The Wolf

In The Air Tonight

     She was annoyed. Elizabeth had only wanted one measly moment to relax before her job began. The laughter was annoying. The working girls were annoying. The drunk men pining for her attention were annoying. But she could deal with some annoyance as long as she got money out of having to put up with it.

     "Hey there, pretty lady. You seem awful lonely."

     Elizabeth could have rolled her eyes all the way into the back of her skull. But this drunkered was her tell tale sign that it was time to get to work.

     "Why, hello to you too, handsome ~" The redhead placed her hands on the stranger's chest, fingers sliding over rough cloth to snag their loot. The dumb fool didn't realize a thing as a silver pocket watch and a few dollars were slipped from his jacket.

     Elizabeth moved on without another word, leaving the man blubbering at her to return to him. She made her way through the crowded seats, working her magic on a few more poor unfortunate souls before she called it a night.

     She leaned against the bar counter, feeling pretty satisfied with her earnings. "Twenty-seven dollars, a gold chain, and two watches. Not a bad night, wouldn't you say, Arnold?"

     The bartender was really the only person in this forsaken town called Valentine that Elizabeth could stand. Plus, it was always nice to know that her secrets were safe with him. The older gentleman chuckled slightly, sliding the lady a shot of whiskey.

     "Well, I should say so. That's more than last night." Elizabeth grimaced as the liquor slid down her throat, leaving a slight burn in her stomach. "More than this week as a whole. Friday's are always the best nights to make money."

     She might have kept talking, had not her words slowly dried up on her tongue.

     The saloon doors were opened by three men. The first was a slightly older gentleman with a kind but weathered face. The second was a handsome middle aged man with beautiful blue eyes. But the last one drew Elizabeth's attention in like a beacon. He had slicked back jet black hair, honey brown eyes, and a suit that accented every muscle in his body.

     The carrot top was never a lady so easily swooned by men - or even other ladies - but one look at that man had her heart burning like a fire inside her rib cage. She remained where she was, green eyes staring down at her newly filled shot glass. From the corner of her eye, she noticed the older gentleman heading behind the bar while the blue eyed man made his way upstairs.

     But the beautiful cowboy that had piqued her interest had settled a few feet beside her at the bar, asking for a shot of his own.

     Elizabeth could feel her legs shaking slightly - whether it be the alcohol or her nerves she didn't know. But it only worsened when he spoke, and suddenly her heart became a jackrabbit.

    "And another shot for the lady."

     She looked up slowly, trying her damnest to get a reign on her breathing. There was no reason to feel like this, to act like this. In fact, as well-dressed as he was, he'd surely have something of worth on his person. She hyped herself up for it. She was still "at work." She still had a job to do.

     She put on a flirtatious grin, but still, she couldn't force herself to look him directly in the eye. Still yet, her fingers fluttered to his vest, and the immediate warmth sent a shock wave straight down her spine. Her smile faltered as she felt her breath hitch.

     But the man didn't show any sign that he had noticed, instead moving from his leaning position against the counter to take her hand and kiss her knuckles with a chuckle. "Did you have something to say, my dear?"

     Oh.

     She most definitely had meant to say something - "What brings you here, cowboy?" or "Now, now, don't be wasting your money on me." or even "Hello, handsome." Instead she probably looked like a mute fool - or worse, a mute working girl.

     She might had fumbled over her words if she had answered right away, but instead she was able to laugh. It was nervous and obviously so, but it cleared her mind enough to form a coherent sentence. "I suppose I had meant to - or to at least say thank you for the drink, Mr...."

     "Van der Linde. Dutch Van der Linde."

     Oh.

     The lady had backed away, fear easily replacing the infatuation in only a moment. She knew that name. Everyone in this place knew that name. It made men whisper, made their trigger fingers itch. She would have been outright lying if she said she herself didn't place her hand over the pistol under her dress.

     "What are you doing here?" Despite her fear, the question was snapped out boldly, and she was quite proud of herself for that.

     He didn't even blink. He threw back the shot and grabbed Elizabeth's hand, forcing it from touching her gun any longer. She could have struggled, could have screamed. Plenty of men there would have been happier than hell to shoot the gang leader and have his head.

     The only issue was his eyes boring dead into her own. He had placed her hands back on his chest, over the expensive material and low enough that her thumbs barely grazed the silver chain near his waistline.

     She was flushed. She could feel the fire in her face, in her head, in her stomach. She was breathing through her teeth now.

     "This is a saloon, darling," he all but purred, right into her ear. "I came here for a drink. Why else?"

     She didn't trust herself to speak, but it seemed like she didn't need to. As soon as Dutch's grip on her wrists loosened, she was darting out the door and mounting up on her lovely golden mare.

     It took a long moment for her to regain her bearings, but once she did, she let out a shaky laugh. She unfolded the bills in her hand and grinned to herself. "Forty-two dollars. Whatever he wanted, he didn't get it." And she pocketed the cash she'd stolen from the gang leader, directing Alois from the saloon and far away from Valentine.