InsaneJournal

$Margaret May: 077; You're serious\man - :)$ Margaret May (boxedhershadow) wrote in oldwest_rpg,
@ 2008-05-03 21:35:00

Entry tags:

margaret may, quinlan hyde

Dinner always tastes better when somebody else makes it.
Who: Margaret May Austin, Ashley Austin and Quinlan Hyde
Where: Above the MacNamara Press Shop in Quinlan's home.
When: May 2, 1867, evening
Status: Complete
Summary: A friendly get to know each other dinner and visit.

Margaret had told Ashley that they were going to a nice man's house for dinner, that they wouldn't be having stew tonight, and that they needed to both go home and have a bath so that they'd be nice and fresh for their visit. Ashley was none too impressed with this. He'd managed to get a nice cake of dirt under his fingernails and he was rather fond of it. He argued on the way home with her, but she was firm on her decision. She wished that she had thought to shine up his shoes a little better, but he always dirtied them up at school anyway. She wanted him to be presentable. She wasn't going to let anybody think that they were hard done by. Margaret May was still a proud woman, no matter what hardships she'd faced. She would make it on her own if she had to, and she was.

She scrubbed them both to a gleam and dressed Ash in his nicer shirt, trousers and a vest. She forwent his tie though because he was already kicking up such a fuss to have his hair combed out neatly and parted to the side. She decided long ago by being a teacher, that you had to learn to pick your battles with children, and this one was just not worth it. She got herself dressed in one of her nicer dresses that she'd set aside when they first started traveling, not wearing it often to keep it less worn looking. She wasn't trying to look fancy or anything of the sort, it was more that it was nice that she had somewhere to go and that she was going to have somebody to talk to that wasn't only as tall as her waist for longer then just a few minutes.

She'd had a nice week. First there had some parents she'd met of some of her students who had come in to say that they'd never seen their daughter so interested in reading before, and wanting to know what she'd been doing to encourage such behavior, they were, at least Margaret thought, impressed. Then there'd been Mister Donovan she'd met and how kind he'd been to her with the children and the horses, and then offering to teach her to ride. She smiled fondly at the memory of their time together and hoped that they'd spend more time together in the future. The idea surprised her though, she hadn't considered the future in regards to spending time with any person except for Ash, as she hadn't really decided how long she was staying here. She pushed that thought aside though and then thought of how kind Quinlan had been. He didn't have to offer to make her dinner, and then to invite a guest he'd never met before in to his home was even more generous of him. She'd been unsure at first at accepting his offer, almost going over that evening with Ash and telling him that she wasn't feeling well...but then how rude would that have been. It wasn't that she was uneasy of him but more that she wasn't in any sort of spot to be slipping up and letting him know things he ought not to know.

She gathered up Ashley though, making him carry the small cake she'd purchased for their dessert. It wasn't much but it'd be nice for later. This was after she had let her hair dry in to soft waves around her face, and attempting to put some color in to her cheeks by giving them a sharp pinch. It'd do she supposed, sighing. The circles under her eyes made her look older then she was and she knew that she looked tired sometimes as well. But it was worth it. For the little boy that was holding her hand as they walked through the town that was now in dusk. The light from the building's windows lit their path along with what daylight was left. As they walked, Margaret May reminded her son of all his manners and that he shouldn't be shy because the man he was going to meet was a very smart, nice man that made the paper that his mother read from time to time. This didn't seem to ease Ashley at all and she could tell he was getting more and more nervous as they walked, dragging his feet.

She continued on though and when they were at Quinlan's door she knelt in front of Ashley to look him in the eye, she didn't like talking down to him, he deserved better then that. "Ash, it'll be okay." she said reading the worry on his face. Oh what had she done to him? Forcing him to be skeptical of everybody he met new had obviously put a burden on him. "Trust momma, okay? Remember we've got each other you hear?" She said softly to him.

Ashley nodded at her and watched as she got up and straightened her skirts before knocking on the door. He waited, his hand in hers until the door swung open and he immediately let go of her hand and hid behind her.

