The story thus far: Seeking a missing Texas Ranger, our old acquaintance The Tequila Kid comes across a poor family named Miller. Like many others in the area, this widow Sarah and her two little girls, Amy and Cindy, have been brutalized by a wealthy scoundrel named McCuller, who intends to drive away all the owners of small farms and ranches in the area and take their land. Later, drying off from heavy rain at the local stable, Sheriff Lucas Clay comes in search of The Kid, demanding she surrender her guns. Knowing Clay to be corrupt (and in league with McCuller), The Kid asks to speak with him in private. Moments later at the jail, he threatens her, and she deals him a beat-down, then informs him that she means to arrest McCuller and Tyson Avidite (a banker who is part of the conspiracy) before she leaves.
From the sheriff’s office, she goes to the Silver Slipper, the town’s saloon, gambling house and brothel. There, she encounters a young man named Jud Nelson, who she’d seen Sheriff Clay harass earlier. Recognizing him as a decent sort, she hires him to watch the jail to see if Clay leaves. Then she meets a twelve-year-old girl named Dixie, who does menial work at the Silver Slipper and is bullied by Toots, the brutish bartender. The Kid asks Dixie which girl is the most popular of the whores. Star, the girl replies, and The Kid gives Dixie the money to pay for Star’s services that evening.
Upstairs in one of the bedrooms, The Kid enjoys an intense hour of sex with Star. Afterwards, she asks the prostitute a few questions about the town and its doings. She learns that Clark Hansen, the missing Texas Ranger she seeks, disappeared around the same time as Dixie’s older sister Dallas, who was one of the whores at the Silver Slipper. The Kid asks about Ben McCuller, but Star refuses to answer, claiming “it’s too dangerous.” When The Kid goes back downstairs, Jud returns to let her know that Sheriff Clay just left town, riding hard in the direction of McCuller’s place.
Figuring she’s done as much as she can for one night, The Kid decides to join an ongoing card game, where she ends up winning a decent amount of money, as well as a neglected horse, which she takes to the local stable where her own horse is being kept.
The next morning, The Kid is informed by Jud Nelson that Cy Warren, McCuller’s enforcer and dirty-jobs man, has just entered the sheriff’s office, using a key. On their way to confront him, The Kid is taken aback to recognize the horse Cy has hitched up outside as Thunder, who she knows to be the property of Clark Hansen, the missing Texas Ranger she is seeking. More determined than ever to get answers from Cy Warren, she boldly strides into the sheriff’s office, a nervous Jud close behind.
The Kid quickly catches Warren in an obvious lie about his having purchased Hansen’s horse, and arrests him on the spot, drawing her gun before he can. Once Cy is locked up, she and Jud set off for banker Tyson Avidite’s office. With the genuine ranch deeds in her possession, she and Jud quickly establish that the ones Avidite is holding for McCuller are obvious forgeries, created in an effort to steal the area’s small ranches from their rightful owners. Confronted by the evidence, Avidite breaks down and confesses to his role in McCuller’s crooked conspiracy.
Later that day, The Kid steals onto McCuller’s land while he is away. She encounters his vicious pair of trained dogs, and deploys Indian methods she learned as a young girl to make friends with them. That accomplished, she carefully breaks into his study, where she fiddles with a certain something in the man’s desk drawer before making her escape.
The Kid has one more task to accomplish before turning in. She drops by the Silver Slipper to liberate the young girl Dixie from her menial position. The vicious bartender Toots is intent on stopping The Kid, but she takes him down with a couple of well-placed punches, then helps herself to a large wad of cash from the man’s pocket for Dixie’s back wages. The Kid and the girl then depart, leaving an enraged Toots behind.
The Kid takes Dixie out for a decent meal, buys her a new set of clothes, then gets them a room at a local boarding house. After a bath, The Kid plans to turn in for the night… but Dixie has other ideas, insisting on making love to her benefactor as a way of saying thanks. The Kid finds the sweet young thing impossible to resist.
The next morning, on her way to the sheriff’s office, The Kid happens upon two men loading a large wagon with food and supplies, and quickly realizes they work for McCuller. When they beat a man for begging for a little flour, she arrests them both, putting them in jail along with Cy Warren. Once they’re locked up, she asks Jud Nelson to return the deeds McCuller stole to the families he took them from — along with a thousand dollars for each family, taken from McCuller’s bank account, and the contents of take the wagon of supplies.
By that time, The Kid is obliged to cut Warren loose, but she refuses to give him back his horse (who belonged to the missing Ranger Hansen), forcing him to walk back to McCuller’s ranch. Needless to say, Cy Warren is rather displeased.
And now, dear readers, we make our way into the next installment. Read on…
by Purple Les
It was the most wonderful thing that could ever happen. Mr Vale come riding up with a big wagon full of supplies. He told Ma it looked like we’d be staying put after all.
