The New Frontier, chapter two

I look back with the utmost fondness at that bath; it was the cleanse I needed, both literally and figuratively. After a long day of acting the part of a beautiful barmaid, it gave me a chance to recharge my batteries. If there’s anything I learned as a spy, it’s that you need to be fresh for the charades, but I digress. More importantly, it marked the start of Maggie Flanagan’s life as Marston Heights’ newest resident. I bring these words to you while there’s a lull at work, so excuse me if I’m being short and sweet here. You also now might be thinking “What’s that? Already?” To which I reply that yes, Maggie, formerly known as Lannet, is happily employed as the town’s saloon girl.

You see, I was in dire need of a job, which was driven by the fact that I couldn’t live off the town’s generosity forever. Then again, much akin to many travelers that pass through Marston Heights, I possessed that inner drive; I desired to be independent and to be able sustain a decent, if not unremarkable, living here. Apart from that, I simply wanted to contribute to the town that had graciously accepted me, even if I did stage it. Anyhow, I’d arranged a week’s stay at the saloon with Bill, as a temporary measure. However, once I started working there, things rapidly changed-it was as if I became the town’s lucky charm. People started coming in more and more, for one. As a result, the saloon underwent a transformation from a quiet hovel to drown sorrows at to the life and soul of the town, all thanks in part to this freckled Irishwoman. If I’m being honest, quite a few patrons just came so they could chat with me; I was more than happy to engage them in lively banter. With the way people approached me, with those eager smiles on their faces, it was clear that the bodysuit I’d chosen was paying off! I’d have to gently brush them off, but given the environment of the bar, nothing serious happened. All of this served to endear me to the town, and I gradually began to earn a reputation as a thoughtful, spirited woman who was doing all she could to settle down. But enough about that negative mindset. This did make me feel satisfied, but deep down I admit that I had some concerns that people would find out the truth. Thus, I really wanted to build up enough goodwill to draw upon at that point in the future, to show them that I was truly someone like them. But enough about that negative mindset! Marston Heights was a town that had already given me a lot: the people were friendly to a nauseating extent, my options felt boundless, and for the first time in my life I felt like this was home. However, as with all good times, they don’t last forever.

One morning, as I was trying to catch my beauty sleep, I woke to the sound of fairly intense knocking on my door. Sluggishly turning over, I leaned over to try and find my mask on the adjacent dresser. I donned its stretchy frame with hast, Hastily pulling it over my face to use the built-in voice modifier, I called out.

One morning, as I was trying to catch my beauty sleep, I woke to the sound of a fairly intense knocking on my door. Sluggish in movement, I leaned over to try and find my mask on the adjacent dresser. I donned its stretchy frame with haste; it was vital that I didn’t blow my cover without using the mask’s built-in voice modifier. After hastily arranging it, I called out:

“Who’s there? Let me sleep!”

“Ah shoot, Maggie,” came the familiar voice. “I hate to wake ya this early, but there’s some fella down at the bar asking for ya.”

“Wait, what?!” I exclaimed. What could possibly be going on that would require my presence? “Bill, ye know that I don’t like being interrupted at this hour! Have you told him this?” I let my Irish brogue shine through as it was important to play up the “annoyed Irish lass” bit; after all, I wanted to use this as an opportunity to reaffirm the boundaries of my guise.

               “Ah sorry Maggie, I did, but the fella’s been asking for ya this whole time. Says he won’t leave til ya meet him.”

How lovely. I genuinely was concerned this was my past catching up with, or if this was something that could easily blow over. Either way, I was still nervous, irrationally so. Look, as Lannet, I’d faced a lot over the centuries, but for the most part I was able to react and mitigate those surprises. Now? There was a lot that still go happen to blow my cover, and that fact was making me irrationally nervous. Well, what could I do?

Thinking quickly, I steadied my voice and nerves.

“Thanks Bill, I guess I might as well see what this lad is after. Tell him that there’s a round down there on me if he gives me time to get all dollied up. After all, I want to give him my best impression.”

Not to mention that I’d need time to ensure that my disguise was still picture perfect. God, the timing of this was not ideal. Who wouldn’t love being woken up for no apparent reason, right?

