Jack and Irene rode southeast. As they came closer to Mexico, they found a large number of hoofprints. He stopped his horse and dismounted.
"Looks like they have a group of girls in tow," Jack said. "Fiona is not alone." He took a few steps, following the marks. "One horse has a loose shoe. They'll have to fix that."
Jack mounted back up and the couple continued down the path.
The couple came to Casa Madrugada, a small settlement that was only a saloon and a few hotel rooms. Since Mexico had not yet outlawed prostitution, there were many of these areas.
Because the place was so small and there were only a small handful of prostitutes here, Jack was not sure the men would have brought the taken women here. "Wait," Jack said, thoughtfully. "Agave Viejo might be the spot. Its location is out-of-the-way and well-hidden by hills and cliffs. There are no main roads that lead to it." He looked at Irene. "It might be the perfect spot," he added.
"Lead the way," Irene said.
Jack and Irene rode close to Agave Viejo and dismounted at a distance to be sure that they were not noticed.
"Jack, look," Irene said as a large group of horses and riders entered the ranch. The ranch-house, once owned by Abraham Reyes, was now a popular whorehouse. Reyes "visited" the place often himself. The group consisted of six men and about fifteen women. The women's horses lacked bridles. Lassos around the horses' necks were used to drag the imprisoned women along. Each woman's hands were tied to their saddle horn so each woman could not escape.
"That's Fiona," Jack said. "We need to get all those women out of there. They're all prisoners, I'm sure."
"How?," Irene asked. "There's only two of us and two dozen of them. We're badly outnumbered."
Jack thought. "We can do this," he said. "We both learned from the best, didn't we? John Marston and Landon Ricketts."
Irene gave a small smile.
"Be careful, Irene," Jack said. "They may try to take you. You're young and beautiful."
"I can defend myself, Jack," Irene said. "You know that. My father taught me well."
"I know he did," Jack smiled. "We have that in common."
Jack touched Irene's face. He knew he would never recover from the grief if Irene died. He would do all he could to be sure that she outlived him. "Be careful, baby," Jack said. "I love you more than life itself."
Jack and Irene advanced on the place.
Careful not to hurt any of the women, Jack and Irene gunned down bandito after bandito. Irene took one shot to her upper left arm. She cried out once, but kept going. She was not going to let these people imprison teen girls and force them into sex with men old enough to even be their grandfather. They would likely end up having numerous children that would be shunned because of the lifestyle of their mothers.
Jack had been shunned by people who learned who his mother had once been. He had been mocked, bullied, and even beaten by other children in school for the short time he had been to school because of his mother's previous life. It was as if they all blamed him, as if he had chosen his parents and chosen to come into the world the way he had. Irene knew that nothing was his fault. "We have no say in how we come into this world," she often said. Though she knew that Jack loved his parents and they had loved him. They had changed their lives in an attempt to give Jack a better life. That was he was now trying to do with his life; live the life his father had begged him to live. Though he had begun on the wrong path right after his mother died, he quickly turned that around and had lived an better life since.
After many of the banditos were dead, a few others quickly surrendered and threw down their weapons.
Jack and Irene tied the remaining men.
"Irene Marston?," Fiona asked as Irene approached the horse. "Why are you here?"
"Jack and I are here to get you home, Fiona," Irene said. Irene kept a knife in her boot. She took it and cut the rope off of Fiona's hands.
Irene and Jack freed the other girls. Many were afraid and crying. A few looked at Jack as if he were about to rape them.
"It's OK," Irene said. "My husband and I are here to help you all. Neither of us going to hurt any of you."
Close to the ranch was Las Hermanas, a convent. Jack and Irene took the women there, a short walk. The sisters were eager to help the women. They sent a man to get help from Mexican Lawmen while they gave the women blankets and shoes.
Jack, Irene, and Fiona boarded a train for Casa Madrugada. There, they got a third horse for Fiona. Fiona was not a good rider. Irene had to lead Fiona's horse as the three rode up the path towards Butter Bridge. They crossed and rode to MacFarlane's Ranch. Jack dismounted and helped Fiona from her horse.
Perrin and Susan walked out onto the porch and saw their daughter.
"Fiona!," Susan cried.
Susan and Fiona hurried towards each other and hugged. Both women hugged and cried. Perrin hugged his baby girl and rubbed her hair.
After a moment, Perrin looked at Irene and Jack. He approached them and extended his hand.
"I'm so sorry, Mr. Marston," Perrin said. "We treated your family like trash and that was wrong."
Jack thought. He then accepted Perrin's hand and the men shook hands.
"Apology accepted," Jack replied.
Susan also apologized to Jack. "We had a long talk with Bonnie," she said. "And we realize what we've done here. I found a few more things that my kids took from your room. I'll make sure you get them back. And we want you to stay for the funeral. We know now how much Drew meant to your family."
Perrin and Susan took their daughter into the house. Fiona looked back over her shoulder for a moment at Jack and Irene. She then went on with her parents into the front door.
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