| �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� an 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. �Don�t ya sometimes wonder about life?� Christina glanced at the other girl sitting next to her. �Whatever are you talkin� about Miss Jane?� �Oh, just talkin�. I mean, you think God wanted us to have this life?� �I�m sure he didn�t, but sometimes I don�t think He understands what all can happen in life. I mean, our family was takin� by a fire. What else could we have done to have survived? And as for you?� �Oh, there were other options. Cleanin� houses, or doing little stuff. But it didn�t offer the money fast enough. My pa needed his money now.� �His debts are paid off, why you still doin� this?� Jane looked out over the desert and than looked up at the endless sky. �I�m not sure. The pay is nice but I know it ain�t the best job. I guess because I know I have friends who are in it as well. Maybe cause I can do whatever I want and sorta get away with it. And because I can be innocent and yet be the devil in disguise.� �Now, ma�am, I don�t believe you could ever be like that.� The ladies jumped as they heard the male voice from the doorway. �Oh, I�m sorry sir, I didn�t hear the door open.� �I�m the one who should be saying sorry. Didn�t mean to intrude.� �You�re quite welcome to come join us if you wish sir,� Christina said, making her way out of the chair. �I think I had my bit of fresh air.� She smiled at Jane and went back inside. �Do you mind ma�am?� �Have a seat stranger.� �Wonderful night, isn�t it?� �Oh, I love these desert nights. Especially when no one is about.� �Where is everyone?� �Probably gamblin� away their money. Though, I do believe some acts or other are makin� their way through town. You like watchin� the actors Mr. Brian?� �Please ma�am, ya don�t have to include the Mister.� �And you don�t have to call ma�am. Hardly anyone around here does.� Brian smiled at her and she turned her gaze back to the moon. �Is it hard?� She got out of the chair and leaned against the railing. �What do you mean?� �Being, well, what you are?� �No, it�s rather easy. Take care of yourself, by the far the biggest issue. But it�s a business that we run, one we take care of quite nicely.� �A business?� �Yes. We have licenses to prove it too. Go to the doctor, once every three months to make sure we�re healthy. And at the first sight we�re not, we go back. Than if there�s something wrong, he simply says we�re not fit to work. Than there�s hell and damnation.� Brian laughed and leaned back in his chair, crossing his booted feet at the ankle. �If you don�t mind my sayin�, it�s rather rude that you can ask questions, yet we can�t ask any.� �If it�s an angel like you askin� darlin�, I wouldn�t mind bearin� my soul.� Jane turned around and glanced at the horizon, praying he didn�t see the blush that rose upon her cheeks. |
| Journey Of The Heart By: Resa Dorough (thanks to Terri for the title) |
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| Take me home |
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