Dark Whispers

Dedication

This book is dedicated to the Old Biddie Literary Committee. It is comprised of two of my dear friends, and me. They listen to ideas, offer some, and let me know if something isn’t quite right. We talk over original texts, edits, and anything else that gets out attention.

We have a wonderful time, and without their input, I would still be working on this book.

Thank you Linda and Alecia for always being there.

Acknowledgment

I want to thank Verlan and Alice Hines, as well as my late husband Alison, for a guided tour of the ranch in this story. Many of the locations really exist, or did.

We went to Montana for my husband’s 40th high school reunion, at Terry.

It was also my in-law’s 49th wedding anniversary, and my birthday. (Don’t ask which one)

Table of Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgment

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

Chapter 47

Chapter 48

Chapter 49

Chapter 50

Chapter 51

Chapter 52

Chapter 53

Chapter 54

Chapter 55

Chapter 56

Chapter 57

Chapter 58

Chapter 59

Chapter 60

Chapter 61

Chapter 62

Chapter 63

Chapter 64

Chapter 65

Chapter 66

Chapter 67

Chapter 68

Chapter 69

Chapter 70

Chapter 71

Chapter 72

Chapter 73

Chapter 74

Chapter 75

Chapter 76

Chapter 77

About The Author

Prologue

The ranch really existed, as well as the Hawkins Ranch, and town of Calypso.

Somewhere in my file I have copies of the original maps of the town.

Fort Keogh, Miles City, Terry, and the Bad Lands, are all real places and were alive and thriving in the 1875 era of Montana. The buffalo circles also existed and may still be seen today.

Many of the locations, while not exactly where they are located on the ranch, are real. Lost Boy Creek, was a watering hole for the cattle the Hine’s family raised. The mule deer, antelope, and occasional white tail deer are there in abundance. The bear population has all but died out, but in 1875 there were still grizzly bears in the area. The coyotes, and prairie dogs are there as well.

Now, sadly, Calypso is only a memory. Time and vandals (whether intentional of someone wanting a ‘souvenir,’ have reduced the town of Calypso to a empty spot on the map. Time has torn down the buildings, and returned the landscape, to what it once was.

Today, Calypso, is only a memory. Nothing remains of Calypso today,but history, and memories.

Chapter 1

Abby Markham watched her captor warily. She never knew when she would be the victim of his heinous temper. Acting as submissive as possible was her only chance to get away. Abby did her best to make her captor think she was emotionally broken and helpless.

Being heavily pregnant didn’t help, either. He expected her to work harder than before he discovered the pregnancy. She knew her time was running out. She had to make her last attempt at freedom soon, and it had to be successful. Her captor made it abundantly clear what would happen to her if she tried another escape. If you try to get away again, I will tie you out and leave you for the wolves.

Her captor had told her in a scratchy, raspy voice. That time, she had tried to run getting wood for the fire but didn’t get more than a few steps before she was knocked to the ground. To ensure she couldn’t try to run away, Thing shackled her by the ankle to an iron bolt embedded in the floor near the hearth. She had just enough room to move around the hearth and cook. She promised herself and her baby she would get away and save them both.

She had started cooking his dinner when she told him, I need more wood. He never said a word, just nodded and left. Abby had kept a long piece of wood out of sight. She would use it as a weapon when she got the opportunity.

He brought an armful of wood to the hearth. As always, she stood to the side, but today, she had a stick of wood in her hand. It was concealed in the folds of her ragged skirt. He never saw it coming. Leaning over to drop the wood in front of the hearth, she brought the stick of wood down on the back of his head as hard as she could. He went down hard. His right hand was moving toward his knife when she smashed his hand with the wood. Thing was still trying to rise when Abby hit him along the right side of his head. This time, when he went down, remaining still.

Carefully approaching his quiet body, Abby rolled him over. She grabbed the string around his neck and jerked. It broke, and Abby had the key to her shackles.

Not wasting any time, she unlocked the shackles that had held her for the past seven months. Once she was free, she shackled Thing with the same fetters that had held her prisoner.

When she was free and Thing secured, she took his knife and gun. She wasn’t leaving anything he could use to get free. Abby ran to the door but took one last look back at the Thing that had held her captive for the last seven months. Almost to the corral, the first labor pain hit her. Abby cried out but kept moving. She worked through the first pain and opened the corral. She saddled a small mule and lead it to a stump. Before she could mount, she had another contraction. Sitting on the stump, she waited until it passed. Taking a deep breath, she stood up and mounted the mule.

