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 Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2011 11:26 am
Upon going to visit my father for a couple of days, I went to Pendleton, Oregon where he was working on a hotel for a casino in an Indian reserve. The second day I was there, he, his wife Michelle and I went to take a tour on the underground caves dug up by Chinese labor workers beneath the floors of the small town called Pendleton. There were a couple others that took the tour with us, and as we continued from the museum of leather works to the underground pubs and stores through secret passageways and up to the Cozy Rooms (Later called Cozy Rooms II ) I found myself completely entranced by this amazing remnant of the old West. I began to fantasize about the life there, and thought about my own characters living about this time. Everywhere I went, I imagined a story. So here I put all the things I learned and retained here in this story. This mostly takes place during the time of the prohibition on alcohol and the real life time when a preacher set names onto a note in order to convince the mayor to rid the small town of the girls in the Cozy Rooms. Keep in mind, a lot of this is based on actual events, but the outcome and the stories embellished the truth and warped it to my own fantasies. you want to find out just how much of the story is true, I suggest you look up Pendleton's Underground caves for yourself. <3 Some Information.
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Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2011 11:28 am
Call me whatever ya like, friend. I ain’t the sort to pretend I’m somethin’ other than what you see here. A cowboy meant to be locked up in bars. Not every cattle roper’s a saint, you know. There’s bound to be a few o’ us corrupted ones out there. But I ain’t so corrupt, am I? What am I here for, murder? Theft? Triggering a firearm within city limits? All the above, I gather. I tell you what sheriff, I ain’t an innocent man. But perhaps you’d think me less of a beast if ya knew the story.
You see, I came to this beautiful Oregon city from the depths of the California Gold Rush. Not there for the gold mind you, I was a young boy workin’ for a fine man sellin’ quality pickaxes and shovels and pans for the money hungry folk. Got myself a nice sum, but I had to leave sooner or later. I heard word I could find my sweet ol’ sister I haven’t seen traveling up the Oregon Trail. When I got here I was tired, drove my poor horse Spade nearly to death. So I rested him here while I decided to find myself some food, some information about my sister, and perhaps a drink or two. I tied ol’ Spade to the sidewalk and wouldn’t you know, it was rainin’ buttons.
I looked up and saw up at that second window, three gorgeous girls. Tossin’ their little trinkets at me, winkin’ and givin’ me a show. I won’t lie to you Sheriff, the life of a cowboy is a lonely one.
“Why don’t ya come up yonder and show me how a cowboy ropes his cattle,” Among the jeers of the two other girls I heard one say, “Oh, Rose, you’re so bad!”
‘Rose,’ I thought, ‘What a beautiful name.’ And somehow, it was so fittin’. I looked up at the woman in question; fair skin, and fiery red hair cascading down in curls just slightly pulled back with, wouldn’t you know it, a pink rose in her hair.
I bent down to pick up the three buttons they tossed down ta get my attention, and while the other two giggled, Rose cried down with a smirk more cynical and playful than I’ve ever seen in a young woman’s face, “You best bring those buttons up here, cowboy. Those buttons you got don’t come cheap.”
“Oh?” I replied, “I reckon they ain’t the only thing that don’t come cheap.”
“Why don’t ya come up here and you can find out yerself?” She replied, stooping down a little more, teasing me with her gorgeous bare shoulders and alluring curves.
I smiled, but knew I wreaked myself something awful. I looked around quick for a cleaner. I didn’t have to look far, the wall ahead of me said ‘Lucky’s Cleaners, Best in Town.’ The wall didn’t lie, I was lucky alright. I looked back up at her with my own little smirk, and put the buttons clearly into my pocket. I saw her playful look of shock, and heard her exclaim, “Oh, you devil!” I chuckled, and headed down to the basement to get myself washed up.
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Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2011 11:29 am
First thing I saw came as a pleasant surprise. A low murmur of noise and the familiar sight of washed up men, beer bottles and a poker game; I was in a saloon. Lookin’ at the size of the shabby place, I could tell it must get a lot of business in the after hours. It was still early so I was fortunate enough to find myself a spot at the bar. The bartender couldn’t be but about my age; mid 20s I reckon. “What’ll it be?” He asked me.
