by Dahlia West
Maria, though, skirted the bar with a wide smile on her face. “Oh!” she practically squealed, which surprised Daisy. Maria seemed like a ball buster really. “Let me see her!”
The ball buster went weak-kneed over the baby, and even Milo put down his sandwich to get a better look. Daisy squinted at them, confused. The mom-in-question had on yoga pants and a tank top. The other two were in tailored business suits. None of them looked like they had the chops to be a biker’s old lady.
The mother tilted her brunette head toward Maria and spoke in hushed tones. Then she glanced meaningfully at Daisy. Daisy bristled and tossed the rag on the bar. If anyone was out of place here, it was Yoga Pants and the Uppity Yuppies. Maria made over the baby a bit more then seated the group at a nearby table. Daisy, reluctantly, grabbed a tray and stocked it with glasses and a pitcher of ice water. She headed over to the foursome.
“I’m Sarah,” Yoga Pants told Daisy.
Ordinarily, Daisy would have a few choice words for someone who eyeballed her the way these women were, but her boss was standing with them, and that seemed like a good way to get fired on her first official day.
“I’m Daisy.” Daisy set the empty glasses down on the table.
“I used to work here,” Sarah said.
Daisy paused and looked up at her. “Oh,” she said, looking from Maria to the women and back. Sarah didn’t seem like the type, but then again, maybe motherhood slowed you down a little.
“Best I ever had,” Maria declared and squeezed Sarah’s shoulder.
It would have been easy to feel slighted standing next to a person whom your boss clearly liked more than you, but in the short time Daisy had known Maria, the woman had not gushed over anything or anyone. Truthfully, from anyone else’s mouth, this wouldn’t actually be considered gushing, but from Maria, it was akin to standing next to Old Faithful.
This woman must have something about her that was worthy of such praise, despite her rather unfortunate appearance. Then again, the baby was pretty small, and Daisy had to admit that she might wear yoga pants too, after pushing a cabbage patch doll out of her hooha.
Maria left to pull drafts, and Daisy filled the water glasses. “It’s pretty busy,” she told Sarah. “I mean on Friday nights, anyway.”
Sarah nodded. “Yeah. Rough crowd, too. I miss it, but I don’t, you know? I’m home with her now,” she said and tugged at the baby’s blanket. “Which is the only place I want to be for a while.”
Daisy glanced down at the sleeping infant and smiled. It was impossible not to. She was adorable. “What’s her name?”
Sarah smiled. Daisy thought if the girl grew up to look anything like her mama, she’d already be halfway to the easy life. “Hope,” Sarah told her.
Daisy smiled back. “Great name.”
Sarah nodded. “She had some complications when she was born, but we’re through it.” She tenderly stroked Hope’s cheek. Daisy didn’t know what kind of complications, but the little girl looked perfect to her, if not small. Whatever they were, they must have been a hell of a trial to inspire that look from her mother. Daisy decided then and there that it was easy to like this woman.
Sarah cleared her throat. “We’re friends of Jimmy’s.”
Or possibly I should stop making hasty judgments, Daisy thought.
It wasn’t hard to see where this was going. Three uppity women who looked like they were Cosmo Models in an article entitled ‘Babies, Husbands, Careers: Secrets to Having it ALL!’ were not about to welcome a tattooed, pierced loud mouth into their inner circle.
“Who?” Daisy asked nonchalantly as she finished filling the glasses. Let them think what they wanted about her. A quickie in a bathroom wasn’t worth all the drama. They’d see she wasn’t planning on invading their garden parties like an ugly weed, and they’d leave her alone.
Sarah cleared her throat again, this time embarrassed, and looked at her friends. “Um, the guy. The guy you... from last night.”
Daisy rolled her eyes. “Oh, yeah. Sir Speedy.”
The youngest one choked on her water. Daisy bit back a grin and handed her a napkin.
“Wasn’t very memorable,” Daisy explained. “What about him?”
Sarah’s face turned red, to match her friend’s. “We... we just... I haven’t been around lately,” she announced.
Daisy quirked up an eyebrow.
