Alice finished the last touch of painted rouge, puckering her lips in the mirror. "I hear a cavalry group is in town."
Elmira scoffed as she adjusted the hem of her stockings. "Now who'd you hear that from?"
"I overheard Mr. Lipton tell Mr. Nixon." The brunette turned from the mirror with a smile and an excited shimmy of her shoulders. "Hopefully that means lots of business tonight. There's a new bolt of fabric that I want."
Lily smiled as she adjusted another pin in her hair. Alice did have quite the hand at sewing. In fact, the dress she wore today – a dark green with white lace – had been courtesy of Alice's skill with a needle. "You keep the tricks at the tables playing and spending, and I'm sure you'll get it."
"Maybe you could put in a word with Mr. Winters?" Alice smiled hesitantly.
"It's Mr. Nixon she's fucking." Ginny pointed out with a hint of jealousy. "You'd best ask her to ask him."
"I can't curry favors from either of them." Lily said resolutely. "No matter who I'm fucking."
"Then why take the risk if you ain't getting anything out of it?"
"Sometimes, Ginny, there's more to sex than just money and favors. Though, that does remind me." Lily paused, pushing another pin into her curls. "All y'all have been taking your tea regular?"
"Always." Alice defended.
Elmira glared in offense at the obvious question. "Of course."
"Good." Lily agreed, looking over at the last one to speak. "Ginny?"
"As I can – yes." She sighed, finishing up the last button of her boot. "The heat of it bothers my tooth."
"Still with that tooth?" Lily shook her head, reproachful. "You need to let Doc Mul tend to it. He even asked me to speak to Mr. Winters about it."
Ginny's eyes widened with panic. "You haven't told him yet, have you?"
Lily sighed, shaking her head. She hadn't really mentioned it to him. Not beyond that one morning.
"Please don't." Ginny implored. "I don't want to hear him say it'll be good for me, and see that look in his eyes that...that just…"
"That just makes you feel like the most damn precious thing to him?" Elmira finished with a knowing raise of her eyebrows.
Alice twirled a curl around an idle finger with a distant smile. "How is he capable of making everyone feel so important with just one earnest look…"
"Because he does genuinely care about you. About all of us." Lily answered. "He simply wants what's best – which includes you getting your tooth seen to and not skimping on your tea, Ginny. I don't even want to have to imagine the look on his face if I have to tell him you're in the family way."
Elmira snorted. "He'd probably turn as red as his hair." Another laughed passed her lips as she dropped the hem of her dress. "Do you suppose he's ever been with a woman?"
"Oh, I'd love to be the first." Ginny gushed with a dreamy smile. "See just how far down that lovely red color goes."
A soft twitter rose up around the room as Lily smiled with a roll of her eyes. "You keep on dreaming, girls. He's too good for any of us." She gave one last look in the mottled mirror, deciding she looked presentable enough before turning around to survey the others. "And you." She looked pointedly at Ginny. "Drink your damn tea. Otherwise, I'll have to start watching you do it, nevermind the hurt in your tooth."
"Alright, Lily." Ginny shrunk back, stung. "Goodness. No call to be so mean about it."
"Then just do it, and I won't have to get mean."
"Hey, Lily," Elmira spoke up, "do you know who's working the bar tonight?"
"Mr. Lipton, I think."
"Oh good." Elmira grinned. "I like watching his shoulders as he pours and reaches for bottles. Even more so, when he's wearing that old threadbare shirt that's near see-through."
"You like just watching?" Alice prodded.
The other woman shrugged. "He's never shown me a sign. Besides, I got this barb wire salesman who's been here four days. Said he needed to keep heading for Cheyenne, but he just can't bear to leave me!"
"Are we going to lose you to Cheyenne and a marriage proposal by week's end?" Lily teased.
"Oh, wouldn't that just be grand!"
Another chorus of giggles rose up in the room as they continued to put on the finishing touches to their looks for the evening.
Lily moved for the door. "Well, I'm headed on down. Not more than 10 minutes, you hear?"
A chorus of yeses rose as she opened the door, stepping out onto the landing high above the saloon floor.
Originally, the building had been a hotel with rooms on the second floor and an open restaurant space on the first floor. How Dick and Lew had come by the building, Lily didn't know. But by the time they arrived, it had been remarkably well tended and made over into the saloon she knew today. It was just another indication of the obvious money that these men had behind them.
