Title –
One Night Out West . . .Author - True_Love
Rating - NC17 to be safe, but I say hard R for sex and violence
Disclaimer - Standard. I own nothing that has to do with BtVS or ME. There is one line of dialogue stealage from Firefly just 'cuz that show was frickin' awesome and this is a western, so hey, how could I not. Song lyrics from Tim Finnegan's Wake.
Feedback- Always appreciated.
Beta - Ariel. She was invaluable for this story and it wouldn't be nearly as good as it is without her help.
Summary – Tara is the daughter of a wealthy businessman in the old west. A stranger and her partner come to town and her world is turned upside down.
Notes – Okay, first off I want to apologize for the length of this piece. It was originally going to be posted under my W/T Potpourri thread, but when I saw the
challenge req's, I thought it could be easily adapted to fit. Plus, I just wanted to join the fun. Hopefully, after reading this you will never think of westerns the same way. I know I won't. Enjoy!
Thoughts in italicsThe thunderous shot echoed throughout the small town of Dry Creek, Arizona and Tara Maclay knew her life would never be the same again.
Her daddy’s brow creased and his gun hand dropped. He grabbed at a hole in his chest over his heart, his eyes wide with confusion as he stared at his blood soaked hand. He gasped and his knees buckled as he fell backwards to the ground, a dust cloud erupting around his lifeless body.
Freedom was supposed to taste sweet, but the bile filling Tara’s mouth left nothing but bitterness as she winced and swallowed. She squinted at the piercing light as the sun began its morning rise. An early spring wind swept down the dirt street of the small town, covering the pooling blood surrounding her daddy’s body in a mixture of sand and dried grass while an aimless tumbleweed rolled by without a notion of the murderous act that had just taken place.
Tara’s gaze froze on her daddy’s blank stare as she lowered Donny’s rifle to her side and knelt down to close his cold steel blue eyes. Tara could hear nothing beyond the heavy pounding of her heart in her chest and the town that was normally bustling with activity had gone silent as a preacher’s call for prayer on Sunday. Tara’s attention was shaken away from her daddy when the town church bell rang out and signaled it was time to rise and prepare for the day ahead. Then her eyes turned to the sign from the saloon as its rusted chains flailed and squeaked in the early morning gusts that always seemed to signal warmer weather. But, there would be no warmth for Tara. Her veins felt cold as ice as she now saw the result of her years of wishing for her daddy’s death.
“Tara!” Willow jolted forward out of Emmitt’s grasp as he stood stunned at the sudden death of his former employer. She then leaned down and stretched out her hand. “Come with us! Come with me!”
Willow’s eyes were desperate as she shook her hand in front of Tara’s face, urging her to grasp it. Tara turned her head as she heard a scuffle off to the side. Xander pulled quickly out of Chester’s grasp and punched him across the face, then followed with a second powerful punch to the big man’s gut. Xander grabbed Chester’s gun and ran to Willow’s side. “Will, we need to adios! There’ll be a posse after us any second.”
“I know that!”
“You’re in trouble girl. I’m gettin’ the sheriff. You’ll be swingin’ by noon fur sure.” Emmitt said from behind Willow. Then he turned and raced towards the jail as his boots kicked up a trail of dust behind him.
“Now, Tara.” Willow said urgently. “We gotta go now!”
Tara nervously pulled her left hand to her stomach, clenching her fingers into a fist and then looked up to Willow.
I wanted to leave, but not like this. Not with blood on my hands. She thought back to yesterday afternoon, stunned by how much her life had changed in one night.
*********
Nineteen hours earlierTara stepped out onto the wooden plank porch of her house at the end of the tiny pass through town and stared out to the row of buildings that lay before her. It wasn’t much of a place to live, but settlers found it several years back and were able to keep it away from the local Indian population due to its distance from the nearest water source. Only because of the deep wells created at the two ends of town did it continue to exist at all. Most ranchers or men of any means lived far outside of town, needing lakes and ponds for their livestock and horses. This meant the town itself was run by one man, Donald Maclay, Tara’s daddy
Other small communities within a few days ride where starting to benefit from the boom of the mining of copper, silver and on some accounts gold. Dry Creek had none of that; however, it did provide a much needed stop-over on way to anywhere else. This meant the saloon; boarding house and brothel were prime sources of income, and Donald Maclay owned all three establishments. This kept his wealth growing despite the failing economy of the town and with that wealth came power.
Tara’s daddy had given her three tasks: one to manage the daily upkeep of his house, two to maintain the ongoing business of the boarding house and brothel, and three, to obey her father as she would the Lord or be prepared to face hellfire and damnation. Her older brother Donny had been given oversight of the saloon, although her daddy quickly hired an experienced barkeep to be the real operator -- even he didn’t much trust his son around the whiskey and the money. Donny was never fazed by this and became a general fixture at the poker tables nightly where he worked hand in hand with the town pick-pockets: Mitzi, Bosely and Rufus to clean out a visitor’s cash money if he couldn’t cheat his way to it at the tables. However, if there was ever any trouble Donny’s gunmen Chester Douglas and Emmitt Carter would be at his side with guns drawn, hired by his daddy for protection of his son.
This Tuesday began just like every other day for Tara. She walked down the line of buildings through the center of town as the mid March sun beat down on her and a gust of wind blew her long chestnut locks across her face hiding her fair complexion. She quickly tucked the errant hairs behind her ears and continued on to prepare supper for the brothel girls and tally up their earning from the night before. It was the same thing every afternoon, and every afternoon she thought she couldn’t do it one more day. She of course tried rebelling in her youth, once. She never made it further than fifteen miles outside the town’s boarder before Donny and his gang rounded her up and brought her back home. She wished she could say the same for the man that had tried to help her.
He was left stranded in the desert with nothing but a single bullet in his gun. His possessions and horse rounded up and brought back to town. And as for Tara, her father beat her within an inch of her life and threatened to kill her if she ever attempted such a foolish act again. So, this was her life, walking back and forth from home to her daddy’s businesses, feeding the girls, collecting money, cleaning rooms in the boarding house and returning home to do the same. Now at age twenty, she knew this would be all life would ever have to offer her unless her daddy tried to trade her off for money or land. It had become her duty to be caretaker to her daddy and brother ever since her mama passed away from fever five years ago.
Lucky woman.As Tara walked down the street she said her ‘good afternoons’ to fellow merchants and townsfolk. The people of Dry Creek always treated Tara with respect and kindness, not with fear as they did with her daddy and brother. Then again, she wasn’t using cash money and gunmen to hold the town hostage. Unlike her daddy’s wardrobe that reeked of wealth, Tara was always dressed simply, usually in plain cotton prairie dresses that she had made from left over stock fabric at the mercantile and her boots were scuffed leather, marked by years of wear and tear with their worn down heels.
She made her way up the steps of her daddy’s businesses; her heels clomping hollowly against the sun-dried planks. Donald Maclay’s building was the largest structure in town, holding all three of his enterprises under one roof. Inside on the main floor was the saloon and up the stairs on the second level was the brothel. A short walk around the wraparound porch and the back of the building was the boarding house with ten rooms. Tara’s took in a deep breath and then pushed open the squeaking saloon doors to begin the next part of her day. Her eyes immediately caught a friendly face and she smiled.
“Good afternoon, Curtis,” Tara said to the middle-aged barkeep.
Curtis Wilks was a short barrel-chested man, barely taller than Tara. He wore the same outfit every day, a black string tie and a simple white shirt under a neatly buttoned black vest with black trousers. He had a round pale face, not tanned like most the fellas that came in the saloon. His occupation kept him free from the sun with the many hours he spent inside pouring libations to the local residents and frequent visitors. The only color at all on is glowing white face was the dark brown mustache that tickled his upper lip and his rosy red cheeks that lifted in a smile when he saw Tara. To her, he was one the friendliest and kindest fellas in town.
