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Post by Raynesleigh on May 27, 2012 22:12:31 GMT -5
Paradise, Texas 1870
"Mr. Keith, I just want you to know how good it is to have you taking over as a stablemaster. As your duties will also include herding the cattle and patrolling the fences, you will get paid the most. You will be held the most responsible if anything goes wrong," Edward Addison, owner of The Circle A ranch was saying as he showed his newest man around. The man was tall and in his mid-fifties. A veteran of the Great Rebellion where he had fought for the Union Army alongside Ulsysses Grant. He had even been at the surrendering at Appotomox Courthouse. That had been a mere six years ago. His little girl had been only eleven at the time of his return and now she was close to turning eighteen, about old enough to marry Peterson's boy. The Peterson family owned the second largest ranch in all of Paradise and if his daughter Roxanne married the Peterson boy then it would make his ranch wealthier as well as that of the Petersons.
"You'll sleep in the ranchhand house but you will report to me. If my daughter wishes to go out riding, you will be the one to escort her. It's a solid job and you came with the highest recommendations from your previous employers." He smiled and then led him into the main house. "As being part of the few in an authoritative position, you get to eat with my wife, daughter, myself and my son Dustin. Dustin will be helping you with the authority as well as myself..." he said giving a smirk and then hearing the running of feet upstairs and laughs and giggles. The house was a large one with three stories, tin roof and stone floors on the bottom floor and polished wood on the upper floors. It had servants, an adjoining kitchen and salt shack.
Dining room, breakfast nook, parlor, music room, five bedrooms and two outhouses made up the main house. it was more room than most but this house had been ten years in the making. Even as he had been in the service.
The footsteps came down and his daughter came into view rough housing with his son Dustin.
"Ah! Dustin! Don't you dare tickle me," she laughed and then came to a stop at the top step and started downstairs. Roxanne was a pretty girl of seventeen, her skin a little colored from the sun, dark chocolate hair and eyes that her daddy had always called lavender sprigs. She smiled at her father and then looked at the man beside him. "You must be...Mr. Keith. Daddy's been expecting you for a while," she smiled, dressed in a blouse and high red skirt. Her dark hair made up in a way that was fashionable but also practical with the longer strands clipped up off her neck and a thick coil of hair over her shoulder. When loose it was far to long to be fashionable, but she loved it long.
-----
Deputy Richard Harrison stopped his horse outside the new linen shop in downtown Paradise, tying his horse to the post. He was a handsome man of twenty-six with hair a mixture of gold and brown with swarthy skin and blue eyes that most ladies went crazy for. He had normally any pick of woman he wanted but was getting to old for playing the field. Or so his mother said. God love the woman but he wasn't ready for the old ball and chain just yet.
Stepping into the linen shop, he looked around, tipping his stetson back and then scratching his jaw. God forbid his mother go without her sampler fabric but he just knew nothing about this sort of thing. His mother was definitely lucky he loved her.
"Well hell," he muttered, lifting a piece of pink fabric up before dropping it and then going to the counter, and ringing the bell. The linen shop was a new one, bought up by some widow from the East who had come here to start anew. As most people did when they moved to the west. While most ladies wouldn't dare think of running a business, it seemed whoever this woman was, she had no qualms about being her own boss. He rang the bell again and whistled softly, lifting a few trinkets in the basket on the counter. Buttons of different shapes and sizes as well as thimbles selling for three to the penny. He dropped them back in the basket and then sighed, leaning against the counter. Wishing the woman would hurry up.
"Is anyone back there?" he called out toward the back, wondering if the woman was here. But the sign had said open.
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Post by anjelrocker on May 28, 2012 10:57:08 GMT -5
It was a good job and he was lucky to have such a job when he had been hired in Knoxville, Tennessee a few months before. He had had a lot to do before he had come all the way out here by coach since there was no railway yet. Malcolm was almost twenty five years old and had been in the Civil War on the side of the Confederacy; he had only been a boy and did not even know what he had been fighting for. Now, he knew what he had been fighting and it was nothing to do with his beliefs... he had fought so a bunch of rich plantation owners did not have to pay their slaves. Young men and many of his school friends as a boy had died and out of his little town in the smoky mountains, only about ten boys survived out of fifty or so that had gone. Brothers, sons, fathers, husbands... dead and gone for nothing... to say the least, he was a bitter man and a quiet one at that.
