Chapter 15
With a smirking Gabrielle, I left the store, followed by Hannah Norton’s puzzled look. I handed Gabrielle into the buckboard. We headed back to Miss Emma’s at a trot. Again Gabrielle lit another cigar for me, tucking it in my mouth. I said, “I like the taste of this cigar, Gaby.”
She replied, “That’s because Emma soaks her private cigar stock in Napoleon brandy.”
I smiled at her as I said, “No, I’m pretty sure it’s your lip rouge.”
Gabrielle giggled delightedly, as she leaned forward to kiss me on the cheek. She settled back on the seat, twirling her parasol, as we turned toward Miss Emma’s.
Dan was waiting at the door to the barn, when we pulled up in back of the house. I gave him the jar of mercury. Gaby headed into the house as I ground out the cigar, following him into the barn. He had appropriated an unused tack room, converting it into ammunition storage and a reloading room.
Dan already had the .50 caliber hollow base lead bullets, cast for my big Winchester, ready for the hollow base to receive its mercury pellet. He donned a very modern respirator, and heavy non-porous gauntleted gloves. He dismissed me from the room before opening the jar of mercury.
I walked back into the main part of the large barn. Caitlin and several kitchen girls had already unhitched Francis. They were giving him a brushing, and one of the girls was expertly using a hoof pick. Francis preened with all the feminine attention he was receiving. I stopped to scratch Francis’ ears.
I reached into my vest, and retrieved a sugar cube I secreted at breakfast. Krista opposed feeding sweets to Francis. This, then, was a conspiracy of Francis and I keeping secrets from Krista. Francis delicately removed ‘his’ sugar cube from the palm of my hand. Caitlin shooed me from the barn, telling me that they were waiting for me in the house.
I walked in the kitchen, to find another nearly naked young lady ready to pull off my boots. I followed another unclothed girl into the parlor, to find Krista, Jan, Emma and Gabrielle having tea. My gun belt went on an overstuffed chair, with my coat and hat taken away by the girl.
Gabrielle and Krista carefully made an infinitesimal space for me between them on the love seat, as Emma poured tea into a thin china teacup. I carefully sat down on the loveseat, thigh to thigh with my two beauties. Krista turned slightly; placing her hand behind my head, she pulled me into an open-mouthed kiss. My arms just naturally went around her, hugging her to me. Our kiss lengthened. Jan’s coughing and Gaby’s giggle finally caused us to look around.
Jan was laughing as she said, “He was only shopping, for Christ’s sake. He wasn’t gone that long.”
Krista faked a pout as she replied, “But I missed him.”
Miss Emma took up her explanation. “Tonight could be a busy night for us. Junius Brutus Booth, the British Shakespearean actor, will be reading from Macbeth at the Bullock House. Such performances always draw a huge crowd. Most families in the west have a copy of Shakespeare next to the family bible, it seems. Before and after the festivities, many men will decide to visit us.”
Jan perked up as she said, “That means the town toughs will likely visit as well.”
Emma nodded less happily. Krista spoke decisively. “We need to be ready. Dan can handle the ‘regular’ problems quite handily. It’s the ‘special’ problems that W. and I must focus on.”
During this discussion my arms had been placed around the waists of Gaby and K. Gaby was playing with the hair just above my collar. Krista laughed when she saw my distracted expression. “Did you hear anything we just said?”
I laughed as I replied, “Certainly, every word, just don’t ask me to repeat it.”
Now all four ladies were laughing. Jan spoke up briskly, “You two especially need to be sharp tonight. Go get some rest. Dan and I will take care of things.”
Krista nodded. She stood up quickly, taking my hand and pulling me to my feet. Then she took Gaby by the hand. Emma rang her tiny bell. Naked Caitlin appeared as if by magic to carry my things to ‘our’ room.
Krista and Gaby were arm and arm with me as we mounted the steps, following Caitlin to our spacious corner room on the third floor. We entered the room, where Gaby and Krista quickly stripped each other as they climbed on the big four-poster bed. Gabrielle was on her back, with Krista kneeling over her. They were kissing passionately.
Caitlin stacked my handguns on the dry sink. She proceeded to strip me. She knelt at my feet as she removed the last of my clothing. When she was done, she leaned forward, licking my cock.
Caitlin was a lovely tribute to her Irish heritage. Her chestnut hair was shot through with reddish highlights of various hues, framing a pretty face with laughing eyes. Caitlin was lithe and slim, with a small bust that fit her frame.
I tangled my fingers in Caitlin’s lustrous hair as she sucked me deeply into her mouth. Her hands were on my hips, helping me to stroke past her soft moist lips. I looked up at the bed, to see K kneel with her cunt on Gaby’s face. Gaby was spreading Krista’s butt cheeks as she tongued her. Krista was holding Gaby’s full breasts, squeezing them and pinching the nipples.
