All Part of the Plan

"Buck!" Petra screamed at the scene.

His body was blown back.

He tried to keep conscious

But his head he did smack.

Petra quickly grabbed for his gun

Since she had none.

She was quick on the draw

One of the men

who stood around them,

looked surprised

Before the fall.

His comrade checked...

"He's dead!"

"And you'll soon join him,"

Petra said.

She went to pull the trigger

But was grabbed from behind

By someone bigger.

She stomped his foot and he swore.

Calling her the deputy's whore.

She struggled her best to try and get free.

And then Buck rose very slowly.

"Just let her go. You obviously came for me."

Petra yelled, "No!"

Blood blossomed through his vest.

As he faced these unwanted guests.

He took a step forward

but then staggered back.

"Buck, please... No!"

But with a butt of a gun

Petra's head was whacked

Her world went black.

"Petra!" Buck's knives did fly

Two more lay dead

A few more wounded

he too was struck in the head.

"Boss ain't gonna be happy,"

Austin let out a sigh.

Two dead, three wounded.

Who the hell was this guy?

They took the weapons

and ammo from the fallen.

"Put him in the wagon."

They started to drag him.

"What do we do about her?"

"It's all part of the plan.

Leave her here."

"It'll be your job to lead them

right to us, princess."

Austin put a note in her hand.

_________________

Shadow could feel her sister's pain.

It flashed through her brain.

Brett caught her as she went to her knees.

"What is it Shadow, tell me please?"

"Petra is in trouble.

We must reach her on the double."

They came upon a horrible scene.

Three men dead and Petra laid out

With blood trickling from her head.

Brett got down on his knees,

Grabbed his sister.

"Petra, wake up! Please!"

Slowly did Petra awake.

"Brett?" she was slow on the take.

Then she sat up with a start.

"Buck!" She noticed he was gone and

so was the cart.

Then she felt the note in her hand.

Shadow and Brett helped her to stand.

"I need to get to find, Brandy Vine!"

"You need to let Dad know what happened."

"I don't have time!

Help me please, Brett.

If I don't get to him

they'll kill him yet."

"Who?"

"Buck, they took him

but if I get to Brandy and Bruce,

they can negotiate

To get him loose."

"I'll take her," Shadow volunteered.

"You tell the others..."

"No... no one else must know."

This was worse than Shadow feared.

Brett argued, "We are stronger as a clan.

How can you not understand?

You're putting yourself in danger over

some...some man?"

Petra didn't have time to debate.

"I find her myself!

He is being used as bait.

He's already been shot.

He's all I got."

"That's just it Petra, he's really not."

"You know what I mean!"

Petra let out a scream.

"Do you what you want?

I'm finding Brandy."

She said rather blunt.

Petra took one of their horses

And rode away.

Shadow stood conflicted

Didn't know what to say.

"I'm telling Dad.

You follow her.

Don't let her out of your sight.

We'll make this right."

Shadow nodded.

"If anything happens. I'll let Mom know."

Brett nodded before he chose to go,

Knowing Petra was in good hands

with Shadow.