"Work is fine for killin' time, but it's a shaky way to make a living."
"Whatever it was, I'm just glad it wasn't me," Ben replied, his voice relaying the relief of having been spared another question and answer session from Arabella.
Even though he felt sorry for McVay, he had to admit that Arabella had made a good point about Miss Cutts doing a good job on the newspaperman's face and hair. If she did just as well on his own hair and face, then there might be an opportunity begging to be plucked. However, two good haircuts and shaves didn't mean a thing unless there was at least one or two others who could vouch for her expertise. Having someone in Kalispell who could give decent haircuts might be someone worth investing in.
Needing to find out more about her working relationship with Chubby, he smiled, "Er...Miss Cutts may I ask if you intend working here on a regular basis?"
@ [Javia]
@ [Flip
"My God!" He blurted out, "What just happened?"
Sally laughed "You just got yourself a Sally Cutts Haircut, Mr McVey - all the girls will be wanting to give you a kiss now!"
She knew that probably wasn't it, Miss Mudd just liked kissing people, - well, she presumed. After all, whenever she went to her hotel room to do her hair for her, and whenever Miss Kaufmann wasn't there, Arabella was always trying to give her kisses. She didn't mind, it was all just innocent fun, of course.
"Whatever it was, I'm just glad it wasn't me," Ben replied, his voice relaying the relief of having been spared another question and answer session from Arabella.
Sally thought Mr Simons was probably just jealous, because he didn't get a kiss, but she refrained from saying so.
Needing to find out more about her working relationship with Chubby, he smiled, "Er...Miss Cutts may I ask if you intend working here on a regular basis?"
"Oooh! I hope so. If Mr Cox will let me, it's just perfect for doing my ladies' hair."
"Hey, my pleasure Sal!" Chubby cooed, sitting back in one of the waiting chairs reading his newspaper, kindly allowing the girl to carry on doing his job for him. Pity she couldn't play the piano for him in a saloon for him as well, then life really would be peachy!
"I don't really work here, though, Mr Simon, it's called hiring a chair. I just give Mr Cox a percentage of what I make on a job to pay for using his facilities." Sally explained to Ben.
"I wouldn't take it but she insists." Chubby commented from behind his paper.
"I always pay my way!" Sally declared with a prim but not unpleasant little smile.
That reminded Chubby, he put down his paper, "So, let's see, shave and a haircut, 2 bits each plus another for the hot towel treatment for Mr McVey." he calculated.
@[Flip] JulieS
"Every town needs a newspaper."
"I don't really work here, though, Mr Simon, it's called hiring a chair. I just give Mr Cox a percentage of what I make on a job to pay for using his facilities." Sally explained to Ben.
"You know, I'd heard of that, and I believe that's a good idea, both for the shop owner and the person using the facilities," Phin said meaning what he said, and the idea was refreshing to him.
"I wouldn't take it but she insists." Chubby commented from behind his paper.
"I always pay my way!" Sally declared with a prim but not unpleasant little smile.
"As well she should! And bravo to you young lady. Bravo." Pin agreed. "Paying one's way, why that's the American way. Although I seriously doubt we have sole ownership of the phrase. And Chubby, by taking that percentage you are fortifying her resolve as an independent businesswoman!"
That reminded Chubby, he put down his paper, "So, let's see, shave and a haircut, 2 bits each plus another for the hot towel treatment for Mr McVey." he calculated.
"Seventy-five cents. Fair price my good man. And to the lady, a tip." Phin fished out three quarters which he dropped into Chubby's hand, then produced a silver dollar from his vest pocket and handed it to Sally Cutts. "Oh yes, before I forget, Chubby, I won't be able to make opening night at the theater, but perhaps you and a friend might make use of them?" He smiled as he handed the tickets he pulled from his pocket to the barber. "My apologies Mister Simons."
@Javia, @JulieS
"Work is fine for killin' time, but it's a shaky way to make a living."
"I don't really work here, though, Mr Simon, it's called hiring a chair. I just give Mr Cox a percentage of what I make on a job to pay for using his facilities." Sally explained to Ben.
Ben nodded as he listened to Sally's explanation. He barely heard Chubby's response as his mind started churning about the possibility of the woman opening her own shop. With backing from him and a twenty-five or thirty percent cut, he could make some money from this venture. Miss Cutts also stood to make a lot more than she would from just hiring a chair in what essentially was a gentleman's domain.
In fact, he had just the place for it...a small cottage he had won in a poker game just recently. The place needed a bit of fixing up but it would be more than suitable since it was located in the residential area of town not far the main street of town. However, to make it viable, he needed to promote Miss Cutt's talents and that would take someone who had some influence with the other ladies in town.
"Seventy-five cents. Fair price my good man. And to the lady, a tip." Phin fished out three quarters which he dropped into Chubby's hand, then produced a silver dollar from his vest pocket and handed it to Sally Cutts. "Oh yes, before I forget, Chubby, I won't be able to make opening night at the theater, but perhaps you and a friend might make use of them?" He smiled as he handed the tickets he pulled from his pocket to the barber. "My apologies Mister Simons."
"Er...Mister McVey, not much I can do about it now is there," Ben said, "Go ahead, Chubby...enjoy the show and don't forget to tell others about it."
The free tickets didn't matter now since he had more pressing business to discuss, "Miss Cutts, my aunt sometimes needs some help styling her hair. If I were to arrange a meeting with her, would you be interested in attending to her coiffure?"
@ [Javia] @ [Flip
Chubby Cox might have been a little lazy, though probably no more lazy than any other man of his age and girth, but he was not mean, and he liked Miss Cutts in an avuncular way.
