InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "I release you from your bonds."

Dell (brazen) wrote in oldwest_rpg,
@ 2008-05-19 11:54:00

Entry tags:

dell, eli donovan

Knock Knock.
Who: Eli Donovan and Dell
Where: at the tiny house next to the stables, New Shelby (then maybe the stables...
When: May 19, 1867, early afternoon
Status: Complete
Summary: Dell needs a horse and she can't steal one (YET!) so she's gone to Eli to see what he has.

Knock. Knock.

When Dell had sobered enough it was easy enough to find the Stables. All she needed to do was follow the sweet smell of hay and the nostril burning scent of manure. Instead of going to the Stables first though she went to the small house beside the place. She didn't know how it all worked- Where anyone was. Or, maybe she wasn't that into buying something she knew she really didn't have to. Maybe if she "couldn't find anyone" she could use that as an excuse not to have to spend her money on a horse she didn't want to purchase.

Eh...who was she kidding?

It was cloudy today. She wouldn't mind the sun beating down on her but the sun was hiding. Even still, it was warm, especially in her leathers. She was wearing her wide brimmed hat but every time some of the breeze flew by the sweat on her brow would sop up the wind and cool her face.

Knock. Knock.

"Anyone here!?" Dell cried out, took a step back and looked up over the entire building. She wasn't sure what she was expecting to see but she figured someone should be around to work the business. Horses. She needed a horse. She wasn't sure she should pay for one. Horses were easy enough to come by. But, Bones has instructed her to stay out of as much trouble as she could until news of her busting out of jail had cooled. That was easier said than done but so far she'd done alright. She was pretty sure she'd not caught most peoples attention in town. Dell would see what she could get with what cash she could afford to spend.

Knock. Knock. Knock. BAM! BAM! BAM!

She was impatient.

Her fist was now clenched and she was pounding on the door. When nobody came after that she gave a holler, "FINE! I'm leavin'. I came to spend some money but watch me leave with my cash still in my pocket!" She'd find someone else willing to sell a horse. There had to be someone. Dell backed away from the building, backward all the way down until the whole building she was knocking on was in her peripheral before she turned and started to go.

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edonovan
2008-05-19 06:23 pm UTC (link)

Eli was skirting the house from the stables when he heard the commotion, and he winced. He'd been planning to take an hour or two to return Miss MacKenzie's parasol this afternoon, and was even on his way to try to clean himself up a bit -- no sense showing up on Doc MacKenzie's doorstep smelling of sweat and manure, after all, especially on the Sabbath. It had been raining all the day before after he'd found it in the stables, and he knew little enough about women's fashion that he'd feared ruining it if he tried to return it in a downpour, but surely she'd be needing it soon -- if the sun ever decided to come out again, that is.

He made his way around to the front of the house leisurely, wiping the worst of the dirt from his hands, and spotted the figure backing away from his house. Why anyone would go to his residence to do business escaped Eli at the moment, but a customer was a customer, regardless.

"No one in the house this time of day, sir," he called amiably, just as the figure turned to leave. "Mayhaps I can I help you, though? If you're needing the stableyard, that is," he finished, flashing him -- her? -- a mild grin.

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brazen
2008-05-19 06:40 pm UTC (link)

Good point. It was the Sabbath. Weren't Christian types supposed to be resting? Masturbating to Jesus? Yes indeed. That's why she came out here to the house. "Yeah? I figured me yelling loud enough would get someone's attention. I didn't mean to disturb your homestead" Lies! She was used to people calling her sir especially when she wore the clothes she was wearing now. She wasn't all together masculine in her appearance but she sure didn't act like a lady and since she didn't argue when someone mistook her for a man most people just kept on assuming she was. (Or rather a teenager)

It was an alright disguise when the law was looking for a skirt.

"If yer closed or somethin' I don't wanna be a bother or nothin'." More lies!. She came all this way though. Time she could have been doing something else... She didn't have to buy anything. "On second thought...I came all the way down here. If you aren't busy with yer pray'n and whatever other horseshit you do 'round here then I guess I wouldn't mind talkin' 'bout what you might have up here to purchase...." Now she approached him and although she had a mouth like a sewer she was smiling friendly like. She had her hand extended, "You're Eli right?"

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edonovan
2008-05-19 07:04 pm UTC (link)

Eli laughed, not the least bit offended by her swearing. He tried to watch his own mouth around womenfolk like he'd been taught, but one didn't spend nearly twenty years working in and around stables and not hear the more colorful side of a man's tongue every blessed day. Besides -- 'horseshit' was a pretty apt description for the day-to-day business of a stableyard.

