*Author's Note*
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Poker Plus Whiskey Equals Fight…
Tolbert POV:
I couldn't handle bein' at home day after day an' it was too chilly to spend the nite up at my still so I decided t'go to the whorehouse t'nite. Even tho Misty still had a few days off, I was gonna go to the whorehouse t'enjoy myself. No, not wit' a whore, but wit' a bottle of fine whiskey while playin' a hand of cards. It's been a long time (I'd say a couple months at least) since I've played poker an' it was past due for me t'enjoy a good game.
It was dusk (sometime after supper) when I arrived at the saloon. After hitchin' up Eldorado, I walked up the porch an' thru the swingin' doors. Smoke wafted in the air, the place smelt like likker, an' a whore was playin' an upbeat melody on the piano near the grand staircase as I walked into the large room. As I walked ov'r to the bar I noticed that the card tables were mostly full, save for one that only had a couple of men at it. Hmm…seems like that'll be the table I join once I buy my bottle o'whiskey.
"Wiggins, bottle of Black Crowe." I told Wiggins 'fore he could ev'n ask what I wanted as I came up to the slightly crowded bar.
While I took out my money clip, Wiggins grabbed a bottle and a glass only to set it on the bar right in front of me. "You know, Misty's still off for a few more days."
"I know." I told Wiggins, placin' the money for the whiskey on the bar 'fore stuffin' my money clip back into my pocket. "I'm just here to drink an' play poker." I said, grabbin' my whiskey an' takin' off towards the less crowded card table.
I swear I heard Wiggins mutter, "Oh hell…", as I walked away.
I just shrugged off his muttered remark an' went ov'r to the poker table that a rough lookin' black-haired man and a scrawny blonde wit' a scar 'bove his eye were at playin' cards. "Ya mind if I join ya?"
"Not at all." The scrawny blonde shook his head. Pointin' to an empty chair, he said, "Take a seat."
"Ya plan on sharin' that there whiskey wit' us?" The rough lookin' one asked, his lips curled ov'r his rotten teeth, while pointin' to the bottle in my hand as I sat down.
"Don't see why not since we're playin' a friendly hand o'cards t'getha." I smirked, uncorkin' the bottle an' pourin' out shots of whiskey while the scrawny blonde collected the cards, cuttin' an' shufflin' them into the deck.
The rough one just nodded as I shoved some glasses ov'r to him an' the scrawny blonde. The scrawny one started to deal the cards while tellin' me, "Since ya just joined us ya can start up the pot."
"Very well." I nodded, pullin' my money clip out of my pocket only t'grab a greenback from it. Tossin' the greenback onto the table, I told the men. "I'm Tolbert."
"I'm Leland an' this is Bo." The scrawny blonde told me as I took some greenbacks out of my clip; placin' 'em on the table so I'd be able to easily place bets while playin' cards.
"Nice meetin' ya." I said, slippin' my half-empty money clip back into my pocket an' pickin' up my cards.
"You go first, Tolbert." Leland said, tiltin' his head towards the cards I was holdin'.
I nodded 'fore takin' a card out for my hand, settin' it on the table, an' drawin' a new one from the deck. After I made my move, the game was officially started.
Some Time Later…
I set down my hand, a full house, an' smirked while collectin' my winnin's from the middle of the table. This is I'd say either the 5th or 6th time winnin' the prize pot. I sure was richer, but my card companions were pissed that they were broke wit' only a couple bucks an' coins left to their names. Another game or two an' they'd be flat broke, busted, an' disgusted.
Instead of collectin' the cards an' shufflin' them, Leland pointed a finger at me an' snarled out the a'cusation of, "Ya cheated us, Tolbert!"
"No, I didn't." I defended myself as I stuffed my winnin's into my front shirt pocket.
"Yea, ya did!" Leland barked, standin' up an' bangin' his hands 'gainst the green felt poker table.
"No, I didn't!" I shouted back, standin' up an' squarin' my shoulders in a way that usually intim'dated folks.
"You had'a cheated us, no way in hell could ya've been that lucky t'clean us out." Bo snapped in a rough tone, givin' me a nasty look as he stood up in an attempt t'scare me.
"I didn't cheat ya sons of bitches. I won the money, fair an' square."
"No ya didn't."
"Yes, I did."
Lookin' ov'r to his scrawny friend, Bo darkly chuckled, "Leland, I say we beat this lil shit til he admits he cheated us; gives us our money back."
"I think that sounds good." Leland, the scrawny blonde who had half o'his teeth rottin' outta his head, nodded 'fore they 'round up on me.
I was used to gettin' into fights ov'r stupid shit. This wouldn't be the first or last time I entered a fist fight ov'r poker. "Oh, how I love a good fight." I chuckled, swingin' my fist at Leland.
