Eerie Saloon: Seasons Of Change -- Autumn; Part 2 free porn video

Sunday, November 5, 1871 Milt Quinlan walked directly to the bar. "Good afternoon, Shamus. Do you mind if I talk to Jane for a few minutes?" "I don't see why not," Shamus said. "We isn't exactly swamped with customers right now. Sit yuirself down someplace and I'll be sending her over to ye." Now Milt looked around the bar. "I'll be over there." He pointed to an empty table near the wall. There was no one sitting anywhere nearby. "Oh and have her bring a beer for me and something for herself." He put a silver dollar on the bar and walked away without waiting for change. Jane came over almost as soon as he sat down. She put two beers on the table and took a seat across from Milt. "What's the matter?" She asked nervously. "And good afternoon to you, Jane," Milt answered. He took a quick drink. "There's nothing wrong, actually." Jane looked dubious. "Then what're you doing here?" "To... ah, tell the truth, I was planning on coming in to see you today -- to see how you were doing, anyway, but, now, I've got what may be some good news." "May be? What sort of 'good news' you talking about?" "Ned Handy came to see me yesterday. He says his old claim is played out and he wants to buy yours instead of having to start over from scratch. He offered me... you $250 cash for each of your claims, lock, stock and barrel -- except for your personal effects, of course." "Personal effects? What's that?" "Clothes, family pictures, anything like that you have in your cabin. He'd get everything else, even whatever mining tools you have." "No." "No? Are you sure? That's $500, most of the claims around here haven't given up anywhere near that in the entire time that they've been worked." "There's a lot more'n... _no_, I'm keeping my claim... claims." "But how are you going to _work_ them? Not to belabor the obvious, but you're a woman now." Jane stiffened. "Yeah, but I'm a strong woman, ask anybody. I may not be as strong as I was, but I'm strong enough." "Perhaps, but there's things out there that a beautiful -- that a woman up there alone has to worry about that a man doesn't." "I ain't gonna be alone out there. I'm gonna ask somebody -- Davy Kitchner, probably -- to come out there with me." "Davy? Are you certain that he'll _want_ to go with you? I heard about the attack on him a few days ago -- and what was on the note they found on him." "Yeah, but he's been up at his own claim since then and ain't nobody bothered him any. He'll come if I ask. He's my friend. Besides, his own claim ain't showed much color lately. Hey... you think Ned'd like t'buy Davy's claim instead?" "I don't know. I'll suggest it to him when I give him your answer." He took a drink. "You are _certain_ that you don't want to sell?" "I am. I wanna get back out there soon as I can." "I'd much prefer it if you were to stay here in town -- for your own safety, of course." Jane took the last sip of her beer. "Thanks, Milt. It's good t'know that my lawyer's still looking out for me." She saw that Shamus was waving to her. When he saw her look his way, he pointed to the clock. "Shoot, I gotta go. It's getting on towards suppertime and it's my turn to wait the tables for Maggie tonight." She stood up. "There ain't anything else, is there?" "No," Milt said, shaking his head slowly. "Nothing else." *** Arsenio looked up from his copy of _Frank Leslie's Weekly_ at the sound of the door opening. "You're home early." "Not too busy at the bar," Laura said, giving him a tired smile. "Shamus is still mad at me, I guess. He said he was tired of looking at me just sitting around and sent me home." Arsenio put down the paper. "That's where he and I are different. I could never get tired of looking at you." "Thank you for that." Laura came over and kissed him on the forehead before sitting down on the couch. Arsenio frowned. "What I do get tired of is trying to understand --" "Arsenio, _please_, I don't want to talk about the baby." "Okay, can we talk about talking about the baby?" "What do you mean?" "Can we talk about _why_ you're so upset?" "I-I'm not sure I want to do that, either." "Laura, please. You're my wife and something _very_ important is bothering you. What kind of a husband would I be, if I didn't want to help you deal with it?" "It's... it's hard to explain." "Try... try the best you can. I'll just listen for now. Take as long as you want." Laura closed her eyes and thought for a while. "Did you ever wonder who... who I look like?" "I suppose. Shamus told me once that you all looked like the woman each of you thought was the prettiest you ever saw." He gave her a wink. "That's the one thing that you -- the man you were -- Jake Steinmetz and I ever agreed on. You surely are the prettiest woman I ever saw." "Thank you for that, whether it's true or not." She took a breath, letting it out slowly. "Her name was Gertrude... Trudy Muller. Her father worked at Steubens' Feed and Grain. I met her when I went to work there after my daddy died. I was 14, she was 13, but we knew we were meant to be together." "What happened?" "My family happened. Mama was sick all the time. Somebody had to take care of my sisters. When I was 17, I told Trudy that we couldn't get married while I had to take care of them. She wasn't very happy about it, but she said that she understood. We were young and she could wait." "But she couldn't, could she?" "Elizabeth got married a year later, Theo's a good man, but they couldn't take in the others. Neither could Joe, Annabel's husband, after they got hitched. By that time, Trudy was 19. She came to me one day at the store and said that Fred Hanson had asked her to marry him and go homestead in Nebraska. She said that she'd rather go there with me." "And you couldn't leave." "No... I-I wanted to, wanted to with all my heart, but..." She buried her face in her hands. Arsenio finished for her. "You couldn't, not with your mother sick and three sisters left to take care of." "I asked her to marry me and stay there with me in Indiana. She... She was smart enough to say no. A wife can't be the second fiddle in the band." "Laura, I-I'm sorry for what happened, but I don't see --" "No, I guess you don't. Arsenio, all I had ever wanted was to marry Trudy and she wanted to marry me. But we couldn't because I had too many people depending on me. So she went off to Nebraska with Fred. I swore that day that, as soon as I was free of mama and the girls, I was going to get out of there. I was gonna go out west and live my own life. Have some adventures and not depend on anybody or have anybody depend on me -- not for anything real -- until I was good and ready." "What about me? Seems to me that a man and wife depend on each other for everything." "Didn't you tell me once that the first thing you liked me for was the way I took care of myself and didn't blame anybody for changing into a girl?" "Well, it was the first thing after the way you looked in that dress Molly put you in." He saw the look in her eyes. "Okay, it was the first _important_ thing. There was a spirit in there that I wanted to know." He took her hand. "And I've never been disappointed in the knowing." Laura tried to smile at the compliment. "You're a good man, Arsenio Caulder and a strong man, too. You don't want a wife hanging on you." 