It was nearing lunch time when Justus finally drove into town, the team of Mrs. Pike's Morgans high-stepping with pride, and drawing attention. He was just getting used to the animals, they were different to drive than the draft horses that pulled the utilitarian wagons, and needed a different touch. But he loved these horses, they were elegant and refined, and he understood why Mrs. Pike loved them so much.
The rain had finally let up during the night, and although the roads were still muddy, the day was shaping up to be nice, good for a ride, and he didn't mind his task at all.
Pulling up to the Lickskillet, he hopped down from the buggy then stepped inside the diner, his hat in his hands as he waited to be noticed.
Justus soon got noticed all right.
A crotchety looking old lady who was sitting at a table with a young, pretty woman with dark red frizzly hair, peered over at the lad. There was something about his gormless attitude which seemed to annoy her.
"Hey you!" she barked at him.
"Yes, you, cowboy-joe, what'cha standing there like a statue fer?! Why don't you sit down and wait for the lady to serve you, you're making the place look untidy."
The young woman gasped a little "Oh Granny!" and then looked up at the young man with big kind eyes.
"I'm sorry, you'll have to excuse my Grandmother, she's..."
"Don't apologise fer me!" snapped the old biddy, peering at Justus "Well, what you waitin' fer?! Who are ya anyway, not one of them Evergreen hands are ya? I'm warning you, I carry a revolver!"
Poor Leonora Lutz looked several shades of mortified while Granny Miggins rooted around in her big carpet bag muttering "... got it in here someplace..."
"Hey you!" she barked at him.
"Me?" What could the old crone want with him? Justus frowned, wondering who she was, and why she had that pretty girl with her.
"Yes, you, cowboy-joe, what'cha standing there like a statue fer?! Why don't you sit down and wait for the lady to serve you, you're making the place look untidy."
"Untidy?" What did that even mean? And besides, even if he was here to eat, he'd wait to be shown to a table, after all, this was a cafe, not a saloon! He could see that the young woman was mortified, and he managed to relax and smile. After all, what could they do to him, besides draw unwanted attention?
The young woman gasped a little "Oh Granny!" and then looked up at the young man with big kind eyes.
"I'm sorry, you'll have to excuse my Grandmother, she's..."
"I don't mind..." He didn't have a lot of experience with old people, except for Muley, so he reckoned they were just naturally crabby, right? But then, a female was a female...
"Don't apologise fer me!" snapped the old biddy, peering at Justus "Well, what you waitin' fer?! Who are ya anyway, not one of them Evergreen hands are ya? I'm warning you, I carry a revolver!"
"Oh, no, Ma'am...Miss..." Shaking his head earnestly, Justus smiled. "I'm from th' Rockin' P, Mr. Pike's place."
Poor Leonora Lutz looked several shades of mortified while Granny Miggins rooted around in her big carpet bag muttering "... got it in here someplace..."
"Oh, now, no need fer that, Miss. I don't mean any harm ta you nor yer sister there..." A little flattery, right?
"Smokey! Sic em, boy, sic em!"
“Did you hear that Granny? He’s from the new place Mister and Mrs Pike have built! You remember? The Rocking P.”
“Eh? What's that, Rock and Pea? That's a pretty stupid name fer a ranch! Now, where'd I put that repeater?”
"Oh, now, no need fer that, Miss. I don't mean any harm ta you nor yer sister there..." A little flattery, right?
“What’s that? Sister?! He he, well sonny, you must be either blind or some kind o' smooth-tongued rascal” It was starting to sink in that this wasn’t one of Steelgrave’s horrible hired guns, but a worker for one of those smaller ranches that were starting to ally against him in a sort of defensive pact.
“Well, that’s all right then son, why didn’t ya say so?!” she demanded, peering up at the lad.
“How is Emeline, anyway? She had that baby yet? I was thinking to get my farm hand to take me out there, she’ll be due pretty soon and the first one's always the worst. Don’t imagine you or any of them other cowpunchers got much experience of birthin’ anything but calves, hm?”
Constance now emerged from the back carrying two plates of food, moving directly to Granny and Lenora with them. Constance really didn't know either of them but the old woman had been crabby from the get go. As a waitress, Constance just had to endure it and went about her job duties.
Now she spotted none other than Justus standing there and in a conversation with the old crone and her daughter. Had Justus just said 'sister'? Was he blind?
Middle of conversation or not, her job was to provide the customers with their food so moved right on up and set the appropriate plates down in front of each woman.
"Good day, Justus! Would you care for a table? Or can I get you something? Or both?" she smiled at the tall young cowboy.
“Well, that’s all right then son, why didn’t ya say so?!” she demanded, peering up at the lad.
Whew! The tactic had worked, at least to some degree, and the granny was easing up, and no longer seemed bent on putting extra holes in him! "Sorry, Miss." He gave her a cheeky smile.
“How is Emeline, anyway? She had that baby yet? I was thinking to get my farm hand to take me out there, she’ll be due pretty soon and the first one's always the worst. Don’t imagine you or any of them other cowpunchers got much experience of birthin’ anything but calves, hm?”
