A perfect start. A western story-closed for rasberry

[BRIGHTWELL]

Tanglewood, Utah elv. 6400 feet - pop. 2

That's right population 2. Not a busy place to say the least.

I'm Grainger Herd. I live in Tanglewood with my dog, Max.


It a bit hardscrabble here. There are pictures on the walls, only pictures on the wall don't tell the whole story. What is not on the wall is where I was shot at, where I was cut with a knife, lost my innocence and where I lay under the surgeon's knife.

Sorry there are no pictures of those events. Just my memories, most of which I would rather forget. I'm getting on in years, though I have seen the pasture several times. I have not yet been turned out.

You can smile if you like. Yeah, being here in Tanglewood is more like the high desert then the green pastures in the valleys further to the west. Yeah not far from here is the Colorado border. You can see a few of the mountain peak in Colorado from my front porch.

My lawyer says that might just be a good thing. I might have to cross the border in a hurry, probably at night. But that is another story. This story starts as all good stories start with a dark and stormy night.

Here in the mountains the storms move up the range from the South or over the mountains to the west. In this case it does not matter all that much. What matters is that a lady arrived in Tanglewood. She was a bit like Christopher Columbus. When she found the place, she didn't know where she was and had only a vague idea how she got there. And not real sure where she was going.


But by god she was lovely. I'll let her tell her side of the story now.

 

[rasberry]

An unfortunate Arrival

The coach rushed by hills and rocky outcrops towards some town in the middle of nowhere.

the sign post was littered with bullet holes and a cattle head skull wonderful ! should have gone to the north but with little funds left after the boat ride from England.A sign a hope of my fortune to change.We arrive in a dust bowl of a town the saloon with the blazing name of the Tanglewood and co next to it was a sort of Cat house with many cowboys coming and going.

As I stepped from the coach the man asked if I wanted to stay or head back a storm was coming in and he wanted to stable the horses I just waved him off and with my meager possessions looked for a hotel of proper lodgings to my taste a higher standard with no sawdust on the floor.

A roll of thunder in the distance better get inside before it rains.

 

[BRIGHTWELL]

excitment in Tanglewood

Claude Brouchua is busy the Mc Cormack Cattle Company had just paid off its wranglers and they all wanted to get drunk at the some time.
Claude is normally a slow moving man that fit the pace of Tanglewood. Slow. Well Twice a year the MCC pays off it employees. And they dash off to the nearest watering hole they can find.

With just two permanent residents and one dog finding excitement is a challenge. While the stage does go through (Denver to Salt Lake City) rarely does it stop. Full paying passengers get the full trip. The partial fare, drops you off just over the border. So when someone starts in Denver and heads west as a partial fare. Yeah you guested it. Welcome to Tanglewood, Utah. Population 2.


I guess with just two residents its easy to tell about the town.

On even ending years- Claude is the Mayor, post master, police chief.
Grainger Herd- is the fire chief, head selectman, pastor of the church. On odd ending years the reverse is true. Oh very up and up. The selectman makes a law and the Mayor/police chief enforces it or refuse to take notice of it and looks the other way.

For three years it has worked out fine. When Claude is the pastor of the church, fire and brimstone fall from the rafters. When Grainger is the pastor, the sweet love of God fills the air.

Claude is hard core ultra Conservative supporting low taxes and open carrying of guns on the streets and flying the flag every chance he gets.
Grainger is a soft spoken lightly left leaning Democrat that supports sales taxes on whiskey, quiet streets (that means turning in your guns to the police chief ), and open traffic through town. Now since Claude is mayor and the police chief and the bar tender all the cowboys know they have to bring in there guns to the bar. And this drives Claude crazy.

Grainger sits on his porch and just rocks away smiling brightly.

So lets set the scene for you.

In town are the following. One bar/music hall, one house of ladies (All from out side of town)/hotel. Jamaica vanStrope from Kingston, Colorado(Just over the border)runs the hotel and pleasure palace. For the two, three day periods. She splits her earnings 50/50 with the two men that run the town. One jail/courthouse/city hall, one store/post office/stable (pay at the bar, self service). When the bar is open, the store is closed. With two small bridges that the Army checks twice a year. One on the West side of town one on the East side of town.

