Not from here

[Lovely]

April 14th Year 2
10:54 a.m.

It was nearly time for the train to depart and take Mrs Burrows toward her St Louis destination where her grandson waited to see her for the first time. Gully was sorry to see the woman go, more sorry to hear her go and leave their choir shy of one angelic soprano. He couldn't help but smile, though, as she went on and on about her daughter's doting letters as he helped her get her trunks on board at the last minute. The woman's enlisted son was somewhere in Texas, she'd said, and just couldn't come to see her off. It was a tale he'd heard often and that made him sad, but thankful his brothers had never been part of the army, except for Patrick who still needed more discipline than the rest of them put together. Gully hopped out of the door one last time to help Mrs Burrows up into the car and find her seat and was still waving as he backed away, apparently still listening to her tales as he hopped off the step. He was thankful the woman was too frail to pull her window open and tell him more as he walked the length of the car along the platform. He waved once more with a smile and turned to go back inside. He tipped a nod at Chance who was sitting near to the ticket counter. He was watching something going on in the lobby and Gully turned, expecting to see kids scrapping and tugging at each other, but instead it was something completely unexpected - and unfamiliar. While Mrs Burrows had been a face he'd seen every week since he was an only child, it seemed, the face of the woman looking around the lobby was one he'd never seen before. She was a startlingly handsome woman, as well, though he blinked his thoughts away a moment, ensuring that his perception wasn't altered purely by the comparison to the worn apple cheeks and peppered hair of the woman he'd just seen off.

Gabriella Murphy O'Hare had arrived quietly in Atasco Creek, the town her lovely niece had made her home for over a year now. Gabby's brother did not approve of his daughter's choice in home or husband and had sent Gabriella as his latest ambassador to try to convince the girl to return to her true home and family. Mister Kingswell's letters were full of frightening details about the town, Elizabeth's husband, and the family which practically held her hostage. Gabby's sister would join her in a couple of weeks and the younger woman was to set up their housekeeping before she arrived. Gabby was used to her life in the east and her full staff of servants who jumped to take care of her every need. She had none of that here and was left in the station with her bags and not knowing where she was to go in this dusty town. Where were the boys who were eager to carry your bags? She sighed and bit her lower lip, someone from Kingswell staff was supposed to meet her but she saw no one who seemed refined enough to be the one and no one approached her. Gabby wore a dark blue colored dress, like the sky in the deep of night, she'd been a widow for long enough that she did not always wear black, her red hair was not quite as bright as Elizabeth's but was a beautiful auburn which escaped it's pins to frame her face softly.

Chance was not one of those eager boys and he leaned back against the wall, two legs of the chair lifted and rocking slightly while his rifle scratched at the plaster on the wall beside his shoulder. He always loved to watch the city folk come in completely unaware. He did shift the toothpick to the other side of his lip as he watched.

Gully realized he was staring, half turned and not really talking to Chance. He had several things to talk over with the Palmer boy, but none of them would be suitable for the new company in their midst. He wasn't dressed in his collar today and simply looked like any of the other men in town going about their business mid-day. As his usually duty dictated, though, he came up to the woman with introductions, and directions if she requested them. He gave her a warm smile at first with his ever-present nod of greeting, "Morning, ma'am," he started, though he felt a sense of impatience and dissatisfaction as she looked around. "You're.. not from here, are you? May I help you?"

[Lovely]

Gabby turned her head at the motion of someone walking up and she offered the man a slight smile, even with her somewhat snobby demeanor the small turn of her lips changed her face and let a bit of light into her eyes. "Good Morning, sir." Her fingers gripped gently at her skirts and she gave a tiny polite curtsy. "No, I am not from around here." She replied with a bit more of her smile peeking out for him, he was rather nice looking for a wild man of such a savage place. Alright, he was just handsome, it didn't matter where he was. "Perhaps you can assist me. I've just arrived from... the east." She paused and didn't say exactly where as she didn't know who this man was or who he was friends with. "I've come to set up housekeeping before my sister and her daughter arrive. It seems I've been left without my proper escort or a porter for my bags.."

