Marvel: Wild West

There was a smell on the air - like rain and something else. The wind had kicked up awhile ago so Caro had done her best to get all the laundry in before it blew away. She was pretty sure Lizzie or someone else had closed all the windows. Maybe she would check... But there was no reason to.

When she'd done her best for the laundry, that meant only one sheet had escaped. But it had escaped down the road towards the entrance to the Guthrie ranch. She was just about to pick it up when the first brush of sand hit her. "Oh hell," she muttered, sheet momentarily forgotten as it continued it's trek towards somewhere unknown. Caro was more worried about the massive dust cloud barreling towards New Haven.

Arizona was nothing like California. It was hotter, drier, and dustier. The winds rolled across the territory in long sweeps that left Sofia giddy. Like a child with a new plaything. Her new property was just perfect for standing amongst the winds. Feeling them caress and wind and entangle. Comforting and familiar, and easily hidden.

Eventually though, Sofia felt the press of societal obligation. She had been raised to be on good terms with her neighbors and to know everyone around her. Thus, it was high time to go to town.

Owen had driven them in. Sofia walked along the promenade with Ginny at her heels, smiling politely at people as they went. There wasn't much to New Haven, but from what she'd been told it was still a young town. Without the history and dense population of many of the California cities.

Sadly, it seemed to be lacking in culture. Sofia would miss the opera, the ballet, the grandiose environment. She had a fondness for theater, but there didn't seem to be any theater houses in New Haven. Perhaps the town could not afford leisure as yet. If it were a matter of funds however, surely she could aid them. If they would accept a wealthy widow's involvement. They might not.

With an internal sigh, she carefully read the signs and painted windows of the shoppes. Trying to decide which to visit and grateful that along with the subtle use of her gift, her attire seemed well suited to warding off the harsh sun.

Wicked couldn't sleep. It had been five days since Terrence had returned from a nearby town to do some doctoring. He'd been upset when he returned, and had set her aside when she'd greeted him.

He'd avoided her since. She did not understand why he was punishing her, what she had done to deserve this, but the dangerous flash of red in his eyes had told her on the day of his return he was serious about being left alone.

Now, five days later, she could no longer bear it. She had to know what she had done to deserve this, what had happened that had turned him away from her. She was lonely and hurt and trying very hard to control her fear of being rejected.

Wicked stood outside his bedroom door in her shift, a shawl wrapped around her shoulders. She raised her hand twice to the door before she found the courage to knock.

"Terrence?" she called out softly. "Please, speak with me."

Tommy was sitting on the tying post outside of the saloon, feeding Boaz a carrot. Occasionally, he catch onto the horse's bridle and hold him steady. "Ain't you the best boy I've ever had. Ain't no one faster than you is. I bet not even Barack could've taken that last fence, hey."

With this last statement, he shot a sly glance at the horse in question, then grinned at Billy. Boaz neighed quietly, and Tommy turned his attention back. "It's 'cause I tied you down, ain't it? I can't help that. It's the law almost everywhere."

Anna Marie stepped out of the tavern and breathed in the warm night air. In the sky the stars shown brightly between the gaps in the clouds, and the wind blew gently. It was a beautiful night for a ride, but she didn't feel like pulling out his saddle. She could walk just fine. She stepped down into the road and just walked, her eyes moving over the dark windows of the closed shops, and the lit windows of the apartments above. The town was nice and quiet except for a few drunkards who had already drowned themselves in the bottle.

Caroline was out riding. Well, she had been out riding but her horse needed some water so for now she was settled on a rock and her horse was drinking out of a little pool of water that they'd managed to find. It was a nice day, quiet... Nothing was happening what so ever. She supposed she could pop off to Europe but the family was getting worried as she'd spent most of the week away already... Ennui was a terrible, terrible mistress.

Josh and Jini raced across the unmarked trail. People could say Josh was always in a hurry. Running fast to nowhere, but he had his reasons.

