A light cool wind blows in...

[Lovely]

May 15, Year 2
afternoon


It was a beautiful spring day, the kind that brought people from their homes with smiles and joy to bask in the warm sun, which hadn't yet started to bake the town in it's heat. Today brought a train with the usual fare of arrivals, travellers passing through and those preparing to depart. A light breeze picked up as one of these people stepped from the platform and started on her way down the street.

She wore a fine dress and carried a matching parasol, her hair pinned up under a pretty hat with golden ringlets dripping out, soft gloves covered her delicate hands and a fancy shawl draped over her arms and shoulders. She carried herself with grace and poise, her chin tilted slightly in that 'high society' way the ladies back east did.

This girl didn't speak to a single soul as she made her way down the walk, knowing where she was going, which some might think strange for a traveller or new comer to town. She walked at an even gait all the way from the train station to the sheriff's office, her parasol obscuring her face from view and kept her from being recognised.

She stepped up to the sheriff's door, knocking lightly as she pushed it open, face still hidden for the moment. "Excuse me." Her voice came gently as the parasol shifted and revealed more but not all of her to those within. She strolled through the door, seeing that Ev, Chance and Sloane were all there. "I'm looking for Cody Westgate." She told them, smiling a bit and twirling her parasol so they couldn't quite see who she was yet.

Sloane was sweeping out one of the cells after its last visitor, probably only himself, had left a littering of cigar ash and mud around the door. If there was one thing, Ev ran a clean office, even if it was a jail, so it was Sloane's turn with the broom. He mostly had his back turned when the woman came in, but it didn't matter much, not with the chill that made him turn to see her when she spoke whether he could see her face or not.

Chance was nearly leaving anyhow, but the woman made him stop suddenly, forgetting what he was talking to Everitt about. He was expecting her to want Cody shot for some atrocity of his poor vocabulary and worse manners.

Ev's feet were off his desk and on the floor in a moment with the arrival their customer, his hand reaching for Gertrude and readying for worse trouble... especially with Cody's name attached.

"WHY?!"

They all three spoke at once and looked at each other, curious, an eyebrow raised from Ev as he glanced at the Palmer boys. Both his deputys had done a fair share to keep Westgate in line, but still talked him out of firing the boy. He was about to ask her himself, explaining that the boy's arrival was due any moment.

Cody chose that moment to stumble in over his own feet, obviously a little shaken from whatever run-in he was dusting off from. He looked up as his feet creaked over the boards, feeling eyes on him suddenly. "What? Why's everyone gaping? Oh... hello mi-...," as his fingers reached for his hat to tip a hello and take it off his head, his words fell to a whisper and his ruddy cheeks quickly went pale. He stumbled another step in shock, to try to keep himself upright. "My heavens... you?!?"

[Lovely]

The parasol moved slightly, enough that her eyes drifted to the back, catching a glimpse of the man sweeping, a chill ran over her which she was glad to have the parasol to hide. With a chuckle her attention was on Cody who looked more than a bit shocked to see her. She'd expected as much since no one knew she was coming. Jaime reached to poke him with a finger, hard in his ribs. "Some way to greet your sister." She pouted lightly, not yet dropping the parasol to reveal herself fully.

Sloane tried to stealthily slip away out back to wash up some. The chill was making his skin prickle all over but that wasn't a bad thing. He didn't need to see her face, just hear her voice. He was sure... more than sure...

Ev watched Sloane scuttle out like he had ants in his longjohns. He scratched his head, smiling as he pieced things together a bit from memory and turned as Cody got poked.

Chance looked at Cody, sure he'd done something he was going to have to go clean up anyway... then the shock settled as the woman revealed herself. His expression changed, mystified and a little worried, wondering what Sloane had done with the broom.

Ev decided to speak up for the lot and came closer. "Sister? Cody, I think the lady's got a little explaining to do. Why don't you get her a chair, hm?"

Cody watched Sloane leave, acting odd-like and stared Chance down, not having an answer and not hearing Everitt's request as he moved his hand up to block the poking from what he thought at first was a ghost. She surely wasn't, but he was pale as one.

"Cody?!?"

"Huh? Yes'm... just a doggone.... yes'm...," he stammered, half upset, half elated and stumbling all the more. Dang that hurt, her poking like that, but she'd come back to town all quiet-like and he was confused. "Pa sure don't know about this," he shook his head, pulling Everitt's chair out from behind the desk for her.

