Gabe laughed. “Nothing so dramatic, little one, but I would spank you and I can guarantee you wouldn’t sit comfortably for a day or two.”
“I see,” Crystal said, stunned. She’d gotten away with leaving the saloon to go riding, but that was before she knew about this rule. Now the risk was high-stake. The idea of going over this man’s lap for a spanking was just too mortifying to contemplate. She’d have to be very, very careful. “Well, I guess if it’s a rule, I have no choice but to follow it.
“Good girl,” Gabe said approvingly as he rose. “Hurry along now, Nettie will be serving dinner soon and I hear there’s peach cobbler for dessert,” he teased.
Chapter Eight
“Miss Crystal, ma’am, I feel mighty foolish for letting you talk an old codger like me into coming upstairs with you.”
“Oh, don’t feel that way, Whiskers,” Crystal smiled. “It is all right if I call you that?”
“Yes, ma’am, everyone does.”
“Good. Why don’t you sit down?” she suggested, indicating the chair. “We can visit for a little while without all that noise. Sometimes it makes my head hurt,” she sighed.
“I know what you mean,” he agreed, the beard on his face barely hiding his blush.
“So where are you from?” she asked, pouring him a drink out of the bottle the house provided.
“I was born in Ohio,” he replied, tossing back the drink, “but I’ve been trapping in the Rockies for nigh on twenty years. Guess I’m just about wore out.”
“How old are you?” Crystal asked, refilling his glass.
“Be forty my next birthday, whenever that is. I plumb forget.”
“Forty?” she gasped.
“Yes, ma’am. I know I look a mite older than that. Life’s hard on a body here in the west.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to sound so shocked. I just wonder how you’d look without all those whiskers,” she teased.
He grinned back. “Don’t rightly know, ma’am. Had ‘em so long now, I might not know myself.”
“What brought you out here in the first place, gold?” Sitting on the side of her bed she dangled her legs, a pillow piled in her lap to prop up her elbow.
“Lord no. There weren’t no gold when I come out. Well, I guess there was, but nobody knew it. Beaver pelts was what I come for, them and other furs to sell or trade. I guess I was just looking to get away. You see my heart was broken,” he said sadly.
Leaning forward, Crystal picked up the bottle on her bedside stand and poured him another drink.
“Oh, that’s so sad,” she said sincerely. “Do you want to tell me what happened to break your heart? I’m a good listener.”
“Well, there was this woman, a girl really,” he began with a faraway look in his eyes. “She wasn’t but seventeen, but I loved her truly. Pretty as a spring morn she was and that’s a fact. Lorelei was real smart you see. She wanted to be a school teacher.
“Myself, I didn’t get much learning. Could barely read and write back then and now I’ve plumb forgotten everything I ever knew. My Pa needed me on the farm awful bad, so going to school was catch as catch can if you know what I mean.”
“I certainly do. I was a school teacher before I came out here. Some children attended every day and others once or twice a month, whenever their folks could spare them.”
“Well I’ll be, a school teacher, tain’t that something,” he said with admiration.
“So what happened with Lorelei?”
“I wanted to marry her, planned on asking her Pa for her hand.”
Crystal nodded and poured him another shot.
“Then one day I heard her telling Cora, her friend, that while she had feelings for me, she could never marry someone, let’s see… ignorant! Yep, that’s what she said. A school teacher couldn’t marry an ignorant man.”
“Just because you needed more education didn’t make you ignorant,” Crystal said, incensed. “You had the ability to learn, just not the time.”
“That’s kind of how I felt about it, Miss Crystal, but my heart was broken clean in two at her words. I knew then she’d never marry me and I couldn’t stick around and watch her marry another, so I up and headed west. I’ve never been back.”
“Do you know what became of Lorelei?”
“Nope, I figure she married and had a passel of young’uns of her own to teach. She wouldn’t have no problem finding a man to marry her, that’s for dang sure,” he said sadly as he drained his glass again. “My Pa passed on and left me the farm, but I never done nothing with it. Every couple years I send money to pay the taxes but it’s likely overgrown and the house probably fell to ruins.”
