The carriage trotted through the front gates with David and Jen side by side. The town of La Maldición was nothing to behold. Jen looked around and saw a normal town. A normal town with normal people. Buildings with worn, wooden exteriors crudely labeled by handmade signs that swung outside each door. "DRINKS" "SHOES" "CHOW" "CITY HALL" - to name a few. As Jen scanned the town, David broke her trance, asking "You needa eat some thin'? I got a few hours before my business partner gets'ere."
The mention of food caused Jen's stomach to tremble. It had been nearly twelve hours since the last pitiful excuse for a meal. Jen looked at David with wide eyes and nodded. David reached into a bag and tossed a small pouch towards Jen. "Got there about ten pieces. Use as much as ya like, just bring me back what you don' use." Jen reached up for the bag as it flew towards her. Closing her hand, the bag bounced off her knuckles and onto the ground.
Jen crouched down and picked up the bag, staring at its contents. Inside were ten silver coins that shone brightly in the midday sun. Jen took hold of the bag from the ground and stood back on her feet, looking up at David with a thankful nod. David returned to his documents as Jen walked away from the carriage.
Jen walked towards the chow building. As she got closer, the buzz of conversation and clinking tin cups filled the air around her. An aroma of smoked meat enchanted Jen. Food that was freshly cooked. Food that was acquired legitimately. Food that might taste good. Really good.
As she pushed through the doors, Jen looked in at the establishment. The room had wooden tables and chairs, most of them occupied by strangers. A single bar in the rear of the room with a nicely dressed gentleman in a black vest, white undershirt, and a pristine bow tie. Jen approached an empty stool and sat beside a lady wearing clothing far too nice for Jen's liking.
"What'll ya have?" Asked the stylish bartender. "Wine, soup, beef, anything yer heart desires." He looked Jen up and down, polishing a plate in his hand. Jen pondered at the idea of the options when she is approached from behind.
"'Scuse me erm... ma'am." A man wearing overalls and a rough haircut moved Jen aside, and turned to the pretty lady beside her. "You're the nicest thing I've laid eyes on my whole life."
Jen scoffed. The pretty lady giggled and covered her mouth as the man continued to display his charisma. "Lemme buy ya something. What do you like?"
"Teehee, well I've been dying for some pie." The lady drawled on, flustered as she spoke to the man.
"Get this fine lady a slice of pie, on me." The man slammed down a piece of silver. The bartender pinched it between his fingers, pocketed it and disappeared out of view behind a small door to the rear of the bar.
Jen stared at the table. Nobody found her attractive enough to do that. Nobody wanted her love — not that they would get any. Jen's blood boiled as the couple beside her flirted back and forth. She gripped her bag of coins, peeking at the two beside her. The man offered his hand as the lady stood up and took it, both of them walking away giggling as the lady playfully protested, "My pie!"
The bartender returned with the dessert on a tin plate, looking around for the two lovebirds that were here moments prior. He eyed Jen, motioning towards the now-empty stool beside her. Jen tilted her head towards the exit and whistled. The bartender shrugged, sliding the plate to Jen. "If she comes back, you wouldn't happen to have a coin to pay for this, would you?"
Jen stared the bartender directly in the eyes and plopped the bag of coins onto the table with an audible clunk. The bartender nodded with pursed lips, "Enjoy."
Jen took hold of the dessert and began to eat it. As the first bite approached, the smell of a cinnamon dressed shell danced with her nose. The cherry filling inside dropped down her thumb as the succulent slice of pie gravitated towards her mouth. Jen bit down and was met with an enlightening flavor. Very sweet. Very delicious. Without a second thought, the pie was devoured, leaving notable traces of cherry and crust on Jen's face.
"Hmph. Coal miner?" The bartender inquired. "You eat like one." The bartender inspected Jen once again, "and you look like one." Jen looked back at him and began mouthing, before stopping and pointing to her lips again.
"Ah, yer dumb? Good work for one like you. No complaining or talkin' on the job." The bartender continued. "The filthiness would kill me, too dirty for a man like me."
Jen grinned. The bartender wasn't funny, but he was right. Jen did dirty work. And lots of it. She relished in the fact that her work reflected in her character.
He was also right in her business potentially killing him.
Jen raised a hand to the bartender and made a cup motion. The bartender nodded, "Water, wine, milk, jui—" Jen shook her head and made a pinching motion, then pretended to throw back a shot. The bartender scoffed, "Not here missy. La Maldición don't do spirits. Glass of wine will do ya' fine." Jen relented and gave a defeated nod, placing a few pieces on the table. "Lady like you drinkin' spirits. Not sayin' I ain't expect it, but it's a first for me."
Jen inhaled the tin cup of wine and slammed the cup down. The bartender jumped, and gave Jen a stern look. "You get rowdy in my saloon, yer done," as he made a cut-throat motion to Jen. Jen placed down the rest of the pieces given to her, raising 4 fingers, and pointed at her empty cup.
The bartender sneered, popping open the bottle of wine and leaving it beside Jen. "Done, you hear me?" As the bartender motioned out the door.
—
Jen sat in the chair like a bored schoolboy, head down on the bar with a fist clenched around the empty bottle. The tin cup was decoration as it rolled off the counter. Jen made no attempt to hide her intoxication. A few of the patrons began whistling at her, joking and chuckling at the lady who had fallen off the wagon. And it wasn't even dark yet.
"Madam, you're gonna have to order somethin' or leave. I can get patronage like yours for free." The bartender ordered. "And I don' like drunk patrons with empty pockets."
Jen slid off the stool and landed onto the floor. The world spun and the voices echoed past her. Jen felt like a jester in the king's court as the room laughed, whistled, and hollered at her walk of shame to the door. Jen hadn't consumed alcohol in some time, and she could tell. Her body refused to cooperate as she stumbled closer to the door before falling to the side. The crowd erupted into laughter with Jen's body now prone to the side of the entrance.
Jen gluttonized.
YOU ARE READING
Jen In Four Words
Fiksi Umum*Mature audience warning, mentions of SA, Violence, severe injury, and Death* -Cover by @final_girl13- A wild western tale following the anti-hero Jen, an outlaw who has concealed her identity to escape the consequences of her first murder. Like man...
