High Lonesome

By Michael N. Riley

Evil exists because good people don't want to see it. For the residents of Portales, that is what they did. It took a gunfight to put a stop to the debauchery that plagued the small town. Jewels Davis is in prison, and his son, Jefferson, hasn't been seen for some time. An uneasy calm has come over Doc Strafford. His plan is finally coming to fruition. He is now mayor and has a sheriff to protect the citizens and the new businesses coming to town.

A detective from the Pinkertons comes in on horseback, and the sheriff detains him, wanting to know who he is. Waldo Emerson announces he is investigating a train robbery. Doc gets in on the tail end of the conversation and informs him he hadn't heard about any train robberies. Over pie and coffee, Detective Emerson confides that women were being abducted from the trains and sold off to the highest bidder. Technically a train robbery, and Jewels and Jefferson Davis were behind it.

A man named Emit Carlson arrives on the train. He has a deed and claim to the saloon that Jewels Davis operated out of. He demands Doc to surrender to his demands and hand over the property. His intentions are to resume selling cheap whiskey and loose women. Carlson has the backing of a United States Congressman and a group called the Network. Carlson believes he can intimidate Doc with his bullying. That was his first mistake.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fulton Books, Inc.
• Release date: Nov 3, 2023
• ISBN: 9798889820833

Book preview

Table of Contents

Title

Copyright

Preface

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

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About the Author

cover.jpg

High Lonesome

Michael N. Riley

Copyright © 2023 Michael N. Riley

All rights reserved

First Edition

Fulton Books

Meadville, PA

Published by Fulton Books 2023

ISBN 979-8-88982-082-6 (paperback)

ISBN 979-8-88982-083-3 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Preface

During the early 1900s, women in the United States started to demand the right to vote and several other kinds of freedoms that have been denied them. Of course the male-dominated society took offense to this. As liberated women started to demonstrate their independence more and more, men took offense at their behavior. Women who rode the trains by themselves took great risk of being abducted and sold off to the highest bidder for the purpose of prostitution or as wives. Because of this, Congress passed the Mann Act in 1910 forbidding the sale of women for the purpose of prostitution or other kinds of debauchery. This law is still in effect today.

In my story, the small town of Portales uncovers how such evil things can go on right under their noses. Much like today, we get comfortable in what we see and ignore what we don't want to see.

The struggle between good and evil continues. Doc continues to be the glue that holds everything together, and the story revolves around the circle of people in his life. Without giving too much of the story away, I hope you enjoy it.

By the way, you need to read book 1 first.

1

Prison is one thing, but prison in the New Mexico Territory was a whole different experience. The compound fifteen miles southwest of Santa Fe rested on the barren flatlands with its scorching heat during the summer and freezing cold in the winter. Inmates would pray to God to allow them one day in the cool mountains during the summer. With no glass to cover the barred windows, winter was especially harsh with its frigid winds howling through the corridors.

The structure itself was two stories tall, with cells stacked on top of each other two high. One man per cell that was no bigger than four feet wide and eight feet long and eight feet tall. The fifty-yard-long building could house 159 inmates. Row 2 cell number 107 housed Jewels Davis, prisoner 578, which meant that there were 577 prisoners before him. The warden depended on the harsh environment to execute the prisoners under his care; so far, none has completed their term, but then again, the warden has never met someone like Jewels Davis before.

When Jewels Davis first arrived at the penitentiary he could not talk due to the gunshot wound to his neck. A few of the cellblock goons thought this was a weakness, and they wanted to show him who was boss. Jewels had been a prisoner for three days when three men jumped him in the yard. Once they got him down, they started to kick him.

Jewels was smart; he knew he couldn't beat them, so he protected himself the best he could, and he made sure he remembered their faces and the prisoner number that was sewn on their shirts. For six weeks he waited for his opportunity to take one out. Number 550 was standing alone in the chow line; his accomplices were already seated eating their breakfast. Being a resourceful man Jewels fashioned a makeshift knife out of a spoon that he had stolen a few weeks back. Wrapping torn bedsheets around the handle and grinding the spoon on the stone walls, he fashioned a small one-inch double-edge blade.

While Prisoner 550 had his back turned, Jewels snuck up on his prey like a cat stalking a bird. With extreme violence, he attacked his victim, striking the neck, hoping to hit the carotid artery. Jewels got in five or six blows before he was pulled off. Prisoner 550 died within a few short minutes from blood loss. The prison guards quickly gained control of the situation with a well-placed rifle shot. Jewels was shackled and taken to the warden's office.