He'd spent a few days in New haven, just so he wouldn't stand out too much in rushing off as fast as he could. He'd toyed with the idea of going past the Guthrie Property. Maybe just to take a quick look. He wasn't expecting anything, really.

But, he'd learned long ago not to make connections in the white world. Nothing more than passing was acceptable. Anything else and you were in trouble.

He could feel Jini slowing beneath him. Not in speed, but in muscle and bone. She was tired, and they were still too close to 'civilization' for him to do much about it. Slowing her to a canter, he drew her slowly to a stop, dismounting.

They still had a lot of time to get to Omaha, and Josh was going to take his damn time closing in on Colorado. It was the straightest route, but...maybe he'd just go around.

Billy leaned back in his stance, and watched the stallion trot sideways. This one was stubborn as hell. He reminded Billy of his brother. If Tommy was a horse, he'd be very much like this one. Head strong, confident, with an obvious swagger and pride that you just couldn't help but admire. He was also as responsive to touch.

"Hey now," Billy said to him as he shuffled sideways in the smaller paddock. He crossed over to him, hands up where the horse could see. The stallion tossed his head, silver mane shining in the sun. "Hey, hey...Easy sweet." Billy rubbed over his muzzle gently. "There's a good boy. What's the fuss, darlin'?"

Anna-Marie had seemed unsettled about something for days now. Since the last time she'd been out on her evening off. As promised, Eletra had left her to her business, but she couldn't help but notice that red-eyed Cajun gambler had seemed to take an interest him her home the second she'd hired the girl.

And he wasn't interested in her. She hadn't so much as had a conversation with the man since he arrived. Which mean, his interest was in Anna-Marie.

If the bastard had hurt her in any way, Elektra would make certain he decided to leave town. Except his destination would be as food for the vultures deep in the desert.

Deserts were wonderful places to hide bodies.

The Greek born lady gave no hint of her dark thoughts as she saddle Tisiphone for their ride. She had on a deep red riding habit, but she'd forgone all the unneeded fripperies like hats and parasols. Her skin wasn't ever going to be fashionably pale.

"Ready, Anna-Marie?" she asked her housekeeper as she pulled herself easily into her sidesaddle.

Amelia and her sister had settled into the new house relatively quickly, mostly because they had very little of their old life left. All Amelia had managed to salvage were a couple dresses, a daguerrotype of her family (before her mother died), and a picture of her belated husband, both of which sit at her bedside table. Eleanor was much the same, but she was a bit more vocal about it. A few times a day Eleanor will mention how she needs a new dress, or how they need more furniture. Amelia managed to ignore it until she realized she didn't have any of her favorite books (left behind on the shelves of their old home). So today Amelia and Eleanor made a trip into town.

The moment Eleanor spotted a cute boy she was off, leaving Amelia with her head shaking, but a soft smile on her lips. "Do try and remember why we are here," she shouted after her sister. Eleanor waved to her before disappearing into a store. It was like raising her own child...

Taking a deep breath, Amelia picked up her dress and made her way to the small book store settled between two larger buildings.

Lupa and her wolves had traveled out of town at least for a little while. The scents and sounds were stifling. She knew of a place that was good to get her head back on straight before she went insane... Well, that was kind of hard to prevent as that felt like it happened ages ago but that was beside the point.

It was a little spring, a growing oasis in the middle of the desert somewhere between New Haven and Phoenix but not too far from New Haven as she wasn't willing to go too close to one of the bigger towns. She was pondering a bath in the muddy water but was unwilling to dive in... Snakes, after all. There were so many poisonous snakes that liked to hide in water... So she was pacing on the shoreline, glaring... Growling... Stupid snakes.

When Billy had said that they'd needed to talk earlier, Tommy had just continued to pack. He didn't want to talk here, where there were always people around - all of them nosy. He didn't want Lehnsherr or Miss Xié É to take anything he said personally. Besides, he had every intention of insisting that they move on, so the head start wouldn't hurt anything. It had been so tempting at first to stop. It would be so much safer. There'd be less chance of either of them dying young if they took up ranching permanently.

