This is a work of fiction any similarities between the characters, events, or locations in this story and actual locations, events, or people are purely coincidental.
© 2004 Warlord
I quickly looked to Krista to save me from Gabrielle, or at least what she seemed to be suggesting. But Krista was no help to me as she said:
“Yes, William my love, what shall we do or can we possibly offer to prevail on you to liberate the lovely Jacinthe from her exile in Cheyenne?”
Gabrielle was delighted with her new ally as she laughingly said, “Yes, William. What can WE do?”
I put up my hands in a surrender gesture as I said to both of them. “Ladies, I haven’t exactly been offered any kind of stagecoach job. If it comes to pass, Krista, Dan, and Jan will help me make the right decisions.”
Somehow it was a correct thing to say as Gabrielle launched herself into my arms, kissing me thoroughly. She ended up on my lap with her arms around my neck. I looked over at smiling Krista. Krista leaned forward to kiss me, then she kissed Gabrielle.
Krista settled back in our loveseat with her snifter of brandy. Her fingers were playing in the hair at my shirt collar, in a delightful and distracting way. I put an arm around Krista, pulling her closer, as I put my other arm around Gabrielle.
As I sat on that loveseat, an errant thought ricocheted through my head. I wondered how many times this scene in the parlor had played out. Once? Twice? Ten times? Did it matter? I didn’t know the answer to that. I wished I did.
I looked over to see Jan snuggling into Dan’s lap. They had also kicked back in this relaxing parlor. It’s always up to me to be the bad guy as I said, “Emma, I feel I must tell you this. We four have wide ranging business interests. It may well be necessary for us to travel all together far from here. I’m not sure how we will keep you safe in our absences.”
I got far less reaction than I expected. Emma said, “That is not unexpected. Once you establish your presence and protection of us, the bullies and drunks will quickly cease their challenges and testing. After this, you can be absent for varying times without anyone even noticing. This house’s construction and location is ideally suited for such a ruse. Even after ‘they’ notice your absence, they often will not provoke retaliation on your return by their actions while you are away.”
I nodded, thinking. I was quite lost in thought, ignoring the nearly naked girl on my lap and the girl I loved next to me. To their credit, neither one felt compelled to distract me.
I finally said, “Emma, I have a very rude request. I hope you will forgive me. The four of us do need to talk over some of that business right now. Can you provide us with a bit of privacy for a few moments?”
Emma laughed. “That is not rude. I quite understand.”
She clapped her hands, herding her ladies out the parlor room door. She slid the doors closed, saying, “Take as long as you need.”
I tugged on Krista’s hand, pulling her to J and D on their loveseat. I knelt on the floor with K beside me. J and D leaned forward so we could converse in very soft whispers. I led off. “We have to leave right now, and go back through the portal.”
I expected protests instead I received quiet attention as I explained, “Change of plan. We have to be right here for a while until the bullies tire of their tests. Otherwise, we leave Emma and her girls far worse off.”
Krista nodded, as just as softly she said, “We go back, get supplies for an extended stay, and come right back.”
I nodded as I said, “We need to leave now and be back before next nightfall. I don’t think the bullies will strike in daylight. The sooner we’re back the better.”
The four of us nodded assent. We stood up together. I walked ahead to rap on the sliding door. Emma opened it. She looked a little apprehensive. I tried to put her mind at ease as I said, “Emma, we have some supplies that we need to pick up, now that we have a place to stay. We’ll get those things now, tonight, and bring them here. Will that be satisfactory?”
Now she smiled, as she told me that would be quite satisfactory. Emma would, in the meantime, get our rooms in order for us.
We walked out into the kitchen, to find cleaned boots for all of us. We stamped into our boots with help from Emma’s delightful kitchen sprites. We were soon at the hitching post. Dan reminded the girls to tighten their saddle cinches. We quickly mounted up, and headed for ‘our’ livery stable.
Luckily, it was deserted. I backed the buckboard in as Jan moved to the stable office. The rest were on the floor, holding bridles, surrounding the wagon. She whistled to get our attention, holding up her ‘modern’ sliver dollar. She counted down; “Five, four, three, two, one, drop.”
Jan dropped the dollar. It hit the counter. The barn spun and lurched the opposite way. We were once again in the dilapidated ‘modern’ structure.
I stepped down off the wagon, tying the reins to the whip socket. I petted Francis as I went by. Krista followed me out to my truck. She asked, “How long were we gone?”
I answered, “Not long. The courtesy lights are still on in the cab. They shut off after fifteen minutes.”
She exclaimed, “No shit?”
I answered, “K, we show seven minutes on the clock.”
She asked, “Do you think if we stay twice as long it will be fourteen?”
I was musing, thinking aloud. “I don’t know, K. I don’t think so. Seven minutes is about how long it took to walk in, disappear, re-appear, and walk out.”
Krista exclaimed, ”That would mean NO time elapsed. That would be so cool!”
I said, “Probably some fractions of seconds ticked off to prevent us from meeting ourselves in the barn, but otherwise, as a practical matter, no time passed on this side of the portal.”
By this time, J and D had joined us catching up on the conversation. Jan offered an insight. “This seems like chess timers.”
