Opening: Day 1

Word Count: 6,007

Summary of Events:
Chapter 1:
Keiller arrived in Coyoteville from his place outside of town and found the local drunk Julius Dunnigan had broken into the saloon again; he then ended up getting into an argument with Mr. Glanfield over a fine Keiller had levied against the stage company owner's son in law.
Chapter 2:
Sophia and her sister Karita did the laundry and Sophia got in trouble with Madame LeRoy over speaking in her mother tongue with Karita. Keiller played some billiards with the usual billiards players and won a game without anyone else taking a shot.

Excerpt of the Day:
"Loud and raucous noises came from the other side of the doors. Men and most of Madame LeRoy's girls could make a serious riot. Sophia stood still and straight in the shadows beside the door into the back.
After awhile Madame LeRoy appeared down the stairs. She straightened herself and looked at Sophia, looking just as defiant as Sophia was sure she looked. Sophia locked her gaze on Madame LeRoy's brown eyes and held it.
It didn't take much time before Madame LeRoy broke her gaze with Sophia and looked to her daughters, who held Sophia tightly on either side. Giving a single, succinct nod, Madame LeRoy signalled her daughters.
Maud and Frances led Sophia out into the brightly lit main room, part full of tables around which men and women sat, the other part an open floor on which several men and women danced to the music of a grossly out of tune piano.
One of the younger girls and a rather ugly man went out the doors Sophia had just passed through; heading up to the bedrooms. Sophia crawled at the knowledge of what they would be doing.
Frances and Maud released Sophia and each strode to one of the only two exits from the room to guard against Sophia departing. Madame LeRoy stood beside Sophia and looked up at her with a pleased expression.
"You cannot get away my darling," Madame LeRoy said. "You'll be exactly what you're supposed to be."
Sophia held her tongue, opening her mouth would only bring attention to herself, and she refused to let anyone see her if she could prevent it. Madame LeRoy sauntered off to entertain one of the customers.
Stepping back slowly, Sophia stood back against the wall and watched as the women and men talked, danced, and engaged in other activities. No one seemed to notice her, for which she was pleased.
From her vantage, Sophia surveyed the room, working hard to keep her face stoic, even though some of what she saw absolutely reviled her and made her want to flee away from here — even though she'd have to get through Maud or Frances.
As she scanned the room, though, Sophia locked on a face that made her freeze. It was the most hideous face she'd ever seen. One eye was closed and looked hideously scarred, and the one ear was just about nonexistent — its remnant looking absolutely reviling.
The man's one eye, which looked the colour of liquor, was fixed on her, and his filthy mouth was curled in a crooked, ugly smile, showing filthy teeth, some even missing, and making his face look even uglier.
Sophia was positive she knew exactly what he was thinking, and she hated it. The idea of him thinking such things reviled her. She had to get out of this room. She desperately had to get out of this place and far, far away."