New Beginings..

[Rose and Alex]

When Alex looked over to what had made the noise he saw a man, finely dressed, standing not far from them at the edge of the stairs. Rose had stepped away from Alex by the time she’d realized he was there, she still flushed again. “Oh, alright, and you must call me Rose.” She responded. Looking to Alex, but Alex was glaring at the man. ‘how much did he see? He thought, and while his own reputation wasn’t a bother Roses’ was.
Alex continued to glare at the man, hands closed in fists at his sides. Then he turned to Rose, smiled at her. “I’m going to find Mark.” He disappeared through the library door, and beyond. Rose flushed bright red, “Please, you will have to excuse Alex. He’s a little...over protective of me.” She smiled shyly looking up at him from beneath her long red lashes. There was an awkward moment of silence, Rose swallowed again, not often was she in a lack for small talk, it was part of her job, to entertain. “He’s been with me since my father died. Alex is the one who helped me get the hotel going, if it weren’t for his loan I never would have been able to do as much with the place as I have...” Realizing she was rambling Rose clamped her mouth shut.

[Shane Lawson]

'And a little odd..' Barton thought to himself having watched the man duck out from the lobby. "That's quite alright." He assured her with a smile. "That's very nice of him to do such a thing.. Good people like that are quite hard to find in this day and age it seems." That was something he hadn't seen in Boston, then again who was poor enough to need help like that there?? "But I'm sorry to hear about your father, truly." He said sorrowfully, despite the trouble his father had caused him the pain of losing him recently was still weighing heavily on his heart. "But it seems you've done quite a wonderful job here.." This time he was carefully selecting his words and showing that he truly appreciated the luxury of her hotel. "I'm from Boston, I didn't know they had such nice hotels out here... you should be proud." he beamed, hoping this time he wouldn't stick his foot in his mouth.

[Rose and Alex]

”It is, Alex is a kind man, though he doesn’t often show it.” Rose replied a soft smile pulling at her lips. “Thank you, it’s been years now, but the loss still feels like yesterday sometimes.” Her smile wilted a little around the edges, she looked down at her short little fingers, and then curled them into her dress. Hiding them away from site. She looked up again, catching the brief look of sadness that flashed across his face. She opened her mouth to say ‘I’m sorry for your loss as well’ but before she could speak he’d moved the conversation along. “Really? Thank you, it means allot to me.” Her smile came back full force. “Boston? I grew up in a small town in New York, my father took my brother and I too Boston once, it was terribly busy and bustly.” She shivered at the memory. “I didn’t like it much.” She flushed again. “Oh, I’m rambling, I’m sorry.” She bowed her head turning the conversation back to the hotel. “Truly though, your praise means very much to me.”

[Shane Lawson]

Barton laughed a little at her remark about Boston. "Why do you think I'm out here?" he asked with a wink. "Boston is nice, but to many phony people.. Thought a change of scenery might be nice." Admiting to her while his eyes caressed the features of her face, his bravery building with each moment. "I have to ask.. Might I find a cup of tea here?" Again smiling at her, the akwardness was begining to fade some. "The coach ride from Phoenix is truly draining and I couldn't imagine anything more refreshing then a hot cup of tea."

[Rose and Alex]

“Of course!” Rose said, then stepped around the desk calling for Mary, who came round the corner. Lisa was 5’6 with shinny blond hair, blue eyes, what Rose thought of as the perfect beauty. She was slender and full, while Rose was tiny, and dainty. She sighed inwardly, looking at the girl, her smile still perfect. “Lisa, please watch the desk.” She said as she lead Barton, Henry, through the door on the left to the Parlor. “Have a seat Mr. Barton, I’ll be right back with your tea.” Then she slipped out to the kitchen. She fixed tea, and poured it into a little tea-kettle, for a brief moment she aloud herself to wonder why she hadn’t just had Lisa show him the way. Brushing it off, Rose told her self she was just being a good host, and put the tea and cups and sugar bowls and creamer bowl on a tray and headed back out. Setting it down on the table she smiled at him again, shly as the first time she’d smiled. “Nothing too fancy, but I hope it’s alright.”

