Start Spreading the News

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May 18, 1875
Golden Valley Gazette
Late Afternoon


Claire sat at her desk, mulling over the last couple of days. She’d finally reached her destination, having traveled clear across the country. She was extremely pleased to find the accommodations at the hotel to her liking. It was a good thing, too, since there was no way she was going to live in a boarding house, sharing her space with another person.

The town’s mayor graciously handed over the keys once she introducing herself and, as far as she could tell, if he had misgivings regarding a woman doing a man’s job, he hid them well. That she’d written her own letter of recommendation allegedly signed by the man holding the same office in Whiskey Creek, Texas, couldn’t have hurt.

After resting up from the long journey, she’d kept busy familiarizing herself with the location of other businesses in town, organizing the clutter left behind by the previous owner, and going through back issues of the paper. The sign in the window now indicated she was open for business.

Deciding to stretch her legs and let her eyes rest, Claire stood, smoothing the skirt of the blue day dress she wore; it was in the latest fashion. Perhaps she’d pour herself a cup of tea since the kettle on the stove was hot.

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"Hey Doc, the newspaper is back in business," the town busybody, old Rupert Cline grinned showing a mouth with very few teeth left.

Nathan paused on the boardwalk and glanced across the street. Sure enough there was an OPEN sign in the window. He wondered what fool would take on that lost cause given how hard it was for a newspaper to make a go of it in this small town. The last owner charged a reasonable enough rate for the paper but his advertisement rates were exhorbitant so Nathan had pulled the ad for his own business.

"You don't say, Mr. Cline. You happen to know who bought it?" he was only mildly curious.

"Ain't talked to the Mayor yet but did walk on by the place and peeked in the window. He's got a secretary.....or daughter.....maybe even a wife....wait could be a sister?" Rupert now debated with himself as was his habit. The old coot sure was nosey though, everyone in town took that for granted. By day's end he'd probably know all the details on the newcomer...newcomers?

"Glad you narrowed down there, Mr. Cline. Good day," Nathan nodded then continued on his way toward the Mercentile, he needed to buy something.

****

Fifteen minutes he was on the other side of the street and almost went right past the newspaper office only to let curiousity get the best of him. He stopped, stuffed his newly purchased item into his suitcoat pocket and opened the door. The familiar little bell tinkled announcing an arrival and he stepped on in. Well, there was that female old Rupe had alluded to. Not exactly hard at work, he noted with some bemusement.

"Good afternoon, miss. Couldn't help but notice the OPEN sign. Is the new owner present?" he doffed his hat and gave a polite smile. Well, if SHE was a secretary, he bet she didn't get the job solely for her secretarial skills.

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About to turn toward the stove, the sound of the bell caused Claire to glance up, assuming it might be the mayor dropping by for a brief visit since she hadn’t seen him after their first meeting. She was pleasantly surprised when it wasn’t, not that the other man hadn’t been helpful and kind, but she saw the one before her as a potential subscriber. From his manner of dress, obviously a businessman, too, if he wasn’t a preacher, which meant she could talk him into advertising on a weekly basis. That he was easy on the eyes didn’t go unnoticed.

Claire stepped forward, gracing the stranger with her prettiest smile. “You’re looking at her. Name’s Claire Larson. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mister…?” Her Southern drawl was unmistakable.

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A southerner, this gal, Nathan silently noted. That wasn't unusual though but what was surprising was her declaration she was the new owner?!
 Fascinating. Nice smile on her too. He nodded acknowledgement even as he smiled back.

"Charmed to meet you, Miss Larson. I am Nathaniel Stroud.....many people here call me Doc but I feel compelled to point out I am not a doctor
for people... but rather animals. I am the local veterinarian."

"Oh....and I hope you didn't pay too much for this paper, if so you were taken advantage of," he couldn't help but give his opinion,
the man was seldom shy about advancing those.

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As he introduced himself, the name took her back to the mayor in Texas; Nathaniel Ludlow was his name. They’d gotten along well
enough by the time their first and only meeting took place, though as it turned out, he wasn’t a man of his word.

Lifting her finely arched brows, Claire decided to comment on his profession first before she got to her question. “A veterinarian? We
had one in Houston when I lived there with my late husband as a reporter for the Telegraph and Texas Register.”

“I’m just curious…what makes you believe I might’ve been taken advantage of? I’d appreciate you enlightening me.”

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"Late husband.....oh, I'm sorry for your misfortune, Mrs. Larson," Nathan declared with proper solemnity. He wondered if they had had any children but
of course he was not going to be impertinent to ask such a thing. It was her past, her life.

She was not surprisingly interested in why he had made his comment about the newspaper. Couldn't blame her none and....since she asked.....

"I'm not sure how enlightening I can be but the paper has had a tough go of it. We aren't a big town, obviously and a lot of folks can't even read
out here...it's not Philadelphia or even Houston. He sold his papers for a reasonable price, I always bought it. But his advertisement rates..." Nathan
rolled his eyes.

