The week passed quickly without a hitch and Friday was upon them. The founders day celebration was tonight and the men were all abuzz. The excitment was tangible as they rushed to and fro laughing and joking as they brushed down their mounts and polished their boots.
Even Tsubaki hummed a jaunty tune as she made enough potatoe salad to feed half the town.
Maka thought she looked rather beautiful tonight as well. She imagined Black Star would have to truly take care of his wandering eyes this evening. She was dressed in a fitted grey-blue dress with pearl snap buttons and a lace trimmed collar.
It had been so long since Maka herself had worn a dress, but oddly she didn't feel even a little envious.
Men's clothing had a certain appeal to them, and they were far more comfortable.
Maka stood in the center of her room and gazed at her reflection in the small mirror. She tried desperately to quell her smile. She turned sideways and looked at her profile.
Did she look manly enough?
The cravat she wore was terribly English, but it was the nicest thing she had brought with her. Plus it hid the bulk of her chest binding very well. The britches hung a little loosely on her legs, but true to Soul's words, hard labour and three large meals a day had her body becoming toned and lightly muscled.
Maka frowned at her short, botched-beyond-hope hair. It was getting a little longer, downtown to her shoulders now, but it was still nowhere as long as it had once been. She would need to trim it again soon.
A loud pounding came from her door.
"Time to get moving kid."
Soul's voice was muffled, but she could tell he wasn't happy, she could practically hear the frown in his voice.
Everyone was excited to go but him.
He had been sour all day long, and when asked why Tsubaki had simply said, "he hates going to town."
"Don't dally kid, the sooner we get there, the sooner we can get it over with." He grumbled from the other side of the door.
"Coming!" Maka laughed as she opened the door wide.
She was just about to make a snide remark when she stopped cold. He stood there, tall and lean against the door frame. He wore a dark scowl and his hands were wrestling a black sting neck tie. He was freshly washed and wore black trouser and a soft blue button up shirt. His boots shone with fresh polish and his chin had a small speck of blood that tattled on a fresh shave.
The man looked down right dashing, even if his hair was still unruly as usual.
Maka's mouth felt incredibly dry. She had been so busy vowing to hate the man that she never truly noticed him.
Beneath that rugged facade shone an impressive, stunningly masculine individual. If he had been wearing proper English attire Maka would have bet her weight in gold that he could easily have every woman in London society swooning.
"What the hell are you wearing kid? He asked, glowering at her cravat.
Maka cleared her throat before laughing.
Her laugh sounded nervous, even to her own ears.
"You don't like it Evans? Or are you just worried all the girls will fancy me better than you tonight?"
Soul snoted and gave her a lopsided smile.
"Maybe men back in England get away trying to look pretty, but out here, men don't wear frilly things. The last thing we need tonight is for some drunken fool to mistake you for a pretty gal and start a fight."
Maka felt a small flutter in the pit of her stomach at his words.
He had called her pretty, in an offhanded kind of way, but still.
Even with her dressed up in men's clothing, he still considered her feminine. Backhanded as it was, it was the first bit of male appreciation she'd had in a very long time.
Why did that thrill her so much?
Maka fought the tell tale sign of a blush creeping up her cheeks.
What was bloody wrong with her tonight?
Soul gave her a dark look. "What're you standing there for? Take off that stupid thing so we can go already."
Maka turned swiftly and stared in the mirror, trying to untie her cravat. With Soul staring at her in the background, she had to take great pains to make sure he couldn't see the edge of her chest binding.
In the mirror, she saw him lean against her doorframe and shrug his powerful shoulders. Her fingers fumbled with the top shirt buttons, then with the collar before she finally removed the cravat.
She turned back to him and he nodded his approval.
"Much better kid. Now let's go."
As they stepped off the porch Black Star led Soul's pinto and Kippy into the yard, both saddle and ready to go.
"Are we not taking the buckboard this evening?" Maka inquired as she accepted Kippy's reins.
"Tsubaki took the buckboard ahead of us. She's mighty proud of her potatoe salad." Maka smiled at Black Star's beaming face. "I'll be sure to sample it and praise her."
"Enough yappin' let's go boys." Soul grouched as he swung up into his saddle. The rest of the men all mounted, each one hollering louder than the last.
Even little tad looked freshly washed and ready to go. Maka almost didn't recognize him without all the dirt and grime he normally wore.
They set a slow pace as they left the barnyard that quickly turned into an all out mad dash as they hit the open prairie.
