Win Some Lose Some

Life gives you a kicking sometimes, and that’s a fact. I ain’t one for bellyaching but it sure sticks in my craw when I get lambasted for trying to do the right thing. I liked working for Cordelia; she gave me a job when nobody else would and I reckon I did right by her. And today, whilst things were quiet at The Parlor, she insisted on buying me a drink. ‘C’mon, you’ve earned it,’ she said. Reckon I had too, after staying off the booze for a week. Well, she took me to The Lonesome Duck and bought me that drink. Only it never reached my lips, ‘cause that’s when Housty busted in, waving a gun.

‘Say your prayers, Cordelia!’

Blam!

Everyone ran for cover when the gun went off, including me. Hell, I knew my job at The Parlor didn’t sit right with Housty, but I never figured she’d go so far. Cordelia was scared half to death.

Blam!

‘Keep your paws off my man,’ Housty yelled, when her second shot smashed a bottle behind the bar and showered Cordelia in booze. ‘And don’t think I’m missing because I’m a bad shot. I’ll mark your card this time, but it’s the last warning you get. You stay away from my man, y’hear?’ 

Blam!

Where the third shot went I don’t know, but the piano player wasn’t taking any chances. He crashed through a window into the street.

‘Blam!’

‘Hold it right there Valance, you low down, fornicating drunkard! You ain’t sneaking off nowhere till we get something straight. You working for the likes of her I can just about swallow, but when I hear she ain’t fussy how she pays you; then I reckon it’s my turn to protect our interests. You can tell me all about it when we get home.’ 

With thanks to Houston A W Knight