Pioneer Love: Damaged Hearts Head West: Mail Order Bride 5 Bundle

by Indiana Wake

  Chapter 5

  Lauren was pushed and shoved into a room where there were two bunk beds.

  The lady who called herself Henry’s sister, Lilly ordered her to unpack. “Settle in before the other girls come back.”

  “Why are you keeping me here? I was supposed to get married,” Lauren said.

  “Do you think my brother would marry a grotesque like you?” she gave out a loud laugh and then glared at Lauren. “Do as you are told and stop using this thing in your skull,” she tapped her finger on Lauren’s temple. “You are here now and you aren’t going anywhere else. Sooner you get this the better it will be,” Lilly said and then shut the door and locked it behind her.

  Lauren stared at the back of the door with shock. What was all this about? She didn’t know what to do so she paced and prayed and looked for a way out. There wasn’t any so she sat down and waited. Just an hour later the door opened again and this time three girls roughly of her age entered the room. All of them were wearing dresses which made Lauren blush and look away. They were nowhere near the definition of decency.

  The girls were talking to each other and when they saw her, they stopped in their tracks.

  “Oh, we have another bee in the web, and see this one’s ugly,” one of them, the slimmest one scoffed and the other two elbowed her.

  “Shut it Em,” the one with brown hair admonished the first one who just shrugged and when to the other bed and slumped down. The other two were still staring at her.

  Lauren began to squirm under their gazes.

  “My name’s Hannah,” the brown haired girl extended her hand to Lauren, which she took hesitantly. “And this is Teresa,” she gestured at the other girl who now sat next to Lauren.

  “How did you end up here?” Hannah asked.

  “Of course they would have trapped her with their marriage game,” Teresa rolled her eyes and once again Lauren stared at them.

  “What do you mean they trapped me?” she asked but in her heart she already knew.

  “You mean you still haven’t got that you are in a brothel? You are more stupid than you look,” the third girl came out saying.

  Brothel? Lauren felt as if someone had pulled out the earth from under her feet.

  Brothel? She stood up, horrified.

  “Brothel? What are you saying?”

  “Calm down, we’ll tell you everything,” Hannah took her shoulders but Lauren jerked away.

  There was no way she was going to calm down. Holy Jesus and Mary save my soul, she was in a brothel! “I want to go back,” she said, and with that the third girl laughed again.

  “Of course you do, you are such a baby,”

  “Stop this right away Emily or leave the room,” Teresa said sternly and then turned to Lauren. “What’s your name?” she asked her.

  Lauren couldn’t find her voice. All she murmured was that she wanted to go home. Tears welled in her eyes and she didn’t fight to keep them at bay.

  Hannah and Teresa made her sit down on the bed and offered her water which she brushed away. Had her mother sold her away to Henry? Was she that much of a burden on her? Lauren knew they were ashamed of her but she had no idea they hated her this much. Had she known, she would have left that place a long time ago or even burned herself in the same fire fifteen years ago. She would have preferred anything, anything but this place.

  “We will not harm you. We are all just like you, trapped here either by some false pretense or because we are victims of less than favorable circumstances,” Hannah said to her in a soft voice. “I was under a debt which I had no way to pay back. Henry told me he would release me from every penny and in return I would have to work for him. At that time, he didn’t tell me what work he meant so I agreed readily. When he paid off my debt, he brought me here, and I had no choice but to be a… a lady of the night,” Hannah told her.

  “And I was played just like you,” Teresa took her hand. “I lived in Tampa and was desperate to get out of the village and the only option was to get married. So I responded to every suitable message I found on the Matrimonial Advertisings. With my bad luck, it was Henry Van Percy whom I accepted because he was the fastest to reply and also had sent me a ticket. I thought I had found a very nice man but, of course, I was wrong,” Teresa said in a hoarse voice herself.

  Lauren looked at both of them sadly. “Isn’t there any way to get out of here?” she asked.

