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Quinlan Hyde ([info]quinlanhyde) wrote in [info]oldwest_rpg,
@ 2008-05-02 13:17:00

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Entry tags:margaret may, quinlan hyde

Who: Quinlan Hyde and Margaret May Austin
Where: Outside the MacNamara Press Shop
When: May 2, 1867, afternoon
Status: Incomplete
Summary: Quinlan's getting a new issue of the town paper ready to go out, and TBD



It was early afternoon, just past twelve it seemed, and Quinlan had been up since about 5am getting all of the papers printed, bundled up, and tied. He thought it used to be a chore when he had help! But since his father passed away and Mister MacNamara passed away, it was even worse! It wasn't a tough job, it was just tedious.

He finished rolling up his sleeves and leaned down to grab up another bundle of papers to set in the back of the delivery wagon with the others. He straightened up, adjusting his vest before he just leaned back down again. Why bother straightening anything until he was finished?

Setting the next bundle in the wagon, moving to wipe the sweat from his forehead with the back of his arm, and then leaned back down to gather up the last two bundles to toss into the wagon. He brushed his hands off a bit on the back of his trousers and reached up to hold onto the side of the wagon so he could pull himself up into it to straighten the stacks of papers.

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[info]boxedhershadow
2008-05-02 07:38 pm UTC (link)
Strolling through the streets of the town, Margaret May had decided to use the lunch hour to take a walk and eat her sandwich, as she had to get a copies of a map that she was going to use in her next lesson about geography. Having the press close was nice, it made for easy access and the man who ran it, Margaret May approved of his demeanor. They'd met the first time she'd gone off to get something printed and was impressed. He seemed to know what he was doing.

Walking slowly through town, she ate just as languidly. Normally her mother would have told her that eating in public wasn't proper for a young lady, but Margaret May didn't mind. In this town she didn't need to be proper all the time, her father not leaning over her shoulder at every moment telling what she could and could not do. Pausing at the window of the brothel, she looked in for a moment, as it was a nice day, and the curtains were pulled. It looked real nice inside and Margaret wondered if she'd ever get the nerve to go in.

Passing by though, she continued on, her copy of the map in her small teachers bag she carried. She finished her sandwich and made her way over to where she could see Quinlan loading up his truck. "Good afternoon Mister Hyde, may I lend a hand at all?" she inquired, placing her hands behind her back looking at him as he began to pull himself up on the side of the truck

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[info]quinlanhyde
2008-05-02 07:55 pm UTC (link)
Glancing to Margaret May, he smiled and finished straightening the bundles of papers in the back of the wagon before he turned back to her, going over to sit down on the edge with a sigh of relief. Chuckling, "You can call me Quinlan, you know... I won't mind." He turned to wipe at his forehead again on his upper sleeve and shoulder before smiling back to her.

"Thank you for the offer-- Margaret May, isn't it? I think I've just about got it all." He grinned and added, "unless you have time to help me deliver them." He chuckled and hopped down off the wagon, "What can I do for you today? More tests? Or sonnets?"

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[info]boxedhershadow
2008-05-02 08:40 pm UTC (link)
She opened her mouth to respond it wasn't really all that proper for her to call a man she barely knew by his first name, but decided against it. Why argue a point that seemed silly and moot? "Afternoon then Quinlan, I apologize in advance if I continue to call you Mister Hyde for a while though, not rightly used to it and all." she said with another smile to him.

"Yes, Margaret May, though you can call me just Margaret if it suits your fancy." She said with a small shrug. "And I'd gladly help if I didn't have to go back and tend to the afternoon lessons." she said truthfully. Sometimes she wished she'd picked a profession that afforded her the luxury of working outside, rather then in, but then what sort of employement would that be for a lady?

Of course, the man was busy and getting down to business was first priority. She was a customer of course, and she supposed niceties were just a way of keeping people happy. "No, a map this time, want these children to know where they are in the world." She said with another smile, "Though teaching some of the older students sonnets would be a right fine idea, if I could get them to think a bit deeper on the subjects." she said tilting her head thinking about it.

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[info]quinlanhyde
2008-05-02 08:51 pm UTC (link)
She was welcome to call him whatever she wished.. but he'd done enough business with Margaret May that he felt it would be okay for her to call him by his first name. "It's no trouble at all, Margaret," He smiled softly to her.

