Working Girls: Post-Civil War / Western RP

[Raynesleigh]

"I heard...and I was planning on taking Damien. I figured he could meet some local children and make some playmates," she smiled then smoothed out her dress in nervous apprehension. "I enjoyed the conversation too...you be safe Deputy. I'll let you know the day you can move in," she promised with a nod and opened the door for him to show him out. She gave a smile and then closed the door behind him. After he was gone, she sighed and then walked over to the table to finish putting the food away then called Damien in so he could clean up his room and put his toys away. After that, she looked at the paper, wishing she could decipher the words. Oh well, it would have to wait.

-----

Kellan looked at her and chuckled and looked back at Hope. "Mmm she's a sweetheart isn't she? Children's eyes are the windows to heaven. Beautiful little things every one...Plus they are to young at this age to judge me by my looks. He kept Hope in his arms, limping back toward the cart. "You are a lucky woman to have such a cutie like this," he grinned then glanced at her. "I was wondering...there's a church social coming up...nice little after service picnic and has some games and a few contests...you think you'll be able to go? I reckon you aren't ready for any courting...so I'm not asking that....just curious if you're wanting to get involved with the local church. I like to think the women aren't as caddy as Mrs. Porter..."

He watched the woman coming toward the cart with some chickens and then the rooster last in its own cage. It took a few minutes and then they were ready to go.

[anjelrocker]

He did hope that he would see her at the church social since he wanted to perhaps dance with her. He would not start courting her but he would be friendly. Have her trusting him and getting to know her and her sister in law as well as their children. Walking down the road, he went to his horse and patted the animal's nose as he grinned. "I know... I know..." He said as he went to untie the reins from the post. He had to go and check on some of the homesteaders that lived beyond the town's limits. Lifting himself up, he went up onto the mare... a fast beast with a gentle soul, he had named her Betsy and she liked carrot and sugarcubes.

Hopefully, everything was well but then... he would not be a Deputy if everything was perfect and nothing went wrong. That was why towns needed law enforcement.

---

She looked up with the man in the cart with her daughter in his arms, the chickens were all in cages along with a few things. Of course, she had had to do a few trips. "I think it would be lovely to go to the church social..." Dahlia said as she was finishing up. "Mr. Garrett, you do not think that people judge you because of your appearance and not the fact that you are a kind hearted individual?" She asked him rather bluntly as she paused. "Forgive me, I am quite impolite to have asked such a thing." She said putting her arms out to him, they were covered with scratches because of the nasty beasts that she was cursing.

[Raynesleigh]

"You are being honest. And people by nature judge on appearance...it's why Mrs. Porter doesn't like me. I don't take it to heart but rather naturally see..." he said then chuckled at her hands. "You might want to get some gloves," he suggested and then helped her onto the cart and handed Hope to her before climbing up and fixing his pegged leg. After doing that, he started to urge the horses onward and glanced at her smiling. "But aye a church social...lots of fun to be had and there will be wee ones the same age as your sister-in-law's boy not to mention the food and contests. It happens about once a month. A nice little gathering for the locals..." he nodded then smiled. "You'll have fun..." he promised and then smiled at her before walking the horses down the road.

When they reached her boarding house, he got down and then helped her unload the chickens. "I can come tomorrow and help you make a coop," he promised then took a deep breath and managed to ignore the pecks of the rooster. He sat it in a makeshift coop for the night and then smiled at her before waving to Georgiana and her son. He glanced at Dahlia and little Hope and then winked. "You have a good afternoon. I'll be over first thing in the morning."

ONce he was gone, Georgiana was in the house and waiting as Dahlia came in and she slowly took the paper and handed it to her. "I think we have trouble. The shopkeeper was talking to me and telling me about these thieves and how some man was offering a reward for them. I tried to read it but I can't and I think it might be a bounty on us...it didn't have names...or he didn't say them...oh Dahlia...I've been nervous all afternoon..." she said shutting the door and then taking Hope. "What's it say?" she asked.

[anjelrocker]

She did not really know what to think as her eyes were scanning the newspaper article from St. Louis. It told of two young women that were on the run having stole a couple thousand dollars. She frowned as she thought of that bastard in New York. Having used the two of them in his high class whore house for the last four years of her life and longer for Georgina. "It is not good..." She said in a soft voice. "He has put out a bounty for our capture. Certainly was not dead or alive but it was quite a bit of money. "It figures that he would want us to return... put us in jail and then post bail..." She closed her eyes as she thought of what could happen. Opening her eyes, she looked to Georgina and said. "I mean, it is basically an article about two women that a lawyer in New York is looking for because they took money." Dahlia did not know what she was going to do... they certainly can not go back.

