Bran (Prairie Grooms, Book Six) (15 page)

Apple nodded again. Bran looked into her eyes, and gave her a reassuring smile. “There’s a good lass.” He then noticed it was getting colder by the minute, and, as best he could, scooted as close to her as possible. “Here, lean against me, ye’ll stay warmer.”

She did, and inched closer, so that their arms were now touching. “Lay your head on my shoulder, and try to rest. I’ll keep an eye out. Oh, and Apple?”

She looked up at him, her eyes wide over the gag.

“Remind me to scold you something fierce for being out by yourself, eh?”

Apple closed her eyes, and nodded.

“And lass?”

She looked at him again.

“Remind me to do it… right after we’re married.”

She blinked back tears, and even though gagged, smiled, and then nodded.

“Stop whispering to your sister, or I’ll stuff your mouth with somethin’!” one of their captors yelled.

Bran stopped talking, winked at Apple, and prepared himself for what was sure to be, a very long night.

* * *

After a couple more hours of sitting on the cold, hard ground, trying to keep Apple warm, the outlaws grabbed the two of them and yanked them to their feet. “Time to go, fancy pants,” one of them sneered as he cut the ropes at Bran’s feet, then put a gun to his head. “No funny business, ya hear? Or I’m gonna kill ya.”

Bran nodded, his face blank. He almost forgot he was playing the part of the English brother. He watched them carefully as they cut Apple’s ankle bonds, and then led them to the horses. “Are we gonna let this one ride or walk?” one of Spider’s men asked.

“If’n I thought he could make it, I’d say make him walk,” said Spider. “But we haven’t got the time to play with him. Put him up behind ya, Pete.”

Pete, the man who’d untied Bran and Apple’s ankles, groaned. “Why do I have to ride with him? Why can’t I ride with the girl?”

Spider led his horse around to where they stood, and grabbed Apple to him. She let out a muffled grunt when she hit his chest. He snaked an arm around her and put his mouth next to her ear. “Cause she’s ridin’ with me.” He looked at Bran. “Your sister’s mighty pretty, mister. I’m not sure if I want to return her. Maybe you’ll do just as good ransomed alone.”

“Unhand her this instant!” Bran growled.

“Well what do ya know? He’s a protective big brother.” Spider’s men laughed. “You are her big brother, ain’t ya? Ya look a sight older.”

“Yes, now kindly take your hands off of my sister!”

Spider laughed. “Right, like I’m gonna do anything
you
tell me.” With that, he swung Apple through the air, and threw her atop his saddle. Her skirts were tangled around her legs, exposing the creamy skin beneath. “Bet you can’t do that,” chortled Spider as he mounted up behind her. He pulled her against him, sneered, and rode off into the dark. It was all Bran could do to keep himself under control.

One of the men was in charge of the torch, and once everyone was mounted, including Bran, he put it out. They would be riding by the moonlight alone. Easy enough crossing the prairie, but once they reached the tree line, they’d have to light it again if they wanted to see anything.

They rode for almost two hours before they finally stopped near a random out cropping of rock at the edge of the tree line. “Where’s Eli?” Spider snapped.

“He was right behind me,” said Pete.

Bran, his hands bound behind his back, turned as best he could to look behind them. Indeed, the man Eli who’d been trailing along behind their horse, was gone. Where then, did he go?

Bran looked back to Spider, an exhausted Apple pinned against him. “That double-crossing-low-down-snake! I’m gonna kill him!”

“But Spider, Eli wouldn’t cross you!” argued Luke. “Somthin’ must’ve happened to him.”

“Him
and
his horse?” Spider spat. “Tarnation! Pete, dump your load, and go find Eli.”

Pete nodded, then shoved Bran off the horse. Apple squeaked in alarm as he landed with an audible thud and an “Umphf!”

“Darn fool must have doubled back for some reason,” said Luke. “Maybe he thought we was being followed.”

Bran struggled to a sitting position, and tried to breath. He looked at Apple, to let her know he was okay, and gave her a single nod. He could see her body slump against her captor in relief. Said captor then swung out of the saddle, and pulled Apple off as well. He dragged her stumbling to the base of the large rocks, and forced her to the ground. He pulled a length of cord out of his jacket, pulled her ankles together, and was about to tie them, then thought better of it. He stared at Apple in the dark, and grinned. “No, I think I’ll leave you … accessible. I don’t care what that Eli says.” He turned to his men. “No one touches her, until after I’m done.”

