Character: Katherine Bowen
Posted November 30, 2018
Sitting on the bench inside the small building that served as the stage stop in Whitefish, Katherine looked at the pocket watch her father had given to her as a parting gift when she left to teach in Wisconsin. After three years it still kept good time and the time was telling her that she had been there for almost an hour.
Standing up, she stretched a little and put the watch back in her reticule. The manager was outside with the stage driver helping make repairs to stage's back axle. It was a miracle how the axle managed to not break completely before they reached Whitefish.
From what she had seen so far, the town of Whitefish was very peculiar compared to the other towns she had passed through on her trip to take up the position as school teacher. The stage driver had told her that it would be best for her to stick close to the stage office and not go wandering around town on her own. It seemed that he was not happy with this unexpected delay. She also got the impression that he wanted to get out as soon as possible.
Back in Helena, she had had the choice of two routes to get to Kalispell. Someone mentioned that going north to Whitefish and then head south was the quickest way to there. Since, she was anxious to start her new job, she hadn't bother checking into it first. Besides, she would have had to wait another week for the other stage.
Hoping that the repairs were nearly done, she decided to go outside. As she stepped out the door, she could feel the afternoon heat. She briefly looked around before her eyes rested on the stage coach, where the driver and his assistant were, by the looks of it, nearly finished. The fact that they were, made her glad as it would only be a short time before she arrived in her new home.
Sit down, shut up, don't touch anythin'
Character: Addy Chappel
Posted December 1, 2018
It wasn't often that Addie was called on to help with repairs to the coach, but she did have a passing knowledge of the workings of the parts, and of the use of the tools to make the repairs. This was a relatively simple patch for now, until she could get to a forge to make a proper mend, and it would get them to Kalispell.
"Done got that," she told the station master as she tightened the last bolt. "Gimme a chance ta get a quick drink'a water an' we can start loadin'."
Finally standing away from the coach, she pulled off her hat to wipe a thin sheen of sweat from her forehead, then looked at the waiting passengers...er, passenger. Looked like it was just the one lady. Grinning, she nodded to the woman, then plopped her hat back on her head and wiped her hands on her pants.
"Miss." She gave the lady a quick nod. "Just be a few minutes an' we'll be on our way. Ya got a bag I can put up top?"
Character: Katherine Bowen
Posted December 3, 2018
Kate turned to the person who had just addressed her. She knew that some women wore men's clothing and even took on their work to make a living, but this was the first she had ever come across a female stage driver. There was probably some perfectly good reason why the driver...what did she say her name was? Having only met her a short time ago, she berated herself for not remembering. As a teacher her memory was usually better than this. Maybe it was because she was tired. The trip from Avoca, where she had been teaching for the last three years, had been a long one.
Looking at the woman, she smiled, "I only have a trunk and one bag." After pausing for a moment, she continued, "How much further is it to Kalispell?"
Character: Case Steelgrave
Posted December 4, 2018
Case Steelegrave was walking up the boardwalk when he saw the coach and Arnie working on it. That woman amazed him, oh there were plenty of tough women in the region, but Arnie was a cut above.
He paused next to the conveyance. "Arnie, you pretty much got this?" He asked politely. He like the driver liked her spirit. Then he saw the woman.
Case walked over looking her up and down trying to figure out what she was doing in Whitefish. "Ma'am. Marshal Case Steelegrave, welcome to Whitefish. How may I be of assistance?"
Character: Katherine Bowen
Posted December 7, 2018
On 12/4/2018 at 8:16 AM, Case Steelgrave said:
Case walked over looking her up and down trying to figure out what she was doing in Whitefish. "Ma'am. Marshal Case Steelgrave, welcome to Whitefish. How may I be of assistance?"
Kate turned to the man who had addressed. She hadn't expected to see the town marshal as her stay here was going to brief. Smiling, she answered, "Thank you. I have no need of any assistance."
Pointing the stage, she continued, "As soon as they have finished the repairs, I will be on my way to Kalispell."
It looked like it would a few more minutes before she would be leaving, she thought that it might be worthwhile finding more about the area she was moving into and the marshal would be a good person to ask. "I've never been here before, so I am curious to know what it's like around here. I know that there can be some problems with the Indians who live in these parts but is there anything else I should be aware of?"
Sit down, shut up, don't touch anythin'
Character: Addy Chappel
Posted December 8, 2018
Looking at the woman, she smiled, "I only have a trunk and one bag." After pausing for a moment, she continued, "How much further is it to Kalispell?"
"Be th' better part of th' day," Addy answered as she loaded the trunk into the back boot with the assistance of the station master. "Looks ta be pretty decent weather, if you've a mind, you can sit up top with me fer a while." While there was a risk of dust riding on the box, and it could be warm under the sun, sometimes it could be nicer compared to the crowded, stifling interior, where there was no getting away from odors and boring conversation. From the looks of it though, that wasn't going to be a problem today, at least on the first leg of the journey...so far she looked to be the only fare.
"Arnie, you pretty much got this?"
She glanced up as the Marshal approached, bristling a little, but putting on a smile. "Marshal." Touching the brim of her slouch hat, she nodded. "Got it all ready an' just about ta leave, thank ya fer askin'." The man's reputation did not put him in a good light, although he'd never done anything to her to cause her to personally dislike him, he was, in the end, a Steelgrave, and that alone was reason to be wary.
