1880, March -- East Texas (IC)

The General Store
The sound of the knock hangs in the air...
In answer to Horace's question. "No, I ain't..."

A second, louder series of knocks pounds on the door.

"May, are you in there girl; open up!"

When May hears the voice from the other side of the door she jumps and let's go of William's hand like it was a hot iron.

"It's my Pa!"

A key starts to rattle in the lock. Everyone looks to Horace to see what he advises... he is, after all, a learned man...

Horace can clearly see that the friendship between May and Will is most assuredly frowned upon judging by the nature of May's reaction to the knowledge that the knock on the door belongs to her father.

Horace being Horace, is all about Horace so he is perfectly fine with the man entering. As far as what has been going on, he will remain silent. He quickly snatches the now empty bottle and closes his jacket as he awaits the man's entrance.

The General Store | Horace
...and enter the man does. The door squeals on rusty hinges, and the timber floor groans as May's father enters.

His eyes dancin' all over the scene: curiosity for Horace, suspicion for Jeremiah, annoyance for May and outright anger for William.

Mr. Decker is trailed by a mysterious stranger, a small, black tobacco wrapped cigar in the corner of his mouth. An all knowing smirk on his face.

His spurs jinggle as he walks. Two heavy lookin' peacemakers drag his gun belt at his hips.

Mr. Decker speaks to William, anger in his voice. "Go on William. You and your friends best be leaving now--"

Mysterious Stranger holds up a hand, gunbelt leather creaking as he shifts his weight. "Them two stay," he says in a sandpaper voice. He motions to Horace and Jeremiah.

Mr. Decker gives an annoyed look at the Mysterious Stranger. "Very well. Go on William. You ain't welcome here."





After just a moments hesitation, and a nod from May, William exits the general store.

Once the young man's exited, May turns angry on her father but he holds a hand up to silence her.

"I don't want to hear it May. Dammit, where does your loyalty lay?! You know his father embarrassed me in front of the whole gol'darn town! An' you know we've been ordering tools to sell, in direct competition to 'em, an' I just can't believ--"

He stops. Takes a deep breath. Continues calmly. "Later. We'll finish this later. Now. Who are these two?"

Mr. Decker looks at Horace expecting an introduction.

Nathaniel steps out of Alta's bedroom, his face impassive. He heads toward Kaladin, "We're all set. I let Ms. Evans know a signature won't be required, and she's still keen on helping us out. We should get the wolfsbane from the hollow then head back to town to introduce her to Mr. Phinney and Mr. Cross."

Stepping out the front door next, he gives Benny a wave and reassuring smile, and waits for Ms. Evans to finish gathering her things.

"How do you do gentlemen? I am Horace. Horace Phinney and can I interest you in some elixirs that will extend your lives farther than you expect?"

Horace is of course used to chancing his arm and takes the unexpected arrival of the men in his stride. "These folks here have been entertaining an old man's ramblings."

The General Store | Horace an' Jeremiah

"A travelin' oil salesman, eh...?" Mr. Decker is a shrewd man--he wouldn't have become the proprietor of a middling general goods store, out in the middle of nowhere, otherwise. He squints at Horace, searching his face for a lie...

*SKRITCH*
The Mysterious Stranger lights his cigar of a long stemmed match, struck from the butt of one of his guns.

"I don't care about none of that," he says as he puffs his cigar alight.

"You arrived in town with two other men, is that right Mr. Phinney? Well, a one weren't nothin' but a boy, but you catch my draft."

He takes a slow draw from his smoke. "Where are those two now?"

Horace ignores Decker. He's used to his attitude but to the other man he says, No sir, I don't believe I do catch your drift. Mind elaborating?

Geberal Goods Store, A Tense Meetin' | Horace
He leaves his small cigar danglin' from his lips and squints his eyes against the smoke.

He hitches his thumbs in his gungelt--he's got quick draw holsters, you see.

"I'm lookin' fer the older one. Folks here tell me y'all arrived together, at the saloon, last night."

His hand whips from his gun belt, up faster than a rattlin' snake! It comes to rest before your face; it's just a handbill with a young man's face drawn on it. "He goes by the name Kaladin. Don't know if that's his real name. An' don't care. But I know you seen him, old timer."

May looks at the handbill, recognition in her eyes.

Outside the Cabin | Nathaniel an' Kaladin
Bennie returns your wave and stands up from the crouch he was leanin' against a pine with.

"Shoot. You boys been in there a long time. Daylight's burnin' up." He wipes sweat from his brow and returns his hat to his head.



Behind y'all, the Cabin door swings open then closes with a clatter. A woman has stepped out into the fading sunlight.

She looks round squinting in the sun. "Shall we get goin' Mr. Bigby? I must be at thw town 'fore sundown."

She carries a large, faded and rough bag.

