Sky and the Starlets

Fiction by Frank Knebel

Chapter 8

Though it was only mid-morning of a bright, clear day in early October, a large and excited crowd of all ages was flowing and eddying around the neat rows of booths on the Kermit fairgrounds. The booths were a comfortable distance from the main entrance to the rodeo ring with its permanent bleachers. Since the rodeo events would not begin until after noon, there was little traffic around the gates save for a few contestants who were strangers to the town. Deputy Al MacKeever was pointing two of them to the correct entrance for participants. Nearby, Deputy Ben Norris was leading a bewildered child by the hand toward the tent that served as the Wild West Days office. A woman rushed from a knot of people just outside the tent door, waving and calling to the child. Norris pointed to the woman as he spoke to the child, who looked about in confusion. The woman swept the toddler up in her arms and hugged him. After a moment or two the child responded by bursting into a series of sustained wails, to the alarm of his mother and the great amusement of the people watching the scene.
        A mariachi band at the far edge of the tent area struck up a lively tune. There was some traffic around booths with local Indian craftsmen in colorful dress working on native jewelry and metal crafts, but at this early hour most of the local residents and visitors were concentrating on the tents that held games offering prizes to be won. There were lines of people waiting to toss rings at hooks and stakes, throw darts at target balloons, and submit guesses as to the number of marbles in a huge glass jar. A small roar went up from the crowd clustered around an air-rifle shooting gallery as a teenage boy hit the target to win the biggest prize available.
Mayor Holmes and Councilman Roberts looked about the busy fairgrounds with well- satisfied expressions.
"An excellent turnout, wouldn't you say, Warren?" asked Roberts with his usual heartiness.
"Very satisfactory," the mayor replied calmly. "Very satisfactory indeed."
He watched a passing couple herding their four young children along. All the youngsters had their faces buried in snow cones of various flavors.  
        "And it seems that business is going to be very good," he added. "I hope that will make the other council members happy."
        Roberts made a wry face.
        "No matter how much money we raise for the hospital fund, Bob Eckhart won't be happy about things like that."
        He nodded toward one of the closed booths. Pictures of several young women in skimpy harem costumes hung from the front tent walls. The legend above the tent door read: THE DANCE OF THE SULTAN'S SLAVES REVEALED HERE!!! SHOWS EVERY HOUR BEGINNING AT 4:00.
The mayor sighed.
        "I suppose we'd better have someone watch the act to make sure it's all right."
        "Oh, I've seen it," said Roberts quickly. When he saw Holmes' right eyebrow raise slightly, he hastened to add: "I had the same thought, so I caught one of the shows last night. They don't do anything you couldn't see on television."
        "That probably wouldn't appease Eckhart," said Holmes with a chuckle. "He probably believes that television is a tool of the Devil. What I'm most worried about is over there."
        He gestured to a tent that was just being opened up. The front flaps had been pulled back and tied off revealing three small booths inside. Above the booth closest to the walkway along the exhibit fronts was a sign: KISSES --- $1. Workers were rolling up the side flaps of the tent partway up to allow a little breeze. Among these workers Roberts recognized Summer and Fred Merrill and Sky, Julie and Copper Ryder. Summer said something to Copper. The blonde replied and then walked toward the booth with the sign. She took a seat behind the stand and drew a roll of tickets from under the counter. Summer took a metal box from the shoulder bag she had left on the ground and handed it to Copper. Copper opened it, revealing a number of bills in several compartments for making change.
        "A kissing booth?" said Roberts. It was his turn to chuckle. "It's not exactly a new idea, but it's always a good one. You think that Bob will object to it?"
        Holmes nodded wearily.
        "Especially when he finds that our two actresses and the Miss Kermit contestants will be among those giving the kisses. There might be others who object as well."
        They were interrupted by a splash and a commotion in the crowd at an attraction near them. They turned and saw a man in a clown costume emerge from the three-foot deep water in a brightly painted tank. Several people were backslapping a young fellow at the counter who had thrown a baseball and hit the bull's-eye causing a seat just above the tank to release. The barker went into a congratulatory spiel. As the clown was helped out of the tank by one uniformed helper, another was resetting the seat for its next occupant. An attractive young woman in a showgirl costume waved to the crowd as she waited. A chorus of shouts and wolf whistles arose from the men. They pushed, elbowed and jostled each other in their haste to pay to be the next thrower.
        "I wonder how she looks when she's wet," Roberts murmured as he watched. He turned quickly to Holmes. "I'll keep my eye on them, just to make sure everything's all right."
        Without waiting for a reply, he headed for the booth with quick strides.

