Mature Content: No
With: Clara, Emeline, and Billy
Time of Day: Late morning
Clara was back and forth between the kitchen and the dining room, waiting on customers and still doing what she could to assist her employer, Emeline, with cooking and baking duties. She did all of this with her usual efficiency and she enjoyed the work. The day had started out as just another typical one but that soon changed.
A young man had entered and sat himself at a side table. As Clara approached, she came to a halt abruptly and glared. The would be customer signaled with one hand for her to head his way. She instead spun about and marched straight into the kitchen once more then right up to Emeline.
"Excuse me but I have a favor to ask of you. I am sorry to have to do this but could you go out there and wait on a particular customer who just came in?" she got right to the point.
"I would not make such a request but he and I have long running ....issues and I might not be able to resist hitting him or throwing hot coffee in his lap," she added in all seriousness.
Emeline was startled as Clara swept into the kitchen and made her unusual request, and because it was so unusual, she really didn't mind helping. But first, she started to laugh, the girl was so passionate.
"Yes, of course, I don't mind." While she would have done it anyway, Emeline could sense that there was an issue, and Clara didn't make such requests often...ever...
"Just tell me...who is it? How has he insulted you?"
Clara was relieved Emeline was willing to accomodate her on this request, she had not made it lightly. She was now prepared to explain why too.
"That one with the hat on still at the corner table. He is near my age as best I can tell...no, probably older. Do not know his surname but everyone knows him as Billy. He works for the Evergreen spread. Late last summer I was swimming in the lake by myself and he and another cowboy rode up and wanted me to come out so, as Billy fully admitted, they could see what I looked like. I absolutely refused so he stole my clothes and my father's Dragoon Colt and rode off."
"I confronted him at the fall festival in the beer tent and he was quite amused by it all. Long story short, Greer knocked me to the ground and a full brawl broke out. Hannah's father was sheriff at the time and he arrested the both of them. One of the stipulations to him being released was he had to return both my items of clothing and the Dragoon. Which he did."
"There is worse though. Not all that long ago, just before the dance, another one of the Evergreen cowboys rode onto the farm whilst I was hanging up washing. As we talked, I admit I was not all that friendly because frankly I did not trust him, someone up in the treeline took a shot at me and just missed. Now Brendan, that was the Christian name of the cowpoke I was talking with, admitted that two other hands were up in that treeline. Greer and Billy."
"It is one thing to swipe some clothing but quite another to shoot at someone. I simply do not want anything to do with Billy anymore. I trust you understand my reasoning," Clara now finished her long drawn explanation.
"Yes, of course." Honestly, Emeline wasn't so inclined to serve the lad either, after this, but this was a business and she had to stay professional in it. "It will be difficult, I admit..."
Wiping he hands on her apron, she instructed, "The biscuits need to come out in five minutes, and stir the stew." She grabbed the coffee pot, then shook her head. "I'm tempted to pour this over the young man's head!"
She wouldn't, of course, but it would feel good!
Going out to to the table, she smiled at the boy, wanting to give him a piece of her mind, but instead offering him coffee...
Emeline was willing but had some reminders about kitchen goings on.
"Yes, I will keep a close watch on the biscuits and stir the stew also. And I promise I will forebear from adding salt to it," Clara nodded, the last part was a long running joke between the ladies based on an early incident when Clara had first started. The two of them each had tasted the stew but had not time to add more salt to it at that moment (even though they both thought it needed it) as they were interrupted with customers. Then later each one, unbeknownst to the other, dumped in more salt. It ended up a mite on the salty side.
***
Billy sat impatiently, as most young folks tended to do, a bit annoyed that the Redmond girl had definitely noticed him yet disappeared right into the back room. But now here came a woman and carrying a coffee pot too. Service at last!
Going out to to the table, she smiled at the boy, wanting to give him a piece of her mind, but instead offering him coffee...
"Yes ma'am, I'll take a cup. Oh I need ta tell ya straight up that Marshal Guyer is payin' for this meal, he told me I can have a free meal and he'll pay you for it later," he figured he better get that out from the start.
"Oh and say.....could I have Little Miss Pigtails wait on me? I'd like ta talk to her?"
Billy was never shy alright.
"Marshal Guyer? Of course." Emeline smiled as she poured coffee. "I guess that means you can have whatever you'd like." While it didn't happen often, it wasn't unheard of that someone was sent over from the jail for a meal, and they usually took full advantage, ordering a steak and potatoes, then pie. She didn't mind, she was always paid.
"Oh and say.....could I have Little Miss Pigtails wait on me? I'd like ta talk to her?"
"Oh, I'm sorry, there's no one here by that name." Emeline smiled sweetly, really wanting to pour hot coffee in the boy's lap! "So, what can I get for you?" Mister No Manners, she added silently in her head.
Storyteller / Shared NPC
"Oh? Whatever I like? Well then, whatever dinner you got would be nice. Beefsteak or chicken. I ain't a picky eater, specially since I don't have ta make it," Billy flashed what really was a charming smile. He certainly could be when he put his mind to it.
His request for the young waitress though got immediately shot down and his grin vanished. He saw her just a minute ago, she sure was here!
"Oh, right....umm, that Redmond gal then. I meant her. I know she works here, I just saw her," he wasn't going to give up that easily.
"Miss Redmond is busy in the kitchen," Emeline told the young man. There had been a hint of gentleman in him, and she wondered if that could be brought to the fore under the right circumstances. "I can relay a message if you'd like?"
She surely wasn't going to just turn him loose on Clara, and maybe once he got his meal he'd forget about her.
"I'll just be a moment." And without giving him a chance to say anything more, she returned to the kitchen.
"Good heavens! I think that young man doesn't have a mother to teach him how to behave! No wonder he's a hooligan!" Chuckling, she shook her head. "He'll have the chicken fried steak and mashed potatoes."
"Miss Redmond is busy in the kitchen," Emeline told the young man.
"Oh, yeah, Miss Redmond then," he quickly nodded.
"I can relay a message if you'd like?" the woman offered.
"Ummm, I'd rather just...." Billy started.
"I'll just be a moment." And without giving him a chance to say anything more, she returned to the kitchen.
Billy stared as she walked away. She was certainly a fine looking gal with a nice shape to her. Bit old for his taste though.
***
"Good heavens! I think that young man doesn't have a mother to teach him how to behave! No wonder he's a hooligan!" Chuckling, she shook her head. "He'll have the chicken fried steak and mashed potatoes."
"Very well, I will do that then. And I promise I will not poison him. Only because it would be very bad for the Lickskillet's reputation," Clara remarked dryly.
Emeline laughed. "Well, I'd almost lose a little respectability just for the pleasure!" Grabbing a tray, she set out the accessories -- fork, knife and spoon, a small plate with a couple of hot biscuits and a bit of butter -- while Clara plated the main part of the meal.
"Is there anyone else waiting for food?" There were other customers, and as long as they were trading places, she needed to know what was going on out front. "It's actually good to get out among the customers again." Of course, there had been a time that she'd done everything, but since Clara had started working for her, she spent most of her time in the kitchen.