The sun shone brightly over the dusky town as the stagecoach rounded the dirt corner.
"Whoa!" The driver shouted to his horses, as he halted the vehicle just outside the one and only Crystal Palace Saloon.
"We're here dove", Dr. Meacham cooed to the sleeping form next to him.
Slowly, she stirred and her large doe eyes fluttered open. She reached a delicate, gloved hand toward the window of the coach and pushed back the curtain.
Her breath caught in her throat as she beheld the sight before her.
The city of Tombstone, Arizona was unlike anything Sofia Meacham had ever seen. The roads were unpaved, and wide-set to allow many stage coaches to pass through.
The buildings looked very makeshift unlike the looming stone that she was accustomed to, and every other store seemed to be a saloon.
But, what intrigued her the most, were the patrons of Tombstone. They were rough, and dirty…dangerous, but alluring all at the same time.
Sofia, having grown up in the very privileged societies of New England, had never seen anything like them.
Right at that moment she knew that her life was never going to be quite the same.
"Are you just going to sit in there all day, or may we proceed?" chimed the shrill voice of Sofia's beautiful, blonde cousin Lucy from the door of the coach.
"By all means Lucy" Sofia said curtly. She stepped out of the coach into the warm sun with a radiant smile spread across her red lips.
"Oh…have you ever seen anything more beautiful in your entire life?" she purred as she threw her arms out and spun in a circle, inhaling the smell of fresh air.
"I find it positively grotesque…hopefully father and uncle can work their magic and fast, before we all rot away in this pit" Lucy spat, "Christ, have you ever seen so much dust?"
"There is more to life then paved streets Lucy, this town has a rustic beauty…it's unique."
"Girls, welcome to your new home" Henry Meacham said approaching his daughter and niece.
Lucy clucked her tongue at his comment, and marched into the crystal palace, followed closely by her Mother and Father.
Henry Meacham draped his arm around his daughter's shoulders and accompanied her into the hotel.
The interior of the Crystal Palace, was every bit the western saloon its reputation had come to portray it as.
There were Faro tables where many drunk men sat gambling away what little money they had.
In one corner, a small man sat playing an upbeat tune on the piano, while a few couples danced in a small open area nearby.
Finally, against the back wall sat the large oak bar where even more drunken cowboys sat with their "ladies" laughing and causing a great deal of noise.
The whole place reeked of whiskey and smoke, and Sofia loved every bit of it!
Sofia's uncle George cleared his throat in an attempt to get someone's attention. "Excuse me", he shouted from the doorway.
Suddenly, the music and dancing stopped and all eyes were on the newcomers. The room became so silent that you could've heard a pin drop. Sofia found this sudden change in atmosphere quite unnerving.
A tall, dark, intimidating man was the first to make a move. He got up from his poker game and sauntered toward the strangers, giving them a very disapproving glare.
"Well, well, well…you folks are dressed mighty nice to be hanging around in a town like this. Are you lost 'er somthin'?" He drawled as he circled the group as if he were a vulture on the prowl.
"My name is George Meacham and this is my family. We are looking for a Mister Behan?" Sofia's uncle said, standing his ground.
"That's SHERIFF BEHAN to you Georgie!" Came a friendly voice from the back of the room. Sofia turned to see a well-dressed man in his thirties approaching her uncle.
"I'll be damned Behan! How have you been?" George said chuckling enthusiastically, and embracing his friend.
"Just grand, old friend! Why, Annette you look as pretty as ever!" Behan said tipping his hat to George's wife.
The intimidating man from before grumbled and walked back to his game, seeing that these strangers were well connected.
"Don't mind him, he just don't take kindly to wayward folk is all" Behan said motioning toward Curly Bill's retreating form.
Behan's eyes then shifted toward Lucy and Sofia. "Ladies, I don't believe I have had the pleasure."
"I am Miss Lucy Meacham" Sofia's cousin gushed with all the fake charm she could muster. Behan kissed the back of her hand politely, and let his eyes linger over her body a little longer than was appropriate.
"Charming" he said with a grin, "and you are?"
"Sofia" she replied curtly, trying to hold back a look of disgust as the older man kissed her hand.
"We won't be scouting real estate until morning, so we are in need of a place to stay for the night" Sofia's father Henry interjected, noticing how uncomfortable his daughter was at the moment.
Behan turned to face Henry, and Sofia gave her father an appreciative smile. "Well my home is your home my old friends, you will have the finest rooms in the hotel!"
With that Behan led them off up the stairs toward their lodgings.
The group had just finished putting their luggage in the rooms when Behan again returned. "I was wondering if the two young ladies would care for a little tour of the town?"
