Get Along Little Dogies (Arkady)

[Dusty Fae]

Dusty’d grown up ‘round the Saloon. It were her own life, ‘specially now that ‘er momma were Madame Anika now. She’d risen from just a lowly Saloon Girl to the Madame of the whole place and she were good at it. And now that Dusty were old enough, she were pullin’ ‘er weight too. She were a little young ta know all the tricks o’ the trade and ‘er momma wouldn’t let ‘er take a gentleman ta bed yet, but that’d come in time. Fer now Dusty were bar tendin’.

This afternoon were especially warm and Dusty were thankful that she were at work so she didn’t haveta wear a long dress that covered her whole body. Her workin’ dress were much shorter in the skirt and there were hardly any sleeves. The corset were snug though, which made ‘er warm ‘round the middle, but it weren’t unbearably so. She were just waitin’ on customers ta come in. This were onea them quiet spells in between when the Saloon opened and when the men started pourin’ in.

She poured a drink for a silent cowboy sittin’ at the far enda the bar and gave it to ‘im with a smile. Then she went back ta wipin’ down the bar and cleanin’ the glasses again for what had ta be at least the fourteenth time, but there were nothin’ else ta do ‘round her, unless she wanted ta get the broom out and sweep the place. She hoped that somethin’ in’erestin’ would come along soon.

[Deleted]

Right on cue the saloon doors swung open wildly and a young man tumbled through, landing in a heap on the floor. He was of medium height and build, with dark hair and eyes that were bluer than the bluest skies. Sitting up, he brushed some dirt from the front of his vest and turned an easy going grin to the door as a burly man a good half a foot taller than him walked in.

“Come on, Barrett, I just rolled into town. Why would I be leavin’ already?” the young man spoke in his friendliest, most trustworthy tone.

“Maybe ‘cause you owe me three hundred dollars and barely have a cent to your name?” Barrett stated more than asked, eyes narrowed and a sneer on his face. The young man was not fazed.

“You think I’d run off on a debt? What kind of man do you think I am?” He played it up, but if anyone got a close look at his eyes they would see a darkness there that didn’t match his jovial tone. “Don’t answer that. Besides, I’m sure there’s some gents here who would be glad to help a guy out.”

The ‘gents’ all stared at him blankly.

“I’m talkin’ about a card game, fellahs,” he clarified with a sigh as he got to his feet. “I ain’t no scrounger.” Oh, if they only knew...

[Dusty Fae]

Dusty looked up when the Saloon doors swung open and a young man were deposited on the floor and that really only meant one thing: trouble. And Dusty knew Barrett well. He were a regular here in the Saloon and one o’ the most dangerous men here in town. Yah didn’t mess with ‘im. He were mean when ‘e were drunk and he’d been thrown outta the Saloon more’n once.

Dusty set the glass she’d been cleanin’ on the counter, tuckin’ the cloth under the counter not takin’ ‘er eyes offa the men in the fronta the Saloon. She’d wait ta see if’n the situation would get better or worse. She had a small handgun in a secret pocket in ‘er dress and she’d use it if’n she had ta. She were loath ta use it, but she would if’n it were necessary. But they were talkin’ it out right now. The new boy was a quick talker and so far it were workin’.

It were until the new boy suggested a card game that Dusty moved inta action. The rest o’ the men were still just sittin’ there with blank expressions. “Well fellahs? Ain’t anyone gonna play cards?” she asked comin’ round the end o’ the bar. She approached Barrett. “You gonna play? I think you should play.” She smiled at ‘im sweetly, then turned ‘fore he could answer and pointed at one o’ the other men in the bar. “Come on Emmet, you like ta play cards. And you too, Clyde. Don’t be shy. Come on over and play cards. Or do I have ta beg?” she asked sweetly.

