The High Roller

[Esperanza]

Esperanza managed to keep her smile plastered on as Duke pulled her away from the newcomer, and then another man intervened. The gentleman hadn't meant anything by his words or actions, she had just startled him by coming on too strong.

Leaning back against Duke, she smiled as Doc kissed her hand. "Gracias, senor." Tilting her head, she looked up into his eyes, then looked back at Shawn. "Forgive me, senor, for making the wrong assumption. Most men have one goal...if you ever would just like to talk, or dance..." She shrugged, smiling at him.

[Shawn Flanagan]

Doc was good enough to give word of wisdom. Doc's advice was solid and good. Shawn sat down and figured it was the only option he had to walk alive or not have a few broken bones . The Doc was smooth by saying a compliment to Esperanza.

“Yes, whiskey,” Shawn agreed. “Something stronger than wine.” That was a starter Shawn was thinking. Did he like it? Nope. Shawn placed his hands behind his neck and leaned back in his chair. So Magowan could watch his move.

To apologize was a sign of weakness, but Shawn had figured it was a way out. Shawn was not to lie either, so he was going to do what he had to do. He confessed. “Her beauty reminded me of my beloved wife who died from throat tumor. I was startled like a wild horse, you see. And back in Kentucky where I come from we never had this highly class establishment,” he paused looking over Esperanza he continued slowly. “My lady, I confess you look like much like my Elizabeth. I am sorry I offended you and Duke here. It was wrong for me being rude,” he added. This was what you call give what they want to survive. “If the offer still stands. I would like the misses to care my needs and I will pay generously,” That was painful because he was going to hurt him in pocket.

Doc was someone who looked familiar. Was he the same Doc he met way back near Virginia? He had to wait because this was about Duke and his people. He was not planning to get in more trouble. This Duke seemed a powerful man in this place.

“Yes, I am charmed by your accent,” he told her looking at her up and down. "You can tell me about yourself as we dance? And I will drown in the sound of your accent." He was curious about her.

[magowan]

Magowan returned to his place against the wall and turned his gaze back onto the crowd. The crowd of men had learned a long time ago that Magowan was a force to be reckoned with. All it took now, when there was a commotion or an argument all he had to do was cast his gaze upon the perpetrators and a calm came over the crowd. If there were to be a fight or an argument it was done somewhere else, out of the earshot and vision of the Blackbird.

[Esperanza]

"I was not insulted, Senor..." Smiling kindly at the man, she rose and moved over to his side, her fingers brushing his cheek. "I am flattered that you compare me to someone who must have been truly special." She felt a pang of sympathy for the man, wondering of anyone would ever feel that way about her...if perhaps Tom...

Taking a breath, she pushed that thought aside as she reached for the bottle of whisky, then took his hand. "Come, Senor, I will help you get cleaned up. I am Esperanza...it means 'Hope'.."

[Shawn Flanagan]

Esperanza was fun to listen too. Her Rs were well pronounced. The soft of her fingers was comforting. How he missed being touched by the opposite sex. “Yes, Eliza was special,” he replied to her. “You got her qualities, well, except your accent which is musical and different.”

It was too soon for Shawn to be swept off his feet but he could adore the Spanish lady. “Hope. That's beautiful, Esperanza,” he let her take his hand and they walked off. As they walked by Duke he nodded to the man. “Duke, I am finding her a delight.”

As they walked, Shawn turned to her. “There's a Irish song on someone like you,” he told her. He started to sing: (He has a good singing voice.)


As I came down through Dublin City, at the hour of twelve at night,
Who should I spy, but a Spanish Lady
Washing her feet by the candlelight
First she washed them,then she dried them
Over a fire of amber coals
In all me life I ne'er did see, a maid so sweet about the soul

Whack for the Too Rye Ooh Ray Lady,
whack for the Too Rye Ooh Rye Aye

As I came back through Dublin City at the hour of Half past Eight,
Who should I spy but the Spanish Lady,
brushing her hair in the broad daylight
First she brushed it , then she tossed it
On her lap was a silver comb
In all me life I ne'er did see, a maid so fair since I did roam.


