| �Here in Tombstone Mr. Jacob, the men are either outlaws or lawmen. Neither one we choose to live with the rest of our lives. Sides, we�re women, forced to earn a living somehow or other at a tender age. Why, take me and my sisters, Annie and Mary. Our family died in a fire just a few years ago. None of us were old enough to get married, yet we had to live somehow. And Jane, innocent, young Jane. Why, her father is a cruel man. Drinks and gambles away all their money. She�s stuck workin� like this to pay off his debts. As for sweet Rachel over there, why, her husband died, leavin� behind no money for her. So, Mr. Jacob, we did the best thing we know how to do, become Soiled Doves.� �And you�re the top of the town.� Christina smiled yet it left as a young female marched by, her nose caught up in the air. �Ya know Mrs. Fellowstine, I�m sure if you got your little nose much farther up, something just might fly and land on it.� �Why the nerve!� �Don�t look down on us simply because we tend to please your husband more than you ever will. Good day Mrs. Fellowstine, Mr. Jacob,� I said, nodding my head toward the older man yet again. Christina slapped her fan open and covered her smile. �That was plain mean Rachel.� �Oh, but it�s simply the truth darlin�. That�s one woman I will gladly make mad.� �Watch out for her though. Get her on that laudanum long enough, she�ll come causin� trouble with that six shooter her husband has.� �She can met up with the rifle I have tucked away in my closet. We�ll see who can get the first shot off.� Christina smiled and walked into the drug store, purchasing the few items we needed. �Did I tell you I saw Mrs. Fellowstine today Jane? And Rachel was utterly cruel to her. Why, Mrs. Fellowstine stuffed her nose even higher in the air.� The ladies shared a laugh as they cleaned the dinner dishes. �I don�t know what�s gotten to our fellow gals, but something is amiss.� �Why do you such a thing sugar?� �Mary and Annie look nothing like themselves Christina. They seem, I don�t know, they�re just not the same girls I know. As for Rachel, honey, she didn�t even know why we needed Vinegar.� �But she knew Mrs. Fellowstine. I think she just hit her head rather hard and it knocked some sense out of her. She�s comin� around mighty fine. Look, here shortly the gang will stop by and all will be fine. She�ll be pleasin� those men.� �Men?� �Ringo is not her only fan sugar. Just by far the most important one. Oh, I didn�t tell you who else I saw. Mr. Jacob.� �He is such a nice old man. What did he say to you today?� �Asked why we were in this God forsaken business. Said were young and pretty belles that we could land any man. But who wants to marry an outlaw or a lawman? Your either scared one�s getting hauled off to jail or laying dead somewhere. Or your scared that he�s out protectin� somethin� that�s goin� get him into trouble!� Jane laughed but nodded her head. �Though, I�d rather have me an outlaw any day. They surely know how to please their women.� Christina slapped the younger girl gently on her arm. �My dear young girl, sometimes I wonder if that innocent look isn�t all an act.� Jane glanced at her friend from the corner of her eye. �Who�s to say? Though, I certainly attract myself a larger number of guys with that act.� Christina gasped at the younger girl and broke into a fit of giggles. �You guys are bad.� The two young girls and smiled at Annie. �We�re not persay.� �Well, no, we get paid well enough, I guess we�re good.� Annie shook her head at her sister�s comments. �How you feelin� sister?� �I�m fine Christina. Just a little tired. I need a break from all this for a night or two.� �Billy getting rather tough.� �Curly Bill is never tough. Gentle, actually.� The two young girls simply rolled their eyes. �He is! Just more demandin� than most.� They shared a laugh and groaned as they heard the soft knock on their door. �I suppose I can get it.� �Stay Annie, I�ll get it sugar,� I called into the kitchen. I lifted my skirt a little over my knees as I walked down the rest of the stairs and opened the door, seeing some young gentleman out there. �Pardon me ma�am, are ya�ll the Wild Gals?� �Yes sir. What can I do for you?� �My name is Howie ma�am. This is my gang, so to speak. We just needed a decent place to catch a quick meal, no questions asked.� �Well, Mr. Howie, I suppose we can whip something up for you and your men. Come on in.� I stepped aside as the rest of the men followed him in. �Ladies,� I hollered. I watched as Jane, Christina and Annie came from the kitchen and Mary come from the pallor. �This is Mary. And Annie, Jane and Christina and I�m Rachel.� �Pleasure ladies. This is Nick, Kevin, Brian, Alex, and I�m Howie.� �And you wanted a hot meal sugar?� Howie just nodded his head at Annie. �We�ll make something right up.� The guys smiled, tipped their hats and followed Annie into the kitchen. I smiled at Mary. �What?� �New men.� �No questions.� �Don�t want to ask, just wanna do.� Mary laughed and shook her head, following the crowd into the kitchen. �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. |
| Journey Of The Heart By: Resa Dorough (thanks to Terri for the title) |
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