“Just a beer, friend. I don’t have much on me tonight,” I replied, searching my pocket for my gold dust pouch and taking out the three buttons.
“You won’t have to worry ‘bout that first drink cowboy, its on the house.”
“On the house?” I replied in disbelief, “Boy howdy, everyone here’s quite a saint to a wanderin’ traveler, ain’t ya?”
The bartender chuckled, “Just saloon courtesy sir, first drink is always on the house.”
The bartender set the beer bottle in front of me an’ went about cleaning some glasses. “So what’s yer name, wandering traveler?” He asked calmly.
“Name’s Ace, friend. Ace Kovacs. Came right on up here from California.”
“California you say, that’s quite a way.”
“Indeed it is. Say, what’s your name, bartender? Can’t be acceptin’ a drink from a stranger.”
The bartender set the glass down, and looked over to me with a wise smile. I had to second guess a bit at whether he really was ‘bout my age, or if I mistook him and he was truly much older an’ wiser. But no, it was a youthful face lookin’ my way. “Conner Cosgrowe, sir.” It was then he noticed the buttons on the counter, and his smile changed, as if the two of us shared an untold secret. “Can’t help but notice ya met the girls upstairs. Those Rose’s buttons?”
“Ah, ya guessed right, partner. Imma clean myself off here pretty soon. Say, what can ya tell me ‘bout this place? An’ also, if ya know any insight about that Rose girl.”
“Came in here for Lucky’s, did ya? Well, aren’t the one to hide yer intentions, are you?” He asked, but made no further comment. “Customers here have told me about Rose; she’s quite a firearm. But I try to block it from my mind. Rose is more than a long lasting employee at the Cozy Rooms, she’s also my sister’s best friend.”
“Get outta town,” I says to him, “Your sister? An’ she’s got connections like that?”
“Don’t be getting’ any ideas, cowboy,” Conner warned to me, “My sister isn’t just for anyone. She needs someone real nice; a real prince.”
“Relax there, friend,” I replied, “I got myself a little gal to care fer. Only problem is, been lookin’ for her. She and momma left my side long ago, been searchin’ ever since. Her name’s Heather, ever heard of her?”
“Hate to be the bearer of bad news,” Conner said, “But Heather isn’t exactly the rarest o’ names. But I know some people, maybe you just look around and let me know.”
“Mighty kind of you, Conner,” I told him.
“Now don’t be thinkin’ that I’m a saint, just that if I ever lost my sister, I’d be a wreck. Just think of it as ‘you owe me one.’”
“Fine right by me friend, I ain’t one ta take a favor an’ run. Whatever ya need I can supply, jus’ let me know,” I told him, putting the buttons back in my pocket an’ took the first beer he handed me. I took a sip and smirked. “Man, that’s some kick. What kinda beer is this?”
“I make my own drinks sometimes, for customers I feel get a little extra. Ya like it?”
“Boy howdy Conner, this might be my regular. So where is Lucky’s then, if this is tha saloon?” I asked.
“Door to my right here Ace, go whenever ya need.” Conner an’ I talked a while fer I reckon a couple hours. Then I thanked him fer tha’ drink an’ tipped my Stetson as I stood up ta walk off.
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Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 8:34 am
I walked into the back to Conner’s left, and found myself right at the door. But no one was in sight. “Uh, howdy? Name’s Ace, came in for a clean?”
Nearly startled me when I saw a head poke from ‘round the corner. It was the face of a man with bright eyes, an’ I had to question his age. “Welcome, to Luca’s!” The man cried, comin’ where I could see him and threw his arms in the air as if I had my gun pointed at him. I could see a tailor’s measuring’ tape ‘round his neck, and as I came closer, noticed one of the Chinese slave laborers ironin’ the clothes. “Luca’s? This isn’t Lucky’s?” I asked.
“Ah, silly me, yes, this is Lucky’s! But I’m Luca, this is my place. What’s your pleasure?”
“Ah, well just a clean, partner. I’ve been on the trail fer a while now.”
“Yes, I can tell.” Luca replied, lookin’ right disgusted as he moved he eyed me up and down. He then snapped and added, “Nathan, strip him, I’ll get the bath ready,” then as the man that was ironin’ before started toward me, Luca held out his palm. “Fifteen cents.”
