• Sunny, some high cumulous clouds
• Temperature: Low 46.5°F; High 64°F (8°C to 17.8°C)
• Wind: Light north wind (1-3 MPH | 2-5 KPH | 1-3 KN)
• Precipitation: None

Valentin and Alafair finished their meal leisurely, discussing the town’s benefits and drawbacks. Father and daughter agreed that Kalispell, on the surface, offered more benefits than drawbacks. If the job market was favorable to Val’s line of work, then settling down finally seemed a possibility. After finishing their meal, paying, and sending their compliments to the chef, Valentin escorted Alafair back to the lobby of the hotel. She was spending the evening taking a bath and then curling up with one of her books.

After seeing his daughter safely at the hotel, Val headed for the Stardust Saloon. He was not a heavy drinker but knew that ordering a good bourbon or three would pave the way for his inquiries. He stopped just inside the doors to allow his eyes to adjust to the light inside before he sought out a table that allowed him to sit facing the doors with the wall at his back. It was an old habit that had saved his bacon more than once. Regretfully, Travis was not amongst the current patrons.

Val leaned back and stretched his long legs out while waiting for one of the serving girls to notice him.

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and other saloon folk or patrons

The new customer did not know it but there were no actual serving girls. Veteran saloon goers to the Star Dust knew to come up to the bar if they wanted a drink. However the place's saloon entertainer did go around and assist customers in getting refills or new requests. So the gentleman had a bit of sitting before Ralph, who had of course noticed his entry but did not know the fellow, nodded with his head toward that table. Caroline was conversing with a regular at the bar but was always alert to Ralph's often less than obvious signals. Her little smile showed him she got the message. Excusing the customer, she then sashayed over to this rather distinguished looking stranger and stopped just short of his table.

"Evenin'. Couldn't help but notice you look all lonely here, sitting by yer lonesome and with no drink either. Folks don't shuffle on in here to our fine establishment just to take a load off their feet. Can I get you something ta drink?'

All said with her best customer service smile, one which could and often did light up a room. Her scandalous low cut bright red dress helped too. She was pretty and she knew it and she took advantage of it every chance she got. All part of the job and one she was very good at.

"Evenin'. Couldn't help but notice you look all lonely here, sitting by yer lonesome and with no drink either. Folks don't shuffle on in here to our fine establishment just to take a load off their feet. Can I get you something ta drink?'

Val looked up at the lovely young woman who had stopped by his table. Her words prompted him to take another look around. Valentin saw most ordering their drinks at the bar before finding a table. Although he knew that every saloon had its method of customer service, his mind had simply been too preoccupied with his quest to take note when he entered.

Touching the brim of his hat in respect, he removed it and laid it within reach on the table, “I am very sorry, Miss. I should have paid more attention to what the service policy was when I came in. I’d like your best bottle of bourbon and a glass of water. And whatever you would like too, of course.” Val’s pleasantly slow southern drawl noticeable with its Cajun lilt as he spoke. Along with his deep, clear baritone voice, it added more of a genteel aspect to his otherwise rather grizzled appearance.

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Touching the brim of his hat in respect, he removed it and laid it within reach on the table, “I am very sorry, Miss. I should have paid more attention to what the service policy was when I came in. I’d like your best bottle of bourbon and a glass of water. And whatever you would like too, of course.” Val’s pleasantly slow southern drawl noticeable with its Cajun lilt as he spoke.

He was new in town, those sorts of things happened. She dismissed his concern with a little wave of her hand in the air, "We don't have a whole lotta policies in this place, mister. Don't worry about it. I got ya now."

She blinked at his order though, "An entire bottle of bourbon? Our best too? I hope you realize that will come to a pretty penny?" What was left unsaid she was going to have see his money first before she brought him the liquor.

"You must plan on doin' a whole lot of drinkin'? Or you expecting some folks to join ya?" she had to ask, a mix of bemused and puzzled.

