Unshaken

Lust for Life

As he rode, he heard laughter come from behind him. He looked back. "Ain't no place in town for you, redneck!" A pair of street kids yelled to him. He took a deep breath and got off his horse. He walked up to them. "Excuse me?" He asked sternly. "Ain't you got pigs to feed, cowboy?" The other boy yelled. They were his age or younger. One of the boys jumped around acting like he was twirling a lasso. Liam took his father's hat off. He looked them in the eyes. "Look boys, I've killed a lot of people. And I ain't much older than you, so why would I have a problem putting a bullet through both of your goddamn skulls at this very moment?" He asked them menacingly. He pulled out and cocked his revolver. They gasped and ran off. "That's what I thought." He said to himself as he walked back to Colter.

It was around evening time and he felt his stomach rumble. He rode to the Bastille Saloon for dinner. He walked in and ordered a prime rib steak. He savored the meal. He hadn't eaten this good for as long as he could remember. He was still thankful for Pearson's stew. He thought again what his life would've been like had he not run into Arthur that night in the Cumberland Forest. He was a completely different person now. He ate and thought of what his grandmother would think of him now, being involved with Bronte and riding with a posse of outlaws. He also realized what Dutch had said was true. He was so much more free riding with them. He could do almost whatever he pleased, as long as it stayed within their code. He snapped out of it when he heard the piano start to play. He walked up to the bar and leaned on it. He looked to his left to check and see if the strange man had appeared, which he hadn't.

"Can I get a whiskey?" Liam asked. "That'll be two dollars." The bartender told him. "Well it better be good then." Liam said, handing him the money. He took the shot and realized the bartender wasn't lying. It had a rich tang to it. As he took another shot he became more loose. He was still fully aware, though. He noticed the sign for what the saloon offered. They also provided lodging and baths. He thought of how nice a bath would be. It was only twenty-five cents. "Mister, can I get a bath?" Liam asked.  "Sure, we already got someone warming it up for you. Just head upstairs and you'll see the room, son." The bartender told him. Liam gave him the change and walked outside to grab a change of clothes from Colter. His were pretty dirty considering he was in the nastiest city he'd ever been in.

Liam walked upstairs and shut the door. He took off his gun belt and stripped down. He stood in the mirror for a moment. He observed the scars on his body. Specifically the one on his hip from the O'Driscoll. He also noticed the dirt in places he didn't know dirt could get. He even noted more muscles showing than before. It had been awhile since he'd seen his whole reflection. He'd never bathed in a bathtub before. As a young boy, he'd always washed himself in Ringneck Creek, it being the only clean body of water around. "Susan would have a cow." He said to himself with a smirk as he slowly climbed into the warm water. As he lowered himself into the tub, it sent chills up his spine. He let out a long sigh of pleasure. As he fully sat in, he closed his eyes and laid his head back. It was the most relaxed he'd felt in a long time. He sat for a moment until he heard a knock on the door.

"Would you like any assistance?" A woman asked from the door. He thought for a moment. "Why the hell not?" He thought to himself. "Sure." He told her. He had a boost of confidence looking in the mirror, so he didn't mind a girl seeing him. She walked through the door and was quite a sight. Her long, dark hair flowed and her brown eyes made contact with his. He almost passed out. She sat at the edge of the tub beside him and stuck her hand in the water and started to rub his back. It felt like heaven if there was one. Liam felt his muscles and joints loosen up. She then grabbed some suds and scrubbed his scalp. His eyes were rolling to the back of his head. "You like that, huh?" She said with a soft laugh.

It felt so great he almost forgot to speak to her, which would've been rude in his opinion. "You don't meet many nice people out this way, it's nice to see a friendly face every once in a while." He told her. "Well thank you." She replied softly. She scrubbed his arms and chest, then moved on to his legs. He didn't want it to end. She finished up by pouring a bucket of warm water over him to rinse him off. She kissed him on the cheek and stood up. He blushed uncontrollably, his heart was racing.