The Bandit Scout

Chapter 17 - Trapped

Medico Frank Stevens instructed Carlos to remain in the arroyo bed while he followed a zigzag path, studying the ground for signs of human passage. The ridge to their left had a cliff from the bottom of the arroyo to near its top. As they moved up the arroyo, he noticed that the cliff had collapsed in one spot. Stella had described that to him. Continuing, just after they were abreast of the collapse, he saw signs of human passage. The Medico was vastly relieved. He had projected confidence to Carlos, but it would have had disastrous implications for Stella if his judgment were not correct. He waved to Carlos, signaling him to move to him.

Frank said in a low voice, "Four people just passed this way. Two were carrying something heavy. That something is likely Stella. These signs do not tell me how long ago they passed. We can increase our pace now that we have a trail to follow. We must be completely stealthy. I know that you are prepared to fight when we catch them."

-----

Gus Sloan was correct in his guesses about the Comanche. He saw Stella hanging with her hands pulled high behind her back. Gus had a strong urge to go to her and add to her misery, but knew he had to become a friend of the Comanche first. Slowly and quietly, he continued searching for them, knowing they must be near.

When he found them, he called out in a calm voice, "Hello, friends."

The four Comanche jumped to their feet, drawing their weapons. Gus walked toward them with his hands in front, palm out. He said, "I have been tracking this woman, Stella Brooks. You must be trying to find the things she stole from Rider Ranch. Those things have no value to me. But I would like to keep them away from Ralph Rider. I would like to help you."

The Comanche Leader said, "How can you help us. We have captured the girl. I don't think we need you."

Gus replied, "My name is Gus Sloan. I am very good at torture. Let me have a go at the girl. If I am not successful, I will leave. She knows me, and I expect my involvement will help her decide to talk."

The Leader's eyes squinted at Gus as he said, "We have just finished our meal and are ready to question Stella. I am willing to see what you can do."

"May I bring my horse to your camp? It will only take a few minutes. I have a nice whip in my saddlebags."

"Go and bring your horse to where we have Stella hanging."

The Comanche started toward Stella as Gus went for his horse. When Gus was out of hearing, the Leader said, "I would like to see what he can do. But we must watch him closely. If he does anything that might kill Stella before she talks, we kill him. If he is not successful in getting her to talk, we kill him. Agreed?"

Stella was on the edge of being unconscious and did not hear them approach. Her ankles had given out from the strain of standing on her toes to reduce the strain on her shoulders. She could not continue to stay on her tiptoes. Her hands and shoulders now supported most of her weight. The pain in her shoulders had overcome the pain from the Comanche's beating. Her head was hanging down, but she raised it when she felt someone fiddling with her gag.

When the gag was out of her mouth, she was given a sip of water, not out of kindness, but so that she could talk. The Leader said, "Stella, you are in a lot of pain. It will only get worse if you don't talk. Where are the things you took from the Ranch?"

Stella was still flexing her jaw from the large gag. The water had helped, and she answered, "I will not tell you. You might as well go ahead and kill me now."

"No, Stella. You will welcome death when it comes for you. For now, we have found a friend of yours who wants to help us. Here he comes now."

Gus rode up on his horse, dismounted, and stood before Stella. "I think that I mentioned to you before that I wanted to play with you without your clothes in the way."

Seeing it was her earlier tormentor, Stella shuddered as a new frisson of fear clutched her heart. A new resolve also arose. She had had enemies before, but she had never hated them. Sloan inspired revulsion in her, and her hatred of him gave her new resolve not to talk.

Gus said to the Comanche, "Let's get her down. Alternating between periods of pain and no pain is very effective. She will fear the return of the pain, and that will work on her mind. The Comanche nodded their heads, and one of them freed the rope holding her hands up. Stella collapsed to the ground, groaning with the agony in her shoulders caused by the movement of her arms.

Gus conferred with the Comanche about what he wanted to do next. "I see that you have two pulleys on the limb above us. That is excellent. I suggest we tie one arm to each pulley and pull her off the ground. Before we begin, let's put two stakes in the ground on either side of her so we can spread her legs. This will put her into an X shape with every part of her body exposed. Then we will alternate between me using my whip and sexually stimulating her."

