Meeting

Players:

thomas_icon.jpg

NPCs:

* None

Summary: Thomas meeting Miss Louise, later Clint joined

Date: May 5th

Meeting


School House

(if there is duplicate posts-don’t’ hang me I tried to weed them out)

Thomas steps into the school house, though not the one he attended as he attended up north in Montana but a school house was a school house and so quietly slips in unaware that anyone was there. "Many times I had to write I will not pull girls hair." He speaks to himself.

Louise walks into the main room from one of the other rooms humming softly. She looks slightly startled at there being a person in the room she had left empty. She gasps and places a hand over her heart, "Dear lord man, you shouldn't walk into an empty classroom without finding out if there is actually someone around." She frowns softly in a disapproving way that screams that she had been a teacher for a few years at least.

Thomas takes his hat off and clears his throat "My apologize Miss. I wasn't aware we had a teacher here." He footsteps were followed by the clinking of his spurs. "Just home is quite far away and school was one the few places I remember quite fondly." The model student-not hardly but..

Louise looks at him as her frown slowly slips away, "I am the new teacher. There were rumors in the scholastic field that there was no present teacher here. I decided to take on the task of moving out here and teaching those that would have my teachings." She smiles softly, "That is alright, you just gave me a bit of a fright. If you come back here in the future, please try not to startle me again." She moves around the school house as if she was at home and yet was learning the lay out of the room, "I am Miss Louise." She curtsies with her head bowed slightly, "Might I know the name of the first person I have met in this town?"

Thomas nods his head "I'll right remember that Miss Louise, I'm Thomas, Thomas Gatlin, Miss." He offers a smile and he lets his fingers glide across the desk nearest. "Been a while since I've been in a school. You'll like the town, its takes a bit getting used to, little bigger than what I'm accustomed to but folks here, right nice." He offers the woman a smile even as she curtsies "Oh you don't have to do that, I'm not anyone special, Ma'am."

Louise smiles at Thomas, "Ah but manners matter Thomas." She gestures to the desk, "Sit. I teach all. Anything that needs to be taught that I know, I teach. Once I get settled I will be opening up night classes once or twice a month for anyone that isn't a child in my day classes and wishes to learn more."

Louise smiles softly and lets Thomas have his memories. She knows that if he wishes to talk that in time he will talk. "You have had a busy life it seems. If you wish to improve your reading and writing I would be happy to have you as one of my students. I will make sure that word gets to you when I do start my classes." She moves up to the front of the classroom to the chalkboard with a soft smile, "Do you know of any place that I might get a room to live until I can get a proper house? You see I have just arrived here and wanted to see the school house before anything else." She looks around, "It is surprisingly well maintained."

Thomas nods his head "I could do that, maybe you can help me figured how to spelt." He wasn't good at spelling. Scratches his chin "Might try the woman's boarding house , I could take you there. There's also row houses too, dun know how’s the rent though." He glances around "Yes' Ma'am, sometimes when I ain't workin' a full days, I come and clear off the weeds from the yard, dun need the grass so high you can't find the younguns."

Louise smiles at Thomas, "Thank you Thomas for keeping the school house clean." she nods, "Of course I can help you with your spelling. It would be nice to at least know where they are. I thank you again Thomas. At least I know that someone is friendly in town so far. I hope that everyone is similarly so."

Thomas smiles at her, yes he's already liking this new teacher and gives a nod. "Yes Ma'am and I think you'll feel right home here, much as I do. I come from up from Montana and feels like home."

Louise smiles and nods, "I sure hope so. I traveled a long way to get here. I am not really look to be going back." She shakes her head, sending her curls scattering slightly. "I much prefer small towns to big cities. There is something more rewarding about a small town." She sighs softly with a distant look in her eyes. She looks at Thomas and realizes she had been lost in thought and blushes a soft pink, "I am sorry, I should clarify. I was offered the position of either coming here or going to a large city to teach." She leaves out that she was asked to teach exceptionally bright children in the city. "I find the small towns to be more charming."

