The Redemption of Mattie Silks
by Kimberly Burns

SEEKING REDEMPTION, SHE FINDS RETRIBUTION

In 1892, running one of the West’s fanciest brothels is a rough game. In a town filled with brazen criminals, corrupt police, zealous politicians, and morality committees, Madam Mattie Silks makes her fortune catering to Colorado’s gold and silver millionaires.

Notorious crime boss “Soapy” Smith is at the top of the Denver underworld. There are no rules for Smith’s gang. They solve problems with bribes and bullets. When Mattie’s husband stumbles into Soapy’s dealings, she struggles to protect him.

Gold is discovered in the Yukon and Mattie seizes the opportunity for adventure and profit. But Skagway, Alaska, is even more lawless than Denver. Mattie must use all her business sense and street smarts to safeguard those she cares about. Will it be enough? Or will Lady Justice again turn a blind eye?

Based on a true story, The Redemption of Mattie Silks is an action-packed tale of a woman succeeding in a man’s world even when the cards are stacked against her.

“The research on the era shines through, as do the grit and spirit of the characters. …A colorful and enthralling journey.”

~ K.T. Blakemore, award-winning author of The Good Time Girlsseries

“A nice, nuanced portrait of the complex underworld with fine and witty turns of phrase. A great Western romp!”

~ Randi Samuelson-Brown, award-winning author of The Bad Old Daysseries

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Excerpt:

June 1894

The new police and fire commissioners’ first order of business was to sort out the conflicting allegiances of the members of the police force and find a new chief of police to lead them. The job required someone with law enforcement experience who had not participated in the city hall barricade and was not overly friendly within Denver’s criminal element. From the chaos emerged the incorruptible Hamilton Armstrong. Although slight in stature, he attacked his new job with the tenacity of a bulldog.

“Policemen are hereby ordered to stay out of saloons and brothels except to detect crime and make arrests,” he announced on his first day. The citizens of Denver were skeptical.

***

A couple of weeks later, two black police vans stopped at the lower end of Market Street. Thirty policemen fanned out to the saloons and cribs within a five-block area. Mattie and her girls watched from behind the lace curtains as Negro, Chinese, Irish, and French women were rounded up. By the end of the day, one hundred and ten warrants had been served.

The entire third floor of the county courthouse was commandeered as a temporary jail. Curious citizens watched the paddy wagons rushing to and fro and gathered at the courthouse to get a peek at the ladies of joy. The girls accommodated the throng by throwing open the window and waving hankies. A rake in the crowd sang to them “Oh Girls, Why Won’t You Try to be Good.”

“Beer! Send up beer,” shouted a couple of Irish doxies. The mostly male crowd hooted.

A petit dark head poked out of another window, speaking in French.

“What did she say?” the men below asked each other.

“The French girls want cigarettes,” the Irish reported.

“Fair damsels in yon high castle, your wish is my command,” called a gent.

Chief Armstrong stood in the doorway of the county building with arms crossed and face blazing red. “Absolutely no beer or cigarettes will be allowed in the building,” he bellowed to those assembled. He stomped back into the building. “And take the playing cards away from the Negros.” He shook his head and muttered under his breath, “I don’t know if I’m head of the police department or the ringmaster of a circus.”

***

Judge Walburn’s enormous white eyebrows crawled up his forehead as over one hundred women were herded into his court. His brows then plunged as he frowned, slamming his gavel down in an effort to quiet the babble and gain control of the overcrowded room. “Mr. Stevens,” he called to the district attorney. “What is this all about?”

“These women are all part of the Market Street raid that you may have heard about. They are all being charged with encouraging drinking and fornication.” The prosecuting attorney had to speak up in order to be heard.

“Is there anyone that wishes to plead guilty?” the judge asked.

Several Irish girls, dressed in dingy white nightgowns, standing nearest the rail began to protest.

“No, we are not guilty.”

 “Aye, we be good girls.”

“We be innocent boarders in a women’s rooming house.”

“We are wrongly accused.”

The French mademoiselles joined in the babble with their rapid-fire language, accompanied by hand gestures that did little to clear the confusion.

“Silence,” the judge commanded, beating the gavel again and again. When the defendants quieted, he tried a different tack. “Perhaps the complaining witnesses can identify which women…” The judge hooked spectacles around his ears and read from the charging document, “encouraged them to fornicate.”

Laughter rippled through the room. District Attorney Stevens cleared his throat. “Your Honor, this is a very delicate situation. It is not possible for the men who are the victims of these criminal enterprises to come forward and publicly press charges.”

The judge rubbed his forehead further ruffling his bushy brows. “I assume no one was caught red-handed, as it were.” At this, hardy guffaws were heard from the gallery.

“No, Your Honor.”

“So, there are no victims nor any evidence of a crime?”

The prosecutor shook his head no. At the back of the room, Chief Armstrong groaned.

Judge Walburn sighed and tapped the gavel once. “Case dismissed. Everyone is free to go.”

Author Bio:

Kimberly Burns grew up in Colorado hearing stories about the colourful characters of the Old West. She has degrees from the University of Colorado and the University of Hartford. Kimberly is a member of the Historical Novel Society, Western Writers of America, and Women Writing the West. She lives with her husband and black Lab in Leesburg, Virginia.

Her debutnovel The Mrs. Tabor won numerous awards including the Western Fictioneers Peacemaker Award for Best New Novel, a gold medal for Best Regional Fiction from the IndependentPublisher Book Awards, a National Indie Excellence Award, and a silver medal from the Colorado Independent Publishers Association EVVY Awards.

Kimberly and her unruly heroines make for an entertaining book talk. She is available to discuss her novels with book groups in person or online. Email her at info@kimberlyburnsauthor.com.

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