"Do not worry, we have some money... if we have to go to China or Canada... I will not let us get catch." She smiled trying to reassure her. "It does not say about the children... so, we do not have to worry. But, be careful when we talk to strange men or women... Lord knows that Edward would send someone to track us and with a boarding house." She said thinking this might have been the worst idea.

Going to sit down, she had Hope in a cradle. "I bought some chickens... I will need to get a coop ready but for now... she are going to use the fenced off part in the back." She said thinking that the chickens would need to run free. "Mr. Garrett said that he would come help... he is really a kind man." She looked sad for a moment. "It is something that I miss... Respect from the opposite sex." She said in a quiet voice. "He told me about the a church social and that we should go... it would be good to meet some of the other women in the village... Mrs. Porter is not very friendly. I think she was trying to make me pay more for the chickens." She shrugged with a sigh. "I do hope the other woman are a little bit kinder..."

[Raynesleigh]

"Deputy Spencer came around saying much the same...I think going to the social would be a nice way of meeting others..." She trailed off and looked at Dahlia. "Mr. Garrett is one of the nicest men I ever met. His temperment reminds me of my papa. Sweet and kind, and always willing to talk and lend a hand..." She took a deep breath and then sank down. "We just have to be careful," she nodded in agreement then sighed.

-----

It was a week and the furniture arrived from St. Louis. By the time the furniture was unloaded, the house looked more homey. With Dahlia outside with Mr. Garrett and Hope as they finished the chicken coops, she was busy putting the wallpaper up but she'd already sent word to Deputy Spencer about how a room was ready for him. The parlor had nice cozy furniture and even a rack to put wood in by the fireplace that she'd filled with freshly chopped wood that Mr. Garrett had been kind enough to do. The man was becoming a fixture helping them and he was always willing to lend a hand and chat up Dahlia.

She was glad Dahlia was having such a good run with the man. He seemed genuine and kindly. And witht he social tomorrow, she knew how excited Dahlia had come to be about it. Georgiana was a little nervous but not just about the social. She had gained a little weight and there had been some cravings for food. Then there was the fact that she had not had menses since on the road over and even then it had been spotty. It made her nervous. What if she was pregnant? She'd told the deputy she'd been a widow for two years. If she were pregnant, it would be another lie. WHat could she say to cover it up? A lover, a rape? Who knew? She smiled as Damien handed her a bit of wallpaper and she smiled at him and then started to smooth the paper over the wall and down, keeping it smooth and even. She turned and looked at the door as there was a knocka nd then opened to reveal the Deputy.

"Ah...Good afternoon," she smiled, stepping off the ladder and then setting it aside. Damien turned and grinned.

"Hi deputy!" he exclaimed. "I's helpin' mommy put paper on da walls," he grinned at him, lifting up the roll of paper printed white with green vines making shapes around blue and green flowers. It was bright and perhaps a little feminine but it would do. The upstairs bedrooms had already been papered with plain cream paper but it suited. They even had simple quilts. Each extra room was now plaqued with whatever color the quilt was. Blue room. Red room, indigo room, and green room. The stove was fixated in the kitchen and there were even table clothes and fine plates and china. It was homey but still a little better than homey. They even had the washroom set up downstairs. It was all finally in working order.

"Should I show you to your room?" Georgiana asked curiously then took the paper from Damien. "I know...Damien...why don't you show Mr. Spencer here where to go and help him unpack while I finish papering the parlor..."

Damien grinned and nodded then glanced at Jesse. "Come on! Come on!" he smiled then led him to the stairs which now had a runner carpet on it instead of just creaky wood.

-----

"That should do it..." Kellan said as he finished putting the last nail in the coop. He smiled at Dahlia and then looked at her hands. "Maybe I should lend you a pair of gloves," he chuckled at her and then glanced at Hope who was sitting up in the grass and playing with the grass between her little chubby fingers. He sighed and leant against the post and massaged his thigh which still had some pieces of shrapnel in it then glanced at her.

