α gιяℓ ωιтн α вιя∂ sнє Føυη∂ ιи тнє sηøω
тнεи Ғℓєω up нєя gσωη αη∂ тнαтs нøω sнє kηøωs
тнαт gσ∂ мα∂є нєя єyєs ƒøя cяyιиg ατ вιяτн
тнεи ℓєғт тнε gяøυη∂ тø cιяcℓє тнε єαяτн
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Usually whenever someone said, "I'm no good at this," Wendy knew that she was getting herself into trouble. Her swindling moods were infrequent, but it was hard to resist taking advantage of someone who had no idea what they were doing. At the same time, this man wasn't selling his own goods at all. If Wendy screwballed this man, she would most certainly have to deal with an unhappy ranch owner in the future. She decided to take the middle road and sell as cheap as she thought she could get away with. If Bells was angry, she should have come to do the bidding herself.
"Well, Mr. Waller, seeing as she has some help, I suppose the ranch might last another year," said Wendy, shrewdly eyeing the goods. "I'd say that the grain is worth about $45, and the barley $80. If you bring in any hay, we're in desperate need of some. We'll buy them for $20 a bushel. We can subtract out the price of any goods you wish to purchase."
Outside the general store, a scuffle made Wendy look up sharply. Trouble brewing on the streets of Beaulah in front of the General Store was never good. I swear to god, if someone sends a bullet through the front window again, I will kill them, she thought as she dashed to the window. On the street stood Bells in front of her wagon, nose to nose with one of the most foul men Beaulah had to offer. Wendy raised her lip in disgust. The nerve he had to be going after girls in the middle of town! Her hand instinctively reached towards a spade standing at the window. Jacob joined her at the window and just before she could wrench the door open to yell at Barnett to get off his high horse, Charlie charged out of the bar, grabbed Bellalyse by her arm and yanked her away from the situation.
Wendy was still too stunned to do anything except stare. Seeing Charlie barge out of any building was still a shock. She needed some time to wrap her mind around the fact that he was actually back. "Might you know who that man was, Miss Wendy?" inquired the stranger, squinting out into the street.
"Which one?" she muttered. She figured that this stranger knew nothing about Barnett or Charlie. Town gossip was a petty thing, but Wendy knew that to survive in Beaulah, he would have to have at least a cursory understanding of the people who lived there. She pulled out a bench and beckoned for him to sit down. Under the bar, she pulled out the half-empty bottle of liquor and poured two generous glassfuls.
"That overgrown clown of a rancher is Jesse Barnett. He's the biggest bully around this town and wants the O'Shire ranch. He's already bought off a good deal since Bells took over, but he wants the whole lot - girl and all." She took a long swig from her glass. "And the man that dragged her into the bar - don't worry he won't hurt her - he's... my brother."
The events of the morning resurfaced with a vengeance. She couldn't help but add, "He's a jackass who abandoned my family right after my eldest brother was killed. And this morning, without warning, reappeared, expecting things to be exactly how the were. After seven years." Well, things were not the same anymore. It was certainly his fault that she was so dependent on the bottle to relieve her mind. It was his fault that the Jamison name was tainted and people thought he was a murderer.
Their conversation was interrupted by the tiny bell that indicated a new customer's entrance into the store. Wendy guiltily stashed her empty glass on the nearest shelf in case it was Askuwheteau. It was not. Instead, her self-satisfied brother and Bellalyse appeared in the doorway. Charlie grinned meekly over at her. Another wave of fury racked Wendy's body. Who did he think he was, smiling at her like that? "Hey, Wendy," he said, with a passable tone of apology, "Listen, I know that I upset you in the saloon, and I'm sorry. I want you to know that I would never believe you started any rumors about me. I'm sorry if it sounded like that."
Wendy crossed her arms over her chest and frowned. Damn right, he better be sorry. She decided to let him sit in his shame a little bit before actually letting him stay. But his next words thew her off balance again. "But, hey, Miss O'Shire here said she'd let me work some on her ranch in exchange for a roof over my head." He stuck out his hand, cordially to the stranger. "Howdy. You must be the first hire Bells was talking about."
Wendy's head was whirling again. Charlie had just gotten back and now he was leaving to go be a ranch hand outside of town? When would they ever have a chance to talk? How could they get reacquainted if he was only to come back in to town every so often? "I thought you were staying with me! I'm your sister!" she protested. Even as the words left her mouth, she knew that she sounded like a school girl. This was her brother. He could do whatever he wanted. She had no say in his life. But she felt as if a part of her heart was being ripped away again. As much as his reappearance was unbearable, it was even more so to have him disappear again.
He took her face in his hands and kissed her on the forehead. "You know I can't. Not if people think I'm a murderer here. I got to earn my reputation back somehow, and what better way than some good honest labor." Stepping back towards Jacob and Bellalyse, he cast a searching look between Bella and Wendy. "Besides, you two were always good friends in our childhood. I'm sure you can come visit in the evening sometime."
Wendy could only manage a baffled look. There was too much going on in her head. She wanted to escape it all. She wanted a place to go where she could be alone with her bottle and her thoughts. The pressure of having the three individuals in front of her was too much. She turned her back on them and walked to the back of the store where they kept their safe. She opened it with deft fingers and lifted out a stack of bills. "Here," she said to Jacob in a brittle tone, "For the wheat and barley."
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xoxWendy Annette Jamison
xox"the abandoned general store assistant"
xoxobservant | angry | protective | warm
xoxxoxlocation | Saloon | with | People |
xoxxoxmood | happy | Bloom