However, he was a hard worker and because of that he got this job. Nodding slowly, Malcolm looked up to the young girl... he supposed that she would be a woman soon but to him, she was just the owner's daughter and he had to think that way. "Yes, I am afraid that I had some business in Tennessee before coming to Texas..." He explained looking to both the young woman and the boy; the son must have been about ten or eleven years old. He would be dining with them this evening and then he would be starting his work on the Monday since tomorrow was the Sunday.
"It will be a pleasure to work for you, Mr. Addison." He stated hoping that he could make some money and then save it before looking into buying his own ranch on one of the government homesteads that they were handing out. Looking up at the young woman, he thought it would be nice to get established and then perhaps, he could settle down and have a wife and some children as well.
---
It had taken a lot to get this place up and running as well as established since she had arrived a few months before and had bought the business from the elderly man who was moving to California to live with his daughter. However, Veronica had her own shop with the money that she had stole from the brothel that she had been forced to work in since she was thirteen in Georgia. She had been sold when her father had died in the war and her mother had not the money to keep her fed and clothed. She had remembered that her mother had kissed her cheek and said, 'Forgive me...' before she had left the kicking and screaming Veronica. She had been used as a maid until that night when a Union soldier had pointed to her saying that he wanted her instead of the whore that he was with.
And the Madame had allowed it; Veronica did not like to think about that. All she knew was that she was far enough away that no one would ever know her past. "I'm here..." She said with a bundle of linens in her arms as she left the backroom to see the handsome man with a star on his shirt. Most likely a self appointed Sheriff since it seemed to be lawless out here but it was better than her former hell. "What can I do you for, Sheriff?" She asked in a calm and collected voice, her red hair was pulled back in a bun but a few curls were escaping from her proper look. It was to fool people, high collars and long blouses... she was a proper lady now. Not longer a whore...
Veronica would never go back to that, she rather be hanged.
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Post by Raynesleigh on May 28, 2012 12:13:31 GMT -5
"Supper's almost ready and you are welcome to join us for dinner if you want Mr. Keith. My wife is one of the finest cooks around. As is our housekeeper Ellie," Mr. Addison said and then looked to his children. "Roxanne, Dustin, you two go wash up. John Peterson will be coming to dinner as well," he said. That caused Roxanne to frown as Dustin skirted past and went into the kitchen. She bit her bottom lip and then sighed before turning and walking into the kitchen to wash up. She glanced at Mr. Keith and her father before walking into the room. Ever since she could remember, living here in Texas, her father had been wanting to get her involved with John Peterson. He was in his mid-twenties now, handsome enough she supposed and their next door neighbor. He was also a rather perverted person and a jerk. Plain and simple. A truly boorish person who had the charms of a snake. He had her father on his side as he vouched for her but she did not like him one bit.
Entering the kitchen, she pumped some water into the sink and washed her hands next to her brother as her mother helped the housekeeper Ellie with the finishing touches on dinner. Ellie was a black woman who had been part of the family as long as Roxanne could remember. She was an older woman now, in her fifties or sixties with a way of talking that was charming. She had been a runaway slave and her mother had decided to give her a job instead of having her returned to her master. Her daddy hadn't been to keen about his wife's decision but he hadn't said so. Her daddy was a good man, but sometimes, his heart just was not in the right place.
"What's for dinner Miss Ellie?" she asked curiously, wiping her hands on the towel before looking at the array of food. Fried chicken, mashed potatos, onion gravy, corn, jerky. It made her mouth water.
"Oh jus' da usual Roxy," she said then smiled. "Now whys doncha take some a dat food and bring it to da table," she suggested. Roxanne smiled. She was the only one that called her Roxy. Her dad said it made her sound like she was a tart but Roxanne liked it. She walked with Ellie and her mother to the dining table just as John Peterson walked in the door, giving a smile to her mother and herself. Roxanne kept herself busy ignoring his presence and helped set the table, going back to the pitchers of lemonade.
"Roxanne...you haven't said hello to John," her father said as she re-entered. She looked at her father and then her suitor though her father considered them as good as married.
"Mr. Peterson," she said simply then straightened her skirts and moved around, pouring lemonade.
-----
He waas shocked by the sight of the pretty redhead. She looked about the same age as himself, if not a little younger but only a little. And her eyes held the weight of the world in them. As if she had seen more than she should of. As though she had not been protected and sheltered as a proper woman would be. He gave a smile either way, his most charming before standing up straight. "Well...My momma sent me up here to your shop. She's wanting me to get her some sampler fabric. The problem is...well, I'm a man and I don't know what to get for her. She said a square yard of sampler fabric. Well...four square yards so it'll last her a few weeks. Her feet don't let her go far these days so she spends most of the day working on needlework...So if you have any idea on what to get?" he asked then chuckled.