"A.." she was about to call him back around when Quinlan was suddenly in the doorway. She turned her attention to the man. "Evening," she said smiling at him, moving her hands behind her placing one on her son's head.

(Post a new comment)

quinlanhyde
2008-05-04 06:23 am UTC (link)

As soon as Margaret May had left earlier that afternoon, he set out to deliver the papers. It didn't take him too terribly long; Only a few hours or so, and then he hurried back to the shop to close up. Once he had, he went upstairs to freshen up, as well. He probably didn't bother to look as nice as Margaret May had done up, but he put on a clean shirt, and some clean trousers, with a nice, clean vest. No tie, though.. While in public, Quinlan liked to look respectable with a tie and all.. but sometimes, he just couldn't stand them at all. He didn't think that Margaret May would mind too much.

He had made a nice dinner, more than he usually did, and he obviously put more time into it than he usually did too. It was nice for a change to be cooking for someone other than just himself again. Though, he missed his sister's cooking. Because Quinlan wasn't the greatest at cooking.. but he was the only one that ate it.. until now, really.

Chicken, mashed potatoes, and green beans! That was enough, right? He hoped so. And he hadn't used all of the dishes he had since before his sister ran off with that French guy, and his father passed away. So he had to dust those off and all before he could even set the table. He had just finished setting the chicken in the center of the table when he heard the knock from downstairs.

He quickly untied the frilly apron that had belonged to his sister and tossed it back onto a shelf before he hurried back downstairs to get the door. He didn't bother to roll his sleeves back down, it was a bit stuffy, and once again, he didn't think that Margaret May would mind too terribly. That was, of course, until he saw how wonderfully fancy she had dressed up. He opened the door all the way and smiled softly, unable to keep from giving her the once over. She looked very nice. She cleaned up very nice too. Her hair was fixed. He cleared his throat a bit and moved aside, "Come in?"

He had to remember to tell her that she looked nice. But right now, at that moment, he was occupied with trying to figure out who her guest was, exactly. Quinlan was curious. He couldn't help but smirk with amusement when he saw the young boy cautiously peeking out from behind Margaret May.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

boxedhershadow
2008-05-04 06:44 am UTC (link)

Margaret was too busy trying to gently push her son out from behind her to notice Quinlan looking over her, and it was probably a good thing because she tended to blush at things like that. Even when people looked her over and she wasn't friendly with them, it made her embarrassed, she couldn't help it, that was just her. Perhaps it was because she grew up so sheltered, the only real people she'd come in to contact with before were her parent's friends. Even her brother, who she had little to do with as they were growing up made her feel embarrassed if he ever studied her in the most innocent of ways. She had such little peer to peer contact.

"Thank you she said finally managing to maneuver her son in front of her, careful not to knock the box that had the cake around in too much and gently pushing him inside ahead of her. She smiled though, at Quinlan as she passed him. A sort of, 'Kids! What can you do?' smile and then a gentler one, that was just for he. She made sure they were clear of the door and turned to face the man, keeping a hand on her son's shoulder, holding him just a tad so he wouldn't go hiding in her skirts again. "This...is my son, Ashley. Ashley this is Mister Hyde." she said her voice very soft and filled with...something. She herself wasn't even sure. She looked down at Ashley for only a moment and then back up at Quinlan trying to gauge his reaction, not wanting to miss a flit of emotion across the man's face, studying him openly, waiting.

After a moment, letting the two adults do as they may, Ashley who was staring up at this strange man, looked down at his hands, noting he had bag in one and offering Quinlan the other, "Pleasure to meet you." he said with his slight lisp. It made Margaret May smile small.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

quinlanhyde
2008-05-04 07:02 am UTC (link)

Well, then Quinlan was glad that she hadn't taken notice of him studying her either... Because he would have hated to embarass her or make her blush with embarassment. Even if technically it was a compliment.