She had no idea where she was but followed the most worn path. It soon led to a well-traveled road. The mule seemed to know where she was going, and Abby was in no condition to argue. She knew she had to get away, with no time to waste. Soon, another contraction gripped her body. Abby stopped the mule until the worst of the pain passed. After what seemed like an eternity, Abby saw a signpost, giving her hope. The sign had a carved arrow pointing straight ahead toward the town of Calypso. She knew where she was, and her time was running out. She tried to make the mule walk faster but had to stop when she felt another contraction.  She waited until the pain was manageable and urged the mule toward Calypso.  Abby rode for what seemed like hours, she could see the town in the distance.

Before she could reach Calypso, the contractions made her stop and slide off of the mule.  She staggered over to a small grove of trees and laid down. The contractions were coming faster and harder. She felt a gush of fluid and knew the baby was going to be born soon. She needed help, but there was none anywhere in sight. She was trying to make it through each contraction but felt her meager strength fading with each pain. She soon fell into unconsciousness, with her final coherent thought being a prayer for her unborn child. The baby was all she had left to remember her husband by.

Chapter 2

Sheriff Sean O’Brian was returning from Miles City when he saw a mule standing on the side of the road.  He quickly rode up to the mule and saw the unconscious woman under the tree.  It didn’t take a doctor to see she was having a baby and was in trouble.  He tried to give her a drink of water, but she was unconscious. He didn’t try to move her. He covered her with his ground sheet and rode to Calypso.  Sean kicked his horse to a gallop and rode to Calypso. He prayed he was doing the right thing.  Within a few minutes, he slid to a stop at the doctor’s office and ran inside. The doctor was in and amazed at Sean’s frantic appearance.

What’s got you in such an uproar, Sean? Doc West asked.

There’s a woman having a baby just outside town, and something is wrong.

Sean said, not wasting words. Come on!

Doc West yelled for his assistant, Christine Conyers, and all three headed to the side of the woman. As they traveled, all three desperately hoped they were in time to save the mother and child.

Doc West pulled his buggy to a stop and run to the woman’s side.

Oh my God! It’s Abby Markham. She was taken about seven months ago. We’ve got to get her into town. Help me put her in the buggy.

Sean picked up the unconscious woman, laying her carefully in the buggy.

Doc West drove as if the hound of hell was on his heels. When they arrived at the doctor’s office, Sean took Abby into the doctor’s office. He noticed she was frail, obviously starved, just skin and bone. When he gently laid her on the table, she moaned slightly and was gone again.

"Sean, could you to ride out to the Markham ranch and get Rob and Elizabeth.

Her parents need to know we have their daughter back. Hurry, I don’t know if we were in time." Doc West said, all the while laying out instruments while Christine was setting up lights.

Sean rode quickly to the ranch. Rob Norton stepped outside as Sean rode up.

Rob, I found Abby. She is at Doc West’s right now. She is having a baby, and she’s in trouble. Get Elizabeth and head to town, now. Sean said, without preamble.

How? Where? Rob asked, in total confusion. Elizabeth, come here.

What is it? Elizabeth Norton asked.

Sean found Abby, Rob said. She’s in trouble. Sean took her to Doc’s. Let’s go!

I’m afraid the news isn’t good. Doc West told them. "She’s unconscious and has been beaten and starved, probably all of the time she was gone. She is too weak

to deliver the baby on her own. I need to do surgery to deliver the baby. At this point, all we can do is pray."

Elizabeth and Rob approached the table and tearfully stroked their daughter’s hair. They had never stopped hoping she would return, and now, they were praying she would survive.

Abby, I know you can hear me, Elizabeth said. Come on, you are a fighter. You wouldn’t have made it back if you weren’t. We love you so much. Please keep fighting for you and the baby.

Come on Baby Girl. Fight for you and the baby. You stood up to a wolf, this should be easy. Rob told the unconscious woman through tears of grief and relief.

Elizabeth, do you think you could lend a hand? I know it is a lot to ask, but I will need Christine’s help with the surgery. Doc West asked.

I may be a wreck, but I can handle this. This is my daughter and grandchild we are talking about here. Elizabeth said, with iron resolve, wiping tears from her eyes.

Doc West and Christine worked quickly, the silence deafening. Within what felt like an hour, Christine handed a tiny limp bundle to Elizabeth. She wanted to cry her heart out, but it was up to her and the good Lord to pull this small bundle into the world of the living. She cleared the baby's nose and wrapped her in a soft, warm blanket. Elizabeth rubbed and massaged the tiny bundle, breathing air into the tiny, fragile lungs. As Elizabeth’s eyes filled with tears of failure, the small bundle took a breath, a soft cry coming from the dusky lips.  Elizabeth rubbed the baby’s body and flexed the flaccid limbs. Her work paid off; the baby was breathing on her own, the cries getting stronger.

Elizabeth cleaned up the baby, wrapping her small body in a blanket, and walked out to the waiting room. 

