Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 2887600" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter 134, “Desert Flowers”, Tuesday, March 21st, 1882, 2:00 P.M.Nanuet leads Minerva out of town and down a path they have not trodden previously. They only ride for about 10 minutes when they come to top of a low rise and can see a wide open flat area below them. The rocky area is not barren but instead is covered in wildflowers and cacti of various shapes and colors. "There you see, the desert does not always hide it's beauty, it sometimes just needs to be seen in the right light."  Minerva is stuck by Nanuet’s words and thinks "You are like the Desert, Nanuet." Hiding yourself behind those brooding eyes and quiet exterior." She watches as he attempts to educate her on the local flora but does not hear what he is saying as she studies him in an attempt to sort out her own feelings. Nanuet hops off his mount and offers a hand to Minerva and helps her from her horse. "Let's go take a closer look."  Nanuet leads Minerva down the hill and into the field below. Once there he points out several of the flowers by their common names. "This one is Mantana Vehepse or Milkweed" he says pointing to a plant with thin white stalks ending in narrow petal yellow flowers. "And this one is the White Mallow" he says pointing to a delicate looking large white bloom. "This one may be my favorite yet. Nanuet kneels down near a long stalk that has about a dozen large purple flowers on it. "Penstemon, this one is called." Nanuet spends the time as long as Minerva will listen naming all the flowers they see.He wasn’t rash and boisterous like other men she had encountered. Not prone to snap judgments as she could be. Sure, You could assume that his quiet, steady nature and even temperament were due to shyness but those who knew him well would disagree. Those that he allowed into his life learned that he guarded his deep passions and beliefs and shared them, and his fierce loyalty, only with those whom he deemed worthy. His friends, the few that he had, also knew that once he had made up his mind, he was quick to act. Yes, it was true that he was often cautious and methodical in his approach to a problem, whereas she would just go with her gut feelings and deal with the consequences later, but she liked that about him. His steady ways balanced her own explosive nature and, she reasoned, he could be trusted to keep his word and get the job done. She had never depended on or trusted anybody that way before. It was an oddly comforting feeling to know that she was no longer alone in the world, that someone actually cared about her well-being …and she KNEW, even though she didn’t always appreciate it, that he didn’t just “say things” to please her or to get his own way. Well that was an understatement for sure", she thought dourly, "It was easier to pull a rat out of a rattler than it was to get the words she wanted to hear out of him" No, his words and gestures were ALWAYS a result of deep contemplation and so could be counted as true, and not the result of impulse, or temper… as hers so often were. “We are like two sides of the same coin.” She thought and smiled wryly at the irony of the gods. Her eyes narrowed as she focused on his features while he continued to point out the desert landscape.  What was it about him that caused the breath to catch in her throat and this strange tangle of nerves in her stomach? You wouldn’t refer to him as a handsome man. Arresting was a better description, she mussed as she unconsciously twisted a strand of her dark hair and continued to study him unawares. Everything about him seemed rough and rugged, his sharp nose, his hollow cheeks, even his complexion, ruddy and weathered from a life out of doors in the dry, western heat reminded her of the beautiful angles and shadows of the Arizona landscape which had molded him. He was not an overly large or muscular man. He had a runner’s body, lean and tight. She could easily picture him gracefully leaping over rocks and rugged terrain like the wild elk that inhabited area, and like those noble beasts he held himself aloof with an air of quiet strength and dignity. Maybe it was the primitive half-savage look of him or his long chestnut braid, which he kept neatly tied with a string of beaded leather, combined with his mysterious ways, which caused women to glance twice, and other men to make a wide berth when passing him on the street. “I wonder what it would feel like to loose that braid and run my fingers through that wild silken mane.” she thought and held her fist to her stomach to quiet the unfamiliar fluttering that she had come to associate with his nearness.   She shook her head lightly to clear her thoughts and refocused on his face. Of all his features, it was his eyes that drew Minerva in. Those deep, moody eyes framed by a strong line of brows. She had seen those dark eyes flash in anger and battle fever, had felt them warm and soften with kindness and understanding, and had watched on in confusion and frustration, as they turned cloudy and unreadable when he masked his feelings from her. Those eyes, she sighed, She could lose her “self” in those eyes if she wasn't careful. She feared those dark shrewd eyes that could pierce her soul and know what was in her heart. Nanuet, sensing that he was being observed paused in his dissertation and looked over at Minerva with a timid smile and a questioning look in those beautiful savage eyes. She smiled in return and bravely met his gaze, but not willing to give herself away, quickly averted her own eyes before he could shine a light on her heart. "Well! That is all very interesting. You certainly know your flowers, Nanuet. I have an interest in herbs and botany. Perhaps some other time you could share your knowledge of some of their uses with me. OH! I brought a bottle of wine and Bea gave me a small basket of food. This looks like a lovely spot to settle and watch the sun set. Let me get it from my bag." She says in an overly bright voice and talking much to quickly. She nervously wipes her palms on her skirt and scrambles off like a skittish rabbit to retrieve the basket from her saddlebag.Nanuet takes this chance alone to wipe his sweaty palms on his pant legs and swallows hard trying to force his dry mouth to produce some moisture.  