by Livia Grant
That lasted three minutes until she was approached by a foul smelling man asking how much she charged for a roll in the sack. She took off running in the opposite direction, unsure where she’d end up at the end of the night and hoping it wasn’t dead.
Chapter Two
Culpepper Cove, California
August, 1850
“I can’t eat another bite. Nettie, you outdid yourself tonight.” Charlie Walker pushed the empty plate away as he finished the delicious dinner prepared by the official chef and unofficial mother-hen of the Red Petticoat Saloon. His eyes caught Nettie’s across the table, noticing her beaming pride at feeding her flock yet again.
“Well, I sure hope you saved room for birthday cake. I made an enormous chocolate cake with chocolate frosting in honor of the birthday girl.”
There was a larger group eating together tonight than a normal Monday night. The table full of current and past gems burst out clapping for Della Norwood.
No longer a gem, Della and her husband Dr. Anson Norwood returned to have dinner with the rowdy crew of the Red Petticoat at least once a week, which suited Charlie fine. He thought of Della as the little sister he’d never been fortunate enough to have. Nothing made him happier than seeing her joyfully married to the town doctor.
They were lucky her birthday fell on a Monday, their quietest night at the Red Petticoat. It gave some of the gems and even Charlie the opportunity to take the occasional night off.
“It’s time to sing some songs together so we can cut the cake. Charlie, will you do the honors?” Ophelia clapped her hands to draw everyone’s attention. Loving chocolate as she did, he knew she couldn’t wait to cut into the cake.
“Of course, as long as everyone helps sing.”
Charlie left the huge dining table to take his seat on the bench of his new Fischer upright piano. Business had been so bountiful that Jewel had insisted on upgrading recently. He couldn’t wait until the end of the week when he expected a shipment of brand new sheet music to arrive at the mercantile.
The crowd of friends gathered around behind him and together they belted out their favorite songs in honor of Della, formerly known as Citrine to her previous customers. Now she was not only a wife, but also a mother to her baby son, Anson Junior, as well as a mother to Stone, Anson’s half-breed son, who was presently dragging his finger through the chocolate frosting.
Nettie caught him red handed. “All right, you. Take your fingers out of your ma’s cake!” He giggled, running away in time to miss her playful swat aimed at his bottom.
The gems may be afraid of Nettie’s notorious wooden spoon, but Stone didn’t seem fazed by the cook’s warning. He knew like everyone else that she was a softie where kids were concerned.
After they’d sung a few rowdy renditions, Dottie did the honors cutting the cake, making sure everyone received their slice while Ophelia, otherwise known as Opal to her customers, tried to sneak a second slice.
Madame Jewel teased her. “Gabe, what’s the punishment for stealing seconds on the cake before everyone is served? Does that warrant a session with your belt?”
Giggles raced around the table through all the gems. Well, all except Opal that is. She’d been on the receiving end of a Gabriel discipline session often enough to know it wasn’t something she wanted to risk. She slid the small plate of seconds back onto the table with a pout.
Gabe teased Nettie. “See that? Avoiding my belt is more important than eating your cake. I win.”
The dark-skinned woman muttered unintelligible words under her breath, most likely in her native Creole before looking Gabe in the eye. “I wasn’t aware we were in a contest, young man, but I assure you if it comes down to it, the gems would risk your belt for many of my creations.”
“Is that so?” he teased, good-naturedly.
The gems all played along. “I don’t know, Nettie. We really hate his belt.”
“I see. So you all won’t mind me never making my jambalaya again. Or how about my beef stew on a cold winter’s night. And I’m sure you won’t miss my buttermilk biscuits at breakfast tomorrow. Perhaps I should start making the same gruel each morning, noon and night. We’ll see how long you last.”
Charlie watched from the piano bench as the fun drama played out among his good friends. Not for the first time he gave a small thanks to the universe for delivering him to his new family. And that was exactly how he felt in regards to the wonderful group of people he found himself living and working with each day.
