Games

[Lovely]

June 26, Year 2
late afternoon


Colena spied Lily and Nate together, she was jealous and thought the other girl was 'moving in on her man', thought she saw enough to indicate that they were maybe even getting frisky. She saw the kiss and what not.. she believed it wasn't merely innocent flirting and was worried that she was losing Nate's attentions. She quietly inquired about the girl and it was then that Colena decided to pay a visit to Patrick Carlisle.. She was standing there bold as anything when he opened the door for her. "So, your wife is attempting to carry on with my.. my man... what are we going to do about that?"

Patrick grinned. "Please...come in."

Steps in with a slightly darker smile than normal.

"Have a saying I live by, miss. What's good for the goose, yeah?"

She eyes him, not knowing the man and nods slowly. "What did you have in mind? I'm not looking to damage myself.. but I'm open to ideas."

"Never would go so far as to let a lady damage herself," he grinned, coming up with plenty of ideas. If Lilian wished to play games of that sort, he had several himself he could play in return. "As for your lad, he's rather shortsighted to allow a slip like you to slip from his fingers. Who might the young, and if I daresay 'foolish' gent be, yeah?"

"Thank you for the compliment.. I think." She smiled and slowly moved around the room, circling and sizing him up. "Goes by the name of Nate Palmer... You may be familiar with him. Where I am not from these parts, he is."

Palmer. The milk from his coffee curdled as he churned over the name. "Nate Palmer? Heard he got himself a little bootprint on his backside from that uppity school up there in the city. What's a bright girl doing with someone who can't keep himself in books, I wonder?"

She smiled and leaned close to whisper. "A lady doesn't tell what she does and does not do with a handsome young man in private."

He chuckled. Her humor was a form he could appreciate as was the rest of her. "And does this lady have a name herself or shall I address her as I see fit?"

"Hmmm I guess that depends on how you see fit?" Her breath tickled over his ear as she spoke, then stepped away to take him in again.

"A tender poison," he murmured in reaction to the chills on his neck, sparking darker ideas as she stood near. "My brother is better with his herbs and potions, but perhaps 'belladonna'? Nightshade? The sweetest taste on the lips and the deadliest and swiftest vengeance thereaft?"

[Lovely]

She chuckled. "My name is Colena.. Harris.. for your reference, since I already know yours Is Patrick Carlisle.. call me what you like..." She shrugged, her fingers lifting to play with the charm that hung from a delicate chain around her neck. "As for poison.. perhaps you should consider your wife to be that." Her voice took on a bit of a colder edge.

"Also a tender poison, but of an entirely different sort," he nodded, taking no offense. "Harris.. the esteemed new owner of the hotel? Might that be your father, then?"

"My father is back east.. The new owner of the hotel.. would be me." She half chuckled. "Sorry to disappoint you, if you were hoping I was merely a little lark at play.."

"Hope implies expectations of which I have very few," he said offering her a seat in the drawing room. It was early evening and he was done with his chores at the smithy, freshly bathed and changed. He wasn't expecting visitors and certainly no one looking for himself. The scents from the kitchen were meandering through the house now as dinner was being prepared. "I can hardly say then that you disappoint, yeah? Quite the opposite if I may be bold."

She smiled and took a seat, perched like a proper lady on the edge, ankles crossed and folded slightly behind her. "You may be bold.. just not too bold.. if you would be so kind."

He stepped alongside her where she sat and bent to return the whisper to her ear, "By the very nature of my boldness, I'm rarely considered 'kind'," The words came out in air as chilling as the manner he meant them to sound as he followed them with a soft kiss over her cheek before standing. "Would you like something to drink?"

Her lips curved and her eyes drifted up as he straightened. "I rarely have the same opinion as most folks.. I'm an independant thinker.. a free spirit.. or simply scandalous if you listen to gossips and twits." Her eyes moved over his face and she nodded. "I would love a drink."

"Brandy before supper, if you'd join us," he offered, pouring a small sip in a snifter from the shelf. The bar was sparse for guests, most of the liquor belonging to Pa and being locked up as special. "Which would afford a few minutes to discuss how to return our wayward lamb and shepard to the proper flocks, yeah?"

"Thank you.. join us?" She lifted a brow settleing her hands neatly in her lap.

