Start Spreading the News

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"Pets can have their uses both for children and adults but not all people should have them. They are not suitable for some people
as they are a responsibility. Not everyone handles responsibility well," Nathan had strong feelings on that point.

She had still more questions too, but Nathan didn't really mind, it was more in the nature of keeping a friendly conversation
going he felt and not actually prying. Besides a little curiousity was a natural sort of thing. These questions were also
easy to answer.

"Nope, I live in town here. And yes, I do have my own office....it's about four storefronts down that way," he pointed, "on the
opposite side of the street. There is a sign next to the front door, can't miss it. And then I live in an upstairs apartment just above
the clinic. Right now the bank owns it but pretty soon I will have paid it all off. One thing about a vet, doubt I will ever run out
of customers. On the rare occasion I have even set a broken leg for a human being or helped with the birth of a baby. When
the doc was busy elsewhere you understand," Nathan smiled.

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“I couldn’t agree with you more concerning both animals and children.” They’d found common ground there, but she was certain he’d
seen much more abuse of the two than she. “I’m sure your conviction on that point makes you well suited to your profession as it should be.”


She nodded, taking in the directions to his office that also happened to be his home as hers would be once she made the transition from the
hotel to upstairs. “When your place paid off, you should celebrate.” She was sure he was looking forward to that.


“I know the doctor must be pleased to have you around for those occasions.” Claire smiled. “I never thought about a vet pulling double duty,
but it sounds like it would be very rewarding.”


“So, is there anybody in town I should be wary of or are most of them friendly? I’m sure you must know most of them.” Though she’d just
met Nathan, she felt she could trust his judgment and would advise her if there was anyone she should try to steer clear of.

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"Without meaning to brag, I am indeed good at what I do. I think I get along better with animals than people though
to be honest," he declared with a smile, "Don't worry, I am not mean but I have ...well, let's say a low toleration
for idiots and the like."

"It'll be another some months before I can make the last payment but I probably will have a celebratory drink....
or two or three at the saloon," he nodded slowly.

She seemed a bit surprised at his occasional stand-ins for a real doctor but it wasn't all that unusual out on the
frontier. He had heard of a human doctor helping an animal birth too. Medical knowledge or experience was always
an advantage.


"I help when I can, Claire. You will be pleased to know there is even a baby boy right here in this community whose
Christian name is Nathan. Named after me who helped his mother bring him into this world. That was a very satisfactory
ten hours of labor....mostly hers of course," he grinned.

She changed the subject a bit then asking his opinion on she should be wary of? He hadn't expected that inquiry
but he'd be glad to answer her nonetheless.

"If you mean do we have any outlaws in town limits, no - leastwise none I know of. We do have a sheriff. You met
the mayor and while in many ways he is a true politician and those you have to be wary of during election years, he
is decent enough I suppose."

"Let's see....well, there is the saloon. That can be a rough place on occasion - men and liquor can be highly
combustible alright. But I doubt you have any interest in such a place being a lady. Although............that's right, you
once worked in a tavern, I almost forgot. So you probably know what I mean then," he seemed amused rather than
shocked at her admission.

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The time she’d spent with him already, Claire had no doubt Nathan wasn’t cruel or one to be feared like the man who’d caused her to flee
Texas. From past mistakes, hopefully she’d learned her lesson, making for a better judge of character so she had to smile at his assurance
that he wasn’t mean. “Yes, the world has its share of people who aren’t too bright and you might prefer animals to people, but I can tell already
you have a good heart.”


He went on to prove her point by sharing the hours he’d spent with the woman in labor, the pride in his voice evident. “That she’d name the
baby after you is a real honor and that the father didn’t object says something about his gratitude.”


She was sure her question regarding if she should be cautious of any one person might’ve puzzled him, but was relieved he’d mentioned no one in
particular. “That’s good to know. Politicians I’m familiar with. My second husband was one. I made the acquaintance of a businessman back in
Texas who couldn’t be trusted,” she halfway explained.


She met his eyes in a smile. “To be perfectly honest, you’re the only one I’ve told I used to work in a tavern and I admit I’m not your typical proper
lady either so when you have those drinks to celebrate paying off your debt, perhaps you’ll invite me to join you.” She paused then added, “Besides,
I’ll bet I could get more news there than anywhere else in town.”

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"Oh you can, huh? Since that is probably a compliment, I will not be contentious about it," Nathan nodded solemnly but inwardly quite pleased.

He then told her about his one experience helping a woman give birth to a baby and how in gratitude she had named the newborn boy
after him. It was a memory he would never forget and every time he thought about it, hoped the kid had a long and happy life. Of course
the cynic in him doubted that was likely given the frontier life. That good dead seemed to impress Claire also.

"The father didn't mind at all considering his own Christian name was Humbert....who would want to pass that on to a child?" he smirked.

She talked some more than about the second husband and obviously her luck with men had not been very good. Still she seemed to have
a pretty good outlook on life and that was a good thing.