“Righty then Maggie, I’ll pass it on. Hey, if he’s bein’ a nuisance and if you’d want me to chuck him out, you’ve jus’ gotta say the word.”

“I don’t think it’ll come down to that, but thank ye kindly Bill,” I said, smiling behind the door. “Believe me when I say I’ve got ways of dealing with those situations.”

After I heard Bill’s footsteps retreat down the stairs, I began to get ready for this guest. Despite the relative sense of urgency to get dressed, I took my sweet time putting on the rest of Maggie. I always get hit with an increased level of sensitivity, and wanted to really savor it this time; think of it as a treat and a way of sticking it to whomever had the gall to prematurely wake me up. Finally, after conducting my routine inspection and after donning a simple, yet alluring, dress, I headed downstairs to meet destiny.

At the bar, Bill was standing next to a tough, rowdy looking cowboy. This guy was what you’d call a man’s man: he was massive, well-built, radiated machismo, and had a beard that would put most of the west to shame.  The cherry on top was the flamboyant suit he wore that was rounded off with a fancy brown hat. All in all, I could tell I had my work cut out for me. Even as I was making my grand entrance, I noticed his eyes were hungrily tracking me. That in and of itself told me something about him, so I steeled myself for what was sure to be a thrilling conversation.

“Ma’am, let me say I’ve been looking forward to this meeting.”

Oh, Christ. Well, at least I’d have a chance to ham it up again, because this could go one of two ways. Ideally, it’d end up with me getting some more peace and quiet with this guy pissing off from whence he came.

“Oh. Thank you? I hadn’t realized people outside Marston Heights knew me, especially as I’m so new here.”

He looked at me, flashing a broad smile.

“Well ma’am, as some folks around here have been talking about the saloon girl in this here town, I figured I ought to meet her. See her for real, and I have to say that I am liking what I’m seeing.” 

As he winked, I winced on the inside. Was he for real? I understand that my suit was attractive, but this was a bit too much. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Bill pretending to wipe down the already-pristine bar counter. I could tell things might get tense soon. Naturally, it was in my best interest to defuse the situation as calmly and carefully as I could. Or barring that, I could always give him the what for; “being” Irish/Irish-American (depending on who was asking) did have its perks.

Without smiling, I responded.

“Sir, I’m glad to hear that, but I don’t understand why you dragged me out here, especially at this early hour. If you wanted to meet me, that’s fine and dandy, but I’d appreciate it if you cut to the chase.” 

Without missing a beat, he responded, still smiling. I admit that this wasn’t the reaction I was expecting, and I started feeling that shadow of doubt creep up. 

“I say this with all due respect, ma’am, but what I see, I tend to get. And I’ve got a proposition for you that I think you might like. Most people would want to listen to what I have to say, because sooner or later you’ll agree. And if you don’t say yes right away, well, the Sharp family ain’t afraid of waiting to get their hands on things.”

I didn’t actually realize how serious this guy until he said those words. Even Bill was taken aback when the name was dropped.

“You’re…Colton Sharp?!” he exclaimed, still in shock.

“The very same. And if you don’t mind,“ his face twisted into a smug sneer, “you can fix me another one of what Marston Heights considers a drink. We’ve got business to conduct.”

With that, Bill hastily turned around to fix a drink. Clearly, this Colton Sharp was a man to be reckoned with, but I didn’t survive centuries of cutthroat politics to be intimidated by this man. While the drink was being fixed, he turned to me with a markedly changed demeanor.

“Ms. Maggie, I—"

I immediately cut him off. With what I’d seen in this short time, I didn’t want to let him feel as if he was familiar with me. This asshole barged in and assumed he could boss Bill and I around, so he was asking to be taken down several pegs.

“That’s Mrs. Flanagan, thank you very much.”

With a glare, he continued. 

“Mrs. Flanagan, I would like to take you to somewhere nicer. After all, you deserve to be treated like royalty, instead of toiling away here in this here speck of a town as a saloon girl. Folk here are plain and boring, and I’m sure you wouldn’t want to spend the rest of your life with them. So, what do you say? I’ve got an extra horse all ready for you, and we could be at the ranch by high noon.”