When she said thank you, he snapped out of his little moment of study and smiled, nodding to her, "You're welcome.. you look very lovely, Margaret.." He hoped she wouldn't mind him saying that in front of her son. He returned her smile when she passed by and then looked back to the door as he closed it.

Turning back to Margaret May and Ashley, his smile still gentle as he studied the two, standing there as if they were preparing to pose for a portrait. When Margaret mentioned that the young boy was her son, Quinlan lifted his eyes to make a brief contact with her own. Was she widowed? It made him curious. But he didn't dare ask. Not now. It wouldn't be polite. He figured that if he ever learned, it would be right when the time came. He looked back to Ashley when the young boy offered his hand to him. Of course, the lisp was incredibly adorable. Ashley seemed like a very good kid.

Quinlan looked back to Margaret May almost for approval, before he moved to kneel down on Ashley's level, reaching out to give the boy's hand a firm, little shake. Quinlan could help but grin, his other hand moving up to adjust his glasses, "And it's a pleasure to meet you too, sir."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

boxedhershadow
2008-05-04 07:22 am UTC (link)

Margaret nodded and smiled at his compliment, but not replying to it just yet. It was nice of him to say, but she still thought about how she used to look and knew she was dim compared to that woman who she used to be. It was hard for her to think of herself sometimes as appealing, but then everybody had their days didn't they? It did feel a little nice though, the compliment. He didn't have to say something like that, and yet he did. He had manners, in her mind, at least.

Margaret met his gaze and saw the curiosity that lay there. She reasoned that at least it wasn't contempt. Perhaps he hadn't assumed the worst about her. She'd had people in previous towns asking her if the young boy had been a mistake, a woman who wore no ring but had a son must have gotten herself in to a bit of trouble hadn't she? The idea that Ash was a mistake repulsed her. He was the best thing in her who life. His very existence made hers worth something, and she didn't care how sentimental that sounded. He was her saving grace. And even if he was only five, he knew her, and she knew him, and there was no comfort like that in the whole world that could compare.

Margaret May smiled at him, when he glanced at her before kneeling in front of her child to speak to him. It made her happy he did that, that he valued her son enough to treat him with the respect he deserved. She placed a hand on Ash's head protectively, not from Quinlan though, more a reassurance for herself that her son was there. She did this without realizing it most of the time, as she used to place her hand on her pregnant belly before Ashley was a person, feeling his presence and knowing he was there.

Ashley shook the man's hand back and nodded. "We brought cake." he said plainly, holding up the bag for Quinlan to take. "Somethin' smells good." he said feeling obviously more relaxed as he looked around the room they were standing in.

"It does indeed Ashely. Much better then the turnip soup that was waiting for us over at the boarding house." she said with another smile.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

quinlanhyde
2008-05-04 07:59 am UTC (link)

No, Quinlan didn't assume the worst.. He liked brighter, happy endings to stories.. Though, if her husband had been killed or passed away, that wouldn't have been very pleasant either. Quinlan tried to treat everyone equally. He didn't look down upon anyone. He felt like he was hardly in a position to, even if he had wanted to be that way.

He grinned, giving the young boy's hand a good shake before he straightened back up to take the bag from him, "Well, thank you," he chuckled and nodded, "Aye, and I hope it tastes good too.." He scrunched up his nose and gave a bit of a cautious look to Margaret May. Almost a warning, maybe. He soon replaced the look with a very pleasant smile, "Thank you for bringing cake.." He studied Margaret May for a moment before looking back to Ashley, "You too!" He laughed and motioned for them to follow him as he started through the shop to the stairs, heading up them to his room above.

"Make yourself at home, I guess you'd say?" He chuckled and looked back to the two, once they'd made it upstairs. "I didn't have much time to straighten up.." Not that Quinlan wasn't a tad bit on the obsessive compulsive side anyway.. He kept things pretty neat and clean. So.. I apologize for that.." The 2nd floor of the shop was divided into two rooms. He had one for his bedroom, and the other for everything else. He had plenty of bookshelves with plenty of books. at least 38 years worth. It wasn't like he had a family to take care of, so he spent a lot of time lost in his books.