The Leader said, "You show that you know what you are doing. But be warned, should Stelle die before talking, you will take her place." He signaled two of his team members, who retrieved two stakes and drove them into the ground. Then they tied a rope to each of Stella's ankles. The next step was to untie her elbows and hands and to tie a rope to each wrist. Stella could not offer any resistance to this. She had the resolve to resist, but had lost her strength.

Gus said, "She has had enough rest for now. It is time for us to start again." With two of them pulling on each rope, it was easy to lift Stella off the ground. The ropes were anchored to nearby trees. Her ankle ropes were then pulled to the stakes, spreading her legs to a painful degree. Stella's abused shoulder gave her stabbing agony beyond anything she had ever endured.

"I have never been certain if it is better to let my victim know a lash is coming or not. So I will do both. Standing behind her, she can't see what is coming. I will start there."

He went to his horse and retrieved his whip from the saddlebag. He uncoiled the whip behind him and let it fly to strike Stella across her shoulders. She could not stop the scream from leaving her lips. A red stripe appeared on her back. He followed with four more, holding about a minute between blows. The bloody marks marched down her back to her butt.

Gus walked around to Stella's front. He hung the whip around his neck and started twisting her nipples hard. Stella looked at him with hate in her eyes. "Stella, where did you hide Rider's things?" When she remained silent, not taking her eyes off of him, his anger rose, and he punched her in her solar plexus. Stella wanted to double over but could not; she was tied tightly and suspended spread eagle. The pain caused a stream of projectile vomit to spew out of her mouth, hitting Gus in the face. Enraged, Gus put his hands around her throat and squeezed. He intended to choke her to death, and the Comanche Leader sensed that. He stepped behind Gus and cut his throat. Just as vomit spewed from Stella's mouth, blood spurted from Gus' throat. A lot of it went on Stella.

Gus's eyes bulged in disbelief that this could be happening. He fell to his knees and then collapsed to the ground. He twitched a few times and became still forever. Stella said to the Leader, "You are no better than him."

Before he could reply, a second big surprise happened. Two men walked out of the dark. It was Carlos McTavrish and Frank Stevens. The Comanche drew their weapons, but the men continued coming to the Comanche as if they didn't care. They didn't. When they reached the Comanche, Frank made the first move with blinding speed. He delivered a roundhouse kick to the head of the Comanche Leader. The Comanche flew away from the kick and crumpled to the ground, dead. Carlos did not hesitate either. He used muni tsuki to deliver a strike to the next nearest Comanche's celiac plexus, forcing the Comanche to double over. Carlos struck an overhand blow to the back of the Comanche's neck with his tegatana. The Comanche was dead when he hit the ground. With no pause, Frank and Carlos turned to the remaining two Comanche. Frank used koshinage to rotate his Comanche over his hips and waist, throwing him to the ground headfirst. From the way the Comanche lay on the ground, it was clear that something was broken. Frank delivered the coup de grâce with a blow to the temple. While Frank was finishing off his second Comanche, Carlos closed in with his second opponent and ended the engagement with a straight punch to the face. A tight fist caused the force of the blow to concentrate at the two big knuckles. These knuckles struck the Comanche just under his nose, breaking his maxilla and driving the sheared bone into his brain. The engagement was over in a fraction of a minute. Four Comanche lay dead on the ground, and one dead Ranch Hand.

Frank went to the stakes to release Stella's legs, and Carlos unhitched the ropes from the trees and lowered Stella to the ground. She sank to her knees but did not fall over. Stella could not process what had happened. She could not believe that Carlos and the Medico were here and had saved her. Frank said, "Carlos, get the ropes off of her. I will bring our horses and the blanket from my saddle roll.

They had found water to clean Stella off and helped her dress in her pants and halter. Stella was severely hurt, and it was difficult for her to talk. She wanted to touch Carlos. The Medico had examined Stella and pronounced that while she would have a lot of pain for the next week or two, she should recover fully with rest for at least a week and therapy starting in one to two weeks. Now she needed liquid and food, which they could provide. The Medico found a kettle of soup warming near the campfire and was able to spoon a small bowl of it into Stella's mouth.