That was it. This was the offer from a man who clearly had no qualms about morality if it meant he could get his way. My dilemma here was that I had to clearly express that under no certain circumstance would I go with him. At the same time however, I didn’t want to cause any fallout for the folks of Marston Heights; the people responsible for my well-being were people I wanted to protect. If my old friends from home were here, I’m confident they would appreciate my skills in handling this delicate situation. 

Looking at Bill first then Sharp, I took a breath. Well, time to make my metaphorical bed to lie in.

"Mister Sharp, and I use the title only out of respect for your family, if you want someone to blindly follow you around after you throw shite on it, go buy a pig from back east. You walk in here, thinking that your family name gives you the right to act like a bully, only to insult the town that took me in. You try to throw money at me thinking that as a saloon girl, I can be bought like a child’s toy. I am Maggie Flanagan, and I would never, EVER let myself be kept like a prize. With your arrogant, ugly behavior, I don't think the saloon doors would open for you, much less any self-respecting woman. Or maybe, that’s why you feel the need to compensate for your lack of success. So no, I will not agree to your proposition." 

I made sure to pack plenty of Irish mettle in those words, and that did the trick--he looked absolutely taken aback. Sputtering from the unexpected outburst, he began to leave.

“You…you…bitch! I can’t believe you’d turn down this more-than-generous offer from one of Arizona’s leading families. Mark my words, you’ll regret this!”

As he spat out his rebuttal, I couldn’t help but notice how there seemed to be an audience forming outside the saloon. It wasn’t just me who noticed this, but Sharp then became cognizant of how many eyes were boring into him. Especially how they were trying their darndest not to laugh at how flustered he was.

Turning to them in barely-suppressed rage, he yelled.

“You haven’t heard the last of Colton Sharp! You all will wish that Irish slut said yes!”

Now, I simply couldn’t let him have the last word. Besides, I wanted to put the final nail in his coffin for this particular situation while everybody was paying attention.

“My, my, Mr. Sharp, looks like that so-called ‘honeyed tongue’ of yours has finally met its match. Guess everybody sees you for what you are--a bully hiding behind sweet words. Well, let me tell you something. If ye don’t leave now, I’ll make sure ye’ll leave with a black eye. Now, leave before ye embarrass yourself more.”

To his credit, he was still composed when he saddled up and left. I couldn’t help but think about the glance he gave as he finally made his overdue exit from town, however. Maybe it was part of my inherent sense of caution, maybe it was something about him, but I had a nagging suspicion that life here was about to become more complicated. Walking back inside the saloon, I made a swift beeline to my room. Bill opened his mouth to say something, but a single, urgent nod caused him to carry on cleaning the mess that one Colton Sharp made.

Once back inside the safety of my room, I locked and slumped down against the door. God, I needed air. Tugging at the bottom of my neck, I finally found the seam to the mask and yanked it clean off. Why, of all the situations I’ve ever faced, did I feel a sense of impending doom about this one? Something like this would have been trivial back on my home planet, so why was it affecting me this much? Calm down, Lannet, just breathe. 

Several minutes later, I was feeling fine. So much for a quiet life on Earth, I suppose. I came here to escape my old life, not to retread it it’s steps. Thankfully, the day was young and I had plenty of time to collect my thoughts. That I did, in the luxury of a nice, warm bath. It was time to rid my memory of that asshole, Colton Sharp and reflect on all the things that caused me to fall in love with life here in Marston Heights. There were the supportive people, the glances from the patrons, and the fact that I had a place to stay. Ultimately, it was my wit and clever thinking that had gotten me in this mess, and I could rest easy knowing that I had the know-how to get me out of it, too. The fact I had alien technology for such occasions also gave me a peace of mind most “humans” wouldn’t be able to access…mostly because these “humans” wouldn’t know how to use them at this stage in their development. I’m digressing though. With the empty mask staring at me from the comfort of its stand and the curvy bodysuit hanging on a makeshift hook in the corner, the warm embrace of these warm suds were providing me with all the security I needed.