"The house is nice," he mused thoughtfully. "Looks like a home now...and now all you need is a sign that tells travellers that it's a boarding house," he grinned at her then walked toward the water she'd provided him. He ladeled a bit and sipped before looking at her smiling. "You must be proud of the place," he smiled looking at the two story white house. He liked helping Dahlia and Georgiana out. It was especially nice speaking to such a beautiful woman like Dahlia. He knew it might be to soon for her since she'd lost her husband a little before Hope's birth. He knew some women remarried because they needed the companionship but Dahlia didn't seem the type of woman that needed companionship. SHe seemed content without a man and had eyes hanuted bys hadows. It made him want to learn about her but she was reluctant to talk about her marriage and he didn't think her husband had been worth his salt. Mrs. Dahlia Thatcher was an enigma. "Are you excited for tomorrow?" he asked her gently.

[anjelrocker]

He could not help but grin at the little boy and his overwhelming enthusiastic nature with helping his mother. "Well, I think I will let the man of the house show me around? What do you think about that, Damien?" Jesse said as he ruffled the boy's hair and looked to his mother. "Get out of your hair for a while and then I can come back and help you with the wallpaper?" He suggested, he did not have much items since he had never been the type of man to have much in the world. Well, not since his wife and daughter passed away... Winking at Mrs. Thatcher, he followed Damien up the stairs to the room that he would be staying in from now on. Once up there, he could see that it was a nice little room with wallpaper, a bed with a desk and dresser. Along with a few things that he would need like a wash basin and a closet.

It was a bachelor's room which he was... Looking to the young boy, he said. "Well, looks good to me... I bet that you were helping your Mama quite a bit with this. Right?" Jesse was grinning as he ruffled his hair and put his bags down before saying. "How about we go help your Mama. no?" He asked waiting for him to reply. He did wonder what it would be like if this was his family. If the younger of the Thatcher widows was his wife and Damien was his son. It made his heart ache as he held out his hand to the little boy, "Come on... let's head downstairs..." His southern accent thick and deep.

---

Dahlia was wiping her brow from helping Mr. Garrett with the chicken coops. "Oh... are my hands that bad now?" She said looking at the little scratches and marks from the hens and rooster. Her mother would have fainted to see her like this, a common woman who was working. She had been skilled in piano, art... poetry. She was suppose to have been married to a good man perhaps on fifth ave. However. she was happier her. "I suppose, I am thinking of perhaps offering my services to the pastor if he needs someone to play the piano for church on Sundays..." She said looking a little shy. "It will be nice to meet some of the other women... they won't think of us as the mysterious widows anymore." She chuckled as her eyes looked to her daughter... she would make sure that her daughter was sent to a fine school one day. So that she could marry wealthy and so as she was suppose to do.

"It is so kind for you to say, Mr. Garrett... it really is a lovely now... it's nice to have a home again." She said in a soft voice as she went over to pick you little Hope who fussed since she was enjoying her time on the grass. "You do not know how much of a help you are... stay for dinner."

[Raynesleigh]

Damien nodded after helping him to the blue room and then came running backdownstairs, seeing his mother massaging her back as she was standing straight with some paper in her hands. She dropped her hand when she saw them and smiled. "Thank you Damien. You are such a little gentleman," she smiled then kissed him on top of his head before putting up another pannel of paper and smoothing it to the wall after putting the paste on the wall and the paper smoothly so there were no wrinkles.

"It'll be nice to have another man in the house won't it sweetie?" she winked at Damien and Damien giggled before looking at Jesse. "Mommy say you can pwotect us!" he said excitedly looking up grinning.

Smirking, Georgiana went back to pasting the last few sheets. She'd been working for two days on this for the whole house and there was still the foyer and the kitchen but those could wait for another day.

-----

"I'd love to. It's nice having you ladies feed me," he chuckled. "If I had my way I'd cook myself some beans and some coffee and that would be the end of it," he grinned. "If I keep getting paid in meals by your sister-in-law I'll get fat," he chuckled. "I bet though that she sure is happy about that wood burning stove...I could smell the bread baking when I got here earlier. Fresh bread. A man couldn't ask for better. That and some honey is heaven on earth," he smiled, limping over to her and then looking at the whimpered up Hope stroking her cheek. "I think wee one here is ready for her afternoon nap," he smiled then glanced at her before grabbing his crutch and then limping toward the house, the fresh water bucket in his free hand.

"And far as I know, the piano sitting in that church hasn't been played since old Mrs. Addison died...I'm sure you'll do just fine if you ask the preacher if you could play it," he grinned at her, moving up the porch and opening the door, walking in slowly to the kitchen, hearing georgiana, Damien and the sound of the deputy's southern drawl. "Guess you got your new houseguest," he smiled, keeping the door open for her.