The largest two rooms, each comprising of a sitting room and bedroom, belonged to Dick and Lew. A larger, single room next to it, had been furnished with five narrow beds, each with a bedstand and chair. It had looked very military to her, but once she learned about the cavalry background that most of the men shared, it didn't seem out of place.
They gave the next room over to her. All by herself. It was the first time she ever had a space to call her own. A bed that she didn't have to share, unless she wanted. She still remembered that day and the tears that had wet her eyes at their generous offer. Each of the others girls had their own rooms, too. Smaller albeit, but it afforded them the ability to better conduct business in accordance with Dick's rules.
The descent down the stairs afforded her a good view of the action on the saloon floor. It wasn't even 5 pm yet and already the crowd was thick. She could hear Bill's drawl over the general din, calling out the plays and taking bets. Babe now sounded like a natural, pitching his voice to draw interest and keep the tricks hooked. It brought a smile to her face as she neared the bottom step, a couple of catcalls sounding out. She swayed her hips, sauntering through the crowds with a coquettish grin. Just enough to whet appetites without giving too much away.
"Say there, pretty dove." A thick hand fell to her waist, drawing her attention to a leering, snaggle-toothed smile. "Go buy us a whiskey – git one for you, too."
She smiled playfully. "It ain't yet my time. I need to go see my boss, and then I'll come back."
"We'll wait for ya!" The other man's friend interjected, his expression eager and eyes excited.
"Then I'll know right where to find you." She winked as she dislodged the hand from her waist, continuing to thread through the groups of men towards the back door. At some point, Lew had managed to scare up some red paint and after much debate between him and Dick, the words 'Keep Out' had been painted across the front in thick, blocky letters.
Dick's pleasant voice filled the backroom as she closed the door. " – wouldn't expect you back for the better part of 3 weeks." She glanced around, noting Gene and Lew also present. The latter looked over to her with a nod in greeting.
"You remember where this place is located?" Dick asked.
"Outside Frymore a spell." Gene said, his face sharp with a serious edge as he continued to pack various goods into saddle bags. "A hospital, you said."
"That's what it sounds like, though, we don't know what it actually is."
Her brow furrowed as she stepped over the table. "What are you about, Gene?"
"Riding out for Frymore. Reports of a hospital there that may be more than just a hospital. Possibly even admitting people who ain't even sick."
"To what purpose?"
"That's why he's riding out." Lew said, nodding towards the younger man who finished packing the last of supplies. "A prospector from out that way is carrying the story that when he tried to have a wound tended there, they turned him away saying it wasn't that kind of hospital. But the screams and cries, to hear him tell it, were those of the tormented souls in hell."
Her stomach tightened anxiously on the distressing thought. "That sounds awful. I hope that's not what you find."
"So do I." Gene said, his eyes heavy with worry.
Dick held out a hand with two cards towards Gene. A king and a four of spades, each emblazoned with a very specific 'E' brand. The corner of her mouth ticked up as she watched the other man accept, tucking them securely away in his shirt pocket.
"Be safe. Be smart." Dick said, reaching a hand forward to shake Gene's. "Good luck."
"Thanks. Y'all, too." He looked between Dick and Lew with a knowing look as he hefted the saddle bags. "Take care, Lily."
She offered up thanks as he started to shuffle away for the backdoor and Lew stepped towards her with a smirk. "The girls all ready to start?"
"They were when I came down." The backdoor rattled in its hinges, closing over her words. "It's quite busy out there already."
"Cavalry's in town." Dick said, earning a mock-scolding glare Lew.
"Thinks he owns the information since I told him."
Lily laughed softly. "Well, Alice overheard Carwood tell you, so I'd say you don't own it, either."
Dick chuckled with a warm smile that held a teasing edge. "If Lip's outperforming you as my information man, Nix, I can give him a promotion and start sending you out on the trail."
"I don't think you can do that, major. Not without first decommissioning the NCO and recommissioning him as an officer." Lew shook his head reproachfully, looking to her with a smirk. "You'd think a man in the major's position should know that."
She quirked her lips confusedly. It wasn't the first time one of the men had launched into cavalry speak, but very little of it made sense. "I don't know what either of y'all are about – with the decom-mishing." She scowled. "Ugh, what an ugly word."
