Zeke by Beth Williamson

Author:Beth Williamson
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Naomi returned to the saloon before the sun rose, a smile on her face and a few muscle twinges attesting to her rigorous night’s activities. She was no whore, but going to Zeke, being with him, had been the right thing to do. She understood that and accepted all that came with it.

Being with Zeke for the third time had been dangerous for her heart. He had the ability to turn her world upside-down and sideways. Life, however, was meant for the living. She intended to grab on with both hands and savor every second of sweet happiness she could. The last few years had been filled with so many dark moments, and Tanger was turning out to be the light penetrating that darkness.

The saloon was quiet as a church as she made her way up the stairs. The grin on her face faded when she caught sight of Carmen at the landing waiting for her wearing a sheet and nothing else. Her furious expression told a tale.

“Listen, puta, you don’t do no business outside this saloon. I don’t care how good you think you are. You ain’t special and you gotta pay Lucy just like me.” Her lips curled back in a sneer as she spoke, spittle gathering in the corners of her lips.

Naomi didn’t know what to say. The very idea she was prostituting herself outside the saloon had never even crossed her mind, nor was it something she’d ever do.

“Carmen, I’m not doing any business. I went to see a friend who’d been hurt.” Truthful, but not entirely. Her cheeks felt hot with the accusation and the lie by omission.

“Ha, as if I’d believe a puta like you.” Carmen jabbed a finger into Naomi’s chest. The sharp point felt more like a knife than a fingernail. “You just be careful, bruja. I’m watching you.”

Louisa poked her head out of her room, her sleep-tousled hair resembling a rat’s nest. She blinked and looked at them with bleary eyes. “Carmen, why are you yelling at Naomi?”

“She is doing business outside the saloon.” Carmen’s accusation stung each time she flung it around.

Louisa frowned. “What are you talking about?”

“I see her leave and go down the street so I follow.” Carmen shrugged. “She went into the upstairs of the restaurant and stayed. I left and come back here.”

“Why did you follow me?” Naomi demanded.

“I want to make sure you’re not cheating me. A whore doesn’t care whose bed she makes money in.” Carmen was excessively blunt.

“I didn’t do anything wrong and I didn’t cheat you out of anything.” Naomi wiped the sweat from her forehead with a shaky hand. “I don’t have any customers in any bed.” Her voice rose on the last words, anger mixing with fear.

“I believe her, Carmen.” Louisa brushed the hair from her face. “I ain’t seen her go upstairs with nobody.”

“That’s because she don’t want to share her money with Lucy.”

“Is that true?” Lucy sauntered out from the end of the hallway, her eyes cold as brown marbles.

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