Claude lives in his house near the Western bridge with full view of the town. Grainger lives east of the bridges about a quarter of a mile from town facing the mountains of Colorado. Claude cares deeply about the town and what happens in it. Grainger doesn't give a shit." Let them burn it down. It will give me something to do and then I can raise taxes on Claude's whiskey."

SO, when the stage coach stopped and let the lady out she found a wild crazy bustling town. Oh yeah, it happens for three days twice a year. MCC had just that paid off its employees at the rail junction(4 mile from town). There is no town at the junction because it had been burned down three times. And the railroads(Salt Lake & Saint George and Rio Grande )said, No! We are not going to rebuild it a fourth time.
So, when the lady arrived. The hotel was full( over flowing as a matter of fact with four to a room). Miss Jamaica VanStrope said try Grainger's place its just east of town a bit after the bridge. You can not miss it. Its is the only place East of town before you get to Kingston. "You want to go back to Colorado? No, then try Grainger's place he has a spare bed room."

 

[rasberry]

"Ok Miss Ill do just that" picking up my bags and shuffling off towards the directions she gave.


This town was just full of low life outlaw scum better hurry before one considers me as a play thing and take what little I had left( thunder clap and flash of lightening) thinking to my self come on Constance get a grip its only rain,as the first drops hit the dusty road I wanted so fast not to be in it,

Now where is this guy hope he isnt looking for some action I am not looking for a service and a lube job.Grainger sits on his porch and just rocks away smiling brightly. Yes that looks like him alright,

As i walk closer to him a small but familiar feeling like I know him from somewhere "EXCUSE ME KIND SIR" where may I find lodgings in this town as Miss Jamaica has no vacancy.

 

[BRIGHTWELL]

Tanglewood and Miss Jamaica

Grainger smiled widely." My, lil miss come out of the rain a sit a spell. As you can see I have two rocking chairs. One for me and the other for when some one stops by. So grab up a chair a sit a spell and let me tell you a story. For that is why I got two rockers here on the porch." He watches as the lady places her bags down next the spare chair.


Grainger starts rocking in his chair. He watches as the clouds start to darken, and the rain starts to come down harder. "First of all, Miss Jamaica told you both the truth and a lie. As for a room, oh yeah she is booked solid. I'm sure there was not a spare room to be had. That is the truth. If she spoke to you she did have a vacancy, and I hope I do not shock you, but if she did have a vacancy, it was between her legs, if you know what I mean. And that leads to her other vacancy, in her moral spirit. That is a grand void you couldn't jump over with the wildest horse. You see for three days Miss Jamaica will be taking care of the Tanglewood House. The after that it goes back to being the Tanglewood Hotel. If you see what I mean."


Grainger pauses and look toward the mountains. The clouds have moved and have covered the peeks of the mountains. He looks over at the woman and nods slowly.

"Well I'll tell you truly. Lodging in town. Not a chance. Nope not a chance at all. Now if you looking for in town lodging. Kingston is that way down the road. Its about two miles to the border then another five miles to the town. That is if your looking for in town lodging, that is. And it is raining."


Grainger rocks a little more. "I'll tell you another thing that Miss Jamaica didn't tell yeah. I'm not in town, yeah see. Two hundred feet after the bridge is the town line. I live in Grand County not in Tanglewood. Oh I'm not the Mayor in Tanglewood now. But I got to move the town line to do that. Right now I'm the town selectman and I don't have to live in the town to hold that job. But my last act as the selectman is to move the town line so I can be Mayor. Then at the end of next year Claude will move the line again so he can be Mayor again. Do you understand?"


"Now Claude lives in town and he has a spare room but Max sleeps in the spare room. And Claude loves Max. He loves Max almost as much as I do. But since he lives in town and I don't. Max sleeps in Claude's spare room. You can understand that right?"


