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Disclaimer: I do not own GMW otherwise Maya would be kicking asses for real.
Holding her breath, Maya entered the saloon, ignoring the lingering leers of those early coming men who did everything they could to avoid being home with their wives. They catcalled her, and Maya fought the urge to throw them the finger. In these wild parts, that kind of action would not be taken kindly, and she had no doubt that one might consider blowing her head off. So she just gathered her skirts and tried to ignore the way their gazes clung to her form like she was a juicy cow, ripe for the picking.
Maya saw that Abigail was in this early evening, tending to the liquor behind the bar and noting inventory. Abigail was a beautiful, tall, almost exotic older woman with cherry red/brown locks cascading down her shoulders, vibrant green eyes, and a demeanor that could set a man straight with a sharp glare and caustic words. She was fiercely protective of the women who were stuck working at the Bull's Sleaze and always made sure they were treated right and received proper compensation. She was the perfect mother figure. And also the perfect person to help Maya.
Maya sauntered up to bar, slumping onto a stool ungracefully.
"Why does my saloon always get trashed after bar fights?"
"You should be used to it by now."
"I was gone for one day." Abby continued, wiping down the counter with an old rag. "And all the furniture got ruined."
"Yes ma'am. I heard there was some fight amongst a blonde male and one of the mayor's lackeys." Maya replied easily, a twinkle in her eyes.
"A blonde male huh?" Abby rose a knowing eyebrow.
"That's right. Charismatic, handsome. Very distinguished."
"I see. Anybody know his name?"
"No. He disappeared off into the night. No one's seen him since."
Abby stared at her with a look of amusement. "That's too bad." She set down the rag she had used to clean the counter, "Well, clearly you're not daft enough to come here before opening without your disguise, so this must be pretty urgent. What do you need?"
"I came here to see you."
"Honey, you're too young for this kind of work." Abby said, concern on her features. "I know you don't want to get married, but there are plenty other alternatives."
"I'm of age to bear a child. I'm pretty sure I'm not too young to become a whore. But don't worry. I'm not here for that. I'm here because I need to speak to someone."
"Who?"
"The blonde woman I saved from that old fart yesterday. The one with the brown eyes. She's a little older than most of them. Where is she?"
"You talkin' about Katy? I gave her the night off. She's in her room."
A partly drunk man, nursing a beer, stumbled over, licking his lips as he approached Maya. He settled next to her and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, breathing heavily in her ear, his rancid, stale alcoholic breath cascading in her face.
"Hey lil' lady… You free for business tonight?"
"I'm not for sale." Maya said simply, knocking his arm off her shoulders, "Move along."
He scoffed, leaving the area with a glare muttering, "Stuck up little wench…"
Maya rolled her eyes and shook her head, turning back to Abigail. She knew coming here without her disguise was going to put some libidos on overdrive. "So you were saying?"
"She was torn up about that confrontation yesterday, so I'm letting her have the night off. One of the girls told me Davis hit her. He would've done worse had you not rescued her. For that, I thank you, Maya."
"I just did what anyone else with a lick of decency in this goddamned town would do."
"Either way, I'm going to thank you properly." She looked around, before leaning closer to Maya conspiratorially, "People outside the business aren't allowed to make contact with any of my girls before work begins, but I'll make an exception for you, Micah."
Abby tapped the room number on her log book and nodded to Maya. Maya smiled, thanking her and rushed off past the bar towards the back where the womens' quarters were. Many of them were lounging in the hallway, sharing smokes or preparing for another rough night of work. They watched her curiously, wondering who the new blonde was and whether she was joining their ranks.
Maya raced past them uncomfortably. She felt like she was a carcass in a den of vultures.
She reached the room number and took a deep breath, stilling her fist before she knocked. What Maya was doing was quite possibly rather crazy. And what if she was wrong? What would she do if she was wrong?
Before her mind could even register the fact that the action had been done, Maya's fist rapped quickly on the wood.
There was no going back now.
"Come in." The voice said from inside.
Swallowing her nerves, Maya opened the door. It was sparsely decorated with only a bed and a few subtle mood inducing pictures on the wall. There was a night stand and a dresser, but other than that, nothing. Katy was sitting on the edge of the bed, her back to door, spreading ointment on her naked back.
