Sit down, shut up, don't touch anythin'
Posted September 18, 2020
For a moment, Addy let down her guard, accepting the comfort and support that Jay offered, and finding encouragement in his words. Finally pushing back, she smiled sadly and nodded.
"Yeah, yeah, he'll stay here, a'course." She wasn't exactly sure what the law might have to say about that, but she'd fight tooth and nail for him. "Yer right, we'll wait." She shoved the paper into her pocket, nodding. "No sense ruining Christmas for him, an' that'll give me time ta talk ta some folks before I go to th' marshal...if I have other folks in town aggreein' ta help look after him when I'm gone."
There was Dr. Danfort, Emeline over at the Lickskillet, Miz Mercer...the lad would be well seen after.
"Ya can't tell no one we found out taday, since I really should talk ta th' marshal taday...an' I ain't gonna do that."
Retired Characters and NPC Writer.
Posted September 27, 2020
"The letter was adressed to you, Adelaide. I shouldn't even know about this and as far as I know, this is not my home. I'm just a guest. Why would anyone even assume I knew."
That this was not his home sounded a little weird and somewhat harsh in his own ears, which made him wonder why. Did he wish this was his home? Play family with Addy and the kid like he was? It wasn't so bad actually.
"I'm sorry, that might have sounded harsh because you and the boy are almost like a family to me. I've only been here for a short time but you two are very dear to me. It's just...."
How could he possibly tell her why this could never work, even though he secretly wished it could? If he told her the truth about who he was, she'd despise him.
So he resorted to the bare minimum. "When I'm well again, I'll have to look for a different place, maybe one I can call my own. This here is too small and I've been using your hospitality for too long. I know you don't mind, Addy....but I'm growing fond of you."
He averted his gaze even though he assumed the kiss might have given it away.
His eyes narrowed as he saw a figure approaching from the small dirt road, that lead to her home. It looked a lot like Weedy.
"He's coming...wonder where he's been."
Sit down, shut up, don't touch anythin'
Posted October 3, 2020 / Adelaide Chappel
"When I'm well again, I'll have to look for a different place, maybe one I can call my own. This here is too small and I've been using your hospitality for too long. I know you don't mind, Addy....but I'm growing fond of you."
"Yer welcome as long as ya need," Addy assured him, although she understood that he wanted to be on his own, to be making his own way, and...
Did he say he was growing fond of her? And did that mean more than just the comfortable pattern they seemed to have settled into, the three of them? But then, there was that toe-curling kiss...
Before she could ponder further, or comment, Weedy's arrival saved her!
"He's coming...wonder where he's been."
"I talked with Dr. Danforth earlier, asked him if he'd have th' boy go over there fer a time, give him somethin' ta do." Addy had no idea what the doctor had had the boy doing, but it had given her and Jay time to get the tree, decorate it and get everything set up, and she reckoned as they'd done a good job at that.
Of course, there was the paper stuffed in her pocket, but that could wait, forever, if she had her way, although she wouldn't let Weedy think that his mother had just walked out on him. But today was supposed to be fun, and details could wait.
"Did you say yer havin' some fondness..?"
But that was interrupted as Weedy burst in the door, excitedly displaying a handful of peppermint sticks. "Look what Dr. Danforth gave me!" Then he stopped and looked around at the small, decorated tree that had a few small presents wrapped in colorful paper. "It looks like Christmas! And it smells good, too!" he declared. "This is going to be the best Christmas ever!"
Retired Characters and NPC Writer.
Posted October 3, 2020
The fondness.... Jay had hoped that she would understand right away what he meant. After the kiss they shared it should be easy. But either she didn't want to see it or wasn't used to the attention.
How could Jay explain, that he would have to stop something, that was so good, enriching and beautiful as a woman and man growing truly fond of each other. It was much more than some married folks could dream of, yet it was impossible.
What if the law ever found him and figured out what he did. He'd have to run or hang, which would both be terrible for Addy.
Feverishly he searched for ways to undo his past but it just was not possible. Jay had never killed anyone out of cold blood. Only shot back to defend himself. Then again...he had been the one stealing. In England you might go to prison for that, out here, they'll kill you.
His face had grown stoney as he was thinking about it but he snapped out of it when Weedy saw the tree and his eyes grew big.
One had to smile about that.
"T'was Miss Addys idea. She really likes you so she wanted you to have a beautiful Christmas."
He gave Addy a knowing look. Jay would not speak about the letter.
"We'll also have some good food. I shot..we shot a deer."
That was his cue to go outside and work on it some more. It would give him time to think, too.
Later on he came back inside and brought in potatoes and pickled carrots, that had been stored.
"There you go. I know how to prepare them if you let me. It's an English recipe, if you have spices."
Sit down, shut up, don't touch anythin'
Posted October 4, 2020
"He shot th' deer," Addy corrected with a grin, "we'll have a fine Christmas Eve feast!"
