Disclaimer: No ownership of anything but the plot and story.

Chapter 4.

Back at the saloon, Mark Sloane exited his office and walked to the rail to look down at the crowd downstairs. He checked to make sure everything was perfect.

He always checked his girls, so they were all safe and well cared for and guarded. Even during the day he was careful of them, they always had guards with them during the day as well. Just to make sure.
As he stood there, he heard a door open and he turned his head to see who it was. It was April. The new girl. She exited Callie's room. She nodded towards her boss as to say hello. He nodded back but opened his mouth and asked 'Where is Callie? I haven't seen her for a while.'
'I .. I don't know mister Sloane' April said in a slightly shivering voice.
'I heard what she did for you' Mark said in a low voice as he moved towards April and put his arm around her shoulders and looked down into her face.
'Yeah, she's very kind' April smiled a faint smile up at him.
'That she is, that she is' Mark smiled back. 'Now get back down there April, learn the ropes by watching the other girls. You don't have to take on any men tonight, but just make them feel good down there among the drinks and make them gamble alot.'
'Yes sir' April said, smiling thankfully up at him.
She hated that she had to take this job, but she, like so many other women took to the oldest profession in the world when they couldn't make a living on something honest and virtuous.
She descended the stairs and started working the floors among the other girls, getting pulled into laps, and felt up at times until guards came and took the men away and threw them out. The later it got, the more drunk the men got, and the drunker they got, the more noisy and rowdy they got and that caused them to get thrown out.
Mark stood up by his office and looked down. April did a good job at learning the ropes. She would be a successful working girl, if she wanted to be that is. He doubted she'd last for a longer period of time. He could tell that Callie was starting to get a bit distant lately. He knew she had been working as a prostitute for over ten years. He hoped she'd get over it soon, because he loved her. He could even see a future together with her somewhere else where they would start their own little family, maybe own a farm somewhere outside of a town.
Where was she? He was starting to get a bit worried. He hadn't seen her for quite some time now. It's been at least two hours. Even if she had a customer in her room, it didn't take her this long. Should he go look for her? No, he would wait for a little while longer before going to look for her. It was dark outside and who knew what waited for a woman out there. Especially in the outskirts of town.

By the wateringhole, Callie had kneeled down by the sitting figure that had refered itself to Ari. Ari's leg was bleeding, Callie saw that clear as day even in the dark. She examined it the best she could but she needed to clean it properly.
'I need you to come with me back to my place and get that cleaned up' Callie said.
'I need to get going, I just need some rest' Ari replied as short as she could.
'No, you're coming with me, and that's final' Callie replied in a tone that didn't tolerate anyone talking against her.
Ari looked up at her, and Callie noticed the blue eyes. The face was feminine, without a hint of a stubble. Delicate features. Blonde hair, blue eyes. Yes, Ari was a woman. Callie smiled inwardly. A beautiful woman.
'Alright, but only for tonight. I must get going in the morning.' Ari said very unwillingly.
'Can you stand up?' Callie asked as she stood up herself.
'I think so' Ari replied and tried to stand up, but didn't manage it by herself. Callie tried to help her but she couldn't stand.
'I guess I was wrong' Ari said, giving out a short, quiet laughter. 'Come here girl' Ari then called, this time to her horse. The black mare stood there a few yards away, watching the two people under a careful eye. As soon as her human called for her she walked towards her.
'Here Lady, you have to help me. You need to help me to stand, and then to get into your saddle, okay girl?'
The horse nodded and grabbed a hold of the collar of the shirt of her human with her teeth and pulled her straight up and towards her saddle. Callie watched in awe as the animal helped the human to stand and to get into the saddle, all Callie needed to do was stand there and give support so Ari could get up into the saddle. She did before getting onto her own horse, well her borrowed horse. She really needed to return it, and that soon before someone accused her for horse theft. That would surely get her hanged. Her own horse was in the livery barn.
'Now, where to ... I don't know your name now do I?' Ari said to Callie.
'I guess you don't. Just call me Callie.'
'Well then .. Callie, where to?'
'I have a place just a few minutes ride from here, can you make it?'
'Looks like I have to, now don't it?' Ari was still a bit hostile. Callie sighed.

A/N

This chapter is a bit shorter than the other three I'm afraid. Thank you to all who reviewed so far. I appreciate them alot.