“I’ve been home,” Sarah clarified. “And Abby says,” she nodded to the redhead, “she’s never seen you before.”
“Just started last night,” Daisy replied, trying to keep the edge out of her voice.
Sarah’s face turned nearly purple. “So, you don’t know him.”
“Nope,” Daisy said casually. “Don’t care to. He cheated on his girlfriend, right in front of her and didn’t give a shit.”
“She wasn’t his girlfriend!” Sarah insisted.
Daisy frowned at her. “She tried to take a swing at me.”
“Well,” Sarah said, floundering. “We don’t know her either. But she wasn’t his girlfriend. We wanted her to be though.” She looked back at her friends then at Daisy. “We were hoping she’d be.”
Daisy crossed her arms in front of her. “Well, I didn’t mess that up,” she insisted. “I didn’t even know about her. I was just minding my own business,” she said, glossing over the flirting she’d done earlier that night. “He came up to me,” Daisy told them. “And I just... went with it,” she finished, for lack of any better explanation.
“She had a dry spell!” Milo chimed in from his stool a few feet away.
Daisy felt her own cheeks pinken. “Shut up, old man,” she snapped.
“Just sayin’.”
Daisy glared at him. “Say anything else, and I’ll put you on the No Fly Cheese Fry list.”
Milo shrank into his stool.
“I don’t know him,” Daisy repeated to the woman. “If you’ve got a problem-”
“He’s got a problem,” Sarah told her.
“Yeah, I heard. Missing a leg. And that sucks, truly, but it’s not a free pass to treat people like shit.”
“He doesn’t do that!” Sarah argued.
“Yeah, he does,” the redhead replied.
Both Daisy and Sarah looked at her.
Red shrugged. “He does.”
Sarah sighed. “Not all the time. And he was getting better! You didn’t know him when they released him from the VA. He was a lot worse,” she said as much to her friends as to Daisy. “He was getting better. But yesterday and today, he’s been... moody.”
The redhead clamped her lips shut as though ‘moody’ didn’t quite cover it.
“I just thought you might know something,” Sarah told Daisy. She looked genuinely concerned.
Daisy couldn’t help but feel for her. “I don’t,” she said quietly.
“So, he didn’t say anything to you at all?”
Daisy grimaced and shook her head. “No.” She lowered her voice. “To be honest, he didn’t say anything at all.” She sighed. “I don’t know why I did what I did,” she admitted.
Milo grunted behind her. Daisy clenched her fists but didn’t turn around.
“I’m not after Jimmy,” she told them. “It was just a crazy thing that happened. I don’t know anything about him. Sorry.”
Sarah sighed. “It’s okay.”
“Are you going to eat?” Daisy asked. “Or did you just come here for that?”
“We’ll eat,” Sarah said more brightly. “I’m starving.”
Daisy nodded and took out her pad. “Let’s start with drinks.”
“Just water for me,” Sarah replied. “Breastfeeding.”
“Is the baby hungry? Milo asked. “You should feed her.”
“Jesus Christ, Milo,” Daisy snapped. “Mind your own business. And stop bein’ a perv!”
Milo muttered something about MILF’s and Daisy pinched the bridge of her nose. “You don’t even know what that means, old man,” she guessed. “And this is your last wa
rning.”
“I’m used to him,” Sarah declared.
“How long did that take?” Daisy asked.
“About two weeks after I quit.”
“Fabulous,” Daisy replied dryly.
“I’ll have a martini,” the redhead told her. “I’m Abby, by the way.”
Daisy nodded and jotted it down. “I’m Tildy,” said the youngest one. “I’ll have a club soda.”
Daisy eyed her. “Are you old enough to be in here?”
Tildy giggled. “Just barely. I don’t drink much.” She hesitated. “I like your tattoos, though.”
Daisy looked down at her arms then at the brunette, skeptically. Tildy blushed. “No, really. I want one,” she said quietly.
Abby and Sarah laughed, but good-naturedly.
“I do!” Tildy insisted. “I want a hawk,” she declared.
“A hawk?” Daisy asked.
“That’s her fiancée’s name,” Abby told her.
Daisy glanced at the ring and nodded.
