Little Sharpshooter Chap 20

Trevor was a mess as he headed down the boardwalk to the brothel. It didn’t help that he was already frustrated over how he had messed everything up with Randy for no reason. He probably mended it but now he was about to enter a brothel, which he had never been in before in his life. Maybe at one time he would have liked to entertain the idea. Now he just hoped no one would get the wrong idea. Not that it mattered. He didn’t know anyone in town. The thought of being judged by entering such an establishment concerned him anyway. Even if he was worried that it bothered Randy, it probably didn’t concern her because she was headed to the end of town where Bronson had already attracted a crowd that might have it out for her.

Randy fidgeted with her buckskin coat. Trevor couldn’t help smiling as he matched her pace down the street while he walked on the boardwalk. He never concerned himself with clothes before but the buckskin skirt, coat, and hat really suited her far more than how Bronson was trying to dress her. All frilly and girly like. Randy wasn’t frilly. What she wore was an actual statement of who she was. Bronson wanted her underestimated. But Randy was letting them know she wasn’t no ordinary girl.

When Trevor watched her like he was doing now, he was proud of her. So he didn’t understand why he was so irritated when she did her thing around him. He always let it make him feel inadequate, which he was. He just didn’t want it to look so obvious when what he really wanted to do was help her.

Trevor stuffed his hands in his trouser pockets when he walked in the doors of the brothel. There weren’t a bunch of half dressed ladies standing around. The brothel was full of men with badges socializing at tables. The women were nowhere to be seen. All except for one woman wearing a large hat with an oversized curling feather near the brim that milled around the tables. She conversed with the men, making sure they were comfortable.

Trevor suspected she was the madam. He didn’t expect to see so many lawmen in one place. Randy was probably in far more danger than Bronson wanted to let on. Trevor turned in time to see Randy approach the crowd that waited for her outside. They parted to let her in. One of the lawmen noticed Randy’s arrival and headed over to the swinging door by Trevor. The woman with the feather hat approached.

“You’re the boy Bronson was tellin’ me about.” The lady ran the back of her fingernail down his cheek. “Such a young one.” She looked him over and motioned for him to follow her.

Trevor didn’t follow at first, scared of what she thought he was there for. No telling what Bronson had said to her.

“I don’t bite.” She motioned for him to follow her as she climbed the stairs. The men whistled and encouraged Trevor to go. His cheeks burned as he followed her.

They were at the top of the stairs when Trevor could hear the first shots of the contest. His hands were still deep in his pockets and he could barely lift his head to make eye contact with the madam.

“Honey, you are adorable. But I’m just bringin’ ya up here for your own safety. Bronson wanted ya out of harm’s way. In fact most of my girls are gone for the afternoon or in the back room here until all the excitement is over.” She opened the door to a room. Another lawman sat on a chair near the window. The room was decorated in a scandalous color of red and heavy velvet draperies hung on each side of the window. The only white was the sheer curtain that buffered some of the intense sunlight.

Trevor was overcome with a feeling of seeing the forbidden. With the lawman in the room with him made it much worse. It was good thing the room was red. No one could probably tell how flushed he was.

The lawman held the sheer curtain slightly to the side. The window was open a crack so anything said outside could be heard. Bronson was going off like before and the men were placing bets.

Randy didn’t shoot with the same ease she had at the first contest. But he could see the source of her worry. The man she was so scared of was in the crowd and was nearing the front of the line. Clyde’s gaze never left the back of her head. Randy would look everywhere, except where he was. Several of the men around Clyde were making eyes at him waiting for something.

“That guy with the bandaged hand is the one that says he’s gonna kill her,” Trevor whispered to the lawman.

“That’s not what I’m worried about. Look over there.” He pointed down the street. Several men on horses were making their way down the street awful slow. It didn’t look like much to Trevor, but then the lawman pointed to the side of the building across the street where a couple of armed men were crouched.

“I bet there are a few on this side as well. I’m tryin’ to decide how soon your friends will need to run for it. If they run for it, and all hell breaks loose, I want you across the hall. Do you understand?” For the first time the lawman with the broad mustache looked up at Trevor. He rested his hand on Trevor’s arm. “I don’t wanna lose any kids today.”