*     *     *     *     *
        
        Deputy Andy Rivera hitched his thumbs into his gunbelt as he watched a couple of disreputable-looking cowboys hand dollar bills to Copper Ryder. The petite blonde tore two tickets off a roll and handed one to each man. Grinning widely at one another, they strode eagerly toward the two kissing booths. Patty Brennan and Estrelita Verdugo waited, trying their best to smile though the result was, at best, wooden. Rivera stiffened slightly as the man at Estrelita's booth said something, then leaned over and reached his arms out to her. Estrelita put her hands just above the inner side of the man's elbows, preventing him from pulling her too close to him and allowing her to push away when he tried to hold the kiss too long. Patty Brennan used the same technique on her customer. Both women smiled and said something to the two men, who took a couple hesitant steps backward as though they expected to be asked to return for several more kisses each.
        "You're a strong man, amigo," said Harry Tyler as he watched the two men reluctantly walk away from the booth. "I don't think I could take watching Amy kissing any guy willing to put down a buck."
        Rivera shrugged. He was still watching the two cowboys.
        "Estrelita says it's all for a good cause. I guess it is. I don't mind the kissing so much, but that guy leaned over so he could look down her dress."
        Tyler glanced at the two girls. In contrast to Patty's knee-length skirt and lightweight blouse with all but the top button closed, Estrelita wore a peasant-type skirt, actually longer than Patty's, and a blouse that was low-cut enough to display some very attractive cleavage.
        "Summer's trained all the girls pretty well," he said. "You saw how they fended those two off. Just tell Estrelita not to wear such a sexy blouse."
        Rivera chuckled.
"I did. But Estrelita said that the girls talked it over and decided they would get more business if they looked good." He glanced at Harry sheepishly. "And it's not easy to keep Estrelita from doing something she's made up her mind to do."
Tyler nodded and let out a long, slow breath in reply. He and Rivera relaxed when the two amorous cowboys departed. Estrelita's next customer was a small, meek-looking middle- aged man. Patty's was a nervous college boy.
"I'm kinda surprised that Amy didn't volunteer for a shift or two," said Rivera.
Harry shuffled his feet slightly.
"I think that Summer asked her, but she decided that there was too much work to do. She didn't want to ask the Sheriff for any time off."

*     *     *     *     *

        "I'm surprised that Summer didn't ask you to work an hour or two in the kissing booth, Amy," said Joan O'Connor. "I'd think that most of the men in Kermit would pay a lot more than a dollar for a kiss from you."
        Amy Cole laughed as she sidestepped some running children. She and the others in her party, Joan, Diana Malloy, Deputy Sue Kendall, and Deputies Hansen and Willard, were making their way through the crowds and exhibit tents toward the kissing booth. Diana and Sue were a few steps behind talking to the two men.
        "With you and Diana here, I think I'd be pretty far down the list of attractions for the men in town. Summer did ask me about taking a couple shifts, but when I mentioned it to Harry I could tell he didn't like the idea very much. I just told Summer that I'd be too busy being a deputy to take any time off. I'll have to do my bit for the hospital fund by keeping you and Diana safe to pucker up for the local guys."
        "The things we do, or in this case don't do, for our men!" Joan said with a laugh. "I hope that Harry appreciates it."
        Amy raised an eyebrow at her friend.
        "And speaking of that, why isn't there some man around here watching after you?"
        Joan looked away.
        "I don't need any man to look after me. And how do you know there isn't one faithfully waiting back in L. A.?"
        Amy made a face.
        "Come on, Joan! After two kidnap attempts, most of the men I know would be at your side with both eyes on you and lecturing you every hour to give it all up and get out of town. And if the haranguing didn't work, they'd tie you up themselves, throw you in the back seat of a car and kidnap you back to California for your own good."
        Joan laughed.
        "Chivalry Western-style." Her face grew more serious. "Hollywood isn't a real great place for meeting down-to-earth, steady and dependable men, Amy. I've dated a number of guys out there, but none of them have been the type to get serious about. And if the movies I'm offered don't get better than Monster of Rock and Roll Beach pretty soon, I'll come back here and let you introduce me to one of those chivalrous cowboys." She lowered her voice. "We'll make a great pair with him hogtying me and Harry using the handcuffs on you."
        They both laughed, with Amy also playfully shushing Joan. They looked up to see a uniformed figure coming toward them.
        "I hope everything went all right at the hospital," said Harry Tyler.
        The women stopped walking for a moment. Tyler put an arm around Amy and she responded by doing the same.
        "Everything went fine," said Amy. She turned her head back as Sue, Deputy Hansen, Diana, and Deputy Willard caught up to them. "The publicity photos are all taken and, despite the fact that they need sleep, Lew and Tom took good care of us."
        Willard emphasized Amy's words with a cavernous yawn. Tyler grinned.
        "All right, you two. You're relieved. Andy and I'll take the girls off your hands."
        "This is one time I'm not glad to be glad to be going off duty," said Willard with a wistful glance at the two starlets.
        "Well, to show my thanks," Diana said, pinching his cheek, "here's one on the house."
        She stood on her tiptoes and kissed the surprised deputy on the lips, holding it for several seconds. When she finally broke the kiss, Willard was glassy-eyed and slightly unsteady on his feet. The others laughed.
        Joan noted that Lew Hansen had his left arm around Sue far enough that his hand was in the middle of her back. She stuck out her right hand to shake with him.
        "You did a fine job too, Lew," she said. "I'll let Sue thank you for me."
        The two blushed while the others laughed again. Tyler led the group toward the kissing booths while Hansen and Willard headed back toward the fairground entrance.

