Stranger in a Strange Land

[James Vaughn]

Train Station
May 1st
Mid Afternoon

"Golden Valley!” The sound of the train conductor's voice broke through James’ reverie. He’d been reading Jules Verne's Around the World in Eighty Days, since it was one of the three books that he’d put in the small satchel he'd kept with him, its sides bulged since he’d packed it with those books and a couple changes of clothes. He had his trunks, of course, but they stored in the baggage car, not accessible until he reached his final destination.

After marking his page with the stripe of ribbon sewn into the binding of the book in his hands and stowing it back into the satchel, he leaned closer to the window, peering out the grimy window trying to get a decent look at the countryside that would, very shortly be his new home. The money he’d gotten when his father had died, hadn’t lasted nearly as long as he’d hoped. The ship’s passage over from England had taken a larger chunk of his money than he’d expected, and the months that he’d spent in New York and Boston had taken another big bite out of his remaining funds.

He’d looked for work his native land, but since he hadn’t been able to complete his education before his father passed away, and his brother had refused to help fund his studies, he’d decided to leave all that was familiar and strike out to a place where his unfinished education might better serve him. In a larger city he was competing with men who’d been able to finish their education. Out on the frontier, it was his desperate hope that he could find work that he could do to earn enough to live on.

When the train finally slowed to a stop, James took a deep breath before he stepped hesitantly down. He shook back his hair, waiting as his trunks were being unloaded. “Thanks.” He told the men who set down his belongings. He grabbed the handle of the trunk that held his favorite books, as well as the last of the money from his father. Unfortunately, James was sweaty and out of breath before he’d even managed to get drag his trunk more than a few yards.  He stopped, dropping down to sit on the trunk he’d been dragging, turning to look at the other one, his chest still heaving as he struggled to catch his breath. “How on earth am I going to get both trunks to the boarding house.” He muttered dejectedly.

[Deleted]

Caroline had timed her arrival quite well, she silently noted, as the train pulled into the station, hissing steam and belching smoke. She had come out west in one like so many others, her first and only train ride. At first it had been exciting, fun, but after awhile it had turned out dreary and long. As a few passengers disembarked she couldn't help but wonder how they felt about it all. No matter, she didn't know any of them. Her reason for being at the station was to pick up a package which was being sent to Ralph. She didn't know anything about it other than he had instructed her to go pick it up. Oh well, it got her out of the saloon for awhile.

It all went smoothly enough, she knew the station agent as the man spent every Wednesday night in the saloon like clockwork it seemed. He wasn't a heavy drinker but he liked his beer and was pleasant enough. She of course talked with him as was her task and did her usual good job in charming the fellow. Hey, it was good for business and it was her job. He always told her how much he enjoyed her singing, that was nice to hear. So  all it took on this day was her approaching him about the delivery and he took care of it from there. Soon he emerged from the freight car with a shoebox size package addressed to Ralph Mundy and handed it over to her with a smile. She thanked him and as she turned to leave made a point of saying she'd see him on Wednesday. He grinned and nodded.

In the act of leaving the station she almost passed a young man sitting on a large trunk, looking a bit....confused or maybe just tired? Probably from the long trip. He appeared to be alone too. Caroline nodded in his direction but something made her stop after a few more steps and turn to face the young man.

"Afternoon, mister. That looks like a mighty big trunk you got there? You waiting for someone?"

Maybe a bit bold on her part but then one thing about Caroline, she was not shy.

The young woman standing in front of the stranger was average height, petite build, wearing a lowcut dress that definitely was not the proper attire for your respectable townswoman. No hat either, which was normally expected of ladies in public. Then too there was the makeup and the painted fingernails, something you could now see back East amongst the theatre actresses but certainly not considered proper fashion for any 'decent' woman. She knew it of course but could care less. She wasn't a farm wife or a school marm, she was a saloon gal and didn't care who knew it.

[James Vaughn]

Not expecting a young woman to stop and speak to him, it took James a long moment to look up at her.  When he did, his eyes flared wide, and his cheeks heated as the blood flooded his cheeks.  Flustered, eyes darting this way and that, unsure where was safe to look, given the low cut of her dress, James' mouth dropped open, worked soundlessly for several heartbeats, before he snapped it closed.

Clearing his throat, James managed a shaky shy little smile.  "Good afternoon miss."  He murmured, rising to his feet, bowing towards her, something about the slight smile and his general demeanor, let Caroline know that he meant no offense by his words or his action.  He was merely flustered by the way that was dressed.  But James wasn't the sort of man who would embarrass a lady in such a fashion.  Truthfully, he was far more uneasy around women since he had such limited experience with the fairer sex.

Still blushing, James ducked his head slight, then brushed at the lock of hair that fell forward over his brown.  "That they are."  He glanced from the trunk he'd been sitting on to the other two trunks that contained all of his worldly possessions, save the few things that were in the small satchel danging from his shoulder.