"Of course he doesn't.. and he's not going to because you are not going to tell him!" She threatened him with that dangerous finger again as she lowered the parasol so they could see more of her, she looked much like Lily but with amber eyes that could haunt and were haunted a bit. She smiled politely and sat down in the chair, her hands folded in her lap. "How have you been?" She asked her brother more sincerely.

"When? Cuz about now I'm feeling a little green," Cody admitted. Surely Pa was going to slap him sidewise and blame him for this. With the way Chance was eyin' him, he wasn't sure some folks around wouldn't enjoy watching it neither.

"Been a long time since you went away, Miss Westgate. I'm sure I can share your brother's... mystification... if you will? What does bring you back to town? Since you'll likely be making a bargain to keep the sheriff quiet, too," Ev smirked, raising his foot on the boot rail about his desk to lean.

She eyed the sheriff cooly and sighed, turning a glare at Cody and then slowly rolling her eyes. "A death in the family, in a manner of speaking.. " She told them, folding her hands again and taking a deep breath.

"Condolences," Everitt nodded and pulled on Chance's arm. "Deputy, don't you think you should be on that patrol about now, hm?" He was smart enough to know, like her sister, that there weren't likely to be too many unnecessary words spoken and probably too few of those as long as they were listening in. He'd catch Sloane on the way out back himself.

Chance took a moment to catch the subtle notion that they needed to step out. "You need a thing, you just holler," he said, tipping his hat as he headed to the front.

[Lovely]

"I will," Cody nodded, not intending to joke. He sincerely thought Chance figured he was about to get beat into the dust for the death in her family, too. He hadn't heard and didn't know.

Chance popped the boy's shoulder with his hat. "Not you... ! Ma'am, I'm mighty sorry to hear of your loss. If there's a thing at all we can do... same goes from Tessa, I'm quite sure." He held the hat low to his chest in his sincerity before sliding it back on to leave.

She smiled politely to the sheriff and to Chance, looking at the deputy for a moment longer, because he reminded her of Sloane. "Thank you." She murmured and made note of the name he'd given of the woman. Jaime looked over at her brother, she bit her lip and sighed once they were gone. "He's dead." She said quietly, picking invisible lint from her lap.

Everitt hadn't gone far, nor had his memory. He'd only been the sheriff a few short years, but he remembered before that and the rumbles that shook the town from time to time. The source of the rumble that happened when Cody's sister had been sent away wasn't being too sly in his escape. "Sloane, I think you better not take too long out here. You know how those light cool winds just slip on out of town this time of year," he said to the man who was furiously washing his head at the water pump.

Sloane looked up with the water dotting his lashes and short dark whiskers. He let the pump ease itself down and gush quietly to resting again. "Tell me that ain't a ghost and I'll be sure I do what I need to do," he said, seeming to be at a loss and barely standing.

Cody stared. She was so... she said it so... "Dead? What from? Somebody go off and shoot 'im?"

"Heart attack the doctor said." She looked down and sighed again. "On our wedding night.. thank you by the way for coming, it was so nice walking myself down the aisle and not having you or Lily or mother in attendance." The hurt in her voice betrayed her cool exterior and she purposely left out mention of their father. "They said it was.. that he got too worked up and excited, it was too much.. and his ticker just about exploded." She laughed a little, her fingers twisting together lightly. "I have since settled his affairs and.. decided I wanted to.. come.. back to Atasco Creek." She couldn't bring herself to say home, and she had no intention of ever setting foot in thier father's house again.

Cody was awed at the tale and shook his head. So much he'd missed that he knew so little about, but he was just a young buck who hadn't learned a lot about weddings or why Jaime had even really left town to start. "To hear Pa tell it, you ran off in love with some rich man to get all his money. Guess you did." He didn't know any better, just what their father had said. "Told us we wasn't wanted to be there anyhow, though guess you missed me anyways."

"I.. ran off!?" She looked at him, completely aghast, her face searching his as if she thought he was mad. "I NEVER RAN OFF!" She rose up out of her chair and hit Cody in the arm. "How dare you! How dare he say that! I did not run off, I was not in love with that terrible old man!" Jaime's voice rose in distress as she beat her poor brother's arm with her fist. "How could.. I didn't love him! I never loved him.. Father sent me away! Father arranged it and forced me to marry that horrid man! I hated him!.. and I hate father for making me marry him!!" She was yelling at Cody, but in tears as she finished, sinking down to the floor, sobbing softly, her face in her hands.