"Yeah see, next year I'll be Mayor, after I move the town line, and Max will sleep in my spare room. Because I'll be in town and Claude will not. So Max will sleep here in my spare room. And since Max is not here he is with Claude. I have a spare room. That might be the room Miss Jamaica is talking about. Yeah, my spare room. And you need a room, right? I mean Max is not here, till next year that is. And he will not mind you being in the spare room."

 

[rasberry]

Who is max is he your son? (FLASH OF LIGHTENING)I jump at the sound of the thunder that followed as I did reaching for the derringer under my dress the flash of lightening again reveals the firearm in my hand not pointing at the man sharing comforts but out into the darkness.


Staring out pointing the weapon as if waiting for a movement breathing a little heavy I holster it .Sorry I didn't mean to endanger my stay got harassed in another town accused of being a underhand distraction in a high stakes card game in a chancery.

Left I did in the middle of the night before the sun rose in the morning anyhow I didn't I wasn't in with them those men were of charming desire but not the kind I would be in union with so I left perhaps they would follow me cause I took the bag by mistake that held the gold they stole.reaching into my bag a pouch a tobacco pouch in it was three nuggets of gold.I will give it to you for your help .

 

[BRIGHTWELL]

chancery, do tell

Grainger steadily rocks away listening to the woman. He pauses when she finishes with the offer of the three nuggets of gold. The rain is falling with great intensity latterly pouncing off ground. The dust is gone for a few days any way thinks Grainger.
"I'm afraid you are going to have to stay here at my place for a while, I would say at least three days. There will be no room at the house till then. And with this rain, traveling the seven miles to Kingston will take you a day in a half. The mud at half moon pass is thick this time of the year, when it rains like this. Ok its settled then you can sleep in the vice mayor's bed".

Grainger starts rocking again. "As for the rest of what you were say'n. Please keep that child's toy in that there giblet holster you got there. Meaning no disrespect, you understand, but the skin on one of these here mountain wranglers is mighty thick. And that there pop gun. Well. That will juss piss them off. And Claude and I want those cowboys fornicating till they run out of Mr. Mc Cormack's last dollar. I sure would not want to cheat old Claude out of his rightly tax revenues."


The clouds have covered all the tips of the mountains over in Colorado. "As for the rest of it, well, and I do mean this quite whole heartedly. Keep that Dutchman's poison out of sight. It could start a Spanish yellow fever out break like we had here a few years back. Oh it was bad, a very bad time. We had yauhoow crazies crawling all over the mountains. Max didn't get a wink of sleep. It was plumb driving him crazy. So for everyone sanity keep that poison out of sight."


Grainger rocks some more. "Got that stuff in a chancery, do tell!" Grainger smiles an nods his head. "I was in a chancery once back before the war. A dark forbidding place down in a basement . Barely got out alive. But I was a young pup back then looking for a thrill."

Grainger stands up and stretches. "Yeah have to understand some from the start young lady. I'll be glad to share the house with you. Its got just one room and you will have your own bed. Now I don't allow any funny business in my house. You being a woman and all. And I can not tell you strongly enough. Stay in your own bed. Women see my man tool and start crawling around the house wanting use of it. No! You keep control of your womanly urges."

 

[rasberry]

Oh kind sir, It is not of my wilds that should you be concerned its my temper you see I don't like men to take privilege mixed with my sweet smile as a go on with the undressing and the slap and tickle if you know what I mean.

I had a man once see me undressing and tried to entertain his pleasures with a quick grab and all but found I also had in my range to use a small bull whip he was so branded on his Johnson and yelped like a coyote dog.


So no you will not be taken easy to be of typical mark sense of a wolf in the smell scent of a female in heat.
oh and about "You keep control of your womanly urges." honey if you want me to you aint got the looking I am attracted too anyhow.

Now I am in need of some bathing and a refreshing up (looks in her bag pulling out a nice french corset)

Holds it to her chest and looks at the man rocking with in his chair You better not be peeking though the key hole or you might be getting an eye full of somethin.

I stand and head for the room humming Oh my darling, Clementine.

