Joker Smile Tattoo
Stories similar to this that you might like too.
“You can’t have a tattoo?” the blacksmith said. “But you are going to get one.” He was grinning and looked like he was enjoying himself, but it didn’t make any sense. It had been almost two hours since they had left town and it wasn’t time for his appointment.
Then again, maybe that’s why he was so happy; he knew something no one else did. She would just ask him when she got back home.
It took them an hour to reach the saloon where Joker’s shop was located. The bar was in the middle of the block and on each side were small shops, including a tailor, a saddler, and a gunsmith. All were open and busy with customers inside or outside looking at the wares.
There weren’t many buildings between her house and the saloon, so she assumed there were more businesses around the corner. But she hadn’t seen any sign of another business. Maybe it was in a building closer to the train station. Or maybe Joker had moved his shop recently. She could only hope she wouldn’t run into anyone she knew when she got back home.
She turned and glanced at Joker. His eyes were closed as though he were meditating. As soon as he opened his eyes he would notice that he was not alone. That was probably what made him so peaceful now, knowing he was safe from being discovered by the authorities or people who wanted nothing but trouble.
And he was right about the danger. If someone found out he was still alive, they would come after her.
The door behind her suddenly slammed shut, startling her. It must have been locked because she couldn’t hear the latch being pulled back. A woman screamed, then a man said something loud enough for the entire block to hear, “No. No!” He started banging on the door, pounding with his fists.
Then there were gunshots. It was over in seconds, but it seemed to go on forever. The screams stopped abruptly and she heard several men shout at once, “I’ll kill you! I’ll kill your mama!” They all laughed, and then the gunfire started up again.
They were shooting at Joker’s shop.
She turned quickly to see if Joker was aware of what was happening. She had to stop this before someone got hurt. But when she turned back, Joker smiled at her. She saw no fear in his expression, only relief that she was safe.
“Come on,” he said, motioning toward the window. “You need to be careful. We’re not out of here yet.” She followed him through the swinging doors and down the hallway. They passed the kitchen, which was full of women and children.
One of them was carrying a baby, but she was holding it too tight and it struggled to escape. Another woman was feeding a toddler who was sitting on the floor. The child was trying to grab a plate of food from the table, but instead grabbed the wooden spoon that was in his mother’s hand and threw it at the wall.
“Watch yourself,” the woman said as she picked up the spoon and returned it to the stove. Then she gave the boy a piece of bread and told him to sit down. “He’s hungry.”
Joker stopped short and turned to look at her. “What?”
“Nothing. I don’t know these people, so maybe we should wait until we meet some others.” But she felt like she was intruding on their lives. She had no business telling anyone how to raise their own children. And she certainly shouldn’t tell them what to do in their own home.
A young girl ran out of the room with a bowl of porridge in her arms. She looked about nine years old and was barefoot. She was smiling as she carried the bowl, but when she reached the door she stopped and stared at Joker. Her gaze lingered on his face for longer than necessary, and then she rushed back into the kitchen.
Joker watched her leave and then glanced at her. “Did you see something unusual about that little girl?”
She nodded. “Yes. Did you notice her staring at you?”
“I think so, but why would she do that?”
“I’m not sure, but that’s what I thought I saw. It might have been nothing more than an accident, but it’s possible someone has taken a picture of your tattoo and is sending it to every newspaper in the country.”
“Someone wants me dead? What kind of person does that?”
“I don’t know, but I don’t want you to find out firsthand.” He turned back down the hallway. “Let’s hurry.”
Her heart pounded as they hurried through Joker’s shop. She wondered if she would ever get used to the way he moved without making a sound. She didn’t think he even knew he did it anymore. He led her straight to the door.
They had almost reached it when he paused, turned to look at her, and then he held out his hand. When she hesitated, he repeated himself. “Take my hand.” She reached for his fingers and he helped her through the door. She was relieved to be out of the building and away from Joker’s deadly enemies.