"I think the prayin' can wait for a while," he said with a grin and a lazy shrug. "Horses need feeding as much as the soul, I reckon." He shook Dell's hand firmly, tucking his rag in his back pocket with his free hand. "That'd be me -- Eli Donovan, I run the stables hereabouts." He let go of her hand easily and jerked a thumb over his shoulder toward the front entrance to the stables. "I take it you're looking for a mount? I've got a fair few to offer -- if you have an idea of what you're looking for, we'll see if we can't get you all set up."

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brazen
2008-05-19 07:38 pm UTC (link)

She gave his hand a fair shake. Not like Dell was trying to impress upon Eli anything more than a friendly hand shake anyways. Her hands were small for a man, but they weren’t dainty either. She let go when he did. “I am. My horse was stolen…and now I’m sunk to walk’n everywhere ‘til I get me a new on. That was not so much a lie as an exaggeration of the truth. Flash, had been seized and sold after she’d gotten herself arrested. Or, at least that was what she had surmised. If Fred has taken her horse she had no idea where he would have hidden him. Maybe he sold him. She would never know. “Walkin’ round these parts is no Sunday picnic.” Not that she’d know what a picnic was like. She wondered if ice cream wouldn’t be a little bit of heaven.

So, this was how buying a horse worked? “I want a stallion. I don’t need no high strung filly. No colt. I need a horse with experience. I don’t have the time to break him in much more than getting acquainted. My horse was an Appaloosa so I figure I’m sweet on ‘em.” She watched his face, then squinted and hastily added, “I ain’t made a money neither. You can keep that in mind.”

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edonovan
2008-05-19 08:03 pm UTC (link)

"A stallion'll usually run you a bit more than a gelding, just so you know," Eli warned her. "Since they can be a bit of a handful if you end up around in-season mares. Then again, you can usually make back the difference in stud fees, if you've a mind to and the horse is good," he added with a smile. His grin slipped slightly at the description of the type of horse she was looking for. It sounded familiar, right enough, but he wasn't sure he'd wish that particular horse on his worst enemy, much less a paying customer. He'd gotten the stallion for a steal, given his temperament, but it wasn't doing him much good when he couldn't control the beast enough for stud.

"I've got one Appaloosa stallion, it so happens," Eli said cautiously. He held open the stable door for her, a courtesy he extended to all his customers, male or female. "He's a spirited one, though, and might be more than you're wanting to break in. Bought him on a breeding stock run a few towns over, not too long ago, but turns out he's got a bit of a mean streak." He gave her a wry look as he gestured toward the back, and led the way in to the slightly larger stalls reserved for his stallions. "Beautiful horse, but a few of my 'hands have taken to calling him Hellfire, on account of the fact that he's got a bit of the devil in him, it seems."

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brazen
2008-05-19 08:42 pm UTC (link)

Dell stared at Eli blankly as he gave her the lesson- bored. She’d always had a way with horses, and she had some sort of natural way with Stallions. Maybe she understood them. Maybe the horses understood her. It just worked somehow. Dell wasn’t raised on a ranch. She didn’t have experience like Eli. She’d only had luck. All she knew was that every horse she’d had that was worth having had been a Stallion. But, under the circumstances she’d take a gelding if it were cheap enough. They were easier than any of them. It wasn’t as if she’d be bringing her horse out to stud. In fact, she’d take anything so long as she could afford it.

Eli didn’t need to know this though.

In her experience, she’d learned that having several options and being a little discriminating in your tastes was a way to let whoever you were doing business with know that you weren’t the settling type. Why not be fickle with the coin you keep? Besides, it was always better to let them start the bartering.

She was torn away from her bartering mind set when he mentioned the word Appaloosa,”I want to see him.” And she was lead that way to the stable. It was too much of a coincidence for it to be real but there he was. That son of bitch. “Hellfire my ass….” She shook her head and tried to down play the grin that spread across her face. “Well….maybe you pissed him off Eli.” Dell joked. Flash of course recognized Dell but wasn’t exactly pleased for the time apart. There was stomping of hooves and neighing. Flash even came over to the two of them to take in a few breaths just to make sure and then exhaled, with vibrating lips then took a nip at Dell’s shoulder, “Hey! Knock it off….” She said pushing the horses head away from her. The horse whinnied and stamped a hoof, kicked with her back legs but at nothing but hey.

Now, Dell really didn’t want to pay for her own damn horse….But, she wasn’t entirely unreasonable and she figured Eli had fed him and kept him stabled. That was worth something. She just didn’t know how much Eli knew about where he came from. The last thing she needed was him knowing she was an outlaw. She had to play this smart and hopefully she could take Flash for a song. “So…where’d you get this horse anyways? He looks scrawny…” There was a neigh! Flash shook his mane and looked a little pissed off. “ If he’s cheap I’d take him off yer hands. He’s probably more than he’s worth if you ain’t breeding him anyways.” She sniffled then.

