Cuero, Texas, 1888 -- OOM for Ben Wade (part 4)

[ikissdhimbck]

The rest of their first night in Cuero went off without incident. After they made their way back to the hotel, Kate told Ben about her conversation with Will, and the outlaw's plan to throw a bonfire in Doc's memory.

'Wouldn't miss it for the world,' Ben had said.

They spent the rest of the night in quiet conversation, some of it about Doc, some of it about the Bar, some of it about the banks just outside their hotel room, and the fine citizens of Cuero.

But when morning rolled around, the door to their room had became a door to Milliways. The two put on their "Sunday's finest," and went through to give Doc one last big send off.


It's seconds later, as far as Texas is concerned, when they re-enter their room. Kate is moving freely, without even the barest hint of a hitch in her step, now. They are both also dressed down from how they were when they left, having spent the night in the Bar after the wake was over.

.

Comments

[almosthonorable]

Ben tucks away the Hand of God and his holster with some reluctance; he doesn't like being unarmed, even if no one's going to recognize him in Kate's world.

He fattens his wallet a smidgen -- they have some banking to do, after all -- and turns to Kate.

"All set?"

[ikissdhimbck]

Kate turns to her things and searches out her bonnet and her gloves.

She isn't as awake as she would like, after a very late night, and drinks with quite a few different friends. She isn't hungover, but she is probably feeling the effects of a little dehydration. It's nothing that will keep her from doing what she has to do, but she's been a little quiet today.

"I think so," she eventually murmurs, after her bonnet is tied on.

She moves to him as she slips on her gloves, glancing around for her misplaced kerchief.

She feels like she's putting on a costume, now, wearing threads that feel like an old, shed skin.

[almosthonorable]

His lips twitch.

"I'll get us a couple glasses of water downstairs before we attend to business."

[ikissdhimbck]

She cuts her eyes sideways, but there is a knowing, resigned smirk on her lips.

"That would probably be a good idea."

She lifts a book of poetry from an end-table by the head of the bed to reveal her lost kerchief. The little orange origami crane she has been using as a bookmark flutters out from between the pages, and she quickly ducks down to pick it back up, examining each wing for damage before slipping it back inside the cover.

"Anythin' I should know 'fore we head out?"

[almosthonorable]

He shakes his head.

"Nothin' to know, just yet."

A quick grin.

"But we'll both be findin' out soon enough, I reckon."

[ikissdhimbck]

Her expression flattens somehow, though the smirk never leaves her face.

"Just tap yer nose or somethin' if we're about t'git shot at."

[almosthonorable]

"Now that is just plain pessimistic. Who'd wanna gun down a preacher and his wife?"

[ikissdhimbck]

She tucks her kerchief into her sleeve and steps out into the hallway, chuckling the whole way.

"We'll both be findin' out soon enough, I reckon."

[almosthonorable]

Ben locks the door behind them and offers his arm to Kate; once they're downstairs and they've downed some much-needed water, he holds open the door for her, squinting against the bright Texas morning.

[ikissdhimbck]

Kate dips her head to allow the brim of her bonnet to shade her eyes from the oppressive sun, taking care to walk slow and favor her right leg, despite the lack of pain in her left.

Wouldn't do to confuse the fine folk of Cuero, after all. To any who's been asking, she simply took a spill from the saddle a few days ago, but should heal up just fine in another few short days.

"Who're you thinkin'? Runge, or Buchel?"

Beat.

"Or perhaps you're gonna want t'be payin' a visit to Mr. Schleicher 'fore we head back?"

[almosthonorable]

"Let's stroll down to Buchel's first, then we'll stop by Runge."

He slants a smile at Kate as they make their way down the street and past storefront after storefront.

"Mr. Schleicher's a man of interest, all right. Wouldn't do not to offer our respectable hands in friendship, now, would it?"

[ikissdhimbck]

"It'd be positively criminal," she agrees innocently. "After all, a man with that kind of clout shouldn't be slighted, dearest, if we ever intend on makin' a livin' here in this town."

Amusement ghosts at the corners of her mouth.

[almosthonorable]

"That's exactly right," he says as they draw closer to Buchel's bank. "We need strong ties to this fine community and its upstandin' citizens -- gotta be thinkin' about puttin' down roots and everything."

[ikissdhimbck]

Kate only chuckles to that.

The idea of Ben Wade putting down roots somewhere is even more hilarious than the thought of her someday being able to do the same thing.


Otto Buchel's bank is a nice, stately building. "Modern," as far as banks of their era go. You can just make out the safe as you enter from the front, though there are an awful lot of desks and offices -- not to mention the tellers -- that stand between.

[almosthonorable]

Ben's taking careful appraisal of the place, counting heads as they walk inside the bank.

"Mornin'," he says to a young man with slicked-back hair sitting at a desk near the entrance. "You doin' all right today, son?"