As soon as they left the building she looked around. There were no guards anywhere near them, and the street was deserted except for one wagon. She took a quick glance at it and then at Joker. He was watching her expectantly.
“Are you going to tell me where we’re going?”
“Why? Do you want to go somewhere else?”
“No. I guess I just want to know what happens next.”
“It looks like this is it.” He pointed to the wagon. “We’re going home.”
***
The wagon was painted red, and it was pulling a small covered bed, which was made up of fresh sheets. Joker lifted the cover and sat down on the edge of the bed while she climbed inside. It was dark now, and she could barely make out their surroundings.
She saw a window lit up high on the wall of what appeared to be an office building. It was surrounded by windows on all sides. She thought there must be a balcony or a terrace above the roof. A light bulb hung from its ceiling and illuminated part of the office space below.
The walls were decorated with oil paintings of clowns doing funny things. The floor was tiled with black and white squares.
Joker pulled off his boots and lay down on the bed, stretching out on his side. As he stretched, she noticed that his arm muscles rippled beneath his shirt. She had heard that men’s bodies grew stronger after they were shot, but she hadn’t expected it to be this noticeable.
She was suddenly aware of his presence, his warmth, and the fact that he was naked in front of her. His body was still strong and hard, and she imagined what it would feel like to run her hands over every inch of his skin.
She tried to ignore him, but her eyes kept returning to his face, his chest, his legs, and finally his groin, where his cock was beginning to grow. It was only then that she realized that she was staring at him. Her cheeks burned. Her mouth went dry. If he woke up and found her staring at his crotch, she didn’t know what she would say.
“You can sleep here tonight,” he whispered. “But tomorrow we’ll need to find a place to stay. That will be easier if I have money.”
“That’s okay, let me do it. I don’t mind.”
“I won’t take it personally. You’ve been shot and you’re tired. We both need our rest.”
She nodded and closed her eyes, but the darkness wasn’t helping much. Instead of falling asleep right away, she lay there listening to Joker snore. It sounded different than most snores because it had a deep bass to it.
Then the mattress vibrated under her, and Joker rolled onto his back. She could see his face clearly in the moonlight, and he looked like a man who had been sleeping peacefully until she arrived. Now he was wide awake, and she wondered if he was remembering everything that happened before she came to his room.
She felt guilty for what she did to him, but she didn’t know how else to protect herself. She had no choice but to shoot him. And it wasn’t like she killed anyone in cold blood. He was already dead before he fell to the ground. So why did she feel so bad about it? Was it because she was a murderer?
She should never have come to Arizona Territory. She was making a mistake, trying to help people who didn’t want her help. The last thing she wanted was to put herself in danger again. She couldn’t allow herself to be hurt or killed, and yet she felt drawn to Joker like a moth to a flame.
She knew that if she stayed in this part of the country, she might end up hurting someone else. But she also knew that her life would be over if she left Joker alone to deal with the gunmen. The longer they were together, the more dangerous it would become.
So was she being foolish or was she doing the right thing? She couldn’t be sure.
After lying there thinking for quite a while, she decided to try to sleep. She wrapped her arms around her knees and stared at the ceiling. The moonlight cast a faint glow on the wooden beams, and shadows danced on the opposite wall. The silence of the night was broken only by the soft hum of a fan.
When she finally drifted off to sleep, the last image she saw was Joker’s face—his expression, his eyes, his lips.
***
A few hours later she awoke to the feeling of Joker’s hand brushing aside her hair and stroking her cheek. She opened her eyes slowly and watched as his eyes turned back toward the door. He seemed to be looking for someone.
“It’s me,” she said quietly.
He turned toward her, and she could see that he was startled by her sudden appearance. “How are you feeling?”
“Tired.”
“Do you need to use the bathroom?”
“No.”
She watched him for a moment, wondering what he was thinking. She didn’t want him to think she was spying on him. It wouldn’t be good for either one of them if he suspected her motives.
