A few minutes later I walked back into the saloon. Many of the patrons had just been outside watching the commotion, eying me with suspicious glances. Some outright stared. As I approached the bar again, the large man from before greeted me with another shot. Unlike most of the others, he didn’t seem upset by anything that occurred. At least, not with me.

“I’m Taylor,” I said, reaching out a hand.

“Samuel,” he said, shaking my hand firmly. “Taylor, I’m going to advance you a bit for your new clothes. Two outfits for here, and two personal. Food and drinks will also come out of your wages. Including those I’ve poured you here tonight. You can do your shopping and get settled into your room today, then work a few hours tonight when things get busy. That all sound fair to you?”

I nodded. “I can work with that, Mr. Samuel. I’ll go and take care of it. By the way, what’s your opinion on what just occurred outside?”

He scratched his neck, looking around, like he wanted to make sure no one would hear his answer.

“Everyone always hated Adversity Management here. All their rules, regulations, meddling in everything… You couldn’t brush your teeth the wrong way without someone from Adversity Management finding out and sending you a brochure on how to do it properly.”

“You’re exaggerating… I hope,” I said, grinning.

I hoped, but it was certainly something certain members of PanTech would do.

“Yes, I’m exaggerating. Point is they were control freaks. Micromanagers.” His voice suddenly grew quieter. “And we hoped things would change after they left.”

“Maybe he just needs more time. It’s been less than a week, after all. What makes you think it won’t be better?”

“The sheriff wants to get tough on crime. Already talking about building a jail half as big as the town itself, and I don’t even know why… what with all the talk of increased hangings there won’t be any of us left.”

Just then, a man approached the bar for a drink, and Samuel suddenly got quiet. Very clearly, he did not want to be overheard. By anyone.

I headed up the stairs, approaching the three women standing there waiting.

“A girl? Got one for you, Lucy,” the oldest one said, looking to the woman on the opposite end.

“Ooh, she’s purty too,” Lucy said.

Lucy appeared to be the youngest woman here, but likely much older than me. Though, with all that makeup caked on, it was hard to tell.

“What? No…” I said, clearing my throat. “I’m going to be staying in the vacant room temporarily. Samuel just hired me as a waitress. I’m going to keep the room tidied up until she’s ready to return to work. Then I’ll give it up and find some other accommodation.”

The oldest lady frowned at me. “I don’t know if Rosie would like anyone rummaging around in her room while she’s gone.”

“Oh, it’s fine Daisy. She left it a mess anyhow,” Lucy said. “It’ll be nice for her to come back to somethin’ all cleaned up.”

Daisy, the oldest of the three, tapped her chin. She wore a permanent scowl on her face making me wonder how she managed to make any kind of living in this profession. Then again, men were strange creatures. I dared not put so much thought into it. Daisy looked like she could’ve been the mother of the other girls. Thin streaks of silver peaked through her jet black hair. She had a deep scar that ran through both lips, ending next to her nose.

“I’m Taylor,” I said holding out my hand in front of the three of them.

Daisy took it reluctantly, sneering as she did. “Daisy.”

“Belle,” the middle girl said. A redhead with freckles and green eyes who reminded me a bit of Frelya.

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“Lucy!” the youngest woman replied, taking my hand in both of hers. Lucy might’ve been the prettiest of the three, but it was hard to say. Her makeup could be more accurately described as body armor, and was about as likely to stop a bullet as my light armor suit.

Daisy swatted Lucy’s hands away when she took a bit too long to let go of mine. “Let’s get you settled in, then. Rosie’s room is the one on the end.”

Daisy gently placed a hand on my shoulder, guiding me into the room. The three of them followed me inside, closing the door.

“Okay, we’ve only got a couple of minutes, but there are a few things you need to know,” Daisy began, her demeanor softening from what it had been just outside the door only moments ago.

Belle reached under Rosie’s mattress, pulling out a knife and handing it to me with a smile.

“Hold on to that. Find yourself something else soon, because Rosie will need that back when she returns to work.”

“Why do I need this?” I asked.

“Look, honey,” Daisy said. “Just because you’re taking a job that doesn’t go all the way, doesn’t mean the men here don’t forget their place sometimes. Drunks have short memories and sometimes don’t respect boundaries. The real people you need to worry about is the deputies.”

