Struggling, Caly said, "We aren't selling. So you can leave right now."

Stepping closer, Simon reached back and slapped her across the face and said, "Shut up. Because your father was stubborn, I have to convince him to sell another way. I think you are just the way to do it."

Glaring at him Caly spit on him and said, "He will never sell. This has been his dream since I can remember. Nothing you can do will make him sell it to you."

Simon wiped his face then with an evil grin he said, "Oh I think I can." He started to ransack the kitchen. Caly struggled to get free.

Biting one of the men on the arm, she managed to get free. But before she could do anything, the man she bit hit her saying, "You little brat. I should kill you for that."

Simon watched as his man tied and gagged her. Then he said, "Your lucky I need you alive. Boys, put her on my horse. I'll be right out." The men nodded and dragged Caly from the house and placed her on Simon�s horse.

Meanwhile inside, Simon found a piece of paper and a pencil and proceeded to write her father a note.

Simon Moore

Steven sat down saying, "God no, not Caly. Why her?" Just then Michael came riding into the yard. As he stood to go outside to talk with Michael, he saw Caly�s pin, the one her mother gave her on the floor. Choking back tears, he bent down and picked it up. Clutching it in one hand and the note in the other, and as he reached the gate Steven said, "Michael have you seen Caly since breakfast? She�s not inside."

Michael turned to him and said, "No, Pa, I haven't. Why?"

Swallowing hard Steven said, "I found this on the floor in the kitchen and this note on the table." Steven opened his hand to reveal Caly�s pin.

Michael stepped closer to see it and said, "That�s the pin Momma gave Caly. What does the note say?"

Steven closed his hand around the pin and said, "You remember that guy who came and tried to buy the ranch not long after we moved here?" Michael nodded and Steven took a deep breath and continued, "Well he�s back, and he kidnapped Caly. In the note he says either I sell the ranch, or he will kill her."

Michael stood there feeling his anger rise then he said, "No one hurts my sister. I am going to kill them for this."

Steven placed a hand on Michael�s shoulder and said, "No, Michael, I will not have you in danger, too. I want you to go saddle Starbright while I write a letter to Buck. He'll know it�s important if you show up on her horse."

Michael nodded and said, "Okay." He ran to the barn and saddled Starbright.

Steven

He folded it, placed it in an envelope and labeled it Buck Urgent. Walking outside, he waited for Michael to saddle her horse. Steven hoped that Buck wasn't on a run.

Meanwhile, back at Simon�s hideout, Simon dismounted and pulled Caly from his horse. Stumbling as her feet hit the ground Caly said, "You better let me go. You'll be sorry if you don't."

Simon laughed and pulled her close to him by her hair and said, "No, your father is the one who�s going to be sorry." Then he pushed her forward. Caly stumbled and fell. Yanking her up by her hair Simon said, "Now get in there. I'll be in later to deal with you." Then he pushed her into the building and locked the door.

About two hours later, Simon came into the building with his men right behind him. Simon walked over to where Caly sat. Simon looked at her and said, "Okay, Girl, stand up."

Caly looked at him and said, "No. No one tells me what to do." Simon reached back and slapped her, making her fall backwards. Sitting up Caly stood and said, "That will cost you dearly when my father and friends find out."

Simon laughed and grabbed a handful of hair and pulled her to him and said, "You mean those express boys you hang around with. Heck they can't do anything to me." Caly spit at him. Simon punched her in the stomach, threw her to the ground, and said, "Men, hold her down. I am going to have me some fun." The men grabbed Caly and held her down.

Michael took the note from his father and rode as fast as he could to the express station. As he reached the station, he saw Jimmy and Lee sitting on the porch talking. Jimmy looked up at the sound of a horse riding into the yard. He stood when he saw Michael on Starbright. As Michael pulled to a stop, Jimmy took the reins and said, "Michael, why are you on Caly�s horse? Where is she?"

Lee came over to where Jimmy stood and said, "Michael, what�s wrong?"