'Not unless we're in bed together,' Arsenio thought, but he was smart enough not to say it. Instead he said, "No, I don't." "I could see that. I still can. But now, now I'm going to have a baby, the... the most helpless thing in the world. How can I not be tied down by it? Can I work at the Saloon, let alone learn to be a blacksmith -- ?" "Blacksmith? Is that what you're worried about, that I won't teach you to work iron? First, you almost killed yourself -- and me -- trying to prove I should teach you. Now... now..._this_. You don't want to have my baby, because, then, I won't teach you to be a blacksmith?" "Well, you won't, will you?" "Not while you're pregnant I won't. It's too big a risk." He paused a beat. "Maybe... maybe when the baby's come. When it's older and you don't have to spend so much time with it." "How long do I wait this time because somebody needs me? How long, Arsenio, two years... five... ten?" Aresnio scratched his head. "I don't rightly know how long. I never had a young-un before." Laura rose from her couch. "Well, I don't know either. Until I know, how can I say that I can stand waiting around again for someone else? If a life of my own isn't going to start now, when is it going to start? When I'm too old to care?" Without waiting for a reply, she turned and walked into the bedroom, closing the door against his belatedly forming words. *** Laura came back into the setting room about two hours later. "I... are you coming to bed?" "Thought I'd be more comfortable out here." He was already stretched out on the couch, shoes off and pants draped over a chair. "Goodnight." He leaned over and blew out the lamp he'd been reading by. *** Monday, November 6, 1871 Jessie looked through the half-opened doorway into Shamus' office. "Shamus..." She knocked on the doorframe. "Shamus, R.J. said you wanted me for something." "That I did," Shamus said. He was sitting on a plain wooden chair behind his desk, two boards laid atop two empty stacks of liquor boxes. "Come in and sit yuirself down." He waited for her to find a place on a short stack of boxes before he continued. "Yuir sentence is up in a few days, ye know." "Know? I been counting the hours." "And have ye also been thinking of what ye was going to be doing afterwards?" "No, I... I really haven't. Planning never was my strong suit." "Except when yuir planning trouble for someone else, then ye're a marvel at it, like when ye almost got them men t'be wrecking me saloon." Jessie grinned in spite of herself. "Well... there is that." "Aye, thuir is -- or thuir _was_." He looked at her closely, like a bug under a reading glass. She didn't like it. "What do you mean, was?" "T'tell the truth, Jessie, I don't think ye're quite the same lass ye was back then." "Meaning what?" "Meaning ye've changed and for the better, I'm thinking. Thuir's a job here at me saloon for ye for as long as ye want it." She wanted to laugh. "Me, stay here as a waitress, like Laura? How d'you know I don't want to get on a horse and put as many miles between me and the town as I can?" Shamus had seen Jessie and Paul kiss at the trial and he'd noticed the way they seemed to be acting towards one another. 'Don't want t'say anything about it,' he thought. 'It'd only spook the lass.' All he said was, "I don't know what ye want. That's why I asked ye. I'm thinking, though, that thuir's reasons ye'd want t'be staying and if ye do, ye'll need a job and a place t'stay. That's what I'm offering ye." "How much time do I have t'decide?" "We -- the Sheriff and me -- will be setting ye free on Friday. After that, the town stops paying for yuir room n'board. 'Course, now, 'tis thrown in, _if_ ye was working for me. Let's say ye should make up yuir mind before then, okay?" "I... I guess. Thanks, Shamus." She stood to leave and he went back to the records he'd been working on. Jessie walked out of the storeroom and sat down at an empty table. "Stay here and be the waitress that Wilma teased me about," she whispered to herself. "Or I find something else t'do, be with Paul or... give him up and leave town." She counted out the four days till Friday. "Shit, Shamus, you sure gave me a lot t'do and not enough time t'do it in." *** Tuesday, November 7, 1871 Shamus lay still in his bed, listening to Molly's soft snoring. He wanted to roll over and look at her. 'No,' he thought, 'it took long enough for her to drop off. I'll not risk waking her.' Instead, he let his mind drift back across the years. *** "Is she all right, Doc?" Shamus O'Toole, 24-year old assistant barman, stood up as Doc Waldman closed the door to the operating room behind him. Waldman, a tall, dignified man with a walrus mustache, was one of the founders of the San Francisco Merchants and Miners Hospital. The doctor sighed. Sometimes this was harder than the actual surgery. "She lost a lot of blood, Shamus, but I think she'll be fine... in time." He took a breath. "I... she lost the baby. I'm very sorry." "Thank ye, Doc. The important thing is that she'll live. We're... we're young. We've time yet to be having a family." Doc Waldman shook his head. "I'm sorry, Shamus. After what she went through, the damage to her body, I... I don't think she... she can have any more children." Shamus sank down into a chair. "Does she know?" "She's still asleep. I'll tell her later, when she's had some time to rest." "She has to know, doc, but promise me one thing... please." "What's that?" "Promise that ye'll not be telling her without me being there. This... this is news that we -- the two of us -- have t'be sharing from the first." *** Shamus kissed Molly on the cheek. "Let's be going t'bed, Molly." "It's early yet, Shamus," Molly said, looking up from her knitting, a wool hat for the cool San Francisco nights. "There's no need for us to be going to sleep yet." Shamus gave her a comic leer. "Now, did I say anything about sleeping?" "How can ye be thinking about anything like that?" Molly's eyes filled with tears. "It-It's been three months since... since then. The doc said ye'd be healed by now. Is there something wrong, something ye've not been telling me?" "Everything... everything's wrong. I lost our baby and I can't be having another." She sobbed. "I'm less than a real woman. How can ye pretend that ye still want me... like this? How can ye even bear t'be living with me?" Shamus pulled a chair around and sat down facing her. "How can I... Are ye daft, Molly? How can ye be thinking so little of me? No, how can ye be thinking so little of yuirself?" "What? How can I not, after what happened?" "Molly, I didn't marry ye just t'be going t'bed with ye or t'be having children with ye. I married ye because I _had_ to." She let out a bitter laugh. "Had to? Was ye thinking I was pregnant when ye asked me? Ye know we didn't do nothing like that before our wedding night." "I know, Molly and that ain't what I'm talking about. I married ye because I had to, because the thought of _not_ being married to ye, of not spending the rest of me life with ye was more than me heart could bear." He wiped a single tear off her cheek. "I loved ye then, Molly Katherine Shaunnesy O'Toole, I love ye just as much this very minute and I'll be loving ye the same for as long as the good Lord lets us be together in this world -- _and_ in the world beyond." "Hoost, I've never heard such a load of blarney in me life." "Well, get used to it, Molly, love, 'cause ye'll be hearing it every day from now on till ye know that it's true." *** Shamus shook his head. 