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Post by anskee5 on Oct 25, 2012 18:13:40 GMT -8
After Duke left Doc looked at Esperanza. "Why are you still here, my Lady Hope? Duke doesn't care a thing about you nor me. All we are to him is a fast buck. But you are the one who pays the most. You are too much of lady for such a place as this. Whatever shall we do?"
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Post by Esperanza on Oct 25, 2012 21:32:07 GMT -8
"Do not worry about me, senor, I will be fine." Esperanza smiled and shrugged. "I have my means and perhaps a man, if that is what I choose. The money is good, and what more is there for a woman, no?" She laughed. "I will not do laundry and I cannot cook."
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Post by anskee5 on Oct 30, 2012 17:32:08 GMT -8
Doc chuckled at her reply. "I cannot do those things either, my beautiful Senorita, and yet I survive very well. Money can buy you much. New clothing, the best places to live, the fanciest foods, the best horses.
But there must be a man that holds your heart and is the reason you wait in such a place. But how much can he love you if he does not come and sweep you away from this life.
But you and I can sweep across this country from place to place enjoying the good things life has to offer. All the excitement that money can buy. I can take you to the big cities and tell everyone you are my woman. Mrs. John Henry Holliday, wife of the famed dentist and gambler. We will never have a dull moment. Plus, you will be out from under that fiend, Duke. Did you know that he is incognito? The reality of the man is much grimmer than the fantasy. He's a very dangerous man, miLady Hope. I fear for you. I fear for both of us.
We have both made a pact with the devil. Together we can break away from his silken bonds that hide hooks. When I get well we must leave together. The sooner the better."
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Post by Esperanza on Oct 31, 2012 17:15:53 GMT -8
"I..." Esperanza shook her head, frowning. "He tried, but I did not let him." Taking a breath, she leaned back and shook her head again. "I like you, Senor Holliday, but I....He is..."
damn, him, but Doc was making her think! And he was forcing her places she didn't want to go. "I am a simple girl, I do not need jewels and fancy clothes, I do not need a home..."
She let out a long sigh as she looked at Doc sadly. "I should go talk to him..."
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Post by anskee5 on Nov 2, 2012 12:15:29 GMT -8
"If he was any kind of a man he would be here right now? If he loved you like you think he does why has he left you behind here to work in such a place as this? As beautifully decorated and posh as the Blackbird is it is still nothing more than a fancy whore house."
"Duke is nothing more than a well dressed pimp and you are the tool that he uses to extracts his wealth. Reminds me of Biblical scripture of when an angel gathers the grape harvest of the earth and throws it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. The only difference is you are the grapes and Duke is the winepress. When he has squeezed all he can out of you he will toss you to the road side of life, nothing more than a dried husk of the beauty that you are."
"The man you think that loves you only visits when he has a need. He makes many promises but fulfills none of them. Tell me if I am wrong."
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Post by Esperanza on Nov 3, 2012 0:13:49 GMT -8
"No..." Esperanza shrugged, shaking her head. "It was me, Senor, I am the one who told him no." She frowned as she looked at Doc, finding it odd that suddenly there were two men in her life encouraging her to leave the business...and that she would willing go with either if she just allowed it.
"I'm sorry, I cannot go with you until I see Tom..." Her brow furrowed in sympathy, for certainly it must difficult for him to realize that he was her second choice, but then, it seemed, they were all damaged souls. "You understand?"
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Post by anskee5 on Nov 3, 2012 21:31:33 GMT -8
"Yes, I understand, sweet Hope. Go to him. Go see your Tom. Talk to him. See what he has to say. If you want to go with him than go. Just come back long enough to help me heal.
But, if he doesn't, we will go away together. I will take you San Francisco. There is great wealth and many things to do. And one more thing, If you become my wife Duke will unable to hold you here against your will.
You believe you can leave whenever you want to, but I know things you do not. If you try to leave on your own he will kill you. He will hunt you down and kill you. If you are with me, I can protect you, and I will."
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Post by Esperanza on Nov 8, 2012 20:59:54 GMT -8
"What do you mean, kill me?" Esperanza looked at him, not wanting to believe such a thing, but realizing the truth in it. "I am nobody," she scoffed, "what would he want with me? There are a dozen girls here, I do not think he even notices me."
Sighing, she bit her lip to keep from crying. "You do not think he'd..." It was best, what Doc was proposing, just to leave and not say anything to Tom...that way he could just hate her for disappearing, but he wouldn't be forced into a choice. But the thought of never seeing him again made her ill.
"I have to see him," she muttered, standing. "I will help you until you are well, but I need to see
Tom." At very least, he had her life savings, but that was just an excuse. Then she sighed. "I do not have a horse, it will take some time..."
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Post by anskee5 on Nov 9, 2012 15:45:57 GMT -8
"What do you mean, kill me? You do not think he'd..."
"Esperanza, do not sell the man short. Duke is as wicked as they come. You are a great source of money to him. Take that away and he will either drag you back here or kill you. I work for him and he has revealed much to me. You bring more money in that the other girls, and not just for your services. Many of the high rollers, including me, think you are good luck and many pay him extra just to have you sit by them or bring them drinks. You leave and his retribution will become a reality."
"I do not have a horse, it will take some time..."
"I have a horse. Use it to go see your rancher. Ask him to keep more of your money and, when I am better, we will leave.together. First place we'll go to is Chicago. If Duke shows up there his life has no value. He told me a secret --- a secret I am about to reveal to you."
He called her closer to him so he could speak quietly. "You see, he was found out in Chicago. His tricks-of-the-trade, so to speak, were discovered by the founding fathers and they set a gang of thugs onto him and nearly beat him to death. If he so much as steps a foot in the Windy City his life would be worthless.
Now you are in possession of the key to the door, so to speak. I have exposed his soft under belly to you. Now you have your power over him. If certain people caught wind of it here in Del Fuego Duke would be done for as he does the same things here. Even his constant companion, Magowan, could not save him like he did in Chicago. You hold that over his head he will allow you to leave for fear of being exposed."
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Post by Esperanza on Nov 12, 2012 18:26:59 GMT -8
Esperanza leaned against the door, hugging her arms around herself as she shook her head. "Unless he kills me," she muttered miserably. In all her life she had never gotten herself into such trouble and she wasn't sure what to do. She did know that, despite having a fondness for Doc, she would hate living in a big city like Chicago.
Sighing, she finally nodded to Doc, crossing over to kiss him lightly on the forehead. "You are a good man...I will come back."
With that, she headed down and found his horse, hoping that it was a gentle creature.
((Cont at the Ranch))
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