"Exhorbitant in my opinion so I pulled my ad. Truth of it probably is by now all the locals already know about me. That said, I do wish you
the best of luck. I enjoy a good paper with my meal," he smiled.

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“Thank you,” Claire replied to his condolences regarding her second husband. She was tempted to say it was no great loss, but
she knew how callous it would sound and require further explanation she didn’t know this man well enough to give.

Listening to the bleak picture he painted regarding the lack of success of her new business venture, she couldn’t help
but wonder what she’d gotten herself into and how she’d manage to make a go of it. “I thank you for your candor, Doctor
Stroud. To answer your question, I didn’t invest a large sum, but I’ll probably have to make different living arrangements
than I have now. I’d planned to move out of the hotel eventually and live in the quarters upstairs. I see I might be doing
than sooner than later.”

A small smile played on her lips. “I appreciate that. I’ve come too far to turn back now and that you don’t doubt my ability
to succeed is encouraging. Sadly, a lot of men don’t hold the same view.”

“I was about to pour myself a cup of tea. Would you by chance care to join me...unless you have a wife waiting at home for you?”

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"You don't need to call me doctor, Mrs. Larson. I've never been to school for my profession and besides most people connect doctor
with treating people. I prefer my patients to be animals, less complaining," Nathan smiled.

She listened to his warning about the paper with quiet dignity but seemed determined to make a go of it. He couldn't blame her
after all, she had invested in the place and was unlikely to get her money back now. She already was thinking aloud of how she
could save on expenses, such as more reasonable living quarters than the hotel.

"Smart decision I believe," he nodded in approval.

"As for my views about a lot of things, I often disagree with the majority, doesn't bother me a bit. You will however have to
prove yourself to a lot of folks in this town, so you got your work cut out for you."

"Tea? More of a coffee man myself....habit I picked up in the military you see, but please go ahead and don't mind me,"
he answered.

"As for a wife waiting for me at home, I certainly hope not. She would owe me an explanation of how that came about
given I was never married," he smiled.

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“Would you prefer I call you Doc then?” she queried. “I don’t mind you calling me Claire instead of Mrs. Larson. In a small town like this,
I see no reason to stand on formality.” She chuckled at Nathan’s comment regarding the complaints he’d get as a physician. “I have
no doubt about that. Fortunately, I’ve been blessed with good health and haven’t required the services of a doctor since I was around
fifteen.”

“Yes, I met some resistance in the town I was in before coming here. More than one man spoke openly about it, though once the mayor
got over his shock, he was helpful in suggesting people I might visit.” She regretted the first person was the reason she was here now,
but however things turned out, there was no going back.

That he’d never married surprised her, but she decided to give her opinion on that. “Probably a smart decision on your part. I’ve had two
husbands and I doubt I’ll have a third.”

Declining her offer of tea, Claire smiled and spoke up. “Oh, I have coffee, too. It’s no trouble if you’d like a cup. I’d be interested to hear
about your military experience. Were you an officer?”

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"Doc......if you must. Or you can call me Nathan. My parents only called me Nathaniel when they were angry with me....which was
 quite often come to think of it," he smiled, "And so Claire it is then. It is a beautiful name I think."

The young woman did admit that there were people in her last town who did have an issue with her gender. He wasn't
surprised, it was afterall a man's world. The conversation moved on to marriage, she was a widow and he readily admitted
he was a confirmed bachelor. Then she surprised him yet again.

"Married twice? You don't look twenty-five. I hope your second husband did not also meet his demise?" he asked, though on
the other hand if he hadn't died, that would mean they hadn't gotten along, perhaps a divorce?

She then offered him coffee while she had her tea, seemingly interested in his military past.

"Well, I would hardly turn down a cup then. I take mine black so no further fuss needed, thank you, Claire," he nodded.

"As for the army, no I was too young to be an officer, I was in college when I enlisted at the beginning of the war," he was
certain she knew which war he was referring to, "And if you are hoping I will regale you with a tale of heroism and martial
glory I am bound to disappoint."

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“Why, thank you, Nathan.” Claire smiled back then laughed. “So you were a precocious child then. For some reason,
that doesn’t surprise me much.” She was finding him easy to talk to and being new in town, it was nice to have a friend.


“Be careful there…you know what they say about flattery,” she teased. “I’m a few years older than twenty-five. Gabriel
was my first husband, a sailor I met and married at fifteen in New Orleans where my family owned a tavern,” she clarified.
“He was about your age I’m guessing. We weren’t together long before he had to return to sea and never came home from
the war.” Claire didn’t make a habit of sharing her humble beginnings or what she’d done to get away from them, but sensed
Nathan wouldn’t judge her, not that she’d given him all the details in the first place.