'She finally did come to believe it, thank the good Lord, but the hurt was still there. And Laura -- I never saw Molly happier than when she was being the 'mother of the bride' t'her. Then Laura has to remind her of what happened all them years ago.' *** Loud catcalls rang through the saloon. "Well, lookie who's here." "Hi, there, Wilma." "Hey, Wilma, I didn't recognize you with your clothes on." That last was Joe Ortlieb. Wilma turned towards him. "Why don't you come over later and you can see me dressed the way you're used to." "Buy you a drink, Wilma?" Fred Nolan asked. Wilma blew him a kiss. "Why thank you, Fred, honey. I'd be ever _so_ grateful for one. But it'll have t'be later. Right now, I wanna see my sister." "She's up in her room," Shamus said, walking over from the bar. "Ye know the way." Wilma slid a finger along Shamus' cheek. "Shamus, if there's one thing I know, it's how t'go upstairs." She walked over and began climbing the stairs. The sway of her hips was an open invitation to every man present. In case anyone didn't get her hint, Wilma stopped about two-thirds of the way up and looked down into the room. Most of the men were staring up at her hungrily. She smiled, her eyes half closed, the fingers of one hand suggestively brushing against her ample bosom and let out a deep, meaningful sigh. *** Jessie was sitting at the table in her room, brushing her hair. "I'm a girl. I'm a girl. A few days more and I ain't never gonna do this again. I'm a girl." "Well, if that don't bring back some bad memories," Wilma said from the doorway. Jessie put down the brush. "Wilma! I wasn't sure you was gonna come." "Now, _that's_ something ain't nobody ever doubts -- aw hell, let me be serious here for a minute. I may still be mad at you, Jess, but we's family. You send word you need me and here I am." "I can see that and I'm sorry we've had that bad blood between us. As far as I'm concerned, it's done and over." "Fine by me. Next time, don't be so danged pig-headed." Wilma laughed and slapped Jessie on her back. "Say, when I came in, I heard you saying that your time was almost done. You want me t'ask the Lady about a job for you?" "No! You know what I..." Jessie sighed. "Look, Wilma, let's call a truce. I won't say what I think about you working there and you won't keep asking me to." She put out her hand. "Deal?" Wilma shook hands with her. "All right, but I still say that you're making a mistake. I can't think of a better way --" "Wilma, please." "All right, all right, what _did_ you wanna see me about, anyway?" "It's... it's about Paul, me and Paul, that is." "I knew it. I seen the way you two kissed at your trial. I chased after him for a while, myself, but I never caught him. If I couldn't get him, I'm glad you did." She stopped talking and looked closely at Jessie. "So, how is he?" "What d'you mean, Wilma? He's a good man, I guess. Is that what you're asking?" "That ain't what I mean and you know it. How is he in bed? He's got nice, big hands; is he big all over? Is he gentle, or does he like t'play rough at it?" "Wilma!" Jessie's face flushed. Did Wilma know? Was she guessing? Or was she just playing games? "Come t'think of it, how'd _you_ like it? It's a whole lot different from doing it as a man." She giggled. "A whole lot better, too, ain't it?" "I... Wilma, please. That ain't why I asked you t'come over here." "Oh, come on, Jess. You don't mean t'say that you wasted all them nights you two was on the trail, do you?" The way she asked reminded Jessie of a trick Paul had mentioned. "Well... we kissed some and, yes, I liked it, but that was all we done the whole way back here." "I got a feeling you ain't telling me everything." She waited a moment before speaking again. "What all you n'him been doing _since_ you came back t'work for Shamus?" "Not as much as I'd like," Jessie admitted. "Not as much as I'd like," Jessie admitted. "Mostly we's just kissing and petting during the dances on Saturday." "That old bench behind the saloon?" Wilma laughed. "Hellfire, we should have Shamus put on sign on that thing, "Reserved for the Hanks Sisters." Jessie nodded, feeling a bit embarrassed. Wilma laughed again and continued. "You know, that bench is wide enough -- you and Paul could do more'n _sit_ on it if you had the notion." "That don't sound very comfortable." "If you want comfortable --" "Comfortable is nice -- I mean, it sounds nice." Wilma looked at her closely, one dubious eyebrow raised. "You sure all you two done was kiss?" "That's what I told you, ain't it?" "It is, but... let's just say that I ain't _completely_ convinced." She paused a beat. "But, hell, you didn't ask me over t'compare notes on men. What do you want?" Jessie swallowed. "I... Maybe I didn't do anything more n'kiss Paul, but that don't mean I don't want to do more." "Good for you, Jessie. What's stopping you?" "Laura... Her being pregnant, I mean. I... I want to be with Paul, but I don't want to have a baby like she's gonna." "Yeah, I heard about that. It ain't exactly the sort of adventure old Leroy Meehan was looking for when he joined up to ride with us last summer, is it?" "Ain't none of us got what we expected when we rode into this town." "Yeah, but I sure ain't complaining." She giggled and slid her hands along her body. "I like the way things turned out." "I think Laura did, too -- till she got pregnant." "And the thing of it is, there's so many ways to keep that from happening." Jessie's ears perked up. "What sort of ways?" "Well, there's... just why do you want to know, little sister?" "I..." Jessie looked at the ground. "Do I _have_ to say it?" "No, Jess, but _now_ we're even, 'cause now _you_ know just how much a woman can need to be with a man -- even if she ain't took two swigs of Shamus' potion." "That was a dirty trick, Wilma. "Yes, yes, it was. Now what do you want to know?" *** "Hey, Sheriff," Red Tully said. "You find out anything more about who beat up on Davy and Ozzie?" "No, Red," Dan answered. "You got any ideas about that?" "Why you asking me?" "I hear things, Red. You and Sam Braddock have been chasing after Jane the same as Davy and Ozzie. Seems to me that either of you boys would be happy to see them give up." "I wouldn't mind them dropping out, Sheriff, but they're my friends. I wouldn't hurt either of them for the world." "That's pretty much what Sam said." Dan chuckled. "You know, Sam's the only one to profit from all this." "What? Are you saying Sam did it?" "No... I don't know who did it, but Ozzie had to pay Sam $2 for putting in a new window." "That ain't bad," Red said with a laugh. "Scaring a man and then getting him to pay you for doing it." *** Wednesday, November 8, 1871 Sam Duggan took a breath to fortify himself and walked into the enemy camp, the Eerie Saloon. "Howdy, everybody," he called out cheerfully. "How y'all doing?" "A hell of a lot better that they'd be doing in yuir establishment," Shamus replied as he hurried over to confront the owner of the Lone Star Saloon. "What're ye going here, Sam? Nobody over t'the Lone Star t'be keeping ye company?" Sam smiled. "Actually, we're doing a land office business, Shamus. In fact, I'm looking to hire more help. I came over to see if Jessie Hanks might be interested in working for me." "Jessie. Why ye dirty..." Sam smiled even more broadly. He enjoyed watching Shamus sputter. "That's right, Shamus. I know her sentence is up on Friday and I thought she might like a... change of scenery." "And ye came over t'be offering her a job right under me very nose." Shamus' face was red with anger. "I oughta bust ye one." Sam shrugged. "To tell the truth, I'd just as soon _not_ be seen in your place, Shamus. People might think my standards were dropping. Still, you don't exactly let her roam free around town." "She's in jail," Shamus answered. "She's not supposed to 'roam free' now, is she?" Jessie had come over when she first heard Shamus blurt out her name. "How about if _I_ get a say in what I can and can't be doing?" "My very thought," Sam said, bowing low. "This place..." He waved his arm through the air. "...has been your jail. You ran away once, rather than come back to it. I came to offer you a place to run _to_... once your sentence is up on Friday, of course." Jessie turned to Shamus. "You gonna let me hear what he has t'say?" "I'll not be stopping ye," Shamus shook his head, "much as I'd like to. Ye got the right t'be hearing whatever he has t'say." He glared at Sam. "Just don't ye be too long in the saying of it. I've customers for her t'be taking of." Sam looked around. "Not that many from what I can see. Now, if you'll excuse us..." He waived his hand dismissively. "...this is a private conversation." *** "All right, Rosalyn," Doc Upshaw said, "raise your arms." They were in Lady Cerise's office at _La Parisienne_. Rosalyn lifted her