Gully laughed a little. It wasn't as though a sign was posted, so he held back the chuckle. "Might be because you haven't called for one," he said, looking out the front to see if the livery cart happened to be in view. He thought about the details a moment and things he knew from the chatterings after service. There weren't many coming in to town lately to stay this time of year. Most he knew were trying to leave before the summer months if they had somewhere to go, like Mrs Burrows. "Whereabouts in 'the East' might you be from? Do you sing, by the way?" He held up a finger to wait for her answer, jogging away from her a moment to whistle out the door and flag down someone or something. He returned quickly with a smile. "Consider the porter called for. He'll be just a moment."

"Thank you, you're very kind to help a stranger." She smiled much more warmly as he came back to tell her he'd called for a porter. "I've come from Philidelphia to.. be closer to family.. though it's supposed to be a bit of a surprise. We've purchased a home from a mister Adams, though I am not sure how I shall find it. Someone was supposed to meet me but it appears I have been forgotten."

Mr Adams' name caused him a moment of a shudder. He closed his eyes as the spate of harsh words he had for the man rose to the surface. He did well to keep them unspoken though it caused him to choke a little. It wasn't his place to judge. He would blame it on the slight jog and a bit of dust in the air if she asked. "Philadelphia's nice this time of year," he said, offering politeness instead. "I can't imagine how anyone could have forgotten you," he admitted, though his reasons were his own. He couldn't fathom someone being expected by her and not being here. He then sighed about the realities of their town compared to what she must have expected. "It's not exactly a place one can get lost or stopped by much blocking the road, though. Likely just caught up in gossip," he then frowned. That was something he might have to consider for his next service to help reduce some of the extra whispers that had been growing lately, especially where his brothers were concerned.

"Perhaps they thought I was arriving another day, my sister arranged everything through an old family friend but things can get quite confused in letters back and forth." She reached to tuck a wisp of hair behind her ear and smiled for him again. "You seem.. to be familiar with things in this town.. would you be so kind as to show me the way?" She asked with a slight warmth in her cheeks that made her feel years younger like a girl at her first social. "It is very nice this time of year, I miss it already.."

"Well then, welcome to Atasco Creek. Please allow me to accept your request and give you a tour," he agreed, thankful she wasn't bending his ear in half with tales. "You can call me Gully, most do, except on Sundays."

She was glad for a moment that her escort had not shown up even if going with a strange man was not entirely proper. She wasn't exactly an unmarried girl.. looking upon a man she found to be handsome made her miss her husband more than she had in two years. "Gabriella Murphy O'Hare." She held her hand up for the proper introduction to a gentleman and gave her name as she would back home, meeting a potential suitor, though it had been some time since she'd been courted last. "Might I inquire as to what you are called on Sunday, Gully?" She smiled again, liking the name he'd given her, it seemed familar, relaxed, a kind name for a kind man.

"Father Carlisle," he grinned, taking her hand gently with a courteous bow. He didn't want to embarrass her, or himself, by harping on his vocation, however. "But today, it's just Gully. Why don't I help you with these bags and get them outside for Mr Palmer to load up for you?"

[Lovely]

She was stunned and embarassed, the heat rose in her cheeks, causing a blush like she hadn't felt since before she was married. "Oh." She managed to get the simple word out but beyond that was a bit too flustered to speak, she merely nodded to his offer to help get her bags outside. She had been without a husband for far too long it seemed, getting all flirty with.. she couldn't even think it, it was much too improper! She'd confess on Sunday.. except how could she? Oh this was worse than anything she'd ever done before. Her one hand rested at the hollow of her throat, though she tried not to show much of her distress. Gabby reached to lift up one of her smaller bags, giving herself something to do and following Father Carlisle out to the walkway.

Chance was within earshot of the conversation and chuckled to himself, resting the feet of his chair down squarely and coming to the woman's aid, taking one of the remaning bags with him as an excuse to listen in more.

Gully set the bag down he'd carried out and helped Bert brake the wagon and settle the horses who had had a fair run already for the day. He turned to take the small bag Gabby carried to set it down first and help her up for her ride. "Best coach in town," Gully said, offering her a step up to sit on the bench when she was ready.