"I'm a bit of a mess when it comes to sewing. I don't know what I'm going to do when she's gone. I won't have anyone to mend my shirts," he chuckled and then looked at the fabrics, seeing two different types of fabric. Cotton and linen. Both in white. Or so he guessed. They were two different textures. He sighed hopelessly then looked at her, leaning against the counter. "So...could a fine lady such as yourself be able to help me at all?" he asked, giving her a wink, hoping he looked as charming as most women said he was. His mother said he had never met a woman to resist him yet except herself. That much was true. But who knew when he might meet the woman that did resist him. He would be certain then that she was the one. After all, it meant he could give chase. ANd it would be nice to chase a girl for once instead of them chasing him. He was a romantic and as the saying went, opposites attract.
"Oh and I'm not Sheriff. That right is reserved to my boss. I am however, his only deputy. But Paradise isn't to big or to active with crime," he smiled, cocking his hat back and looking at her smiling.
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Post by anjelrocker on May 28, 2012 14:05:25 GMT -5
Malcolm was in the ranch hand house as he was washing for the dinner that he had been invited to, he had talked to a few of the other ranch hands, they were of all nationalities. A few irish, blacks, italian among others. As for the dinner, he did not want to arrive looking and smelling like he had been on a coach and riding a horse for the last week. Washing his face, as well as changing his shirt, he was at good as he was ever going to be. Waving to the other stablehands, he was going to have to earn their respect as a leader. He had been sargaret of his company when the other had died, saving the lives of a few movie who would have been dead otherwise.
Entering the main house, he took his stetson off and put it on the hat rack before being welcome into the home by the hostess. Mrs. Addison was the older version of her daughter with the same pretty eyes and long black hair that was in a different style then her daughter's with a streak of grey. She was all smiles but he could see in her eyes that it did not quite reach there. "Welcome Mr. Keith... quite chilly out there, it will be boiling in the summer but for now, the days are nice." She said as she welcomed him into the house before offering him a drink of lemonade, which he accepted before showing him to the dining room where her daughter was speaking with the suitor that her father wanted her to wed.
However, she did not like the man and wanted her daughter to have a choice in her marriage rather than being forced to marry as she had had to.
As for Ryan Peterson, he was smiling at the pretty young woman, he knew that her father was going to see to it that they would be wed and the idea would not be so terrible. Atleast, her mother was not fat as a house and most daughters would be their mother in about twenty years or so. "Will you do attending the town dance next Saturday?" He asked Roxanne as he looked over to the other man in a rougher set of clothing, like a rusty spoon trying to be polished. "Evening, you must be Mr. Keith... the new stablemaster... Mr. Addison spoke about you..."
Malcolm nodded. "Came from Tennessee." He said quite simply as he looked to the young Miss of the house before the young man came barrelling in before showing something to his sister. A snake that he had found, he had mud and dirt on him despite having gone to 'wash up' for dinner.
---
"Suppose you could learn to mend your own shirts...?" She said looking unimpressed by him as she went to get a few things for him to look at before returning. Veronica had taking needlepoint as a girl but while she had been a whore... well, it was the only thing that made her happy and forced her not to want to kill herself. "Your mother must know alot about needle work then..." She said as she took out a few things of of fabrics for sampler. "I think the cotton will do well for her." She said before asking if she needed new thread or needle as well as the hoop. "I have a few new clothes, a golden yellow and some aquamarine..." She paused for a moment as she was smiling softly at the threads as she seemed to ignore him.
Glancing over at him, wanting to roll her eyes are his flirting since she was over that sort of thing... Veronica was still polite to him. "If your mother can not come out here then perhaps, I could bring her some of the things for her to look over... as well as a catalogue?" She suggested since if one was a valued customer then she could go the extra mile. "Now, is that all for you Deputy?" She corrected as she looked up at him.
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Post by Raynesleigh on May 28, 2012 14:51:19 GMT -5
Roxanne looked at him and shrugged. "Possibly. I decided to get a job in town with the woman that runs the cloth shop...it's something to do since Ellie and momma take care of the house and I do nothing but sit and twiddle my thumbs or read. The woman is a nice one...I will probably go though...but more than likely without an escort," she said as a dig toward him as she glanced at him before gasping at the dead snake that Dustin had brought up to her.