A new sheriff was with him. He gave Ma the deed to our ranch and a thousand dollars to boot.
Mr Vale was so happy he looked ready to bust. He said on Christmas day everybody is invited to his place to eat and make merry. Amy was doing cartwheels round the yard.
Mr Vale left us a lot of food and such, then him and Sheriff Nelson rode off to do the same for all our neighbors. Soon as they was gone, we went over what they’d left us. Besides some vegetables, there was a little firewood and coal, and some coal oil for our lanterns. There was some salt pork and bacon too, with flour and tea and coffee.
Later that day, The Tequila Kid come riding up. My, we were glad to see her! This time she wasn’t alone, there was a girl sitting behind her on the horse. She looked to be a couple years older than me.
She was kind of shy at first, but while Ma and The Kid talked grownup business inside, me and Amy walked around our place with this girl, who is named Dixie. After we told her all about us, we learned some about her.
Turns out she had a big sister, but Dixie thinks she is dead now. She told us her sister’s name was Dallas. But then she said her real name is Clara, and her sister was called Ruth. Clara and Ruth Lamb, they had been.
She told us after their Ma and Pa were both dead and they lost their home, they wandered from town to town. Clara said that was when in one town someone started calling her Dixie and her sister Dallas, then it just sort of stuck. Me and Amy asked what we should call her, and she said it didn’t matter, but Amy said she liked Clara better, so now we call her that.
We told Clara that my name is Cynthia and Amy’s is Amaryllis, but please just call us Cindy and Amy.
The Kid come out of the house later and said she had things to get done, but when she rode off, she left Clara with us to play.
Ma asked Clara to come in the house, then a little later she called for me and Amy too. Ma asked how we would feel about Clara staying with us for always.
Me and Amy had some questions, like where she’d sleep and such. Ma said she could bunk down with me and Amy for now, till she could get a pallet made up. And when she said Clara would be helping with the chores, me and Amy said it would be fine with us since we liked her right off anyways. And now we’d be able to skip rope proper.
***
Before leaving town, Cy Warren stopped at the bank, where the teller informed him that Tyson Avidite wasn’t in that day, and not at home either. Unbeknownst to anyone else, The Kid had Avidite stashed away in an abandoned miner shack.
Somethin’ wrong here, Cy told himself, back on the road to McCuller’s. Avidite would have to be sick as a dog to stay away from his bank. No, I don’t like the look of it.
Then something occurred to Cy that made him stop dead in his tracks. Wait just a goddamn minute… What if that bitch has somethin’ to do with this?
It was the only explanation that made a lick of sense. First she runs Sheriff Clay outta town. Then she locks me up like a thievin’ half-breed. Now Tyson Avidite’s gone missin’. That Tequila cunt is behind all of it. She’s gotta be.
Just then Cy happened by the burnt-out shell of the Fletcher home, the one he’d set ablaze himself after putting a bullet through Bob Fletcher’s head.
Gotta admit, he was a tough old bird, Cy mused. Even after I pistol-whipped the shit out of him, he still wouldn’t tell where them deeds were.
His mouth tightened. I shouldn’t of lost my temper and shot him, though. It was the way he smiled after I backhanded him that last time, like he was laughin’ at me. I won’t take that from no man, ‘specially in front of the boys. Still, if I’d just worked on him longer, he’d of given in.
Cy began to kick through the debris, seeing what his boot might turn up. Nothing. Then his gaze fell on the fireplace and chimney, all that remained of the Fletcher house.
Getting down on his hands and knees, Cy examined the hearth closely, looking for anything out of place.
It wasn’t until he peered into the fireplace itself that Cy spied one brick that seemed to jut out slightly. Whipping out his stiletto, he worked at prying the brick out, grunting with satisfaction as it emerged by a good half inch.
A few minutes later, the man held a battered metal box. It proved impossible to open, so Cy carried it off with him. It’s gotta be the deeds. What else would that dirt-scratcher have worth takin’ that much trouble to hide?
He resumed his journey with a confident stride. Reckon this’ll get me back on the boss’s good side. Then I’ll round up the boys, ride back into town and deal with that fuckin’ Tequila Kid. She’ll be beggin’ for mercy afore I get done with her.
***
The sun was just commencing to set when The Kid arrived at Sarah Miller’s place, anxious to assure herself that Dixie was settling in nicely with her new family. She was pleased when, on her arrival, all three girls rushed to greet her with big hugs.
Sarah was close behind. “You’ll stay to take supper with us,” she said, in a tone that made it clear she would brook no refusal.
“Much obliged.” The Kid replied. “Mind if me and my horse bed down in your barn tonight?”
“Oh, now… there’s no need for that. There’s room aplenty for you in the house,” Sarah offered.
