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Post by Raynesleigh on Aug 29, 2012 11:33:06 GMT -5
"Just up the stairs...We have to figure out the lay out of the bedrooms still," Georgiana said simply and then glanced at Dahlia and Mr. Garrett. "Here...let me help" she said, taking up the other end of a bedframe as it was long and awkward, not so much heavy. Kellan chuckled.
"You two are like fussy little hens," he teased.
Georgiana smiled. "Yes well...I know you are more than capable lifting and moving the furniture Mr. Garrett but it is terribly awkward moving everything up stairs and such. It's not to heavy and I've done worse," she promised. After about ten minutes, everything was up int he rooms, dressers lining the hallway, bedframes in the bedrooms and the chairs lining the table downstairs. After it was done, she smiled. "Thank you Deputy, Mr. Garrett...um...Deputy I'm sure we can have a room made up for you but we aren't to keen on a price yet as to what to charge to rent a room per week...But I'm sure you can have a room...right Dahlia?" she asked, glancing at her as she lifted Damien up as he muttered about being hungry. She glanced at the two men. "And both of you are welcome to stay for lunch...It's just some corn pone, and some roasted rabbit...I don't have a stove yet so it was all cooked on an open flame...but you're more than welcome to a bite," she promised, guessing if the men wouldn't take money they'd take a meal. "And I just made fresh butter so it'll go well on the corn pone..." Corn pone basically being corn pancakes made with cornmeal, eggs, flour and buttermilk.
"I hungry mommy," Damien announced and she glanced at him smiling before looking back at the men. "It's the least we can offer," she suggested. Kellan smiled. "A bit of corn pone and some rabbit sounds like a good meal. I'll take a hot meal over a few cents any day," he chuckled. She smiled relieved. Now they wouldn't owe him anything.
"Well since we have the chairs...come on and have a sit...Dahlia do we still have some of that chicken from last night?" she asked, sitting Damian down and going to find a few plates and cups then set them on the table. Kellan limped over and took a seat, glancing at Dahlia. "So where are you two ladies from?" he asked curiously, noting that Georgiana paused and glanced at Dahlia before going back to gathering the food to set the table.
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Post by anjelrocker on Aug 29, 2012 12:12:53 GMT -5
Jesse looked at Miss Thatcher and smiled. "You're a Georgian Peach if I ever met one." He said as he sat down and Dahlia smiled. "Well, Georgina is from Georgia but moved up to New York a few years back. I am from New Jersey but we married to the Thatcher brother of Brooklyn." She said simply making up a lie that seemed pausible. She would use a sad story of being war time widows like many young woman were. Some had been camp followers but she would not get into those sorts of details at the moment. Smiling, she went on to say. "We were going to settle in Chicago or St. Louis but when we bought the deed to this place... well, the valley seemed like it would be a lovely place to settle." She stated glancing at Georgie for the briefest of moments.
"Ah, and what made you move from Georgia to the North then?" Jesse asked simply. "Don't worry... I don't judge if it was anything to do with the conflict... it weights heavy in all of ouir hearts." He mentioned at he looked to the carpenter and knew that he had most likely been in the war. No one knew that Jesse had fought for the South and he did not want anyone to know of it because it was a shameful thing for him.
"Let me just go get some of the chicken from the ice box from last night. It's still good. I think we might look into raising some chickens for the eggs. Do you know anyone that is selling some hens and a rooster?"
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Post by Raynesleigh on Aug 29, 2012 12:32:00 GMT -5
"My mom and dad didn't agree with the way people treated the idea of slavery...Dad suggested moving up north and so we went...We stuck out like sore thumbs though...I still have that southern tone to my voice. One would think I would of outgrown it," she laughed. "You're from the south too Deputy...I hear it in that voice of yours," she said then cleared her throat and started to bring out the roasted rabbits, corn pone, and the fresh milk. They'd managed to buy a jersey cow so they had fresh milk but she knew that once they had the boarding house up and running that they'd need more than the one cow to get the daily yield for everything.
Mr. Garret lifted his head. "I think Mrs. Porter about two miles down could spare a few of her chickens for you. She's got a plenty of them." Georgiana smiled and then took the plate of chicken from Dahlia and sat it down then helped Damien into a seat, fixing him a small plate before pouring some milk for everyone. She made a quick blessing of the food and then sank down at the table, fixing her own plate of food.
"That'll be good then...we can stop buying them from the general store if that happens..." she nodded, thinking that would be good. They could continue to save their money in case the need ever arose to run. There was the chance that Eddie would send men after them, but then, perhaps not. Even so, it was better to be cautious.
