Ch 5

Jimmy woke to the feel of a boot shaking him. He turned droggy eyes upward.

"Get up boy. Times a wastin."

"Y'all missing one. Where's the indian?"

"Ain't seen no injun. So I don't know."

"These will have to do. He won't be able to find them anyway."

Jimmy was pulled to his feet and pushed along. He was shoved into the back of some sort of wagon. It was a wagon with a sort of jail built on the back like they used to move certain prisoners. He leaned back. As he came to his senses, he looked around. He saw Noah looking in his direction. He saw two other boys. Then he saw Lou and it felt as if the wind had been knocked from him. She sat in the corner, the look of fear on her face. He managed to push his way over to her. He looked in her eyes trying to calm her. She stared back at him. She had to know that she wasn't alone. They rode off the path. The ride was rough as the cage bounced over rocks and holes. They rode for about half a day. Jimmy looked at the place that they were coming to. It was a mine. The mountains were all around them.

Lou looked at what was ahead of them. Oh my God. It was a mine. She was cold. She was shaking. She looked at the fear on the faces of the other two young boys. She looked at the men on horseback watching workers. She had never felt so scared.

Noah looked at the mining operation. He saw the men in chains walking around. The men on horseback watching their every move. The men ranged from young men to old men. Some looked so sick that they could hardly work. He took in the looks of their eyes. The beaten faces and bodies stared back at him. He saw men in cages scattered about. He felt like he was in hell. It could be no less.

They pulled to a stop outside a small tent. One man took his key and opened the door to the cell.

"Git on down and line em up."

Jimmy felt himself being pushed forward. They lined up, still tied and gagged. An older fat man walked over in front of them. He walked down the line and took in each one.

"What you think, Mr. Evans?"

"They should do just fine. The small boy worries me but the rest look to be strong. You got their weapons?"

"Yes sir." Said Trevor as he placed them on a table outside.

"Wonderful. You always do such a fine job, Trevor. Get them ready to work. Teach them how it's done here." With that the old man walked back in his tent.

"You five are on axe crew. Step forward."

They all did as he asked. Three more men came. They placed chains on their feet and connected them all together. Then they went to each one, untied their hands, and took their jackets.

"Now this is how it works here. You do what we tell ya to do. If we see ya fallin behind, then you get punished. We see you talking out of line, then you get it. If you even look at me the wrong way, you get it. Got me." Said this horrible looking man.

"You don't talk less I tell ya, ya don't move less I tell ya. You decide your fate, your life don't mean a damn thing to me."

They all looked on. Jimmy's mind was whirling with thoughts of Lou. How was he gonna watch over her? If they found out that she was a girl, it could be devastating. He had to do anything he could to help her. Teaspoon would find them, he just didn't know how long it would take.

"The sun is going down so you start at dawn. Chris, take them to the holding area."

This man called Chris grabbed the young boy on the end and hauled him to the area. It was a struggle for them to stay on their feet but they did. He opened a wooden gate made of high trees. It had to be over fifteen foot tall. He opened the door and pushed them inside. As the new five caught the attention of others in there, they shuffled over to an empty corner. Jimmy looked around. There were men that looked to be dying. There were men of all ages. Men that looked worn out. Men that looked like they wished for death. They had beaten faces, beaten bodies. Men covered in dirt from head to toe. He turned to look at Lou. Her arms wrapped around her middle protectively. He only thought of her and how he could get her through this unharmed.

The five sat in their corner. Lou began shivering either from the cold or fear. Noah scooted closer to her on one side and Jimmy the other.

"Teaspoon will be looking for us soon." Said Noah.

"Buck isn't here, he must have got away somehow. He's probably riding for help as we speak." Said Jimmy.

"What the hell is this?" Ask Lou.

"Looks like a mining camp, only these poor souls ain't workers. They are prisoners." Replied Jimmy.

"We going to have to play along Hickok. We can't do anything foolish." Stated Noah.

"I can't let them find out about Lou. I will do anything to help her Noah."

"You know I'll look out for her to."

"I know. Lou, you ok?" Asked Jimmy.

"I don't know. Just looking around at the shape these people are in scares me."

"Lou, I won't let anything happen to you. We will get out of this. Teaspoon will come."

"They will all come." Lou nodded.

"Let's try to rest a little. Looks like we got work in the morning." Said Noah.

Jimmy wrapped his arms around Lou as they tried to get some sleep. Morning would be an entire new kind of hell.