Lew laughed softly as he stepped closer, holding out a card towards her. A jack of spades with the branded 'E'. "Flash this around a bit tonight. See what kind of talk it drums up."
She took the card between her fingers, glancing down at it. This was a game they played every so often. It helped keep the name of the company alive and usually turned up an interesting nugget or two. Dick had been deadset against something so obvious at first, but she played it off beyond Lew's highest hopes each time she walked the floor with an Easy Company card.
She reached up to the top of her dress, nestling it in the swell of her cleavage. The card paper scratched against her skin as she adjusted it, leaving the 'J' prominently visible above the low-cut fabric.
"Move it to the other side." He said softly. "The 'J' on the other corner shows the tip of the 'E' brand. More intrigue."
She glanced up with a wry brow, watching him watch her adjust herself. "Ever the salesman." She slipped the card free and moved it to the other side. It didn't take long to adjust it, the 'J' with a burned edge peeking out from the lace suggestively.
Dick looked up with a tight edge. "Lew, leave her alone."
"He's done nothing untoward." She defended. "He would have the better eye for how to sell his own company." As if to prove her point, she stepped forward bracing a hand against Lew's arm as she leaned in, pecking a kiss to his cheek.
"Thank you, Lils."
"Sure thing, Lew."
xxx
The next several hours passed in a busy blur with very little recognition of the card tucked in her dress. She found the two men from earlier, bringing over a jovial round of drinks and cheering them on in their game of chance. Only one of them had looked to the card in her dress, merely accusing her of trying to cheat before he lost his head to the cards and booze.
She continued to float around the tables, through the throng of navy blue uniforms as cavalrymen enjoyed their furlough. A loud wave of laughter rolled up from a table opposite her, drawing a smile. It had to be Luz's table.
"Hey, Lily!" She turned at the sound of Alice's voice, catching the other woman waving her over. "Lily! Over here."
Lily walked over, taking in the broad back of the man whose arm Alice was currently hanging from.
"You must meet him!" Alice gushed adjusting her hold as the man turned around. "Allow me to present Marshal Norman Dike."
Lily's eyes widened on a flash of surprise that she couldn't contain as she came face to the face with the marshal. The glint in his eyes was pure recognition, but his shit-eating grin told a different story.
"Why pretty lady, how lovely to finally meet you." He said, voice dripping with genteel politeness.
Alice squealed, simpering. "Ain't he just a gentleman!"
"Some gentleman, alright." Lily coolly returned. "You know, Marshal Dike, you look mighty familiar. Weren't you in here a few weeks back?"
"Oh, I come here every so often. Come to think of it – you look familiar, too." He bit off a sharp smirk before turning to Alice with a starry-eyed smile. "But I don't recall seeing this gorgeous lady last time."
Lily huffed. "You didn't gave me a chance to make the proper introductions, if I recall rightly."
His kept his gaze on Alice, distracted. "That's not what I recall."
Lily bit back a scathing response, the edges of her smile sharpening as her jaw tensed with indignation. "Must be my mistake."
"I'm sure it is." He looked over with a dismissive smile, eyes dragging down her front. His gaze caught, brow furrowing. "What is that? Are you trying to cheat your joint's own games?"
"Oh, nothing like that." She raised a hand, trailing a suggestive finger along the edge of the exposed card. "Some fella left it at a table."
"May I see it, chickadee?" Dike asked, syrup on his voice. For any other man, she'd lean over suggestively and let him pluck it from her dress. But for this one, she teased it out from beneath the lace to reveal the branded 'E'.
"Oh, another one!" Alice squealed with a wide, excited smile. "Is he still here?"
"No – I didn't even see who left it. Bill found it and handed it to me."
Dike yawned suddenly, making a poor attempt at hiding it. "Those E card boys. Here and gone again like a puff of smoke. Showing up just long enough to stick their noses where it don't belong and stir up trouble."
Alice looked back at Dike, concern across her young face. "Trouble? No, all's I hear is that those men help people – why one of 'em helped that widow when a rancher threatened her holdings by changing the creek that fed her place."
Lily had to reign in a private smile, proud that story was among the ones circulating. Carwood had done a masterful job at coming to that woman's aid and seeing her water rights restored.
Dike sighed, turning back to Alice with a pitying look. "Oh my poor, innocent Alice. Aren't you just a doll? Believing such a good story? I almost don't want to spoil it for you."
