Aurora Borealis

[Mystical Avalon]

"If you please officer. My name is Eve Deschain and I an fairly new in town as you can see" as she spoke a red brust of color crept into her cheeks. Eve was never a public person. Backwards and backwoods would best describe her.

"I noted with some hope that you are an officer of the law by chance?" her question came out hurridley and chopped.

"I am looking for someone and hoping above all hope that you may help me or direct me to the place that someone can" her breath escaped her now as she fell in a faint to the ground.

There was a nasty THUD as her head hit the hardwood floor. She had not intended to speak so in such a public manner but, she had to find him. And, as always, her nerves got the best of her and as usual, she fainted.

 

[Rufus the Mad]

Dropping down to his knee quickly beside the woman, his treestump of a leg stickin out to the side, Top checked the woman for any serious damage, calling on the first aid skills he remembered all too well from his military days. After probing gingerly at the skull beneath that mass of hair, he looked up at the Mountie and said "She's alright, gonna have a headache later though. She just fainted is my guess. She's scoutin' 'round lookin fer her husband, said somethin ta me about a telegram or some such. Gimme a hand up here lawman, and we'll see her back ta her room. I'll have one a tha girls tend to her."

Shoving pride out of the way, the gimpy old barkeep thrust a hand at the Officer again, this time for assistance. He could get up on his own, but it wasn't very manly...

 

[Blue Dolphin]

I will say one thing for Top, he was a fast mover when the situation required it, moving rapidly toi help the girl.
He held out his arm to me, for assistance in rising, which I gave, at the same time looking for the owner.
I saw her, coming towards us, calling out to her people for help.

 

[Mystical Avalon]

Eve heard faintly the voices around her. When she realised where she was, she let out a loud moan.

"AHHH my head" She said as she opened her eyes. Looking from the Officer to the barkeep, she searched for some kind of acknowledgement.

"Gentlemen thank you. I can get up on my own" she said as she tried to rise. Suddenly the room began to tilt and swim. She hit the floor again only this time from a sitting position.

"I dare say I shan't move for a minute. Would you please be so kind as to see to my skirts officer. I would not be able to face those around should I know my petty coats and my shift were showin in all their glory" she said in a whisper. Her last words were drawn out and sounded like she said aww they glowery.

Her accent was so pronounced. She knew someone would laugh. They always did.

 

[Mantra]

"Sure, in my way, I am a prospector. I know that where there's gold, there's profit."
"Patrick Storemont, Western Canadian representative for the Storemont Bank.

Lucian understood that line of thought. He himself was a collector of other people's money of sorts. After all, prospecting, mining or whoring, people needed things to make due and to live. Lucian had them with his stores and supplies.

"Lucian Keys, owner and general manager of Carmack Mercantile and Goods." he said, shaking the pro-offered hand.

"So are you here to start another bank in Carmack, or just a loan service?"

At that moment, there was a bit of a ruckus with one of the ladies suddenly taking ill and drawing a good deal of attention from Sgt. Do-good and Top.

"If she is looking for someone," Lucian said as Top thumped past, fetching a wet bar towel for the lady. "Have her go and see the land assayers and claims office. At least if her husband has placed a claim, she can find out where it is."

 

[Rufus the Mad]

Top stomped his way over to the bar, retrieving one of the cleaner bar towels, and wetting it down to see it that would help the fallen woman, and nodded to Lucian as he passed him, silently thanking him for the good idea. It wasn't often someone came this far North, and when they did, they were either running from something, or trying to find something. If he was here, or even had been, there was a good chance he was here for Gold.

Coming back to the woman, he handed the wet towel to one of the girls and did what he could to get the woman back to her room. "Right gents, lets get back ta our evenings then." he said, returning to his spot at the bar after she had been ensconced "Come daylight, you'll be wishin ye'd done yer drinkin sooner."

 

[Mystical Avalon]

Thanking the lady for the towel Eve settled herself back in her room. She was as utterly out of place here as she was in Tombstone but she would not stop looking for him.

She undid her dress and lay on top of the quits for some time listening to the noise down stairs. Sleep did not come that night. She lay restless and tossed often.

 

[Tonsillitis]

Tonsillitis Jones

There are times in a thunder storm when nature provides the dramatic backdrop, but this was not one of those times. Tonsillitis Jones walked up to the door of the saloon to the steady driving rain, entered and was inside just as the lightning cracked the sky. Moments later, thunder roared. No one inside the saloon paid any heed to the arrival of Tonsillitis, hardly any one ever did. But Tonsillitis knew that would change, the news was bound to cause a stir.

Tonsillitis looked about for the law, briefly catching Lou's eye, and nodding to her. There. The NWMP officer. Tonsillitis strolled over, pulled back a chair, and leaned on it.

