Crystal shivered and Dottie patted her hand.
"Don't fret. This isn't the first time Amy's behind has met up with Nettie's spoon and I doubt it will be the last. Follow the rules and you'll have nothing to worry about," Dottie whispered.
At least not from Nettie, Crystal thought. Jasper Montgomery was another story.
"I don't want any more of your nonsense," Nettie insisted. The smacks were still falling and Amy was pleading for all she was worth.
It was almost comical until Crystal recalled Jasper's hard hand this afternoon behaving much like a wooden implement. As she recollected, that hadn't been a bit funny.
"Crystal is new here and I expect she hasn't had life easy. You treat her kindly, you hear me?"
"Yes, ma'am, yes, ma'am I will. I was only teasing," Amy wailed.
"Less teasing and more caring will do nicely. Now you get on out there and make your apologies and you'd best do me proud, Miss Amy," Nettie warned.
Within seconds Amy appeared at Crystal's side, tears running down her cheeks.
"I most humbly apologize for being so nosey and teasing you, Crystal. Please forgive me," she continued, wiping her eyes on her sleeve.
"Of course I do," Crystal said rising and enfolding Amy in her arms. They hugged for several moments before Crystal whispered in Amy's ear.
"Jasper spanked me last night and today," she admitted softly, "so I know how you feel."
"He did?" Amy whispered back. "Maybe he's not quite as appealing as I thought."
Crystal giggled and gave Amy a conspiratorial wink as she released her.
"Who wants chocolate cake?" Nettie asked returning to the dining room.
Crystal noticed Nettie gave the biggest piece to Amy.
Chapter Seven
At the last moment, Crystal exchanged her red petticoat for a pink one before going downstairs. She was still a bit sore, both from last night and Jasper's spanking this afternoon. The thoughts of another man's hands touching her in intimate places made her feel slightly nauseated and she tried to convince herself it was because she'd eaten too much at dinner.
Jasper also breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the bright pink flashing from beneath her silvery dress. Settling into a game of poker, he kept his eye on her as she made the rounds. At times she was nearly mobbed by overeager men and his heart raced until she managed to extricate herself and move on.
Crystal made a point of speaking with each man. He now knew why. She was trying to find the voice that haunted her dreams. He lost count of the number of trips she made to the bar for drinks and the times her face grimaced when some clumsy miner stepped on her toes as he whirled her around the dance floor. Twice she was grabbed in a rough way, but before he could rise from his chair, Gabe was clamping a big hand on the man's shoulder and freeing her from his grasp.
It was nerve wracking to say the least, watching her being pawed and manhandled and unable to put a stop to it. As she said, this was the life she chose and short of kidnapping her, his hands were tied. He did notice that she paid particular attention to one man in particular. A scruffy old trapper with a long, full beard seemed to draw her again and again. They talked many times throughout the evening and it seemed as though Clem was teasing him as his round cheeks blushed scarlet. Several times Clem was laughing too and he decided that would never happen if she thought for a moment he was the man who'd killed her father.
All in all, Jasper had a terrible night. He lost several hundred dollars and realized he would have made out better if he just paid Crystal a hundred dollars a night for the use of her delicate body. It was a thought that made more sense to him as the night wore on and he lost hand after hand. He simple couldn't concentrate and watch her at the same time.
By the end of the night, her hair was hanging down her back, having long ago been bounced out of its swept up style and she was limping. The music had given him a headache, what little whiskey he'd drunk lay burning in his gut and he was exhausted. Crystal obviously was too and, making an instant decision, he excused himself from the table of stragglers that were left.
Striding across the room, he turned her around to face him and then picked her up in his arms and crossed the room.
"You can't do this," she sighed as she wrapped her arm around his neck and rested her cheek on his shoulder. "I'm wearing pink tonight."
"I don't give a damn if you're wearing shit brindle brown. You've had enough for one night and I'm so tired I couldn't win a hand of cards if I were playing with three blind men. We're going to bed. Night, Gabe," he called over his shoulder as he started up the stairs.
"Night," Gabe replied with a grin, wrapping his arm around Jewel.