AllFreeNovel
Share Us
1875 Winter
Black Hills, Montana
Chapter One
The overcast sky lent another dreary winter day. The wind whistled through the cracks of the fort posts like a far-off train whistle. A platoon of soldiers marched to a drill Sergeant's orders, their footsteps making a music all their own as they crunched into the frozen ground. A big heavy man was chasing a colored woman through the compound, a ready whip in his hand, his face waded in a huge unbreakable frown. The woman slipped and fell, the wagon master picked her up.
Fort Ellis was well-manned and protected fort that supported the Gallatin Valley settlers and miners of Montana. Soldiers from the 2nd Calvary, and 7th Infantry helped build the stronghold for the area.
But the snapping sound of a leather whip tearing into flesh had Aiden McCoy scrambling into another man's business.
"What the hell do you think you are doing?" Aiden jerked the whip out of the wagon master's hand, as though it was his business to do so.
The man was shorter, but stout. Without warning he cracked the whip and stared at the intruder.
"This isn't your business, mister." The big man objected.
"Why are you beating that woman?" Aiden demanded to know, as though it were his business.
"She's my slave, and she didn't make the coffee this morning."
Aiden pulled his gun and put it to the man's throat. His dark brown eyes bore into the man, his teeth clenched, he cocked the gun. "Make your own damned coffee this morning." Aiden told him in no uncertain terms. "If you bed her you should know she's human, just like you."
"You really ought to mind your own business mister." The big man said reaching for the whip once more.
Aiden moved the gun to the man's head. He grabbed the whip out of the man's hand.
"Leave it, you won't be needing that here." Aiden threatened.
The man gave the black woman a scalding glanced and walked off.
Aiden threw the whip on the ground and helped the black woman up. "Go on about your business." He told her.
She gave him a backward glance and scurried off toward the wagon master. Little good it did to rescue her, she'd be right back where she started when they left the fort, Aiden shook his head.
Skeeter, another scout, walked up to him seeing the black woman disappear. He was short and pudgy, with a jolly face most of the time. "What was that all about?"
"I don't know, but I won't put up with a whip on anyone." Aiden informed him. "Especially a woman."
"That's Crawford, he pulled in last night, that slave is his mistress, so I'm told." Skeeter scratched his cheek and studied Aiden for a moment. "He's a sleazy character, if I ever did see one. I'm surprised you horned in on his business Aiden."
"He should watch out, she might put a knife in his big belly…" Aiden laughed.
Skeeter chuckled. "You just get back?"