He had the table set, and he carried the bag over to set it off to the side before motioning to the table, "sit anywhere you'd like?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

boxedhershadow
2008-05-04 08:16 am UTC (link)

Margaret wasn't all too sure he'd think it was a happy ending that she'd slugged her husband over the head with a frying pan, but with luck, he'd never know that about her anyway. Nobody wanted an attempted murderer in their house, even if it was self defense.

Ashley who was always cautious of strangers continued to glance as his mother and she gave him encouraging looks back, hoping he'd relax soon enough. She knew how he could be, and she didn't want him hanging on her skirts all night long. "You're welcome." he lisped back at Quinlan remembering his manners after a moment.

"I'm sure it'll be lovely Quinlan." she said when he looked at her and then pushed her son ahead of her to go up the stairs. He bounded up, never able to just walk anywhere and in to the room above, Margaret May making up the rear of the bunch. Ashley who was a bit of a perfectionist himself looked around the room and could see nothing wrong with it and so he bounded over to the nearest window and stared out it.

This may have seemed odd to most, but Ash adored being up high and looking down on things, and so Margaret let him for the moment. She herself was taking in every little detail she could while she was there, enjoying the size of the room, which was a lot bigger then the closet she rented that they called a room. Margaret too, didn't sit, but went to the bookshelves, her hands behind her back at first and then unclasping her hands to run her fingers over the spines. She did so quietly, taking in all the titles he had, all the authors, as if they'd reveal something about the man they were about to dine with. When he spoke though about sitting, she snapped out of her studying and turned to Ashley at the window.

"Ash, the table please." she requested and watched as her son begrudgingly left his post at the window and seated himself down at the table. His expression faded though and was replaced with delight when he saw the chicken. "That's what I smelt!" he said with a sage wisdom that only a five year old can think he has. Margaret settled herself down in the chair across from her son's, knowing he was fully capable of handling himself at the dinner table. "It really does look lovely Quinlan, you did far too much." She said noting his effort and placing her hands in her lap again out of habit.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

quinlanhyde
2008-05-04 08:31 am UTC (link)

He noticed her looking at his collection of books. He didn't mind it at all. He figured it's the first thing any teacher would notice. When he was younger, he'd thought about teaching, himself. He wanted to specialize in English and reading. And, well, he'd started working at the press when he was 14, and never really looked back. Or had time to.

He smiled, looking to the young boy, who was almost excitedly staring out the window. Quinlan figured they must have lived on the first floor of the boarding house.. Was there even a second?

"Aye," he chuckled, "yes.. it is." Quinlan carried the bowl of mashed potatoes over to join the rest at the table. He paused to carefully serve them some before spooning some onto his own plate. He took a few minutes to serve out decent sized helpings of everything to everyone, grinning when it came time to serve the chicken.

"Oh no.." He scoffed playfully and rolled his eyes, pausing, just as he was about to tear into the chicken, "I forgot.. I'm not the youngest man in the room today, hm?" He moved to hold the plate over in front of Ashley, "In my family, you'd have to choose first. The youngest man in the family gets to pick because he has the most growing to do. And between you and me, I think you've got just a little more to go, hm?" He motioned to the chicken, "You want a chicken wing?" He smirked, "or a leg? Whatever ya want, just tear it off, aye?" He chuckled, watching Ashley. No, that wasn't really a rule or tradition in his family.. But his uncle had told him that once. So why not try it with Ashley?

He kept his eyes on the young boy a moment before casting a glance to Margaret May and giving her a small nod and a wink. "Go on, then, Lad." He looked back to Ashley, "None of the rest of us can eat until ya choose. and.. we can't have cake until then either, aye?" He chuckled.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

boxedhershadow
2008-05-04 09:08 am UTC (link)

Margaret thanked him every time he put something new on her plate and Ash followed suit, looking at his plate with big eyes. Oh she felt horrible that the two of them were stuck eating the food at the boarding house, and that this was the first time Ash had probably seen mashed potatoes, one of his favorites, in a while. She hadn't even thought about their favorite foods because she was busy trying to save up for them to move on from where they were. She made a mental note to treat him more often as he never even once complained about what was put in front of him when they were eating together at 'home'.

