Clara entered the kitchen and immediately started preparations to make the two specials her customers ordered. Once the cooking began, she poured two black coffees for taking back out to said customers.
"You're busy tonight." Jemima said as she was doing dishes.
"Yes, I am. Thanks for the help," Clara placed both coffee cups on a small tray.
"Mister Thornton's nice, isn't he?" Jemima asked Clara' opinion, casually.
"I believe him to be, yes, he came a long way to help out his kin," Clara answered then added, "I shall be right back."
Then back out she went to serve the coffees to Thorton and the lad.
"THERE'S SOMEBODY AT THE DOOR!!!"
Jemima carried on washing dishes, then had to dry a few to make room on the draining board for the next batch. When Clara came back from serving the coffee, Jemima carried on the interrupted conversation without missing a beat, asking the girl "So, what d' he have to help his kin with? I never did hear that. Is it this range war they're always talking about?"
She shrugged a little as she walked over to the shelf where they stored the plates with a nice clean, dry stack of them. "I lived here all my life and it seems there's always some big range war just around the corner that never seems to happen. Not that I'm complaining" she added. There was no great import to her words. Just idle chit chat.
"Hey now, them that kilt yer family, dumber'n dirt most of 'em. Cain't read a lick, ner know the difference 'tween a dime an' a dollar. You don't wanna turn out like that now do ya?" Ty asked, seriously. That set Rip to pondering the whole thing as they waited for their meal. Then, the coffee arrived.
Coffee, there seemed to be nothing like coffee to start the day, have a meal, or just about any reason or excuse a man could think of to have a cup. And, it would be greatly missed when there was none to be had.
"Thank you Ma'am, been hankerin' for a cuppa coffee since we started out from the mine," Ty told Clara as he raised the cup toward his lips, "Smells real good too."
"School's alright I guess, but couldn't you teach me what I need to know?" Rip asked suddenly.
Ty looked from Clara to the boy, "Some, but not all teacher'd teach ya, an' you been before ain't ya?" He asked, "What's her name? The teacher up to the school."
Clara placed the two cups of coffee down in front of the pair.
"Thank you Ma'am, been hankerin' for a cuppa coffee since we started out from the mine," Ty told Clara as he raised the cup toward his lips, "Smells real good too."
"One of the best things about coffee is the smell I believe," Clara opined.
"School's alright I guess, but couldn't you teach me what I need to know?" Rip asked suddenly.
Clara knew the boy wasn't speaking to her so she let Mr. Thorton answer.
Ty looked from Clara to the boy, "Some, but not all teacher'd teach ya, an' you been before ain't ya?" He asked, "What's her name? The teacher up to the school."
Clara knew the name of the woman alright. That was the woman Shade was going to marry, not that he had bothered even telling her about it, she had to find out from Charlie. Not that she was bitter about it, no not her. Well besides, she had Jacob and she was deeply smitten with him.
"That would be Miss Bowen. She is going to be marrying Shade Thorton in case you did not know it," she answered.
"Well now, there's a piece'a news I hadn't heard before, my cousin, whot I ain't seen as yet, marryin' the schoolmarm." He smiled. "Heard he was back ta town an' at his ranch, have you seen him Missus Lutz?"
Then he looked at Rip, "I ain't kiddin', school's important, most important thing you can do. The mine ain't goin' nowhere that I know of, an' it won't be long afore we got us men workin' the mine, an' you an me'll be a part of that if we want." Ty explained. "Come the 'marrow, we'll ride on out to the 'Rafter A' an' see Speed an' Miss Al Miss Alice."
"Oh, sorry Missus Lutz, the boy here's just not real fond of goin' back ta school when she starts." He said apologetically.
"Well now, there's a piece'a news I hadn't heard before, my cousin, whot I ain't seen as yet, marryin' the schoolmarm." He smiled. "Heard he was back ta town an' at his ranch, have you seen him Missus Lutz?"
