Chapter Three
Doc took his seat at his table alongside Raymond; Kiddum; Lia’s friend, Patrick Walker; Justin Smythe; Klomin from the Gold Strike tables; and a few other people he didn’t know the names of.
“Talk about a stacked table,” Doc chuckled as he took his seat on Jasmine’s left.
Jasmine shook her head. “I don’t appreciate that kind of comment anymore.”
Doc blinked, then chuckled. “Sorry. A stacked table is a table with a lot of good players at it, Jasmine. I didn’t mean that to sound like it did.”
Jasmine cleared her throat. “I apologize.”
“No fault, no foul,” Doc replied.
“I don’t think I’ve seen you before,” Kiddum said, eyeing Doc.
“Doc Holyday. I’m relatively new to town. Only been here about a month.”
“He’s played at the Gold Strike,” Klomin said. “Good player.”
Kiddum nodded. “I’ve played against Klomin. If he says you’re good, I’ll keep my eye on you.”
“I’ll try not to disappoint.”
“We’ve finished accepting players. We fell short of the maximum,” Lia announced. “Eighty-one players are in. Can I have the tenth seat of each table move to the ninth table, please? That will start you all even. As for payouts, we have three thousand for first place, two thousand for second, one thousand for third, and five hundred for fourth. Dealers, the time is now. Shuffle up and deal.”
A commotion about the payouts went around the room, but Lia had still been clearly audible to everyone. Jasmine gave the table a broad smile as she opened the new pack of cards.
Sliding the dealer button in front of Doc, she addressed the table, “Good luck to you all. This is no-limit hold’em. Due to the fact that there’s no limit to your bets, you’ll have to be clear when you bet or raise. The big blind is a dollar, and the small is fifty-cents. Any questions?”
“Are you available after the tournament?” Kiddum asked, his smile pulling at the scar and making him look deranged.
“I’m no longer on the menu,” Jasmine said evenly. “As it is, every dealer will be occupied well into the evening.”
Kiddum snorted. “Uppity beast, aren’t you? Should be glad a real person is showing an interest.”
Doc frowned minutely, but he kept his mouth shut. Jasmine gave him a frosty look, though when she spoke, she said civilly, “The proprietors of the establishment have told all of us that if we’re verbally abused, they’d be glad to have that person ejected and banned.”
Kiddum’s smile vanished and he glared at Jasmine. “Have it your way. Just deal.”
Doc made a mental note to ask Lia about what rules she had in place, as he hadn’t been aware of that rule. As Jasmine dealt the first hand, he found himself looking at a two-seven off suit. When the bet came around to him, after being raised by Kiddum, he silently folded.
“Not going to play?” Kiddum snickered.
“I don’t stay in with broken trash,” Doc replied with a shrug. “Considering your bet, I’m guessing a pair or high-suited run.”
Kiddum’s eyelid twitched. “You’ll just have to wait and see.”
The hand progressed, with Kiddum the last one standing— he’d bet big on the flop, driving the others out. Raking in his modest pot, Kiddum laughed and ordered a whiskey from the server when she came over.
“So, Holyday, what do you do?” Kiddum asked as Jasmine collected the cards and began to shuffle.
“I’m the owner of Luck’s Holdings,” Doc replied.
“Never heard of you.”
“We just started up a short time ago.”
“Doesn’t say much, does it?” Kiddum asked Smythe, nudging the other man.
“I believe he’s the reason all the dwarves left the mines,” Smythe said.
“They just found a different mine to work at,” Doc shrugged. “It just so happens that they work for Luck’s Holdings now.”
Kiddum frowned. “You wanted to work with those short, shifty fuckers?”
“Hard-working and industrious workers, you mean?” Doc asked. “Yes. When it comes to mining, you’d be hard-pressed to find people more knowledgeable than them.”
“What I haven’t heard is where this mine is or what you’re pulling out,” Smythe said. “Considering all the dwarves that left, it’d have to be gold or better.”
Doc chuckled as he checked his newly dealt hand and saw a pair of aces. “It was gold mostly, though we did find a small vein of mythrium.”
Smythe snorted. “They’ve been looking for that since this town was founded. We’ve seen no signs that there’s even a small vein in the area. They must’ve gone mad, but they do say dwarves would sell their mothers for a single ounce of that metal.”
Doc’s lips twitched, but instead of replying, he waited for the bet to come around to him. Raymond raised it before Doc could.
“Hmm… I’d have to go three dollars with this,” Raymond said when the bet came around to him.
Kiddum checked his cards again before mucking them to Jasmine. “I guess even I won’t play every hand.”
“Must have had what I did last time,” Doc said. Smythe called Raymond, but didn’t raise the bet. The others between Smythe and Doc folded. “Three to me. That’s a good place to start, but let’s make it ten instead.” Doc pushed the single ten-dollar chip in.
