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Post by Elena Petrovitch on May 20, 2017 19:47:53 GMT -6
May 1st Early Morning
As the sun rose, both Elena and Melody were exhausted. Elena could barely keep her eyes open, and Melody's legs trembled with each slow plodding step. Luck it seemed had been with them last night, as despite their headlong race though the darkness as they fled from their attackers, the mare hadn't stepped into a hole and broken her leg.
Elena knew that she really should get down from Melody's back and try to tend to her mount, but she couldn't muster the energy. She blinked slowly, each time taking longer and longer for her eyes to open again. Finally they failed to reopen and she slumped forward, sleeping as Melody continued slowly forward, drawn by the scent of water.
When Melody reached the river and lowered her head to drink, the movement was just enough to dislodge her rider, sending Elena sliding slowly to the ground in a heap. Exhausted by her recent ordeal, Elena didn’t wake, but instead slept on, her bright red gold curls spread over the grass, shining as the sun rose higher in the sky.
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May 18, 2024 9:52:31 GMT -6
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Post by Deleted on May 21, 2017 11:49:28 GMT -6
Robert had gone this way almost daily for a long time and almost never ran into anyone else. It was out of the way, far from what few roads there were in the territory anyhow and some miles from the closest town, Golden Valley. But for the young miner it was the way to and from where he worked, a small mine nestled in the nearby ridgeline. It was hard labor but it was a job and he was grateful to have it. The man who had hired him was an old hand at it and, though often quite gruff, taught him a lot about mining. Many people wouldn't have even given him a chance to prove himself.
As he sat upon the mine mule, Harley, his mind wandered because he didn't need to pay attention given the old mule knew the route as well as he did. Harley merely ambled along as he did so many times before. Only this day, this trip would turn out to be very different indeed. Robert's daydreaming was interrupted by the mule's surprised reaction to something ....make that someone ahead. Robert looked up ahead of them not twenty yards.
It was a horse just standing there. Though hardly an expert, Robert felt right away something might be wrong with it. Why would a saddled horse just be standing in the middle of nowhere? The young Irishman urged Harley to continue going forward. That's when he spotted a shape lying on the ground next to the horse. A human shape!
Robert tensed and reached for his revolver just in case. The only reason he had a gun even was his employer had provided him one, warning Robert there was always the danger of Indians about. Now he knew how to use the weapon in theory alright but the truth was he had never fired it in anger. Like as not any Indian would have to be awful close for him to hit such a threat.
Pulling up then just short of the horse and sprawled form, Robert saw it was a woman....girl....female. Hopefully not dead, leastwise no large amounts of blood or scalped head. In fact she had copious red curls to her. No matter about that though, he had to focus on the moment and slid off the mule.
"Stay, Harley. Be a good mule."
Taking one last look at the surroundings to see if he could see any possibility of an ambush, he saw nothing and it was quiet other than some little bird singing on a tree branch someplace. No, it was just him and....her. He shoved the revolver back in his waistbelt, holsters cost money. Nervously he knelt down beside this unfortunate individual.
"Ummm.....Miss? You alright?" he asked, wincing at what had probably been a stupid question, then reached with one mine blackened hand to touch her shoulder and shake it just slightly.
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Post by Elena Petrovitch on May 24, 2017 17:03:08 GMT -6
Robert was right be nervous as he knelt by Elena’s side, rousing her with a gentle shake.
Letting out a low moan, Elena’s eyelids fluttered, then she opened her eyes, letting out a piercing scream as she scrambled backwards away from him.
Having been asleep, even if it was in an open field, rather than her bed back home in Texas, or even her bedroll with her brothers by her side.
Elena’s reaction wasn’t personal, any man that had woken her in this way would likely have gotten the same reaction. More because that they were a man, it was less likely that a woman would’ve elicited the same response.
But for now, Elena scrambled to her feet, hands pressed to her mouth to keep back another scream, eyes wide as she stared at Robert before looking all around. Seeing Melody and the mule standing around behind him.
Robert didn’t have a weapon, not that Elena could see anyway so that went a long way towards calming her down.
“Who…. Who are you?” Elena stammered, “Where are we?”