She didn’t have ta beg as it turned out, though Clyde were grumblin’ to ‘imself a bit, somethin’ ‘bout women. That were always the way with him, grumblin’ ‘bout women, so Dusty paid him no mind, but turned back ta Barrett. “Please make sure there ain’t any cheatin’, Mr. Barrett. Momma wouldn’t want that and I sure don’t want that. So let’s have a nice clean game, alright?” She smiled brightly at the big burly man, but he only rolled ‘is eyes at ‘er.

“Tell him not ta cause trouble and I won’t cause trouble,” Barrett said gesturin’ to the new man who was probably causin’ all the trouble to begin with.

Dusty turned to ‘im. “Well, howdy there stranger,” she said in a friendly, welcomin’ tone. He were an awfully handsome young man, but he had the look of a trouble maker. Well, she knew how ta handle those. “Yah ain’t gonna cause any trouble for me, are yah? I’d hate ta have ta throw yah out, but I will if’n I have ta.” She smiled all friendly like, but the look in ‘er eyes meant what she said.

[Deleted]

Well, so far he had this place pegged all wrong. Last town he blew through the locals were just itching for a good round of cards, or any excuse to gamble, really. Here? They were looking at him like he had three heads. Maybe it was his lack of cowboy hat. Now where did he go and lose that?

Just when it was looking like he was going to have to think up another excuse to keep Barrett from taking his debt out on his hide, help came from an unexpected source. Saloon girls were never shy, that was for sure, but they usually took the side of whoever meant they’d be getting more money and keeping the fights to a minimum. At this moment, he was pretty sure that wasn’t his side, yet here this girl was, looking barely old enough to be in here, yet ordering the locals around like there was nothing to it.

He was immediately taken with her, which just proved how good she was. It was what they did, these girls. A smile here, a touch there and they had all the men wrapped around their little fingers.

In no time the men were setting up at a table off to the side, albeit grumblingly, and the boy that had started it all was left standing in the middle of the room, trying to look as innocent as possible as Barrett and then the barmaid addressed him directly.

“For you? Well, I wouldn’t dream of causing a pretty thing like you any trouble at all!” he said before sweeping into a low, theatrical bow. “Arkansas Caden at your service, my dear lady.”

[Dusty Fae]

Havin’ grown up in the Saloon Dusty sure knew most o’ the tricks ta gettin’ men to do what she wanted. She’d had ‘em wrapped ‘round ‘er finger since she’d been a little girl. Now it were just easier. And it looked like she had ensnared ‘em all, even the handsome stranger. Well keepin’ the peace might be easier’n she thought.

It was always the same with men. They always called ‘er a pretty thing. It was always the same. She was used ta bein’ called pretty by now. It didn’t much phase ‘er anymore. But the bow were certainly diff’rent. Most men just smirked at ‘er or held their hats awful embarrassed liked and shuffled a little bit ‘cross the floor.

She curtseyed in response to the bow. “Well thank you, Mr. Arkansas Caden. I am Miss Dusty Fae. It’s a pleasure ta meet yah.” She looked over at the card table, where the three other men sat, all three of ‘em lookin’ antsy. “Well, Mr. Arkansas yah better not keep the other men waitin’ just ta chat with little old me. Go on, go play your game.” She made shooing motions with ‘er hands as she walked back ta the bar. She knew Barrett wouldn’t much appreciate waitin’ now that she’d insisted he play. And he could be mean.

“I s’pose you gentlemen’ll want some whiskey and I’ll get right on that.” She stepped behind the bar and got out four glasses. Pullin’ out one o’ the many bottles o’ whiskey she poured the four glasses, full to the brim, then carried ‘em over to the gentlemen, handin’ ‘em out. “Good luck fellahs. Winner gets a kiss.” She delivered that with a wink.

[Deleted]

Straightening back up and grinning a bit goofily at her, Miss Dusty Fae, Caden managed a quick “the pleasure’s mine” before being shooed away to the table where the other men sat waiting. Settling himself in the remaining empty seat, he pulled a worn deck of cards from his inside vest pocket. Shuffling them expertly, he started to deal them out.