The whispery scrape of voice that gave Tonsillitis the name carried through the saloon. "Thar's a body in Patterson's crik. Lars Lindquist. He's bin shot. Shot dead. The gun's still there."

Tonsillitis looked over at one of the Aurora's patrons, smiled and nodded. "Evening, James. It sure looks like your gun that's laying beside Lars."

Tonsillitis moved off towards Lou, smiling.

 

[Graybread]

Tad grabbed the knife and fork, his eyes wide, as Annie set the plate of food in front of him. He stabbed his fork into the fried potatoes and had it halfway to his mouth before he stopped.

“Thank you Ma’am … Annie,” He corrected himself again. “This sure looks good.”

He had his mouth open and the fork full of potatoes to it, when he stopped again.

“And thank you God,” he whispered softly, in what he hoped would pass as grace.

He cut a huge chunk of steak and had it to his mouth as he swallowed the potatoes. “I love pie,” he said swallowing the half-chewed steak, followed quickly by an other fork full of potatoes.

He suddenly became aware of his appearance when Annie said:

"I'll find you some clean clothes to wear and wash those for you while you bathe. Use the bath house in the back -- you have enough dirt on you to make a garden.”

All of a sudden, he was embarrassed by the way he looked in front of her. He had been on the trail for two months, before reaching Carmack, without changing his clothes or taking a proper bath. He had washed his face and hands in the streams and creeks, and rubbed fine sand across his teeth with his finger each day, but his clothes were tattered and worn. And he realized he probably smelled like one of the pigs in the sty, back home. His Ma had made him take a proper bath every Saturday night, with hot water and brown soap, for church the next day, but this wasn’t Saturday, he didn’t think. But he also knew, inside himself, that he would probably do what ever Annie asked him to do. He didn’t view Annie as he did his Ma, she was too young, to pretty for that, and when she spoke, it made his belly feel funny. He couldn’t describe, in words how he felt, it just felt like his heart melted a little bit when she smiled at him.

“Yes Ma’am,” he simply said, trying to cover his embarrassment, as he continued to wolf down the food. “And if you’d like,” he paused, smiling across the table at her, “I could grow a garden out back, I know how to grow things real good. What kinda pie you got?” He added with a big grin.

 

[Maid of Marvels]

The lady that's known as... Lou

"Evening, James. It sure looks like your gun that's laying beside Lars."

It seemed as though time stood still in the Aurora. You could almost hear a pin drop. Sure it wasn't every day that Tonsillitis Jones caught folks' attention like tonight. In truth, Tonsillitis never caught anyones attention at all.

Lou took a deep breath as the diminutive sourdough crossed the room toward her. Tonsillitis didn't 'come in' often and always took great pains to avoid drawing any undue attention. This whole tableau was unfolding like a penny dreadful.

She caught a glimpse of James climbing the stairs to his room and knew he'd be needing her. In her heart of hearts she knew he hadn't done this, but if it really was his gun they'd be hard put to prove he didn't.

"Tell me it's a full moon, Top. This just hasn't been my day."

Lou rolled her eyes when Top chucked her under the chin. "You know you're up to every bit of this and more, Lou Service. That man of yours ain't about shootin' nobody. Leastwise not Lars... " The bartender broke off and turned toward the latecomer. "Well, well... Howdy Tonsillitis. That was some bit of news you brought in with ya tonight."

Tonsillitis grinned and nodded, positively proud of the revelation. "Shor nuff. Old Lars is deader than a door nail. James' gun laying right there next to him, too."

She shooed Top away with a flick of her fingers and leaned over to whisper intently. "Tonsillitis, are you absolutely sure of what you saw? I mean... You've been out there for longer than usual this time. Lars wouldn't hurt a fly and you know it."

A maniacal gleam came into Tonsillitis' eyes. If Lou didn't know better, she'd have thought Tonsillitis somehow wanted her approval. "I'm sure, Lou. Saw it with my own eyes. Lars... "

Lou couldn't help wincing. Seemed like Tonsillitis had lost it for sure this time. Maybe there'd be more sense to be made of this after Tonsillitis got cleaned up and fed. She'd hold the law off til then too.

"I'll go fetch you your 'usual' and have Annie see you're fed and have plenty of hot water for a bath. I'll come up later and we'll talk some more." Lou patted Tonsillitis on the hand and headed for the kitchen.

Tonsillitis' 'usual' was tea in a glass. The color was almost the same as whiskey and no one was the wiser. Save for her and Annie at any rate. Oh. And Top. Nothing slipped by Top.

"Anna... " Lou greeted the woman who was her right hand since she'd come to the Aurora all those months ago. Lou smiled as she remembered the look on that poor man's face... All covered he was after Anna lost her nerve and her stomach at the same time. His loss. Her gain. They'd find plenty of others to take her place. And had done.

Lou stopped short as a gangling young man struggled to stand from his place at the table they kept for the help. "Company, Anna?" she asked with a wink.

