Posted June 22, 2018
Ralph shrugged, "Hell, they ain't my supplies. Yeah, go ahead. The stage line's the ones who gotta keep this place supplied."
He glanced over to his business partner and saw her sitting in a chair, thoroughly enjoying holding Mrs. Jones infant then turned toward the doc, "Tildy is enjoying herself, you really think you'd have talked that baby from her?"
He spoke even more softly, "She lost her baby few years back. Not sure she can ever have another one. You need not ever let her know I told you that."
Sit down, shut up, don't touch anythin'
Posted June 26, 2018
“Seems like I’ve been on the road forever, but I’ve seen some beautiful country, as well as dangerous.”
"That about says it," Addy agreed with a nod, then added with a grin, "but then, that says it fer most th' places back East, 'cept maybe Ohio."
“So what kind of town is this Kalispell?”
"It's a nice enough place, mostly good people." She shrugged. "Get's a little rowdy when th' cattle drives come though, but th' law handles it. Good thing is it ain't too...prudish...not Weemen's Aid Society tellin' ya yer hair's too long or it ain't right fer a lady ta be wearin' britches." She laughed. "Nor callin' th' likes'a me a 'lady'!"
She chuckled as they stepped into the cabin.
Posted June 26, 2018
"Hell, they ain't my supplies. Yeah, go ahead. The stage line's the ones who gotta keep this place supplied."
Jonah smiled as he started setting out the biscuits, leaving several in the larder. "That's so," he agreed, so why not try to placate the Savages. Part of him wouldn't put it past them to slaughter them all once they had what they'd come for! He rather doubted it, but there were stories.
"Tildy is enjoying herself, you really think you'd have talked that baby from her?"
"Worth a try." He chuckled, glancing at the woman. She sure was a pretty thing, but then, he thought that of most women...regardless of appearance, so long as they weren't harridans...that was where ugly came into play.
"She lost her baby few years back. Not sure she can ever have another one. You need not ever let her know I told you that."
"Ah..." Well, that explained the way the woman was looking at the infant, and it seemed a pity, she was a natural, no doubt about that. "It is difficult to tell in such matters." Sadly, infant mortality was staggeringly high, and even then, child mortality was nearly as bad.
He looked over as the door opened and the stage driver and Speed returned. At the same time, Mrs. Ford rose, looking about uncertainly. "I think he's done," she muttered quietly, obviously not wanting to approach the Indians.
"Wonderful!" Smiling broadly, Jonah went to her and took the infant back to its people, gently handing it over as Mrs. Ford went to Matilda.
"She likes you," the mother told Matilda. "Thank you so much for your help."
Meanwhile, Addy had crossed to Ralph, smiling. "Thank ya fer helpin'. There's..." she dug through a cabinet, "here..." She handed him a cloth. "Wrap up two a' those biscuits fer each of our 'friends' an' some..." she took out a jar of preserves, "this...see if ya can send 'em on their way."
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
Posted June 29, 2018
"It's a nice enough place, mostly good people." She shrugged. "Get's a little rowdy when th' cattle drives come though, but th' law handles it. Good thing is it ain't too...prudish...not Weemen's Aid Society tellin' ya yer hair's too long or it ain't right fer a lady ta be wearin' britches." She laughed. "Nor callin' th' likes'a me a 'lady'!"
“Given time you might find that civilization from the east may flood into the west and bring their brand of society with them.” Speed observed. “I’ve seen it along the way. One factions ideals being forced on those already established in the community. Folks, not all, but some from the east don’t want to adjust to the western ways, they want it to be just like where they came from. The same things they detested in the east is what they want to bring to the new country. It’s all they know and they’re closed to anything else. They’re about as worthless as a pail of hot spit!”
She chuckled as they stepped into the cabin. ?
Posted June 29, 2018
The Indian infant seemed to have it's little belly full and was given back to their redskin guests. Now it was time for Mattie to return Mrs. Jone's baby back to its mother. Of course Matilda did so, with one last longing gaze into the baby's eyes.
"Here ya go, it was my pleasure, Mrs. Ford," Mattie smiled then.
*****
The stage driver meanwhile thanked Ralph for his role in all this, he just shrugged, "Hell, I didn't do nothin'."
Maybe he shouldn't have opened his big mouth because then Addy assigned him a task to wrap a traveling snack for the Indians. With a slow nod, the man agreed without enthusiasm, "Alright fine."
Soon enough the Indians had a going away packet. Ralph just hoped they were content now and would leave them in peace. He didn't really trust Injuns all that much.
Sit down, shut up, don't touch anythin'
Posted July 5, 2018
Addy had to agree with Speed on the fact that some Easterners weren't of much worth out there -- either didn't like the hard work, or the hard circumstances of life here, the same circumstances that, to her, made it a great place to live...like having Indians to breakfast!
Once the locals had left, Addy jotted out a quick note to the caretaker then rounded up her charges.
"Ya'll go on an' git loaded up while I git th' place here shut up. Take them extra biscuits, in case anyone gits hungry." No sense in leaving them behind, it would be another couple of days before another stage came though, so they would just go to waste.
Speed tied his animal on behind the coach, retrieving his Henry rifle from the saddle scabbard and then climbing onto the seat where he'd be joined by Addy.
It was only a few minutes later that the stage with its passengers was on its way again.
Posted July 5, 2018
Matilda settled onto the hardwood benches of the stagecoach, someday someone would have to invent a more comfortable way to go on long distance journeys than these stages. Now that the ice had been broken in a fashion what with the whole Indian incident, Matilda and Mrs. Jones soon fell into a a rather extended conversation on their various lives. Of course Matilda left out the more unsavory parts and Ralph kept his opinion to himself. Both were in a good mood, when they arrived in Kalispell it would be to take up ownership of that town's saloon and they were excited to start their new lives.