Michael climbed down and said, "Where�s Buck? I have something for him."

Lee looked confused and said, "He�s in the bunkhouse. Why?"

Michael headed for the bunkhouse and said, "I can't tell you right now."

Just then Buck came out of the bunkhouse. He nodded to Michael, and then he saw Caly�s horse and said, "Where�s Caly?"

Walking up to him, Michael said, "She�s not here. I rode Starbright." Seeing the confused look Michael said, "Here this will explain." He handed Buck the note. After reading the note, Buck mounted Starbright and rode back to the ranch as fast as he could.

Arriving at the ranch, Buck jumped off Starbright and ran into the house yelling, "Caly, Mr. Johnson, where are you?"

Steven walked into the room saying, "I'm right here, Buck."

Buck noticed that he had been crying. Looking around the kitchen at the mess and said, "What happened here? And where�s Caly?"

Sitting in the chair Steven said, "She�s been kidnapped, Buck. A man came a few months ago and tried to buy my ranch, but I wouldn't sell it. He said he would return, but I didn't think anything of it. But he did come back, and he took Caly to make me sell my ranch. He�s threatened to kill her if I don't. Could you please go after her for me? They are watching the house. If I leave they say they�ll kill her. Please, Buck, I know you two are close. It seems so much to ask but, please."

Buck looked around one more time and said, "Don't worry, Mr. Johnson, I will find her and bring her home. I'll go look for tracks and then go get the others to help. Michael is at the station. Once everyone knows what�s going on they will keep him there."

Steven nodded and said, "Thank you, Buck."

Buck stood and said, "She's my friend. They will help and if they hurt her. Just leave it to me."

Then he went outside and began looking for tracks. After finding some tracks, Buck mounted Starbright and rode back to the station. Arriving at the station, Buck yelled, "Jimmy, Lee, Kid, White Wolf, I need your help."

They all came running into the yard. As White Wolf reached him, she asked, "What�s happened? Caly doesn't let anyone ride her horse."

Buck climbed down and patted Starbright and said, "She�s been kidnapped. Some guy is using her to make her father sell the ranch. We need to act fast. Before something happens to her." With quick nods they all ran to the barn and saddled their horses. Buck lead Starbright to the corral and removed her saddle and let her in. Then he went and saddled Wind Dancer and met the others in the yard.

As they rode, everyone could see Buck was worried about his friend. They reached the hide out and crouched in the bushes. Looking at Lee and White Wolf, Buck said, "We'll take out the guards while you two find Caly." Lee and White Wolf nodded and slowly made their way to the building.

They watched as the girls moved along the side of the building before they made their move. Lee signaled they were in place. Jimmy and Kid took out two of the men quietly. Buck slit the throat of the third man. Buck was watching the fourth man and Simon come out of the building. Then he turned to Jimmy and said, "Think you can take out this guy quietly? I want the leader." Jimmy nodded and moved towards the guy. Buck made a noise to get their attention. They looked towards were they were hiding, allowing the girls to slip inside the building. Buck waited till Simon turned his back to them and jumped him. Buck proceeded to hit Simon.

Searching inside, Lee found Caly curled up in the corner. Lee noticed her clothes were torn to shreds and her hair was a mess. She turned and yelled for White Wolf. Then taking a step closer to Caly she saw Caly try to move further into the corner. As Caly moved, Lee was able to see all the cuts and bruises on her. As Lee turned, she saw White Wolf enter the room. Lee nodded towards the corner and said, "She�s been beaten pretty good. Can you go get Buck? While I look for something to cover her with. I don't want him to see her with her clothes that way. She might let him near her." White Wolf looked over her shoulder and nodded. As Lee searched the other rooms she found a blanket in one of the bedrooms.

Lee took the blanket into the room where Caly was. Kneeling by Caly�s side Lee covered her and said, "Here�s a blanket. Your father sent us after you. White Wolf went to get Buck." Caly pulled away from her, Lee stood and said, "Its okay, I'll back off. I won�t hurt you, Caly."

