"Can't say as I'm fond'a bein' up too high," Justus commented, "an' seems like that life is dangerous enough without puttin' yerself in peril just for entertainment." Maybe those circus people needed to punch cows for a bit to get that death-wish out of their systems in a more productive way!
"I've heard it said th' railroad was comin'. Would make gettin' them ta market easier'n havin' ta drive 'em all over th' territory." Heck, they could have the herd to town in a day, and that would be that! "An' if th' circus ever does come ta town, I'd be pleased ta take ya. Well, unless Miss Mudd's gonna be performin', or whatever she calls it!"
"Can't say as I'm fond'a bein' up too high," Justus commented, "an' seems like that life is dangerous enough without puttin' yerself in peril just for entertainment."
Constance nodded, "Oh I am with you on that one too. You'd never get me up there."
"I've heard it said th' railroad was comin'. Would make gettin' them ta market easier'n havin' ta drive 'em all over th' territory."
"Nothing definite, just rumors so far I think," she shrugged, "But yes, I can see where you cowpokes would have an easier job of it."
Justus continued, "An' if th' circus ever does come ta town, I'd be pleased ta take ya. Well, unless Miss Mudd's gonna be performin', or whatever she calls it!"
She'd go with him in a heartbeat too but then he brought up Arabella.
"You really don't much care for her it seems? I thought she did a fine job in the play. Yes, quite bold, her lack of ...garb. I suppose I am not easily shocked."
"I reckon if she's happy doin' that sort'a thing, an' don't have no yearn ta have a family," Justus observed. "Man wants a good, steady gal, not one that'll..."
As that was coming out, Justus was realizing that it probably wasn't so good to say aloud, and he wondered frantically how he could backtrack. Fortunately, something caught his eye and he pulled Mule to a stop.
"Look there," he whispered in Constance's ear, pointing through the trees, where a mama moose and her baby were grazing amid the trees.
"I reckon if she's happy doin' that sort'a thing, an' don't have no yearn ta have a family," Justus observed. "Man wants a good, steady gal, not one that'll..."
He stopped then so Constance took a shot at finishing the thought, "not one that'll take her clothes off in public?"
But Justus was distracted.
"Look there," he whispered in Constance's ear, pointing through the trees, where a mama moose and her baby were grazing amid the trees.
Constance's eyes went toward where he meant and ..............oh goodness!
"Gosh, amazing. The baby is so cute," she beamed a smile.
"Mama won't charge us, will she?"
This picnic could quickly turn into a disaster!
"Nah, I don't think so." But then, Justus really had no experience with mooses, and thought that they were probably sort of like cows, stupid and innocuous, not that he knew if you could rope or milk one, and not that he had any inclination to try.
"'Course, most mama animals are pretty fierce when it comes ta protectin' their babies, so so long's we don't mess with her little one, I think we'll be all right."
As he spoke softly, the cow moose looked their way, her ears pricked forward, but then she dropped her head and started ambling deeper into the trees, her calf moving awkwardly beside her.
"It's funny how th' calves try ta walk on their wobbly legs, but I reckon they can't just lay there all helpless fer too long." He shrugged and nudged Mule forward again. "Ya know, I don't think that folks back in Texas'd believe it if ya described a moose to 'em. 'Specially as big as they are. Wonder if they have 'em in th' circus where Lady Godiva lives?"
Justus didn't seem concerned the moose would take offense to their presence, so Constance relaxed a bit, but she still did not take her eyes off the impressive creatures.
As he spoke softly, the cow moose looked their way, her ears pricked forward, but then she dropped her head and started ambling deeper into the trees, her calf moving awkwardly beside her.
"Hope it wasn't something we said," Constance quipped with a smile, in a way sad to see the animals disappear, it had been quite the sight to see.
It's funny how th' calves try ta walk on their wobbly legs, but I reckon they can't just lay there all helpless fer too long." He shrugged and nudged Mule forward again.
"Nature makes them that way otherwise predators would gobble them up," Constance figured.
"Ya know, I don't think that folks back in Texas'd believe it if ya described a moose to 'em. 'Specially as big as they are. Wonder if they have 'em in th' circus where Lady Godiva lives?"
Constance blinked. Really?
"No, don't think they have moose in England and besides, Lady Godiva lived back in the medieval times, centuries ago. Though for all I know, those folks may have had circuses traveling about," she answered, a bit amazed he still hadn't grasped that Lady Godiva was long gone and she had just mentioned the woman as a statue.
"Well, now, I don't suppose as all these oddities are new? So why wouldn't some intrepid man trap some an' take 'em back ta...what was it? Convent?" He shrugged, his tone serious, although he was sitting behind her, where she couldn't see him smirking. "An' don't go askin'," he raised his voice to a high pitch to imitate her, "How'd they get somethin' that big all th' way ta Covent?" He shook his head. "I been ta church, an' I heard'a Noah, so they'd just use a real big boat!"
Of course, he knew that was absurd, but it was too good a chance to pass up teasing poor Constance.
"Well, now, I don't suppose as all these oddities are new? So why wouldn't some intrepid man trap some an' take 'em back ta...what was it? Convent?"
"Coventry and you saying someone who take a moose back to England?" Constance was incredulous.
"An' don't go askin'," he raised his voice to a high pitch to imitate her, "How'd they get somethin' that big all th' way ta Covent?"
Constance frowned, "I do not sound like that."
He shook his head. "I been ta church, an' I heard'a Noah, so they'd just use a real big boat!"
"Noah had an ark. But you simply can't be serious. Are you making fun of me, Mr. Gibbs?"
"Me?" Justus pulled Mule to a stop. "Ya hear that, Mule? Gal's sayin' I'm makin' fun'a her! Maybe we should just let her walk?"
The horse tossed his head and Justus laughed. "Well, seems like th' ol cayuse likes ya." They started moving again. "He thinks I'm joshin' ya, too! Don't reckon as a moose is any different from a lion or elephant, an' there's those here in circuses, right? An' they had ta get here somehow."
He honestly couldn't imagine how they'd get any large animal, even a tame one like a horse, on a ship, and keep it there for weeks on end...and trying to do that with a wild beast, even if it was caged...
"Don't reckon a moose'd be as excitin' as a lion or elephant no how, so best ta leave 'em alone." He sighed, then added, "'Less ya wanna try'n catch one fer a pet?"
Me?" Justus pulled Mule to a stop. "Ya hear that, Mule? Gal's sayin' I'm makin' fun'a her! Maybe we should just let her walk?"
"If you do, good sir, I will have completely misjudged your character. I took you for a gentleman," Constanced huffed in fake anger.
Of course, the cowboy made no move to get her off the horse and they moved on, Justus talking of circuses some more.
"Yes, I believe even in medieval times, they had circuses. Their arrivals at towns and such would be a highlight to what was often a dreary life for most folks," she gave her opinion.
"Don't reckon a moose'd be as excitin' as a lion or elephant no how, so best ta leave 'em alone." He sighed, then added, "'Less ya wanna try'n catch one fer a pet?"
"You obviously have not seen my room and also I don't think my uncle, however kindly he is, would approve of that in the house," grinned Constance.
"Besides, I couldn't catch any wild animal, I would rely on an expert with animals...like say a cowboy to rope it and catch it for me. Would you do that for me if I asked...nicely?""