Jewel's Gems (The Red Petticoat Saloon)

by Maggie Ryan

  “Because two men both wanted her?” Jewel asked, “that’s hardly her fault!”

  “No, because she caused a scene when all she had to do was take them both upstairs,” Opal said. “Fights tend to halt business and that is definitely not Tompkins’ goal. Notice he had another girl take them upstairs? Well, I don’t doubt she’ll service both men, but not see a penny for her efforts. The customer is always right after all.”

  “You heard him mention a contract, right?” Amy asked.

  “Yes, and I hope you know…”

  “We know and heard your answer,” Amy said, cutting her off. “Thanks, but what I mean is that he offers contracts to the girls as well. However, I’d be surprised to learn if even one of them actually read it. Instead, he interviews them while keeping their champagne glasses full. He tells them how beautiful they are and how lucky he is to be able to help them make money. In a show of his generosity, he offers them two hundred dollars up front.”

  “That’s a lot of money,” Jewel said, her eyebrows lifting.

  “It is but the moment they sign the contract, they are his for a period of three years and are only free then if they’ve paid back every penny of what they discover is an advance. Of course, he didn’t tell them that their new found wealth would disappear almost instantly. He failed to mention there is a hefty room charge and that they had to pay for meals even if they don’t eat them. They are expected to sell a set amount of drinks each night and if they don’t, they pay the difference. They work incredibly long hours with no days off. And, though the place was busy, there’s an explanation for that as well.”

  Opal took over the story. “The place makes a fortune on liquor and the house takes a cut of the gaming tables, but as for the girls, they are working for pennies. Imagine how long it would take to make two hundred dollars when the majority of what you make every day goes straight into Tompkins’ pockets but not towards your contract.”

  “That’s awful,” Jewel said softly.

  “That’s not all. If you get injured, you better heal quickly and if you get ‘moved out’, that doesn’t mean you are free to find a new job. It means you go to another house in a not so nice part of town where you will ‘learn’ how lucky you were to be at The Broken Mast. And, to put the last nail in that coffin, you don’t make a penny while you are being educated and you will owe back rent upon your return.”

  “Oh my God, that’s horrid. How can he do that? It’s got to be illegal!”

  “Not if their name is on a contract where everything is written out. The girls either can’t read, are too drunk by the time they sign or just fall under his spell. I can easily imagine them believing that for the first time in their lives, they are going to live in a fancy place, eat regularly and be taken care of by the handsome, generous Mr. Tompkins. The lucky ones find some man who falls in love with them, buys out their contract and takes them away. From what our source said, that’s another reason the girls appear so happy. Who would bother to even look at some sad whore when there are a dozen happy ones bouncing around?”

  Jewel took a sip of her tea, her hand shaking a bit. “I never imagined… God, I wish I could take them away…”

  “You can’t, Jewel,” Opal said. “You even try and I assure you that you’ll never make it to Culpepper Cove.”

  “I didn’t tell him where we are going. I told him I was considering opening a house.”

  “That’s good, but please, don’t ever step foot in his place again. We’ll help you and though we might stumble a bit…”

  “It will be a far safer place,” Jewel said, “a better place. A place where women work towards their own future. I’d rather die than be associated with allowing harm to come to the women who trust me to help them.” She wiped her cheek with her napkin.

  “I’m sorry, Lady Juliette,” John said, the use of her formal name telling her he was feeling awful. “I never should…”

  “No, I asked you to take us. It is horrid but it teaches us all something. I know we have more to discuss, but I’m exhausted.”

  “Let’s all get some sleep,” John said.

  When Jewel nodded, he helped her from her chair and escorted the three to their rooms. “Good night,” Jewel said softly, slipping into her room as quietly as she could in order not to awaken Nettie. Stepping out of her dress, she didn’t bother with her gown as it seemed an unsurmountable obstacle she couldn’t overcome. Slipping into her bed in her drawers and chemise, she tucked her hand beneath her cheek, after wiping another tear away.

