"And while I neither profess to have those all of sterling attributes, or all of those deficiencies of character, I find I might well be somewhere in the middle. I believe I do the best that I am able as far as being a decent person to associate with, whether I achieve that or fail at it I couldn't say. That is for others to decide. I too prefer to stay in the light as it were, away from the dark and whatever might lurk there."
"You ain't got it in ya ta be that kinda mean, Mr. Phinas," Tully declared quietly, looking over at him. "Maybe ired or indignated, but not cruel, wantin' ta hurt another fer no good reason, or ta feel like ya can because ya can." Men like the one who had attacked her and Frances were different, they had no soul, no caring, they relished in others' pain.
"It's good ta be in th' light, I reckon," she muttered, "leastways can try, now there's some such as you an' Mrs. Lutz, I can trust." It would take time, and doing, but she had the resources she needed to actually be a person, should she have a mind to. "Reckon I got a place ta stay fer now."
Miss' Frances and Jemima were quite generous in offering her a place to stay, although she wasn't sure how long that would be, but it was a start. "Reckon I could do some cleanin' or whatnot fer Miz Lutz, she's been tryin' ta get me..." But it was still a big step, but one she'd have to take if she wanted out of the shadows. "Not real sure..."
She looked out at the people that were here, even the deputy, and no one was paying her any mind, didn't care who she was, or what she was up to, didn't want to chase her off or hurt her...
"Every town needs a newspaper."
"You ain't got it in ya ta be that kinda mean, Mr. Phinas," Tully declared quietly, looking over at him. "Maybe ired or indignated, but not cruel, wantin' ta hurt another fer no good reason, or ta feel like ya can because ya can." Men like the one who had attacked her and Frances were different, they had no soul, no caring, they relished in others' pain.
"I would truly hope not Tully, I just wouldn't want to feel those things, but then I reckon as how they with few if any feelings, feel nothing, which I'm thinking includes joy or happiness or love and sadness." Phin said. "Maybe for a time during the late war there was that kind of anger, but maybe it was just fear. For some it never left. Younger men well, for a lot of men they needn't have a war to be that way.
"It's good ta be in th' light, I reckon," she muttered, "leastways can try, now there's some such as you an' Mrs. Lutz, I can trust." It would take time, and doing, but she had the resources she needed to actually be a person, should she have a mind to. "Reckon I got a place ta stay fer now."
"Yes, being in the light like we are right now is what life should be about, now hiding in the shadows because of the meaness of others." He agreed, "Having a real place to stay is a great start, and it is clear that you have friends, people willing to take you in, to look out for you. Not that you can't look out for yourself, you've been doing that right along."
Miss' Frances and Jemima were quite generous in offering her a place to stay, although she wasn't sure how long that would be, but it was a start. "Reckon I could do some cleanin' or whatnot fer Miz Lutz, she's been tryin' ta get me..." But it was still a big step, but one she'd have to take if she wanted out of the shadows. "Not real sure..."
"There's a start, and Misuss Lutz is a good woman from everything I've heard about her, and standing in for Missus Pike, she hasn't missed a beat, and honestly I'd bet she could use your help." Phin pointed out, "And speaking of Missus Pike, another good woman who I'm thinking would likely keep you on. Couldn't say for sure, but with Missus Luts in a family way, and the Pikes newlywed, well, the chances of her being in the family way as well I'd say are quite high and that could give you a position, a fairly regular position helping out at the Lickskillet."
All of that was, of course, speculation however, the chances she could actually gain employment in some capacity seemed to be better than average. Even though Jemima Wigfall filled in there at times, things could change. And there was always the Andersons Mercantile as well as the General store and other places of business in town she could apply as time went on.
"Yes Mma'am, the future is bright ahead, for you and all the rest of the good people of Kalispell, that is a fact!" He asseerted.
"Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadows" - Helen Keller
"Dear Miss Frances, I'm old enough to be your father!"
The girl smiled "Age. That means so little to me. You could be Eighteen or a Hundred and still look the same in my mind's eye. Of course, people might comment, but it is not that unusual for a younger lady and a more experienced gentleman to... hold great affection for each other..." she nudged.