Krista leaned forward to find Gabrielle’s center. She was licking her way down Gaby’s body. I stopped Caitlin, reluctantly pulling my cock from her warm and willing mouth. I leaned forward, kissing Caitlin as I pulled her to her feet.
I climbed on the big bed, knee walking to join my two lovelies. I stopped just behind Krista. Gaby reached up to gently lick my cock when it came in her reach. I raised Krista’s hips slightly. Gaby guided my cock, rubbing it up and down at Krista’s entrance, before she pressed it home into Krista’s center.
Krista raised her head and began vocalizing her pleasure as soon as I was fully seated in her. Gaby was enthusiastically licking us at our joining. I began to slowly stroke into my love. K was holding Gaby’s hips as she held her head up, keening her rising excitement. Caitlin was lying on her back, her head on Gaby’s thigh, with her lips fastened to K’s left breast.
I continued my slow stroking, but with the visual and tactile stimulation, I would not last long. Krista’s cunt was flexing around my dick as she went from one peak to another. I began slamming into her harder and faster. I drove into her as I came, calling her name. She followed, with her cunt sucking the cum out of my body.
I collapsed on top of Krista, pressing her down on top of poor Gaby. Caitlin interceded, rolling me off onto my back. Caitlin began to use her lips and tongue, cleaning my cock and balls. Her slim ass was in reach, so I fingered her while she labored. At the same time, Krista was on her back with her legs spread obscenely wide, with Gaby between them intent, on cleaning Krista’s cunt of any vestige of our combined juices.
Krista’s hand sought mine as we lay on our backs, sharing the sensations of our companions’ tongues. Caitlin rested her cheek on my left thigh as she gently played, stroking my cock and caressing my balls as I relaxed from my orgasm. I closed my eyes, enjoying the feelings of intimacy and closeness, as my hand rested on Caitlin’s hip.
My eyes snapped open. I was staring into Krista’s loving smile, as she leaned forward, kissing each eyelid, then my nose, and finally my lips. She softly whispered, “Sleep well, love?”
I nodded as I whispered back, “Always with you, K.”
Gaby came into my sightline from the right, leaning down to kiss me lightly. Caitlin came from the left, claiming my lips for some extended tongue play. Then each of the ladies shared a kiss with open mouths and tongues. This erotic display, right above me, brought me fully to attention and wakefulness.
Krista leaned down, kissing me again. This time, her tongue joined mine as our lips reacquainted. She pulled back, maintaining eye contact, as she softly said, “It’s fully dark, W. Time to get up. Caitlin has a basin of hot water so you can sponge off. I’ve laid out your clothing for tonight, while Dan has your stagecoach guard apparel well in hand.”
I smiled at their efficiency. I sat up in the big bed with my feet dangling, as naked Caitlin served me coffee from a silver service. Krista was fully dressed, carrying her gun belt. Gaby was ‘somewhat’ dressed, in a flowing negligee. Gaby and K kissed me goodbye, as they left the bedroom holding hands. Caitlin giggled at my expression, as my eyes followed Krista. Caitlin smiled prettily as she said, “You love her very much.”
It wasn’t a question. I simply nodded. She turned serious as she retrieved a small object from her tray. She held up a diminutive silver Celtic cross on a fine silver chain. She shyly looked at the floor as she spoke so very softly. “I have the ‘sight.’ I see things no one else can. I will keep your secret unto death. I ask that you wear this special cross. It will protect you. I will pray for you in both the new way of my church and the old way of my people.”
Caitlin fastened the chain around my neck centering the cross on my chest. She launched herself into my arms carrying me back onto the big bed. She kissed my face repeatedly as she clutched me tightly.
I held her mutely as she finally calmed. I raised her face with my finger under her chin, as I said, “Thank you, Caitlin, for your unselfish gift. Please do pray for me, as I go into harms way. More important, pray for my companions, particularly my true love. They, above all, need any protection you can extend.”
Caitlin nodded.
I said, “Now, my naked lovely Caitlin lass, either we get up right now, or I will turn over on you and ravish your perfect Irish body. This act making us late, and two ladies of our acquaintances angry.”
Caitlin smiled as she rolled off me, lying next to me, stretching like a cat. My hand naturally found her small breasts irresistible as she lay against me. She said, “We will have that opportunity another day. Krista promised that you would make love to me on your return from Fort Cheyenne.”
With that revelation, a now laughing Caitlin stood up, pulling me to my feet. She led me to a basin of now tepid water. She wiped down my body, cleaning me carefully with much attention to detail. At the conclusion Caitlin patted me dry.
