Aurora Borealis

[Mystical Avalon]

Eve stepped gingerly from the wagon as it was starting to pull away. The company she had ridden north with was on its way further north. Let them go she thought. For their infernal company and superstitions. She took her bag of lowly possessions and stepped through the door. Her chest hitching a deep sigh, she walked to the bar. This would be as good a place as ever to seek Roland if he were here.

Raising her hand to the bar keep she spoke. Her slow deep southern drawl shaky.

"Excuse me but I am Eve Deschain and I am looking for my husband. He sent me a telegram from here a few months ago. Is there someone I could speak to about getting some help finding him? Also, maybe a bed or some lodging if you please?" she smiled a tired but winning smile. Maybe she would get lucky this time.

 

[etamitni2]

-----

 

[Mantra]

Lucian

Lucian was watching the crowd as he usually did. Newcommers were an ever constant thing here in Carmack, and would probably continue to be, so long as the stories of gold continues to circulate. Still, a most notable newcommer had shown up tonight, a member of the Canadian mounted police. One could scarcely miss him, he stood out like a sore thumb, especially in this place.
He motioned over one of the Arora's staff girls and asked her to bring the mountie a round of whatever he chose to drink as well as one of Lucian's business cards. Giving the girl a silver dollar and sending her on her way before turning back to the bar,
"I think a good bowl of stew and biscuts sounds like a fine deal Miss DeSilva, thank you." he said dropping another silver dollar on the counter as a tip, then looked up at the newcommer, Tad.

"Not to evesdrop young man, but if you don't mind labor, I might be able to offer a bit of work myself. That is of course, if your interested. I wouldn't even mind if it was on the side, seeing as Miss DeSilva asked first and all."

 

[Maid of Marvels]

The lady that's known as... Lou

The torrential rains had soured a lot of tempers, but Top seemed to have everything under control, Lou thought as she uncorked the bottle of whiskey for Dan. It was a two dog night out there and he'd be looking for a little more than Frenchie to warm him up.

"Just put it on my tab, Lou," he said with a sheepish grin. "You know I'm good for it as soon as I strike."

Lou nodded. It was a little game that he liked to play and they both knew it. "Seems you just staggered out of here not too long ago. Rain keeping you from working your claim?"

"Nope. Little bit of rain won't keep me from doing things that need doing. Just need a bit of the hair of the dog that bit me last night, Lou." Flashing that rakish grin of his that Lou found so endearing, he added, "And maybe a turn or two around the dance floor?"

"That's what Frenchie's here for," Lou chuckled. "Me, I've got some business to attend to." She gestured toward the NWMP that had come in a few minutes before. "Looks like the law has finally arrived in Carmack."

Fingering the belt she wore, fashioned from gold nuggets she'd received as gifts, Lou Service wove her way around tables and folks coming in and out of the Aurora. Her smile was in place as always, though her demeanor had changed to one of no nonsense proprietor as she approached the Mountie. "Evening, Lucian," she said as she passed. "Evening, George." Noting the girl at the end of the bar, she gestured to Top... a subtle hand signal that told him no charge. Lou would deal with the girl later. "Evening, fella," she said to the man who was bearing down on her like a wolf on a sheep. "Mind you don't start any more trouble, hear?"

"Good evening, Constable... " Finally reaching the table where the NWMP sat waiting for her, Lou smiled, tilting her head in seeming deference, taking his measure as he stood. He certainly looked dashing in that red serge, but she wouldn't let that sway her opinion of him. Lou had heard of the imminent arrival of an NWMP to Carmack, but knew little of this man, her usual contacts on the grapevine had been unable to fill her in.

"Lou Service. I'm the proprietor of the Aurora Borealis." She extended her hand. "Would you like to talk here or in my office?"

 

[raisedSkirt]

Her Thoughts

Even at the end of the school day, Jenny had found her mind wandering to last night’s dinner at the Crawfords, and in particular to the stranger who had simply been introduced as a friend, and whose name was Matthew. For some reason she could not remember the last name but she certainly remembered the eyes which were an astounding black, almost like two pieces of coal staring from an otherwise handsome face.

