The bar was loud. Every newcomer—like the two of them—was talking to one of the robots. Some were trying to pick up Violet’s girls, others were chatting with the locals, discussing topics that seemed deeply serious and obviously important to them.
“Aren’t those Sam and Ava?” Jasper pointed to a man and woman. The same ones they’d first seen on the train. The man had been cold with them, but the woman had smiled. Now they sat together again at one of the tables. Each had a mug of beer in front of them. Across from them sat another man and woman, both with black gloves. The women talked among themselves, and so did the men.
“You remembered their names?”
“How could I not, brother? I remember everything. Especially that guy. Tomorrow, when I’m sheriff, I’ll have a word with him.”
“Just don’t get too carried away. We’re only here for a short while, and we’re the outsiders.”
“That’s exactly why I plan to live it up while we’re here. And tomorrow we’ve already got a visit lined up at Reed’s farm with our guy—the horse wrangler—then to the sheriff to pick up our badges.”
“Shouldn’t we become sheriffs first, then head to the farm? We’d have more clout to enter his property.”
“You were always the smart one, brother.”
The two of them went to the bar and sat on the high stools. Mr. Phil was wiping down a glass. Violet was nearby but busy talking to other guests.
“Hey, boys. What’ll you have?” Mr. Phil slurred a little, maybe from his mustache. Rolled-up sleeves and a rag over his arm made him the perfect bartender for a place like this.
“A little whiskey.” Jasper indicated the amount with his fingers. “For him too.” He didn’t wait for Daniel to choose.
“Sorry, buddy. This week it’s just beer.”
“Then why ask, Phil?”
“Because I’m friendly with you folks. So, what’ll you have?”
“Some of them get on my nerves, brother,” Jasper said, pointing at the bartender. “And this one’s one of ’em.”
“They’re in testing mode. Next time, I bet he’ll be ready. And it’s normal not to have all the drinks.”
“Yeah, but aren’t we supposed to be the VIPs here?”
“Sure, but if you pay, it’s a different story. You know how it is.”
“Two beers, barman.”
“Coming right up.” Phil grabbed two empty mugs, filled them from the taps in front of him, carried them carefully, and set them down heavily in front of them.
“What do you think of Jake and this Aria business?”
Daniel caught sight of Ava, the woman from the train, in the distance. She had short blonde hair and big brown eyes. Their gazes had met twice already, and while he’d thought the first was a fluke, the second time she’d smiled at him. The woman in front of her, with black gloves, looked a lot like Ava but had black hair and black eyes. She was saying something to her, and Ava nodded, pretending to listen. Her eyes wandered. Besides him, she also glanced at Jasper. He definitely hadn’t noticed, or he’d already be over there chatting her up.
“I don’t know, brother, but I can’t wait to find out. It’s obviously a story the creators set up. But it’s something interesting. The lady at the fountain seemed super innocent—you saw her yourself. And now this Sheriff Jake comes along with some total nonsense. Said she killed her husband. Ridiculous.”
“Jake?” Violet appeared behind Jasper. “You boys talking about Sheriff Jake?”
“Yeah, we had a run-in with him a little while ago. You know him, Violet?” Jasper either forgot or was playing his role perfectly.
“Did he do anything to you?” Violet asked in return.
“Nah, he’s harmless.”
She laughed.
“By the way, he sent his regards. Seems you two had a thing.”
Jasper mostly led their conversations. Daniel had other business now. He wondered how many times his eyes would meet Ava’s. And if he could’ve chalked up all the glances so far to chance, now he was actively seeking hers out. But when Ava stood and started walking toward them, he got nervous. She wasn’t wearing black gloves, and he knew she was one of the real ones. After all, she’d come on the train like they had.
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
As she got closer, her husband stepped in front of her, took her hand, and they veered toward the stairs. Passing near them, Sam greeted Violet, and Ava smiled at her. She didn’t look at him. That disappointed him a little. He followed her with his eyes as long as he could until she disappeared up to the higher floors.
“Those are some of the new ones, like you,” Violet said, clearly one of the sharper ones. “The lady’s pretty. I want her as one of my girls.”
Neither of them responded to Violet. Jasper might not have even heard her. He was saying something to Phil. But Violet wasn’t done and turned to Jasper:
“I had a thing with Jake, but he’s an idiot. He slept with me but wanted my girls.”
“Normal guy.”
