"Is there anyone else waiting for food? It's actually good to get out among the customers again."
It was a good question and Emeline needed to know the answer. Clara kept working on the plate even as she replied, "Ah yes, well Mr. and Mrs. Emden and their two children are in the midst of their lunch. They are fairly new in town. I only know this because Mrs. Emden asked about the Kalispell school."
"And then there is Widow Carson," Clara added, the old woman was a regular customer for lunch, claiming she could no longer be bothered with all that work of making meals herself. Clara had no idea what she did about breakfast and supper. Anyhow Widow Carson always ordered pretty much the same thing.
"There! Billy's food is ready."
"All right, I'll check on the others after I take care of Master Billy." Emeline picked up the tray. "He was asking to talk to you."
Of course, Clara likely knew that, after all, that was part of the reason she was in the kitchen, but Emeline wanted her to have the chance to change her mind, however unlikely.
"Is there anything you'd like me to pass on? Decent, of course!"
Emeline now told her that Billy had asked to speak to her. Clara frowned. She figured as much. Didn't change her mind in the slightest though.
"Is there anything you'd like me to pass on? Decent, of course!" the woman asked.
"No....well, wait. Tell him this. Tell him I know he was one of those up on the ridge that day when one of them took a rifle shot at me. So I do not think there is anything for us to discuss. Ever!" Clara was visibly angry.
"All right, then." Nodding, Emeline took the tray and headed back to the dining room, and Billy's table. "Here you go." She set the meal down, then relayed the message. "Miss Redmond says that she knows you were one of those on the ridge who shot at her, and she doesn't want to discuss anything with you."
Stowing the tray under her arm, she added, "I can't say that I blame her, and honestly, from what I've been told of your antics, there will be a bullet or a rope waiting for you if you don't change your path." It was friendly, but stern advice.
Storyteller / Shared NPC
Well, Billy got his plate dinner and it looked damn good too at first glance, but he also got that Redmond gal's answer, leastwise this woman said so. Billy wasn't happy. But the woman wasn't quite done yet.
"I can't say that I blame her, and honestly, from what I've been told of your antics, there will be a bullet or a rope waiting for you if you don't change your path."
The young man's happy go lucky look just faded for an instant and there was anger in his eyes before his smile returned, or rather more of a smirk.
"Oh, lady, I think you made a slight mistake here with my order," he now declared leaning back to look up at her.
"I just came here for the dinner, I didn't order no lecture."
Emeline smiled at the boy, not at all intimidated or put off. after all, she'd faced off with bank robbers, real desperadoes. Besides, Billy was just a boy, and hopefully, he'd learn.
"Not a lecture, just advice." She shrugged. "Let me know when you're ready for some pie. We have apple, pecan and huckleberry."
With a nod, she moved on to check the other tables.
Storyteller / Shared NPC
Once Billy was finished with his dinner, in fact that plate was clean as a whistle, and coffee empty, he waited til the woman was close then waved her over.
"That sure was good stuff. I see why this place does good business. Food makes up for the service I reckon," he needled her though much of it was meant for the snooty Redmond gal.
"Could I have two pieces of pie? I don't care what flavors, I like 'em all," he now requested.
Emeline took the compliment for what it was and gave the young man a nod, and even a hint of a smile. "Of course, two pieces...Marshal Guyer is paying for it, right?"
Maybe, if the boy was treated right, he'd straighten out some and not end up in an early grave.
On her way back to the kitchen she checked on the other customers, collecting some dishes as she went, and once back in the kitchen, she set the dirty plates in the basin.
"How are things going back here?" she asked Clara, noting that everything was well in hand. The young woman was very competent and responsible, and Emeline was sure she would do just fine if she ever decided to spend a lot of time out at the ranch once she and Barnabas married.
"I'll need two slices of pie...how about apple and pecan?" She chuckled. "Kill the boy from too much pie!"
"Of course, two pieces...Marshal Guyer is paying for it, right?"
"Yeah, though I kinda paid for it in a way, havin' ta sit in that jail cell for doin' nuthin. Oh well, worth a big meal I reckon," Billy grinned.
***
Clara was busy but she also knew the ropes by now for doing pretty much anything required in the kitchen. No mishaps or drama currently. Emeline re-entered the kitchen.
"How are things going back here?" she asked Clara.
"Good, in fact I just put some more biscuits in," the girl nodded.
"I'll need two slices of pie...how about apple and pecan?" She chuckled. "Kill the boy from too much pie!"
"I do not know, there may not be enough pie in the world to accomplish that at least with the boys I happen to know. My little brother could easily devour three big slices if he had the chance. But yes, give me just a minute," Clara finished stirring the mashed potatoes.
Emeline laughed. "I do suppose you are right on that count, and it's one thing they don't grow out of." While she was waiting for Clara to get the pies ready, she rinsed off some dishes. "One thing that is pretty consistent with men, they're always eager for food, and sometimes it's a good way to tame a beast."
Not that she expected Clara to forgive Billy his trespasses, but sometimes it was better to make someone feel really terrible about what they'd done, and torment them in a different way.