Chapter 2

Ezra sat at the table staring intently at the man sitting across from him. He knew of the card that the man had up his sleeve. He so hated men who cheated at cards…well besides himself.

"Now, Mr. Shaugnessy, I suggest you remove your person from this table before you receive a bullet in your chest. Because we both know that you are cheating and I so detest cheaters."

Mr. Shaugnessy stared at Ezra, trying to determine if he truly knew that he was cheating or if he was bluffing.

"Mr. Shaugnessy, leave, that is not a request. I do hate having the lovely barmaids clean up the mess from your bloody body. They get that enough from my former card players."

"Oh…ok," Mr. Shaugnessy threw down his cards, revealing a horrible hand that he would have been unable to win with, and started to claim his winnings. Ezra's gun that was hidden up his right sleeve popped out and he held it aimed at Mr. Shaugnessy's head.

"I think you should leave that here if you know what is good for you." Ezra stared down the man, not daring to blink and reveal a weakness.

"Right, uh…I'll just be goin' now."

"I think that is best." Ezra nodded towards the exit, enjoying the look of panic on the other man's face. Ezra didn't shove the gun back into his sleeve until he was sure the man was gone.

"Great show you put on there Ezra," Buck laughed as he sat down next to his friend.

"I do live to amuse you," Ezra replied.

"I'm sure you do. Hey you hear about the auction tonight? Chris wants to know if you'd be interested in making sure everything goes down as planned. Mrs. Travis is pitching a fight about selling women and everything."

"She must be out of her mind, protesting the buying and selling of women," Ezra said sarcastically.

"I know," Buck raised his glass in a toast.

Ezra shook his head, asking himself why he bothered with these men. Why did he bother to help others when it did not help him in return?

"Come on boys, the wagon is here," Chris entered the saloon with his hand resting on his gun. "Buck you better be stone cold sober, if not I don't want you on my team."

"I'm fine," Buck laughed and stood up. He took two steps before falling flat on his face, passed out.

"Damnit Buck," Chris swore. He nodded to the bartender, "get him out of here. We have a lot of people coming in today." The bartender grumbled, slamming a towel that he wore on his shoulder down onto the bar. He grabbed a couple of men, and with their aid, dragged the drunken Buck out of the saloon.

"Ezra, are you with me tonight?" Chris asked.

Ezra looked up at the man clad in black, determining whether he wanted to dirty his hands working what most likely would lead to himself not being paid.

"Women being sold, what business is it of ours?" Ezra asked Chris.

"It's not, we're just making sure they get sold to good men is all. Are you in or are you out, I need an answer now."

Ezra cocked his head to the side, playing around with the cards in his hand. "Why not, I have nothing else to do tonight. Why not get myself shot."

"Great," Chris said, though the tone of his voice said other wise. "I want you up top. You have an eye for spotting people. If you see anyone that doesn't look respectable, you point him out and we'll make sure that he doesn't pay for a girl."

"Well Mr. Larabee, that would be nearly everyone in this town." Ezra grinned at Chris as he stood up, putting on his jacket.

"You know what I mean Ezra," Chris responded with a raised eyebrow, and walked out of the saloon.

"That I do," Ezra sighed. "That I do."

* * *

Madie awoke with a slap on the face. She lay on a hard surface, on her stomach. Thankfully she was not lying on her back because it burned like nothing she had ever felt before. She started to sit up, to see who had slapped her. It was Mr. Cavanaugh, staring disdainfully down at her. "Wake up sunshine, it's time for the pageant." He pulled her out of the wagon. Madie was unable to gain her footing in time so she fell to the ground.

"Jesus woman, by the time you get up there, no one will want you anymore because of how beaten and bruised you look."

"Maybe if you wouldn't beat women, there wouldn't be a problem." Madie looked up at the evil man, defying him any chance she received.

Mr. Cavanaugh raised his hand as if to slap her, but a crowd was starting to walk their way, men who were going to the saloon for the auction. "Get in there with the other women."

Madie followed the other girls through the back entrance of the saloon. They waited out there in the cold, the flimsy dresses giving them no coverage from the weather. A few minutes later, Mr. Cavanaugh pushed past them, and greeted the crowd. Madie had no reason to listen to him, all she could do was dread the moment she would have stand before all those men and hope that the one who bought her would be kind. A tear trickled down her face, but she barely noticed it because her body had become from everything that she had seen and what had been done to her today.

