floor. Blinking neon signs that advertised different brands of beer and whiskey hung from the rafters in the ceiling, and soft overhead lighting coupled with laser streaks spun across the stage, giving the club an old-school rock feel. A jukebox took up a good amount of space on a wall adjacent to the bar. Several men stood next to it, using the top part of it as a makeshift table.
Ashley scurried over to the horseshoe bar, snagged one of the empty stools, and settled into the soft leather cushion. Glass shelves along the wall held a multitude of bottles with varying hues of color that shined like gems under the milk-glass pendant lights above the mahogany bar. She propped one elbow up on the counter and rested her cheek against a doubled-up fist, then scanned the place. With the other hand, she tugged at the hem of her short black leather skirt and crossed one leg over the other; her jet-black hair swept over a shoulder of her charcoal and silver striped mesh top.
She watched as men and women poured into the club, filling the barstools and spaces of the room. The majority of men wore band T-shirts and jeans, and most of the women were either in denim or short black dresses.
Ashley glanced over at the stage and saw the musicians giving the thumbs up to an engineer who sat in a slightly elevated sound booth in the back of the room.
“Hiya,” a voice behind her said.
She pivoted around to find a woman with purple hair, an upturned nose, and blemishes dotting her full cheeks wiping the counter in front of Ashley. A full sleeve tattoo with a clear cut yet infused amalgamation of skull and flowers decorated her left arm.
“What’ll you have?” the bartender asked.
“A vodka sour, please,” Ashley replied holding up her wrist to show the over twenty-one stamp.
A big smile made the woman’s squirrel cheeks pillow. “Did Scotty hassle you ’bout where to put that?” she asked, pointing to it.
Ashley nodded. “He takes his job seriously.” Her lips twitched.
The bartender laughed as she placed a tumbler filled with ice on the counter. She poured vodka over the cubes, then topped it off with sour mix. “He does. Scotty’s real particular about where the marks should go—almost obsessive about it.” There was another laugh as she garnished the drink with a lime and a maraschino cherry. Plopping a small black straw into the drink, the barmaid pushed the cocktail toward Ashley. “Do you wanna pay as you go or open a tab?”
“I’ll pay as I go,” Ashley said as she opened her wallet and pulled out a ten. She took a small sip, then smiled. “Perfect.”
“Thanks. Are you here for any of the bands?”
She nodded. “Raging Demons. They’re one of my favorite local bands.”
“They’re from Denver, not here.”
Chortling, Ashley shook her head. “Right. I’m from Denver so they’re a local band for me. I happened to see on their Facebook page that they were playing here tonight.”
The bartender handed her back six one-dollar bills. “I knew I hadn’t seen you in here before. Most of the people who come in on the weekends are regulars. Are you just passing through?”
Ashley left two dollars on the bar and tucked the rest of the bills into her wallet. “I’m going to be working on a project for the next few months. I just got here a couple of days ago, so I’m glad I had a reason to go out tonight.”
“Pinewood Springs is a great town. The people are friendly for the most part, there are a lot of good restaurants, and if you’re into hiking or cycling, there’re some beautiful trails.”
“I’ve been reading up on that. It also looks like you have a lot of antique shops in the downtown area.”
“We do, and if you like quilting, there’s a fabulous fabric store right in the middle of Main Street.”
Ashley took another sip of the drink. “I have no clue what to do with a needle and thread. I wish I did—it would save me a bundle on alterations. Do you sew or quilt?”
“Both. I think I was born holding a needle and thread.” She laughed. “My mom made sure me and my sisters knew how to make clothes and quilts. By the way, I’m Whitney.”
“Ashley,” she said, tipping her head. “You’re the first person I’ve met here other than the teenager at the convenience store.”