“I am sorry.” She grinned and bit her lip. “You are just too beautiful not to touch.”

Kindred ~ Anthony Ackrill She took her to an empty room in the back. It contained a big bathtub. It had been prepared especially for Maria. She stripped down and they took her outfit and cleaned it. She relaxed in the hot water, smoked a cigar and drank some mescal. She’d rest for a while and decided that now would be a good time to interrogate her escort.

“Tell me. Were there two men here in the past day? They would be from the south, wearing black boots to the knee and striped trousers. One had long moustaches and the other no hair on his face at all.”

“Oh, yes. They were here. They had a lot of money. They had some things to sell from a church.”

“And where are they?”

The woman was washing Maria’s back and becoming too friendly. Maria gently pushed her away and the escort blushed.

“I am sorry.” She grinned and bit her lip. “You are just too beautiful not to touch.”

Maria rinsed off and got out of the tub. “Come now, darling. Pay attention.” She dressed quickly so as not to distract the young whore. “Where did the two men go?”

“Oh, the saloon across the way. They’ve been drinking in there for the past two days. They are trying to gamble but no one will give them a game.”

Maria was now dressed in her fresh clothes. She looked at a clock on the wall and then outside. It was nearly midnight. This would be as good a time as any.

She gave the woman some money and kissed her cheek. “You’ve been good to me. Thank you, darling.” Maria's Trail