* * *

Ezra stood on the second floor of the building, looking down at the crowd of men, and the one woman Mrs. Travis, who had come to oversee that the men did their job in protecting the women. Every so often Ezra would point out a man, and one of their guys would stand next to him and make sure that he did not bid on a woman.

Ezra, who grew bored of watching the crowd started to watch the women who were being bid upon. All of them were very attractive women, and they flaunted their wears to the crowd. They seemed to be happy, glad that they were being auctioned off as if they were cattle. Ezra grew disinterested with the women after awhile, until the last woman caught his eye.

The woman with long, curly red hair, green eyes, and a figure that would make any man's mouth water, stepped onto the stage. What separated her from the other women was the look in her eyes. She was haunted by something, and she moved as if she were in constant pain. She did not flaunt herself like the previous women. The woman seemed scared, as if she did not want to be there.

At the sight of her, a flurry of hands raised to bid upon her. For five minutes, many men haggled over the small woman. It came down to two men who were flanked by Josiah and J.D. Two men that Ezra had flagged earlier, and neither of those men were backing down, despite the harsh words that Josiah and J.D. were whispering in their ears. Ezra's heart lurched in his chest, and he reacted hastily.

"$500," he raised his hand from the balcony. All eyes turned towards him, but he only had eyes for the red headed vixen that was staring at him with a mixture of hope and fear.

"Can anyone top that?" the auctioneer asked to the crowd. "Then sold to the gentleman up top." The man gestured for the woman to go backstage where she would be later claimed by her bidder. "Well that brings us to the end of our auction. Thank you for all that participated. And for everyone else who did not get the chance. I'm sure we will be back later on. Thank you once again."

At the end, people either fought to exit the building or rush to the bar for a drink. There were only a handful of men that were trying to make their way to the back room. Ezra pulled himself out of his stupor and in daze, made his way down the steps and across the room. He was stopped by his companions all with confusion written on their faces.

"Ezra, what in the hell were you thinking?" Chris laid a hand on his shoulder and shook him a bit.

"I do not know what came over me." Ezra responded, still not sure what had just happened.

"Do you realize that you have just gotten yourself married?" Josiah asked Ezra.

"What? I thought she would be maid or mistress." Ezra looked sharply at Josiah.

"Well that's what most of those men will do, but you need to make that girl respectable. She has to walk in this town. All those other men are from out of town." Josiah tried to explain patiently but Ezra just pushed past him into the backroom.

The room was crowded with men chatting with the woman they had procured, or they were signing a contract at a table. Ezra pushed past everyone to the man that was auctioning off the women. "Excuse me," Ezra called out to the fellow who looked his way.

"Yes, come this way," the man grabbed a hold of his forearm and pulled him through the remaining few people. "I believe you bought this fine specimen." The man indicated the young lady that was standing behind him. She was even more beautiful up close, yet from here Ezra could also see the worry lines that crisscrossed along her brow and around her eyes.

"What is your name darlin'?" Ezra managed to utter.

"Madeline Marie Bernard," the girl whispered hoarsely.

"Madeline," Ezra spoke the name as if it were heaven sent. Truly she was an angel.

* * *

Madie stared up at the man. He seemed kind enough and handsome as well. He had taken off his hat when he spoke with her. His hair was light brown and his eyes were a light green. The man had a slight build but it did not hide the strength that she knew he had. What made Madie almost smile that day was his voice, the Southern accent he spoke with nearly made her melt.

"My name is Ezra Standish ma'am," he spoke in a kind voice. "Would you like the money now," Mr. Standish asked as he turned to Mr. Cavanaugh.

"Yes please," the slick man smiled. Ezra rested his foot on a nearby stool and raised his right pant leg. Inside his boot he pulled out a wad of money, and took out more than half, putting the rest back into his boot.

"Thank you very much Mr. Standish. Now if you would sign this contract, your Ms. Bernard will be free to leave with you."

"Uh…may I read that contract," Madeline spoke up hesitantly.

"Of course not," Mr. Cavanaugh spoke harshly, glaring at Madie. "Women shouldn't worry themselves with little things like a contract. That is what the men are for, isn't that right Mr. Standish."

