Posted November 5, 2020 | Weedy | With: Wyatt
"Lawman might be exciting. You could chase after outlaws and arrest somebody you didn't think was being fair," Wyatt observed.
"Make things safe for decent folks," Weedy agreed, a noble cause, and he would try to stick around Speed more, and maybe get Jay to teach him how to really shoot.
"I'm probably gonna have to stay on the farm. Pa needs the help you know," he shrugged.
"Yeah, I don't want to leave Miz Addy alone, but I guess there's time to decide, since she's making me finish school." She'd done all right for herself, even though she could barely read and write, but that was why she wanted him to have an education. "I've never been on a farm, but it seems like a lot of hard work." And if hard work was involved, he thought it would be not so bad if horses were involved.
"What would you do if your pa didn't need help?"
Sit down, shut up, don't touch anythin'
Posted November 5, 2020 | Adelaide Chappel | With: Jay, Emeline, Pike
The dancing was going well, and under Jay's guidance, Addy was actually enjoying herself, making an occasional trip here and there, but Jay always steadied her amidst plenty of laughing. She was having a dandy good time, more than she would have thought, being out of her element, but then, Jay just seemed part of her 'element'.
But then they collided with another couple, then impact pushing them very close together, something that she didn't really mind, and something she was in no hurry rectify the situation. She even managed to snug a little closer as she turned to see who they had run into, ginning as she noticed Emeline and Pronto.
"'Scuse us, folks, we was havin' a grand time!" She grinned brightly, knowing there was no harm done.
Posted November 5, 2020 | Emeline Pike | With: Addy, Jay, Pike
It was a silly, romantic notion, but the dancing seemed to be a metaphor for life, two individual souls coming together as one, navigating through life, working as a team, watching for hazards and...
And getting barged into and thrown off balance!
Another couple hit them, putting her off balance, and before she could recover a foot came down on hers, making it impossible for her to catch herself, so she just clung to Barnabas for support.
"'Scuse us, folks, we was havin' a grand time!"
Looking over at Addy, Emeline laughed. "Indeed, a very good time!"
It was something to see the stage driver all cleaned up, and actually dancing! She recognized the young man as the one who had helped in Whitefish to rescue the old woman, and she'd seen him around town since then. Good for him! And Addy!
Posted November 5, 2020 | Barnabas Pike | With: Addy, Jay, Emeline
"Dancin' can be hazardous, even to the best of us!" Pronto said with a grin. "Good ta see ya Addy, mighty good indeed!" The he whirled just a couple of steps away, nodding to Jack as he did so, staying close enough to converse, but far enough for safety.
Posted November 5, 2020 | Brendan Connolly | With: Bridget
Dancing with Bridget wasn't so bad. Brendan still wasn't sure exactly what Arabella had meant by "not being constructed" for a polka, but wasn't going to pry. He was smart enough to know that a man didn't ask about a woman's "construction."
He took it slow - it was a waltz, after all - and didn't try to do anything fancy. Bridget's dress was fancy enough to make up for it, though. He still couldn't think for the life of him why a girl her age would be dressed in such showy get-up.
Midway through the waltz, he noticed some other boy come up to Clara and strike up a conversation. Whoever it was had his hat off and had bowed to her. Well, that ought to impress her. He watched to see what would happen, still leading Bridget through the waltz.
"I ain’t dumb…like they think.”
Her whispered words came as a surprise and he almost jerked his head away from her lips, but stopped himself just in time, instead staring at her in astonishment.
“Just don’t speak…good.”
Oh. Well, he could sympathize with that. He obviously hadn't spoken right when apologizing to Clara. Maybe if he'd followed Arabella's example apology more closely things would have turned out better. But it was all water under the bridge now. He squeezed Bridget's hand lightly.
"Heck, that's not...I mean, sorry, miss. I didn't mean to...aw, shoot. Guess I'm not so good at speakin', either."
He laughed a little, playing up his embarrassment so she wouldn't feel uncomfortable. Or at least that's what he intended to do. But nothing he had set out to do tonight had turned out quite the way he wanted it to.
Want... dolls!
Posted November 6, 2020 | Bridget Monahan
“Just don’t speak…good.”
"Heck, that's not...I mean, sorry, miss. I didn't mean to...aw, shoot. Guess I'm not so good at speakin', either."
She shook her head and smiled, her face was expressive, even if her voice wasn’t, and her meaning was clear: she thought he spoke just great.
