Posted November 7, 2020 | Arabella Mudd | With: Ralph Flandry

"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."

Messalina laughed. “Don’t you worry about that none, Mr. Ralph. In fac’, when these boys get served by a beautiful barmaid, they usually sez ‘keep the change!’” she added, perhaps a trifle overoptimistically.

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.

Arabella, on the other hand, was eagerness personified, jumping up and down clapping her hands. It must have been contagious, because as Ralph took off his apron and moved forward part of the queuing contingent let out a ragged cheer, mixed with catcalls from saloon regulars like Jimmy Jarman and Ted Carrington of “Hope ya got yer steel-capped boots on, Arabella” and “Bring him back alive! We need booze!”

"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."

“One’s all I need!” she beamed, leaping forward like a starved puma, entwining her arm in his.

He looked then toward the barn, "Lead the way, kiddo."

That she did, and the odd thing was that instead of giving Mr Flandry an intensive interrogation about the painted lady, like she normally would, followed by a rambling dissertation on what she herself thought of painted ladies, with umpteen illustrative, if not always relevant, examples, she didn’t say a peep. It was as if Miss Mudd had two settings: “Noisy” and “Dancing”.

It turned out that Mr Flandry wasn’t as rusty as he made out, and Arabella was as good at dancing as she made out, with, perhaps, a slight tendency to lead; and the only time she opened her mouth to speak was when they bumped into a perfectly stationary gentleman who was simply minding his own business, and she shouted at him “Hey, watch where you’re goin’, y’clumsy oaf!”

Most of the time she contented herself with smiling in contented beautifaction as they swayed around the barn floor in time with the music, which was a slightly rough western version of the Kiss Waltz so popular in the fancy ballrooms back East back in the ’50s. As the music faded, she jumped up and gave the tough barman a peck on his hairy cheek.

“That ain’t cause it’s the kiss waltz” she explained, still grinning, but wiping a sentimental tear from her eye “That’s to say thanks fer bein’ my Daddy tonight.”

Posted November 7, 2020 | Henry Guyer | With: Leah, Phinias

“Then the ladies have had an effect upon their opposites. This is good.” Leah remarked as they passed through the barn doors and paused. “I would agree, sir, most elegant.”

“Right busy on the dance foor, not uncommon though.” He remarked as they entered. “Has the flavor of a ball, I’d say, rather than stomp, or shin-dig like some are.”

Leah smiled at his reference to the rowdier dances that were often held where cowboys from miles around would attend mingling with the town folks, usually set in large barn on a ranch or in town, lasting until daybreak, and not infrequently for two or three days.* “Yes, somewhat of a relief, I’d say.” Most all the gowns were quite fashionable even if they were somewhat out of style for the bigger cities. “Actually, it’s marvelous! Something the town needed. A chance to socialize with their neighbors and business folks they deal with everyday. Whoever put this on needs to be commended.”

“Commended indeed!” It was Phinias McVay, editor of the Union. “And I certainly will put that in the next edition. A pleasure to see you Miss Steelgrave, we must chat at some point about your project, but not this evening.” He looked to Speed. “Marshal. I see you have everything under control.”

“We will, Mister McVay, and soon.” Leah responded with a smile.

“Control? That will be a disputed matter before the night is over.” Speed answered.

At that moment, Leah spotted Jonah with an Officer and Matilda Devereau.

Posted November 7, 2020 | Charlie Wentworth | With: Clara Redmond

"It is a nice blue though is it not?"

"Yes it is," Charlie answered with another smile. He was partly thankful that he hadn't said anything to upset but also because she had smiled. A smiling Clara was a rare sight, and she should do it more often. For a moment, he thought he could be the one to make her smile but then he remembered that he wouldn't be as he was likely to make her upset instead. Until a time came when he could work what she was sensitive to, there wouldn't be many smiles. There was also the problem of him learning to curb his tongue when he was drunk.

