"Aurora Borealis"

[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.

 

[BigDonGStone]

Jedediah

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.

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.

If my gun was lying next to a dead man then someone set me up.

I looked over at Lou and I could see the look in her eye. She knew that someone would pay and pay dearly.

 

[Stardust Memory]

Amanda Matthews

The men and women who boarded at the Monroe House began coming in one by one. Exhausted from long days and shorter nights; most would eat and go right to bed. Truth be told, Amanda was more than a bit tired herself, but she'd established the practice of staying up until everyone was in and there was still one boarder who hadn't come home yet -- Leon Numb, a quiet young man who was usually very punctual. Amanda tried to busy herself around the house while making plans for the next day.

Tomorrow was her day to reckon receipts with Miss Lou at the Aurora and then take orders for baked goods from Anna. Just after arriving in Carmack, Amanda had heard talk that led her to make a profitable business deal with Lou Service and, for the first time in her life, she had been glad that her mother had insisted she learn to cook and bake. Between the boarding house and that, she was sending money home on a regular basis and banking quite a bit as well.

When the parlor clock chimed nine, Amanda woke with a start. She must have fallen asleep. Setting her sewing down she walked into the kitchen and poured a glass of water. Leon's plate remained on the table still untouched. Where in the world could he be?

Brushing a strand of hair from her face, Amanda hovered between going to look for him and just going to bed. He'd probably just hooked up with one of the fancy women, she thought. Wasn't her business to be worried about him. He was a grown man after all.

 

[NickisSora]

Leon

-Leon finally foudn some courage to pick him self off the Freezing ground it was About time the Borrding house was open again, he looked to the time it was past nine and that means dinner was gonna get cold he lifted him self off the ground his clothes in a bit of a tatter and he was dirty, cut, and beat a bit, he held his arm while he limped home, but his limbs were cold and he was freezing! He held her coat tight to him just out side the boarding house he went up the stairs but on the thrid step he falls banging his knee and hitting his head to the steps which spread the cut on his head a lil more he sighs and lets out a few tears-"Im so hopeless!"-It be nice to See Amandas Smile but he didnt know if he wanted ehr seeign him like this but his knee was sore again and his body half forzen he gets a hand to the railing and holds him self half up as he shivers harshly from the gigantic amount of cold air hitting him.-

 

[Stardust Memory]

Amanda Matthews & Leon Numb

Her eyes widened as Leon let himself in, his clothes torn and not a few bruises decorating his usually handsome face. "What?" she started to ask then bit her tongue. Hurrying to him and pushing the door closed, she took his arm and brought him to the kitchen. The fire in the parlor had died down and this would be the warmest room right now.

"Sit here," she told him. Pulling a chair closer to the stove, she threw some wood inside and set two large pots of water on the burner. "I'll be right back."

He was still shivering when she returned with a heavy blanket. "Wrap yourself up, I'll start a fire." Within minutes the fireplace was ablaze, the heat radiating throughout the room. "A hot bath, some dinner and bed," she said to him as she pulled a tin tub down from the pegs it hung on.

As Leon's dinner heated, Amanda poured the boiling hot water into the tub and added just enough cold to keep him from being burned. "Undress and climb in. Soap's there and I'll warm towels." She commanded him as if she were talking to one of her siblings, but her concern was genuine. Something awful had happened to him and she was sure she would soon find out what.

"No arguments now. The screen will give you privacy," she added, dragging an oriental screen from where it had been propped against the wall and setting it up. He looked none too pleased, but even so, Leon Numb stood, placing the blanket over the back of the chair and stepped behind it.

"Now you can tell me what happened," Amanda said, stirring the stew and mixing batter for Johnny-cakes.

His story was jumbled, but in the end she realized that he had not only lost his job, he'd gambled away his savings and taken a beating to boot. It wasn't an uncommon story in Carmack, but she had expected better of him - though she couldn't exactly say why. Leon just seemed different somehow.

"I'll go get those towels now and with permission, something for you to wear," she said at last, biting back a lecture. "Your dinner is ready and I'm sure you've had quite enough excitement for one day."

