Stolen Lives, Part 2
Iragene Jones, New Mexico Sheriff Series
by Jesse J Elliott

Mr. March approached them. He held out two boxes. One held a pink silk blouse so beautiful that Iragene gasped and reached out to touch. There were delicate embroidered butterflies throughout the material. She had never seen anything so beautiful. "She'll love it, I know she will," she said softly. "And the other box?"

Daniel opened it. Inside was a cream colored book, small as books go, but she saw what it was immediately, Shakespeare's Love Sonnets. "Daniel, she'll love both gifts."

"I hope you're right. Cassie was the one that suggested both. Sometimes when you're working so hard with the ranch and the baby, you forget how important it is to feel loved." Daniel smiled as he thought of his wife.

"Who's working so hard? You and Cassie, not Pru!" she said sarcastically.

"Iragene, don't be so mean to Prudence. You know how hard life in New Mexico is on her," he said defensively.

She backed off immediately rather than hurt her brother. "I know, I was just kidding." She looked at her brother adoringly and then remembered why she was there.

"Daniel, I'm working on a case. Several servant girls disappeared, and we don't seem to have a lot of leads. Forgive me while I ask the Marches some questions, will you?"

"Of course, Iragene. Coming home on Friday? Will you bring Cruz too?"

"Yes, unless something comes up. I have to see my favorite nephew, and I miss Cassie something fierce."

"Okay, I'll just pay for these items and head for home. See you on Friday." He hugged her affectionately and walked out the door.

Iragene watched the people come and go, and finally, after about thirty minutes, the store was empty of people. Both Mr. and Mrs. March were behind the counter. No better time and she approached them.

"I'm so sorry to bother you both, but I'm looking into the disappearance of one of the Ortiz's servant girls. Actually, she's the fourth girl to disappear. The other disappearances weren't reported until this one."

"How can we help?" asked Mrs. March. "We don't know anything about missing girls? She probably ran off. Those girls are always running off somewhere, I've heard."

Iragene took a deep breath and managed to contain her anger. She wondered why people like the Marches came to New Mexico if they thought so little of the people that lived there. "No, she and the other girls did not run off, but there is enough evidence to suggest that they were kidnapped and taken away — somewhere."

"Why are you're asking us?" the merchant said rather curtly.

"You were at the Ortiz family party. Do you remember anyone leaving early or acting suspiciously?" She stopped and thought, "Do you remember seeing any men standing around smoking and talking away from the house?"

The husband shook his head, but Mrs. March said, "Yes, I do remember some men standing by a huge tree, smoking. There were several of them. They were quite loud, and I was relieved that they didn't come into the party. I had forgotten about them. It was still light when we arrived and we drove around the property a bit, killing time."

"Can you describe them? Were any of them familiar to you? Had you seen them before?" Iragene tried to contain her excitement.

"No, but I can tell you one thing, they were dirty. I can't imagine why they were there, but I was very happy to know that they were not guests of the Ortiz family. Such ruffians! You don't suppose that they took that girl? Maybe that's who she was meeting." Mrs. March looked at her.

"They may have been the men that took her, but she didn't go willingly. There were definitely signs of a struggle. Do you happen to remember how many there were?"

"There were three or four of them. Really, I don't remember."

At that minute the door opened and several people entered. Iragene knew she had probably gotten all the information that she was going to get from the Marches, so she quietly said thank you and left the store.

"Humph," she said under her breath, "maybe the Marches took them and are using them as slave labor! I wouldn't be surprised." She caught herself and realized that maybe that was what the girls were being used for. Obviously, the way some people felt about those poor girls, it was no wonder that some people felt they could get away with kidnapping. Damn, the first three disappearances weren't even reported.

She crossed the street to the Bush Mining Company and opened the door. A surly faced man with severe acne looked up from his desk. She knew him, but with so much else on her mind, she hadn't thought of having to deal with him

"What do you want?" he said loathsomely. "If you want to talk to Mr. Bush, he ain't here."

"When will he return, Mr. Crane? I have some questions I would like to ask him, " she replied coldly back to him.

"I can't say, and even if I did, I wouldn't. He ain't got nothin' to say to no woman lawman," and he turned his attention to his work.

Iragene turned and walked out, kicking herself for having to deal with such a repugnant woman hater. Ugh, she thought as she headed back to her office.

She opened the door and was relieved to see that Cruz had returned. He had made coffee and brought in some sweets and a jar of cream for her. After her recent experience, she couldn't thank him enough for his thoughtfulness.

