DISCLAIMERS See Part 1

Cat sulked all the way from Greenville, to the fairgrounds where they picked up the kids, to home, finally speaking only after they had pulled up in front of the farm house and the kids had jumped out of the back of the truck to do their chores.

As they sat side by side in the truck, Billie reached over and lifted Cat's chin. "Hey, what's the long face for?" she asked.

Cat raised her eyebrows at Billie. "You don't know?" she asked incredulously.

"Well, I've got a general idea, but why don't you tell me anyway," Billie replied.

"That blonde bimbo, kinky haired, booty-liscious teacher girlfriend of yours sure knows how to ruin things!" Cat exclaimed.

"She's not my girlfriend, Cat," Billie deadpanned.

"Well, you sure act like it when she's around! 'Oh, it's so nice to see you, Jen!... 'Oh, funny running into you here, Jen!'. Geesh, Billie! And then, you let her guilt you into not getting what we went there for to begin with!" Cat pointed out.

Billie smiled. "What are you more angry about, Cat... my cordial behavior toward Jen, or the fact we had to leave the Goliath at the toy store?" she asked coyly.

"Well, Billie... we went there to buy some toys - then Miss sex-bomb shows up and you lose your nerve. It was a wasted trip!" Cat pouted.

"Look, Cat... it just didn't feel right buying all of those toys in front of Jen. I'll go back tomorrow while you're at the clinic, okay?" Billie suggested, hoping to bring the smile back to Cat's face.

Cat continued to pout. "I was looking forward to using them tonight," she murmured.

Billie reached over and pulled Cat close to her. "Yeah, I was too, but I guess it'll have to wait for one more day. Beside, the anticipation will only make the experience better," she pointed out.

"Grrrrr," Cat responded as she climbed out of the truck.

Billie headed to the barn to help Seth with the cows as Cat went into the house to start dinner. Deciding on a quick dinner of Goulash and salad, Cat set the ground beef on the stove to brown and water on for the macaroni while she tore lettuce and cut up vegetables for the salad. Once dinner was well underway, she sat at the table and looked around, not really knowing what to do next. In their old home, there was always something to do... books to read, television to watch, the Internet to serf, but on this farm - with no electricity, it was too dark to read, except under lamplight, and the TV and computer were pretty much eliminated. Cat was bored. At least in the city, she always had Billie to entertain her in the evening, but now, Billie was pretty much preoccupied with the cows and didn't have as much time for her.

As Cat sat at the table filled with ennui, a thought suddenly came to her - they hadn't finished going through Melinda's papers! Retrieving the box from the bedroom, she placed it on one end of the table and set out the piles of papers she had sorted earlier. "Now - we've already looked at the bills and receipts," she said out loud as she threw that pile of papers back into the box. "That leaves the correspondence, legal papers and miscellaneous stuff," she murmured.

Picking up the pile of correspondence, Cat quickly scanned each one, realizing there wasn't much of substance that might relate to Melinda's disappearance. Most of the documents in that pile were from patrons thanking her and Janice for their hospitality at the saloon, or during one of the shows, along with a few birthday and holiday greeting cards. Putting that pile of papers back into the box, Cat next grabbed the miscellaneous stack.

The miscellaneous pile of papers contained quotes and price lists for different types of liquor and various supplies for the saloon, newspaper clippings, and love letters that Janice sent to Melinda over the years.

"Hmmph! Janice doesn't seem the type to write love letters," Cat commented as she pushed them aside. "Hey! What's this?" she asked herself as an old folded piece of paper was uncovered in the shuffle. Reaching forward, Cat fished the paper out of the pile and opened it. It was a birth certificate.

"Certificate of Live Birth," Cat read across the top of the paper. "Laurel Lee Pappas, female, born August 23, 1948. Mother - Melinda Pappas. Father - Unknown."

Cat re-read the paper. "Holy shit!" she exclaimed out loud. "Melinda has a daughter!"

"What does Melinda have?" Billie asked as she picked that very moment to step into the house. "Hmmm, what smells so good?" she added, making a beeline to the stove to stir - and taste - the savory sauce.

"Stir the macaroni while you're there, okay?" Cat asked as her eyes remained glued to the birth certificate in her hand.

"Sure," Billie replied, completing her task before joining Cat at the table. "What were you saying when I came in?" she asked.

"Here, see for yourself," Cat said, handing the document over to Billie. "Melinda has a daughter."

"Well, I'll be!" Billie exclaimed. "Janice and Melinda are obviously a couple. I wonder if this child came into the picture before or after they got together?" Billie questioned.

"Well, Laurel is in her mid 50's now," Cat remarked, looking at the birth date on the certificate. "Has Janice mentioned how long she's been with Melinda?" she asked.

"No, she hasn't, but I get the impression it's been quite a while. I wonder if Janice knows about Laurel?" Billie offered.

"Beats the hell outta me!" Cat quipped, getting to her feet to finish dinner preparations. "Billie, would you please call the kids in to get cleaned up before dinner?" she called over her shoulder as she headed toward the stove.

Billie did as she was asked, then returned to the table to neatly place the remaining papers inside the box. "We'll look at these again after dinner, Cat. Hopefully, we'll find something. It's been a couple of days since Melinda disappeared. Janice must be frantic by now. Quite frankly, I'm getting a little worried myself," Billie said.

"I still think Janice should bring the law into this," Cat replied. "In fact, if something doesn't materialize soon, I think we should involve the authorities without Janice's permission."

"You might be right Cat," Billie agreed as she approached Cat from behind and placed her arms around the smaller woman's waist. "Hmmm. Can I have a taste?" she asked.

"Only if you agree to set the table," Cat bargained.

"It's a deal," Billie replied as she accepted the flavorful mouthful of Italian sauce, ground beef and macaroni. "Damn, you're a good cook!" she exclaimed as she retrieved the plates and salad bowls from the cupboard and began to set the table.

**********

It was an early evening for the Charland children as the following sunrise marked their first day of school. Going to school meant early to bed, and even earlier than normal to rise to complete chores before eating breakfast and heading out for the one-room schoolhouse just two miles away.

Once the children were tucked into bed, Cat and Billie once more set out to go through the remaining papers in Melinda's box.

"Okay, let's hope we can find something in here," Billie said as she grabbed the pile of legal documents. "Here's the deed for the saloon... looks like Melinda has owned the place for about 25 years. Tax papers... tax papers... tax papers..." Billie repeated as she cast aside the documents one by one. "Hey, what's this?" she said suddenly.

"What is it, Billie?" Cat asked.

"It's a commercial application to open a 'social club' at the saloon... several of them in fact," Billie read from the stack of papers in her hands. "There must be five or six of them here!"

"Lay them out on the table in order, Billie. Maybe there's some pattern to them," Cat suggested.

Billie did just that as they both stood back and scanned the documents horizontally across the table.

"Well... each one is was written by Melinda... each one is worded nearly exactly the same as the previous one... they were all submitted about three months apart... and each one was rejected by the mayor himself... Mayor James T. Stafford. That's kind of odd," Billie commented.

"What's odd about it?" Cat asked.

"Well, towns and cities usually have planning or zoning commissions that deal with this type of thing - not the mayor," the tall woman explained.

"Billie - this is a small hick town, not a big city. Maybe the mayor is the zoning commission," Cat pointed out.

"Maybe," Billie replied. "But I can't help but feel something isn't right here."

"Does it give a reason for rejecting them?" Cat asked.

Billie picked one of the documents up and scanned it carefully. "It says here the request for commercialization was denied because the facilities were inadequate," Billie read.

"Inadequate? The saloon looks pretty adequate to me!" Cat remarked.

"Yeah, me too. In fact, it was quite elegant for a saloon. Like I said, Cat, something doesn't feel right about this," Billie said.

"Maybe you should talk to Janice about it tomorrow when you go to town," Cat suggested.

"I think I'll do just that," Billie agreed as she folded the papers and shoved them into the back pocket of her overalls. "Okay, what else do we have here?" she asked.

"Not much of any significance... except for Janice's love letters, that is," Cat replied, holding up a stack of letters tied together with ribbon.

Billie looked at Cat. "Do you really think we should?" she asked.

"Oh yeah!" Cat said slyly. "But let's get comfortable before we read them."

Billie grinned from ear to ear as she scooped Cat off her feet and carried her into the bedroom, kicking the door shut behind them.

**********

The next morning was a mad house at the Charland homestead. Dragging the kids out of bed a half hour earlier than usual was no small chore, even though they had gone to bed early the night before. Finally, with just barely enough time for them to make it to school, the kids were out the door, leaving Cat to clean up the breakfast dishes and Billie to tend to the remaining chores in the barn.

By mid morning, Cat was ready to head into town to open the clinic. Changing into a more practical skirt and blouse, she slipped her feet into cowboy boots and headed for the front door. Just before pulling the door open, she heard a ruckus on the front porch... a stomping sound of sorts. Wondering what Billie was up to, she pulled the door wide open and screamed.

There on the front steps were all of the chickens, closing in on her! Cat slammed the door and pressed her back against it, arms splayed out on both sides. Looking frantically around the kitchen for some sort of weapon to defend herself against the demon poultry, she finally spotted Billie's shotgun hanging on the wall above the fireplace. Running over to the mantle, she grabbed the gun and ran toward the front door.

"You flea bitten, shit dropping, nylon pecking devils are dead meat! Say your prayers, 'cause you're going to the big fried chicken vat in the sky!" she screamed as she flung the door open and aimed the gun into the center of the chicken troop.

Kablam!!!! the gun bellowed as the muzzle flew up. Chickens scattered everywhere, as Cat was thrown onto her backside by the recoil, clear across the kitchen.

"Cat! Cat! What the hell happened?!" Billie yelled as she came running out of the barn. "Cat!! Where are you?"

All Billie could see were chickens running everywhere. Looking beyond the barnyard fowl and around the truck that was parked by the front porch, Billie noticed the front door wide open with a thin sheen of smoke filling the entrance.

"Oh, my god! Cat!" Billie yelled as she ran around the truck, up the front steps and into the house, stopping short when she saw Cat sitting there on the floor pointing the shotgun right at her! "Holy Shit!" Billie screeched, throwing herself sideways just in time to avoid a spray of pellets as the gun let loose with another loud roar and a cloud of smoke.

"Billie! Billie! Good god! Did I shoot you?" Cat exclaimed, climbing to her knees and crawling over to the fallen woman. "Billie! Billie! Speak to me," Cat demanded as she rolled Billie onto her back.

Billie's eyes flew open as she grabbed Cat by the shoulders and pushed her onto her back, sitting on top of her. "What the hell were you doing?!" Billie asked angrily. "Are you out of your mind?! You could have killed me!"

"Billie... I'm sorry. I didn't know it was you. I thought it was the chickens! Truly I did!" Cat explained frantically.

"You thought it was the chickens? For god's sake woman! Do I look like a chicken? I'm six fricken feet tall for crying out loud! I don't have feathers! Cat - you had better have a good explanation for this!" Billie demanded, climbing off the smaller woman and helping her to her feet.

"Billie - I promise you - I thought it was the chickens," Cat repeated.

"Exactly why on earth did you think that? And why use the shotgun, Cat?" Billie asked as she picked the weapon up from the floor holding it for evidence.

Cat looked at the door, then at Billie - confusion clearly written on her face. "Billie - I heard a noise on the porch. I opened the door and there they were! Billie! - they were all stomping their little feet in unison, marching toward me! They all had bibs on, and were carrying little chicken-size forks and knives in their wings... and they had such hate in their eyes! Their evil clucking scared the shit out of me! Billie! They're cannibals, I tell you! They wanted to eat me! They hate me, Billie - they hate me!" Cat explained hysterically.

Billie looked at Cat as if she had just come from outer space. Walking over to the fireplace, she hung the shotgun back over the mantle then returned to Cat. Taking her by the hand, she began to drag the shorter woman toward the bedroom. "Come on," she said. "You belong in bed. There's no way you should be treating patients in your condition," she said to Cat.

"I am not going to bed! I have a clinic to run!" objected Cat. "Billie, I know you don't believe me, but I'm not lying. No matter what you say, I know in my heart those cannibalistic, nylon pecking turd machines out there hate me, and until you rebuild their coop and contain those little bastards, I am not stepping foot out of this house without a body guard... which just happens to be you today!" she ranted.

Billie threw her head back and closed her eyes, wondering to herself if maybe the farming life really wasn't the right thing for Cat. Resolving to discuss it further that evening, she lifted her head and looked at Cat. "All right - have it your way. We'd better get into town before you're late for your first patient," Billie replied, a tone of resignation in her voice.

"Good. I'm glad you're finally seeing things my way," Cat said as she motioned for Billie to walk ahead of her to clear the way of any terminator-chickens that might be lurking in the shadows waiting for her to come out of the house.

Before Billie advanced two steps onto the porch, she stopped short, causing Cat to run right into the back of her.

"Great!" Billie exclaimed in disgust. "This is just great!"

"What is it Billie?" Cat asked, peeking around her tall wife.

Billie placed her hands on her hips and shook her head at her petite wife before stepping aside to allow Cat to see what had upset her.

There before them was the pickup truck - its side riddled with shot and sitting on one very flat tire.

**********

The drive into town was very tense. After discovering the wounded truck, Billie had to pry the spare tire from beneath the back end and put it in place of the one Cat killed with the shotgun, only to find out it was out of air. The only air supply available to them was an old bicycle pump Billie found in the shed. Twenty thousand pumps and two very sore arms later, the tire contained enough air to drive them to town.

"I'll be at the saloon - getting drunk!" Billie said as Cat climbed out of the truck in front of the clinic.

"Billie, don't you go doin' something stupid, now," Cat replied as she closed the door.

"No - that's your job," Billie replied, staring straight ahead refusing to look at her wife.

"I'll be finished about 4 p.m.," Cat said, intentionally ignoring Billie's remark.

"Hmmm," Billie replied before pulling away and leaving Cat to fret about the foul mood she had put her wife in.

Billie drove straight to the saloon and parked out front. Climbing out of the truck, she entered the establishment and walked straight to the bar. "Fred, gimme a whiskey - and make it a double," Billie demanded as she threw some money onto the bar.

"Bad day?" came a voice from the corner table.

Billie took the whiskey from Fred's hand before he had a chance to place it on the bar. In one swallow, she tipped her head back and downed the amber liquid. "Gimme another," she said as she slammed the glass down.

Fred promptly refilled her glass, which she picked up and carried to Janice's table. "My wife shot my fricken truck!" she exclaimed.

Janice just sat back in her chair, cigar hanging from the corner of her mouth. "She did what?!" the older woman asked in disbelief.

"She shot my fricken truck! She was actually aiming for the chickens. My god, maybe dragging her out here to god's country wasn't a good idea after all," Billie exclaimed.

"Why was she trying to shoot the chickens?" Janice asked.

"I don't know! She's paranoid about them. For some reason, she thinks they hate her!" Billie explained.

Janice chuckled. "Melinda feels the same way about the snakes. Why do you think I carry this revolver around with me? It's certainly not to break up bar fights - although it comes in handy for that too! She's convinced they are out to get her."

"Speaking of Melinda, have you heard anything new from the kidnappers?" Billie asked.

Janice pulled a piece of paper from her vest pocket and slid it across the table at Billie.

Billie tried to read the expression on Janice's face as she reached for the note, hoping to god it did not contain bad news.

"Ms. Pappas is running out of time. Heed my warnings... her fate is in your hands. You hold the key. Turn it over to me and she lives. Don't involve the Sheriff or she will pay the consequences. Call my bluff and she dies. What is your decision? Leave it for me in a plain white envelope on your poker table in the saloon. You have until noon tomorrow to respond," Billie read out loud.

Looking the note over carefully, she noticed it was constructed in much the same way as the last - with letters cut from newspapers and magazines. Scanning it once more, Billie noticed something odd about one of the font styles the kidnapper had chosen. It looked oddly familiar. Unable to place it, Billie shrugged the thought off and turned her attention back to Janice. "What do they want?" she asked.

Janice shook her head side to side. "I don't know!" she replied. "If I knew, I'd have Melinda home by now!"

Billie read the note once more. "Turn it over to me and she lives," Billie read aloud for the second time. "You have no idea what this 'it' is the kidnapper is referring to," Billie said more as a statement than a question.

"No idea at all," Janice repeated as her voice cracked with emotion.

Billie reached over and covered Janice's hand with her own in a show of support. "Hang in there, Janice. We'll find her," Billie tried to assure the older woman.

Janice closed her eyes and lowered her chin as a lone tear rolled down her cheek.

Releasing Janice's hand, Billie sat back and held the note in front of her with both hands. "It says here you have until noon tomorrow to reply. I guess the only reply you can give them is that you don't know what they're talking about. I'll help you draft the response if you'd like," Billie offered. "I'll write it tonight and bring it first thing in the morning when I drop Cat off at the clinic."

Janice nodded in acceptance before looking up at Billie. "Did you find any new clues in that box of Mel's papers?" she asked.

"Oh! I'm glad you asked. I almost forgot!" Billie exclaimed as she reached into her back pocket and retrieved the social club applications. Unfolding them, she laid them out on the table in date order in front of Janice. "We found these in the box. Do you have any idea why five consecutive applications for a social club would be rejected because of inadequate facilities? This place looks great!" Billie asked as she looked around.

Janice frowned as she looked at the papers on the table. "I'll tell you why," Janice said angrily. "Because this town is being run by a short sighted pompous asshole - that's why!"

"Mayor Stafford?" Billie asked.

"The one and only," Janice replied. "Mel tried to tell him the club would bring business to the town. She tried to tell him the club would be adding to city funds by paying higher taxes, but no.... for some reason he is against it. He's been citing poor facilities as the reason because it's not politically correct to deny the permits based on his own personal likes and dislikes."

"Melinda submitted the permit five times. Did she think that sooner or later he'd tire of the process and just approve it?
Wasn't she wasting her time resubmitting it over and over?" Billie asked.

"Billie, let me tell you something about Melinda. Melinda believes in being persistent. She was determined to open a social club here in the saloon, so after each permit was rejected, she hired a carpenter to upgrade and paint the place. She figured that sooner or later, the mayor wouldn't be able to justify the 'inadequate facilities' angle and then he'd have to grant her the permit. In fact, there's a sixth permit pending the mayor's decision, and she plans to submit another one as soon as Joe is finished painting the guest rooms upstairs," Janice explained.

"Joe?" Billie asked.

"Joe Carlson," Janice supplied. "He's the carpenter we hired to do the upgrades. In fact, he's out of town right now picking up special gold paint Melinda ordered for the staircase."

"Well, I guess that shoots Cat's theory all to hell!" Billie quipped.

"Cat's theory?" Janice inquired.