"Sì e no, Lou. This is umm... come dite... Tad Meriwether. He's going to do some of the fixing we've been talking about."

 

[Messalina]

Anna DeSilva

Annie grinned as she watched Tad wipe his hands on his trousers before pumping Lou's hand nearly off her arm. "Well, I'll give you this, Anna. He certainly is enthusiastic. Nice to have you with us, Tad. Now sit and finish your meal. Anna gets cross when anyone wastes the food she cooks. Does he have a place to bed down?"

Tad's face turned a bright shade of red, looking toward Anna for reassurance. She patted his hand and joined Lou by the stove. "Sì e no, Lou." Anna chuckled. Sì e no seemed to be her favorite phrase tonight. Lou arched an eyebrow as Anna continued. "I thought tonight he could sleep here in the kitchen where it's warm and dry. Then maybe a corner of the storeroom."

"But we don't have a... " Lou stopped and grinned, understanding that Tad would be the one to finally build Anna her storeroom. "I see. It seems we will soon have one though?"

They laughed together comfortably (as friends do) while Lou steeped a glass of tea and told Anna about the news Tonsillitis had brought. Anna was astonished. Even she knew that James was not the killing type. Sighing deeply, she watched Lou as she went back into the common room. Well, if there was fixing to be done, Lou would be the one to do it, she thought.

Seeing that Tad had cleaned his plate while she and Lou had been speaking, Anna placed a huge wedge of pie in front of him. "Mangi. Then you will wash and we will make a bed for you."

"Yes, ma'am" he whispered half-heartedly, bringing yet another smile to Anna's face.

 

[Rufus the Mad]

Top leaned hard on the bar, all but driving the water out of the towel he held as he scrubbed at the wood. Dammit Jones... he thought furiously You couldn't come in and keep yer fool mouth shut like ye narmally did now could ye...

He smiled and jawed with the customers, did what he could to keep everyone civil and friendly, but the damage had already been done. You could almost hear the wheels turnin in the Mounties head... and that meant somethin was gonna go wrong fer sure and certain.

Top had known Jedediah as long as he'd been here, had known him since he'd first started working at the Aurora, and had never known the man to so much as raise his voice, much less raise a gun. He Thought of all this, and then thought of Lou... She would be in a bad state if things worked out the way they were headed. Dammit Jones...

 

[BigDonGStone]

James "Jedediah" Jackson

Born and raised on Lookout Mountain in Georgia, just outside of Chattanooga, Tennessee, I had made my way cross country starting at the age of 14.

I tried a little bit of everything on both sides of the law; even ran with "Red Bill" Wheeler for a time in Montgomery, Texas.

When I was 22 I hooked up with Phineas Cheney. Phineas had been a Regulator assigned to stop the banditti in Ogle County, Illinois.

Though he was the best I ever saw with a gun, he resigned his post when the Driscoll gang threatened to kill him, his wife, and his seven children. It was Phineas that taught me to shoot, but he also taught me the value of reason.

When Phineas quit his post I met up with his successor, John Campbell. John taught me the value of fear. Taught me that no matter how good your opponent is, if he's afraid of you, he'll make a mistake. You just had to find a way to make people fear you.

I eventually worked my way north staking a goodly amount of money. Only problem was, I enjoyed the action too much.

My reputation proceeded me into Canada. I worked for the NWMP for a period of time but found them to be too civil for my taste. Outlaws need to fear the law. John Campbell knew that. His last lesson to me was when the Driscoll gang broke into his house and killed him right there in front of his wife.

We caught the Driscoll's. There were 112 men in my firing squad.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Everyone in town knew me as Jedediah. Only Lou was allowed to call me James.

Two people had made that mistake in this town. One suffered a broken jaw. The other was buried a little over two weeks ago at Cobb's Cemetery. The latter hadn't taken kindly to a gut punch I'd delivered and made the mistake of going for his gun.

I learned a long time ago that when my gun leaves my holster someone dies. I don't want to spend my life looking over my shoulder by letting someone live.

Normally I only heard the name "James" when Lou and I were upstairs in the privacy of my room, so I was surprised to hear it now, and in the context she used it.

Tonsilitis wasn't the most trustworthy soul in town but he wasn't given to outright lying. If he said there was a dead man, and my gun was lying next to him, I had to figure Tonsilitis knew what he was talking about.

Sam Colt had personally given me those revolvers during my last trip to the States. There wasn't another pair like them in the territory.

I figured I'd head up to my room.. There was nothing I was going to be able to accomplish with that Mountie in the room. Besides I wanted Ol' Tonsilitis to get deep into his "tea".

I don't even think Lou knew that I knew about the tea.

 

[Sorren]

Claire Black

"Yes indeed Ma`am, public notices wil be posted in the morning, and "public places" refers to hotels, saloons, and the whorehouse. No doubt there are some in town who do not have the reading, I would ask that you people here spread the word."