@caroline

[Deleted]

At first she thought maybe she had startled him but on second thought, he seemed a bit flustered. It didn't get past her notice he
appeared a bit taken aback by her dress. It was amusing really, the young man may well have never seen someone quite like her.
Let's face it, he was NOT saloon material. He stood up and finally managed to get out a mild return greeting. Had he just bowed?
How sweet.

Pointing out the clunky trunk that had been his temporary seat, he replied in the plural. Caroline's eyes went to the other luggage.

"Oh lordy! All of that is yours? Lucky you didn't take the stage, they'd have had to add more horses," she quipped with a smile.

One thing he didn't answer though was her last question so she thought it deserved repeating.

"So hon.....you waitin' for someone then to pick you n' yer big trunks up? Or just sitting there and enjoying the fine weather?" she teased.

[Deleted]

Katie had had a busy morning. She had been checking out places, in which she might set up her
cafe. She had to pick up a spool of thread at the mecatile for Mrs. Brown her landlady. Her brother
Timothy and her were walking back to the boarding house, when they came across the young man and woman.
She happened to hear him say something about the boarding house.

"Looks like you could use a hand there. It's a little bit of a walk to Mrs. Brown's. Good
heavens is that all your's."she asks him. "My name is Katie and this is my brother Timothy."
She realizes that Timothy is more interested in the young lady. She pokes him in the ribs.
"It's not nice to stare.'

Katie is slim, dressed in a cotton day dress with her red hair up in a net. Timothy is tall
and muscular. Katie has a definite Irish accent.

[James Vaughn]

James had never seen a woman quite like Caroline before… At least not nearly so close up before, and as she’d already noted, he was certainly flustered, not just because of how she was dressed, but because she was a female. One of those mysterious creatures that he always felt were secretly laughing at him.

James glanced at the other two trunks, nodding a trifle sheepishly. “It’s… everything I own.” He had many books in the trunks, since he still had hopes of getting work in his chosen field, despite the fact that he hadn’t actually been able to complete his studies at university.

James hadn’t answered her last question because he had no desire to admit that he wasn’t prepared but when she repeated it, as if determined to make him admit just how ill equipped he was. “No.” He said soberly, then let out a deep sigh, sitting back down on the trunk, resting his elbows on his knees, chin propped on his hands.

At the sound of Katie's voice, with the lilt that told him she was Irish, James looked up, flushing again when the second woman approached and spoke, introducing herself and her brother. “I.... How...” James' brow furrowed as he errously believed that the only way that she could possible know that he had planned to take a room at the boarding house was that the owner had been gossiping about him. After all, she couldn’t possibly have heard his muttered comment, given she had just walked up to where he stood.

James caught his lip between his teeth as he thought about what he was going to do now. He wasn’t sure that he wanted to stay with Mrs. Brown, now that he believed she’d been telling the townsfolk about his arrival. “I.... Actually, I was wondering if any of you know if there’s rooms available at the hotel?” He asked, his own British accent clear when he spoke more than a few words. He knew he was making a quick decision not to put himself in such an uncomfortable situation.

[Deleted]

"I am sorry. I saw all the luggage, and thought you were headed to the
boarding house. My mother always told me to think before I talk. I am sure
the hotel has rooms. Well either way, can we help you with all of this. I can
watch it and you can check out the hotel. Timothy can show you where it is."

[Deleted]

The young man admitted then inside those trunks was all that he owned. Caroline didn't think that anything to be forlorn about though and
smiled, "Hey, that's a good deal more than I showed up in Golden Valley with on my arrival."

Just then two other people walked right on up, the woman throwing herself right into the conversation. She seemed to know his destination too?
The woman addressed the newcomer while the man seemed to look her over. Caroline was used to being gawked at so made no fuss until the
other woman gave the young man, Timothy she named him, a poke and an admonition to not stare. Caroline smiled, a bit amused.

Not surprisingly the young fellow with the luggage was a bit disconcerted that it now appeared likely the boarding house owner was gossiping
about his arrival. It did seem a bit odd but also none of her business, so Caroline kept her mouth shut. The woman, she certainly sounded Irish,
ignored her and pressed on with talking to the stranger. What was the name she said? Oh, yeah, Katie offered to help the young man see if he
could have better luck with the hotel.

Caroline was used to being ignored actually, or even worse, insulted by some townsfolk who had little use for saloons and even less liking
for any woman who would frequent or work in one. Just because she experienced it often enough didn't mean she liked it though. But she
bit her tongue from saying anything nasty long as the woman and her brother hadn't verbally attacked her...so far.

Two could play that game though, she thought and turned to speak to the newcomer, he had an accent too, but not Irish...more refined,
East Coast rich or maybe English?

"Well then, it seems you have gotten your help then. I best be leaving you to these two samaritans here and get out of your way. Your hotel
awaits. I hope you enjoy your stay in Golden Valley, Mister........? Didn't catch your name?"