Thomas shakes his head "No need to apologize, Suppose I feel the same though I grew up in the wilds of Montana, open ranges as far as the eye could see and then come here, glad I'm able to work a ranch though and open spaces, though the view of town just improved." He looks towards her as he spoke. "But you're right, a small town is much more charming."

Louise smiles and laughs softly, "I actually grew up in a large city. I just never loved the city. My life is out in the small towns. That is actually why I became a teacher. My dream was one of teaching a small classroom like this full of children." She looks up at the ceiling with a wistful smile, "I am just a little stunned that my dream is coming true."

Thomas walks to the blackboard and grins as he picks up the chalk. "Well you definitely will have a class full and probably a few that will have to do this." He starts writing. "I wilt nawt pull gurls hair." He looks over his shoulder with a mischievous grin and writes another "I wilt nawt put ink end teacher's chair." He chuckles "I've had to write those a good two times a week."

Louise smiles at Thomas, "I suppose you do need a little help with spelling." She steps up next to him and plucking the chalk from his hand she writes in a flowing and curly letters 'I will not pull girl's hair.' She hands the chalk back, "Try again." She gestures to her sentence on the chalkboard.

Louise smiles and laughs, "Well it would look funny to someone who has been spelling it wrong for years I would gather." She picks up another piece of chalk and rights the word 'girl' again, "Once more." She gestures to the chalk board. She hears the sigh with her teachers ears, the early ones that can here anything even in a crowded room of talkative children. She turns on her heals like she was used to it and looks at Clint with a disapproving frown, "You could have announced yourself." She motions him to come forward.

Thomas smiles at the teacher "Course if I had a teacher as pretty as you, I'd probably taken to learning' lot more." He writes it again but this time - gets it right "I will not pull girls hair" He looks over his shoulder "Yeah she'll have you writing - I will not sneak up on teacher - 500 times." He smiles as he says that.

Clint stand up from leaning on the doorframe and comes into the classroom reluctantly and smiles, "I am sorry I did not mean to intrude on you but let me introduce myself." he says before straightening up and smiles politely, "I am Clint Purnell.

Louise smiles as she glances at the blackboard, "Very good Thomas." She shakes her head and a small blush creeps into her cheeks, "I'm sure you are just saying that to keep me in this town." She looks at Clint and curtsies with a slight bowing of her head, "I'm Miss Louise. I am the new school teacher. It is nice to meet you Clint and your apology is accepted."

Clint smiles at Louise "pleased to meet you and welcome to Cimarron." he murmurs before nodding to Thomas in greeting while watching Louise and her class.

Clint smiles and walks up to the teacher's desk, "I hope you are enjoying the town here and I am sure you will get to meet everyone here too." he assures Louise, giving her a wink and smile.

Louise smiles and she wipes her hands together after setting the eraser back in the tray. "I think I will enjoy it here very much. It doesn't seem to be to big of a town so I am also sure I will meet everyone eventually." She laughs softly and smiles at Thomas, "I think I may just have to test that sometime." She sighs softly, "Once I get everything settled I will be putting up signs for the children’s first day of school. Do either of you know a good place to put up a sign so that all of the parents can see it?"

Thomas gives a thought to that "The church would be one place Miss and the General store." He speaks up and he grins to giving that a test, on the dancing.

Clint nods in agreement "that would be a great idea for the sign to be put up on front of the church next door to the school." he gestures in the direction of the church.
Louise nods with a smile, "I should probably pop in to see the local father's and get their permission. I wouldn't want them mad at me. I should also meet the general store owner to get his permission too." She smiles brighter as she now has a plan, "I can't hurt to put a sign up in bother places."

Louise smiles and nods, "That would be much appreciated Thomas." She smiles at Clint, "That is a good job, yes? I hope they pay you well. Oh if you or anyone you know that is above the school age needs or wants some school lessons, I will be starting some classes for those that wish to learn. I believe I will be seeing Thomas here for his spelling." She smiles at Thomas, "Which has improved slightly so far."

