Distance by Dinasbran

Thoroughly washed and dressed in clean clothes, Red headed for the farmhouse to return the borrowed boots and see if she could sweet talk Rose into washing the pajamas. After giving herself a good talking to and the stern instruction to 'pull yourself together an' stop being such a damn wet blanket,' she'd finally banished the black mood from where it had come. She still needed to deal with what had happened with Evadne, but she hoped her apology would be accepted. Feeling more like her usual brash self, she'd even decided that another visit to River Fork was needed - just in case Lou was interested in a little more 'educating'. Pulling open the back door, she was surprised to find Evadne in the kitchen, talking to Mrs. Wilson. After a moment's hesitation she entered, closing the door behind her before placing the borrowed boots by the door with a brief thanks for the loan. Straightening, she just caught the socialite take a half step in her direction then stop. Red studied her pensively, wondering how best to make her apology.

Mrs. Wilson broke the moment, spotting the bundle of clothing tucked under one arm. "Here, give me those. I've already got a copper on the boil." Taking the bundle without waiting for a response, she brushed passed the silent westerner and out the door, heading for the washhouse.

The silence after the sound of the door shutting seemed to stretch on unendingly. Red still hovered by the door, unsure whether to stay or go while Evadne watched the obvious unease with a growing sense of guilt. Eventually she spoke.

"I'm sorry…"

Red cut through the unexpected, unneeded apology. "No, it was my fault. I dunno what I was thinking, Evadne. I'm truly sorry 'bout what happened. I swear it won't happen again."

Evadne stared at the crestfallen woman. She wanted to reassure her but was still too unsure of her own feelings to be sure what to say. Instead, she simply nodded, giving the younger woman a reassuring smile. "Apology accepted, Red." She gave a teasing smile. "Perhaps you need to go and visit that new friend of yours and," she stammered, annoyed to feel a blush appearing, "and, um, let off some steam."

Red blinked, surprised at the suggestion. Did Evadne really think that was all it was? She stared hard into the brown eyes but seeing nothing accusatory relaxed a little, belatedly recognizing the teasing for what it was."

"Well," she grinned sheepishly, "the wolf does have a reputation to live up to you know."

Evadne smiled back but in a small corner of her mind a sad voice asked, was that all it was then, a wolfish impulse?

Suddenly wishing her last words unsaid and wanting to get off the uncomfortable topic Red gave a sudden teasing grin. "Of course, now that I know how ticklish your feet are you'd best look out."

Evadne's eyes narrowed to slits but there was a smile on her face and relief in her heart, "Yes, nearly as ticklish as your ribs. That bullet wound won't be there forever you know."

"Promises, promises," Red teased back, heart lightening as the usual teasing banter returned. If this were all she could share with Evadne then it would just have to be enough.

The sound of the hall door opening and an embarrassed cough broke through her relief. "Wolverton, Mrs. Lannis, could I speak to you in my office."

After a quick glance at Evadne, seeing a nod of acquiescence, Red replied, "Okay."

They followed the ranch manager into his office where he took the seat behind his desk, gesturing for the two women to take those facing him. Evadne did so, Red, as was her want, stayed leaning against the now shut door.

"Ah, it appears I owe you an apology, Wolverton. I understand that Westerman came after you; the shotgun damage to the wall of your room is testament enough to that. Rick also told me how you tried to get the hay out and then made sure the horses were safe despite," he paused giving another embarrassed cough, "hardly being dressed for the occasion. Thank you. Your prompt action probably saved the stables; it certainly made it easier for us to do so."

He paused again, if anything looking even more uncomfortable. "I sent some men to follow Westerman's trail. It looks like he headed towards Danforth's spread." He frowned, obviously adding another black mark against his rival's name. "I had originally thought to place you under guard as well once you had recovered from the attack…"

Red straightened suddenly, moving a step forward, "Jus' you damn well try."

A hasty placatory hand was raised, "However, in light of yesterday's events, that would seem to be unnecessary." He glanced at Evadne, "You'd agree, Mrs. Lannis?"

"Yes, I do." Evadne glanced at the glowering investigator, willing her to calm down. "With Mr. Westerman gone there is no longer any complainant against Red ergo no reason for her to be held."

"Well, I'm not so sure about the first part, Mrs. Lannis, I'll let the sheriff decide that, but I'll cede you the second."

"We would like to visit the hill today, Mr. Wilson, the weather looks to be good." Evadne continued swiftly, wanting this finished as soon as possible before either Red or Wilson did or said something to make things worse.

"Yes, it should stay clear all day." Wilson frowned, glancing to Red then back at her. "What if the sheriff arrives? He's going to want to speak to both of you I expect."

"Well then, you'll know where we'll be, woncha," Red answered unexpectedly then turned and left the room, shutting the door impolitely hard behind her.

After a glance at the closed door, Evadne turned back the ranch manager. He was still scowling at the door. The socialite had soon realized that he and her partner struck sparks off each other, but it was a situation she was getting used to dealing with. "I apologies for Red's abruptness, Mr. Wilson, but I agree with her sentiments. Should the sheriff arrive we shall be at the hill or somewhere in between." Standing, she gave the older man a polite nod then moved to leave.

"Mrs. Lannis?"

Stopping, she turned back to Mr. Wilson, a dark eyebrow raised in a silent question.

"We don't think Westerman is armed, your friend got back the shotgun he took off Lefty and no others appear to be missing." As he spoke, he stood and moved to the locked gun cabinet on one wall. Unlocking the glass door, he picked out a rifle and a small cardboard box and offered it to Evadne. "For Wolverton: just in case."

"Thank you, Mr. Wilson," she bestowed her most charming smile on the older man then followed her explosive friend out to find her still silently fuming as she paced the hall.

"Well?"

"We're going and he's lending you this just in case."

Red took the offered carbine and bullets with a look of surprise. "Well that's certainly an about face, first he wants to lock me up then he's arming me."

Evadne smiled ruefully, "He means the best. I think you scare him."

Red gave a smirk, "Yeah, well I did sorta indirectly threaten to kill him when we first met."

"You didn't?" Evadne stared in disbelief at the younger woman then shook her head. "We really need to do something about your people skills."

"That's what I hired you for, remember," Red retorted with a grin before moving on to more practical purposes. "I'll get the horses, meet you outside in half an hour."

***

As they covered the snow covered distance, Evadne wondered how truly at ease Red seemed. It wasn't just the nonchalant way she sat her horse - a surprise in itself though with hindsight it really shouldn't have been - it was more the way she just seemed to fit. On the other hand, Evadne felt conspicuously out of place, like a debutante in the docks. Although she could appreciate the rugged beauty of the vast openness, it was just too exposed for her to feel in any way comfortable.

Trailing along in the bay mare's trail she nearly ran into its tail as it came to an unexpected stop. Bringing her placid little mount alongside, she saw the younger woman digging around inside her sheepskin coat before coming out with a pair of binoculars and putting them to her eyes. Even so, she could still see the frown that appeared.

"What is it?" She glanced in the direction Red was looking; trying to work out what had caught her attention.

"There's someone on the hill - a couple of men by the looks of it." Tucking the field glasses back into her jacket, she gave Evadne a concerned glance. "The little Lady and me are used to the trail by now, you aren't. Follow at your own pace but be careful, 'kay." For a moment, she regretted that Margaret hadn't accompanied them. Evadne, of course, had insisted they ask her to join them but, to Red's relief, Margaret had declined. As her father was so short handed, she was needed to help with sorting out the repairing of the stables. Red had been surprised, even a little impressed by the change in the younger woman's demeanor as she swapped the fashionable clothing she'd arrived in for a threadbare plaid work-shirt and some bib front denim overalls. The down-at-heel clothing had made the reporter seem younger, more at ease and much, much friendlier. And much more like the dyke her ma reckons her to be, Red mused, allowing a rueful grin to flit across her face. She was still undecided as to that particular question, though if pressed she would most likely side with Rose. Belatedly noticing the pensive look on her friend's face, Red felt a momentary doubt. After a heart beat's hesitation, not sure if her action would be welcomed, she leaned over slightly and laid her hand lightly on Evadne's forearm. "I'll stick with you if you want?" She nodded in the direction of the hill, "They'll most likely see me coming anyway."

Evadne gave a small smile. Truth be told, she was indeed a little uneasy at being left behind. However, she'd seen the flare of interest in the blue-green eyes. Knowing how relieved the younger woman was at just being out in the open again, she thought that a little excitement would do the stir-crazy westerner a power of good - even if it was just the thrill of a harum-scarum ride. "I'll be fine, Red, go check up on your bad-guys," she half-teased, getting a relieved grin in response.

Red dug her heels into Lady's flanks, feeling a small thrill of pleasure as the mare swiftly moved into a ground-eating canter. As she moved nearer, it appeared than the figures atop the hill had indeed spotted her approach and they hastily disappeared down the far side. At this pace, it wasn't long before she reached the foot of the hill. Circling around, she soon picked up the tracks of two horses making off in the direction of the Danforth ranch. Returning around the hill, she checked up on the distant Evadne, the jogging motion showing that she'd upped her pace to a trot. Then she turned to look up to the top of the mound, wondering what the unknown men had been up to while she waited for the older woman to catch up.

It wasn't long before Evadne pulled her horse alongside the patiently waiting Lady. "Who was it, Red?"

"Dunno, they skedaddled soon as they saw me coming." Red smiled fondly as she now saw the intent way her friend was studying the hill. "Still wanna take a look?"

Evadne nodded, her eyes alight with interest. "Well I did ride all this way with that purpose after all."

"Good. Perhaps we can find out why those two were up there as well." Red slid out of the saddle, noting with approval that Evadne looked only slightly stiff as she dismounted more decorously. "Ready?"

After a scrambling climb, they stood on the top of the hill. A patch of snow had been cleared away exposing the stone surface underneath. "Someone's certainly been busy," Red muttered before moving to the far edge of the platform. Taking out her binoculars, she searched for the riders but couldn't see anyone between the hill and the Danforth spread. She frowned, puzzled: they hadn't had time to get back, not without riding dangerously fast. Widening her search, she eventually spotted two distant figures heading in the general direction of River Fork. Her internal debate about whether they were the men she'd seen on the hill was interrupted by Evadne's awed voice.

"This is amazing; stonework like this is unheard of amongst the indigenous people of the area."

Red turned to see Evadne on her knees examining the stones.

"Yeah," Red agreed, "this whole place isn't right. And the ground is just plain weird. It's like the earth is dead, poisoned perhaps."

Still examining the stones, Evadne muttered almost to herself, "Well I have read of great earth mounds down in Georgia that seem to have some link to the pyramids found in South America. Perhaps their influence got this far as well."

Red watched the socialite as she continued her examination of the stones, occasionally sweeping a wary look over the surrounding land. Atop the hill Red suddenly felt unnaturally exposed, the open expanse of the surrounding plains feeling suddenly threatening rather than comforting.

"There's very little in the way of soil on the stone, that can't be right if it has been abandoned for so long?" Evadne thought aloud. "That is what Mr. Silverwind said isn't it?" At Red's affirming nod, she returned to her study, brow furrowed in thought. "Of course! How stupid of me!" Sitting back on her heels, she glanced up at the westerner's questioning face, "It hasn't really been abandoned, whatever Mr. Silverwind said. It's been what, fifty years since the Pawnee were forced off the land. The joints between the stones are far too clean for it to have been left untended for all those years," Back on her hands and knees she was brushing away the last traces of the snow, "Especially here." She stopped her brushing, "Well that is odd."

Red moved to look down at what Evadne had found. With a gloved finger, the socialite indicated the edge of one large stone. "There is hardly anything in these joints." Sitting back on her heels once more, she studied the stone for a while longer. "Red, could I borrow your knife?"

Silently Red drew the bowie knife from her boot, offering it hilt first. Taking it, Evadne skillfully insinuated the six-inch blade down the side of the stone and then began gently to lever it up. "It's moving easily," came the muttered commentary, "I believe it has been lifted quite recently." Then the stone was lifted and laid carefully aside. "Well I never!"

Red hunkered down by her friend's side to peer at the small stone lined chamber now revealed.

"A stone cist; nicely made." Evadne commented - all that time spent helping Geoff had been of use after all. "But the contents are recent, very recent."

Peering into the stone box, Red could now see a tangle of feathers and beads and some sort of wooden frame. Suddenly the unsettling feeling that she'd felt when the steer had been killed returned and as Evadne was lowering her hand into the chamber, Red grabbed it. "No!"

"We need to see what it is." Evadne countered, a little surprised by the abrupt action.

"No, we need to leave it alone." Red met the increasingly puzzled brown eyes not even sure where the certainty had come from but certain she was. She gave a conciliatory, lopsided grin. "No need to go upsetting the locals now is there." And one local in particular I would bet, she thought - that trip to River Fork had suddenly got a legitimate purpose after all.

Obviously still unhappy about it, Evadne nevertheless removed her hand and replaced the stone. Standing, she gingerly wiped her hands on the legs of her pants then turned to Red. "So what do you think?"