“You have one,” Tildy shot back.
“That I do, the redhead confirmed and sipped her water.
Daisy wasn’t too surprised. A lot of people had tattoos where no one could see them.
It’s on her ass!” Milo said loudly.
That was surprising, and Daisy looked at Abby, both eyebrows raised.
Abby glowered. “I was playing pool with my boyfriend. There was a bet. I really wanted to win. That’s how he knows.” Her chin jutted out. “I’m not above cheating to win.”
Daisy grinned. “I have a lot of tattoos,” she replied, “but none on my ass. You’re a braver woman than I am.”
She headed to the bar to turn in the drink order while the women perused the menus on the table. Maria didn’t need the order, however, and already had the drinks ready to go. Daisy reached out and snatched Milo’s half-eaten sandwich off the bar and tilted the plate into the trash can.
“Hey!” he protested.
Daisy pinned him with a harsh look. “I warned you, old man.”
Chapter 8
Daisy stepped into a pair of jean shorts as she got ready for work. The week had been slow but steady and the money was great. She’d have to dip into her savings though, at some point, to buy some more clothes. When she’d first come to South Dakota eight months ago, she’d only planned to stay the weekend, not settle here permanently.
She put on a black, short sleeved t-shirt and added matching eye liner. After stuffing her nearly empty backpack into a drawer, she locked her room door behind her and headed toward the bar. From the window of the motel’s lobby the woman who ran the place watched her as she smoked a menthol. She looked like Norman Bates’ mother- after she’d been stuffed. Daisy gave her a shit-eating grin and strode past. The parking lot of Maria’s was already filling up, and the sun hadn’t even gone down yet.
She grinned to herself as she reached for the front door. She didn’t mind hard work as long as she had something to show for it in the end.
The place was hopping and she quickly clocked in and tied her apron around her waist. She headed over to a group of what appeared to be one percenters and started gathering up their empties. A few of them tried to flirt with her, but she didn’t return the sentiment. There was no way she’d get involved with anyone on the wrong side of the law. She’d learned that lesson the hard way.
On her way back to the bar, she spotted the redhead, Abby, walking toward her. She smiled. “Hey, there!” Daisy called out above the din.
Abby smiled back and took up a stool next to Milo.
“Vegas,” he grunted and eyed Daisy. Clearly, the thought of losing his fries was heavy on his mind.
“Milo,” Abby said dryly.
Maria didn’t wait for Abby’s order. She just plunked a martini down in front of the woman.
“Can you make it three olives?” Abby asked.
Maria sighed. “You didn’t eat today?”
Abby shrugged. “Too busy.”
“Woman, you own a restaurant!”
“Doesn’t mean I have time to eat there!” Abby shot back. “In fact owning a restaurant pretty much ensures that I’ll never have time to eat again.”
“You own a restaurant?” Daisy asked as she loaded up her tray again.
Abby nodded. “And a hotel.”
“Nice,” Daisy replied, duly impressed.
“The restaurant just opened. We’re still in the red on it, but it’s taking off.”
Daisy dropped off another round of drinks across the bar and mulled over Abby’s status as a hotel/restaurant owner. She didn’t seem much older than Daisy herself. She must be loaded, smart, or both, Daisy decided. On her way back she asked, “Why’re you called ‘Vegas’?”
Abby chewed the last olive and swallowed. “‘Cause I’m from there.”
“Wow. I’ve never met anyone from Vegas.”
“Have you ever been there?”
Daisy shook her head. “Nah. I’d like to, though. Sounds like a fun town.”
“It is,” Abby agreed. “Definitely.” She wrinkled her nose. “I don’t know when I’ll ever go back though. I’d have to stay where no one knows who I am.”
Daisy smirked. “Are you a wanted woman?”
“Worse. An unwanted woman. I’m not welcome there.”
Daisy paused with a pitcher of beer in her hand. “What? Like the whole town is against you?” she snorted. “Sounds like me.”
“Where’re you from?”
“A tiny, little shithole called Delay in Nebraska. We’ve got a gas station, motel, diner, and grocery store. That’s about it, though.”
