Aurora Borealis

[Yoc]

Hank

"I don't think you do." Hank looks Masterton straight in the eye. "Let me make this plain: Stay away from Lou or you will regret it."

"Get your hands off me, Hank." Warns Masterton, "Or..."

"Or you will do what..?"

At that moment, Tad runs past them and down the stairs.

Hank looks back at Masterton, seeing the anger in the man's eyes and for a brief moment, he considers knocking that anger out of him.

But now is not the time and despite his boasts, he knows that Lou has a severe softspot for the Englishman. Slowly, he steps back.

"You have my warning, Masterton. Stay away from her."

Turning, Hank leaves a visably shaken Masterton still leaning against the wall.

 

[Thor's Hammer]

Superintendent Thor Gunderson

As always, people looked for leadership. 'The Superintendent's insignia gives me plenty of that,' I thought.

The doctor had arrived and I decided to not rush off on a hunt without talking to the man who had been shot and who was being tended to by what apparently passed for a doctor in town. 'Ready, fire, aim' was not the way to proceed. I almost passed out when the doctor walked by me - he seemed to leave a trail of alchoholic fumes in his wake.

I decided to finish my drink, see to poor Provon's arrangements, and then talk to.....I think they called him Rafe.

 

[Maid of Marvels]

The lady that's known as... Lou

Having left Annie to see to the things she had requested, Lou hurried back to her apartment to gather her healing bag. In it were remedies taught by her mother and gran over the years and some others she'd learned from the local natives during a time when Carmack had no available doctor. It wasn't unusual for the girls to tend to the sick or wounded here in the NorthWest Territory -- sometimes even saving a life or two.

Not bothering to knock, Lou brusquely entered Rafe's rooms, only to find that Doc Flynn and Rafe were now passing Doc's hip flask back and forth while Doc cut away Rafe's blood-encrusted pant leg. "Well, well, well. You can't be that badly wounded if you've time to stop for a drink," she chastised the two.

Of course Lou understood what Doc was about. The drunker he got Rafe, the number he'd be. On the other hand, Rafe would have a bad head to deal with as well as the pain from the removal of the bullet, not to mention the fact that Doc's hands would be none too steady if they kept it up. Men! Sometimes they were worse than children.

"Thank you for coming so quickly, Doc."

"If folks were meant to fly, Louise, God would have given us all wings."

"I'm assuming you've met my newest employee?" Lou would have paid to have seen how Tad handled the tipsy doctor in his enthusiastic eagerness to please Anna whom he was most obviously smitten with.

Doc mumbled something about an ox, finally laying back enough material to expose Rafe Salee's wound. It was an ugly thing, but Lou had on her poker face and didn't reveal her true concern. It wouldn't be the wound that would kill this one -- he'd more likely die of the bleeding or infection. Well, she was going to see that it was neither.

Lou began to roll up her sleeves when Annie, clean bandages and towels in hand, came into the room with Tad who was toting a bucket full of hot water that would have staggered anyone else under it's weight. "Thank goodness you're here. Doc was just about to amputate, taking the pleasure of killing Rafe on my own clean away from me."

Annie grinned and Tad's eyes widened in horror. "She is just kidding, Toro. Perhaps. Put the water on the table there and fetch the basin from the corner, per favore."

Tad did as he was bid and the two women looked at each other from across the room and nodded. "He's gonna lose them all right, Annie. Give me a hand, will you? Doc, we'll take over for a minute. Go get yourself a drink -- on the house."

"Lose them? Lose what?" Rafe objected from his bed.

"Why, your trousers, Signore Rafe."

"Doc cut the pant leg away already." Rafe protested before getting a naughty glint in his eye. "Bellisima, does this mean -- at last?"

"Basta," Annie retorted, giving the wounded lothario a flick to his forehead as she began to loosen his trousers.

"They will be in the way, Rafe, but it looks as though Tad will be in the way of you and our Annie. I'll take care of that, gal. You take care of your man."