Cody's arm was sorely bruised by the time she was done but he couldn't stand to see her cry anymore than he could take her yelling. He was the brother and was supposed to be there to keep her and Lily safe. He felt terrible that so much had happened to the both of them and that it seemed to usually be something he'd done to make it happen - but not this time after all. He knelt down to put an arm around her as she sobbed. "Feelin' right awful bout sayin' that, Jaime. I didn't know none about it. Pa... he just said..."

"Never mind a thing your Pa ever said.. to you or her, Shortshaft. Think maybe you outta go find her a cup and some water about now," Sloane said, coming up from behind them. He'd seen the whole thing and if there was any doubt... she was no ghost at all, he was certain now.

[Lovely]

She sniffled and leaned as Cody put his arm around her, she was about to apologise to him, none of it was his fault. He was just closest to her at the time and being her brother, he rightly should take the brunt of such distress. Hearing Sloane's voice, her lips trembled and she tried very hard to stifle her tears but more flowed down her cheeks. Sloane's voice.. how she'd missed it and his smile, when she could charm one from him, he kept such a serious face most of the time. Maybe she'd lost her mind and just imagined that she'd heard his voice, timidly she chanced looking up with tear streaked cheeks.

She was shaking and crying harder it seemed. "Get it yourself, you ain't doin' nothin'. She's upset, c'ain't you see that?" He snipped out with an unusually hard tone at the older man. Cody tugged out his handkerchief for her, though it was a little dusty.

"Ma'am," Sloane nodded, hatless, clean, though not shaven for a few days and sporting a peppery tint around his temples like their father, though he was still quite young. He wasn't sure what he should say... he knew the story even if Cody didn't and he wasn't going to get her more upset by letting her brother rile him up. "Anything you need besides that drink?"

Her face lifted and she stared up into Sloane's deep eyes, her own telling him without words, if he could still read the amber hues like he used to, that she needed him. "Thank you, Sl.. mister Palmer." She whispered, wiping her cheek with one hand and trying to stop being such a emotional ninny. Her other hand curled Cody's hankerchief, though she didn't use the dusty cloth on her face.

"Much obliged..," he nodded, staring a little longer than most would think polite. There was no smile, but there was something in his expression that was calming just the same. "Only take a moment."

Cody tried to help her back up the chair. "Ain't right to be on the floor and gawked at by nobody," he fussed.

She hated that he left, even if it was just a moment.. so long without seeing his face or hearing his voice.. it had been agony and the ache had not faded since the moment she'd left his arms last. Jaime turned her attention back to her brother, giving him a small smile and then scoffing a bit. "I don't care what any of the uppity ups thinks of me.. not anymore." She pouted but let him help her up into the chair again. "Sorry for hitting your arm." She mumbled quietly.

"Ain't no uppity up nothin' o' nobody's here," Cody said, still fussing and trying to smooth her skirts down so they wouldn't get too mussed or reveal too much, though her shoulders were already bare. He even blushed a little, realizing even if she was his sister that he was noticing things about her and how pretty she was... and how that made him think of Em. The apology for the bruises was almost missed completely. "No nevermind, neither. S'what I'm here for," he shrugged... everybody else seemed to think so anyway.

Sloane came back tipping a full cup in an unsteady hand as he walked over rattling nerves, trying not to say or do the wrong thing only to watch her slip away before his eyes again. That light cool wind was going to be caught in a looking jar for keeps this time... somehow. "Your water, ma'am," he said quietly, holding the cup out for her and trying to stay out of Cody's reach in case he knocked him sidewise and spilled it all.

[Lovely]

She swallowed and looked over at Cody, reaching for his hand. "I missed you." She said meaning it to him and as her head turned and the small smile came to her lips, she hoped Sloane would hear the words and know she meant him as well. She patted Cody's hand lightly and reached for the cup Sloane had brought her. "Thank you again... it's very kind of you." Her fingers brushed over his as she took the cup in her hand.

"Pay it no mind," Sloane winked. They'd have time to talk later. He wasn't going to try with Cody there hovering like a queen bee guarding her hive. His fingers turned as the cup was taken, chancing a brush of her cool skin. She was no ghost. "Couldn't help but hear you said you're not goin' to see your Pa. Should find you a room to hole up in. Should I walk you to the hotel?"

