The Wild West (Closed)

[silvertongue217]

The sun was setting casting the beautiful hills and canyons into half defined shadows. The sun hung low in the sky a few lazy clouds moving to block it every few seconds as the horse and its rider continued kicking up the dusty plumes of the trail. The West itself gave him a wide berth with the animals to busy scattering and tucking into their shelters in the night. Their were no other rides on the trail either which meant he was utterly alone as he rode up to the lone building over looking a small river.

He reached the building just as the setting sun gave way to the moon. He tied up his horse to one of the spokes and turned eyeing the building. The man was old, older than most. He had on a simple pair of black pants with a white T shirt tucked in and a black vest, a long leather duster lightly touched the ground swishing some spare sand around. A gun belt hung on his hip a shiny iron strapped to it that looked freshly polished and ready to do some damage. The outfit was completed with a wide brim black hat.

And a shiny sheriff badge

The man himself was interesting as well. He was a large man broad shouldered and built like a barn, his skin was a deep tan the kind you got when you spent most of your time outside and working. He was muscular as well in shockingly good shape for some one so old.

He gave the building one last look and then moved climbing up the short wooden stairs and to the door. He nodded at the man sitting outside ignoring the shotgun he had cradled in his arm and instead pushing the door open.

The bordello was alive with chatter people moving and mixing with the whores and ladies of the night. The man ignored all of them and the few making eyes at him as he made a bee line to the bar.

"Sheriff Smith!" The bartender said grinning a semi toothless grin "What brings you to our humble establishment?"

"Need to see the madame" Smith said taking his hat off and putting it on the table "And a whisky neat please"

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

Seeing the bartender motion for her from across the room, Angel excused herself from the table where she had been temporarily acting as dealer for a game of 21 and got someone else to come and replace her, much to the dismay of the group of men that had been playing. Her rosy bow-shaped lips turned up in a smile and she extended her apologies to the men, promising to return when she was able and leaving them with a flirtatious wink.

As she approached the bar it was easy to see why they had been so upset about her departure. Angel was a beautiful woman. Beautiful enough that she could have demanded top dollar as one of the brothel's "soiled doves" and still had men lining up to be with her. She had creamy fair skin that was unmarred by the sun and free of blemish even though, unlike many women of her profession, she wore only minimal makeup and was currently without any powder or rouge on. Her pale blonde hair was piled up in an elegant and carefully curled up-do, and she was currently wearing an off the shoulder blue velvet dress, the corset of which was pulled tight to show off her hourglass figure, and the shade of the dress precisely matching the deep sapphire of her eyes that shrewdly surveyed the room taking in every detail. She was a little older than many of the young women that she employed, though still fairly young herself, appearing to be somewhere in her late twenties or early thirties, though no one knew for certain.

Angel was very secretive of her past. All that was known for sure was that a little over a year ago she had arrived by train, her bejeweled and stylish appearance creating quite a stir among the rough residents of the mining town. She had checked in to a hotel giving the last name of Dumont and claiming that she was a widow, and had spent the next couple of days walking about and surveying the town before purchasing the plot of land by the river and building the bordello that now resided there. There were rumors that she had acquired her wealth prior to arriving at the town by gambling at various casinos in New Orleans, but no one knew for certain where she was originally from.

One thing that everyone was in agreement with though was that Angel had "a heart of gold", giving generously to the poverty stricken and charities in town and always making sure that the young women at her brothel were well taken care of and treated well by the patrons and male staff. Once when the brothel was still fairly new one of the patrons had gotten angry with one of the girls when she'd refused to perform a certain service for him and he'd struck her. Angel had been furious, having the bouncer take the man outside where she'd instructed him beat the man until he'd had a black eye and busted lip and then she herself had pulled out a small pistol from a holster rigged to her stocking garter and pointed it at the man's head, telling him that if he knew what was good for him he'd never come near her establishment again. Word of the incident had spread quickly and there had been little problem with people's behavior since then.

"What can I do for you sheriff?" she asked with a smile as she reached the bar.

 

[silvertongue217]

Sheriff heard her words and suppressed the urge to shiver. She had such a beautiful lit to her voice a soft musical note that always drew a guy in. Even a grizzled old veteran like him was liable to fall sway to her. Smith heard the disappointed tone of the men of the table she left and he resisted the urge to chuckle. To be able to call the infamous Angel over and draw her in was a feat many men would kill for.