Jan’s passion was chess. One of her passions at least. She had started a chess club in Deadwood and was chess coach at the High School. She continued, “Chess timers are individual, linked clocks. They clock the elapsed time for each competitor. The part that seems to apply to this situation is that the time runs for ‘black’ only after ‘white’ takes a turn and hits the button.”
I asked, “You think that since time never moved on this ‘modern’ side of the portal that time is static waiting for us on the ‘frontier’ end?”
Krista said, “Maybe it’s not waiting -- perhaps the portal will throw us back into the time stream at the same point when we left. I guess that amounts to the same thing.”
I said, “Enough Temporal Physics, my head hurts. We have work to do before we go back, and it needs to be done quickly.”
With quick nods, we grabbed our mounts, locked up the barn, and headed for the B&B.
We were sitting at the kitchen table, having put our animals in their barn. We had four pads of legal-size writing paper. We were each making notes. The air was thick with our shouting and gesturing, as we reminded each other of items to take along.
We were surprised as the sun peeked in the windows. Jan and Krista started breakfast. No one was tired. We were too excited and focused on our tasks.
Dan began our first task. He called a member of his dojo who had a full-size reproduction Conestoga wagon with a four-horse team. Dan asked to borrow the set up for a ’couple’ days. The owner assumed it was for the round up and was quick to agree.
Dan had driven the wagon during the last Deadwood Days parade. He was familiar with the current team, and they were familiar with him.
This wagon was sixteen feet long by four feet wide and four feet deep, with the billowing white top adding perhaps eight feet. Those four matched dapple-gray Percheron draft horses would be capable of hauling everything we could fit inside. We now had ample room for our ‘first’ load.
As we ate breakfast, we refined our lists, pulling them together. We made one ‘master’ list to be kept by Krista as a guide for our buying and packing. Krista continued our journal in her green book.
Krista and I took a short break to clean our guns. We were shooting Pyrodex powder instead of black, but even so, cleaning them immediately after shooting is a good policy.
Dan had one more task. He called a neighbor, Jerry, who was a contractor. Dan knew he did lots of work in the ‘boonies’ away from electricity. Dan asked him about his solar drill battery charger.
The contractor had built a custom solar photovoltaic charger that kept his truck battery charged, while also charging half dozen batteries for his Rigid drill, hammer drill, circular saw, reciprocating saw and work light. He even had a charger connection for his Streamlight flashlight.
Dan asked him if he could build a solar charger for us. Things were slow in construction right then, and the contractor named a price. Dan told him to include one set of the Rigid tools. Dan also asked for connections charging the battery for tools we already had. Dan’s neighbor Jerry was excited about this ‘fun’ challenge and would have it done today!
Dan and I went to retrieve the wagon. We each took a pickup. One of us would haul the flat bed with the wagon, and the other would be hauling the four big horses.
I met Ben, who owned the wagon and team. With Dan doing the heavy lifting, we had the wagon on a trailer and hooked up to his pickup. The four horses were of pleasant disposition, with excellent trailer manners. They loaded nicely into Krista’s horse trailer, towed by me.
We were soon back at the B&B, where J and K were unloading the four Percherons, while Dan and I unloaded the wagon from the flatbed. Okay, Dan unloaded the wagon, with me staying out of his way.
The pace picked up now, with the wagon waiting to be filled. Dan and I went to the nearest hardware to buy necessary ‘non-electric’ hand tools. We would also be buying fasteners and miscellaneous hardware.
Krista went to visit a local doctor she worked with when she did her RN/EMT gig at Deadwood events. She was going to persuade him to write her some ‘scripts’ for drugs and medical paraphernalia she had to have to be comfortable on the Frontier.
Jan was on her own buying expedition. I’m all for authenticity, but I told her soap and toilet paper were high on my list! She lost a good friend to AIDS, making Jan an advocate of ‘safe sex’. I had no doubt we would see a quantity of modern condoms going back to the Deadwood whorehouse.
We were all back by lunchtime, loading our booty into wooden crates and boxes before it went into the wagon. While we were working Jan said, “Don’t forget to empty out the garden shed, honey.”
To K and I she continued, “Dan’s been buying a shit load of Pyrodex and regular black powder. We’ve got it stored in our garden shed with the C-4 and Dynamite.”
Dan laughed as he admitted that before last night he thought he was ‘overbuying,’ and maybe even ‘crazy,’ but now he knew we would need every bit of our supplies. He added, “I have extra cartridge cases for all our guns and primers, of course. I bought ingots of lead, with lesser amounts of antimony and tin. I’ll take all my reloading and bullet casting equipment. “
He had a question for me. “What did you over-buy, W?”
I had an immediate answer. “Ammunition, empty brass, powder, primers and bullets. I bought far more than we were ever going to use in the matches. I even over-bought for guns that I wasn’t going to use in any match like my 45-70 rolling block. I also brought all my ‘frontier’ guns with us.”
I turned to Krista. She was giggling as she answered our unspoken question. “Like W., I packed too many guns and far too much ammunition. Weird, huh?”