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May 18, 2024 9:52:31 GMT -6
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2017 21:42:25 GMT -6
Whether it was his voice or his nudge, he got a reaction alright from the young miss only not the sort of one he'd hoped for. She screamed once she opened her eyes and saw him above causing the young man to flinch back in shock. As she scrambled up on her feet, he tried to apologize for apparently waking her.
"Sorry, miss!"
She was looking at him like he was some kind of monster. Granted, he was rather filthy but working in a primitive mine would do that to anyone, it was the nature of his job. Other than that Robert didn't think he was particularly ferocious looking? He stood up too with his hands up as if to indicate he had no intention of going for her or even touching her again.
"Easy, don't be meaning ya no harm, lass," he assured her, his Irish accent rather obvious.
She recovered enough to speak and had questions. Well, he could hardly blame her for that much.
"Tis a wee few miles from town....Golden Valley?" he answered that one first, not certain if she would recognize the town name. If she was a resident, he'd never seen her not that he could claim to know everybody in the community of course.
Oh she wanted a name too, fair enough.
"I'm Robert.....or Bobby if you'd rather..."
He thought that deserved a return introduction on her part then, "What's yours then?"
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Post by Elena Petrovitch on Jun 10, 2017 13:40:31 GMT -6
Elena simply wasn’t used to men other than her father and brothers being raised on the isolated farm where she and her two brothers had been born. But despite her naivete she was sure that neither outlaws nor rapers stammered apologies when they encountered victims sleeping out in the middle of nowhere. But she wasn’t quite ready to trust him just yet.
Hands still pressed to her lips, holding back any further screams, Elena watched him, her eyes wide though some color had returned to her cheeks
Elena shook her head, the name of the town he mentioned unfamiliar to her, but then she was lost after her escape from the bandits so that was reasonable.
A faint smile passed briefly over her lips when he said she could call him Bobby. It didn’t suit him, since Bobby was a name for a cute little boy, which he was not. Being a man grown, though still on the young side judging him to be year or so older than she. “Elena.” She murmured, glancing from him to where her mare stood, her eyes sweeping over the mare, looking for any trace of injury. Melody was clearly tired, but seemed otherwise unharmed.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 13, 2017 21:31:25 GMT -6
"Elena? Tis a nice name, it suits ya," Robert smiled, trying to put her at ease, though in truth the young Irishman was quite friendly with almost everybody.
The girl was now looking over her horse, Robert's eyes traveled to the creature also. The horse looked tired but no sign of injury, no blood. Had she merely fallen off it? He had a bunch of questions though about the young lady, why he found her like this, where she came from, just a few of them. But he didn't want to press her either, she seemed to have calmed down some but still appeared to be a bit uneasy. Was it because of him? He hoped not.
"So then Miss Elena....you be from around here? "
It seemed unlikely given her confusion about where she was, a local would know the area, would she not?
"Might I be of some help?" he then offered.
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Post by Elena Petrovitch on Jun 16, 2017 10:59:59 GMT -6
Elena’s lips twitched upwards in an answering smile, though she shrugged slightly. “It’s… Thank you.” She liked her name well enough, but it wasn’t like she’d chosen it. Her parents had named her after all. Just as they'd named Ilyan and Andros.
Elena shook her head, her tangled red curls dancing around her small face. “No. If I were, I’d have known where we were.” Realizing what she’d just told him, her smile faded.
“Help?” She asked, her head cocking slightly to the side, eyes intent on his face. Blushing faintly, Elena took a deep breath, “Which way is it to the town that you spoke of?”
Hopefully there she could find some sign of or better still she might actually find her two brothers. If she had escaped the bandits, then they both should’ve been able to escape also. Of that Elena was sure. She just needed to find them. Catching her lip between her teeth, Elena blinked, then asked one further question. "Does your town... Is there a a lawman? A sheriff or a Marshall perhaps?"
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Post by Deleted on Jun 25, 2017 11:15:37 GMT -6
"Fair enough then," Robert nodded, yes he should have realized she was probably lost but he had felt he had better ask at least.
The young miner followed that up with a sincere offer to help. She seemed a bit surprised by the offer, though he did not know why. Afterall isn't that what folk did for folk? She recovered quickly though and proceeded to ask about the direction of this town he spoke of. Reasonable enough question and one he could instantly answer.