Prisoner 578 was slammed down a wooden chair and told to keep quiet or else while the guard in charge went inside the warden's office to explain the situation. Warden Prescott slowly walked in, taking his pocket watch out to look at the time. Jewels eyeballed the warden, and it was a mistake; a guard hit Jewels across the back with his billy club and ordered him, Eyes down, maggot.

Jewels saw stars and shook his head, trying to clear the fog.

Warden Prescott spoke. Prisoner 578, what have you done?

Jewels answered, I don't know, what do you think I've done?

Well, it appears that Prisoner 550 is no longer alive because of you. Does that ring a bell?

Jewels growled, Don't know what you're talking about.

Warden Prescott's patience was already running thin; he looked at his guard and gave him a nod. The guard took his billy club and hit Jewels as hard as he could across the knees. Jewels let out a scream of pure pain; a tear rolled down his cheek, and snot ran from his nose down to his mouth.

The warden walked in front of Jewels and asked, Do I have your attention now?

Jewels, without looking up, nodded his head yes.

Very well then, Prisoner 578. Personally, I do not care about the well-being of men such as you. The whole lot can die, for all I care. For me, you and the likes of you are nothing more than caged animals and this is a zoo. Have you ever been to a zoo, Prisoner 578?

Jewels shook his head no.

Warden Prescott stepped away from Jewels and walked a few steps away and turned around to face him. Even in a zoo there is order. The zookeeper must not allow the animals to rule over him. Even the lion must fear the zookeeper, and so must the elephant. With that said, Prisoner 578, you must fear me.

The warden looked at his guard and nodded. The guard raised his billy club and hit Jewels across the nose, breaking it and knocking Jewels unconscious. Blood was flowing down his face and dripping on the floor.

Warden Prescott turned and walked toward his office. Take this thing, and put him in the hole for six weeks, and clean up this mess. He slammed the door, and the guards did as ordered.

The hole, as it is called, is not really a hole but a small room. Actually, it could be better described as a cube with a metal door, four feet by four feet by four feet by four feet. The goal was psychological, along with physical, torture. Thrown in nude, one was forced to lie in their own waste for weeks on end in total darkness. If the convict survived, they were never the same.

For Jewels Davis, this was nothing; he had been in worse places. First, he had to tend to his injuries, and he put his broken nose back in place. He also knew that if he didn't exercise his muscles would waste away, and then he would be easy prey for the two surviving men who had beaten him when he had first arrived. He couldn't have that, and besides, he still had a little payback in mind for them.

The worst for him was what to do with his waste. Like a pig, he used only one corner of his cube for this purpose, and he tried to avoid it at all costs. However, being the size of the room, mistakes were made, usually when he slept, but he learned to live with it.

When he was awake, he tried to remember being raised on a plantation and how his father treated him and the slaves. How he beat anyone who looked at him crossways, didn't matter if it was a man or woman; he was the zookeeper that the warden described, and Jewels Davis was afraid of no man. Time was on his side; all he had to do was wait.

When Jewels got out of the hole, the first thing the guards did was put him in a room naked and throw buckets of cold water on him, then they handed him a bar of soap and told him to scrub. Jewels did this without hesitation or complaint. He was more than glad to get rid of the stench. Once he was all soaped up, the guards threw more cold water on him.

The next phase was to get him dressed and put him back into the general population. Cell 107 was just as he left it. Jewels knew that Prisoners 566 and 569 would soon come to get revenge for the killing of their friend. What the two goons didn't realize was that Jewels was now stronger than when he had gone into the hole.

Jewels knew that with any group there is always the instigator or leader and the collaborators or followers, so all he had to do was observe Prisoners 566 and 569 and figure out which one was the leader. During lunch, Jewels finally got his answer: it was Prisoner 569. All Jewels had to do now was wait for his opportunity to eliminate the threat Prisoner 569 posed.

It came that same day when the prisoners were walking back to their cells for lockdown. While walking in line, Jewels was behind Prisoners 566 and 569. Prisoner 566 went to his cell, and this meant 569 was alone. When Jewels saw his opportunity, he quickly gained control of Prisoner 569's head and started to repeatedly slam it on the metal bars.