Kippy tossed his head and snorted, his feet kicking up dust as everyone began to gallop in unison. The men all began to whoop like heathens and Maka couldn't help but smile. This was one of those rare moments, when her guard could be let down and she felt like a real cowboy. Like she finally belonged to something.
Her heart thundered with the sound of flying hooves and the air whistled through her short hair. She could feel kippy's heart drumming beneath her legs, feel his muscles trembling with the excitement of the run. It felt like straddling thunder and riding it across the sky.
She breathing deeply, filling her lungs with air that was said to be better than whiskey in the belly.
She threw her head back and let loose a wild whoop of her own and the men echoed it in return.
Soul remained silent as he road next to her, but he was smiling one of his rare smiles, the one that reached all the way to his unusual eyes.
This is what freedom feels like. Maka thought as her laughter bubbled out, torn from her lips and lost to the prairie wind.
Once they reached the outskirts of town the crowd started to get thicker as people flowed in from all dirrections.
The town looked nothing like she remembered it her first day here. She had once though it nothing but a small insignificant town, filled with little insignificant people.
Tonight it bustled and hummed with activity, with lively people laughing and dancing. They had decorated the store fronts and the town square with ribbons, streamers, and colorful banners that proclaimed, "God bless Texas."
Maka shot Soul a surprised look. "There's far more people here than I thought. Do they all live hereabouts?"
"Nope," Soul grunted as he warily eyed the encroaching crowds. "This is a small town, but there are other towns nearby as well. People come from far and wide to eat barbecue, drink, dance and watch the fireworks."
"Fireworks? That sounds grand! I've never seen them before! Oh and what is barbecue?" Maka babbled, her excitement getting the better of her.
Soul gave her an amused glance as they came to a stop infront of a long row of hitching posts.
"Barbecue is a Texas tradition. Just wait kid, it's really going to knock your socks off."
"Its so good, it'll make you slap your mama." Justin proclaimed quietly as he pulled his horse up next to hers and dismounted.
"It's so fuckin' good, I'd let your mama slap me, even if she was ugly as a toad." Little Tad chimed in, grinning from ear to ear.
The men all laughed, but Maka didn't really understand the joke.
"Who's been teaching Tad such colorful language?" Soul barked, pinning them all with a sour look as tied his pinto to the rail.
"Fuck if I know boss!" Someone hollered from the back of the group. The men all burst out into more fits of raucous laughter.
The men were in high form tonight, the promise of good food and leisure acting as catalyst to their high spirits.
Soul rolled his eyes at their jeers, but Maka could tell he was secretly enjoying himself as well. He still looked a little uneasy and stiff in his nice clothes, but his shoulders weren't as tight as earlier.
Maka wondered why town and crowds bothered him so much. She also wonderd not for the first time tonight why he even came to the function if he hated it so much.
With one last whoop the men all seemed to scatter at once, like little kids who couldn't contain themselves a minute longer.
"Behave!" Soul yelled at their retreating backs. "Don't forget, Forsaken has a reputation to uphold!"
The men all shouted half watered promises as they dissapeared from sight.
Now Maka understood why Soul was here against his will. He was here to babysit the men.
Maka put a hand over her mouth, smothering a laugh.
Soul snatched Kippy's reins from her other hand and proceeded to tie them roughly to the post.
"Come on kid, let's get this over with."
Maka fell in behind Soul as they pushed their way through the gathering crowd.
Soul looked nervous, his eyes restless, scanning the people pushing past them. Maka could see why Soul hated coming here, it was a little tight in some areas, and everyone they passed stared at them rudely.
She was just about to ask him if he was ok when Soul rapidly bent at the waist. He hunkered down and shaded his face with his Stetson.
"Shit." He groaned under his breath.
"What's wrong, are you ill?" Maka asked, feeling uneasy at his abrupt anxiousness.
"No, but I'm about to be worse than ill."
Maka peeled her eyes from him and scanned the crowd, looking for the source of his sudden distress.
A tall figure dressed in pink calico and lace was charging at them, waving her hand wildly in the air. "Soul, darling! Lord Albarn! Fancy running into you two here!" Liz shouted as she pushed her way towards them, her younger sister in tow.
Maka elbowed Soul roughly and laughed under her breath, "Don't be rude, they are ladies and they deserve to be treated as such."
"Ladies my ass." Soul hissed.
"Be nice, Forsaken has a reputation to uphold Evans."
