"I can do it, Boss," Addison agreed.
"When those men regain consciousness, tell them we're behind them all the way. Then go and tell the Sheriff to get off his lazy ass and do something. Hopefully, by then we'll already have 'em in custody by the time he thinks about earning his pay." He reminded the men to be prompt and ready to ride in an hour, then he and Rob mounted their horses and headed for the ranch.
Amanda felt like sobbing as she and Jimmy made their way towards Robert Thorne's ranch. She couldn't imagine what her life would be like without Rob in it. She loved him so much! She was going to make sure that Sir Gregory Flockton paid with his life for attacking the man she loved! Nothing less would do! Her mind was so focused on getting to Rob before he died that she didn't notice the other riders until they were upon them. She automatically went for her gun, only to stay her hand when the man she'd known as Whitey for the last several months called her name and snapped her mind to the present. "I'm sorry, Whitey... I mean, Dave! I didn't realize it was you." He was with his brother and another Texas Ranger.
"Mandy, what are you doing out here?" Dave demanded, his tone scolding. "You know darn well the boss will tan you proper if he hears about this."
"Jimmy came to get me, Dave. Rob's been shot and he's dying."
The look on Dave's face was puzzled for one second, and then he had his gun in his hand and pointed at the stunned Jimmy. "What are you up to, Swartz?" he demanded of the other man, who had raised his hands in the air to show he wasn't going to go for his gun. "I just saw Rob in town."
"You don't understand, Whitey." The man's face crumpled with emotion, and a sheen of tears appeared in his blue eyes. "The bastard has Milona. He said he'd let her go unharmed if I brought Miss Amanda to him. He brought me a piece of her hair, and said the next time he took out his knife it would be her fingers he started cutting off! I had to do it! He told me exactly what to say to trick Miss Amanda into coming with me, and it worked, I'm ashamed to say."
"You mean that Rob is okay...? He hasn't been shot...?" Amanda asked, hope in her green eyes.
Jimmy nodded in affirmation. "He's just fine, ma'am. He went into town early this morning. I'm sorry to put you through this. He's got my wife, and he said he'd torture her... I know that what I done wasn't right, but I love Milona." He hung his head in shame. "Now I don't know what will happen to her," he whispered, anguished by the thoughts torturing him.
"Where were you supposed to take Mandy?" Dave asked quietly, holstering his gun.
"He was to meet me with Milona over by the creek that crosses Thorne Ranch."
"Then we'll go and meet him. Mandy, do you think you can handle this? I promise we won't let anything happen to you." Dave was pretty damn sure that Matt Chambers and Rob Thorne would take his head off and hand it to him for allowing Amanda to help capture Flockton, but the opportunity was here and he was going to take it.
Amanda nodded her head and then said, "I want to get this man... before he does shoot Rob. I couldn't bear to lose him, Dave." The tenor of her voice spoke of her determination to take part and do everything she could to help the Rangers in their job. She trusted them, and she loved Rob too much not to help!
Dave reached out and patted her shoulder comfortingly. "I understand. I feel the same about my Helene. Jimmy, we're going to get Milona out of this, too," he spoke kindly to the worried man. You've got to help us out, though, and just pretend that everything is normal. We'll be right behind you, just out of sight, and when Flockton produces Milona, we'll take him. Can you hold it together that long?"
"Yes. Thank God for your help. Miss Amanda, I hope you and your Pa and Mr. Thorne can forgive me for what I done. I don't like myself right now."
"I understand why you did this, Jimmy, and I am sure Papa and Rob will, too. You wanted to rescue your wife, and Flockton is a mean bastard. We all know that. We'll get her away from him and send him to prison for the rest of his life. We will have the last word on what happens today."
Matt and Rob didn't waste any time getting to the ranch, and the men were right behind them. Once they arrived, Matt wasted no time in telling the cook to put together provisions for ten men for three days on the trail, and the cook nodded his head and went right to work. He wanted to do his part in finding the ones responsible for beating those two men, too.