“Did they chase you out with pitchforks?”
Daisy laughed. “Nah. They’d never go to that much effort. They just give me the stink eye whenever they see me walking down the street. Tattoos and piercings don’t exactly jive with their wholesome, small town image. Most of them think I’m a-”
“Slut.”
Daisy craned her neck to look at a girl who looked vaguely familiar, but she couldn’t quite place. She wasn’t Easy’s Crazy Not-Ex Girlfriend though, so she must have been one of her minions.
“Don’t start,” warned Maria. “She’ll probably kick your ass, too.”
Daisy didn’t know if this was carte blanche to wail on the girl, but she figured it might be. She wasn’t really in the mood to fight, but she wouldn’t back down from it, either.
“You just roll into town and screw every guy you see?” the minion asked.
“She hasn’t screwed me, yet!” Milo said halfway between gleeful and mournful.
Daisy shot him a look. “Hold your breath ‘til that happens, old man.”
“You know, Brenda’s finger’s broken after that stunt you pulled.”
Daisy rolled her eyes. “I doubt it. She throws a weak-ass punch.”
“Well, her finger’s all swollen,” the minion insisted.
“So’s her god damn ego,” Daisy shot back. “He ain’t hers, leastways I didn’t see her name on him anywhere I looked.”
This was a bit disingenuous as Easy hadn’t taken any of his clothes off while they’d been going at it, but the minion hadn’t actually seen them. For all the minion knew, Daisy and Easy had been stripped down to their born glory and filming their own Tijuana Donkey Show. Daisy wasn’t above letting them think that.
“God, you’re a slut.”
Daisy huffed. “Really? That’s the best you’ve got? My mama can think up ten better insults before she’s had her morning coffee.” Daisy leaned forward and put her hands on the bar. “My skin’s not just inked up, honey. It’s armored, too. You’re going to have to do a shit ton better’n that.”
The girl’s eyes narrowed and she opened her mouth. “You’re a-”
At that moment, Abby lurched off her stool, swayed, and deposited her martini directly onto the front of the girl’s shirt. She laughed and hiccupped at the same time. “Oh, sorry!” she slurred. “Didn’t see you there!”
The
girl screeched in outrage, spun on her heel, and stormed away.
Abby turned back to the bar and sat her now empty glass on the counter. “Maria, I need another,” she declared, suddenly sober.
“You’re wasting my gin,” the blonde drawled.
Abby wrinkled her nose. “I know. Believe me. It pained me to do it. Should’ve been a cosmo, though. She’d never get the stain out.”
As Maria poured Abby a new drink, Daisy said, “Thanks, but I can fight my own battles.”
The redhead’s lip curled up. “Please. That was hardly a battle. If she was going to do something, she would’ve done it. Nah. She was just gonna stand there all night and bitch and ain’t nobody got time for that.”
“Amen,” said Milo. “If there’s gonna be a catfight, let’s get a pool of jello. Otherwise I ain’t interested.”
Daisy reached for his plate, but he moved it out her reached and stuffed some fries into his mouth. He chewed indignantly.
“Jesus,” Daisy muttered and cleared the bar of empties. “I’ve never seen this much fuss about a two-minute tango.”
Abby pulled an olive off her toothpick with her teeth. “Don’t let them get to you,” she told Daisy. “There’s nothing wrong with going at it with a stranger in the bathroom.”
Daisy raised an eyebrow. “You speaking from experience?”
The redhead sighed and shook her head. “Sadly, no. I never got to do it,” she admitted. “Always wanted to though. But I met Tex; we got to know each other and now, no dice.”
Daisy followed her gaze across the bar to the pool table closest to them. “The Sioux or the blonde?” she asked.
Abby sighed again, this time contentedly. “The blonde.”
“Damn,” said Daisy, approvingly. “I’d say you came out ahead on the deal if you get to have that fine hunk of man every night instead of a stranger for just one.”
“You better believe it,” Abby confirmed. Her fingers went to the necklace she was wearing and she stroked it lovingly.
“He gave you that?” Daisy asked.
Abby glanced at her, cheeks flushed and nodded.