Ten minutes later, they were sitting across from each other at the table, Leon dressed - to his shame - in long johns covered only by a robe. "Tomorrow," she was saying, "I'll have a word with Miss Lou. Everything will come right, Mr. Numb. You'll see."

 

[NickisSora]

-Leon looked ot her eyes when he was draged in side andhelped out when he finaly got to his dinner he looked to her-"Im sorry about this i really am amanda my dad was right before i had to take care of Liana if you letyour sister down you wil let your self and every one down maybe its about time i should of taken my licks and then kicked the grave stone over i mean i thought i played piano pretty good i thought so any way.....have you ever herd me play Amanda"-he asked her softly a she munched on the stew which was delightful-

-It was late and he continued to munch but amanda didnt sem to mind ever since Lianas death its been rough for him he bumped in to amanda and she boreded him helped him get his first job and starte dhim off but he alwasy had a soft spot for her he blushed as he kept his cap to his chair side-

"I even wrote a song about you theres no words but the tune is wonderful"

-he blushed more as he whiped it from his cheeks and smiles softly while eating but he whiped that away takign inthe events today-

 

[TinyDuchess]

Bath Time with Rebecca and George

Rebecca forced herself to stifle the chuckle she gave at the sight of George sitting huddled in the tub. She couldnt quite figure out why he was acting so strangely.

Perhaps it was she who was reacting oddly. Perhaps she had grown too accustomed to men viewing her as an instrument of pleasure, a vessel to channel their release, too accustomed to the treating her like a whore. Oh she was whore, there was no doubt in her mind about that, but despite that fact Rebecca still believed that wasnt all there was to her as a person. There just had to be more, she needed to believe it, its the only thing that kept her going. Though she would never admit it out loud to anyone, she had dreams and ambitions.

She crossed the room, smiling at his attempt at modesty as she grew closer. Kneeling at the side of the tub, she sat back on her heels as she took both the soap and a wash cloth in hand. Dipping her hand into the warm water of the tub she quickly worked the soap against the cloth creating a foamy lather. Keeping her eyes from his she knelt up to gently rub the cloth at his shoulder blades.

"I would never have taken you for a bashful one George." she said on a playful laugh. "But anyway... why dont ya tell me 'bout your visit to your claim? Did you have a good run this time out?"

 

[bullshot]

Crazy George & Rebecca

George waited nervously as Rebecca knelt by the side of the tub and took the soap and cloth dipping both into the water accidentally brushing his arm as she rubbed the soap and cloth together.

“That feels great,” he told her as she started to rub the soap filled cloth across his shoulders slowly working her way up and down his back as she scrubbed the accumulated grime from his back. He knew that she was doing a better job than he would have been able to do even if he was embarrassed sitting in a tub naked with a fully dressed female washing him just like his mother used to do when he was a child.

"I would never have taken you for a bashful one George." she said on a playful laugh.

“The last time I was bathed by a woman was when I was a child,” he told her smiling as he enjoyed the feel of the cloth moving on his body.

"But anyway... why dont ya tell me 'bout your visit to your claim? Did you have a good run this time out?"

“No better than usual,” he replied. “I sometimes think that the guys in the assay office are cheating me but the bandits who’ve held me up in the past haven’t been interested in my gold either,” he added as he thought about the stack he had up at the mine ready to come down to town on his next trip.

“I’m starting to wonder if it’s really worth while and if I’d be better off getting a job in town instead of digging in all sorts of weather,” he laughed as she moved to start on his chest causing him more embarrassment because he had to move his arms.

This meant that he had to move his hands which up until this point had been covering his private parts, with a sigh he decided that it was easier to let her have her way and relax as she removed the month long grime from his body. He wondered what she’d do once she’d finished washing the part of him that was out of the water and then wondered what he’d do if she insisted on continuing.

 

[karnelman]

A. Dukes, a gambler

After sitting there awhile, trying to figure out exactly what the hell he was supposed to do, August decided that he had better do something. So far the boss’s minion seemed to be mute. No more than a big guy with a gun. The gambler pushed back his chair, nodded at the man whose name he had bothered to memorize and walked out of the office. He looked about and spotted the boss lady across the room. With a purposeful gait he made his way over to her.

