Hops

Texas, 1916

If someone had told Pinto Bean it was the hottest day of the year he wouldn't have argued. In fact he would have agreed. He had even tossed aside the straw Stetson hat that normally sat on his head, letting his curly brown hair free. Or as free as it could be in the stifling heat of a blistering Texas July. As he stood behind the saloon bar, filling glasses with beer from the tap until the foam bubbled over the tops, he could feel the sweat slithering down the back of his neck to his undershorts. His half-sister, May, weaved in between tables, picking up empty glasses, while her little ones ran around the saloon, nearly tripping her a few times.

"Keep 'em comin'," said May as she grabbed the new frothy mugs from the bar. "No one wants to be without a drink in this heat."

It was the fourth go round. Or maybe the fifth. He'd lost count. As Pinto Bean grabbed another cluster of glasses, the swinging doors in the front swayed to and fro. "Be with y'all in a second!" he heard May call out.

They were strangers. From his place at the tap, Pinto Bean could see there were three of them. A man, tall, wide shouldered, with a beard like unwashed wool, was standing in the entrance. His expression was severe, as though something disgusted him, and he wore all black. Who wore all black in this heat? Behind him were two girls. One was tall and thin, the other short and round. Old fashioned white bonnets covered the faces that they kept to the ground.

"Let us not tarry in this place too long," hissed the man through his teeth. Swiftly he marched to an empty table and the girls followed obediently, their eyes still cast downward.

May had finally finished her latest go round and she greeted the newcomers in her usual friendly fashion. "Afternoon! Can I get ya a beer?"

The man fixed her with a glare that was as frigid as the air was sultry. "Three waters, if you serve it in this establishment."

His abrupt manner didn't seem to faze May. "Three waters. You got it, Mister."

"We are also hungry," he said. "What do you serve in this house of debauchery?"

That finally irritated her. "Cold cuts," said May. "Cold cuts and sin."

He flared his nostrils, snorting indignantly. "We'll take the cold cuts. Hurry so that we may eat and leave."

May was grumbling under her breath as she disappeared into the backroom for the food. As she vanished, her twins ran around behind the bar.

Kit nearly tripped, but Pinto Bean caught her. "Slow down there! That would have been a nasty spill!" Lifting her up, he set her on top of the bar.

Jack tugged on his shirt. "Uncle Pinto Bean, we wanna play wit ya!"

"Sorry, I gotta work. All these people need drinks."

The little boy looked disappointed, but his sister leaned over excitedly. "Show 'im what ya found!"

"Oh yeah!" Reaching into his pocket, Jack pulled out a small smooth skull. "Lookit, Uncle Pinto Bean! Ain't it keen!"

"Huh, well look at that." Pinto Bean took the skull and held it up so he could get a good view. "I'd say you'd found the skull of a kangaroo rat." He handed it back to Jack and scruffed his curly dark hair. "Good find."

As Jack grinned, Pinto Bean noticed that the girl in the bonnet, the shorter one, was watching them. A small smile was on her face. For a moment their eyes met.