 

[BRIGHTWELL]

temper? rattlesnakes & mountain goats

Grainger walks over to a post holding up his roof. The rain is falling steadily and pouring down off the roof. He listens to her explain about her temper. And her methods of self protection.

"Temper is it. Welcome to the mountains young woman, Where we got angry rattlesnakes and wild mountain goat that just wonder where they please. Lift a rock and get bit. Climb a rock and get hit. Well it sounded good. Butted is more to the liking of the goats. Them rams are a mean and unpredictable types."

Grainger stretches against the post." Well a couple things to keep in mind. you want to bathe? Three hundred feet that way is the Tanglewood east bridge. The good thing about the rain is that it gets the river flowing. when the river is flowing you can take a bath in the shallow edge of the river. That would be under the bridge. Its the flatter point of the river. Other wise the river bank rises sharply"

Grainger watches the clouds settle over the mountains. Then returns to his rocking chair. And shakes his head. "Darn fool woman. Where do you think you are in the big city? There ain't no keyhole in any doors. Keyholes? You better try Denver or Salt Lake City for a key hole door."

Grainger starts rocking as the door closes. He yells through the closed door. "And another thing Doris stays in the kitchen. You can get as rattle snake angry as you want. She stays in the kitchen. Don't you think because your staying here you got the run of the house. Doris stays in the kitchen and that is all there is to it!"

 

[rasberry]

"Rattlesnakes and wild goats who the hell is this guy anyhow as long as I am out of the rain he can say anything he likes".


I change my clothes to something more less feminine and more practical.Walking back out to find him in his chair rocking back and forth like an old man with out a mangy dog for company


"So you know more of me than I of you tell me why are you so far from the main of town and Tanglewood is a small town not even a city like I am used to anyhow beggars cant be choosers I guess Looks as if the rain is slowing.

She sits next to him and hands him a small flask "its whiskey to warm you" sits back and watches as the drops ease " Yep its gonna be a slow time indeed".

 

[BRIGHTWELL]

whiskey?

"Whiskey?" Grainger takes a pull from the flak. "Hahhmm, smooth, yeah that isn't rot gut or redeye. I might be wrong but that's Kentucky mountain sipp'ns. Long ago on a riverboat going up the Ol' Missip. I tasted Kentucky mountain sipping whiskey. It was smooth. just like this."

Grainger stops rocking. The rain has let up. But the clouds still covered the peeks of the Colorado mountains.

"Ok, fair is fair. You living here you got a right to know. I got a lot of enemies. Here in Utah and scattered all over the west. The nearest army fort is Fort Bridger in Colorado. Technically I'm a Army deserter. Have been since the war ended. I have worked for both the government and against it. Both politically and in the military. I was at one point in three different armies at the same time. It was confusing to say the least. And in doing so, I made a lot of enemies. "

Grainger pause and took another sip. "I told you. I want to be mayor next year. and I have to live outside the town line so I can move the line at the end of the year. You still don't understand. OK. OK!"

Tanglewood has a population of two. If both Claude and I live in town we would cancel each other out and Max becomes the Mayor by default because Max is the Vice-Mayor. Max would by law receive all the tax money Claude and I collect. And this is important, both of us would be breaking the law living in town as a selectman. So one has to be out and one in."

 

[rasberry]

After the story ended I excused my presence and entered my room thinking of how to better my position here and ease my burden. Think Constance think what to do looking into the mirror I decided to go to town taking only my most expensive of lingerie and lace Scarlett dress I left by my window and headed for tangle wood.

Got there in time for the floorshow and slipped in by the back door looking around saw my opportunity perhaps the way to a mans heart is though his groin so ducking into a dressing room I changed from Constance to Connie naked I unpack my belongings and started to dress like what the mark would enjoy, red satin and velvet corset and satin panties a garter belt and fishnet stockings long knee high boots and a small but effective pistol for close encounters‘.

Just as I was going to make my entrance I thought of a better plan the cat house use your feminie charm yes, walked towards the cat house spotted a practice and walked up to the man tipping his hat and smiling “looking for a good time ?” with a pout and a sly smile kissing him on the cheek and rubbing my knee against his crutch.