*     *     *     *     *

        Sky Ryder folded his arms across his chest then reacted as his right hand was poked by one of the points of the deputy's star pinned to the left side of his waist-length Western jacket. Though he made no exclamation, Julie Ryder heard an audible hiss of breath.
        "Forgot you had your badge on again, didn't you?" she asked quietly.
        "Just keep your eyes on the men buying the tickets," he said good-humoredly. "You may recognize one of them."
        The couple was standing near the kissing booths, watching the line of men waiting to buy tickets from Copper. Joan and Diana had just given kisses to their first customers under the watchful eyes of Deputies Sue Kendall and Andy Rivera on one side and Amy Cole and Harry Tyler on the other. Estrelita Verdugo, who had remained after her hour-long shift was over, stood next to Deputy Rivera.
        "I don't know, Sky," Julie replied. "Everybody in the gang was well hooded or masked, which makes it pretty hard to identify them. Joan and Diana were with them twice and for a fairly long time, but they were blindfolded both times. It'll be a miracle if we can spot any of them. Do you really think they'll try anything today?"
        Sky shook his head.
        "I doubt it. It's too open here. There are too many people around and too much protection for the girls. It's much more likely that they'll try something tomorrow at the stagecoach robbery re-enactment." He paused for a moment and gazed intently at the men in the kissing line. "But somehow I have the feeling that they're here, either to check our security measures or to gloat. Maybe both."
        Julie scanned the crowd. She had a sudden, uneasy feeling that Sky was right.

*     *     *     *     *

        Sheriff Winchell and Deputy Bob Falk stood at the main entrance to the fair grounds watching Deputies MacKeever and Norris begin their patrol through the exhibits. They waved to Hansen and Willard as they passed on their way to the gate.
        "Everything go all right, boys?" Winchell asked as the two stopped.
        "Just fine, Sheriff," said Hansen. "We escorted the girls to the kissing booth and turned them over to Harry and Andy."
        Willard yawned again. Hansen smiled.
        "Now it's time to get Tom home to bed."
        The Sheriff instructed the two on their reports and filing for overtime. They saluted and headed for their patrol car parked just outside the gate. Falk was looking into one of the knots of people nearby. Winchell followed his gaze. Mayor Holmes was talking to a very attractive woman of about thirty. The woman had reddish tinted brown hair and wore a flatteringly form-fitting belted dress. In white-gloved hands she held a clutch purse that matched her high-heeled pumps.
        "Nice looking woman," Winchell noted. "I didn't think that an old married man like you would be looking so closely."
        "I'm not looking for myself, Sheriff," said Falk, keeping his eyes on the woman. "The Mayor's married too, but that isn't his wife. He sure is interested in what she's saying."
        Winchell looked again. The woman smiled at Holmes and took her leave. Before the mayor could turn away, another woman approached him and began talking animatedly.
        "You know how it is for politicians," said Winchell. "You have to talk to the voters."
        "Maybe," said Falk. He turned to the Sheriff. "But I don't think I've ever seen that woman before. Do you know who she is?"
        Winchell shook his head.
        "She's a stranger to me."
        "Me, too," said Falk.

*     *     *     *     *

        The eager-faced cowboy wiped his left sleeve across his mouth while he tilted his broad-brimmed hat back with his right. Though he grinned at Joan he shuffled awkwardly and seemed unable to step closer.
        "It shore will be a pleasure t'kiss a gal as purty as you, Miz O'Connor," he said. "And yore a real Hollywood star t'boot."
        Joan smiled at him. Though she could not feign being eager to kiss the man, she tried to be friendly.
        "I'm just a girl from Kermit," she said simply. "And your donation to the hospital fund will be a big help, so here's your reward."
        She had just begun to lean forward and reach up to him when he suddenly bent over, grabbed her with both arms and planted a long, fervent kiss on her lips. Joan tried unsuccessfully to push him gently away once, but before she could make a second attempt he broke the kiss and stepped back. He looked around sheepishly, snatched off his hat as a sign of respect and bobbed his head slightly in imitation of a bow.
        "Sorry ma'am," he mumbled. He fingered the hat brim absently. "Guess I got a little carried away. I shore did get my money's worth, though. C'mon, Howie."
        He pulled on the shirt of the man next him. His friend, who had just gotten a kiss from Diana, was a rather short man wearing a loud Hawaiian shirt, sunglasses and a straw hat. The cowboy pulled the little man away, and the pair headed for the dart-and-balloon booth. Sue Kendall and Andy Rivera, who had both taken a step forward when they saw the cowboy's amorous kiss, relaxed.
        "What a couple of mashers!" exclaimed Diana as she waited for her next customer.
        "It's all for a good cause," sighed Joan, reaching for the next man's ticket.
        
*     *     *     *     *

        When they were out of earshot, the short man snatched off his sunglasses.
        "What did you do that for?" exploded Jackson. "It wasn't crazy enough to go buy a kiss from her, but you had to draw attention to yourself with that hayseed act and a mash kiss!"
        Jones straightened the hat on his head.
        "Take it easy, little man," he drawled. "They didn't have any idea it was us, did they?"
        He grinned.
        "And it was worth it!"

*      *     *     *     *

"It looks as though business is booming," said Sky Ryder as he watched Copper put another bill into the cash box, tear a ticket from the dwindling roll and hand it to an eager college boy.
        Copper looked up at Sky and Julie. A few blond hairs had fallen over her forehead. She tried to get them out of her eyes by blowing a puff of air at them. When that failed, she pushed them back in place with her hand.
        "Every man in the county must have heard about Joan and Diana being here," the girl said, wagging a thumb at the line in front of her as another bill slid toward her.
        As Copper handed over another ticket, Sky and Julie checked the line. There must have been forty men waiting and more were headed in their direction. Sky looked at his watch.
        "They've only been here twenty minutes," he said. "I hope they can last the rest of the hour."
        Julie gave Copper a sympathetic glance.
         "They probably can, but I don't know about Copper," she said. "I'd better help you, Sweetie." She turned to Sky. "See if you can find me a chair, will you, Sky?"
        As Julie began assisting Copper's ticket taking, Sky looked around. There were no chairs or stools to be seen, but nearby he spotted a sturdy wooden barrel of about the right size. He moved it to the ticket stand and helped Julie sit next to Copper.
As he straightened up he noticed a woman watching him from in the crowd. She was quite attractive, with a lovely, minx-like face topped by well-coifed reddish-brown hair, and the form-hugging dress she wore plainly showed off her very womanly curves. But his attention was drawn more because she was the only woman who seemed to have any interest in the kissing booth. Other women were passing by either without looking or with only an irritated glance at the line of men and the two actresses. This woman was smiling as she gazed at the scene. She noticed Sky, and smiled and nodded at him. He touched the brim of his hat in return. As she turned to leave, Councilman Roberts passed her. She said something to him. He stopped, beamed at her and said a few words before she walked away. After a little bow of his head, Roberts ogled her departing backside for several moments then got into line. Sky turned to Julie and Copper, intending to point out the woman to them and ask if they had seen her before. But they were both busy selling tickets and when he turned back, she had disappeared into the crowd.

