I silently keep scrubbing my sheets. I had no customers last night aside from the Shang Show fellow. I slept soundly.

But my sheets are still unclean. I continue to stare at the water as I scrub my sheets.

I begin scrubbing harder. I feel my breathing begin to pick up as I continue scrubbing faster and faster, trying my hardest to get this dirty sheet clean. As I scrub, I feel my finger bump the washboard in an uncomfortable way. I pull my hands from the basin, seeing them red from the scrubbing. I sigh as I finally just pull the sheets out and begin to wring it out.

"August?"

I look up and see Miss Clara walking toward me. I can't help but smile. She's always been a sweet woman who cared about everyone around her. She's the only one that knows the name that I was given. She comes and sits beside me, her skirts flaring out.

"You ok? I heard you and Shang Show were together last night," she says, "If he did anythin' to you, let me know and I'll give 'im somethin' fierce!"

I chuckle and shake my head. "No. He just wanted information about someone. He seemed like a pleasant fellow."

"He is. He's an absolute sweetheart," Clara responds. "What information did he want?"

"I...rather not talk about it."

Clara nods before taking my hands and looking over how red they became. She looks to me and I know that look. It's the look of "August, why did you scrub so hard?" I pat her hands.

"Don't worry. I was a bit in my head. Anyway, how are you and your mystery man doing?"

"We're doin' good! The next time he comes into town, he'll be buyin' my contract and gettin' me out this hellhole. I was worried he'd not want me on a count of me bein'...well, what i am. But he didn't care and was willin' to buy me from this place."

I can't help but feel a little jealous. She sounds so wistful and hopeful. Someone is coming to get her out while I wait for someone to retrieve me. As I open my mouth to say something, a gunshot rings out and screams from inside the Saloon. Without thinking, I grab Clara and pull her down onto the ground, anticipating the next gunshot.

One more sounds out before silence that's followed by loud murmuring and screaming. I get up and begin heading toward the front of the Saloon with Clara behind me. As we both made our way to the front, the Sheriff arrives with atleast three other men on horseback.

Clara and I see a body flung in front of the Sheriff.

"I believe $7,500 is owed to me. This man here was wanted Dead or Alive. Couldn't bring him alive so here he is, dead," I hear a man say. I recognize that man's voice. 

The Sheriff walks over to the body and flips it over with his foot. The Sheriff says, "Lemme see that poster."

I see Shang Show walk over to the Sheriff and hand him the wanted poster. It takes the Sheriff a little while to completely confirm but he nods. He motions for his men to pick up the body.

Clara and I walk closer and listen a bit closer.

"Ya lucky I'm lettin' ya have this 'cause of what you did for this town. But not many of us gonna be nice like us," The Sheriff says as he hands Shang Show money. "'Specially toward a man like you."

"Yea, yea. Heard the same shit in the last town," I heard Shang Show respond with sarcasm. "Now, thank ya kindly. I'mma get a drink, deal with a lil' somethin' and then head on out."

"I'm tellin' you the truth, Shang Show. Ain't no one as nice as us."

"Yea yea."

With a turn on his heel, Shang Show walks back into the saloon as the Sheriff turns to get back on his horse. Clara looks to me and her eyes ask the question, "Was that what Shang Show asked about last night?"

I give a nod. Clara then darts toward the entrance and disappears inside the Saloon. If I know anything about Clara, she might be trying to give Shang Show an earful.

"Dove! Get yer ass in here!" Lou screams.

I make a face as I head inside. The devastation of the Saloon is more than I expected: Many tables are broken and chairs are scattered around. Right at the far end, there's a large blood puddle with blood smearing toward the entrance. I make a face as I walk toward Lou, being careful not to step in the blood.

"Pack yer shit."

"what?"

"I said pack yer shit. Your contract's been bought."

I look at Lou as if he has three heads. Has he lost his mind?!

"Who'd buy my contract out? Am I not supposed to be under your care?" I ask, my hands balling a bit.

"Well, startin' today: You're under my care." I look up to see Shang Show towering over me. "Trust me. I'mma take real good care of ya."

As I stare at Shang Show and then look to Lou, I have half a mind to snatch Shang Show's gun and shoot Lou.