While Robert was not interested in going thru all the effort involved in learning how to read and write, why it took children YEARS to do that sort of thing he believed, he did have an idea where the fellow Irish gal might be helpful.
"Aye, I could do that." she told him, she seemed quite willing.
"Papers about hunting for gold and the like, you mean?"
"Yes, that sort of thing. I had to sign this paper for my claim to this old mine. I had no idea what was on it but the man told me nothing important, just needed for records n' such. He has the paper," Robert explained.
"Then another time I was doin' one of me fights for money and the man in charge comes up to me just before I am gonna git in the ring and shoves a pen in me hand, sez sign this here paper. So I did. Anyhow I won the fight but I didn't get as much money as I was promised.....but he said he kept his part of the contract. That it was all on the paper."
So, yes, Robert had his reasons alright.
Retired Characters and NPC Writer.
"Yes, that sort of thing. I had to sign this paper for my claim to this old mine. I had no idea what was on it but the man told me nothing important, just needed for records n' such. He has the paper"
"Well, he hasn't come back to cheat you out of anything has he?" she voiced. The main issue with signing documents that you couldn't understand was of course that people would be liable to write whatever they pleased.
"Then another time I was doin' one of me fights for money and the man in charge comes up to me just before I am gonna git in the ring and shoves a pen in me hand, sez sign this here paper. So I did. Anyhow I won the fight but I didn't get as much money as I was promised... but he said he kept his part of the contract. That it was all on the paper."
"Oh, well, that sounds a bit more blatant." Aoife said. "Well, don't hesitate to call, if you need help in future - with your documents or your health."
They moved through the forest at a fair pace, and the sun arced it's way across the sky as the afternoon begun to get on. Indeed, as they traveled, so too did Aoife begin to grow a little sore in the saddle, for she was hardly riding properly, and even if she was, she would not have been wearing the right clothes. She found herself peeking ahead more and more frequently, seeking sight of the town.
"Oh, well, that sounds a bit more blatant." Aoife said. "Well, don't hesitate to call, if you need help in future - with your documents or your health."
"Thank ye, I most certainly will do just that then. I'm sure as I can trust you. We Irish folk stick together," Robert grinned.
It was perhaps not as fast as Aoife had been hoped but eventually the pair could catch sight of the first outlying buildings that was indeed her destination, the town of Kalispell. Another half hour and they'd be walking down what passed for main street.
"There it tis then, lass," he pointed, "Kalispell in all 'er glory."
Retired Characters and NPC Writer.
"There it tis then, lass, Kalispell in all 'er glory."
Aoife followed his indication to where a smattering of buildings lay, deep in the valley through which they'd been traveling. It wasn't as large as Missoula, certainly not so large as Boston, but about the same size as Milford, ironically enough. She'd traveled these thousands of miles and found herself in a town of about the same size, with similar amenities.
"Looks nice." she commented, mostly distracted by the sudden sight of the town. The edge it did have on Milford was the picturesque view, with ranchland, forest, and lake all within walking distance. It would likely have been raining besides, back in the homeland, while here the sky was such a deep blue that it might have been an ocean itself.
She shifted herself once more in the saddle, though this time more out of anticipation than discomfort. "Do you know anywhere nice to stay?" she asked Robert. Presumably there'd be somewhere to hang her proverbial hat, but maybe one place was better than another.
The young woman studied the town from afar then pronounced, "Looks nice."
"Seems like a decent enough place but then I donna spend a lot of time there," Robert had to admit but it wasn't because he was against civilization like some hermit who chose to live a solitary existence. There just weren't a lot of jobs available for his sort - uneducated, no cowpoke skills, Irish to boot. There was always the army, he knew it had more than it's share of Irish immigrants in its ranks. But that did not appeal to him either.
"Do you know anywhere nice to stay?" she suddenly asked.
"That be a good question, Aoife," Robert sighed, "I know there be a hotel but it's for the swells...rich folk, you know. Though a place as big as this one has got to have itself a few boarding houses to be sure."
"Sorry I can't be of more help. Last few times I was in town I only went to the store and to the saloon. Now I wouldn't be Irish if I didn't want me an occasional taste of the spirits," he smiled.
Retired Characters and NPC Writer.
"That be a good question, Aoife. I know there be a hotel but it's for the swells... rich folk, you know. Though a place as big as this one has got to have itself a few boarding houses to be sure."
"Hmm, well, I'll keep an eye out for them." she said, still with her gaze fixed on the town in the middle-distance.
"Sorry I can't be of more help. Last few times I was in town I only went to the store and to the saloon. Now I wouldn't be Irish if I didn't want me an occasional taste of the spirits." Robert said, with some humor, though Aoife did not react in kind, instead remaining tight-lipped. She'd seen her own family fall into the bottle all too deeply to find humor in alcoholism.
"It'll be good to get off the road." she stated instead, already thinking of the chance to sleep in a bed for once. "And I will be back, with those drawings. You can count on it."
With this instead, she down to smile at Robert. "Thank you again, for all of this. I can't say I'd have been able to find this place very easily on my own."
Robert's little crack about his possible occasional imbibing did not really produce the effect he had hoped for as the young lady did not even crack a smile. Very well then, he would refrain from any further cracks on that topic. Saloons and drinking were proper mens' subjects anyhow.
"It'll be good to get off the road." she stated instead, "And I will be back, with those drawings. You can count on it."
"Oh, I do believe you, you seem like the sort who follows up on what she promises. And I do appreciate it too," Robert nodded.
"Thank you again, for all of this. I can't say I'd have been able to find this place very easily on my own."
"Yer welcome, lass. And it twas my pleasure to do so," he smiled. It had been refreshing and downright enjoyable to spend some time with another person but especially a pretty young missy.
"And you would have found it alright, yer as sharp as a knife, you just needed to stay on the road and follow that. Really, tis all I did," he added with a modest shrug.
And with that the pair made the last few hundred yards and reached the outlying buildings of the town. A mutt dog came loping up to greet them, tail wagging but only stayed around for a quick pet on the head by Robert then wandered on off again.
"Greetin' committee I be guessin'," Robert declared.
Retired Characters and NPC Writer.
As Robert pet the enthusiastic dog, Aoife eased herself out of the saddle, landing on the dusty road with a little stumble. The dog quickly ran off, which was probably for the best. She never had been very good with them.
"Greetin' committee I be guessin.'"
Aoife nodded. "Aye, he's a right ambassador."
Now that they were right at Kalispell's doorstep, she took a moment to try and pick out any structures that might have been boarding houses or hotels. Like as not, they would be more prevalent further into town, but for now she came up short. Oh well, there had to be somewhere...
Instead, she turned to Robert and Abraham, giving the latter a pat on the flank, and the former a last look of gratitude.
"Well, I suppose I'll see you around then, Bobby." she said with a smile, and a proper smile, at that.