"Hey, I ain't the one who went to University," Red gave a wry grin, "But if I were to make an uneducated guess…"

"It is an attempt to keep the tainted essence of the very earth we tread entrapped within the mound." Evadne interrupted, her voice sounding distant, detached. As Red turned to stare at her she added, "It has only partly succeeded."

Suddenly aware of the puzzled face looking at her, the socialite stammered, "What's the matter?"

"What did you just say?" Red asked in confusion.

"What did I say what?" Evadne now looked totally confused.

"You said something about keeping a tainted essence or something," Red prompted gently, "and not having succeeded."

"I didn't say anything." The socialite looked at her friend seeing the genuine confusion. "I was just looking at the cist then you were staring at me."

Red could recognize the genuine bewilderment in the other woman's voice. Something odd was definitely going on up here: she didn't need the increasingly uneasy sensation that was making the skin of her neck crawl to tell her that. Moving to the now worried looking Evadne, she gave her arm a reassuring squeeze. "S'okay, 'vadne."

"Did I really," Evadne started to ask.

"Later, lets get back to the ranch, okay?" All the investigator wanted to do at that particular moment was get off the top of that increasingly creepy hill.

"Alright," Evadne responded, puzzlement still plain on her face.

"C'mon," Red started towards the edge of the platform, "let's get moving."

***

The ride back passed in almost total quiet. Red had fallen into a brooding silence. Having almost convinced herself that the earlier sensations of being watched were due to an overactive imagination, she'd been distinctly unnerved by the reappearance of the disconcerting feeling atop the hill. Evadne's strange pronouncement, apparently without any knowledge of what she'd said only added to her unease. There seemed little doubt that there was something very wrong going on and that it was somehow centered on the hill. Red shivered, pulling the collar of her coat up around her ears. A quick glance back at where Evadne was also riding silently, a thoughtful expression on her face. The silence was as good an indication that the socialite was as concerned as her partner. Definitely not like Evadne to miss out on the opportunity to talk, Red smiled briefly as she returned her attention to the trail, that women could talk the hind legs offa donkey and then persuade it to walk a mile. The smile slipped as she reconsidered the way the beeves had been killed. If that was the result of a supernatural event then this case had just got a lot more dangerous. How were they supposed to defeat something that could apparently rip apart a full-grown steer in seconds without any warning? Despite her increasing concern, a wry smile re-appeared at the realization of what she was so calmly considering. Six months ago, she would have all but dismissed any possibility of supernatural involvement, now she knew for certain that there were things that could not be so easily explained. Automatically she touched the front of her jacket under which lay the undeniable proof. What the hell is going on at the hill and how is it linked to the beeves bein' killed?

Evadne saw the familiar gesture, wondering what it meant. She'd often noticed the westerner touch the spot where the bullet had ripped into her stomach, not even sure whether Red did it consciously. More often than not it was a sign that the investigator was worried, thinking or both and Evadne could only sympathize with that feeling. As they rode from the strange mound, she tried to make sense of what she was supposed to have said and why she couldn't remember saying it.

'You spoke my words, daughter.'

Evadne's eyes widened in shock and she opened her mouth to call out only to find she could not.

'Do not fear, my child.'

Panic gripped Evadne, despite the words, as she found she could not move. She could feel the presence within her mind, vast and weighed down with the ages yet there was no accompanying sense of foreboding. Unlike the neutral tones of the Stone she had willed out of existence only a few months earlier, this mental voice was tinged with weariness and bitterness but, despite this, the overwhelming sensation was that of compassion. Relaxing a little, Evadne cast out a mental question. Who are you?

'That is of no import,' the silent voice replied, 'know only that I am here to help you, my child. When the time comes, heed my words.'

But what… Before the thought could be finished, the presence was gone, leaving a warm sense of belonging and a hint of immense latent power. Evadne looked around her in confusion. Surely, there had to have been some sign of what had happened? But Red still rode slightly ahead of her, apparently none the wiser. Was she going mad then? The memory of the voice was strong and clear, and after all this was not the first time something like this had happened. If I can accept a lump of rock speaking to me then why not this. Evadne frowned, casting a look back over her shoulder at the now distant hill. I spoke its…no, her words? For the voice had been female, she was certain of that, but was she, whatever she was, to be trusted? Not that there would be anything she could do about it anyway, Evadne thought with a small shudder, remembering the way she'd initially been unable to move or even speak. She glanced at Red again and was about to speak up, tell her what had just happened, but when she tried to say the words nothing would come. Fear rose again, had she been struck permanently dumb?

"Red?" The single word was squeaked rather than spoken but nevertheless caused a surge of relief.

The westerner turned slightly in the saddle to look back over her shoulder, a pale brow raised quizzically. "Yeah?"

She tried again to speak of what had happened but it appeared her voice had frozen up. Seeing the puzzled look on the westerner's face, she cast around for an innocuous question she hoped she'd be allowed to ask. "How long until we get back?"

Red paused a moment before replying, her puzzled frown deepening. "'Bout half an hour."

"Thank you," Evadne automatically acknowledged the answer as she processed this new information - she could still talk but apparently not about the strange voice.

Red gave her another look, shook her head slightly as a small, bemused grin quirked the corner of her mouth before she returned to the trail ahead.

Sitting back in her saddle, the socialite angrily sent out thoughts to the now absent voice, demanding an explanation and a release from the silent prohibition, but all to no avail. After a while, she came to the unhappy realization that this was to be her secret and her secret alone. Still not altogether happy but nonetheless resigned to her invisible advisor's restriction, she didn't try to voice the experience again, For the moment at least, she would trust the instinct that this unknown entity was not an enemy and might yet prove to be a friend.

***

Red stripped down to shirtsleeves and wrapped her hands. After warming up, paying particular attention to her damaged side and shoulder she moved to the makeshift punch bag. To her extreme annoyance, she appeared to have gained an audience but decided to ignore the wannabe mechanic. She scowled, giving the punch bag an extra hard thump and raising a warning eyebrow in Lefty's direction.

Pausing for a moment, she rotated her arms again, easing the damaged muscles. Although still aching badly she now had almost full movement in her left shoulder. It appeared Westerman had actually done her a favor - for some reason the attack seemed to have indirectly helped the healing process. Raising her fists once more, she started to punch in earnest, mind working over the case and the supernatural direction it seemed to be taking.

"D'you box then, properly I mean, at a gym?"

Lefty it appeared had not taken the hint and left. For a moment, she ignored the question but it had been made with apparently genuine interest. Without pausing in what she was doing, she gave a grunted, "Yeah." Until you got your stupid ass banned that is, she added angrily, putting in a fast combination of blows that set the bag swinging and spinning wildly.

Peace reigned for the rest of her practice session. Along with the more standard boxing moves, she added in a few of the kicks she learned from some of the Chinese dockworkers back in Boston. Her legs were still somewhat stiff from the amount of riding she'd been doing and she was unhappy to find she wasn't kicking as high as normal. By the time she'd finished, Red had expected to find herself alone but her shadow was still there, a look of concentration on his face. Muscles burning and now sweating profusely despite the relative cold of the stables she moved to the bucket of water she'd drawn earlier. Pulling off the soaked shirt, she washed her upper body down before dunking her head into the bucket. Sucking in air though her teeth at the shock of the icy cold she quickly straightened up, shaking off the excess water before briskly toweling herself dry, taking care not to knock the scabs on her shoulder. The wound on her side was now just a neat circular patch of new pinkish scar tissue. The holes in her shoulder, however, were still covered in unpleasant scabs but any leakage had stopped so the dressings had been abandoned in favor of letting fresh air do its bit in the healing process.

A quick glance showed the young man was still there, a puzzled frown on his now slightly pink face. Although the bindings around her breasts had kept Red decent in her mind it had obviously surprised the young ranch-hand. For a moment, slate-gray met blue-green and for an irritating moment the investigator thought another question was in the offing and she was fairly sure what it was going to be, To her surprise however none was forthcoming. So, he does have some sense. Nevertheless, the silent observation was beginning to grate on her nerves.

"Ain't you got anything better to be doin'?" she growled.

"No." The young man answered more nonchalantly than he felt. He knew bullet wounds when he saw them and Wolverton had a bigger collection that anyone he'd seen before, including two that looked to be quite recent, the one in her shoulder, the one Rick had told them about, still looking painfully raw.

Red glared pointedly at the ranch hand. "Well, you'd best find somethin' - ain't you got some beeves to herd or somethin'?" She smirked at the flash in the slate-gray eyes before reaching for the clean shirt she'd brought with her.

"Red, are you in there?" Evadne's voice came from outside the barn.

"Will you teach me?" the imminent arrival of another person finally prompted Lefty to ask his question.

"What?" Red's attention had switched to Evadne and she'd only half heard the question.

"Teach me how to fight, so bastards like Westerman can't get one over on me," Lefty clarified.

Red looked at the earnest face, seeing no sign he was being anything other than honest in his request.

"Okay," she smiled at the beaming grin that lit up his face, "I'll have to okay it with your boss so I'll let you know later, okay?"

Giving a happy nod, he left, greeting Evadne with an upbeat, '"A'noon, ma'am," as he passed.

Evadne acknowledged the greeting then turned to look for Red, eyes widening at finding the westerner half-naked. "Looks like you've made someone's day," Evadne teased in reaction to her surprise, only belatedly realizing quite how that may have been taken. For some reason she was finding the sight that had greeted her unexpectedly disconcerting.

"Kid wants to learn how to box," Red muttered, "said I'd teach him." Expecting a rebuke of some sort, she was surprised when Evadne smiled instead.

"That's good of you, Red. Mrs. Wilson say he's been kicking himself about letting Westerman escape - if the boxing lessons help him feel better then you will have done a good thing." Why was she so fascinated with Red's body all off a sudden? She'd seen the younger woman naked before. Of course, that had been when she'd been unconscious, bleeding or both. A slightly damp and flushed Red, muscles in arms and shoulders pumped up by exercise, was another thing altogether and she suddenly found her mouth had gone dry.

"Yeah, well, he's a good kid." Red mumbled, suddenly embarrassed by both the praise and her shirtless condition. Quickly, she pulled on the clean shirt and began tucking in the tails.

"Yes, he is," Evadne replied absently, both glad and disappointed that the younger woman's body was no longer on display. Then a moment of horror as she wondered whether the sudden replacing of the shirt was an indication that she'd been caught staring.

Pulling the suspenders over her shoulders, Red cast the unusually quiet Evadne a quick glance. "You were looking for me?"

"Yes," Evadne stammered slightly before adding somewhat caustically, "Do you often get half undressed in front of strangers?"

Red grinned at the familiar exasperated tone. "He wouldn't leave me in peace so if he got more than he expected he ain't got anyone to blame but himself."

"Yes," she stammered again, "but really, it isn't right wandering around like that," to her shame she could feel a blush starting up.

Acting on an impulse that was a combination of hope and devilment Red moved to stand in front of the now silent socialite. Leaning forward until her lips were close to Evadne's ear she whispered, "Like what you saw, sweetheart?" Watching the blush deepen, she felt a jolt in the pit of her stomach. Had the socialite indeed liked what she'd seen? Suddenly serious she asked, "Well, did you?" She removed the shirt, "Do you?" Evadne wasn't meeting her eyes, seemingly glued on her bound chest. "Ah, still like my tits then?" Heart pounding but keeping her tone light she lifted the downcast face to look into confused brown eyes, seeing the flame of desire that flickered in her stomach matched in Evadne's eyes.

"I…" Evadne stammered. Her usually ready tongue had failed her and she was feeling scared and elated at the same time. Tentatively she reached out a hand to stroke Red's shoulder, feeling hard muscles twitch at her touch. "You have such a beautiful body," she whispered, tracing over pale smooth skin with gentle fingertips. Reaching the wound under the collarbone the mother hen reared its clucking head. "Why do you insist on not looking after it, why do you let yourself get hurt so?" Her hand hadn't stopped its journey though, running along the broad shoulder, up the strong neck to trace the jaw line. The younger woman was stock still, her eyes intent and darkening, the power of her gaze causing Evadne's heart to race. Her fingers continued their tactile exploration, now finding the fine short hair at the back of the westerner's head. A sad smile touched her lips. So like Geoff. The thought and the sudden hedonistic growl from Red as she arched into the touch brought Evadne to her senses. What am I doing! She took a hurried step away, abruptly breaking the contact. Seeing the shocked, disappointed look on Red's face, Evadne turned and hurried through the door into the yard, mixed and contradictory emotions causing her to flee.

