"That's right, I'm Hettie, I've been in Kalispell about a week and Annie here's just arrived. You work this place? Er, I mean, you work in this place?"
"No, I'm the town minister," Caroline waxed sarcastically.
Hettie didn't deign to respond to this touchy reply, but looked at Annie Jo, raised her eyebrows and gave her a little smile.
Ralph interjected, "Caroline here is the saloon entertainer. And a real customer favorite too." Ralph always backed up Caroline.
Caroline flashed a smile at Ralph then it was back to focus on the 'ladies'.
"Well, if Caroline's voice is as pretty as her face, I'm not surprised!" cooed Hettie: ostensibly agreeably, but the amused, slightly smirking look she gave the saloon singer, from the top of her golden hair to the bottom of her footwear and back again, spoke volumes.
"And can I ask you gals just what do you do ta make a livin'? And where?"
"Oh, well, we're sort of entertainers, too, Caroline. It's nice to meet a fellow professional" she smiled sharklike teeth at Caroline "Course, we're more by way of private recitals, command performances and er... well, more than a number of farces." She tipped her head toward the swing doors "Our little theatre of dreams is just behind the funeral parlour, where they take care of the stiffs." she added, putting the money down on the bar-top for the drinks that had now arrived.
"Thanks, Ralph. Am I allowed to buy you a drink, or is that not allowed when you're on duty?" she asked the handsome Barkeep, giving him the glad eye.
The blonde was quiet as a churchmouse so far, it was obvious the one who called herself Hettie was calling the shots. The woman tried buttering up too with a quick compliment for Caroline. It wasn't going to work. She pressed on with a couple of pointed questions.
"Oh, well, we're sort of entertainers, too, Caroline. It's nice to meet a fellow professional" she smiled sharklike teeth at Caroline "Course, we're more by way of private recitals, command performances and er... well, more than a number of farces." She tipped her head toward the swing doors "Our little theatre of dreams is just behind the funeral parlour, where they take care of the stiffs." she added, putting the money down on the bar-top for the drinks that had now arrived.
Aha! Caroline knew it! She had already heard Sally had by some miracle ponied up enough money to start up a brothel. She didn't like Sally, never had, never would. But at least that meant the old whore would not be trapsing into the Star Dust.
Ralph collected the coins then answered Hettie's question, "You can buy me one. I'll just drink it later then." Truth was he might, he might not.
Caroline let Ralph finish then spoke up herself, "Well then, Hettie darlin', from one professional to another lemme tell ya there ain't no soliciting allowed in the Star Dust. So you drink up but then you can leave. And while yer still here, no badgering the menfolk. Do yer whorin' at yer own ....how'd you call it? Little theatre of dreams."
Annie had sipped her bourbon at first but suddenly decided to down it all, just in case this turned into a fight, she didn't want to waste the good liquor. Now Annie had been in the occasional altercation, they were almost inevitable in her line of work, but she certainly did not want to engage in that sort of thing only less than hour after arriving at this new town. She might well end up in jail then and she didn't have any money to bail herself out or pay any fines.
Ralph collected the coins then answered Hettie's question, "You can buy me one. I'll just drink it later then." Truth was he might, he might not.
"Well, of course..." Hettie's eyes sparkled as she smiled at the bearded beast "... just be sure and think of me when you do."
Caroline let Ralph finish then spoke up herself, "Well then, Hettie darlin', from one professional to another lemme tell ya there ain't no soliciting allowed in the Star Dust. So you drink up but then you can leave. And while yer still here, no badgering the menfolk. Do yer whorin' at yer own ....how'd you call it? Little theatre of dreams."
Annie Jo immediately knocked her drink back. But Hettie didn't even touch hers, yet.
"Whore?" she asked with confused innocence. "Oh, that's such an ugly word. We prefer 'Hostess'..." she nearly said 'don't we Annie?' but she could tell that the new girl was in no way looking for a confrontation. "... it lets us hang on to at least a tiny fragment of our self-respect, we girls who have fallen on evil times..." she gave a great heaving sigh and glanced up at the barman "... and I'm sorry if I was... 'badgering' you, Ralph... I guess when a girl's been forced on the path we have, even when we do have a chance to look up to and admire a really, and I mean really handsome man, it's going to be interpreted as... 'soliciting' did you call it, Caroline? Oh, I'm sorry... I guess I should show you proper respect and call you Miss Mundee, seeing as you own the place. I'm sorry, Miss Mundee, Annie and I will drink up and remove our unpleasant personages from your gaze as soon as possible. That's a promise."
She picked up her Brandy and took the tiniest sip imaginable before putting it down again. In fact, had she even let it touch her lips?
"Whore?" Hettie asked. "Oh, that's such an ugly word. We prefer 'Hostess'..."
"Good for you," Caroline interjected but let Hettie keep going. Turned out the broad had a lot to say on the subject.
"... it lets us hang on to at least a tiny fragment of our self-respect, we girls who have fallen on evil times..."