Maya held her breath in horror. The blood in her veins went ice cold in a matter of seconds. Katy's skin was scarred and bruised, with some of the skin puckered as if the wound was relatively fresh. It looked damaged and the scars were piled up on each other, as if she had been abused and hit several times.
"Who did that to you?" Maya said softly.
Katy spun around in alarm at the unrecognizable voice and dropped the ointment cream on the ground.
"You're not Abby…"
"No, I'm not." Maya walked out of the shadowed hallway and into the light of Katy's room.
When Katy saw Maya, her eyes slowly widened in disbelief. She gaped at her, shocked, her lower lip trembling and eyes filling with tears. She clutched her hands to her chest, rising slowly to her feet and facing Maya. Her dress slid to ground, but Katy made no efforts to pick it up or dress herself. Her gaze was trapped on the little blonde woman at the door.
"No…" Katy whispered, her voice quivering, "Tell me you're not here."
"Who are you?" Maya asked quietly, curiously.
But even as she asked that question, Maya took in the woman's short stature. Her strong shoulder and her vibrant, hard, spirited chestnut coloured eyes. Her short tangled mess of loose blonde curls and waves. The little clover-like birthmark under her right breast, identical to the one Maya also carried.
And she knew.
She just knew who she was.
"You're my mother…" Maya whispered breathily, almost in a trance.
Katy looked away with a frown, though her voice was shaky. "I-I don't know what you are talking about."
Maya took an unsteady step backwards, holding onto the doorway to keep herself from tumbling backwards. All this time, Maya had believed maybe she had been abandoned at the Matthews' at birth or her birth parents had died, but to think her mother was alive. Her mother was alive and standing right before her. Her breathing grew haggard.
"What are you doing in a whore house?!" Maya hissed.
Katy glared at the ground, "Look. I don't know who you think I am, but I am not your mother. You are mistaken."
Maya was about to argue the fact when she paused and took a good look at the woman. Katy was hunched over, almost as if she was frightened. She was resolutely looking at the ground, as if trying to assert that she had no connection to Maya. Like she was trying to restrain herself. With a start, Maya realized that in the way Katy was dismissing her, she was trying to protect her. From what, Maya didn't know. But she had a sneaking suspicion that that something was what was keeping Katy from leaving this whore house.
There were so many things Maya wanted to ask her. So many things she wanted to know. So many 'whys' she wanted answers to. Why was Maya at the Matthews? Why was Katy in a whore house? But that would have to wait for later. All Maya knew was that she had made up her mind about one thing.
"I don't know why you're in here. Or what your debt to pay is," Maya swallowed thickly, "But I will get you out of here. I promise that."
Katy looked back up at Maya after her words with silent tears cascading down her cheeks. Though she said nothing as Maya stormed out, her eyes held a tinge of renewed hope in the irises.
Maya stomped down the hallway, intending to pool all her savings immediately and pay for Katy's debt. She wasn't going to let her spend another damn evening in this hell of a hole. To think that her own mother was trapped in a whore house for so many years while Maya had grown up without a care in the world, enjoying life. This whole time, her mother was being fucked by dirty creeps and bastards while Maya lived life like a pampered child. She had crossed paths with her mother multiple times, and she hadn't even known. It was enough to make Maya want to crawl in a hole and cry her heart out.
Her own mother… Always an arm length away, and Maya had been hella clueless.
It was unforgivable.
But Maya would get her out, if it was the last thing she did…
As Maya turned the corner to reenter the bar area of the saloon, she heard Abigail's angered voice and stopped short of coming out, realizing that Abigail was talking to someone else.
"What do you mean she's taking a night off? No one takes a night off."
Maya's eyebrows rose. She would recognize that thick, sleazy drawl anywhere. It was the mayor. Was he talking about Katy just then? Eyes narrowed, she carefully peeked her head around the corner to watch the confrontation. Abigail was standing behind the bar counter, arms crossed across her ample bosom, eyes set in a disgusted, contemptuous glare. The mayor stood across from her, dirty smirk plastered on his face.
