Innocent Meta, mislead to the bordello, is mistook as a prostitute by one of Madam Fannie’s clients.

“Hold that position right there, new girl!”

Edgar? When had he arrived? The three of us peeked over the swinging doors and into the parlor.

Typically a Southern gentleman, Edgar Harmon became cantankerous with too much liquor in his gut. President of the West Texas Bank and Trust, he was still as short and pudgy as when I met him a lifetime ago. Gray hair, the ones still clinging to his scalp, made him look older than his fifty-eight years.

Edgar rose from the divan and staggered toward Meta. “I liked seeing you bent over like that. If you had a little more meat on that rump of yours, you’d be right as rain. You know, a little something more to hold on to,” he said, chuckling.

Meta stood firm. “Excuse me?”

Sadie nudged my elbow. “Shouldn’t we do something, Miss Fannie?” she whispered.

“Hush. I want to watch what happens.”

Excerpt from The Last Bordello