Chapter 2: Heroes and Fools

Jimmy sighed and paused after stepping through the doors of the dim saloon, allowing his eyes to adjust. For long moments all he saw was spots of blue and red--the result of a long ride under a bright sun. He was thirsty and he was tired. "Sarsaparilla," He told the bar keep, who had stopped kidding the Pony Express riders about their refusal to drink whiskey long ago.

"Hey Jimmy," a familiar voice greeted him, and Jimmy glanced over to see Buck and Cody propping up against the bar, "Saw you ride in and head straight here. Thought you must have had a bad ride."

"Had better, had worse," Jimmy responded, and let the drink slide down his parched throat, carrying at least some of the trail dust with it. He squinted, still waiting for his eyes to become accustomed to the dim and smoky saloon. He turned companionably around and stood with Buck and Cody with his back to the bar, observing the activities of the saloon--noting the improvements made since the new owner had taken control of the establishment.

"Would you look at that," Buck suddenly said, and Jimmy and Cody followed his eyes.

Jimmy vaguely noticed that his jaw dropped and stayed open when his gaze fell on one of the prettiest girls he'd never seen in his lifetime. For a moment, he thought that the sunlight must have done permanent damage to his eyes, but after blinking and rubbing his eyes once, she was still there. She was tall and slender, with long black hair that fell in waves to her waist. Her face was pale and fine, almost like a porcelain doll. Her eyes were her most arresting feature though, Jimmy realized as his heart thumped against his chest when she turned her gaze toward the bar. They were such a bright, deep blue that they were almost purple--even across the distance they flashed with restrained anger and indignity. Her whole demeanor was defiant and wary.

Yet Jimmy sensed something else about her from the way her eyes darted around her rapidly.

Fear. She was afraid of something.

"What in the hell is a woman like that doing in a place like this?" Cody asked, snapping Jimmy out of what had almost been a trance.

"She sticks out, that's for sure," Buck agreed.

"She's just a girl, really," Cody pointed out. She couldn't have been more than seventeen or eighteen.

Jimmy's eyes narrowed as he watched the girl set a drink down in front of a gambler. The man's eyes nearly popped out of his head when he looked at her, apparently having liked what he saw as much as Jimmy, Cody, and Buck. Not content to look only, he grabbed her around the waist, pulling her into his lap. Without effectively masking her fury, the girl tried to disentangle herself without causing a scene. Her eyes darted to the owner of the establishment, Jarvis Malone, but he was engrossed in a conversation with a businessman.

"Get your hands off me!" She hissed, and began fighting in earnest, her eyes continuously darting nervously to Jarvis. Jimmy wasn't sure if she expected him to intercede or to punish her for fighting back.

"Now you heard your boss! He said to be friendly to me," The gambler drawled and his hands only grew more bold and his words more suggestive. Those improper words were suddenly cut off as an arm circled him from behind and squeezed tight enough that he couldn't draw a full breath. He released the girl and she jumped to her feet, straightening her mussed clothing.

Jimmy cocked his gun and held it to the man's head, his voice low and dangerous in the gambler's ear. When the men playing with the gambler went for their weapons, Cody and Buck were quick to draw their own guns and persuade them to return their hands to the table.

"The lady obviously don't like your company. Next time a lady don't like your company and you try to convince her otherwise, I'll make damn sure you don't never draw a breath of air again…Understand?"

The man had broken out into a sweat, but still attempted to save face as he choked out, "I don't think you know what you're doing. This girl is paid to like my company!"

The remark angered Jimmy, though he wasn't sure why. It was, after all, the truth, "Get out of here!"

"I'm not going any…"

"Get out!" Jimmy roared, "Or you'll be carried out in a box! And don't come back!"

The gambler nearly ran from the saloon. His friends followed at a much more dignified pace.

Jimmy, Cody, and Buck turned to face the girl who was staring at them with a cross of disbelief and annoyance. "You all right miss?" Jimmy wondered softly, looking into her eyes, which weren't any friendlier looking at them than they had been with the gambler.

