EP: Kate Barlow | Main Bar

[ikissdhimbck]

Kate comes inside trailing clouds of dust behind her. She's been working the stables, as usual. Today was a hot one, and it didn't seem fit working the stock so long as the sun was high, so she set about cleaning and organizing instead. She takes off her hat and sets it on the Bar, wincing apologetically as dirt puffs up and settles on the lacquered surface.

"Beggin' your pardon, Miss. I'll clean it up. Meantime, could I get somethin' cold?"

A pint of peach cobbler ice cream pops up as she settles herself on a stool. She eyeballs it dubiously. How can you put a respectable cobbler in a bucket of cold ice cream? She don't believe it can be done. Naturally, she won't dismiss it out of hand without giving it a fair shake. For science, and all.

She opens a ledger and starts going over notes, scooting the pint closer. Every now and again, her hand strays to her chest, absently playing with the necklace she's wearing. It's strangely soothing.


[ooc: Open indefinitely, inside the bar or outside.]

Comments

[thefirststark]

"I work with electricity from time to time. So in a sense, I guess we do." Though whether those HYDRA weapons ran on some sort of electricity remains an open question.

[ikissdhimbck]

"It's strong enough for that li'l bitty old thing t'attract?"

She gestures at his wristwatch. Sure, she's seen clock towers burnt out from lightning storms, but coming from a time where indoor electricity is feared by so many as some kind of witchcraft, Kate assumed what they used here and in the future was perfectly safe.

[thefirststark]

"Anything made with iron or steel can draw a shock. It's a good reason to wear rubber soles."

[ikissdhimbck]

"Good heavens. I hope you're safe."

Notice she says so despite him just having told her about their standards of safety. She trusts you about as far as she can throw you, Mr. Stark.

"Think I'll stick t'minding stables. Least that way I don't hafta worry 'bout what I'm wearin' sendin' me up in smoke."

[thefirststark]

"No, but horses have a kick, right?" He's seen plenty, but hasn't been on one since he was a kid.

[ikissdhimbck]

She tosses him a winning smile.

"Animals like me."

And then, with a subtle shift, that winning smile turns a touch sinister.

"May not like you."

[thefirststark]

"I doubt they would. I am sure I smell of oil and not hay or apples." He is not of the horsey set.

[ikissdhimbck]

She chuckles.

"I wouldn't forsake a good horse for your machines jus' yet. As wondrous as they can be, they can't offer you companionship, or pull you t'safety when you're knocked unconscious."

[thefirststark]

"A horse can do that?" Dogs, yes. Horses?

[ikissdhimbck]

She makes a face at him.

"Of course. A horse is more'n jus' a tool, Howard Stark. They're a friend for life. I could be dead by now if I didn't have Beaut."

[thefirststark]

"I don't doubt animals can be that way. I just never knew a horse could save someone's life. It never occurred to me."

[ikissdhimbck]

"Once, my father — God rest his soul — was huntin' water fowl out back on our property. We had a decent pond, more of a swamp in patches. He stepped wrong, an' slipped on a rock. Fell backwards an' hit his head. Knocked him clean out."

She shakes her head. She was about thirteen at the time, and was madder than an old wet hen when they got him back to the estate.

"Would've drown in three feet of water if Dusty hadn't taken 'im by the collar an' fished him out. Dragged 'im up onto the shore an' stood by him, till Jim found him that evenin'."

[thefirststark]

Howard looks duly impressed. "I heard stories about dogs doing that in the war. I guess if we still had a cavalry, I would have heard similar things about horses.

"I assume Dusty was a cherished member of the family?"

[ikissdhimbck]

"They're more similar than y'might think. Many of the Indian words for horse actually mean 'big dog'."

Kate can't imagine a war fought without horses, but then she can't imagine a war beyond vague stories she's overheard and wounds she's dressed.

She lowers her eyes.

"He was. Very dear, up to the moment I had t'auction 'im off."

[thefirststark]

He's shocked to hear that.

"After your father died?"

[ikissdhimbck]

She nods.

"I lost the property. Well, it was — 'bought' from me."

Judging by the tone of her voice, it wasn't a very pleasant transaction.

[thefirststark]

"The corrupt land baron took over." Something out of a Republic Pictures serial, but also something that happened.

[ikissdhimbck]

"Somethin' like that. Our next door neighbor."

She pokes at her ice cream, taking another bite. The cold confection puts out just a few of the flames.

"Who also shot 'im in the first place."

[thefirststark]

"I don't...did you ever...

"Should I have known?" He thinks he would remember something that horrible, even with two years away from the Bar.

[ikissdhimbck]

She's got that stone-faced look of the common frontier woman, betraying nothing of emotion beyond the sadness in her blue eyes.

"No. No, I don't think so. S'not somethin' I talk 'bout a lot."

Sadly, there are fresher horrors that always weigh a little heavier on her mind. Life in the West isn't as glamorous as those Western moo-vees make it out to seem.

"It was jus' before Christmas, my first year'a university."

[thefirststark]

College. Another thing he didn't know about her.

"And when he died, everything changed. And it's not something you want to talk about, so I won't ask anything more about it."

[ikissdhimbck]

Her lips twist.

"No, no. S'all right. S'painful, yes, but it was several years ago now. You're right — everythin' did change. He was the last bit of family I had. I had t'give up Tulane an' come home, settle the estate, an' start over fresh."

Only the most precious objects came with her to Green Lake, and now those are effectively gone, too.

"You're right about another thing, y'know. All them horses were part'a our family. I hated sellin' 'em off, but I made sure they went t'good people. Beaut's the only thing I have left in the world."

[thefirststark]

His heart goes out to her. And yet she seems pretty damned strong. She and Agent Carter would get along, he finds himself thinking.

"It seems like you're managing, though."

[ikissdhimbck]

She doesn't move for a moment, replaying his words in her mind.

When she looks up, there's something like a smile ghosting the corner of her mouth, the faintest line of confusion between her brows.

"What other options were there?"

[thefirststark]

"Throwing yourself on the mercy of the first man of means to come your way. Or going off in a corner and withering away. Or worse." Options he is too much the gentleman to say out loud.