"Or I'm a very slow drinker and would like to have a bit on hand in my hotel room. After all, as much as I like the looks of this establishment, I can't spend twenty-four hours a day in here," Val offered his most charming grin as his eyes twinkled at her presence. Although young, the girl was lovely and had an air of confidence that he liked.

"Oh, hadn't thought of that, fair enough then," she nodded, she was right though, he was new, living in a hotel.

"By the way, my name is Valentin Caine. You can call me Val."

"Howdy, Mr. Caine. Or Val...I'm Caroline Mundy....Caroline is fine," she smiled.

"Miss Caroline," Val smiled as he drawled out her name, "If allowed, perhaps you could join me for some libation? Your drink of choice, of course. I would like to hear more about Kalispell," he said. I'd also like to see what is known, if anything, about Travis Morgan, Valentin thought

"Oh it's allowed, in fact encouraged. But first........you gotta pay for this expensive best bourbon we got. That'll be $20. A regular bottle a whiskey is only $3 but we gotta get the best stuff from Kentucky and this ain't a railroad town so that means shipping is expensive and takes a long time. We don't buy much," she decided to give him a last chance to back out of this purchase.

"Also no need to throw in the Miss, makes me sound like a school marm. Caroline is just fine," she assured him.

"Caroline it is, then," Val replied while fishing out the requested money amount and handing it to her, "keep the extra for yourself."

The saloon girl took the money, he had given her more than twenty dollars, generous of him. She nodded, "Thank ya, be right back then, hon."

Once up at the bar Caroline handed over the cash to Ralph, "Gimme one of our good bourbons, the whole bottle."

"Whole bottle huh?" Ralph then shrugged and disappeared in the back for a moment before emerging with a labeled bottle of fine Kentucky bourbon, they didn't sell this stuff much due to the expense. No one had ever purchased a whole bottle.

Caroline had two shot glasses by now and gave Ralph a bemused look, "This one must be a swell."

"Yeah, never saw him before," Ralph nodded.

"He's new to town, southern born what with his accent, I'm guessing," she placed both shotglasses and the bottle on a small tray.

And then she sashayed on back to the newcomer, setting the tray down in front of him and slipping into a chair at the table.

"Here ya are, hon. Unopened and all yers. And if you don't mind none, I'd like a shot of it too. Haven't had that quality stuff in quite a while," she smiled.

Valentin started rising to his feet to see Caroline seated, but she beat him to the punch. He took the bottle, cracked the seal, and opened it, inhaling the fragrance of fine old Kentucky bourbon. "I'd be happy to share," he replied and poured a bit into each glass, waiting for her nod to add a more generous amount to her glass before filling his own, and setting the bottle aside.

"Thank ya," the blonde nodded.

He raised his glass and tipped it toward Caroline in a gesture of respect and a toast, "To pleasant company, good bourbon, and hopefully a new life in a good town. Anything I should know about this place and the town before my daughter and I get heartset on settling down here?"

Caroline raised the glass, gave him a big smile, "Here's to ya." Then took a sip, it was as good as she remembered it. Meant to be savored not gulped.

"Oh so yer planning on livin' here then? That's a mighty big question though. I think it's a nice enough place. I've enjoyed my stay here. Town's growing. Once the railroad finally gets here, it should get a whole lot bigger, faster. Most folk are real nice here at least in town. There's a ranch I'd stay away from, Evergreen spread. We got us some decent law here but nothin's perfect. Had three unsolved murders past few months. Probably same person did all three. The victims got strangled. Two hookers and an old codger."

"Before I go on, if you was to stay, what sort of business you in? Or were in? Any specific plans for here?"  she turned the question back on him.

...JP continued in next post.

"Oh so yer planning on livin' here then? That's a mighty big question though. I think it's a nice enough place. I've enjoyed my stay here. Town's growing. Once the railroad finally gets here, it should get a whole lot bigger, faster. Most folk are real nice here at least in town. There's a ranch I'd stay away from, Evergreen spread. We got us some decent law here but nothin's perfect. Had three unsolved murders past few months. Probably same person did all three. The victims got strangled. Two hookers and an old codger."

