InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "I knew Crazy Eddie."

Eli Donovan (edonovan) wrote in oldwest_rpg,
@ 2008-07-07 08:49:00

Entry tags:

eli donovan, mary elizabeth mackenzie

A little piece of Americana
Who: Eli Donovan & Lizzie MacKenzie
When: Thursday, July 4th, 1867 : evening
Where: The MacKenzie homestead
Summary: Eli stops by to drop off a package for Lizzie, not expecting her to actually be home with the Independence Day celebrations going on in town...
Status: Complete!

***

Eli had preferred to walk the short distance to the MacKenzie farm this evening, for several reasons. It wasn't that far, for one thing, and it seemed rather pointless to go about saddling a horse when he only intended to drop off the package with Edalene. Lizzie and Robert would surely be in town for the festival, and since he'd had some trouble with one of the geldings slipping a shoe earlier in the day, he hadn't been able to get away to deliver the little paper-wrapped bundle when they might actually be home.

No matter -- he could just as easily leave it with the housekeeper, and let Edalene get in a bit of teasing in the process. It wasn't like he was courting the young Miss MacKenzie -- he'd just brought her a small token as thanks for getting him out and riding again, that's all. The walk was pleasant enough, a chance for a bit of fresh air before he headed back home for the evening. No need to make a pest of himself, he'd just leave the package and get out of Edalene's way, he told himself as he knocked lightly on the MacKenzie's front door.

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memackenzie
2008-07-09 08:02 pm UTC (link)

Lizzie set down her needlework at the sound at the door. Most of the town had shifted from the outdoor part of the festival to the tables the saloon had brought outside into the pleasant night air. Watching grown men drink themselves into a stupor had not been her idea of a pleasant evening, so she'd returned home to the empty house.

Even Edalene was still in town with a beau of hers, so she'd gathered up some needlework she'd been working on and made a pleasant evening for herself.

But visitors -- visitors would be even better.

Lizzie opened the door, and her polite smile became broader. "Mr. Donovan! What a surprise. To what do I owe this pleasure?"

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	edonovan 2008-07-10 09:51 pm UTC (link)
	Eli blinked in surprise to find himself facing Lizzie rather than her housekeeper. "Miss MacKenzie," he said blankly. "I didn't expect to find you at home this evening," he said sheepishly. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	memackenzie 2008-07-10 10:37 pm UTC (link)
	"The festivities have turned a bit more towards drunken revelry and I was of the mind that that was not a place for a proper young woman," Lizzie chuckled. "Were you looking for Robert? I believe he's at The Heel Kicker enjoying the entertainment." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

edonovan
2008-07-11 09:28 am UTC (link)

"Oh no, ma'am," Eli laughed. "I know better than to interfere with your brother and his Scotch, even if the saloon brands seem to be a mite subpar for his tastes," he grinned. He pulled the small paper-wrapped package from his shirt pocket and held it out to her. "I was just going to drop this off with Miz Thomas, and ask her to give it to you with my compliments."

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memackenzie
2008-07-11 09:56 am UTC (link)

"For me?" Lizzie beamed. "Oh, thank you Mr. Donovan. I..."

She paused, considering. "Are you in any rush, Mr. Donovan?" she asked. "If you have some time, we could sit on the porch. It's a beautiful night. I could open your gift and, I think Edalene made some fresh lemonade this afternoon if you would like a drink. Or a finger of Robert's scotch if you'd like something a bit warmer."

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edonovan
2008-07-12 07:08 pm UTC (link)

"Oh, I'd not get into the doc's stash with him not here to partake, himself," Eli said with a shake of his head. "I'm not in any great hurry, though -- I had half a mind to head to the saloon myself after this little errand, but I think you probably have a valid point about the general atmosphere in town tonight," he chuckled. "I'd not say no to some of Miz Thomas' lemonade, if you're in need of a bit of company."

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memackenzie
2008-07-13 09:54 am UTC (link)

"Oh, Mr. Donovan, I would hate to keep you from a trip to the saloon with the other men in town if that was what you were originally intending," Lizzie replied. She tilted her head, smiling up at him through her lashes. "Although I dare not say more for fear that I'll convince you to head to the saloon instead of staying with your offer for company. If you want to have a seat, I'll be back with some of that lemonade."

