The Stolen 8
I don't own these characters; I just like to spend time with them. No other profit to be had.
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Thursday
Kitty stirred early the next morning. Though she had supposed it impossible, she had actually managed a few hours sleep, once the screaming from inside the shack had subsided. Despite knowing she would be ineffectual at best at helping the poor girl, Kitty still wanted to try. However, one look around her had convinced her of the futility of any effort in that area.
The corral they had tossed her and the other women in, had been reinforced with high boards and what she thought was called bobbed wire, or barbed wire or something. Though fairly new to the west, the new type of fencing was becoming quite popular. Obviously it was capable of being used for keeping in more than animals.
Looking up, she could just see the first faint rays of the sun coming up on the eastern horizon. Stiffly getting to her feet, Kitty walked around a bit to loosen muscles, tight from sleeping on the ground. Despite the heat of the previous evening, the night air had never the less been chilly, and she rubbed her arms a bit to warm them.
As she roamed the perimeter of the enclosure, she carefully surveyed the area around her. Apparently they had taken over a small farm or ranch of some sort. Outside of the corral, were five men carrying rifles, constantly monitoring the camp and its occupants. To the west of the corral, and up a ways, was a small shack. The same one she had woken up in, and the one they had taken the girl into. Besides the dilapidated barn at the end of her 'prison' grounds, as she thought of them, there were no other buildings she could see.
Across from the shack to the south, she saw that several tents had been set up, and watched as men emerged from those tents, fresh from a nights sleep and preparing for the up coming day. Annie had been right, this was a heavily armed camp and the chances of her escaping didn't look too promising.
Thinking of Annie, Kitty wondered about the strange woman who had twice appeared to help her. She couldn't figure her out. She was quite obviously a part of this, but how big a part and why?
Annie had disappeared shortly after stopping Kitty from going after those men, and hadn't reappeared until later, when she came in with a large pot of stew and bowls to feed the women. She spoke very little and kept her eyes carefully diverted, avoiding any sort of communication if at all possible. And yet, Kitty had the impression there was something more about her. Something Annie was hiding. Though what that may be she had no way of knowing.
Shaking her head, Kitty looked about her again. Whether Annie was friend or foe she didn't know. But what she did know, was that somehow or some way she needed to find a way to escape. Though it seemed hopeless right then, she resolved to keep looking for any opportunity. She didn't want to be taken back to the shack to visit with Manley.
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Matt and Tom both exited their rooms at about the same time and met in the corridor. With a nod to each other, they checked out of the hotel, walked down to the stables and claimed their horses. Few words were exchanged as they rode out before dawn, heading out to their meeting place.
They were told to be there by 5pm that evening, and they knew if they wanted to reach their destination by then, they couldn't waste time. Besides both men were anxious to get on with this and get it settled.
Stopping only when necessary, they made good time. They were almost to their rendezvous point, and it was just past 4 pm. Both men pulled up and stopped beside a small creek. Getting off, they led their horses over to get a drink and stood cautiously watching the expanse around them.
"You feeling that, Matt?" Tom asked as he surreptitiously looked around.
Matt took a drink from his canteen and nodded. "Yep. Been feeling it for the last couple of hours. We're being followed."
"Reckon Manley wants to make sure we're alone?" Tom asked.
"Well, either that or it's our side." Matt responded. "Either way, they're being real careful."
Tom nodded and looked around again. "They ain't the only ones who need to be careful."
"You're right about that," Matt agreed. Taking another drink from his canteen, he walked over to his horse placed the strap around the pommel of his saddle and gathered his reins. "Let's walk the horses for a while." He told Tom. "We've got time."
Tom nodded, took the reins of his own horse and fell into step next to Matt. As before, neither man spoke as they walked. Both men knew their parts in this upcoming play they were about to perform in, and both were determined to carry out their parts to perfection. Their lives as well as others depended on it.
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Doc sat at his desk trying to update his records from his previous day's visits, but his mind wasn't on it. Instead he found himself thinking of, and worrying about, his friends. Kitty was missing, as well as 6 other women; Heaven only knew where Matt was. He had sent a wire to Hays, hoping he was still there, but Matt had already left. Chester, and several other men from town were out scouring the prairie, trying to find some trace of the missing women.
Finally laying aside his books, Doc got up and walked over to the stove and poured himself a cup of coffee. There was nothing he could do, and he knew it, but still he worried. Taking a sip of his coffee, he grimaced at the bitter taste. He thought about going over to the Long Branch for a beer, but he didn't want to, knowing Kitty wouldn't be there.
He heard riders coming in and walked over to window, hoping to see Chester but it wasn't Chester or any of the other searchers. Doc knew Chester wouldn't return unless he had found what he was looking for, or he found it impossible to continue.
Doc sighed went back to his desk with his bitter coffee and sat back down to worry some more.
TBC
The first patent in the United States for barbed wire was issued in 1867 to Lucien B. Smith of Kent,Ohio, who is regarded as the inventor.