Mr. Garrett smiled then looked back to Dahlia. "How old is that beautiful little girl?" he asked curiously. "She's the picture of her mother," he smiled then looked down. "Ah forgive me. I used to be a charmer once so they say," he grinned then glanced at the Deputy before cutting into the food. "mmm...I tell you what Mrs. Thatcher...you sure can cook," he smiled, taking another bite, watching the little tike dig in by his mother.
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Post by anjelrocker on Aug 29, 2012 13:35:08 GMT -5
She heard talk from men often of her beautiful but to hear it without the context of her having to sell her body was refreshing, much like the days of her youth before she had been forced into her former life. "Oh... thank you..." She said with a smile and a slight blush being polite and knowing that this man did not look at her like an object that he was going to use and abuse. He was looking at her as Micheal had before he... "This is little Hope... She is only about four months old." Dahlia said as she took the baby from the pack on her back and said. "Oh, you must be hungry my sweetie pie..." Looking to both gentlemen, she excused herself from the room so that she could fed the babe, change her diaper and burp her before she could return to eat.
Deputy was digging into the good meal, only having had meals from the local woman who were trying to set him up with their daughters. Of course, the girls would always be too young for his liking. "The man is right, makes me miss down home cooking..." He said simply as he tucked in and looked to the little boy who was eating, the food getting all over his face while made Jesse chuckle. "How long did it that the four of you to get all the way out here? We're a little remote but we have our fair share of activity." Missoula was not a boom town like so many in the gold rush but it was a fair enough town with a growing population. It was at that moment that Dahlia returned with the baby in her arms as she sat down to finally eat.
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Post by Raynesleigh on Aug 29, 2012 14:29:41 GMT -5
"Three months. Train then stage coach...not without a few delays every now and then. But it was a fairly easy trip unlike we thought..." she said simply then started to eat, pausing to wipe her son's face clean and tell him to eat a little slower. "How did you happen upon this place Deputy?" she asked curiously as she ate some more. "And you Mr. Garrett...what made you both decide to come here?" she asked curiously, deciding it was best to make polite conversation. It wasn't that she was uncomfortable but she just didn't know how to act in a situation like this. She hadn't grown up like Dahlia had but she guessed that asking questions politely was the way to go. She didn't let on that she'd just learned to cook when camping out with the stage coach and women had taught her the basics. She'd had a natural affinity for cooking and so the cooking on the open flame was easy to come to her. Dahlia was schooled so she was better with reading and numbers and stuff that she knew nothing about. Dahlia had really done all the ordering and took care of the money.
"Well I was in the war...three battles in a canon ball exploded close to me and my leg was beyond repair. After that, I came home for a few days but everyone was giving me those pitying looks. About two years ago, I made my way here and here I've stayed..." he said, eating a few more bites. "It's a good place to live. Small and the most crime we have is when a few drunks get to rowdy with the girls that work at the saloon."
"Oh," Georgiana said, wondering if those women were forced into the profession. She quickly recovered. "Well we like it here so far..." she said. "Damien didn't get to run around so freely in New York and now he gets to play in the yard and I don't have to worry so much about him...and Hope when she's older will get to do the same..." She took a sip of her milk.
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Post by anjelrocker on Aug 29, 2012 15:27:14 GMT -5
Having grown up in upper class society, Dahlia had a different experience since she had gone to a boarding school in England until she was fourteen before her mother wanted her close to home and so, she went to school in New Jersey. Of course, she could not say that. "I am so sorry to hear about that Mr. Garrett..." She said honestly but feeling bad that she pitied him as well in a sense. However, he was a very capable man and had been handsome... well, he was still handsome but he did not think so. It seemed... "It was a war that should not have been fought." She had once been into the politics and still want for her former profession which she did need to speak about interesting topics.
"The both of you are lucky to have returned home... there are others that have not." Her heart pained her to be lying but the truth was far worse. "As for coming here, well... it is nice to have fresh air. New York is rather dirty. It is cleaner in New Jersey and the less urban areas... we did not like the City for that reason." She smiled softly as she watched the Sheriff as he was rolling up a cigarette. When catching her eye, he stopped and said. "Forgive me, Ladies... I forget the company." He mentioned as he put it in his pocket. "I wanted to get away. I come from Kentucky and my town was ruined by the war... I wanted a fresh start after my wife died and my son... I went to Hell's Gate before it died and was Sheriff. Rough area... but when people moved... I did too."