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	edonovan 2008-07-13 10:16 pm UTC (link)
	"I'd say your company is a fair sight better than any of the lads down at the saloon, at any rate," Eli chuckled. He pulled one of the porch chairs over, and hesitated slightly. "Is there anything I can do to lend a hand, then, Miss MacKenzie?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

memackenzie
2008-07-13 11:47 pm UTC (link)

"I'm just going to pour some lemonade -- you just make yourself comfortable," Lizzie called out as she retreated back into the house. "Unless you'd like a bite to eat as well. Edalene did a bit of cooking before she left for the evening. It's not as colorful and festive as some of the baked goods I passed at the fair, but she did make a delightful beef stew if you'd like a bowl."

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	edonovan 2008-07-14 10:11 am UTC (link)
	"Oh, no, thank you -- I grabbed something to eat at home before I came," Eli called. "Jenny -- my sister -- did quite a bit of baking for the festival, herself, and I've gotten rather good at scrounging when she takes over my kitchen," he chuckled, and pulled out a second chair for Lizzie. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

memackenzie
2008-07-14 10:16 am UTC (link)

"Is your sister a good baker, then?" Lizzie asked absently as she placed the lid back on the stew and poured a pair of tall glasses full of lemonade. "I have always been impressed by people who make good breads."

She brought the glasses out and offered one to Eli with a smile. "Edalene isn't much with baking," she chuckled. "Much to Robert's chagrin. She's much better with a stew. Which, while I haven't had any of her beef stew yet tonight, I can only assume that it's delicious."

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edonovan
2008-07-15 10:38 pm UTC (link)

Eli took the offered glass and pulled out one of the chairs for Lizzie with a smile. "Jenny does quite well, which I have to admit was a bit of a surprise to me," he said with a laugh. "It shouldn't be, Mum would've taught her loads." He shook his head slightly. "I don't want to keep you from your own supper, though, if you haven't eaten yet," he added hastily.

"What kind of a hostess would I be if I ate a meal that wasn't shared?" Lizzie replied lightly, shaking her head as she sat down in the chair he offered and took a sip of the lemonade. "Please, don't pay it any mind. Was Jenny selling these baked goods at the festival, or was she providing them for something else? I don't think that I saw her while I was out. But, I very easily could've missed her table. It was a bit much to take in," she chuckled.

"I'm not certain, exactly," Eli admitted. "I generally try to keep out from underfoot when she takes over the kitchen like that," he chuckled. He shook his head ruefully. "Not that I'm complaining, if she wants to find her way all the way out here and keep house for an older brother she hasn't seen in years. My own cooking isn't that impressive, I'm not terribly attached to it," he laughed.

"Surely your cooking is more than passable," Lizzie insisted. "Or else how would you have survived before Jenny came to stay? No, I think that you sell yourself short. So I will be forced to admire you until you realize it yourself," she laughed.

Eli shot her a mildly surprised look over the rim of his lemonade glass. "I kept myself alive, at least, but that's about all," he countered, and then grinned. "You've never been subjected to my cooking, or your admiration would be much more forced," he laughed.

"I'll be the judge of that," Lizzie replied. "Fix me a meal, and I'll let you know if my admiration still stands."

Eli's eyebrows lifted. "You'd not thank me for it," he cautioned her. He waved one hand at the parcel he'd given her, in an attempt to change the subject. "Besides, you haven't opened that yet," he reminded her.

Lizzie set down the lemonade and lifted the parcel from the side table it was resting on. "And I'd hate to leave a package waiting," she chuckled. With careful hands, she untied the twine and unfolded the thick cream paper to reveal a long silver tube. "Oh, Mr. Donovan," she said, lifting the toy careful. "It looks... it looks like a wee clarinet," she chuckled. "What is it?"