She didn't answer them, her jaw was tightly clenched.

"They won't be back to bother you anymore, you can count on that," Jimmy tried to assure her.

Her eyes widened in disbelief and then snapped with anger as she hissed at them, "You're right, they won't be back! And the business this place loses because of that will come out of my pay! Next time you want to play the big heroes and wave your big guns, why don't you do it for someone that asks for your help!"

Jimmy, Cody, and Buck all stared in shock as she turned on her heel and stormed away.

"If that ain't the oddest thank you I ever did hear," Cody began.

"Let's just go," Buck said, catching the look of the new owner as he caught wind of the commotion. He and Cody started to walk towards the door. Jimmy stood where he was, staring after the girl.

"Come on, Jimmy, she ain't worth it," Cody told him. "She don't want your help neither."

That angered Jimmy and he wasn't sure why. The woman's voice, a softly cultured southern voice seemed to burn into his memory. She had breeding, Jimmy thought, every thing but the fact that she was working in a saloon suggested that. She didn't belong here, of that he was certain. He tried to shrug off the woman as another saloon girl, but something made him glance back over his shoulder before Cody and Buck dragged him from the saloon. He spotted her, standing in the shadows looking back at him. Her angry guard had dropped and she looked forlorn and scared, and very, very much alone.

When she realized he'd caught her looking the softness left her and she flung herself around and stalked off in the other direction.


"I'm telling you boys, she was the prettiest woman I've ever seen in my life!" Cody insisted around a mouthful of food.

"Yeah, and one of the meanest!" Buck added, "I mean, that man had his hands all over her, and she was trying to get away from him, anyone could see that. But when Jimmy helped her, she turned on all of us!"

Teaspoon glanced at Jimmy, who had been pushing his food around his plate for some time now. He'd not said a word about the girl, and Cody and Buck couldn't stop talking about her.

"You're awful quiet tonight, Jimmy," Teaspoon commented, wiping the corner of his mouth with a napkin.

Jimmy glanced up in surprise. Before he could say anything, Cody chimed in, "Yeah, Jimmy looked like a puppy! His mouth dropped about to the floor when he first saw her and his eyes went big! If he had a tail, it would have wagged right off his backside. 'Course, ain't never seen him move so fast as when that gambler grabbed her."

Jimmy turned a brilliant shade of red.

Kid, who had just returned from a three-day run, stopped shoveling food in his mouth long enough to point out, "She works in a saloon, Jimmy. Having men touch her is part of the job. You ought to remember that. She chose to be there."

Jimmy glared at Kid. "So you saying Lou deserved to be raped by that Wicks fellow cause she was working in a whorehouse?"

Kid's fork clattered to his plate as he looked at Jimmy in shock. The others all held their breath, looking on as Kid and Jimmy exchanged a long and charged look. It hadn't been that long ago that all of them had learned that a young Lou had done laundry in a whorehouse and eventually been raped by the owner before getting away. Her entire young adult life had entailed her protecting herself from experiencing that fate again; she'd sacrificed her womanhood for her safety, and only recently had she tried to be Louise again.

"I'm sorry," Jimmy said before Kid could react. "I had no call bringing Lou into this. Not like that."

"Lou was a child!" Kid said through clenched teeth, still angry with Jimmy. "This woman you are talking about is old enough to have a choice!"

"Don't be so sure Kid," Rachel said quietly, speaking for the first time, "There ain't a whole lot a woman can do out here to feed herself."

"There must be something!" Kid disagreed, but remembered his words to Lou upon discovering her secret.

Isn't there something else you can do?
Why? I already proved I'm as good as you. Hickok, Cody, any of you.

Kid guessed Lou had known better than most what her other options were. He found himself infinitely relieved he'd agreed to keep her secret until Teaspoon was ready to hear it.