[Shane Lawson]

Though by all means the Lisa girl was attractive, blondes weren't really his type to be honest and other then a polite nod she was largely ignored by Henry. Following Rose through the door, he accepted the offered seat. "Thank you, Rose." He said smiling while he sat down. Intertwining his fingers together surveying the details of the parlor while he waited for his host to return. "Oh lovely," He rose from his seat slightly as Rose entered the room again with the tea-tray. "Would you like to have a cup with me?" The bravery of this request even surprised him. "Just got here.. It'd be nice to find out a few things from someone who'd know.. and I'm sure you know quite a bit being the owner of this fine establishment." he said smiling.

[Miss Sparky]

There wasn't a soul in town who didn't recognize him. Everything about him was always the same from the dusty and worn white hat that sat at an awkward angle atop his balding head to the oddly empty holster at his waist to the smell of cheap whiskey on his breath. Even the slight stumble he had learned to hide as best he could gave him away. Then again, he stumble when he was sober, but that was of no consequence. It was definitely obvious that he was still drunk, or rather, just beginning his journey into the bowels of several more bottles of alcohol. It was only early afternoon, after all.

He had been winding his way through a bottle of whiskey, when he had the urge to go for a walk. Not that that was unusual. It was usually how the Marshall caught him, wandering the streets and putting him in a cell until he sobered up. Thus, his need to try and hide his stumbling gate. However, he wasn't trying very hard to hide it on this afternoon. He was only going for a short walk. He had a particular destination in mind, someone he hadn't seen in quite some time.

He pushed open the doors to the hotel, The Five Graces, it was called. A pretty place. He always felt as though it were out of place here in the dusty back woods of their growing country. But, that pretty little red head who ran the place was determined to make it as nice as possible. Far be it from him to stomp on her dreams, elsewise, she'd never listen to any of his. A smile lit his mustached face as he stumbled through the lobby and up to the desk, finding not his pretty Rose but that other charming, but strangely plastic girl Lisa. "Roshe? Where'shee at?" He asked of the blonde, who knew full well who this man was.

"She's with a customer right now, Artie. Somethin' I can help you with?" She asked of him and he gave her a sideways glare, closed his eyes, and waved a hand at her. He then shook his head, opened his mouth a few times, waved his hand at her again and laughed.

"Yooou are a trickshee girl. Tricksy. Where'shee at, my Rosey?" He asked again, as if Lisa was fibbing to him. But, in his state, he hardly cared about customers or money or really much of anything. Not to say he was a bad man or a vicious drunk. He was just a little selfish and sometimes quite the dreamer. Definitely often lost in his own world. Before Lisa could answer, he held up his hand again, pushing away from the front desk. "Nevermind, missy. I'll find her me'self." He told her.

"Now, Artie. You know better than to bother her while she's with customers." Lisa reminded him, somewhat sternly and he looked at her again, this time a bit more angrily.

"I'm a grown man, Lisha! I'll... I'll talk t'her if'n I want to." He reminded her, pointing a finger just past her and stared at her for a moment, as if that would drive the point home. With a sigh, Lisa shook her head and directed him toward the parlor, which immediately changed his mood. He smiled at her, attempting to tip his hat, though it flipped a bit farther back on his head than he expected. "Thank ya, missy." He said to her as he stumbled his way toward the parlor.

"Roshey! Where are ya?" He called, stumbling through the threshold of the parlor and finding his little fire haired girl with some man. A fancy pants kind of fellow, he was sure. He didn't like the look of him one bit, he didn't. "There ya are. Whosh'yer friend?" He asked, seating himself near them, then deciding it wasn't close enough and dragged a chair nearer to Rose and Barton.

[Rose and Alex]

Hesitating, Rose licked her lips and touched her hair making sure it was in place. It was a reasonable request, she nodded and slid in to the chair opposite from him. Pouring herself, and him a glass she leaned back in the chair. “I honestly don’t know all that much, Alex fills me in on the gossip.” Her fingers trailed the edge of the lace work, “The General Store is across the street, and he’ll get anything you need, if they haven’t got it already. Doctor Franklin, on main and seventh, Lost Haven is quiet the booming town.” Rose heard a noise from the Lobby and turned to look who was giving Lisa a hard time. But she could almost hear the slur from here. “But I’m sure you already know the landscape Mr…Henry.” Rose said. She heard her named called, and stood up, turning to greet Artie. She sat again, when Artie sat a table away, and dragged the chair closer. “Artie be nice, this is Mr. Barton. He’ll be staying here for a week or two, Mr. Barton, this is Artie, he likes to come and chat me up sometimes if I’m not to busy.” She sniffed the air. “You’ve been drinking already Artie.” Rose admonished him, knowing that it did no good, and would be waved off. Still, she had to try. Rose liked the old man quiet a bit, she loved hearing his stories. “Would you like a cup of tea Artie? Or are you going to stick to your chosen…drink?” She asked patting the old man’s hand.