“Good afternoon, Miz Tara.”
“Any problems last night?” Tara asked as she looked around the open room bathed in dusty sunlight.
“Nuthin’ to speak of.”
Tara leaned onto the bar. “Seen my daddy?”
Curtis nodded upstairs to one of the rooms.
“How long?”
“Not sure. At least since I took over for Marty this mornin’.”
“She’ll either wear him out or kill him one of these days.” Tara grinned and shook her head.
Curtis shook his head and frowned as he used a white cotton rag to dry off the stack of clean glasses in front of him.
“Curtis, you got no cause to be scared. I ain’t gonna say nuthin’ stupid.” Tara pulled back from the bar and started to make her way to the kitchen.
Curtis raised his eyebrows and grunted. “Hmm, last time you didn’t say nuthin’ stupid, I didn’t see you for nearly a week.”
Tara was about to respond when she heard a raucous coming from the entrance from the saloon. A large dark-headed man strode in next to a much smaller fair skinned redheaded man. The dark-headed man wore his black hat tipped back; an easy smile playing across his sun browned face. Tara could tell right off he was a friendly sort of fella. The small man in the dark brown over-sized hat and duster kept his face obscured, but Tara could just make out his hairless jaw, sun drawn freckles on his fair skin, and his delicate bone structure that suggested he was just a boy, not man yet.
“Welcome to the Lonesome Coyote gentlemen,” Tara said. “What can we do you for?”
That was the moment that Tara’s life changed. The redheaded stranger looked up briefly and their eyes met. Tara felt a flash of green lightning jolt through her body and her heart started to race. She had only seen the boy’s face for a moment, a mere second, and she knew something just happened to her that had never happened before.
“Just drink and a bed,” The redheaded boy said.
“Uh, um, Curtis, drinks for our visitors.” Tara stammered out, not sure what to make of the new feelings she had inside her. “You fellas wanna share a room? We do have extras now, but it will be twice the price if you each want your own.”
“We’ll each take our own room.” The redheaded boy said.
The dark-headed man looked to his partner and replied, “Uh, yeah.”
Just then a door swung open from upstairs, one of Tara’s most popular yet, most unpredictable working girl’s voice screamed a stream of profanities. A man came scrambling out of her room still struggling to pull up his pants as the thin blonde headed harlot whipped him on the back with his own belt. “Jack Branson, I swear that I will take my vengeance on you so help me God!” Anya Jenkins slashed through the air with the leather belt again as Jack, a young rancher’s son, yelped in pain. You think I’m some gol durn bank, I don’t take no credit. It’s cash money or nuthin’!”
Jack stood in front of Tara and looked to her for help while his arms were raised across his head blocking the blows from Anya’s swings. “Tara, you do something about this here girl or I’ll see to it that your daddy does.”
“Anya, that’s enough,” Tara called out to the painted lady. Anya’s ruby red lips already open and ready to argue.
“But, he—” Anya raised her hand and pointed at Jack.
“I said, that’s enough.” Tara stared hard at Anya as she clenched her jaw.
Anya threw the belt at Jack and stomped back up the stairs in nothing but the flimsy rose colored satin robe she had come down in. When she had reached the top step she turned and faced the flustered young man. “I’m done with you Jack Branson, you hear me. I’m done.” Anya strode across the upper floor until she reached her room and slammed the door behind her.
“Who was that?” The dark-headed stranger asked, his mouth gaped open in wonder.
“You don’t want no part of her. Trust me.” Jack turned and said to the stranger then turned back to Tara. “Tara, I’m not a satisfied customer. I want a free visit or I’m telling my pa.”
“You go ahead and do that Jack and I’ll be sure to tell him that each week when you come into to town to deposit his wages, you spend at least fifty dollars in my establishment before you return home.” Tara crossed her arms, raised her eyebrows and pressed her lips together, daring Jack to continue.
“Well, now, now, no need to get yourself all concerned about a little misunderstanding, Tara. I was just kiddin’ about talkin’ to your daddy.”
“Uh huh.” Tara relaxed her shoulders and brow.
“I think we can leave this little incident between the two of us, like civil folk.” Jack laughed nervously.
Tara closed her eyes briefly and nodded her head with a sigh. “Right, Jack. I’ll see you Thursday.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Jack tipped his hat and was out the door before another word could be said.
Tara laughed to herself and shook her head as she walked behind the bar. “I’m sorry, gentleman. Usually our girls are much calmer than that. We just have one girl with a little more spunk than the others. I can fix you up with one of them, if it suits you.”
The dark-headed man tipped his hat back even further on his head and smiled broadly.
My name is Tara by the way, I help run this establishment. Our beds and girls are clean and our whiskey is the best you can find within a day’s travel of here.”
“Xander.” The dark-headed man nodded.
“Will.” The redhead kept his hat low and never moved to look anywhere but at the bar counter.
“Where y’all headed?” Tara propped her elbows on the bar.
“California.” Xander offered and knocked back a shot of whiskey.
Will nudged Xander with his arm and shook his head in disapproval.
“What, I can’t say where were goin’? That’s not saying anything,” Xander questioned Will.
Will threw back a shot of whiskey and spoke, “I’d like to see that room now if I could ma’am. You coming, Xan?”
“No, I was thinking about maybe checking out some of these girls here.” A goofy grin played across his face.
“Whatever. Just don’t spend all our money.” Will threw his saddlebag over his shoulder and waited for Tara to lead him to the room.
“Curtis, I’ll be right back.”
**********
Tara led Will outside the saloon doors and around back to the boarding house in the back of the building. The room was up a narrow set a stairs at the far corner of the building. The steps creaked as they walked up the weather-beaten staircase, paint chipping off the railing as Tara ran her hand along it for support. Her father wouldn’t spend a cent on the business if he didn’t need to and fresh paint seemed like a ridiculous prospect in this hell-hole of a town.
“Well, this is it.” Tara unlocked the door and pushed it open so Will could step inside.
“I know it don’t look like much, but the room is clean, no fleas, and the bed is soft. This room is a little bigger than most and has a tub.” Will paced around the room, running her hand along the sturdy wooden desk against the wall and rocking the chair from side to side to see if it was solid enough to support her less than substantial weight. “A-And breakfast is served at eight in the mornin’ downstairs. That’s included.”
Will nodded, keeping his head low. “It seems fine. Thank you.” Will tipped his hat and dropped his saddle back on the small wooden desk against the wall.
“You sure don’t talk much, not like your friend downstairs.” Tara tried to strike up a conversation with the strange boy.
“He does enough talking for both of us I think.”
Tara could just make out a hint of smirk from the thin pink lips under the broad brim of hat and it made her smile.
“You can hang your hat and coat up here.” Tara pointed to hook on the side of the wall.
I just have to see his face again. Look in those eyes.“I’m fine, thank you.” Will turned his back, effectively ending the discussion.
“Oh, okay. Well, holler if you need anything.” Tara stepped toward the door and closed it behind herself.
She had met a lot of odd people since managing the boarding house for her daddy, but Will had to be the most peculiar, not just because he was quiet, but because of the way he looked. From what she could make out he was more like a pretty boy, than a man.
Bath! Tara remembered she had forgotten to ask if she should get water for a bath. She turned and started back up the stairs, making her way back to Will’s room. She opened the door without a thought and that’s when she got the first shock of the day to come. Will was lying on the bed; his hat and duster hung on the chair and his boots tossed to the floor. As soon as she pushed open the door Will shot up into a sitting position.