Leland's face snapped to the side from the low I gave 'im, but Bo quickly hit me, which cause me to enter a 2-on-1 brawl. Oh boy, who says ya can't have fun when your girl's not workin'?
I was duckin' an' dodgin' hits while landin' blows of my own to the pissed off men. We started our fight at the poker table, but somehow ended up deep in the middle of the room- clashin' an' bangin' into ev'rythin'. We pushed an' shoved each other into tables, knockin' 'em ov'r an' bumpin' into people. Whores were screamin' while watchin' the fight while their customers were just movin' back from their tables while watchin' the fight wit' keen an' curious eyes.
Suddenly, I heard footsteps boundin' down the stairs an' ov'r to the table that Bo currently had me pinned at while he an' Leland took turns punchin' my face as I squirmin' 'round, kickin' an' flailin' my fists like a madman. I didn't pay it no mind, well not til I heard a femine voice I knew all too well order Lenald an' Bo in a loud shout, "Stop it! Leave him alone!"
The men backed 'way from me only to look at that purty blonde that had yelled at them. I lifted my head up an' gave her a smirk, makin' me wince since my lip was badly split an' bloody. I'm sure blood stained my teeth an' was also crusted on my lips an' nostrils since my nose was busted too, not just my lip. My left eye was startin' to swell shut too, but I tried as hard as I could to keep it open so I could look at her.
Misty just shook her head and sighed, "Tolbet…what did you get yourself into?"
"What's he to you, whore?" Leland asked in a curious sneer, his head gesturin' 'tween me an' her while Bo just arched a brow.
"My regular, so if you'd be nice 'nough to leave him be so there'll be somthin' for me to get some money out of whenever I'm done wit' my days off that's be nice."
"He's cheated us outta 15 bucks." Bo grumbled, causin' me to roll my eyes.
"Liar! I won that money fair an' square." I defended my honor as I pushed myself to sit up, feelin' a bit sore an' dizzy as I did so.
Mity reached into the front of her bodice an' took out a folded-up bill. Handin' it ov'r to Bo, she said, "Well, why don't ya take this, for your troubles, an' then leave."
Bo's eyes went wide as he snatched the money from Misty's fingertips. He showed the bill to Leland an' exclaimed, "Woo-wee, this here's a 50-dollar-note!"
"Damn…" Leland lowly whistled, takin' the money from his friend an' lookin' at it. Pointin' to me, he told Misty, "Ya can take him upstairs, Miss. We'll head out."
"Jesus Christ, Tolbert, did you have to pick a fight wit' the roughest lookin' men in here?" Misty asked me in a slight hiss as she rushed ov'r to my side, proppin' her shoulder under my arm in order to help me up to my feet.
"I didn't pick a fight, darlin'. We were playin' poker an' sharin' my whiskey when all of a sudden they 'cused me of cheatin' an' 'rounded on me." I told her as she steadied me on my feet an' guided me ov'r to the windin' staircase.
"Where's your bottle? I don't see one on a table." Misty asked, her head flitterin' 'round in an attempt to find my bottle (most likely to bring it upstairs wit' us).
"Eh, one of 'em bastards used it t'hit me ov'r the head wit'." I told her, pointin' to a spot 'bove my brow.
"Dear lord…" She deeply sighed, more so to herself then to me, but I still heard it tho.
Misty POV:
I was sittin' on my bed, readin' a book, whenever my door flung open only to reveal a frantic lookin' Wiggins. I gave him an odd look, causin' him to ramble, "Tolbert's bein' beaten to a pulp by some fellers ov'r a bad poker game. Ya gotta hel him or I'm gonna be cartin' him off to Doc's soon 'nough."
"How can I help him?" I asked, to which Wiggins just told me to use some of the big bills Bock gave me to pay the men off 'fore takin' off down the hall an' back downstairs (no doubt to keep an eye on any damage bein' done to his barroom from Tolbert's fight).
Takin' Wiggins' advice, I snatched a 50-dollar-note outta the lockbox I kept in my bedside table drawer and rushed downstairs. My breath caught in my throat and my stomach dropped as I saw Tolbert bein' held on a table by one man while another was hittin' him repeatedly. Tolbert was thrashin' 'round, tryin' to kick an' punch his way out, but it wasn't doin' any good.
I got the attention of the men an' paid 'em off, causin' them to leave. I felt so bad for my ginger regular as I helped him up to his feet an' upstairs to my room. He was a bit shaky on his feet, but I suppose it's from dizziness an' a result from bein' beaten so badly over a stupid poker game.
