The Lawman

Chapter Sixteen

As the new sheriff of San Louisa, Red Moran had the run of the town even more than he had before, if that was even possible.

He moved out of the hotel and into the sheriff’s office, but still intended to use the hotel room for visits with certain citizens.

All of his meals were offered to him for free, as were his drinks, but he continued to pay for them, anyway. It pleased him to do so, and he knew that the townspeople liked his money. Maybe, if he started taking advantage of his new position, they wouldn’t be so happy to have him anymore.

Eventually, he found out something that he had been wondering about: whether or not San Louisa had any new whores in town. Well, he found out in a big way. One of them—a fiery redhead from Texas—caught his eye because he was from Texas, too.

Suddenly, he wasn’t so convinced that the best-looking, best-feeling, best-tasting women came from Mexico.

Carmen and Rosa didn’t like that at all.

The redhead’s name was Crystal, and she was only too happy to service the new sheriff of San Louisa who, she had heard, paid very well.

“I have to tell you one thing,” Red Moran said, watching Crystal get dressed.

“What?” she asked, smiling.

“You really are going to make it hard for the Mexican gals in this town to make a living.”

“That’s a sweet thing to say,” she said, sliding her second stocking up her long leg.

Her pale skin, red hair and green eyes made her the only whore in town that didn’t have dark hair and skin.

“What brought you here from Texas?” he asked.

“I rubbed somebody the wrong way.”

“Who?”

“The wife of a wealthy rancher. She said if I ever showed my face in Texas again she’d shave my—well, I just better not, that’s all.”

She slid her shoes on and stood up.

“So what brought you here?” she asked.

“I come here from time to time. I like it. It’s quieter that the United States.”

“Yeah, but maybe too quiet. Now that you’re the sheriff, though, will you be staying longer?”

“That depends.”

“On what?”

“On how long you’re staying?”

She grinned, walked to the dresser and took the money he had left there for her.

“Ooh, thanks,” she said, after counting it. “I almost feel as if I haven’t earned it.”

“Believe me,” he said, “you have—and there’s more where that came from.”

“You could make a girl stick around longer than she intended,” Crystal said. “See you later.”

“Count on it.”

When Crystal left the hotel it was just getting dark. She started walking to the rooming house in which she was staying.

There was an idea rolling around in her head, one that would take her smarts and Red Moran’s money—if he was telling the truth about there being more of it.

As she passed an alley two girls jumped out and grabbed her, dragging her in.

In the alley she turned to face Carmen and Rosa.

“It is time for you to leave town, puta,” Carmen said in a menacing tone.

“That’s an odd thing for you to be calling me,” Crystal said, indicating that she had some understanding of Spanish. “Tell me why it’s time for me to leave.”

“It is bad enough we had to share señor Red’s mon—bed with each other,” she said, catching herself just in time, “we do not intend to share him with you.” Rosa was trying to match Carmen’s tone, but her voice was just too small and high to pull it off.

“You don’t, huh? Well, now, that’s really funny,” Crystal replied.

“Why is it funny?” Rosa asked, looking confused.

“Well, I wasn’t intending to share him—or his money—with either one of you, either.”

“Take our advice,” Carmen said.

“Leave town,” Rosa added.

“Forget it,” Crystal said, moving to walk past them.

Carmen moved to block her path and Crystal swung her fist and hit the larger woman in the stomach. The blow was unexpected, and Carmen folded up, fighting for air. Crystal turned to face Rosa then, who backed off, her hands held up in front of her.

“When your friend gets her breath back tell her—and the other girls in this town—that you all better be nice to me from now on.” Crystal marched to the mouth of the alley, then turned and added, “You’ll all be working for me, soon. Wait and see!”

Crystal left the alley, knowing that she had just taken a big step towards achieving her goal, the one she had set for herself when she first arrived in town.

All she needed now was Red Moran’s money.

Which, considering her considerable charms and talents, should be easy enough to get her hands on.