  ***

  “Stay,” Opal said when John opened their door.

  “Yes, please stay,” Amy agreed.

  John stepped into the room and closed the door. No one spoke as they undressed and slipped into the bed. Placing an arm around each woman, John drew them to his sides. He wasn’t the least bit surprised when he felt his skin growing damp. These two women put on a brave front and were strong but at times, well, life was just too ugly and tears needed to be shed.

  He placed a kiss on the top of each head. “It’s going to be okay,” he said softly.

  Opal recovered first, lifting her head from his chest. “Jewel is just so… so innocent. What she wants to do is really just a dream.”

  “A dream that I feel she’ll accomplish,” John said. “It won’t always be easy, but there is a fire inside her that will keep her going. We just need to be there whenever she needs us.”

  “So you’re staying?” Opal asked.

  “For now,” John said. “I’m not promising I’ll stay in California for the rest of my life, but I’ll stay long enough to make sure all of you are settled and safe.”

  “I’m glad,” Amy said, wiping her eyes with the sheet. “It scares me to think that Opal and I had planned on coming to San Francisco alone. God, we might have wound up at that place.”

  “But you didn’t,” John said. “Fate led you to Jewel and fate led me down that street that night. Destiny had her sitting down at that poker table and winning that claim. Tonight was unfortunate but it was something she needed to see for herself. Your choice of lifestyle is not one that promises ease or safety. I have every faith that Jewel won’t allow this to break her. She’ll shed a few tears but come out stronger and more determined.”

  “I hope so,” Amy said. “I’d hate to see her decide to quit.” The three were quiet for a few minutes and John thought the girls might have fallen asleep.

  “You didn’t tell us what you discovered,” Opal said. “Was it bad?”

  “What makes you think that?”

  Lifting herself higher, she looked down into his face. “I know how you look after you’ve enjoyed a bit of lovin’, remember?” He nodded. “The look on your face when you came downstairs was not that look. What happened?”

  He didn’t immediately answer but when both women sat up, moving to sit against the headboard, he sighed and pushed himself up as well. “Remember your cabin on the ship? Imagine it twice as small but still with two beds with maybe two feet between them. Now, picture having some client in there with you… and imagine another with your roommate at the same time. I admit I’m not a saint, but I honestly can’t imagine lovin’ a woman while some man has another girl bent over the bed and is going at her. Now imagine there are no doors. Not a bit of privacy.” He paused again but the women didn’t speak and he knew they were imagining everything he’d suggested. “Granted, the men I saw didn’t appear to care and I figure the girls don’t have much of a choice in the décor, but there had to be more than a dozen of those rooms. You could hear everything.”

  “I’m sorry,” Opal said softly. “I teased you…”

  “Don’t be,” John said. “I volunteered for the research though it never got that far.”

  “What do you mean? You just told us…”

  “We just talked until her roommate came in with some man so drunk he kept knocking into the wall. I gave her cheek a kiss, tipped her and left.”

  “I understand your decision but
I hope she doesn’t get into trouble earning just a tip…”

  John interrupted Amy. “That’s another thing. Before you get down the hall, you give your money to some huge mountain of a man sitting at a desk. It seems that you can do whatever you want in the time covered by the amount you pay. There is no haggling for what you want. One price for entry gives you the freedom to do whatever you desire to the girl.”

  “God,” Opal said and he could feel her shudder. “That’s awful. Don’t… don’t tell…”

  “I will if she asks,” John said. “I won’t lie and as horrid as it is, it is reality.” Not wanting to leave them with nothing but awful images, he said, “Knowing Jewel, if she learns about the conditions, your rooms will look like ones found in those huge castles in England.”

  “Well, I never saw one of those, but I’d be grateful for a room that I can call my own,” Amy said. “It’s great having a friend, but, well, sometimes you just need some private space.”

