Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 108382 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 542(@200wpm)___ 434(@250wpm)___ 361(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108382 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 542(@200wpm)___ 434(@250wpm)___ 361(@300wpm)
The barkeep looked her over quickly, then walked to the end of the bar, leaning on the scarred top. "What'd ya want?"
"I'd like to see Sadie," Prudence said in her most snooty tone.
The man shrugged. "Sit yourself and I'll get her."
He walked over to where the other men stood drinking, whispered something, and then disappeared through a door to the left at the end of the bar.
The three men all turned and stared at Prudence.
Their intent looks made her feel uneasy and she wondered just what the barkeep had said to them. When she thought she could take their strange stares no longer, a short, rotund woman with raving red hair emerged from the doorway.
She stared at Prudence from the end of the bar. Then she held her hand up and stuck a thin cigar between two chubby fingers. The barkeep lit it for her and she took a deep puff, sending the smoke swirling into the air.
"Drinks on me, fellahs," she announced to all, and then walked toward Prudence.
Prudence stood, although she wasn't certain why.
"You wanted to see me, honey?" the woman asked.
"You're Sadie?"
"None other," she laughed. "Sit and we'll talk."
Prudence smiled. Sadie was far different from the women she knew back in Boston. Her aging face was thick with powder and her lips heavy with rouge. Her heavy bosoms bulged like twin peaks from her purple silk dress, and she puffed on her cigar with all the skill and desire of a man.
"What do you want?"
"Some help."
Sadie grinned. "On your own, are you?"
"Yes, is it that obvious?" Prudence asked, hoping she didn't look too out of place.
"Well, I'll say one thing for you, honey. You don't look like the usual ones that come around here."
"Oh, I'm not from here."
"No, you don't sound it. East somewhere?"
"Boston."
"They're awfully proper and prudish back there ain't they?" Sadie asked, sizing her up in a quick glance.
"Proper etiquette is not synonymous with prudish behavior," Prudence corrected, affronted by the woman's besmirching remark.
Sadie raised her brow, surprised by the young woman's spirited nature. "And you? Are you proper but not prudish?"
"I believe so."
Sadie waved her hand. "It don't matter. Proper or prudish, you'll get used to it soon enough. Not much choice out here."
Prudence assumed she was speaking of the different lifestyle. "Oh, I adapt easily."
"Good," Sadie said with a satisfied smile. "I like to hear that."
Prudence was pleased with the way this was going. Sadie seemed pleasant enough and more than happy to help her. "Thirsty?"
"Terribly," Prudence said, her throat even more parched than before.
"Love that accent. Yes sir. That'll do real fine here," Sadie said. "Jake, two glasses and a bottle."
"Oh, dear."
"Problem?"
"I don't drink," Prudence whispered, as though the admittance in such a place was sacrilegious.
"That's all right, honey. Actually it's even better. Jake, one cider."
Prudence remained silent until the cider was placed in front of her. She was so thirsty. She reached for the tall glass and drank, finishing almost all the cider before putting it down. "I'm so glad you've agreed to help me."
"Honey, I'll help any girl."
"New merchandise, Sadie?"
Prudence looked up at the man standing next to Sadie. He was a good five inches taller than herself and heavy, with a combination of fat and muscle, the muscle being in his arms and the fat being around his protruding belly. His clothes didn't look dirty, but then they didn't smell too clean, either.
"Like what you see, Ned?" Sadie asked. "You know the new ones are more money."
"Got paid today," Ned said pulling a roll of bills from his pocket.
"Well, darling, we just might be able to do business."
Sadie patted his hand. "You just go back over to the bar and have a drink on me while I discuss some business with the little lady."
"Okay, Sadie, but I'm first. Bill says he wants to be first, but remember I asked you first and I got more money."
"You'll be first, Ned. Don't worry."
Ned wasn't worried, but Prudence was. She was foolish, so very foolish, not to have realized what the woman had been alluding to. She should have been more attentive. She should have questioned Sadie about her mother immediately. But she was so tired and thirsty that she hadn't paid proper attention.
"I think there's been a misunderstanding."
Sadie grabbed her wrist. "Now, don't go getting cold feet. One time and you'll be fine. After Ned you'll service Bill. This way you won't have a chance to get sore. The more you do it, the easier it'll get"
"I'm not here to service anybody," Prudence insisted, and pulled her wrist free.
"You said you wanted help," Sadie argued.
"I should have been more direct. It's information I seek. I'm looking for someone who was a friend of yours several years ago."
Sadie spied Ned and Bill getting anxious. She didn't want to lose the money they were willing to spend. "Information will cost you."