(no subject)

[ikissdhimbck]

[OOM: As Green Lake readies itself for summer festivities, Katherine evades the attentions of an unwanted suitor.]


She doesn't even notice the door open and then close behind her. Her basket of goods, newly procured from the General Store, is hung around one arm, her other holding up a handsome collection of Poe.

As far as she knows, she's still walking down Main Street, preparing to round the corner onto Merrimon.

Someone, please stop her before she runs into a table.



Or a patron.

(She really needs to learn to put her books down when she's walking, honestly.)



[tiny!tag: Miss Katherine Barlow, Ben Wade]

Comments

[wheelsy_sheriff]

Bill is paying about as much attention to where he's walking as she is when he comes down the stairs in uniform ready to get back to Wheelsy.

He's got a notepad in his hands and is checking things off as he walks along and bumps into Miss Katherine.

"Oh, damn, I'm sorry." He looks up, dropping his notepad and pen and tries to catch it while also trying to save anything she might be dropping.

"I'm sorry!"

[ikissdhimbck]

Katherine is startled, so the book of poetry indeed goes flying.

"Beggin' your pardon!" she cries, cheeks flushed as she tries to save the notepad and pen at the same time as the book, basket still on her arm and...

Whack! She gracelessly cracks her forehead against his.

One hand goes to her forehead while the other to her mouth, utter embarrassment splayed across her features.

[wheelsy_sheriff]

He doesn't manage to save anything from hitting the floor and the knock to the head almost makes him lose his balance.

Straightening up quickly with a hand to his head he looks at her concerned.

"I'm sorry! You all right?"

[ikissdhimbck]

The hand is still clasped over her mouth, and she looks absolutely mortified.

"Do forgive me! I-I'm fine, but I am terribly sorry for all of that! Are you hurt at all?"

Her cheeks couldn't be any redder.

[wheelsy_sheriff]

"No, no. I'm fine. I'm sorry. I shouldn't've ... I wasn't lookin' an' I ... " He shakes his head, gestures with his arms while trying to appologize, and finally stoops down on one knee and starts trying to gather her things.

"I'm real sorry, miss."

He's pretty red in the face himself.

[ikissdhimbck]

"No, honestly, I was paying no mind to where I was walking myself, oh I'm so clumsy!" Katherine similarly gestures and shakes her head, feeling awful guilty as he stoops to gather her things.

"Please don't apologize, I really must learn not to--"

She pauses.

Looks around.

Looks at the man in front of her.

"Oh my," she breathes. "I'm back in Milliways."

This is probably not the best of first impressions.

[wheelsy_sheriff]

"Don't worry about it. Trust me, plenty here will tell you how bad I am when it comes to bein' a clutz." He assures her, smiling as he stands and holds her book out to her and a couple things that fell from the basket.

"Weren't lookin' to be here? Happens sometimes, place just shows up when you ain't even expecting it."

[ikissdhimbck]

"Yes, I suppose it does," she blinks, taking back the items he offers to her with appreciation. "Honestly, I wasn't sure I would ever see this place again."

When her items are in order she offers him her hand and curtsies a little. "I'm Miss Katherine Barlow."

She gives him a once over.

"Are you local law?"

[wheelsy_sheriff]

He takes her hand lightly and smiles, tipping his head just a little.

"I'm Bill Pardy."

Shaking 'no' and then nodding 'yes' he resorts to shrugging awkwardly.

"Not here? But back home I am. Sheriff in Wheelsy, South Carolina."

[ikissdhimbck]

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Pardy."

She honestly tries, but can't quite manage to restrain a small chuckle at his... "undecided" gesture.

"Sounds like you're not quite sure yourself."

[wheelsy_sheriff]

"Bill." He smiles, "An' it's nice meetin' you."

When she he grins and shrugs again, "Had to think a minute. You said local an' back home we're small town so first reaction is a yes but I don't do any work here in Milliways so ... "

Again a shrug and he laughs at himself when he makes the gesture.

[ikissdhimbck]

She chuckles to match his own laugh, and ducks her head a little.

"You're right, I apologize for the confusion. I forget that this place exists by it's own unique rules, in it's own... place."

[wheelsy_sheriff]

"Yeah, been comin' awhile an' still not used to everything here." He admits.

"Can I ask where you're from?" He's noticed the soft accent, and her dress is a clue, so he's curious.

[almosthonorable]

There's a Ben in her path.

He's smirking as he lightly places his hands on her slight shoulders before she walks into him.

"Careful, Miss Katherine. Might hurt somebody."

[ikissdhimbck]

She starts visibly, nearly dropping her book.

Ben's smug satiric gravelly voice cuts through her surprise, and the cowboy might notice the lady relax into an almost amused annoyed demeanor.

"Well, if it isn't Mr. Wade."

[almosthonorable]

He lifts his hands, his smile widening into something damn close to genuine.

"As we live and breathe."

[ikissdhimbck]

There's a smirk fixed on Katherine's face.

She snaps the book shut with one hand and places it in her basket.

"Didn't think I'd be running into you again."

She didn't even think she'd be seeing this bar again.

[almosthonorable]

"Figuratively or literally?"

[ikissdhimbck]

Twitch.

"Both," she admits, and she finally lets the chuckle loose.

[almosthonorable]

"We'll call it a happy accident, then. On my part, at least."

Grin.

He pulls out a chair from a nearby table and inclines his head toward the seat.

Because they both know she's going to sit down.

[ikissdhimbck]

Why, Mr. Wade, is that sincerity?

Paint Katherine impressed!

She smirks fiendishly. "Are you inviting me to join you?" Are you aware of what you're getting yourself into?


(The narration would like to point out that Katherine would be *very* put off by that smug assumption, if she knew.)

[almosthonorable]

If sincerity is presumption, yes.

"Only if you want to, Miss Katherine. Could buy you a drink while you tell me 'bout Texas. And what you're readin'."

[ikissdhimbck]

An arched eyebrow.

"You're interested in what I'm reading?"

[almosthonorable]

"Interested in you."

[ikissdhimbck]

Blush!

Katherine's jaw works soundlessly for a moment or two.

"P-pardon?"