Her curiosity was definitely aroused by this person as were other feelings within her petit form; those other feelings that both disturbed and fascinated her, and indeed brought on such vivid pictures in her mind. Pictures that would surely have her banned forever, even from this rugged part of the Yukon that could be rather rough at times in contrast to her life in New York City before that unfortunate display of her dark passions. If one but knew, Carmack was a well of secrets.

It was now the evening, and the sun had long set to the west, slowly sinking as a deep orange sphere between two peaks in the distant mountains that hid those scarce deposits of gold that was the primary reason for Carmack’s existence. Jenny was now walking through that part of the town that she normally avoided but she needed several items from the general store run by the Crawfords, and she had put off the purchases long enough. It was also an opportunity she thought to herself where she might see the stranger again.
So it was that she now passed the dubious establishment run by Lou Service known as the Aurora Borealis. An establishment catering to the more vulgar attributes of life in this “gold” town, and as was normal, emitting its usual high volume of nightly sounds. The clattering of a piano (it could hardly be described as playing in any articulate way), the concertina din of many voices raised in friendly banter, angry debates, drunken singing, and other sounds that she didn’t even wish to think about.

The sooner that she passed this den of iniquity, the better she thought!

 

[lizzy1228]

"Pardon me miss, but you look like you could use something to eat other than just a pickle. The bartender thinks so too. He slid this plate of food your way, knowing I would pay for it. Another correct judgement on his part. I would consider it my privilege to help you sleep tonight on a full stomach."

Beth gazed up with wide eyes at the man standing before her, one hand resting on the bar. He stood close to her, close enough that she could smell the forrest on him and see how he towered over her, but not so close as to be intimidating. In fact, he was rather... gentle-looking. He was smiling, and he held his hands open, as if in a gesture of peace. Beth felt a smile tug at her lips as she looked up at him, musing at the contrast he presented. Such a large, powerful man acting so gently towards a young girl, offering to buy her food, no less. His generosity moved her, so unexpected, and she was debating her response when he continued, as if reassuring a skittish dog,

"I assure you miss, I'm after nothing other than the satisfaction of knowing I've taken care of a lovely lady in need. I'll leave you alone to enjoy your meal."

Beth's smile widened and she was about to ask him to stay--there was something very... comforting about him that she found she liked very much--when he turned and walked away, settling himself in a booth near the other end of the bar. She watched him for a minuite more, finding herself curious to know more about him, but eventually dropped her gaze. It fell instead on the bartender, now using an old rag to polish the already gleaming surface of the bar. He puzzled her as well, being so willing to help her.

She caught his eye and, with a small smile, thanked him for the meal.

Perhaps Carmack would not be so bad as she originally had thought...

 

[Graybread]

“Oh, thank ye ma’am,” Tad replied, grinning ear to ear. Still holding the huge bag of flour on his shoulder, with little effort.

“Aint Lou, I mean, Miss Lou, kinda funny name fer a lady?” he asked, raising an eyebrow. “She aint one of them there painted ladies is she? Not that I’d mind, ya understand, I’m just grateful to git a job.”

Tad’s stomach was starting to growl. He hadn’t eaten since he’d killed the rabbit two days ago. He looked around, hoping to spy something to eat. He would have asked permission first and done some work for his food, but he was getting very hungry.

“Ma’am,” he said, his eyebrows coming together. “Where you want this here bag a flour? It’s startin to git a might heavy."

“Say,” He asked seriously, “you aint fixin to make biscuits or flapjacks with this here flour are ya. I’m gittin a powerful holler spot here in my belly.”

He leaned his rifle against the table and gently laid the huge bag of flour down as if it were baby.

“Ma’am,” he said apologetically, whipping his hat off his head again. “I’m sorry, but I didn't git yer name.”

“Anna,” she answered, in her sweet Italian accent, smiling up at him. “My name is Anna.”

“Miss Anna, it sure is a pleasure to meet ya,” he grinned down at her, extending his big hand to take hers. “Ya got some firewood or som’um I could carry in fer ya?”

Tad really wasn’t interested in carrying in any firewood at the moment. He found he like this pretty young woman and would rather have stood there holding her hand. She had beautiful dark eyes that he found himself lost in. He was also captivated by her accent, it made him feel even dumber than he was, but at the moment, he didn’t care.

