adie, an older brunette who wore a lot of makeup, although it had run down her cheeks in the jail cell from crying. But she’d been nice to her, kept saying she’d get out right quick once her handsome husband discovered she was in jail.
She’d asked the older woman how she knew her husband, but Sadie assured her Jesse had never visited upstairs. He’d stopped in for a drink once in a while. The woman patted her hand and said Jesse was known among the girls as a faithful husband, one who loved his wife.
Did he love her? He’d spent quite a bit of effort to get her to move back with him. But love? Hmm. More likely lust. The lust isn’t working out so well for him, though, is it?
Still reluctant, she dragged her feet the rest of the way to the saloon. Tori paced in front a few times, then decided she attracted more attention this way than if she entered. She took a deep breath, stepped to the batwing doors, then pushed them aside.
The inside appeared much different than the last time. But then, mortified at being in such a place, she didn’t take much notice of her surroundings. Now she took in the plush atmosphere, a painting of a naked lady on the wall—a requirement in a saloon?—and a long mirror behind the bar. The same bartender stood polishing glasses, with one lone customer slumped at a table in a corner, having a serious conversation with his beer.
“Ma’am, I believe the judge told you ladies not to come in here again.” The bartender leaned over to look behind her, no doubt to see how many ladies invaded the saloon this time. “The boss ain’t gonna be happy if you start busting up the place again.”
“No, no, I’m not with a group, sir.” Tori rubbed her hands along her dress as she stiffly walked forward. “I would like to speak with Sadie, please?”
“Sadie?” The bartender raised his bushy eyebrows. “What do you want with Sadie?”
“I, ah, would like to speak with her. If I may.” Despite only one inattentive customer in the saloon, she whispered her request.
The bartender walked over to the bottom of the stairs and bellowed. “Sadie!”
“What?” A rough female voice shouted.
“Someone here to see you.” He glowered at Tori as if he expected her to have disappeared.
“I don’t start work until six.” A belligerent voice echoed. “Tell him to come back later. Lord Almighty, a lady can’t even have some time to herself.”
“This ain’t no customer.” He grinned at Tori. “At least I don’t think so.”
Sweat beaded her forehead and she almost spun on her heel to leave, but her mission, so important to her husband, kept her where she stood.
I can do this.
Sadie stomped down the stairs, a bright flowered wrap around her corpulent body. Her brown lackluster hair fell in waves to her waist, while a half-smoked cigarette dangled from crimson lips.
“Hey, I know you!” The woman stopped halfway and shouted at Tori. “You’re that lawyer’s wife. We shared a jail cell.” She hooted and continued down the stairs.
The solitary customer leered at Tori and winked. The bartender stopped polishing glasses, watching the two women with interest.
“Go on back to work, Hank, this ain’t none of your business.” The whore flicked her wrist in his direction.
“Come on over here, honey, have a seat.” Sadie indicated a chair at one of the scarred wooden tables.
Tori sat on the edge of the chair, kept her head down and her hands in her lap. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all.
“So, what brings you here, Mrs. Cochran? Ain’t that your name?” She bent her head to look at Tori’s face as she smashed the rest of her cigarette in an overflowing ashtray.
“Um, I need to get some advice,” Tori murmured, and glanced over her shoulder at the bartender, who still watched them closely.
“Hank, I told you to mind your own business. Now I want to have a conversation with this here nice lady, so you go on and finish washing your glasses.” Sadie slid her chair over and leaned closer to Tori. “What do you want advice on, hon?”
Strong perfume, mixed with cigarette smoke, made Tori want to gag, but she edged her chair closer, and whispered, “I need information on how to prevent pregnancy.”
Sadie snapped her head back and regarded her through narrowed eyes. “Now why would a nice lady like you, with such a handsome husband and all, want that kinda information?”
Tori twisted her hands in her lap, then sucked in a shaky breath. “I suffered a bad miscarriage a while back, and I don’t want to get pregnant again.” No point in saying more than necessary.
“But honey, don’t y’all want babies?” Sadie reached over and took her hand.
“Yes. Maybe. Oh, I don’t know.” She fluttered her free hand in the air. “But not yet, and my husband is getting, you know.” She used shaky fingers to wipe the sweat beading on her upper lip. Good Lord, why did I think I could do this?