The Stolen 10

I don't own these characters; I just like to spend time with them. No other profit to be had.

MKMKMKMKMKMKMKMKMKMK

Thursday Evening

As Matt and Tom followed Manley back to his camp, they kept their eyes and ears open. They knew they were probably being watched, by Manley's men as well as their own. But they gave no indication of the knowledge.

According to Proctor's plan, they had to ride into the camp, and pretend to be buyers until after the auction took place.

Tom had reasoned that catching him with the women alone should be enough, but Proctor refuted that. He wanted Manley and his men, as well the buyers, to be caught red handed in the act of buying and selling of human beings.

Matt had asked about the safety of the women. He was concerned with what would happen, when the federal troops came in to take over the camp.

"All due caution will be taken in regards to them," Proctor had said. "We have no desire to see anyone harmed, however our main priority is to see to it these men are stopped. To that extent we will do what is necessary to ensure that outcome. Your job is to gather enough information to charge these men with, and assist the troops when they come in."

"Can the troops be called in early or delayed by us if we need it?" Tom asked.

"No," Proctor responded. "They will be coming in precisely two hours after the auction is scheduled to start, and neither of you will be able to alter that."

Matt briefly thought about arguing about it, but knew better. He knew the government and how it worked. He kept his peace. No need to argue about it. Once inside the camp, he would do his job his way.

The constables rode silently behind Manley, following him onto a rugged track barely wide enough for the two men to ride abreast of each other.

The trail took them through a small section of trees, before dipping down into a shallow arroyo, then coming back up on the broad open plain. Another half hour, and they passed through another small copse of trees, before finally winding to the top of a fairly steep incline where they stopped.

Manley pulled out his pistol firing one shot. There was no need to wonder of the man's actions. He was signaling that they were coming in.

After an extended pause, Manley started down the incline, leading them to what must have been a small farm at one time. Though by the looks of things, it had long since been abandoned. Secluded as it was though, Matt understood why it was chosen.

Beside the shack that Manley was riding up to, was a large dilapidated barn that listed slightly to the east and was missing a portion of its roof. In front of the barn was what once was a corral. Now it served as a sort of holding pen, for the women standing inside its boundaries.

Knowing their roles well, both men looked openly and leeringly at the women within view, not all of the women were outside however. Kitty and several other women were inside seeking respite from the late evening heat. They had no knowledge of the men's arrival.

Once he reached the shack, Manley dismounted and entered without a backwards glance to his guests. They followed him in over across slanting steps through the creaking door, both men tensing as they entered, watching for someone behind the door.

There was no one.

"Have a seat gents," Manley said indicating two slat backed chairs beside a rickety table. "Ain't got much here but some whiskey, but you're welcome to it."

Both men shook their heads. They wanted nothing the man might provide. Trust was not something he engendered in them.

"Suit ya self," he shrugged, as he poured himself a generous helping.

Matt and Tom looked around the room they were in. The lone window in the room had boards nailed across it. In addition to the one table and 3 chairs, the only other piece of furniture was a cot near the window, with dark stains on its mattress.

"I don't usually take new customers this close to auction," Manley said, bringing their attention back to him. "But Zeke tells me, you two are alright, and he knows better than to steer me wrong."

"Well I'll tell ya," Matt said, "we sure do appreciate it. Life on a big spread with no town nearby can be a little hard, without a little female companionship." He forced a chuckle.

Manley nodded. "Know what ya mean. Zeke tells me ya planning on buying more than one."

"Sure are," Tom answered him. "We got a big spread and it takes a lot of men to run it. One wouldn't be enough."

Manley looked shrewdly at the two men. "Ya sound like ya done this afore."

"Yep, a couple of times," Matt nodded. "But the seller we got them from before, got caught. We were lucky we weren't there when it happened. Figured it be safer, if we went a little further from home for our next purchase."

"We was kinda leery about you at first," Tom added. "Don't much like dealing with people we don't know, but Zeke told us Bing Dunning used ya, and you was okay with him. We figured if Bing trusted ya, then you'd probably be alright."

Manley looked up at the name. Bing had made several purchases from him until he got killed in a game of cards. "You know Bing then?" He asked casually.

Both men nodded.

"Well how is he?" Manley asked casually. "I ain't seen him in a while."

"He's dead," Matt answered. "Heard he got killed in a game of poker." Matt knew what Manley had been trying to do, but Proctor had been very thorough in the information he had given them.

Manley broke into a grin. "That's right," he said as though he'd just remembered it. "Well gents. How bout we go take a look at what I got to offer. Now ya cain't do much with em mind ya, not till you buy em, but as you two are the first ones here, I guess I could let ya have a small sample. I mean ya wouldn't buy a horse without looking in its mouth would ya?" Manley laughed loudly at his own attempt at a joke.

Both men grinned at him.

Both men were disgusted by him.

Both men rose and followed Manley from the shack.

TBC