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Post by Shane Lawson on May 30, 2008 1:53:21 GMT -5
Wednesday March 19th
Having gotten the brush off more or less from Rose Masters had decided to revert to plan B which was the Barlow option. Masters knew Barlow had a certain connection with Roses friend Alex. Though he'd never asked about theirexact relationship, he knew it exisited and thus had asked him if it could possibly help him meet his goals. Though Barlow hadn't been sure, he'd promised to have a talk with him regardless.
Barlow had set out from the Ambrosia Club to find Alex, checking around the Five Graces and its stables before heading over to the Old Times Tavern, the boys usual drinking hole. He stepped through the front entrance, and peered around the sparsely populated room.
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Post by Rose and Alex on Jun 3, 2008 1:23:18 GMT -5
"Fold, I'm out for the night boys." Alex tossed his poker hand onto the table shaking his head.
"If you clean me outta any more money I'll have to start selling off some of Roses' furniture." the men at the table laughed.
" Well since I won the last game, why don't you go buy us another round of drinks Alex."[/color] Tommy said, offering up a small wad of cash.
"You got it." Taking the money, Alex wondered up to the bar. "Best give us another set of drinks Bar Keep." As he was waiting, Alex sat down on the nearest stool and waited. Trying not to let his thoughts wonder back to Rose and how far they'd grown and he really didn't want to slip over to Red. Damn Red, damn him to hell.
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Post by Shane Lawson on Jun 3, 2008 2:05:21 GMT -5
A sly smirk crossed Barlows lips as he spotted Alex at his usual place at the bar. 'Almost too easy.' he thought to himself, stepping forward he crossed over towards him. "Well Howdy Stranger, Thought I might find you here." he said nonso quietly as he took the seat next to Alex and spared the Bartender a nod. "So, Ive been looking for you." he said.
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Post by Rose and Alex on Jun 17, 2008 5:11:07 GMT -5
Alex had been feeling a bit better. He wasn't drowning his sorrows for the first time in days. He turned as a voice spoke to him, his face falling. "Hello." He said curtly. "Figured you'd come lookin' for me soon or later. Can't leave well enough alone can you?" He sighed and drumbed his hands on the table.
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Post by Shane Lawson on Jun 23, 2008 15:02:40 GMT -5
Barlow chuckled at his friend and shook his head. "Not when you can do me a favor Alex my friend." Knowing all to well that'd probably sent a shiver down the mans spine given what he'd asked for in the past. Alex would know Barlow had him over a barrel, but that was just the way it was for him. Taking a long sip from his drink he sat the glass back down on the bartop, deciding not to jump into business too quickly. "So tell me, How have you been? Haven't seen you around too much, been hidin'?" he said with a small laugh. "And how is that friend of yours? Rose.."
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Post by Rose and Alex on Jun 25, 2008 0:03:34 GMT -5
Indeed it did send a shiver right down Alex's spin. Like a possum walkin' over his grave. The thought was not a pleasing one. He shifted so that his hand was closer to his belt and gun, but not so close that it was a threat, and that his back wasn't any where near the other man. Of course, the one thing he knew about Red is that when it came to shotting him. Well Alex was fairly sure Red would want him lookin' at him. That might not normally been how Red worked, wanting to fight a man face to face, but Alex thought that just maybe he'd make an exception to Alex when the time came.
"I've been fine." Alex ground out, hating the small talk. "Been busy 'sall." he answered both questions through clenched teeth. How is that friend of yours? Rose..." Alex scowled deeply. "She's fine and she better stay that way. 'cause I'm tell'n you right now, if anything happens to her....so much as a scratch on that red mop of hers, I'll be commin for you. And no man or woman on earth will stop me." That was the only reason Alex's hands were tied for now, is because he wanted Rose safe.
"Now I'm not in a pleasin' kinda mood tonight. Why don't ya just tell me what you want..." Voice dark and low Alex felt sick inside.
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Post by Shane Lawson on Jul 2, 2008 1:45:57 GMT -5
Barlow noticed the slight movement of Alex's hands and his eyes darted from the mans hand back to his eyes, surely the boy wasn't stupid enough to try something was he? Well there was onething Barlow had learned on the long road from Arkansas, take nothing for granted. "You won't do a goddamn thing." Red responded drly with a smug smirk on his face. "You might think you can take me.. might if i'm drunk or something." he said with a small laugh, "But a hundred cowboys? You ain't got a shot mister." That right there was a hint that whatever he wanted? It was something big. "I think you best remember not to get to big for your britches before something does happen to that nice little hotel." Barlow downed his drink before continuing.