Tara could she Will’s whole face and his eyes widened as he gazed at her. Tara was about to apologize when the reality of who Will was exploded in her like a stick of dynamite. Will’s face not that of a boy at all — she was a girl, a beautiful green-eyed girl. Tara’s mouth gaped open as she stood frozen on the threshold. The strange girl’s hair blazed like a bonfire in December and it was cut short just past the collar on her neck. Without her duster on Tara could make just make out the curves of her body under the loose fitting trousers, half-unbuttoned shirt and suspenders draping around her waist. Will may have been dressed in man’s clothes, but she was most unmistakably a woman.
“Close the door will ya?” Will called over to Tara.
“S-Sorry, mist . . .”
“It’s all right. I know you know. I can tell from the look on your face.” Will ran her thin fingers through her short hair shaking out the dust as she did it.
“W-Why are you dressed like a . . . man.”
“Well, that’s a long story. Let’s just say, people don’t care too much for a woman toting guns and riding across country, unless you’re in wagon or a buggy that is. They kinda find it a bit unnatural.”
“Oh.” Tara knew all about that. She had been praying daily for certain unnatural thoughts about some the girls in the brothel to go away. So far, it hadn’t worked, but it didn’t stop any effort on her part.
“You’re not gonna say anything are ya? We’re just about a week out from where we’re going and I’d hate to get stalled now.” Will’s brow creased with worry.
Tara walked over to the chair and sat down. “No, I won’t say nuthin’. What are ya goin’ to California for? You got family there?”
“I don’t, but Xander does. They got some jobs there waiting for us.”
“Not many wives work, ‘specially with youngin’s.”
“Well, I ain’t married yet. Don’t ever expect I will be neither.”
“How come? I mean aside from the clothes I’m sure you and Xander would make a fine pair.”
Will broke out in laughter, slapping her knee. “Me and Xander, are you kidding me. We aren’t no couple. He’s my best friend, more like my brother. Our parents were homesteaders back in Oklahoma, didn’t quite make the locals happy. Most of our group were killed when we were real young, and the ones that weren’t moved us kids to New Mexico and raised us there at a mission. Xander found out his dad had a brother in California and wrote him. He’s the one getting us jobs.”
“That’s so excitin’.” Tara looked at Will with awe. She was everything that she wanted to be. Brave, courageous, beautiful, and chasing her dreams. It made her feel ashamed that she was still following the same routine day after day, scared to make a change. “I-I’ve just been here. I tried to leave, i-it just didn’t work out.” Tara focused her gaze on her hands in her lap. A lock of hair fell loose in front of her face and she quickly tucked back behind her ear.
“How come? The whole country’s moving west?”
“My daddy, he thinks I belong here and until he thinks different, this is where I’ll be.”
“Having a tight family like that must be nice, never known it myself . . . unless you count Xander.” Will shrugged.
“Yeah, it’s all right.” Tara looked up and watched as Willow reclined back into a laying down position with her hands laced behind her head. Something about the girl caused Tara’s emotions to stir and she felt like both running away and thanking God for Will at the same time.
“Oh. Why’d you come back by the way?”
“Uh, um, I wanted to know if you wanted to take a bath, I can fetch you some water.” Tara used her thumb to point over her shoulder to the door.
“A bath.” The ends of Willow’s lips curled up into a dreamy smile. “I haven’t had a good bath in a week. Maybe after dinner, right now I’m just plumb tuckered out and need to get some shut eye.”
Tara found herself staring and Will; she was entranced by this strange and beautiful woman. “Well, dinner’s served at five if you want to come down.” Tara’s smiled shyly. “I think I’m making steak and vegetables tonight, but I can make something different if you want?”
“Steak sounds delicious. Easy on the greens through, I’m more of a potato gal.” Will smiled.
“Okay.” Tara nodded. She would make whatever Will wanted, she just had to spend some more time with the girl before she and Xander were on their way.
**********
At the end of the dinner Will asked Tara if she could come to her room and fill up the bathtub. Tara cleared it with Curtis first, making sure that he could provide coverage of the brothel while she was gone, which she promised wouldn’t be long.
Several trips later and few stops in the kitchen to heat the water and the tub was almost full. Tara had brought the final two pails of hot water in and she was surprised to find the room empty when she entered. Figuring Will must have stepped out to use the outhouse, Tara poured the first pale in the water and steam rose up from the tub, flowing over the sides as it dissipated into the cooling air of the room.
“It’s so nice to have some moisture in the air, don’t you think?” Tara dropped the bucket and jumped back when she heard the voice from behind the dressing curtain in the corner of the room. Will poked her head around the side. “Did I scare ya?”
“J-just a little. I didn’t think you were in the room.” Tara wiped the sweat from her brow and picked up the last bucket and poured it into the tub. “So, you’re all set. I left a towel on your bed.” Tara walked towards the door.
“Wait!”
Tara turned her head. “Something else?”
“What if, if I wanted company?”
Tara shook her head slowly. “I’m sorry, I don’t understand.”
Will stepped out from behind the dressing curtain naked as the day she was born. Her pale skin shined like gold in the amber glow of the Kerosene lamp on the bedside table. Tara turned her head immediately, she wasn’t sure why. She had seen plenty of naked girls since she had taken over the brothel. In fact, sometimes she wondered why they bothered with clothes at all. But, seeing Will like this, she felt shy and embarrassed. Afraid her true emotions would spill out all over her face and Will would know that she wasn’t just another girl looking at just another woman.
Will walked straight up to Tara and stood so close that there wasn’t room for anything but breath between them. “I said what if I wanted company.”
Tara stared off to the corner of the room, but she could feel Will’s warm breath against her cheek. “I-I’m sure I could get one of the—”
“Uh uh.” Will leaned forward slowly inhaling up the side of Tara’s neck. “You smell like you’ve been working hard.” Her voice was thick and sweet like molasses. “Don’t you think a nice hot bath would make you feel so much better?”
Tara’s body trembled under Will’s gaze and her breathing became quick and shallow. “I-I think you—”
“Come on.” Willow ran her fingers down Tara’s arm and clasped her hand.
Tara had seen her girls bathe together on numerous occasions. Actually, her daddy encouraged it as it saved on water. If Will was willing to share a little space in her bath for her, who was she to argue?
It was just a bath after all. A hot, steamy bath with a gorgeous naked girl that makes my stomach fill with butterflies just to think about. What’s wrong with that? Will sat Tara in the chair next to the tub and knelt down slowly unlacing each boot before cupping her hand on Tara’s calf to lift each of her legs in turn and slide the shoes off her feet. She then reached her fingers up along the curve of Tara’s leg, unclasped the stocking hinge and rolled down each stocking, tossing them to the side. Tara squeezed her thighs together tightly as she felt the familiar sensation of the warm wetness that always seemed to accompany the naughty thoughts she had about particular girls when she was alone in her room at night and the images assaulted her aching body. Will was doing something to her, something that she didn’t want to stop.
Will stood and encouraged Tara to stand along with her as she slowly unbuttoned one pewter button after another down the front of her simple drop waist dress. When enough buttons had been undone, Tara slipped the shoulders of her dress off and held Willow’s hand to step out of it and then hung it over the back of the chair. All that was left were Tara’s simple cotton undergarments. She had seen what her brothel girls wore, fancy satin and lace corsets and silk stockings, but she had no need or money for such eccentricities. Although, right now she would have spent whatever money she had to make those silly purchases just so Will didn’t have to look upon her rather pathetic excuse for clothing. Tara hung her head forward in embarrassment; an errant lock of hair fell in front of her face. Tara started to bring her hand up, but Will’s hand was already there, sliding along Tara’s hairline as it tucked the hair behind her ear. Will then lifted Tara’s chin to look at her.