Although maybe he didn't want to give it out? His call of course, it was a free country.

[James Vaughn]

Having been given a long list of dire warnings about the outlaws and thieves that abounded in the untamed land when he left Boston in the hope of getting work, far from the city full of men who’d finished their law degrees. “That’s very kind of you.” James told her, still a bit taken aback by the forwardness of first Caroline then Katie, and by the fact that Timothy hadn’t spoken a single word to anyone.

“I don’t want to put you out.” He told Katie, though he didn’t know that he dared to trust any of them, no matter how kind or helpful they seemed. He didn’t know what he was going to do to get his things and himself to the hotel, since his hopes of taking lodging at the boarding house.

Feeling that he was stepping in the middle of something that he didn’t understand, James looked from Katie to Caroline puzzlement darkening his eyes. He didn’t think that remarking on it was a wise move so he didn’t say anything about it.

James blinked, then looked abashed, “My most sincere apologies for my appalling lack of good manners.” He inclined his head to the trio who’d stopped and spoke to him. “My name is James Vaughn.” He’d learned over the last few months to leave off the title that he’d been born with because here in America it didn’t mean what it did back in England.

[Troy Slater]

Troy spotted the foursome by the train station and made his way over, curious about the single new face in the mix as he already knew Caroline, Katie and Timothy.  When he got closer, Troy flashed his boyish grin to the small group, then tipped his hat to the two females in the group. “Afternoon everyone.” Troy said, the gold badge on his broad chest glinting in the sun.

“I’m the sheriff of Golden Valley, Troy Slater.” He looked from James to the trunks behind him on the platform. “New arrival I take it?” He drawled, “Do you need any help? I could get a wagon from the Livery if you like?” He knew that the lanky man before him would be hard pressed to get even one of the trunks to either the hotel or the boarding house.

[Deleted]

Her less than subtle hint worked, the newcomer apologized for his lack of manners then introduced himself at last. Well, that was progress she felt.

"Oh hon, no offense taken. I'm sure you're quite the gentleman back where...wherever you came from. I'm Caroline...Caroline Mundy,"
she smiled then tacked on, "Nice to meet you James Vaughn."

Who should come sauntering up now the local law, probably making his rounds. Caroline had never had a run in with the sheriff and besides,
she wasn't doing anything wrong, so she greeted him with a nod and relaxed smile.

"Afternoon, sheriff. Beautiful day, ain't it?"

The sheriff couldn't possibly have missed the trunks not to mention he knew his locals and this James Vaughn was definitely not one
of them. He now made his own offer to secure a wagon to transport all that considerable bulk. Good neighborly of him.

"Oh, he's fresh off the train, sheriff. No place to go but plenty of stuff to take there," she quipped with a twinkle in her eye.

[Troy Slater]

Troy's smile warmed a trifle when Caroline spoke, teasing the newcomer, but not in a nasty way.  He'd notice that about her, she never seemed to go out of her way to be nasty to anyone.  And he'd known many saloon girls who weren't so kind.  "It is indeed, Miss Mundy."  He replied, glancing upward at the sunny sky overhead.  "Though I expect that we'll have rain before the end of the week." 

He glanced at Katie and Timothy who stood to one side, both staying silent, "Afternoon Miss O'Brien."  He tipped his hat to her, nodding at her brother, "Sir."    Drawing in a deep breath, Troy turned his full attention back to the lanky newcomer, sizing the young man up.  Not getting the sense that James would pose any sort of threat to his town, Troy's shoulders relaxed.  "Planning on staying I take it."  He said, teasing gently, the grin on his lips removing any sting from his words.

[Deleted]

When Angela arrives at the station, she is surprised to see a group of people gathered there. Four of them, she knew. The fifth young man sitting on his trunk, must be her new boarder. She scurries on up. "Sheriff, Carolyn, Katie, timothy, glad to see you all." she turns to the young man sitting there. "Well from the looks of you and all these trunks, you must be James. I am Mrs.Brown, the owner of the boarding house. I meant to be here when you arrived, but time got away from me."

[James Vaughn]

James blinked when the sheriff and Caroline both teased him about the size and number of his things, a tiny smile curling the corner of his lips.

"Yes sir." James told Troy, but he didn't add anything about how he had nowhere else to go.

When the older woman rushed up to the group. James shot to his feet, bowing slightly, "Good day madam." His voice was subdued as he went on. "But I fear I will not be renting the room after all."

Looking towards Troy, "I will be taking a room at the hotel instead. Sheriff Slater has kindly offered to help me transport my things to the hotel."

He didn't look at Katie since it was through her that he'd learned Mrs. Brown had been talking about his arrival.

[Deleted]

Angela was surprised. "I am sorry to hear that. The hotel is nice. A little overpriced in my opinion. Should you change your mind, the sheriff can show you where the house is. Well guess I should get back home.' She nods to the others and leaves.