His manhood began to bludge “well you are keen” as I spoke in a soften tone alluring as I dropped to my knees no telling whom may be watching his posturing changed as he began to reveal his pride and joy hmmmm so easy a slip and he would know pain unending.

He smelt of old hay and stale whisky and then I felt his hand on the back of my head grab a fist full of my red flowing hair and push himself forward the taste was as I remembered from my early days as a barmaid, disgusting but a necessary evil. he didn’t take long to make a deposit and in a huff blamed me for the early finish I wanted to throw up he left the room throwing me some coin and disappeared into the storm I spat his seed out onto the floor and steadied my self with a sip of whisky anything to kill the filth he gave.

Went looking for a rival if I made it easy for my stay was it possible to make him appreciate the gesture I guess we will soon know the truth.

 

[rasberry]

Now for the saloon, I walk slowly towards the flapping doors push one open and peer in looks safe enough typical cowboy assortment and a few dancing girls to entertain, a piano player playing some old tune rag but I was not there to soak up the atmosphere too bad, make my way though the crowd with a few ass slaps and a wolf whistle or too but I ignored it get to the bar keep and he looked up and smiled “ginger ale darling” he called I shook my head no and pointed at the whiskey bottle he looked at me kinda strange as if to say that aint for women folk but came with a glass and began to pour; I took one sip and coughed A man sitting next to me laughed “she cant hold her liquor” he scoffed I placed the glass up side down on the bar cool it Connie I told myself keep calm but my temper thought other wise and I used my foot to sweep out his stool leg and he fell backwards on the floor I turned to him and smiled “at least i can still stand “ I smiled and motioned the bar keep for another shot “I’m looking for someone his name is Claude you know where I might find him“.

 

[BRIGHTWELL]

lat me see

Claude Brouchua looks at the woman in the red satin dress and fishnet stockings long knee high boots. "You not from around here. Your from some place back east. No western woman in her right mind, or trained by her mahaw, would wear fishnets in the desert." Claude pauses and looks over the bar at the woman closer.


"I'll tell you this sister, you got all the fix'n for a right tasty meal. Though I doubt any cowboy here can afford the price. You look more like a ten dollar house in San Francisco or St Louis. Hell, neither Denver or Salt Lake got a 10 dollar house let alone Tanglewood. "

Claude leans back again. Looks at her face. " Do you really want to use that ten dollar body on two dollar cowboys. Because city ordinance 42.78 states and I do quote: 1) all acts of prostitution discover by the law are punishable.
2) all acts of prostitutions preformed in the city limits are punishable
3) all acts of prostitutions preformed in Grand County by residents or visitors or guests of a resident of the city are punishable."

Claude takes a breath. "Now with that all in mind. Who are you looking for the Mayor, the police chief or the post master? The reason is I am Claude Brouchua!"

 

[rasberry]

"Oh! no, I ain't no fixing any mans ten or twenty for that matter" she looks at the guy "and my attire was to get me noticed by you in particular like,and you thinking my Mahaw be approving not in a jack rabbits leap to avoiding a fang be striking rattle snake.

No if you want to ride this pony you be paying more than a small be getting pile of riches besides I ain't no whore.


With that said I walked back out and headed for the abode now he is a man that I can use to my advantage some.

Grainger Do you want to be top dog in this flea infested ghetto?.I do believe one thing is true
what if one meets with an unfortunate fate will the other inherit the town.

What if both of them meet a fate will it be open to a new birth what if max is marked and will there be a blood letting to determine a victor. what if the men that jumped my partner in Logan town come a calling and perhaps buy a marker by eliminating the weak wont know whose fired the shot that makes this place a vacancy.Time to make a wager down to who is the tougher one .

 

[BRIGHTWELL]

ghetto?

Grainger moves the rain barrel a little to the right of the stubby down pipe. He has been busy since the rain had stopped. He is standing at the corner of the house when he sees the woman comes walking up the road from town.

"Grainger Do you want to be top dog in this flea infested ghetto?"

