Jack
Sixth Generation
Posts: 4
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Post by Jack on Feb 2, 2014 2:04:22 GMT
Luther Family Blacksmith Shop - Skidway, The Roughs The sound of hammer and strength, tools in sync, a gentle rhythm. Boom, boom, tink. Boom, boom, tink. The sweltering heat pouring out the front doorway of the building. Bending light in small wisps, like a desert mirage. Loud voices could be heard. "Might wanna step back!" A deeper voice sounded out. "When this hits the water their is gonna be steam." "Oh ok." A second voice spoke. The Luther brothers hard at work. Abe for the last several years had his brother lending him a hand. But only now was Abe beginning to teach him the finer points of the process. Abe's much younger brother was always curious, getting in the way as well. But he was helpful. "Ok, take those shovels out to the shop." Abe said speaking to his brother once more. "Should fetch a good price. especially when the prospectors pass through town." His brother nodded and did as he was told. He respected Abe, was thankful to him for taking over the business. Keeping food on the table. The sorts of things a father would normally done. Abe smiled to his brother as he grabbed the shovels and bolted out the door. "That boy, always in a hurry." Abe chuckled to himself. Times were always getting better in the town of Skidway. Little to no crime other then off in the fringes. Clean streets, good people. It had been a good place for his younger brothers and sisters to grow up. In his youth his father and mother moved around quite a bit. It wasn't until after they had their second child Abe's sister that they started looking for a place to settle down. And Skidway was as good a place as any. Actually even better then most. It was a good town. The sounds of footsteps could be heard outside in the loose rock. Abe needed some fresh air and a break from the heat anyway. Stepping out the large double doors of his families blacksmith storefront Abe took a look. "Fine Day. How can I help you?" Abe said as he walked outside.
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Post by Nosuchthing on Feb 2, 2014 4:36:41 GMT
The Dwyr's didn't often find themselves in Skidway, the town had it's own Lawmen, and there was little call for travelling lawmen like Elynor and Cal. There wasn't much in the way of trouble here anyway, not after what had happened to the little town' last lawman. As a rule they would have continued on to somewhere that needed them more, Skidway wasn't cheap, they were used to catering for big city visitors as much, if not more than the residents of the Roughs. Still, Wind had thrown a shoe just outside town, and they had little choice but to stop to have her re-shoed. A good horse was like gold dust in the Roughs, and they couldn't risk laming her by riding on to the next town with a good blacksmith.
So she'd taken the small amount of money they had, and lead Wind into town, looking for the smithy. It took a little longer than she'd hoped. Skidway was significantly bigger than the towns she was used to, most in the Roughs were only one street. A few buildings, the obligatory bar of course, then back to the Roughs. Here there were four streets. Four! It was hard to believe. Not Like Elendel of course, she couldn't even envisage a city, a town the size of Skidway was hard enough to deal with. Cal had grown up in Elendel of course, but she had never known anything but the freedom of the Roughs. She was at least a little claustrophobic from that.
That was the advantage of looking for a blacksmith however, the noise, and before long she had found the large shed that housed him. As she led Wind to it a man walked out of the door, greeting her politely.
"Aye, that it is, or it would be were it not for such damned ill-fortune. My horse has thrown a shoe, I trust you can re-shoe her?"
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Jack
Sixth Generation
Posts: 4
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Post by Jack on Feb 2, 2014 6:57:34 GMT
Abe greeted the women with a gentle smile. She was also rather polite, especially for a traveler. Most folks that traveled from the fringes were cold callous people used to dealing with the rigors of the wild. They were feral and had those predatory eyes, the kind you see in the dark of night. Or your nightmares. However this women didn't look at all feral, a bit unkempt but still civilized. She was polite, that was the big thing in these parts. Abe's father had always said you can judge a person's business sense by their tone and politeness. Most uncivilized types will treat you like they would treat an animal, as though you were just a tool or in the way. But she was kind.
"Well let me take a look." Abe would say as he looked to the horse to make sure it wasn't in any sort of obvious pain currently. After he gave the hoof a momentary glance he would make a huh sound. The sort of sound a dentist might say when there is a problem.
"It may be difficult to re-shoe your horse Mam. It looks like after you horse threw the shoe some excess hoof came off with it. I will have to patch the hoof. It's nothing to serious but my suggestion would be to let me trim up the hoof. I will wrap it, then you let her rest a couple days. Stablings not to expensive round these parts. Plus I can probably get Mr. Varn to cut you a deal."
"I know your probably in a hurry but hear me out. A lost shoe could end in lameness for your horse. Horses' hooves get used to having shoes on them and if the shoe falls off, your horse's bare hoof might be extra-sensitive and be more likely to get a stone bruise or an abscess. And the hoof could start to crack or break up as it hits the hard ground over and over."
"So it's really no problem for me to do whatsoever. Though how long it may take does depend on how quickly after the trim the hoof heals." Abe waited for the women's answer then finally mentally stepped out of the blacksmith mindset, if only for a second.
"Where are my manners. I am Abraham Luther, or Abe for short. Please to meet you Miss?" Abe would say with an outstretched hand.
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Post by Nosuchthing on Feb 2, 2014 18:54:21 GMT
Elynor frowned as he inspected the horse, then swore at his conclusion.
"I'd hoped it wouldn't be too bad, I guess that was too much to hope for."
This wouldn't help their financial situation, money was limited out in the Roughs as it was, and people would often simply trade commodities for what they needed. As a rule Elynor and Cal subsisted on the good will of people grateful for their services as Lawmen, it wasn't a trade persay, but they usually received supplies or food from grateful townsfolk. Of course in a town as big and well policed as Skidway that wasn't likely. At least they had a small stash of currency for when situations like this did arise.