 

[Sorren]

Claire Black

Claire Black stopped her horse just outside of Carmack, studying the town before her. She had been here once before, but had not gone into town on that occasion. At the time, she had been tracking an outlaw with a price that was lucrative enough to be worth the trek into this wilderness.

She learned long ago, when bringing in a criminal for bounty, only bring him, never his possessions. And that's why she has now returned to this goldrush town. That mark had staked a claim and carried the deed when she caught him, which means the claim is now hers.

Seeing nothing unusual in her study of the mining town, Claire urged her horse forward, hoping to find a stable and a hotel before the rain picks up again. The horse resignedly trudged through the trench of mud pretending to be a street, until Claire spotted something promising. Aurora Borealis.

Just then, there came a slurred shout near her, "Hay! Ya splashed mud on me, ya asshole!". After a couple more steps, "Don you go walkin away from me, shithead! I'm talkin to ya!". Claire stopped and turned, looking at the drunken miner, and he was indeed yelling at her.

Getting only a slightly better look at her now in the dim light, the drunk exclaimed "Ha! Yer jus a boy. Well lisin here boy, yer jus gonna git yerself hurt onna horse like that. I'll take that horse off yer hands, and you run along back home."

"No." Claire replied evenly, as the drunk tried to reach for the reins.

"Huh? Yer a girl! Whatcha doin tryin ta dress like a man, girlie? That aint right. Com'ere, I'll make a right woman of ya." This time, the drunk grabbed the reins and reached for Claire's leg. Claire used the sudden lurch of her horse to add power to her kick, flattening the drunk's nose in a spray of blood. As he stumbled backwards, she leaped feet first off her horse into the man, sending him sprawling into the mud.

The drunken miner scrambled back up to his feet and grabbed his gun, bellowing "YOU GODDAMN FUCKIN BITCH! I'LL --" and stopped short. When the drunk had started reaching for his gun, Claire had thrown off her duster, revealing the twin Colt revolvers holstered to her thighs. Now, her hands were at the ready, only a couple of inches from the ivory handles.

The man stood there looking into Claire's cold glare, frozen. She held that glare, staring him down.

Claire did not speak, even after long seconds passed, concerned that her voice would betray the heavy thumping of her heart in her chest. She wasn't afraid of this miner, of course, but she had lost control of the situation. Public gunfights are messy business. Whatever passes for law enforcement here would not appreciate it, and it's just too damned easy for her to get shot in the back, or for somebody to get in the way.

 

[Messalina]

Anna DeSilva

Anna smiled when she heard Tad's stomach growling. Men were always hungry it seemed. Especially the young ones. He would nead a hearty meal, this one.

"Ma’am," he said apologetically, whipping his hat off his head again. "I'm sorry, but I didn't git yer name."

"Anna," she replied. "My name is Anna."

Anna wiped her hands self-consciously on her apron before accepting Tad's. No longer as soft or as delicate as they had once been, she wondered if he would notice.

She blinked and grinned as the young man pumped her arm vigorously. She could feel the leathery calluses on his hands. Yes, this was a man used to hard work and somehow she didn't think it would matter if he noticed hers.

Before she could say anything, the sound of a gunshot followed by shouts and screams carried into the kitchen. Tad already had his rifle in hand and was heading for the door when she laid a hand on his arm. "Mi scusi, Tad," she said quietly. "Stay. It is a bad place sometimes, but Miss Lou and the polizia will take care. Per favore? You need food and a bed, sì?"

Tad looked from the door to Anna and back again, but the lure of food and a bed were stronger than a scuffle in a saloon. Even he knew such things were commonplace whenever men and whiskey mixed.

"Sit." She used her 'no nonsense' voice, the one she usually reserved for the little ones. Not looking to see if he had done as told, Anna began to prepare a hearty meal for the newest employee at the Aurora Borealis.

 

[Mystical Avalon]

Eve waited silently for a reply. She watched all those around her with a watchful eye. She smiled to herself feeling that what little she had was hers. All she cared for was finding something of or even Roland himself. She only hoped that someone would know him or had seen him.

 

[etamitni2]

-----

 

[Mystical Avalon]

Eve listened as the man asked for a room. She knew she should get a room also as it was late and she was in bad need of some rest. She again spoke this time raising her voice.