Bran fought his way to his feet. “No!”

Two of Spider’s men grabbed him by his bound arms. Spider walked right up to Bran, and punched him in the gut. “No?” he echoed as Bran bent over in pain. “You tellin’ me, no?” Spider then yelled in his face.

“Spider, quiet!” one of his men warned. “What if someone’s nearby?”

“Ain’t nobody out here,” Spider hissed. He turned back to Bran. “Maybe I oughta let you watch.”

Bran stood straight, glared, and was about to go at him with everything he had, tied or no, when he heard it.

Cluck …

Fifteen

“What was that?” asked Luke as he lit the torch.

Spider turned a full circle, then sneered at Bran. “I don’t care what it was, some night bird. Now tie up this one and make sure he can’t go nowhere. I’m gonna get …” he looked to where Apple sat, and leered. “Warm.”

Cluck … cluck, cluck.

Spider’s other man stood straight. “That sounds like a chicken. Glory be! Food!”

“Must be a farm nearby,” said Luke.

“One of ya catch it,” ordered Spider. “I’m hungry.”

Bran watched as the nameless outlaw drew his gun, and started off in the direction they’d heard the clucking. More than likely, the bird was behind the large rocks Apple sat against.

“No, you idiot!” Spider snapped. “Don’t fire off any shots! Catch it and break it’s neck.”

The outlaw gave him a blank look, then, as comprehension dawned, holstered his gun and smiled. “Oh, right. I’ll just go round it up then.” He edged his way to the outcropping, passed Apple, and slowly crept around the rocks.

Spider rolled his eyes and grabbed the torch as Pete came trotting back. “Well?” Spider asked. “Where is he? Where’s Eli?”

“I didn’t see any sign of him, and it’s too dark to see which way he went.”

“Spider grabbed Luke by his coat collar and got into his face. “Where’s that stinkin’ no good cousin of yours? What’s he mean ridin’ off like that without tellin’ me?”

“I swear I don’t know!” Luke choked out. “Maybe he wanted to add something to the ransom note?”

Spider released him and spun to Bran. “I said to tie him up!”

Pete got of his horse, took some rope out of his saddlebag, dragged Bran to where Apple sat, and quickly tied his ankles. He didn’t even bother to force him to the ground. Bran looked down and sat as best he could. “Are ye all right, lass?” he whispered.

Apple whimpered, but nodded.

“Good.” He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I’m so sorry, I’ll do what I can to keep these devils away from you. Maybe if they catch that chicken, they’ll be too busy eating to think about ye anymore tonight.” 

She nodded, and leaned against him, shivering.

Bran scooted closer and tucked her head beneath his chin. “This is a horrible time to tell ye this, but …” his eyes darted to the to the top of the rocks, then to the outlaws, who were now arguing over whether or not to risk a fire so they could cook the chicken once they caught it. “But … I’ve strong feelings for ye, lass. Stronger than I ever thought I could have for a woman. I didn’t realize it until that scum threatened you … I should have listened to my heart before hand, when it started to speak to me that day I found ye in the woods.”

Apple pulled away, and looked up at him. Even in the faint light of the torch, he could see she had tears in her eyes. Bran swallowed hard, glanced at the arguing outlaws, then back to her. “When we get out of this, you will marry me, won’t you?”

Her tears broke free, and she nodded.

Bran glanced once more to make sure they weren’t being watched, and ever so tenderly, kissed Apple on the cheek. Her eyes brightened, and his chest swelled. He had to get her out of there! But how? This was a bad situation, no doubt about it …

“August’s rooster,” he whispered.

“Mmmpphhhff?” Apple mumbled.

Bran looked down at her. “We must be near August and Penelope’s farm. That blasted rooster of his never stays home. It wanders all over the place.”

Apple sat up straighter, hope in her eyes.

Bran pressed his lips together and listened, his own hope, sinking. “I know the little fella saved your cousin, lass. But I don’t think a single rooster is any match for four grown men.”

Apple’s chin trembled, as her tears fell.

“There now,” he whispered. “You’ve got to promise me ye’ll be brave, no matter what happens. Can ye do that for me?”

