𝑫𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒅 𝑩𝒐𝒘𝒊𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑪𝒉𝒊𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒏 𝑹𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒉

☆32☆

Ed Earl had decided something that day in Dulcie Mae's cafe.

He decided that he was going to go up to Austin, and try to convince the Governor to leave the ranch open.
David wanted to go out to the ranch and pay them all a visit. But that would only cause suspicion from any reporters that had came out to see if they could catch anything. And it could draw in potential customers.
Melvin had made such a mess out of everything. And it would be so wonderful, if David could see the look on his face when if he heard that the brothel would be left open....

He smiled at the thought but quickly frowned once again. "How the hell could I have ever loved him?"

David began to wonder about Mick, the first time in months. What was he doing? Was he still with his sugar daddy that had heart faliure?
He bet that Mick would be laughing his ass off right now if he found out him and Melvin were once a couple....

Melvin was only temporary insanity he had told himself many times.
To ease his own pain, he wrote many poems and drank lots and lots of apple juice.

David couldn't help but worry. He knew what could happen to each of those girls if the ranch were to close down. And the whole day, there were so many feelings he just cluld not shake off. The news Ed Earl would come back with, the wondering of what Mick was up to, and Melvin. The bastard who couldn't keep his nose in his own town. And the man who tried to lie about David, and even broke into his house so he could find something he could use against David, to plan his downfall.
It made David angry too. How could Melvin do that? Publicity maybe. Maybe he wanted to have something to report about after if this whole Chicken Ranch thing flopped, or when it was all over.
David tried to do a lot of things to keep his mind off of it all. But it still remained in the back of his head. All of it.

"Jesus." He mumbled aggrivated.

*************

Late at night, a knock came from the door.
Tired, David dragged himself to the door and opened it.
"Ed Earl!" He gasped. "What happened?"
It was quiet as Ed Earl looked at him angrily.
"You want to know what, David? I tore that sorry son of a bitch's wig off in front of all those people. And I punched him too. He slid across the floor like butter." He spoke, his voice sounding as if it was growling. David couldn't help but smiling at that.

"What's going to happen with The Chicken Ranch, Sheriff?" David asked, still smiling. "The Governor is going to keep it open, right?" Maybe it was sleep deprivation that didn't make him read Ed Earl's mood.
Ed Earl stared at him, as if he were hesitating to let him know. To let him know the truth.

"Ed Earl?..." David said, losing his smile. Ed Earl sucked in some air and slowly, he let it all out from his mouth. After that, Ed Earl continued to hesitate. David waited, growing more and more impatient by each second longer that Ed Earl took to let him know. But finally, after a long wait, Ed Earl just let it out, while advoiding eye contact.

"I have to close the place down."

David looked at Ed Earl, filled with disappointment, sadness, and defeat.
Ed Earl looked up at David. They shared a look with each other, thinking the same thing...

"Melvin had won."

But none of them wanted to say it. It was obvious who had won, and just mentioning it would be like Melvin shoving it in their faces. Or, at least it would feel like that.

"What will you tell Mona?..." David almost whispered.

"There's no other way to say it David. I'll say it just how it is. Though, it won't be easy." He looked away.

"And it won't be easy to hear either." David looked down at his feet.

They then looked back up at each other.

"David."

"Yes, Ed Earl?"

"Do you plan on stayin' here after The Chicken Ranch shuts down?"

David hesitated. "I'm not to sure of that myself, Ed Earl."

"You want to know something? You've been a real help around here. I really appreciated everything you've done. Mona does too. They all do. And I've never thanked you for it, so thank you." Ed Earl nodded.

"You're welcome, Ed Earl. Thank you for being nice to me, even if we kind of clash a bit."

" 'course. Even to that Melvin I was nice. Though, I didn't like him all that much." Ed Earl grumbled at the his own mentioning of Melvin.

"I think you should get home now, and call Mona. I'm getting really tired. And, I'm sorry about it all."

"It's not your fault, David. Goodnight." He patted David's shoulder and then walked off.

"At least I prevented it for awhile." He thought, sorrowfully.

*************
That night, Ed Earl delivered the news to Miss Mona. It wasn't the easiest to do, especially since Mona had counted on him to protect it all. But Ed Earl didn't think he had failed her at all.
Mona was in her room, when she had received the call from Ed Earl.

"Hello?" She spoke.

"Mona, this is an official call. As the sheriff of Lanville County it's my duty to tell you-"

"Why don't you just get to the point, Sheriff?" Mona asked aggrivated a bit.

He sighed. "I gotta close you down."

A moment of silence passed between the two. "I see. How long do we have?"

"Be better to do it as soon as possible."

"I understand..."

"Mona? About the other night, I lost my temper. I said some things I shouldn't have said." Ed Earl explained.

"Oh, it's alright Ed Earl. I think we both said some things we regret." Mona sighed softly.

"If there's anything I can do..."

"No. But thank you. I think you've done all you could. Now, I've got to tell my girls."

***********

Mona rang the large bell attached to the wall and stood there, looking upset as all the girls came in murmuring to one another.

"I've just received the news. We are closed down. Immediately and permanently."

"Well, Las Vegas here I come!" One of them said, trying to see the bright side of things.
"Oh no." Ruby rae mumbled.

"Hey, it'll be okay." Another told her.

"Ruby Rae." Lou cleared her throat. "If you want, me and Mary Jane plan on heading to California actually. We know a few folks there, and you can join if you'd like." She looked at Mary Jane, in a loving way. Mary Jane smiled.
"Me and her, and you of course." She spoke softly. "If you'd like to come."

"Why sure!" Ruby Rae smiled but it quickly faded. "I'm going to miss everyone."
Lou turned to some of the other girls. "I'm going to miss everyone too, Ruby Rae."
Mary Jane looked at Miss Mona. "Especially Miss Mona."
"Don't worry. We'll make it." Lou put her each arm around them. "And the rest? We just have to pray."
They looked at them all as they heard the murmurs of the distressed girls, or the girls who had plans.

"Damn! I thought when the sheriff went up to Austin to speak to the Governor, we'd get a reprieve!"

"What did you just say?" Mona asked a bit shocked.

"Didn't you know about that Miss Mona?" Ruby Rae asked. "The whole town is talking about how he went up there and fought for you. He didn't tell you?"

Mona stood there. "No...no. he didn't..."