"Oh, well, I have assisted a few cows." Mostly, cows just had their babies and carried on. And he was here to break the news to Mrs. Lutz, and didn't want to tell anyone else first. Fortunately, he was saved by Constance. He broke into a smile as she approached.
"Good day, Justus! Would you care for a table? Or can I get you something? Or both?"
"I need ta speak with Mrs. Lutz, if that's all right, Miss Constance. Then I'll likely have a bite." That depended on what Mrs. Lutz had to say.
He glanced back at Granny and her charge. "It's a true honor ta meet ya ladies, an' I'm glad I ain't from that Evergreen place. Not heard a good word about it."
"Oh, well, I have assisted a few cows." Mostly, cows just had their babies and carried on.
“Eh? What’d he call me?”
“No, cows Granny, the gentleman has helped some cows give birth” Leonora shouted quite loudly.
The old woman nodded sadly “Oh yes, they can get in distress, or die even, when they’re calving. I know that, you don’t need to tell me, those poor little lemmies trottin’ around without no Mammy, all pot bellied with no milk. Just like you, Lee.”
Leonora hoped she meant the bit about being an orphan not being pot bellied.
“Now, what about Mrs Pike?!” Granny was still sharp as a pin, even if she was a bit deaf, she hadn’t forgotten her previous question “What’s up, young feller, cat got ya tongue?”
Leonora looked up at Justus and mouthed a Sorry and smiled at him sympathetically. Just then, the waitress appeared and talked to the rough and ready but handsome young man, Lee’s heart sank a little as his eyes lit up.
"Good day, Justus! Would you care for a table? Or can I get you something? Or both?"
"I need ta speak with Mrs. Lutz, if that's all right, Miss Constance. Then I'll likely have a bite." That depended on what Mrs. Lutz had to say.
He glanced back at Granny and her charge. "It's a true honor ta meet ya ladies, an' I'm glad I ain't from that Evergreen place. Not heard a good word about it."
Leonora gave him another encouraging smile and Granny just said “Eh?”
"Good day, Justus! Would you care for a table? Or can I get you something? Or both?"
"I need ta speak with Mrs. Lutz, if that's all right, Miss Constance. Then I'll likely have a bite."
"Oh, of course. Come on back with me then," Constance smiled back at him.
He glanced back at Granny and her charge."It's a true honor ta meet ya ladies, an' I'm glad I ain't from that Evergreen place. Not heard a good word about it."
Leonora gave him another encouraging smile and Granny just said “Eh?”
Constance faced the old bat...errr. woman and lowered her head so that when she spoke she was closer, that always had worked for her grandmother.
"Your food is here, ma'am. I will be back to see if you need anything in a few minutes," she spoke each word clearly at a measured pace.
And then she waved Justus to follow her.
Once in the back kitchen, Constance addressed her employer, "Excuse me, ma'am, but Mr. Gibbs here requested to speak with you. I can watch that beefsteak so you can concentrate on your conversation."
Clara had turned and saw that cowpoke who had been here a few days before, nice young man and it had been so obvious her waitress thought so too. But if he was here to speak with her, it could only be one thing!
"Did Mrs. Pike have her baby?" was her immediate question.
With a smile and a nod to the pretty girl and her granny, Justus followed behind Constance, hoping he might have a chance to visit with her a bit, although it was pretty busy, all the more reason he hoped to have a chance to get something to eat.
"Mrs. Lutz." Justus gave Clara a nod. "Yes, ma'am, last night, she had a little baby boy." His grin widened with pride. "Named him Wheeler, an' she an' Mr. Pike are right proud. Mrs. Pike said ta tell ya if ya want ta close up fer a few days an' come visit, she'd like that."
He had instructions to stay and wait if Clara decided she wanted a ride back out to the ranch, and he knew he might have to wait a time, so he could certainly have some pie or something!
"Mrs. Lutz." Justus gave Clara a nod. "Yes, ma'am, last night, she had a little baby boy."
Now that brought a genuine smile to the oft dour Clara who also clapped aloud, "Oh, marvelous news indeed!
His grin widened with pride. "Named him Wheeler, an' she an' Mr. Pike are right proud. Mrs. Pike said ta tell ya if ya want ta close up fer a few days an' come visit, she'd like that."
"Wheeler? Can't say I much care for the name but it is their child after all," the always opinionated woman responded but then addressed his main point.
"Of course I will do just that, either that or keep it open," Clara now looked to Constance.
"Would you want to try to run the place, I already know you are a fine waitress but yes, the cooking might be an issue. Well, you could always put up a limited menu of things you would be confident you can handle?"
Constance blinked, that came out of nowhere, "I suppose I can try. Although if my meals are not quality, might you not lose customers? I would not want that to happen."
Clara now snapped her fingers, "I do have an idea. What if I can get you someone to help with the cooking? I can ask her at least. Or, if you feel it is so too much for you, dear, I do understand. I can close it for a few days."
"No, ma'am, if you can get me someone to help with the food, I am perfectly willing to keep it open," Constance assured her.
"Capital!" Clara was satisfied.
"You can go back and tell Mrs.Pike, I shall get there as soon as I can. I will be bringing little Emeline though, I am confident Mrs.Pike will not mind," Clara now told Justus.