The Setting Sun (Closed for Risen and Ausus)

Vyvyan tromped through the snow, or at least what they thought was snow. The old papers didn’t account for what it was that truly fell from the skies and the smart ones didn’t ask. Some said it was snow, some said it was ash, the ash of a billion burnt souls. That thought made Vyvyan tighten the threadbare cloth around her shoulders. It was always cold. But there was nothing to do for it. A hundred generations since the last time the sun was seen, and it seemed it would never come back, that’s why the secret that Vyvyan held was so precious.

Her red hair was like fire against the ash that covered her shoulders and she shook off the grey flakes. She kept her hair close, so that she wouldn’t be easily seen. Sadly, there was no covering her curves, even though she wore clothing loose and away from her body. The discovery of her womanliness had always made things a little difficult in these times, and she, well, she had paid a dear price for being a woman. There was nothing to do for it. That’s why she was trudging in the snow, or ash, that’s why she made this trip daily to check on her discovery.

Her brother had discovered it, but when the Wreaver’s had found him, that had been the end. But before he had died he had shown Vyvyan where he was headed and how it worked. But she had been busy with the running of the camp, so it had taken her a lot longer than it would have him to prepare. But it was close, and she was ready. She had talked to the elders about the old days, she had made sure the family was taken care of and she was prepared. Or at least she hoped she was.

She was leaving. She stepped into the cave and shook herself off. The cave smelled of damp minerals, rich in the ground and she even found the air here, clearer somehow. She stepped deeper into the cavern, her eyes adjusting quickly to the light. Vyvyan found the switch and powered the room up. She didn’t dare use more than she needed and it was just as she thought. The flashing console told her that it was fully powered. She smiled, in what seemed the first time in forever.

“Now or never” She said to herself and worked on the power sequence, and set the year- 1856. It was far enough back that she would never have to see what happened to humanity, that she would never have to see what cruelty lay in store for humankind, and she would never have to witness the atrocities of nuclear weapons. Ever again.

Without thinking, Vyvyan stepped into the small pod, one that she had prepared months in advance for; there was a cask of water, a few clothes that didn’t look too dirty, a power converter and a few other things she didn’t know if she was going to need, all of it packed away as she crowded into the small pod. From the inside she couldn’t hear or see what was happening or hear it, other than the clock winding down. She was shaking, but ready.

Finally, a pinch to her side and blackness.

Vyvyan was coughing, hard and she had to push at the door in front of her, she fell from the pod to the ground practically choking from the smoke. Gasping for breath she was ready to call the whole thing off as a failure, when she felt it. The warmth seeped into her skin, and she rolled onto her back and stared at the sky.

It was blue.

The sun was out. Vyvyan could hardly believe it. The sun. She had never felt the sun in her life. She laid on the ground and let the warmth sink into her hands, her cold fingers, it was energizing, and hot. Very hot. Jumping up, Vyvyan looked around in wonder. The colors of the area simply amazed and delighted her.

“Yes!” She shrieked, and jumped. Where ever she was, whenever she was, it was sunny and she could breathe, and it had worked! The noise she made sent birds nearby into the sky. Birds! It brought another shriek from her throat.

“What in tarnation?” She heard the rough words and spun around. Standing before her was the oddest creature she had ever seen. It took her a moment to realize what it was. A horse! Her eyes widened and she took a step forward, her hand seeking contact with this mythical creature.

“I wouldn’t touch ole swifty here, he’s a bit skittish.” Vyvyan tore her eyes from the creature to the old grizzled man before her.

“Hi, I’m Vyvyan.” She managed to get out, and try to smile.

“Names, Edgar, an well I gathered little lady, that you were getting kilt or something with all that whoopin and hollarin goin on.

Vyvyan blushed and took a step back. “Well, I, um, well…” What could she tell him?

He just shook his head and motioned for her to follow him. She gathered her things from the pod as surreptitiously as she could while he walked away from her and headed in the opposite direction. She quickly caught up with him, after covering the pod with some bushes, it wouldn’t do much, but she didn’t know if she’d be coming back this way for a while.

“You girls, always getting out.” Edgar scoffed at her over his shoulder.
Vyvyan just nodded and plodded along behind him, wondering where she was going and what would happen.

As they walked into the town, Vyvyan had never seen so many people. There were more than a hundred! She stared at the dwellings, having never seen them above ground. She had to keep playing catch up with the old man, who hobbled along slowly, but Vyvyan was so distracted that she couldn’t stop looking around.

Edgar turned into one of the buildings, and Vyvyan eagerly followed after him. Entering just behind him, she marveled at the wood, and the intricate designs around the room, and all the cleverly placed chairs and tables, she smiled shyly at the men sitting at one of the tables. Vyvyan was startled when one lady came rushing down the stairs, with a smile on her face, her breast cleavage clearly exposed, it made Vyvyan look down at her own well hidden chest and cover it with her hands.

“Edgar, you know that if Mr. Graham catches you here, he’s going to be very angry.” The bustling woman chided Edgar with a small smile.

“Eh, he can take his anger and put it where the sun don’t shine. I brought you back one of the girls, seems a little quiet though, like she don’t remember somethun.”

“Well, she ain’t ours, but she is pretty enough. Child, come here.”

Vyvyan stepped closer to the woman, and breathed her in. She smelled so good! She listened quietly as the woman assessed her looks, and chided her for not dropping her gaze, but Vyvyan wasn’t about to look away. She was not only fascinated but knew that she could take out this woman with one swipe of her hand.

“What is your name?”

“Vyvyan”

“Well, we need a bargirl, you’ll get a penny a week, and whatever you can get off the gents.” She laughed at the last part then abruptly stopped when Vyvyan didn’t laugh. “Well I am Mrs. Graham to you, and you’ll have the proper respect. Penny!” She hollered the last word and a girl came clumsily running down the stairs.

“Take her off and get her ready.”

Vyvyan followed the girl out of the room, watching her closely.


