One man, a short barrel-chested fellow, mumbled, "You sure she came alone? I don't want the Ranger to surprise us."
"Yeah, she's alone, but we'd better act fast. That brother of hers could show up at any minute."
A large man dressed in black leaned over the saddle of his horse and ordered, "Kill him if he does. And kill that kid with him if you have to. I don't want nothing messing this up. I don't think I could stand another day of you planning to get even. We'll go in the back and out again before anyone thinks to stop us. By the time anyone outside the house figures out what's going on, we'll be miles away."
A voice that sounded like Haskell yelled from inside the saloon, "What can I do for you boys?"
The man in black stepped on the saloon's back porch and mumbled something.
Rainey leaned closer, trying to figure out what was going on. She could see all three men below, the one in black at the back door, the stout one between two of the horses, and another of average size and build. He walked across the alley and leaned against the boardinghouse steps.
Haskell didn't appear, but his voice sounded nervous when, a moment later, he yelled for Mamie.
The slave appeared on the back porch of the boarding-house. "Yes," she answered.
"I need you over at the saloon, Mamie. There's four bits in it if you'll clean all the tables in the bar."
Rainey thought it strange Haskell didn't step out, but the man in black still framed the doorway to the saloon as if he were guarding it.
"I have to wait and check with Miz Vivian when she gets back from picking up supplies!" Mamie yelled. "She don't like me leaving the kitchen when she's not here."
"I already talked to her," Haskell snapped. "She told me to tell you when the saloon was empty and you could work." He hesitated a moment, then added, "I'll make it a dollar if you do a fast job. The extra money can be just between the two of us."
Mamie nodded. "I'll get my stuff and be right there."
The three riders moved to the center of the alley. "Once she's out of the way," the man in black said almost casually, "go straight in and pick up the girl. Even if some of the boarders are home, they won't be armed. Just knock them out of the way and get McMurray's sister." He nodded once toward the stout man. "Trust me, Seth, this will hurt that Ranger far more than killing him."
Rainey jumped back from the window. "They're kidnapping Sage! She must have come alone to her appointment."
Her mind raced. The outlaws Travis had told her about were just below her window. They planned to get even with Travis by taking Sage.
Dottie was already on her feet. "I'll get my gun."
"I'll alert them." Rainey followed, a step behind the widow.
They'd reached the second-floor landing when Rainey heard the sound of men storming through the kitchen. The faint rattle of laughter came from behind the closed door of the drawing room. The others would have no warning if she didn't hurry.
Dottie ran to her room.
Rainey dashed down the stairs, thinking she could get to the other women, but by the time she reached the foyer, she realized there was no time. She could hear the men moving across the dining room. They'd be in the foyer in seconds, and from there the drawing room was only steps away. Even if the women knew they were coming, there would be no time to escape.
She had to do something. She'd seen how the brothers loved Sage. They'd all be heartsick if something happened to her.
Rainey's gaze fell on a fur-lined blue coat hanging on the peg by the front door. It hadn't been there when she'd placed her cape by the door. It had to be Sage's.
In a run she grabbed the coat and whirled it around her, pulling the hood up just as the men stormed the foyer.
"There she is!" one yelled. "Grab her before she gets back outside."
Rainey didn't see which man seized her. She was afraid to show any part of her face. She didn't see him, but she felt his crushing grip as he lifted her off the ground and threw her over his shoulder.
Cocooned in the folds of Sage's coat, Rainey heard the drawing room door open and then screams. The man carrying her ran through the house, bumping her against furniture as he moved.
"Stop!" Dottie's voice yelled. "Stop or I'll shoot."
"Keep going!" one of the men yelled. "Get her out of here! I'll cover you."
A shot sounded. Then another.
Rainey cried out in pain as the man carrying her bounded down the stairs with her bumping against his shoulder. She heard horses and shouts but couldn't make out words.
Someone shoved something over the hood of her coat and she felt it slide down, blocking out the little light that could seep through the coat. Then she was thrown roughly over a horse. A moment later a man's knees slammed, one against her cheek, one at her thigh. Whoever had climbed behind her on the saddle didn't care that he was hurting her.
"Get her out of town fast!" someone shouted. "If she struggles, hit her upside the head a few times. Nobody will hear her crying through that sack, and if she has any sense, she'll stop yelling."
"Where's Frank?" the man holding Rainey yelled.
"He'll be along. Go. I'm right behind you."
Then the horse moved beneath her and they were off.
She didn't struggle. Her arms and hands were trapped inside the coat.
The horse turned at what she guessed was the end of the alley. She had no idea where she was going, or why. All she knew was that she'd just been kidnapped.
These evil men had planned to take Sage, not for money, but to hurt Travis. What would they do when they discovered they had the wrong woman?
What would Travis do?
CHAPTER 25
Travis returned from the courthouse with Duck. He felt like his brain might explode any minute. He'd never been asked so many questions. The lawyers were polite, but gave no hint if he'd answered their questions correctly. They'd simply told him that they would be in touch.
Frustrated and hungry, he decided nothing about this trip was going as planned… except, of course, Sage's shopping. He'd found Rainey, but she didn't seem to want more than a friendship from him most of the time. His leg grew stronger each day from all the walking he did, but he knew he was weeks away from climbing back on a horse. Dr. Bailey had examined him and seemed hopeful that he'd heal, but cautioned him that it would take time and care. The doctor had also gotten close enough to Duck, thanks to a toy train set in his study, to determine that the boy would recover, at least physically, from his ordeal.
Travis walked into the Baileys' home and found Mike Saddler pacing the sitting room. He sat Duck down and faced the young Ranger. "Waiting for Sage?" Travis asked, deciding to take Rainey's advice and stay out of his sister's life.
"No, sir." Mike crushed the brim of his hat in his hands. "I was hoping Sage was with you. I came with news about the Norman brothers. They've been spotted in town."
Travis had to give Duck his attention for a moment. The boy was hungry and tried to pull him toward the kitchen.
"Just a minute, son." Travis stood his ground. "And?" he said to Mike, guessing there must be more the young Ranger needed to say. If he'd come to warn Travis to arm, it was unnecessary.
Mike swallowed. "And we think the target may be your sister."
"What?"
"We all thought it would be you, or maybe the judge, but a man fitting Seth Norman's description was seen following Sage." Mike looked sick. "I had the feeling we were being followed this morning when we were riding. I kept my gun ready but never saw even a man who looked like one of the Norman brothers."
His knuckles whitened around his hat. "After I left here, I circled by the office and heard the report myself. I came straight back here."
Travis couldn't breathe. "Where is Sage now?"
"Dr. Bailey said he took her over to the Askew House about half an hour ago. She told him she couldn't wait any longer to see what the three sisters were working on. The doc said she told him she'd wait for you to pick her up there."