Cody sneered. "You ain't takin' her to no hotel room," he about rose to back Sloane down and keep him away from her. "She said she done lost her husband... have yourself a little more respectfulness... for her honor and all that."

She wanted to grasp his hand and hold on tight, but she couldn't, a small brush of her thumb against his hand was all she could manage without being obvious. "Cody." She said her brother's name calmly. "It's alright, now. I think mister Palmer was just trying to be polite and helpful.. he didn't mean anything improper by it.. don't go getting yourself all in a huff now.. unless you want to see me cry again." If Cody turned he'd see the pouting look and the way she batted her lashes, pleading with him to step back. "Perhaps.. if mister Palmer is genuine in his offer.. it would be best. That way you don't have to lie to.. father. If he asks, you can tell him honestly that you don't know where I'm staying. I don't want you in any trouble on my account."

"Somethin's not right with all this," Cody said, looking at her and the way Sloane was hovering. He looked back at Jaime, more confused now than before. "But you just said you was goin' to the hotel, so I'd know that. He'd beat it outta me whether I lied or not. C'ain't begin to tell you what a whoopin' I got when Lily got herself hitched and Pa wasn't gonna believe it for god or country that she'd done it." He sighed. "Don't want you crying no more, neither. If you want 'im to walk you, I c'ain't say nothin'. Should be goin' back on my rounds anyhow. Ol' Resher's got a lotta land to cover before dark."

"Lily.." She trailed off and gave a small smile, her little sister was married. "Is.. she happy?" Her voice was so soft when she asked, he might not have heard it. "Maybe thats what I should have done.." The last was muttered under her breath as she set the cup down on the desk. "I'm not staying at the hotel, Cody.. so you can tell him honest that I'm not.. don't want him taking anything out on you. I don't have any intention of speaking to him.. ever.. so there is no reason for him to know where I am." She bit her lip and stood up slowly. "I'll come by to see you and go see Lily if she'll let me unless her new husband thinks I'm too much of a disgrace to be associating with her."

Cody laughed. "Guessin' you ain't never met her husband then if you think he even understands disgracin' in any sense. Only tomcat ever got himself kicked out permanent-like from the cat house? You tell me what he thinks cuz I surely don't know... which ain't sayin much," he sighed again, confused, lost and overwhelmed by the day already with several miles of slow riding to attend to.

"Cody...," Sloane stopped the boy from digging himself deeper. He was being unusually nice for the moment to the boy, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Get on done with your rounds at Resher's and I'll see you get some time... away from your Pa... to get the rest of the story. Not much makes sense til you hear the truth of it and it ain't comin' from your Pa, trust me. I'll get her a room, safe someplace.. and honorable," he winked, keeping his tongue plied into his cheek to keep any sly words from slipping out that he didn't mean.

"Didn't even know she was married." She murmured, looking down at the floor boards and keeping up the appearance one fragile with upset and any wrong word from Cody might set her to tears again. She chewed her lip, fighting the urge to look at Sloane and drink him in like the fields did the rains. "Thank you kindly mister Palmer."

[Lovely]

Cody didn't listen often but he was feeling a need to understand what Sloane was gettin' at and if it meant waitin, it meant waitin. "Ol' Resher wouldn't stand for his land not being watched so I better git and git back. Don't you leave town or nothin' without you tellin' me so," he hugged Jaime a little tighter and let go. "And you better be... you know... honorous and whatnot," he warned Sloane with a pointed finger and pointed gaze before he spurred off to unhitch his horse. He clopped off hurriedly leaving Jaime alone with the other deputy.

"He means well. We'll teach him how to talk right one day. Can I help you to your room... ma'am?" Sloane held his breath as rigidly as he held out his hand, waiting for her to leap up or spin him around with a slap so hard he could taste it for letting her out of his grasp to start.

"I haven't.. Sloane." She whispered his name, a tremor coming through in her voice and she took a deep breath to try and keep fresh tears from flowing. "It's sure been a while since I've seen you.. bet some pretty girl snatched you up and has your heart all sewed up.." She meant to tease but prayed and hoped by some miracle it wasn't true. She reached for his hand. "Such a fine man you are."

"Not ladylike to gamble like that," he warned, but winked and took her hand gently, helping her stand if she wished or stay a year and a day if she'd rather just looking up at him like that. "Not snatched or stitched... though Ev's been telling me I could use a little patching up now and then." He stepped lightly around 'fine'... he surely didn't feel fine with the knot in his stomach and the ache around it that wanted to tell her everything she'd missed... everything he'd missed.

