Summary:\u00a0 Is she really the newest working girl in Virginia City?\u00a0 Written for Bonanza Brand’s R-Rated 13th Anniversary Writing Challenge<\/p>\n
Rating:\u00a0 R \/ Mature Audience only.\u00a0 Not extremely explicit, but close enough.\u00a0 (2,775 words)<\/p>\n
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A Heart-filled Royal Flush<\/strong><\/p>\n Standing with her back to the bar, Mary Sue O\u2019Brien surveyed the room while she waited for one of the other girls to arrive. \u00a0She noted the various strangers intermingled with quite a few ranchers and town\u2019s folk who regularly visited.\u00a0 Her attention was drawn to the second-floor open walkway that led to the staircase.\u00a0 There a woman hesitated, straightened out her dress and adjusted the feathery scarf draped behind her back and hanging from her elbows before taking the first step down.<\/p>\n Turning to face her employer, gripping the raised edge of the bar with both hands, she quietly hissed, \u201cYou can\u2019t be serious, she\u2019s not a working girl!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo?\u201d Larry answered.<\/p>\n At five foot, four inches, and curves where curves belonged, the woman coming down the steps drew attention. \u00a0Even with her long dark auburn hair hanging down, her assets were hard to hide as a some of her creamy flesh bulged above the lace collar of her modestly, low-cut dress.\u00a0 Just enough flesh was exposed to make up for her shoulders that remained hidden from view.\u00a0 The length of skirt was a little longer than most of the other working girls, but that didn\u2019t faze Larry any; she turned a fair ankle in her dainty boots.\u00a0 Staring, the barman tilted his head, giving direction when she looked his way.\u00a0 With a disbelieving shake of his head, Larry couldn\u2019t help the smile as the woman\u2019s green eyes came alive and sparkled as she found her mark.<\/p>\n \u201cYou do know who that is, don\u2019t you?\u201d Mary Sue inquired; her eyes followed each step the woman made.<\/p>\n Continuing to wash the glasses and stack them upside-down on the silver tray, Larry unassumingly answered, \u201cYep.\u201d<\/p>\n Leaning farther over the bar, her own cleavage threatening to spill out, \u201cAnd you let her in here, dressed like that?\u201d<\/p>\n Shrugging his shoulders, \u201cShe made me an offer I couldn\u2019t refuse.\u201d<\/p>\n One by one, the patrons paused in their talks or set glasses of their unfinished drinks on the tabletops.\u00a0 A few tossed poker chips and voices called for cards or signaling standing pat was heard above the piano player\u2019s faltering fingers.<\/p>\n \u201cAn offer?!\u201d\u00a0 Cringing, blush flamed her cheeks at realizing her voice had traveled farther than intended when the music died.<\/p>\n \u201cMary Sue, clear your mind.\u00a0 As I said, I know who she is and that\u2019s not the type of offer she would ever make.\u00a0 At least not to anyone else but him.\u00a0 Just watch,\u201d Larry suggested.<\/p>\n One by one, the eyes of three of the four men at the last card table rose to watch the new girl approach.\u00a0 Two were Sacramento ranchers on their way home from Salt Lake City; and due to trouble with the stage they ended up having to stay the night at the International House Hotel in Virginia City.\u00a0 With nothing better to do, they\u2019d searched out a friendly card game at the highly recommended Gilded Palace; located through the double French doorway from the hotel lobby.<\/p>\n *****<\/p>\n The owners of the International House had jumped on the chance to open a Gentlemen’s Club \/ Gambling Hall when the business next door closed.\u00a0 Unlike a saloon, the rooms upstairs were reserved for special clientele to spend the night.<\/p>\n *****<\/p>\n The third card player watched with some amusement before realizing he needed to douse the amorous looks of the others at the table and let these men know what they didn\u2019t know, \u201cShe\u2019s out of your league gentlemen.\u201d<\/p>\n Setting his cards face down, the younger of the two Californians started to stand, \u201cShe\u2019s a working girl, isn\u2019t she?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n Eyes almost bulging out of their sockets, \u201cIn a getup like that?\u201d\u00a0 He slowly sat down when the woman stopped behind the fourth player at their table.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you guys going to play cards or not?\u201d asked the man as he finished settling his cards in order, not having paid attention to the idle chatter around the table nor the quieting of the room.<\/p>\n The feathered boa she\u2019d wrapped around her neck helped hide some of her cleavage to the wide eyes of the others as she leaned forward.<\/p>\n Roaming her hands sensuously across his shoulders and down his chest, she whispered into his ear, \u201cIf you\u2019d rather play cards\u2026\u00a0 Your loss.\u00a0 I had a different game in mind.\u201d\u00a0 Full lips painted a soft red sought out his mouth.<\/p>\n Struggling to fend off the unexpected attention, \u201cMa\u2019am, I\u2019m\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n Running fingers through his over the collar, curling, slightly graying hair she whispered, \u201cMarried?