Luck’s Voice

Book 1:

Voice of Luck

Daniel Schinhofen

Copyright © 2020 Daniel J. Schinhofen

No parts of this book may be reproduced in any form by an electronic or mechanical means – except in the case of brief quotations embodied in articles or reviews – without the written permission from the publisher.

The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarities to real persons, living or dead, are purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

Copyright © 2020 Daniel J. Schinhofen

All rights reserved.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-one

Chapter Twenty-two

Chapter Twenty-three

Chapter Twenty-four

Chapter Twenty-five

Chapter Twenty-six

Chapter Twenty-seven

Chapter Twenty-eight

Chapter Twenty-nine

Chapter Thirty

Chapter Thirty-one

Chapter Thirty-two

Chapter Thirty-three

Chapter Thirty-four

Chapter Thirty-five

Chapter Thirty-six

Chapter Thirty-seven

Chapter Thirty-eight

Chapter Thirty-nine

Chapter Forty

Chapter Forty-one

Chapter Forty-two

Chapter Forty-three

Chapter Forty-four

Chapter Forty-five

Chapter One

Walking down the side of the empty road, John wondered what he had done in a previous life to warrant this one. Must have been bad, whatever it was, for so much to have gone so wrong for me. Snorting at the level of self-pity, he kept walking. Father Daniels always said each setback is just a trial by God to make us stronger, but that motherfucker never faced a tenth of what I did. If God came down here, I’d kick him in the nuts.

The sound of a car driving up the road made him glance back. The night was pierced by twin bright lights, and John squinted against them. Knowing my luck, this guy will hit me and keep driving. Sighing, he stepped into the scrub beside the asphalt and kept walking, his boots and jeans protecting his legs from the dry weeds.

The lights got brighter as the car sped closer. The sound of the engine, growling with power, broke the silence of the night. Sports car... so a rich asshole, John thought as he kicked a rock, only to stumble when the rock didn’t move.

“Fuck!” John shouted. He hopped onto one foot for a second, his now broken toe radiating pain.

The sports car went past him and almost knocked him down, the wind from it flying by shoving him sideways. John’s injured foot came down, making him grit his teeth in pain. He stood there, glaring at the car, which came to a sudden stop.

“What, feel bad for almost knocking me down, asshole?” John muttered under his breath as he started limping down the road.

The brake lights went off and the car began to back up. John stopped moving and waited for it, ready to give the driver a piece of his mind. When the car got closer, John couldn’t place it. There was no make or model on it he could see. The one thing that caught his eye was the license plate and plate holder. The holder had the entire deck of cards going around it, and the plate itself read LADYLUK. Snorting, John waited for the car to come to a stop beside him.

The window lowered silently, and a college coed with strawberry-blonde hair looked at him with concern. “Are you okay?”

John blinked. He certainly hadn’t expected this girl— he was sure it was going to be a man with slicked-back hair and a haughty attitude. “Um... yeah, I’m good,” John managed after a second of silence.

“I didn’t expect to see anyone on this road,” the woman said. “Not the most traveled road, so I thought I could open it up a bit. I’m sorry if I startled you. Can I give you a ride to apologize?”

“I’m good. Getting rides from strangers is a bad idea.”

“Tell that to everyone who uses Super Lift or Fahrt,” the perky coed laughed.

John took a second to really look at her. Twenty… maybe? Too young to have a car like this. Her blouse was expensive silk with the top button undone, giving him just enough of a view to know she wasn’t wearing a bra. That meant those firm high peaks were hers and not held up by help. Designer jeans clung to her legs like glue, and she was wearing silly fur-lined boots. She brushed blonde hair back from her face with well-maintained nails, each one showing a painted ace.

“Well, the world is filled with fools,” John said. He was surprised that he wasn’t bitter that this woman seemed to have found all the luck he never could.

“One born every minute, but that has to be offset by someone deserving being born occasionally, right? The universe couldn’t be that cruel, could it?”

“Did you see that car a few miles back?”

“Yeah, it looked rough… oh, was that yours?”

“Mine. Bought it two days ago from a used car dealer in Vegas.”

“Ouch… can you get a refund?”

“All deals final,” John snorted. “That right there has been my life.”

“Universe just keeps kicking you, does it?”

“Forty-two years’ worth of kicking.”

“I can give you a ride. It’s still sixty miles to the next town, and that’d take you forever to walk. Wait, why didn’t you call a tow truck?”

“My prepaid phone ran out of minutes yesterday.”

“Wow, you aren’t kidding about being unlucky.”

“Unlike you,” John said. “Even your plate says you’re lucky.”

She let out a light laugh as her cheeks darkened a little. “Well, a bit. I’ve had troubles of my own, though. Why don’t I give you a ride to town and we can trade stories?”

John paused, feeling as if a chasm was opening under him. She could be a deranged serial killer, and she’ll take me out somewhere and kill me… John looked around at the dark empty desert. Ha, yeah right. Possibly, she’ll claim rape when we get to town, and then I’ll end up as the unwilling partner to a very big man named Bubba… okay, that’s also unlikely... that leaves me with she honestly means it.

“Sure,” John said, opening the door. “I appreciate it.”

“Goody. It’s been so long since someone wanted to know about me. People always just want something from me.”

“Well, honestly,” John chuckled, “that’s the opposite for me. You can call me John.”

“John?” the coed laughed as she put the car into gear. “Really?”

John winced, “It’s short for Johnathan.”

“Oh, a Johnathan. You could call me Lilly, then, John. What’s your full name?”

John looked away, not wanting to say it, but he told her anyway, “‘Johnathan Doc Henry’ is what my birth certificate says.”

Lilly frowned, then began to laugh, “After that ‘Doc?’”

“I can’t be sure. My mother died in childbirth, father unknown,” John shrugged. “Like I said, the universe likes to kick me.”

“It certainly didn’t do you any favors with that name,” Lilly agreed. “Could be worse. Your last name could have been Holliday.”

“That’s what I tell myself, too.”

“Great minds,” Lilly smiled as she shifted into second gear. “So you’ve never had any luck?”

“Oh, plenty of luck,” John snorted, “just all of it bad. You know those old soulful blues songs, the ones about how the singer is having a bad time? Wife leaves him, dog dies, that kind of thing? Those fuckers have it good.”

Lilly frowned. “Well, that sounds pretty rough. What was your worst day?”

“I had one person I really liked in life. A foster parent, Theresa Goldman. She didn’t have much, but she cared and did all she could for me. I was sixteen when she was talking about formally adopting me, was taking the steps to. I was finally going to have a family, a mother…” John trailed off as the old pain hit him harder than he expected. Tears formed in his eyes and he forced them back. “She died in her sleep the day before everything was final.”

“Wow, that’s—” Lilly began as she shifted into third gear.

“Wait, it gets worse,” John said, closing his eyes. “I called for an ambulance. Did you know that cops will show up when you make an emergency call? I didn’t expect it. The medics took her and the cops started asking me questions. If we had fought, things like that. Theresa bruised easy and she wasn’t the most graceful person. Add in my record of being aggressive with previous foster parents, and you can see where that went.”

“Gods, that’s—”

“Turns out Theresa had a son; she never spoke of him. I found out later why... he was worse than shit. He had her cremated while I was waiting to see a judge. She wanted to be buried, even had a plot in the local cemetery with everything already paid for. He took a refund on that and cleaned out her house, including my meager belongings, and left while I was waiting to see the judge. I never got to say goodbye to the woman I considered my mother.” His throat was tight by the time he finished.

“John, I’m so sorry.”

“Not your fault,” John coughed as he choked back his emotions. “That’s the worst I can think of, but most days normally end with me wondering why I’m still here.”

“Yet you’re still here,” Lilly said, shifting into fourth gear hard. “You never once gave in to despair.”

“It’s Theresa’s fault. She always told me that the only true weakness was the inability to keep going forward, no matter what came.” John smiled softly, “I honor her by doing what she would have wanted of me. I shrug off the bad and put one foot in front of the other.”

“No matter what?”

“No matter what,” John replied. “What about you? We were going to trade stories, I thought.”

“We are. I have a question before that. What would you do if your luck changed for the better? Would you help those around you, or would you use it solely for your benefit?” The question came as the car glided through the dark night as she shifted gears again.

“Guess it depends,” John said. “If I was okay, I’d like to think I’d help those experiencing the same shit luck I’ve dealt with. I honestly don’t know, Lilly. That was an odd question, wasn’t it?”

“It’s a telling question.” She glanced at him with a smile. “Most just blindly say they’d help but never do. You said you don’t know, and I can count how few times I’ve heard that on the fingers of one hand.”

“Ask it a lot?”

“More than I wish I had to. We were telling stories, so let me tell you one. It’s about a world where the fantastical and mundane came together to make something special, beautiful, and terrifying.”

John chuckled, “What’s the book called?”

“Huh? Oh, no, it’s a story, not a book. Magic, elves, dwarves, and so much more can be found alongside the rustic charm of the old west. I remembered it because of your name.”

“I thought we were telling stories of bad days,” John said, wondering if Lilly was two fries short of a combo meal.

“We are. A great man in that world was killed and with him gone, the Darkness began to spread. You see, it takes a man who can overcome anything, a man who can continue to put one foot in front of the other, to make a difference in that world.” She shifted gears again, the engine getting slightly quieter as if lamenting the death as well.

“And this man dying, that was a bad day for you?”

“Yes,” Lilly said as a single tear fell from her eye, slowly sliding down her cheek.

John blinked, not having expected her to cry. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to mock.” Without thinking, he reached over and wiped the tear away. “Forgive me?”

“I should be asking that,” Lilly whispered. “I have a selfish request, Johnathan Doc Henry. I want you to do what he failed to do.” She shifted again, and the fact she had shifted more than the car could possibly have gears didn’t register on him.

The wetness on his finger forgotten, John blinked, “Huh?”

“Can you… no, will you, become my Voice? Will you turn the odds of the losing battle and help a forgotten world rise from the brink again?” Lilly turned to face him, no longer holding the wheel.

John’s heart lurched as he waited for the car to wreck, but instead, he noticed bright points of light streaking past the car, eerily like an old TV show did for a traveling starship. Slack-jawed, he stared at the lights for a long moment. He turned back to look at Lilly only to find that she was gone.

“Lilly? Where did you go? What’s happening? Why me?”

“Because good men, truly good men, are harder to find than the best hand,” Lilly’s voice echoed around him as the car vanished and the lights grew brighter, flashing by even faster. “If you decline, you will be back on the side of the road a mile from town and will forget all about me, remembering only someone giving you a lift.”

John swallowed as he watched the lights. “If I say yes, then what?”

“I will bless you and give you what you’ve been missing, plus more to make up for what you missed. My name is Lillianna Uma Caroline Kingmaker, and you’ve been looking for me all your life.”

John started to laugh, tears pouring from his eyes at the insanity of it all. The lights kept going by, but he finally caught a good look at them— each was a planet filled with life that was being watched over by a powerful being. But the Darkness, which he thought of as space, shifted and dark points started growing on each planet. The Darkness dimmed the light around the world, and when the light waned, the Darkness moved in, snuffing out the light and the planet. Each time he watched that happen, he felt the loss of it almost as keenly as he felt the loss of Theresa.

“Fine, Lilly. I agree. I will be your Voice, Lady Luck.”

The sound of happy laughter filled the air around him, and the loss he felt lessened. The sound of chips being fiddled with, cards being shuffled, dice being rattled, and slot machines paying out erupted around him.

“I accept you, Voice of Luck. Rest now, and before you wake, you will have to make some decisions as to what gifts of mine you wish. I would grant them all to you, but I can’t. You’ll need to grow stronger to hold more of my power.”

“Will I see you again, Lilly?” A warmth like a loved one holding him and soothing an old pain suffused him as he asked the question.

“It will take more faith in me for me to speak with you again, much less to be seen by you. Do what you can to help the world... I will be watching. May the dice fall in your favor and the cards always come when you need them.”

Chapter Two

Welcome, Voice of Luck. You are one of the chosen speakers of the Gods. Before we go further, you must select which race you will embody. Please select from this list:

Human: Jack-of-all-trades and master of none, this race gains no advantages besides not being denied access to skills, abilities, and gifts. Humans are the dominant race on the planet.

Half-Elven: Of mixed blood, this race gains some of the innate nature of the elves— faster reflexes, keen hearing and eyesight, and affinity toward nature magic. Half-elves are viewed as belonging to neither race.

Half-Dwarf: Of mixed blood, this race gains some of the innate nature of the dwarves— healthier, resistant to poisons, and exceptional night vision. They also gain an innate understanding of any craft involving metal. Half-dwarves can pass as human, and most try to do exactly that, knowing how half-breeds are viewed.

Half-Bestial: Of mixed blood, this race gains some of the advantages of their bestial parentage, depending on the type of bestial you choose. Viewed with disdain, hatred, or pity by all other races.

These are your options, as your old world did not have the other races. Please choose your race.

John would have blinked if he had a body, but he was just a floating consciousness in the vastness of space. Well, that sets the stage, John thought. Okay, not sure I want to be a half-animal... I mean sure, if they are mostly human, I’d probably tumble with one or three, but not sure I want to deal with odd ears and a tail all the time myself. Human… I can pass. I just did that for over forty years. Which leaves me as half-elven or half-dwarven. Normally I’d choose dwarf, but if I’m going to be the Voice of Luck, I’ll end up gambling a lot. The increased reflexes from the elf will make that easier to meddle with, and they gain nature magic… but the dwarf would make it easier to resist the effects of alcohol. Plus, I could see about crafting shit and I would get night vision.

John drifted in the void as he kept going back and forth on which to pick. He didn’t know how long he had been debating, but eventually, he came to his solution. Umm, System? You there?

Have you chosen?

Not exactly. Can you give me a coin to flip? I’m the Voice of Luck. I want to leave this choice up to her.

A ghostly hand with a coin appeared in the void. It showed him the two sides; one depicting a dwarf, and the other an elf.

That’s it. Let’s see what Luck favors. Let it flip.

The thumb snapped up and the coin flew, spinning in the void before it came back toward his point of view. It hit nothing, bounced, landed on its edge, and spun for a moment. It did not wobble, and when it stopped, it was still standing on edge.

Well, fuck, John sighed.

Hybrid option accepted. Congratulations on being a half elf-dwarf. You will gain the bonuses of each race.

Holy fuck, really?

Yes, really. You must now begin the process of modifying your new body. When you are ready, just let me know.

John could see a genderless body floating in the void. Male, please? The body became male, and John sighed in relief. Set to maximum height allowed. John had nothing to compare height to until a tape measure appeared beside the body. Hmm... five-foot-seven? A little short, but much taller than a dwarf, I hope. Nice set of shoulders, but maybe a bit too much. Narrow body. The body before him lost a couple of inches in breadth, becoming more human. Dull the ears. The ears lost the sharp points at the top. They were rounded out, but still showed vague hints of the points. Nobody will be able to tell unless they are looking for it... good. Onto important matters: give the body the same equipment I had before? After a moment, John shook his head. Fuck it. Give me another two inches in length and another inch in girth... Damn, that might be a bit much. Reduce the increases by half... Better. I won’t feel like I have a cane shoved into my pants if I get a hard-on. Give me black hair, steel-gray eyes, and give the body a gymnastic physique. Same face I had, but back in my twenties... okay, I’m done.

Now that you have a race and body, you must choose which starting gifts you wish from your Goddess. As you have gathered no faith at this point, you can only pick from the lesser tier. It is recommended you take one from each tree, but that is up to you. Once you have selected four and confirmed your choices, you will be done and on your way to help your Goddess in her work.

Thank you, System.

No thanks are needed.

I still want to thank you. Let me see the lists, please.

John felt his brain lock up for a moment as a slew of possibilities appeared. They were separated into three broad categories; attack, defense, and utility. Looking at the trees, he noted the ones above the bottom were grayed out and figured them to be a higher tier than he could access.

Well, let’s go through them one by one, John thought as he looked at the attack options.

Okay, I think that’s it, John thought as he looked at the four options he liked most.

All In: When the game is on the line, your luck knows no bounds. The Lady herself will influence things in your favor. Calling on her in this way draws the attention of the Darkness as well. Use this sparingly, or bad luck will swiftly follow.

Stand Down: When you decide the point needs to be made, you can force even a wolverine bestial to step back and calm down. Useable once per day without payment. Using this again in the same day will tax you heavily; within an hour, you will collapse into a short coma.

Missed Me: Who needs to be fast on the draw if they cannot hit you? Able to bend time and space so any single attack misses you. Useable once per hour.

Healing Hands: Use your energy to fuel healing for whoever you touch. If no energy is available, you can use your vitality. If no vitality is available, you will use health. Using health in this way can lead to death.

System, I’ll take these.

Are you sure you wish to take these four?

Yes.

Very well. Configuring your build. Did you wish to keep your name?

John thought about it for a long moment before chuckling humorously. Change it. I’ll be ‘Doc Holyday’ instead.

Very well, Doc. You will sleep, and when you wake, you will be on your way to your first destination.

Thank you, System.

I do hope you are able to assist the world, Doc. We have lost far too many in the last cycle.

I’ll do my best, System. For Luck, and for you.

His awareness dimmed and, for a split second, he thought he heard a voice thank him before he lost consciousness.

~*~*~

The slow rolling sway of the seat he was on woke him. Blinking, he yawned and stretched as he looked around. A wooden enclosure, windows on both sides, and no glass? Just curtains set in the middle of large doors... Guess this is a stagecoach, Doc thought.

“Next stop is Deep Gulch,” a deep voice called out.

Guess this is my stop.

Since he was awake and the town was coming up soon, Doc took the time to inventory what he had; shoes, pants, shirt, vest, jacket, bowler, brass pocket watch, a derringer pistol in his vest pocket, wallet, and money. Coin only... guess that means it’s a gold economy. Smallest coins are made of copper, then nickel... next is silver, and gold. They have the amount on them and it’s similar to US currency. I hope I have a bag on the roof, or I’m going to have a damned hard time when I get to town.

Shifting the curtain covering the window to the side, Doc got his first look at the world he was in. The road they were on was in the mountains. Lofty trees filled the side of the mountains that he could see. The majority look like pines, but they have the faintest trace of blue to them. That looks like an oak mixed in over there, but again, it has a hint of blue to the leaves. Might be spring? I can see evidence of snow on the ground, but the leaves are green.

He looked at the sky and was awed by a vivid shade of blue that Earth never had. The sun was a shade more gold than yellow, and it blazed almost directly overhead. Doc was about to drop the curtain when he thought he caught a hint of movement among the trees. Squinting, he stared at the spot and caught sight of a bark-colored arm. He followed it up and saw a face, framed by green hair, peeking around the trunk of a pine and watching the carriage. Emerald eyes met his, and barely a moment later, the face and arm were gone as if they had never been.

“An elf?” Doc murmured as he thought about it. No, not an elf. The ears weren’t pointed. Maybe a dryad or similar? They didn’t run, after all... just seemed to vanish.

Dropping the curtain, Doc leaned back in the carriage. System, you there? When no answer came, he sighed. Hope you are well, and thank you again. Now, how do I see my information?

Doc Holyday- 42

Half-Breed Elf/Dwarf

Voice of Luck

Energy: 10

Vitality: 20

Health: 15

Faith: 1

Racial Bonuses:

Natural affinity to nature magic, improved reflexes, keen hearing and sight, resistance to poisons, improved vitality, night vision, natural affinity to metal crafts

Goddess Gifts:

All In, Stand Down, Missed Me, Healing Hands

Well, that answers that, Doc chuckled. What do the different stats mean?

Energy: Dictates how much magic can be used.

Vitality: Running, fighting, and all other physical exertion taxes this stat.

Health: Lose all of this and die.

Faith: How much faith the people of this world have in your Goddess.

Not the most helpful breakdown, but good enough for now, Doc sighed. How much energy does healing hands use?

Healing Hands: Replenish a point of health for each point of energy expended. This is a channeled spell— the longer you hold it, the more energy is used. If no energy is available, vitality will be used. If no vitality is available, health will be used. Using health in this way can lead to death. This spell can cure minor afflictions at an increased cost. No incantations or somatic components are needed to use this spell.

Thank the Lady that I got the silent and still spell. Doc chuckled to himself. I need to know how prevalent healing magic is. It’s one of the reasons I went ahead and switched my name to Doc. When nothing happened, he grimaced. System, if you can hear me, next time you help someone, general world knowledge would be a good idea.

Doc took a deep breath and waited to reach the next destination. His life was just beginning and this time, he had Luck in his corner. Closing his eyes, he saw Lilly sitting in the car next to him with a smile on her face. Well, Lady, it begins now. I hope I make you proud.

Chapter Three

Doc was unaware of how long the trip took, but the sudden slowing of the coach was his warning that he was at his destination. The coach rocked when it came to a stop, and he took a deep breath.

“Deep Gulch,” the deep voice announced.

Stepping out of the stagecoach, Doc looked up and down the dirt street. It looked like the old west to him; the buildings nearby had the look he associated with that time period. The things that stood out the most were the people. Mostly human, but a few were obviously not. There was a woman with rabbit ears holding up the edge of her skirt as she stepped off the street and into the building next to them. His coachman was clearly not human, his rough skin and tusks making that obvious.

“Your bag,” the coachman said, grabbing it and tossing it to him with ease.

Doc caught it, staggering back a step, not having expected the weight inside of it. “Thank you,” he said, nodding to the driver.

“Did you bring the mail?” someone asked from the far side of the coach.

“Yes,” the bestial said, taking two sacks and dropping them off the coach. “I’ll be stabling for the night. Make sure the outgoing is ready by sunrise.”

“We are never the problem,” the other voice replied with a loud sniff.

Not wanting to get involved, Doc shifted his duffle so it hung over his shoulder and started walking away from the carriage. Glancing about, he looked for a place to stay. Saloon, brothel, bank, general store, gambling house, maybe... Doc mentally noted each place as he looked down the street.

He walked toward a place that looked like it might have rooms available, keeping his eyes forward and doing his best to remember what social etiquette was in the old west. Maybe it isn’t the same here, but best to observe first.

It was a short trip down the street, but he picked up on a couple of social cues on the trip. Every man he could see wore a hat of some kind. I see a mix of hats from bowlers to something more like the Stetson, but none of them are dominant. The men in the more typical cowboy hats had guns strapped to them, while most others didn’t look to be armed at all.

The door next to him opened and a large man stepped out, almost into Doc. Able to move quickly sideways, Doc gave the big man a level look.

“My apologies,” the big man said.

Doc took in his attire and the badge pinned to his chest. “I apologize, too. I should have been watching where I was going, Deputy. I just arrived, and since I have your time, could you recommend a place to stay?”

The man eyed Doc for a moment before nodding, “The Lily over there has rooms to rent, if you don’t mind their other business.”

Doc looked to where the man pointed; it was the building he had been walking to already. “Other business?”

“They have gambling, women, and booze,” he replied.

“Thank you. It will work for the short term, at least.”

“What’s your name?”

“Doc Holyday. Deputy…?”

“Grange. Sheriff Grange.”

“I apologize, Sheriff.”

“Come from out east, have you?” Grange asked, clearly less than impressed with Doc.

“It’s been a trip,” Doc replied with a genuine smile.

“Keep your nose clean. If you cause trouble, I’ll be seeing you again.”

“I’ll keep it in mind, Sheriff.”

Grange grunted and started toward the general store. Doc watched him go for a moment, wondering about the gun on the sheriff’s hip. He had caught the edge of some kind of engraving on the metal near the hammer. Shaking his head, Doc started toward the Lily again.

He crossed the street after making sure it was clear and stopped outside the swing doors of the Lily. A sign hung from the front with a lily painted onto the wood, but the paint was weatherworn and chipped. Pushing into the building, he felt his smile slip some as he took in the interior.

Three card tables took up the back left of the room. One of them had three players at it while the others sat empty. There was a bar directly across from the door that had a sour-looking man standing behind it and next to a closed door. A small stage dominated the far right side of the room and beside it, a staircase that went to the next floor. There was a closed door at the base of the stairs, and a piano tucked into the gap underneath them. The rest of the floor space was taken up with regular tables, three of which had men sitting at them. A single woman in what Doc thought of as saloon girl attire was near the bar, looking bored. The cat ears on her head let him know she was not entirely human.

Crossing the room, he headed for the bartender. “I was told you have rooms for rent?”

The bartender eyed him for a long moment before he snorted, “We do, but no one rents them. You look like you’d be better off staying at the Springs, not here.”

“Hey now, Skippy, don’t go driving off the first new face we’ve seen in ages,” the cat-eared woman said.

Doc took his hat off, placing it on the bar. “Thank you, miss.”

Professional smile in place, the woman gave him a wink. “You can call me Fiala. You just get into town?”

“On the coach,” Doc replied. “Give me just a moment, please.” He turned his attention to the bartender and smiled. “Why would this place be a bad place to stay?”

“I didn’t say bad,” Skippy said quickly. “We just have a rougher clientele than you—”

“Skippy,” the voice that called the name was soft and musical, but held a disapproving tone, “are you driving a customer out of our establishment? Again?”

“Madam Lia, I—” Skippy said, turning to face the door behind the bar.

Doc looked toward the source of the voice and his mouth went dry. The woman who stepped out was stunningly beautiful. A master sculptor couldn’t have made a more perfect face if they tried. Jade eyes and light-red lips helped give her lightly tanned skin more color. Her long golden hair was gathered into a ponytail. She was wearing a dress of red and white that, while demure, hinted at her figure. Her long-fingered hand was holding a fan which snapped shut as she stared at Skippy. The silver rings that pierced her long, pointed ears, held traces of tiny engraved writing. “I warned you last time, didn’t I?”

“Madam Lia, you’re mistak—”

“You did, Madam,” Fiala spoke up. “He was sending this gentleman to the Springs like he did with the last one.”

Skippy spun on Fiala, his face contouring in anger. “You filthy lying cunt!”

Doc struck. He didn’t think nor did he hesitate— he just struck. His right hand connected with Skippy’s weak chin, snapping the man’s head to the side. Grimacing and shaking his hand, Doc blinked. “Um, do excuse me. I shouldn’t have stepped into your dispute. I just have a hard time abiding certain words being used at women.”

Fiala looked back and forth from him to Skippy before turning her gaze to Lia.

Lia frowned, “I should rightly call the sheriff, as you’ve assaulted an employee. However, I don’t fault you for your actions. Even if Fiala is one of my ladies, he shouldn’t speak to her in such a manner. If you’ll give me a moment.” She looked to the card table, which had stopped the game to watch the commotion. “Dillon, please remove this man from the property.”

“Yes, ma’am,” the dealer said, getting up from his seat. “Game is on hold.”

“I’ll have to ask Westin to cover Skippy’s shifts until I can find a new bartender,” Lia sighed. “Now, you were asking about rooms?”

Doc gave her a tentative smile, “I was, indeed.”

“You are fine with the affairs of the Lily?”

“Nothing wrong about making a living however you can,” Doc replied.

The fan snapped open as Dillon dragged Skippy away, and Lia covered her mouth. “A forward-thinking man, are you?”

“I don’t know about that, Miss Lia.”

“Madam or Madam Lia, if you please…?” Trailing off, she waited for him to introduce himself.

“Where are my manners?” Doc smiled. “I’m Doc, Doc Holyday.”

Lia studied him intently. “The Spring would have you— they only accept humans under their roof. I don’t exclude people because of their heritage. Everyone is welcome at the Lily. The room is a dime a day and includes laundry and a single meal.”

Doc pulled a silver dollar from his pocket. “For the week. Two meals, drinks while I stay, a bath when requested, plus the laundry?”

Lia nodded, “I accept, but if you drink too much, I will cut you off.”

Doc slid the silver to her. “Agreed. Thank you, Madam.”

“Fiala, take our guest to room twenty.”

“Yes, Madam Lia,” Fiala said. “Follow me, sir.”

“Oh, one more thing,” Doc asked. “Do you happen to know who the healer in town is?”

“You mean Doctor Whittaker?” Lia asked.

“Probably. Where is he located?”

“To the east one street and down four buildings,” Lia replied. “He will cost you a good amount. He dislikes working on… some.”

“He’s the only one in town?”

“The only licensed healer,” Lia said. “Old Maid Henrick is the town alchemist. It’s said she can cure the simplest of ailments. Healing without a license can get one in trouble.”

“Thank you,” Doc said, picking up his hat but keeping it in hand.

“Good day,” Lia said, her fan moving slowly in front of her mouth.

Following Fiala had his mind wandering a bit; the dark gray tail that swished from side to side, coming out of a slit in her skirt, caught his eye. He saw her speculative gaze when they got to the third floor.

“If you need anything, I’m more than happy to lend a hand,” Fiala smiled as she led him down the hall.

“I can’t say I’m not intrigued, Fiala, but today, I think I need to get my bearings. That’s hard to do when my brain’s been scrambled.”

Fiala’s smile grew, “Oh. Well, that is a good point, but I’ve always thought a good tumble helps one relax.”

Doc chuckled, “Direct, aren’t you?”

“Want to make sure you know that I’m willing, especially before the others see you and try to cut in.”

“What if I give you my word that if I feel that need, I’ll find you first?”

“I accept your word, sir. Try not to keep me waiting too long, though, hmm?” She gave him a good once-over as she opened a door to the last room on the third floor. “This will be your room.”

“Thank you, Fiala. Will you have someone bring me a glass of something to drink? I need to get my things organized and it’s going to take me a bit.”

“I’ll see to it.”

“Thank you,” Doc said, pausing in shutting the door to watch her leave. He gave her a knowing smile when she caught him watching her.

He exhaled when he closed the door. She might be forward, but she is cute as hell. The single long canine that just pokes out above her bottom lip… Doc sighed as he put that train of thought aside.

Dropping his bag on the uncovered bed, he unzipped it and started to inventory what he had. He had just finished putting his clothes into the chest at the foot of the bed when there was a knock on his door.

When he opened it, Fiala was there with a pitcher and two mugs. “Didn’t know I needed two mugs,” Doc chuckled.

Fiala hesitated for a moment before she replied, “I figured a man such as yourself would like company while he drinks.”

Doc chuckled, “Insistent on keeping me company? Well, I do have a hard time denying beautiful women. Please come in, Fiala.”

Fiala’s cheeks tinged a little pink at his words and at his manners as he stepped aside to let her in. “I don’t mean to bother, it—”

Doc shut the door behind her, cutting her off by speaking over her, “I doubt you’d bother me at any point. However, I’m getting the feeling it’s not just the usual business that has you so forward.”

Fiala didn’t look at him as she put the pitcher and mugs down. “Never had someone do that for me before. He wasn’t completely wrong... I mean, I—”

“He was wrong,” Doc cut her off. “You’re clean, honest, and there is nothing wrong about doing what’s needed to survive.”

Fiala’s hand trembled as she poured the beer into the mugs. “You don’t think we should be ashamed of what we do?”

“No. The only thing someone should be ashamed of is giving up on life.” Doc moved over to the chest and pushed the rest of his bag into it, shutting the lid. “I’ve had hardships, moments when it would have been much easier to just give up and let life slip away.”

“But you didn’t?”

“I’m here, instead,” Doc chuckled, “putting one foot in front of the other. It’s the hardest thing to do at times, but every bad moment passes if you keep pushing.”

“You make it sound easy,” Fiala said softly.

When he turned to face her, she had her back to him, still looking down at the mugs. “It’s anything but easy. Why don’t you sit and we’ll have that drink? You can tell me about the town. I’m sure you know things that I would need to know.”

“Maybe a thing or two,” Fiala said, shifting to take the single chair in the room. She fidgeted as she sat and took a pull on her mug.

Doc moved over to the table and picked up his mug. Stepping back to the bed, he took a seat on the edge of it. “You have my undivided attention,” he told her with a gentle smile.

Chapter Four

The pitcher stood empty and Fiala had gone back to smiling and meeting his gaze. “Thank you for sitting with me for a bit, Fiala,” Doc said, “but I’m sure you should have been trying to drum up business, right?”

Fiala nodded, “Yes. Madam said that it was okay to stay with you for a couple of hours since you overpaid for the week.”

“Ah. Tips are kept by you though, right?”

“Yes, but you don’t need to do that.”

Pulling out a couple of copper pennies, he handed them over to her. “I really do appreciate you taking the time to talk with me.”

“But I didn’t do anything…” Fiala said, reaching out slowly for the coppers.

“Information is a type of power and now, I have more than when I showed up.”

“Well, if you say so.” She accepted the pennies, slipping them into a small pouch on her waist.

“Now, I need to see about making some money,” Doc said and set his empty mug on the table. “What do I do with these empties?”

“You can leave them in the hall. One of the helpers will pick them up. Umm, aren’t you going to air out the bedding?”

Doc looked back at the bed. The bedding was lying folded in the middle of the mattress, just as it had been in the chest, where it had been in his way. “I knew I was forgetting something,” Doc chuckled.

“If you want, I can handle it for you,” Fiala said. “It’d make me feel better about the tip.”

“If you feel the need, go ahead,” Doc said, stepping away from the bed.

Fiala stepped around him and quickly made the bed. While she did that, Doc put the pitcher and mugs in the hall beside his door. Stepping back into the room, he eyed Fiala bent over the bed, fixing the blanket with her tail lazily drifting side to side.

I still need to see if using healing hands is obvious when it’s being used or not. As much as I’d like to see more of her, she is still a prostitute, and I’d like to make sure she’s not carrying things I’d catch. Doc smiled when Fiala looked back and saw him watching her.

“Maybe you want a little more than just the talk?” Fiala asked. She stayed bent over the bed, her tail twitching a little faster.

“You make a compelling offer,” Doc chuckled. “Nearly irresistible, in fact, but I do need to make some more money before I let myself get too distracted.”

Fiala’s smile slipped and she stood up. “I understand.” Without saying more, she left the room, clearly upset at being rejected again.

Doc closed the door behind her and exhaled deeply. Going over to the chest, he finished unpacking his things. There was a knife inside, making him smile, and he set it and a clean cloth aside. Once he was finished getting everything sorted, he closed the chest and took a seat on the bed.

Taking a deep breath, he pulled the knife from its sheath and looked at the edge. “Sharp enough,” Doc muttered after testing the edge. “This isn’t stupid,” he assured himself as he put the knife over his left pinkie and the cloth under his hand.

Breathing in, he cut his finger, hissing out in pain as blood welled up. After wiping the knife on the cloth, he set it aside and focused on the cut. Come on, spell-thing... work, he thought.

A soft green glow enveloped his hands, and the cut on his finger closed a moment later. Exhaling, he used the cloth to wipe at the blood. The cut was closed with only a dim scar left behind where it had been. As he rolled his hand over, he noted the bruises from slugging Skippy were gone as well.

“Okay, it works, but it’s visible and leaves scars,” Doc sighed, glad it had worked. “Hm... do I want to see about getting a license to heal or do I want to hit the card table first? I probably have enough for a license, but I might not.” He wavered on which way to go for a moment. “Let’s build the bankroll some, first. I have Lilly on my side, so I should have a good chance to win.”

Looking out the window, he could see the sun was on its way to the horizon. “It should start getting busy soon. Might as well go get a good feel for where I’m hanging my hat.” He left his hat on the hook behind the door and stepped into the hall.

“Excuse me, sir,” a soft voice said.

Looking down, there was a young girl with rabbit ears looking up at him. “Sorry, didn’t see you there,” he stepped aside.

Pitcher and mugs in her hands, the girl gave him an innocent smile. “Thank you.” Her step had a small bounce to it as she headed for the stairs.

Obviously part of the cleaning staff. I wonder if she’s related to one of the women? Doc mused as he walked behind her.

Pausing at the base of the stairs, he met the gaze of the few men that looked his way. Hmm, already more people here, Doc thought. As he made his way toward the card table, he did his best to mentally mark the dozen men in the room and the rabbit-eared saloon girl, who was picking up a drink order from the bar.

The one card table in use had five players and Dillon, who was dealing the hand. Pulling one of the seats out, he gave the men at the table a friendly nod before sitting. “You all don’t mind if I join, I hope?”

“As long as you don’t mind losing,” one of the men laughed.

Doc saw the stack of coins in front of the man and smiled. “It’s all part of the game, isn’t it? Some you win, some you lose.”

“You ain’t from ‘round here, is ya?” one of the others asked.

“Just arrived,” Doc said as he pulled a silver from his pocket. “Dealer, can you make change?”

Dillon nodded. “Yeah.” Looking over at the bar, he shouted, “Westin, need change for a dollar.”

“Be right there,” the bartender said, continuing to fill a drink order for the saloon girl.

“Where you from?” another player asked as Dillon moved the pot to the winner.

“A long ways off,” Doc chuckled.

“You’ll have to ante when your coin gets here,” Dillon said as he shuffled.

“That’s fair. I am the new man at the table, after all,” Doc said. “What’s the game?”

“Stud 1-3-1,” Dillon said.

“Been a bit since I played that one,” Doc said. “I’m sure it’ll come back to me.”

“Your coin, sir,” a soft voice announced from behind him.

“Thank you,” Doc smiled at the saloon girl.

Giving him a professional smile, she looked at the table. “Drinks?”

Two of them asked for another round and Doc asked for a whiskey.

“Ante up,” Dillon said.

Doc tossed a penny into the middle of the table. Dillon collected it and dropped it in the coffer attached to the table. “Good luck, gentlemen,” he said before burning a card, then dealing around the table.

Doc didn’t react to the burned card, even though it wasn’t something that he had ever seen to start a hand of stud. The first card was facedown, and Doc peeked to find the queen of hearts. The second card came around faceup, giving him the two of hearts.

The cards were a little different than what he was used to, made on a thick stock and with sharp, pointed corners. The suits were the same, but the face card he had been dealt was different. This queen was elven and instead of holding a flower in her left hand, she was wielding a pistol. The other main difference was it wasn’t the usual split bust, but a single figure from the knees up.

“Since I got the ace showing, we’ll respect it,” the man with the most money chuckled, pushing five pennies forward. The man’s card was the ace of spades and, while it had the emblem on the card, there was a rifle across the top of it.

The next two men folded, bringing the bet to Doc. “My poor deuce feels threatened, but he’s a stubborn cuss.” Chuckling, Doc called the bet, pushing a nickel forward.

One of the remaining two men called. Dillon pulled the money together before burning the next card. With that done, he tapped the table and sent faceup cards to the three men still in the hand.

Doc’s face remained neutral when the queen of diamonds slid in front of him. His opponent with the ace picked up a three. Doc chuckled internally at the diamond queen; it depicted a dwarven female holding a shotgun in her hands.

“Five again,” the bettor said.

“Call,” Doc replied.

The last man in looked between them. His faceup cards were a ten of diamonds and the nine of spades. After a moment, he sighed and pushed his coins forward.

Dillon collected the money before burning the top card, tapping the table, and giving them each a third faceup card. The man with the ace got the ace of diamonds, which had a shotgun across the diamond. Doc picked up a two, and the last man picked up an eight.

“That should about do it,” the bettor laughed. “Rifle and shotgun are worth a dime.”

Doc paused as he considered the odds. Five cards would give him a better hand than I have. The other guy has the chance at a straight, as well… One more card left to go.

“Bet is a dime to you, sir,” Dillon said, looking at Doc.

“So it is,” Doc replied. “Raise. Make it a quarter.” He pushed a good chunk of his coins forward.

“A quarter to you, Edward,” Dillon said.

The man with the possible straight stared at Doc. “That’s a lot of faith in either that queen or those twos.”

“I do love the ladies,” Doc smirked. “Lady Luck is my favorite lady.”

“Too rich,” Edward sighed as he mucked his cards.

“I was afraid you’d back out,” the first man snickered. “Let’s just make it a half dollar.”

Everyone at the table looked at Doc.

“I’m fine with that,” Doc said. Pushing the money forward, he felt a twinge of doubt. What if my old luck isn’t gone? He managed to keep his face impassive, but the worry started to gnaw at him.

“Last one is down and dirty,” Dillon said after he collected the coin. Burning the next card, he tapped the table and dealt each of them a facedown card.

Doc checked the card and saw the two of diamonds staring back at him. A full house, deuces over queens. Unless he’s got another ace and a three, pocket aces, or pocket threes, he can’t beat my hand.

“You got thirty-nine left on the table,” the man said. “Let’s make it that.” Counting out the money, he pushed it to Dillon.

“Didn’t think my dollar would get used so fast,” Doc said.

“Your drink, sir.”

“Thank you,” Doc said, taking the shot glass, downing it, and handing it back. He coughed once as the cheap liquor burned his throat. “Now that’s liquid courage.”

“It’s thirty-nine to you,” Dillon prompted Doc gently.

“Call,” Doc said, putting the last of his dollar forward.

“Bet called,” Dillon said and collected the money. “Julius, you’ve been called.”

Julius smirked as he flopped his cards over. “Two pair; aces and nines.”

“Pocket nines,” Doc said solemnly with a sigh. “Thought you might have something hiding.”

“Tough luck there.”

“I don’t know. I think my luck is for the better now,” Doc said, flipping over just one of his two cards. The two of diamonds landed next to the other two he had. “Trips tops doubles.”

Julius’ smile vanished and a couple at the table chuckled. Dillon spoke up, “Winner, with the three of a kind…”

“Doc. Doc Holyday.”

Pushing the money to Doc, Dillon nodded. “Winner is Doc.”

“Beginner’s luck,” Julius growled.

“Possibly,” Doc agreed. He collected his winnings and tossed Dillon a penny, then turned his attention to the waitress. She had been watching the showdown, so she was still standing there. “And for you, too.”

“Thank you, sir,” she smiled, her long ears twitching slightly.

“Julius, you’re the ante this time.”

Doc sat back as Dillon started to shuffle, happy to know his luck had indeed changed. Closing his eyes for a moment, he sent up a silent prayer. Thank you, Lilly. I’m sorry for my moment of doubt.

“Good luck, gentlemen,” Dillon said as he started the next hand.

Chapter Five

Over the next hour, the sun started to set and the Lily got busy. Doc’s stack of coins had grown much larger as the table filled up with the maximum of eight players. The only player at the table who lost most of their money was Julius, who seemed intent on going head to head against Doc as often as possible.

When another dealer sat at the second table, Doc glanced over at it. “Different game to be played, or just more of this?”

“That’s the draw table,” Edward said. “They play for higher stakes since they can only get six people at the table.”

“Well then, it’s time I was moving on,” Doc said. “It’s been a pleasure, gentlemen. I’m sure I’ll be seeing you again.”

“Leaving?” Julius sneered. “Afraid your luck has run out?”

Laughing, Doc got to his feet slowly. “Not at all. If anything, I’d say my luck is getting better, hence why I want higher stakes.”

Edward laughed, “Don’t blame you. If I had your run tonight, I’d consider it, too.”

“Hope you have a good night,” Doc replied. “Dillon, is there a way to change this up for nickels or dimes?”

“Sure,” Dillon said as he put the cards down for a moment. “Cassia, change up,” he called out loudly enough to cut over the growing noise in the saloon.

“Coming,” Cassia, the rabbit girl, responded as she dropped off a pair of drinks to another table.

“I’ll get you next time,” Julius snorted.

“It’s past time for me to get home,” Edward said, collecting the money in front of him. “You going to be at the tables often, Doc?”

“Probably. Depends on a few things.”

“I’ll look forward to it. Maybe next time, I can win a few more.”

“Who needs change?” Cassia said, coming up behind Dillon.

“I do,” Doc smiled at her.

“Alright, sir. If you’ll let me count your money up?”

Doc stepped out of her way. “I’ll be at the other table. Bring it over, please.”

“Yes, sir.”

Moving over to the newly opened table, he touched one of the three open seats. “Gentlemen, do you mind if I join your game?”

The three men currently seated gave him hard stares. All of them were wearing good suits, better in quality than Doc’s clothing. The oldest of the three stroked his well-groomed gray beard for a moment before he asked, “You think you can handle the stakes?”

“Well, my run of luck has been good so far and, at worst, I give you everything I have on me,” Doc replied.

“If you’re in a giving mood, by all means,” one of the other two laughed.

“The table minimum is a nickel, sir,” the dealer said.

Doc gave him a smile. “Good. I have my winnings from the other game coming.”

The third man scoffed, “If you’re betting on those meager stakes to help you do anything here, you’re going to be sorely mistaken.”

“If need be, I have other money that can be used,” Doc said as he took the seat.

“Your change, sir,” Cassia said, placing a few small stacks of coins in front of him.

“The game is five-card draw; jacks or better to start,” the dealer said. “Since you’re the new man to the table, ante up, please.”

“Thank you, Cassia,” Doc said. He gave her one of the nickels before tossing another to the dealer. “Ante.”

Doc scrubbed the first ten hands, watching the other three players as they battled it out. While he studied them, he picked up on small tells from each of the men.

“You’re the ante, Doc,” Joey, the dealer, said as he shuffled the cards.

“Maybe this time, the cards will be better,” Doc said and tossed in his nickel.

“You haven’t played a single hand yet,” the oldest man, Raymond, complained. “If you keep this up, you’re going to lose everything with nothing to show for it.”

“No. I’m sure this will be the hand to get me back on track,” Doc replied.

The cards were dealt and Doc kept the smile off his face. His hand consisted of all four tens and a three. Since he was the first one to the dealer’s left, he was the first one to bet. “Let’s make it fifty cents.” Grabbing one of his stacks of nickels, he pushed it forward.

“Finally,” Raymond said.

Everyone else at the table called his bet. Joey brought the money to the middle of the table and burned a card. “Doc?”

“One,” Doc replied, discarding his three. Picking up a new card, he found an ace looking back at him.

The others at the table took three each except for Raymond, who took two. Raymond chuckled as he stared at Doc. “I don’t think you’re topping me, son.”

“We’ll find out,” Doc shrugged. “A dollar.”

The man between Doc and Raymond mucked his hand. “No chance.”

Raymond grinned at Doc, “Really believe in that two pair, do you?”

Doc just stared back at him, not answering him.

“Raymond, it’s a dollar to you,” Joey prompted the older man.

“Two,” Raymond replied, putting two silver dollars into the pot.

The last man at the table shook his head, “Not with this hand.”

“Another dollar back to you, Doc.”

“Three dollars,” Doc said, adding two more to the pot.

“Four,” Raymond said immediately.

“Call.”

“Tough luck,” Raymond laughed as he flipped over three of his cards, showing three kings.

“Indeed,” Doc replied as he turned over his four of a kind.

Raymond inhaled sharply, “I didn’t expect you to have quads. To get that on the deal is absurd.

“Luck likes me at times,” Doc smiled.

The table went silent and Raymond looked like he bit a lemon. “Bet that luck doesn’t hold,” he said, tossing his losing hand to Joey.

“Winner is Doc,” Joey said, pushing the winnings to him.

“We’ll have to see,” Doc said amiably as he collected the winnings.

“Indeed we will,” Raymond said. “The night is still young, though.”

“Drinks?” Cassia asked, coming over to the table.

“Beer and whiskey,” Doc told her, flipping a nickel to Joey before holding one out to her. “For you.”

“I do like the generous ones,” Cassia giggled, taking the money. “Bring it right back, bigshot.”

~*~*~

The game went on. Doc sat out on some hands and lost others, but he won a number of big pots, his stack of money growing steadily. The men at the table with him seemed amiable even when they lost. Even Raymond had mellowed out.

“Doc, what brought you to Deep Gorge?” Raymond asked between hands.

“Luck. Can’t complain about it, considering.”

“With the luck you’ve been having, I’d think not,” one of the others laughed.

“You’re obviously not a rancher or a miner,” Raymond pressed lightly. “You just going to trust in luck to keep you afloat?”

“I could,” Doc replied. “I was thinking about opening up a small business, though.”

“Oh? What kind?”

“Healing. I hear there’s only a single licensed doctor in town.”

“Getting the mayor to give you a license might be tough,” Raymond said, sucking on his teeth. “Doctor Whittaker is a close friend of his.”

“I’ll have to see him and find out what he wants,” Doc shrugged.

“Doc is your profession, not your name?” one of the others asked.

“Both. You could say that I was given this life for a reason.”

“Your mother must have had a touch of the sight,” Raymond murmured.

“No idea. She died in childbirth,” Doc replied as he mucked his latest hand. “I should get going. If I’m going to see the mayor about a license, I need to be in my best shape.”

“Hope you have the right amount of incentive,” the third man at the table said.

“I’m sure we can come to an arrangement,” Doc said. “If not, I’ll just have to rely on Luck to see me through.”

“Best of luck to you,” Raymond chuckled. “You’re going to need it.”

Gathering his money up, Doc headed to the bar. “Westin, right?”

“What’cha need?”

“Can you exchange some of this for me?”

“We can do that, but it’s a ten percent fee.”

Doc frowned, “It was free earlier.”

“When you’re moving tables, it is,” Westin shrugged. “House rules.”

Doc looked at his pile of money and did a quick count. Stacking the nickels and dimes up, he had eleven dollars in small change. Adding that to the quarters and silver dollars he had, he looked at Westin. “Twenty?”

Westin nodded and scooped the coins up. “One moment.” He stepped into the back room and came back a minute later with a single gold coin. “Here you go.”

“Thank you,” Doc smiled.

As he made his way toward the stairs, Doc caught sight of Fiala delivering a drink to a man with two guns strapped to his hips. She had a professional smile in place as she laughed at something he had said. That’s her life, Doc reminded himself as he climbed the stairs. She and Cassia are damned attractive, though... not as stunning as Lia, but still damned good-looking. I wonder how she manages to get just beautiful women?

Doc shook his head, needing to focus on other things. First, I need to get the license to heal, then set up shop and find out why Luck wanted me in this town. I have a feeling the Lily is the reason, though... too big a coincidence with the name of this place and you, Lady.

Chapter Six

Yawning as he woke up, Doc climbed out of bed, idly scratching his wrists. He frowned when the itch persisted and examined his wrists, finding them covered in small red bumps. “Fucking bed bugs? Really?” Focusing on his own body, he felt the magic course through him and the itchiness stop. “Well, there are some things that I’m going to have to deal with.”

A soft knock on his door startled him. “A moment,” he said, grabbing the blanket and wrapping it around him. When he opened it, the little rabbit-eared girl was standing there. “Can I help you?”

“You didn’t ask for your wash water before bed, sir, but Madam said you paid for it.”

Doc realized she was holding a lightly steaming pitcher. “Thank you,” he said to her, accepting it.

“Good morning,” she said before hurrying away.

“Morning,” Doc murmured and shut the door.

A basin stood on the ledge by the window. Pouring the water into the basin, he used the small bit of soap and cloth to give himself a sponge bath. Once he was finished, he got dressed and headed downstairs.

Dillon stood behind the bar, looking exhausted but smiling as he sipped some coffee. “Breakfast, Doc?”

“Yes. Got a promotion, did you?”

“Temporary, but if I can do the job, Madam Lia said I can take the morning shift.”

“Seems my luck isn’t the only one on the rise,” Doc chuckled.

“I still feel kind of bad for Skippy,” Dillon said.

“Fiala didn’t seem to like him,” Doc said.

Dillon looked away. “Not my place to say.”

“Sorry, I shouldn’t pry.”

“Let me go tell the cook about your breakfast.” Dillon left the bar, going for the door near the stage.

“Sure. I’ll take a seat.”

Doc sat near the door and put his hat on the chair next to him, wondering if the stage was ever in use. Maybe it got used after I went to bed... I did turn in early, after all.

Dillon came back quickly. “Be a couple minutes.”

“That’s fine.”

“Did you want a drink?”

“Coffee?” Doc asked, having smelled the distinctive aroma.

Dillon poured a cup and brought it to him. “If the Madam asks…”

“Service has been exceptional,” Doc smiled.

“Thank you.”

Doc was working on his second cup of coffee when the little girl came out of the door near the stairs, holding a plate. Seeing him, she came over with slow measured steps instead of her usual bounce.

“Your breakfast, sir,” she said and set the plate in front of him.

“Why thank you,” Doc smiled, pulling out a nickel. “You need to share this with the cook, okay?”

The little girl looked at the nickel, then back at him. “Yes, sir.”

“What’s your name?” Doc asked as he held the coin out to her.

“Posy,” she answered, taking the money. She hurried away, her normal bouncing walk back.

“Cute kid,” Doc chuckled.

Breakfast turned out to be a thick chunk of cooked ham, two fried eggs, and cubed potatoes with a small stack of buttered pancakes. “Hearty, indeed,” Doc mumbled as he dug in.

~*~*~

Finished with breakfast, Doc leaned back and exhaled deeply. “Damned filling.”

Dillon blinked at him with red bleary eyes, “Huh?”

“When does your relief get here?”

“Westin will be back at ten.”

Doc looked outside. “Three hours, give or take a bit.”

“Yeah.”

“Hang in there.”

“I am.”

Getting to his feet, Doc put his hat back on before heading for the street. “See you later.”

Doc paused just outside the door and, realizing he didn’t know where he was going, turned to walk back inside. “Dillon?”

“Back already?” Dillon snickered.

“Which way to the mayor’s office?”

“He doesn’t see anyone ‘til nine, and the bank doesn’t open ‘til then, either.”

“Well, fuck,” Doc sighed. “I went to bed early for nothing.”

“You missed the girls dancing, too,” Dillon added. “Pity. It’s one of the reasons the Lily does as well as it does.”

“I’m sure,” Doc said, leaning on the bar and taking his hat off again. “I noticed that the girls working last night were all… above average.” The last two words were not as confident because he wasn’t sure if that was true or not.

“Lia has an eye for them,” Dillon chuckled lightly. “She picks who gets to work here.”

Before Doc could respond, someone came into the saloon and there was the distinctive click-click of both hammers of a double-barrel shotgun being cocked. “You! I’m going to kill you!”

Doc held both hands up at ninety-degree angles away from his body.

Dillon went white, “Skippy, there’s no need for this.”

“Shut it, you fucking traitor!” Skippy snarled. “I’ll deal with you after this son of a bitch!”

Doc turned around slowly, “Me?”

Skippy looked hopped up on drugs; his hands were shaking slightly, his pupils were dilated, and his breath was coming fast and short. “Yes, you, motherfucker. Cost me my job! They wouldn’t take me at the Springs, either, after all I did for them.”

Doc’s breath was uneven as he tried to defuse the situation, “Skippy, put the gun down. We can work this out.”

“No, you don’t tell me what to do!”

Doc took a deep breath and focused on missed me. Stepping to the side inch by inch, he tried to get Dillon out of the line of fire. “This doesn’t have to go badly. You’re not feeling well. Just put down the gun.”

“First you, then the traitor behind you, then the bitch, and finally, Lia,” Skippy wheezed as he aimed the shotgun at Doc.

“Calm—” Doc tried to say, but was interrupted as the boom of both barrels going off filled the room. Doc’s breath caught; he felt the wind of the buckshot going past him… and through him. An unearthly chill pierced him when the pellets of buckshot passed through his body, leaving him unharmed.

Hand dipping into his vest pocket, Doc pulled the derringer. Skippy stared at him in shock, not believing he missed from less than ten feet away. Dillon pulled the shotgun from behind the bar.

“Drop—” Dillon began.

The bang of the first round going off cut Dillon off. Doc wasn’t taking the chance, and quickly cocked and fired the second chamber. Skippy fell to the floor while Dillon stared in shock. Eyes fixed on Skippy, Doc swallowed the bile in his throat.

Crying, Skippy hunched into a ball and stared at Doc, his words broken, “You… shot me…”

“You fired first,” Doc said slowly.

“It wasn’t…” Skippy trailed off, his eyes glazing over as he went still.

“What happened?” Lia demanded as she burst out of the door behind the bar.

“Skippy’s dead.”

Doc dropped the small gun on the table he was next to and held up his hands to show they were empty. “He was threatening to kill me.”

Lia had glared at Doc, but after hearing his explanation, frowned. She looked first to the far wall, which had clear damage from a shotgun, then to Skippy on the ground before turning back to Doc. “He missed at that range?”

“Thankfully,” Doc said, his voice shaking. “Luck is still with me, it looks like.”

Eyes narrowing, she nodded, “It seems so.” She exhaled and tightened the robe she was wearing. “Dillon, go get Sheriff Grange. Tell him that we had a killing in the saloon.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Dillon said, rushing for the gap on the far left side of the bar.

“Have a seat, Doc. Grange will be here soon.”

Doc dropped into a chair without replying, his body starting to shake.

Lia watched him for a moment before taking a bottle off the top shelf. She walked it over to him, along with two shot glasses. Removing the cork, she poured and put one in front of him. “Drink. You’re in shock.”

Doc blinked at the glass before taking it and downing it in one go. A sweet warmth filled his throat and slid down into his chest. He let out a shaky exhale and placed the glass on the table.

“First time?” Lia asked softly.

“Killing a man? Yes.”

“It’ll either never get easier or it’ll become second nature,” Lia told him and slammed back her own drink.

“I don’t think I want the second option.”

“Many don’t, but it’s not a conscious choice. You want a second one?”

Looking up from the floor, he met her jade-colored eyes. “What is it?”

“Special. It’s not on the menu.”

“I feel calmer, so please.”

Smiling gently, she poured them each another shot before corking the bottle. “I do hope this doesn’t become a habit.”

Doc felt his lips tug at the corners. “Neither do I… unless you meant me surviving.” He took the glass, keeping his eyes on her face as he downed the shot.

Lia laughed softly, “Few ever see me like this, and fewer live long enough to appreciate it.”

“I hope I’m one of those rare few,” Doc chuckled as the warmth spread through his body. This time, it relaxed him, dulling the horror of killing a man.

Dillon came bursting back into the saloon, gasping, “Sheriff’s on his way.”

“I’ll go get changed,” Lia said, striding away. Her long, toned, tanned legs flashed into view briefly when her robe failed to keep them covered. “Put my private stock away, Dillon.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Dillon panted as he staggered to the table.

Doc looked at the bottle. The writing on it wasn’t the angular letters he had seen on the signs in town. Instead, it was a flowing and elegant script. “‘Moondew?’”

“Is that what it says?” Dillon asked, picking up the bottle after he caught his breath. “It’s written in Elvish, so I was never sure.”

“‘Moondew 513, bottled by Umena. Praise be to Mother for her generosity.’”

Dillon frowned, “How do they plan to make money off it if they don’t have a proper label?”

“They don’t,” Doc said slowly. “It’s not for sale, Lia said. I believe it’s… sacred to her.”

Seeing the two glasses, Dillon’s eyes shifted to Doc. “How was it?” He asked the question like a kid wanting to know if the cookie was worth getting in trouble for.

Doc paused, trying to find a way to frame a response. “As if my mind was cleared of everything troubling it. I don’t think it’s meant to get someone drunk.”

“What a waste,” Dillon snorted as he picked up the glasses and walked for the bar.

Doc smirked as he watched Dillon tip the glasses on his way, trying to get the couple of drops out of them. The doors banging open brought his gaze to Grange and two other men in the doorway.

“Thought I told you to keep your nose clean,” Grange growled at Doc as he entered the saloon.

“Is self-defense against the law?” Doc asked.

“We’ll see about that,” Grange snorted.

“It was self-defense, Sheriff. I saw the whole thing,” Dillon said from behind the bar. His tired tone was gone as he went on to explain what had happened.

While Dillon told the story, the two men with Grange walked the room, looking at different details and writing notes in pocketbooks with charcoal pencils. When Dillon finished, Grange was kneeling next to Skippy, checking the dead man’s wounds.

Grange got to his feet and looked at the shot pattern on the wall. “He stood here?”

“Yeah,” Dillon nodded.

“And you, Easterner?”

“Doc,” Doc stated simply as he got to his feet and moved back to where he had been. “Here, give or take a few inches,” Doc lied slightly, having moved himself at least half a foot to the side.

Grange frowned, “Damned lucky he missed you, which is odd. Skippy, for all his faults, was a good man with a scattergun.”

“Luck smiled on me,” Doc replied.

“You used this here?” Grange said, walking over to the table and picking up the derringer.

“Yes.”

“It doesn’t fire both at once. You fired twice.”

“I wasn’t going to let him reload and try again,” Doc replied.

“No man would have,” Lia said as she came out of the back.

Doc glanced at her and gave her a nod as he took in her outfit. A jade dress covered her from neck to ankles and all the way down to her wrists. The shoes peeking out the bottom of her dress were scaled green leather heels that buttoned down the sides.

“Lia,” Grange said, his tone conveying respect for her, “you believe this story?”

“Yes. I arrived as Skippy was dying. If you had seen Doc in that moment, you wouldn’t question it, either. I gave him something to help so he could clearly account for himself.”

“And Dillon?” Grange asked.

Dillon swallowed hard, “I, uh, got a drop or two out of the glasses they used.”

Lia stared at Dillon with an unreadable look, making the man squirm, before she looked back to Grange. “So it seems.”

“Boss, it smells like fear,” one of the men who had followed Grange said.

Doc got a good look at the two men. They could have been twins, but they had decidedly inhuman features. Their faces were covered in what Doc had taken for beards, but it was actually fur. Their mouths were wide and their canines were sharp.

“He has enough of it lingering on him for me to believe him,” the second said, motioning to Doc.

“Well, seems my deputies believe you,” Grange grunted. “The undertaker will be by for the stiff.” Tossing the gun to Doc, Grange walked to the door, his men trailing him. “Seems you’re clear… for now.”

“Thanks,” Doc grunted, catching the gun. He cracked it open and exchanged the old casings for two new rounds, then stuck it back in his vest. Pocketing the casings, he turned to Lia. “Thank you.”

“Can’t have our new guest hauled off to jail,” Lia said simply before she turned away. “Dillon, tell Posy to clean the blood up once the body is gone. Once Westin gets in, come see me.”

“Yes, Madam,” Dillon said, his expression falling.

“We need to work out your hours,” Lia said.

“Yes, Madam,” Dillon beamed.

When she left, Doc chuckled, “Seems staying mostly calm in the face of danger worked in your favor.”