“Fifteen cents?!” I cried, “Fer a wash?!”
“No, ten for the wash, five for your clothes. You can cut down to ten, but you’ll have to bathe in cold yucky dirt water.”
I was silent fer only a second, then took out my coin sack and gave him his fifteen cents. Luca smiled, almost in a mischievous way, an’ turned, his spot bein’ replaced by the Chinese fellow. He looked tired an’ unhappy, but in a way, housebroken. “You work for Luca, friend?”
“Work? No sir, I’m his servant.”
“Damn right he is!” Luca’s voice cut in from the other side of a curtain, followed by runnin’ water.
“Must be hard,” I replied, as I handed him my clothes.
Nathan sighed, “Its better than the mines… Sir.” He bowed and took my clothes to be washed.
“Your bath is all ready!” Luca cried, leading me to the room separated by a curtain. I took my first step into the bath; it was hot. My achin’ muscles relaxed immediately, an’ I sighed. Only took about ten minutes in the bath, mind you, I was too eager, thinkin’ ‘bout the dame who owned the buttons I had taken. But as I was in the bath, sounded like two more customers came in for a clean.
“I’m tellin’ ya, partner, that meddlesome preacher ain’t gonna give. He’s got all our names on that there paper.”
I listened in ya see, I couldn’t help it, I was currently bathing, and I wasn’t gonna tune out noise when I was sittin’ right there.
“But he can’t be serious,” One replied, “Gettin’ rid o’ those nice girls upstairs in the Cozy Rooms?”
“Y’all don’t know, but them girls ain’t jus’ there ta keep the hotel. Them workin’ girls.”
“Ya mean, those sweet girls? Whores?”
“You betcha. I say good riddance. Least with them gone, the preacher won’t rat us out during next sermon. He’s got all our names down as drinkers, though alcohol be illegal these days.
I was shocked I tell you what. Not only was this preacher gonna shut down businesses like what my new friend Conner had if he read this paper, but the only way fer him not to was to get rid of the sweet girls like that fiery redhead who owned the flowery buttons. Well, Conner planned ta help me out an’ find my sister, an’ the girl was jus’ company, so I thought they might as well go through gettin’ rid of the Cozy Rooms… Still, somethin’ didn’t feel right. I got out of that bath, an’ was handed my clothes. I looked fresh now, I’ll tell you what. Them Luckys knows how at clean up a cowboy.
“Ya at least get some sun there, partner?” I couldn’t help but ask tha Chinese boy.
“Not from around here, are you?” He replied ta me, lookin’ downright shocked. “If I was caught outside at night, I could be killed and no one would care. We serve to pay our debt in these underground tunnels, but even still few of us manage to even pay off enough to go back home let alone live free here in the states.”
“Then why’d ya come here if that was tha case?” I asked in surprise. I never knew things were so rough fer them.
“It is terrible in China, this is not much worse. At least here, there is opportunity.”
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Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 6:51 am
I thanked ‘im and started ta head out. I decided ta do a little sight seein’ while I was waitin’ fer tha evenin’ to meet up with the flower up on the second floor. It was hard ta enjoy anythin’, I was thinkin’ about her the whole time; her deep red curly hair, deep green eyes, rosy pink skin, an’ that smile that aroused me more than I care ta admit. Finally, the sun was settin’, my horse was fed an’ rested in the stables, an’ I was dog tired of waitin’, always rubbin’ my thumb over those white clay buttons with the rose engravin’ on ‘em.
It was evenin’ an’ the light was quickly fading into the horizon. I was a nervous cowboy, lemme tell you. I never had no problems meetin’ a working girl, but I guess y’all always get anxious ‘bout a new partner. I walked in an’ first thing I noticed was how extravagant the place looked. I immediately knew this place was gonna cost me a fortune. The pictures were all very tasteful, but all of ‘em are Renaissance era European art of naked women. Only made me more anxious, ta tell ya the truth. Turned out ta be a real hotel, as well. I saw a couple get assigned a room fer the night, an’ I was next in line.
The woman was businesslike, when she looked at me, she seemed to know exactly what I wanted. “You’re here for a room with one of the girls, I reckon?” She asked me.
