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Post by Raynesleigh on Aug 30, 2012 13:44:48 GMT -5
"Oh I've got it," she smiled to him but he was already taking the basket before she could do more than say so. She decided there was no harm in him carrying it and she gave up, taking her son's hand and then fixing her shawl about her shoulders, brushing her hair back from her face. "And me? Oh I'm fine. A little under the weather perhaps but nothing worth troubling over." She smiled but it didn't quite reach her eyes.
"Dahlia and I spoke about what we were thinking for the price of rooms. And well all things considered, we both agreed that ten cents a week was relatively cheap considering the housekeeping and the three meals a day and such. We also know that if you start letting a room then we can see more tenants coming in and being more comfortable. After all, you're a deputy...People will feel more comfortable laying their head down in the same house as a man of the law..." She fixed her shawl again. "Dahlia's convinced we won't get to many people in our boarding house and she said if that doesn't work out she can always open up a school seeing as the locals don't have a set school house yet. She's had a good education and she'd make a fine teacher. I think she's just doing it to stay busy...not that I blame her." She sighed and looked forward. "It's hard for me to not think about what's happened..." she murmured reflectively and her cheeks colored but it was a neutral comment. He wouldn't know what he would be referring to. Lord but she was a terrible liar.
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Kellan saw the older of the two Mrs. Thatcher's walking down the lane as he came from a side road making a deliveryhis to a friend of his and clicked the reins to get his horse up with her, seeing that she had her daughter in her arms. It meant she'd probaBly become a widow in the last year or so. Not that he was trying to be anything other than friendly. Even so, a man would be blind if he didn't notice how beautiful she was.
"Afternoon Mrs. Thatcher. I was wondering if you wanted the cart ride to whereve you're going. I've got nothing but time," he chuckled, pushing the brim of his hat back as he kept his horse at a slow and steady pace to keep the cart up with her. "I imagine carryin' a babe is a bit hard on those arms after a while. Come on...let me offer you a lift," he smiled, nothing but kindness in his vision. No intent of ill-will evident for there truly was none.
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Post by anjelrocker on Aug 30, 2012 15:12:27 GMT -5
He knew all too well her meaning since he had lost a wife to the diseases of camp following along with a daughter named Jessica for him. "It is alright to be upset in the regards of what happened... You lost a husband and your son lost a father." He said simply as he was holding the basket with complete and utter ease. "I can understand both yours and your sister in laws' pain." He said with not much of a hint of emotion. "Funny though how time passes and it still hurts." He shrugged as he continued walking. "A school would be good for the children of the area. Number of children without an education besides their parents and some don't know their letters nor the numbers beyond their fingers." He said simply as he thought about that fact and how it would be a useful thing for people in this town. "And you, certainly you are educated as well?" He asked curiously.
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Looking up as the sun was shining in her eyes, she moved her bonnet and nodded. "I am going to Mrs. Porter's about the purchases of the chickens." Dahlia said to him with a smile. "We don't have a cart or a horse so... But, uh... Thank you, Mr. Garrett." She said as she tucked Hope in her one arm so that she could lift herself up beside him.
"Really, thank you... I really do appreciate it." She said as Hope was awake but she was luckily being rather quiet for the moment. "How are you, out on some deliveries?" She questioned with a curious look.
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Post by Raynesleigh on Aug 30, 2012 20:40:24 GMT -5
Georgiana sighed then shook her head. "Not really. I know my letters and numbers but I can't read...the letters and numbers get all jumbled up...I do remember everything someone reads to me...Dahlia's read stuff to me and I remember all of it...I hope Damien doesn't suffer the same affliction....A doctor in New York wrote about it. Apparently I'm not the only one that has it...which makes me feel better..." She bit her bottom lip. "But Dahlia's such a good teacher...I'm sure after we settle in that we can set up a classroom for the children...which will be nice..." she agreed then walked up the front walk and then opened the door, letting him in, guessing that Dahlia had went out for a walk while she'd been gone. She walked to the kitchen just through the archway and sat her son at the table for him to finish his candy as she put the few groceries she'd bought away. "Do you want a cup of coffee?" she asked, going to the fireplace and stoking the steady going fire and then put a pot of water on a metal stand, letting it start to heat up. She was still unused to holding company. Something she would have to get used to if she were opening the boarding house with Dahlia.
