Disclaimer: I own nothing. Just the story and its plot.

Chapter 2.

The music played as the people enjoyed themselves, drinking and gambling and enjoying the company of the saloon's working girls.

The latino woman walked around the saloon, dressed in her fiery red dress and checked that all the men were tended to. She was head of the girls, answering only to the brothel's owner, Mark Sloane. As the men were drinking, they got more and more drunk and the latino got to see to that the ones that made too much of a rustle and were handling her girls too rough, was seeing the dirt on the ground outside in a closer perspective. She held a drink in her hand and every once in a while she was offered a drink by one of the men. She accepted it gracefully, as it was part of her job. She hated this job, she really did but this was the only thing she was good at. She started working when she was a mere teen, and had seen more than most women had ever seen during their lifetime. As time went by, she learned to numb the hate and pain of having to do what she did. Usually she used booze. Sometimes she used a man or two in the way she was meant to. Her boss had a soft spot for her, and she had had one for him but lately she hadn't had that same feeling towards him as she used to. He was goodlooking and all, blonde, blue eyes and a well built body that wasn't too worn from booze or fighting yet. They had been an item ever since he had taken over the brothel a few years ago. He had won it in a poker game fair and square. The old owner, Richard Webber, had gotten drunk and lost his ability to think straight and had hence lost the brothel. He had been a mean and abusive owner, so Callie and the girls were glad that he had lost the brothel's ownership to Mark Sloane. Sloane was a nice guy, and he didn't tolerate any cruelty whatsoever towards any of the girls, and he protected them against anything and anyone. He paid the guards well to see to that the girls were safe.

'Now now, Herb settle down' Callie laughed at a man who was getting more and more drunk, and had started to make a fuss. He had grabbed one of the girls by the waist and pulled her to him, and had started to drag her with him upstairs before Callie managed to stop him.
She was good at avoiding trouble, but when she couldn't, guards were close by.
'I'm gonna take this whore upstairs' he said drunkenly. 'I need her.'
'I know' Callie said, 'but you'll get further if you treat her kindly and stop dragging her with you.'
The man stopped in the middle of the staircase, and let go of the girl. The redheaded girl looked a bit scared, it was her first night and Callie understood all too well how bad things could seem and that it could be very scary.

'I think you need someone else, I don't think she's the right for you' Callie continued as the girl got free of the man's grip and started to descend the staircase. 'I think .. oh yeah, Christina, is the right woman for you tonight.' She smirked and waved towards Christina to join them.
'Why hello there' Christina said and started working her womanly charm on the man and he forgot all about the redheaded girl he had tried to drag with him.
Christina brought the man upstairs to her room while Callie tended to the redheaded woman.
'Are you okay, April?' she asked as she brushed the few strands of her out of the woman's face. The woman nodded but she had tears in her eyes.
'I know it's scary, but most men are nice and very kind' Callie tried to comfort her.
'He tried to ... ' the redhead started saying but her emotions got too overwhelming and tears started falling.
'Yes I know honey, but it's kind of part of the job, not to get violated but in a way you are getting violated.' Callie tried to talk to the woman as she held her hand and stood her up and led her up to her own room. 'Now you rest here until you're ready to go downstairs again, okay?' Callie smiled at the woman whose tears were still falling.
'Thank you Callie' she whispered and smiled a faint smile towards the latino woman.
'Any time sugar' she said and exited her room. She stood for a moment, leaning back against the door, wondering why on earth she put up with this job, for maybe the millionth time during her twelve years as a working girl.
'Callie' she heard Mark's voice from his office a few doors down.
She sighed and walked towards it, opened the door and went inside.
'Yes Mark?' she asked and smiled at her boss and lover.
'Is everything okay downstairs?'
'Yes, everything is fine.' She replied. 'April was having a little trouble but I got it covered.'
'Good' Mark said as he looked up from his paperwork. 'That dress looks amazing on you.' He said as he got up and walked towards her.
'Well, you made a good choice then' she said and played along.
'I see that' he said and stopped just in front of her, grabbing her by the waist and pulled her to him and kissed her red lips. 'I want to see you later in my room' he said as their lips parted.
She nodded and said:
'I'll be there.'
He went back to his paperwork and she exited his office and went downstairs, checking things so they were alright before she went outside for some fresh night air. She was feeling like she was starting to choke on this person she pretended to be. Suddenly she acted on instinct and grabbed one of the horses' reins that were standing outside, kicked off her shoes and mounted the brown horse and kicked her heels in its sides, causing it to take off into a gallop out of town. She rode the horse hard, out of town, towards the waterhole just outside of town. Actually it was a small pond, but it served mostly as a waterhole, even though it was big enough to swim in. Sometimes during hot days or nights one could find people taking a bath or swim in it. Even though it wasn't hot right now, it was certainly warm and she thought maybe she could wash away this feeling she had.

A/N I'm rusty so please be gentle =) Reviews are still love.