Sit down, shut up, don't touch anythin'
Posted October 31, 2020
"Oh, a mystery man, is it?" Addy chuckled, then added, "Well, ya done this good, an' my Pa always says better ya do one thing good than a dozen poorly." She was curious, though, about what his 'specialty' was, and when it might be revealed.
The rest of the meal passed in light conversation, and after they were done, she put the scraps down for the cats, then looked at Weedy. "So, do ya wanna feed th' horses or help with th' dishes?" she asked Weedy, then chuckled as the boy made a dash for the door, pausing long enough to grab Jay by the hand and tug him along with him.
"C'mon!" he urged, "most anything is better than doing dishes!" Sure, it was going to be cold in the barn, but he'd much rather give out hay and grain to the horses!
Retired Characters and NPC Writer.
Posted November 1, 2020
Jay allowed the boy to pull him out the door to the barn, where he motioned for the bucket. Of course it was Jay's job to fill it because he had the longer arms and could reach the grain more easily, which the horses got after they munched on some hay.
"Hope the winter's not much longer. That won't last another 3 months." He commented.
"Are you having a good Christmas?"
Weedy nooded eagerly when Jay passed him the bucket. Out here it was cold and they could see their breath in the light of the oil lamp.
Jay watched the boy feeling quite sorry for him without parents now, so he made it a secret vow to himself to be there for him as long and as much as he could.
"You're a good boy, Weedy. I like you a lot."
Then he helped him spread the grain evenly.
"I like you, too, Mr. Ryker." Jay grinned. "And we both like Miss Addy." The youngster cheekily added, so it was Jays turn to nod. "We do."
Sit down, shut up, don't touch anythin'
Posted November 4, 2020
"Aren't you two done yet?" Arnie grinned as she left the small living quarters and stepped into the cold barn. It hadn't taken long to do the clean-up, certainly not as long as feeding five horses, so she'd pulled on her coat and was now offering to help, to get that chore done so they could all get into the warmth.
But, it seemed, together the boys made a good team, and they were pretty much finished.
"We're done, Miz Addy!" Weedy glanced at Jay with a big grin, then ran to the young woman. "Jay's a real good worker! And the horses like him, too."
"We'll that's good." With a grin, she tousled the boy's hair, then glanced at Jay. "So, are ya gonna stay inside with us tonight, or bunk out here. Young one here has ta git ta bed so St. Nick can come!"
Retired Characters and NPC Writer.
Posted November 4, 2020
Jay turned to her with a smile on his lips because Weedys enthusiasm made him smile.
She asked whether he'd stay inside and put him between a rock and a hard place all of a sudden. It wasn't appropriate for a single woman to invite a strange man into her little home. Even though Jay knew she didn't care what people thought, he didn't want to ruin her reputation.
"Er..." He stood there a bit dumbstruck.
Weedy took his hand and pulled him towards the entrance. "C'mon."
Jay raised his brows and said. "I guess it's Christmas. Maybe people are busy watching for St. Nik or minding their own business. So I could stay inside."
He let the boy pull him in and Weedy nodded eagerly.
"I'd better hurry up, so he can come...with his reindeer and all. I've been a good boy. Hopefully he knows and brings me something nice."
"Oh yeah, I'm sure." Jay confirmed and gave Addy a meaningful look.
It took a while until the kid was actually snuggled up in bed because he was too giddy.
Once his breaths had become long and even, Jay settled down in the chair next to the fire.
"Thanks for letting me stay inside." he looked at her and ran a hand over his beard.
"And thanks for taking care of me, him...you're a good woman. Why do you not want to find another husband?"
Darn, that left his mouth way too quickly.
Sit down, shut up, don't touch anythin'
Posted November 5, 2020
"Oh, well, I don't hardly count th' first one as a husband," Addy chuckled, then she shrugged as she pulled a blanket over Weedy. "Wasn't never in a rush ta be married, like some gals get. Ain't somethin' ya seek out, it just happens, right? An' never just happened." After all, she moved and worked in a 'man's' world, looked at them as just folks she worked and drank with, not as potential mates. And she didn't need a man to look after her and provide for her.
Not only that, but she tried hard not to be a woman, but just to be Addy, stage and freight driver, and the whole subject made her uncomfortable.
"'Sides, not no man wants a gal that ain't focused on havin' children an' goin' ta garden parties." She grinned as she kicked off her boots, then tossed him a blanket. "So why ain't you married?"
Retired Characters and NPC Writer.
Posted November 5, 2020
The whole children and garden party theme didn't appeal to Jay either.
"Haven't seen many gardens around here. You should see England. There are some magificent gardens, lush and green with endless flowers."
He was a man, sure but he could still appreciate natures beauty. None of it was around here.
