Linda Everson’s breakfast was a hearty meal for those starting their day, no matter if there was to be a supper or not in their plans. Pronto Pike rose from the table and began picking up plates and the like, as he was want to do after the morning meal.
“Barnabas, you don’t need to do that.” She said as he delivered the stack to the kitchen.
“Old habit. Did it as a part of my chores as a boy, just sort of feel I should be of help.” He explained. “And a fine meal it was. Going to be one o’ them dreary days I’m a’feared. Lot’sa nothin’ to do. Believe I'll head on over’t the café, see if Marshal Guyer ain’t there. Sit an’ jaw a while.”
“Marshal Guyer?” She asked, “wouldn’t have anything to do with that waitress of theirs, now would it? What’s her name?” Linda Everson pried.
“Don’t rightly know, never asked, never heard tell neither.” Came his response, which was honest, he didn’t know her name. “Not the sort that’d have much truck with a man such as myself.” He touched her on the shoulder, “If’n I find out, I’ll be sure an’ let you know.”
She swatted at him with her dish towel. “Go on with yourself Mister Pike!” and proceeded to chase him out of the kitchen.
His slicker was with his war bag and other gear in his room, once he was into it, he was down the stairs and out the door, headed for the café.
Storyteller / Shared NPC
Author: Flip
The ride back to Kalispell was not nearly as fast as his ride had been to the Evergreen, in fact, just past the point of no return on the trail the horse Santee was on threw a shoe setting him afoot. It was late in the day, not his own animal or saddle, so his gear was not aboard. That meant Santee had no tools nor spare shoes to work with. That started the blue streak of epitaphs. But who was to hear them?
After about two miles Santee was forced to stop, first he was in boots, second he was towing eight hundred pounds over fairly rough terrain, and he was tired, he’d had little sleep. So, he moved off the trail and found a place to set up camp. Gathered dry wood and started a fire. There were no utensils or food stuffs either, so no dinner, no coffee, just a couple pieces of hard tack to chew on and a canteen of water.
‘It could be worse.’ He thought, listening to the mustang cropping grass. He was picketed and hobbled for the night, stripped of the saddle and watered. Santee pulled off the soogan and unrolled the tarp which would serve as his ground sheet, the rolled out the bed roll, the soogun, a patch work quilt made of most anything, and blankets. He removed his spurs, his gun belt and boots, rolled up in his blankets and went to sleep before fire had burned down.
The first drops of the coming rain awoke him, and as quick as he could move, he was into his boots strapping on his gun belt, and then rolling up the bedroll. A look at the sky to the north told him all he needed to know. He was grateful that there was a slicker and it was big enough. He saddled the mustang, tied on the bedroll, he swiftly set the bridal and the bit, which the pony liked not at all, and then, they started to walk.
Master Weedy, what can I do for you?" She half turned. "Thank you, sir. "Now young man, why are you out in this weather?"
The lad was surprisingly dry considering the conditions, likely the result of living on the streets and knowing the awnings, porches and trees that would provide cover, although he had only managed to knock some of the mud off his shoes, so he was being very careful to stand still so as to minimize the mess he was making.
"Miz Steelgrave..." For a moment, Weedy just gawked at her, surprised that anyone with the 'Steelgrave' name could be so pretty or polite. He wasn't sure what he had expected, but this wasn't it!
"Oh, um..." he recalled his manners, "Dr. Danforth said that if you can wait for a few minutes he'll have a buggy sent around for you so you don't get wet."
The boy grinned. "Mrs. Andresen was there earlier about her rheumatism and brought some jam cakes...she makes the best in the territory, Miss!" And, as messenger, he would get to share!
"Oh, um..." he recalled his manners, "Dr. Danforth said that if you can wait for a few minutes he'll have a buggy sent around for you so you don't get wet."
“Now that’s very kind of him, Weedy.” She said.The boy grinned. "Mrs. Andresen was there earlier about her rheumatis and brought some jam cakes...she makes the best in the territory, Miss!" And, as messenger, he would get to share!
“Jam cakes? Oh that sounds simply marvelous!” She gushed, having a sweet tooth for them herself. “ A moment young man.” She dashed to her purse on the table and fished inside retrieving a half dollar, returning, she bent down as far as her corset would allow. “This is for your trouble. I won’t tell you to stay dry as I see you already have that well in hand. Thank you, Weedy.”
Played by: Bongo
"Thank you, Miss!" Weedy knew better than to turn down an offer, and especially a small fortune like this! He took the coin, making certain secure it deep in the pocket without the hole! "We can go out the back when you're ready." The walkway there was more narrow so that the overhang was more effective, and the wind was blowing from the front, so that added further protection. "I can carry anything you need," he offered, more than happy to be helpful.