Outside White Wolf found Buck was being held by Kid while Jimmy tied up Simon. Walking up to Buck, White Wolf said, "Buck, we found Caly. She�s been beaten and maybe she�s been . . ." Buck looked at her. White Wolf nodded. Buck pulled from Kid�s hold and ran into the building. Reaching the room where Caly was, he stopped in his tracks when he saw her cowering in the corner. He looked at Lee and said, "Has she said anything?"

Lee shook her head and said, "I tried to get near her, but she pulled further away from me."

Buck nodded and slowly walked toward her saying, "Caly, it�s me Buck." Caly just pulled into a tighter ball. Buck called to her several more times as he approached her. Finally reaching Caly�s side Buck saw how bad she looked, so he touched her shoulder. Caly pulled away at first then Buck very softly said, "Caly, it�s me Buck. Please look at me."

Caly pulled the blanket tighter around herself and slowly turned over wincing in pain. She saw Buck and quickly went into his out stretched arms crying. Buck pulled her close, rocking her and saying," It�s okay now. You�re safe." As he stroked her tangled hair.

Buck picked Caly up and carried her to his horse. Buck looked at Caly and said, "Can Kid hold you while I mount up?" Caly shuddered as she wept in Buck�s arms.

Kid walked over and said, "It�s okay, Caly, I won�t hurt you."

Caly looked from Kid to Buck frightened. He had started to hand her to Kid but stopped when she got a terrified look on her face, he nodded. So he handed her to Lee instead. Caly let Lee hold her. Buck mounted up, and Lee handed her back to him. Wrapping a protective arm around her, Buck headed towards town.

Kid put Simon onto his horse and said, "You know that girl has a lot of friends in this town. You will pay for what you did to her." Kid climbed onto Katy and the others mounted up. They all headed towards town. Buck spurred his horse and started to run towards town when Caly whispered, "No, take me home please. I can't face anyone looking like this."

Buck looked down at her huddled in his arms like a small-frightened child, and said, "But you need to have the doc look at you."

Caly looked up at him and said, "No, I don't want him near me. Please."

Buck knew Caly was scared so he said, "Okay, I'll take you home, but I'll have Lee send the doc out to look at you."

Feeling her start to shake, Buck said, "Alright how about if Serena looks at you?" Caly nodded and stopped shaking.

Buck slowed his horse to allow the others to catch up. As Kid rode up with Simon, Caly tried to pull away from Simon trembling in fear. Buck pulled his horse away from Simon, and Kid pulled Simon�s horse away from Buck�s. Caly saw the murderous look in Buck�s eyes. Buck could feel Caly relax a little. Then he said, "Lee, can you send the doc out to her place when you get to town?"

Lee nodded and said, "Sure, Buck. I'll send him right after we deliver this asshole to Teaspoon."

Buck nodded and said, "Good. White Wolf, Caly might feel better with you around."

White Wolf nodded saying, "I think you might be right, Buck." Buck and White Wolf took Caly home while the others took Simon to town.

As Buck rode he said, "Caly, tell me what happened, please."

"No," Caly whispered as she laid her head on his chest trying to forget it ever happened.

Buck whispered, "Okay." Looking at White Wolf, Buck said, "Maybe she'll tell you. It must be pretty bad if she won�t tell me."

White Wolf nodded and said, "I'll try."

They reached the ranch, and White Wolf took Caly while Buck climbed down. Buck took Caly back from White Wolf and carried her into the house.

Steven saw Buck carry her into the house and said, "Oh God what happened to her?"

Buck didn't say a thing he just took Caly into the other room and sat with her. White Wolf turned to Steven and said, "That bastard beat her pretty bad. She won�t talk to me. Lee�s sending the doc out. I�m sorry we couldn't get to her before anything happened,"

Steven stood in the doorway and watched Caly cling to Buck for safety and said, "It�s not your fault. I just wish I could have protected her better."