They were family.
It wasn’t that he didn’t have his own family, of course, but he’d never had even one day of fun with them, at least not that he remembered. Not like the days he had here in Culpepper Cove.
Growing up the youngest of four brothers of a blacksmith in Tennessee had not been easy for a boy who loved to make music. His mother had done all in her power to introduce him to some of the finer things in the world. Life in Tennessee had been bearable when his beloved mother was alive. But that changed the day she lost her battle to scarlet fever five years ago.
One day after her funeral his father sold the family piano and harpsichord, announcing those were for sissies and it was time for his nineteen-year-old son to grow up and be a real man.
The second day after her funeral Charlie had been forced to go to the family blacksmith shop to begin his apprenticeship with his father and brothers. He had hated the work and took it as a sign he didn’t belong there when his left hand had been injured and his father had said it was proof his piano playing days were over.
The third day after her funeral, Charlie had packed every penny he’d saved up over the years along with a few clothes and his sheet music, stuffing it all into a small traveling bag. He’d hopped on one of the paddleboats that went up and down the Cumberland River, spending the next two years entertaining on various riverboats, scratching out a living doing exactly what he loved to do—making music.
Only the lure of the wild west could tempt him to make the trip across the great plains three years ago and he’d called California home ever since.
“Let’s do some more singing! Charlie, play us something fun.”
He broke out into a smile, happy to stop his internal trip down memory lane. “Something fun. You mean like this?” His fingers flew over the pearly ivory keys, pounding out one of the gems’ favorites—Camptown Races followed by Oh! Susanna and then their favorite, Take Your Time Miss Lucy.
By the time they’d finished singing, the birthday girl looked tired and ready to go home.
Charlie gave Della a tight hug farewell. “Did you have a wonderful birthday?”
The joyous tears in her eyes were his answer. “I never dreamed I could be this happy, Charlie. Remember how bad life was for us back in San Francisco? Who knew Anson was here, waiting for me?”
“I’m delighted for you, Della. You deserve to be happy.”
“Well, now we need to start working on finding you your own special somebody. She’s out there. I know it.”
Charlie chuckled. “Why in the world would I want to settle down with only one woman when I have a whole passel of gems who love me?” The funny thing was, he meant it.
Unlike many men his age who yearned to settle down, he hadn’t caught that particular bug. Being surrounded by fun-loving women who all seemed to care about him suited him perfectly.
Della lowered her voice to keep her young son from hearing. “Getting a different gem to scrub your back each week is going to turn old. You wait and see.”
The mention of his Monday night bath had his cock waking up as if it knew it was almost time to come out and play.
“You’re just jealous that I never let you scrub my back.”
“Ewww. That’s gross. You’re like my brother.” Della swatted his arm playfully.
“Yeah, well the other gems all call me their brother too,” he countered.
“Trust me. They all know good and well you aren’t their brother. Between your bath time fun and th
e spankings you’ve given them all on the bare when Gabe wasn’t available, not one of them thinks of you as a brother.”
“Maybe that’s best, considering it is Monday night.”
Della rolled her eyes. “All right, I’m leaving. You have your fun, but mark my words, one day you’re gonna want to settle down and I’m going to enjoy watching you trip all over yourself trying to impress some lady friend who isn’t going to appreciate your carefree approach to back scrubbing.”
She stood on her tippy-toes to place a platonic kiss on his cheek before scooting off to join her husband and son as Anson took a plate of leftover cake from Nettie.
The feel of warm arms wrapping around his waist from behind grabbed his attention away from the birthday girl. “So, Charlie. It’s Monday night. You picked someone to scrub your back yet?”
It had been a couple months since Opal had offered to help him bathe. She usually spent her Monday free time with John Harrison who liked to spend Opal’s day off in bed with the gem of his dreams.