"Honestly Dustin! Get that thing away from the table..." she said shuddering as her father gave him a hit to his backside and told him sternly to go put it outside then wash up for dinner once more.
"As to you, what's wrong with going off to the dance with Ryan here. Not many eligable men around here...and Ryan is a good match for you. His family is in good standing...as is ours. I suggest, that you go with him...it'll be good for the both of you..." he said simply then walked to the table, helping his wife sit and then motioning for Ryan to sit by his daughter as Roxanne sank down and drank some of her lemonade.
"Mr. Keith, do have a seat at the far end there. You can sit by my son and wife," Addison said with a smirk before looking at Roxanne. "As to working...I don't like it. There is plenty of money around here to do with as you please...what purpose is there to it?" he asked. "When you get married you can't hope to work..."
"Who said I'm getting married daddy? I mean...I'm just seventeen. Eighteen in a month yes but...I mean honestly daddy...can't I wait another year to get married...life isn't all about getting married and having babies..." she trailed off when she saw her father's look and then looked away, thanking Ellie as she put food on the plate.
"We'll discuss later Roxanne..." her father said in that voice she had no choice but to agree. Looking down, she saw Dustin re-enter and sit down by Mr. Keith across the table and she glanced at her mother before taking her hand so that they could pray. It also meant she had to touch Ryan's hand and there was nothing to do but take it. She glanced at the sorry man her father wanted her to marry and slowly took his hand before bowing her head for the communal prayer over the meal.
-----
Rich looked at her and smiled. "A catalgue might do just the trick...and I'll trust your judgement. She likes quilt making as well so I'd be sure to talk to her about if she wants me to get her some squares next time." He bought a few yards of the white fabric and then a bit of yellow and aquamarine just so. As he payed for everything, he looked at her. He could tell she wasn't impressed and that seemed to be the first time a woman didn't blush or smile at his attempts.
"Well...now that you mentioned it...the church and community normally throw a every other week sort of thing and Saturday there is going to be a picnic and dance. Maybe you'd like to come along?" he asked curiously. "I know you haven't been in town to long and it'll be a chance to get to know one another...and it would be a good thing to have an escort. You go with me and no one will bother you. We can get to know one another a little better..."
"What do you say?" he asked with a smile and a wink. "Could be fun. Besides, there is always good food and plenty of women to socialize with. The town is small but nearly everyone shows up for the socials. It would also be a great business move. Just saying. All the women here mostly order out of a catalogue, you set up a stall sampling some of your fabric and thread, you'd have a good chance of getting some customers...So...are you willing to let me escort you?" Rich asked her, giving another one of his trademark smiles.
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Post by anjelrocker on May 28, 2012 18:36:37 GMT -5
Sitting down at the table, he thought it was funny of the boy with the dead snake but he did not say so. He simply wanted to observe the family as he looked to the other guest for a moment before closing his eyes so he could pray to God for this delious looking meal. Closing them once again, he noticed that the daughter took her hand away from her supposed suitor rather quickly so that she could eat. Either she did not like him or she wanted to get fat as a house, either way... she would most likely lose this suitor since the man seemed shallow. Malcolm could bet that he did not see the war... atleast the real civil war.
Dustin looked to the farm hand aand said with a mouthful of food. "Well you be takin' care of the horses and cattle?" He asked as he got a narrowed eye look from his mother. "Dustin, please don't talk with your mouthful..." Malcolm smiled before saying. "I am... I hear that you are the second one in charge." Dustin grinned with a nod as he said. "Yes, I am going to be a ranch owner like my dad."
That made Malcolm give a half smile as he nodded and ate, his own father had left his mother when he had been only a boy. His mother had remarried but divorce was looked down upon.
Ryan looked to the pretty Roxanne as he was trying to engage her in conversation but the damn stubborn bitch was almost ignoring him. Which upset him... "Will you come to the social with me?"
---
"Oh, you're good..." She said with a slight smile as she gave it a bit of thought thinking that it would be a good business move since a number of women from the village as well as the ranches and homesteads. "Well, it would be a good for business..." Veronica said as she tapped her chin and nodded slowly. "I could set up and booth but, I do have to wonder why the Deputy would want to escort the newest business owner in this village? Are all, you say that the crime rate was low? Did you not?" She knew what he wanted but try as he might, Veronica was not interested.