He nodded, "Oh, I figured you had some afternoon lessons planned." He chuckled, "Maps, huh?" He held his hand out so he could see, "Where are we, exactly, anyway, hm? Do you know?" Brows furrowed and he curiously studied the map, once she handed it to him.

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[info]boxedhershadow
2008-05-02 09:09 pm UTC (link)
The map had been copied out by hand from one of the school books she was using to teach her students. It was blank of course, just showing some of the general area around them. Margaret May was possibly a bit ambitious in thinking that the kids would know where they were as well, but that didn't stop her. She was so blessed for having the best education that her parents could afford, not that she could afford much now, but she wanted to impart her knowledge on to anybody who wanted to learn.

"Perhaps another day when you've got paper's to deliver then, I can imagine it's a fun job to have." She said handing over the paper when he asked. She stepped up next to him and pointed to an area of the map. "Just there...in that vicinity anyway." she said glacing at him out of the corner of her eye. "It might be a bit silly to teach the kids about this sort I suppose, but they deserve to know what's out there." she explained. "I'm going to give them the best education I can give them."

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[info]quinlanhyde
2008-05-03 03:31 am UTC (link)
He chuckled and shook his head, "Well.. it has it's moments." He moved to look at the piece of paper with the map drawn out on it. "What grade levels do you teach?" He glanced back to her with a soft smile. "All the way through? Or..?"

He looked to the paper, when she moved around beside him to point out where New Shelby was on the map. Smiling, he studied the map a moment, "Where's Ireland? And St. Louis." He glanced back to her as he held the map in his hands. "I'm from Ireland.. and I've always wanted to visit St. Louis."

He had no doubt in his mind that Margaret May was among the best of teachers in the whole country. She made it a point to make trips to the press to copy papers and whatnot for her students. Not just any teacher did that. She seemed like she genuinely cared about her job and her students.

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[info]boxedhershadow
2008-05-03 04:19 am UTC (link)
Margaret decided she liked Mister Hyde's smile, it wasn't one of those big toothy grins that she sometimes received when she decided to get a drink at the local saloon, but a lot more gentle and sweet. Somehow, understanding. It was nice to see.

"You're Irish?" she asked, and then pointing out where the country was on the map, or at least it's vicinity. "My family is from Germany and England, well, at least that's what I was told." she said with a bit of a smile, that was the first sort of truth about herself that she'd ever revealed to anybody since she'd moved to New Shelby. "I want to have the children to be able to pick out where these places are eventually." She said with a shrug. "As for St. Louis it's..." She used her fingers to move his thumb gently south a little, as it was covering where he was seeking, "just there..." she pointed out, returning his earlier soft smile.

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[info]quinlanhyde
2008-05-03 07:02 am UTC (link)
His smile was a tad bit infectious. Bright, of course, and very genuine. He would be glad to know that she liked it. That she thought it was nice to see.

He nodded, "Yes, I'm Irish and English." he leaned in closer to the map, reaching up to adjust his glasses on the bridge of his nose, "wow.. that's pretty far.. I never realized it was that far away.." He chuckled and shook his head.

"Germany and England. Two very wonderful places from what I hear... I've never had the chance to visit them." He nodded and watched, letting her gently move his hand so that it was correctly pointing at St.Louis." Smiling, he looked at the place on the map for a moment and then glanced back up toward Margaret May. "Much closer," he chuckled, "I think if I go anywhere.. that's where I'll go. Ireland's too far. You're a very good teacher, Margaret... I have no doubt in my mind that you will have the students well educated on where Ireland, St. Louis, and New Shelby and all of those other places are on your map here."

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[info]boxedhershadow
2008-05-03 09:37 am UTC (link)
"To your question from before, I teach the little ones. Miss Darby teaches the older ones...think it's probably best that way, considering I'm not much of a threatening presence." she said with laugh.

"It's very far away. Worlds, almost. I probably won't ever get there in this life time, though I think I'm okay with that. I think I can stay here and be content." She said with a small shrug. Not that New Shelby had been a place where she wanted to settle, but it worked out, with the job and all. She needed to start looking for a better place to live though. For a five year old, Ash took up a lot of space and the boarding house rooms weren't very big.

