A new path.

[kitastrophe]

Katie took her seat at the table, and smiled pleasantly. "I quite agree, I'm a private person for the most part." She was curious what he meant by certain people, but did not press the issue any further. "I find the wage quite fair, that should support me quite comfortably. I have yet to find a place to stay, and need to know what type of clothing I should purchase in order to perform adequately in my position here, as well. Could you tell me where I might take care of these tasks?"

She felt her stomach rumble hungrily again, but ignored it as she watched the gentleman who might be her new employer.
So far this day had fallen together quite nicely, enough for her to relax her fears, and she found she was enjoying making her own arrangements for once. Sure, and five an week was better compared to her hourly rate back East, but she only saw a fraction of that and the work was much more tasteful, and she was in charge of her own fate, or at least she remained so for the moment, and it was quite exhilarating.

"Beyond that, I only need to know when to start, you see." She said simply, again engaging him with her eyes as she absentmindedly played with a curl that had fallen free of her loose bun, watching him with a slightly playful twinkle in her eye.

[Shane Lawson]

Though Kate took a seat, Masters remained on his feet as he spoke to her. "There are some shops along main street that should be able to cater to your needs, unless you want something more revealing.." he stifled a slight chuckle at his own words. "There is a shop on Paradise and sixth that can cater to those needs, but if you come around later this evening.. One of our other hostesses can show you around, and probably find you something to wear in the meantime." He thought about her other questions for a moment before nodding and answering. "You can start Monday night, That should give you some time to settle in and get your affairs in order. Anything else?" Again his eyes caressed the features of her face, taking it all in.

[kitastrophe]

Katie was surprised to feel herself blush a little at his mention of more revealing clothing. Surely she'd never been flustered by the thought of a lacy little bit of cloth keeping her out of jail as she danced before, but his amusement embarrassed her somewhat, as if he could see through her carefully prim exterior to who she really was, and she wasn't sure she liked that.

"Thank you, Mr. Masters, I believe that's what I'll be needin' for the now." She hesitated a moment, then smiled carefully up at him. "I'm very grateful for the job, by the way, you won't be disappointed, I'm sure... now is there anythin' you'll be needing from me, information, whatnot?"

[Shane Lawson]

"You can work that out later this evening, I'll see to that." Though he owned the bar, he didn't usually handle the details of its operations, he had others for that. "One more thing," He'd almos forgotten this, though he hoped it wouldn't be taken the wrong way it had to be brought into the open. "I hate to mention this, but it has been a problem on a couple occasions in the past.. Some of the girls who've worked here have attempted to 'entertain' our customers in more 'intimate' ways and this is frowned upon, because of our reputation and an understanding I already have with a certain 'establishment' so.." Masters cleared his throat, finding the subject to be a bit uncomfortable. "If you ever decide to practice such a trade.. Not on the grounds of this establishment please.. Understood?"

[kitastrophe]

Katie raised an eyebrow. Well, now wasn't that interesting. She felt slightly reassured, and slightly amused by how uncomfortable the topic made the man seem.

"Do I really seem like the kind of girl you'd need to be concerned about, sir?" She asked quietly, confident she did not - that had always been a part of her allure with the clients she had - but could not keep a hint of a smile down.

His discomfort with this subject made her more comfortable with him, and she took a slight pleasure in toying with him as she slowly rose.

[Shane Lawson]

"I like to make myself clear to avoid any unfortunate misunderstandings," He stated plainly."Whether or not you seem the 'type' isn't really an issue, people can be quite deceiving at times.. I hope you understand where I'm coming from." Truthfully she didn't seem the type, but he'd decided not to assume and end up making an ass of himself. "But tell me, Are you the type?" The question caught him off guard, surprised that he'd asked such a thing but.. What was done was done.

[kitastrophe]

Katie stiffened slightly at his question, it catching her off guard as well. "By that, do you mean to ask me if I am a whore?" She asked, a hint of ice in her tone, although she remained pleasant and polite. She was not offended, indeed a level of respect for the man had just risen, but she could not let that show- after all, only a whore would be alright with being asked if she was one!

"You have nothing to worry about, being a whore would never be something I'd choose to do." She said emphatically, her face betraying no emotion, her eyes sharply upon him, reading his reaction.

[Shane Lawson]

There was a temptation to make a joke at her expense, but he spared her from that. "Very well, Then everything is out in the open and we are understood arent we?" His words hung in the air for a moment before he turned for the door. "Unless there is something else you wish to offer or bring up, I think we are done here."

[kitastrophe]

Katie nodded congenially, and followed him to the door, stopping as he turned just before bumping into him, her eyes widened slightly as she met his and took a small step back. "I believe that's all that comes to mind at the moment." She said, although her eyes travelled across his body subtly, suggestive but was it intentional? She hesitated, then smiled, eyes on the floor. "I'll come by again tonight after I have made purchase of some suitable clothing and found a place to stay. Thank you again, Mr. Masters." She offered her hand, glancing up to meet his eyes once more.