"Spoil what?" Lily asked, glancing back down to the card with a critical eye. "I've only ever heard that the men who carry and leave these cards do good deeds. Helping people. Ain't that the hearsay – find one of the men, or the Major himself, and get your problem solved."
"Problem solved." Dike scoffed, another yawn hinging on his words. "It's simple extortion."
Lily blinked a wide-eyed stare. "Ex-what?"
"Ex-tor-tion. I'd spell it for you, if I thought you knew your letters. It means getting money from threats."
"How do the E men do that?" Alice asked, growing more concerned by the minute.
"They dangle the promise of salvation and resolution for those poor, weary souls, then take 'em for every last penny in order to solve the problem. Not simply content enough to play good Samaritan for those who suffer, but always need to turn a profit. They never consider the mess they leave behind once the problem is solved."
Lily's frown deepened. Surely, the marshal didn't know what he was talking about. Dick would never allow that to happen. He wouldn't let anyone be worse off after an agent of Easy helped. Or maybe, if it was true, then he didn't know? But, no…she couldn't see anyone with Easy genuinely hurting someone or charging more than a reasonable fee. Not even Speirs.
Alice's gentle voice drew her back to the conversation. "That's simply awful, Marshal Dike. I had no idea those men were only out to make money."
"That's why they exist, my little dove. Otherwise, that's what the law is there for. It's my job to protect those who are defenseless in the face of trouble, and I charge no fee for my services."
Alice sighed dreamily. "That's so noble of you."
"It has nothing to do with me," Dike continued, the picture of humble modesty. "It's my sacred and honor-bound duty to serve the great people of this land."
Lily fought against the rising bile in her stomach as she offered up a well-practiced smile. "We should all count ourselves so lucky."
"Amen." Alice agreed, smiling proudly back up at Dike.
"Do excuse me, please," Lily said, nodding between Alice and Dike, "I hope you continue to enjoy your evening."
"I'm sure that I will." Dike looked back to Alice with a look that made the other woman blush. "But Lily – you might want to hold onto that card. I suspect it'll be a relic here before long."
4 Weeks Later
The piano serenaded the few patrons seated at the tables, lost in their cards. Late afternoon sun blazed through the windows, catching on the dust and dirt in the air. It was quiet and that was how Roe aimed to keep it. He preferred quiet. Especially after that turn behind the bar a few years back when a whole box of firecrackers was accidentally set off. It had taken everyone on hand to calm the crowd, and at least two rounds on the house. He was glad Nixon had been around to brush it off in his devil-may-care way, and equally glad Speirs had been far removed to keep it from turning into a bloodbath.
A loud curse went up from a table across the room, stealing Roe's attention from the glass he was drying. The man slammed his fist against the table, heaving a sigh and motioning at the banker for another hand. Roe returned to the glass at hand, releasing the breath he held. It wasn't that he wouldn't put a stop to the rampage of a violent patron - hell, it wouldn't be the first time he'd reached for the rifle under the bar. Or the knife in the sheath just under his pant leg. But he just wasn't in the mood for it today.
The memories of his assignment to the hospital still haunted him. By all accounts, Renée Lemaire should still be alive. But she wasn't. It boiled his blood to no end that the fire had been ruled an accident. Sixty-five souls lost to a fucking, careless accident they said. It wasn't a good enough explanation for Eugene Roe - from everything he saw, it just didn't sit right. He exhaled another sigh, releasing the tense grinding of his teeth, his clenching hold on the glass. He really couldn't afford to think about it all right now.
He still had a job to do, after all.
He reached for another glass from the sudsy tub, shaking the excess loose before wiping it dry.
The front doors flew open with a bang as the solid figure of Marshal Dike burst through, revolver brandished and ready. "US Marshal! Where's he hid out?"
Roe swept his gaze around the patrons, largely too startled and stupefied by the interruption to react. He raised his hands in supplication, brow pinching together confusedly. "Where's who hid out, sir? There's no trouble here."
"Don't play wise, son." Dike stormed over, boots thudding soundly against the wood floor. "I'm after a man – tall, slim fella in a dark brown hat – chased him into town and his horse is wandering loose in the street. I shot him in the ass, so he's not moving too fast on his own."
"If he's shot in the ass, why would he come here? We ain't got a doctor."
