Running for his girl

[Lovely]

October 8, Year 1


Charly was getting a big crush on one of the men in town and doing her best not to let her brothers know, though they had this way..

Doyle grinned and stepped out of the room.

"Where are you going?"

"Just to sit on the step... keep anyone from sniffin' around and pickin' up my li'l girl."

"Oh.." She realized what he was doing and hmphed a bit, getting mad.

"Yeah and? I'll walk you into town if you want."

Charly taps her foot. "I'm only two years younger than Angel and a year younger than Lily.. and.. I can walk by myself."

"And exactly why you won't, Trouble."

"Speaking of.."

"Suuuuure... distract your brother..."

"Thats the plan.."

"Nice try." He offers an elbow for her. ".. so why you so set on gettin' into town today, hm?"

smiles sweetly, yet with that wicked gleam, much like Alex or more Patrick. "No.. reason.."

"Uh huhn... wouldn't be that ol' travelin' show that's been bunked up down by the livery, now would it?"

Chuckles and shakes her head. "Nope.. heard something.. and I want to see if it's true is all."

"Seein' don't necessarily make true what folks says is true, now. You know that, right?"

"I know.. but i think in this case.. maybe.. it might."

His expression grew more curious. "And what, little miss Charlotte, "might" ... in this case be what folks are jawin' about that you need to see?"

"Nothin you want to know about." She shrugged.

"Well I think I do since I just now asked, right?" He grinned and watched her dodge... just like Alex. "But, since I'm not interested, you won't care one way or 'nother if I just happened to look on with you, now."

"I don't think you want to do that." She said softly, not even looking at him now. "Not if it's true.. no sir."

"You alright in there, Trouble? Not someone bad is it? Someone hurt?"

She chewed on her lip and wouldn't look at him as she shook her head and shrugged. "I told you.. you don't want to know.. so forget it okay."

[Lovely]

"Well now, how about I just walk you on into to town just the same and you let me figure on the way whether I want to know or not."

"Doyle.. why do boys.. men.. like going to Miss Deneuve's so much?" She kicked the toe of her shoe in the dirt. "Why do those women do what they do? I mean nice girls.. like..An- well why would they?"

Well that wasn't a question he was expecting. He noted that she stopped on a name and passed it by, thankfully. "Well, I suppose... some folks... they... you see sometimes... eh... why what?"

"What? What why what?" She swiveled her face, showing him her confused expression.

"Which part do you really want to know, Charly? Why most men are foolish or why some women let them be foolish like that?"

"Both.. Why men go there.. and why.. people who seem so nice and decent let them.. " She fidgited nervously, glancing at him and away.

"So... somethin' or someone's on your mind to be askin' and you want to know more. Well... let's see. Men... not all men, remember that... who go there, want company ... in a way that only girls... women... can offer. They're foolish, cuz they should be courtin' proper and taking a wife if that's what they really want, but some don't like to settle on just likin' one girl. The girls, the women, well.. they don't always have a way to keep themselves fed and their hems stitched up right unless they have money and not everyone's got family like us. Some do, because they have to, Charly. I'm sorry."

She stared at him a moment, looking as if she was going to burst into tears, then she nodded slowly. "It's not fair.. it's not right!" She stomped, spinning on her heel and taking off. She was running straight for the tallest tree around, she'd climb to the very top of it if the branches would hold her.

"What in tarna-... Charlotte?!" He raced after her, right on her heels, missing her foot as it slipped out of reach. "Charly... what's all that about, now?"

She kept climbing, getting high enough to be well out of his reach, before she stopped and settled on a branch. She hugged the trunk of the tree, crying softly and hoping he couldn't hear it. "Nothing Doyle.. just go away.. you don't want to know.."

"If it's nothin', then you don't mind my pulling up a branch, myself, then, do ya?" He said, slowly making his way up, being careful not to land on the same branch. "A sudden question to be asking is all. I didn't know you worried that much about Tess's girls."

"I.." She started to protest him joining her but since he was already up there. "I don't really worry.. Tess's girls. I mean.. just one.. I know who is so nice and all.. " Charly smiled, twisting a messy braid in one hand. "She braided my hair everyday while she stayed with us.. even when she was all busted up and I knew it hurt her.. but she did it anyway and she did a good job too." She flicked the braid behind her shoulder. "I never paid any attention to Tess's girls.. before she came.. I mean I met a few.. ones who said hello to Patrick or Alex or even Ev and Gully sometimes.. but I never paid them no mind. But she was so sweet.. I don't think I ever met someone so sweet and she wasn't all trying to take care of me like Elizabeth and Aeilandra.. I heard some people talking.. and it bothered me.. is all.."