"Wow, that was down right dirty kid."
Maka simply smirked in return.
The two young women converged upon them in a flurry of color and ruffles. Maka thought they resembled birds of prey; beautiful, graceful, and able to tear into their victims with skill.
Soul looked like he wanted to slink away, but Liz clamped hold of his arm tightly and Patty took his other. The girls fluttered around them, effectively cutting off any possible escape rout.
Maka was once again very impressed with their matchmaking prowess.
Soul looked very uncomfortable as they assaulted him with giggles, pawing hands and a million questions.
Maka would have felt bad for him if it wasn't so bloody funny to watch him squirm.
She decided to take pity on him and intervene when Liz began to pull a little too roughly on his tie and Patty was feeling up the corded muscles of his biceps.
"My how lovely you ladies look tonight! So beautiful in your dresses. If we were in England you two would be the bells of the ball!" Maka gushed, in her thick accent.
It worked, both girls attention swiftly diverted to her.
"Lord Albarn! You look so dashing tonight!" Liz sighed as she took Maka's hand in her own.
The girls chattered endlessly and Maka listened patiently for awhile before heaving an exaggerated sigh. "Ladies, it pains me to leave you so soon, but you'll have to excuse us."
"But why?" They both cried out in unison.
"Boots. I've been needing a proper fitting pair of western boots ever since I got here."
Soul seized the opportunity like a starving man would a peice of bread.
"Yeah, and I promised the kid I would get him some the next time we came to town."
"We can come along to help!" Patty beamed.
"I simply couldn't bear the indignity of exposing such refined young women to my stockinged feet." Maka placed her hand over her heart for emphasis.
The sisters both pouted, but brightened once Maka promised to come find them afterwards.
Soul released a long pent up sigh as they parted ways.
"That was pretty slick kid. I'm impressed."
"And it's not a complete lie. I truly do need better work boots. I'm afraid my English attire isn't going to handle much more strain."
Soul nodded as he took in her ill fitting clothing and worn black riding boots.
When she had fled England, she didn't have the luxury or the money to buy new men's clothing, what she had was stolen from the stables. She felt a little embarrassed as he assessed her now.
"Come on, let's get you some new duds. It's the least I can do to repay you for saving my ass."
Maka smiled as she followed him into the general mercantile.
"I don't think I've ever seen you freeze up like that before." Maka teased as she picked up a sturdy pair of boots to inspect.
"I don't have much of a way when it comes to women. Most of them are put off by my weird looks."
Maka set the boots down and looked at him. Really looked at him. "What's wrong with the way you look?"
He shrugged. "My white hair and red eyes. Most woman balk at me because I'm different." He said it without malice, like it was common knowledge, but she could see the the forlorn tint to his face.
Something deep inside Maka's chest ached. He was just as much an outsider as she was.
"Well it's their loss Evans. Sometimes being different is a blessing. Besides, you do have some admirers at least. I'm sure either of the Thompsons would take you." Maka gave him a cheeky grin and Soul snorted.
"Those Thompson girls they're plumb crazy. They're the desperate sort so I don't scare them a bit. To be honest, they make me feel jumpy." Soul looked nervously over his shoulder, as if mentioning them would conjure them from thin air.
Maka smiled despite herself.
"For what it's worth, I don't think you look weird. Although it wouldn't kill you to smile more."
Soul picked up a pair of leather gloves and threw them at her head.
"Well no one asked you kid."
He tried to look sullen, but Maka could tell he was trying not to smile.
They shopped in silence for awhile, her trying on several pairs of boots and Soul grabbing a few things off the shelves. Finally, she found a pair that fit her perfectly and added them to the rapidly growing pile on the counter. She had found a few articles of clothing that looked like they might fit and a new pair of work gloves as well.
"Put em' on Forsaken's tab." Soul instructed the shop keeper, who was hovering quietly behind the counter.
"Oh that's not necessary." Maka squeaked, digging in her pocket. Soul shook his head. "Forsaken takes care of her own."
It was the first time Soul had ever acknowledged her as one of them. That place deep within herself, the place that had no earthly name, but still yearned for the intangible, cracked a little at his words.
Maka would never admit it to Soul, but the thought of belonging secretly warmed her heart, to it's the very core.
Being a man had its benefits.
Maka was free to roam wherever she pleased without a chaperone, and she could eat as much as she wanted without anyone mentioning her waistline.