She'd mostly gotten herself composed though her cheeks were still a light pink with the remainder of the blush that wouldn't quite disappear. She smiled at Gully as he turned to help her up, reaching for his hand and telling herself that she didn't think he was handsome at all, just a kind man doing what he felt was right. "Thank you." She didn't believe herself, and knew she was failing whatever test this was meant to be, failing terribly. Perhaps she deserved to be humiliated come Sunday when she'd have to confess to him about her wicked thoughts? She licked at her lips and closed her eyes to help her pull her gaze away from him as she settled onto the bench and smoothed her skirts. The problem was, once she opened her eyes, they darted to look for Gully again. "Oh dear." She whispered, knowing she was doomed. She'd just have to force herself to concentrate on the task she'd come here for... it was only then that the name hit her and she gasped again. "Carlisle!?" She'd been so distracted with her shame for finding him so attractive that she hadn't realized.

"Yes?" He was used to the simple exclamation, as well, and turned, holding the trunk that Chance had brought out to them. He set it into the wagon and came up to the front again.

She seemed a little startled that he answered when she spoke the name and she blushed a little darker, clearing her throat ever so quietly. "Oh.. I'm sorry.. I didn't mean.. I just realized.. I recognise the name is all.. I must be tired from the trip.. Are you any relation to an Everitt Carlisle?"

"The sheriff? Good name to recognize," Chance chimed in, patting the pastor's shoulder and returning inside with another chuckle.

Gully looked at the man with pity that he found humor in the most uncomfortable moments, sometimes. He shook his head and looked back at the seemingly flustered woman. "Everitt's my little brother," he nodded. "And yes, he's the sheriff."

[Lovely]

Her face registered her confusion as first Chance spoke and then Gully confirmed what he'd said. "Oh." She said the word again, her mouth turned down in a frown for a moment before her gaze lifted and she studied Gully's face a long moment. "I believe I was misinformed of his vocation.." She licked at her lips and the sincerity shone in her warm eyes. "I am.. was sent.. by my brother.. Elizabeth's father.." She didn't want to explain the rest, of why she'd been sent, of what they had been told by Kingswell.

He grinned a little and leaned closer to the wagon, meaning to whisper, though Bert could likely hear him as he held the team. "Don't need to tell the young lady what He thinks about telling fibs," he said, teasing her, his thumb pointed skyward. He smiled and curled his hand down on the wagon's side. "Sent, then, not just buying up a home to live quietly in the country? You might can tell her father she's well cared for, but... I suppose you'll need to see for yourself."

She shook her head, he didn't need to tell her, but she hadn't been the one who was telling lies. "I believe you.. but of course I would love to see her.. I have missed her very much since she left." She spoke quietly, looking to Gully with a shimmer of tears in her eyes. "I'm nearly ill for thinking what I did of your family but what we were told.." She bit her lip and shook her head. "I was sent yes, but happy to come.. my older sister bought the house, I'm just to stay with her, being as I'm.. not.. well that I no longer have a husband, may he rest in peace, and we were led to believe Elizabeth's husband was not welcoming to her kinfolk."

"Usually not much nice to say about the jailer's kin," he winked. She didn't know that Elizabeth had married the sheriff, it seemed. "I'd be curious to hear those confessions on Sunday. We should get you out of this sun quick, though, if you're not used to it. It will cook you faster than a hen egg." He looked for an umbrella or parasol, but didn't see one loose with her things.

Her cheeks went red again and she felt quite flustered, she was used to the way things were back home and though she'd expected things to be different here, it was much more so than she'd been prepared for. First a young handsome priest in regular clothes making her think all sorts of things she should not be, then finding that Kingswell had outright lied to them about the Carlisle family, and now the before mentioned priest was teasing her. She looked to Gully and swallowed hard, she wondered what Everritt looked like if his older brother was this handsome. "I deserve all the embarrassment such a confession should bring."

