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Post by Sephiramy on Sept 21, 2010 7:59:08 GMT -8
Never in her entire life had Marty ever dreamed of traveling ever so far and for so long. It already felt like a year had passed her on by since she last left the home where she grew up, where her ma and pa still lived. In reality however, it had only been about three or four maybe even five months. Marty had quit counting once she began loosing track of what day it was. For they all seemed no different from the other once she hit the old dusty trail. There was only day and night. It was all that mattered really since she didn’t exactly know where she was going or how long it would take her to get there. Luckily for her though she had enough money for the stagecoach, thanks to her ma and pa. Many people of all ages and backgrounds got on and off with each town she stopped at. None of them had ever stayed on long enough to get acquainted with, excluding the two drivers that was. Sadly they hadn’t been all that friendly much either. One was old and fat and was missing all his teeth. The man also had a terrible habit of chewing tobacco while he was driving the team. Marty had to learn quick that while he was driving she had to keep the worn out leather flap down over her window, otherwise she’d end up with brown foul smelling spit in her hair, on her face or even on her dress as he spat while the coach was still in movement. Unfortunately that happened to her a few times when first starting out. Now the second man was quite a bit younger. A few years older then herself was Marty’s guess. He looked like a younger version of the older man so Marty assumed they were father and son. The son too of course was dirty and crude and was missing half of his teeth. All that remained were rotted and stained little nubs. Now the son also had a horrible habit. Whether or not it was worse then his pa’s she wasn’t quite sure. Every time they would stop in a town the son would disappear for thirty minutes or longer and come back drunker then a skunk. A few times Marty had to use harsh words with the man as he tried to get a bit too close for her liking. Marty was glad once that was all over though. For the stagecoach had come to an end in the previous town, around a two week travel distance away from here. It was there that Marty took more then half of the remainder of her money and bought an old farm horse named Captain B and an old rugged half rotted out wagon to match. She didn’t plan on stopping at this town but wanted to go on to the next. So with her head held high and her shoulders back Marty hitched up her new horse, loaded her small trunk and a few previsions before leaving and entering dust country once more. By the time the poor thing reached Grey Sages she was exhausted. Even poor old Captain B rolled into town looking just about worn as Marty. The two of them had endured a few minor dust storms and even a heavy thunderstorm with no coverings to keep them dry. They were dry now though as the sun held steadily up in the sky shinning brightly upon the town. “Whoa!” Marty called out as she pulled back on the reins every so gently after reaching the livery. She then put on the wagon break before hoping down with a thud causing a bit of dust to cloud around her ankles. Looking around Marty tried to decide whether or not she should stop here or keep on traveling. First thing first, no matter what, she wanted to have a nice warm bath and clean up a bit. For she wasn’t the prettiest sight at the moment. Her skin was slightly pink due to the amount of sun, dust stuck to her sweat covered brow, skin and clothes, her lips were chapped due to the heat and her hands were blistered from the worn out leather reins. Not to mention that her hair was tangled, although still pinned back as neatly as possible, and a bit greasy although she would never admit it. A heavy sigh escaped her lips as she removed her bonnet from on top her head then pulled out her handkerchief. She used it to wipe across her forehead, on down her face and over the back of her neck. ”Well old boy,” she said turning back to Captain B, ”let‘s get you something to eat and drink. How does that sound?” Of course the horse did nothing but stand there looking down a the ground as if something had caught his undivided attention. ”I‘m sure we‘ll both feel better after a good nights rest,” she continued while unhitching the horse from the wagon before giving him a few pats on his rump. Now all she needed to do was find the person in charge so she could pay for a horse’s stable. Ooc: normally my posts aren’t so long but it’s her intro thread so I couldn‘t help it^^ |
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Post by Sojourner on Sept 25, 2010 21:17:23 GMT -8
News traveled fast in a town as small as Cahone. It didn't have to travel much at all for Jake's attention to be caught this time around however. He kept his best mare Blaze in the town's livery. He had just returned from a long ride out to see the condition of the mustang herd and judge which of them ought to be brought in with the next roundup in another month or two. There were a couple of real fine colts in the bunch, sired by the infamous Roman. The sheriff was grooming his mare thoroughly, murmuring sweet nothings to her as lovingly as he might have murmured into a sweetheart's ear. He wasn't much for sentimentality... but Blaze was his lovely lady, the only one he really confided in.
The sound of a cart rumbling to a stop in front of the livery drew Jake's attention as he finished sorting away his tack and gave Blaze a generous helping of hay and grain. He looked up, seeing only the unfamiliar woman at first as she began to unhitch the elderly horse that had drawn the cart here. He seemed fortunate still to be standing upright. It was obvious that these were newcomers... what Jake failed to consider was that this lady might have come all this way on her own. He thought that surely she must have a husband, father, brother, even an uncle who had escorted her here. Perhaps he had stopped off at the saloon to get a feel for the town.
"Good evenin' ma'am," he said, wiping his hands and face with his handkerchief before crumpling it into one of his back pockets and tipping his hat to her just a bit. "May I help you with anythin'?" Jake might have been mistaken for the stablemaster himself... if it weren't for the fact that he was a little more heavily armed than the typical stable master. And then there was the small matter of a sheriff's star pinned to his vest.