Grainger looks up at his drain pipe. "You know the wind blows from the south most of the time. It just blows up the gap in the mountains. Not quite true north but close to it. " He walks around the woman to the front of the house and sits in his rocking chair. He is quiet for a while then looks at her in her red satin dress.

"I heard tell of a ghetto, a long while back. I was on a train heading south after the war. Saddest thing to see all that country burnt and lifeless. I mentioned that to a fella from New York City. He said he was from a ghetto called Hell's Kitchen. Not a nice place from what I understand. "

Grainger rocks a bit. He watches as the clouds start to break up over the mountains.

"Well I'll tell yeah somethin." He pauses as he watches a man comes up the road from Kingston. He is on a buckskin and sitting high in the saddle.
"I think I'm lost. Which way to Clearfield?

Grainger smiles at the stranger. " Clearfield?" Grainger looks at the woman. "Smile Lady this here fella more lost then you are. I mean your welcome here. I mean in two days the whores will be gone and it will be me and Max and Claude."
The man on the buckskin blinks Whores? Where can I partake in that den of wretched sins?

 

[rasberry]

I sits all quiet like waiting for a thought something all lady like but nothing much to say just smiles at the stranger and holds up her flask "good day Sir" she murmurs "good day I got me somethin to be doing no time for peddling my time.

I got up after being all social like even if he was to benefit from the plan something needed doing I have but a small caliber so all close and personable it will be.

I feel all tired now going to rest up but not in my bed but someone else s keeping that thought to my self Oh Max are you the lucky one lets see just how many rounds you will last.

Sneaking out was easy to find max first but What I needed was firepower it had to be something more powerful than my small but ineffective ways looking for a dealer something to trade the cat house Miss Jamaica vanStrope perhaps be knowing of a source to purchase some thing better.

I know only of shady dealings from back room places hushed in secret Why but if I make it easy for the transition no more divide he can have it all even perhaps just one man left standing.

 

[BRIGHTWELL]

Grainger/Claude/Max

Grainger watches as the stranger rides the buckskin down the road toward town. He turns as the woman gets up from the rocking chair."Good day, I got me somethin to be doing, no time for peddling my time" Grainger just nods his head.

"That's fine with me, peddling time leads to activities that just gets some folks in more trouble then its worth. Then again I all fore just letting the wind blow and the crops grow."


The clouds have moved off the mountains and the air feel somewhat fresher. "What I need is a good book. Grainger stands up and stretches his back and shoulders then moves in to the front of the house. There is a small three shelf book case that he turns to.


"Lets see what we got here."


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Claude pulls a stool over behind the bar. Time to clean the shotgun. The shot gun is a English Percussion Double by Mortimer, St. James, London. Engraved locks, hammers and furniture. 30" barrels and 12 bore. He had acquired it from a dealer in Kansas City as he was passing though the city. He lovingly lifts it out from behind the bar. The special cloth he uses is just under it. He starts rubbing the stock as a half drunk cowboy wonders in. His name is Tim Wilder. "What's you got there Claude?"

"Double barrel death son. Double barrel death."


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Max open an eye and looks down the street. The rain has let up and people start moving on the street again. He decides maybe it would be a good idea to get up and sniff around a little. He slowly climbs out of his bed and moves toward the door. He sees some thing move over to his right on Thumpers hill. It might be interesting to check it out. Slowly he moves toward the rise. Fully aware he might have to chase off the intruder.

 

[rasberry]

After a rest of but a few hours till the dawn broke I waited till Grainger was occupied with his morning ritual of scratching his groin the odd passing of gas and a belch or two I headed for town to scout out the place more.

Upon reaching the out skirts of Tanglewood decided to visit the general store perhaps a sarsaparilla to brighten up my mood but alas only root beer or whisky and no sign of Max yet
still looking around found me some pleasure in the fabrics of ye olde general store and the balding man behind the counter washing glasses and filling the mornings bake goods on the shelf, I noticed a man walking towards Thumpers hill he looked of distinguished born could be Max reaching for my pistol and cocked it no to easy to be made a villain now.

