[locked to hesdead_jim] So I'm packing my bags and I'm heading out West

[rightawaydoctor]

It had to all be a terrible dream. A nightmare. This couldn't be happening to Christine. She stared down at the crudely made wooden cross and fresh earth in front of her. He had been there one minute, and gone the next, leaving her all alone. What was she supposed to do now

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[hesdead_jim]

Leonard had been though a great deal over the passing years. His mother's loss at a young age from a short illness, and then his fathers in his 20s from an equally short illness. In between he'd married and fallen in love with a woman from a richer family with high expectations of her and low expectations of Leonard. But they had loved each other, and he had never stopped loving her

[rightawaydoctor]

Christine stared up at the man, blinking back her tears. For a moment she didn't know what he was going on about, but then it struck her again and her lower lip trembled. She gave a brief nod, then turned away from him completely, looking down upon Roger's grave marker instead.

The woman with her set to explain the situation to Leonard. "Poor dear. She and her husband just arrived here today." Leaning in closer she murmured, "He drowned in the river, few hours ago." From behind her, Christine pressed a hand to her chest and took short, gasping breaths.

[hesdead_jim]

He slowly nodded in understanding, looking at the sobbing woman curiously. He didn't like to see people suffering and to lose a loved one was something he emphasised with. He was hurting for her; admittedly, not a fraction of the pain she felt too.

"Lord... no wonder she's lookin' so distraught."

[rightawaydoctor]

"Yes, I wish we could help," the woman continued. "Even offered her a free meal at my husband's restaurant tonight, but she's got no where to go, and I don't think she has much money."

Christine tried to pull herself together. The first rule of New Orleans society was to never show them what you're feeling. After a few deep breaths, she wiped her eyes and turned back towards the two.

"Thank you for your condolences, sir," she said to him, before looking at the woman. "You said I can't leave til spring? How early in spring?"

"Oh," the woman blew out a breath, shaking her head. "Not til the ground starts to thaw and there's no frost. Mid to late April at the earliest."

Christine's mouth set in a tight line. "That's seven months away. How can I--" She nearly broke down again. "I'm... not accustomed to life out here. I don't know what I should do."

[hesdead_jim]

Leonard looked between the two women and was torn. He couldn't simply walk away, but he knew it wasn't proper for a man to offer money to a woman he didn't know, or even more.

"Ma'am?" he directed to the other woman. "If you'd be so courteous an' allow me a moment ta convey my condolences in a certain degree of privacy?" aka, bugger off so he can talk to Christine.

[rightawaydoctor]

The woman looked surprised at the request, but she figured as a widower he wanted to reveal some way of coping with the death of a spouse, so she patted Christine's shoulder and departed.

Christine gave the man a wary look, curious as to what else he could possible have to say.

[hesdead_jim]

"I know it ain't... proper, to make such offers but I can hardly walk away an' ignore this. Is there anythin' I can do to be of assistance, ma'am?" he tried to be a proper gentleman 99% of the time but there were occasions were he couldn't resist doing things considered otherwise.

[rightawaydoctor]

She crossed her arms and peered up at him curiously. He wanted to help her? Well she couldn't very well ask for money. She'd starve before she'd beg like a pauper.

"I, uh, I don't believe so. Unless you're aware of a place in town that would hire me and offer me a place to stay?"

[hesdead_jim]

He hesitated for a moment as he looked at her, slowly shaking his head. "No place in town is hirin' 'far as I know." Another pause, and he was playing with the rim on his hat. "I have a spare room."

[rightawaydoctor]

Her shoulders drooped at his words, then she looked shocked when he offered his spare room.

"I-I couldn't do that! It wouldn't look right. And, besides, what would your wife say?"

[hesdead_jim]

"I was here visitin' my wife. She passed a few winters ago," another pause and he was clearing his throat, standing straighter.

"I don't wish ta seem like I'm takin' advantage, but perhaps there are ways of makin' it look right. I don't wish you ta be on the streets, ma'am."

[rightawaydoctor]

"Oh. Oh, I see." She looked vaguely at the nearby grave markers.

"What do you mean?" The tragedy of the day meant that her brain wasn't as quick to catch up as it should have been. Normally she was rather smart, academically, at least. When it came to common sense things, her upbringing had left her stunted.

[hesdead_jim]

"Well... ma'am, seven months is goin' to be a mighty long time. You can stay with me an' help me with my daughter if yer so inclined. We could... make an official show of it so nobody can question. I assure you, I ain't gonna be inappropriate with you. Simply tryin' to find a solution for you." and for him. Someone to take care of Joanna whilst he worked would be a great help to him.

[rightawaydoctor]

She stared at him, open mouthed and as still as stone. Her husband had been warm a few hours ago and now this man was suggesting marriage to her! There had to be some other way. A roof over her head for the winter months and food in her belly was all she needed, but to marry him to get it! She didn't know how to respond to it. He didn't seem to be propositioning her for anything more, but what if he was lying?

"And, and in April I can leave?"

[hesdead_jim]

"Of course, yes. It's jus' to help you. An' my daughter... it'll be nice ta have a woman around her again, too," if only for those few months it would no doubt do her the world of good. He had to consider her needs, too.

[rightawaydoctor]

"I've never--" she stopped herself. She was going to say that she'd never taken care of a child before, but if she did, perhaps he would revoke the offer. Dear god, was she seriously considering his offer?

She lowered her eyes to the ground between them. This seemed so wrong, but she was helpless, and hopeless. What else could she do?

A brief nod was all she gave before brushing past him. "Is that your wagon over there?"