"You sound as though you are content with living out here despite what happened to you son."
Sarah paused for a moment before continuing, "You have been very honest with me and I appreciate that. I do hope that the bad blood between my cousin and your family is something that can be fixed easily."
As she said her last statement, Sarah knew that she was probably being a tad naive about the whole situation. Some people had the tendency to hold grudges for a long time and she hoped that Elinor wasn't one of them. Going by what she had said earlier, it didn't sound like it but then again she was also a lady, so maybe she was just being polite.
The stagecoach was very cramp but thankfully there was only two of them on board, which allowed Sarah to stretch out her legs a little. "We will be stopping soon? It would nice to get out and go for a walk."
Storyteller / Shared NPC
"You sound as though you are content with living out here despite what happened to you son."
“Content? I would call it that. I would be a matter of choice, and lack there of. Life in the west, well here as opposed to San Francisco, can be hard. Sometimes men make it that way. One learns to mourn and move on."
Sarah paused for a moment before continuing, "You have been very honest with me and I appreciate that. I do hope that the bad blood between my cousin and your family is something that can be fixed easily."
Elinor all but laughed. “I doubt that very much. I have three living sons and a very distasteful husband that want to see the Thornton’s pay. But since everyone is aware of the feud the boys are cautious, as they should be.”
The stagecoach was very cramp but thankfully there was only two of them on board, which allowed Sarah to stretch out her legs a little. "We will be stopping soon? It would nice to get out and go for a walk."
“I‘m not sure of the schedule.” Elinor admitted. She leaned out the window. “Driver! Will we be stopping anytime soon?”
As Sarah waited to hear what the driver would say, she stared out the window and watched the countryside go by. This journey was turning out to be a bit more than she had expected it would. The news about her cousin Chance was a bit unsettling. Her father would want to know all about it but she didn't want to push anybody to tell her. It could be a few weeks before she could write to him and tell him the bad news.
Thinking about Chance made her also think about Shade. She didn't much about him as her father didn't divulge any information. Other than the hint that he had been in some sort of trouble, she knew nothing about Shade. Getting to know him would be a task in itself.
The driver responded that there would be a rest stop in about fifteen minutes, which suited her fine. At least on the train, she was able to get up and walk around. The trip to Kalispell would take a couple of days. Some of her was wishing that it was quicker, while part of her wanted it to go on for longer because of what laid ahead.
Smiling, she turned to Elinor and asked her to talk more about life out here.
Storyteller / Shared NPC
Smiling, she turned to Elinor and asked her to talk more about life out here.
Elinor paused a long moment to give that some thought. Although at first she detested life away from the bigger cities, she came to love the life on the ranch. Though she never cared for Whitefish, she was quite fond of going in to Kalispell.
“It can be difficult at first. The being away from real civilization, that is. But as I have found, the vast openness of it, the natural beauty that surrounds everywhere and almost everything, well it grows on you, and quickly. Not that I’m saying you would ever forget the comforts of real civilization, doubtful that you ever would, but it has it’s on charm.
I know the east and the coast think what is in between is all gunfights, murder and mayhem. Wild Indians and bandits, that’s just not so. On that front I’m afraid you would find such excitement lacking.”
Sarah smiled, "Excitement is not what I came out here for. In fact, as far as some people are concerned, the less excitement I get into the better. However, it is true that there may not be much to do out here compared to San Francisco but I think I it will be a little bit interesting to find out what life out here is like."
A short while later, the stage pulled up to rest and water the horses. Getting out and being able to walk around felt wonderful and when the driver announced that it was time to leave, Sarah felt a little bit disappointed. It was long enough but she guessed that the driver wanted to get to the overnight stop before dark.
Settling back into her seat, she pulled out her journal and began writing in it. The trip out here would be sure to stir up the imaginations of some her readers in the east and back in San Francisco. Writing about life was a way for her to earn some extra income. Maybe there was a newspaper in Kalispell that might even pay her to write stories. It would certainly help keep her busy during the winter but that was something she would have to think about. The first thing she had to do when she got to town was to find her cousin and the family home. That in itself would take some time.
Storyteller / Shared NPC
Sarah smiled, "Excitement is not what I came out here for. In fact, as far as some people are concerned, the less excitement I get into the better. However, it is true that there may not be much to do out here compared to San Francisco but I think I it will be a little bit interesting to find out what life out here is like."
“Life anywhere is what you make it. True, life here is harsher than in any of the larger cities.” Elinor began. “We don’t have the arts and entertainment, nor to we have access to the latest fashions, and as you can tell, the trip to where those things can be found is arduous at best.” Then she smiled, “But there is a local flavor about Kalispell that I believe you will come to enjoy, after the winter of course.”
As she finished the coach came to a stop and the driver announced there would be a top to rest the horses and allow them to stretch. She exited behind Sarah, but left the woman to her thoughts as she contemplated what was ahead for her, Elias, the family, and, the Evergreen. When they were called aboard she was already at the door and climbed in, re-assuming her seat.
The remainder of the trip was uneventful. She and Elinor talked to each other about various things. When they reached the overnight stage stop, they were joined by a young couple from one of the nearby farms who were on their way to Kalispell to visit family.
A few miles out of Kalispell, Sarah began to prepare herself for the task ahead. The first order of business was to find somewhere to stay and where exactly her cousin's ranch was located. Then she would have to find a way out there. She would also send word to her father that she had arrived safely. Not knowing if she would get the chance to say something when to she got off the stage, she addressed Elinor, "I want to thank you for being such good company on this trip. I hope the trouble between the men in our families won't stop us from being friends."
Storyteller / Shared NPC
"I want to thank you for being such good company on this trip. I hope the trouble between the men in our families won't stop us from being friends."
Elinor smiled, understanding the woman, and yes there was the death of Cal, and it hurt, deeply. But he had asked for it, that had taken time to come to terms with.
“I would be hopeful as well, though I may not be long for this country. Sad as that sounds, but things here are, well, not what they should be.” She exhaled. “Though we shall see. We shall see.”
The thoughts of leaving Elias and the Evergreen were strong. Leaving the turmoil, the gun play, the hatred and senseless violence grew stronger by the day. And she had the money. Oh yes, she had Elias’ money. The fool, never checked his accounts, trusting they were taken care of. And they were, by her and the men she controlled.
“So, it won’t be much, but let’s go in and have dinner. I am famished.” She concluded.
Looking up and down the main street of Kalispell, Sarah was a bit surprised that it was bigger than she thought it would be. When she heard Elinor mention dinner, her stomach grumbled. It had been a long time since breakfast at the overnight stop and they had only a few sandwiches to tide them over until they got here.
"Yes dinner would be nice but I was wondering if I should go and find a room for the night first," she replied.
Storyteller / Shared NPC
The hotel and it's dining room meant almost home to Elinor, but for how long? According to he plan, not long at all. There were a number of things to be done. Some minor packing of jewels and a couple of odds and ends that Elias wouldn't miss.
It was a shame that her and Sarah had started off so well, only to have it end so quickly, but she had family, albeit the Thornton's, but that too was about to be in the past. "I'm sorry about saying it wouldn't be much, the hotel has the best food in town. And you should be able to get a room for the night before venture out to Lost Lake Ranch in the morning."
She led the way in and upon entering the dining room she spied Leah with Doctor Danforth, a pleasant sight indeed. "My daughter is in town, and with the Doctor, I should introduce you.
Leah looked up just as her mother and another woman she did not know can into the room. This was a bit odd. She had thought he mother was not due back for another week, not that it would affect her plans at all.