Delia walked into the Liberty Bar and ordered a Crown Blaster. She was looking for River Johnny. She stood up on the bar rail and looked over the heads back to the poker game. "There that @#%^%##^@#^ is" she said out loud. Delia was from Salem, Oregon but lived in Lolo. She was mid-forties, drop dead gorgeous, and an ex-stripper that thumped the Bible. Which means she was an expert at pounding a man for his money while quoting Bible scripture....she was also a compulsive gambler.
Tom the bartender went back to the poker game to see if anyone wanted a drink. "Hey, Johnny! You're squeeze is here" Tom said as he was grabbing some empties. Johnny glanced over at the bar. "That @#%%%#^#$%%# is back" Johnny was a natural born card player from Bossier City, Louisiana. Played every game well. He played everywhere at one time or anoter. Nevada, the mountain states, the west coast, the midwest, everywhere. But he called Montana home, big sky, wide open spaces. Johnny played cards for a living.
The people at the bar knew Delia and Johnny well. They had been watching their on and off love/hate fireworks of a relationship for a couple years. So their heads were going back and forth between Delia at the bar and Johnny back in the poker game to see which one would make the first move.
Johnny showed first weakness. He killed his Bud. "Well, boys I gotta go to the little boys room." Jim the poker dealer smiled knowing full well that Johnny wouldn't be back for the night. Johnny walked up the bar towards the restroom. He stopped at the door and looked at Delia. She stared back. They stared each other down for a full minute. Finally, Johnny said "Come here, girl, and give me a hug and a kiss." She obliged. "Game on!" Tom the bartender whispered to the barflies. They all smiled. "I'll meet you at the bar in a minute, Delia" said Johnny.
Back from the restroom Johnny put his arm around Delia.
"How are you're boys doing?" he asked.
"Ben joined the Army. He's in Texas. Brad's working at Smurfit-Stone making boxes."
"What have you been doing lately?"
"I went to the biker rally in Phillipsburg a couple weeks ago. Last week I went to a revival in Hamilton. How have you been doing?"
"Oh, I'm always okay, Delia."
Johnny couldn't help himself. He bent down and put a liplock on her. Jim the poker dealer pulled Johnny's chips down. Tom the bartender delivered Johnny's money to him. "I'm gettin' tired of watchin' you two swap spit. Get a room!" Tom said. Per the usual Delia and Johnny wound up upstairs in Johnny's room.
to be continued....