She listened, somewhat perturbed as he explained horse care to her. Was he new to the Roughs? It was rare that a town had it's own dedicated Lawman, Skidway was an exception, and the few of the that there were spent most of their time travelling between townships and settlements, having a healthy horse was life and death out in the Roughs, and any native would know that. For him now to lecture on how to care for her horse was frankly insulting, but he was the only blacksmith in town, and that meant the only blacksmith for three days ride, she had no choice. Even so, she did not quite have Cal's tact and charm, and some of her annoyance was evident in her tone.
"I know, I'll find some stabling for her."
She glanced at his hand for a moment, and considering his patronising manner briefly considered refusing to shake it, but that was foolish enough, and she took the hand firmly.
"Elynor."
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Jack
Sixth Generation
Posts: 4
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Post by Jack on Feb 2, 2014 20:13:55 GMT
Abe gently nodded as Elynor shook his hand. She had seemed perturbed or annoyed, maybe it was the situation. Then again it could have been Abe's fault. He tended to regard most folks the same, one of the problems of dealing with well to do types. They had very little knowledge outside of their chosen profession, and so most times demanded quick fixes. Abe had gotten used to these kinds of problems and he found himself always explaining more then he had to. Otherwise those folks with big pocket books and little to no time to be waiting around would speak impolitely of his work. Abe usually curbed those sorts of problems by explaining the situation and most time over explaining it as he had just done.
Though Elynor was different, it was as though everything he had said she already knew. This was new indeed for Abe. He had so quickly fallen into his normal speech about horse care without even gauging the customers knowledge first. This was one of his problems. Though Abe was a kind fellow his temperament sometimes prevented him from seeing the whole truth. He would make assumptions and based on those assumptions would speak and act accordingly. On this day however it had bitten him on the ass. He could have just lost a customer had he not been the only blacksmith in town. Maybe he could salvage his reputation a little. It would help business having someone other then the rich and well to do speaking of his skill. So maybe he could cut her a deal as well.
"Look, I can tell we kinda got off to the wrong foot here. Sorry if my speech offended ya, just used to dealing with city folk. " Abe said with an apologetic tone. Looking towards the horse and then Elynor. He peered passed her for a moment looking over the sort of gear she carried. She didn't seem to be carrying any prospecting gear so she might have been a hunter or trapper by trade. Heck for all Abe knew she could be a bandit or a law-women herself. But she was polite and a bandit showing up in Skidway and causing problems rarely ever happened. When it did though, it usually got sorted out pretty quick. Maybe a bounty hunter or something exotic and interesting, like in those books Abe read with his brothers and sisters each night.
“If it is not impolite to ask Mam. What sort of work you do?” Abe asked trying to lighten the mood and show a general interest in Elynor. As a person, and not just a customer.
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Post by Nosuchthing on Feb 4, 2014 22:33:55 GMT
At least he was no fool, having merely leaped to the wrong conclusion, and she couldn’t begrudge him that. One had to make snap decisions to survive in the Roughs, and while life in Skidway was far easier than most of the rest of the Roughs, it was still a great deal tougher than that of the cities. Here at least he realised that if it weren’t for the small size of the town she would have turned around and walked around to find another Blacksmith.
“Apology accepted, you get used to caring for your horse when you travel as much as me and my husband do. It’s important in our line of work.”
She shifted the battered hat on her head, shading her eyes from the harsh sun a little more, and glancing around, keeping a careful eye on her surroundings as she always had. She brought her attention back just in time to answer is question.
“I’m a lawman. Hence why I need to look after my horse. How much will this cost?”
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Jack
Sixth Generation
Posts: 4
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Post by Jack on Feb 8, 2014 8:46:55 GMT
"A lawman" Abe thought to himself. Well maybe some good could be done as Abe had thought earlier. Presumably from the the wear and tear of her attire and the need for the new shoe on her horse. She probably traveled quite a bit, maybe he could work out a deal help his family out in the long run. It was always good to have lawman at your back, even given the normal state of peace in Skidway.
"Tell ya what Mam. How about I give you the shoe, the time and labor, and the stabling free of currency. " Abe said as he allowed the offer of his words to set in for a moment.
"All i would ask is for the couple days you here while your horse is healing, you teach my younger brother and I how to shoot. He has been driving me crazy, asking me to teach him. I wouldn't know the first thing if it bite me on the ass. Plus it will teach us the skills we might need for hunting in the future. Now I am a fair shot with a rifle, but never touched a pistol myself. But I would always be willing to learn more about either. Does that sound like a fair deal Mam?" Abe asked as he peered towards Elynor. He looked towards the horse as he waited patiently. Giving Elynor as much time to weigh out the deal as she needed.
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Post by Nosuchthing on Feb 9, 2014 20:19:18 GMT
It was clear that Abraham was working through some train of thought relating to her career path. His offer was a surprise however, and extremely generous. She raised an eyebrow in surprise at his generosity, why would he offer her such? It couldn’t just be because of her role as a lawman, they were respected, but that didn’t mean they got things for free.
Ah, and there it was, although his request was little enough as it was. It wouldn’t take her much, after all, it was simply some of her time, and as she was confined to the town for the next few days anyway it really couldn’t hurt. After all, everyone in the Roughs needed to defend themselves, and if it helped her and Cal save a little of their precious money then it would help them more in the long run, it always helped to have a friend in a town, especially a town like Skidway.
“You need to learn to shoot? Well I suppose I could try…”
After all, Elynor had never been much of a teacher, or had much in the way of patience for most, still, if it meant the work would be free of charge then it was a small sacrifice she was at least willing to try her hand at.
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