Her face was black and blue. Sloan's whip had cut into her back, hips, and buttocks. The blows to her stomach were turning it a deep purple. Her side with the cracked rib was also profoundly bruised. The Medico had verified she did have a broken rib. Stella's halter displayed a generous portion of her breasts, and Carlos almost cried upon seeing the bruising.

Carlos gently braided her hair and fixed it in a coil on her head. From the alert look in her eyes, he knew she was with them mentally. But he wished she were not, because her alertness meant she was feeling everything.

-----

The sun was past the zenith when they heard riders in the arroyo. Carlos and the Medico both yelled, attracting the riders' attention. The riders were part of the Mounted Troops. Carlos arranged for a rider to message Boss Ralph to inform him that they had Stella, but she was seriously injured. They needed a complete wartime medical kit from one of the returned wagons, which they would retrieve as quickly as possible by horseback, and a wagon capable of transporting the injured Stella as far up the arroyo as possible. They needed a stretcher and men to carry Stella on it to be brought to them as fast as possible.

The Mounted Troops consisted primarily of the 1st Platoon, under the command of Lt. Ed House. He understood the situation and sent two reliable troops who took off immediately at a gallop. At the entrance to the arroyo, one would go left, and one would go right to ensure they didn't miss Boss Ralph and the wagons.

Lt. House had his men fashion a makeshift picket line for the horses. Then he had the men gather at ease far enough from Stella that she would not be disturbed, but within easy call distance. He reported to Carlos that he and his men were available if needed and withdrew toward his men.

Carlos explained to Stella their plan. She struggled to sit up and asked Carlos and the Medico to sit beside her. After having a lot of water and the soup, Stella could talk, but didn't want to speak loudly yet. She said quietly, "I am not going back without the Katana Documents. That would mean that I have suffered this for nothing. Please help me up the next ridge to the cave so I can get the papers. I must put them in Frank Rider's hands."

Carlos and Frank understood why she was saying this. It was part of what made Stella who she was. Carlos said, "Let's see if we can find a way to do this. Frank, would you stay here and watch Stella? I'm going to talk to the Lieutenant."

He walked over to the Lieutenant and explained the extent of Stella's injuries and her determination to retrieve the Katana Documents. He said it was the Medico's opinion that even if she could walk, the movements of her shoulders and ribs could result in lasting damage to her body. The Lieutenant had practiced with Stella in the Medico's class and was sympathetic. He called his Platoon Sergeant over. "Boss Carlos, this is Sgt. Lee. If anybody can contrive something to help, he can."

Lt. House explained the problem to Sgt. Lee, ending with, "So we need to devise a lightweight, portable chair that can hold Stella and two men can carry. It has to protect her shoulders and ribs, going up and down one of these ridges. Do you have any ideas?"

"That is a tough problem, Lt. House. But there are all kinds of plants growing around here. That is what makes the going so hard in the badlands. Keeping the lady immobile will be the tricky part. She won't be able to help by maintaining her balance. Frankly, a stretcher would be best with her strapped to it with lots of padding. That wouldn't be dignified or practical, going up and down a hill, would it? Maybe I have an idea that will work. I'll get right on it, sir."

Sgt. Lee went back to the troops. He told them what was needed, and they were all eager to help. In the three-day trip back from the mountains, she had earned their respect. The martial arts classes played a role in that. That she had withstood brutal torture without giving up the Katana Documents cemented their opinion of her. Under the Sergeant's directions, they set about gathering material and making a chair for Stella.

-----

Ralph Rider and others around him listened to the report from Lt. House's courier. Before the trooper finished his report, the Ranch Corpsman had climbed into a supply wagon and pulled out a medical kit and a stretcher. Two Hands grabbed the stretcher and the medical supplies and took off at a gallop with the courier going back to Arroyo #3. The Corpsman was tossing some things out of the wagon to make room for a padded bed.

Hands were riding up to the wagon to give the Corpsman their bedrolls until he yelled, "That's enough. I've made as comfortable a nest for her as possible. Somebody will need to ride back here with her."

The Cook yelled out, "I'll make something easy to digest for her. And everyone else there will be hungry too. I need about ten men with me because we will have to pack the food supplies on foot for the last few clicks."