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Post by Raynesleigh on May 28, 2012 21:07:09 GMT -5
Roxanne sighed. "I think...I would rather not..." she said after a moment and then shrugged. "Besides, why should I...there will be plenty of beaus to choose from when I'm there..." she said, giving him a frowning glance before going into her meal to eat, sipping her lemonade and just remaining quiet before looking at Mr. Keith. "Daddy says your from Tennessee...the apalachians...is it pretty in the mountains Mr. Keith? Before we lived here, daddy said we were living in Maryland...but...I was just a babe when we came to live here in Texas...so it's really, all I've ever known," she smiled, eating some of the fried chicken skin.
Her father looked at her and spooned some mash into his mouth, keeping silent. He had such a wilfull litlte daughter. It was why Ryan would be such a good husband. He could train Roxanne how to be proper instead of so wilfull. And this job she had. Well, he didn't like it at all. Ever since coming home a week ago from town she had been harping about how she could start working and get her own place. She was daft is what she was.
He would amuse her with this job for a little while but just till she grew tired of it. Or until she married. Then the problem would be Ryan's.And he didn't mind handing her off to Peterson to take care of. He had managed to tame his little wife and even though he didn't so much as raise a finger to her, she minded him. She knew the damage he could do. There first child buried in the ground was proof. But no one spoke of that. Especially her. Because she knew what he was capable of. His daughter didn't nor his son, but she did. And he was firm enough in his belief that Peterson would take Roxanne to hand and tame her as he had tamed his own wife.
-----
"What's so wrong with escorting a pretty lady..." he asked grinning. "I'm Richard Harrison by the way. Rich for short. It's what everyone else calls me. They aren't to hard on particulars and missus and misters. Most everybody calls everybody by their first name except for the ones over fifty..." He smiled. "What's your name? I can't escort you to a social without knowing your name. Pretty girl like you...and that red hair...you must have a pretty name to go along with it," he teased.
"But I won't hound you...I'm smart enough to not do that," he chuckled and then started putting what he had in some brown paper and twining it so that it all stayed together for his mother to have when he got to her house. He had a room at the town's small hotel. it was a coach town but soon enough, it would be railroad. It was on its way, slowly but surely.
"Well...how about it," he said. "What's a pretty woman like your's name?" he asked again, giving a wide grin.
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Post by anjelrocker on May 29, 2012 9:09:50 GMT -5
Mrs. Addison was all smiles that evening, but she tried to keep herself busy since she was unhappy in her life. After all, she was wed to a man who had killed their first child when the baby would not stop crying. He had shaken the baby with was something that one did not do. Noticing the look in both her husband and Mr. Peterson's eyes when her daughter was denying his request to go to the social. "Mr. Peterson... How are the cattle this year... You will be going on the cattle drive soon?" She wanted to distract him since her daughter was one of independent spirits as she had once been long ago.
Ryan smiles then as the conversation changed to one that he enjoyed. "Yes, I will be going towards Oklahoma territory with the cattle and the other men from the ranch." He mentioned as he looked to Mr. Keith and mentioned. "You will be going on the drive for Mr. Addison then?" He asked as Malcolm slowly nodded. "I would assume so since it is apart of my job..." He said simply as Dustin pipped up as he said. "I want to go on the cattle drive? Can I go?"
His mother frowned and said. "Well, no... You still have school... Your sister will take you when she goes to work." She said with a smile as she looked to her pretty daughter, Dustin huffed. "I hate school... It's so useless." That made Malcolm smile. "Trust me, boy... As soon as you are out of school. You miss it..." He knew that he did.
---
"Veronica... Mrs. Veronica Davis." She said to him as she adjusted something in her counter so she looked somewhat busy but she was intrigued despite not wanting to seem like it. "Well, I am unsure at the moment, Deputy... Perhaps, give me a day to think about it?" She asked with a tilt of her head and a polite smile. Innocent teasing, with subtle hints that she could be interested... Not cold but rather 'cool.'
"Have a good day, Deputy..." She said with a innocent yet seductive smile on her lips.
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Post by Raynesleigh on May 29, 2012 11:27:02 GMT -5
Roxanne smiled as she looked at her brother. "Well Dustin you are eleven...you don't have to go but three more years. Of course, if you applied yourself a little more, you could get out earlier. It's just you having to prove you know the grade level stuff. It's why I finished at twelve...I would of loved going to finishing school after I graduated," she sighed taking a sip of her lemonade.