The barbecue, true to everyone's testament, was sinfully good.
Enterprising children had set up a lemonade stand on the boardwalk. Maka bought a cup. It tasted dreadful, but they were so cute she couldn't resist buying another one.
A ragtag collection of men made up the band in the town square. Maka didn't know any American music, but she enjoying listening to them play. A fiddle and guitar struck up a slower melody and everyone grabbed a partner for the next dance.
All the high society balls and socials she had been to and none of them had been this fun.
As she watched the dancers sweep to and fro she couldn't help but wonder what it'd be like is she wasn't dressed like a man.
Would some tall and handsome cowboy ask her to dance too? Would he wrap his arm around her waist, hold her close, lean his body intimately into hers, and stare into her eyes.
What color would her pretend lovers eyes be?
For some reason, crimson eyes materialized in her mind.
Maka coughed, and shook her head, trying to dislodge the image.
As if summoned by her very imagination Soul somehow appeared next to her, and Maka had to stifle a yelp.
"Are you going to dance kid?" He asked, his eyes distant as he watched the dancing.
Maka's heart stopped for a slip second before she could grasp that he wasn't asking her to dance. He couldn't. Men didn't ask other men to dance.
Maka laughed nervously before replying.
"Possibly. If I can find a patient partner who doesn't mind her toes being stepped on."
"You'll do fine. Give it a go kid." Soul slapped her heartily on the back.
"After you." Maka grinned back.
To her surprise, Soul turned and walked confidently up to Tsubaki, taking her hand in his own.
Tsubaki smiled as Soul swept her onto the dance floor. She pinched his cheek and said something Maka couldn't hear, but Soul threw his head back and belted out a laugh.
Everyone around them stared at the two, his white mane and her raven locks a stark contrast to the other dancers.
The two didn't seem to notice though, or they were just very good at ignoring the blatant looks.
Soul whirled Tsubaki right by Maka as their dance finally ended. He gave her a courtly bow before stepping away. He glanced at Maka with a raised brow and then at Tsubaki. Maka took the hint.
"Here you can have this," Maka grinned as she placed her dreadful lemonade cup into Soul's hand.
"Miss Tsubaki, may I have the pleasure of your next dance?" Maka asked with a low bow, her brittish accept flowing freely.
"My, I would be most delighted." Tsubaki giggled taking Maka's hand.
Soul rolled his eyes at them.
"Christ, do you even hear yourself fancy pants?"
"Don't pay him any mind hun, he's just jealous he doesn't have as much charm as you do."
Soul simply grunted and took a sip of his lemonade before he promptly spewed it out.
"Hell Kid, are you trying to poison me?" He asked, making a sour face.
Maka and Tsubaki laughed as they drifted out among the other dancers, leaving Soul and his foul mouth behind.
A fiddle struck up a jaunty melody and everyone began to dance. In ballroom dancing, men stepped forward and women moved backwards, the waltz was a slow and graceful affair. This dance didn't work that way. People dipped, spun, and danced in all dirrections. Maka decided that she rather enjoyed the chaotic style, it didn't feel stuffy like in England.
No one minded when she turned the wrong direction, or if she bumped into other couples. People laughed, and smiled a lot here.
For the next hour Maka alternated between watching everyone and dancing. She even stayed true to her word and danced with the Thompsons a few turns.
With aching feet Maka left the dance in search of a quiet place to rest a spell. She spied Soul sitting on the boardwalk, away from the hustle and bustle of the main crowd. She heaved a deep sigh as she sat next to him and stretched her legs out. Soul had been sitting quietly the whole night, watching people dance.
Maka wondered why he wasn't out enjoying himself.
He looked tired and brooding, and there was some other emotion there that Maka couldn't put her finger on.
"Are you done dancing Evans?" She asked tentatively, hoping she didn't make his mood worse like she often did.
Surprisingly he smiled. "No, one dance was good enough for me. I'd rather sit here out of sight."
Was he here avoiding people?
Should she leave as well? She didn't want to encroach on his peace.
"Should I go?" She asked quietly.
He shook his head. "No, I don't mind the company."
Loneliness. That was the unknown emotion she saw in his eyes. He chose to evade people, but what he really wanted was to feel excepted. With clear understanding Maka looked around her, not with her own eyes, but through Soul's.
People passed by them, but they all treaded carefully, making a wide birth around him. Their faces were not open and friendly like she had seen them before.
She noticed that people either went out of their way not to look at him, or they openly stared with suspicion.
