The Stolen 7
I don't own these characters; I just like to spend time with them. No other profit to be had.
MKMKMKMKMKMKMKMKMKMK
Wednesday Evening
Matt and Tom emerged from Proctors office, many hours after entering. Bone weary, and very disturbed by the information they had garnered, they decided to forgo supper and settle for a drink at the nearest watering hole.
Sitting at a small table in the back of the Black Jack Saloon, Matt and Tom discussed the terrible things they had been told. Both men had heard about white slavery, but the details Proctor had provided in the meeting, made the men to understand how just truly horrific it was.
"Women and even children have been stolen" Proctor had said. "They are put on an auction block and sold to the highest bidder, without regard as to who that buyer is, or what he intends to do with the victim."
"I know I'm probably going to regret asking this." Tom said. "But what exactly does happen to the victims, who are stolen and sold?"
Proctor took a deep breath and rose from his chair before answering. Pacing a little ways from his desk, he finally turned and looked at the two men with a gravity of expression that let the men know without words how bad it was.
"From what I've been able to find out from officials in Texas, the best case scenario is a man will buy a woman and keep her to himself as a sort of mistress."
Matt looked up from the papers he was reviewing. "Best case?"
Proctor nodded. "Unfortunately yes. I won't go into graphic details; they are detailed in the papers you hold, but from what I have heard the fate of these stolen women isn't pleasant at all.
Matt thought about what he had said. He could only imagine the horrors these women faced.
Involuntarily his mind went to Kitty. He knew she was safe in Dodge, under the watchful eyes of his friends, but still, the thought of something like that happening to her shook him to the core.
"I don't know about you, Matt" Tom said beside him. "But I won't rest easy until we stop these people. I don't think I've ever heard of any thing as bad as that in my life."
"Me neither, Tom," Matt agreed. "But we're going to have to be careful. One slip up and not only do we not stop them, but we also stand a chance of getting our selves killed."
"True enough." Tom said. "I sure hope this informant of Proctors is as good as he seems to think."
Matt nodded. "Me too. Of course it'd help if we knew who he was."
"I know Matt," Tom said, "but remember what Proctor said about it.
"Yeah I know. The contact doesn't want anyone to know who he is, until he approaches us. Still don't like it though." He said, as he remembered the discussion they had had with Proctor about it.
Proctor had explained to them how vitally important it was that no one know of their plans. "I understand the difficulties this entails, gentlemen." Proctor said "and I wish that I could promise you safety in this endeavor, but I can not. These people are dangerous. Should you be found out, the consequences could be dire for you, our informant and the very women you are trying to help. That's why I can only give you the name Zeke, but nothing more."
"But this Zeke isn't the contact, right?" Matt asked trying to clarify things.
"That's correct, Matt," Proctor said, "but he does know and is working with the contact. That, I'm afraid, is all I can tell you at this time."
Pointing at a map that had been pinned to the wall, Proctor showed them a small area. "Tomorrow evening it is imperative that you be here," he pinpointed a spot about 20 miles south, "to meet Manley, the man running this. Remember, he does not know who you are, other than two buyers from a large ranch near the Mexican border. Both men nodded as they committed the information to their memories.
"Now, your contact inside the camp will come to you. Once you are inside the camp, maintain your cover under all circumstances. When your contact approaches, you will be handed a silver dollar with a touch of red paint on one side. That is how you will know who your contact is."
Tom looked over at Matt but neither man spoke. Neither one was entirely comfortable with the cloak and dagger aspect of all of this, but they weren't about to question their superior.
"Now this," Proctor said, as he handed Matt a large envelope, "is the money needed to purchase the women.
Matt took the envelope and placed it in the pocket of his jacket.
Proctor sighed as he walked to his door to see the men out. "I guess there isn't much more for me to say, gentlemen than good luck. I'll not be seeing you again until this is over."
Matt and Tom shook hands with Proctor and left the room. Even after all the information given them, they still had questions. But they knew those questions would only be answered once they reached the camp.
After retiring from the saloon, both men walked to the hotel, their minds once again going over the information they had been given. Each man was mentally trying to steel himself for what might be to come.
Once inside the Hotel, Matt went into his room placed his hat on the dresser, and moved on over to the bed, where he shrugged off his clothes and lay back against the pillows. He was tired but his mind kept going back over the information he been given.
Though he had seen and heard of many ghastly things as a lawman, this business was the worst.
Tomorrow was going to be a long day, and he needed to rest. However, he knew with the images he currently had swirling around in his mind, sleep would be hard to come by.
Reaching over, he pulled his wallet out of an inside pocket of his jacket, and looked at the picture he carried there. He remembered when it was taken. A photographer coming thru town, had taken it of Kitty in the Long Branch standing behind ol' Grubby. The photographer had instructed her to look adoringly at Grubby, but instead she looked like a rattlesnake was at her feet.
Though Kitty had hated it, and he had to agree that she was much prettier in person, it was never the less the only picture he had of her, and so he kept it with him. Looking at it now, he finally found the peace he needed to close his eyes and gain the rest he needed.
MKMKMKMKMKMK
Across the prairie, Kitty laid her head back against the rough wall behind her, and closed her eyes as well. However, sleep was not what she sought. What she wanted was a way out. She had been here two days, and though Manley had made no move on her, save his half hearted pawing, she was not persuaded that he would leave her alone.
Not long after she had talked to Manley, two men had come into the shack and had taken her outside, shoving her into a reinforced corral with the other women. Once they released her arms, they pushed her away and left.
Later they came back & seizing a hold of a young woman sitting beside the barn, they pulled her up and dragged her with them. "No," the young girl screamed, as she struggled against them. The men ignored her pleas and propelled her towards the gate.
Kitty understood their intent, and couldn't stand by and let it happen. Running to them, she grabbed the nearest man to her, and tried to wrench him from the girl. The man resisted though, and Kitty yanked harder. Suddenly the man let go of the girls arm and turned, punching Kitty twice, solidly in the stomach. She tumbled backwards, the wind knocked from her.
"Maybe that'll take a little fight out ah ya," he said as he spun back, and continued out with his partner and the girl.
Despite her physical distress, Kitty attempted to regain her feet, intent on going after them, but she was stopped by a hand on her arm.
Annie had appeared by her side. "Ain't nothin' you can kin do fer her," Annie said. "Jes git yerself hurt worse is all."
Angrily, Kitty shrugged her hand off, and struggled to her feet. "You know…what…they're going…to do….to that girl?" Kitty asked, trying to gather air into her lungs.
"I know," Annie said sadly. Watching while the girl was taken inside the shack, Annie shook her head and turned away. "I know."
TBC