"None of the sort," he countered gently, at a loss to keep the bright sun from freckling her cheeks at the moment. "Your awareness of it... sometimes that confession enough for him. For me? I never heard a thing. Bertie, we need to get this fine lady some shade before she turns more pink. I don't want her fainting on us, now."

Bert was only waiting for the directions and for Carlisle to get his foot out from under the wheels. "Where's she going? Hmph," he turned to ask her himself. "Where to, ma'am. Soon as you say, we'll be halfway there."

[Lovely]

Gabby was at a loss herself, she'd told Gully she didn't know where the house was as the person who was supposed to meet her hadn't shown up. "Oh.. Do you know where the home of a mister Adams is? My sister recently purchased his house and that is where I am to go.."

"Adams?" Bert turned a little more to make sure he'd heard her right. He wasn't aware anyone had bought it or would have much to do with the place. He didn't say much, turning back around to get the team going. "Alright, Adams' it is. You got everything?"

"Wait. I need to go check. No sign of our deputy lending a hand more than an ear today," Gully said, looking at the luggage that had been brought out, not sure there wasn't more.

Chance was back on his seat, rocking against the wall again. He looked up to the large clock and frowned. "Another minute, I'd have had her goods sold to the highest bidder on the next train," he said as Gully jogged back in.

There was one more parcel and it had been a small enough one for Chance to carry on his own. "Confession is meant for the likes of you, Palmer. I'm sure you have a book to read me now. How -is- Tess, by the by, hm? See you on Sunday," he snipped at the lounging man, grabbing the parcel and heading back out to the waiting cart.

"Last one," he announced, setting it in the back and ensuring everything was secured. "Looks like the horses need rest soon, so why don't come with you and help unload so he can head back soon as possible. Would that set alright with you, Mrs O'Hare?"

Gabby smiled warmly as Gully came back with his offer to see her to her new home. "It would be more than alright as long as I'm not keeping you from anything. Your kindness is most appreciated but if there is something or someone else who needs your attention more.." She wondered again about his brothers, whether they were all handsome like him and if any of them might be eligible.

"My obligation is to help those in need and I promised you a tour. So without further ado, here is our train station, that in there was one of our deputies, Bert's brother, Chance. This here is Bertie Palmer and this fine team is from the strongest stock this side of the Mississippi... and you know I'm not one to brag, but he will," he said, climbing up in the cart beside her and giving Bert the go-ahead to get them started.

"Well if you insist." She laughed softly at his comment about the bragging and fussed with her skirts a little, making sure he had room on the bench beside her. Gabby smiled sweetly as he climbed up, making note of each thing he had pointed out and each person he gave name to.

[Lovely]

"Most of town will have to wait until after we drop off your bags. Old Adams' place is going to make you miss most of it for now, but the day is early and boys over at Maggie's don't get themselves in trouble until near dark. That should still give me a few hours to show you around safely," he said, looking around for a place to start.

"I hope you'll allow me to repay your kindness somehow.. perhaps once I'm settled you can come for dinner.. if you'd like to?" She didn't have proper staff or chaperones yet, but one didn't need that to sup with the clergy. "Maggie's?" She asked, glancing around and wondering if it was an orphanage.

He chuckled a little and spoke under his breath as if he spoke about the cat house beside it. "The saloon. Don't get me wrong. Miss Maggie's one of our finest citizens and she'll keep them in order as well as Ev, but it's still... a saloon. Dancing girls and all. You never did tell me if you sing," he remembered.

"Oh." It wasn't an orphanage and she had no decent comment about it since all she knew of saloons was what she'd heard in stories about the wild things that happened in them. She cleared her throat and licked at her lips, chuckling with a little embarrassment to have made him mention the place. "Mmm I do sing.. in the chior on Sunday.. not in a saloon." She tried to tease a little to keep them from letting the conversation get too heavy. "Or at least I did back home.. I have to remember I'm not there anymore.. everything here is different and new to me. What I enjoyed and did before, I may not find here."

