A New Kydd in Town [Sapphire]

[kydd]

“Phew! Sure is a nice Autumn day! It’s sure brisk out there today! Howdy ma’am! Casper Boscoe-Kydd! Looking fer a place to stay. Comfiest room ye got.” The young man declared at the door to the maid before him with a wide cheeky beaming smile. His eyes were alive with a mischievous sparkle and he gave her a winning wink as he doffed his hat and flashed his pearly whites.

Enthusiastically he entered into the inn, his eyes roaming everywhere before falling on the maid again with keen interest, his baggage knocking off the door frames and nearly knocking over a vase on a stand. Kydd dropped his baggage in the hallway and his hands flew up to snatch any potentially falling vase. He gave a small ‘O’ face as the vase wobbled and then steadied. He then winked and chuckled an infectious laugh at his near accident.

His reactions had been lightning fast despite his clumsiness in hitting the table in the first place. And in the swift moment he clearly revealed his pair of oiled, polished and ivory handled pistols at his hips.

And as fine as the intricate metal work of the pistols were and their fancy ivory handles, his travelling clothes were fine too. They were somewhat dusty from the journey but he wore a brown patterned ‘chief that matched his attire of brown felt clothes. The bags suggested that he had many other such clothes and indeed he did - many and many finer sets too at that. Kydd did like his fashion but was still a practicable fella and wouldn't wear his best threads for a long train journey. Especially as he had heard some recent train to Del Fuego had been robbed as if it were a stagecoach! Ha! But that was the thrill of heading out here to the wilds of Texas - with its lawless towns, ranchers, painted ladies and saloons. He sure was going to have a blast.

He lifted his bags again after the near incident and approached the sign in desk. He explained happily, “I just come in on off the train. Left the city behind and came out here to try my hand.”

Kydd leaned on the reception desk at cocky gait and looked the pretty but feisty maid up and down. He added teasingly, “Might reckon I’ll hang around with pretty ladies like you ‘bout town.” He was a shameless flirt and even when he knew he never stood a chance with a lady and even he didn't want to stand a chance Casper still had to spin a line and flash a smile. Women were pretty beings and they sure had to be marvelled. And Kydd saw it as his purpose to marvel at them, from afar and from up close and personal like.

“If you sort us with a room I’d be mighty glad. Hey, do you happen to know the Blackbird Saloon?”

[vee4]

She was cleaning the inn, much like she always did. When the cocky man came in, she only glanced up before setting down her cleaning rag. "I don't assign rooms, talk to the jack behind the counter." She muttered, returning to cleaning. She was silent as he continued to blab on. When and if was he going to shut that damned gaping hole in his face? She didn't care about his inflated ego or the fact he was trying to flirt with her.

damned sod that he was. When he brought up the Blackbird, she snorted and shook her head. "Yeah, I know it. If you want a tour, ask somebody else." She snapped, moving on to clean something else while muttering heatedly under her breath. "And the next time you flirt with me, I'm going to neuter you like the dog you act like." She muttered, shaking her head as she rubbed the rag along a vase.

She flashed her ring idly. "Didn't your mama teach you better than to flirt with a married woman, you idget?" She didn't know why she was so agitated by it or why she was claiming to be married when she had only just seen her husband for the first time in almost five years. Her stomach twisted in knots as she pushed her hair from her face. Hell, she was probably old enough to be the kid's mother at almost forty. Her thoughts drifted toward her daughter and a sigh left her lips. She hated leaving her daughter with Duke but at the same time, she wanted her husband to get to know their daughter so she didn't see what harm it could do.

[kydd]

Kydd’s preening smile fell in fractions from his face as the onslaught of her answer came back at him. "Yeah, I know it. If you want a tour, ask somebody else." The venom of her response surprised him and it were matched by the overly harsh polishing she was doing. If he were not at the receiving end of her tongue lashing he’d have replied she was sure putting a gleaming shine on the ornamentations adorning the inn’s interior. "And the next time you flirt with me, I'm going to neuter you like the dog you act like." She muttered, shaking her head as she rubbed the rag along a vase.

He blinked from under the onslaught and thought to doff his hat, lifting it from his head to begin an apology. Kydd was fly with his words - someone once told him he were a regular words worth - of course that was before they started a row soon after with Kydd. Why was it he were always running into trouble with folk when all he tried was bein’ friendly. “I’d sure appreciate it if you wouldn’t. I reckon I might like to have kids some day.” He tried to smile and flash her an appeasing smile. Just to press his luck he started again, “Not today mind, less you’re ask...”

