Ashley stood in the bedroom doorway. Dressed in a thin orange cotton halter-top and matching shorts her horniness was evident. The outline of her hardening nipples protruded through the material. She knew it was 12 o'clock somewhere as she took another long drink from her glass Ashley asked him again. There was no answer. John just sat on the bed propped up against the pillows, and stared blankly at his book. The reading lights were still on even though the bedroom was ablaze in the morning light. John was not reading. In he fixed stare, he would not or could not answer her questions. Even the dog ignored her as she turned from the doorway.
Ashley returned to the trailer's kitchen, refilled her glass with Jack and ginger, and weaved towards the couch. John was not going to provide her with answers or advise. It must be her decision. What was she to do? She must decide quickly. Ashley glanced at the pile of unsigned papers and forms that John had piled on the kitchen table. She bit her lip and took another long drink from the glass. Then she began to cry. With the tears came the memories of the past eight months.
The terror of that March evening in the lobby of the 4 Corners Casino & Cafe flooded back. Three security guards cornered her while she sat on the bench in the corner of the lobby. She had been trying to get someone to mind Mickey, her little mutt, while she went to the bathroom. Now Mickey shivered inside her dirty canvas jacket. Ashley hugged her grease-smeared backpack to her knees with one arm and waved the other menacingly in the air. The men were trying to get her out of the lobby. They did not think she was the type of customer that the management wanted in their establishment. Mickey yelped while she swore, pleaded, and swung her arm wildly back and forth to keep them at bay.
Looking between the guards, she saw him standing in the small crowd, which had gathered to observe the commotion. Their eyes met. Silently she had pleaded with him for rescue. Miraculously he came forward. "What's the problem, little sister? I'm so sorry I'm late," he asserted as he pushed passed the guards.
"Hey Mister, mind your own business. She just a cheap whore..." shouted the largest guard.
John just ignored him. Instead, he pushed passed him and reached out a hand towards the trembling woman. She grabbed it like a lifeline and started to pull herself up. The big guard grabbed his shoulder and tried to pull him back.
The older grey haired man reacted in a surprising fashion. He just said, "Sonny, I'd take that big mitt of yours off my shoulder before this turns into the biggest complaint this two bit casino has ever had before the Gaming Commission and your ass is on the pavement outside." The words and the authoritative tone of their delivery shook the guard's confidence. The burly guard slowly withdrew his hand. Ashley was quickly at his side. There she briefly cowered. John placed his arm around he. She was in her late thirties. The dirty brown man's canvas jacket was several sizes to large for her. Her jeans were dirty. There was a grease smudge on her chin, and small abrasions on her cheek. He could smell the odor of beer and tobacco smoke. Ashley remembered that she had whispered only one word to him, her name.
"Let's go sweetie," was all he said as he grabbed her pack with one hand and her elbow with the other and started to turn towards the door.
"I can't go now," she mumbled. She remembered how the words had caught him by surprise. There was a flabbergasted look on his face. "I need to pee," she emphatically explained in an embarrassed voice. " They wouldn't let me go. I need to pee, really badly." Ashley pleaded.
"Go on. Boys, you heard the lady. Let's be fair now. She needs to use the bathroom. Let her through, please." The security guards stepped back.
The scene played out in Ashley's mind. She handed him the dog and dropped her backpack at his feet. As she brushed past him, he pressed a five-dollar casino coin into her hand. "For luck and a fresh start," he whispered. Then as she hurried towards the casino entrance she heard him say in a louder voice, "Ashley don't be long, and you can do your make-up in the truck." Everyone laughed at the comment. Ashley disappeared.
Ten minutes later, hoots of glee and the rapid beep of a slot machine paying out announced that Ashley's fortunes might have changed. Shortly there after, she approached her savior with a smile and her pockets bulging with coins. "Look, we won! We won!" shouted Ashley. His face filled with an express that combined wonder, relief, and happiness. The recollection of that moment brought both joy and sadness to Ashley. The memories of their first meeting continue to flood back over her mind.