“You don’t know that. You don’t know anything for sure. Perhaps your Lorelei never married. How do you know she hasn’t been pining for you these last twenty years?” Crystal suggested wistfully. “Or maybe she did marry, but she’s a widow or something. She could be hoping and praying you’ll come home someday.”
“Aw, go on with you,” Whiskers laughed, although the sound had a hollow ring to it. “You sure got a good imagination.”
“Maybe so, but it could happen,” Crystal replied with an endearing pout. “We could write her a letter,” she offered. “See which way the wind blows. What could it hurt?”
“I done told you I don’t know how to read and write,” Whiskers said.
“I’ll teach you,” Crystal said, excitement ringing in her voice. “Oh, I’ll write the first letter for you so we can get it out right away, but then I’ll start teaching you. Mail takes quite a while. I’ll bet by the time you get a reply you’ll be able to write back yourself.”
Whiskers set the glass down on the stand with a crack.
“Let’s do it,” he bellowed, slapping his knee. “As you say, I got nothing to lose.”
“Good,” Crystal laughed, clapping her hands. Getting paper and ink, she cleared a space on her dressing table. “I don’t think we should be too pushy,” she suggested, looking at Whiskers for confirmation. “Just a nice friendly letter asking how she is and letting her know you’ve thought about her often over the years. We’ll be able to tell more when she replies.”
“If she replies,” Whiskers sighed.
“Think positive and remember, “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”
“You’re right. How we gonna work this? Do you want me to come for lessons during the day?”
“Could you?” she asked, watching him intently. “Don’t you have to work somewhere?”
“Ah, shucks. I do have something I gotta do during the day. You see me and my friend Henry are minding this mine for a while. We don’t know when the fella that hired us will be back.”
“What’s his name?” Crystal asked. “Maybe I know him.” Looking down at the paper, she held her breath.
“I don’t reckon you do, ma’am. I never met him and Henry can’t remember. He only knows the man promised to pay us good if we sat on the mine till he gets back. Guess he’s worried about claim-jumpers.”
“He should be,” she snapped back furiously. “I hear quite a lot of that goes on around here,” she quickly added, softening her voice.
Whiskers looked at her curiously.
“Maybe we should just forget the whole thing,” he mumbled sadly. “Probably a foolish idea anyway.”
“Oh no, we can’t give up. I want you to do just as you did tonight,” Crystal insisted. “We’ll come up to my room and do your lessons here.”
“But all the fellas…” he began. “They’ll think we’re…”
Laughing she leaned over and pinched his cheek.
“They’ll think you’re my favorite customer,” she teased “and they might be right.”
“Miss Crystal, you are the sweetest whore I ever met. Now I know why some men refer to you gems as fallen angels.”
“Thank you. Now let’s get started.”
“Can I ask you something first?”’
“Certainly,” Crystal replied setting the quill
down.
“I was just thinking, there are a lot of fellas who could do with some schooling, you know, learning to write their name and such. Some can’t read or write a letter to their folks back home and some can’t add a column of sums.”
“Sadly that’s true, Whiskers,” Crystal agreed.
“Well I was wondering if you might be willing to teach them.”
“Oh, I don’t know…”
“You see, Miss Crystal, the men got their pride and wouldn’t dream of going to a regular school. It would be too embarrassing, but coming up here, well, that’s a different story,” he grinned. “They could get some learning and you would get paid without having to… you know,” he continued gesturing toward the bed, his face red as a beet. “You look awful young and sweet to be a whore if you don’t mind me saying so.”
“Would they keep quiet about it?” she asked, considering it thoughtfully with a gleam in her eye. “I’d have to charge them and give Madam Jewel her share.”
“Hell yes! I mean, yes they would. They’d much rather have other men thinking they were up here having a good time with you instead of learning their ABCs and sums,” he tittered. “They’ll keep quiet about it, ma’am. I guarantee it. It’ll be the best kept secret in Culpepper Cove.”
