the wagon. I think he got the ransom and left for good."
The siblings embraced. Boyd was happy to see the love between the two.
A clap of thunder rolled, and then lightening lit up the graying sky.
"Maybe we had better take shelter," Bianca suggested.
"I don't think it's such a good idea to stay in this house. We do not know if Red is returning and who he could return with," Beau commented.
"We have food in here and besides, I think we are about to get caught in a torrential rain storm."
The men contemplated what she suggested. Bianca was right. There was no reason to travel for the immediate moment, and all become soaked to the bone in the rain. The men stepped inside just as the skies opened up and dowsed the earth with rain.
Boyd watched as the rain soaked the earth. "Looks like we found shelter just in time."
"Thank goodness you all found me. I hope that your journey to me was a safe one."
"Yes Ma'am. It was our pleasure." Beau tipped his hat to the woman and then took it completely off of his head. Scout and Boyd followed suit.
"To whom do I owe the unending appreciation of saving my life?"
Scout held out his hand. "My sister, please meet Boyd and Beau Abbott. They are the wonderful United States Marshals that led the search efforts to find you."
"Why thank you." First she walked over to Beau, offering a curtsey, then to Boyd, offering the same. In Boyd's presence, she lingered just a second longer, holding his gaze.
"Thank you, gentlemen. I will never be able to repay you for all that you have done. I pray that the efforts to find me have not taken you too far away from your families."
"As a matter of fact, sister, the two of them are twins, which you can most likely tell. And they have moved to Arizona from South Carolina."
"Well, that is impressive. I have never been that far away from home. And the two of you doing so together is even more of a testament to the power of family. As you see, my brother and I are different, but very close."
Beau responded. "Your brother Scout has recounted the story to us, Ms. Simmons. We are just happy to be able to help, and looking forward to living here."
Bianca clasped her hands together, a tired smile coming across her face. "I can only assume how tired and hungry you all must be. I am one hundred percent confident that Red Davies, my captor, will not be returning. So we can stay here and wait out the storm with a cabinet full of food items."
The rain sounded like it was going to come straight through the roof. Boyd was not sure how secure their shelter was, but it would have to do. Fortunately, the horses were corralled behind them in the barn so that they would be safe from the weather. Thunder crashed, and lightening illuminated the sky. Without it, there was gray and it was too dark, although it was day time. Bianca bounced around, obviously full of anxiety. Scout tried to calm her, and reassure his sister that they were there to protect her.
"Who does this house belong to?" Boyd questioned.
"I really don't know. I assumed that it belonged to Red. He was pretty familiar with his surroundings while we were here."
"Well, I don't want to get too comfortable. We need to head back as soon as the weather lets up."
"Boyd is it?" Bianca asked politely.
"Actually Ma'am, I'm Beau."
"I'm so sorry about that. Beau, I think that you have spoken a truth. I really would like to get home as soon as possible, if you all do not mind."
"We will make that happen, sister. It is not the smartest idea to get out in this weather, especially without a covered wagon. Being out on the range with the land wide open, lightening is way too dangerous."
Thunder rumbled so hard that it shook the house.
"Apparently not," Bianca replied, and the tension and anxiety in the room broke immediately.
Bianca busied herself making coffee for everyone. Beau and Boyd never truly left their posts near the windows. As far as they were concerned, there was potential for Red Davies to return at
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