White Wolf touched his arm and said, "You are doing a good job at it. Things happen. You had no way of knowing he would do this. I just hope this whole thing doesn't change her to much."

Steven nodded and said, "I do to. It won�t be the same without her laughter and smiles. I thank God that her and Buck are close friends. I don't know how to help her. I wish her mother was still alive."

Caly sat on the couch leaning on Buck when he said, "Please tell me what happened to you."

Shaking her head Caly said, "No, then you won�t like to be around me. And I couldn�t handle that. It would hurt to much."

Buck looked at her and said, "Why? I know you didn't have any control over any of this. You�re my friend,"

Without looking up at him, Caly said, "Because I love you is why. I have from the first time we talked."

Buck smiled and said, "Oh. Why didn't you say something?"

Trying to stop the tears, Caly said, "Because I didn't want to lose your friendship."

Buck held her close and said, "You won�t. I am lucky to have you as my friend."

Steven turned to White Wolf and said, "Would you stay with them? I have to do something. Besides, I don't think she�s going to let go of him for awhile. She has always felt safe with Buck. She needs that now more then ever." White Wolf nodded as Steven headed out to the barn.

Lee said, "I'm going to see if the doc will go see Caly while you see Teaspoon." Jimmy nodded as Lee headed to the clinic. Reaching the clinic, Lee went inside and saw Serena and Meg sitting there talking.

Serena looked up and said, "Hello, Lee. What can I do for you today?"

Lee swallowed hard and said, "Well, Mrs. Thomson, I need the Doc to go out to the SJ Ranch. Caly�s been beaten and maybe worse."

Serena looked at Lee and then to Meg watching for their reactions. "Well Daniel is with a patient right now, but I can have him come out as soon as he�s done."

Lee nodded and said, "Thank you, Mrs. Thomson, I better get over to the jail. White Wolf and Buck are with Caly now, so she�s not alone. I think Buck might be at a loss as to how to help her though." Serena nodded as Lee left the office and headed for the jail.

Serena sat there just watching Meg to see if Meg was okay and that old memories didn't come back. Meg got up and ran towards the door.

Teaspoon nodded and said, "Okay. I am going out to Caly�s place." Cody had seen the activity at the jailhouse, and he had wandered over to investigate. "You two take the body and bury him in the cemetery. Cody will show you the way." Kid and Jimmy nodded as they followed Cody out of the office. Teaspoon mounted up and headed for the SJ Ranch.

Luke recognized Simon as the guy who he stopped before Meg got raped in Boston. Then he headed over to Meg to see how she was doing. Luke reached Meg�s house just as Meg was rushing out the door. He stopped her at the door. "Where are you going?"

Shaking, Meg said, "To Caly's I want to see if I can help."

"What happened? Why do you need to help?"

"She's been beaten, Luke. I know what she's feeling"

"OK, but I�m going with you."

"No, Luke I need to do this by myself."

Luke looked down at the woman who had captured his heart and knew she was right. She needed to do this on her own. He let her by and watched her run to the livery and ride out on Golden Rod. She headed out of town in the direction of Caly�s Ranch.

As Meg passed by the riders she recognized the dead body as the man who had attacked her in Boston. He had been one of the reasons for them moving to Dreamville.

Meg reached the ranch and ran into the house. She stopped in the doorway to the living room when she saw Caly laying with her head in Buck�s lap looking dazed and scared. Meg walked into the room, and as she knelt in front of Caly, she quietly said, "Caly, can I talk with you a minute?"

Caly just looked at Meg and pulled further back in fear.

Till Buck laid a hand on her shoulder and said, "It�s okay. Meg won�t hurt you. I'll be right in the kitchen." Sitting up, Caly nodded and watched Buck leave the room.

Pulling the blanket tighter around herself, Caly looked towards the window and didn't say anything. Meg pulled the chair from the desk over in front of Caly. Sitting down she said, "I know what you�re going through. That sorry excuse for a piece of trash tried to rape me and he beat me up, too. But Luke stopped him before he could."