“They look just like my drawers.” Will’s thin lips pulled into a smile and Tara couldn’t help but smile back.
Will quickly removed the undergarments and tossed them onto the chair with the rest of Tara’s clothes. She then led Tara to the steaming tub. “Bathe with me.”
Will stepped back into the tub without letting go of Tara’s hands and Tara followed. The hot water stung Tara’s skin, sending chills over her body as it adjusted to the temperature. Both women sank down together facing each other as the water rose and spilled over the side. After their bodies had rested on the bottom of the basin, Will spun Tara around so that her back was to her and asked for the lye and scrubber sitting in the bath tray. Tara handed it to Will and before she knew it she felt Will’s slick hands running up and down her back, kneading her tender muscles. Nobody had touched her like this since her mother rubbed calming salve on wounds made by her daddy when she was a child. Tara instinctively pushed back into Will’s hands, increasing the pressure as Will dug into the flesh around her shoulder blades and along the sides of her spine. Tara’s eyes were closed as her body swayed to Will’s ministration and moans of pleasure escaped her lips.
“I guess somebody likes that?” Will asked with a hint of mirth in her voice.
“I-It feels really good,” Tara nearly growled back.
“Well, I expect that it might seeing that you have a whole tribe of knots up and down your back.” Will laughed. “Can you hand me the shampoo?” Tara heart sank a little when Will let go of her back then Tara handed her the shampoo. “Okay, relax back into me so we can get your hair.” Tara tentatively did as she was told and she felt one of Will hands on her back while the other cupped her head. “Hold your breath.” Will filled her cheeks with air to demonstrate the action as she dipped Tara’s head below the surface of the water, her knees jutting up to the cool air.
When she was raised above the water, Willow sat her up as Tara wiped the water out of her eyes. The next thing Tara sensed was the smell of pine wafting forward to her and then she felt Will’s hands working their way through her hair. Will dipped her hands repeatedly in the water, doing her best to create a lather in Tara’s long chocolate brown locks. The gentle pull and release of Will’s movements took her to a place of relaxation that she had never felt. Willow ran her fingers along Tara’s scalp and the sensation was overwhelming. Tara thanked the Lord she wasn’t facing Will because she would have probably crossed that line she’d swore she’d never cross. Will dipped her hair again, rinsing out all the shampoo and returned Tara to her sitting position.
“My turn.” Will handed the washing implement and shampoo back to Tara and turned to face the back of the basin. Tara turned around and she could hardly believe what she was about to do.
If Daddy could see me now, she thought. She wasn’t sure what would happen, but it would be bad, very bad. Tara lathered up the soap and followed the same pattern that Will had, starting with her back. The moment Tara felt Will’s smooth skin beneath her fingers; she knew that she wanted this woman. She wasn’t even sure what that meant, to want someone. Anya said it all the time, usually about men with money. But, Will didn’t have any money to speak of and there wasn’t anything in her possession that Tara could see as of value, but she needed her just her same. Images began filling Tara’s mind. Pictures of her kissing Will, lying with her, holding her close and feeling her bare skin against hers. Tara shook her head.
It’s just a bath, Tara. Tara lowered Willow back into her lap to dip her hair and raise her up. As she did Will’s bright green eyes broke open and Tara’s breath caught as Will coughed and sputtered soapy water.
“I said to hold your breath, right?” Will continued to cough, wiping soapy water out of her eyes and off her face.
“Yeah.” Tara giggled.
Tara lathered Willow’s hair and rinsed it out.
“I think we each can take care of the rest ourselves. Willow ran the slippery bar of lye over her chest, arms and alternately raised each leg out of the water before handing it to Tara who did the same and place the soap back in the bath tray.
“Now . . . we soak.” Willow sighed and leaned her back against the tub. Tara followed along, their legs crossing over one another’s in the small space. “Oh, this feels so good.”
“Yeah, I haven’t had a bath in years,” Tara said as she closed her eyes, feeling the warm water on her skin.
“Years?” Will sat up.
Tara’s eyes shot open as she realized what she said must have sounded like. “Well, I clean m-myself every day, sure enough, but Daddy doesn’t much abide the wastefulness of baths. He removed ours from the h-house and brought it to the boarding house to make a little extra profit. This was ours actually.”
“You mean this one, the one we’re in right now.” Will’s hands splashed down into the water as she tried to point to the basin.
“Uh huh.”
Will leaned back; her eyes wide and lips pressed tightly shut and took a long pause before speaking again. “Wow. Tara, tell me something else about you?”
“Like what?”
Will shrugged. “Anything. I mean I know that you run this business for your daddy, you want to get out of Dry Creek, and you haven’t had a bath in years. What else?”
“Um, I’ve never spent time with anyone like this before. H-Have you done this before?”
“Done what, taken a bath?”
“Bathed with a strange girl.” Tara felt the heat rise on her cheeks and she looked away from Will to the shadows dancing along the wall at the bidding of the flickering Kerosene lamp.
“Maybe. Would it bother you if I had?” Will looked at Tara with one eye peeking open.
“No.” Tara tried to act like it didn’t, but her rising voice gave away a hint of jealousy.
Will smirked and closed her eyes as she rested her head against the back of the tub. “Well, if you haven’t been bathing with strange girls, what have you been doing?”
“I told you, I take care of my daddy’s business and him and my brother, Donny. I-It’s really all I have time for.”
“But, what about for fun?”
“Hmm, well, sometimes I sit in on the poker games downstairs, when we’re slow.”
“But, what do you do for you? Away from this place.” Will looked to Tara, her eyes half open.
“I-I never get away.” Tara pulled her knees to her chest with left hand and looked down to watched as her right hand swept across the surface of the water, leaving small ripples in its path.
“Oh.” Will opened her eyes fully; an awkward silence fell between the two women. “You about ready to get out of this bath, I’m getting all prune-y.”
“Sure.” Tara felt her heart tighten in her chest. This was the closest she had ever felt to another human being since her mother passed away and her time with Will was just about up.
Tara stood first and pulled Will to her feet. The women carefully stepped from the tub and Tara handed Will the towel from the bed, puddles of water forming around their feet as they stood on the bare wood floor. When Will had finished drying off she handed the towel back to Tara and she ran it quickly over her body before picking her undergarments off the chair.
“Hey! What are you doing?”
“Gettin’ dressed.”
Will laughed. “You are a strange girl. Come over here.” Tara put her clothes back on the chair and walked over to Will. Will held Tara’s hand and turned to face her. “Tell me something, Tara. You got a fella, someone you’re sweet on?”
“No.”
“You ever been with a man before?”
“What’s this g-got to do—”
“What about a woman? You ever lie with a woman before?”
Tara felt the heat rise on her cheeks and around her ears. Nobody had dared ever ask her questions like these before. “No. N-No to both.” Tara felt utterly exposed, not only was she naked, but this complete stranger knew not a soul in this world had the least bit interest in her.
Will nodded. “Tara, I didn’t just invite you take a bath with me. I was kind of hoping . . . for more.”
Suddenly, this innocent bath sharing time didn’t feel so innocent after all. The feelings and emotions that Will stirred inside her were not without reason. Will had her own plans for Tara. But, this was unnatural. Every day she spent time in scripture looking over the passages, damning the thoughts of other women that filled her mind. But now, looking at Will it all seemed so pointless. Here in this little room in the back of boarding house, nobody would know and Will would be gone tomorrow. At least Tara would have the memory, the dream that was the woman that fell in love with her, even if it was just for a night. That dream could last her a lifetime.