Pulling a large pair of shears from her bag, Lou brandished them menacingly at her partner. "Now lay back and no more nonsense while I cut these away."

 

[ariosto]

"Lou if it wasn't for all these goddam people in the room and my leg bein' on fire, I'd be tempted to give you a poke or two."
His eyes were feverish but locked on Lou's ample cleavage nonetheless as she bent low over the wound.
His hands started for the tempting round targets.
"Maybe I need somethin' to hang onto while ya work."
His attempt at a lecherous grin was more like a grimace.

She winked and batted the grasping fingers away.
"Hold onto your pole then BadBoy , this is gonna hurt."

Doc managed to get the whiskey glass to Rafe's lips one more time before Lou's instrument dug into the hole in his leg and his mind exploded.

"JEEEEEEESUS CHRIST!"

"Hold him down Doc, Tad you get over here and help 'for he throws himself outta the bed!"
She brushed an errant tress from her forehead and probed deeper.
Rafe writhed and struggled, yelled and cursed until thankfully he passed out and she was able to retrieve the flattened lump of lead which had lodged against his femur a few inches from the knee.

"That was a big slug."
Flynn held it up to the light."You probably saved his leg. I'd a cut the damn thing off."

Lou settled back on the edge of the bed next to her patient.
"I bet you would Doc and probably the wrong one too."

 

[Maid of Marvels]

The lady that's known as... Lou

"Thank you. Tad... was it?" Lou said softly to the giant farmboy who had so newly come into her employ. She grinned when he nodded and blushed, stammering that it "T'weren't nuthin."

He was like a breath of fresh air, though she had seen many changed -- and not always in a good way -- after the gold bug bit. Lou grinned again, this time at Anna. Her eyes just seemed to light up when she looked at him. If anyone could keep him from it, she was the one.

"Take that young man of yours down and feed him, will you? I can hear his stomach growling from here."

"He's like a bottomless pit, Miss Lou" Anna replied with a fond chuckle. "He's been working since before the crack of dawn." The tone in her voice made it more than obvious that she was proud of the young man's accomplishments, and that made Lou grin again. Ahh, wasn't love grand?

"Come, Toro. You heard what Miss Lou said." She had already cleaned up the mess left from mending Rafe and was looking around the room to see if she'd missed anything before taking her leave. Satisfied that everything was in order, and with Tad in tow, Anna paused at the door before going back downstairs. "Want me to send to WalksProud Woman for some poultices?"

"Them injun things'll be the death of Rafe. How many times have I said... " Doc spluttered, wiping the dribble of whiskey from his chin with the back of his hand.

"Yes, please, Anna. Just send her up here when she comes," Lou replied before turning to glare at Doc who seemed a little unsteady on his sticks-for-legs. "And that will be the death of you, Doc. How many times have I said... " Lou snatched the flask from his hand and turned back to the still passed out Rafe. "And you... " She leaned down and kissed him on the forehead. What he didn't know wouldn't hurt him.

"Bandage him up, Doc, then get yourself something to eat and take your sorry self to bed somewhere. I have other things to deal with now." Tonsillitis was first... and then the Superintendent. It was going to be a long day."

 

[stalwartone]

Harry Arrives

The trail was overgrown and eroded, forcing the pony to slow even more than it already had, and pick carefully at it's footing. Behind it, the mule balked even more, and stood fast, fighting it's owner's angry tugging at the lead. Finally, the owner sighed, halted the pony, and dismounted, working a long bandanna from a pocket. He blindfolded the recalcitrant animal, and began slowly walking the two down the trail, muttering to himself as he went.

The trail finally cleared and opened, and he returned to his previous method of transportation. He hated working the animals this hard, and he hated having to rely upon these animals as he had. But he'd come cross country, through territory open only to those that weren't worried about speed. A larger horse would have foundered in the dangerous country that he had been through, and he couldn't have supported the number of dogs that it would have taken to keep a sled or light wagon moving for any distance.

