<strong>~ Carmen conversing with Guinevera on the porch of the General Store | Day 2, early afternoon ~</strong><br/><br/><strong>”...it would be on your ass!”</strong>Carmen was a little taken aback by the Madame’s stern retort to her hypothetical quandary, her hands finding a cocky resting place on her hips in her own mute response. Truth be told, she sure as shootin’<em>would</em>tell someone to go to hell if she felt they deserved it.  So, she had no illusions that she had what it took to be a courtesan - she just didn’t have the temperament for it. Which was alright by her, since it plain and simple just wasn’t a position she was keen on anyhow.<br/><br/>As the Madame back-tracked her usual offer of a position as courtesan, offering up other available spots within the saloon for her to consider, Carmen smiled warmly at Guinevera as she spoke. “I do indeed appreciate your kindness toward me, Guinevera - and you know you’d be the first person I’d track down come time for me to find another line of work. But for now...there’s just no way I could leave Rand out at the ranch alone. Not that he’d be alone, of course. But you know...I’m the only family he’s got.”<br/><br/>Luckily Guinevera allowed Carmen to tease a small laugh from her with her suggestive comments and silly antics, dispelling any awkward moment that may have briefly passed between them. When Guinevera answered her question about any possible men of interest being on the horizon, her reply caught Carmen by surprise.<br/><br/><strong>"Honestly, I may have one, but I must say that this one is hard to catch after what I've done to him. Say, Carmen, did you see the Marshal in the Sheriff's Office on your way here?"</strong><br/><br/>The immediate segue from mentioning a man she was hoping to catch to asking about the Marshal had Carmen’s imagination running wild. “Why no, can’t say that I did, Guinevera - but then, I rode straight up here to the store, so he very well may be in his office and I just missed seeing him.”  Their gaze had naturally strayed to the Sheriff’s Office across the way while they discussed the Marshal, so both women saw the Deputy as he mounted up and headed off on patrol. A wicked grin turning up one corner of her lips, Carmen encouraged Guinevera in an innocent tone, “Well, I reckon I’ll see you up at the Saguaro, I’m heading there momentarily myself. Why don’t you take a look, see if Marshal Wrynn is in his office? Even if he’s not there, you could always leave him a note. Let him know you have need of his...services.” She almost made it without adding the sly innuendo, but just couldn’t help herself. The Madame and the Marshal? It would be just too perfect to pass up hoping for!<br/><br/>As a weary looking man approached riding a gorgeous golden palomino down the dusty road, Carmen peered at the rider in curiosity, her golden hazel eyes squinting, trying to make out the face hidden within the shaded darkness beneath his Stetson.  Tipping his hat and offering a polite “Afternoon, ladies”, he continued on his way, most likely heading to the Saguaro for a bath and a drink by the looks of him - and probably not in that order.<br/><br/>Which reminded Carmen that she was looking forward to heading in that direction herself. “So, I’ll see you back at the Saguaro, Guinevera?” Carmen gave the woman another friendly hug and peck on the cheek before heading back down the porch to reenter the store.  Walking to the back counter, Carmen craned her neck looking for the shopkeeper who must have gone in the back rooms of his shop. “Mr. Wang?  Mr. Wang?  You can take your time with my order, I don’t plan on heading back to Sweetwater any time soon. I’ll be up at the Saquaro iff’n you need me; otherwise, I’ll pay you a visit on my way back out. Thank you, Mr. Wang!” Carmen hoped the elderly shopkeeper had heard her, Lord knows she hollered loud enough to wake the dead to make sure he did; if not, he’d surely deduce where she took off to, it wouldn’t exactly be a mystery she chuckled softly to herself.  Picking her hat back up from the counter and tucking it back on her head, she headed back out the door.<br/><br/>Untying her mare’s reins from the store’s hitching post, Carmen gave Jonquil an affectionate scratch under her jaw, and planting one booted foot in the stirrup, gracefully mounted her horse and headed on her way up to the saloon, licking her lips in anticipation of the cool drink she was eagerly looking forward to.<br/><br/>====> To The Saguaro Saloon (http://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=107414.msg4792716#msg4792716)<br/>