Chapter 10

Pauline couldn’t remember ever being as hot as she was at that moment.  If she thought her senses were being assaulted during the stagecoach ride, it was nothing compared to what she had to endure while being trussed up in the back of a covered wagon with twenty other women.  A few roamed freely, while making snide and taunting remarks to the ones that were tied up.  They were the professional prostitutes who willingly signed on with Jessie. The majority of the young women were there against their will and from a background that didn’t include prostitution.

Pauline’s leg and hip pained her. She’d been so outraged by Jessie’s very bold and very public forced inspection of her womanhood that she kicked out just as soon as Harold and Tom loosened their grip enough for her strong legs to break free.  The heel of her traveling boot caught Jesse in the left breast, knocking the wind from her.  Her toe assailed Tom’s manho