Red stared at the door, immobilized by a combination of shock, hurt and frustration. Her immediate angry reaction was to follow Evadne, demand from the older woman what the hell she thought she was playing at. She'd seen the desire in the brown eyes; she was damn sure about that this time. Quickly getting dressed, she finally buckled on the gun belt she'd not been without since Westerman's escape. About to leave in search of Evadne, she stopped, gripped by sudden uncertainty. "Damn it, little wolf, just what the fuck is going on?" Slumping down on the nearby wagon bed, she fell back to lie staring up into the rafters. She could still feel the path the older woman's fingers had traced across her skin, just the thought of Evadne's hands touching her caused her to squirm in frustration. Why had this happened now? More to the point, just what exactly had happened? From the first time she'd met Evadne she'd been aware of her physical attraction to the dark haired woman but she was attracted to a lot of women, so that was nothing new. More surprising was the friendship that had grown between the two women, surviving even the results of the Deceiver's plots. The westerner could count the number of true friends she'd ever had on the fingers of one hand - that the socialite had become one of them had surprised Red as much as those that knew her. Was that friendship becoming something else, something stronger? She thought again of the look she had seen on Evadne's face, the feel of the socialite's fingers on her skin and her groin clenched in hopeless anticipation. With a groan, she unbuttoned the top few buttons of her pants. Slipping her hand in under the waistband of her drawers, she was unsurprised to find the physical signs of her arousal but was surprised as to exactly how wet she was. Heedless of any consequences should someone find her, she quickly brought herself to a bittersweet release. Buttoning herself up as the final small twitches receded, she felt only sadness as she wished it had been Evadne's hand rather than her own.

With a resigned sigh, Red got off the wagon. After quickly washing her hand, she picked up the damp shirt from where it had been dropped and left the stables, heading for the relative peace and quiet of her room. As she walked, she wondered at this turn of events, her guilt wondering why she could apparently fall for women that didn't want her whereas she wouldn't allow herself to do so with the one woman who had truly loved her, who had given her life to save hers. Fuck, you are one serious mixed up looser, ain't you, little wolf. Entering the small room she hesitated for a moment unsure what to do. In the end, she moved to the desk, opening the drawer intending to get out her tin of coffee. Instead her eyes were drawn to the nearly full bottle of whisky. She'd been trying to cut down on her alcohol consumption. She wouldn't admit it, even to herself, but Evadne's gentle recriminations had finally got through to her. With a mind of its own, her hand fetched it out, setting in on the desktop.

She stared at the amber liquid for a long while. Was she in love with Evadne? Was that what she was feeling? Or was it just the lure of the unobtainable. It didn't have the same stomach flipping, mind numbing feelings that had gone with Katherine yet she couldn't think of a life without the strong minded, compassionate, capable woman. For only the second time in her life she felt that someone truly cared for her, for good and for ill, enough to stand up to her many bad habits and encourage her much rarer good points.

"Yeah, try to persuade yourself that why doncha. The only woman who ever truly loved you is dead, little wolf. Evadne ain't going to want you messin' up her life, spoiling her soirees, embarrassing her kin." She reached out for the whisky as the black mood descended and she'd downed the first shot without thought. "She is so out of your league you ain't even in the same ball-park." Then all she wanted to do was forget. Forget her injured shoulder, forget her wounded heart, forget her fuck-up of a life.

***

Evadne stared into the dressing table mirror. Critically she noted the too thick, dark eyebrows, the overly square jaw, the sharp cheekbones. It was the same face she'd been looking at for years, a little older perhaps, the first sign of wrinkles at the corners of her eyes, yet it seemed to be the face of a stranger. What is happening to me? Her hand sought out the traveling jewelry box. Flipping it open, she withdrew a small silver case. Opening it, she looked down at the photograph of Geoff and herself together, smiling, happy. It had been taken just as the news of the assassination of Grand-Duke Ferdinand had hit the newspapers. They'd paid only a passing notice, sure that this latest trouble in the Balkans would soon resolve itself. Little had she guessed how it would irrevocably change so many lives around the world, her own included. She set the traveling frame on the table, gazing at Geoff's handsome smiling face as she felt the tears prick her eyes. Over ten years and sometimes it felt like it was only yesterday.

No use living in the past, Evadne, she mentally chided herself. Returning to the jewel box, she picked out the emerald studded broach. But is Red really my future? A wry smile tugged at her lips. Well, that really would annoy my in-laws and no mistake. What did she really feel for the strange, brash woman who could switch from infuriating to charming in a blink of an eye? From the first moment, she had been strangely drawn to the younger woman. Even before meeting her, the stories she'd heard had intrigued her, causing her to apply for the position of secretary just to have the chance to find out what sort of woman could have chiseled herself a niche in the male dominated world of the private investigator. Meeting the woman in the flesh she'd found her to be both more and less than she'd expected. The carelessly scruffy appearance and abrasive attitude had been a less than pleasant discovery, but the woman had such an intriguing presence that Evadne had carried on with her plan. The angry accusation had been a step too far, the implied deceit cutting the socialite deep. In the weeks following that split she had alternated between regret and relief that the strange woman was out of her life only to have her burst back in, gun wielding, bent on murder and on the brink of nervous collapse.

With a sigh, she replaced the broach. "I do love her," that much she would willingly admit, "but am I in love with her or is it just… something more basic?" It had been over ten years since she had last slept with Geoff, her one and only lover. Was it just the younger woman's uninhibited nature calling to her basest nature? Was it time for another appointment with Rosie palm and her five little helpers? She might have been lover-less for ten years but she still had desires that needed satisfying. For a guilty moment, she wondered what it would feel like to have Red touch her so intimately but hastily banished the thoughts whence they had come. She stared at her reflection, seeing no answer. Snapping the lid shut, she made her decision. Rising, she left the room in search of her friend and partner - they needed to talk.

***

Knocking on the door to Red's room, she was not altogether surprised to receive a grunted, "G'way." The slurred tone however made her frown. Pushing open the door, surprised to find it unlocked she entered the room to be greeted by the sight of Red sprawled across the small bed. Even without the half-empty bottle on the table the smell in the small room would have left little doubt what had happened. Stuck between annoyance and the guilty feeling this was somehow her fault, Evadne hovered in the doorway.

Unfocused blue-green eyes turned in her direction. "G'way or come in, just shut the fuckin' door."

Taking the latter option Evadne entered the small room, pushing the door closed behind her. Turning to the drunken westerner, she saw the eyes were now scrunched closed, brow knitted together in a scowl.

"Red," she started, "I think we need to talk."

Red gave a bitter laugh, made morose by the drink. "Talk, yeah, why not. After all, that's what you're good at ain't it, Evadne."

With a weary sigh, Evadne pulled out the chair from behind the desk and placed it by the side of the bed. "I'm sorry for running out on you like that."

Red blinked in surprise. This was not at all what she had expected the older woman to say. Struggling up to sit on the bed, back against the wall, she muttered an unexpectedly forlorn, "Yeah, me too."

Evadne looked at the younger woman not quite sure what to say. In the end, she just gave a weak smile, "Actually I don't know what to say."

"Wanted a bit of an experiment did you?" Red asked bitterly. "'Cause it ain't no experiment to me."

Red looked up to meet Evadne's eyes and the older woman was surprised at the vulnerability she saw there. The eyes dropped once more and Red began the familiar clenching and unclenching of her hands, a sure sign of emotional turmoil.

"I care for you very much, Red," Evadne started, noting the momentary stiffening in the younger woman's body, then gestured hopelessly, "But that? I don't know…"

Red felt the anguish in the older woman's voice tug at something deep within her, something she was surprised to find she still had - her soul. Anger snuffed out in a heartbeat, she realized that she could not, would not hurt this woman. If friendship was indeed all she could have, that was all she would take. If it were to become more than that, it would be a much welcomed bonus but she wasn't going to try and force the issue. Looking up she saw the socialite's head had dropped, the set of her shoulders showing her distress. She shuffled along the bed so that their knees nearly touched. "Hey, it's okay, 'vadne." She laid a hesitant hand on the nearest knee. "I care for you too, a lot, more than a lot." She smiled as surprised brown eyes were raised to meet hers. "Leona had it right y'know, It was me doing the deceiving there not her. But if you just want a friend I'll be that friend, 'kay?"

Evadne smiled weakly, "Thank you, Red." Her hand moved to rest on the westerner's larger, scarred one. "I am honored to have you as my friend, Red Wolverton." On a sudden impulse, she leaned forward to place a quick kiss on the westerner's cheek. "Thank you, little wolf."

Red gave a lopsided grin, "Well if that is what I get for being touchy-feely I'll have to try it more often."

The tension of the previous moments broken, Evadne chuckled. "Perhaps you should."

***

Evadne squinted through the mud covered windscreen, trying to make out the rough road from the shell churned land to either side.

"Nearly back," her companion noted cheerfully.

Evadne smiled back, it was only about half a mile and they would be out of shell range. Then she frowned at the ominous whine that was getting louder. Automatically ducking as the shell exploded, Evadne lost momentary control of the ambulance. It stalled, shuddering to a halt but thankfully staying on the road. "Dear Lord, that was close," she muttered, turning the ignition and grinding the wrecked gears back into place before getting the battered vehicle on the go again - staying still in this area was asking for trouble. She glanced across at Roberta the joking words freezing on her lips as she saw how still her friend was sitting. "Bobbie?" she reached out, shaking the nearest shoulder. At the touch, the young woman's head lolled lifelessly to one side, revealing the lump of shrapnel sticking out of the side of her head. Evadne gasped in horror as the ambulance shuddered to a stop once more. Staring in shock at her dead friend, she forced down the bile as she felt the tears rising. "Oh, Bobbie," she muttered in a mixture of guilt and grief, "I'm so sorry," The young Englishwoman wasn't even supposed to have been there. Evadne's regular partner was on leave, Bobbie had practically begged to go with her. She could hear her words now echoing mockingly. "You're lucky, Evie, you've never been hurt, your bus has barely even been touched." A banging on the back wall of the cab and a worried shout brought her abruptly back to the present. They were still in shell range and needed to get moving before they became a target. Focused once more on getting the injured men in her charge back safely, she got the vehicle going once more. Peering at the road through tear filled eyes, she tried to banish all thoughts of the lifeless body by her side and concentrated on getting the wounded safely back to base.

Her eyes were red and puffy with tears by the time she pulled up outside the second line hospital. Out of shellfire range now, she let the ambulance stop, slumping forward onto the steering wheel. Eyes closed, she listened to the shouts, as the stretcher cases she'd been transporting were efficiently unloaded. Slowly she turned to face the blood drenched face. She reached out to close the staring blue eyes when they moved.

Evadne's eyes widened in horror. The long brown hair caught up in a bun was now short cut red-gold, the blue eyes more green. Red lifted a hand, pulling the razor sharp metal out of her head and tossing it nonchalantly aside.

"Oh, God!" Evadne choked as she saw a lump of half-congealed blood and brain fall from the hole in the shattered skull.

Red grinned, cracking the mask of dried blood that covered half her face then reached out. "Howdy, sweetheart."

Evadne opened the door behind her, half falling out and landing on her backside. Scrambling to her feet…

… she ran through the forest, bouncing off trees, scrambling through the undergrowth. The knees of her pants had been ripped by the many falls and a sleeve of her jacket was stained with blood where a broken branch had gouged her arm. Behind her came the sound of her pursuer neither gaining nor falling back yet always there. Her heart was pounding so hard she was sure it would burst and her breath came in great labored gasps. She fell again, sprawling onto the leaf mould and broken branches…

… pushing herself up from the stone paving she got painfully to her feet once more, the burning in legs and chest making the pain from scraped palms and knees barely noticeable. Stumbling blindly forward, she ran head first into something rock-solid and immovable and crumpled to the floor. Stunned and seeing stars, she was picked up by the collar. The material of her uniform shirt cut into her throat, choking her until a button ripped off, easing the pressure. She lashed out, trying to break the grip only to be thrown roughly to one side, hitting another wall and falling with a groan to a heap on the cold stone floor. Hearing strangely acute despite the flashing lights in front of her eyes, she caught the sound of footsteps coming closer. The excruciating pain in her head was making her feel sick and her eyes didn't seem to be focusing properly but still she stubbornly tried to rise and face her attacker. Pushing herself up into a sitting position, back propped up against the wall, she squinted blurrily up at the approaching figure.

"No need to run from me, sweetheart." Red lifted her up, easily holding her against the wall. "Why do you always run?"

Evadne tried to push the taller woman away as the blood covered face moved closer. Then she hit out, punching into the thing's stomach. It wasn't Red, she told herself, as she brought her knee up hard. She felt it make contact, even against a woman it should have curled her attacker up but the bloody face just grinned even wider. "My, you are a fighter ain't you, sweetheart." Now the… thing… in Red's body grabbed her wrists pushing them behind her as Evadne felt a wet mouth on her throat, nuzzling, kissing then biting. Harder and harder it bit, breaking the skin, cutting into the flesh until Evadne screamed…

… and woke up. Eyes wide, Evadne hurriedly turned over. Fumbling with the matches, she finally succeeded in striking a match and lighting the bedside candle. In its flickering light, she lay back, wiping a hand across wet eyes. It wasn't the first time she'd dreamed about Bobbie but the last part was new and horribly realistic. After a few moments, a now steady hand reached out to snuff out the candle but it was a long time before she finally got to sleep again.