arms, putting both hands on top of her head. Upshaw reached behind her and began to unroll the bandaging wrapped around her breasts. "Well, Doc," Rosalyn asked, "am... am I... scarred?" Lady Cerise was standing a few feet away. "'Ave patience, mon rose blanc, the docteur, 'e is not finished." "I am now," the Doc said, taking away the bandage. He looked closely at Rosalyn's breasts. "Still a bit of reddening..." He touched a small blotch of darker pink on her left breast. "Oww!" Rosalyn winced and moved away from his hand. Doc continued. "...and tenderness, but I very much doubt that there will be any permanent marking. You should be able to return to work in a day or two." He took a small jar out of his doctor's bag to replace the one she'd emptied. "A day if you keep applying this cream... or get your clients to do it." "I may just do that." Rosalyn smiled at the thought. Doc Upshaw nodded. "Well, _whoever_ does it, they should just apply it lightly and only on the five areas that were burned." "I will take the salve," Lady Cerise said, "and, as before, _I_ will be the one to apply it. You..." She looked hard at Rosalyn. "...will wait two more days to resume your duties -- just to make certain that you are once more at the standards of my house." "Two days?" Rosalyn whined, then she saw the determined expression on Cerise's face. "Oh, all right, two days." "It's a good thing Wilma stopped things when she did," the Doc said. "A minute or so more and those burns would have left a line of permanent scars." Rosalyn sighed. "Now what'd you have to say her name for? You went and ruined my good mood." "Rosalyn!" Cerise frowned. "Such ingratitude, it is most unbecoming." "She didn't have to help you, after all," Doc Upshaw said. "You should be thanking her." "Yeah," Rosalyn said, pouting, "I should. That's what so galling, having to say 'thanks' to a common little trollop like her." *** "So, Jessie," Laura asked, "you gonna take that job, Sam Duggan offered?" Laura, Jessie and Jane were upstairs taking a break and getting ready for the evening crowd. Jessie put down her brush. "I don't know... I might. He made me a pretty good offer." "Oh, come on, Jessie," Laura said. "You wouldn't do that to Shamus." "I might," Jessie said. "And you can, too, the both of you. Sam told me that the both of you was welcome to come work for him." Jane laughed. "Don't mean nothing to me. I'm going back to my claim as soon as my time's up." "How 'bout you, Laura," Jessie asked. "I know you ain't getting on too well with Shamus -- or Molly -- these days. Can't think of a better way t'spit in a man's eye than t'go work for his rival." Laura nodded. "We aren't getting on just now, but that doesn't mean I want things to stay that way. I... I owe the both of them too much to want to mess things up by leaving this job." She thought for a moment. "Besides, Sam may not want to hire a... a pregnant waitress." "Suit yourself," Jessie said, with a shrug. "Then you are gonna leave?" Jane asked. "I ain't decided yet," Jessie answered. "When I do, I'll tell you." *** Thursday, November 9, 1871 "Oh, Lordy, that feels good," Jessie sighed as she lowered herself into the tub of hot, scented water. Jane was in a second, nearby tub. "Ahh, tell me about it." "We ain't all that busy right now," Molly said, as she sat on a chair nearby watching them. "Ye can be soaking yuirselves for a while if ye want." She waited a moment, then added, "Ye know how Shamus and I like t'be pampering our girls when we can." Jessie laughed. "Save it, Molly. Jane's going back t'work her claims and it's gonna take more'n a bath to keep me working for Shamus." "What will it take?" Jane asked without thinking. Molly looked at them both. "That's what I'd like t'be knowing, too." "Make that three, Molly," Jessie said, "'cause I ain't near to deciding yet." She eased herself down further into the water, so only her neck and head were above the surface. "I do appreciate the bath, though." "I'm glad ye like it, Jessie," Molly said. "Why don't ye use the time to make up yuir mind. After all, ye'll be free tomorrow." Jessie shrugged and leaned back against the folded towel that she was using as a headrest. "Why ain't Laura here with us?" Jane asked. Jessie shook her head. Just how dumb was Jane? Laura and Molly had been doing their level best to avoid each other the last few days. "Maybe Shamus wanted her to stay there in case he got busy," She offered as an excuse. "Aye... umm, that's -- that's just it," Molly stammered. She turned to Jessie and mouthed the words, "Thank you." Jane smiled and leaned back in the tub. "Yeah, that must be why." She was almost a head taller than Jessie; her shoulders and the tops of her breasts also stayed above water, her nipples popping up from just below the surface. 'If Jessie's gonna think about what she's gonna do,' Jane thought, 'then so am I.' She closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the towel/headrest. 'Shamus says my time's up on Monday,' Jane thought, 'so Sam'n me can -- wait a minute, I ain't going with Sam Braddock. I was gonna go with Davy; he's the one that knows mining and that's what I need in a... a partner. Ain't it? 'Course, now, Sam could come visit -- yeah, that'd be _real_ nice.' Jane didn't notice that her left hand had slipped down into the water and was ever so gently caressing her breast. 'Sam, he's so strong and he's... he's a carpenter. I bet he could show me things, things about building braces and such.' In her mind's eye, she saw Sam Braddock, naked to the waist, his body glistening with sweat, hammering boards together. 'Hmmm and Red, he's pretty good with his hands, too, I'll bet. Him being a cowboy and all, he must know a lot of tr-tricks about ropes and how to live out on the range -- mmm and that smile of his.' Jane's other hand was in the water now. Her fingers slid down across her stomach, moving still lower. 'And... and Ozzie, don't want t'forget about him. He told me one time that he built that press of his himself. Be nice to have a... a man out there that knows about machines. And them long... thin... f-fingers of his and the way he-he can make me feel when he... he uses them f- fancy... words.' Her hand was at her groin, now. One finger moved along her nether lips, teasing them with a gentle pressure. Her other hand was kneading her breast, playing with the nipple with a finger. Her breathing was shallow, panting, as she felt herself caught up in the sensations that were racing through her body. They were building inside her, lifting her towards something that she suddenly realized she wanted desperately. "Oh... oh... Milt!" She moaned. Milt? She sat up in surprise just as Molly dumped the bucket of cold water over her and her moan became a scream of shock. *** Molly was sitting at a table taking her dinner break, when Jessie came over. "Can I talk to you for a minute, Molly?" "Aye, sit down if ye like." She gestured towards the chairs around the table. Jessie chose one opposite Molly and sat down. "I-I wanted to tell you that I've decided t'stay here -- not to take that job Sam Duggan offered me." "I'm glad to be hearing it. What did himself have to say when ye told him?" "I ain't told Shamus, yet. I-I wanted to tell you first." "And why would that be?" "'Cause you're the reason I'm staying." "Me? Now what in the name of all that's holy have I got t'do with anything?" "Shamus has been square -- square enough -- with me, at least by his standards. I respect him some for that, I guess, but -- I gotta tell you -- it'd be fun t'spit in his eye, t'watch his face when I told him I was going over to the Lone Star." "But ye ain't going over there -- or are ye?" "I'm not. Shamus is my boss and I never got on all that well with any boss, with _anybody_ telling me what to do, not even Will sometimes." "Ain't I been telling ye what ye was supposed to be doing, just