"Well, we also found several receipts in the box of papers made out to Joe Carlson for 'services rendered'. In Cat's juicy little mind, she imagined Melinda was having an affair with Joe and they had run off together... which seemed to be supported by the fact that Joe was out of town too when I went to look for him," Billie explained.

Janice threw her head back and laughed. "Melinda and Joe? Melinda is old enough to be Joe's grandmother... and in case you hadn't noticed, Melinda and I have lifelong memberships to the same carpet-munching club you and Cat belong to! Trust me - Melinda and Joe are not having an affair."

"Drats! There goes our only lead" Billie replied just as hers and Janice's attention was drawn to the swinging doors on the entrance of the saloon.

Janice's jaw dropped as her cigar fell into her lap, causing her to jump up and quickly brush it off before it started a brush fire. Saving the forest and regaining her poise, she slowly lowered herself back into the chair without taking her eyes from the figure who had just walked in.

Billie too, was mesmerized by the vision before them.

"Melinda!" Janice whispered.

************************************************************************************************ CHAPTER X

Billie looked sharply at Janice. "Melinda?" she asked, frowning.

Still without removing her eyes from the new arrival, Janice addressed Billie, "Melinda - about 20 years ago!" she said.

The middle aged woman who had walked into the room was a knockout - and as Janice commented, closely resembled Melinda Pappas. Dressed to the nines, she wore a form fitting gown that hugged full hips and tapered near high-heel clad feet. The neckline of her dress fell off her shoulders to expose creamy skin and ample cleavage. Dark hair was gathered on top of her head where it fell into a nest of curls while long dangly earrings nearly reached her shoulders. The ensemble was topped off by elbow length white gloves and a bright purple feather boa around her neck. This woman's appearance as well as her mannerisms and sense of presence, reminded Billie of Mae West.

The woman paused in the doorway and looked around the room, taking inventory of her audience before entering. Billie and Janice, sitting in the corner of the room far to her left, escaped unnoticed. Setting her sights on the bar, she advanced, swaying her hips to and fro in exaggerated movements. Billie looked at Janice and smiled as the older woman's mouth still hung open from the shock.

"Gimme a beer, handsome," the woman said to Fred in a voice tinged with sultry huskiness.

Grinning ear to ear, Fred quickly complied as the lady removed her gloves and placed them on the bar. "Thank you muchly, darlin'. How much do I owe ya?" she asked.

"Ah... nothing. It's on me," Fred replied shyly.

"Why... ain't you just a sweetie!" the woman exclaimed in a heavy southern accent.

Picking up the beer, she leaned her left elbow on the bar and turned around to survey the room once more, this time spotting Billie and Janice almost instantly.

Pushing herself upright, she picked up her gloves and winked at Fred before heading toward the ladies at the corner table. Billie could almost hear drums beating out the tempo as the woman's hips swung side to side... ba-boom, ba-ba-boom, ba-ba-boom.

"Do you ladies mind if I join ya?" the woman asked huskily as she placed her beer on the table and sat down without waiting for an answer.

"Ah... ah... no! By all means - please!" Billie said.

The woman crossed her legs then reached into the hollow between her breasts to extract a silver cigarette case. "Do you mind?" she asked politely before removing a cigarette then returning the case to its safe haven.

Billie shook her head as Janice sat there with her mouth agape.

The woman reached forward and placed her fingertips under Janice's chin. "Close your mouth - you're catching flies," she said, pushing Janice's mouth closed.

Snapping out of her booty-induced haze, Janice stammered, "Ah... ah... sorry, but damn! You are one beautiful dame!"

"Janice!" Billie exclaimed, embarrassed that Janice would say something like that to a perfect stranger.

The woman laughed. "Think nothing of it, darlin'! I like a woman who speaks her mind. Do you mind if I borrow your cigar to light my cigarette?" she asked Janice.

So dumbstruck by this woman's presence, Janice had forgotten she was still holding a cigar. Looking down, she realized it had nearly burned clear down to her fingers as a long column of ashes clung precariously to the end of it. Placing it in the ashtray, she reached into her vest pocket and retrieved a stick match which she struck into a glowing ember by running it across the wooden table.

Janice maintained eye contact with the woman as she held the glowing match to her cigarette. Her eyes are just as blue as Melinda's, Janice thought.

Sitting back in her seat, the woman exhaled the smoke and looked at Janice. "Don't talk much, do ya?" she commented.

"Please excuse me for my momentary lapse... you caught me off guard," Janice explained, her old composure quickly returning. "You remind me of someone very close to me," she added.

"No apologies necessary, darlin'," the woman said, smiling sweetly.

"Janice Covington," Janice said, extending her hand to the woman, "and this is Billie Charland."

"Nice to meet you....," Billie offered while also extending her hand to the woman.

"Laurel... Laurel McGuire," the woman said.

Laurel! Could it be? Billie asked herself before Janice interrupted her thoughts.

"So, Laurel McGuire, I haven't seen you around here before. Are you new in town or just passing through?" Janice asked.

"Actually, I'm thinking about settlin' here... you know - to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city," Laurel explained.

"I hear you!" Billie piped in.

"I've been lookin' for some investment property... a place to call my own. Somewhere nice - like this for example. This is a very well kept place - especially for a saloon! Ever think about selling it?" Laurel asked as she looked around.

Janice sat back and beamed with pride. "We've had a few offers... in fact we had one just before my Melinda dis... ah I mean, just before she took sick. We will never sell the place. It means too much to us. It takes a lot of work, but it's worth it," she said, puffing her chest out.

"So, are you the proprietor of this establishment?" Laurel asked.

"Not exactly, but I do have a vested interest," Janice replied.

"What a beautiful grand staircase!" Laurel exclaimed. "Are the rooms upstairs as nice and elegant as the saloon itself?" she asked.

"Nice enough. We're having them painted and remodeled now as a matter of fact. Three of them are complete with five more to go," Janice offered.

"Excuse me for pryin' but you keep sayin' 'we'. Since you are not the proprietor, should I assume the actual owner is your partner?" Laurel asked.

Janice looked at Billie and grinned. "You could say that. My partner is out of town right now," Janice replied as she cast a knowing look at Billie.

"I see," Laurel said before downing her last drink of beer. "Well, I hate to run, darlin', but I have an appointment to keep. It was so nice meetin' y'all," she said, rising to her feet and shaking both Janice's and Billie's hands once more.

Janice and Billie both rose to their feet as Laurel collected her gloves and picked up her beer glass to return it to the bar. Placing it on the bar, she winked once more at Fred, then ba-boomed out the door.

"She's going to put an eye out with those hips of hers," Billie commented as they watched the doors swing closed behind Laurel.

"Yeah - and it's gonna be my eye if I'm not careful!" Janice exclaimed. "What a looker!"

"Looker or hooker?" Billie asked cynically.

"How can you say that, Billie? You don't even know the woman," Janice chastised.

"Maybe not, but something doesn't feel right about her," Billie explained.

"I'd like to feel her!" Janice joked lecherously.

"I wonder what type of 'investment property' she's looking for?" Billie mused.

"Don't know... don't care - as long as she doesn't compete with the saloon. This town could use a few more businesses," Janice replied before a thought suddenly came to her. "Hey! Maybe we'll get lucky and she'll open that dildo store we were talking about the other day!"

"Holy Shit!" Billie exclaimed, jumping to her feet. "I'm glad you said that! I only have a couple of hours before I have to pick up Annie Oakley at the clinic - and I've got an errand to run!"

"Annie Oakley?" Janice questioned.

"Yeah, you know - Miss 'I didn't mean to shoot at you - I thought you were a chicken'?" Billie hinted.

"Oh! You mean Cat!" Janice grinned as she realized who Billie was referring to.

"Yeah, Cat. I promised her I'd make a run into Greenville while I was in town today," Billie added.

"Greenville?" Janice asked with a knowing smile. "I thought you would have made that trip already."

"Well, we did, but Jennifer Swenson showed up while we were 'shopping' and we lost our nerve. So now I've got to go back," Billie explained, lowering her voice so Fred wouldn't hear her.

Mischief filled Janice's eyes. "Jennifer, huh? If you play your cards right, you might be able to get that one into a threesome," she suggested.

"Believe it or not, that's already been suggested - a couple of times - and by Jen herself!" Billie laughed.

Janice's eyes opened wide. "Get outta Dodge! Really!?" she exclaimed.

"Oh yeah! Really!" Billie replied.

"You're gonna take her up on it, aren't 'cha?" Janice urged.

"Hell no! Not if I want to stay married that is! Cat would gouge my eyes out and feed them to the chickens if she even thought I looked at another woman!" Billie explained.

"Well, Cat's quite a babe herself. I guess if I were married to her I'd keep my eyes on the home front as well," Janice remarked.

"Yes, indeed. Look, Janice, I've got to get going," Billie said as she headed toward the door, stopping to address the older woman once more before pushing the swinging panels open. "Janice, Cat and I think you should report Melinda as missing. She's been gone for a few days now and we're not even close to figuring out where she is."

"No, Billie. I can't. I won't do anything that might put her in more danger than she's already in. The notes specifically said no sheriff," Janice responded.

Billie walked back to Janice and placed her hands on the table. "Look, Janice - at this point, we've hit a stone wall. Nothing makes sense... the notes from the kidnapper are so abstract they're useless. I'm not sure we have enough clues to figure out where she is. I'm a lawyer - not a trained investigator. I can't promise you I'll find her," Billie said as she watched devastating sadness cross the older woman's face. "... but I can promise you I'll try," she added, covering Janice's hand with her own.

Janice turned her hand over and allowed her fingers to entwine with Billie's. "Thank you," she whispered. "Now get outta here... you've got a schlong to buy!"

Billie smiled and released Janice's hand. Moments later, she was standing outside the saloon allowing her eyes to adjust to the bright sunlight before heading to her truck. As she descended the stairs to the dirt street, she noticed a movement from the corner of her eye. Hurrying to hide behind her truck so she could remain undetected, she watched as Laurel McGuire and Mayor Stafford exited the town clerk's office arm in arm, just three doors down.

**********

Upon entering the adult toy store in Greenville, Billie thoroughly searched the premises to be sure Jen was nowhere to be found before selecting her purchases. Considering Jen was teaching school that day, she didn't expect to see the woman, but something compelled her to look anyway. Meandering up and down each aisle, Billie tried hard to stay focused on her search while the dildos, vibrators, whips and chains called to her from the shelves. She felt pretty certain the coast was clear until she reached the last aisle. Turning the corner, she did a double take then quickly scooted back into the aisle from which she had come.

Holy Shit! It's like 'old home week' in here! she exclaimed to herself as she peeked back around the corner to see the Reverend Kevin Richardson add one more sex toy to the growing pile in his arms. I hope he didn't see me, she thought. Now what is a good, saintly, pious holy man doing in an adult toy store! Billie asked herself.

Suddenly, Kevin turned and started walking toward the end of the aisle she was peeking around. Turning around quickly, Billie ran down her aisle and around to the other side where Kevin had just come from. Peeking over the top of the display stands, Billie watched the good Reverend approach the checkout desk and place his purchases on the counter. Moments later, he exited the establishment with a bag full of goodies.

Billie quickly ran to the front of the store and watched Kevin get into his car. She waited long enough to allow him to pull away from the curb, before running to her own car to follow him... right to the same house she had seen him enter a day earlier. Pulling up to the curb on the opposite side of the street, Billie shut off the truck and slid down in her seat so she wouldn't be seen, determined to wait for him to come out. She didn't have long to wait.

Less than a half hour after he went in, Billie watched as Kevin exited the premises empty handed, climbed into his car, and pulled away. After she was sure Kevin had turned the corner at the end of the street, Billie flung her door open and climbed out of the truck. She carefully inspected the front of the building as she walked toward it, thinking once again how it looked like an ordinary house. Climbing the front steps, she approached the door and knocked.

"What can I do ya for?" a voice said as the door swung open. The same old nasty-ass looking woman Billie had seen talking to Kevin before was standing in front of her.

"Ah... Ah... I'm looking for someone," Billie said.

"Ain't we all sweetie?" the woman said, smiling broadly and exposing a mouth full of rotting teeth. Billie thought to herself when she saw the woman from a distance a few days back that she couldn't possibly be more disgusting. She realized now she was wrong.

Fighting the urge to turn around and run away from this woman as fast as she could, Billie composed herself. Putting on her best 'helpless farm-girl' face, she spoke. "I am looking for Kevin Richardson," Billie said, watching the woman's face for a reaction.

"Well, you just missed him. He dropped off some supplies, then headed out again," the woman explained.

Supplies? Billie said to herself. "Damn! I was afraid I'd miss him!" Billie exclaimed while stomping her foot. "He told me to meet him here at three o'clock but my damned truck wouldn't start!" Billie exclaimed.

"You were supposed to meet him here?" the woman asked suspiciously.

"Yes. He said he'd show me around the place," Billie explained, hoping for an invitation inside.

The woman's eyebrows raised high onto her forehead before settling back into a frown. Placing her hands on her hips, she looked at Billie sternly. "I told him we didn't need any new girls here... and I'll be damned if I'm gonna break 'em in for the other place!" she exclaimed angrily. "Now you get your long-legged skinny ass outta here!" the woman demanded as she pointed to the street.

Billie wanted to put her hands around the toothless old hag's neck and choke her senseless, but chose instead to stay in character and cringe away as though this woman intimidated her. Scurrying off the steps, Billie ran across the street to her truck, glancing back 'in fear' several times as the woman watched - an evil smile on her face. Throwing the truck in gear, she spun the tires as she pulled away, intent on getting home as fast as possible to give Cat the news.

**********

Billie sat in her truck, waiting impatiently outside the clinic for Cat to emerge. When she finally spotted her petite wife, she quickly jumped out of the truck and ran to the passenger side to open Cat's door.

"You're quite the gentleman today, Billie!" Cat commented as she climbed into the truck. "To what do I owe this honor?" she asked.

"Get in the truck, Cat," Billie said as she rudely pushed Cat inside and slammed the door.

"Hmmph!" Cat exclaimed as she flew across the front seat. "So much for being gentlemanly!" she chastised Billie as the taller woman made her way around the front of the truck to climb into the driver's seat.

"You are not going to believe what I learned today!" Billie exclaimed.

"Well I hope one thing you learned is manners! "Cat exclaimed.

"Never mind that," Billie retorted, dismissing Cat's complaint. "Cat, Melinda is not having an affair with Joe," she said as she threw the truck into gear.

"How do you know that?" Cat asked.

"I asked Janice about the social club permits and the reason they had been rejected," Billie began.

"You mean for unsatisfactory facilities?" Cat asked.

"Yeah! Janice seems to think there's some other reason the Mayor is using to reject the permits, and that the facilities issues are only a convenient excuse, but each time a permit was rejected, Melinda would add more improvements to the saloon, figuring that sooner or later, Mayor Stafford wouldn't be able to justify rejecting them any more," Billie explained.

"So how does that prove Melinda and Joe aren't having an affair and have run off together?" Cat asked.

"Because Joe is their carpenter. Melinda has been hiring him to do the upgrades to the saloon. Joe is out of town right now picking up some special gold paint Melinda ordered for the staircase," Billie replied, taking her eyes off the road for a short time to look at Cat.

"Damn! Blows that theory, doesn't it?" Cat exclaimed.

"My feelings exactly," Billie said, "... so it looks like we're back to square one relative to Melinda's disappearance."

"Janice must be out of her mind with worry by now,' Cat observed.

"She is - but she still insists on leaving the law out of it. Oh - and the kidnappers left another note," Billie said, digging the note out of her pocket and handing it to Cat.

"Ms. Pappas is running out of time. Heed my warnings... her fate is in your hands. You hold the key. Turn it over to me and she lives. Don't involve the Sheriff or she will pay the consequences. Call my bluff and she dies. What is your decision? Leave it for me in a plain white envelope on your poker table in the saloon. You have until noon tomorrow to respond," Cat read. "Oh my god! This sounds serious, Billie."

"It is. Janice has no idea what the kidnappers are referring to in the notes. I just hope this deadline at noon tomorrow is a bluff," Billie replied.

"So what's the next step, Billie?" Cat asked.

"I don't know. I guess we ask the kidnappers for more clarification. I don't know what else to do," Billie replied.

"So, what else did you learn today?" Cat questioned.

Billie became so excited at Cat's question that she almost drove off the road.

"Jeeeeeeesus Chreeeeee-rist!" Cat yelled. "Are you trying to kill us?"

"Ooops! Sorry 'bout that!" Billie quipped as she regained control of the truck.

"What is so freaking exciting that you almost drive the truck off the road?" Cat demanded.

"Oh my god, Cat! You are not going to believe this... Laurel lives!" Billie replied.

**********

"Laurel lives? Laurel? As in Laurel Pappas?... Melinda's daughter?" Cat asked incredulously.

"I think so," Billie replied.

"What do you mean... 'you think so'?" Cat asked for clarification.

"Well - she said her name was Laurel McGuire, but she looks just like Melinda - just younger... and she seems to be about the right age," Billie explained before adding, "You know - there's something about Laurel that seems familiar, but I can't put my finger on it."

"Familiar how?" Cat asked.

"I don't know - like, maybe I should know her or something," Billie replied, shrugging, "... anyway, Janice and I were in the saloon drinking whiskey, and..." Billie started to explain.

"You were drinking whiskey with Janice - again?!" Cat reprimanded.

"Cat! You tried to kill my truck this morning! That kind of put me in a really bad mood - you know?" Billie reasoned.

"I didn't try to kill your truck, Billie," Cat denied.

"Oh no? Filling it with buck-shot sounds like an assassination attempt to me! If the truck were a person, you'd have to give it CPR! The poor baby! It will never be the same again!" Billie whined.

Cat reached over and felt Billie's forehead. "I'm worried about you," she said to the taller woman.

Billie brushed Cat's hand away. "Hey! Stop it!" she objected. "I'm not sick, Cat!"

"I'd like a second opinion on that diagnosis!" Cat quipped, reaching for Billie's wrist to take her pulse.

"Cut that out! Geesh! Anyway, Janice and I were having a drink and who walks in, but this beautiful middle aged woman. The first thing Janice does when she sees the woman is whisper the word 'Melinda'. Wow! What a hot ticket! Tight form fitting gown... all decked out in jewelry... big makeup... feather boa. She comes over to Janice and I and introduces herself as Laurel McGuire," Billie explained.

"Does she live around here?" Cat asked.

"I don't think so. She mentioned she was in the area looking for investment property," Billie replied.

"Investment property? I wonder what that means?" Cat commented.

"I don't know, but Janice seems to welcome the idea - believing additional businesses will bring more people to the town. She may be right. I don't think Laurel's wasting any time either. When I left the saloon, I saw her coming out of the clerk's office with Mayor Stafford," Billie said.