Wednesday 22nd February

Lou's happy smile as she saw Red enter the Ace very nearly made up for the nightmare-wrecked sleep and the irritation of the day so far. She'd wanted to go to River Fork on her own but wasn't sure enough of the way yet. Two men down as he was Mr. Wilson was unwilling to loose a hand, so when Margaret had offered to guide them, she'd been unable, much to her annoyance, to find any logical reason to object. Then Evadne had heard of the trip and had insisted she also go along in order to telegram an update to Theo. Red had tried to persuade the other woman not to come; after all, she was more than capable of sending the telegram. Her real reason was much more basic - frustrated as hell by her increasing attraction for the older woman, she had hoped Lou would be in a welcoming mood, but the thought of the older woman being in the same vicinity left her with a vague feeling of shame. She'd tried, and failed, to persuade herself that as Evadne wanted to be nothing more than a friend, she could hardly object if Red had a lover. Eventually she'd given in, agreeing to the socialite's request and just hoped it all turned out okay.

The ride had been uneventful, and when they'd arrived, Red and Evadne had gone to the saloon while Margaret had headed for the sheriff's office on her father's behalf. Tucker still hadn't responded to Patch's attempt on Red's life, hadn't even acknowledged it had happened. Tied up on the ranch, Wilson had asked his daughter to find out what the delay was. Red had her own suspicions about this - if Patch was holed up at Danforth's and Sheriff Tucker was under the ranch owner's thumb then it was hardly unexpected that he wasn't trying very hard.

Lou glanced quickly around the empty room and took a happy step towards Red only to stop abruptly as Evadne followed the westerner in. Having satisfied herself that the room was indeed empty, Red closed the gap stopping just short at the young woman's worried glance over Red's shoulder. "She's okay," she smiled, raising a hand to cup Lou's face. "How you doin', sweetheart?"

The grin and the kiss answered that question succinctly enough. For a guilty moment, Red nearly drew back but the younger woman's insistent hands pulled her head down. The enthusiastic exploration kick-started Red's libido and she surrendered to her young lover's desire. An embarrassed cough reminded them of the third person in the room and they broke apart. Red turned to face the coughee with an annoyed glare. "Yeeesss," she drawled, raising a pale eyebrow in a gesture that was part challenge, part question.

"Aren't you going to introduce us?" Evadne responded calmly, though she had been more than a little surprised at the flicker of irritation, even jealousy, the scene had produced. This, is seemed, was the lover that her friend had somehow managed to find. Although, as she now studied her, Evadne was disconcerted to realize that the westerner's latest conquest looked to be barely more than a girl.

"Lou, Evadne; Evadne, Lou." Red smirked at the obvious annoyance on her partner's face at the desultory introduction. "Evadne's my business partner."

"I thought she was back in Boston?" Lou asked, puzzled.

"Someone tried to blow her up," Red responded lightly, amused by the familiar exasperated shake of the head this got from the socialite. "So she's escaped out here for a rest." Grinning at the expected roll of the eyes this produced she was surprised to feel Lou's arm snake around her waist, pulling her close. Once more feeling uncomfortable in the socialite's presence, she briefly returned the gesture before taking a step away, breaking the contact. "Someone might come in, Lou," she explained at the hurt look, feeling another pang of guilt for the half-truth. The young woman gave a nod of understanding before giving a warm smile and slipping smoothly into waitress mode.

"So, what can I get you folks?"

"Two coffees, Lou, one black one white." She paused for a moment, glancing at Evadne as she felt more indecision. Aw, for fuck's sake, idiot, it ain't goin' to happen. Decision made, she turned back to Lou, gracing her with one of her most wolfish grins. "I'll come give you a hand." At least in the kitchen she would be free of the socialite's disturbing presence.

Evadne sighed as the two women left. She had little doubt that the coffee would be a while in coming; the sexual energy between the two had been almost embarrassingly obvious. Well you had your chance, Evadne, and you blew it spectacularly. You can't blame her for getting elsewhere what you won't give her, now can you? Resigned to her solitary vigil she began to examine the somewhat worse for wear ex-saloon.

By the time the two women, looking tousled and flushed, had reappeared with the coffee Evadne had finished her examination of the saloon and had mentally re-written her telegram four times. Although Lou was every inch the attentive hostess, Red was avoiding meeting her eyes. A small part of her was happy that she was apparently making the westerner feel uncomfortable while another rebuked herself for the unworthy feelings. Eventually deciding that magnanimity was the only honorable course, she waited until Lou had returned to the kitchen before rising from the table. "I'm going to the telegraph office then I'm going to speak to the sheriff, hopefully Maggie will still be there. I've a few other things I want to do so I expect I shall be an hour of so." As blue-green eyes finally met hers, she gave a small smile she hoped was understanding, "So I shall leave you two to catch up in peace." As she moved towards the outer door, she was surprised as Red moved past to open it for her.

"Thanks." The single mumbled word was almost too quiet to hear but Evadne returned it with a small smile before pulling her coat tighter around her and venturing out into the chill of the afternoon. Pausing outside she quickly got her bearings, noting as she did a man standing outside the general store on the other side of the street. He seemed to be looking at her. She gave him a friendly smile before heading off down the street toward where she'd been told the mail office was to be found.

***

Red closed the door with a mixture of feelings. Evadne had pretty much given her blessing to her and Lou yet she still felt a little disappointed that it had been so easily given. Her musings were broken as she heard light footsteps behind her and a small hand took hers and started pulling her towards the stairs.

"C'mon, Red, we've the place to ourselves for the next hour or so." Lou smiled that heart-stoppingly sexy smile and Red's last doubts crumbled under its assault.

"Ready for lesson two?" she asked as she followed the young woman up the stairs and into one of the guest rooms.

"You bet."

Red followed Lou into the room, shutting and locking the door. Turning into the room, she was surprised to find herself pushed back hard, wincing slightly as her shoulder hit the wooden door.

"Oh god, I'm sorry, Red, I forgot," Lou stepped hurriedly back, mortification on her face.

"S'okay, sweetheart, you can kiss it better." Red grinned rakishly as the flare of pain slowly receded.

Hesitantly the young woman stepped forward, laying a hand over the nearly healed wound under the westerner's collarbone. Red frowned as the younger woman just stood there, hand on her shoulder, gazing into her eyes. When Lou finally spoke, there was hesitation in her voice. "Are you sure you want this, Red. What about Evadne?"

"What about her?" Red asked defensively, guilt adding a sharpness to the question.

"You and her ain't… y'know?" Lou replied carefully, watching the expression in the older woman's face.

"No, we ain't lovers." Much as I might want it to be otherwise. She'd tried to sound offhand but something in her voice must have betrayed her true feelings as Lou frowned in her own turn.

"But you would like to be?" Even as she asked the question, Lou knew the answer, saw it in the sadness that filled the blue-green eyes.

Startled, Red stared into kind amber eyes, surprised by the sympathy she saw there. "Yeah, I would," she was amazed to find herself admitting, "but she don't feel the same way."

For a moment, it seemed that Lou was about to say something but in the end just nodded. Removing her hand, she stepped away, eyes dropping nervously to the floor. "If you don't…"

Red didn't let her finish the sentence, stepping abruptly forward to place a hand over the young woman's mouth. "I want to, Lou." She released the hand, staring seriously into the puzzled eyes now looking up at her. "Do you?" A moment's hesitation then there was an answering nod. With a lopsided grin, Red stepped back against the door. "So where were we?"

"I think," Lou moved forward, slipping the unbuttoned jacket off her lover's broad shoulders to pool on the floor, "I was showing you," the vest now joined the jacket, "how much research," Red's shirt was swiftly unbuttoned and pulled over her head, "I've been doing." Then her lips were at Red's neck, nibbling and kissing as small hands began to undo the bindings over her chest. As soon as the strips of cotton joined the rest of the investigator's clothing, Lou's hands started gently to knead the now bared breasts as she continued to trail kisses and nips over Red's neck and shoulders. The taller woman had her head thrown back and Lou now found the point on the westerner's throat where a increasingly rapid heartbeat could be felt just beneath the skin. She sucked gently on the pulse-point then gently bit down - she was now going on instinct, and what Red had done to her that first time, her book had never been this detailed. The groan that vibrated through her hands seemed to suggest she was doing the right thing. Lowering her head, she now switched her attention to a small, beautiful breast. The nipple was already hard, the small pink aureole puckered from her touch. She touched the end of her tongue to the tip of the nipple and Red arched into her. She pulled back, looking up to meet eyes that had darkened to a stormy gray. "Impatient aren't we," she grinned at the exasperated growl that came from the older woman then gave a small shriek as she was suddenly lifted from the ground and dumped on the bed.

Red quickly moved to straddle the younger woman, loosely holding her wrists to the bed as she gazed down into the open, lust-filled face. Her breast still tingled from Lou's touch but suddenly it felt… wrong. "I can't do this," she muttered. Releasing her grip, she sat up. "I'm sorry, Lou." She got off the bed and retrieved the cotton strips.

"Red?"

Deftly rebinding her chest, Red stooped to pick up her shirt.

"Red, please, look at me."

She could hear the puzzled hurt in Lou's voice but couldn't reply. Back firmly turned, she pulled the shirt on.

"What's the matter?"

A creak of springs then a hand took Red by the elbow and gently turned her.

"It's Evadne isn't it?" Lou asked gently.

Surprised, Red lifted her head to meet compassion-filled eyes. An abrupt nod in answer then to her mortification, she felt her eyes begin to fill. Raising her arm, she used her sleeve to rub the tears away.

"Oh dear, Red," amber eyes gazed into blue-green, seeing the truth they could not hide. "You're in love with her aren't you?"

Before Red could answer there was a knock on the door. After a quick check that they were both decent and a rueful smile at Lou, she opened the door. There was a moment's shock as she stared at the masked face then pain flared through her skull and she slumped limply to the ground, her last memory Lou's surprised cry.

***

By the time Evadne returned to the saloon it had been over an hour. She'd done all she needed and had then kicked her heels in the small general store until Maggie joined her there, having finally finished talking with the sheriff. Her generosity now exhausted, she set off back to the Ace with Maggie in tow. Evadne wasn't that surprised to find the main room empty, her companion, however, didn't know that the two women were probably otherwise occupied.

"Lou?" Maggie shouted, "Hey, Lou, you about?"

Evadne gave the reporter a surprised glance as she headed in the direction of the kitchen. It hadn't occurred to her that the reporter and the waitress would have known each other though it was, she now considered, an obvious conclusion to have come to.

"Lou? Mrs. Greenhall?" The younger woman opened the door, peering into the room beyond.

"Anyone in?" At the answering shake of the head, Evadne moved to the stairs. Suddenly embarrassed for Red's sake, she turned to her companion. "I'm just going to check upstairs, can you check down here? As Maggie moved of to check the rest of the ground floor rooms, she quickly moved up to the first floor. Checking the half dozen doors, she saw that all but one stood slightly ajar. Each of these she checked first. Knock. "Hello?" Open and peer in. No sign of anybody in any of the open rooms, this just left the one remaining door. Listening, she though she could hear a faint muffled noise and she hovered nervously for a moment before knocking. "Red? Are you in there? It's been over an hour." There was a definite noise now, a thudding and a muffled sound. "Red?" Then a crash that made Evadne jump back startled. Another muffled sound. Worried now, she tried the door, finding it locked. There was no sign of the key in the door. After a moments thought, dismissing the idea of trying to break the door down - she'd leave that sort of destructive machismo to Red - Evadne turned and hurried down the stairs. As she came down the stairs she spotted a woman not much older than herself come into the room accompanied by Maggie. "Mrs. Greenhall?" she asked hurriedly. At the older woman's puzzled acknowledgement, Evadne continued. "Have you a master key for the rooms, I think something's wrong in number four."

After a surprised frown, the woman nodded her head. Evadne led her up the stairs to the locked room. With what seemed incredible slowness the woman retrieved a set of keys from her bag, searched through until selecting one and inserting it in the lock.

"Please, stand back," Evadne instructed, her Brahmin tones getting instinctive obedience from Mrs. Greenhall if not Maggie. Unlocking the door, Evadne gently turned the handle and began to push. A sudden vision of flame and noise stopped her and she took a sudden shocked breath.

"What's the matter? "Maggie asked, frowning in concern.

"Nothing," Evadne shook off the memory of the bomb blast and pushed the door open far enough to slip inside, closely followed by the reporter.

The source of the crash was immediately apparent. Lou was lying on the floor, tied to the chair. Her eyes wide and tear stained. "Lou," Maggie gasped out as both women rushed to help, Evadne quickly untying the ropes as Maggie removed the gag.

"Are you okay, Lou?" Maggie's voice was carefully solicitous but there was an edge to it that made Evadne glance across at the reporter, seeing fear in the gray eyes.

"Maggie?" Lou uttered in astonishment.

"Lou," her mother cried from the doorway in which she now stood before rushing to her daughter's side. "Oh dear lord, sweetie, are you okay?" She moved to help, getting in Evadne's way as she tried to hug Lou.

Lou turned to Evadne, surprise at her old friend's reappearance overtaken by worry for her new one. "They took Red," she stated, tears coming again. "Oh, Evadne, she just collapsed, I think they might have killed her." Then she turned into her mother's arms and began crying in earnest. Even as the words made her stomach sink, Evadne became all coolness. "Who?" She shook the girl's shoulder. "Who took her, how long ago?"