"Well, I, for one, would love to have you join our choir as soon as you feel comfortable. Hopefully that won't take too long. Most folks here are a nice sort and should help you settle right in," he said, realizing suddenly he'd been actually in conversation without having his book in hand. That was unusual for him, since he spent much of his time helping and keeping quiet. He chuckled to himself and looked to see where Bert had gotten them so far. They were nearly at the Adams homestead already and he nodded out to the now-quiet house that sat there. "Nearly there and nearly out of the noon-day sun. Not at all far from town."

"I believe I might take you up on that offer once I am settled." If she could get over being so embarrassed for being attracted to him and over being so attracted to him.. of course he was probably just being kind and polite since she'd mentioned it. He had gracefully avoided her invitation to dinner. "It's so much warmer and brighter here than back home.." She tried to make conversation that wouldn't make either of them uncomfortable and the weather seemed a safe topic. "How far is it from here to where Elizabeth is staying?"

"Other side of town from here. Over that ridge and down some, then up the next hill over," he explained, pointing off to their end of the town. "The school house is closer, though, if you wanted to peek in on her after the class is let out for the day," he suggested. "It's a little warm already for April. I wouldn't want to put you out cooking for me when there's a place open for a guest at our table. Why don't you join us? I'm sure Elizabeth would be delighted."

[Lovely]

"The other side of town.." She was disappointed at how far away they would be, it wouldn't make visiting easy, especially if she had to go through town where everyone could see her and warn.. Gabby stopped herself from that line of thought, it was based on what Kingswell had told them and how they planned to try to get Elizabeth away from her captors. "I wouldn't want to put anyone else out.. especially strangers by having an extra person at their table, when my offer was made to repay you for going out of your way already. I would owe you that much more if I came to your table for dinner." She kept fussing with her skirts as if straightening them, due to being a little nervous. "While I'd adore seeing Elizabeth, I'm not sure it's wise for me to be going so far when I am not familiar with the way and travelling after dark to get back when I have no escort, wagon, or staff yet." Her lips turned down in a frown, she felt like she was being rude and was so out of her element here, at the same time she really did want to see her niece. They were led to believe the house they'd be staying in was much closer to where Elizabeth was, that they'd nearly be neighbors. "I beg you pardon, sir. I don't mean to be difficult. We were grossly misled in many things.. Do you happen to know of any properties on the other side of town.. ones that would be closer, since that was the whole reason we came here? My sister will be.. furious I'm sure.."

Let her be furious, he thought, considering the trouble Kingswell had caused her niece already. He shook his head. "You're not being difficult that I've seen yet. You have questions and I hope I have answers for you. Whatever I don't, I'll be sure someone is found who does. Other properties might be hard to come by, but Rory would surely know who has a lot for sale... hopefully with a house already on it," he chuckled. "The space is not at all as far as it might seem. We're all pretty close to the river at least."

"I feel like I'm being more than difficult.." She shook her head slightly and sighed. "You're being very helpful and I am quite grateful. If it seems otherwise, I do apologise.. I am perplexed over the things mister Kingswell said in his letters and he was the one who arranged for the house.. Meara specifically asked for him to find something close to Elizabeth and her husband.. he said we'd be neighbors.. he said many things.. I nearly dread Meara's arrival already.. she is not someone you want to be around when she's not pleased or getting things just how she wants them. That's why I came first, to make sure everything was just so."

He chuckled again. "Well, you are neighbors. There's just a lot more space between you than you might be used to. Things are a little different out here, but I'm sure that wasn't exactly what he told you, either. As for staff and setting all of that up, Adams had everyone close up together in the house. He didn't seem to believe in breathing room," he said, explaining carefully so as not to disparage the man's reputation worse than he'd done himself. Maybe you weren't thinking of staying long?" He hoped otherwise and didn't want to scare her or disappoint her into returning back to the city before she'd been in town a day.

She laughed a little at how he described them still as neighbors. "Just can't stay for dessert and walk home after dinner." She countered with an amused and yet disappointed expression. "We were going to stay as long as was needed, I don't know that we are needed.." She looked to Gully for a long moment as if hoping to find a reason she'd be needed in his eyes, but then looked away with a blush.