Louise smiles and nods, "That would be much appreciated Thomas." She smiles at Clint, "That is a good job, yes? I hope they pay you well. Oh if you or anyone you know that is above the school age needs or wants some school lessons, I will be starting some classes for those that wish to learn. I believe I will be seeing Thomas here for his spelling." She smiles at Thomas, "Which has improved slightly so far."

***
"Shucks Ma'am." Thomas smiles but his own share of blushing tinting his already tanned skin. "If you be needing anything, don’t' hesitate to ask, I mean I could carry your books, dust your erasers , fix the roof to the school house."

Clint nods at Louise "You are a very sweet girl and I am sure that we can get to know each other better." he murmurs and then frowns a bit "My parents taught me how to read and write which is why I am well educated in reading and writing." he smiles and moves to look at the blackboard and picks up a chalk to write his name on the board.

Louise smiles at Thomas, "My books will be staying here and the cleaning of the erasers are for the children who are disobedient. As for fixing the roof, if it ever needs to be fixed I shall know who to ask." She watches Clint as he picks up chalk to write on the blackboard. She smiles brightly, "I will also teach to read and write in other languages as well. It does not necessarily have to be English."

Louise smiles softly and lets Thomas have his memories. She knows that if he wishes to talk that in time he will talk. "You have had a busy life it seems. If you wish to improve your reading and writing I would be happy to have you as one of my students. I will make sure that word gets to you when I do start my classes." She moves up to the front of the classroom to the chalkboard with a soft smile, "Do you know of any place that I might get a room to live until I can get a proper house? You see I have just arrived here and wanted to see the school house before anything else." She looks around, "It is surprisingly well maintained."

Thomas nods his head "I could do that, maybe you can help me figured how to spelt." He wasn't good at spelling. Scratches his chin "Might try the woman's boarding house , I could take you there. There's also row houses too, dun know how’s the rent though." He glances around "Yes' Ma'am, sometimes when I ain't workin' a full days, I come and clear off the weeds from the yard, dun need the grass so high you can't find the younguns."

Louise smiles at Thomas, "Thank you Thomas for keeping the school house clean." she nods, "Of course I can help you with your spelling. It would be nice to at least know where they are. I thank you again Thomas. At least I know that someone is friendly in town so far. I hope that everyone is similarly so."

Thomas smiles at her, yes he's already liking this new teacher and gives a nod. "Yes Ma'am and I think you'll feel right home here, much as I do. I come from up from Montana and feels like home."

Louise smiles and nods, "I sure hope so. I traveled a long way to get here. I am not really look to be going back." She shakes her head, sending her curls scattering slightly. "I much prefer small towns to big cities. There is something more rewarding about a small town." She sighs softly with a distant look in her eyes. She looks at Thomas and realizes she had been lost in thought and blushes a soft pink, "I am sorry, I should clarify. I was offered the position of either coming here or going to a large city to teach." She leaves out that she was asked to teach exceptionally bright children in the city. "I find the small towns to be more charming."

Thomas shakes his head "No need to apologize, Suppose I feel the same though I grew up in the wilds of Montana, open ranges as far as the eye could see and then come here, glad I'm able to work a ranch though and open spaces, though the view of town just improved." He looks towards her as he spoke. "But you're right, a small town is much more charming."

Louise smiles and laughs softly, "I actually grew up in a large city. I just never loved the city. My life is out in the small towns. That is actually why I became a teacher. My dream was one of teaching a small classroom like this full of children." She looks up at the ceiling with a wistful smile, "I am just a little stunned that my dream is coming true."

Thomas walks to the blackboard and grins as he picks up the chalk. "Well you definitely will have a class full and probably a few that will have to do this." He starts writing. "I wilt nawt pull gurls hair." He looks over his shoulder with a mischievous grin and writes another "I wilt nawt put ink end teacher's chair." He chuckles "I've had to write those a good two times a week."

Clint steps into the schoolhouse and looks curiously around.

Louise smiles at Thomas, "I suppose you do need a little help with spelling." She steps up next to him and plucking the chalk from his hand she writes in a flowing and curly letters 'I will not pull girl's hair.' She hands the chalk back, "Try again." She gestures to her sentence on the chalkboard.

