“She was supposed to be staying with a friend, but Cactus and Huckleberry found her in Boot Hill Cemetery. They broke up the party and called me. Thank God the kids weren’t drinking, but there was alcohol.” Angelica shook her head, her eyes wide as she told this part of the story.
Lulu talked with her hands. “Honey, next time you’re going to sneak out, head to—“
“Lulu!” Angelica quickly shut her up, but I couldn’t help the laughter that exploded from my chest. “Bri can’t stay home alone, so you get an extra helper.”
“Is it always this slow?” I winked at Bri as I changed the subject.
“It’s summer,” she answered me, like it was obvious, and I should have known that. She walked towards the kitchen door, pushing it open. “I’m getting a snack. This totally blows.”
“You’re so lucky your dad wasn’t the one to find you, Bri. Scorpion wouldn’t have just broken up the party.” Angelica huffed at the swinging door, as if Bri could still hear her.
“No wonder her eyes looked familiar.” I had seen that shade before, except those eyes had been cold and unyielding.
“Yeah, he didn’t always have a stinger.” Her head swiveled towards the kitchen door, making sure it was still closed. “This summer hasn’t been too bad, but I never expected to walk into this.”
“What time is it?” Lulu asked, standing on her tiptoes, trying to see the old-fashioned clock above the bar. “The city pays re-enactors to relive the fight at the O.K. Corral. They start the skirmish at the far end of the street, and if we get out there in time, we can join the show.” Lulu clapped, spinning on her toes. “Come on, Roxy. Time to bag a cowboy. Do you want a Clanton or an Earp?”
“Is one better than the other?” I was confused, but I would follow her lead. I hoped I wouldn’t make too much of a fool of myself, but it wasn’t like we were making money today.
“I prefer the outlaws with the red sashes.” She winked, laughing as she pulled me towards the front door.
“Don’t get me fined,” Angelica called after us. “I’m serious.”
The door closed behind us, and Lulu perched against one of the support beams for the boardwalk. I went to stand next to her, but she shooed me towards the other one. “If you don’t want to say anything, it’s okay. I can do this.”
People on the street stopped, and a pit in my stomach formed. I didn’t like not knowing what would happen, and according to Lulu, we were about to be the center of attention.
Two men stumbled down the street, pretending to be drunk as they raised empty bottles in the air. “I’m not drunk. Ole Wyatt can’t see straight. Maybe he’sdrunk,” the younger of the two said. He took a step forward, pretending to trip over his feet, but righting himself at the last minute.
“He’s not taking my gun away from me. I don’t care what he says. No one appointed him God,” the older man chimed in, taking a fake swig from the bottle.
“Now boys, you know the Earps don’t mess around.” Lulu leaned against the pole, her hand behind her head, sticking her leg out in a pinup pose.
“You’re trouble, Lulu. I’ve got enough trouble floating around this town.”
She shifted, twirling a piece of her hair between her fingers and batting her eyelashes. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Ike. You know, you could come have a drink with me at the Blue Angel.”
I had to hand it to Lulu. Every eye on the street was on her and not the men still stumbling around. I wish I was exaggerating, but I could feel their eyes on me as I leaned against the pole across from her.
“Nope, I’ve got stuff to do. I know your little game.” He stopped, right in front of her.
“Maybe next time.” She giggled.
The men continued down the street, hamming it up, but I noticed no one else joined in. If these people actually came to the saloon, I wouldn’t lose any money for the day. I had car repairs to think about, but I didn’t want to ask Aces how much. I figured if I saved whatever I could, it would be alright, and I’d leave before the end of the month. No matter what, I wasn’t staying. This place made small towns feel like metropolises.
“Those were the Clantons,” Lulu quickly described. “The next round of men will be the three Earps and Doc Holliday. They’re kind of interchangeable, but Doc has a cane.” She twirled a strand of hair around her finger. “The show tells the story of how the law settled Tombstone. Are you all right?”
I nodded at her, taking in the crowds of people on the boardwalk. It wasn’t long before we heard more men coming down the street. I swore there was sweat dripping down my back underneath the corset, but these men wore black frock coats with black cowboy hats. They had to be dying.
“Did anyone see anything suspicious?” one man called out. “We got a report that some cowboys are drunk with guns.” He must have been one of the Earps, per Lulu.
Lulu kept quiet, so I did too. I knew little about the place, but I was glad she’d given me a crash course between the rounds of men. I didn’t feel so lost watching the show.
The Earps all looked the same with their puffed-out chests, but I recognized the actor playing Doc Holliday. He shuffled down the street with his cane, just as Lulu had said. His eyes shifted back and forth until they met mine.
“You’re new in town,” he drawled, pointing his cane at me as he neared. “See anything you should be reportin’, darlin’?”Why me? I couldn’t fuck this up. We needed customers.
“No, sir. I would tell you if I had. Lulu and I came out to get some air.” I matched his energy, internally shitting bricks. I was going to kill Lulu, but I must have been doing something right because I caught her wink out of the corner of my eye.