“Well, one of them anyway,” she drawled. “Whiskers,” she announced with finality, “you’ve got yourself a deal!” Sticking out her hand she grasped his and gave it a firm shake. “Now let’s get this letter written. I’ll be on pins and needles myself until Miss Lorelei replies.”
***
Thirty minutes later as Crystal descended the stairs with her hand on Whisker’s arm the first thing she saw were the blazing eyes of Jasper Montgomery. Anger radiated from his body clearly visible in the stiffness of his tall frame, the white-knuckled fist holding his glass of whiskey, and the tightness around his mouth.
Gabe was strategically placed between Jasper and the staircase and Crystal’s first instinct was to run upstairs and lock her door. Not that a simple lock would keep him out, but it might give her enough time to climb out the window and onto the roof. Where she’d go from there she had no idea.
Instead she stiffened her spine, walked down the rest of the steps and gave Whiskers a loud kiss on the cheek that set the crowd to howling.
“I had a lovely time,” she loudly proclaimed. “Come back again soon.”
“My pleasure,” Whiskers replied, scurrying away to the hoots and hollers of his friends.
Crystal turned just in time to see Jasper’s jaw snap closed.
“Buy a lady a drink?” she inquired softly as she moved into position beside him.
“Find me a lady,” he growled, staring at her reflection in the mirror behind the bar.
“So that’s how it’s going to be?” she answered, motioning for Dottie to bring her a drink.
“Guess so.”
“Nice to know who my friends are,” she drawled sarcastically before tossing back a highly watered down drink. “Another, please,” she sighed slapping the glass back down on the bar.
Jasper watched her closely.
“Are you sure you know what you’re doing?” Dottie whispered as she refilled the glass.
“Not at all, but sometimes life offers us few options,” Crystal said with a wry grin before picking up the drink.
“Put that down,” Jasper ordered.
“Go to hell.” Crystal smiled before tipping the glass to her lips.
“You have options, little girl. At least you did before you took that old man to your bed,” he spat, knocking the glass from her hand.
“I was just doing my job,” she hissed back. “You’re a gambler, I’m a whore.”
“Gambling is a hobby, not my profession,” he snorted in disgust.
“I don’t have that luxury,” she sassed. “Another drink please, Dottie.”
“Gabe,” Jasper bellowed, taking her arm in a firm grasp and looking around the room.
Within seconds Gabe was beside them.
“What can I do for you, Montgomery?” he asked, obviously amused about something.
“I’m taking Crystal home with me tonight,” Jasper snapped. “If there’s an extra charge, put it on my tab.”
“Our gems charge what they want, you know that. Crystal, do you want to go home with this man?”
“No.” Picking up her glass she got it halfway to her lips before Jasper growled in her ear.
“You put that drink down or I will upend you, pull your drawers down, and spank your bare bottom right here, right now,” he whispered harshly. “Your move, fancy pants.”
Crystal felt her hand begin to shake and saw his smile of grim satisfaction. Did she really want the entire bar to see her naked butt? No she did not. Carefully she placed the glass on the bar.
“How much?” he demanded.
“What?” she asked, humiliated by the speed in which she’d obeyed him.
“How much do you want to go home with me? You’re a gem, so what’s your price?” he growled.
“Two hundred,” she snapped, placing her hands on her hips and tipping her head back to glare up at him. “The extra hundred is for putting up with your rotten temper and insulting attitude.”
“Holy shit,” Dottie gasped from her spot behind the bar. “He pays you a hundred dollars a night?”
“Yes,” they both turned and shouted at her in unison.
“S..o..r..r..y!” she snapped back.
“Forget it,” Crystal sighed. “I need to go up and get my things.
“You won’t need them,” Jasper insisted, slipping off his coat and putting it around her shoulders. Bending at the waist, he tossed her over his shoulder and strode through the crowd.
“Gabe?” Jewel called nervously.