Dillon’s smile faded, “I’d rather not have a shotgun pointing in my direction again.”

“Life of a bartender,” Doc said. “Even if they don’t come for you, you’ll have more than a few close calls from other disputes.”

Dillon sighed, “Yeah, I know. Skippy dealt with at least a half dozen shootings.”

“Then you know what you’ll be in for,” Doc said.

“Yeah.”

“Think I’m going to take a walk. See you tomorrow.” Getting to his feet, Doc reclaimed his forgotten hat.

“Have a good day,” Dillon said.

Chapter Seven

A hint of chill in the wind made Doc straighten his jacket once he stepped outside. Light gray clouds filled most of the sky, the golden sun hiding behind them. Looking up and down the street, Doc wondered where he should start. A red, white, and blue pole stood out and, rubbing his cheek, he decided it was a good idea to get cleaned up before going off to see the mayor.

As he walked down the street, Doc took the chance to get another look at the people of Deep Gorge. He had been able to get a good idea of what people wore last night, so he knew he had something close to what the average man would wear. The big difference is that mine is better than the average man, but not as good as the wealthy. That must be why they can spot me so easily.

Crossing the road, Doc walked into the barber shop. A small chime announced him to the short broad man sharpening a straight razor. The crisp black pants, white shirt, suspenders, and bow tie screamed barber to Doc.

“Morning, sir. Haircut, shave, bath?”

Doc’s lips twitched, “You’re not my style, so I’ll pass on the bath.”

The dwarven barber let out a long-suffering sigh.

Doc chuckled and held up a hand, “No disrespect meant. Obviously you’ve heard similar in the past. I do require a shave.”

“Just the shave?”

“Yes.”

“A quarter, sir.”

Doc picked out a quarter and flipped it to the dwarf. “My handsome face is in your hands, though I have the feeling that if you’re the one holding the steel, I have no need to fear.”

The large waxed mustache rose a half inch. “I’m not sure if you’re trying to make amends or digging the knife deeper.”

“I pray to Luck that it’s not the second,” Doc said as he removed his hat.

The dwarf’s mustache twitched again. “Have a seat. I’ll get things ready.”

Doc moved over to the three seats along one wall. A smile touched his lips as he looked at the raised floor behind the chairs that would put the dwarf above his customers. Taking a seat, Doc removed his hat and set it in his lap. Doc was surprised that the chairs had a recline feature— he would not have thought this world had gotten to that point.

“We start with the hot towel,” the dwarf said, bringing over a steaming towel.

Doc held in the hiss of pain when the towel was placed against his face. The moment passed quickly, and he was left with the pleasant feeling of heated warmth instead. The dwarf walked up and down the raised platform behind Doc, getting the tools he needed.

“Another customer,” a refined voice sniffed. “That will be problematic.”

“Doctor Whittaker, he’s just getting a shave. It won’t take me long,” the barber said.

“Feel free to take the good doctor first,” Doc said, his voice muffled. “I know that men who heal have busy lives.”

“A gentleman and scholar,” Whittaker chuckled. “I’ll take you up on that offer.”

“Very well,” the barber said. “Your usual, sir?”

“No, sadly. I need a quick shave instead.”

“Have a seat, please.”

“Thank you for your generosity,” Whittaker said.

“No need for thanks. It’s never a bad thing to be on the good side of the town doctor,” Doc said.

“Very true. Did you need my services?”

“No, I’m in perfect health, although one never knows when a sudden development might make them feel poorly.”

“Especially out here on the edge,” Whittaker said.

“Your towel, Doctor.”

“Thank you, Otto,” Whittaker said, his voice suddenly muffled.

Doc wondered how to approach the subjects he wanted to touch on while his towel slowly cooled. He hadn’t found an answer before Otto exchanged his towel for a new one.

“I’ll begin now, Doctor.”

“Very good.”

Just wait and see him at his place of business... it’ll be less awkward and how that conversation goes might be fully dependent on the mayor, as it is. Having finally decided to wait, Doc waited for the doctor to be done.

“Doctor, I hate to bring it up, but you said you’d see my daughter last time you came by,” Otto said.

“And I will, Otto,” Whittaker replied, his voice no longer muffled, “I just have others ahead of you. I can only do so much on any given day. Didn’t I give you that cream to use until I have time to see her?”

“Yes, but it doesn’t seem to be working.”

Whittaker clicked his tongue, “The problem must be her dwarven heritage. Her body must see the salve as a poison. It technically is, as it’s designed to kill the infection. I’ll try to make room for her sooner, but it’ll still be a couple of days, at least.”

Otto’s voice was tight with restrained emotions, “I see. Maybe Old Maid Henrick knows of a solution.”

“That woman will get your daughter killed,” Whittaker replied, but he did not sound disturbed by that idea. “If you feel the need to gamble with a spinster who thinks plants are the answer to everything, that is your decision. If you do that, though, I won’t be held accountable if my attempt to heal her later fails.”

The sound of knuckles popping made Doc shift uncertainly. “Very well.”

Doc was glad his face was covered as he had a sudden and intense dislike for the doctor. Hands gripping the chair arms tightly, he breathed deep and slow, trying to calm himself while Otto worked on Whittaker.

Minutes went by before Otto said, “You’re done, Doctor.”

“Very good. Take the cost out of my coming bill. I’ll be back in three days to see your daughter.”

“Thank you, sir,” Otto managed to say evenly.

“Think nothing of it. I do my best for those less fortunate than I. Sorry for the delay, sir. I do hope you have a good day.”

“I’m sure I will,” Doc said stiffly. “May the world give you that which you richly deserve for your kindness.”

“I’m sure it will,” Whittaker said as he went to the door, not really listening. The chime on the door announced his departure.

“Sorry for the delay,” Otto said, removing the cooling towel from Doc’s face. “It was just a shave, right?”

“Yes, your best, please. I’m new in town, Otto. Is he really the only doctor?”

“Doctor Whittaker has held the monopoly of healing ever since he came to town,” Otto said tightly. “Old Maid Henrick isn’t a healer as such; she’s an alchemist. Her concoctions have worked in the past, though, to speak truthfully, they’ve killed people, too.”

“Ah, so it’s a flip of the coin which might happen?”

“Not as such,” Otto said, clearly still upset. “Depending on if she’s cured something before and what the problem is can influence things greatly.”

“While Whittaker’s brand of healing always works?”

“Unless it’s a fatal problem, yes. Even with something fatal, he has pulled people through before, but if he goes that far, he ends up sickly for a day or two. Last time I know that he did that was for the mayor’s son.”

“I see,” Doc said.

“Let’s get the lather on,” Otto said, clearly trying to distract himself with work.

Doc’s eyes went to the cup and brush the dwarf held in hand. “Badger?”

“Best kind of brush,” Otto replied. “Hold still for me, please, sir.”

~*~*~

Leaving the barber, Doc felt a little conflicted. I could have offered, but would that have been a good idea? I’m new to town, happened to be in the shop. Trying to sell myself to the angry dwarf… Yeah, that would probably have gone bad. Sounds like something a con artist would try.

He shook his head and went toward the bank. Otto had been kind enough to tell him that the mayor also owned the bank in town. Passing the Lily, he caught sight of a tall, lanky man in black robes dragging Skippy’s body toward the door. Damn, he looks like a grave robber, not an undertaker, Doc snorted as he kept walking.

The bank was brick and one of the few structures in town that wasn’t mostly wood. The front of the building had a large overhang, held aloft by fluted stone columns. The two doors had frosted glass set in them, and the word Bank was printed in bold black letters dead center on the glass.

Stepping inside, Doc took in the interior as he closed the door. Two offices in the front, three tellers on duty. Just to the side of the tellers, a door with a brass plaque declaring it the manager’s office had a huge-chested man beside it. Damn, look at the horns on that guy, Doc thought. Must be a bestial with bull’s blood.

“Is the mayor in?” Doc asked as he got closer.

“He’s busy unless you have an appointment,” the guard snorted. “I doubt you do.”

“How do I make one?” Doc asked.

“You don’t. The mayor sends for those he wants to speak to.”

“I’m trying to open a business in town,” Doc said, trying the business approach. “The mayor needs to approve of it, I’ve been told. I’m sure he’d want to talk about more money coming into the town.”

The guard stared at him for a few seconds. “Maybe. Wait here.”

Doc smiled, “Gladly.”

The bestial came back out of the office after a minute. “No. The mayor isn’t seeing anyone today.”

“He doesn’t want more—?”

“Mayor said ‘no,’” the man snorted and stomped a foot.

Doc held up his hands. “Must just be a bad day. I’ll try again later.”

The guard sneered, “Yeah, try that.”

“Ah, Morton,” a man called out. “Is he in?”

“He is indeed, Doctor Whittaker,” the guard said respectfully. “He’s been waiting to speak with you.”

“Good, good.”

“Doctor,” Doc said politely, “did your appointment go okay?”

Whittaker paused, turning to Doc. “How did you know I had another appointment?”

“I was in Otto’s this morning.”

“Ah, yes. Thank you again for that. I did make my first appointment, and because of that, I’m on time to see the mayor. I didn’t catch your name.”

“Holyday. Doc Holyday.” Doc extended his hand to shake.

Whittaker was reaching for his hand when the name registered. He pulled his hand back, his amiable face going cold. “Doc?”

“Given name.”

The coldness faded and Whittaker laughed as he started to reach out again. “Had me going for a minute.”

“Apologies. I didn’t realize that being a doctor would be a problem.”

“This town is barely big enough for a healer and that quack alchemist,” Whittaker said, shaking hands. “If another comes into town to work, well, things might be difficult. For them, at least.”

“I see.”

“I’d stay and talk, but the mayor is waiting for me.”

“Didn’t mean to delay you,” Doc said. “Have a good day.”

“You, as well.”

As he left the bank, Doc frowned. Now what? Looks like getting a license to heal is going to be out of the question. Hmm. Courthouse is down that way... maybe someone there can tell me what the actual laws say. Might be a loophole I can use before it gets closed off. That won’t win me any friends, but I never had many of them anyway. With his mind made up, Doc started walking.

Chapter Eight

The courthouse had the gallows right next door to it, which was bookended by the undertakers. “The express lane,” Doc murmured.

Approaching the building, he didn’t see the usual symbol of justice. Instead of balanced scales, there was an owl holding a quill in one claw and a book in the other. ‘Justice Comes From Wisdom’? Interesting motto, Doc thought.

The hall inside the front door stretched half the building. There was a set of double doors at the far end of the hall that he thought was probably the courtroom, and there was a door on each side of the hall. The door on the left had a sign saying it was the clerk’s office, and the one on the right was records.

Doc entered the clerk’s office and saw an older woman sitting behind a desk. His greeting faltered on his lips, because while he was removing his hat, the woman looked up to stare at him. Her large, perfectly round, slow-blinking eyes were disconcerting, as were the feathers where her hair should have been.

“Morning. What can I help you with?” the clerk asked.

“Umm, morning. I was hoping to see the laws on establishing a business in town.”

“This is not a library, young man.”

“True, ma’am, but this town doesn’t have a library and I want to make sure I’m in compliance with the law.”

Sniffing, the woman eyed him up and down. “Why didn’t you speak with Lawyer Karmin?”

“Just got to town, and I don’t know who practices law here.”

“Fine. Viewing the legal books is a dollar. Did you still wish to do so?”

He pulled a silver dollar out and placed it on the desk. “Please.”

“One moment,” the old woman took the coin and walked across the room.

Doc frowned at the odd sound of her footsteps. When she went to the bookshelf at the back of the room, he understood. She wasn’t wearing shoes— shoes would have been a problem with her bird-like feet. Four sharp talons were lightly scoring the floor as she walked. Doc looked away before she turned to come back, not wanting to cause an issue.

“The laws on businesses inside the town limits,” the clerk said, placing a thick book in front of him. “You may use the chairs over there. The book is not to leave the office.”

Doc glanced behind him to where a pair of wooden chairs sat up against the wall. “Thank you.”

Taking a seat with his hat resting on the chair next to him, Doc opened the book. There was nothing inside that he had expected; there was no table of contents, and the front page declared the land to be part of the “United States of Emerita.” Close to Earth, but obviously different. Clearing his throat gently, Doc looked to the clerk. “What pages do the laws about doctors and other healers begin on?”

“Page two hundred and eighty-three. You’ll also need to see the third page of additions in the back.”

“Thank you, ma’am.”

Doc turned to the right page and began to read. Some of the terminology went right over Doc’s head, but he understood the gist of what he was reading. The first few pages listed the federal laws that had to be adhered to, out of which Doc did not qualify as a doctor because he had no formal training. He could possibly qualify as a shaman or spirit healer, but either of those would also pose a few problems. Shamans had to be part of a legally recognized tribe of elves or other native peoples, and spirit healers had to establish a place of worship or join one.

Well, this puts a wrinkle in my plans, Doc thought. I’m supposed to be the Voice of Luck, though... Maybe a place of worship is a good idea. Would that make Luck’s a gambling house? He thought about it and finally looked up to find the clerk staring at him. “Ma’am, what page for the laws on houses of worship?”

The clerk sighed and retrieved another book. “That’s in this book, on page one hundred and thirty-one,” the clerk replied.

“Thank you,” Doc said, exchanging books before returning to his seat.

It took him longer to parse through the new book. There were long sections that stated what each deity needed for a building to qualify as a place of worship. Damn, this world has over a dozen gods, but Luck isn’t mentioned at all. Continuing to read, he found the section he needed: “Establishing a place of worship for a deity not listed in the previous section.” Okay... I need a building to dedicate to Luck. I think that’s enough for today. I’m going to need to see about properties for sale and get the funds together.

“Sir, we’re closing for today,” the clerk said.

“Well, I’m glad I finished,” Doc said as he stood up. “Thank you for your help.”

“It is my job.”

“Does the records office know who owns what property in town?”

“Of course it does.”

“They close when you do?”

“It is the end of the business day, sir,” the clerk said pointedly. “This building will be closed shortly.”

Placing the book on the counter, Doc gave her a smile. “Thank you for humoring me. I hope you have a good night.”

“Thank you.”

He picked up his hat on the way out and, when he stepped outside, Doc found that the town was dark. The clouds overhead, combined with the time of day, stopped much of the fading light from reaching the streets of the town. Businesses already had their lamps lit and the streets were busier than Doc had seen them.

“Let’s go win some more money,” Doc mumbled as he made his way to the Lily. “I’m going to need it if I want to take this path.”

~*~*~

Rain had started to fall when he arrived at the Lily. Stepping inside, it was as lively as it had been last night. He went upstairs, dropped off his hat, and picked up most of his small change.

As he was making his way back to the saloon, he caught Fiala on the stairs. “Evening, Fiala.”

“Doc,” she said evenly. “I heard you had a run of luck last night.”

“It was a good night,” Doc replied. “Hopefully, it will be again.”

“Did you wish a companion at the table?” Fiala asked, shifting a little closer.

Doc was going to decline, but her hopeful smile made him change his mind. “I believe I would, Fiala. Would you be willing to be my companion for the evening?”

Her smile widened and her long tooth appeared. “I would be glad to, Doc.”

“I don’t wish to get you in trouble with the Madam,” Doc said softly.

“Ah. It would normally cost you ten for the entire night,” Fiala said, looking away.

“A bargain if I’ve heard one,” Doc said softly. Pulling the gold piece from his pocket, he held it out to her.

Fiala took the coin slowly, her eyes on his face as she did. “You believe that, don’t you?”

“I do.”

Fiala’s cheeks went red and she looked away hurriedly. “I need to let Westin know. I’ll bring a drink to the table you choose, sir.”

“Call me Doc, please.”

“Okay, Doc.”

“I’ll see you downstairs.” Doc left her on the stairs, giving her a moment to gather herself.

The only seat available for gambling was at the nickel table. Doc moved over to the open spot and asked, “Is this seat taken?”

Raymond chuckled, “No. How did your meeting with the mayor go?”

“About as well as you think it did,” Doc said, pulling out the coin purse he had with him. Taking the seat, he began to stack up the cash he intended to play with.

“I thought about warning you, but it’s easier to learn firsthand,” Raymond snickered.

“Thanks. I’ll try to return the favor at some point.”

“At least you came with a decent starting pool tonight,” Raymond said.

“I have that beer for you, Doc,” Fiala said, coming over to the table.

“Thank you, Fiala.”

“I’ll bring a chair over,” Fiala said and went to claim a chair from another table.

The other five men at the table watched her go. Joey coughed lightly, “Doc, is she paid for?”

“Does it matter?” Doc asked.

“Yes. If she is trying to get you on, she can’t sit here since the table is busy,” Joey told him as he pushed the pot to the winner of the hand.

“She is,” Doc said.

“Sucker born every minute,” another man at the table snickered. “Ah well, she’ll be out of our hair before too long.”

Doc was about to reply when Joey beat him to it, “Doc, you’re the newcomer. Ante up.”

Tossing Joey the nickel, Doc held his tongue. He slid his chair a little to the left and gave Fiala a smile when she sat on his right.

~*~*~

The hands came and went, but Doc didn’t play many for the first hour. The hands that he did participate in won each time. Fiala would get him new drinks or sit and rub his neck and back while he played, and the others kept glancing at her in annoyance.

“Isn’t it time for you to find another sucker?” one of the men growled.

“No,” Doc said as he looked at his cards. “I find you agreeable enough.”

Silence swallowed the table for a moment before Raymond let out a braying laugh. Everyone other than the one man joined in. Fiala’s eyes were wide as she covered her mouth with her hands, and Joey bit his bottom lip to stop his laughter.

“I wasn’t talking to you,” the man snapped.

“Ah, I’m sorry. I misunderstood. It’s just that, after an hour of playing, we’ve all noticed you are the easiest to sucker into losing hands.” Doc smiled as he mucked his cards to Joey, not even bothering to stay in the hand.

“What was that?”

“A question we’ve all asked when you’ve shown your cards,” Doc replied evenly.

The table laughed louder. Several people looked over to see what was prompting the hilarity. The complainer went red in the face, noticing all the people now watching.

“You think you’re so smart—?”

“I know I am, but I’m not sure you think at all,” Doc cut him off. “Most people know when to walk away from a losing hand. Then again, if you knew how to do that, you wouldn’t have just lost the majority of your cash.”

Joey leaned forward, covering his face with his hands as small bursts of laughter escaped him. Fiala had stopped laughing, but she was watching Doc with shining eyes. Everyone else at the table was laughing and staring at the man being verbally roasted. The man snatched his money off the table and stalked away, laughter following him to the door as he went.

“It seems I was wrong,” Doc said evenly. “He can indeed learn, after all.”

With the entertainment gone, the rest of the saloon went back to their own business, and the people at the card table slowly composed themselves. Joey was still snort-laughing into the felt.

“Well, that’s one annoyance down,” Doc chuckled.

“Is this seat open?” Everyone at the table looked at the man asking; dusty from travel, he had a pistol on his right hip, a rifle in his left hand, and saddlebags over his shoulder.

“Wouldn’t you rather get the dust off first?” Raymond asked.

“Maybe after a bit. I wanted some drinks and cards first.”

“The table minimum is a nickel, sir,” Joey said.

“Fine by me,” the man said, pulling the empty seat out and dropping into it. He set his things down and opened up one side of his bags, taking out a fist-sized, jingling pouch. He removed several nickel and silver coins from the pouch and stacked them in front of him. “What’s the game?” he asked once he put the bag away.

Chapter Nine

The newcomer didn’t say much for the first couple of hands, and no one seemed interested in trying to engage him in conversation, either.

“Quiet table, considering it was the center of attention just a bit ago,” the man chuckled.

“Well, there were circumstances for the hilarity,” Doc said. “You look like you were out on the trail. Anything of interest?”

“The infamous cattle thief, Winslow Wilson, was interesting,” the man replied. “I didn’t expect him to try chewing his own thumb off to escape. Made good headway on it while I slept, too. If I’d slept in another hour, he might have made it.”

Everyone gave the man surprised or disgusted looks. Fiala covered her mouth, looking a bit green.

“Bounty hunter?” Doc asked.

“No,” the man said, giving Doc a long look. “Federal marshal, actually,” the man pulled the edge of his long jacket back, revealing the badge.

“Ah. No man can evade the long arm of the law forever,” Doc said.

“If more people believed that, I wouldn’t have spent the last month chasing Wilson down.”

“Can I get you some drinks?” Cassia asked when she came over to the table.

“Bring me a bottle of whiskey,” the marshal ordered.

“On me,” Doc said, holding a dollar out to Cassia.

“No need for that.”

“I firmly believe that lawmen who take their jobs seriously should be acknowledged,” Doc said. “Marshal…?”

“Wennwood Hickinbotham. People I like can call me Wenn,” the marshal replied. “I’ll accept this time.”

“Anything for you, sir?” Cassia asked.

“I’m still good with this beer,” Doc said, tapping the handle of the mug Fiala had brought him.

A couple of others ordered drinks before Cassia left them to get the order filled.

“Wennwood, it’s your ante,” Joey said.

“It always comes around so quick,” Wenn laughed and tossed a nickel to the dealer. “What about you?” he asked Doc.

“I’m not a lawman,” Doc replied. “I’m Doc Holyday. Currently a gambler, but hoping to get my feet under me in other ways soon.”

“Doc?” Wenn asked. “As in doctor?”

“It’s my given name. I don’t have any formal training through the colleges.”

“Missed opportunity,” Wenn chuckled as he checked his cards. “Is it to me?”

“Your bet, sir, yes,” Joey replied.

“A dollar,” Wenn said as he tossed a silver dollar into the pot.

Raymond and a couple others stayed in, but Doc didn’t even have a pair, so he left the hand. When they finished, Wenn was raking in the hefty pot and one of the players was out of cash, so he took his leave.

“You didn’t want to give me some of yours?” Wenn grinned at Doc as he stacked up his new coins.

“If I had the cards, I would have stayed in. With a hand full of trash, I wasn’t going to.”

“Your drinks,” Cassia said, dropping off the bottle to Wenn first and giving him a flirtatious smile. “If you need anything else, Marshal, just call for me. I’m Cassia.”

Wenn gave her a long look up and down before he smiled wide, “After this bottle is done, I will.”

“You going to be in town long?” Doc asked once Cassia had left.

“A week, maybe,” Wenn replied. “Paperwork and trial.”

“What’ll become of Wilson, do you think?” Doc asked as the next hand got dealt.

“He’ll be condemned,” Wenn shrugged. “A dozen counts of cattle theft across six states, and double that number of killings during those thefts. I’d wager the judge will have his soul pulled out. If he hadn’t done the murders, he might have gotten away with a little rope fandango, but he killed too many.”

Doc had a dozen questions, but knew asking any of them would expose him as not being native. Stewing on how to try getting answers, he looked at his cards and saw three jacks.

No one opened the betting until it got to Doc, “Half-dollar.”

Everyone but Raymond and Wenn bowed out of the hand, and neither raised. Turning in his two cards, Doc was sad he didn’t get another pair, but that would have been pushing the odds. Both Wenn and Raymond took a single card each.

“Hmm, I’m going to have to bet a dollar,” Doc said.

“Make it three,” Wenn was quick to raise.

Raymond, who had started to reach for his chips when Doc had bet, shook his head and kicked his cards to Joey instead. “Fold.”

Doc stared at Wenn for a long moment, but could not get a read off him. “Call.”

“Straight,” Wenn said, turning over his cards and showing off his ten through seven of hearts and the six of diamonds.

Doc nodded and mucked his hand instead of showing it to Wenn. “Better than what I had. Nice hand to bet on, though. Possibilities there with the flush and straight draws.”

“Luck can be fickle, but she likes me more than she hates me, I think,” Wenn replied.

“Like most women, Lady Luck has two sides to her,” Doc chuckled. “The side where she loves you, and the side where you’ve upset her… and you better hope her gun is unloaded.”

Wenn boomed out a laugh, “I like it. I’ve known those ones. The last one had a loaded gun— she was a terrible shot, luckily, so she only grazed me when I went out the window.”

“Doc, your ante,” Joey said, bringing him back to the game.

“Got it,” Doc chuckled and tossed a coin to the dealer. “What happened with the woman?”

“That’s a long story, but the short version of it is that her brother was one of the people I was looking for. Found out the morning after a... brief interlude. Her brother was caught an hour later, and I made sure to get the fuck out of there as quick as I could.”

“I’d say that was Luck not liking you,” Doc snickered. “Then again, you did get away and caught the guy you were looking for.”

“True. It was a mixed bag.”

Doc looked at the cards dealt to him and saw that he had a straight to the ace. “Five dollars.”

Wenn frowned, “Five? Steep price before the draw.”

The two people between Doc and Wenn folded, leaving it to the marshal.

“Call,” Wenn said slowly.

Raymond folded, “I’m not going against that.”

Joey pulled the coins together before looking at Doc. “How many?”

“None.”

Wenn’s lips pursed as he looked at his hand, then pulled two cards and mucked them. “Two for me.”

Joey gave Wenn his cards before looking to Doc. “Your bet, Doc.”

Doc had watched Wenn’s face intently, but the marshal hadn’t reacted when viewing his cards. “Damned good poker face, Wenn. I have no idea if you picked something up or not. I still have to bet my hand; five again.”

Wenn tapped the table for a moment, staring back at Doc. “I’m fairly certain you have something, but the question is, is it better than my hand?”

Doc picked up his mug and took a drink, not replying. After about five seconds, Joey called the bet to Wenn, prompting him to make a decision.

“I hate losing everything I just made and more, but that’s the way the cards flop,” Wenn sighed. “Call.”

“Doc, you’ve been called,” Joey said once he had collected the money.

“Straight, to the ace,” Doc said, showing his cards.

“Dealt a damned straight,” Wenn sighed as he mucked his hand. “Beats my trips.”

Doc chuckled as he pulled the pot in, tipping Joey a nickel as he did. “Luck comes and goes, but in the end, we all have to call or fold.”

“True enough,” Wenn agreed, holding up his bottle in salute to Doc before taking a long pull. “This stuff is horrible, but it’ll do the job.”

~*~*~

The game continued for another couple of hours until Wenn finally stood up from the table. He still had the majority of his money, but a portion had gone to Doc. Raymond had left after his money was exhausted, having been split between Doc and Wenn. The other two players called it a night, as well.

“Bottle is empty and the game is dead,” Wenn chuckled. “Time for the bath and then… bed.” His last word was slow as he eyed Cassia dancing on the stage.

“You’ll want to get her when she comes off the stage. We almost always get picked up by someone at that point,” Fiala told him.

“Much obliged,” Wenn said as he got to his feet. “Doc, be seeing you.”

“I’m sure you will,” Doc said and gathered his money. “Joey, thanks for the hands.” He slid the dealer a dollar. “They shouldn’t have been upset with you. It’s not like you control the cards.”

“It is the way things are. The last dealer who fudged the deck was tossed out by Madam Lia and taken to the sheriff to face charges,” Joey said. “I know better.”

“Doc, are we going to go upstairs?” Fiala asked softly.

Doc gave her a smile, “Yeah, after a bath for me. I prefer to be as clean as possible before enjoying other relaxations.”

The piano stopped playing and the crowd applauded Cassia when she went to leave the stage. A couple of loud voices started arguing at that point.

Doc looked over in time to watch Wenn hit the man he was arguing with. The man went down hard and started to get back up when Wenn flared his coat, showing the badge.

“Don’t,” Wenn said simply when the man’s hand touched his pistol.

Removing his hand from his gun, the man on the floor got to his feet, spat at Wenn’s boots, and stormed off. “Fucking lawmen think they own the world.”

“Excuse me, Marshal,” Lia said, appearing behind Wenn, “we don’t like fighting over the women here. We settle those disputes by the woman in question choosing.”

Wenn turned to look at Lia and nodded slowly. “Have we met?”

“I’m Madam Lia. I run the Lily.”

“I see. My apologies to you, Madam, and to you, Cassia.” He finished turning to Cassia. “I had promised earlier and didn’t know the rules of this house. If you are amenable, I’d like what we talked of earlier. If not, I’ll take my leave.”

Cassia felt all the eyes on her, but she gave Wenn a smile. “Next time, don’t fight, please. I would have chosen you over him, anyway. Did you want that bath first?”

“That’d be good. If this place has a room for the night, I’d take that, too.”

“Speak with Westin behind the bar,” Lia told him, “and try to enjoy your evening, Marshal.”

“Is there more than one bath here?” Doc asked Fiala once everything was over.

“We have two rooms,” Fiala said. “Come with me. Unless you’d like to get some clean clothes first?”

“Be for the best,” Doc said. “Where do I meet you?”

“Through the door by the stairs,” Fiala said. “I’ll pick up some different clothing, too.”

“Sounds like a plan to me,” Doc smiled. “See you in a few.”

Fiala’s smile was bright, “I’m looking forward to it.”

Chapter Ten

Doc met Fiala in the hallway, closing the door to the saloon behind him. “That dancer sure was flexible,” he mentioned as they started down the hall.

“Jasmine is the most agile of us,” Fiala replied with a glance at him.

“I’m perfectly happy with my companion,” Doc smiled at her. “I was just not expecting her to pull off that maneuver. Pretty sure I’d pull a muscle or three trying it.”

Fiala giggled as she imagined him trying. “Best not try, then. Hurting those muscles would put a damper on other activities.”

“It would, indeed.”

As they bantered, Doc got a good look at some of the rooms off the hall. The kitchen door was open. Inside were two older women, hard at work preparing food, and three children of different ages assisting them. A set of double doors stood open, giving him a view of a private dining room. Three more doors marked the hallway, and two were bathing rooms. The last door was unmarked and looked sturdier than any other door he had seen in the building.

Fiala motioned to the other bathing room door, which had a small plaque hanging from the knob. “That means someone is using the room.” Her words were punctuated by a happy laugh, followed by a splash. “It sounds like the marshal is already using it.”

“Cassia sounds happy,” Doc chuckled when he entered the other room. Fiala picked up the red wooden plaque to hang on the door handle before she closed it behind her.

Doc was surprised by the room; he had half-expected it to only have a wooden hip tub, a stove, and a few jugs of water. What he saw instead was a copper-coated iron tub in the middle of a spacious room. A hip-high, six-foot-long table stood near one wall, and the shelves near it were filled with various bottles and soaps.

“Did you want those clothes cleaned, too?” Fiala asked.

“I was going to ask about that,” Doc chuckled as he moved further into the room.

“Normally, you just need to ask one of the staff and it’d be taken care of. I’ll let Posy know that you need them cleaned when we’re done in here. She’ll collect them and clean them.”

“Thank you,” Doc turned around to find Fiala laying her clothing out on a stand next to the door. “Clothes go there?”

“It’s easier if they do. You can drop your dirties into that basket there,” Fiala motioned to the wicker hamper.

“Right,” Doc said as he started to strip. He put his belt and other non-clothing items next to his clean clothing.

When he finished, he noticed that Fiala had also divested herself. Letting his eyes take her in, he noted the scars and imperfections that marred her body first— some were prominent, others less so. Being a man, his eyes were drawn to her overall figure. She had high perky breasts that had barely started to give way to gravity, a flat stomach with just a hint of extra padding, and toned firm legs. The only hints of her heritage were her ears, tail, and the strip of fur connecting the two that ran down her spine.

Looking up to her eyes, he realized she was shifting a little awkwardly. “Sorry, Fiala, I was just enraptured.”

Fiala’s cheeks heated and she motioned him to the tub. “Never had a man look at me with such intensity before. Why don’t you get the water to your preferred temperature while I gather some of the odds and ends?”

“Sounds like a good idea to me,” Doc said, aware that her eyes had drifted below his waist since he was already rising to salute her.

“Like a stallion,” Doc heard Fiala mutter. He smirked as he bent over the tub, turning the marked taps to get the water running.

Testing the water, he waited to add the plug, lazily watching Fiala’s backside as she went to the shelf on the far side of the room. Once he had the water where he wanted it, he plugged the tub and climbed in. The tub was long enough for him to stretch out with his back against the far side of it, and the edges came up to just under his arms, letting him rest them on the broad flat sides.

“This is nice,” Doc said as he continued to watch Fiala.

“Do you prefer plain, orange, or jasmine?” Fiala asked.

“Plain, please.”

“Okay.” She picked up a bar of white soap and brought it over to the tub, along with a stool. “Once you’re wet, I can start soaping you up,” she told him, looking down at him.

“Is that how it works?” Doc chuckled and met her eyes. Reaching down, he splashed water up his torso and stood. “Think I’m ready, then?”

Fiala licked her lips, “I’d say you are, but certain activities aren’t supposed to take place in these rooms.”

“Ah well, let’s get the bathing out of the way and retire. What do you say?”

“Yes, please,” Fiala said as she lathered the soap in her hands.

Fiala was fast but efficient in her task. While she worked, Doc asked her about the table in the room, and she told him that massages were sometimes part of bathing. Doc declined when she asked, but only because he was as eager as she was to go upstairs.

When he sat down to rinse off, he turned the taps off. When Fiala leaned over to make sure his back was clean, Doc chuckled as he reached up and pulled her into the tub with him.

“Doc? I told you—”

“Shh,” Doc said, placing a finger over her lips. “It’s just my turn to make sure you’re clean. I had to get you wet first, remember?”

Fiala giggled, “Okay, but this tub isn’t nearly big enough for the both of us.”

“Oh, I’m sure if we tried, we could both be happy with the fit,” Doc said, shifting her around so her back was to him and his rigid flesh was pressing against her. “However, some things aren’t done in these rooms.” Standing slowly, he stepped out of the tub and picked up the soap. “Now that you’re all wet and ready, why don’t you stand up for me?”

Fiala exhaled as she did so, “I can’t tell if you’re mean, cunning, or smart.”

“All of them are valid options,” Doc chuckled, reaching down to start with her legs.

His hands moved more slowly than hers had, and he didn’t go faster even when she asked. He took his time, just happy to have a willing woman in his hands. By the time he finished, Fiala was flushed and breathing a little fast, though he hadn’t touched her inappropriately more than once or twice. Helping her rinse the soap off, he smiled at the small, almost silent purr that he felt as he rinsed her back.

“Now we’re done,” Doc said, standing up and getting a towel from where it hung near the table.

“Yes,” Fiala murmured as she stepped out, the water glistening against her skin. She shivered when the cool air washed over her, both nipples becoming diamond points as Doc walked back toward her.

“Ladies first,” Doc said, wrapping the towel around her and helping rub her dry.

“I’m not a lady, though,” Fiala said softly.

“You are. You are with me, at the very least,” Doc replied gently. “There’s no need to treat you as anything other than a lady, unless you want it that way.”

Fiala swallowed and let him dry her, her mind a jumbled mix of emotions. She had the occasional man treat her well, but Doc was going too far; he truly was trying to treat her like a lady.

“Doc… please stop,” Fiala finally managed as he kneeled down to dry her legs.

“Huh?” Doc asked, stopping.

“We’ll ruin me if you keep doing this,” Fiala said. “I’m not a lady. We both know what I do and what my heritage is.”

“Doesn’t matter to me,” Doc said, standing back up. “Not on either count. If you need me to stop, though, I’ll try, but I can’t stop everything.”

“Let me dry you,” Fiala said, taking the towel from his unresisting hand.

No more words were spoken between them as they finished getting dressed. Walking down the hall, Fiala poked her head in the kitchen to inform Posy that they had left clothing to be cleaned in the bathing room.

As they were leaving the back hall, they came out to see another of the girls on the stage. Doc slowed his steps to listen to her sing. A smile touched his lips at the song, backed by piano, and Fiala had to take his hand to get him moving up the stairs again.

Hand in hand, they walked down the hall of the third floor until they reached Doc’s room. Doc led her inside, closing the door behind them and securing the latch. Fiala stood by the single table in the room, watching him while her tail flicked back and forth behind her.

“Fiala, there are two things I really want to do with you. You might feel like it’s me trying to treat you like a lady again, but they are things I want. Will you accept them?”

“What are they?” Fiala asked.

“A simple massage, to start with. I want to get the chance to really know your body before we move onto other things.”

“The other?”

Doc wondered what phrasing would make sense to her. “I want to bury my face between your thighs until you can’t take any more.”

Fiala’s jaw fell open and she shifted in place, her tail swishing faster. “You want to… do that… with me?”

“If you’ll let me. I enjoy the act, knowing that I can bring the woman with me to orgasm with only the smallest part of me.”

“Only if you let me return the favor.”

“Won’t say no to that,” Doc smiled, “but I should warn you that I can get a little… aggressive when I’m close to orgasm.”

Fiala’s lips twitched, “Good. It’ll make it easier for me to retain my view of myself.”

“I can do some commanding if that’ll make you more comfortable,” Doc chuckled.

“Oh?”

Doc met her eyes and his voice became firm, “Strip and get on the bed.”

Fiala’s eyes widened and she shivered, her tail stilling for a moment. “As you wish, Doc.”

Pulling his own clothing off, he set it on the table while Fiala draped hers on the chair. Once she was done, she went and laid on the bed, watching him while he finished undressing and crossed the room to her.

“On your stomach. I want to start with your back,” he kept his voice firm, yet tinged with caring.

Fiala did as he asked, her tail twitching as he sat on the bed beside her. She breathed out when his hands touched her shoulders first. Small soft sounds escaped her as he began to work her muscles, breaking up the small bits of tension she had.

Seeing her occupied with just feeling the massage, Doc did what he wanted to do. Hands glowing softly as he invoked his magic, he continued to massage her. While he worked on her, he could feel the spots where she needed healing. Broken vertebrae in her tail near the spine, a touch of virus in her lungs, her left small toe broken four times... Doc cataloged them, surprised that he didn’t find any venereal diseases at all.

Fiala felt the warmth emanate from his hands and relaxed even more, just letting him pamper her, though she did feel that it was wrong to indulge like she was. Her breathing evened out a moment later when the tightness in her chest vanished, but she dismissed it as finally relaxing. When his hands reached the base of her tail, she stiffened slightly. She was aware of how her tail cricked there because of an old, cruel patron. Doc didn’t seem to pay any attention to it as he slowly dragged one of his hands up her tail, the other working around the base, softly kneading her flesh.

Doc felt her tense just before he straightened her tail, but she relaxed again when he didn’t pause on her previous injury. When he finished with her tail and worked down her legs, Fiala began to purr gently, making Doc smile. He decided to leave the toe alone— it hadn’t bothered her and would give everything away if she came to realize she had sensation in that toe again.

“Roll over, please,” he said softly when he let go of her feet.

With a heavy sigh of languidness, Fiala turned over, her eyes heavy. “Are we done?”

“Only halfway,” Doc whispered, smiling down at her. He started at her legs and began to massage his way up her body.

Fiala’s breath came a little faster when his hand touched her sex. Spreading her legs another inch, she invited him to explore to his heart’s content.

“Okay, we can stop,” Doc smiled at her and let his fingers part her folds. He leaned over her and caught one of her hard nipples in his mouth.

Fiala gasped as his mouth and hand began to bring her already aroused body to greater heights. “Doc…” she whispered his name as her back arched gently.

Not wanting to take her too far, he slowed his fingers. “Now for the second thing I wanted,” he told her before kissing his way from her breasts down her body.

Fiala nodded, willing to let him do anything he wanted to her in that moment. Some of the men had wanted to pleasure her body before their own, but none of them had gone as far as Doc had, much less as far as he was about to.

Spreading her legs wider, Doc came to a rest between them, his tongue gently tracing her sex. Fiala moaned and arched into the sensation, wanting more. Doc was happy to oblige her, but also wanted to take his time.

Minutes rolled past them as Doc did his best to bring her to the edge and hold her there. Fiala moaned, purred, and eventually started to beg for release. When his tongue cramped from his exertions, Doc decided it was time. Focusing his attention to her clit, he pushed her over the edge.

Body shaking, mind reeling, Fiala wasn’t aware of her hands clutching his head and holding him in place while her body bucked and writhed. Doc was shocked when she grabbed him and at the strength of her grip. Not one to be outdone, instead of stopping and letting her calm down, he clamped down on her sensitive flesh with his lips and gently massaged it. Eyes going wide, Fiala gave a hard shudder before going completely limp, her eyes rolling up in her head.

Once she had released him from her grip, Doc slowed his actions before stopping and gasping a little for breath. Seeing her unconscious, he chuckled as he shifted position on the bed and waited for her to wake up a little.

Eyes fluttering open as her body hummed with pleasure, Fiala exhaled and tried to focus. “Doc?”

“Awake?”

“Hmm, yes… that was—!” Fiala began, cutting off instantly when a new sensation started.

Doc smiled as he pressed forward into her, getting a deep and guttural moan to come out of her. Taking his time, he had to work before he was fully inserted inside her, even with as wet as she was. When he finally came to a stop deep inside of her, he leaned forward and kissed her softly. “Ready for the finish?”

Eyes unfocused, Fiala reached up and pulled him back to her, kissing him deeply as her legs wrapped around his waist. Taking her actions as consent, Doc slowly worked in and out of her as the kiss continued. He would have liked to continue for a while, but he was past ready to explode himself. Doing his best to delay his own orgasm, he tried to keep his pace slow and steady.

After a couple of minutes, he sped up. Fiala let go of his head, shifting to grip his shoulders instead. “Oh, Doc… more… more…!”

Her urging only pushed him to finish. Slamming into her hard and deep, he felt the moment coming. Sharp pain in his shoulders made him hunch forward and gasp, but that didn’t stop him from erupting inside of her, not even when Fiala bit into his neck and made him bleed. The extra sensation only made him cum harder, which was enough to send her into another orgasm of her own. Mouth leaving his neck, she slammed her body into his, demanding everything he had.

Panting, spent, in pain, and awash in pleasure, Doc slumped on the bed beside Fiala. Summoning healing hands, he touched his shoulders and neck and felt the pain recede. A soft snore from beside him told him everything he needed to know. Healed but exhausted, he managed to get the blanket and pull it over them as he snuggled in beside her and let sleep claim him.

Chapter Eleven

A soft sigh in Doc’s ear woke him up. Fiala was beside him in bed with her mouth wide open, a line of drool dripping onto his arm which she was using as a pillow. A soft smile touched his lips for a moment; it had been years since a woman had shared a bed with him. Hopefully, she doesn’t flip out and try to kill me like the last one did… but she is the first woman with cat ears I’ve slept with, so maybe we can have a new baseline.

Ears twitching, nose scrunching, Fiala opened her eyes to see Doc smiling at her. “Morning…” Eyes shooting wide open, Fiala scrambled out of bed. “I have to go!” she said quickly as she grabbed her clothing and bolted from the room.

Sadness hit Doc like a hammer when the door slammed shut behind her. She tried to tell you a dozen times, idiot, Doc berated himself. It’s not like she was going to smile happily at you and offer to get you breakfast. Shaking his head, Doc got out of bed.

As he was reaching for his clothing on the table, a timid knock on the door stopped him. He took the blanket and wrapped it around himself to answer the door. Posy was standing there with a kettle in hand, staring at the floor.

“Thank you, Posy,” Doc said softly. “I’ll be down in a bit. Can you ask the cooks to get breakfast ready for me, please?”

“Yes, sir,” Posy replied, still not looking up.

“Thank you.” Seeing that she was obviously uncomfortable, Doc shut the door gently. He sighed and filled the basin by the window with hot water, giving himself a quick wipe down and healing the bedbug bites. Wish I knew a way to kill those fuckers. I should stop in and see the alchemist... maybe I can get something from her?

Cleaned and dressed, Doc went downstairs with his hat in hand. “Morning, Dillon,” Doc greeted the bartender.

“Morning,” Dillon replied, smiling broadly.

“The new job is certain?”

“Yeah. Madam Lia worked it out with me yesterday. I get the six-to-six every day. Not going to make a lot in tips, but the increase in pay over being a dealer will equal it out.”

“Good for you. Can I get a cup of that coffee?”

“Sure,” Dillon said, picking up a tin cup to pour the thick black coffee into. “I’ll let the cooks know about breakfast.”

“I told Posy when she dropped off water this morning,” Doc said.

“Okay. Anything else I can get you?”

“Unless you have something back there to kill bed bugs, nope.”

“Did they infest your room? Madam Lia kills them once she knows they’re back. I’ll pass the word along to her.”

“Thanks,” Doc replied, taking his cup and making his way to the table he used yesterday.

He had barely gotten situated when Posy came out of the hallway with a plate of food. Setting it on the table, Posy was about to leave when Doc slid a nickel onto the table. “Thank you, Posy.”

“You’re welcome, sir,” Posy said, not looking at him as she took the coin and left.

Doc watched her go, wondering why she had gone from friendly and bubbly to afraid of him. With no answers to be had, he turned his attention to breakfast; biscuits, gravy, sausage, fried eggs, and a thick slab of ham.

Doc was just finishing breakfast and a second cup of coffee when Fiala hurried down the stairs and ran out the door. Doc frowned, as she had purposely not looked at him when she left. Guess I fucked something up, Doc sighed. Maybe I can find out what I did later.

“All done, Doc?” Dillon asked from the bar.

“Yeah. Tasty and filling. Which way is the alchemist?”

“Henrick? Down three and west one.”

“Thanks,” Doc said and tossed the man a nickel. “I’ll be back, hopefully earlier than yesterday.”

“Have a good one,” Dillon called back.

Stepping outside, Doc put his hat on and touched his cheeks. Still smooth enough... seems my facial hair grows slowly just like before. As he walked down the street the way Dillon had pointed, Doc wondered about alchemy and how it fit into the world.

~*~*~

The building he stopped in front of was not impressive, but the scents wafting from it were strong. The simple sign above the door had a mortar and pestle with the proprietor’s name below that.

When he stepped inside, a small bell jingled to announce his arrival and Doc paused just inside the shop. The smell of dozens of plants hit him like a hammer. He closed the door behind him and the small bell jingled again. The shop was mostly open, but shelves filled with plants took the majority of the wall space. There was a long counter along the far wall, behind which stood a woman well into her forties, looking his way. Her right eye was milky white and her left was a dull brown. It was the other customer that captured Doc’s attention. Fiala stood there fidgeting when she saw that Doc had entered the shop.

“Do you?” Fiala asked a bit urgently, turning back to Henrick.

“Aye, I got some. Let me get the vial; you know the cost.”

Henrick stepped past a beaded curtain that separated the shop from the rest of the building. Fiala continued to stare at the counter, not looking to Doc. Doc straightened his jacket and stepped up to the counter.

“Morning, miss.”

Fiala glanced at him, then away, “Morning, sir.”

Lowering his voice, Doc asked, “Did I do something to upset you?”

Fiala went red and turned away from him. She hunched her shoulders and her tail went stiff and straight against her legs. “No. It isn’t you. I made a mistake. I’ll fix it, I promise.”

Doc frowned, trying to understand what she was talking about, before two brain cells sparked a thought and he went a bit red in the face. “Oh, err... uh, sorry. I didn’t mean to make it awkward. I just thought I had upset you, and—” Doc started to explain quickly but softly before he was cut off.

“Here we are, dear,” Henrick said, coming out of the back. Putting a vial on the counter for Fiala, she glanced at her and then to Doc. “Is this one causing you trouble?”

“No! No, no trouble,” Fiala exclaimed, dropping money on the counter. Snatching the vial, she bolted for the door. “Thank you!”

Henrick watched her go and collected the money before turning a sour expression to Doc. “You’re as red as a tomato and she was all nervous,” Henrick said in a gruff tone. “You hurt her?”

“No, ma’am,” Doc replied automatically. “I think we just had a misunderstanding. I’ll be doing my best to make up for it.”

Henrick snorted, “Typical man. What did you need from my shop?”

“Umm...” Doc blinked before taking a deep breath. “A couple of things, hopefully. Anything that can kill bedbugs, to start with.”

“Easy enough if you can find them all. If not, just keep spreading the compound and if they touch it, they’ll die,” Henrick said while she pulled a one-inch circular container from under the counter.

“Do you have anything that can help make sure one stays… safe… when visiting certain houses?”

“The women in town already purchase that from me. If that is what you argued with her ab—”

“No, ma’am, it wasn’t. I just didn’t want to bring anything back either if I visited any of the other houses.”

“I have an ointment for the women and a potion for the men. Yours would only last a few hours.”

“And do you have anything to help with injuries?”

“Depends on the injury,” Henrick replied.

“Cuts?”

“Depends on the severity, but I have things to help with mild to moderate cuts.”

“Very well. Can I have one of the compounds, a potion, and something to handle moderate cuts?”

“Compound is a few pennies, potion is a half-dollar, and the moderate healing ointment is ten dollars.”

Doc paused, “Hmm, a bit much for me after all, at least right now. The first two only, please.” He placed fifty-five cents on the counter.

Henrick nodded as she picked up his coins and headed to the back again. A minute later, she returned with a vial similar in shape to the one Fiala had run off with. “Here you go.” She pushed it and the small container to him. “Let me get your change.”

“Keep it,” Doc said. “I wonder if you could answer a question for me?”

“Depends on the question, don’t it?”

“I’ve heard that Doctor Whittaker only sees humans or charges a higher price for those of mixed blood. Is that true?”

Henrick’s lip curled at Whittaker’s name. “Mangy cuss that he is... aye, it’s true. When most of them need help, they see me.”

“I see. Thank you,” Doc said, tipping his hat to her as he collected his purchases.

“Don’t upset my customers while they’re in my shop,” Henrick told him.

“Understood, ma’am,” Doc said as he headed for the door.

Outside, he sighed. Worry about her later, Doc... for now, you have research about buildings in town to do. Breathing deep, Doc made his way back to the courthouse.

~*~*~

“Excuse me,” Doc said as he stepped into the records department. “I’m hoping you can help me.”

What looked like a younger version of the bird bestial from the clerk’s office stood behind the counter. “What are you looking for?”

“Which buildings in town might be for sale, to start with.”

“That’s not a lot... the silver mine made all land worth a lot and all the available lots were bought up. The only building that is still up for sale is the old, burnt-out general store, and even that has seen some interest.”

“Any idea what the asking price is?”

“Five thousand, last I heard.”

Doc blinked at her in shock, “I’m sorry, did you say five grand?”

“Yes. Like I said, all property in town is at the highest price it’s ever been.”

“Hell, that makes things problematic,” Doc sighed.

“If you didn’t buy it today, you probably won’t be able to, as it is,” the recorder told him. “Mr. Suez and the mayor are both speaking with the owner tomorrow.”

“Is there a map that shows who owns the property in town, extending out to the mines?”

“All records cost a dollar each, sir.”

Doc pulled out a silver dollar, “If you have the right map, I’d like a copy.”

The recorder nodded as she went into the back where rows of cabinets stood. After a couple of minutes, she returned, her talons lightly scoring the wood as she walked. “Is this the map you wanted?”

Doc unrolled the map and looked it over before nodding. “Yes, please.”

“Very well,” she picked up the coin. “Is there anything else, sir?”

“Not right now, thank you,” Doc tipped his hat to her and left with the map in hand.

Stepping outside, he looked up at the overcast sky. Don’t rain until I get back to the Lily, please... He walked quickly and started making a list of the things he would need to do once he had time to really look into the map. Check that what I was told is true, then see if there are any outlying buildings that might go for cheaper than the old general store. If not, I might have to find out where the two big spenders spend their time and figure out a way to speak with them.

Chapter Twelve

Doc waved to Dillon when he got back to the saloon, “Can you send up a big mug of something? I got some work to do.”

“Sure,” Dillon replied, turning to do as asked.

Doc made it to his room and got the map unrolled on the table, using coins to weigh the edges down. Collecting the mug from Posy, he gave her a smile and a penny and got a tentative smile in return.

At least she seems to be mostly back to normal, Doc thought.

In the two hours he looked over the map, he found only a couple of things: the mayor and Suez had almost split the town and mining operations outside of the town in half. There was also a third party in play, but they looked to have been marginalized into a corner. They only had a manor out near a mine, the old general store, and the real surprise, the Lily.

“Lia doesn’t own this place?” Doc muttered to himself. “If I find out who this person is and what their leverage points are, maybe I can make a deal with them.”

Rolling the map up, he stuck it in his storage chest. He opened the door to leave, but stopped suddenly because Fiala was standing there. “Fiala?”

She looked up at him and looked down just as quickly, “Doc, do you have a moment?”

Stepping aside, he motioned her into the room. “Of course.”

When the door shut behind her, Fiala hunched a little as she went to the table. “About this morning…” She trailed off, staring at the floor and not looking at him.

“I take it that you didn’t have the correct items to prevent a pregnancy,” Doc said softly.

Swallowing hard, Fiala turned to face him. “I… yes.”

“But you went and got more of it today, right?”

“It’s why I left like I did. If we can take the concoction before twelve hours have passed, then it isn’t a problem.”

“Okay. Everything is fine, then, isn’t it?”

“Yes. I just… after all you did yesterday, I was upset and embarrassed to have made that mistake. When you followed me to Henrick’s, I thought maybe you were going to pressure me to not take the—”

“No,” Doc cut her off gently. “It’s your body and your life. I have no right dictating to you. If you had not taken it intentionally and hadn’t told me, I might have been mildly perturbed. I’m sorry that I made you pass out— that’s the only reason it became an issue.”

Fiala’s lips twitched and she touched one of her ears absently. “Never had that happen before. It was nice.” The last three words came with dark red cheeks.

“Honestly, never managed to do that before, so it was a first for both of us. Next time, we know that it might happen and can take steps ahead of time.”

“Next time?” Fiala asked with a smile.

“I’m going to be here for some time, it looks like, so unless you object, I would like there to be a next time.”

“I wouldn’t say no,” Fiala said and took a step toward him.

“Good to know,” Doc grinned. “I do need to get going, though. I have business to see about.”

“Of course,” Fiala said. “I hope you have a good day.”

“You, too, Fiala... you, too,” Doc replied, opening the door for her.

He made it down to the bar as the sun was approaching noon. There were a half dozen men downstairs drinking, half of them sitting at the card table. Ignoring the glare from Julius at the card table, Doc went to speak with Dillon at the bar.

“Doc, you need something?” Dillon asked.

“The guy who owns this place, know anything about him?”

“Mr. Brand? What information were you looking for?”

“Anything that might help me approach him. How did he end up owning the Lily?”

“I don’t know about the first one, he almost never comes in here. Only seen him twice in the entire time I’ve worked here. Dressed in fine suits, walks with a cane, has an accent I’ve never heard another use. As for the Lily… he won it during a tournament at the Gold Strike.”

“That’s the big gambling place down the street, right? Owned by the mayor?”

“Owned by the mayor now, not then. Back then, it was owned by Mr. Brand. Brand would hold tournaments there once or twice a year, and almost three years ago, Madam Lia went. From what I’ve heard, she was doing well and made it to the final table. That’s where things started going bad. You see, side bets during the tournament are a common thing for those who have the extra to spend. Mayor Goodman, Mr. Suez, Mr. Brand, and Madam Lia were the last four in the tournament.”

“I can see where this is going,” Doc sighed.

“During one of the hands, Brand pushed all of his money in. Madam Lia called him, but then Brand goes one better; he offers the Gold Strike up as a side bet. Lia didn’t call right away and thought about it before offering up the Lily as its equal. Goodman and Suez objected that the deal wasn’t equal, so she went further and said she’d run the house as the Madam for three years, as well.”

“What did they have?”

“Madam Lia had a full house, aces over kings. Brand had a straight flush.”

“Bad beat,” Doc sighed. “It’s been over two years?”

“Three years in a couple of months.”

“How did Brand lose the Gold Strike?”

“The next tournament, he bet it against the mayor’s saloon. Lost it and a number of other pieces of property during that. Hasn’t come to town much since then.”

“He stays out at his manor?”

“As far as I know,” Dillon said as he turned to start pouring drinks for the waitress working the room.

“Has the mayor hosted any tournaments?”

“None, and a lot of gamblers have been upset at that. It was a draw for the town, but the mayor hit the silver mine and hasn’t been interested in risking anything.”

Doc put a quarter on the bar, “Thank you, Dillon.”

Dillon blinked but took it. “Anytime, if you are going to tip like that.”

“If the information is worth it, I pay. Guess I need to head down to the Gold Strike and see what that place is all about.”

“Have fun, but, uh... watch the other players and dealers,” Dillon spoke softly, as if not wanting to be overheard.

“Good to know.”

Doc pulled his coat closer when he got outside, a chill wind blowing. The sun was up, but thick gray clouds had come in, bringing the scent of rain with them. Walking quickly down to the Gold Strike, Doc was glad it hadn’t started to rain by the time he got there.

He was surprised when he stepped inside the gambling hall— it wasn’t as wide open as he expected. Instead, there was an antechamber with two people behind thick wood and iron bars. Two large bull bestials stood on either side of the enclosure, shotguns held in their hands. A set of double doors stood to the right of the cashier’s cage.

Reminds me of a really small Vegas casino, Doc smiled as he approached the two cashiers. “Evening. I’m assuming you have the chips to play?”

The woman he addressed gave him a long look before she replied, “Yes, sir. Did you wish to purchase some chips?”

“Yeah,” Doc said as he pulled out his coin purse and emptied it on the counter. “I believe it’s about thirty dollars in total.”

The cashier made quick work of counting up the money and exchanging them for chips in a variety of denominations. “We hope you enjoy your time, sir. The bigger games will open at sundown, as normal.”

“I’ll just build up a bigger stake until then,” Doc chuckled as he took the chip rack. “Have a good day.”

Passing one of the guards and entering the main room, Doc smiled. This is more like what I envisioned. Poker, baccarat, blackjack, roulette, and craps tables filled the large room. Two dozen men sat at different tables, and at least three women in fine clothing accompanied a few of the men.

Doc took a slow walk through the room, getting an idea of the layout and stakes of each game. The baccarat table was not the game like he knew it, but the older game, “Faro.” What was it that Hoyle used to say about faro? Something about how there’s no such thing as an honest faro game? Yeah, let’s avoid those tables.

The roulette table had a dealer behind it, but there was no one playing. The blackjack tables had a couple of players each, and the single craps table open had four people. That left all the others playing at two different poker tables.

Do I want to play stud or draw? Doc asked himself as he walked toward them. The stud table is nickel ante and the draw table is a dime. Hmm… Let’s start slow and see what this place is going to be like.

Doc gave the others a neutral nod as he picked an empty seat at the stud table. “Afternoon.” He kept his face passive, but was surprised at some of the rougher clothing most of the men wore.

“Ain’t seen yous before,” one of the men scowled.

“New in town,” Doc shrugged. “I felt the need to feel the chips and cards in my hand.” Placing his stack of chips in front of him, he waited for the ongoing hand to finish.

“Damned Easterners,” another man snorted.

Doc sighed, “Here I thought this table might be friendly.”

“Guess again,” the first man sneered. “Go back where you belong.”

“Gentlemen,” the dealer said evenly, “the Gold Strike is open to everyone. If you dislike the gentleman, play and take his chips. Openly denigrating another isn’t allowed, as you should well know.” The men snorted but shut up. The dealer smiled tightly as he looked to Doc, “You have the next ante, and as it happens, the following one.”

Doc nodded, “That’s fine.”

The next couple of hours passed with little excitement; Doc won enough hands to add about fifteen dollars to his stack of chips, but never by winning a major pot. He did become aware of the woman sitting at the table helping the man she was with, passing along card information when she could steal glances at the man on her other side.

Obviously a house-bought lady, or the dealer would stop her, Doc thought, knowing the dealer had seen her a couple of times. Something to keep in mind if one of them sits beside me.

With his stack of chips having grown, Doc stood up when the last hand came to an end. “Well, this has been entertaining, but I think something with more excitement is needed. Thank you for the game.”

“Just going to leave?” one of the men scoffed.

“Yes,” Doc smiled as he motioned the dealer for a chip rack. “I’ll leave you all to fight among yourselves.”

“Asshole,” one of the others spat.

Doc got his chips together and walked away. The room had gotten livelier, and most of the tables now had at least one person at them. As he took his time deciding where to go, a woman dressed much like the others came toward him.

“Excuse me, sir, are you looking to have a companion while you enjoy the tables?”

Doc gave her a smile, “Perhaps. The second floor here, is that restricted for larger games?”

“They don’t start for another couple of hours yet, but yes,” she replied, stepping a little closer. “I can arrange for you to be notified when the doors open.”

“In that case, I’ll gladly have you sit with me,” Doc smiled. “Let’s go see what the draw table is like.”

Chapter Thirteen

Over the next few hours, Doc’s stack of chips grew. The people at the draw table had been more welcoming when he sat down, and as Doc hadn’t done more than win a few minor pots, no one complained about him winning.

As night fell, the bottom floor was filled with people from all walks of life, and the number of companions in the room had grown to just over a dozen. Winning a hand, Doc smiled. He was making small talk with the player who had folded last when his companion squeezed his thigh.

“Sir, the bigger games are open now,” she purred in his ear.

“Gentlemen, it seems that bigger stakes present themselves. Thank you for the game and conversation, but since my luck is holding, I need to make the most of it.”

“You’re a good player,” one of the men said. “Mind yourself upstairs, though; some sharks swim in those waters.”

“Hopefully they will find tables other than mine,” Doc chuckled as he racked his chips.

“Let me help you, sir,” the woman said and reached out to pick up some of his chips.

“Of course,” Doc said, continuing his own task, but keeping his eyes on her hands.

When one of his dollar coins didn’t make it to the rack, he did not react. Racks in hand, Doc let the companion lead him to the staircase. The stairs went up to a small landing where another guard was standing, holding a shotgun in his hands and wearing two pistols on his hips.

Seeing the companion with him, the guard nodded and opened the door. “Enjoy your evening, sir.”

Doc smiled as he took in the décor when he entered the room. Gold chandeliers hung from the ceiling, illuminating the room in a golden glow. The floor wasn’t hardwood like downstairs, but soft carpeting. Exceptionally well-padded chairs surrounded the tables. No craps or faro, but roulette, blackjack, and poker are all here.

Doc met the gaze of the few men already in the room and gave them amiable nods as he made his way to the table they were sitting at. “Gentlemen, do you mind if I join?”

