The stage was next to a set of stairs which led to the floor above, a few women walked up or down the stairs, some with men in tow – having either conducted or about to conduct their business. They wore even less clothing than the dancers and they were all very attractive, a rarity that I was sure men paid extra for.
I ignored the crowd of baying, drunken men and walked to the bar, tapping my knuckles on the deeply varnished and sticky wooden bar. A middle-aged man noticed me and made his way over.
"Can I help you?" he asked and stroked his long dark beard, which was the only hair on his entire head. His southern drawl was well-hidden in his voice, but I still managed to pick up on it.
"Whiskey," I said and placed ten dollars on the counter.
He eyed it nervously for only the briefest of moments before it vanished - snatched up and stuffed into his trouser pocket. The bartender fetched a clean whiskey glass, something I was actually a little shocked about, filling it the top.
I knocked back the burning liquid. I've had very good whiskey in my life; what I'd just thrown down my throat was not even close. Hell, it was barely considered a whiskey. "You got anything even slightly nice to drink?
The bartender grabbed a hidden bottle from under the bar and placed it in front of me. I stared at the deep amber liquid it contained. "Scotch," he said. "Got it from a traveller who traded it for a night’s sleep."
He uncorked it and poured me a glass.
Unlike the horse piss I'd drunk earlier, this stuff went down smoothly. It was the real deal. I fished out three tens and placed them on the counter. "Leave the bottle," I said and he did as he was told.
I placed another ten on the bar. Once more it vanished. "I want a hot bath and a comfortable bed for the night. Will that be enough?"
"I reckon it will, yes. Will you want any company?" he asked.
"Not right now, but I'll let you know if I change my mind. I've got another ten for you, after you answer some questions."
That made him nervous, but the idea of keeping ten dollars for a few questions wasn't one to be passed up. That much money was probably more than he made in a week. I put enough tens on the counter to make it a hundred dollars that he'd earned in under five minutes. "Feel better about answering now?"
The money went the same way as all the others had, but he nodded acquiescence and I followed him to the empty end of the bar. "I won't even ask your name," I told him. "See, you have complete deniability."
"Who are you?"
"Not important, just a man passing through who needs a good night. You may want to arrange that bed and bath now."
He walked away and waved one of the girls over, a stunning blonde who stared at me as he told her what I wanted. A little air magic, the glyphs barely visible, carried the words invisibly toward my waiting ears. "Hot bath and comfortable bed," the bartender said. "Get them both ready, soon."
The girl glanced at me. "Will he want one of the girls?" she smiled slyly.
"No idea, but make sure they're ready. Hopefully we can get him out of here before anyone shows up."
The girl's expression flickered over to fear. "I will." She moved off toward the stairs. I watched her ascend them, her half bare ass wiggling as she made her way up to the floor above.
"Everything will be ready soon," the bartender said to me, re-gaining my attention. "So, what do you need to ask?"
"Just a few things. I'm a great believer in getting to the point, so my main question is have you had any recent trouble around here? Any bad blood with the tribes?"
He shook his head. "Can't say we do. I don't trust them, don't trust anyone who isn't—"
"White," I finished for him. "That's the word you're looking for, I assume."
"I won't apologise. Never said I hated them and I don't wish them harm, unlike those lynching madmen back home. But it don't mean I have to trust them."
I changed topics quickly. "You seem to do well here, even if your town is in the middle of nowhere."
"The sheriff looks out for us; he has powerful friends. And there was gems found in the hills to the north of here a few years back. Means money flows through town fairly regular."
"Gems?"
"Stones, expensive ones, so the sheriff says. Diamonds and the like. Don't know much about it, don't want to neither. I just take their money when they want a fuck, sleep or drink. Sometimes all three."
"One last question, you heard of a young boy who the sheriff was after? Few days ago now?"
