"Ahhh, Arabella says so, huh? Well, bless her heart but if I were you I wouldn't always believe what that girl tells ya," Caroline seemed amused.
"That is, if the practices aren't re-served for people like Wentworth," the young man added.
"No, hon, they aren't. But we don't allow folk to come in before we're officially open. You see if I let you in special, then I'd have to let others in too. Kinda makes a mockery of the whole 'we are closed to the public' thing, now wouldn't it?" she patiently explained.
"So sorry then, but no's the answer. I don't make the rules, I just work here," she hoped he would understand, that is if the alcohol wasn't clouding his thinking.
However, she did suddenly think of something. Yeah, he looked like he would do just fine.
"Tell ya what though, cowboy, some days before I have to begin my work shifts, I like to take a leisurely stroll down the boardwalk, take in the sights, enjoy the fresh air. That sort of thing. Now if you were to show up I'd be right pleased for the escort," she suddenly made an offer.
Brendan pouted at Caroline's reasoning about not letting him in, but it did make sense. That didn't mean he liked it, though. "Yeah, I s'pose so."
He tilted his second beer back and finished it off quickly, then set it down with a soft thump. He wasn't one to make a big deal out of disappointments like this, even though it was a disappointment. Miss Mundee was very pretty, and there happened to be a shortage of women around The Evergreen ranch. He was sure every other man in town was dealing with the same "spring fever" he was, but with Miss Mundee he'd either have to give up...or try a different tactic.
Her offer surprised him and made his head swim slightly - or maybe that was the beer. "Really? You mean it? Shoot, I'd be glad to es-cort you." He flashed her another smile, this one slightly goofy-looking.
"I'll see if I c'n get away from Evergreen some days." He said the name of the ranch without thinking, or without thinking enough. He didn't really care that she knew he worked for Evergreen, but it might affect her view of him, especially if Mike Wentworth had been bad-mouthing Evergreen to her before he came up.
As she expected the young cowpoke was apparently tickled to accept her offer of escorting one of her leisurely strolls down what passed for main street in this small town.
"Excellent!" she too was pleased. A lot of men were more than glad to mingle with her within the saloon itself but for various reasons might not wish to be seen in her company out in public. She was saloon folk and many townsfolk looked down on such people.
"I'll see if I c'n get away from Evergreen some days."
"Ahh, Evergreen huh? So you work there? I ain't heard much of anything good about that ranch or rather it's owner. But none of my business I figure. As long as you pay in American money, I don't care where my customers work," she shrugged.
Abruptly she arose then, "But sorry, hon, I really gotta go mingle with other customers. Men'll get mad if you hog me. Don't forget that walk though."