"Ma'am. Marshal Case Steelgrave, welcome to Whitefish. How may I be of assistance?"
"Thank you. I have no need of any assistance." Pointing the stage, she continued, "As soon as they have finished the repairs, I will be on my way to Kalispell."
"An' that's about done," Addy declared, it was just a matter of getting the last of the cargo for Kalispell loaded. As for her question about the territory, she'd let Case give his opinion...there would be plenty of time to discuss that on the long journey.
"I've never been here before, so I am curious to know what it's like around here. I know that there can be some problems with the Indians who live in these parts but is there anything else I should be aware of?"
"Be leavin' in a minute," Addy commented, "just gotta grab lunch."
Character: Case Steelgrave
Posted December 10, 2018
"Addy, you pretty much got this?"
She glanced up as the Marshal approached, bristling a little, but putting on a smile. "Marshal." Touching the brim of her slouch hat, she nodded. "Got it all ready an' just about ta leave, thank ya fer askin'." The man's reputation did not put him in a good light, although he'd never done anything to her to cause her to personally dislike him, he was, in the end, a Steelgrave, and that alone was reason to be wary.
Putting on his best public servant act he continued. “Need anything, you just holler.” Then he saw her standing on the boardwalk and it gave him pause. This was a real lady, not the whores from the Silver Dollar Saloon he used. A woman of beauty ad composure
"Ma'am. Marshal Case Steelegrave, welcome to Whitefish. How may I be of assistance?"
"Thank you. I have no need of any assistance." Pointing the stage, she continued, "As soon as they have finished the repairs, I will be on my way to Kalispell."
“Kalispell, nice place, a lot of good folks there. Almost as pleasant as Whitefish, just a mite bigger.” Case bragged.
"An' that's about done," Addy declared, it was just a matter of getting the last of the cargo for Kalispell loaded. As for her question about the territory, she'd let Case give his opinion...there would be plenty of time to discuss that on the long journey.
"I've never been here before, so I am curious to know what it's like around here. I know that there can be some problems with the Indians who live in these parts but is there anything else I should be aware of?"
“Well now, the summers can be merciless at times, but mostly I’d say it's pleasant most days. Winter, however, that’s a different story. Can be downright miserable cold.” He explained, “But the beauty of the region is hard to beat.”
"Be leavin' in a minute," Addy commented, "just gotta grab lunch."
“Well,” Case began, giving Addy a side glance, “sounds like you’ll be on your way shortly. Have a pleasant trip. By the way, if you don’t mind me asking, what is it you’ll be doing in Kalispell?”
Character: Kate Bowen
Posted December 10, 2018
“Well,” Case began, giving Addy a side glance, “sounds like you’ll be on your way shortly. Have a pleasant trip. By the way, if you don’t mind me asking, what is it you’ll be doing in Kalispell?”
"Oh...sorry. My name is Katherine Bowen. I'm the new school teacher at the Kalispell school. "
She smiled, "I'm not even quite sure when the school year starts out here. All I got was a date I had to be in Kalispell by and I've missed that by a week already. The trip out here has taken a lot longer than I thought it would."
Character: Case Steelgrave
Posted December 12, 2018
"Oh...sorry. My name is Katherine Bowen. I'm the new school teacher at the Kalispell school."
Case smiled at the revelation, ‘a schoolmarm,’ he mused. ‘Interesting.”
She smiled, "I'm not even quite sure when the school year starts out here. All I got was a date I had to be in Kalispell by and I've missed that by a week already. The trip out here has taken a lot longer than I thought it would."
“Well now, I would be too concerned about your being behind schedule, folks out here come to expect that sort of thing.” Case explained, “as to when the school session begins, I’d figure shortly after you’re arrival. I’ve not heard of anyone running the school, of course, I’m not privy to much of what happens in Kalispell. Our school begins in the fall, after harvest and round up.” There was a pause, then, “Should things not work out, we could always make a place for you here in Whitefish.”
Character: Kate Bowen
Posted December 14, 2018
On 12/12/2018 at 8:42 AM, Case Steelgrave said: “Well now, I would be too concerned about your being behind schedule, folks out here come to expect that sort of thing.” Case explained, “as to when the school session begins, I’d figure shortly after you’re arrival. I’ve not heard of anyone running the school, of course, I’m not privy to much of what happens in Kalispell. Our school begins in the fall, after harvest and round up.” There was a pause, then, “Should things not work out, we could always make a place for you here in Whitefish.”
Katherine nodded as she listened to the marshal. He made a good point about the possibility of things not working out and it made sense to have another plan just in case. "Thank you Marshal Steelgrave. I will keep your generous offer in mind."
She looked around to see if Addy was on her way back. Seeing that she wasn't, Kate returned her attention to the marshal. He seemed to be a pleasant man unlike some of the marshals she had read and heard about during her journey here. There had been many travelling companions along the way and all of them had interesting stories about what life was like in the territories. Some of them were very fanciful but others reminded her about the dangers that could be out here. Thankfully, she would not be living on her own when she arrived at Kalispell.
Smiling, she wondered what else she could ask the marshal about. From what he said he knew something about the town she was Kalispell. In her opinion any information was better than none. "If you don't mind marshal, could you please tell what you know about Kalispell and the people who live there?"