Snippet #2248050

Something was off. She was standing in Ramsey’s office looking down at the casino floor like every other day but today felt wrong. Beth brushed a stray strand of light brown hair behind her ear. She was frowning, not that it was easy to tell since the woman almost always looked completely unimpressed with the world around her. Her mouth was a straight line.

The storm was driving more and more in. It wasn’t that the casino was ever at a loss of patrons. They liked to gamble and this was the place to go. She sneered slightly as she watched bets being placed and cards being dealt. Her cold blue eyes scanned them all. Over head the thunder rumbled and rain pounded the roof. Beth rolled her shoulders slightly, feeling more tense than normal.

Her eyes went from table to table. There were many familiar faces. Some were part of the gang, enjoying a bit of a break, some were Seven’s on the floor keeping close eye on the goings on and some were just regulars. A figure at one table drew a hiss from her. Her eyes narrowed. Peter Donnel was at one of the poker tables. The man had been tossed out just three days ago. His debt with Ramsey was too high and he had no chance of paying it back. On top of that he had been overheard saying he had no intention of paying back and wasn’t afraid of the Lucky Seven’s. Now he sat at a table again as if flaunting his insult.

Stupid, stupid man.

Beth had little respect for those who didn’t understand the position they were in and continued to act foolish. Everyone knew that a debt with Ramsey and the Seven’s was paid one way or the other. Some just had to learn the hard way. Her brother had learned as had countless others. It was her job now to help ensure the lesson stuck.

She turned and stepped behind Ramsey. She removed her hat and leaned towards his ear. Elizabeth’s voice was a quiet whisper in his ear, at this volume there was no harshness or rasp to it.

“Donnel is back, playing poker. What do you want done about him?”

She waited respectfully for his answer.

It was at that moment that a scream ripped through the air of the town. It wasn’t so close that Beth could make it out completely but her keen ears had heard it nonetheless.

She bolted upright, hands on her guns at her hips. Her eyes were on Ramsey, waiting for a signal of what he wanted her to do. There was no threat to him but if something was going on in Trinity he’d want to know about it. The question was would he send her, go with her or send a few of the boys to check it out.