“Haven’t seen you before. New to town?” one of the men asked.

“Arrived a couple of days ago.”

A couple of the men at the table exchanged a knowing glance before one of them spoke up, “Always glad to welcome new blood. Game can get stale with the same players.”

“Thank you,” Doc said, pulling a chair out. “I do thank you for your companionship, miss. With a game of this caliber, I’ll need to concentrate.” Holding out a chip to her, he smiled, “Keep it along with the other as my thanks.”

The companion’s face betrayed her shock at having been caught before she stiffened. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She swiped the chip and stalked away from the table.

One of the men chuckled, “Turning away a woman? Maybe we should worry about your proclivities.”

“I assure you that my proclivities are with the fairer sex.” Taking a seat, he unstacked his chips and made stacks out of the different denominations. “Dealer, can you change these up please?”

“Yes, sir,” the dealer said, taking the lower value chips and giving Doc quarter-valued chips back in return. “Ante is a quarter, sir.”

“Very well,” Doc smiled as he tossed one of them back. “Let’s play, shall we?”

~*~*~

The next hour saw Doc mostly watching the others. He only got in on three hands, winning two of them. While they played, the room became busier. A small buzz ran through the room when a tall, well-dressed man entered the room with two women on his arms.

“Who’s that?” Doc asked.

“Mr. Suez,” Simpson replied. “Damn good card player.”

“Good enough to own half the town,” Klomin added.

“Cheating bastard that he is,” Daryl muttered, getting glared at by the others.

“You want to get shot?” Klomin hissed softly.

“Have a temper, does he?” Doc asked.

“Last three men who’ve accused him of cheating ended up facing his right hand, Robert Kiddum, in the streets. Kiddum is the fastest draw in town. They never had a chance.”

“Good to know,” Doc said seriously.

Turning back to the game, Doc briefly saw Suez go to the draw table at the far end of the room. The next hand was barely underway before another commotion made Doc look to the door.

“Mayor Goodman,” Simpson said, seeing Doc’s questioning look. “He owns the place.”

“Plays with Suez most of the time,” Daryl added.

Checking his hand, Doc had a pair of aces, so he waited for the bet to pass to him. “Fifty cents,” Doc said, tossing in the chips.

“Oh, looks like we’ll have a good hand for once,” Klomin chuckled. “Make it a dollar.”

Simpson and Daryl joined the hand while the other two at the table folded. The dealer looked to Doc, who tossed away his three trash cards. Klomin took two, Daryl got one, and Simpson took three.

Doc checked his three cards— he had gotten a third ace, a king, and four. Klomin likely has trips, Daryl was going for a straight or flush, and Simpson must have had a low pair, Doc said, running through likely scenarios.

“Sir, it’s your bet.”

“A dollar,” Doc said.

“Make it five,” Klomin was quick to raise.

Daryl shook his head, tossing his cards away. “Busted straights aren’t worth five.”

Simpson looked at his cards again and fiddled with his chips for a moment, ignoring the dealer when he was prompted. “You have something, Klomin... I know you do… question is if it’s what you want us to think it is?”

Klomin just sipped at his whiskey, not giving away anything as he waited.

“Fine, I want to know,” Simpson said, tossing in his chips.

“Four more to me,” Doc mused as he picked up a five-dollar chip and began to dance it across his knuckles. “Simpson thinks you might be bluffing. I could dip out of this and let him show me, but my hand isn’t bad and might be good enough to beat Simpson, at least.”

Klomin just stared at Doc as he set his whiskey down. “I’ll accept all the money you want to give me.”

“Sounds like a challenge,” Doc smiled and set down the five-dollar chip on his stack. “Make it ten dollars.” Pushing in the other nine, he stared at Klomin.

Klomin glanced down at the backs of his cards, held in place by a ten-dollar chip. “I did this. I’m not going to keep pushing it, though.” Picking up his chip, he slid the cards to the dealer.

Simpson grinned, “Knew it.”

“Five more to you, sir,” the dealer prompted Simpson.

“Can’t fold,” Simpson sighed. “Call.”

Once the chips were collected, Doc turned over his aces. “I picked up my trips. What about you?”

Simpson sighed again and turned over his cards, showing three fives. “I got mine, too, but not good enough to beat you.”

“Winner is triple aces,” the dealer said, pushing the chips to Doc before collecting the cards.

“Biggest hand of the night... if I had just hit that straight,” Daryl grumbled.

“I’d be a lot sadder if you had,” Doc chuckled.

The others at the table chuckled, even Simpson and Klomin. “Yeah, and I’d be happier and richer.”

“Funny how those two things go together so often,” Doc said while he stacked his chips.

~*~*~

Doc stayed at the table for another hour and won a few more pots. “Well, gentlemen, since my luck looks to be holding, I think I’m going to set my sights on the big fish.”

Daryl shook his head, “Luck doesn’t help much at that table.”

Klomin elbowed him in the side, “Shut your mouth, idiot.”

“You going to make yourself a regular?” Simpson asked.

“If things work out, yes.”

As Doc was gathering his things, another man walked past the table, the click of a cane loud to Doc’s ears. The players who had been chatting with him went quiet as they watched the man go by. Doc looked over his shoulder to see an older distinguished gentleman with a long, curly, waxed mustache go by.

“Haven’t seen Brand in here for months,” Simpson grunted.

“Wonder what he’ll lose to them tonight?” Daryl snorted. “Thought he would have learned last time.”

“He still has the Lily and that burnt-out building,” Klomin said.

Once he had finished collecting his chips, Doc tossed the dealer a dollar. “Thank you for your work. Gentlemen, until next time.”

“If you have a next time,” Daryl replied.

Doc was almost to the table when one of the large bestial guards cut him off. “Private game,” the guard grunted at him. “Invitation only.”

“Ah, I didn’t realize,” Doc said. “Very well. Which table has the biggest stakes that isn’t a private game?”

The bestial tilted his head to point a draw table a few feet away. “Five-dollar game.”

Doc glanced at the table. There were three men sitting at the table, all dressed in expensive suits. “Guess I’ll have to make a name for myself first,” he said. “Thank you.”

Feeling eyes on him from the private game, Doc looked over and gave the mayor a friendly nod. “Nice place.”

“Thank you,” the mayor replied evenly. “You’d need twenty times that amount to even be given a brief consideration to join this game.”

Doc looked down at the two hundred dollars in chips he was holding. “Very well. I’ll make sure to bring that kind of cash in the future.”

Goodman’s forehead creased, but he turned away from Doc, clearly dismissing the unknown man.

Doc took a seat at the five-dollar minimum table, giving the cold-eyed men a nod. “Gentlemen, I’m sorry for interrupting your game.”

“Barely enough money there to be worth our time,” one of them grunted, “and you think you were going to join their game?”

Doc smiled, not replying as he tossed a five-dollar chip to the dealer shuffling.

“New player added to the table,” the dealer said, collecting the ante. “You’d be the next ante as well, sir.”

“That’s fine,” Doc replied. “Let’s see what passes for the deep end here.”

~*~*~

Doc kept his eyes sharp as he played at the high roller table over the next hour. He kept his face blank as he watched the dealer bottom deal a card to the man with a mole on his left cheek twice. The player with slicked-back hair was subtly creasing edges on some of the cards. The third man wasn’t doing anything obvious, but Doc noticed that he always came up with flushes when he drew a single card.

Knowing who was doing what, Doc glanced down at his stack of chips, which had been cut in half. Alright, now that we know, let’s turn the tables on them.

A couple more hands went by, and Doc started marking weaker cards the same way the man had been creasing the face cards. The fifth hand after he started to tinker with things, he finally moved.

Having been dealt a pair of twos and a pair of nines, Doc opened up betting, “Twenty dollars.”

The man marking cards looked at his hand and mucked his cards. “Not this time.”

The man being assisted by the dealer folded as well. “Finally got a good hand, have you?”

The man who switched cards smiled as he pushed forward more chips. “Raise to thirty.”

Doc nodded, “Thirty, it is.”

Doc replaced his single card and watched the other man do the same. This time, he saw the creased card the man was dealt get switched out with a different one from the man’s left sleeve. Looking down at his hand, Doc kept his face impassive— he had gotten a four, which was no help.

“I have eighty-six dollars left,” Doc said. “I’m going to bet all of it.”

The other man glanced at his cards before chuckling, “Fine with me. Call.”

Doc sighed and flipped his cards over, showing two pair. “Made your hand, did you?”

“Flush,” the man laughed as he turned over his cards.

As all eyes went to the cards, Doc pulled his gun and cocked the hammer. “Cheat.”

The guard near the big table raised his shotgun, “Drop that gun.”

“This man is cheating. He deserves to be shot,” Doc replied without lowering his gun.

“What the…? He is!” the other two at the table exclaimed, seeing the cards that were revealed on the table.

“Dealer, don’t let them touch anything,” the mayor barked. “Go look at the table,” he ordered the bestial.

The cheater began to sweat as he looked at what Doc had turned over and then his own hand. The two of spades was in both hands. “I’m not the cheat! He must have planted the card to frame me!”

“Left sleeve,” Doc said coldly as the guard looked at the cards. “If needed, they can search me. Can you say the same?”

The man Doc had his gun trained on bolted. Doc did not fire, and neither did the guard. A couple of cards drifted from the man’s sleeve as he ran. The guard grunted, “He was cheating. Winner by default is the other player.” With that said, the guard turned on Doc, “Pull that gun again and you will not be allowed to set foot into this building.”

“Very well,” Doc said, carefully easing the hammer down. “How do I call cheating to attention, then?”

“We take cheating seriously,” Goodman said, coming over to the table. “Thank you for exposing him, but my guard is right: we don’t approve of cavalier gunslingers. Just let the dealer know if you suspect someone of cheating.”

“Very well,” Doc nodded. “I apologize for my actions.”

“How did you know?” Goodman asked.

“He always had a two when he made a flush, and he always made flushes when he took a single card,” Doc replied. “When I saw I had a pair of deuces, I knew I had a chance to call him out.”

“Hmm, interesting,” Goodman said. “The excitement is over,” he told the room, which had all looked over when the gun was drawn. “Go back to your games. No more excitement shall happen tonight.”

The dealers at the tables began to immediately go back to work. The two men at Doc’s table glowered, and the one who was in cahoots with the dealer spoke up, “He gets the pot, but the cheat had taken chips of ours before that. What compensation are we going to get for a cheater being allowed to play?”

“That is a good point,” Goodman nodded. “The pot stands, but the rest of the chips will be divided amongst you three. Fair?”

“I’m good,” slicked hair said with a grin.

“Fine,” Doc nodded.

The third man was going to object, but nodded instead, his lips tight. “Fine.”

“Good,” Goodman said as he went back to his own game.

“Let me divide the chips,” the dealer said, having already moved the pot to Doc.

“Thanks. I was getting upset that he kept winning hands like that,” the card marker said.

“So was I,” Doc replied. “I think I should quit for tonight. Too much excitement for me.”

“No,” the other man said quickly, “stay a bit longer. A two-way table isn’t as fun.”

“Maybe next time,” Doc said as he gathered the chips together. “Dealer, that stack has an extra ten-dollar chip in it,” Doc said once the dealer finished dividing the stacks. He had been sliding the larger stack to the man trying to get him to stay.

“What?” the dealer balked, his hand stopping halfway to the man.

“Halfway down the singles,” Doc said idly as if he was only commenting on a minor error.

“Uh, so it seems,” the dealer said, bringing the stack back to the middle of the table and dividing the chips correctly the second time. “Here you go,” he said, giving Doc the first stack.

“Thanks. Have a good night,” Doc tossed the dealer a five-dollar chip.

As he went for the stairs, Doc felt the eyes on him and wondered if he had done the right thing. I probably just alienated the cheats. They’ll think twice when playing with me... good and bad with that, but others might think of it as a challenge. Shaking his head, he left the room to cash in his chips.

Chapter Fourteen

Doc walked into the Lily and came to a stop just inside the doors. A hauntingly beautiful voice was singing a sad lament. Lia stood on the stage, her voice carrying through the whole room. Everyone was silent and still as she sang.

“We will never know peace. We will never know gentleness. It’s all gone, taken and broken. When the stars fall and night comes, all will know what we knew.”

Doc swallowed hard, her last few lyrics bringing up the image of the Darkness eating planets to him. Blinking at the sound of people blowing their noses, he realized Lia was no longer on the stage.

“Brand is not going to be happy,” someone said to another at his table. “He told her not to sing laments last time he came in.”

Doc frowned, thinking of the man with the cane and what he was likely doing tonight. Fuck, I hope to hell he isn’t losing this place to one of the other two. Pushing the negative thought away, he headed for the bar.

“Westin,” Doc called out.

Westin motioned for him to wait until he was finished serving the people at the far end. After a minute, he made it down to Doc. “What do you need?”

“Beer to start with, but also a moment of Madam Lia’s time, if she’s amenable.”

Westin grimaced, “You’d be the fourth one to ask since she sang. She isn’t known to respond well to the offers.”

“Tell her I’m not asking for quality time. I just want a few minutes to discuss an idea.”

“Okay, but don’t blame me,” Westin said, pulling a pint for Doc.

“That bad?”

“Depends on what the other three say before she talks to you,” Westin said, “but normally, yes.”

“Noted, but it’s best to do this while it’s fresh in my mind.”

Doc kept an eye on the other men standing at the bar. Westin would lead one of the men through the door at a time and after about a minute, each man would leave, looking sad, upset, or both. After the third one, Westin gave him a head shake and motioned to the door. Draining his mug, Doc made his way to the door.

When he stepped through the wider than average door, Doc came into a hallway. There was another large door to his left, while a second normal-sized door stood ajar to his right. Stepping over to the right door, he knocked and waited.

“Come in,” Lia’s voice was flat.

He pushed the door open into the study. A bookshelf filled one wall, stuffed full of leather-bound books. There was a large desk taking up most of another wall, and a couple of stuffed chairs with a table between took up the other. Lia was seated in one of the chairs, her face neutral but her eyes cold.

“Evening, Madam,” Doc said, taking his hat off. “May I sit?”

Lia exhaled slowly, “Please. I’m sure your proposal will be different than the last three I’ve heard.”

Doc noted the undertone of sarcasm, but didn’t let it show. Taking a seat, he gave her a smile, “Your dress is lovely tonight; it brings out your eyes.” Doc wasn’t lying. The jade green of the dress did make her eyes stand out.

“Thank you,” Lia said stiffly, unsure if he was being serious or idly complimenting her to try smoothing the way. “Did you want a drink?” She touched the bottle of wine on the table between them.

Seeing just the one glass out, Doc shook his head. “Unless I was staying longer than I believe I am, it would be a waste.”

Lia’s eyebrow twitched but she nodded, “Very well. What did you want to speak with me about?”

“A tournament.”

Lia opened her mouth to say something but closed it, clearly not having expected that. “A tournament?”

“Poker tournaments, actually. I hear they used to be held at the Gold Strike, but that place doesn’t seem like it would be the right place for a real tournament. I’d like to see about holding a small one once a week and a large one once a month, with a big one once a year. Say... a ten-dollar buy-in for the small ones, a hundred for the monthly, and two thousand dollars for the yearly?”

“How do you propose to pay for the tournaments?” Lia asked.

“They’ll pay for themselves,” Doc smiled as he shifted in his seat, getting comfortable. “It’ll be a different game of poker than I’ve seen played here. You can fit ten players on the tables I’m thinking about. The buy-ins are added into the prize pool, and ten to twenty percent is withheld for the house. Take the rest of the money and split it down so the top three spots get money back. You can run hold’em in place of the other poker games to make more money, as well.”

Lia’s lips thinned, “‘Hold them?’”

“Hold’em,” Doc grinned. “If you have a deck of cards and some time, I can show you why it’s better than everything I’ve seen in town.”

Lia rose from her seat and went to the desk. When she came back, she had a deck of cards and a second glass. Handing him the cards, she poured them both a glass of wine. Doc took the cards and was quick to break them open and start shuffling. When she had the table set for him, he began to explain how the game was played and dealt an example hand. When he finished the explanation, Lia seemed to be lost in thought.

“I’ve never heard anything about a game like this,” Lia finally said.

“Not surprising,” Doc chuckled. “It’s a game where I came from, but I don’t think it spread this far.”

“Ten people can play this at a time you say, but our current tables aren’t large enough for that.”

“True, but I can show you the right dimensions for them. That would net you thirty players for the games. You’d need to run the game for a few days beforehand so your regulars know how it plays. I’d suggest playing limit hold’em for that, but no limit for the tournaments. The way those are played is different, too.”

“How?” Lia asked, leaning forward slightly.

Doc caught a glimpse of the tanned soft mounds down the front of her dress before he pulled his gaze back to her face. “Let’s deal a hand and I’ll explain.”

They had more wine and Lia’s eyes sparkled as she considered the possibilities of what Doc was telling her. “Why? You just came into town the other day.”

Doc sat back in the chair, sipping his third glass of wine. “Honestly? I like this place, and I’m kind of hoping to stay awhile. The girls here are honest, the drink isn’t watered down, and the dealers don’t cheat. You should be proud, Lia.”

Lia’s smile grew for a moment before it vanished entirely. “I’ll pass that on to the owner.”

“Would you want it back?” Doc asked idly.

Eyes narrowing, she glared at him. “What?”

“Would you want the Lily back?”

“What makes you so sure you can do that?” Lia’s voice was frozen, spiked with anger.

“I’m blessed by Luck, but Brand has to not lose it to Goodman or Suez tonight.”

Lia’s face went white, “No…”

“He is at the Gold Strike right now,” Doc said softly. “He was playing an invitation-only game with the two of them.”

Lia closed her eyes, her hands clenched into tight fists as she breathed hard, “That moron. He promised me.”

“You have less than a year left, right? I can help, if you’ll let me.”

Swallowing, Lia opened her eyes and stared into Doc’s. “Why?”

“The Lily speaks to me. I’m sure that I was brought here for this very reason.”

“We’ll talk later,” Lia said as she reached for a long coat. “I need to go.”

“Tomorrow,” Doc said, taking the hint and leaving the room before she did.

Westin gave Doc an appraising look for a long moment, but that look changed to bewilderment when Lia came rushing out the back and out the door. “What happened?”

“Bad news,” Doc said. “I’m going to use one of the baths. Can you have someone send a pot of tea, spiked with whiskey, and dinner to my room in half an hour?”

“Uh, sure,” Westin said slowly.

“Thanks.”

~*~*~

Stepping out of the bathing room, Doc came to a stop. Posy was waiting in the hall, “Did you need something, Posy?”

“I put your clothes in your room and I was coming to check on the bathing rooms,” Posy said back, looking down.

“Did I do something wrong?”

Posy shook her head, “No. I’m sorry. Fiala explained it to me.”

“Huh?”

“I thought you’d hurt her when she came running out of your room this morning.”

“Oh, that’s why you stopped looking at me?”

“I thought maybe you were one of the bad men,” Posy said softly. “I’m sorry.”

Taking a knee, Doc gave her a soft smile, “It’s okay, I’m not mad. If I had hurt her, you’d have been right to do so. Bad men don’t deserve to have nice girls smile at them. Friends?” He held out his fist, pinkie extended.

Posy looked up at him shyly, a smile on her lips. “Friends.” She extended her pinkie and wrapped it around his.

“Good. I did leave clothes in the hamper. You can drop them off when I go out in the morning.” Pulling a penny from his belt pouch, he held it out to her. “Thank you for doing good work.”

Taking the coin with a wide smile, Posy nodded, “You’re a nice man.”

Doc got back to his feet, chuckling, “I try. When you bring the water to my room in the morning, just knock and leave it on the floor for me, please. I feel a bit awkward answering the door in the blanket.”

“Okay,” Posy replied before she bounced around him for the bathing room door.

Smiling at her happy nature, Doc headed for the stairs and bed. When he came out of the hallway, Doc was forced to stop at the bottom where a number of people had blocked the stairway. Looking at the stage, he understood why— Cassia and Jasmine were doing a dance number together.

Doc gave a whistle along with the others in the room as Jasmine dipped Cassia, then brought her back up and spun her to the far side of the stage. When Cassia came out of the spin, she rushed back to Jasmine, who then picked up the smaller woman and hoisted her overhead. The piano played a soft slow tune fitting for a ballet, perfect for the dance they were doing. The end came soon after with both women going to the ground, entwined in each other’s arms.

The bar erupted in hoots and whistles as soon as the piano stopped playing. Cassia and Jasmine stood up and bowed to everyone. As they headed for the edge of the stage, the men who had crowded the stairs all began calling out to them, offering money to spend time with each of them. A small bidding war broke out, and the women listened until the men stopped trying to outbid the others.

“Well, we didn’t expect to be so wanted,” Jasmine said. She had a small lisp when she spoke, denoting her reptilian bestial heritage.

“Seven dollars to each of you for an hour,” one of the men said.

“What the fuck?” another man groused. “You’re just going to come in and swing your money around?”

Cassia frowned before turning to the first man. “I will decline. I have had an offer for my time for the rest of the evening already. I would have said so earlier, but it was easier to wait until I could speak uncontested.”

Doc glanced over his shoulder and saw Wenn smirking at him. “I wouldn’t go against the marshal if I were you,” Doc advised them.

All eyes went to Wenn. He looked like the cat who got the canary, grinning as he leaned against the bar. “I asked before the show. Wanted to beat the rush.”

“If you’ll all excuse me,” Cassia said as she stepped past them to Wenn. “I’m ready now, sir.”

“Well, let’s clear the area so we don’t distract them,” Wenn laughed, taking her hand and leading her up the stairs. “Sorry, Doc.”

“No apologies needed,” Doc chuckled. “I wasn’t in the bidding war.”

“Seven dollars for an hour sounds intriguing,” Jasmine said, looking to the other men. “Does no one else value me higher?”

No one spoke up and she bowed her head, “So be it. I’m yours for an hour. Let’s make arrangements with Westin.”

Doc chuckled as the other men grumbled and dispersed, letting him head up the stairs. He glanced back and caught sight of Fiala serving drinks. Catching her eye, he gave her a smile before he vanished up the stairs.

When he got upstairs to his room, he found the items he asked for on the table. Dropping into the chair, he poured himself some tea and thought about what he needed to do. Is setting up poker tournaments enough? It might not be and the idiot could have already lost this place to one of the others. Maybe I should take a trip outside of town? He paused, taking a swig of his spiked tea. If I could find a mine and stake the claim, then they would definitely want to talk. Not that I know what I’m looking for, but maybe my dwarven blood would help there... Doc started in on his chicken and mashed potato dinner, contemplating the ups and downs of his idea.

Chapter Fifteen

A gentle knock on his door roused Doc from his dreamless sleep. “Huh?”

“Your wash water, sir,” Posy said from the outside.

“Thank you.”

Getting out of bed, Doc used his magic to heal the bedbug bites. Guess I need to mention it to Lia personally, since the compound didn’t work, Doc grumbled to himself. With his blanket wrapped around him, he cracked the door open and found the hallway empty, save for the steaming kettle in front of his door. Smiling, he snagged it, ready to wipe the night stink away and get on with the day.

Doc greeted Dillon when he made it downstairs. “Morning. Is there a cup of that tar for me?”

“Sure. Did I need to tell the cooks to make you breakfast?”

“Not sure. Posy might have.”

“I’ll just poke my head back there, just in case.”

“Appreciate it,” Doc said, taking the mug from him. “I’ll be over there.”

“Got it.”

Doc was just taking his seat when Dillon and Posy came out of the door by the stage. Dillon was chuckling and Posy was carrying a plate.

“Your breakfast, sir,” Posy said as she put the plate on the table in front of him.

“Thank you, miss,” Doc smiled, putting a couple of pennies on the table. “Thank you for the water this morning, too.”

“You’re welcome, sir,” Posy smiled and took the money before bouncing away happily.

“That kid sure has taken a shine to you,” Dillon laughed from behind the bar.

“Always be kind and tip the staff well. In return, they will take care of you,” Doc said, picking up the fork and knife that came with the meal.

“Words of wisdom,” Dillon chuckled. “If only more people did.”

“That’s true of many things,” Doc added before turning his attention to his food.

~*~*~

“Doc, do you have a moment?”

Glancing up, Doc saw that Lia was standing at his table. He pushed his empty plate away and gave her a nod. “For you, Madam Lia? Always.”

“Follow me, please.”

Doc got to his feet, following her behind the bar. He gave Dillon a shrug when he caught the bartender watching him with inquisitive eyes.

Lia led him back to her study and shut the door firmly behind him. “Please, have a seat. Would you care for a drink?”

“Your drinks are always the best the house can offer,” Doc replied. “I will if you are.”

“Very well,” Lia snagged a bottle and two glasses. “I need to thank you for telling me about the game last night.” Taking a seat opposite him, she poured them each a glass. “I made it in time to watch Brand lose the old general store to Suez.”

“Suez is a cheat, at least according to the people I played with at the Gold Strike.”

“No one has caught him at it,” Lia said bitterly. “Gods know I’ve tried.”

“There’s always the next game,” Doc said.

“Which is what I wanted to talk to you about,” Lia said, picking up her glass. “Would you be willing to help me run tournaments? It was your idea, after all.”

“What help do you need?”

“I need you to show my dealers how the game is played. All the fiddly bits, so they know what to expect.”

“It’ll take a day,” Doc said. “If you want it to be a surprise from the public, I’ll need a private room to teach them and say... two or three others to act as players.”

“Very well. Can you use the private dining room for that?”

“Table should be large enough,” Doc nodded. “Are you going to announce the first tournament?”

“Once you’ve taught the dealers and we can open up the game to the public.”

“Sound,” Doc agreed. “I need to find more leverage to deal with Brand, Suez, and Goodman.”

“Unless you have a bank account worth a few hundred thousand, it’ll be difficult.”

“Yeah. When do you think you’ll be able to arrange the dealers?”

“Tomorrow afternoon?”

“I’ll make sure to be available,” Doc smiled.

“Doc... about your offer. I don’t ask people for help, but the Lily is special to me. If you’re willing to help me reclaim her… I’d be indebted to you.”

“I’ll do what I can, but I do need to get in on the special side bets that the big three make during their games.”

“You’d have to have a bankroll big enough to entice them. If you don’t, you’ll have to make a lucky strike in the wild.”

“That’s what I was thinking,” Doc agreed. “The first tournament doesn’t matter, besides getting people excited, but the monthly and yearly tournament will. How far off is your three-year mark?”

“Summer solstice,” Lia replied.

Doc thought about it for a minute. “Okay... we need a week for the word to get out and the game to be learned, then we could start the tournaments. If you can set the monthly ones to land on the second weekend of the month, the first yearly tournament could be the day after the one in June. That gives me three months to figure something out and make sure I have the buy-in for the yearly tournament.”

“I need to ensure the game is known and people enjoy it,” Lia nodded. “Are you sure about the bad-beat mechanic?”

“Yes, trust me. It’s something people look forward to. Every day it’s not hit, the pot goes up a bit more. The minimum is good because it won’t break you even if it gets hit repeatedly in one night. It’s the thrill that, even if your hand gets beat, you still get something out of it. That will keep them betting into a big hand. You might not have lost the Lily if this was a thing already.”

“If wishes were horses, we’d run the plains without stopping,” Lia said softly.

“Making wishes reality is fun,” Doc chuckled as he finished his wine and stood up. “I have today to plan a trip, then tomorrow I’ll be teaching the dealers, and after that, I’ll go out to find the lucky strike I need to make this work.”

“You make it seem like it will all happen.”

“I have faith. Luck will provide,” Doc said as he gave her a small bow. Putting his hat on when he reached the door, he paused just long enough to say one more thing, “Oh, and before I forget— my room has bed bugs.”

“I’ll have them killed today,” Lia said, absently watching him go with a puzzled look on her face.

~*~*~

“Well? What was that all about?” Dillon asked when Doc came out of the back. “She doesn’t ask just anyone back to her room.”

“Haven’t seen her room, just her study,” Doc replied with a smirk.

“You know what I mean.”

“Business,” Doc said, dropping the act. “Some things are in the works and, if it goes the way I hope, everything will get interesting for a bit.”

“Interesting how?”

“Wait and see,” Doc chuckled as he kept walking to the door.

Stepping outside, he pulled his jacket closer around him. The cold wind from the last few days was still chilling the air. I’ll need a horse and some travel goods, Doc thought, making a list. Let’s see if a horse is even up for renting. At least the livery stables and general store are near each other.

The livery stables were near the edge of town. Doc walked into the front door of the attached building where, inside, a young man was sitting behind a counter. He jumped to his feet when Doc came in.

“How can I help you, sir?”

“I was hoping that you do horse rentals. I want to make a trip out of town for a few days and don’t need to own one for such a short time.”

“Oh, you mean to go out prospecting? We don’t rent them, but we’ll buy the horse back at a small loss to you if you come back.”

Doc couldn’t argue the logic behind that business model. “How much for a decent horse? I don’t need a Thunder, Lightning, or any other fast temperamental thing. In fact, a mare that is placid and does what it’s told would be for the best.”

The young man laughed, “Fair. It’s only ranchers and horse thieves that want fast-spirited horses. If you’re going out to do light prospecting, you’ll still want a packhorse. For a rider and pack, it’ll be a hundred twenty, tack included.”

“And if I bring them both back in good health?”

“We’d buy them back for a hundred or less, depending on their condition.”

“Steep, but doable. I’d need them for the day after tomorrow.”

“I can have two readied for you. You getting supplies from next door?”

“That’s the plan.”

“Just let them know you have mounts here and we’ll get it all loaded for you, if you don’t mind another couple dollars fee.”

“That’s fine,” Doc chuckled. “Pay when I pick them up?”

“Yup.”

“I’ll see you in two days, then,” Doc said, extending his hand. “I’m Doc Holyday.”

“Well, Mr. Holyday, we’ll have your horses ready for you.”

With his business concluded, Doc left the livery stables behind and walked into the general store. Doc had to step aside as soon as he entered when a woman came bustling toward the door.

“Ma’am,” Doc said, tipping his hat and holding the door open for her.

“Thank you, sir,” she replied in passing.

Closing the door behind her, Doc took in the overall store. It was clean and had a clear division of goods, but the organization could have used a little bit of work. An old man with long and drooping dog ears stood behind the counter.

Doc didn’t bother looking over the shelves, going straight up to the counter instead. “Morning.”

“Morning, sir. How can I help you?” the old man asked, his words a long slow drawl.

Doc did his best to hide his smile, as the ears and voice made him think of a basset hound. “I am making a quick trip into the wilds near the town to take a gander for easy prospecting places. I just arranged horses next door and came over here to arrange goods for the trip.”

“We can help with that.”

“That was my hope. The trick is that I’ve never gone out to prospect before, but I’m sure you’ve seen a lot who have. Could you outfit my trip? At most, it’d be a week in total.”

The man blinked at him slowly. “You want me to pick out your supplies?”

“Yeah. I’ll pay a bonus if you do it.”

“I can manage that. Goods will run you forty dollars.”

Doc kept his smile in place, even though the price was close to the end of his budget. “Very well.” Pulling out a single twenty-dollar gold coin, he dropped it on the counter. “Can I pay for half now and half on pick up in two days?”

“All goods have to be paid for upfront. Rule of the store, sir.”

“Ah, my apologies,” Doc said. He counted out twenty-four more dollars, leaving him with just twelve dollars remaining. “Forty-four dollars— forty for the goods and four for you. That satisfactory?”

“Yes, sir,” the old man said with a grin.

“Thank you. Makes this much easier on me. Now to go scrounge up more funds.”

“Have a good day, sir.”

“Holyday. Doc Holyday.”

The old man nodded, “It’ll all be ready, Mr. Holyday.”

Doc shook hands with him before leaving the general store.

Stepping back into the chill wind, Doc grimaced. Time to hit the tables for the rest of the day... this trip is going to take all my winnings from the other day and then some. He exhaled and started walking toward the Lily, hoping that the smaller game was open already.

Chapter Sixteen

Doc had only taken a couple of steps when he remembered one more thing he would need to go out of town. Looking around, he spotted the shop he wanted and crossed the street. Just as he stepped off the dirt road, several men came riding on horseback hard down the street. Doc glanced at them with disapproval and caught sight of the rough-looking, heavily-armed men riding away from him. He shook his head before entering the gunsmith’s shop.

The short broad dwarf behind the counter gave Doc an appraising look. “What can I do for you, sir?”

“I need a long gun and possibly a pistol,” Doc replied. “I wanted to check to see what you had and what kind of money I’d need for them.”

The dwarf nodded, “Depending on what you want, the price does fluctuate a good deal. The simple ones start at about ten dollars, but if you want engraved pistols, you’re talking upwards of a hundred.”

Doc blinked a few times. “Well, I don’t think I’m going for an engraved gun, not unless I’m exceedingly lucky today. Can I see a few of them?”

“That is possible. What kind of long gun are you looking for? Rifle or shotgun?”

“Rifle, though I might want a short shotgun for close range instead of a pistol.”

“Are you a good shot?” the gunsmith asked.

“Haven’t done much shooting lately, so I can’t say for certain, but I used to be decent.”

“I’d recommend the shotgun if you haven’t done much shooting, but if you’re a fair hand, a pistol would do you better for close up. But let’s start with rifles.” Turning his back to Doc, he pointed at some of the rifles hanging on the wall behind him. “That there is a Hunter— it has an internal fifteen round magazine and makes for quick shooting if you can handle the recoil. Or if you don’t want to worry about different ammunition types, you could go with the Westchest 73 and a Mustang Army. They use the same ammo.”

Doc held back a smile as he thought about how close some of the names were to guns from his world. “What would the pair cost?”

“Unengraved, the pair would run about forty with enough ammo to load and reload twice.”

“Do you have a pair engraved?”

“I do, but as I stated earlier, they’re expensive. The pair of engraved firearms would run a hundred sixty.”

“What engravings?” Doc asked, hoping his question was right.

“The rifle engraving carries more power behind it, making it hit almost as hard as an Express rifle. The pistol engraving coats the bullet with a bit of caustic energy. It’s nasty work. Makes wounds harder for a doctor to deal with.”

“I see. Can I get the Mustang Army for now?”

“Yeah. Pistol with ammo and reload is ten dollars. If you need a belt for it, it’ll be eleven fifty.”

Doc looked down at his lack of a pistol belt. “Belt as well, please.” Fishing out the last of his money, he placed it on the counter. “Can I get the rest in extra ammo?”

“Easily,” the dwarf grinned as he picked up the cash. “If you bring me back your casings, I give a discount for ammo.”

“Good to know,” Doc chuckled. “I’ll be back tomorrow to pick up the rifle. What is the load for both?”

“They fire in .38-40.”

At least the ammo sizes are something I know, Doc thought.

The dwarf was back with the gun, ammo, and belt in short order. Doc was glad he had done a few old west reenactments when he was younger, so he knew how to get the belt settled.

“Thank you.”

“Thank you,” the dwarf laughed. “Hardly ever thanked for taking money from others.”

“Didn’t get your name,” Doc said as he stepped to the side and pushed the ammo into its belt slots.

“I’m Blackbeard. This is my shop,” the dwarf said.

“Ah, I wasn’t sure. I’m Doc Holyday. I’m sure we’ll be doing some more business together in the future.”

“Always glad to sell to those who can afford it,” Blackbeard grinned, his teeth barely visible behind his thick black beard. “Seems you’ve at least handled the equipment before.”

“Used to shoot,” Doc said, laying the new pistol on the counter so he could load it. “Haven’t had a need to in a while, is all.”

“Why the urge to rearm now?”

“Going into the wilds. Don’t fancy going unarmed.”

“That’d be a quick way to die,” Blackbeard agreed. “Then again, we do get all kinds out here. I pegged you for an easterner first, but the way you’re moving, I think I’m wrong.”

“Not entirely,” Doc said as he picked up the gun and half-cocked it. Opening up the loading gate, he started to slide the rounds in. “Lived in civilization and the frontier. Of the two, I prefer the west.”

“Came looking to make your fortune?”

“Letting Luck guide me,” Doc said.

“Quick way to die,” Blackbeard said.

“Depends on how much faith you have in her,” Doc said as he slid the loaded pistol into its holster. Touching the handle, he adjusted the belt so it was at the angle he wanted. “I find the more faith one has, the better off they are.”

Blackbeard’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Interesting thing to say.”

“Just the way I live my life now,” Doc said as he put the rest of the box of ammo into his pocket. “See you tomorrow, sir.”

“I’ll have the rifle waiting for you if you bring the thirty to buy it.”

“See you after breakfast,” Doc grinned as he headed for the door.

As Doc stepped outside, the wind blew harder, biting into him. “Maybe going out in a couple of days is a bad idea,” Doc muttered.

He was almost back at the Lily when he saw the men from earlier again. They were spread out near the courthouse, their horses tied to a post a few buildings away. The hairs on the back of Doc’s neck lifted— he had a bad feeling about what he was seeing.

Stepping into the Lily, he caught sight of Dillon behind the bar. “Dillon, is there something happening at the courthouse today?”

“Marshal is giving testimony about his arrest the other day,” Dillon said. “He left an hour ago.”

“Fuck!” Doc exclaimed, spinning on his heel and rushing out the door. This is dumb, this is dumb! he thought as he ran down the street.

The six men were watching the courthouse. Each of them had a gun in hand and were trying to act nonchalantly. Doc slowed his pace, pretending he was lost or maybe window shopping. A few seconds later, he was glad he did; two of them looked back at him curiously before turning back to watch the courthouse.

Thank Luck for long jackets, Doc thought as he pulled it tighter to him. The only thing hinting that he had a gun was the very tip of the holster coming out from under his jacket.

Doc was just within twenty feet of the men when the front doors of the courthouse opened. Wenn was talking to Sheriff Grange when the first shots rang out. There were screams and curses as both men jumped clear of the door, trying to use the front posts as cover.

Doc pulled the pistol from his hip and took the time to aim at the second closest man. The recoil brought the gun well off target, but the man crumpled to the ground.

The shooter closest to Doc spun to return fire, but Doc used missed me to buy the second he needed to bring the large pistol on target. Holding the gun tight, he fanned the hammer, the other five rounds coming out in rapid succession.

Bleeding, the man was able to get one more shot off before dropping his gun. Doc hissed in pain and slumped against the wall of the cobbler’s shop. Blood flowed from the wound in his left hip. He limped around the corner just before another round hit the wall where he had been.

Holstering the gun, he focused on healing hands and pressed his hands to his injured hip. Doc exhaled in both pain and relief, then was surprised when the bullet popped out of the wound. Once the pain was gone, he fumbled the pistol back out and began to reload it. His bloody hands were slicker than he anticipated, almost making him drop the gun and forcing him to wipe his hands clean before he could continue.

The sound of gunshots being exchanged continued while he finished loading the gun. Finally reloaded, he glanced around the corner to find that there were only two of the ambushers still left alive. Both had taken cover from the courthouse, leaving one in Doc’s sights.

Taking a few seconds, Doc made sure his aim was good before he fired. The bullet hit just to the side of the man’s head, making him jerk back in surprise. That movement put him all the way in the open, and he fell a moment later when two bullets hit him in rapid succession.

Silence filled the air, and Doc knew the other man was running. He’d have to swing down the next street... he’ll go for their horses! Doc thought as he ran between the buildings. When he reached the end of the alley, he knew he was right.

The man running down the street caught sight of Doc at the same time Doc saw him. Both raised their guns and fired. Doc cocked and fired a second time while the man fumbled his gun and fell. Breathing hard, it dawned on Doc that the man had stared at his gun in disbelief.

The sound of feet running toward him made Doc holster his gun. Turning, he found Grange and Wenn with guns pointed at him. “Self-defense,” he said tightly.

“Easy, Sheriff. He helped us during the first part of it,” Wenn said, holstering his pistol. The green glowing lines on the pistol vanished the moment it was out of his hand.

“Two shootings in a week and you’re in on both of them?” Grange growled, his pistol glowing red where the engravings were etched into it. “You’re a damned plague.” Holstering his pistol, Grange turned away from Doc and stomped back toward the courthouse.

Wenn watched Grange go with a curious look before he went up to Doc. “Got the last one, did you?”

“Yes. I think his gun was empty, but he did try to shoot me with it.”

“Not counting your shots is a good way to get killed,” Wenn said as he went past Doc to the body. Rolling it over, he grunted, “It really was his gang. There was a low bounty on these men. I’ll bring it along once this is taken care of.” Standing up, Wenn gave Doc a grin. “Even if Grange doesn’t appreciate it, I do. Would have been a lot worse if you hadn’t killed two and distracted that third. I take it the one popping out near the end was you, too?”

“I missed him, but yeah.”

Wenn bent over and cut the coin pouch off the bandit before tossing it to Doc. “Take that as a bonus, from me.”

Doc caught the pouch and pocketed it. “Glad I could help.”

“How did you know?” Wenn asked.

Doc shrugged, “Six men with guns in hand standing around outside the courthouse? I thought something was going on, and Dillon mentioned you’d come to testify. Two and two makes four, or in this case, a band of bandits.”

Wenn laughed, “See you later, Doc.”

“Yeah,” Doc said. He had started to go when Wenn’s hand shot out and grabbed his shoulder.

“You’re shot?”

Doc glanced down at his clothes and grimaced. “I used a tonic from Henrick. I’m fine, it was a graze.”

Wenn frowned and let him go. “Damned lucky it only grazed you and they weren’t using engraved weapons. I’ll add the healing item to the tab for aid rendered. You should clean up, though. You look like you should be dead.”

“That’s my second order of business,” Doc said. “First I want to reload this gun again, just in case.”

Wenn nodded and patted him on the back, “Good man.”

Doc started to reload when Wenn walked away. Hands shaking, Doc breathed raggedly as he replaced the spent cartridges. He swallowed the bile that rose in his throat and made his way back to the Lily.

Chapter Seventeen

Doc noticed that people were looking out their windows as he went past. The streets were empty during the gunfight... odd that, unless they’ve seen enough trouble to stay out of it. Considering the implications of that thought helped him ignore the fact he had just killed three men.

The few voices talking in the Lily cut off when the people caught sight of Doc. He looked back at Lia, Dillon, and Fiala with a blank gaze.

“Doc, are you okay?” Fiala asked, rushing to him.

“Shot and healed,” Doc said bluntly. “Bath.”

“And a drink, it seems,” Lia added, pulling her bottle from the top shelf.

“You were involved with all the commotion?” Dillon asked.

Fiala was careful of his hip, but helped guide him to the bar. “Was it enough? Should we get Doctor Whittaker for you?”

“He’s walking fine,” Lia said as she put the shot in front of Doc. “I’m assuming he had something from Henrick.”

Doc picked up the glass on reflex, downed it, and set it aside. Exhaling as his mind calmed down, he leaned into the bar and shuddered. “Six men ambushed Grange and Wenn. I ambushed the ambushers… all of them are dead, and Grange and Wenn are okay.”

“You walked into that?” Dillon asked, his tone implying that Doc was the biggest idiot alive.

“If I hadn’t, Wenn and or Grange might not have survived. I couldn’t just sit here. Grange might be an ass, but he’s a duly elected ass, and Wenn is a good man, at least from my interactions with him. All evil needs to thrive is for good men to sit idly by,” Doc said.

“That is true,” Lia said. “I’ll have a seamstress look at your clothes to see if they can be saved. Fiala, take him to the bath and make sure he’s okay.”

“Can’t cost her her livelihood,” Doc said.

“It’s on the house for saving another customer and doing the right thing,” Lia said, firmly snapping her fan open. “Unless you wish to argue with a lady?”

Doc chuckled, “Boxed in by my own standards. I accept your gracious offer. Fiala, if you don’t mind?”

“Not at all,” Fiala said.

Doc let her lead him toward the bathing rooms, “What about clean clothes?”

“If it’s okay, I’ll fetch some once you’re soaking.”

“That’s fine. Drag me out some more of my money, too, please. I need to gamble tonight and rebuild my bankroll.”

“I never expected to see you with a gun on your hip,” Fiala mentioned as they went down the hall.

“I’m going to take a trip out of town for a few days. Need the protection there. Lucky for me I did or else today might have gone very differently.”

“You’re leaving?” Fiala asked with a hint of sadness in her voice.

“A few days out and back,” Doc clarified. “I still have more to do in town before I leave for an extended period.”

“Oh. Good,” Fiala said, her tone shifting back to happy. “In we go.” She opened the door to one of the baths for him.

Doc followed her in and had barely started to get his jacket off when Fiala was there to help him. “I can manage at least this much.”

“I was told to make sure you’re okay. It wouldn’t do if you injured yourself more while I was helping you.”

“I concede,” Doc said and let her undress him.

Whatever is in that bottle completely clears my mind, Doc thought as he was being stripped. I need to get some of that or I just come to terms that I’ll have to kill people sometimes.

“There,” Fiala said after getting him naked. She gently touched where the injury had been, her fingers tracing the new scar tissue. “It was here?”

“Yeah.”

“Okay.”

The doubt in her words made Doc wonder if something was wrong. “Everything okay?”

“Oh, uh... yes. Let me get the water started for you.” Fiala quickly went off to do so.

Doc wondered if his healing magic worked radically different from Henrick’s concoctions. He was still thinking about it when Fiala stepped away from the tub. “Thank you, Fiala,” he said. He climbed in while the water was rising still.

“Unscented again?” Fiala asked from out of his line of sight.

“Please.”

When she came back into view, Fiala was naked when she sat on the stool beside the tub. “I’ll be scrubbing you, so I need you to stand, please.”

“I don’t think that’s going to be a challenge,” Doc snorted as he turned off the water and got to his feet.

Fiala smiled at seeing him standing proud when he got to his feet. “You know, Doc, I never did get to return the favor the other night...” Looking up at him through her lashes, she started to lean forward.

Doc put a palm on her forehead to stop her. “After the bath, please. I don’t trust my legs to support me the entire time. Besides, we can’t in this room, if I remember the rules.”

Fiala nodded, taking his hand from her head and kissing his palm. “Okay, as long as you’ll let me after the bath. This is all on the house, so don’t hold back, okay?”

“Okay, but remember: you asked for it.”

“I did,” Fiala smiled as she began to lather her hands.

She took her time cleaning him, making sure she got him from head to toe, which required him putting his feet on the edge of the tub one at a time. Once he was lathered, she asked Doc to sit so she could rinse him. When she was finished getting him cleaned, Fiala smiled and started to stand up, only to have Doc grab her hand and pull her into the tub.

“Doc? We can’t, not in this room,” Fiala said.

“And we aren’t,” Doc said, shifting her so she rested in front of him. He put his arms around her chest right under her breasts. “I just want to relax for a bit.”

Fiala relaxed, leaning into him, “Okay. I still need to get your clothes.”

“I’m aware,” Doc whispered, his breath tickling her ear.

~*~*~

The water had started to lose its warmth by the time he let her go. “Okay, go on. I’ll be waiting.”

Fiala got up and stretched before leaving the tub. “I’ll be back as quickly as I can.”

Doc smiled as he drained out some of the water. “No rush. I’ll warm the tub back up while I wait.”

Fiala had a smile on her face while she got dressed as she noticed Doc admiring the view. “Am I really that engrossing?”

“Oh, yes. You are quite beautiful, and beauty always captivates me.”

Fiala’s cheeks pinked as she finished dressing. “I’ll be back shortly.”

Doc leaned back in the tub and waited for the water to heat again. The door opening made him sit up, then quickly slide further into the tub. “Room is busy!”

Cassia stopped just in the doorway. She blinked before her cheeks went red. “Oh! The plaque slipped off, sorry.” She shut the door immediately, and Doc could hear the scrambled sound of someone hanging the in-use sign back up.

“Doc’s in that one,” Cassia’s voice came faintly through the door.

“Doc? I got your reward here. Mind if I toss it in?” Wenn’s voice boomed through the door.

“Yeah, sure,” Doc replied, covering himself before the door could open again.

“Sorry about that,” Wenn laughed as he chucked a small pouch onto the floor. “I’ll thank you later.”

“Not into that,” Doc responded without thinking.

“Neither am I,” Wenn laughed harder as he shut the door. “I meant I’ll buy you a drink.”

“Oh. That’d be fine.”

“Come on, Cassia,” Wenn said, his voice fading, “we’ll use—”

Shaking his head, Doc turned the water off and got out, unplugging the tub. “Rather have a towel around me in case someone else shows up.”

Doc had just finished drying off and taken a seat when the door opened again, making his heart speed up. “It’s you. Thank goodness.”

“Huh?” Fiala asked, puzzled. “Did something happen?”

Doc gave her a quick recap of what had happened after she left and Fiala snickered. “She got a full view, huh?”

“Yeah. Thankfully, Wenn didn’t,” Doc said.

“I wonder if she’ll try to get some of your attention now?” Fiala smirked.

“Her time is being occupied by Wenn.”

“He’s leaving tomorrow or the day after,” Fiala said. “I heard them talking as he passed in the hall. He has her as his personal companion for the entire night. A send-off gift to himself, he said.”

“Don’t blame him,” Doc said. “Life on the road with death as a constant threat? Spending time with an agreeable woman is the best he can hope for.”

“I asked Madam Lia and she said that I’m yours for the night, as well,” Fiala said as she laid out his clothes.

Doc whistled softly, “That’s a hell of a reward.”

“She said you’d be less likely to get shot and would be here tomorrow if she did,” Fiala added.

Doc laughed, “Smart woman. I think I like her.”

“We all do,” Fiala said. “You have something going on with her tomorrow?”

“I’m teaching the dealers a new type of poker,” Doc told her when he heard her slightly jealous tone. “We need some players... maybe you can help us out? You should ask her. I plan on asking Wenn, since he’s a good player.”

“If you’re okay with that,” Fiala said.

“Having your company for longer? Yeah, I count it as a plus.” Doc said, raising a foot so she could put his socks on. “You know I can dress myself.”

“You could, or you can let the woman who is doting on you have her way.”

“I won’t argue. Since I get you all night, we should put a pause on your plans to repay me until later tonight. If you scramble my brains right now, I don’t think I’d be able to play poker.”

Fiala pouted at him, “A little bit of fun first?”

Doc smirked, “If we start, I don’t think it’s going to be only a little bit.”

Fiala giggled, “That’s true. But you did promise.”

“Fair enough. Get me dressed enough that we can make it upstairs, then.”

Eyes twinkling, Fiala had him dressed quickly. She was hanging on his arm as the two of them made their way down the hallway. Posy stepped aside for them, looking down as they passed.

“The clothes are ready for you, Posy,” Fiala told her.

“Yes’m. I’m getting them and cleaning them before taking them over to McCreedy,” Posy replied.

“Thank you,” Doc added.

“Of course, sir.”

The main room of the saloon was busy, busier than Doc expected it to be before evening. The snippets he caught as they climbed the stairs focused on the shoot-out at the courthouse. Almost everyone was confused at who had helped the sheriff and marshal out of the jam they had been in.

“They’ll be surprised later,” Fiala whispered as they left the room. “No one there thinks you’re a fighter.”

“I’d rather they keep thinking that way. Fighters have a way of being challenged a lot,” Doc said. “Rather be known as a lover.”

“Oh? I can make sure that’s known, if you’d like,” Fiala smiled. “Even if it does mean I’d have to vie for your attention.”

Doc chuckled, thinking she was joking, but she just looked at him. “Wait. You’re serious?”

“If I tell the others what happened the first night and what I’m sure is going to happen again tonight, yes. Cassia, Jasmine, and the others will all want to see if I’m lying, and Cassia’s already gotten a good view of what you’re hiding under your clothes.”

“Yeah, don’t do that,” Doc said. “Don’t think I want all the guys in the place pissed at me because you all are trying to get picked.”

Fiala snickered, “Well, since you asked.”

Opening the door to his room, Doc stepped aside, “After you.”

~*~*~

Doc wore the wide smile of the thoroughly sated as he made his way downstairs. Fiala was upstairs, taking a quick rinse in the basin, as Doc had woken her before he left. I wonder if it’s just her? Two for two on making her orgasm so hard, she passes out… Only one way to find out, honestly.

The main room of the saloon was full of people. Cassia sat beside Wenn at the nickel poker table. Jasmine and two other girls were working the room, delivering drinks and flirting as they went. Westin was behind the bar serving people, and Lia was talking to a well-dressed man at the end of the bar.

Crossing the room, Doc was aware of a number of people watching him with interest. Wenn gave him a grin when he reached the poker table. “Do you mind if I take the last spot, gentlemen?”

“Wondering if you’d be back,” Raymond, one of the men he had played before, said. “Figured you’d be at the Gold Strike.”

“I prefer honest tables,” Doc said as he took the seat, “and players.”

Raymond and the other locals exchanged glances.

“Grange warned me off that place,” Wenn said, “as well as the Den. I was thanking him earlier when our conversation was interrupted. Thanks again for that. You got the bounty for half the gang.”

“Still need to look at that. I was… busy.”

“Here’s your beer, Doc,” Fiala said softly, setting the mug next to the stack of coins Doc had set on the table.

“Thanks.”

“Busy? Yeah, sounds right,” Wenn laughed.

“We playing or not?” Raymond grumbled.

“Good luck, gentlemen,” Joey said as he began to deal.

Doc mucked the first hand, not bothering to even try drawing into it, after Raymond bet a quarter. “Wenn, you staying in town another day?” Doc asked as the marshal considered calling or folding.

“I was contemplating leaving. Did you need something?”

“I have some business to attend to, and I feel like having you along would make the whole thing easier.”

“I don’t do guard work,” Wenn said pointedly as he folded his hand.

“Not guard work. I can’t explain in front of others, but no guns will be in play, nor anything criminal,” Doc said as Raymond and another player went head to head.

“Hmm... interesting. What you paying?”

“Considering it’s going to involve drinking and nothing dangerous, how about your tab paid?”

Wenn chuckled, “Okay, but if it gets dangerous, it’s five dollars at least.”

“Done.”

“Where do I meet you?”

“Here for breakfast,” Doc said.

“Early for drinking, but not too early. Fine.”

“Raymond wins the pot,” Joey said as he pushed the winnings to Raymond.

“If you’re both done chattering, maybe you can focus on the game?” Raymond asked.

“Since you asked,” Doc smirked.

~*~*~

“I think I’ve had enough,” Doc laughed as he stood up. “Thank you for the time, gentlemen.”

“You always leave before we can get our money back,” Raymond grumbled.

“Always quit while you’re ahead,” Doc said and took the offered change rack from Fiala. “Words that any gambler should know.”

“Hmm, might be time to turn in anyway if I have to be up for breakfast,” Wenn said. “Cassia, go grab me some racks, please.”

“Right away,” Cassia replied.

“Joey, see you tomorrow,” Doc grinned.

“Yes, sir,” Joey replied, taking the quarter he tossed to him.

“And Raymond,” Doc said as he picked up his filled racks, “stop tugging on your ear when you’re bluffing.”

“Huh?” Raymond was clearly surprised by the comment. The other two at the table grumbled about him being told, making him glare at them.

“Westin, change?”

“A minute,” Westin said, preparing drinks for Jasmine.

“Early breakfast or late?” Wenn asked as he took the spot next to Doc at the bar.

“Late,” Doc chuckled. “Think we’ll both be occupied for a bit before we get to sleep.”

“Damned right,” Wenn laughed.

“Both of you need change?” Westin asked when he came down the bar.

“Seems like,” Doc said as he pushed his racks forward.

“Indeed,” Wenn added, doing the same.

Westin took a minute to check the money before handing them each a few pennies from their racks. As he went to change out the money, Wenn and Doc looked over to the stairs where Cassia and Fiala were holding a whispered conversation. Doc couldn’t hear them over the background noise.

“Here you go,” Westin said, setting a much smaller stack of coins before each of them. “Anything else?”

“Never got dinner. Can you have two meals sent up to my room?” Doc asked as he picked up the money.

“Of course,” Westin replied.

“Bottle of wine,” Wenn said, “no need for glasses.”

Fiala stopped talking when Doc approached her and Cassia. “Time to turn in,” Doc smiled. “Dinner will be brought up.”

“Oh, food would be good,” Fiala smiled. “I also need to stop and pick up a few things from my room.”

“Understood,” Doc said, leading her up the stairs.

Chapter Eighteen

Waking to the sound of soft and contented purring, Doc smiled. When he cracked one eye open, he saw Fiala’s head resting on his chest, her ears just short of his chin. Being careful to move slowly, he moved his hand and gently rubbed at the base of her ears. The purr deepened and Fiala shifted in her sleep, her arm tightening around his waist.

Ducking his head, Doc kissed the tip of an ear, “Fiala, time to wake up. You still need to take your meds.”

She let out a grumbled mutter and tightened her arm around him. Doc was debating tickling her when there was a knock on the door.

“Sir? Your bathing water,” Posy said through the door, making Fiala’s eyes snap open.

“Morning,” Doc tried again. “You need to take your meds still.”

“How do you keep making me pass out?” Fiala murmured, kissing his chest.

“I don’t know, but I’m not going to complain about it,” Doc replied. “You take your med and I’ll grab the hot water.”

“Okay,” Fiala said sleepily, kissing his chest again before moving to get out of bed.

Getting to his feet, Doc realized he wasn’t itching. He checked his wrists and noticed a lack of bug bites. Thank you, Lia. Going to the door with the blanket wrapped around him, Doc picked up the kettle that was on the floor outside. He shut the door and turned around to see Fiala leaning against the table, as naked as the day she was born.

“That’s a beautiful sight,” Doc said. “If I didn’t already have a meeting, I’d try stretching out Lia’s offered reward and drag you back to bed.”

Fiala smiled, “I’d have to resist, but thank you.”

Pouring the hot water into the basin, Doc offered her the rag and soap first. “Go ahead. Ladies first.”

“I’m fairly certain that is just because you all want to watch us,” Fiala smirked as she took them.

“I’m not positive, but that is a compelling argument,” Doc chuckled as he threw the blanket onto the bed. Letting his gaze linger on her curves, Doc waited for her to finish.

“Okay, here you… my, I see someone is wide awake,” Fiala said when she went to hand him the cloth, her eyes drifting south of his navel.

“Guilty,” Doc replied as he took the damp rag.

“If you clean there first, I might be able to delay my leaving for a few minutes,” Fiala said, her voice dripping with desire.

“Done,” Doc said quickly and suited action to his word.

Breathing heavily and holding onto the window frame with one hand, Doc did his best to clean himself up while Fiala worked over his rigid flesh. He moaned as he dropped the cloth back into the basin. Doc reached down and took her head gently, but firmly, in hand and helped her push him to the finish. Toes curling, he shuddered in ecstasy as he came, Fiala doing her best to swallow everything.

He staggered back a pace once he was done, leaning against the table. “Gods damn, that was even better than both times last night.”

Fiala wiped her lips, “I’ve been paying attention to what you like most. For as much as you give me, I think it’s the least I can do.”

“If you get any better, you might make me pass out,” Doc replied.

“Oh, I would love to try again later, if possible.”

“Not going to tell you no, but it’ll probably have to wait until I get back from my trip.”

“A pity,” Fiala said as she grabbed her clothes and pulled them on. “I need to change and ask Lia if I can assist you with your teaching.”

“I need to dress and get downstairs,” Doc said, still leaning on the table. “As soon as I’m sure my legs will support me, I’ll get started on that.”

“Don’t take too long. You don’t want to miss breakfast,” Fiala said before going to the door. “See you later, Doc.”

“Later, Fiala.”

Doc was downstairs about five minutes later. “Sorry for the delay,” he said in greeting to Wenn, who was already working on his breakfast.

Wenn kept eating, just giving a small nod of understanding.

“Dillon, can I get some of that—?” Doc began, but Dillon was already bringing him coffee. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome. Madam Lia said you’re going to be teaching the dealers a new type of poker?”

Wenn paused his chewing, clearly listening.

“Yup. Hold’em; it’s a well-known game where I come from.”

The door to the back hallway opening gave way to Posy with a loaded plate in hand. Doc fished out two nickels, sliding one to Dillon and the other to Posy when she got to the table.

“Thank you, little lady.”

Posy giggled as she took the coin. “You’re welcome, kind sir,” she said, trying to affect an accent as she did.

“Did the seamstress say if my clothes could be fixed?” Doc asked her.

“I have to check back at noon,” Posy replied. “If they’re okay, I’ll put them in your room. If not, I’ll let Madam Lia know.”

“Okay. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” Posy smiled before walking off, her happy little bounce making Doc chuckle.

“Like kids?” Wenn asked as he pushed away his empty plate.

“Don’t know, really. Never been around them a lot, but she’s adorable.”

“Not many people care for the children of bestials,” Wenn said.

“Not many people have brains, either,” Doc said without thinking.

Wenn laughed, “There is that. Then again, considering the company we’ve been keeping the last few days, it’d be odd if you felt differently.”

Doc shrugged as he worked on eating.

“Morning, Madam,” Dillon said, alerting the others that Lia had entered the room.

“Morning, gentlemen,” Lia said as she crossed the room. “Is Marshal Hickinbotham going to be joining the game?”

Doc watched her as he ate, marveling at how gracefully she moved. Swallowing quickly when she asked the question, Doc coughed, the food scraping down his throat. “Yes,” he croaked.

Wenn laughed and slapped Doc on the back. “She’d have been fine waiting another second for your answer.”

“Fiala also asked to join, and I will be there, as well,” Lia said, though a small smile touched her lips. “With Joey, Dillon, Matt, and Lawrence all attending, that should be enough, correct?”

“It’ll do,” Doc said, taking a sip of coffee to dislodge the lump of food in his throat.

“Excellent. I also invited an old friend, Patrick Walker. They will all be here in two hours.”

“Okay,” Doc said. “That’ll let me finish up some other business beforehand.”

“That’s a good point. I need to go watch Wilson die in an hour,” Wenn added.

“Very well. I’ll see you both in the private dining room in two hours.”

“Sounds good,” Wenn said. He stood up from his chair and took his hat from the table.