Men whispered behing their hands and woman clutched their children close to their skirts if they got too near.
So many eyes were on them that Maka felt her skin crawl.
A young couple stumbled close to them, both obviously tipsy.
"Sorry, we didn't seen y'all there." The young man hiccuped, before his eyes zeroed in on Soul.
Soul merely nodded, shading his eyes with his hat.
In their drunken state, the couple couldn't conceal their facial expressions.
"What the bloody hell are you looking at!?" Maka snapped at them. The couple quickly scurried away.
Soul chuckled under his breath. "What's got you so worked up kid?"
"How do you do it Evans? Stay so calm when all these people are behaving so rudely to you?"
A shadow passed over his face before he replied.
"Relax kid, I'm used to it."
"It doesn't make it right though!" Maka huffed, her frustration barely contained.
Soul stretched his long legs out and heaved a heavy sign.
"I'm going to go check on the horses. I gotta get out of here for a bit, I feel like I can't breathe with all these people around."
It was his way of ending the conversation.
"Want me to come?" Maka asked, feeling her chest tighten.
"Naw, I'd rather be alone for a bit. You go and enjoy yourself while you can, tomorrow we go back to work."
He tipped his hat and left without another word.
Maka watched him go, wishing she had the words to cheer him up. It was rather comical, how she had hated him not too long ago. Sure he still irritated her beyond measure, and he was still a grumpy jerk most of the time, but her perception of him had changed completely in a short time. Now she worried for him, maybe even cared for him. It was almost barmy.
"English! Hey over here!" Someone yelled from across the way, dragging her from her melancholy thoughts.
Maka spied Black Star as he pushed his way through the crowd towards her.
"I thought Soul was going to keep you hostage all night!" He laughed as he grabbed her arm.
Another split second and Justin appeared next to her. He grabbed her another arm and both proceeded to drag her through the hoards of people.
"Where are we going?!" Maka yelled over the din of music and people. "To have some real fun!" Black Star bellowed. Justin nodded his head in excitement.
Fun?
For some reason, Maka didn't like the way they were grinning at her.
They drug her down winding side streets and darkened alleys. It was strangely quiet, far from the celebration in the town square.
Maka soon found herself standing outside of a rowdy establishment. Bright light washed onto the street and rakish laughter floated out the swinging double doors.
"Where are we?" Maka asked apprehensively as she heard what sounded like a monstrous brawl ensuing from within.
"Tumbleweed Tavern. Best saloon in town," Balck Star laughed as be slapped Maka on the back.
"It's the only saloon in town," Justin corrected quietly.
"A saloon? I've never been in one before," Maka admitted her curiosity getting the better of her.
Black Star leveled her with a skeptical look.
"What the blazes?! You can't be serious English? Don't they have saloons in your country?"
"We have pubs, but I... I, never had the free time to go," She lied.
She couldn't very well tell them that she didn't go to pubs because she was a women, and a respectable one at that!
Black star could tell she was lying though, he gave her a knowing look.
"Hey, there's nothing wrong with being a greenhorn. We're going to break you of that tonight, don't you worry."
Black star smiled as he began to drag her inside, Justin close on their heels.
"We'll take good care of you and show you the ropes, I swear on my six shooter you're going to have a great time!"
"Maka's trepidation escalated as hot air and the smell of cigar smoke and stale sweat hit her in the face.
They let the doors swing shut behind them with a loud slap, and everyone turned to look. Men of all shapes and sizes patroned the place, some at the long wooden bar nursing drinks, others sitting at round tables; cards in their hands.
For one intense moment, everyone was silent. Maka thought surly they would all start shooting one another in a wild west gun fest. But surprisingly Justin stepped forward and in his often too quiet voice proclaimed, "First round is on me tonight hombres."
Everyone bellowed and cheered, stamping their feet on the saw dust covered floor.
Everyone went back to their own business and Maka breathed a sigh of relief. Black Star and Justin hung their gun belts on an elk-horn rack beneath a sign that read PARK YOUR GUNS HERE. They headed for the high top bar, stepping around a puddle of water.
At least Maka hoped it was water...
Black Star tossed two bits onto a counter ringed with the sweat of glasses.
"Well, look who blew in. I ain't seen anyone from Forsaken in a coon's age." The slender bartender laughed as the three of them pulled up a stool.
"Who's the new feller?" He asked, his eyes inquisitive.
