CHAPTER TEN
On Monday Hank reluctantly agreed to let Angelina return to work in the saloon. The bruises around her eyes had vanished and although she still felt nervous, she knew Hank would be watching her like a hawk so she didn't worry about anything happening. The regular customers seemed pleased to see her and by the time the bar closed at midnight she had almost five dollars worth of tips for that one day. She debated going along to Loren's store on Tuesday morning to buy herself something, but then decided she would save it for the rest of the week rather than fritter it away immediately.
Wednesday there was a visitor to the saloon; one which proved very unwelcome. Hank and Angelina had just finished eating supper and he returned to the bar quickly, expecting trouble as the noise level in there suddenly rose. Angelina followed, but stood outside the door looking in.
Kathy, Jane and Bella were all in their rooms with customers, but the noise came from appreciative cheers from the rest of the men as Marjorie flounced and flirted amongst them. Angelina was surprised to see her back after Hank had fired her, but she had apparently forgotten this and when he strode into the bar she turned her attention from the men and threw herself at him.
"Why, Hank, how nice to see you!" she said loudly, draping herself around his neck. He shook her off immediately.
"What are you doing back here?" he demanded.
"Well, I thought I'd pay you a visit; you could be a little more welcoming." The saucy creature stepped closer to Hank again, slid her arm around his waist and gave his backside a squeeze. Several men cheered. Hank grasped her wrist and thrust her away from him again.
"You ain't welcome here," he growled. "Get out!"
"Aww, come on, Hank, I'll make her welcome!" someone called out.
"You know I'll be good for business," Marjorie said. "Maybe you should give me my job back."
"I don't need any more girls," Hank said. "And I wouldn't be taking you back if I did."
"Oh, such a spoilsport!" Marjorie pouted. "Well, you can't stop me drinking here; who's gonna buy me a drink?"
A couple of men shouted out and she immediately went to one of them and perched herself on his lap. Hank glowered and walked behind the bar. Kathy and Bella appeared at that moment, straightening their skirts and stopped either side of Angelina.
"What's going on out there?" Kathy asked.
"Marjorie's here," Angelina said.
"Who's Marjorie?" asked Bella.
"She got fired. You got her job," Kathy told her. "What's she doing?"
"Causing trouble," Angelina told her.
"Well, let's go and cause some of our own," Kathy said, linking her arm through Angelina's. "Come on, girls!"
The three of them walked out into the bar and immediately had the attention of most of the patrons, with the exception of those sitting at the table where Marjorie was. Hank glanced over at Angelina and smiled sheepishly. Kathy and Bella began wandering around, flirting and teasing and Angelina responded to a request for whiskey from the next table to where Marjorie sat. She picked up the three empty glasses and walked over to the bar. Hank refilled them.
"Damn that woman!" he muttered.
"Maybe you should throw her out again," Angelina suggested.
"The whole damned bunch'll probably follow her," he grunted, glaring across at the men surrounding Marjorie.
"No, they won't. They've got us to keep them busy," she said, glancing over at Kathy who was standing on a chair, holding her dress up to show her stocking tops to a delighted group of men.
Hank grinned. "So long as you don't go doing that."
"I've a better idea than that." Angelina picked up the glasses of whiskey and returned to the table to deliver them. One of the men, who she knew to be called Dick Lutter, gave her hand a squeeze and pressed a coin into it. Then she turned as one of the men being entertained by Marjorie called out.
"Hey, Angelina, we'll have some refills over here please," Charlie Bains said.
"Sure." Angelina bent over and gathered up their glasses.
"Get me a beer," Marjorie said.
"Please," Angelina prompted. Marjorie just laughed.
"These gentlemen here have manners enough; if you can't manage it, you'll have to fetch your own beer," Angelina told her.
"Please," Marjorie said, glaring. "While you're at it, tell Hank I'll be over there in a few minutes to see if I can't cheer him up."
"You keep away from him," said Angelina. "If he's in need of cheering up, I'll be the one to do that."
"Ohhhhhh!" cheered the men.
"Lucky bastard," Charlie Bains put in. Angelina smiled at him and returned to the bar.
"What the hell's going on now?" Hank muttered, apparently not having heard the exchange between Marjorie and Angelina.
"Don't worry about it," she said, placing the whiskey glasses on the bar. "I don't suppose she'll be hanging around too much longer."
Hank began filling the glasses.
"Marjorie wants a beer too," she said.
"She ain't getting it."
"Humour me." Angelina stood on tiptoe, leaned over the bar and gave him a light kiss.
"Woooaaahhhh!" came from behind her.
Hank looked over her head as she drew back and winked at someone. Then he picked up a tall glass and filled it with beer, handing her a tray to carry the five drinks. As she returned to the table she could hear Marjorie saying that if Angelina thought she could keep her away from Hank, she was in for a shock.
"You're wasting your time, darlin'," Kathy said as she hovered nearby. "Hank's only got eyes for Angel, here."
Angelina began handing out the whiskey, leaving Marjorie's beer until last.
"Whatever happened to ladies first?" Marjorie said sharply.
"If there was a lady in here wanting serving, I'd certainly have attended to her first," Angelina said with a smile. She picked up the beer and thrust her arm towards Marjorie quickly. "Here you are."
More than half of the beer slopped out of the glass, spraying onto Marjorie's face and neck and down the bodice of her dress. Kathy squealed out in delight and began laughing loudly.
"Oh, you bitch!" Marjorie cried, leaping to her feet. She looked as if she were about to strike Angelina, but Charlie Bains sprang up too and grabbed her raised arm before Hank could even jump over the counter and start towards them.
"That's enough," Charlie said. "Think you've about outstayed your welcome."
"Who are you to tell me what to do?" she said, pulling her arm free.
"You heard him. Get out. You've been told once already," Hank growled at her. He went to stand behind Angelina and wrapped his arms around her.
"Well! I've never met such a bunch of rude, inhospitable people in my life!" Marjorie exclaimed, wiping her wet face with both hands. "I'm going where I'll be appreciated."
"Good riddance!" said Kathy.
Marjorie flounced towards the door, halting there for a second and looking back over her shoulder.
"You're all gonna regret this!" she shouted. "All of ya! But especially you, Hank Lawson!"
"Yeah, sure I will," Hank said with a grin.
Marjorie marched off, to a chorus of jeers and foot stamping from most of the customers. Hank steered Angelina away from them to the rear corner of the room, still grinning.
"I oughta keep an eye on you," he teased. "You're gonna end up causing as much trouble as I do myself."
"Blame yourself, then," she said. "It must be rubbing off on me."
Hank cupped her face in his hands and tipped her head back, bending to kiss her. After a moment and amid more cheers from the men, he backed off quickly and retreated behind the bar.