Doc nodded, going back to his food, though he did look up as Lia walked away. Her green dress barely moved as she glided away. At least they don’t have those stupid bustles here, he thought.

~*~*~

Doc waved to Dillon as he put his hat on and went out the door. His pocket clinked as he walked, the majority of the reward money he had gotten making his jacket heavy.

Grange was coming out of the sheriff’s office when Doc was walking past it. “Not wearing your pistol? Don’t you think that’s a might foolish since word of your killing three men has spread?”

“Wearing a gun is an invitation. Being unarmed makes it less likely,” Doc replied.

“But anyone who really wants you dead will have it easy,” Grange grunted.

“I still have my two-shot.”

“Useless outside of thirty feet,” Grange replied.

“I’ll trust in my luck to make it count,” Doc smiled.

“Foolish,” Grange snorted, walking off.

“You’re welcome, Sheriff.”

Grange’s shoulders twitched, but he kept walking.

Doc shook his head. Wonder why he seems to hate me so much? It couldn’t be because I mistook him for a deputy the first day, could it? Pondering that, Doc started walking again.

The shopkeeper looked up when the bell announced Doc. “Oh, came back? I was wondering. I heard the pistol worked for you.”

“It did,” Doc agreed. “Reload is a bit slow, but it worked.”

“If you wanted a faster reloading pistol, I have some top-breaks.”

“It works. I hope to not have to use it often.”

“I have the rifle ready if you have the cash.”

Doc pulled out a gold twenty-dollar coin and ten singles. “Thirty, all bright and shiny.”

“They are, indeed,” Blackbeard said, picking them up. “Fresh from the bank, looks like.”

“I believe they are,” Doc said.

“Cash is cash,” Blackbeard said. He pocketed the money and reached under the counter. “Here we are: one Westchest 73, another box of ammo to go with it, and a holster for your horse.”

Doc sighed, “I think I underpaid.”

Blackbeard laughed, “Not by much. Saving us having to find a new sheriff is what made me throw in the extra.”

“Difficult to get a sheriff?” Doc asked as he checked the items over.

“Finding one that’s not blatantly corrupt was an issue before Grange.”

“Blatantly?”

Blackbeard shrugged, “Not saying a word.”

“Figured he was with the mayor.”

Blackbeard gave him a hard look, “Not a word.”

“Didn’t hear one,” Doc replied. “Thank you for the excellent hardware.”

“It’s my pleasure,” Blackbeard said, becoming civil again. “If you decide you want something a bit more upscale, you know where to find me.”

“I do, indeed,” Doc said as he put the box of ammo into his pocket and picked up the rifle with its leather holder. “Have a good day.”

“You, too.”

Doc watched the people on the street as he walked back to the Lily. The women all crossed the street away from him and the men gave him hard looks. You’d think me helping the sheriff would make them like me more... Maybe they just think I’m a loose cannon? I’ve been in two shootouts in less than a week, after all.

Doc dropped off his rifle in his room before heading right back out. Without the rifle in hand, he realized that he was getting less attention from the townsfolk. Entering the barber shop, Doc stopped when he didn’t see Otto there.

“Hello?”

“One moment!” came a reply from the hallway past the three chairs.

The dwarf came out of the back after a slight delay. “What can I do for you, sir?”

Doc hesitated, seeing the barber’s red eyes. “I was hoping for a shave and trim.”

“Of course. Have a seat,” Otto replied evenly.

Setting his hat in his lap as he took a seat, Doc wondered if he should even ask. “Bad news?”

“What?” Otto asked.

“Did you get bad news today? Forgive me, but you seem a bit shaken.”

The sound of grinding teeth came from behind Otto’s thick, well-groomed beard. “Everything is fine.”

“Ah, apologies,” Doc said. I’m betting Whittaker bailed on him. I can’t help, not without being an ass about it.

Doc leaned back and had the hot towel applied to his face. He continued to debate if he should offer, and how he could without sounding like a conman. With the sound of a straight razor being sharpened, Doc decided to stay out of it.

The towel was cooling when the jingle of a bell announced someone coming in. “I have a salve, but Henrick isn’t sure it will help,” the voice was feminine but rough with emotion. “Do we even dare try it? Whittaker said—”

“Fuck that cock-loving asshole!” Otto snapped. “Sorry, dear... sorry. He’s backed out three times now. You know as well as I do how he views non-humans.”

“But... our poor Sonya...” the woman sobbed.

That sob broke Doc’s silence. Removing the towel, he sat up to find the dwarven couple embracing each other. “Pardon me. I know it’s not my place, but I might be able to help.”

They both turned to look at him. The wife was looking at him with hopeful eyes, but Otto’s expression was doubtful. “How would you do that?”

“I know it sounds horrible and I’d ask you to keep it quiet, please. I have a small ability to heal that is faith-based. I can’t say it would help, but I can’t stand the thought of a child in pain and a mother crying.”

“Would you?”

“Greta!” Otto said quickly, trying to stop her.

“No, Otto, let him try. Faith magic shouldn’t interfere with Whittaker, and Henrick’s salve is uncertain,” Greta firmly insisted.

Otto stared at his wife for a moment before sighing. “Fine, stranger. But know this: if you hurt her, you’ll be paying in every way I can make it happen.”

“Understood,” Doc said as he got out of the chair. “Please, ma’am, show me the way?”

Otto stood there glaring at him as Greta led him down the hall. It’ll be okay, it’ll be okay... Doc kept that mantra running through his head while he followed her.

Up a set of stairs, they arrived in the front room of the apartment above the shop. Another hallway led them to a door, where Greta asked him to wait. Leaning against the wall, he waited, hearing murmuring voices and people shuffling around.

“Come in,” Greta said a couple of minutes later.

The room was spartan; bed, armoire, desk, table, two chairs, and two small portraits, one on the wall and one on the desk. Sitting at the table was a dwarven female, her black hair pulled back and held in place by two combs. Face pale and her eyes red and wet, she had obviously been crying recently. Her left arm was wrapped in a soiled and discolored bandage.

“Excuse me, miss,” Doc said formally, “I’m Doc Holyday. I’m going to try and help you, if you’re okay with that?”

Tears trickled from Sonya’s eyes and she gave him a nod. “If you can make it stop hurting, please...”

Crossing to her, Doc knelt on one knee. “Can we unwrap the bandage?”

“I should clean it,” Greta said. Moving over, she began unwrapping it. “I’ll get the clean linen,” she said.

Doc stared at the gash on the dwarf’s arm with worry. The fluid oozing from it was an obvious sign of infection. Please just be an infection, I know that killed a lot of people in the old days, but if it’s just an infection, I might have a chance.

Taking a deep breath, Doc triggered healing hands. “Lady, please help Sonya,” Doc said as his hands began to glow. He touched her arm above and below the infection, instantly knowing what was wrong with her.

Okay, infection is there, but there is a sliver of metal in the wound that’s causing it all. Cramps from menstrual…? Didn’t need to know that, but there it is. Her forearm is badly broken and is setting badly. That’s where the pain she is feeling is coming from. Not even sure I could heal a broken bone, but she needs to have it broken again and set correctly… focus, Doc. Heal the infection and remove the sliver first.

Pushing his energy into her arm, the wound started to heal, and an inch-long piece of metal came to the surface of her arm. Doc removed it and watched the wound close, feeling his energy pouring into it.

Sonya stiffened as she watched the wound fade. Her eyes were wide, her mouth falling open. “Oh goodness, it’s healing.”

When the wound finished healing, Doc leaned back and took a few deep breaths. “Okay, the infection that would’ve killed you is dealt with, but the pain is still there, isn’t it?”

“Yes, but I think it’s lessened some,” she replied.

Greta came rushing back into the room with clean linen in her hands. “Okay, I have the linen…” She trailed off when she saw the faded scar on Sonya’s arm. “It… it worked.”

“The infection is gone,” Doc said, holding out the metal sliver. “This was in the wound. What happened to her?”

“She was helping my brother,” Greta said, a tinge of anger coloring her words. “His experiment didn’t work and it crushed her arm. We’ve been trying to get Doctor Whittaker to come by to help since the accident.”

“The pain she’s feeling is her bone. It’s badly fractured and not healing right. The bone is impinging on the nerves, which is what’s causing her pain. I could try helping with it.”

Both women stared at him as if he was trying to sell them the moon.

“How much?” Greta asked firmly.

“It’s not a money issue,” Doc said. “I’m just not sure I can do it. Faith in Lady Luck is in short supply— the healing comes from her. I’m just her Voice.”

“Will you try?” Sonya asked him hopefully, tears falling from her eyes.

Taking a deep breath, Doc nodded. “I’ll try. Hard paths have to be walked.”

“Thank you,” her sincerity was palpable.

“I might pass out from doing this,” Doc told Greta.

“We’ll make sure you’re cared for,” Greta said quickly.

“Okay,” Doc said, shifting forward again. “Lady, Sonya needs more... please help her,” he said as he again triggered healing hands.

Greta’s breath caught in her throat as she watched his hands glow. She almost objected when he reached for her daughter, but Sonya looked hopeful, so she quieted her objection.

Doc focused solely on her forearm and tried to press his energy into the break. Seconds ticked by and Doc felt his energy slip away. The break started to shift as he poured everything he could into it. He smiled because he knew he could do it, but just as that thought came to him, he felt himself start to breathe heavier. Thinking of his stats, he pulled up his information screen.

Fuck... energy is gone and vitality is draining, Doc thought as he pushed more into Sonya’s arm. The break was healing— he could feel it. The only thing he was unsure of was if he would manage it before he used up everything he had.

Chapter Nineteen

A cool damp cloth was the first thing Doc registered when he woke up. His head was pounding, but the cool cloth helped. A soft feminine voice was singing a sad tune as gentle fingers delicately stroked his hair.

“Have they left us alone? Will they never return? Our future is dark without the brightness of the gods.”

Cracking one eye open, Doc grunted as the light hit him like a heated sledge. “Oww.”

“You’re awake,” the woman stopped singing, but didn’t move her hand. “The pain is gone, sir. I have you to thank for that... you and your Lady, right?”

“Luck,” Doc whispered, his voice rough. “Lady Luck.”

“Was it Luck that brought you to our home?” Otto’s voice was tinged with doubt.

“Luck brought me to this town,” Doc replied a little more clearly, the pain starting to subside. “Needing a shave is what brought me to your shop the other day when Whittaker dismissed healing your daughter. Another shave is what brought me in again today... maybe it was Luck that made it the right time to help her.”

“Father, you’re being mean! He healed me. I have full use of my hand again. The pain is gone, and the infection is, as well,” Sonya rebuked her father.

“Husband,” Greta said sternly, “we are better than that. Or will you lower us to the standards of hum—” She cut off suddenly, her eyes going to Doc.

Doc snorted and tried to give her a smile. “Damned humans. They ruin everything. I wouldn’t deal with them if I could get away with it.”

A giggle brought his eyes to Sonya, who was kneeling next to his head. “You’re rather funny. Thank you, Mr. Holyday, for saving my arm and my life.”

Doc was able to get a good look at her now that the room was brightly lit. Her color was healthy, her smile bright, and her brown eyes twinkled at him. Maybe eighteen? I wonder if that’s considered adult for dwarves?

“I do what Luck would have of me, but doing what I did violates a number of this town’s laws. I trust you’ll all disregard them for me?” Doc asked as he tried sitting up.

“None of us will say a word,” Greta said firmly. “You’ll also be given free service in the shop for life.”

Otto grimaced, but nodded. “My daughter’s life is worth much more than that. I’d like to pay you what we would have Whittaker, if that is amenable.”

“That would dim the name of Luck,” Doc replied. “All I ask is that you say a thank you in her name. It was her power that healed your daughter— I was merely her Voice to bring her power to bear.”

“I will always say a prayer to her,” Sonya said softly, helping him into a sitting position.

“You’re new to town, aren’t you?” Otto asked bluntly.

“Not even here a week… wait, what time is it?” Grabbing his pocket watch, he popped it open. “Hell, I’m late!”

“Late? For what?” Sonya asked, holding out a hand to pull him to his feet.

“Business,” Doc grunted as he wobbled. Taking a deep breath, he waited for the room to stop spinning, glad that Sonya had taken his arm.

“With who?” Otto asked.

“Lia.”

Doc detected a drop in temperature when he said the name. “I’m showing her dealers a new game of poker,” he clarified.

“Oh, we apologize for not understanding,” Greta said.

“I was supposed to be there already,” Doc said, taking a step toward the stairs.

“I’ll help him, daughter,” Otto said, taking his arm from Sonya.

Sonya looked down. “Of course, father.” When she let go of Doc’s arm, she caught his eyes for a moment. “Thank you again.”

“Glad to help those who will have faith in Luck,” Doc replied.

Otto walked him down to the shop and toward the door. “My daughter is impressionable. You’ll not be seeing her again, right?”

“I have no intentions to see your daughter,” Doc told him.

“Good,” Otto grunted as he unbolted the door and yanked it open.

Grange stood on the doorstep, looking upset. “Otto, I was wondering why you weren’t open. Is there a problem?” His eyes focused on Doc as he asked the question.

“No. We’ve worked out the... momentary issue.” Otto coughed, “Come back tomorrow and I’ll have the bath ready for you then, sir.”

“Of course,” Doc said, catching on. “My apologies for causing any concern. Sheriff, please excuse me.” Doc nodded politely at him, unable to leave with the big man taking up the entire doorway.

Grange snorted and stepped aside, “I’m keeping my eye on you, Holyday.”

“If you need to,” Doc said and gripped one of the posts holding up the awning as a wave of vertigo washed over him. “I do hope that won’t stop you from seeing other troubles.”

Grange grunted as he entered the barbershop. “Otto, I need a shave—” The rest of the sentence was cut off as the door closed.

Doc took a deep breath, steadying himself before he started for the Lily.

Doc kept moving slowly and occasionally wobbling. He leaned on buildings as needed, but kept putting one foot in front of the other. He ignored the comments of the passersby that could see him, sneeringly calling him a drunk.

Making his way inside the Lily, he found Fiala waiting for him with a worried expression. “Doc, what happened? Are you drunk?”

“No,” Doc replied, “I’m exhausted.”

“What happened?”

“Later, please, I’m already late,” Doc said. “If you can help me to the back and maybe see about some food and drink?”

“Yes, of course,” Fiala said, taking his arm over her shoulders.

Westin watched them go with a curious expression, but didn’t comment.

The doors to the dining room were open and Doc could see everyone already seated at the table. Lia was explaining how the game was different, but when she spotted him, she stopped talking. Her sharp eyes took in his condition and her lips dropped into a disapproving frown.

“Well, Holyday, I’m so glad you could make it,” she said frostily.

“Sorry for the delay,” Doc grunted as Fiala eased him into a chair. “I didn’t expect to be late. I was busy helping someone, and well... this is how it ended.”

“Drunk?” Wenn asked.

“Bone-tired,” Doc corrected. “I’ll breathe on you if you want.”

“Pass,” Wenn said. “I see it now. I saw you two hours ago, and it takes longer than that to get that tired even if you were mining by yourself. So how in tarnation did that happen?”

“Long story,” Doc snorted. “I can take over, Madam Lia, if you’re okay with that?”

Lia had snapped her fan open at his explanation, most of her face hidden behind it. “I apologize for my tone. I would like to know more later, if that’s okay. Please, we’re all here to learn. You know Joey and Dillon. But I don’t think you’ve spoken to Jeb or Bubba,” she motioned to two other men dressed in dealer’s aprons, “or my good friend, Patrick Walker.”

Doc gave all the men nods, taking in the expensive suit Walker wore. “Gentlemen, let’s get to it. This is going to be a long explanation, as it is.”

“I have the food and some coffee,” Fiala said, coming back into the room with a plate of meat, cheese, and a hunk of bread.

“Thank you, Fiala,” Doc smiled. “If you can shut the door, I’ll start teaching you all hold’em.”

~*~*~

Doc was feeling a little better with some food and coffee in him. Everyone picked up the basics of the game fairly easily, but when he tried to explain the pot rake, he had to go over it a couple of times.

“Why not just collect an ante like the other games?” Walker asked bluntly.

“As I said, any hand that doesn’t get to the flop is free for the players. It makes people feel like they are getting more value out of it. The rake can be set at different rates, but five percent was pretty standard. Hands in hold’em tend to run longer, and the only ones who pay are whoever wins the pot. Them complaining makes the others less likely to feel any sympathy. You can also set a maximum to the rake to make it feel better for the players, as well.”

“There are other ways, though, yes?” Lia asked.

“For this game, the normal ante becomes the big and small blinds… basically, forced bets. Big is the normal ante, and small is half that amount. The dealer button there,” Doc said, pointing to the button on the table in front of one of the men, “moves around the table one spot for each different hand. The person sitting to the left of the dealer button is the small blind, and the next is the big blind. It helps to stop dead hands and ensures that there’s always a pot. Or you could do a timed rake where everyone at the table chips in a set amount on the hour. However, your stingier players will get up for a few minutes just before the rake if you do that.”

“Percentage rake is better for the house overall,” Wenn said. “It also doesn’t feel like much if it’s only taken at the end unless it was a bad pot.”

“Exactly,” Doc nodded. “For tournaments, you don’t rake— this is only for live games. You just hold out ten or twenty percent of the buy-in.”

“I understand that,” Walker nodded. “Even agree with it. That money pays for the dealers and running the games.”

“With the extra being profit for the house. Considering how much people drink when they play, you’re also going to find the revenue from the players going up as they keep drinking. I’d say have one or two girls dedicated just to serving the tables during a tournament.”

“I agree,” Lia nodded.

“Now that you understand how the rake works for live games, the last thing for me to teach you is the difference between no limit and limit,” Doc smiled. “These two games are different beasts for a reason. Everyone understands the concept of no limit, right?”

“They can bet up to their whole stack,” Joey said.

“Yes, which means any hand can instantly become a monster, and a tournament can change quickly with that mechanic. Being able to read your opponents and knowing when they are bluffing in no limit can make you very rich, very quickly.”

“But in limit, how do you define the limit?” Fiala asked.

“One to three pre-flop, and one to six after,” Doc said. “The bets are based on the big blind amount. Before the flop, it can only be raised up to three times the amount of the big blind. For the penny table, that would be a four-cent max on the first raise, seven on the second, and ten on the last raise. After the flop, it changes to up to six times the amount of the big blind.”

“But why?” Lia asked.

“Let’s play and you’ll see,” Doc chuckled. “Dillon already gave us the chips, which are a must for tournament play. We’ll use them here so no one loses any real money. We just need a dealer— you’re going to end up stuck in that position until this is over.”

“I can do it,” Fiala said.

“Okay, let’s get to it, then,” Doc grinned as he passed her the deck and set the dealer button back to first position. “I’ll explain why I do certain things after a hand is over so you can understand how people will play the game.”

Chapter Twenty

“You really think people will play like that?” Walker asked when the training was wrapping up.

“I’ve seen it a lot,” Doc replied, trying to ignore the deep ache he felt from his bones. “We can open up a single table for it tonight and you can watch.”

“I approve,” Lia said as she rose to her feet. “I need to change for the evening. Jeb, Bubba, there is a new table in storage. Replace it with the penny table, then Jeb will run the game tonight.”

“You got it, Madam.”

“You going to play, Doc?” Wenn asked.

“Maybe for a little bit,” Doc replied. “I want to see how they take to it.”

“The no-limit variant for tournament play will do well,” Walker said. “It gives a bit more strategy to the game. I don’t see the limit being too popular, but I will stay in the room for a bit and watch, though.”

“Penny game too low for you, is it?” Doc asked.

“Indeed.”

“I need to change and get to work,” Fiala said softly. “Doc, are you going to be okay?”

“A good night’s rest will probably set me back to right,” Doc replied.

“I should go see if Cassia is free,” Wenn smirked. “Since I’m going to be staying the night, I might as well have company.”

“I’ll be back tomorrow morning for my shift,” Dillon said. “I need to head out.”

With everyone breaking up, Doc hung back until they all left. Once they were gone, he leveraged himself to his feet with a grunt. “Feel my age now,” he muttered.

“You don’t look old, sir,” Posy said from the doorway.

“Oh? How old do I look? It’s okay to be honest.”

“Twenty. Though with you moving that slow, you could be thirty.”

“Thanks, that makes me feel better,” Doc smiled. “You cleaning up the room?”

“Yes, sir. Your clothes are in your room, too.”

“Oh good, they were able to be saved?”

“Yes.”

“Thank you. Damn, I need to talk to Lia about my room.”

“Is there something wrong?”

“Nothing wrong. I paid for the week, but I’ll be leaving town for a bit. Wanted to see if I could extend my stay, but at a discount since I won’t actually be in the room.”

“She’ll be in the main room shortly,” Posy said.

“True,” Doc replied. “I’m leaving after breakfast tomorrow, so don’t worry about water and food after that, okay?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Thanks, Posy.” Doc shuffled out of the room and down the hall, trying to get his gait back to normal.

The main room was full of people, the sun having already been set for a while. Several men stood off to the side of the stage, waiting to proposition Jasmine when she finished dancing. Doc looked over at the piano player, realizing he hadn’t paid any attention to them since he’d been there.

A half-elven woman sat in front of it, her fingers dancing across the keys as she played the song. Her auburn hair was in a tight braid that trailed down her back, swinging gently side-to-side as she moved with the music. There was no sheet music on the piano, and her eyes were closed as she played. A deep, old scar marred the left side of her face from just to the edge of her eye down her jaw. Her eyes snapped open and she turned her head to meet his gaze.

Damn, that must have hurt, Doc thought as he gave her a pleasant smile.

A single eyebrow went up, and the musician sniffed as she went back to playing.

Shaking his head, Doc headed to the new table that Jeb was just sitting down at. Guess she’s dealt with enough people giving her shit. Can’t blame her, really. She probably gets enough questions and comments about it. The usual penny players looked at the large table with questioning glances as they took their seats.

Doc snagged the seat to the left of Jeb, “What’s this, Jeb? Didn’t expect a new table.”

Jeb kept his face impassive, deciding to play along since no one else had asked him yet. “Well, sir, it’s here because there’s a new type of poker to be played on it.”

The others all leaned forward at that, but Julius was the first to say, “What kind of new poker game? What’s wrong with stud?”

“Nothing,” Jeb replied. “However, this is a new game that the Lily will be featuring. This table is penny, the next one will be nickel, and the third one will be dime. The other tables will be arriving over the next few days. Once they are all in, Madam Lia will be starting up weekly, monthly, and yearly tournaments.”

“Tournaments?” several of the players asked.

“It was a lack in the town Madam Lia wanted to fill. They will be played using the new game, hold’em, as a base for it. We’ll be able to have thirty players in at a time, and if it’s popular enough, she’ll get more tables so the payout can get bigger.”

“What’ll the buy-in be?” Julius asked.

“Weekly is going to be a ten-dollar tournament, monthly will be a hundred, and yearly will be two thousand. The winner of each will easily have enough to afford the buy-in of the next higher tournament.”

“Well shit,” Raymond said. “Let’s see what this ‘hold’em’ is all about, then.”

Jeb looked at the full table and nodded, pulling the dealer button from his vest. “This is the dealer button— it gets moved one seat to the left after each hand. The person in front of it is the small blind, and the one to the left of them is the big blind. For the penny table, it’s a single penny for each, which gets added to the pot.”

“No antes?” Julius was quick to ask.

“The house won’t be doing antes. We will instead be taking five percent of any pot that has gone past the flop, with the minimum of a penny and the maximum of a nickel. The first few hands will be slow as I explain how to play. As this is limit hold’em, there will be a maximum bet size.”

“Maybe it’ll be easier if we just see a hand?” Doc offered, seeing the confusion on faces.

“Good idea,” Jeb said, breaking out a new deck of cards. He fanned them out before starting to shuffle. “Raymond, Wenn, you have the small and big blinds respectively.”

~*~*~

Hours of hold’em had been played. Doc was sitting at the bar, having given his spot at the table away to someone else. Walker sat beside him, clearly amused while working on a bottle of whiskey.

“I never would have thought it would be like that,” Walker chuckled. “Do you think it’ll be the same with nickel and dime stakes?”

“More variation,” Doc replied, nursing a beer. “Some of these guys will go to the nickel table. Since there’s a limit, they will think they have a chance. People with deeper pockets will play just like this. Same with dimes, but that will be a bit more sedated unless a whale or two rolls in.”

“Whale?” Walker asked.

“Sorry, high roller. ‘Whale’ is a term from back home.”

“Ah. This game came from your home, too, right?”

“Yeah.”

“I never did hear where that was.”

Doc chuckled, “Small town. It’s called Pahrump, but the local tribe that lives nearby called it ‘Water Rock.’”

“Which territory is it in?”

“You’d never be able to find it,” Doc said as he got to his feet with a grunt. “Best luck trying, though, since I have a feeling you’ll try.”

“I do like to know about new and interesting things,” Walker nodded. “When I figure it out, I’ll let you know.”

“Best of luck,” Doc said. He set his empty mug on the bar and made his way toward the stairs.

“Excuse me, sir,” a soft voice called out to him before he reached the stairs.

“Can I help you, miss?” Doc asked, turning to find one of the other saloon girls standing there.

“No, but maybe I can help you,” she smiled.

Doc took in the red hair, rounded, furry ears, and striped tail she had before replying, “Oh?”

“I’m quite skilled with massage, and a friend mentioned that you might have need of such skills.”

“Friend?” Doc asked, but his glance to Fiala, who was picking up glasses from a table, earned him a smile and wink.

“Yes, a caring friend. My prices are reasonable.”

“If Fiala recommended you, then I’m sure it’ll be fine.” Pulling a dollar from his pouch, he held it out to her. “Good?”

“If you’d go two, I can promise that you’ll be very relaxed at the end.”

Doc chuckled and pulled out a second dollar. “What’s your name?”

“Lotus,” the woman smiled, holding her hand under his. “I’ll settle with Westin and get my oils. If you’d like, you could wait for me in your room.”

“Works for me,” Doc replied. Handing her the coin, he watched her go to the bar and shook his head. Be the first time with a red panda, Doc chuckled as he started up the stairs. Curious that Fiala isn’t trying to get me for herself, instead... maybe she wants to distance things a bit? I can understand that.

Doc had barely removed his jacket and vest before there was a knock on his door. “Lotus, please come in,” he greeted her as he opened it.

“Thank you, sir.”

“Doc. Call me Doc, please. You brought some wine?”

“I find it helps people relax more during their massage,” Lotus said as she set a small basket, a single glass, and a bottle of wine on the table. “I will get things ready. If you’d strip and lay out, si— Doc.”

“Works for me,” Doc said, stripping down and getting onto the bed facedown.

“The wine is beside your hand, Doc,” Lotus told him after a minute. “I’m almost ready. Would you prefer citrus, jasmine, vanilla, or rose oils?”

“Vanilla,” Doc replied as he picked up the glass and sipped at the wine. “Nice selection.”

“Thank you. I figured you were a man of taste, considering what Fiala has told me.”

“Oh? What’s she been saying?”

Soft oil-coated hands pressed into his lower back, and warm breath tickled his ear as she whispered, “A number of things, and I’m wondering if they are all true myself... Maybe after the massage, you can show me?”

Doc groaned as Lotus’ hands worked gently but insistently at a knot in his back. “Ah, well, that’ll depend on if my body can take it.”

“Excellent,” Lotus husked. “That will be some time, though. I wasn’t lying about the massage or my skills.”

“I can feel that,” Doc sighed as he started to relax under her hands.

Chapter Twenty-one

Doc tried to roll over, but a soft and warm body stopped him from doing so. Cracking an eye open, he saw Lotus blinking at him. “Morning.”

“Good morning, Doc. I didn’t mean to sleep here.”

“Well, it seems that we’ve had an answer to that question,” Doc murmured, brushing her hair out of her face.

“Yes. I’ll have to let Fiala know,” Lotus smiled. “Goodness, I need to get up, wash up, and get some food in me.”

“A grand idea if—” Doc cut off as the soft knock on his door announced the morning water. “Seems like it’s time, after all.”

“You make a good pillow,” Lotus smiled as she got out of bed, her puffy tail swinging freely behind her.

Doc laughed, “Glad I could be of service.” Wrapping the blanket around himself, he got up and he grabbed the water from in front of his door. “Here you go. Ladies first.”

“Thank you,” Lotus said as she took the kettle.

Doc enjoyed the sight as she took a quick rinse. “I’ll probably have to find you when I get back. I’m sure to be sore from the ride.”

Lotus looked over her shoulder at him, “I’ll look forward to it, Doc.”

“Not as much as I will,” he smiled.

“I wouldn’t be so sure of that,” Lotus laughed, holding the cloth out to him. “Your turn.”

“Thanks.” He took the rag and proceeded with his own quick rinse.

“I hope your trip is profitable and uneventful,” Lotus said as he washed.

“From your lips to Luck’s ears,” Doc said.

“Luck?” Lotus asked as she finished dressing.

“Lady Luck. Who else should I worship if I’m gambling most nights?” Doc chuckled, setting the rag next to the basin.

“Ah, that makes sense,” Lotus smiled. “I’ll look forward to your return, Doc. I need to go.”

“Thank you for the massage. It was wonderful.”

“Thank you for the tip, as well as the rest of it,” Lotus grinned before slipping out the door.

Doc chuckled as she left. Shaking his head, he started to dress. Breakfast, pick up the horse, check supplies, and then out of town. Time to see a bit more of the world, even if it is less than a hundred miles away.

Doc was surprised to see Wenn and Cassia at a table, eating breakfast together. “Morning.”

“You leaving town today?” Wenn asked, eyeing the outfit Doc was wearing. “Haven’t seen you outside of a suit before.”

“That was my plan. Better clothing for going on a ride, especially a long one. Did your man hang?”

“No. Judge pulled his soul out. It’ll be on its way to Aire for the soulsmith there to put it to use.”

“Never seen one in action,” Doc said.

“Creepy bastards,” Wenn said with a twitch. “Every time I deal with one, it feels like they’re just sizing me up. Anyway, I’m sure that Wilson’s soul will end up on the rail line.”

“That makes sense,” Doc said, wondering what the railroad would have to do with souls.

“Which way you heading?” Wenn asked.

“West. I didn’t see any mine claims that way.”

“I’m going that way, too,” Wenn said. “Want a bit of company?”

“Wouldn’t mind having someone who knows the general area along.”

“Good. Once you finish breakfast, I’ll see you at the livery.”

“Ah, thanks. That works. Thank you, too, Dillon,” Doc said, taking the coffee and giving Dillon a penny.

“Going to miss this easy money,” Dillon laughed as he headed back to the bar.

Doc was about to reply when Posy came out of the back with a plate of food. “Thank you, Posy,” Doc said, instead fishing out a few pennies for her. “You’ve taken good care of me.”

“You’re welcome, sir,” Posy said. She gave him a rough curtsey before bouncing away from the table.

Cassia watched her go with an amused smile, “She isn’t like her mother at all.”

“Oh?” Doc said.

“Daf is a mean one, but she’s the best cook here.”

“I’m off,” Wenn said, pushing his empty plate away. “Doc, see you soon.” Looking over at Cassia, Wenn took a small pouch and placed it on the table in front of her. “If I come back this way, I’ll stop in. If not, well, thank you for the companionship.” Without waiting for a reply, Wenn picked up the rifle and saddlebags and was on his way to the door.

Cassia watched him go with a sad smile, “He’s a good man.”

“Seemed that way to me, too,” Doc said.

“I should go get some things taken care of,” Cassia said, pushing her mostly empty plate away. “I hope your trip is safe, Doc.”

“Thank you, Cassia. I hope to be back quickly.”

With the others gone, Doc focused on his food; biscuits, gravy, bacon, sausage, and eggs. He had a second cup of coffee before he finished eating.

Pushing his plate away, Doc got up and walked over to the bar. “Dillon, my stuff that I’m not taking with is upstairs in my room. I need to see about extending my stay, but I won’t be using it for a portion of that time.”

“Rooms cost—” Dillon started to say when the door behind the bar opened.

“If you are willing to put up another dollar,” Lia interrupted him, “I will keep the room as yours for two weeks. You can have it for eight days upon your return with the same deal we have in place.” Her fan was slowly moving in front of her face.

Doc smiled, “A very generous offer. I accept, Madam. The game appeared to have a lot of interest last night before I retired.”

“It was still going into the early hours of the morning,” Dillon chuckled. “I came in early and there were five guys still there with Bubba dealing. I had to shut them down.”

“Why?”

“Town ordinance,” Lia said stiffly. “Gambling houses are the only ones allowed to run a game for over a full day. We must close the game before sunrise, and we can open the tables again an hour before noon.”

“Mayor sure knows how to arrange things,” Doc snorted. Pulling a dollar out, he placed it on the bar. “For my room. I hope to be back within the week, but we’ll have to see.”

“It would be nice if you were back for the first tournament,” Lia said.

“I’ll do my best,” Doc said. “See you all when I get back.” He gave Lia a small nod before turning to retrieve his rifle and hat from his room.

~*~*~

The livery stable was busy. Doc walked through the front door and had to wait, as a couple of others were already there. The man at the counter was quickly done and Doc hoped things were going to move quickly.

“I’ve returned the nag and mule,” the man directly in front of Doc grunted to the shopkeeper. “I’d like my money now.”

“My report from the stablehand is that the mule is missing two shoes and the nag, as you call her, has colic. Means that she’s not worth us buying her back.”

“You saying I’m not going to get my money back?” the man hissed, pushing his dirt crusted coat back and touching his pistol.

“The terms were agreed to when you took the steeds out, sir,” the shopkeeper said firmly, but was clearly unnerved by the man touching the gun. “If you wish to register a complaint, you should bring the sheriff.”

“Don’t need no sheriff for you to give me my damned money. Lawmen only get involved if I have to kill you.”

Doc grimaced as this was rapidly getting out of hand. Do I interfere or stay out of it?

The side door to the yard opened and Wenn stepped inside. In a single glance, he took stock and had his gun drawn and trained on the belligerent man. “Remove your hand from that gun.”

The man glared at Wenn, but slowly removed his hand. “Marshal, ain’t no need for you here. This man was just paying me.”

“Marshal, this man threatened me with his gun if we didn’t buy back the colic horse he bought,” the shopkeeper said.

“True, I heard it,” Doc added.

The man glared back at Doc. His eyes were bloodshot and his lips pulled back to show blackened teeth. “Who asked you, huh? Mind your own damned business.”

“What does a horse sell for if you give them to the tanner?” Wenn asked.

“Two dollars,” the shopkeeper answered.

“They will give you two dollars for the colic horse, or you can take it with you.”

The man spat at Wenn’s feet, “Damned crooked lawmen. Keep the nag. Give me my money.”

The shopkeeper handed over the money for the return of the mule and the extra two dollars. “We won’t do business with you again,” he told the man.

“Don’t need your horses,” the man said, stomping out and almost colliding with Doc. “And you… I’ll be seeing you.”

Doc shook his head, “I doubt it.”

The door slammed shut, leaving Doc, Wenn, and the shopkeeper alone in the building. “Thank you, Marshal.”

“No need for thanks. I came in here wondering what was taking him so long,” Wenn said and jerked a thumb at Doc.

“And you saw,” Doc said as he approached the counter. “The coin, as agreed. Did the supplies get delivered?”

“Yes, they are already loaded,” the shopkeeper said, counting out the money. “Marshal, if you don’t mind, can you show him where to turn in this chit?”

“I got it,” Wenn agreed, taking the wood token. “Come on, Doc. Daylight is burning.”

“Behind you,” Doc said. With his rifle in hand, he followed the marshal out the door.

It was a short walk across the yard to the awning that had an older man standing under it. “Josep, this is Doc. He has horses waiting for him,” Wenn said and handed the old man the token.

“Been waiting for him,” Josep spat to the side. “Philup, get number five,” he yelled.

“Right away, Pa.”

It was only a minute before a horse with saddlebags and a mule were brought into the yard. The mule had several bags loaded on its back, and the mare seemed docile. Doc gave them both a quick look, glad for his time with the reenactment group again as he checked the shoes on the horse and mule. Putting the rifle on the horse, Doc nodded, “Looks good to me.”

“We’ll see you when you bring them back,” Josep said evenly. “Don’t bother bringing ‘em back if they are just going for the glue pot. Just makes me do more work.”

“I’ll keep it in mind,” Doc said. “Wenn, you’re ready?”

“My horse is tied up out front,” Wenn replied. “See you there.”

“I’ll be there in a moment.” Doc checked the saddlebags and found trail rations. Nodding, he mounted the horse. The mule’s reins were tied to a knob on the back of the saddle. “They used to following?”

“Our mules know what to do,” Josep said, spitting another stream of black juice.

“Thank you.” Doc touched the mare’s flank with his boots and got her moving for the gate.

Coming out of the yard, he saw Wenn already mounted and waiting. Doc gave the large stallion a look, “What’s his name?”

“Justice,” Wenn laughed.

“Funny,” Doc chuckled. “You know the way west. I’ll follow you.”

“I’ll go slow, then. Your mare there wouldn’t keep up, otherwise.”

“Don’t need to go fast, just need to get there,” Doc said.

“But where is there if you don’t have a destination?” Wenn asked as he got Justice moving.

“The destination is where Luck wants me to go. Just because I don’t know where it is doesn’t mean it isn’t there.”

“Sounds a bit religious,” Wenn snorted.

“That it does,” Doc agreed.

Chapter Twenty-two

Doc groaned when Wenn called for a good place to stop. His legs felt stiff and rubbery at the same time. “Gods damn, that reminds me why I don’t ride so much.”

Wenn chuckled, “You might as well check your bags for some cream if you’re that sore.”

“Maybe after I take care of other business,” Doc said, getting some toilet paper from his saddlebags and the small spade from the mule.

“Grab some wood on the way back,” Wenn told him.

“Got it,” Doc replied, limping toward a stand of trees.

Once he was out of sight, he used healing hands to help with the soreness from riding and felt better almost instantly. I might have wanted to wait to do that, but fuck it, Doc sighed, glad the pain was over. Selecting a spot, Doc started digging a small pit.

He came back to the camp with an armful of kindling and set it down near the kettle on the ground. When he went to repack the paper and the spade, Doc checked the rest of his bags, making a quick inventory. He was just finishing when Wenn came back to the camp with a few big chunks of wood.

“I’ll get the fire started and the pot on,” Wenn told him.

“Good. It’ll take me longer than you to settle my horse and mule.”

“You know how to ride, but you do seem a tad rusty,” Wenn commented.

“Twenty or more years,” Doc said without thinking.

“Twenty years?” Wenn asked, giving Doc a hard look.

“Huh?”

“You said twenty years.”

“Sorry, it’s been a long day. I meant ten years. Spent a year on a farm helping them round up strays.”

“Good job for a young adult,” Wenn said, going back to making the fire.

“Hard work,” Doc admitted, thinking back to his foster family. “Makes me glad I gamble. While I could do that job and live the life, I’d rather not.”

Wenn laughed, “Decadent gambler, eh?”

“If it works,” Doc grinned as he started to brush down the mare. “What got you into law?”

“My family is all lawmen,” Wenn said as the fire caught. “Older brother is a sheriff back in Saskan territory. Our younger brother is raising his family on a good size farm there, too. Dad was a marshal, until…” Trailing off, Wenn shook his head and went to his horse. “What about you?”

“Orphan at birth,” Doc said. “It was not a good life. I try not to dwell on it too much.”

“Mother’s family didn’t take you in?” Wenn asked, puzzled.

“Like I said, I try not to dwell on it,” Doc repeated. “Let’s just say that my life was not great until recently. Now, I have a purpose and life is finally starting to turn for the better.”

“Fair. Didn’t mean to push. Don’t hear about too many orphans at birth, is all. Is it too much to ask what changed?”

“I met a Lady,” Doc smiled as he thought of Lilly. “She set me on the right path.”

“Good woman?”

“Some will say yes while others will damn her,” Doc snorted. “I used to be in the second group. Now, I’m the vanguard for them.”

“Sounds like a godsend. Must be a charismatic woman.”

“That’s putting it mildly.”

Silence fell on the camp while they focused on getting their horses settled for the night. By the time Doc finished with the mare and mule, Wenn was already pouring coffee into the two tin mugs.

“Thanks,” Doc said, taking the offered cup. “Up at sunrise?”

“Normally. I’ll be leaving you tomorrow. I doubt you want to stay on the road.”

“I need to go off-trail,” Doc nodded. “I appreciate the company, though. Any advice on what to keep an eye out for danger-wise this far west?”

“The usual; rattlers, bears, woodfolk. I don’t think you’ll have any trouble.”

Doc bit back the question on woodfolk, wishing that the damned system had given him more knowledge. System, I’m almost thinking you owe me at this point. “I’ll keep an eye and ear out,” Doc said. “Why didn’t you stay at the Springs? Why the Lily?”

Wenn eyed him for a long moment before shrugging. “Not like you can criticize me, not with you staying there and having your fun, too. I prefer them over human women. They’re more honest and don’t complain when it’s time for me to leave. What about you?”

“I don’t have a preference, honestly, but the Lily just spoke to me when I got to town. I was heading for it before I knew I could even rent a room there. Wouldn’t stay anywhere else now, though.”

Wenn chuckled, “Just happened to end up there, eh?”

“Truth,” Doc replied. “Just Luck, I guess.”

“I’d say you got lucky enough there,” Wenn laughed.

“True enough,” Doc laughed.

“You also had some good fortune at the tables. I don’t recall you leaving down on any of the days we played.”

“I didn’t. I’ve been blessed by Luck.”

“That’s another time you made that sound religious,” Wenn said.

“Well, it is,” Doc replied. “I’m not one to proselytize.”

“That’s good, because the church of Apoc doesn’t like prophets.”

“I’m not going to set up a soapbox and shout in the streets,” Doc chuckled.

“Best you don’t,” Wenn said seriously. “Grange is a follower of Apoc. He’d find some law to drag you in with.”

“Good to know,” Doc replied. Maybe that’s why he doesn’t like me, Doc thought, but how would he know?

“Just tread lightly there, Doc. You’ve been a good sort. I’d hate to see you end up on the wrong side of the law in Deep Gulch.”

“You and me both. Though if things go the way I think they will, I’ll end up there anyway. Can’t change things and not make enemies.”

“What’re you planning on changing?”

“Who owns what,” Doc replied. “Suez and Goodman own almost the entire damned town. Brand used to own more, but now only has the Lily. Even most of the people in town don’t own their residences; they’re just renting them.”

“How’re you planning on doing that?”

“Poker,” Doc smiled. “They have a habit of side-betting for property.”

“How are you going to get a stake in that game?”

“By claiming a mine and using it as my bet.”

Wenn exploded in laughter. “Oh, well then, that makes it all so easy.”

Doc chuckled, but waited for Wenn to settle down. “You don’t think I’ll find a seam of ore worth their attention?”

“If you can find anything worthy of being a mine at all, it’d be like finding a needle in a haystack.”

“Good thing I have Luck on my side, then, isn’t it?”

Wenn went quiet, clearly thinking about Doc’s seriousness. “You truly believe in Lady Luck?”

“Hard not to believe in someone you’ve met.”

“You have any proof?” Wenn asked slowly.

“What kind of proof? How do you prove faith?”

Wenn stared at the fire silently and Doc went to get some rations. He came back with a small piece of cheese, some jerky, and a bit of hardtack. Taking a seat, Doc began to eat and waited to see if Wenn had any other questions.

“Can you use faith magic?” Wenn finally asked.

“I can do a little healing,” Doc replied around a mouthful of jerky.

“That’s it?”

“That I really want to show. I have another trick or two, but those aren’t easily shown off.”

“You’ve used it?”

“Yup. Bedbug bites, small cuts, and in one case, an infection.”

Wenn nodded, then drew his knife and cut his pinkie, hissing as he did. “Prove it.”

Doc sat there in shocked surprise. “What the fuck, Wenn?” he finally managed.

“I want to see proof of Luck,” Wenn said tightly.

“Damn it,” Doc muttered as he triggered healing hands and grabbed Wenn’s hand. “You’re an ass,” he said, pointedly staring at the man.

Wincing in pain, Wenn locked eyes with Doc. His brow furrowed as warmth surged into his injured finger; the pain receded, then completely disappeared after a couple of seconds. When Doc let go of his hand, Wenn wiped the blood away and stared at the thin scar marring his pinkie.

“Well, fuck...” Wenn muttered. “I guess you are a faith healer.”

“You’re welcome. What were you going to do if I hadn’t healed that?”

“Use a salve from Henrick. It would do the job, just make things difficult for a day.”

“Still an ass,” Doc muttered.

“I do have my moments,” Wenn agreed. “You really intend to try taking the town from Suez and Goodman?”

“Not taking. Acquiring through legal means.”

“Ballsy. Neither of them are known for being reasonable when crossed.”

“It doesn’t matter if the path is difficult. All that matters is putting the next foot forward.”

Wenn got to his feet and retrieved some food of his own. “Do you really expect to find a mine?”

“Probably not this trip,” Doc admitted. “I just need one before the solstice.”

“Why?”

“To get the Lily back for Lia.”

“Didn’t think you had a thing for her.”

“She’s beautiful,” Doc replied. “The most beautiful woman I’ve seen, besides Luck. Fiala and Lotus are nothing to sneeze at, but Lia is ahead of them in looks. We don’t have anything going besides trying to get the Lily back in her hands.”

“Huh. You’re hoping she’ll be grateful, though, aren’t you?”

“Well,” Doc chuckled, “I wouldn’t say no.”

Wenn laughed, “You’re an odd duck. Not many freely admit to wanting to sleep with elves and half-bestials.”

“People can get bent,” Doc shrugged. “I never understood the need to disparage others for harmless choices.”

“Don’t ask me— I sleep with them, too. Had an earful more times than I can count. Though, be careful. In some places, it’s illegal to sleep with anyone outside your own race.”

“Well, I’m going to break the law if I visit, then,” Doc shrugged.

“It’s overlooked in certain establishments, but those who have married others and try to live in those places… they are rarely happy.”

“Those places can die in a fire,” Doc said. “I’m turning in, Wenn. See you in the morning.”

“Make sure to hang your gear first. That’ll make it less likely a bear comes along.”

“Right,” Doc sighed as he got to his feet and picked up the rope from the supplies. “Been a long time since I had to hang food.”

Chapter Twenty-three

The sun was high overhead when Doc shook hands with Wenn. “It’s been a good ride. Thanks for the company.”

“Same,” Wenn said. “Be careful on your trip. This is rugged country.”

“I’ve noticed. Slow walking pace, it is,” Doc said. “What town are you off to next?”

“Cold Run. It’s a bit more settled than Deep Gulch, and the mines there are iron not gold, silver, or the like.”

“Got a warrant that way?”

“A payroll robber,” Wenn said. “Hasn’t killed anyone yet, so he’s just facing prison or the noose, not his soul being ripped out.”

“Wish you luck.” Doc turned his mare off the road, following the trail.

Wenn watched him go for a few seconds before getting his stallion moving. “May your goddess watch over you.”

Doc raised a hand in acknowledgement, but didn’t look back. The trail he had taken was just wide enough for the horse and required him to pay attention if he wanted to stay on it.

Doc still wondered about the slight blue tinge to the flora of the planet, but chalked it up to different biology. The atmosphere is a different shade of blue and the sun is more gold, so why can’t the plants be different? The animals looked roughly the same, though. He’d caught sight of squirrels, hares, and several types of small birds over the last two days.

It’s only been a week, Doc chuckled. Hope I’m doing the right things, Lilly. Not a whole lot of guidance here... Everything has changed. That’s not really surprising, though, considering it’s a different world. Does she really expect me to save the world somehow? I know I said I’d be her Voice, but how the hell do I save a world?

Doc let his thoughts wander as he followed the trail. The sun was sliding well toward the horizon, and he hadn’t come up with any answers other than doing what he wanted and not giving up.

Not in desperate need of the bathroom this time, Doc curried his horse and mule first before taking care of his own needs. Setting camp, he didn’t make a fire, but he did collect wood for the morning. Rations were the same as the day before, and while he ate, he watched the animals do the same.

No real idea what I’m looking for... I’m really just hoping Luck points me in the right direction. I’m just really damned glad there are streams all through this area. At least the animals are getting all the water they need.

After the horse and mule were fed, watered, and hobbled, Doc turned in for the night. Looking up at the starry sky, he didn’t recognize any of the constellations, so he gazed and made up his own. Eventually, he drifted off, the sound of nature lulling him to sleep.

~*~*~

Jerking awake, Doc drew the pistol from beside him. He looked around for what had woken him, breathing hard and fast. The horse and mule were sleeping peacefully, which helped Doc calm down.

“Must have been a nightmare,” he mumbled. “If it had been a threat, the horse or mule would at least be acting worried.”

Another long look around didn’t show him anything to cause unrest, so he holstered the gun and got comfortable again. He lay there for some time looking at the stars, glad the sleeping bag was heavy to help keep the chill off.

The horse neighing irritably woke Doc again. The sun was already starting to rise. “Yeah, yeah, I’m up,” Doc mumbled and yawned, sitting up and pulling his boots on.

He took the mare and mule over to the nearby stream to let them drink, then came back to camp to get things ready to go. As he started the fire for his morning coffee, he remembered a quote from one of the reenactors he used to know: “Life on the trail without coffee is worse than life in jail.”

Settling in with breakfast, Doc was about to reach for the kettle when he grabbed his pistol and spun. A squirrel went skittering away, but nothing else moved. Frowning, he scanned the trees slowly before holstering the gun again.

I swear I’m being watched, but I can’t see it. I could just be jumpy because I’m on an alien planet alone, but I don’t think that’s it... While he poured himself some coffee, Doc glanced to where the horse was tied up and saw her standing there placidly. Nothing she considers dangerous about, at least.

Breaking camp, Doc made sure to smother the fire thoroughly, not wanting to start a wildfire. Once everything was loaded up, he took another long look around before starting back on the trail.

~*~*~

He’d only been going for a few hours before riding up to a stream that was bigger than any of the others he’d come across to that point. “Good enough,” Doc said, looking at the ground and upstream. The stream was coming out of a set of rocky hills with a small waterfall. A couple of bends in the stream with gravel banks gave him hope.

Getting the animals settled, he unloaded his tools. Once he had everything, he walked upstream in search of a likely spot. As he walked, he frowned at the bends he didn’t like the look of. He was about to turn back when his heel caught and he went down hard on his knee.

“Motherfucker…!” Doc yelled, his knee a throbbing mass of pain. He took a few deep breaths and, letting go of his mining equipment, placed his hand on his knee. Healing hands pushed the pain away.

With the pain gone, he stood up and flexed his leg, “Okay. That was not fun.” Looking down, he saw a fist-sized rock right where his knee had impacted. “We’ll start with you, shall we?” Doc growled as he picked up the shovel.

It didn’t take him long to take off the jacket— the work kept him warm even with the cold wind. The first few pans of black dirt and gravel didn’t give him anything. After he was finished digging up his fourth pan, he grumbled and walked back to the stream.

The slow process of panning was something he’d practiced for reenactment, but nothing he’d done seriously before. The dirt swirled out of the pan, leaving behind pebbles, rocks, quartz, and finally, a small nugget of gold.

Doc chuckled, picking up the nugget, “Okay, maybe the fall was a good thing.”

He worked until the sun was low on the horizon, using healing hands to help stop his muscles complaining about all the work. By the time he fed the animals, he had come up with five small pebbles of gold and a number of fat flakes.

Mining law on earth was staking a claim no bigger than twenty acres in size... I should go back tomorrow, but I think I need to ride upstream and find where I want my claim to start.

Munching on jerky, cheese, and tack, Doc smiled that his gamble had paid off. Having Luck as my goddess might have something to do with that, he laughed to himself.

Once he was finished eating, he got up and picked up his bag of food. Doc trudged toward the trees with it and a rope over his shoulder. He knew it was important to hang the bag, but with the sun about to set, he hated that he had to.

Getting comfortable, he laid back down and stared up at the stars. I wonder if one of you is Sol? That would be funny, considering how many people want to find intelligent life in space. He became somber, thinking about the Darkness that swallowed worlds. Is that going to happen to earth, too?

That thought kept him awake longer than he would have liked. It wasn’t that he had anyone he really cared for back there, but it still had been his home, and that made him a little protective of it.

~*~*~

The sound of the horse whickering nervously jolted Doc awake. His hand landed on the rifle he’d set beside him before bed. Pulling it up as he rolled into a crouch, he tried to find what was making the horse uncomfortable.

Movement by the tree he’d tied the food to got his attention. A bear, lean from hibernation, had been looking up at the bag, but Doc’s horse had gotten its attention. With a grumbled growl, the bear dropped to its feet and began to walk toward the camp.

“Fuck,” Doc hissed as he aimed. He knew his rifle and pistol didn’t have a big enough bullet to deal with a bear; that had been the downside to him keeping the caliber the same between them. Even if he couldn’t kill it, he needed to chase it off.

The crack of the first round being fired echoed in the air. The bear let out a roar of pain and stood upright, arms extended. Doc breathed faster, but did his best to stay calm as he took the second shot. The bear growled again when its head was jerked to the side, and Doc cussed when he saw the fragmented tooth go flying.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck.”

The bear dropped to all four feet and rushed at him and the horse. Doc didn’t know if his next round even hit the bear— he rolled to the side when it was only a couple of feet away. The thump of a paw slamming into the ground where he’d been made Doc’s heart rate spike even higher.

The animals whinnying nervously was enough to distract the starving bear from going after Doc again. Unfortunately for the mule, it was closer than the horse. The bear hit it like a truck, and the sounds of screaming and growls mingled in the air.

Doc got back up to his feet and did the stupidest thing he’d ever done: he ran at the bear. Dropping the rifle as he went, he snatched the pistol off the ground. His bare feet were throbbing with pain as he ran, but he didn’t stop. The mule let out a terrified sound as he got closer when the bear reared back and roared again.

Jumping on to the bear’s back, Doc jammed the pistol into its mouth and fired off a muffled shot. Doc managed to hold onto the convulsing bear as he cocked and fired again, then a third time, before he was flung off. Hitting the ground hard, he groaned as he rolled to his feet, ready to fire again.

The bear was slumped on the ground and the mule screaming under it. Doc was panting hard when he went back over to the mule. It had deep lacerations from the bear’s claws. The mule was panicked and hurting itself more from the dead bear that had collapsed on top of it.

Grabbing the bear’s leg, Doc did his best to leverage it off the mule. It took him a minute, but he did get it free of the carcass. The mule staggered away, stumbling with foam flecking its muzzle. Doc got to his feet, grimacing as he felt the cuts from the rocks covering his feet and body. Instead of dealing with his own wounds, he started to talk softly to the mule and walked slowly toward it.

It took him a long time to catch the hobbled mule and calm it enough to use healing hands on it. When the pain faded, the mule calmed more, but stayed away from the body. Glad the mule survived and he wasn’t going to be out money, Doc limped over toward his bedding. Stopping just short of it, he healed his own feet before putting his boots on.

A dim glow started on the eastern horizon and Doc sighed. “Fuck it. Might as well get on with today.”

Doc took the animals and moved them further upstream. Once they were well away from the carcass, he gathered the camping gear and carted it to where they were. He made one more trip, untying the bag of food from the tree and slinging it over his shoulder.

And that is why you hang your food, Doc grumbled to himself when he made it back to the horse and mule. Forgoing coffee, he ate some food before getting the claim stakes and walking back toward the bear. Set one here and one on the far side of the stream, then we’ll head up to the rocks and see what we find.

Chapter Twenty-four

He had staked the two lower portions of the area he was going to claim and made it back to the animals just as the sun broke the horizon. Glancing back at the bear carcass, he wondered if he should try skinning it. I’d need a better knife to do that, and it’s been a long time since I’ve skinned anything. Doc shrugged, then went to get his rifle and the stakes to claim the upper area.

Making sure the horse and mule were good, he set off walking upstream. When he reached the rocky hills, he stepped close to the waterfall to examine it. The waterfall had carved a small divot out behind where the water dropped and Doc grinned. Make sure to check that dugout for gold. Should be some in there.

He walked away from the waterfall and looked around, needing to find an easier place to climb the ten feet to the upper stream. It took him a few minutes to find the spot he wanted. As Doc went back toward the stream, he had to walk carefully and take his time as decent-sized stones dotted the area. River must flood badly occasionally, Doc thought as he picked his way slowly.

Doc mentally noted the areas he thought should be checked for gold in the stream. He’d walked a little more than a mile when he stopped— the streambed split. The split ended in a shaft, but that branch was currently dry. Being careful when he crossed, he approached the drop and looked over the edge.

Doc stared down into the thirty-foot drop and whistled softly. Damn, that’s going to take some work. Can’t ignore it, though. There’s bound to be some good stuff down there.

He skirted it and started walking again. Doc covered another mile before he planted the stake. Two miles by sixty feet... should be about twenty acres, unless my math is wrong. The mining laws here could be entirely different, too. I should probably check on that before I file the claim.

Taking a long pull on the canteen he brought with him, Doc took his hat off and wiped his head. Need to see about getting a better hat for when I come out next time. A bowler is not good enough. Doc gingerly touched his neck and felt the tenderness, relieved he could just heal the sunburn.

As he crossed back through the stream, he was damned glad this world had invented something akin to rubber knee-boots or he’d have had a serious issue with the freezing cold water. Doc still chose his crossing spot carefully so he wouldn’t flood one of his boots.

Planting the fourth stake, he whistled jauntily as he made his way back toward the animals. Pack things up and go back today. That’ll get me back a day early, but that’s fine. I can do my research before the tournament.

A small flock of vultures had gathered at the bear, watching him warily as they feasted on the carcass. Doc left them to it and got everything ready to go. The sun was nearly overhead by the time he started riding away from the hopeful claim.

When he made it back to the treeline, Doc frowned, the feeling of being watched returning. Doing his best to ride the same way he rode in, he kept looking around for what was setting him on edge.

~*~*~

Doc grumbled as he curried the animals for the evening. Whatever was watching him was crafty enough for him to not spot. Setting camp, Doc wondered what it was and why it was so interested in him. No, no, stop that. You’re tempting fate by having those thoughts.

He was entirely happy when the rest of the night went by quietly. He tried not to think about jerking awake and grabbing the rifle for no reason. Breaking camp, he got moving shortly after sunrise. The sense of being watched stayed with him during the ride until a little past noon.

The mule and horse both whickered when an angry roar echoed through the trees. The horse started to move faster, but Doc slowed it, talking softly and patting its neck while he looked around to find the source of the sound. The feeling of being watched suddenly vanished, and that made Doc even more nervous.

“Okay, fuck it, I’ll find it again,” Doc said and gave the horse a nudge with his heels.

Not needing much encouragement, the horse began to trot. The mule didn’t argue— it followed at the same pace. Another roar echoed through the woods and the horse went a little faster. The mule had to canter to keep up, but it was more than happy to do so.

After some time, the horse began to slow and Doc was happy to let it when the feeling of being watched returned. Whatever is watching us didn’t want to tangle with whatever roared, either. If it’s back, that probably means we’re past the danger.

When they reached a stream, Doc stopped so the animals could get a drink and fed them both an oat biscuit afterward. Talking softly and petting them, he thought for a split second he saw something move behind a tree. Doc drew his pistol and spun on the spot, but he didn’t see anything. Frowning, he moved away from the horse and mule, gun still drawn and cocked.

When he reached the tree, he looked around it and up into the branches, but didn’t see anything out of place. Exhaling slowly, he uncocked the hammer, holstered the pistol, and stomped back to the horse. Stupid damned trees... give me the desert any day over this.

Doc still felt the eyes of the invisible watcher on them when he stopped for the night. After eating, he lay in the darkness, looking at the stars. I’ll get back to the road tomorrow, which will let me get back to town faster. Whatever is out there has at least been civil about keeping its distance. Shaking his head, he rolled up in his bedroll and drifted to sleep.

~*~*~

Doc shuddered as Lia rode him, his hands helping drive her onto him with each thrust. “Fucking hell, Lia, you’re insatiable,” Doc panted, gazing up at the elven beauty smiling down at him. She didn’t respond, instead placing a finger against his lips. Acting without thought, he sucked it into his mouth. The taste of lightly-roasted pine nuts took him by surprise.

The room seemed to wobble and Lia’s face shifted briefly into the one he’d caught a glimpse of when he’d first come to this world. Lia’s jade eyes went emerald and her long blonde hair changed to a short tangle of green with hints of blue. Those eyes widened as she realized he was seeing her and not the image she had forced into his mind. The illusion shattered completely and Doc stopped driving her onto him, but she didn’t stop her own gyrations.

“Who? Why?” Doc started to ask, but his body clenched when his orgasm started.

Throwing her head back, the woman gasped in ecstasy as she rode him faster. Doc groaned as an unfamiliar sensation gripped his cock. A gentle but firm rippling from base to tip happened multiple times, making his orgasm continue far longer than he’d ever experienced before.

When the sensation passed, the woman slowed her movements. She stared down at him, her eyes shining with an internal light as her tree bark-colored skin became a touch smoother. “You have elven blood, wonderful.” The words were oddly inflected, but the lust in them was clear. “I hope you can last.”

Doc tried to respond, but his lips were sealed by hers. Not expecting the kiss, he didn’t stop her tongue from invading his mouth. Groaning, Doc felt himself stay completely rigid inside of her as she began to move faster again.

Damn it... it’s not like I’d have refused if she had just asked, Doc thought.

The woman sat up abruptly, her eyes curious, “Truly?”

Wait, are you hearing my thoughts?

“Yes,” the woman moaned as she continued to take him.

“Truly,” Doc managed in a ragged pant. “You’re fucking gorgeous. Have you been stalking me?”

“That excites you?” the woman asked, her hips slowing. “You aren’t afraid of me. Why?”

“I’m not scared of beauties who want me.”

“Even if you die from this coupling?” She stared deep into his eyes as she slammed her hips into his.