Teaspoon shook his head, "Rachel's right, son. You can't go judging a woman because of that! Lord knows it ain't right, but it ain't always her fault!"

"Besides, this woman was different than most of those other saloon girls," Cody said.

"How so?" Noah wondered.

"You could just tell she was, well, better than the other ones," Buck explained. "It was like she knew it and so did they...and they all hated her for it and she hated them too."

"She had a lady's way about her," Jimmy agreed, "I don't care what you say Kid, the girl came from money. You could see it in her eyes, in the way she talked to us. She don't belong there."

Kid shrugged. He may have been poor all his life, but he'd been brought up in the Southern tradition, and had a very clear idea of right and wrong. Things had always been black and white for him, and there was very little that fit into the gray area. Women with money and breeding didn't end up in saloons in his experience. He sighed, "all right, so maybe she did have money at one time. Doesn't matter. She doesn't now, and if she works at the saloon she's going to have to earn her money other ways!"

Jimmy fought off the unexplainable urge to wrap his hands around his best friend's throat. Once Kid made up his mind about something, wasn't much chance of changing it. "You'd feel differently if you saw her," was all Jimmy said.

Later that night, after pacing the bunkhouse nervously all afternoon, Jimmy stood up.

"Where you going, Jimmy?" Noah wondered, though he knew the answer.

"Out for some air. And to maybe pick up those supplies Teaspoon wanted from Tompkins store."

"Mmm-hmmm," Cody said, rolling his eyes, "If you're going back to see her, why don't you just say so?"

"Why don't you just mind your own business?" Jimmy snapped back, blushing.

Kid stood up, "I'll go with you. I want to see this fancy saloon girl for myself!"

Jimmy's look told Kid he'd rather him not go, but a curiosity had been born in Kid, and he was determined. Arguing would have been a waste of both time and breath.

"I wouldn't rescue her again," Buck called out, "She'll probably shoot you for thanks!"

Laughter followed Jimmy into the dusk, but he left it behind as he moved to the saloon with Kid.


"I'm not going to do this!" Callie stated, as Jarvis Malone held out a bright red dress.

"You are too!" he hissed, "unless you'd like me to get the marshal!"

Callie sighed, bowing her head to rub her temples. Had it only been a month since Jarvis Malone had first discovered her and began to coerce her? Had it only been two weeks since she'd arrived in Rock Creek and been thrust into the hell of a saloon girl's life? It seemed like years and she wasn't sure how much further she could carry the charade before she could take it no longer.

She'd lost every fight but one. She told Jarvis right away that if he planned on making her a prostitute he could just go ahead and turn her over to the marshal. The snide little man with the balding head and horn-rimmed glasses had backed down on that one account, knowing that she meant it. Now he stood before her and told her she would entertain some of his business friends that night. He expected her to tend to them all, as well as sing for their amusement. She'd made the mistake of singing quietly while she worked, and he'd heard her voice and insisted she perform.

"This dress is indecent!" She said disdainfully as she snatched the silk out of his hands and held it up, "I might as well not wear anything at all!"

"Always a possibility," Jarvis warned her. He tried to appeal to her practical side, "Callie, don't you realize what an asset you are to this place? Men from all over town are coming in just to get a glance at you! Couldn't you be more personable? Perhaps then you could make a bit more money. I'm wouldn't object to selling you your freedom, for the right price."

"My freedom isn't for sale!" Callie snapped, "And no, I could not be more personable! I hate these stupid, dirty people and their stupid little town! Idiots, every one of them! Two-bit heroes and washed up has-beens! Most of them probably can't even read and you expect me to perform for them like some pet monkey!"

Jarvis suddenly reached out and gripped her arm painfully, wrenching her closer to him. "You, Miss Sullivan, are too proud! You think yourself better than all these people, but look at you! You're a murderess and a thief, and like it or not, a saloon girl! You've got nothing to your name but the clothes and the roof I provided!"

"I'm not entertaining your abolitionist friends!" she snapped again, choosing to argue about the situation at hand, "You'll be sorry if you make me!"

