With a small little smile, James nodded, “I looked into it, but there wasn’t a need for a teacher at the school.” He murmured, then winced as the wagon jostled and thumped its way over a particularly rough patch of ground. His teeth clicked together so sharply that he was lucky not to have bitten his tongue or the inside of his cheek. James wasn’t stupid enough to turn down offered aid, he hadn’t exactly been inundated with offers from the townsfolk at least not until today from Alice. A suddenly worrisome thought darkened his brow, Do I give off an I-must-do-it-alone aura? That wasn’t his intention, but given how reserved he was it wasn’t always easy for him to seek out unoffered aid.
“I hadn’t had the opportunity to buy new clothes.” James said rather sheepishly, ducking his head a little, though he sent her a quick sideways glance out of the corner of his hazel eyes. Growing up as a member of England’s upper crust had caused James to believe certain things, and how he dressed was part of that. His current clothing had become rather worn, but it was all he had so it was what he wore. On his days off from his position, James had always worn his most worn outfit to do tasks around the little cottage he’d dubbed Rosehaven. But now that he had been granted new attire he would certainly wear the frontier attire purchased for him by his employers. Blushing a bit, James mumbled quietly, “Thank you, Ma’am.”
"Best a man dressed for the occasion, out here, a suit just get's ruined. Them britches you've got on will stand up out here. And speaking of that suit of clothes you wear to work, how old are they, anyway?" She asked. "Not my business, you understand, but like I told you before, Speed's got a plan for you, so maybe we look at something new when we get back."
"We do need to get that education finished somehow. You will be valuable to us, more so than you are already once that's done. Out here a man can do whatever he's a mind to, including legal work, preachin', even doctoring, with nothin' but his say so. We'll have you with a paper that says you are what you claim to be. But until then, we'll count on what you know already. We can order any books you'll need. And, James, we'll teach you to shoot, just so you know how." Then she pointed, "Mine's up ahead a mile or two."
“I can not argue with you on that point.” James agreed with a faint smile. The clothing he’d brought with him had been laundered enough times that they were slowly but surely beginning to show their age. When Alice asked him how old his suit was he gave a sheepish shrug, “I can not recall.” He hedged a trifle uncomfortable since he had some pride. It was a huge help that the office had purchased attire for him to wear in the field rather than having to wear his professional clothing out into the area around the city.
“You do?” He asked in genuine surprise since from what he’d been told when hired his level of legal knowledge would be more than sufficient for the work in the surveyors' office. He had never aspired to become a barrister but a solicitor, working behind the scenes providing legal support to those more comfortable working in the public eye, arguing cases before judges and magistrates. “That should not be necessary, Miss Alice. I still have my course books. From what I have seen from the few of the law books I’ve had the chance to peruse there are only minor differences between the laws here and those back home.” When Alice pointed, telling him that the mine was only a mile away, Jame smiled, feeling relieved though he maintained his grip on the seat, having no desire to be pitched off of it.
"That may be true, James, but Speed, Marshal Guyer, his plans so far is to see your education completed, and then whatever you wish to pursue will be wide open. He has hopes you would become a major part of our mining company." She explained, "So, what harm could completing your education do? I mean, seriously James, you'll be paid while you finish that education for work around the office you are already doing, and once you are finished, then we'll talk about what he wants you to do for the company. That, he has not shared with me, yet."
She had an idea, but as she told James, he had not shared that with her, so far. The remaining miles fell under the buggy and they arrived at the base of the mountain where, just as she had seen at the Copper Queen, the Raven had outbuildings and there was a tunnel already opened. She would not be foolish enough to enter the tunnel without Speed being there. But they could inspect the buildings and the opening without venturing inside.
It was certainly news to James that Marshal Guyer had any desire for him to complete his studies, though the idea was far from unwelcome. It was just that when he’d been hired to work at the surveyors' office the subject hadn’t been broached. “No harm a’tall.” He agreed politely with Alice’s question before he gave another shrug of his shoulder. He’d largely given up on any aspirations of completing his studies in the months since his father had passed away and Henry had refused to allow James a fair share of their inheritance. He’d only studied law because it was one of the few professions that were considered acceptable for the son of a Duke. James really didn’t have any great desire to become a solicitor but he was practical enough not to waste the time and effort he’d put into the legal field already.
When Alice fell silent, James did likewise, chewing over all the news she’d just shared with him. So lost in thought it took him a moment to register that they had arrived though he was quick to scramble down, moving to offer her his hand to steady her as she climbed down from the wagon. He didn’t know much about horses, a fact that he’d already disclosed so he merely waited, holding the weapon awkwardly in his hands as she dealt with the wagon and horse before moving to relieve him of it. “What shall we inspect first?” He asked her, his hazel eyes shaded by the wide brim of his new hat.
"We stay clear of the tunnel, that waits on getting Speed or my Pa up here." She said firmly, "But, we can give the buildings the once over, see how solid they are. What repairs they might need." The would take them a couple of hours, and then it would be back to town and perhaps dinner with Speed. It had been a while since they had gone to supper at the hotel, but the Lickskillet would be fine too.
"I think we should be cautious as I have no idea how long these have been standing without being used or maintained." She cautioned. As they started for what was clearly the mine office.
Continued in 'This Ain't Right.'