the same as himself?" "Yeah, but you been sticking up for me, too, even when you didn't have to. Paul told me how you forced your way into that inquest, so there'd be somebody there on my side." Molly nodded, remembering and Jessie continued. "And when I needed advice about what to do about Paul, you was the one I went to." "Aye, all of ye -- except Wilma -- come t'me for advice one time or another." "The kicker was in the baths this afternoon. Jane asked about Laura. I could see that you didn't want to answer 'cause of that -- 'cause of whatever bad blood there is between you two right now. Anyway, if it was almost anybody else, I'd have sit back and enjoyed watching them squirm. Instead --" "Instead, ye came up with an answer, so I wouldn't be having to. I can see that, but I don't see where all this is going." "Where it's going is simple. I can quit a boss anytime, but I ain't one to walk out on family." She took a breath. "And somehow, Molly, _you_ got t'be family." *** Laura put down the copy of _Harper's Bazaar_ she was reading and looked at the clock on the nightstand beside her. "11:10, this is getting silly." She climbed out of bed and over to the partly opened bedroom door. Arsenio was on the couch, his feet up and shoes off, reading a book. "Are you coming to bed any time soon?" she asked. He looked up from his book. "I _am_ in bed," he said sourly. "You're just being stubborn." He gave her an angry look. "Who's being stubborn?" "All right, we both are, I guess. But I miss you. Come to bed. Please." "What about all that business about the baby? You over that?" "Over... mmm, no, I'm not -- I'm not ready to talk about it, either, but I also don't think it's fair for you to be stuck out on that couch." "And you miss me. I heard you say that, too." Laura felt her face redden. "Yes, I do miss you." Arsenio smiled broadly and closed the book. "Well, if you put it that way." He stood up and turned out the oil lamp he'd been reading by. His pants were off, draped over a nearby chair. As he walked towards the bedroom, Laura saw a tenting in his drawers. A shiver of pleasure ran through her. It _had_ been a long time. 'No,' she thought. 'Much as I'd like to, _that_ was how I got in this mess and until he understands...' Her thoughts were interrupted. Arsenio stopped next to her in the doorway and ran a finger gently along her cheek. "_You_ coming to bed?" he asked softly. "Arsenio, I'm serious." "Hmm, so am I." He worked at the top button of her nightgown, just above her breasts. Once it was opened, he reached inside to caress one breast. The sensation was not what Laura expected and it wasn't entirely pleasant. "Ohh," she said, taking a step back. "What's the matter?" "My breast. When you... touched it..." "You don't want me to touch you, is that what you're saying?" "No... It-it hurt." "Maybe I should just go back to the couch." "No... please... please stay." "Sounds like something else you can't decide about." "I have decided. A man deserves to sleep in his own bed." "With his own wife?" "Yes." "But without touching you?" Laura couldn't meet his eyes. "Yes... for now, anyway." "Doesn't sound like much fun, but... have it your own way." He climbed into the bed and slid across, almost slipping off the other side. He curled over on his side so that his back was to Laura. "Good night." Laura climbed in and pulled the blanket over them both. She was just able to contain her tears. "Good... good night." *** Friday, November 10, 1871 Shamus looked up at the wall clock. It was 1 PM. 'So where the devil is everyone?' he thought. "Sorry if I'm late." Judge Humphreys walked in as if on cue. The Sheriff was right behind him. "You aren't late -- neither am I." He looked around. "Where's Jessie." "She'll be here in just a minute." Shamus took out his borrowed boson's whistle and blew three shrill notes. "Still on loan from Cap Lewis and, if I say so meself, I'm playing it better than ever." Jessie and Jane came running in from the kitchen. "Lord, I hate it when you blow that thing, Shamus," Jessie said. "I was taking a pot off the stove and I almost scalded m'self setting it down so fast." "Sorry, Jessie. Ye don't have t'come running lickety split no more when ye hear me whistle." He paused a moment. "But ye still do, Jane. Come t'be thinking of it, ye go back in the kitchen now t'help Maggie. This isn't any of yuir concern." Jane pouted. "But I want to stay." Still, she couldn't disobey and started walking for the kitchen even as she protested. "You should have waited for me, Shamus," the Judge said. "Ye're right, Yuir Honor. Please to be beginning the ceremony." The Judge nodded. "Jessica Hanks, whereas, you have served and completed a sentence commensurate with your previous illegal activities -- including the additional time adjudged due to you for your attempt at flight, I do declare that you are hereby free of any and all additional legal obligations to the Township of Eerie or the territory of Arizona for those actions. Congratulations." "Now say that in English, Judge," Jessie said, looking confused. Shamus laughed. "Ye're time's up, me lass. Ye're a free woman... almost." "I am? What a minute, what do you mean _almost_?" Shamus looked straight at her. "Bark like a dog." He waited until she had barked a few times before telling her to stop. "That was a dirty trick, Shamus." Jessie flared at the barman. "I got half a mind to --" "Aye, sometimes, ye do, but now ye know what I mean. Ye ain't free of me potion yet. Truth t' tell, ye never really will be." He took a piece of paper out of his shirt pocket. "But this should help." He began to read. "Ye can leave me saloon anytime ye want and go anyplace ye please. Ye can fight people, too -- except, ye can't do nothing to the Judge or the Sheriff or Molly or me for turning ye into a girl." "Don't trust me much, do you?" "Let's just say, I'm being careful. I said the same t'Wilma and the others when I set them free." "That's what he said, all right." Wilma stood by the door. She wore an emerald green dress that looked a size too small and Jessie could already smell her perfume. "Sorry, I'm late." "What're ye doing here, Wilma?" Shamus asked. Wilma smiled. "I came to see my little sister get free. You got a problem with that, Shamus?" "I don't if Jessie don't," Shamus told her. Jessie shrugged. "It's fine with me as long as she don't start off on how I should go work with her at that cathouse of hers." "I think you're making a mistake, Jess, but 'tick a lock,' as they say." Wilma made a gesture as if turning a small key in her closed lips. "Let's get on with it, then," Jessie said. "All right," Shamus said. He read from the paper. "Jessie, I order that ye won't obey any order I give ye unless I'm first saying, 'I, Shamus O'Toole, owner of the Eerie Saloon, do hereby order you to obey this command.' Did ye hear that?" When Jessie nodded, the Sheriff took a paper from his own shirt pocket. "And, Jessie, "I also order that, from now on, you will obey no order from me unless I start it with the words, 'I, Dan Talbot, the Sheriff of Eerie, do hereby order you to obey this command.' Did you hear what _I_ just said?" "I heard," Jessie said. "Am I free now?" "Hop on one foot and quack like a duck," Shamus said. Jessie just looked at him a moment, then she smiled. "I guess I am." "Congratulations, Jess," Wilma said and slapped her on the back. "Now - - if you don't mind my asking -- what _are_ you going to do?" "I never thought I'd say it, let alone do it," Jessie said, "but I'm gonna go on working for Shamus." Wilma laughed. "And you said I was stubborn." *** Jessie tiptoed into the Sheriff's office and closed the door gently behind her. "Hello, Paul," she whispered. Paul looked up from the papers he was reading. "Jessie, I didn't hear you come in. He stood up and quickly walked over from behind the desk. "What brings you over here?" "My sentence is up," Jessie said with an odd smile, "and I wanted to come see you. I got something for you, Paul Grant." "Oh, do you now?" Paul grinned. Was there was enough time for what he hoped she had in mind. "I do." She slapped his face as hard as she could. "That's for lying to me about what a second dose of potion would do." Paul stood for a moment, rubbing his sore cheek. "Jessie, I..." "And _this_ is for what we done that first night back... and for what we're gonna do again soon as my monthlies is over." She stepped forward and put her arms around his neck. She pulled close to him and kissed him with all the passion he could have hoped for. Paul returned the kiss. 