She wondered how he would feel if he knew the truth. That from eleven up until nearly four months before she'd been a whore. Her body sold to more men than she could count. She'd miscarried a child five times, still birthed a daughter, and was lucky to have Damien. He had been the only light she'd thought about while some man would be using her, beating her, raping her, doing whatever they wanted. She had scars from the cruelty of men that had abused her but her son had been her light for the past three years. Before him, she'd nearly tried to kill herself but Dahlia had managed to stop her. To save her from herself. Of course Eddie had beaten her for trying to escape, even if her escape had been death.
She glanced at her wrists where there were still scars and she quickly tugged the sleeves down. "And do you think you'd be able to pay the rent? We didn't want to charge to much or to little...we've never run a boarding house but we think that the price will take care of your share of food and laundry and such," she said then smiled. "Sorry..Dahlia's better with this sort of thing than I am.." she said giving a nervous laugh.
-----
Kellan smiled. "Just fine Mrs. Thatcher...and aye, I just delivered something to a friend of mine. Now I'm working on the rest of your order. You should have the rest in about two weeks," he mused thoughtfully waiting till she was situated before moving his horse along. "And we can put the chickens in the back of the cart if you want..." he suggested, giving a smile at the pretty baby girl situated in her mother's arms.
His eyes returned to Dahlia and then he looked forward again. "It doesn't bother me any." He chuckled and then ran his fingers through his brown gold hair. "This place must be a far cry from New York," he mused, having never been to a large city himself.
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Post by anjelrocker on Aug 31, 2012 0:25:33 GMT -5
He had to think of the cost of living and he sure as hell was not getting a meal when he was living above the jail cells. "I think that perhaps twenty dollars a month would do well perhaps?" He asked her. "I can go as high as twenty five if you include meals and the like?" He asked her but he could go as high as thirty but would not say that. Being welcomed into her home, Jesse looked around and saw there was not much furniture but it was not much different from the day before when he had shared a meal with the two Thatcher widows and their children as well as Mr. Garrett. "Yes, please... coffee will do me right, Mrs. Thatcher." He grinned as he waited.
"I was lucky enough to learn my letters in a one room school house when I was a boy but, nothing to be a shame of... not really expected but it's nice that Miss. Dahlia reads to you." He said simply as he watched the boy eat the rock candy. His stetson was on the table since he did not want to wear a hat on the inside. "I am sure that you want to put the boy into school if your sister in law starts one." He said to her with a smile.
"What is New York City like, never been myself... only a few places in the south and St. Louis... I went to Chicago but didn't like it there." He said with a shrug of his shoulder.
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"New York is busy and crowded..." Dahlia said in a soft voice. "The smell of filth... there are the nicer parts but it is not all that people make it out to be. This is a far cry from the city but I am able to breathe... I once loved New York but... you grow to loathe it." She said almost in a trance as she thought of the city of broken dreams and heartache. "I wanted to get away from it and Montana terrority seemed like quite a distance." She looked down at Hope as she lifted her up to kiss her daughter who giggled, making her grin.
"I'm sorry, I am rambling on... you never did say where you were from Mr. Garrett." Dahlia asked before blinking. "Oh, I do not mean to pry... I can be so rude at times... Do forgive me."
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Post by Raynesleigh on Aug 31, 2012 19:49:46 GMT -5
"Twenty dollars..." she said simply. "Oh that's...definitely more than I expected. I think that'll do just fine...the twenty," she said simply then took a deep breath. "Um...as for New York...I'm pretty sure you wouldn't like it. It was crowded and smelled horrible. Kids were in the street all the time trying to pick pockets, buildings smashed together. It was a far cry from the rural country home I lived in as a small child...but...New York was home...Or as home as I could have..." She sighed. "I always wanted to return south but when Dahlia suggested the territories, I thought it would be a nice way for us to start fresh...she was born and raised in New York...as far as I know anyway..." she shrugged. "But here is nice. Seeing the mountains...the fresh air. It's what I could only hope for. And I don't have to worry so much about Damien walking out the door. He keeps to the yard. Which there are not any of in New York. Just street upon street upon strees and buildings...it's not like the south where everyone knows everyone."