He'd found a couple of minor windfalls along the way, allowing him a couple of minor monetary stakes. A trapper's cabin had yielded some furs and items that could be traded for coin. And he had stumbled across a pair of miners who had crossed paths with a local Indian tribe. If they had made any headway in their efforts, he didn't find evidence of it in his search of the area, but he did find the vestiges of gold dust in their sluice mine. Not much in the way of a serious strike, but enough dust was gathered to make the beginnings of a stake further on.

Now he was on the outskirts of this town he had been told of. Money to be had, if he knew where to look, and didn't get into any scrapes with the wrong elements.

 

[Messalina]

Anna DeSilva

Satisfied that Lou had everything under control and that there was nothing more for her to do, Anna and Tad retreated for the comforts of the kitchen. The aromas of the day's luncheon special met them as they descended the back stairs and she couldn't help but smile at the eager grin on Tad's face.

"I spoke the truth, Toro. You are a bottomless pit," she chuckled fondly, then added consolingly when she noticed his blush. "Oh, no... that is not a bad thing, Caro. My mother always said that men who work hard, eat hard and love hard."

That last turned the tables in a way, and Anna felt the blood rush to her face at the thought. She hadn't meant to say... and why did it set her heart fluttering like that? "Come. Let's see what Martha and the others are preparing. You go wash up."

Her tone was brusque and she immediately felt ashamed of her rudeness. It wasn't his fault that she had silly ideas flitting through her head, Anna sighed. "I'm sorry, Toro. I... Well, just go wash up. Your lunch will be ready by the time you are finished."

Needing to think of other things, Anna busied herself immediately as they entered the kitchen. She was pleased to see there was roasted salmon which reminded her to send for WalksProud Woman whose people supplied the Aurora with fresh fish -- fresh, dried and smoked. Tad had probably never had it, but she would bet a week's wages he'd eat it up and still have room for seconds and the cobbler.

"Done."

Anna smiled when she heard his voice and turned, resisting the urge to reach up and check behind his ears like she had done her brothers. "Salmon," she said. "A local fish. Roasted potatoes and fresh greens. I hope you'll like it." Placing the overfull platter on the table, she then poured a glass of ice cold milk for Tad and sat down opposite him with a cup of coffee.

 

[Tonsillitis]

Marietta Sterling aka Tonsillitis

Marietta spent what seemed like an eternity pacing the floor in her room. Back and forth. Counting the steps. Forty seven from wall to wall and back again.

She'd gotten dressed soon as Anna had brought her a dress and some underthings. A little fancy for her taste, but then again she'd not been in anything "girlie" in nigh on two years -- not since she'd come up here for the gold. It just wasn't safe out there alone working a claim.

The small woman caught her reflection in the looking glass as she passed it for what must have been the hundredth time. Standing still as could be, she stared at the now unfamiliar image that faced her, wondering if she was pretty enough for Lou. If her small breasts would please her. If... All that didn't really matter in the end. She knew how to please Lou -- and that did matter.

A light tapping at the door and the sound of Louise Service's lyrical voice brought her back to where she was and what she needed to do. Pinching her cheeks to add some color, Marietta walked over to the door to unlock it.

"Lou!" she said, wrapping her arms around Lou as she walked into the room. "Oh, Lou... I... "

Ton... no, Marietta was shaking like a leaf, but Lou was having none of it and pried the young woman's arms from around her waist before things really got out of hand. "No! Just sit your behind over there and tell me what in blue blazes is going on here!!" Truth, the gal looked unsure whether to swoon or cry and Lou knew if she didn't keep the upper hand something bad was going to happen. Worse bad than she wanted to think already had.

Marietta blinked and nodded, sitting primly on the edge of the neatly made bed. She wasn't shivering from nervousness so much as from the wanting. The wanting and the needing. But Lou wanted to know what was going on and Marietta knew she'd brook no nonsense so she'd better tell it all.

There would be time enough for other things after. The mere thought brought a wetness to her privates that longed for release. Soon, Marietta. Soon she will be yours. She was certain of it.