"Masks," she sobbed, "they were wearing masks, I couldn't see their faces." Taking a deep breath, she got herself calmed a little before considering the second question. "It wasn't long after you left, about fifteen minutes or so." Evadne nodded, gave the girl a small smile then instructed the mother to take Lou downstairs. As mother and daughter left the room, Evadne turned to Maggie. For a moment, she was surprised by the wistful look on the younger woman's face as she watched Lou being helped out.

"Maggie?"

The reporter turned to face her, the sad look swiftly replaced by one of non-committal concern.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm fine."

Despite the calm assertion, Evadne wasn't convinced. There was obviously something more going on here than was obvious on the surface - but that little conundrum could be left for another day, first she needed to find out what had happened to Red. "Could you fetch the sheriff?"

Maggie gave an abrupt business-like nod, "Of course," and left the room.

Now alone, Evadne began to search the room for any indication as to what had happened. Other than the rope and gag, the only other thing out of place was the westerner's gun belt hanging on the bedpost. Evadne frowned, giving the room another look. There was no sign of Red's coat or that disreputable fedora she insisted on wearing. Picking up the belt, she put it on, noting with some chagrin that she had to use a hole a good inch from the worn notch where it was usually belted. Feeling slightly happier now she was at least armed, she checked to confirm that the revolver was loaded and then replaced it in the holster before covering it with her coat. Footsteps made her look up and she saw the sheriff entering, a frown on his face.

"I just knew that woman was goin' to be nothin' but trouble," he muttered, giving Evadne the briefest of nods.

"Can I remind you that it is Red that's been abducted, sheriff, not the other way around," Evadne replied icily.

He returned her stare calmly enough. "So Miss Wilson says. However, I reckon she brought it on herself. That sorta attitude just breeds trouble."

Biting back angry words, Evadne calmly asked, "So what are you going to do?"

Sheriff Tucker took a mental deep breath, knowing that he was between a rock and a hard place. He already knew that the Wolverton woman had somehow got on Luke Danforth's bad side. He'd already been instructed in no uncertain terms that the shooting attempt at the Wilson ranch was to be let slide - he wouldn't be surprised if her abduction had been Luke's doing. However, he also knew, through Maggie Wilson's none too subtle comments, that Mrs. Lannis was Mr. Criffy's stepdaughter. The absentee landowner may be reluctant to step in over an obnoxious female private investigator but his stepdaughter would be another matter all together. He needed to tread carefully. "I'll put out the word, see if anyone saw something." As he saw the objections forming, he continued. "Mrs. Lannis, you have to understand that I can't just go rushing off all over the place. I've only one deputy and a lot of ground to cover. Give me something to follow up on and I will, but all I have so far is that some unknown men have taken her with no idea who, why or even where."

"What about the houses in town?" Evadne asked sharply.

The sheriff nodded, "Deputy's already on that."

Evadne acknowledged this information but didn't think they would have any luck. If they'd taken Red's hat and coat that suggested they were traveling far enough to worry about her getting cold. It also meant that they wanted her alive and that therefore, despite Lou's fears, she probably hadn't been hit too hard. Leaving the sheriff to his work, she went down the stairs to check on Lou and let her in on the snippet of good news.

Entering the kitchen she found Lou sitting at the large well-scrubbed kitchen table as her mother fussed. For a moment, she nearly missed the reporter's silent presence. A quick glance showed the haunted look from upstairs had returned, the intensity with which she was watching the waitress still surprising. As she told Lou about the hat and coat being missing, the young woman frowned, unconvinced. "But she wasn't moving. I saw them drag her away when they were tying me up."

Evadne tried to reassure the girl. "Don't worry; she's always saying her head's the thickest part of her."

Lou smiled sadly, "Yeah, she said that to me after I knocked her out." She stopped at the stunned look on the older woman's face.

"You hit…" Evadne frowned in bemusement as she tried to picture how this slip of a girl had ended up knocking Red out,

"She attacked you!" Maggie growled at the same time, instantly suspicious of the ill-mannered woman's actions, "What did…"

"She didn't attack me, Maggie, I hit her." Lou felt relief as the angry look on her friend's face relaxed into a puzzled frown, mixed with a warm glow at the protective response. At the quizzical, confused looks that now appeared on both faces, she felt a blush start up her neck and stammered, "It's a long story."

"Which you can tell us later - after we get her back." Evadne gave her a reassuring smile and was just about to leave the warmth of the kitchen when Lou called her back.

"Mrs. Lannis, could you wait a moment." After confirming that the socialite was indeed waiting, she turned to her mother. "Ma, I'm fine, really. Haven't you things you need to be doing?"

Mrs. Greenhall hovered a moment longer, caught between maternal concern and the immediate needs of the day. Recognizing the stubborn look that was so like her late husband, she finally accepted that her daughter didn't seem any the worse for her ordeal and was quite right in that there was plenty she needed to be doing. "Okay, sweetie," she kissed her daughter's cheek, gave the silent reporter a distinctly unhappy look and left,

"I see your ma still doesn't think much of me," Maggie muttered as she watched the door swing shut.

"Can you blame her?" Lou quirked the reporter a wry grin before speaking to Evadne, her tone now urgent. "The men who took Red - I didn't see their faces but I'd bet my bottom dollar I know who it was."

"Who?"

"I think it was some of Danforth's boys. Most of his men are newcomers so I'm not positive, but I'm sure I recognized a couple of the voices."

"Danforth?" Maggie asked. "Why would he kidnap Wolverton?" She frowned, "Don't say she's been annoying him as well - it's bad enough he and father are always at each other's throats."

Lou frowned. "That's not fair, Maggie. Red did nothing to them, they attacked her."

Maggie snorted her disbelief. However before Evadne could come to her friend's defense Lou jumped up and moved to stand directly in front of the reporter.

"Stop it, Maggie," she retorted, anger in her face. "She might be in real trouble and all you can do is blame her for it. What if she's hurt or…" she stumbled to a halt, unable to complete the sentence.

Maggie's face fell at the heated words, shock in her eyes. "I… I'm sorry, Lou. I… just…" she stammered before adding in an emotion-roughened voice. "You might have been hurt…"

To Evadne's utter surprise, Lou took the reporter in a tight embrace. "I know, Maggie, but I'm fine, honestly, and we need to help Red."

Slowly Maggie returned the embrace, the wistful look reappearing on her face.

Suddenly embarrassed by the scene before her, Evadne coughed stagily before asking, "Have you told the sheriff?"

"No," Lou released the embrace, turning to look at Evadne but, the socialite noticed, not relinquishing the contact completely, a hand still holding one of the reporter's. Lou gave an embarrassed shrug. "I didn't think it was a very good idea. Tucker is beholden to Danforth for his job, I'm not sure he… well, you know."

Evadne grimaced. It seemed that the corruption of the law and those that enforced it was not only a big city phenomenon. Remembering Red's bitter words, she wondered again, at what the westerner had experienced to provoke such vehement dislike.

Maggie now spoke. "If Danforth does indeed have her, then I'd agree that we are extremely unlikely to get any help from Sheriff Tucker; however, I don't think he will actively hinder us either."

"We can't just go riding into Danforth's spread and ask to search the place." Lou added.

"Maybe," Evadne frowned as she thought. "Is he one of those bullying shouters or a smooth character?"

Lou grimaced, "Oh, he's smooth as a snake and just as dangerous."

"Hmmm," Evadne smiled, "I think it is about time I visited our neighbors, see if they have been loosing any stock."

***

Red groaned slightly as she awoke to the accompaniment of an aching head and painfully stretched arms. A moments blinking as her memories came back then she took silent stock, eyes still closed. Her wrists were tied and she was hanging from them but her legs appeared to be free. She wasn't gagged, which was both a positive and negative thing. On the plus side it meant she could breathe properly, however it also suggested that there wasn't going to be any point in shouting for help. Carefully lifting her head from where it had been slumped on her chest she gave a quick glance around, confirming what her ears told her - she was indeed quite alone. Now she turned to how she was tied. Looking up at her bound hands, she saw they were tied to another rope thrown over a rafter in the barn's roof. It had been pulled tight enough to have her at full stretch, her feet only just touching the floor. She swiveled, looking around to see if there was anything of use within reach of her feet but the area was conspicuously clear. The door at the far end of the barn slammed open and Red slumped into feigned unconsciousness and listened. Feet crossed the beaten earth floor then her head was pulled up by her hair. She kicked out hard in the direction she thought her captor stood, getting a yelp of pain and a curse. Opening her eyes, she saw One-shot hopping around the room clutching his shin.

Finally stopping his one-legged antics, he turned to face her. An evil grin spread across his face as he stepped close and drove a fist into her gut, knocking the wind out of her. "Not so tough now, girlie," he taunted as he landed another blow, this time into her ribs just where the newly healed scar was.

Red grunted at the flare of pain, then glared at the sneering man. "Why not bring in Patch while you're at it," she growled between gasped breaths, "sure he'd like a go as well."

"He ain't here," He suddenly frowned, definite puzzlement in his voice as he added, more to himself than to his listener. "Ain't seen him for a day or so."

"Yeah, right," she sneered, breathing returning to normal, "and pigs can fly."

He leered, "I just hope them tethering rings he was goin' to fix are for you, girlie," he moved closer, "'cause that I'd pay to see." She kicked out again but this time it was easily avoided as she lost her balance, swinging against the rope as it cut into her wrists and pulled painfully at her healing shoulder. One-shot grinned, "Like kicking, eh, mule?" He laughed, lashing out with his own foot. It caught Red just under the diaphragm, leaving her hanging from the rope and gasping for breath that just wouldn't come.

"Stop it," a man's voice came from the doorway thankfully stopping the assault. Red now concentrated solely on getting her breath back but, tied up as she was, it wasn't happening. She was gasping now, her vision darkening as she began to panic, wriggling weakly. Just as she was about to black out, the rope holding her up was released and she collapsed, only to be caught and laid gently on the floor.

"Easy there, Wolverton," the stranger's voice was calm, reassuring; "you should be able to breath now." Red was still gasping but he was right, air was now getting in and the desperate heaves became shuddering breaths that eventually calmed into something more normal.

"Idiot," The voice was ice cold as he rebuked One-shot, "I told you we need her in one piece - what about that didn't you get?"

Red struggled into a sitting position, her bound wrists resting on her lap. She scowled across at her rescuer, a suave looking dark-haired man in his late twenties, then gently probed her ribs as best as her bound wrists allowed.

"Nothing broke I hope?"

"No," she growled. "No thanks to face-ache over there." She studied the man more closely realizing that he was oddly familiar - she couldn't think why but Red was sure she'd seen him before.

One-shot growled taking a step forward but was stopped by a suddenly upraised hand. "She need's teaching, Mr. Danforth," he snarled, eyes still fixed on Red.

"I am sure she does, however we still need her able to ride," a dismissive flick of the hand, "go back to your work."

After an abrupt nod, One-shot left them alone.

As Red continued her surreptitious attempts to free her hands, the man continued silently to watch. If he came a little bit closer, she would have a chance of knocking him down and escaping the barn but he was apparently aware of it. Eventually his silent observation, combined with the annoyance over her ability to place the man, drove Red to snarl, "What the fuck are you starin' at?"

"Feeling better now?" He answered calmly, the faintest hint of amusement in his voice.

"Well, apart from being tied up and used as a whipping boy," Red growled, "yeah I feel just peachy."

"Okay then, time for you to go back up." At this, he pulled on the rope until she was once more just barely able to stand. Seeing Red's grimace as the damaged muscles in her left shoulder were stretched once more he gave an unsympathetic smile. "That should keep you out of trouble until the boss is ready for you."

Red frowned as the man left. She'd assumed he was in charge but apparently someone else was running the show. Was it Danforth senior perhaps? However, that was a puzzle for later, right now she needed to work out how to get out of the current mess.

She looked up at the rope she was dangling from, feeling once more for any give in her wrists. If she could get up on that beam then perhaps she could get out of the rope. As best she could she jumped up, gripping the rope about half a foot higher, then began to swing. Having got enough momentum, she swung her legs up and wrapped them around the rope above her. Panting, Red let go with her hands in order to move higher then shifted her legs further up. Bit by bit she'd edged about half way up the rope when she suddenly heard the door open again.

Fuck!

"I'm impressed, Wolverton." Danforth commented dryly as he looked up at the upside down figure.

Red looked down at the currently inverted face and grinned wryly. "Just a bit of exercise, y'know." She slid back down the rope and then swung down until her feet hit the floor. Ignoring the pain in abused muscles, Red watched the man approach, again remaining just out of distance. "So, why'm I here then?" she now asked, "Pretty sure you ain't gone to all this trouble just so I could be One-shot's personal punch bag."

"That idiot," Danforth snorted, "If we hadn't needed an inside man at Wilson's I wouldn't have touched him with a barge pole. All balls and no brains."