"Fallen or jumped?" Caroline mused, she had never had to prostitute herself out and she went thru hard times too. Hettie was hardly unique in that regard.
Hettie gave a great heaving sigh and glanced up at the barman "... and I'm sorry if I was... 'badgering' you, Ralph... I guess when a girl's been forced on the path we have, even when we do have a chance to look up to and admire a really, and I mean really handsome man, it's going to be interpreted as... 'soliciting' did you call it, Caroline?"
"Well, you sure don't want me to call it whoring," Caroline smirked.
Ralph jumped in, "You weren't badgerin' me none. You just were engaging in conversation. But....Miss Mundee here is right. Rules of the place don't allow you to ......solicit or whatever you want us ta call it."
Hettie now faced Caroline, "Oh, I'm sorry... I guess I should show you proper respect and call you Miss Mundee, seeing as you own the place. I'm sorry, Miss Mundee, Annie and I will drink up and remove our unpleasant personages from your gaze as soon as possible. That's a promise."
"You can call me Caroline, like you said we're both professionals and can be on a first name basis. Oh and for your information, I do not own the place. I work here," Caroline replied.
Hettie made a show of barely touching the rim of her drink glass to her lips, doubtful anything poured in though. She was going to milk this but good, probably to annoy her, Caroline figured.
"You can take til hell freezes over on that drink, Hettie darlin', but if you try and peddle yer wares you will be sent packin'. Just sayin'," Caroline declared, "And I don't enforce the rules, Ralph does."
"She's right 'bout that," Ralph nodded in that deadpan way of his.
"You can call me Caroline, like you said we're both professionals and can be on a first name basis. Oh and for your information, I do not own the place. I work here," Caroline replied.
"Ohhhh" Hettie made out the scales had just fallen from her eyes "You just act like you own the place. My apologies, Caroline, I misunderstood."
Hettie made a show of barely touching the rim of her drink glass to her lips, doubtful anything poured in though. She was going to milk this but good, probably to annoy her, Caroline figured.
"You can take til hell freezes over on that drink, Hettie darlin', but if you try and peddle yer wares you will be sent packin'. Just sayin'," Caroline declared, "And I don't enforce the rules, Ralph does."
Hettie turned her gaze to Ralph again.
"She's right 'bout that," Ralph nodded in that deadpan way of his.
"What, you'd manhandle me out of here, Ralph? Well, that'd be interesting experience, at least." she tipped her head "I bet you're pretty rough on trouble-makers?" she smiled, her eyes flashing "But I reckon you'd be more sorta 'firm but gentle' with a lady."
She got a cigarette case out and opened it. They weren't your usual roll-yer-own ones either, fancy pre-rolled ones (fancy because they were rolled by hands in factories by girls who could only produce four or five a minute) "Cigarette?" she offered the case to Ralph, then Annie and finally Caroline. "I do like a smoke with my drink." she said, wasting more time.
The first interested customer, Jimmy Miller, joined them at the bar, ogling Annie and then looking at Ralph.
"S...Say, Flandry... I wanna throw a drink in her!" he jerked a thumb at the shop-worn blonde, not even speaking to Annie Jo but to the barman, like she was one of his items on offer for sale, just so much merchandise like the bottles of booze stacked behind the bar. "What's she have?" asked Miller.
Franklin Fortner was descending the stairs that separated his office from the saloon floor, his hands holding his coat lapels. He wore a business suit, his usual fare, and his demeanor said that there was no doubt that he was the owner of the Stardust. His eyes spotted a woman at the bar, engaging his crew. He didn't know who she was but she definitely didn't appear to be a "regular customer", whatever that meant, he confessed to himself. As he approached, he saw her get a cigarette.
"Cigarette?" she offered the case to Ralph, then Annie and finally Caroline. "I do like a smoke with my drink." she said, wasting more time.
The first interested customer, Jimmy Miller, joined them at the bar, ogling Annie and then looking at Ralph.
"S...Say, Flandry... I wanna throw a drink in her!" he jerked a thumb at the shop-worn blonde, not even speaking to Annie Jo but to the barman, like she was one of his items on offer for sale, just so much merchandise like the bottles of booze stacked behind the bar. "What's she have?" asked Miller.
Franklin caught Ralph's eye, and nodded in the affirmative, then he turned to the newcomer.
"Let me guess. You're employed down the street at that sporting house. Right?"
"What, you'd manhandle me out of here, Ralph? Well, that'd be interesting experience, at least." she tipped her head "I bet you're pretty rough on trouble-makers?" she smiled, her eyes flashing "But I reckon you'd be more sorta 'firm but gentle' with a lady."
Ralph gave the barest of shrugs, "I'd do whatever it takes ta git the job done, Hettie."
As part of her stall job, for Caroline knew that was what this all was. Hettie now pulled out an offer for cigarettes. Ralph shook his head in the negative however young Annie did not mind if she did. She had taken up smoking little over a year ago and wouldn't turn down free tobacco. Caroline just held up one hand in front of her, "No thank ya."