"What happened to Lars Lindquist, Marietta? What really happened to Lars?"

The look on Lou's face encouraged her. Marietta knew that Lou wanted shed of that Englander and that he was no good for her. This was their chance to see him out of their way. Marietta smiled a half-smile and said it in the plainest language she knew how. "James killed him. Shot him dead. I saw it all... and his gun is there to prove it."

 

[Maid of Marvels]

The lady that's known as... Lou

Lou looked at the woman in disbelief, wondering not for the first time how she hadn't realized Tonsillitis was not a man. And this contrived story about James killing Lars was absolutely ludicrous. She wanted to grab Marietta and shake some sense into her. "Why? Why do you persist in telling an outright lie like this? You know damned well that James didn't kill anyone. Least of all Lars. Why is it so important to you to see him hang?"

"He doesn't love you, Louise. A man will say anything to entice a beautiful woman like yourself. You know that sure as shootin'. And you don't love him either."

"What makes it your business, Marietta? James Masterton does love me. In fact, just last night he asked me to marry him." Lou was mad as a hornet and hard put not to haul off and slap her silly. "Now tell me. Why do you persist in carrying on this slanderous nonsense? Who really killed Lars? I know you know."

"W-what do you mean, Louise?" Marietta asked with tears welling up in her eyes. "He proposed? Honest to goodness proposed? B-but he's a murderer!!"

Lou sighed. This talk of James was getting them nowhere, yet Marietta seemed stuck on it for some ungodly reason. "Yes, Marietta. He proposed. On his knees and all. And he is not a murderer. Now who killed Lars?? If you don't tell me, I'll go fetch the Super and you'll tell him. Now I'm giving you a choice and only this once. You can tell me the truth of it or I'll get him. I swear I will. And you know they have ways of getting the truth from folks that lie about something as serious as a murder accusation."

 

[Graybread]

Tad

Anna’s comment reminded him of his mother, she too had called him that many times. Even his father had commented that they would have to plant an extra acre just to feed him, or at least an extra head of beef. The part about ‘love hard’, he didn’t quite understand, but he had an inkling of what she referred too. That was something he was looking forward too, he just had no idea how to even approach the subject. He headed off toward the wash stand.

Tad had begun to like Martha almost as much as he did Anna. When Anna didn’t feed him it fell on Martha. Although he didn’t enjoy Martha’s company near as much as Anna’s, Martha always saw that his plate was full.

He washed his hands quickly then started to grab the towel, pausing for an instant before turning back to the wash stand to splash water on his face.

“Done,” he announced as he entered the kitchen, his mouth was watering already, as he sat in his usual place.

“Salmon,” she said. “A local fish. Roasted potatoes and fresh greens. I hope you'll like it.”

She sat a large platter of food in front of him, then a glass of cold milk.

Tad grabbed his fork and cut a large portion of the salmon off, lifting the flaky pink chunk to his mouth. His eyes widened as he chewed the salmon, his chewing even slowed as he let the flavor spread across his tongue. He took a second forkful and stuffed it in his mouth.

“This is good, really good,” he said, looking at Anna, a piece of the salmon falling from his mouth and onto the table.

His face reddened as he glanced down at the fallen morsel.

“Ah.............,” he paused before scooping it up with his fork and stuffing it back in his mouth, swallowing quickly. “Ma always said not to talk with my mouth full,” he apologized. I better jus eat then tell ya how good it is,” he added glancing at Anna quickly.

It took him about five minutes to empty the platter of every scarp before lifting to Martha’s back.

“More please,” he asked, looking at Anna for her approval.

He downed the glass of milk sitting it back on the table. He didn’t have to ask, Anna just got up and got the pitcher.

“Bottomless pit,” he heard her say to Martha.

He ate the second platter a little more slowly this time, but not by much. He pushed it away and drank the glass of milk.

“That was the best fish I ever did eat,” he said smiling. “I heared someplace that fish sposed to make ya smart too. Maybe I should eat it everyday?”

