Make a "Deal" with McLafferty

This Alice McLafferty was going to need some convincing. Madeline, for whatever reason she could not tell began to become more relaxed and friendly. Maybe her natural art of persuasion began to kick in as she moved slightly closer to McLafferty. She didn't expect to seduce the older woman, but she wanted to convince her. Her girlhood charms easily worked on men. On women less so. How many times had she gotten her way as a pretty woman in the vault--or even in the wastes with no more than a friendly smile and a flirty chat?

"How is business here Ms. McLafferty?" Madeline asked, hoping to warm up the woman.

"Business?" McLafferty said eyeing up Madeline "it is going well. Its not the Hub back east but we have markets out here they could only dream of. Even if it is in the ass end of nowhere. Why do you ask?"

"Just seemed like you might be more understanding about Janet if business is booming. Surely you can let go of one caravan hand?" Madeline teased out.

"Ah" McLafferty sighed "I see. Well I am afraid it really is the principal of the thing. I need every good hand I can get Ms. Blackwater. It would be foolish for me to let a good worker go for some love fling."

Madeline looked at McLafferty's hard eyes and thought she saw them sizing Madeline up, as if preparing to spar her about the issue at hand.

"Surely you can understand a woman in love?" Madeline attempted to find some sympathy "Is there not a Mr. McLafferty out west or nearby?"

"I'm afraid not." McLafferty laughed with a snort. "I don't have time for that sort of thing even if I wanted to. In fact. I am quite busy right now Ms. Blackwater so if you don't mind I would like to get back to work." McLafferty walked to the door and began to open it.

"Look," Madeline said reaching a hand out to the door and incidentally touching McLafferty. "What would it take to convince you to let Janet go? I can find you a new ranch hand. I can try and scout for your caravans. I might be able to work for you. I am sure we can figure something out."

McLafferty looked at Madeline's hand touching hers, then at Madeline.

"You are going to hire me an new caravan hand with as much experience as Janet? Unlikely. And you would scout caravans? We have established routes for years now. I don't need such help Ms. Blackwater I am sorry." She began to open the door again but slowly.

"Surely there is something I could do?" Madeline said scrambling in her mind for ideas. "I'll work the caravans. I can be handy with a weapon. What do you need?"

McLafferty closed the door slowly. Madeline knew she had found her mark. What was a few caravan runs? Sure it was dangerous but most bandits shied away from the larger groups as they were more protected.

"Ms. Blackwater, how many caravan runs have you been on?" McLafferty asked looking her up and down.

"Well...I..." Madeline could tell that McLafferty was not the kind of woman to get a lie past easily. Working with often rowdy caravan hands and mercenaries she was probably a natural lie detector. "Well none. But--I am a quick learner. I can be a guard."

"I have mercenaries already." McLafferty looked Madeline up and down. "Though we might...be able to work something out."

Madeline raised an eyebrow. She hoped it wasn't some foolish "quest." She was already on a foolish one now.

"Ms. Blackwater," McLafferty said as she locked the door with an audible 'click,' "You might--might be able to convince me to let Janet go."

"That is what I am trying to." Madeline said eying the door then McLafferty.

"As we discussed before Ms. Blackwater. I am afraid I often don't have time for...men. I certainly don't have time for love." McLafferty visibly looked Madeline up and down as if she was at a caravan deal eying up a Brahmin or other trade good.

"Oh." Madeline said, her eyes widening. She realized McLafferty hadn't just been sizing Madeline up as a business woman--but also undressing her with her eyes this whole time.

"If you give me a day of....undivided attention." McLafferty said moving up close behind Madeline who had nearly froze and whispered sensually in her ear "...Then I could forget Janet's obligations to the company."