  “No, unless the lawmen do a raid and then we all end up in the lockup for a few days,” Emily said in a blunt cocky voice. “But that only happens if Henry doesn’t pay his bribes.”

  Both, Teresa and Hannah glared at her, and Lauren wanted to cry even harder. Brothel, lawmen, prison; her worst nightmare wasn’t even miles close to this.

  “Tell us your name,” Hannah asked her again.

  “Lauren.”

  “Listen, Lauren, you have to accept this. That you have been played and now you are here in this shady area of the city, in a brothel, where we women are auctioned for our bodies. There is no way you can escape this place. Henry has security guards who are ruthless beasts. They’ll beat you black and blue if you as much as thought about making an escape. Henry and Lilly, they are powerful. They have high profile clients who may appear pure and civilized in daylight but by night, they are all the same and in need of just one thing, beautiful woman to pleasure them. And of course, they pay handsomely for it. We all are like chickens with gold eggs for Henry, and he knows how to take care of his eggs,” Teresa said in a low voice.

  “Just simply tell her that there is no way out. What’s with the whole storytelling?” Emily said.

  Lauren looked at her in horror. She was stuck here for life?

  “There is only one way out,” Hannah said quietly.

  Lauren looked at her with hope. Maybe she could get away from here after all.

  “You can get away from here if someone pays your price,”

  “What do you mean my price?”

  “Your full price, Lauren, not for a night, not for a weekend but forever,” Teresa said.

  “And for that you have to be the best of the best. You have to be extremely good looking, good in bed, and good at charming the men,” Emily said as she eyed Lauren from top to bottom and then stopped at her scarred face.

  Lauren gasped; of course she had none of those qualities. There was no way out for her.

  Chapter 6

  Lauren tried to stop her tears, but she couldn’t. All day she lay on her bed and cried. It was not like her, but somehow she had reached the end of her tether. How could this happen? How could she end up here? All her life she had been a good Christian girl and she had never thought ill of anyone. But it didn’t matter life wasn’t fair. Still, when the tears stopped, she prayed and felt calm, at least for a little while.

  Theo knocked the door and entered with a packet which he handed to Lauren. “Ms. Van Percy sent this for you. She says you have to get ready along with rest of the girls and head downstairs when the bell rings,” saying that, he left.

  Lauren opened the packet and when she saw the contents inside she threw it away instantly. It was a dress, just like the rest of the girls. Short and indecent. There was no way she was wearing it. “I am not going to wear this, and I am not going anywhere.” She curled her arms around her knees and went further back until she was resting on the hard wall.

  Emily gave a scoff as she applied makeup on her face.

  Teresa and Hannah were also getting ready. They both had told Lauren all about the place and the more she heard, the more she wanted to throw up. They had told her that innocent girls, ones that had never been with a man, were very special and highly demanded. People paid a lot of money for them and since she was one, Henry would introduce her tonight. But then they had looked at her scarred and burned face, and for the first time in fifteen years she was immensely thankful that she had a monster face. She just hoped that her face would get her away from this place. So she sat there still and quiet feeling as if she co
uldn’t even move. Even though she wanted to cry, thought she should be crying, she had cried so much in the past hours that she had no more tears left to shed.

  Hannah and Teresa asked her to get ready and begged her to come with them, but she didn’t budge from her place on the bed. There was no way she was going to sell herself like that. The bell rang and Lauren sat where she was as the other three rushed out quickly. There were loud voices outside and after a few seconds it all faded away.

  Lauren sat still wondering if she could sneak out of there in a few minutes. Maybe once the rush died down she could find a way to escape. As she thought this she stared at the door’s knob and prayed that it didn’t turn. But it did. A few minutes later there were a couple of loud voices just outside and then the door kicked open. Lilly entered the room furiously, and heavyset men stood at the door.

  “Don’t you get what’s told to you?” Lilly yelled. She picked up the dress from the floor and threw it in her face. “Get dressed right now.”