"Excuse me sir, that man asked for a room, would it be to much to consider the same for me? Shall I pay you for a nights lodging or be on my way to somewhere else?" she hoped the depseration ans aggitation did not show. How long she had stood there waiting was beyond her. She only hoped the second question would be acknowledged for a nights sleep, Roland would have to wait.

 

[Rufus the Mad]

Seamus gets a little older...

Seamus was keepin a sharp eye on the stranger that had gone into the kitchen, never quite trusting men he hadn't fought along side of when it came to women he felt even slightly protective of, and missed the unmistakably southern drawl of the woman growing rather antsy in front of his bar. In fact, he was sorry to say, he hadn't paid her near the attention he should have until he had urned around to deal with that walking furpile of a prospector who's knife rested so comfortably under the boards at the moment.

Wiping his hands on his everpresent towel, the smooth-pated Barkeep stumped his way over to her and apologized, saying "Beg pardon, Miss. It's been a bit of an evenin' round here. I see more new faces than old in the crowd tonight, and other than the square-jawed representative o'justice speakin' with the boss, I'm the sole watchdog. Now rooms we have plenty of Ma'am, and I'd be right happy to get ye one fer the night on me, just fer being so patient with an old man. But you was looking fer someone wasn't ya? Yer husband, I think ye said? Last name of Deschain did I hear? I don't rightly remember the name, but you get yerself some sleep, and I'll have a think on it, aye? We'll see what I can remember when the coffee wakes us up."

He slid a key across the bar, the rooms number hammered into the flat thumbtab of it. In truth, he honestly had simply missed seeing her with so much else going on, but he felt bad about it anyway, and saw it as a bad sign. He was pushing himself too hard, and he wasn't able to get around well enough to handle a bar this long, not with this plank fer a leg. He was losing his focus trying, and when he lost that, he made mistakes like this. He was going to have to talk to Lou about hiring him some help if things kept moving at this pace.

 

[bullshot]

Crazy George

George smiled as Seamus joked about him having milk and then poured a good two finger measure of whiskey into a tumbler for him, as he took his time drinking he looked around the room. At the other end of the bar was a girl hungrily eating the pickles out of the jar Seamus had pushed her way, approaching her was a guy who looked like he was about to pounce on her. A plate of food slid down the counter from Seamus stopping in front of her, from the look of her she didn’t have the money to pay for it but George assumed the guy would pay he was quite surprised when he said he wanted nothing in return and left the girl to eat in peace..

“Evening Lou,” he responded as she greeted him while walking past approaching the Mountie in full uniform, he wondered what had brought the law to Carmack they’d done Ok without it for sometime now. Another stranger walked into the bar announcing that she was Eve Deschain looking for her husband although she didn’t give his name, she also wanted a room, Seamus gave her a room key and said he’d think overnight if he could remember her husband. George had never heard the name Deschain during his visits to the town but maybe the guy only used his first name, he didn’t think that there were many people in town that knew him by anything else other than Crazy George.

As he continued to drink he watched the scene in front of him change, he was nearly as watchful as Seamus but eventually he’d had enough to drink and moved to leave the bar.

“Night Seamus, Night Lou” he called as he staggered his way towards his room, when he entered he just flopped on the bed and was soon fast asleep.

 

[raisedSkirt]

Jenny Notices

As she pulled her coat tighter to her small form to fend off the cutting wind that had now developed since first she started her walk to the general store, her eyes took in the interior of the Aurora Borealis which was quite visible from the large windows brightly lit from within.

The noise was much louder now as she paused to look through the first large window, ornate etching in each corner of the window holding her attention momentarily, and then her eyes drawn to the large crowd that was gathered inside, drinking, shouting, eating, gambling, whoring, (how she hated that word, and yet, strangely it had a way of exciting her too), singing, arguing, and so many other things taking place. All of these things seen through a thick blue haze of cigar, and pipe smoke that hung like a surreal cloud over the entire interior.

She could see the owner, Lou Service talking with what looked like a constable. Well that would be nice! The return of lawful endeavors throughout this wild mining town would be a welcome relief for almost everyone that enjoyed civilized ways. Unfortunately that probably only applied to half of the town’s residents more was the pity.