\u201d<\/p>\n Twisting his body and turning the chair around at the same time, he nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cSo am I.\u201d\u00a0 Maneuvering to take a seat on the man\u2019s lap, \u201cI won\u2019t tell if you don\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n The sultry timbre disappeared as a giggle he recognized, erupted. \u00a0Able to see the vision of loveliness, he asked, \u201cJust what game did you have in mind?\u201d<\/p>\n Accepting the hands that settled around her waist, \u201cI have a room upstairs.\u201d<\/p>\n Returning his attention to the game, he picked up the cards and tossed them to the middle of the table, face up.<\/p>\n \u201cGentlemen, deal me out.\u201d<\/p>\n Gasping at the diamond-fill Royal Flush revealed, \u201cYou could have won the pot, there\u2019s over two hundred dollars there,\u201d the older of the two Californians announced.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s nothing compared to this heart-fill Royal Flush.\u201d \u00a0Standing he allowed himself to be led across the floor, directly towards the staircase.<\/p>\n As the two reached the top of the stairs and began walking across the upper passageway, Candy turned around in his seat, draped an arm over the back of the chair and shouted, \u201cHey Joe! \u00a0Don\u2019t forget, morning comes early!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m the boss!\u201d \u00a0And with that a door slammed shut.<\/p>\n Facing the ranchers, \u201cAs I said gentlemen, she\u2019s way out of your league.\u201d<\/p>\n Sounds returned to the saloon as the piano came to life and patrons talked among themselves about the events of the past five minutes, before finally discussing other concerns.<\/p>\n Mary Sue cornered Larry, \u201cJust what offer did she make you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFive hundred dollars towards a new gas-operated chandelier,\u201d pointing towards the ceiling, \u201cto replace that one.\u00a0 In exchange, I’d let her ‘work’ Joe Cartwright tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut why?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s their anniversary tomorrow, and Joe\u2019s birthday.\u00a0 And before he leaves on Monday for the trail drive, she wanted to give him a present he\u2019d never forget.\u201d<\/p>\n Giving upstairs one last wistful look, \u201cWish I could be a fly on the wall at church tomorrow.\u00a0 Would love to hear the gossip about those two and tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, you wish it were you upstairs with him instead.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMe and every other working girl.\u201d\u00a0 Sighing, \u201cBut we know he\u2019s faithful to a fault.\u00a0 He deserves it though, what with his first wife\u2019s death.\u00a0 Yeah, Joe Cartwright deserves a woman like Constance.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGet back to work Mary Sue.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou too, Larry.\u201d<\/p>\n ****<\/p>\n Forgetting the slamming of the door, Joe enveloped the woman in his arms, leaned forward, and nibbled on her ear before whispering, \u201cMrs. Cartwright, you are one wicked woman.\u201d<\/p>\n Turning to face him, she wrapped her arms around his neck, \u201cI\u2019m to understand that\u2019s why you married me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt thought it was because I was set up.\u201d\u00a0 Breathlessly, the two parted from a long, passionate kiss, \u201cYou do know we\u2019re going to be the talk of the town after tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n Blushing, \u201cWell, they can only talk about what happened downstairs.\u201d<\/p>\n Reaching around to unzip the back of her dress, \u201cAnd only we can talk about what happens upstairs.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTalk?\u201d\u00a0 Slipping from his arms, \u201cI had something better than talk planned.\u201d<\/p>\n Shivering at the loss of warmth as she stepped away, \u201cWould that be my birthday present or my anniversary present?\u201d<\/p>\n Moving to the three-panel partition, she disappeared, only to peak around the edge, \u201cBoth.\u00a0 Now get comfortable, I\u2019ll be out in a minute.\u201d<\/p>\n *****<\/p>\n Having turned the wick in the glass-ensconced lamp to burn low, Joe undressed before slipping under the satin covers and sheets to patiently wait.<\/p>\n Articles of women\u2019s clothing were gently tossed to rest over the center panel.\u00a0 Moments later Constance stepped out wearing a see-through, deep red coverlet, revealing a most beguiling neglig\u00e9e.<\/p>\n Unable to contain the low growl, Joe\u2019s eyes widened in appreciation.\u00a0 \u201cNaughty and naughtier.\u201d\u00a0 Rising to his knees, he crawled across the bed to wait for his wife.\u00a0 \u201cMy, my, my.\u201d\u00a0 Slipping the flimsy material off her shoulders and down her back, \u201cI see you\u2019ve been shopping.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Elizabeth, remembering our anniversary was approaching, insisted on stopping by this quaint little shoppe when I was in Sacramento last month.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd she encouraged you to purchase some lacy lingerie to wear just for me.