Folding the clothing he’d just changed out of into neat piles, James left them atop the barrel Mary Agnes had indicated. When she said his new hat was perfect a pleased flush spread over pale cheeks. “Really?” he blurted out before adding, “Thank you ever so much.”
With a nod, James hurried to open the door for Alice just as he had when they’d left the marshall’s office for the general store. Once outside he offered her his arm again, walking as quickly as he felt was polite towards the livery.
When they reached the livery yard, James’ pace slowed slightly, his unease around horses welling within him. But when she thrust the rifle at him, he took it gingerly, passing it back to her when she was settled. Then he clambered awkwardly up onto the seat beside her. "Shall we be off then?" He asked, gripping the side of the seat with the hand furthest from Alice, trying to appear calmer than he truly felt.
Once he was aboard, she set the Henry repeater between them, "Please, don't let it fall over, I doubt it would go off, but I'd as soon it didn't get dinged up any more than it already is. Dad brought it home from the war."She said as she quickly maneuvered the buggy out toward the street, then snapped the reins to get the horse moving, and they were off.
"You'll see some pretty country out west of town, past the Lost Lake ranch. You won't see the place, it's back in the hills a ways, but pretty country, oh yes." She promised. The horse had a steady even gait which made the ride as smooth as the trail would allow.
James turned his head to face her when she started to speak to him. “Oh! Of course.” He rested his left hand on the stock of the rifle, anchoring it in place as the wagon began to move down the road that led out of town. The grip he had with his right hand on the side of the bench tightened as she snapped the reins urging the horses to pick up the pace.
“Looking forward to it.” James said his gaze firmly forward as they drove onward, the town in their wake. His gaze darted this way and that, though he didn’t quite dare to turn his head very much. He’d never been in an open wagon before and was pleasantly surprised that he hadn’t screwed his eyes closed. “You lived here all your life?” He asked after a bit, feeling like he should make polite conversation.
"Oh heavens no. I've just recently moved here with my Dad, Amos." She replied. "I've lived in several places, from Ohio to Denver Colorado. And you, I know you're from England and that's quite a distance from what you have known. I am curious how it is you ended up in Kalispell, though we have some Englishmen in the area."
She was hoping to get better acquainted with James, and she wanted to make him as comfortable on this trip as possible. The first rule to getting someone acquainted with shooting was to let the handle a firearm, and it was clear that James had no experience with guns of any size or caliber. it was her thought that perhaps while they were out here maybe she could get him to try with no other men around. If not, well, that was alright too.
Tag Nova
James sent her a quick look before he turned his attention back to their surroundings, definitely feeling more out of his depth than ever. “Uh….” He stammered when she trailed off making her words a question. “I was at University, studying law….” He swallowed, then let out a slow breath, “When my father died and, um… I could no longer afford to continue my studies.” He didn't want to tell her how his older brother had flatly refused to give him his share of their inheritance. “I took what money I did have and thought I would try my luck elsewhere. I tried to find work in the cities but without having completed my studies….” He shrugged. “No one would hire me so I came further west in hope of finding work.”
Due to his upbringing, James had never had much interaction with women especially those of his own age, which accounted for most of his current shyness when it came to speaking with her. Her assessment of James’ lack of experience with firearms of any kind. He’d never been much of a sportsman at school, he’d been a scholar, too awkward and gawky to have been the sort that any of his classmates had wanted for their teams.
"Well James there's not a lot of west left, you're almost to the Pacific Ocean." She said with a smile. "We need to see what can be done about this education of yours, and we need to get you more accustomed to life out here. I mean, you may have never had the occasion to use a gun for anything back in England. Out here, it's a tool. As valuable as any tool you can name."
She looked at him, appraising him from a different viewpoint. "You know James, Educated men carry and use guns for self-defense, and protection from Indians, outlaws, and wild animals. As well as to acquire food. So the idea of learning to handle a gun should just be another course in the school of Western life. But we'll take our time on that. And don't be embarrassed about it. You weren't raised here, and most everyone is aware of that fact."
And then it came to her, wasn't there a lady attorney in town? Just back from somewhere? Maybe she could help with James' education. That would be worth checking into, it surely would.
James' knowledge of American geography wasn’t that strong, but he was pretty sure there was a good distance between Montana and the Pacific Ocean. Though he had come from the eastern states, traveling westward to Montana from Boston. “I can’t really argue with that.” He said, smiling wryly after Alice’s comment that he needed to be more used to life in Kalispell. “I haven’t.” He murmured referring to his lack of familiarity with a firearm of any kind. “That’s one way of looking at it I suppose…”
Feeling her eyes on him, James pulled his attention from the surrounding landscape to meet Alice’s eyes, his own both wary and resigned. He’d managed to get food thus far without needing a gun of his own. There hadn’t been any attacks from any Indians, outlaws, or wild animals within the limits of the little town since his arrival but who knew if that would last? But he was barely scraping by how could he afford a gun or ammo? He managed another little smile because he was embarrassed despite being told he shouldn’t be, given where he’d been born and raised.
Alice could sense his discomfort, all of this was new for him, where she was used to the life that the frontier offered. Yes, Kalispell was probably ahead of most frontier towns, what with its grand Municipal Building and Belle St. Regis Hotel. Yes, it had been a great beginning, a well-thought-out plan for the town, and soon to boast a hospital. Yet, an alien atmosphere for James.
"You know, Speed has plans for you, should you stay on with us. Things are changing for the company, and fairly rapidly." She offered, even at a snail's pace, indeed things were changing, and for the better, though. "I think, and I'm just a woman, that everything you are in doubt about can be overcome with some practice. Just like learning from a book, there are men in town that would be glad to help you with all manner of things. I am for sure, and Speed as well." She smiled. "Loosen up, be receptive to the things around you, and you will get a sense of belonging. I promise."
Many years later, when he looked back on this period of his life it would seem to James that it was all just one long period of discomfort if not outright anxiety. There were certain amenities in the town, but nothing like what he was used to back home in England, or even in a city like Boston or New York. The hotel was certainly far nicer than he had expected, but a hard look at his finances had compelled James to rent a small house in town rather than renting a room at the hotel.
James turned to look at her again, a mixture of confusion and pleasure on his face as they bounced along the rough trail that led to the mine. “I’m good with book learning.” He said softly, his cheeks heating a little despite himself. Not bragging, James wasn’t one to do that, but simply stating a fact. When she told him that the men in town would be happy to help with things he didn’t know, James’ eyes flared wide. He wasn’t used to being accepted by his peers. At school, none of the other boys had been very nice to him, unwilling to get on his elder brother’s bad side. “Loosen up?” He echoed, his tone rough and low. He’d never really had a sense of belonging anywhere and thought, privately, the idea seemed nice.
"James, good with book learning is fine. The fact is, you could teach if you were a mind to. Matter of fact, you can do just about anything out here. You are accepted for who you are, and folks are willing to lend a hand along the way." She observed, "You just need to see that folks are here to help, so yes, loosen up, accept the help. I do know that people here in the west are more than willing to help a person who asks for it, who's willing to learn, to be a part of the community he's in."
"Just being willing to change clothes, that's a really positive start." She added, "Now I know them pants are scratchy and stiff, the shirt, itches as well, they need washing and all of that discomfort will go away in short order, but they need to be worn, when you're not at the office I mean." She knew that James took pride in how he presented himself at the office. which was good, she just wanted to see him get comfortable in his surroundings, and she knew that here was far different than there. "As they say out here James, you'll do."
@Nova