The marshal stared down at Roe with a frustrated glare. "He's looking for any place to hide, this one. He'll do anything to not let me catch him. Now…what's behind that door over there? Or the doors upstairs?"
Dike started to make for the back door that read 'Keep Out' and Roe moved around the bar. "I…I can't let you back there." Playing the easily intimidated young kid would probably go over better then trying to stand his ground. "My boss…he'll fire me. That's his private rooms back there."
"Sounds like just the place to hide." The marshal stomped over towards the closed door, various patrons scattering out of his way, crowding against the walls to avoid any fight that might break out.
"No, sir! You can't!" Roe yelled after Dike, running around the bar to catch up, a suitably worried look on his face.
"US Marshal!" He threw open the door to a mixture of gasping and cursing, and a scene that even had Roe doing a double-take.
"Dammit all." Nixon scowled, shirt hanging half-off his shoulders, trousers low and loose, clenched in one hand. "Can't even let a man finish." Lily was on the table underneath him, looking equally scandalized by the interruption – skirts bunched high around her thighs, shoulder and swell of her bosom bared by the shrugged down dress. Dike took in the scene with wide eyes, much as Roe was doing. This…this was the last thing he expected to find back here.
Dike stammered, shaking his head. "I…uh, I'm looking for a fugitive. You wouldn't happen to have…have seen him come through here?"
"Unbelievable, godammit." Nixon continued grumbling curses, tucking in his shirt, righting his suspenders, eyes blazing all the while. "Don't you think if another man had interrupted me that I'd currently be dealing with him instead?" He swept away from the table with an angered flourish, brushing past Roe. "But now, it's only you – and you've upset my patrons out there."
"Sir," Roe cut in, "I tried to stop – ."
"I'll deal with you later." Nixon's tone was scathing, his glare equally deadly. Roe shrank back, dutifully quiet and scolded. "And now you, marshal." Nixon pointed back towards the door with a put-upon sigh. "Let's go clean up the mess you made in the front of my house."
"I'm doing my duty – his horse is wandering loose. And this man needs to be found."
"Yes, yes – dangerous and disruptive. But so are you." Nixon's dismissive words continued as he ushered Dike out the door, closing it firmly behind him.
At the click of the latch, Lily leapt off the table, doing up the last buttons on her dress as she flew to the storage room door. "Come on, Carwood!" There was a barely edged note of panic in her voice, face full of worry as she rushed over to the stove, reaching for the matches. "Roe's here now."
Roe stared after her, dumbfounded. Why the hell would Nixon and Lily need to put on an act like that? Unless...shit.
Lip came from around the corner of shelves in the storage room, burdened with the weight of another man who could only be Speirs. His arm was thrown over Lip's shoulders, wet blood stained down the front of Lip's trousers as he all but dragged the taller man into the kitchen.
"What happened?" Roe moved to help, the question echoed in the concern on his face.
"He was shot in the backside." Lip's words were strained under the effort.
"Jesus." Roe couldn't believe it. Dike had been after Speirs. "Lay him down, on his belly." Speirs grunted in pain as they helped him onto the table, pulling himself across the wood surface to lay flat. Roe cuffed him on the ear, face tight with displeasure as he heard Lily bang metal on the stovetop. "What did he catch you doing, huh? And what were you thinking coming here? Bringing him down on us?"
"He's…." Speirs forced the word out through gritted teeth and a sharp breath. "Dike's crooked. I saw him. He saw me see him…."
"If that's true, he's going to stay after you." Lip said.
"No shit." Speirs hissed as Roe moved around to prod gingerly around the wound.
"Bullet's gotta come out. I'll need hot water, Lily."
"I'm working on it." She answered, pulling a bowl down from the shelf of dishes.
"And my kit from the back. Lip, start cutting his pants away so I can see better." A whisper of metal sounded as Lip pulled his knife free of its sheath and Roe moved for the backroom. The box of medical supplies sat unassuming on the shelf, labeled 'Old Invoices', lest anyone should come thieving. He hauled it down and swiped a bottle of brown liquor from the nearest open crate before going back into the kitchen.
"You're lucky I still had water leftover from lunch." Lily said as she poured steaming water from the kettle into the bowl.
Speirs grunted in discomfort. "There's very little…that's lucky about this."
"Sure, there is," Lip said, continuing to cut away the blood-soaked fabric. "Dike's shot could have landed in your spine."