"Well, we agree on one thing, Mr. Danforth," she decided to make a guess, "Luke Danforth?"

He smiled but no amusement reached his eyes. "So, you've heard of me?"

"Heard you mentioned," Red agreed, still unable to shake the feeling she knew this man. "So why'm I here?"

"All in good time." He moved a little closer and Red tensed as he drew the pistol. "However we need to do something about your acrobatics." He smiled again, a distinctly cruel smile this time. "I could always shoot you in the legs - that would certainly keep you quiet, but alas as already stated we need you in one piece." A thoughtful frown then he shouted. "Hammond, get in here."

A second later, a burly man came through the door. Well at least Red knew the door was guarded, but this was not uppermost in her mind as she stared at the familiar figure. "Barney?"

The bouncer gave her the briefest of glances before addressing Danforth. "Sir?"

Red stared in utter disbelief. What the hell was the Fouled Anchor's bouncer doing out in the back of beyond. Then an uncomfortable explanation began to form at the back of her mind.

"Make sure our friend here behaves herself."

The big man gave a nod then moved towards her. "Barney? What are you doin'?" She saw a flicker of doubt in the deep-set dark eyes as he moved closer. Trying to face him, she tried again, "C'mon, buddy, you know this ain' right."

Despite her efforts, he got behind her. "Sorry, Red," he gripped her hair in a meaty fist and pulled her head back hard. "Ain't nothin' personal, ya understand."

"Watch what you're doin', you big lunk," Red growled as she felt the unmistakable jab of a pistol barrel in her ribs.

"Keep still an' ya won't get hurt," Barney muttered as Danforth cut a length from the loosely coiled rope and tied it around her ankles. Then he returned to the rope and released it. As her arms dropped, Barney pushed her down, guiding her descent to the floor more gently that she'd expected. Now with a firm grip on her collar, he moved the pistol to the side of her head. "Don't try pullin' any of your tricks now, Wolverton." With little opportunity for escape, she lay obediently docile as Danforth quickly retied her wrists behind her.

"Okay, that should keep you out of trouble." He muttered, giving the rope a final jerk.

She was rolled half onto her back to look up into Luke Danforth's face. She scowled but said nothing, there was nothing to be said.

"Don't worry, you won't be inconvenienced for much longer," he added with a cold sense of anticipation that made the hair on the back of Red's neck stand on end. She glanced at Barney as he followed Danforth out but he avoided meeting her eye - it looked like she wasn't going to get any help from that quarter either.

***

"You should go back, Lou," Maggie repeated, hotly. "This isn't your problem."

The socialite sighed gently as the reporter tried once more. It wasn't going to work this time either. Evadne had already recognized the waitress's stubborn streak, something that is seemed Maggie couldn't or wouldn't. The younger women were riding ahead of her, almost knee to knee as the argument continued.

"And I've already told you, I'm not." Lou restated, calmly and firmly.

"Why?" Maggie asked, a note of suspicion creeping into voice.

Evadne sighed again. It looked like Maggie was about to work out what had been going on and she had a feeling she wasn't going to take it well. The instant antagonism between investigator and reporter would not be helped when she found out that Lou had become Red's lover. As they'd prepared for the ride back, Evadne had found out from the loquacious Lou that the two women had been best friends as children, inseparable and often in trouble. Surprisingly, she'd also learned that Maggie had been the main instigator in their schemes and she'd eventually been sent away to a boarding school in an attempt to rein in her behavior. Evadne still had trouble reconciling the rapscallion tearaway child with the disciplined, educated young woman that she now saw.

"Why should you be worried about that ruffian, Lou?" Maggie was beginning to have some very nasty suspicions about this. She glanced over her shoulder at the trailing Evadne, not at all comforted by the disconcerted look on the socialite's face. She glared at Lou again. "Tell me!"

"It's none of your damn business!" Lou snapped, goaded into anger by an unexpected guilt. "You left. You didn't even reply to my letters." With this, Lou angrily pulled her horse's head around, circling back until she rode alongside Evadne. "Why are we going to the Wilson's first?" she asked, plainly signaling the end to her conversation-cum-row with Maggie.

Evadne just caught the reporter's surprised, puzzled glance back in Lou's direction before she pointedly turned forward to concentrate on the way ahead. It seemed to her that the comment about the letters hadn't produced a guilty look but one of total confusion and she wondered momentarily what that was all about. Without looking sideward, she answered Lou's question. "I want to pick up my pistol and I should let Mr. Wilson know what is going on." Just in case we need someone to come looking for us. All of a sudden, the voice was in her mind again, tinged with the ages yet oddly soothing.

'Do not worry, my child, my servant will be waiting for you.'

Evadne glanced at the younger woman still riding silently at her side but, as before, there was no sign that anyone other than she had heard anything. Silently she sent out the thought, Who are you? And who is this 'servant'? Once again, only silence answered her.

***

The sound of footsteps brought Red out of her light catnap. She stretched as much as the ropes allowed, trying to ease aching muscles.

"Well, well, Wolf, what a pleasant surprise."

Surprise jerked Red around as she stared up into a familiar face. Anger welled and she struggled futilely for a brief second before forcing herself to relax even as the fury boiled deep in her gut.

"And there was I thinking we were going to have to use the Greenhall girl," the newcomer continued, "but this will be so much more satisfying."

"Well, well, look what the cat dragged in," Red drawled insolently. "Shoulda guessed your boss woulda made sure you were okay." At least her questions about the identity of Danforth's 'boss' and Barney's presence were answered.

The small figure crouched down and looked with wry amusement at her securely bound ex-lover. "Well, lover, if I'd known you would look so good all tied up perhaps we could've tried it earlier." A small hand reached out and caressed the investigator's cheek.

Red jerked her head away from the touch, anger flaring again. "Don' you fuckin' touch me, bitch!" she snarled.

"Hmmm," the young woman's smile was calculating. "So, managed to get into darling Evadne's bed yet, lover?"

Red snarled wordlessly, if her hands had been free, they would have been around the lovely neck by now.

"So, I take that is a no then, my Wolf?" The small figure now sat down Indian fashion, elbows on knees, chin resting in her hands. She watched Red for a moment then gave a humorless laugh. "Oh it's rich, you're just too stupidly noble and she'd too damn frigid for either of you to see what is right in front of your eyes."

With difficulty, Red fought back against the rage, willing herself into silence. It wouldn't do any good to let the woman goad her like this. Sullenly she stared into hard gray eyes, wondering not for the first time how she'd ever been so completely fooled by this woman. "So, Leona, whaddaya up to this time?" She leaned back a little, trying to get into a more comfortable position. "I guess ol' fang face has his sticky little claws in another pie, huh, after Evadne so royally screwed up your last little scheme."

Leona stiffened, frowning at the derogatory name before relaxing into a cold smile. "Laugh all you want now, Red, but my Lord will have the last laugh, believe you me." She stood suddenly, circling behind Red as the investigator tried but failed to keep facing her. "Hammond, get in here!"

A hard tug on the ropes made Red tense, then the pressure eased and she found her legs were now free. Her momentary hope that there might be a chance to somehow overpower Leona was soon dashed as Barney entered the barn, moving swiftly over to where Red still lay.

Red rolled onto her back and sat up. Leona suddenly ruffled her hair and she automatically tried to move away only to wince as a large chunk was grabbed and tugged hard so that she had little choice to look into the beautiful but hard face. "Now, behave yourself, my Wolf, any stupid heroics and I will hurt you." Red gasped as something solid was pressed hard into the wound in her shoulder. "Understand?" Red nodded sullenly as the sudden pain receded into a throbbing ache. Despite this, she felt suddenly relieved - if Leona was having to rely on physical punishment did this mean that her ability to control mentally had been lost? The Seven had certainly lost their powers when the Stone had ceased to exist, she just hoped that Theo's belief that the Deceiver's chosen would be likewise affected was indeed true.

Her thoughts were stopped as what she quickly realized was her battered old hat was pushed onto her head and she was pulled to her feet .

"Time to go for a little ride, lover," Leona grinned in an entirely unsettling way, "someone wants soooo very badly to meet you."

***

"Mr. Wilson, this is not your decision to make." Evadne turned coldly on the older man. "The agency is here directly from orders from Mr. Criffy."

"But Criffy isn't here," it was a sign on the man's anger that the honorific had been dropped. "He don't know what's best to do and neither do you." He took a deep breath trying to visibly calm himself. "If you are going to visit Danforth's ranch I insist you take some of the men with you." He looked at the three women in the room, "I ain't letting a bunch of girls go there by themselves."

Evadne bit back an angry retort. Now she could understand why Red was so antagonistic towards him. "Mr. Wilson," Evadne stated calmly but firmly, "We are going. You cannot stop us." She turned to leave the room.

"Margaret Mary Wilson, you stay right where you are."

Evadne looked back over her shoulder, seeing the conflicting emotion in the young woman's face. "You don't have .."

"I'm coming," Margaret cut off the sentence. "Pa, I love you but you are wrong. If you send men with us, it will just make things worse. The three of us are less likely to antagonize Mr. Danforth."

"But you are my daughter.."

"Who has been away from here the past six years," Maggie replied calmly, "I seriously doubt they will recognize me. And whatever else you may accuse him of, you know as well as I do that even if he does, he won't harm me because of his argument with you."

Wilson frowned, angrily chewing his lower lip but apparently unable to contradict what his daughter had said. The ensuing silence was broken by a gentle tap on the study door.

"Go away," Wilson shouted. Despite this, the door began to open. "What the devil do you think…" he voice trailed away as Mrs. Wilson entered, "Ah, Rose, sorry, didn't realize it was you.

"Well, I hope so," she smiled gently, "that is certainly no way to greet your wife."

"What's the matter?" he asked in a suitably subdued tone.

"That was just what I was going to ask you," she gave the room's occupants a quick glance. "I reckon they could hear you in River Fork, dear."

Wilson looked shamefaced for a moment before the scowl reappeared. "These three want to go to Danforth's to look for that woman."

"I take it you mean Red?" Rose asked gently, surreptitiously catching Evadne's eye and giving a sly wink.

"Yeah, stupid mule-head has gotten herself taken by Danforth."

"So I gather," she smiled, "so do all the hands." At her husband's slight blush, she continued her gentle attack, "And I also gather that her partner wishes to visit the Danforths"

There was a nod.

"And that out of politeness she thought it best to keep you informed of this fact?"

Another nod.

"Despite the fact that there was no need for her to do this?"

A smaller nod.

"That she is a free agent on this ranch; that she is also, as you appear to have forgotten, your employer's step-daughter?"

Wilson paled a little, "But…"

"And despite all this you have spent the last fifteen minutes shouting at her as if she was one of the hands."

"Yeah," he agreed meekly then perked up, "but they should still take.."

"…some of the hands with them." Rose finished. "I heard that too. I also heard Maggie's reply." She moved to her husband's side as he sat down in the chair. Laying a gentle hand on his shoulder, she gave him an indulgent look. "Your daughter is right, Frank, and you know it deep in your heart. Whatever else he might do, Nathanial Danforth would not take out his quarrel with you on your family. You accuse Red of being mule-headed but she has nothing on you."

"But if he sees that Maggie is working against him." Wilson replied, but there was little heat to his objection now.

"Then that is her lookout, not yours." Rose replied calmly. "You raised an independent, intelligent, courageous woman, Frank, dear, let her use those traits as she feels best."

Wilson let out a loud sigh then was silent for a moment, giving each of the three younger women a searching stare. "I don't like it," he eventually growled, "but it don't look like I have any say in the matter do it."

"No, Mr. Wilson," Evadne agreed calmly, "you don't."

"Well, Frank," Rose continued, "are you going to apologies for behaving like an ill-mannered red-neck?"

Wilson scowled then gave a rueful grin. "Okay, Rose, you win, and you too Mrs. Lannis." A momentary glare at his daughter and her friend before it turned into a wry smile. "You two always were trouble an' I see an education ain't changed you any, Maggie. Let's just hope you cause Danforth as much vexation as you caused me over the years." He stood, moving to the gun cabinet, "But, if you insist on going, then I can at least make sure you go prepared."

***

Red wasn't surprised to realize that the 'little ride' was taking them in the direction of Harry's Hill. Or should it be Ahriman's Hill, she thought morosely, wondering how she hadn't picked up on this before, especially with the Deceiver-centered nightmares that, she now realized, had coincided with each visit to the hill. No dwelling on spilt milk now, little wolf, she chided herself before glancing around as surreptitiously as she could. Leona and Luke Danforth headed the little group. She followed, flanked by One-Shot and Barney, the latter looking decidedly uncomfortable on horseback. Behind rode two other men, so far nameless. She'd been surprised not to have seen Patch at the Danforth's - perhaps he'd shown unusual good sense and lit out completely. She glanced at the bouncer again. Mounted, he'd become the weak spot in the group - if she could get his horse to shy, he would be too busy trying to keep control and stay aboard to stop her. She resettled herself in the saddle slightly. Thankfully, her hands had been retied in front of her for the ride so her somewhat rusty horsemanship skills should, she fervently hoped, still be up to what she was planning. Danforth had her mount's reins but they looked to be only loosely held. The trailing reins would be a hazard once she broke free but she hoped luck would be on her side for a change.