Trevor pointed at what was happening. The line turned into a half-circle. The men that weren’t a part of Clyde’s group were dispersing. It had to be intentional for Clyde to be near the end of the line. The men on the horses neared the crowd. Clyde was only a few turns away. Trevor tucked his trembling hands in his pockets. He couldn’t swallow to get rid of the knot in his throat. He was of no use inside and neither were the lawmen. They were totally using her as their lure and it was looking close to impossible for Randy and Bronson to come out unscathed.

When Clyde was next in line, the lawman kneeled in front of the window and propped his gun on the sill. He maneuvered and shifted his weight for a good view.

“Get ready to go across the hall.”

“But I won’t be able to see what …”

“Boy, don’t test me.” He was firm.

Trevor slowly backed up.

#

Randy could hardly stand it. Her shots were harder and harder to make and it took her more time to be sure she had each shot. Sweat dripped in her eyes and steadying her hand was nearly impossible. Randy could feel Clyde’s eyes burrowing into her back and even though she stretched out the time between her shots, he was getting closer to her right side. She could see him out of the corner of her eye.

When she took her turn against the man before Clyde, it echoed oddly like it had been more than one shot. That was the only man she lost to. She expected Bronson to be furious, but he wasn’t. He was sweating just as profusely as she was and his eyes kept darting over to Clyde.

Randy’s stomach did a complete roll and the result was everything she had eaten that morning wanted to come back up. When she finished her turn, she ran for the rail to lose her breakfast a short distance away from the crowd but safely next to Bronson.

“Whoa, sweetheart. I see you ain’t well. Let’s see if we can get you somethin’ to drink.” Bronson leaned over next to her and whispered. “Good thinkin’. Stay sick long enough to get you to that there brothel.” He squeezed her shoulders tight.

Randy thought for sure she would be sick again before they made it inside.

Clyde headed straight for them. He was in their way with his hand on his gun at his waist.

“That was mighty convenient that you leave after she loses. Now I ain’t had my turn.”

“Miranda is sick. Once she’s well, we’ll start another round if you’re dead set on it. Now let us through before she loses it …” Bronson moved his hand off her shoulder to rest it on her stomach to hold her back and he unexpectedly pushed where she was queasiest.

Randy wasn’t prepared for the pressure. She threw up right on Clyde’s boots.

Clyde backed up furious.

Randy was guided up the front stairs to the brothel. She struggled to keep from doing it again.

Bronson held the door open. Randy was still bent over looking at the floor when she heard a large number of people move in the room once they entered. She was guided over to the stairs to the second floor. The sound of many guns being pulled from their gun holsters filled the room along with the clicks of them engaging. Randy barely had a chance to see the entire room at attention with their guns pointed at the men that entered the brothel to follow her and Bronson. Randy was safely upstairs before the chaos below ensued. By the time Randy had a chance to find a drink of water and calm her stomach down from getting sick again, the madam entered the room.

“Well, all those men that were fixin’ to take y’all out were arrested. I’d give them a few minutes before ya head down. I think the sheriff wants to fill you in when they’re through.” The woman with the big hat, silly feather, and bosom hugging dress came over to rest her hand on Randy’s shoulder. “Some of those men were mighty impressed with your tricks. Not very often a little girl like you can put them in their place. A much better way to make a livin’ than my kind of work.”

“I wasn’t plannin’ on makin’ a livin’ like that.”

“It’s easy money all the same. I’ve heard over East it’s all the rage to see a girl that can do tricks with a gun. There’s even some travelin’ shows where it’s the featured attraction.”

“I wasn’t aimin’ to get famous. My own name gets me plenty of unwanted attention as it is.” Randy wiped her forehead with her sleeve. She still wasn’t quite herself yet.

“A girl with a look like yours could do quite well and all the more reason with an already legendary Pa to help make a name of your own real quick.” The woman patted Randy’s back with more gusto than a woman should use. It made Randy cough.

“I’m Mary. Nice to meet you.” She stuck out her hand.

Randy shook it and Mary shook her hand so hard that Randy’s shoulder shook right along with it. Randy could finally take in the room. She was surprised to see Trevor there silently leaning against the wall. Even though the room seemed to glow red from the heavy drapes and everything else in the scandalous looking room, he was white as could be and clutched his hat tight in his fists.

Randy ignored Bronson as he flirted with Mary. She was finally steady on her feet and went right to Trevor, wrapping her arms around his neck and buried her face in his shoulder. Randy didn’t dare say a word. She wasn’t going to cry in front of anyone else. He hugged her tight and rested his head against hers.