Whack for the Too Rye Ooh Ray Lady,
whack for the Too Rye Ooh Rye Aye

As I returned to Dublin City, as the sun began to set
Who should I spy but a Spanish lady
Catching a moth, in a golden net.
First she saw me, then she fled me
Lifted her petticoats o'er her knee
In all me life I ne'er did see, a maid so fair as the Spanish Lady


Whack for the Too Rye Ooh Ray Lady,
whack for the Too Rye Ooh Rye Aye

Ive wandered North, and I have wonder South
Through Stoney Barter and Patricks Close
Up and around, by the Gloucester Diamond
And back by Napper Tandys' house
Auld age has laid her hands on me
Cold as a fire of ashy coals....
But, there is the love of me Spanish Lady, a maid so sweet about the soul


Whack for the Too Rye Ooh Ray Lady,
whack for the Too Rye Ooh Rye Aye

Whack for the Too Rye Ooh Ray Lady,
whack for the Too Rye Ooh Rye Aye

He was smiling to her and was giving her attention in this song.

When he was finished. "Its a song about an Irish man who was charmed by a Spanish lady," he shared to her.

[Duke]

{{OOC: Found this. Might help. I can just hear Shawn singing this to Esperanza. LOL!!

Spanish Lady by The Dubliners

Click Here---> www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdGJbsro3tI&feature=colike ))


As they walked by Duke he nodded to the man. “Duke, I am finding her a delight.”

Duke nodded with a smile on his face to Shawn as he walked away with Essie and began singing to her with his melodic Irish accent and then turned his attention to Doc.

"Esperanza is one of my best girls," he told the man. "Only those who can afford her can get a shot at her."

[anskee5]

"She is quite lovely," he watched Esperanza as she danced with Shawn. "I would like a crack at her, myself." He watched the two moving together in each others arms. "If I'm not right, sir, I do believe the man is smitten with the vixen," he laughed and coughed into his handkerchief.

"I want a percentage of the action, Duke. I mean from the tables. I do bring in a goodly amount of clientele who come to try their hand at poker hoping to be the one who beats the Doc, as one man put it. I know you and your ugly thug over there," he motioned with his head to where Magowan leaned against the wall, "split the difference 60-40. All I'm asking for is a minuscule 25%. And throw in that vixen you call Essie for good luck."

[Duke]

"It's more like 90 to 10," Duke told him. "No one knows now but you and me. Magowan thinks he's getting 25%. For all his brutish ways he's an imbecile when it comes to numbers."

Duke thought for a moment and considered Doc's offer. With Doc's fame and with so many people coming in to try their hand beating him Duke couldn't loose. Besides, this way he's keep any other saloons or bars from enticing him to work for them, something that could draw profits away.

"Done," he agreed and shook Doc's hand. "But you tell Magowan anything and I'll let him tear your head off just for the pleasure of watching. If the Undertaker doesn't take her tonight she's yours and anytime after that that you want her. I keep her only for my high rollers such as you."

[anskee5]

Doc shook Duke's hand. "Your secret is safe with me," he told him. Doc knew as long as he could stay a step ahead of Magowan that he could gun him down easily. For all his size Magowan was surprisingly quick and agile and he respected that. Besides, if the monster ever found out that he was only getting 10% of the winnings and Doc was getting 25% and Duke was getting 65% Magowan would probably rip both of their heads off.

"So, he's an undertaker, is he?" Doc watched the couple as they danced. "Interesting." He knew that the day would soon come that Shawn would be doing him a service if the disease that ravaged his body continued it's work. Then he watched Esperanza with a lecherous look. She was beautiful and shapely in all the right places. He was looking forward to making her his own. Very soon.

[Esperanza]

Esperanza smiled, hooking her arm into his as she started up the stairs. "I do not believe such a thing is possible, senor." She gave him a teasing glance then took on a dreamy expression. "Your voice is beautiful. It is not often that I am serenaded. I would return the favor, but it would pain your ears!" She laughed lightly then shrugged. "But I would be happy to dance with you, if you would like." She was more than happy to let him determine their course. Sex wasn't always a goal, some men just wanted the company of a woman, and she was fine with that.