Her closest friend Amy had joined them. “No fair. It’s my turn to help with Charlie’s bath this week.”
“Oh I don’t think so. It’s been months since I scrubbed his back.”
“That’s because you were too busy scrubbing John’s back.”
“Yeah, well he’s been away in San Francisco getting a load of supplies.”
“What, so that means you deserve to cut in line?” Amy retorted good-naturedly.
Charlie couldn’t help but grin at their playful spat. “Ladies. Ladies. Let’s not fight over me. As luck would have it, my front and back both need a deep cleaning. I’m very dirty this week. I’m sure I could keep you both busy.”
The gems’ eyes sparkled with mischief. “That could be fun, I guess.” Opal snuggled closer.
Gabe and Jewel had been sitting close enough to listen in on their conversation. Gabriel burst out laughing so hard he choked on the lemonade he’d been drinking. Jewel patted him on his back while she fought back her own giggles.
When Gabe could finally speak he razzed his friend. “It’s some life you lead, Charlie. Be careful. We’ve got a lot of new girls. Be sure you aren’t creating any hard feelings with anyone being left out of your back scrubbing club.”
Charlie grinned. “Oh, no worries. I’d be happy to add a second or even a third bath each week if I need to in order to keep everyone happy. That’s how dedicated I am to helping keep the peace around here.” Amy was snuggling in closer, anxious to start.
Jewel couldn’t resist. “I just bet you would. How magnanimous of you.”
“Isn’t it?” He looped his left arm around Opal and his right around Amy. “Let’s go ladies.”
The threesome made their way down the long hallway on the first floor, past his own bedroom to the large indoor bathroom that serviced both guests and employees. Monday evening after dinner was Charlie’s dedicated bath time. He’d never loved baths as much as he did now that he lived at the Red Petticoat Saloon.
The second the door closed behind the three of them, the gems went into action, disrobing their piano player and friend. As usual, his cock was jutting out at attention before they had the last of his clothes off. He groaned as he pressed down a familiar temptation. In many ways, his private time with the gems was like a slow torture thanks to his self-imposed rules. While all participants may eventually find their release, true intercourse and kissing were strictly off-limits. He knew such intimacies would only lead to confusing feelings.
As soon as he had his clothes off, he set about taking the buckets of hot water off the fire already roaring in the room and started filling the largest of the tubs while the girls had fun undressing each other. He used the pump to fill the buckets again, putting additional pails on the fire to warm.
Opal hopped in first, sinking low into the warm water. “Oh, this feels heavenly. Come on in!”
Before joining her, he took some of the expensive scented oils he had purchased for the gems to enjoy and poured it liberally into the tub. The scent of lavender and honey filled the room and he saw how the fragrance pleased his companions.
“You have the best bath products. I forgot what I was missing by skipping bath time with you.”
He chuckled. “No offense taken. Me, you don’t miss. Only my bath oils.”
Opal had the grace to blush, her brunette hair piled in a mess atop her head, keeping it dry. “You know what I meant,” she teased.
“Indeed I do. Move your legs.” Charlie stepped into the water, sitting in front of her, presenting his tanned back for her to scrub while Amy took the final seat in the large tub, facing Charlie. It took her a few minutes to weave her legs through the pile of arms and legs twisted together in the bath.
Six hands went to work, soaping and scrubbing—petting and stroking—priming them each for the release that was to come.
The game was the same week to week. He started by making sure he and his companion of the week were squeaky clean before the fun began. Tonight they would have double the cleaning and double the fun.
“I don’t understand.” Opal’s small hands were stroking his chest and tight abdomen muscles from behind. “How do you stay so fit sitting at the piano all the time?”
“Who do you think chops all that wood in the back yard?” he retorted.
“I never once saw you chopping wood back there,” Amy protested.
“Yeah, well you never once got up before ten in the morning, now did you? Some of us have a half-day’s work in before you girls all rise and shine.”