"Right that way, you be not so far from the road inta town even," he pointed as he replied.
Then she asked about the local law. Once more he nodded in the affirmative.
"Indeed, Miss Elena, tis a big enough place....there be a sheriff there. I don't know the man," he then flashed a boyish smile, "I don't get inta trouble much. Least not of my own makin'."
"I could take ya there? To town...to the sheriff? he gallantly offered.
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Post by Elena Petrovitch on Jun 26, 2017 13:50:25 GMT -6
Elena managed a small smile, resisting the urge to duck her head shyly. It wasn’t easy for her, since she leaned in that direction, strongly truth be told.
Elena’s experience with most folk wasn’t very much or particularly varied since most of her life had been spent on her family’s farm, isolated with only her brothers and parents for company.
“That’s… very kind of you.” She answered quietly, glancing in the direction that he indicated led to the town he’d told her about.
Relief filled her, Hopefully he will be able to help me find my brothers. Elena thought
“What trouble is not of your making?” She wondered, a tiny little smile curving her own lips.
“I… Thank you.” Elena looked from Robert to Melody, then ran her fingers through her hair as she made her way to her mare. “We’ll have to go slow. Melody’s tired.”
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Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2017 11:54:43 GMT -6
"That be me, I try my best to be a gentleman," he responded her to her compliment then added, "Sorry I look so ....dirty. You see I work in a mine..tis dirty work alright but tis all that can be got 'round here right now."
The young miss seemed to be relaxing a bit now, which heartened him. She was curious by what he meant though trouble 'not of his making'. Again a fair enough question considering he had first brought it up. He wasn't going to lie to her either.
"Well, I have been in a few fights on the rare occasion, spent a night in the local jail once too ...as you might well imagine...there was drinkin' involved. But I never started any fights....I mean do I look like the sort who would pick on any man?" he smiled, it was plain he was not particularly well built individual. Lanky not musclebound.
That settled, he hoped, he offered to escort the young miss into town, he certainly didn't mind. As of yet he hadn't met almost anyone his age and she had to be close by the look of her. She took him up on that offer, stipulating to go slow though for the sake of her horse. The creature was plainly exhausted, Robert could see that much too.
"Yes, of course. We can just walk them for a wee bit? I can hold your reins if you like? Then maybe you can tell me what happened with you? I mean if you want to ....of course," he didn't want to sound pushy in the slightest even if he was very curious about the young lady and what she was doing out here.
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Post by Elena Petrovitch on Jul 10, 2017 18:01:49 GMT -6
“That’s good I suppose.” Elena murmured, her gaze sweeping over him again. His clothing was certainly stained and dirty, nearly black in some locations. She had to listen closely, his accent making it hard for her to understand what he was saying.
Elena had been concentrating hard on puzzling out his words, so she had leaned forwards slightly. Not so close he could grab her, of course. She wasn’t that foolish, not after the recent attack by the outlaws.
Her brow furrowed as she listened, Elena drew in a quick breath upon learning he’d been drinking and getting into fights. And been locked up overnight in the local jail. “I… I don’t know. Drunk men do many foolish things.” Elena seen that plenty on the trail from Texas to here. Not that Andros or Ilyan had ever done so. Though she’d been with them so that likely had something to do with their restraint.
Elena had gone to Melody’s side, whispering to the tired animal, before gathering the reins. “No thank you. I’ve got her.” Elena said softly, gathering the dangling reins in both hands. She was capable of leading her own mount. Giving the reins to a stranger? Elena was young, true, but hardly stupid. She nodded for him to lead the way, walking a few feet away, thinking about his question. “Not really that much to tell. My brothers and I were attacked by outlaws last night. In the dark… we got separated.” Elena broke off, swallowing hard as tears stung her eyes. “I’ve no idea where they are, or if they’re alright.”
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Post by Deleted on Jul 20, 2017 8:51:41 GMT -6
"I said I'd been drinkin', not that I was drunk and , like I said, I never started any fights," Robert stressed, sounded like she did not believe he had not been at fault.