Lucy immediately jumped up and took Behan's arm, "I was wondering when you would ask", she said flirtatiously. She's such a whore, Sofia giggled to herself as she rolled her eyes at her cousin.
Truth be told, Sofia was dying to do some exploring. She didn't trust Behan remotely, but seeing no other way of getting out of the hotel, she agreed.
The three left the room, Lucy arm in arm with Behan and Sofia trailing anxiously behind.
Doc Holiday looked up from his cards with a blank expression on his ungodly beautiful features. He was the epitome of calm as he took a drag of cigarette and awaited the other man's move.
"Call…" Bill Bailey said from across the table.
A small smile flickered across Doc's features as he laid down a royal flush, "oops…" he drawled.
"You cheating son of a bitch! That's the third hand in a row!" Bailey screamed jumping to his feet in anger.
Doc calmly leaned back in his seat with a smug grin on his face, "Perhaps poker is not your game Billy"
Bill's face turned bright red as he let out a yell of rage and made for his pistol. Before he could even touch the handle of his colt, Doc was on his feet and had the barrel of his gun to Bill's temple, his usually calm eyes fierce and unyielding.
"Go ahead and try…I dare you", Doc warned cocking his weapon.
Bill Bailey put his arms up in surrender, a look of terror in his eyes. "Good Game, Doc", he sputtered nervously.
Doc, amused by the coward in front of him, un-cocked his gun and chuckled, "That's what I thought". He turned to help Kate, the red-headed beauty behind him finish gathering his winnings.
Wyatt Earp, a tall handsome man with a thick mustache and light brown hair, who had been watching the altercation patted his friend on the back and laughed, "I swear Doc, you are the luckiest man I have ever known"
"Luck has nothing to do with it" Doc slurred matter-o-factly, before shooting a grin at Wyatt.
Wyatt just shook his head at his friend's cockiness.
"Of course it's not luck, my man is just invincible…that's all" Kate said throwing herself at an uninterested Doc Holliday.
"Sorry darlin', but I'm just not in the mood!" Doc spat, pushing the pretty redhead off his arm.
"You drunk!" Kate yelled as she stormed off, money in tow.
Doc looked un-phased. "What was that all about?" Wyatt's younger brother Morgan inquired as he watched Kate storm off.
"Oh nothing, I'm just tired of her games. I could swear the woman can't stand by herself, the way she hangs on me day in and day out".
"That's just Kate's way Doc, you of all people should know she likes to flaunt her affairs in public" Virgil, the oldest of the Earp brothers added.
Doc just grunted and poured himself another shot of whiskey as the four men seated themselves at a table.
"…and this my lovely companions is the Oriental!" Sheriff Behan said as he led Lucy and Sofia to the last stop on their tour.
Sofia looked around at the saloon.
It was not much different from all of the others she had seen thus far, more crowded perhaps. It was very loud, and being that it was nearing suppertime, there was an aroma of steak and potatoes mixed with the ever-present whisky in the air.
"Oh Mr. Behan, I'm simply parched, perhaps you could buy me a drink." Lucy said, coyly batting her long blonde eyelashes at the sheriff.
"It would be my pleasure Lucy…and please call me Johnny." He replied withy a greasy smile, as he led the girls to a nearby table and made his way to the bar.
"You can't actually find that slime attractive" Sofia grumbled.
"Watch your mouth darling, that is the most powerful man in Cochise County. I find power very attractive cousin"
"You're a whore." Sofia giggled at her cousin, her mood lightening slightly. She may be conniving and shallow, but at least she is not afraid to admit it, Sofia thought as she studied the blonde beauty across from her.
"I know what I want and I know how to get it… So, what if I have to take up a couple of Behans along the way!" Lucy whispered. The two giggled.
Sofia shook her head, "Well, to each his own…I personally am looking for something a little deeper."
"Love is overrated Sof" Lucy replied bitterly.
"How would you know…have you ever been in love?"
"I have had my share of men, thank-you very much" Lucy replied again, her words dripping with acid.
"Sex and love are two different things. I'm not talking about a mere affair…I'm talking about true 'chase me across the world, I would die for you' love."
"God Sofia, you need to stop reading those stupid novels of yours. Did you hear what you just said? Love like that is make-believe. It doesn't exist. Men only pretend like they love you until they get what they want. Then, they toss you aside. Which is why you should learn to be like me…beat them at their own game" Lucy smiled triumphantly at her cleverness.
Sofia shrugged and looked away.
