Cowboy's Song
“Look, it’s all I got left, mister. You gonna let me bet it, or what?”
The dealer eyed the blonde beauty for a couple of seconds. Something wasn’t quite right about this one, but he couldn’t quite place what should have been different. She blinked dark coal eyes up at him pleadingly. “Five dollars isn’t enough to raise on this hand, miss.” He sighed, not wanting to turn her away.
“I’ll sponsor her raise, George. Here’s the fifty she needs to meet and raise Thomas.” Matthew Colt smiled, laying down a stack of bills in the center of the table.
“Thank you, sir, but I couldn’t possibly pay you back.” Caroline Ramsey frowned up at the wall of a man towering over her chair. She had never felt shorter in her life than with this man standing next to her, his hands on the back of her chair, so near to the skin bared by the low shoulders of her gown.
“Think nothing of it, Miss. . .”
“Bunny, Bunny LaFleur.”
“Miss LaFleur. Consider it a gift to a beautiful woman in need.” He smiled, a row a pearly white teeth sparkling. Caroline giggled, attempting to appear worldly. Too much was riding on this hand to lose her composure now. She almost did, howver, when he pulled the chair out next to her and deposited his muscular bulk on the seat.
“And who do I owe the honor of the acquaintance, sir?” Caroline fluttered her lashes and held out her dainty hand to be engulfed in his large golden grip.
“Colt, ma’am. Matthew Colt. I own the Steel Mustang Ranch just south of here.” Colt shifted more comfortably. Caroline stared. The Steel Mustang was huge. Quickly, she turned her head back to the dealer, rather than get caught staring.
“Miss, your hand?” The dealer motioned for Caroline to turn over her hand.
“Oh yes, of course.” Caroline smiled serenely, appearing to have lost the hand with just the Ace and King of Hearts poised in her dainty fingers. Her opponent already had a flush, as he was so quick to lay his hand down and crow. Caroline held her cards to her, refusing to set them down if she didn’t have to. The dealer motioned again, and she reluctantly laid them down. With the Jack and ten already laid on the table from the flop, Caroline was praying for a Queen. Her opponent, a squeaky man that reminded her of a lizard she had seen in a desert book once, smiled, trying to look superior.
“Well, Miss LaFleur, sometimes you win, and sometimes you don’t.” Colt shrugged. Fifty bucks wasn’t much out of his pocket. He pushed himself to his feet.
“Yes, Mr. Colt, sometimes you win and sometimes you lose, but I haven’t lost yet, so please sit down. Your towering is likely to jinx my winning hand.” Caroline smiled sweetly and motioned for him to return to the rounded back chair. “Please continue the hand, dealer. Since I am all in, I can do naught but check.” Caroline was checking alright, but it wasn’t her hand. It was fear, pure and simple. She knew that she wasn't supposed to check, but right now, it would severely help her image to appear a little in over her head. If the Queen wasn’t one of the next two cards, she would lose everything she had saved in the last five years on this single hand. And, her small niece wouldn’t get new shoes or anything but tatters this year.
Caroline had been saving her change everyday for the last five years, for renovations to her falling down house, but since she had learned from her late sister’s American soliciter that little Charlotte would be placed in her care, everything had changed. A sum of twenty five pounds was left to become a dowry when Charlotte married, but the rest of her sister’s hundred pounds was sent to pay her late husband’s gambling debts, and for that reason, this poker game was a very last resort. The seventy-five pounds had just been enough to appease the seediest British collector Caro had ever met.
Gregory had almost sunk Bethany’s quaint English home over its head in debt when he started playing whist in pubs. He had thought to improve their family finances, but what he did was diminish them completely. Unlike Caroline, Gregory had no idea how to spot a tell or even keep a straight face, something Caroline had discovered she was quite good at the first time she had sat in on a game of cards. Although she hadn’t intended everything to turnout this way, Caroline felt it was better to rely on herself to win money, rather than someone else’s skills and luck. She was happy that she had acquired a talent for reading people’s expressions rather than something mundane like reciting poetry. That wouldn’t help her in the frontier, no matter how much her mother had tried to drill culture in her.