“Don’t think my horse would fit in there at all,” The Kid joshed.
“You know I meant that for you,” Sarah said, gently resting a hand on The Kid’s arm.
“Naw, the barn’s fine.” Glancing around to make sure the girls were out of earshot, The Kid whispered, “Tell the truth, Sarah, I want to keep a lookout tonight. I don’t reckon anyone will turn up, but it’s best to play it safe.”
Sarah nodded knowingly. “Thank you, Kid.”
For the first time, The Kid noticed what a nice smile Sarah had. It stirred something inside, making her feel a little awkward. For a moment she wasn’t sure what to say, finally coming out with, “Dixie seems to be enjoyin’ herself here. Seems like she’s gettin’ on right well with your girls.”
“Oh, she is, yes. They adore her. She’s like a new big sister. By the way, she goes by ‘Clara’ now. That’s how she was christened.”
“Huh… so ‘Dixie’ ain’t her real name. Funny how kids’ll tell each other things they don’t tell their elders. Anyway, thank you again for takin’ her in. You’re a real lady, Sarah.”
“Well, I’m far removed from bein’ a lady, Kid,” Sarah protested. “Just a farmer’s widow, that’s all.”
The Kid took Sarah’s hand, giving it a squeeze. “Don’t you believe that, now. You’re a strong, beautiful woman who’s bringin’ up a couple of the sweetest girls I ever met, and you kept this place goin’ when times was hard. If your husband was still here, he’d be real proud of you.”
Sarah blinked a few times, fighting tears. Finally she said, “Much appreciated, Kid. I… I do what I can. Now it’s my turn to thank you for leaving that food when you came here the first time. It gave us more than just something in our bellies. For the first time in a long while, I remembered there was still goodness in this world.”
Kid looked down at the ground in embarrassment, but managed to reply, “Shucks now, Sarah. When I seen how you folks was nearly starvin’, then little Amy come out and give me an egg for myself, and an apple for my horse… well, how could I not give her somethin’ back for that kindness?”
The two women met in a warm embrace. Wiping her eyes. Sarah murmured, “Well, I best get started on supper.”
“Yes,” Kid replied, “I need to get my horse settled in, then I’ll split up that bit of firewood Jud left.”
With one last smile for The Kid, Sarah mounted the porch steps, looking back once more at her guest before she went inside.
The Kid gazed out into the yard, watching the three girls play. I’ll have to get used to callin’ that child Clara now instead of Dixie. She sure is a sweet thing. Wonder if she’ll be trying to get specially close to her new sisters, same as she was with Dallas.
Watching Clara break into an impromptu dance, she remembered how pretty the girl was with all her clothes off. Don’t reckon I’ll be seein’ her that way again, The Kid told herself, feeling a bit wistful. With a brief sigh, she took up Button’s reins and led her horse into the barn, where she removed her gear and groomed her horse. She found a few horse blankets, and took one to drape over Button. Laying some hay down, Kid patted Button’s neck.
“Eat up, girl. I’ll be doin’ the same in the house.”
Evening came early that time of year. As the disc of the sun began to slip behind the horizon, Sarah called the girls indoors to help with supper. The Kid had each girl carry a stick of wood in with her while she toted the rest.
Dropping the split logs into the wood bin, she asked Sarah, “Need any help fixin’ supper?”
Sarah shook her head. “You’re a guest,” she said. “Sit you down in the front parlor and relax. It’ll be ready in a short spell.”
The Kid would have preferred to lend a hand, but did as she was told, seating herself in the room’s only chair. They had to bust up most of the furniture for firewood, she remembered.
She felt a little awkward sitting there on her own. Cindy and Clara were helping out in the kitchen, while little Amy was setting the table. Thankfully, Amy completed her task right away, then shyly approached The Kid. “Can I sit with you?” she asked with a smile.
“Why, sure,” The Kid replied, patting her thighs. “I was feelin’ kinda lonesome. Come keep me company.”
Climbing into The Kid’s lap, Amy nestled into her new friend, then reached into a pocket sewn into her dress, from which she produced a harmonica. “Would you like to hear me play?”
“I’d purely love to,” The Kid replied.
“This is my favorite. It’s called, ‘Hark! The Herald Angels Sing’. Here I go!” And she performed a spirited rendition of the hymn.
“Well, that was real pretty,” The Kid said when Amy finished, tousling her hair. “What’s it about?”
“Christmas!” the child squealed, all but bouncing in her excitement. “That’s when Baby Jesus was born. And when Santa Claus comes!”
“Hmmm… Santa Claus,” The Kid said thoughtfully. “I have heard that name spoke around Christmas time. Who is he?”
“You don’t know who Santa is?” Amy scowled in disbelief. “Everyone ought to know about Santa Claus.”