“Five card draw, one-eyed Jacks are wild,” he said, flicking the cards to each person with the greatest of ease. “Now fellahs, let’s keep this a friendly game, alright? Small wagers, no need to get greedy.”

At least for the money. When Dusty returned with their drinks and offered a kiss to the winner, that seemed to get their attention. Not that a kiss from a saloon girl was that hard to come by, but it made for an interesting prize. Caden grinned up at her. “How about one for good luck to start?” he suggested.

See, that was the thing about Caden. While he could make it look good, sound good, and could even play half decently, when it came right down to it he was cursed with bad luck. That, and the inability to know when to quit while ahead. This was why he rarely walked out of a game with more money in his pocket than he started with. More often than not he walked away with a whole lot less.

[Dusty Fae]

Well, it weren’t all surprisin’ that a gentleman would ask for a kiss fer good luck. In her experience Dusty’d found that Saloon girls were sometimes used as good luck charms. Women always seemed ta have that effect on men, so she smiled at ‘im. “Course. Ever’one needs a little luck.”

And she stooped down and kissed him gently, barely brushing her lips to his, teasing him. And that would be enough for now, just enough of a kiss for good luck. Then she straightened up and looked at the other men sittin’ ‘round the table. “Anybody else want a kiss for good luck?” she asked. Emmet blushed but shook his head. Clyde said nothin’ so she figured that were also a no.

Barrett looked up from his hand with a hard glare. “I don’t need any of your luck, woman. Now let’s play.”

“Oh!” Dusty cried excitedly. “Is this the part where you bet? See Barrett? I told you I remembered the rules.” She were actin’ real excited and proud o’ herself as she moved round the table ta see Barrett’s cards. She always played the foolish little Saloon girl who didn’t have a head for card games, but in reality she knew the ins and outs o’ poker better’n most o’ the gamblers round here. Barrett waved ‘er away. He didn’t have time for her. “How much are we betting?” he asked lookin’ around the table. “Two bits for now?” he asked, placing a quarter flat in the middle o’ the table. Clyde and Emmet followed suit while Dusty watched closely. Nothin’ were gonna escape ‘er notice if’n she could help it. Barrett had a mean streak and a tendency ta cheat. She’d just haveta see in’n she could thwart ‘im.

[Deleted]

It had been a shot in the dark, but Dusty surprisingly obliged. The kiss was brief, barely a kiss at all, but Caden was sure his lips were tingling when she pulled away. She was real pretty, and he found he felt somewhat relieved when none of the other men took her up on the offer. Now he was no dummy, he knew what girls like her did, and how often, but that didn’t mean he wanted to see any of it.

Grinning widely, Caden set the deck of cards down and took a look at his hand. Three of diamonds, six of clubs, seven of hearts, ten of clubs and the king of diamonds; it was a hand like a foot, not even a pair to go on. Trying to keep his face neutral, he cast a quick glance at Barrett, and in turn Dusty who was flitting around the big man excitedly. Reaching in his own pocket, Caden added a bit to the pot. Scrutinzing the cards again, he decided to just keep the king and hope for something better the next hand. Well, at least it would look better winning later if he lost first, right? He could definitely handle that part. The winning later part would be tricky, though.

Discarding his four cards, he picked up the deck again and waited for the other men to add to the discard pile. “How many?” he asked Barrett, who was directly on his left.

[Dusty Fae]

Dusty watched as Barrett discarded three cards. He were tryin’ ta make it look like ‘e had a pair, when in reality he had nothin’ ta work with. But he’d always been the kind ta hold up appearances. And he had one a the best poker faces she’d ever seen. Everybody had tells, but she had yet ta find Barrett’s. She’d figured out Clyde’s tell. He rubbed his ear somethin’ fierce. And Emmet tend ta twitch. But Barrett were a different case.

“Three,” Barrett said roughly. He sure took his cards seriously. Well she’d fix him, hopefully for good. And if not she would just have ta catch ‘im cheatin’.