So here she was now, stuck in the middle of a Texas-Hold-‘Em game in the small town of Independence, trying to make a better life for her curly haired charge. Caroline pushed a strand of her heavy blond wig out of her eyes. She scratched her ear gently, trying to push the itchy wig off the sensitive curve of her ear. If she could win this hand, she could walk away from gambling forever. Forever, after just one more hand. Caro smiled. It was quite ironic that that was how most gambling addicts felt when big pots were at risk, but unlike them, she had no intention of playing after this.
“Ma’am, you ready to continue?” Colt raised his eyebrows. Caroline smiled weakly. Two more cards and this would all be over. Vaguely, Caroline wondered why she didn’t feel relieved. If she won, an extra hundred dollars would be hers, well maybe at least fifty of it, plus, the five hundred dollars that had already been on the table when Mr. Colt had arrived. But, something didn't feel quite right about the interference of the man next to her. She owed him big time, but she couldn't quite shake the feeling that even if she paid him back, she'd never get rid of him now. She took a deep breath and waited for the turn of the next card. The dealer counted off a card then held the turn card aloft between his index finger and middle finger, watching her visibly struggle with the wait. The two of spades showed upward, and Caroline couldn’t help but think of them as two shovels of death, digging her proverbial grave. Matthew Colt, looking more like a brooding angel of death than her avenging angel, stayed in his seat, although she could tell he would rather be on his feet, pacing in the tension.
Caroline twisted her fingers in her skirt. One more card and it would all be over. Matthew must have sensed her nervousness, because he reached under the table and grabbed a hold of her right hand. She wanted to jump, but Caroline schooled her features and hardly let out a tiny gasp. His large hands were warm to the touch and in her innocence, Caroline wondered what it would be like to have his fingers on other parts of her body. As if reading her thoughts, Matthew gave her hand a squeeze and when she looked up, his eyes lit up in a slow flame and his mouth curved into an all too knowing grin. Damn him, he was flirting with her! Caroline felt a blush rise up her cheeks as she forced her attention back on the dealer. He waited on a nod from her opponent before starting to deal the last card of the game. The hand in her lap tightened perceptively around hers, but she didn’t pull away. Caroline closed her eyes and waited for the river card to be laid down. If she lost, she would have to rethink everything and find a second job and a sitter for Charlotte while she worked. Caroline inhaled slowly as the grip on her fingers tightened with each inch the card went further down. Suddenly, all the commotion in the room stopped. There was a long pregnant moment when it seemed as if no one even breathed. Caroline peeked through her lashes at the man holding her fingers so tight, half expecting him to begin to offer his condolences on a well played game. He didn’t. Matthew didn’t so much as move as he stared slack jawed at the last card. Although she didn’t want to, Caroline couldn’t resist turning to see what card beat her. Smiling serenely up from the table was the Queen of Hearts. It took her a full minute to realize the implication of that glorious monarch. She hadn’t lost everything to the grease stain across the table; she had won. Her breath came out in spurts as everyone around her went back to their business. Matthew, beaming, finally realized the tight grip he had on her fingers and loosened them.
“Congratulations, Miss LaFleur. You played a damn fine game.” Caroline tried her best to pay attention to the words coming out of Mr. Colt’s mouth as she stood from the table, but they seemed groggy and slow. She blinked, trying to make his face stay in one place. Her mouth felt dry, and the instant before it happened, Caroline realized that for the first time in her life, she was going to faint.
Matthew realized it too, as he watched Caroline’s already pale face get really white and her pupils widen. He wished he could say he had caught her gracefully, but instead it was a chore to keep her from hitting the floor too hard. He had to hand it to her though, if she would have just fallen backwards like some of the people he knew, she would have hit her head on the table next to them. Instead, she collapsed into a neat little pile at his feet. Jumping under her was all he could do not to have her bump her head on anything. He turned to the dealer as he scooped Caroline up in his arms and asked him to collect her winnings. He knew Thomas Brady a bit too well to think that her money would stay on the table until she came back to. As gently as he could manage with her light weight in his muscular arms, Matthew set Caroline in the nearest booth, and motioned for a passing barmaid to get him a clean towel and a glass of water. Turning her slightly, Matthew positioned her until she was lying down as best she could in the booth, her head in his lap.
“Bunny. . .oh, Miss LaFluer. Do get up. I’m no good with women who aren’t awake.” A waitress appeared with the towel and water and waited until Matthew dropped a ten dollar bill on her tray and shooed her away.