She nodded, though her tears fell.

Bran closed his eyes, and rested his forehead against hers. He wanted to marry her, marry her something fierce. Then he wanted to have babies with her, oodles of them, and raise a passel of sons and daughters, all fine and strong. But if he couldn’t think of a way to get them out of this, there was a good chance he wouldn’t make it out alive, and Apple wouldn’t make it out with her virtue and innocence still in tact. If Spider took her, then the rest would follow. Oh, they’d give her back to the Cookes all right, but she’d be broken, and abused, and Bran, would be able to do nothing about it. Because he of course, would already be…

“Ahhhhh!!!!!” came a man’s cry.

“What the …?” said Spider as he spun toward the sound. All three outlaws stood stock still, listening. But no more sounds were forthcoming. “Luke, go see what the trouble is!”

“Me? Why do I have to go?” Luke asked as he nervously glanced at the rocks.

“Cause that worthless cousin of yours done took off, that’s …”

He never got to finish. A man came flying over the rocks, landed with a loud thud, and rolled to where the other three outlaws stood. They were so shocked, it took them each a moment to realize, the man lying at their feet, was Eli.

Pete’s eyes widened. He backed up a step or two, and sucked in his breath. “Eli! What happened?”

Eli had nothing to say. He lay there like a lifeless lump of clay.

Luke bent to him. “Eli! Speak to me!” He put his ear to his cousin’s chest, and listened. “He’s alive! I hear his heart!”

“Where’d he come from?” asked Spider, his voice a hoarse whisper. He eyed the rocks, ignoring Bran and Apple. “Bart?” he called out.

No answer. At least Bran now knew what the missing outlaw’s name was.

Spider turned to the others. “Go find out what happened to Bart.”

“But Spider,” one of them hissed. “You saw what happened to Eli! How’d he come flying over them rocks like that?”

“I don’t care, get back there and find Bart! We’re leavin’!”

Luke swallowed hard and had taken a step forward, when Bart came flying over the rocks to land with a thud at their feet. Luke screamed like a girl, and clamored after Spider. “What do ya think you’re doin’? Get away from me!” he barked as he tried to beat him back.

“Maybe it’s ghosts!” cowered Pete.

Bran took in the frightened look on Apple’s face, and tried to scoot himself in front of her. Whatever was going on, he wanted to shield her as best he could. Even he was perplexed at his point. Could it be that Colin and Harrison had found them? It would be just like the brothers to toy with the outlaws.

Cluck … cluck, cluck.

Pete’s face drained of color at the sound. “What’s back there?”

Luke spun toward the rocks. “It’s the chicken from Hell!”

“Ha, hahahaha!” came a deep, booming laugh from behind the rocks.

“That ain’t no chicken,” spat Spider. “Get back there and shoot whoever it is!”

Luke took one look at Eli, out cold at his feet, then drew his gun. With determined steps, he made for the rocks, edged his way around the corner, and disappeared.

“Go with him,” Spider told Pete, but no sooner than he said it …

“Ahhhhhhh!!!!” screamed Luke as he came flying over the rocks. Bran and Apple watched, eyes wide, as he landed, and, just as Eli and Bart, rolled right up to the feet of Spider.

Spider kicked him. Luke groaned in pain. “What’s back there?” demanded Spider.

Luke, the breath knocked from him, lay there like a limp fish, his mouth opening and closing like a guppy’s.

“Well?” Spider hissed as he too began to look nervous.

Luke’s lips formed, he then chocked out one word. “Chicken.”

“Chicken?” Spider spat as he drew his gun. Are you telling me a chicken did this? Chickens don’t laugh, you idiot!” He stepped over Luke, and marched straight for Bran and Apple. As soon as he reached them, he grabbed Apple by an arm, and yanked her to her feet. “You out there! Come out or I shoot the woman!”

Dead silence.

Spider motioned to his men, (what ones were left standing) to circle around the rock. Pete, unwilling to go alone, pulled a still breathless Luke to his feet, and began to drag him along beside him.

Apple looked helplessly to Bran, who tried to swing himself around, in hopes of kicking Spider’s feet out from under him.

“Don’t even think about it,” Spider sneered as Pete and Luke disappeared around the rock. No sooner had they done so, when …

“Ahhhhh!” they both screamed. Then nothing.