"Schmoozing the local politicians, huh?" Cat observed.

"Looks like it anyway," Billie replied as she stopped the truck in front of the house. Throwing the door open, she walked around and opened Cat's door, lending her a hand as she climbed out.

Entering the house, Cat placed her black doctor's bag on the bench situated in front of a window, then started the stove to heat water for dinner while Billie went to retrieve some smaller kindling to replenish the wood box by the stove. Moments later, Billie returned and neatly stacked the wood in the box before sitting at the table.

"So what other exciting things did you do today beside drink whiskey with Janice?" Cat asked as she adjusted the damper on the stove.

"Well, I went to Greenville." Billie replied, instantly gaining Cat's attention. "You won't believe what happened there!" the tall woman added.

"Okay, I'm game - what happened," Cat replied dryly as she sat at the table, opposite Billie.

"I was in the toy store, checking out the place before shopping - you know - to make sure Jen wasn't following me again, and lo and behold - who do I see in there? - Kevin! That's right - the saintly Reverend Kevin Richardson was in the store buying sex toys! I couldn't believe my eyes!" Billie exclaimed.

Cat's eyes were as big as saucers. "Oh my god! Really? Did he see you?" Cat asked.

"Nope - I did a pretty good job avoiding him... but I did follow him when he left the store. He went to a house about a block away. He was only there for a few minutes, but when he came out, he was empty handed," Billie explained.

"I wonder who lives there?" Cat questioned.

"Well, I checked it out myself and the woman who answered the door seemed to know Kevin. I pretended I was meeting him there, and she flipped out! She said they didn't need any new girls and she'd be damned if she was going to break new ones in for the 'other place'. She then proceeded to throw me off the property!" Billie described.

"She threw you off the property!?... and you let her?" Cat asked incredulously.

"Yes I did. I didn't want to blow my cover," Billie replied.

"Your cover?" the red head questioned.

"Yeah. I have a hunch I need to explore. I ran out of time, otherwise I would have hung around and dug deeper," Billie responded.

"Since when did you become Kojak?" Cat deadpanned.

"Well I hate to admit it, Cat, but I kind of miss the excitement of investigative law," Billie confessed.

Cat smiled broadly, mentally celebrating the fact that Billie's resolve to be a farmer seemed to be weakening. Suddenly, Cat remembered one of the errands Billie was supposed to have run that day. "So, what did you buy us today?" she asked lecherously.

"Huh?" Billie asked cluelessly.

Cat reached over and knocked on Billie's forehead. "Hello? Greenville? Toy store?" she said.

Billie grimaced.

Cat looked at the expression on Billie's face and sprang from her seat. "Billie - don't tell me you went all the way to Greenville and didn't do what you went there for to begin with!" Cat stated.

"Okay - I won't tell you," Billie replied, trying to make light of the situation.

"Aarrgghh!!!" Cat exclaimed as she stomped off into the bedroom slamming the door behind her.

************************************************************************************************ CHAPTER XI

Cock-a-doodle-do!!!! Cock-a-doodle-do!!!!

"No!" Billie moaned, wondering why the rooster sounded louder than usual that morning.

Cock-a-doodle-do!!!! Cock-a-doodle-do!!!!

"All right! All right! I'll get up!" she exclaimed, reaching up to throw off the blankets, and finding none there to throw off.

"What the hell?" she exclaimed as she pushed herself into a sitting position and looked around at unfamiliar surroundings.

Frowning, Billie scanned the room in which she had been sleeping, still disoriented in the early morning haze. The walls were covered with boards with large gaping holes between them. The early morning sunrise peeked through in several places, casting a eerie orange glow all around her. Beneath her was a coarse blanket thrown over a bed of hay.

Suddenly, it all came back to her.

Cat had stomped off into the bedroom after realizing Billie had neglected to run her all-important errand in Greenville. Angry that Cat was being so unreasonable, Billie stomped off into the barn, only to return later that evening after dinner had been cleared and the kids tucked into bed, to find the bedroom door locked and a still-angry Cat refusing to open it. Unwilling to admit she had neglected her duties, Billie once again stomped off to the barn where she spent the night in the hay loft, waking to the rooster's early morning chant just a few feet away from where she was sleeping.

After realization returned, Billie reached for her boots and pulled them on before climbing to her feet to stretch out the kinks from a body not used to sleeping on a bed of hay. Moments later, she descended the loft and headed for the outhouse. Badly in need of a caffeine fix, she wasted no time taking care of business, only to realize the outhouse door was stuck closed. Putting her shoulder into it, she managed to push the door open and nearly fell out into the yard in the process.

"Damned door!" she cursed. "I guess I'll have to fix that after I have my coffee this morning," she mumbled as she made her way into the house where the kids were sitting around the table eating breakfast. Cat was standing at the stove, purposely keeping her back to Billie.

"Good Morning," she said to everyone in the room as she entered the kitchen.

"'Morning, Mom!" all three children chimed as Billie sat at the table.

"This is a treat! Normally breakfast isn't until after morning chores," Billie exclaimed.

"I said the same thing," Seth replied, "but Mama said she was up early, so breakfast was waiting for us when we woke up."

Billie looked at Cat who was still standing with her back to the table. Couldn't sleep, my love? she thought to herself smugly.

Just then, Cat turned and carried a cast iron pan full of home fries to the table and dished them out to the kids, returning the pan to the stove without even acknowledging Billie's presence.

Realizing she was still in the dog house (or more appropriately - the hay loft), Billie rose from the table and retrieved a cup of coffee, then headed for the front door.

"Ain't 'cha gonna eat, Mom?" Seth asked his mother before she opened the door.

"Not right now, Scout. I'm not really hungry. I'll catch a bite to eat after chores," she replied, casting a glance at Cat before walking out the door.

**********

With chores finished and the kids off to school, Billie poked her head into the kitchen and saw Cat sitting at the table, nursing a cup of coffee - still dressed in her nightshirt and robe. "Don't you have appointments to keep today, Cat?" she asked.

"No," was all Cat said, still refusing to even look at Billie.

Not jumping for the bait, Billie took a deep breath. "All right then," she replied. "I'm headed into town. I've got some errands to run, and I need to stop in to see Janice. I might even have me a whiskey or two while I'm there!" she added, knowing she was throwing fuel on the already smoldering fire.

Cat stiffened, but her temper held as she refused to acknowledge Billie's comments.

"I'll be back later today," Billie added as she closed the door and headed for her truck.

As soon as Billie closed the door, Cat was on her feet heading toward the window. Hiding behind the curtains, she covertly watched as Billie climbed into her truck and drove away.

"Damn you, Billie!" Cat whispered under her breath as she walked back to the table and sat down.

For the next half hour, Cat twiddled her thumbs, bored out of her mind, wishing she had gotten dressed and gone into town with Billie. Running errands was much better than sitting around doing nothing. With the kids in school, the laundry caught up, and no patients to see, she literally had nothing to do.

"Argh! I should at least get dressed!" she said out loud. "Great! Now I'm talking to myself!"

Going into the bedroom, Cat discarded the robe she was wearing and stripped off the T-shirt she slept in. Suddenly realizing she had to go to the bathroom... really bad - she danced around from foot to foot, trying desperately to hold it and select her clothes for the day at the same time. Finally realizing she was losing the battle against Mother Nature, she threw everything she had gathered onto the bed and ran out the back door to the outhouse, making it just in time nearly soiling her underpants in the process, which would have really sucked, considering it was all she had on.

**********

Billie drove to town with the radio blasting as loud as she could stand it, ands she pushed the truck nearly beyond its limits. It wasn't often she allowed her anger to get the best of her, but this day was an exception. She was so upset with Cat, she couldn't see straight. Pulling up in front of the saloon, she slammed the truck into park, shut off the engine and climbed out, slamming the door behind her before heading into the saloon.

Janice had been standing on the porch with her hands tucked inside her vest pockets when Billie drove up and watched the tall woman's display of anger. "Fight with the little woman this morning?" she asked, rocking back and forth on her heels, a cigar hanging from the corner of her mouth as she watched Billie stomp by.

"Grrrrr," was all Billie said as she walked past Janice into the saloon and went straight to the corner table. Throwing herself down into a chair, she slouched down and crossed her arms in front of her, a deep frown gracing her brow.

Janice followed Billie into the saloon and approached the table. "Whiskey?" she asked before sitting down.

Billie looked up at Janice. "No. I've only got a few minutes. I stopped to give you the note I wrote last night for the kidnappers," she replied, pulling the note from her back pocket and handed it over to Janice.

Janice sat in her favorite chair and opened the note. "To whomever is holding Melinda Pappas... Please don't harm her. I have not contacted the authorities. I don't understand what your demands are. You need to be more specific. Please give us more time and a better understanding of what you want. Please don't harm her... Please. Signed, Janice Covington," Janice read before looking up at Billie. "Can't get any more clear than that. I just hope they agree. Billie - if they hurt her, I don't know what I'll do," Janice said sadly.

Billie reached out for Janice's hand. "They obviously want something. If they have half a brain, they'll give you more detail. If they hurt her - or worse, they won't get a damned thing... and we'll have to contact the authorities at that point. Hell, we may want to contact them anyway once we realize what they want," she said to the older woman.

"No, Billie. I won't do anything to jeopardize Melinda's safety," Janice reiterated.

Billie sat back and ran her hands roughly over her face before dropping them into her lap. "We'll just wait and see, okay?" she replied.

"What do I do with this note? I mean - how do I get it to them? I don't even know who they are!" Janice asked.

"I would just leave it on the table. That's how they've been leaving notes for you. Just leave it here and hide somewhere so you can watch to see who picks it up," Billie suggested.

"That sounds like a good idea," Janice replied.

"Just don't do anything stupid, like try to capture them or something," Billie said. "Getting yourself hurt will not help Melinda in the least."

"Don't worry. My days of being a tough guy are pretty much over - but don't tell the help that... I'll loose my edge, if you now what I mean," Janice answered as she watched Billie's body language. "You don't look very happy this morning," she observed.

"I'm not," Billie admitted.

"Trouble in Paradise?" the feisty old woman asked.

"It feels more like Hades!" Billie replied.

Janice took a long drag from her cigar before exhaling and spitting out a small piece of leaf she had chewed from the end. "What did you do?" she inquired.

"It's what I didn't do! I went into Greenville yesterday and became side tracked. I ended up going home without the purchases I intended to make while there," Billie explained.

Janice's eyebrows jumped to the top of her forehead. "Ouch!" Janice quipped.

Billie was fuming. "How dare she treat me like that? How dare she banish me to the hay loft?" Billie asked in a wounded manner, "and why?... all because I forgot the toys! All because she wants to do the nasty with some schlong wannabe... do the horizontal mambo with some long, slick, hard, shimmering..."

Billie suddenly stopped as a shudder ran through her body. "Oh my god!" she exclaimed, jumping to her feet and running out the door.

Janice laughed as she followed the woman to the porch. She stood Billie burn ten yards of rubber as she took off in the direction of Greenville.

**********

Elated that she had made it to the outhouse in time, Cat sat contentedly on the throne for a few minutes while she took care of business. Within moments, she was finished and rose to exit. Reaching for the door handle, she pushed, but nothing happened.

"What the hell?" she said out loud as she pushed on the door a second time. Still, it remained closed.

"Damn it!" she yelled as she put her shoulder against the door - to no avail.

"Don't tell me...!" she exclaimed. "This can't be happening!"

Sitting back on the toilet seat, Cat lifted her legs and kicked at the door with her bare feet, accomplishing nothing except driving slivers into both feet from the coarsely cut wood on the door.

"God damn, mother raping, son of a bitch!" she screamed. "Why is this happening to me!?"

**********

At precisely 11 a.m., Billie pulled up in front of the adult toy store in Greenville, bound and determined not to leave the town before she purchased what she had come for the previous two times she had been there. On the drive between the saloon and Greenville, Billie's mind went wild, imagining all kinds of scenarios she could find herself and Cat in - all involving the perspective toys she would purchase that day. By the time she reached the toy store, she was so turned on, her hands were shaking as she selected a variety of items from the shelves. Realizing she would give her sexually charged emotional state away to the clerk when she placed her purchases on the check-out counter, she forced herself to calm down before completing the sale. By the time Billie climbed back into her truck, she had once again began to think rationally and felt safe enough to drive home.

**********

"Let me out of here!" Cat screamed for at least the hundredth time. As with the other 99 times, silence greeted her pleas for help. She had been stuck in the outhouse for two hours now and her fists were raw from pounding on the door. She had spent her time in confinement alternating between yelling, swearing and crying. Cat honestly couldn't remember the last time she had been so miserable.

Cat sat on the throne and wiped sweat from her brow. The temperature rose as the day crept toward noon, turning her prison into a very foul smelling sauna. She felt dirty and sticky as she leaned against the wall and cried herself to sleep.

**********

On her way home from Greenville, Billie stopped by the saloon to see if Janice had made contact with the kidnappers, who had given her until noon to reply to their demands. As she drove, she found herself worried about the feisty little woman, not believing for one moment that Janice wouldn't confront the culprits, given the chance. As she walked into the saloon, she saw Janice sitting stoically at her usual table with several empty shot glasses arranged haphazardly in front of her. Her head was lolling around on her shoulders.

Approaching the table, Billie stood beside Janice and placed a hand on her shoulder. Janice looked up at the tall woman.

"What happened?" Billie asked.

"I fell 'sleep," Janice slurred. "I fricken fell 'sleep," she added as her head bobbed onto her chest.

Billie sat down and lifted Janice's chin with her fingertips. "You fell asleep?" she repeated the older woman's words.

Jancie did her best to nod although she had little control over hear head in her inebriated state. "I was sittin' here waiting for them to pick up the note and I fell 'sleep right here in my chair!" Janice exclaimed, throwing her chair back and quickly rising to very unsteady feet, staggering around while pointing to the chair.

Billie reached out to steady Janice before she fell on her face.

"When I woke up, the note was gone. I missthed them, Billie! I missthed my chance to save Mel. I am such an idiot!" Janice exclaimed as she nearly fell over into Billie's arms.

"Okay, Janice. Come on. Time for bed," Billie said as she took the older woman's arm and led her toward the stairs.

"Where are we goin'?" Janice slurred.

"To bed," Billie replied.

Janice grinned goofily. "I knew you wanted me! I could see it in your eyes the first time I saw you," Janice leered. "Well, too bad for you! I'm a one woman woman. He, he! I just said 'woman woman'," she giggled.

"All right, Janice. That's it, lift your foot," Billie said, smiling at Janice's antics while trying to get the drunken woman to climb the stairs.

Janice nearly fell as her toe caught the edge of the first stair.

"All right. I guess we need to do this another way," Billie exclaimed as she grabbed the petite older woman and threw her over her shoulder.

"Hey!" Janice yelled. "What in tarnation are ya doin'? Damn! You're making me hot, woman! Well... I guess if yer gonna take me by force I can't do nothing about it! Jus' make sure you tell Melly I put up a good fight, he, he."

Billie chuckled as she climbed the stairs with Janice over her shoulder. Within three steps, Janice passed out. "Great!" Billie muttered under her breath. Stopping, she turned and looked across the saloon at Fred who was wiping the top of the bar. "Fred - which room is hers?" Billie shouted to the bartender.

"End of the hall to the right," Fred replied as Billie continued her climb.

It didn't take Billie long to deposit the smaller woman onto a very large and ornate four-poster bed, remove her shoes, and return to the bar where she approached Fred.

"Fred - did you see who picked up the letter on Janice's table while she was asleep?" Billie asked.

"Nope. I didn't see anything," Fred replied.

"You didn't see anything? Were you here the whole time this morning?" she inquired.

"Right up until Miss Janice sent me to the post office to collect the mail. When I got back, she was sittin' there in her chair, snoring away. She does that quite often, you know," the bartender explained.

"Was the letter still on the table when you left?" Billie asked.

"Can't say as I noticed," Fred replied.

"Damn!" Billie cursed as she turned round and looked at Janice's table, realizing Fred had a clear view of the corner where Janice spent most of her time. Considering Fred would have seen anyone approach the table from his vantage point, she concluded the kidnapper must have collected the note when Fred was at the post office.

Sighing heavily, Billie realized the next move would have to be the kidnapper's. "All right - I guess there's nothing more I can do here. Fred, please keep your eyes open and let Janice know if you see anything suspicious, okay?" she asked.

"You got it," Fred replied as he watched Billie head for the door where she passed Janice's 3 p.m. poker buddies on their way in.

**********

"I am losing my mind!" Cat said out loud as she pounded yet again on the outhouse door to no avail. At this point, she had been trapped inside the outside for the past six hours wearing nothing but a pair of panties.

Covered with sweat and disoriented by the dark and overpowering stench, she curled up on the floor and cried.

Suddenly, she heard a noise from outside. "Who's there! Help me! Help me!" she screamed, jumping to her feet.

Falling silent once more, Cat strained to hear the rustling noise slowly building in volume just outside the outhouse.

Cat began to pound violently on the door. "Get me out of here! Please!" she pleaded.

The rustling noise grew louder still, however no voices were heard amidst the noise.

Climbing onto the toilet seat, Cat strained to see through the moon-shaped cut-out in the door, scanning her limited field of view outside.

"Oh my god! Oh my god!" Cat exclaimed at what she saw just outside the door - the entire chicken army had set up camp just outside the door! "Get away! You evil sons of bitches! Get away from me!" she screamed just as something hit with a loud bang on the door, knocking her from her pedestal and almost landing her inside the refuse pit.

Scrambling to her feet, Cat climbed onto her perch once more to look out the window - just in time to see the billie-goat lower its head and run toward the door for a second time.

"Aaahhhh!" Cat screamed as she felt the second impact.

**********

Billie turned the radio on high, enjoying the music as she drove casually toward home. Thinking about the purchases she made in Greenville, she began to devise a plan to woo herself back into Cat's good graces. She imagined arriving home and encouraging Cat to put her feet up after working so hard around the farm all day... making bread, doing laundry, tending the garden. She would then enlist the kid's help completing the chores and making dinner, which she would serve to Cat by candlelight after the children had eaten and gone to bed. She would then heat water for Cat to take a long luxuriously warm bubble bath in the water trough, soaking away the tiredness from her toils throughout the day. While she was bathing, Billie would decorate their bedroom with candles, casting a romantic glow across the room. Finally, she would blindfold Cat and lead her into the bedroom... slowly undress her, and insist that she remain blindfolded while treating her to hedonistic delights with the new sex toys.