[Lovely]

"Arrangements can be made," he suggested, trying to put her at ease. He watched a moment after she looked away. She seemed troubled but not in the sense with which he was accustomed, needing the guidance of a shepard. "I'm sure you're quite needed and Elizabeth will be grateful. I'd be grateful also if you stayed a while.... and joined the choir soon."

Without the robe and collar it was easy to forget that he was 'Father Carlisle' and think of him as just a handsome, kind man who was riding beside her. She felt her heart swell a moment as he spoke of being grateful if she stayed, it was a strange hopefulness that she hadn't felt in years and her head turned. Then he mentioned the choir and she still smiled but in a different way. "You haven't even heard me sing." She teased gently, trying to cover for once again thinking of him in a way she shouldn't, still she wanted to stay. "It will be up to Meara whether we stay.. unless I find someone else to take me in.. I've stayed with her since my husband passed.. five years ago."

"No, I haven't, but you have a good heart and strong voice. I can see you there... and hope that I do. Meara... doesn't sound as though she's quite as warm and forgiving. I might have to talk her into staying, hm?" He was about to tease more and discuss it as the cart pulled up to the walkway, such as it was for the homes here.

"Adams... last stop for now, friends," Bertie said, setting the brake for them to get down. He'd listened to most of the conversation without saying a word and wouldn't. He didn't have an unkind word for anyone in the town, but he felt there was a strange undercurrent in what the woman was saying about the Carlisles.

She opened her mouth to answer Gully but the wagon stopped in front of a house and it appeared they had arrived at their destination. Gabby smiled instead and looked out to what would be her home for how long, she didn't yet know. "I'll be there.. even if it's not for as long as I'd like to stay." She agreed to joining the choir, hoping it wouldn't only be for a short time. "Thank you mister Palmer." She turned to nod to the man who'd given them the ride and reached to pull her purse open to pay him for his services.

"You don't need to do that, ma'am. Mighty kind of you, though," Bertie said, ready to open his hand for the tip.

Gully glared at him as he jumped out of the cart and gently pushed the man's hand down. "Won't be necessary for being neighborly," he said at the man more than her. He nearly expected the Palmer boy to throw a punch for it, too.

For a moment her mouth moved without sound and then curved into a small warm smile. "Thank you again.." She closed the purse, glancing to Gully again and taking in a soft but deep breath. She wanted to pay the man but didn't want to cause any issue between the two or make the situation more awkward. Gabby went back to fussing with her skirts and turned to get down from the bench, the town would take some getting used to, it was far different from the bustle of the city but she felt like there was much here to like.

[Lovely]

"Like I said, you really don't have to," Bertie shrugged, putting his hands in his still-empty pockets. "I'll help unload your things," he suggested, figuring Gully would slap his hand for that, too, if he didn't.

Gully nodded at the suggestion and her thanks. "Atasco Creek may not seem it, but you're very welcome and welcomed. We'll just get the trunks and get you inside to rest. I'm sure the train shook you up a great deal. Long trip and all that."

"I feel like I should.. back home I would have.. I dont want to be rude either way." She told Bertie and Gully both, as she managed to get herself down, stumbling and catching the edge of her skirts on the step. The material ripped a little but she managed to keep herself from falling. "It doesn't seem unwelcoming at all.. it's just different." She blushed over her stumbling and reached to try to tame the unruly strands of hair that insisted on coming unpinned and making her appear less rigid and refined.

It was Gully's turn to feel awkward. "Are you alright? I should have helped you down. Your skirts... there's a seamstress in town if you need one," he offered, not sure if she knew how to mend on her own. He'd have suggested his brothers' wives, or Elizabeth herself, but didn't want to keep offering her things she felt the need to pay back. He offered his hand to help steady her while Bertie got her luggage down.

"I'm fine.. a slight bit embarrassed but nothing I can't get over quickly. It's been some time since I've mended anything on my own, I could use the practice.. I used to enjoy it.. but it wasn't allowed after I got married.. we had servants for that." She chuckled a little, imitating her husband when he'd told her that but keeping it a happy memory rather than something that made her sad to think of. "My sister I think was worse.. once I went to stay with her."

