InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Pull My Finger!"

Grace Sackett (rope_and_ride) wrote in oldwest_rpg,
@ 2008-05-08 09:37:00

Entry tags:

dax marshall, grace sackett

Who: Grace Sackett and Dax Marshall
Where: Outside the general store
When: May 7th, afternoon around 3ish
Status: Complete
Summary: Grace goes on a supply run and encounters a member of the Dooger Gang

Grace loaded the second crate of supplies into the back of the wagon. The general store had been Grace's second stop on her trip into the town of Shelby, the first being the town's post office to see if any letters had arrived within the last couple of days. Only one post had been waiting to be collected, one that had been addressed to her cousin and had been safely tucked in the pocket of Grace's duster. With her cousin away, he wouldn't be back until the following day, to check on a wild herd to maybe round up a select two or three quality additions to the small stock they already had stabled at the ranch. Which, if her cousin rounded up some of the wild stock, would mean that the next few days(at least) to follow would be spent working with the untamed creatures.

Grace gathered up the reins as she stepped up to climb onto the wagon and settle herself on the seat. There'd be one more stop to make before she'd head on back to the ranch. The cemetery. It had become a custom of hers to pay a visit to the town cemetery to visit the site of her father's grave. The young woman usually staying at least the length of a half hour having pretty much a one sided conversation with her father. Sharing details of what had come with the passing week.

Ads by Project Wonderful! Your ad here, right now: $0

(Post a new comment)

syxx
2008-05-10 04:16 am UTC (link)

Dax wasn't a man to charm. He wasn't a man that based his entire life around getting drunk and impressing the ladies. He didn't care for that. One might say he didn't care for anything, but that sure did not make him a bad man.

New Shelby was just a random spot on the map for him to resort to. Had he stayed in Cripple Creek, Colorado he would have most likely been killed. The authorities there were just as bad as those they were trying to catch. This move to California was just a resting period for him. A time where he could collect his thoughts and wonder how he was going to kill the ones who murdered his family.

The general store wasn't much of a hang-out for Dax. He went in, purchased what he wanted, then got the hell out. Standing around and looking every item in the store wasn't his cup of tea. He was quick on foot today, like in a rush to get somewhere at a certain time otherwise he was fucked. But no, he hadn't anywhere to be. Today was just a bad day for him, even in the company of good people, which he has yet to experience.

Grumpy and mumbling incoherently to himself, Dax shoved the door of the general store wide open and sauntered out, shoving his new prayer book (a pack of papers used to roll cigarettes), tobacco, and matches into his front right pocket.

There were already pre-rolled cigarettes in his left pocket, so there was no need to roll any for the time being. He just didn't want to have to come back to this damn place later on in the evening. It would have been a pain in the ass considering the mood he's in.

He picked out a quirley and lit it, taking a long drag while standing at the edge of the step just in front of the store. Idly he shoved his free hand into his pocket, squinting his eyes as he turned to look at the large wagon to his left. The woman who sat as the driver looked to be much younger than he, but that wasn't to say that he wasn't going to speak to her. Then again, maybe it was. He didn't know whether or not now was the time for small-talk. Besides, she looked like she was heading off to God knows where, and he.. Well, hadn't he already decided that he was in a crappy mood?

He stared, smoking his cigarette and showing less emotion than he had been two seconds ago, which was hardly any to begin with.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

rope_and_ride
2008-05-10 10:54 am UTC (link)

"Yes?" Grace had just given a light flick to the reins to get the horses and wagon started out unto the dirt road of town when she reined in once more taking note that the man standing a few paces in front of the wagon on the long boarded walk was seemingly looking in her direction. Well, it appeared more like he was staring idly toward her and the wagon.

Openly staring usually had a follow up of the starer starting trouble, usually their way of alleviating a bad case of boredom or provide that little bit of an entertainment factor to their small circle of friends lingering or hovering not to far away in the background. Though with the lack of bodies anywhere in the background of the man Grace was taking it that that was not the case in this situation. Maybe he was just looking for some friendly type of conversation, though the look that had been read on the stranger's face didn't exactly have the rancher summing things up that way.

Maybe he was enjoying the scenery?

Either way Grace really wasn't in the mood to loiter around for any length of time as there was a ranch she needed to get back to.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

syxx
2008-05-10 02:54 pm UTC (link)

The sudden choice of word this woman chose made Dax chuckle. He didn't want anything from her, so there was really no answer to be given in return.