  “I am not going to wear this,” Lauren pushed it away.

  “The hell you are not, I’ll put it on you myself if I have to.”

  Lauren protested with silence and ignored the vile woman. Lilly grabbed hold of her arm and twisted it around her back. While Lauren cried, shouted, and struggled, Lilly grabbed hold of her. She was strong and violent. She pulled off Lauren’s tunic dress and made her wear that flimsy short dress that barely allowed her room to breathe.

  “I can’t do this. I don’t want to do this. Please let me go,” Lauren cried and begged. But that only earned her a hard smack from Lilly.

  “Shut your mouth and put something on this ugly face of yours,” she made her sit before the dressing table and then applied makeup to Lauren’s face herself. She kept mumbling about what a waste of money it was to bring her here, since she wasn’t hopeful that Lauren would be able to get any clients which meant they wouldn’t be getting any money.

  Lilly practically dragged her out of the room and took her downstairs.

  “What took you so long?” Henry asked as he saw Lilly.

  “Your little bride wasn’t willing to leave her room,” Lilly said.

  Henry looked at Lauren and then lost his temper. He grabbed her by the neck, “I brought you here to earn me money. Now take your deceitful face on the stage and be a good girl.”

  Lauren coughed at the lack of air, but Henry didn’t loosen his grip.

  “One slip and I will break your bones. Do you understand?” he said.

  She stayed quiet.

  “Answer me, woman. Do you understand?” He put more pressure on her neck. When she didn’t answer, he let go of her neck and grabbed her hair to pull her head back and then slapped her face so hard that blood spilled from her mouth. “I am taking her inside. You get the second group ready,” Henry said to Lilly and then took Lauren towards the big hall from where loud piano music could be heard.

  Lauren struggled in his arms trying to pull away. That earned her another blow which made her see stars.

  The girls were right, she was stuck here, but she would not give up hope for she had the Lord on her side.

  Henry opened the door and then stepped inside. The stage had a couple of girls dancing and the hall was crowded with men of all ages. A few more girls were roaming while some were sitting with the men who have paid for them.

  “Gentlemen!” Henry’s voice rose, “I have a new treat to introduce to you. This is Rosie,” he said as he brought Lauren forward. His hand was still gripping her neck.

  All eyes turned to them and Lauren wanted to be invisible. Heat rose up her body and she felt the ugly scars burn as if they were still licked with flame.

  Henry asked them to name their price for her, but no one stood up. There were mumblings about her looks, about her being a beast and she thought maybe nothing had changed. As Henry shook her towards the men, no one wanted to pay for her and they turned away and back to what they were doing.

  Lauren kept praying, and for the first time in a long while she thought her prayers had been answered. It looked as if no one wanted her.

  But of course, it didn’t last for long. Henry was furious that he wasn’t getting any clients for her and he shook her so hard that she feared for her life. “Dance and strip,” he shouted.

  “I won’t do that. Let me go please.” She backed away, but Henry was already staying close to her and his fingers dug into her arm.

  “I’ll pay Two dollars for her.” Someone called from behind. It was an ugly old man who was wearing ragged clothes. “Two dollars,” he fumbled in his pockets and came out with two wrinkled notes.

  Henry frowned at him and then looked back at Lauren as if making a decision.

  “Fine, for just a half hour.” He reached for the notes, but the old man dodged his hand.

  “Two dollars, for a full night.”

  “Don’t kid yourself old man, two dollars, for a half hour. Take it or leave it.”

  “Two dollars, full night.” Again he fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a coin. “Or half-dollar for half hour.” He weighed his hands showing the two dollars and the half dollar. “Take it or leave it, no one’s gonna pay you a shilling for that face.”

  The old man gestured at Lauren and she had never felt so humiliated in her entire life. She wished Henry would turn him down. But he didn’t. He took the two dollars and handed her to him.