“They don’t offer any protection?” I asked.

Belle laughed. “Honey, they’re the ones you need protection from. If it wasn’t for the Red Collar Boys, things would be a whole lot worse.”

“What do you mean by that?” I asked.

As soon as Lucy opened her mouth, a knock came at the door. I quickly stowed away the knife as Daisy opened it.

A man stood there, holding his hat in front of him. “I’d like to discuss business with you, Miss Daisy.”

He wore a suit, clean and pressed. Not a single spot or smear on his small, round spectacles. He was balding, but what was left of his hair was clean, neat, and well-groomed. His goatee was waxed and combed. He smiled and nodded to the three of us behind Daisy.

“Just so you know, the new face is a waitress. Not part of the selection,” Daisy said quickly, before the subject even came up.

“Well of course I’m here for you, Daisy. You well should know that by now. Five years and I’ve not selected another girl yet,” he said, smiling.

“You need to work on sounding more assertive, Roberto. I keep telling you this. If you fawn too much, it makes you look weak.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. She was the oldest woman here, surely pushing fifty or more, and was as coarse as a cat’s tongue. Yet, she seemed extremely popular.

“Direct as usual, Miss Daisy. Shall we discuss business in your room?”

“Of course, Mr. Roberto. Right this way,” she said, closing the door behind her as they exited Rosie’s room.

“She’s… popular?” I asked, not knowing how else to ask such an awkward question.

“Very,” Belle said, not elaborating.

“Very,” Lucy echoed… also choosing not to elaborate.

Their stiff tone discouraged me from pursuing a pointless topic any further. Clearly, they weren’t comfortable sharing things with me yet.

Lucy grabbed my hand. “Hey Belle, want to take a break and take Taylor out shopping?” she asked excitedly.

Belle shrugged. “Sure, I guess so. But we should probably talk to her a bit more before we go. We don’t have an excuse to talk in private like this often.” Belle turned her attention to me. “I’m not as good at Daisy as giving these little talks, but you should know that nobody really looks out for us girls. Especially us girls, if you catch my meaning.” She gestured between Lucy and herself.

“I get it and… I’m sorry,” I said.

“You just need to try to avoid getting the sheriff’s attention from here on. If you want to survive, that is. The men who make rope and coffins in this town are about to be rich.”

“Is he that bad?” I asked.

“Worse,” Lucy said. “Especially now that the PanTech people are gone. They weren’t much better but… they were better.”

“I’m not planning to stay here for long, ladies,” I said. “I’m trying to get ahead of a big problem PanTech created. I’m from PanTech HQ myself. Once I solve that problem, I’ll be leaving.”

It felt wrong not to tell them the whole truth, but I wasn’t sure how much I wanted to elaborate. If these girls decided to gossip, and it caused a mass panic in the town, the sheriff would think that was my intention all along and he’ll act much sooner than he would’ve otherwise. I couldn’t trust them with something like this just yet.

“You’re from their headquarters? Oh my goodness!” Lucy gasped, still holding my hand. “You must live a very exciting life.”

“Oh, you have no idea…” I said.

“But where’s your big armor and guns and such?” Belle asked.

“I’m not Adversity Management. They’re the ones with the big guns and armor. I was a scientist.”

“Was?” Belle asked, before she was thankfully interrupted by Lucy.

“Women can be scientists?” she asked, beaming. As though any of this could be possible now.

“Yeah… women can do anything men can. Even the physical differences matter less there. The armor makes power roughly equal, plus there are other ways to modify the body and…” I trailed off again, wondering why I was even talking about this.

Although evil was rarely fully evil, it was still strange to say anything positive about PanTech. They’d designed the culture here that oppressed them in the first place. They were treated differently by design. Their quality of life and struggles were all manufactured. Engineered to serve some Adversity Management planner’s sick fantasy of an ideal society that created the best type of person. Strength through adversity… that was the motto, after all. Shouted during every salute. Roared at the end of every meeting. Strength through adversity…

A hand squeezed mine tighter.

“Taylor? Are you alright?” Lucy asked.

“Shopping sounds good,” I said.