[Shane Lawson]

It was almost as if he was hanging on her every word as he added the sugar to his tea, inadvertantly adding just a little too much without realizing it. "Gossip can be quite evil." he responded, thinking about the gossip in Boston over him dumping his fiancé shortly before thei wedding. "Doctor Franklin you say?" The name Franklin rung a bell, though surely there was no relation to the Franklin family of Boston, but the thought crossed his mind nevertheless as he stirred his tea with the small spoon. "Yes it certainly is booming, I think the possiblities are quite endless here, and I think your hotel will benifit from it greatly." And that would certainly be true if the plan he had visualized in his head ever came true. Henry looked casually over his shoulder as he too heard the noise, but he dismissed it at first as he turned back to her. "Landscape? Well.. from what I saw coming in on the coach I suppose.." Before he could comment any further, his senses were first alerted by the stench of cheap alcohol and then the stumbling of the drunk man as he entered the room. Henry turned to see who'd just came in and sat down, visibly he was a bit repulsed at the sight of the drunken man, yes drunks knew their proper place in Boston! And this one looked as if he hadn't had a bath in.. Maybe he'd never had one!

It was obvious Rose knew who he was, and thus Henry kept his tongue and expressions in check as best he could. "Pleased t omeet you Mr. Artie?" Unsure of how to address the olderman, he offered his hand to the man politely. "Cornelius Barton, But you can call me Henry if you like." Still trying to be friendly while realizing this man might have a good idea of what was really going on in Lost Haven as well, even if he was a drunk..

[Miss Sparky]

He couldn't help but smile at Rose as she patted his hand and welcomed him into the conversation. Not that it would matter if she had or not, he'd have invited himself in any case. He waved Rose's tea away with a sniff, leaning back in his chair. "Nah, Roshey. Thanks though." He said to her, all the while watching her. As soon as the man spoke up, he tilted his head to the side, a look of serious concentration on his face, reaching up to scratch his skull underneath his hat as Henry held out his hand. He looked at it a moment, before a grin split his face again.

"Pleased t'meetchu too, Cornshelis." He shook his head, retracting his hand. "No, no. Cornshenilius... Oh, my. Cornneeliusssh." He stumbled over the man's name, trying very hard to call him by the name given him as he hardly heard the part about calling him Henry. He waved a hand at him. "I'll jus' be callin' ya Bart. S'eashier on my ol' mind." He told the young man, tapping his head with a thick finger. "Oh! I'm Artie. Yush, Arthur B. Shtanton! Don't ashk what th'B stands fer. I'm t'old to remember. But, they call me Artie. S'the important part."

He leaned back into his chair with a sigh, as if that conversation had exhausted him. He sighed, fidgeting with his hat a moment, allowing an awkward silece to grow between the three of them before he sat up, waving a finger. "You better'nt be tryin' anything funny with mah Roshey. She's a good girl, she'sh." He said to Henry, stabbing his finger at the man, as if that would help him. "Mishter Fancy Fancy Pants, you are. Comin' int'town and shtealin' up all of-- all of our good women. She'sh gon' make a good man happy, but notchu! No, notchu! Yer too fancy." So, he was a drunk who couldn't contain himself, but he was a man who could sense the makings of a crush, inebriated or no.

[Rose and Alex]

Rose choked on her tea when Artie tried to pronounce Henry’s name. She coughed, and hid a smile behind the rim of the glass, keeping her eyes down, afraid the laughter would show. Smiling kindly at Artie she shook her head, one hand touching her hair again. The silence stretched for a moment too long. Rose was about to make excuses and say she had to go back to work then Artie spoke up again. “Oh no…” Her giggles faded quickly. She whispered, face flushing with horror as he wagged his finger at ‘Mr. Fancy Pants’ “Artie no it isn’t like that he’s…new we were just talk, really it’s nothing like that.” She said to the old man. “I’m sorry Henry. He doesn’t mean any harm.” Rose said, she was sure she was pink from head to toes. But Artie kept talking right over her, Yer too fancy he finished. Rose groaned and hung her head, hiding it in her hands. “Thank you for that Artie.” She said with a sigh, meaning it, he wasn’t trying to embarrass her, he was just looking out for her.