[Shawn Flanagan]

Esperanza was a lady he had not encountered. She had a bit more grace than his own wife. Esperanza had grace like an angel. She was beautiful which Shawn would love to take her in his arms but he was capable to control himself. The way she moved was like she was on air. Some of the locals had been staring.

“My lady Esperanza, yes, lets dance,” replied Shawn. When they reached up the top of the stairs and he led her into the dance. He had placed his hands on the proper places and not playing any flirting games, yet. “You are like an Angel, Esperanza,” Shawn asked as they continued. His dark eyes was looking over her face. “You are young like a china doll,” he commented to her. His hand stroked her jawbone. Soft too, he noted.

“So, do you have dreams. Esperanza?” he asked her as he stepped with the beat leading her. Now he was wondering why such a woman was working in a establishment like this. Was she happy working here? Was she being treated well? Did she ever dream to get away?

[Esperanza]

"I dream," Esperanza commented with a smile as she danced along the narrow hall with the man, moving gracefully. It was one of the aspects of her profession that she truly enjoyed, and she had taken measures to learn as many as she could. The waltz was her favorite, it was romantic and made her feel elegant.

As she pressed closer to him, she closed her eyes and took on a dreamy expression. "I dream of floating in the clouds...of counting the stars and riding on the wind." Opening her eyes, she looked at him and shrugged. "What is life without dreams, si? Tell me your dreams, senor..."

[Shawn Flanagan]

“You are a first-rate dancer, Esperanza. Makes me want to dance with you all night long,” Shawn complimented her. In a way it was romantic that the two where dancing in the tight hallway. The walls where not going to move on them or away. How he admired a woman who knew the waltz and she was good. He started to be wild about her.

As she was closing her eyes, Shawn kept leading them in the dance as he listened to her. He was picturing what she was dreaming about.

“I dream about that my son and me on a picnic with my wife,” he told her but he did not mention that it was in the cemetery. He recently had dreams with his son and his wife at her tomb stone. He had not buried her yet, but he had too. He had always believed bury your own. His own brother who died from the Indians did not get his burial. They had to leave him behind because they where on a rush to get away.

He smiled sadly. “Esperanza, I am sorry. I can't help bringing up my Elizabeth. Elizabeth knew she was going to die soon, but sooner than she thought. That's death. Death is quieter any thief at night. With a whisper he steals those you love dearly. But she's in a better place. In a way it is beautiful but sad too.”

God, Shawn was missing her and he closed his eyes to keep a tear from falling down his cheek which it did. He quickly brought his hand up to wipe and he had small laugh because he was trying to hide the fact he was crying. “Silly me, men aren't suppose to be weak front of women,” he told her. It was true. He was supposed to show he was strong and he was a man. Men do not cry that's what his Pa told him everyday.

“I am Undertaker. Death is something I must handle with every day..I just wished my son did not have to deal with death so close,” he said moving closer to her. “I need a hug. Is that okay?” he asked as if he was a boy asking his mom to comfort him.

[Esperanza]

Grasping his hand, Esperanza tugged him the short distance to her room, pushing the door closed with her foot, so that he was away from any prying eyes. Then she pulled him against her, rubbing his back gently. "Shhh...you have nothing to be ashamed of or to apologize for."

Sighing, she started the dance again, but this time very slowly, a gentle sway of her hips, more of a comforting motion than anything provocative. "You have every right to remember her, how can you not? It is different, she is not a stranger, a face that is just part of your job." She couldn't imagine losing someone she loved then having to personally deal with the rest.

[Shawn Flanagan]

Having her small, warm body in his long, wirly arms was helping him feel peace with his own soul, mind and spirit. He was not feeling her up. The comfort, gentle touch of a woman's touch was what Shawn needed. It was the hug he gave to people who lost their loved ones. He was a undertaker by trade and nobody was there to hug him. An undertaker was a very lonely occupation when you lost a loved one.

That's when Shawn realized where they were in. It was her small, delicate bedroom or just a plain, working room with a bed in it. That sunk in Shawn's mind. “You work for Duke,” he asked slowly swaying with her. “What kind of work do you do?” was it a dumb question. In a way,yes, but Shawn wanted to hear it before he judge her.