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edonovan
2008-05-20 07:42 pm UTC (link)

Eli watched the stallion greet Dell with open amazement. Even with the edge of violence in his demeanor, that was still the most personable he'd seen him since he bought the beast. The horse almost seemed to recognize her, and Eli just shook his head with a wry grin. "Damned if he doesn't actually seem to like you," he laughed.

Eli lifted his hand to give the stallion a rub, and thought better of it. He hadn't been bitten in a couple of weeks now, and was hoping to avoid it if at all possible. He couldn't help but grin at her criticism; if nothing else, he knew the animal was well-fed, and had been in the business long enough to spot an angle when he saw one. Didn't mean he wasn't willing to talk, though, considering the fact that the horse obviously got on better with his customer than with anyone at the stables, other horses included.

"Bought him off a horse trader a couple of towns over," he supplied. "Got a bit of a deal on him myself, 'cause of his temper, so I think we'll be able to work out something, if you're sure you want to take him on."

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brazen
2008-05-21 02:15 am UTC (link)

"Yeah well....how 'bout that. I seem to have that effect. Most either want to kill me OR bite me. He might want to do both" She pursed her lips and tried to let that comment slip on by. She grabbed the rim of her hat and pulled it down a little bit. She didn't try to "pet" the horse either. If there was one thing she learned about Flash, it was he could be real cranky. Then again...she could be too. So, she stood looking at the animal. Her arms folded over her chest and she acted as if she was really considering if she wanted him.

For his part, Flash seemed to have settled down a little. He wasn't making more noise. He just stood there looking back at the two, like he was wondering what was going on.

She hated forking over cash for a horse that was stolen from her. But, she wasn't about to shoot Eli for taking him off some assdip's hands. He'd been alright so far and a lot of the townies new who he was and that she was coming over to see about getting a mount.

"Right. Well I might. We have to talk cost still. " She bit her lower lips and twisted her food so some hay stalks were crushed under her boot. Maybe it was her way of getting so traction on the negotiations, "I got thirty five dollars. Can ya do it for that?"

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edonovan
2008-05-21 04:06 am UTC (link)

Eli watched the horse settle in his stall, quieter than he'd ever seen him before, and mulled over his options. Thirty-five was fair, considering how much of a deal he'd gotten on the beast to begin with. All his own attempts to control the animal had gotten him nowhere, so maybe it was fate that had this young stranger walking into his stables. And Eli wasn't one to argue with fate.

"Tell you what," Eli began, hooking his thumbs in his belt. "Thirty-five and you've got a deal -- and if you can get him under control and ever decide to offer him for stud, waive the fee for me. I'll throw in all his tack and gear, as well, on account of the fact that he'd probably be more content with you than anyone I've yet seen." It may be unorthodox, accepting a first offer on business transactions such as this, but Eli had a tendency to go with his gut when the spirit moved him, and it seemed this was one of those cases.

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brazen
2008-05-21 07:34 pm UTC (link)

She stifled the "really?" she was going to spit out the moment he agreed. She had decided to play low ball and he had accepted the offer to her disbelief. But what was she going to do?! Up the price? She nodded instead of argue and held out her hand for him to shake the arrangement true, "You got yerself a deal there Eli." Now her poker face turned to a smile and she complimented, "You know what? Yer alright.... I was a little doubtful."

She even attempted to make this a little bit nicer of an experience for the both of them, "If I hear of anyone look'n fer a horse I am sendin' em yer way." She gave a sage nod and released his hand. Flash had moved forward and was sniffing at her hat. When she felt him behind her she turned, then reached up to scratch his nose gently. Flash's big lips nibbled softly on her wrist, tasting and testing.

Dell took back her arm and turned back to Eli and reached into her pocket. Luckily she had put what she was going to start with ($35) separate than the rest of her cash. She fanned it out prettily for Eli to see and then scootched it all into one neat pile and handed it over. Then she had a second turn of mind and her hand retreated from the offering and she eyed Eli, not completely suspicious but unsure how this transaction should work, "Do I give you the money now...or...shouldn't you give me something before I..." Then she rolled her eyes in her head and a chunck of laughter fell out between her lips. Dell re-handed the money back over, "It's just...I never done this much." Why was she being like that? (Because she was a wanted criminal? Maybe.) "Now what?"

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edonovan
2008-05-21 08:02 pm UTC (link)

"Well, now, I appreciate the endorsement," Eli laughed. He lifted one eyebrow in amusement as horse and rider acquainted themselves with each other, a smile tugging at his lips. "Never thought I'd see anyone get on with that animal near as well as you seem to, so I don't reckon it's my place to question it. He's all yours now, and you're welcome to him."

