Valentin Caine, formerly Valentin Duquesne, reigned in his big black and white paint stallion at the edge of the town's main street. Beside him, his daughter reigned in her blood bay gelding. Sharp, steely blue eyes gazed down the street, noting that the town was considerably larger than he'd pictured it in his head. It was also more populated and active. That boded well for getting work as a lawman and as a social outlet for his nineteen-year-old daughter, Alafair.
"Boarding house or hotel?" Alafair asked her father, a hopeful note in her voice.
"Hotel. We need the amenities. I feel like I have a ton of trail dust to wash off me," Val replied, his deep baritone voice adamant and assured.
"You sure we can afford that place, Papa?" Alafair's dark eyes showed her doubt clearly.
"We can afford it," Val assured her.
In agreement, they set heels to their horse's flanks and headed toward the edifice labeled as the Belle-St. Regis Hotel. Dismounting, they looped their reins over the hitching post. Entering the lobby, Val paused again to take in the hotel's high-end fittings. It was indeed nicer than the last place they'd stayed in Anaconda at the south end of Flathead Lake. Nodding at a seat in the lobby, he indicated that Alafair should hang back as he headed toward the hotel lobby's desk.
Leaning against the desk, he looked for someone to assist him. Finally, he cleared his throat and said, "Need a suite or couple of rooms for me and my daughter. Want some of the nicer digs you got here."
Tags: Open
Walter had been busy sorting out the day's mail (as well trying to guess what each envelope or package had in them) and hadn't noticed the latest strangers in town.
"Need a suite or couple of rooms for me and my daughter. Want some of the nicer digs you got here."
Putting down the mail, Walter turned to see where the voice had come from. The man was big...maybe even a shade or two bigger than his employer. Going up to the desk, Walter addressed the man. "Good day sir. We have rooms 16 and 17 available. Room 17 has a large double bed and 17 has a single bed. Both are near the bathrooms but if you wish we can send a tub and water to your room for an extra price."
@ [Stormwolfe
"Everybody can feather their nest, but it's not just anybody that can lay an egg!"
"Oh, don't let them give you 17!" a loud, young, female voice yelped, as a short, slim pale creature in dark purple appeared at Val's side.
Alafair would have recognised the dress as being a pretty fair local rendition of the latest fashions back East, with tight lines and swept-back skirts forming a 'fish-tail' that had a tendency to drag along the floor behind the bustled backside. All right in a fancy hotel like this, but a nightmare for any lady who had to descend to walking along a dusty Western boardwalk.
The 'woman' inside the dress was something else again. On close inspection it was clear that the girl was even younger than Alafair; her pale as death skin accentuated by raven black hair and blue eyes. A year on the stage had taken the rough edges off the child's nasal, flat western Virginian accent, but it was still clear when she spoke that she was the same basic Clinch Mountain white trash, emulsified with the merest veneer of highfalutin sophistication.
"They put me and Mrs Nightingale in there when we first arrived and there was the most dreadful draught!" she told the new arrival in town, ignoring poor Mr Simpson "Of course, I got buried in snow once when a house collapsed over me, and nearly died, so I feel the cold something terrible. Oh, I'm sorry, please allow me to introduce myself: I'm the noted actress, Arabella Sumter Mudd, Miss, Ingénue of the Excelsior Theatre, Kalispell." She held out her hand, palm downward, as if the slip of a girl expected the massively tall man to kiss it or something.
Then her gaze drifted past him to where her attention had been all along, if truth be told.
"Oh! What a very beautiful young woman!" she said, as if startled by Alafair's presence there. She glanced quickly up at Caine and than back to the waiflike vision "Your daughter, I suppose - the family resemblance is most arresting."
Val ignored the vision in purple briefly to address the desk clerk politely. His Southern drawl, a mix of Texan and South Louisiana, was evident in his deep voice: "We'll take the rooms and pay extra for the private baths, sir."
He glanced down at the young woman and tugged at his hat as a gesture of politeness although he did not remove it. He took her hand, not to kiss it, but in a surprisingly warm and gentle clasp to shake it lightly, "Pleasure to meet you, Miss Mudd. Sorry to hear of your past troubles. I don't mind the drafts, but I appreciate the information."
Alafair, seated not too far away stood and walked over. She had been listening to the conversations, prepared for trouble. She smiled although her dark eyes still held more than a hint of wariness. "I will gladly take the single bed, Papa." When she said "Papa" she emphasized the first syllable rather than the common pronunciation of "Poppa" in some regions.