Even if it was on official business

He reached out taking the whisky the bar keep had slid his way and downing it in one smooth gulp. He felt the liquid burn a path down his throat and he finally turned his bright green eyes taking her in.

"Well don't you look pretty as always" He said his voice gruff but warm as he slid off the booth "Sorry to take you from your... game" he said with a nod at the men still calling for her to come back.

"Seems the mayor wanted to make sure his usual.... room was secure" Smith said his voice portraying exactly what he thought of said "mayor". He nodded his head outside and started over there giving her a glance.

"Do you mind if we go some where more private?"

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

"Ah, I see. Of course, right this way," she said, walking with him out of the main room and down a short hallway to the small private parlor that she used when she needed to be able to discreetly conduct business matters, the fabric of her skirts swaying softly as she moved. Once there she closed the door behind them, shutting out the noise from the revelry down the hall and providing them with the privacy he'd requested.

 

[silvertongue217]

"Thank you" He said nodding at her and shrugging out of his coat. He hung it on the hook his hat going next as he turned to face her.

"You know me well enough to know I dislike these little.... Security check ups" He said waving his hand as he went over and pulled her chair out for her.

"But our dear mayor is still just as keen on Ginger as he always is" He said sighing and pushing it in once she sat.

"So I trust your ready for his usual monthly meeting with her?" He asked sitting down across from her.

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

"Well of course he is, Ginger is a lovely girl. She will be looking forward to his visit." Angel replied with a smile as she folded her hands neatly in front of her in a poised and ladylike manner as she sat in the chair, despite the manner of their discussion.

"We are delighted as always to have him visit us, and I have made the usual preparations for his visit. I'll have one of my men posted at the back door to let him in away from the prying eyes of our other patrons, and he will then escort the mayor up the service stairs directly to Ginger's room where he will stand guard outside to make sure they are not disturbed. I've even arranged for the mayors favorite cigars and brandy to be placed in the room beforehand."

Her smile still in place, she then added, "It's always a pleasure to have you here sheriff, even if it is just for a security check. Though I'm sorry we haven't been able to find a way to make it more...enjoyable for you after all this time. Would you like to stay for a bit and join me in a game of 21...or maybe perhaps one of my girls has caught your eye?"

 

[silvertongue217]

"As long as no one sees I trust you" Smith said smiling at her and her break down of the security implements. He made a mental note to have one of his own men follow and stand guard as well. He had no doubt nothing would happen but....

It paid to be safe

"I wanted to speak to you about one other thing" He said to her not answering her invitation yet "I have been getting reports of more and more bandits in the outlands I am going to start having a few of my men watch the property I know you have your own security here but I want to make sure your safe" He told her smiling at her.

"And for your invitation you know I dont partake as cute as your and your girls are I dont want to pay for it" He said laughing "However if you wish for a game of card... Well I cant say no to a pretty lady can I?"

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

Angel's eyes softened for a moment at the sheriff's remark that he wanted to make sure she was safe as he smiled at her and continued on.

"Well I can't say no to a pretty lady can I?"

Her eyes sparkled mischievously at that.

"Not many can," she replied with a playful smile, "Though I have to warn you, you might still end up paying for it if you join me... I know it's not ladylike to brag, but I'm rather good."

 

[silvertongue217]

"A woman who doesnt admit her prowess and skill isnt worth the salt of those skills" Came his reply as a faint sexy smirk crossed his face "And I have no doubt you may win but dont count an old war house out just yet"

He rose moving over to where she kept her private cards. They had played before and after doing some deliberating he decided to come back with two fingers of scotch and the bottle as well.

"Share a drink with me?" He asked her sitting down and handing her the cards to shuffle and her finger of scotch.

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

Angel smiled at Sheriff Smith's reply to her remark as she felt a fluttering within her bosom in response to sexy smirk she caught on his face.

The smile grew as he returned with the scotch and asked her to share a drink with him.

"It would be my pleasure," she replied, taking a the glass and cards from him as he handed them to her. She took a drink from the glass before setting it down and beginning to expertly shuffle the deck of cards.

"So, any news from town?" she asked curiously. She knew he was aware that it was rare that she ventured away from the brothel, usually sending others into town to run any necessary errands in her place.

 

[silvertongue217]

"Besides the same?" He asked his gruff voice showing his annoyance and boredom with the town "The usual talk of crops stores and scandals? No this talk of bandits is about as exiting as it gets"

He shifted in his seat and took his own drink draining it in one smooth motion. He felt his trigger finger twitch and he sighed. Having taken the sheriff position as a means of retirement. The formal marshal was struggling with the tedium boredom of his new position in his life. It had been so long since he had seen any real action or justice. The town was as sleepy as it got a boon from the gold rush. After the gold dried up the towns folk all pitched together to try and keep the town afloat.

