"Just the kid, lady. You shut up and you'll be all right!" he said gruffly.

NO! I started to scream, and he did exactly what I hoped he would. He moved closer to try to shut me up with his fist. As he swung, I brought up the ugly barrel of the Browning, I had already jacked a shell into the chamber. Quickly the gun bucked three times in my hand, and the horrible little man fell, his face and neck blown away by the awesome power of a buzzing shell.

"Nice shooting, Annie Oakley. Now I don't have to split the loot. But drop it slow, or you won't live to be loved by me!"

I dropped the gun as instructed and turned around. Ugly man no. 2 was standing behind me, holding Chrissy with her head against his thigh. "Come on, sweetheart, quick or I'll kill you and the kid now!”

I reached for my things, but he leaned over and grabbed them, yank- ing me along he took us through the woods to an old black car that was hidden in the trees along the back access road.

Shoving us into the car he bound and gagged Chrissy and tied my hands tightly behind my back. A real professional job. There was no way out of this one.

We travelled into the darkening evening for what seemed like hours, across state lines, until we finally got off the pavement and onto an old dirt road leading off into the woods. Finally we stopped off at a small cabin. We were shoved into the dirty place and stood as he lit the gas lantern. Only then did I have the opportunity to look around.

"O.K., baby, this is our home of sorts for the next few days and maybe your gravesite if you aren't real nice to little ol, me."

"What are you planning on doing?"

"We are going to like in the movies, lay low, and wait. If you want to keep the kid alive you better keep her nice and quiet and keep yourself nice for me."

Suddenly he grabbed me, and pinning his arms around mine, pushed his mouth into my face and burning me with his beard, kissed me hard on the mouth. Even as I struggled, I knew that he would have to be appeased if we were going to have a chance to escape. He finally ended his kiss and pushed me toward the sink.