Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 3687830" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter One-hundred-eighty-four, “Hi Sailor!“, Friday, June 16th, 3:30 P.M. Ruby drags Jane over to the twelve sailors who have boarded the train for the journey westward. "Good afternoon gentlemen," Ruby says in a sweet voice. "How is everyone today?" The men immediately stand at attention. One has lieutenant stripes and the others appear to be enlisted men, but it isn't the officer who initiates conversation. A handsome auburn-haired clean-shaven man says "Well hello ladies, please tell me that we have the good fortune of traveling with you all the way to Buffalo." She replies, "Actually, we're not going quite so far, we'll be getting off in Rochester." Her smile widens. "But that's still pretty far. If you don't mind me asking, what's a fine group of upstanding gentlemen such as yourselves doing going to Buffalo? Are you headed home? I wouldn't think there was a naval base in Buffalo." He replies, "Not a base, but a port. We'll be catching up with our new ship there. We don't have to report until tomorrow afternoon though, what is there to do in Rochester?" Ruby swings her hair from one shoulder to the other, "Well, it is a city, although not nearly as large as Manhattan. But there's still plenty to do. What do boys like you like to do in your spare time?" The spokesman for the group says "We're fans to nightclub shows, billiards, drinking to excess and private recreational activities. Does any of that suit your fancy?" Ruby smiles slyly, "Oh, I think we could be good friends tonight, those are some of my favorite activities. But I would have to ask my friends before I made a decision." Ruby looks over her shoulder at Jane and at Richard, trying to gage their interest. Jane says, "Okay Ruby, I'm game." Richard says, "If you ladies wish to accept the company of these gentlemen for the evening that is fine, I have a number of things to check out once we get to Rochester. But let's find some lodgings first so that you'll have somewhere to stagger back to after your night on the town." Ruby salutes Richard with a giggle. "Aye aye Captain, will do!" She again takes Jane by the hand and pulls her down into one of the sailors seats. "You don't mind if we chat for a while, do you? We'd love to hear all about your exploits." The spokesperson introduces himself and Petty Officer First Class Roger Birch, and the others as Petty Officer Second Class Carl von Diamond, Petty Officer Third Class Gregory Flemming, Petty Officer Third Class Daniel Fowler, Petty Officer Third Class Bjorn Kiesow, Seaman Brent Shoal, Seaman Dominick Martini, Seaman Stephen Frye, Seaman Armand Vann, Seaman Jordan Munson, Seaman Apprentice Claude Hamel and Lieutenant John Loughlin. "It's wonderful to meet you all. " Ruby stands and gives a little curtsy and a nod of her head, "I'm Ruby West and this is my friend Jane Boag. We're here visiting from out west." She plops back down in her seat and crosses one leg over the other. "You said you were heading to a new ship. Where are you shipping off to?" He replies, "We're meeting up with the USS Resolve in Buffalo, it is a naval armored freighter assigned to the Great Lakes region. All of us except for Seaman Apprentice Hamel and Lieutenant Loughlin served together on the USS Wyoming, a steam sloop that was recently decommissioned. Prior to the Wyoming Petty Officer Flemming, Petty Officer Fowler, Petty Officer Kiesow and I also served together on the USS Spuyten Duyvil, an armored torpedo vessel built during the Civil War and decommissioned in 1880." Ruby says, "That sounds all very... official. So then you'll be staying on the Resolve in the Great Lakes area then? Or being a freighter will you be traveling around?" Roger replies, "We'll be transporting equipment and supplies for the various branches of the military from different ports along the Five Great Lakes and the Saint Lawrence Seaway. Not as exciting work as a sloop schooner or torpedo boat, but there will be many more ports of call to visit and have fun at." "Well, having fun is never a bad thing, is it?" Ruby grins up at the handsome man. She pats her hand on the seat next to her indicating for him to sit. "It's much preferable to not having fun. I came out here to New York to have some fun and celebrate my birthday. I think I've been doing well so far but I'm always looking for additional opportunities." She bites her lip in a tempting way as she continues to smile at him. He looks her over from head to toe and says, "Let me guess, your twentieth?" "Nineteen," she says proudly. "I think I'm doing pretty good for nineteen. So, we can have a birthday party tonight. If you're interested, of course." He says, "Why that's a splendid idea, let's find the liveliest place in Rochester and have it there. It'll do the young Lieutenant good to see what the real world is like!" "Oh," she raises an eyebrow, "Why does the young lieutenant not know what the real world is like?" She looks the quiet lieutenant over waiting to hear the answer. Roger states, “He's led a sheltered life. He's from a small isolated farm town in Vermont. They had no alcoholic beverages and did not allow for pre-marital relations. Isn't that so Lieutenant?" The young man says, "Yes, it was a quiet town but a very friendly place. I had never left it. But back during the