James opened his mouth intending to repeat his earlier statement about how he would not let the marshal down but he caught himself a bare second before ding so. “The map sir?” He asked, eyes lit with curiosity, since he had always loved drawing. "I do have a fair hand with drawing. I assume that there is someone who can describe the terrain to me." This seemed a way he could use his skill in a practical way. Which was something he'd always been told would never amount to anything worthwhile. “Honestly Marshall, I'm not looking for excitement. I merely wish to earn a fair wage so I can survive out here.” He said, with a little shrug. The mention of bonuses was certainly a welcome one and his eyes brightened at the notion

James smiled back at Ada, though if he’d known what she was thinking he’d likely have laughed and corrected her since he’s never really been much of a runner. Not even as a young lad, but he’d certainly walk the documents anywhere they needed to go.

Speed smiled, "The map is on the wall there. Note that owned properties, ranches farms, homesteads are colored in red. Unless it id the property owner that happens to locate something on his land, we take no claims on any land in red. Now, These plots in gray, they're pending our appropriation. Green of course, are those sites we own." The territory with diagonal lines are areas that we are either waiting to explore, or are exploring."

Ada piped up, so as things change, you will be able to change the colors as needed. Which basically will be the areas with the diagonal lines which are in regular pencil. The red never rally changes. Green is also erasable as sometimes they are sold. So, is that clear as mud?" She smiled. "I'm always here and able to help out if you need me."

James closed his eyes for a moment, mentally chastising himself before turning to study the map mounted on the wall the Marshall indicated. He stepped closer, nodding slightly as the older man explained what each of the colors of the various parcels of land meant. “Who does the exploration?” James asked curiously, though he hoped that did not fall to him. He suspected that those areas were some distance away and he didn’t ride. In fact, James was rather afraid of horses and did his best to stay well clear of the huge animals.

“That makes a great deal of sense,” James inclined his head toward Ada, tearing his gaze from the map to the woman once she spoke up. He smiled warmly at Ada, “I’m relieved to hear it as I’m sure I will have questions while I’m learning your system.” That the green areas didn’t change made sense to him, given the fact that most estates in England had been held by the same noble families for countless generations back. His own family had owned and lived on their lands since the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

James closed his eyes for a moment, mentally chastising himself before turning to study the map mounted on the wall the Marshall indicated. He stepped closer, nodding slightly as the older man explained what each of the colors of the various parcels of land meant. “Who does the exploration?” James asked curiously, though he hoped that did not fall to him. He suspected that those areas were some distance away and he didn’t ride. In fact, James was rather afraid of horses and did his best to stay well clear of the huge animals.

"You see James, we employ a number of men whose job it is to 'explore' as to callit, but in effect that is exactly what prospecting is. Looking, sampling, reporting. At times they will find the owners and make a direct offer to purchase the property." Ada explained. "But that is not a part of what you were hired to do for us, no sir, you're far to valuable for that.

“That makes a great deal of sense,” James inclined his head toward Ada, tearing his gaze from the map to the woman once she spoke up. He smiled warmly at Ada, “I’m relieved to hear it as I’m sure I will have questions while I’m learning your system.” That the green areas didn’t change made sense to him, given the fact that most estates in England had been held by the same noble families for countless generations back. His own family had owned and lived on their lands since the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

"Not a problem at all James, that is part of why Mister Guyer hired me, to help train those we hire. In time, as you learn you will be doing the training as well. But, all in good time James, all in good time."

A tiny smile curved James’ lips went she used his term for work that the men scouting out the new territories did, secretly glad that he would not have to do anything of the sort. “How often do you have to purchase land?” He asked, turning to look at the maps on the walls again, trying to hide the flush of pride when she called him too valuable.

“Forgive me.” He said with another of his long slow smiles. “I dearly love to learn and I can not tell you how many times my teachers despaired of my impatience. Where shall I sit?” He asked, shrugging out of his jacket, and folding it over his arm awaiting a reply from his new employers. When directed to his new work station, James took a seat and dove into the task at hand.

Ada smiled at the young man's impatience to learn, and that was good. It was the forms that might be troublesome as they had been for her, but the real learning was how to train the men for their work out in the field, and that was what she would touch on first.

"The forms you will become familiar with are an endless trouble. The Clerks Office wants them just so, and, they want the right forms filled out correctly, ad nauseam. Now, the real question is, how are you with people, people in general, men in particular? The training for those going out in search of minerals. They will also be looking at trees, forestation that is owned. There is plenty of that to be had, and we hold that property, once it is purchased and registered until there is a need for the lumber. Or, in some instances, we sell it again as is at a profit."

When Ada asked how he was dealing with people, men specifically, the color leached from James’ naturally fair complexion, leaving his face very nearly white. “Training?” he stammered, his stomach churning within him. “You mean I will have to teach them what they’re going out to look for?” Getting people to listen to him had never been James’ strong suit. In school, he’d been a good student and his thin gawky build had not endeared him to the majority of the men he’d encountered since his arrival in America. He felt that paperwork no matter how troublesome was preferable to trying to train people to do anything. Especially the rough and ready types that were so prevalent here in the United States. He did understand the concept of selling merchandise at a profit. “That makes sense.” he murmured in reference to her last bit of information. ”Though I am curious about one thing. Where do you store the lumber?” James was new to the town, that was certainly true, but he didn’t remember seeing anywhere big enough to store raw lumber.

The End