The torch lay on the ground, near the unconscious form of Eli. Spider dragged Apple to it, and picked it up. He then shoved her to the ground and pointed his gun at her head. “Pete?” he shouted. “Luke?”

“I think you’d better give up,” Bran suggested in an even tone. “You’re clearly outnumbered.”

“There ain’t but one man back there, and I’m gonna force his hand!”

Bran’s eyes found Apple’s frightened ones. “Don’t be afraid.”

“She better be,” rasped Spider. “You out there! I’m only gonna give ya til the count of three to show yourself, or I’m gonna kill my hostages!”

Silence.

“One,” Spider yelled and held the torch higher.

Nothing.

“Two!” Spider paused, glanced nervously about, then aimed his gun at Bran and smiled. “You didn’t think I’d shoot her before I took her, did ya?”

Both men went still and listened. Still nothing. Bran’s heart thundered in his chest. He prayed then, like he’d never prayed before. He had to make sure the scum wouldn’t kill Apple too. “She’s worth a lot of money …”

Spider smiled. “I’m well aware, boy.” He looked to the rock. “Three!” He took aim…

Apple’s eyes locked with Bran’s. She shook her head a wild no and screamed his name into the gag.

Cluck!

Spider froze, the sound much closer this time. His eyes slowly drifted from Bran to the top of the rocks. His mouth dropped open as his eyes went wide. “What the devil …”

There was a sudden flurry of feathers, a loud squawk, and a screech, which must have come from Spider. Bran watched in horror, (because what else could he do?) as August Bennett’s rooster attacked the outlaw. It managed to hook its claws at the top of his head, and with a great flapping of wings, mercicessly pecked at him. Spider’s gun went off, but thankfully hadn’t been aimed at either Apple or himself. Bran went to his side, and rolled himself to where Apple was on her knees, and watched in stunned silence a moment before he got himself up to a sitting position again and tried to shield her with his body in case another shot fired. One did, but it ricocheted off the rocks, and struck the dirt near Eli.

“Get off me you devil!” Spider continued to fight the winged beast, and waved his gun around wildly, trying to get enough of his bearings to shoot the thing. But he never got the chance.

A large shadow swept past Bran and Apple, went straight to where Spider was jumping and stomping around like a madman, and punched him in the face to drop him like a stone.

August’s rooster took one last peck at Spider’s head, hopped off the outlaw, and went straight to the tall dark form standing nearby.  Bran was positioned so Apple would be shielded from watching the frenzy, and stared at the stranger as he stepped out of the shadows.

* * *

The man was huge, a giant! He had to be at least seven feet tall, and had skin as black as night. “Who are you?” Bran demanded, his only thought to protect Apple. She leaned against him, shivering, and he knew he not only needed to get her warm, but hold her. She was going into shock if his guess was right. “Well?”

The big man gave a low whistle and held out his arm. August’s rooster flew up, and perched on it! Bran’s mouth fell open at the sight. The man then bent down and got right in Bran’s face.  “Happy evening to you, little bro-dar,” he said in a deep voice. Bran watched as the man glanced at Apple, and tried to figure out what kind of accent he had. He was obviously a foreigner, as he was also strangely dressed. “And to you, my treasure.” The man reached into his dark robes, and pulled out a knife.

“Don’t touch her!” Bran spat.

The man raised both brows in amuzement. “I will not harm her, I wish to free her.” The chicken scrambled to the man’s shoulder as he bent down, cut Apple’s bonds and removed her gag. She pitched forward and gasped for breath, then sat up and stared at him. “Untie him,” the stranger instructed her in a soft, deep voice.

She slowly looked at Bran, then back to the stranger, speechless.

The dark stranger frowned. He then bent to Bran and cut his bonds. “She needs you, little bro-dar. Comfort her.”

Bran took Apple into his arms, never taking his eyes off the stranger. “What are you doing out here?” His eyes flew to the rooster perched atop his broad shoulder. “And … with that?” he asked indicating the bird with a toss of his head.

“Dis?” the man laughed. “Dis belongs to me.”

“Belongs to you? That’s August Bennett’s rooster!”

The big man chuckled, a deep rolling sound. “Dis bird, escaped and found it’s way here. I must take it back.”