[Shane Lawson]

The sudden and unexpected contact between them caught him off guard and as their eyes met his left hand reached for her without quite realizing it, before he did he caressed the side of her waist with his fingertips before jerking his hand away and taking a step back. "Erm.." He cleared his throat, though noticing the way sh was looking at him now. For a moment he was speechless and he wondered what the hell was with him?! "I.. Yes.. Tonight.." he stammered a bit, gazing into her eyes again before accepting her hand but not letting go so quickly..

[kitastrophe]

Kate let her hand rest in his warm, tougher one for just a moment, as caught by his brown stare as she could see he was by her blue, before blinking and carefully pulling away. "I'll see you then," she said in a falsely bright tone as she nodded to him and brushed by him out the door. The frame was narrow and she couldn't help but feel her body against his for just a moment as she moved out into the bar, and didn't dare hesitate to see if he'd noticed this as well, but hurried out into the bright afternoon. So much to do, now her agenda included a self-scolding. What the blazes has gotten into you, Katie Parrish? You're acting like a foolish twelve year old. You've got to remain distant, if you're going ot survive, stupid girl!

Shaking her head, she moved towards the millineries. She had to get some decent dresses. The things she had left behind were brightly colored silks, satins and velvets, all designed to accentuate her every best feature and to come away easily to betray clever, lacey undergarments of french design. Her costume jewelry, it had all been left behind, and she found she did not miss it. She would get sensible, slightly out of fashion (But it was the west so there was really no one who'd notice) clothing that looked good but wouldn't stand out from any other woman ont he street, and she'd be able to walk without being noticed once again. Breathing a cleansing sigh, she increased her pace. She had a lot to do and a few short hours of sunlight left in which to do it.

[Shane Lawson]

Certainly Masters noticed and was a bit baffled by it. What the hell that Elliot!? he scolded himself but before he could speak again, she was long gone. The man grumbled a bit before stepping back into the bar, gazing out through the window onto the dusty street, left wondering why this girl of all girls could've left him bewildered. It was a few moments before he realized it, but Lewis was staring at him, promptly he snapped at the man. "What the hell are you looking at? Clean the bar! I'm not paying you to stand around and stare!" Lewis flinched away, and Masters left the bar-room via the staircase. The only way around this was to just push it out of his mind and continue on with business, it would NEVER happen again under any circumstances.

[kitastrophe]

What a day! Long hours of travel, a resting point, a whiskey influenced interview with her new employer, hours of shopping, a shoddy inn that was clearly more often put to use in carnal ways, but was clean and low key enough to serve her purposes. At any rate, the price was right. She was exhausted, but she'd worked under worse conditions, surely. Dressing herself in a pale pink cotton gown she'd had altered that afternoon, she braided her hair into a loose knot at the back of her neck and laced her boots tightly, put on her locket and slipped the key to her room into her pocket as she left, hurrying down the streets she had already begun to learn well - nothing compared to some of the neighborhoods of New York - and back to Masters' saloon. It had only just begun to grow dark, and already the place was starting to fill. Squaring her shoulders, she went straight to where Lewis worked, and noticed he seemed grumpy. "Uhm, excuse me..." She wasn't sure where to go, but felt a twinge of excitement in her stomach that she was thoroughly unused to. Was it the events of the early afternoon, or the fact that she was about to work in a place she had sought out of her own volition? She didn't have time to sort it out, but it was a good feeling.

[Shane Lawson]

As the hour grew late the Ambrosia Club grew more crampt and more lively as men ((and a few women)) from all walks of life piled in to blow their hard earned money on alcohol, gambling and women. Amongst the crowd one would spot a half dozen of Barlows Cowboys, a few ranchhands from the local ranches, professional gamblers, miners and even a few city officials including the town Marshal and a City Councilmen. By this point the long U-shaped Bar was being worked by two Bartenders, Lewis Brubeck and an attractive woman from Louisiana who was expertly teasing and milking the men of every last dollar. Piano music echoed through the roar and laughter of the crowd, and at first Lewis didn't hear Katie but then he caught a glimpse of her from the corner of his eye. "Oh, Good evening man, what can I do for you?"



On one side of the room was where almost all of the gambling took places, tables for Faro, Poker and other games were all set up and manned by dealers who worked for Masters. Seated with his back to the wall was an extremely well dressed man, though a bit on the pale side he stuck out amongst the crowd for a number of reasons. The clothes he wore trumped everyone elses, the two nickel plated revolvers had a brilliant shine that called attetion to them from every corner of the room and he had a certain aura of confidence that unsettled some. And he was attracting some downright awful looks from the men he was playing with, though the reason was obvious with the handsome stack of chips and money he'd apparently won already, and the pot? It was a high stakes one to say the least, with cash, jewelry, gold nuggets and other valuables littering the center of the table. "a five hundred dollar raise? Must be a delightful hand you have there good Sir." He cracked in a sarcastic but quite serious tone, a smirk upon his lips as he took a swig from his flask. "I think I might have to call." And he did just that.

[kitastrophe]

Katie smiled, and leaned over to be better heard by the barkeep. "I was supposed to observe tonight, I'm starting work here on Monday?" She hoped he could direct her to where she ought to be, for he was quite busy. She couldn't help but scan the room, to see if Masters was still around, scolding herself even as she did so.