She shared her morning's experiences with him, and when he had finished two large sweet breads and a cup of coffee, he started on his discoveries. He had gone back to the ridge and examined the horse. She was a young mare that shouldn't have been ridden yet, let alone with a rider the size of an average man. From the looks of the fall, it appeared that the horse carried not only a man, but possibly Flora as well. The mare was probably overloaded and not sure of her step. She fell and broke her leg badly. The men at least had the sense to kill her quickly, but their lack of knowledge about horses was unusual around here. Also, only one of the men was wearing boots. The others had heavy work shoes.

Cruz had then followed the tracks of the horses. He followed the riverbed until the horses veered off southwest. Their trail passed the home of the banker where their tracks once again joined a main road and they were no longer discernable.

Iragene hated to think it was Benton. Though clueless about inappropriate behavior with the girls, he really seemed concerned about Flora, but she could be wrong.

"Okay, so Benton lives down that road. What else is down that road beside the copper mines?" she asked.

"Not a whole lot. There are the mines, the Navajo reservation, and then not much else. Should we plan on skipping the other hacendados tomorrow and following the trail? We can snoop around the banker's house while he's in town."

"I think that's a good idea. Let's plan on a full day tomorrow. Cruz, why don't you take some money from the till and buy us some vittles for the road. I have some paper work to do." She pulled out her father's old pocket watch. "Let's plan on meeting tomorrow about 7:00. I'll buy breakfast at the hotel. Don't tell anyone we're planning on leaving. Let's hope we can surprise someone and find those girls."

They didn't see Benton or anyone from the list of party attendees, and Iragene enjoyed the wordless quiet of people relaxed with the others company. Though in the case of Cruz, being tongue-tied in his boss's company in such a formal setting was normal for him. But breakfast was good, and they left town about an hour later.

"Let's go over what we know. Those working shoes could be farmers, mill workers, or. . .," she paused, "miners. Heck the kidnappers could be anyone, but probably not someone from a hacienda. No one wore heavy work shoes that I could see. But, now I remember, Mrs. March actually saw the men hanging around the Ortiz home, and she mentioned how dirty they were. That might suggest miners."

"Sheriff, now I wonder if any of the women from the Reservation have been kidnapped. No one would have reported that. There might be more women than we know. Do you want to stop by the reservation and ask some questions?"

"No, I think I would prefer to stay on the trail, hoping it doesn't get colder than it is now. Besides, I don't know anyone well enough on the Res to ask," she replied somewhat ruefully. Cruz acknowledged her decision and rode along side of her, occasionally sneaking glances.

Relieved that the trail didn't turn into Benton's home, they remained on the road. They had ridden for several hours and were now along side of the Navajo Reservation when they decided to stop for lunch. They were out of the tall pines, but there were plenty of pinons and junipers to find some shade. They settled under a large pinon where they ate, refreshed themselves, and sat quietly enjoying the loud cries of a flock of pinon jays. As they sat there resting, they saw a lone rider coming down the road. They waited quietly until they recognized the rider as Benton the banker.

He saw them and rode over to their site. "Howdy, I guess you put two and two together too."

"You knew that the girls might have been taken this way and you didn't share the information with me? Even after I questioned you the other day?" she said incredulously.

"Iragene, I mean Sheriff, I am a man from a different era. I see women playing a different role than sheriffs. I really wasn't sure if I shared this information that you would have acted on it. Besides, I wasn't sure how to tell you this. This is not exactly a conversation I would share with a young woman."

"And what exactly is it that you wouldn't share with a young woman, Mr. Benton?" she said very softly yet sarcastically, trying to hold in her anger. Cruz looked at her, knowing she was very close to blowing up.

"Well," he looked away from her glare, "the other day I overheard two young miners at the bar. They were deciding how to spend their hard earned money. One suggested going upstairs and spending money on the girls at the bar. But the other guy said, 'Why bother when Mr. Bush and Mr. Crane take such good care of us at the mines? We can spend our money there and not have to ride so far after a hard night.' And then he laughed. The other guy never did get it." Here he looked at Iragene, embarrassed as he said too much.

Iragene waited, and Benton continued.

"Well, I walked up to these guys, because I hadn't heard of anything like that at the mines, and they told me that Mr. Bush and Mr. Crane brought some working girls out for them. They said this would help the miners stay close and not have to take their money to town. I asked them to describe the girls, and they said they were all young, pretty, and Mexican or Indian. They sounded like the missing girls, so I thought I'd ride out there and see."

"By yourself? All alone? Not even a gun?" Iragene, could barely contain her anger. "Isn't that what you pay a sheriff to do?!"