“You would be right there, miss. Lookin’ fer the redhead that lost her buttons.” I took them out to show her, but she didn’t seem at all curious. Her eyes didn’t so much as shift from my face, then replied ta me, “Well, you’ll have to see if she’s free. One token is two dollars. Drop it in the box in front of the door to the girl’s room, and have a good time.”
She said that last part, I swear, with a smirk on her face. It was too quick fer me though, hell, maybe I imagined it. But two dollars weren’t bad if ya were lookin’ fer a night’s stay. I paid fer a night and a token, then went farther back ta see doors, each with a window ta look at the passers by. A couple curtains were closed. That’s my guessin’ that means they’re busy. I had ta pass by a girl er two, then the last door to my right, there she was, an’ she saw me before I spotted her, leaning over her window a little like she had been expectin’ me.
“You got my buttons, cowboy?” She asked me.
I took them out again, and presented them to her. “Here ya are, darlin.’ It ain’t like a cowboy to steal what ain’t his.”
“Is that so?” Rose replied ta me, her green eyes shinin’ at me, “Well I guess I should reward you then, shouldn’t I?”
“Nothin’ doin’ ma’am, it was a pleasure doin’ a good deed for a pretty lady like yerself.”
“Well I can do you two good deeds, partner,” the young redhead said, and gave me a wink as she went an’ opened her door. “Tonight I got a two for one special. For the ones that got their invitations.” She took out her hand and waited, I reckon, fer tha buttons I still had in my hand. I was prolly grinnin’ like an idiot when I put that token in tha box, an’ handed her tha buttons. She kept my hand in hers and pulled me closer. I chuckled, closed tha door, she closed tha curtain and… Well, I dun need ta tell ya what happened that night but I gotta say, It was a night more magical than a shower a’ shootin’ stars in a clear sky.
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Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 6:52 am
Come mornin’ I was relaxed, refreshed an’ ready ta get goin’ on my search for my sister. So I thought I’d go down an’ check on my new friend, Conner. I was in my own room getting’ myself dressed when I heard prayers comin’ from somewhere down the hall. Now, I was in this room before, it was the waitin’ room I sat in while I waited fer the owner ta sell me a room an’ a token fer the night. Now they had out a pedestal an’ there was a preacher prayin’ fer the girls that worked at the Cozy Rooms. Most of ‘em were familiar, especially the girl near the center, Rose. It was a side o’ her I’d never expect. She sat there silently, her head bowed, serene like an angel. She was mouthin’ somethin’ but I couldn’t tell what she was sayin’ only thing I knew was it was a prayer.
I stood there until a woman scooted ta offer me a seat, an’ I wasn’t gonna be rude an’ turn her down. I stayed there the whole time, not paying much attention ta the preacher but instead watching the back of that redhead prayin’ and listening with all her might to the good lord. It made me smile, an’ I was thinking things I never thought would ever come to my mind. I thought of the rumor I heard yesterday, ‘bout a preacher threatenin’ the people of the town unless they got rid of these Cozy Girls. Before I didn’t think much of it, but now I was torn. I was really startin’ ta fall for Rose an’ for a cowboy that’s dangerous territory.
The sermon was over, so I went through the crowd ta meet Rose face ta face. Her smile faded fer a second, then she put on a flirty smile. It was now I was startin’ ta see this was all just business for her, an’ my heart sank an’ rose at the same time. I didn’t know what she really thought. I didn’t even know this girl, and yet I was so determined to get to know her, or at least warn her ‘bout the list.
“Never saw you as bein’ the religious type,” I said with a smile of my own.
“What’re you still doin’ here cowboy? Already thinkin’ of another round? Miranda’s got the tokens in the other room.”
“Oh, Miranda’s her name is it? I’ve never ben good at names,” I admitted, “But actually no, I jus’ wanted to talk to ya fer a second, if that’s alright.”
Her smile faded, an’ she began to head out the room across the hallway where the corridors of windowed rooms were. “Sorry Tex, I gotta get ta doin’ my chores. I’ve a lot of errands ta do.”
“Jus’ a minute, I swear,” I said to her, an’ she looked at me fer a good few seconds.
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Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 6:54 am
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