~ The Upheaval ~

by

Linda Lattimer

The heavyset man cracked the whip a little harder. “Next time I won’t strike the dirt. I’ll slap some straps across your back so you won’t disregard another order I give each of you. Now get back to work! Larkin, get over here.”

The other chunky man ambled toward him. “What’s up?”

“I saw that Calahan in town today with that Beasley girl. In fact I saw more than one Calahan. Even saw me a couple more of them Beasley girls. That one sure did look purty with that long dark hair. She sure does look nice in them clothes that fit her body.” He rubbed his chin. “She would bring us in some right big money. I wouldn’t mind having a poke at her myself.”

“I don’t think you want to be messing with any of those Beasley girls. I know when Cottonwood and I went that night to get his money; they were well equipped with rifles. You’d probably get your head shot off.”

“You let me handle them Beasley girls. That one sure would keep me warm at night. I could persuade her to like me, if you get my drift.”

“Don’t be asking for trouble, Sylvester. So far there’s been no trouble with us hiring these men to work in the mines while we do some rustling on the side, but messing with those women. I’m telling you, that better not happen. We could lose everything. Me and Peterson like things just the way they are.”

“Yeah, the two of you would.”

“Speaking of taking a poke, you got that little girl down in the mines. I think I’d like to try my hand with her for a spell.”

“Sold her today.”

“You did what?”

“Yeah one of them Beasley girls, mighty fancy one, marched over and insisted I sell her. The next thing I know one of the Calahan brothers offered me two hundred and fifty dollars for that Chinese girl.”

Larkin almost lost what few teeth he had left. “Two hundred and fifty dollars?”

“Oh yeah, right off the street he pulls out the money and hands it to me.”

“Wow. Imagine if we had some more of them girls we could sell.”

“It’s hard getting them pretty ones like that one. Besides, I’ve set my sight on another beauty I want to capture and make a profit from.”

Larkin removed his hat then slapped it to his thigh. “I’m telling you Sylvester, leave them Beasley girls alone or everything we have worked for will go up in smoke.”

“You leave that to me to worry about. Besides, I know the real reason you are in a frenzy over this. Don’t worry; your secret is safe with me. Now get back in those mines and make sure those men are digging for that gold.”

Larkin stomped off, mumbling obscenities. Sylvester Metcalf was completely out of bounds even thinking about interfering with the Beasley’s or the Calahan’s. He better really watch his step or everything would be tumbling down in their midst, and he for one wasn’t ready to have his neck swinging from a noose.