"We call him English, he's fresh off the boat," Black Star proclaimed proudly while thumping her hard on the back.
"England? Boy howdy, that's far away. Do you sound funny like the rest of em?"
Maka knew she should probably take offense to his comment, but she knew he was just curious. This town didn't feel like the kind where foreigners stopped regularly.
"If you mean, do I have a proper Geordi accent, then yes, I most certainly do." Maka said, raising her chin up a notch.
The bartender slapped his hand on the bar and grinned. "Well fancy that, I reckon that's the most brittish thing I've ever done heard. But if you're with Forsaken's posse then you're alright in my book."
Maka nodded her thanks and looked around the place curiously.
If she had been in skirts, she would have never walked into such a place.
The two large brass lamps with red glass globes hung from the rafters, creaking and swaying, giving the place a hellish look.
It really didn't look like a horrible tavern though, it wasn't the house of sin she had always been told. It looked like a bunch of hard working men, who were just trying to relax and play some cards.
Maka was surprises to see in the corner a dark haired woman dealing solitaire to herself at a table by the stove. Was she a patron as well? It seemed odd to Maka that a woman would be here among all these rowdy men.
She sat alone, but her presence was a strong one. She wore an elegant scarlet dress, trimmed with purple ruffles, and wore a cluster of fresh water pearls around her neck. She looked lovely and so out of place.
The woman looked up then, as if sensing Maka's gaze on her. Their eyes locked for a moment before the woman burst out in a fit of laughter. She laughed heartily then went back to her card game.
Maka wondered if the woman was crazy, but no one else seemed to pay the dark haird woman any mind.
Maka blushed and turned back to the bar, ignoring the now quiet woman.
"Who is that woman?" Maka asked under her breath.
Black Star turned to look, not bothering to be inconspicuous.
"Oh that's mistress Blair. She's the Madame here, she owns this here saloon."
"Don't waste your time with her though," Justin whiepred, she isn't friendly towards her customers, if you know what I mean."
Maka did not in fact know what he meant, but didn't question him further.
She looked friendly enough, with her red painted lips and sunny dimples.
What a wonderful place Texas was, for a woman to be able to own her own business. Back in London women were meant to be married and have children, nothing more.
It gave Maka a small glimmer of hope for herself, well, if she ever came clean about her true gender.
"The good stuff, Gus," Black Star said to the gin-slinger. "Not that tanglefoot in the barrel."
The sandy haird bartender shook his head and chuckled at the joke, for they both knew that what was in the bottles under the bar was the same stuff that was in the barrel on the butcher block behind the bar.
Gus pulled the cork out with his teeth, then set the bottle down before Black Star so that he could pour his own shots.
Black Star put another five cents on the bar.
"Pour one for yourself Gus, you look mighty thirsty."
The bartender's face broke into a big smile. "I wouldn't want to hurt your feelings by refusing, no, sir."
Black Star poured a shot for each of them then shoved a sticky glass into Maka's hand.
"I'm not all that thirsty." she murmured, the acrid smell of spirits rising from her glass.
"What does bein' thirsty have to do with drinkin' whiskey?" Justin asked from his stool to her right.
Well, she couldn't argue with that logic. Caught by surprise by that comment, Maka took a sip, her eyes widening at the burning sensation. Never in her life had she purposely consumed spirits.
"Wait a sec English. You ain't supposed to just sip it. Here in our country we have a toast then slam the whole thing down." Black Star instructed her.
He raised his glass along with Justin and the bartender, Maka followed suit.
"Here's how."
"How," everyone echoed before throwing their heads back and downing their glasses.
Maka tossed back her shot, shuddering hard as the lightening hot liquid slid down her throat. She coughed and spluttered as she tried to inhale a much needed breath.
The saying, "knock your socks off," finally made sense to her.
Black Star laughed heartily and shook her shoulder.
"Well I guess American booze is stronger than the stuff you drink in England?" Maka shook her head, trying not to choke as she spoke.
"I wouldn't know. I've never had spirits before coming here."
Black Star and Justin both shared a horrified look at her confession.
"Well that settles it then! Tonight we are going to get you drunk!" Black Star affirmed with a determined air.
He poured them another round, and not wanting to be ridiculed further for her tenderfoot tendencies, Maka accepted it.
This time she was prepared for the bite as it went down and managed not to choke.
"Should we have another one?" Black Star asked Justin with a grin. "Yep, I think English here still looks thirsty." Justin grinned back.