"One of your men gave her a rough time yesterday. She needs her rest."
Maya briefly wondered what happened to Davis. She had shot him in the stomach after all. Served him right. No doubt now though, Micah had a bounty on his head. Hopefully, no one had properly seen her face and would not be able to give descriptions of "his" looks.
"I don't pay you to give these little prostitute wenches rest. I pay you to provide entertainment. Where is her room? I'll show her rest…"
Maya seethed and contemplated jumping out and punching the living daylights out of him. She lamented the fact that she had not brought any weapons on her when she had rushed to the saloon. Maya considered herself relatively strong, but the mayor had a lot of girth. Taking him down wouldn't be easy. But she knew trying to attack him would be one of the fastest ways to get herself killed. He walked around with his merry band of idiots all the time for a reason. And though not as good shots as her, they were probably still decent enough and close enough to get a clean shot to her head. Before she could formulate any kind of plan, Abby stopped him with cold words.
"You will not touch her, Mr. Mayor. Now you hear me and you hear me well. There are plenty of able bodied women available tonight. She is to have rest as ordered by Doc. If you want to argue with him, then you can, but I will not disobey a doctor's orders."
The mayor stared down Abigail momentarily, but she held her ground, her expression stern and face resolute.
Finally, he smirked, chuckling under his breath. "Fine. I'll be back tomorrow to pick her up. I'll need me some entertainment then anyway."
The mayor left, a disgusting smug grin on his features, and Maya stood there for a while, her fists shaking at her sides and teeth grit so hard, so was certain she was about to break them. She took a deep, shaky breath, trying to calm herself down.
Settled and determined, Maya rounded the corner, approaching the bar, "How much for Katy?"
Abigail frowned at Maya in confusion, "Pardon?"
"What is Katy's price? How much is her debt to pay off?"
Abby's face fell, and Maya winced, already recognizing she was not going to like what Abby had to say.
"Katy doesn't have a price. This is a lifelong debt. She's to pay off her debt for the rest of her life."
Maya held her breath. "To whom?"
"…Mayor Jed. Her lifelong debt is to Mayor Jed."
Maya released a slow breath. Of course. It just had to be a lifelong debt to the most inhumane, cruel asshole in this entire town. There was no way she would be able to do anything.
Maya sighed, "How can I break that contract? End the debt."
Abby frowned, "There is no way to break the contract. It's a lifelong debt, honey."
"But isn't there some loophole. Anything at all that could render her contract null and void?"
"Well… I guess the only way a contract can end is if she dies and has no offspring to take her place." Abby tapped her finger to her chin, "Or if the mayor dies, but neither of those are probably gonna happen…"
Maya tuned her out, her thoughts immediately jumping on what Abigail had said. If the mayor died, her mother would be free from that debt and contract. And so would all those other girls and women in the whore house. If the mayor was gone, no one would be subjected to his cruelty and selfishness anymore. If she killed the mayor, she could definitely get her mother out.
So logically, her mind came to the conclusion that the mayor had to die.
"…Maya? Maya?"
Maya snapped out of her thoughts and smiled at Abigail, "Thank you, Abby. Sorry I zoned out. It's about high time I went back home. I think I need some rest."
Abigail watched her uncertainly, "Alright. You sure you're okay?"
"I'm fine." Maya waved as she left the saloon, "Let me know if you need more milk delivered."
Maya left the saloon and headed to Clutterbucket, thinking deeply about her predicament. The mayor was known for having droves of men available to protect him at all times. She had heard he was a somewhat paranoid man by nature and didn't take chances. By herself, she doubted she would be able to get close enough to even put a scratch on him. And even if she did, one of the men would likely shoot her down.
If she wanted to get her mother out, she would need help. Preferably from someone who could shoot.
And she knew just where to find said help.
Maya hopped excitedly onto Clutterbucket and snapped his reins, setting him off on a hard gallop toward the jailhouse on the far south side of town. She would check there first to see if they had gotten arrested and then work her way to Minkus horse ranch if she was wrong.