Boss Ralph was pleased that the Hands were organizing themselves without him giving orders. He could see that they were ready to move. He started them on their way to Arroyo #3.

_____

Earlier that morning, back at the Ranch compound, the Comanche woke. They had not had a whole night's sleep, but they had enough. As soon as one of them opened the door to the barracks, Carmen rushed in and told her father what had happened while they were sleeping. She said, "I have assumed that you will want to follow Boss Ralph. I have some food ready for you in the Mess, and your horses are waiting for you in the stables. I will come with you."

They wolfed down some food and went to the stables. Carmen had saddled and bridled the horses. They checked the cinches, mounted, and headed to the badlands. Carmen rode next to her father. During the ride, she told him about her experiences since they left the Big Meadow. Well, some of her experiences, anyway. She said that she had fallen in love with Ralph Rider and thought that he was in love with her. When she said she had pledged not to escape and was going to do everything that she could to help Ralph Rider, her father said,

"Daughter, I think that you have done the right thing. That would be the right thing even if you were not in love with Boss Ralph. I expect that he will have rounded up the four Comanches before we catch up with him. All that I will have accomplished by coming here is an early warning of the problem. I hope that Boss Ralph will see that as the Comanche keeping faith with our agreements."

"Dad. I am sure that he will."

-----

The Hands with the stretcher and the medical kit wasted no time getting to the camp in Arroyo #3. The Medico took the medical kit and looked through it as he rushed to Stella's side. He explained what he was going to do to Stella and Carlos.

"There are some meds here that are derived from the opium plant. I am going to fix you a drink that will help with your pain, Stella. It won't go away, but it will be better than it is now. I could give you more, but you'd fall asleep and miss the opportunity to get the documents. After you drink the potion, we will wait half an hour for it to take effect. Then I am going to do three things for you. First, I will apply some salve to the area of your skin where the whip drew blood. Be prepared because the cream will hurt at first, even with the opium. But it will prevent infection and promote healing. Next, I will bandage your wounds, and that will include a tight wrap around your ribs. That will help keep your ribs from further damage while we are moving. Then, I am going to wrap your breasts to prevent them from bouncing while we are moving.

"Stella, medically, I am against you searching for the documents right now. I understand the urgency of getting them back to Boss Ralph. Most of all, I know you from years of training you and know that your honor makes you do this. Everybody here will help all that they can."

He prepared his potion, and Stella drank it all without protest. While waiting for the medicine to take effect, he said, "We have a stretcher that we will use to move you to the place you crossed the arroyo last time. There, we will put you in a special chair that Sgt. Lee of the Mounted Troops constructed for you. You must let us do all of the lifting as we move you. You must avoid moving your shoulders. Your body will try to heal. Your job is to let it heal by avoiding any further damage. Do you understand me?"

"Yes, Medico. For your help in retrieving the Katana Documents, I will do everything that you and Carlos say. And Ralph, too, if he were here. Your help, everybody's help, means so much to me."

Frank could see the opium kicking in by looking at her eyes. When he thought it was time, he checked that Carlos was ready and said, "Stella, we must remove your halter and lower your pants for this." The Medico and Carlos then did what they could for her.

When they had her bandaged and dressed again, they called on the two Mounted Troops that would be the stretcher-bearers. The troops brought the stretcher, accompanied by two additional troops who would also assist in carrying it. They placed the stretcher on the ground beside Stella.

While ministering to Stella, Carlos and the Medico had arranged a blanket under her. Under the direction of the Medico, the four troops used the blanket to lift Stella from her position on the ground and placed her on the stretcher. The Mounted Troops had provided some bedrolls. Carlos and the Medico laid these on the stretcher beside her shoulders and hips. Carlos used straps to hold the bedrolls and Stella in position.

The stretcher-bearers picked up the stretcher and headed to the arroyo's stream, then down to the place Stella had initially crossed. Two troops walked close by the sides of the stretcher in case she needed additional support. Another group of Troops on foot followed behind the stretcher, and the rest of the Troops followed on horseback, leading the horses of the walking troops. The Troops walking behind the stretcher were prepared to swap out with a stretcher bearer as might be needed. Sgt. Lee was with the rest of his Mounted Troops. He was carrying the chair they had contrived for Stella.