Ashley looked over at his mum, unsure of what he was to do. Back in San Diego they had a woman who would serve their meals and Ash always just ate was on his plate. He'd never had choices...

"Go on sweetheart." Margaret May said nodding to her boy and then biting her lip gently as she smiled back at Quinlan's wink. He was being so sweet with Ash, and that meant a lot to her. She watched though as her son considered the chicken carefully. This would be the first time he got to choose! He had to make the right choice...it was a big decision. Finally though he decided on the right leg, a child's choice for certain, as it was the most fun to eat by far. You didn't have to use a fork to eat it, it was perfectly okay to be picked up by one's fingers and to eat away. This pleased Ash greatly when he reached for the right leg, and changed his mind at the last moment and tugged off the left one.

"Thank you Mister Hyde." he said with a nod and placed the chicken on his plate, waiting for the two adults to get themselves sorted out so he could eat what looked to be delightful in front of him.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

quinlanhyde
2008-05-04 11:40 am UTC (link)

He smiled, "Oh, no, Thank you! Now the rest of us can eat too! But you're very welcome." He set the plate back down in front of himself and glanced to Margaret May, motioning with question as to which piece she'd like. When she told him, he carefully served her the proportion she wanted and pushed the chicken back to the center of the table, after getting himself some of the meat, as well.

Of course, while Quinlan wasn't too terribly religious, he was thankful for his meals and everything he had, so he took the time to pray before, but it wasn't a long, dragged out prayer. Just a little quick one, that he was sure the good Lord would understand, "Amen," and then he let his eyes flutter back open to look from Ashley to Margaret May beore he took up his fork to start eating. He didn't know about them, but he was starving.

"So.." He smiled softly, studying Margaret a moment and then looking back to the young boy, who seemed to be enjoying his meal very much. "I don't have guests too often, aye? So thank you both for joining me? It's as big of a treat for me as I guess it is for you." He remembered what Margaret May had said about the food they got at the boarding house. It sounded awful.

Quinlan was awful at conversation... At least for long ones anyway. "What grade level are you in, Ashley?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

boxedhershadow
2008-05-04 07:27 pm UTC (link)

Margaret May wasn't too religious either and they'd never said any sort of grace when they were living back in San Diego. The boarding house cook though was religious and everybody was made to sit together at a long table and say grace at every meal. Ashely had grown used to this in the last few months but he looked surprised when Quinlan only offered a short 'Amen'. He looked excited to be honest, so excited Margaret had to hold in a laugh as he dug in to his food with a great amount of eagerness going straight for the beans. He tended to eat the veggies first to 'get 'em out of the way'.

Margaret ate daintily as ladies should, but enjoyed the food immensely and this was obvious on her face, forgetting to keep her emotions in better check. "Thank you for having us Quinlan, as I said before it was mighty kind of you. You don't have guests?" She asked looking surprised. She wanted to ask why a man who seemed to be so sweet didn't have callers more often but she figured that was rude.

It was okay if Quinlan was bad at conversation because she tended to be fairly good at talking just about anything. She spoke to children all day, every day though, so having an adult to talk to was a novelty. She sat quietly as Quinlan spoke to her son, stuiding him intently a small smile on her face."

Ashley who was minding his manners made sure he finished chewing and swallowing, patting his face with his napkin before replying, "I've been taught by momma for lots of years you see, and I should be just in first grade, but I'm doing second grade work." he said proudly. "I'm best at maths and in reading. I like to read." he said obviously starting to warm to Quinlan easily and quickly, which Margaret was pleased about.