Speirs huffed a dark laugh as Roe pulled out what he would need, the metal instruments clinking against the bottom of the bowl in the hot water. He pulled the cork on the bottle free, moving around the table to set it down by Speirs' head. "Have you eaten recently?"
"No."
"That'll help." Roe said, placing a hand on Speirs' shoulder in a supportive squeeze, offering the flash of a sympathetic smile. "Drink up. You're gonna need it."
xxx
Lily looked down at him on the table, heart seized with worry, as he took hearty pulls of the brown liquor.
"Lily, get him a spoon or something wooden." Carwood said softly. "We gotta keep him quiet." With a pale look, she turned back to the worktable, reaching for a wooden spoon and handing it to Carwood who nodded silently, concern heavy in his eyes. "You…you might want to leave. Wouldn't want this to be upsetting for you."
She looked around uncomfortably before settling back to Carwood. "Can – could I help at all?"
"Holding him still, keeping him quiet is the only help he'll need." Gene said.
"This isn't the first bullet you've dug out of me." Speirs grumbled around the neck of the bottle which was now almost half-empty. "And Lily goes."
She stared down at him, surprise and hurt in her gaze. "Ron, I want to help – "
"I don't want you here."
Tears pricked her eyes as she exhaled, defeated. "Ok." She nodded at Carwood, taking a step towards the storeroom. "Ok - good luck." She pulled the door closed behind her, just able to see Carwood offer the spoon to Ron and watch him take it between his teeth.
"Ok." Gene's voice sounded steady and calm through the closed door. "Deep breath, now."
Her stomach lurched on the sudden sharp exhale, the low, pained moan that accompanied it. There were soft scuffling and shuffling noises. A soft whimper. Her hand flew to her mouth, holding back from reaching out to the door handle as a tear rolled down her cheek. She wanted to do something - anything - to take his pain away. She wished she were holding his hand. All she wanted was to be there for him, and he had so curtly dismissed her.
A door hinge squeaked. "Oh, Jesus." Lew's voice joined in with the other sounds.
"I've almost got it." Gene still sounded just as calm and focused. But then it went suddenly, strangely quiet. "There it is. It's out."
"He is, too." She threw the door open on Carwood's words, unable to wait any longer.
"Didn't want to tell him it would be worse than his arm last year." Gene said, setting the forceps with the bullet aside, reaching for a clean cloth to press against the wound.
Lew breathed a heavy sigh. "Jesus, that was close. Too damn close. What the hell did he do?"
She couldn't help but stare at Ron's prone from on the table, breathing deep and steady. He didn't look exactly peaceful, but at least he wasn't suffering right now. She crossed her arms against her chest, moving more into the kitchen, listening to Carwood talk, his face heavy with concern.
"…And Dike caught him."
"Goddammit." Lew sighed again, reaching for the abandoned bottle of liquor by Ron's head and taking a big drink. "We need to get him cleaned up and out of sight." He caught her gaze, worry pinching his brow. "Lils – you ok?"
She offered a weak nod, sniffling and wiping ineffectually at the tears on her cheek. "Yes, I'm ok."
"Ok." He sounded doubtful. "Go up and grab a blanket, will you? We'll have to cover him – oh, and grab a change of pants for Lip. He can't go out there like that."
She nodded, not trusting her voice again as she moved for the door, out towards the saloon and staircase.
"I'll get a smelling salt." She heard Gene say as she opened the door. "He should come around quick –"
The rest of his words were cut off by the closing door and the din of the saloon. She didn't even look to see who Lew had manning the bar as she took the stairs up, easily moving for the common room. Each bed had a trunk at the end of it, and she easily found Carwood's, flipping the top and fishing out a pair of trousers. With a quick grab of the blanket off Ron's bed, she headed back downstairs to the inevitable mess that awaited in the kitchen.
"- said I heard you." Ron sounded utterly exhausted and annoyed as she opened the door, catching glances from Carwood and Gene.
"Good," Lew scolded as she handed the trousers over. "I don't even want to see you thinking of trying to leave any time soon."
"I said I won't." The annoyance was giving way to anger as Gene helped Ron onto shaky legs.
"Here's the blanket." She passed it to Gene, watching as it was slung around Ron's shoulders.
"Come on," Gene said, wrapping a supportive arm around Ron's waist. "We got to get you drunkenly up the stairs. Shouldn't be hard to pull off right now."