'Once a mustang, always a mustang,' he thought. She wasn't fully broken in yet, but she was his and he was damned glad of it. *** "Can I ask you something, Laura?" Jane asked. The two women were setting the tables for "Maggie's Place." The restaurant was due to open in less than an hour. "I guess," Laura answered, "as long as you keep working while we talk." "You know, Shamus said my sentence is up on Monday." "I know. Are you still going to try your hand at mining again?" "I sure am, but that's what I wanted t'ask you about." "I don't know anything about mining?" "No, but you know people... men, especially, better than I do." "Seems to me, you were a man a lot longer than I was." "I mean how to... how to handle men... as a woman, I mean." "I don't think I get what you're saying, Jane." "I keep having these thoughts... about men... about how I should pick Red or Sam or Ozzie to... to be with up there at my claim instead of Davy." Laura nodded. "And not because they'd be more help than him working that claim, I expect." "Uh huhn. I even was thinking about Milt Quinlan when I was... was taking my bath a couple days ago." "Milt?" "And he made me feel all _funny_ inside, just like the others did." "And you liked the way it felt, didn't you?" "Yeah, but it was scary, too. I never felt like that before. What's it mean?" "It means you're starting to think more like a girl now." "Like a girl. You mean... I-I'm not ready to... to be a girl. What am I gonna do, Laura?" "So... you don't want to... to be with any of them -- the way a woman would be with a man, right?" "No, no I don't." "And you didn't get those sort of feelings about Davy, did you?" "Davy..." She laughed. "He's my friend, that's all." "Then I'd say that he's definitely the one you should be asking to go with you. The last thing you need is to be alone on a mountaintop with a man that makes you feel funny inside. It could complicate your life." As Laura herself had found out too late. *** Saturday, November 11, 1871 "This one's a waltz, gents," Hiram King announced. "Get yourself a partner and get to dancing." Cap led Bridget out onto the floor. "I've been meaning to tell you how pleased Uncle Abner was with the money you paid towards your grubstake." "Why?" Bridget asked sourly. "Didn't he expect me to pay?" "Just the opposite. He didn't expect you to be making such a _big_ payment each month. He said it just proved what a good investment he made." "Who said it wasn't?" "Nobody; Uncle Abner just likes to brag sometimes about how good a businessman he is. I think he's trying to show me how to be one." "I'm just glad he was willing to put up that grubstake. I'd have hated to have to keep working for Shamus as a dealer." "Like I said, you impressed Uncle Abner. He liked it that you were willing to stand by your guns when you caught him dealing seconds." "I'm just glad that it turned out to be a trick. I don't know when I was more scared." "But you still did it. I'm proud of you for that." He gave her a quick kiss on the forehead as they danced. "And after all that money you gave him, I think he's decided that you may not be a gold digger, either." "A gold digger, well, I like that." "Uncle Abner's a fairly wealthy man and I'm his only heir. You can't blame him for being careful. _I_ know you love me for myself and not my money." Cap grinned like a cat in a creamery. "I never said that I loved you." "No, but you never said that you didn't." *** "You decide who you were taking with you, Jane?" Sam Braddock asked as they moved across the floor. "I have," Jane answered, "but I ain't telling -- not now anyway." "'Cause it isn't me?" "I want to tell all of you at the same time. You and Red are the only two here." "So when will you tell us?" "Red asked me the same thing. I'll tell the five of you tomorrow. Be here 'bout noon for my answer." "Five? I thought it was just Ozzie, Davy, Red and me. Who's my new competition?" "Milt, Milt Quinlan. He's... he's my lawyer and he wants t'know, too." "You sure he's _just_ your lawyer?" "I... what do you mean, Sam?" "Nothing," he said quickly. "Just a crazy thought -- nah, not Milt." *** "I've been wondering when you'd get around to dancing with me," Laura said to Arsenio, as she put his ticket in her apron pocket. "Usually, we dance the first dance together." Arsenio took her in his arms and they began to move to the rhythm of the polka the band was playing. "I'm surprised you're dancing at all, the way you said you didn't want to be touched the other night." "I said that I didn't want my... my breasts touched." She blushed. "And you're the only man I ever let touch them." "Well, I'm glad for that, at least. Even if I don't know why _I_ can't touch them just now." "They feel too damned tender. Doc says its because they're getting ready to -- to make milk." "The baby again." "Yes, the baby. Now do you understand why I'm so upset about being pregnant?" "I understand that you're feeling uncomfortable from what's happening to your body. I just don't understand why you're mad at me because we're having a baby." "_I'm_ having a baby. You just had the fun of getting me pregnant." She saw him looking at her reprovingly. "All right, I... I enjoyed it, too," she admitted, "but I'm the one going through all this and I'm the one who's going to have to take care of it after it's born." "I-I can help some, I guess, but that's what a woman does, isn't it -- take care of her baby?" "Yeah, she's tied down to it... to her house and her kid with no life of her -- oh, the hell with it. You gave me your ticket. Just shut up and dance." *** Sunday, November 12, 1871 Shamus walked over to the table where Laura and Jane were eating lunch. He pulled out a chair and sat down. "Ye're a popular lady, Jane," he said. "Red, Sam and Davy have been asking when the Judge'd be setting ye free." He pointed across the room to a table where the three men were sitting. They saw him and waved back. "They's just being my friends, that's all," Jane said, feeling a little embarrassed at the attention from so many handsome... so many men. "I think it's a wee bit more than that," Laura said. "You told me that you were finally going to say who you wanted to take back up to your claim, as soon as you were free. Jane smiled at the thought of being able to go back to her claim. "Well, there is that." She looked around. "Trouble is, they ain't all here yet." "No, but ye ain't a free woman yet, neither," Shamus said. "Say, there's Milt Quinlan coming in. Did ye invite him to yuir little shindig, too?" "I did," Jane answered. "I... uhh, wanted him to know, him being my... ahh, lawyer and... umm, all." Milt saw Jane and started to walk over. "She ain't ready for ye, yet, Milt," Shamus said. "Why don't ye take a seat over thuir." He pointed to the table with the other men. Milt nodded, but he walked to over to the bar. He ordered a beer from R.J. and sat down on a nearby barstool. At that moment, Judge Humphreys entered the Saloon, followed closely by Ozzie Pratt. They both came over to where Shamus and the women were sitting. The Judge looked at his pocket watch. "I know it's not quite one o'clock, but I intend to start. Horace Styron decided that the church elders