“She agreed to go, honey,” he informed her, shaking his head as he slipped up behind her.
“I’ve never seen him like this. I hope she knows what she’s doing.”
“I doubt it. Some girls need to learn things the hard way,” he teased, patting her bottom.
Jewel rolled her eyes and dodged his hand, hurrying off to help Dottie, quietly reminding the smiling woman that cursing could get her own bum swatted.
***
Outside Jasper untied and mounted his horse, holding his hand out for Crystal. After hesitating for a moment and judging whether she could get to Bo Magnusson’s livery before Jasper caught her, she held up her hand. Easily, he pulled her up and planted her on his lap. His heels kicked his horse and they were off, heading out of town at quite a clip.
Clem hung on keeping quiet until with a deep groan in her ear, his hand slid under her dress and bee lined for the area between her legs. The fine fabric of her drawers ripped easily under his strong fingers and he plunged ahead not stopping until he was prodding at her entrance.
“Ouch, stop it,” she squealed, slapping at his hand.
“You’re dry,” he remarked, slowing his horse to a walk as he explored further, ignoring her discomfort.
“Ow, you’re hurting me,” she cried, struggling to jump down.
“Why are you so dry?” he asked, apparently unconcerned with her resistance.
“Maybe because your jealous, proprietorial attitude doesn’t excite me,” she cried, elbowing him in the ribs as she kicked out with her legs. “Put me down, I’ve changed my mind.”
“I don’t understand it,” he said absently as he ignored her demand and urged his horse back into a cantor. “You should be slippery with his seed. In fact,” he continued nuzzling her neck and sniffing deeply, “I don’t smell anything but your perfume. There’s not a trace another man has touched you. Did you bathe after?”
“After what?” She sniffed, hanging onto him once again now that the horse was going too fast for her to safely jump.
“After you sold your body to that old miner?” he groaned into her ear.
“What I do with my time and body is my business. Now take me back to town,” she insisted.
�
�No.”
“Jasper Montgomery, I find you the most annoying and nosey man on the face of the earth. I wouldn’t let you touch me for a thousand dollars tonight,” she sassed, pinching his thigh.
“We’ll see about that, fancy pants,” he laughed, kicking the horse into a gallop.
Chapter Nine
His home was not at all what she expected. At times he had a grand manner about him as though he came from some old and aristocratic family. Clementine imagined valuable antiques and servants, crystal chandeliers and marble. Instead he slid her to the ground and dismounted before the largest cabin she’d ever seen. The log structure was massive with a porch that ran across the front and around the side. Taking her hand, he pulled her up the steps and through a very wide door.
Once inside, she looked up. The ceiling seemed to go on forever and one wall held a stone fireplace where she could stand upright inside. The furniture was as over-sized as the man beside her. Everything had a Mexican flair, from the warm earthy colors of the rugs scattered around the hardwood floor, to the artwork on the walls.
“Maria,” he bellowed.
Instantly a short round woman in a colorful skirt appeared.
“Refreshments, por favor,” he instructed.
Nodding, the woman hurried away.
“Welcome to my home,” he said with a slight bow.
“It’s lovely, although most guests are invited and not carted off like so much baggage,” Clem replied, walking slowly around the huge room. The staircase to the upper level had to be at least six feet wide, she noted. It turned and an open upper gallery surrounded the room on three sides. Everything gleamed, obviously polished with care.
Maria returned carrying a tray Jasper took from her and placed on a table in front of the davenport.
“Gracias,” he murmured and the woman vanished. “Come,” he ordered holding out his hand. When Clem complied, he seated her beside him and reached for a pitcher. Pouring her a half glass of what looked like red wine, he handed it to her and watched while she took a sip.
“What is this? It’s delicious,” she smiled, licking her lips.
“Sangria, a mixture of wine and fruit,” he answered. Placing several pieces of cheese and fruit on a small plate, he passed it to her. “Eat something,” he said, taking her now empty glass and setting it down.
Crystal's Calamity (The Red Petticoat Saloon) Page 8