Shifting his weight against the bar Red relaxed a little as he finally got to the point. "I don't care about yer girlfriend, do what you want to her.. but my boss? He knows about us.." Red whispered, purposely not telling Alex what Masters knew exactly. Taking a moment to peer back over his shoulder, he whispered some more. "Masters owns most of this town, you know that.. He's a fair man lookin' to make this place something big.. but there are a 'few' things missin' from his table, you know what I mean?"
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Post by Rose and Alex on Jul 2, 2008 1:59:19 GMT -5
Alex rolled his eyes. "I'm not going for my gun yet." Red's over pompous way grated on his nerves, nerves that were already short. He wait for all the hot talk of getting' to big for his britches to blow over and for Red to get to the real point.
Narrowing his eyes Alex nodded. " I never figured you to work for nobody Red. Last I remembered you were your own man..." He shrugged again. "I'm here to tell you right now, Rose ain't given up that hotel to him, if that's what your hintin' at. And I'll stand by her, if it's two against a hundred of you fellars. But there ain't no way in hell she'll be given up that Hotel. Even if I wanted to I couldn't convince her. If she had to choice 'tween me and that place, hell, she'd choose it in a heart beat and leave me on the streets." Alex wasn't sure that was exactly true, but it wasn't a lie either. Maybe six months ago Rose mighta picked him, but now if it really came down to Alex or the Hotel, well...he wasn't so sure what Rose would pick. "So if that's what your after, I can't help you. If it's somethin' else, speak plain."
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Post by Shane Lawson on Jul 5, 2008 0:38:02 GMT -5
"And if you stay smart you won't." Sometimes Red entertained the thought of 'what if' he tried somethign stupid? Just to prove the point that Alex was as foolish as he thought he was. Red chuckled at his remarks about working for someone. "Kind of have free reign you know, so its like workin' for myself." And indeed it was, the base pay plus whatever stolen cattle he brought in for Masters, it all worked out very well. "if you'd been smart and stayed loyal, you'd be reaping the reward too." but now he'd probably just end up with a bullet in the gut.
Red scoffed and his voice rose up. "Are you people stupid or what?" The thought that they rather die then give in to a fair deal was certainly beyond him. "Is that hotel worth dying for? Its not like Masters wants to cheat you." That was true, he'd certainly pay Rose what it was worth unless she refused. "He's more then willing to pay top dollar.. Now if you refuse?" Red shrugged his shoulders.
"The boys have been getting pretty damn good with that dynamite.." If anything the boys were itchin' to use that stuff on a real live target. "I'd hate to see that hotel, your friend and even you go up in a cloud of smoke. And if you value a fair deal? I'd be doing my best to at least try and convince her." Though in reality Masters would save the scorched earth policy for last, believing he could probably pull some puppet strings to get her in trouble with her taxes, force her to sell and have the hotel, though that'd take a long time.
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Post by Rose and Alex on Jul 5, 2008 3:05:58 GMT -5
" You won't burn the hotel and neither will Masters. If you burn it, that hotel is worthless and all you'll have is a plot of land and you can damn well bet that the next hotel won't be half as nice as Roses." Alex stated calmly. It was true. It'd be a pointless move to burn down something you want to own. "So don't try to bully me with false excuses. We're done here." Alex stood up, and moved away. ""Drinks on you this time." And with that he slipped out the swinging doors headed for home. It was time to finally tell Rose what was up. This was getting dangrouous.
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Post by Shane Lawson on Dec 2, 2009 2:56:03 GMT -5
Barlow chuckled at Alex's response, shaking his head. "It ain't worth a goddamn thing to him if he doesn't own it." he pointed out. Of course it wasn't so much Masters wanted a hotel, it was just a move to consolidate his power. People outside his influence could cause problems, perhaps sell out to others who could use even a modest sized lot to wedge him out in the long run.
"You should know by now, I don't kid around about such matters.. I make promises.. You have a good evening." He said, tipping his hat as Alex tried to slip out. "And watch your back.."
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