Louise smiles as she glances at the blackboard, "Very good Thomas." She shakes her head and a small blush creeps into her cheeks, "I'm sure you are just saying that to keep me in this town." She looks at Clint and curtsies with a slight bowing of her head, "I'm Miss Louise. I am the new school teacher. It is nice to meet you Clint and your apology is accepted."

Thomas grins "That too Miss but definitely . Maybe if this town has a social, I could take you to it." He glance back to Clint, even as Thomas puts the chalk down.

Clint smiles at Louise "pleased to meet you and welcome to Cimarron." he murmurs before nodding to Thomas in greeting while watching Louise and her class.

Louise smiles at the two men, "Thank you Clint, from what I have seen this is a friendly little town." She looks at Thomas with a soft smile, "I hope you can dance better than you can spell." She laughs softly at her teasing. "Oh how I missed a classroom on my journey here." She picks up and razor and starts to wipe the chalk board clean with steady movements.

Thomas grins "Oh I can Ma'am. " He gives her a wink "I promise you won't go home with sore toes." He smiles as he sits on the corner of the teacher's desk, making sure nothing was in his way. Gives a return nod to Clint.

Clint smiles and walks up to the teacher's desk, "I hope you are enjoying the town here and I am sure you will get to meet everyone here too." he assures Louise, giving her a wink and smile.

Louise smiles and she wipes her hands together after setting the razor back in the tray. "I think I will enjoy it here very much. It doesn't seem to be to big of a town so I am also sure I will meet everyone eventually." She laughs softly and smiles at Thomas, "I think I may just have to test that sometime." She sighs softly, "Once I get everything settled I will be putting up signs for the children’s first day of school. Do either of you know a good place to put up a sign so that all of the parents can see it?"

Thomas gives a thought to that "The church would be one place Miss and the General store." He speaks up and he grins to giving that a test, on the dancing.

Clint nods in agreement "that would be a great idea for the sign to be put up on front of the church next door to the school." he gestures in the direction of the church.

Louise nods with a smile, "I should probably pop in to see the local father's and get their permission. I wouldn't want them mad at me. I should also meet the general store owner to get his permission too." She smiles brighter as she now has a plan, "I can't hurt to put a sign up in both places."

Thomas smiles and gives a nod "I could help pass the word along to the area ranchers too, Ma'am." He smiles as a boot thumps against the desk, and the clink of his spurs follow. "I work out that away and I'm sure Sheriff Roland would be of help as well."

Clint turns to Thomas and grins, "excuse me sir, I am Clint Purnell and a pleasure to meet you too." he says, nodding at him before turning back to Louse "well, you know that I have been in town for about 4 months and I work at the Saguaro Rose Saloon as a bouncer."

Thomas chuckles lightly "I remember those days, dusting the erasers, perhaps I'll tell them the fine pointers of how to get the job done." He gives a wink to her and nods "Well I'll be more than happy to insure that you and the younguns are dry from the rains and warm in the winter. Though not sure what the winters are like here.

Clint laughs before putting the chalk back in the tray and grabbing the crayon o wipe the board off. "I speak English, Navaho and Spanish as my three languages." he explains with a grin and winks at Louise.

Louise nods and smiles, "I thank you Thomas and if you give my students pointers I may just have to stick you in the corner." She laughs softly only half joking. She smiles at Clint, "Then you are a lost cause? How are you on writing and reading Navaho and Spanish?"

Thomas nods his head and grins "If sitting in the corner and you being my teacher." He laughs and looks to Clint "Impressive."

Clint grins "well, I learnt the Navaho language from my Indian friends on my travels form Texas to Cimarron as well as my father taught me Spanish form when he traveled to Spain on his trading journeys."

Louise smiles and rolls her eyes at Thomas. She smiles at Clint, "If you want to learn anything new I can teach you. I know English, Spanish, Latin and Gaelic." She smirks and moves to sit in her chair, first checking to make sure nothing was in the chair first.