“Are you hungry?” he asked.
“Yes, but I ate something at lunch.”
“Then we’ll get breakfast in town. We’ll have enough money now, so we can afford a decent meal.”
She sat up and slipped her feet into her shoes before getting out of bed. Joker was watching her with an appreciative look, but she ignored it. After all, he was supposed to be dead.
Joker pulled on his clothes and picked up his gun belt, then walked over and gave her a quick kiss. She smiled and kissed him back, hoping he understood that she wanted nothing more than to spend more time with him. But she had to go.
The two rode out early the next morning and headed east, heading toward Phoenix, where they hoped to find work. The first half of their journey was uneventful, and they were soon riding along the road leading to San Carlos, the closest town to the mine.
They passed a few ranches, but the land looked barren. It was too hot and dry for anything other than cattle and sheep, and not many of those. As they drew closer to the mine, the landscape changed. Trees and bushes covered the hills, and the grass became greener. The trees and shrubs grew thicker, and the air smelled fresher.
They stopped to stretch their legs and get some water from a spring. There were lots of wildflowers around the spring, including lilies, yellow daisies, and bluebells. The sun shone brightly on the mountain, which was covered with a thick green brush. When they were done drinking, they continued on their way.
San Carlos was about five miles away. They hadn’t traveled far when they came upon a small group of men working on a fence. All of them were dressed in jeans and cowboy boots. Most wore hats that covered the top of their heads and were decorated with feathers.
Two of the men turned and stared at Joker as they rode past. Neither man seemed friendly, and they both made a point of staring at him. One of them raised a hand in greeting and gave a short wave. He looked to be about thirty years old, with a full head of black hair and a mustache.
His eyes were dark brown, almost black. The other man was older, maybe forty. He also had a full head of black hair, but he sported a beard, and his eyes were a lighter shade of brown, almost gray. Both of them carried guns.
The younger one waved again after they passed, but neither man spoke to him. They weren’t even curious about why he was in such a hurry as if he was guilty of something.
As they entered the town, they saw that there wasn’t much activity going on. Several stores were open for business, but most were empty. The business was slow because of the summer heat, and no one was around except the few cowboys who worked for the ranchers in town.
They noticed a saloon, a hotel, and a restaurant near the center of town, so they rode toward the businesses, hoping to find someone willing to hire a cook.
“There’s a sheriff’s office here,” Joker said as they approached a large two-story building. “That should be our best bet.”
They rode up to the front doors, which were locked. A sign hung over the door stating that it was closed for the day due to excessive heat.
“Let’s check the hotel across the street,” she suggested.
They rode up to the hotel and found it was closed as well, although they did notice a few people walking inside. They went to the saloon instead, which was also closed.
“This is going to be hard,” she said. “I don’t suppose you know anyone in town?”
“Not really.”
“Well, we can try again tomorrow, and perhaps we’ll run into someone who might be able to help us.”
“Where do you plan to stay tonight?” he asked.
“In the room we rented yesterday.”
He nodded and led his horse into the stable. She followed, and they tied them to the same hitching post where they’d left them before leaving the ranch. They walked into the hotel lobby, but it was completely empty. She wondered how many rooms were available and if any of them were occupied.
After walking through the main floor and upstairs hallways, they still couldn’t find anyone. They checked each room, but none of them looked like they had been used recently. The only place they could think of checking was the basement, and they went downstairs to explore.
It was cooler down there, as the temperature in the rest of the hotel was rising by the minute. They walked quietly over to the stairs and went down to the basement where they found a few rooms that appeared to have been used.
The first room had a few pieces of furniture and an old bed in the corner. It was dusty and musty, and everything in the room was covered with cobwebs. The second room had a table with three chairs. There was a mirror hanging on the wall, along with a few pictures and shelves containing old books and magazines. The third room held four cots, two dressers, and an ironing board.