*     *     *     *     *

        Dugan looked up from the newspaper her had propped on the steering wheel of the car when he heard Patricia approach. She swung the passenger side door open and daintily and gracefully settled herself in the seat.
        "How's it look?" he asked, folding up the paper.
        "Our little friends are being guarded by four deputies as well as Sky Ryder, his wife and his niece," she said. She closed the car door. "I paid our respects to Mr. Ryder."
        He stared at her.
        "I hope you didn't do anything foolish."
        She crossed her legs and, after making sure she was displaying them well, made a show of trying to pull her skirt down. She arched her back slightly and took a deep breath to emphasize her bust. His eyes widened a bit.
        "I'm not as foolish as Jones and Jackson," she said primly. "Those two actually bought kisses from our little blond bombshells. It was probably Jones' idea."
        Dugan gripped the wheel hard enough to turn his knuckles white.
        "I'll break his neck!" he growled as he started the car.
        "No, you won't," she said. She turned the rearview mirror to check her hair. "I know how they're going to do the stage robbery re-enactment tomorrow. We'll be ready, but we'll need everybody, including Jones. Did you get the other men we'll need?"
        "They're all ready."
        She swung the mirror back in place.
        "Good. Let's go then. We've got work to do."

*     *     *     *     *

        Councilman Roberts laid a twenty-dollar bill on the counter in front of Copper. She tore off a ticket and handed it to him, then put the bill into the cash box and began counting change.
        "Oh, no!" he said, smiling amiably. "No change necessary, Miss Ryder."
        Copper looked up with a confused smile.
        "You mean that you want to donate the rest to the hospital fund?"
        "Oh, I want to donate it all. Just give me twenty tickets, ten for each of the girls."
        Copper hesitated. Julie looked into Roberts' beaming face.
        "You understand that after you use one ticket, you'll have to go back to the end of the line." She gestured to the line that steadily numbered some fifty men.
        "That'll be fine." His smile was beginning to look artificial.
        Julie and Copper counted out ten tickets each.
        "Thanks for supporting the Hospital fund, Mr. Roberts," said Julie.
        As Roberts headed for Karen and Joan's stations, Julie looked over her shoulder at Sky. The tall rancher raised an eyebrow. As he watched Roberts kiss both girls and return to the back of the line, Sky also spotted Reverend Andrews and Councilman Eckhart standing some thirty feet from the waiting men. Eckhart was talking and gesturing emphatically, pounding his right fist into the palm of his left hand, obviously in full harangue. The clergyman was regarding the scene with a sad, thoughtful expression.

