InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Don't call me Squeakyboy."

Eli Donovan (edonovan) wrote in oldwest_rpg,
@ 2008-07-20 21:17:00

Entry tags:

eli donovan, robert mackenzie

Family blessings
Who: Eli Donovan & Robert MacKenzie
Where: back at the MacKenzie place
When: Saturday, July 20, 1867; mid-afternoon
Status: Incomplete
Summary: Eli needs to have a little chat with Robert regarding his sister.

***

Eli wasn't at all sure what he was going to say to Robert MacKenzie. He'd deliberately chosen a time when Lizzie was likely to be otherwise occupied with household chores, and hoped her brother wasn't likewise engaged. How did one go about asking to court another man's sister? It was bad enough, approaching a young lady's father, but when that wasn't an option, Eli was surely not about to do anything without at least speaking to her nearest male relative. That was a good way to get yourself shot out here, for taking liberties.

He didn't seem to be having much success articulating himself lately, either. If he had, he wouldn't be in this pickle to begin with -- Lizzie obviously thought he was opposed to the idea of courting her, and had felt foolish because he hadn't been able to explain himself properly. There was no reason for her to feel foolish -- he was the fool here, not leastways because he'd nearly allowed her to walk away and drop the matter entirely.

It could still be too late. It had been a fortnight since he'd sat with Lizzie MacKenzie on this very porch, after all. He'd let it slide then because he'd been unsure how to handle it -- whether to let her go and watch her find another man, more suitable for her station, or seize his opportunity and limit her to a mere stablemaster.

It wasn't like he was asking for marriage, not yet at least. Courting her would give them both a chance to learn more about each other, to determine if that sort of commitment were possible. And if Lizzie found someone else more to her tastes, a courtship could be broken. A marriage could not; Eli was Catholic, after all, and had taken 'til death do us part' quite seriously with his first wife. He was fairly certain Lizzie would take such a thing just as seriously, given her comment about being married thirty times over. And didn't that give him a twinge, to think that she'd had that many suitors back in Scotland?

Past sweethearts aside, Eli didn't intend to go about this all backwards. If Lizzie's father wasn't available to give his blessing, her elder brother would have to do. And God help him if Robert didn't object, and left him to figure out how best to approach Lizzie herself -- without offending her, this time.

With a sigh, Eli knocked on the front door, and fervently hoped Lizzie actually was occupied this afternoon.

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	robertmackenzie 2008-07-20 09:29 pm UTC (link)
	Edalyne wiped her hands on her apron before scurrying to the front door, pulling it open with a flourish and cocking an eyebrow at the man standing there. "Why, look who it is. What can we do for you, Mr. Eli? You hungry? Should I put you a sandwich together?" (Reply to this) (Thread)

	edonovan 2008-07-20 09:55 pm UTC (link)
	"No, thank you, Miz Thomas, though I appreciate the thought," Eli answered, managing a grin. "I just stopped by to see if Doctor MacKenzie was in, if I might speak with him?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	robertmackenzie 2008-07-20 10:10 pm UTC (link)
	"He's out back getting a bit of firewood together for the stove," Edalyne replied. "We's runnin' low and he thought he needed a break from fixin' all them animals. You head right on back. I'll bring you both some lemonade in a bit." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

edonovan
2008-07-21 11:39 am UTC (link)

Eli thanked Edalyne politely and excused himself in search of Robert. It only took him a few minutes to skirt the main house, and he followed the sounds of splitting wood to find the elder MacKenzie.

He'd feel better if Robert didn't have an ax in his hand for this conversation, but beggers can't be choosers.

"Good afternoon to you, doc," Eli called, smiling as he approached. "Miz Thomas told me I might find you back here. Need a hand?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	robertmackenzie 2008-07-21 11:50 am UTC (link)
	"If you're offering, I'm accepting," Robert panted, wiping the sweat from his forehead with the handkerchief tucked into the back of his pants. "What can I do for you? Problem with one of the horses?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	edonovan 2008-07-22 08:29 am UTC (link)
	"No, not as such," Eli admitted, rolling up his own sleeves. He hesitated as he gathered pieces of firewood to be split, choosing his words carefully. Not that choosing his words had done him much good thus far. "I thought to speak with you about your sister, in fact, Doc," he said finally. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	robertmackenzie 2008-07-22 10:08 am UTC (link)
	"My sister?" Robert asked. "What about Lizzie?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

edonovan
2008-07-23 12:33 pm UTC (link)

Eli frowned slightly, hefting a log of wood onto the chopping block. Best to just get it out and over with, since shuffling around it was likely to lead to even more misunderstandings.