Once I got him into my room, I sat him on my bed an' stripped him down to his underpants 'fore gatherin' up some fresh water an' a washcloth to clean him up wit'. Tolbert gave me a cheeky grin, full of blood coated teeth, as I drug my vanity chair ov'r in front of him. "See yer gonna clean me up, darlin'." He commented in his velvety smooth, but slightly gruff timbre.
"Not like I have much of a choice, Bert." I deadpanned, sittin' down and placin' the water bowl on my lap.
"Ya always have a choice, Misty. Ya enjoy my company; that's why ya got me here." Tolbert told me as I grabbed the washcloth from the bowl, wrung it out, and started to dap at his face wit' it.
"You're in here cause you're not bad 'nough to see Doc." I reminded him, cleanin' up the blood that was on his lips.
"Cause ya came barrelin' downstairs t'bribe those bastards off." He retorted as I wiped the blood away from his nostrils.
"Don't think too highly of yourself, I only did that cause Wiggins told me you needed my help." I honestly told him as I dipped the washcloth into the bowl of water and wrung it out, causin' the water to turn pink.
"Well, ya must think somewhat highly of me since ya paid 'em off wit' the money that rich prick gave ya last week." Tolbert cockily smirked as I let out a tired sigh and cleaned up the cut above his brow. It didn't look too deep, so I don't think he'll need stitches.
Narrowin' my eyes, I pointed a finger at him and chastised, "Don't talk 'bout Brock like that."
"Like what, darlin'?" Tolbert sarcastically asked 'fore dryly goin' on to say, "Just tellin' the truth, he's a rich prick."
Immediately I defended Brock with, "No, he's not. He's nice, kind, funny, charmin', an' a good man."
"Goddamnit, ya really like that rich sonuva bitch, huh?" Tolbert asked incredulously, a dark hint of jealousy in his timbre as his brow arched up slightly on his handsome, but bruised an' battered face.
"He's in pursuit of me, Bert, so I guess I do like him." I deadpanned while givin' him a pointed look.
"Fuck that! What 'bout me?!" Tolbert roared, goin' into a tantrum and grabbin' the water bowl balancin' on my lap only to fling it across the room; causin' it to loudly shatter 'gainst my door.
"I care 'bout ya, bout you're just my regular an' a good friend. Nothin' more, nothin' less." I honestly remarked, tossin' the washcloth onto my bedside table 'fore standin' up. Draggin' my chair back ov'r to my vanity, I let out a frustrated sigh of, "I don't know how I'm gonna deal wit'cha tonight. You broke my water basin, so now I gotta go out an' buy a new one tomorrow."
Tolbert ran a hand, that's knuckles were busted an' swollen, over Ginger as she slept curled up at the foot of my bed while offerin', "I can buy it for ya, make up for breakin' yers just now."
"Okay." I simply said, walkin' back over to my bed. I sat down on it and grabbed the washcloth from my nightstand, Grabbin' One of Tolbert's hands, I told him, "You're not sleepin' in my bed wit' bloody busted up knuckles."
"Course not." Tolbert slightly chuckled as I cleaned up his hand. "But can we do more then just sleepin'?" He asked, wagglin' his brows, as I took his other hand an' started to wipe it off.
"No, Bert." I firmly told him, tossin' the washcloth back onto my bedside table.
"Why not? I haven't seen ya in a long time." He pouted as I stood up.
"I'm still off." I reminded him as I stripped out of my dress. "Just lay down an' rest. 'Sides, you're hurt, Bert, so ya wouldn't enjoy nothin' anyways." I told him, placin' my dress into a laundry basket I had near the corner chair.
"I ain't hurt too bad." The rowdy ginger protested while layin' down in my bed.
I didn't say a word, just shook my head and joined him in the bed. After turnin' off the oil lamp that was on my bedside table, I rested my head on my pillow and settled myself underneath the blankets. A few moments after my room was encased in darkness Tolbert reached over an' grabbed my hand only to tug on it til he yanked my arm, causin' me to roll into him.
"Since we can't do nothin', least lay yer head on my chest." Tolbert told me in a tone that was laced wit' pain. Pain that his body was now feelin' since he was relaxed an' layin' down now.
I didn't say a word, just rested my head on his chest. I could hear the thumpin' of his heartbeat an' feel the slight risin' an' fallin' of his chest. I placed one of my hands on his bare chest, only to lightly trace some of the ginger hair that spattered it. I don't know how long it took, but eventually we were both lulled off to sleep.
"So, Tolbert's still upstairs sleepin' off that fight in your room?" Ada asked me as we drank our mornin' coffee, sittin' together at one of the many tables that took up the first floor of the saloon.
"Yep." I popped my tongue.
"How bad is he? The fight was a rough one." Ada asked wit' a concerned look swimmin' in her eyes.