"Whoa!" Billie suddenly exclaimed as she realized she was driving off the road. So preoccupied was she with her plans to seduce Cat, that she didn't realize she was about to wreck the truck. Pressing the brakes all the way to the floor, the truck came to an abrupt halt just a few feet short of a ravine. "Damn!" she whispered as a weakness spread through her legs - a weakness not entirely caused by the fright she had just endured.

**********

As Billie neared the farm, she encountered Seth, Tara, Skylar and Jennifer walking toward their home. Pulling over to the side, she stopped and offered them a ride, which they eagerly accepted. The kids climbed into the back of the truck while Jen slipped into the front seat.

"You are an angel!" Jen exclaimed, wiping the sweat from her brow. "I must remember to bring a hat the next time I decide to spend any time in this sun!"

"It certainly can get hot!" Billie replied, wondering if Jen was going to volunteer the reason she was walking toward their farm with her children instead of toward her own home.

"Is there a special reason you're escorting my children home from school, Jen?" Billie asked when it became obvious the woamn wasn't going to humor her.

Jen reached up to pat a stray hair into place. "I'm actually on my way to see Cat. I have a medical issue I need to speak with her about," Jen replied.

Billie glanced at her as she drove. "Anything serious?" she asked.

"Not really. It's just that I need some sort of sedation. I... I'm having trouble sleeping," Jen explained haltingly.

"I see," Billie replied, thinking Jen was acting a bit odd.

An uncomfortable silence fell over the occupants of the truck for the next few moments, that is - until Jen spotted the bagged purchases sitting on the seat between them. Jen wouldn't have thought anything of it, had the name of the store not been printed in bold purple letters all over the bag.

"Oooohhh baby! What do we have here!?" Jen exclaimed as she reached for the bag before Billie could stop her.

"Jen!" Billie exclaimed, unable to stop her from opening the bag without letting go of the steering wheel and putting the truck's five occupants in danger.

"Someone's planning a good time tonight, huh?" Jen teased as she scanned the contents of the bag. "Jesus Christ! I'm getting hot just looking at this stuff!"

"Jen, please!" Billie pleaded as she held her right hand out for the bag, driving with the left.

"Hmmmm - what's this?" Jen asked, reaching into the bag and pulling out a very large dildo. "Damn woman! This is big enough for all three of us!!" she exclaimed.

"Jen! The kids!" Billie yelled, hitting the toy out of Jen's hand and sending it to the floor of the truck just as Skylar knocked on the back glass.

"Mom - are we almost home? I have to pee!" Skylar complained.

"We'll be there in about two minutes, sweetie!" Billie replied, sending a very dirty look in Jen's direction as the blonde curly-haired woman covertly collected the treasure from the floor and returned it to the bag.

Jen returned Billie's look with a very seductive grin.

Billie reached over and snatched the bag from Jen's hands and tucked it on the floor beneath her legs before she could pull anything else out of it.

Moments later, Billie pulled the truck up to the house and turned off the motor. Skylar was out of the truck in an instant and running toward the outhouse, stopping short as she heard hysterical screaming coming from within.

"Mom! Mom! Someone is in the outhouse!" Skylar yelled as she ran back toward Billie.

"It's probably Mama. She's the only one home. Just knock on the door and ask her to hurry," Billie said as she reached her purchases from the truck.

"But Mom! There's a lot of screaming coming from in there!" Skylar explained.

Thoughts of the day's purchases flew from Billie's mind as she ran toward the outhouse, all three children and Jennifer right behind her.

"Cat! Cat! Are you all right?!" Billie asked frantically, thinking Cat had either injured herself, or was sick.

"Billie! Billie, Get me out of this hell hole!" Cat screamed as she pounded on the door.

Billie thought to herself that the voice within didn't even sound like Cat. It sounded more like a banshee in heat!

Suddenly, realization hit home as Billie remembered the outhouse door sticking on her this morning. "Oh my god!" she exclaimed out loud as she reached for the door and pulled.

Nothing happened.

"Cat! Push from the inside while I pull," Billie suggested.

Loud grunting was heard coming from the other side of the door as Cat pushed with all her might.

Still nothing happened.

"Seth - get the axe from the barn," Billie instructed her son.

"Axe?!" Cat exclaimed. "You're going to chop the door down?"

"I don't know how else to get you out of there, Cat! How long have you been in there?" Billie asked.

"Since you left this morning," Cat replied as she started to cry.

Billie looked at her watch. "My god, Cat! That was six hours ago!" she exclaimed.

"No kidding, Dick Tracy!" Cat cried.

Billie leaned her forehead against the door. "Kitten, are you okay?" she asked sincerely.

"I'm scared, Billie... and not a little pissed off," Cat replied.

Just then, Seth arrived with the axe.

"Cat - move as far into the corner as you can and turn your back to the door," Billie instructed as she lifted the axe. "Are you ready, Cat?" she asked.

"I was ready six hours ago, Billie! Chop the damned door down - now!" Cat screamed.

"All right - here goes," the dark haired woman said as she lifted the axe and brought it down several times on the door.

With every strike of the axe, Cat shrieked from within the outhouse.

Finally, the axe broke through the door. After a few more strikes, the door disintegrated and Cat was freed.

The tableau of onlookers stood with mouths agape as Cat appeared in the doorway, her short red hair sticking out in all directions, dirt smudges on her face, arms and body, sweat running down her face, a wild look filling her eyes - and nearly naked.

"Ah... ah - I'm gonna go do chores!" Seth exclaimed as he made a beeline for the barn.

Tara just crossed her arms in front of her and shook her head.

Jen crossed her arms as well, but the look on her face was anything but disgust as she eyed the nearly naked woman with poorly disguised lust in her eyes.

Skylar was bouncing around from foot to foot - still having to pee.

"Tara, go into the house and grab a blanket," Billie instructed her as she reached out her hand to Cat.

Cat hesitated as she looked around before taking Billie's hand. "Are they still out there?" she asked.

"Are who out here?" Billie replied as a thought came to her, "Cat, did someone come by the house while you were stuck in there?" she asked.

"No! No - the chickens. Are they still out there?" Cat asked again.

"The chickens?" Billie replied just as Tara arrived with the blanket. "Here Cat, put this around you - and come out of there... Skylar needs to pee," Billie told her wife.

"Not unless I'm sure they're gone," Cat said stubbornly.

"Oh for crying out loud, Cat. There are no chickens out here! Geesh, what is it with you and the chickens?" she replied impatiently.

Cat finally accepted Billie's hand and stepped out of the small wooden building as Skylar quickly scooted in behind her, uncaring that there was no longer a door to provide privacy.

Billie wrapped the blanket around Cat's shoulders as Cat continued to look suspiciously around.

"Cat - the chickens are congregated near the barn... look if you don't believe me," Billie said, pointing to the group of feathered fowl walking around in circles and pecking at the ground. "Tara - why don't you throw them some feed to keep them over there," Billie suggested as her daughter went off to complete the chore.

Cat pulled the blanket closer to her as she looked at Billie. "Billie, I know you think I'm crazy, but those chickens were gathered around the outhouse just waiting for me to come out! And to top it all off - they've recruited the billie-goat to help them get me! No! No - it's true!" Cat exclaimed as she saw the look of disbelief on Billie's face.

Billie was beginning to doubt Cat's emotional stability. Taking the smaller woman into her arms, she held her close, despite the rancid aroma of outhouse that wafted from her hair. "Well, what's important is that you're okay," Billie replied. "I guess I should have fixed that door when it stuck on me this morning," she added.

Cat suddenly broke free of Billie's embrace and pushed her backward. "What!" she screamed. "The door stuck on you this morning and you left it like that??!! You left here knowing I might be its next victim?! Billie - how could you do that?!" she screeched.

"Cat... I'm sorry," Billie said, trying to take the woman into her arms once more.

"Dont' touch me!" Cat screamed as she pushed Billie away and stomped toward the house.

Jen walked over to Billie and placed a hand on the taller woman's shoulder as they both watched Cat enter the house. "Too bad she won't be helping you break the new toys in tonight. I'd be happy to stand in for her if you'd like," she suggested.

************************************************************************************************ CHAPTER XII

After Cat stomped off into the house, she gathered clean clothes, a towel, soap and shampoo and headed directly to the water trough to wash away the outhouse odor that had permeated her skin during her six-hour imprisonment. Billie tried to follow her, but a look from Cat rivaling one from a snake-haired gorgon monster stopped her in her tracks. Instead, Billie retreated to the kitchen where she and Jen waited for Cat to return. After her bath, a towel-clad Cat marched directly through the kitchen into her bedroom and slammed the door, refusing to acknowledge the presence of the other two women.

"Cat... Cat please open the door," Bille pleaded as she knocked on the bedroom door.

"Billie - leave her be. She's playing you. As long as you keep knocking, she'll keep resisting. Trust me on this one. Leave her alone and she'll come out. Now come have a cup of tea," Jennifer said as she poured hot water into two cups by the stove.

Running her hand through her hair, Billie acknowledged that maybe Jen was right. Leaving her perch by the door, she approached the table and sat down just as Jen placed a cup of tea in front of her.

"Thank you," Billie said, picking up the tea and sipping the rich amber liquid. "Hmmm, this is good. You fixed it just the way I like it," she added.

"You're welcome," Jen replied as she sat next to Billie... a little too close for comfort. "So, how about it?" she asked, leaning in until their shoulders were touching.

"How about what?" Billie asked.

Little did the ladies know, Cat opened the bedroom door at that moment to see why her torture of Billie had ceased to be effective.

"My offer a little earlier. Looks like you'll be sleeping in the barn tonight. I'd be glad to keep you company," Jen explained.

Billie just smiled and sipped her tea.

Cat slowly closed the door.

"No, I don't think so, Jen. As bad as Cat's temper can be, she'll get over it... I'll fix the outhouse door... and life will go on. I love her Jen - and I would never cheat on her," Billie replied.

"I'm jealous," Jen admitted. "Not too many people enjoy the type of relationship you two share."

Billie nodded as she contemplated Jen's remark. "I know. I've noticed the same thing," she replied. "There's just something about a same sex relationship that makes it so much more emotionally intimate than between heterosexual couples. Most of the time, it's like living with my best girlfriend. I love her, Jen. I love her with all my heart," Billie explained.

"I envy you. I wish I could have that type of intimacy," Jen mused sadly.

Billie looked at the woman and grinned. "You need to find yourself a woman," she joked.

"Maybe you're right... maybe you're right," Jen replied wistfully just as Cat emerged from the bedroom and walked to the stove to make herself a cup of tea.

Carrying her tea to the table, Cat sat opposite Billie and Jen. "So, Jen, what brings you here today?" Cat asked coyly.

"Actually you do," Jen replied. "I have a medical issue I'd like some help with."

"I do have office hours, Jen," Cat said.

"I know... I know, but I've learned that tongues wag in this town and I didn't want to give the townspeople any reason to talk about me," Jen explained.

Cat's eyebrows raised on her forehead. "Somehow I don't think a visit to my office is going to make the townspeople talk any more about you than they already do," she quipped.

"Cat!" Billie exclaimed. "That wasn't very nice!"

Cat sent a dirty look in Billie's direction before Jen's voice drew her attention.

"No - it's all right Billie. Cat may have a point there. Anyway, I thought it might be easier to come here to see you than to take time off from school," Jen interjected.

"So what exactly is this medical problem you're having?" Cat asked.

"I'm having trouble sleeping. Maybe it's insomnia or something - I don't know. I was hoping you could write me a prescription for sleeping pills," Jen explained.

"I don't like to prescribe medications before doing a physical examination, Jen," Cat replied.

Jen smiled broadly. "I was hoping you'd say that," she exclaimed as her eyebrows danced lecherously on her forehead. "When can you fit me in?" she asked.

"On second thought...," Cat quickly replied, rising from the table to retrieve her medical bag. Returning to the table, she sat down next to Jen. "Any history of hypertension or allergies?" she asked as she wrapped the blood pressure cuff around Jen's arm..

"Not that I'm aware of," Jen replied as she allowed Cat to do a cursory exam.

Moments later, after checking heart, lung, pulse, blood pressure and reflexes, and verbally collecting a medical history, Cat had all of the information she needed to safely prescribe medication. Retrieving a prescription pad from her bag, she scribbled a few words on the top sheet, then handed it over to Jen. "Be sure to follow the directions closely. As with any medication, overdosing could be dangerous. One of these should help you sleep through the night," Cat explained as the curly haired blonde accepted the paper.

"Thanks, Cat! You're a life saver!" Jen said brightly as she rose to her feet, then turned to Billie. "Billie, could I trouble you for a ride into town?" she asked. "I'm supposed to meet Fred for dinner in about an hour."

"Sure!" Billie replied - a little too eagerly for Cat's taste. "Cat, I'll be back soon," Billie said, leaning over to retrieve a kiss from her wife.

Cat quickly turned her head so Billie's kiss fell onto her cheek.

Billie stood erect and frowned at Cat before following Jen out the door.

**********

An uncomfortable silence fell over the women on the ride into town. Finally, Billie spoke.

"Jen, I'm sorry about the way Cat treated you," Billie said to the woman sitting beside her in the truck.

"Don't worry about it, Billie. She doesn't trust me... or maybe it's you she doesn't trust. Anyhow, if I had a woman as gorgeous as you, I'd be a little over protective myself," Jen replied.

Billie blushed under the praise. "Do you really think I'm gorgeous?" she asked the blonde.

"Hell yes!" Jen exclaimed.

Billie grinned and thanked Jen as she pulled the truck up in front of the saloon.

"Thank you, Billie," Jen said as she climbed out. "Can I buy you a beer as a thank you for the ride?" she asked.

"Sure!" Billie exclaimed, turning off the ignition and exiting the truck to follow Jen into the saloon.

Janice was sitting at her usual table when Jen and Billie walked in. Seeing the two ladies together caused the older woman to momentarily forget her hangover as she sat back in her chair and waved them over to her table.

"You go on over and join Ms. Covington. I'm gonna say hello to my husband, then I'll bring the drinks over," Jen said to Billie.

Billie pulled up a chair beside Janice and sat down. "How are you feeling?" she asked, recognizing the drink sitting before Janice as coffee rather than whiskey.

"Like I was run over by a train," Janice replied as she sipped the coffee before her. "What are you doing here with Jennifer?" she asked.

"She came to the farm to see Cat about a medical issue," Billie replied as she watched the interaction between Jen and Fred at the bar.

"I see," Janice replied before she suddenly became animated. "Oh!! I found another note on the table when I came down from my 'nap'," Janice said excitedly as she pulled a piece of paper from her vest pocket and handed it to Billie.

Billie opened the note and read it. "Not much of a note," she remarked. "All it says is, 'saloon.'"

"I know. I couldn't make much sense of it myself, but it probably means they haven't harmed Mel, otherwise I think they would have included a threat in the note," Janice reasoned.

Jen approached the two ladies just as Janice was finishing her explanation. "I'm sure the kidnappers haven't harmed Miss Melinda," Jen said. "I wouldn't worry too much about that."

Billie frowned at Jen. "What makes you say that, Jen?" she asked.

"I don't know... gut feeling I guess. I can't imagine why anyone would want to harm such a sweet old lady," she replied.

"Let's hope you're right, Jen," Billie remarked. "By the way - thanks for the beer," she added, taking a long draw from the glass of pale ale.

"You're welcome," Jen returned as she followed Billie's lead and drank nearly half of her own beer in one drink.

The ladies' attention was suddenly diverted by the arrival of two more patrons... Mayor Stafford and Laurel McGuire. Laurel clung possessively to the mayor's arm as they deliberately walked over to Janice's table.

"Good afternoon, ladies," Mayor Stafford said politely, removing his hat.

"Mayor," Janice said dryly.

"Have you ladies had the pleasure of meeting the beautiful Lady Laurel McGuire?" he asked, introducing her to the trio.

"As a matter of fact, we have," Janice quickly replied, reaching for Laurel's hand and kissing the back of it, much to the mayor's chagrin.

"Well I haven't," Jen jumped in, flirting outrageously with the older woman. "It's so nice to meet you," she gushed. "I'm Jennifer."

Laurel reached for Jen's hand and shook it firmly. "It's nice to meet you too," she said.

"Well Mayor, I'm sure this isn't a social call," Janice interjected rudely.

"I'm sorry to say you're right, Janice," the mayor replied. "I am here to return Miss Pappas's latest bid for opening a social club here in the saloon. I'm afraid it has been rejected once more."

Billie looked at Janice and wondered why the woman's head didn't explode, as her face and neck were beat red with anger.

"Miss Pappas is unavailable at the moment," Janice replied evenly.

"Well then, if you don't mind giving this to her," he asked, leaving the rejection letter on the table in front of Janice. Anxious to escape the wrath of Janice Covington, Mayor Stafford turned to Laurel. "Are you ready to go, my dear?" he asked.

"I am ready if you are, James," she replied before turning to the ladies. "It was a pleasure seeing you again Billie, Ms Covington... and to meet you as well, Ms. Swenson."

"Good afternoon, ladies," the mayor added, bowing politely before offering his arm once more to Laurel while he escorted her from the saloon.

Janice stood and banged her fist on the table as soon as the doors swung closed behind them. "Damn him!" she exclaimed.

Uncomfortable with Janice's display of anger, Jennifer quickly downed the rest of her beer and rose to her feet. "Well, I really need to drag my husband off to dinner. I'll see you gals later," she said.

"I need to get home as well, Janice," Billie said as she watched the older woman slowly sink back into her chair in defeat. "Look," Billie added, "we'll get to the bottom of this - I promise. Why don't you close the saloon early tonight and get some rest. You're still looking a little green around the edges from your overindulgence earlier today," she suggested.

"Maybe you're right, Billie. Go on home to your wife and kids. I'll be all right," the older woman said to Billie.

"I'll stop in tomorrow to see how you're doing," Billie added.

"Sounds good. Have a good evening," Janice replied.

"You too," Billie returned as she headed out the door.

Janice sat there looking sadly at the table. "Not without my Melinda," she said softly.

**********

Billie arrived home just as Cat was placing dinner on the table. As she walked into the kitchen, Cat threw a very nasty look in her direction. Not wanting to create a scene in front of the kids, Billie let it go for the moment and sat down at the table. "So, how was school today?" she asked the kids.

"It was great!" Seth replied, a little too enthusiastically.

"Seth is in love with Ms. Swenson," Skylar ratted on her brother.

"I am not!" the young man defended himself.

"Yes you are! I heard you talking to the other kids about her. You said something about wanting to pork her, whatever that means!" the young girl tattled.

Seth turned beet red to the roots of his hair as Tara snickered. Cat looked at Billie with a disgusted expression on her face.

"Mom! Will you please tell the little brat to shut her mouth?" Seth complained.

"All right, that's enough. What Seth is feeling for Ms. Swenson is very natural. There's no reason to pick on him about it," Billie said.