Margaret smiled though when he spoke about traveling and then about how good of a school teacher she was. "Thank you Quinlan, that's mighty sweet of you to say." She said tucking a few strands of hair back unconsciously. "Why St Louis? Just a place to visit?" she asked curiously.

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[info]quinlanhyde
2008-05-03 05:41 pm UTC (link)
He smiled, "And Miss Darby is threatening?" He grinned, "I would imagine the younger ones are both a nuisance and amusing to teach." He chuckled and motioned for her to follow, when he turned to start back inside.

"Can't believe I actually made the trip over, although I do remember enjoying it somewhat." Even if the Hyde family had lost their mother on the voyage over. He looked back to her and nodded, "New Shelby isn't so bad... Although, I suppose you can get tired of it day in and day out. I've been here since I was ten." And he was nearly thirty-nine, now.

Carrying the map inside, he went over to place it on his desk before reaching for his notepad to write up Margaret May's order and receipt. "oooh, you're very welcome." He chuckled and grabbed up his pencil, writing down what she wanted. "St. Louis... because.. I don't know. It's a city," He smiled up at her, "I read about it... I've heard it's a marvelous place," At least in the letters his sister sent. "It just sounds like an enjoyable place to escape the dusty, little New Shelby. At least or a while." He shrugged and offered her another warm smile, "How many maps do you need, Margaret?"

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[info]boxedhershadow
2008-05-03 07:29 pm UTC (link)
She followed him inside, "Oh! No she isn't." Margaret May blushed just slightly. She hadn't meant to imply that. "She's just far stronger a woman then I am." she admit honestly. Why did she not realize what she was saying sometimes? It boggled her own mind how sometimes her mouth just opened up and things she didn't mean to say just fell right on out!

"It must have been a long trip." She agreed. "I was born and raised in California, just...moved around a bit as a kid, ended up here by accident and all. I..." she wasn't sure how she felt about New Shelby still. It had been six months since she arrived and how, when she had learned it's history felt it was nowhere to be raising her son, at the same time, she kind of liked it. Everybody she'd met thus far and been kind. Even the boarding house people had softened up to her, especially since she had Ash, and they all assumed she was a widow. She didn't want to think on that though. "I think it's rather charming." she said, finishing her earlier thought after a moment.

She sat herself down on one of the chairs in his office and placed her teachers bag on the floor next to her, placing her her hands in her lap for the time being. She was sure that once their transaction was over, he'd be wanting to go on and deliver the papers. "I've never been. I reckon I hadn't really considered it before." she said thinking about all the places she'd imagined traveling to. "New Shelby might be nicer though, considering so many people know each other here, and big towns make you feel very alone." she said thinking about her own past. "Please, lets have twenty of them. I don't know if I'll need 'em all, but good for future lessons." she said with a bit of a rueful smile.

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[info]quinlanhyde
2008-05-03 07:57 pm UTC (link)
He chuckled, shaking his head, "I know, I know.. it's alright," he took note of the blush, "I knew you didn't mean it like that." He nodded, "Aye, it was a fairly long trip, if I remember correctly." and his mother passed away from a terrible influenza on the voyage over, and that only seemed to make things longer.

He glanced to her when she sat down and he smiled, looking back to the notepad as he wrote down her order of twenty. He tugged his handkerchief from his pocket and reached back to wipe the sweat from the back of his neck, "I think it might be nice to set out into a big city. Just think of all of the interesting people you could meet." He looked back to her with a soft smile, "Aye.. but you can also feel pretty alone in New Shelby too, hm?" he tore the piece of paper off and got up to go over and hold out her copy to her, "there's your receipt," he smiled, "I'll have them ready by tomorrow afternoon.. is that alright for your lesson plans?"

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[info]boxedhershadow
2008-05-03 08:36 pm UTC (link)
Margaret studied him as he took down her order and wrote out the receipt. It was easy to do, studying him this time, as the last time she'd been in his office, she'd studied the actual office. Places intrigued her just as much as people did, but people were always more fun to watch because they changed a lot faster then places did. She noted he seemed to take note of her maybe not as much as she was studying him, but still took note. Which was also a nice thing about him, he was a watcher like she was, she guessed, and even if she was wrong, it was a pleasant idea.

