Ch 10

Buck made his way into town that morning. He rode straight to the hotel and went inside. The clerk recognized him from before.

"I see ya made it back. Ya find yer friends?" He asked

"Not yet. I came back thinking they might show back up."

"Here are their things, I kept em just like you asked. Here's your room key."

"Thank you." Buck said as he gathered his friends things and retired to his room.

Two hours later, Teaspoon and Emma made their way into town. After they checked into the boarding house, they went to eat at the restaurant. An hour after them, Cody and Ike rode into town. They checked into the boarding house and made their way over to the saloon.

Back at the mining camp, Mr. Evans had asked to speak with Trevor.

"Trevor, we have lost four more this past week. Get with Josiah. I need replacements."

"Yes sir. I'll go into town for a few days. See what we can round up."

"Oh and Trevor, try to get young sturdy ones please."

"Yes sir."

Trevor tacked his horse and took three men with him as he headed into town to get with Josiah.

Buck and Kid walked the streets of Laramie. As they were passing the mercantile, a figure caught Buck's eye. He stopped to look. There he was. Josiah. He was making small talk with two young boys around the age of sixteen if Buck had to guess. He watched him for a few and watched as he left the boys. He saw him stand just a few down the street and watch as to where they were staying. He had to be the key to all this. He touched Kid and tipped his hat in his direction.

Teaspoon and Emma were walking with her arm looped through his after their meal. Emma saw Buck and Kid coming up the boardwalk. She squeezed Teaspoon's arm. He looked up.

"Well I'll be!" Exclaimed Teaspoon.

Buck stopped in front of him baffled.

Kid tried to hide his smile.

"Look honey a bonafide injun! You from these parts?"

"Um." Buck looked as Teaspoon winked at him.

"You speak English?"

"Oh yes sir, no I'm not from these parts."

"Never met an injun afore. Me and the wife is traveling west to see the sights ain't we darling!"

"Sure is." Said Emma trying not to smile.

"Ya got any of them injun secrets that I could tell my grands?"

"Matter of fact, I can think of one."

Buck leaned close to Teaspoon's ear.

"The man cross the street. Big black hat, black suit, white shirt. That's Josiah."

"Well I'll be honey! I just can't believe it!"

"Come on dear, leave the poor fellow alone now. Sorry hon, he gets terribly excited." Said Emma.

"It's no problem ma'am." Said Buck as he tipped his hat and walked away.

Teaspoon and Emma continued their walk but now Teaspoon's attention was on the gentleman across the street. He seemed to be watching the people come and go. He must be part of the link in all this mess. He just had to figure it out a little more. He watched the man push off from the wall and walk into the saloon.

Cody and Ike were at the bar having a sasparilla. Cody was talking as always. Ike just nodded and listened. Cody stopped and took a sip of his drink.

"Y'all must be new in town." Said some man that had sat beside him.

"Sorry mister, do I know you?" Asked Cody.

"No son, I just don't have much else to do sides sit here this bar. Lost everything I had a few years ago."

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"Just don't recall seeing you boys here before. I know just bout everybody."

"No sir, we are just passing through."

"Your homesteads close?"

"No sir, we don't really have a homestead anywhere. We kinda just drift from place to place."

"I see, ain't really no life in that but all the same, maybe I should drift."

"It's a hard life but it works for us."

"Your friend there, he's awful quiet."

"That's Ike. He can't talk but he can hear and sign."

"Well nice to meet you both. Name's Josiah."

"I'm Cody. Nice to meet you as well."

"You going to be in town long?"

"Maybe two weeks at the most."

"Good maybe I'll see you around. Hope you enjoy your stay."

"Thanks sir."

"Well I've taken up enough of your time, I see someone I was expecting. Excuse me."

Cody and Ike watched in the mirror as he met a tall burly man along with three more. They went and sat at the back table ordering drinks. Cody looked to Ike and nodded. They finished their drinks and walked back to the boarding house. Cody and Ike went up their room just as Teaspoon and Emma returned. Teaspoon unlocked their door and went inside. Cody and Ike followed once they knew no one was looking.

"How's it been boys? Emma and I saw Josiah. Buck pointed him out."

"Did he have on a black suit, black hat?" Asked Cody.

"In fact he did."

'He started talking to us at the saloon just a while ago.' Signed Ike

"Yeah, he asked questions just like the ones Buck told us was asked to him." Said Cody.

"He is definitely a big part of all this. It's almost like he looking for these boys." Said Teaspoon.

"He singled us out right away it seemed. One minute he wasn't there, next he was. Said he hoped to see us around." Said Cody.

"He met with four other men too." Signed Ike.

"He did Teaspoon. They looked up to no good."

"Well boys, looks like we went and got us some bait. Might be bout time you put yourself out there."

"Mr. Spoon, what if we lose them too?"

"We won't Emma, Buck will track em. They don't even know we are here. They should lead us straight to them."

"Sounds to good to be true." Said Emma.

"Ike, I think we are going out tonight." Said Cody as he slapped him on the back. Ike smiled and shook his head.

"Buck and Kid will have eyes on you, so will I. I'll send word to him. Just watch yourselves."

"We got this." Said Cody.

"That's what I'm afraid of."

The guard yelled for quitting time for the day. Lou happily dropped her shovel. Her ankles were throbbing, she was unsure if she could walk back to the holding area. Noah saw her pain on her face. Something was wrong. As they shuffled back for the night, they walked past the cages. Lou looked at them all until she came to the next to last one. Jimmy was in there still lying in a bloody heap. Noah shook his head at her. He could see it in her face.

"Don't do it, Lou." He whispered.