She helped me dress in a black suit. The pants and white shirt went on slowly, with many kisses and caresses for the lovely lass Caitlin. I threaded my sheath knife on the belt, positioned in the small of my back. The shoulder holster was next. The twin straight draw holsters, with the paired short-barreled Colts were belted on. Caitlin helped me to fasten the thigh strap holster tiedowns.
Caitlin helped me into my jacket, tying my string tie. I swept her into my arms, kissing her extravagantly, swinging her off her feet as she squealed happily. I set her down. She was laughing as she poked me on the chest, saying, “Get downstairs, you have work to do tonight. I have work to do myself. You linger, and we shan’t be waiting until after any fort. Now away and be gone with you!”
We kissed lovingly, then stepped apart as Caitlin opened the door and shooed me down the steps.
I walked down the steps, into the bustle of the house getting ready for a big night. I walked into the small dining room. Dan was sitting with Miss Emma. Miss Emma was dressed solely in a thin white silk robe.
One of the near naked kitchen girls brought me coffee, and asked if I was hungry, and would a steak be satisfactory? I nodded, suddenly hungry, saying, “Yes, I am. A steak would be fine. Thank you.”
Emma smiled as she arched an eyebrow, asking, “Did you get any ‘rest’ during your rest?”
Dan snickered as I answered, “Yes, just a bit of rest, but it was very enjoyable none the less.”
They both laughed at that. I asked, “Krista?”
Emma replied, “She and Jan are talking to all our ladies about a new type of ‘French Letter’ from Tahiti. We are all very excited. We worry about diseases, of course, but also pregnancy. None of us wishes to become pregnant here on the frontier. It could be a death sentence to mother and child.”
Dan and I nodded soberly. Another part of the Old West where the reality was so stark and ugly compared to popular fiction.
By this time, my steak and potatoes had arrived. It was a large cut, well marbled, and let’s just say that the butcher did not trim much fat. I chowed down happily as we continued our conversation.
Emma continued briefing us about potential problems, “Sometimes it’s drunks who become abusive when their liquor intake impedes their sexual performance. Non-payment or failing to reach agreement can be a problem. On occasion, a man will want to slap around one of our ladies to achieve his satisfaction. Dan must stop this sort before any of the ladies is hurt.”
Dan was nodding. None of this seemed out of line from his bar bouncer days. I asked, “What if the man asks for a girl to thrash?”
Emma looked very serious now as she replied slowly, “I have one who will allow it, for a very high price. She takes enough laudanum to dull the pain. Activity like that must be watched carefully, to prevent permanent injury or death in the throes of ‘passion’.”
Dan and I nodded again. Human nature on the frontier, seemed similar to what we were familiar with in our own time. By now, I was ready for my after dinner coffee and cigar. One of the kitchen girls procured the cigar, lighting it and presenting it to me.
Dan excused himself. He wanted time to study the public space of the house and set up some defensive stops. I continued to sit with Emma, chatting about the denizens of Deadwood. I asked a question that puzzled me ever since Douglas Gansevoort hired me as a stagecoach guard,
“Emma, why doesn’t the stage company put twenty well-mounted, well armed men with the stagecoach for its trip to Fort Cheyenne?”
Emma laughed; then, smiling, she replied, “There are not twenty, ten or even two men in all of Deadwood who would leave their gold claims for that trip – for ANY price.”
I was surprised by that, and said so. Emma replied, “You forget. It is not ‘their’ gold. The gold being shipped belongs to big mines, smelters, assayer, conglomerators, and banks. These concerns bought the gold, and with it, the responsibility for its safe passage.”
She continued, “The army is no help. Between preoccupation with likely Indian attacks, and depleted ranks from desertions as soldiers join the gold fields, they have no troops to spare for a stage escort either.”
She looked at me fondly as she continued softly, “That is why you must be careful. You will be quite on your own as you guard that stagecoach.”
It made sense when she explained it. I just hoped that I could catch the robbers by surprise, and avoid them ‘surprising’ me.
During my rumination, Emma excused herself. She needed to deal with the many details of getting her house ready to do business tonight. I moved into the small parlor, sitting on one of the loveseats while I finished my coffee. I was staring out the window, but I wasn’t really seeing the scene. My mind was active visualizing the ‘possible’ confrontations and my responses. I did this same type of visualization before competitions. This seemed to be a slightly more important occasion.
I sat in the quiet, until Krista entered the parlor. She pulled me to my feet and into her arms. We kissed. She asked, “Ready?”
I answered, “Can’t think of anything else, so I must be.”
