That made the man hesitate, but only for a second as he glanced toward some men standing in the shelter of the boardwalk across the street. "Won't be me doin' th' regrettin'!"
Weedy shrugged and jumped out beside Leah, taking her arm, like a gentleman, as best he could. "Don't worry, Miss Leah, just means more cookies, right?" He didn't mind so much, he was accustomed to such things, although it wasn't right that a lady should have to be out in the mud and rain. Still, he had learned that the best thing was to hold up your head and pretend as if it didn't matter to you...they were going to get drenched, so may as well enjoy it.
"Look!" Grinning, Weedy pointed at a rather deep puddle a few paces ahead of them, then let go of her arm and dashed forward, hopping into the puddle with both feet, causing a big splash, although he was careful not to get any mud on the woman's skirts.
Storyteller / Shared NPC
NPC: Santee | Player: Flip
It was no easier, fact was, the mud was deeper than it had been making the going slower and difficult at best. The only thing that was different was that he could see the roof line of the out laying buildings of Kalispell as he topped a small rise in the trail. It was a ways off, but in view. That didn't make the walking any easier, or the mustang any lighter, but at least he could see the end of his trek, that was something.
It was just past mid-day when Santee and the hobbling mustang reached the edge of town and Santee’s ordeal was near it’s end. He plodded down a muddy main street complete with puddles deep enough to cover his boots ankle high. It was measurably worse than the trail and as he trudged through town, his anger rose with every step, even though in a matter of minutes his would be inside and out of the storm.
That made the man hesitate, but only for a second as he glanced toward some men standing in the shelter of the boardwalk across the street. "Won't be me doin' th' regrettin'!"
He could not fail to see the steely eyed stare from the young woman whose instict was to pull the derringer and shoot him, but thought better of it. It was not what Weedy needed to see, and it would certainly do her plans any good.
Weedy shrugged and jumped out beside Leah, taking her arm, like a gentleman, as best he could. "Don't worry, Miss Leah, just means more cookies, right?" He didn't mind so much, he was accustomed to such things, although it wasn't right that a lady should have to be out in the mud and rain. Still, he had learned that the best thing was to hold up your head and pretend as if it didn't matter to you...they were going to get drenched, so may as well enjoy it.
“It does indeed, Master Weedy, it does in deed.” She replied. "Shall we be on our way? I’m sure the gentleman here has more to do than threaten a woman and a child.” Leah suggested, sans the barbed tough she wished to use.
"Look!" Grinning, Weedy pointed at a rather deep puddle a few paces ahead of them, then let go of her arm and dashed forward, hopping into the puddle with both feet, causing a big splash, although he was careful not to get any mud on the woman's skirts.
On impulse, Leah Steelgrave gave a whoop and jumped in the same puddle, sending a cascade of brown water flying, the entire out fit was ruined anyway and it had just seemed like fun. Fun. Something she had not had enough of, and Weedy had been the cause of this childish display by a grown woman. “Good day to you, sir!” She shouted, as the man stood staring at the pair. "On to the Cookies Weedy!" Taking the boys hand they tromped off toward the hotel.
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
Speed, facing the window, watched the man pass by, his horse in tow. “Will you look at that! Poor hombre.” Watching the man tow his mount toward St. Regis Square and the livery.
The men who needed to stood to view the street. Everyone in the place, which were two other men besides he, Pike, McVay and the cook and waitress.
“at’s Santee, onea Case Steelgrave’s gun hands!” One of the men exclaimed. Phinn smiled at the proclamation, for indeed it was indeed the man known as Santee.
“Looks like he’s had a rough go of it. Leadin’ that cayuse means it maybe threw a shoe, or come up lame. Man ain’t apt ta walk in any weather, let alone rain.” Pike stated.
“The man usually escorts Leah Steelgrave when she’s in town. Heard he lit out last night for the Evergreen. Looks like town here was closer than the ranch when trouble befell him.” Phinn commented as the man disappeared from view. “From what I’ve heard, never causes no trouble, neither him nor Bannister ‘less some fool done somthing stupid with Miss Steelgrave.”
“Never saw her with either.” The second man said. “ Man’s an outlaw, simple as it gets.” He looked at Speed, “So you gonna do yer duty Marshall? Huh?”
Speed turned in his chair, “I have no reason to arrest a man walking his horse in the rain. Went though my fliers, no wants on a man named Santee, so no, I’m not going to bother a man already at odds with the day as it is. He may be all you say he is and more, but I’ve no cause to act on rumor.”