"Politicians and business, you know how to pick them, don't you?" he grinned then quickly added, "I'm just teasing."

Upon mentioning the possibility of him celebrating with a drink or few in the saloon, Claire surprised him with her willingness
to accompany him there sometime.

He shrugged, "Well, if you have to go there, best to be accompanied by a man. Just to warn you some of the proper folk in town
might hold it against you to be seen within an establishment like that."

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“I’m happy to hear that and hope a compliment doesn’t make you uncomfortable. I can’t promise I’ll succeed, but I’ll try not to say
anything that’ll make you blush,” Claire teased. True enough, she was flirtatious and always had been, but seldom said something she
didn’t mean.


Shaking her head before taking another sip from her cup, Claire sighed. “Humbert…really? That’s one I’ve never heard of and hopefully
never will. I’m sure he didn’t want his son badgered like he’d been.”


Then he jokingly commented on her choice in men. “Sometimes, politicians can be useful when you need a favor. Of course they’ll be
expecting something in return. I just happened to marry the wrong one. As for the man who owned the business, it was a high class
establishment. The building housed not only a saloon, but a restaurant, gambling parlor, dance hall and bordello, but rooms to rent. I
sometimes wondered if overnight guests knew exactly what all went on there until they tried to sleep, of course. I went to visit him
because he was my first husband’s naval captain. Let’s just say it turned out to be a big mistake.”
 Remembering Jack Flynn made
her wish she had something in her cup stronger than coffee.


Next, she listened to Nathan’s warning regarding the saloon here in Golden Valley. “I’ll take that under consideration, especially if it’s
going to hurt my reputation as a serious reporter. Don’t you think though I should meet the owner? If not, I suppose we could have our
own celebration here so you could have two.” She hated the restrictions placed on women, probably because she’d never been a proper
lady herself.

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Nathan laughed, "Compliments don't make me uncomfortable, they make me suspicious." They both were simply having a good time teasing each other.

She did later point out that politicians have their uses and she was right, but being useful on occasion did not necessarily make them any more likeable
he figured. She was honest enough about herself to admit she had made a mistake or two in the past. But on the other hand so did virtually every other
person in this imperfect world. He certainly had made enough of his own. Enough of the past though, time to move onto to the present, something
they could control.

The talk moved on to the saloon, she was once again surprisingly willing...maybe even a bit eager to visit this saloon despite him pointing out the reputation
damage she might just accrue. Not in his estimation of her though but then he was a whole lot more tolerant than some people in this community. To some
saloons were dens in iniquity and at times they probably had a point. But he went there and what other people thought of him for that....well, it never
bothered him a bit. Still, he was male.

"So you want to meet the owner? I suppose you can if you wish.  I get along with him fine. His name is Ralph Mundy, apparently originally from Chicago.
 He and his daughter run the place, the Golden Valley Palace," he answered her.

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Claire realized Nathan really was cynical with his remark about compliments, but that was okay. She didn’t take it personally. He was
who he was and she accepted that, offering him one of her amused smiles and nothing more.

She found the information about the saloon owner interesting. “Chicago? It seems a good many proprietors here aren’t locals. I don’t
believe you said where you’re from originally.” She wasn’t that good with accents other than determining the difference between North and
South—educated and unlearned, though being from New Orleans, there were several dialects there, and while in Texas, she’d had an
encounter with an Indian, who spoken enough English they’d been able to communicate.

“Sure, you can introduce me sometime, whenever you’d like.” The man might be like Nathan and not care to advertise his business since it
was well-established already, but the more people she knew the better and visa versa.

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"People come out west all the time....you did," Nathan grinned.

 "But I come from New England area originally. Honestly, I can't see myself ever going back though. If things continue as they are,
 I am content to live her in Golden Valley."

The young woman was still partial to meeting the saloon owner. Probably hoping to get his business paying for an ad. Nathan
wondered how much a man like Ralph would care about such things but then that was between him and the lady.

"Well, I think you could probably best go meet him in the morning just before the place opens up. That way not a folk see
you there. Also he wouldn't be dealing with customers. He usually works the bar afterall," Nathan pointed out.

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Claire grinned back. “You have a point there. I suppose people like the adventure and a change of scenery. It’s good
you’ll be staying. Your profession offers something Golden Valley wouldn’t have otherwise. I just hope I can make
a go of it. I might need to consider other options if I can’t.” What those were she honestly didn’t know, but she wouldn’t be
going back to Texas.


“Good advice,” she said with a slight nod, realizing what he suggested made sense. “Hopefully, I won’t be asking him for a job
before it’s over with.” She smiled then, half teasing. She’d left that life long ago and hoped returning to it wouldn’t be necessary and
with his daughter working there, more than likely he didn’t need extra help.


“After that, I think I’ll look into fixing up the apartment upstairs so I can move out of the hotel as soon as possible,” she
added.