"Man like you.. so handsome and stong.. and kind.. should have a lady to patch you up when you need it and even when you don't." She wasn't sorry to hear he was alone as it meant maybe there was some hope for the feelings she couldn't shake. She meant what she said to him though, he deserved a good woman to love him. Her fingers curled around his as she slowly rose to her feet and took a step toward him. She didn't want to go anywhere but straight into his arms.

He couldn't lie to her and best to tell her now and let her decide for herself. "Get a little mendin' when I need it, ma'am... just don't compare though... just don't compare." He could tell her details, all the nights he spent at Tess's, but the story hid itself away, the details unimportant. He pulled gently, not wanting to say anything more, just welcome her home.

She smiled a little and nodded, flowing easily until she rested against his solid chest. He'd gotten a little more muscular and her hand curved over where his heart beat under that muscle. "Haven't found one you fancy for keeps?" Her other hand let go of his and rose to brush his cheek. "Nothing wrong with finding some comfort in this .. cruel world, in the meantime."

"Patches aren't meant to last," he muttered, though the teasing was getting thin and his ideas getting thicker. He shook his head a little, trying to pull himself away from staring, keeping things proper before he got himself shot. "Who said I haven't found one I fancy? It's the keepin' part... well that's a story for some time else. Should get you your room before dark. Sure it was a long trip."

"You going to break my little ole heart if you tell me you found yourself another girl.." She smiled and said it like a tease but her eyes told him that her heart was breaking just at the thought of it. "It was a very long trip.. took me years to get where I should have been.. though now I think I may be lost." Turning her head away, she leaned to reach for the parasol. "You'll be sure and tell me all about this girl who caught your eye." She could be polite and friendly, even if it killed her and it probably was going to.

"I can tell you I think you'd like her. You might even approve, but we'll talk on that later on, not now." Definitely not here. Ev's ears were too sharp as were just about anybody's that'd walk on into the good sheriff's office to hunt one of them down to attend to something they couldn't manage for themselves. "One thing's not going to need mending," he reassured her, reaching around her for her parasol as she leaned, offering to carry it for her and keep her shaded from the cruel afternoon sun.

"My bags are still at the station waiting for me to secure my room, I'll have to send for them once I've done so.. " She smiled and straightened as he took her parasol. "Thank you again. You're very kind to assist me like this." She motioned toward the door and quieted her voice. "I was truthful about the hotel, I don't wish to stay there. I rather if possible find someplace I know father will not step foot in."

"I'll send Bert on down to fetch them. He doesn't need to know who they're for. Not the first time a new girl's come to town. Just don't go sweet on him. He's too nice," he seemed to spit with a bit of contempt about his little brother who was so much like Josh and Nate in one bundle of perpetual servitude.

"Only one Palmer man I'll ever be sweet on." She whispered, her breath warm over his ear as she slid around him to go out the door.

[Lovely]

"Best make sure you clarify around the madame which one of us you mean. Tess.. she's got her own clutches around Chance's rifle, if you know what I mean," he cautioned, though he wondered what she would think of the suggestion to stay there in her house. "One place surely you won't see your Pa is under the bar at Miss Maggies... or next door in Tess's house with the girls. Now... don't get the wrong picture... she watches out for them all, and Chance and me... we watch for the lot of them. It's not just a cat house. I think you'll see what I mean."

She watched him curiously and gave a faint smile. "Is that where you get patched up?" She asked softly, still not judging him for it. "I don't want to cause a ruckus.. well maybe I do a little, but you know the sort of trouble I prefer to stir up isn't meant to hurt anybody." She slipped her hand over his arm and let him lead her down the walk. "Will this Tessa rent me a room without my being that sort of girl in her house?" She was curious and surprised that Chance was involved at this place, he's always seemed more reserved in that manner.

"That's what I mean when I say it ain't 'just' a cat house. She looks out for her girls like they're her own daughters. Some are... some... well they just aren't and that's that. You'll be safe... though Cody gets to gigglin' fierce and redder than the iron hills, so if you want to talk to him, you best set aside some time back at the office here or in the back room with Maggie. Lucky'd let you in if I asked him to."

