Moon 1
by Jackie Harris
December 18, 1875
Dear Rose,
I regret to inform you that your
brother, Sergeant Steven James has been terribly wounded from a cannon. It
is not known if he will survive. Once I find out more information on his
well being I will write you back.
Sincerely,
Mr. Storms
The low lying gray clouds carried rumbles of thunder. Off to the southwest
the quakes signaled the start of the spring’s first storm. The weather
brought a sign of relief from the month long drought.
No rain and warm late April evenings had the tendency to make Big Jims the
happening spot around town. “The large quantity of customers is good money
but the work is not only back breaking for the women upstairs. If you know
what I mean.” Scarlet loved to gossip with Regan Asher. The bar keep was
the only one she felt any form of fondness for since her grandmother died.
His unusual calm demeanor was not overlooked this mid morning.
“Looks like no business tonight.”
“Thank goodness,” Scarlet responded to Regan as she reached up her aching
arms, grabbed each wrist, and stretched out her overworked shoulders.
Making fun of the girls felt nice and was much needed after listening to
all of the five of them bitch for the last month. Get me this… Get me
that….
“Hopefully this storm will stick around for a couple of days and my body
will stop aching.”
“When are you ever going to get out of here?”
“What?” The bold question took
Scarlet back. She had been thinking about getting out of town for a long
time, but she had never found the right moment.
“So is this what is the matt…..”
“You know Scarlet, you may fool all of the people around here by letting
them think you are just a poor young chap. But I know better.” Asher
leaned into Scarlet’s view and gave her a stern look with his wide blue
eyes. “When you smile I can tell your age.”
“My
age… What does that have to do with anything.” Scarlet began to feel
uncomfortable, because if he had figured her out than who else would know?
“Don’t get you pretty little deceiving self to worried. I have only saw
you smile one time in the year I have lived here and that was over a month
ago.”
Scarlet watched as the man turned his attention toward the window and
looked out. If she had the nerve she would have questioned a flash of
loneliness. But she found out long ago, one has to deal with his or her
own issues when the time is right. One is to help only when asked.
Regan, one of the friendliest people she had ever met melted her heart the
first time she saw him talking with the orphan children who occasionally
makes visits to the general store in town. His jolly laugh, jiggly belly
and white full beard reminded her of the “Santa Claus” which reminded her
of the stories told by her grandmother.
Gladys Miles was the only hope left to Scarlet. Two years earlier the flu
had consumed her and she died from dehydration.
“Lilly?”
“Lilly?“ The loud bawling coming down the stairs signaled that everyone
should look busy or they would feel repercussion. Her tone said it all.
Mabel
Russel had different volumes to her different moods. Soft spoken Mabel
meant she wanted something, goofy talking Mabel meant she was drunk and
loud grumbley Mabel meant that she was on the war path. So far Scarlet had
avoided her wrath, but she had witnessed a many girls backsides under the
leather strap.
The brown piece hung over the bar threatening anyone who did wrong by
Madame Mabel. The dried out hide left many of the women cooped up for
days.
A
white piece of cloth came out of her right blind spot and landed in her
lap. In seconds Scarlet was down on the floor, washing at some make
believe spot. Hope that she had fooled the woman worked until the clink of
a pair of heals came to stand behind where her form was hunched.
Blackberry wine and cigarette smoke filled the once pollutant free air and
the nervous toe a tappin noise created havoc in the solitude.
“That mother of yours is coughing so much that she is causing this place
to loose business.”
Scarlet turned her gaze up at the short, round, red head. Mabel stood
slumped over with a long cigarette sticking out of her smeared red
lipstick lips. She wanted to laugh in her face, because there was nothing
the woman could do to her mother. Rose James owns one fourth of Big Jims.
And until the tuberculosis finally wins its long drawn out fight, the pig
smelly woman had to live with it.
“Lilly?”
Mabel called out again. “Where in the hell is that woman?”
“She
stepped outside for a smoke with some of the fellas Ms. Mabel.” Regan said
without acknowledging the one whom disturbed the once room filled peace.
Scarlet
turned to hand the towel back to Regan and leave when Mabel wondered off
toward the front swinging doors. A loud clap hit so close it made all of
the hanging
ornaments and dishes shake. Outside
the south window of the bar the storm hung over the hill just a few miles
away.
“What is…”
Scarlet began.
“Just
wait.” Regan answered.
Mabel
stepped over to the swinging doors as if she was going to brave the
weather. That was until the wind started picking up and a limb came off
of the oak in front of the house and hit the porch. The woman stepped back
so quick that her wig, of the day, went off sailing through the air and
landed on the floor.
It took all
Scarlet had to fight back the ball of laughter stuck in her throat. Then
when she recognized the soft squeaks as Regan’s laughter she covered her
mouth with her hands and found herself reaping in Mabel’s humiliation.
When Mabel
stopped dead in her tracks at the sound, Scarlet and Regan straightened up
their acts. Her face, one shade at a time, began to grow darker and
darker. Then the
swinging doors started squeaking.
First, the noise started out soft then as the front moved closer and
closer the noise grew louder and louder.
“LILLY?”
“What?”
Scarlet
turned her attention to the waist length salt and peppered brunette slowly
coming down the stairs. An ankle length white, silk gown hung snug upon
her pail, bone
defined frame. Many men came here to
bed this woman and all come out saying, “She is the cream of the crop.“ A
pang of jealously for the woman created the sensation to go and pinch.
Mable’s face was so red by the
time Lilly’s bare feet reached the final step. Scarlet
and Joe’s eyes were huge with
anticipation.
“Call the
preacher.”
Contact
Jackie Harris at cjharris@my.wgu.edu
louturn@aol.com