*     *     *     *     *

        "Hey, Julie!" called a woman's voice. "How do we look?"
        Julie Ryder turned. She had been watching Joe Bailey and a couple other Flying Coronet ranch hands hitching horses to the stagecoach as Wes Donovan led the last horse of the team down the ramp of a trailer toward them. Joe, Wes and the other men also turned at the sound of the voice. Summer Merrill waved to Julie and waited as Sheriff Winchell helped Joan O'Connor out of the back seat of one of the patrol cars at the end of a small line of vehicles parked at the side of the highway. Deputies Tyler and Rivera were assisting Diana Malloy and Deputy Sue Kendall from another car. All of the women were dressed to suggest schoolteachers of the 1880s.
        Summer wore a long gray skirt, high-collared white blouse with cameo brooch, and a dark blue jacket. A cloth handbag and a triangular hat with large pin were in her hand. Joan wore a long, blue-checkered calico dress, a black shawl over her shoulders and a white sunbonnet. Diana was dressed similarly to Summer except that her skirt and jacket were of rich, dark green, and her round black hat was adorned with a sizable green feather. Sue's simple muslin skirt, jacket, purse and bonnet were of matching light brown.     
        "You look right purty, gals," drawled Julie as the four approached the coach. "And just like the pictures in the archives of the teachers who were on the stage. Really authentic."
        "If you want to see authentic, just look at this," said Summer. She turned to the others. "Let's show her, girls."
        The four women fell into line and, at a nod from Summer, all lifted the front of their long skirts. Beneath the petticoats, some of them frilly, some plain, Julie could see that every girl wore a pair of high-button shoes.
        "Now that's really authentic!" she said with a laugh. "How authentic are you?"
        "No whalebone corsets or anything like that," said Diana. "Summer let us wear modern underwear, thank God!"
        "Not that we couldn't have used some help getting into these outfits!" said Joan. "Kermit's imitating Hollywood when it comes to showing off female assets."
        Julie checked the fit of the dresses on the four. Though the costume skirts were long and loose, the bodices of all four were certainly snug and very flattering. Even Sue Kendall, whose bust size was average, appeared well endowed. Before Julie could comment, the Sheriff and several men who had been standing by their parked cars approached. The group included Mayor Holmes, Councilman Herb Vidor, Councilman/editor Norman Barrett and a tall young man.
        "Are you ladies about ready?" asked Winchell.
        "We're ready to go, Sheriff," Summer said heartily. "I hope you're ready, too."
        Winchell nodded.
        "Harry and Andy'll be watching you for the first couple miles of your run. MacKeever and Norris are posted at the spot where the highway comes closest to the Old Stage Road. Ken Moore and his gang of outlaws are with them. Fred Merrill's leading the posse, a couple miles or so southwest of them, just outside of town. I have deputies and reserve deputies with both the outlaws and the posse. And, as soon as I can get Julie back to the airport, she and Sky will be in the Hummingbird keeping watch over everything from above."
        "Sounds pretty foolproof to me, Sheriff," said Summer.
        "And to me, too," added Mayor Holmes. "I congratulate you, Sheriff."
        "I don't know about that, Mr. Mayor," said the young man, looking thoughtfully at the four women. "There'll be several stretches where your people on the ground won't be able to see the coach. Even with Mr. Ryder watching from the air, help can't get to it very quickly. And why didn't you add a guard to the coach?"
        "There was no guard on the stage when it was robbed in 1889, Burt," Herb Vidor broke in quickly. "Things have to be done correctly as to historical details."
        "And Joe Bailey, the driver, and Sue will be armed, Mr. Metford," said the Sheriff. "I think that they'll be pretty safe."
        The young man raised an eyebrow.
        "And why isn't the stage starting closer to town? With all that's been going on lately, it seems that a shorter run would be a lot safer."
        "But we have to have the stage stopped exactly where it was in 1889!" Herb Vidor said emphatically. "It just wouldn't be right to---"
        Norman Barrett put his hand on Metford's shoulder.
        "I guess that to someone who's a little new in town, these things probably seem silly," he said calmly. "But to those of us who live out here, the history of the West is very important. Sheriff Winchell and Sky will see that the women are well protected."
        Summer Merrill began pinning on her hat.
        "Well, Sheriff, the sooner you get Julie to the airport, the sooner we'll be able to start," she said. "The boys have the team almost ready, so I suggest you get going."
        "Sounds to me like an order from the Chairwoman, Sheriff," Holmes said with a chuckle.
        "Let's go before I get in real trouble," Winchell said to Julie.
        After a few last words to Sue and Joe Bailey, the Sheriff led Julie to his car and opened the back door for her. Deputy Barnes started the engine, pulled onto the highway, and made a U-turn for Kermit. The Mayor's group and the stage passengers watched as Joe and Wes finished hitching the team and Sky's other men closed up the horse trailers to return to the ranch. Norm Barrett led the young man to the two starlets.
        "I'd like you to meet Burt Metford, one of my ace reporters," said Barrett.
        Burt Metford was a rather awkward-looking man. Though tall, he seemed gangly rather than rangy and, despite fair hair, blue eyes, and regular features, the first impression an observer had of his face was that it was not particularly good-looking. He smiled shyly as he shook hands with Joan and Diana in turn.
        "A pleasure to meet you both," he mumbled.
        Norman Barrett drew Summer and Sue into a conversation about the stage run. Diana seemed eager to listen and sidled over to hear what they were saying. Joan and Metford were left in an awkward silence. Joan tried an opening.
        "From what Mr. Barrett says, you must be a new arrival in Kermit."
        Burt Metford looked down and scuffled his feet in the dirt.
        "Oh, not exactly. I've been here a little more than a year. I came not long after I graduated from journalism school in Illinois. Now I work for Mr. Barrett at the Klarion." He glanced at her, then looked away quickly. "He wants me to write up the whole story of what's going on with you two when the sheriff gives the okay."
        "And what do you know already? In a small town it isn't easy to keep secrets."
        Metford glanced at her again and tugged at his collar.
        "I only know what he's told to me. Someone's after you two, they've tried to make off with you a couple times and that some of it's been"--- he gulped and looked at the ground again---"pretty embarrassing for you. Mr. Barrett wanted me to start working on the story a couple days ago, but I convinced him to wait until Wild West Days were over. I wouldn't want to write up all that with you two having to appear in public and everybody knowing … er, that is, thinking about you all tied up with hardly anything … I mean, any clothes …"
        He tugged at his collar again as he trailed off.
        "That's very sweet of you, Mr. Metford," Joan said, smiling warmly at him. "I thought that reporters were supposed to be cold and hard, and just after the facts no matter what it cost."
        He looked at her, now transfixed by her smile. He smiled back.
        "And I thought that Hollywood starlets were cold and hard, and only interested in their faces, their figures and their careers."
        "I guess we've got a lot to learn about each other," said Joan.

*     *     *     *     *

        Deputy Andy Rivera pulled the brim of his hat down to shield his eyes from the morning sun. Deputy Harry Tyler was leaning against their car watching the hitching of the stage horses. The women, except for Joan, were in a group talking excitedly about the original holdup. Joan and Burt Metford were both smiling as they talked quietly.
        "That young reporter seems to be getting along pretty well with Joan," Tyler noted.
        Rivera looked. Joan was laughing attractively at something the young man had said.  
        "So how'd you talk Amy into letting Sue to ride in the stage?" Rivera asked. "I mean, Amy's an old friend of Miss O'Connor and everything, so I expected her to be in the coach."
        "Amy's had a lot of excitement the last few days and not a lot of sleep at night," said Tyler. "I convinced her to sleep in this morning. She'll be watching, but from a safe distance."