  John gave them each a kiss and helped them snuggle down again. He didn’t allow himself to fall asleep until he felt the tension leave their bodies and their breathing deepen. A few months ago he’d been responsible for only himself. Now, he felt responsible for four women who had become very special to him.

  Chapter Fifteen

  John awakened to the sight of the two women, one on each side, giving tiny licks to his rapidly stiffening cock. For a moment he considered assuring them that he hadn’t expected anything when he joined them in their bed. Then he considered the fact that both of them would have known that. They had chosen to pleasure him and he wouldn’t insult them by denying he was enjoying their choice.

  “Hungry?” he teased when Opal gave his cockhead a tiny nip of her teeth.

  “Starving,” she said, looking up the length of his body and licking her lips. Amy continued to draw her tongue up from the root to the head in long, slow licks. One, he wasn’t exactly sure which, had his balls cupped in her hand, gently rolling them on her palm.

  “Come up here,” he instructed, reaching to stroke Amy’s hair. “Opal can satisfy her hunger and you, my girl, can satisfy mine.”

  Amy gave a last kiss to the tip of his cock before moving away, allowing Opal to dip the tip of her tongue in the tiny slit, causing his cock to jerk. John shifted until he was flat on his back and then arranged Amy above him, her pussy hovering above his mouth, her hands resting lightly on his chest. He pulled her down with his hands on her hips until he could run his tongue through the lips of her sex.

  “Oh… yes,” she whispered, her back arching a bit. He didn’t hurry, making long slow licks, giving her clit a single tap with the tip of his tongue but never lingering to suckle or nip the sensitive bud. “Please…”

  “Shh,” he said, his breath wafting over her sex. He reached up to cup her breasts, his fingertips running across her flesh as his tongue continue to pleasure her pussy. When she began to squirm, attempting to press her clit into his mouth, he said, “Naughty…” He didn’t complete his sentence as that was the moment when Opal moved her head down, swallowing the head of his cock.

  “God,” he muttered, his own hips jerking a bit. He groaned when he felt Opal pulling off his cock.

  “She’s telling you to reciprocate,” Amy said with a little giggle and another wiggle. She shuddered when he slipped his tongue inside her and then gave a moan when his fingers closed around her nipples. Evidently her sounds of pleasure told her friend that their bedmate was giving her what she needed as he felt his cock being engulfed again.

  Using his tongue, he began to fuck Amy’s cunt, his fingers stroking, tugging and pulling on her nipples. As Opal swallowed again and again, he pulled his tongue from the warm sheath and turned his attention to Amy’s sweet, swollen pearl, circling and licking before slowly sucking the bundle of nerves into his mouth.

  “Oh… I’m so close,” Amy said, “don’t stop…”

  John had no intention of stopping. There was nothing much better than hearing a woman begging for you to continue, to make them cum. He suckled hard for a few moments and then bit down and pinched the hard little bullets of her nipples at the same time. “Yes! Oh, God, yes!” Amy screamed and then convulsed, flooding his mouth with her nectar. He continued to pleasure her, slowly stroking nipples that would be tender and giving slow, long laps through her drenched pussy. She slipped off of him, turning to give him a kiss. “Thank you.”

  “Thank you,” he said, pulling her down and kissing her hard before releasing her. As she moved to curl up on her side, he reached down and stroked Opal’s head. “I want to fuck you.” She released him slowly, circling her tongue across the plum colored head of his cock before she moved to straddle him. It wasn’t exactly what he’d been thinking of, but this was her play. It was erotic as hell to watch her slowly lower herself, inch by inch until her groin pressed against his. When she leaned forward, he met her halfway, their lips meeting. Her moan telegraphed her need as she thrust her tongue into his mouth. Wrapping his arms around her, he moved until he was sitting up, his cock still buried. She laid her forehead against his and began to move. Holding her hips, he didn’t attempt to assist her. She knew what she needed and he wanted nothing more than to give it to her. When she whimpered, he moved a hand to caress her breasts, moving from one to the other, plucking at nipples that were hard as little stones.