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"Yes, adventure, change of scenery, and I'm sure for some, desperation, they have nothing to stay for where they currently live," Nathan added.

"As for you making a go of it....you seem to have the personality for it. That might help you sell papers and get advertising. Sometimes people
buy the product but other times people buy because they like the seller. In fact....I've changed my mind, you can put me down for an ad," he
suddenly declared, "Just look up the same one in of the older papers, that should work fine. I haven't moved or changed my hours."

Nathan was rather amused at her hopefully not serious remark about having to get a job at the saloon, "It's a tough life working in one of
those. Can't see you wanting to go back to something like that."

Upon hearing of her plans to move from the hotel to the upstairs of this place, he nodded approval, "That would save you money indeed. Let
me know if you need any help moving or setting up your new abode. I would gladly lend a hand ...well, unless I am called away for tending
to a patient. That's one part of the job, I may have to go at any time of the day or night. Animals don't much believe in work schedules."

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“I suppose the reason I ended up here was a combination of all of those,” said Claire as she set down her empty cup.

She smiled brightly not only at his compliment, but for Nathan’s encouragement. Although he’d pointed out several strikes against a newspaper
in town earlier--the people who couldn’t read for one--it was nice to hear the future might not be so grim after all. “Thank you for saying that and
I’ll be more than happy to include your ad in the next edition.”

Laughing, she shook her head. “Oh, no. If the worst happened and I had to do something else, I’m sure I’d come up with another plan. I could even
combine printing the paper along with helping single or widowed men out here find a bride.”

“That’s a very kind offer. I might just take you up on it.” The corners of her lifted in a smile of gratitude. “Of course I understand you have obligations
that can’t be put off,” she assured him. “Just helping get my trunks from the hotel to here would be a great help. The previous owner took pretty good
care of the place so I don’t think it’s going to need a lot done to make it livable.” She knew he didn’t expect anything in return, but decided to make him
an offer. “I’d be happy to cook dinner for you one evening to show my appreciation.”

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"Next edition it is then," Nathan nodded then drank some of the coffee.

The conversation moved on to talking about her situation should her dream of making the newspaper a go end up failing. She definitely did not
wish to ever work in a saloon again despite her early experience. He really couldn't blame her either. While almost all saloons had them he did
not think women belonged in such places. But then she said something strange...well, strange at least to him.

"Excuse me? So you would do what then, Claire? Find menfolk wives? And just how does that work?" he grinned even as he asked.

He already knew there some mail order bride services mostly out East which received letters of request from menfolk on the frontier desperate
for a wife. Frankly though he highly doubted their chances of successful marriages, so much potential to go wrong. And possibly even be very
dangerous for the woman who would be making a long trip in effect to meet and marry a total stranger as you couldn't really even trust the
veracity of such letters. Anyone could write anything.

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Claire smiled good-naturedly at his question then clarified what she’d meant in case Nathan hadn’t fully understood.
“Oh, I wouldn’t do that instead of publishing the paper. It would be in addition, to bring in a little extra cash. It was pretty
common after the war for the women down South who’d lost husbands and I’m assuming other places, too. Ranchers and
farmers would be the most likely to be seeking a wife. Sometimes, the men might even have a child if they’re widowed and
want a mother to take care of them instead of trying to keep the place going on their own.”

She lifted her shoulders in a slight shrug, thinking of how she’d go about it. “I could always help them write the letter and since
they’d be local, I could find out from you or perhaps the sheriff something about their character.”

“I think if a woman’s desperate enough, it would be a much better solution than turning to prostitution. There are all types of
situations one might find themself in to be desperate enough to do something so drastic.” She knew as a skeptic, he probably
wouldn’t be convinced, but that was okay.

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He listened then as Claire hastened to explain what she meant by her finding husbands remark.

"God knows the late war brought on enough widows. And yes, I cannot blame a woman for hoping to find another husband especially if she has
children which need be supported. And now that I think on it, I believe one of the local ranchers has a wife who came out from the East coast
to marry him. Don't really know the details on it though and did not feel it my place to pry as long as he did not offer any," Nathan replied.

As to her idea about him possibly being a help due to his knowledge of so many of the locals, there he had to quash that idea, "Umm, no thank
you, Claire. I am not going to be doing something like that. No offense but I would uncomfortable with that, sorry."

Now he did agree with her completely about a woman doing almost anything in desperation other than being a prostitute.

"Yes, it must be a hard life. And dangerous and unhealthy. I have heard they wear out quickly too in the big cities and are then tossed aside
for younger newer faces...well, maybe not even the face that matters all that much," he would not say more but leave it to her to parse it
out.

"We once had a whorehouse here in town but it burnt down in a fire. Luckily no one was killed but the owner decided not to rebuild. Lots of
rumors floated over what caused the fire. An accident, carelessness, or someone who did not approve of such a thing in our fair town,"
Nathan honestly did not have a personal theory.