"I've a mind to ask if I might court your sister," he said finally, grimacing at how ridiculous he sounded. "You're her nearest male relative, so it's only proper I should speak to you first, and hear your objections."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	robertmackenzie 2008-07-23 01:12 pm UTC (link)
	Robert stopped what he was doing, his gaze slowly turning to take him in as he considered Eli's words. "You're asking to court Lizzie?" he repeated slowly. "What's got you interested in courting my sister?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

edonovan
2008-07-23 01:32 pm UTC (link)

"Why wouldn't I be?" Eli countered, lifting an eyebrow. "Your sister's an lovely, exceptional young woman, and I'm more than a bit surprised she doesn't have half the men in town on her doorstep." He leaned back against the nearest fencepost and crossed his arms self-consciously over his chest. "I'm well aware that I've little to offer her, but I think I hurt her feelings when I pointed that out," he sighed. "I don't suppose she mentioned I stopped by the evening of the Independence Day festival, then?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

robertmackenzie
2008-07-24 07:58 am UTC (link)

"No, she didn't," Robert mumbled, leaning against his ax as he took in the stablemaster. "Said she came back here and worked on some embroidery for the new curtains."

He shook his head. It didn't surprise him that someone would be interested in courting Lizzie -- she'd never lacked for suitors back home. She'd never deemed any of the marriage material, either, and Eli was certainly not the type of man she usually spent her time with.

Whether that was good or bad, Robert couldn't judge. Although he did like Eli a lot more on a personal level than he had most of Lizzie's suitors that he'd met.

"She keeps her heart close," Robert explained. "Few bad experiences before, doesn't take to flirting with men unabashedly, so she probably hasn't approached many men here. And she's got nothing more to offer you than you do her," he tagged on, wondering just how much Eli knew of their family.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	edonovan 2008-07-25 09:46 am UTC (link)
	Eli shook his head. "Even with just herself, she can have any young man she wants," he pointed out. "She has the manner and the intelligence that's rare in these parts, and the sense of humor, as well." He shrugged. "She said she'd been hurt -- I can give her that much, at least, I wouldn't hurt her." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

robertmackenzie
2008-07-28 07:30 am UTC (link)

"Aye, you wouldn't -- I'll kill you if you did," Robert chuckled, smiling to soften the truth of those words.

He rubbed the back of his neck absently as he let the situation sink in. Manner and intelligence, his sister had them in spades, it was true. She'd also vehemently refused any suitor going beyond more than the innocent flirtations that were standard conversation at the society functions back home. Their step-father had done a number on her; ruined her idea of marriage. She hadn't been old enough to remember as much of their father as Robert and Ian were. It was a shame. He was a good man and treated their mother well. Unlike that no good snake Ferguson.

He'd kill Eli with his own two hands if he ever touched Lizzie in anger. But Eli wasn't that sort of man. A man who touched his horses with the care Eli did would touch a woman the same way. And it would be a relief to know that his sweet baby sister was taken care of. She deserved that much and more.

"Well," he finally said, "Lizzie's a big girl. And if she wants you, I think it would be a fine match. You have my blessing to try. But I will warn you, very seriously, that if you ever touch her in anger, there are two MacKenzies who will come after you," he added pointedly.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	edonovan 2008-07-31 08:31 pm UTC (link)
	Eli shook his head slowly. "That's something you'll not have to worry about, Doc," he promised. His expression hardened slightly. "Whatever he did to her, that man who hurt her, I hope he paid for it dearly." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	robertmackenzie 2008-07-31 08:44 pm UTC (link)
	"He won't hurt her again," Robert promised darkly. "But you take care of her properly, and we won't have a problem." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	edonovan 2008-07-31 08:54 pm UTC (link)
	With a grimace, Eli hefted over another log to be split. "No, I've a different problem, now," he sighed. "I've already botched this once, I've got to figure out how to not make it worse." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	robertmackenzie 2008-07-31 08:57 pm UTC (link)
	"Best of luck with that," Robert chuckled. "She can hold a grudge a while. One of her many endearing qualities. My advice? Don't wait to say you're sorry. And bring her a gift -- women like that." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	edonovan 2008-07-31 09:00 pm UTC (link)
	"Yes, well, I already exhausted my gift ideas, and it didn't seem to help much in the long run," Eli said dryly. "I don't suppose she's around, then?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	robertmackenzie 2008-07-31 09:26 pm UTC (link)
	Robert shook his head. "Ran out to the general store. Shouldn't be out too long, though." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	edonovan 2008-07-31 09:32 pm UTC (link)
	"Right," Eli said with a sigh. So much for getting it over with, while he still had the nerve -- even if he had no idea what to say to her. "Have you any spare bits of paper, then? I'd like to leave her a note, at least." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	robertmackenzie 2008-07-31 09:35 pm UTC (link)
	"Aye, they'll be some in the house," Robert offered. "Ask Edalyne and she'll be happy to get the note to Lizzie." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	edonovan 2008-07-31 11:41 pm UTC (link)
	"Thank you, doc," Eli said, his forehead already creasing slightly as he considered what he should write. He shook his head slightly as he turned to leave. "And if you have any luck to spare for a body about to face your sister's temper, I'd appreciate it," he called over his shoulder. (Reply to this) (Parent)