"Fine, sir, thank you," is the polite reply. "And good morning, ma'am. How can we be of service today?"

"Well, I was hopin' to talk to somebody about maybe openin' an account."

"Of course," the young man says, standing. "Right this way, please."

[ikissdhimbck]

Kate nods her polite salutations to each banker that stands from his chair to 'bow' and murmur a "ma'am" as they pass by.

(Which just so happens to be all of the bankers they happen to pass by.)

The young man eventually leads them to an open office door. Inside, behind a rather opulent mahogany desk, sits a middle-aged man whose hair is already beginning to recede, staring at a stack of papers through a small set of round-rimmed spectacles. Their young guide knocks gently.

"Mr. Buchel?"

Kate's surprised -- and pleased.

It looks like they'll get to deal with the man himself, no fuss no muss.

[almosthonorable]

"Mornin'," Buchel says, looking up.

"Prospective customers, sir," the young man says, gesturing toward Ben and Kate.

Setting the papers aside, Buchel stands and gestures to two chairs in front of his desk.

"Please, come in, have a seat. I'm here to answer any questions you might have."

Ben stifles a wide smile and nods, guiding Kate ahead of him with his hand on her lower back.

"Brother Tucker Evans, Mr. Buchel," he says, "and my better half, here, Prudence."

[ikissdhimbck]

The presence of Ben's hand on her back is a bit jarring, but she doesn't let it show.

"How do you do," says Kate, with a curtsy.

"Mrs. Evans," Buchel greets, rising from his seat to bow.

His eyes linger perhaps a bit too long to be polite.

"Pleasure to meet you folks."

Kate has a few options. Either she can play the part of the wilting flower, and let Ben do all the talking; or, she can turn on a bit of her own outlaw charm and see what she can do to ensure all their questions do, indeed, get answered.

It's easy enough to do.

"You have quite a fine bank, sir," she smiles, tipping her head to one side shyly. "I've heard many good things about your establishment. You must be a gentleman of extraordinary character."

She tips her head to smile sweetly at her husband, reaching for his hand.

"God-fearin', too, I should hope?"

[almosthonorable]

"Of course," Buchel says, only sitting once Ben and Kate are seated. "Every Sunday, wind, rain or shine."

Ben settles back, taking in their surroundings without appearing too interested in Buchel's taste that runs toward gaudy.

"We're new to town, Mr. Buchel, by way of Little Rock, just lookin' for a drier climate to settle in. We heard that your bank here was the finest around."

[ikissdhimbck]

"I'm flattered," he says, making sure to tip his head to Kate in gratitude for her earlier compliment. "But not surprised. I set a high standard here. I want my investors to feel absolutely sure that their money will be secure."

He smiles at Kate, his expression something reminiscent of a preening peacock.

"Handled only by those with the highest moral fiber, and character."

Kate smiles sweetly in reply.

[almosthonorable]

"Now that is some glad news, indeed," Ben says, glancing at Kate with a smile that's mostly innocent.

"What kind of security can you guarantee for your customers?"

[ikissdhimbck]

"Well, why don't we take ourselves a little walk? I'll give ya'll a tour -- unless, Mrs. Evans? I noticed you favorin' one leg, there; are you all right to be walkin'?"

"Oh, quite all right, sir," she assures him, flushing quite innocently. "I only took a bad spill, but I'm healing up just fine. I would very much love for you to show us around this establishment."

"Well, fine, then. It's settled," he grins, standing up from his desk. "Why don't you folks follow me."

[almosthonorable]

And they do, with Ben taking stock of the building's layout as they go -- offices, windows, the number of employees, and, of course, the vault.

It's impressive, with some of the most secure technology available to date, and Mr. Buchel doesn't mind demonstrating the finer points to the preacher and his wife.

Ben's committing every word to memory, especially the part about how the combination changes every week -- every Monday morning, as a matter of fact -- like clockwork.

[ikissdhimbck]

Kate's never seen anything like it. The vault is ever more impressive than anything she's seen in small town banks over her short few years. She soaks in everything like a sponge, curious eyes poring over every screw, every lever, every nut and bolt.

And, of course, when Mr. Otto Buchel -- 'please, call me Otto, Mrs. Evans' he had said -- mentioned that he even paid the extra to have a guard on hand, she soaked up that information, too.

A Pinkerton.

"You might already be apprised of the fact that the good Mr. Schleicher banks with us," he smiles. "He, naturally, has many assets he goes to great pains to protect. It's only my pleasure to provide the most security I can to our customers, and our railroad."

[almosthonorable]

"That's certainly a comfort," Ben says as the tour ends and Buchel leads them toward his office once more.

"It's the right all of our customers deserve," Buchel says. "We aim to -- "

"Otto, you busy over there?"

Buchel turns with a wide smile.

"Well, good mornin', Mr. Schleicher. I was just tellin' the preacher and his wife here why they should open an account with this fine, sound establishment."