War between the States my father did his civic duty and served and I felt that I should do the same. My grandfather is a good friend of one of our Senators in Congress, so pulled some strings to get me a navy commission as an officer." Roger says, "And I consider it my civic duty to educate our new ship officer before we actually arrive at our ship. Isn't that right boys?" The other sailors all echo agreement. Ruby laughs. "A lady would be appalled at this discussion, no?" She shakes her head and laughs again. "Well John, seems you have a lot to learn. If you want to that is... Trust me when I say there is a whole wide world out there and I think you'll find it very... pleasurable." Ruby looks to Jane, still grinning. "Janie, you're awfully quiet. It seems like you might be able to help this boy out a bit. You know, discuss with him some of the more common ways of making the goddess happy." Jane just smiles. The train begins to depart Albany station. Each of the ladies takes a seat with a sailor sitting down beside her and a pair of sailors seating themselves in the pair of seats both in front of and behind the ladies. Richard sits a little further back beside the innocent Lieutenant. The one who sits with Ruby is Roger who asks, "And why is it that you are going to Rochester?" She says, "I'm visiting an old friend. He doesn't know I'm coming though, it's a surprise. Hopefully a pleasant one." Roger says, "Well of course it will be a pleasant one, what red-blooded American male wouldn't be happy to have a visit from you? But before that you'll have to show my friends and I the hot night spots of Rochester. What locations would you recommend?" Ruby answers, "Quite honestly, I haven't been around the City in a few years, things have probably changed. But if you head to Madison Square you'll most likely find something entertaining to do. Something up your alley. Which sounds like it would be right up my alley too." Ruby stared into the man's eyes for a moment. She felt alive and excited and was truly enjoying this experience. It had been weeks now since she had the warmth of a man attracted to her this close and made her skin tingle. Jake's attentions had been enough to satisfy her but where was he? Obviously he didn't care that she was missing or he would have tried to contact her. Still, she wished it was him sitting across from her and not this stranger. She grins again and forces her thoughts back into the moment. "So, Roger, how old are you? Tell me a little about yourself." He replies, "I know I don't look it but I'm thirty-one, been in the service since my eighteenth birthday. The first thing I learned from the war veterans is that the best way to stay alive in combat is to make true friends who will do anything for you. We haven't been in a war since then but if we do I've got my friends all set as that has been my philosophy since then. Greg, Dan, Bjorn and I have been together so long now that we know exactly how each other thinks and will even finish each others sentences." "There really isn't anything better than true friends. I've been learning that myself recently," she says as she looks to Jane. Her voice drops and she puts a hand on his arm as she leans closer to him. "Was being in the war as terrible as I think it was?" "According to the Veterans it was, that was before I became a sailor." He gestures to Petty Officer von Diamond and says, "Carl here was the only one of our group to actually serve in the war." Von Diamond says, "Yah, and I joined near the end. Spent that time off the Virginia coast maintaining a naval blockade. We only saw combat once when a Confederate ironclad ran the blockade. Rockets flew left and right that night." “Lucky for you then, not to be there. It must have been really scary." Ruby shivers and is quiet for a few moments. Finally she smiles mischievously again. "So... if you can read their minds and finish their sentences, what are Greg, Dan, Bjorn thinking right now?" Roger says, "Greg wants to find a bar and get drunk, Bjorn is hungry for fried chicken and you can go ahead and slap Dan's face for the thoughts that are going through his mind right now." Ruby throws her head back and laughs heartily at that. When she is done laughing she flips her hair from one side to the other and gazes at Roger. "And what are you thinking right now?" He laughs, "Honestly, along the same avenues as Dan is except I believe in getting some dancing and drinks in first. You can go ahead and slap me now and get it over with." Ruby raises an eyebrow and replies seriously, "Now why would I want to do that?" He smiles and says, "Well, don't say I didn't give you an opportunity." He gestures across the car and says, "It looks like your friend is getting along fine with my friends." Ruby glances over and sees that Jane is indeed captivating the attention of the five sailors surrounding her, showering each with an equal amount of attention and flattery. "Oh, she has that way with everyone." A genuine and unforced smile flits to Ruby's lips as she looks on with awe at her friend. "She really is something else, just an amazing person. So good with people." Ruby laughs, "Plus she's really fun." Ruby takes a section of hair and twirls it around her finger, "By the way, I reserve the right to give you that slap later. If you do something to deserve it of course." The conversation remains light until