So to make acquaintance to him damsel in distress would work leaving the store and walking towards the same as the guy needed to know if it was him or not getting closer I call out baby has any one seen my baby falling in a heap on a log sobbing all a while my gun was ready to fire just making sure he was the one .

 

[BRIGHTWELL]

Max

Thumpers Hill is a steep rise of about ten feet off the flat ground near the corner of Claude's house. It is sandy and red clay mix. Several old gnarled grey and slate color roots stick out of the ground.


Max moves slowly toward the base of the of the rise. Max does not charge up the face of the rise. He is not interested in where the intruder goes as long as the intruder does not come to the rim of the ledge. From here he figures the intruder would be at the border of Claude's property.


Max watches the ledge of the with interest. He can smell the intruder when the wind blows the right way. Max sits on the ground and continues to look up at the rim. Then max hears a woman. He turns his head quickly in that direction. The woman sounds like she is in distress. This distracts Max from his vigil. He now is torn between checking of the woman in distress and the intruder on the hill.


Max decides that he must at least look in to the distress of the woman. He will return to check on the intruder as soon as he can.

 

[rasberry]

I wait till he is in sight "WILL SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME!" like a spider waiting till her prey touches the web entangles in it no escape.


I fane to faint to plead to his morality hoping he will aide a maiden in distress she waits not in distress but in anticipation.

As I waited to kill the guy named Max nothing appeared but a dog A dog! was this some kind of sick joke that Grainger thought up ,I certainly was not going to shoot a dog I strugled back to my feet and disengaged my fire arm I was mad as a cut snake in the summer sun but this wasn't going to ruin my plans.

gathered my self and headed back to the saloon opened the doors sat at a table closest the window what next rob a bank no bank rob a stage coach no horse THINK DAMN IT I know what to do walked up to Claude and smiled "I have a proposal for you?'.


Before Claude could utter a response I leaned over the bar and kissed him on the lips" how much do you think its worth to you to have a chancery here and the house wins most of the time and if that makes you take notice why not a small entertainment for the rich clients you have running though here like you said a ten dollar type entertainment strictly legal like of course perhaps put a peep hole and charge for a viewing. what if I was to be all nice like and like all bride church like pure enticement mind you this is all talking like so no laws are broke what do you say you up for a trial" with that I turned back to the table and sat looking out to the street.

 

[BRIGHTWELL]

Claude

At the far table four cowboys are half asleep and are trying to play a card game. while they had agreed to play some form of poker. No one is sure what game was agreed to. One of the cowboys a bit more awake then the others has been listening to the woman's proposition. ILLEGAL, restraint of trade, Sherman anti-trust act he calls out.

Claude looks at the cowboy. "Segal your an idiot, there is no restraint in trade in her proposal. If its any thing its an expansion in trade. The pee show concept is an interesting one indeed. It would mean an increase the revenue stream with no extra effort then drilling a hole so patrons could watch while they waited for the girl."
Claude walks over to the woman's table. "I like it, A sort of see it before you try it. I like it. And 10 cents a minute a look may just work out. I mean everyone gets a cut in the action Miss Jamaica and the girl of course, myself and you since its your idea. Sure 2 1/2 cents per view per minute for every one."


Claude turns and looks out toward the street. " You see something interesting?"


Just then Max walks in under the swinging gate doors. He walks around the table and lays down next to the woman's chair panting lightly.

"Well this is something. I think Max likes you. He doesn't take to strangers to often."


One of the cowboys notices the dog. He pokes the other guys. "We better get out of here. Out the back door!" Slowly and quietly they move toward the back door.


Max turns his head and shows his teeth at the cowboys.



* Sherman Anti-trust Act -One of the act’s main provisions outlaws all combinations that restrain trade between states or with foreign nations. This prohibition applies not only to formal cartels but also to any agreement to fix prices, limit industrial output, share markets, or exclude competition. A second key provision makes illegal all attempts to monopolize any part of trade or commerce in the United States. (1890)

 

[rasberry]

Easy Max Easy. "Seagull is it as in bird brain, why you slinking out the rear door not wanting to go the front like real men maybe hiding something hay Max?".