had to meet today at 1:30 to vote on getting new hymnals." "Why not," Shamus said, an odd expression on his face. "Ladies first, after all." The Judge frowned. "I'm afraid that I don't follow you, Shamus." "'Tis easy, Your Honor. First the her... Jane; then the hymns." He grinned broadly at his own joke. The Judge groaned. "It's a good thing we're not in my court, Shamus. I'd have to fine you for contempt for that one. As it is... Jane, please rise." "Yessir." Jane stood up. Red, Davy and Sam started to walk over until the Judge shook his head. Ozzie shrugged and joined them at their table. Milt raised his stein to the Judge and took a sip. Laura stood up. "Since I don't seem to have an invitation to this party, I think I'll get back to work." She took Jane's hand for a moment. "But before I go, Jane, let me be the first to say, congratulations on being set free." She headed over to the bar, only to be stopped by Doc Upshaw. Shamus saw her nod and led him to a table well away from anyone else. "And let me be the second to say congrats." Jessie had been walking nearby, carrying a tray of drinks. "Say, Shamus, Jane here's your last prisoner. Looks like you'll have t'go back to watering drinks to make a profit." Shamus frowned. "I never watered a drink in me life, Jessie Hanks and ye know it." "No, I don't, Shamus," Jessie said. "I ain't worked here forever. It just seems like it sometimes." Shamus laughed. "Ye ain't worked here half the time ye _have_ been here. Now get them drinks over to Bridget and her players." Jessie gave him an overly-polite smile and hurried off. "If we're done with the interruptions, I'd like to continue," the Judge said. "I'll make this simple. Jane, you've served your time for kidnapping Laura and you're free to go." "Thanks, Judge," Jane said. "Now I can go talk to --" "Ye'll be talking to nobody," Shamus interrupted. "Not till ye're free of me magic potion." Jane tried to answer, but all that came out were soft squeaking sounds. She pointed to her throat, a terrified look on her face. "Sorry, Jane," Shamus said. "Like I told ye, ye ain't free of me potion yet. Ye can talk again, but I'll be asking ye not to -- not too much anyway -- till I'm done." Jane sighed in relief. "Thanks, Shamus. I'll be quiet." Shamus took a sheet of paper out of his vest pocket, unfolded it and began to read. "First of all, ye can come and go from me Saloon here whenever ye want to." "Second, ye can fight with people again -- except ye can't be doing anything t'hurt Molly or me or Dan or the Judge for turning ye into a woman." Jane looked hurt. "Shamus, you know that I'd never do anything like that." "I don't think ye would, Jane, but I wanted t'be sure of it. Now, hush for the important part. I order that you not obey any command I give ye unless I first say that I, Shamus O'Toole, owner of the Eerie Saloon, order ye to be obeying this command." He handed the paper to Molly, who had just come to the table. "And I'm saying to ye that ye'll not obey any order I give ye unless I first tell ye, 'I, Molly O'Toole, wife of Shamus O'Toole, order that ye obey this command.'" She offered the paper to Dan, who shook his head. "I think I know it by now. Jane, I order that you'll not obey any command I give you unless I first say that I, Dan Talbot, Sheriff of Eerie, Arizona, order that you obey this command." "Am I done now?" Jane asked impatiently. "Don't talk," Molly said quickly and firmly. "Why not?" Jane asked. "Hey, I... I can talk; I can talk. I don't have to do what you say any more." Molly smiled. "No, Jane, ye don't. _Now_ ye can go talk to them gentlemen friends of yuirs." *** Laura felt someone's hand on her arm. "May I speak to you for a moment?" It was Doc Upshaw. "Sure, Doc," she said. "What's the problem?" "In private, please." Laura looked around, then she pointed to a table against the far wall. No one was sitting anywhere near it and most people were watching Shamus and Jane, anyway. "Is that okay, Doc?" "It'll do, I suppose." They walked over. Upshaw pulled out a chair and motioned for Laura to sit. When she did, he gently pushed her closer to the table before taking a seat opposite her. He reached over and took her hand. "Have you changed your mind about the baby?" "No... no, I-I haven't. I... I hate being pregnant." "An attitude like that, isn't doing you -- or the baby -- a bit of good. In fact, it's probably hurting you both. I'm not happy about saying this, but... if you want... I've got... I can prescribe something that... that would... get rid of it." Laura shuddered. "Get rid of it? An... abortion. No... I..." "I'm afraid those are your choices, have an abortion or go to term and have the baby." Laura was quiet and pensive for a moment. "Can I... can I have some time to... to think about it? This is a big decision." "The biggest. Take the time to be certain. It'll be a decision that you and Arsenio --" Laura's hand shot to her mouth. "Arsenio... oh, my Lord." "Just let me know when you decide, either way." "How... how long do I have?" Laura blinked, her eyes becoming inflamed and dewy. "Take as much time as you need, but, remember, the sooner it's done, the easier it will be." He stood up. "If you have any questions, be sure to come see me." He turned and left. "I... I will." Laura sat there for a good five minutes, just staring into space, before she was able to get back to work. *** The Judge checked his pocket watch again. "Now that we've completed this business, I've got to get to that bloody meeting." He glanced over at the Free Lunch table. "There's sliced ham and some rolls over there, Yuir Honor," Shamus said. "Why don't ye fix yuirself something to be taking with ye?" "My very thought," the Judge said. "If I may, I'll just borrow one of those napkins to wrap it in." Shamus nodded. Judge Humphreys turned and walked over to begin building himself a sandwich. Shamus stood up and looked around. "I'd best be getting back to work meself. Jane, I know ye got all them fellas waiting t'talk to ye, but please don't be taking too long doing it. People are starting t'come in and I'll be needing ye real soon now." "I won't be long, Shamus," Jane said. She waited a moment, looking around. The five men were watching her, so she just motioned for them all to come over to join her. The man sat down around the table. Ozzie was the first to speak. "So, Jane, my dear, have you determined who the fortunate swain is?" "What... what's a 'swain', Ozzie? I ain't never heard --" Sam "translated" for her. "He wants to know who you're going to take back up to your claim." "Ohh," Jane said. "Thanks Sam." She squirmed a little in her chair. "I... I want you all t'know that I thought about this a... a whole lot. I-I likes all of you and I w-wouldn't mind... umm, spending time with any of you." "Thank you, Jane," Red said. "I figure you know that I -- we all of us -- feel the same about you." "This is all well and good," Davy said impatiently, "but we're all on tenderhooks, Jane. Who'd you pick?" "You, Davy." Jane looked down at the table, suddenly feeling a little embarrassed. "I ain't going up there on no Sunday school picnic. I'm going back up t'work my claims. I'll need somebody there with me who knows what working a mine is like." Ozzie frowned. "But surely, Jane, any of us could rapidly acquire such skills. You have them at present and I'd warrant that you could teach them to any of us." He took her hand. "I, for one, would be a most attentive pupil." "That'd take me a while." Jane gently pulled her hand free of his. "What'd we do up there in the meantime?" Red all but leered. "I don't know about Ozzie, I can think of a whole lot of things we could do." He barely noticed Milt glaring at him. "I-it ain't like that." Jane was blushing now. "I'm just looking for somebody t'help me work my claims." Davy frowned. "Is that all I'm gonna be, a helper, a hired man? I