~.~.~
Maya entered the Sheriff's station rapidly, out of breath. The sky had already begun to darken substantially, and Maya knew she didn't have much time. She hoped she was right. She usually had a good sixth sense about things like this.
She passed through the front doors, heading to where the sheriff's desk was located. Sheriff Holstein was lounging with his feet up on his desk, picking his teeth with a sharpened chicken bone. Maya's nose wrinkled in disgust. She never liked the sheriff. He was a no good scoundrel, and he and his deputies had been paid off by the mayor to fulfill his every whim. A sorry excuse for an enforcer of the law.
But she knew if she walked in with a standoffish attitude, she wouldn't get anywhere. Maya plastered a big fake sweet smile on her face and walked in confidently, her heels clicking loudly on the floor.
"Well evenin' lil' lady." He said charmingly, tipping his hat, "What can I do for you?"
"Hi. I'm looking for someone. Tall, green eyes, handsome chap with a black cowboy hat?" She mentally gagged, hating the way she sounded like a wanton, depraved woman.
Sheriff Holstein frowned, "If you're talking about that outlaw, he and his partner are being hanged as we speak."
Shit. Double shit.
"Oh my…Where are they being hanged?"
"I can't tell you Miss. That type of stuff is not for the eyes of a lady to see. Besides, a beautiful gal such as yourself shouldn't be associating with criminals and outlaws anyway."
Maya forced herself to keep smiling demurely, fighting her urge to snap at him. Who the hell did he think he was deciding what was and wasn't for her eyes to see? She couldn't stand it when men thought they knew what was the best for women. But she knew if she wanted to find out, she would have to up her game. Channeling as many ounces of Riley's adorable, graceful charm as she could, she fake cried, sobbing into her hands.
"But that criminal, the one with the black hat, was my fiancée. We were supposed to get married on tomorrow's eve and ride out to the east. I know he got in trouble with the law, but I just need to see him one more time so I can make peace! You see we got into this big fight yesterday, and I told him I never loved him. I can't let him go without making amends! Oh whatever shall I do!"
She whimpered and wept in her hands, peeking out of her fingertips to see if he was biting. The sheriff looked conflicted and his brows were set in a heavy frown, internally debating what to do. Maya upped the water works, including large hiccups and bouncing her shoulders up and down, feigning being wracked wholebodily with sobs.
"Alright, alright! Stop crying, Miss." he said, sighing, "Your fiancée is being hanged at The Summit. I don't know if he's already gone, but if you go now, you might be able to catch some last few words with him."
"Oh thank you, thank you!" Maya exclaimed, "I'll go right now!"
She spun around and rushed back to the front doors.
Shit! Fuck! Damn!
This was bad. The Summit was a cliff on the outskirts of the town "woods" where the land gave way to a large, plummeting canyon. They named the interiour of the huge canyon Death Valley, not just because those who fell in it most definitely fell to their deaths, but also because the dead bodies of those that were hanged were always tossed in there. The Summit was the prime location reserved for the hanging of those particularly vengeful criminals and outlaws.
Eyeing the sheriff's knife and the two pistols he left hanging near the door, she leaned back to check to see if he was watching her. He was yelling something profane towards the cells in the back. Discreetly, Maya snatched the knife and stuck it in her boot and then grabbed the two pistols in the holster. She would need some type of weapon if she was planning a rescue.
Rushing outside, not caring about indecency, Maya lifted the skirt of her dress and bunched the material around her hips and clambered onto Clutterbucket. The saddle was rough against her inner thighs, and she could feel the skin uncomfortably chafing against the rough leather, but she ignored it.
Hangings were never long, and The Summit was not particularly close to the town center. Grinding her feet into Clutterbucket's back, they took off. Her hair and dress whipped around her face and legs with reckless abandon. She knew she probably looked like a crazy woman riding in the night to other people walking around that evening. But she didn't care.
"You better not have gotten hanged before I get there you asshole…" Maya growled under her breath.
Seriously. She had no idea what she would do if they were already in Death Valley. That was plenty enough incentive to get her ass in gear.
"Hyah! Hyah!" She shouted into the night, speeding up her pace to the cliffs.
She had a return rescue to carry out.