Dangerous Ties by Debra Parmley

Author:Debra Parmley
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Belo Dia Publishing Inc.

Chapter Eight

Reaching Garwood Nick headed directly for the Bon Ton Saloon.

It looked to be a successful establishment. Polished mahogany wood and a gleaming brass foot rail at the bar, the usual thing you would find in a saloon. A red faro table, which looked brand new.

Over the bar hung an enormous painting of a nude raven haired woman lounging on a couch, her long wavy tresses barely covering the tips of her breasts, her leg bent to shield her mound. It would have been an expensive painting and one you wouldn't see outside of one of the finer establishments with women for hire. Every decoration in the place spoke of money and success.

Three women moved about the saloon. A redhead, a brunette, and a blonde.

The blonde appeared to be the saloon girl. Her job would be to encourage the men to drink, to dance a little, sing a little. The brunette looked too young to be in the place, so he couldn't quite place her. The red-haired woman was the kind you might take upstairs if you had coin enough.

Now on the surface, such a fancy bar might not be unexpected or seem out of place. In some towns, where gambling and saloons lined the streets and miners emptied their pockets, this saloon might not have stood out so much.

Garwood was not such an established town. The mines never yielded enough gold for the town to be as prosperous as some of the other boomtowns, though the miners had some success. Just enough to keep them going in hopes of a big strike. The Bon Ton Saloon was obviously the richest building.

Nick went over and leaned one elbow on the bar. “Whiskey.”

The young bartender set a glass in front of him along with a bottle. He seemed unsure of himself and Nick wondered why the owner of the Bon Ton Saloon would hire a lad so green around the ears to serve his customers their drinks.

“I'm looking for Mr. Kingston.”

The boy gave him a strange look “Why?”

“My business is with him. Is the saloon owner in?”

The bartender nodded yes and laid down his towel before heading to a back room.

Nick sipped his whiskey and waited.

The bartender returned trailing a tall man with wavy brown hair slicked back and a thin mustache. The man was dressed in a black suit with a white shirt, a red and black silk vest and shiny black boots.

Nick took an immediate dislike to the man, though he had no reason to. Other than he had the kind of eyes Nick did not trust.

“I'm Mr. Kingston. You asked for me?”

“Nicholas Brace.” Nick extended his hand.

The man's entire demeanor changed and he shook Nick's hand. “Glad you made it. Let's retire to my office.”

Nick nodded and turned to pick up his glass, to finish it off quick, but Kingston said, “Leave it. I'll share my private stock with you.”

They walked toward the back office, Kingston leading the way.

“You have trouble on the trail? You're late.”

“Bad weather up north slowed me down.

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