The guards quickly saw this and started to blow their whistles while running up the stairs. By the time they reached Jewels, it was too late. Prisoner 569 was dead, his skull crushed. A guard took out his billy club and hit Jewels on the head, knocking him unconscious.

Warden Prescott was standing in front of Jewels when he awoke. The warden bent down to look Jewels in the eye. Prisoner 578, it appears you have some issues.

Jewels, still in a fog, replied with a simple What?, him not fully understanding what the warden had said.

Prisoner 578, you have only been here for a little over three months, and already you have murdered two of my inmates. This will not do. Do you understand?

Jewels, still semiconscious, said, Yes.

I must tell you, I am a little disappointed in you. I thought we had an understanding that I am the zookeeper around here. Maybe my punishment wasn't long enough or harsh enough. Warden Prescott turned his back. Twelve weeks in the hole and ten lashes when he gets out. He walked to his office and closed the door.

Two guards picked up Jewels and dragged him back to the hole, stripping him naked and throwing him in. Once the door was slammed shut, Jewels started to laugh uncontrollably, shouting out loud, Who's the zookeeper now? Who's the zookeeper now, Warden?

The two guards looked at each other and turned and walked away.

2

A light rain has fallen on Portales; autumn has arrived. The newly appointed sheriff, Thomas O'Brian, is walking down the Main Street sidewalk, proudly displaying his badge and twirling his nightstick. It's an old habit—twirling his nightstick—that he picked up while being a street cop in New York. It was something to pass the time, and it also gave a warning to any street thugs that he meant business. Although his uniform has changed, his attitude is still the same: Mind the law, and you'll have no problems.

While he is walking, he is also checking on the merchants, making sure everything thing is as it should be and that no thieving occurred overnight. The newly appointed mayor, Doc Strafford, is just pulling up in his buggy to the barbershop. Ginger, his horse, lets out a loud snort as the mayor dismounts and sets the brake. Doc waves to the sheriff, and it is returned with a boisterous Morning, Mr. Mayor. Doc knows he can't out-yell the Irishman, so he just waves harder.

Doc makes his way to the barbershop, where Shaky has just brushed off his barber chair and snapped his apron.

Morning, Doc.

Morning, Shaky.

Just don't stand there, put your rear end in the chair, Shaky orders.

Give me a second, you old coot, let me take off my hat. Doc takes off his hat and hangs it on the coatrack and then walks over to the barber's chair and takes his seat. Shaky throws the apron around Doc's neck and lap and pins the back.

What will it be, Doc?

Just a shave today, Shaky, Doc answers.

You're the boss, or should I say, you're the mayor. Shaky laughs at his own humor, and he turns to his counter and starts to prepare the warm towels. He walks over to Doc and reclines the chair and removes Doc's glasses and sets them on the counter. He then goes over to his steamer and removes a warm towel and carefully wraps Doc's face.

Then he walks over to a cigar box and removes a smoke and places it in Doc's mouth and strikes a match and lights it. He returns to his counter and starts to whip up the shaving cream.

Doc just sits there, enjoying his smoke and relaxing. After about five minutes, Shaky removes the towel and applies the shaving cream around Doc's face, careful to avoid the goatee. Shaky takes out his straight razor and runs it across the leather strap he has hanging off his chair to sharpen it, and with all his strength, he tells his hands to be still, and he slowly starts to shave Doc.

After a few minutes, his job is complete, and he takes a cooled-off towel and wipes Doc's face, then he takes out his scissors and trims the mustache and eyebrows.

Shaky steps back to admire his work. Good as new, he says. He steps behind Doc and unpins the apron and sets the chair upright and hands Doc his glasses.

Doc puts on his glasses and stands, then he steps down from the chair and looks at himself in the mirror. Good job as always, Shaky. He pulls out a silver dollar from his vest pocket and flips it to Shaky.

Without even looking, Shaky snatches the coin in flight and places it in his pocket. Doc walks over to his hat and puts it on and steps outside. He notices the sheriff talking to a stranger, and Doc decides to mosey on over there to see what is going on. Champ jumps off the buggy and follows Doc.

Morning, Sheriff.

Morning, Mr. Mayor.

Doc extents his hand toward the stranger. I'm Doc Strafford, mayor of this small town, and whom might you be?

The stranger takes Doc's hand and proceeds to shake it. I'm Detective Waldo Emerson from the Pinkerton Detective Agency.

Doc's eyes open wide, and he puts his hands up. Oh my, a real Pinkerton, what have we done?