"Safe.. yes, thats what I need to be.. " Her voice trailed off and she looked around as they walked. "Everything has changed so much.. it's like being a stranger.. makes me wonder if I have a place here or if I was being foolish to hope I did." A light breeze lifted a few loose tendrils and she sighed softly. "I trust you if you say this Tessa's house is a safe place for me to be. I'll likely take you up on that offer about Cody.. I don't need him all distracted like if I need to talk to him."

Sloane laughed. "Don't you worry none about that brother o yours. He can't help but be distracted, but he's a good kid - and he's a good shot. You need protectin', he'll always be there for you... among others of us that'll keep an eye out. Place has changed on the outside though. Think you'll come to like it when you've stayed a while." He hoped she was staying.

"I was hoping to stay... if there is a reason for me to." She bit her lip softly, her fingers curling more tightly to his arm as the passed some side street entrances, as if she expected her father to come running out and snatch Sloane away. "I.. I.. suppose that's why I came back.. to find out if.. if there was anything to come back to."

"Hopin' you might find there's plenty," he nodded, not being so bold to assume he had a thing to do with what she meant. He kept his expressions and reactions as guarded as he could, escorting the lady to Tess's, though hardly an eye would blink seeing him there. "Might as well step on in and not be shy. I think she can smell honesty as well as most can smell 'shy' anyhow, so... after you." He opened the door and let her enter on her own, pulling her parasol back to close it up for her.

"You'll be kind enough to introduce us, wont you?" She asked softly, giving him a small smile, her eyes roving over his face before she stepped into the house. She was standing there in wonder, looking around, she wasn't sure what all she'd expected to see here but it was very nice.

[Lovely]

Tessa was just coming back into the parlor and was surprised to see a woman walking in and.. Sloane behind her. Interesting.. she smiled warmly as she approached. "Sloane.. it's always nice to see you... Miss." She nodded to the blonde.

Sloane nodded, his honesty and shyness mixing suddenly as Tess addressed him. He slid his hat off to rest on a peg and rested Jaime's parasol beside the door underneath it. A half a breath... and he decided it was best to keep things direct and open... and much easier to explain. "Miss Westgate... Madame Deneuve...," he offered by way of formal introduction to leave them to decide how casual or formal they would be. He coughed out a slight apology at the oversight. "A little short of notice, Tess, but would you have a room... for her... for her to stay... please?"

Jaime glanced at Sloane and smiled softly at the woman who ran the house, she didn't look anything like what Jai would think a madame would or like any she'd seen in other towns. "What Sloane is trying to ask ma'me is if I might be able to rent a room for awhile.. if you have somewhere we might speak a bit more privately?"

Tessa smiled and nodded, intrigued and motioned for the two of them to follow her back to and empty room that acted as a second parlor for the moment. "Please.." She motioned them to follow and have a seat once they were in the room.

Sloane offered Jaime his arm again for support. "Much obliged, Te-.. ma'am," he nodded.

Jaime took the offered arm, shining a small warm smile up at him, the way her hand rubbed over his arm, might have told him more about her feelings as they followed Tessa. Jaime chose to sit on a small sofa in the room they were led to, room enough for Sloane to sit with her if her chose to. She smoothed her skirts and gave Tessa a warm and grateful smile. "Thank you ma'me."

Tessa closed the door behind them and took her own seat near where Jaime sat. She watched Sloane and caught subtle things in the body language and looks between the two that some other people weren't likely to see. "Miss Westgate.. might I inquire why you wish to rent a room from me, when this town boasts a fine hotel and boarding house?" She was pleasant, looking to Sloane as well for explainations as he'd brought the girl here.

"A hotel doesn't offer ... " What.. what didn't it offer that Tess's place did without the words coming out wrong or it sounding like he was trying to put Jaime into servicing under Tess's roof? He puffed out a sigh and looked to Jaime then back to Tess. "Ma'am... Tess..," he softened and spoke openly for them both, sitting himself down into a chair as well. "The hotel just ain't the right place for her to stay. You might know a lot of stories about town, but some got hushed up right quick. Her Pa doesn't know she's here. Ev does, Chance, me and Cody, but most folk... unless she tells 'em... shouldn't oughta know."

"Beggin your pardon Sloane, but why? If it's alright for me to know.. I think I should since she'll be staying with me and what about the girls.. what should I tell them?.. they are apt to talk about her." Tessa still smiled warmly and studied both occupants of the room more closely.

