Silver City was definitely a different town.
Missie was getting ready for her day at the school to teach the kids. She remembered the day she came home and told Billy she had been accepted as the teacher. It made the future seem not so bad.
She was setting up the kids chalkboards when the headmastor walked in.
"Good morning, here for a lesson?" she smiled as she wrote the subject on her chalkboard.
"You won't be needing to write out your lesson today Miss Bell."
"Why's that?"
The headmaster took off his hat. "It is with great disappointment that we have to let you go."
Missie stood there stunned. "Why? Have I done something wrong?"
He sighed. "Unfortunely the parents of this school question your ability in teaching their children correctly and appropriately due to the company you keep."
"The company I keep?"
"It's no secret a certain beau of yours frequents the saloon."
Missie stood there, mulling everything over that had just been said.
"I don't see what Billy has to do with this?"
"We pride ourselves in who we entrust our children with-"
"You know I've done a mighty fine job teaching these children. Every single father has been in that saloon plenty of times and ya know it. Frankly just what I do with my personal life is none of ya'lls business and it has never interfered with my profession."
"It's not personal, it's just that the example you set for these children is not appropriate."
Missie felt like she had been slapped in the face. She finally realized, it was because they lived under the same roof but weren't wed. They thought her a harlot.
"I see. Well, thank you for your time today. I'll leave ya to it."
She quickly walked out and saw a bunch of townswomen standing outside gossiping. She clenched her jaw and held her head up as she walked passed them. They weren't worth her time and right now she needed to find a new job.
She didn't know what options she had now that most of the town assumed the worst of her. She took a deep breath as she entered the saloon.
She walked up to the owner Mr. Tucker who she knew thanks to Billy.
"Howdy Mr. Tucker, I have a proposition for ya, I think you might be interested in."
"Oh yeah? What's that?"
"Looks like you could use some help around here."
"Ya looking for a job?"
"Sure am! I can do whatever ya need. I can deal poker games, serve drinks."
"Saloon is no place for a woman like yourself."
"I've practically lived in a saloon my whole life."
He sighed. "Ya got to be able to handle yourself with the men? Ya think you can do that?"
Missie felt her heart pick up a bit in nervousness. "Absolutely how do you think I put up with Billy?"
"Very well, you can start now."
"Thank you Mr. Tucker."
~
Missie spent her day handing drinks out, lighting mens cigars and dealing poker games. She didn't have too much trouble with men except for one in particular. He was blonde and gruff looking.
"Ya new here?" he asked.
"Fairly."
"My name's Jesse."
She nodded as she set his whiskey down.
"Not gonna tell me your name sugar?"
"Missie? What are you doing here?" Billy said as he walked into the saloon.
"Working."
Billy looked at her surprised. "What about the school?"
"We can talk about it when I get home."
"Hey, Billy, get moving so I can keep talking to the pretty lady," Jesse said.
Billy wrapped his arm around her waist possessively, eyeing Jesse as he guided her away from the table.
"I don't want you working here."
"Well I don't have a lot of options."
"Work with Ma and me at the restaurant!"
Missie sighed as his hands found her shoulders.
"What happened?"
She brushed her cheek and shrugged. "They fired me."
"What? Why?"
"Because they think I'm a whore."
He stared at her shocked.
"They know you're my beau and that we live under the same roof. They said it's not an appropriate example for the children."
"I'll talk to them-"
"It's not worth it, I bet it was Mrs. Stow, she's always had it out for me from the minute we arrived in Silver City. They'd find something else. I don't care what they think about us. I'm proud to be with you Billy and I won't keep us a secret."
Billy slowly kissed her. "Come work at the restaurant, I won't have to worry about you."
She softly smiled. "I'll finish today."
Billy nodded, glancing back at Jesse who was watching them.
"Jesse's the man you've been practing shoot with?" Missie asked.
Billy nodded. "I came to play some poker in hopes to win some money. Antrim had an accident at the mines."
"Is he alright?"
"Unfortunately."
Missie bit back a smile.
"He's quitting mining. I can't stand him."
"Me either."
Billy looked at her and kissed her hand.
"Best of luck."
Billy nodded and headed back to the table where Jesse was for a game of poker.
YOU ARE READING
Matters To Me
Fanfiction"In a new world of hopes and dreams, met with disappointments and darkness of the real world, Billy held onto the hope that life would get better. It had to, as he looked at the stars, he made a wish, he knew that it had to get better." ~ Billy met...