Through the half-open swing doors, Jenny could see several of the town’s more noted, and sometimes colorful characters. Crazy George talking with the owner of the establishment and that rather nice looking constable with the Canadian Mounted Police; Seamus the barkeep, a friendly enough person and always busy it seemed; Anna Desilva that stern looking woman that seemed to have such control over men, perhaps women too; that Lucian person that she definitely did not trust, those eyes, and yet there was something compelling about him too, like the stranger from last night. How could such a prim and proper young lady and schoolmistress no less, be drawn to such people.

It was a most troubling question that floated through her sharp mind that cold, windy evening as she continued down to the general store run by the Crawfords, and where she would find all or almost all of the items that she sought that evening.

 

[Mantra]

Lucian had decided to get a breath of air which was neither filled with the haze of smoke and sweat, not filled with the continuous buzz of many people all in one place. The meal was excellent, as usual and he was looking forward to perhaps sitting down at a game of poker or maybe even blackjack later. He was a fair hand at cards and his business dealings had given him a better than average poker face. Lucian even knew a bit about slight of hand and cheating, but he hadn't done that for some time. After all, what fun was there in cheating? The desperate, the foolish, the intoxicated and impaitent often made such slight of hand unessesarry.

In any case, he pushed aside the swinging doors and stepped out, nodding to Miss Craig as she passed. He had never been introduced to the school teacher and had only seen her about now and then, usually when her needs brought her to Lucian's store. Recently, she had been shopping at another, much smaller shop, run by the Crawford couple. Nice enough folks, and they hadn't marked up their goods, well, not as much as some in town had anyway. Of course, Mr. Crawford had no business sense, especially in Carmack and their 'generosity' as well as their small size had done them in in the end. Lucian had made them a nice and fair offer for what remained of their inventory and he suspected he could make another offer on their store in perhaps a week, less, if Mr. Crawford continued to drink as much as he had in the last few weeks.

Ah well, it was just business.

The rain soaked land and heavy air both cooled and deadened the roar behind him quickly. He drew in a deep breath as he fished out his pipe, absently stuffing a wad of tobacco into the open end.

"YOU GODDAMN FUCKIN BITCH! I'LL --"


Lucian, coincidently hidden in a dark hollow just off to one side of the incident, looked up to see Ben Easley, one of a thousand miners, who hadn't quite drunken, whored or gambled all his money away...yet was bellowing at a young man...er, woman.

Who turned out to be a rather well armed young woman.

The tension became almost as thick as the air back in the Aroura as the two stared at each other, neither really seeming to be sure what to do at the moment.

Lucian cleared his throat noisally. "That you Ben?" he asked, striking a match to light his pipe. The sudden bloom of orange-yellow light imeadiatly drew the attention of both individuals as well as highlighted Lucian's face for a moment.
"That's not a propper way to greet a lady, you know."
He took a step forward, letting the light silouette his side as well as reflect off his round glasses, causing them to seem to shine in the darkness.

Ben squinted, blinking as his whiskey soaked brain finally comprihended who was speaking. "Oh, er, yeah, Mr. Lucian. Yeah, but she," and Ben pointed accusingly back to the newcommer. "splashed mud on me when she run by!"

"Oh?" he said, not sounding overly sympathetic. " And you decided that your pants are an equal trade for her horse? No Ben. I don't think that would be....fair. Not sure the folks in Carmack would like to do business with someone with that sort of poor judgment."
Lucian took a long drag on his pipe, letting the the empty silence linger a moment. "But it looks like she might be willing to trade you a bullet... Maybe you should go home and call it even. What do you think Ben?"

Ben pondered Lucian's words, the alchahol making it take longer than normal, even for Ben. Wether he finally understood or not, Ben realized that having Lucian on his bad side wasn't something he wanted to do.
"Naw." Ben finally said, shuffling from one foot to the other. "Naw, I guess that wouldn't be fair an' all."

"Good for you Ben." Lucian said, cheerilly. Now perhaps you should run along. Give my regards to Missus Easley."

He stepped back, away from the roadway and leaned back against the tavern wall, puffing contently while Ben made his way down the street, but not before shooting a glance back towards Lucian and a dirtier one towards the woman with the guns.

"Nice pistols." Lucian said after Ben had gone. "Colt .45's, single action revolver 1873 Army pistol, Civilian model, yes?"

 

[Blue Dolphin]

"Good evening, Constable... Lou Service. I'm the proprietor of the Aurora Borealis."