the train reaches Utica Station, around a third of the way to Rochester, when the conductor announces a forty-five minute layover while they change over some freight cars. Roger suggests to Ruby that they go stretch their legs. "Sounds like a good idea, I hate being cramped." Ruby stands and stretches then takes Roger by the arm. As they pass Richard Ruby comments, "We're just going for a little walk, we'll be back in a bit. Keep your eye on Janie and make sure she doesn't get into trouble!" Ruby winks at him and lets Roger guide her out the train and in whatever direction he chooses. "The sky is go gray, I wonder if it's going to rain soon," she comments casually as they walk. They take a brief walk down Utica Lane a few blocks from the train depot and he leads her into the Utica Mansion Inn. The large Victorian-style mansion has embossed wallpaper and handsome wood paneling. He leads her through the restaurant and over to the bar where he orders himself a brandy and for Ruby whatever she would desire. Ruby indulges and orders a pink champagne. She sips it slowly, savoring the sweet bubbly flavor. She looks around at the rich surroundings, "Have you been here before? Seems like you knew just where to go." He laughs and says, "Well, sort of. This place is apparently brand new, I was actually expecting to see the building that stood on this spot when I was last in Utica two years ago. It wasn't quite as upscale as this, but then again, I'm sure a lady of your refined tastes wouldn't be caught dead in a working class saloon." Ruby holds her glass up eye level and stares through the glass before placing it on the bar. She puts her back to the bar and casually leans up against it. "That's very sweet of you to say. But...," she pauses for effect, "If you try hard you can imagine me not always having the ability to have such refined tastes. I've probably been in seedier places than you have sir." She turns back to the bar and takes another sip of her champagne. "I prefer that those days are over though and certainly appreciate the finer things in life. Particularly when I'm being lavished with them." She raises her champagne glass in toast and the sly grin returns to her face. She concludes, "And that's all you need to know about me." "For now," he says with a devious smile on his face. She returns the smile, "For now." Then she laughs, "Are you always this forward?" He replies, "We don't get shore leave that often Miss. West." "I understand." She runs a finger back and forth along the fine wood bar, stalling. She then says, "I suppose I should mention that I have a boyfriend." Roger glances around the room and says, "I don't seem to see him anywhere around here. Is he waiting for you in Rochester?" "No," Ruby replies, a tint of sadness in her voice, "I don't think he's waiting for me anywhere. It's... complicated. He's in Arizona. That's where I'm from. I own part of a Saloon there." Ruby pauses then takes a big gulp of champagne. "I think he maybe regrets me. He hasn't tried to contact me since I left three weeks ago, including my birthday." Roger says, "Well then, I'm not quite sure what to say. I can't imagine that he would have done that if he truly cared about you. Oh well, his loss is my gain, and since it's not very likely that a Great Lakes freighter will be docking in Arizona any time soon I don't plan to worry about running into him." It takes a moment but Ruby's lips do again turn into a smile. "I think you're right Roger. His loss." Ruby slides her jacket off her shoulders, the revealing neckline of her dress more prominent. She then asks, “So... where does that leave us?" He smiles and replies, "As I see it, we have a few options available. We can each have another drink and then make our way back to the train. Or we can let the train leave without us, get a room at this inn, and catch up with our friends tomorrow." Ruby's heart started pounding in her chest. What started as harmless flirting suddenly turned into a life altering decision. She gazes at Roger then finishes her drink quickly. She smiles at him from under her eyelashes, running a finger across his chest. "While I am very, very tempted right now to take you up on that offer, my friends would be awfully worried if I didn't make it back on the train. To the point they would probably get off the train and come looking for me." He says, "Well pretty lady, we wouldn't want them to worry now. I guess we should be heading back." He finishes off his drink and leaves a $ 10 bill on the table. Ruby takes his arm and they start heading back. She stops them suddenly when they get to the sidewalk. She looks up to the sky, back inside the Inn and to Roger. She steps in close to him and whispers, "I know I have to get back on the train. But why don't you try convincing me otherwise anyway?" He replies, "No my dear, my suggestion was not only impulsive and ungentlemanly, but you are quite right in pointing out that it would cause your friends to worry. Back to the train it is." Ruby pouts through a smile. "And here I was thinking I would get a little kiss." She shrugs playfully, "I hope I don't change my mind." She takes his arm and waits for him to lead her back. He takes her arm. While they are walking he leans over and plants a kiss on her cheek. "Satisfied now?" he asks. "Satisfied? No," she teases. "But it'll do for now."</blockquote>

Verification