don't know as that's very fair." "I hadn't thought of that," Jane said, "but I ain't sure if I'm ready t'take on another partner. I mean, we's friends and all, Davy, but partners... that's a whole different kettle of fish." Milt coughed for attention. "If... if you like, Jane, I-I could... umm, draw up a partnership agreement for you. You could take it up there with you. The both of you could sign it after a few days, if... when you and Davy decide that you _want_ to be partners." "Ain't we gonna need a witness for that?" Jane asked. "When Toby and me decided to be partners 'n' share our claims, Lucian Stone over t'the assay office said he had to sign the papers, too." "You do need a witness." Milt's face reddened. "To... ah, tell the truth, I... umm, was going to ride up to your claim in a few days -- just to see how things were doing, of course." He took a breath. "You could sign it then and I'd be the witness. I could take it back to town with me and file it with Lucian the next day." "That'd be just fine," Jane said. "You bring that paper around here tomorrow morning. I told Shamus that I'd work for him all day today. I figured that Davy'd need some time to bring everything from his old claim." Milt nodded. "Fine. In the meantime, may I buy you -- all of you, of course -- a drink to celebrate Jane's freedom and to wish her well with her claims." *** Maggie used her afternoon break to walk over to the bathhouse. Carmen was sitting on the porch, drinking a glass of lemonade. Felipe, her eight-month old son, was sleeping in a playpen next to her. "Hola, Carmen." "Margarita, hola. Would you like a lemonade?" Carmen reached for a pitcher. "I am afraid I do not have time. I must get back to finish cooking the supper." She looked around. "Where is Jose?" "Playing in the barbershop. Whit likes to spend time with the boy." Maggie nodded. "It's good for the father and the son." "Why do you ask about him?" "Thursday is Ernesto's birthday. I am having a small party for him, mostly a few friends from school, but I wanted to invite Jos? as well." "When will the party be? You have a restaurant to cook for." "S?, but I will cook most of the food early. Laura and Molly will watch it while I have the party. The party will just be from 4 to 5. Then I will take the children back to work with me, as I always do." "That is not long for a party... but these are young children. They should enjoy it. I am sure that Jos? will be glad to come. Thank you for inviting him." "Why not? He is family... almost. I-I mean, he and Lupe spend so much time at your house." "I know what you mean." Carmen smiled wryly. Maggie ignored her. "Bueno. Now, I must get back. Adios." "Adios." *** Monday, November 13, 1871 Jane sat in her wagon, the one she'd owned when she was Jake, drumming her fingers on the wooden seat. "You gonna be much longer, Davy?" "Now, don't you fret, Jane," Davy said. He was strapping the last of his belongings down in the back of the wagon. He'd already tied the reins of his mule, Lucille, to a ring in the back of the wagon. "Besides, you know we ain't going no place till that Milt shows up with them papers." "I know. I just want t'be ready when he does come." Davy sighed theatrically. "Just can't wait t'be alone with me there on the trail, can you?" "I... what... no, it ain't like that. We're... we're just burning daylight. I want to be up at the claim and settled in before dark." Sam Braddock came around the corner. "He's just funning you, Jane." He was holding one hand behind his back. "What you doing here, Sam?" Davy asked. Sam brought his hand out from behind his back. "I just came to say goodbye and to give Jane... and you these flowers." He offered them to Jane. "Now ain't that sweet," Davy said archly. "Sam brought me flowers." "I'll take them," Jane said. She took the bouquet from Sam and put them on her lap. "They'll look nice in the cabin. Thanks." "You're welcome, Jane." He smiled at her. "You sure you're gonna be all right up there?" "_We'll_ be fine," Davy answered firmly. Sam ignored him and looked at Jane. "Just asking. A man's got a right to be worried about his friend... friends, ain't he?" "I-we'll be fine." Jane felt flush. Were they really fighting over her? "It's... nice to be worrying about me. You're welcome to ride up with us if you want." Sam shook his head. "Wish I could, but I'm supposed to see Dwight Albertson today to talk about a business loan. No reason I shouldn't get rich, too." "Well, you can ride up 'n' visit me... us anytime you want," Jane said. "Ain't that right, Davy?" Davy just snorted at her invitation. "I may just do that," Sam said. Davy frowned. "Goody." They all stood quiet for a moment, looking at each other and feeling awkward. Then Jane suddenly stood up and pointed. "Here comes Milt." "I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long, Jane." He smiled, trying to catch his breath. "Well," Jane answered. "I was beginning t'wonder if you forgot us." Milt shook his head. "I wouldn't forget you, Jane -- you either, Davy. I... uhh, I know just how important these papers..." He took a thin, brown envelop from a jacket pocket. "...are to you." "I'll put 'em in m'duffle, where they'll be safe." Davy walked over to Milt and took the envelope. He opened a large canvass bag that was strapped down in the back if the wagon, put the envelop inside and closed it again. "_Now_ can we go?" he asked. "I guess," Jane answered. "Thanks, Milt." The lawyer smiled up at her. "You... you both just be careful. Be sure to look over those papers, too. I'll be up there on Thursday. You and Davy can sign them then... if you want." Davy climbed up onto the wagon and sat down next to Jane. "We'll do that." He looked back once, just to check the wagon and flicked the reins. "Gee-up." The wagon began to pull away from where Milt was standing. "So long till Thursday, Milt." Jane waved as she and Davy started off. *** Bridget reached across the table and tapped Laura on the shoulder. "You all right? You look like your mind's a thousand miles away from here." Laura blinked and stared at Bridget as if the female cardsharp had just appeared in front of her by magic. In fact, they'd both taken a lunch break at the same time and they'd been at the table together for several minutes. "No," Laura said, fixing her jaw firmly. "I'm not all right; I'm pregnant. Or hadn't you heard?" "Oh, I heard. I was here playing poker when Arsenio announced it to the world and bought everybody in the place a drink to celebrate. Thing is, you weren't acting this squirrelly about it till yesterday." She thought a moment. "Just since you had that talk with Doc Upshaw and don't tell me you two didn't talk. I saw him come in. Just what did he say to set you off so bad?" "_Nothing!_ He didn't say nothing." She took a long sip of the fake beer in her glass. Bridget looked at her for a moment. "Bullshit. He said something. You know it and I know it." "He -- oh, hell, if you must know, he asked if I really want the baby." "And..." Laura looked at the stein she'd been drinking from. "Why couldn't this stuff be real beer, just this once? He... he said that... if I wanted - - _really_ wanted -- he... he could give me something to... to get rid of... it." "What? An abortion?" "Yes, dammit and not so loud." Laura looked around quickly. No one was sitting anywhere near them. The saloon was, in fact, nearly empty and no one seemed to be reacting to what Bridget had just said. "What did you tell him?" "That I didn't know if I wanted to do that, either. I-I still don't know _what_ I want." Bridget raised an eyebrow. "But you're thinking about it, aren't you?" "Yes, Lord help me, I am." "Have you talked to anybody else -- Molly or anybody -- about it? I know that you haven't talked to Arsenio." "How do you know that?" "Because I haven't heard the explosion. I don't think that he'd like the idea one lit