Ezra went directly to the saloon. Nathan Jackson stood up as the gambler entered. "Mrs. Standish all right?"

Ezra smiled and said, "Indeed. She has asked for the judge. I believe she has decided to testify."

Buck walked over to them just as Ezra spoke. "That's good news there, Ezra. Judge is at the restaurant."

"Thank you, Buck." Ezra nodded and turned to leave.

Nathan followed him. "It's 'bout time she got dinner anyway. I'll get it ready and have it sent up just as soon as Judge Travis is done talkin' to her."

"Your efforts are greatly appreciated, Nathan." Ezra smiled as he spoke. What he didn't tell them was that Maude was more herself than she had been for a while. He wasn't sure exactly how it had happened, but now he knew she'd eventually be all right.

The second day of testimony ran much like the first. The only difference was that now the women were giving their stories. The men in the jury box looked ready to forget about the trial and just buy a cord of rope and lynch these men…now.

But these were just the stories of the survivors. These women had seen a woman raped repeatedly in front of them…merely to keep them subdued. They had seen countless women carried callously past them. They had heard the screams of terror and pain that came from The Room, a place they were so afraid of they uttered the phrase in a whisper.

Only one person in the town knew from first-hand experience what terrors The Room truly held. Only one person in town had survived that encounter. Her testimony would not be given until last.

Judge Travis was glad for that. He'd heard accounts of what the men had found. But the previous day, for the first time, Maude Standish had told him what happened there. She stated she would testify, but she requested one favor of him in exchange. Ezra was not to be allowed in the courtroom when she did. And as he heard her story, he understood her reasoning. No son should ever have to hear those words from his mother's lips.

Buck Wilmington took the stand and was sworn in at the beginning of the first day. The counsel for the prosecution wasted no time with niceties.

"Tell me about the pit."

Buck looked at his hands as if they were suddenly the most fascinating things he had ever seen. Then he spoke. "It was a pit, like you'd find on any compound that size. Dug kinda deep. A place to throw out the garbage you can't use or burn. From a distance, it wasn't really nothin' out of the ordinary.

"But that pit weren't ordinary at all. Mister, you gotta understand somethin' 'bout me. I love women. I do. Not just cause of the things you can do with 'em or the way they look. I love that about 'em too. But I love how they think. I love their gentle spirits. I believe men were put on this earth for no other reason than to protect the ladies."

Judge Travis nearly rolled his eyes. But Buck wasn't just spouting nonsense. That was how he honestly felt. He had seen how one young lady had shaken that belief to the core, but Buck was still a lady's man, in the truest sense of the word. Any lady could count on Buck for aid.

Buck continued, "That pit…." He nearly broke down. He had to stop and wipe at his eyes for a moment before continuing. "They were throwin' women away. Like they had no more value than a grizzled bone you wouldn't give a dog. Women ain't trash. No woman is trash. It ain't right."

Mr. Snider looked at Buck. "Thank you, Mr. Wilmington. I've no further questions."

Mr. Miffin stood up and walked over. He looked at Buck appraisingly. "That is a horrible thing to see." When Buck didn't respond to him, he asked pointedly. "Did you witness any of the men in this courtroom disposing a body into the pit?"

In a voice harsh with anger and sorrow, Buck replied, "No, sir. I did not."

"What, if anything, did you personally witness these men doing?"

"I saw Thomas Marshall whipping a woman who was tied to a post."

"And you are sure about that?"

"As sure as that scar on that man's shoulder," Buck replied.

"And the others?"

"Fighting us," Buck replied.

"Fighting you." Miffin snorted rudely. "Forgive me, Mr. Wilmington. But it seems like they were defending themselves against a hostile force. That is not exactly an action which should be punishable by law."

"Think what you like, mister. But we ain't in the habit of raiding farmers who are just trying to bring in their crops. The men on that compound were by no means innocent farmers. I may not have witnessed those men individually breaking the law; that ain't to say I didn't see the law broke by their friends, and the men they were fighting beside."

"Move to strike," Miffin said to the judge.

"Overruled."

Miffin glared at Buck, obviously irritated by the man's attitude. "No further questions."

The next witness called was Vin Tanner. Vin took the stand quietly, then looked straight at the defendants. If Mr. Snider found the lack of eye contact with his witness to be disconcerting, he didn't say anything about it.

"Mr. Tanner, you scouted the compound where these men were living, is that correct?"

"Yeah, it is." Vin still watched the defendants.

"What did you see?"

"I saw what looked like a work camp. Men plowing fields under guard. Men building things under guard. I saw a man try to run off, and I saw a guard shoot a little girl in front of that man as punishment. But that ain't all."

"There was more?" Snider asked.

"Yep."

"Would you elaborate for the court, please?"