Opal pinched his nipple as a form of punishment for his remark. Little did she know, he liked it.
“I resent that. We work hard into the night. We need our beauty rest.”
“Listen, I get it, but I don’t exactly go to sleep with the cows either. I’m usually playing until midnight on weekdays and at least two in the morning on the weekends, but I’m still able to roll out of bed in time for breakfast most days and to help Nettie with some of her chores.”
“Well la-de-da. But if those chores keep you looking this solid, I say keep it up.” Amy’s hand slipped from stroking his shoulders, slowly downward until she dipped under the cooling water. He saw the fire in her eyes just before he felt her small hand grasp his erection under the water. He couldn’t stop his moan of satisfaction as she started stroking his length slowly from base to tip, sloshing water with the motion.
Both of Opal’s hands were grasping his chest from behind. An all out groan escaped as she pinched both nipples, harder this time.
“I know you like it when I do that, don’t you?”
Considering he was close to shooting his load prematurely, there was no use denying it. “Hell, yes, but you’d better stop. You know the rules.”
Opal giggled as she hugged him from behind, pressing her cheek against his wet back. “Why do you think I volunteered to scrub your back? I love your rules.”
Charlie chuckled as he took charge. “That’s very naughty of you. Here I thought you were doing it out of the kindness of your heart and I find out it’s about yourself all along. I think that deserves a bit of a punishment, don’t you Amy?”
“Oh, yes. I think so. She’s been very naughty since John’s been away.”
Opal played along with the game they all knew they were enjoying by pouting. “I can’t help it if I feel neglected. A girl has certain needs, you know.”
Amy rubbed closer until Charlie felt like he was part of the best sandwich ever. Wiggling, soft bodies surrounded him, hands stroking and lips nipping. He would explode under water if he wasn’t on guard.
“All right, that’s enough scrubbing. I declare us all clean. Time to finish Opal’s punishment so we can move on to more fun activities.”
Charlie pushed to his feet, letting the water sluice down his body into the tub as the women took their opportunity to grope him while he reached for the top towel on the stack next to the tub. He stepped out onto the plush rug meant to absorb the excess wat
er of the patrons. He toweled off while watching the girls slide closer to the center of the tub.
The sight of the sexy women each soaping the other’s heavy breasts, squeezing and pinching until both were squirming with pent up need was an aphrodisiac like he’d never seen. He might need to turn this threesome bath time into a regular gig if it was going to be this much fun.
He took a minute to watch as the best friends pleasured each other, letting his imagination run wild as to how much fun it would be to watch Dottie and Sapphire take their place the next week followed by the two newest gems, Onyx and Diamond the week after.
He fought the urge to wrap his own hand around his erection. He had to do that plenty nights after watching the gems flirting with customers, priming them all for their paid time upstairs. Most nights Charlie had to relieve his own pent up tension with his left hand and a small cloth kept in his bedside table. He’d be damned if he’d waste his Monday night fun on self-pleasure.
“Stand up, both of you. It was very naughty of you to start without me. I think you’ve both earned a hard licking. Jump out and dry each other off.”
His friends each grew serious, understanding their playtime role-play was coming to a close. It was time to get down to business. The business of sexual pleasure. After all, that was the specialty of the house and they all knew it.
The Red Petticoat Saloon contained many unique qualities. The massive indoor bathing room alone was rare, but considering the normal happenings of the space included much more than simple bathing, Charlie loved that it was equipped for many extra curricular activities.
For example, there was a large enema bag and chamber pot the ladies were encouraged to use before visits of customers who had particular proclivities where having a squeaky clean bottom might prove beneficial. Knowing most of the girls only entertained that particular sport out of duty, Charlie had never asked his gems to partake in a thorough anal cleansing.
Instead, his favorite extra he employed in his Monday night bath was the heavy duty spanking bench that he and Gabe had built soon after they’d opened the saloon. They’d made two, much to the ladies’ chagrin.