Good Samaritans

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Things couldn't get any worse, right? He had been picked up off the road, or beside it after having passed out under the sun, the lack of water and food had got to him. His 'friend' Shadow had taken off when the noise of the horses and sound of the buggy could be heard. Isaiah caught the blurred vision of someone putting him in, but he wasn't in the right state of mind to be able to say one word. Had the bandits come back for him, hell they had taken everything from him short of leaving him in the nude. They could have very well come back to take the rest of his clothes, and to take his life for that matter. Lucky for him; although, he didn't know it yet, he had just been saved...if not just from vultures picking his bones after he died.

He came too long enough to see the sky above him moving, it felt like he was floating. He couldn't feel his own feet moving so he couldn't be walking. Carried maybe, but after a moment he noticed it was a bit bumpy. His eyes went blurry and closed once more before they opened again, time had passed and the sun was obviously farther along in the sky than when he remembered, he could hear the muffled voices nearby as the sky continued to move. The only reason for the muffle was his own brain trying to come too and focusing. He wasn't dead yet, either Davis had found him and taken him prisoner, or bandits hadn't got him at all. Isaiah was still alive, even if he wasn't fully aware of the good Samaritans that had happened upon him.

"BAH!"

He shot up in the bed, breathing heavily and doused in sweat. The day had passed and evening had set in, the room lit by lantern nearby as he checked himself over once realizing his shirt was gone. He couldn't remember anything, not even those brief few moments when he had woken up in the back of the buggy and was staring up into the sky. Hand over his chest briefly he ran the same hand back over his head as he glanced about. "Where the heck am I?]" That was the thought that ran through his head, not to mention the question of how he got here.

He rose from the bed, after swinging his legs off and planting his feet on the floor. People outside the window nearby were heard as he pushed himself up, the sheet fell and...no pants. Not that he even thought about it as he approached the window, the sun had gone down and people were in the streets, music from nearby, probably the saloon, could be heard and some rowdy patrons. The door squeaked into the room and he turned suddenly with surprise when a voice spoke up.[/div]

@susanw

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"I thought I heard you up and about." An older woman was standing there. She had what looked like a pile of clothing on one arm, and a cup of something that smelled wonderful in her other hand. She kept looking him in the eye, ignoring the fact he was naked. She and her son had gotten the young man into the house. His clothes were now out being washed with the rest of the laundry.

"My name is Angela Brown. My son and I found you on the road and brought you here." She walks over to the bed, and lays the clothing on it. "These belong to my son. I think they might fit. Why don't you sit down? This is a nice cup of broth you look hungry. I run the boarding house here. You are in Golden Valley.

The room is clean and neat. There is a bed, dresser, and a small nightstand. There is a lamp, and bible on the table. A basin and pitcher are on the dresser. Curtains are at the window. There is a small braided rug on the floor.

@isaiah

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When the woman entered, the two locked eyes, he was a little on edge. Could you blame him? He had everything taken from him, prior to passing out and waking up here. She obviously wasn't with the bandits, unless this was a clever ruse by the very same ne'er-do-wells that had taken his belongings. If that was the case his night was about to get a lot worse, or hers. Naked or not he would fight to get what he had lost back. Naked, he didn't even realize he was without clothes at this point, not until she put the clothes on the bed she had brought. That's when he glanced down and his eyes widened and in a flash he had them in his hands covering his bits and pieces.

"I'm...naked..."

That was about all he could say as he stared straight forward at the wall with a bit of shock and surprise on his face. Who was responsible for getting them off, not that it crossed his mind but it was odd for a stranger to just strip a man down to his birthday suit. This was a first for him, he was robbed of his positions and now his dignity. Angela was probably the type of woman to take no never mind to any of that or consider it a shot to his dignity, if she was indeed the one that took them off.

Golden Valley? He had heard of the place but nothing more than in brief conversation and not anything to ever gauge how the place was viewed by others, be that of passerby's or the residents. On that note Golden Valley had escaped his mind and he actually couldn't recall ever hearing of it. Maybe that was the shock he was now in that shoved everything else out of his mind. He took a large gulp in his throat and his eyes slowly shifted sideways before his head followed.

"I can tell I didn't die, otherwise the shock I am currently in from the situation at hand wouldn't be present..."