His hand snaked out and he struck her across the cheek hard, "You'll be sorrier if you don't!"

Her eyes were wide in surprise as she brought her hand up to cover her stinging cheek. "There was a time that would have cost you your life!" She whispered miserably.

"Ah, the good old days," Jarvis said unsympathetically, "Chivalrous men and slaves to wait on you hand and foot! You'll have to get over that! I'm tired of being patient. You are just going to have to get used to the fact this is your life now, and that I control it! I'm warning you now, from now on going against my wishes will have swift and severe consequences. Put that dress on and get downstairs in the next fifteen minutes or you'll wish you were never born!"

"I already do!" She hurled the words at him before he closed the door. Callie sighed when he was gone, feeling defeated and hating herself for not having more courage to stand up to him, or to allow him to turn her in. She quickly dressed in the gown he'd brought her, then glanced in the mirror.

The gown was indecent. It cut so low that she wondered if her breasts might fall out of it. Her shoulders and chest were completely bare, and if someone was inclined to stand directly before her, she supposed he could also see straight down to her navel, as she could. The dress bright red silk, a color no lady would wear, never mind the cut. She found her eyes in the mirror and looked at what she'd become.

She hated what she saw.


"Is that her?" Kid asked for the tenth time, just as he had for every other saloon girl that walked by.

Jimmy glared at his friend and for the tenth time repeated, "I told you, Kid. You'll know when you see her!"

"She can't be that beautiful, Jimmy."

"She is," Jimmy said softly and Kid was amused by the far away look in his eyes.

"Looks like Malone has some high and mighty friends around tonight," Kid said, rather than comment on Jimmy's obvious and instant adoration of this saloon girl he'd seen once in his life. Jimmy was in the habit of falling quickly and blindly in love. It had almost gotten him killed more than once.

"Yeah. Bunch of abolitionist business men," Jimmy said distractedly.

"I thought Malone was a Southerner," Kid said.

Jimmy shrugged. "He is, but that doesn't mean he won't accept Northern money for his business ventures."

Kid nodded and let his gaze slide around the room. Suddenly a flash of bright red on the staircase caught his eye. His eyes widened and knew Jimmy was right. He did know it was her. She wore a dress that exposed quite a bit of her pale and well-tended white skin. That pale skin was a startling contrast to her ink black hair. Her hair was long and wavy, and flowed freely about her face and shoulders. Her eyes, another unexpected contrast, seemed to blaze across the room.

"There she is," Kid said, and Jimmy straightened with interest and nearly broke his neck as he struggled to get a good look at her.

Callie's eyes instantly fell on Jimmy, and she remembered the man's act to save her with a cross of anger and amusement. She'd thought he must be some kind of bounty hunter when he walked in that afternoon, judging from his ivory handled colts, but instead he'd actually tried to help her, not hurt her. That was a curious and novel deed to her these days, she realized with a pang of sorrow, and felt curious about the man staring at her now.

"Come my dear, you've some important people to meet," Jarvis said, fingers digging into her arm, "Glad you could make it!"

Jimmy's eyes narrowed as he watched Jarvis secure her arm in a death grip. The look she cast him should have killed the little man, but alas, he still breathed.

"Easy Jimmy," Kid warned him softly when Jimmy tensed. The girl followed him obediently, and was hidden from sight by the pack of men that surrounded her.

"Okay, you're right. She doesn't belong here," Kid finally admitted.

Jimmy would have commented but suddenly Jarvis was standing on a small stage, with the girl at his side, her arm still secured in his vise-like grip. She looked as if she'd like to either shoot him or bolt. Jimmy suspected either one would do just fine for her.

"Gentlemen, I'd like to introduce Miss Callie Sullivan, an honest to God Southern Belle. Not only is she truly one of the most beautiful women in the West, she also sings like a lark! She's so excited tonight to provide you good men with entertainment!"

