Silver Creek - G.L. Snodgrass Page 0,75

Luke hurried out of the bank and around the corner towards Tuthill’s home. A small well-made house a hundred yards behind the bank. Pounding on the door, Luke yelled for the banker, but there was nothing but silence.

Grumbling under his breath he turned and marched to the jail.

“Becky’s missing,” he said to his brother as he stepped into the jail.

Jake frowned for a moment then shook his head.

“I’m serious, Brother. Becky is missing. No one has seen her since last night.”

The color drained from Jake’s face as he jumped from behind the desk. “You take the north end,” he told Luke. “I’ll take the south.”

“I don’t care who, you check every room,” Luke told him “And keep an eye out for Tuthill. He killed Tom Johnson,” he told him before he rushed from the jail to begin the search.

It took them a good hour going through every room in every building. The entire time, his fear grew. With each passing minute, each empty room, he had to fight to stop from erupting in fury. Becky was gone. His Becky. No!

After finishing the hotel, Luke stepped out to find Jake approaching, shaking his head. A hopeless fear filled Luke.

“She ain’t here,” Jake said, “But Gomez, down at the livery, said someone stole a horse and one of his wagons last night.”

“Wagon?”

Jake shrugged.

Luke’s mind spun as he tried to work it out. “They didn’t go south. I rode through the night. I would have passed them.”

“North?” Jake asked, “There ain’t nothing up there but the Feltons and …”

“Tom’s Farm.”

“But why there?”

A sudden coldness filled Luke as he realized what this was all about. The man had taken her to set a trap. It was obvious. What is more. He knew that Luke wouldn’t call in help. It would put Becky at too much risk. No, he’d known that her man would come after her alone.

“Stay here,” he said to his brother. “If she shows up. Send word to me out at Tom’s.”

His brother frowned. “This ain’t smart, Luke. Zion always said that the best way to avoid a trap was to walk away from it. The man will know you’re coming.”

Luke untied his horse and swung up into the saddle. “He’s got Becky.”

“Well, let me come along. The two …”

“No,” Luke growled. “I don’t want her getting caught in a crossfire.”

“Brother,” Jake pleaded.

“Just do it my way,” Luke snapped at him as he spurred his horse into a gallop. Yes, he was riding into a trap. But what choice did he have? The woman he loved was in danger. He’d walk into hell itself if it meant getting her to safety.

.o0o.

Becky worked her jaw against the gag. Her mouth felt as dry as the salt flats and her throat cried for water. But the man refused to move from his perch off to the side. He’d kept the house boarded up. All the shutters closed. Even fixing the broken hinge on the southside shutter to make sure no one could see into the house.

She could see how Tuthill had it all planned out. He had gagged her so she couldn’t call out a warning. Then placed her in a chair directly in front of the door, He had set the lamp on the table next to her. Close enough to bathe her in light when Luke rushed in. It would focus his attention. The first and only thing he would see.

And while Luke stared at her, Tuthill would shoot him dead.

Twisting her head, she studied him. The man displayed every indication of being afraid. Flat out terrified if she had to pick. White face. A bead of sweat forming at his hairline and running down the side of his chin. Eyes that danced, searching for danger. His fingers gripping and un-gripping his gun.

“What?” he barked at her when he discovered her watching him.

She simply stared, desperate to think of some way to stop him from killing Luke.

“It would have worked,” Tuthill said as he stared off into the distance. “I had it all worked out. Only Travers. He …” The banker shook his head. “The railroad is coming through here. Can you believe that. Right here, this farm? Your uncle was sitting on a gold mine and he didn’t even know it. Better. This gold would never run out. But he didn’t have any idea how to make it pay. Me. With my experience, I could make a fortune. Hotel, store, homes. All for rent, or selling at a huge profit.”

Rebecca grumbled