Caly turned to Meg and said, "You were lucky. At least someone stopped him before he could do it to you."

Meg sat there and just stared at Caly not believing what she just heard. Meg called out, "Buck, come here, please."

Buck walked into the room, and Meg said, "He didn't? Did he?"

"I don�t know. We�ll find out when your father checks her out." Buck said sitting down next to Caly. She laid her head back in his lap. Seeing the distant and scared look in Caly�s eyes, Meg stood and ran from the house and sat on the steps feeling upset and fighting back memories.

While sitting there thinking, Serena, Daniel, Jimmy, Kid and Lee rode up. As Daniel helped Serena down, Steven came out of the barn. He followed every one into the house.

Meg stayed near Serena in case she was needed to help with anything, Daniel walked over to where Caly and Buck were. As he reached them, Daniel said, "Caly, please let me take a look at you. Just to make sure you are okay."

Caly sat up real fast shaking her head no. Trying to pull away from Daniel.

Serena walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder and said, "She�s frightened. She�s been through a lot. Let me check her out, please."

Realizing that Caly wasn�t about to trust just any one, Daniel nodded and backed off. He watched as Caly slowly relaxed a little bit the further away he got. He knew from her reaction what had happened but hoped that Serena�s examination would prove him wrong. She was one of his star students in medical school, he knew whatever her diagnoses were it would be right.

Serena knelt next to Caly, and said, "Caly, will you let me examine you? It will be just you, Meg and me in the room. I won�t hurt you, you know that."

Caly looked around at everyone then to Buck, who nodded that she would be okay. Then he said, "I'll be right here. I won�t leave."

Caly nodded. Serena reached a hand to out to Caly. Caly took her hand and allowed Serena to lead her to her room. Meg followed and closed the door behind her. Serena helped Caly lay down on the bed. Serena examined her, then said, "Caly, I want you to get some sleep." Caly nodded.

Buck stood looking towards Kid and said, "Is he in jail?"

Kid shook his head and said, "No, he�s dead. Jimmy killed him."

Everyone turned to Jimmy. Jimmy said, "He was going to hurt Lee. I wasn't going to allow him to hurt her or anyone else again."

Steven turned to Jimmy and said, "Thank you."

Jimmy nodded and said, "Anytime. Caly�s my friend."

Serena came into the room where every one was.

"Has she been?" Steven looked up, unable to finish the sentence. Serena looked sad and nodded. Meg saw Serena�s answer and with memories flooding back, ran outside. She mounted Golden Rod and headed to town.

Steven was mad and not wanting to alarm Caly anymore then she needed to be, he headed for the barn. He started punching the walls and yelling, "Why her?"

Lee took off out of the door and jumped onto Black and rode off. Jimmy rode off after her.

Kid stood there clinching his fists in an attempt to control his anger.

Buck just looked down and slowly walked from the house.

White Wolf stormed from the house, mounting up and headed for the woods to do some hunting to help her think.

Meg rode till she came to Luke�s place. Climbing down she tied Golden Rod to the post and ran inside. She ran right into Luke�s arms. She was consumed by her memories and what ifs that she didn�t see Mr. Cromwell sitting in the chair.

"Excuse me, Mr. Cromwell."

"Sure Mr. Saunders, take all the time you need."

Luke took Meg into the back room. "Meg, what happened?"

"They didn�t get to her in time, Luke. He not only beat her, but Serena said that he raped her." Meg said through tears.

"Wait here. I�ll close up and take you home." Meg nodded and Luke went to finish cutting Simon Cromwell�s hair. It didn�t take him long. He then took Meg home. All Meg could think was If Luke hadn�t been there, he would have done that to me.

When Jimmy found Lee, she was sitting under a tree crying. He just stood behind her. Lee didn�t have to turn around to know who was there. "If you weren�t there . . ."

"But I was." Jimmy replied.

"Why couldn�t we have gotten there sooner?"