She liked the heat though, and even though she wasn't hefting heavy loads of papers about like he'd been doing earlier, to get all sweaty, she reveled in it. She wasn't sure why, just really enjoyed being warm, far better then being cold she guessed, as the doctors told her long ago she had a system that caused her to be cold a lot of the time. "I've come big cites before Quinlan, I have to say, I like the small ones better. And I suppose you can, but I think I feel more welcomed here then I've ever felt." she admit to him, unsure as to why, but she'd said it now and there was no taking it back.

Taking her copy she smiled, "Why Quinlan why kind of school teacher do you think I am? I plan weeks in advance. These are for two weeks from now." She said getting up as well. "Might I trouble you for one more thing before I go though?" she asked folding the copy of the receipt and placing it in her bag. She'd pay when she came by to pick them up. "I've been here for six months now and I'm getting a mite tired of the food they cook up there at the boarding house...as nice as they are, it's not very good tasting, and I haven't been in to any of the eating establishments around here, is the hotel any good?" she inquired. She didn't ask about the saloon because she wanted to take Ash out and it wouldn't be appropriate to bring him there.

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[info]quinlanhyde
2008-05-03 09:06 pm UTC (link)
People intrigued Quinlan. Beautiful women intrigued Quinlan.. he just had all sorts of trouble talking to them when it came to things other than business or the weather. Quinlan was definitely a watcher; He was a watcher and a listener.

He wasn't fond of the heat, he much preferred the winter weather, but the heat didn't bother him too much. He smiled, shrugging as he stepped back to lean against his desk, crossing his arms over his chest as he listened to her. "I ought to get out and go to a big city someday, just to see what it's like. I've been here all of this time." He grinned and shook his head, "but aye, it is welcoming, isn't it? The people here are friendly, for the most part."

He smiled gently to her, "I don't know how teachers do it.. I thought you might need them soon?" He shrugged, "so they'll be ready tomorrow afternoon then, hm?" He smiled brighter and stood back up when she did, nodding to her inquiry. "well.. to be truthfully honest with you, Margaret, I haven't been there too often, myself. But the times I've been, it has been decent food." he chuckled, "certainly better than my own cooking.. which.. I was going to have some chicken, this evening.. I'd ask you for dinner, though.. I'm afraid if you don't enjoy the food at the boarding house, you probably wouldn't be able to stand my cooking." He grinned; he had no intentions of making her pay. If it was for personal use, sure.. but she was being a good teacher and using it to educate the town's children, and unless the money was the school's.. he'd likely not take it.

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[info]boxedhershadow
2008-05-03 10:02 pm UTC (link)
She absentmindedly pushed some hair off her forehead, it never seemed to stay when she had it all pulled back when she was teaching. Chasing after the little ones in general made her a mess usually, but that was generally in the afternoon, and she still was pulled together for the most part this morning, but she'd never qualify herself as beautiful while in her teaching clothes. Perhaps pretty, when she gave herself a good spit shine, but other then that she was just herself.. Margaret May went home to her room at the boarding house everyday though, Ash at her side, content with the day. Teaching relaxed her and made her feel accomplished, it was worth getting a bit mucked up.

She nodded her head in agreement to his comment on the friendly people. "Well I wish you the best of luck in that venture, Quinlan I'm sure you'll make it there someday." She said encouragingly. Even after everything else, Margaret May could be a positive person.

"Tomorrow afternoon then, I'll be by to get them." She said making a mental note to make sure that the girl down the hallway could watch Ashley so she could go to town to run her errands. She smiled though at his comment about his cooking, "Sounds better already then what we get at the boarding house. Cheap rent means cheap eating. Another night of stew and I might have to just start eating out more often." she said with a small laugh. "And asking me for dinner would be mighty sweet of you Quinlan." She said with a sweet smile, "I'm afraid though, I wouldn't be alone if I accepted." she said gently. She never knew how to explain to strangers she had a son to contend with, and that he was her world. Some women at her age might be content to leave their children to go out on social calls, but Margaret May tried not to do that to Ash. It wasn't fair. He could be left to run errands, it made the trips just that much faster, so she could get back to him right quick. Not too many people had probably seen Margaret with her son, unless they paid her any attention when she left the schoolhouse at the end of the day with the little boy in tow.