I took the offered hand, shaking it lightly, as she continued talking.

"Would you like to talk here or in my office?"

"In your office might be best Miss Service, and by the way, it is Sergeant, not constable, Sergeant McDonald."

Standing I followed her, through the saloon, to her office, where she sat behind her desk, and motioned for me to sit also.

"This is official business Ma`am, and if you dont mind, I would prefer to stand. My orders are to bring law and order to this town, and do that I will, beyond doubt Ma`am. I notice a rowdiness in your establishment, many people wearing guns, and the fact that your insolent bar keep has a shotgun behind the bar.
As of noon tomorrow, it wil be against the law, for anyone except an officer of the law, to carry a gun in this establishment. That will include ALL of your staff who work here.
The penalty for disregarding this law, will be confiscation of the weapons, and a week in the town jail. This law covers all alcohol serving establishments initially, but will gradually be extended, to cover all public buildings, and stores.

I want Carmack to be a place where decent folks can live, in peace and harmony Ma`am, and I am sure that you too, wish the same."

 

[Snow-Guy]

Patrick

No matter how many boom towns a man passes through, if he's sensible, he always remembers to head in the opposite direction from a gunshot. Preferably directly to the nearest card game. There is nothing like a shootout for putting men off their game. They're either worried they are next, fascinated by the violent edge, or just caught up in the gossipy buzz that any gunshot creates. Death was better than whiskey or women for making gamblers stupid.

Patrick put the note away in his pocket, and extracted a shiny silver dollar. He tossed it to a nearby young man who looked pretty down on his luck, he may or may not have been an employee (in gold towns it basically depended if a man had a claim to work that month and the food to do it with) but Patrick was fairly sure he would get what he wanted, and not pay much more than double the going rates.

"There's more where this came from if you can arrange me a room and a bottle of whiskey. I'll be over there."

He strolled over to the card game, careful to give the psychopaths the space they wanted. They were like big dumb dogs and there was no point upsetting them until you knew who they would bite.

"Good evening gentlemen. May I sit down?"
"Long as you got money." a hard-bitten old timer growled. Patrick smiled "I don't have much, perhaps fifty pounds, will that be enough?"
"Depends how lucky you are." One of the players joked.
"This time last year I was playing for ten times these stakes at the Callahaghn. I think I can manage a pound a point though."
"Huh?"
"You're playing whist, right?"
"Not exactly, no." The man proceeded to explain how poker worked. After a few beginner questions, Patrick dropped a small pouch of coins on the table and announced.
"Well, that sounds like fun. Deal me in."

 

[Sorren]

Claire Black

"Nice pistols." Lucian said after Ben had gone. "Colt .45's, single action revolver 1873 Army pistol, Civilian model, yes?"

"Yes. You've got a good eye for pistols, I see." Claire continued while retrieving her duster, "And excellent timing talking some sense into that guy, Ben."

She pondered this Mr. Lucian for a moment while she knocked the mud off her coat. "You must own the local gun shop. And I'd wager you own a fair bit more here than that."

Just then, a gunshot sounded just a few feet away, startling both of them.

A very young man, no more than 18, had just accidentally set off his gun while it was still in his holster. The boy had nearly shot his own foot, and clearly scared himself half to death. At this, Claire's horse decided he wanted no part of being here, and ran down the road, stopping several buildings away.

Claire just shook her head. "Kids these days. If you'll excuse me, Mr. Lucian, I have to get my horse stabled. I'll look for your gun shop tomorrow, I need a new cleaning kit for these pistols." With that, she gave the kid a dirty look and walked after her horse.

 

[Sorren]

Claire Black

"There you go, Patch." Claire said, patting her horse. A warm stable, clean water, a bag of oats, and a good brushdown; Patch is a happy horse.

The stable next to the Aurora Borealis isn't cheap, even by goldtown markup standards, but Claire couldn't fault the service. And the young stablehand really knew what he was doing. His brushing technique was as much a massage for the horse as a brushing.

On her way out, Claire quipped "I think I'm a bit jealous of my horse now." and left a good tip on the counter.