When they headed down the stairs, Randy squeezed his hand. There were still many lawmen in the brothel. They all turned as soon as they heard her descending down the stairs.

They gathered around her before she could cross the room. Randy held Trevor’s hand even tighter.

They all tried to speak to her at once.

“Silence everyone. If I can’t hear what anyone has to say, I’m sure she can’t either.” Mary bellowed over everyone.

“Well, little lady.” The sheriff moved everyone aside as he approached. “You were quite the attraction like Bronson said you would be. Some of those men have been wanted a mighty long time. With their guns already drawn when they entered, we can hold them for intent to harm. But we will have to check and see if we have just cause to keep all of them longer than overnight. I’m not so sure about a few of them.”

One by one each lawman shook Randy’s hand and smiled or said a little kind something or other. Randy was too overwhelmed with the attention to take it all in properly. She smiled politely and nodded or said, “Thank you.”

When the sheriff was the only one left with the three of them and Mary, he led Randy over to a table.

“Now, Bronson told me the situation with Clyde. I’m worried about how long I can keep him. Without the public knowledge of your pa’s death, I can’t hold him for that. Bronson told me ya don’t want anyone to know he’s died so there’s one less reason I can keep him. He already did time for the crime he probably went after your pa for. If he did shoot ya like Bronson said, well, it’s your word against his and Clyde already says you wounded him. I told him he was a sissy for lettin’ a young girl maim him like that. But still that could complicate everything. There isn’t much I can do to help ya without gettin’ you in trouble too. Everything is your word against his. But I can hold him overnight for pursuin’ ya’ll in here with his gun drawn. Ya might wanna head out first thing in the mornin’ and I’ll keep him in as long as I possibly can.”

Bronson led the sheriff away from the table to talk to him alone. Bronson glanced over at Randy and Trevor every now and then. Mary brought them something to drink. Randy sniffed the cup before she took a drink. It wasn’t alcohol, but it was really sweet and spicy.

“I added a little ginger to settle your stomach. I hope ya don’t mind.” She patted Randy’s shoulder gentler than before and smiled. Her heavy skirt swished against Randy’s chair as she headed back to greet the women coming down the stairs. Randy wrinkled her nose at the girls with breast hugging fancy corsets, odd patterned stockings, and painted faces. She turned back to see Trevor’s eyes wide, taking them all in. She slapped his arm.

“Oww,” he said, rubbing where she hit him.

“That’s embarrassin’. Knock it off.” Randy hunched over her cup and drank some more. She wanted to leave, but her drink was too good to leave behind.

Trevor touched her arm lightly trailing his fingers down to her hand. He studied her arm and twisted his mouth up to one side. “I don’t mean nothin’ by lookin’. I don’t often see girls dressed like that. Just so ya know, I only want to be with you. I was scared to death Bronson was gonna get y’all killed. I know you didn’t see that Clyde was tryin’ to set ya up to have someone shoot you before he got to ya. Gettin’ sick when ya did saved your life.” He squeezed her hand. “There was a deputy on the second floor and when you shot that last time, he did too and he got one of the guys gettin’ ready to take you out on the next turn.”

Randy thought she was feeling better but the knot in her gut came back. “I just felt it. I felt like I was about to be done in after each shot I made, the closer Clyde got. I thought I wanted to be in town a little longer but I think I’m ready to go right now. The greater the distance between us and him, the better.” Randy rubbed her fingers along the grain of the wood on the table.

Randy glanced up to see a couple of the girls flirting with Bronson. He wrapped his arm around one of their waists. Her chair scraped across the floor when she stood up. She limped, weaving her way around tables and women over to Bronson. Randy grabbed hold of his free hand with both of hers. She raised her eyebrows in concern.

“Uncle Bronson, I really am feeling well enough to find somethin’ to eat now. Can we go?” Randy pleaded, playing up the fake adoration.

Bronson did a double take. At first he was irritated, but when she squeezed his hand, and turned her eyebrows up even more, he relented. That was when they both noticed the sheriff was watching Bronson intently from the bar.

“Why certainly, Miranda.” His mouth turned up in a half-smile as his eyes narrowed, lifting his hat to acknowledge the sheriff before he led the way out of the brothel back out into the blazing hot sun.