"It's a pennywhistle," Eli clarified sheepishly. "Locally made by one of the men in town. I was looking for some little trinkets to send my nieces back east, and came across that." He lifted one shoulder in a half shrug. "Anna and Abby are more of an age for dolls, right enough, but I just thought -- well, it's one of those things I grew up with, my da twiddling on a whistle in the evenings. A little bit of the new world, mixed with the old, for you," he added.

She recognized it as a musical instrument as soon as Eli pointed it out. "Oh, it's lovely," she beamed. With only slight hesitation and a look to Eli, she placed the mouthpiece against her lips and blew. The shrill noise was satisfying, and she tried with varying breaths. "I must scold my mum for never giving me lessons with woodwinds," she laughed.

"Da tried with me, it just never really took," Eli laughed. "Annie got all the Donovan musical ability, it seems." He reached over and pointed out the holes drilled into the tin. "You cover these holes with your fingers to make different notes, but I was always a bit clumsy with the fingering."

Lizzie placed her fingers over the holes as directed and tried with a lighter breath. She was rewarded with a softer, much more pleasant sound. "Oh, that's lovely!" she beamed, trying again and running up and down the tinny sounding scale of the whistle.

"And you're already more accomplished than me," Eli chuckled. "There was a reason Da did all the playing in our house -- and I was relegated to permanent dance partner for Mum and my sisters."

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edonovan
2008-07-15 10:39 pm UTC (link)

"I took lessons on the piano," Lizzie told him. "Robert and Ian took lessons on the fiddle and are quite good, but I took my lessons on the piano."

She set the whistle down on the discarded paper and smiled brightly. "Oh, Eli, I adore it. It's lovely, I've never--"

Her words dropped off as her eyes caught the paper she'd discarded so easily from the gift. "Did... did you do this?" she asked, lifting up the paper and straightening it out. "Is this one of your drawings?"

"Ah -- yes," Eli admitted, still a bit thrown from her casual use of his given name. "You said you wanted to see one of my sketches, and I figured you had more of a claim on that one than anyone else," he added sheepishly. "It's just a quick sketch, nothing fancy, but -- well."

"Oh," she murmured appreciatively, holding up the quick sketch the oil lamp burning near the door. It was her riding a horse -- Penny, she'd guess from the mare's shading. Her hair was loose and her smile was slightly wicked. "This is fantastic. You're so talented. I get to keep this?"

"Of course," Eli said hastily. "Otherwise I'm likely to forget and scribble figures on the back when I'm doing my books. It'd just end up tossed in the fire with the rest of my scribblings, if you don't want it."

"You will do no such thing!" Lizzie insisted, clutching the drawing to her breast. "It will be framed and put on my wall. It is not part of your bookkeeping," she laughed. She smiled at him warmly. "Thank you. I really appreciate this."

He really was attractive, she realized as she watched him. With the oil lamp flickering and the sun set across the horizon, his features were sharper, more masculine and everything about him seemed to stand in stark contrast with the men back home. Even the light shadow of a beard across his chin gave her heart a little leap. But like she was telling Stella earlier at the festival, Eli didn't seem to respond to any of her normal flirtations. He needed something a bit more... brazen... before she'd give up and accept that he was not interested in her.

Before she realized what she was doing, Lizzie leaned forward, intending to press her lips to his cheek in a friendly, yet appropriate and ladylike, kiss.

Unfortunately -- or fortunately, as the case may be -- Eli chose just that moment to turn his head just slightly to tell her 'you're welcome' -- and instead, he found Lizzie's mouth on his. It had been far too long since he'd been this close to a woman, particularly one as attractive as Lizzie MacKenzie. His brain promptly shut down in shock, and quite without thought, he kissed her back softly.

This... certainly wasn't what she'd expected, and Lizzie's logical side urged her to pull away and apologize profusely for the situation. Her body, however, was reminded of the stolen kisses behind the kitchen with the cook's son at Inverness. His fumbling hands and hesitant kiss and her thrill at doing something so completely improper.

Eli felt nothing like that bumbling teenage boy. And she had come out here for a new start. And neither Robert nor Edalene were here to scold her for being improper and forward and all of those things that a respectable lady wasn't.

