Oh the cowboys had finished their little meetin' with Priest, it seemingly did not go all that smoothly. Not that Caroline cared one way or the other, none of her business. She smiled at the man who planted himself at the bar.
"Another whiskey" Jake asked Ralph.
Ralph nodded, "Sure......oh you owe for two other whiskeys.......well three now with this one. That'll be three bits."
Jake fished in his pocket and came up with a quarter. He grunted, then jabbed Jim in the ribs wit his elbow.
"Gimme a quarter," he demanded. Surprisingly, the tough customer who was his companion, slapped a quarter of his own on the bar and slide it over to Jake, who slid them both in Ralph's direction.
With the accounts settled, he waited for his next drink and, while he did, he observed Caroline who stood close by.
"I swear, Miss, but what's a looker like you doin' in a dump like this?" He looked around the saloon. "I guess it ain't so bad, but you look like you could be in one of them emporiums like they got in Dodge City."
"Don't listen to him, Ma'am, said Jasper from his spot down the bar. "Sheeit! He don't know from Adam 'bout high class places."
Jake spun on him. "Shut your yap, Jasper, or I'll kick your ass all the way back to Bozeman."
Franklin, who'd heard the exchange, stepped forward. "Keep it clean, gents."
The J's looked at each other, and quieted. "Yeah Boss," Jasper said.