A roar of applause went up, and Kid glanced at Jimmy.

"She looks about as excited as a condemned man," Kid commented.

Jimmy stared at the girl. So her name was Callie. The name had never sounded so beautiful before then. Callie didn't attempt to mask her fury and distaste as Jarvis left her alone to stand on the stage. She stood in sullen silence, glaring defiantly at the men below her as they gawked at her and her revealing dress. She fought the flush that crept up her neck and into her cheeks, but soon she knew she had two rosy spots on each cheek.

Jimmy's heart went out to her as she stood there blushing. Though she was obviously embarrassed, her chin remained high with stubborn pride--yet it was clear enough that she was bothered and ashamed to be the object of the kind of attention she was getting.

Jimmy grinned as Jarvis marched back up onto the stage when Callie only stood there, his face as red as Callie's dress. However his smile faded as Malone roughly took her arm and spoke into her ear. Jimmy couldn't imagine what he'd said to her to make her lose her blush and turn so pale so quickly. Obviously shaken, she turned and watched as he stormed off, trying to laugh off the girl's behavior as stage fright.

Suddenly the fear left her face, and fury and defiance were back. The still girl suddenly sprang to life, and threw her dazzling smile over the crowded room. Jimmy actually felt his breath catch at that smile. "Good evening, gentlemen! Welcome!" Her words were bright, but Jimmy sensed the anger running beneath every word, the dangerous fury that simmered beneath all her movement.

"Sing for us, Miss Callie!" One of the men shouted, and the rest responded with applause and whistles.

Her eyes narrowed for a moment, and then she smiled brightly. "I have just the song for you gentlemen!" With that she pulled herself to her full height in the middle of the stage and purposefully avoided Jarvis Malone's probing eyes.

"Oh, I wish I was in the land of cotton! Old times there are not forgotten, look away, look away, look away, Dixieland!"

Kid and Jimmy exchanged shocked glances as she zealously continued with the next verse. Dixie, an anthem of the South, was hardly appropriate for a crowd of abolitionist businessmen. The men murmured and looked to Jarvis for an explanation, but he was open-mouthed with shock himself.

She'd made a complete fool out of him.

Kid felt a chill run along his skin from head to toe as she sang the beloved Southern song with all her heart and soul. Her voice was a beautiful, clear soprano, and he saw that the hair stood upright on Jimmy's arms too as she finished the last note.

Silence greeted her when she finished the song. Kid and Jimmy burst into applause after the last note had died, and she curtseyed deeply, as if the whole room was giving her an ovation. Jimmy saw the flash of teeth as she grinned in triumph just before dropping her head in another curtsey. Slowly, Jarvis' friends began applauding politely.

Obviously elated from the enjoyment of embarrassing Jarvis, she became animated, flashing her smile coyly at the men she'd just offended. They found it hard to be too offended, Jimmy realized, so engaging was her smile.

"Encore!" A drunk voice called from the back of the room. Jimmy saw the devil in her eyes as she began "I'm a good old Southern girl!"

Jimmy glanced at Kid and they burst into laughter at the girl's spirit.

Jarvis, unable to take any more from her, stormed onto the stage and grabbed her arm. "You'll be sorry!" He told her, much louder than he'd intended. The whole room heard her cry out with pain as he wrenched her arm viciously and began dragging her off the stage. Her feet became tangled in her dress and she fell. As Jarvis drug her a few steps while she fought to get her feet under her, Jimmy stood up, letting his chair crash to the ground behind him.

"Jimmy, this isn't your fight!" Kid warned him, placing a hand on his friend's chest to keep him from charging forward, "there's nothing you can do!"

Jarvis broke from the crowd and stood in the middle of the room, with Callie still in his clutches and suddenly looking very pale indeed. "I've got a once in a lifetime opportunity gentlemen! Who would like to take this Southern wench upstairs? Top bidder takes her for the entire night!"

Callie finally tore her arm from his bruising grasp, bolting for the door.