"He's a very good student." She added when Ashley dug back in to his food. He was obviously hungry as well. "He picks up on things quickly, we're just lucky that he seems to process things quickly." She said smiling down at her plate. She didn't want to brag about her son but at the same time it was nice that he was such a smart bright boy.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

quinlanhyde
2008-05-04 07:57 pm UTC (link)

Quinlan was raised pretty religiously. His mother had been the full force behind that.. And then when she passed away, his father still prayed before dinner and before bed. Quinlan sort of just kept up with it. Why not? He was thankful for the things he had and all.

Quinlan had his eyes on Margaret May, studying her little pleased faces she was making. They made him smile. It seemed like she was enjoying herself very much. Or at least the food, and that was what he had hoped for. Maybe his cooking wasn't so bad afterall. It sort of made him wonder how good of a cook Margaret May was... obviously she probably hadn't cooked in a while since she lived at the boarding house, and he didn't think it would be among the easiest of tasks to accomplish, there.

He reached for the bowl of green beans and served himself some more before setting the bowl back to the table. Quinlan was awful at starting conversations of his own.. and he was hopeless at keeping them up. So he would be glad to know that Margaret May was good at talking.

Quinlan smiled as he looked to Ashley, carefully listening to everything the young boy had to say. Quinlan almost wanted to chuckle at the boy's display of manners, but his smile only brightened. Ashley was a very polite young man. "Aye, so you're an advanced student, are ya?" He smiled and cast a glance to Margaret May before he looked back to Ashley. "I love to read too. It's my favorite. Always has been. In fact.. to tell you the truth, I bet you'll soon be better at math than even myself!" He chuckled and shook his head, "I'm terrible at it! So you should definitely be proud of all the things your mother teaches you. She's a very smart woman, from what I gather."

He smiled and looked back to Margaret May when she spoke up again. "Aye, he's a very smart and polite young lad," Quinlan nodded and looked back to Ashley, "A learned gentleman in the making." he looked to Margaret May again, "and you should both be proud."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

boxedhershadow
2008-05-04 09:35 pm UTC (link)

Her father and her mother had started with religious beginnings but over the earlier years of her life when there was so much poverty, they had slowly given up believing and when things started going right, they'd forgotten those roots completely. Margaret hadn't passed on any values like that to Ashley, though she wouldn't object to a little of God's guidance in her and her son's life either. Quinlan's seemed to be just enough for the both of them.

Margaret hadn't had to cook much when she was married, they had a colored woman who worked for her husband. She knew how to though, and quite enjoyed cooking and really would love to cook for Quinlan sometime if she only had the place to do it. She enjoyed baking too, missing the afternoons when she and Ash would bake cookies or a cake together and then sit and eat it forgoing lunch for the sweets. Those times seemed like a world away. Her attention was brought back from her thoughts though when Quinlan began speaking again. She caught that he was complimenting her, about being a smart woman and flushed with pleasure, rather unexpectedly. Her husband had always told her she wasn't smart enough, and her dreams of becoming a teacher were insipid. Of course, that was after they were married, and not before.

Margaret had been studying the man while he conversed with Ashley and then looked down at her plate shyly, when he turned back towards her and spoke. "Thank you. I am very proud of him. He's..." she trailed off though, because she didn't want to embarrass her son and she didn't want to embarrass herself for admitting how important Ash was to her. "Mr Hyde was the man who printed up those number sheets and that pictures I gave out two weeks ago Ash." she said addressing her son.

Ashely turned and looked at Quinlan curiously, "You did that? How?" he asked remembering the papers. "Do you have machines? I've never seen a machine." he lisped, always inquisitive. He'd been the same way around Mister Donovan about the horses. He couldn't help it really, the boy was one of the most curious people probably in existence.

Margaret would have told him to slow down a bit, to wait for answers before asking more questions but instead she just laughed. "Pardon him...he gets so excited sometimes." she said gently looking over at Ash who was too busy eating his potatoes and waiting for an answer from Quinlan.