“Miss Service, thanks for the offer. I do believe I would enjoy a regular place to hand my hat for a time. So I will take you up on the job. There are a couple of details I need straightened out. You have any suggestion on a place that is available for rent long term? That hotel down the street I slept in last night isn’t exactly a place I would call home. The bed has more fleas than my horse. Oh and when do you want to start this little game and just how big an edge do you want the house to hold?” He asked quietly.

 

[OnHarry]

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 toward one of the Aurora's patrons, smiled and nodded. "Evening, Jedediah. It sure looks like your gun that's laying beside Lars."

Tonsillitis moved off towards Lou, smiling.

Constable Fraser had been on his way out when Tonsilitis had come in, and upon hearing his statement followed him to his seat which gave the diminutive Tonsilitis an appreciation for just how big the mountie was. This seemed to make him suddenly uncomfortable.

"Where did you say you saw the body" Fraser asked, leaning over Tonsilitis and dwarfing him.

He answered even more lowly than usual almost a whisper as he looked up at Fraser, "bu bu bu by the creek on his claim, next to mine," he managed.

Fraser nodded and started to say something else when Lou who was doubtless irritated by the intrusion of not only a policeman but a revenue collector as well came up behind the two and saying, "I will get him taken care of cleaned up, and make sure he stays put constable. Maybe you should check his story out."

If he was irritated Kenneth did not show it, only replying yes maam, that is fine but see to it he stays put if you don't mind."

With that he left with McIntyre behind him, returning to the barracks and jail, he changed from the Scarlett to his field dress, and after verifying with his seargent where the claim was, and where toncilitis's claim was as well, he set out.

By the time Fraser got to the claim it ws near dark and hard to see, so he went to the cabin which was, as near as he could tell, undisturbed and he waited till morning. When first light came, he went to the creekbed and searched for the body. Nothing, however he did see the gun a really expensive looking colt, and looking at it, it had been fired there was one bullet missing from the chamber.

After putting the revolver in an oilskin bag, Keneth mounted up and looked around the site trying not to disturb it , however with all the rain last night, any tracks were washed away, and the creek had risen. He speculated the body being close to the creek may have been washed downstream.

Fraser rode downstream away from the town, and eventually about a mile away he found Lars, tangled up in a Black Spruce tree that had fallen over the creek. With some effort he dislodged the body and after noting not one but two wounds put the body over his own horse and walked back to the cabin.

When he got there he put Lars over the back of his mule and then went a bit further to the next claim, which was where Tonsilitis had his place. When he entered two things were apparent., firstly the place must in normal times have been tidy and well kept unlike Lars' place. The second thing was there had been some sort of struggle here as the clean furnishings were really messed up.

This was puzzling to Kenneth as he considered what he might ask Tonsillitis when he got back. On his way Fraser considered what to do about this and resolved to make sure that there were no guns in town.

When he got there he dropped the body off at the hand laundry run by Mr Wong who also served as undertaker and assisted the doctor, when he was at least half sober, in post mortems if the doc was too drunk Mr Wong did the post mortems himself.

After bedding his horse down in the stable behind the barracks, he walked towards the Aurora he passed the general store and heard some commotion within.

Walking in he saw a slight young woman half his size and at least ten maybe twelve uears younger confronting a prospecter, who apparently had no credit left.
Upon seeing the constable, the prospecter departed mumbling about damn bitches, who wouldn't help a man out when he was down on his luck.

Touching the brim of his stetson Kenneth asked, "are you all right maam."

"Yes I am thanks, I hated to turn him down but he is already into me for a hundred dollars and my policy is if your that high then no more credit, till you pay something."

"Good policy," agreed Constable Fraser, "I suspect he has enough for drink and some poker. Hopefully he won't come back when you are alone again. If there is any other problem just call on us and we will see it right good day maam."

She nodded firmly and said,"if that should happen I will call on you Constable, but generally I can handle whatever comes so no need to worry on my account."

"Well I will make a point of insuring your not troubled too much by him or others." He touched the brim of his uniform stetson once more and left. As he walked to the Aurora Borealis he thought, "nice looking young lady, I think she will be all right here."