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Post by Sephiramy on Sept 26, 2010 12:23:03 GMT -8
Marty led Captain B into the livery hoping that there would be at least one empty stall for him. They were both tired and couldn’t continue on even if they wanted to and Marty didn’t want to leave her poor old horse out in the open. She had seen it before where others had done just that then along would come young boys looking for trouble. Marty was sure that an old horse like Captain B would surely catch their attention. Why did kids pick on old scruffy animals anyways? Remembering though the empty roads as they arrived she doubted that there would be trouble of any sort, but still it was better to be on the safe side.
Surprisingly enough there were quite a few stalls open. Marty breathed out a thankful sigh as she continued to lead him farther into the wooden building. It definitely smelt like a livery which meant that others visited or used the stalls, although the few horses there were also a definite sign.
She had yet to notice the person taking care of his horse and whatnot mainly due to how exhausted she was. Normally Marty was a very observant person but her mind was rather foggy and had only a few simple things on it for tonight. The decision was also still there on whether or not she would stay on here in Cahone. Depending on how her over night stay was she would either travel on or settle down on here in this little old town.
Once she found a stall that looked like it hadn’t been used recently, just to be sure she wasn’t taking anyone’s personal stall, she began getting Captain B ready for his little stay. It was then that a stranger's voice filled the air asking her if she needed anything. With a simple but sweet smile Marty turned around and soon found herself looking at a tall man a bit older then she.
”Oh.. Um.. Yes. I was hoping that I could pay for a stall tonight. My horse and I will be staying on at least one night. Do I pay you?” Again, due to her being on the brink of collapsing from such a long journey Marty had yet to notice that he had on a sheriff's badge or any of the other simple clues that would point him away from being the stable master.
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Post by Sojourner on Sept 28, 2010 6:56:33 GMT -8
Jake watched quietly as the young woman led her elderly horse to one of the vacant stalls. She seemed to know what she was doing, though he wasn't sure why any man accompanying her would have left her to it. He had still convinced himself that she surely must have a travelling companion somewhere in the town. It was unfathomable to him that a young woman would be so bold as to cross the wilds to this humble town on her own, considering how many hazards could well have tripped her up. At least she had such an unassuming horse and cart as not to attract attention from thieves. Still, her beauty and youth itself was not entirely unassuming... though that was about as close as the sheriff would get to admitting that she was pretty.
"Apologies, ma'am," he said to her after a moment when she asked whether she ought to pay him. "I am Sheriff Jake Colburn, I keep my horses here. You'll need to pay Kurt... I believe he's out back working one of his colts." He turned and gestured down the barn's breezeway. "I'll help you find him if you like. Your horse will be fine there for now." He led the way out to the pens out back. "If you don't mind my askin', what brings you out this way ma'am? You travelin' with anyone?" As sheriff, it was partly his task to get an idea for the comings and goings in the town. He served as a 'gatekeeper' of sorts, though was never really outright about it.
They stepped outside. Sure enough, a man was saddling a fidgety colt that had been tied to one of the fenceposts. The young horse was sidling from one side to another, clearly very uncertain about this business of having a bulky leather things strapped to his back. Kurt was working quietly, but he wasn't taking it too slow and easy either. There was a job that needed to be done. He didn't have weeks to spend on getting this colt to stand quietly while saddled before asking a great deal more of it. "Kurt," Jake called. "This young lady would like to board her horse here for the night."
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Post by Sephiramy on Sept 28, 2010 12:23:09 GMT -8
While waiting for a quick reply from the man Marty looked around hoping to find a brush that was free for all to use on their horses. Poor Captain B’s mane was full of knots and tangles due to the neglect from his previous owners so he was definitely in need of some major grooming. Now Marty wasn’t the kind to obsess over horses, mainly due to the lack of interaction she’s had with them, but her heart went out the creature. He definitely deserved better and Marty was going to make sure she’d see to it he’d receive the best care that she could provide. So the next thing on her list to buy was a new brush.
After the stranger spoke up and announced that he wasn’t the stable master, but the town's sheriff instead, Marty nodded slightly in understanding. In fact now that he mentioned it Marty could see his badge pinned to his clothes along with at least one gun at his side. She felt somewhat stunned at first that someone so young was a sheriff. For all the previous sheriffs she had run into in the past had been old with big bellies and gray beards.
”Please forgive me,” she apologized, nodding her head once more before stepping out of the stall leaving her horse behind. Marty then quietly followed to the outside until they approached another man. The Sheriff then explained, to the man named Kurt, why she was here.
Not very much was said between the two of them except for the amount owed on renting out the stable. So after digging in her small leather bag for a few silver coins Marty paid the man. He seemed satisfied enough for he turned back around and went back to working on the colt.
Once their business was done Marty turned back around to the Sheriff and began answering his previous question. ”I‘m all alone. It‘s been a tiring and lonesome road. I guess that‘s the life out here though, right?” she asked tilting her head slightly, ”I‘m out this way actually looking for a place to call my own someday. I just need to find that place first.” Marty gave him another little smile before she looked away. She had no place to call home for the time being, but hopefully that would change in the near future.
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