The Kid noticed Amy looking at her as if she’d gone plumb loco. “Well… why don’t you tell me, then?”
For the next few minutes, she sat spellbound as Amy shared everything she knew about Santa Claus. It wasn’t long before The Kid was brimming over with questions. “How’s this Claus fella get back up a chimney once he slides down? What if there ain’t one? What if there’s a fire burnin’ in it? Where in tarnation did he get reindeer that can fly?”
Amy had a ready answer for most of these questions, and came up with good guesses for the rest. The Kid was left shaking her head in awe. “Well, I’ll be. So… you ask him for what you want, and if you been good, he’s s’posed to come down the chimney and leave it for you.”
“That’s right! But if you’re bad, he gives you dirt and stones instead.”
“Huh. How you reckon he knows who’s good and bad?”
Amy shrugged. “Don’t know. He just does.”
“So what was it you asked him for?” The Kid asked. “And how do you ask if he’s so far away? Send him a telegram?”
“No, silly!” Amy giggled. Glancing around to make sure the others weren’t listening, she spoke wistfully, “Used to be, Pa would help me write a letter to Santa, then mail it to him. This year, I wrote it the best I could. But I didn’t have no way to mail it. So I waited till there was a strong wind blowin’ northwards, then I took my letter out past the barn and let the wind take it away. I was hopin’ it would go right up to the North Pole.”
Shifting closer to The Kid, Amy whispered in Kid’s ear, “I asked Santa to make Ma happy again. She’s been awful sad since we lost Pa. For Cindy, I asked him to give her a horse. Those bad men who shot Pa? They killed our horses, too, and she misses ‘em somethin’ terrible.”
The Kid waited to hear the rest, but the little girl was silent. “Didn’t you want somethin’ for yourself?”
The little girl shrugged. “I already asked for so much. Besides, if Cindy and Ma are happy, I’ll be happy too.” With that, she rested her head against The Kid’s chest. “I know a horse will make Cindy happy. I don’t know how Santa will make Ma feel better. But I know he will somehow.”
They sat quietly for a while until Sarah called, “Supper’s ready.” She emerged from the kitchen with a steaming pot of salt pork stew with dumplings, followed by Cindy with a plate of hoe cakes and Clara with a basket of hot biscuits.
There were only three chairs, so The Kid pushed the front parlor chair over to the dining table, while Amy seated herself on a crate Jud Nelson and Jack Vance had left with the supplies they’d delivered.
“Let us say the blessing,” Sarah murmured, looking around at the others. Bowing her head, she said, “Dear Lord, please bless this food to the nourishment of our bodies, and our bodies to thy service. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.”
“Amen,” the girls echoed, and The Kid slipped in a mumbled, “amen,” of her own.
It was a very pleasant meal. The stew was delicious, and for the first time in a while, there was a mood of genuine optimism in the air. Clara had filled the lamps with coal oil, so the room was brightly lit. There was a small fire in the fireplace and the stove filled the house with warmth.
“Nice to have it warmer inside than outside for a change,” Sarah murmured.
Amy said, “I like this crate for a chair. Puts me up nice and high to the table.”
With a smile, Sarah replied, “Don’t get used to it, dear. It’ll be firewood in a day or two, once I’ve replaced the chairs.”
After dinner, they remained at the table for a while. The Kid took a deck of cards from her green corduroy vest entertaining Sarah and the girls with a few tricks she’d learned from a New Orleans cardsharp. She’d been up since before dawn, though, and soon found herself yawning.
“Sorry, folks, but I’m plumb tuckered out,” she mumbled, getting to her feet. “Time for me to turn in. Thanks for supper… it was real good.” She moved the stuffed chair back to its place in the parlor, said “Evenin, all.”
Sarah and the girls wished her a good night, then The Kid set off for the barn. Wandering over to the door, Sarah watched their guest vanish into the darkness. Wish she lived round these parts, she thought. I’d purely love to have her for a friend. There’s something about her that I especially like.
With a sigh, Sarah turned back to the girls. It wasn’t long until bedtime, but she wasn’t ready for the night to end just yet. Then she had an idea. “You know… I think that tonight would be a good time for you girls to have a bath.”
Amy and Cindy exchanged puzzled glances. Bath night was a special treat in the Miller home, but it always took place on a Saturday. Of course, their lack of firewood meant that their recent baths had been taken in cold water.
“It ain’t Saturday, Ma,” Cindy said.
“It’s ‘isn’t’, not ‘ain’t’, and those last few baths shouldn’t even count,” Sarah replied. “Since the stove’s still going and we have a fire in the fireplace, let’s use the rest of our wood to heat the water. We’ll have it nice and hot!”
“You don’t have to heat up water for me,” Clara said. “I had a bath the other day.”