With these reminders, we loaded our guns and ammo into the wagon. Then we loaded Dan’s explosives. The Pyrodex probably didn’t count except in those ‘Dan sized’ quantities. He even had ‘det’ cord to go with his C-4.
The primers, caps, and initiators would be going with me in the buckboard. I was perfectly willing to ‘bend the rules’ to bring along something like C-4 plastic explosive that could definitely even the odds.
Now we turned to Jan for her confession. She answered quickly, “Camping and survivalist supplies. All kinds of weird products we would never use except in frontier Deadwood. I must have the biggest supply of water purifiers and purification chemicals in all the Dakotas.”
We added our confessed ‘guilty pleasures’ to the wagon. I started to worry about our four horses. The wooden wheels, with their steel rims, wouldn’t flatten like rubber tires to warn us of overloading.
Krista consulted her list, informing us that we were nearly complete. She and Jan were in the B&B picking up these loose ends, when Neighbor Jerry showed up, with our solar charger in the back of his pickup.
Jerry said, “I saw you were loading the big wagon to go camping so I added some stuff. I hope that’s OK?”
Jerry added a ‘deep-cycle’ twelve volt battery with some twelve volt fluorescent lights for inside the wagon with two twelve volt headlights and two twelve volt high intensity spotlights for use if we were on the road after dark.
What's more, Jerry added his ‘invention.’ Jerry had converted a kerosene hurricane lamp to electric using the same battery as his drill and other tools.
Jerry said, “I gave you four of my lamps. I threw in a couple of hooks to jab in the ground. The lamps look almost authentic. Just without the kerosene stink or risk of fire around your wagon.” He added, “This twelve volt high amp draw deep-cycle battery is just too friggin’ heavy. I knew Danny would be able to handle it.”
‘Danny’ did handle it just fine. Jerry then showed us the flexible solar photovoltaic panels that could lay right on top of our wagon’s canopy. He had included extra wire to his control box for just that application. The tools and extra tool batteries were in another wood carry case. Jerry gave us the last of our needed ‘bits and pieces’ out of his pick up.
Jerry turned to Dan and apologetically named a number a great deal higher than his morning estimate. Dan laughed, saying, “No problem Jerry, this is some outstanding engineering. It’s just what we need for our camping.”
Dan went inside, returning with an envelope seemingly stuffed with cash. Dan said:
“Sorry Jerry. All small bills, nobody has any big stuff this far into the month.”
Jerry smiled happily waving the envelope saying, “They all spend too fast, big or small. Thank you Dan, you are a good friend. I haven’t been working much and this is a big help.”
After Jerry left, we examined his work. He had built the two twelve volt halogen headlamps into brass coach lamps. The spotlights couldn’t pass for kerosene but they were only for an emergency. Jerry’s workmanship really was outstanding. We would definitely be using his skills later.
Danny quickly had the electric system in the big wagon. J and K were bringing out the last of their supplies.
As Jan and Krista put their last load in the Conestoga Dan turned to me to ask, “What’s the plan for tonight, W?”
I said, “I want a shower and soak, then eat one of your dinosaur steaks. By then it should be late enough that we can sneak all this shit to the livery stable. How does that sound?”
J and K heard my plan. They concurred, as did Dan. Jan led the way into the B&B. Once again, Krista took my hand leading me into the honeymoon suite. K was through hinting!
K started the tub filling as I adjusted the shower. We undressed each other. We entered the shower together. The first minutes were spent under the warm spray letting our lips get reacquainted. Krista washed my hair, and then my body, almost as a sensual massage. I returned the favor, washing her hair twice with a deep scalp massage. I squirted the liquid soap all over Krista’s body. I gently rubbed the soap into lather with my hands. An enjoyable exercise for both of us!
Finally Krista called halt to my fun rinsing us both. She led us, still dripping, to the huge round tub. Dan was already sitting in the tub with Jan on his lap. I climbed into the mass of bubbles, with Krista claiming her place on my lap.
We four sat in the hot water discussing our upcoming transit. We tried to anticipate hazards. Nurse Krista warned us, “We’re going back into a very unhealthy time. It’s dirty, with unwholesome water and lousy sewage disposal. The food is not refrigerated so we will probably get food poisoning until our bodies adjust to eating half spoiled food. The town is probably rife with diseases we don’t even study any more; for sure, Cholera, TB, Smallpox, and Typhoid. There’s a huge immigrant population fresh off the boat and a large Chinese contingent. Who knows what illness they added to the mix? Frontier life is like a third world country, only less well.”
Jan laughed. “It always looked clean and lovely on Gunsmoke! I’m guessing that sexually transmitted disease is a big issue. They had a version of the condom at the time, so Miss Emma’s girls probably will be open to the modern condom. I’m taking along mass quantities. You boys can’t play bareback with the shady ladies until K has a chance to examine them and they start using condoms.”
I asked quizzically, “Are Dan and I playing with the shady ladies?”
Krista turned a bit so she could make eye contact with me as she said, “Yes. Jan and I have often discussed swapping and sharing. We’re comfortable with the concept of polygyny or even polyamory. This visit to ‘past’ Deadwood will be a chance to live out those fantasies without the emotional baggage of doing it in the ‘here and now.’ I know you two will have little choice in the matter. Emma fully intends to reward Dan, with Gabrielle equally intent on you, W.”