So she pushed aside the logical part of her brain and felt with her heart and her body, just for a few minutes, her hand dropping down to rest on his knee instead of pulling away.

Eli Donovan prided himself on being a gentleman in action if not in status, but the light touch on his leg only scattered his thoughts further. He lifted one hand to Lizzie's face reflexively, his fingers barely brushing her cheek as he shifted his head to deepen the kiss almost imperceptibly.

His fingers on her cheek brought her back to reality and Lizzie broke the kiss -- but only enough to pull her lips from his, not enough to actually pull away from him. She looked up through her lashes to meet his eyes, her cheeks flushing. "I certainly wasn't expecting that," she murmured, smiling.

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edonovan
2008-07-15 10:39 pm UTC (link)

"Nor was I," Eli said, dazed. He blinked suddenly and pulled back a respectable distance, reluctantly dropping his hand from her face. "I beg your pardon, Miss MacKenzie," he said quietly, visibly disturbed by his own lack of self-control. "I shouldn't have taken advantage like that, and must apologize."

Lizzie's smile fell. "No -- it was my fault. I apologize for my impertinence. I was taught better than that, I assure you, Mr. Donovan," she assured him, falling back on his proper address since that was how he chose to address her.

She leaned back in her chair, resisting the urge to lick her lips. "I do thank you for the gift. It was kind of you to think of me," she said softly.

"Now I've offended you," Eli sighed quietly. "Ahh, Christ, I'm not very good at this sort of thing," he muttered under his breath, and cleared his throat self-consciously. "You're a lovely young woman, Miss MacKenzie, and I have a great deal of admiration for you. Perhaps more than I should, seeing as I'm little more than a glorified stablehand," he said dryly.

"Glorified stablehand?" Lizzie repeated, slightly aghast. This was not the direction she assumed this would be going in. "What on earth do you mean, glorified stablehand?"

Eli shook his head. "You're obviously very intelligent, well-educated and Lord knows you're beautiful, and can set your sights on any young man in town," he pointed out quietly. "I've got a strip of land and a handful of horses, and not much else to offer a lady such as yourself." He turned his head to look at her soberly. "Like I said, I admire you a great deal more than I should, Miss -- Lizzie," he added softly.

"Eli," she said softly, mulling his words before speaking. "I... Have I given you any cause to believe that I find you lacking as a suitor?" she asked seriously. "You are so much more than a strip of land and a handful of horses. You own your own business, and very successfully, mind you. There are very few men that I was courted by back home who could even fathom shifting so easily between numbers and bookkeeping and actual physical labor. You're well-respected and kind and care for your family. What of these points makes you feel that I would find fault with you?"

"Nothing you've said or done," Eli assured her hastily. "Your good opinion is a great deal more than I expected, and more than the likes of me deserves." He shook his head dubiously. "I don't take courtship lightly, and I've already lost a wife and child. You deserve much more than I could offer you."

"If I took courtship lightly, I would be married thirty times over," Lizzie replied sharply. "I'm sorry for your loss, Eli, I truly am. And while I cannot even begin to feel the same pain that you have losing a wife and a child, you're not the only one who's experienced loss. I don't take this lightly. I... I've seen very clearly what a husband should not be. I deserve someone who would treat me kindly most of all."

"Yes, you do," Eli answered, surprised by her vehemence. He hesitated slightly, and then frowned. "Someone has treated you unkindly," he said, his tone disapproving. "Someone has hurt you."

Lizzie nodded, her head dropped to stare at her hands as she did. She'd said too much -- she'd had no plan of letting any of this slip. But it has been so many years since she'd talked about these things with anyone other than Robert. She wanted to tell Eli, even if she was afraid it would make him think less of her. "It was a long time ago," she said quietly.

Eli lifted a hand, half tempted to brush a stray lock of hair behind her ear, and thought better of it at the last moment. "I'm sorry," he murmured. "I shouldn't go poking my nose in -- you don't have to say anything about it." He shook his head with a scowl. "I hope he got what he deserved, whoever it was."