Suddenly Red kicked her horse's right flank hard and leaned to the left, her left leg moving back, causing her mount to swerve into Barney's horse. He shouted in surprise and fear, grabbing for the pommel as his horse skittered sideward, almost falling. Then she put both heels in hard and with a whinny of surprise, her horse headed off fast. Grabbing a chunk of mane in bound fists, she leaned down alongside the straining neck, the long coarse hair whipping into her face. Red heard a shot and the unmistakable whistle of a bullet. She dared not look back but hunkered even lower, trying to make herself as small a target as possible. There was a second shot but it came nowhere near. To her surprise, no more bullets followed; instead, she heard the unmistakable sounds of a chase.

Red's gut clenched in sudden fear as she now saw the loose reins flapping dangerously close to the horse's hooves. Then her luck failed as a hoof came down on one of them, jerking the horse's head down hard before the leather snapped. The stumble was too much and she pitched forward over the horse's neck, only just managing to tuck her head into a roll, the impact badly jarring her shoulder and knocking the wind out of her. The horse recovered and continued its panicked run leaving its stranded rider gasping for breath on the snow-covered ground. She could hear her pursuers approaching and finally able to draw a shaky breath she struggled back to her feet. For a moment, she considered running but it would have been pointless. Instead, she stood and watched as the small group of riders drew up alongside. Almost the first thing she noticed was that two of the men were missing. Looking past them, she could see the bouncer's more sedate progress as he led a rider-less horse, beyond that was a dark splodge in the snow's whiteness that could have been a body. She was still frowning in puzzlement at the distant figures, when one of the horses shoulder-barged her, knocking her to one side.

"Bitch!" One-shot glared down at her before lashing out with his foot causing Red to stumble and fall as she only just avoided getting a face full of boot.

"Watch it," Danforth warned coolly, "remember what happened to Bill when he failed to obey orders. We need this one alive."

Struggling to her feet again, Red met the angry glare and gave a cocky grin that she was pleased to hear got a growl in response before the older man wrenched his horse's head around hard and deliberately moved out of temptation's way.

It was a few more minutes before Barney caught up with them. A time spent in uncomfortable silence. As he arrived, Leona motioned for him to dismount. After gingerly getting down, he moved to stand behind Red, holding her by her arms.

"Well, Wolf, please remember that this is entirely your fault."

Leona's voice was emotionless, calm; Red looked up into the gray eyes, seeing the same lack of emotion there, finding it more disconcerting than anger would have been. Then her shoulder exploded in pain and she dropped to her knees, a groan escaping her lips. Glancing up through pain glazed eyes, she saw Barney give her a sympathetic grimace as he replaced the revolver he'd evidently just used to hit her healing wound before hauling her back to her feet and dragging her towards the spare horse. The splatter of blood on the saddle was enough to confirm Red's suspicion that the second shot she'd heard had not been for her but for the man who'd foolishly shot after her. She was pushed up into the saddle and before she'd barely slipped her feet into the stirrups, they were moving again. Danforth moved to her side, taking the coiled lasso from the pommel, quickly slipping the noose over her head. After tightening it around her body, he wrapped the loose end around his pommel a couple of times, securing it. He gave a small grin. "Jus' in case you feel the need for another ride."

Red glared back for a second but couldn't help give a rueful grin back. "Don' worry, I've learned my lesson."

That caused a snort of laughter from Leona and for the first time there was just the faintest hint of genuine amusement in her voice. "Red Wolverton learning her lesson - that would certainly be a first."

***

The three women rode out of the ranch and then headed in the direction of the Danforth ranch. It took a while before Evadne realized they were going in the same direction she'd ridden a few days earlier.

"Are we going past Harry's Hill?"

"Yes," Maggie answered, "It's pretty much half way between."

As they got closer, Evadne could feel a growing sense of apprehension, like a stone settling in the pit of her stomach. There was also a strange buzzing sensation in the back of her head. She looked around, sure that someone was watching them.

"Someone's ahead." Lou warned silently and Evadne snapped her head forward. She could have sworn the way ahead had been clear but there was a rider ahead on the trail. As they moved nearer it became apparent that whoever it was he was plainly waiting for them. Evadne undid the flap on her service-issue holster noting that Maggie had pulled the rifle from its saddle scabbard and now had it resting in the crook of her arm - not a threat exactly but ready if needed.

"It's Jim." Lou exclaimed. "What's he doing out here?"

What indeed, thought Evadne, peering at the still distant figure and wishing she still had young eyes, is this what the voice meant? As Lou moved forward, she called, "Wait, we don't know what he wants."

Lou reined in her horse, casting Evadne a puzzled look but nevertheless waiting for them to catch up.

"You don't think…"

"Better to be safe than sorry, Lou." Maggie answered quietly.

"'kay," Lou nodded her agreement even if the look on her face showing her dubiousness at him being in any way a threat to them.

After a few minutes they came to a halt in front of the patiently waiting Indian.

"Howdy, Jim." Lou greeted him warmly.

"Lou," he acknowledged the greeting with a dignified nod before his eyes moved to study the other two.

"Maggie Wilson," he stated after a moments calm observation, "You certainly have changed." An enigmatic look came over his face. "And yet you are still as you ever were." He glanced back at Lou, "I see you have found your friend again."

"I have." Maggie agreed cautiously, unsettled by the way the dark eyes seemed to be searching her soul. She'd always been slightly in awe of Jim Silverwind, even as a child she'd never felt comfortable with the easy familiarity that Lou had developed. Now there was something distant, almost cold about him, a detachment that made it feel like he wasn't completely there with them.

He gave a small nod then moved his stare on to Evadne. "You wish to find your friend?"

"Yes," Evadne agreed cautiously.

"She's no longer where she was."

Evadne frowned, cautiously making no comment. Unfortunately, Lou wasn't so circumspect.

"She ain't at Danforth's?"

"Lou!" Margaret snapped getting a hurt look in return. Then she turned her eyes on Silverwind. "And how do you know that, Mr. Silverwind?"

He ignored her question. His eyes had not left Evadne's. "They have taken her into Ahriman's Hill. We must hurry or all will be lost."

Evadne gave a small shocked intake of breath as the unexpected name suddenly registered. "Ahriman? He's involved in this?" A curt nod was all she got as an answer.

Lou's puzzled voice piped up - the name meant nothing to her; however, she had spotted something apparently impossible in what had just been said. "In the hill? In?"

"Yes," Silverwind confirmed simply without any further explanation before retrieving something from under his jacket and offering it to Evadne. With a jolt, she recognized it as Red's battered old fedora. She kicked her horse forward, taking the hat. Resisting the urge to hug it, she instead tucked it into the front of her own jacket.

"Come, we must hurry." The old Indian turned his pony and began to move away. After a heartbeat's hesitation and shared confused glances, the three women followed.

"I've never seen him like this," Lou spoke in a low confused voice, "he's all…" she paused, searching for the right word

"Eldritch?" Maggie suggested.

Lou gave her friend a puzzled frown. "What?"

"Creepy." Maggie clarified, a small smile touching her lips.

"Yeah, definitely creepy," Lou agreed before giving her friend a small teasing glare. "Use English will ya."

"It would appear there is more to Mr. Silverwind than we thought," Evadne cut in before Maggie could get in a reply to Lou's playful barb. "However, as he appears to know what is going on I suggest we do what he says, for the moment at least." As her two companions nodded their agreement and settled into silence once more, her hand moved into her jacket to touch the battered hat. Please be all right, Red, please, I don't think I could bear loosing you again.

***

They had arrived at the hill without any further opportunity for Red to make a break. The horses were brought to a halt at the center of one of the sides. Red looked around, still not certain what Leona had planned but damn sure it wasn't going to be pleasant.

Leona dismounted then walked to where Red waited. "Off you get, lover."

Red glared down. The strange sensation of being watched was back and the fear it brought was turning her stubborn.

"Okay, have it your way." She gestured at Danforth and he moved abruptly away, pulling the investigator out the saddle and dumping her hard on the snow covered ground. As she lay winded, trying to recover her breath, Leona moved around to stare down at her.

"So, going to be stubborn are we." She looked around, a small and distinctly evil glint in her eyes. "One-shot." The man grinned eagerly. Sliding off his horse he quickly hauled her to her feet, giving her a good shake in the process.

"Bring her." Leona ordered then moved up to the side of the hill. To Red's surprise, she didn't start to climb. Instead, she removed a wand like object, about two feet long, from a wooden box. Holding it in both hands, she spoke something in a strange guttural language. The ground suddenly started to vibrate then, along with the whinny of horses and the startled curses of the men, a section of the snow slid off the hillside. A grinding noise could now be heard and Red realized that a hole was now appearing where the snow had been. Despite herself, she was fascinated. "There's a way into the hill?"

Leona glanced back, "Oh, very well spotted, lover," she commented sardonically, "but then I never did want you for your brains." Then she moved forward, up the slight slope of the now still hill. Another glance back, this time frowning. "C'mon, idiot, bring her along."

Red heard the angrily grunted, "Stupid bitch" from her guard and then she was roughly pushed forward, barely keeping her feet. "Watch it, bozo," she glared back, "she want s me in one piece remember."

"Yeah, right," he growled, giving her another push and this time Red moved forward, entering the passageway. As she moved a few steps in, the unpleasant sickly smell of rotten meat assailed her nostrils. Examining the floor in the half-light from the doorway, she could now see it was covered in scraps of material and half-decayed flesh. Then she began to recognize parts of limbs, an arm, a still booted lower leg and then finally a desiccated skull.

"Christ," One-shot exclaimed as he too saw the remains, "What the fuck happened to him?"

"Same as what happened to the beeves I reckon," Red muttered darkly. Her boot hit something hard and glancing down she saw what looked like a shovel and other tools - it appeared that she'd just found the mortal remains of the missing Dr. Cathern. A flashlight suddenly lit up the gloom of the tunnel.

"I see you've met Davey-boy." Leona's disembodied voice came from behind the beam of light.

"Why d'you kill him?" Red asked, "Did the poor sap stumble onto your little scheme?"

Leona chuckled softly, "Oh, no, no, my dear, he was part of it. And, in point of fact, it wasn't me who killed him - you shall have the pleasure of meeting her soon enough."

"What about his assistant," Red continued, instinct making her play for time. "Did you kill him as well?"

This time Leona laughed loudly. "Who would have taken you for such a chauvinist, Red? No, his assistant is well, very well indeed."

"It was you?" Red suddenly realized, "You were his assistant." She gave a sardonic little smile, "Been running around like a blue-arsed fly, ain't you?"

"Dear Davey wasn't exactly the brightest of sparks," Leona snorted derisively; "I practically had to hit him over the head with those books before he finally caught on. Then, of course, it was all his discovery and there was no stopping him, all I had to do was nudge him now and then." Her voice hardened. "Now, I suggest you stop trying to play for time and get yourself up here before I shoot one of you." The light played from one to the other then focused on One-shot.

"Crazy bitch," the ranch-hand cursed once more but nevertheless pushed Red forward.

The tunnel lasted a good twenty to thirty yards, enough Red guessed to bring them to the centre of the mound. It opened out into a high-roofed chamber about ten yards square where Leona was just igniting the last of a number of torches set in the walls, the flickering light struggling to chase the darkness away. In the centre, there was large stone block, about three foot high and the top the size of a large table. Just like the stonework of the surrounding walls, the block was smooth and precisely shaped. However, Red was less struck by the merits of its construction - what had immediately caught her eye was the shiny new metal rings that had been sunk into the wall beyond.

"Christ, it's Patch." One-shot's abrupt comment cut through the heavy silence.

The pure horror in the man's voice grabbed Red's attention and she turned to follow the direction of his fixed wide-eyed gaze. To one side of the room, barely visible in the dancing torchlight, she now saw the remains of another destroyed human body, the flesh still bloody and raw. Again the head was intact, the eye-patch still perversely in place despite the destruction reeked on his body. Red felt the gorge rise in her throat as the smell of blood suddenly assailed her. The sound of One-shot retching from behind her caused a momentary flicker of compassion for her captor. It didn't last long as a blow caught her in the back of her neck, dropping her to her knees.

"This is all your fault, bitch," he lashed out with his foot, catching his target in her unprotected ribs, gratified by the groan it caused. Then he dragged her to her feet and threw her hard into the nearest wall, grinning as she dropped bonelessly to the stone-paved floor.

He moved over, about to kick her again when a shot rang out taking a lump of stone out of the wall just in front of him. He swung round to find the revolver now pointed firmly in his direction.

"That was a warning - next one is through your brain, assuming you actually have one." Leona stated coldly, "Now watch the tunnel entrance."

A last hate-filled glance at the still unmoving investigator then he moved to do as instructed. Leaning against the stone wall, he affected a bored expression but was nevertheless unable to stop giving the occasional appalled and fascinated glance at his erstwhile comrade's body.