Rob, I want you to meet Carolyn Elizabeth Markham, Elizabeth said with tears in her eyes. Abby told me the names they picked out when she suspected she was pregnant.

She’s beautiful, Rob said tearfully. What about Abby?

I don’t know yet, Elizabeth said. I’m going to go check now.

When Elizabeth returned to the surgery, she asked, How is she doing? Still holding the infant close.

She’s barely with us, Christine said through unshed tears.

I’m finished here. Doc West said. She’s so weak. It’s going to be an uphill battle all the way.

How’s the baby? Christine asked. What’s her name?

Let me introduce you to Carolyn Elizabeth Markham, Elizabeth said proudly.

She’s getting stronger every minute.

That’s great news. Now, let’s try to wake Abby up. Doc West said.

He waved a small bottle of smelling salts under Abby’s nose. She weakly moaned, turning her head away. Her eyes fluttered, trying to focus on the people around her. Abby’s first thought was the baby. Where’s my baby? She asked, her voice weak, barely above a whisper.

Carolyn is right here, and she is fine, Elizabeth said. She had a little bit of a rough start, but she is good now.

Elizabeth put the small bundle on Abby’s chest. Abby wrapped her arms around her little miracle and started to cry. Her frail body shook with grief over the realization Tom wasn’t there. He would never see the beautiful baby girl they had made.

Abby, you need to calm down. Carolyn needs her dinner, and you need to rest.

Doc West told her.

While Elizabeth helped prop Abby up enough to feed Carolyn, Doc West, and Christine left to talk to Rob. After a short discussion, Rob and Doc West decided it would be a good idea if someone sat with Abby and Carolyn through the night.

The person who took her may come looking for her. Doc West said.

They may look for her just to shut her up. Rob agreed. I will get Elizabeth and go home. We will get some clothes for Abby and the baby. I think I will get my Colt while I’m there.

That’s a good idea. The dress we cut off of Abby is the same dress she had on the day I told her she was pregnant, Tom was murdered, and she disappeared.

Doc West told Rob.

When Rob and Elizabeth left to go to the ranch, Doc West and Christine made Abby as comfortable as possible in a bed.  While Abby bonded with Carolyn, Christine went to the small café and got some soup for Abby. She returned, setting it on the table next to Abby.

That smells amazing, Abby said when Christine set the bowl down. All I’ve eaten was scraps of half-raw venison and stale bread.

It’s a wonder you didn’t starve to death, Christine said, amazed.

I had to cook the venison the way Thing’ liked it. When he finished, I got the scraps. It wasn’t much, but I survived. Abby stated, angry.

When Christine left with the empty bowl, Abby snuggled down with Carolyn.

That name seemed too big for such a tiny bundle. She pondered that as she drifted off into a deep, healing sleep.

Chapter 3

Delbert Scoggins woke up with an agonizing headache. He saw dried blood on the floor around him. He raised his right hand to the side of his face, only to realize his right hand was a bloody, crushed, useless mess. He tried to stand and discovered he was shackled to the floor and no key anywhere in sight.

He didn’t remember much except dropping firewood and horrific pain. Carefully reaching back with his left hand, he felt the large bloody knot on the back of his head. Tentatively exploring the right side of his head, he found his right ear grossly swollen. His right eye was swollen shut, severely limiting his of vision.

The injuries were not only severely painful but potentially crippling. Scoggins sat on the floor of the cabin, sorting out his limited options. He knew he had to get loose and leave as quickly as possible. That woman would bring the law back, and he had to be gone by then.

Scoggins knew it would be hard to get the bolt free from the floor boards, but it was his only option. He wanted to be well on his way to the Black Hills when the law arrived.  He had lived in the Black Hills for years, and finding him there would be impossible. First, he had to get free.

He started pulling at the bolted chain, using his full body weight. When he felt the slightest bit of give, he pulled in another direction.

The sands of time were running out. Scoggins pulled and worked at the bolted chain until he felt the wood start to give. After several hours, the bolt come loose, sending him backward into the wall of the small cabin. He hit the back of his battered head, and his body fell to the floor, pinning his useless right hand beneath him. He tried to scream, but all that come from his mangled throat was a strangled, grating noise. He laid on the floor, until the worst of the pain subsided.

Carefully standing, he gathered everything he needed to make the journey. He could get provisions along the way. He knew where to get anything he needed, and no questions were asked. Piling the food and blankets on the front step of the cabin, he went it to the barn. Quickly saddling his horse and the pack mule, he took a few minutes to let the pain in his head subside before going to the tool shed. Rummaging around for a few minutes, he found the necessary tools to remove the shackle from his ankle. After an hour, the battered metal fell away.

