takin it easy | [ open ]

[Lane McClellan]

Lane hardly every got a break from the saloon, so when she did, she was always out roaming the main streets of Del Fuego. Instead of wearing her normal, scandalous dress, she was in a rather intricate looking one. It was a soft, dusty pink color and even though it hung low on her shoulders, no cleavage was seen. It did still fit her hour-glass frame, but there was no slip in the leg to show off anymore skin than necessary. Her waist length, ebony hair was tied up in a clean knot on the back of her head, only a few loose strands dancing around her face from the small plucks of the wind. Even though she was dressed somewhat modest, she still heard cat-calls, and other means of men getting her attention. She has gotten used to it, and knew to just ignore it. Even though it did bring somewhat of a smile to her lips. The only thing that made her shrink within herself were the glares of other women. Those who were truly above her in society. Those who came from money, and even those who married into it. No, it wasn't fair, but still. It bothered her that she would never get the chance to have something like that.

Lane always dreamed that a cowboy would come into Del Fuego, sweep her off her feet, and just let her know everything as going to be okay. She dreamed of finding one of those flawless romances that were like wildfire. Every touch from that certain someone would light her senses on fire, spark her entire being, and send her into a world that she wanted to believe existed. So far, they were still only just dreams. Lane stopped walking and stopped beneath the shade of the general store, putting her hand over her eyes and looking around. It was hot out, and the sun was glaring over head. There were hardly any clouds in the sky to give relief from the sun's brutal rays, but it was a beautiful day. She was going to miss these days whenever winter finally hit.

[/size]

[Rio Daniels]

She was bored. Bored and tired of just sitting in the hide out all day long. She was trying to keep a low profile after the drunken scene she had made in the Saloon the other day. It had embarrassed her to no end and she was still paying for it from the men of Lewt's gang. As she sat on the porch, her legs were crossed, her feet propped on the railing. She had her arms crossed over her chest and she looked about as happy as the dry desert before her. She couldn't stay here. Muttering rather crankily to herself she decided on a trip into town. She had to face it some day. She couldn't hide forever. People would think she skipped town again. So, without further thoughts on the matter, Rio got up and took the walk that would lead her to the stables. Finding her horse with little difficulty, she pulled the mostly white paint out of his stall and decided on just a bridle. It was too hot for anything else today.

One he was ready, she leaped onto his back, getting herself situated before edging him forward. He went into a rather sprightly walk and they were making time even before they started a faster pace. Rio asked him to jog soon enough, but it was still taking too long. Eventually, they were settled into a nice, easy lope, and the town was finally visible to her bright blue eyes. Asking him to slow as they neared the main road, Rio kept her eyes shaded, wondering if the disguise she had on now was even worth it. The people of Del Fuego knew here, so there was no point to her ruse. She wasn't a young man, which had been proven on her first day here. Sighing to herself in frustration, Rio lifted her hat, letting her long brown hair tumble down in the braid she had put it in. Below her, West shifted into an easy pace, and they started down the street.

She could feel the stares on her, but no one dared to acknowledge her. When the men would have been inappropriate before knowing her, they decided to keep their mouths shut. The pistols holstered at her waist were not just for show and she didn't appreciate them looking at her in that fashion. She already belonged to someone and she didn't need anyone else thinking they could take advantage of her. Lewt probably wouldn't take kindly to that and neither would she. Shaking her head a bit, she let West choose his pace, following behind a girl dressed in a pale pink dress. Rio raised an eyebrow as she heard a cat call come from one of the porches and she scoffed in disgust. Men. They were all pigs. She didn't know how she had lucked out with the one that she had found. Shaking her head, she sent a glare to the group of men that were making the most noise, shutting them up almost instantly. Giving them a stern, defiant look, she walked her horse along to the general store, stopping in front of it. Hopping off the stallion, she hitched him to the post and then saw the girl from the street.

Stopping in her tracks, her boots scuffed up a bit of dirt and she studied her carefully. It was a habit of Rio's. Her photographic memory would serve her better if she could just observe someone for a moment before even speaking. Once that was finished, she stepped forward and gave her a respectful nod. "Ya alright miss? I couldn't help but notice them pigs botherin' ya. Want me to do somethin' about them? I ain't even got to say a word, really." She offered in a friendly manner, giving her a small smile. Rio wasn't usually nice, but for some reason she really felt for this young woman. She didn't deserve to be harassed like that just for being a woman, and Rio wouldn't stand for it. She had a few tricks up her sleeves, and she was prepared to use them if the girl wanted her to. She held her calloused hand out suddenly, not knowing if the girl would take it to shake or not, but figuring she would put it out there all of the same. "I'm Rio. Not from around here." She explained easily, still coming off as unusually kind. Apparently it was alright because she wasn't dealing with a man.

