, he saw Sue laying on the floor with her hands tied. Hearing a faint whisper of noise on the carpet, he turned, saw the banker in the mirror before he was struck in the head and was unconscious when he hit the floor.

John Travis, having returned from a trip to Modesto for supplies, was on his way to his observation post when he saw the two riders. Following them, he watched as Nick Barkley reached over and took her hand. Anger swelled in him as he watched that intimate gesture from afar.

He watched as the pair pulled the calf from the petroleum. When Nick pulled Sue up and took her in his arms, Travis growled “Get your hands off her, Barkley.”

Seeing them head towards Stockton, Travis headed to his shortcut and was watching from the corner of the saloon when Dan and Sue entered Baldwin’s office. Seeing Nick enter the sheriff’s office, he casually walked up the street towards the attorney’s office, quietly opened the door and stepped in.

Hearing the voices from the inner office, Travis waited listening to the conversation taking place.

“I’ll just be a minute, Dan. I just want to get some of this stuff off my hands.” said Sue as she walked into the outer room.

Heading to the water closet, she was grabbed from behind, her screams stifled by the cloth that was held over her nose and mouth. Grabbing at the forearms that held her, she kicked backwards with her boots connecting with the legs of the intruder, until the chemical entered her system, rendering her unconscious and her hands fell limply to her side.

Dan called out to his client as he poured himself a coffee, “Do you want some coffee, Sue?” When she didn’t answer, he walked into the outer office not seeing the banker waiting behind the door as the world came crashing down on him.

Smiling, Travis walked over to where Sue lay. Tying her hands and feet, he reached down to gather his precious bundle. Hearing a knock at the door, Travis hid and hit the man in the the head with his gun butt when he walked towards the woman laying on the floor. Seeing, it was Nick Barkley on the floor, Travis kicked him in the side as he lay there, smiling as he felt the ribs caving in.

Walking over, he gathered his bundle, wrapped her in a slicker, threw a lamp against the curtains on the window and left the office through the back door as the flames hungrily licked at the curtains and walls.

As the flames climbed the curtains and the wall of the office, a groan could be heard over the crackling and rumble.

Holding the back of his head, Nick climbed to his knees. Coughing as the smoke entered his lungs, his burning eyes looked to where Sue had been before he was struck. His eyes were greeted by flames eating away at the empty spot on the carpet. She was gone.

Staggering to his feet, he looked around for Dan Baldwin. Seeing the lawyer laying outside of his inner office, Nick dragged him to the door through the smoke.

Stumbling outside, as he coughed and his eyes watered from the smoke, Dan was taken from him and unknown hands on his arms guided him to the opposite side of the street.

Heath and Fred walked back from the house of John Travis. The banker was not home and from the looks of the place, he hadn’t been there for some time.

Hearing a shout of “Fire” as the fire wagon rushed by them, the two ran towards the main street to see flames flowing out of the windows of Dan Baldwin’s office.

Heath rushed over to see Dan laying unconscious and Nick sitting on the ground with Dr. Merar attending to them. Looking around, he searched for his friend Sue Weston.

Jarrod, Victoria and Audra on their way to the Cattleman’s for dinner, jumped out of the surrey and rushed over to Nick.

“Victoria, Nick has some cracked ribs and a bump on his head. He took in some smoke, but he’ll be okay.” said Howard smiling.

“Nick, where’s Sue?” asked Heath frantically kneeling by his brother, “She’s not in there, is she?”

Coughing and causing the pain in his head to flare, Nick winced “She’s not in the building. Travis has her.”

Heath sighed with relief as he grabbed Nick and hugged him, eliciting a grunt of pain, from his brother. “I was afraid she was in there. We gotta find her! There’s no telling what he’s gonna do.”

Nick, holding his arm against his side, tried to stand. Looking at his little brother, he grinned, “Help me up, Heath.”

Heath helped Nick to his feet as Jarrod confused at the turn of events, questioned “What do you mean Travis has her? John Travis?”

Nick nodded, “Yeah, it was his tracks that Sue saw on the mountain and he’s responsible for shooting Jack. Sue and I found petroleum on her land this morning when we were riding. Jarrod, we gotta go and get her back.”

Jarrod, noting the pain in Nick’s face said softly, “You can’t ride in your condition, Nick. We’ll find her and bring her back.”

Nick grunted, “I can do it pappy. I’ll just have the doc tape my ribs before we go.”

Victoria who was silent during her sons’ conversation, put her hand on Nick’s arm, “You can’t help her if one of those ribs goes through a lung, Nick.”

“I’m fine Mother.”

“Nick, think of Sue’s welfare. You don’t want to be slowing the men down when they look for her, do you?” asked Victoria softly.

Nick frowned and sighed deeply, “Maybe you’re right mother. I wanna find her, not be a burden.”

Heath smiled as he hugged his brother gently and whispered in his ear, “I’ll bring your chameleon back for ya’, Nick.”

Nick grinned, grabbed the back of Heath’s neck and gave him a little shake, “See that you do, boy!”

Fred came up to the Barkley family, “We found a trail behind Dan’s office. Let’s go.”

Nick, Audra and Victoria watched as Jarrod and Heath left with the sheriff and a group of men to find the kidnapper and his victim.

“Mother, we better ride out to the ranch and let her men know.” said Nick as he slowly walked his mother and Audra to the surrey. “Let’s pick up Rio and Coco first.”

Victoria nodded and climbed into the surrey. Smiling at Nick, she said “They’ll find her Nick.”

....Continued