“Well, another won’t hurt,” Sarah said. “Besides, bath night is a very special time for this family, and we want you to be part of it. Don’t we, girls?”
“You don’t ever want to miss having a bath, Clara!” Amy exclaimed. “It’s lots of fun.”
Soon the whole family was caught up in preparation. Cindy pumped the spigot in the kitchen, filling a bucket for Clara to carry to a pot on the stove, while Amy fetched the soap and a large towel they always used. Sarah took the large metal tub down from its hook on the wall and set it near the fireplace. She paused to stoke the fire, feeling warm in more ways than one.
Sarah returned to heating water on the stove as Clara brought it to her, while Cindy and Amy worked the pump. When it was warm enough, Sarah took the bucket from Clara and started pouring it into the washtub. Emptying the last of it, Sarah looked up and said, “Get undressed, girls.”
***
Cy Warren trudged up to the ranch house, out of breath and damp with sweat despite the cold, his feet aching horribly. He knocked on the massive oak door, then McCuller himself opened it, glaring in disgust at his bedraggled right-hand man.
Ben McCuller stood five foot four. He was fifty years old and gray-haired, with wide shoulders and narrow hips. He seldom smiled, even when in a good mood, and right then his disposition was anything but good. His steel-blue eyes seemed to bore into Cy as he snapped, “Well, nice of you to show up!”
Swiveling around, he stomped off toward his office, Cy making haste to follow as he limped behind. God damn it to hell, he thought, the old man’s on the warpath again. He’s gonna kick my ass from here to Abilene when I give him the news.
In McCuller’s office, Cy seated himself, uncomfortably conscious of the two huge dogs lying by the fire, their eyes following his every move.
McCuller poured whiskey for himself and, after fixing Cy with another contemptuous glance, grudgingly took a glass from the bottom desk drawer and poured him one, too. Fighting an urge to drink the contents in a single gulp, Cy took a small sip, then opened his mouth to speak – but McCuller cut him off before he could utter a syllable.
“Where the hell have Sam and Cookie got to?” he demanded. “I sent them into town to get the larder stocked… they should’ve made it back hours ago.”
Cy clenched his jaw. Wonderful. Somethin’ else for him to chew on my neck about. “Well, um… they’re in jail.”
“Are they, by God!” McCuller thundered. “How the hell did that happen? For that matter, how’d you let it happen?”
Taking another swallow of whiskey, Cy explained everything. How The Tequila Kid caught him rifling the desk in the sheriff’s office. How she’d identified the horse he was riding as the property of the missing Ranger Hansen, then got the drop on him, forcing Cy to surrender his gun before locking him up. How The Kid then found an excuse to lock up Sam and Cookie, who were cooling their heels in jail at that very moment. How she had deputized Jud Nelson, one of the ranch hands McCuller had recently fired, as the new sheriff. How Tyson Avidite had gone missing, and his suspicion that The Kid was involved.
McCuller spoke not a word, and he remained impassive while Cy spoke, but his ears began to flush a bright red. No doubt about it; an explosion was imminent.
God almighty, is he gonna turn them dogs loose on me? Cy didn’t think it would come to that, but you never knew with McCuller, especially when in one of his rages. I seen him do worse.
Suddenly Cy remembered the metal box he’d found, now resting on the floor by his chair. Idiot, he chided himself. You should of mentioned that first.
“I got this,” he said, reaching for the box; showing it to McCuller. “I passed the Fletcher place on the way back. It’s all burnt down ‘cept the fireplace and chimney, but I poked around in there and found a hollowed-out hidin’ place.” He tapped the box. “This was stuffed inside. Figure it might be them deeds old Fletcher said he had.”
McCuller’s eyes lit up. “Give it here,” he said.
Cy handed the battered box over. McCuller studied it for a moment, then took a heavy-duty letter opener from his desk. After a moment’s struggle, he managed to pry the lid open. Staring inside, his face turned dark; his mouth tightened. Taking a piece of paper from the box, he brandished it. “What’s this?”
Cy leaned closer, staring at the paper. “It’s a… drawin’ of a bird. Maybe a raven or crow.”
“I’ll tell you what it isn’t,” McCuller growled. “It isn’t a stack of goddamned deeds!” Wadding the paper up, he threw it in Cy’s face. “Warren, you couldn’t find your ass with both hands and a map to guide you. I suppose now you’ll tell me that Tequila Kid had something to do with this, too!”
Soon as the words left McCuller’s lips, Cy knew they were true. How he knew, he wasn’t certain, but it made sense. Somehow, she got to them deeds first. Damn her eyes.
McCuller was staring at Cy, his face like thunder. “You failed me completely, Warren. I gave you that Ranger’s horse as a personal favor. Didn’t I tell you to get rid of that fancy saddle of his? Now the law knows you have it. That saddle is a finger pointing straight at you… which means it’s pointing at me, too.” He shook his head. “Then I send you to town to make yourself sheriff, and you get yourself arrested. By a girl, no less!”