Tara stepped closer to Will, the tips of their toes just touching. “It’s your turn to tell me something, Will.”
“Anything.”
“What’s your name, y-your real name?”
Will smiled. “It’s Willow, like the tree. Pretty silly, huh?”
“No, it’s pretty. . . pretty.” Tara felt her heart start to pound in her chest like a wild stampede. Was she really going to do this? Open her heart to Willow, even for just one night. She had spent some time at the tables downstairs and knew how to handle herself in a good game of poker. But, gambling with her heart, that was a different story.
Willow licked her lips and leaned forward as she placed a small kiss on Tara’s lips and pulled away. “Is this . . . okay?” Willow raised an eyebrow.
Tara nodded and leaned forward into Willow, covering Willow’s thin lips easily with the fullness of her own. If she was going to hell, she wanted to make sure the trip would be worth it. She let go of Willow’s hands and wrapped her arms around her back, falling forward onto the bed. The small mattress creaked and popped as worn out springs gave way to their weight. Willow rolled Tara onto her back and pushed her thigh between Tara’s legs. Willow’s wet strands of hair hung around her face, dripping like raindrops on Tara’s cheeks. Tara let out a moan as Willow kept the pressure tight against her center and rocked her body back and forth, kissing Tara deeply. Every last good thing that Tara had ever felt flashed before her eyes and nothing compared to this. For the first time she understood why men would lose their wives, their money, sometimes even their lives to be with the girls she had in the rooms just on the other side of these walls.
Tara felt Willow’s lips burn a trail of kisses along her jaw, down her neck, making their way to her breasts. Willow brought her hands up to cup each of her breasts in her hands and in turn squeezed and suckled them like a newborn babe.
“Oh God!” Tara cried out and ran her hands down Willow’s smooth back then back up again, pulling and pinching the flesh with each flick of Willow’s tongue against her hardened nipples. Tara’s blood was hot, boiling beneath the surface like a volcano ready to erupt.
Willow returned to face her, kissing her forcefully and then asked, “Are you ready?”
“Ready . . .for what?” Tara panted.
Willow used her knees to spread Tara’s legs then moved her hand down to Tara’s softened curls. “Just relax.”
“Okay.” Willow kissed her and as she did Tara felt Willow moving her hand between her legs, then her fingers slowly fill her and Tara gasped at the unexpected pressure. “You okay?”
“Uh huh.” Tara’s head rolled back into the pillow as every nerve in her body focused on Willow’s fingers.
Willow slowly withdrew and entered Tara again. “You tell me to stop if this hurts.”
“Mmm Hmm.” Tara breath shuddered as she grasped on to Willow’s back pulling her closer into her.
Willow began to pick up the pace, thrusting over and over again. Tara’s hips started moving of their own accord, matching Willow’s rhythm as she tried to maintain the friction. Her legs quivered and she whimpered out into the night, then . . . heaven. Tara’s back arched forcing her head off the pillow, her body erupting as her orgasm released while she cried out a string of incoherent words. Tremor after tremor racked her body until she was completely spent. Still clutching Willow’s sweat covered body, Tara sunk back into the pillow taking her new lover with her.
“Wow, are you sure you’ve never done this before?” Willow relaxed her arms and collapsed on Tara, breathing heavily.
Tara nodded, still unable to speak from the after effects of the experience.
“Well, you were amazing.” Willow kissed her and rested her head on Tara’s chest.
“I, I wasn’t the one . . . doing the . . . work.” Tara said in a gravelly voice. With her statement she realized that Willow must be expecting something from her in return. Certainly this is how this type of thing is done, a fair trade. Maybe money doesn’t exchange hands, but services are still rendered for both parties. “I-Is there something I can do for you?”
Willow looked up at Tara, her eyes clouded over and a peaceful look on her face. “Have breakfast with me tomorrow.”
“What?”
“You know, the thing that comes before supper.” Willow laughed. “If you could bring something up to my room and share it with me, I would be mighty appreciative. Then we can spend some more time together.”
“You mean, you don’t want me to . . .” Tara moved her hand back and forth between the two women.
“Oh, no I’m good for now, but maybe later.” Willow rested her head back on Tara’s chest.
“I guess, I’m not w-what you were expectin’.” Tara looked away and watched the flame flicker in the lamp.
Willow raised her head to look at Tara. “No, you aren’t. You’re more.”
Tara looked back into Willow’s eyes and felt confounded by what she heard.
“I’ve never met anyone in my life quite like you, Tara. You’re a special kind of woman, you know that?”
Tara’s forehead wrinkled in confusion. “Then why don’t you want to trade?”
“Trade?” Willow tilted her head and furrowed her brow.
“Sex.”
“Girl, you don’t trade sex.” Willow laughed.
“Of course you do. My girls trade sex every day.” Nobody was going to tell Tara about her business, not even Willow.
“Well, I didn’t figure you for some kind of whore, is that what you’re telling me you are? A virgin whore?”
Tara hated that term. “My girls provide a valuable service to this community.” Lying in Willow’s bed she now knew exactly how valuable it was. “I don’t appreciate you callin’ them by that name.” She sat up in bed indignantly.
Willow began to giggle and that giggle turned into a laugh. “Like I said, a special kind of woman.” Willow shook her head and tried to get serious as she sat up next to Tara. “Listen Tara, I just thought you were a beautiful girl and I wanted to spend some time with you. Giving you pleasure, gives me pleasure. If more happens later then so be it. This thing between you and I isn’t about business, it’s about what’s in here.” Willow placed her hand over Tara’s heart. “Okay?”
Tara nodded and a half-smile crept upon her lips as she placed her hand over Willow’s.
“Now please lay back down. Stay with me tonight.”
“I-I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“I’m supposed to be downstairs helping Curtis. I don’t get off until midnight.” Tara looked to Willow. “Actually, what time is it?”
Willow picked up her pocket watch on the bedside table. “It’s eight thirty-five.”
“Shoot!” Tara jumped out of bed and raced to put her clothes on. She felt the blood rush from her face and she broke out in an instant sweat. “I-I can’t have breakfast with you.” Tara spoke as she threw on each article of clothing and combed through her still damp hair with her fingers, “I might not see you before you leave. Take care of yourself, Willow.”
Willow jumped out of bed and grabbed Tara’s arm just before she was able to leave the room. “Wait! Where you goin’? What do you mean you may not see me?”
“I’m late Willow, very, very late. That ain’t a good thing around here.” Tara took a moment to look in Willow’s eyes and pressed her lips fervently against Willow’s one last time. “Thank you. I-I’ll never forget you.”
And with that, Tara was out the door.
**********
Tara’s heart was sickened the moment she closed the door on Willow, but the fear racing through her body took precedence. She nearly slid down the back steps then ran around the building, re-entering the saloon in time to see Curtis shaking his head slightly and giving her the warning look that was never a good sign. Stepping toward the bar she began to form her excuse.
“Curtis you—”
Before she could continue Tara was struck with a blow so powerful that it knocked her down to one knee. She was just a few steps away from the nearest gambling table and she turned her head to look up, tears of pain and humiliation stinging her eyes. She didn’t even need to question what just happened. Anya was sitting on Xander’s lap as he tried to turn his chair and stand to help Tara. Tara swallowed hard and the familiar mix of saliva and blood ran down her throat.
Anya patted Xander on the chest and whispered just loud enough for Tara to hear. “Just stay outta this or you and your friend will be tossed out of town tonight.”