Those first weeks had been difficult; Vyvyan stuck out in small ways, and once in serving a round of whiskey to a table one of them had grabbed her ass. Two seconds he was on the floor, with her foot cutting off his air supply. She had been pulled off him, and after apologizing to each other, Vyvyan had been held in cool regard. The men didn’t touch her unless they asked, or she started it. Some of the other women in the saloon had asked her to show them a few moves, and after sharing her knowledge, none of the woman came to dinner with bruises, and the men learned to behave themselves around the women. All in all it was a very nice place. She knew what the future held for the human race, what did it hold for her?

One day, in the heat of the summer, Vyvyan was serving water to one of the tables, just as she passed the front door she looked away, and slammed into someone drenching the front of him. She turned very slowly, to look into the deepest pair of blue eyes she had ever seen, the wicked smirk and flash of anger in those eyes told her to move. Immediately. But Vyvyan was rooted to the spot, while her mouth hung open. She was mortified to have poured water all over this gorgeous cowboy, and she burned bright red for it.

http://fc05.deviantart.net/fs40/f/2009/052/f/d/Halogenic_by_PersephoneStock.jpg

The sun shined bright as Jesse ended a long few weeks on the trail with a stop at the town blacksmith for a fresh set of shoes for Buster his horse. He flipped a coin to the smith and asked him to take Buster to the stable when he was done. The smith replied with his customary, "Sure thing Mr. Stone."

Jesse had spent the last few weeks working with a kid from town at his dwindling mining claim. It had been good to him for years, and he had built up a nice little nest egg, but the past months had yielded nothing but occasional small nuggets and powder. Tommy was hired to work the claim mainly because he was the only young man in town who had proven himself honest but he had turned out to be a hard worker too. Tommy would stay at the claim and work it while Jesse spent his time enjoying his days and searching for new opportunities to turn his nest egg into something more like a lifetime of wealth. *

Jesse loosened the saddle, flipped his saddle bags over his shoulder and pulled his rifle from it's well worn scabbard before heading to the little boarding house at the end of the road.

Jesse picked an old yellow rose as he passed through the gate and tapped the partially open door with his boot. Nobody would ever sneak inside this door the way it creaked, and an elderly woman came wobbling out of the kitchen with a hefty iron skillet in her strong *hand. The hot grease in the skillet made a formidable weapon. God save the fool who ever gave her grief. "Good evenin' Miss Whicker, I'm back from my claim and everything is doin' fine," said Jesse." as he set the rose in her free hand.

"Welcome home Jesse, I guess you'll be headed off to the saloon then. There'll be a stew on the fire if you want it." she said in her wizened old voice.

Jesse answered, "No thanks, I'll eat at the diner. Have a good night." He headed to his room, dumped his gear and headed out to the saloon in his traveling leathers, ready for some whiskey and something to sit on other than a saddle or a rock.

Jesse stopped at the stable and paid another month boarding for his horse and headed for the saloon. As he walked down the street, he greeted many a familiar face. This town was rough, but the people were as good as anyone could expect. The Sheriff was a tough, honest man and he had a couple of good solid deputies. That, if nothing else, kept the rabble from getting too crazy. Jesse had a reputation in town that earned him enough respect to satisfy him. The fools knew to stay clear of him, and the better men were too interested in getting him into their business deals to give him a hard time.

In the absence of anything better, it was a place to call home.

Jesse could hear the raucous noise from the saloon. He could almost taste the whiskey on his lips as he walked through the door, but instead of a glass of spirits he was assailed by a flurry of red hair and a tray of glasses shattering across the floor after emptying their contents down his front.

He looked over his assailant and resisted the first angry words to come to mind as he was greeted by a gorgeous face that was turning a flaming red and looked like she had just stepped on the good lords toes.

Jesse heard a familiar chuckle from the corner of the room and knew that Edgar had somehow found his way back into the good graces of the establishment. He hid the smile that threatened to appear as he wondered where this new face had come from.

He spoke in a stiff irritated tone and introduced himself. "Well pardon me miss. The name's Jesse Stone and I know I need a bath, but I usually have to pay Mrs. Graham for one. Thank her for me miss, but tell her I'm only gonna' pay for the hot ones."

Jesse let his smile show then, and took his hat off. "So where did this new face come from Ed?" he asked with a chuckle but he never took his eyes away from the red headed beauty so close inside his guard.

Vyvyan wanted to melt at the tenor of Jesse’s voice, it was deep and rough, like a man who saved his words and his throat was unused to speech. His words however, made her seethe. She hastily rearranged the tipped cups on her tray and placed a hand haughtily on her hip. She tried to smile, but it felt forced.

“The name is Vyvyan, Sir and I’ve been here for a while though I’ve never seen the likes of you before.” Her voice dripped with disdain, she stepped forward still and dared to wipe off the front of his shirt, clicking her tongue under her breath. Her heart stilled a little when their fingers…

“BEEP!”

Vyvyan’s eyes widened at the sound coming from her wrist PEA device, she had completely forgotten that it was on. She handed Jesse her tray, turned on heel and ran out the door. The night air calmed her nerves, while she paced back and forth, her thoughts running wild.

“What was that? How could she be? Could she? Should she? There was no way that the PEA could be right. Did it even work here? Oh god.”

Daring to look down at her wrist, the percentage flashed 99% over and over, till she cleared it. Vyvyan sighed and allowed her body to relax as she looked up at the dusky sky, watching the tiny stars reveal themselves as the sun disappeared. She still hadn’t gotten used to seeing the brilliant night sky, the cloud cover from home never allowed for that. Vyvyan exhaled finally. It seemed this time worked for her. Even her PEA device agreed with that assessment, when it alerted her earlier.

Her mind wandered back to the day it was installed.

“What is it Elder Cre?” A very young Vyvyan stared at the metal and plastic bracelet that now circled her wrist and seemed to pulse.

“Your PEA Device child.” The Elder answered wearily, turning over Vyvyan’s wrist and inspecting the incision point. “See this? It’s where the device reads the chemicals produce in your brain, by checking the ratio of PEA and Dopamine in your…” She trailed off, seeing Vyvyan’s confused face. “Basically child, when you touch another, perhaps someone you like, this bracelet will assess your compatibility for each other and give you a percentage, more or less, will there be a happily ever after?” The older woman smiled at Vyvyan, “Will you meet your prince or princess someday?”