She couldn't take it. She ran as fast as the chains around her ankles would allow. She reached the cage and stuck her hand in between the bars. She touched the side of his face but he didn't stir. She stroked his dirty tangled hair. Suddenly she was pulled from him. She went to scream but she suddenly felt sick. The world began to spin before her eyes as she fell onto the ground. Noah tried to step in her direction only to get snapped back in line. He saw two men standing over her. One kicked her in the side.

"Git up or ya goin in one yerself!"

Lou moaned. The men looked at each other. They leaned down. This one wasn't a boy but a girl dressed as a boy. They jumped back. Mr. Evans wasn't going to like this. Noah saw one run toward the main tent. The other just stood over Lou. He was pushed inside the huge tree fence and could see no more.

Lou woke to the feeling of a cool cloth on her forehead. She opened her eyes and looked up. She was in a tent of some sort. She tried to sit up but someone pushed her back down.

"Please ma'am, just take it easy. I do apologize for all this. I solemnly do."

Lou turned to look straight into Mr. Evan's eyes. She pulled away from his touch.

"Ma'am, my men are complete idiots. I never take women, a woman should never have to do a man's work and for that I am truly sorry. Please just lie still. Your ankles are swollen and possibly have infection. I have sent for you some ointment and bandages."

"You own this horrible place?"

"I know it seems to be bad. A man has to make money any way that he can and I happen to have a lot of it with means to get more."

"These poor boys. You are killing them."

"Ain't nothing to me. I don't know them."

"Why are you helping me? I want to go back with my friends."

"My dear you can't do that. I am having my men fetch you a tub so you can wash. Also I sent them for some proper dresses for you. I am quite taken aback by your beauty. I don't know how anyone could mistake you for a boy."

"Let me go back to my friends please."

"As of now, you have no friends."

"What? Did something happen to them?"

"No it's not that. Just a proper lady shouldn't conspire with such below her. I never have had the time to find a woman to marry. But now it seems one found me."

"What are you talking about? I ain't gonna marry you."

"Sure you are my dear. I need a wife and you want your so called friends to live. Simple as that. It should work out for both of us."

"You'll let them go?"

"You know I can't do that. But I can keep them alive for you. Designate them to easier jobs for their health you know."

Lou turned her head away.

"Clean yourself up my dear. We will talk more later." The old man said as he stood to leave.

The men carried her tub in and filled it with hot water. After they left the tent, Lou took her a bath. She quickly dried and dressed in the dress that he had laid out. She rubbed the ointment on her ankles and wrapped them. She pulled on the lacy gloves. She felt somewhat better. She stepped out into the noon sun. Mr. Evans got up from a table and walked up to her.

"Absolutely stunning. Come I'll show you around properly."

"I've seen it thanks."

"You saw it through the eyes of a worker. Let me show you what it looks like through the eyes of an owner."

"Still looks disgusting to me."

"It won't once you live the life of luxury my dear."

"I don't want that life. I want the one I had back."

"I have been needing me a wife and you shall be her. You will forget about that life because now you have one with me. A better one."

"I need to see my friends."

"They are not your friends anymore, they are your servants, but if that's what you want."

He led her over to the mine where she had been working yesterday. As they came to a stop, Noah came pulling the cart to the top of the hill. He froze when he saw her in a dress.

"If I am to consider, I want him out of the mine. I want him on the hillside with a man named Eric."

Mr. Evans seemed to consider a moment. He looked at the guard, pointed at Noah.

"Move him off this to the hillside. Chain him to a man named Eric."

"Yes sir Mr. Evans."

The man unchained Noah and led him off. Noah stared at Lou as she walked away. They walked farther along until they started passing the cages. Lou felt sorry for each and every man or boy in one.

"This is horrible. How can you do this to people? Some look like they are dying."

"If they are in one, then it is by their choice not mine."

Lou came to the one holding Jimmy. She stopped walking. He was still laying in a heap. He looked like he had not moved at all. His face was bloody. His arms, chest and back covered in cuts and dried blood. He had bruises all over him. Lou sucked in her breath.

"I take it this was the other so called friend."

Lou's eyes teared up. Mr. Evans turned to look at her face.

"Oh my darling don't cry for this one. He is in there by his own choice."

"He is in there because of me! He drew attention to himself so your damn guards would spare me! Don't you understand, he was trying to protect me from you!" Yelled Lou gritting her teeth.

"I see it now. You had something special with this one."

"He is my best friend. Can I speak to him? Please?"

"If it will make you happy, but a lady shouldn't hold such clientele. You need to bid him goodbye."

Lou didn't even hear him. She stared at Jimmy's still form as she approached the cage. She took her glove off and put her hand on his face through the bars. She silently cried.

"Oh Jimmy. What have you done? Why do this for me? I'm not worth it." Lou cried.

Jimmy stirred under her touch. He opened his eyes to look at her.

"Yes...yes you are." He said as he closed his eyes again. His breathing becoming more labored from his pain.

Lou turned back to Mr. Evans.

"I want him out and tended to, now."

"My darling, we can't do that. He knocked a guard down. We can't let that go."

"Please. Just let him out."

"I can't honor your wishes."

"Then will you please feed him."

"I might can do that for you. You will see I'm not that heartless and I am a man of my word. You will be my bride and I will treat you fair. I will make sure no harm comes to you."

Lou turned back to Jimmy. She placed both hands on him trying to send some sort of comfort.

"Oh my, I see it more now. You care for this one more than a friend. You love this one."

Lou didn't turn around just wept quietly.

"I'll make you a fair deal. I will let him out once you become my wife until then he remains in the cage. But he can never leave this place and if you look to him this way again, I will have Trevor dispose of him."

Lou had to help Jimmy in any way possible. Lou slowly nodded her consent.

"Wonderful. I will begin making the arrangements. We shall marry this weekend."

Lou just stood crying until he took her arm and led her away.