Anya looked at Tara and her pained expression showed regret that she couldn’t help her. Tara understood and nodded as she wiped the blood from her mouth before she stood.
“Where the hell you been girl? I got girls that need to work and nobody here running things. Your brother came and got me over an hour ago,” said Donald Maclay, rubbing the palm of his right hand with his left thumb.
Tara felt a small sense of satisfaction seeing her daddy rub his hand.
Hurts, don’t it? She stood motionless, not sure what his next move would be. Words caught in her throat as she struggled with what she could say without giving away Willow’s name. Suddenly, Willow pushed open the doors of the saloon and her eyes caught Tara’s. The side of Tara’s face already began to swell and blood continued to trickle from her split lip.
Willow walked straight up to her. “Tara.”
“Will, just walk away,” Tara said in a hushed tone.
“What do you mean walk away.” Willow grabbed Tara’s hands
Tears ran down the sides of her cheeks. “Please,” she begged.
“Well, well, who’s this?” Donald Maclay said, his bushy eyebrows rose into his worn and wrinkled forehead. “Is this your knight in shining armor?”
“N-No.” Tara said.
“For a knight, he looks like a bit like a sissy to me.” Donald Maclay laughed and looked around the room. The rest of the men nervously laughed as well.
“You start whoring yourself girl? Trying to make a little money on the side?”
“N-No, sir. I don’t know who this is. J-Just one of our new guests.”
Xander lifted Anya off his lap by waist of her satin corset and stood now seeing his friend in danger. “That’s right. We rode into town together. We’ll be leaving in the mornin’. We don’t mean you no trouble. Isn’t that right, Will?”
Willow looked to Tara and Tara nodded her head. “That’s right.”
“Daddy, let me go h-help the girls.”
“Nobody’s stopping you, girl.” Tara gave Willow one last look and turned to face the stairs. “Well, get moving.” Donald Maclay used his boot to push Tara in the back and caused her to stumble forward, falling to the ground again. “This is what I’m talking about folks,” Donald Maclay shouted out to the room full of patrons, “I run this town and everybody in it. That means everybody works for me!” Donald pointed to himself. “So, from now on we’re going to work when we’re supposed to work.” Donald now used to his finger to point out to the residents sitting around the room. “If I so much as catch one of you not doing your job to keep this town in business, then me and my boys here,” Donald nodded to Donny, Emmitt and Chester, “will have to pay each of you a visit. Is that what you want? If not, then you best be changing your ways and changin’ ‘em fast!” Donald Maclay pulled his cuffs protruding out his jacket sleeve straight and aligned his collar before exiting the building, leaving the crowded room silent.
“What a jackass.” Xander muttered under his breath.
Willow sat down next to Xander as Tara walked up the stairs.
“What the hell is going on?” Willow asked Xander.
“You tell me, Will.” Xander leaned forward and looked Willow in the eyes.
“I just couldn’t help myself Xan, she’s perfect.” Willow raised her shoulders as she tried to explain.
“Oh, are you two talking about sex?” Anya chimed in.
Willow lowered her head. “Just mind your own business.”
“Sex is my business.” Anya crossed her arms. “Isn’t that right Xander?” Anya rubbed her nose against Xander’s and kissed him.
Xander’s eyes glazed over and a boyish smile pulled at his lips. “Uh huh. It is her business.”
“Oh God.” Willow slumped back into her chair and turned towards Anya. “So, what’s the story with Tara’s daddy?”
“Oh, he runs this place and the whole damn town.”
Willow raised her hand slightly and turned her palm upward as she questioned Anya. “Why didn’t anyone stand up for Tara?”
“Because, he’ll kill ‘em, even she knows that.” Anya looked to another town resident sitting at a table next to them, and he nodded in agreement.
“How can you stand to live in this place?” Willow asked as she shook her head in disgust.
“Well, it’s not my long-term goal to be here. I plan to marry a rich gold miner passing through town. I’m just biding my time and saving my money.”
Xander wiggled in his chair so he could sit up taller and puffed his chest out. “You know, I’m gonna be a miner.”
“You are?” Anya raised her eyebrows.
“Uh huh, that’s why we’re headed to California. My uncle’s gonna get us jobs.”
“Really.” Anya snuggled closer to Xander.
“Oh yeah.”
“Why don’t you tell me more about you becoming a rich miner?” Anya draped her arms around Xander’s shoulders.
Willow saw Tara exit one of the bedrooms and make her way down the stairs. Almost everyone in the saloon quieted down as she made her way passed the bar and back to the kitchen. As soon as she disappeared into the kitchen the noise level rose again. Willow knew this was her opportunity to make her move.
“Xan, I’ll catch up with you later.” Willow patted him on the shoulder and while keeping her eyes trained on the kitchen door.
Willow walked over towards the kitchen, pushed open and the door and slipped in the room behind Tara.
“Tara.”
“Willow?” Tara turned around, tears coursing down her cheeks.
“Tara, I-I . . .”
Tara moved quickly forward and wrapped her arms around Willow, sobbing into the crook of her neck.
“I didn’t understand before, but now . . . I’m just so sorry.”
Tara pulled away wiping the tears off her face. “You couldn’t have known. You’re just in town for the night. There was no point in sayin’ nuthin’.”
“But, what if it wasn’t just one night?”
“What do you mean?”
“Come with me, Tara. Let me take you with me.”
“I can’t.” Tara shook her head. “You’d get hurt and I don’t want that.”
“Why would I get hurt?” Willow held Tara’s hands in her own.
“I’ve tried leaving before. My brother caught up to me and stole everything from the man helping me and he left him for dead. I can’t risk that. I won’t have anyone else put themselves in danger for me. Just let me have our one night together. That’s enough.”
“Tara don’t think that way. That’s no way to live.”
“I never knew what living was . . . until I met you.” Her voice caught, then she looked away, “I’m used to it.”
“Tara, no. Don’t give up. We can make a plan. I’m great at making plans. Come to my room tonight when you get off work. We’ll think of something. I promise.”
Tara took a deep breath and sighed. “I’ll try.”
Curtis walked in and Willow immediately dropped Tara’s hands. She didn’t know who was a good guy or a bad guy in this town. Even this simple act of being in the kitchen holding Tara’s hand may have just landed her in even more trouble. Willow looked at Tara and Tara returned a simple nod letting Willow know it was safe to leave. Willow tugged at the front of her hat pulling down to hide her face as she walked passed the robust barkeep. Pushing open the kitchen door she could see that Xander still nuzzling with Anya on his lap as he shot back one drink after another. She made her way back over to him and sat down.
“Xander I—”
“Tim Finnegan lived in Walkin Street,
A gentle Irishman mighty odd
He had a brogue both rich and sweet,
An' to rise in the world he carried a hod . . . ”
Two stocky fellas sat at the bar with a drink in one hand and an arm around others back with the other were swinging their bodies side to side as they sang out in boisterous voices.
“Hey, hey, what’s goin’ on here?” A young man said as he eyed the two men at the bar. He looked like Tara, except for his greasy hair and scraggly whiskers along his jaw. Not to mention a bold expression of arrogance as he hooked his thumbs in his gun belt while he strutted up to the bar.
“That must be Donny, Tara’s brother,” Willow said to Xander and Anya nodded.
“It’s St. Patrick’s day!” The men said at the same time and then clinked their glasses together and tossed back another mouthful of warm beer.
“What, what in the hell is that?” Donny asked as he shook his head.
“Ain’t you ever been to a real city before?” The redheaded man replied.
“This is a real city.”
“No it ain’t. It’s just a place to take a piss on the way to hell. I’m talking about Chicago or New York.” The redhead’s companion answered and laughed.