Benton looked at her sheepishly. "I'm sorry, Sheriff, I really didn't think you could handle these men."

"And you could?" she retorted. Disgusted she sat and thought awhile. "I've never been to Bush's mines. In the dirt, can you draw me a picture of the lay-out?"

Belton looked even more embarrassed. "No, I've never been there either. I know the area, but I've never bothered to visit the mines."

Iragene turned to Cruz. "Deputy, do you have any idea how the mines are laid out and where they could possibly be putting the women — if the women are there? Surely those men would know that the girls were being held against their wills."

Benton explained that the girls were described as being tired and dopey. The men assumed they were drunk. Maybe they were under the influence of some type of drug?

"I'm no expert, but I would imagine that the mine has unlimited access to laudanum to treat the miners' injuries. Maybe that's what they give the girls to keep them quiet. There's always alcohol. I guess we'll just have to see."

"We could ride into town and get reinforcements," Benton suggested.

"And just who would volunteer to save a group of Indian girls or Mexican servants? No one even bothered to report the disappearance of the first three girls. I don't think we would get much support., besides you are in the company of the sheriff and her deputy, Mr Benton."

They glared at each other briefly, but then Benton realized she was right.

"Okay," he relented, "you're right. Since we'll be riding in the dark, I suggest that we go a few more miles and then find a place to camp for the night. I see you both have bedrolls. I have some food, and I see you both do too. I know a small canyon not far from the mine's turn-out. We could camp in there. No one would even see the camp-fire. We could leave in early light."

"Even better, I'll go alone and scout out the area tonight. I doubt if they have any guards, and I can see if I can find out if or where the girls are." said Cruz. Benton and Iragene nodded.

"If the girls are there, I am assuming that the ones responsible are the bosses. At least that's what they miners said." She paused and looked at Benton. "Mr. Benton, I don't want to put a bunch of miners out of a job. What will happen to them if we arrest Bush?"

"Bush is still owing on the loan for the mine. If he misses a payment, the Bank will take over the mine. Since its income remains consistently in the black, the bank would probably appoint someone to supervise the mine until all legalities are cleared. After that, the bank would sell the mine. That's about the best it can do."

"All right, at least we can tell that to the miners to assuage them if we encounter any problems with them. Let's find that canyon of yours so that we can get some sleep before Cruz sets off. Are you ready to do a little spying tonight, Cruz?"

He smiled at her, saluted, and said, "Aye, aye, Capitana!" The tenseness of the past hour was forgotten and they made ready to start.

A few hours later they entered a beautiful canyon with a small arroyo filled with freshly running water. There had been several days of rain the previous week, and the water was still flowing from the higher ground. In the distance below was a wider patch of water, perfect for refreshing ones self after a long, dusty ride. All of them looked around appreciatively and settled on a flat area a bit away from the water in case another rain caught them unawares. This way they wouldn't be washed away in their sleep. Flash floods in New Mexico were not unusual, and those who lived there or in any desert area slept well away from the water in an arroyo.

They watched the sun set and all sat quietly thinking about the poor girls forced to spend another night drugged and abused somewhere — hopefully at the mining camp. They ate early and then Cruz went to take a nap. Though there was little chance of being spotted or attacked, Iragene took the first watch. She woke Cruz when the moon came up and talked to him briefly about his mission. They both agreed that he should stay out of harm's way and return as soon as he found out if the girls were there and where. Cruz saddled up and rode out quietly.

"Mr. Benton, are you able to relieve me for about four hours?"

"What time is it?"

"About one. I have fresh coffee made. Please wake me at 5:00 or when Cruz returns."

"You amaze me, Sheriff. I think I need to reassess my opinion on women."

"That you do, Mr. Benton." She made her bedroll up and then looked at him. "Mr Benton, you have a large beautiful home, are you planning on marrying anytime soon?" She smiled.

He looked at her and at first said nothing. Then he smiled sadly and said, "I had a family."

"Oh I am so sorry, I didn't mean to bring up anything personal or painful."

"No, Sheriff, it's all right. I had a wife and twin babies on the way. The delivery was a difficult one. Even with my friend, a military doctor there for her, Margaret died in childbirth. The two little girls lived only a few hours." He stopped and she waited to see if he could continue. "We both had twins in our families, so I just assumed I would be having a large family of varying ages and sexes. Who knew that all those rooms would sit empty?"

"Oh, Mr. Benton, I'm so sorry for asking. It was none of my business."

"It's okay, Sheriff, it's been many years. The pain is mostly gone, but not the loneliness. I think about those little girls a lot, though. When I'm not thinking of my Margaret, I'm thinking of those girls and wondering what they would look like now. But you've known sadness too. I know you lost your fiancé last year. We never know, do we?"