“But, Elder! Boys are stupid! And girls, mean!” Vyvyan pouted.

The Elder had patted her hand.

“You won’t always feel that way…”
Vyvyan pounded her head against the wood railing.
“No kidding.”

Behind her, the music started up and she sauntered back inside. Vyvyan stared at Jesse for a minute, he was talking with some other men. He looked up when he saw her staring at him, and he smiled.

“Now or never Vyvyan.” She whispered for her benefit only, stepping inside and taking up her tray, painting a smile on her face and carousing with the men, all the while keeping Jesse in her sights. She flitted about the room, taking orders before making it to his side.

“What can I get you Sir?” She practically shouted over the din, while her knees shook and she did her best to not look in those blue eyes. “Well? What will you have?”

The gorgeous redhead introduced herself, and apparently saw no humor at all in Jesse's sarcasm. “The name is Vyvyan, Sir and I’ve been here for a while though I’ve never seen the likes of you before.”

Jesse began to reply when he heard what he thought was a bird in her pocket. She heard it too and a look he could hardly interpret crossed her face, somewhere in between confusion, anger and excitement. With a sudden flurry of motion she handed the tray to Jesse and bolted out the door. Jesse turned to watch her go with an odd look of confusion on his own face before setting the tray down on a nearby table and shaking his head as he looked over at Edgar who was still chuckling.

He sat down next to the old trail tramp with a nod. Edgar, interpreting his expression provided the answer to Jesse's unspoken question in his gruff voice, "That there Jes is the talk of the town, and I daresay the reason old Graham don't mind me wettin' my whistle here. She opened up and whooped ass on a gent a couple weeks ago for touching her ass without askin'. Now there ain't hardly a man with nerve enough to ask to touch it!

"I found her up in the woods, and thinkin' that there was only one place a woman that purty coulda' come from I brought her here. Turns out nobody ever seen her before that day, but she's took to the place like she'd been here all of her life. Kinda' makes you wonder what she's runnin' from, except she ain't kept runnin'."

Jesse listened, growing more interested as the story went along, partly because any news in these parts was interesting, and partly because she was about the prettiest thing he'd ever had a collision with.*

Edgar continued, "She took to teachin' some of the girls here how to protect themselves, and I swear she changed this here whorehouse for the better. The girls ain't as afraid as they used to be, and the gents have almost as much respect for all the girls now as they have for old Toothless Tess. Now the girls all talk more and don't act near as shy as they used to. I'm guessin' they figure they don't have to be livin' a'feared of the lesser men gettin' physical anymore when they're behind closed doors and all braved up from the liquor."

A couple of other men at their table nodded in agreement. Even in a town of mostly decent people, there were always the few who darkened the streets with their bravado and lack of wit. Jesse was picky about who he associated himself with and had grown to trust the insights of old Edgar. If he said there was more to this woman than red hair, she might be worth giving a second look.

Edgar next asked about Jesse's general welfare and Jesse faded into generalities and the weather as he watched the room, sizing up the crowd and thinking through this mysterious womans impact on the ladies.

As Edgar began telling a tale of trapping in the mountains which Jesse had heard a dozen times, Jesse drifted off in thought, when out of the corner of his eye he caught the redhead staring at him from the doorway. He smiled, wondering just what was going through her mind, and watched her as she toured the room tending to customers, subtly glancing back at him.

"How many of'em have you seen Jesse?" he heard Edgar interrupt his thoughts but had no idea what he was being asked. With a blank, irritated stare he looked back at Edgar, but Edgar didn't miss a beat, and seeing that his friend was lost in thought went almost seamlessly back to his own self-amusing storytelling.

The next moment he felt someone hovering by his shoulder and turned to look up at Vyvyan whose voice rose above the chatter, “What can I get you Sir?”

She didn't look him in the eyes which was something that always caught his attention and it's potential meanings ran through his mind.

“Well? What will you have?” she pushed.

"Vyvyan." He paused letting her name linger between them for a moment while looking her dead in the eye in an attempt to draw her gaze away from everywhere else in the room before continuing, "I think I'd like some whiskey and tonights special, whatever that is, with extra gravy. And send a message to Mr. Graham. Tell him I'm back in town and would like a word with him."

His curiosity about this girl grew by the minute as he watched her.

Vyvyan stared at him. Her eyes kept traveling to his lips; she bit her own instead. He had asked her something, no. That was wrong. He had ordered something from her. His words, though they were simple seemed to demand her to follow them to the letter. She frowned. Part of her, wanted to tell him to sit his ass down and he would take what he got and like it. Part of her. The other part, the part of her that was still staring at his lips as his pink tongue dragged over them, that part of her spoke up first.

“Yes Sir.”

She spun on her heel, even as the sound in the room died, and she was followed by the sound of Edgar’s wheezing laughter. The ladies of the saloon, stared at her with curious eyes, many of them wondering if she was okay. Vyvyan quietly instructed the barman as to the drink and let the house cook know of the order. She quietly made her way upstairs, not daring to look at the bar floor, even as the sound returned to normal. Vyvyan breathed a sigh of relief, and headed into the Grahams’ office after knocking on the door lightly.

“Ahh, Miss Vyvy. What brings you to my offices when you should be wiling away the night with some cowboy?”

The Monsieur Graham was a big man, jovial, and dead serious about his business. He adored “his girls” as he saw them, even partaking of some of their charms, while his wife politely turned her head and ignored the dalliances, being the proper Victorian wife, no matter, the girl’s he played with never lasted long after the Monsieur enjoyed them. Vyvy, as he referred to her, was a personal favorite of both the Grahams. Her quiet grace, strength and beauty had easily won them over. Childless themselves, they often doted upon their favorites.

“The Mr. Jesse Stone is downstairs and he has requested a word with you.”

“That cut throat?!” Mr. Graham laughed loudly, and winked at Vyvyan, as he began to clean up his desk. “That man strikes it rich in the goldmines, and suddenly thinks that he can order the good people of this town around! He’s just lucky he’s paid his tab!”