She watched as jay went outside, looking after him for a moment until Weedy interrupted her.
"Miz Addy, are you gettin' sweet on Mister Jay?" The boy grinned widely, partly teasing, but Addy's cheeks turned bright red as she shook her head.
"Mind yer manners, Weed, or Ol' St. Nicholas is libel ta pass ya by tonight." She laughed, glancing at Jay as he came back in, her cheeks still burning.
"Yeah, there's spices in th' cabinet there, a few, anyway." There were basics, nothing too exotic, just enough to disguise her cooking mistakes!
"I got some cider warmin'. Me an' Weedy'll get th' table set."
Funny, how there could be so much joy and so much misgiving all at once...
Retired Characters and NPC Writer.
Posted October 20, 2020
Jay had been thinking about their time out in the woods alone. About hunting together and then riding on one horse and , of course, that short but impressive kiss, that still lingered on his lips. It had only been her cheek but it still made him so incredibly giddy.
Was that the reason, that she let him stay in the first place? Kindness of her heart or a certain attraction. Maybe she was feeling it, too.
When Jay returned, he noticed her pink cheeks and flashed her a smile but didn't comment on it.
Instead he placed the cuts of meat on a plate and looked through the cabinet for her spices. "You know the English brought this from India...on ships. Like the one my parents came to America on."
Jay was still quite proud of his heritage, even though it meant nothing out West.
Then he lifted the lid of the pot and scooped out some cider for all three of them.
He used the cup to warm his fingers.
Weedy kept looking at grinning at him. "Why are you smiling like the Cheshire cat?" Jay asked the boy.
Posted October 22, 2020 / Weedy
Shrugging, Weedy glanced at Addy, then back to Jay. "I'm not smiling," he declared through his huge grin, "I'm just hungry for supper!"
"Right." Looking at Jay, Addy smiled. "He's excited about Ol' St. Nick comin' ta visit. An' th' real good supper we got planned." It was difficult to be cheery considering what they knew, but she was determined that Weedy would have a good Christmas. "After that, we can have cider an' sing carols, an' Mr. Jay can tell us about Christmas where he's from?" Her nose wrinkled up. "Well, maybe not so much th' singin'!"
Retired Characters and NPC Writer.
Posted October 24, 2020
Jay agreed and started preparing the meal for the night. He wasn't a great chef but the meat still turned out alright and tasted great when they finally sat together around the nicely decorated table, the tree standing off to the side with some ornaments hanging from its branches. A fire was burning in the oven, providing beautiful warmth and light.
Jay reached for their hands so they could say grace and eat but when they were done he held on to Addys hand for a moment longer and looked at her longingly. He really wished to repeat that kiss, perhaps even deepen it but he also knew she'd never go for it. It was simply inappropriate.
So his gaze turned into a smile as he said. "Merry Christmas, Adelaide. Enjoy dinner."
Then he turned to Weedy. "Merry Christmas to you, too, young man. I'm proud of everything you've done in the past days. Enjoy!"
Sit down, shut up, don't touch anythin'
Posted October 26, 2020
Adelaide... He'd used her proper name, something Addy hadn't heard in years, and while it usually irritated her, there was something about Jay using it that made it actually sound good, and as far as she was concerned, he could use it all he liked! As for holding her hand, she didn't have a problem with that, either, except that Weedy might notice, and she might have to admit that maybe she was starting to have some feelings for Jay that she didn't want to acknowledge.
But then the blessing was said, Weedy called out, 'Amen!' and the feast was on!
"Ya done right good with this, Jay," Addy complimented, truly enjoying the meal, "we don't get much'a nothin' this good with me doin't th' cookin'!" She gave Weedy a sharp glance, daring him to agree, but he was too busy tucking in to notice. Yes, this was the best Christmas meal they'd have, ever, that she could recall.
"So, is venison yer specialty," she asked Jay, glancing at him with a slight smile, "or there somethin' else ya do better?"
Retired Characters and NPC Writer.
Posted October 30, 2020
Weedy was surprised by the praise from the older man. He was used to helping and receiving kind words from Addy but noone else.
"Thank you, Mr. Ryker." He muttered.
It gave Jays heart a little sting to know that Weedy's real parents never did or could do something like this for him and Addy was the nextbest thing to family. Maybe he should let the boy a little closer in as well. In a spur of the moment notion, he added. "Call me Jay."
Then he returned his attention on the lady of the house and had to laugh. "My speciality? Oh that's something very different."
Like...robbing a bank....if you could call it that. He wasn't very good at that either because he wasn't quick with his colt and not cold blooded enough.
There was something else he did very well, though. One or the other lady could attest to that. He would not brag about it though, so he simply smiled at Addy.
"Yes, there is. Maybe one day, you'll find out."
Then he took another bite and motioned to the meat.
"I really don't have any cooking skills. So, yeah, This is my specialty and the only thing I can cook."
It was surprisingly good though.