The Stolen 6

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

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Wednesday

Kitty awoke to the sensation of a hand on her body, moving her skirt and running up her legs. The hand ceased its movement when she made it known she was awake.

"Well, it's about time you woke up." She heard the same rough voice from before.

Kitty opened her eyes, to see a man about 40 years of age, lean and with a broad pock marked face sitting beside her on the cot. His hand was still resting on her leg. His appearance was as rough as his voice, and she sensed that attribute in his nature.

Leering black eyes, hungrily roamed her body as he spoke, not disguising in the slightest what he wanted of her.

"Who are you?" her voice carrying the authority she had in the Long Branch. "What do you want?" She tried to move away from him, but he pressed his hand down tighter on her leg as she squirmed trying to escape his grasp.

The man grinned, showing stained teeth. "My name's Bob Manley. As for what I want….well….you should know what that is. Same thing any man would want from a woman of your sort."

Kitty shuddered at the thought of it. His hand on her was more than too much. "Let go of me," she demanded as she pushed him away from her.

Manley grinned at her, but removed his hand and stood up, never taking his eyes from her.

"Is that what you intend to do?" she asked taking in a ragged breath.

"I want to. A woman what looks like you is built for a man to pleasure himself on. But I know plenty of men that will pay good money for that privilege. Men that would prefer you be untouched, if you know what I mean. So no, I won't do you, and I won't let my boys, least ways for now." His words carried an unspoken threat.

Crossing over to a small table, he took a glass and poured a generous amount of whiskey into it, from the bottle sitting there. Looking over at her he grinned. "What some red?"

Kitty kept her silence, afraid of what she might say out of fear and temper. Some sixth sense warned, this man was dangerous and wouldn't tolerate much from her.

Manley kept grinning. "Boy's told me your name was Kitty?"

She nodded warily.

"Mighty pretty name," he said as his eyes continued to roam over her body. "Goes along with the pretty gal wearing it."

Kitty maintained her silence for a moment longer as she reached down and pulled her skirt back down to cover her legs and tried to sit up. Finally looking up at him. "You said you had men who would pay….?" She couldn't bring herself to finish such an abhorrent thought.

"That's right pretty girl," he answered. "That's why you're here. You and all the others we brought in."

"Others?" she questioned.

"Uh um. Got about 30 of you now." He replied, with an evil glint. "Gonna have an auction Friday evening. You, and the other women we brought in, will go to the highest bidder."

Kitty's heart was in her throat as she thought of Annie calling him a 'slaver'. She remembered Matt saying something about that happening in Texas. She was now painfully aware, Kansas wasn't immune to it.

"It's my business, and I make good money on it." He told her. "Did quite well in Texas, and I'll do good here in Kansas. I spect I'll do well in the next state I move on to."

"Not when the law catches up to you" she retorted.

"You mean Dillon?" he laughed, when he saw the look in her eyes at hearing the name. "Yeah that's right, I know about your boyfriend, and I hope he does try to come in here after ya. Nothing would give me more pleasure than burying him." He raked his eyes down her body. "Well, almost nothing." He laughed again.

Kitty swallowed hard. "You know him?" she asked.

"Never laid eyes on him, but Dillon killed my brother." He stopped laughing. "I'd be real happy to return the favor." She heard the cold tone of voice, and saw the look in his eyes, at the mention of Matt's name.

"Matt's not stupid, he won't come in here," she said, realizing too late, that for all intents and purposes she had acknowledged a relationship with him.

"No he ain't stupid; I reckon" Manley agreed with an evil glint, "except when it comes to you."

"Is that why I'm here?" She asked. "To lure Matt?"

"Not really," he replied, ogling her once more. "I told you, you're a pretty piece, and you can make me some good money. The fact that you're Dillon's woman makes it all the sweeter, but if'n you weren't wouldn't matter. You're here for what I can get out of ya. Still though, sure wouldn't mind Dillon coming." He laughed again.

Kitty didn't reply, but she was sure Manley could hear the wild beating of her heart, as she thought of Matt coming alone into a camp full of armed men. And if she knew anything, she knew he would come if he found out she was there.

"You plan on letting him know I'm here?" she asked hoping the answer was no, but then wishing it was yes.

"I ain't going out of my way to tell him, if that's what you mean." He stated simply. "I ain't itchin' to have any lawman here, even Dillon. But if he comes, he won't leave, you can bet on that."

Suddenly it didn't matter how much trouble she was in, she didn't want Matt to find her. Not if it meant his losing his life. And looking at the man, she knew he would kill Matt without the slightest hesitation.

Though aware of the armed status of the camp, and her lack of knowledge of her whereabouts, she made up her mind to try and escape. Her chances weren't good, but it beat sitting there waiting to be sold. And maybe just maybe she could get to Matt before he got to Manley.

TBC