“Now, that ain’t fair,” Cy protested. “The Tequila Kid ain’t just some girl–”
“Shut up!” McCuller snarled. “You’re supposed to be a soldier, Warren. A soldier working for my coin. If you can’t handle her, I’ll get someone who can. Hell, let her come out here. I’ll kill her myself.”
“I’ll take care of her, Mr. McCuller. Let me bring some of the boys into town and–”
But McCuller was already shaking his head. “No. You had your chance, Warren. This will all get sorted out, and that bitch Ranger will be in an unmarked grave, no thanks to you.”
Cy said nothing, but he could feel his face getting hot.
“I’ll take care of that Mezcal Kid, or whatever the hell folks call her. A woman Texas Ranger, for Christ’s sake!” He made a face as if he’d just bitten into a lemon. “Now go back to the bunkhouse, and stay there until I call for you. Until then, I don’t want to see your sorry–”
The two huge dogs looked up, ears back, and softly growled before the men heard the loud thump on the door. McCuller and Cy both started, but then McCuller smiled. “Ah… now, if that’s who I think it is, our little problem is as good as solved.” He rose from his seat. “You might as well stick around, Warren. I believe you two have already met.” With a low, mean laugh, he stalked out of the room.
Cy sat motionless as he listened to the boss stride down the hallway to the door, all too aware of who was on the other side. Hell fire, I didn’t think this day could get any goddamn worse.
***
Once Sarah was done bathing the girls, she had them slip into their nightgowns and climb into bed. It was a bit small for the three of them, but Sarah figured that would make it easier for them to stay warm. Kissing each one on the cheek, she said, “Now, don’t stay up too late talking, girls. Get yourselves some rest. I’m going out to the barn for a little bit; see if The Kid needs anything.”
Lighting the bullseye lantern, Sarah headed out to the barn, bundled up in her heavy coat. She’d be draping that coat over herself later after getting into her own bed. Without the girls to sleep with, it was sure to be cold.
The Kid quickly woke when she heard Button nicker. Reaching from inside the bedroll, she grasped the butt of her gun.
Sarah entered through the small side door. “Kid? It’s me.”
The Kid relaxed somewhat. “Everything okay? You hear someone? The girls are all right?”
“Yes, all is well. I just wanted to check if you’re warm enough… maybe chat for a while if you were still awake.”
“C’mon up,” The Kid called out. “Or do you want me to climb down?”
“I’ll come up.”
Sarah made her way up the ladder, The Kid helping her into the loft. Taking the lantern from Sarah, she carefully hung it on a hook.
“Lord, Kid!” Sarah exclaimed, briskly rubbing her hands together. “It’s freezing up here. You really should come into the house. My bed’s roomy enough for the both of us.”
“Shucks, I’m just fine,” The Kid said. “I’ve slept rough when it was a lot colder than this. Looks to me like you’re the one that’s cold. Here, come get in my bedroll and warm up.”
Settling in alongside The Kid, Sarah reflected on how nice it felt. I haven’t been this close to anyone since Eric was killed. Well, except for cuddling the girls.
“I’d like to thank you again for what you done for Clara… givin’ her a home,” The Kid said. “If not for you, that little girl would of ended up sellin’ herself to men just to get by, just like her sister had to.”
“I’m happy to have done it. She’s a darling child, and my girls adore her.”
“Nice of you to pay me a visit, seeing how cold it is out,” The Kid said. “I been wantin’ us to spend some time together.”
“Oh, I’d have come up here sooner,” Sarah said. “But I wanted to give the girls a bath, since I had enough wood to heat up the water.”
The Kid gave a thoughtful nod. “Well, I can see how little Amy might need a hand, but the other two… aren’t they old enough to wash themselves?”
“Oh… that’s just how me and my daughters have always done it. Bath night is a special time for us. And I think it’s a good thing for Clara to be part of it, so she gets to feel more like one of the family.”
The Kid slipped a hand inside Sarah’s coat, resting it on the woman’s side. “It’s right nice, lookin’ at pretty girls. Isn’t that right, Sarah? ‘Specially when they’re bare naked. I know it pleases me.”
“Uh, yes, I guess so.”
“Was your girls curious to see an older girl like Dix… I mean Clara, with all her clothes off?”
“Well. the children go swimming naked in the summer, so they’ve seen other – I mean, it’s nothing new to them.”
The Kid whispered, “You didn’t mind looking, I bet. Havin’ all three girls in the tub. Washin’ one of ‘em while the other two look, then movin’ to the next one.”