*     *     *     *     *

        Copper Ryder drew her pinto pony beside the bay horse Amy Cole was riding. The dark-haired Deputy was gazing intently from the trail where they stood toward the old stagecoach road that wound around the base of the rocky hills below.
        "So how'd Harry talk you out of riding in the coach with Joan and Diana?" asked Copper. "I thought sure you'd want to be the one guarding them today."
        Amy chuckled ruefully.
        "Harry was very persuasive." She leaned conspiratorially toward Copper, though there was little chance that there was anyone around to hear. "He had me handcuffed and tied up last night and threatened to tape my mouth and leave me locked in his apartment if I didn't agree to stay in a safe place today."
        Copper laughed.
        "And this is your idea of a safe place?"
        Amy smiled.
        "Well, I promised him I'd stay close to town and watch the trail. If he somehow got the idea that I'd be with Al and Ben or Bob and Bonnie, that's his mistake."
        "I wonder how he would've gotten that idea?" said Copper, raising an eyebrow.
        "By the way, thanks again for the loan of the horse. And I'm sure that Sky and Julie know that you're out here instead of being back in town waiting to see the posse run off the outlaws and rescue the stage passengers."
        "Well, like you say, it's not very dangerous here. We're just helping to keep watch on the stage in a spot where it can't be seen from the highway."
        Amy looked around uneasily.
        "Yeah. Harry and Andy will be able to watch it for the first couple miles," --- she gestured to their left --- "but after they turn around Stover's Rock there's this two- or three-mile stretch they'll be out of sight until Al and Ben" - she pointed to the right -"can see them from the highway. This part of the road right below us is where they'll be vulnerable."
        "But Sky and Julie will be watching everything from the Hummingbird."
        Amy nodded.
        "It's true that they can see everything, but they won't be in a position to help."
        "Well, up here we're sure in a great place to see everything," said Copper.
        Amy's gaze swept the area below them.
        "But we have the same problem as someone in a plane. The climb down will take too long for us to be of much help if the coach is attacked. We've got to get closer to the stage road."
        Just ahead of them the trail divided, the left fork leading higher into the hills, the right fork descending. Amy led the way the right.

*     *     *     *     *

        Deputy Al MacKeever leaned back against his patrol car, folded his arms across his chest and inspected the ten men holding their mounts a few yards away.
        "You sure are scruffy enough to be outlaws," he said loudly. "A pretty nasty-looking bunch, if you ask me. What do you think, Ben?"
        Deputy Norris, leaning against the other side of the car, said nothing. There was a large grin on his youthful, freckled face.
        Ken Moore was loading blank cartridges into his Colt pistol.
        "I don't know what you're bellyachin' about, Al," he drawled. "Most of us have taken a bath this month."
        The men of the outlaw gang and the few nearby spectators chuckled.
        "And don't think we're not grateful for it," said MacKeever. "But for the sakes of the girls you'll be kidnapping, I hope that you all used soap, too." He raised his voice. "All right boys! Before you start out, you'll have to let either Ben or me check your guns to be sure there aren't any live rounds in 'em. Come on up."
        The men dropped the reins of their horses and filed into two lines to be inspected.
        "I hate shootin' blanks," grumbled Rusty Cline as he handed his pistol to MacKeever. "They foul the barrel a lot more than real bullets."
        The deputy broke open the cylinder.
        "It gives you a good reason to do a good cleaning job afterward." After checking the weapon, he closed the cylinder and handed it back to Rusty. "Next."

*     *     *     *     *

        Baynes stared up at a spot on the side of the mountain.
        "Did you see somethin' move up there?" he asked.
        The other men looked in the same direction. Dugan took a pair of binoculars from this jacket pocket and focussed them on the area.
        "I didn't see nothin'," said Jones. "You're gettin' jumpy, Baynes."
        "No he isn't,' said Dugan, continuing to look. "There's somebody up there. At least two people on horseback, and they're coming closer." He paused. "I think it's one of the female deputies. The other one's a woman too."
        "This is something we'll have to deal with," said Patricia, looking at her watch. "The new men are nearly ready to go." She turned to Arlene. "Take two men and deal with them, Arlene."
        Patricia noticed Gloria standing next to Arlene. The brunette was twisting her hands nervously and biting her lip.
        "You'd better take Gloria, too," Patricia added. "And plenty of rope."
        "Right," said Arlene. She pointed to four packs on the ground nearby. "Bring one along, Baynes. You and Jonesey come with me."
        With feline speed and grace, Arlene started up the trail. Jones followed eagerly, Gloria reluctantly. Baynes picked up a pack and trudged after them.

*     *     *     *     *

        Julie Ryder waved to Wes Donovan as he pulled the station wagon with its horse trailer away from the front entrance to the Kermit Airport office. Julie trotted through the building, waving to Tim and a couple of the other employees as she passed. As she emerged from the door on the other side, she saw the Hummingbird, its propellers turning, waiting for her. Sky taxied closer to the control tower to meet her.
        "How's everything going?" he asked as she climbed through the cabin door.
        "The stage was just about ready to leave," she said as she settled into her seat and reached for her belt. "Winch's men are on guard and there shouldn't be any problems."
        "Well, let's hope so. Is Copper in town to watch the finale?"
        "I guess so. She was going to take her pony into town so she could be a little closer to the action when the posse drives off the outlaws and rescues the women."
        "I just hope that she has enough sense to stay where it's safe and not get into any trouble."
        Julie patted her husband's arm.
        "I'm sure she has. Down deep, Copper's a very sensible girl."
        Sky made a skeptical expression as he taxied toward the runway.