Maybe it was the rhythm of the music that was making her able to express herself more than usual – her Chinese friend, Mr Fa, had managed to teach her to say a few things out loud, including her name. To achieve that, she had to sorta count herself in, like a musician about to play a tune. Maybe moving in time to the three-four rhythm of the waltz was helping her, maybe it was just having someone's undivided attention, but she wanted to say more, to express all those swirling thoughts that played around her head and heart all day long but seldom had egress.
She felt herself leaning into Brendan’s ear again, which was no far distance, considering the clinch that they were in. For some reason, she felt an odd compulsion to tell him something else about her self, even though she was a little embarrassed and ashamed of it.
“Can’t write ‘r … read.” She confessed, but then added “Ar’ bella teach … me” she nodded at the end.
Maybe it wasn’t just the music. Brendan might put his foot in it when speaking out loud to fancy folk, but his gentleness with Bridget was like that of a horse whisperer quietly soothing a frightened, unbroken colt. Despite being in an unfamiliar place, doing a totally new activity, she felt relaxed and was enjoying herself.
I took an oath for this job. The oath says bring him in. That's what I'll do.
Posted November 6, 2020 | Charlie Wentworth | With: Clara
"Evening, Charlie," she nodded, " Rather than accept your very unexpected apology, might I instead suggest you simply do not say anything to me that would upset me? Believe me, I can do without the aggravation right about now."
Charlie half-smiled at this remark. It was hard to know what would upset her. He still couldn't remember what he had said to her shortly before she left her job at Lost Lake but the times, he had made her angry was easier...his boorish and loutish behaviour, especially when he drank too much. Thankfully, he hadn't been near the tent where they were serving the liquor, so he would have to make sure to watch what he said.
"But do not get me wrong, honesty is a good quality to have. Normally..." she left that last part unfinished, her point was complicated and he probably wouldn't get it anyhow.
Well, at least she agreed with him in part and that was a step forward. He liked her but it didn't go any further than that as she was still far young for him consider anything in the romantic vein. Growing up in Washington society meant you weren't even considered to be an adult until you were at least 17 or 18 and Clara still had a year or two to go.
For a moment, he did wonder about her trailing remark but knew that it would be wise not to pursue it. Whatever she was referring to was none of his business.
"So....how are you on this fine evening?" she changed subject then.
"I am fine," he said with a smile, "and may I compliment you on the way you look tonight. The colour of your dress suits you perfectly."
Posted November 6, 2020 | Clara Redmond-Lutz | With: Charlie
"I am fine," he said with a smile, "and may I compliment you on the way you look tonight. The colour of your dress suits you perfectly."
Wait! He was being very nice to her? A part of her was suspicious as to if he had something up his sleeve but on the other hand she did not really think Charlie capable of being that devious. Also he certainly was sober right now, she could tell that much. He had been worst to her when he had been drinking that time in front of the hotel.
Clara actually returned his with a rare smile of her own at the compliment though.
"Why thank you, Charlie. I am glad you like it. In the interests of honesty though, it is not my dress but my employer, Mrs. Blakesley of the diner, provided it for me and helped with my hair too. She is like a mother to me."
She glanced down at it, "It is a nice blue though is it not?"
Posted November 6, 2020 | Ralph Flandry | With: Arabella
Ralph stood there stoically as first the cook, of whom technically she worked for him, let him have it for turning down the girl's dance request and then some of the customers even chimed in. Honestly, way too much fuss and bother in his opinion but he gave in then with a shrug and quickly removed his bartender apron.
"Fine, fine. I'll dance with her," he huffed and left the bartending duties to the cook, "Make sure everyone pays up front of liquor, we ain't here to lose money."
Extracting himself from the crush, he now faced Arabella. He didn't look mad but no one would mistake that bearded visage for being eager either.
"Alright, one dance. And I'll warn ya, I ain't much of a dancer. Last time I can even remember dancin' was celebrating the war bein' over with a lot of drinkin' and a some painted woman whose name I didn't even know, maybe cuz I didn't ask."
He looked then toward the barn, "Lead the way, kiddo."
Retired Characters and NPC Writer.
Posted November 6, 2020 | Character: Jay
It was easy to see that every one had fun with the dance and was in good humor. Noone got offended when someone stepped on their toes. They all seemed to like Addy, too. No wonder. She was a wonderful woman. For now nobody seemed to question, who he was either. Jay even recognized the lady from the day in Whitefish.
Having helped there was probably a good thing, so nobody had any suspicions about him being part of the robbers gang.
Jay returned his attention on Addy and the dancing. While they continued to turn, circle and swing across the dance floor, Jay whispered. "They'll think we are a couple."
He looked down smiling at her while he pulled her closer with his right hand.
By now he was feeling quite warm and actually ready to take his jacket off and maybe have a drink. But not before the dance ended.
"Another dance or drink?"