"To dine, Miss Harris. You're here close to the dinner hour. Perhaps my wife will drag her newfound pet along, no offense to yourself, of course. If we're not so fortunate of at least his company, perhaps I should enlighten you as to our history, Nathaniel and myself, instead. A rivalry seeded ages ago over a girl with braided pigtails the color of your own. Seems the rivalry has yet to wash away."

"Oh." She said softly, rising from the chair and sighing. "So I have come in the middle of the story.." She mused, not sure if the middle of such a rivalry was a wise place to enter.

"As far as I'm concerned, there is no 'middle' to be in. Nate had scurried away to school and left me the run of the town. As for Lilian, I assure you, her efforts are against me and have little to do with you or Mr. Palmer. I apologize for the convenience of his attendance wherever it is she came across him and hope to have his favor returned to you as you are so deserving... of such attention, not necessarily his," he teased, being fully honest of his feelings toward the Palmer clan.

[Lovely]

"I appreciate where you are coming from, but as I am unaware of the full story between you two.. it's leaves me uneasy as to what I am getting involved in." Her eyes moved around the room and then returned to Patrick. "You don't seem particularly upset about Lilian.. "

"Upset comes from a guilty conscience... having neither, I"m well at ease and understand she is a young girl with a young girl's view on a few things. Not the first time I've had one of your lot turn on me," he grinned.

Colena nodded though her eyes studies him more intently. "You are an interesting man, mister Carlisle." Taking the glass from him and sipping his brandy before haanding it back to him. "Under different circumstances.. we might have been friends."

He returned the glass to her hand. "I"ve learned not to drink in polite company any more," he chuckled, reaching for the decanter to add a little more to her glass. "And how particularly do you view the circumstances that we cannot become friends now?"

She chuckled lightly. "Your wife, my.. partner.. I don't think we'll be having dinner together and such.. do you?"

"Then how else do you recommend showing them that her game is not having the desired effect? We could simply mirror their actions, though you advised that I was not allowed that boldness... not that I've heeded such restriction except on the most delicate of occasion."

"I hope I haven't given you.. the wrong idea.. What I saw.. was enough to know I wish it to go no further. You know your wife and if you think acting as if their actions are not upsetting will be more effective.."

"Now, I haven't said that," he poo-pooed, deciding to take a glass for himself afterall. It had been a while since he'd stirred trouble, he decided, pouring a light glass, but enough to taste and mull with his thoughts. "I claim no knowledge beyond what I see first hand and even then, where the boys in this town are concerned, I caution you to not believe everything you see... or hear. It is a long standing scuffle between the Palmers and us and you're not getting involved so much as being witness to its continuance from the outside. Would that you were instead a direct participant, perhaps old Nate would stand down and return where he belongs post haste."

"So are you saying we should let them find us flirting and kissing?" She laughed and smiled. "and still go to dinner as if it was nothing.. I'm begining to wonder if men are even worth the bother. I finally find one that interests me, is exciting and I get along with.. and look what happens."

"Ah, worry little about your straying sheep. He's harmless and far too 'nice' to truly get far. Wondering if he shouldn't more likely be concerned about you being left alone with me."

She laughed again and gave him a wink. "Maybe they both should be worried about us being alone together?"

"I retract my earlier statement," he said, letting his grin chill and flatten. "Ask around in town and likely what you do hear about me... every word is true. Add to that that I truly do love that girl and do not wish her harmed any more than I wish to see ... Mister Palmer... believe in any fashion that he can have his way beyond being cordial. I agree it should stop where it is, but to what end are you willing to go to earn his favor. My wife remains my wife til death do we part and if that's where it leads, so be it, but you... are still Madamoiselle Harris and stand to lose so much more."

"I think you may have mistaken my words or I may have yours.. either way.. I am not looking to harm your wife, she should be attending you.. not another man. As for Nate.. well if he does not find me worth his efforts and attention.. I am not really losing anything other than my foolish ideas and feelings." She leaned to kiss his cheek and then turned for the door. "If you decide you want to help me or have me help you.. then you can find me at the hotel."

"I don't believe I've made any mistakes... at least nothing I've reason to regret... yet," he nodded, tipping his brandy to her then swallowing the sip, savoring the gentle burn. "Seems we may have an appointment later, Miss Harris. Good night."