Once loose, he hooked the panniers on the pack saddle and filled them with supplies and equipment he needed for the long journey.

He led the horse and mule to the cabin and loaded the rest of his provisions. He tore a sheet into strips, fashioning a crude bandage for his head. Taking a deep breath, he straightened the broken fingers of his right hand.

Bandaging his hand, he stored the rest of the strips in his saddle bags. Going into a small shed, he collected a rifle, pistol, and ammunition. He kept his guns and ammunition in the shed. It was a good thing because that woman had taken the old man’s weapons when she left.

Looking around one last time, he stepped up on his horse, leaving the cabin behind. He figured it would take a hard week of riding to get to the Dakota Territory, but he would be safe. Once there, he could relax and heal up. Until then, he had to keep low and avoid lawmen at all costs. Then, he would have his revenge.

Chapter 4

A week had passed since Sean O’Brian had found Abby Markham. He hated this part of his job, but he had to ask her about what happened. He needed to find where she had been held.  It may give him a clue to the person who killed Tom and abducted her.

Sean walked into Doc’s office and asked, Is Mrs. Markham able to answer any questions?

"Yes, I believe she is strong enough to talk to you. Be forewarned, she is still an emotional mess. She may cry at the drop of a hat. She has scars all over her body and an especially bad one on her ankle. Whoever had her kept her shackled and starved. From what little she has mentioned, she has eat more in the last week than in the last month. It’s a wonder she is alive at all. She never gave up.

She forced herself to live for that baby, and that is the only reason you found her alive."

That makes me all the more determined to find the creature responsible for her condition and Tom’s death, Sean stated.

Doc West led Sean to Abby’s room. Abby was reading a book, and Carolyn was sound asleep. She looked up when Doc and Sean entered the room.

Abby, you have a visitor, Doc told her. Are you up to answering a few questions?

Certainly. I was thinking of asking you to have Sherriff O’Brian stop by. I want to give him all the information I have so he can get that ‘Thing’ that killed Tom and kidnapped me. Abby said, a cold conviction in her voice. Please, don’t think badly of me if I cry. Tom’s death still weighs heavily on me. I thought I was through grieving until I got free. The day after you brought me in, I realized I still have things to deal with. Doc, you may want to stay as well. You deserve to know how I got in that condition.

Doc West nodded and sat quietly next to Sean.

I won’t think ill of you at all. In fact, I’m surprised you are as composed as you are now. I know it’s still not a good time, but I need to know everything you can tell me about the person who killed Tom and took you.

I’m ready whenever you are, Abby told Sean.

Take your time. You can tell me anything. Start at the beginning, and go at your own pace. Sean said.

I had been in town to see Doc. He gave me wonderful news, I was pregnant. We had been trying for several years. I couldn’t wait to get home and tell Tom the great news. Abby said. I drove into the yard and saw Tom laying in front of the house. He wasn’t moving, and there was blood all over.  I remember running to his side. I knew when I turned him, he was gone. I felt like someone was behind me, but before I could turn around, I got hit on the back of the head.  I didn’t know anything until I woke up hours later in a dirty, run-down cabin.  I didn’t have any idea where I was until the day I escaped.

Can you tell me where the place is? I want to go out there and take a look. There may be something that will tell us who he is. Sean said. I think I can give you a general idea of where to look. The grove of trees where you found me isn’t far from the signpost pointing toward town. Close to that sign is a small, beaten-down trail wandering off to the left.  Follow it about a mile, and you should find the cabin. Abby said, trying to remember the details from that day.

That’s the Pearson place, Doc said. I know exactly where that place is. Old Jed is kind of odd, but I don’t believe he would hurt anyone. You know, come to think of it, I haven’t seen Jed for about six months.  He would come into town every couple of weeks for supplies and have a few drinks with his friends at the bar. He never caused any trouble. Just kind of stayed to himself.

Doc, what does Jed look like? Abby asked. I don’t know why, but I don’t think Jed took me.

Abby, can you describe the person who kidnapped you? Sean asked gently.

"Absolutely. ‘Thing’ is tall over six foot. He isn’t skinny; he’s big but not fat.

He has long, dirty blonde hair. He wears filthy buckskins; you can smell him before you can see him. He has a big scar across the front of his throat and can’t talk over a grating, harsh croak. He didn’t want me talking more than I had to. I lived almost in silence." Abby recounted.

That’s not Jed Pearson. Jed is about five foot ten and skinny as a willow switch.

Doc said. Jed has no problem talking, either.

Did he ever tell you why he killed Tom or took you? Sean asked carefully.

Yes. In that raspy croak, he told me he needed a woman to cook and keep him company. Abby said quietly. I asked why he killed Tom. He said it made getting ‘a woman’ easier."

"That explains several things.