Sarah felt her heart pounding in her ears and said, “I – I’m not sure what you mean,” all the while thinking, How did she know? I do love looking at them. Such lovely children. What is there about naked little girls that makes them so beautiful? And they enjoy it as much as I do. I’ve often noticed how my daughters always seem to steal glances at one another… and tonight they were paying extra special attention to Clara.
“I don’t mean nothin’ by it,” The Kid said softly. “Mamas do wash their younguns, after all. I just figured yours are grown enough that they don’t really need much help takin’ a bath.” She placed a hand on Sarah’s thigh.
Sarah shivered. “A year or so ago, I… I told the girls they were old enough to wash their own selves, but they wanted to keep having our bath time together, all three of us. Eric would go into town and play cards on those nights, so we could have some privacy.” She trembled as The Kid’s hand found its way under her dress.
“I can see why they’d want you to wash ‘em, ‘stead of doin’ it on their own,” The Kid said, touching the front of Sarah’s underwear, tracing the cleft of her vagina through the thin cotton with her index finger. “It’s the closeness. Bein’ together, showin’ your love.” Her hand covering Sarah’s vulva, The Kid began to rub the dazed mother’s cunt. “Did you ever take your clothes off when you were givin’ the girls their baths? Ever let ‘em wash you for a change?”
“N-no,” Sarah gasped. “But one day… well, Cindy went into town with Eric, so it was just me and Amy. I had a bath ready for myself, and I thought, why not bring Amy into the tub with me?”
“Why not?” said The Kid, voice soft as a prayer. By then, she’d slipped a hand into Sarah’s drawers and was fondling the woman’s sex. “Did you enjoy it?”
Sarah tried to focus on the memory of that time with little Amy, though The Kid’s probing fingers were playing hell with her concentration. “I did… very much,” she admitted.
“I bet Amy liked being naked with you, too. Imagine what it would be like, all of you bathin’ together.”
“The tub isn’t b-big enough,” Sarah replied.
The Kid smiled. “If I was you, I’d get me one of them nice big tubs with the tall sides.” She eased her finger into Sarah’s vagina. “Think about how nice that would be. The girls washing you for once. Them soft little hands strokin’ your skin. Bodies touchin’, all slicked up with soap. A momma and her girls, gettin’ close. Was it me, I reckon I’d be bathin’ naked with my little ones every time we needed one. Maybe even sometimes when we didn’t.” She nuzzled Sarah’s neck, then gave it a light nip.
“Oh, Kid,” Sarah moaned. “Oh, my goodness…”
“You got to see ‘em all naked tonight, didn’t you? Lord, I’d love to of been there. Those sweet little bottoms, all shiny from the bath water… Mmm, just thinkin’ about it makes me all hot and crazy inside. Which do you like better, Sarah – those nice smooth pussies your girls have, or that sprinklin’ of hair Clara’s got?” By then, The Kid’s index finger was churning about inside Sarah’s vagina.
“Um, I – I like it all.” Sarah stammered, then cried out as The Kid’s thumb brushed her clitoris.
“Listen, Sarah,” said The Kid, “you’re a mighty fine-lookin’ woman. I’m guessing maybe you been missin’ your husband’s attention. Would you allow me to kiss you?”
Without a word, Sarah turned toward The Kid, and their mouths met. Surprising herself, she parted her lips to admit the younger woman’s tongue, then met it with hers.
Surely this is a sin, Sarah told herself. But I’ve not been touched or held like this in such a very long time, and loneliness weighs on my soul. Lord God, please allow your humble servant to drink from this cup.
She wrapped both arms round The Kid, drawing her close until their bodies were pressed snugly together, the two women kissing hungrily.
Something occurred to Sarah as The Kid’s hand covered her breast. How does she know Clara has hair between her legs?
***
Soon as Ma went out to the barn, Amy told Clara right out of the blue that she was real pretty. I think so too. In the bath Amy was rude to ask Clara why she had so many black and blue marks and Ma corrected her. Clara just said she’d fell down some steps. Made me think she sure must be unsteady on her feet.
I was surprised when Clara said she thought me and Amy are pretty too. What surprised me even more is when Amy asked if Clara would take off her nightdress and let us look at her again.
I scolded my sister, telling her she ought not to ask such things, but Clara just smiled and wanted to know if we liked looking at girls with no clothes on. Amy said we both did, but when Ma gave us our bath we were standing too close in the tub to see much.
Clara got up to stand at the foot of the bed and pulled her nightie right off. Then she lay back on the bed with her legs spread open and told us we could look all we wanted, or touch her any place we liked.
Right away Amy kneeled by Clara and began to feel her titties. Then she reached out to touch the little patch of hair Clara had down there, between her legs. There wasn’t enough of it to hide her girl bits, cause I saw when Amy touched her there, too.