\u201d\u00a0 Looking at the tiny buttons down the front, Joe wiggled his fingers in anticipation of unwrapping his present.<\/p>\n Wiggling her own eyebrows, \u201cYou\u2019ve never objected in the past.\u201d<\/p>\n One button at a time, Joe proceeded with great theatrics until he reached the last button.\u00a0 Before he parted the material to reveal both tantalizingly full breasts, he beseeched the eyes of his love; it wasn\u2019t required that he ask permission, it was just something he had done back on their wedding night and continue to do so every time they made love. \u00a0Her soft, pale skin seemed aglow in the low light.\u00a0 Taking one pert, rosy nipple into his mouth, he suckled as if a new-born babe while massaging the other full orb by hand.<\/p>\n After two years of marriage, he knew exactly how to please his wife, to make her purr like a kitten and beg him to attend to her womanly region.\u00a0 He knew just how to bring her to climax in a strong orgasm by using his tongue and mouth.\u00a0 After satiating her need, he\u2019d allow her to reciprocate in kind with his own manhood.\u00a0 To Joe, this beginning was just the icing.\u00a0 And tonight, he planned to have his cake and eat it too.\u00a0 And knew Constance would enjoy eating her own \u2018cake\u2019, soon.\u00a0 Both thoroughly enjoyed the foreplay before allowing their carnal desires to consume their passion.<\/p>\n *****<\/p>\n After his introduction to Julia Bulette, Joe had frequented the rooms upstairs at various saloons. It was better to experience \u2018relief\u2019 there, especially having listened to his father, and his brother Adam, instilling in him the conduct that was expected from him when it came to nice, wholesome girls and maintaining their virtue.\u00a0 He understood from the man\u2019s point of view.\u00a0 However; from the woman\u2019s point of view\u2026<\/p>\n For some reason discovering on his wedding night just how unknowledgeable Alice was in the art of making love surprised him.\u00a0 He took time to explain that there were ways for a woman to please a man.\u00a0 Unfortunately, her upbringing would never allow her to perform those acts.\u00a0 As her mother had once explained to her, the marriage bed was for the man to own the woman\u2019s body.\u00a0 Joe loved Alice and he knew she loved him, but still it was disappointing.<\/p>\n *****<\/p>\n He\u2019d brought Alice and their unborn child\u2019s murderer to justice and returned to living in the main house and working the ranch.<\/em><\/p>\n As a favor to his father, the two attended the Governor\u2019s Ball.\u00a0 Even though most felt enough time had passed where it would be acceptable for Joe to start seeing someone new, he still grieved his loss.\u00a0 Throughout the evening, he chose to keep himself apart from the younger, available women, preferring to spend his time dancing with the spouses of key politicians as well as the widows or wives of ranchers the family knew.\u00a0 That was until after the sun set and Widow Azaela felt faint.\u00a0 She requested of Joe to escort her through one of the open double doors and out onto a balcony for some fresh air.<\/em><\/p>\n With careful attention, he knelt in front of the seventy-one-year-old woman as she sat on one of the cushioned benches, \u201cWould you care for some punch?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Fanning herself with the fan strapped to her wrist, \u201cYes, please.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be right back Mrs. Azaela.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n A few minutes later, Joe returned to find the widow missing.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cExcuse me, sir.\u201d At hearing a young woman\u2019s voice, Joe turned.\u00a0 \u201cI was told my Aunt Margery had taken faint.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Unable to speak at first, Joe stared.\u00a0 \u201cI think I\u2019ve been set up.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n With hands clasped in front of her waist, \u201cSet up?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d\u00a0 Stepping closer and offering a cup of punch.\u00a0 \u201cIf you\u2019re Constance Boivier.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI am.\u201d\u00a0 Unwilling to take the refreshment from this stranger, she took a backwards step.\u00a0 \u201cAnd just how do you know my name?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cYour aunt spoke of you while we were dancing.\u00a0 She, quite eloquently stated, you were her youngest sister\u2019s only daughter, who just happens to have four older brothers.\u00a0 She also mentioned you were visiting from Sacramento.\u201d\u00a0 Taking another step closer, \u201cIf you\u2019d prefer I can either introduce myself or find someone who knows both of us\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cJoseph?\u201d Ben called as he glanced through the doorway.<\/em><\/p>\n After a silent groan, \u201cHere I am.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cAh, there you are.\u00a0 Margery Azaela mentioned you would be out here; and asked that I properly introduce you to her niece, Miss Boivier.