He began to look around him just as she did. No, none of the other members of the Dooger Gang were around, so there was no damage to be done today. He was all by his lonesome self here in front of the store (aside from her, of course). And the more he thought, the better his one question became.

"Are ya new 'round here?" he asked, his Scottish accent quite heavy on his words. It was the only question he could muster. He wanted to know. However, she looked familiar. Very familiar. Like a face grown older than what he might have remembered. This familiarity wasn't a good thing. Anyone who he thought looked familiar could have been either a victim to the gang, or someone he didn't care to know more than just as an acquaintance.

"You're a rancher, that much I can tell," he said, taking another long drag from his quirley. Dax was flipping through his imaginary notebook, trying to find something that might match with this girl.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

rope_and_ride
2008-05-10 06:02 pm UTC (link)

"I'm suppose'n you could say that." Grace replied back with words that were lightly laced in a Australian accent, not as thick as the man's Scottish, but the accent was easily detectable. Nothing in her calm, casual exterior belied what the sound of the heavy Scottish accent triggered. Nothing about the man's features was found in familiar, even in the slightest of ways, but his voice. It was ever so recognizable, and it brought forth flashes of a time from the past memory-ridden with pain and sadness.

"What about you, Mister?" Grace asking the question the was inevitable. "You new to town or have you lived around these parts for a bit now." She wasn't about to give up much about herself, but she damn sure wanted to find out what she could, what the man was willing to give up about himself. Which she felt wouldn't amount to much. But the attempt needed to be made.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

syxx
2008-05-10 06:31 pm UTC (link)

Slowly the man descended the stairs to get within better earshot of her voice. The two weren't far apart to begin with, but he wanted to take a closer look at her without being too obvious.

He finished the cigarette and flicked it to the ground before stamping it out with a twist of his boot. Dax curled his lips downwards as he ran a hand along one of the horses. He now stood to the wagon's right side, folding his arms and trying not to make eye contact with her.

"Me?" he shrugged, "I guess I can say I take the job as bein' a hard ass next to Dooger," he said. Dax didn't care what he was throwing out there. It was her job to pick it up, whether she wanted to or not. He never mentioned being a part of his gang. For all she knew, he could just be a friend.

"And no, I'm not new. Lived here once before but moved back," he said, not bothering to mention where. It didn't matter, and even the name Cripple Creek brought on one fatefully bad memory. His family. "After they... I jus' moved back 'ere 'cause I wanted to."

The Scot started to round to the other side of the wagon, reaching out to pat the horses a few times. There was nothing more he wanted to say. Not one question crossed his mind to ask. Even if she did look utterly familiar, he didn't want to ask who she was or her family's surname.

A soft nod from his head and he turned to head back home. If she had more to say, she had better say it now, otherwise, he'll be seeing her, he was sure of it.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

rope_and_ride
2008-05-10 08:32 pm UTC (link)

Those brown eyes of hers trailed each movement the man made as he moved alongside the wagon and horses attached to it. With his slow, easy movements he wasn't posing much of a threat. Yet. And the mention of the name Dooger had Grace stiffening slightly. To her that cemented the thought that ran through her mind. The stranger had to be part of Dooger's gang.

When Dax started his move away after supplying her with a bit of an answer to her inquiry, Grace didn't make a comment in return. The blonde simply tightened her hold on the reins and with a light snap to the leather tetherings Grace moved the wagon onto the dirt street with one last brief glance given to the path Dax had taken. With Dooger's Gang around, even one member of the outlaw gang, there was bound to be trouble and that thought alone left Grace with an unsettling feeling as the horses drew the wagon down the dirt street out of town and in the direction of the ranch.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

syxx
2008-05-10 10:50 pm UTC (link)

His walk was purposely slow. Once the sound of the wagon wheels and the horses trot was heard, he stopped and spun on his heels. He wanted to know where she was heading, but he wasn't going to follow. If he would just watch until she faded from view, he would have an idea as to where she lived.

He rolled his fingers near his face, squinting his eyes as she quickly disappeared. The only place he could think of going that way would be the Sackett's ranch. But he hasn't been over there in years, so there could have many other homes or the like nearby.

Dax lowered his hat, turned, and continued on his way.

(Reply to this) (Parent)