Vyvyan just giggled at the older man, and nodded when he ordered a whiskey for himself and asked Vyvyan to bring the man up. Just as she was about to step out into the hall, Mrs. Graham came rushing into the room. She spied Vyvy and grinned.

“Seems the Mr. Stone hasn’t stopped watching our little Vyvy all night, and he’s asked to speak to you, husband.” The Mrs. Graham spoke quickly and excitedly.

“I know, daft woman!” Mr Graham roared at his wife, “well, at least I knew the second part. Watching our Vyvy eh?” His eyes ran over Vyvyan and then he grinned.

“Vyvyan, prepare one of the rooms after you fetch the Mr. Stone, and then please await him there, you will see to him this evening.”

“Wha-?” Vyvyan stammered.

“Go on then girl,” Mr. Graham winked cheekily at Vyvyan and she giggled lightly even as she wanted to hit the man.

“Remember your training, child. Make us proud.” Mrs. Graham gushed as Vyvyan dazedly walked out.

Vyvyan strode down the stairs and collected both drinks for the men, serenely making her way to Jesse’s side, waiting for him to turn to her.

“The Monsieur will see you.” She turned and led the way for them, through the whispering crowd, she could feel his body near her and it took every ounce of concentration to not trip with her tray, or spin quickly and throw herself at the cowboy directly behind her.

As they arrived in the office, she absently served both the men their whisky and quietly slipped out, very careful not to make eye-contact with Jesse. He was distracted by the Monsieur anyway.

Vyvyan chose the simplest room to prepare, because it didn’t have all the glitz of the other rooms, and she imagined that Jesse would appreciate the quiet simplicity of the room. She made sure that there was water for the tub and that the sheets were turned down. Just as Mrs. Graham had taught her she arranged herself sitting on the bed, her legs under her, her chest out and her hands gracefully in her lap so that any man could appreciate her form. She sat there for a while, and then she heard the door open. There was even a proper greeting.

“Good evening…”

“Oh it’s not him, girlie.” Vyvyan’s friend Anna came rushing in, “I forgot to tie my stays correctly and the Misses is gonna have a conniption if they aren’t right. Help?!”

“Come here. Silly girl.”

“Thanks!” Anna came rushing forward and turned her back to Vyvyan breathing out so that the stays could be tied as tightly as possible. “Oooh, I heard you are with the Mr. Jesse!”

“I am.”

“Isn’t he the most delicious looking gent?”

“He certainly is handsome.” Vyvyan said distractedly as she worked on the ties. Her fingers were deep in knots when she heard a soft chuckle. The girls both looked up to see the “gent” in question standing in the doorway.

“Eep! Sorry Mr. Jesse, excuse me!” Anna blabbered quickly.

“Anna no!!” Vyvyan squeaked, but in her embarrassment Anna stepped quickly away from Vyvyan, running out the door, her quick movement sent Vyvyan to the floor, where she landed with a thud.

“Good evening, Sir.”

Well, at least she had gotten one part right.

Jesse watched Vyvyan closely as he spoke. Every movement of her face told more of a story, and though that story was short, unverified and held more questions than answers, those questions were of a kind that Jesse loved to think about. Her simple answer said more. "Yes Sir." she said before turning and leaving.

Edgar started laughing but stopped up short when he saw the look on Jesse's face. The whole room appeared to have been watching his exchange, which bothered Jesse even more than Edgar. There was more to this story, Jesse thought as he watched her ascend the stairs.

He turned to look at Edgar when the few people who hadn't watched Vyvyan stopped looking at him. "What aren't you tellin' me old man?" he said to Edgar.

Edgar, with his traditional smart ass tone responded. "I told ya', she's the talk of the town."

"Uh huh." Jesse mumbled and sat quietly thinking as Edgar's chatter went from entertainment to annoying distraction.

Momentarily Vyvyan returned. Jesse subconsciously did not miss one step as she approached carrying his drink and handing it to him. She moved with grace, while more than half the women in this town could hardly define the word.

She walked up almost shyly, and Jesse wondered whether it was a front. She was a spirited woman, Jesse knew that much, but just how spirited remained to be seen. Her voice was quiet, steady and offered yet another clue that this lady wasn't the typical girl, “The Monsieur will see you.”

Jesse followed her, and noticed with pleasure that only the few who knew him were watching now. As she walked up the stairs with him behind her he was greeted with the shape of her shapely bum wagging at eye level. It was only then that he realized that she was not simply pretty. She was strong and agile. Her grace proved to be natural and effortless as he evaluated and appreciated her form.

She escorted him to Mr. Grahams office and quietly left the room. The portly Mr. Graham stood from behind his desk and offered his hand to Jesse, "Welcome back Jesse, have the mountains treated you well?"

Jesse responded by taking his hand, and shaking it firmly, hoping that it wouldn't be sweaty. "Howdy Abe. Yep, they're quiet, clean smelling and easy on the eye, unlike anything in this town other than Mrs. Graham and one or two of your girls."

Abe offered Jesse a seat and sat down behind his desk, taking a long pull from his whiskey as Jesse did the same, or at least, gave the appearance of a long drink, but took just enough to wet his lips and clear his throat.

Jesse kept Mr. Graham talking as he sized him up before moving on to the purpose of his visit. The old business man knew why he was here and had probably had many discussions with his wife. Jesse catching him off guard was no accident.

"So Abe, how's the saloon running these days?" Jesse asked, watching old Abe's nervousness almost as closely as he had watched Vyvyan's silky movements.

Abe stumbled over his words a bit as it sank in that today was a day to make a hard decision. "Business is as good as ever. Other mining towns are drying up but the river is keeping Riversong thriving." Jesse nodded, as that was the largest reason Jesse was considering settling in this town.

Abe continued, "The girls are in the best spirits I've ever seem'em these days, especially since our newest gem arrived a few weeks ago. Mrs. Graham tells me that you and she have hit it off quite nicely."