She smiled, hearing the pot beginning to boil and she used a holder to take it off the fire and set it on the table. She grabbed some coffee cups and the strainer then poured him a cup black, pouring herself a cup as well before grabbing the sugar bowl. "And I know the house doesn't look like much now but once the nicer furniture from St. Louis comes in we'll have a great sitting room and everything. It'll be more homey than what it is now. I even got some wall paper. I've never had wallpaper. They...the apartment...well the landlord didn't want wallpaper on the walls...so here I'll be able to do that."
She smiled. "I must be boring you...I'm sure most men don't want to hear about wallpaper and furniture," she smirked then cleared her throat. "I don't know how you take your coffee," she said adding some sugar to her own coffee then glancing at him, handing him his coffee then looking at Damien.
"Can I go outside mommy?" he asked and she nodded.
"Yes...but stay in the back yard where I can see you...don't wander off..." she warned. He nodded then hopped off the chair and walked outside to go play with his wooden toys and the dirt.
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Kellan smiled. "I didn't? Oh...Virginia and Maryland mostly," he grinned. "THough my parents loved to travel. After my pap died, momma settled in northern Virginia and after she passed I moved to Baltimore for a job oppertunity. Started my trade then before the war came...and after I lost my leg, I travelled here and there and ended up here. It's a nice spot and I don't expect to change any time soon," he mused thoughtfully.
"And you aren't prying," he said winking and then looking at her baby. "Little Hope...she's a beautiful little thing...Makes me wish for a wife and wee babes. But for men like myself it will probably never happen," he said with a chuckle then paused the wagon outside Mrs. Porter's. "Here we are...." he said simply then waved to the middle aged woman walking out of her house waving.
"Mr. Garrett," she greeted then looked at Dahlia. "And your one of the Thatcher women yes?" she asked.
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Post by anjelrocker on Aug 31, 2012 20:46:09 GMT -5
"Just a bit of sugar..." Jesse said to the young woman as he did listen to her with a smile before shrugging his shoulders. "My wife use to talk about that sort of thing. She and my son were camp followers and so, she wished that after the war that we would settle... after she died. Well, I wanted to take them both out here." He said as he thought about them and their graves being in the rural field in Pennsylvania... "Always seem to talk about the sad things..." He smiled but feeling foolish as he said. "She wanted a nice house with a parlour and wallpaper... a place to raise our son and the child she was carrying. She died after one of the battles, diease was in the camps." He had fought for the south and he had left his company when his wife and son died as well as when he had received the purple heart. "I do not mind if you wish to talk about it." He said to her in a casual tone. "Does not bother me?" He smiled at her as he sipped at the coffee that she had made for him. It was pretty good, if he did say so himself. "What was your husband like, if you do not mind me asking?" He asked curiously wondering how long it had been since she lost him. Her son was three year old and she could not be more than twenty meaning that she got married fairly young.
"If you don't feel comfortable talking of it, I don't mind. I just know that it can be hard to lose a spouse." He mentioned sipping at a bit more of the coffee. "He was a lucky man..." He grinned. "If you don't mind me saying..." He said with a chuckle trying to make the mood a little more light hearted.
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There was a moment when she felt bad for Mr. Garrett in his admission of wanting a wife and children. It seemed that he was insecure in that regard because he was no longer a whole man... It reminded her of what Georgina had said about them being sweethearts and the idea of that was... well, it was not the sort of thing to think about. She was damaged goods, a woman who was pretending to be a widow for the sake of her child to not be called a bastard. Mr. Garrett deserved a woman who would take care of him and help with the raising of his children. He only did not have one leg but otherwise, he was a whole man... and from what she had seen... he was kind.
