CHAPTER FIFTEEN

   Stacklee leaned in close to Betty’s ear. “Something about those guys bother you, too?”

   “I don’t know. The guy in the mask is weird, I guess. And I hope June is going to be okay with that other one. He scares me.” She looked over at the new customers. Stacklee usually had a knack for judging people so she tried to see what he was seeing.

   Stacklee said, “The guy who went up with June. He doesn’t seem like he’s here to enjoy himself. Looks like he’s just killing time.”

   “Most of the men come in here are killing time. You think there’s something different about him?”

   “He looked like he’s waiting for something to happen or waiting to do something. I just don’t like it.”

   “Keep an eye on him,” Betty said. “What I’m really getting worried about is all that noise from the Indians. Getting worse and worse. I think I saw one of them last night walking around by the church.”

   “I imagine the sheriff’s taking care of it best he could.”

   Betty laughed. “You think Doyle’s going to do anything? Shit.”

   Their conversation was interrupted by the rising din of the Indians outside of town. After a few minutes it tapered off but it left the inhabitants of the brothel unsettled. It wasn’t just drumming this time. There was also a deep voice that sang loudly, echoing through the town like an anxious church bell.

   Stacklee said, “Hey, you want me to check on Mary? Make sure everything’s okay?”

   “Yeah, but try to do it without upsetting Timothy.”

   “Don’t you worry, Betty,” he said. “I’ll treat him like a sweet little baby.”

* * *

   Mary felt disgusted with herself.

   The whole ordeal had been a messy and degrading lesson in what a woman has to do in order to please a man with connections to those in power. Hopefully Timothy would give his uncle, Mayor Douglas, a good report on what the brothel was doing. Maybe he’d even give her a compliment or two. Didn’t the mayor hire girls for private parties that he threw for fellow politicians? Maybe Timothy would recommend Mary for that. There was sure to be a lot of money in it.

   But the disgust was definitely an overwhelming factor as she sat on the bed covered in slime and semen. Timothy was lying on the bed next to her, snoring loudly. What she wanted to do the most was wake him up and get him out of there but since he had paid to stay overnight, there was nothing she could do but wait there just in case he woke up and wanted another screw.

   There was a knock at the door.

   “Mary? It’s Stacklee. You two okay in there?”

   She rushed to the door. “Shhh! He’s sleeping,” Mary said, stepping into the hallway.

   “Lord, look at you. You’re a mess,” Stacklee said. “What’s that smell?”

   “You really don’t want to know the answer to that.”

   “Well, I just wanted to make sure that boy wasn’t giving you any trouble.”

   “No. I’m fine.”

   Stacklee patted her shoulder. “You need anything?”

   “Maybe just a drink. You mind bringing a bottle up here when you get a chance?”

   “Sure thing, Mary. You hang in there,” Stacklee said.

   As she watched him walk away, Mary thought Stacklee would make a good lover though she knew that would be completely inappropriate. Mary would just have to make due with thinking about it.

   She walked back into her room and saw that Timothy was sitting up in bed. He was holding a tentacle over his mouth. “Look, I just grew a mustache!”

   Mary chuckled nervously and walked back to bed. It was going to be a long day.