So far they had succeeded

"What about you?" He asked her taking his cards " I heard Carl came a courting for you" He teased even though his voice had a hint of jealously behind it.

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

Angel couldn't help but smile a bit at the sheriff's obvious annoyance by the lack of activity in the town. While he may have found it annoying, it was precisely the lack of action in the place that had drawn her to set up roots here.

Her smile grew ever so slightly as he mentioned Carl teasingly and she noted the hint of jealousy in his tone.

"Well I guess news does get around in a small town," she said with a bit of a laugh as she poured him another drink, "Yes he did come here. Invited me for a ride in his buggy and even recited a nice little poem he'd written for me. It was quite pretty actually... but I politely declined his offer. I learned long ago not to let a man's pretty words sway me."

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

Josie smiled as she spotted the man she'd been waiting for walk into the brothel and take a seat at one of the gambling tables. She smiled, dollar signs flashing in her eyes as she remembered just how many zeros had been on his wanted poster.

She made her way towards him, saucily swaying her hips, the derringer in her garter carefully concealed from the glances of her admiring onlookers she passed. With her long dark locks, piercing blue eyes, and appealing and currently scantily clad figure there was definitely a lot to admire.

"Hey there sugar, lookin' for a good time?" she purred to the man, stroking his arm invitingly.



Josie
Josie's Outfit

 

[silvertongue217]

"I see" Smith said trying his best not to sound TO interested as he shuffled the cards. Still he felt a bolt of pleasure that the young beautiful madame still had yet ot let her self be tied down. It was no secret that the sheriff like most men in the town harbored a deep seated crush on the girl. He unlike most however did not directly advertise it. He had hinted sure a few times but they were both so caught up in their career that it never happened.

"A woman as fetching as you can do better than Carl" He told her checking his cards and taking a sip of his drink "Besides he is a bit to... boring for you I think"

..............................

"Well there darling I think I'd like a turn instead"

He came up to her his long leather duster swishing against the floor as he moved. He was a tall handsome man with a crooked smile and sea blue eyes that sparkled as they assessed her. He had an easy going manner.... yet there was some thing else there a tightness that put him at odds with his appearance. He didnt look armed yet the way his eyes flickered to her bustier and legs almost made it seem like he knew SHE was.

"I think I got more than enough for you darling" He continued pulling the coin purse out of his leather satchel and showing it to the manager. The manager grunted in pleasure and with a quick look told her he would need to entertain HIM and not her target.

"What do you say darling?" He said leaning in the crooked grin still on his face.

"Care to dance with me?"

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

For all her talk about not being swayed by pretty words, Angel couldn't help but smile a bit at the sheriff's compliment that she was a fetching woman and could do better than Carl.

"Besides he is a bit to... boring for you I think"

"Hmmm, you think so?" she asked in a curious tone as she examined her cards before raising them up to meet his, "Tell me Sheriff, what kind of a man do you think would better suit me?"

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

Josie's eyes flashed from the man to the brothel manager, an angry fire shinning in their depths for the briefest of moments before it was quickly hidden, knowing that she couldn't refuse him without raising suspicion and breaking her cover. She would just have to wait it out and come back for her target as soon as she was able to get rid of him.

"Sorry sugar, be back in a bit," she told her target, giving him a sexy wink as she turned to the man that had just payed for her and took him in.

She couldn't deny the man was handsome, and under normal circumstances she probably would have been more than willing to share a dance with him, but right now he was just a guy standing in between her and her bounty.

"It would be my pleasure darlin'," she said in a sweet southern drawl as she smiled at him and looped her arm in his, "Though I have to warn you, I'm a little clumsy...two left feet."

 

[silvertongue217]

He shifted at that a faint blush crossing his normally stoic face as he fidgeted in his seat.

"Well some one nice enough I suppose but with an under cut of danger and mystique" He said glancing down at his cards and shuffling them "Some one who can keep up with you and hold his own without having to force you to be some one your not"

He glanced up a faint smirk crossing his face "some one who might be slightly older than you"

.............................

"Well its a good thing then that I know how to lead" He said flashing her a rougish smile as they moved over to the dance floor. His hands slid down to her hips as he spun her moving to capture her as they began to dance to the tone.

