Constance didn't get it, "WHO all really likes me?"

Justus had dug into the pie for his first forkful and declared, "This is real good, just like I remember from here!" 

"Good to hear it. But nothing's changed really. Mrs. Lutz makes the pies all the time. I had nothing to do with it but serving 'em," she smiled.

"Coffee's good, too." 

She just refrained from blurting out 'you haven't even tried it'. No, best not say it, customer seems happy, that's a good thing.

"Yeah, they like sugar cubes, too, an' Mule likes lemon drops an' pepermints, too." Grinning, he finally looked at her. "Me, too!"

"Lemon drops and peppermints huh? Discerning tastes for that horse but hate to disappoint you both - we don't have either here in the diner" she gave a shrug.

"Oh wait!  You might tell Mule to try the General Store," she grinned.

Justus was good, he just kept going with this outlandish bit about good ol' Mule, the horse. Constance was chuckling, he actually had a nice sense of humor plus dead pan delivery.

"He might be lazy as you said, but that is otherwise quite the horse!" she declared.

"Surprised he hasn't solved that lack of pockets issue though," she raised one eyebrow.

"I must admit I am getting quite excited about this whole horsemanship lessons bit. A smart as a whip but also gentle horse to ride on and plus a handsome young cowboy to instruct me," she snuck that last part in there. Yeah, she knew how to flirt alright. Life wasn't all work, no play.

"I must admit I am getting quite excited about this whole horsemanship lessons bit. A smart as a whip but also gentle horse to ride on and plus a handsome young cowboy to instruct me,"Constance declared.

Justus looked at her sharply. "What! Ya already got someone else ta take ya ridin'?" He shook his head and sighed. "Well, reckon I can still let ya use ol' Mule, so I don't gotta worry 'bout ya. Hope ya have a good time."

He was joking, right? It was such a deadpan convincing performance Constance wasn't exactly sure.

"No, of course not! I meant YOU, you silly goose," she then gave a playful swat on his upper arm, but certainly nothing hard enough to knock the pie plate out of his grasp.

Just then Clara came out the back and gave the pair of them a look that mingled surprise and annoyance.

"Excuse me but....Miss Straub, I believe I am paying you to wait on tables and such. Not bully the customers."

Constance stepped away from Justus, faced her employer and nodded obediently, "Yes, ma'am, I will go check to see if anyone has need of me."

Before scurrying back in there, she glanced at the cowboy, "Good day to you, Mr. Gibbs."

And she was back inside the building. Clara was now looking at the cowpoke, with a plate of mostly eaten pie and coffee too.

"I trust you paid for that?" she asked in that blunt no-nonsense fashion of hers.

"You, too, Miss Constance." Justus felt a bit awkward. "She wasn't bullying me, ma'am," he muttered, shrugging.

"She hit you," Clara retorted matter of factly.

Then coldly asked if he had paid for that pie and coffee, she knew full well he had not.

"Yes, Ma'am, I will." He certainly did look chastened, thought Clara, her point accomplished.

"Pie's real good, better'n Cookie makes." He grinned. "An' almost as good as Miz Pike, when she makes some. She's not doin' as much cookin' these days...baby should be along any time now."

"I am well aware of Mrs.Pike's condition, we remain very close," Clara nodded, it annoyed her, just a little, that he said 'almost as good'. But she would never diss Emeline just to defend herself.

Then suddenly she decided to drop the whole act, she felt it had gone on enough for entertainment purposes.

"Of course the pie is free as is the coffee. I was just kidding," she smiled, something that normally did not come easily for her.

"And you fell for it," that was a bit of a gloat.

"Some folks tell me I need to lighten up and cultivate a sense of humor...so I am trying," she now explained.

"Feel free to have a second cup too if you wish," she added.

ooc:  Sorry, missed this one after coming back from my convention trip.

Clara had revealed she hadn't been serious about charging for the pie and coffee, it had all been an attempt on her part for a joke of sorts.

"Yeah, yeah, I did!" At that, Justus had to laugh, "Ya got me good!"

Then it worked, Clara was pleased with her new 'comical' side. He complimented her on the joke.

"Feel free to have a second cup too if you wish," she added.

"Thank ya, I think I might. It's a long way back to th' ranch. Sure was lucky of me ta come across Mr. Pike's herd on th' trail. Been th' best thing about that's happened fer me." He smiled. "Think I'm gonna like it just fine here in Kalispell."

"Good to hear it. The town is growing all the time. Ranches too, other than Evergreen, I have found most cowboys to be a fine group of gentlemen," Clara declared.

"Oh and do not fret about Constance. I will let her in on my joke, she is not in any sort of trouble. She is doing a fine job here."