The next few people folded, until it came back around to Raymond. Raymond stared at Doc for a long moment before sighing, “Still can’t get a read on you. Fold.”
Smythe snorted, “No one else have balls?” Kiddum shifted in his seat and Smythe cleared his throat. “I guess it’s just us, Holyday.”
“If you call,” Doc replied.
“Raise, instead,” Smythe smirked. “Let’s say... fifty.”
Doc just sat there as Jasmine took the bet into the pot. He watched Smythe, but didn’t see anything to indicate what the man might have. “Fifty it is.” He slid four more ten-dollar chips forward.
“Surprised you stayed in. Maybe you have guts, after all,” Smythe laughed.
“Two heads-up into the flop,” Jasmine said as she burned the next card before dealing three into the middle of the table. With a glance at the players, she flipped the three cards over for all to see.
Doc didn’t react when he saw another ace, as there was also a king and queen— all suited— now staring up from the board. Smythe shifted a fraction, his face impassive.
“Smythe, the bet is yours,” Jasmine said.
“Huh. It was good enough last time,” Smythe said as he counted out fifty and slid them forward.
Doc’s mind raced as he considered what Smythe might have and what the shift in his seat could have indicated. Maybe picked up trips with the king or queen…? He might have a pair with one of them and a decent high card, or he has the last ace and one of them. Worst case for him is if he has another pair and the board fucked him, but that might’ve given him a flush out.
“Doc, it’s fifty to you,” Jasmine prompted as he sat there in silence.
“Fifty was good before that hit the board,” Doc said evenly. “Now, it’s a different game.” He watched Smythe as he talked. The other man’s eyes darted to the board, clearly doing the math on what Doc might have. “Let’s make it a nice even one hundred.” Picking up one of the hundred-dollar chips he had, he pushed it in.
Smythe thought about it before shaking his head and tossing his cards to Jasmine. “No. Too many outs for you.”
Doc just shrugged and waited for Jasmine to slide the chips to him. “Same might’ve been true for you,” he said once the pot had been declared his and he started to stack his new chips up.
“Aren’t afraid to go up against it? Good,” Kiddum nodded. “Man needs to have a fucking set on him.”
Smythe bristled, but clearly wasn’t about to call Kiddum out.
~*~*~
Play continued for another hour, with Doc staying out of most hands unless he had a truly good pocket pair. T
he nameless players dropped one by one until only Kiddum, Smythe, Walker and Raymond were left, leaving Doc as the short stack at the table.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Lia called out from the bar, “we’re going to call for a fifteen-minute break as we rearrange the tables and up the blinds. Please take this time to refresh yourselves. Dealers, secure your tables.”
As everyone rose to go use the outhouses, Doc stayed seated. When it was just him and Jasmine, he exhaled. “How’re you holding up?”
“This is more nerve-wracking than I had anticipated,” Jasmine replied.
“Because of Kiddum?”
“I keep waiting for him to call one of you out,” Jasmine nodded.
“Won’t be me,” Doc told her.
“Doc, do you have a moment?” Lia asked after approaching them silently.
“For you, always,” Doc said as he got to his feet.
Following Lia through the door behind the bar, he took a seat in her office and waited for her to say what was bothering her.
“I heard Goodman came to speak with you.”
“He did. He knows and is unhappy, but he looks like he’s going to wait a bit to move.”
“Did he ask for anything?”
“About my interest in the Lily.”
Lia exhaled softly. “And?”
“I told him I had no interest in selling, though I did slow play him and hint I might in the future, but between us, I’d never give him the satisfaction.”
Lia’s lips twitched. “I see.”
“Why does he want it so badly?” Doc asked.
“This building was the first to be built in town. It sits on the site of my clan’s tribal hall. This is the nexus of nature energy that runs through this valley.”
“Ah,” Doc said, but it was clear he didn’t understand.
“Doc… you aren’t from here, are you?”
“No,” Doc said, deciding to go for honesty. “I was brought here by Luck.”
“Another world?”
“Yes, and no…” Doc scrubbed at his face for a second. “This world is similar to a period of history from my world... well, minus the elves, dwarves, magic, and stuff. My world only had humans and animals. No bestials, either.”
“The game I’ve introduced to them?”
“Hold’em? It’s a type of poker from my world. One of the most popular, in fact.”
“I see. That’s why you were so certain it would work.”
“Yeah.”
“This is what you wanted to speak with me about earlier? The fact you are from a different world?”
Doc winced. “Yes and no, again.” Swallowing, he went to stand a few feet away from her. “You called me human, and I know I look like one. I made sure I did when Luck granted me a new body, but I’m not human at all, not since I came here. I’m a half-elf and half-dwarf.”