Claire had hardly gotten a chance to get irate over the inclusion of hotels in the new gun ban, when there was the distraction of a woman collapsing right in front of Officer McDonald and 'Top'. She seemed exceptionally nervous and jumpy when she had approached the officer, and promptly fainted before she could get to what she wanted his attention for, hitting her head pretty hard in the process.

The staff here responded well, quickly coming to the woman's aid, and helping her up to her room.

'Oh well, hopefully tomorrow she can get the help she wanted, before she has a nervous breakdown over it.' Claire thought to herself.

Thinking back to the subject of Officer McDonald's pronouncement, she decided at length not to press the point concerning hotel rooms. She still had time to evaluate her options, and not raising a stink now would make it easier to get away with sneaking one of her spare guns up to her room if she needed to.

Things settled back down to the usual business of a saloon, though rather subdued compared to before, so Claire finally turned back to her dinner. Though her food had gotten cold by now, she didn't mind. It was still much better than dried trail rations.


Claire had just about finished, when she overheard
"Thar's a body in Patterson's crik. Lars Lindquist. He's bin shot. Shot dead. The gun's still there."
"Evening, James. It sure looks like your gun that's laying beside Lars."

This caught her attention fully, and she turned to watch how this played out, in particular studying the reactions of those involved.

The small man who reported the murder scene, and made the thinly veiled accusation, seemed pleased with himself, like he was enjoying having done a good deed. So, Claire considered his statement genuine.

However, the accused man, 'James', initially looked surprised by the accusation, then simply turned to go upstairs without a word. Not really the reaction of a guilty man. Instead he would likely have gloated, rationalized, ran, or loudly proclaimed his innocence.

Top was angry, but he was doing a good enough job of hiding it that Claire couldn't determine who he was angry at, if anybody.

Then there was the woman who had come out of the office with Officer McDonald when the brawl started, who appeared to manage the place. She spoke quietly with the small man, but also gave concerned looks towards James. So, it appeared to Claire that this woman wasn't dismissing the accuser out of hand, but didn't believe James to be guilty.

None of this added up right. For one thing, it's rare for any particular gun to be uniquely identifiable to a particular owner. Also, Claire wouldn't accept that a murderer would leave his own gun at the scene of the murder. Although some professional shootists have been known to leave a 'calling card' on a victim, it would never be a gun, and certainly not one with the expensive engraving work that would be needed to make it unique.

Of greatest importance to Claire personally is Officer McDonald's reaction. Though the situation is of course unfortunate, she couldn't ask for a better measure of the actions and attitudes of the local law enforcement.

 

[Graybread]

Tad almost stumbled and fell, his feet getting caught in the chair, as he stood to meet Lou, his new employer. He wiped his clean hands on his dirty trousers before taking her hand, pumping it in greeting.

“It … it’s a pleasure to meet ya … Ma’am.” He stuttered, not knowing if Ma’am or ‘Boss lady’ was the appropriate title to use. He wasn’t sure what to call her; she was as beautiful as Annie, only in a different way. And when she spoke, it seemed like it was an order, like maybe a …, Tad hunted for the right word, maybe like a Queen would speak. “Thank ya for the job Ma’am, I’ll do good work for ya, I promise.”

“Nice to have you with us, Tad. Now sit and finish your meal. Anna gets cross when anyone wastes the food she cooks,” Lou commanded, or Tad took it as a command.

He could feel the heat rise in his face as Lou asked if he had a place to bed down. He wasn’t used to women talking about him in such a way. He looked to Annie in hopes of finding some relief to his embarrassment. She lightly patted his hand, which to his surprise did make him feel better. He liked it when she touched him; it made him feel more confident and not quite so dumb. He hoped he would be working around her a lot. He dove back into his plate when the two walked away talking. He cleaned it in no time and was starting to lean back in his chair when Lou left the room. Annie placed a huge piece of pie before him and he immediately dove into it.

"Mangi. Then you will wash and we will make a bed for you." Annie said.

"Yes, ma'am" he whispered half-heartedly, slowing his eating, hoping she might forget by the time he finished the pie.

 

[Maid of Marvels]

The lady that's known as... Lou

Lou was half-smiling at the enthusiasm of the boy Anna had hired, but there were other things needed tending to just now. Serious business. There were Mounties in the Aurora when Tonsillitis made that ridiculous announcement. She was sure Tonsillitis believed every word of it, but the little sourdough had a feverish look in the eyes that she had never seen there before. Bush fever maybe. Tonsillitis had been out there longer than usual this go round.

Setting the glass of 'whiskey' down in front of Tonsillitis, she was confronted by none other than Sergeant McDonald.

"Miss Lou, would you be kind enough to let us use your office, as it accords more privacy, to sort this mess out? And if you’d be so kind as to invite Mr. Jackson to join us?"