Then, Edward had been kind to her... Micheal as well... Her eyes closed for the briefest of moments before slowly getting off the cart and smiling. "Good afternoon, Mrs. Porter... I am have to inquery about your chickens if you are willing to sell or trade?" She asked curiously with a smile before hoisting little Hope and adjusting her in her arms. "We want them for the boarding house. A few hens and a rooster perhaps?" The funny thing was that Dahlia was a city girl and had never had to kill a chicken herself or get her own eggs but in her mind, she thought that it would be all rather simple.
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Post by Raynesleigh on Aug 31, 2012 21:28:40 GMT -5
Georgina felt the guilt gnawing at her and she gave a soft smile in return. "He...he was a good man...I married when I was fifteen...and when I was sixteen I gave birth to Damien. A year after that my husband was dead in the war. Damien never really knew him...I stillbirthed my baby girl not long after I heard of his death...I just turned twenty a month before we arrived here...I know it's young but..." she trailed off and sighed, taking a sip of her coffee. "Damien will be four in just a few short weeks...he's grown up so fast. He's my life and if anything happened to him I don't know what I'd do..." she trailed off. "When I stillbirthed my daughter...it nearly killed me...I swore then I'd ensure I'd let nothing happen to my boy if I could prevent it," she sighed. "And nearly everyone has a sad tale or two I suppose. The war did well to do that," she murmured then took a deep breath. "It is sad about your son and your wife Deputy...I am sure you miss them terribly," she murmured then took another sip before slowly standing then going over to the window to check on Damien. She then looked back at Deputy Spencer.
She felt guilty to lying but what other choice did she have. "You must have a sleepy job around here Deputy. I hardly ever hear of any trouble since we moved in. Not like New York at all. A violent city that place..."
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Mrs. Porter smiled. "Oh look at that wee thing..." she smiled at Hope and then nodded to the woman. "Of course Mrs. Thatcher. I have more than enough chickens. I have several chickens and roosters...come..." She smiled and led her to the back of the house, showing the two separate coops. "I have a couple of roosters there so I can sell you one of 'em. Now if you've never raised chickens before you should know that you have to have two separate coops. ONe with the rooster and a few hens and one with just hens. The ones with just hens give you the eggs without the chicks and the one with the rooster gives you chickens to cook and eat. The best feed for them is corn..." she said simply then looked back at Dahlia.
"I'd be willing to sell you the rooster for two dollars and any hen for about a dollar each. Given that they'll do good as a food source, I don't think the prices unfair...What say you?" Mrs. Porter asked, a shrewd business woman. "And I suggest if you gather eggs, you'd do better to wear some gloves that are thick. Those little blighters peck and can make your hands bleed."
Kellan had limped down off the wagon to join the two women and noted Mrs. Porter's discomfort with his presence. She was all smiles trill he approached and she could see the scars more clearly. "If you don't have the money for them as I asked I'm sure we could negotiate something to barter," she was saying and Kellan raised a brow but said nothing and looked to Hope and winked at the little baby girl in her mother's arms.
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Post by anjelrocker on Aug 31, 2012 23:13:58 GMT -5
"I use to be the Sheriff of Hell's Gate before everyone moved to Missoula and I have to say that it was quite busy with the things that were happening there. A few men got into a fight at the saloon and the owner as well as the two bastards were killed." He said thinking of how Hell's gate was worse because the natives had attacked it. It was at if it had been cursed. "I am lucky that nothing terrible had happened." He knocked on the wooden table so it would not be jinxed. "We have come to a peace agreement with the local indians... Allow them to do as they will..." He said with a shrug of his shoulders. "I know that my wife and son are in heaven and that allows me to sleep at night." He said with a slight smile. "You won't have to worry about crime in the town... not while I am around. It never truely leaves but... that is why they are sheriffs and police... protecting the citizens." Jesse was drinking the sweetened coffee as he looked up at her.
"I am lucky that it is sleepy... but that can change. Always will be some drunkard roughing up the saloon girls or someone stealing chickens..."