"If you mean that I've managed to piss her off already, then yup." Jesse didn't fail to notice a small bead of sweat growing on Mr. Graham's forehead, nor did he miss that the subject had changed, but it just meant more time for Abe to sweat.

Graham continued, "Ahh Jesse, never mind that. She's new here but she's a smooth one. I've never seen her so flustered as when I talked about you." Jesse's eyes narrowed when he heard that, but he kept his expressions in check as Abe continued. "I have her preparing herself for you as we speak. If I had to guess, I'd say she's a right treat between the sheets." He ended his comment with a big portly grin, his jowls jiggling as he chuckled.

There were things that Jesse liked about Abe, but his sense of humor wasn't one of them. He interrupted the older gentleman with a low, almost growling voice, "You know I won't pay for a woman."

"Oh no, this one's compliments of the house. We've been at this a long time Jesse, and I hope you're ready to make a deal."

And there it was. The sweat beads formed quickly on Abe's forehead then. Jesse almost felt bad for the guy having a tell that any half wit could read... almost. Abe took another long pull at his whiskey and Jesse figured it was time to strike.

"I'll take her Abe, but only because she aint like the rest of these girls. There's something about her that doesn't add up. Now Abe I've been ready to deal. The question is, are you? You have my offer, and you know my mind on this. Fish or cut bait. Are you ready to take your lovely lady and ride off into the sunset and retire in San Francisco or are we done here?" Jesse spoke his piece and sat back quietly watching Abe. He tried not to chuckle as the pudgy little fingers fiddled over themselves and the first true drop of sweat rolled down his nose and nearly landed in his whiskey glass.

After a long pause, Abe looked up at Jesse, "So that was your final offer?"

"Yup."

More fiddling and another pause, "You drive a hard bargain Jesse."

"Yup."

"And you'll be wanting to keep all the girls?"

"Yup, you won't be needin'em with your lovely temptress at your side." Jesse meant it. Mrs. Graham had skills that could make a man shudder, and though she rarely treated a man to them, Jesse would never forget the one time he'd met her in the dark hours.

Another drop of sweat. "Well shucks Jesse. I always planned on selling the place for more."

"Ok."

"Can you squeeze a little more out of all that gold? I mean, Mrs. Graham and I have our whole lives to go yet."

"Abe, you and I both know there's more gold in your safe than there is left in those hills up there. We've emptied more than one bottle of whiskey workin' his out. I'm done talkin'." Jesse knew his was the only viable offer Abe had seen in years, and he knew there wasn't another man with both the money and the brains to keep the place alive. It was time to make his move. Jesse stood up and this time he emptied his glass in one shot.

Jesse laid it on the line,"Cash on the barrel head Abe or you can wait for the next sucker to come along. You rich old miser, it's now or never. We got a deal or what?"

Poor old Mr. Graham almost started shivering. He'd owned this saloon and whorehouse for many years, and though Jesse didn't show it, he knew this had to be a very difficult decision. They had talked about it for months.

Abe stood up and pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket with one hand, wiping his forehead. "Truth be told Jesse, Mrs. Graham'll kill me if I don't take this deal. And I can't help thinking that sooner or later she's going to get tired of me sampling my own merchandise." He wiped again, and again Jesse found his opinions distasteful. "Ok Jesse, we have a deal." Abe offered Jesse his hand.

In this world, a handshake was as good as a contract, and Jesse was confident that Abe meant what he said so he took the mans hand and gave it a firm shake. Abe spoke again, and Jesse could hear the relief in his voice, "Congratulations Mr. Stone."

"Thanks Abe, I'll have the money to you in the morning."*

"Jesse, at least I know you'll take good care of the place. I think we got a fair deal all the way around."

"I do too Abe."

Mrs. Graham was not far from the door as Jesse walked out of the office, and she quickly ushered him further down the hall toward the room where Vyvyan waited. Before he reached the womans door, he heard a clatter down the hall and Mrs. Graham's shrill voice echoing from the top of the stairs, "Drinks all around, the Graham's are retiring'!"

So much for keeping his business to himself. Every soul in Riversong would know his business now. And not seeing either Jesse or Vyvyan come downstairs was going to explose yet more of his personal business, but thankfully he believed she hadn't heard Mrs. Graham. Jesse preferred his women to want his attentions, and that was yet to be determined with Vyvyan. He could hear two distracted voices in the room.

“Isn’t he the most delicious looking gent?” Said a familiar but unrecognized voice.

“He certainly is handsome.” That voice sounded like Vyvyan. That was a good start. He chuckled softly as he entered the doorway and spied the two girls.

“Eep! Sorry Mr. Jesse, excuse me!” Anna said and slipped out the door.

Vyvyan looked like she was about to run after her but instead she fell to the floor, landing on her hands and knees. Jesse had a thing for girls on their knees, and despite his every effort, his body reacted. She regained her composure quickly and the alure in her voice appeared genuine as she spoke from the floor “Good evening, Sir.” she said with implications hidden in her tone that Jesse could not fully interpret but that stirred his blood.

"Hello Vyvyan" Jesse returned, stopping his forward advance and looking her over. "Mr. Graham tells me you're mine for the night." He said as he walked over to her semi-sprawled form, shutting the door as he passed. He stepped close to her and began to offer her his hand but stopped short, pausing as he drew nearer. The view of her looking up at him was not something he wanted to lose just yet and it inspired other images in his mind.

*His eyes fell momentarily toward the steaming water of the bathtub and it hit him that the one thing he missed most about the town life was exactly that, a hot bath. His muscles ached from days in the saddle and hard work at his claim. The beautiful woman and the draw of the hot water sapped away his desire to turn away from this opportunity. The idea of that hot water and the service of this beautiful woman did the trick, and he admitted to himself that while he had never paid for the services of a whore in his life, the woman who shared the room with him did not come off as a whore. He wasn't sure how to size her up, but whore was the last thing he thought of when he looked at her.

He sighed, turning his eyes from the water to the girl on her knees in front of him and reluctantly offered her his hand.

Jesse looked so longingly at the tub before holding out his hand for her that Vyvyan knew what the weary miner really wanted. Gently, tentatively she placed her hand in his, and her mind wandered for but a moment.