Jaime cleared her throat softly and looked at Sloane for a long moment before turning to address Tess. "Ma'me.. my family is from this town and well my father and I have had a bit of a falling out.. You see a few years back he sent me off and arranged a marriage for me with a much older man who... well being as kind as possible, he wasn't.. kind or pleasant. He was.. harsh, cold.. I suppose my father thought such a man was best for me.. would keep me in line. I didn't agree with him, but had little choice in the matter and .. well leaving out the long and more unpleasant bits, I have found myself widowed. I came back to Atasco to.. see my brother and sister.. and to maybe find a bit of happiness I haven't had in a long while.. if it's here to be found. I am only asking you and yours not to shout out that I am here. I don't wish to engage my father at this time or cause trouble for my siblings. If you'd be kind enough to let me stay, I'd give you a fair rent, whatever you think is so and I only want a small space to keep myself quietly." She didn't look at Sloane when she spoke, not after saying what she did about the man he father had picked for her. She chanced a glance at him as she finished and sat back a little, twisting her hands in her lap.

A mild anger churned as he heard more in that moment than he had about all that had gone on since she'd left. He tried not to let it show though his eyes burned with it. "Thinkin' it' s a small price.. if you have a room to spare and all." It was temporary as far as he was concerned, but events would have to tell him more before he'd go making any plans to move her back out again. He didn't even spend a lot of time in his own given room at home and had no right or sense to pull her out into the wild... not yet.

[Lovely]

Tessa lifted her gaze to Sloane and nodded, smiling oddly as she brought her understanding eyes to Jaime. "Sometimes a father believes he is doing what is right, but he is far far from that." She knew all too well about misguided fathers and their ideas. "I do have a room, here on the first floor, it would be opposite my own, across the stairwell.. private and hopefully comfortable for you. I do not entertain company like others choose to. So you'd be mostly undisturbed and able to come and go as you please. You're more than welcome to stay here." She reached across to set her hand over Jaime's. "I'll go make arrangements for the room and give the two of you a few private moments to discuss anything you need to. I suspect you'll be needing to get your things here without much fuss and Sloane probably has plans in mind.. I'll be out front." She rose and gave another nod before going out of the room and closing the door gently behind her.

Jaime was in a bit of shock and she stared after Tessa, finally managing a "Thank you." As the other woman left the room. Jaime closed her eyes, she was trembling a little as she clasped her hands in her lap. "She.. she's really going to let me stay?" She was in awe, relieved, touched.. and frightened. What if she stayed and found she'd been wrong to come? Where would she go from here? Jaime was taking a big risk, the gamble of her life on a chance for happiness and something dear she'd lost once. Jaime chuckled even as a few tears slipped down her cheek.

He offered a bit of a smile and nodded. "Course. Though it's on the first floor.. may mean I have to check on you more," he winked, trying not to notice the tears. "Maybe you should rest and freshen up a little. I'll get Bert to get your bags brought back and come back to check on you in a bit?" He didn't want to overwhelm her no matter how much he wanted to stay.

She wiped at the tears and turned to him with a small smile, waving her hand a little. "I didn't think I'd get this emotional.. so unlike me to be all weepy. Must be tired and.. oh heck I missed it.. everyone.. Feels like everything since I left is all catching up to me at once.. silly.." She shook her head and took a deep breath. "It's very sweet of you to do so much for me.. I don't want to get you in any trouble.. not the kind that you can't enjoy." She smiled again, chuckling a little. "I best stop talking to you like that, don't want your girl to get cross with you, now."

"I'm sure she won't be cross. She'd understand and thank me just like that for keepin' an eye on you. She'd insist actually, but she's got a way not to say so... not wantin' anyone to be uncomfortable." He grinned a little more, realizing she didn't seem to think he was talking about her, that he was going on about someone else. "Won't get me in a lick o trouble I didn't want to earn, trust me. Let's go get you to your room and make sure it meets your approval - before the madame comes back in thinking something terrible's happening in here."

He had a way of settling her even if the thought of him and another girl was right unsettling to her, she laughed softly and wiped her cheeks. She took another deep breath and stood up reaching for his hands. "You are a fine man Sloane Palmer.. whoever your girl is, she is a very very lucky girl to have the likes of you. And you know I'd never say that to you if I didn't mean it." She wanted him to be happy, it hurt something fierce to think it wouldn't be with her like she'd hoped, but she'd been sent off to be married to another, how could she fault him for moving on to find something else. "..and you know right well I could get you into all sorts of trouble if you let me."