Chapter Twelve #2
He did not leave out anything, telling the older man a lot more than he shared with Amanda.
"He sounds like a sick bastard," Matt commented, his green eyes filled with horror.
"He is." Rob nodded in confirmation. "I reacted out of fear for Mandy, but I guarantee she will not wish to sit upon anything but a cushion for some time. While she is recovering I intend to hunt Flockton down and see that he is dealt with as he deserves.
All the rumors of his death will then be true and all women can sigh in relief."
"Do you really think he would try riding right up here to the house to take Mandy?" Matt asked. "There are always hands around."
"He would kill anyone who got in his way, Matt. And, if you send Mandy away to stay with a friend, he would go after her. He has made her his target and he will not stop until he has her in his clutches."
"Damn. I'll kill the bastard with my bare hands if he comes around here!"
"Not if I find him first. I am going hunting, and all I want from you, Matt, is your promise to keep Mandy safe for me. If you have to spank her every day to keep her off Glimmer, then do it, please." With that he took his leave, anxious to find one Sir Gregory Flockton.
* * *
Sir Gregory Flockton was no fool. It was time for him to lay low and allow Robert Thorne to search and search without finding him anywhere.
Flockton knew the value of patience and he used the virtue to his advantage.
He would wait until they were all sure that he was gone from the area and relaxed their guard, and then he would strike quickly.
* * *
Helene was disappointed as telegram after telegram reported that they had no knowledge of anyone matching Whitey's description.
No one was reported missing, and no one looking like him was wanted by the law.
She'd given up hope after nearly two weeks, and was doing her best to stay occupied, tearfully rolling out pie dough, but this time for cherry pies.
Somehow she was going to make a trip out to the Circle C to see Whitey and take him one of the pies, in spite of her Uncle's orders to do no such thing.
Helene loved Whitey and nothing on earth was going to stop that.
She'd just placed the pies in the oven when she heard her Uncle calling for her.
She prayed she would be back upstairs in time to salvage her pies.
Uncle Peter rarely asked her to watch the shop because she knew so little about guns, but when he did, he expected her to do as she was asked.
"Yes, Uncle Peter...?" she said, looking at him as she saw the two men standing in front of the counter, studying her carefully.
"These two men are here to discuss Whitey with you. You tell them the truth and no hiding facts. Hear me?" Peter knew he needed to be firm. If the young man was wanted by the law, and it was clear as could be to him that they were the law, then he wouldn't let his niece try to hide him.
"Of course I will tell the truth!" Helene replied, offended. She wanted to know about Whitey's past, even if he was in some trouble. She couldn't plan marriage to him unless he was free, and to her, that meant free of any debts he owned to society.
"Miss, the man you described in your telegram to the Texas Rangers sounds like someone we have been looking for. Do you know where he is?"
"Yes, but why are you looking for him?" she asked, obviously upset.
"Miss, I promise we'll answer your questions in due time. Can you take us to this man right now...? Please...?" the tallest of the two asked.
"Uncle, may I ride with these two men out to the Circle C?" she asked permission.
"No. I don't know these men from any other drifters who wander into town." Peter was protective of his niece. "I'll give you directions," he told them, "but this little girl isn't riding anywhere with two men I don't know from Adam."
"Sir, I appreciate your concern. I would feel the same way in your place. Directions to the ranch would be fine," the man said, nodding his head.
Helene listened as her Uncle gave the two men directions and then she went upstairs, sat at the kitchen table and buried her face in her hands and cried.
It didn't matter to her what Whitey had done, she wanted to be with him...
be his wife... and have his children. She got to her feet in determination, took the baked pies from the oven...
and then she ran to her bedroom and changed into riding clothes.
It didn't take her long to run to the stable, rent a horse, and leave town at a gallop.
If Whitey caught her riding like this he would spank her again, but she didn't care. She was going to save him!
* * *
Robert was discouraged. He had spent long hours each day hunting for Sir Gregory Flockton but there was no sign of the man anywhere.
Rob was sure that Flockton was toying with him; hiding and allowing him to search without success.
He decided to ride over to see Matt Chambers and see if they had had any problems at all.
He was not a bit surprised to learn that Matt had stationed quite a few of his men around the house, doing odd jobs.
He wanted his daughter safe, and Rob could well imagine the fit Mandy was having by now.
He was sure that the spanking he had administered to her pretty bottom had worn off by now and she was back to normal and giving Matt a difficult time.
Rob had to smile. He truly loved Amanda's feisty nature.
Rob knocked on the door and he heard running feet, and Matt's deep bellow ordering his daughter to stand back and let him get it. Rob grinned as he waited for the door to be unlocked and opened. "I gather our Mandy is back to normal?"
"She is and I'm about to cut me a switch!" Matthew declared, thoroughly exasperated that his daughter seemed to ignore all of his warnings as each opportunity presented itself.
"Papa, you are worrying too much!" Amanda scolded. "I'm not going to do anything rash. Please stop scolding me for every little thing!"
"I'll do more than scold you if you run to answer a door again!" Matt threatened.
"Mandy, I thought you promised you would behave...?" Rob asked, gently tapping the end of her nose with his index finger.
"I am behaving," she insisted. "Papa is just worrying too much. He won't even allow me to keep my bedroom window open at night and it is stifling in my room!" she complained.
"Thank you, Matt," Rob made his position clear.
"I might know you would take Papa's side!" she pouted.
"Only because I love you and want you to be safe. I know Sir Gregory Flockton, my dear, and you do not. Just because he is laying low right now does not mean he has not been making plans to come for you. You must be smarter than he and remain where we can hope to protect you.
Your compliance is the only thing that will ease my mind."