Caine turned back to the clerk to pay for the rooms and inquire about room service or a nearby diner that would not mind their trail dusty appearance. Alafair left her father to attend to business and directed her gaze to the girl. "Thank you for the warning, Miss Mudd. I am Alafair Caine from Port Cameron, Louisiana. My father and I have some business in town." Alafair's voice was a pleasant alto in range and contained a lighter version of Val's blend of a Louisiana Cajun lilt and Texas drawl. Most of her Swiss education was fading which suited her just fine.
Walter rolled his eyes when Arabella made her appearance. After Caine had finished talking to his daughter he had turned his attention back to signing in and asking about somewhere to have dinner.
"Contrary to what Miss Mudd says, the rooms here have no drafts. She tends to over dramatise almost everything...you'll get used to her ways if you stay long enough," he said in a voice loud enough only for Caine to hear.
"As for meals, we have a restaurant here, which contrary to popular opinion does have some affordable meals. However, if you are looking for a more simpler fare, there's the Lick Skillet."
Not knowing what else he could say, he smiled, "If you wish to know what other services we have available or would like help with anything, you can enquire here. Our manager Mister Kurt Albrecht or I will be happy to help make your stay as pleasant as possible."
@ [Stormwolfe]
@ [Javia
"Everybody can feather their nest, but it's not just anybody that can lay an egg!"
"Thank you for the warning, Miss Mudd. I am Alafair Caine from Port Cameron, Louisiana. My father and I have some business in town."
Arabella tipped her head and looked the other young woman up and down in frank appraisal. She seemed to approve.
"Alafair? Oh what a beautiful name! Is that French? Louisiana you say? Why, course, I had a cousin Buford Mudd, he was from Jefferson County, round about Kenner way; he was a Louisiana Tiger, but he got his head blown off at First Manassas and was never the same since. Oh! Talking of heads, you should put your head in the door of the nice little dress store we got in town here, Mr Pettigrew who runs the place is from your neck of the woods, his family had a plantation up somewhere near Beaumont, I think, and he was in New Orleans during the War and do you know what? He was the first gentleman to challenge Beast Butler to a duel! I get all my dresses from him. Course, I can't afford them, but he lets me wear them up and down the town to sort of advertise them. Pretty splendid, huh?"
She realised that she hadn't let the other girl get a word in edgewise.
"Oh, how I do run on, Miss Caine, what must you think of me?" she chuckled, looking not a bit ashamed, really, of rattling on in what was, after all, her usual fashion.
@[Stromwolfe]
Alafair tilted her head slightly as she tried to process the other girl's torrent of words. Truly, she was not flustered by it. There had been girls in Switzerland who chattered on in their native language regardless of who else might be trying to follow the conversation. She was quite used to that sort of thing. Not to mention Great Aunt Griselda. She often changed subjects in the middle of a sentence.
She attempted to address Miss Mudd's statements while keeping an ear open for her father to complete their business.
Smiling, Alafair started at the beginning, the compliment the other girl had given on her name. "It is French, sort of. My mother's family name was d'Alafaire. Jefferson Parish is across the southern portion of the state from where our family lived. I have been there though, just for short visits."
In response to Arabella's comments about her dress, Alafair's smile widened, "Your gown is quite lovely. Perhaps we could go shopping one day? That is if Papa and I are staying for any length of time. Otherwise, I need to keep my luggage light and to only what's needed on the trail."
"Your name is quite lovely too," Alafair concluded. "I have a long-dead grandparent that was named Annabelle. But, I do not think I have ever heard of Arabella before. A first for both of us, yes?"
Tags:
Javia
Valentin tuned out the chatter of the two girls. Truthfully, he was glad someone was willing to engage with Alafair. His daughter often presented a stand-offish, aloof, and somewhat haughty demeanor that discouraged all but the most determined folks, especially girls her age, from seeking her company. Maybe it would be different here. He hoped so.
Walter rolled his eyes when Arabella made her appearance. After Caine had finished talking to his daughter he had turned his attention back to signing in and asking about somewhere to have dinner.
"Contrary to what Miss Mudd says, the rooms here have no drafts. She tends to over dramatise almost everything...you'll get used to her ways if you stay long enough," he said in a voice loud enough only for Caine to hear.
"As for meals, we have a restaurant here, which contrary to popular opinion does have some affordable meals. However, if you are looking for a more simpler fare, there's the Lick Skillet."