Madie watched as Ezra looked over Mr. Cavanaugh, a fleeting look of disdain washed over her buyers face. "No, Ms. Bernard should look over this contract since it does pertain to her life. Please, come over here sweetheart, we'll read it together." Ezra eyed the man as Madie hurried to stand next to him.

Looking at the contract, she hurriedly read through it and got to the fine print. It was very hard to make out, and if she didn't know what she was looking for she would have missed it. "There, read that," Maddie pointed to the part she had just been reading.

Ezra looked at the girl and read through what she had excitedly pointed out. Frowning, he looked at Mr. Cavanaugh. "According to this, you will be back in four years to collect the woman that I bought, or a fee in place of said woman. What kind of scam are you running here Mr…"

"Cavanaugh, Darius Cavanaugh," Mr. Cavanaugh sent a scathing look to Madie, but she didn't mind because for once that day she felt safe standing behind Ezra.

"Now, I am not going to sign this here contract. If you make up a new contract that is acceptable to my terms, then I will sign, but until then, Ms. Bernard and I will be leaving." Ezra turned and gestured for Madie to leave with him.

"That I cannot let you do Mr. Standish. If you do not sign the contract, you cannot leave here with my girl."

"That is where I am afraid you are wrong." As quick as anything she had ever seen, Ezra pulled his gun, turned around and aimed it at Mr. Cavanaugh's heart. The other arm wrapped around Madie's waist and pulled her against his back. "Oh Mr. Larabee!" Ezra called out without looking away from a furious Mr. Cavanaugh.

"What's going on here Ezra?" A tall man dressed in black, flanked by a number of harsh looking men entered the back room.

"This man thought to cheat me by taking Ms. Bernard from me in four years unless I paid in exorbitant fee in return."

"Really, now I don't recall you telling the crowd that before they paid for the girls," the man in black replied. "I think it best you pack up and leave this town, before Ezra puts a hole in your head."

Mr. Cavanaugh looked as if he were debating in his head what he should do, but his survival instincts kicked in. "This isn't over Mr. Standish."

"Oh, I do believe it is, Mr. Cavanaugh," Ezra replied, watching as the older man fled the building, with his goons in tow. He didn't un-cock his gun or let go of Madie until the man was out of sight.

"Well Ezra, are you going to introduce us," one of the men asked.

"Oh yes, of course forgive me. Ms. Madeline Marie Bernard, these are my companions Chris Larabee, J.D. Dunn, Vin Tanner, Nathan, and Josiah."

"How do you do," Madie curtsied and as she looked down, she remembered how scantily dressed she was. Blushing, she stepped behind Ezra, in hopes of hiding her body from the men's eyes.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Ezra noticing her discomfort, took off his dark green velvet jacket offered it to Madie.

"Thank you," hurriedly she put her arms through and buttoned the jacket.

"Would you like the wedding now, or tomorrow?" Josiah asked bluntly.

"Well, now thanks Josiah for not thinking before you opened your mouth. I had yet to discuss that with Ms. Bernard." Ezra looked embarrassed as he turned towards Madie, who looked confused.

"Ms. Bernard, I and my friends" he stressed friends, "think that it might be better for you if you were to be married to me. I have understood that some in the auction were to be uh…mistresses and I thought you would be more respectable if you and I were to be married." Ezra looked at her trying to gauge an answer out of her.

Without warning, Madie launched herself at Ezra, throwing her arms around his neck. Softly she sobbed into his shoulder.

"Oh," Ezra exhaled, wrapping his arms around her waist. "Was that a yes or a no?"

"That's a yes," Madie sobbed out. "You don't know how happy that makes me. I was so scared that I would be sold to someone who would use my body as…as…" Madie broke into a fit of sobs just thinking about it.

"Hush now, you are safe with me darlin'." Ezra rubbed his hand over her back in an attempt to soothe her, but instead she cried out in pain. "Ms. Bernard," Ezra drew her back. "What is wrong?"

With everything that had happened today, twice she had blacked out from pain, the third and last time she blacked out was from pure exhaustion. But Madie knew she was in capable hands.

"I think we'll postpone the wedding for tomorrow," Josiah decided. Ezra responded with a dirty look as he cradled the unconscious Madeline in his arms.

So...I'd really appreciate some feedback. I know people are reading it because I got a few hits. Please just let me know if this is worth my time to upload and to finish the rest of the books. Once I get the opening out of the way, this will follow the episodes pretty well but with additional characters and situations. Review, review, review! ...please?