Part 6: Taken

"No! MMMM! MMMM! MMMMMMM!"

The woman struggled against her attacker, but he was too strong. The smell of the chloroform-soaked cloth against her nose and mouth was too much for her and she passed out.

"Just go to sleep little Chinawoman. You're going to be my ticket to a big pay off."

The horse and rider with its extra passenger rode into the darkness. When the man reached the outskirts of a small town, he walked his horse to keep from drawing attention. It was way after midnight and most of the town was asleep. There was no telegraph office, and the post office would not be open until daylight. Wilkes passed the post office as he rode toward the center of town. He spotted the place he was looking for and headed straight for it.

The doors of the livery stable were shut and presumed locked from the inside, but Wilkes knew better. The side door was kept open. The owner was very sympathetic to the Knights of the Golden Circle's cause. Though if he knew the full reason for the Circle's existence, he might not have allowed such men to take from his establishment too freely, even though the money he was making was more than he would make in a week. Money often turned a blind eye to the truth. If he knew the Knights were bent on eliminating any and every Chinese immigrant from ever becoming landowners, let alone establishing a life for themselves in this territory, things would be different. Little did he know that meant killing every, last one of them as the railroad continued across the territory. Oscar Carson though, was a man with a conscience and he would not have allowed the Knights to continue with their arrangement if he knew they were committing mass murder.

Wilkes got down from his horse as he reached the livery stable then lifted his still sleeping burden from his saddle. He carried the woman to the side door and entered the livery.

"Carson, you here?"

"I'm awake, just barely. What have you got there?"

"A little insurance. Get a buckboard ready. I can't take her where I'm going on my horse. That's still two hours from here and I'd rather make certain I get there without my horse coming up lame."

"I've got just what you need. Do you need some kind of tarp to cover the wagon to keep her from being seen?"

"Yeah," replied Wilkes. "Also, I'll need a length of rope. Don't want this little dragon lady waking up and stabbing me in the back."

"You going to meet the rest of your fellow Circle members?"

"Now, how would you know I'd be doing that?"

"Well stands to reason. I hear a lot of rumors you know. People do talk."

"Here," Wilkes removed a leather pouch from his pocket. It was heavy with coins. "Don't say a word. You know the drill."

"Of course, Mr. Wilkes, and enjoy your ride."

"Oh, one other thing," Wilkes handed Carson an envelope. "There's going to be a Chinaman passing through here in a couple of days. Give him this."

"Sure thing."

Carson left and allowed Wilkes to hitch up the two horses that he would need to drive the buckboard. Once that was completed, he took the length of rope and tied the woman's hands and feet together in such a way, that if she struggled, her life would not be long for this world. He also tied a strip of cloth across her mouth so she would not be able to cry out. He carried the woman and placed her into the back of the buckboard. He then took the canvas tarp, covered the back, and secured it in place. For the most part it looked just like any ordinary wagon with a covering from the rain, nothing special at all.

Once everything was ready, Wilkes went over to the double doors of the livery stable and moved the bar securing the doors. Once he had them open, he climbed into the buckboard and snapped the reins. The horses moved forward and out the door. Once the buckboard was clear of the stable, Carson stepped in and closed the doors behind Wilkes.

So far, the plan had been executed perfectly.

"Wilkes!" Hendricks shouted several times, but it seemed his new acting foreman wasn't anywhere to be found.

"Should you be out of bed, Mr. Hendricks?" One of the other women in camp noticed. "Your injuries are not quite healed. You need rest."

"Has anyone seen Wilkes this morning? I have some dispatches. I need him to ride into Stratton and see that these are mailed."

"No one has seen him this morning."

"What is going on? Where's Caine, maybe he can help. I need to get these dispatches to the head office, even though we haven't heard from them about sending more men to protect us from these raids."

"I do not know where the Shaolin is. Come, Mr. Hendricks. Your injures need tending. I will change your bandages."

"Well, someone find him and send him to my tent."

Another Chinese ran to the tent that Kwai Chang Caine occupied. The tent was empty. A note rested on a nearby table. The man picked it up and read it. He quickly left the tent and headed back to Mr. Hendricks, deep fear and concern written on his features.

"Mr. Hendricks, Mr. Hendricks!" he cried.

"What is it?"

He handed the note to Mr. Hendricks.

"Saddle my horse."

Continues with Part 7