To be continued. . .
The dealer eyed the blonde beauty for a couple of seconds. Something wasn’t quite right about this one, but he couldn’t quite place what should have been different. She blinked dark coal eyes up at him pleadingly. “Five dollars isn’t enough to raise on this hand, miss.” He sighed, not wanting to turn her away.
“I’ll sponsor her raise, George. Here’s the fifty she needs to meet and raise Thomas.” Matthew Colt smiled, laying down a stack of bills in the center of the table.
“Thank you, sir, but I couldn’t possibly pay you back.” Caroline Ramsey frowned up at the wall of a man towering over her chair. She had never felt shorter in her life than with this man standing next to her, his hands on the back of her chair, so near to the skin bared by the low shoulders of her gown.
“Think nothing of it, Miss. . .”
“Bunny, Bunny LaFleur.”
“Miss LaFleur. Consider it a gift to a beautiful woman in need.” He smiled, a row a pearly white teeth sparkling. Caroline giggled, attempting to appear worldly. Too much was riding on this hand to lose her composure now. She almost did, howver, when he pulled the chair out next to her and deposited his muscular bulk on the seat.
“And who do I owe the honor of the acquaintance, sir?” Caroline fluttered her lashes and held out her dainty hand to be engulfed in his large golden grip.
“Colt, ma’am. Matthew Colt. I own the Steel Mustang Ranch just south of here.” Colt shifted more comfortably. Caroline stared. The Steel Mustang was huge. Quickly, she turned her head back to the dealer, rather than get caught staring.
“Miss, your hand?” The dealer motioned for Caroline to turn over her hand.
“Oh yes, of course.” Caroline smiled serenely, appearing to have lost the hand with just the Ace and King of Hearts poised in her dainty fingers. Her opponent already had a flush, as he was so quick to lay his hand down and crow. Caroline held her cards to her, refusing to set them down if she didn’t have to. The dealer motioned again, and she reluctantly laid them down. With the Jack and ten already laid on the table from the flop, Caroline was praying for a Queen. Her opponent, a squeaky man that reminded her of a lizard she had seen in a desert book once, smiled, trying to look superior.
“Well, Miss LaFleur, sometimes you win, and sometimes you don’t.” Colt shrugged. Fifty bucks wasn’t much out of his pocket. He pushed himself to his feet.
“Yes, Mr. Colt, sometimes you win and sometimes you lose, but I haven’t lost yet, so please sit down. Your towering is likely to jinx my winning hand.” Caroline smiled sweetly and motioned for him to return to the rounded back chair. “Please continue the hand, dealer. Since I am all in, I can do naught but check.” Caroline was checking alright, but it wasn’t her hand. It was fear, pure and simple. She knew that she wasn't supposed to check, but right now, it would severely help her image to appear a little in over her head. If the Queen wasn’t one of the next two cards, she would lose everything she had saved in the last five years on this single hand. And, her small niece wouldn’t get new shoes or anything but tatters this year.
Caroline had been saving her change everyday for the last five years, for renovations to her falling down house, but since she had learned from her late sister’s American soliciter that little Charlotte would be placed in her care, everything had changed. A sum of twenty five pounds was left to become a dowry when Charlotte married, but the rest of her sister’s hundred pounds was sent to pay her late husband’s gambling debts, and for that reason, this poker game was a very last resort. The seventy-five pounds had just been enough to appease the seediest British collector Caro had ever met.
Gregory had almost sunk Bethany’s quaint English home over its head in debt when he started playing whist in pubs. He had thought to improve their family finances, but what he did was diminish them completely. Unlike Caroline, Gregory had no idea how to spot a tell or even keep a straight face, something Caroline had discovered she was quite good at the first time she had sat in on a game of cards. Although she hadn’t intended everything to turnout this way, Caroline felt it was better to rely on herself to win money, rather than someone else’s skills and luck. She was happy that she had acquired a talent for reading people’s expressions rather than something mundane like reciting poetry. That wouldn’t help her in the frontier, no matter how much her mother had tried to drill culture in her.
So here she was now, stuck in the middle of a Texas-Hold-‘Em game in the small town of Independence, trying to make a better life for her curly haired charge. Caroline pushed a strand of her heavy blond wig out of her eyes. She scratched her ear gently, trying to push the itchy wig off the sensitive curve of her ear. If she could win this hand, she could walk away from gambling forever. Forever, after just one more hand. Caro smiled. It was quite ironic that that was how most gambling addicts felt when big pots were at risk, but unlike them, she had no intention of playing after this.