Clara liked that a lot. She even told my sister to feel down lower. So Amy put a finger on her slit. Clara took her hand and moved it all around, showing her the right way to do it, so she would have the good feelings. Amy asked what kind of feelings she meant, and Clara said she would show us.
This was something new. Every once in a while me and Amy liked to pull up our nightgowns and rub our girl parts together, but we’d never tried using our fingers on ourselves, or on each other. It sure looked like fun!
Clara asked if we’d never seen a girl with hair down there, or titties like she had. I told her about Maude Fletcher having had some hair down there and little titties. Then Amy surprised me by saying that one time she took a bath with Ma, and how our mother had a lot of hair down there and nice big titties. I’d never known that. I wasn’t really jealous but maybe a little sorry I never got to see Ma like that, and that they kept it secret from me.
Clara asked me if Maude Fletcher still lived round here. I had to tell her the whole Fletcher family got killed a couple months back. She asked who done it, and when I told her it was this rich rancher named McCuller, Clara turned pale and quiet for a little bit. Maybe he did bad things to her family too. I didn’t want to ask about it.
Anyhow, Clara cheered up when Amy started to touch her girl bits again. She said it was the best feeling a girl could ever have, then told us we should get naked too. Amy didn’t think twice about taking off her nightgown, then she lay down on her belly and was touching between her legs with both hands, moving her bottom around and saying how much she liked it. Telling me I should try it too. Clara was still on her back rubbing herself while she watched Amy.
That’s when I took off my nightgown, then none of us was wearing a stitch. I kneeled on the bed and touched down there. It was wonderful, so warm and special deep inside. Like when me and Amy rub ourselves together, but lots nicer.
Clara turned Amy over on her back. She smiled at me, then Amy, and said this is what girls do when they truly do love each other.
I couldn’t believe what happened then! Clara lay down between my sister’s legs and kissed her there! Then she started to lick it, running her tongue through the opening, even going inside some. Then she covered it with her mouth.
Amy was going crazy, squirming and wiggling where she lay, saying oh Clara oh Clara oh Clara I love you. I was still touching myself, and watching Clara give my sister the good feelings she promised made what I did even better. My heart was beating so loud I could almost hear it.
It got too hard for me to be on my knees, so I lay down beside my little sister and took her hand. Amy gave it a squeeze, her body did a huge jerk, then she lay still, breathing fast and deep. I kissed her cheek, then she hugged me close for a little while.
Then Amy sat up and asked Clara if she would use her mouth on me, that I had to feel it for myself. Clara said she would love to. So I lay back and opened my legs for her. Once more she got down on her belly, then gave me a kiss down there. I liked it, but when she got started licking it was like floating straight up to heaven.
When me and Amy rub our parts together the way we like, it feels good, but Clara’s mouth and tongue was like a slow burning fire that gets out of control and burns down everything in sight. Soon I was shaking the same way Amy had done, like I was having some kind of fit.
Then my sister was giving me one of our special kisses while Clara kept licking, and before I knew it that fire swept through me so fast and wild that I half expected to die from it.
I didn’t die, but maybe I fainted for a little bit, cause next thing I knew, Clara was cradling my head in her lap, like Ma used to when we were little. I felt bashful all of a sudden, but still told her thank you.
Clara said I was very welcome, then she bent down and kissed me. A special one with her tongue, the same as me and my sister do. I wondered if Amy had showed her how.
Her kiss tasted strange at first, then I figured out it was the taste of my girl parts. I wasn’t sure what to think about that but it was pretty nice.
We all three took turns kissing for a while. Amy asked Clara if she could lick her down there, but Clara said Ma would be getting back in from the barn soon so we better not. She said we could lick her next time, so I figure we will be doing those things again.
I remember us putting our nightgowns back on, then we got under the blanket and snuggled up close to stay warm. Guess I fell asleep right quick, cause I didn’t hear Ma come back in.
Soon to come: Chapter Eight!
A photograph often tells more about its subject than what is captured by the lens alone.
Alice: Are you on laughing gas or something? Mitch and I got a look at your proposal for the Ruby Red Strawberries ad, and damn near had twin heart attacks on the spot.
Ron: It’s no joke — we are deadly serious about this ad campaign. I’m sure you’re thinking that we’ve flipped our respective lids, but hear me out, okay?
Alice: “Cutting edge,” that’s what you’re calling this? Maybe you ought to take a minute to consider what else cutting edges are good for — namely, slicing throats. Which may well be what happens to ANYONE crazy enough to take an ad campaign like this to a well-heeled sponsor like Ruby Red. Those heels will be planted right in our collective gluteus maximus, kiddo.
Ron: There’s no easy way to say this, so I’ll just come out with it. You can consider this my letter of resignation from Stern Advertising. Sandra is leaving too, though she’ll be writing a letter of her own as well. We are starting our own agency, one taking a more woman-driven approach to the modern ad campaign.