I stand up and cross the floor standing by the bar "yep max definitely afraid of something!"


"Couldn't help but notice you playing some cards there perhaps making a wager or two with the house even and odds two coin up two coin down, bet on the out come double your pocket
or you could be high in the saddle for some dealing with my boss here what do you say Claude?think the boys here have the gumption to bet on a sure thing tell ya what if he wins a free taking of miss pretty and if the house wins a horse would be fair a pony".

Connie winks to Claude lets see flips two coins and asks Claude to call before they hit the floor
the coins bounce as they hit making a jingle.

 

[BRIGHTWELL]

NPC-Ben Segal

"Nah lady, we be not go'n fer that." Ben edges toward the back door with the other three cowboys. They keep a nervous eye on the dog. "You don't understand, you're new in town. "

He swallows slowly as he moves closer to the back door. "No, yeah be right, that there dog's bite is something that your coin offer can not match. That there dog knows more then most men. If you knew. It would scare you too."

The other three cowboys reach the back door. Ben turns and gives Claude a finally look. "Claude you teller bout smiling Charlie!" And with that he scampers out the back door.

Claude chuckles deeply. "He is right about smiling Charlie. And no one to this day can figure out how Max knew." he shakes his head.

Seeing she did not understand. Claude tells her the story about smiling Charlie and his bicycle.


"Last spring Charlie Brogan was in Salt Lake City. He is a land surveyor for the rail road. Charlie is a city fella and not inclined to horses. Well while in Salt Lake City he needs to get around and walking can take a while. So Charlie buys himself a bicycle. So, the rail road tells Charlie to go down to the junction and look into whether it would be a good idea to put in a spur for the railroad. So to move cattle on to the cars."

Claude pauses to look down the street. He can see the four cowboys move down the street.

"Any way, Charlie puts his bicycle on the train and gets off at the junction, with his bike. He is at the junction about two hours and gets hungry. He gets on his bicycle and peddles in to town. Just as he comes over the bridge Max here sees him and charges toward him and grabs his pant leg and pulls him off the bike. "

Claude looks a Max and smiles and shakes his head. " You see as Max is the vice Mayor he is the enforcer of all ordinances in the city. So when they say 'Max will put the Bite on you' he is enforcing some ordinance or other. "


Claude stands up and looks at the woman and continues. "Any way, we meaning Grainger and I could not understand why Max put the bite on Charlie. We have 54 ordinances here on the books. And not one about bicycles."


"Anyway Max here is pulling Charlie toward the jail and neither of us could understand why. We get them separated and help Charlie and his bicycle over to the jail. We put the bike in the back room of the city hall and sit Charlie on one of the seats in the court room."

Claude wipes a glass and continues. " Well Grainger is the mayor and can not find any town law that Charlie has broken. So he decides to go down to Moab and check the county books. It takes a day to get to Moab and another to get back. So we keep Charlie in the jail with the door open till Grainger gets back. "

Claude puts the glass down on the bar. " And do you know what Grainger finds. That in 1873 the county commission passed a law requiring owners of bicycles to have a license." Claude smiles and looks at Max.

"When Grainger gets back he tells me about the county ordinance and we tell Charlie. He was guilty of riding a bicycle with out a license, and it would be a 10 dollar fine." Claude shakes his head.

"To this day no one can figure out how Max knew there was a law against unlicensed bicycles."

 

[rasberry]

I look at Claude and reach down to scratch Max's ear"Maybe he can sense evil in men but even dogs can have an off day'


I kneel down beside the dog stroking his head to his tail " I would have shot them dead if max was injured any beside while vermin like them roam the streets free he has to be on a collar and leash Max needs a loving home and a family that loves him as much as he would love them".

I stand back up brush off the dirt and leaves from my dress and ask the bar tender for a bowl of water and a turkey leg for Max.

"A bottle of bourbon and two glasses no spit please"Looking out the window and watching the stage pull in and two sharp dressed men disembark "yep make it three glasses Claude company is coming".