“You won’t kill me,” Doc moaned, fighting to keep his eyes open. “If you kill me, I won’t be able to come back.”

“I require your blood, not just your seed,” the woman growled, her eyes flaring brightly for a moment.

“How much?” Doc grunted as he felt another orgasm building.

“At least half of what you have, which is why men die.” She sounded a little sad but also excited by what she said.

“You can have all the cum you want, and even some blood,” Doc panted. “How are you planning on taking my blood?”

The dryad didn’t answer as her hips kept pounding into him.

Grunting as his orgasm was about to hit, Doc tried to put his words into order, “Stupid dryad, answer me! Why kill a meal that will feed you repeatedly?”

The woman gasped when he snapped at her. Her whole body shuddered as she orgasmed again, taking him with her. Doc’s head swam when the second orgasm washed over him, but the moment of pleasure stopped abruptly when sharp pain cut through the euphoria.

Twin points of pain stabbed into his thighs. “Fuck!” Doc shouted, making the animals stir in their sleep.

“Yes... rich, sweet, powerful,” the dryad panted as she slowed her hips, her head tilted back in ecstasy.

“A warning would have been nice,” Doc hissed.

Slamming herself onto him, she leaned down and glared at him. “Food shouldn’t complain.”

“I agree, but a potential partner should,” Doc snapped back at her. He channeled healing hands and touched his legs. The pain faded and Doc shuddered, the pleasure returning and almost making him orgasm again.

The dryad gasped when her ass touched his hands as she kept thrusting atop him. “God-touched?” Her eyes opened wide as she fearfully stared down at him.

Doc growled as he stopped the healing and grabbed her hips. “Now we’ll see who’s in charge here.” Slender waist in hands, Doc began to slam her up and down his cock, the pain in his thighs flaring slightly with each thrust.

“Ngh,” the dryad gasped, leaning back and putting her hands on his knees as he took her. “Voice… a Voice…” she moaned over and over, her eyes shining like stars.

Chapter Twenty-five

Doc groaned as he woke up. The fuck hit me? Blinking against the light of morning, he was startled by the woman asleep next to him until the memories of last night came flooding back.

The dryad stirred, her emerald eyes taking a moment to focus on him. Understanding suddenly dawned on her and her eyes opened wide, much wider than a human’s eyes could. She averted her gaze and started to pull away from him.

Doc grasped her arm, gently but firmly. “Where are you running off to?”

“Voice, I didn’t know. Please…” the dryad whispered, shaking a little.

Doc leaned forward, kissing her nose. “Shh. Like I thought at you last night, if you’d have just asked, I would have agreed to start with.”

Her shaking stopped. Biting her lip, she shot him a quick look before looking away again. “I don’t understand. I can hear your thoughts, but they don’t make sense.”

“The idea of other worlds bothers you?”

“No. The idea that men would sleep with us willingly. Legend says other Voices have come from different worlds before, but even they didn’t consider mating with us.”

“My world has some peculiar notions,” Doc chuckled. “I can understand why normal people would be hesitant to sleep with you if you need blood as well as sperm... Can no one give you what you need and survive?”

“The occasional dwarf could, but they abhor us. We have been allies to the elven tribes and many of us aided them in their wars against the dwarven clans. Even most of them would die trying, though.”

“Good thing you found me then, isn’t it? How did you?”

“I felt power and went to find it. All I saw was a coach on the road, and when you looked out, I wasn’t sure. You didn’t radiate power then. When you came out here, I was determined to find out, but I couldn’t catch you doing anything. I had no idea until you touched me while connected to one of them.”

“Them?”

“The creators. Gods, as you think of them. Mother still recalls them molding her.”

“Mother?”

“The planet. She that births all life. She has been fading over the last few generations of elves... her power has been waning and the end is coming. The rot has started to grow and the Darkness hungers.” Doc thought of the worlds he had seen being destroyed and she nodded, grabbing him tightly. “Yes! You know!”

“I know,” Doc agreed.

Letting go of him, she hunched in, “Will you demand my life, Voice?”

“Huh? Why?”

“Mother has decreed that taking power from a Voice is a serious infraction of nature. When I connect to my tree again, she will be angry with me.”

“I don’t want you dead, though it would be good if you didn’t kill people.”

“We have to. It is the only thing keeping us and Mother alive.”

“Fuck,” Doc sighed. “There has to be another way?”

Licking her lips, the dryad spoke slowly, “I can ask her, Voice.”

“Doc. Call me Doc, please.”

“I’m Rosa, Doc.”

“Good. I was hoping you weren’t a nameless spirit bent on killing me.”

“No, never…!”

“You mean not now that you know what I am.”

Her face darkened and she ducked her head so he couldn’t see her blushing. “Yes.”

Snorting a little, he tilted her head back up. “No hiding.”

“Yes, Doc.”

“You’re acting completely different from last night. Where’s the demanding tone now?”

“We are bound to help the Voices in keeping the light strong. When the last one died, we all wept for many cycles. Mother gave voice to her pain, too, darkening the sky in parts of the world and swallowing others.”

“Hurricanes, earthquakes, and tsunamis?”

Once she saw the images in his head, she nodded. “Yes.”

“How are you supposed to help me?”

“In any way we can. My kind will find you if you come into their area of influence.” Rosa looked a bit apprehensive, “Please be kind to them. They won’t attack you like I did. Not now that they know you’re here.”

“Did I hurt you?” Doc asked curiously.

“No. I’m ashamed of doing what I did to you. It takes a lot to seriously hurt us, unlike the mortals.”

“Glad I took healing hands or last night might have gone really bad.”

Rosa shuddered as he pictured what would have happened. “That would have been catastrophic. Mother would have been displeased and raged for years. She would have taken my life, as well.”

“Glad it didn’t come to that. I would like to know what it is you and your… sisters… can do.”

“We are connected to the world. It is only where the Darkness has spread that we can’t help. A follower of the Darkness resides in the town you were staying in, corrupting the entire area. It’s why I couldn’t get closer to you sooner.”

I wonder if the Darkness is the same as the church of Apoc? Doc thought to himself.

“Can you feel the minerals in the ground?”

“Of course.”

Doc’s grin widened, “Well then, my little dryad, you’ll be more than making up for almost killing me.” Leaning in, he kissed her hungrily.

Rosa hesitantly returned the kiss, surprised that he would initiate it outside of sex. When the kiss continued, she moaned and pressed into him, her body starting to heat.

Doc eased back from her. “Sorry, didn’t mean to get you started. Just wanted to thank you.”

Rosa panted lightly, her eyes slowly dimming to normal. “Oh. Did you need me to find the minerals for you?”

“You’d be my most favorite person on this planet if you would. It’d be the best help I could get. Two days from here, near the stream, I marked out an area. If you mark the areas along there where gold, silver, gems, and other valuable minerals are, that would help immensely.”

Rosa stared at him for a long moment, clearly looking at his thoughts. “Yes. I can do that. Not too deep, outside of the cavern... I will have to be careful. A corrupted se’sxac walks the nearby woods.”

“Was that the roar?”

“Yes, it was heading toward you. I led it away instead.”

“Thank you,” Doc said, kissing her nose.

Rosa ducked her head, her cheeks darkening again. “You do that so readily. I’m not worthy of that kind of affection, especially not after what I almost did.”

“Maybe. Truthfully, I should be pissed at you for what you did, using Lia’s image to get me in a daze… but I can’t say I didn’t enjoy the dream or after, though. You seemed to love it more once I was aware, too.”

Rosa shivered, small bits of green showing against her brown skin. “Yes.”

“As much as I’d like to go for another night with you, it’ll have to wait until I come back,” Doc sighed as he got to his feet. Looking at his naked body, he frowned. “What happened to my clothes?”

“They are next to your horse. I had you remove them last night.”

“How did you manage that and the dream?”

“It was a waking illusion,” Rosa said, rolling onto the earth, watching him. “I can enspell the minds of mortals to see what I wish them to see. Who is she?”

“Lia. She’s the owner of the Lily in the town.”

“Lia… I wonder if it is her…?”

“Huh?”

“It isn’t my place, but I do not think her name is Lia. She looks similar to someone I knew from the tribe that used to inhabit these lands.”

“How long ago?”

“Fifty cycles.”

“Elves,” Doc snorted as he got dressed. “Should’ve figured they’d be long-lived.”

“Yes. They live longer than any of the others, but they don’t create a child as often, either.”

“I was warned about woodfolk. I take it you’re one of them?”

Rosa giggled, “‘Woodfolk’ is their generic term for those of us who are closer to Mother; dryads, se’sxac, and others.”

“Good to know.”

“How long until you come back?” Rosa asked, getting to her feet with a hint of sadness.

“A little over a week, maybe? I have to find people willing to do the hard work.”

“Oh... You won’t be staying out here, then?”

“A dangerous and tempting offer,” Doc smiled over his shoulder at her, “but no. I need to cleanse the town of the Darkness, then move on and find another cluster to do the same to. That is my duty.”

Rosa nodded, “Your mission will only get harder from here.”

“Life is hardship and pain,” Doc shrugged. “Just keep putting one foot in front of the other. Don’t give up and you can push through it.”

“Not always,” Rosa said softly. “A number of my sisters died, even when struggling to the end.”

“You can die?”

“Yes... we aren’t immortal, we just don’t age. We’ve been hunted by mages since people figured out how to touch Mother, even if in the most oblique way. Pets, parts, and other fates are what waits for us if a mage can capture us.”

Doc shuddered at the idea of Rosa being tortured and sliced apart. “I can’t blame you much for eating people to death if they do the same in turn... How did you get my blood? I wasn’t paying a lot of attention at that point.”

Rosa looked away, “I sent tendrils into your thighs. They found your arteries and siphoned your blood for me.”

“That explains the scars,” Doc chuckled. “Thank you, Rosa, for your help. Keep yourself safe, okay?”

“Of course. I’ll have what you want done by the time you return, Doc.”

“Thank you. I’ll warn my workers about not hurting you, but the same goes for you.”

“I understand. Hurting them hurts you in a way, so I wouldn’t hunt them anyway.”

“Good to know. That se’sxac will have to be dealt with, though.”

“If you can purify him, it would be best, but if you must kill him, we understand.”

“I don’t think I can purify anything yet. I need more faith to gain more abilities or powers from Luck.”

“Sadly, we do not count toward that, as we are part of the world.”

Doc sighed, “Maybe I’ll get another person or three to believe before I come back out.”

“Be careful in showing your powers. The Darkness will try to stop you.”

Finally dressed, he turned to get his camp packed up only to find everything settled already. Rosa was gone, but his bedroll and everything else was packed and waiting for him. “I’ll see you again, Rosa. Tell Mother ‘hi’ for me, and that you’re my favorite.”

“I will,” a light giggle came from all around him. “Travel safely.”

“I intend to.”

Chapter Twenty-six

The sun had nearly set by the time Doc rode into Deep Gulch. Tired, more tired than he’d been since arriving on this new world, Doc managed to get the two animals back to the livery stable. Ringing the bell on the outside of the gate, he waited for someone to come open it.

“What?” a surly voice grumbled when the gate opened.

“Bringing the horse and mule back,” Doc replied. “Can I drop them tonight and come deal with the paperwork tomorrow?”

“That’d be best. I just take animals in for the night.”

“I need to get a token or something, right?” Doc asked, walking them into the yard.

“Yup. I’ll get it after I check them.”

“Any chance I can drop the gear here for tonight, too?”

“You going to sell any of it off to the general store?”

“No, just need to store it for a few days to a week.”

“We can store them for a price. You can pay tomorrow when you come back to do the paperwork.”

“Works for me,” Doc nodded. “I have a day of rations left in the saddlebags. If you want them, feel free.”

“I’ll deal with them.”

“Great. Thanks.” Doc took the small pouch that had his pieces of gold and the rifle sling off the saddle, then nodded. “I’ll just wait for the token.”

“Be a few,” the man said, taking the reins and walking away.

Doc watched the man go, his horse tail swishing as he walked away with the animals. Guess he gets along with them pretty well, at least. The horses would probably not be as calm around a wolf, bear, or big cat.

Yawning, Doc was rubbing at his eyes when the heavy footsteps of the stablehand got his attention. “Huh?”

“Here is the token. You might want to head to the Springs, looking the way you do.”

“I’ll find a place to rest,” Doc chuckled. “Night.” He took out a nickel and handed it to the man. “Thank you for all your work.”

“Glad to,” the man said, making the coin vanish.

A large shadow separated from the corner of the general store as Doc approached it. He started to pull his rifle out before recognizing who it was. “Gods damn it, Sheriff.”

“Going to shoot someone? Not surprising for you, really.”

“Not people, just assholes who spook me at night,” Doc snapped. “Would you do that to anyone from the town?”

“Nope. But I would to some stranger who comes into town at night. I was just making sure the livery wasn’t being robbed.”

Fed up with the idiocy, Doc shook his head and walked past Grange.

“I’ll be watching you, Holyday.”

“Damned voyeur,” Doc muttered as he kept walking.

Doc smiled when he walked into the Lily. All three of the new poker tables were filled. His smile grew wider when he noticed a number of other patrons all glancing over at them occasionally. The piano started playing a happy and upbeat song, and his eyes were pulled to where Fiala was standing on the stage. Her eyes met his and lit up happily. With a bright smile in place, she began to dance.

Doc made his way toward the stairs, where a handful of men were standing and waiting. When he was about to reach the base, Lotus appeared from the back hall. Seeing him, her professional smile became real.

“Welcome back to the Lily, Doc. Did you need someone to help you settle in?”

Doc glanced from Lotus to Fiala on the stage, then back to her. “I have a feeling I’m going to be cared for shortly.”

Lotus looked past him to the stage and nodded, “So it seems. With the way she is watching you, she marked you first. I won’t get in her way.”

Doc pulled a dollar from his pocket. “Massage in an hour, my room?”

Lotus hesitated and looked past him, then she shook her head. “No. That would’n—”

Doc held out a second dollar, “For two people?”

Lotus blinked at him before she tentatively took the money. “I’ll let Westin know. If she objects, though, I’ll have to return the money.”

“Agreed,” Doc smiled.

The music came to an end, and the applause and whistles were loud. Doc turned around to see Fiala walking slowly toward the stairs, her eyes on Lotus with the coins in her hand. The hurt in Fiala’s eyes made Doc want to reassure her.

“Three dollars for tonight,” one of the men waiting said before the others could speak.

Fiala’s eyes never left Doc as the other men all called out their prices. Some were lower but shorter timed, and one called out a higher price. Once they had all stopped, Doc spoke softly, but loud enough for her to hear him, “Fiala, five dollars for the rest of the night.”

“I’ve seen you already make arrangements,” she replied hesitantly.

“I was arranging a surprise for you,” Doc replied.

“Hey, asshole, if you already got a whore, then what the fuck are you doing?” one of the men snapped at him.

“Making my evening as good as it can be,” Doc said offhandedly, not looking away from Fiala.

“You only got one wick to dip. Ain’t no reason for you to take up two of them.”

“Gentlemen,” Lia said, appearing at the edge of the group just behind Doc. “The women choose here, as you should well know by now. If this gentleman wishes to spend his coin on engaging two or more and they all agree to his offers, then that is the way it is.”

“Uppity fucking whores,” the rough-looking man sneered as he pushed his way out of the throng and stomped off toward the door.

“Madam, with Cassia sidelined, letting someone take two of the others makes it a very thin pool for the rest of us,” another man said in a respectful tone.

“That leaves seven others,” Lia said calmly. “That is more than enough. Now, Fiala, you need to make a decision.”

Fiala’s eyes hadn’t left Doc’s face. “I’ll go with you, Doc.”

“I think we should start with a bath for me,” Doc smiled. “Let me drop off my gear and get my money. I’ll meet you here in a couple of minutes.”

“I will get what we need ready,” Fiala smiled back hesitantly.

“Damned outsider,” one of the men grumbled as the group broke up.

“Doc,” Lia said, stopping him before he could get far, “the tournament is the day after tomorrow, starting at noon.”

“Good, was afraid I was going to miss it. If you are free for a talk tomorrow morning, Madam, I would appreciate it.”

A number of heads all turned at his phrasing. Lia’s fan snapped open, covering her mouth as she lightly fanned herself. Seeing the situation, Doc sighed, clearly not having considered what it would sound like.

“Fucking ass… First, he wants two of them, and now he wants Lia, too?” a snide whisper reached his ears.

Lia’s fan sped up slightly at those words, and Doc knew she’d heard them, as well.

“Just conversation, Madam,” Doc clarified. “I know you know the town better than I do, and I am in need of guidance.”

“I see,” Lia said. “I will see if I have time, but no promises.”

“Thank you,” Doc replied, bowing his head to her.

~*~*~

When Doc went to drop off his guns and other equipment, he made sure he had a change of clothing and the money to pay for Fiala’s time. As he stepped out of his room, a soft exclamation made him stop. Posy was standing there looking at him, holding an empty bottle and mug in her hands.

“Evening, Posy. I’m going to have clothes for you in an hour. Just one set, but they’re pretty road-stained,” he said, looking down at his clothing.

“Welcome back, sir,” Posy smiled at him. “Gavin said you wouldn’t come back, but I told him he was wrong. He said the woodfolk would eat you up.”

Doc kept his face impassive, her words reminding him of Rosa. “That could have happened, but I stayed safe,” he said. “I’ll be in town for a week at least. Breakfast and bathing every day.”

“Yes, sir,” Posy said, bobbing a quick curtsy.

Doc dug out a dollar, “This is your tip for the entire week. Take good care of me, okay?”

Eyes wide, Posy glanced from his face to the coin and back. Licking her lips, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Water in the morning to be left outside the door, breakfast shortly after that, and clothing to be washed every night, left in the bathing rooms. Right?”

“That’s everything.”

“I can do that,” Posy nodded.

“Don’t stress it too hard, but thank you.”

Taking the dollar, she gave him another small curtsy then bounced away, down the stairs. Doc chuckled as she went. Just like a damned bunny. How can anyone hate people like her? ...Racism and speciesism don’t have to be logical, he reminded himself.

Fiala was waiting for him when he reached the bottom of the stairs. “Here’s the money,” he said, handing her the cash. “I’ll start getting ready in one of the bathing rooms.”

“I’ll be right there,” Fiala said. She went to take the money, but let her hand linger in his for a moment. “I’ll hurry.”

Doc was naked and had the tub filling when Fiala entered the room. Looking over his shoulder at her, he smiled. “Did Lotus explain?”

Fiala nodded, looking away from him. “You paid for us both to get massages.”

“Yes. I was happy to see you.”

Fiala’s cheeks heated, “You really are going to ruin me.”

“Thought I already had,” Doc chuckled lightly, sitting on the edge of the tub. “Lotus didn’t want to agree to my plan. Did she tell you that?”

Fiala looked up, “No. She did apologize for interfering in me having you. It makes me feel bad... I don’t have any right to act like I have exclusive rights to you. I even introduced her to you, and now I’m acting like a child who doesn’t want to share her toys.”

“That’s all I am to you? A toy?” Doc laughed.

“No… that isn’t…” Fiala sighed. “You make it hard for me to think straight.”

“And I haven’t even started to scramble your brains,” Doc smiled. “You were fine when I slept with her before I left. Did something change?”

“I haven’t been able to look at the other patrons and seriously consider their offers,” Fiala whispered, looking away from him. “I’ve had less business this week than at any other time since I started working here. I’ve managed to get some business, but only massages and conversations… not anything more than that.”

Doc frowned, “Fuck. Fiala, I didn’t mean to do that to you.”

“It isn’t you,” Fiala said.

“You’re lying. It is at least partially me, isn’t it?”

“Yes,” Fiala admitted. “I… I…” She swallowed hard, then said in a rush, “I want to be respectable… for you.”

A sad smile touched his lips. “I won’t be staying here, Fiala. Once I accomplish what I need to, I’ll be heading on to another town.”

“Couldn’t I go with you?” Fiala’s voice was barely audible.

Doc didn’t reply right away, considering what she was asking. Maybe if she knew the truth, she’d reconsider, he told himself. “I’m not sure you really want to do that. I have things in my past that would cause most people to distance themselves from me. There are things I’m going to have to do that might make you mad, too.”

“I don’t care about your past,” Fiala said with conviction. “What do you think would make me angry with you?”

Doc sighed, turning around to turn the taps off. “How do you feel about me sleeping with other women?”

Fiala exhaled, her worry dissipating. “I wouldn’t be completely opposed to it if they are the right women.”

“A dryad?”

Fiala’s brain came to a screeching halt. “What?”

Doc turned to face her and tapped his thighs, showing her the new scars from his time with Rosa. “Dryad sex isn’t a joke. I’ve already met one and I need her to accomplish my goals.”

“But… they kill whoever they sleep with,” Fiala said slowly, trying to understand how he could have done what he said he had.

“They drain blood and semen from men. Not sure if they sleep with women.”

“How did you survive?” Fiala asked as she stared at him with doubt and a touch of fear.

“Your tail has been healed since we first slept together. There was also a virus in your lungs that vanished. Did you not notice?”

Fiala grabbed her tail and pulled it around to stare at it. “But... I broke it as a child. How?”

Doc exhaled, “I can do a little bit of healing. Give me your foot?”

Unsure of what he was saying, she placed her left foot in his hand. Fiala inhaled sharply when his hands glowed gently and warmth infused her foot. “Oh… I remember that warmth.”

The toe straightened and Doc felt himself grow more weary. “There, all healed.”

Fiala stared at her foot in his hands. “You’re a mage?”

“Faith healer,” Doc said tiredly, setting her foot down. “I follow Lady Luck. The healing is what let me survive the dryad. I’ll have to lay with her again, intermittently, and in return, she’s helping me with my project.”

Fiala stared at him. Her fear had mostly faded, but the trepidation was gone, replaced with wonder. “You can heal the injured and infirm... and you’d be okay with me beside you?”

“I’ve always been okay with you, Fiala. I want to watch the Lily bloom into what it can truly be. Doing that, though, will bring powerful enemies. If you are close to me, you might be hurt.”

Fiala hesitated, “The Lily? You want to turn this into your house of worship?”

“Yeah. Lia is willing to consider it if I can get the building back to her.”

“Do you want her, too?” Fiala asked softly, her tone not indicating if she was unhappy with him.

“Lia?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll be honest. She’s beautiful, and that’s how the dryad caught me.”

Fiala blushed, “She is beautiful. She makes all of us self-conscious without trying or meaning to. I wouldn’t blame you for wanting her, though she has never been with a patron.”

“It’s not likely to happen, but dreams are good,” Doc smiled at her. “Right now, I’m happy.”

Fiala’s lips curled into a smile. “Let’s get your bath over so we can get massaged and then spend the rest of the night together.”

“Don’t have to tell me twice.”

Chapter Twenty-seven

A contented purr and the feeling of warm flesh against his woke Doc from his sleep. Stifling a yawn, he glanced to the side to see Fiala’s head nestled on his shoulder. He smiled softly as he watched her sleep.

I don’t know if this is the right thing to do, Fiala... We’ve barely known each other. Hell, we don’t really know each other at all. Going to have to talk to Lia about more than I had thought.

Fiala’s eyelids twitched a second before she blinked. “Hmm?”

“Morning,” Doc murmured, kissing the top of an ear. “You still sure about this?”

Fiala’s arm tightened across his waist. “It feels right to me. Unless you—”

“Shh,” Doc said, cutting her off and kissing her ear again. “We’ll need to talk with Lia. I want to see if there’s another job you can have besides the one you’ve been doing. I’m still getting my feet under me, though, so I don’t think it’ll be long before it’ll be a moot point.”

“Yes, we do,” Fiala said, focusing on the first part of what he said.

There was a soft knock on the door. “That’ll be Posy dropping off the water. You okay with getting it?” Doc asked her.

“That’s fine,” Fiala smiled as she got out of bed. She gave him an amazing view before taking the blanket off the bed, leaving Doc nude instead.

Doc chuckled when she lingered for a moment to stare, “Go on.” When she turned away, he got out of bed and started to put together an outfit.

“Do you want to wash first?” Fiala asked when she shut the door.

“No. Ladies first,” Doc replied.

“With you, that phrase does seem to be true in all things,” Fiala giggled. “Except for last night. Lotus was really bad.”

“Oh no, Lotus was fantastic. You joining her is what pushed it over the edge so fast, though.”

“Never did that before,” Fiala smiled as she recalled their evening together. “You have led me to a lot of firsts... I felt bad when she had to go, especially after that.”

“Yeah. I might have tried to get her to stay longer, but I think she knew that. She practically bolted from the room.”

“I’m going to tell her, if that’s okay?”

“Tell her what?” Doc asked, hesitant to agree without clarification.

“About me trying to step above my current station in life. I’m going to wait until after we speak with Lia, though. That way, I’ll know if I’m leaving entirely or not.”

“Good plan,” Doc said as she stepped aside for him to get to the basin. “Meet you downstairs in a few?”

“Yes.” Giving him a kiss, Fiala shrugged into the basics of her outfit before leaving him.

“Not what I imagined life was going to be like,” Doc murmured before he began to clean himself up.

~*~*~

When he made it downstairs, he had barely said good morning to Dillon before Fiala came downstairs, wearing a dress more demure than anything he’d seen her in. Fiala blushed a little when he watched her come down the stairs.

“Morning to you both,” Dillon said. “Engage her for more than the night?”

“Not exactly,” Doc admitted. “Can you let Lia know that I really do need to speak with her, and about more than I had anticipated?”

Dillon’s eyes widened fractionally, and he looked between them twice before he nodded and walked away. Fiala’s cheeks burned as he left, clearly upset and embarrassed about something.

The door next to the stairs opened, admitting Posy with a plate of food. Her steps slowed when she saw Fiala sitting next to him. “Your breakfast, sir,” she said, putting the plate in front of Doc.

“Posy, can I get a plate, please?” Fiala asked her.

Posy looked at her for a long moment. “Are you leaving us?”

Fiala blinked, giving Doc an almost shocked look before turning back to Posy, “Umm... I don’t know yet.”

“You better make her happy,” Posy said to Doc before she walked away, her bouncy stride muted.

“I’ll try,” Doc called after her.

“She’s smart,” Fiala sighed. “Smarter than some of us.”

“Doc, you want coffee?” Dillon asked when he came out of the back hall.

“Yes, thank you.”

“Me, too, please.”

Dillon nodded and poured a couple of cups for them.

“I’ll take one, as well,” Lia said as she came out of the back. “I was going to ask you to join me, but since you are eating, I’ll sit with you two.”

Fiala sat up straight, looking nervous when Lia crossed the room to them. “Madam.”

Lia took her seat, staying silent as Dillon delivered three coffees to them. Once Dillon retreated from the table, Lia was stopped from speaking when Posy came out of the back with another plate of breakfast. Lia smiled fondly at the small child. “Posy, my usual, please?”

“Yes, Madam,” Posy replied.

“Now, I have a feeling this conversation includes Fiala,” Lia said as she sipped at her coffee.

Fiala licked her lips, not having touched her plate yet. “Yes... I’m thinking it’s time for me to stop my current job.”

Lia’s eyebrow rose and she glanced at Doc briefly. “Why, Fiala?”

“Over the last week, I haven’t been able to do my job,” Fiala admitted. “I had someone on my mind and found that I wanted to be able to walk beside him as a respectable woman.”

Lia looked to Doc disapprovingly, “You don’t find my girls respectable?”

Doc swallowed quickly, the food catching as it went down. Clearing his throat, he shook his head. “Never said that,” he croaked before coughing and trying again. “I find no fault with what the people do here. I told her that when we talked the first night.”

“It isn’t him,” Fiala added. “I know how the townsfolk think of us. I don’t want that to hurt him if I’m to be with him.”

Lia stared at her in silence for what felt like a long time before nodding. “Very well, Fiala.”

“On that note,” Doc said, “are there any jobs she can do here while I’m trying to help with the reacquisition?”

Lia thought about it. “We can teach her to deal. I’ve considered having the girls do the dealing to bring in more clientele... we can see how they react with Fiala first.”

Fiala beamed, “Really?”

“If you can do the job. I don’t keep freeloaders,” Lia said not unkindly.

“I can do it. I just need to practice some,” Fiala said eagerly.

“Finish eating and practice. We’ll try you out on the penny table later,” Lia said. “I might need to get another table in soon, as it is.”

“Gold Strike hasn’t copied us yet?”

“No. I find it odd,” Lia said. “Goodman is normally willing to steal from others, so I’m not sure why he hasn’t copied it.”

“Hmm. Might expect it all to fall apart during the tournament,” Doc suggested.

“Possibly,” Lia nodded. “I will be keeping an eye out for trouble. Now, what else did you need to talk to me about?”

“Miners. Who do I talk to to see about hiring workers?”

Lia frowned, “Hmm. The best ones are already working on the active mines. I’d suggest asking amongst the dwarves. Many of them would likely take an option to work a different mine if they could make the same money. Neither of them promotes dwarves, and their henchmen are the foremen of their mines.”

“Time to get a shave, anyway,” Doc chuckled as he pushed his empty plate away.

“You found a claim?” Lia asked.

Doc grinned, “I’m blessed by Luck.” Taking a small pouch from his pocket, he put it in front of Lia.

Lia took the pouch and opened it, glanced inside, and closed it again before sliding it back to him. “Indeed, it looks like you are. My best girl is already devoted to you and you have a chance to make me indebted to you, as well.”

“Rather have a friend than a debtor,” Doc said as he pocketed the pouch. “I need to go see about mining law and then talk to some dwarves. Thank you, Madam Lia, for your advice and for being okay with Fiala and me.”

“I wouldn’t say okay,” Lia sighed. “Fiala has been the best of my employees for the last ten years. It will pain me when she leaves with you.”

Fiala blinked, her eyes starting to water. “Madam, I—”

“Shh, it’s okay. That’s life. You have found happiness. Embrace it,” Lia silenced her with an outstretched hand. “I have things to see to. Have a good day, Doc. Fiala, I’ll be watching you tonight. Make me proud.” She was up and moving away before either of them could reply.

Doc watched her go, “She’s a powerful woman.”

“Yes,” Fiala sniffled. “Thank you, Doc.”

“No need for thanks,” Doc said, leaning over to kiss her cheek. “I’ll see you in a bit. We’re going to have to see about updating your wardrobe.”

Fiala smiled at him, though sadness still lingered in her eyes. “Of course.”

“Saying goodbye is always hard,” Doc said, covering her hand with his. “You have time to do that, though. It isn’t going to be quick, so don’t feel bad. Embrace them, love them, and know that they love you, too.”

Tears started to trickle down her cheeks. “Yes, Doc.”

“Finish your food, silly. I’ll see you tonight.” When he got up, he kissed the top of her head before heading for the door.

Chapter Twenty-eight

“Morning, sir, how can I… help you?” Otto asked when the bell jingled, his tone dropping off when he saw Doc standing in his doorway.

“Shave and a haircut?” Doc asked, having just come from doing paperwork at the stables. “I was also hoping you could help me with information.”

Otto’s frown didn’t abate. “What kind of information? And have a seat.”

“I’d have thought you’d be friendlier with me,” Doc said, taking a seat.

Otto gritted his teeth, “I am, but I also dislike you a great deal.”

“Okay, why?”

Otto got the chair reclined and put the hot towel over Doc’s face. “Because of my daughter. I’m extremely grateful that you did what you did. Whittaker hasn’t come by yet, and she would still be in pain or dead without your aid. But… she’s also been speaking of little else since then.”

Doc felt a chill along his spine, “Ah, I didn’t realize. I have no intentions there, sir.”

Otto let out a deep sigh, “I wish the same was true for her. Sadly, you are going to find out what a determined dwarven woman is like.”

Doc kept quiet as Otto began to trim his hair, wondering how complicated his life was about to become. “On a different note,” Doc said a moment later, “I am looking to find skilled miners. Would you happen to have any leads for me, Otto?”

Otto slowed in his work for a moment. “You have a claim?”

“I have to register it still, but I will have a claim by the end of today.”

“I can ask around for you, but the miners I know aren’t cheap labor.”

“If you can set up for me to meet with a skilled foreman, I’ll have him handle hiring others.”

“You’re fine with a dwarven foreman?” Otto asked speculatively.

“Why wouldn’t I be?” Doc asked, though he knew the answer.

“The others with claims don’t allow anyone other than humans as the foremen in their mines.”

“Damned silly,” Doc said. “Only thing that matters is if they can do the job.”

“You’re different. I’ll ask, but it’ll likely be tomorrow before I can arrange the meeting.”

“I’ll be busy all day tomorrow with the tournament at the Lily. Can you set it for the day after?”

“Here or at the Lily?” Otto asked.

“Either works, just let me know,” Doc replied.

“Very well.”

The shave had just finished when a young female voice caught the ear of both men, “Father? Do you know if he’s back in town yet?”

Doc was now suddenly very happy the sharp metal razor was away from his face.

Otto turned quickly toward the hall. “I told you I’d let you know,” he shouted back. “I’m with a customer.”

Doc froze in the chair, unsure if he should stay still or pay and run. The sound of footsteps coming down the back stairs made Doc shift in the chair. Otto grabbed a towel and flung it to Doc, who hurriedly put it over his face.

“He should’ve been back by now,” Sonya said, coming into the room. “They said he was planning to be back today.”

“I’m still cross with you for going to that place,” Otto said. The ire in his voice was clear, his voice switching to a deeper tone. “My daughter should never be seen in such an establishment.”

“I’m an adult, Father,” Sonya said firmly, her voice changing to a deeper tone. Doc wondered if that meant they were speaking dwarvish. “I will go where I wish and see whom I wish. Why are you so against me seeing the man who saved my life?”

“You don’t even know him!” Otto snapped. “He could be a murderer…. or married! What would you do then, hmm? Become his mistress?”

“Blood debts must be paid,” Sonya snapped back at him. “Or are you going to turn your back on tradition, Father?”

Otto spluttered, “Of course not. But… what if he doesn’t see it the same way? He’s human, and we know that they don’t follow our ways. How will you feel if he brushes you off?”

“I will make that decision for myself. In fact, I will go back there right now and ask them directly.”

The sound of booted feet marching across the shop made Doc stop breathing.

Otto’s heavier footfalls followed hers. “Don’t you dare! You’ll shame our whole family!”

“Shamed more than you?” Sonya growled, the single chime of the doorbell telling Doc she had paused with the door open. “Were you not going to gamble tomorrow? Why is it so different if you go? Because women sell their bodies there? I know you’ve been in such places, Father, so don’t you dare lecture me on it being immoral.”

The slam of the door was followed by a deep sigh of anger, regret, and sadness. “Damn it... Why do you have to be as stubborn as your mother, child?”

Doc removed the towel and got out of the chair. “That sounded bad.”

Otto spun on him, his face dark, “You!”

Doc held up his hands. “Easy. I did save her life.”

“What good is that when she is bent on throwing it away to chase after you!?” Otto roared.

The door from the hall slammed open and heavy footsteps came thundering down the stairs. “Otto, how dare you!?” Greta snarled at Otto. “How dare you imply our daughter’s life is nothing if she chases a human! If you feel so shallowly about her, you can leave this house!”

Otto went white and tried to placate Greta, “Dear, no, you are taking it out of context...”

“To Apoc with that! I heard you both clearly and what you just said to him.”

Otto glanced to Doc, who sighed and turned to Greta. “Please, a moment? Your husband’s fears are natural. If I was a father in his position, I would speak rashly, too. It is hard for a father to watch their little girl throw themselves at a stranger. I take no offense at his words, so please, blunt your anger some for my sake?”

Greta took a few deep breaths before she spoke again, “Mr. Holyday, my daughter is too much like me. She will pursue you, and there is very little you’ll be able to do to deter her. She has even taken to praying to Lady Luck every night, thanking her for her life and for bringing you to her.”

“Fuck...” Doc grunted. “I will speak with her tomorrow before the tournament, if that’s fine with you both. Maybe I can convince her to set aside her desire.”

“We will see you after breakfast,” Greta said immediately.

Otto grit his teeth but nodded, “As my wife says.”

“Very well. I hope your day is calmer than this morning has been. I’ll make myself scarce for as long as I can today to stave off Sonya seeing me ahead of time. Good day to you both.”

Doc took out a quarter out of his pocket and held it out to Otto. “Since I declined the free services, is this the right amount?”

Otto took the coin, “That is what a shave and haircut cost.”

“I had a feeling,” Doc said as he headed for the door.

Stepping outside, Doc looked up and down the street, but didn’t see Sonya anywhere. He breathed a little easier as he made his way to the clerk’s office.

~*~*~

“Morning. I’m hoping to see about mining laws, specifically on making a claim,” Doc greeted the clerk.

The older woman sniffed and went to retrieve a book once he had placed his money on the counter. She brought the book back and flipped it open to a page seemingly at random, then slid it to him. “Here are the sections you asked for.”

Taking the book, he found it open at the start of mining law. “Thank you.” He went over to the chairs, placed his hat on his knee, and started reading.

After a couple of hours, Doc closed it. Placing the book on the counter, he gave the woman a smile. “Thank you. Do you have the paperwork for filing mining claims? I need both lode and placer claims.”

The woman sniffed again and went about collecting some paperwork before coming back to the counter. “It is fifty cents per form, or a dollar in total.”

Doc gave her a smile and placed a silver dollar on the counter. “Thank you for your time, miss.”

“Ma’am,” the older woman snapped at him. “I’m a married woman.”

Doc just kept smiling, saying a silent prayer for her husband. “Apologies, ma’am, I meant no disrespect. Would that be your daughter and not your sister in charge of records, then?”

The woman blinked at him for a long moment before she lifted her chin. “You leave her be.”

“I have no intentions of anything other than paperwork, ma’am.”

“And it had better stay that way.”

Knowing when to retreat was a life skill— Doc bowed his head, put his hat on, and left with the paperwork in hand. He spied Sonya leaving the Lily when he was on his way back, so he stepped into a nearby alley to avoid her. He crossed over to the next and took it up, then crossed back to enter the saloon.

When he walked into the Lily, he was surprised to see the penny table almost full of players. The real shock was Fiala standing at the table, already dealing the cards. Dillon gave him a grin and waved him over.

“She’s a quick one,” Dillon chuckled. “I think she might have been practicing since you showed us the game. Had it down better than me, though I haven’t dealt in a while.”

“She has a goal and is set on it,” Doc replied with a grin.

“Speaking of,” Dillon smirked, “we had someone looking for you. I forgot about it until they came back a bit ago. In fact, you just missed her by a few minutes.”

“Otto’s daughter,” Doc nodded. “Yes, I heard from him.”

Dillon whistled softly, “And you still let him near you with a razor?”

“It was amiable enough until she stormed out. Luckily, I was done being shaved by then.”

“How did she not see you, then?”

“He threw a towel over me before she made it into the shop.”

“Lucky bastard,” Dillon whistled. “Banned now?”

“Not exactly,” Doc sighed, looking over at Fiala. “I have to go over after breakfast tomorrow and try to talk her out of her obsession.”

Dillon shook his head. “Good luck, but I’m not sure she’s going to be that easy to shake. Her eyes light up when she talks about you.” Lowering his voice, he leaned in, “Tell me the truth: what did you do to get her that excited?”

Doc didn’t reply, instead starting to walk for the stairs. He was almost to the base when he realized he didn’t have pen and ink. Sighing, he kept going, planning instead to drop his paperwork off and head back out.

“Afternoon, sir.”

“Afternoon, Posy,” Doc said, pausing on the second-floor landing. “Posy, do you know if there is ink and a pen I can rent or buy from here?”

“I can ask, sir.”

“I’ll be in my room. Please let me know.”

“Yes, sir,” Posy said, hurrying toward the stairs.

“Finish what you were doing first,” Doc told her and chuckled. “I can wait a bit, okay?”

“Okay,” Posy said. She blushed and turned back toward the open door in the hall.

Shaking his head, Doc chuckled as he went up to his room. So excitable, he thought. I wonder if my own kids will be like that. That thought brought him to an abrupt stop, his hand just short of his room’s door handle. He shook his head clear and opened the door. Leaving it open, he took a seat at the table and began reading through the forms.

“Sir, I have a pen and some ink for you,” Posy said from the hall.

Doc blinked and rubbed at his eyes before turning to face her. “Oh, thanks. How much are they?”

“Madam said to just return them to the bar when you finish.”

“I will. Thank her for me, please.”

“Yes, sir,” Posy said, but didn’t leave after she set them on the table. “Umm, sir... are you really going to take Fiala away?”

Doc met her eyes, “I don’t know, Posy. I’ve told her she can come with me, but we’ll have to see how we both feel about that when the time comes. I’m not going to be leaving soon. I still have a lot to do here.”

“Oh… so you’re going to stay, then?” The sentence was rushed, and Doc could feel the hope she had.

“Months, at least,” Doc smiled. “Don’t want me leaving soon, huh?”

“You’re one of the good people, sir,” Posy said shyly. “Fiala, Lotus, and Cassia all say so. Momma doesn’t want you to go, either. The extra money you’ve given us has helped her, too.”

“I gave you that money,” Doc said.

“I gave it to Momma,” Posy said defensively. “She needs it for her medicine.”

“Medicine?” Doc asked, forgetting about the paperwork. “Is she sick?” he asked with concern.

“Not sick... she’s just in pain all the time,” Posy whispered, looking sad. “It’s my fault, but Momma says it isn’t. I heard Poppa before he left, though... he blamed me.” Sniffling, her eyes began to water. “I came out wrong. I broke her.”

Doc’s jaw set and he felt an intense dislike for a man he had never met. “I see,” he spoke softly, not wanting to scare her. “Would your momma be willing to speak with me, Posy? I want to tell her what a good helper you’ve been.”

Posy looked up, her eyes wet with unshed tears. “Me?”

“Yes. You’ve been amazing, always helping me out. I want to tell her that so she knows it’s coming from me.”

Posy looked to the door before turning back to him. “Maybe she can bring your breakfast tomorrow?”

“That would be fine,” Doc smiled. “Thank you. You should hurry back to work. I don’t want you getting in trouble because of me.”

“Yeah,” Posy stepped back, dipping him a curtsy and leaving quickly.

Doc watched her go and took a deep breath. What the fuck did I just start?

Chapter Twenty-nine

Doc finished as much of the paperwork as he could. He needed to have the gold he had found assayed and the assayer to fill in those parts of the forms. Setting things aside, he took a deep breath, just in time for a voice to get his attention.

“Doc? Are you busy?”

Doc gave Fiala a broad smile and shook his head, “Nope. I just finished up what I could do.”

“We have a little bit of time before the shops close. Did you want to visit the seamstress with me?”

Doc got to his feet, “I’m up for that. Are you sure you want me along?”

“Yes.”

“Want to do things together, is that it?”

Fiala looked away from him, blushing, “Yes.”

“Very well. I need to stop by somewhere and see about a different hat.”

“The milliner should have some hats you’d like.”

“First, the seamstress,” Doc said as he stopped by his trunk and picked up some extra money. “Ready?”

“Yes, I got what I needed before coming to see if you wanted to go with me.”

“How did the dealing go?” Doc asked as he shut his door.

“Good. Lia offered me a spot to deal during the tournament and during the mornings. It’s their slowest time, and the other dealers are happy with the idea of not having to work the early shift.”

“Good. I was worried about your livelihood.”

“I have a job for as long as we stay here.”

“About that,” Doc said softly. They had made it to the main room, which was starting to fill up. “We really do need to spend some time together first. We haven’t really gotten to know each other. I’d hate to think that this might fizzle out because we didn’t know anything about each other.”

Fiala stayed silent while they walked through the room. When they were out on the street, she spoke softly, as if afraid of sharing, “My family name is Fulton. My father was a miner back in Luisanna territory. My mother was a handmaid to a well-known lady in town. She was out running errands for the family and ran afoul of some backcountry skinners. Dad stepped in when he heard her cry for help. He suffered a number of deep cuts, but ended up killing the skinners in the process. He would have faced the gallows if not for Lady Fullerton stepping in on his behalf, since he saved her servant. They paid for him to be healed, too. Mom was smitten with him for saving her life and asked the family to release her from her position. The Fullertons paid for the small wedding and the Lady herself gave my mother away.”

“That is quite the family. I’d think most of that position and power wouldn’t do as much.”

“No, they were unusual for the area. All of their staff loved them. Dad and Mom left, as he had to find more work. They came west, settling into Deadshaft. I’m their only child… Dad was killed in an accident at the mine five years after I was born. The foreman blamed him for the accident and the judge sided with them, so we got nothing for his death. Mom had to find work at that point, but there was no family there that would take her on as a maid. She started doing odd jobs for money, and eventually ended up doing laundry for a whorehouse.”

“You’ve been around the business for a long time.”

“Yes. When I started to mature, the Madam of the house tried to corral me into her employ. Mom refused to allow it and after a few months, she was fired. We were blacklisted at that point and we went further west. We ended up here after my sixteenth birthday. Mom caught the coughing disease a month before we got here... Lia took us in, letting Mom do the laundry and letting me help her. It barely paid anything, but we had food, shelter, and a place where we were accepted. When Mom passed, Lia gave me the option to become one of the girls instead of the laundress. I took the offer, as I wanted to give Mom a proper burial. Lia paid for it, and I paid her back after the first year.”

“You’ve had a rough life,” Doc said, knowing what hardship was himself.

“Not as hard as others. I had parents who loved me... not everyone can say that. I didn’t hate the job, either. It was unpleasant at times and degrading at others, but overall, it’s been decent. After all, we get to pick at the Lily, not like the other places. I could never have worked in any other house.”

“Lia does seem to care for you all. It’s very rare from what I’ve seen.”

“Yes… ah, here’s the seamstress’ shop,” Fiala said as she opened the door to the shop.

Inside the shop, a couple of mannequins displayed dresses. Other than those, there were only a couple of comfortable chairs and a table sitting in the front room. There was no counter or place for business transactions like Doc had been expecting. The jingle of a bell over the door was all that let him know this was a shop.

A moment after he shut the door, the other door in the room opened, admitting a woman of middle years. “Greetings. What can I do for you today?”

“Mrs. Ckeiz, I am hoping to get some dresses made,” Fiala said.

Ckeiz gave Doc a sideways glance before giving her attention to Fiala. “More for the Lily?”

“No. I need dresses that are respectable for the public.”

Eyebrows going up, Ckeiz turned to face Doc. “Who are you, sir?”

“Doc Holyday; entrepreneur and gambler. A pleasure,” Doc gave a bow, giving his hat a small flourish.

“Hmm. You are here with the woman?”

“Yes. She asked me to come with her.”

“Giving up your old ways, then?” She directed that to Fiala.

“I am hoping to become a respectable woman.”

“I see. I’m a little shocked. It isn’t often one of your work leaves it. Very well... something tasteful but reserved, yes?”

“Please.”

“Come with me. You may have a seat, sir.”

Doc gave Fiala a smile and took a seat. “I’ll be here.”

“I’ll try to hurry,” Fiala said, following Ckeiz.

Doc didn’t know how long he sat there in the quiet room, but when the door opened, he smiled. Fiala came back with a new dress on, and Doc looked her over from shoes to hair. The dress was similar to one that Lia had worn before, but even more reserved in color and covering. It was a shade of dark blue, and it suited her very well.

“Beautiful,” Doc said, getting to his feet.

Fiala beamed at him and gave him a small curtsy. “Why thank you, sir.”

“I see it is approved, then,” Ckeiz smiled. “Should I start on the other dresses?”

“Yes, please.”

“I will have them delivered when they are ready.”

“Do I need to help cover the cost?” Doc asked.

“I covered it all,” Fiala said.

“Very well. Should we go see about hats?”

“Yes.”

“Good evening to you both,” Ckeiz bid them farewell.

The next shop was only a couple of buildings down the street. The familiar bell jingle announced them as they walked into the lantern-lit shop. Doc’s steps slowed just inside the door and he looked around. The shop had shelves everywhere with hats of all different types resting on them.

“Welcome, welcome! How can we serve you?” An upbeat, fast-talking voice greeted them in an almost manic fashion.

Doc looked around, but didn’t see the person talking. “Looking to pick up a hat that will help when I’m out on the trail. I do enjoy my bowler, but it doesn’t help against the sun.”

A small person with a large nose and eyes bounced out from around one of the shelves. Looking up at him with wide eyes, the man giggled, “Yes, yes. Bowlers for the city, Stets for the country. That’s the best.”

Doc was shocked to see a gnome or something similar standing in front of him. The man’s way of speaking brought the old saying of “mad as a hatter” to life. “I had been thinking the same, sir. What would you suggest?”

“A customer who asks? Rare, yes rare. We’ll show him the best of the hats. Come this way!” The shopkeeper bounced off with an odd jig-like step toward the counter at the back of the room. “Caught me before closing you did, just before.”

Doc followed the man toward the counter. Fiala trailed him, looking a little unnerved as she watched the hatter. “I’d also like to see about a social hat for the lady with me.”

“Oh, a man who pays for the women is paying for the woman,” the little man laughed in a stilted manner. “All kinds, like our hats. That is life, yes?”

“Life is composed of people nowhere near as sensible as your hats.”

“Oh, flattery and truth in one? We think we like this one.” Behind the counter, the hatter stood almost eye-to-eye with Doc thanks to a raised platform. “Now, hat... best hat. You’re a size seven and a half, yes?”

“I’m unsure, honestly. My last milliner didn’t tell me my size.”

Tsking, the hatter rummaged under the counter before pulling out a complex looking device and jumping onto the counter. “Fine. Size you, we will. Hold still— this barely hurts.”

Doc almost jerked away when the man raised the thing above his head, but held still. The contraption felt a little cold, and it didn’t hurt in any way. Doc was just starting to fully relax when the device suddenly gripped his head like a vise. Wincing in pain, he managed to hold still and the feeling was over with quickly.

“Seven and three-eighths,” the man said, removing the device and dropping back behind the counter. “Hat for you, hat for you! Not for us, but for you,” the man half-sang as he started poking around under the counter.

“Doc, maybe this isn’t a good idea,” Fiala whispered.

Doc took her hand in his and shook his head.

“Here, the perfect Stet for you,” the hatter cackled as he pulled out a box. The milliner pulled out a gorgeous black hat with a silver band from inside. It was a Stetson, as far as Doc would call it, and wonderfully made.

Doc accepted the hat and put his bowler on the counter to try it on. The Stet felt perfect and fit his head well. Looking at Fiala, he saw her smiling at him. “Looks good?”

“Yes.”

“Best hat! Told you.”

“I’ll be purchasing it,” Doc said, putting his old hat back on. “Now we need something for the lady.”

“Hat, yes, hats are best.” The hatter moved down the counter and stared at her for a long moment before frowning. “Bestial… hats are difficult for them.” Grumbling, he went scampering off into a back room.

“Maybe I don’t need one,” Fiala said softly. “We should go.”

“Hat!” The triumphant yell came from the back room. The hatter came running out a moment later, holding a hat aloft like he’d found the answer to life, the universe, and everything. “Hat!”

Doc smiled. It was a simple black-felt hat with bits of blue ruffle atop it. “This is it?”

“Yes. This hat is perfect for her!” The hatter jumped onto the counter and held it out to Fiala.

Fiala took the hat and hesitantly placed it on her head. The tips of her ears poked out the carefully concealed slits in the fabric, being mostly obscured by the blue ruffle. Fiala looked to Doc for his opinion.

“That helps draw the outfit together,” Doc smiled. “It works wonderfully.”

“Yes, perfect hat!” the man cackled. “Five dollars for both.”

Doc wasn’t about to argue with the crazed man. He pulled out the money and placed it on the counter. “Sold, sir. A question, if you don’t mind? How long have you been a milliner?”

“All our life,” the hatter replied, his happiness falling away instantly. “So long…”

“That’s a lot of mercury,” Doc said. “You’re happy, right?”

“Happy?” The hatter looked up morosely. “No. We’ll die soon. Hats are the only thing keeping us going.”

Doc let his hand shine with healing hands, “Shake?”

The hatter blinked at him before hesitantly taking Doc’s offered hand. Doc was right; mercury poisoning was killing the milliner and making him crazy. He tried to heal the poison, but when nothing seemed to happen, he realized his magic couldn’t touch it. The poison had seeped too far into the hatter. He’d need to be able to cure heavy afflictions to help the gnome.

“I’m sorry I can’t help you right now,” Doc said as his hand stopped glowing. “I don’t have enough faith behind me. If I can help you later, would you want that?”

The hatter sniffled, tears trickling down his cheeks. “Please... hats... we want to make more.”

“Okay, I’ll come back as soon as I can help. I hope you and your hats are safe and happy until then.”

“Thank you,” the milliner sniffled again. He went into the back and left them, shutting the door behind him, the money still on the counter.

“Come on,” Doc said softly. “I’m sure he’ll come back to lock up once we leave.” Doc put his new hat in the box and carried it as they headed for the door.

Chapter Thirty

The Lily was in full swing when they returned. Fiala took his hatbox and went upstairs to put it away for him. Doc smiled after her, happy until he heard the unkind words from the men nearby.

“As if she’s ever going to be respectable... Stupid bitch. Whoever talked her into it is going to use her and toss her aside.”

Doc’s hand twitched, and he was glad he wasn’t wearing the pistol.

“I’m sure the guy will take her to another town and whore her out there. New for them, but used for us. I wonder how long until Lia gets a new one in. Stupid elf takes forever to bring in fresh meat.”

Deciding the table was full of idiots, Doc turned away from them. The piano sat empty, the normal player not there. Doc frowned and made his way over to Westin behind the bar. “Where’s the music?”

“Couldn’t come in tonight,” Westin sighed. “Lia tried to arrange for another person, but there aren’t that many skilled musicians in this town.”

“What’s the job normally pay?”

“A dollar plus tips,” Westin said. “Why?”

“I’ll take it,” Doc chuckled as he headed for the piano.

“What?” Westin asked incredulously. “Hey, don’t go touching that! It’s expensive.”

Doc ignored him as he took a seat on the bench and raised the cover. There were only two pieces of sheet music on the stand, but Doc ignored them. Been a while, but I’m sure I can still at least do well enough. Feeling the hostile and curious gazes on his back, Doc took a deep breath and began with a simple song for him. The opening notes of Imagine by John Lennon started to spill out from the piano.

The noise in the building dimmed as people all turned to listen to him play. Doc closed his eyes as he pictured the words to the song flowing past him, Lennon’s iconic voice filling his head.

When the last note died away, Lia spoke up from beside him, “A little simple, but I felt there should be words to go with it.”

“The words are what make that song special,” Doc said with a grin. “Is it okay if I fill in?”

“Do you know anything a bit more upbeat?”

Doc let his fingers trail over the keys for a minute as he considered her request. “I know a few... how about this one?” Without warning, he launched into Green Onions by Booker T.

Lia’s eyebrows went up and her fan slowed as the song played. The crowd listened in and some of them started to pick up the beat, light stomping coming in with the hard beats. Lotus had paused by the stairs, but as the song continued, she jumped onto the stage and began to improvise a dance to the music, giving him a smile as she went past. Doc chuckled and let the song repeat so she could get a full dance in.

The tavern applauded loudly when he finished playing. Lotus, breathing hard, came over to the stairs and waved off the men who called out to her. She stepped away from the stairs since Lia was still standing there.

“I see you can play, and a few songs I’ve never heard,” Lia said. “Feel free to continue. We’ll pay you at the end of the night.”

“Sounds good,” Doc smiled, playing a light and easy song as they talked. “Not sure I can play any of the standards. I only know the music from my home. If you have set music you want me to do, I’d need the sheets.”

“Play what you wish, but upbeat and happy is best,” Lia told him. “Thank you for assisting me once again.”

“You’re welcome, Madam,” Doc said, taking his hat off and setting it on the top of the piano. “Will you be gracing the stage tonight?”

“No. I have things to get done before tomorrow.”

“A pity, but understandable. I was moved by your last song and was hoping to hear something similar.”

“Maybe after the tournament,” Lia said before gliding away from him.

“Doc?” Fiala asked a moment later. She had come down the stairs and found him playing at the piano. “You can play?”

“I had a hand in a number of things in my life,” Doc smiled as he continued playing. “Are you going to take over one of the tables?”

“Madam said she was going to have a fourth table brought in tonight. I’m going to run it.”

“Two penny games?” Doc asked.

“I’m not sure, but I think so. She wanted a fourth table for tomorrow.”

“Makes sense. Earn some money and see you later.”

“Yes,” Fiala went over to kiss his cheek. “Later.”

“Him?” one man scoffed. “She chose a musician over a man with a real job?”

“I thought he was useless for real labor,” another joined in.

Fiala stiffened and stood up, her tail lashing in agitation. Doc caught her eyes and shook his head minutely. “Ignore the ignorant slobs— they are just jealous,” he said, softly enough that he was sure she heard but that it didn’t carry to the table.

“Look, I think the cat is mad. Probably just needs some real meat, am I right?” the man laughed as he leered at her. “Come here, kitty... I’ll show you what a real man can do for you.”

Doc stopped playing and people looked over. Sighing, he looked at the offending table. “She has one. You see, real men can be civil, polite, and know what decorum means. Ah, that explains why the word makes you frown in confusion.” Fingers moving rapidly, he rattled off a quick ditty that put a punctuation on his words.

“Fucking dudes always coming out west and thinking they know better,” the first man snarled, getting to his feet and touching the gun at his side.

“Gentlemen,” Lia called from near the bar, “violence isn’t allowed inside this establishment, and threatening my employees will get you permanently banned. Leave. You can apologize next time you come.”

“Leave?” He let out a booming laugh as he turned to face Lia, his pistol free of its holster but still at his side. “No one here is going to make us go before we want to.”

The other three men at the table stood up, all of them pulling pistols free and glaring at the rest of the patrons. Doc started playing ominous music as the men did so. “Have to set the mood. There you go, gentlemen! Now you have the right tone for ‘evil men intent on breaking the law.’”

“You mocking us?” the leader growled.

“Mocking? No,” Doc said with all sincerity as he watched a few people near the door slip out. “Helping you? Yes. Every fool needs an audience, after all, and every audience needs the stage to be set.”

The four men looked confused, but a few people in the room had to stifle laughter when they caught his meaning. Lia’s expression behind her fan was hard to read, but her eyes were hard, flat, and devoid of emotion as she stared at them.

“That’s enough. Gilden, grab him!” the leader spat. “Take him outside and have some fun with him.”

One of the men started walking toward him. Doc played an exciting and ominous riff on the piano before he stood up slowly and turned to face the men, his hands well away from his body. “Well, it looks like these four aren’t a fan of music. I’m sorry, ladies and gentlemen, but my performance is being cut short tonight.”

The room stared at him, wondering how he could be so calm when he was unarmed and clearly about to be beaten or killed. Fiala was horrified, completely frozen in place near the piano, knowing she couldn’t do anything.

Doc didn’t react when the man slapped him or grabbed him roughly, shoving him toward the door. He did use that stagger to let his hand dip into his vest pocket and pull his derringer.

“Now, the rest of you, we’re going to be having some fun,” the leader of the gang laughed. “Kitty, come here! You can start by showing me that you understand your place.”

Doc was shoved out the door by Gilden, his nasally laugh punctuating the leader’s words. “After he’s done with her, we’re all going to get a piece, too.”

Doc had let the push guide him to the side away from the swing doors. He went a couple of steps further than he should have, letting the man follow him. Fire in his gut, he focused on missed me.

“Now, you should dance for me,” Gilden snickered as he pulled back the hammer on the pistol.

Doc turned partially around, using his body to shield the small gun from his attacker. “Dance? No need for that. After all, dead men don’t appreciate a good waltz.” As Gilden’s brow furrowed, trying to understand the sentence, Doc pulled his right arm up sharply and fired in quick succession.

His quick movement caused Gilden to fire, but the bullet whizzed through Doc’s body, not harming him. Doc’s two shots hit the man in the chest and, staggering back, Gilden fell to the ground. His pistol dropped from his nerveless hand as blood gushed from his lips.

Fiala’s scream from inside made Doc’s blood go cold. Throwing his gun down, he rushed forward and snatched Gilden’s pistol, bursting in through the doors. “Everyone down, now!” Doc yelled with all the force that stand down could muster.

Everyone in the Lily hit the floor, including the remaining three men. Doc was across the room in a flash, his foot slamming into the leader’s hand. Pulling the hammer back on the pistol, Doc glared down at them. “I’m sure the sheriff will be along shortly. If you move, I’ll shoot you in preemptive self-defense of me, Fiala, and everyone else here. Understood?”

Both lackeys glared at him, but nodded and let go of their guns. The leader hissed, his eyes daggers as he stared up at Doc, “I’m gonna gut you!”

“Hard to do from jail,” Doc replied evenly. “Can I get someone to help wrangle these two? Fiala, are you okay?”

Fiala was crying and staring at him with wide eyes. “Yes… I thought…”

“Sorry for making you worry,” Doc said gently.

A couple of men from nearby came over and used the men’s belts to tie their hands. They didn’t have to wait long before Grange and his two deputies burst through the doors, leveling their guns at Doc.

“Drop it,” Grange ordered.

Doc sighed and started to comply when Lia spoke up, “No. Do not drop that gun, Doc. Grange, he is stopping the man pinned below him from firing.”

Grange paused and took in the scene. “Fine. Deputies, handle the man on the ground.”

The twins rushed forward and secured the leader with manacles. Doc stepped away and lowered the hammer on the gun, setting it on a table. The moment he did, his hands started to shake and Fiala hit him like a truck, staggering him sideways.

“Okay, what happened here?”

“I can explain, Sheriff,” Lia said, coming out from behind the bar. “Doc, why don’t you retire for the night? You’ve done enough by stopping those four men. I’ll have some drinks sent up shortly.”

Fiala was clutching him tightly and silently crying into his chest, but Doc nodded. “Yeah, thank you. Sheriff, if you need to talk to me, I’ll be here all week.”

Grange looked putout, but nodded. “Make sure you’re available.”