Hearing strangely acute despite the flashing lights in front of her eyes, Red caught the sound of soft footsteps padding closer. The excruciating pain in her head was making her feel sick and her eyes didn't seem to be focusing properly, but still she stubbornly tried to rise and face her attacker. Pushing herself up into a sitting position, back propped against the wall, she squinted blurrily up at the approaching figure as bound hands instinctively groped for a revolver that was no longer there.

Blinking in confusion, she peered up to see Leona bend down and grab the front of her shirt. Dragged to her feet, she was slammed against the wall once more before being dragged across the ill-lit room. Swung around, she stumbled backwards, held upright in the implacable and unexpectedly strong grip. The back of her knees hit the stone table and they promptly buckled. Released from her ex-lover's hold, she fell backward, the impact with the stone block driving the remaining breath out of her. Gasping like a landed fish, vision darkening, she struggled to get air back into her lungs even as she waited for the killing blow to fall.

***

The three women clambered up the side of the hill in silence, following the mute Silverwind. As they'd approached the nearest side of the hill, he'd instructed them to remain silent unless he indicated otherwise. They had agreed, somewhat reluctantly. Evadne wasn't ready to trust the man yet and made sure the pistol in her belt was easily accessible. Margaret, she also noticed, kept the rifle to hand as well. Whether Silverwind noticed any of this, she had no idea. He still seemed to be only half there, sometimes appearing to be listening to something none of them could hear.

As they reached the top, Evadne breathed a small sigh of relief, breathing hard from the extra exertion of climbing as silently as possible. A quick glance to her two companions, receiving nods from each, they followed Jim to where he now knelt in the center of the stones. She was unsurprised when he quickly brushed off the recent covering of snow and quickly removed the stone slab. The Indian's back went stiff and, unable to contain her curiosity, Evadne peered over to see the cist was now empty. In the slightest of whispers she asked, "I gather that is not a good thing?"

Silverwind shook his head and Evadne saw the faintest glimmer of fear in the dark eyes. He replaced the stone and gestured for the women to follow, keeping low. As they approached the far edge, he moved to his hands and knees, crawling the last distance to the edge, the three women following his lead.

Peering over the edge, they found they were looking down on three men. Two were mounted, each holding the reins of another horse. The third was walking around apparently trying to ease aching legs while leading two additional horses. What really caught Evadne's eye, however, was the dark oblong patch in the snow below them. Slowly, as the shape resolved itself, she realized it wasn't a mark on the snow but rather a hole in it. She glanced in surprise at Silverwind, the question in her eyes. He nodded then gestured for them to move back.

"Who are they?" Evadne asked in a whisper.

"Luke Danforth and Greg Bailey are the riders, don't recognize the other," Lou answered swiftly and as quietly. "We think it was Luke that had One-shot spike Red's drink."

This got another surprised glance from Evadne. It seemed Red had been a little less than forthcoming about what had happened to her over the last couple of weeks. However, that could wait until she had her friend back safe and sound. She turned to Silverwind. "Is Red inside?"

He nodded. "Yes, your friend is in the Hill with Ahriman's creature."

"We need to get her out," Evadne whispered urgently.

"Yes, we must or else much evil will befall." Silverwind agreed darkly.

"What are they doing in there," Maggie interrupted, pragmatic journalistic instinct still in force. "And what do you mean, 'evil will befall'?"

Jim looked at all three faces for a moment. "They will try to harness the spirit again. They need a body to do that."

"Red!" Evadne gasped, a cold hand of fear wrapping around her heart.

Silverwind nodded.

"Errm," Lou looked wide-eyed, "is that what has been killing the cattle."

Silverwind nodded. "The wards on the spirit have been weakened despite my efforts."

Lou glanced apprehensively at the other women, "I'm not sure I like the sound of that."

Silverwind gave a rueful grin. "You three will not be its target."

"Why?"

Evadne sudden saw the pattern in the killings that Red had missed. "It has only been killing male cattle - the females have remained untouched."

Silverwind nodded. "The spirit was twisted by the actions of men and that fury is now unleashed on all males."

Evadne gave an ironic smile. "So it's up to us 'girls' then."

Another nod then the elderly Indian pulled something out of his coat. "The woman will have used an old medicine staff to open the hill and to summon the spirit. It needs to be retrieved. These," he handed each woman a beaded, feather necklace in the center of which was an intricately carved bone square, "will protect you from its power."

Evadne could see her own natural skepticism mirrored in Maggie's disbelieving face. Lou had no such worries and immediately slipped the necklace over her head before impulsively giving the old man a peck on the cheek.

"What are they trying to do, exactly?" Evadne asked. Seeing the frown on the man's face she continued, voice calm despite the hammering of her heart. "We need to know what we are going to find…" her voice cracked a little but she regained her composure. "Please."

Silverwind nodded then whispered hurriedly. "The earth-spirit can only become corporeal if twinned with a host. That host becomes effectively immortal, and even when the body fades, its essence remains intact. The current host will need to be separated by ritual then the earth-spirit will be ordered into the new host. The medicine staff will allow this to be performed. Ahriman's agent will also need to perform a ritual on the host prior to melding in order to be able to control the combined entity."

"Why can't they just control the current spirit…entity…whatever it is?" Lou asked unexpectedly.

Silverwind smiled sadly. "The first host was mad. Her madness meant that she could not be easily controlled and after this time it would be even more difficult and potentially dangerous. A new host will be more easily controlled."

"No," Evadne objected vehemently, only just remembering to keep her voice low. "Red, wouldn't…"

"She will have little choice." Jim laid a calming hand on the socialite's shoulder. "No matter how hard she fights, she will be subsumed in the whole." He paused a moment before adding, "Wolverton has another disadvantage - she is already linked to Ahriman is she not?"

Evadne gave a small nod. There was no denying that the blood of the Deceiver's chosen ran in Red's veins as much as it had in Leona

"They could have used any woman but with the link to the tawny-headed one she's now the obvious choice."

Evadne was silent for a moment, taking in the unsettling information. Then, aware that the time was slipping by fast, she whispered. "Alright, what do we need to do?"

Silverwind gave a small smile before his face turned all business again. "First, we need to get past those men."

"Can't we just shoot them?" Lou offered. Three identically outraged faces turned in her direction. "What?"

"Lou," Evadne asked gently as she finally put the protective necklace on, tucking it inside her coat. "Do you really want to end three lives just like that?" She paused for a moment as the girl frowned, considering her words. With a slight exasperated roll of the eyes - it seemed that Lou was definitely a shoot first, think later girl - she added the second problem with the suggested course of action. "And do you not think the noise might warn anyone inside? From the number of horses it looks as if there are at least two others in there with Red."

Lou glared at them for a moment then shook her head, "I guess it's not such a good idea - but how else do we get past them?"

"Leave that to me." Silverwind grinned suddenly, the serious mien lifting for a moment like sunlight peeking through the clouds. Then his face stilled again and he settled onto the snow-covered ground, closed his eyes and began to chant under his breath.

Lou gave her two companions a quick grin. "Let's go watch," and moved back to the edge of the platform. After sharing a raised eyebrow with Maggie, they followed suit, ending up on either side of Lou.

As they silently watched, Evadne felt the strange warm presence in her mind once more.

'Daughter, the time approaches. Be ready for my command.'

Who are y. but before the thought was even completed, the presence was gone leaving Evadne both frustrated and oddly comforted as she returned her attention to the men at the foot of the hill.

At first, nothing seemed to be happening, then the horses began to toss their heads uneasily. The riders tried to calm them and keep hold of the spare horses, but their unease grew rapidly, shuffling and prancing until one of the riderless horses, with a squeal of fear suddenly bolted, snatching the reins from the man's hand. Then another reared up and bolted as well, its surprised rider holding on for dear life. With a chorus of whinnies and squeals, the other rider was soon headed away from the hill leaving only the man on the ground trying vainly to hold his two horses. Suddenly one of them jumped forward, shouldering the man to one side and then they too were free.

"Quick," Evadne ordered, scrambling down the hill. She heard the noise of the other two following as she half slid, half climbed down the hill as fast as silence allowed. The groaning man had just got to his knees when she arrived behind him, quickly drawing her revolver and pressing it to the back of his head.

"Stay very still," she ordered in a whisper. The man, still half stunned, stopped, his only movement a groggy sway. "Maggie, find something to tie him up."

"There isn't anything." Maggie replied moving in front of the kneeling man, her rifle trained on him. "Perhaps we should just shoot him?"

Not her as well! Evadne closed her eyes in momentary annoyance before the man hurriedly spoke up.

"No need for that." Barney looked from woman to woman, finally settling on the older of the three. He had no heart for what was going on. It wasn't the violence per-se that had disturbed him - he'd been Miss Harriman's bouncer for enough years to know she sometimes employed violence to get her way, he often being the instrument employed - but this was different. This time the violence was personal, vindictive even, and for the first time he'd found his stomach rebelling against what he'd been told to do. He nodded towards the hole in the hill. "If ya lookin' for Wolverton she's inside with One-shot and the boss." He glanced at the rifle-toting woman as she still eyed him in a disturbingly bloodthirsty manner. "I won't cause ya any bother, my word on it."

The sound of someone moving down the slope caused them to look around. "Those horses will be running for a good while yet." Jim grinned then nodded at their captive. "I'll keep an eye on him for you," and he drew a battered but serviceable old revolver from inside his jacket and moved to take position alongside Maggie. "You three will be needed inside."

Evadne frowned as she was struck with a sudden realization. "You knew we were coming," she accused.

"I hoped." He gave Evadne a warm smile, "You, I was sure would follow your heart," to Lou and Maggie, "As for you two, I hoped your curiosity and compassion would bring at least one of you - and where one goes, the other is not far behind. "

"Not always," Lou muttered sadly causing a brief flicker of guilt to cross Maggie's face.

"All right then, ladies," Evadne abruptly interrupted, there would be time for talking later. "Shall we find out exactly what is going on here?"

***

Finally able to get her breath, Red looked around half expecting to see the lion-headed god of her nightmare about to sink his jaws into her shoulder. Instead, she was dragged groggily off the slab and pushed up against the wall on the other side. Looking down she saw that Leona was tying her ankle to one of two rings set low in the wall as One-shot held her in place. Knowing this was her last chance to make a break for freedom, Red smashed her forehead into One-shot's face. There was a spray of blood and a shout of pain as he stepped back, hands going to his face. She kicked out violently, trying to pull her ankle away from Leona's grip.

"You fuckin' bitch," the ranch-hand screamed, recovering quicker than Red expected and letting fly an anger-fueled punch. Only barely moving her head out of the way, she heard the crunch as One-shot's hand impacted with the stone.

"No!" Leona's voice was sharp and commanding, but One-shot wasn't paying any attention as his rage overrode the pain in his hand. This time Red couldn't completely avoid the incoming fist, the blow to her jaw strong enough to slam her head hard into the wall. Pain flared as the back of her skull hit stone. Half-dazed, she waited for the next punch only to hear Leona's angry voice, unsure whether it was directed at her or One-shot.

"Stop or I'll blow out what passes for your brains."

Red screwed up her eyes as dots of light danced across her eyelids. When the expected blow didn't arrive she waited for the pain to recede to a more bearable level, vaguely aware that her other leg was now being secured. Opening her eyes, she met the ranch-hand's furious glare as he moved a step forward and pushed her against the wall.

"This time, make sure she doesn't move," Leona ordered tersely, as the ropes on her wrists were now loosened and it wasn't long before her arms were tied to the remaining rings leaving her spread-eagled against the wall.

"Time I learnt you what a real man is like, huh, girlie?" One-shot leered, his bloody face mere inches away.

"Don't even think it!" The investigator snarled back defiantly. "Touch me an' I'll rip your balls off and shove 'em up your ass."

"Heh, yeah, like you can." His gloating was cut short by Leona's abrupt command.

"Stop that and get back to your position."

Red saw the flare of anger in the older man's face before he gave her a final sneer. "This ain't over, Wolverton."

"No, it ain't," she snarled back. Fear was stoking her anger into rage yet for the moment she needed to control it, bide her time until an opportunity presented itself. She looked for Leona, knowing she was the one controlling this situation.

"Looking for me, lover?" A hand caressed her face, cheek, lips, running down her neck before, after a small pause, began to unbutton her coat.

"What the fuck you doin', Leona?" She asked, trying to ignore the disturbingly arousing sensation as multiple layers of clothing where unbuttoned until a small hand lay over her breastbone, just above the bindings. To her shame and self-loathing, she couldn't quite prevent a small moan at the familiar, gentle touch.

"Hmmm, impatient as ever, Wolf." Leona sniggered, "Pity we haven't got time to get reacquainted properly."

Red bit back a cry as something sharp scored into her flesh. Looking down she now saw the small, highly decorated flint-bladed knife that Leona was using to cut a bloody design into her skin. Biting her lip and screwing her eyes shut, she used her growing rage to fight back against the pain, willing herself into silence as the cutting continued.

Finally Leona stopped and Red let out a ragged breath that was nearly a sob of relief. "N