She leaned in close ta Barrett, lookin’ awful confused. “How come yah kept both o’ them cards?” she whispered, just loud enough so the others could hear. “I thought they were supposed ta match. Those don’t match atall.” She was actin’ like she was tryin’ real hard ta understand, because that were all part o’ the game too.

Barrett did not appreciate this however and gave Dusty a cold look. “Quit yammerin’ in my ear. Go find someone else to teach you how to play.” Sometimes she almost thought that he could see right through ‘er act.

“Oh Barrett, you’re so mean to me.” She turned to Mr. Arkansas Caden. “He is so mean ta me. I only wanted ta learn how ta play, but no one ever seems ta wanna teach me. Will you teach me Mr. Caden? Why I’d be just the best student and I’d try not ta ask too many questions.” She looked at ‘im all hopeful like. “Please?”

[Deleted]

Dealing Barrett three cards, Caden continued around the table until everyone had a full hand of five again. Setting the deck aside again, he was just fanning out his new hand when Dusty’s quiet words caught his ear and caused him to snicker. It was possible the big man was going for a straight, or a flush, but the fact that he was no farther ahead than Caden himself was definitely a comfort. The younger man just couldn’t afford to lose this game tonight, and he certainly couldn’t afford to lose it to Barrett.

Only now Dusty was turning those big, sad eyes on him and Caden was stuck. He didn’t know exactly what she was playing at, but if she was going to blurt out what his cards were then he definitely didn’t want her getting a look at his hand. On the other hand, she did say please, and the way she was looking at him right now...

“I, uh,” he paused to swallow a bit too loudly. “Sure, I guess. I could show ya a few things, just pull up a chair.”

He was already letting her distract him. Barrett was raising the ante, and Clyde was folding his cards and Caden hadn’t even gotten a good look at his own yet.

[Dusty Fae]

Good, he’d fallen for the helpless girl act, which would help him in the end if she could play her cards right, no pun intended. “Oh, thank you,” she cried happily and ran to fetch a chair which she then set real close to ‘im. And then she perched on the edge on the chair, makin’ sure ta lean in close too. The more distracted he was, the better of a win it would be.

She glanced over at Barrett who was lookin’ at his cards with an almost unreadable expression. He looked a little sinister, but she weren’t sure if’n that had ta do with ‘is cards or that ‘e were still annoyed with ‘er. Either way he weren’t exactly pleased.

Then Dusty looked back at Caden’s cards. Hmm, not too bad. She could work with this. The cards were all red at least, which was a better’n nothing. She could work with this. She could work with him. Yes, she could do this.

“What’re yah gonna do?” she whispered, leanin’ in even closer so she could whisper in ‘is ear. “By the way, Emmet looks like he’s gonna fold. He ain’t got anythin’ by the look on 'is face.”

[Deleted]

Gosh, she was sitting real close, and she was real pretty, and she even smelled real good. Caden had the feeling this wasn’t going to bode well for his game at all, but when had he ever been able to resist a damsel in distress. Pretty girls had always been his weakness.

Pretty girls and gambling.

Rearranging his cards, Caden shivered when Dusty suddenly whispered in his ear. Boy howdy. But wait, did she just... was she helping him? Throwing a glance in her direction, he regretted it instantly when he realised just how close she really was. Swallowing loudly he quickly turned his head away and squinted down at his cards. He could feel the eyes of the other men on him now, noticing his odd actions. Caden hadn’t decided yet if this was a good or bad thing.

Shifting his cards again to move his single pair, the kings of hearts and diamonds, from one side of his hand to the other, he noticed that they were also all looking for him because it was his turn to place his bet. Hastily throwing a bit in to match Barret, he also added another to the pile. “I’ll raise ya,” he said before glancing at Dusty again. “We’re just bettin’ now, see. If he thinks his cards are better he can either call and we lay ‘em down, or he can raise again and it comes back ta me.”