[anjelrocker]

Lifting the long sheet of wallpaper, as she was setting the plaster on the wall, he smoothed out the edges and nodded. "Yes, that is one of the reasons why I am here and because your mother set a good price for my room. Only boarding house in the town after all." He said with a smile. "And well, you are all good people." He mentioned as his eyes went to the door to see the other Mrs. Thatcher enter with the carpenter, Kellan Garrett. "Afternoon..." He said as Dahlia Thatcher smiled. "Afternoon Deputy, helping with the wallpapering of the house?" She watched for a moment and he nodded. The woman was pretty but there was something about her the put him off personally. "How did the building of the chicken coop go? I saw them, Mr. Garrett did a good job." He grinned as Dahlia frowned.

"We both built it... Mr. Garrett is simply better at the arrangements." She said looking over her shoulder as she held little Hope in her arms. "I am going to put this one to bed... she is being fussy, I think she is tired and most likely hungry as well." She said to Georgie before turning to go up the stairs. "Mr. Garrett, I will return and make some tea and take the bread out since Georgie is busy, make yourself comfortable." She said with a tilt of her head with a grin.

She thought of Mr. Garrett for a moment and his help with the chickens, they were nasty beasts but they did help with the food situation. Of course, she did threatened to cook them up when they were upsetting her. It was as if each one of them had a personality. Putting her daughter down for a nap. She returned down the stairs and entered their kitchen, it was nice that the place did not look like a war zone for once. "Are you hungry?" She asked before looking in on the progress of the wallpapering and asked if they were hungry as well.

Damien was naturally hungry as well and the Deputy, Dahlia did not cook much but she was learning with the help of Georgina. "I made some soup..." Hopefully, the soup was actually good.

[Raynesleigh]

Kellan chuckled and slowly limped over to the dining table he'd made, seeing that they'd put soft cushions on the chairs and a tablecloth over the smooth wood. THe table sat about twelve which would do well if this boarding house became successful. The bread was definitely ready to come out of the oven and he could see a stock pot on the stove. No doubt a slow boiling stew. It smelled as good as the bread.

Georgiana glanced at Jesse and smiled and then began with the last of the strips as Dahlia came back downstairs. Kellan grinned. "starved actually. You need any help?" he asked, seeing that the windows had some nice linen curtains hanging from them. It was a beautiful home they'd made for themselves. He guessed they'd came by the money in insurance policies by their husbands. He'd heard that such things existed. And they'd spent whatever money they'd had wisely. It was a modest house while still being slightly elegant. Especially for a location like this small rural town.

Georgiana finished the last strip and then stepped back, wiping her hands on her apron. "Definitely looks good," she mused then smiled at the work. "I think we did pretty well...Damien you were an excellent help," she smiled at her son who beamed and then walked into the kitchen, asking Dahlia for some milk. Georgiana glanced at Jesse. "Thank you Deputy..." she smiled and then took the pan of paste and covered it with oil cloth so it wouldn't dry out and walked upstairs to the attic, placing the paste there with the rolls of paper until she could finish in the next few days. But the house looked far finer than it had before. She walked back downstairs and then looked at Jesse once more. "I'm suere you're hungry. Dinner's almost ready..." she said, leading him through the archway to the kitchen, taking the pan of bread and smilling at Kellan as he sipped at coffee. She put the bread on a wooden slab and let it cool a little more before slicing it. A rich brown wheat bread. "Dahlia would you stir and check the soup?" she asked as she went to the ice box, grabbing the butter and some lemonade, sitting both on the table.

[anjelrocker]

Dahlia glanced at her friend and nodded as she went over to check on the soup and give it a stir. There was a skin on the top but she stirred it around so that it would not show. "How much more of the wallpapering do you need to do, Georgina? Both myself and Mr. Garrett are finished the chicken coops, I can help you so it is finished a bit faster. And I think Mr. Garrett will be glad to be rid of us." She teased as she looked to the handsome but disfigured man. Another man of the war, they did seem to come from all over these days. She had remembered some of her customers had been war veterans and the look in their eyes as they had used her. There were demons there, she could see the demons of his past and yet, she did not pity him. He was capable and not useless in any regard. Taking out a few bowls as Damien was setting the table and his mother was getting the bread and lemonade, Dahlia scooped the soup into five bowls along with a little one for Hope but hers would need to cool down since she could not eat solid food yet.

"I hope the soup turns out, Georgina is the cook here but I like to try my hand at it sometimes as well." She said with a grin as she looked to their guests and slowly could the bowls to the table. There's plenty if you want more..." She mentioned as she put one bowl in front of Mr. Garrett and then to the Deputy before smiling to get Damien and Georgina's bowls since she would be the last to eat.