*     *     *     *     *

        Copper took off her flat-crowned Western hat and crouched low before scrambling back to join Amy behind a boulder near the edge of the trail. Amy was hatless and propped on her elbows looking at the stage road below. Copper slid in beside her.
        "Are the horses hitched?" asked Amy in a low voice.
        Copper nodded. She started to put her hat on again but stopped when she saw Amy's hat lying on the ground.
        "Even though Paint and Sandy ground hitch just fine, I tied their reins to a tree just in case they get spooked by something," Copper whispered. She peered over the rock at the stage road. "Can you see anything?"
        "Nope. It's quiet so far." The beautiful deputy checked her wristwatch. "The stage should be starting anytime now. Let's hope it's a quiet trip."

*     *     *     *     *

        "Mr. Barrett?" called Summer. "Do you have the correct time?"
        Norman Barrett took a large round watch from his vest pocket. Herb Vidor, standing beside him, took out his pocket watch and squinted at his own then Barrett's watch in turn.
        "It's time, Mrs. Merrill," Barrett announced.
        "All aboard, ladies," called Joe Bailey.
        Summer Merrill gave her hat a little tug to make sure it was properly pinned to her hair then took Joe's hand and put her foot on the step under the coach door. The old cowboy put his other hand under her elbow and helped her up. Sue Kendall and Diana Malloy lined up behind Summer. As Joan O'Connor moved behind Diana, Burt Metford stepped up quickly and offered her his arm. He guided Joan around the other side of the coach and opened the door for her. She was about to raise her foot to the step when Metford put his hands on either side of the girl's slender waist and lifted her easily into the doorway. She waited there as he stepped back. They smiled rather shyly at one another.
        "Thank you, Mr. Metford."
        "My pleasure, Miss O'Connor. You ladies be careful now."
        "That seems a strange thing to say to a woman about to be kidnapped by outlaws."
        He shrugged. His foot traced in the dirt again, though he kept his eyes on her.
        "Well, just don't get kidnapped too seriously today."
        All the women giggled at his quip.
        "We'll try not to," said Joan.
        Metford closed the coach door as Joe climbed up to his seat. He whistled loudly and urged the team on. The coach pulled away from the cars and waving spectators at the roadside.

*     *     *     *     *

        Amy Cole wiped her forehead with her left hand and checked her watch again.
        "You think they'll try something on this part of the road?" whispered Copper.
        "It's the place I'd choose," the deputy replied.
        She opened her mouth to say more but stopped abruptly at the sound of falling pebbles to their left.
        "What was that?" asked Copper, wide-eyed.
        Amy shook her head slowly.
        "I don't know, but I'm going to have a look."
        Amy drew her pistol. She hesitated, then reached into the back of her belt, drew out another pistol, a small automatic, and handed it to Copper. The blonde took it gingerly.
        "I know that you can shoot," Amy said, "so use it if you have to. Just make sure that you don't shoot me."
        Copper tried to put up a brave front. She smiled and nodded.
        "You be careful, Amy."
        Using her left hand on the ground to maintain her low crouch, Amy made her way quietly down the trail and disappeared among the rocks.