“That’s what I told myself at first, and I really didn’t mind. I know men, trust me. So many have come through here, each with their own story. I know why they come, what they want, and which girl they’ll pick.”
“What’d he do that was so bad?”
Violet went quiet and scanned the bar. She smiled at someone, leaning in slightly.
“See Beatrice?” Violet pointed. “The redhead.”
They saw her. Daniel had met her earlier on the stairs.
“She’s my biggest slut. Been with more men than you’ll see women in your whole lives. And every single one left a tip. Every one.”
“Wow,” Jasper said, impressed.
“What’d Jake do that was so bad?”
“He slept with her.”
“You just said you didn’t mind that.”
“I don’t. But he forced her to work for him. One night he was sleeping with her, the next she was sleeping around for him, if you catch my drift.”
Jasper laughed.
“It’s not funny.” Violet’s tone startled him.
“So you dumped him?” Daniel kept pressing her.
“Wouldn’t you? It’s one thing for him to stick it in my girls, another to steal from me.”
“He talked like he’s still in love with you.”
“I’ve banned him from coming in here.”
“But he’s the sheriff. He’s got the right to come in.”
Violet stepped behind the bar, smiled at Mr. Phil, bent down under the counter, and came up with a shotgun in hand, aimed at them. A few people in the bar ducked—mostly the ones with black gloves.
“Whoa!” Jasper exclaimed. “Dangerous bitch.”
“And I can take care of myself. I don’t need that dog Jake. And I’d advise you not to mention him to me again.”
Violet lowered the shotgun back where she’d gotten it and returned to them as if nothing had happened.
“So, boys, want any of my girls?” Her smile was wide again, like the conversation from a moment ago never existed.
“What can you offer us?”
“You’ve already heard about Beatrice. And before you ask for her, let me introduce Diana.” Violet pointed to a tall, slender woman with long black hair tied in a ponytail and a tight corset around her waist. She stood gracefully beside two gentlemen, smiling at their jokes. Both men wore black gloves. “And that one with the pink hair is Grace—one of my new girls. Eighteen, fresh in town, came looking for her fortune.”
“Looks like she found it.”
Violet kept pointing.
“The curly chestnut hair with the round face is Clara. Her chest is small, but no one’s seen an ass like hers, I guarantee it.” Violet turned back to them. “Those are the best of my collection. There are others, of course, but you’d have to lower your expectations—and naturally, the price is lower too.”
“Price?”
“Nothing’s free, boys. Well, sometimes, but you’d really have to earn it. And so far, you haven’t.”
“How much for Clara?”
“For Clara?” Violet snapped her fingers high in the air, and all her girls turned at once. She was looking at Clara. She approached. She was short, her face perfectly round, but her eyes soft like a child’s. Her short, curly hair fell in ringlets around her face. Her blouse was unbuttoned, but her chest was indeed small.
“Spin around, darling.”
Clara spun and glanced back at them. She looked at Daniel and smiled. Violet took Jasper’s big hand and placed it on Clara’s backside.
“Feel that?”
“Whoa, you weren’t lying.”
“Violet never lies, boy. Clara, show the gentleman if he’s made a good choice.”
Clara stepped closer to Jasper, rested her hands on his knees, climbed onto the high stool, turned, and sat in his lap. She leaned her head back, resting it on his shoulder, and kissed his neck softly. Jasper’s eyes nearly popped out from pleasure. Violet took his hands and placed them on her hips.
“Clara, where’s your manners?”
Clara heard those words and practically jumped out of Jasper’s lap. She stood in front of him, pouting like a schoolgirl who’d gotten a bad grade.
“So, Jasper, what’s your decision?”
“Y-yes!”
“A hundred gold coins.”
“A hundred gold coins? I don’t even have one. Daniel—” He looked at him. “You?”
Daniel shook his head.
“Well, too bad for you, too bad for me. Good thing your rooms are paid for, at least.”
Clara turned and walked off the way she’d come.
“If you’ve got any other questions, boys, I’m here. And next time, come with money.”
Violet turned and melted into the crowd.
“Brother, no one told us about these gold coins. Where do we get them?”
“Well, since it’s a test period, I guess these things are off-limits.”
“Brother, that one really had an amazing ass. First time I’ve gotten hard from a robot. God forgive me, I hope.”
“Since when do you believe in God? There’s no God here, brother. We’re in a place built entirely by man.”
“And we don’t have a damn gold coin to our name…”