Sheriff O'Brian doesn't get Doc's humor, and says, Nothing, Mr. Mayor, put your hands down. He's a-lookin' for someone.

Whom? Doc asks.

Detective Emerson pulls a piece of paper from his coat pocket and unfolds it and shows it to Doc and Sheriff O'Brian. Jewels and Jefferson Davis, ring a bell?

Doc looks at the sheriff and back to the detective. Yes, it does. What do the Pinkertons want with them?

Train robbery, replies the detective. We know the father is doing time. We know where to find him. We're looking for the son. Do you have any ideas where he might be?

Doc looks at the detective. You are aware we had a shoot-out with them two?

Yes, we are aware of this fact. That is how Jewels was arrested. I believe he was shot in the neck, says Detective Emerson.

That boy of his, Jefferson, was shot three times, explains Doc. Never seen anything like it. He runs to the back of the saloon, hops on a horse, and hightails it out of here. No one has seen him since.

Sheriff O'Brian butts in. Detective, I assure you that Jefferson Davis has not returned to Portales. I have orders from the town council to shoot to kill if he ever shows up here again. Thomas pulls back his coat and exposes a Colt .45 peacemaker.

You say train robbery. None of us was aware that there were train robberies going on here. How can that be? asks Doc.

Detective Emerson takes a step back. Gentlemen, as you can tell, I have traveled a great distance, mostly on horseback. Is there a place where I can sit down, have a cup of coffee and a piece of pie?

Oh yes, Detective, where are our manners? Let's go over to the Travelers Inn, that's where the shoot-out took place, replies Doc.

All three men and Champ walk over to the inn and enter through the swinging doors. They take a table in the corner where they can talk in private. The detective orders coffee and pie while the sheriff and mayor pass.

Emerson leans back in his chair. Do any of you know who Jewels Davis is?

Sheriff O'Brian says, He was gone by the time I arrived.

Doc looks at the detective. I know some, told me he was from the South and a reformed slave owner. He said he moved out here to make a fresh start. I'm the one that sold him the saloon, he was the one that added the brothel. That boy of his, Jefferson, came later, and that was when things started to get worse around here.

Detective Emerson sits upright and tips his hat back. "Part of what you said is true. He was from the South, but he was no reformed slave owner."

What does that mean? asked the sheriff.

Emerson replies, When I said he was wanted for train robbery, you never asked what he stole.

Okay, Detective, what did they steal? asked Doc.

Women.

Women? How can that be? Doc leans forward How do you steal women off a train?

Emerson leans back in his chair We have a theory that Jefferson kept his eye out on the train when passengers, especially women passengers, would step off the train to stretch their legs or go to the privy. He would sneak over to the depot and snatch the unsuspecting female and carry her to the basement in the saloon. There they were beaten and tortured into submission and then sold to either miners or to other brothels.

How do you know this? asked the sheriff.

One of them got away.

3

Detective Emerson wipes his mouth and pulls out a pouch of tobacco and papers from his pocket and proceeds to roll a smoke.

Care for one? he asks Doc.

Doc shakes his head no, as does Sheriff O'Brian.

The detective pulls out a match and strikes it against the table and moves the fire toward the end of his cigarette and inhales the smoke and exhales a white cloud into the room. The detective begins to tell the story about the white woman who escaped her bondage in Silver City.

Her name is Elizabeth Nagy, he says while taking another puff from his smoke. Her daddy is a city councilman from Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is the one that hired my agency to find his daughter. After visiting her sister, Elizabeth boarded a train in California that was going to make its way back to Minnesota. We can track her travel all the way to Portales, and after that, the trail went cold. It seemed like she just vanished from the face of the earth, never to be heard from again. That was two years ago. About a month ago, a telegram is sent to the councilman in Minneapolis, saying that his daughter had escaped from a mine in Silver City, New Mexico Territory.

Doc looks at the detective with a shocked look. That poor woman. He shakes his head. All of her problems started here, right under our noses.

It appears that way, Mr. Mayor.

What can we do to help? asks Doc.

We're not exactly sure if she is the only woman that was abducted and sold, or if there are a hundred women, explained the detective. Did you ever notice any women that seemed out of place?

No, said Doc. But that doesn't mean that there weren't something going on. You know this used to be a brothel, and there was always women coming and going.

All that happened before my time, says Sheriff O'Brian. I want you to know this is a clean town now, and I would know if something like that is going on.

I'm sure you would, said the