"Mom's right," Cat added. "And besides, Ms. Swenson is a very beautiful woman, isn't she Billie?" the red head asked, looking directly at Billie.

Billie narrowed her eyes at Cat, not quite trusting Cat's motives for the question.

"Yes she is, Billie replied - also while maintaining eye contact with her wife. "I can understand why Seth is attracted to her."

The daggers shooting from Cat's eyes were very visible. If looks could kill, Billie would be a pin cushion.

"I'm willing to bet Seth isn't the only one attracted to her," Cat continued as green eyes held blues in an emotional tug-of-war.

"You're probably right, Cat," Billie replied, not willing to give in to Cat's subtle badgering.

"I'll say!" Seth interjected, breaking the strained confrontation that was going on between the women. "I think every boy in the class wants to take her behind the barn and..."

"Stop right there, Seth," Cat quickly interrupted. "A play by play description is quite unnecessary."

Tara leaned into her brother and whispered, "The boys aren't the only one who'd like to do Ms Swenson."

"I saw her first," Seth whispered back, "... and I'm older than you, so that gives me first dibs."

Tara elbowed her brother, then quickly got up from the table. "Dinner was great, Ma. I have some homework to do if I can be excused," the teenage girl announced.

"Me too," Seth added.

"All right. If you would carry your dishes to the sink before you go, I'd appreciate it," Cat replied.

Seth and Tara quickly did as asked, then retreated to their respective rooms, leaving Billie, Cat and Skylar sitting at the table.

"Do you have homework, Dumpling?" Billie asked the child.

"Yeah. Just a few spelling words to study and some math," Skylar admitted.

"Well, why don't you finish your dinner then get your homework done too. I'll make some cookies to snack on just before bed. Okay?" Cat suggested.

"Chocolate chip?" the child asked.

"Double chocolate chip," Cat replied.

Grinning ear to ear, Skylar carried her plate to the sink then stopped at the table to hug her mothers before heading to her room.

Billie waited for Skylar's door to close before confronting Cat. "What was that all about," she demanded.

"What was what all about?" Cat answered coyly as she carried her own plate to the sink.

Billie rose from her seat and approached her wife. Grabbing the smaller woman's arm, Billie turned her around so they were facing each other. "Don't play with me, Cat. You know exactly what I'm talking about."

"Well, I thought it was appropriate to point out that there was more than one member of the Charland family that would like to get Ms. Swenson into bed," the red head explained.

"You're right, Cat. It's pretty obvious how both Seth and Tara feel about her," Billie commented.

"I wasn't talking about Seth and Tara," Cat replied.

"And just what is that supposed to mean?" Billie demanded.

"Does this sound familiar, Billie? 'Looks like you'll be sleeping in the barn tonight. I'd be glad to keep you company.'" Cat hissed.

"You were listening?" Billie asked incredulously.

"You're damned right I was - and I didn't hear you say no! Is that why it took you so long to run to town and back?" Cat accused.

"It took me so long because I stopped in to see how Janice was doing," Billie explained.

"That's funny. I didn't smell any whiskey on your breath tonight," Cat retorted sarcastically.

Billie took a step back to composed herself. "Look Cat," she said, "you've got it all wrong, but think what you will - I'm not going to fight with you. I'm going to the barn."

Turning on her heel, Billie walked out the door, leaving a stunned Cat speechless.

**********

Billie strode purposely toward the barn, not looking back at Cat - knowing she'd be standing at the window watching. Upon reaching the barn, she entered the side door and promptly slammed it behind her. Reaching for the oil lantern, she lit it in order to make her way through the darkened barn - straight to the ladder that lead to the hay loft. Seconds later, she was standing at the top of the ladder, surveying the room she knew she'd be spending the night in, suddenly thankful she had not dismantled her makeshift bed from the night before.

Pulling a crate up next to her straw bed, Billie set the lantern down, then threw herself onto the blanket, laying on her back with her hands crossed behind her head.

Indignation filled her heart as she recalled her argument with Cat tonight. Cat obviously thought she was having an affair with Jennifer. As tempting as Billie had to admit that was, she just couldn't bring herself to cheat on Cat. She loved her and their family too much to ruin what they had together. She only wished Cat could see that.

Billie climbed to her feet and started to pace. Ten minutes later, still pacing, she realized she'd have to take her mind off her fight with Cat or she'd never get any sleep. Returning to the blanket, she once more looked at the ceiling and started to summarize in her head what she had learned since Melinda disappeared.

First, there were the notes from the kidnappers... formed by words and letters cut out of some print medium - maybe newspapers, magazines or books. None of the letters made much sense, and none of them seem to make any specific demands. The last note with the word 'saloon' on it was perhaps the most confusing.

Second, there was Laurel. Billie did not know for sure that Laurel was Melinda's long lost daughter, but her name, age and the fact she looked a lot like Melinda led Billie to think she was. What she couldn't figure out was why Laurel would show up right after Melinda disappeared. Coincidence? - maybe, but the timing seemed odd to Billie. Something told her this was a woman with a past. Determined to discover what that past was, Billie decided to go into town the next day and call Jimmy Buchanan at her old law office. Jimmy was an Internet wiz who could find any kind information about anyone. If there was dirt to be found, Jimmy would find it.

Then there was Mayor Stafford, who was obviously smitten with Laurel McGuire. The mayor seemed liked a reasonable and respectable man... very polite and proper. Cat and Billie first met the mayor when he approached them in town one day after overhearing that Billie was a lawyer. He apparently needed help to combat some type of blackmailing scheme. At the time, Billie wasn't interested in representing the man... now, she found herself curious as to what the blackmailers had on the mayor.

Billie yawned loudly as her eyes threatened to close. Not wanting to fall asleep with the lantern burning, she reached over and turned the wick down until the flame extinguished. Laying back once more, she closed her eyes and within moments, drifted off to sleep.

************************************************************************************************ CHAPTER XIII

The next morning, wanting to avoid a confrontation in front of the children, Billie avoided the house until all of the chores were complete and the kids had left for school. Grabbing an armful of kindling, Billie walked into the kitchen and directly to the stove to deposit her load in the wood box. After completing her chore, she poured herself a cup of coffee and sat at the table to wait.

Moments later, the bedroom door opened and Cat emerged, stopping short when she saw Billie. Pausing for just a moment, she continued her approach to the far end of the table where her doctor's bag had been laid.

"I assume you have patients to see today?" Billie asked as she watched Cat inventory the contents of the bag.

"Yes, I do," Cat replied, pausing once more. "Billie..." Cat began, prepared to apologize for her behavior the night before.

"Save it Cat. Let's go," Billie replied, rising to her feet as she swallowed her last drink of coffee.

**********

The ride into town was tense. Cat cast covert glances at Billie throughout the ride as Billie stared straight at the road. No conversation passed between them. When they arrived at the clinic, Billie stopped the truck, but continued to stare forward.

Cat sat beside her wife in the truck, not wanting to part with a dark cloud hanging over them. "Billie - about last night," she began.

"I don't want to hear it, Cat. What time will you be through this afternoon?" Billie interrupted.

Cat felt like she had been slapped in the face. Fighting back tears, she asked Billie to come back for her around four o'clock that afternoon then climbed out the truck and walked directly into the clinic without looking back.

As soon as the door of the truck closed, Billie pulled away from the curb with spinning tires and a cloud of dust. Moments later, she was parked in front of the saloon trying hard to calm down. Finally, feeling a little less stressed, she climbed out of the truck and walked over to the clerk's office which was three doors down from the saloon, and asked to use the phone.

Billie waited patiently as the phone rang. Finally, it connected.

"Criminal Justice, James P. Buchanan, speaking," Jimmy said, using his formal name.

"Jimmy!" Billie exclaimed.

"Well, I'll be," the older investigator replied. "Could this be Billie Charland, ex-lawyer turned farmer?"

"The one and only. Hey Jimmy, I need a favor," Billie began.

"Couldn't stay away from it, could you?" Jimmy replied knowingly.

"Stay away from what?" Bilie asked, knowing full well what Jimmy was implying.

"Come on now, Billie - you know what I mean. You got yourself involved in the middle of some local legal tangle, didn't you?" the older gentleman guessed.

"You know me too well, Jimmy... which leads me to the favor I need," Billie replied.

"I'm all ears," Jimmy quipped.

"All right - I am looking for information on Laurel McGuire. I believe she was born Laurel Lee Pappas on August 23, 1948 to Melinda Pappas. I don't know for sure it's the same person, but I've got a hunch I need to settle," Billie began.

"Deceased or living?" Jimmy asked.

"Definitely living. She showed up here a few days ago. I need to know what she's been up to for the past few years. Do you think you can help me, Jimmy?" Billie asked.

"Do you even have to ask that question, young lady?" Jimmy replied.

Billie chuckled. "Sorry, Jimmy. I don't know what I was thinking. I really appreciate your help, my friend," she replied.

"Any time, Billie. I should have some information in a few hours. Where can I reach you?" he asked.

"Actually, it might be easier if I call you back," Billie replied looking at her watch. "How does 1 p.m. sound?" she asked.

"That should be fine. So how's the family doing?" he asked, leading the two into a brief conversation during which they both updated each other on the lives of the people they knew in common.

By the time Billie hung up the phone, she had the latest news on her former boss Art and his wife Marge, as well as on the latest office gossip. The phone call left Billie feeling homesick.

Hanging up the phone she looked around, wondering what she could do to pass the next three hours. Remembering that she promised to check in on Janice, she turned and headed for the saloon. When she walked in, she found Janice sitting in her usual spot at the poker table in the corner playing solitaire. Fred was at the bar wiping out beer glasses.

"Billie!" Janice exclaimed as she saw the tall dark haired woman enter the establishment.

Billie smiled when she saw the older woman and walked over to her table.

"Sit down. Fred - bring Billie a cup of coffee," Janice called to the bartender.

"Good morning, Janice," Billie said. "How are you feeling this morning?" she asked before thanking Fred who had placed a coffee in front of her before returning to the bar.

"I'm fine, but it looks like you could use some help," Janice replied as she reached forward and removed a strand of hay from Billie's hair. "Been sleeping in the barn again?" she asked.

Billie just shook her head in defeat. "I got my butt in hot water again last night, supposedly for having an affair with Jen," she explained.

"Damn! Maybe you should," Janice commented.

Billie frowned at the older woman. "Are you suggesting I actually have an affair with Jennifer Swenson?" she asked.

"Hey - if you're gonna be accused of it, at least you can enjoy it... and if you'd like, I wouldn't mind a threesome with the two of you myself!" Janice replied.

Billie sat back and shook her head once more. "Why do I think you'd turn tail and run if I actually took you up on that offer?" Billie teased.

"Am I that transparent?" Janice replied sadly.

"Like glass, my friend. It's obvious how much you love Melinda. You'd never cheat on her - just like I would never cheat on Cat," Billie replied.

"Can't blame a girl for fantasizing!" the older woman chuckled.

"No you can't. Speaking of Melinda, have you heard anything new?" Billie asked.

"Well, I found another note when I came downstairs this morning," Janice said as she reached for a piece of paper sitting under her deck of cards. Opening it she scanned the contents before reading it out loud to Billie. "All it says is, 'Have you made up your mind yet? Melinda is running out of time'."

Janice handed the note to Billie who scanned it again before shoving it into her back pocket.

"Janice, just how strong is Melinda. I mean... do you think she's strong enough - well enough to endure this?" Billie asked.

"Melinda is as strong as an ox," Janice replied. "Hell, she's thrown me over her shoulder a few times and carried me off to bed," Janice said winking. "I can imagine she's giving them one hell of a run for their money. If they're smart, they'll sedate her or something - in fact I hope they do, cause she's bound to make them angry enough to hurt her if they don't," Janice explained.

"Well, let's hope it doesn't come down to that," Billie said softly.

"What am I going to do, Billie? She's been gone for nearly a week now. I... I...," Janice said, her voice breaking with emotion.

Leaning forward, Billie looked Janice squarely in the face. "Janice, we need to tell the Sheriff about this," she said.

Janice slapped her hands on the table hard. "No!" she said vehemently. "I can't, Billie. If they hurt Melinda because I didn't follow their instructions, I could never live with myself," she said in a low guttural voice while maintaining eye contact with Billie.

"All right. All right - calm down Janice," Billie replied, looking toward the bar to see if they had attracted the attention of Fred or any of the other patrons. Apparently, they had not heard the outburst - or they were used to Janice's tirades. In any event, it appeared no one else in the saloon was paying much attention to the two ladies at the corner table.

Billie watched as Janice struggled to contain herself. Sitting back in her chair, the older woman pulled a fresh cigar from her vest pocket and lit it with shaky hands. Billie found her heart breaking in two for this woman, who obviously was suffering more with the loss of her life partner than she let on.

"Are you okay?" Billie asked Janice as the older woman leaned her elbows on the table and hung her head low.

"I'll be fine," Janice said stoically.

Billie watched her for a few minutes before continuing. "Janice, how is the help taking Melinda's disappearance?" she asked.

Janice lifted her head and looked at Billie. "They don't know about it. I told them she was ill. For all they know, she's upstairs in bed, nursing a chest cold," Janice replied.

"Hmmm," Billie murmured.

"What is it, Billie?" Janice asked.

"Well...," Billie began before her train of thought was broken by a loud curse coming from the bar.

"God damned it!" cursed Fred loudly as he reached for a towel and quickly wrapped it around it right hand.

"What happened?" Janice exclaimed, jumping to her feet and moving quickly to the bar, Billie right on her heels.

Fred clutched the towel tightly around his hand as he grimaced in pain. Billie could see a dark red stain growing rapidly on the white cloth.

"The damned glass broke while I was drying it," Fred explained.

"Let me see it, Fred," Billie said.

Fred held out his towel-clad hand for Billie to see. Unwrapping it slowly, Billie could see a very deep gash had been cut in the heel of the bartender's hand. Rewrapping it, she looked at the bartender. "It looks pretty bad, Fred. You'd better run over to the clinic and let Cat stitch it up," she instructed.

"Who'll watch the bar?" Fred asked.

"Don't worry about the bar. I know how to pour whiskey and mix a drink. I'll take care of things here. Billie is right - get yourself over to the clinic right away," Janice instructed her employee.

"I'll walk you over, Fred," Billie offered, noticing that he was becoming pale.

Fred just nodded as Billie took his arm and led him toward the door. "I'll be back in a while, Janice," she called over her shoulder.

Moments later, Fred and Billie arrived at the clinic. Pushing the door open leading into the waiting room, they met Cat who was just walking a patient out of the examination room.

"What happened?" Cat exclaimed as she noticed the bloody towel wrapped around Fred's hand.

Fred at this point, was very faint as Billie struggled to hold him up.

"He's got a pretty deep gash in his hand from a broken glass, Cat," Billie explained.

"Bring him in here," Cat instructed as she held the door open to the examination room. "Lay him on the table."

Cat removed the towel from Fred's hand and looked at the gash, which was still bleeding profusely. "You've done a number on yourself, Fred," Cat said. "We'll need to stop the bleeding before I can stitch it. Billie, reach into my coat pocket and get a pair of rubber gloves. Put them on then come over and hold a clean towel to his hand until the bleeding stops. You'll need to apply firm even pressure while you're holding it," she instructed her tall wife.

Billie approached Cat and reached into her pocket. At the contact their eyes met as a thousand apologies silently crossed the distance between them. Both women smiled slightly as Billie retrieved the gloves.

As Billie pressed the towel to Fred's hand, Cat gathered the supplies she needed to stitch the wound.

"How bad is it, doc?" Fred asked.

Before replying, Cat turned around and held the needle of lidocaine in front of her, squeezing out the air in preparation for use.

Fred took one look at the syringe and passed out.

"Just like a man," Billie commented.

"Actually, it'll be easier this way," Cat replied as she removed the towel.

"Yikes! This is really a deep gash," Cat commented as she allowed a few drops of lidocaine to fall on the open wound to numb the area before injecting the site with the syringe.

Billie held Fred's hand as Cat worked. Watching her wife stitch the wound, it became apparent to Billie how much Cat loved her work. A feeling a pride and love began to swell within her breast for this woman. "Cat," she said softly, "I'm sorry about our argument last night," she said softly.

"Me too," Cat replied without looking up from her work.

"I'm not having an affair with Jennifer, Cat. I could never do that to you... or to us," Billie added.

"I know," Cat said, pausing for a moment to look at Billie. "I don't know what got into me, Billie. I guess I'm just jealous. I look at you and see the most beautiful and desirable woman I've ever known. I should realize that other women would want you for themselves... and I should count myself lucky that you're mine," Cat said.

Billie was fighting back tears at her wife's words. "Yes, Cat. I am yours. That's all I ever want to be. Please trust me, sweetheart. I would never be unfaithful to you," Billie replied.

"Do me a favor, love?" Cat asked.

"Anything," Billie replied.

"Grab a tissue over there and wipe my eyes so I don't end up stitching Fred's hand to his penis or something. I'm having a little trouble seeing through the tears," Cat said.

Billie smile broadly as she grabbed a tissue and carried out Cat's request. "Can you really do that?" Billie asked, chuckling.

"Do what?" Cat replied as she returned to her task.

"Stitch his hand to his penis?" Billie replied.

**********

Billie ended up leaving Fred at the clinic, seeing as he was still out cold by the time Cat finished stitching his hand and wrapping it securely in gauze. Cat promised to keep an eye on the man and send him back to the saloon when he awoke. In the meantime, Billie returned to the clerk's office to check in with Jimmy.

"Billie, good timing. I just found what I was looking for," Jimmy exclaimed when Billie identified himself to the man.

"I knew you'd come through, Jimmy," Billie said. "You haven't failed me yet!"

"Okay, here's what I found. Laurel Lee Pappas was indeed born to Melinda Pappas on August 23, 1948. She was put up for adoption at birth and was adopted by the McGuires. The trail runs cold from then until her early thirties when...," Jimmy recited, talking for nearly a half hour before he had relayed all the information he was able to find on the woman.

Billie wrote down each detail as the older investigator talked. When he was finished, she was reeling from the implications of it all. "Jimmy, I can't tell you how much I appreciate your help. I knew I could count on you," she told the older gentleman.

"My pleasure, Billie. It was nice hearing from you. Say hi to the wife and kids for me, okay?" he said.

"Will do, Jimmy. Thanks again," Billie replied before hanging up.

Billie leaned against the wall of the clerk's office and reviewed her notes. "Holy Mother of Jesus!" she exclaimed. Checking her watch, she noted the time at 1:30 p.m. I've got time if I hurry, she thought as she pushed herself away from the wall and headed straight for her truck.