“Well, aren’t you all citified.” Donny crossed his arms. “Since yer apparently too good for us poor old country folk, why don’t you two get movin’ outta town.”
“Oh don’t worry, we’re leaving in the morning.” The redhead said.
“No, you’re leavin’ now, mister.” Donny said as he pushed back his jacket front and tucked it behind his holster.
“Who’s gonna make us.” The redhead’s companion said as he spun around to face Donny.
Donny slipped pulled out his Colt 45. “I’m Donald Maclay junior and I run this here saloon and I’m askin’ you two to ride on outta here.”
“But, it ain’t right sendin’ folks off into the night.” The redhead said.
“Now!” Donny shouted and the two men and tilted his head back toward the poker tables. “Ain’t that right Emmitt?” An absurdly tall man with shoulders as broad as a bull stood up from the table next to Willow and made his way next to Tara’s brother.
“That’s right, boss.” Emmitt slid his jacket back, revealing his pistol and stared down the two men.
The two men quickly slipped off their bar stools and made their way out the doors, grumbling words of discontent to one another.
“I hate this town.” Xander said to Willow and Anya.
“Yeah, that’s what I wanna talk to you about. Meet me in my room in an hour.” Willow said.
“What’s going on, Will?”
“Just be at my room in an hour and you’ll find out.”
**********
Tara knocked on Willow’s door softly, half hoping that she wouldn’t answer and she wouldn’t have to look in her sparkling green eyes again and tell her why this wasn’t a good idea.
A few quick steps on the other side of the room and the door swung open.
“Tara, come in, come in.” Willow ushered Tara in quickly and closed and locked the door. “I’m so happy you came. I was worried you might of changed your mind.”
“I can’t stay long. Daddy will be expectin’ me shortly.”
Willow stepped towards Tara, lightly touching the raised area on her cheek. “I’m so sorry about this. I should have never taken you away from your job.”
“Don’t say you’re sorry. I’m not. I would take a beatin’ every day if I could spend the rest of it with you.”
“Oh God, Tara. That’s awful.” Willow shied away at the statement.
“I’m s-sorry. I should go.”
You made her feel bad.“Wait! My plan. I have one to get you out of here. I spoke with Xander and he’s going to round up another horse with a hitch and we can leave before your daddy get’s up.”
“But, Willow, what about Donny?”
“We’re gonna hide you in the hitch under some blankets just until we get about a half a day’s ride. He’ll never know. What time does your daddy rise?”
“Usually he’s with Nadine, one of our girls until around ten or so.”
“Okay, so we’ll leave at dawn. You get whatever you can carry and meet us right back here at six o’clock. We can’t have the hitch leavin’ marks to your house.”
Tara nodded. It sounded like a good enough plan that it might just work. In the past she had always tried to leave between her shifts at home and the brothel, hoping her daddy would realize what happened until much later. She had been dead wrong on both accounts, but this new plan and the idea of using a hitch to cover her whereabouts might just be the trick.
“Are you sure you want to risk this, you know how dangerous it is?” Tara’s brow furrowed in worry.
“I do. So does Xander, but nobody should live like this Tara, nobody.”
Tara nodded. She was about to leave the room when Willow reached for her hand. “Wait!”
“Is there something else?”
“Yes.” Willow pulled Tara to her, crushing their breasts together and cupping the back of Tara’s head with her hand to kiss her deeply. Tara’s arms fell lifelessly to the side until a wave of arousal swept through her body and then she reached around the small of Willow’s back to pull her hips into her. Willow moaned into Tara’s mouth with the force of their bodies clashing together. “Oh Tara,” Willow pleaded.
Tara reversed positions with Willow and pushed her back against the simple plank door, which rattled as the uneven boards pounded into the jamb. Tara knew what Willow needed because she had felt the same wanton desire earlier this evening. Tara laced one of her hands together with Willow’s and slid it up against the door over their heads giving her leverage, while with the other hand she nimbly unbuttoned the front of Willow’s trousers before snaking her hand underneath her undergarments and down to the pool of wetness between her legs. Tara moved her leg between Willow’s, using her knee to spread her legs even further apart.
“Tara,” Willow’s voice hitched, “what are you doin’?”
Tara gave a wicked grin and kissed Willow again. “Tradin’.”
Willow started to giggle then gasped as Tara entered her. Tara pushed in hard, driving her fingers deep into the moist abyss of the beautiful stranger who was going to rescue her from this miserable life. There wasn’t anything Willow could want that Tara wouldn’t give. Tara pressed her thigh firmly against Willow, thrusting her hand up and up again. She was deep into Willow’s center, nearly lifting her off the floor. Willow right hand clutched tightly to Tara’s against the door and her left hand reached around Tara’s back seizing a fistful of her dress. The sounds of Willow’s groans, Tara’s grunts, the floor squeaking beneath their feet, and the door shaking on the hinges filled the room with a cacophony of noise. Willow hooked her leg around Tara’s, opening her more fully and Tara sought to fill the space with another finger. Willow’s head shot up towards the ceiling as she cried out and tried to speak.
“You . . . I . . . my . . . oh . . .uh huh.”
Suddenly, Tara felt Willow’s inner walls constrict around her fingers and she doubled her efforts, lowering her forehead to Willow’s shoulder, pressing her hand up harder and faster. Willow’s legs began to shake and Tara felt nervous that the small girl might fall to the floor, so she crushed their bodies even closer together, using her thigh for both leverage and support. Willow’s hand jutted up to Tara’s head, grabbing a handful of hair and tugging it back so she could kiss her again as she whimpered. Willow tasted salty sweet with sweat as she ravenously kissed and tugged at Tara’s swollen lips with her own. Then Tara felt as Willow’s entire body went taut, humming with pent up energy that it was trying to release..
“I . . .now. . . Tara . . .now,” Willow panted through ragged breath.
Now what? Tara thought. Was she supposed to do something else? She only had known what Willow had shown her. The question was answered almost immediately as Willow arched her back off the door and with a long drawn out shudder as she exploded in orgasm, her juices soaking Tara’s hand as ripples of pleasure caused her body to convulse several times before slowly ceasing. Willow collapsed forward onto Tara as Tara awkwardly tried to withdraw from Willow and wrap her arms around the limp girl to bring her to the bed. Tara laid Willow down onto the mattress, her sweat soaked body clinging to her clothes as she breathed slow heavy breaths, trying to regain her composure. Tara leaned forward to kiss her one last time before saying good night. Willow reached up and held her hand.
“Just lay with me for one minute. One minute, that’s all I’m askin’ for.” Willow’s lip jutted out slightly and her eyes were pleading. It was about the cutest pout Tara thought she had ever seen.
Tara looked at Willow’s pocket watch on the side table; it had only been twenty minutes. She could probably spare ten more before her daddy would start worrying. “Okay.”
Tara laid down next to Willow and cradled the girls head into her chest as she wrapped her arms around her and kissed on the top of her head, brushing the damp hair off her face. Willow was asleep with a matter of seconds and Tara closed her eyes to focus on the soft sounds of her breathing.
**********
Tara and Willow shot out up in bed as Donny kicked open the door of Willow’s room, pointing his Winchester rifle at them as he burst through the threshold.
Oh God, I fell asleep. Tara looked at the sky behind Donny, it was still dark, the moonlight casting shadows of the desert was all she could see.
How long have I been gone? “Well, well Tara. Looks like you finally found yerself a man.” Donny squinted and his eyes and peered closer at Willow. “Wait a minute. You ain’t no man! What the hell is goin’ on here?” Willow quickly leaned back and buttoned her trousers.
