Red West II.

Chapter eighteen - Bad news

Jane sat down slowly, subconsciously choosing a chair, which was usually used by Leo. She stared at the small boy standing on the other side of the table in shocked disbelief. The whole situation went from bad to worse so fast that she was not able to react calmly anymore.

"When did they take them away?" she asked in a quiet voice, trying not to reveal her uneasiness in front of the child.

"Yesterday morning," the eight-year-old son of the former telegrapher replied a little fearfully, probably nervous from the impressive presence of the huge man, whose figure covered the door behind him – Benny. "I was there to ask about Papa; they don't wanna let him go yet. My Mum said to come here and tell you."

"You did well," Jane assured him. "Very well. Did they mention where they headed to?"

The boy shook his head: "I don't know, but... I heard them talking about the mines," he replied uncertainly.

"I so knew it!" Todd, pacing across the room behind Jane's back, snapped at nobody in particular.

The little messenger flinched upon hearing the gunman's sharp tone, before he focused on the brunette woman again.

"My Mum is sad, but she said you'll help," the boy urged on pleadingly. "You will help us, madam, right? Please, help my Papa," he begged, hardly suppressed tears gathering in his big eyes.

"I'm sure your father will be released soon," Jane tried to sound convincing at least for the boy's ears, ignoring Todd's doubtful snort.

"Really?" the little one requested further assurance.

Jane stood up again and approached the boy, somehow managing to smile at him.

"They accused him of some nonsense; the Sheriff cannot keep him in jail for long, you'll see," she stated firmly and ruffled the small one's hair. "Go now, and say hello to your mother."

"I will! Thank you, madam!"

Benny opened the door for the boy with his usual stony expression, but under a closer look, great pity could be found in the way he watched his departure. The adults were alone again.

Todd hit the windowsill with his fist, gritting some vulgarism through his teeth. Jane turned to the other two gunmen sitting at the table, finding the worried and guilty faces of Patrick and Carl. Nick didn't move from his spot, as he kept leaning on the wall and lit up a cigarette as soon as the door was closed. Also Benny remained standing at his place at the door, big and silent as ever. None of the Riders seemed to be willing to talk, and Jane was quite sure it would be the same with Ian and Sherman, who hadn't come back from shopping yet.

It was strange, but Jane felt as if she should be the one taking lead in this situation; to assure the others they would figure something out. But no matter how determined and stubborn she was able to be, at that moment she really missed the strong will and resolution of Cullen, or natural leadership of Leo. After all, she was just a woman; would the others listen to her even if she tried to find a way out from that mess?

She clenched the closest chair with both hands, forcefully suppressing the shaking, which threatened to take control over her body.

"We need to find out to which mine they took them," she said in a much firmer voice than she had expected from herself.

"To the Cursed One, that's for sure," Todd reacted upset.

"We don't know that certainly," Jane objected, still surprisingly calm. "We need to check it out."

"And what then?" Patrick asked harshly, burying his eyes into hers. "If they're there, what are we going to do?"

One part of her got angry with him, as well as with the others, for their reluctance to take the responsibility to decide and just throwing it at her instead. But her other part felt endlessly helpless. Jane didn't know what they should do... Well, there was something on her mind, but the question was whether they were able to do it without Leo, and without Cullen.