**********

"Hi, my name is Billie Charland, and I'd like to see the public housing records for the residence at 5129 Baycliff Ave," she asked the clerk.

The clerk, a middle aged woman with cat's-eye glasses and 60's hairdo, looked at her with disgust on her face.

"Is there a problem?" Billie asked as she looked at the woman's expression.

Quickly composing herself, the woman responded, "No... no - of course not. Wait right here," the woman said as she went into the back room. She returned a few moments later with an old leather-bound book which she plopped onto the counter with a loud bang.

"Thank you," Billie replied as she waited for the woman to walk away. Opening the book, she scanned the contents until she found what she was looking for.

"I thought so!" Billie exclaimed, attracting the woman's attention once more.

"Do you need any help?" the woman asked.

"Ah - yes. I'd like a copy of this record," Billie said, quickly recovering from her shock.

The woman looked at the record Billie was referring to and shot another look of disgust in Billie's direction. "I'll be right back," the woman said as she carried the book into the other room, returning quickly with a piece of paper containing the information Billie was looking for.

"Thank you, ma'am," Billie said as she turned to go.

"Funny - she doesn't look like that kind of woman," Billie heard the woman say to a co-worker she walked out the door.

**********

When she returned to town, Billie made her way directly to Mayor Stafford's office.

"I need to see the mayor," Billie told the receptionist as the entered the office.

"Whom may I say is calling on him?" the middle-aged receptionist asked.

"Billie Charland," came the reply.

"And the reason for your visit, Ms. Charland?" the woman inquired.

"Just tell him it's to discuss his case," Billie supplied.

"Wait here," she replied, rising to her feet to verify the mayor was available. Moments later, she returned. "The mayor will see you now. Right this way, Ms. Charland," the woman said as she led Billie down a hall, opening a large oak door for Billie to enter.

"Good afternoon, Ms. Charland," the mayor said as he watched her enter his office.

"Mayor," Billie greeted the man while shaking his hand.

"Please, have a seat," he said, directing her to a chair in front of his desk. Hhe circled the large wooden structure and sat on the opposite side.

"Let me get right to the point, Mayor," Billie said as soon as she was seated. "Tell me why you need a lawyer."

The mayor shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "I am being blackmailed," he replied.

"Why?" Billie asked.

"Because I have given my heart to a woman with a less than pristine past and someone is using it against me," he replied. "The blackmailer is threatening to expose her past to my constituents if I don't cooperate with them."

"Would the person you have given your heart to be Laurel McGuire?" came Billie's next question.

"Yes - yes it would," the mayor supplied.

**********

By the time Billie left the mayor's office, it was nearly time to collect Cat from the clinic. Billie had only been waiting for a few minutes when Cat came out. Climbing into the truck, she slid to the middle of the seat and kissed Billie soundly before settling in against the taller woman's shoulder.

"Hey Sweetie. How was your day?" Billie asked.

"Busy," Cat replied. "After you brought Fred in, four more cases of accidental injury filled the rest of my afternoon. How about you - how was your day?" she asked in return.

"Also busy. I've got a lot to tell you, Cat. I think I'm starting to make sense of some pretty confusing information," Billie replied.

"Really? That's great, Billie!" Cat exclaimed. "Wanna tell me about it?" she asked.

"Actually, I was going to ask you to give me a hand organizing the facts. I don't want to say anything unless I'm sure. Maybe we can work on it after the kids are in bed?" Billie suggested.

"Sure. I'd be happy to help," Cat replied.

"So how did Fred do after I left?" Billie asked.

"He came to about an hour later, then nearly passed out again when he saw the bandage on his hand. He hung around for another half hour before going back to the saloon. Oh!... he said something that disturbed me a bit," Cat supplied.

"What's that?" Billie asked.

"Well, I asked him how Jennifer slept after I gave her the prescription and he nonchalantly said he didn't understand why she needed it since she sleeps like a log," Cat replied.

"Really? He said that?" Billie said. "I wonder what Jen is up to?" she wondered out loud.

"I don't know, but I really don't like being taken advantage of like that," Cat spouted.

"I don't blame you, Kitten," Billie returned as she pulled the vehicle up in front of the house. "Home sweet home," she said, climbing out of the truck and circling the front to open Cat's door for her. As Cat climbed out of the truck, Billie leaned in and kissed the shorter woman. "I'm going to help Seth with the barn chores. We'll be in soon," she said.

"I'll get dinner started. How does beef stew and biscuits sound?" Cat asked.

"Sounds wonderful!" Billie replied, kissing Cat once more before the red head retreated to the house.

************************************************************************************************ CHAPTER XIV

Cat and Billie hovered over the kitchen table in the dimly lit room illuminated only by lantern light.

"Billie - are you sure?" Cat asked as she looked at the papers scattered before them on the kitchen table.

"No - I'm not. That's why I need to talk this out, Cat. Some of this information is circumstantial and if I'm wrong, it could mean accusing innocent people... and ultimately could put Melinda's life in even more danger," Billie explained.

"So what part of this doesn't make sense?" Cat asked.

"Well, I think I've figured out the motive, and the notes the kidnapper has been leaving are starting to make sense... and I think I know who is behind the kidnapping, but I don't think this person could have actually carried it out on their own. I have a hunch who the conspirator is, but I can't come up with a connection between them and the actual kidnapper. Most importantly, I still haven't figured out who is holding Melinda. I'm pretty sure it isn't the actual kidnappers, but for the life of me, I can't figure out who it is. I was hoping we could look at the facts and maybe between us we'll see something that wasn't obvious before," Billie explained.

"Okay, so let's look at each receipt, note and document once more," Cat suggested as she picked up the piece of paper closest to her. Reading the document, she handed it to Billie. "This is one of the receipts we looked at that first night. We couldn't make sense of it then, and I'm not sure it means too much now, either," she said.

Billie looked at the receipt which read $4,036.29 from 'Le Bistro' for 'accessories'. Frowning deeply, Billie thought that something about the name on the receipt looked familiar. Finally, it came to her. "Holy Shit!" she exclaimed as she threw the receipt down on the table and ran out the door.

"Billie!" Cat exclaimed at her wife's odd behavior.

"I'll be right back!" Billie exclaimed as she ran to the truck, yanked open the driver's door and reached inside to retrieve the bag she had stowed beyond Jennifer's the day before.

Coming back into the house, she threw the bag on the table for Cat to see.

"What is it, Billie?" Cat asked.

"Look at the bag, Cat. Look at the name on the bag," Billie pointed out.

Cat looked carefully on the bag and realized the name 'Le Bistro' was printed in very large purple letters all over it. Cat looked from the bag to Billie with confusion in her eyes. "What does it mean?" she asked.

"Now look in the bag, Cat," Billie instructed.

Cat opened the bag and had to quickly sit down as her legs suddenly refused to support her. "Oh my god!" Cat exclaimed as she retrieved a very large dildo, harness, handcuffs and riding crop from the bag. The red haired woman looked at the implements, then back at the receipt Billie had thrown on the table. "Billie, why would Melinda have a $4,000 receipt from a place like this?" she asked.

"Good question... one I plan to confront Janice with tomorrow," Billie replied.

"When did you get these, Billie?" she asked.

"Yesterday morning. I had planned to surprise you with them last night, but things didn't work out quite that way with Jen showing up and all," Billie said, grinning.

"Well, it's never too late to make up for lost time," Cat suggested seductively as she picked up the dildo. "Mr. Wiggles is calling to us," she added.

Billie's eyes opened wide as she reached forward and quickly threw the toys back into the bag, all except for Mr. Wiggles, which Cat refused to surrender. "Hold this," she said to Cat, throwing the bag at her as she scooped the smaller woman into her arms and headed to the bedroom where she laid her on the bed and covered her with her own tall frame. "God, Cat, I want you so much," Billie whispered as the showered Cat's neck with kisses and love bites.

Cat arched her chest forward, moaning at the sheer pleasure Billie was giving her.

Billie suddenly sat and straddled Cat, pinning her to the bed.

"Hey!" Cat protested.

"Hay is for horses... and cows," Billie chuckled as she reached into the toy bag and retrieved the handcuffs. "Are you going to surrender willingly, or will I have to take you by force?" Billie asked huskily.

"I will fight you every inch of the way... and judging by the length of Mr. Wiggles, I've got a lot of fight in me... or at least I will!" Cat exclaimed feistily.

"Have it your way," Billie replied, roughly grabbing Cat's hands and forcing her arms above her head, where after a brief struggle, she managed to handcuff the smaller woman's wrists to the headboard.

Once Cat was securely tethered to the headboard, Billie was free to reign torture on the petite woman. Climbing off the bed, she stood within full view of Cat and slowly removed her own clothing, one piece at a time. Cat's eyes were glued to the dark haired woman as each piece of clothing flew across the room into a pile against the wall. Finally, a totally naked Billie stood before her, smoldering desire clearly written across her face and body language.

Cat was in agony. She wanted so much to touch this beautiful creature, but the handcuffs made that impossible. "Billie, release me - please," she begged. "I want to touch you."

"No, no, my love. Not yet," Billie said as she climbed into the bed and leaned over Cat, allowing her breasts to brush against Cat's chest as she reached for the bag of goodies. Standing on the floor once more, Billie began to extract the toys, one by one, making sure Cat had a clear look at each one as she arranged them neatly on the bed beside her.

"Oh god," Cat moaned as she watched Billie put on the harness with all twelve inches of Mr. Wiggles protruding quite prominently from it.

Picking up the riding crop, Billie placed it between her teeth and climbed back onto the bed to begin removing Cat's clothing.

Cat's whole body was shaking with desire as she fully cooperated with Billie removing her clothes. Finally, Cat was naked except for her button up shirt that Billie had opened to expose creamy breasts, but was unable to remove because of the handcuffs.

Billie was rapidly losing control of her own desire as she saw what this game was doing to Cat. Forcing herself to calm down, she positioned herself between Cat's legs and lowered herself over the smaller woman, stopping just short of penetration.

"Billie... please, I can't wait any longer," Cat begged as she pressed herself into the woman above her.

Billie reached up and released Cat's hands from captivity, bringing each one down to kiss the red marks already forming on her wrists. Finally, she took the riding crop from her mouth and gave it to Cat.

Cat looked at her, silently wondering what Billie wanted her to do.

Billie leaned in and kissed Cat tenderly before touching her forehead to the woman's below her. "Use it to tell me when you want more, my love. Okay?" Billie whispered huskily, sending shivers of desire through Cat.

For the next hour, the ladies explored the joys of Snap-On tools as moans, groans and screams filled the air, finally ending as both reached their climax and fell over the edge into the safety of each other's arms.

When it was over Cat lay trapped under the woman above her, tears freely flowing from her eyes.

Realizing Cat was crying, Billie tried to roll off her, but was stopped by Cat still clinging to her back.

"No... please stay," Cat whispered through her tears.

Billie propped herself up on her elbows and brushed the hair from Cat's face. "Did I hurt you, my love?" she asked tenderly.

"Oh no," Cat replied. "Billie - that was so beautiful. I have never felt so loved. It was so nice loving you face to face," she said, as she reached up to tuck a stray lock of hair behind Billie's ear. "I love you, Billie," she said tenderly.

"And I love you," Billie replied, pressing her hips forward slightly to accentuate the declaration.

Cat moaned in pleasure as her eyes threatened to close.

"Good night, my love," Billie whispered as she slowly extracted the implement, causing the woman below her to shudder one last release.

"Next time, it's my turn," Cat said through a sleeping smile.

"Next time, indeed. I am looking forward to it. For now, sleep, Kitten," Billie cooed as she kissed the closed eyelids of the woman by her side.

Quickly discarding the harness, Billie rolled over and took Cat into her arms and wrapped them both in a cocoon of love, where they quickly fell into the land of dreams.

**********

Billie rose the next morning before the cock... ah, make that - the rooster crowed, and carefully climbed from bed so not to disturb the woman sleeping beside her. Donning her work clothes, she circled the bed and knelt down beside the sleeping beauty. She placed a tender kiss on Cat's cheek and whispered 'I love you, Kitten', before heading off to the barn.

After completing a good portion of the morning chores, Billie fed the chickens, then collected the eggs before going into the house for a cup of coffee and found Cat busily making breakfast. Hearing the door open, Cat turned and smiled brightly at her wife.

"Good morning, my studly woman," Cat exclaimed, falling into Billie's open arms, not at all minding the smell of cow shit that had permeated Billie's clothing during the short time she had been in the barn that morning. "Coffee?" Cat asked, looking up into Billie's face.

"You read my mind," Billie replied as she released the shorter woman and watched her walk gingerly to the stove to pour a cup of coffee as she placed the basket of eggs on the table.

"Cat are you okay? You're walking a little funny this morning," Billie asked.

Cat ambled back over and placed Billie's coffee on the table in front of her. Billie's arm immediately circled Cat as she pulled her in close. "My funny gait this morning is a sign that you did your job well last night," Cat explained as she rearranged a few stray hairs on Billie's head.

"I was good, wasn't I?" Billie commented.

"You were absolutely incredible," Cat responded, bending down to place a kiss on Billie's head. "And I'm looking forward to returning the favor," she added, causing Billie to shudder.

"Keep that up and you won't be seeing your patients today," Billie warned her wife just as the first of three children made an appearance to start the day.

Seth emerged from his room and ambled directly for the front door.

"Hey Scout, no chores for you this morning. I got an early start, so they're nearly done. I've also collected the eggs and fed the chickens, so the girls get a day off too," Billie said.

Seth's eyebrows rose on his forehead at his good fortune. "Cool!" he exclaimed, shuffling over to sit at the table with his mother. "Ma, could I have a cup of coffee?" he asked.

Cat looked at Billie with an expression that clearly said 'our baby is growing up!', before breaking free of her lover's grasp and fetching a coffee for her son.

"Ma, are you okay? Did you hurt your back or something? You're walking kind of funny," Seth observed.

Cat tried hard to maintain her composure, but couldn't stop the deep red blush from rising into her face. "No.. no, I'm fine. I just tried a new workout yesterday that my body wasn't used to... just a little sore, that's all. It'll get better as I do it more often," she replied, casting a covert look at Billie.

Billie shifted uncomfortably in her seat as she listen to Cat describe repeat performances. Thinking there was no way she could wait until that evening, she was tempted to take the toys with her today and plan a little outing with Cat in the back of the truck on the way home from town.

Having no chores to do, the Charland clan sat and had an amicable breakfast together. The kids headed off to school as Cat headed to the water trough to bathe before going to town to see patients while Billie finished chores. Billie had all she could do not to climb into the trough with Cat for a little under water expedition, but knew if that happened, she'd be late seeing patients, so the dark haired woman forced herself to endure a cold shower in the makeshift shower stall she and Seth had constructed, effectively cooling her ardor as well as her body.

Finally, the ladies were ready to head to town as they climbed into the truck. Just as Billie reached for the ignition key, she realized she had forgotten Melinda's toy store receipt in the house, and had to run back in to retrieve it. Soon, they were on their way.

Billie pulled up in front of the clinic and turned off the engine. Turning in her seat, she reached for Cat and pulled her in close for a passionate, breathtaking kiss.

"Wow! What was that for?" Cat exclaimed.

"That was to thank you for last night. Cat - it was incredible. I love you so much," Billie replied.

Cat smiled broadly. "I got the better end of the stick... ah, dildo, last night," she said. "I owe you one... with interest!"

"Compounded daily, I hope," Billie commented.

"I'm not sure either one of us could compound it daily... but I will surely make it worth your while on a regular basis," Cat returned.

"I can't wait," Billie replied. "I challenge you to make me walk funny."

"Now that's one challenge I can't refuse," Cat replied.

Billie kissed her wife soundly one more time before shooing her out of the truck. "You'd better get going before your patients catch you making out with this farm girl," Billie suggested. "What time would you like me to pick you up?" she asked.

"I don't have any patients this afternoon, so around lunch time would be good," Cat replied, bending over and talking through the window.

"Maybe I can take my best girl to lunch before going home? How does that sound?" Billie suggested.

"Eating out sounds good to me!" Cat quipped, knowing she was flirting with danger.

"Aarrgghh!!! If you keep teasing me like that I'll take you back home right now and put a permanent limp in your gait!" Billie warned good naturedly.

"Promises, promises!" Cat replied, as she backed away from the truck and out of Billie's reach. "I'll see you in a few hours, love," she said, waving as Billie drove away.

**********

Billie walked into the saloon and marched right up to Janice's table. Janice took one look at the woman and smiled. "Got laid last night - didn't you?" she said.

Billie's eyes flew open as she looked at the older woman in astonishment. "How the hell did you know that?" she asked.

"Intuition... and of course the hickeys on your neck were a dead give away," Janice replied.

Billie's hands flew up to her neck. She had gotten so used to not caring what she looked like on the farm that she seldom looked in the mirror these days. Suddenly realizing the kids had probably seen them too, she nearly died on the spot of embarrassment.

"You look good in red," Janice teased. "So what brings you here this morning?" she added.

Janice's question caused Billie to regain her sense of control as she dug the toy story receipt out of her pocket. "This does," Billie said, throwing the receipt on the table.

Janice picked up the receipt and read the billhead and amount. "And your questions is?" she asked Billie.

"We found this is Melinda's records. I think you have some explaining to do," Billie replied.

"Haven't we been through this already? Remember?... carpet munchers?... dykes extradorinaire?... girlfriends? Please tell me you realize Mel and I are lesbians," Janice responded.

"Well of course I do!" Billie said, insulted that Janice could think she was so clueless.

"Well then, what's the problem?" the older woman asked.

"What's the problem? I'll tell you what the problem is - a $4,000 bill for sex toys. No one could possibly need that many sex toys for one's personal use!" Billie reasoned before bending down low and getting into Janice's face. "So tell me, Janice - just what type of social club did you and Melinda plan to open here?" she asked.

"I don't have to answer that question," Janice said, crossing her arms and digging her heels in.

Billie stood erect. "Okay, I'll go see for myself," she said, heading for the stairs and taking them two at a time.

Janice jumped to her feet. "Hey! Come back here! You have no right!" she shouted to no avail as Billie continued her trek up the stairs. Janice had no choice but to follow her.

When Billie reached the landing, she headed for the end of the hall that looked like it had seen the most cosmetic improvements. Stopping in front of the door at the end, she reached for the handle and pushed it open just as Janice reached the top landing.

"Billie - you have no right!" Janice yelled as she walked toward Billie as fast as she could.

Billie stepped inside the room and searched for the light switch, finding it just as Janice reached her side. A cascade of light illuminated the room which was decorated in elaborate reds and blacks... lacy curtains and bed spread... thick carpeted floor - and a mirrored section of ceiling located strategically above the bed. Looking a little closer, Billie also noticed several other key amenities, such as manacles hanging from the wall, a cage in one corner of the room, and an odd looking harness hanging from the ceiling as well as an array of whips, chains and collars hanging on a rack.