It was my standard response before a match. Krista laughed. She continued our ‘pre-match’ rituals as she reached down, loosening my guns in their holsters. I did the same for her. She handed me my skimmer. I put it on at a rakish angle. Krista laughed. She took it off my head, handing it to me. Still laughing, she said, “I’m not sure that I’m ready for this.”
I replied, “It will grow on you over time.”
K looked dubious as she lifted the hat slightly, contemplating it. She shook her head, decisively. She was still laughing when she said, “No, it won’t. That hat absofuckinglutely won’t ever ‘grow’ on me!”
The parlor door slid open, admitting Jan. She was familiar with our odd little rituals. She asked, “Done?”
K nodded as Jan continued, “Showtime. The customers are starting to gather, and you two need to be in position.”
We walked out, down the hall, through the sliding door, into the public bar. The bar was boisterous. One of the kitchen girls was operating the player piano and parlor organ -- another mechanical music box –both adding loud music to the din.
All the ‘ladies,’ including Gabrielle, were circulating the room, stopping to flirt with the men and inveigle them to ‘buy a lady a drink.’
Krista and I split up, with each of us sitting at separate round tables on opposite sides of the room. Mine was closest to the front door, giving me a vantage through a window of the road and the front gate. Dan and Jan were sitting together with Miss Emma, at her usual table in an alcove at the end of the bar. They had a good view of the room from their position.
Gabrielle would sit with me during her breaks from working the room. She was not sanguine about her chances to get a customer up to her room tonight. It was too long since payday for any of the men to have enough money to pay for her ‘services.’
Gabrielle was, however, being well plied with expensive watered down drinks and her cut from those would tide her over until payday.
Dan removed one belligerent drunk. That drunk wanted to fight. He swung at Dan, resulting in the room receiving a convincing display of Dan’s considerable unarmed fighting skills. The newly unconscious, and somewhat bruised, drunk was thrown out the door, through the gate into the muddy street. The rest of the men in the bar seemed to decide that fighting was not a good idea. Several noisy disputes quieted in the wake of Dan’s demonstration.
I looked outside, to see four young toughs climb off their horses tying them to the front fence. The leader, a scruffy young man with a badly pockmarked face, stopped at the gate long enough to release the ‘hold-down’ securing his pistol. That captured my full attention!
I stood up, putting on my skimmer. Krista, Dan and Jan were on their feet and moving with my signal. The front door opened inward with the hinges on the right side of the door.
I opened the front door for the four saddle tramps. They climbed the steps pushing in the door. ‘Pockmarked face’ saw my right hand holding the door open, and proceeded to make a very poor decision.
He drew his gun.
My left hand dropped inches to my left holster grabbing my Colt. I performed a ‘speed rock’ -- firing the gun at my hip as soon as it cleared the holster. The first shot hit ‘pockmarks’ in the belly, and I rode the recoil upward, triggering the gun twice more as it rose in my hand.
His pistol falling out of his hand unfired, he staggered backwards out the door, falling off the steps, sprawling on the front sidewalk unmoving.
I sidestepped, drawing my right side gun, ready to engage his companions, only to discover that the fight was over almost before it began. Krista had dispatched the saddle tramp on the far left with fast shots from her .45. The next was down from one well-placed shot across the room from Jan’s 38-55 Winchester. The next closest to me was lying on the step, gurgling blood around the blade of a bowie knife thrown by Dan.
None of the four had gotten off a shot. We were all uninjured. Jan and Dan were now vigilantly scanning the room to make fucking sure that our four attackers had no allies in the bar.
Efficient Miss Emma directed the clean up. First, ordering drinks for the house, she put her girls to work cleaning up the gunfight scene. We dragged the four bodies to the side of the house, while one of the kitchen girls went to fetch the undertaker.
The undertaker arrived nearly immediately, almost as if he was warned of impending death. I asked about the sheriff.
The undertaker replied, “He’s drunk at the Bullock House. This was your problem, and you handled it.”
The girls collected the weapons and personal effects from our assailants, as well as leading their horses back to the barn. We collected enough cash from the four bodies to pay for their funerals. The undertaker drove his body laden black wagon away.
By this time, the people and the player piano in Miss Emma’s were back at their pre-gunfight noise level. I said, “Not too affected by the shooting?”
Emma replied, “Death is an all too common occurrence in Deadwood.”
She nodded at us as she continued, “Again, I owe you more than I can possibly repay. I recognize the leader of these, the one with the marks on his face, as the man who terrorized us before. He told us that he would not be so ‘easy’ on us next time.”
Miss Emma shuddered and fell silent. Krista put her arms around her. The girls were efficiently washing the blood off the front steps and walk with buckets of water and mops. They would whitewash the stones in the walkway in the morning. Soon, no sign of the violent confrontation would exist except in our memory.
Continued in Chapter 16
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