Thomas chuckles as she checks the chair "No ink" Snaps his fingers as he spoke and shakes his head "Though what uses is that thar Gaelic around these parts, ain't seen nothin' but Mexicans, injuns and whites."

Clint roars with laughter "ahh my, I know Spanish is the language of the Mexicans because the Spaniards have explored America back hundreds years ago." he says, nodding at Louise and shifting a bit to make himself.

Louise smiles at Thomas, "It is actually a very nice language and you have to remember I didn't grow up here." She smiles at Clint, "That is correct but they didn't intend to explore Mexico. They had thought that they would get to India when they sailed far enough west." She gestures to a seat, "Please sit." She smiles again, "They had been going to set up a trade route that wasn't as dangerous."

Thomas listens as to both and course he didn't pay to much mind to history back in the day but once in a great while. "Kind of like Columbus did, ended up here instead of wherever the he.. Where ever he thought he was going."

Clint nods as he moves to sit down on the chair "thank you, Louise." he murmurs as he shifts to make himself comfortable.

Louise smiles and nods to Thomas, "Exactly. They had originally thought the world was flat but once it was proved that the world is round they thought that they could sail west and just stop at china or India. They hadn't known that this continent even existed." She smiles and Clint, "You are welcome."

Thomas shakes his head "kind of ignorant back then wasn't theys?" He shakes his head "The earth is definitely not flat though it sure seems like it when you're riding for weeks on end, sleeping and practically eating dust, bathes come far and few between." talks like he knows this life , which he did.

Clint laughs softly while listening to Thomas and then smiles at Louise "You must be a very smart girl who knows all about history." he murmurs with a grin on his face.

Louise gently corrects Thomas, "Weren't they." She nods, "It does feel like it sometimes." She smiles at Clint, "I am a teacher after all. I know geography, history, math, literature, and four languages. I am supposed to be smart if I am to educate the young and impressionable."

Thomas wasn't even aware he was being corrected. "I knows geography cause I traveled in places that even hadn't seen a white man yet, well least till I crossed it. I was a bounty hunter at one time."

Clint looks around the classroom and sighs softly "You must remember that Geography is a good thing to learn." he murmurs, nodding at Thomas and smiling sweetly at Louise.

Louise smiles and shakes her head at Thomas, she has a lot of work to do with him. "Geography is a great thing to learn especially when one travels a lot. Maybe one day one of the children I teach will grow up and create a successful trade with someone far away." She looks dreamily up at the ceiling, "Maybe I will teach a future leader or scholar." She seems lost in thought or maybe her dreams.

Thomas smiles to Louise "I'm sure you will, just as Miss Hathaway taught a future deputy, well one before bec…before I laid down the star to be a bounty hunter.." He starts to say something but cuts it off to pick up with something else, obviously something was there a wall of sorts that he's built around him. "Now look where I am, I bust my rear breaking horses who'd figure that Little Tommy would grow up and end up in new Mexico talking to a beautiful teacher?"

Clint grins and nods "Thomas is just a great guy who knows what he is doing." he says, nodding at Thomas and thinks deeply about some other things.

Louise smiles and blushes a soft pink as she was caught in her dreams, "I … well yes. I am sure I will teach some fine young men and woman." She looks at the floor and tries to stop thinking about her dreams. She is obviously embarrassed about being caught daydreaming, probably a reflex from her childhood.

Thomas grins to Clint and then to Louise "Well as all teachers do , you'll inspire someone, perhaps a young lady will want to be like you and become a teacher, new territories are opening, new homesteads, towns are sprouting up like weeds all over tarnation."

Clint chuckles and blushes red in the face when he realizes he was thinking about Louise "oh my, I guess I have been thinking about you Louise!" he mumbles and looks away.

Louise smiles at Thomas and laughs, "If I encounter a young woman that is like I was as a young girl, I will do exactly what my teacher did. She handed me a book that was to advanced for the class at the time and told me to read it. She said if you don't read that whole book by Monday don't bother coming back to class." She smiles as she looks slightly lost in her memory, "You know, I had considered not reading the book but I ended up reading it and before I knew it. The book was finished. So needless to say I went to class Monday and my teacher gave me a knowing look and from that day on I knew I wanted to be a teacher just like her." She looks at Clint and blushes crimson, "Oh!" She places a hand on her cheek and shakes her head reminding herself she isn't thirteen anymore.