Maka thought they were both enjoying themselves far too much at her expense.
She took another small swallow, this time she almost spit it all out when her eyes landed on the far wall where a large gilded painting was proudly displayed, for God and everyone else to see. The art displayed a naked woman, wearing nothing but a pair of boots and a gun holster slung over the curvature of her hips.
Maka had never seen so much flesh in all her life. She didn't even look at her own naked body in the mirror.
It was a lude painting, one that any noble woman should never see, but Maka was far too curious to avert her gaze.
Why would a place display such a painting?
Trying not to blush she eventually had to look else where.
She spied a dusty piano sitting in the corner of the Saloon.
"Bar keep, you have a splendid piano here. Do you ever play it?" She asked.
Gus shook his head, looking at the piano with contempt.
"I can't find anyone to play it, so it just sits there. The only person in town who does play refuses to, and he just so happens to be your boss."
Maka turned to Black Star in utter astonishment.
"Dose he really play the piano?"
Black Star nodded, a grimace on his face.
"He plays the piano better than anyone I've ever seen."
"Why would he not play if he's so gifted?" Maka asked, not quite understanding the complex cowboy.
"Oh he does, just not in front of crowds, you know how he is around people. It's very rare, but he'll play the piano that's in the parlor at the ranch sometimes. Usually when its christmas and he's had too much eggnog," Black Star chuckled.
"I wish I could hear him play," Maka sighed, thinking about the sour faced cowboy sitting behind a piano.
Would his face look softer? Happier?
She blushed as she tried to picture it.
Was the whiskey getting to her?
"Maybe we can get Soul drunk one of these nights and persuade him to play for us." Black Star teased, thankfully not noticing her blush. Although his face was starting to look rosey too, the alcohol no doubt starting to kick in. Her flush only warmed hotter as she remembered Soul's hands and how she had overlooked them. They were strong knowing hands, with slender pianist's fingers.
Bloody hell, the whiskey was definitely getting to her.
She really needed to stop drinking and thinking about Soul, but Black Star had filled her glass again.
"Here's how!" Black Star yelled.
"Cheers!" Maka replied as she guzzled her alcohol.
She was starting to feel warm and fuzzy, her face feeling oddly tingly. The alcohol was starting to go down much smoother too, she felt like it was a nice warm feeling now opposed to drinking hell fire.
"I still can't believe this is your first time drinking English. Next you're going to tell me you've never been with a woman." Black Star joked as he elbowed her in the ribs.
"Been with a women?" Maka asked, her words sounding weirdly garbled to her own ears, "I've been around a lot of nice girls before."
Black Star balked, almost falling off his stool.
"Christ on a cracker! He's still a colt!"
A colt? Wasn't that what they called a young horse? Maka looked at him in confusion.
"Is there something wrong with being a colt?" She asked.
"Well no, but wouldn't you rather be a stallion?"
Maka's foggy mind conjured a wild stallion, running across the prairie, free and unfettered.
"Oh yes, I think that sounds smashing indeed."
"Well you're in luck, we happen to be in the best place for that to happen." Justin chuckled.
"Huh?" Maka hiccupped.
Black Star waved his arm wildly in the air towards the dark haird woman, nearly falling from his stool and taking Maka with him.
The woman known as Blair sighed and rose from her place by the stove. She sauntered over, a bored smile on her face.
"What can I do for you gentlemen?" She deadpanned.
"My friend here needs someone to take care of him this evening, maybe you have someone in mind?" Black Star asked proudly, ruffling Maka's hair a little too roughly.
"Oh is that so?" Blair laughed as she looked Maka slowly up and down. "You know darling, I have a strict rule about not spending time with my saloon customers, and I have a lot of other lovely women up stairs, but for you, I'll make the exception. Come with me."
The whole place broke out in whistles and hoots, and Black Star pounded Maka hard on the back, making her spill part of her drink on the sawdust floor.
"Damn English, you must be somethin special if Blair chose you."
"Huh?" Maka asked, not really sure what everyone was carrying on about.
"Come with me darling, I'll take good care of you." Blair said, her voice sultry and thick.
Maka's feet felt heavy as Blair grabbed her arm and steered her toward the stairs.
Where was this lady taking her? And why was everyone in the saloon staring at her?
Maka's thoughts felt murky and sluggish, but she let the woman whisk her away. She was at the top of the stairs when it finally clicked.
The naked painting down stairs should have been a dead giveaway.