"I do have an affection for you, but I..." He what? Certainly, he couldn't admit the truth, to himself, much the less his current companion. But she did deserve an explanation...the truth. "I believe I have affections for another lady, despite my better judgment, and I'm certainly not deserving, but..."
"Oh." That stumped her. "I did not know that. I am..." she gulped. What a fiasco! Whoever this woman was, nobody knew of it. Arabella or Bridget or even Miss Orr would have warned her. They were all pretty sure that he was completely unattached.
"I am so very sorry: I have put you in a most awkward position... it is unforgiveable of me; I hope you will forgive my foolish words, Doctor. And please, I pray that this will not destroy our friendship. Be assured... I shall never mention this subject again." she let go of his hand and stood, a little shakily. "Perhaps this expedition was a mistake, I do not believe I am quite strong enough yet for such diversions..." she started walking unsteadily toward where she thought the chair, and Jemima, and escape from this embarrassment lay.
I took an oath for this job. The oath says bring him in. That's what I'll do.
"Come on Charlie-boy; give a girl a dance will ya?!" she cried "And swing me round good, I'm a girl who likes it rough!" she reminded him, in case he'd forgotten what had happened at the barn dance months ago when she, he, Brendan Connelly, and Clara Redmond (as was) tripped the light fantastic in a Quadrille.
He had seen her coming but he didn't move fast enough. When Arabella latched onto something she was quicker than lightning and not many people stood a chance. However, this time around he had to stand firm. Putting his hands in a stopping motion, he shook his head, "I'm sorry Arabella but I'm here in an official capacity...maybe next time."
A frown appeared on his face, "I was in the middle of my rounds when I saw you and your friends. It got to me wondering why on earth you would pick the middle of town to have your Saturday afternoon soiree. The Stardust is already starting to get busy and considering the way things are, well, whichever group gets there first, the other group may just end up having to go somewhere else and that might be here. Your little picnic will attract a lot of attention if they get wind of it."
Charlie was hoping that he wouldn't have to explain the situation to Arabella. Even if the ranchhands of the two biggest ranches in the area didn't turn up, they had their supporters in town. There was an uneasy pact between the two groups and so far there had been no real trouble other than a few minor skirmishes but that could change at any time.
"Everybody can feather their nest, but it's not just anybody that can lay an egg!"
Putting his hands in a stopping motion, he shook his head, "I'm sorry Arabella but I'm here in an official capacity...maybe next time."
"Oh!" she exclaimed, and melodramatically stood to attention and saluted "Beg pardon, Marshal.... er... how d'ya mean?"
A frown appeared on his face, "I was in the middle of my rounds when I saw you and your friends. It got to me wondering why on earth you would pick the middle of town to have your Saturday afternoon soiree. The Stardust is already starting to get busy and considering the way things are, well, whichever group gets there first, the other group may just end up having to go somewhere else and that might be here. Your little picnic will attract a lot of attention if they get wind of it."
The young actress frowned too, and looked to her friends and back to Charlie again.
"Oh Charlie Wentworth, will you listen to yourself?! You want us to hide and cower in our homes, never dare to venture into the streets of our own town after a certain hour: like the curfews of tyrannical governments of the old world?! Shame on you. We are Americans!! Furthermore, I personally am a Virginian!! We do not shirk from danger, we arm ourselves and face it!" He didn't know, but she had been packing heat about her person ever since Mr Roland Smith had given her a dinky little snub-nosed pepper-pot.
She put one hand on her heart and pointed a finger in the air with the other, exclaiming dramatically "Sic semper tyrannis!" the State motto of 'unoccupied' Virginia, before adding, with charming inaccuracy: "... or as we say in American, 'Don't Tread on Me!'"
Jemima then asked after Miriam, and made sure her brother wasn't bothering her, as he had done in the past.
"We are friends, just friends. Mutual agreement of course," Miriam assured her.
Jemima nodded, grudgingly convinced. She looked at Miriam and then back at the dancers.
