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He stood at the entrance, of the dark room filled with smoke and dirty men, probably from the mine he figured. He walked up to the bar and put out his cigarette with a smile. "Anyone know where a guy can get some food 'round here?" he said plainly as he could.
"Well, You sure did come to the right place!" Said the enthusiastic man surely fat and happy off the money his shithole inn had been making since the mine opened up. "We got beef steak and potatoes for a buck fifty."
"No, no I-I mean for my horse you see." With no intention of staying in the saloon long he had to make an excuse to get out and quick.
"Well sure, young man. Down the road here you'll see a sign called Belle's Aide. About three doors down yonder from there is a grocer called Crosby's Goods. I'm sure he'll have just what yer lookin' for," He smiled about as cheerful as the barkeep could muster.
"I 'preciate it." Trigger said with a tip of his hat.
"Come back if ya get to hankerin' fer something." The barkeep yelled out as Trigger left the saloon.
"Will do..." Trigger said to himself as he walked down the store fronts, his spurs chinging as he traveled. He saw Belle's Aide and stopped outside peering into the window he noticed a girl. A beautiful girl writing into her logs, for the day had just begun. His senses sparked and continued down toward Crosby's Goods and pushed through the doors. "Mornin'" he smiled as he walked past the shopkeep and to the back where he picked up a bag of feed and paid for it. All the while thinking of the woman in Belle's Aide. He walked back up the planked store fronts to Shadow waiting patiently. "Looks like we are in business once again boy," He said to his horse. Shadow snorted and started eating from his feed bag. "Time to get started."
Stretching, she kicked down the covers, sliding her slender legs off the edge of the bed as a loud yawn rippled through her. Standing up Bonnie walked over to her vanity, sitting quickly as she rubbed her weary eyes before washing her face with the cooling water she had put out the night before. Once her face had brightened up and she ran a brush through her long, golden curls she proceeded to dress before leaving her beautiful apartment above the saloon.
Making herself her a strong cup of coffee in the kitchen in the back, she grabbed a piece of fresh fruit for her breakfast; she never had been a big eater, especially in the mornings. Carrying her cup and apple into her study she sat down in the plush swivel chair and looked over her books for the Saloon and proceeded to sort out wages, along with rent for the building. As her eyes caught sight of her wedding picture and small smile crept upon her beautiful face as she ran her fingers down the silver frame and remembered the simpler time in her life, before the war, back when she still lived in Charleston in her beautiful home when all she had to worry about was what to wear that day. With a small sigh she shook the memories from her mind âNo use dwellinâ on the pastâ she mumbled to herself turning her attention back to the documents in front of her.
Lost in her work Bonnie nearly missed the fact that she had been working for hours, it was only when her stomach rumbled did she look up at the clock mounted in her wall, closing the book, she gathered everything up and placed all the documents and money in the safe mounted behind the portrait of her mother. Once everything was sorted she left her apartment and walked down the wooden staircase down to the ground floor where the bar and poker tables were. As Bonnie reached the bottom step she smiled as she took in her pride and joy âAfternoon Louâ she called to her bartender who stood polishing the glasses which would later hold some of the finest liquor in Montana, it was something she prized herself on, just because the town was fast becoming a shithole, didnât mean her place had to be.
âAfternoon Miz Bohannonâ the older man returned as she approached the bar to sit down, nodding to a couple of early punters as a passing greeting, they were her usual drinkers who often came in around lunch if they werenât still passed out at home. Laughing slightly as she passed them she took a seat at the bar stool leaning forward slightly flashing her best smile at the man âAny chance of a sandwich darlin?â she asked hopeful, that her newly employed chef was around.
Lou laughed with a quick nod âRight away maâamâ he answered.
âThanks Louâ she called as he hurried back through the thin curtain separating the bar from the newly installed kitchen in the back, turning in her seat she observed her saloon with a satisfied smirk, so much had changed since she had first arrived in the town two years ago, firstly âThe Big Horn Saloonâ was a complete dump, a place her husband had won the deeds to in a poker game, although she hadnât known that until after he had died and thus inherited it. And so perhaps on a whim she decided to take on the project and she was thankful she had, it had been a lot of hard work but worth it, the place was now certainly something to be proud of.
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When Lou came back with the owner's food he greeted Viola as well. "Regular?" He asked with a grin, already cleaning out a cup. "That'd be wonderful." Viola replies as he pours Viola a sarsaparilla. "Thank you." She replied simply and took a shot of the drink she was used to drinking. About lunch time everyday shed come by, play a hand at poker, and leave. Maybe buy a few things from the grocer every once in awhile.Â
Viola glanced around at all of the regulars. She had played them all, won most of the games. But now she needed someone new to play, mostly because she needed money and didn't want to go back working as a prostitute. She let out a sigh and payed for her drink. Setting the money on the counter she was so used to paying.
"Please. You are not the first to suffer through a losing streak. I myself have had my fair share of losses. Come. How about another game?" Aedan asked nonchalantly. He knew he was in no danger. Despite the man's girth and short temper, he was still a store owner. He owned a butcher's shop, if Aedan recalled correctly. The man had more to lose by shooting Aedan than the winnings were worth. A seasoned gambler was not so easily perturbed by an angry opponent.
"But no one wins seven games in the row," the man grumbled. Aedan's smile widened. Just as he thought. It just going to be talk and Aedan was fine with that.
"Oh, some do. It just takes skill and a little luck. These were honest games, see?" he asked, rolling up his sleeves to reveal bare arms, no contraptions or cards to aid him in the game, "I tell you what. Have another couple shots of whiskey. On me."
He waved the bartender over and slipped him a couple of bills and, sure enough, the man took the shots and left the saloon at least partially mollified. Aedan sighed slightly as he left the table, which had accumulated a few too many bottles for his taste, and sat in front of pretty-looking woman.
"You don't need to cheat when you're paying for your opponent's drinks," he told her.
The man opposite of him called the Lou over and decided gave the larger man a few shots. Lou returned behind the counter, his face not giving anything of what happened away. After the larger man finished he stood, grumbled something, and left the Saloon. Most likely getting back to the shop. As the winner stood, Viola somewhat recognized him.Â
She had seen him around before, but thy never quite spoke. A smile played her lips as she glanced back to the counter. Her peripheral vision saw a blur of color move to the side of her. She moved her attention back to him as he said, "You don't need to cheat, when you're paying for your opponent's drinks." An amused breath escaped her lips as she looked at him. Her lips in a curved smile. "One doesn't need cheat at all, if the opponents' are moderate at playing." She commented back.Â
She didn't know whether to challenge him to a game, or ask him to buy her a drink. Hell, perhaps she's purposely lose a game for him to buy her a drink. She had a feeling that he was very good at gambling. But, then again, he hadn't played her before. "How 'bout you play someone who know's what there doin?" She asked, moving her dull green eyes to meet his dark ones. This was going to be amusing.Â
"Well, who am I to refuse a fair-looking lady such as yourself," Aedan told the woman, smiling slightly as he took in her form. Yes, she was rather attractive and it looked like she didn't put up with any of that "proper" nonsense that was so prevalent in the more "civilized" parts of the country. He began shuffling his pack of cards, careful to show her that there wasn't any foul play involved before handing her the deck.
"So, what shall we play?" he asked in his Irish accent, "I believe I am up for almost anything."
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