Sarah swiftly stepped aside as she just managed to avoid Zenobia Matthews and her speedy exit. Having just spent some of the afternoon with Pastor Evans and his wife, visiting some of the survivors of the Whitefish disaster who had decided to stay in town. She was glad to see that some of them had settled down and most of them had found employment of some sort. Still there were others who needed help and the Pastor wanted the rest of Kallispell to know about them. Hopefully, the article she was going to write would help.
As her eyes adjusted to the dimmer light in the office, Sarah could see that Phin was not alone. She couldn't tell who the man was from his back and therefore didn't think much about who he was. She was more eager to get her story done before Phin printed out the next edition.
Going pass the counter, she acknowledged Phin before heading to her desk.
@ Flip
"Every town needs a newspaper."
"Hello. Mr. McVay, I believe? My name is Roland Smith." He held out a hand to shake the proprietor's.
"Hello. Phin McVay at your service." Phin repsonded, gripping the man's hand.
"I've just purchased a shop, and gauged that it wouldn't have much in the way of custom if I didn't make it known." He smiled, but paused, glancing over his shoulder at the trail of ire Zenobia had left in her wake, still detectable as a wisp of impotent anger hanging in the air.
"Ah, excellent, having a smith in town will be much appreciated I'm sure. We've been short one for a while since the last fellow moved on.
"Forgive my curiosity... does that young lady operate a business in this town?"
"Yes, she is the local barber, has taken over for her father who has become unable to continue," Phin answered as Sara walked in. "Morning Sarah. This is Mister Roland Smith, the new gunsmith in town he called to her as she reached her desk. "Sarah Thornton, my reporter, now where were we?"
@Cuban Writer @JulieS
A good person is like a good gun: Reliable to the Last.
The story of Miss Matthews began to come together in Roland's mind. Father in failing health. Forced to take up a career she did not enjoy. Bitterness seeping into her persona at the responsibility she was duty-bound to shoulder, even as she might have wished for a different destiny. Now, that bitterness was like an aura of repugnance, causing the business to dwindle as customers fled her vicinity. Soon, the whole family would fall into ruin, to die in indignity on a merciless frontier.
Hmm...
Roland's musing was momentarily derailed by the arrival of another young woman. This one did not seem intent on attacking everyone in her vicinity. She made a small, pleasant acknowledgement of her employer and proceeded to a desk further into the offices.
Roland hurriedly removed his hat and dipped his head towards the woman, "A reporter? Fantastic. Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Thornton." Even as he said it, he hoped it didn't sound condescending. He'd met one remarkable woman after another in this town, and was still charmed by the endless parade of formidable females.
"A fortuitous encounter, as I had a thought as to how an advertisement and an article might coincide..." As usual, his mind was quick to form a scheme when presented with an opportunity. One such scheme had just propelled him across the wide world from London to Kalispell.
"I was hoping to secure something prominent, as near to the front page as possible. 'Smith Gunmaker and Shop - Fine work and Finer Prices on Guns and Ammunition.' " He smiled as the lockwork of his mind clicked into place. " 'Fifty Cents off of your First Dollar Spent with a Receipt from the Matthews Barber.' "
Roland set his hat back on his head and glanced again to Miss Thornton, "And perhaps a sponsored social piece in your paper, interviewing a newcomer to town?"
He smiled, "What do you think, Mr. McVay? Would such an advertising campaign interest your paper? And what do you think would be an appropriate price for the value rendered?"
@[Phineas Mcvay]
@[Zenobia Matthews]
"Every town needs a newspaper."
Roland hurriedly removed his hat and dipped his head towards the woman, "A reporter? Fantastic. Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Thornton."
"A fortuitous encounter, as I had a thought as to how an advertisement and an article might coincide..."
"Oh? How so, sir?" Phin asked, this might be interesting for himself, and perhaps something others might be interested in. "Well sir, as to the interview, I leave that to Missus Thornton-Carlton who is a crackerjack interviewer. And you may just have begun something within the community."
Roland set his hat back on his head and glanced again to Miss Thornton, "And perhaps a sponsored social piece in your paper, interviewing a newcomer to town?"
"Now I am sure that can be arranged, yes indeed Mister Smith, we can surely accommodate such an idea. Can't we Sarah?" Phin was instantly elated about such an idea,
He smiled, "What do you think, Mr. McVay? Would such an advertising campaign interest your paper? And what do you think would be an appropriate price for the value rendered?"
"Oh yes, by all means. And I can certainly give your advert a special rate as the interview fills space. Yes, we can most certainly do that!" He answered with a wide smile.