I looked over at a smirking Jan, while Dan looked like he just found out that Christmas and his birthday would be everyday from now on!
I said, “Okay, love. I know I should be protesting, but I never argue with a woman.”
We were all laughing as K leaned in for a kiss. I continued, “Just don’t get this confused with some kind of frontier video game or frontier Sims. Somebody tags one of us it’s going to be substantially more than lose a turn!”
Everyone nodded soberly as we went back to discussions and planning. As the water cooled, it was time for food. Dan said, “My internal clock is out of synch. I’m not sure what meal this is. I do know that I’m hungry. How about the rest of you?”
I nodded, agreeing. “Food is a hell of an idea. Let’s eat!”
We stood up together, comfortable in our nudity. I could picture us clearly in my mind, together on the big four-poster bed now with no qualms. This was quite a change for me, after only one trip together through the portal.
K led me into the shower. D and J went across the hall. K had me rinsed, dried, and dressed swiftly, still with many kisses. I sat on the big bed, watching her dress. It was almost as sensual an experience as watching her undress.
Dan had his grill going when we arrived in the backyard. K was helping J shuttle food out on the picnic table. I helped D with grilling the steaks, baked potatoes, and sweet corn on the grill.
We had to stop talking to chow down! I ate the enormous steak, and all the trimmings, until I was well past full. Again, Jan brought out ice cream. And, yet again, I ate too much of that as well.
Dan built a small fire in his fire ring. We sat on the ground next to it with Jan on his lap and Krista on mine. The conversation was desultory. We knew what we needed to do. We were waiting to start.
Finally it was dark enough. K stood up, saying, “Let’s saddle up.”
We were all in motion it seemed. The fire was out, the B&B locked up and our little caravan was lined up in the driveway. I walked over to my pickup to start the CK-6 timer. J said, “Won’t be exact time W.”
I said, “Close enough, love. We’ll know if ‘days’ have passed. Minutes hardly count.”
There were nods of understanding as we went back to final preparations. We were ready.
Krista led, riding Duke, with me following on the Francis-powered buckboard. Red was tied to the buckboard behind me. Dan was next, as teamster for the Conestoga wagon with its four-horse team. Jan, on Buttercup, rode drag.
The streets were still and deserted. That suited us fine. I certainly did not want to explain all our firepower to the local Marshal.
At the livery stable, Krista stepped down off Duke to get the door open. Dan backed in the big wagon in a pretty display of horsemanship. I followed, backing in the buckboard. Dan, Jan and Krista holding their mounts were clustered around the four Percherons holding them as they waited for the ‘bump’ of transit.
I was at the counter. Krista told me to go ahead. I saw thumbs up from the others. I held up the coin and started to count, “Three, two, one, drop.”
The room rocked once to the left. Then spun once on its axis to the right.
Again we smelled fresh cut lumber and fresh straw. We saw oats in the storage room.
Krista swung open the big door. It was frontier Deadwood! This time we knew we had to be vigilant.
I climbed on the buckboard, picking up the reins. Krista tied Red to the buckboard. Spanking Francis got us moving into the street. I stood up, holding my Yellow Boy Winchester, as I waited for the rest to emerge.
Dan was next with the harness jingling softly as the four horses dug into the rutted street, moving the heavy wagon. Jan walked out leading Duke and her Buttercup. Krista closed the door.
Krista mounted up. Jan handed her a twelve-gauge, double-barreled shotgun. Krista moved into the lead. Jan mounted, pulling her Winchester 38-55 lever gun out of the scabbard. Jan settled in at the end of our ‘parade.’
I sat down with my rifle on my lap. I clucked at Francis. He just naturally followed Duke. There was activity in the saloons. We passed without incident.
Krista turned toward Miss Emma’s, then she moved Duke out of my way. I took the lead as she watched behind us. The four Percherons continued to make good time hauling our laden wagon through this muddy street.
I took Francis past the path leading into Miss Emma’s barn and hitching rail. I stopped him, blocking the street.
With the street bottled up Dan took his time turning the Conestoga into Miss Emma’s. Again his control of the handful of reins was masterful. When he was completely behind the ‘house,’ I swung Francis around, following the Conestoga into the backyard. Jan and Krista trotted in behind me.
Dan already had the big wagon backed up next to the barn. I tucked the buckboard next to it. All four of us fell to work unharnessing and unsaddling stock. It was only a short trip, but the Percherons had worked. We hadn’t factored the lack of decent roads into our wagon loading. We got them out of their harness and cooled down. Then we watched them as they drank some water.
By now the ‘kitchen girls’ had joined us, helping us get the animals into one of the many box stalls in Emma’s barn. We spread out straw, and fed each of them a bit of oats and hay. Animal feed would be at a premium, and very expensive in a town where they used mules and horses in the gold mines. We would have to remember to buy feed and straw for Miss Emma, to replace what we used.
