<div class="floatleft">(http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u133/kokotigress/Elliquiy/Doom%20Town/000000410008-donna_feldman-fullsize_zps20ce0c60.jpg)</div><hr/><strong>Name:</strong>Harley<br/><strong>Faction:</strong>Unknown to the public thus far<br/><strong>Date:</strong>June 1872<br/><strong>Time of Day:</strong>Night<br/><strong>Location:</strong>Outside town / Miss Greene's Room<br/><strong>Tagged:</strong>N/A - Closed<hr/><br/>A soft breeze shifted around Harley as she stood before the fire, the orange light shifting over her features and casting them in shadow despite the darkness that waited just beyond the light's reaches. Her normally sober features were even more drawn, a deep sadness just managing to break through the tough shell she'd crafted about herself at an early age. Fortunately there was nobody around—at least not anyone conscious—to witness the slight fracture but even if there had been she wasn't sure she'd have been able to hold back and that was just plain unacceptable to her. Crybabies didn't make it long in this life and she had no intention of provin' those cacklin' roosters right by letting emotion be her undoin'.<br/><br/>The moon but a mere sliver in the sky, Harley looked up as fingers of doubt made her question her decision. Her gaze landed upon that waning crescent and lingered as if it might whisper something to her. Of course, no such help was forthcoming and again she was reminded that a man—or woman—made their own destiny with their own two hands and whatever combination of right and wrong they saw fit to commit.<br/><br/>Her hand tightened for a moment and as her gaze lowered back to that dancing fire she felt her resolve firm and settle into place with and an almost audible thump that reverberated though her chest. In her hand she held a folded note, the paper gone ragged from the way her fingers had rubbed across it nigh relentlessly since she'd first received it. She knew the light scent of honeysuckle that clung to the fibers. Knew the silky caress of the cornflower blue ribbon that was tied around it. She even knew the dainty, flowing scrawl and its pleading request like the back of her hand.<br/><br/>Just as she knew what her answer had to be...<br/><br/><div align="center">~~~</div><br/><em>Like always, the first thing she noticed was the scent of honeysuckle. <br/><br/>It enveloped her, teasing her senses and invading her being with every inhale, trickling throughout her body to slowly loosen the knotted tension in her neck and at the base of her spine. It was a scent she had come to associate with comfort and companionship freely given—something that she would never admit to needing—and every time she smelled it the tight fist that squeezed her innards on a near constant basis eased for just a little while.<br/><br/>Candlelight played about the room, softening the edges of the expensive and quietly elegant decor. Unlike some of the other rooms at Miss Greene's, this room was understated, opting for simplicity over extravagance and much like the room's occupant its quiet beauty spoke for itself. <br/><br/>“I was beginning to think you wouldn't come, stranger.”<br/><br/>“Aww, now don't I always show darlin'?” Harley's head tilted, revealing dark eyes smudged with heavy shadows from beneath the tilted brim of her borrowed hat. “Though I admit I was surprised ta get your invitation. Tonight ain't our usual night doll.” They met every fortnight, the same night, just a few hours before dawn when Harley would climb her way up to the second floor to slip in through the open window. The Madame knew of Harley's visits but so long as they were kept discreet and and the woman kept up with her rent, she didn't have too much to say about it.<br/><br/>“True enough,” came the reply. “I suppose I just wanted to see you. Though I am beginning to think you like making me wait.”<br/><br/>Harley couldn't temper the smirk that crossed her face as she watched as the woman rise from where she had been perched upon her bed to made her way nearer. The chemise she wore slipped down off her slender shoulders and the pale swell of her full breasts teased over the top of her corset while her sheer, layered petticoats swished about her with every stride. Harley dared not take a step further into the room to meet her, her dusty boots remaining in place where they'd landed just inside the open window she'd come through. “Naw, Gem. Way I sees it ain't much sense in makin' you wait. Ain't nuthin' to be gained by wastin' time.” She shrugged, a languid motion that lifted the shoulders of the over-sized duster she wore—again borrowed. <br/><br/>“Mm-hmm, says you stranger.” Miss Gemma May Tyndall, or rather Gem as she went by, smiled as she stepped closer to Harley, her hand lifting to slip beneath the ridiculous coat the woman wore to push it off shoulders grown stronger than she reckoned they ought need be. “Perhaps you'll be so kind as to tell me your name this time 'round?”