“Oh no Tad,” Martha chuckled, “there aren’t enough salmon in the river for that.”

He knew she was joking with him, but it made him think.

“Ya mighten be able to teach me how to catch them there salmon fish,” he said looking at Anna. “I could chop wood and catch fish for ya.”

The idea of being alone with Anna crossed his mind. There always seemed to be someone around. Not that he had any ideas, but just being alone with her was enough.

 

[Stardust Memory]

WalksProud Woman

The sun was high in the sky by the time the messenger from Miss Lou arrived at the settlement. She would come, WalksProud told him quietly, ignoring the offhand remarks of her sisters with whom she had been sorting pelts -- some for trade, others to be used by their own.

The Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in had always been traders; dried and salted fish at first and now meat, fur and skin clothing to withstand the cold winter months. There were many here in Moosehide who resented being pushed from their ancestral lands by all manner of people from far away places, though she was not one of them. Several of her people had fallen ill and many more had died from diseases brought by these newcomers, but WalksProud Woman knew that in order to heal she must learn. And in order to learn she must better know them.

Taking up the bag in which she carried the items that she required for healing, WalksProud added some others almost as an afterthought. "I will come late, I think. Perhaps tomorrow. Even so, I will return when I am finished," she said to Laughing Deer and Little Beaver as she slipped a white elk skin outer garmet over her shoulders and ducked out the opening of their home.

It would take her at least three fingers passing of the sun before she would arrive in Carmack, but she knew the one named Rafe would keep. If it were worse, Miss Lou would have sent a cart or a horse. Yes, he would keep.

 

[Jenn1982]

Jennifer Lucas

Jennifer walked into the Aurora Borealis and went straight up to the front desk.

"Hi, I would like to talk Ms. Service. Could you please let her know? I'll wait here."

As she sat and waited she felt a pang of loneliness. Though she had been able to adapt to being alone in the three months since Alexander had died she still felt lonely every once in a while. Ignoring the feeling she let her mind wander back to the matters at hand. She was hoping that she would be able to live her permanently. She'd sold the house, not needing nearly that much space, and had decided this arrangement would suit her very well. Not only would it be just enough space it was also close to the bank. Hearing footsteps coming her way she put on a smile and looked up.

 

[Tonsillitis]

Marietta "Tonsillitis Jones" Sterling

A sudden knock on the door made Marietta almost jump out of her skin. She was wired tighter than a snare drum and her heart was pounding half out of her chest. Masterton had proposed, Lou said. Actually proposed. Now what was she going to do? Marietta loved Louise Service more than she loved life -- or death.

"Who is it? I said no disturbances!" Lou said without moving or even blinking an eye.

"Me. Open up."

Marietta tilted her head at the sound of the man's voice. She knew it. Knew it well. That was the voice of the man who had been... taking advantage of Lou the other night. She'd heard the foul things he'd done to her, the things he'd made her darling Louise say. She had half a mind to...

"Stay put," Lou commanded. Marietta had taken a step forward without even realizing. "It's Hank. I'll take care of it. Sit!"

Marietta did as Louise told her to, though she was hard put to swallow the bile that rose in her throat. All these... men. Taking advantage. Why couldn't Louise see how much she loved her? How right they were for each other? How happy she could make her? Balling up her fists, Marietta watched and listened as Lou opened the door.

"I said no... "

"Someone's asking for you downstairs, Lou" the big man said. "Jennifer Lucas."

"The banker's wife? What does she... Tell her to wait, Hank" Lou responded brusquely.

"I don't think this can wait, Lou. You've missed some of the other goings on while you were dealing with the Englisher and... " He looked over the top of Lou's head and straight at Marietta, a crooked grin twisting his mouth. "Remember, Lou... I can't wait either," he added, gruffly.

Marietta started to spring up from the bed. She'd seen his hand come up to caress Louise's breast. Animal! "You... " she shouted, but he was already gone. She could hear his laughter as he headed back down the hallway.