**** Rowdy leapt off his still moving horse and ran to the downed cowboy and felt for a pulse...it very weak. He stripped off his t-shirt and bunched it over the wound.
"He's alive....barely. I need those first aid kits!" He yelled, but soon realized he didn't have to. Each of the men had unloaded their saddle bag medical supplies.
Topper opened his eyes and tried to speak. He coughed to clear the blood from his throat, and grabbed Rowdy's hand.
"Take it easy, Top." Beau said as he knelt down.
"Boss...." Topper coughed more blood from his throat. "The girls. They took....them."
The men looked at each other. Rowdy saw anger and fear in Beau's blue eyes.
"Don't talk, Top."Beau said. "Save your strength. Tad's callin' for help now."
The light in Topper's eyes began to fade as Beau and Rowdy looked at each other. Rowdy shook and bowed his head, letting Beau know there was nothing more he could do for Topper.
"Top, you hang in there! You hear me, that's an order soldier!" Beau said.
The dieing cowboy nodded. "Yes sir...West....they went West, sir." He coughed once again. One hand went feebly up to his forhead. "It was...an honor...to serve with you....both...of you...sorry....I'm sorry sir....I tried...."
"You did well soldier." Beau told him. He looked up at Tad who had lowered his cell phone. "Help's on the way."
Topper placed a bloodied hand into Beau's and pressed a bullet into his palm. "When....when you find 'em, sir...." cough, "give the S.O.B's this....for....me."
Beau nodded, "You have my word."
Topper took his last breath as his hand dropped from Beau's.
Beau watched as Rowdy closed Topper's eyes and lowered his head. Beau pressed his hat over his heart and squeezed his eyes tight for a moment of grief, then pushed it away. His training as a Ranger took over. He looked around him at his men.
Each man had removed his hat and lowered his head. They were all silent as they let the grief of losing their friend and coworker roll over them for a moment of silence. Topper had been liked and respected by all who had the privilege of working with him. He always gave 110% in whatever he did, was always one of the first to step up and volunteer. They all pushed it aside for now and dropped into military mode. The girls were gone....THEIR girls were gone. All had watched over and cared for the girls in one way or another. The girls belonged to all of them but....more importantly....they were the children of their leader, their boss, their friend and coworker.
"Fan out!" Rowdy ordered. "Locate any and all clues as to who these men are!"
The men each spead out and began searching the area. Tab squeezed Beau's shoulder and joined them.
Beau and Rowdy were covering Topper's body with a large tarp when they heard a man call out.
"Boss!" Both men turned and ran to the cowboy.
"What is it?" Beau called and both he and Rowdy climbed up a on the bolder.
Young David pointed to a dead horse at the base of the huge rock. Both men slid down and checked the animal.
"Damn it!" Rowdy snapped.
Beau nodded, "It's Casper. Ava's horse." He looked the gelding over and shook his head. "No broken leg or any other signs of trauma. Someone just shot 'im. He probably put up a fight if they tried to pull Ava out of the saddle."
Rowdy nodded, "Topper said they took the girls!" Rowdy climbed back up the side and headed for his wife who had joined the posse before they left. She looked frightened.
"Rowdy?"
"I need your walkie." He said softly.
Bobbi was amazed by the change that had come over all the men. The cowboys were gone. In their place stood trained, seasoned soldiers.
She handed it over just as Beau joined them.
Rowdy took the walkie and spoke into it. "Brett this is Rowdy."
"Brett here."
"Bad news, man. We need ya to get on the horn. Get Koni and her team out here ASAP....Topper's dead, and the girls are missin'."
They heard Nico's voice in the background and Trish's and Genny's loud, "Oh my God!"
The mood around the posse was solemn as they listened.
"Rowdy, do you want us to come and meet you at the scene?" That was Yancy.
"No, pop. Beau has assigned a two man team to stand watch over the scene. The rest of us are headed back ta base. Get all our remainin' boys together, leave enough to guard and take care of the ranch and our people. Tell everyone capable to arm themselves and be on watch. We'll need maps, weapons, ammunition. War paint. I don't care. All our gear. The Rangers are back in business!"