Ron cursed under his breath as they started for the door and Carwood disappeared into the backroom with his clean trousers. She turned from the hobbling pair, not really wanting to look at Ron right now. There was just nothing she could think to say to him. Her hand twitched at her side. Maybe she would just slap him instead.
The near end of the table was covered in various red smudges, the bowl of instruments still sitting there. It would take some elbow grease for those smudges to not permanently stain the wood. She didn't want to be reminded of Ron bleeding on the table every time she ate.
She continued to survey the aftermath, distantly hearing Carwood come out of the backroom, him and Lew exchanging words.
"I'll go take over out front." Carwood said. "And check on the girls."
"I already did that, but it probably wouldn't hurt." Lew agreed, raking a hand through his hair. "Thanks, Carwood. Quick thinking to drag him back there."
"Not as quick as you, sir. I'm sure the look on Dike's face was something else."
Her eyes landed on the wooden spoon in the middle of the table. There were visible imprints from Ron's teeth along the handle. The tears from earlier came rushing back as she continued to stare down. Carefully, she reached out for it as if she needed to convince herself it was real. Her fingers stroked over the teeth marks, a sob lodging in her throat.
"Lily?" Lew's voice sounded just over her sharp trembling inhale.
"Fucking bastard." She ground out as tears streamed down her cheeks, gripping the spoon tighter. "Stupid fuking bastard."
"Whoa….What - Lils, come on, it's alright." Lew moved in slow steps towards her, holding out a hand like a peace offering. "He's alright."
She clutched the spoon tight to her chest, clinging to it. "He - he didn't -"
"It's ok, it's alright." Lew's hand landed on her arm, drawing her in, pulling to wrap her in a hug. "You know how he is...I mean, you said it. He's a bastard on a good day, let alone days like today." He rubbed gentle circles against her back as her arms unfolded around him. "I don't know what he said, but I'm sure he didn't really mean it - whatever it was."
She hiccuped a sad sniffle. "He - he doesn't even kiss me, Lew."
He tightened his hold around her. "Damn, Lily...this -." He broke off, sighing in surprised recognition. "You...you love him, don't you?"
She could only nod against him, not finding words to voice it aloud. "As much as you love yours."
He snorted softly. "Aren't we a fine pair. Pining over what we don't have." She breathed deep against him, her tears flowing until they dried and the weight lifted from her chest. It felt amazingly good to finally admit it. Even if it wasn't to the man in question. But still, there was something to be said for the relieving power of confession. And the reassuring hold of another person's arms.
"Come find me tonight. Please?" She turned her head against his shoulder. "I...I just want to be held. Like this."
"Sure." He pressed a kiss to her brow, rubbing a hand up and down her back. "You're alright now?"
She smiled sheepishly. "I'm alright now." She pulled back from his embrace as he let her go, a smile between them that held so much understanding. "I should...I need to start cleaning this up." She wiped at her face, surveying around the kitchen with another deep breath, still holding the spoon.
"Give me a few minutes to go check with Carwood on the front of the house, then I'll come help. Hell, if we can get this all cleaned up before Dick -" The back door opened, warm sunlight spilling onto the floor as footfalls followed. "Son of a bitch."
"Hello, Nix," Dick greeted warmly, the smile falling from his face as he took in the rest of the kitchen. The blood. The bowl of medical instruments. Lily's tear-streaked face. "What happened here?"
The rest of the day passed in an anxious haze. Gene had said that Ron developed a fever. It wasn't serious right now, but it was something to be watched. Morning would be far more revealing.
In hindsight, she probably should have worked the floor tonight - if only to have a distraction from her thoughts. But the idea of dressing up and putting on a pleasurable front for the patrons just sounded exhausting. Especially after all the effort she spent scrubbing the blood stains out of the table. She sighed, fighting to urge to curl in on herself, wishing she could do it in someone's arms. She really hoped Lew still remembered her request from earlier. She wrapped her shawl tighter around her nightgown clad shoulders as she sat up against her headboard, watching the shadows from her lamp dance across the wall. From what she could hear through the floor, it sounded like the action might be winding down for the night. Hopefully Carwood and Gene would be able to close everything down.