Lou looked the man up and down as if she were inspecting him -- again. In a way she was. He was raw, but she knew he was honest. They could have done worse, Lou supposed. She was almost relieved that the Constable wasn't anywhere around. Now that one...

"I'll fetch James, but I won't have you questioning Tonsillitis here on your own. I'd appreciate it if you'd wait until I return, but yes... You may wait in my office." As if to ensure that Tonsillitis wouldn't say anything in her absence, she turned and spoke again. "Tonsillitis, take yourself into the kitchen and get you something to eat. I'll fetch you when I come back down with James."

The Sergeant looked like he was going to say something, but the look in Lou's eyes made him think better of it. Lou might be stalling for time, but she wasn't going to let Tonsillitis get away and all three of them knew it.

Without another word, Lou wove her way through the crowd, greeting the regulars and making sure the girls were taking care of them. The smile that usually brightened her face faded as she climbed the stairs in search of James.

Deep down she knew that he wouldn't hurt a fly without good cause, but there was his gun. And Tonsillitis wouldn't outright lie. Would he? He certainly wasn't mistaken if he said it was James' gun. One of a pair, they'd been custom-made, a gift from Sam Colt himself, and Jedediah Jackson was the only man in Carmack who carried anything like them.

Carried. Now that in itself was a laugh. Kept it in the bureau in his room with his socks and combinations more like. Anyone could have gone in and taken it. But who?

Lou stopped in front of James' door, pushing it open. He hadn't closed it in his haste to check the wearabouts of his pistol. No sooner had she walked in when a carelessly flung shirt landed on her head. Pulling it off, she began to laugh. The room was a shambles.

"Laundry day?"

 

[Tonsillitis]

Tonsillitis Jones

Tonsillitis was almost giddy. For once Lou was paying attention. Taking notice. Picking up the glass of "whiskey", Tonsillitis watched her climb the stairs in search of James. There was no way she'd keep him from the hangman. The proof was undeniable.

"Sergeant." Tonsillitis nodded and headed for the kitchen, stomach rumbling all the way.

The undersized sourdough dearly wanted a bath and the feel of crisp clean sheets and a soft bed, but that would have to wait. Dinner and a cozy chat with the NWMP and Lou while Jedediah "James" Jackson squirmed came first.

 

[Rufus the Mad]

Top heaved a heavy sigh, and cracked the bones in his thick neck loudly, the 'pop' as he turned his head slowly to the left and up soundin almost like a pistol shot in the much-subdued room. He brought his head back down and looked directly at Lou... He didn't like the way things were goin, and she bloody well knew it. Hell, anybody that had been there more than a week knew that when Top went to crackin his neck like that, he was about half a step away from crackin sombody elses.

His eyes held only one question, and she could read it easily... the gun. Did she want it dealt with? He knew Jedediah, knew he had a past, hell who didn't, but he also know that the man wasn't stupid. He was bein set up fer somethin... By someone what knew him well enough to know how unique his guns were...

The old Sergeant looked at his boss, not a stare, he kept movin an' all, but he did fix his eye on her, and wait fer an answer while he swabbed out glasses and cleared off the Bar. Still, she seemed more focused on speaking to her bo first, and the old soldier nodded to her as he watched her climb the steps. He knew things were about to get interesting in their wee hamlet... and he hated 'interesting' with an absolute passion. The last thing he'd been around what had been 'interesting' had blown off his fucking leg...

 

[Messalina]

Annie DeSilva

Annie looked up as Tonsillitis walked into the kitchen. He was a strange little man that one and sometimes looked at her in a way that made her skin crawl. Fighting off the urge to make the sign of the cross, Anna forced herself to smile and greet him.

"Buona sera, Tonsillitis. You will have water for your bath soon."

"Thankee kindly, Annie. Lou sent me in to eat," he said in his low raspy voice.

"Wash your hands and face." It was more an order than a request. Tonsillitis looked as though he had the dirt of centuries on him. Hiding the smile that came to her face when she noticed Tad nod solemnly and gesture toward the sink, she began filling a bowl with stew.

"Tad Merriwether, meet Tonsillitis Jones. He works a claim up near Patterson's Creek." Anna watched Tonsillitis scrub his hands, rinse and start all over again. He certainly had a penchant for cleanliness. She shook her head and continued on. "Tad here is going to be doing some handy work around the Aurora."

Tonsillitis nodded, working some of the dirt out from under his fingernails with a brush. "Lars is dead, you know. And James is the one who done him in."

"Che cosa? Madre mia! Dead? What has Signore Jackson to do with this? You are mistaken, surely?" Anna was shocked. Lars Lindquist was a quiet man and bothered no one. As for Lou's James... Well she didn't think he he was the murdering type.

"It's fer true, Annie. The man done poor Lars in. I saw the gun myself," he repeated almost proudly.