*     *     *     *     *

        After ten minutes of searching Amy decided that it had been a false alarm.
        "A mouse or a lizard or something must've dislodged a few stones," she told herself.
        As she worked her way back to the observation point, she heard more noises from below. Looking down, she saw three masked men rolling some large rocks onto the stage trail. A masked woman stood nearby. Though the masks prevented her identifying them, their general appearances and builds matched those of the gang members who had invaded the Armory two days before. Now they intended to kidnap Joan and Diana by stopping the stagecoach.
        Amy hesitated only a few seconds before deciding what to do. With at least four gang members possibly more below, she would need Copper's help. She hurried back along the trail.
        When she arrived at the spot she had left Copper there was no sign of the girl. Their hats lay where they had left them, but the blonde was gone. Amy hoped that she had gone back to the horses, maybe to get a canteen. She gripped her pistol and began slowly heading for the little notch they had found to keep the horses out of sight.
        "Copper?" she called softly. "Are you here?"
        A horse snorted not far away.
        "Copper?" She called a bit louder.
        She rounded the corner of the sheltering wall of the notch. Copper's pony was there, as well as a sight that stopped Amy in her tracks.
        Copper Ryder, in her jeans and boots but naked above the waist, sat in her saddle. Loops of rope circled her arms and body both above and below her bare breasts. Copper's hands were out of sight behind her back and the strained set of her shoulders told Amy that her hands must be tied there. A large wad of white cloth filled the girl's mouth and was held in place by a thick band of the same cloth tied around her head and between her jaws, forcing them apart. Copper's blue eyes were wide above the gag. She shook her head and tried to call out to Amy, but the cloth effectively stifled her cry.
        "A lovely picture, don't you think, Deputy?" asked a female voice.
        Amy spun toward the voice, raising her pistol as she turned. A hooded woman, her arms folded across her chest, stood leaning against a rock less than ten feet away.
        "Let her go!" Amy demanded, pointing her weapon at the woman for emphasis. "Now!"
        "Very bravely said, Deputy," the woman said coolly. "But I'm afraid you haven't looked carefully enough at your friend. Gloria!"
        She gestured toward Copper. A rope that had been trailing on the ground behind Copper began to rise. Amy could see that one end of the rope was looped around a projecting rock on the face of the rock wall. As the rope tightened, Amy saw that it led upward out of the rocky niche. A masked woman standing at the top of the wall was pulling it taut and tying off the end around the trunk of a stubby tree. The other end of the rope led behind Copper's head. When Amy looked closely, she could see that it was looped around the girl's neck.
        "You can shoot if you want, Deputy," the woman continued, "but if you do, the sound of a shot so close will probably spook the horse and make him bolt. If he does, I'm afraid that your friend's neck will probably be broken as a result. And if the shot doesn't scare the horse, Mr. Jones there will."
        A lean, hooded man stepped from a little recess in the rocks near the pony. His hand was raised as though to slap the horse's hindquarters. Another hooded man, much huskier and carrying a pack, appeared behind the speaking woman.
        After a moment's hesitation, Amy pointed her revolver skyward, gently let the hammer down with her thumb and dropped the weapon in front of her.
        "Good girl," said the woman. "Okay, Gloria."
        Amy looked up in alarm, but the other woman merely untied the rope from the tree and tossed the free end down to the others. Jones was already unwrapping it from the projecting rock on the wall. The husky man stepped forward, swinging the pack from his shoulder as he came. The woman who had spoken dropped her arms to reveal a shapely bust and started forward. Amy could also see a fringe of blond hair at the bottom of her hood. From her hair, her shape and the way she moved, Amy recognized her as the gang member called Arlene. The husky man picked up Amy's pistol, then reached for the buckle of her gunbelt. Arlene joined him.
        "My, my, but you certainly are a cute one, Deputy," said Arlene. "And seeing how much the boys enjoyed looking at you the other day, I'm sure they'd like another look. How about it Baynes? Jonesey?"
        Baynes said nothing but Jones piped up eagerly.
        "Well, I sure would!"
        "Okay, Deputy," said Arlene. "Let's get rid of the shirt. And your bra, too."
        "You won't get away with this, you know," said Amy as she reached for the top button of her uniform shirt.
        "Well, for your sake, I hope that all those people who're going to stop us do a better job than you and your little blond friend here. Come on. Get a move on."
        Though Amy was hardly eager to half undress for her captors, she was relieved to see Jones have Copper lean over enough so that he could remove the loop of rope from her neck. Baynes opened the pack and dropped it on the ground. It was full of coils of rope and wads and strips of cloth. When Amy had removed her shirt and bra she had to steel herself to make no attempt to cover her bare breasts.
"Okay, sweetie," said Arlene. "Hands behind your back." She nodded to Baynes. "Tie her. And do a real good job."
Amy crossed her wrists in the small of her back only to have Baynes straighten her arms and place her hands palm-to-palm. He looped them with cord several times, then made a seize to tighten the bonds. Amy grunted.
"Too tight?" Arlene asked mockingly. "Well, it's going to get a lot worse before it gets any better. Do her elbows too."
Baynes ran half a dozen loops around Amy's arms just below her elbows forcing them closer together, though not near touching. He filled the space of several inches with loose seizing loops. Meanwhile, Arlene circled Amy's arms and body with a thick set of loops just below her breasts and another just above her waist. Amy was able to avoid any more grunts or whimpers of discomfort, but she did let out several sharp gasps of breath as they bound her.
"Well done Baynes," said Arlene. "If there was a merit badge for tying up deputies, you'd have earned one right here."
"Lemme gag her, Arlene," demanded Jones. "You shouldn't let Baynes have all the fun with this little cutie."
"Be my guest, Mr. Jones," Arlene said with a slight bow to him.
Jones took two pieces of cloth from the pack, stepped behind her and held a wad of cloth where she could see it.
"Open real wide, little lady," he said, "and Jonesey'll give you something that tastes good."
Amy gave him a baleful look over her shoulder as she obeyed. He put his left arm around her body, managing to paw both her breasts as he did, and held her fast. He jammed the cloth roughly into her mouth with his right. Despite her resolution, Amy writhed in his grasp and mewed into the gag wad at his manhandling.
"Take it easy, Jonesey," said Arlene.
"Oh, she's all right," Jones said breezily. He pinched Amy's cheek. "Ain't ya, honey?" He slipped the gag tie between her teeth and began to tie the ends at the back of her neck. "This l'il deputy's one tough cookie."
"Now that we've got 'em, what're we gonna do with 'em?" Baynes asked stolidly as they watched Jones finish.
"That's a good question," said Arlene. "Jonesey and I had some discussion about it on the way up here. He's discovered a little hunting cabin or something not far away. We'll take our two little beauties there for safekeeping."
"And then what?" asked Gloria.
She had brought up Amy's horse and was nervously fingering the reins as she listened.
"Don't be dramatic, Gloria," said Arlene. "Nobody's going to get hurt here." She turned to Baynes and Jones. "Get the deputy on her horse."
The two men helped Amy to mount. Baynes attached the end of a long rope to Copper's body loops while Jones did the same to Amy's. They gathered up the reins and the leash ends to lead the horses and maintain a hold on the prisoners. Jones patted Amy's backside before taking his station at her horse's head. With Arlene and Gloria in the lead, the little caravan moved down the trail.

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