As for his drinking, the long winter had done him good but there was still a long way to go. One of things he had to overcome was how easily influenced he was by others to keep going after he had a few drinks. So far, he had stayed away from the tent, the Stardust had set up and he had no plans of going there. Maybe, if Clara felt inclined, he would ask her to dance with him. He knew his chances weren't that good but it was at least courteous to offer.

"I see that the baked goods you and Mrs. Blakesley have prepared have been popular tonight. Is there anything in particular that you recommend I should try?"

Posted November 8, 2020 | Adelaide Chappel | With: Jay, Emeline, Pronto

"Dancin' can be hazardous, even to the best of us!" Pronto said with a grin. "Good ta see ya Addy, mighty good indeed!"

Addy laughed and nodded. "Surely can be!" It was good to see him so happy with Miz Emeline, they were good friends and she was thrilled to see them both so happy.

The couples swirled apart, and Jay made an observation as he pulled her a tad closer.

"They'll think we are a couple."

"Don't see as how that's such a bad thing," she declared firmly, not caring what other people were thinking, and assuredly not caring if they thought that she and Jay were a couple...because, maybe, they were!

The music stopped and she kept hold of his hand, feeling an unusual blush come to her cheeks as she looked up at him.

"Another dance or drink?"

"I believe a drink is a good idea!" she commented with a chuckle, "a little bit of refreshment can't hurt one bit, an' I heard Miz Emeline an' Clara made cookies!" She was always in the mood for sweets, especially free ones!

Posted November 8, 2020 | Emeline Pike | With: Barnabas Pike

As Barnabas guided them away from Addy and Jay, Emeline grinned. "Did you see the look on her face? I never did think I'd see Addy the stage driver looking so...smitten!" It was sweet, really, and she wished them luck. At least she knew that Addy wasn't going to fall for some gent because of a sweet word turning her head. "Good lord help the young man!"

She laughed, and as the music stopped, she kissed Barnabas on the cheek. "I need to check the table, can I bribe you with free cookies?" Even though Clara was here, she didn't want the girl doing all the work, Clara needed to relax and enjoy herself.

Posted November 8, 2020 | Barnabas Pike | With: Emeline

As Barnabas guided them away from Addy and Jay, Emeline grinned. "Did you see the look on her face? I never did think I'd see Addy the stage driver looking so...smitten!" It was sweet, really, and she wished them luck. At least she knew that Addy wasn't going to fall for some gent because of a sweet word turning her head. "Good lord help the young man!"

Barnabas nodded, then said, “That’d be a women who deserves some real happiness.” He didn’t know the gent in question, but from what he’d see so far, he seemed nice enough, but then so did Cullen Baker.

She laughed, and as the music stopped, she kissed Barnabas on the cheek. "I need to check the table, can I bribe you with free cookies?" Even though Clara was here, she didn't want the girl doing all the work, Clara needed to relax and enjoy herself.

“Yes ‘um, you can shorely do that. Seein’s I know where they come from, and I’d be a fool to turn that down. He responded to the bribe. “Better make that a gift, bribery’ll likely get me fired.” Then he laughed. Like anyone would even notice.

Posted November 8, 2020 | Quentin Cantrell

Quentin wandered along the fringes of the dance. Harriet had been roped into a conversation with several townspeople asking her various legal questions. He had known better than to try and extricate her because they seemed to be actual clients of hers. Quentin figured he would swing back by and drag her away once she had had a chance to put out whatever fires they felt were burning.

Quentin paused to light one of his cigarillos, savoring the warm glow they always gave him. He didn't smoke them constantly but he did indulge in them from time to time. Quentin spotted a conspicuous lack of motion over between a few tables and recognized the Lost Lake foreman. Mike was doing a pretty good job of blending into the background as Quentin walked up beside the other man and leaned against the wall beside him. "Nice spot..." Quentin said by way of greeting. "...kinda peaceful." He reached into his coat and pulled out the leather pouch he carried his cigarillos in. "Smoke?"