 

[wrytersyren]

Corinne watched as the Constable left the store, she had been irriated but grateful for his stopping in long enough to scare off the young prospector. The young man had come in asking for supplies on credit once again, when Corinne refused he had gone into a rage. She hadnt been frightened, she was more than capable of defending herself, but who knew what could happen in the dead of the evening.

This evening was especially quiet, the sun having long since gone to bed, leaving behind a storm grey, cloud filled sky. Most everyone was indoors due to the light drizzle of rain had started outside.

Corinne set about tidying the shop, restocking a few shelves before she closed up for the evening. Standing outside, she shivered against the cold evening air that surrounded her. After ensuring the door was securely locked, she crossed the street making her way to the Aurora to deposit the days earnings. Some might find that odd, but Corinne knew like most of business people did, there wasnt a safer place in town for your money than Lou's safe.

After handing over the worn leather pouch to Fletch, she made her way outside once more. She strolled along the sidewalk, her shoes thudding softly against the wooden boards as she made her way to the inn. After John died, Corinne had moved into the Amanda Matthew's boarding house. It had been hard at first having to selling off most of their property, giving up their humble apartment in exchange for a tiny room.

Corinne still hadnt gotten used to sleeping in a strange bed without having John by her side, but she had no other choice. She missed him with every passing moment, but the hurt and loss deepened on evening like this, when the quiet of the evening seemed to demand having a partner by your side. Nevertheless, she quietly made her way up to her room, tomorrow would be here soon enough, and she would survive it, just as she had every day since John's passing.

 

[Miss Behavin']

Frenchie Silverheels & Doc Plimsoll

Doc tossed her a Double Eagle and grabbed the bottle of whiskey, watching bemused as Frenchie wove the coin in and out of her fingers before making it suddenly disappear. "Not bad," he said, brushing up against her. A crooked smile spread across his face as he reached toward her and pulled the same twenty dollar gold piece from behind her ear.

"Ooh la la!" she twittered, plucking the coin out of his hand and placing it between her breasts. "I can't wait to see what other tricks you have to show me, chere." She had recognized him for what he was first thing, but it was rare for someone to see through her; and in a perverse sort of way, she liked it. Slipping her arm through his, Frenchie led the way upstairs.

"Vwah lah," she purred, waiting for Doc to open the door to the room. It might have seemed a silly thing to some, but Frenchie loved being spoiled and pampered and especially enjoyed being treated like a "lady". What she gave in return made the little things she expected well worth it and Doc Plimsoll knew the deal. Taking his hat off, he opened the door and waved her in like a fancy gentleman, kicking the door shut with his foot and locking it behind them after she had passed through.

The room was small and comfortably furnished, the bed large and sturdy with plenty of bounce. Doc tested it and grinned.

Hiking up the skirt of her dress, she straddled one of his legs backwards and bent over to tug off one of his boots. Though she was wearing stockings, Frenchie Silverheels - preferring to go ala mode - exposed her entire underside to him as she did so. Doc's grin broadened.

 

[TinyDuchess]

“I’m starting to wonder if it’s really worth while and if I’d be better off getting a job in town instead of digging in all sorts of weather,”

Rebecca's soft features twisted into a frown of confusion as she regarded George. "Ne'er thought I'd live to hear a miner say, he'd gotten over a case of gold fever." she said on a soft chuckle. Her hands dipped into the water, wetting the cloth once more before going to his chest.

As she passed the cloth along the expanse of his chest, rubbing gently at the grime that covered his skin, Rebecca hummed softly. The soft sound of her melodic voice filled the silence of the room. Her hand worked the washcloth along his collar bone, then across his pectorals and finally down across his abdomen. She watched as George relaxed beneath her hand, settling deeper into the tub. Her eyes drifted lower, beneath the shallow depths of the water, to the place where his manhood was now visible, no longer hidden by his hands. Her lips curved into a small smile at the sight, as she lifted her eyes to his slowly, before shyly flitting them away.