She set the bowl of stew on the table with a thump and turned to look at Tonsillitis. This had to be a mistake and if she didn't know better, she'd say that the strange little man was smiling.

 

[OnHarry]

Constable (not officer) Kenneth Stewart Fraser;

Formerly Corporal Fraser but due to a slight disagreement, with the Seargent Major in Regina who happened to be the force disiplinarian, and the father of a daughter of high spirits and abundant appetite. One of her morsels had been Stew, the name he used generally, and her father had not approved. He was demoted to Constable, over some trifling matter.

He was a fifteen year veteran having joined the NWMP just before the North West Rebellion and had served in all the major events of that conflict, including DucK Lake, and Batoche. When the request for more staff for the Yukon went out they asked for Mounties who were large and powerfully built with a reputation for sobriety. Stew met all those criteria, and was promised that if he aquitted himself well he would get his stripes back.

He was not exceptional looking when veiwed from a distance, as he was very well proportioned, and though well over six foot he did not look big until you stood beside him and realized he had arms and a chest like a gorilla. He also had a clean shaven face that was somewhat square and a peculiar way about his mouth that made him look like he was smirking. Very few that encountered him once, wished for a repeat of the experience however. Though he could be jovial on occasion, he was a by the book type, and a constant irritant to Lou as he was equally insistant on fulfilling his other duties that of customs and excise inspector, and revenue collector for the government.

Many ladies were more than interested in him, but he seemed immune to their charms.

He entered the Aurora Borealis on a routine patrol just after Toncillitis and went to a table where a couple of newer types were getting a bit rowdier than he considered good.

He looked down at the pair who were playing cards, stud as it happened, and said "now lads, that will be enough of that, keep it civil, or take it elsewhere."

One of them laughed aloud at him and said "You going to do anything about it, ya big ox."

Stew shook his head, sighed and placed his hand ion the fellows shoulder, which the gambler now realized covered his whole shoulder and try as he might he could not get up or even move under that grip. Then with a movement that was surprisingly swift, the unarmed constable removed the gun under his coat and told him, "I catch you being rowdy again, and you get five days hard labour, on my woodpile, and remember no guns. "

The man nodded in agreement and Stew then nodded at Top who he respected, and said, "I will be back later to get the revenue owing to her majesties government."

Someone spoke up what about, "Lars?"

Looking at the speaker Stew asked, "what about Lars?"

"Toncilitis says he was shot and laying in Patterson's Creek."

Looking at the Seargent, Macdonald nodded, and Stew immediatly turned on his heel and went outside and towards Patterson's creek to investigate. The seargent found his by the book style rather irritating as well.

 

[Mystical Avalon]

Eve passed from dream to dream drifting in her tortured sleep. She heard voices and the calamity downstairs but was resigned to contribute it to her dreams. She moaned loudly and woke in a start. Drenched with sweat, she walked to the window and pushed it open. The weather was harsh in this part of the world but the cold air on her heated body was almost refreshing. Looking upon the town where she was now stuck, she regarded her husband with something of a contempted jealousy. He could move on and probably had already. She on the other had was just that, she. A woman. Closing the window, she walked aimlessly back to the bed and crawled beneath the tattered quilts. She would find out tomorrow one way or another. If he were dead, she would move on. If not, she would find him and maybe kill him herself for the sorrow he had brought her as of late. closing her eyes, she said a prayer and drifted. First, to comfort then into sleep.

 

[Graybread]

Tad couldn’t help himself, he ate the pie faster than he wanted too, knowing a bath waited him when he finished. He laid the fork down and leaned back in the chair, reaching for the cup of hot coffee. He took a long drink of the strong brew, washing down the last of the pie. He hadn’t felt so full since leaving home weeks ago, he realized his missed his Ma’s cooking a lot, but if Annie could cook this good, he was sure he would get over it in a hurry.

"Annie," he said, smiling over at her. "I think that’s the best meal I ever ate. It sure was some good pie, too."

But before she could respond, a man entered the kitchen.

"Buona sera, Tonsillitis. You will have water for your bath soon." Annie said.

"Thankee kindly, Annie. Lou sent me in to eat," he said in his low raspy voice.

"Wash your hands and face." She added.

Tad gestured toward the washstand to make sure Tonsillitis saw it. He thought he was disgustingly dirty, even more so than he himself had been, before washing. He felt dirty again being in the same room with him.

"Tad Merriwether, meet Tonsillitis Jones. He works a claim up near Patterson's Creek." Anna watched Tonsillitis scrub his hands, rinse and start all over again. He certainly had a penchant for cleanliness. She shook her head and continued on. "Tad here is going to be doing some handy work around the Aurora."

Tad nodded to the man in civil greeting. He didn’t like him from the start, just something about him that didn’t sit well with Tad. He picked up his dirty plate and silverware and carried them over to Annie. He felt cleaner just standing next to her, she smelled much better too.