“Ma’am, you ready to continue?” Colt raised his eyebrows. Caroline smiled weakly. Two more cards and this would all be over. Vaguely, Caroline wondered why she didn’t feel relieved. If she won, an extra hundred dollars would be hers, well maybe at least fifty of it, plus, the five hundred dollars that had already been on the table when Mr. Colt had arrived. But, something didn't feel quite right about the interference of the man next to her. She owed him big time, but she couldn't quite shake the feeling that even if she paid him back, she'd never get rid of him now. She took a deep breath and waited for the turn of the next card. The dealer counted off a card then held the turn card aloft between his index finger and middle finger, watching her visibly struggle with the wait. The two of spades showed upward, and Caroline couldn’t help but think of them as two shovels of death, digging her proverbial grave. Matthew Colt, looking more like a brooding angel of death than her avenging angel, stayed in his seat, although she could tell he would rather be on his feet, pacing in the tension.
Caroline twisted her fingers in her skirt. One more card and it would all be over. Matthew must have sensed her nervousness, because he reached under the table and grabbed a hold of her right hand. She wanted to jump, but Caroline schooled her features and hardly let out a tiny gasp. His large hands were warm to the touch and in her innocence, Caroline wondered what it would be like to have his fingers on other parts of her body. As if reading her thoughts, Matthew gave her hand a squeeze and when she looked up, his eyes lit up in a slow flame and his mouth curved into an all too knowing grin. Damn him, he was flirting with her! Caroline felt a blush rise up her cheeks as she forced her attention back on the dealer. He waited on a nod from her opponent before starting to deal the last card of the game. The hand in her lap tightened perceptively around hers, but she didn’t pull away. Caroline closed her eyes and waited for the river card to be laid down. If she lost, she would have to rethink everything and find a second job and a sitter for Charlotte while she worked. Caroline inhaled slowly as the grip on her fingers tightened with each inch the card went further down. Suddenly, all the commotion in the room stopped. There was a long pregnant moment when it seemed as if no one even breathed. Caroline peeked through her lashes at the man holding her fingers so tight, half expecting him to begin to offer his condolences on a well played game. He didn’t. Matthew didn’t so much as move as he stared slack jawed at the last card. Although she didn’t want to, Caroline couldn’t resist turning to see what card beat her. Smiling serenely up from the table was the Queen of Hearts. It took her a full minute to realize the implication of that glorious monarch. She hadn’t lost everything to the grease stain across the table; she had won. Her breath came out in spurts as everyone around her went back to their business. Matthew, beaming, finally realized the tight grip he had on her fingers and loosened them.
“Congratulations, Miss LaFleur. You played a damn fine game.” Caroline tried her best to pay attention to the words coming out of Mr. Colt’s mouth as she stood from the table, but they seemed groggy and slow. She blinked, trying to make his face stay in one place. Her mouth felt dry, and the instant before it happened, Caroline realized that for the first time in her life, she was going to faint.
Matthew realized it too, as he watched Caroline’s already pale face get really white and her pupils widen. He wished he could say he had caught her gracefully, but instead it was a chore to keep her from hitting the floor too hard. He had to hand it to her though, if she would have just fallen backwards like some of the people he knew, she would have hit her head on the table next to them. Instead, she collapsed into a neat little pile at his feet. Jumping under her was all he could do not to have her bump her head on anything. He turned to the dealer as he scooped Caroline up in his arms and asked him to collect her winnings. He knew Thomas Brady a bit too well to think that her money would stay on the table until she came back to. As gently as he could manage with her light weight in his muscular arms, Matthew set Caroline in the nearest booth, and motioned for a passing barmaid to get him a clean towel and a glass of water. Turning her slightly, Matthew positioned her until she was lying down as best she could in the booth, her head in his lap.
“Bunny. . .oh, Miss LaFluer. Do get up. I’m no good with women who aren’t awake.” A waitress appeared with the towel and water and waited until Matthew dropped a ten dollar bill on her tray and shooed her away.
To be continued. . .
posted by weyrdkat | 11:04 PM
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