"What's it like?" she asked.
"Huh? I'm not sure what you mean? What's what like? Dancing?" Miriam was genuinely confused. The girl couldn't mean 'friends' for even Jemima had friends. Didn't she? There was Ara and probably Clara. And a whole lot of people appreciated all the many jobs she worked in town.
"THERE'S SOMEBODY AT THE DOOR!!!"
"What's it like?" she asked.
"Huh? I'm not sure what you mean? What's what like? Dancing?" Miriam was genuinely confused. The girl couldn't mean 'friends' for even Jemima had friends. Didn't she? There was Ara and probably Clara. And a whole lot of people appreciated all the many jobs she worked in town.
"You know..." Jemima frowned and stared straight ahead, not meeting Miriam's eyes "Being loved." Even she realised that the question was a little non-specific "I mean... being loved by a boy... or even a girl." she felt she had to add that, even though it made her shudder. "Like... someone wanting to just be with you and kiss and cuddle you all the time for ever and ever. It's all I dream about, I suppose. But is it as wonderful as I think it is?"
It was sad little question, but seeing all these people dancing and seeing Frances throwing herself at Doctor Danforth, she couldn't stop herself from blurting it out.
You know..." Jemima frowned and stared straight ahead, not meeting Miriam's eyes "Being loved."
"Oh, umm," Miriam wasn't sure she wanted to deal with that question or even could do it justice.
"I mean... being loved by a boy... or even a girl." she felt she had to add that, even though it made her shudder. "Like... someone wanting to just be with you and kiss and cuddle you all the time for ever and ever. It's all I dream about, I suppose. But is it as wonderful as I think it is?"
"Well, I'm sure it is but I am not prepared to discuss this sort of thing here in public. Such things are private affairs and I would think people have all sorts of reactions just depending who they are. We're all different in some ways, you know?"
Yes, it wasn't much of an answer but Miriam was no Arabella, this sort of thing made her quite uncomfortable. Speaking of Ara, she was rather puzzled that Jemima did not direct her curiosity to that brash always willing to share girl. Nothing phased Arabella after all.
"THERE'S SOMEBODY AT THE DOOR!!!"
"Well, I'm sure it is but I am not prepared to discuss this sort of thing here in public. Such things are private affairs and I would think people have all sorts of reactions just depending who they are. We're all different in some ways, you know?"
Jemima nodded sadly and apologised.
"You're right Miriam: I'm sorry. I didn't mean to put you on the spot like that. It's just, you're the only person I can ask. I... I like to think we're pretty good pals now, you and me, after working together so long and all at the drapers. I know we've had our ups and downs now and again, but, well, I always know you'll tell me the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. You're a straight shooter, Miriam Kaufmann." the ill favoured girl said, seriously.
"Oh oh!" she suddenly exclaimed. Frances was struggling to her feet and looked a little distress. "Looks like I might not be the only one who's 'unlucky in love'!"
"Oh." That stumped her. "I did not know that. I am..." she gulped.
"That's quite all right, Miss Frances," Jonah insisted, reaching to pat her arm. "I hardly knew myself." In fact, he wasn't even really sure himself, but he was certain that, at least at this point, he had no romantic feelings toward anyone else.
"I am so very sorry: I have put you in a most awkward position... it is unforgiveable of me; I hope you will forgive my foolish words, Doctor. And please, I pray that this will not destroy our friendship. Be assured... I shall never mention this subject again." she let go of his hand and stood, a little shakily. "Perhaps this expedition was a mistake, I do not believe I am quite strong enough yet for such diversions..." she started walking unsteadily toward where she thought the chair, and Jemima, and escape from this embarrassment lay.
"Nonsense!" Jonah was after her in an instant, lightly taking hold of her elbow to steady her. "Please, come back and sit down, we've still to eat, and I'd love to talk to you, if you would." How easy it would be just to let her walk away and be done with it, but he couldn't let that happen, not out of pity, but...well, maybe that young woman that he wouldn't admit his feelings for had started to change him...