Excerpt

Raw Cut - Bad Timing

Steak and Ale, oh yea, what a great way to relax; the meal magnificent, the cut of beef superb, a cook of equal talent – my apatite was not denied satisfaction. Add to that another Ale and whiskey chaser for a closer. Not drunk but the attitude adjustment is nearly complete, just one thing missing. Anyone with a heartbeat could guess the next thing on my mind; riding the range with a Philly one might say, a therapy session if you will. A bare ass, oiled down, naked female participant on the menu? Another fine goal is established, where to start? Why not at the moment? Valerie has some interesting timing.

How was that dinner handsome?

Perfection dear, perfection. Question Valerie.

Yes Handsome?

Single?

Kinda

Kinda?

Depends!

Depends?

I just don’t take this dress off and allow anyone to touch this exquisite body - Closing with a wink.

I see. I mean no disrespect and would never be implying that such a fine lady would lower her standards to any stranger just passing through - My turn to wink.

Pretty straight forward handsome, no offer of a drink or anything? What would make me consider an offer if one was to actually make such an offer?

Here is how I see it Valerie - Candles, wine, a bath, perfumed oil gently massaged into every pore of your body - A kiss that continues from ear to ear, toe to toe. If you can handle that then the rest I keep to myself for now.

You have really thought this one through handsome and I must say you have got me hook line and sinker. There is a difficulty you may be unaware of however.

I’ll bight, what could that hurdle be Valerie?

You are new here, just passing through more than likely; anyway there is a right of passage here so to say. I do not like it but the law lets it happen for some reason. You’re a gunman handsome; you make no effort to hide it.

I go to speak but she puts a single finger to my lips. She sits to talk more direct and puts her hand on mine. The man in the derby has been trying to stare a hole in the back of your head for about 15 minutes now. My guess is you knew that but really don’t care. I see that in you handsome. Before my shift is over this man in the derby will get you in a position that will end in gun play. I love your offer but you really need to go out the back and leave. When he gets it in his mind and picks someone that person has died the last four times.

Really?

Sorry handsome, but he will push before the night comes.

This sounds terrible.

How do you mean handsome?

How can such a man deny you such pleasure? She almost blushes. To treat you like a queen with such detail, there must be a way I could make this right for you Valerie. No way could I live with myself knowing the pleasure you could experience is but a simple tease for the moment. That got the blush.

He’s gonna push you.

A kiss to my cheek, a light touch of her tongue to my ear lobe and chills rocket through my body; you got my attention handsome; the rest is up to fate.

Really – fate?

I look her in the eyes, this is for you sweetie, don’t go anywhere.

Stand to my feet, over to my new friend is the plan. Have I been baited again, is Valerie in on it? Maybe, no matter, this fucker is gonna push and I have a gift for him. Same shit eatn’ grin is my greeting as I step up to the table.

What ya need rider? His two friends sitting to his right, the derby fucker has his back against the window sill and the corner wall, like most gunmen.

My response – powered by the vision of Sarah lying in the street, his insults flashing before me, a step forward with my left foot, a right jab, directly delivered to the throat. His head bounces off the window sill as he try’s to roll back with the punch, on his way forward I unload a right handed round house, full force, stepped into it with all my might. Impact point – left face, left eye, upper lip, crossing into his nose. In a burst of blood from above his eye and another trip to the corner of the window he is stunned. The friends have not yet had time to react, I’m not done. To emphasize my point I take his full mug of beer with the same right hand and back hand it through his face. The mug, solid, does not break. His face, not solid anymore, it does break; blood and beer splatter the window and his friends. Another trip to the trim on the window, but this time he slumps unconscious to the table. His derby also finds its way to the table, I couldn’t resist, same right hand, this time I have hold of the tomahawk, I plant it in the table pinning this ugly ass derby with it. Before I take it out of the table I grab the derby and pull it out in one grand tear. Hat destroyed, I feel good, pull the tomahawk out of the table and look at his buddies.

Not so fast to the draw is he? His buddies find the courage to stand, I fake another swing, they flinch. He might need a doctor you Jack Ass’. A nod yes and they moves towards the bloodied mess- a puddle of blood forming on the table now, a well sized puddle. I mention to the cronies, you might wanna hurry before he bleeds out.

With a face torn to shit like his I will not need to be concerned with him trying to shoot anything or anyone. I turn and walk back to my table, I could read the excitement in Valerie’s eyes; she looks like a kid in a candy store. Fuck your shift sweetie, I grab her hand and we walk to the door, your place or mine I ask.