He accepted the payment with a grin for her hesitation. "I can write you up a bill of sale, if you like -- but now you just have to decide what you're wanting to do with him," he suggested. "You can rent a stall here, if you've nowhere to keep him, and we can keep on feeding and stabling him as usual. That way you don't have to make alternate arrangements, with no worries about if he's cared for. Or if you're wanting to take him along with you, I can go get his gear for you right now, and get you all set up." He cocked his head at her curiously. "Any idea what you want to call him?"

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brazen
2008-05-22 04:48 pm UTC (link)

"You've said that already." Dell teased Eli. He seemed dumbstruck by how good she got along with the animal. "Sometimes the animal picks the person and not the other way." She corrected him. She always thought animals were smarter than some people. At least their instincts were better. Humans were intent on diluting their natures. And, Dell did everything she could not to.

"Yeah....You better right me up one of them. Is that what they're called?" But her thoughts were running. Flash's pattern was as distinct as a thumbprint. He was such a pain in the ass. "I got somewhere. Maybe in the future I can give ya more of my business but not right now." All she needed as Eli knowing when she was coming and going. She'd stable Flash with the rest of the Gangs. "I better take him with me...."She scratched the back of her neck.

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edonovan
2008-05-22 06:27 pm UTC (link)

"All right, then," Eli said cheerfully, not the least bit put out to be losing what could be considered a steady flow of income. For all he was a businessman, he knew very well that pressuring anyone into anything did no good at all, and he'd not advise her to do something that wasn't convenient for her, anyway. "If you'll excuse me for just a few minutes, I'll get his gear and that bill of sale for you, and you'll be all set."

He left her to get acquainted with the stallion on her own, without him hovering over the both of them, and ducked out the back of the stables. The tack shed was just across the stableyard, adjacent to the feed shed, and it took him no more than a moment to gather up bit, bridle, saddle and blanket. He piled the tack just outside the door of the stable, and retrieved the pad of paper he used for writing up receipts.

One (1) horse, Appaloosa stallion
Tack, incl. saddle, blanket, bridle
19th day of May in the year 1867
$35 received for all listed above

His printing was efficient and precise, without a single flourish or unnecessary loop, and he signed his name at the bottom before carefully folding it in half. The rest of the gear went slung over his shoulder, and he reentered the stable with everything in tow.

"Here you are, then," he announced, and slid the tack bundle to the ground outside the stall gate. "I don't believe I caught your name, stranger," he smiled as he held out the receipt for her.

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brazen
2008-05-23 01:51 am UTC (link)

Dell nodded...watched Eli go. Then she stood with her horse, pushing his head out of her space every now and again when his teeth got a little too nippy. But that wasn’t what was really bothering her.

There was something bugging Dell about this whole civil transaction. It was nagging and even a little bit boring in how nice this all had been. She wasn’t used to things being this easy and it just seemed to her that it had all been too easy.

When he came back in she fidgeted like one might do when the doctor comes into a room for an examination. Why was he so fucking pleasant? She scratched her cheek while she looked him over then reached out and took the receipt, folded it twice and stuffed it in her pocket. He was asking for her name and suddenly she forgot what she should say. He was so assuming that she had no problem saying it out loud, “Dell...”

Well. There it was. No taking it back now.

She held out her hand for another shake, “It’s been a pleasure doing business with Eli.” She looked him the eyes straight, man to wo(man). “I might have taken you a little but I needed a deal.“ She liked him. She decided he was a nice guy and that was saying something when most everyone was a piece of nothing. (That’d be including herself.) She shrugged when the deal was done, “You be careful Eli.” She said that because there were plenty people out there like her. And, sometimes she didn’t want to hurt the good ones but it happened. When she realized what she said was heavier than it ought to be she said, “or rather...ummm.” She fought for the right words, “take it easy.”

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edonovan
2008-05-23 02:24 am UTC (link)

Eli laughed as he shook her hand firmly. "If you snookered me, I walked into it eyes wide open," he assured her. "Better you than me, with this one." He shifted to unlatch the stallion's stall door, amiable smile still in place. The easier the transaction, the better the chances for repeat business, he figured -- and he wasn't going to miss the animal trying to pin him to the stable wall every time he went in to feed him. "I'll certainly do my best. Good luck with the beast, Mr. Dell -- if you're needing anything else for him, don't hesitate to stop by," Eli added.

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brazen
2008-05-23 03:05 pm UTC (link)

She had to smile then. She hadn’t pulled one over on him at all. He was doing the horse a favor, “I appreciate that Eli. You’re a good man to these horses. Flash here was lucky to come here.” Maybe she let the secret bloom over them but if he figured it out she wasn’t going to stick around long enough to know. “I’ll get him dressed up and then I’ll be going.” She couldn’t tell him where she’d be….At least he’d called her Mr. Maybe that would stick in his mind and trouble wouldn’t follow her from here. She gave him a wave and then set to getting Flash ready for riding.

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