Jesse explained as he finished his meal and looked to the red haired woman. "Does he look like his Daddy?" He asked curiously. "He doesn't have the red hair like you." He pointed out. "My son was about that age... when... ah well..."
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Post by Raynesleigh on Aug 29, 2012 16:02:41 GMT -5
Georgiana glanced at her son and then cleared her throat. "Aye...his daddy..." she agreed. Whoever the man was. Her eyes saddened for a moment and she ran her fingers over his blonde hair with ony the smallest hint of red to it. There were only her blue eyes on his face and she knew he'd grow up looking like the man that had sired him. Whoever that man was.
She took a deep breath and then looked at the deputy. "You and I have that in common I suppose...Damien had a sibling but...well...she was stillborn," she said then smiled. "Enough of this sad talk though. I'm sure everyone at this table has seen enough heartache to last for the ages..." She cleared her throat and then finished her meal. "Mr. Garrett the next time you come I'll be sure you get another meal. Hopefully by then I'll have a stove and can make some bread and biscuits, and hams and such," she smiled then wiped her mouth before looking at the deputy. "And I'll be sure to inform you Deputy of when the rooms are available to rent."
After the men left that afternoon, she shut the door and sighed. Damien had been in need of his afternoon nap and with Hope down as well, she and Dahlia went up to start moving the dressers into the bedrooms. "Do you think they're suspicious?" she asked as they hefted a dresser into one of the rooms, positioning it and then moving the bedframe to where they wanted. She glanced at her friend and sighed, crossing her arms over her chest. "What are we going to do if one of us slips up...the people of this town would shun us out as quick as they could...Our children would be called bastards...we haven't even thought of names to give our supposed dead husbands..." She sank against the wall and sighed. "And I think those men are interested in us. Or at least that Mr. Garrett is interested in you. He kept giving you sweet looks across the table...he doesn't seem like the bad type of man..." she said then shrugged. She hadn't experienced any loving looks between a man before. Not the kind of sweethearts. Sometimes she envied the fact that Dahlia had been able to live a normal life before Eddie had brought her in. That she'd got to experience what a man looked at her like with love in her eyes or attraction. The idea of some man touching her turned her stomach. She doubted she'd ever be able to have a man share her bed ever. And though her son would need a father, she couldn't ever see her marrying or having a man around. Scared to death that if she ever had a daughter that daughter would be used and abused by her father. No it was better that she stayed a spinster the rest of her life.
She glanced at Dahlia then down again. "It would be nice though...if you and Mr. Garrett became sweethearts. He seems like such a sweet man..then...I don't really know..." she whispered softly. "Do you suppose you might be able to be with a man one day? And not fear his touch?" she asked her.
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Post by anjelrocker on Aug 29, 2012 16:42:58 GMT -5
She looked at Georgina with a slight frown as her brow furrowed before sighing. "A number of men have come her wanting to help us, mill workers and the like because the town is talking about the two widows that have come to Missoula." She said before going on. "Mr. Garrett is a very kind man but even the kindest can turn sour. He could be the type to drink and when he does, he could be a mean drunk." Dahlia was a little bitter because of Micheal. "You know, I wasn't a virgin when Edward raped me and took me here. He wanted to marry me but I was in love with Micheal..." She had told Georgina about the merchant's son that had stolen her heart. "Micheal and I had made love despite it being against society's standing and when Micheal when to Mr. Hurst well, he was kind saying that he would think about it... but that night..."
She looked away. "That's when Dahlia disappeared, I was sent to London to marry an Earl or something." She waved her hand. "Anyways, And then I became Marie... Sweet Marie..." She shook her head. "Micheal came to the brothel over a year ago..." She had not said this to her. "I am sure that he is Hope's father... he was livid that I was here and disappeared... he used me and abused me because he had paid for that. If he had loved me then, he would have taken me away... us away but... he was no different then the others. So no... I doubt I will ever have a sweetheart again." Dahlia said simply as she set the dresser down.
"Mr. Garrett can look all he wants... kind or not, I do not wish to marry ever." It was a finally statement with no nonsense.