"Yeah I seen him," Horace mocks. "But I don't rightly know where he might be now. That was days ago. I'm afraid I can be of no help to you unless of course, you want to buy some of my famous elixir and experience ...uh... new and wonderful things."

Horace smiles thinly. He enjoys toying with the man.

Nathaniel's eyes widen at seeing this younger version of Ms. Evans, dare he say he even blushes a bit. He quickly gathers himself, "After you Ms. Evans. My mother always taught me ladies first."

Looking at Kaladin and Benny, "Like Bennie said, sun's setting, best if we can hustle it to town.". He doesn't mention anything about Alta's appearance, unless Kaladin decides to bring it up, and starts to head back toward town.

The Forest Round the Cabin | Nathaniel an' Kaladin
The group trudged through the pines, insects whirring in chorus around them.

Bennie walks closer to Nathaniel as they go. "Who the hell is she kid? An' why's she comin' with us? She gives me the creeps."

After a dozen or more meters, Alta stops. She calls out to Nathaniel and Kaladin. "The wolfsbane should grow roubd these parts, in the shade of the hill there," she points off to the left.

"It's possible the woods has been picked clean for the season, given the fear the townsfolk had. But we have a moment to search."

The General Store | Horace
The Mysterious Stranger's face takes on a dark cast. I ain't sure I like your mockin' tone ol' timer..."

But Mr. Decker steps between Horace and the man. "Now now. Let's keep it civil, shall we? This is a respectable town."

Mr. Decker points at the Mysterious Stranger. He explains to Horace, "This here is Willis Talley--yes THE Willis Talley; famed bounty hunter and shootist..."

He inclines his head slightly to Horace.

..."an he's tracked a mark to our soon to be prosperous berg. I offered the assistance of myself, an' daughter (who I hear from the marshall may have had a run in with the fella last night)."

"Now Mr. Phinney," he says to Horace, "if I'm reading between the lines, as they say, you're asking for a bribe for your cooperation? Is that so?"

"That's Ms. Alta Evans. She seems to know what's going on in town and how to stop the beast. She's willing to help us." ... "I think she's what my father called a 'neccessary evil', though maybe just more creepy than evil."

God I sure hope so

Hearing Ms. Evans speak, Nathaniel goes searching in the woods for wolfsbane.

The Pine Woods, Searching Hard | Nathaniel and Kaladin (Crit Fail)
Up and down the hillside, in hollows, among the roots, you all search. But to no avail...

Alta looks up at the sky hidden behind the branches overhead. "We need to move on. At this rate it'll be night 'fore we get to town--an' that ain't no good at all."

"Come along Mr. Bigby."

Nathaniel, your hands are already itching form the poison ivy you've picked through.

Looking in shame at the red welts starting to show on his hands, as they head back toward town Nathaniel has an internal conversation with The Big Guy ... Lord, have I done a bad thing siding with this lady? Are you punishing me? Or heck, did she curse me? It's just ... I need answers. I've been alone for awhile now, and I'm pretty sure you meant for me to meet these strangers, and I'm hoping Ms. Alta too. If you can give me a sign, I'd really appreciate it. Hope mama and papa are doing okay up there. Amen.

Among the Pines: Edge Town (full circle)
Nathaniel and Kaladin, you've come to the edge of the town as the sun is beginning to slant 'cross the treetops.

"I need to head to the saloon...they expectin' me to touch up the symbol of Baphomet, on my 'mother's' behalf." She winks at Nathaniel.

"Then I'll need ya ta help me get all setup. We won't have much time 'fore the sun goes down and the moon rises."

Alta lead the group toward the towns main street.

As ya'll get closer to the main drag Bennie whistles appreciatively. "Looks like they're quite a few folk arrived in town." He points to the troughs outside the saloon, which are packed tight with horses tied to the wooden rail.

"I been gamblin' in this town for a fair bit now, and I ain't seen them seven horse 'fore."




The town is filled with the sounds of the Blacksmith's forge--*clang, clang, clang*.

A fair way down the street, the sunlight glints off the windows of the General Store....

No sign from The Lord yet.

"I'm going to help Ms. Evans get set up at the saloon. Bennie, would it be too much trouble if you can try finding our other companions, Mr. Phinney and Mr. Cross, and let them know we're back? One's a bit odd looking, spectacles and suspenders, with an ample belly and cigar smoke following him. The other is a mountain of a man with burn marks on his arm and face. You can't miss them."

Turning to Kaladin, "Mr. Kaladin, what did you have in mind?"

Benny nods at Nathaniel and lights a smoke. "Sure thing kid. I'll ask around." And he strolls off down the still muddy street.

"Not at all. I'm just a salesman plying his wares albeit one with a terrible memory, is all." Horace replies, lightening his tone a bit.

"Who is you are hinting uh ... Mr Talley. is it?"