"Annie," he asked, "can I help wash these dishes? Ma always taught me to clean up after myself. And I…." he paused before going on, "I think I’m ready for that bath too," he added, leaning down to whisper in her ear. He was more interested in getting out of the same room with Tonsillitis than actually taking a bath.

 

[Messalina]

Annie

She took the plate from Tad, declining his offer to wash. "No, Tad. Grazie." Truth was, Annie liked cleaning up after herself as she went, but they had a couple of girls who did the washing up regular. They were off doing some of their other chores just now but she knew they'd be back in the kitchen soon.

Tad nodded and took a furtive look at Tonsillitis before whispering, "I think I’m ready for that bath."

Tonsillitis?" Annie smiled and turned toward the diminutive man who was picking almost daintily at his stew. "Just set your dish in the sink, sì?"

Tonsillitis nodded without comment. Turning back to Tad, she gestured for him to follow her. She'd get him a change of clothes from Top. They looked of a similar size. And for sleeping... Well, she'd figure that out in a bit, too.

Annie made small talk as they climbed the narrow back stairs that were mainly used by the help so they didn't have to keep walking through the common room of the Aurora. He followed her quietly as they walked down the corridor at the landing of the second flight to where the staff quarters were.

Opening the door, she turned to Tad. "Come." Noticing his hesitation, she tugged at his sleeve and gave him a nudge. "Come."

The room wasn't frilly, but it was obviously a woman's. Hers, in fact. Not knowing what else to do with him, Annie had decided to let Tad use her bath. It was just a small room off her own, but she did have running hot and cold thanks to an engineer Lou had struck a deal with some time back.

Tad's face was glowing a bright shade of crimson as he began to realize where he was. Annie just grinned. There was a charming innocence to his wide-eyed wonder that tugged at her heart-strings.

"Over there," she pointed toward a screen that stood out from the wall. "You can undress there and throw your clothes over the top. You can run your bath once I've taken them and left. Soap is in there. Towels as well. And make sure you scrub behind your ears or I will do it for you. Capisce?"

Tad just stood there shuffling his feet until Annie gave him a firm but gentle shove. "Undress. Now." The look on her face and her no nonsense tone of voice told him that he had best do as told. Without another word he hurried behind the changing screen and began placing his clothes, layer after layer over the top as she had bade him do.

 

[Graybread]

Tad grabbed his rifle against the wall as he followed Annie up the back stairs. He was grateful to be out of the kitchen, away from Mr. Jones. The man gave him the willies, or the “heebie jeebies”, as his little brother would say. He felt very uncomfortable around the man, but the feeling was fading as he walked with Annie. The feeling fell from him as he listen to her chatter. He liked to listen to her voice, even if he didn’t understand all the words sometimes. He thought her voice was sweet like a meadowlarks. He didn’t understand them, but he could listen to them for hours. She didn’t make him feel uncomfortable at all. They finally came to a door down the corridor and stopped, she opened the door.

“Come,” she said.

Tad paused, the fragrances of Annie wafted from the room, strong and sweet.

“Come,” Annie, said again, tugging at his sleeve, pulling him into the room.

He just didn’t know what to do. He realized this was her room, she was inviting him into her room, his heart skipped a beat. He didn’t know what to do. He had never been invited into a woman’s room before. He felt an overpowering urge to run, but also, at the same time, he wanted to be here. He was so embarrassed to be standing in her room like this. He was even more embarrassed than the time Becky Hampton had kissed him on the mouth right in front of his two brothers, and they laughed at him for days. It wasn’t the kiss that bothered him, he liked that, it was when they told Ma about it. And for some odd reason, she just smiled and hugged him. But this, this was different; he was alone in her room, Annie’s room, with her.

"Over there," she pointed toward a screen that stood out from the wall. "You can undress there and throw your clothes over the top. You can run your bath once I've taken them and left. Soap is in there. Towels as well. And make sure you scrub behind your ears or I will do it for you. Capisce?"

Tad just stood there, he had heard the words, they just didn’t register. “Undress, now”, did. He hurried behind the screen and started taking off his clothes. He pulled the suspenders off his broad shoulders and unbutton his first torn and tattered broadcloth shirt, took it off and threw it over the screen. Then the second one came off, he had found it warmer and more convenient to wear all his clothes as apposed to carrying them. He threw this one over the screen as well. He lifted one leg and pulled the boot off, then the other. He looked down at his socks, and smiled, one big toe was sticking out of the left sock and all the toes out of the other. Neither had heels. He pulled them off as well and threw them over the screen. “All done,” he called.

“Your combinations as well,” Annie replied.

A small amount of fear entered his heart. He looked down at himself, his combinations where a dingy dirty gray, and had more holes than his socks. “But….but then I’ll be naked,” he answered in a weak voice.

