Ch 3
Emma sat out three extra places for the new guests. The boys stood as the ladies came in. Teaspoon pulled each chair out for them. The ladies had a seat as Emma served their food.
"Let's introduce you to everyone. There's Kid and Lou over there. Across from you is Noah, Cody, and Jimmy. That there's Buck and Ike."
"Nice to meet everyone." The ladies said.
"So Miss Wright, I have to know. What kind of trouble are you in?" Asked Teaspoon.
"Not just me. All three of us. And please, just call us by our first names."
"Ok, Mary, I need to know what's going on before I can help you."
Mary looked to Audrey.
"We come from Mississippi." Started Audrey as all eyes fell on her.
"I met Mary while she was working on a riverboat. I was without a home. My family had all died from the pox so I was scrounging around for work. Mary saw me and got me a job on the boat with her to get me off the streets. I am indebted to her and her kindness." Said Audrey.
"I worked on the same boat as Mary. You see, we handled the game room. We dressed the part of southern belles and welcomed all the very old rich men. We sat with them at tables and brought them luck." Said Sheila.
"I had worked for Max for about five years. The only reason I began working there was because my father had managed to get himself a considerable amount of debt on that boat. I tried to work his debt off but he kept acquiring more. It wasn't a bad deal though. I got my ball gowns and a beautiful accommodation to live in. But then Max got riled up over something with my father. He ended up killing him. That's when the three of us jumped ship." Explained Mary.
"You see, Max had began to want more from us as we matured. I will let you use your imagination on that." Said Sheila.
"I overheard Max say that he killed Mary's father because he wanted her in his bed. Her father forbade it. He killed him. I told Mary and we decided that we were prisoners, not employees. We snuck off the boat." Said Audrey.
"I see. Is this Max looking for you?"
"He is. He thinks we belong to him. He always keeps his property pristine and in check." Said Mary.
"How did you manage to make it here?"
"We hired a man to help us but Max's men killed him. We did the same in another town but we had the same outcome. The only thing that did was buy us some time." Said Sheila.
"We managed to lose those men a while back but I fear they will find us." Said Audrey.
"Do y'all think that y'all can keep running and he will just give up?"
"We hope so." Said Mary.
"If he has come this far, I seriously doubt it. Where were y'all trying to go?"
"We thought we might be able to hide in the Dakota territory. We heard it was remote." Said Audrey.
"I ain't quite sure. Y'all are too easy to track."
"What do you mean, track?" Asked Mary.
"That carriage that you are in. Ain't no more like that around here so the tracks look different. Easy to track. Y'all are dressed in those southern gowns. The umbrellas, bonnets, you are sure to stand out."
"Oh my. I told you." Frowned Audrey.
"Oh please, I am not leaving comfort behind dear Audrey." Said Sheila.
"I can't wear anything else. This is who we are." Said Mary.
"Well who you are and who you can be are two different things. Ladies, the way I see it is that y'all are on the run from a man obsessed with possessions. He ain't gonna stop until it is his again."
"Ladies, we should go. We have brought our problems here. It is not safe." Said Audrey.
"No, no. Stay. I'm not saying that we ain't gonna help ya. I'm just saying we have to do it the right way. The smart way."
The ladies nodded and finished their meal. They excused themselves and made their way back over to Emma's. Teaspoon looked at his boys.
"Well boys."
"I think they are hiding something." Said Jimmy.
"Why, they seem to be real ladies Jimmy." Said Kid.
"Because why would some man try to chase down three women unless they had something valuable of his? Answer me that." Argued Jimmy.
"Some men are just bad. He wanted something that they didn't want to give." Said Kid.
"I kind of agree with Jimmy. They aren't telling us everything." Said Lou.
"I think they just need help." Argued Kid.
"Take it down a notch! I think we need to find out what we can but I do owe Byron this favor." Said Teaspoon.
"I think I may just be the man to find out for you Teaspoon, considering my way with women." Said Cody smiling.
"What way is that Cody? Scare them into submission?" Said Jimmy causing all the others to laugh.
"You'll see. You'll all see." Smirked Cody as he walked outside.
"I got a dollar, says he'll actually find out." Said Teaspoon.
"Nope. You're on." Said Jimmy.
"Got one for him." Said Noah.
"We're with Jimmy." Said Buck and Ike.
"Kid?"
"No thanks."
"Lou?"
"I'm with Jimmy on this one." She said.
"Alright boys, and we're off." Said Teaspoon.