First posted in Tombstone, the Collaborative Role-Play Novel, at Pan Historia on August 19th, 2006. Sometimes I find dialogue the easiest way into a scene. I wonder if it’s my theater background? Here I’m writing from Morgan Earp’s POV as he tries to encourage his brother to take a woman to the upcoming dance.

Morgan Earp, artwork by the Author

“Wyatt, you gotta go to the dance.”

Morgan looked at his brother with concern.

“I’m taking Lu, Virge is taking Allie, and Jim is taking Bessie, I don’t know who Warren is taking, but I know he’s going.”

“And who might I take, Morg?”

“Any number of pretty little fillies, Wyatt?”

Morgan looked back to the baize cloth and eyed the ball he wanted to pot. He leaned forward, propped the cue on his knuckles and began the slide.

“I haven’t been seeing any particular fillies and I’m quite sure, even though Miss Louella is going, that it will be taken amiss if I show up with a whore on my arm.”

“Yeah, that Miss Louella is something. There are not many women that could pull off being as respectable as she is with the ladies in this town and run a cathouse.”

“Yes, she really is something.”

“Why don’t you take Miss Louella, Wyatt?”

Morgan let the stick fly forward, easily potting his ball, and he moved around the table for another shot.

“Because, little brother, she’s stuck on that no good rotten Johnny Ringo and it won’t do my chances in the coming elections to get into a fight over a woman with a wastrel like that.”

“Ok, but what about Nellie Cashman or Rafael Murieta Montoya?”

“Good god, Morg! I might need some female companionship, but let’s not set me to sleep.”

“There ain’t nothing wrong with either of those fine young women.”

“No, they’re both paragons of virtue, and that’s exactly how they will stay until someone collars them and puts a ring on their fingers. I prefer an earthy type myself. Besides I hear George Parsons is taking Miss Montoya.”

“What about that new woman, that one that is out handling Angus’s spread?”

“She’s being courted by Sheriff Behan.”

Morgan, missing his final shot, straightened up with a grin and lets Wyatt take his place at the pool table.

“Well that shouldn’t put you off none. Take her away from that carpetbagger.”

“It’s not a bad idea. I was thinking of riding out to her place and checking it out for Angus’s sake. I could see for myself the lay of the land.”