Speaking of the charming Miss Emma; she was standing on her back porch waving at us to hurry us into the kitchen. As we entered the kitchen Emma’s girls pulled off our boots. Emma led us back into the parlor where Gabrielle was waiting. Gabrielle said, “You weren’t gone very long. We were still worried about you.”
We leaned our guns against the wall. I dropped my saddlebags next to them. I unbuckled my gun belt, setting it on the cushion of an overstuffed chair. We sat down in the same love seats. Emma rang her crystal bell, summoning our servers.
I looked around the room in the soft glow of the kerosene lamps. I could finally relax myself.
Emma saw my tired posture. She told us that we had rooms designated on the third floor. Then she explained, “The mines run three shifts, so we could have ‘customers’ any hour of the day or night. As a practical matter, unless we have an overnight guest the daylight morning hours we are deserted. After lunch, we may have a modest trade, with most arriving late evening and early morning. Right after payday of course will find many more customers at all hours. A miner or prospector with fresh nuggets or dust in his pocket could show up anytime. I have an assayer scale in my office. I buy the gold directly, right here.”
Krista laughed, “Of course, less a ‘handling’ fee.”
Emma said, “Yes. I must charge for my trouble, just as I charge for each glass of champagne he and his companion drink. That is also what the toughs wanted. They knew as well as anyone that I accept gold ore for payment. You arrived before ‘they’ could steal it from me. Do you wonder why I am eternally in your debt?”
Gabrielle explained, “The problems have always come at night. They need time at the saloon to find the courage to beat up helpless women. My hero is here. I no longer fear sundown.”
I asked, “Emma, love. Do you know any spot we could settle? Someplace to build a small cabin, while we look into doing business here. We have no interest in mining.”
Emma replied, “I have just the place. I came into a quarter section of land near Cheyenne Crossing about fifteen miles from here along the stage route. No gold, of course, but ample timber for your cabin. If that is not suitable I have another half section near Four Corners a bit further away. They are yours for the asking. In fact -- take them both. I have little use for them.”
We thanked Emma for her generosity. I told her we would figure out a fair price. She said, “I already did. The land is yours to do with as you see fit. That is more than fair to me if it means you stay near us. Know that you always have a room here.”
Jan asked, “How many ladies do you have working?”
Emma smiled. “I have twelve working girls here. At any given time some are working and some resting. Only on payday at the mines is everybody working every shift. I have twelve ‘helpers’ plus four ‘kitchen girls.’ The helpers bartend, serve food and beverages to patrons as well as clean up rooms between customers. The helpers have a dormitory room on the fourth floor. The kitchen girls have a room next to the kitchen.”
Gabrielle suddenly spoke up. “That is why it is so important to bring my sister here. We need her on payday. Jacinthe and I work as a pair on that day. You must help me, William. I would do anything to bring my sister here.”
Krista giggled as she said, “Hear that, William? Anything!”
I grinned at her audacity. Krista loved to tease. As she demonstrated, she could also deliver on that tease! I settled back against the cushion of the love seat, with my arm around Krista watching J and D cuddle. Krista lightly stroked my cheek. She spoke softly to Gabrielle. “Gabrielle. W. is tired. We must put my true love to bed.”
Emma rang her tiny crystal bell.
Gabrielle directed the girls to carry our saddlebags and carpetbags to our room. I grabbed my rifle, throwing my gun belt over my shoulder. Krista took one arm, with Gabrielle on the other. We said our good nights in the parlor. Jan and Dan were staying there with Emma.
Gabrielle took us up to the third floor. She led us into a large corner room at the top of the stairs. Gabrielle pronounced this ‘our’ room as long as we wanted it.
Krista saw only the huge four-poster bed. She stacked her gun belt on the dry sink as she undressed. Then Krista stripped me. My guns joined hers with my rifle next to it.
Krista arranged my naked body on our bed. She knelt over me, deciding ‘how’ she wanted to sleep. Krista looked over at Gabrielle, standing by the door. Krista beckoned her to our bed. Naked Gabrielle joined Krista with a kiss as they both knelt on the bed. They each leaned down to kiss me.
After a brief whispered conversation, they rolled me on my left side. Krista spooned with her back tight against me. She tugged my hand until it was handing her left tit. Gabrielle spooned up tight to my back, as she reached over to lightly grasp my cock. Gabrielle kissed the back of my neck.
I leaned forward, until my face was in my love’s honey blonde hair. I inhaled her scent, feeling her pulse and breathing. I fell into the most relaxing slumber of my life.
Waking, to a room bathed in sunlight. After a sudden flash of disorientation, I realized where I was. I was on my back, with Gabrielle lying across my chest. Her tawny curls were tucked under my chin. It was a delightful way to awaken. It got better.
Gabrielle realized that I was awake. She slid her naked body up until she could kiss me. Gabrielle greeted me with tender kisses, giggling as she said, “Krista said you have work to do. She said you don’t have time for what you are thinking. Krista said you are to behave yourself. She promised us a reward.”
I groaned. During her recitation Gabrielle was stroking my cock. I finally had to take hold of her wrist. I said, “Gabrielle. If you don’t stop that we’re going to be in this bed all day.”
She laughed delightedly as she sat up. She reached up to tug the bell pull next to the bed.
