Now Playing: The Robin Hood of the Range
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Episode Fourteen concluded with:
Dencel again made a loud, primeval laugh. “Don’t
you worry ‘bout that none. This money is gonna make one poor man very happy.
Now, you saddle that pinto. I’m gonna pack me up a few things, then ride far
away from here. I’ll never have to look at you or your ma again.”
Iola entered the barn and looked about in a
confused manner. “I heard so much commotion--”
“You get back to the house, woman. Right now!”
The look of savagery returned to Dencel’s face.
His wife took a step forward, looking at her
daughter. “Honey are you…”
Dencel pointed the six shooter at his wife. “Get
back! Now!”
Episode Fifteen
Terror
covered Iola’s face as she hurried from the barn. Seeing how effective the use
of the pistol had been, Dencel pointed it at his daughter. “You do like I say,
girl.”
“Yes,
Pa.” Cissy remained crouched over her patient as her father hurried from the
barn.
Ricky
Cates wanted to close his eyes and retreat into unconsciousness.The outlaw knew he couldn’t do that. He had
to come up with a good scheme: a plan which would get the money back and allow
him to escape.
The
killer remembered when he had rested under some trees after leaving the Bolger
place. He had reloaded the Derringer and strapped it to his ankle in the event
someone found him and took away his six shooter.
“Is
your head feelin’ any better at all, Mr. Cates?”
Ricky
Cates realized the Derringer wasn’t his strongest weapon. His best weapon was Cissy
Runyan. She was a weapon he would use.
“Hey
now, what’s with all this, ‘Mr. Cates.’? I thought you and me agreed to call
each other by our first names.”
Cissy
closed her eyes and started to cry.
“None
of that, now,” Cates place a hand on the girl’s cheek. “How are you feelin’?”
“Not
so bad,” Cissy inhaled and quickly brushed away several tears. “Pa hits me and
ma a lot. I was sorta expectin’ him to do what he did. I ducked. I didn’t get
the full…”
Time
was short and Cates didn’t really care about Cissy’s injury. He stroked her
cheek. “Cissy, last night I told you I’d only ask for one more favor. Guess I
was lyin’. I got another favor to ask. A big one.”
“Sure.
What is it, Mr….Ricky?”
“I
need you to kill your pa.”
“What?!”
Cates
sat up slowly, lifted a pants leg and pulled out the Derringer. “I can’t get
close enough to him for this gun to do much good, but you can, Cissy.”
The
girl stared at the weapon in the killer’s hand. Cissy had seen quite a few old
rifles and knew how to handle them. But this gun was different. It looked sort
of pretty, like something on a necklace.
“Aim
for his chest, Cissy. That or his head.”
“I
can’t…he’s my pa.”
“I
gotta get that money back!” Cates paused, realizing he had to remain Robin Hood
if his idea was to work. “There’s lots of poor folks who need the money.”
“I
know, but…”
Heavy
footsteps were approaching from outside and mixed with the sound of Dencel’s
manic laughter. “Cissy, I’ve been doin’ some serious thinkin’ since we met up.
I think we’d make a great team. I want you for my wife, Cissy. I love you.”
“And
I love you.” She reached down and embraced Ricky Cates. The killer held her as
tightly as he could and kissed her, not gently, on the lips. They parted as
Dencel’s laughter and shouts became dangerously close.
Cates
lifted the Derringer toward the young woman. “Before we can have a life
together, you gotta do this one thing, Cissy. For us.”
Cissy’s
eyes briefly fell on her dress and the streaks of blood that were there: the
blood of the man she loved and who loved her. Ricky Cates’ blood had
transferred onto her while they were kissing. The blood represented a sacred
bond with the wounded hero who lay in front of her.
The
girl nodded her head and took the gun.
Tomorrow:
Episode Sixteen of The Robin Hood of the Range