She had fallen to the floor, it was so cold, the water dripped in the tunnel around her. A much younger Vyvyan whimpered, the pain from falling to her knees, and then the cold laughter of the Outsiders surrounded her. They routinely raided the settler’s tunnels for food, women and the general havoc that their presence incited. Vyvyan hadn’t heard the call and so was alone; they had shoved her to her knees and were now circling her, like a pack of wolves.

She stared at them hatred burning from her eyes, and one of them separated from the pack. He stepped in close and sniffed her, a feral look in his own. He growled. She was ripped from the floor and pinned against the wall. Hands pinched her, grabbed at her flesh; the leader stepped in close and pressed his wiry and rangy frame against her.

Her legs were roughly spread, her coverings shoved to the side.

Her PEA device beeped at her.

He laughed.

It beeped again.

He growled.

Pulling aside his coverings, Vyvyan turned her head; she closed her eyes and refused to watch. She didn’t make a noise. Maybe that ruined it. His violence wanted her fear. She refused. Her body spread wide, and taken. And then they were gone, their cries, laughter and growls trailing out the cavern.

It was cold. Vyvyan had fallen to the floor.

Her hand in his. It was over, and she was safe. She looked up and smiled at Jesse. That was the future, her past. It would never happen again. Something washed over Vyvyan-there was an element of power here. Vyvyan stood, and quickly made her way around the room preparing the bath. Her footsteps were light as her feet were bare, and she hissed at the heat while making sure there was extra water on the fire.

“I am sure you wish a bath, Sir.”

She said it matter of factly, with no tittering or giggling like another girl might’ve done. She stood still and stared up at Jesse. There was no fear in her eyes, just curiosity. He emanated power, she felt it. For some reason, in complete contrast to the event that marked her as a woman, she was curious about his strength. It was comfortable and exhilarating at the same time. Vyvyan yearned for his control and his comfort, her desire almost tangible in the room as she contemplated him. Smooth and confident in his movements, assured of the space that he occupied, Vyvyan was enraptured. She breathed in that earthy, spicy, scent of his that had filled the room and finally smiled.

“If you are ready Sir, I shall attend you.”

She moved to kneel at the side of the bed, ready to help him remove his boots. She looked over at him expectantly.

Vyvyan took his hand but paused with a far away look in her eyes. Jesse watched her face, something that he liked doing in nearly all of his interactions, and he liked to think it had developed into a fair skill, but her face hinted at soulful pain and he could only surmise the shallowest of insights from what he read there. As she stood he was sure of one thing, her tone had changed. The feisty aggression was gone and in it's place was a quiet assuredness.*

She did not look at him but quickly busied herself in the room testing the bath water. When she did look ar him and speak, her voice held the same confidence that Jesse was beginning to associate with her. "I am sure you wish a bath, Sir,” she said.

His smile came naturally as he nodded the affirmative, never taking his eyes off of her and lost in thought. She watched him
too and he found himself studying the features of her face and reading her body language. A hot bath and a beautiful woman. She was right, that was his wish.

She smiled, an intoxicating and unexpected sight but it set a tone that Jesse had every intention of capitalizing on. He could almost feel her from across the room. There was warmth in her expressions.

“If you are ready Sir, I shall attend you.” she said, breaking his train of thought as she knelt at the side of the bed. She looked back at him again and the expression on her face coalesced with all that Jesse had observed in the past few minutes. She wasn't just giving herself because she was paid to, she was enjoying it. Her enthusiasm began to boil in his veins.

He sat down on the bed over her, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees and his feet firmly planted on the floor. He looked down at her, smiled and considered kissing her but held it in check. Instead, he brushed a whisp of hair from her face and tucked it behind her ear. That hot bath was what he both wanted and needed most, for now.

"Attend me then." he said in a very low, deep voice. He took a long breath, laced with her pleasant feminine scent as he leaned back stretching tired muscles.

He nodded again, "A nice hot bath is what I want and I'd like to have that meal sent up too." he said before realizing that she would hear the news of him purchasing the establishment the second she left the room. He had already debated telling her, and decided that it would be better left until morning.

Jesse could feel the attraction developing between Vyvyan and himself, and it was too early to let his business interfere. He stood up, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Tend to the water Vyvyan. I'll handle the food."

He stepped quickly away and out the door, shutting it behind him. He paused outside the door to assure himself that she'd not leave the room behind him but he only made it a few steps down the hall before one of the girls he knew came bustling half dressed out of a door, quickly pulling her dress up over her shoulders. She bumped into him, turned around startled and gasped, "Oh hi Jesse."

Jesse grabbed her arm before she scurried away and she turned around with a devious smile on her face. "Oh, so the new boss wants two girls tonight?" She giggled up at him and batted her eyelashes playfully.

"Nahh Sarah, but I would like you to to do me a favor."

"Sure thing Jesse, what can I do for you?" He couldn't tell if she was faking her look of disappointment or not.

"Go down and bring me a plate of dinner. I'm starving. Bring some of that good Spanish wine they keep hidden in the back too and something we can drink it from. And Sarah," he gave her a look he knew she'd recognize. "I don't want anybody else bringing it but you, and I want you to keep yourself quiet. Don't go blabbin' my business. Can you do that?"

"Sure thing Jesse."

"Thanks. I won't forget it." he said as he turned on his heel and stepped back inside the door.

He returned to his former place on the edge of the bed, and out of habit started to pull his own boot off when he remembered the look on Vyvyan's face as she offered to do it for him. Being served by her was something he did not want to miss. He placed his boot back on the ground and smiled at her as he spoke. "Couldn't stand the idea of being interrupted." he said truthfully, leaving out the fact that he didn't want his news to spoil what promised to be a good night. Her back was to him as she poured boiling water from a pot which normally rested over the fire into the big, old claw foot tub. when she finished steam billowed upward. The water now looked invitingly hot and Jesse pulled his leather traveling jersey up over his head while speaking his thoughts, "So where are ya' from Vyvyan?" he asked.