"Now we have the hard part, Rob. Telling Mandy," Matt said. "She won't like being left behind and told to stay put inside the house." They walked up to the house and went inside.
"Mr. Rob! You're alive! Praise be!" The usually quiet Gloria declared, smiling happily, only to frown mere seconds later. ""Your man came for Missy and said you'd been shot and was dying. Missy went with him...!"
Rob felt icy hot rage take over his normally composed emotions. He swore viciously. "If that bastard harms one hair on Mandy's head I swear, before God, I will kill him as slowly and as painfully as is possible!"
"You think Flockton has her?" Matt was sick with fear for his little girl.
"I am positive he does. How long ago did Mandy leave, Gloria?"
"At least at hour ago, Mr. Rob." It was easy to see how worried and upset she was. "I was to send Mr. Matt over to your place when he got back from town."
"Was Amanda armed?" Matt asked hopefully. Gloria nodded. "Good. Maybe she'll take him down."
"She won't be watching out for herself, Matt; her thoughts will be on me. We need to hurry."
Matt didn't argue, but ran after Rob, trying to keep up.
Now that Amanda knew Rob was unhurt and alive, she was furious with herself for being so gullible. She also felt sorry for Jimmy. He was a decent, hardworking guy, and he loved his wife and treated her like a Princess. Sir Gregory Flockton had much to answer for, and she was going to see he paid for all the horrible things he'd done. When they were about a mile from where they were to meet with Flockton, Dave and the other two Rangers made themselves invisible and she and Jimmy went on alone. She had no idea what to expect, but if given the opportunity, she would shoot and take no chances on letting him escape to once again haunt them. She just prayed that he hadn't harmed Milona in any way.
They finally reached the spot where Flockton arranged to meet up with Jimmy. There was no sign of the man but they'd already discussed the possibility he wouldn't be waiting for them... at least not where they could actually see him.
"Why are we stopping here, Jimmy? I want to get to Rob. Let's go!"
"Not yet, Miss Amanda. I think my horse has picked up a stone in his shoe." Jimmy dismounted and just as he bent down to pick up his mount's foot to look at it a shot rang out. Jimmy hit the ground and just then Sir Gregory Flockton came riding from behind some trees, his gun pointed right at Amanda.
"We meet again," he said with a wicked smile. "Drop the gun or I will shoot you right here."
"I am not going anywhere with you, you lowlife scum!" Amanda told him.
"You will pay for that," he stated coldly, raising his gun. "Drop the gun NOW!" His eyes glinted with rage. He was so positive he had the situation under control and to his advantage that he didn't see the Texas Rangers. Dave took aim and shot, sending the gun flying from Flockton's hand and wounding him in the process! He tried to whirl his mount to flee, but the Rangers were ready for that and Flockton knew he would die if he made a run for it!
"You are under arrest, you despicable animal!" Amanda told him. "Where is Milona?"
"She is dead, of course!" He delivered the news with deliberate cruelty and Jimmy started sobbing with uncontrollable grief.
"I don't believe you; but if she is dead, I promise you will hang," Dave told him.
They heard riders approaching, and all of them drew their guns to be ready in case Flockton had men riding to his rescue. It didn't take long for Amanda to recognize her Papa's stallion. "It's Papa... and Rob!" she cried out, and then rode to meet them and share the wonderful news, that they had Flockton.
"Mandy, are you all right?" Matt demanded, looking her over head to toe in a split second.
Rob lifted her off her mount and simply held her close in front of him. She wrapped her arms around him and allowed herself to cry. "I thought you were dying!" she said so emotionally that Rob couldn't mistake the anguish in her words. "I was so stupid to believe Jimmy."
"I would never have thought he would betray me in this manner."
"Flockton took Milona and threatened her life if Jimmy didn't help him. Flockton says that Milona is dead... Jimmy is beside himself."