"A girl like you must feel awfully protected" He told her as they dance "With that derringer strapped to your thigh and the knife.... Tell me darlin why you packing so much iron and trying to get alone with a man with a bounty on his head? One just might think you were a bounty hunter"

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

Angel returned the sheriff's smirk with one of her own, her deep blue eyes twinkling with amusement and something softer before she lowered them back to her cards.

"That does all sound rather nice..."

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

Josie intentionally stepped on the man's toes occasionally as they danced, trying to deter him, but to no prevail. She stiffened slightly when he mentioned the derringer and knife that she had carefully concealed on her body, wondering how he had detected them. Was he a lawman or bounty hunter himself, or maybe an outlaw? She gave his toes another "accidental" stomp with her heel.

"Woops! Sorry, sugar!" she said with a feigned giggle, "Warned you I had two left feet!"

"Anyways, a lot of girls carry something on us for protection. Can never be too careful in this line of work, you know? Not all the guys are as sweet as you." she said with a bat of her long eyelashes before adding, "...How do you know he has a bounty?"

 

[silvertongue217]

"Does it?" He said smiling and looking down at his cards "Well I think you should settle for nothing less" He told her his eyes lifting back up.

"And whenever your ready for it its here" He told her not explicitly saying it.

..............................

"The same reason you know he has a bounty" He said with a nod of his head "The same reason you have the derringer and the knife"

"Because I am a bounty hunter"

He twirled her and then dipped her moving away as the song ended "Jared Darling Jared Stokes Some times known as Red Eye"

"So seems we have two options" He said nodding at the target who was still drinking in the corner "Do you want to duke it out to see who gets him? Or should we just split it even even and work together?" He asked raising an eyebrow.

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

Angel's eyes met the sheriff's, wanting to take him up on his offer but hesitant. Yes she was busy running her brothel, and yes there was the concern that her having a beau might be bad for business, but it was more than that. There were things about her past that he didn't know about, that no one in the town knew.

"If only it were that simple," she breathed softly.

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

Josie kept her body language and expression calm, not wanting to draw any unwanted attention that might break her cover, but her eyes flashed at Jared with angry fire once more, and this time there was no attempt to conceal it from him.

"You listen here 'Red Eye'," she told him angrily under her breath so that only he could hear, "I have worked long and hard to track this guy down, and I'll be damned if some cocky bastard comes in last minute and tries to make me split my bounty with him!"

 

[silvertongue217]

Their gaze met his soft and kind as he contemplated her. Several long seconds passed as he kept her gaze. He looked just as liable to reach out to kiss her as he did to turn tail and run! Yet there was no hint of displeasure in his eyes merely a understanding of what she was trying to say.

"If only" He finally said a small sad smile crossing his face "But whenever it does become that simple... well it'll be right here waiting for you"

He rose placing his cards down and reaching to gently stroke her cheek. He did so his fingers even though rough a callused surprisingly gentle. He stepped back and turning grabbed his hat and pushed it back onto his head.

"Be seeing you tomorrow Ma'am" He said tipping his head at her and winking. He turned moving to the door and opening it before turning back to her.

"Just so you know you look pretty as a Texas sun set tonight" He told her before moving out of the door and leaving her in her office.

.......................

He listened to her grievances and struggled to keep the smile off of his face. My she had some fire! His eyes shone with pleasure as he turned flashing some more coin and leading her into another dance. This time it was more of a waltz and he led her with pinpoint accuracy as his hand slid down to the small of her back.

"And I didnt?" He asked raising an eyebrow "You think I just tumbled in and found him? Your not the only one thats been tracking him spent money to find him... so we can either work together on this one or we can gun it out and potentially let him get away"

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

Her skin still tingling where he had stroked her cheek, Angel watched the sheriff as he left, only just barely able to keep herself from rising from her seat and chasing after him when he shut the door and left her.

"Don't be a fool Angela, you know better," she muttered to herself, reaching for her glass. She downed the last of her drink before rising and gathering the playing cards together from the table and taking them and the bottle back to their usual places in her office.

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

"Yeah, but you didn't have to do it in a corset," Josie grumbled in reply.

She didn't like either of Jared's two options, and her mind quickly developed a third. She'd take him upstairs where she could discreetly incapacitate him in some way, and then come back and collect the outlaw for herself. No longer feigning clumsiness, she moved fluidly with him across the dance floor as he lead her in the waltz.

