Nowhere to Go But Up [[Open]]

[bwavobunny]

4:40 pm
Outfit: [Top/bottom] [Bonnet]

"...hello?" An English accented voice echoed slightly inside the house of God. Peeking her head inside, Rosealye listened for a response. Hearing none, she slipped inside and quietly closed the door behind her. Looking around, she realized she hadn't been inside a church since she had been married. "...I hope they don't hold that against me..." she muttered, her hands kneading into the bag she held in front of her. It was all she owned now, and as such she hadn't let go of it since she had set out on the five day trip from her husband's abandoned land to Cohone.

Taking a few more tentative steps forward, she searched for any sign of life, "...Hello? Is...anyone here?" Once again hearing nothing, she let out a deep sigh, her shoulders drooping. She had expected that if any place would be willing to help her out, it would be the church; that was what they were known for, right? Hefting her bag up, she sidled into a nearby pew, and flopped into it, a small cloud of dust rising up.

Pulling off her bonnet, which had been a light yellow before this trip but now looked brown, she slouched against the back of her seat. Her hair was stuck to her head in a very unflattering way, loose curls popping out in every which direction. But at that moment, she didn't care; bad hair was the least of her problems.

Exhausted, dirty, broke, alone...her new life of adventure wasn't turning out way she had envisioned it as a young girl. "Oh, Lord..." closing her eyes, she rested her face against her palms, "...any help would be nice...if you could spare a moment...not to be pushy, or anything. Just...seems like you've been ignoring me since...well, birth. So...a little something. If you would not mind." Letting out a humorless laugh, she opened her eyes and stared at the floor, "...talking to an invisible man, Rose. You have hit rock bottom."[/size]

[ricochet]

Outfit: Click.

The day's ride had been a hard one, and Clint was feeling ready to slip right off of this saddle and, after taking care of Wildfire, getting some shut eye wherever he'd happened to have fallen. His aim had been for the nearest town, but day weren't all that important to him presently, and so he had no idea how long it had been since he had ridden out of the last town. Two days? Five days? A week, maybe more?

"Naw, not a week..." he muttered out loud to himself, head down low and shoulders slumped forward towards his sorrel mare's head. If it had been a week, his supplies would have run out, and last he had checked he still had a little jerky. Weary and tired, he lifted his head up to scan the area and look for a place to make camp. Imagine his surprise, when he looked up to see a few buildings in the distance.

He had made it - this must be Cohone!

Clint had heard somewhere along the trail that there were some ranches in these parts, and they were looking for riders. He wanted to see if they were still looking, if he could possibly get on with one of them. ... But he was so tired right now, and as he wanted to present them with his best, he thought perhaps that should wait for the morning.

Stopping in front of one of the buildings, he bit back a groan as he dismounted. His endurance in the saddle had not been nearly as good since his fall...he wasn't nearly as spry as he was in his younger days, he thought with a small snort. Thinking of his younger days, and he wasn't even close to thirty yet. Well. Looping Wildfire's reins around a post, he gave her nose a pat and started to walk off. Rolling his shoulders, he sighed and leaned up against the door of the building.

"...any help would be nice...if you could spare a moment..."

Clint startled into an upright position, eyes wide open, his keen ears having caught a soft feminine voice coming from inside the building. She'd sounded sad, like she needed either a listening ear or someone to cheer her up, or both. Not giving a thought to the fact that she may already be talking to someone, he quietly stepped towards the open door, and peered inside. Here he saw the back of a curly head of hair, yes it was a woman, with her head in her hands. And she was praying, he suddenly realized.

Frowning as he heard the ending, he warred within himself of what to do - approach her, or leave without her ever having known. ... The latter was proving to put up quite the good fight - it did feel as if he were spying on her, seeing something he wasn't supposed to and so didn't want to cause her any discomfort or fright...perhaps he would run into her again, after all. ... But she did seem so distraught, and he was here now...