"Before I go on, if you was to stay, what sort of business you in? Or were in? Any specific plans for here?"  she turned the question back on him.

Caine took a sip of the bourbon, almost purring as he swirled the whiskey around his mouth and let it trickle down his throat. It was early to be drinking for him, but he was tired from the journey and felt a little libation wouldn't hurt. Two key bits of information from Caroline spiked his interest: the railroad coming to town and the Evergreen ranch. As far as Evergreen went, he had heard of the Steelgraves, although he had never crossed paths with them. Primarily, the information came from speculation about Case Steelgrave's involvement in gunfights and deaths that came to his attention. There was never enough evidence against the man to allow arrests and charges. 

The arrival of a rail line in Kalispell was more interesting. Usually, when a railroad arrives, so do new people. Along with the new people came an uptick in crime. This meant that the possibility of employment with the local or county law offices was also more likely.

Val turned his steel blue eyes to Caroline. "Law enforcement and small-scale subsistence farming," he replied to her question. There was no need to go into detail on his various past occupations. Not yet, anyway. "Figured I'd head over to the marshal's office in the morning. See if there was any chance he's hiring."

Caroline gave a hearty laugh, "Small scale subsistence farming? You kidding me now? You don't wear clothes like that, stay in the swell hotel, and buy expensive bottles of bourbon off subsistence farming."

"And lawman salaries ain't all that great either," she added.

"I will say that it's pretty common knowledge in town the marshal and his most experienced deputy want to devote more time to their mines and ranches. Yeah, both of them found themselves profitable silver and copper deposits. Strange ain't it?"

"Now I ain't sayin' they're crooked, I like'em both but awful damn coincidental wouldn't ya say?" she smiled then took another sip of the bourbon.

Val chuckled a bit at Caroline's first observation regarding his clothing. He nodded, "No, Miss Caroline, you got me there. My daughter and I do the farming just for our vegetables and the like, and because we enjoy it. We sold our family property and put any inheritance from my parents into trusts for the future. We're not hurtin' none for money, but we like to live off our honest wages as much as possible."

"Got it," Caroline nodded.

Caine sighed quietly, "I'll be careful when talkin' to the Marshal about a job. If he doesn't feel right to me, then I'll keep looking for something else to do."

"Oh don't let me scare ya off. The marshal is actually very easy to talk to. Serious about his job but friendly enough. Why when he arrested me one time, he was quite the gentleman and fair too. I think you two will get along just fine," Caroline asserted with her usual confidence.

Val lifted an eyebrow at Caroline's mention of having been arrested before, but he felt it was too soon in their potential friendship to ask for details. Perhaps in time, she'd think that she could confide in him. "More good information."

"I look forward to meeting the Marshal. Anyone special I should be wary of or on the lookout for as a concern where my daughter's concerned? She's nineteen, but can be naive about people sometimes."

"Well, same bunch as I said before, wouldn't let any Evergreeners get within a mile of her if you know what I mean. A couple of 'em assaulted Mrs. Lutz and that Straub gal, the waitress at the diner right on the boardwalk of Main Street in broad daylight. Ended up as a shootout and both those bastards won't ever do it again, small loss," Caroline explained.

"Then too, we've had two women strangled ...oh and an old man too..by some unknown person. So don't let her go out by herself I'd say," she added.

Val frowned slightly at Caroline's last revelation. He was not worried about Alafair during daylight hours. She was cautious of strangers and also able to defend herself. Like Val, she carried a knife or two on her person and a derringer in her handbag. The girl was tough, but he would make sure to tell her not to wander the town alone at night.

"Sorry to hear about the deaths," Val replied solemnly, restraining his urge to cross himself. On the plus side, the prospects of employment in law enforcement were looking up. "I do have another question for you. Do you know a Travis Morgan? I need to find him...no ill intent, I promise. I have some news for him from back home that I'd rather he hear from me than a stranger."