One of the regulars, Jimmie Miller, now entered into the rather tense conversation and wanted to buy Hettie a drink. Caroline glared at the man but said nothing. Besides her boss, the actual owner of the place, Frank Fortner now made himself known. Fortner's head nod gave Ralph the go ahead to pour whatever drink Hettie wanted.
"Let me guess. You're employed down the street at that sporting house. Right?" asked Frank of Hettie.
Caroline stood there looking on and listening to every word. He had to be aware of what this was now all about. Question was would he uphold Miss Devereau's ban on prostitution in the place or not. He had never announced any changes so Caroline had assume the policy was still in place. She would soon find out.
"But I reckon you'd be more sorta 'firm but gentle' with a lady."
Ralph gave the barest of shrugs, "I'd do whatever it takes ta git the job done, Hettie."
"I bet you do, Ralph, I bet you do." cooed the copper-haired hussy,
Annie and Hettie puffed away on their cigarettes and Hettie nursed her drink. The boss man arrived and OK-ed Ralph to pour another another drink for Annie Jo, paid for by the quite agog Jim Miller. Hettie didn't miss that fact that the barkeep obeyed this man's nod, and worked out he was in charge here.
"Hello tall dark and handsome!" Mrs Rosenkrantz beamed at Fortner.
"Let me guess. You're employed down the street at that sporting house. Right?" asked Frank of Hettie.
Caroline stood there looking on and listening to every word. He had to be aware of what this was now all about. Question was would he uphold Miss Devereau's ban on prostitution in the place or not. He had never announced any changes so Caroline had assume the policy was still in place. She would soon find out.
"Well, yes, I'm one of Mrs Adam's hostesses: her first lieutenant you might say: Hettie Rosenkrantz, how d'you do?" she held out a gloved hand for him to kiss or spit on. "And this is my friend Annie, she might be joning us: I hope so, she's so very pretty don't you think?" she asked. "I'll say!!" the smitten Miller agreed.
@[Preston] Wayfarer
Her boss, Fortner, wasn't stupid, he nailed it right off with his opening question, asking the two 'ladies' if they worked at the 'sporting' house, interesting name for it, Caroline thought. Of course the one called Hettie answered, the other one seemed almost to be a mute or maybe completely dominated by this one.
"Well, yes, I'm one of Mrs Adam's hostesses: her first lieutenant you might say: Hettie Rosenkrantz, how d'you do?" she held out a gloved hand for him to kiss or spit on. "And this is my friend Annie, she might be joining us: I hope so, she's so very pretty don't you think?" she asked.
Caroline gave this Annie her due, she was decent looking enough...if you got past the bags under her eyes and that beaten down look. Personally she doubted Annie would last ten years in that career. It wore girls down and then spit them out.
"I'll say!!" the smitten Miller agreed.
Caroline now faced Fortner, "Hey boss, I was just tellin' these here.............hostesses," she almost smirked at that word, "that the StarDust has rules against women solicitin' customers on the premises. Rules me n' Ralph here take seriously."
Her boss, Fortner, wasn't stupid, he nailed it right off with his opening question, asking the two 'ladies' if they worked at the 'sporting' house, interesting name for it, Caroline thought. Of course the one called Hettie answered, the other one seemed almost to be a mute or maybe completely dominated by this one.
"Well, yes, I'm one of Mrs Adam's hostesses: her first lieutenant you might say: Hettie Rosenkrantz, how d'you do?" she held out a gloved hand for him to kiss or spit on. "And this is my friend Annie, she might be joining us: I hope so, she's so very pretty don't you think?" she asked.
The slattern held out her gloved hand for Franklin to take.
He didn't.
Caroline gave this Annie her due, she was decent looking enough...if you got past the bags under her eyes and that beaten down look. Personally she doubted Annie would last ten years in that career. It wore girls down and then spit them out.
"I'll say!!" the smitten Miller agreed.
Caroline now faced Fortner, "Hey boss, I was just tellin' these here.............hostesses," she almost smirked at that word, "that the StarDust has rules against women solicitin' customers on the premises. Rules me n' Ralph here take seriously."
Fortner was in a pickle. He had a fiduciary relationship with the brothel; He had a percent of the take because he supplied the business with liquor at cost. He, Franklin Fortner, had engineering that nexus with the wily old Scotsman, but he never lost sight of the fact that the saloon was his primary interest, and never would.
Now he was confronted by the morals-minded Caroline and somewhat dour Ralph, the bartender.
First he addressed the Rosenkrantz woman.
"Listen. I don't want you in here raising Hell with my staff. We got enough problems with drunken cowpokes. Now I've got some matters to discuss here," he pointed to Caroline and Ralph. "So go sit at that table in the corner there." He indicated a small table against the back wall, partially hidden by the piano. It was seldom occupied.
He then turned to Caroline and Ralph.
"We gotta talk," he informed them.