@susanw

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Angela realized the young man was uncomfortable with his present state. "You were overheated and I was concerned about heatstroke. My son and I undressed you and I gave you a cool sponge bath. I really expected you to sleep a lot longer then you did. Good thing we found you. Now you just go ahead and drink the broth. If you feel up to it. you can join us in the kitchen. After you get dressed of course. If you need anything, just call me. By the way,what is your name?"

The sound of a younger woman's voice is heard from the kitchen. 'Mrs Brown,I back. I finished.." there is another woman standing in the doorwqy..."Oh my goodness" She is young, red haired and speaks with an Irish accent. Angela turns around, hustling the other woman out. As she pulls the door shut, she says 'I'll be back.

@isaiah

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Well, that certainly got his attention, the woman albeit only for a brief second, spotted in the doorway. Thank god he was covered up, well his nether region was. He caught just enough glimpse to get frozen in his tracks staring at her, maybe he did die and this was heaven cause he could have sworn he just saw an...okay, okay enough of that, he shook himself out of it when Angela shuffled the woman out the door and they disappeared.

"Nice to meet you, thanks for saving my life...no I'm fine, I love being sponge bathed by an elderly woman..."

He mumbled every bit to himself after they had gone, Golden Valley huh? He had no idea where it was, and may or may not have heard of it before. Gathering himself with a sigh and turned and tossed the clothes on the bed, no need to cover up anymore unless someone was watching, not that he would know one way or the other. He took another glance out the window after he sat on the bed and slipped his legs into the pants. Back to his feet as he pulled them up and flung the shirt over his shoulders and arms through the sleeves, not yet buttoning up.

The door cracked open to the room and he peaked out into the hallway, it was quiet enough that he slowly stepped out and looked both ways before slowly buttoning the shirt as he headed down the stairs. The creaked a bit under each step he took before hitting the main floor and looking about again. "Well this is the nicest house I've ever been in." That was the only thought he had for the moment as he turned one way and stepped into another room to look around.

[Deleted]

At the sound of the footsteps coming in, Katie turned around. She had been looking for a book in the parlor, that she had been reading. Angela had told her about the young man. She had been out running errands, when he got there. She led at him. She is dressed in a cotton dress, and her hair is pulled back in a pony tail.

'Good to see you up. I am Katie O'Brian." Angela comes in the room thru another door. 'glad to see you are up and about Dinner will be ready in about an hour. Why don't you sit down? Katie, can you keep him company?'

@isaiah

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"Well, I know I'm not dead. But the angel before me could have fooled me."

Smooth, real smooth with that line. He glanced back at Angela and ran a hand over the top of his head, then glanced back at Katie, it was almost a double take between the two of them for a moment as he sighed for a moment. He wasn't sure what type of place this was, brothel, hotel, just a plain house...

"Had all my belongings taken from me, save for my dog."

Well, Shadow wasn't exactly a dog. That being said, they may as well have taken his clothes too now that he was wearing someone else's. I guess it was a good thing he still had them on though, a little embarrassing if he had been found stark naked in the middle of nowhere. Not that it mattered now, They both had already seen everything.

[Deleted]

Katie blushed a little. Mrs Brown had gone back to the kitchen, leaving the two of them alone. 'I do believe you have a bit of the Blarney in you. I have been called a lot of things, but never an angel. Your dog showed up a little while ago. He is out back. Chased Socks, Angela's cat up a tree." She giggled a little. 'This is her homw. She runs it as a boarding house. What is your name can't keep calling you young man. Would you like some tea? Moght even be able to get a few cookies. Katie realized that she was babbling. The young man was handsome in a quiet sort of way.
@isaiah

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She went back into the kitchen and prepared a tea tray. Sock came strolling in looking quite perturbed. She had found a bone with some meat on it and thrown it to the dog to distract it. She had seen it when they found the young man. So it belongs to him.

She came into the parlor, carrying the tray. "I thought we migh have some tea, and introduce ourselves. Maybe find out how you wound up out there. My name is Angela Brown. This is my home which i have turned into a boarding house. My son Michael and I found you out on the road. Looked like you had been robbed. We brought you here. Michael is going to let the sheriff know about you. Katie here is one of my boarders. by the way if that is your dog, i don't allow pets here."

She pours cups of tea for everyone. 'Sit down, I promise I don't bite."
@isaiah

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He was almost being put on blast here with questions. They were coming at him from both sides and he wasn't sure how or WHOM to answer first. That being said, one thing he could say would answer a few questions. He was about to say something when he realized what she had said about Shadow. His eyes widened and he looked about, gaining his bearings to figure out which way the back was before he looked back at Katie.