"Worse?" Both men asked at the same time. Bertie was wondering how such a woman got by on doing next to nothing, but then he had Ciara to compare to, and she did everything. He hushed himself up with a rattle of his throat. "That's all of it, Mrs. O'Hare. I'm sorry about your husband and all. Maybe you'll be happy here," he offered, before climbing back up in the cart.

Gully scratched at his head. Thinking like a Palmer made him uncomfortable. He chuckled a little bit. His thoughts went a different direction, toward that of the woman's sister and how much she might be like Kingswell compared to this woman. "Well, now she'll be coming to stay with you and you'll get to set the rules of the house?"

"Thank you mister Palmer, with such a nice welcome so far, I can't see how I couldn't like it here." She smiled for the man as he climbed up into the wagon and then turned to Gully, a part of her hoping he wouldn't run off but knowing it was foolish to want his company. "She's not coming to stay with me.. I'm staying with her.. it's her house and I'm here to make sure things are set up how she likes them before she arrives. I'm the younger sister you see.. it was with her or my brother and two widows together made the most sense at the time, at least to her and she's the eldest.. it's her rules or be cast out."

[Lovely]

"I'm sure she's very charming," he said, looking for something nice to say, but finding less and less and he hadn't yet met Meara. "Bert, thank you. We're done here. I'll help her with the rest."

"A-yup, you will," Bert said, pulling the brake up and the cart started to roll away. He was done before Gully had flagged him down. "Enjoy your stay," he called out, raising a hand over his shoulder to wave as he drove the team back to town.

"Maybe I'll find myself a good man here who doesn't mind my not being quite so young and a widow and a city girl.." She stopped herself mid-thought and blushed. "I beg your pardon, I forgot myself.. shouldn't say such things to.. a man such as yourself. I'm just still young enough to want a husband and a family.. and less of my sister's charm."

He could think of at least one, and probably more if he thought harder, but didn't want to. It was only a folly of his to even think she could consider him and that he was considering it at all was causing him more trouble than he'd known for some time. He hadn't felt this flustered since he'd been Charlie's age, but he did better at hiding it now. "I'm sure you will," he nodded, understanding completely what she'd meant. "It's not an offense to want a famliy of your own. I'm certain he'd want you to go on and do just that... Mr. O'Hare, rest his soul." He grinned at the comment about her sister's charm. More and more he was certain he wouldn't enjoy meeting her as much.

"Perhaps not to want it but to speak of those things in your pressense in that way when you can't have them or don't want them.." She blushed furiously for a moment as she tried to apologise and explain but stumbled over it and felt as if she was making it worse. "You've chosen a different path.. your calling to the Lord over the comforts and joys of a family the way I want them.. I didn't want to offend you by speaking of it so openly or boldly to say I might find a man.. I didn't come here to look for one.. but I'm not against it." She licked at her lips and shook her head. "I don't normally talk this much.. perhaps it's better that I don't." She chuckled quietly and let her gaze fix on her luggage rather than him, since she still had the issue of finding him so handsome.

He shook his head again. "If ever I made the choice, I could," he corrected. "It would take a while to explain, but the magistrate's office has a seal on record stating that for the pastor of this town that it's allowed. I just never have...," he sighed. It wasn't for lack of trying on his family's part, he just hadn't taken that time for himself. "More than I'm sure you wanted to know. I'm sorry. Let's get these things inside," he said, finally picking up one of the trunks and starting for the door.

Her gasp was soft but showed her surprise at his words and she found herself staring at him as he started to bring her bags inside. He could have a family of his own? A wife.. children? She felt herself blush deeply that for a moment she felt herself filled with hope that maybe he'd choose her. She'd barely met him and had rambled on, she was sure to have put him off already. Gabby picked up one of her smaller bags and followed him into the house, hardly looking at anything but him as she purposely stepped closer to him, putting herself in his line of sight. "No, I am the one who should be sorry.. You've been nothing but kind and I'm nervous, talking far too much about things I shouldn't and putting you in an uncomfortable place. I do want to know.. but only what you would want me to. If I might offer a bit of a confession now.. part of my nerves were due to finding out what you were after thinking you were so handsome.. Please forgive me for acting so.. for making this so awkward?"

