I haven't had a bonus in my pay for over two months, and it's about that time again.I haven't had a bonus in my pay for over two months, and it's about that time again." He stood, his back crackling as he stretched. =And it'll make a nice addition to my retirement fund,= Frewling thought, but did not say. "Well," said the stationmaster, "do y'have arrangements made for a place t'stay?" "No," Frewling admitted. "Thought I'd wander down t'the saloon and see what there is to see along the way." "Well, talk to Miss Cotton at the edge of town. She's got a respectable rooming house, bed and breakfast, and it's only a dollar a week. And if you happen by Miss Lily's --" Frewling cut him off. "Business afore pleasure, Perkins. You know me." And with that, he picked up his Gladstone and departed. =Oh, aye, I know ye, all right,= Perkins thought as he polished off Frewling's whiskey, wincing as his scraggly mustache caught in the crack in the glass. =Ye'll be in Miss Lily's afore the night's over, that I'll wager.= The bell on its wire jingled as the door brushed it aside, then again as Frewling closed the door behind himself, stepping out onto the porch of the train station. He frowned at a chip on the cut-glass doorknob; terrible maintenance of Company property in this town. He'd have to speak with Perkins about hiring a real maintenance man, and not using gamblers down on their luck and drunks hard up for money. The morning sun burned pitilessly into his eyes, coming down at an angle that ignored the short brim of his bowler, as he turned to the street. Shadows were thrown long and sharp in the dust. A few of the townsfolk hurried by, merchants opening their shops, delivery boys with bags and bales, and a wagon rolled past, stirring up the dust so bad as to make Frewling fit to sneeze. He dodged around the back end of the wagon, choosing to wade through the dust while it was still low to the ground than swim through it as it rose, and made his way across the single main street of Rattlesnake Gorge to the saloon. |