| Chapter 6 |
| �Annie, you got anymore Whiskey?� Jane glanced at Johnny and than at Annie. �No, you drank the rest of it Johnny. Speakin� of which, don�t you have a place to stay. Why is it that ever night you gotta come over here? Why can�t you just one night stay away? Like tonight?� Annie rolled her eyes and Jane tried not to laugh. �I know you�re not getting� testy woman.� �Damn it Johnny, you drank everything else in this house, somethin� on your mind darlin�?� �You housin� some new men?� �Who, that gang of men?� �Yes Annie.� �They nothin� special hon. Just some outlaws lookin� for a place to lie low for a while.� �I don�t want them touchin� my women.� Annie�s eyebrow�s shot up and she glanced at Jane. �Are we branded as the Cowboy�s whores?� �Yes.� �Such a piss ant. We don�t belong to no one. There ain�t no rings on our fingers hon. We�re just simple minded women who go about they�re simple lives makin� some cash. We don�t belong to anyone.� Annie stormed out of the room and into the kitchen. �Something wrong?� Annie glared at Mary. �Honey, you okay?� �I�m my own woman.� |
| �Damn right. Honey, don�t let that little man get to you. He ain�t nothin� special.� �Excuse me?� Annie�s eyes shot to the man standing in the doorway and smiled. The green eyes stood out against the tanned skin and the black hair. �Yes hon?� �We�re not botherin� ya�ll by stayin� in those extra rooms, are we?� �No hon. Don�t mind those boys. They�re just lookin� to stir up a little trouble. Nothin� we can�t handle.� �You sure ma�am.� �Oh, we deal with them on a nightly basis hon.� He cocked an eyebrow and she smiled. �Regular clients.� He smiled and glanced at Mary. �Oh, if you excuse me, I think Rachel said she wanted to do somethin�. Night sister. Night Kevin.� Annie glared at her retreating back and finally turned and smiled at Kevin. �Would you like anythin� to drink hon?� �No, but I would love some company. Especially if it�s someone as beautiful as you.� He took one of the seats and the table and watched her. She ran a quick hand through her blonde locks and took the seat closest to Kevin. �Would love to keep you company.� �Johnny, keep it up and I�ll shoot that wildcat sash right off of you.� I glared at him yet he didn�t bother paying attention. �I�m tellin� you Ringo, stop.� �You never minded before.� �I do now.� I moved out of his reach and turned toward the door, seeing Howie walk in. |
| �Something wrong ma�am?� I heard Ringo snort and turned to glare at him. �She ain�t no ma�am. Ain�t nothin� more than a lousy whore.� �Regardless sir, she still is a ma�am.� I smiled at Howie and nodded my head as he tipped his hat at me. He softly grabbed my arm and pulled me close. �If he bothers you Rachel, just holler. One of us will come to save you.� He let me go and walked back to the two vacant rooms we had. �Stay away from him.� I turned my attention back to Johnny. �How dare you tell me what to do Ringo!� �Don�t start trouble Rachel.� Within� instant I realized he had sobered up. �I mean it. Ain�t no real law to help you and your friends.� �We don�t need no real law sugar. We seem to be doing just fine, fended on our own.� �You think that shotgun you can handle is gonna help you?� �She has friends Ringo. I think you over stepped your welcome.� He turned and glared at Howie. �You just stay out of this.� �I don�t think I should. Go, you ain�t nothin� but trouble.� Ringo glared at Rachel and left, slamming the door behind him. �Why do you put up with him?� �Oh, I don�t know. He was handsome, a gunslinger, an outlaw.� �And those appeal to you?� �Only certain women will admit, but yes, it rather does. Oh, I ain�t no true lady, I�ll never be one.� His eyes softened and he shook his head. �No, I don�t think that�s right. It�s more than a refinement that makes a lady.� He smiled and left the room, just as quietly as he walked in. I bit my lip and smiled to myself. |
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