Claire entered the Aurora Borealis at a steady pace that would look leisurely to a casual observer, which gave her the opportunity to evaluate her surroundings. Large open area with relatively few places for a man to hide. Good. Very busy, crowded with drinking miners and such. Not so good, a minor altercation could easily turn into a full out bar brawl. Worse, the well-dressed man at the poker table could be a card sharp, which could trigger much worse than a brawl if he's caught cheating.

Unfortunately, the only place left to sit alone is at the bar. She preferred a wall at her back.

She sat down near the end of the long bar, and the bartender clumped his way towards her, giving her an appraising look along the way. It wasn't the curious look she sometimes got for her unfeminine attire, but a professional scrutiny, sizing her up. This actually put her somewhat at ease. Here was a man who would brook no trouble in this place, and would have the means to enforce it.

Claire put a $10 bill on the bar. "I'll have a plate, and a bottle of sarsaparilla." She wanted a stiffer drink than soda pop, but was not yet at ease enough to allow herself one.

 

[Rufus the Mad]

Top watched her come in, and knew exactly what she was. At the end of the war, when deserters from both sides were runnin roughshod over small towns and outlyin farms through six states, the Army had begun hirin these mantrackers, these so-called "bounty hunters" by the wagonload. The ex-First Sergeant had seen a fair few of the men these meat poachers had brought back, and it should have been criminal what they did to those boys. They hadn't been guilty of nothin but fear, same as the rest of us, but they were never goinhome, just the same. 'Course there were the exceptions, and Seamus never overlooked that possibility, but he was wary 'round Bounty Hunters, just the same.

"Evenin Miss," he said in a friendly enough tone as he closed the last few feet etween them. He eyes the tenspot, and looked back up at her, a look of deep consideration on his face as he said "We don't usually get American currency here Ma'am, you wouldn't happen to have any Canadian coin on ye, eh? Or gold? We take dust or nugget... No? Alright then, we can handle it, no problem, but ye might want ta see to a banker come mornin, het yerself some usable pocket money. Ye might not ha' noticed, but ye have traveled a bit North o' the states. Right then!" he said, slipping the ten into a pocket of his apron "That will get ye dinner and six drinks, enough fer anyone by all accounts, or ye can keep yerself ta two drinks and have breakfast covered with no thinkin. The venison is fresh, and the moose steak has been smokin all day. We have fresh breads and bisquits, if Miss Anna is feelin generous, and its a rare day she don't, and I don't peel all those potatoes and carrots fer nothin. So what'll ye have?"

 

[raisedSkirt]

A Sight To Behold

Jenny was so surprised to see the Lucian person emerge from the saloon and give her a nod that she forgot to acknowledge the polite greeting, and when she turned around to do so, he had disappeared. This was so unlike her as she abhorred bad manners, and was normally the first to be polite with anyone. She would apologize next time that she saw the Lucian person.

Although he owned the largest General Store in Carmack, and by far the most stocked with all manner of items including a small library for those that were interested in reading about the affairs of the world, its history, and of course, a sizeable fiction section, Jenny liked to go to the smaller store run by the Crawfords. In fact, were it to be known, Jenny secretly helped the family as much as she could by ordering expensive items from the East that the Crawfords were able to apply higher profits to. By no means poor, Jenny had a substantial trust fund that was available to her, and would inherit her parent's fortune at some point in the future.

This being the case, it was not a problem in the least, to quietly assist the Crawfords in any way that she could.

She was almost at the Crawford's store when she heard strange noises coming from a narrow passageway between two older, delapidated buildings that were storehouses in the town. The passage was in darkness but there appeared to be dim lighting about halfway up the passage, and it was from somewhere further beyond that she could hear strange sounds emminating.

It almost sounded like the crack of gunshots but she knew those sounds and this was different. More muted, and with more a slapping sound. One part of her mind issued a stern warning to her as she paused outside the passage saying "don't be silly Jennifer Craig, it is none of your business" but another voice inside her urged her to investigate, and Jenny could be very headstrong at times.

She hesitated for just a few seconds before deciding that she had to know what these sounds were, and quietly entered the passage and made her way towards the distant light source.

The passageway was littered with debris of all sorts as she carefully picked her way around large rocks, empty beer bottles, discarded boxes of all sizes, and other unmentionable items. Because Jenny had to move slowly in the darkness to avoid treading on rubbish, and waste materials, she came across the source of light and the strange noises as silent as a wraith in the night. It was just as well as the sight that greeted her caused her to gasp and almost cry out, such being the shock of what she now beheld!