Women in all states of undress swarmed the upstairs hall ways, some laughing and drinking as they talked among themselves.
This was a a bawdy house.
Maka planted her feet firmly on the wooden planks and pulled her arm out of Blairs.
"I think there's been some kind of mistake!" Maka squeaked.
Blair gave her a long look and a sly smile.
"No mistake darling, you are mine for the evening."
Maka's body went rigid and her mind sobered slightly at the reality of the situation. She couldn't go with this woman. If she did go with her, morality aside, it wouldn't take her long to discover she was lacking certain male anatomy.
How would she get out of this mess?
Blair smiled and leaned into Maka, her lips hovering close her ear. "Don't worry, me and the girls here have been watching you all night. You're secret is safe with us."
Maka opened her mouth, but the words wouldn't come.
A young woman in a maroon dress came around the corner. Her dress must have gotten caught on something, because the hem arced above her knees in the front. Maka fought not to gape.
The girl smiled at Maka before she spoke. "We knew you were a woman as soon as you came in."
Several women crowded around her, all nodding their heads in agreement.
"We don't really care why you're wearing men's trousers, but we'd love to hear your story." Blair said softly as she led Maka to a small parlor.
Maka had never imagined she'd speak to a woman of easy virtue, yet here she was . . . Sitting in a parlour with 12 saloon girls gathered round. And after much talk, and more wine generously passed around, Maka had finished her story.
All the women had sighed collectively, erupted by her tale.
"Oh you poor dear!" Blair exclaimed, "This Ragnarok fellow better never show his face around here if he knows what's good for him!"
The girls all agreed in unison.
Maka smiled, her heartstrings pulling. She had just met them, yet the ladies here were already so kind to her.
"Well, we better get down to business." Blair said with a sly grin as she stood up from her seat.
"Business?" Maka echoed.
Blair marched over to her and ran her fingers through Maka's hair.
"Rumple your clothes too. It has to look like they've been dropped on the floor."
Blair mussed her own hair a little.
"And my perfume. Give a little squirt of it on your neck so you smell like we were close."
All the girls began to giggle. Maka tried hard not to blush at what Blair was trying to imply. She was having such a lovely time that she had almost forgotten their true occupation.
Blair and her girls were ordinary women, they just happened to do something sordid to make a living. Maka decided she wouldn't hold it against them though.
"Now, you're going to have to be very sly to pull this off. What are you going to say to your pals downstairs?" Blair asked as she squirted Maka with a bottle of perfume.
"They'll ask for details?" Maka asked horrified.
The girls all laughed.
"Oh darlin, the longer you're around men, the more you will cone to understand them."
Maka thought a moment.
"I'll stand on propriety. A gentleman should never discussed his intimate encounters, it's in poor taste."
"Oh I like that, it sounds very brittish!" Blair chuckled, "That smirk you're wearing is good as gold, use it when you go down, and I'll waltz out of here and let everyone know you were quite a surprise. A nice surprise. And that's the truth darlin, you've been a very delightful surprise and I hope you come back to visit us soon."
Maka took Blairs had in her own and squeezed it. "Thank you, how can I repay you for your kindness?"
"Just take care of yourself darlin."
Blair planted a quick kiss on Maka's cheek then laughed at her shocked expression. "You've got a little lip rouge there now. You can go down stairs and pretend like you didn't know it was there. The men will think we had a grand ol' time."
Maka laughed as she touched her cheek.
Blair was provocative and wild, but Maka decided she really liked her. She would definitely come back to visit her again.
Sqaureing her shoulders, Maka went back down the stairs and was met with much jeering and laughter. The men slapped her on the back, bought her more drinks, and made crude jokes, but Maka didn't mind. Maybe it was the alcohol, or maybe something different entirely, but tonight she felt 10 feet tall and bullet proof.
Authors note.
Wow! We are already at chapter 22!
I hope it's ok, but from here on I have decided to make the chapters longer, otherwise this story will be 100+ chapter by the time it's done. I hope everyone is enjoying the story just as much as I am writing it. :). For the rest of the month I will be having a QandA. If you have questions about the characters or story please leave a comment and I will do my best to answer without any spoilers!
On a side note, I will be posting a few new Maka x Soul stories in the next few months, including a christmas story I am working on. Be sure to click the follow author button to stay up to date on all the new stories coming soon.
Thank you again for all the support! :')
Warmest wishes. -Sammy921