<br/><br/>It was an old question. One that had been asked since their very first meeting when Harley had run off a couple hard cases attempting to make trouble for the pretty young Miss on her way into town. She had admittedly been on her way out of the hell hole that was Gomorra but unfortunately she never had developed the sense required to mind her own damn business when good folk run into trouble. <br/><br/>She shoulda kept ridin', shoulda kept to her own and high tailed it outta there quick as could be but hearin' the young woman scream had brought her round faster'n a strike of lightening. Dismounting the stolen mare she'd though to ride out of town, she had picked her way around to the direction of the noise to take a closer look and the sight she'd come upon had roused a deep loathin' in her gut. Quicker'n she could register her well cared for Peacemaker was in hand, her lips drawn back in a sneer. At first she had aimed for a head shot that had seemed to be pointed out by the moon herself but after some consideration decided against the trouble that might follow that course of action. Instead two well placed bullets shot from behind the cover of some rocks helped convince the two bullies the pretty young filly wasn't worth the trouble. Their pain filled hollerin' did little to ease the raw burn in Harley's gut but the desired results were achieved and that was all that mattered in the end.<br/><br/>After the two got on, ridin' their sorry mounts away in tizzy, Harley had crept forward from the shadows and had done her best to set Gemma to rights. The woman's face had been bruised and was swellin' something fierce but it seemed Harley had arrived in time to prevent any more than that and a little tearin' to her garments. With barely any urging the young outlaw had settled the woman back upon her horse and after sending her own ride back into town riderless to find its way back to its owner she'd escorted the shaken woman to her final destination. <br/><br/>Every time she saw ol' Bart about town now, barely a nub where his left thumb had been, she got a serious hankerin' to finish the job but for her own sake more than his she restrained herself.<br/><br/>“Name's Harley, Gem, just Harley.” She shrugged out of the duster she'd borrowed from her buddy Jasper, letting Gem take it and the hat to be hung up out of the way. After downing a fifth of firewater, poor Jasper was soaked, layin' ass up and snorin' so hard half his bed roll had likely disappeared. Wasn't likely he would miss his hat or coat none. As big as he was one would assume it'd take a lot to do him in but Harley reckoned she could out drink that bull of a man five times over with barely a wobble and she weren't no sponge. Big JP was just a soft one but considering he had both charm and manners when he wanted to, she had nuthin' against the bill feller. He also had more luck than sense but he was handy to have in a fight, be it bullets or fists, and was strong as an ox which meant Harley didn't have to deal with too many unwanted advances when he was around. <br/><br/>“Mm-hmm, says you stranger, says you,” the purty dove commented as she made short work of ridding Harley of the ill fitted mens work shirt she wore. Pausing long enough to shake her head when she got a look at the bindings the tall young woman had wrapped about herself in an attempt to minimize her bosom, she tsked at the woman she'd grown quite close to.<br/><br/>“I swear I dunno why you do this to yourself.” <br/><br/>“Says the woman wearin' the torture device.” Harley laughed as she gestured toward Gem's corset, her timbre dark and rich and seemingly holding a maturity far greater than her mere 17 years. She'd been stuffed into the damn things a few times herself and couldn't claim to miss them any.<br/><br/>“I have no idea what you mean, stranger. I dress as a proper lady should.” Gem wiggled her brows as she unwrapped the bindings. “Besides, I don't attempt to hide what God has seen fit to give me.”<br/><br/>“No ma'am, you most certainly don't.” Thick eyelashes lowered to shutter brown eyes that had gone to heated pools of melted chocolate and her hand lifted to brush across Gem's cheek. A sigh shuddered out of her as her bindings were done away with and she was able to take in an unrestricted breath. A light butterfly kiss was feathered against her breast bone and then her shoulder and her lashes lifted to take in the pretty features of the petite raven haired female beside her. <br/><br/>“I shouldn't be here.” The same old protest when it was already too late.<br/><br/>“Shush now.” Fingers trailed along her back, making her skin ripple with the sensation. “If it weren't for you... well, who knows where I might be now. Least I can do is offer you some ease. Won't hurt nobody none to let me.” The same argument for more than a year... Only this time, Harley was forced to swallow her words back as her gaze met those clear, cornflower blue orbs, unable to voice the fact that it might very well hurt someone. <br/><br/>“Come, lets get you cleaned up some and relaxed, we ain't got long.” A bright, inviting smile urged an answering grin from Harley and after toeing off her boots she let herself be tugged further into the room.