Well, the decision was made for him, as when he started to turn to leave, he had unknowingly put too much weight on his bad leg, and so it gave out, right there. He hit the floor in the doorway with a thud, inhaling sharply but quickly scrambling back up to his feet with the assistance of the door as soon as he was able. Looking up to see where the woman's position now was, he steadily held her gaze while leaning on the door. Clearing his throat, he gave a half smile as he spoke,

"'M sorry, ma'am...didn't mean t' 'sturb ya." Here he paused a little awkwardly, his tiredness probably making him feel more like a fish out of water here, for whatever reason. He glanced down and way off to the left for a moment, before once more meeting her gaze, and leaned backwards, but stopped. He suddenly thought of a question he could ask. "...I uh, just wanted t' ask if ya know what town this is." He questioned, presenting her with an easy smile in hopes of making her more at ease.

[bwavobunny]

The loud thud made Rose jump, and she whirled around to see the man already scrambling to stand up. How...how long has he been there...?! Shoving away her embarrassment, she stood and started towards him. Stopping a few feet away though, as he appeared to be standing on his own, she eyed him. "No...it's fine. This is a church after all."

As silence filled the sanctuary, Rose glanced away from the man, becoming aware of how she looked. Though he doesn't look much better... Still, she was an English lady, so she shouldn't be looking so out of sorts. As discreetly as she could, she attempted to get her hair tucked back into it's bun, only half succeeding before she was asked a question. "...I uh, just wanted t' ask if ya know what town this is."

Dropping her hands, she turned her attention back to cowboy, "This is Cohone," she nodded, not having much to add since she had just arrived herself. Of course, even if she had thought of something else to say, she wouldn't have been able to get it out; the smile he had given her sent her heart into a frenzy.

Rose knew that smile. In fact, the more she gazed at the cowboy, she realized she knew that face too. Gripping the pew beside her, she steadied herself. When I asked for 'something' this...this was not what I was expecting... Still, she could be wrong; she wasn't sure if she wanted to be or not. Taking a deep breath, she kept her voice even, "What you brings out here, Mr...?"
[/font][/size]

[ricochet]

"No...it's fine. This is a church after all."


Clint slowly nodded, eying her, then said, "'Xactly, churches are s'posed t'be quiet..." he paused and tilted his head, raising a brow. "Ain't they?" Whenever he'd been allowed in one he was always told to keep quiet, with the threat of a whuppin' if'n he didn't. Crossing his arms over his chest, not realizing how dusty he was and was only spreading more dust, he watched as the apparent English woman did her best to attend to what she must have thought as a mess.

When she confirmed his suspicions as to the name of the town he was in, he nodded and felt relief, felt a small weight lift off his shoulders. He'd made it this far, he could handle the rest of it from here! ... Wait a minute, why was she looking at him like that...? Something about the woman, her hair and her accent particularly, seemed to strike a familiar thought with him, but he just couldn't definitely place it...so he decided not to think on it for this moment, tired as he was he knew he wouldn't be placing it this evening.

"What you brings out here, Mr...?"

"...Allen. 'N I'm a wanderer, ma'am - heard there were some ranches 'ere lookin' fer riders...so I headed this way." Clint said, ending with a one-shoulder shrug, and kept his gaze on the woman. "Might I ask th' same 'a you, Mis...?"

[bwavobunny]

"'Xactly, churches are s'posed t'be quiet...Ain't they?" His accent was not terribly uncommon around these parts, so Rose had become better at translating in her head. But as her thoughts were jumbled up some, it took her a couple of seconds to respond. "...I suppose...but it is open to everyone. At least it should be..." Glancing around, she was reminded that she still hadn't seen anyone else in there. Even if the likes of two such dirty folks weren't welcome, there was no one to kick them out.

"...Allen. 'N I'm a wanderer, ma'am - heard there were some ranches 'ere lookin' fer riders...so I headed this way." Hearing his last name sent a strange mixture of relief and dread to her stomach. On the one hand, it was wonderful to have someone she knew in this strange place. But on the other, he was the man she had become...fond of when her husband was alive; knowing he still made her weak at the knees so soon after Andrew's passing made her sick. What sort of woman am I??

