Posted October 28, 2021 / Caroline Mundee

Caroline appeared again to walk the room and do her next shift, drawn as much by the nice piano piece as by the job requirement. She paused for a moment to exchange greetings with a regular customer then moved up to Arabella when she finished.

Just then another customer cat called toward the piano, "Hey, missy! Play something more lively! This ain't no wake."

Caroline turned and snapped, "Oh fuck off! She'll play what she wants."

Then she wraps one arm around Ara's bony shoulders in a supportive hug, "You alright, hon? Sorry you had to see something like that. I remember how shocked I was the first time I saw somebody killed right in front of my eyes."

"That was really beautiful by the way. I can't sing to it but I did enjoy it, sweetie," she smiled.

Posted October 28, 2021 / Hiram Priest

Hiram and Franklin concluded their plotting for the time being, and their voices elevated.

Priest wagged a finger at his co-conspirator, "You know, if Lee had only waited before moving into Pennsylvania, then who the Hell knows how the war might have ended?"

"That's Blood under the bridge," Fortner concluded. "Glad he didn't wait, though."

It was a touchy subject even though the War ended over a decade before. Memories were long and minds were filled with bitterness.

Just then the place was jarred by a high-brow piece being played on the piano. It was that Arabella girl. Some looked on appreciatively while others carped.

"Not bad," the Judge judged.

"Where's that girl who...?" Fortner began, looking around for Caroline, and when he spotted her, he waved her over.

Posted October 28, 2021 / Arabella Mudd

Just then another customer cat called toward the piano, "Hey, missy! Play something more lively! This ain't no wake."

Caroline turned and snapped, "Oh fuck off! She'll play what she wants."

Arabella appreciated Caroline's protective gesture, though she would've carried on playing until the end of the piece anyhow: she was wilful that way. She liked the next part even more.

Then she wrapped one arm around Ara's bony shoulders in a supportive hug, "You alright, hon?

"Just sad for Mr. Grimes." she said in a soft voice, leaning into Caroline's body as she played.

"Sorry you had to see something like that. I remember how shocked I was the first time I saw somebody killed right in front of my eyes."

Arabella shrugged a little as the last few bars of the lament tinkled to a coda.

"I seen people die before. Just... never seen anyone forgot so quick after." she sighed and, as the last note died put her arm around the singer and in her seated position lay her head against her upholstered chest.

"That was really beautiful by the way. I can't sing to it but I did enjoy it, sweetie," she smiled.

Arabella smiled wistfully to herself and squeezed into the hug. "Oh, it's got words, but they're all in foreign!" she replied, but even if they were in good old American, she couldn't imagine Caroline singing a dirge like that.

"Not bad," the Judge judged.

"Where's that girl who...?" Fortner began, looking around for Caroline, and when he spotted her, he waved her over.

The Virginian noticed and reluctantly let go of her friend. "I reckon you're wanted!" she nodded over to the old man and then scratched her head with both hands: sending the blues flying like so many nits.

"All right boys, how about this'n!" she yelped, launching into Tin Horn, an upbeat Galop, the old smile plastered back on her face: like the make-up that Caroline wore when she was down in the saloon.

Posted October 29, 2021 / Caroline Mundee

Arabella was taking it hard but Caroline was also confident the girl was tough plus young, she would bounce back and the saloon girl stated as much.

"He's forgotten because he was a despicable person. No one is wasting time on someone like that. The person to really feel sorry for is his younger sister. But then no one said life is fair. You'll be fine though, hon."

Then she leaned down to whisper into the girl's ear, "If yer still feelin' low tonight, you can hop in my bed to sleep but none of that foolin' around stuff. Just to have some company."

Both of them noticed that Mr. Fortner fellow beckoning for her to head on over. Oh well, it was back to work for both young ladies. Ara then snapped out of it at least enough to start playing a lighter more popular tune for the customers while Carole sauntered on over to Fortner. She did not hurry though, no, that was not her style.

Reaching the table where Fortner and that supposed judge jasper were sitting, she nodded acknowledgement and flashed a personable grin.

"How can I help you boys? Need another round of drinks do ya?" Hey, it was all part of the job.

Posted October 29, 2021 / Arabella Mudd

"He's forgotten because he was a despicable person. No one is wasting time on someone like that."

Arabella looked up almost pityingly at Caroline.

"I know someone who is. A very good friend of mine... called Jesus. And every day I try and act just like our Lord. And that is why I can find it in my heart, wicked though it is, to regret the passing of poor Mr Grimes." she waxed sanctimoniously, as was sometimes her wont. Caroline was unconvinced.

"The person to really feel sorry for is his younger sister. But then no one said life is fair. You'll be fine though, hon."

"Yes, his poor sister. Oh, Cara', how awful for her, and her all blind as a mole an' walkin' around with a stick." the pianist looked sad.

Then she leaned down to whisper into the girl's ear, "If yer still feelin' low tonight, you can hop in my bed to sleep but none of that foolin' around stuff. Just to have some company."

Ara nodded "I'd like that." she smiled "And don't you worry: I'm true to one; she will not find me wanting." yep, she truly meant and intended to be good. And that is what she would tell herself the next morning: that she had truly meant and intended to be good. But that, dear reader, is a story for another time.

Then Caroline was gone about her nefarious duties, and Arabella was lost in the music.

Posted October 31, 2021 / Caroline Mundee

Her question about drinks was answered in the affirmative and the man also informed her she could pour one for herself. Perfect answer as far as Caroline was concerned.

"Be right back with those drinks, hon," she nodded, spun about and flounced off toward the bar, stopping only momentarily to flirt with a young cowpoke making them both laugh.

"Ralph, two whiskeys - good quality stuff - and my usual," she leaned up against the bar.

He promptly fulfilled that order and the pretty blonde returned to the two mens' table with a tray and three glasses, setting it down with a smile. She made it a point of immediately handing each man a glass while reserving her own for herself then.

"There ya go, boys," Caroline plopped herself down in the offered chair.

"So, neither of you two look very shook up about shootin' that miscreant? Shoot a lot of folks do ya? she asked with a grin, it was more of a dark humored tease than an interrogation.

Posted November 2, 2021 / Caroline Mundee

"So, neither of you two look very shook up about shootin' that miscreant? Shoot a lot of folks do ya? Caroline asked with a grin, it was more of a dark humored tease than an interrogation.

"I rarely have committed homicide," the erudite, former Judge intoned.

"Hangings are his specialty," Fortner followed up.

"Oh? How pleasant," Caroline glanced at the tall older gent. So apparently they knew each other prior to today.

"We must maintain law and order in these territories or all Hell will break loose." The Judge now speaking as if he, once again, held that office. "There is too much promiscuous gun play on the frontier costin' many lives from townsfolk to homesteaders. How are you going to draw business to a place like Kalispell if it's just another wide-open town?"

"We do pretty well," Caroline countered, pretty jaded about the speechifying.

"Maybe you can get a Judgeship here?" Fortner offered. Turning to Caroline he asked, "Don't you think he'd be a good choice?"

"Me?" she blinked. She didn't know him from Adam.

"Mayor, maybe," grumbled Priest.

"Gotta admit, you talk like a politician," Caroline gave him a compliment (or was it?).

"Do you know who you're looking at?" he asked Caroline while pointing himself with his thumb, and abruptly changing topics.

"Ummm, gimme a sec...Frank Fortman...no Fortner," the saloon girl snapped her fingers fairly proud of her good memory for names, she was even better at recalling faces.