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Post by Raynesleigh on Aug 29, 2012 17:37:16 GMT -5
Georgiana sighed and nodded. "A silly thought..." she muttered to herself, feeling saddened by all that Dahlia had went through. It pained her to think that she had actually felt a man's loving touch and then experienced those same hands again in violencee. It made her shudder. Guessing that Dahlia's experience with men made her so different. "He was a right sorry bastard for not listening to your explanations of anything Dahl..." she said simply. "Maybe we are both better off alone..." she said then sighed. If only her friend could find that happiness. Georgiana had never experienced it so it wasn't something she missed. What she missed was her innocence and her childhood. The babies she'd lost to miscarriages and her daughter to still birth some two years before. Men well...they could look all they wanted but she'd never trust them farther than she could throw them.
She gave Dahlia a hug and sighed before walking from the room to move another dresser.
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The following day, Georgiana left the house to go to the local general store. Damian had wanted to tag along and she thought he could be useful carrying something though most of it she could cart back herself. They needed a few dry goods like flour and cornmeal and she wanted to buy a bit of candy for Damien because he was being such a good help to her and Dahlia. Entering the store, she smiled at it's owners Mr. and Mrs. Thurghood before walking through, looking for what she needed.
"Mommy I can has this?" he asked, lifting up a pad of paper and a charcoal pencil.
"Not today baby...I'll get you some licorice and rock candy though if you're a good boy..." she promised. That made him beam and she smiled, quickly gathering the items she needed. Salt, pepper, 5 pounds of flour, five pounds of cornmeal. As she walked to the counter, she saw Mr. Thurghood reading the paper from St. Louis. It got to them about two weeks after it posted on the mail coach that came around the same time.
"Anything good in that paper to read Mr. Thurghood," she asked pleasantly. The man took his pipe out of his mouth and smiled. "Oh just the usual. There was something interesting about some thieves in there. A bounty for them both to be brought back to New York. Ain't that something. Stole about six thousand dollars from some lawyer. A woman too..." He looked at her and smiled. "No offense to your gender ma'am. Just hardly ever here about women thieves..."
Georgiana must of turned three shades whiter but she only smiled. "That's definitely somethin'. You wouldn't happen to have another one of those papers would you? Got to start teaching the boy to read somehow," she laughed good naturedly, pulling out the dollar that would pay for everything and add some money to their store credit so she could come in without money if she wished to.
"Oh...here you go..." He handed it off to her and she smiled pleasantly, putting everything in her basket before walking out the door with a smile, handing Damien a rock candy as they walked. The basket was heavy but she was managing right enough.
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"You might have to specify your search more...er...Mr. Hurst," the lawyer's assistant was saying. A man witha crestfallen look about him, sunken cheeks and slicked back gray hair. He looked to his employer who was a man in his mid-forties and sighed. "Perhaps putting physical descriptions...and the fact that they have children might help..." he suggested, his voice meek as though used to being talked down. His employer was a harsh one.
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Post by anjelrocker on Aug 30, 2012 8:22:40 GMT -5
The Sheriff was just coming out of the Saloon after talking to the manager about an incident the night before. Nothing too serious but a few drunks harassing the girls. The cigarette in his mouth as he saw that Mrs. Thatcher was across the road with little Damien who was not at talktive due to the rock candy. Taking the rolled up cigarette, he tossed it as he went towards her. "Mrs. Thatcher, you are looking lovely this afternoon... Damien, what do you have there... ah, some rock candy. My mum use to make that..." He said grinning and trying to be polite to get on the woman's good side so that she would let me have a room at her boarding house.
Going over, he noticed that she was carrying a basket and he said. "Let me carry that for you." Putting out an arm to take the basket, he was grinning. "How are you this morning?" He asked hoping to walk her back to the boarding house. "Is little Damien giving you trouble?" He asked with a teasing look at the little boy who shook his head very quickly as Jesse ruffled his hair. "I know that you are going to be good for your Mama..." He said to him as he walked with her.
"Bit of a rumble at the Saloon, out of towners passing through and the like." He said to her, hoping that maybe he was impressing her. A number of the ladies of the village were impressed with him at times when he talked about his work. "Are you alright, looking a little pale?"
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She was going over the accounts for the boarding house and she was sure that they could make this work. Looking at the baby, she said. "Should go and see if Mrs. Porter will sell us a few of the her chickens..." She said to the baby as she kissed her little Hope. After all, she loved her daughter so much. She was the only thing in the world that she loved with all her heart. She did tend to wonder what her parents would think of her now...
Would they be ashamed of her? Most likely but what was she to do? She was only able to escape because the money from her dowery was hers... but, she had been a whore for the last eight years of her life. A filthy whore but there was nothing that she could have done about it. "Come on, sweetie pie... let's get you ready for the walk." It was two miles away but it would be refreshing.
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