“As available as I can be,” Doc said as he led Fiala toward the stairs.

“What did you do to Gilden, you bastard!?” the leader snarled as the deputies hauled him and the other two to their feet.

Doc paused on the bottom of the stairs. “Oh, right... my gun is outside.”

“I’ll have it retrieved,” Lia said. “Go now.”

“Thanks, again,” Doc nodded.

~*~*~

Making it upstairs took some time. Doc’s legs felt like jelly and Fiala was clinging to him tightly. Cassia and a couple of the other women stood on the second-floor landing, looking pale.

“Is everyone okay?” Cassia asked with trepidation.

“No one but the assholes were hurt,” Doc said, stopping and pulling Fiala gently away from him. After looking her over, he exhaled deeply and nodded. “Fiala screamed, but she doesn’t look hurt.”

“I thought you’d been shot...” Fiala sniffled. “They hadn’t laid a hand on me before you came back in.”

“I thought they’d hurt you when you screamed,” Doc replied softly, pulling her back to him. “Seems we were both wrong, thankfully.”

“What happened?” another of the women asked.

“Four men were making comments about the music, and then about Fiala and me,” Doc replied, his voice shaking a bit. “I made fun of them and the leader took it badly. Guns were drawn and they hauled me outside. Lia knows the story... She’s explaining it to Grange. If you’ll pardon me, I need to go lay down for a bit.”

“Oh, right,” the woman nodded, her scaled tail lashing back and forth.

Doc recalled her name as Jasmine and gave her a strained smile. “Thank you, Jasmine.”

“Lia could probably use our help calming the guests,” another said.

Cassia frowned, “She could. I can serve drinks, at least.”

Doc left them to figure it out and went up toward the third floor, Fiala beside him. When they made it to his room, Doc gingerly set Fiala into the chair before dropping onto his bed. “Fuck, that’s five times so far,” he exhaled and shivered. He knew that, once again, he had come close to dying.

“Huh?” Fiala looked at him with tears dripping from her eyes.

“Fifth time I could have died since coming here,” Doc said, breathing deeply and trying to calm his jingling nerves.

“Fifth?” Fiala’s eyes widened.

“Skippy, shootout, dryad, bear, and tonight... though the shootout had multiple points when I could have been killed, honestly.”

“But…”

“This seems to be my life, Fiala,” Doc said softly. “I’m going to be facing problems for the rest of my life. Sure you still want to be near me?”

Fiala pushed herself to her feet and staggered the two steps to the bed, flinging herself on top of him. “Yes. You won’t scare me off.”

Doc shook his head, holding her as she clung to him. “Not my intention. I just want you to be aware of what the future is going to look like.”

A soft knock on the door announced someone waiting for them. Doc rolled Fiala over so she was on the bed before he got to his feet. “I’ll get it.”

Fiala nodded, brushing at her cheeks. “Okay.”

Posy stood there, looking up at him with wide wet eyes and trembling lips. “Your drinks.”

Doc went down to one knee so he was at the same height as her. “You okay, Posy?”

“I was scared... I saw it from the hallway...” Tears began to fall and she hiccupped.

Doc took the drinks from her, set them aside, and gave her a gentle hug. “Shh, it’s okay... The bad guys are gone now, right?”

“They were going to kill you and hurt Fiala,” Posy hiccup cried, clutching at him and burying her face in his chest.

“I’m sorry,” Doc whispered, stroking her head gently. “I’ll try to be better about it next time.”

Sniffling, Posy nodded. “Okay... No dying, please.”

“I’ll do my best not to die,” Doc reassured her, “nor to let Fiala get hurt, okay?”

“Good. You’re a good guy. Momma will speak with you at breakfast.”

The memory of what he had talked with Posy about earlier came back to him. “Okay. Thank you, Posy. You should go back to work now, okay?”

Nodding, she stepped back and rubbed at her cheeks. “Goodnight, sir, Fiala.”

“Goodnight, Posy,” Doc said gently.

With her gone, he picked up the drinks and shut the door, exhaling deeply.

“Doc?”

“Sorry. I don’t like seeing children cry,” Doc told her as he set the drinks on the table. There were two cups of wine and a single shot glass. Doc tossed back most of the shot before holding the rest out to Fiala.

Fiala took it and downed the rest. “Oh…?”

“Yeah. She keeps giving me some of that. Not sure how I’m going to cope with killing people without it.”

“She rarely shares it,” Fiala said. “Lia must value you highly if she’s been sharing this with you.”

“Well, I am trying to help her get her business back,” Doc said as he brought the wine over to the bed.

“That’s true,” Fiala agreed, taking the cup he offered. “Do you really think you’re going to be able to?”

Doc thought about Rosa, the mine, and the tournaments coming up. “Yeah, I think I have a real chance. It’ll take right up to the solstice, but I think I can do it.”

“Can I help?”

“Just be here to help me through the rough times.”

“I will.”

After taking a sip of the wine, Doc set the cup aside. “You were worried for me?”

“Yes.”

“Let me thank you. Not many people have been truly worried for me.”

“Huh?” Fiala said.

Doc took her glass and put it down before leaning in to kiss her gently.

Chapter Thirty-one

Doc and Fiala woke up at Posy’s soft knocking on their door. Fiala was up first, bringing the water into the room before Doc had even leveraged himself out of bed. When were metal spring mattresses made? Doc wondered while Fiala wiped herself down. We’re going to put a hole in this poor cot-thing.

Doc was lost in his thoughts, so he blinked dumbly when Fiala touched his arm. “Huh?”

“You going to wash up?”

“Oh, yeah.”

“Is something wrong?”

“No, I just have a few things to do before the tournament starts,” Doc replied as he got to his feet.

“Oh? What do you have planned?”

“Talking to Posy’s mom during breakfast, and then I need to speak with Otto and his family after that. That should get me to the tournament... after that, it’ll be up in the air.”

“Otto? The barber?”

“Yeah. I’m trying to get an in on some miners and some... complications popped up there.”

Fiala stared at his back, “You mean Sonya?”

Doc hesitated before nodding, “Yeah. She has a crush on me. I’m going to try and let her down easily.”

Fiala sighed, “She’s been in here multiple times looking for you. No dwarven female would willingly set foot in here, much less an unmarried one. It won’t be as easy as you think it will be.”

“Fuck...” Doc sighed as he finished washing. “I’ll do the best I can.”

Fiala gave him a soft smile. “I can’t blame her for wanting to be close to you. I still don’t know a lot about your past, but I like to think I know who you are as a person.”

Doc returned the smile and got dressed. “You put a lot of faith in me.”

“Yes. I… uh… I said a small prayer to Lady Luck last night while we were… busy.”

Doc laughed, “Oh. Did you have a religious experience?”

“I think I was brought closer to god… dess,” Fiala giggled.

“I’m pretty sure Luck didn’t intend for me to bring her worshippers through carnal means, but a few would be okay.”

“I’ll go make sure they have breakfast ready for us,” Fiala smiled, heading for the door.

“I’ll be right down.”

Doc came down to the main room to find Fiala sitting at a table. There was an older woman with rabbit ears in the seat next to her. An extra cup and plate of food were set on the table, so Doc sat himself. “Morning. Thank you for speaking with me.”

The bestial gave him a hard look. “You’re the one my daughter speaks of so highly?”

“Posy is a good girl,” Doc smiled. “You should be proud of her.”

The woman glared at him, but Fiala cleared her throat, “Daf, Doc is a good man.”

Daf glanced at Fiala, then back to Doc. “What did you want with me, sir?” The last word was spoken as grudgingly as it could be.

“There isn’t a good way to say this,” Doc sighed. “Your daughter was telling me that she has given you all of the money I’ve given her.”

Daf’s chin went up, clearly waiting for him to rebuke her.

Doc shook his head and held up an empty hand. “She told me why, and I don’t fault her or you. Have you seen anyone about the problem?”

Daf blinked, clearly not expecting his change of topic. “Henrick can’t help me, and Whittaker doesn’t see our kind,” she said after a moment of silence.

Doc nodded and glanced at Dillon. He had been looking over at their table and giving him a cold eye. When Dillon walked further down the bar, Doc spoke again, but softly, “If there was another way, would you try it?”

Daf stared at him before she snorted, “What snake oil are you selling?”

“I’m not,” Doc replied. “I can help with some things, like Fiala’s broken bones. Depending on what your condition is, I might be able to help you, too. I can’t promise it, but I’d be willing to try.”

“Doctor?” Daf asked slowly.

“Doc is my name. I am a faith healer, though.”

Both eyebrows shot up and Daf blinked at him slowly. “Fiala, he speaking true?”

“He is,” Fiala answered just as softly. “My broken toe and tail are healed.”

Daf chewed over the idea for a minute before she asked, “What’s the cost?”

“Nothing. Maybe a prayer to Lady Luck, but that’s it. No coin, no promises, nothing of value but faith.”

“Why? Helping me could expose you.”

“Because Posy loves you,” Doc said simply. “I hope one day I’ll have a child that will love me even half as much as she loves you.”

Daf’s stern face softened and she glanced toward the stairs. Posy was peeking out from the doorway to the hallway, watching them. “Precious child, she is. Fine... what do I have to do?”

“Just step into the back with me for a moment,” Doc said and stood up, his food untouched.

Posy vanished behind the door once Daf got up and made her way toward it. Doc’s gaze was distant while he prayed that he could do this. When they both stepped into the hall, Daf and Doc went for the private dining room. Posy was looking out from the kitchen, puzzled, and Doc gave her a smile before motioning for her to wait.

Closing the door behind them, Doc triggered healing hands and held out his hands to her. “When you’re ready, take my hands. Lady Luck, please help Daf... her daughter loves her and she needs some of your blessing.”

Daf stared at his hands for a second before firmly grabbing them. The moment she did, Doc realized he could diagnose her condition. It became apparent that her constant pain was because her pancreas wasn’t working like it should. Doc focused on the organ and found that it was close to complete failure. Swallowing hard, he pushed his energy into healing it.

Doc stopped before it was completely healed— he had started feeling the strain of healing taking a toll on him. The glow faded from his hands and he stepped back, resting against the table. “Not healed,” he panted to her. “Your pancreas was failing. Have to do more over the next couple of days. Should ask Lia to use this room for breakfast... make it easier for me.”

Daf stared at him, the chronic pain and numbness she had felt for the last dozen years now gone. “You… how…?”

“Faith,” Doc replied with a tired smile. “It’s not done, just helped. It’ll take two… no, three more days to fix it unless I want to pass out. Is that okay with you?”

Eyes starting to water, Daf sniffed, “Lady Luck, you said?”

“Yeah.”

She knelt on both knees and clasped her hands in front of her. Closing her eyes, Daf prayed, “Lady Luck, thank you. Thank you. Henrick told me this would be my death inside a couple of years and that time was almost gone... I’ll be able to see my little girl grow up now. Thank you for sending this man to us and giving me this time.”

Seeing the dour woman suddenly so grateful was a gut punch. Doc swallowed, holding his own emotions in check. “I’m glad to help. Come on, this is no time to cry.” He held out his hand and waited for her. “Work has to be done and if we take too long, people might comment.”

The door cracked open a little bit and Posy peeked into the room. “Momma?”

Daf surged to her feet with Doc’s help and rushed at her daughter. Posy squeaked and started to back up only to be swept up into her mother’s arms and hugged hard. “You precious little one!” Daf cried, holding Posy tight. “I love you, my little flower.”

“Momma!” Posy began to cry, hugging her mother right back.

Doc saw people looking down the hall and coughed. He walked out of the hall, not meeting anyone’s eyes. Making it back out to the front, Doc took his seat at the table and started in on his breakfast.

“Well?” Fiala whispered.

“Not completely done... another time or two, but she’s better,” Doc replied in a mumble around some eggs and gravy.

“Good. Daf is good people,” Fiala smiled.

Doc gave her a smile while he ate in an ungentlemanly manner. Fiala shook her head at him as she got to her feet. “See you at the tournament, right?”

“Barring the unforeseen,” Doc replied.

Kissing his cheek, she headed for the stairs, going to get into the clothes she had planned for the tournament. Doc watched her go while tearing through breakfast.

Dillon wandered over once Fiala was gone. “What was that all about?”

“Well, we’re kind of seeing each other,” Doc replied.

“What? You and Daf?”

Doc frowned, “What? No! Me and Fiala.”

“Oh,” Dillon chuckled awkwardly. “I meant what was up with Daf?”

“I was telling her what a good job Posy was doing,” Doc shrugged and shoved another forkful in his mouth.

“Why follow her into the back, then?” Dillon asked as if he’d caught Doc in a trap.

“To praise Posy in front of her.”

“Oh… that isn’t as scandalous...” Dillon sighed. “Here I was building this elaborate theory, too.”

“That’s what you get, then,” Doc snickered, finishing the last bite of his breakfast.

“Got something to take care of before the tournament?” Dillon asked.

“Business doesn’t wait,” Doc said, getting to his feet and draining his cold coffee. “Thanks for the meal. See you in a bit.”

“Yeah, I’m going to be one of the dealers.”

“I’ll be back.”

~*~*~

Doc was surprised to see the “closed” sign up on the barber shop window. Frowning, he knocked on the door. Otto twitched the curtain to check who it was before opening the door and letting Doc inside. He shut it behind him and locked it again.

“This way,” Otto said gruffly.

Doc felt the tension pouring off the dwarf and wisely kept his mouth shut. Following him to the living room upstairs, Doc saw Sonya and Greta waiting for them. “Good morning to you both, ladies,” Doc said, doffing his hat and bowing to them.

Sonya beamed at him, “Good morning, Mr. Holyday.”

“Good morning, sir,” Greta added, though her smile was strained. “Please, have a seat.”

Doc did so, taking the single chair set across from the sofa where the family sat. The tension in the room was nearly suffocating and Doc’s smile was starting to strain as much as Greta’s. “Miss, I’ve heard you’ve been looking for me.”

“Sonya. Call me Sonya,” Sonya was quick to correct him. “Yes, I’m ready to court you.”

Doc shook his head, “Sorry, miss. I’m already seeing another.”

“No, you’re just sleeping with them,” Sonya said with a smirk. “I’ve asked.” Both Otto and Greta jerked as if slapped. “You’ve slept with two of the women there, though you do seem to favor one over the other.”

“You’re saying that you went into an establishment that you shouldn’t?”

“Yes. For you,” Sonya said, her eyes shining as she smiled at him. “I’ll do what I have to so we can be together. You saved my life and as such, my life is now yours. That is all that matters.”

Otto’s teeth ground together audibly and Greta was a bit pale.

Seeing their reactions, Doc shook his head. “I see. Your life is mine?”

“Yes,” Sonya beamed.

“Okay. Otto, I give to you the life of Sonya. As I’m unfit to be caretaker for it, I offer it to you.”

All three of them blinked at him in shock. Sonya was the first to snap out of it, “No, that—!”

“I accept the life debt,” Otto said quickly.

Sonya went red and she spun on her father. “No!”

“A life debt was agreed to and then passed,” Greta said firmly, staring at Sonya. “Will you throw away your heritage?”

Sonya trembled in rage before turning angry eyes to Doc. “You will regret this!” Jumping to her feet, she stormed out of the room.

Doc shuddered when a cold wind traveled down his spine at her words.

Otto exhaled, “Thanks be given. Holyday, you have my deepest gratitude. I never expected you to do what you did. I can’t cover the cost of her life debt, but I will do my best to help you with your endeavor with the mine.”

Doc nodded, glancing to the hall that Sonya had fled down. “Is she going to be okay?”

“In time,” Greta sighed. “You basically just said her life was something you didn’t want and casually gave it away, even if it was to us. Considering how certain she was that you would love her, it would be a crushing feeling.”

Doc grimaced, “I didn’t mean to hurt her that badly, I just didn’t want her to think she had to chase after me. I’m not a good man, and a woman of her beauty and standing should have a man who can do right by her.”

Greta gave him a sad smile, “She isn’t wrong, it seems.” With a sigh, she got to her feet. “If you’ll excuse me, my daughter needs me right now.”

“Ma’am,” Doc said.

“I’ll show him out,” Otto told his wife.

The two men were left in the room once Greta left. Doc shook his head, “I hope that was enough to dissuade her.”

“If not, I can’t ask you to do more,” Otto said. “I’m a little torn on your answer, honestly. I thank you for helping distance yourself from her, but also upset that you could so easily hand my daughter’s life away like you did.”

“I wouldn’t have done that if you hadn’t been the one to take it,” Doc said. “I just know that she’d have a hard life with me, much harder than she deserves.”

“Tomorrow, here at noon, for the other meeting,” Otto told him as they headed for the stairs.

“I’ll be here,” Doc said, shaking hands with Otto before leaving the shop.

Chapter Thirty-two

Business had picked up when Doc made it back to the Lily. A dozen people were sitting at tables or standing by the bar, drinking and talking to each other. He saw some familiar faces there already. Giving friendly nods to Edward, Julius, and Raymond, Doc headed for the stairs, only to stop when Lia came out of the hallway door.

“Ah, good,” Lia said. “If you have a moment, please?”

“Of course,” Doc said.

She led him to the private dining room and shut the doors behind them. “I spoke with Daffodil earlier.” Seeing Doc frown, Lia smiled, “‘Daf’ is how most people refer to her.”

“Ah. Yes.”

“She’s felt better today than she has in years,” Lia said, watching his face. “Why did you do that?”

“Posy,” Doc shrugged. “Cute kid that loves her mom. Hate to think of her crying.”

Lia’s lips pursed, “That’s it?”

“Yeah.”

“How unusual,” Lia murmured.

“I need to help Daf a few more times over the next week,” Doc told her. “I’m hoping I can use this room for breakfast since it will draw less attention. After all, what I’m doing is a crime.”

“None of my people will say a word, or they will wish they were dead,” Lia said simply. “Everyone in the kitchen is already saying prayers to Lady Luck, apparently.”

“That’s good and bad,” Doc said.

“The only few I am uncertain about are my dealers and bartenders, but the other staff won’t say anything to them.”

“Thank you. Was that the only thing you needed?”

“I can field five tables for the tournament, but I think it’s going to run over that with people wanting to join,” Lia said.

“Staggered entries. As people drop out, let the new ones play if they want in. Just means you need enough chips to be able to make it work.”

“I have enough chips for eight tables’ worth,” Lia said. “Didn’t expect to use them all.”

“That’s your cut off,” Doc said.

“I’ll make it work,” Lia said. “Here’s your gun, by the way.”

Doc took the small gun from her, then blinked. She didn’t have pockets or a purse with the dress she was wearing. “Umm… where were you…? On second thought, don’t tell me.”

Lia raised an eyebrow high and snapped her fan open to cover her mouth. “Goodness, that almost sounded indecent.”

Doc caught the hint of laughter in her tone and shook his head. “I would never ask a lady of your caliber anything indecent.”

“Is that so? Pity,” Lia said as she walked out of the room.

Doc watched her go, bemused at the banter they just had. “What the fuck just happened?”

Stepping out of the hallway and into the main room again, he whistled softly at how much the room was filling up. He was surprised to see Cassia tending the bar when he walked over. “Cassia, when does sign-up start?” he asked once she had come down the bar far enough to hear him.

“Right at eleven,” Cassia said loudly so that anyone interested could hear her. Moving down to the end where he was, she motioned him in. When Doc leaned toward her, she spoke softly, “Madam has already paid for your entry. Just listen for your table and seat number to be called.”

Doc chuckled, “I understand. You’re tending because Dillon is dealing?”

“And to see if I can do the job,” Cassia smiled.

Doc nodded, “I think you got this.”

“Drink?”

“Beer. It’s going to be a long day. I need to pace myself.”

Cassia grinned as she went and pulled him a pint. “Good luck.”

“I think I’ve got that in spades,” Doc replied.

Doc stayed leaning against the bar as he waited for eleven to come around. He gave nods to some others he recognized when they came in. Fiala came downstairs a few minutes before eleven and gave him a smile and wink. She went to one of the poker tables, taking her seat at the dealer’s position, the last of the five dealers to be seated.

Everyone was getting antsy— a few stragglers went to take seats at tables only to be roundly yelled at by others. A couple of fights started, and the offenders were ejected by other people waiting for the tournament.

“Gentlemen,” Lia said from behind the bar, appearing without anyone noticing, “we’ll begin accepting entries into the tournament in a moment. I’ll start with the rules so you know what you’re getting into. The entry fee is ten dollars, and eight of that will go to the prize pool. We have five tables, but I will try to have at least one more, if not two, by next week. We only have enough chips for a total of eighty people to enter this week, and that will be corrected as well. What that all means is that fifty will be seated right away while the other thirty will be on standby for a spot to open for them.” There was some grumbling from the players, and Lia held the fan in front of her face. “If you don’t agree to this, do not register. Your entry fee will not be returned to you. Anyone caught cheating will be expelled and banned from all tournaments, so don’t cheat. If one of my dealers is found to be cheating, they will be removed and never allowed back, and a new dealer will be brought to the table. The prize pool will be divided amongst the four finalists, though the exact amount will be decided once we know how many entries we have. Now, if you wish to register, line up in front of me in an orderly fashion.”

A couple of men had started to rush forward only to slow when two bestials moved in front of them. Doc realized he had seen these men before; they were Grange’s deputies. “We’re security,” one of them growled. “Ass up and not only will you be gone, we’ll be taking you straight to a cell.”

“Now form an orderly line,” the other chuckled.

Doc watched everyone scramble to line up behind him. He had been right in front of Lia when she called for the line, and he still didn’t know how she managed that trick. Turning back to face her, she gave him a knowing smile as she placed a stack of chips in front of him. “Thanks,” he said sardonically.

“Table one, seat one,” Lia said in a normal tone, though Doc caught the silent laughter in her eyes.

Doc took his stack and moved toward the table. He was sad that Fiala was at table five, but he realized that was probably for the best. She’d be a wreck if he sat there. Instead, he had Dillon as his dealer, and the first seat was directly to the dealer’s left.

“Morning, Dillon. Excited?”

“Yup. Getting paid good today.”

“How much?”

“Ten dollars.”

“Nice, but you’re going to earn that since we can’t tip you.”

“I know the second part. Why do you say ‘earn it?’”

“Because this is going to take a lot longer than you think.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah, most of the day, I’m betting. The early portion will be fairly quick— two hours and we’ll have the max of eighty. But cutting down to the final ten will take most of the day, and then the real grind begins.”

Dillon frowned, “You’re just fucking with me.”

“Not my type. But you’re right, in a way. This tournament won’t be that bad, but the monthly and yearly ones? Be prepared for long sessions, maybe even two- or three-day-long games.”

“Doc, seems like I get to play with you today,” Raymond said, taking his seat beside him.

“Raymond, you ready for some fun?”

“Of course, though most of the players here aren’t serious players. They just think they can walk out with easy money.”

“There’s a new sucker born every minute,” Doc chuckled.

Looking back at the rest of the room, he nodded. Lia was sending each new person to the next table in line to break up any potential funny business that anyone might have tried by getting in line together. Wonder if she’ll change that up next time.

It took a little bit of time for all the tables to be filled and for the thirty who paid to move off to the normal tables to wait. Each of them was holding a token with their number on it. Once the spots were filled, the dozen or so that hadn’t gotten in grumbled. Most left, but a few were trying to buy the token off someone waiting.

“We have maxed out our players. Our prize pool is three hundred for the winner, two hundred for second place, one hundred for third, and fifty for fourth. Good luck to everyone in the tournament. Drinks and food are available for purchase, and we will be having breaks intermittently for you and the dealers to stretch and use the outhouses. Dealers, the time is now. Shuffle up and deal,” Lia announced.

Dillon took the new pack of cards and broke the seal on it, deftly pulling the cards from the box. “Gentlemen, this is no limit hold’em. Similar to what you’ve been playing, but with no limit on the bets you can make.” As he spoke, Dillon shuffled the cards. “I will need you to be clear when announcing your bets because of that. Any questions?”

“Does that mean we can bet everything on the first hand?” one of the players asked.

Doc rolled his eyes at the question and waited for Dillon to answer.

“Indeed, but if you lose all your chips, you are out and another player will join the table. There are no rebuys in this tournament.

“The table has a big blind and a small blind,” Dillon said, moving the dealer button to Doc. “Gentlemen, the small blind is a nickel, the big is a dime.” The two required to put money into the pot did so and Dillon finished shuffling. “Good luck, everyone.”

Doc played passively to start with, letting the aggressive players weed each other out. He made a few good hands and took smaller stacks away from the aggressive players, but mostly stayed back during the first hour.

The first hour had almost all of the waiting players in— many of the players pushed all-in and either got hit hard or took big chunks out of others. Doc was holding strong but not leading his table when Lia called a break two hours into the tournament.

“You all have fifteen minutes,” Lia announced. “When we pick up play again, the blinds will be changing to a dime and fifteen cents respectively.”

Doc stretched in his seat and let the others rush off. “There’s a reason I left the table for a few minutes half an hour ago. Beat that rush and now I can see about ordering a snack.”

Dillon wasn’t listening as he waited for Lia to come over to the table. “Thank you, Madam.” With that said, he ran out the door.

Doc snickered as he watched Dillon go. “Maybe see about another dealer just to give them regular breaks and rotate them? It’s a good idea anyway, especially if you think one of them is doing funny things.”

“I’ll keep it in mind,” Lia replied. “I’m surprised you’re not dominating the table.”

“No need,” Doc chuckled. “No limit is about endurance play, picking and choosing the right time to go hard.”

“Oh? Is that something you’re good at?”

Doc blinked, not sure if she had purposely made the question sound like a double entendre or not. “Think I should go get a snack.”

“Talk to Cassia,” Lia directed him with a hint of laughter in her voice.

~*~*~

Doc cracked his neck as the third break came to an end. The player count had dropped to twenty-six and the games were getting tighter. Since evening had come, all the girls were out working the room, and those not involved with playing were drinking and watching the shows on the stage.

Dillon took his seat and gave Doc a dejected look. “You were right.”

“At least she has the other dealers breaking you more often,” Doc laughed. “You’re welcome, by the way. I suggested that.”

“That is nice,” Dillon admitted as he began to shuffle the cards. “The blinds are now a quarter and fifty cents,” he informed the rest of the table. “Next break, it’ll be fifty cents and a dollar.”

“Why do they keep raising them?” one of the players with a small stack of chips complained.

“To make people with small stacks be aggressive,” Doc said as he began to roll a chip across his knuckles. “Otherwise, you’d just sit on the blinds as long as you could.”

“Damned right we would,” another man snorted. “It makes sense, but since it’s going to hurt me, I don’t like it.”

“Human nature,” Doc chuckled. “If I was in your place, I’d be grumpy, too. For you, it’s ‘double-up or go home’ time.”

“Yeah,” the second guy sighed. “If I could just get a decent hand.”

Doc nodded. “That’s the problem, isn’t it? If you wait for the right hand, you’ll go out on a blind. If you go too early, you will be hoping a bigger stack doesn’t call and have a better hand. Sucks when you’re behind this late into the tournament. On the other hand, we’ve outlasted the fifty-odd others who are already out, which means you’ve been learning. Next tournament, you’ll have a better chance.”

“Huh... Maybe.”

“Blinds, ante up,” Dillon said, waiting to deal.

Chapter Thirty-three

Doc woke to the knock on his door the next morning. Fiala stirred beside him but since she was near the wall, he got out of bed. Taking the top blanket, he wrapped it around himself and answered the door.

“Morning, sir,” Posy said, quickly looking away when she saw it was him. “Here is your water. It’s well into the morning.”

“Tournaments run late,” Doc chuckled. “Thank you for the late wake-up.”

“Madam thought you might want to sleep some,” Posy said before glancing up at him. “You’re still helping Momma, right?”

“At breakfast or lunch, whichever time it is. I’ll be down to the private dining room shortly. Can you make sure there’s a pot of coffee waiting, please?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Thank you,” Doc said, taking the hot water and closing the door.

“You really do like her, don’t you?” Fiala said from the bed.

“Yeah. She’s a good kid. You getting up or going back to sleep?”

“I’ll get up, but you go ahead and clean up first,” Fiala replied. “I think I’ll get the show this morning.”

Snorting laughter, Doc rinsed off and left the rag in the basin of hot water. “Okay, you, I’ll see you downstairs. Don’t take too long.”

“I’ll be down shortly,” Fiala murmured as she watched him dress.

~*~*~

Doc waved to Dillon. “Glad you weren’t the dealer who stayed to the end?”

Dillon rubbed at his dark eyes. “Yeah, it was hard enough to get here on time as it was. Are all the tournaments going to be like that?”

“Probably,” Doc shrugged. “The last table always takes the longest, since people are trying to finish with some money. It’s also why the blinds keep increasing to force play.”

“Was surprised to hear you only made it to third.”

“Bad beat,” Doc shrugged. “He had the higher card for the straight flush. It was a possibility since we both used four from the board. Raymond was so happy to knock me out. Did he win the whole thing?”

“Yeah. Gave Madam Lia the entry fee for the monthly tournament with his winnings. Lia announced that only the winners of the weekly tournaments could reserve a spot for the monthly tournaments after another five people tried to do the same thing.”

“Good,” Doc chuckled. “We don’t want people getting ahead of themselves.”

“You want some coffee?”

“Got it and breakfast waiting for me,” Doc told him. “See you later.”

“Yeah, sure,” Dillon said, frowning after him.

Entering the private dining room, Doc gave Daf and Lia nods. “Didn’t expect you to be here, Madam.”

“I wanted to see your healing in action,” Lia said as she pushed her empty plate away. “The tournament was a success. I do need to thank you for that.”

“Glad to help, but it’s a means to an end right now. Oh, while I’m thinking about it...” Pulling out a gold ten-dollar coin, he flicked it to her. “For my room up to the solstice.”

Lia snagged it out of the air, examined it, and nodded. “Very well.”

The door opened behind him and Fiala walked inside. “Morning, Daf, Madam.”

“Morning, Fiala. You did well yesterday. Would you care to operate the penny table during the morning shift?”

“Yes, Madam. Thank you,” Fiala beamed.

“We’ll be using you for the tournaments, too,” Lia added. “I’d like you to work with Lotus and Jasmine for a few hours before the tables open each day and teach them how to deal.”

“Yes, Madam.”

“Very good. Now, Doc, before you get started on breakfast, if you’d heal Daffodil?”

Daf winced at her full name but kept quiet. Doc went over to the cook and took the seat beside her. “Your hands please, Daf?” Once she placed her hands in his, Doc sighed and closed his eyes. “Lady, if you’d bestow your blessed healing upon Daf,” Doc said softly as he triggered healing hands.

Lia watched intently. When the glow from his hands vanished, she nodded. “I see... it drains your energy, does it?”

Doc nodded, feeling tired. He had used all his energy and started draining his vitality before he stopped. “Yeah.”

“I see,” Lia said. “Thank you, Doc. Daffodil, how do you feel?”

“Better than I have, Madam,” Daf replied. “I feel better than I did this morning.”

“Your problem is going to be continuous for a bit,” Doc explained. “Another couple of days, at least.”

Daf gave him a bright smile, her hands still held in his. Pulling one up, she kissed his knuckles, “Thank you, prophet.”

Doc shook his head as he let go of Daf’s hands. “Not a prophet. I’m Luck’s Voice. She called me so herself.”

Lia blinked, her eyes going a little wide at the phrase. “I... see. Very well. Anything you need is on the house, Doc. You’ve paid for your room, but all other services will be covered by me.”

Doc chuckled, “Good thing I’ve already settled on Fiala, or that might have bankrupted you.”

Lia’s light laughter filled the room. “That’s a good point. Good day to you.”

“I need to get back to work,” Daf said, getting to her feet hurriedly. “Madam.” Daf opened the door for both of them.

With them gone, Fiala and Doc were left with two full plates of food and a full pot of coffee. Doc poured for them before he started eating. Fiala ate slowly for a bit, clearly thinking.

“Doc? What happened with the barber’s daughter?”

“She declared a blood debt,” Doc said, making Fiala jerk in her seat. “I gave the debt to her father.”

Fiala exhaled heavily, and the relief was evident in her tone, “Oh? What made you do that?”

“Don’t know her and wasn’t about to become responsible for her.”

“She’s pretty. I had thought maybe you’d accept her,” Fiala said softly.

“Already got a pretty woman,” Doc replied, giving her a wink when she looked at him.

Smiling happily, Fiala let the subject lapse as they went back to their brunch.

Posy came into the room when they were finishing their meal. “I came to get the plates if you’re done.”

Doc scooped up the last bite of his egg and stacked his plate on top of Daf’s empty one. Adding Lia’s and then Fiala’s to the stack, Doc placed the cups on the top of the pile. “There you go,” he said, having finally cleared his mouth of food.

“Thank you, sir.” Posy gave him a curtsy. “Thank you for Momma, too.”

“You’re welcome. Ah, I’ve been meaning to ask, do you study?”

“We study in between work,” Posy said, coming over to take the dishes. “I study less than the others, so I work more.”

“Five plus six?” Doc asked.

“Eleven,” Posy replied with a grin. “I know all my numbers, sir.”

“Seven times six?” Doc asked.

Posy scrunched her face up for a moment, thinking before replying slowly, “Forty-two?”

“That’s right,” Doc grinned, pulling a penny out and setting it on the table. “You can have this if you answer one more for me.” Posy nodded, and he asked, “Ninety-nine divided by three?”

Posy frowned, her brow furrowing. After a long moment, Doc started to drag the penny back. “Thirty-three?”

Pushing it back to her, he smiled, “Indeed it is. Want to go for double or nothing?”

Posy hesitated, then shook her head. “No thank you, sir.”

“Smart girl,” Doc chuckled. “Knowing when to quit is also a measure of intelligence.”

Posy beamed and took the penny, then the dishes, and left them alone.

Fiala watched her go with a smile, “She really likes you. Normally, she’d huff and not answer when asked to do math problems.”

“Knowing the basics is good,” Doc said, rising to his feet. “I need to go to Otto’s. Got a meeting there.”

“And I have to rouse Lotus and Jasmine to teach them hold’em,” Fiala said, getting to her feet. “See you tonight?”

“Of course,” Doc smiled. “See you before that. I’ll likely sit and play a bit.”

“Hopefully, there will be a seat,” Fiala smiled, kissing his cheek before she left the room.

Doc followed after her by a couple of paces, watching her tail sway happily side-to-side.

~*~*~

Reaching the barber shop, Doc entered to find Otto working on Grange’s mustache. “Morning, gentlemen,” he greeted them as he took the seat beside Grange. “A shave only today, Otto.”

“Yes, sir. I’ll get you started after I finish with the sheriff.”

“Heard you went out in third,” Grange commented when the razor was removed from his face for a moment.

“Can’t win them all, no matter how hard I try.”

Grange snorted, waiting for Otto to pause again. “My deputies said it was calm during the tournament.”

“No one tried to cheat. I was shocked, myself. Figured at least one person would.”

“Too low of stakes,” Grange grunted when Otto finished. “The monthly tournament will be an issue, but the yearly one I’ve heard about will be the worst. Word of that already left town, so we’re sure to get a few sharks in.”

“It’ll be the following year when the real problems will start,” Doc said. “At that point, word will have spread farther and there will be enough time for travel.”

Grange grunted as he got up, put his hat on, and tossed Otto a quarter. “I’m thinking it won’t last that long. The Lily will end up with Goodman before then.”

Doc smiled, “Care to put a wager on it?”

Grange stared at Doc before sneering, “No. Can’t collect from a dead man and with the way you’ve been making enemies, I’ll never collect from your corpse.” Turning his gaze to Otto, Grange gave the dwarf a small nod. “See you next week.”

“Of course, Sheriff,” Otto said, walking him out. “My thanks for keeping the town in good order.”

Otto shut the door once Grange was gone and motioned toward the hallway. “Second door on the left. He’s already here.”

“Guess we’re both early.”

“If you want the shave, I’ll get you afterward,” Otto said.

“Works.”

Doc knocked once on the door before entering the room. “Afternoon. I’m Doc Holyday.”

The dwarf in the room stood up, barely clearing four feet in height, and was almost that wide with his heavily muscled arms and torso. A full black beard completely obscured his lower face. His hair was similarly black, thick, and messy, while twin points of light-blue appraised Doc. “Rangvald Oresmelter,” the dwarf replied.

Doc extended his hand. “A pleasure, Oresmelter. May I call you Rangvald?”

“If you become my boss. Otto said you had a claim and needed miners and a foreman.” After shaking hands, the men sat at the small table in the room.

“I’m registering it after this meeting,” Doc said. “I spent just a couple of hours near the stream and came away with this.” He tossed the small bag to the dwarf.

Rangvald checked the contents and nodded as he examined the bits of gold. “Looks promising. Not big on sifting, but a job is a job.”

“I’ll be registering for lodes, too,” Doc said. “There’s a promising cave the river dumps into.”

Rangvald nodded slowly, “That might be better. How many you thinking you need?”

“You’d know better than I do,” Doc shrugged. “I want to hire you to run the claim. Hire as many as you think can be sustained. Figure I’ll take you and three others this time next week out to it. That should get things started… oh, and I’d like a list of equipment you’d need, too.”

“How far out?”

“Less than five days, to the west.”

The little bit of Rangvald’s face that Doc could see paled. “West?”

“Yes.”

“Not many will take a chance on a mine to the west.”

“It’s a risky area,” Doc agreed. “Taking that into account, how much are you asking to foreman?”

“For a month, it’d have to be a hundred-fifty.”

Doc whistled softly, “That much? Because of the danger?”

“The miners will all want fifty, at least,” Rangvald said firmly. “If what you showed me was just a few hours, you’ll be fine. We just want to make sure the reward is worth the risk.”

“How about ten percent of the monthly profit for you and sixty dollars for the miners? Or they can have ten percent to split, if that is higher.”

Rangvald stroked his beard, considering the offer. “Hundred-fifty or ten percent for me, whichever is higher.”

Doc grinned and pulled out some paper and ink, having stopped by the general store before going to the barber shop. “Contract for five years, with the chance to renew every five years work for you? The miners who are hired are your call. I’ll get you set up to deposit into the bank and for the wages to be drawn monthly for you to disperse. I’ll also set a line of credit so you can get the supplies you need. If you make us a lot of money, I’ll make sure there’s a bonus for you and the miners at the end of the year. Sound good?”

Rangvald’s beard scrunched up at the corners of his mouth. His smile was audible in his words, “I’ll sign that. I’ll need a few days to gather everyone.”

“This time next week, we’ll head out. Once you sign, I’ll get you the money to get the equipment to start with.”

“One question,” Rangvald said. “Why?”

“Why what?” Doc asked as he started to write up the contract.

“Why me? All the other mines have human foremen, so why allow a dwarf to be your foreman?”

“Because fuck them,” Doc said simply. “Bigotry is wrong. Life is hard enough without it. I don’t care what race a person is as long as they can do the damned job.” Doc stopped writing and looked up to meet Rangvald’s eyes. “You saying you aren’t fit to be foreman?”

Rangvald’s eyes narrowed, “I’ve been a miner longer than any of those idiots have been alive. I’m not only going to do my job, I’m going to make them understand how badly they’ve erred. You’re fine with other dwarves, right?”

“Hire the best you can. Bestial, elf, dwarf; race doesn’t matter as long as they’re the best you can get. But I don’t want you doing what those assholes are doing to you, either. If a human is a better miner than a dwarf, hire them. If the bestial is, hire them instead. Clear?”

“Clear enough, Boss.”

Doc chuckled, “Just call me Doc. How many do you think you’ll have?”

“Ten at least, possibly up to twenty. How big a claim are you making?”

“Twenty acres along the river, and then the cave.”

“What about security for the mine?”

Doc snickered and looked up, “Are you serious?”

“Hard for us to do both.”

“Since when is a dwarf not his own security?”

Rangvald laughed, “Fair, but I’ll need a few dedicated security for the transports, if nothing else.”

“Fair. Make them miners and give those who do the transports a bonus. I have a feeling the mine is going to be so much more than anyone suspects.”

“Oh?”

“I’ve got Luck on my side,” Doc chuckled as he stood up. “Let’s go get this contract witnessed by the recorder. Then I need to see the assessor about the gold, set my claim, and open an account. It’s going to be a busy day.”

Rangvald got to his feet. “I know an elf that used to be part of the tribe around here. Best damned scout I know. I’ll want her as security, too.”

“How much?”

“Hundred a month, but she’ll also hunt and bring us food while we’re out, so what we’d need for rations will be lower.”

Doc hesitated, “Can you use a few camp boys?”

“Always use a few gophers,” Rangvald said. “You have people in mind?”

“Maybe. Find at least one and I’ll see if I can’t find more. What do they normally get?”

“Ten, maybe fifteen because of the danger. If they’re capable, we can teach them the trade, too.”

“Sounds good.”

Chapter Thirty-four

The paperwork for the contract didn’t take long to fill out, but it did require a fee. After shaking hands on the courthouse steps and promising to meet again tomorrow at the Lily, Doc parted ways with Rangvald, setting off to get the gold assayed for the claim paperwork.

Assayer is in the bank... makes sense if Goodman wants to keep everything under his thumb, Doc thought.

Doc walked into the bank, making his way to the desk that had a small plaque for the assayer on it. A dwarf sat behind it, reading a book. Doc stopped just short of the desk and waited to be acknowledged.

Glancing up, the dwarf blinked at him. “Can I help you, sir?”

“Need some gold assayed for a claim.”

The dwarf set the book aside with a deep sigh. “Sure, let’s see what we can do. Do you have the paperwork?”

Doc pulled out the forms and set them on the desk before taking a seat. “I believe the last thing I need is your portion.”

The dwarf sat up straighter and picked up the papers. Going over it slowly, he nodded, setting aside the ones he had to fill out. When he finished, he gave Doc a respectful look. “Seems like you know how to conduct business. I just need the gold to test.”

Doc pulled out the pouch of gold, setting it on the desk before gathering the rest of the documents together again. “I know this takes some time. When should I come back?”

Opening the small bag, the assayer took the biggest chunk of gold, closed the bag, and handed the rest back to Doc. “At least an hour. All of that was from the same claim?”

“Yeah. I’ll be back in two hours to make sure you have time to test and do the paperwork. What’s the fee?”

“Twenty-five dollars.”

“I’ll bring it back with me,” Doc said. “Have a good day.”

“You as well, Mr. Holyday.”

Doc shook hands with the assayer before walking back to the middle of the bank lobby. He quickly found the plaque for accounts and stopped in front of the desk. A beautiful woman, dressed in a business suit instead of a dress, was sitting behind it, looking bored.

“How can I help you, sir?” the woman asked with a professional smile.

“Need to open an account with the bank,” Doc smiled as he took the seat across from her.

“Of course. There is a minimum deposit of fifty dollars to open an account. Do you have that?” she asked, opening a drawer and pulling out a stack of paper.

Doc pulled three twenty-dollar gold coins from his pocket and placed them on the desk. “Are there any required minimums after the account is open?”

“Just keeping a positive balance,” the woman smiled. “Name?”

Doc walked through the paperwork with the woman. It didn’t take long, and she was pleasant enough to speak with. Once they had his account opened, Doc asked about starting up a business account.

“Do you have the business registered?”

“Not yet.”

“Once you get the forms from the clerk signed, just bring them back here and we can do that for you. There is a minimum two hundred dollar deposit to open for a business.”

“Understood,” Doc sighed. “Another round of paperwork.”

“What kind of business are you going to open?” she asked as she finished off the paperwork for his personal account.

“Mining, to start with,” Doc replied. “The assayer is working on the sample now.”

“Friedrichsen is good at his job,” the woman replied. “He told you an hour, right?”

“Yeah.”

“He’ll have it done in half that; he likes to overestimate.”

Doc pulled out his pocket watch. “Means he’ll be done by the time I grab the business paperwork from the clerk.”

“More than likely.”

“Thank you very much.”

“Always happy to help a customer of Emerita First National Bank, sir. That’s all we need to do. We’ll have the identification for you tomorrow. You only need one copy, right?”

“Do I need it for deposits as well, or just withdrawals?”

“Both.”

“Need two, at least,” Doc said.

“Very well. The first is free with the account. The other will be five dollars.”

“Take it from the account,” Doc chuckled. “I’ll be back tomorrow for them.”

“Very well. Have a good day, Mr. Holyday.”

“You as well, miss.”

Doc left the bank behind and went back to the courthouse to find out about business licenses. The clerk was the same cold, clinical person she always was, but did get Doc the paperwork he needed. Looking it over, he realized he would need to finish filing his claim before he could complete the paperwork for the business. He thanked the clerk and made his way back to the bank, hoping Friedrichsen was finished.

The assayer was at his desk when Doc approached it. “Ah, back early,” the dwarf smiled. “That makes it easier for me. Here are your forms, completed and ready to go. The gold tested out at good purity. It’s all in the forms. Here is what is left of the nugget.” Placing the paperwork and nugget on the desk, Friedrichsen put his hand on top of them.

Doc placed the fee down on the desk. “Thank you for your work, sir.”

Taking the money, Friedrichsen nodded, “Glad to assist. I take it I should be expecting business from your claim in the future?”

“You test all the ore brought into town?”

“I verify the ore that is being sold to the bank, which frankly is the only place in town that buys it.”

“In that case, yes. Gold and other minerals.”

“We only take currency metals. Anything else you’d need to see the smelters about. The bank pays better than the smelters for the currency metals, in case you’re wondering.”

“Good to know,” Doc said, picking up his paperwork and the nugget. “Thank you.”

“Of course. Have a good day.”

Doc trudged back across the town, hoping to make it before closing at the courthouse. He did, barely, but he did. The clerk was frosty as she verified his paperwork and signed the appropriate boxes. When Doc gave her the money for the claim, she sniffed, finished the paperwork, and gave him a slip of paper verifying his claim right before telling him that they were now closed.

Heading back to the Lily, Doc exhaled deeply. He was glad he’d finished a chunk of what he needed to get done for the day, but his available funds had taken a big hit. If I hadn’t placed in the tournament, it’d be even worse, Doc sighed.

Business was in full swing when he got back. All five poker tables were full, as were the regular tables. Doc paused inside the door and smiled at seeing the place so busy. As he made his way to the stairs, he was surprised when the piano player called out to him.

“Hey, you,” the half-elf said pointedly.

Doc paused at the base of the stairs. “Yeah?”

“Heard you took over for me the other day. That you knew different songs.”

“It didn’t last, but yes. I’m sorry I didn’t ask to use your instrument first.”

Shaking her head in irritation, the woman grimaced, making her scar stand out more. “That isn’t what I want. I want to hear you play a few.”

Doc winced, “Um, yeah... about that. You did hear how that ended, right?”

She sighed and rolled her eyes. “They aren’t here. Besides, you don’t seem like the yellow type to me.”

“What are you going to do while I play?”

“Sit here and watch,” she said, finishing her current song. “Come on.”

Doc met her eyes, “If you’ll answer one question for me.”

“What?”

“Would you do a duet with me afterward?”

The woman blinked at him slowly before a bark of laughter escaped her. “No one has tried to pick me up for over a year. At least no one sober.”

Doc chuckled, “Not a pick-up. It’s just that you are a wonderful musician and I’d like to play alongside you.”

Lips quirked in a smirk, she slid to the side and patted the bench. “Come on over, Slick. I only bite when I’m really excited.”

Doc shrugged and moved to sit beside her. The moment he did, he picked up several excited voices mentioning it behind him. The half-elf glanced at the patrons and frowned, jerking her eyes back to the piano when Doc ran a quick score to limber his fingers.

“Your name?” Doc asked once he finished the warm-up.

“Heather. You?”

“Doc,” he replied just before Jasmine appeared at the stairs.

“Would you play me a song to dance to?” Jasmine asked with a wide smile.

“Let me warm up with a song first, please? The song I want to play for you will be difficult without it.”

“I’ll wait,” Jasmine said, staying beside the stairs.

Heather grunted. She was clearly not happy that one of the girls was willing to wait for him, especially since no one had been dancing a few minutes ago when she was playing.

“Okay, let’s start with one they know,” Doc grinned as he played Green Onions.

Doc had only gotten through the first few bars when Lotus appeared from the back hall and jumped onto the stage. Doc laughed as he gave her the same extra-long version he had given her the first time.

Heather kept her gaze fixed on Doc’s fingers the entire time. When he finished, she nodded slowly. “That was an interesting song.”

Doc grinned, “Wait for it. Jasmine, are you ready?”

Jasmine had been swaying in place during the last song and eagerly moved to the stage when he asked for her. Lotus was busy dealing with the men who had been waiting to proposition her, so she stepped to the side to give Jasmine some room when she came over.

Doc flexed his fingers as he let the song he was thinking of play in his head. “Okay, pay attention and try to keep up.”

Heather snorted, “I already have the first song memorized.”

“Good, because that was easy compared to this. Jasmine, you ready?”

“Yes, Doc.”

Doc’s fingers danced across the ivory keys, the song starting with a slow build of the same few keys repeating quickly. Jasmine began to sway to the music and the moment it shifted, she began to dance in earnest. Doc’s eyes closed as he concentrated on the music in his head. The noise from the room dimmed while the song played, making Doc’s lips curl into a smile as he fell into the flow of it.

When the song came to the crescendo finish, the room erupted in wild hoots, whistles, and applause. Opening his eyes, Doc saw Lia and Fiala standing beside the stairs, both staring at him. There was a large group of men just a few feet behind them, already shouting to Jasmine.

“Doc, that was... different,” Lia said from behind her fan.

“Thank you,” Doc chuckled. “Fiala, dinner?”

“Please,” Fiala said, her eyes going to Heather.

Heather was staring at Doc with an appraising gaze. “I’d like him to join me when you are done, at least for a little bit. I didn’t catch that entire song.”

“I will come back if I’m not occupied,” Doc smiled. “I was hoping to get a spot at the high table.”

“I’ll make sure a seat is saved for you in say... two hours?” Lia asked.

“That would be good, thank you. Heather, it was a pleasure. After dinner for the duet?”

Heather blinked slowly before nodding. “Yes. I’m looking forward to it.”

“If you keep this up, I’ll need to see about a second piano,” Lia told him.

“I wasn’t going to play, but she asked,” Doc said as he stepped away from Heather.

One of Lia’s eyebrows shot up. “Interesting. I’ll have dinner taken to the private dining room for you. Good evening, Doc.”

“Thank you, Lia.”

Lia paused before bowing her head at him.

~*~*~

Dinner was good— a good slab of steak, baked beans, mashed potatoes, a bit of greens, and a dinner roll. Doc felt full by the time he stopped eating. Only remnants of the meal remained on his plate.

“Doc,” Fiala said, setting her fork down, “Heather doesn’t usually let men near her.”

“She just wants to know how to play the music I know,” Doc dismissed her implication.

“It might have started that way, but I’m not sure that’s true now,” Fiala said.

Doc thought about it. Since he came to this world, women were way more interested in him than they’d ever been. Even Lia was starting to banter with him now. “Okay, yeah, maybe.”

“Just keep it in mind,” Fiala said, taking his hand in hers. “She is good people and has had a very rough life.”

“Okay, but I’m not looking to do more than play music with her.”

Fiala smiled as she got to her feet, leaning over to kiss his cheek. “You’re sweet. There is no woman in this building I would be angry at you for having fun with. Don’t feel like you need to push them away for me.”

Doc stared into her eyes. “What if I want to share them with you?”

Fiala’s smile grew wider, “Some I’d be glad to let join. Others... not as much.”

Luck, I think I owe you even more than I thought I did, Doc thought. Standing up, he swept Fiala into a hug and kissed her gently. When the kiss ended, he gave her a loving smile. “Don’t know if I deserve you, honestly. Women where I’m from aren’t quite so willing to share their men.”

“As long as I know about it and approve, I’m fine with sharing… even with the dryad.”

“I need to get some more money built up, so I might be a bit late coming to bed,” Doc told her.

“Wake me when you do come to bed,” Fiala purred as she leaned into him. “I would like to snuggle a little, at least.”

“Okay,” Doc murmured, holding onto her.

There was a knock on the door, announcing a young boy. “Excuse me, are you done with the meal?”

“Yeah,” Doc said. “Thank you.”

Nodding, he started to collect the plates and cups.

“I’m going to go to bed now,” Fiala told him as they left the room. “See you when you come to bed.”

“Of course,” Doc said, giving her a squeeze before they parted at the stairs.

Heather looked up and gave him a nod as she finished up the song she was playing. Doc moved to stand beside the piano, waiting for her to finish. When she ended the song, she slid to the side.

“Duet first, then the song again?” Heather asked.

“Sure. Will you let me lead?”

“What song are you going to have us play?”

“A new one. I’ll play the start, you repeat it on the higher end, then I play a new part, and you repeat it again. I know you can keep up with me, so it’ll work. Once we play about five back and forths, you flourish the ending, then take the lead.”

Heather nodded, “Skill test, back and forth?”

“Yes and no. It fails if the other party can’t keep up. It’s more a test of trusting the other player to keep it just within your range.”

“Very well.”

Doc limbered his fingers before placing his hands on the keys. “I need to warm up again, so the first set will be simplistic.”

Heather smirked, “Aren’t all men?”

“Yes, yes we are,” Doc said in agreement before he rattled off a short ditty that started to pull attention to the piano.

The pair played back and forth for a long time with Doc leading, then Heather, then Doc again. Whenever it switched back to Heather, she spun a complex piece, giving him a challenging glance when she finished. Doc cracked his neck and played it back. His fingers faltered on the last key, but Heather looked impressed and played another piece. Doc stumbled at the end again, but Heather just nodded and played an even more complex piece. Doc gave up when she gave him the chance to match her, instead playing the simple ditty he had started with before standing up and bowing to her.

“You win, miss,” Doc said. “You are more talented than I am.”

Heather smiled before she patted the bench. “Good. Now play that song you played before dinner. Jasmine, the song is about to start,” she called out.

Jasmine came rushing over, “Again?”

“Once more from me,” Doc told her. “Heather will be able to play it after this round, I’m sure.”

Taking the stage, Jasmine waited for the music. The noise in the room dimmed as most people focused on the stage. Doc shook his head and started to play the same belly-dancing song he’d played before dinner.

Chapter Thirty-five

Soft lips on his woke Doc from slumber. Wrapping his arms around Fiala, he returned the kiss. When she pulled away, he sighed in regret, “Morning?”

“Yes. You didn’t stir when Posy dropped off the water. I’m dressed and about to head down to breakfast.”

“I’ll be down shortly,” Doc mumbled as he pushed himself upright in bed.

“I’ll have coffee waiting for you.”

Doc thanked her before she left. Rubbing at his eyes, Doc grunted and pushed himself out of bed. Good game last night, but I should have ended it a bit earlier, he told himself. If wishes were horses, I’d have a couple of horses at least.

He waved at Dillon when he came downstairs, but did not stop to talk before walking to the back. Fiala and Daf were talking softly when he entered the room. “Morning.”

“Morning, Doc,” Daf said. “Did you want to eat first?”

“Healing first. I know you have work to take care of.”

“As you wish,” Daf said, giving him her hands.

Doc smiled when he felt Daf’s pancreas finally become fully healthy. “You’re good,” he said when he stopped healing her. “Not sure if it’ll come back, but we can keep an eye on it.”

“Bless you,” Daf said with reverence. She kissed the back of his hand twice before hurriedly getting to her feet. “If you need anything else, please tell me.” With that, she rushed out of the room.

“That was… a bit much,” Doc said as he picked up his fork to attack his meal.

Fiala finished her breakfast before Doc did. “I need to go work with Lotus and Jasmine again. Did they stay up late like you did?”

Doc frowned as he thought about it. “I don’t recall seeing them when I came to bed.”

“Good, maybe they won’t be as grouchy this morning. You’re going out?”

“Business paperwork, and then getting equipment bought for the mine,” Doc replied. “Rangvald should be showing up here soonish.”

“See you later, then.” Fiala kissed his cheek and made her way to the door. “Thank you for waking me last night. I enjoyed you holding me.”

Doc paused his eating to give her a soft smile. “So did I. Go on, get your work done.”

Doc had to stop eating again when the door opened and Lia walked into the room. “Lia?”

“Doc. Did you do well last night?”

“Good enough. I think I’ll be good for doing what I have to today. Oh, would any of the boys here want to work on a mine? My foreman mentioned a camp boy or two would be welcome at the site.”

Lia considered his question. “Two are old enough that they can do the work. They’re used to working with Daf, so they can do the basic cooking and camp chores.”

“Can you ask if they’d like the job? If you don’t mind losing them, that is.”

“What are you paying?”

“Fifteen a month. The site is to the west, so there is danger involved.”

Lia exhaled softly, “I’ll make sure they know the dangers. I’ll tell you tonight.”

“Thanks. Time to meet my foreman and see about getting the business set up.”

“A moment, please? Are you thinking the mine is going to be enough to entice the others to bet against you during the yearly tournament?”

“It will,” Doc said. “I have help to make sure that the ore is easy to find.”

Lia frowned as she stared at him. “Oh?”

Doc took a deep breath, “Rosa is helping me.”

The recognition in Lia’s eyes confirmed that she and Rosa might know each other. “The dryad of this area?”

“Yeah. Kind of rough for a first meeting, but we came to an arrangement.”

“You survived?”

“Touch and go for a bit, but yeah.”

“You truly are a Voice, then,” Lia murmured before she rose to her feet. “I’ll go see about your request.”

Doc watched her go, wondering if he’d made a mistake telling her. No time to worry now, I have things that I need to get done. Leaving the mostly empty plate on the table, he left the room.

Rangvald was sitting at a table with a mug in hand when Doc came out of the back. “Was wondering where you were.”

“Breakfast and other business. It’s been a busy day already,” Doc replied. “We can go when you finish the pint.”

Rangvald laughed before tipping the mug back and draining it in one long gulp. Belching, he thunked the mug onto the table and got to his feet. “Done. Let’s get to business.”

“Need to go by the bank first,” Doc said. “Business account to open.”

Rangvald nodded, “A good idea. That way, I don’t have to find you every time we need more supplies. You’re good with setting up for the initial equipment today?”

“Yes. Well, actually, you’ll be doing it. I know very little about running a successful claim.”

“You’re very trusting,” Rangvald grunted as they left the Lily. “Is it true about the blood oath?”

Doc glanced at him, “Where did you hear about that?”

“Otto.”

“Yes.”

“Can’t very well cheat you now, now can I? My step-niece’s oath given back to the family instead of being exploited deserves to be acknowledged. Besides the offer you gave me, the fact that you respect us enough to do what you did demands I help repay the debts. Both of them.”

“I did it because she is a young lady who shouldn’t throw her life away,” Doc replied. “I don’t fully understand the idea of the blood oath, but I do know that trouble is going to come for me and I’d feel like shit if she got caught in it, too.”

Rangvald nodded slowly, “That only makes the debts worse for us. The fact you did so to spare her…”

“I can’t get away from the debt?”

“Afraid not. It would dishonor the family and clan,” Rangvald said. “I have seven men lined up to start with. Once we get there and see what we really have to work with, I can easily get another dozen or more with the prices you’re willing to pay.”

“Good. I need it to be a profitable mine by next month.”

“Want the buy-in for the yearly tournament?”

“For starters,” Doc replied.

~*~*~

Doc got the accounts set up with the bank. Rangvald would be allowed to deposit into Doc’s account and withdraw on the business account with no problems. Once they were finished with that, the two men went their separate ways. Doc headed back to the Lily while Rangvald went to order the equipment they’d need for the mine. Pausing on the way, Doc sighed and changed direction.

“Welcome. Came for a different gun?” Blackbeard asked when he noticed it was Doc.

“Need something for bears and other big threats,” Doc said.

“I figured you might be back for that eventually,” Blackbeard nodded. “I’d suggest the Express if you want stopping power. It’s rumored to be able to put down even a charging se’sxac.”

“Good, need something that will,” Doc said. “What’s it cost?”

“Hundred.”

Doc winced, “Okay, I’ll be back for it in time.”

“I should still have it unless someone else comes in for it.”

“I had thought it would cost twenty to forty, honestly... maybe up to sixty.”

“The cost went up because I purchased it and made it better. More accurate now than when I got it, and I’ve made sure the sight on it is centered and ready to go. Comes with a box of ammo and the leather carrying case.”

“No need to upsell it,” Doc said, “I’m going to need it. I’ve heard there’s a se’sxac in the woods near here and I don’t want it to find me without the big gun.”

“Smart man.”

“Be a couple of days, but I’ll come back to pick it up.”

“Didn’t you win third in the tournament I heard about?”

“Spent that already. Setting up a claim costs a good chunk of cash.”

Blackbeard eyed him for a long moment. “You’re the one, then, are you?”

“The one?” Doc asked while a clip from an old sci-fi show ran through his head. “I’m not the one, I don’t think.”

“Speak with Rangvald today?”

“Yes.”

“Eighty for you, instead of the hundred,” Blackbeard said. “I’ve heard what you’ve done for the clan’s honor. All of us in the clan have. We’re a little shocked a human would be so understanding, honestly.”

“Didn’t know being a respectful person was so rare.”

“The people in this town are a bit… segmented.”

“Racist, you mean? Bigoted and idiotic, perhaps?” Doc offered bluntly.

Blackbeard gave a shrug, “I wouldn’t say it that way.”

“But it’s true from what I’ve seen.”

“Not all, but those with a vested interest with the status quo are not moving to change anything.”

“Maybe things will change in the future,” Doc said.

“Could be, could be,” Blackbeard mused. “I know a couple of people who are going to be looking to talk to you in the near future.”

“Oh?”

“Whittaker doesn’t care about helping us, and Henrick can’t do as much as she likes to let on.”

“Sure, as long as they can keep it secret.”

“It’s not going outside the clan. We’d dishonor the entire clan if you were found out because of us.”

“I don’t mind helping people in need. If they can find time to pray to Lady Luck, that would be good.”

“A number of the clan already are after hearing about you saving one of ours.”

