Well, one thing Constance had learned quickly about this new town and territory for that matter, it was a whole more cold than her native Ohio. Her father hadn't mentioned that part. Oh he told her that the frontier could be a challenge, life was rougher out there but she should regard it less as an obstacle to her new life than a challenge. Yes, he could say that sitting by a toasty fireplace in his elegant home. No matter, it was too late now for regrets. She would not miss him anyhow. Now her sisters, yes, why she thought about them every day. As for her brother, well her thoughts about him were much more bitter. They'd never been close even as children. He blamed her, she blamed him.
The young woman walked briskly down what passed for main street boardwalk of this ........Kalispell. Must be some Indian name.That reminded her, this was the very territory where General Custer and his entire army got massacred by Indians earlier in the year. Hopefully the savages did not attack towns. It helped she had saw the army fort outside of town during her stage ride in. On second thought, Custer and his men were the army, did not help them much. Best not even think about such things.
There were not many out, no doubt the weather, but one or two of her fellow pedestrians nodded to her, probably wondering who she was. Small towns like this, everyone knew everyone. Except of course, strangers, like her. She nodded back but said nothing. No idea of what to say. A sudden gust of wind blew some tiny snow flakes into her face and almost separated her hat from her head. She was not looking forward to the rest of this winter. Who in their right mind even wanted to live here?
Still, it wasn't all bad. Her Uncle Joseph was much easier going than her father. Being a widower, he had room in that house of his for her. She even had her own bedroom for Joseph's daughter was gone and married. Wisely she moved back east someplace. Her uncle was a disabled veteran of the War between the States, his leg mangled by a cannonball. So he didn't have much money but her father had agreed to pay him a stipend to house Constance, least til she could 'get on her own feet and make a life for herself', Father's words again. He made it sound so easy. And this coming from a man who inherited a very profitable business from his father.
She circled around though to the good again. She had at least found a job. Waitress in the local diner. Owned and run by women too. How often did that happen? The owner didn't even live in town anymore, but out on a ranch with her rich husband. Good for her, marry into money, wise move by her, thought Constance. The younger woman, younger than Constance she was sure of it, lived upstairs of the diner. She seemed a bit dour, maybe even stern but so far so good in the few days she'd spent there. The lady had an adorable baby girl, Constance even offered to babysit for the infant at times if needed. Constance was the oldest girl in her family and had cared for her youngest sister when she was a baby. So she liked to think she knew babies.
All these thoughts were suddenly interrupted when stepping off the boardwalk to cross the street, her one shoe failed to gain traction on what turned out to be a thin coating of ice. Down she went hitting the ice hard and breaking thru it to feel very cold water! So much for dignity and now she was not just cold but wet too! It was all she had to do to not just scream out in frustration as she struggled to get to her feet before her dress soaked up yet more water.
Then to top it all off, some bundled up boy, early teens probably, stood there looking at her from a few feet away, still on the boardwalk and laughing.
"That was clumsy alright!" he chortled. But he made no move to help her.
I took an oath for this job. The oath says bring him in. That's what I'll do.
It was just another day of patrolling the streets and helping anybody who needed it. He didn't mind that he was doing this kind of work as he was glad not to have the full responsibility of being the town's only lawman for those few months that Speed and Pike had been out of action. There was still a lot to learn and he was glad to have to very capable men to show him what to do and now that they were back he was very much the junior partner, something he didn't mind one bit.
Stepping out of the General Store, Charlie heard the distinct sound of laughter coming from Archie Baldwin, a kid around 13 years of age. Dobie had told him once that Archie's laugh sounded like a donkey and Charlie had to agree. It wasn't his first time dealing with Archie either as the kid had a predilection for making fun of others' misfortunes and failing to help when needed.
Turning to see who it was this time, Charlie saw that it was a woman and he moved carefully to help her, as he didn't want to end up in the same predicament. When he reached the woman, he held out his hands, "Ma'am, if you will allow me."
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Constance so wanted to snap at that chortling kid with a few choice insults but it would be her luck he was the brat of some important townsperson and then she would have that to deal with on top of all her other issues. Besides, the important thing was to get up as fast as she could on this slippery surface. But somebody else now towered above her.
He was an adult at least, a young man and quite willing to assist her. As for Archie as soon as he caught on this was the town deputy, his enjoyment ceased, his eyes went wide, and he raced off like he was being chased by a bear.
The gentleman, for that is what he was, held out his hands, "Ma'am, if you will allow me."
"Why thank you, I certainly will," she nodded, first taking a brief second to just adjust her hat back onto her head after it had been jarred by the fall. Least it hadn't fallen into the water or mud of the street.
She then held up both hands and his grip was firm and secure as he easily pulled her up onto her feet once more. Even standing now she smiled up at him for he was a good head taller than her.
"Thank you! I see gallantry is not yet dead out on the frontier," she declared forcefully.
I took an oath for this job. The oath says bring him in. That's what I'll do.
Charlie smiled, "No, ma'am it isn't...although you might find it a little hard to find in some quarters."
He looked around to see the woman had dropped any packages. Seeing that were none, he turned his attention back to her, "I hope you didn't hurt yourself as the ground can be very unforgiving this time of year. If need be, I can show you the way to Doc Danforth's office."
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Charlie smiled, "No, ma'am it isn't...although you might find it a little hard to find in some quarters."
Constance nodded, "You mean like that brat."
"I hope you didn't hurt yourself as the ground can be very unforgiving this time of year. If need be, I can show you the way to Doc Danforth's office," the young man offered.
"Oh goodness, no thank you. I cannot afford a doctor but I truly believe I am fine. Mostly just embarrassment," she refused his offer.