He told Billy he wanted to get outside for the night, that being indoors all the time was making him itch. It was true. He'd loaded up the boys and, a few hours later, here they were. Sitting around the fire that they'd started when the sun went down and the temperature started dropping. Tommy was drinking whiskey straight from the bottle. "What did you want to talk about?"

( Warning - First post contains some very dirty Marquis de Sade. NSFW. At all. )

Domino was wandering around, wondering why she was still there. Sure, the girl Lupa was a musing, and would be useful someday, but that hardly warranted an extended stay anywhere.

Her horse seemed happy, at least. He nudged her as she brushed him. She sighed and continued to groom him, thinking about all the places she'd been and people she'd seen. Maybe it was time to stay in one place for a bit?

She hadn't reached a decision by the time she finished grooming her horse, so she patted his flank and gave him an apple before heading into town.

There had to be something to do here.

The day had been a long one. Anna Marie had woken up early to cook breakfast for herself and Elektra, followed by cleaning the dishes, a bit of the house, and then laundry. And of course two other meals. Anna Marie didn't mind really. Elektra was nice enough company, the pay was better than she'd had, ever, and she hadn't been so clean in all her life. But it was late now, and Anna Marie had some time to herself. So, she decided to stop by the tavern for a drink. The bar keep was a tad bitter he'd lost a serving girl after the first couple days, but she had money to spend so he didn't whine too much.

She sat at the bar, talking with one of the other serving girls, telling jokes and laughing the night away in between customers.

Billy watched his latest success gallop around the paddock. He was a real beauty. Proud and strong. Stubborn as a mule if you didn't devote the time to him. Had to prove yourself to this one. He didn't bow to the weak. Which was what made him such a perfect gift. Horse like this, he and Tom could have charged two hundred, easy.

But a horse like this, you didn't sell. There was only one proper way to get a horse like this. And as far as Billy was concerned, Mr. Lensherr deserved at least two. He hadn't just saved his own life that day after all. He and Tommy were a pair. They'd come in together, they were gonna leave together. And there was no negotiating that.

Wicked had headed to her room when she and Terrence had finally gotten away from Erik's small party for their wedding. She wanted to grab a few things from her room. More could be done the next day.

She stopped in front of her mirror, letting her hair down from the elaborate updo she'd styled it into. She left it falling loosely around her shoulders as she packed her satchel with her shift and a change of clothes, a few toiletries, massage oil and the pillow books her mother had given her.

She smiled, touching the reliquary fondly. She felt like the luckiest bride in the world right now.

Tossing her satchel over one shoulder, she headed for Terrence's room. Stopping at the door, she knocked quietly. It would be rude to enter his room without permission.

"Terrence?" she called softly. "I am ready."

Anna Marie wasn't completely comfortable having dinner with Remy for several reasons, one of them being the conversation they would have afterwards. Actually, she didn't expect it to be much of a conversation. She would tell him and he would either laugh or run. Or he might decide to test it out and see if she was telling the truth or not. Hopefully he wasn't that curious.

Anna Marie checked either side of the road, making sure there were no approaching carriages or horses, and made her way across the street towards the hotel. She was dressed in a light blue cotton dress with a fitted jacket over top, and gloves on her hands. It was nothing as nice as what Elektra had, but it would do. She stepped into the hotel and made her way to the restaurant where they seated her a small table near the back corner. Part of her hoped Remy wouldn't show and she could return home.

She came to the general store almost every day since she'd started working for the mysterious Miss Natchios. Remy was wary of the obviously high born lady from New York. She reminded him of Bella. Which probably wasn't a good thing.

He quarry was Anna-Marie and he waited until she arrived to do her shopping. People were creatures of habit and tended to do things at the same time every day.

( Warning: Incest. )