Chapter 3: Soap
"It still looks like it might fall down." Nora commented casually as she and Andy stood in front of their new 'home.'
"Well it looked like that in Virginia too. And you said the exact same thing," Andy said, looking over at her knowingly, "but it held strong there for a good long time."
"Yeah I know it did. I'm sure it'll be fine." She stooped to re-roll the bottom of her pants up. They were a man's pants, so by nature they were too long, but the ground was so muddy and shit covered, she didn't want to risk ruining them so soon. "This'll do nicely."
They'd built the tent themselves before leaving Virginia. It was nothing more than just a large tent, sectioned off inside to make something of a living area where the kitchen would be, and then two other smaller 'rooms' to serve as bedrooms. It would be cozy living no doubt, but it wouldn't be entirely unbearable.
Best of all, they'd be able to pull out of Farnum's rotten excuse for a hotel. The faint blood stain on the floor had set them both somewhat on edge and they were eager to be away from it. That and all the incessant noise had been another drawback. Not that the outskirts of the camp would really be that much quieter though.
It took them almost a good week to unload everything from their wagon into the tent, setting things the way they wanted and doing away with what they could. Nora had even managed to attract a few customers, finding it a nice way to ease into business. But apparently her rates were just enough lower than down the street that word would spread quickly enough.
But it had been a fairly easy transition for them both. Andy tried his hand at prospecting most days, occasionally lending Nora a hand when tubs got to heavy to carry. And at his suggestion, since paint seemed a lost cause, she fashioned a sign of sorts listing prices on a piece of derelict wood found in the thoroughfare, using mud for ink. She still found it remarkable how well the mud had worked.
It certainly seemed to fit in with everything else around camp. And Nora couldn't help but wonder if her mother was turning in her grave watching her daughter go from high society to using mud for ink in a span of seven years.
But now she was back to the hardware store again. She seemed to be paying them a visit every two weeks, either for soap or thread. But she was slowly sort of getting to know the two men who ran it, and she very much enjoyed their company.
"Good day Mr. Bullock." Nora said as she entered the hardware tent, seeing him unpacking a box. He nodded, a small smile coming to his face.
"What can I do for you?" His eyes never left hers.
"Looking for more soap. Its good stuff you sell."
"We like to think so." She laughed softly as he moved from the box he was unpacking over to a table with soap bricks stacked on one end. Nora couldn't help but notice he was working with his jacket off, and the few top buttons of his shirt undone, showing the littlest bit of skin and hair. "How many you need?"
"Three or four for now, but I'll be coming back for more."
"Wouldn't have it any other way." He carried four over to her, watching her watch him. "4."
"Here you are," he handed over the soap as she handed over the money, "well you and Mr. Star should come over to the tent for dinner tonight," she said as she started for the tent entrance, him following, "won't have it said I don't make the best cherry crumble in all camp."
"Cherry?" He asked in disbelief.
"Shhhh," she raised a finger to her lips, unable to keep from smiling, "don't let it get around that we brought cans of sweetened preserves with us for just such treats every now and then."
"I'm hungry already."
"Well good. Then come 'round when the sun starts to set. We're on the outskirts of the camp, near where everyone else is."
xxxxxx
"She's not serious, is she?" Sol asked, the prospect of cherry crumble not even seeming real.
"S'what she said." Seth said defensively as they neared the edge of camp, towards the rows of tents.
"Well we'd better stick close to her," Sol said with a smile, "Mr. Hunt, sir…good evenin'."
"Evenin' gentlemen," Andy turned from a fire, holding his hand out in greeting, offering each a warm smile. "Nora said ya'll'd be joining us for dinner. I think its beef stew…or the like."
"Sounds good." Seth said, suddenly realizing he was hungrier than he'd thought.
"She's not too great a cook though I will say." Andy said with a playful laugh.
"Got to be better than that one over at Farnum's." Sol said with a laughinggrimace as Andy nodded, laughing in agreement.
"That stuff is just eatable at best."
"What? My cooking?" The three men turned to see Nora freshly emerged from the tent, wiping her hands on a cloth. She wore a navy blue skirt with a crimson fitted blouse, her black hair back in a loose upsweep
"Good evenin' Ms. Hunt," Sol smiled warmly, "thank you for the invite."
"Anytime Mr. Star," she turned to Seth, "evening Mr. Bullock."
"Evening," he tipped his head politely, smiling, "it's nice to see some color in this camp."
"Got me a purple scarf I can loan you if you're s'desperate for color." She said with a playful laugh.
"Oh don't mind her none," Andy said as though trying to make peace, "she just wants you to feel welcome." Seth's eyes never left her.
"Well, I'm afraid there's nothing too special on the menu, but we'd best go in less ya'll want it to get cold." She turned and headed back for the tent, the men following suite.
"So how long you two been in business together?" Andy asked as they removed hats and sat around the small table.
"A good many years," Sol said with a laugh, "we met back in Montana."
"Montana?" Nora said in disbelief, looking between the two. "Never would have guessed."