"Not all me are they same, Addy, and not all are looking for the same kind of woman." He was too shy to say that he would take her in no time.
When she asked why he wasn't married, he could see Weedy open one eye, so he grinned and then returned his attention on Addy. "Isn't that obvious? I haven't found the right woman yet. Plus my lifestyle is hardly suitable for a lady. You know....no kids or garden parties in my life."
If she knew what he had been doing not so long ago, she's stop those questions in a heartbeat and despise him.
But Jay had to remind himself that he was more than a bank robber. He never really wanted that life. It had promised quick riches but they were gone as fast as acquired and not very fulfilling. Plus Jay hated the terror that came with it.
He was more than that. He had lead a good life as an honest carpenter for many years. One, he intended to return to.
Sit down, shut up, don't touch anythin'
Posted November 5, 2020
Addy laughed and nodded. "Well, so no garden parties!" Addy hadn't completely ruled out children, after all, there was Weedy, but he been older when she'd first started taking an interest him. As for babies, she just didn't seem to have that overwhelming desire for a tiny, squiggling, pooping bundle that needed constant attention...it would change her whole life, and while she was certain she would embrace it if it ever became an issue, she wasn't eager for it to be an issue!
"Wouldn't mind seein' some real gardens, but then, when Spring comes an' th' meadows bloom, ain't nothin' grander...looks like colorful quilts laid out on th' land."
The wildflowers were amazing, sending up a sweet fragrance along with the brilliant showing.
"So, now, get comfortable an' I'll read th' story from th' Bible." She nodded to the pallet that had been laid next to the bed, currently occupied by the cats, then grabbed an old, frayed copy of a Bible before settling on the cot across from the boy and starting to 'read', although was quoting from memory.
"In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of th' entire Roman world. An' everyone went ta their own town ta register.
"So Joseph also went up from th' town a' Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem th' town of David, because he belonged to th' house an' line of David. He went there ta register with Mary, who was pledged ta be married ta him an' was expectin' a child. While they were there, th' time came for th' baby ta be born, and she gave birth ta her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths an' placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them..."
Retired Characters and NPC Writer.
Posted November 6, 2020
Jay lowered himself onto his make shift bed but briefly wondered what it would be like to squeeze into that small bed of hers, holding on to her.
In the meantime Addy was reciting the bible and Finn noticed that she wasn't really reading it.
Weedy had long fallen asleep and Jay was close when she concluded.
The lights were low in the small room now. Not having any children of his own , let him forget that he was probably supposed to play Santa for the boy.
Instead Jay was curled up on the pallet bed and his small furry friend joined him and curled up in his arm. Even with his eyes closed he reached out to pet the animal.
The next morning Weedy was the first one up while Jay was still sound asleep, snoring. The room had cooled down because there was barely any gleaming charcoal left in the oven.
Sit down, shut up, don't touch anythin'
Posted November 6, 2020
Addy had slept well, but then, she rarely had trouble sleeping at home, where she didn't have to worry about the dangers of the trail. When Weedy started stirring, she woke up and yawned, then stretched and sat up.
"Merry Christmas," she whispered to the boy, not wanting to wake Jay, "looks like St. Nick paid us a visit." Indeed, there were some new packages, crudely wrapped in colorful paper, sitting around the tree.
"How'd he get in?" Wide-eyed, Weedy looked over the tree then back to Addy. There was hardly room for the three of them, much the less the jolly man with his bag of presents!
"Oh, well, I should I know, I was asleep just like you!" Standing, Addy pulled on a wool skirt over the union suit she was wearing, then donned a heavy flannel shirt before stoking the fire. "Don't be messin' with them presents before Jay's up," she chided as she set on water for coffee, "We'll open 'em after breakfast."
Feeding the horses could wait on this one special day.
Retired Characters and NPC Writer.
Posted November 12, 2020
The smell of fresh brewed coffee and their whispers woke him up. The night had been nice. A long peaceful sleep. After spending many nights in different beds, this felt like home now.
Yawning and groaning a little Jay stretched. He was almost as good as new but he wasn't twenty anymore so early mornings required a good stretch, which usually made his side hurt a little.
"I could get used to this...feels like home." He simply said what was on his mind and sat up, running two hands through his hair.
"I smell coffee and oh....look at that." He pretended to be surprised by the presents under the tree.
"Was St. Nik here?"
Weedy nodded his head, making his own hair fly. "Yes, get up, Jay...Mr. Ryker....get up. I cannot open my present until after breakfast."
"Oh, well...what's for breakfast?" Jay looked at the chief of the household wondering whether he'd have to catch one of the old chickens and squeeze an egg out. They barely laid any in the winter.
"Porridge?"
He reached his hand into his pocket under the blanket to feel whether the small leather pouch was still there.