[Lovely]

"What was it you heard? Maybe I can set it all straight right now."

She looked at him and shook her head. "I.. well I can't repeat some of it.." She spoke softly. "They said she was going to be.. well doing what the other women there do.. taking on men.. and then.. they went on to describe.. what they wanted to do.. some things about unseasoned, ripe.. fresh.." She shook her head again. "Riding that filly across the county.. I didn't understand it all.. but I believe I have the general idea." She bit her lip, looking worried. "..and I don't think I want them to do those things to Angel.. she's sweet and they were so.. mean."

He understood more than enough from just the few words strung together and shared her concern. "Charly... how fast can you run?"

"Real fast.. you know that.. why are you askin?"

He started down the tree. "And how loud can you be?" He smiled, already knowing. He'd heard her holler on plenty of occasions. "I want you to get Angel. Have her pack a bag of whatever she wants to keep, and I don't care who hears you sayin'... we're puttin' her up in the house, Trouble. You think you can handle that?"

She nodded, already starting down the tree, but then paused and looked up at Doyle. "What if she doesn't listen to me? or believe me? What if someone tries to make her not come?"

"You make sure she knows I told you so and that Tess hears. She'll know. "

"What are you going to be doing?" She asked as she dropped to the ground, brushing her dress down.

"Makin' room for her to stay. Don't got much, but it'll do. And you'll have someone to unmuss that knot on your head," he teased. "Now scoot. Time's wastin' and I don't want no one touchin' my girl. You can tell 'em all I said that, too."

Charly was nodding and lifting the hem of her skirt to clear her feet and let her run even faster. "You gonna make us walk back to the house?" She tossed over her shoulder, starting to run in the direction of Tessa's

"If I'm not done and down there on your heels and you have to get her out that quick, you get Bertie Palmer over at the livery and tell him I'm cashing in on that favor. I reshod his horse yesterday and he should fly. But only if I don't come get you right away, now."

"Ber.. right.. I will!" She called back, running faster and quickly becoming a small figure farther away. Bertie Palmer was the cutest and nicest of all the Palmer boys, in Charly's opinion anyway.

[Lovely]

Charly ran all the way through town, her legs pumping and her knotted braids flying behind her. She started yelling for Angel before she had even reached Tessa's place, she was loudly attempting to get the young girl's attention just like her brother had told her to. "Miss Angel.. Angel!" She hollared standing near the porch of Miss Deneuve's. "Angel.. come on.. Doyle says you're going to come stay with us, now.. " She continued to yell for the girl, letting her and anyone else, who was in hearing distance, know that Doyle had sent Charly to fetch Angel. She bounced, nearly hopping about as she called to the other girl, somewhere inside the wh*rehouse.

Contessa was who emerged from the doorway to stand on the porch. "Miss Carlisle, what are you doing out here, making all this ruckus?" She was smiling, her dark eyes warmly regarding the girl, who had come to fetch her Angel. "Sheriff Carlisle wouldn't like it none, you hanging around this place, you head on home now."

"No ma'me.. I can't do that.. Doyle says no one is touching his girl.. and he sent me to come let her know... and get her packed." Charly smiled brightly, bubbling with excitement at her task and the thought of the young blonde coming to stay with them.

Contessa chuckled. "He said that did he now? Well.. I guess we better listen, then.. " She shook her head, amused and delighted in a sad way, happy for the opprotunity Angel might have for a better life, but sad to 'lose' her all the same. Tess turned to head back into the house and speak to Angel on the matter. Hearing Charly's footfalls on the porch she turned back and shook her head.

Charly crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes as Tess shook her head. "Doyle sent me to come get her.. I'm not leaving without her." She stated, boldly and firmly as if she were much tougher and had some 'force' behind her.

"This is no place for nice young girls.. your Pa and your brothers would like it better if you waited out here for Miss Angel." Tess explained softly, seeing the girl's ire rise. "If Angel is meaning to go with you.. She'll be out shortly." Tess said softly, closing the door firmly behind her as she re-entered the house.