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Turning to face the new arrival, \u201cMr. Cartwright, I presume you know this young man.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Conspiratorially whispering, \u201cI told you I was set up.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThat I do.”\u00a0 Ben’s expression told his son to behave.\u00a0 “Constance Boivier, may I introduce to you, my son, Joseph Cartwright.\u00a0 Joseph, Miss Constance Boivier.\u201d\u00a0 Further addressing his son, \u201cI met Miss Boivier when I attended a Cattlemen\u2019s Meeting last year in Sacramento.\u00a0 Her father invited me to their home for dinner one night.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n After offering her slight, gloved hand and having it taken by the strong, yet gentle hand of Joe Cartwright, there was no separating the two that evening.\u00a0 Within six months, Constance was living with her aunt in Virginia City.\u00a0 Margery was thrilled that her matchmaking had achieved her niece being properly courted by the most eligible bachelor, er\u2026 widower, \u00a0in town.\u00a0 And almost a year to the day of their introduction, the two were married, much to the consternation of the governor\u2019s staff when they learned the date of the Governor\u2019s Ball would have to be changed to allow the governor and his wife to attend the wedding.<\/em><\/p>\n *****<\/em><\/p>\n Their first night as man and wife revealed another surprise to Joe.\u00a0 After having his \u2018socks knocked off\u2019, if he\u2019d been wearing any, he couldn\u2019t help but ask.\u00a0 Constance\u2019s response was an even bigger shock as he listened to his wife explain how she had gone to the most upscale gentleman\u2019s club to learn the fine art of making love.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cJoe, it\u2019s not so scandalous.\u00a0 I went to school with my friend Elizabeth, and I knew her mother owned the gentlemen’s club, and after Elizabeth returned from attending a women’s college, she began managing the business for her mother.\u00a0 We\u2019re still friends and we correspond quite frequently.\u00a0 And when I told her I was to be married and told her of you\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Not believing he could be any more embarrassed, \u201cI don\u2019t think you need to say any more.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Snuggling into her husband\u2019s strong chest, \u201cEnough talking?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cEnough talking.\u201d Joe busied himself in making love to his wife and letting her make love to him.<\/em><\/p>\n *****<\/p>\n The first rays of morning streamed through the lace curtains, shining on the couple spooned together in the large bed.<\/p>\n Glancing over her shoulder, Joe grinned as his wife stretched, causing the sheet to slip down, \u201cGood morning, Constance, my love.\u201d<\/p>\n Unembarrassed by her nakedness she moved to straddle her husband, \u201cIt is, isn\u2019t it.\u201d<\/p>\n With one hand, Joe caressed her cheek as he gently rose up to kiss her lips, \u201cHappy second anniversary.\u201d<\/p>\n Purring as his other hand fondled and tweaked a breast, Constance ardently returned his kiss, \u201cHappy anniversary and happy birthday, my love.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou do realize my anniversary present for you is back home.\u201d<\/p>\n Snuggling onto his strong chest, \u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd you do realize I\u2019m going to miss you when the drive leaves tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n Unable to prevent the hitch in her breath, \u201cI\u2019m going to miss you too.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you say we get up and have breakfast before going to church?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI do declare, husband.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know why I married you.\u00a0 All it seems you want to do is talk, or, or\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Joe silenced her by placing an index finger to her lips, \u201cYou said something last night about games.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe have this room until noon.\u201d<\/p>\n Wiggling his eyebrows, \u201cNoon, huh.\u201d<\/p>\n Resting her chin on his chest, \u201cOh yes.\u201d<\/p>\n And with that, she pulled the sheet over their bodies and, well\u2026\u00a0 Let\u2019s let these two love birds have a little privacy.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The End (or not)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Author’s Note:\u00a0 Pat, this one’s for you!<\/p>\n Author’s Note:\u00a0 #2:\u00a0 This story was written to keep the fourth player’s identity a secret for as long as I could. So please, for future readers who read the comments first, do not include his identity in your comments.\u00a0 — Thank you<\/p>\n Author’s Note #3:\u00a0 I know not everyone will agree with my description of Alice, but that’s the way I interpreted Bonnie Bedelia’s portrayal of the character.\u00a0 To me she just seemed too demure for Joe.\u00a0 But then if you’ll remember, this episode was written for Dan Blocker’s Hoss, and a demure wife suited him better.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n