"I knew the women. No one deserves to die like that, hope they catch the murderer," Carolyn declared with a sigh.

"Travis Morgan? Why yes I do. Met him just recently. He was one of those in the shootout on Main Street but on the side of them helping the two ladies. He was in for a drink or two also. Seems like a decent sort," she didn't hesitate with her answer.

"He was lookin' for a place ta stay too so I advised the local boarding house. Hotel is for swells," right after she said Carolyn realized this gentleman and his daughter were staying at that hotel but she was not much of one for apologizing or taking things back once uttered.

"Anyhow don't know where he ended up. But my guess he is still around, otherwise why get a boarding house room. Tell ya what, if he shows up again, I will give him your name and that yer lookin' for him," she offered.

"I'd really appreciate that, Caroline," Val said, slanting a smile of gratitude her way. "Just some things you need to hear from a friend and not a stranger." He had not reacted to her comment about "swells". No sense in being offended, especially since, in some ways, she was right. He had grown up privileged and tried to give that to his daughter as well.

Holding up the bottle, Valentine asked, "Would you like a refill?"

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Caroline now offered to let this Morgan fellow know that Val was looking to talk with him, in fact she was glad to be a help.

"I'd really appreciate that, Caroline," Val said, slanting a smile of gratitude her way. "Just some things you need to hear from a friend and not a stranger."

"Oh, that's fine, none of my business anyhow I'm sure," Caroline had no intention of prying.

Holding up the bottle, Valentine asked, "Would you like a refill?"

"Actually I shouldn't, I got me a long shift ta go yet tonight. But then I don't get much of a chance to drink the really good stuff like this," she mentally argued with herself as she spoke.

"So, yeah I'll take another shot, thank ya!" she pushed her empty glass toward him.

Val poured both of them liberal shots and set the bottle aside, "Here's to good luck with finding employment and getting settled here in Kalispell. I've asked quite a few questions about things here. Anything you want to know?" His logic as that most saloon girls received lots of information, some unintentionally, from their clientele. In some instances they passed on what they learned. Might as well see about getting some positive information out and about about the Caines.

"Anything I wanna know bout you?" Caroline was surprised, most folk did not invite people to learn more about them.

"Well, I know you come from the south...and you got yerself a daughter traveling with you. Since no one else was mentioned, I take it that is your entire family as of now?"

"Oh, and not that it matters but you fight in the war? South I suppose. Me, I'm a dyed in the wool Yankee, born in Chicago. President Lincoln, God rest his soul, came from my state. Ralph fought in the Union cavalry. He is...was a New Yorker."

Val winked and grinned, "What makes you think I come from the South, sha?" He let the Cajun lilt shine through, especially when he used the Cajun French version of chérie, meaning darling or dear. "Yes, Caroline, I was born and raised in Port Cameron, Louisiana...at the mouth of the Sabine River. Family owned a sugar cane plantation. My father freed all of the plantation's slaves after the death of his father. Many of them stayed on as paid hands."

Caine paused for a moment and gave his head a shake, "I couldn't, in good conscience, join the Union Army. That felt like a betrayal of my state and my people in the parish where I lived. At the same time, I couldn't fight for the Confederacy either. I did not then and do not now believe in slavery although I know there were other factors contributing to the War Between the States. Instead, I patrolled the river, dealt in some low-level intelligence exchanges and supplies."

"You are also correct regarding my family. Alafair and I are all that's left of the Duquesnes of Rose Haven. We even legally took the last name of Caine as an emblem of starting over. Hestia, my wife, may God rest her soul, passed in '72. My parents both died during the war years."

Val paused and raised his glass in a toast and took a long sip, trying to ease the memories of his past, especially the horrible death of his wife at the hands of the River Rats and the violation of his daughter. He enjoyed a couple more drinks with the lovely young woman before saying his good nights, taking the remains of the bottle and heading for the hotel. He was quite satisfied with the contacts and information he'd acquired so far. Not to mention the potential friendship with the lovely Caroline.