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[info]quinlanhyde
2008-05-03 10:55 pm UTC (link)
He watched her a moment as she brushed the hair from her face, and he made a little noise of amused disagreement before he hesitantly reached over to help her tuck the loose strands of hair behind her ear, "there ya go." He smirked and stepped back again. His sister's hair used to get all crazy like that when she'd be doing chores around the house. He didn't think it looked bad.

Even in her teaching clothes, if that's what she had on, Miss Margaret May Austin looked beautiful. Really. Even if she didn't think so.

"Aye," he chuckled and looked around before he began untying his apron to take it off over his head, "I hope so. If not to stay, then at least to visit. I hear they have some amazing book stores. You know.. I haven't been to a real book store since I lived in Ireland. I just get my books at the general store now." He nodded and smiled to her.

"They'll be ready!" he grinned and chuckled softly. "Eating out, though, can add up. terrible on your savings." He went over to hang up his apron on the nail on the wall, "I don't mind," he looked back to her as he worked at rolling up his sleeves again, "you can go out to the Inn, if you'd like," he shrugged gently, "but you and your guest are welcome to join me too. Either way." he motioned to the door, "just give me a few hours to deliver the papers, then?"

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[info]boxedhershadow
2008-05-03 11:45 pm UTC (link)
Margaret was surprised when he reached for her hair. She hadn't been touched by a male other then her son for quite some time, at least, not when the intent wasn't to hurt. Her husband had rarely touched her after she'd conceived Ashley, and for the most part, that suited her just fine. She wasn't wanting her husbands hands touching her when he'd been so cold at heart. He was a callous man, turning the charm off as soon as they were married and the entitlement on, Margaret wondered sometimes if her father realized how unhappy she really had been. She certainly, hadn't been touched by a stranger to her recollection in quite a while. She bit the inside of her lip and then nodded at him, "Thank you." She replied unsure of what else to say to that.

The slight awkwardness she felt passed quickly, because all in all Quinlan wasn't somebody she felt the need to be wary around. At least, he'd given her no reason to worry. "My books come through the school and whatever I brought with me from...before." She said, as the word home hadn't ever really fit, and she wasn't about to start referring to it by that now.

"That it can, and on a teacher's salary, not the largest." It kept her afloat though, her and Ashley. She'd probably have more of course, if she wasn't fending for the two of them, but for now, it would do. She watched as he hung up his apron and considered his offer. It would be nice to be out for the evening, and Ashley would be pleased she thought, with not spending another evening in their cramped room. "I shall take you up on your very kind offer Quinlan...I should get back to the schoolhouse as it's getting on. I'll just go back to the boarding house and freshen up and we'll be over a while after?" She said, thinking that this could be a very nice evening for her and Ash, trying to stay positive. She had no idea what Quinlan's ideas on kids were, but she figured she'd find out this evening not everybody liked their company.

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[info]quinlanhyde
2008-05-04 12:05 am UTC (link)
He hadn't meant to make her feel awkward. He was just trying to help. Even if he was a bit of an awkward guy. at least that's what it seemed like. And no, Margaret May had no need to fear Quinlan; he had no intentions of hurting her or anything of the sort.

"I bet you have a wonderful collection of books, being a teacher and all." He smiled sweetly to her, "I love books." He nodded, "I can imagine it would hit your pocketbook pretty hard, so I'm more than happy to have you both."

He moved to open the front door for her, "I think that sounds like a delightful idea. We'll both get back to work.. you can go freshen up.. I'll deliver the papers and work on dinner.." he smiled to her, "and I'll see you later, then?"

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[info]boxedhershadow
2008-05-04 01:49 am UTC (link)
It wasn't that he had made her feel awkward, more that she hadn't had a person touch her with much kindness to it in a while. It had been nice, but Margaret had also forgotten what it felt like. Ash, of course didn't count, as he was the last person she kissed at night and the first person she kissed in the morning.

She followed him out towards the front door and she nodded at what he said, "Yes, that's good." She passed by him, heading outside and blushed as she did, unsure of why really, Quinlan was being nice to her, and she was still getting used to the kindness of strangers. "You will. Until then." She said as she went, heading onwards and back to the school, once again just enjoying the sunshine and thinking she'd best pick up something sweet for after their dinner.

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