"Where's the best place in town to eat?" I asked the front desk person.
"That'd be Jinky's saloon. It may be a place for whiskey, but the food there is cheap and good." He said, I nodded thanking him. Just then two men came in. They were wearing clean, fitted suits complete with bowtie and cuffs. But my eyes flickered to under their perfect coats. A nice, shinny metal that had a tendency to go BANG when the owner wanted it to. They saw me, and eyed my own 44. pistols on my hips. See, they each had one… both left hand draw. Me? I had two, cross draw. Meaning I was better. I could see it in their eyes they didn't like a girl being better then them… or they just didn't believe. One tipped their hat to me, and I ignored him. Just a gut feeling told me to tell these guys I didn't like em. They went up to the front desk and asked for a room.
"I'm sorry, but I just gave the last one out to that young lady right there." the office man said. They turned, only to see the last of the heel of my boot disappearing around the corner.
"Now how is it, a lady like her, is carrying a cross draw, when she's probably never even touched a wooden pistol?" one man said. I didn't hear the reply, because I was heading down the street. I got many odd looks from me, to the guns on my hips, or my pants. Most women here were wearing skirts… in fact all of them save me. I didn't give a hoot. I found the saloon and walked in. Inside was pretty busy, with the music playing and the drinks passing around. I went up to the bar, and ordered something to eat. I could feel the eyes on my back. But soon that eerie feeling left, when I heard the bar doors swing open. By the way the sound dropped, and the clunking of boots came my way… I figured it was the sheriff. I paid for my food, picked up my plate, and walked to an empty table, where the clunk of boots followed me. The sound gradually picked up again. I sat down and began to eat, just as someone took a chair next to me.
"Howdy. Had a feeling you're in some need of company." The man said. I didn't look up.
"You're not good at reading people." I hissed.
"You're not very friendly are you?" he said. I scoffed.
"You're getting better." I said, taking a bite of my steak. It wasn't like mom's at home… but then again… mom's cooking was always best in the west.
"So where you from?"
"Around."
"That's a lot of territory… anywhere specific?"
"Nope."
"Look, I'm a friend… you can tell me. How long you stay'in?"
"I don't stay long enough to make friends." I said, "And the sooner I can eat in peace, the sooner I will sleep and be on my way." The man nodded.
"May I ask you a question?" he asked. I stopped and looked at him.
"Didn't give me a choise there, now did ya?" I said. he thought about, then continued.
"Why is a lady such as yourself, wearing iron?"
"Same reason why most men wear them." I said.
"But they know how to use them." He said. I set my fork down, annoyed. My eyes met his with an intent glare. He knew right then I was trouble. But he had never dealt with a female and guns kinda trouble… so he didn't know how to go about it. He stood up to leave, tipped his hat and left with the final words.
"Alright, well, if there's any trouble, just come holler. I'll clear it up." I scoffed.
"You'll be to late by the time I finish cleaning up." I muttered. I finished my food and set the plate on the counter. Again, I felt a solid set of eyes on my back. I turned around slowly , meeting my disturber. A nasty, grungy looking man, with a heavy pistol dangling on his side. His black eyes on me. I glared at him, and turned away.
"Hey, lady. You know how to use those things?" he asked, "That part with the hole in it, is where you don't wanna be. That's the dangerous part." I stopped in my tracks. You gotta be kidding me. I couldn't get through ONE saloon without trouble? Typical west. "Come here, I'll show ya how to work one." I grinded my teeth, and turned around slowly.
"I think I got the jift of it." I said, Pulling one out, clumsily, "This part…. You gotta pull back first… right?" I said, pointing to the trigger. The man laughed, sweeping his eyes across his pals who were also chuckling.
"No, sweatheart, the hammer, the thing in the back. Pull that back first." He said, standing up.
"Oh…" I said and tried to pull it back. I struggled a little, then used both hands to pull it back.
"You know, you really shouldn't be playing with guns, when you don't know how to use them."
"No, I think I got it now." I said, and let a loose bullet fly through the wall. Everyone froze.
"I'm not so sure you do. Why don't you hand them over to me…" he said. I tucked the gun back into my hip.
"Naw…" I said, "Those guns cost me a big penny. Worth a lot of money too. A LOT."
"Is that right?" he said, stepping closer, "Well why don't I take them, just for safe keeping?"
"That's ok. I think I can take the weight." I said.
"Now listen hear lady…" he started. But I crossed my arms across my hips, pulled both guns and cocked both, and fired both in less then a second. Each bullet hit in front of his feet.
"No really, I think I got it now." I said, "Any other tips?" I asked. The man shook his head. I nodded.
"DIdn't think so." I twirled the gun around, and slid them into my hostlers. I went outside, without another word. My anger was crawling up my chest… and the deep breaths I took only kept it from bursting. I went back to my room, the two men I had seen earlier, still there. I didn't even look at them, and went up straight to the stairs. I found my room and opened the door. I turned around to shut it… and locked it tight.
"You already got trouble on yer tail?" said a high, amused voice. I twirled around faster then I remember, pulling my gun, and cocking it. I aimed it straight at the voice, my eyes flaming, and finger tight on the trigger. I grinded my teeth and my anger almost rose when I saw who it was.