  “Cum for me, baby,” he said.

  “Help me,” she whispered, “fuck me—hard.”

  It was all he needed to hear. Holding her tight, he rolled until she was under him. She’d pleasured him and it was his turn. He began to thrust hard and fast, pulling almost out of her each time before thrusting back into the velvet warmth. He was determined to make her cum first but when he saw Amy move to caress her friend’s breast, gently tweaking the tightly puckered nipple, before bending to suckle, he almost came.

  Sliding his hands beneath Opal’s ass, he lifted her hips so that he could thrust deeper. The change in angle had her whimpering, one hand gripping his forearm and the other pressing Amy’s head to her raspberry colored nipple as if assuring both of them would stay in place. Slamming into her, he felt his cock gripped as her entire body tensed a moment before she came. Her contractions rippled up and down the length of his cock and he bellowed as they drew his own release from him. With a last, delicious spasm, he bent forward and gave a nipple that Amy had released a kiss. Amy gave him a smile. He kissed her and then kissed Opal.

  “You two are incredible,” he said.

  “You’re not so bad yourself,” Opal said. He climbed out of the bed and grinned when they both snuggled down again, their cheeks flushed and post-orgasmic smiles on their lips, their beautiful eyes already closing.

  He tucked the covers around them and then pulled on his clothing. Opening the door, he stepped out into the hall at the same moment that Jewel stepped from her room.

  “Are they okay?” she asked softly.

  John smiled, “Yes, they’re sleeping.”

  “Good, let them sleep; it’s early yet.”

  He nodded and without thought, took the two steps to where she stood and put his arms around her. “How are you?”

  “I’m all right.”

  John gave her a hug. “This is exactly why you will make a wonderful madame. You worry more about two women who know what sorts of horrors are out there more than you worry about yourself. You’re a special woman, Lady Gardner.”

  “So are they.” He gave her a squeeze and said he’d meet her downstairs after he washed up. He watched her until she descended the stairs and then entered his room. The woman really didn’t have any idea of how special she was.

  ***

  Jewel walked through the quiet house. It was barely light outside and yet she’d heard Nettie leaving their room an hour ago. Pausing at the doorway to the kitchen, she smiled. Nettie stood with her back to the door, stirring something in a pot while softly humming.

  “Come in, child,” Nettie said without turning around. “I’v
e got your cup ready.”

  “So you either have eyes in the back of your head or have ties to those women back in the swamps,” Jewel teased, walking into the room.

  “No, I just know when some little girl needs a bit of comfort.” Nettie turned and opened her arms, folding them around Jewel as she stepped into them.

  Jewel felt the last remnants of tension drain from her and peace take its place. “How did you know?”

  Nettie released her and waved a hand to a chair. “Mama bears always know when somethin’ has frightened their cubs.” She placed a cup of café au lait on the table and then returned with a plate that had Jewel smiling.

  “Hearing you hum and getting a hug has comforted my soul, Nettie,” she said as she picked up a fried pastry. “And this is going to lighten my heart.” She bit into the beignet and moaned, licking her lips to get every last hot, sweet morsel. “Thank you, Nettie.”

  “You’re welcome, child. Wanna tell me what had you cryin’ yourself to sleep?”

  Jewel took a sip of her coffee before answering, “Just a lesson in the cruelty of the world.”

  “Cryin’ over that is good then. Some lessons are hard but your tears mean you know evil when you see it. Anything I can do to help?”

  “You already have, my friend,” Jewel said.

  She had to smile when Nettie draped a large cloth napkin around her neck before saying, “You’re getting sugar all over your dress, sugar.” The cook gave her shoulder a squeeze and moved back to the stove.

  Jewel was on her second cup of coffee when Mr. Emory joined them. “Thank goodness you’re up. The missus is still asleep and the house is going to be stirr… what’s that you’re stirring? It smells divine!”