"Look, it's not a good idea for us to be discussing 'business' out in the open like this. Why don't we go somewhere a little more...private," she suggested, nodding her head in the direction of the stairs leading up to the bedrooms.

 

[silvertongue217]

THE NEXT DAY

"All right men saddle up" Smith said walking over to the horse's as his deputies followed "We got a few cattle rustlers causing trouble up on the platue and I have to tend to the mayor"

There were a few snickers at this. It was never explicitly said out loud but it was common knowledge what the mayor was doing. There was even a rumor his own wife knew! Smith didnt put much stock into that but since every one in town more or less knew he didnt discount it either.

"You guys will handle the rustlers" Smith said sliding onto his black mustang "Once im done with the Mayor I will ride out and join you"

They nodded and with a kick of their spurs they were off. Smith tracked them for a minute before he turned his own horse back in the direction of the brothel and set out to it. He made it just as the mayor was arriving and spent a few minutes chit chatting with him as they waited for her.

..........................

"You want to go upstairs huh?" Redeye said as they finished their waltz and moved off the dance floor "Might give our target time to get away" He reminded her jerking his thumb at the guy who was currently playing poker. He thought for a few seconds then turned moving over to the owner and sliding some coin his way.

"There that should keep him busy" He said moving over to her and sliding their elbows together "Enough coin to drink him under the table at least... Now shall we?"

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

Arriving at the back entrance with her man that would be guarding the mayor while he visited, Angel opened the door and smiled at the two men standing outside.

"My dear Mayor, Sheriff Smith, please come in," she said sweetly, ushering them inside quickly so that they would not be seen. She did her best not to let herself be distracted by Sheriff Smith's presence, keeping her eyes on the mayor as they dealt with the business at hand, "Ginger is already waiting for you upstairs in your usual room."

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

Josie smiled, pleased by Jared's idea. She would have thought that the poker game would have been enough to occupy the outlaw for a bit, but if her target was drunk it would only make it that much easier for her to lure him off once she's disposed of 'Redeye' here upstairs.

"Can't wait, Sugar," she told him with a smirk and leaning in close beside him as she began to walk with him upstairs.

 

[silvertongue217]

The mayor hurried off making sure to greet Angel politely before running off to be with his girl. Sheriff Smith watched this all with a roll of his eyes moving over to Angel.

"Good morning darling" He said tipping his head "You busy this morning? I got some cattle rustlers causing a ruckus on the hill side and I thought you might want a break and taste of the action"

....................


"Sure you cant" He said shaking his head and bringing her up to the room. He moved with her up the stairs a bright smile on his face as he let her lead him along. He would play the part for now let her think she had him before he moved to engage. He didnt really want to hurt the girl and would have much preferred working together versus the other but he had a feeling that was not in the cards....

He opened the door for her and led her in closing it behind him and pressing his back firmly against the door.

"Offer is fifty fifty once more" He told her his hand moving to the gun behind his back and tucked into his shirt he gripped the steel watching her warily.

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

Angel nodded back in greeting to the sheriff, her eyebrow arching with interest at his suggestion that he join him in taking care of the cattle rustlers.

"Is that allowed?" she asked with a small smile, unable to conceal her excitement at the idea. It had been a while since she'd ventured away from the brothel. "Would it be safe?"

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

"Hmmm, I don't know," Josie began, biting her bottom lip in thought as if considering his offer as she saw him reaching behind his back, not knowing what kind of weapon he might have concealed there. Knowing he was a bounty hunter himself, she doubted he'd come unarmed.

"What do you think about 60/40 instead and I'll throw in a little something else for you to even out the scale?" she asked as she leaned in, pressing her body up against his suggestively and sliding her hands down the front of his chest.

 

[silvertongue217]

"I doubt the cattle rustlers are going to be to much trouble" He responded with a laugh.

"And its safe I mean as long as you still got your iron?" He said with a nod at her bustier "Come on up" He said offering his hand out to help her onto his horse.



...........................

"Hmmm" He said shivering at her touch and trying his best not to show its effect on him. His hand didnt move from his gun but his other hand gently pushed her away and backed her up.

He smiled at her a kind one despite his profession.

"As tempting as that is" He said motioning down at his bulge which was pulsating "And trust me it is I dont trust you not to knock me out before hand"

"So how bout this sixty forty it is" He told her locking eyes with her "we do it together and after wards you see if you dont still want to do a tumble in bed together" He said pulling out the six shooter behind his back and raising an eyebrow.

"deal?"