His offer to hold her horses reins was promptly turned down. Alright, fair enough, he was just trying his level best to be a proper gentleman. But at least he made a little progress with her as she opened up some to his question about what had happened to her out here. She was with her brothers and they were attacked by outlaws? No wonder she was edgy. Before he could ask about the brothers she filled that in too. They were separated in the dark and she had no idea of the fate of her brothers or obviously, where they were now. He hoped they weren't dead. But some outlaws could be pretty ruthless or so he'd heard.
"Oh, lord almighty! I'm so sorry for ye," he knew such words were little comfort but he wanted to say something. He thought on the matter quickly.
"So do ye remember where the ambush happened? I mean....could ye find yer way back there? We could go look for yer brothers there first?" he inquired, left unsaid was they may well find them shot dead or dying of wounds, it had seemingly been awhile since the incident had occurred. Of course there was another thing to think about too, the outlaws might still be around, looking to grab themselves a nice young miss. The danger was real or certainly could be. It was her call though, he only wanted to do the right thing by her.
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Post by Elena Petrovitch on Aug 4, 2017 17:54:05 GMT -6
Elena shrank back a bit when he insisted that he’d only been drinking but hadn’t been drunk. “My mistake.” She murmured, “I don’t know much about such things.”
Elena wasn’t allowing herself to even consider the possibility of her brothers being dead. For if she did, she’d have lost the only people she cared about and didn’t know if she’d have the will to live.
“Thank you.” Elena said with a sad smile. She knew that he was trying to be nice. To be a gentleman towards her and she was flattered by it. But she didn’t know him well enough to trust him any further than she could throw him.
Elena thought about it for a time, then shook her head. “I don’t know the area well enough. It was so dark. Ilyan got me on my horse and told me to run. So, I did. All night…” Elena’s voice trailed off as she choked up.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2017 10:32:11 GMT -6
She backtracked a bit saying it was her mistake. Robert just shrugged, "Donna worry 'bout it, just didn't want you to have the wrong impression 'bout me tis all."
Most naturally the girl was worried about her missing brothers. In truth it didn't sound promising for them. Had they survived you would have thought they would have scoured the whole area looking desperately for their missing sister. But then who knew how far she had ridden. When he asked then about where this incident had taken place, she did not rightly know.
"Oh...well, I do understand then Miss. In the dark and in an area you aren't familiar with.....I kenna easily see that sort of ....confusion," the young miner nodded sympathetically.
Problem was, while he was most willing to help her out, poor thing, he had no idea where to even strike out toward. He had no tracking skills, he was a miner not a hunter. And other than the mine and the trail into town, then the town itself of course, Robert really wasn't all that familiar with the surrounding locale. Lots of mountains, ridgelines, and forests would make for a complicated search too. No, it was plain as day, he needed to get this young miss into the safety of town first and foremost.
"I'd be willin' ta look about for yer brothers but ....mayhaps we should first get you into town? Let the local law know what happened. Get you somethin' ta drink - I mean like water or tea - and eat too, you've had yerself quite the hard night ya know," Robert suggested.
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Post by Elena Petrovitch on Aug 27, 2017 10:29:28 GMT -6
Elena forced a smile, then let out her breath, watching him with wide, wary green eyes as she followed him in the direction that he said the town was. Elena’s opinion didn’t change much, since he had, by his own admission both been drinking even if he hadn’t been drunk and had gotten himself arrested. He seemed to be doing her a good turn so perhaps he wasn’t all bad. Elena didn’t comment on the matter any further.
Elena refused to let herself even think that there was even the slightest possibility that she might not see her brothers again. If she did lose hope then she didn’t know if she’d have the strength to carry on living. After the death of her parents, Elena was grieving something terrible and only able to go on with her day to day because of Andros and Ilyan. They needed her just as much as she needed them.
“Yes.” Elena agreed, they were traveling through the area, so it was very unfamiliar territory for both her and her brothers. Fortunately as it turned out, the same was true for the bandits who’d attacked them, or else things might’ve turned out very differently for the slightly built young woman.
Elena was exhausted, and as much as she wanted to find her brothers, the thought of more time in the saddle practically brought tears to her eyes
“Thank you.” Elena’s smile this time was more real, no force required as he suggested that they get to town, seek out the local law, before finding some refreshment. He was correct in that her night had been far from pleasant. “I’d like that. Very much.” She added, her voice quiet and shy. “Lead the way sir.”
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