"Might I ask th' same 'a you, Mis...?" Pulling herself together, Rose clasped her hands in front of her, smiling lightly, doing her best to hide the whirlwind of emotions going on inside her. "...Mrs. Marshall. Mrs. Rosealye Marshall."[/size][/font]

[ricochet]

"...I suppose...but it is open to everyone. At least it should be..." Well, Clint reckoned she was right about that one, most churches did welcome any kind of stranger as long as they weren't thirsting for blood. Even then, he had known of some...but anyway, that was presently beside the point.

"...Mrs. Marshall. Mrs. Rosealye Marshall."

Clint blinked, tilted his head the other way, and kind of froze as he stared at her for what seemed like several moments. His tired mind attempting at sorting through things, trying to place that name...Marshall, Marshall...it was very familiar...but... ... His jaw suddenly snapped shut and he bolted upright, standing up straight and was no longer leaning against the wall, his gaze riveted on her.

Mrs. Marshall... Yes, he did know that name. She was the wife of one of his previous boss'. Swallowing thickly, trying to calm down his wildly beating heart enough to speak, he couldn't help looking her up and down again and wondering what she was doing here, like this.

"Mrs. Marshall," He finally got out, sounding a little breathless and his smile was weak. Clearing his throat a little, he tried again. "Mrs. Marshall...nice 't see ya 'gain," he said, nodding to her. "How've you and Mr. Marshall fared, since...then?" He asked, blinking. "It's been, what...three years, I think?" he asked, looking to her and raising his brows a little.

[bwavobunny]

Rose watched the cowboy closely for a reaction to her name. It took him a few moments, but as he straightened up, she knew he recognized her. His obvious nervousness some how allowed Rose to grow calmer, a role she often filled at home. Hearing her name come from his lips though, made her heart flutter even more. This...this is going to be hard...

"Mrs. Marshall...nice 't see ya 'gain,"
"Very nice to see you too, Mr. Allen. It has been quite sometime."
"How've you and Mr. Marshall fared, since...then?"
She remained silent, more guilt flooding into her stomach, and the sorrow that had clung onto her for nearly two years grew stronger.
"It's been, what...three years, I think?" Thankful for a different question, she nodded fervently, "Yes...about three years."

Tugging and fiddling with her fingers, she glanced at them, her wedding ring catching her eyes. Rose looked away from it, her words coming out softly. "...as for Andrew he...he was killed about a month ago..." She wondered how much she should tell him. With anyone else, she would have left it at that. But there had been some semblance of a friendship before, and he was all she knew now.

Rubbing her hands together she added, "The land we bought was useless and there wasn't much I could do...so I came here." After she was done, Rose wondered if she should have been crying. Maybe throwing herself on the floor in mourning for her murdered husband and passively hoping Clint would help a weeping damsel in distress? Maybe. But she couldn't muster up a single tear; she had cried enough already.

"...I am sorry to burden you with such sad news," she said after a moment. [/font][/size]

[ricochet]

"...as for Andrew he...he was killed about a month ago..." At this news, Clint's eyes indeed took on a deeper appearance, sadness reflecting from them. "I am...truly sorry t'hear that, Mrs. Marshall... He was a good man. I'm sorry for your loss." He said, doing well to keep his voice even. He kept his eyes glued to hers as she explained just a little more, and he found himself nodding at the end. When he had heard initially, what Mr. Marshall had planned to do, taking his wife to a location like that...he'd thought it odd, but would leave each man to his own, even the inexperienced ones. It is only sad this one had to end up in tragedy.

"How are you now, may I ask?" He questioned, still keeping his gaze on hers. "I mean, you...have enough left over to take care of yourself?" he asked, then wondering if in those three years...well it might be possible they had had a kid or two. That thought sent a strange feeling through him, but he at once pushed it back. It would have lovely - she deserved to be a mother. "...I am sorry to burden you with such sad news," Shoving his hands in his pockets, he wavered on his feet a moment, before leaning against the door again and looking at her.