I was naked, sitting on the bedside next to Gabrielle, when the door opened to admit a naked ‘helper’ with a silver coffee service, on a silver tray, with china cups to serve it in.
Sipping my coffee, I reflected. This was a very elegant way to greet the morning. I approved.
The helper returned with my clothes brushed and pressed. She laid them out on the bed. Then she stood quietly with her eyes downcast. I looked at Gabrielle for guidance. She asked, “Do you need her assistance with washing or dressing?”
I shook my head. Gabrielle laughed as she dismissed the girl with the words, “Not today, Caitlin. Perhaps tomorrow he will want your help.”
At that the girl looked up and gave me a flirty smile then turned to the door. Gabrielle gave me a kiss as she asked if I needed ‘her’ help to wash or dress. I said, “Gabrielle. We might never leave here if you keep offering.”
She giggled as she walked out, with a saucy glance over her shoulder just before she shut the door.
I cleaned up a bit, then put on the dress clothes provided. I slipped into my shoulder holster. I threaded my sheath knife onto my belt. Krista left me a different gun belt for today. Today’s belt was a traditional two-gun straight draw holster, with substantial forward rake on the holsters. My two shortest Colts were next to the gun belt. Today would be a ‘speed’ day, I guessed. Loath to second-guess Krista, I belted on the guns without protest.
I threw the black jacket over my arm. I shut the door as I left the room and walked down the stairs.
At the bottom of the stairs, I was directed to a small dining room. I entered, finding Krista, Jan and Dan starting a late breakfast. I hung up my jacket, taking a seat next to Krista. I was rewarded with a kiss. Jan was saying, “Emma took us on a tour this morning.”
Sotto voce I, said, “Around the world?”
Dan, turning bright red, began coughing. Jan took on a lovely pink hue, while Krista laughed delightedly, clapping her hands. Finally J and D were laughing along with K and I.
Jan said, “Yes and no, W. The tour I’m talking about was of the house.”
Krista asked, “William. What about your wake up from Gabrielle?”
That had J and D undivided attention. I replied, “Uneventful. Gabrielle had instructions from someone about ‘work’ needing to be done.”
Krista’s eyes were sparkling as she said, “That’s true. We can’t have you in bed all day.”
Jan said, “W wouldn’t need all day.”
That got the giggles started again. Jan finally continued her house tour. “The layout is very different. There is a narrow servant stair by the kitchen, going up three stories. We have no idea where that is in the B&B. This is ‘private’ space along with the stairs you came down. The clients use a stairs from the front room by the bar, going only to a section of the second floor. The girls use twelve rooms, split between the first and second floor in that isolated section, for their trysts. We don’t know what happened to that stairway either.”
Two kitchen girls, bringing in our meals on more silver trays, interrupted us. It was an excellent meal, followed by two more kitchen girls, one with a silver coffee service and the other with a silver tea service. Dan and Krista had tea while Jan and I had coffee.
I asked, “What’s on the agenda, my lovely K?”
She answered, “Emma told us she had land, a quarter section. Where is it and what’s it look like?”
I answered, “A quarter is one hundred sixty acres. Do you want to take Francis out for a drive?”
She answered, “Not yet. We have to move in first. I want you to look over the bar and ‘guest’ rooms. We need strategy. We all know that tonight might be the night!”
I nodded. She turned to Dan. “Can you move us in?”
He said, ”Yes, for now. We should decide if either of those two pieces of land is suitable for us.”
I asked, “And you, my lovely delegating damsel. What will you be doing?”
Krista smiled as she said, “Delegating damsel, is that like bossy bitch?”
I nodded and she, laughing, threw a sugar cube at me. She continued, “Jan and I have exams and safe sex instructions for all the staff here at Miss Emma’s.”
I asked, “And if you find a ‘problem?’”
Now Nurse Krista looked very serious. “I have several different drugs that would be effective. Especially given that all these people are chemical virgins where antibiotics are concerned. Remember penicillin is 75 years in the future. They have free access to every kind of narcotic drug with opium freely available in so called laudanum elixirs mixed with liquor. I would guess some of the ladies here are feeding an opium addiction. There might even be a Chinese connection for the really good stuff.”
Jan continued, “Then we need to prevent a recurrence of the ‘problem.’ Talking to Gabrielle it sounds like a good quality condom would be welcomed. We just need a cover story to explain our supply.”
I offered, “The French rubber plantations on Tahiti.”
Dan started to say, “There aren’t any…”
Jan shushed him, “Who knows that? Plus it just reeks of sex – French and half naked Tahitians. They’ll forget the whole fucking question.”
We were soon laughing at the image of naked Tahitians making up box after box of condoms.
Exquisite Miss Emma joined us. She was wearing a thin silk robe that displayed her charms to great effect. She was apologetic as she said, “Douglas Gansevoort, manager of the stage line to Fort Cheyenne is in the bar. He would like to talk to William.”
We were all talking at once. K said, “How could he possibly know you’re here?”
Dan said, “In a town this size. Simple really. The solitaire-playing gambler and the four miners would be enough.”