"You didn't need finishing school. You aren't going to go to the east and marry some city folk..." her father said simply. "NO sense in putting that money into a useless schooling. Rancher's wife doesn't need all that fancy learning," he said simply then finished what was on his plate before settling back in his chair.
Roxanne sighed. "So you've said daddy..." she said and then finished her lemonade. "May I be excused?" she asked.
"As soon as Mr. Peterson finishes his meal...Then you can take your evening ride with him," he said, knowing that his daughter liked to ride her horse just before darkness fell every night for about an hour around the land they owned. She didn't look to pleased about having Ryan tag along but it would be a chance for them to spend time alone. He had even given Ryan permission to have sex with her in order to ensure she agreed. But even if she didn't agree to it, she would still be marrying him.
Roxanne sighed. "Yes daddy..." She looked at Mr. Keith. "You never did answer my question Mr. Keith. Are you from the appalachias?" she asked curiously.
-----
"Good day to you ma'am...and I'm pretty sure I'll be coming by here tommorow with an order from my momma from the catalogue. You have a blessed day Mrs. Davis," he smiled and gave a wink before walking out of the shop, package in hand. He whistled to himself as he put the brown pouch in the saddle bag of his horse and then untied the reins. It was a quick ride to his mother's place just on the outskirts of town and he came up on the small cabin surrounded by oak quick enough. Getting down, he grabbed the basket of food as well as the fabric before coming inside.
"Momma?" he called, shutting the door and seeing the woman in question in her little parlor with a hoop and stand before her as she sat. She was in her early sixties, the mother of eight children. And he was the baby of them all. He had five brothers and two sisters, all of whom were married with a vast majority living in the East across the mountains. A doctor, a lawyer, a preacher, and a judge were his brothers. The other one was a mill worker, but each of them were successful. His sisters had married well and now his mother was just waiting on him to do the same.
He leaned down and kissed her cheek before smiling and handing her the package. "Here you go...sampler fabric. The lady at the counter was nice enough, and even gave me a catalogue for ya..pick what you want...and fill out an order form and I'll give it to her...oh and Mrs. Talbot at the general store had your monthly supply of preserves and flour and all that. Did Mrs. O'Hara come out here already and get you a bit of supper?" he asked, taking his stetson off and then put it on the back of the rocker across from her before sitting down and observing her.
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Post by anjelrocker on May 29, 2012 17:46:10 GMT -5
Looking to the daughter for a moment, he nodded. "The Great Smokey Mountains." He smiled as he was thinking about his home there. "And it is beautiful, Miss Addison. Very beautiful..." He said as he bit into the fried chicken thinking that it was delicious. "I did a bit of travelling as well..." He mentioned but did not talk about it since it had been during his days as a soldier in his grey uniform, traveling with his platoon... fighting against other young men who were the same age. The idea of it all, it weighted heavy on his soul for the men that he had killed and the fallen friends and fellow brothers. The camp followers of wives and children...
Dustin who was looking over at Mr. Keith did not say anything but he could tell that something was bothering the new stablemaster. He looked to the man who would be his brother in law... he did not like the man but as they all knew, what their father said was law in his house. Else he would toss you out...
Ryan could not help but smile since he would have sometime alone with his wife to be... the problem was that she was too head strong. Then, her father had given him access to his daughter and he was going to make Roxanne his wife... but they would be lovers first. And if she got pregnant, they would have to marry.
---
Either the man had a problem with his eye since he winked all the time or he thought that he was impressing her. Stopping herself from rolling her eyes, Veronica went about busying herself wondering why a number of single men were coming to pick up thread and such for their mothers, sisters, etc. It made her wonder with a sigh as she went on with the cleaning of her shop.
---
Mrs. Harrison was working on her latest sampler as she looked up to see her youngest son and smiled. "Richie..." She said in a soft voice as she lifted a hand to touch his face. "Have you come to tell your dear mother that you found a suitable woman?" She chuckled as the catalogue was put in front of her and that make her smile. "Oh, what beautiful thread... golden yellow and an aquamarine..." She paused as she looked up at him and raised an eyebrow. "Now, I know you did not pic these out."
Rocking for a moment, she nodded. "Yes, she came for a visit with some lovely rice pudding and a steak pie, leftover from her dinner the night before but it was delicious." His mother nodded. "And how are you, son? None of the boys causing you or the Sheriff trouble?" She asked curiously.
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