Becky telegraphed the U.S. Marshall's office in Denver, but the best they were able to do was send a man to look over the mine and the ranch. Since the cousins' adversaries were masked and never mentioned their names, there was little the Marshall could do. However, he did promise to telegraph Indian Bureau in Washington and see what could be done, but he had his doubts. Most Indian Agents had connection in the capital, some had relatives or in-laws in Congress. That made its next to impossible to remove crooks or incompetents.
Becky and Julia decided to cope as best they could. Fortunately, the ranch hands had become very protective of their employers. They made sure there would always be one present on the ranch and offered to accompany one or both of them into town. Thus, they had an escort the Saturday morning they set out for town. They would check into Burke's and spend the night there following the ball.
The trip was uneventful and they spent most of the afternoon going about town. As the time for the beginning of the ball drew near, the cousins changed into their gown and could hear the tiny orchestra warming up for the night's music. Once suitably garbed for the occasion, Julia and Becky headed downstairs. They paid their admission fees and began to mingle with the early arrivals. They were greeted warmly by the Browns.
"Ah, Miss Carson, Miss Stirling, welcome!" Mrs. Brown said, "I trust it will me a most enjoyable evening."
"I hope so too." Becky said. "Considering the night is still young."
"There's something I've been meaning to tell-"
"Julia! Becky! There you are!" A familiar voice called out. The cousins turned and saw Charles Bradford. Julia wondered what he was doing here.
"As I was saying." Mrs. Brown said, clearly annoyed by the interruption, "Since your stepbrother was in the area, I decided to invite him to the ball as well."
"I have been instructed by the railroad to help establish shipping rates to Denver." Charles explained. "My word, Becky, you look absolutely ravishing!"
"Thank you." Becky said.
"We'd better run along." Mrs. Brown said "Lots to do, don't you know."
"Of course." her husband said.
Becky and Charles went off, and left Julia searching through the crowd. She saw the sheriff and could smell whiskey on his breath when she got within ten feet of him. She then turned to and saw a man sitting nervously by the window. She decided he must be alone, but then got a good look at his face. Henry Fulton!
She walked over and said "Good evening, Mister Fulton!"
"Good evening, Miss Sterling."
"I'm pleased to see you here."
"Me too. May I have this dance."
"This and any you like."
They made their way to an area on set aside for dancing. Before too long, Fulton asked the inevitable question. Julia replied and Fulton said, "I gather you are not fond of your step-brother"
"Not greatly." Julia admitted. "I don't know what it is that makes Harvard men so pretentious and arrogant. I only met one who was remotely agreeable and he a shortsighted fellow prone to asthmatic fits. But I doubt he will amount to much. The odd thing about it that I remember his name. "
"Which is?"
"Theodore Roosevelt. He said he was from New York. Why are you here?"
"Other than the ball? I'm looking for a place to settle down."
Julia's eyes flew upward. "Oh? A ranch or mine perhaps?" she said. "Becky thinks you staged that incident for my benefit."
Fulton laughed "My father owns a gold mine in California, and believe me, I've had my fill of them."
The orchestra stopped and the dancers parted ways. Becky and Julia found them separated from their partners and were soon joined by Mrs. Brown.
"Looks like we've been abandoned." Julia commented. Becky's thoughts weren't on Julia's statement. She noticed two men had tried to sneak in the back way, but were unable, blocked by the sheriff’s deputy. Becky's curiosity got the better of her and she moved toward the back door. Besides, it was beginning to get hot in the hotel, so she decided she could cool off in the alley. She was mistaken.
The alleyway was narrow and didn't allow much room. A wagon could be driven through it, but only very slowly. She noticed the light of a kerosene lamp showing through the open door of a building fronting the next street. Her curiosity got the better of her and she looked into the doorway. Before she could react, she was seized and yanked into the building!
"He-mmmmmmmmph!" she called out, and looked around helplessly. A powerful hand was securely gripped over her mouth and a brawny arm locked her arms to her sides. "Your survival depends on your silence," the man said "Understood?" Becky nodded. The hand was removed then she turned around and took two steps backward.
She looked at her attackers and whispered "Who are you?"
"I'm Sam and he's Ned." the man who had grabbed her said. He had dark hair and sounded vaguely familiar. "Perhaps you don't recognize us." he withdrew a red bandanna from his pocket and the towheaded Ned deployed a blue one. "We've met before."
"So we have."
"Turn around, please." Becky turned around and crossed her wrists behind her back. Sam tied them securely with a strong rope. Ned meanwhile balled up a small rag and stuffed it into Becky's mouth. As he did so, they heard a voice outside enquire, "Miss Carson, where are you?" It was Mrs. Brown's voice.
For Heaven's sake, stay out there! Becky thought. Sam and Ned thought quickly. They manhandled Becky so she was visible through the still open door, then stepped aside. Mrs. Brown then stopped in front of the doorway and spotted Becky. Instinctively, she raced inside only to be seized before she took two steps inside the door. "She isn't a part of the plan!" Ned hissed.
"She is now." Sam said, "we got enough stuff to tie and gag her as well." Sam and Ned went to work on their unexpected captive. They tied Mrs. Brown's wrists and gagged her in the same way they had done with Becky. They produced longer strands of rope, which they took and wound numerous times around the women's upper bodies. Becky watched helplessly as Mrs. Brown's bodice disappeared underneath the yards of hemp. With that chore done, they were seated on nearby bench and as a final restraint, their legs were secured just below the knees.
"Now we have a change in plans." Ned said bitterly.
"There's no change." Sam insisted, then pointed at Becky. "Her cousin gives up the mine to save Miss Carson's life." Becky looked up at the ceiling. Julia was her only hope.
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