“Maybe my faith will increase,” Doc muttered under his breath. “I’ll be back in a day or two to pick up the rifle.”

“I’ll put it aside for you. It’ll be here,” Blackbeard said.

“Thank you.”

Chapter Thirty-six

Doc let out a shuddering breath as he felt the last moments of orgasm fade. “Fuck, that’s a great way to wake up.”

Fiala and Lotus giggled at him, each kissing one of his thighs. “Wanted to make sure you’re remembering what you’ll be missing when you’re away,” Fiala told him.

“Not likely to forget that anytime soon,” Doc sighed after noticing the first hints of daylight coming in the window. “Didn’t get much sleep, did I?”

“Not a lot, but you wanted us to wake you,” Lotus smiled as she got out of bed. “Winning the tournament was worth it, wasn’t it?”

“Yeah, but that last guy just didn’t want to go away,” Doc sighed when Fiala got out of bed, too. “I did my best to kill the tournament early this time.”

“And did a job of it,” Fiala snickered. “You didn’t make any friends, that’s for certain. Before I came to bed, Cassia told me you’d accounted for half of the people who were knocked out.”

“I hate playing aggressive like that,” Doc grumbled. “Feels like being the school bully.”

“I’ll go grab—” Lotus began, but the knock on the door cut her off. Peeking out, she gave Posy a smile, “Thank you.”

“I’ll go get breakfast ready for you three,” Posy said before bouncing off.

“I have the water,” Lotus chuckled. “She’s been devoted to making sure you have everything you need, hasn’t she?”

“Even before he saved Daf,” Fiala nodded. “Doc, you clean up first.”

Pushing himself out of bed, Doc stretched when his feet hit the floor. “Ah, that feels good. I actually feel pretty rested.”

“Looks pretty good, too,” Lotus murmured.

“Agreed,” Fiala nodded sagely.

“Enjoy the show, ladies,” Doc chuckled as he took the kettle from Lotus.

Doc pulled up his character information while he got dressed. While he gave it a lookover, he noticed a blinking tab. Toggling to it, he found his faith had increased enough to let him pick up another gift from Luck. He slowed down getting dressing to look over what he could purchase with his current faith total.

“Doc?” Fiala asked.

Doc closed the information down, blinking as he did so, “Huh?”

“You going to finish?”

“Yeah,” Doc said, quickly finishing getting dressed in his travel clothes and grabbing his trail hat. “Sorry.”

When they made it down to the private dining room, Doc was grateful that Lia had continued to let them use it for meals. The room didn’t seem to get any use besides him. He was still chewing over the options he had looked at when he took his seat.

“Thank you,” Doc said absently as he took the cup of coffee from Fiala.

“You’re lost again,” Fiala said as she handed Lotus a cup.

“The amount of faith in Luck has increased, and it allows me to pick up a new gift from her,” Doc said. “I’ve been thinking over what to get.”

“Is that because of the dwarves who’ve stopped by to speak with you?”

“Partially. Also because of everyone here,” Doc replied. “The more people who have faith in her, the more I can do.”

“Which we can’t let others know about until you have a place of worship,” Lotus said.

“Correct.”

Posy entered the room with three fully-laden plates. “You must be careful so you come back, sir. Promise?”

Doc smiled at her earnest face, “I can’t promise, Posy, but I’ll do my very best.”

Posy frowned and curtsied, “Okay. Will Tony and Joseph be okay?”

“They’ll be working at the camp, so they’ll be as safe as or safer than the miners.”

“Okay,” Posy said, leaving the room.

“Worried for her friends,” Lotus smiled, “like we are.” She rubbed Doc’s thigh.

“It should be fine.”

“But the woodfolk...” Lotus said with a hint of anxiousness to her voice.

“Only one I’m really worried about is the se’sxac,” Doc said. “It’s why I bought that big-ass rifle.”

“There’s a dryad rumored to live near the town,” Lotus said earnestly. “You’re lucky she left you alone when you were out last time. With a group, it’s not a problem, but lone travelers need to be wary.”

Fiala began to eat her breakfast, not correcting Lotus.

Doc cleared his throat, “Not sure I’ll have any trouble with her, but I’ll be sure to keep my guard up.”

“Good. We’d like you back safely.”

Lia entered the room as they were finishing breakfast. “Oh good, I wasn’t sure if you had left yet.”

“What can I do for you?” Doc asked once he swallowed his last bite.

“I have an item I’d like you to give to Rosa, if you don’t mind?”

“Not at all. What do you need me to do?”

Lia produced a small chunk of bright yellow amber. “Just give this to her, please.”

Doc took the amber and felt a soft warm pulse coming from it. Blinking in surprise, he quickly pocketed it. “Will do. I’m sure I’ll be seeing her on the way back from camp.”

Lotus frowned. She wondered what they were talking about while Fiala was curious about what the amber was, but neither of them interrupted.

“Thank you. If she has anything in return, please bring it back.”

“Of course,” Doc said as he got to his feet. “Need to get my guns and head out.”

“Madam,” Fiala said, “I think Lotus can run the morning table today.”

Lotus looked a little surprised, “Really?”

“Yes, and Jasmine can do it tomorrow.”

“Good. I want you to pick another two and start teaching them today,” Lia smiled. “Lotus, you and Jasmine will be trading off the morning shift for the next week.”

“Yes, Madam,” Fiala and Lotus said together.

Doc gave Lotus a wink before giving Fiala a kiss. “See you when I get back.”

“Stay safe,” Lotus said.

“Come back to me,” Fiala added.

“I'll do my damnedest.”

~*~*~

Arriving at the livery, Doc gave Rangvald a slap on the back. “Everything ready?”

“Everything is ready,” Rangvald said. “Let me introduce you to the team. This is Mr. Holyday, or Boss. Sir, these are Alf, Burk, Didi, Fulco, Ivan, Rudi, and Urs.”

“Nice to meet you all,” Doc replied, doing his best to stick names to faces. “Let’s get going, then.”

“You need to settle with the livery for the horses and wagon first.”

“Be right out,” Doc said.

A couple of minutes later, he slung his rifles onto the horse he had rented. Riding out of the yard, he gave Rangvald a nod. “Now let’s go.”

“Let’s go, men!” Rangvald belted out.

The dwarves all began to walk alongside the wagon Rangvald was driving. The two young boys were sitting in the back of it, looking a little nervous. Doc let Rangvald lead as they would be on the road the entire first day out of town.

“How are you two feeling about it?” Doc called out to the kids.

“Excited and a bit scared, sir.” Rubbing at one of his wolf ears, Tony looked at the dwarves. “They’ve been kind to us.”

“More nervous than excited right now, sir,” Joseph said with a slight hiss, denoting his bestial nature. “They shared some candy with us.”

Doc looked at Alf, who was closest to him, “Thank you.”

“We’ve been told how you feel about us getting along with others,” Alf said, “and the kids are going to be taking care of us, so being mean to them is bad all around.”

“I’d be afraid of the food if I was treating the cook bad, too,” Doc chuckled. “I don’t want anyone causing grievances on the site because of race, though. I’ll fire them if they do.”

Alf nodded. “We won’t be causing problems. We’ve had enough of that at the other mines.”

“Damned right,” Ivan spat. “Suez put that useless, flaccid prick, Benedict, in charge of his mine. I’ve worked mines four times longer than that idiot’s been alive.”

“You were stupid to go there to begin with,” Urs snorted. “Goodman might hate us, but at least he’s not that dumb. Suez is going to have an accident in the next month with Tom being his foreman. We all know it.”

“Doesn’t matter anymore,” Didi laughed. “We’re off to a new mine. This time, we have a foreman who will listen and an owner who will listen to the foreman.”

Doc shrugged, “That’s true.” Nudging his horse forward, he rode alongside Rangvald. “Where’s the hunter?”

“Waiting for us. She went out yesterday to get a feel for the west, and will likely have fresh meat for us.”

“I was just wondering. Be looking forward to meeting her.”

“Doubt you’ll get much out of her,” Rangvald chuckled. “She’s a skittish one, goes by Jesamin. Disdains guns, too. Only seen her use a bow and some knives, but I’ve seen her come back into town with enough pelts and meat to know she can do the job.”

“How’d you meet her?”

“Fixed one of her knives.”

“You do bladework?”

“Haven’t for years, not since Goodman brought Nicalas to town. He bankrolled the fucker long enough to push me out and back into mining.”

“You can do bladework, though?”

“I can if given the right materials and equipment to work with.”

Doc nodded, “I’ll see what I can do. I could use a solid knife. Didn’t care for the ones I saw in the general store and I didn’t know there was a bladesmith in town.”

“Don’t bother buying from him,” Rangvald snorted. “It’s as likely to break on you as not. I’ll talk to Blackbeard and see if I can use his shop when I’m in town next. I’ll just need you to supply the metal and some money for labor.”

“Considering you’ll be coming back with the first load of ore, I think you can make sure it’s covered,” Doc laughed.

“True enough,” Rangvald agreed.

Doc dropped back so he was trailing the others again and pulled up his options for gifts from Luck, going over the ones he hadn’t checked already. The slow steady pace of the wagon and the uneventful nature of the trip let him take his time in making his choice.

~*~*~

With the sun low on the horizon, Doc finalized his choice for gifts, and sighed in disappointment that most of his available faith was used up. Hope it was the right pick, but considering what Rosa said last time, I think it will be. Checking the new gifts again, he read their full descriptions.

Cleansing: This gift augments the spell “healing hands.” Lets the spell cleanse toxins, diseases, the Darkness, and other lingering effects. Energy cost is based on the severity of the condition being cleansed. If no energy is available, you will use vitality. If no vitality is available, you will use health. Using health in this way can lead to death. You will be asked to verify if you wish to use this ability before it triggers.

Energy Reserves: Doubles your maximum energy.

Doc took a deep breath as he followed the wagon off the road. Maybe this will help Daf with her diabetes, too. If only it was that easy back on Earth. Pulling up his information, he smiled at his updated stats.

Doc Holyday- 42

Half-Breed Elf/Dwarf

Voice of Luck

Energy: 20

Vitality: 20

Health: 15

Faith: 7 (57)

Racial Bonuses:

Natural affinity to nature magic, improved reflexes, keen hearing and sight, resistance to poisons, improved vitality, night vision, natural affinity to metal crafts

Goddess Gifts:

All In, Stand Down, Missed Me, Healing Hands, Cleansing, Energy Reserves

Doc hopped off the old mare and patted her shoulder. “Thanks, old girl.”

“We’ll handle the horses, boys. You see about getting the rest of the camp set. Ivan, you and Burk can show them how to do it,” Rangvald ordered. “We’ll see to your horse, too, Doc.”

“No, I got her. She’s been here with me before. Thank you, though.”

“As you want,” Rangvald said.

“Meat,” a soft voice spoke the single word like it told a complicated story.

Rangvald nodded, “Thank you, Jesamin. Just put it on the wagon for now, please.”

The buckskin-clad elf glided across the small clearing with a brace of rabbits on a line. She glanced at each of them in turn, her steps slowing when she met Doc’s gaze. Giving him a small nod, she did as she was asked before vanishing off into the woods.

“Spooky, but she is good at her job,” Ivan muttered.

“There’s fresh meat for the pot tonight,” Burk shrugged. “She can be as standoffish as she wants for that. Besides, I think she’ll be back to get some dinner, at least.”

Burk was proven right two hours later when Tony called that dinner was ready. Everyone lined up, only to have Rangvald motion them aside. “Jesamin, go ahead. You’re the reason we have the meat.”

Jesamin came out of the tree line with a small wooden bowl in hand. Watching them all, she moved to Tony and held out her bowl.

Tony filled it, “Hope you enjoy it, ma’am.”

Jesamin gave him a nod before she slipped aside and headed back to the wood. Everyone watched her go until she vanished into the trees.

“Doc, you’re the boss,” Rangvald said.

“Okay,” Doc said, getting his bowl filled.

One by one, they got their food, the boys last. Their dinner was a little bland, but Rangvald told them to go light on the seasoning to make it last. They had a cup of ale each from the keg that had been brought along, a welcome change from the water they had been drinking all day.

With dinner done and the boys cleaning up, the others settled down for the night. Doc watched the dwarves and got a sense that they had all worked together before. Rangvald sat down beside him.

“We have men scheduled to be up an hour each just to make sure none of the woodfolk sneak up on us,” Rangvald told Doc. “The dryad around these parts has killed her fair share of people over the long years she’s been here. Seems to have a taste for dwarves, especially.”

“Probably because you’re heartier than the other races,” Doc said.

“Likely because the damned things love the elves,” Rangvald replied.

“You don’t have to worry about the dryad in these woods,” Doc said. “She won’t bother you or your men, and I ask that you do the same to her.”

Rangvald stared at Doc like he had grown a second head. “What?”

“I made a deal with her when I came through here last. She will not bother you or your men, and all that is required to keep it that way is that you do not antagonize her.”

“Deal?” Rangvald said incredulously. “The only way for that to happen…”

“I survived,” Doc said. “Don’t go breaking my deal with her.”

“Only the strongest warriors in our legends have survived deals with them,” Rangvald choked out.

“Well, I had healing to help me,” Doc said. “A bit of a cheat.”

Rangvald scrubbed at his face. “Fuck... okay... Okay. I’ll tell them, but they will be hard-pressed to remain calm if she comes near the camp. We have to protect the boys, after all.”

Doc locked eyes with him and used stand down, his voice raising so he could be clearly heard by everyone in the camp. “You will not attack the dryad, Rosa. She will not attack you in return. Anyone who attacks her will see what happens when I am angry. Understood?”

Ten heads all bobbed rapidly in full agreement.

“Good. Besides, you’ll see what having her as a friend can do for us soon,” Doc said much softer. “Goodnight.” With that, he rose to his feet and walked into the woods.

Chapter Thirty-seven

Stalking into the woods, Doc was upset with himself more than anything. Shouldn’t have used stand down... that was dumb and might alienate them. I should have been calm and reasonable... explaining the plusses of the situation.

“You know her?” The soft-voiced question brought Doc to a stop.

Doc exhaled hard and nodded. “Scared me there, Jesamin. To answer the question, yes, I’ve met Rosa.”

“You survived?”

Doc found her sitting on a log a dozen yards away, a mountain lion lounging at her feet. “It was a close thing, but I survived. A friend of yours?”

“Yes. I saved him as a newborn when his mother became corrupted by the Darkness. Krisriit has been with me since then.”

“Can I have a seat?”

Jesamin sat quietly for a moment before making a noise to Krisriit. The lion got to his feet, stretched, huffed at Doc, then wandered off. “Go ahead, but if you try anything…”

“I don’t press women,” Doc said. “Didn’t when I was single, and ain’t going to now. Besides, I’ll need everything I have for when Rosa shows up.”

“How did you survive?” Jesamin asked when he took his seat.

“Healing magic got me through the first part of it. She still tapped out my energy and most of my vitality trying to keep up with the blood she was taking, plus the… erm... vigorous exercise.”

“You’re a mage?” Jesamin asked, her voice going cold.

“Faith healer,” Doc corrected her. “I never attended any school for it.”

Jesamin stared at him and nodded. “Yes, that makes sense. If you were a mage, you would have tried to hurt her.”

Doc shuddered, “Sick fucks. She told me about that.”

“Yes. I’ve killed a few who came this way looking for her. We help protect the balance… or… did…” Jesamin lapsed into silence, clearly upset about something.

“You and Lia are part of the tribe from this area, right?”

Jesamin’s lip curled back, “That traitor.”

“Traitor?”

“She resides in the town that took our land from us. Only reason I’ve let it continue is that she vowed to let me kill her if she loses the Lily.”

Doc felt a shiver run down his spine at the sheer hatred and glee Jesamin had in her voice. “What if she doesn’t lose the Lily? What if she uses that platform to start taking the town back?”

Jesamin frowned, “I’d take back my words and make up with her.”

“Good, because I’m making that happen,” Doc said. “I’m starting with the Lily, and then going to expand out from there.”

Jesamin stiffened, “You want to take our land, too?”

Doc sighed. “You’re misunderstanding. Rosa, are you here?”

“I was wondering if you wanted to see me, or if you’ve regretted our time,” Rosa said, coming out from behind the trees to their right.

“Been here the entire time?” Doc asked, ignoring the stunned look on Jesamin’s face.

“Since the hunter came here. She stays away from the west, or had. I was curious as to why she was here, then you came. Those are your miners?”

“Yeah. You remember what I said, right?”

“I will leave them be and do my best to not be seen. The se’sxac is still in the area, but not nearby right now.”

“I have a gun big enough to hurt it, and I’ll be leaving it with the miners. There’s also enough faith in Luck for me to be able to possibly cleanse it now.”

Rosa smiled brightly, her teeth catching the moonlight. “Voice, we are indebted that you chose that gift from your goddess.”

Jesamin gasped when Rosa called him Voice. “Voice… as in…?”

“Yes,” Rosa said, staring at Jesamin. “He is a Voice. His goddess is trying to save our dying world.”

Jesamin started rocking in place. “A Voice? After all this time?” Tears began to fall from her eyes. “Why now? We needed you years ago when they came and took our home!”

Rosa was instantly in front of Jesamin, tilting the elf’s head back to stare down at her. “Do not question the will of the gods, child. Be happy that a Voice has come at all, and that we have a chance to help Mother and save the world from the Darkness.”

Jesamin continued to cry, but she tried to sniffle the tears back. “I’m sorry, Caretaker. I just mourn for them still.”

“Mourning is allowed, child,” Rosa said softly, leaning down to kiss Jesamin’s forehead. “I mourn for all my sisters that have been slaughtered, as well. I have been happy to have you helping care for the wilds, and thank you for dealing with those who have hunted me. Now, still your tears.” Leaning down, she locked lips with Jesamin for the briefest of moments.

Jesamin swallowed hard when Rosa pulled back, her crying stopping a moment later. “Thank you, Caretaker. I’m fine now.”

“Do you randomly kiss people?” Doc asked.

“I was giving her a gift,” Rosa said as she moved to sit beside him. “I haven’t had a shaman come to barter for my reserves in a long time. I should see about sending some back with you, though.”

“What back with me?”

“Unfiltered moondew. It’s what I gave her.”

“Oh. That makes sense… was the last one who came Umena?”

“Yes.”

“I should thank you, then,” Doc said slowly. “The moondew’s helped me through a few rough patches, as well. Lia shared it with me.”

Rosa’s smile bloomed again. “You’ve tasted my nectar? Good. If you have an empty bottle, I’ll gift you some to take back with you.”

“Oh, right, speaking of gifts,” Doc pulled the amber from his pocket, “this is from Lia.”

Rosa stared at the chunk of amber before taking it with gentle hands. “Ambrose, sister, we mourn you still. I will return you to Mother and maybe, in time, you will come back to us.” Her words were soft and carried a deep melancholy.

“That’s your sister?”

“Part of her, but it might be enough for her to live again. She was the other dryad in this area… she was caught and butchered by a mage decades ago. I owe a favor in return for this. Did she ask for anything?”

“Just asked me to bring back anything you gave me in return.”

“I see. I’ll have something before you leave. Make sure you have a bottle for me, as well. Umm… and maybe we can…?”

Doc leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Best wait for that until I’m on the way back. Not sure I can be quiet enough, and the dwarves would likely get upset.”

Rosa looked down, “Truly? You’ll be okay with it again?”

“I’ve been looking forward to it. This time, though, I’ll be taking control from the start. It’ll give me better angles to heal while engaged with you.”

“Yes,” Rosa said quickly. “Please.”

Doc put his hand behind her head and pulled her in for a kiss. Rosa’s woody flavor filled his mouth as their tongues danced. Feeling his body reacting to her, he pulled her closer, forcing her onto his lap so she was straddling him. When the kiss ended, Doc was breathing hard. He was seriously reconsidering his decision to wait until later with her straddling him and pressed to his chest, but the sound of movement brought Jesamin back to his attention.

Coughing, Doc winced, “Sorry, Jesamin, I forgot you were there. Rosa kind of dominates my mind when she’s close by.”

“No. It’s fine. I can go.”

Rosa climbed off his lap, her own breathing coming a little fast. “No, he truly means it. Krisriit is getting impatient, as it is. You did well to save him— he is very loyal to you. I will go, and I hope I did enough for you, Doc.”

Doc got to his feet, aware that he was still standing proudly from his interaction with her. “I’m sure you did everything you could. Thank you, Rosa. I’ll be looking forward to seeing you on the way back.”

Rosa’s smile grew wider, “Yes, as am I. Goodnight and sleep well. I’ll warn you if anything tainted comes close.”

“Thank you,” Doc smiled at her. “I’m sure I’ll sleep well after a bit.”

“Thank you, Caretaker,” Jesamin said.

“I’ll do my part, and you’ll do yours as well, hunter. This mine is important to the Voice.”

“I will do my best to keep them safe and fed,” Jesamin said.

“Good. Do a good job and I’ll gift Krisriit a boon.”

Jesamin jerked to her feet, taking a step forward. “Truly?”

“Yes, if you are as talented at your work as I think you are.”

Jesamin went to a knee before Rosa. “I will do my very best, Caretaker.”

Rosa touched her head, “I know you will.” Turning her head to Doc, she gave him a heated smile. “See you on your way back, Doc.”

Doc stared at her with the same need. “Indeed.”

Rosa swept away, vanishing as soon as she rounded a tree. Doc watched her go, adjusted himself some, and exhaled a long breath.

Krisriit let out a soft purr as he moved to Jesamin, who was still kneeling. Nudging her, the cat flopped onto his side and exposed his belly to her. Jesamin ran her hands through the soft fur, speaking softly to her friend.

Doc left them alone and made his way back to where the dwarves had made camp.

Rangvald was sitting against the wagon, flask in hand, watching the stars. Seeing Doc, he raised the flask, “Want a nip?”

“Pass. About earlier—”

“We’re sorry,” Rangvald cut him off. “We’ll do our best. You’re the boss and your word is the final word on the job. I just find it hard to believe that we won’t be attacked.”

“You still might be,” Doc said, taking a seat beside Rangvald. “There’s a se’sxac in the area that has gone mad. It’s why I bought that fucking cannon on my horse. I’ll be leaving it behind with you.”

“The dryad can’t control it?” Rangvald asked.

“It’s been corrupted.”

“The Darkness spreads,” Rangvald sighed. “Some of our elementals have been corrupted over time, as well. I can’t blame her when we have the same problems. Will the gun be enough?”

“No idea. Blackbeard said it’s the best chance. If I encounter it, I might be able to cleanse it, but I don’t know for certain.”

Rangvald glanced at Doc before snorting. “Maybe the legends are true. Anyway, as long as she stays civil, we’ll stay civil. I have promises from all of them.”

“Good. I was worried that I might have alienated you all by speaking like I did.”

“If you hadn’t done so much for the clan, maybe, but that’s a moot point. As long as your word stays good, our word will, too.”

“Glad to hear it. I’m going to turn in. Oh, and the camp will stay clear of anything not corrupt.”

Rangvald stiffened, then sighed, “She was here already?”

“I spoke with her and Jesamin. Goodnight, Rangvald.”

“Night to you as well, Doc,” Rangvald said, looking back up to the night sky.

Chapter Thirty-eight

The second day went slower than Doc remembered it going, but he knew it was because they needed to make a trail wide enough for the wagon. Because of the slower pace, they didn’t reach the claim site until late on the third day.

The decaying carcass of the bear had a flock of carrion birds picking over it. Doc frowned, “Guess Rosa moved it for me. It had been halfway toward the waterfall before.”

“What happened?” Rangvald asked as he went to set the camp near the base of the waterfall.

“It came for my food, then the horse spooked and it decided fresh meat was better.”

“You shot it?” Joseph asked with wide eyes.

“With my pistol. I didn’t have the big rifle at that point.”

The dwarves all looked at him skeptically, but Jesamin caught up to them after checking the carcass. “Single shot into the roof of the mouth and into the brain,” she said simply. “You didn’t lose a hand?”

“I jumped on its back,” Doc said. “Stupid and idiotic, but it worked.”

The dwarves all stared at him in disbelief, and Rangvald cleared his throat. “Keep moving. We have a permanent camp to set.”

That got them all moving again. Once they reached the waterfall, Tony and Joseph hurried to get the fire going so they could start on dinner. Doc curried his mare, letting the sounds of the camp being set wash over him as he did.

“I’m glad the claim is removed from the woods,” Jesamin said from nearby. “It’ll make defending them easier. I’m sure after a few days, they will start complaining about having to haul wood, though.”

Doc snorted, “People will always find something they don’t like. I’d call it human nature, but it’s not just humans that do it.”

“True. I’ll be setting out scent markers tomorrow to deter the easier threats. Rangvald knows what I need when he goes back to town, and with those items, I can survive out here for months. How long do you think they’ll be working this area?”

“We’ll get an idea of that tomorrow,” Doc replied. “I’ll be showing Rangvald the cavern then while the others set up the sluice boxes.”

“I noticed a number of obvious markers near the stream, but they are not claim markers.”

“Rosa marked where she found gold and other metals for me.”

Jesamin moved away from him. “I need to set my own camp.”

“Why not set it with them?”

“Krisriit doesn’t care for others’ company, and I won’t make him unhappy.”

“Fair,” Doc said. “See you for dinner.”

Dinner was a plain soup like it had been the last few nights. The meat in it was the only thing giving it any flavor.

“Rangvald, pick up more spices next time you go to town. You guys should have better meals than this,” Doc said. “Half the money into the business account for supplies and building it up, half into mine. Don’t skimp on making this a better camp. The better things are, the harder you all work because you’ll want to.”

The dwarves all nodded in agreement as they ate. Rangvald gave him a knowing nod. “Fine, Boss. It is your money I’ll be using. That all depends on how much we can pull out, though. Be at least a week, and that’s if we have an easy time of it. Longer if we have to work for the ore.”

“It’ll be easier than you might think,” Doc chuckled. “Did you see markers?”

Rangvald frowned, “The piles of rocks?”

“Rosa left them. Work at those spots. That’s where you can find the greatest concentration of ore.”

“We got it,” Ivan said.

“You’ll need to show me this cavern tomorrow,” Rangvald said.

“You and one more,” Doc said. “I want a couple of opinions on what we have.”

“Burk,” Rangvald said. Burk nodded in understanding, but didn’t stop eating. “After breakfast?”

“Yeah. I’ll be staying tomorrow and heading back the day after. I want to see what can be done in a single day.”

Ivan chuckled, “Never seen dwarves work?”

“Never,” Doc admitted. “I look forward to being educated.”

A round of laughter came from the miners, with Rangvald among them. “Well, let’s not disappoint him.”

“I will be setting my markers tomorrow,” Jesamin said after finishing her dinner. “After that, you will only see me for meals. Rangvald has a way of calling me back if needed.”

Rangvald patted the whistle hanging from his neck. “I’ll only be using it if we’re being attacked.”

“Good. It has limited uses,” Jesamin said. “Goodnight.” Handing her bowl to Tony, she walked off to her camp.

“Bit frigid, ain’t she?” Urs mumbled.

“We live on her old home. Her tribe was all but wiped from the earth,” Doc said levelly. “How would you be if that happened to your clan?”

Urs looked away. “I…” Sighing deeply, he nodded, “You’re right. I didn’t think before I spoke, Boss. Not used to working with an elf, but I’m thankful she’s here.”

“Good. Besides, her cat gets ornery if she doesn’t stay near him. It’s why she sets her camp away from yours. If you haven’t noticed some of the wounds on the deer she got us, she had help bringing it down.”

Urs looked abashed, “I understand. I didn’t mean to be an ass.”

“Can’t help it, though. He’s an asshole, but an honest one,” Alf snickered, getting laughter from the others.

“True,” Urs agreed.

“Truthfully,” Didi spoke up, “we’re all doing the best we can, sir. Being friendly to a dryad is hard enough. None of us ever thought it would be a thing.”

Fulco spoke up quickly, “But we can do it, sir.”

“You’ve all heard the reasons why, and tomorrow, you’ll see what that friendship means,” Doc said evenly. “When you all take the percentage instead of flat monthly pay, keep in mind it’s because of her help.”

The miners all exchanged looks, not saying anything until Rudi cleared his throat. “Honestly, Boss, we don’t think the percentage is going to be much more than what you’ll end up paying us. The offer is nice, but for an unproven mine to clear eight thousand is a bit hard to imagine.”

“Care to put a wager on it?” Doc asked with an easy smile. “Keep in mind that my goddess is Luck.”

Rudi shook his head. “No, I’ll pass. I just wanted to make sure you understand why it seems so unlikely and why, if we get even more miners, it would be harder to take that kind of option.”

“Understood,” Doc smiled. “I think tomorrow will open all of our eyes.”

Rangvald cut into the conversation. “Same watches. Even if the dryad is helping us, there’s still a corrupted se’sxac in the area.”

The dwarves gave their dishes to the boys and went about getting their things ready for bed. Tony and Joseph were glad to have the stream nearby, as it made their job of cleaning up easier.

Rangvald offered Doc a slug from his flask and spoke softly so his voice wouldn’t carry, “Doc, the claim… you did make sure it was set for more than just gold, right?”

“Every mineral that is worth money, ore and gem alike,” Doc said. “I made sure it was all filled out correctly.”

“Did you have Karmin look it over?”

“No. I get the feeling he’s actually beholden to Suez or Goodman.”

“You’d be right,” Rangvald said, taking another sip from his flask before putting it away. “Suez has him sewn up. If he had seen the paperwork, he would have altered it.”

“Lucky I didn’t do that, huh?”

Rangvald chuckled, “Or smart, but considering, we’ll say lucky.”

“See you in the morning,” Doc clapped Rangvald on the shoulder before heading for his bedroll.

~*~*~

Reaching the cavern the next morning, Doc let Rangvald and Burk secure the ropes to descend into it. Once everything was ready, he followed them down. The only light was the small bit of morning light that was coming from above.

“Bigger than I thought it was,” Doc said. “Glad it runs along the course of the stream, or I’d have to go back and set out a second claim for it.”

“Seems to stretch. We’ll have to walk it, though. I don’t think it connected to the waterfall,” Rangvald said. “Let me get the lantern out for you. We should have lit it before we came down honestly. I forget since we don’t need it.”

Doc coughed, “Yeah, that would help.” He had almost started walking, having forgotten he was supposed to be human and not the hybrid he was.

The light of the lantern pierced the darkness of the cavern once it was lit. The light caught the crystal formations that dotted the walls, reflecting light around the cavern. Burk inhaled sharply as the light reflected off a streak of silverish metal. “Rang? Do you see that?!”

Rangvald had also seen the glint. Quickly bringing the lantern around to point directly at it, he let out a deep belly laugh and the light shook over the vein of ore that was illuminated.

Doc frowned, but after a second, he knew what had caused their excitement as his dwarven knowledge kicked in. “Is that…?”

“Mythrium? Yes, yes it is,” Rangvald laughed. “That single sliver there is worth more than all of our base salaries for five months. If we take a percentage instead, we won’t be skimping on the work anytime soon.”

“The rumors were true,” Burk said, moving to the ore vein. “How long have we been working in these hills looking for it?”

“Years,” Rangvald said. “Fuck.” Sighing, he bowed his head, “Luck, we thank you.”

Burk looked back at Rangvald before nodding. “Can’t call it anything else but guidance from her, can we?”

“We should check the rest of this place, right?” Doc suggested.

“We should indeed, but everything else is likely to pale next to this find. Going to need to block up the dried stream to make sure it doesn’t flood and stop us from working this area,” Rangvald said, making mental notes of the work to be done. “Let’s start walking, Burk. We’ll be mining it out by the end of the week.”

“Can’t wait to tell the others,” Burk chuckled as he patted the rock.

Rangvald pointed out the other pieces of interest as they walked the length of the cavern. There was a gold ore vein, and small bits of gold that littered the floor of the cavern. The cavern narrowed down into a tunnel as they walked, but a natural spring was flowing relatively fast down a foot-wide channel with small crystals dotting its length. The channel led to an area where the water pooled before draining away somewhere. The bottom of the pool was overgrown with crystals that grew larger the deeper they went.

“Rang, spirit stones,” Burk whispered. “This is fucking insane.”

“Luck,” Rangvald said with reverence.

Doc wanted to ask about the spirit stones— his brain didn’t fill him in on why they would cause that reaction, but he knew that might make them suspicious about him. “Do we need more miners?”

“Doc, I could bring another dozen men onto this site, and they’d all take the percentage just from the mythrium if it’s more than three inches deep. Adding in the spirit stone, it’s a certainty that I can pull the entire clan here. The gold is just icing at that point.”

“If the work supports them, it’s fine. I bow to your judgement on that.”

“We’ll need them for transport at the very least,” Rangvald said. “The first load will be easy since no one knows what we have. Once word gets out, though,” he sucked at his teeth, “things will get bloody.”

“You’re the foreman,” Doc said simply. “Manage it. I trust you to be able to do the job.”

Rangvald gave him a long look before nodding. “Fine. I’ll pull the others in when I drop the first load. They’ll leave the other mines without hesitation. Might make you a few enemies that way.”

Doc chuckled, “That was going to happen regardless.”

“It would have indeed. They will try to take this claim away from you, but I’m sure they’ll try legally first.”

“Rang, we’ve been walking back toward the waterfall,” Burk commented. “If we get another half mile, I think we can just punch through.

“Let’s find out,” Rangvald said.

When they found the end of the tunnel, Rangvald examined the wall carefully. “Yeah, we can do it. There are cracks here that make me think the excess water during flooding drains out here. We’ll have to shore it up exceedingly well. Your dryad won’t mind if we take some trees, right?”

“As long as you’re doing it to support the mine, she’ll be fine. If you start clearcutting for no reason, she’ll get pissed. Would help if you could plant some trees for the ones that are removed, too.”

“Never done that before, but we’ll see what we can do,” Rangvald said. “Let’s head on back to camp.”

The walk back was without incident, Doc did grab a fist-sized rock that had gold ore dotting it as they went. “I’ll sell this when we get back and give half of it to the business. I depleted almost all my funds to get this set up.”

Rangvald chuckled, “Well, your gamble is going to pay off. More than you probably realize. Oh, what kind of knife did you want? I’m easily going to be able to make one.”

“I’ll draw it out for you at camp,” Doc smiled. “It’s a common knife where I’m from, but not sure if they’ve made it this far out yet.”

~*~*~

The others were hard at work when the three of them made it back to camp. The sun was almost directly overhead. The five miners had set up a sluice box and were already working on pulling gold from under the waterfall. Tony and Joseph were getting the camp better organized, and Jesamin was nowhere to be seen.

“Lay off, we have to talk,” Rangvald called to the others. “Bring it in.”

The dwarves quickly finished up what they had, bringing over what they had pulled already with them. Ivan was smiling, “We’ve got a good haul going so far. What’d you find?”

Rangvald took a deep breath before starting, “The cavern runs parallel to the stream. It’s only a dozen or two dozen feet through that cliff.” Rangvald motioned to the wall behind him. “We need to block up the overflow outlet that will flood into the cavern, otherwise we’ll miss out on the haul.”

“Haul?” Didi asked.

“Mythrium,” Burk said.

The other five started to laugh, but after seeing Rangvald and Burk’s serious expressions, they stopped. “You’re serious?” Ivan asked.

“One vein,” Rangvald said.

“I want the percentage,” Urs said without hesitation, then was quickly followed by the others all saying the same.

“I understand,” Rangvald said, cutting them off. “We’ll be bringing in the rest of the clan, too. We have important work to do. Besides the mythrium, there’s also spirit stone and a lot of gold. We’re stopping the sluice for now. We’re going to dam the top and break this wall open. Once we have that done, we’re going to prep the cavern for real work, which means getting the easy gold off the floor first. Now, any questions?”

“Yes,” Doc said. “When the news hits town, what do you think will likely happen? I haven’t dealt with boom mines before.”

“I’ll drop the gold with the bank, having them put it all into the business account,” Rangvald said. “The spirit stone has to be sold to them, as well. There is a government mandate that all spirit stones are sold to them. That’s going to cause a major stir. It’ll take them a day or two to get that money to your account. With that dropped, I’ll take the mythrium to the smelters. That’ll start another stir. I’ll have them deposit it into the business account once they know how much they have to draw to pay for it. Once it’s all in, I’ll pull the percentages for us. How much did you want shifted from the business account to yours?”

“Half. Keep the rest in business to cover expenses. What’s the fallout going to look like?” Doc asked.

“A couple of days after I drop the loads, people will start asking hard questions. A week tops before the real trouble starts.”

“Can we limit it?” Doc asked.

“Limit how?”

“Smaller batches of the expensive material going in?”

The dwarves all looked like they were going to object, but Rangvald held up a hand to stop them. “That directly reduces our pay.”

“I can understand that, but I need a week or more after that first infusion to work before it blows up.”

“It’d still be more than we had initially thought,” Ivan said slowly. “We’re all ready for the big payout, but did we think we’d find spirit stone or mythrium? I know I didn’t.”

“But why?” Didi asked.

“I need to finish some things before the big guns start hunting me. If it’s all going to get mined anyway, does it really matter if we pull out everything we can right now against a couple of months?” Doc asked and waited for them to answer.

“No,” Alf sighed. “We just saw the big payout... didn’t consider what kind of effect it would have. Fucks sake, the town can’t handle more than a pound of mythrium. The bank is going to have trouble with five pounds of spirit stone. If we drip it into the town instead and hint that it’ll run out soon…”

“It might buy us a month or two,” Rangvald nodded. “Even if I pull the entire clan in, they’ll hesitate, thinking we’re just going insane over the small bit we did bring in.”

“How much can we do it without completely tipping them off?” Doc asked. “I have a couple of things I need to move on before the solstice.”

“Hm… we could bring in a pound and a half of mythrium, which would be that entire sliver we saw up to three inches deep, a head-sized piece of spirit stone, broken into smaller chunks, and the gold from the floor of the cavern...” Rangvald said, clearly calculating numbers in his head. “Fifty thousand, give or take, depending on what the town can handle.”

Doc blinked as he tried to process what he had just heard while the dwarves snickered at him. “What?”

“You heard me right,” Rangvald said seriously. “Both of them are worth a lot of money, and I doubt that mythrium vein is that weak. Between that and the spirit stone, this mine should last for a while. If the gold is added on, we have years of mining ahead of us.”

“After paying you all and keeping the business account up,” Doc said with a grin. “When are you doing the first run?”

“A little over a week,” Rangvald said.

“Okay. I’m heading back tomorrow. Did you need me to deliver any messages?”

“Yes,” Rangvald grinned. “Might as well start early. Let me grab my papers and ink. Burk, take Didi and Alf and start working on the dry stream dam. The rest of you...” He got up and went to the right side of the waterfall, looked over the rock, and tapped it four times. “Those points are the arch. Start carving the shape out. Tomorrow, we’ll get props made and finish the tunnel.”

The six dwarves all split into groups and went to work. Rangvald took a seat at the camp after taking some paper and ink to write a few letters. Doc took the charcoal pencil and a piece of paper and sketched out a Bowie knife.

When Rangvald was finished, he gave Doc the letters. “Who are these going to?”

“Otto. He’ll pass them on for me.” Doc passed him the sketch. “This is the knife?”

“Yeah.”

“Big,” Rangvald said, looking it over. “A long dagger, if not for the shape. Why the dip at the front?”

Doc did his best to explain the clip point and handguard when asked about it afterward. “Can you make it?”

“I can make it,” Rangvald nodded. “Do you mind if I make a couple first before I do yours?”

“Why?”

“I want the one I make for you to be quality. It’ll take me a time or two before I can do that.”

“That’ll increase the time to make it, right?”

“Yes.”

“Go ahead, but don’t let it interfere with your work.”

“It won’t.”

“Then go ahead.”

“Good. I should be able to get some runes on it, too.”

“Then take your time,” Doc laughed.

Chapter Thirty-nine

Doc wondered why Jesamin had not been back for dinner, but Rangvald assured him it was fine because she was setting out markers. Packing up his gear after breakfast, Doc half-watched the dwarves working on the trees so they could make props for the cave entrance. He left the Express rifle with Rangvald so they had protection if the se’sxac showed up.

“Sir,” Tony called out, “thank you.”

“Yes, thank you, sir,” Joseph added.

“Don’t thank me, you have to keep working. Your work is going to expand in another couple of weeks when more miners show up.”

“We know, but this gives us a chance to learn for later. Rangvald said that even when more come out, we’ll be able to keep our jobs and that someone would show us how to pan for gold when we have time.”

“Good. You two be good and stay safe,” Doc said, swinging himself into the saddle.

“We will,” they said together.

Rangvald stepped away from the others as they trimmed a tree down. “I’ll be back in a bit over a week.”

“That’s fine. Tony and Joseph said you’d be showing them how to pan for gold.”

“Figured you wouldn’t mind.”

“I don’t. But half of what they pan out they keep for themselves.”

Rangvald chuckled, “I was already planning on it. Glad I have your approval, though. Make it less awkward later.”

“Great minds think alike,” Doc laughed. “See me when you make it back to town. The Express is with the wagon in case you need it.”

“Sure you don’t want it?” Rangvald asked.

“I’ll be fine,” Doc said. “I gotta get going. Have to move fast to make it back before the tournament.”

“Safe travels,” Rangvald said.

~*~*~

Doc had the mare moving at a fast trot as he followed the rough trail back toward the road. Hours passed, the sun well on its way to midday, when the sounds of nature cut off. Stopping the horse, he looked around warily.

The sound of a breaking branch made him jerk the reins. Jesamin came stumbling towards him, her hand pressed to her side as blood leaked around her fingers. “Run!” she panted. “Se’sxac coming!”

Doc hissed as he got off the horse and rushed to her. Hands glowing as healing hands kicked in, he pressed one to her torn leathers while the other went around her waist when she fell into him. “Fuck! Jesamin, what happened?”

Eyes wild, Jesamin grabbed him, “It’s coming! We need to run!”

The roar of the se’sxac echoed through the woods, and an enraged cat yowl echoed it.

“Krisriit is buying me time,” Jesamin hiccupped, clearly upset about it. “We need to go.”

The mare let out an uneasy whicker and began to back up. With the bleeding stopped, Doc turned to the fractured ribs. Knowing he was spending more energy than he should, he still forced her to heal. The moment the bones were stable, he cut the magic off. “Come on,” he said, walking quickly toward his horse.

Whickering, the horse backed up further when the se’sxac roared again. Doc grimaced and let go of Jesamin as he tried to grab the reins of the horse. Jesamin staggered after him, feeling better, but still weak from her blood loss.

“Come on, you stupid beast,” Doc hissed as he lunged for the horse. It reared up and bucked at him. Ducking aside, he missed being kicked but also missed the reins.

With a panicked whinny, the horse turned and bolted back the way it had come, leaving the two of them standing there. Jesamin panted as she pulled her bow off her back, then frowned at the pistol on Doc’s hip.

“Well, fuck,” Doc grimaced, pulling the pistol. “You okay with walking?”

“Yes, but I won’t get far,” Jesamin told him. “You go, I’ll buy you time.”

Doc snorted, “Fuck that. If you stay, I stay.”

“We’ll both die that way,” she said harshly. “Best one of us lives, and you are the one who needs to live.”

“She isn’t wrong,” Rosa said, appearing from behind a tree. “You need to survive, Voice.”

Doc shook his head, jaw set. “No. I can help if I can get my hands on it long enough.” He locked eyes with Rosa. “You need to immobilize it for me.”

Rosa winced, “I’m not able to do much against it. The Darkness corrupting it resists me.”

“Pit trap, plants, I don’t care what it takes,” Doc said, staring into her eyes. “Hold it still for me.”

“I will help,” Jesamin said before whistling shrilly. “Krisriit will bring it to us.”

Rosa looked around nervously. “Ten feet in front of you… I’ll set a pit. I do not like this plan.”

“Don’t care for it, myself,” Doc replied, “but I took the gift to cleanse the Darkness for a reason. The time is now.”

Rosa stepped to stand a foot from him, “I will need you after this.”

“You’ll have to wait,” Doc replied. “Between Jesamin and trying this, I’m probably not going to be able to do anything.”

Rosa’s eyes started to glow, “I will need some of you, at least. I can wait until tomorrow for me.”

Grabbing her by the back of the head, he pulled her to him roughly and kissed her hard. Rosa’s eyes widened, then closed as her arms went around him. The kiss lingered for a couple of seconds until he stepped back, breaking the moment.

“We’ll see what I can do.”

Rosa was breathing hard, her eyes glowing as she stepped past him to kneel and place both hands on the ground. “Mother, the Voice has need… help me,” she whispered.

Doc felt the ground shiver and stepped back a few feet. “Jesamin, are you sure you want to stay for this?”

“I can’t run while one of my charges faces a se’sxac.”

“Don’t hold back. If you kill it, that’s fine.”

Jesamin nodded as she held an arrow to string and waited.

Rosa rose from where she had knelt, her legs trembling. “I’ve done all I can. It will support your friend, Jesamin, but it won’t support the se’sxac.”

Doc exhaled, “Okay. Come back here. No reason for you to get hurt.”

Rosa smiled before her eyes rolled up and she collapsed. Doc lunged to catch her, dropping his pistol. He was about to speak when a high-pitched whine caught his attention. Krisriit came flying towards him awkwardly. Falling with Rosa on top of him, they missed the injured cat that went over them.

“Krisriit are you—?” Jesamin whispered in horror as the mighty hunter whimpered and dragged itself toward her, his back legs not working.

There was an enraged roar as the se’sxac rushed into the clearing, cutting her off. The beast was tall, hairy, and drooling. Its gait was stilted as it hunched over and used one of its arms to shuffle toward them. The other arm was a bleeding mess.

Rolling Rosa off him, Doc grabbed her and dragged her back. “Jes, help! I’ll heal Krisriit after.”

Eyes filled with rage, Jesamin focused on the se’sxac. Jaw set, she drew and loosed in rapid succession, each arrow glowing softly leaving the string. Her bow glowed as well as she drew the string back to fire again.

The enraged se’sxac swatted at the arrows, deflecting most of them, but not all. Those that made it sank inches deep into the beast’s heavily muscled flesh, but it broke the shafts and kept coming toward them.

“Fuck us,” Doc muttered as he reached for his holster only to find the gun gone. He saw it on the ground and hissed. “Okay, no weapons then.”

With another angry roar, the se’sxac launched itself forward in a rush, ignoring the next two arrows. One of the arrows sank deep into its uninjured shoulder. The other grazed its face, making it turn its head away.

Two feet away from Doc, who was frozen in place, the ground suddenly fell in. The se’sxac let out a surprised sound as it vanished from view. A pained howl went up from the hole, and a single bloody hand groped at the lip of the pit.

Surging forward, Doc’s hands lit up with energy as he grabbed the massive hand with both of his. The knowledge hit him like a sledge as he connected with the se’sxac; soul corruption, torn tendons, numerous puncture wounds from the fall onto spikes. Doc couldn’t tell if the se’sxac would survive the wounds even if it could get out of the pit, but with just one working arm and both legs riddled with wounds, it wasn’t going to have an easy time of it.

Corruption first, Doc told himself as he pushed his energy to battle the Darkness swirling inside of it.

The se’sxac wasn’t going to let it happen easily. Shaking its hand, it almost pulled Doc into the pit. Jesamin came in, stabbing down with her knife and pinning the hand to the ground, her face a rictus of anger.

Doc breathed easier when Jesamin joined him, hoping that would stop him from almost going into the pit again. Pressing his energy into the creature, he felt the Darkness rush up through the connection for him. Doc’s breath caught when he felt the energy clash with his, the warmth being suppressed to an icy coldness at his fingertips.

Why do you fight us? You are not even native to this world. You shouldn’t be here. Why do you help those despots? The alien thoughts tore into his brain, his mind rebelling as the words were shoved into him.

Because Luck asked me, Doc gritted in his mind as he pushed harder.

She ignored you for years until she could use you. The thought hit him hard. Now you bend to her whim because she patted your head? We can gift you more than she can ever hope. We are legion, we are eternal, we are without end! Join us and know what this base creature knew; that with us, you can be everything you desire.

The words were accompanied by images— Doc sitting on a luxurious throne. Lia, Fiala, Jesamin, and all the other women lounging around him, rubbing against his legs, massaging his feet, and more intimate places. The images made his focus waver for a moment, and the coldness in his fingertips spread to the entirety of his fingers.

Yes! Join us! We will give you much. The thought echoed and resonated inside his head, making it painful to focus on cleansing the se’sxac.

“Doc?” Lia’s voice touched him. “What about the Lily?”

“What about me, Doc?” Fiala’s voice came on her heels.

“You promised me...” Rosa’s weakened voice reached him.

“Your future is yours,” Luck’s voice was barely audible. “You may step aside and join the Darkness. That is the easy path. Or you may stay with me, facing the hardships and trials... the hard and rocky path. It is your choice.”

“I don’t back down,” Doc gritted out audibly. Biting his own cheek, he forced the thoughts aside.

Foolish! Fine. Death will claim you after all, the alien thoughts responded before they exploded inside his head.

Doc tried to scream in pain, but blood filled his mouth and flowed from his nose. The coldness vanished and his warmth rushed into the se’sxac.

~*~*~

Gentle hands stroked Doc’s brow. A soft song was filling the air, easing him back to wakefulness. Rosa was looking down at him and into his eyes when he finally opened them. “We survived?” he croaked.

Rosa’s face was lined, and her vibrant hair was near white in the morning light. “Barely in many cases and no in another. I used more than I have in ages to keep you alive when you cleansed the se’sxac. Mother has welcomed him home again. Thank you for doing that, Doc.”

“Mother welcomed him…? He didn’t make it?”

“No. His wounds and what the Darkness did at the end to kill you both claimed his life. But because of you, he was free of the corruption and able to go home. You have Mother’s thanks, and mine.”

“Will you be okay?” he asked, reaching up and gently brushing her cheek.

“If given some time with you, yes. But first, you have another who needs you. Can you heal again?”

Doc took stock of his status. He was injured and his vitality was low, but his energy had returned to him. “I think so.”

“Jesamin, can Krisriit come here?” Rosa asked.

“One moment,” Jesamin’s voice came back to him.

Doc turned his head. He was resting in Rosa’s lap, and could see Jesamin helping shift the injured animal to his side. Krisriit was panting, his eyes unfocused as he licked at Jesamin’s hand. “What happened to him?”

“I think his spine is broken,” Jesamin said quietly. “I gave him some herbs to dull the pain. If you can’t heal him, I’ll give him more so he goes peacefully. Rosa said you can heal him, so I’ve waited.”

Doc swallowed as he stared at the once-proud cat. When Jesamin brought Krisriit to his side, Doc used healing hands and gently touched the injured cat. Spine is broken, left back leg is broken, as well... small injuries that are causing internal bleeding and heavily drugged. Internal injuries first or he’ll die regardless. Doc closed his eyes and breathed slowly as he stopped the bleeding, then worked on Krisriit’s spine. He felt his energy near depletion when he was done with it.

“Spine is healed and his internal injuries are fixed, but his back left leg is still broken,” Doc said roughly. “I can fix it, but I’m going to pass out again. Let me sleep when I do. I need it to heal myself.” Looking up at Rosa, he smiled, “Then…”

Rosa smiled down at him, “Sleep as long as you need. I will stay here with you. We won’t be attacked by anything.”

“I’ll repay you,” Jesamin whispered, her hand lightly touching his on Krisriit’s back. “He’s been my only friend. Thank you.”

“I help my friends,” Doc replied, turning his gaze to her. “Without him, we both would have died. Without your help at the end, I would have died again. No need for repayment.”

Jesamin inhaled slowly and bowed her head before speaking in a different tone than normal, “The tribe declares that all life must balance. You have saved me and my friend twice over, and we have only repaid it back once. Balance must be. Until balance is restored, I’m your follower.”

“Must be like a dwarven blood oath, huh?” Doc asked her.

Jesamin startled, blinking at him, “You speak Elvish?”

“Yes. I won’t fight you, but the best thing you can do for me is keep the mine safe and running.”

Jesamin nodded, “Very well, Doc.”

“Now, if you see me starting to bleed, pull my hands off him. Otherwise, I’ll see you in many hours,” Doc said as he let healing hands start to repair the damage to Krisriit’s leg.

Doc became vaguely aware of deep voices speaking in anger and softer voices calming them down, along with an angry huff from a large predator. He never fully woke, though. Instead, he shifted and went back to sleep as gentle hands stroked his brow. The voices stayed a background murmur to him, no longer upset but conversational now, until they eventually faded away.

Chapter Forty

Doc moaned as the sweet sensation of warm wetness engulfed his rigid cock, waking him. “Fuck, Rosa... that’s a way to wake up.”

“Sorry, Voice, but I need at least your seed to keep me here. Since the others are gone, I thought it would be okay for me to take some now.”

Doc looked at his stats and nodded. He opened his eyes to find Rosa, still looking worn, on top of him and grinding herself against him. “It’s okay. I can give you more of what you need, too.” Reaching up, he eased her down so he could kiss her.

The taste of roasted pine nuts and fresh snow came to him sharply when their tongues met. Doc was surprised at the taste of fresh snow, but figured it had to do with her being so different now. His other hand trailed down her spine, gently stroking her back.

Rosa moaned into his mouth and pulled back as she began to ride him a little faster. “Voice, I need you.”

“Doc,” he told her kindly but firmly, letting her go so he could grab her hips. “You’ll call me Doc.” Taking control of their coupling, he smiled as she shuddered atop him.

“Doc… yes… my Doc…” Rosa moaned and bent to his will.

Doc joined her, thrusting up from below as he drove her up and down his length. “You did good working me up, Rosa. Now let’s give you the first taste.”

Rosa’s eyes went wide and her mouth opened in a gasp when she felt him flood into her. “Dooooccccc!” Her long drawn out moan of his name made him smile.

Slowing the pace as his first orgasm, which had coincided with hers, faded, Doc pulled her down to his chest and kissed her again. This time, the taste of snow was gone and only freshly roasted pine nuts remained.

When the kiss ended, Doc saw that her hair had started to regain some hints of its normal coloration. “Are you ready for more?”

“Yes... anything... as long as you are willing to give me what I need.” Rosa trembled in excitement when his cock, which hadn’t waned in its hardness, seemed to pulse inside of her.

“Good. We’ll be doing things the way I want.”

Rosa’s eyelids became heavy and she nodded. “Use me as you desire, Doc.”

Doc rolled them both over and slid out of her, making her look panicked. Doc just smiled as he rose to his feet and reached down for her. He pulled Rosa up to her knees and guided his slick cock to her mouth.

Rosa was hesitant and uncertain, but seeing what he wanted in his mind, she complied. She remembered the people he had done these things with, as well as the ones he imagined doing them with in the future. Not willing to be lesser than any of them, she copied and did her best to improve on what they had done for him.

Doc was shaking and panting a couple of minutes later. Rosa had indeed surpassed Fiala, Lotus, and any other woman he’d been with in his life. It didn’t take much longer for him to bury himself fully into her mouth and give her his seed.

Rosa eagerly swallowed every drop and continued to suckle at him, keeping him hard with her magic as she did so. This new way of taking his offerings excited her and she wanted to do it again.

Doc pulled her roughly from his twitching shaft, needing a few moments to recover from the best blowjob he’d ever had. “You’re amazing, Rosa.”

Rosa’s cheeks flushed and she stared up at him with adoring eyes. “Is there more, Doc?”

“Yes, but this time, I want you on your hands and knees, facing away from me.”

Rosa was quick to shift the way he asked. “Like this?”

“Good girl,” Doc said, letting the part of himself he kept reserved around Fiala and the others run wild. Kneeling down behind her, he slapped her ass hard, leaving a handprint on her tanned skin.

Rosa let out a small startled sound, but reading his thoughts, she shivered. She could see exactly what he wanted, and wanted it even more than he did. “I’m a bad dryad, very bad. I need a firm hand, Doc.”

Doc chuckled, “Reading my mind, you little weed?”

Rosa let out a gasp as she felt a trickle of fluid start to leak from her excited sex. “Weed? Yes, for you, I’m a weed. Not the majestic tree I should be.”

Doc chuckled. She had easily taken to the idea, and though he could tell she hadn’t caught quite the right idea of how this type of sex worked yet, he knew she was wanting and craving it. His hand came down on her other ass cheek, marking it. “Weeds need to be handled roughly. Only delicate flowers are worth being soft with.”

Rosa let out a moan. She felt herself about to orgasm as she read his mind— what he wanted and what she wanted matched up. “Doc… please… harder…! Take me…!”

Doc slid his length along her dripping slit, but did not push into her. “No. You get what I give you, weed. You’re mine to tend, pull, or let flourish as I see fit.”

Rosa almost collapsed when she came. Doc grabbed her by the waist, but it was only her rear that was kept off the ground. Panting hard as her cheek rubbed into the dirt, she moaned and accepted her place.

When Doc saw her lose herself into subspace, he grinned evilly and pushed himself into her. Rosa cried out and shuddered again, chaining one orgasm after another as he began to slowly fuck her.

“Tendrils, thighs,” Doc said firmly as he pushed his legs against hers and continued to take her.

Rosa heard him dimly but responded. Small shoots pierced his legs, seeking his veins to draw blood and balance the semen he was going to give her again. The moment she began to draw his blood, her eyes rolled up and she came even harder than she had previously.

Hissing in pain, Doc let it help keep him from finishing too soon. As he took her from behind, holding her up so he could, Doc felt the part of him that had always wanted to control rush forward, basking in him roughly fucking Rosa.

~*~*~

Doc panted, feeling faint when they finally stopped. “Fucking hell, weed, you could be the death of me.”

Rosa was slumped on his chest, shuddering in pleasant aftershocks, unable to form coherent words. Her hair was an even more vibrant green than he’d ever seen it. Her bark-colored skin had an even shinier luster than before.

The moon had risen above them. The stars dimmed under the bright light, but were still visible. “Thanks, Rosa, for helping me. I know you say Mother demands it, but many kids have rebelled against their parents before.” Kissing her forehead, he held her as the cool air made him shiver slightly. Doc pulled the bedroll over them both, then held her and waited for sleep to claim him.

Just as he was drifting to sleep, he wondered where his bedroll had come from. He hadn’t thought about it when he’d been using Rosa, but he finally questioned it as he fell asleep.

Chapter Forty-one

The first rays of daylight washed over Doc gently. The warmth laying on top of him made him smile, and he stroked Rosa’s hair while he waited for her to wake.

“Doc, again?” Rosa murmured as she shifted in her sleep, letting out a happy sigh.

Chuckling, he kissed the top of her head. “Not again, no.”

Her eyes opened and, blinking, she looked up at him, trying to figure out what was happening. “Oh, good morning.”

“Morning to you, too. Sleep well, did you?”

Rosa’s eyes glowed for a moment. “Yes, better than I ever have.”

“I noticed we’ve been in my bedroll, which had been on my horse.”

“Rangvald and the others came looking for you when your horse made it back to their camp without you. They found you sleeping on my lap and thought the worst. If Jesamin hadn’t been there, it might have been bad. Together, we explained what happened and showed them the se’sxac’s corpse.”

“That would explain some of the noises that I vaguely remember.”

“They hauled the se’sxac out of the pit before I filled it. Its pelt is on your horse so you can take it to the tanner in town.”

“Is that alright?” Doc asked.

“Yes. We don’t begrudge those that are respectful of the bodies, especially if you killed the animal or woodfolk in self-defense. It will fetch a good price as se’sxac are hard to find, much less kill.”

“Oh, I need to get those bottles for you, don’t I?”

“Yes. I need to fill them for you. Lia, your friend in town, would love to have the pelt after it is tanned,” Rosa said with a small smile.

“What aren’t you telling me, weed?” Doc asked, seeing her twinkling eyes.

Rosa shivered at her nickname. “Nothing bad. Trust me, please.”

Tangling a hand in her hair, he pulled her the few inches up to him and kissed her hard. She tasted like fresh spring and the ever-present roasted pine nut. Breaking the kiss abruptly, he stared into her eyes. “I do. Did you enjoy our time together?”

Rosa was panting lightly, her hands clenched as she nestled against his chest. “Yes… I don’t want you to go. I want you to stay out here with me, but I know what you need to do and I will not be what stops you.”

Doc smiled and kissed her nose, “Good, but I wouldn’t mind staying an extra day. I’ve already missed the tournament anyway.”

Rosa’s eyes glowed brightly, “Truly?”

Doc chuckled before pulling her back for another long kiss, letting that be his answer.

~*~*~

Kissing Rosa one more time, Doc got onto the mare. “You’re a terrible temptation, Rosa. A wonderfully sinful, decadent, beautiful temptation. I’ll see you again, but I’ll likely be a bit.”

Rosa was almost glowing with all the energy she had packed into her. “You have things that must be done, Doc. I will wait for you to return to me. In answer to your thoughts, yes, I would welcome any of them and sip from them gently for you.”

“That at least eases my worries on that front. What if they don’t like you?”

“How could they not if I want only the best for you?”

“Because emotions aren’t logical,” Doc replied.

“That is true. Like Fiala, I’d love to keep you for myself, but that would be wrong and harmful to you, so I will share you. Unlike her, I will not try to keep you from any but those tainted by the Darkness.”

“Keep an eye on them for me, please.”

“I will do the best I can. Worry not for them. Nothing untainted will bother them.”

“I won’t worry, not with you helping me.”

Smile widening, Rosa beamed at him. “Umm… Doc, when I do see you again…?”

“I’m going to destroy you again like I did the last two nights,” Doc said sincerely. “If you’re lucky or unlucky, depending on how you view it, you’ll have to watch me do the same to another or three.”

Rosa could see the promise in his mind. Her cheeks flushed and her eyelids became heavy as she let that idea wash over her. “Yes… your weed will be kept waiting while you water your garden.”

Doc chuckled, leaning over to stroke her hair. “Be good, Rosa. You are precious to me, my weed.” Not waiting for a reply, he nudged the mare into motion and rode off, finally heading back to town.

