"Well, ol' Mule's been complainin' that my feet smell right through them holes, an' it's worse than th' cows!" Justus laughed, looking around as they entered the main part of town, hoping to spot a pretty gal or two.
"Serves you right for listenin' to a jack ass," Cade continued his ribbing. The two of them were both easy going enough, neither took offense.
Justus declared,"Gotta look all daper fer th' ladies, right? Catch me a pretty one!"
"I don't know, it's a small town. Not sure how many pretty ones there are plus, let's face it, if they are so danged pretty why aren't they already taken? Think about that," Cade pointed out.
"You are paying my wages so I will do whatever you want me to do to the best of my ability. I am just glad to have this job," Constance admitted quite bluntly.
The girl seemed so serious, but likely she was nervous, and that was understandable. "Of course. But you needn't get bored, either." There would be duties, of course, but those could get repetitive, and malaise could easily set in. "I'd be happy to teach you some of the cooking, and I'm sure Clara would, too. She's a wonderful cook, and if times are slow, there's no sense not teaching you some."
She glanced at Clara, then back at Constance. "You should feel comfortable here, and you might even have some fun!"
"I don't know, it's a small town. Not sure how many pretty ones there are plus, let's face it, if they are so danged pretty why aren't they already taken? Think about that," Cade pointed out.
"Maybe they're just discernin', holdin' out fer strong, handsome cowboys?" Raising an eyebrow, Justus glanced at Cade. "Good news fer me, a' course...but you..." He shrugged, trying not to grin. "Well, may be some old maid who's gettin' desperate. She might even own a house an' have some money! Aren't you th' lucky fellow!"
"Of course. But you needn't get bored, either. I'd be happy to teach you some of the cooking, and I'm sure Clara would, too. She's a wonderful cook, and if times are slow, there's no sense not teaching you some."
"Yes, ma'am, I'm fine with learning to cook," Constance nodded.
She glanced at Clara, then back at Constance. "You should feel comfortable here, and you might even have some fun!"
"Oh, I do feel comfortable enough, Mrs.Lutz has been very considerate with me. I think I will like it here," their newest employee declared.
Clara had to add though, "Well fun can be overrated in my opinion, the important thing is we get the job done, keep the customers satisfied, and get along with each other."
"Well, at least enjoy yourselves," Emeline commented, then she grinned, "at least most of the time. The customers know when you're not having a good day, and the tips tend to be better when you are smiling."
Not that you could always be happy, but it was a front that you had to put on sometimes. "It's good practice for when times are bad." One advantage Clara had...it was difficult most of the time to tell what her mood was!
"At any rate, I'm pleased to have you here, and want you to look at this as more than just work, but a chance to grow and gain skills, if you'd like."
"Maybe they're just discernin', holdin' out fer strong, handsome cowboys?" Raising an eyebrow, Justus glanced at Cade.
"So what chance would you have then?" Cade pretended to be curious.
"Good news fer me, a' course...but you..." He shrugged, trying not to grin. "Well, may be some old maid who's gettin' desperate. She might even own a house an' have some money! Aren't you th' lucky fellow!"
"Wait, are we just talking 'bout meeting some girl and maybe goin' ta a dance or take 'em on a picnic? Or we talking about marryin' 'em?" Cade added, "Cuz I am a bit too young for marryin' and settling down. Even if she has the house n' the money."
"We really should go to the saloon, if you ask me."
"Well, I agree, best ta have yer feet firm on th' ground before ya look ta settle," Justus commented with a nod, "an' in th' mean time, can't see as a drink wouldn't hurt none."
Just one...he'd have to be careful not to be duped into more, after all, there were here, in part, to make sure that Mrs. Pike was looked after, and they had to escort her home later.
"Maybe a dance with a pretty lady...or just a lady..." Not that he could dance, but he doubted that that mattered much to the gals who worked in the saloon, so long as the money was flowing!
"Well, at least enjoy yourselves," Emeline commented, then she grinned, "at least most of the time. The customers know when you're not having a good day, and the tips tend to be better when you are smiling."
Constance could not imagine her father ever telling any employee of his to 'enjoy themselves', this was different. Different but certainly not bad.
"Oh yes, well tips are good. I will try and smile a lot then," sure enough Constance suddenly smiled.
"At any rate, I'm pleased to have you here, and want you to look at this as more than just work, but a chance to grow and gain skills, if you'd like," Emeline offered.
"Yes, ma'am. Thank you for the welcome and the kind words. I will do my best," Constance nodded.
All joking aside, Justus did agree with Cade's take on settling down for a married life. Maybe someday, but neither young man believed them ready for such a major change in their lives.
Cade brought up the saloon then, why not wander in there and have a quick drink. Justus wanted more than just that though.
"Maybe a dance with a pretty lady...or just a lady..."
"Sure, why not? I hear they got themselves a real nice saloon gal and plus there's hookers too. Might be a bit early in the day for that though," Cade started heading toward the aforementioned building.
Actually he honestly only wanted to stay for a drink then get back, he was not ready to mess around with those sorts of women. Maybe some evening though, he'd give it some thought.
It was a small enough town, and in a couple of minutes the pair of young cowpokes entered the saloon. It was open already but hardly busy. Two oldsters were playing checkers at one table and that was about it. There was a bartender at his expected station behind the long bar and a young blonde woman in a bright red dress with a rather low neckline too.
Apparently the latest customers had interrupted a conversation between those two as the woman now turned to see who entered.
"Well now, come on in. Just close that door behind ya, we like winter to stay outside, boys," she grinned.
"If yer lookin' fer the schoolhouse, it's on the other end of town," she teased.
"Yes, ma'am. Thank you for the welcome and the kind words. I will do my best," Constance nodded.
"Clara will be a good teacher," Emeline assured the girl, "and on occasion you can try new things. After all, everything was new once, and without experimenting and speculation, and I think it would be grand to have some luscious dessert named after the Lickskillet! Oh, and Clara, I'm going to be ordering some new spices from San Francisco, so you can try some new things."
It might be hit and miss, but Clara had the good sense to know what would work and what wouldn't.