Vin shrugged nonchalantly and settled back into his seat. His gaze never left the men he was testifying against. He pointed at George Jones. "That man right there spat in a prisoner's cup of water, then forced him to drink it. Ain't rightly illegal an all….but it shore ain't nice neither." Then he pointed at Jacob Christian. "An' that feller in the brown vest. He's the one that drug out the little girl who I saw shot." Vin narrowed his gaze and looked at Stephen Marks. "He was in charge of the guards. You can tell who's in charge by how folks approach them. And that man was giving the orders."

"Any thing else, Mr. Tanner?"

Vin nodded. "The brothers over there," he nodded towards Michael and Gabriel Saint, "were sentry. Not very good at it or they'd have seen me watchin' em."

Miffin scribbled something onto his paper.

Vin stared at John Timms. "Didn't see him do nothin' while I was keepin' an eye on the place. But this ain't the first time I saw him sittin' in a jail. Back few years ago…"

"Objection! The defendant's past history is not on trial here."

"Sustained. The witness will refrain from discussing previous involvement with the defendant and speak only on activities observed in this case."

Vin nodded.

"I've no further questions at this time, your Honor," Snider said.

Miffin approached Vin. Vin didn't look at him. "Mr. Tanner."

"What?"

"Look at me."

"Way I see it, I ain't required to look at you. I only have to answer your questions."

"You're wanted for murder in the State of Texas. Yet you claim to be a lawman."

"Objection! The witness's past history is not on trial here," Snider shouted.

"I'm establishing credibility, your Honor."

"Overruled. Answer the question, Mr. Tanner," Judge Travis said.

"Tweren't no question, Judge. It was just a statement."

"Counsel will rephrase the statement in the form of a question." Judge Travis was beginning to get annoyed.

"Mr. Tanner, are you or are you not wanted for murder in the State of Texas."

"I am. But I didn't do it. Eli Joe set me up."

"How are we to know that you aren't setting up those boys over there?"

For the first time since Vin took the stand, his gaze left the defendants and focused on the defense attorney. There was a very deadly look in Vin's eyes, and Mr. Miffin paled considerably under his scrutiny.

"Objection! Counsel is badgering the witness."

"Sustained."

"I'd like to answer it, Judge," Vin said.

"I'll allow it."

"I ain't got nothin' ta gain by settin' these boys up. And I ain't the only witness. Each of the men from this town have told you the same and more. They ain't got nothin' I want, so what would I gain by testifyin' against 'em? Nothin'." Vin spoke quietly but forcefully. "They ain't bein' framed. They jes got caught."

"You seem remarkably sure which one did what. How can you be so sure? You had to be pretty far away to observe without being noticed."

Vin snorted. "Not if you're good. I got within a hundred yards of them at some places. I know who I saw do what, because I memorized their faces. When you're a hunter, you learn to keep an eye on each animal by breed. But you also learn each individual animal's personality if you watch it long enough. I know these men. I know what they done."

Miffin looked at Vin for several long moments, and Vin returned the stare. Neither man spoke, then finally Miffin nodded. "No further questions."

Vin stood and walked out of the courtroom.

The next witness called was Nathan Jackson. Nathan took the stand and looked over to the defendants.

"Before you ask. Only man I saw doin' anythin' was Thomas Marshall. I saw him whippin' on Maude Standish. And I saw what that man did to her body. I ain't claimin' to have seen the others, but I know they were workin' for him. To me, that's just as bad as doin' it. They supported him."

Snider looked to him. "I guess I don't have any further questions."

Miffin stood up. "But I do. The accusations regarding the women included more than just whipping. You're claiming that this man was responsible for beating and raping as well."

"If he didn't do it personally, he ordered it. And stood to watch. Them ladies all said that when he went in the room with a woman, she came out dead. And he didn't leave until after she did. He's just as guilty-"

"Objection," Miffin said.

"Mr. Jackson, the purpose of this trial is to determine guilt," Travis reminded.

Nathan nodded. "He was there. And he didn't do nothin' to prevent it. Her blood was on his hands."

Miffin expressed disgust over Nathan's last statement. "No further questions."

Judge Travis looked to the court. "Counsel, approach the bench."

After William Snider and Elijah Miffin approached the bench, Judge Travis said. "Mr. Snider, I believe you've made your case. I think you should call one last witness. Mr. Miffin can then begin the defense. Is that acceptable to you?"

Snider nodded. "Yes, your Honor. Due to the time, however, and the witness I intend to call, I would like to request that we recess for the day and begin tomorrow with testimony."

"Agreed. Mr. Miffin, is this acceptable?"

Miffin nodded. "It is. I don't have any witnesses to call, other than the defendants. I'm not putting them on the stand."

"Will you be recalling any of the prosecution's witnesses?" Judge Travis asked.

"At this time, I do not have plans to do so. But I reserve the right to change that pending testimony heard tomorrow."

"Acknowledged. Tomorrow, final witness, summation statement by the defense, then closing arguments and any rebuttals. You think we can get this over tomorrow?" Judge Travis asked.

Miffin shrugged. Snider nodded. Then both went back to their seats and Judge Travis declared the court to be in recess.