The Stolen 16

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

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Friday Evening

Annie had tried to get to the shack earlier but had been delayed by Manley. Now the auction was coming to an end, but as she looked about her, Annie saw no sign of Bob or his men. Cautiously she crept closer to the shack.

Dillon's woman had already been sold, and was now on her way south with Dwayne Griggs. She was sorry for that, and wished she could've stopped it. She knew the plans Griggs had for the woman and they weren't good. But Annie knew it was too late to help her.

The best thing she could do now, was to help the two lawmen to make sure that more women didn't face the same fate.

Taking one more look around her, Annie slipped inside of the shack and went to the two men tied up on the floor. After making sure they weren't dead, she untied them and tried to wake them.

Matt came to first. Holding his head he shifted to a sitting position and looked around him. "What happened?" he asked, as he saw his partner beside him, senseless and covered in bruises and blood.

"Bob's men caught ya whilst ya was taking out the guards." Annie answered. "You weren't in no shape ta tell em' what ya was doin', so they tried ta get him to."

Matt looked again on the unconscious form of his partner. "I doubt he said anything," Matt said reaching over to check his partner. Though unconscious, Toms pulse was strong.

"I weren't in here, but I doubt it too from the looks of him." Annie agreed.

Matt suddenly noticed the lack of light coming in thru the slits in the window. "The auction," he said as he struggled to his feet. "Kitty…."

"Auction's just about over," Annie said sadly as she took his arm to help him up. "Yer woman's gone though. Bob sold her first."

Matt stopped and the world stopped with him at her words. Grabbing her by the upper arms, it was all he could do to keeping from shaking her. "What do you mean, sold her? When?"

"A couple hours ago," Annie said, eyes not quite meeting those of his. "Weren't nothin' I could do."

"Who….who took her." Matt demanded.

"Ain't none of your business, Lawman." Matt heard from the doorway. Matt turned to find Manley standing in the doorway with a gun pointed at him. Looking at the surprise on Matt's face he chuckled. "It come to me that you must be Dillon. That's why ya was so all fired hot to get that red head, huh?"

Annie shrunk from his grasp back against the wall. "It….it ain't…ain't what it looks like, Bob." She stammered. "Honest."

"Shut up," he growled at her. "I shoulda knowd ya'd work agin me."

Unconsciously Matt stepped in front of her as a shield, facing Manley. "Leave her alone, Manley." He told him.

"Ya are Dillon ain't ya?" Manley asked knowing the truth as the question was asked. "I shoulda knowd." Looking at Matt an evil grin spread across his face. "Well ya too late Dillon. Auction's over and ya woman's done been sold. Right now she's on her way to a whore house where I'm sure she'll feel right ta home." A laugh replaced the grin as he saw the anger in Matt's face.

His words lit the fuse of Matt's anger. In two strides he was across the room knocking the gun from Manley's hand before he could react. Grabbing him by the shirt he shook the man as though a rag doll. "You bastard," he roared. "Where is she? Who'd you sell her to."

Despite the fact that Matt more than doubled him in size and fury, the man laughed. "Ain't nothin' ya kin do, lawman" he taunted. "She's gone and she ain't comin' back, jes like my brother ya killed."

Matt couldn't think of who his brother was at the moment and truthfully didn't care. He had to find where they took Kitty. Looking back down at the man in his grasp, he raised his hand when he heard the click of a gun barrel behind him.

Turning quickly, Manley still in his hands, he saw Annie dash between him and the bullet that was meant for him. The man that had shot her, was stunned for just a moment but raised the pistol once again towards Matt's chest. Without thinking Matt literally threw Manley at the man, just as the gun fired a second time. This time Manley took the bullet meant for the Marshal.

Before the shooter could react, Matt reached him and threw him against the wall, the gun clattering on the floor. "Tell me where they took her." He growled, but the man couldn't talk. His shock at having twice tried to kill the man, and twice failing, silenced his tongue. Angrily, Matt backhanded the man knocking him senseless to the floor.

"He don't know," he heard Annie gasp. Matt turned, bent down and picked Annie up in his arms cradling her dying frame.

"Do you know, Annie?" he asked sorry that she was dying but still just as determined to get the information he needed.

"Man's name was…..Griggs what bought her. Has a place near….San Antoine. He's taking her there…in a wagon." Annie looked up at Matt with pain filled eyes. "Bob dead?"

Matt looked over at the still form on the floor. "Yeah he's dead, Annie." He answered grimly.

Annie nodded slightly. "Good," she said as she drew her last breath.

Matt carefully lowered her back to the floor and looked around the room. Tom was beginning to come to and Matt heard shouts and shots coming from the compound outside. Apparently the troops had arrived.

Moving over to Tom, he helped him to his feet and over to the cot. "You okay, Tom?" he asked, pulling out his handkerchief and handing it to Him.

"What happened?" Tom asked looking around the room at the bodies on the floor.

"It's a long story," Matt told him, "and right now I don't have the time to tell it. I'm going after Kitty."

TBC