“It’s a shame you didn’t get to finish your education, but then the war changed a lot of people’s plans. Thankfully, we’ve all
moved past that.”


Smiling, at his acceptance of her offer, she gestured to a chair beside her desk. “Just have a seat then and I’ll get us both a cup.”
Returning within a minute or two, she placed both on the wooden surface, hers with a generous amount of cream and sugar and
his black.


Taking a seat, Claire then asked, “What of your family now? Do they live nearby?”

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Nathan chuckled, "Precocious huh? That is a more kindly way of putting it. I was a brat far too often, something I readily admit and am
not proud of. I think my father was more tolerant of my behavior though than my mother. We did not get along very well."

She admitted to being older than his guess and explained her first marriage. Well, she certainly had jumped into it at a very young
age and with a sailor too. Nothing mentioned of a pregnancy though. Still, he wouldn't have been surprised to find out that was
perhaps part of what sounded like a hasty marriage. Then the war came and ended that. Nothing further on the second husband
was forthcoming and he would not pry.

Claire invited him to sit and soon returned with two cups of steaming hot coffee, just the way he liked it - even in the summer
heat. He took the offered drink and nodded, "Thank you kindly, Claire."

As he blew on the black surface of the coffee she asked him about his family. First he took a very small sip, just in case the
temperature was scalding. It was tolerable so he swallowed it but then addressed her inquiry.

"My father is deceased, the doctor said it was a heart condition. I left Boston where my mother still resides in the family home.
However we have not kept in touch. By mutual agreement I would say with some confidence," he smiled.

"I have two younger sisters. Both are married. One before I left Boston, her husband was an idiot but very wealthy probably the
exact combination she was looking for. The other I got a letter from just last year telling me she was married to a carpenter.
Mother must be so unhappy."

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Claire was surprised by Nathan’s admission and it showed.  “Oh. Really? I thought mothers tended to be more lenient,
especially with sons than fathers. I know mine was. I have an older brother and my mother doted on him where Papa was
pretty strict.”

She nodded, then took a sip from her cup when he thanked her.  After listening to the information he imparted regarding his
family, Claire felt a little more comfortable sharing more about hers, though  Somehow she doubted he’d approve from the way
he spoke about his.  Unlike hers, obviously Nathan’s family had money if they were able to send him to college, but he seemed
to resent his mother for wanting the same things she did…or had at one time. Now she just hoped to get by.

“I don’t keep in touch with my family either and haven’t since I left New Orleans I’m sorry to say. They wanted me to work in
the family business, but I wanted more than waiting on tables and tending bar so I got involved with Gabriel, thinking it would be
a way out. He married me once I found out I was going to have a baby, but I lost it after he left so I had no choice but to stay
there until I met my second husband, Thomas Larson.” She took a breath, wondering how much to tell and how much to leave out.

“He was wealthy like your sister’s husband, but very intelligent. I thought I’d found the perfect man, not that there really is such
a thing. Once we were married for a while, I found out what a temper he had when he started taking it out on me. So, no, I wasn’t
sorry when he died. It was a relief really.”

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"In general you are no doubt correct, mothers can be more lenient. But....that's just it, you're talking a generality. Specifics can be
quite different. Sadly my mother and I stopped getting along around the time I turned thirteen," Nathan shrugged.

Claire then revealed her family past wasn't all that happy either. Seemed she had worked in a saloon once in New Orleans. Well,
the accent was definitely southern. Then she added another very sad bit. She had lost a child she had been carrying. Now some
cynics might have said that was good thing given her youth and situation but such a loss was still sad.

"Oh, I am sorry to hear that," he interjected in all sincerity. He was cynical, but not that cynical.

Then she told of her second husband who seemed a big improvement at first description, wealthy and smart. Well, that story
turned sour in a matter of a few sentences. A brute.

"Well, I won't offer condolenses for him then in fact good riddance. I can't abide with people who beat animals and husbands
who beat their wives...or children," he offered then took a sip of coffee. She did seem to have had a hard life thus far. It
might have prepared her though for the struggle she was going to have making a go of it with the newspaper.

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That Nathan and his mother didn’t get on well at such an early age baffled Claire, but he seemed to have accepted it, not that
he could do much about it now anyway it seemed.

“Thank you,” she said simply when he expressed his genuine compassion for the miscarriage. It was the only child she’d ever
conceived, often making her wonder if that was the reason she hadn’t gotten pregnant since, but as it turned out, that was
probably a blessing, not sure how Thomas would’ve treated their children had he lived.

Giving a slight nod of her head, Claire echoed Nathan’s sentiment. “I agree with you wholeheartedly. We were never able to
have pets of our own growing up since we lived at the tavern that provided lodging for guests, men traveling on business mostly.
I always wanted one though.”

She hadn’t thought to ask before, but it occurred to her he hadn’t said where he lived now. “Do you have a house here in town
or farther out? You said earlier people know where to find you. I assume you have an office.”