Lucy reached across the table and touched her cousin's hand, "Honey, you're making me feel bad, I didn't mean to upset you. Let's just forget it okay!" Lucy said reassuringly.
Though the two girls had their differences, they had grown up together. They were as close to sisters as two people could be.
Sofia looked at her cousin and smiled, "You're still a whore," she said. The two burst out laughing.
"What did I miss that is so funny?" Johnny asked as he returned to the table with their drinks.
"Oh, Sofie and I were just gossiping…girl talk." Lucy smiled at Behan.
"I see… Well, where was I? Oh yes, my father was born and raised in Kentucky" Behan started back into his boring life story and Lucy listened with fake interest. Sofia on the other hand, had other plans.
"If you will excuse me, I think I shall go the bar and see what sort of food this place has to offer." Sofia said excusing herself from the table.
Behan, to enthralled with his own storytelling hardly even noticed her depart from the table.
"God Almighty, I'm bored" Doc Holiday exclaimed to his three companions.
"Are we not entertaining enough for ya Doc?" Virgil slurred, the effects of his alcohol consumption taking affect.
"I'm going to go get more to drink, I shall return my friends" He exclaimed as he drunkedly got up from the table and staggered toward the bar.
Then, he stopped dead in his tracks. In front of him stood the most beautiful creature he had ever seen.
She was average height, but very small and delicate. She wore a very fine maroon gown that spoke of money. Her long wavy black hair just grazed the top of her bustle.
He slowly began to approach her, and he found that the nearer he got, the more beautiful she became. Her skin was very pale and made a striking contrast to her raven hair. She had the lightest crystal blue eyes Doc had ever seen and her long black lashes made them that much more pronounced.
She certainly had the look and figure of a woman, but she had a certain innocence about her that Doc had never found in a member of the opposite sex, and this intrigued him to no end.
"What is an exquisite creature like you doing alone in a town like this?" Doc drawled in a silky voice from behind the girl.
Sofia tried to calm her nerves as she prepared to deal with the obviously drunk man who was making a pass at her.
She took a breath and turned to face the voice behind her, but what she saw left her at a complete loss for words. There in front of her stood an angel.
He was tall and thin, with golden hair and a perfect mustache, which drew attention to his already sensual mouth. His eyes were piercingly green, and held a silent intelligence within them.
His voice had a distinct southern drawl, and he was dressed very well, with his black hat tipped to one side, giving him a more manicured appearance than his fellow cowboys.
"I am not here alone sir, I simply left my companions to find something to eat" Sofia replied, mentally kicking herself for how dumb that must have sounded.
"Well, that was perhaps not the wisest of options. There are a lot of rough men around here. Pretty thing like you is a hot commodity", Doc purred inching nearer to her.
"Well, if you see any of these bad men, be sure and warn me, but otherwise, I can take care of myself." Sofia said, trying to seem tough and strong for her new acquaintance.
"That I do not doubt my dear… Can I buy you a drink?" Doc asked.
"I don't know…can you?" Sofia retorted smiling coyly at him from beneath her long black lashes.
Doc simply smiled and waived the bartender over. "Two bourbons please" he said not breaking eye contact with Sofia.
Sofia watched as the man set the drinks on the counter. Doc gracefully emptied his shot glass and then looked at Sofia.
Truthfully, Sofia had never really been a big drinker. She had always been her daddy's little girl. She never broke the rules. In Boston it was not polite for women to drink.
Which is why coming to Tombstone had appealed to her so much, she looked at it as her fresh start. Her chance to become the girl she really was, and to stop conforming to "polite" society.
So, she fearlessly grabbed the bourbon and downed the entire shot. Her throat burned as she swallowed, and her eyes began to water. She wanted to gag, but she refused to appear weak in front of the gorgeous man.
Doc watched with amusement as the girl began to turn scarlet. Oh to hell with it, Sofia thought as she finally let out a huge gasp.
Doc burst out laughing and clapped his hands, "Bravo!" He giggled, "You're brave, I'll give you that, but you could've told me you weren't accustomed to hard liquor"
Sofia laughed along with him for a moment, "Well, there is a first…AND LAST…time for everything!" She giggled.
Their laughter slowly ceased as their eyes locked. Doc stared into the glass orbs in front of him, and found himself getting lost.
He slowly moved closer to her. What are you doing, this is not your style…let her come to you he thought, but for some reason he couldn't stop. Just as the distance between them got inappropriately small, there was a loud crash from behind the bar, which caused their trance to be broken.
Doc snapped his head around and saw the bartender sweeping up the shards of glass form the cup he had just dropped. He went to turn his attention back the beautiful girl next to him, but she was nowhere to be seen.