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Dahlia was a city girl but she knew when someone was trying to pull the wool over her eyes... so to speak. "I have the money but I know that a rooster is worth a dollar and a half... not two dollars. and the hens at seventy five cents. And with so many to spare... you would be happy to sell some." She said with a smile trying to be polite. "What do you mean to barter for? Not that giving the proper amount is not a problem. It was in that moment that Hope was giggling and Dahlia looked at her before looking to Mr. Garrett who looked innocent. That made her smile a little. "Do you want to hold her, Mr. Garrett?" She asked being happy for the rest on her arms.
"You say that corn is the best feed..." She would need a chicken coop and wondered if she could make one herself. It would be something that she had never done before. "Mr. Garrett... I don't know much about chickens... uh, what do you think?" She asked hoping for a second opinion.
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Post by Raynesleigh on Sept 1, 2012 10:11:30 GMT -5
"It's good that you take care of the girls that work at the saloon..." she said, wishing other police officers were as good at their job as he was instead of abusing girls like her. She swallowed. "A woman doesn't have many choices in this day and age and if she doesn't have a dowery then there isn't much a girl can do except sell her body. Then some girls are forced into the profession. I hope that those women are there of their own volition," she mused. "I just...I know that all to often girls get forced into the profession. Prostitution was rampant back in New York. We lived in a poorer part of the city and their were always pimps of some sort lurking the shadows looking for pretty girls and pretty women to kidnap and force into the trade...Even if slavery is outlawed, it doesn't stop those men from enslaving women who have no desire for the profession." She bit her bottom lip then cleared her throat, finishing off her coffee. She glanced back at Damien, seeing he was still playing in the yard and sighed before looking back at Deputy Spencer, giving a gentle smile. "Do you need more coffee Deputy?" she asked.
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Kellan easily took little Hope in his arms, keeping her entertained. The babe was at that age where she was just starting to show her little personailty. Laughing, giggling and such. She was a cutie for certain. He smirked at the little one before lifting his head to look at Dahlia. "Well the best feed is corn and some ground up soybeans, wheat, grains, oats. The extra stuff from the local grain mill on the river will do well...they sell it real cheap," he nodded.
"And she is right about the two different coops but you'll need a resting house too. Wouldn't take but a day to get it upright for you Mrs. Thatcher if you're willing."
Mrs. Porter pursed her lips. "I suppose I could sell them for that price...very well..how man do you want?" she asked, obviously miffed that she hadn't been able to take advantage of the woman and gain a little extra to line her pockets. She crossed her arms. "I can sell you the one rooster and six hens...would that be enough for you?" she asked, glancing at the woman and then looking at Kellan with a frown. He only smirked then looked back at Hope, enjoying the feel of the baby in his arms.
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Post by anjelrocker on Sept 1, 2012 21:34:28 GMT -5
He looked to her for a moment and said. "I don't know what it is like in the city but it is a profession that is older than time itself. Not considered an honorable one but, the ones at the saloon are still human. Whores or not, they deserve respect as much as the next person." He said simply with a slight shrug of his shoulders. "You lived in one of the terrible parts?" He had seen brothels but never the urban decay that he had heard of some of the larger cities. "No, I need to be getting going." He said to her as he got up. "I have a few things to check on. I think that Mrs. Johnson thinks that the neighbourhood children are stealing her vegetables. I am suppose to check on her garden." He shook his head. "I enjoyed this conversation." He grinned as he thought for a moment. "The church is having a social next week, you and your sister in law should come." He said.
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"I think one rooster and six hens will do well, Mrs. Porter." She said politely as she glanced at Mr. Garrett seeing how well he was getting along with her daughter. There was a strange feeling in her chest as she thought about what it would be like to have a sweetheart. Her mind shook out of it as she looked back to Mrs. Porter. "Thank you so much... I can give you the bank notes." She knew that it would come to six dollars as she took six one dollar notes and handed it to her for the transact. "It is a pleasure to do business... Is there anything that I can carry then in so they don't go running out of Mr. Garrett's cart." Hope was giggling quite a bit as Dahlia tried not to laugh. Mrs. Porter went to get the chickens and she said. "You do well with children, Mr. Garrett."
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