On impulse, Leah Steelgrave gave a whoop and jumped in the same puddle, sending a cascade of brown water flying, the entire out fit was ruined anyway and it had just seemed like fun. Fun. Something she had not had enough of, and Weedy had been the cause of this childish display by a grown woman. “Good day to you, sir!” She shouted, as the man stood staring at the pair. "On to the Cookies Weedy!" Taking the boys hand they tromped off toward the hotel.
Weedy was delighted when Leah decided to play with him, most ladies were too stodgy and boring to do that (not counting Miz Addy as a 'lady'), and it made him like her all the more!
"Come on! It's not too far!" If the weather was better, it really would be decent walking distance. "That one there!" He pointed out a two-story white house surrounded by a picket fence and trees. "There will be a nice fire going, and cookies!"
"Come on! It's not too far!" If the weather was better, it really would be decent walking distance. "That one there!" He pointed out a two-story white house surrounded by a picket fence and trees. "There will be a nice fire going, and cookies!"
Leah stopped and stared, a beautiful home in an idyllic setting. Unlike Evergreen there was a peacefulness about he place. A comfortable aura seemed to engulf the residence. “Oh! It’s beautiful, Weedy, simply beautiful!” For a moment the rain was forgotten as she stared at the building almost in awe.
“Let’s hurry, we’re not getting any dryer out here!” And she started for the house as quickly and the weight of her now soaked coat and dress would allow.
"What in heaven's name?" Jonah had been watching for the buggy, but was surprised when she looked out to see Weedy and Leah running hand-in-hand through the rain! Opening the door wide, he stepped onto the porch, puzzled to see no sign of the buggy. "Get in here, you two!"
Laughing, Weedy clamored up onto the porch, but stopped short of going into the house...he knew better, all covered in mud as he was!
"Miss Steelgrave..." Of course, Jonah had questions, but that could wait until she was warm and dry. "Come in, please..."
"What in heaven's name?" Jonah had been watching for the buggy, but was surprised when she looked out to see Weedy and Leah running hand-in-hand through the rain! Opening the door wide, he stepped onto the porch, puzzled to see no sign of the buggy. "Get in here, you two!"
“Why Doctor, have you never seen two people caught in the rain?” Leah said.
Laughing, Weedy clamored up onto the porch, but stopped short of going into the house...he knew better, all covered in mud as he was!
"Miss Steelgrave..." Of course, Jonah had questions, but that could wait until she was warm and dry. "Come in, please..."
“Thank you, it has been an unusual morning to say the very least. However, this young man has been quite the escort and, I might add, a perfect gentleman throughout this ordeal.” She said trying to sound formal, with her hand on Weedy’s shoulder, then, “The driver, however, could not have been more unpleasant. Rude actually, having something against my family, however that is nothing new.”
"Do you mean to say that the man put you out?" While Jonah knew about the way most people in town thought about the Steelegraves, but that didn't justify abandoning a lady in the rain. "I'm sorry, I didn't know he'd do that. I'll..." Well, he wasn't sure what he'd do about it, but he'd do something. In the mean time, he had two people dripping muddy water in his foyer!
"Come to the kitchen, we can..." Boy, he was short on good ideas today! "Well, I have robes for the patients, you can don one of those and I can send for a change of clothing." And that would make the gossip tongues wag overtime! Leah didn't need that, especially since this was all a business meeting at his request. "Or we can rinse out your skirts and dry them in front of the fire."
Suddenly, Jonah grinned and looked at Weedy. "And warm milk and cookies, too, isn't that right, Master Weedy?"
"Do you mean to say that the man put you out?" While Jonah knew about the way most people in town thought about the Steeleraves, but that didn't justify abandoning a lady in the rain. "I'm sorry, I didn't know he'd do that. I'll..."
“He did. But as I said, it is nothing new.” She cut him off. “Jonah, it will all change in due time. You shouldn’t worry yourself about something that can’t be changed today.” What she did know was that things were going to change, and those who wanted to disrespect her would find themselves on the outside looking in.
"Come to the kitchen, we can..." Boy, he was short on good ideas today! "Well, I have robes for the patients, you can don one of those and I can send for a change of clothing." And that would make the gossip tongues wag overtime. "Or we can rinse out your skirts and dry them in front of the fire."
Again, Leah smiled at the offer. “Very gracious but..”
Suddenly, Jonah grinned and looked at Weedy. "And warm milk and cookies, too, isn't that right, Master Weedy?"
“Jonah, I appreciate your offers, but I believe I best make my way back to the hotel where I can bath and change.” She said. “Today is just not going to be the day we had planned on. Perhaps after the weather clears. Regretfully, I’ll take my leave.” She bent and ruffled Weedys hair.