<br/><br/>Sometime later, after she had been washed and rubbed down with oil that gave a light scent of vanilla to mingle with her natural cinnamon and spice, Harley sat on the edge of the bed, her legs drawn up to her chest while a brush was pulled through her hair. Her eyelids grew heavier with every stroke, Gem's soft humming soothing to her ears. It could easily be said that there was no other time Harley was at her most vulnerable than when someone got to messin' with her hair. For some reason the simple act seemed to lower her defenses almost completely as she took comfort in the gentle play of fingers through her tresses. <br/><br/>“There's something I should probably tell you...” The words seemed to trail off as Gem hesitated and Harley stiffened. “There's... someone.”<br/><br/>“Someone?” Her eyes closed for a moment as everything seemed to seize up for a moment.<br/><br/>“A gentleman... he... he wants to take me away from Gomorra.” Harley didn't move or respond and Gem rushed on to continue, “He says he'd take care of me. That I wouldn't want for anything and that all he'd expect in return is children. I haven't yet accepted his offer but all the others think I should.”<br/><br/>“Whut're you tellin' me this for? Seems like it's all you've ever wanted wrapped up in a pretty little bow right there.”<br/><br/>“No... not quite,” came the quiet whisper. “But it is a grand offer, one that's hard to refuse...” the brush stilled, “not without a good reason I mean.”<br/><br/>“And you've got no good reason to refuse. You said yourself you didn't want to be here forever. Here's your ticket out.” Harley's feet dropped to the floor and she pushed herself up, all the warmth and comfort she'd felt just minutes ago drained away to leave her cold. She didn't understand why, but then again she wasn't in the mood for deep thinkin' just now. <br/><br/>“I don't know. I guess... I guess I was hopin' somebody would give me a reason because as pretty a picture as he paints, there's something empty about it.”<br/><br/>“Empty?” The word was said incredulously and Harley shook her head. “He offers you the world an' you say its empty? Darlin' I'm not sure what it is you're lookin' for then.” She stalked over to where her clothes were waiting and began to dress.<br/><br/>“Love Harley, I want love," Gem admitted with a sad smile.<br/><br/>And that admission was met with a snort. “Well you sure chose a helluva place to look for it. Do you remember what I told you that first night? Before I dropped you off?”<br/><br/>Gem looked away then, her gaze going to the candles beside her bed, and she nodded. “You told me no matter what a body was running from, Gomorra wasn't a place anyone with a lick of sense should run to.”<br/><br/>“Exactly.” Harley all but growled. She wasn't even sure why she was angry but she was and her chest felt tight and her eyes hotter'n high noon during a Texas summer. “That hasn't changed. Do yourself a favor, don't look for a reason to stay Gem, get out while you can.”<br/><br/>“Where are you going? There's still time yet. I don't want you to go.” <br/><br/>“It's better if I do. Might fall asleep or sumthin' and I cain't afford you darlin'.” A weak excuse.<br/><br/>“You always fall asleep.” The words were spoken quietly, Gem's gaze now resting on her as she finished dressing, something resigned in that pretty blue gaze. “What's different now?”<br/><br/>“Nuthin' just need to be gettin' on.” A lie.<br/><br/>“Fine. Let me fix your braid at least. I'll do the fancy french braid you like.” <br/><br/>Gem crossed the room and Harley didn't bother to brush her off. As those smooth, pampered fingers slipped into her hair again, Harley knew it would be for the last time. So when it was time for her to go, and Gem asked her usual question just as she started to slip out of the window to climb back down, the Texas outlaw surprised them both. <br/><br/>“Can I at least know your name, stranger?”<br/><br/>Harley looked up from beneath her borrowed hat and with a tip of the brim replied with a lazy drawl, “Name's Isobel, ma'am. It's been a real pleasure.”</em><br/><br/><div align="center">~~~</div><br/>The hiss and crackle of the fire seemed inclined to pull her down memory lane but that was a trip Harley could honestly do without. Taking the ribbon from around the note in her hand, she tied the pretty blue silk strip onto the end of her braid. It was decidedly out of place against the drab background of her clothing but she didn't care. It would mean little to anyone else but her anyhow.<br/><br/>The words of the message were already etched into her mind but for some reason she unfurled the note and reread it for what must have been the umpteenth time since the mute kid had found her at sun up.<br/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote"><div align="center">In the wake of your silence a decision has been made. I leave tomorrow.<br/>I know you won't come and say goodbye but I can't help but ask one last time.<br/>Please?</div></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>She took one last look at the neat scrawl and with dry eyes gone dull, dropped the message into the fire. For a brief moment the scent of honeysuckle rose up to tickle her senses but then it was gone, overtaken by the smell of the fire and the outdoors as quickly as it'd come. Across the way Jasper lay ass up on his bedroll again, snorin' so loud nuthin' would dare approach, and Harley settled down to watch the fire burn til it guttered out.