She toyed with the idea of letting her tiny hand slip beneath the water, where she could then... She dismissed the idea, choosing instead to lean over him, reaching beneath his arm to wash at his side. The new position brought her body closer to him, and her breasts pressed lightly against his chest. Turning her eyes to his once more, Rebecca slowly pulled back, murmuring, "I'm... I'm sorry."

 

[Maid of Marvels]

The lady that's known as... Lou

"Evening Jedediah, 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 Jedediah but decided to handle Tonsillitis and the law first. 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, Fletch. This just hasn't been my day."

Lou rolled her eyes when Fletch 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 tall, handsome 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. Jedediah's gun laying right there next to him, too."

She shooed Fletch 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 Fletch. Nothing slipped by Fletch.

"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. "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 Masterton 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.

 

[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 up and down like a pump handle.

“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 sleep. 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 started a different kind of heat, but did make him feel better. He liked it when she touched him; it made him feel more confident and not 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 take a bath 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 the Constable.

"I will get him taken care of cleaned up, and make sure he stays put, Constable. Maybe you should check his story out."

Lou looked the man up and down as if she were inspecting him. In a way she was. He wasn't raw and she sensed he was honest. They could have done worse, Lou supposed. All things considered.

"You can speak to Jedediah if you wish, but I won't have you questioning Tonsillitis here on your own. Tomorrow will be time enough, Constable... Fraser, is it?" 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."

The Constable's face was unreadable. "Yes maam, that is fine but see to it he stays put if you don't mind."

Lou nodded, watching the Constable's back as he left the Aurora. Truth, she might be stalling for time, but she wasn't going to let Tonsillitis get away and all three of them knew it.

 

[Tonsillitis]

Tonsillitis Jones

Tonsillitis was almost giddy. For once Lou was paying attention. Taking notice. Picking up the glass of "whiskey", Tonsillitis watched her look around, her eyes searching for Jedediah. There was no way she'd keep him from the hangman. The proof was undeniable.

"Constable." 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 Lou while Jedediah Jackson squirmed came first.

 

[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 Jedediah 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 Jedediah... Well she didn't think he had it in him to kill a fly.

"It's fer true, Annie. He done poor Lars in. I saw the gun myself."

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.

 

[NickisSora]

LEon

-Leon looked ot Amanda she hadnt answerd him.-

"Amanda Do you think Im hopeless"-he asked as he thought of his fathers words and his sisters cold death he just wished he had saved her he missed her so-

 

[BigDonGStone]

Jedediah:

Jedediah sat back in his chair and watched the scene before him unfold. Tonsillitis was putting on a show for Lou that was for sure. The question was, "Who else?".

Tonsillitis wasn't a problem and no one else would start up anything in Lou's place. The constable though was the unknown variable.

Jedediah looked him over real good. If he was young and inexperienced then he might make the mistake of jumping to conclusions and acting on Tonsillitis' mouth instead of listening to his own inner voice of reason.

Jedediah was always a good judge of character and he quickly decided that the constable was either seasoned or smart. Probably both.

Lou got between the constable and Tonsillitis and quickly assured both of them with exactly what they wanted to hear. Tonsillitis would stay put AND Tonsillitis would have Lou's ear.

As the constable left the Aurora Jedediah's thoughts sharpened.

"The constable better find who killed Lars, and why I'm being framed before I do", he thought.

As Jedediah stood to go to his room he sheathed the Jim Bowie just as unobtrusively as he had unsheathed it when Tonsillitis spoke.

 

[Graybread]

Tad Meriwether

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 ‘et. It sure enough 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]

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 Hank. 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

Tad grabbed his rifle off the wall, as he followed Annie up the back stairs. He was grateful to be out of the kitchen, away from Jones. The man gave him the willies, or the “hebbie jebbies”, as his little brother would say. He felt very uncomfortable around the man, but the feeling faded as he walked with Annie. The feeling fell from him as he listened 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 unbuttoned 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 as a matter of fact. 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 hid 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 moaned as he settled down in the warmth. Tad had trouble remembering the last time he had felt really warm. 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]

Anna 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. 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 Fletch to lend a change of clothes for Tad.

Fletch 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."