Emma pinked up slightly. I touched her hand lightly and she said, “A bit closer than that, I’m afraid. Some of my girls were shopping and described your exploits.”
I said, “That would be Dan.”
She shook her head. “Not entirely. We are all quite taken with your display of marksmanship out in the road.”
I asked, “Marksmanship?”
Dan pantomimed cycling the action and aiming my Winchester. I nodded in some surprise. I said, “Emma, that was far less than Dan’s contribution. Dan got them out of the house in the first place.”
Emma smiled and her eyes went completely soft when I mentioned Dan. She replied, “Yes, all true. Dan is my special hero. William you demonstrated great skill. Your shot grazed him on the heel a very painful wound but not particularly dangerous. It was the talk of Main Street after the doctor treated him. It was even more so when the truth of how he sustained the wound came out.”
Jan asked, “The truth?”
Emma said, “After my girls let it be known that the wound was not the result of an Indian attack, but the result of their own cowardly attack on defenseless women, the story traveled from Deadwood to Lead and back.”
Krista asked, “And?”
Now Emma colored up. She answered, “William’s name was mentioned. The incident with four people at The Orient was also making the rounds on Main Street. Our girls ‘may’ have helped make the connection between those two incidents.”
We all looked completely taken aback as Emma continued in a tiny voice, ‘That ‘might’ be why Douglas Gansevoort is here to see William.”
I looked at my three compatriots as I asked simply, “Well?”
They made eye contact without speaking. Jan and Dan nodded. Krista answered, “You simply have to, William. No question. You have to go. I will be devastated if something happened. You’ll be unsatisfied forever if you don’t find out the answer.”
She came around the table to kiss me. Then Jan came over with her own deep kiss. Dan surprised me when he demanded a hug.
I stood quietly. I said, “I need to do, this don’t I?”
Three emphatic nods followed.
I said, “Thank you.”
Emma quickly adjusted my string tie. She helped me to don my jacket. She kissed my cheek softly. Emma led me out the door and down a corridor to a sliding door. She slid open half the door revealing the bar.
You notice the oddest things at such times. I saw that the sliding door was faced with wood to match each room it divided. It was finished with walnut on one side, oak on the other. I looked up to see Douglas Gansevoort, manager of the beleaguered Deadwood to Fort Cheyenne stagecoach line, sitting at a table.
Porcine was the first word to jump into my head. Grossly fat -- like a pig for instance. Douglas needed only an apple in his mouth to be ready for the spit.
His tiny piggy eyes looked out over his pig like nose with his jowls hanging down. The rolls of fat on his neck were flopping over the collar as well. His moist little mouth that his tongue constantly dampened was disgusting.
Did I mention the sweating? Douglas was a wet mass sitting there. He was constantly and ineffectually mopping his face and neck with his handkerchief.
He saw me, and tried to stand. He was stuck fast in the wooden chair, wedged between the chair arms. I walked over with my hand out. His handshake was limp, with a soggy hand.
He said, “Good afternoon, William? I am Douglas Gansevoort, manager of the Dakota Stagecoach Company. I have a business proposition for you.”
I nodded. I sat down across from him waiting for him to continue.
Douglas told me that they had ‘some trouble’ with their stage line into Fort Cheyenne.
I asked, “What kind of trouble would bring you here?”
It was as I had turned on a sprinkler. Gansevoort was a sodden mess. He was looking everywhere to avoid my eyes.
I said, “Trouble? That could be robbery with all the people on the stage killed and the gold stolen, over and over, so NO stages get through.”
Finally Gansevoort said all in a rush, “Yes. Exactly that kind of trouble. I have a passenger who must travel to Fort Cheyenne. Hannah Norton. Daughter of the town’s eminent preacher must travel to the railroad to collect her sister Beatrice and return. The stage company verges on losing the mail contract. Mail must be delivered to Fort Cheyenne. I will pay a premium for your service. If you will agree to protect the stage, the mail, and Miss Norton in both directions, I will pay five hundred dollars for this round trip.”
I said, “To face certain death? Only five hundred?”
He quickly blurted, “A thousand. One thousand dollars for one round trip.”
I asked softly, “Who owns the livery stable on the north end of town?”
Gansevoort looked confused:
“Our stage coach company. We built it for our extra teams of horses. Those stage routes never materialized. It is seldom used.”
I said, “That’s what I want! I want that livery stable and one thousand dollars in payment for my guarding your stage one round trip to Fort Cheyenne with passengers and mail.”
I sat quietly as Gansevoort shook his head. He sat looking at the table with a sad expression mopping his face and neck incessantly while the stains under his arms grew by the minute.
Finally he looked up at me with a hangdog expression slowly saying, “Done and Done. The deed and One thousand in gold coin will be in your hands before you mount the stage box. When can you leave?”
Briskly I answered, “Midnight tonight!”
Douglas stood up finally shaking loose of the chair, which crashed to the floor on its side.
He said, “We’ll be ready. Be at the stage office at 11:30. Leave at Midnight.”
I said, “One additional item. I have a person who is traveling to Fort Cheyenne to pick up their relative. The travel is free to the fort and both free back to Deadwood?”