“Let me get my coat, I’ll be right with you.” She already had her wool gabardine hooded coat laying across the bed in the large room. “I wouldn’t have thought the doctor would be willing to venture out in this weather.” She continued, “And how is Miss Addy these days?” Though they had never actually met, there was something Leah found wildly exciting about the woman, and the manner in which she lived. A freedom the likes of which Leah had never known, but that was about to change, perhaps not to the extent where she was as free as Addy, but freer than she had ever been.
She led the boy back up to her room to retrieve her coat and bag.
Pronto walked into the café and pulled off his hat and slicker, the place was all but empty. Two locals that had ventured out sat at a table in the corner eating and talking. He hung the slicker on a peg jutting out from the wall and then regretful to a table where he sat, facing the door.
He doffed his hat and hung it on the back of his chair as the waitress came over. “What’ll it be?” She asked, a broad smile on her face.
“Well, I reckon it’ll be coffee since I already ette at the boardin’ house.” He gave a quick look around, for no reason since he’d seen who was in the room earlier, “sortta sparse in here this mornin’.”
“It is, have your coffee in a jiffy.” she said and disappeared as the door opened and Marshal Guyer walked in, nodding to Pike as he closed the door behind him, then went through the ritual with his hat and slicker, once done he walked over to Pike’s table. “Mind if I sit?”
“Not at all Marshal, not at all.” Pike responded with a smile. "He’p yerself. Miserable day out there, ‘cept fer the ducks an’ the farmers.”
Speed laughed at the remark, nodding in agreement. “Looks to be a get nothing done day out there. But I do like the rain, makes the world fresh and the air clean.’
“Yeah, but a mite regretful while it’s at it.” Was Pike’s response as the door opened yet again, and in came editor Phinias McVay. “Seems all us bachelor types are out this mornin’.”
“Gentlemen, mind if I join you?” Phinn said as he reached the table. Neither man spoke but nodded.
The Pike said, “sit yerself down an’ dry out. What gets you out on this most unpleasant mornin’?”
“Just waitin’ on word with that cattle drive Thornton and Miss Mercer undertook, that and the rumor of the Army movin’ into the territory.” Came the response.
Both men gave Phinn a sober look and in unison said; “Army?”
Played by: Bongo
“Let me get my coat, I’ll be right with you.” She already had her wool gabardine hooded coat laying across the bed in the large room. “I wouldn’t have thought the doctor would be willing to venture out in this weather.”
"Yes, Miss." Curious, Weedy followed behind the woman, but stayed respectfully outside the room, although he peered in, eager to see the elaborate room with all its splended furnishings and decorations. But when the lady spoke to him, he pulled back and looked away, not wanting to get into trouble for prying.
“And how is Miss Addy these days?”
"Day like this?" He looked at Leah with a wide grin. "She'll be using words that'd fry bacon! When she gets in, she'll be all drenched, and so will her horses and the stage." He shrugged. "I'll help her clean up, though, she takes care of me and makes sure I have supper, so I don't mind." It was a small price to pay to someone who watched out for him and made sure he was all right...well, except for her insisting that he go to school!
Pulling on her coat she couldn't help but smile at the boy. "Fry bacon would they? Well, I imagine she would have a right to, foul weather to be out in, so much so, I'm surprised the Doctor cares to be out in it."
She went to the door and opened it for them, "So he will be around back? Interesting, I feel like we're sneaking out on some great adventure." She knew better that to ask after his mother, she was almost as well known as Leah herself and probably despised as much, maybe more. "We're going to go look a somethings and you're welcome to come along if you think Miss Addy wouldn't mind." She added, pulling the door shut.
And back down the stairs they went.
Storyteller / Shared NPC
NPC: Santee | Played by: Flip
Santee struggled forward along the muddy trail, cursing Elias, cursing Leah, cursing the mustang, and cursing the weather. Though he had on his “fish,” he was soaked with sweat from the exertion and the slicker. It’s weight and the towing of the animal did not help.
Progress was painfully slow, as his boots were not suitable walking boots, if there was such a thing. No, a cowhand did most all of his work from the saddle, not from the ground. This was just another in a long list of resentments he held for the Steelgraves. Times when he was expected to be the brats babysitter and coddler. The thought crossed his mind to pack his war bag and ride out, there were other spreads, other opportunities for a man of his caliber. He damn sure didn’t need this!
Then too, perhaps there was a chance that Case would pull him for his own use, anything would be better than the lot he’d drawn with Elias Steelgrave and his family. He turned that thought over a couple of times and the more he thought about it, the better it sounded. Let one of the other boys go play nursemaid!
The rain began to come down harder, so Santee led the horse into the trees for whatever shelter they might provide as lightening streaked across the sky and thunder rumbled from the heavens. He swore bitterly. It was going to be a long day.