Iragene just shook her head, smiled at this man she once thought was a kidnapper or worse, tried to avoid having him see her eyes well up, and went to sleep.

Close to 5:00, Cruz rode into camp. Iragene heard him and got up to take his horse and unsaddled it for him. She brushed it down while asking him about his findings.

"The mining camp is a bunch of shacks and tents. The miners sleep near a large tent. At first I thought the girls were in there, but apparently that is where the food is prepared and served. About a hundred yards away is Bush's house. It's a large, two storied home with roses and flowers all around it, if you can believe. I saw Bush go to the outhouse and then walk over to a long shed behind the house about 3:00. He checked the locks on the shed and then went back into the house. There are no windows. I'm pretty sure that this is where the girls are kept because I heard a female voice shout out when the locks were jiggled. Nothing was guarded, and access to the house is easy. I peeked in the windows and saw a dining area, an office, and a living area. I guess the bedrooms are upstairs. In the barn are a buggy, a supply wagon, and horses. I think I know how we'll be able to transport the girls home." He smiled and asked if he could get in an hour of sleep. Iragene said yes and began to fix a breakfast of coffee, tortillas, and cheese.

After Cruz had slept an hour, he awoke, ate, and helped them break camp. Iragene took an extra gun from her saddlebag and handed it and a box of bullets to Benton.

"I hope I don't have to use this," he said softly.

"I hope not either," said Iragene. "If the girls are there, and they seem to be, I'll need you to talk to the miners. Mr. Benton, most of the miners know you. I'd like you to go to the mine and tell the foreman and the other miners that Bush will be arrested and taken to town to stand trial for kidnapping, assault, and rape. Please assure him that you are there to make sure that the mines remain open. All the men will be paid, and none of the men will be held responsible for the charges that Bush and Crane might face. Although I'm not happy about letting the men off the hook, there is little we can do to the men. On the other hand, hopefully the girls will be able to identify their abductors."

She looked at Cruz. Get the rope and guns. Hopefully Bush and Crane will be receptive to our visit."

When they arrived at the mines, Benton rode over to the shaft and talked quietly to the foreman. The foreman confirmed the presence of the girls. A few other men were there, and they began to get angry, but Benton was able to reassure them that workings at the mine would continue as usual, just minus the girls and the owner. He even offered the foreman and supervisors extra wages to maintain the operation of the mine. He looked over at Iragene and Cruz and waved — the sign that the girls were there. Relieved, Iragene and Cruz approached the house.

They decided not to knock, but entered the house quietly. So well made was the structure that the stairs made no sound as they walked up to the owner's room. Fancy wood paneling on one door made it easy to determine which room was Bush's. Across the way, with its door ajar was the offensive, sleeping Crane that Iragene encountered at the mining office in La Madera. Iragene pointed to Bush's door and then herself, and then pointed to Crane's room and Cruz. He nodded. She put up one, then two, then three fingers.

"YOU ARE UNDER ARREST FOR KIDNAPPING, ASSAULT, AND RAPE!" Both men were still half asleep and that made it easy to drag them out of bed in Bush's bedroom. "Mr. Bush and Mr. Crane, I will give you the chance to explain about the women held here against their will."

Crane looked at her with hate and spat out that he knew nothing about no women.

At this point, Bush looked at Crane and shouted, "He knows everything. Taking and keeping girls was his idea. Besides, who cares about a few Mexican or Indian women? You have no right to arrest me! Wait until I get my lawyer." Iragene looked at this hateful bigot and mentally counted to ten to prevent herself from shooting him right there. At that moment an older woman came in to inquire what was going on and just stood there with her mouth open.

"Señora, will you pack a suit and shoes for Mr. Bush and Mr. Crane? Right now, I think I'll just leave them in their night garments because it's less complicated."

"You can't do that you Bitch!" Crane screamed. "You'll humiliate Mr. Bush and me! I'll kill you first." Crane moved and seized a pistol sitting on Bush's night stand. Though he was surprisingly quick, Iragene was quicker, and she drew and shot the gun from his hand. Not even a drop of blood was drawn.

All three of the men looked at her incredulously saying nothing, mouths agape.

"Crane, you're fortunate that I didn't put a bullet in your manhood, but the target was too small," Iragene calmly stated.

Minutes later, Cruz and Iragene dragged the two men down the stairs by their ropes. By the time they brought Bush and Crane out to the front of the house, Benton had already shot the lock off the door of the shed. They followed him to the shack. Six girls, wearing little to nothing stood by the beds, looking dully at their rescuers.