"...m'only worried about you." He said, in all honestly. And he was, widowed women...didn't often fair all that well, out here.

[bwavobunny]

"I am...truly sorry t'hear that, Mrs. Marshall... He was a good man. I'm sorry for your loss." Smiling softly at him, she nodded, "Yes, he was a good man..." Clint's words were sincere, and she found some comfort in that. "How are you now, may I ask?" Glancing down at herself, a low laugh slipped out before she cut it off, clearing her throat. Rose wasn't sure how to answer, seeing as this was the lowest point in her life and looked like hell. How did one say that casually?

"I mean, you...have enough left over to take care of yourself?" Ah, now that she could answer, even if it was bleak. "Not really," A half smile curled on her lips, and she motioned to the church ceiling, "Which is why I came here, hoping to get some...assistance." Why that sounded better than 'help' she wasn't sure, but it made her feel less vulnerable. "Maybe they have some kind of position I could fill...school teacher maybe." Never having a job was just fine when you were born with a silver utensil in your mouth and married to a duke. But being alone in the west, widowed no less, without a penny to her name, being jobless was not an option.

"...m'only worried about you." Heat rose to her cheeks, and she glanced away from Clint. "...thank you. It means a lot, to have someone worry about me," Meeting his eyes, she stood up a bit straighter, though he still towered over her. "But...I am sure I will manage." Ah pride. She had a stash of it hidden away for moments such as these. Hopefully it would be able to last her.[/font][/size]

[ricochet]

He let out a slow breath, his face taking on a look of concentration, his lower jaw jutting forward a little at her reply of, "Not really," with such seeming carelessness as well. Didn't she care for her own welfare, did she not care what happened to her...? Her reply about coming here to seek assistance made him relax ever so slightly, so at least she did seem to be thinking about these things...

"You must have a strong faith," he said softly, by way of a compliment. Or maybe he thought she was crazy. But either way, crazy or not, he did admire her for the strength of character she was currently showing. If her situation was indeed so bad as that, or worse than she let on, it took a strong willed woman to be keeping her cool like that. Just as she was finishing saying that she would manage, over his shoulder Clint heard an irritated whinny and a stomp of hooves. Glancing over his shoulder, he looked back to see his horse, Wildfire, looking at him, and then the mare tossed her head.

"I must tend to m'horse," Clint said slowly, looking back apologetically at Rose. He paused, standing there in the doorway a moment longer, as if not wanting to leave it off like this...'cause he wasn't real sure if he wanted another three years to pass before they met again. "I wish you well in yer new 'ventures, Mrs. Marshall." Clint told her sincerely, smiling at her and tipping his hat. Then, he started to walk away, towards Wildfire. And was thinking that, hopefully, they would meet again...eventually.

[bwavobunny]

"You must have a strong faith," "I wished I did..." she replied before she could stop herself. Biting her tongue, she just shook her head; faith had never been very high on her list. It was hard to talk to a god who she felt had ignored all of her prayers. But the fact that she kept talking to Him, even if it was angrily, was something she supposed.

Hearing the horse when Clint did, she glanced behind him. It was the same horse he had when he worked for her husband. "I must tend to m'horse," Though he looked apologetic, Rose's heart sank; she didn't want him to leave. Still, what reason did she have to keep him there? She was no longer 'his boss's wife.' If I'm not that what am I...? Swallowing back her sadness she smiled politely, "Yes, of course. I am sorry to have kept you from her."

"I wish you well in yer new 'ventures, Mrs. Marshall." "I wish the same for you, Mr. Allen." Bowing her head as he tipped his hat, she listened to his boots hit the church floor, and the door shut behind him. Finally raising her head, she stared at the door for several minutes. Sighing, she turned slowly and made her way back to her pew. "This is why I never go to church..."[/font][/size]