"I will need to change though. Luckily I was not on my way to work. I shall have to go back to my uncle's home, it's where I'm staying currently. Joseph Straub, you may know of him," she explained, after all this was a small town so quite likely.
I took an oath for this job. The oath says bring him in. That's what I'll do.
"So, you're his niece," Charlie replied, "From the way he described you, I thought you would be much older. However, in a way I'm glad you aren't as you're one of the prettiest girls I've seen in quite a while."
In a way he was just being nice to her but in a way she was as he had just said. The last girl who had taken his fancy had turned out to be a bit of a loose cannon taking up with the first fellow who had showered her with fancy words. He would have done the same eventually, but in his mind Clara was far too young to be married and now she was a mother. It was such a waste as she had no chance to do the things she should have been doing.
Whatever the romantic feelings he had had for Clara were mostly gone as he had accepted the fact that she was now a lost cause. Sometimes he felt like sorry for Jacob Lutz who now had the hard task of keeping Clara happy. Maybe he did dodge a bullet after all.
Looking at the young woman standing in front of him, something made him think that it might be interesting to get to know her better but this time he would not assume anything.
Smiling, he offered Constance his arm, "I hope you don't mind if I escort you to your uncle's place and make sure you get home in one piece. I would hate to hear that you had fallen again due to some delayed reaction because of this fall."
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"So, you're his niece," Charlie replied, "From the way he described you, I thought you would be much older. However, in a way I'm glad you aren't as you're one of the prettiest girls I've seen in quite a while."
Constance blinked, what had his uncle been saying about her? And then he gave her quite the compliment! A part of her was suspicious about that - well unless the town had an awful lot of ugly young ladies? She never thought of herself as any great beauty but it was nice to hear someone thought so - if he wasn't just buttering up. She would take him at his word for now.
"Why thank you! Ladies do not reveal their real ages of course," she smiled, "But my uncle makes me sound like some old spinster. He shall get a stern lecture tonight at the supper table." There was no anger in her voice though, more bemusement.
Smiling, he offered Constance his arm, "I hope you don't mind if I escort you to your uncle's place and make sure you get home in one piece. I would hate to hear that you had fallen again due to some delayed reaction because of this fall."
She took up his offer without hesitation, well he was a lawman after all. One could trust those, right?
"Thank you again but honestly, I am not worried I'm going to have a delayed reaction. Nothing even hurts...except my pride," she declared.
"You know, if that boy ever comes into the diner though, something is going to accidentally be spilled right in his lap," she then grinned, "One can't get arrested out here for such a thing? Can one?"
"So, how long have you been an officer of the law. Speaking of ages, you look a bit young for the job....not that I'm sure you aren't very good at what you do of course," she really was curious.
I took an oath for this job. The oath says bring him in. That's what I'll do.
"You know, if that boy ever comes into the diner though, something is going to accidentally be spilled right in his lap," she then grinned, "One can't get arrested out here for such a thing? Can one?"
The diner? So, she worked for Clara...no wonder he hadn't noticed her before. He rarely went to the Lick Skillet for meals as every time he ran into Clara it would up wind in some sort of disagreement. Besides, Clara and some others had never taken him that seriously as a lawman and in a way he couldn't blame them. It would take time to gain the experience and authority that Speed and Pike had and he was prepared to do whatever he had to do to succeed.
"No. One can't get arrested for such a thing but I wouldn't worry about it. I think that boy, Archie Baldwin does deserve a quick clip around the ears sometimes."
"So, how long have you been an officer of the law. Speaking of ages, you look a bit young for the job....not that I'm sure you aren't very good at what you do of course," she really was curious.
"I've only been an officer of the law for about six months and yes I probably am a bit young for the job. However, for now I'm at the bottom of the ladder as I have a lot to learn but one day I won't be so young and I will be grateful to have the experience to back me up."
A playful smile appeared on his face, "Besides, being a deputy allows me more time to meet pretty girls like you. Which reminds me, I haven't properly introduced myself. My name is Charlie Wentworth. Who do have the honour of helping today?"
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He confirmed it, she wouldn't be arrested for such a petty revenge but the question hadn't actually been a serious one anyhow. However, though Constance had taken an instant dislike of that boy.She had asked him a more serious question though, he seemed quite young for a deputy. He explained it without hesitation. Interesting and it did make sense too, he had started young and now he would pick up a lot of knowledge working for and with more experienced lawmen. Almost like an apprentice.
"Well, I do wish you the best, hope you make sheriff or marshal or something," Constance commented.
A playful smile appeared on his face, "Besides, being a deputy allows me more time to meet pretty girls like you. Which reminds me, I haven't properly introduced myself. My name is Charlie Wentworth. Who do have the honour of helping today?"
"Ahh, so you've met a lot of pretty girls then?" she smiled back at him.
"Nice to meet you Charlie Wentworth, I'm Constance Straub. Fresh off the stagecoach and I've been fortunate enough to be hired on as a waitress and kitchen help at the Lick Skillet. Owned and run by women, how about that?"
I took an oath for this job. The oath says bring him in. That's what I'll do.
"Yeah...how about that," Charlie replied in a matter-of-fact tone. Even though women owning businesses wasn't too much out of the ordinary, one that was run and employed by women only was. As it was not his place to make any judgements, he had no real qualms about it. However, there might be trouble if some of the Evergreen hands decided to flex their muscles and make some in a place with no men around to protect it.
For now, the winter weather was preventing too much of anything happening with regards to the Evergreen and Lost Lake feud. When the spring came, it would be a different story. Matt was already working with the town council and Speed about the possibility of making Kalispell some sort of neutral territory along with other ideas in order to protect the town from the incoming storm.
Thankfully, that storm was at least two months away and besides he had more pleasurable things to do. "It's an honour to meet you Miss Straub. I hope you find Kalispell to your liking."
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