Turning around, Billie looked at Janice with thinly disguised surprise on her face. "Social club?" she asked.

"Well... having sex is being sociable," Janice said in her own defense.

Shaking her head, Billie walked past Janice and out of the room. Janice followed closely behind after turning off the light and shutting the door. Reaching out, the older woman stopped Billie just before she began to descend the staircase. "Billie, I don't see where this has any bearing on things," Janice said, "...and besides, I didn't figure you of all people would have a problem with it."

Billie sighed deeply. "Janice, I don't have a problem with it. It just would have been nice to know what I was up against when I agreed to help find Melinda. Did it ever occur to you that this is why the mayor has been rejecting the commercial applications?" she asked.

"But it's not! Prostitution is not illegal in this town. He'd have no legal basis for rejecting the applications based on that," Janice explained.

Billie had other reasons to believe the nature of the social club was significant, but didn't want to give Janice any false hope relative to its bearing on finding Melinda, so she chose not to argue the point any further. "Look, Janice. It just would have been nice to know about it. I've seen way too many cases lost because the client wasn't totally honest with their attorney," she explained.

"You really do sound like a lawyer, Billie. What are you doing on a farm?" Janice asked.

Billie looked at the ceiling and shook her head. "Now you sound like Cat," she said as she descended the stairs. Reaching the bottom, she turned to face Janice who was standing on the last step. "I've got to run. Cat will be finished early today and I've got a few things to follow up on. I'll get back to you as soon as I know something. Okay?" she said.

Janice narrowed her eyes at Billie. "Sounds to me like you're onto something you don't want to share with me, Billie," she accused.

Billie locked eyes with Janice for several long moments without speaking. "I'll see you tomorrow," was all she said before leaving the saloon.

************************************************************************************************ CHAPTER XV

Billie pulled up in front of Cat's clinic just as the doctor was locking the door. Smiling brightly when she saw Billie, Cat ran down the steps into the street and climbed into the truck. Scooting over as close as she could to Billie, she kissed the woman warmly.

"Hey love, did you have a nice visit with Janice?" Cat asked.

Billie put the truck in gear and pulled away from the curb. "Cat, why didn't you tell me I had hickeys on my neck?" Billie asked.

Cat looked at the circular red marks on both sides of her lover's long neck and smiled. "Because I think they're cute," she replied.

"Cute? You think they're cute?!" Billie exclaimed. "Cat, they were flashing like neon signs in Janice's face when I got there. The first thing she said to me was... 'you got laid last night, didn't you?'! I was so embarrassed I thought I would die!" Billie complained.

"She's just jealous, that's all. Just because her woman isn't available doesn't mean the rest of us can't enjoy good sex," Cat stated.

"Ewwwww! Cat! Do you realize you're talking about old lady sex again? Damn woman! You're gonna ruin my appetite for lunch!" Billie retorted.

"You don't think we'll still be banging away at their age? I sure hope we are!" Cat teased. "Of course, you'll probably have to part the wrinkles to find the..." Cat continued.

"Ah geeeze, Cat! Will you please cut that out?" Billie insisted.

"All right - have it your way," Cat relented. "So, speaking of old lady sex, did you confront Janice about the toy store receipt?" she asked.

Billie pulled up in front of the only restaurant in town and threw the truck into park. "Oh yeah! Come on, let's go inside and I'll tell you all about it," Billie suggested as she helped Cat out of the driver's side of the truck.

Choosing a table for two in front of the window, the ladies ordered a light lunch and waited for their coffee to arrive before Billie went into detail about her meeting with Janice.

"Janice refused to tell me what the $4,000 sex toy receipt was all about, so I asked her what kind of social club they were planning to open. I obviously caught her off guard, because she totally pled the fifth," Billie began.

"She wouldn't tell you?" Cat asked.

"No. So, I decided to find out on my own. Before Janice could stop me, I ran up the staircase, two steps at a time and checked out the part of the second story that had already been remodeled. Sure enough, I found a room straight out of an X-rated S & M flick," Billie exclaimed.

"You mean the hogger movies?" Cat said, wide eyed with disbelief.

"Oh yeah! Mirrors on the ceiling... whips, chains, ropes... even a cage! That crafty old devil! This so-called social club of hers is a front for the real action they're planning upstairs," Billie said.

"God! I can't imagine Melinda putting herself in that kind of compromising situation," Cat remarked. "She seems too prim and proper!"

"Looks can be deceiving, Cat. I'll bet those two get it on quite regularly.... Oh for crying out loud! Now you've got me talking about old lady sex! All right - time to change the subject," Billie exclaimed. "Cat, do you carry paper and pen in your black bag? I'd like to start listing everything we know and suspect. Maybe writing it all down in one place will help things come together."

"Yes, I do. My bag is in the truck. I'll go fetch it," Cat said as she rose from the table and ran out to the truck. Moments later, she was back, sitting in her seat with pen poised over paper. "Okay, shoot," she said, ready to write down anything Billie said.

"All right - let's start with the notes from the kidnappers," Billie suggested as she pulled them out of her pocket and spread them across the table.

**********

About an hour later, Cat and Billie both sat with mouths agape as the answer stared them in the face.

"Billie - your original hunch was right... it has to be! Look at the evidence! Damn! There's only one piece missing to prove it... and it's right here," Cat said, pointing to one of the ransom notes. "It's a pretty standard font for that type of book, but you'll need to prove it," she exclaimed.

Billie sat back and nodded her head. "And I know just how I'm going to do it... but first, I need to see the Sheriff," Billie said as she rose to her feet.

"Billie - Janice will have a fit if you bring the Sheriff into this," Cat pointed out as she followed her wife out of the restaurant. "You know she doesn't want to make the kidnappers angry enough to harm Melinda."

"Well if I play my cards right, we'll find the kidnappers and Melinda too - without anyone getting hurt," Billie replied.

**********

"That's a whole lotta accusation you're throwin' out there Ms. Charland," the sheriff said as he sat back in his chair spitting a wet brown wad of tobacco into the spittoon beside his desk.

"Sheriff, I know you don't know me from that hole in the wall over there, but I am a professional lawyer and I have investigated and tried several cases over my career. I have made it a point to never prosecute a defendant until I am absolutely sure of their guilt... and sure I can prove it. I give you my word on this one. I have never been so sure of anything in my life," Billie stated adamantly.

"Wellllll," the sheriff drawled.

"Sheriff - Melinda Pappas' life could be at stake here. The longer we mull this around, the longer she remains in danger. Now please give us your full cooperation," Billie urged.

The sheriff looked at the list of names Billie handed to him. "This sure looks like a lotta work," he said.

"Yes, it is, but just think of how the town's people will feel when they know you've rid their community of this menace. Why - I dare to venture you'll be given this town's highest honors," Billie baited.

"You mean I'll get to call the pig races at the country fair?!" the sheriff exclaimed excitedly.

"Absolutely!" Billie replied.

"Well then, you got yerself a lawman!"

"Thank you Sheriff," Billie said, shaking the man's hand firmly. "I knew this town could count on you. Now here's what I need you to do..." Billie began, filling the sheriff in on the details of her plan.

Several minutes later, Billie shook hands with sheriff then made her excuses to go.

Cat looked back over her shoulder to see the sheriff standing there with his chest all puffed out with self importance as he watched them leave his office.

"Hmmph! You played him like a finely tuned fiddle!" Cat exclaimed as they stood outside.

"I haven't seen a man yet that could resist the 'town's highest honors' - whatever that may be! Anyway, I guess we've got some waiting to do. How about I buy you a drink?" Billie suggested.

"How about we try out one of Janice's rooms above the saloon?" Cat replied.

Billie grinned. "Don't tempt me, woman! Don't tempt me!"

**********

Cat and Billie entered the saloon hand in hand, drawing attention to themselves as they walked to Janice's table. As usual, the older woman was sitting there playing solitaire... alternately dealing herself cards while eating a sandwich lunch. Looking up as the ladies approached, she smile brightly. "Please, have a seat!" she exclaimed. "Can I get you some lunch?" Janice asked.

"Actually, no - we just ate," Cat replied. "But thank you so much for asking."

"So what brings you to the saloon, Doc? I haven't seen you around much, although your lady seems to frequent the place quite often," the older woman remarked.

Cat leaned in as though to take Janice into her confidence, "You know she only comes here to see you, don't you?" she asked, winking.

Janice sat back and puffed out her chest. "Yep. I'm irresistible. I can't help it!" she replied, returning the easy banter.

"I'm going to get us a beer while you sit here and flirt with Miss Janice, Cat," Billie teased. "I'll be right back."

"Take your time," Janice said, grinning while keeping her eyes on Cat.

"Hey Fred, how's the hand doing?" Billie asked the bartender as she approached the bar.

"It's a little tough tending bar with this bandage wrapped around it, but I'm making do. What can I get you?" he asked.

"Two beers," Billie replied. "Is Jennifer sleeping better since Cat helped her out?" came the next question.

"Oh yeah - sleeping like a log," Fred answered.

"You know, Cat and I should have the two of you over for dinner some night. That would be nice, don't you think?" Billie offered.

"Sure! Sounds great! I'll talk to Jen about it," Fred returned, a little nervous that this woman was suddenly taking an interest in him.

"Well, thanks for the beer. Let me know what Jen says about dinner, okay?" Billie said as she picked up the beers from the bar.

"I'll do that," he said, forcing a smile onto his face but quickly losing it to a frown as Billie walked away.

"... and her face turned beet red when I noticed the hickeys on her neck!" Janice exclaimed, throwing her head back in laughter.

"Ah... what's going on here?" Billie asked as she approached the table carrying the beers just in time to hear Janice's hickey comment.

"Oh, nothing, my love. Janice here was just admiring your beautiful complexion," Cat explained, causing Janice to nearly choke on her own beer.

Billie patted Janice on the back until the older woman stopped coughing. "Are you all right?" she asked.

"I'm fine," Janice replied. "The little lady here has quite a sense of humor. If you ever tire of her, do me a favor and send her my way, would you?" the older woman said to Billie.

"Now what would Melinda say if this cute little thing started hanging around her woman all the time?" Billie asked.

Janice looked at Billie and gulped. "Oops! You're right. She'd squish me like a bug!" the older woman replied.

Just then a movement at the door caught the eyes of all three ladies at the table. Upon seeing who had entered, Billie quickly leaned forward and whispered something to Janice who frowned deeply in response. "Billie, are you sure she wants it?" Janice whispered back.

"Trust me," Billie said as she sat in a chair beside Janice.

"Ah! Miss Covington!" Laurel exclaimed as she saw Janice sitting at her usual table. "I just received your message."

Janice looked at the woman like she was sprouting a horn in the middle of her forehead before Billie kicked her under the table, drawing her out of her stupor.

"Oh! Yes - Miss McGuire! It's so nice to see you again," Janice replied, reaching for Laurel's hand and kissing the back of it.

"You are such a genteel woman," Laurel cooed. "I was so pleased to see you are willing to have me! I promise you won't regret it!"

Janice's eyes flew open as she looked at Billie. Billie's eyebrows danced lustily on her forehead.

"So, where shall we start? Upstairs? And then maybe behind the bar?" Laurel suggested.

Janice became very animated. "Ah.. ah... upstairs is good!" she replied as her hands began to sweat, "... but maybe a tour of the downstairs first?" she suggested.

"Oh no! The upstairs has got to be so much more comfortable! There are just so many wonderful rooms to choose from! Let's do all of them - shall we?" she suggested, reaching out for Janice's hand.

Janice took Laurel's hand and allowed the woman to pull her to her feet. "Melinda's gonna kill me!" Janice rasped to Billie as she followed Laurel up the stairs.

Billie looked back at Cat and nearly split a gut laughing when she saw how nervous Janice was. "All talk - no action!" Billie quipped just as the saloon doors swung open again.

"Heathen! Hear the words of the lord! Repent and be saved!," came the booming voice of the Reverend Kevin Richardson as he made a grand entrance, holding his bible high in the air.

"He who has never sinned, cast the first stone!" Billie replied, standing to her feet while throwing out the rhetorical challenge.

Kevin narrowed his eyes at the tall woman. "And who might you be?" he asked.

Billie stepped forward. "I am the high priestess of the temple of Lesbonia. I come here to challenge your prejudicious preaching," she said in all seriousness as Cat did her best to contain her laughter.

"Harlot!" Kevin yelled.

"Look inward and see thine own self!" Billie shouted back.

"What is your teaching, she-devil?" Kevin demanded.

"My teaching is that all love is good - even with one of your own kind. Come, my sister!" Billie said as she reached her hand toward Cat. "Come show this wicked man what love really is."

Cat suddenly fell into the act as she dramatically rose from her chair and flew into Billie's arms, kissing her passionately while wildly grinding herself against the taller woman's body.

Kevin clutched his bible to his chest and staggered around before falling into the chair Cat had vacated.

Just then, Mayor Stafford entered the saloon. "What is going on here?" he asked. "I was told there was a brawl starting. As an elected representative of the people, I will not tolerate that type of behavior in this town!" he boomed.

"Mayor! It's so nice you could join us!" Billie said, walking up and shaking the mayor's hand.

"But... but... I was told there was trouble here," he stammered.

"Nonsense!" Billie replied. "Does it look like there's trouble brewing here?" she asked as she motioned with her arm around the room.

Mayor Stafford had to admit she was right as he scanned the room, seeing only Reverend Richardson sitting at the table with Cat Charland, and Fred Swenson standing at the bar with a typical dumb look on his face. "Well... well, then I was misinformed. My apologies," he said, tipping his hat as though to leave.

"Mayor! Why don't you stay and have a drink on me," Billie suggested as she led him to the bar and sat him on a stool. "Fred, give the man a beer... and give another one over for the good Reverend," Billie added.

Reaching for the extra beer, Billie carried it over and placed it on the table in front of Kevin. "You and I both know you want it, so drink up," she said to him in a low voice only he could hear. "You don't want the good people of this town to think you're too high and mighty to have a drink with them, do you?"

Kevin eyed the beer thirstily before grabbing it and drinking half of it in one gulp.

Billie just smiled and nodded her head as once more the saloon doors swung open.

"Fred! Are you all right!" Jennifer exclaimed as she burst into the saloon and ran to her husband's side.

"Perfect timing," Billie said as the noticed the sheriff and his men file in behind her. "Cat, could you go upstairs and fetch Janice and Laurel?" Billie asked.

"Laurel?" the mayor whispered.

"I'm fine, honey. Why are you here?" Fred asked Jennifer.

"The sheriff told me you were hurt! I got here as fast as I could!" Jen replied, checking Fred out for wounds.

"Jen, I'm fine... I'm fine," he said before turning to the sheriff. "Sheriff, who sent the message to my wife that I was injured?" he demanded.

"I did," Billie said. "In fact, I sent the sheriff to each of you with a message designed to get you here," she admitted.

"What the fuck is going on here!" Kevin boomed just as Janice and Laurel reached the bottom of the stairs, followed closely by Cat.

"My... my! Such language coming from a man of the cloth!" Billie scolded.

"What is the meaning of this?" Mayor Stafford demanded as he climbed off his bar stool.

Billie paced back and forth, looking at all the occupants of the room before announcing, "We are gathered here today to determine which of you is responsible for the kidnapping of Melinda Pappas!"

************************************************************************************************ CHAPTER XVI

Audible gasps could be heard throughout the room at Billie's declaration.

"Are you mad, woman?" Mayor Stafford replied.

"No... I'm quite serious," Billie replied.

"Billie?" a suddenly aged voice said to the woman as she felt a hand on her arm.

Billie turned to see Janice looking up at her. "I know what I'm doing, Janice. Come, have a seat in your favorite chair," Billie said, leading her over to the poker table and helping her to sit.

Leaning her hands on the back of Janice's chair, she looked out over the occupants of the room. "For the past week, I have watched this woman mourn the loss of her partner... and I believe someone in this room knows where she is," Billie stated.

Jen walked over to Billie and crossed her arms in front of her. "Well, big shot lawyer, if you're so smart, which one of us did it?" she challenged the dark haired woman.

Billie smiled at Jen and walked a few steps away before turning around to face her once more. Holding her arms out to the side she said, "All of you. All of you participated in it in one way or another."

A low murmur ran through the room as suspicious looks darted back and forth between each of them.

"You have no proof," came the sudden disgruntled voice of Kevin Richardson.

Billie turned around to look at Kevin. "No?" she said. "Okay, where shall I start?" she added, walking around the room looking at each suspect in turn.

"Let's start with you, Fred," Billie said. "Let's see, the trusted bartender, practically invisible, able to come and go without suspicion... able to place and collect notes from the kidnapper on Janice's poker table when no one is looking. Always 'in the store room', or 'at the post office' when these notes suddenly appear. All convenient excuses. It is no wonder that patrons never saw anyone suspicious leaving the notes - because you, Fred are beyond suspicion - or so you thought."

Fred suddenly became nervous. "Just because I work in the bar, it doesn't mean I'm guilty," he said in his own defense.

"You're right - it doesn't," Billie agreed and she walked around some more. Suddenly stopping in her tracks, she said to the bartender, "Tell me Fred - how did you know Melinda was missing? How did you... and how did Jen know she was kidnapped?"

Fred looked at Jen, pleading with his eyes for support. "Ah... ah... Miss Janice must have told me," he replied.

Billie turned to Janice. "Janice?" she asked.

Janice shook her head side to side. "All I told the help was that Melinda was ill and recovering in our room," she said.

Fred seemed to shrink three inches in height as he leaned against the bar.

Billie turned to the woman standing behind her. "Laurel," she said. "Lady Laurel Lee McGuire. Tell me, how did you earn the title 'Lady'?" Billie asked.

"How does anyone earn a nickname, darlin'? Someone called me that one day and it stuck," Laurel explained.

"Really? Are you sure you didn't earn the title back in New Orleans when you ran the local brothel?" Billie asked.

"I object!" the Mayor suddenly shouted.

"This isn't a trial, mayor... just an attempt to find the likely party," Billie said before resuming her questioning of Laurel. "Isn't that where you earned the name, Laurel?... or was it from the brothel you currently own in Greenville?" Billie prodded.

"I have had quite enough of you badgering this fine lady," the mayor objected once more.

Billie turned to the mayor and looked him in the eye. "Mayor, do you have any idea who is blackmailing you?" she asked.

"Why... why... no - I don't," he admitted.

"Tell the fine people in this room what your blackmailer's demands are, Mr. Stafford," Billie demanded.

"I will do no such thing!" he objected.