She perked up at the soft footfalls on the landing outside, hoping. A smile warmed her face as the door opened softly, admitting the faintest sliver of light as his shadow crossed the threshold before the room plunged back into the low lamp light. She met his gaze, unable to conceal her relief as he walked towards her.
"I'm glad you're here." She said softly, watching the lamp light catch in his brown eyes.
"I said I would." Lew leaned in, brushing a kiss to her temple before moving around to the other side of her bed, hands falling to the buttons of his shirt. She dropped the wrap from her shoulders, resting it on her bedstand.
She watched him step out of his trousers, the light-colored underclothes stark against the dim darkness of her room. It had certainly been some time since they had shared the same bed fully clothed. The last time was probably when he had come stumbling in, drunker'n sin and hit her bed, passed out. But he seemed sober enough now as he slid under the covers and she extinguished the lamp light. He reached for her in the darkness, pulling her and fitting her to the curves of his body. She had always enjoyed laying with him, and she tucked in close against him, releasing a deep sigh.
"You know he's right in the other room." Lew's voice was low in her ear, rumbling against her back.
"Gene and Carwood will be there soon enough." Her tone was dismissive but laced with an unmistakable note of sadness. "And he's likely caught up in a feverish dream. He wouldn't want me there, either."
"Don't be so hard on yourself. Or him. I'm willing to bet you he didn't even think of it like that - hell, to hear Roe tell it, he emptied half that liquor bottle in a matter of minutes. And he doesn't sit still well. Recovery is going to be hell for him." He brought his arm down around across her stomach, feeling her snuggle further into him as his hand came to rest atop hers against the mattress, fingers tracing her knuckles. "You should tell him." There was something so envious on Lew's voice. "It might improve his mood."
"Or completely cut him off from me. You know how he...doesn't open up. I don't know what it is or why, but I…," she sighed, spreading her fingers to intertwine with his, "I just want him to know that it'll be different with me. I don't want to hurt him. Ever."
"And what would he say if he were to walk in right now, hmm? See us like this?" His voice dripped with a velvety tease.
She hummed, turning her head a little to feel the brush of his nose, his breath across her pulse. "And what would yours say if he saw us right now?"
"I thought we were talking about you."
"In that case, he would probably notice that we were both still dressed. Or just the close the door and leave."
"You don't give him enough credit."
"No? And what do you think he would do?"
"If he loved you in any measure, I think he would shoot me dead where I lay."
"You don't need to worry," she sighed, "he doesn't love me."
"And how do you know that?"
"I told you - he doesn't even kiss me when he...when we're together like this."
"Ever consider that maybe he's scared to kiss you?"
"Scared? Him?"
"We're all scared about something. Perhaps…," he paused, exhaling before drawing a deliberate a breath, "maybe he's scared to kiss you because he's afraid he'll never stop. Afraid...that he'd - that he would never be able to leave you, to keep doing his job. Afraid when he wasn't here, that he'd worry about you. That he'd be powerless to protect you." Her eyes closed, unbidden heat coiling low in her belly, breath catching as Lew continued to talk. His voice dipped to an intimate, silky tone. "Afraid that kissing you will make his feelings for you all too real. Will change how he talks to you. How he touches you when he lays with you."
She rocked back into him, her body warming and awakening to the press of him against her, the primal register of his voice. She moved their entwined hands to her chest.
"Are you sure?" His hand moved around hers, molding to the gentle swell of flesh, kneading gently. "Earlier, you said just held."
"But you started talking." She guided his hand down her stomach, towards where she wanted his touch most.
He pressed his lips to the back of her neck in a open-mouthed kiss as she shifted, bunching up her nightgown. The warm graze of his fingertips pulled a sigh from her as he continued to mouth along her neck as he continued talking. Talking to about her about him - if he were in bed with her now, how he would make her body sing just for him. How he would mark her - possessive as he is - before his relentless pursuit to make her entirely his. All with him knowing that he would shatter her and be the one to put her back together again. And then - finally - would come the press of his lips to hers.
When she gasped out her release, she couldn't believe that words had been so powerful.
Fortunately for him, she'd always been a quick study at bedsport and she rounded on him, wanting to offer him the same release. She'd always been careful - she knew that saying Dick's name, was far too risky. But as she pressed her lips to the underside of Lew's jaw, stroking and talking him to his own completion, nothing less would do.
Afterwards, the gentle press of his lips to her neck was the last thing she remembered until dawn.