"Not too bad. I didn't need t'stitch him up or anythin' like that, but his eye's gonna be swelled shut an' his knuckles are busted up." I answered her, earnin' me a nod.
"Hmm, reckon he'll be restin' up in your room for a day or so then. Luckily you've got the next couple of days off." She mused, placin' her cup down only to pick up her last piece of bacon an' take a bite out of it.
"Yea…lucky me…" I sighed, placin' my own cup down.
"You don't sound too happy, honey. What's wrong?" My blonde friend asked, her brows furrowed in concern, as she et her bacon.
"Nothin's wrong, I just don't wanna deal wit' Tolbert til I gotta go back to work's all."
"Why? Did that jackass say somethin' to ya?"
"When I was cleanin' him up last night he started talkin' shit 'bout Brock, that man I was wit' last week who decided to pursue me as more than a whore." I revealed 'fore shovin' a forkful of buttery cheese grits into my mouth.
"Hmm…" Ada hummed. Pickin' up her coffee cup, she stated, "Sounds like your regular's jealous of your gentleman suitor."
'Fore I could reply to Ada, Tolbert came downstairs while loudly groanin', "Misty, why didn't ya wake me up? Just takin' off an' not gettin' me for breakfast's rude."
Me an' Ada just shared a look while some of the other whores that were in the room, havin' breakfast, just looked 'tween me an' Tolbert. Wiggins, who was leanin' 'gainst the bar sippin' on a cup of coffee, even hitched a brow at Tolbert's comment. Wit' how rough Tolbert looked, well, me lettin' him sleep in would be considered a kind and carin' act.
"I thought you'd want to rest since ya had a bad fight last night." I told Tolbert as he came ov'r to my table, snatchin' a piece of bacon from my plate an' sittin' next to me.
"Oh…" He nodded, takin' jerky bite from the piece of bacon he stole off my plate.
Ada looked 'tween me an' the redhead by my side only to put down her coffee cup an' slide her unfinished plate over to him. "Well, I'm gonna go and let ya'll have breakfast; talk out whatever needs be.", She said 'fore gettin' up an' headin' towards the large windin' staircase.
"Bitch et all her bacon." Tolert grumbled, slightly poutin', as his stomry blue eyes roamed ov'r the plate that Ada had pushed towards him.
"Most folks do et all of their bacon, Bert."
"Don't call me that where all the whores can hear ya." Tolbert hissed lowly, narrowin' his eyes at me as he munched on his strip of bacon.
Oh shit, I let my nickname for him slip 'gain. Damnit, why do I keep doin' that for? "Sorry, slip of the tongue." I apologized, takin' some of my bacon from my plate an' ploppin' it onto his as a peace treaty.
Tolbert looked 'tween me an' the newly added bacon on his plate 'fore smirkin', "Eh, I s'pose I'll let it slide just this once." Pickin' up a slice of bacon, he added in, "But only cause ya shared yer bacon wit' me an' I just love bacon."
"Of course, cured swine holds your heart." I sarcastically chuckled, shovin' a forkful of scrambled eggs into my mouth.
Pickin' up the coffee cup that had once been Ada's, which she left behind for him too, he informed wit' a lightness to his velvety gruff timbre, "Coffee does too in the mornin', darlin'." He sipped on the half-empty cup and smirked, "But ya hold my heart in the evenin's."
Tolbert, despite his split lip, broken nose, swollen eye, an' cut brow looked adorable as he gave me his charmin' jest of a line. No matter how annoyed or irritated I got at him, he'd always be one of my closest friends. He was just a bit rough 'round the edges, rowdy wit' a bad habit of drinkin' too much an' startin' fights. Bert was, deep down, a decent man tho. I mean, if he wasn't he wouldn't 've become my regular to keep me from bein' well-used (like some of the other girls I work with).
"Et your breakfast. We gotta go shoppin' for a new basin bowl in a lil bit." I told Tolbert, scoopin' up another forkful of eggs an' stuffin' them into my mouth.
"Course ya makin' me hold up my offer o'buyin' ya a new water bowl." Tolbet shook his head, a ghost of a smile linin' his split lip, 'fore he put down his cup an' took a bite out of his bacon strip.
AN:
I know, this was a short filler chapter, but it tied up from loose ends for Tolbert and Misty while she had her week off. Next up Tolbert and Misty will be back to their regular routine. Tolbert'll even have a guys' night with Shaw and Peter too. Oh boy…
Tolbert and Misty are endgame while Brock's just an angsty plot twist that's going to push Tolbert and Misty together (eventually). Would you guys want to see more of Tolbert's jealousy over Brock by him maybe walkin' in on him & Misty or just keep it at the guys digging barbs into eachother at dinner and the saloon, etc.?