"The murderer? Way I hear it; he tried to rob the big mansion up on the hill just outside town. Killed his own partner. The sheriff has two hundred bucks on him. Hope someone catches the little bastard soon. This is a safe town. We have fights, but no murders. It's unheard of."
"What about the ranch east of here?
"I know the place. The owner don't care for us, although she'll bring in money to buy good just like anyone else. Always left quick though. The sheriff doesn't like her, an argument between them or some-such. Way I hear it—"
"Maybe you should mind your own business," a voice said from behind me.
The entire place went silent. The girls stopped dancing; those playing cards froze almost in place, their bets still in their hands ready to be thrown onto the pot in-between them. I turned to inspect the newcomer.
"You must be the sheriff," I said, his shiny badge evident for anyone to see. Hell, I could have probably seen it from Texas.
"And you are the man who interfered in my deputies’ duties to bring in a dangerous fugitive. A murderer, I might add."
"The young boy," I said with a smile. "Do you try to kill a lot of people who are running away in the night?"
"That's none of your concern; he's a danger and you will hand him over to me. Now." The sheriff moved his jacket slightly, giving him better access to the silver revolver on his hip - the twin of Sam's. The urge to take it from him was overwhelming, but I restrained myself. His time would come.
"I handed him over to the US army at a fort nearby. He's going to remain there until
they
decide how to proceed."
Anger flashed on the sheriff's face like an oil fire. "What right-"
"My right," I interrupted. "You tried to kill a fleeing boy in the dead of night. Your deputies were lucky they still have the ability to walk."
One of the four men with the sheriff stepped toward me and placed a gun barrel against my head. I recognised him as one of the deputies from the forest. "You think you can make me leave now, you son-of-a-bitch?"
I turned and stared at the average-sized, average-looking man. If it wasn't for the fact that I'd pointed a gun at him, I'd have never remembered him in a million years. "Would you like to remove the gun yourself, or have me remove it for you? The second option is not a pleasant one."
"Enough, Douglas," the sheriff said and the deputy grudgingly removed the gun. "You will answer two questions, or my companion here will repeat his actions, with far greater consequences for you."
I motioned for him to continue.
"Why are you here?"
"Just passing through. Was only staying the night and I'll be gone first thing in the morning."
"Never to return?"
"I hope not."
"Sort of out of the way, up here I mean? It's not the type of place you just come across by accident."
"I was passing by the ranch near here, but there didn't seem to be anyone home. Figured the fort was my next stop, but once more, there was no one there. Pure chance that I ended up here, if either of those places had been inhabited I'd be long gone by now."
There was an expression of concern on the sheriff's face that melted into one of ambivalence and then finally innocence. "I'll send someone out in the morning to take a look, but you better be gone by then."
"Oh, I'll be long gone."
The sheriff turned to leave and I stopped him. "Nice gun," I said making the sheriff turn back toward me. His deputies were nervous, apparently it was the topic that no one wanted to talk about, even more so than what had happened at the ranch or fort.
The sheriff removed the silver army colt from its holster and turned it left and right allowing me to get a good look. "It should be a pair, but that little bastard you helped stole the other one. He didn't mention it at all, did he?" he asked in a very nonchalant manor.
I shook my head. "He never said anything; he was unconscious when I left him at the fort. If I'd known he'd stolen from you, I'd have taken it back. Maybe you should contact the fort, ask them if they can take a look for you."
The sheriff went back to being concerned. I guessed that the fort and the sheriff didn't have the best relationship, but I didn't want to press further. I wanted to take a bath and leave his presence as quickly as possible. Hell, I wanted to leave the whole damn town, but I needed to do something before I left.
"Well, maybe I will. I want that gun back." He glanced back at his deputies. "I'd best leave you to it, but don't let me hear you've caused trouble. I won't be having that in my town."
"Of course, I promise to behave." I gave him my best smile of pure innocence and watched the sheriff and his cronies walk back out into the night. The music and rowdy behaviour started slowly, like a tiny flake of snow turning into an avalanche by the time it hits the bottom of the mountain. Within moments the room was back to its previous noise level with only the occasional glances my way.