[Shane Lawson]

Politely nodding Henry tried to enjoy his cup of tea despite the growing awkwardness of the situation. And it only become more embarrasing as he tried to stumbled through trying to pronounce his name the first, second and third time all unsuccessfully! Before he even had a chance to pipe in with afourth attempt Henry chirpped. "Henry! Just call me Henry.." Yes the socialite was quite embarrassed by this point as he sat his cup down on the table, already feeling a little frazzled by the man. 'Bart? Wonderful, wonderful name..' he grumped, before the man started tapping his head! "Ow!" Barton recoiled, pulling away from the man as he rubbed the spot where Artie had been tapping him, and thats when he got a good look at the other mans hand, wondering when he'd bathed last. "ERm.. Nice to meet you Mister Shtanton.." Forcing a smile as he nodded to the man.

If his embarrassment wasn't complete enough already, Artie was sure as hell about to make it worse. As silence set in over the three of them, Henry had just started to enjoy his tea again and think maybe, just maybe the awkwardness was over and that the man was out of things to say or on the verge of passing out. No such luck. It was Henrys turn to choke on his tea, as the man accused him of coming here to steal the women folk! "Ahem.. erm.." Henry coughed harsly, trying to clear his lungs of the tea that'd went down the wrong pipe, and as he tried to speak, his words were broken by the coughing bout.. "I..*coughs* I'm he..re *coughs* on business actually.." he choked out, pounding his chest with one hand as he finally cleared his lungs. "I own the Excelsior Mining Company, we're looking to expand operations, you know bring more work for everyone, improve the town.." he said trailing off, trying to understand half the things the man was saying and then coping with the title of Mishter fancy fancy pants! Barton sighed softly. no this was not going well at all.

[Rose and Alex]

“Are you alright Henry?” She asked looking concerned. “Artie!” She scolded. “You’ve made him choke on his tea. Now you behave or I’m going to get Alex.” The threat wasn’t nearly as bad as it seemed. Alex rather liked the old man as well, and when ever he got to rambunctious for the Hotel, Rose told Alex to get him out. Alex did that with a offer of a drink down at the bar. Rose turned back to Henry. “You own the mining company?” She asked weakly. She’d defiantly underestimated this man. She’d assumed he was just another rich man from Boston. “So…so you’ll…when…” She trailed off and blinked several times, before shaking her head. “Well, um…Artie, why don’t you tell us about when you moved to town.” Rose asked, trying to drag the conversation back to polite ground.

[Miss Sparky]

Artie frowned at the other man, listening to him as best he could, but it was hard to understand him through all that coughing. Hmph, fancy pants must be a smoker and he knew that was a nasty habit indeed. For shame. He shook his head, obviously confused. "Who'sh Henry? And what'd I jisht tell ya? I'm Artie. Not Mishter Shtanton, no Stanton. That's it. That'sh, that'sh m'father." He added with a nod.

He reached over and patted Rose's hand, nodding to the girl. "I'm only lookin' out fer ya, darlin'." He knew full well that Alex was no threat, no matter what the girl said to him. So, obviously he ignored the threat. He also ignored the fact that Bart or Henry or whoever he was owned the mining company. He could give a damn about it. With a sniff and a shrug, he considered Rose's attempt at changing topic.

"Nah, Roshey. Ya don'wanna hear that. Sh'a sad shtory." He said to her, sounding as though he were moping. But, then a smile lit his expression. "But, I can tell ya 'bout the the little people that live in the minesh!" He exclaimed. Ah, another of his stories. He knew Rose liked them. "Or mebbe... Have I toldja that one already?"

[Shane Lawson]

As Henry was gasping trying to catch his breath, When Rose could've just dropped a piano on him. She didn't know he was THE Barton that owned it? "Yes..Yes I do.." he responded huskily. "It was my f.. fathers company." again he gasped, coughing a few more times before he finally settled down again. "ah.. sorry.. Artie.." he said meekly, after the mans miniature scolding over his name. It was obvious to him at that moment that this place was beyond a world away from Boston and it was certainly going to take some adjusments. Finally he forced himself to look up at Artie as he mentioned the 'little people' in the mines.. Oh boy.. "LIttle people in the mines? Oh do tell.." Yes, it'd be nice to get one of those tall western tales in while he was at it..