Busted Gulch Volume 12

Finance and Romance (baileygaines)

Finance and Romance

Annie saw Bart with a ledger and a bunch of paper. 

Her curiosity was piqued and she made her way over.

"You look awfully busy. Mind if I join you?" 

Bart looked up, his smile tired but alert. 

"Please do. Why don't you grab some coffee first?"

Annie stood by his side for a moment or two. 

Her saloon days were long past; 

She'd become unused to men telling her what to do.

She finally left and went down to the galley, 

and came back with a pot and two cups of coffee. 

"Here you are!" She slid him a cup, 

then perched on the table and drank hers in a gulp.

"What are you working on?" She asked curiously. 

"Well, Dad asked me to work on the finances, see.

Now that he's back on his feet, he wants to make sure 

that we've not been careless and won't become poor."

There was little chance of that, 

Annie thought as she looked around the Liberty Bell. 

The Denvers' finances seemed to be doing quite well. 

"Oh, can I help?" She leaned in. 

Bart looked up at her with a bit of a grin. 

"Of course. Or at least keep me company." 

 "That I will do, gladly!"

She sat with him for an hour or so, 

and refilled the coffeepot when it got low.

She talked to forget Brody and to get to know Bart. 

He was quiet...but boy, was he smart!

She made some jokes, and they made him laugh. 

Being together seemed to cut the time in half. 

The sun went down, and Annie stifled a yawn. 

"Well...I suppose I should get gone."

She kissed him on the cheek and smoothed his hair,

then exited the room and mounted the stair.

A gentle knock sounded outside. 

She opened the door and let Bart inside. 

She gave him a grin, 

then shut the door behind him.