"I thought you were going to push him too far," the bartender said.
I grabbed the bottle of scotch. "Are my bath and room ready?"
The bartender nodded and pointed toward the women at the bottom of the stairs. "Fell free to pick any of the girls there. They're all more than capable of giving you the evening of your life."
I doubted he'd have said the same thing if he'd been aware of how old I was, but instead I thanked him and told him maybe later. As I reached to the stairs, the blonde girl who had been talking to the bartender approached me with a smile on his lips and a wiggle on her hips.
"I'll show you the way," she said with a sly grin. "Follow me, darlin'."
I did as I was told and she led me up the stairs and down a long winding corridor with over half a dozen doors. Occasionally, I caught the sound of a moan or grunt, but we'd moved past before it felt like I was being too much of a voyeur.
The young woman led me up another set of stairs and onto a second landing with even more doors. She opened the one furthest from the staircase and allowed me to walk inside. "If you need anything, just shout." She winked and closed the door, leaving me alone in the spacious room.
The first thing I noticed was that the decor was actually tasteful. Someone had spent a lot of money on a large bed and there were lots of paintings on the walls, some of which were of a risqué nature. They'd certainly decorated for the clientele.
I walked over to the large steel tub in the corner of the room which was full of water. Rivets had been carved into the floor to allow any water to run out onto some guttering outside. The tub was certainly big enough for two, and steam lifted off the water's surface. I didn't bother resisting the temptation to place my hand inside to feel the heat.
I shook the water off my hand and grabbed two towels off a chest of drawers, placing them beside the bathtub. After another drink of the excellent scotch, I placed the bottle on the table next to me.
I removed my coat, laying it over a clothes-horse and unclipped the knife belt which I wore around my waist, placing it over the coat. The six, small silver throwing blades that it held were a last resort weapon. Something I only really kept wearing for the comfort of knowing that they were an option available to me.
When I'd finished removing my clothes, placing them on the bed, I lowered myself into the steaming hot water with an audible sigh. "It's been far too long," I said as the water ate at the knots on my shoulders.
I let the water go to work and revelled in the relaxation that washed over me, even if I knew it wouldn't last. I'd give it an hour from the second I stepped into the room. Maybe less, depending on how nervous they were at my unannounced appearance.
I reached into the nearest coat pocket, removed a small pocket watch and opened the front to check the time. I'd been in the bath for nearly twenty minutes. I had a little longer. I replaced the watch and orange glyphs lit up along my arms, my fire magic heating the water to near scolding temperature.
It was only a few minutes later when the door knocked. Apparently they were very nervous.
The girl on the other side didn't wait to be invited and just opened the door, stepping into the room with purpose. Long dark-red hair flowed freely over her bare, pale shoulders. She was petit, but curvy and she removed her purple corset, exposing large, firm breasts before allowing the clothing to fall to the floor with a flourish. "Would you like some company?" Her voice was warm and inviting.
I smiled, mostly because it's always nice to have a stunning, and naked, woman asking if you want company, but also because she was almost my perfect woman. Red hair, short and curvy.
"Feel free," I said with a wave of my hand.
She removed her tiny knickers and dropped them at her feet before stepping into the tub and making herself comfortable.
"So, can I ask for your name?" I requested.
"Stephanie," she said and rubbed her foot up against my groin, which sprang to life in an instant.
I forced myself to move her foot. Shooting myself would have been easier. "Do you mind if we just relax first?"
"Not at all," she said with a smile. "Turn around and I'll rub your shoulders."
I did as I was told and moved until my back was facing her. She grabbed me and moved me until her breasts were pressed up against my back. The feeling of her erect nipples against my back stirred me back to action and I had to remind myself that fun probably wasn't going to be on the menu.
Stephanie began working the knots out of my shoulder as she spoke. "I saw you talking to the sheriff."