"Most don't." Seth said softly with a small, almost proud smile.
"Have your hardware business out there as well?" Andy asked interestedly, grabbing a wedge of bread. Sol looked over at Seth.
"No," Seth started softly, crafting his lie, "I just went west 'cause Iwanted to hopefully find a fortune to support my wife and son. Sadly, they died sometime ago."
"I'm so sorry." Nora said solemnly.
"Thank you. But we saw what looked to be a promising business here." He brought the spoon to his mouth.
"Sounds familiar." Nora cast a quick glance at Andy, stirring her stew.
"Our story's about the same. Came out this way, not knowing where we'd go really. Just somewhere to maybe earn back what the war stole from our family."
"What'd you do back in Richmond Mr. Hunt?" Sol asked between bites.
"I'm something of a chemist—"
"You're usually not this modest," Nora commented, "don't let him fool you. He's only been working with chemicals and solutions since he was waist high. Studied it at a university back east—"
"Thank you Nora," Andy said, his pale cheeks coloring in embarrassment, his small smile identical to his sister's, "I worked in a research lab back home."
"You still keep with your chemistry out here?" Seth asked interestedly, as Andy nodded his head, mouth full.
"It's a wonder how you keep your supply stocked." Sol said almost in disbelief.
"I brought a fair amount to last me a good while. But you'd be amazed at what you can find in natural life. So many compounds can be isolated from different things, providing one knows how."
"Sounds involved." Sol said, as Andy nodded his head.
"It just takes some time."
"May I see the equipment you use sometime?" Sol asked interestedly as Andy's face brightened.
"Does chemistry interest you too?" Andy, whose mind knew nothing but chemistry, and Sol, who had an interest in most things, chattered on the rest of dinner,Nora or Seth speaking as they were able. All in all, Nora thought it a successful gathering and could see them becoming frequent dinner guests.
"You two go on and do your mechanical things," she shooed Andy and Sol out of the tent towards Andy's work bench once dinner was over, "and maybe we'll save you some cherry crumble." She turned back towards the table with a smile, meeting Seth's eyes. "Chemistry not interest you either?" She asked as she began to clear plates.
"Not especially." He laughed as did she and he rose to help collect dishes from the table.
"You don't need to help. You're my guest."
"I feel bad just watching you work."
"Very well." She found she couldn't argue with him as she took to washing plates in the pre-warmed water, him to drying.
"You're very observant, by the way." She turned to face Bullock, puzzled at his comment.
"How so?"
"The day we met, you said I looked to walk with a purpose and a dead arm. I was shot a while back, not fully healed yet."
"Hope you don't lose it. You wouldn't look as right."
"You think I look right?" He raised his eyebrows in quizzical surprise, as she turned, an embarrassed flush and smile coming to her face. Slowly she nodded.
"Yes, I think you handsome." She turned her focus on the dishes, unable to believe she'd just admitted that. He could clearly see she was embarrassed that he had called her on it.
"I'm sorry," he said softly, "I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."
"Not at all," she said, recovering enough to face him, "I'm surprised at myself for just actually…saying it. There was a time when I would never have dared to be so bold." Her words trailed off in a soft sigh.
An awkward silence fell between them as they continued on with the washing, broken only by the muffled sounds from the camp. A sudden gunshot rang out, and Nora instantly jumped, the dish in her hand splashing back into the tub, soap suds splattering.
"Oh I'm so sorry." She suddenly said, surprise laughter on her voice as she brushed away the suds on her arms and face. She turned to Seth, unable to hold her laughter any longer. He just looked so almost bewildered as he stood with his face spotted by soap suds.
"Have you a cloth or something?" He asked over her gentle laughter, trying to keep a stoic edge despite his amusement.
"Here, let me…." She raised a hand, her voice trailing off as she gently started brushing suds away. She started with the ones on his hair and forehead before trailing down to his cheek. Her heart couldn't help but race at the look in his eyes that never left hers.
"Interrupting something are we?" Sol's voice suddenly cut through the silence, startling them both.
"No." Nora shook her head, her hand falling away as she turned back to thedishes, not chancing a glance at her brother. "You can go on and talk with them," she said quietly to Seth, "I'll finish up here." Something in her tone told him not to question it.
"Alright." He set the dish down and went over to join Andy and Sol. It wasn't too much longer until Nora joined them, offering wedges of cherry crumble. Neither Seth nor Sol had tasted anything so heavenly in so long.
"Well thank you again Ms. Hunt," Sol said, as he and Seth readied to leave, "dinner was very good, and dessert to die for."
"No trouble at all. Would love to have you two to dinner again."
"You don't need to keep feeding us, or we'll be as round as Mr. Merrick before it's over with." They all shared a laugh. "Thank you both."
"Good night Sol." Andy called out as he started for the camp.
"Good night Mr. Bullock." Nora said softly, standing a piece from her brother.
"Seth."
"Seth." She said, smiling softly.
"Goodnight." He nodded at each in turn before striding to catch up to Sol.
thanks for reading! hope to have the next chapter or two up in a few days.