She walked through the halls, trying to imagine what it would be like living in a hotel that didn’t seem to attract guests for long periods of time. Would it be lonely or depressing?
While she was exploring the basement, Joker was busy looking around the rooms on the upper floors. The rooms were mostly vacant, although they did notice that one room was occupied. The curtains were drawn, and a young woman lay on her bed reading a magazine. She glanced up and smiled at them.
Joker stepped closer to the door and whispered, “Do you mind if we come in?”
“Of course not,” she replied softly.
Neither of them knew this girl’s name, but she was wearing a white blouse with a red bow at the neckline; a black skirt that fell just below her knees; and a pair of high heels. Her hair was blond and pulled back from her face. She wore little makeup, and she seemed to be in her late teens. She was pretty and very nice. “What brings you here?” she asked.
“We’re looking for a cook,” he said. “Is there anything I can make for you?”
“You know how to cook?”
“I’m not sure,” he answered. “Maybe something simple like eggs.”
“Would you like me to teach you?” she offered.
“Why are you interested in cooking?” Joker asked.
“My sister is getting married next month and has hired me to take care of all the food. I’ve never cooked for a big group before, so I thought maybe I should learn how.”
“How many people will be coming to your wedding?” he asked.
“Thirty-two,” she said. “I think I’ll need to hire another waitress as well.”
“Can you recommend a good cook?” he asked.
“If you want a real professional, then I’d suggest hiring someone from New York City, but I don’t know anyone myself.”
“Well, I can’t afford to pay anyone from New York, so let’s hope we can find someone who knows how to cook here.”
The girl nodded and turned back to her magazine.
Joker waited until she was done reading, then walked back out to the hallway. He stopped in front of her and leaned against the wall, crossing his arms over his chest. “Did you enjoy talking to us?” she asked.
“Yes, we enjoyed meeting you too.”
“You’re welcome to come back anytime you want,” she said. “And please tell my sister that I’ll be looking forward to her wedding.”
Joker watched as she walked down the hall, thinking about her offer. If he could get his hands on some ingredients, he might be able to learn how to prepare a meal. But where would he find such things?
They returned to the lobby, and she told them she could find them if they needed more information. She left with her husband, leaving them alone again.
“So where do you think we should start our search?” he asked.
“Let’s check the kitchen first.”
They headed toward the rear of the building where they found a large room filled with tables and chairs, a few ovens, and a long counter that ran across the back wall. A man was standing beside the stove, and they both stopped when they saw him.
“Hello,” he said as soon as they stepped into the room.
“Are you the cook?” she asked. “We’re looking for someone to work in the hotel’s kitchen.”
“I am,” he answered, shaking their hands. “My name is Jack, and I have worked here since I was fifteen years old.”
“When was that?” she asked.
“Nineteen years ago,” he said. “I guess I’m old enough now. How many meals do you plan to feed every day?”
“That depends on how many guests we get,” she replied. “But right now we can serve breakfast and lunch. We’ll probably add dinner once we have more guests.”
“It looks like you already provide plenty of food for the employees,” he said. “What do you think about adding a couple of extra tables to the dining area?”
“We’ve been talking about it,” she replied. “We’ve decided that once we have more customers, we’ll need to add some extra seats.”
“Well, I’m willing to help,” he said. “I can prepare all the meals, and then I’ll bring them here and cook them here for you. It will save time and energy.”
“How much would you charge?” she asked.
“For the entire week?” he asked. “Twenty dollars.”
“We’ll need to discuss it,” she said. “We’ll meet tomorrow morning after breakfast and talk about it.”
“Sounds good,” he agreed. “Now why don’t you two go ahead and sit down and eat while I finish preparing the rest of tonight’s meal.”
Joker looked at her as she led him through the dining room, and he couldn’t believe what he heard. Twenty dollars! That was almost four times more than he made in a month working as a ranch hand.
He had no idea how he was going to earn enough money to cover this job, but he knew that somehow he would manage.
The End