“Your combinations, Tad,” Annie said, suppressing a giggle.

“Couldn’t I just wash them while I take a bath,” he asked hopefully?

“Tad,” came the voice.

“Alright,” he whispered in reservation. The top three buttons were already missing, so he started at the next one down. It fell off as well, as soon as he touched it. He did manage to get the rest of them unbuttoned down to his crouch, but when he tried to push them over his muscular shoulder he heard it rip down the back. He ended up just tearing them off and throwing them over the screen. “These might need some mending,” he added matter-of-factly. He heard Annie laughing on the other side. “What? What’s funny,” he asked?

“Niente, toro. Niente,” she laughed, covering her mouth with her hand.

Tad stretched his big arms, and the muscles rippled down his back, it felt good to be out of clothes, for awhile. A white X crossed his back, from his suspenders, where he had gone shirtless, when plowing the fields. It looked as if they were holding up white pants as well. “The tubs in here,” he asked, stepping into the doorway of the little room.

“Si toro,” Annie said, still giggling.

“There’s no water in the tub,” he yelled out.

“You have to turn the faucets,” she yelled back.

“What’s a faucet,” he asked?

“Here, let me show you,” she said, starting across the room and around the screen.

“Nooooo,” he wailed, “Don’t come in here. I don’t have any clothes on.” He jumped behind the door to hide himself. He had known fear before. He had out run a Wolverine, in sheer panic, when crossing the Canadian and US border. He had spent three separate nights in tree tops, one getting away from a pack of wolves, and two from 'Grizz', but this was all out fear, nothing compared to this. He tried to shut the door on her, but she was already through. He hide behind it, peeking out around the edge, the white X now bright red.

A broad smiled crossed her face as she walked over and turned the faucets. “One is hot and one is cold,” she said, not turning to look at him. “More hot is better, Capisce?” She turned away from him, not wanting to embarrass him more, although it wouldn’t have mattered; he wasn’t even peeking around the door now. “Soap is here and towels are here,” she said as she left the room, grinning devilishly. She was one step out the door when he slammed it behind her.

Tad heard her laughing as she collected his clothes and left the main room. “Wimmin,” he commented, as he stepped to the tub and watched the water run. He thought the faucet thing was the best invention since…since the trap door in the behind of his combinations. He raised his foot and stepped into the tub. Grabbing a bar of soap before sitting down in the hot water. “Aaaahhh,” he sighed as he settled down in the warmth. Tad had trouble remembering the last time he had felt real warmth. He played with the faucets for awhile, turning them off and on, until the tub was so full it was splashing over the sides. He slide down under the water and held his breath, letting the heat soak in. He finally came up and began to wash himself seriously, starting at his hair and worked his way down. When he was satisfied that he was clean enough he just settled back and relaxed. He fell asleep before he knew it.

 

[Messalina]

Annie DeSilva

Annie chuckled when Tad slammed the door behind her. There was always a bit of a boy left in every man, and this one was no different.

Looking at the raggedy clothes hanging over the screen, she picked them up gingerly using only thumb and forefinger of each hand. If not for the dirt holding them together, they would have crumbled at a mere touch and there wasn't that much mending in the world to make these things right again.

Trying not to breathe too deeply, Annie left her room and took Tad's clothing to the incinerator out back. Lou had insisted on their having one and who was she to argue. It kept the rats down and some other animals away too.

Tonsillitis was still eating daintily when she walked back into the kitchen. Anna scrubbed her hands with a cake of brown soap she kept at the sink, not knowing what sort of critters might have been in Tad's clothes. Frankly, she didn't want to take a chance.

"Are you enjoying your dinner?" she asked, more out of politeness than anything. He nodded and thanked her in that quiet voice of his while she cut him a slice of pie and put it on the table before going into the common room to ask Top to lend a change of clothes for Tad.

Hank raised an eyebrow when she asked, but quickly obliged. Anna wasn't sure they'd fit, but they would at least do until the mercantile opened the next day. She had already decided to talk to Lou about an advance in Tad's pay. He had to dress in order to work, sì? Sì.

Now to see about Il Toro. He wasn't very much younger than she was by the looks of him -- maybe six or seven years, but there was something about him that made her want to take him under her wing and keep him safe. Truth, Anna liked him and was more than a little glad he'd found his way to the Yukon.

Grinning, she let herself back into her room. "Tad?" she called out. "Sono qui. Are you finished bathing?"

Not getting an answer, she knocked on the door. "Toro? Che cosa? Are you there?" Of course he must be there. Where would he wander culo fauda?

Anna knocked again before opening the door. "Toro?" The sight that met her eyes tugged at her heartstrings. His sun bleached blond hair plastered to his head, the big boy/man was sound asleep in a tub full of gray water. She watched him for a moment before placing her hand gently on his shoulder.

"Wake, Toro. You cannot sleep in the water all night."