He was so brusque in his actions. Vyvyan was a little confused when he asked for food then, changed his mind, and tromped out the door to get it. She tiptoed closer and peeked out the door, she watched him confront one of the other girls, Sarah- not one of Vyvyan's favorites, she was a little wild; but there he was hand around the woman's arm acting like he owned the place. When he came back in she had already scurried back to the tub and was pouring the hot water she had already made her face a mask of calm. But she was wondering what he was up to.

"So where are ya' from Vyvyan?"

She smiled and twisted her hair around her shoulder pulling it up, "Oh you know, around here. A farm girl." She said flippantly, without giving him much. It was strictly true, she was a farm girl, just from about three centuries from now.

"Your bath is-"

Sarah came barging in the door just then, all smiles and parfume invading the room.

"Your dinner and wine as you requested, boss." Sarah left just a hiss on the last syllable putting emphasis on the whole word. She giggled and left before either of them could say a word.

Vyvyan's heart fell. He was hiding something, and now Vyvyan knew what it was. Her marker had been bought, and now he owned her, and probably a few of the other girls too. She didn't like that she owed the saloon money, but she had been new and needed new dresses, and clothing, and then there were a few things. The Grahams knew that she was working to pay them back, but still they had turned and done this to her. Now she knew why she had been forced to come serve him, they were only trying to get rid of her. She suddenly felt like sobbing. Turning away from him, she took a few calming breaths, and poured some more hot water into the tub. When she was finally calm again, she turned back to him and smiled.

"As soon as you've finished eating, I will attend to your bath, by then the water should be the perfect temperature. I am sure it will help calm and soothe those frayed nerves Sir."

The delivery was smooth, but she dared not look at him, staring instead at his shins. She forced a smile back to her lips and met his eyes momentarily, again shocked at the blue that confronted her. Her own eyes were sad. Sad that she would have to again leave this place in the morning. Sad that she would only have one, bittersweet night with Jesse.

Because she would belong to no one.

"Oh you know, around here. A farm girl." Vyvyans tone changed, subtly but unmistakeably. But what would it mean? He listened more carefully as she began to speak again but before she could get more than a couple of more words out, the door to the room flew open.

Sarah stepped in and set down the requested items with a smart ass look on her face. "Your dinner and wine as you requested, boss." Jesse had to resist the urge to stop her before she left. She must have forgotten his last words to her.

The change in Vyvyans demeanor was less than obvious, the tone in her voice was almost unchanged but it was the little gasp, the flash of her eyes as Sarah spoke that told Jesse this evening would not be as innocent as he wanted. The cat was out of the bag.

Vyvyan spoke as cool as Jesse might have expected. "As soon as you've finished eating, I will attend to your bath, by then the water should be the perfect temperature. I am sure it will help calm and soothe those frayed nerves Sir."

Jesse chuckled to himself and took a bite of his food, not even noticing how delicious it was as he considered the ways he might recover this night. Two things were sure. Vyvyan had not missed the cold clue Sarah had dropped in the room, and Sarah's days working for Jesse had ended almost as quickly as they had started. Another truth quickly became obvious, Vyvyan was as cool as could be. She played as if nothing had changed but Jesse knew otherwise. This girl was sharp. The trust of a good woman in this establishment was more important than a hot bath and a night between the sheets.

Now Jesse knew what he had to do. He swallowed his next bite, and as he began to cut into the succulent piece of meat he spoke, "Vyvyan, I have another task for you. Please go find Mrs. Graham before you go any further, and ask her to bring Sarah here immediately. The bath can wait." He paused. That bath was more than a desire, it was a need after so many cold weeks on the trail. "But put some more water on the fire, it won't wait long." He put the next bite in his mouth and watched every expression on her face.

Vyvyan was much more careful and controlled than any farm girl from around here. Jesse knew he'd been lied to, but what did the lies really mean? He savored the taste of his food this time as he leaned back and wondered how this little drama would unfold.

Jesse eyed her like he didn't quite believe what she was saying. She hadn't expected him to be so sharp, but it didn't matter. His next words didn't surprise her at all. He would rather have Sarah than her, it certainly made sense, Sarah was more pleasing on the eyes than Vyvyan.

"Vyvyan, I have another task for you. Please go find Mrs. Graham before you go any further, and ask her to bring Sarah here immediately. The bath can wait."

She nodded, but before she could take a step, he continued.

"But put some more water on the fire, it won't wait long."

"Yes Sir." Just a bare whisper, before she bit her lip, turned and put some more water on the fire. It wasn't much, but then it didn't matter, she wasn't going to be serving him tonight. Sarah was. Vyvyan was going to be packing her bags.

She kept her eyes low as she strode from the room, she felt like crying after being so summarily dismissed. She was only a serving girl! She hadn't had time to learn the nuances of being with a gentleman yet! Especially one like Jesse. Vyvyan held back the tears, but only slightly, before she met up with Mrs. Graham, who of course, was celebrating. Happy to be rid of me, thought Vyvyan. She was surprised though, she thought that the Graham's liked her.

"Mrs. Graham, Mr. Stone would like Sarah sent to his room. I'm not feeling all that well, so I am seeking my bed for the night." Before the stunned woman could say another word, Vyvyan turned on heel and fled back to her room. This time she didn't stop the tears from falling. She just let them fall down her cheeks, she threw herself onto the bed, letting the sobs wrack her body. It took her a few minutes to calm herself. She loved it here so much, and now she had to leave.

With very heavy hands and an even heavier heart, Vyvyan began to pack her things.

Vyvyan left the room and time passed quickly as Jesse enjoyed the hot meal and thought about how good an even hotter bath would be. He thought about Vyvyan and the small clues to this mysterious new girl. Dragging her into the water with him was inevitable. He grinned at that thought.

It wasn't until Sarah walked into the room by herself spewing nonsense with her smart ass tone that he knew something wasn't right. Where was Mrs. Graham? He set his plate aside and swallowed a surge of frustration and hiding none of it as he asked the first thing on his mind, "Didn't Mrs. Graham come with you?"

"Nope. She told me you was a'wantin me for the night and I better git up here quick." Sarah answered. "What's th'matter Jesse, Vyv caint satisfy ya?"

