Boone was at the mining office, determined to throw himself into work, and forget all about Lucy Rickman.

He could find another girl in a heartbeat.

Even as he thought it, he knew he was lying to himself. Lucy was meant for him, and they would figure this out somehow.

That didn’t mean he couldn’t be mad at the moment.

There was a knock at the door. And Boone was glad of the distraction. “Come in.”

It was David Judkins. One of the miners, who was showing himself to be a hard worker.

“David, come in.”

“I just had a kid drop this off, and tell me to give it to you.”

It was a folded piece of paper, and Boone opened it. He scanned the contents quickly, and then glanced up at David. “Is this a joke?”

David looked startled. “What do you mean?”

Boone scanned the note once more. We have your girl. Bring us ten thousand dollars or you will never see her again.

“Who brought you this note?”

David shook his head. “I don’t know. A boy of about ten years old or so.”

A feeling of disbelief rose within him, and he still wasn’t convinced it wasn’t a joke. But he knew wealthy friends of his had been taking precautions in recent years, he just hadn’t taken it seriously.

Even if he had, would he have thought to hire protection for a woman he was courting?

He headed out of the office.

Joke or not, he had to find Lucy. Now!

Within ten minutes he was jumping off of his horse in front of the boardinghouse. When he knocked on the door, Mrs. Collier answered and looked thrilled to see him. “Mr. Jackson! How nice of you to stop by!”

“Is Lucy here?”

Mrs. Collier’s brows rose. “No, she didn’t come to dinner.”

And she wouldn’t be at the school on a Sunday.

“If you see her, keep her here.”

“I will, but what is this about?”

He debated on what to tell the woman, and finally decided not to upset her when this could simply be a joke. “I’m not sure. Just let Lucy know that I’m looking for her.”

“I will.” The woman sounded confused, and Boone simply turned and left.

He went to find the sheriff, and found out from his deputy he was at the mayor’s house. He headed over there.

When he arrived, he was quickly invited in, and showed the two men the note he’d received.

“Could this be serious?” The sheriff was the first to ask.

“Why would someone ask you for money for Miss Rickman? Why wouldn’t they ask her father?”

“Maybe her father doesn’t have any money.”

“He does. Miss Rickman is an heiress, after all.”

Boone stared blankly at the mayor. “What are you talking about?”

“Her family has a lot of money.”

Boone was so surprised by this information, that he couldn’t quite believe it. “Why does she teach school then?”

The mayor shrugged. “Who knows?”

Boone was starting to feel panicked. Did someone take her, knowing about her family?

It was ironic that he’d been hiding his own wealth this entire time only to find there was no need.

Had she been doing the same? Or did she know who he was all along, and was playing him for a fool?

Questions for another time.

The sheriff moved toward the door. “Let’s get some people together and see if we can find her. Call your friends, get some of your workers. And I don’t know, maybe call your banker?”

Boone nodded.

All that mattered at the moment, was getting Lucy back.

* * *

“Should you really be drinking at a time like this?” Lucy demanded. “I should think you would want a clear head in such a situation.”

The man that she’d christened as Shorty in her head, turned away with the noise of frustration. “What I want is a pain-free head! My head is killing me! I can’t think for all the noise you’re making!”

Lucy quieted for a moment, and then she took a breath. “I just think —”

“Aaaaahhhh!” Shorty screamed out loud, startling her. “We know what you think! You keep telling us what you think!”

Well, really. She hesitated again, and tried not to say anything more, but couldn’t help herself. “It’s just that—”

The taller man sprang out of his chair to loom over her, and she could smell his nervous sweat.

“You can’t kill her now.”

Now? Was he implying that they could later?

Lucy’s heart thundered, and she was sweating too. She was proud of herself for not cringing away from the man, and even lifted her chin.

She met the man’s gaze, refusing to show fear. He would only like it, and perhaps continue to scare her all the more.

The second man, sitting at the table and the only other chair, fanned himself with an old newspaper. “Don’t hit her. If she goes back bruised, it may give them that much more incentive to follow us.”

So, they weren’t going to kill her?

When Boone received the ransom note, would he even care that she’d been captured? After their last conversation, he might think good riddance.

She considered threatening them with her father. Would that help or hurt her situation?

The man continued to stand in front of her, clenching his fists, and making a funny noise.

“Really, Sir. If you would just —”

In an abrupt movement, he strode away. “Why can’t you just shut up? Why do you have to keep nattering on? Good Lord, woman! Enough! Enough! Enough!”

Lucy straightened her shoulders and looked away. All right, perhaps she needed to stop. But to be fair, she may have given the man a lecture or two because as far as she could see, these two needed advice more than anyone she’d ever met before.

One thing she knew for sure. She needed to get away from them before the men’s drinking overrode their convictions not to hurt her.

“Gentlemen?”

Shorty, his back to her, growled.

“If you will just open the windows and let a breeze in, I’ll swear not to say another word.”

The man quickly crossed the room, shoved open the window, and then turned to glare at Lucy.

She didn’t say one word.

* * *

Boone was on the steps of the courthouse with the mayor and the sheriff, his guns strapped on.

The sheriff was addressing the gathering crowd. “As far as we know, this is a real threat. No one has seen the new schoolmarm about town, so we have no choice but to believe this is real. If anyone has seen or heard anything that could help us find Miss Rickman, please come forward now.”

More people were running to join the crowd, and Boone saw Mrs. Collier, and some of her borders show up as well.

Boone was getting frustrated with the sheriff, and the complete lack of results.

“I saw her at the church earlier,” someone called out.

There were murmurs of agreement.

“I saw her walking with Boone Jackson! I saw them walk by my window.”

Boone bit back sharp words. “And after that? Did anyone see her after that?”

Everyone looked around at each other, but no one spoke up.

There were children crying in the crowd.

A man wiped his brow, catching Boone’s eye. He looked slightly nervous, and Boone caught Samuel’s gaze and nodded in the man’s direction.

With a nod, Samuel joined him and they headed out to talk to him.