ikissdhimbck: (Cowboy on horseback b&w - Beaut)
Katherine "Kissin' Kate" Barlow ([personal profile] ikissdhimbck) wrote2013-03-16 03:09 pm

OOM: I'm gonna be a wheel someday...

By the time she's been in Galveston a couple of weeks, she's made herself a fine routine. Folk know her name — or think they do, anyhow — and stop to greet her in the street, at the market, or when she takes in a show with one of her mysterious companions. She smiles, and tells them about business in Houston, offers up suggestions on what to do for their sick horse, asks about children and spouses. She comes off as someone of society; someone with a head for business, and the common touch.

She breaks her morning fasts at Frau Brandstätter's establishment, cutting bitter coffee with too-sweet pastries while discussing the immoralities of townsfolk she's never met. She stops in Fromm's apothecary, purchasing a penny rag and a piece of taffy, the latter of which she always gives to the first child who crosses her path. She'll then retrieve her newest jacket or hat, taking a page from Butch's playbook and treating herself to something fine. It's an unremarkable way of whiling away the hours, but for a time it almost feels like she could have something normal.

A place.

"Naught too exciting in the world today," remarks Mr. Fromm, passing her the paper.

"Sure there is, Erich. While folk tip their hats here, they're still shootin' people down in the street in the rest of Texas. They jus' don't write about it so much on account of the reporters who get caught in the crossfire. Dangerous business, y'know."

She shakes out the front page with the unconcerned air of someone who isn't looking for something. As if it's all just news, hundreds of miles away from her. Erich chuckles.

"Houston's a reckless town. I'm sure you seen more than we can discuss politely."

Kate's lips twitch. She glances up from the paper, catching the man's brown eyes.

"Polite? Erich, y'must have me confused with some other Ms. James."

"If the world as impolite as you, I sell less of these, eh?" he grins, tapping the back of her paper.

"Aww, well thank you," she snickers, knowing just how to bat her lashes to get that grin of his to reach all the way to his eyes. "I keep tryin' t'warn you your impression of me will likely change the longer I'm here in town."

"Eh. You come in, you buy from me. You not so bad."

Because she can't help but try her luck, she arches an eyebrow and presses him:

"For a woman?"

"For a rancher." He gives her a flat look that soon returns to amusement. "Hundreds of you all over town, trying to sell. Animals you say are like, eh — Apis, you know? None of you tell truth, it's about being first. Getting money. Being on boat, so you can sell more. But you — "

He wags his finger at her.

"You have honest eyes. And you like candy. So I say," he shrugs; "not so bad."

"That means a lot," she says, feigning solemnity (but the laughter is bright in her eyes). " 'Specially comin' from someone who turns such good business himself."

"I never said there was anything wrong with money."

There's no attempt to mask her laughter now. She folds up her paper, another day of 'naught too exciting' news, and digs out the coin for her bit of taffy.

"You remind me of these modern women now," he says, taking care to choose a very fine piece of candy. "You wear man's hat, and walk around in trouser. Not like women in Philadelphia."

She tucks the candy into her breast pocket, smirking smugly.

"Like Calamity Jane an' Annie Oakley?"

He nods. "You women of the West, always trying to prove you are strong. As if we don't already know that."

"Oh, honey, just you wait. Someday we're gonna rule the world." She winks, smiles diamonds, and taps the counter as she turns to leave. "Take care of yourself, Erich. I'll see y'tomorrow."

The door jingles on her way out. It's about midmorning, and the day's already hot. She has to squint against the glare when brooding clouds overhead part for brilliant sunlight, washing the granite buildings in hues of white and yellow. She glances west down Broadway toward her hotel, catching sight of a — 

Well, that ain't right.

"Hey!"

She steps off the boardwalk and crosses the street, eyes riveted on the stage and buckboards parked out front. Looking for insignia, telltale signs that make her heart speed up and her palms turn clammy, anxiety gripping her so tight she can hardly breathe. Her strides quicken, voice rising from a place of strength she can't even put a finger on right now.

"Hey!"

Practically at a run, she rounds the backmost stagecoach and alights upon the boardwalk, approaching the gentleman with the Remington strapped to his hip just as he turns, sees her, and she throws her arms around his neck.

"John," she cries, voice muffled by his shoulder as he wraps his arms around her in kind.

"Christ Almighty, Katherine," he guffaws, putting her back on her feet. "You'd think we hadn't seen each other for a hundred years!"

"Did y'bring her?"

She's already looking around him.

"Did y'bring my Beauty?"

"Must've plumb slipped my mind," he grins, and she makes a face at him that has him laughing. "I told you I would. An' just as I said, she's in better condition than when y'left her with me. Her an' Arrow, both."

He leads her around to the knot of mares parked outside the livery. Arrow's coat shines like obsidian in the sun, but it takes less than a second for Kate's eyes to spy Beaut. She whistles sharply, hurrying the rest of the way to the mare with perked ears and anxious steps.

"Hello, my darlin'."

John knows her well enough to give her some space before she turns, head tucked up under Beaut's jaw, and looks at him again.

"Did y'have any problem on the trail?"

"Not a one. I make this road often, so it passed by like business as usual." He hesitates, glances over his shoulder, and drops his voice. "Lotta talk goin' 'round in Yorktown, though. 'Bout a big hullabaloo in Cuero."

"What're they sayin'?"

"Sayin' a bank done got robbed. Townsfolk suddenly buyin' back land an' payin' off debts. Sayin' a man jus' barely got by with his life by the skin of his teeth."

She lets out an audible breath, all the tension leaving her body in one swell. She closes her eyes, letting the relief float her for a few blissful seconds before returning to the man with concern in his eyes.

"Sounds like an awful mess," she breathes. "I reckon you an' I have a lotta catchin' up t'do. But I'd like t'get Beaut settled, maybe go an' find Mr. Lehane. I'm sure he'll be happy t'know Arrow's here in good condition. He's been pacin' 'round like a small cock in matin' season."

John smiles thinly, adjusting the brim of his hat.

"Go on, then. Buy you dinner later?"

"I'd like that."

She smiles softly, apology in her eyes, but it's John who turns first, leaving her and Beaut to get reacquainted. Kate grins at the mare as she noses around her pockets, smelling the taffy on her. It feels like she's been carrying around a bullet in her gut and it's only just been yanked out, letting the wound heal. Her spirit's at rest for the first time in months. Even with all that ain't perfect, this much at least feels steady.