Why am I like this around her?  She seems to understand me better than most others, I should feel more comfortable around her.  Perhaps it is her beauty?  Maybe it is the passion that she lives her life with that enchants me.  I suppose it is all those things.  She returns now and my knees feel weak.  Do I tell her?  Not yet, speak with Ruby first, she will know how to do this right. "Well this is a surprise, sharing two meals on the same day with you Priestess is an honor." Nanuet takes the blanket from her and spreads it evenly on the ground being sure to leave the fauna untouched.  He allows Minerva to sit first and then he sits immediately beside her.  Nanuet opens the wine as Minerva unpacks the food.  They have some light conversation, Nanuet remarking that Bea is an excellent cook and he would like to sample more of her food.  There are several awkward moments where the two reach for the same object at the same time and more than once find their hands touching.  This occurs once when they are packing up and Nanuet holds fast onto her hand this time and looks into Minerva's eyes.  He holds her gaze staring deeply for several moments.  He opens his mouth as if to speak, but then the words fail him.  He lets her hand go and shyly turns away and begins folding the blanket.   After the picnic Nanuet escorts Minerva back to the boarding house and bids her goodnight.  Before she walks away he leans quickly forward and gives her a quick kiss on the cheek.  Before he can see her reaction he scurries away, heading towards the Lucky Lady.  Nanuet spends a restless night at the Lucky Lady.  He completes his reverie but not without difficulty, his mind wandering to the vision of Minerva.  The rest of the day passes uneventfully for the Deputies. Evening arrives and Chester leaves the office for the Lucky Lady.  Chester has a nice chat with Niles Hoover and listens to Kate play piano for Clarisse.   At around 9:00 PM miner Ajax Gormley walks in and asks "Mind if I talk you to you for a minute Marshall?"Chester replies, "Not at all, Ajax. Let's go outside for some privacy." They step onto the front porch. "Is this about Thad?"  Ajax replies, "Yep.  Melissa Smith evicted him from the Promise City Hotel because of that incident earlier today.   I wanted to let you know that Thad is staying with me now.   I share a small house with Brian Kelso over on East Street, next to the Wong family."  Chester answers, "Thank you for telling me. It must be hard to see a nephew mixed up with the wrong bunch like that."Ajax slumps a little and says, "Marshall, I appreciate what you did with the boy, not arresting him and all.   Right now Thad is a nervous wreck, I've had to get an elixir from Doc Eaton just so the boy could get some sleep.   And speaking of Elixirs." He reaches into his pocket and takes out a metal drinking flask, handing it to Chester.   "Ringo had given that to Thad.  It contains a magical elixir that makes a person invisible.  Yeah, I know, sounds far fetched.   But that's what he and Pony Deal used the other day at the Great Western.  I'll get Thad to tell you the whole story later.  Figured it was best to get that out of the house before he panics and uses the damned thing.   Magic's a dangerous thing, not something for a young man to get messed up with."Chester looks at Ajax in feigned surprise. "Magic? That's serious stuff. A fellow could get into big trouble for having that. It's a good thing you took this from him." Chester puts the flask in a pocket. "When he wants to tell me the whole story, have him drop by the office. Keep him away from Ringo. The guy had Thad spying on townspeople. He's a dangerous man." Chester pats Ajax on the shoulder and goes back inside.Chester sits at his table watching Clarisse sing. How did I get so lucky to have a woman like her in my life? I need to ask Minerva if she would chaperone us again.   When Clarisse is finished for the night, Chester walks her home. "If Miss Florencia is available, would you like to have dinner with me again? How's Thursday sound?"   She replies, "Of course, Chester. Can we go to the El Parador again? I had so much fun."  "It's a date then. Goodnight Clarisse." He leans in and kisses her. Some time passes before they let go.  "Goodnight, Chester." She goes inside. Chester turns and heads for home.Mid-way through the night at the Lucky Lady Patrick Seawell arrives with a distinguished older gentleman.    They take a seat at the table near the stage.   When Kate comes by to take their order Patrick introduces her to his father, Colonel Michael Seawell, retired United States Army.   He tells his father "And this is Katherine Kale, the woman who I told you about.  She saved Deputy Marshall Earp's life in January.  She is also the one who sold us the building for our office."Kate blushed lightly.  "How do you do, Colonel?  It's a pleasure to meet you.  I'm afraid your son doesn't give himself enough credit.  I would not have been able to help the Marshall without his assistance."  She shrugged and smiled.  "I'm not very strong.  And I was glad to be able to put the building in a friend's hands.  I got a good deal and I enjoyed passing it on."The Colonel continues to chat with Kate for several more minutes.  He is very polite and gracious and in many ways reminds Kate of her father.   He says that he plans to spend the next few days getting their office in order.  Kate talked a bit about her father and his time in the army, where he had also been a Colonel before he was discharged.   "I'll be trying to get my school in order.  I hope you won't mind children around.  Once the school is up and running they'll be back and forth, but we'll try to be good neighbors.  If there's anything I can do for you in the next few days, just let me know.  Now, is there anything I can play for you?  I know most of the standard songs, and many classical pieces, although there isn't much call for those."  Kate finished the conversation and was walked back to the El Parador.  She was glad to get to bed early on Tuesday night.</blockquote>

Verification