"Oh, he did," Lizzie replied, her mind far away for a moment before looking up at him. "It would seem that we're both broken in our own way," she added softly.

"What a pair we'd make," Eli murmured wryly.

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edonovan
2008-07-15 10:40 pm UTC (link)

That made her smile. "I spent the past two years in a convent," she admitted. "My mother sent me there because I was an embarrassment. A woman of my age, unmarried. Better I take vows and devote my life to God than to reject perfectly acceptable men, very few of which were even making an effort any longer because of my reputation as a headstrong lass."

Eli made a derisive sound at that. "And you should make empty vows to one of those perfectly acceptable men?" he countered. "No offense to your mother, but I don't really see the logic in that. I've a whole family of headstrong lasses, and they seem to do just fine for themselves, married or no."

"My mother didn't understand that," Lizzie sighed. "I should've been married off with a handful of babes by now. I was a continual disappointment. I had the wildest idea that should I marry, it should be to someone who respects me and treated me kindly and as an equal."

"How shocking," Eli said dryly. "And that's why you came all the way out here? To get away from your convent and your mother's expectations?"

"Part of it," Lizzie sighed. "Robert was here, and I needed a fresh start. I thought that maybe if I came out here, and no one knew me, that there would be a freedom because people wouldn't... expect things of me. It worked for Robert. And... the man who hurt me..." she mumbled before realizing what she was about to say.

No. She wouldn't talk about that. Not yet.

"Isn't here," Eli finished for her firmly. "And no one here will expect anything of you that you're not willing to do."

"Thank you," Lizzie murmured. "It's so... different here. I appreciate it. I didn't mean to bring down the conversation," he chuckled, her cheeks visibly flushed with embarrassment. "Here's me, going on about unimportant things. I do apologize."

"They aren't unimportant to you," Eli pointed out. "Don't apologize. I don't mind," he told her with a slight smile.

"I know," Lizzie mumbled, her face still flushed. "I just seem to have made quite the fool of myself. But as it is clear that you have no interest in courting me, I will attempt to stop making such a fool of myself and troubling you with my problems. This... oh, this wasn't how I envisioned this going this afternoon," she laughed mirthlessly.

"You've not made a fool of yourself," Eli assured her. "If anyone has, it'd be me. Otherwise I'd not have been so surprised," he said wryly. "And I reckon it's not clear that I have no interest courting you, as this is the first I've allowed myself to consider it." He sobered. "I barely know my own mind anymore, it seems, if I ever did. And I can't help but think you'll surely find someone better to catch your eye before all's said and done."

"You sell yourself short," Lizzie replied softly, a smile returning to her face. "But we can forget that I've made this wee declaration. Friendship is an admirable goal in itself. And I will cherish your friendship. May I get you more lemonade?" she asked, motioning to his glass.

"No more for me, thanks -- I should be getting home, before Jenny wonders what's become of me," Eli sighed. He wasn't pleased with the change of subject, although it saved him from having to make a decision right then and there -- he didn't like the idea of Lizzie being upset or disappointed because of him, although the possibility of that still mystified him.

"I would hate to have Jenny worry over you," Lizzie insisted. "Please don't let me keep you. I really thank you for the pennywhistle -- it's absolutely lovely."

She stood up from her chair and smoothed her skirts absently. "And the picture," she added with a smile. "Now that you've given me a taste of your talents, do not for one instant think that I'm going to refrain from insisting on seeing more of your work," she chuckled.

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edonovan
2008-07-15 10:40 pm UTC (link)

"I'll keep that in mind," Eli chuckled. "My thanks for the lemonade, and give my regards to your brother." He rose as well, and set down his own glass on the porch railing.

On impulse, he reached for her free hand as he turned to go. Before he could talk himself out of it, he lifted her fingers to his lips for a light kiss. "Good night, then, Mary Elizabeth," he said softly.

"Goodnight Eli," Lizzie murmured in response. She didn't dare hope that it meant anything more than him becoming more comfortable. Not after she put herself out there -- and she rejected her advances. They were meant for friendship and nothing more.

Hopefully she hadn't ruined their chances for friendship with her impropriety.

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