Rosa watched him go. Her breathing turned fast and achy, the pain of him leaving her sharp enough to cut deep into her. The promise he made was the only thing that soothed that ache. “I’ll be the center of your garden, my dear Voice. The flowers may bloom and be beautiful, but I will always be there at the center of it all.” Her words didn’t reach Doc’s ears, but she smiled. The hurt faded because she knew she would never be replaced by the others.

~*~*~

Doc stretched when he got off the horse. It was just after midday a day later when he made it back to town. “Damn, I need a bath.”

“Here’s your token, sir,” the stablehand said.

“Thank you,” Doc replied and took the token from the boy.

Walking into the livery’s office, he got into line and waited his turn. When he was finally able to step forward, he presented his token. “I need a storage box again for the extra items left with the horse, please.”

“Of course. The mare is in good condition,” the man replied looking over his notes. “My staff says the horse was brought back in pristine condition, possibly even better condition than when she went out. Barely see reports like this one.”

“What can I say? Healthy living,” Doc grinned.

“Be that as it may, the minimum is still required, and the rental trunk will bring it up to thirty dollars.”

Doc sighed before pulling out his new checkbook. “You take checks, right?”

“We do,” the man said. Taking the offered check, he placed it into a brick-shaped black box. After he had waited a moment, a receipt was ejected from it. “There we go,” the man said, handing over the receipt that showed it was paid. “I have to ask, is that a se’sxac hide?”

Doc had been eyeing the black box, wondering how it worked, but looked up when the man addressed him. He shifted the hide that was slung over his shoulder. “Yeah, need to take it to the tanner.”

The liveryman shook his head in shock. “Goodness. Are you selling it to them?”

“No, it’s already spoken for.”

“Pity,” the clerk sighed. “Very well. Have a good day, sir.”

Putting his things away, Doc picked up his rifle and gave the man a nod. “You, too.”

Doc had to ask someone for directions, but eventually found where he needed to be. The tannery smelled awful. Or is that offal? Doc joked to himself. When he stepped into the building and away from the skins already being dried, he was surprised there was no chime.

After a moment of waiting in silence, he called out, “Excuse me?”

An annoyed grunt sounded from a doorway and a bestial with boar’s blood stepped into the room. “What?”

“I have a se’sxac hide to be tanned. I was told you’re the best tanner—”

The bestial rushed at him and Doc almost dropped the hide in shock. “Let me see it!” the man squealed.

Doc handed over the hide so it wouldn’t get damaged more than it already was.

Taking it, the boar-man unrolled the hide and looked it over. “Lots of small holes, but workable. I’ll give you fifty for it.”

“No,” Doc said. “I need it tanned. I’m not selling it.”

The tanner seemed to fold in on himself, “Damn. Fine... fifty to tan it.”

Doc whistled, “That’s expensive.”

The tanner grunted and glared at him, “You have no idea what it takes to preserve a se’sxac hide, do you?”

“Honestly, no,” Doc said. “Pay now or on pick up?”

“Pick up. If you don’t bring me the money and take the hide in a month, I keep it.”

“Deal. Why do you want the hide so badly?”

“Goodman and Suez have both been asking for one since they heard the governor has one in his office.”

Doc snorted, “Stupid.”

“Yes, especially because these hides make the best winter weather gear,” the tanner nodded.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Doc said. “Thank you. What hides do you need the most?”

“Bears should be waking up again. I could use some of them, and maybe some deer hides, too.”

“I’ll let my friend know. They’re a hunter.”

“Good. My regular supplier took a job to protect a mine. Now I’ll be hard-pressed to meet some of the jobs I’ve taken on.”

Doc kept his face impassive. “That could be problematic.”

Leaving the tanner behind, Doc headed for the Lily. He was ready for a bath and to see Fiala and the others again. He was just about to pass Otto’s when he remembered the letters from Rangvald. Doc exhaled in mild annoyance and entered the barber shop.

“Be with you in…” Otto began before seeing who it was. “Doc?”

“Finish up. I have some letters for you, is all, though I’ll likely be by tomorrow for a shave.”

“After you’ve had a bath, I hope,” Otto said, seeing the road-dust caked onto him.

“Of course.”

“We do have a bath in the back,” Otto offered, “if you have the money.”

Doc chuckled, “Pass. I prefer a soft touch to wash me, and I’m certain she’s waiting.”

“Very well,” Otto said, not pausing his shaving the man in the seat. “A minute more and I’ll be done.”

Stepping to the side of the room, Doc waited. The townsman paid and left as soon as Otto was done with him. Otto walked the man out before putting up the closed sign and locking the door.

“What happened?”

“Huh?”

“Rangvald wouldn’t have sent letters unless it was important.”

“Oh, just mine stuff,” Doc smiled as he pulled the papers out and handed them over. “I think the first one is yours.”

Otto saw his name on the outermost letter and opened it. Eyes growing wider as he read it, Otto almost choked as he finished. “Mythrium and soul stones?”

“Yeah.”

“Luck…” Otto breathed out almost reverently. “I’ll do whatever he wishes. Everything will be handled.” The dwarf met Doc’s eyes and stood up straight, clasping his arms behind his back in a parade rest stance. “From our clan, I thank you. Again, you have proven to be a friend. I regret taking my daughter’s blood oath from you now.”

“Huh?”

“If I hadn’t gotten in the way, she would have kept after you and, in time, found a way to be accepted.”

Doc just blinked at Otto’s sudden attitude switch from before. “Yeah, um... I’ve got to go.” He left the shop before Otto could get any other funny ideas in his head.

He’d only made it a couple of steps before Grange appeared in front of him, making him stop. “Sheriff, what can I do for you?”

“Heard you took a number of dwarves to the west.”

“And?”

“None of them came back with you.”

“Funny that workers would stay to work instead of coming back to town,” Doc said tightly.

Grange snorted. “If they’re working.”

“What the hell? Did I insult your mother or something? You’ve been rude and suspicious of me since my first day in town.”

“I don’t like people who make trouble, and all you’ve done since you’ve been here is make trouble,” Grange retorted. “You’ll slip up soon, and when you do, I’m going to be there, either to take you to the judge or out of town.”

Doc bit back the comeback that almost escaped. Instead, he just stared at Grange for a few seconds. “You done? I want to get a bath.”

Grange stepped aside. “Be seeing you.”

“Not in the bath, I hope, or you’d have to arrest yourself,” Doc quipped as he walked away.

Grange let out a deep and angry growl, but Doc just kept walking.

Chapter Forty-two

The Lily was busy when Doc walked in. Five poker tables dominated over half of the floor space, and those tables were all but filled to the max. Lotus, Jasmine, and Fiala were seated at three of the smaller bet tables, and Matt and Lawrence were at the higher end ones.

Dillon smiled when he saw Doc. “Welcome back. People were getting worried.”

His greeting brought attention to him. There were mostly blank looks, but a few grimaces and smiles amongst the players. Lotus and Fiala looked relieved. Fiala had started to get up, but she grimaced and shifted in her seat.

“Sorry for the delay,” Doc said, looking at Fiala. “Is one of the baths open?” Doc asked Dillon after closing the distance to the bar.

“Both are currently,” Dillon said. “If you give us a minute or two, I can make sure that things are in order.”

“Sure. I’ll drop my stuff and get a clean set of clothes.”

As Doc made his way up the stairs, he paused at the second landing when the sound of small feet rushing toward him caught his ear. Seeing Posy hurrying toward him, Doc smiled. “Hey, you. How are you?”

The girl came to a stop a few feet away. “Fine. Are you okay? What about Tony and Joseph?”

“They’re both fine,” Doc said. “Working hard and doing a good job. I’m better now that I’m back.”

“Everyone was worried when you missed the tournament. It was worse yesterday. Fiala was very upset. Madam was worried, too.”

Doc knelt down so he could meet her eyes. “And you?”

Posy sniffled. Her eyes were watering and tears started streaking down her cheeks. “I was worried, too.”

“Sorry for that,” Doc said honestly. “Hug?”

Posy bounced forward, grabbing him and squeezing. “Why?”

“Had some troubles, but everything worked out. Sorry for worrying everyone. I’m going to have some clothes for you in a bit.”

Sniffing again, Posy stepped back and wiped at her eyes. “Okay. You smell like a horse.”

“Well, that happens,” Doc chuckled as he got to his feet. “Can you ask your mother to have some food and a large mug of beer ready for me in an hour?”

“Yes,” Posy said. She removed the tears from her cheeks, but her dress now had some dirt on it. “I’ll get it ready, sir.”

“Thank you, miss,” Doc said, tipping his hat to her with a smile.

Posy’s lips twitched, a small smile popping up on her face. She gave him a curtsy in return. “Of course, sir.” With that, she rushed off, leaving Doc on the landing.

Exhaling, Doc picked his rifle up off the floor and headed up to his room. Have to keep in mind for the future that some of the people here will miss me... Not used to that.

Once he had his things put away and clean clothing in hand, he went toward the bathing rooms. He gave Daf a smile when she poked her head out of the kitchen. “An hour?”

“I’ll have it ready,” Daf replied with a smile of her own. “Private room?”

“Might as well. I can check you at the same time.”

“Thank you.”

“No need for thanks,” Doc said and kept walking.

In the bathroom, he quickly stripped off his dirty clothes and tossed them into the hamper. Looking at his legs, he winced at the new scars. Looks like a damned cheese grater took my skin off. Need to see about doing something different next time.

Bent over the tub to get the water to the right temperature, Doc wasn’t expecting the door to open behind him. He jerked to his feet, but saw Fiala standing there and took a deep breath. “Damn near gave me a heart attack, Fiala.”

The door closed quickly and she was across the room before he finished speaking. Her arms around his waist as she hugged him tightly. “I was so worried.”

Doc put his arms around her and held her in return, waiting for her to calm down. “Yeah, sorry about that. Would have been back on time if not for the se’sxac.”

Fiala stiffened before letting out a small cry. “Oh, dear Lady.”

“It’s okay, he’s dead,” Doc soothed her. “Won’t be trouble for anyone else. He’d gone mad with corruption.”

“How? How did you survive?” Fiala asked, not letting go of him.

“With help. It almost cost Jesamin, Krisriit, Rosa, and me our lives, but we managed it in the end.”

Sniffling, Fiala pulled back enough to meet his eyes, “Who are they?”

“You know about Rosa. Jesamin is the elven hunter that Rangvald hired, and Krisriit is her tamed cat.” Doc gave her a smile and leaned in for a kiss.

When the kiss ended, she was resting her head against him, no longer crushing him. “Sorry, Doc. I know I should have more faith.”

“There is nothing wrong with being uncertain and afraid. It’s only wrong if you let it dominate you. Would rather not have had to do what I did, but it’s over now. Instead, the real trouble will be coming soon.”

“Tell me?”

“Of course. How about you join me in the bath and I’ll explain?”

Fiala gave him a soft smile. “Just bathing. We should still follow the rules.”

“I’ll do my best,” Doc replied. “Can’t promise I’ll keep my hands to myself, though.”

She let out a soft giggle as she began to undress. “If it’s just your hands, it’ll be difficult enough for me to help clean you. If it was anything more, I know for certain I couldn’t.”

Doc smirked, “What about you?”

“I’ll be a proper lady for you,” Fiala said, but her eyes went to his rising manhood, “as hard as that might be to resist.” She stared at the new scars on his legs. “Rosa?” she asked hesitantly.

“Yes. Does it bother you?”

Fiala frowned for a moment. “A little. I think mostly because I haven’t met her. It doesn’t bother me anymore that Lotus wants you, or that you occasionally think of Lia.”

Doc nodded, “You can meet her soon. She’d like to meet you, too.”

“She would?” Fiala paused as she stepped out of her dress. “She knows about me?”

“More than you probably think,” Doc coughed, looking away. “Dryads can read minds... at least a little if they are engaged with someone.”

Fiala blushed, “Oh. Sooo…”

“Hard not to think about you during those moments,” Doc admitted. “She won’t hurt you, though. She knows how much you mean to me.”

Fiala almost fell over at his words, as she had been stepping out of her petticoat. “I do? She does?”

“Yes, and yes,” Doc replied.

Fiala swallowed hard, putting her clothes with his clean ones. “You always make me feel so special.”

“You are. My beautiful lady, who’ll be proudly beside me.”

Fiala exhaled deeply, turning to face him. “Do I have to be a lady all the time?”

Doc chuckled, “No. I do enjoy the moments when you forget about trying to be a lady and give in to your desires.”

Fiala blushed red and bit her lip. “I want to give in a little right now,” she whispered.

“If we only bend the rules a little, it’ll be okay,” Doc said.

~*~*~

Taking seats at the table, Doc and Fiala weren’t expecting Lia to enter the room. “Evening, Lia,” Doc greeted her. “How are you?”

“Doc, I’m glad you are safe,” Lia said as she took a seat. “Posy, Daf, you may serve us.”

Posy and Daf came into the room with their meal, a bottle of wine, and three glasses. The plates were filled with chicken, cornbread, mashed potatoes with gravy, and beans.

Doc gave Daf a smile as she served him. Once everyone had food, he offered her his hand. After a moment, he smiled and the glow faded as he let go of her. “You won’t have any more problems, Daf. The problem won’t reoccur now.”

Daf took a deep breath and smiled, her eyes bright. “Thank you, sir. Thank you.”

“Thank you, sir,” Posy sniffled, her hands grasping Daf’s skirt tightly.

“You’re welcome, Posy. You, too, Daf.”

“Well since my oldest employee is now healed, we should celebrate,” Lia smiled. “Did you make the item, Daf?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Daf replied.

“When we’re done with dinner,” Lia said.

Daf and Posy left them alone to eat. Once the door shut, Doc cleared his throat. “I have a couple of bottles for you, from Rosa.”

“She gave you raw moondew?” Lia asked, surprised.

“Yes, and she thanks you for the gift. She is hopeful that Mother will be able to resurrect her sister.”

Lia’s fan snapped open and she hid behind it for a moment. When she closed it, she was composed again. “I’m glad. It was something that needed to be done for so long. Should we eat before discussing business?”

“Let’s,” Doc said, his stomach growling.

It didn’t take him long to finish his dinner. Doc was hungry for real food after a couple of days without it. Once they were all finished, Daf and Posy brought out Lia’s surprise— a small sweet bun made with vanilla. Doc sighed happily, knowing that dessert wasn’t a normal thing.

“Daf, that was amazing. Thank you.”

“It’s better when it’s fresh from the oven,” Daf replied.

“I’ll keep it in mind,” Doc said, knowing he’d just been chastised by her.

“That’s all, Daf,” Lia said. “Doc, do you have news for me?”

“Yeah. Next week, I’ll have everything needed. Can you arrange for Brand to come to the tournament?”

“He’ll be here for the monthly tournament. He heard the buzz and asked me to set aside a room and spot at the tables for him,” Lia said tightly. “Are you sure your plan is going to work?”

“The old plan would have been dicey,” Doc replied honestly. “My new plan is fine.”

“New plan?” Lia asked.

“How much is your debt?”

“Twenty thousand,” Lia replied.

“I’m going to pay it off,” Doc said.

Fiala giggled at Lia’s expression. “Did I look like that?”

“Yeah, you did,” Doc nodded.

“How?”

“Mythrium and soul stones,” Doc answered her. “The claim is profitable.”

Lia’s eyes widened when he told her. “Luck…”

“Indeed,” Doc smiled. “We’ll pay him off when Rangvald brings the first load into town and sells it.”

Lia snapped out of her shock, “They’ll never let you keep the mine.”

“I’m sure they’ll try to stop me,” Doc corrected her. “All the dwarves are going to be backing me. They’ll be mining and bringing the raw goods in. Do Goodman and Suez have the manpower to compete?”

Lia paused, considering, “Not to start with.”

“Which gives us time to expand things. Are you still on board with me naming this as a place of worship?”

Lia’s jade eyes met his, “Yes, Doc… the Lily will back the Voice of Luck.”

“Then I won’t worry about anything,” Doc replied. “With Luck behind me and the aid of the people who want to see things change, I have faith that it’ll work out. It might end up bloody and deadly, but no road of societal change is without those two things. Are you willing to have your business and your girls in the line of fire?”

Lia gave him a hard smile and she rose to her feet. “They’ll not know what they’ve done if they turn their guns on my family. I’ve lost too many to them to let it happen again.”

Fiala stiffened, “Madam?”

“For now, I am still Madam, but next week, I’ll cast that title aside and reclaim my past. I will not lose any more family to the Darkness.”

Doc felt the power in her voice and stood up. “You won’t be alone, Lia.”

Lia’s eyes gleamed for a moment. “I see that you are right, Doc. Neither will you.”

Fiala watched them and a hint of jealousy touched her briefly, but she pushed it away. She had already accepted that she would share him with a select few, and Lia was on that list.

Chapter Forty-three

Doc’s eyes fluttered open at the soft lips kissing his cheek. “Morning, you.”

“Morning,” Fiala murmured back. “It’s been a busy week, hasn’t it?”

“Little bit, yeah,” Doc agreed. “But it also felt calm, like the lull before a storm blows in.”

“I finished training the girls how to deal,” Fiala reminded him. “Lia says I can keep dealing if I want, but I was thinking the others need more practice.”

“She’s really going to change the entire place around...” Doc commented. “The guys are going to be upset.”

“She’s going to keep Joey and Dillon on as security if they want the jobs,” Fiala said. “Both of them have been the best of the lot. She never would have had them in the building if not for Brand insisting that she get some male staff.”

“As soon as Rangvald gets here, hopefully today, we’ll pay off Lia’s debt. Seeing Brand’s face when he insists that he be taken care of will be funny.”

“What about your checking on the properties?”

“I can purchase a few from the bank. As it turns out, Goodman doesn’t actually own them yet. He’s just carrying the deed for the bank. Same with Suez, actually, and Brand doesn’t have any at all. In fact, all he has left is his mine.”

“You’re going to buy out the ones you can?”

“Yes. Henrick’s shop, Otto’s barber shop, the tanner, and a couple of others. I’ll be buying them all today. It’ll deplete my personal account almost entirely and cut the business account well under half, but getting those people on my side will be worth the initial cost. Hope they see it that way.”

“Are you going to tell them?”

“Yeah, as soon as I buy them out,” Doc said, kissing the top of Fiala’s head. “Going to take the deeds with me when I speak with them.”

“When?”

“Today, if things go right.”

“But the tournament…?”

“Going to miss it,” Doc shrugged. “The lower tournament isn’t interesting to me, honestly. Tomorrow’s might be fun, though, depending on if Brand plays or if anyone else shows up.”

The usual knock on the door made Doc smile. Fiala got up and left him in bed to answer the door. “Morning, Posy. Thank you.”

Doc covered himself with a pillow since she had taken the blanket with her. When the door shut, he pulled the pillow off. “You go first. You have a tournament to get to.”

“You just want to watch me rinse off,” Fiala smirked.

“It’s a perk,” Doc laughed.

“I was thinking about inviting Lotus to join us again tonight,” Fiala commented, watching him from the corner of her eye.

“Won’t turn that down.”

“I see it has your full attention,” Fiala snickered. “You really do enjoy having us both.”

“Any sane man would,” Doc murmured, watching her tail flick back and forth. “I’m looking forward to you and Rosa, as well.”

Fiala stopped for a moment. “Is that going to be okay?”

“Yes, she’ll behave herself,” Doc said, then frowned. “But you’ll see the other side of me during those moments, too.”

“Other side?” Fiala asked.

“You know how I take the lead when you go down on me?”

“Of course. I enjoy it.”

“Rosa is controlled the entire time. I’m not gentle with her at all, nor kind.”

Fiala turned to him, curious about his tone. “But... you’re a good man.”

“I am, but I’m also not. I find the most joy when giving my partner what they love. For you, it’s soft, sweet, gentle, and giving. Rosa is the opposite. For her, I’m rough, demanding, cruel, and I take what I want. I’m honestly a little concerned how you’ll respond after seeing me like that.”

Fiala looked down for a moment. “Will you treat me that way?”

“No, not unless you want it. I’m perfectly happy with what we have.”

“I will have no problems with it, then,” Fiala smiled. “Truthfully, even if you did start to change and do that with me, I think I’d still be happy, just not as much.”

“Just please keep it in mind for when we all come together for the first time. I’m mentioning it now so you’re not shocked and disgusted with me.”

“You do it for her,” Fiala smiled at him, setting the washcloth down and moving over to him. “I can’t hate you for doing something for someone you care for. If she didn’t want that and you were doing it, I’d feel differently, but that isn’t the case here, is it?”

“No.” Doc sat up and Fiala took the spot on the bed beside him.

“Thank you for telling me.”

“Didn’t want it to be more awkward than it’s likely to be. She’s looking forward to being… used… by us both.”

Fiala blinked, “Both of us?”

“She can read thoughts, remember? I had some about the two of us with her and she was very receptive to them.”

Fiala blushed a little and shifted on the bed. “What kind of thoughts?”

“Pretty much everything we’ve done with Lotus, but... also her being denied the chance to join in and having to watch just the two of us.”

“Oh,” Fiala whispered, shifting again. “Just making her watch?”

“While telling her how much better you are.”

Fiala licked her lips, “Because she likes that?”

“Yeah. Seems you might like the idea yourself.”

Fiala blushed deeper. “A little.”

“Then we’ll make it happen,” Doc said, kissing her cheek and getting to his feet.

Doc had only made it a step away before Fiala grabbed him and pulled him back toward the bed. She moved around and hung her head off the edge of the bed, taking his stiff cock into her mouth. Exhaling sharply, Doc gently massaged her while she did what she wanted.

~*~*~

Doc wondered when, and even if, Rangvald was going to get in. Breakfast had ended hours ago and the small poker tournament was starting up in another hour. Sitting in the private dining room with a mug of beer, Doc was deep in thought over what today was going to start.

Brand is going to be pissed, but he’s almost a nonentity in the town at this point. Goodman and Suez are going to be royally pissed when I snatch those buildings out from underneath them. That’s what they get for not buying them outright, though. Stupid to think their gentleman’s agreement would let them get to it later... Still surprised Goodman hasn’t done anything with the Gold Strike yet. It was dead as fuck in there the other day.

A knock on the door pulled him from his thoughts. “Sir, the person is here for you,” Posy said, stepping into the room.

“Thank you,” Doc said. He stood and drained his mug. “Can you take this for me?”

“Yes,” Posy said.

“You like that brooch, huh?”

Posy’s free hand touched the rabbit-shaped brooch on her dress that Doc had given her yesterday. “Momma was surprised by it and said that if it had been anyone but you, I should have turned it down.”

“She’s right on that count,” Doc nodded. “I wouldn’t have gotten it for anyone else, either. Made me think of you, and you’ve done a lot to help me. Make sure to listen to your momma.”

“I do.”

When Doc walked past her, his thoughts again drifted to what having kids of his own would be like. Fiala and Lotus are on Henrick’s birth control, so it’s not likely to happen any time soon unless they want it to... but what about Rosa? Doc’s steps slowed as he realized he’d never asked her about that when they spent time together. “Fuck,” he sighed. “Have to bring that up when I see her next.”

The front room of the Lily was packed full of people, all waiting to get in on the tournament. The normal tables had all been replaced by poker tables that had tops to cover the playing surface if they weren’t in use. Lia had jumped at the idea when Doc had mentioned it to her, and the only downside was that it made for odd seating when they weren’t being used for poker.

Doc gave friendly smiles to the few who greeted him and ignored the rest. Stepping outside, he saw Ivan instead of Rangvald waiting for him. “What’s up?”

“Rangvald is at the bank,” Ivan told him. “Wanted me to get you. He’s sure someone’s going to cause a fuss.”

“Let’s go. I have a lot of stuff to finish today.”

The pair hurried over to the bank and, when they stepped inside, they saw Rangvald with the assayer, Friedrichsen. The guard wasn’t at his normal post, instead standing near them both.

“Excuse me,” Doc said politely, “I need to speak with my foreman.”

The guard stared at him before grunting and stepping back. “Don’t cause trouble.”

Doc rolled his eyes and turned his attention to Rangvald. “How did it go?”

“I brought what we discussed,” Rangvald said. “He’s taking a quick look at the purity.”

Friedrichsen grunted as he put a sliver of soul stone into a beaker. “This is the rush job. Rangvald said you’d be fine with a slightly lesser payout if I could expedite the process.”

“He’s my foreman. If he says so, it’s so,” Doc said simply.

“Very well.” Friedrichsen pulled a small vial from his desk and used an eyedropper, putting a few drops of something into the beaker. Taking out his tools, he watched the reaction and prodded at the stone in the container. “I see. Hmm... Yes...” Friedrichsen muttered as he worked. He set his tools aside and rubbed at his nose for a moment. “I must say, I think you’re a fool. Without closer testing, I’d still call it ninety percent pure. I’m sure it’s over ninety-five, but that would take a full day to test.”

Both Rangvald and Ivan blinked, clearly shocked at what they’d just heard. Doc grunted, “Can we take the lesser amount and have you test it so we can collect the greater later?”

“No,” Friedrichsen said sadly. “Rules being what they are, you may take the quick assessment or wait for the full assessment.”

“A moment,” Doc said and lowered his head to hold a whispered conversation with Rangvald. “Is the lesser amount the same or better than your estimate at the claim?”

“Almost double,” Rangvald choked. “If you took longer, it might be over double.”

“Can’t wait this time,” Doc sighed. “I’ll give you guys the cut for higher before I start doing my other business.”

Rangvald jerked as if slapped. “No!”

Doc stood up straight. The guard took a menacing step closer before Rangvald waved him off.

“I mean... Boss, that it isn’t needed. We’ll take our just due only.”

“Alright,” Doc said. “We’ll take it at ninety.”

Friedrichsen’s eyebrows had shot up when Rangvald yelled at Doc, and they tried to climb higher when Doc said they’d take the lesser rate. “I’m sorry. What?”

“Ninety percent,” Doc said. “We’ll take that as good for this. When can we have the money?”

Friedrichsen’s mouth opened and closed like a fish for a few moments. “A… an hour, at least. As it is, it’ll put a severe strain on the bank.”

“What if I used some of the money to pay off debts that are due to the bank?”

Friedrichsen looked lost, “Uh… I’m not sure. Ayla?”

The woman who set up Doc’s account stepped over to them. “I’m sure we can manage it. We would prefer it, actually. I’d ask the mayor, but he’s not in today. As the assistant manager, I will allow it.”

Doc gave the woman a big smile, “Thank you, Ayla. Once we have a workable amount, I can work with you on what debts I’d like to pay.”

Bright smile in place, Ayla replied, “Of course, sir. Would you like to step over to my office?”

“I’ll make sure it’s all accounted for before I go to the smelters,” Rangvald said.

“That’s fine. You’ll know how much we made here before you leave. Whatever you get there, take your pay out before putting the rest into the accounts.”

“We’ll take care of it, Boss,” Rangvald said. “Friedrichsen, can we start the measuring?”

“Yes, right away,” Friedrichsen said.

Doc followed Ayla to her desk and took a seat. Giving her a smile, he noticed her shirt had lost a button in the last minute. Ayla knew he noticed and smiled wider. “Now, Mr. Holyday, what debts are you looking to pay off? I don’t recall you having any.”

“I don’t, but there are debts that I’m going to pay off for others.”

“Oh?” Ayla tucked some of her hair behind one of her slightly-pointed ears. “Let me know which debts you’d like to pay off and I’ll get the paperwork in order, sir.”

Doc hesitated and wondered about her for a moment. Half-elves aren’t treated well according to the system, yet this one is the assistant for Goodman. When I mentioned debts, she became almost... eager to help me. Fuck, is she angling on me? “Of course. First, the Lily. The debt there is owed between Lia and Brand. I’m here to pay that off so it goes fully back to Lia.”

Ayla’s expression froze for a moment before it thawed slightly. “That’s the debt you’re most concerned about?”

“I get along with Lia, her piano player, and the staff. Seeing friends in a bad place makes me unhappy.”

At the mention of the piano player, Ayla almost spoke up, but didn’t. “You don’t mind that…?” She trailed off, clearly unsure how to continue her sentence.

“That they aren’t human?” Doc said softly. “No. The only thing that matters is who they are as people, and all of them are good people.”

“I see...” Ayla looked hopeful for a moment before she put her professional face back in place. “Let me get that paperwork.” Getting up, she gave her shirt and jacket a smoothing pass, definitely trying to give away that she had assets of her own.

She wants out, Doc realized. Must be indebted to Goodman… it comes down to how much and why should I?

Ayla was back quickly with a file. As she was sitting down, Doc noticed she had pulled her hair up into a bun, using a pencil to hold it in place, and shifted in his seat slightly. Looking up, she gave him a knowing smile. “I recall bits of the file from memory. You want to erase the bet debt, correct?”

“Yeah,” Doc said, wondering about her going so far to sell herself. Pressing on, he lowered his voice so it wouldn’t be easily overheard, “A question, and please pardon me if it’s too personal or forward of me... Your debt, did you need help?”

Ayla’s eyes went wild, and she quickly looked to see if anyone was nearby. Not seeing anyone looking at them, she exhaled deeply. “What do you know of it?” she asked just as softly and cautiously.

“Nothing, but I’m not blind. As soon as you heard debts were going to be paid, you’ve started on a hard sell. I’m flattered, but I do have enough attention of a certain sort already.”

Ayla deflated in her seat, slumping. Her face fell. “Oh... Since you were fine with non-humans, I had hoped...”

“Tell me about the debt, the reason, and the cost. I might help, but I need to know why first.”

Taking a deep breath, Ayla rebuttoned her shirt and let her hair down. “My mother was very ill. I came back to help her, but it was an almost lost cause. She was deep in debt to Goodman and he was about to evict her from the house. With little to my name but my schooling, I had nothing to barter with. Well... nothing of monetary value.” The last few words held a hint of anger.

“You can stop,” Doc said softly. “What happened to your mother?”

“She passed a year later. She’s buried on the eastern cliff now.”

“Besides working as an honest woman, he has other things for you to do?” Seeing her face go red in shame and anger, Doc sighed. “Fuck. How much is it?”

Ayla blinked and started to respond, but stopped herself. “What will you taking my debt cost me?”

“Depends on the cost, honestly.”

“Five thousand,” Ayla said with little hope.

“Damn, that’s high.”

“I’ve got my credentials from Highyard University in banking. If I wasn’t tied to this… town… I could make that back easily.”

“Huh...” Doc thought for a moment and smiled. “You’re skilled at money management? It just so happens that I will pay off your debt, and my price is quite simple: I would like to hire you at a moderate salary.”

Ayla just stared at him.

“What?” Doc asked.

“That’s it?”

“Pretty much.”

Ayla was still staring at him when Rangvald, Ivan, and Friedrichsen came over to them.

“Ayla, the total amount is seventy-eight thousand.”

Doc blinked in surprise, but Ayla rocked in place, grabbing the desk so as not to fall over. “Seventy-eight… thousand?”

Rangvald chuckled, “Think she wasn’t expecting that. We’ll be back once we offload the mythrium, Boss.”

“Sounds good,” Doc replied. “Remember to take your pay out first.”

“Gladly,” Rangvald laughed.

Friedrichsen shook his head, clearly having known about the metal already. “I still say that it had to be more than luck.”

“It was Luck, and that’s the honest truth,” Rangvald chuckled. “I’ll bring the rest of the money back here.”

“Think I can use the majority of the amount owed?” Doc asked.

“Easily.”

“Good. See you at the Lily afterward to talk business?”

“Dinner?” Rangvald asked.

“That works. I’ll set it up. Just you, or Ivan, too?”

“I’ll be stopping home to see the wife,” Ivan grinned. “Pass.”

“Suit yourself,” Doc shrugged.

The dwarves dispersed, and Doc turned back to Ayla. “Now, about debts?”

Ayla blinked before shaking her head and clearing her throat. “Sir, I accept the offer... if it’s still open.”

“Paid,” Doc said simply. “You’ll need to come to dinner tonight, too. Now, let’s start with the Lily.”

Chapter Forty-four

Doc took a seat across from Otto. “Thank you for taking a moment to see me. This won’t take long. I just need you to take possession of this document and get it recorded at the clerk’s office.”

Otto frowned, but that expression turned into pure shock when he saw what he had been given. “What? How?”

“I bought out the debt,” Doc shrugged. “I’m taking the town back from Suez and Goodman in a different way.”

Greta shook her head. “We can’t accept it.”

Otto nodded, “My wife is correct. We’re already deeply indebted to you... We can’t accept it.”

Doc sighed, “I could just hold the note like Goodman did. Didn’t want to do that, though, since I want to spread out who owns what.”

Greta looked pensive for a moment. “Are you really planning to assist not just us, but the clan?”

“Thought that was obvious.”

“You could undertake the Rite of Heriz,” Greta suggested.

Otto blinked, his head turning slowly to Greta. “Dear?”

“I think it’s a good idea. It would make him a clan member. Humans have done the rite in the past, even if none have for a generation or two.”

“Rite of Heriz?” Doc asked. “What does it entail?”

“The elders of the clan have to approve of it, but if they do, then you would just need to survive the steam room for a full day.”

“That’s it?”

“No elf has survived the rite, very few bestials can, and only a handful of humans have. With your ability to heal, you have a good chance of doing so.”

“How would that make a difference in my helping you?”

“As a clan member, there is no debt for us, only debt to the clan and by the clan.”

“She has a point,” Otto nodded. “As it is, the clan is probably coming to a hard decision. With as much as you’re doing for us, what we owe to you from the clan as a whole is high. Bringing you in would help absolve a majority of that.”

Doc had the feeling there was more to the rite than either of them was saying. People had survived sweat lodges for extended periods all the time, so how could this one be any different? However, he knew that binding the dwarves more firmly to him would be good.

“Okay. Will you ask for me?”

“Yes,” Otto said, standing up and offering Doc the deed back. “After the rite, I’ll be happy to accept.”

“How long will that take? The deed needs to be registered today.”

“A few days, at least,” Otto said. “I will make sure you know once everything is ready.”

“If I promise to do the rite, can you take the deed and register it?”

Otto looked torn, then sighed and took the deed back. “Very well, but you must attempt the rite or I’ll have to declare broken oaths. That will mark you as an enemy of the clan and will break all contracts and deals with us.”

“I accept that caveat. I have some others I need to see still, so have a good day.” Doc got to his feet and shook Otto’s hand, gave Greta a nod, and headed for the door.

He missed seeing Sonya watching him from the hallway. She had a broad smile on her lips and was clutching her hands tightly, held to her chest. “Thank you, Mother, Father,” she whispered before she went to her room.

~*~*~

Doc entered the alchemist’s shop, the bell announcing his arrival. “Excuse me,” Doc called out, not seeing Henrick in the front room.

“A moment,” she called from the back.

Doc went to the counter and waited. When she came out, he gave her a polite smile. “Henrick, can I have a few moments of your time to discuss a lucrative deal?”

Henrick eyed him for a few minutes. The silence had become almost oppressive before she snorted and went to the door, putting up the closed sign and locking the door. “Follow me,” she said, leading him into the back.

He was taken to a small sitting room where a handful of books sat on a desk. The room had the calming scents of jasmine and lilac. He took the offered seat and waited for her to sit as well.

“I came from the bank... your home was being held by Goodman.”

Henrick’s face went from polite to cold in seconds. “And?”

“I have this for you.” He pulled out the deed to her property and placed it on the table between them. “If you’re interested, that is?”

Henrick took the deed and looked it over before placing it back on the table. “What’s the catch?”

“Steep discounts on your goods and services for me and my business. Nothing negative— you can still make a profit, just vastly discounted. The contract ends when the difference in cost equals the cost of the deed.”

Henrick sat there for a long moment before she got up and fiddled with some incense. A different scent began to fill the room quicker than Doc had thought possible. “What’s the catch? Why offer me this deal instead of just driving me out?”

Doc felt his mind begin to drift and he spoke without thinking, “No catch. Allies are better than enemies. I would rather have skilled help on my side.” Blinking, he triggered healing hands and slapped a hand over his nose and mouth. The compulsion to answer vanished, and he glared at her. “Not sure I want to keep the offer open now, though.”

Henrick was staring at him with a mixture of surprise and fear. Grabbing the incense, she snuffed it quickly and went to the small window in the room, opening it to air the room out.

Doc kept the energy flowing to keep the effects at bay until the scent was gone. “Do you always mind-fuck potential allies?”

Henrick looked abashed as she took her seat slowly. “No. I was tricked once before, and I just wanted to protect myself, Magus.”

Dropping his spell, Doc sighed. “Not a magus. I’m a faith healer.”

Henrick frowned, “But… Ah, I see. You wish to be the thorn to Goodman and Suez.”

“I dislike what they’ve done here.”

Henrick nodded, “How can I make amends?”

“Accept my offer. If you ever do that to me or mine again, though, the deal will be off and I’ll consider you no better than the other two.”

She pulled back as if slapped, her face going grim. “Yes... Okay. Do you have a contract for me to sign?”

“Tomorrow or the day after. You can have the deed now, though. I suggest having it registered with the clerk today. When Goodman returns to the bank tomorrow, he’s going to do his best to annul my purchases.”

Henrick pulled the deed to her and exhaled. “I’m not going to live much longer, but I will help you for as long as I still draw breath.”

Doc hesitated before extending his hand. “May I?”

Henrick shrugged, “I can’t heal me. I don’t see how you can, faith or not.”

Healing hands came back to life and Doc took her hands in his. Barren, cancer of lung and uterus, numerous addictions, eyesight fading. Doc cataloged it all and exhaled. “What’s your worst problem?”

“My lungs.”

Doc focused on her lungs and pushed his energy into her. Between healing hands and cleanse, he drove the cancer out of her lungs, but it left him sweating and panting. “Done,” he croaked as he let the energy fade. “You also have cancer in your uterus, are addicted to five different things, and your eyesight is failing. I can fix all of them over time, but the cancers are the worst and tax the hell out of me. It’s what caused your barrenness.”

Henrick sat there with an open mouth, staring at him like God himself had appeared before her. “I can... breathe again...” Her words were a bare whisper and were followed by her taking a deep lungful of air. Tears began to fall from her eyes. “Who?”

“Luck, Lady Luck, is my patron goddess,” Doc told her. “The Lily will be made a place of worship tomorrow. Come by and offer your praise as much as you can.”

“Bless you and Luck,” Henrick sobbed tightly. “If I had been healed years ago… Marco might not have left me. No one wants a barren wife.”

Doc got to his feet and touched her shoulder lightly. “Things change. I’m sorry I wasn’t here years ago, but seeing as you’ll no longer be barren soon, maybe you can send him a letter.”

Henrick was still sitting and crying when Doc left.

~*~*~

The tanner was not happy to be interrupted. “I told you how long it would take,” he growled at Doc.

“Different business,” Doc said. “Would you like to own your home?”

The tanner glowered at him. “Piss off. Goodman owns that debt.”

“No, the bank owned that debt. Now, I do,” Doc said evenly. “Now, about the deed... do you have a moment?”

The bestial stared at him before grunting and moving further into the building. Doc took that as acceptance and followed after him. He was surprised to see three young children, all heavily favoring their bestial heritage, watching him from a blanket-covered doorway.

“Urma, we have a guest,” the tanner called out as they went toward the beaded curtain at the back of the building.

“What, Grax?”

“A guest,” Grax said louder.

“A guest? Who?”

Stepping into the room, Doc saw Urma lounging on a badly repaired divan. Her boar bestial blood looked to be much stronger than Grax’s, which explained the kids. What Doc hadn’t expected was Urma to be wearing what amounted to a leather bikini.

“Am I intruding?” Doc asked.

“Sit. Urma will speak with you,” Grax said as he went and sat by his wife’s feet.

“Why do you bring this human to see me, Grax?” Urma snorted, kicking him.

“Ah, you’re the one in charge, I see,” Doc said. “He brought me because I own the deed to your home.”

Urma’s beady eyes narrowed further. “And?”

“I came offering a deal.”

“I’d break you,” she snorted, then licked her lips. “Tasty, but over too soon for me.”

Doc blinked, then laughed, “You might be right there, but I was meaning something else. I will have a contract ready tomorrow that says you will give me and my business a discount on your work. In return, you get your home. The discount ends when the difference between the discount matches the cost of the deed.”

Urma shifted into a normal seated position. “Hmm... Most humans run when I offer to mount them. You don’t run, and moreover, offer me this deal? Are you human?”

“Don’t I look human?” Doc asked to deflect the question. “I’ve been dealing with the dwarves, the elves, other bestials, and even Henrick. Who or what a person is doesn’t matter. Only who they are inside matters.”

Urma got to her feet, walking away from him. It put her mostly unclothed backside on full display, and Doc had to admit that if he admired asses more, she would have ranked highly. She glanced back, disappointed to find him looking at her face. “Why? Humans aren’t known for kindness, only tricking to make us more indebted.”

“No tricks, no more debts,” Doc shrugged. “I dislike the status quo. My closest lover is a bestial at the Lily.”

Urma nodded slowly, “But you won’t take my offer? Am I not worthy of you?”

“I don’t sleep with married women,” Doc said evenly.

Urma snorted a laugh. “Human morals? Silly.”

“Maybe, but it’s a line I will not willingly cross. Besides, your husband is doing a job for me, and that makes it even less appealing. He might not want to complete the job if I did as you suggest.”

Grax hadn’t spoken, but his snout moved up and down fractionally. Doc gave him a knowing nod back.

“Fine. Bring the contract and I’ll sign,” Urma said. “Grax is lucky he’s good in bed and the best tanner, or I would take a new mate.”

Doc rose to his feet and offered the deed. “Take this and have it registered. I’ll bring the contract tomorrow.”

Urma frowned, “What happens if I take the deed but don’t sign the contract?”

“Nothing,” Doc said simply. “However, you’ll get no business from me or my business.”

“What business?” Urma asked.

“I own the best mine in the area as of today,” Doc smiled. “Luck Holdings will be a well-known name in a day or two. Good day to you both.” Leaving the deed with Grax, Doc left their home.

Chapter Forty-five

Doc sighed, sinking into his seat in the private dining room with a mug of ale in his hand. Damn, that was more work than I imagined it would be. Rangvald and Ayla should be showing up soon, Fiala should be getting relieved from her table, and Lia said she’d be along shortly.

Fiala came into the room holding a glass of wine. “How was your day?”

“Busy. Good, overall,” Doc replied. “You?”

“Stupid. We’ve had three people try cheating so far. Two tried to swap out cards to make their hands better and the third tried to palm someone else’s chips.”

“Sounds like it’s been busy out front.”

“Did you manage to—?”

“Yes, the Lily and more. Things are going to get interesting soon.”

Lia entered the room, her face blank. “Did things go well?”

Doc smiled and took out the last deed he’d been carrying, sliding it across the table to her. “You might need to hurry to get that recorded.”

Lia picked up the deed. Looking it over, she closed her eyes and exhaled a long breath. “Thank you.” Those two words were full of emotion. “I’ll return as soon as I can.”

“We’ll wait. Go on.”

Lia spun and hurried out of the room, moving more quickly than Doc had seen her move before.

Fiala touched his shoulder, “Thank you. I know this was eating at her... we all did.”

“I did have my own reasons, but you’re welcome.”

A knock on the door stopped them from continuing. Rangvald came in, followed by Ayla. “Not too late, I hope,” Rangvald laughed.

“Not late at all,” Doc smiled. “Come on in and have a seat. Posy will be along to get you some drinks. Lia will be joining us once she gets back.”

“Saw her rushing toward the courthouse,” Ayla said. “Just gave her the deed?”

“Took me longer than I had thought with the others,” Doc sighed. “Everyone was suspicious of me.”

“Can’t blame them,” Rangvald said. “People don’t just give up that kind of money.”

“I still disagree with what you did,” Ayla said primly. “However, you are the boss, so I will abide by your decision.”

“Thanks,” Doc chuckled. “Oh, Fiala, this is Ayla. She’s my new bookkeeper. Hired her out from under Goodman today, under contract, for five years.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Ayla,” Fiala said, clearly sizing up the other woman. “How did you talk him into that arrangement?”

Ayla looked away, her cheeks heating slightly, “Not how you think.”

“She has schooling and experience in money management,” Doc said, saving her. “That, and Goodman was the one holding her debt.”

“I apologize,” Fiala said. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ayla.”

“Ayla, this is Fiala. She’s special to me.”

A knock on the door announced Posy, who came in and took their drink order, then told them it would be five minutes for food. Doc asked her to bring a drink for Lia, too, since she should be back in time for dinner.

“Of course, sir,” Posy said primly.

“Kid of one of the… staff?” Ayla started to ask before finishing lamely.

“The cook’s,” Doc replied. “She’s a good kid.”

“Ah. Sorry, I didn’t mean to offend,” Ayla said quickly.

Doc nodded, realizing his tone had gotten clipped in his reply. “It’s fine.”

Conversation was practically dead after that point until dinner arrived. Daf and Posy brought the food in and were about to leave when Lia came into the room. Lia’s smile was bright when she thanked Daf, then took her seat to Doc’s left.

“All done?” Doc asked.

“Yes. I look forward to seeing his face,” Lia said with a small vicious smile on her lips.

“Oh, Lia, these are Rangvald and Ayla,” Doc said, belatedly introducing them.

“I’ve met them both before,” Lia said. “It is good to see you both, even if I’m confused as to why Goodman’s secretary is here.”

“I’m not indebted to Goodman anymore,” Ayla replied. “I’m officially employed by Doc now.”

Lia raised an eyebrow, “Oh?” Doc gave a quick explanation and Lia laughed. “That’s going to stick in his craw. Tomorrow might be even more exciting than I had anticipated.”

“Let’s hope it’s not too exciting,” Doc said as he picked up his fork, “but we’ll talk after dinner.”

The others were happy to agree, as dinner smelled amazing. Daf had prepared the standard mashed potatoes and gravy, biscuits, and some blanched mixed vegetables, but the star of the show was the thick-cut steaks. They had been seared on the outside and seasoned with fresh garlic. Doc’s mouth practically watered as he cut into the steak and the blast of pepper and garlic seasoning made his nose itch, but he didn’t hesitate to pop the first bite into his mouth. He was surprised by the underlying sweetness to the meat and the way it almost melted on his tongue.

“Oh, she used her special marinade on it,” Lia smiled. “Maybe one of these days, she’ll tell me what she uses in it.”

“I hope so,” Doc said once he could speak. “It’d be a damned shame if this recipe was lost.”

“I agree,” Lia replied.

The others all added their agreement after tasting their own steak.

~*~*~

With dinner done, Doc gave them a brief summary of what he’d been doing all day. Lia wore a knowing smile as he talked, Rangvald looked intrigued, and Ayla looked annoyed. “That’s everyone we can count on right now. I need those contracts tomorrow, Ayla. Just take them over and get them signed for me.”

“I’ll be working on them all night,” Ayla said tightly. “At least the language is mostly the same for all of them.”

“Didn’t expect to be working so hard right away?” Lia asked.

“No, though I’m grateful it’s honest work and not…” Ayla trailed off and looked away.

“He’s an odious toad,” Lia said simply. “I’m glad Doc is going to be causing him trouble.”

“Not as much as I am,” Ayla said pointedly.

“I have arranged for some items to be taken out to the mine so I can work on that project you wanted done, Doc,” Rangvald said. “That way, I can do what you asked and be there to do my job.”

“Do as you need to. No rush on it right now.”

“If you’ll all excuse me, I need to get started on those contracts,” Ayla said, getting to her feet. “Doc, do you want to see the final contracts?”

“I trust you,” Doc said.

Ayla paused, just looking at him, before she blushed and opened the door. “Alright. Thank you.”

Fiala smirked at her back, but kept her mouth shut.

Rangvald got up and stretched, “Thank you for dinner. My compliments to your cook, Madam.”

“I’ll pass it along,” Lia smiled. “I have one question for you, if you don’t mind. The mine... will it last?”

“We dug out only a small sliver of the mythrium,” Rangvald said with a chuckle. “It was just the tip of the iceberg. Both Goodman and Suez will be pulling their hair out to try to stop us. The elders have already sent for more of our fellows. We’ll be ready for them.”

Lia laughed, “I see. Goodnight.”

With Rangvald gone, Lia leaned back in her chair and looked pensive. “Doc, you were right. Things are likely to get bloody, maybe sooner than you had feared. Are you set on this road?”

“Yes. Luck has given me a task and I will not turn from it. Moreover, I bought the building beside this one. I want to combine them and expand the Lily, if you’re willing.”

Lia was about to respond when Posy bolted into the room. “Madam, Mr. Brand is here and demanding to see you.”

Lia’s smile was cold as she rose to her feet with a silken grace. “He is? Where is he now?”

“In your office, Madam.”

“Doc, will you come with me?” Lia asked.

“Sure.”

“Fiala, if you will have Cassia pour a shot for every worker but herself? I want her to have them ready to be handed out in a few minutes.”

“Of course, Madam.”

“Thank you. Doc, please follow me.”

Doc followed Lia down the hall and through the door at the end of it. He was surprised to find himself in a bedroom. There was only a single candle lit, but with his improved eyesight, he was able to see a few things he probably shouldn’t.

Lia took his wrist, “Sorry for the lack of light. Follow me.” She moved with grace and avoided the footstool pulled out a few inches from the foot of the dressing table by memory. Doc let her lead him, wondering how mad she’d be if she knew he’d seen her undergarments.

She opened the door in the room that led to her study. Doc blinked against the sudden light as he followed her, shutting the door behind him. Brand was sitting behind Lia’s desk and stopped looking over a thick book to fix Lia with a cold look and Doc with open disdain.

“A tournament is going on and instead of doing your duty to care for the guests, you’re back here seeing this vagabond?” Brand’s voice was as cold as his gaze. “After all I’ve done for you, this is how you repay me?”

Lia faced him with an equally cold gaze, but didn’t speak in her defense. Doc stepped away, going to the chair by the side table and taking a seat. He helped himself to the wine that was on the table.

“Do you mind?” Brand snapped. “I have business to conduct.”

“No, I don’t mind. Go ahead,” Doc said as he poured two glasses. “Lia, did you want one? I know you must be looking forward to it.”

Lia’s gaze darted to him, her lips creasing briefly upward before settling back into a neutral mask. “I would prefer something from my private stock. That is no doubt the best the bar had to offer, but it isn’t up to my taste.”

“Get out,” Brand snarled at Doc.

“I will when the owner tells me to,” Doc said, picking up the glass and taking a sip. “It’s not bad, but you have better, Lia?”

“Yes. Please excuse me for a moment, Doc. I do need to discuss things with Brand.”

Brand had gone white and silent at Doc’s casual dismissal of him, but now he went purple and rounded on Lia. Hands slapping the desk as he rose to his feet, Brand was nearly hyperventilating as he spoke, “Things to discuss? In another two months, this building will be mine. I’m looking forward to throwing you out on your elven ass! Goodman’s already offered to pay me ten times its price.”

Lia smiled coldly as she stepped forward a single pace. “Has he? Did you accept?”

“Of course I did! I’m closing down the mine and leaving this gods’ forsaken pit.”

“Well, you just need to pack, then,” Lia smiled as she pulled out a parchment and tossed it onto the desk.

Brand glared at her before picking it up and reading it. His ruddy face paled again, and he blinked at her over the top of the page. “H-how?”

“May I introduce my new partner?” Lia snickered. “Doc, say hello to the most useless businessman I’ve ever known.”

“Have a good trip,” Doc said casually.

“But he doesn’t have that kind of money.”

“Really?” Doc asked, looking confused. “How would you know that?”

“Goodman assured me that—”

“Get out,” Lia said softly, but forcefully enough to cut him off. “You are banned from my business. Grange will be informed tomorrow.”

Brand just stared at her before his lip curled back. “Useless elven whore! Do you think—?”

Lia’s arm shot out fast, the sound of wood meeting flesh echoing in the room. Brand staggered back a step, almost tripping over the chair he had been sitting in earlier. His hand held his cheek where the red mark from Lia’s fan was now visible.

“I am not a whore. I’ve never been a whore. My girls will no longer be whores. Now. Get. Out.” The last three words were said clearly, distinctly, and with menace.

Brand gaped like a landed fish for a moment before he snatched the parchment she had shown him and stormed towards the door. Doc was sorely tempted to trip the pompous ass— he knew it wouldn’t take much because the man used a cane to walk, but he didn’t.

“Don’t let the door hit you on the way out,” Doc said, raising his glass of wine to Brand.

Cold eyes glared at Doc, who smiled back. “Goodman will see to you.”

“I’m sure he’ll try.”

Lia took a deep breath once Brand was gone. “That felt good. We need to go announce the change to the establishment.”

Doc set the glass down and got to his feet. “Are you going to lay all the men off?”

“No. Dillon and Joey have agreed to stay on as extra hands and security. I’ll be paying the others a separation bonus so they shouldn’t hold it against me.”

“Well, Madam?” Doc offered, motioning to the door.

“No, the title dies tonight. I’ll never wear that cursed name again.”

“Shall we, Lia?” Doc asked.

“Yes.”

Doc preceded her into the bar, where a number of people were looking towards the swing doors. Lia followed him out, but she stayed behind the bar. Cassia gave them a smile and began to hand out glasses to every staff member, including Posy, but Doc could see that it wasn’t the same as what the others got.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Doc shouted, getting everyone’s attention, “Lia has something to say.”

Everyone gave Lia their attention and she gave the room a bright smile. “Tonight, the Lily has returned to its owner.”

The staff all erupted in cheers, minus Westin, who looked sour.

Lia held up a hand and they stopped cheering. “Tonight, the ladies are no longer whores. They might entertain you for money, but this establishment is going to be a gambling house. As such, at least one table will always be open starting at eleven tomorrow.”

This time, a good amount of the patrons joined in on the cheering.

Lia gave them a moment before she raised her hand again to gain silence. When the room finally calmed down, she continued, “One last thing: my new partner is funding the expansion of the Lily. We’ll be growing over the next year and hope you’ll all be joining us and understanding as things change. In celebration, all food and drinks are half off for the next hour.”

Doc smiled, glad she accepted his proposal. He’d been a bit worried about his plan, not having discussed it with her ahead of time. He stepped closer to the bar as those not still playing in the tournament rushed forward to take advantage of the sale.

“We’ll need to sign some paperwork tomorrow,” Doc told her.

“I’m aware,” Lia smiled. “I’m glad to shed the title of Madam.”

“I’ll just call you by your given name of Lia, then.”

“Oh, Lia is my shortened name,” Lia smiled. “My given name is Lillianna.”

Doc just blinked at her and swore he heard Lilly’s gentle laughter echoing lightly in his ears.

Character Sheet

Doc Holyday- 42

Half-Breed Elf/Dwarf

Voice of Luck

Energy: 20

Vitality: 20

Health: 15

Faith: 17 (67)

Racial Bonuses:

Natural affinity to nature magic, improved reflexes, keen hearing and sight, resistance to poisons, improved vitality, night vision, natural affinity to metal crafts

Goddess Gifts:

All In, Stand Down, Missed Me, Healing Hands, Cleansing, Energy Reserves

Author’s Note

Please consider leaving a review for the book, feedback is imperative for an indie author. If you don’t want to review it then think about leaving a comment or even just a quick message. Remember, positive feedback is always welcome.

If you want to keep up on the latest updates, or the one stop shop for all the links, my website is the best place for that. Remember to subscribe to the mailing list to know when I publish a new book, and you get an exclusive short when you sign up.

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Other places you can keep up to date on me and my works:

https://www.patreon.com/DJSchinhofen

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Fan group on Facebook for Daniel Schinhofen

https://schinhofenbooks.blogspot.com/

If you LOVE LitRPG, then check out these pages full of awesome LITRPG goodness. You can interact with authors like me and many more. Find banter, good times and a lot of likeminded people.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/LitRPGsociety/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/haremlit/

A big thank you to my editors, Samantha Bishop, and Sarinia Phelps. Also props to Geno Ferrarini, and Sean Hickinbotham for being my Alpha Readers. I’d be remiss if I didn’t include my beta readers, in no particular order: Zee ~*~ Ian McAdams ~*~ Arthur Cuelho ~*~ Scott Brown ~*~ Dame ~*~ A.J. Bishop ~*~ Kevin Kollman ~*~ Jay Taylor ~*~ Justin Johanson ~*~ Kenneth Darlin ~*~ Christina Norton ~*~ Sawyer Aubrey ~*~ Aoife Grimm ~*~ Shane Bird ~*~ Tanner Lovelace ~*~ Tim? ~*~ Brian O ~*~ Version93.

The cover for Voice of Luck is brought to you by Anthony Bishop, a very talented artist. You can find him at https://grimmhelm.artstation.com/

A big thanks to my Patreon supporters who have gone above and beyond in their support:

Matthew Malkin ~*~ John Johnson ~*~ Ryan Frank ~*~ Chase G Harstad ~*~ Alarinnise ~*~ Red Phoenix ~*~ Curtis Allen Sayles ~*~ Dragonkain ~*~ Thebadtank ~*~ Joshua Graybill ~*~ Magnus Gammal ~*~ Sonicblackfox ~*~ Spenser Jefferson ~*~ Kenneth Darlin ~*~ Robert Shofner ~*~ Brett Hudson ~*~ Pheonixblue ~*~ Nathan Gofroth ~*~ Grimmhelm ~*~ J. Patrick Walker ~*~ Tristitan ~*~ John Curtis ~*~ Ryan Luttiger ~*~ Terry Wood-Davies ~*~ Kevnin McKinney ~*~ Otis Coley ~*~ Jack Ling ~*~ Michael Erwin ~*~ Derek Morgan ~*~ travis btmb ~*~ Kyle Gravelle ~*~ Dedalus Inventor ~*~ Matthew Parikka ~*~ Winston Smith ~*~ chanh pham ~*~ IntheRaccon ~*~ Allen Burger ~*~ Chioke Nelson ~*~ Eli Page ~*~ Brad Shultz ~*~ Dwayne Bullock ~*~ Paul mallon ~*~ Michael Browningkoelper ~*~ Chistropher B. ~*~ Chace Corso ~*~ Michael Jackson ~*~ Alexander Rodriguez ~*~ Susanne Lofböm ~*~ James Domec ~*~ Jason Broderick ~*~ Tara C Mulkey ~*~ Stephen juba ~*~ Matthias Meilahn ~*~ Mike Durie ~*~ T3iain ~*~ Brian Biggers ~*~ No0neSpecial ~*~ Arthur Cuelho ~*~ Ronald C Abitz ~*~ Kori Prins ~*~ Dwinald Lint III ~*~ Eric Hontz ~*~ Charles Demarest ~*~ Dameon Cornish ~*~ Patrick Glass ~*~ Theodore Ursa ~*~ Top Cat 269 ~*~ Caleb Bear ~*~ Michael Moneymaker ~*~ Blake Cawthon ~*~ Tanner Lovelace ~*~Abraham Madsen ~*~ Samantha Kelling ~*~ Masta Matna ~*~ Brian O. ~*~ Jeffrey Buchanan ~*~ Cody Carter ~*~ Korbin Wilson ~*~ Travis Hilliard ~*~ David Florish ~*~ Kevin Harris ~*~ Kevin Kollman ~*~ Logan Cochrane ~*~ Jeff Ford ~*~ Tristan ~*~ Adam Billingham ~*~ William Merrick ~*~ MrNyxt ~*~ SpartanGER ~*~ Joshua Morris ~*~ subVersion ~*~ Damien Osborne ~*~ Brandon Haag ~*~ Kenneth Steinagel ~*~ J.G. Patton ~*~ Matthew ~*~ Timithy klesick ~*~ Bob ~*~ Jeff Morris ~*~ Robert howden ~*~ Jason Bryant ~*~ David Hoerner ~*~ Gregory Lamberta ~*~ Tim Nielsen ~*~ Tetsu-nil ~*~ tishane mcfarlane ~*~ Jose Caudillo ~*~ Cody Givan ~*~ Shannon Dinger ~*~ tyller james ~*~ Robert Michael Barfield ~*~ Khamla Khongloth ~*~ Daniel Block ~*~ Jeremy Cox ~*~ Jon Bryant ~*~ Edward P Warmouth.

Other Books written by Daniel Schinhofen:

Last Horizon: (Completed.)

Last Horizon Omnibus

Binding Words:

Morrigan's Bidding

Life Bonds

Hearthglen

Forged Bonds

Alpha World: (Completed.)

Gamer for Life

Forming the Company

Alpha Company

Playing for Keeps

Fractured Spirit

The Path to Peace

Darkhand

Gamer For Love

Apocalypse Gates Author’s Cut:

Rapture

Valley of Death

Gearing Up

Elven Accord

Downtime and Death

Can of Worms

Aether’s Revival:

Aether's Blessing

NPC’s Lives:

Tales from the Dead Man Inn

Resurrection Quest:

Greenways Goblins

I would like to point you all toward some fellow authors whose works I enjoy:

William Arand: Author of the complex interconnected series in the genre which all starts with Otherlife Dreams.

https://www.amazon.com/William-D.-Arand/e/B01AY7PSG4

Blaise Corvin: Author of Delvers LLC, which is an amazing GameLit series.

https://www.amazon.com/Blaise-Corvin/e/B01LYK8VG5

Scottie Futch: Is a prolific author who can be found on Royal Road and Amazon. Scottie combines parody with zany humor that keeps me laughing.

https://www.amazon.com/Scottie-Futch/e/B00NCSEN28

Michael Scott-Earle: He’s back, but not on Amazon. You can find all of his books through his own website, and through his Kickstarters and Indiegogos.

https://www.michaelscottearle.com/

Eden Redd: She might be mentioned last but she is definitely not least, and she is very worth the read, more so if you like some adult content. Her Lewd Saga series combines erotica and LITRPG.

https://www.amazon.com/Eden-Redd/e/B00I8X8BCK

To find more LitRPG Books, check out the Amazon store: https://www.amazon.com/litrpg

You can also find out more about LITRPG stories at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/LitRPGGroup/