Angrily, Iragene yelled at the two men, "Where are their clothes?"

At first neither would talk, but when Iragene lightly kicked them both in the crotch, Bush spoke out. "We threw their rags away. We figured they wouldn't need them anymore. We were planning on buying them some nice dresses."

"Sure you were, you monsters," Benton said heavily.

"Cruz, could you please go to the housekeeper and tell her we want every clean shirt, every clean piece of long-johns, every sweater, vest, jacket, etc. that these two own as soon as possible." Cruz was relieved to go, embarrassed and deeply disturbed by what he saw and left quickly.

"Yes, Sheriff, immediately."

"Gentlemen, let's leave these poor girls alone for awhile until they are more presentable. Ah yes," she stopped and stepped out and yelled to Cruz, "Please have the housekeeper bring every bit of food available from the house to the girls. If she doesn't have enough for all of them, stop by the chow tent!"

"And now, Mr. Bush and Mr. Crane, what did you give these girls to make them so drugged?"

"Nothing," snared Crane, "those whores brought their own booze and drugs."

"Unlikely," Iragene said as she made ready to kick the men again, this time not so gently in their sensitive areas.

"STOP!" Bush screamed. "We only gave them a little laudanum to relax them. They weren't raped. They were happy to be with the men. They volunteered." Iragene looked at him, hate filled her usually composed face and she kicked each man as hard as she could and then walked away to keep from kicking them again. Each doubled over, however neither had the benefit of laudanum to dull their pain.

Several of the girls appeared to be coming down from the drug, but others started to cry and asked for more. These girls had been on the medication for longer and were now addicted. No one knew who administered the drug at the mine, but the foreman showed them the dispensary, and they removed what they could for the moment to provide the drug to the girls that needed it.

A strange array of disheveled girls left the mines. They were dressed in everything from men's nightshirts to silk dress shirts. Some wore men's long-johns while others wore beautifully tailored pants, cut off at the ankles to fit them. Flora was the first to say something. She spoke to Benton.

"Gracias, Señor, I never thought I'd leave that horrible place." Tears welled up in her eyes.

"It's okay now, Flora, you're free, no one will hurt you again."

"You don't understand. I am soiled. No one will ever hire me or want me. All of us. We can no longer go back to our work or our families. We are now basuras, trash."

"Flora, you aren't trash. You will always be my flower. Look, I got a big house. I live alone. I'm a lonely man. You, all of you can come to my home and live and heal. You will be the daughters I almost had."

"I don't know, right now, I don't know," and she cried silently and turned away from him.

Benton turned to Iragene. "Sheriff, I want to take these girls to my home. I want to give them food, nice clothes, and a place to rest and heal. Do you think that Father Agustin would be willing to help me with these girls?"

"I know he will help, but are you sure? This is quite a leap."

"I don't think I could stand by and not help," he insisted.

"You know that most of them felt uncomfortable with your touches before. Now, you will have to rein in any sign of familiarity. These girls are physically and mentally damaged by their horrible incarceration. Could you control your fatherly desire to touch or hug these girls?" She looked at him expectantly.

"Yes," he said firmly.

The girls were fed and placed into the buggy and wagon. Bush and Crane were seated on horses, still in their nightshirts and nothing else. A strange train of people left the mines and started back to town.

Later, the wagon and buggy carrying the girls stopped at the Benton house. When Mr. Benton opened the front door, his housekeeper looked in shock at the disarray of young girls.

"Mrs. Brooks, let me introduce our new family. There are six of them, and they all need lots of love and time to heal. I know that this is very sudden, but do you have a problem working with our new family?"

"Mr. Benton, I've been waiting a long time for you to start a new family. This isn't how I imagined it to be, but this assortment of young girls will finally give me something to do around here!" She gently took the girls upstairs. Though there weren't enough beds for everyone, some of the girls laid down happily on the soft rugs. The drugs were still in their systems and for some of them this dependence would last for awhile if not always.

Iragene looked at Mr. Benton. "I can't believe you want all six of them! You know you will have some difficult days ahead. You have addicts, mentally and physically damaged girls, and a variety of cultures and languages."

"I know, but I have the time and the money. However, if you can send word to Father Agustin to come here immediately from Santa Fe and bring his sister, the healer, we will at least be able to give these girls hope."

Iragene said she would and hugged him.

"Sheriff," he said lightly, "I think we are now good enough friends that I can safely call you Iragene without having my head cut off."

Iragene laughed and got on her horse. She and Cruz then took their two underdressed prisoners to town.

The End

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