"Well Sal, much as I'd enjoy seeing Miss Mudd prancing around in that there costumery in front of the staid denizens of Kalispell..." he nodded toward Arabella in her Salome outfit, now taking pride of place on the barbershop wall, above the big mirror. "I don't think big fat old fellow like me's a very enticing prospect for theatre date for a pretty young Miss like yourself. 'Sides, I'll be busy playing the piano in the saloon that night and collecting up the pots fer you!"
Sally paused her snipping at Mr Simons' hair "Ooh, yes, I hadn't thought about that - I should be working at the same time the show'll be on"
"Well, I'll take care of that" Chubby assured her "... if you take care of finding a young gentleman to take you."
"Well, there is one boy I'm kinda sweet on..." the girl went a little pink, but her shyness about the matter was easily overwhelmed by her excitement at the prospect and she blurted out "... it's CADE BRODIE!!" then she immediately clapped her hand over her mouth.
Chubby puffed out his chubby cheeks; the last time he'd seen that young scallywag, he'd been walking out of the saloon with a prostitute on his arm.
"Hmm, well, yeah, I guess he's all right, but he'll probably be busy on the ranch. Er, how about Hector Wigfall..."
Sally made a 'blech!' sound
"... or Charlie Wentworth... now there's a fine handsome well set up young fellow, educated too, good job, Deputy Marshall..."
Sally shrugged "Kinda slow"
Chubby rolled his eyes. No pleasing some girls.
"... I'd love to arrange his mother's hair, though" she smiled at Mr Simons in the mirror.
"Every town needs a newspaper."
Phin had to chuckle at Chubby and his initial reasons for not attending the theater to see Arabella on opening night, and he certainly had no desire to take the tickets back either. But then the job at the saloon, which was steady, and the man was willing to work two jobs, more power to him!
And then came the young Miss Cutts' realization she too would be at the Saloon working, but Chubby gladly offered to take on her chores so that she might go, providing she found a suitable escort. Again, Phin was delighted to be surprised at the man's thoughtfulness.
"Well, there is one boy I'm kinda sweet on..." the girl went a little pink, but her shyness about the matter was easily overwhelmed by her excitement at the prospect and she blurted out "... it's CADE BRODIE!!" then she immediately clapped her hand over her mouth.
Phin saw Chubbie's reaction to the name, now he knew very little about Brodie and certainly not enough to second the recommendation, but he enjoyed Miss Cutts' own reaction.
"Can't say as I know the young man, but I believe he came up with the Pike's and their herd. Doubt he'd be for taking on a no-account drifter." Phin admitted. "The man is not the type to just take on trouble, not with his expectant wife along. Makes no sense, but, as I said, I don't know him well enough to endorse his character one or 'tuther."
"Hmm, well, yeah, I guess he's all right, but he'll probably be busy on the ranch. Er, how about Hector Wigfall..."
Sally made a 'blech!' sound.
Again Phin almost burst out laughing, but poor Hector was having a time of it with the local ladies, those of his age group.
"... or Charlie Wentworth... now there's a fine handsome well set up young fellow, educated too, good job, Deputy Marshall..."
Sally shrugged "Kinda slow"
Phin grinned as he shook his head. "Not sure about his being slow, but he's a solid young fella with a steady job, learning from Guyer and Pike, might end up County Sheriff, or maybe Town Marshal when Guyer steps down." He shook his head, "Just my opinion you understand."
"Work is fine for killin' time, but it's a shaky way to make a living."
"... I'd love to arrange his mother's hair, though" she smiled at Mr Simons in the mirror.
Ben smiled, "Well then, I shall arrange a time with her and let you know."
For the rest of the time, there wasn't much conversation. When Sally had finished, Ben thanked her for doing such a good job and paid Chubby the seventy-five cents price. He also gave Sally a silver dollar.
After taking his hat off the rack, he looked at Sally and bowed slightly, "Thank you, once again Miss Cutts and I hope you enjoy the rest of your day."
He acknowledged Chubby on his way out of the door before heading off to his Aunt Rebecca's home. It wouldn't be too hard to convince her to give Sally a go. Hopefully, she would did a great job on his Aunt's hair which would garner a glowing recommendation. If that happened, then all he would have to do was to talk Sally into opening her own saloon with him as her silent partner. Seeing what Chubby had to offer her in return wasn't much, he wouldn't have any problems in doing so but if he did then he would just have to think of something else. The opportunity to own what would be a thriving business was too good to miss.
(OCC: I think this would be a good place to finish unless Javia or Flip need to add anything else)
Miss Cutts could only gasp at the magnitude of the tip that Mister Simons pressed into her hands.
After taking his hat off the rack, he looked at Sally and bowed slightly, "Thank you, once again Miss Cutts and I hope you enjoy the rest of your day."
"I will now!!" declared Sally, staring open mouthed at the shiny coin in her hand.
What with that and the theatre tickets, this was shaping up to be one of the best days of her life!
"Every town needs a newspaper."
"Well, if it's the Brodie lad that then youi picked winner. Hear tell he rates pretty high with the boys out on the Rockin' P spread. You know, my brother Logan rides for them, came up with the herd out of Texas." Phin said with pride. "Well, been an enteraining morning folks, good to see you again Mister Simmons. Show sounds mighty exciting!
"Chubby, Miss Cutts, see you up to the Stardust one of these evenings real soon. I'll be on my way." the publisher said as he made his way to the door and exiting. he was in a good mood, a trip to Chubbies barber shop was always good for the moral, not that his was low.