"He most certainly is," Clara nodded, "And yes, I have seen him and even spoke to him. He stopped in here for a short visit with his new friend, an Indian. Not that I have anything against Indians."
They only killed her mother.
Then Thornton looked at Rip, "I ain't kiddin', school's important, most important thing you can do. The mine ain't goin' nowhere that I know of, an' it won't be long afore we got us men workin' the mine, an' you an me'll be a part of that if we want." Ty explained. "Come the 'marrow, we'll ride on out to the 'Rafter A' an' see Speed an' Miss Al Miss Alice."
"Hopefully he is mending properly?" Clara hoped aloud.
"Oh, sorry Missus Lutz, the boy here's just not real fond of goin' back ta school when she starts." He said apologetically.
"Ah yes school, I enjoyed school back in Pennsylvania. But when I got out here, I was needed on the farm. Besides I soon found out I probably know more than the teacher. Sorry, I do not mean to brag."
"My young brother, Wyatt, does not care for school either but Father insists he stick to it and I not only agree but I help him with his lessons on occasion," Clara added.
"Now I know I sound none to partial to schoolin', Ma'am, an' that's cuz I ain't, I mean, I'm not. But I'm thinkin' that workin' for Mister, ah, Marshal Guyer up to the mine will be all the real learnin' I need. I know my letters and my numbers, though maybe I could get to know 'em better than I do." Rip began, "I guess I ain't, am not gettin' anywhere with this argument about school am I?"
"Nope, can't say as you are, but maybe yer hearin' yer Ma tellin' you it's where you need to be and what ya need ta be doin' with yerself. That mine ain't goin' nowhere, well, not any time soon. So there'll be plenty to do up there after school work's done. That's for sure." Ty responded. "Ain't that right Missus Lutz. I guess I might want to clean up my speech some, maybe be more helpful to the boy if I did."
The boy tried to point out his lack of enthusiasm for learning. Clara listened to be polite even if she didn't find it convincing. Once he finished, she felt compelled to respond.
"You are young and vigorous now. But if the mine fails or worse yet your health fails? And what when you get older and less vigorous? With an education you would have more options. Or at the least you could read. Reading unlocks so much to those who can do it. It can even be very enjoyable. Even my school hating little brother loves an exciting story."
"Oh, and Mr. Thornton, I would not worry much about your speech it is fine," she assured the man.
"Pardon me but I need to finish up on your specials," she then excused herself once more.
"You are young and vigorous now. But if the mine fails or worse yet your health fails? And what when you get older and less vigorous? With an education you would have more options. Or at the least you could read. Reading unlocks so much to those who can do it. It can even be very enjoyable. Even my school hating little brother loves an exciting story."
"Oh, I been ta school, Ma'am. That, and my Ma taught me ta home as well. Said she wanted more for me than bein' a dirt farmer like my Pa." Rip explained, "An' Miss Bowen, I like her well enough, she teaches right good, she does. I 'spose I lost this here argument."
"A man don't lose if he does the right thing, and Rip, if it weren't the best fer ya, I shorely wouldn't be insistin' you get back there come start day an' do yer level best. Make somethin' outta yerself. Now I gotta say, there ain't nothin' wrong with bein' a farmer, this country needs them crops they grow as much as they need them beef cattle. Ain't no shame in feedin' people, none a tall!"
The cooking was mostly at the ready stage so Clara soon had the food plated and plates placed on a wide tray. Then out she went from the kitchen straight to Mr. Thorton's table. There she placed the identical meals in front of each one.
"There you go, gentlemen. I hope you enjoy it. I will check back in a bit to see if you need anything else or need more coffee," she informed the pair then turned and headed back into the kitchen.
Jemima was still busy with dishes when she got back, Clara closed in toward her.
"Gosh, you are doing one fast and yet proper job on those dishes. I do not think I can even compete with your speed. Your mother must really appreciate such a hard and competent worker at the boarding house," she complimented the girl, trying to make up for having hurt Jemima's feelings earlier. Quite unintentionally too.