She flashed her ring idly. "Didn't your mama teach you better than to flirt with a married woman, you idget?"

“Oh!” Boys he sure were dumb. He really weren’t the most observant or sharpest tack in the box. He tried to regain a little composure and tugged on the lapels of his jacket and leaned against another table, in doing so, almost knocking over another vase. There sure were a lot of vases in this place Kydd realised looking about the place. Again with the lack of observation. Maybe that’s what had her so peeved having to dust around them all day. “Sure is a lot of vases round this place ma’am.” There was also a lot of dust from Kydd’s clothes and it fell from them all over the surfaces that Sapphire had just dusted over.

Composing himself again, this time minus the knocking over of any vases, Kydd began again, not knowing when to quit when he was behind. “Wella course ye are married - ure a pretty lady. I’m sure he’s a happy, happy man. Mighty sorry for any offence. Some folk say I gabber on too much. Hells maybe they is right but I don’t seem to cotton on to when I’m letting my mouth - an’ even my eyes - run ahead me all loose and free like. I do apologise. I guess my enthusiasm has me all het up. Likes I said, just got in offa the train. I were holdin my head out the windy feeling the rushing air flow me by I were so hoppin’ wit’ beans. Near lost my damn good hat an’ all. Sure am excited to be here - Del Fuego - large and proud.” He shook his head as if disbelieving the fact of his arrival as if it were some sort of miraculous event.

He actually now stopped to take a breath. He went on to explain to the maid for some reason presuming she even cared to hear his story. “The Blackbird’s got quite a growing reputation. Getting big on the circuit I can tell you fer sure. An’ all on account the owner - Duke spreading the word and inviting all to come and play a hand against the bestest. Whoo wee ... they got a feller there by the name of Holliday. They says he can’ts be bet. But I’m gonna be the man to not only try but do it. Sure’s shootin’.”

[vee4]

She slapped her palm against her forehead and growled. "The next time you mention Duke or his damned saloon, I'mma find me a good bandanna and stuff it in yer craw!" She snapped, turning to face him. Her pale eyes showed the fire that burned so brightly within her. The last damned thing she wanted to hear about was her husband and his business. She couldn't tell anybody she was married to him, obviously. They wouldn't believe her, even if she tried!

Wiping her eyes with the heels of her palms, she returned to her work. Though she didn't mind letting her husband financially support their daughter, she wasn't about to accept his help. She didn't want to be indebted to him. It was bad enough that she had shared a forbidden night with him the first night she had seen him up close and personal in five years. damn, it had been mighty satisfying to see the look on his henchman's face, though. Magowan was one person she damned sure hadn't missed, and he was one of the very few that she dare not screw around with. A small part of her feared the mountain of a man, although she'd never admit it, not in a million years.

[kydd]

Casper backed off from the sudden burst of venom from the fair haired woman who was not seemingly as fair of nature. Kydd had a tendency for irritating people but he could hardly reckon what he had done in this instance to have caused annoyance. Then again, he rarely did know or realise that he had caused anyone annoyance.

Clutching unconsciously at the bandanna around his throat, the implement with which she threatened to stuff his gob, Kydd thought of something clever, witty and yet contrite and winning to say in response to the woman’s threat. Yet, he could not find the words.

Kydd rather imagined that he were some kind of lady’s man but truthfully he had little experience and certainly no expertise with dealing with women. So it were shaky grounds he stood on and he wished only to make a hasty departure, get to his room, breathe and then get as soon as possible over to the Blackbird Saloon. And do so without mentioning it the inn’s maid.

“Well then I reckon ... I oughta leave you in peace ma’am. Right sorry for any offence I mighta caused.” Kydd tried to hide the perplexed look he wore even trying to fathom what he might have done.

He retreated from Sapphire keeping his eyes on the lovely woman but refraining from wearing any kind of puppy dog love expression. He imagined that would not go down well at all. But so intent was he on making a swift retreat and keeping his focus on the maid were Kydd that he failed to realise he was backing up towards his bag. His heels kicked into his luggage and Kydd yelped, spun his arms in circles before toppling over.