Lia blinked at him. “That’s why you’ve been able to survive the dryad?”
“Maybe, but that was more the healing I got from Luck.”
Lia reached out and touched his ear gently, feeling the cartilage. “Yes, I can feel it now.” After a second, she snatched her hand back like it’d been burned, her cheeks heating. Turning away, she snapped her fan open and fanned herself. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to do that.”
Doc coughed, as the sensation of her delicate fingers touching his ear had brought him to full attention, and he hadn’t expected that. “Um, yeah. It’s fine.”
“Is this why you’ve been okay with my girls and making deals with the dwarves?”
“No. That’s because I don’t have the prejudices that people from this world have. Hell, on my old world, there was a whole section of people that wanted to be with elves, dwarves, or bestials. I’ll admit I was part of that group.”
“I see,” Lia said, still facing away from him. “Does anyone else know?”
“Not even Fiala, but I was going to tell her soon. I can’t have the important people in my life not knowing.”
“Important people...” Lia murmured. “You value honesty and don’t want to hurt those you care for?”
“Honesty, trust, and communication should be the pillars of any relationship, be it personal or business,” Doc said. “I’ve always thought that, even when it’s cost me relationships or a job.”
“I see. I… maybe later. I shouldn’t keep you,” Lia said, still facing away from him.
“Sure,” Doc said, picking up on how awkward the moment was for her. He headed for the door, but couldn’t help himself. “Lia, when you led me through your room the other night… umm… I have the vision of a dwarf. I’m sorry.” Shutting the door behind him, he exhaled and went for the front of the building. Okay... hope she’s not going to be too mad about that, but I need to focus on the tournament.
Chapter Four
Doc rolled his neck when the next break was called. Four hours in, and the field had been reduced to eighteen people. He hadn’t expected Lia to break up the table he’d been at during the beginning, but he’d been glad for it.
As the afternoon wore on, Doc managed to slowly chip away the people at each different table he’d been to. He didn’t win a pot big enough to cause a commotion, unlike Raymond, Smythe, and Kiddum, who’d all pushed all-in multiple times.
Lotus gave Doc a wink when he went past her. She was serving drinks, no longer dealing since the field had dwindled. Doc gave her a grin and looked for Fiala, but didn’t see her in the room.
“More of an endurance tournament than I expected,” Kiddum said from behind Doc.
“Hold’em is all about endurance at the table,” Doc said as they both headed for the trio of outhouses behind the Lily, “though you’re the chip leader, or close to it, from the commotion I’ve been hearing.”
“Been having a good run,” Kiddum replied. “I’m surprised you’re still in, considering where you were during the first break.”
“I was able to rebuild some once I got away from the three big stacks.”
“Only two tables left. Probably be seeing you after this break.”
“It’s possible, but I hope not. I’d like to see the final table,” Doc laughed.
“Even if you do, I’ll still be taking the win,” Kiddum replied.
~*~*~
Doc had just made it back to the front of the Lily when Otto called out to him, “Doc! A moment, please?”
Doc turned to the barber, who was not dressed in his usual attire. “What’s the matter?”
“Nothing. I have word back from the elders. They settled on the eighth for the rite. Just come to my shop in the morning, and don’t eat anything before you do.”
“They agreed? I didn’t expect to hear back from you this soon.”
“The clan owes you too much for it not to be handled swiftly. I’ll see you then.”
“I’ll be there,” Doc said, clapping Otto on the shoulder. “Thanks for helping me out.”
Otto’s smile became strained. “Doc… very few non-dwarves survive the rite. I know you have a few things that might help, but… I’ll pray for you.”
Doc felt that same tug at his conscience he’d felt with Lia and nodded. “After the rite is over, I should probably talk to the elders.”
“They expect to speak with you then, anyway,” Otto said. “They have to for the rite to be completed correctly.”
“Oh, before I forget— who would you recommend seeing about having the Lily expanded and attached to the building beside it?”
Otto paused, sucking at his teeth. “You’d want the best, which means the Beavertons. Lia knows them.”
“I’ll talk with her about it. Thanks, again.”
“Thank me after the rite,” Otto said somberly.
“I will then, as well,” Doc said. “Have a good day.”
“Good day, Doc.”
Walking into the gambling hall, Doc was stopped by Fiala. “Doc, you’re at table one with Jasmine again. First seat.”
“That works for me,” Doc said. “How’d yo
u do today?”
“Fine. I was the one giving the dealers a rest after the first break.”
“Except for my table,” Doc said.
“To make sure no one can complain,” Fiala nodded.
“I hope this doesn’t run all night, but it might. Don’t feel like you need to wait up for me. I’ll wake you when I come to bed.”
Cashing In (Luck's Voice Book 2) Page 3