Gansevoort agreed impatiently, nodding, “Yes. By all means. Bring along anyone you want. Just have them at the stage office for the midnight departure.”
I walked Douglas Gansevoort to the door receiving one last flaccid damp handshake as he departed. One of the girls behind the bar threw me a bar towel with a sympathetic smile.
My three amigos, Emma and Gabrielle were coming through the sliding door to join me.
K said, “We watched through the two way mirror behind the bar. We couldn’t hear, though. What happened?”
I answered, “It’s far worse than I ever imagined. He agreed to my exorbitant demands without negotiation.”
Emma nodded, “The gold is only part of his dilemma. He must deliver mail immediately, resuming a regular schedule to the fort, or he loses his mail contract, bankrupting his company.”
Gabrielle shouted, “My hero! When do we leave?”
I said, “Gaby honey. I don’t know if WE are leaving. This trip is fucking dangerous. No. This trip is way beyond that. You should wait right here.”
Gabrielle shook her head as she spoke forcefully. “No. You must allow me to go. This is very important.”
I looked around at the rest of them. I finally shrugged as I said, “You know the risk far better than I. I will do my very best to keep you safe.”
I turned to Dan. “Dan. I need a favor. I need a special load for my 50-95. It’s very dangerous for you to load or handle. Will you do it?”
Dan smiled. “Of course I’ll do it. What?”
I said, “Mercury. I need a small ball of mercury in the base of the lead bullet for every 50-95 load I carry on the stage. Are you willing to risk the side effects?”
Dan said, I can do that. I have enough safety equipment along to accomplish loading safely. One problem. No mercury.”
I replied, “Thank you. I’ll go to the apothecary to buy some. They use it in gold refining. It should be available in the small quantity we need.”
D said, “The sooner the better; I need some time. This might be a busy night.”
Gabrielle was immediately interested. Was I going shopping? When? I now had company. Krista was amused. She said, “You two have fun. Gabrielle needs to be back for her exam, so not TOO much fun.”
Gabrielle and I walked out to the barn. Two kitchen girls had Francis hitched to the buckboard. Caitlin was standing next to it with my Winchester Yellow Boy. She handed me the fully loaded rifle. I shoved it into the scabbard next to my seat.
I handed Gabrielle onto the buckboard seat. A kitchen girl gave me the reins. I clucked to Francis. Always ready to perform for a pretty girl, Francis was immediately at a trot as we left the driveway of Miss Emma’s.
As Francis trotted toward Deadwood’s commercial establishments, I reached in my jacket to retrieve one of the handful of cigars Emma handed me as we left. Gabrielle took the cigar from me. She bit off the end, and lit it with a match from her clutch. She tucked the now lit cigar in the corner of my mouth. Gabrielle sat under her brightly colored parasol looking like the Grand Marshall of the Rose Parade.
The commercial center of Deadwood was on the north end by the Bullock House Hotel. The hardware, apothecary, clothing store, and other shops were clustered around it.
I pulled up next to the wooden sidewalks. I gave Gabrielle a hand down from the buckboard seat and my arm as we entered each shop.
My first stop was the apothecary where, as predicted, I was able to buy a quart Mason jar filled with liquid mercury. I carried this out to the buckboard, placing it in the box.
Next was the clothing store, pleasing Gabrielle no end. The store had the latest fashions from Paris, London, New York and Chicago. Given the amount of money to be spent on Deadwood’s Main Street, the exotic origin and expense of the clothing should not have been a surprise.
We shopped for her first -- an unavoidable task that I took with good humor. I bought Gabrielle a new hat direct from Paris. She was extravagant in her promises of my later reward.
I wanted a straw boater skimmer hat. The hat, made of natural white straw, had a three inch crown and two inch brim, with a thin black leather band around the crown. I’m guessing mine would be the first one sold from the entire shipment here in Deadwood.
Gabrielle was desperately trying not to snicker at my appearance with my new straw hat. Even the clerk trying to sell me something was hard pressed not to laugh. Finally Gabrielle asked why.
I answered, “I need an edge. The fact is really bad men in the west avoid confrontations with other equally bad men. A reputation will surely follow on reaching Fort Cheyenne. This funny, completely unwestern hat will become my unique signature.”
Gabrielle nodded in understanding now. We sauntered through the tightly packed store on our way back to our buckboard. Gabrielle stopped, with her eyes narrowing. She turned to me with a question:
“Would you like to meet your passenger for the trip to Fort Cheyenne?”
I nodded. Gabrielle swept forward with me in her wake to meet Hannah Norton, the Preacher’s daughter. The contrast could not have been more striking. Gabrielle’ a riot of color like an exotic beautiful tropical bird of paradise, with her legs and breasts tantalizing the onlooker, while Hannah was a drab study in floor length covering of dark gray and black, with her dowdy cloth bonnet securely knotted under her chin. Gabrielle introduced us. I tipped my hat with a polite greeting as Hannah said with some asperity, “I know about you. I don’t like you. I don’t like your looks. I don’t like anything about you. We will converse only as necessary for our journey.”
I looked at her smiling, as I replied, “You know. People say that and the first thing you know -- they’re married.”