Jesse first answered by ignoring her as he stood, stepping past her and into the hall. Where had Vyvyan gone? He stepped back into the room and took Sarah by the arm, turning her and looking down into her eyes. She started to speak, but was cut short by his tone as his words came slow, deep, and deliberate. "Sarah, I told you I wouldn't forget the favor. Go ask Mrs. Graham to come up here with you."

She left with her typical confused expression, failing to close the door behind her. Jesse sat down again and laid into his meal as his composure returned and his senses once again enjoyed a bite of perfectly rare steak.

Momentarily he heard footsteps over the muted sounds of the saloon which was becoming more crowded with the evening revelers. Mrs. Graham's voice humming a tune became audible just before the two women entered the room. Mrs. Graham looked a little drunk, Sarah looked a little lost, and Jesse figured he must look silly as hell, trail worn, tired, and partially unclothed. Mrs. Graham confirmed her drunken state by never once looking him in the eye as her eyes strayed to the crotch of Jesse's leather riding pants.

Jesse grinned when her eyes jerked back up as he began to speak. "Mrs. Graham, I don't want to interrupt your celebration, but I have a courtesy to ask of you..."

Mrs. Graham cut him off, "Oh, not at all Jesse sir, you know, right about now there isn't a thing I wouldn't do to you." Listening, Sarah giggled like the ignorant little fool she had turned out to be.

Jesse began again, "Thanks, but what I need you to do is take Sarah to her room, gather her trappings and send her packin'. I don't need girls I can't trust.

Sarah's face turned bright red and her mouth opened in what looked like a silent scream while she tried to figure out how to attack Jesse. Mrs. Graham saw what was coming and quickly put her hand over the girls mouth. She appeared to sober up instantly as she turned the girl around and shuffled her out the door, telling her to go to her room. She turned back around, her voice sounding distressed as she spoke, "Jesse, are you sure you wanna do that? She brings in a fair nights earnings. She'll do almost anything for just about any man who has a dollar and you have to know how pretty she is"

Jesse nodded as she spoke and took a deep breath before he replied. "Yep. She'll be a good lesson to the rest of the girls who might have a mind to stir up trouble and not do what they're told. You can put her up and take her to San Francisco if you want her. I may not own the place just yet, but she won't be working for me and I won't let her stay here. The girls will know right quick what the consequences of making trouble in this house are."

It didn't take long for Mrs. Graham to recognize the profitability of taking Sarah with her. She had always been a little more willing to tolerate the games the girls played, but she had to respect Jesse's decision. She wondered if she might have created herself a lot of grief by not being willing to cut a girl loose like that once in a while. Jesse still had a fine stable of lovely and willing whores to serve the town with, and he was right that Sarah was a troublemaker. She held her expressions in check as she responded. "Alright Jesse, I'll have her out of here right away, and I'll make sure the rumor gets out that she disobeyed you if that's what you want."

*"Perfect." Jesse replied.

She wasn't through working her angles yet. She wandered over to stand in front of him, nearly between his thighs. "You know Jesse, I sure wouldn't mind takin' a little piece of you away with me tonight. You know, somethin' to remember you by." She looked back down at his crotch.

Jesse looked up at her from his seat and considered the proposal. She was damn good at her profession, but it was Vyvyan that had stirred his blood tonight. "I might like that, but you already promised me Vyvyan and you know there aren't many girls I'll lay with. I'd like to see what she's worth," he lied. He knew Mrs. Graham well enough to know she would not be slighted by his response. More than anything he wanted to see what the new girl was about. She wasn't playing straight with him.

Mrs. Graham smiled and whispered, "Another time then. I insist." She turned to go tend to Sarah.

"Another time then you minx." Jesse laughed but justust before she left the room Jesse added, "See what happened to Vyvyan for me, would ya?"

She nodded and left the room with a wink and a smile, shutting the door behind her.

Jesse took his last bites of dinner and went back to thinking of the hot water. The kettle was boiling and he was past ready to wash the trail off. He poured the hot water in the tub, stripped the last of his cloths off and eased into the steaming bath. He laid his head back against the edge of the tub while heat penetrated his tired muscles and wondered what the flighty redhead must have been thinking when she left.

A very inebriated Mrs. Graham stormed into Vyvyan's room. Looking up in surprise, Vyvyan barely caught the woman as she stumbled and crashed to the bed.

"Mumgslakjhg..." Vyvyan turned the woman's head so that she wasn't talking into the pillow. "He wants you. Now..." The last drooling words of a drunken woman, and Vyvyan smoothed the hair from the dear lady's face.

Torn, she couldn't decide. Did she run? Did she report back to Jesse's room? She wouldn't sleep with him now, she couldn't. No man could ever own her, that would never be enough for her. Some of the girls could be satisfied to sit their days out at their man's side, but not Vyvyan, she wanted more, she wanted adventure, and to taste what the earth was like before it was destroyed. She'd be damned to have a man ruin it for her.

She grabbed her bags, and her knife. It was small enough to hide in her pocket, large enough to make a difference when she needed it. She switched out her voluminous skirts for some tight breeches she had stolen from one of the men. The hugged her in the right places, but also made it easier to move quickly when she needed it. A vest over the blouse, and Vyvyan pulled her hair up and away from her face. Her fellow denizens of the whorehouse would not look askance at her ensemble, but Jesse might.

With purpose she headed back to his room, her bag she set gingerly just outside the door, she was not going to advertise that she was leaving. He'd find out soon enough.

It looked as if he had finished his supper, and then she saw that he had completely disrobed and was about to step into the tub. She blushed but moved forward as he sank into the tub with a sigh. She made sure their was more water available and turned back the sheets.

"I thought Sarah was seeing to your needs, Sir. I am sorry if she didn't meet all of your standards. I shall try to see if there are any of the other girls who are available who might make your evening... more.. pleasant."

Vyvyan turned and smiled, a very fake brilliant smile to say the least, but her hand in her pocket fingered her blade, ready to make a move around Jesse's throat if he dared stop her.