"You might want to check on your cat then...he's not exactly an ACTUAL dog. Wolf, he's a wolf..."

He stammered it out a bit and trailed for a moment, most people just had...well a dog. This was a special case, Shadow was caught in a trap when he was a pup and Isaiah happened upon it, released the him and they were glued together ever sense. Think of it as an only friend; although, Shadow tended to go off on his own but was never far from the man.

When Angela came back into the room he looked between the two women. Tea, now that was something he had only ever had...well he couldn't remember ever having any really. Once she spoke about the sheriff he stuck a hand out and backed up a step or two, not that he was a known murderer or robber but there may or may not have been a price for him.

"Whoa...that might not be the best idea...wait, what did you call me? Do you allow her to talk to people that way? What was that word, blar...blarney?"

He looked at Angela, referring to being called a blarney, then back to Katie trying to remember the word even. Maybe not the BRIGHTEST guy out there, he was smart, but by no means knew that word, or any language but English. Charming, or a charmer, well if he had any idea that was what she meant, he'd probably continue on trying to act smooth.

"Now I appreciate the hospitality and all, but telling the Sheriff you captured the notorious Isaiah Johnson, might not be a great idea. Besides wouldn't do any good for my reputation to know I was robbed of everything I own...well owned."

And now they knew his name; however, notorious was a stretch as they had probably never heard of him or anyone else in town. Furthermore, the likely hood of there being a reward for him was highly unlikely, teetering on the side of there never was one.

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Katie giggled. "A bit of the blarney means that you have a smooth way of talking. When you called me an angel, i though you were being sweet. You are right it would ruing your reputation, if someone was to find out you lost everything. But someone should let the sheriff know. What if they attack someone else." She sits sipping her tea. She is intrigued by the young man. He didn't look dangerours.

@isaiah

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Angela smiles. "Ok, then we won't tell the sheriff. Well now that we all know each others name, we need to see how we can help you. Michael could probably use some help at the depot. You are welcome to stay here. As for you being an outlaw, the family silver is in the top drawer, and my jewelry is in the box on my dresser. As for the wolf, I gave him a soup bone and he can sleep out in the barn.'

@isaiah

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"Well I have quite the reputation of being a great lover, some might say dashing even..."

Hearing her say he was smooth, well that changed the mood quick and he was back to being the smooth talker, so to speak. Now he was just building himself up, no one had ever said that about him before, he was just flirting now. He smirked a bit and tried to act cool, eve though his hair was a bit of a mess, he looked more or less disheveled after having been out in a bed for a while, he didn't really straighten himself up before he dressed and came down.

"But I dare say you are quite the creature Mrs. O'Brian. I am sure whomever is lucky to be in your presence on such often occasion is a lucky man."

Well he had meant what he said about, all of it now and just a few minutes ago. Not realizing the woman herself wasn't married, for all he knew Angela's son was with this woman. As for his, dog, wolf, whatever you wanted to refer to him as, Angela had nothing to worry about, he would take off before the night had gone.

"There's no need to put him up, Shadow. I imagine he's probably taken off by now, he'll come back around in due time. He and I have a bond, we are friends. Like him, I won't overstay my welcome, I'll be on my way before long."

He had no plans of staying in Golden Valley, hell he hadn't even planned on coming through, it was happenstance that he was robbed and lost his sense or lack thereof, direction. He had no reason to stay, no friends, no wife, no family, nothing worth sticking for. By now, Angela's son had already told the sheriff no doubt of the incident anyway.

[Deleted]

"you are welcome to stay here for a few days, until you can get on your feet."

An older man walks in the room. "Good evening Mother." He looks over at Isaiah. "I heard what you said about not contacting the Sheriff. I really don't agree with it. But I have let my drivers to keep an eye out. I do need some help around the depot, mostly with the horses. Cleaning stall, feeding grooming, and changing teams. pay is 1.50 a week. and lunch.'

Angela speaks up. 'you can stay here. room and meals are .50 cents a week. Once you get on your feet, you can stay or move on. So everything settled. Dinner is in a half hour." she bustles out.

@isaiah

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Katie speaks up. "there is no arguing with her when she has her mind set. By the way it is Miss O'Brian. You don't look like dangerous outlaw. Where are u from?' "Dinner is ready. We are eating in the kitchen.' Angela's voice is heard. Katie stands up. "Well come on, I bet you are starved.