"I was hoping to secure something prominent, as near to the front page as possible. 'Smith Gunmaker and Shop - Fine work and Finer Prices on Guns and Ammunition.' " He smiled as the lockwork of his mind clicked into place. " 'Fifty Cents off of your First Dollar Spent with a Receipt from the Matthews Barber.' "
"You sir may well have helped Miss Matthews' business as well as your own. Yes, sir, this is a grand idea! Yes we can assist you in the endeavor. First week will be free, sir. For the month, fifty cents." Phin offered.
@JulieS @Cuban Writer
"Now I am sure that can be arranged, yes indeed Mister Smith, we can surely accommodate such an idea. Can't we Sarah?" Phin was instantly elated about such an idea.
"I'm sure we can as well," Sarah answered.
Sarah wasn't sure what to make of the newcomer. He seemed pleasant enough and hopefully he would stay around a longer than the previous gun shop owner. Guns were a necessary in an area like this but more in the outlying areas than in town itself. However, that notion was what it was...a notion. There were still a lot of people in town who needed a gun for one reason or another and Mister Smith would have plenty of business.
"Since you are new in town, maybe a story on your thoughts about Kalispell. Your likes and dislikes...that sort of thing."
A good person is like a good gun: Reliable to the Last.
Roland smiled, "That's a fair price." he agreed, fishing out a fifty-cent piece and laying it upon the counter.
Then he turned his attention to the lovely reporter who had graced them with her presence.
"Do you have any plans tonight, Miss Thornton?" His eyes were bright as he asked the question. He'd come here looking to place an advertisement, but greater possibilities were now afoot.
"My shop will be in disarray for some days as I settle in, but I have heard that the local Hotel can supply a good steak and a quiet repast. A good environment to have a conversation or answer some questions for the proposed article, if that suits your fancy."
An hour or two away from the new property would eat into his affairs, but losing that time was well worth it if he could spend it with this lovely reporter. And the meat pie would surely keep until the morning if he didn't eat it tonight.
@[Phineas Mcvay]
@[Sarah Thornton-Carlton]
"Every town needs a newspaper."
"Do you have any plans tonight, Miss Thornton?" His eyes were bright as he asked the question. He'd come here looking to place an advertisement, but greater possibilities were now afoot.
Phin scooped up the coin, nodded as the man spoke to Sarah, and then stepped to his desk where he opened the drawer where the cash box was and deposited the coin.
@JulieS @Cuban Writer
"Do you have any plans tonight, Miss Thornton?" His eyes were bright as he asked the question. He'd come here looking to place an advertisement, but greater possibilities were now afoot.
Sarah smiled at how Mister Smith seemed the type not to waste time with all of the social protocols. In a way, this intrigued her. "No I don't have any plans for tonight and I will be delighted to join you for dinner tonight. Maybe we can start the interview and you can give me a review of the hotel's dining services. I have dined there on a many occasions so my opinion on what they have to offer would be a bit jaded." His opinion on the hotel would also make another good story. In fact, she might able to get two or three good stories from the man..
Taking a pencil and a piece of paper, she wrote down her address and handed to him, "I live in a small cottage in the main residential area of town. What time should I expect you?"
@[Cuban Writer]
A good person is like a good gun: Reliable to the Last.
"A jaded reporter?" Roland smiled and shook his head, "perish the thought."
His spirit was buoyed as he received her address, his fingers barely brushing hers in the hand-off. "Perhaps six, just before the dying of the light? The setting sun will do wonders for my British pallor." The light jest reflected his good humor.
With that in hand, he dipped his head, "Until that hour, Miss Thornton."
Fairly pleased with the exchange, Roland withdrew before he could add something that might sour it to any degree. That was the trick on social encounters: End them on a high note.
He had a busy afternoon ahead of him. The freight office would be delivering all of his worldly possessions in a couple of hours, and he had to dust off the building before he could disseminate his belongings. Then there would be unpacking, inspecting, arranging, and unfolding. That would likely go on for the next couple of days, actually.
And now he had to leave enough window to take a bath and brush down his suit, lest this reporter feel compelled to give notice on how dusty and sweaty Londoners were.
A busy afternoon, indeed.
But he found himself smiling like a schoolboy as he went out to meet it.
"Every town needs a newspaper."
Phin sat back and watched the conversation between Sarah and Mister Smith, it made him smile. Was he a younger man not so set in his ways, why that might be him? Perhaps not with Sarah, but with someone. There were eligible women in town, that was for sure.
He was not looking to find someone, it was simply an observation on his part. She was a handsome woman, and yes there were several handsome women in town, then again, he was married to the Union and what it took to put it out. Hours of work from writing many of the columns to the setting of the type, to the actual printing of the paper, then, doing it all over again. What woman would want a part of that? Very few if any. Again, he smiled, this time it was to his thoughts and how true they were.