 

[Sorren]

Claire Black

"We don't usually get American currency here Ma'am, you wouldn't happen to have any Canadian coin on ye, eh? Or gold? We take dust or nugget... No? Alright then, we can handle it, no problem, but ye might want ta see to a banker come mornin, het yerself some usable pocket money. Ye might not ha' noticed, but ye have traveled a bit North o' the states. Right then!" he said, slipping the ten into a pocket of his apron "That will get ye dinner and six drinks, enough fer anyone by all accounts, or ye can keep yerself ta two drinks and have breakfast covered with no thinkin. The venison is fresh, and the moose steak has been smokin all day. We have fresh breads and bisquits, if Miss Anna is feelin generous, and its a rare day she don't, and I don't peel all those potatoes and carrots fer nothin. So what'll ye have?"

"You're right, I should have exchanged this before I arrived. " Claire was slightly embarrased by this oversight, but she had anticipated arriving several hours ago.

"The venison with carrots and potatoes sounds good, I'll have that. And just one drink for now, sarsaparilla or juice, please."

 

[Mystical Avalon]

Eve walked up the stair case to the room that the key in her hand belonged to. She only wanted to rest. Tomorrow she would see the constable and inquire as to whether or not Roland actually had been in Carmack.

He was prone to adventures and always did without asking questions bless him country heart. Well, no matter. She would see about work, and Roland. Tonight however, she wanted sleep.

 

[raisedSkirt]

An Erotic and Troubling Thought

Jenny gasped and brought her hands to her mouth as she stood in disbelief at the scene in front of her which was illuminated by numerous lanterns hanging from rough metal hooks attached to the upper framework of the buildings or scattered on the ground. The flickering light of the lanterns showed several miners together with a number of townspeople, watching intently as a very angry Mr. Johnson who ran one of the local feed stores, raised a wicked-looking leather belt strap, and viciously brought it down across the bare back of his 20 year old daughter, Beth Johnson.

The daughter was inside the opening to one of Mr. Johnson’s grain warehouses, both weathered doors having been pulled open for the occasion, and was tied face down over a large wooden barrel, her wrists secured to two overhead beams by coarse ropes, and her ankles spread apart and attached by more ropes to metal stakes that had been hammered into the ground that was the floor of the grain warehouse.

The girl’s dark maroon, full length, wool dress had been completely unbuttoned from the back along with her petticoat, and various shifts that she was wearing as was the custom with such an outfit, and her undergarments had been literally cut down the middle and now hung loosely on both side of her bare legs.

The effect was to bare her back, bottom, thighs and legs completely to the small crowd gathered around her, and with her legs spread and bound in this fashion, her most intimate places were also revealed to all watching. “If you are going to carry-on in my warehouse like a common whore with your male-friends daughter, then I will treat you as one” Mr. Johnson shouted at his daughter, as he once again brought his leather belt down across both her buttocks, leaving further dark red welts that crisscrossed across both the daughter’s back and bottom cheeks.

Beth Johnson would have screamed out aloud with intense agony had it not been for the hastily improvised gag of torn undergarments that was tied around her mouth, allowing her only muffled screams as her slim body writhed and twisted wildly under the onslaught of her father’s belt. The sound of the belt merging into a buffered crack as it cracked and then slapped the pale white flesh. The strange sounds that had first caught Jenny’s attention were now explained.

The sight was both shocking and barbaric thought Jenny as she watched from the shadows as Mr. Johnson punished his errant daughter while the miners present, stared and lusted at the hapless girl as she involuntarily revealed her sexual charms to all watching.

Jenny should have left instantly but other thoughts also pervaded her mind that evening, thoughts that betrayed another side to Jenny that troubled her greatly but which she was powerless to disperse. The attractive schoolmistress also found the scene terribly erotic, and actually imagined herself in such a position, displayed, exposed, perhaps even enjoying the pain as it brought a strange pleasure with it too.

Her face became very flushed with such thoughts, and her legs seemed to weaken at the knees as these monstrous thoughts swirled within her. “How could you Jennifer?” her mind asked as she silently slipped away from the punishment scene, and made her way back to the main street, hurrying now to the Crawford general store.