Not knowing what else he could say, he smiled, "If you wish to know what other services we have available or would like help with anything, you can enquire here. Our manager Mister Kurt Albrecht or I will be happy to help make your stay as pleasant as possible."
"We really appreciate your assistance, sir," Valentin said graciously, offering a nod and knowing smile in response to the desk clerk's comments regarding Miss Arabella Mudd. "Before we go, I am searching for a friend...a good friend...that may have ridden this way in the last couple of months or so. Mr. Travis Morgan, may even have reported himself as William Travis Morgan. I have some urgent news for him. If he checks in, please tell him Val Caine is searching for him."
Walter nodded, "There was a Morgan, who stayed with us for a few days. Don't know where he is now but if he returns, I will be sure to give him your message."
Taking the room keys off the peg board, Walter handed them over to Caine, "I hope you enjoy your stay and once again, if there anything you require, please let us know."
Tags:
"Everybody can feather their nest, but it's not just anybody that can lay an egg!"
Smiling, Alafair started at the beginning, the compliment the other girl had given on her name. "It is French, sort of. My mother's family name was d'Alafaire. Jefferson Parish is across the southern portion of the state from where our family lived. I have been there though, just for short visits."
D’Alafaire sounded so fancy! The actress wondered if she should start calling herself d’Arabella, but it didn’t sound right… sounded like a case of German Measles or something. Oh no, that was Rubella.
In response to Arabella's comments about her dress, Alafair's smile widened, "Your gown is quite lovely. Perhaps we could go shopping one day? That is if Papa and I are staying for any length of time. Otherwise, I need to keep my luggage light and to only what's needed on the trail."
“Oooh, let’s! Mr. Pettigrew is such an old dear, he’s bound to want to do something special for a fellow Louisianan.” Arabella gushed.
"Your name is quite lovely too," Alafair concluded. "I have a long-dead grandparent that was named Annabelle. But, I do not think I have ever heard of Arabella before. A first for both of us, yes?"
“Oh it’s all right I suppose. I think the prettiness of a girl’s name should match the prettiness of her face, don’t you? I mean Alafair is a beautiful name and so are you…” she explained, matter-of-factly “… Arabella’s serviceable, and so’s my face – I just have to act prettier when I’m on stage, is all. But I've got a friend called Jemima, and guess what: pretty name, ugly face. And about the prettiest girl in town’s got a real ugly name: Anæsthesia.”
She’d gone off on a tangent again.
“Still, Miss Anæsthesia Orr’ll have a run for a money if you’re in town long: we should call on her and give her a fright. You’ve got a certain something that she hasn’t, I don’t know what, bu… oh, that’s it! Brown eyes! Sumptuous brown eyes and beautiful blonde hair, that’s such an unusual combination! I bet you’ve got young gentlemen up and down the Territories falling at your feet, Miss Alafair Caine” she grinned mischievously.
Arabella glanced over at enormous, tough-looking figure of Valentin.
“… or maybe not. I imagine it’d be a pretty brave man who’d ask your Pa for permission to take you for a ‘stroll in the gloaming neath the lone pine tree’!”
Valentin concluded his business with the desk clerk and walked over to where the girls were chatting. Once again he touched the brim of his black Stetson as a gesture of respect to the young women, politely waiting for their conversation to conclude.
Alafair responded to Arabella, "I have a slightly different point of view on names. I believe a person's name carries great power. Besides, I think you are quite pretty, and one's spirit should represent the person, not their looks. It is wisely said, Do not judge a book by its cover."
Smiling, Alafair extended a tiny hand to gently touch Arabella's arm. The girl was a tad odd and her conversation tended to ramble and go off on tangents, but Alafair sensed a genuine and gentle spirit within. "Papa and I need to go clean up a bit and get settled in our rooms. I do hope we are in town long enough for us to meet up again." This last statement was as honest as Alafair ever was upon first meeting. It was very rare for young women in her age range to make an effort to engage her in conversation, let alone friendship.
Valentin took his daughter's arm and slipped her their room keys, "I'll get our gear. Miss Arabella, it was a pleasure to make your acquaintance. If our business keeps us in town, perhaps we'll meet up again."
Tags: @[Javia]
OOC: JulieS
- I forgot that Val asked Walter about Travis Morgan. If you don't mind editing his response into that post above, we can JP that last little bit before he moves on out.