Outlaw Hearts(76)

He walked into one of the saloons where he spotted a young, blond-haired girl moving around the tables. She was pretty, reminded him a little of that Mrs. Hayes. Her bright green satin dress sported a neckline so low he was sure her entire bosom would spill out of it. An edging of lace was all that hid her nipples, and he felt a rush of excitement at the thought of being with a woman who would let him do anything he wanted with her. That farm girl, she had been a little resistant at first, but she had given in once he told her that he’d tell her father about her if she didn’t cooperate. He had made her cry, but he supposed that was how it was for a girl’s first time. She’d get over it.

He edged closer to the prostitute, excited by the shortness of her dress, the hemline just above her pretty knees. He had never seen so much leg exposed on a woman before. She wore black net stockings and silver shoes, and her hair hung long and loose, unlike the tight buns worn by his Aunt Opal and most of the other women his family had known. He wanted to touch that hair, to see that slightly hidden bosom. “Hello,” he spoke up, touching her arm.

She turned, and a bright smile parted her full, red lips. “Hello, kid.” Her eyes moved over him. “Something I can do for you?”

Clarence grinned, already feeling an urgent pressure at his privates. “Maybe. You, uh, you one of those ladies who take money for showing a man a good time?”

She laughed lightly, tossing her head to flick her hair behind her shoulders. “A man? Is that what you are?” She came closer, moving her hand to his privates. Her eyes widened. “Well, I guess maybe you are at that.”

Clarence reddened, on fire for her, already sure that this was all he wanted out of life, women like this, the smell of smoke and cards. “I’m man enough for you,” he told her. “I’ve had my share of women,” he lied.

“Have you now?” She gave him a teasing look and took his hand, pulling him to the bar and ordering a shot of whiskey “on the house” for him. Clarence thought of protesting, but he figured if he was going to learn about this life, he had to taste all of it. The bartender set a shot glass on the counter and poured the whiskey, and Clarence picked it up and slugged it down quickly. He could not help making a face then at how it burned going down. He shuddered, and the woman laughed.

“Pour him another one, Toby,” she told the man behind the bar. “He’ll get used to it quick enough.” She touched Clarence’s chest, pressed her fingers across his nipple through his shirt. “For five dollars, I’ll take you upstairs and show you all you want to know about women, honey. You got the five dollars?”

Clarence swallowed, wondering if he would explode with desire. “I’ve got ten dollars you can have if you let me stay all night.” He grinned, imagining how his uncle would react if he knew his collection money was being spent on a whore.

“Let’s see your money, kid.”

Clarence quickly dug into his pocket, pulling out eight single-dollar bills and a two-dollar gold piece. The woman pulled the bodice of her dress away from her breasts so that he could see them fully. “Drop it in, honey.”

He stared at the taut nipples eagerly, then shoved the money into her dress, his hand lingering there a moment to enjoy touching one nipple. Men sitting close by who had seen the display hooted and whistled and began teasing Clarence, asking if he really thought he was man enough for what he was about to do.

“You don’t know Mellie, boy,” one of them said with a laugh. “She’ll eat you alive!” The others laughed with him, and Clarence reddened deeply but maintained a manly stance.

He drew his hand away. “That your name? Mellie?”

“That’s it.” She licked her lips seductively. “What’s yours?”

“Clarence. Clarence Gaylord.”

She traced her fingers over his lips. “Well, Clarence Gaylord, follow me upstairs, but don’t expect to get any sleep tonight.” She pulled at his hand, guiding him to the stairway while men continued to call out lurid remarks. Mellie just laughed, not at all offended. Clarence eagerly followed the woman up the stairs, wondering how old she was. She was so painted and had such a hard look to her, it was difficult to tell. She could be twenty, or maybe ten years older than that. It didn’t much matter. Tonight he was going to do what he wanted to do. This woman wouldn’t turn him away, and there was no Uncle Wilbur here to preach to him about how this life was wrong. He didn’t see a damn thing wrong with it. All these people liked it just fine. If laughter and half-naked women and scraping in money from card winnings was sin, then where was all the sorrow and pain and repentance his uncle preached about? He saw nothing here but a good time. He followed Mellie into her room, and she closed the door, keeping her smile when she turned to him. She knelt in front of him and began unbuttoning his pants. “Let’s see what you’ve got in here,” she said softly.