Shaded Secrets

Night Work

A young woman stared out at the cowboy who was shooting at the bottles. Auburn hair loose down her back, blue eyes hiding her emotions, but taking everything in. The young woman was dressed in a gothic purple and black Victorian dress, spaghetti straps with black fishnet gloves. She had a thick black cloak on, the hood deep and hiding her face from view. She sat beside a young woman, who seems to be analysing the situation too as the crowd cheers.

"Just about then, I seen big old Crazy Horse himself, riding up with his band of bloodthirsty Sioux killers." He shot another bottle above an Indian's head, then he shot a plate, and many other objects around causing the crowd to gasp. The two women's eyes never left the man. "General Custer gave the word, his blond hair flapping in the breeze like something from myth. Says he, "Stand here and fight, boys! Fight for your very lives!" And so fight I did." The man says to the crowd. A person throws up a horseshoe and the guy hit it quickly. "One of the few survivors who lived to bring you this tale of pluch and daring. Thanks for coming out today and I hope that I have found some favor among you, estimable gentlemen, and ladies." He turns quickly and shoots at a lady's feather on her hat.

The two women look at each other and nods. "Let's go." 

~

The women walk into the bar and walk up to the cowboy from the show. "You didn't tell the truth." The ebony haired woman said. "By my reckoning, you were a boy when General Custer died, and 'tis well known there were no survivors."

"What we call a tall tale, darlin'." The man says, glancing over at the hooded girl beside the dark haired one.

"Exceedingly tall." The dark haired girl says.

"Vice of my nation. We're storytellers." He motions to the table. "Join me, won't you?" The dark haired girl say, but the hooded one kept her head down and lean against the wall so her side faced the dark haired girl. "You saw my exhibition?"

"Highly impressive, especially your finale."

"Well, you gotta leave them wanting more, as we say in show business." A guy came and place a cup in front of the ebony haired woman. "And what might I do for you both?"

"I have a need for some night work."

"Oh, honey, don't we all?" The guy chuckles.

"She doesn't mean that sort of work." The hooded girl spoke. Her voice was like an angel. It flowed like the ocean and was as soft as a feather.

"I have a need for a gentleman who's comfortable with firearms," The ebony haired girl says, not even glancing at the hooded girl, while the other man couldn't take his eyes off the strange girl. "And not hesitant to engage in dangerous endeavors. Or was all that a tall tale as well?"

"What do you think?" The guy asks, but the woman simply turns and glances at the hooded woman.

"Expensive watch, but threadbare jacket, sentimental about the money you used to have." The hooded girl says, her eyes still on the wooden floor in front of her and not at the man that sat so close by her. "Your eye is steady, but your left hand tremors. That's the drink. So you keep it below the table, hoping I won't notice. You have a contusion healing on your other hand, the result of a recent brawl with a jealous husband, no doubt. Your boots are good quality leather, but have been resoled more than once. I see a man who's been accustomed to wealth, but has given himself to excuses and the unbridled pleasures of youth. A man much more... complicated than he likes to appear." The girl finishes and the guy pushes the bottle of alcohol to the other woman.

"So, it's a job, this night work?"

"Yes." The dark haired woman says.

"Something of a criminal setup?"