(( I figured maybe they can be friends? Totally up to you though! ))

[Enid Knox]

Enid Knox swept the board work in front of her general store. She gave the planks a vigorous sweeping kicking up dust and dirt, sweeping it into the street. But as thorough a job as she was doing she was not wholly focused on the task. Enid Knox had long perfected the ability to sweep the board walk in front of her store whilst keeping a good eye and ear out to the happenings on the street. Some folk might say she was a nosey judgemental gossip but Enid Knox knew the truth of the matter. She was in fact a concerned and observant citizen who also happened to be a regular church go-er and of strong moral and religious conviction.

To her mind, anyone that called her a gossip or accused her of being judgemental ... well ... it stood to reason they would think that if there was cause for people to talk about their actions and judge the manner of how they conducted themselves. So it was that today she observed the two women on the street chatting. She was unable to hear exactly what they were saying (unfortunately) but could discern enough of the topic to follow.

“Hmph.” She declared quietly with a small clucking sound as she considered them both. One was a ‘dancer’ in the Blackbird Saloon. Dancer indeed! Enid Knox preferred not to think about exactly what kind of performances the young woman gave. And given how salacious she was dressed in broad daylight, Enid’s eyes rolled at the very sight, she dreaded to think what her ‘dance’ outfit was like.

The other woman - well Enid had seen her some about the place in these last few weeks. As far as Enid could make out, the woman have been dressed to the exact opposite of the other clothed as she were in trousers and dust covered to boot and worse still - she wore holstered pistols at her hip. Really! Enid recalled the young woman coming into town at first and thinking her to be a man only for it be revealed in the street to be some sort of get up. Honestly! There was more decorum in being dressed the way the ‘dancer’ was!

No wonder they were getting plenty of stares from folk - rather lecherous stares too from some of the men, despite the fierce growl from the latter woman. Honestly, if some people didn’t know how to conduct themselves they really shouldn’t be surprised at the reactions of other folk. Of course, Enid Knox was not one to judge - that was for the good Lord above to decide - though no doubt he would decide rather unfavourably on both young women.

She turned and went back into her store. She gave a final peer out the shop front window and nosed a moment longer. “What are you doing dear?” came the voice of her (long suffering) husband Amos Knox from the counter.

“Huh?” She said rather distractedly over her shoulder to him. “Oh. Just ... looking. Honestly. Dressed like that. One thinks she’s a man the other wants every man to be looking at her!”

Amos ambled forwards to the door intrigued. “Really?”

She rounded at his approach and his interested look through the door window. “Amos Obadiah Knox!” (She usually reserved the Obadiah for a scolding) She looked upon him with angry eyes. “What do you think you are doing? Avert your eyes!”

Amos bid as commanded and lowered his eyes with the usual hang dog expression he wore, absently scratching his beard under her glare. But Enid had turned her attention back to the two women. “Honestly, if it isn’t bad enough that Duke offers such shows inside the doors of his establishment he now allows his ‘dancers’ to walk the streets offering a free showing.”

“A free showing?” Amos looked up again, temptation overriding his better senses.

“Obadiah!” She scolded him again. “The wickedness of that place! The Lord knows what goes in that den - his bleeding sacred heart to be offended so. The sin of Eve must surely pale.”

Amos shrugged. “Ain’t so bad Enid. Just a few dances. Miss Lane there is a very dancer too.” He foolishly stated before Enid.

Turning with hands on hips, Enid rounded on Amos and stabbed an indignant finger of protest repeatedly into his chest. “Amos! Obadiah! Knox! And how would you know exactly what goes on in that place? And how is it you know her name?”

“Well ... erm ... I was only ..." he stuttered and stammered for words, retreated as she came forwards and pointed her sharp finger at him, “you see ... you’d gone into the city to see your sister and ...”

“Obadiah! Get! Get into the back. Right this instant!” Enid slapped his back making Amos move as if she were rounding up cattle. Enid’s attention fell away completely from the two women to lecturing her husband ...