"He can be trusted. That man plays his cards close to his chest. I'll make a point of mentioning it to him. Are you planning on working tonight? I'm sure Jewel will understand if you need a couple of days, given the circumstances."
"No, I don't want any special treatment. I think it's best if I settle into my new life as quickly as possible."
"Suit yourself," Citrine replied with a shrug. "Supper is at 4:00 in the dining room. You'll meet the other gems then. I imagine by now there are some clothes for you in the armoire. Just put on something comfortable. After dinner some of the girls will come up and help you get dressed for tonight. See you in a while."
***
The enormity of what she was doing suddenly swamped her and she sank onto the bed. Of all the places she imagined she'd end up, a brothel was not one of them. The school teacher from West Virginia figured she would marry one day, have a passel of children and a strong, devoted husband. Giving herself to one man was one thing, selling herself to whoever had the coin was another.
Not that she blamed the women working here. She'd found out first-hand how quickly a woman's circumstances could change. Life was moving very fast, it seemed. One minute she was teaching school, going home to the cabin in the foot hills of the Appalachians each night, and the next she was on a wagon train headed west. One moment she was panning for gold and the next she was taking her father's body to town for burial.
Tomorrow she would grieve she decided, wiping the tears from her cheeks as she stood.
Removing the pistol from her bag she slipped it under her mattress. Today she had to secure her position in the one place her father's murderer was most likely to show up, The Red Petticoat Saloon.
The clothes in her dresser and armoire were a revelation. There were stockings, corsets and a few other underthings she'd never seen before. Several dresses hung there as well along with both a red and a pink petticoat. One dress in particular caught her eye. It was nearly iridescent, gray with streaks of silver and trimmed in black lace. Holding it up to her she realized it left her shoulders and the tops of her bosom bare and Clem wondered how on earth she'd be able to hold it up. Sadly, she put the lovely garment aside and noted the stark black mourning gown. She made a mental note to thank Madam Jewel for her thoughtfulness. It would come in handy tomorrow as would the black hat and veil on the upper shelf.
***
Clem went downstairs wearing a simple blue dress with tiny white flowers. Her hair hung down her back in one long braid. Quickly she made her way through the bar, where Gabe sent her an encouraging smile, and entered the dining room, drawn by laughter and the enticing smells.
"Good, you're prompt," Jewel said. "Ladies, I'd like you to meet Crystal, the newest employee of The Red Petticoat. Please make her feel welcome and offer her any assistance she may require.
"Crystal, this is Opal, Amethyst, Peridot, and you've already met Citrine. I hope you found your room comfortable?" Jewel asked as she waved Crystal to a seat at the table.
"Oh, yes, ma'am. It's quite lovely. Thank you."
"This is Nettie," Jewel continued as a woman came from a side door carrying a tray. "Come on, don't just sit there like bumps on a log," the woman scolded. "Give me a hand. Opal, go and get the rice, and Amy you grab those pitchers of sweet tea and start filling these glasses. I swear," she finished, wiping her brow.
"So you're Miss Crystal," she continued, setting the tray of fresh rolls on the table. "I see what Miss Jewel meant; you're just a bit of a thing. Don't you worry, child. I'll have some meat on those bones in no time a' tall."
"Nettie is our cook," Jewel explained, "but she's much more than that. She is an angel and always available if you just need to talk. If you're smart, you'll do some listening as well because she can offer some wonderful advice." Jewel grinned and gave a little laugh. "That doesn't mean she's a pushover though. Don't give her any trouble or you'll discover she can be quite formidable when she chooses, can't she ladies?"
"She sure can," Peridot replied, wiggling on her chair. "And you can call me Dottie, Crystal."
"Thank you, Dottie. It's nice to meet all of you and I'd like to thank you for the black dress, Miss Jewel."
"Crystal's father passed away today, ladies," Jewel informed them patting Crystal's hand. "The burial is in the morning and I'd like all of you ready to go on time."
"That's not really necessary," Crystal began, looking at her lap.
"Nonsense, we stick together here at The Red Petticoat. We share our hardships and our joys. The gems and I will be right beside you in the morning. What time are the services?"
"Ten a.m., ma'am and I expect there will be very few in attendance. We kind of kept to ourselves. My Pa wasn't very, um… social."
"Now that you mention it, I don't recall seeing you around town at all," Amy remarked as she poured the tea. "What did you father do?"
"We have… had a mine," Crystal replied softly. "Until yesterday when someone shot him dead and ordered me off it."