Thomas looks to Clint "Seems we have the same thoughts, she is a beautiful woman, but one that should be treated with the up most respect." He smiles to her and grins to the story she shared "Much like me, my father was a lawman, that's all I ever wanted to be. So at 15 I became a deputy for wolf's point , was one for a while ..till I laid the badge down."

Clint looks up and smiles at Louise "You are so beautiful and I can't keep my eyes off you." he murmurs, trying his best not to blush again and then nods to Thomas "you are right that women should be treated with respect."

Louise blushes more and shakes her head. "I take it that you were a dedicated deputy, Thomas?" She nods at the last thing said, "Woman most definitely be treated with respect. Part of my lessons will be manners." She is doing everything in her power to keep a straight face and nod give in to her inner teenage girl.

Thomas nods his head "I was. Till.." He looks to the floor "Its in the past , now I work for Sheriff Roland, and maybe some day, I'll return to wearing the badge. Just not right now, though its still in my blood, I still out there walking the town at night to insure that it stays, safe for women folk and younguns."

Clint nods at Thomas "I met your boss Joe Roland and he is the local sheriff here." he explains, remembering his first meeting with the sheriff. Then he turns to Louise "excuse me, I did not mean to make you blush but I am a very gentle and caring gentleman." he assures her with a smile.

Louise smiles at Thomas, "That is very noble of you." She nods to Clint, "I am sure you are and I accept your apology." She gets up from her chair, "Now if you will excuse me gentlemen I must get back to organizing the rooms. I have delayed long enough, you understand." She smiles at both of them, "It was nice meeting you both."

Thomas nods "Yup that would be him, quiet fellow, sort lets me do my own thing with the horses." He rises of her desk and he looks to Louise "Its been a pleasure Ma'am, and again I've been keeping things in check here at the school, so if you are in need of anything, send word to the Diamond D or Circle C, or even just drop it off with Sheriff Roland, he'll get it to me." He tips his hat to her as he slips it back on and looks to Clint. "Nice meeting you too sir."

With a nod and a good bye, he slips off into the night… to head back to the ranch.

(continues with a solo -following the RP)

Thomas after spending time with the new teacher, he rides through town, just making sure things were in and all and then back to the diamond d. He once there as he unsaddles bullet speaks. "Becky." he reaches into the saddle bag, pulling out another bag and reaches into it for the locket she wore, one side was a photo of him, and on the other side one of her. He squeezes the locket in his hand and puts it into the breast pocket of his jacket he wore. He lifts the saddle and sets it over a fence and then takes the reins and walks the horse to one of the stalls, where there, he commence to get feed for his horse, and brush him down. Though he pauses to lean against the horse. "She was beautiful, you should've seen her. Name's Miss Louise. But don't think she'd have much use for a ranch hand, she's definitely one them refine ladies." He talks to his horse as if he was a best friend. "I know I should let Becky’s memory go, but how can I." He looks to the stall floor. "she was so proud to have a deputy for a future husband and goddamn that influenza. " Half the town was stricken, even Thomas, but he pulled through, but his Becky. She lost the battle. "Miss Louise is a kind soul though, she has dreams.. dreams like I have, though mine's returning to the right side of the law. Bounty hunting comes to stopping point.. " He looks around "I'm here now, I work for the sheriff. Well best get on to the bunk house." He slaps his horse on the butt and goes to the store room to get a bit of oats for his horse and returns to dump it into the feed sack.

Thomas reaches and pets Bullet along the jaw. "Got competion, some fellow named Clint, sure was trying his darnest, to sway her attention to him. Me, if a woman wants to get to know me, let me court her it will happen, if not.. well.. I just know I can keep living in the past, Becky's gone, I'm still alive, I loved her with my heart but I know, she would want me to move on." He looks to his horse again before stepping from the stall and closing the gate. "Life moves on.."


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