Free Mountain Woman Snake River Blizzard by Johnny Fowler Page A

you.  That was the smart way to handle it, but we have been in this business long enough to know not every operation is successful.  We’ ll get them, sooner or later . ”
    Captain Dunlap and Chief Kincaid turned toward town and Man and Kate went toward home.  “We go close to where Lucille lives,” Kate said.  “I suggest we stop by and give them a report.  There’s always the possibility they’re still in the area .  We should remind her to keep her door bar r ed.”
    Kate was the first to see the buggy parked in front of Lucille’s home.  “I see Cliff is visiting again.  Do we stop?” she asked.
    “I don’t think she or Cliff will mind since the boys are home,” he said with a chuckle.
    “You’re awful,” she said , matching his chuckle.
    “ Something’ s wrong,” Man said as he pulled his Walker from the holster .  “The front door is wide open and it’s cold out here.”
    They dismounted and went to either side of the door.  Man stepped in and moved to the right and Kate was a half-second behind him and moved to the left, both covering the room with their pistols.
    Dan saw them first and shouted, “ It was Engledow and Valdez.  They took M om.   Bob hit Cliff on the head awfully hard.  He hasn’t moved since.”
    “We need to get him to a doctor,” Kate said.  She pulled her Green River skinning knife and cut the boys loose.   Man was busy with Cliff .  Help me get him to the buggy,” he said.
    The four of them carried the unconscious man to the buggy.  “Da n, you drive. Roy, help hold Cliff so he doesn’t fall out.”
    Man and Kate mounted and led the way toward town.  They saw one of the police officers that had been with them earlier.  “Engledow and Valdez kidnapped Lucille and hit Cliff on the head.  It would be appreciated if you get word to Dunlap or Kincaid.  We’ re taking Cliff to the doctor.”
    As before , the four of them carried Cliff .  The doctor met them at the door and showed them where to put him on an examination table.
    “What happened?” the doctor asked.
    “A gun barrel blow to the head,” Man said.
    “ My word.  It’s Cliff Landers,” the doctor said as he wiped the blood from the face of the injured man.   “He never harmed a fly.”
    “Do what you can for him ,” Kate said.  “ We have work to do. ”
    Kate and Man ushered the two boys out of the office and they went to Cliff ’s buggy.
    Captain Dunlap came jogging toward them.  “How is Cliff ?” he asked as he sucked in a deep breath after the long run .
    “Unconscious.  T he doctor is working on him now.  That’s all we know,” Kate replied .
    “What happened?” Dunlap asked.
    Kate pulled Roy and Dan in front of her.  “They saw it all. You need their official statement.”
    “Tell Mr. Dunlap what happened ,” she said facing the boys .  As u sual, Roy did the taking and went through the details.   When he finished, Dan spoke for the first time.  “Bob and Al took all of M om’s clothes, her heavy coat and a ll the blankets and quilts. Bob said they would need them in Canada.”
    Kate glanced at Man.  “That means they’re going south, ” Kate said.
    Man nodded agreement.
    Dan w as shaking his head .  “Canada is north,” he said.
    “We know,” Kate said.  “That wasn’t a slip of the tongue.  Those two are professional cro oks.  He said that to throw us off.  They’re going south.”
    “I’ll get out another wire,” Dunlap said.
    “That’s all we can do for now,” Man said.  He turned to Roy and Dan .  “Take Mr. Landers ’ buggy to your place for the night.  Bring it to our home tomorrow morning.  We’ll take care of the horse until Cliff n eeds it .  Howeve r, should we get a lead and hit the trail, you’ll need to take charge of the horse and buggy until he’s well .”
    “Yes , sir,” Roy said.
    Man pulled out money and counted it.  He handed both boys their wages.  “This is for this week and next.  If we leave