  Chapter 7

  Fear was like a physical force. It pushed down on Lauren's chest and squeezed the air from her lungs. She gasped for breath and shook violently as the old man dragged her out of the room.

  What could she do?

  As he pulled her up the stairs, her knees gave way but he was surprisingly strong and hauled her to her feet.

  “Please,” she begged. “Please don’t hurt me.”

  “I ain’t gonna hurt you,” he growled and dragged her along the hallway.

  She looked around her, there were rooms ready for such kind of services, and her heart froze in her chest. “Please God,” she begged. “Please help me.” Her words changed to tears and she cried and begged him for mercy. But the man was strong for his age. He threw open a door and pushed her inside. This was it. She prayed silently for strength and for salvation. “Please don’t do this,” she said, her voice cracking with nerves.

  “I paid for your service. Now serve me,” he said locking the door.

  “Please let me go. I am not this kind of girl. He trapped me, I was supposed to be married,” Lauren pleaded, but it fell on deaf ears. Then she realized once this happened she would never be married, she would be ruined, and the tears fell again. Biting them back she squared her shoulders and showed him the worst side of her face.

  But he simply laughed. He wanted what he had paid for. He reached for her, but Lauren shoved him aside and tried to run.

  “Don’t you do that.” the man grabbed her neck from behind.

  Lauren felt her world stop. She had never, ever, been this afraid in all her life. Even in the heat of the fire there had been hope. For a moment she relaxed and she prayed. “Dear Lord show me a way out of this darkness. Guide me back to your light.” A sense of peace came over her; she had control of her thoughts. As the old man’s rough hands touched her scarred hand, something changed. It was like a thousand bees were buzzing inside her. She gathered all her strength and pushed him back and ran towards the door. As he stumbled backwards, he tripped over the edge of a rug and fell hard onto his back. He lay stunned for a moment, while she struggled with the lock.

  “You come back here. I paid two dollars for you,” the man yelled and got up.

  The key would not turn and he was getting to his feet. At last the lock gave, and she pulled the door as he ran towards her.

  Fueled by fear and faith, Lauren ran from the room. She could hear the man behind her; feel his breath on her neck. Closer he came and she raced from him, but where could she go?

  The man was catching her and soon he was just a few feet behind he
r. Lauren struggled in the tight dress and he grabbed hold of her hair. She was pulled up quickly and spun around to face him. Angry, his fist flailed at her face.

  Lauren raised her arms to fend off the blows. “Please Lord,” she whispered. But the blows came one after another. There was nothing to do but she felt calm. As if the Lord were with her and he guided her backward. Back and back she went until her legs connected with the balcony. Then fear filled her --she was stuck, and after all this it had been for nothing.

  A grin came over his face as she leaned back against a low rail, barely two feet high. Raising his hand, he struck her again and pushed her into the rail. She fought back and struck out at him. Anger crossed his face and he hit her again and this time pushed her backward. As her legs hit the balcony, she lost her balance and soon she was falling down. Down and down she fell, away from the evil man and the evil place. Maybe she was saved, maybe she would be held in the arms of the Lord, and all her worldly sins would be forgotten.

  Something hard and cold hit her back and pain filled her body. As she lay on the ground, she gave a prayer of thanks. The Lord had heard her pleas and was bringing her home, and then it all went dark.

  Dr. Troy Ramsey made his way to the ward, after he had heard of a girl who had fallen from the second floor. “What do we have?” he asked the nurse.

  “Extreme blood loss and a head injury, it may be more than a concussion,” she told him as he entered the room.

  He took the notes from her hand and walked to the bed reading the comments as he did. Then he looked up to see his patient and what he saw, made his heart skip a beat. The girl on the bed was like a sleeping beauty. Her face was half turned away and her dark copper hair covered the pillow like a beautiful curtain. It glinted gold in the lamplight and cast a warm glow on her face. Covered in bruises, her face was still beautiful. With ivory skin, high cheekbones and full red lips. Even though it was marred with blood, it spoke to her beauty.