“Nuthin’, n-nuthin’s going on. She’s j-just a friend. We fell asleep. Donny lifted his chin and sniffed the air like a wild coyote smelling the air still laden with musk from their earlier activities, and then stomped toward Tara, his boots his spurs clinking with each heavy step on the plank wood floor. Donny stood over Tara and Willow, his nose twitching and his lips turned down in disgust. Tara yelped in pain as Donny reached down and jerked her up by the wrist.
“You don’t think I know what you been up to. It’s an abomination, Tara! You’ll burn in hell for this.” Donny turned his head back toward the door and yelled at Emmitt and Chester. “Grab the girl and her friend, the one with Anya.”
“Yes, boss.” Emmitt came into the room and lifted Willow off the bed and threw her over his shoulder, not a difficult task for a man of his size and stature. Willow was kicking and screaming, but the sheer strength of the man assured she wouldn’t escape.
Donny pulled Tara out of bed by her wrist and pushed her out the door. “Come on Tara, let’s go see Pa.”
Tara’s legs barely moved as she took each tentative step, but Donny just pushed her forward causing her to stumble with each heavy handed shove. Willow was behind her yelling at Tara to run, but Tara knew there was nowhere to run to that her brother couldn’t catch her. Tara spun around to face Donny.
“Let her go Donny, she h-has nothing to do with this.”
“She has everything to do with this. Look at ya now, covered in sin.” Donny sneered. “Pa’s gonna take it out on your hide and if he don’t, I will.”
As Tara turned the corner she could see Xander in the street struggling with Chester. The dim lights from the saloon lit Xander’s face just enough that Tara could see the terror in his eyes as he was being held in a choke hold with one arm while a gun appeared to be pushed up into his back. Anya stood bare footed in her satin robe, screaming at Chester to let Xander go. At one point Tara saw Anya come up behind him and hit in the back repeatedly with her hands, but Chester was too strong and too determined to hold on to Xander to take a swipe at his fair haired assailant.
“Back off whore or you’re gonna get caught up in this, too. I’m ‘bout done puttin’ up with you anyway, so don’t give me a reason to change my mind. Now, go get my pa.” Donny yelled at Anya.
“I won’t do it! I won’t be a part of this!” Anya shouted back.
“Now! Or by God I swear I will shoot you down right here.” Donny shouted.
Anya looked at Xander then over to Tara and Willow. Tara could see the wide-eyed fear on her face as she turned and walked off into the saloon.
Tara stood in the street shaking from the cool night air and fear of what was to come. She looked back at Willow who had given up fighting for freedom when it became a pointless activity. Willow and Tara looked into each other’s eyes and all Tara could feel was regret.
This was all my fault. Why did I close my eyes? If I could have just stayed awake for one minute and left and we could have been together. Tears spilled down Tara’s cheeks as she mouthed the words ‘I’m sorry’ to Willow. Willow shook her head and mouthed back ‘Don’t be.’
Donald Maclay stepped out onto the porch of the saloon, his face red with anger. “What’s all this about?”
“Pa, your daughter here has somethin’ to say, don’t ya, Tara?”
Tara shook her head. There was no way she was going to assist in her own execution or that of Willow’s or Xander’s.
Donny shoved her hard in the back. “Say somethin’!”
Tara clenched her jaw and raised it slightly then shook her head again.
“Somebody better tell me what the hell is goin’ on here or every one of you will pay!” Donald Maclay shouted out to the group.
“Fine.” Donny looked to Tara. “Your daughter here is buryin’ herself in sin with this one here.” Donny pointed to Willow who had been set on the ground and was being held in place by Emmitt’s enormous hand on her shoulder.
“Who is he? Donald Maclay squinted into the night.
“He’s not a he, he’s a she.” Donny grinned at Tara, knowing what his pa’s response would be.
“What!” Donald Maclay took several steps forward and then came down the stairs to stand in front of Tara and Willow. He looked back and forth between the two. “The sissy. You’re the sissy!”
Tara’s daddy’s entire body shook with anger as he reached into his holster, pulled his gun, and pointed it at Willow. Without thinking Tara clenched her right hand over her left fist and elbowed Donny in the groin as hard as she could. Donny fell forward in pain, his fingers loosening their grip on his rifle. Tara quickly grabbed the rifle from his hands, then used the butt of the gun to hit Donny on top of his now bowing head. Donny fell to the dirt floor of the street, knocked unconscious. Tara turned back to her father and raised the rifle and pointed it at him.
“Drop it Daddy or I swear I will shoot you.” Tara said with unexpected calmness.
Donald Maclay shook his head and smiled. “Girl, you don’t have what it takes to shoot someone. Otherwise you would have done it a long time ago.”
“It’s different this time, Daddy. I mean it. Drop it!” Tara took a step towards her daddy.
Donald called over his side to Chester without taking his eyes off Tara or his gun off Willow. “You still got that fella over there?”
Xander gave a quick jerk trying to get loose, but his body was exhausted from struggling and he hung his head in defeat. “Still got ‘em, boss.”
“Kill ‘em.” Donald Maclay grinned with an evil glint in his eye.
Just then a shot rang out into the rising morning light. Donald Maclay grabbed his chest and fell backwards as a single breath was forced out his mouth before he hit the ground, dead. Tara lowered Donny’s rifle to her side and stood still for a moment before she knelt down to close her daddy’s eyes.
“Tara!” Willow jolted forward out of Emmitt’s grasp as he stood stunned, at the sudden death of his former employer. She leaned down, stretching out her hand, “Come with us! Come with me!”
Willow shook her hand again in front of Tara’s face, urging her to take hold. Tara turned her head to the side and saw Xander fight himself free from Chester then run to Willow’s side. “Will, we need to adios, now. There’ll be a posse after us any second.”
“I know that!”
“You’re in trouble girl. I’m callin’ the sheriff. You’ll be swingin’ by noon fur sure.” Emmitt said to Anya who was standing on the porch of the saloon.
“Now, Tara.” Willow said urgently. “We gotta go now!”
“Let ‘em go if you don’t wanna be takin’ a dirt nap like your boss!” Anya swiveled her Henry rifle to take aim at Chester, who turned and high tailed it away from the scene while Emmitt ran towards the jail to get the sheriff.
Tara looked over to Willow and then slowly reached out to take her hand.
“Anya, come on!” Xander waved Anya towards him. “We don’t got but a hair’s breadth.”
“Don’t threaten me with rabbits, Xander!” Anya lowered her rifle then darted down the steps. “Devilish little critters,” she muttered under breath.
“I’m talkin’ about hair’s not hare’s.” Xander shook his head and grabbed Anya hand.
The four took off running towards the livery stable at the end of the street to get their horses. Xander and Willow worked together to prep the horses to ride, securing their bridals and mounting their saddles.
Tara turned to Anya. “W-Why did you do that . . . back there?”
Anya reached over to Tara’s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “For all the times I couldn’t help before.”
Tara nodded and Anya pulled her into a quick embrace.
Xander swung himself up onto his roan gelding, pulling up Anya behind him. Then Willow helped Tara slide behind her onto the black mare with a white blaze down its forehead she called Lightning. Then the four were headed off into the desert, away from the rising sun and whatever posse was coming their way. Tara’s body rocked with Willow’s to the rhythm of the horse’s heavy percussive strides thudding across the desert. Tara didn’t know if this freedom would last, but she clung to Willow like the scent of wild sage after a rainstorm. She was leaving behind everything that she had ever known for what she was sure to be the adventure of a lifetime.
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I do have some more written, I may get around to posting it next month.