Billie looked straight into Mayor Stafford's eyes. "I know who your blackmailer is, Mayor. This is your chance to stop this whole charade. Your choice," she said evenly while pausing for effect. "So, Mr. Mayor, tell us - what are the demands of your blackmailer?" she asked once more.

Stafford looked around the room before answering. "The blackmailer insists that I continue to reject Melinda Pappas' applications for a social club here in the saloon," he replied.

Janice gasped from her seat at the table. "Why?" she asked the mayor.

"I don't know why. All I know is that if I don't comply with their wishes, they will soil my name by exposing Laurel's past indiscretions to my constituency," he explained. "I will not put this dear lady through that!" he explained.

"But you'll put my dear lady through hell instead!" Janice exclaimed.

"I am sorry," Mayor Stafford replied as he returned to his seat at the bar.

Cat watched as Billie continued to pace around the room, looking for her next victim. It suddenly struck her that this was a dark side of Billie she had never seen before... a cool, calculating side that she wasn't sure she liked.

"So, Laurel, you currently own the brothel in Greenville - and before you deny it, I should tell you that I can produce the deed. I can also show that you - Kevin... the honorable Reverend Kevin Richardson - is a partner in that venture."

Kevin sat there curiously silent, becoming angrier and angrier with each word that came from Billie's mouth as evidenced by the ever deepening redness of his face.

"About two days ago, Kevin, I saw you shopping at a store in Greenville called 'Le Bistro'. Would you care to tell these fine people what type of store that is?" she asked.

Kevin just growled and clenched his fists tighter.

"Okay - I'll tell them for you... it is an adult novelty store... a place where you can buy sex toys. How do I know this? Because I shop there often - three times in one week as a matter of fact!" she said, winking at Cat. "I was actually there the day you stopped in Kevin... and I followed you to the brothel where you promptly delivered the toys then left. Know what I did next?" she asked, leaning into Kevin's face. "I knocked on the door, and this quite interesting lady answered. When I told her I was looking for Kevin, and that he promised me a tour of the place, she became quite upset and said they didn't need any new girls... and - that she wasn't about to break any in for the 'new place'. Any idea what she was talking about Kevin?" she asked, receiving no response. "What about you, Laurel?"

Receiving no response for either of them, she turned to the other occupants of the room. "I'll tell you what she was talking about. The 'other place' she was referring to was this saloon."

"What the hell are you getting at, Billie. No one is opening a brothel in this saloon except me and Mel," Janice shouted, covering her mouth after realizing she had let the cat out of the bag.

Laurel looked at Kevin. "I thought you said she'd sell!" woman said angrily.

"What was that?" Billie asked Laurel. "What did you say?"

"Nothing... it was nothing," Laurel insisted.

Billie eyed Laurel suspiciously as she walked around the room once more. "As I was saying," she continued, "the 'other place' so eloquently referred to by the lady of the Greenville brothel is this saloon. The proof has been right in front of us from the beginning, only it was too abstract to see until other pieces of the puzzle started to fall into place. What am I referring to? The ransom notes. Let me give you an example," Billie said as she opened the first note Janice received.

"'Miss Pappas is doomed - Unless you give us the room - You are risking her life - She's at the end of a knife - So if you'd really like - To get back your dyke - You will sign on the line - And give me what's mine - I am going to hell - but heck, sex really sells.'" Billie read. "Not very poetic, but pretty much to the point. The 'room' referred to in the note is the saloon. 'Signing on the line' means signing the deed to the saloon over. 'Sex really sells'... what sells sex better than a brothel?" Billie folded the note and placed it back into her pocket, only to retrieve the second note. "The second note is pretty straight forward once you understand the first note. It reads: 'Melinda's fate is in your hands. Heed my warning! You hold the key. Give the key to me and I'll give her back to you,' Finally, when Janice left a note for the kidnappers, asking for more clarification - asking them what they really wanted, all she got back was a third note with one solitary word on it... 'saloon'. That says it all."

Billie started to pace again, watching the nervous faces of those being accused.

"There are only two things left to resolve... first - where is Melinda?... second - who is the real kidnapper?" Billie reasoned before stopping directly in front of Jen. "Jennifer - tell me, when did you first meet Laurel McGuire?" she asked.

Jen met the challenge in Billie's eyes. "Right here in the saloon that night you gave me a ride back into town. You were here, Billie - you heard me introduce myself," Jen said.

Billie nodded. "Yes, I did," she admitted. "I heard you introduce yourself as Jennifer.... just Jennifer, yet when Miss McGuire left, she said, 'Nice to meet you, Ms. Swenson.' Now, if you had never met before, how did she know your last name was Swenson?" Billie asked.

"Drats!" came a whispered retort from behind Billie.

Billie put her hands behind her back and paced once more. "By the way, Jen, how are you sleeping these days?" Billie asked.

"What? What does that have to do with anything?" Jen objected.

"I think it has a lot to do with it, Jen. The day after you were prescribed a powerful sleep aid, your husband made an off hand comment to the good doctor, here, that he didn't understand why you needed sleeping pills because you always sleep like a log! So tell me, Jen - who did you use the sedatives on? Melinda Pappas, perhaps?" Billie suggested.

"Why you bitch!" Jen screamed as she jumped on Billie.

"Get your booty-licious slutty hands off my wife!" Cat yelled as she jumped into the fray.

It took three of the sheriff's men to pull Cat off Jen, and Jen off Billie as Jen was forced into a chair and held there.

Billie straightened her clothing as she looked at Jen. "Well I guess that answers that question! If you know what's good for you, you'll tell us where Melinda is," Billie warned.

"I don't know where she is... and I didn't kidnap her," Jen spat.

"I know you didn't. Janice tells me that Melinda is a rather strong woman. There is no way you could have taken her by force - at least not by yourself... and there's no way you could have held her by force - hence the need for the sleeping pills. No Jen - I don't think you kidnapped Melinda Pappas, but I do believe both you and Fred were being paid by the real culprit to do his dirty work for him by holding Melinda hostage," Billie explained.

"That leads me to the kidnapper," Billie continued. "Who could it possibly be? Who could possibly want Melinda out of the way... or worse, use her as a pawn to convince Janice to sell the saloon to them... and for what reason - to turn it into a brothel. Quite frankly, Mayor, the kidnapper and your blackmailer are one in the same. This person wanted you to stifle plans for a social club so they could purchase the saloon and turn it into a brothel. So who is this mysterious person?" Billie asked.

Reaching into her pocket once more, she pulled out the first two ransom notes. "Something about these notes feels familiar... especially the second one," she said before reading it again "'Melinda's fate is in your hands. Heed my warning! You hold the key.' Heed my warning... fate is in your hands... you hold the key. Hmmm - it seems I heard these very phrases in a sermon at the fairgrounds last weekend... a sermon given by you, Reverend."

Kevin was seething with anger by this time, trying very hard to maintain his facade of innocence behind the bible he was carrying.

"There is something I haven't told you about these notes," Billie said "... you see, they were put together from words and letters cut out of books, magazines and newspapers. That's a pretty clever way to avoid having your handwriting identified... and it usually works, however, there is something about this particular note... about the old English print style on one of the phrases that looks awfully familiar," she said as she walked very close to Kevin, stopping in front of him. While maintaining eye contact with him, she snatched his bible up from the table and walked away with it.

"Hey - give that back!" he shouted as Billie quickly fanned the pages until she found what she was looking for.

The sheriff's men stepped forward to put a restraining hand on Kevin's shoulder to prevent him from going after Billie.

Billie turned to face the occupants of the room. Holding the bible high in her right hand, and the second ransom note in the other, it could be clearly seen that the words 'Heed my warning' had been cut from that particular book, on that particular page and used in the note. "Here is your proof... and here is your man," Billie said, pointing to Kevin.

"Aarrgghh!!!" Kevin screamed as he broke free of the sheriff's men and grabbed Cat, holding a knife to her throat. "Stay away from me or she dies!" he warned as he walked backward toward the door, dragging Cat in front of him.

"Cat!" Billie yelled.

"I'm warning you! If you don't give me a half hour head start, I will kill her! If I see anyone following me, she's dead. I'll do it! I swear I will!" Kevin vowed.

Janice approached Billie and grabbed her arm. "Let him go, Billie. It's not worth losing Cat over," she said.

Kevin looked back and forth between Billie and the sheriff, a madness filling his eyes.

Billie nodded to the sheriff as a sign to let him leave. Realizing he was off the hook, Kevin looked at Laurel. "You got me into this bitch, now both this chick and the old lady's lives are in your hands. They have until 5 o'clock before it's the end of the track for both of them. Think about it!" he said before dragging Cat out the door with him.

**********

Billie ran to the door and watched as he threw Cat into his car and sped away. Turning to Laurel, Billie reached out and grabbed the woman by both arms. "What did he mean?" Billie shouted.

"I... I don't know," Laurel replied as tears streamed down her face.

"Aarrgghh!!" Billie shouted as she stood on the porch of the saloon and watched Kevin's car grow smaller in the distance, afraid that following him would mean certain death for Cat.

Laurel approached the mayor and touched his shoulder. "James, I am so sorry," she cried. "I never meant it to go this far. Kevin insisted it had to be done his way. I'm sorry," she said.

Jen joined Billie on the porch and watched the car in the distance.

"Why, Jen?" Billie asked.

"It was a chance to break out of this life, Billie. Kevin was offering Fred and I a lot of money to help him. You were right - Fred's job here was pretty strategic to his plan. I promise you we didn't hurt Melinda. She was kept sedated most of the time, but we treated her well. She was well fed and warm. We would have never harmed her," Jen explained.

"Where is she, Jen?" came the next question.

"Up until yesterday, she was at my house. That's why I didn't invite you and Cat inside after the trip to the fairgrounds. Kevin came yesterday and took her away. I don't know where she is now," Jen replied

Billie monitored her watch for the first twenty minutes after Kevin dragged Cat away. Finally, she couldn't take it any more. "I'm going after him," she announced before approaching Laurel once more. "Laurel, Kevin gave you information before he left that only you can figure out. You need to help us. For god's sake, Melinda is your mother," Billie whispered.

Laurel looked at Billie, the shock registering in her eyes. "My mother?" she asked.

Billie nodded. "We found your birth certificate in Melinda's papers. You were born Laurel Lee Pappas on August 23, 1948. I don't know how you came to be where you are now, but that lady out there is your mother and you owe it to her to save her life."

Tears filled Laurel's eyes as she looked at Janice, who was also crying. Approaching the older woman, she sat down next to her and took her hand. "Janice, did you know this?" Laurel asked.

Janice looked at the woman. "I knew she had a child before I met her... I didn't know it lived, but when I first saw how much you look like Melly, I have to admit I wondered about it," Janice replied.

"Mama," Laurel whispered before closing her eyes. "Five o'clock - end of the tracks," she repeated to herself.

Suddenly, Laurel's head popped up. "Oh my god! I know where he's taken them!" she announced.

Within seconds, Jen, Laurel, Janice and Billie were in Billie's pickup with Jen driving and Laurel in the front seat, and Janice and Billie standing in the back, racing like a bat out of hell toward the railroad depot. Along the way, they ran across the 5 o'clock train which was heading directly toward their destination!

"Step on it, Jen!" Billie shouted as she and Janice held on tighter.

Jen found herself side by side with the train, trying to beat it to the crossroads at the railroad depot. Janice and Billie waved frantically at the Engineer, trying to get him to stop the train. The Engineer, obviously well on in years, just smiled and waved back like they were a bunch of teenagers out for a thrill ride.

"Faster, Jen! Faster!" Janice screamed. "Hang on, Melly - I'm coming!"

Jen finally managed to pass the train and put about a mile distance between them by the time they reached the crossroads.

"There they are!" Laurel shouted as she spotted Cat and Melinda tied to the tracks.

"Holy Shit! We'd better hurry or they'll both be worm food!" Janice yelled as she allowed Billie to help her out of the truck.

Billie, Janice, Laurel and Jen ran toward the track as fast as they could, with the train bearing down on them at what seemed like super sonic speed.

"I can't get the god damned knot untied!" Janice screamed as she tugged at the rope holding her beloved Melinda to the tracks.

All four ladies put their effort into the job as the last knot was finally loosened just as the train was within 30 yard of them. Throwing herself on top of Melinda, Janice held on for dear life and rolled to one side, but was unable to budge the larger woman. Billie on the other hand, had scooped Cat into her arms and pulled her out of harm's way.

Billie, Cat, Jen and Laurel stood and watched the train pass by, seeing no sign of the elderly ladies through the rush of cars and wheels. All four held hands, closed their eyes and wept.

Finally, the last car passed and all was silent. Not wanting to see the carnage brought on by the train, they remained standing there with their eyes closed.

"Melly, I love you dearly, but you weigh a ton. Get off me, woman!" came the voice of Janice Covington.

Four pairs of eyes popped open and to their delight, there on the ground were the two older women, hugging and laughing. As it turned out, Melinda was tied to an idle track!

"The stupid idiot couldn't even get the right track!" Laurel commented, causing all four of them to laugh.

**********

All was well with the world as the ladies retired to their bedroom that evening to celebrate their victory at finding Melinda. Not alone, they invited Mr. Wiggles to join them, becoming quite fond of their new friend.

While deep into an intense conversation with their new friend... initiated primarily by Cat this time, an odd noise suddenly permeated the room.

"Mooooooooooooooooooooooooo!"

"Aaaahhhh!" Cat suddenly screamed as she looked over her shoulder at the cow standing right in the open bedroom window.

Scared half out of her mind, she jumped up from the bed (much to Billie's dismay) and ran totally naked, except of course for Mr. Wiggles who was living up to his name, as she ran smack into the door, landing on her butt on the floor.

"Cat! Cat! Oh my god! What are you doing? Cat! Speak to me!" Billie said, lifting the woman's head from the carpeted floor.

Cat opened her eyes and looked up at Billie. "I hate this fricken place!" she screamed. "I hate it! I hate it! I hate it! Do you understand?"

"Cat, what's wrong? Sweetheart, talk to me," Billie purred.

Cat jumped up from the floor and paced back and forth across the room, her arms flailing at her sides. "I hate the chickens, I hate the goat, I hate the cows, I hate the cold baths, I hate having no running water and no electricity, I hate getting stuck in the stink-hole outhouse! I hate everything about this farm!" she screamed.

Billie sat back on her heels and watched until Cat finally calmed down and looked at her.

"Well!?" Cat demanded. "Don't you have anything to say?"

"What chickens?" Billie asked.

Cat's head suddenly snapped up as she looked around the room. Remaining glued to the spot, she realized she was back home in her beloved house... carpeted floor, private bath with hot water and flushable toilets, brightly wallpapered walls, frilly bedspread.... no chickens, no goats... no cows. "Oh my god, I'm home!" she said, nearly in tears.

Billie stood and wrapped her arms around the smaller woman. It was then that Cat realized Billie was clothed. Taking one step back, she looked down at herself and noticed something conspicuously missing.

"Cat - are you all right?" Billie asked. "You had a bad dream, that's all. Come back to bed and talk to me about it," she assured the smaller woman.

Cat looked around once more to assure herself she was no longer dreaming before she climbed back into bed and cuddled close to her wife.

"Okay, now tell me about your dream," Billie encouraged.

"Billie, it was horrible!" Cat began, shuddering at the memory. "You gave up your law practice and bought an old run down farm with no electricity or running water," Cat began.

"You're kidding!" Billie commented, chuckling.

Cat sat up and looked at her wife. "No, I'm not kidding. You were so insistent that life was great! You spent every morning in the barn with the cows... and your favorite outfit was a pair of smelly overalls and flannel shirt," she explained.

Billie rolled over to her side and propped head up with her elbow. "So, what did you do all day while I was in the barn?" she asked.

"Oh - I ran a medical clinic in town. But that's not all...," Cat added as she turned around to face Billie while sitting on her heels. "Jen was the school teacher, and quite the hot ticket! She kept trying to get you into bed!" she explained, a small hint of a smile on her face as she recalled the dream.

"Jen! Ah ha, ha, ha! That's funny!" Bille replied.

"Oh yeah - Grandma Jan was there too... and she thought Jen was quite 'booty-liscious'. I think that's the phrase she used. Oh yes... you, Janice... even Seth and Tara turned into saliva machines every time she was around!" Cat said.

Billie reached up to touch Cat's face. "Is there something going on in that subconscious little mind of yours concerning Jen?" she asked.

Cat was genuinely surprised by the implication, "Heavens no! At least I don't think so!" she exclaimed. "Anyway... this was a really strange dream. The chickens on our farm were out to get me! They pecked my nylons all to pieces one day... and they actually stalked me! I opened the door and they were all on the front porch wearing bibs and holding knives and forks!" Cat insisted. "And... and... and the billie goat chased me in the barn until I jumped over a fence right into a huge pile of cow manure! Oh!... Oh... and I got stuck in the outhouse for a whole day while you were in town and the kids were at school. It was horrible!"

"Oh my god, Cat - you're killing me!" Billie complained as she held her stomach while laughing.

"Billie, you won't believe what else happened.... Drew and Dylan were nudie dancers and Amy was the snake lady at the carnival... and it gets worse - Mom and Dad were gypsies! Oh - and your mother was a brothel mistress!" Cat recalled.

"My mom? She ran a cat-house? Holy shit, Cat!" Billie exclaimed.

"Yeah - the brothel theme figured pretty predominantly in the dream... Grandmas Jan and Mel ran the local saloon, which they were turning into a brothel, so your mom had Grandma Mel kidnapped and held for ransom until Grandma Jan sold the saloon to her!" Cat said, now laughing openly throughout her explanation.

"Jesus, Cat! Where did you come up with this stuff?" Billie asked.

"I don't know. It was all too weird. Oh, one other thing.... Kevin - you know, Bridget's Kevin?... he was a preacher, believe it or not... and he was the one responsible for kidnapping Mel. You see, he was part owner of Laurel's brothel and he was posing as a reverend to cover for his evil-doer ways. Anyway, the whole thing had a Sweet Polly Purebread ending with you, Jan, Laurel and Jen rescuing Mel and I from a speeding train... you see, Kevin had tied us both to the railroad tracks!" Cat explained before falling forward into her pillow in a fit of laughter. "God! It was pretty funny now that I think about it!" she laughed.

Billie reached over and enveloped her wife in the circle of her arms and kissed her on the forehead. "So I guess I should give up my plans for buying a farm, huh?" she joked.

"Don't you even think about it!" Cat scolded light heartedly before both women fell silent.

For long moments, the only sound was the even intake and exhale of air as they breathed. Suddenly Billie spoke. "Cat, are you still awake?" she asked.

"Hmmm" came the reply.

"I have a question for you," Billie said.

"What's that?" Cat asked.

"Who is Mr. Wiggles?"

THE END


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