Sorry for the long delay. I completely lost all motivation to do pretty much anything but it's all come back so here it is:
It wasn't long before Grace had been introduced to Jane Greathouse, a saucy redhead with a whorehouse not too far outside of Lincoln. Grace instantly liked Jane for her honest, if somewhat abrupt nature. The two became fast friends. Grace took numerous trips into Lincoln in order to keep up the food store necessary to sustain all the boys as well as herself and Mr. Tunstall and to collect random odds and ends for the ranch. Upon one of these trips the day had begun quite lovely, but by midafternoon, storm clouds were rolling in threateningly. Grace happened to pass Jane on her way out of town. As usual Jane was dressed to the nines in a fine gown and carrying a lacey parasol.
"This rain is gonna come down any minute you know. Why not come on over to my place for a bit and wait it out?" Tilting her head to the side Grace thought about it for a moment; she'd never been to a whorehouse. She grinned with pleasure, imagining what her Grandmother's reaction might be. She was already living alone with seven men, so one trip to a whorehouse couldn't damage her reputation anymore than it already was.
"Alright Jane, lead the way." As they rode, Jane sitting prettily side-saddle, small droplets of rain began to come down. They sped on and in no time arrived at what looked like an innocent little farmhouse.
"Home, sweet home" Jane said as they dismounted and handed the reins to a little dark child who led the horses off towards a small covered area. The two rushed inside. The place was nitty gritty, just a chaise lounge thrown here and there for some class, but otherwise it was pretty bare. As Jane took Grace's jacket she asked, "You wanna relax upstairs?" Grace gave her a wary look,
"How do you mean?" she inquired, narrowing her eyes. Jane just laughed and took Grace's arm, leading her up the stairs.
An hour later the girls were soaking in their respective tubs on the second floor. They were fine copper tubs filled with steaming hot water with perfume added. Their hair was pinned up high to keep it from getting wet, but stray tendrils of hair curled from the steam. With her head leaning back Grace was smiling with her eyes closed enjoying how the hot water soothed her aching muscles. When she opened her eyes she saw that Jane was staring at her funny. Confused Grace looked around and then back at Jane,
"What?"
Jane leaned her elbows on the side of her tub and supported her face in her hands.
"You know, you're real pretty. I've sure never seen eyes like yours anywhere before. I've been wondering something." Narrowing her eyes Grace held up her hands,
"I've already got a job, no offense." Jane laughed and rolled her eyes.
"Not what I meant," she said. "It's just, well you've been living with all those handsome boys for a while now and you're telling me that not one of them has popped your cherry." Grace nearly choked on the sip of whiskey she had just swallowed. Coughing she looked at Jane incredulously.
"No! Was one supposed to? And why do you assume I'm a virgin?" Jane raised an eyebrow. "Okay fine, I am." Jane held up her hands,
"Hey, I'm just saying." It was clear that Jane had more to say, so Grace gestured her to go on. "So which one would you want to?" Staring down at the bubbles of her bath Grace's face was beginning to turn red. While she usually appreciated this quality in Jane, she had never really had a female friend to talk about these things with so the subject was usually kept personal. When she didn't reply Jane went on, "I like Billy. He's funny and wild, don't you think?"
"Yeah he's something else." Grace said taking another drink. Darting a glance over at Jane she saw that she was chewing on her lower lip, brow furrowed, deep in thought. "You'll get wrinkles if you keep that up" Grace warned.
"I'm trying to work out which of them is your type. I've ruled out Steve and Billy so far. That leaves Charley, Chavez, and Dick" she broke off sniggering as she always did when saying Dick. Grace was trying to seem disinterested in Jane's conversation and had closed her eyes again. Ignoring this Jane went on, "I don't think it'd be Charley, I see you with someone…taller." Clearly she was trying to be charitable. "So it's either Chavez or Dick. They both have that tall, dark, and handsome thing going for them, and I think either could handle you." Grace snorted in a most unladylike fashion.
Thankfully a soft knock came from the door interrupting Jane before she could go on. Peeking from around the door the same dark child from before cleared their throat.
"There's a man downstairs asking for the lady," they said quickly before retreating again. Jane sighed,
"Poor kid's shy as can be." Then her demeanor changed, "lets go and see who's come for you. Bet it's one of your boys!" Jane then stood up in the tub and Grace quickly looked away; Jane was many things and shy was not one of them! Grace quickly jumped out of her tub and stepped behind a screen to dress.
Standing out on the porch was Chavez; his back was turned on them but his tall frame, and long jetty hair gave him away. Grace smiled when she saw him, unaware of Jane's eyes watching her closely. Safely inside the house, out of earshot she commented,
"He sure is a fine figure of a man isn't he?" Grace just ignored her and shrugged on her coat. Giving Jane a hug goodbye she stepped out onto the porch. Chavez turned when he heard the door open and smiled,
"We wondered where you went," he said, "we were worried about you." He then helped her onto her horse, and they rode back home together. All the while those little comments Jane had made were festering in Grace's brain.