Storyteller / Shared NPC
"Again, thank you, ma'am." Walt Shannon said. As she walked away he turned to the men with him, a sadistic smile . "I guess we stop by the Marshal's office, maybe he can five us some leads. Maybe not, but we keep up appearances."
"Yeah, good idea. Then what, we move on, find the others? Oldham asked in low tones that would be difficult to overhear, careful not to mention Steelgrave's name. Charlie simply smiled.
"That's the plan, we eat, we pay, we leave like any other customer. Then we stop by and ask about what's being located, if there are open claims, or areas we could stake a claim, then, we move on." A good plan, a simple one, and one that would almost legitimize their presence in Kalispell.
Storyteller / Shared NPC
All three looked up when the blonde women addressed them, seeing that they were the only group of men she passed.
"Ma'am," Shannon replied with his smile. The other two nodding to her in reply. All of them finding her attractive, because she was. "Excuse me, but do you know if the Marshal's other business, the mining concern, is it open? Or do we need to locate him at his office?" Add to the facade, make them seem to be what they weren't to the point of actually filing a claim, if they were going to stay any length of time, which they just might.
"Ma'am," Shannon replied with his smile. The other two nodding to her in reply. "Excuse me, but do you know if the Marshal's other business, the mining concern, is it open? Or do we need to locate him at his office?"
Caroline smirked, that was quite an unexpected couple of questions.
"I wouldn't know anything about the minin' business and the last time I talked to the Marshal he was arresting me cuz I came to the rescue of a poor ol' dog. So....yeah, I try to stay away from his office as far as I can," she smiled.
Storyteller / Shared NPC
All three smiled, having similar aspirations for similar reasons. "Well thank you anyway Ma'am. Guess we'll figure it out, not like his office is hard to find. We're new in town, as you might have guessed, so we ask questions of folks to sort of get our bearings for such like. But I appreciate your taking time to speak with us." Shannon said.
"Yes Ma'am, much appreciated." Wally Oldham chimed in, Charlie merely nodded, but had a smile none the less.
Walt,always found it odd that of all the men he might have taken in with Oldham's talents, he managed to take a man with the same first name. Now the Blonde, she was a different kettle of fish altogether. Shannon pegged her for some sort of saloon woman, be it entertainer, or hurdy-gurdy girl, or even a whore, Though she didn't look the part of a prostitute.
"I'm Walt Shannon, Wally Oldham and Injun Charlie here, we're pleased to make your acquaintance."
"Well thank you anyway Ma'am. Guess we'll figure it out, not like his office is hard to find. We're new in town, as you might have guessed, so we ask questions of folks to sort of get our bearings for such like. But I appreciate your taking time to speak with us," said one of the men.
"Oh sure, I don't mind, hon," Caroline replied, "But yeah best check that office of his."
The fellow introduced himself and his two pards, "I'm Walt Shannon, Wally Oldham and Injun Charlie here, we're pleased to make your acquaintance."
"Pleasure gents. I'm Caroline Mundee, I work at the saloon. You should make a stop there and have yerself a few drinks once yer done with your mining business," Caroline offered, even off duty she did her best to drum up business.
Just then Clara emerged from the kitchen with a wide tray she was carrying with both hands and headed for the table with the three men. She exchanged glances with the saloon gal.
"Be right with you, Miss Mundee."
"No hurry, hon," Caroline didn't mind, the girl was just doing her job.
"Here you go, gentlemen," she then took three plates of beans and meat pies off the tray and placed one in front of each man, "Hope you enjoy. Let me know if you need anything else."
Storyteller / Shared NPC
The men, first taken by the good looks of the blonde, suddenly looked at the food set before them with hungry eyes. "Yes Ma'am, we'll be sure to do that! And to you Miss, this looks great!" Shannon said without looking up, then, he caught himself and did look to both this Caroline Mundee woman with a smile. "We certainly will." And then to the woman that brought the food. "Ma'am, you set quite a plate. Quite a plate indeed!"
The other two we already digging in to the plate load of food and mumbled something resembling thanks. Sometimes beauty fails where food is involved, and for these men, what was set before them pushed aside any thoughts of anything but eating.
Caroline watched with a smile as the men's attention turned from her to the food heaped in front of them by young Clara. It wasn't all that surprising. What was the old saying? A way to a man is thru his stomach. Besides their conversation had basically come to a close. Maybe she'd see them again sometime in the saloon, maybe not.
Clara took in the compliments over the food and service. Just what she always liked to hear. She had been more than a little nervous when Pronto took Emeline off on their ........well seemingly endless trip. Would she be able to handle the job by herself? But thru hard work - and Clara never minded hard work - she honestly felt she was doing well. Still, she hoped the couple would return soon. At least Emeline had sent her a few things/letters to let her know they were safe and enjoying themselves. Emeline deserved that in Clara's opinion.
"Thank you gentlemen, let me know when you are finished and I will tote up the bill," Clara announced then went to deal with the saloon gal.
Caroline was there to buy one of the place's freshly baked pies and it didn't take long to make her choice.
"Ara loves pecan pie, she's a southerner. So yeah, give me that pecan pie. Me, I like all your pies," Caroline stated.
"Yes ma'am, you are in luck too. I only made one of those today," Clara replied as she reached down into the counter below to extract the pie.
Caroline plopped down some coins, told the girl to keep the change and marched back out with one pie in hand.
Storyteller / Shared NPC
"Thank you gentlemen, let me know when you are finished and I will tote up the bill," Clara announced then went to deal with the saloon gal.
"Yea'um, we'll sure do that." Shannon said between bites. The food was very good, and they were all enjoying the fare. Even the coffee was above what they were used to. but trail coffee always seemed to have it's own flavor, yet this was for them and experience.
As they finished up, plates clean, cups empty, stomachs full, Shannon fished out a silver dollar which e laid on the table, nodding to the others who did the same. "Ma'am, money's on the table. Thank you. Hope to be in again, real soon." He said and with that they rose and left the Lickskillet looking back toward the Marshal's office.
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
Now these men were far from not knowing what they could and could not do, and were no strangers to dealing with lawmen. Having a supposed good reason to see the town Marshal, the strode directly to his office and walked in.
"Marshal? Don't mean to bother you, we're interested in locating areas where there might be ore to mine, gold or silver. Hard to find anything open in Virginia City, place is sewed up tight." Was Shannon's opening line. Shannon, Walt Shannon, and my partners Wally and Charlie. We were told by the lady at the Cafe you'd be the man to talk to."
"Guyer, Speed Guyer." He offered his hand. "Well now, there was talk of some gold being found northeast of here, near a town called Columbia Falls. And I've heard tell that there been some sluice boxing on any number of streams, and, that there's been some finds. But anything close? Not really, maybe a couple claims, but not much. As you can see, we're no boom town.
"Northeast is it. Well glad we stopped in, been a big waste of time lookin' for riches where they're scarce as frog hair." Shannon said, "Well sir, thank you for your time. Think we'll push on to this Columbia Falls and see what's what up thataway."
"Well you boys have some good luck then. Pleasure to meet you." He stood, shook hands all around and watched out his window as the three men made their way up to the Lickskillet where their horses were tied.
If they were miners, he was the King of Siam!
End of thread.