[Lovely]

He laughed and turned a little pink now, himself. Thank goodness Charlie wasn't here to hear her say such a thing! "What I do is not what I am. It is to an extent and it guides me, but there's so much more." He set the trunk down inside the door and stood to face her. "I've been a blacksmith and a deputy, myself, for a short while, and much as I try not to be, I'm still one of seven unruly boys, all of us with ourselves knee deep in the goings-on in this town since we were old enough to have our ears pinched and our bottoms whupped. I took a path and I can always take another... as long as it's the right one," he nodded, satisfied with his explanation. He kept smiling now, still amused by her admission and trying not to be prideful. "I may be confessing to -you- on Sunday at this rate."

She still blushed but her gaze held on him more strongly rather than darting to the floor in shame and her smile warmed, giving her a shine that was sweeter than freckled cheeks. "I thought you.. were a priest.. you can imagine my horror at thinking I was having such thoughts about a priest.. I'm relieved.. glad to know that you're not quite what I thought. Thank you for being so honest with me.. it's refreshing to be able to speak to someone and.. have them talk to you as well.. and not only about the weather or social gossip. You wouldn't have to wait till Sunday.. I mean, if you wanted to tell me anything or have someone you could talk to.. I wouldn't object to your company." She truly hoped that Meara could be convinced to stay awhile.. a long while maybe. "You sound as though you've had a full life already and have interesting stories to share. One of seven boys.. I can only imagine.." She shook her head a little, admiring his mother for having and raising so many.

"It is refreshing, but we'll talk plenty about the weather soon enough. We just won't have any for a few more weeks. Maybe a little thunder, but don't expect rain like you get back in the city. There, you have your weather report," he chuckled. "There's one more trunk. Where would you like them set to unpack?"

Her laugh was soft and she nodded a little. "Well thank you for that, though I can't say I'll be content to be alone during a thunder storm, with or without rain." She stepped away one pace to take a look around the house now, she sighed and motioned to the parlor. "Here I think will be best until I've gotten a look at the other rooms. My sister and her daughter will be coming.. are you familiar with this house at all? The master bedroom will be Meara's of course.." She put her hand on his arm as she stepped around him to go in the other direction to look into the kitchen. "Did the family have servants? I don't mind not having them but Meara will be bringing some and may hire others."

"One very skittish girl as far as I know. Adams kept to himself and didn't invite over guests very often, so no one really knows for sure who or how many or when and the girl was so distraught, I'm not sure anyone has ever really asked her since...," he said, not offering more that might make her feel uncomfortable to stay in the place.

"Since?" Gabriella asked and turned back with concern washing over her face as he told her of the girl being distraught. "I'm sorry, it's not my business though I now wonder what sort of people lived here.." She gestured toward the kitchen and tried to put her smile back in place. "I haven't cooked in as long as it's been since I mended but for a couple of weeks.. I can enjoy this place as if it were my own. If you'll not come for dinner, would you let me bring you something?"

"All you need to know is that the house had nothing to do with the sort who lived here," he grinned, though sheepishly, wishing he'd known more and earlier on, himself. "It's a fine place and to his credit... at least to the credit of the ladies who kept it up for him... they kept it well and I think you'll be comfortable until your sister comes. Rather... well, that came out poorly. I meant that you should be comfortable alone or with her here."

She nodded and stepped to the mantle, her finger ran over the top and the few items that had been left intact and behind when Adams finally moved to another location. "When she's here I won't be allowed to do the things I want to.. but the house is nice and I'm sure we'll be fine here." Gabby laughed softly. "..and I don't blame you for not wanting to try my cooking.. I'm a little scared of it myself."

"What? Oh no no, I didn't mean a thing by that. I'd be honored to be a guest. I should have said so and I wasn't thinking. I'm very sorry," he said, truly apologetic that she wasn't making simple small talk, but truly offering.