[Dusty Fae]

Poor Mr. Caden must not have had much interaction with girls like her by the way he was actin’. He weren’t quite the embarrassed type o’ man, the ones who were real respectful o’ women and always blushed around the Saloon girls. He were a bit bolder’n that. He were a man with guts, but he seemed ta go ta pieces when sittin’ next to a pretty girl. Well, to be fair she were sittin’ awful close. Much closer and she’d be sittin’ in ‘is lap, which wouldn’t be so bad either.

Dusty did find this blue-eyed stranger rather refreshin’ and not just ‘cause ‘e were new and all. He just had a sorta charm ‘bout ‘im. And with those eyes o’ his, he could sweep just about any girl off ‘er feet. It was actually rather endearin’ the way he were actin’. The way she were totally distractin’ ‘im and he were tryin’ ta act normal. She liked this stranger.

Dusty nodded at the words, tryin’ ta look like she understood. ‘Course, she already knew how ta play, but she were playin’ the part and she were gonna play it well. “I think I get it,” she said with a smile, then looked over at Barrett to see what he were gonna do. Barrett was considering his cards, then he looked up. He threw more coins onto the table to match the raise, and then some. “I’ll raise you,” he said, looking right at Caden. Then Dusty looked at Caden to see what he was gonna do.

She wanted ta help ‘im win, but she weren’t sure how. If only she could catch Barrett cheatin’, then he’d win by default. But that were a tricky operation. Well, she’d just have ta watch Barrett real careful like to catch ‘im. He cheated, that Dusty knew. Just about every hand he did. She’d just need ta figure out how ta catch ‘im at it.

[Deleted]

Looking at the pile of coins now in the centre of the table, Caden hesitated. That was a good pot to win first off, but it would also be a lot to lose if he threw in enough to match Barrett’s bet. Mentally tallying up the contents of his pockets in his head, he figured he could afford to lose a few small hands before he’d have to crawl out of here with his tail between his legs. Not a nice thought... but he threw in a few coins anyway.

“I call,” he said, holding his breath and Barrett’s gaze. Stiffening a bit in his seat, they all watched the big man lay his cards on the table: a queen, a seven, a three, a three... a three...

Three of a kind. Caden deflated. They may have only been threes, but there was enough of them to beat his pair of kings. Tossing his cards down, he started gathering them up again for the next deal. “I’m just warming up, you wait,” he said. A little bravado never hurt no one...

Yeah, right.

“Think you’re getting the hang of it?” he asked Dusty as he dealt out the next hand. “He had three of a kind and I only had two, so he won that round. But we’ll get this one, yeah?” A bit of a lopsided grin accompanied his words as he gathered up his new cards.

[Dusty Fae]

Dusty figured Caden’d probably call. If’n ‘e owed Barrett three hundred dollars like ‘e said, then there prob’ly weren’t much in ‘is pocket fer spendin’. And it were prob’ly just enough ta get ‘im to the next town over with a little somethin’ ta spend gamblin’, tryin’ ta make up the money. It were too bad he were a gambler, but maybe she’d help ‘im win a few hands and he’d leave town a little richer’n he thought.

But it were a right shame that ‘e had ta lose ta Barrett. Losin’ ta Emmet or Clyde wouldn’ta been too bad. At least Caden didn’t owe ‘em anythin’. And they were nice gents, easy goin’ if a bit quiet. But it were a shame too that Barrett had only just baely beat ‘im. Well, that could change. And if Dusty had anythin’ ta do with it, it would.

Dusty smiled encouragingly at Caden. That little statement ‘bout warmin’ up were cute. It was endearin’ the way he were tryin’ ta talk ‘imself up a bit, puttin’ on a brave face in front o’ the other men. And ever her. It were a little bit adorable really.

But what were really adorable were the fact that he were includin’ ‘er, like they were a team. Most men didn’t bother. They gave some hints or tips, showed ‘er how ta play but didn’t really include ‘er. Well weren’t he sweet. “Mmhmm, we’ll get it this time,” she said nodding. She leaned a little closer to get a look at ‘is cards. Yes, they would get it this time.