We step out

You step out of the bathtub and dry off. You aren't really sure if you're any cleaner than you were when you first stepped in though. You for sure don't feel any better rested. You exhale and look away from Delilah as she leans over to slip on some basic black panties. How'd a girl THAT good looking get stuck in a place like this anyway? You can feel your cheeks starting to warm up at the thought of Delilah and how attached she's become to you. These last few days haven't just been special for her, but for you as well. You're in the wrong line of work to be getting this serious someone - if you're not careful she could end up getting hurt somehow, and that terrifies you.

Just as she turns back around to look at you, you look away and lean down to slip on your pants. Delilah strolls over and makes small talk. This regular banter seems more intimate than it did when you were just "friends". She was always interested in you, but now that you've been sexually together, it seems she's...just here to learn more about you. You humor some of her questions, dodging some of the deeper, more personal ones. There were things you still didn't want to tell her. She got the message quickly and changed to whichever subject she had prepped in her mind. You and Delilah go to living room, continuing your light chat.

When it finally dies down, you get up to leave - wishing her a good rest of the day. She follows you out to her door. Before you can step off her patio, she shouts your name. "Hey! Wait, Warren! Would...would you like to go out on a hike later? If or when the weather clears up? It's been a long time since I've done anything locally, and would really like to see more of the area with someone I, uh, really really like."

Her teal eyes advert, her expression already becoming flushed. She cupped her hands together and held them to her waist, waiting for you reply. You're paused at the last step of her doorway - looking at her and knowing her as well as you do, it'd be impossible for you to tell her anything that didn't agree with her emotions. You nod and tell her you'd be glad to keep her company on a hike. She looks back at you and gives you a wide, toothy grin, showing you that her dental care, though not perfect, was much better off than the other locals around these parts. Somehow, even that added to her and her list of features.

"I'll see you at Tiny's Tavern then, mkay? I'll have to see what my work days are and to see if I need to bring anything." She chimes in as you step off.

"You shouldn't have to worry too much," you tell her. "I'm loaded, remember?"

She smiles again, this time waving and saying goodbye. The snow and the joined cold shook you - reminding you that you were north and should seek shelter. At the tavern, you see some horses at the the front, their saddles are weighed with supplies and rifles - there are 4 of them. A considerable group this close to Canada during this time of year (you think, at least.)

When you go through the doors, you see 4 men. They don't look like anyone you know and they don't seem to be from a particular outfit. Just regular travelers. They're at the bar, drinking and talking to one of the blonde workers. She looks a little uncomfortable. When you lock eyes with her, she seems to silently request you presence at the counter. The thoughts of Delilah are pushed away - helping someone usually meant you got paid, one way or another. However, the odds weren't exactly in your favor if you got involved in a hostile environment. The 4 "gentlemen" didn't seem to be all that troubled, but they spoke in generally loud voices.

You look at the blonde girl one more time before making your up the steps to the rooms. She puts on a tight smile and widens her stare at you briefly. She knew your background - this was indeed a silent request for help. She held a platter close to her chest as her eyes were brought back down to the one travelers at the counter. He was saying something to her, but you were too far to hear what was happening...Helping someone meant you'd get paid, but is the amount really worth the risk here?