Prelude: That Damn Bank

[TetNak]

Twenty Miles Outside Amarillo, TX
July 6th, 1880

Holt sits on the porch in his rocking chair. The day is done, filled with nothing but hard work. His boy is fetching water from the well, and his wife is finishing up with supper.

Another cow died today. Two months ago everything was fine. Holt had just hired a boy to help on the ranch, and bought a half dozen more to add to the heard. At this rate, he could pay off the loan on the ranch in two years. It would all be free and clear. Now, all the new cows up and died, and whatever they had is spreading to his own herd. Last month he lost plenty of money. Plenty. The bank don't know what's going on yet, but when next month's payment is due, he ain't going to be able to cover it.

Holt continues to rock ...

OOC

Welcome Vardaen to the game as Holt! No one else should post to this prelude

[Vardaen]

Holt McCoy leans back in his chair causing the porch to creek under his focused weight. It has been a long season, trouble with the cattle, with the rains, with the bank. "Damn bad luck." The man grows a beard that is scruffy, a week old only, but his wife Loretta will likely ask him to shave before the next ride into church. Not that Holt visists church much, god knows he needs forgiveness, but he won't find it inside the walls of a church.

"Boy! Where you at?" He calls out to James his son, who is out fetching water. "Hurry it up, your mama needs that water. You best not be playing around." He rocks forward and plants both boots on the poarch with a thud.

Holt James McCoy

[TetNak]

"Here paw!" James yells back, running toward the porch with a bucket in each hand. He smiles slightly, moving up the stairs and inside to drop off the buckets to his mother.

Thunder cracks in the background, signaling rain. Today has been hot and muggy. Holt isn't surprised when rain begins to drizzle. "Holt, supper's ready! Get washed up!" Loretta calls outside.

[Vardaen]

Standing up as "Jim" climbs the stairs the rancher ruffles his son's hair as he passes by. "Good boy." He stands a moment at the top of the porch stairs and gazes out at the lightning, Rain. Thank the lord for rain. He watches as the wind that is kicking up blows a tumble weed past the house. Drought can kill a man as much as it can kill his cattle. He stands there a moment just staring out into the darkness as the clouds roll in. He spits out his chew onto the partched earth before turning around to head into the house. "I'm a comin."

[TetNak]

Loretta is pouring one of the buckets of water into a pot on the wood stove. She looks over her shoulder, smiling slightly back to Holt. "Ready, almost, just get washed up." She's a stickler for that, Holt knows. Jim is already in the process of washing his hands and face.

"Rainin' out there?" she asks.

OOC

Letting you describe her.

[Vardaen]

Holt's boot clack across the wood floor as he moves to the wash basin and bucket. He takes up some water to wash his hands and face. "Storms acoming. Should be rainin soon 'nough." He smiles down at Jim, the boy is only 7 but he's strong and he works hard. A bright happy smile is almost always on young Jim's face.

Drying his hands Holt moves over to Loretta and gives her a peck on the cheak, "Smells good." The woman is younger than her husband by about five years. She's a fine looking woman with long brown hair and shapely womanly hips. Some say she's a little lacking in the 'top end' department but that ain't never bothered Holt, lest he ain't never said so. A rough and tumble woman when she needs to be, but lady like as much as you can be out here on the edge of the wild west. Holt notices a new rip (already mended) on her dress and frowns, not letting her see it. "Maybe we can go into town this weekend and see about getting some more calico. Maybe get enough to make a dress and a few shirts for Jim. Whatcha think about that?" He moves around to the head of the table and pulls out his chair and takes a seat.

Loretta

[TetNak]

Loretta smiles as Holt kisses her, slinking away from him slightly in order to keep stirring the pot of stew. "That sounds alright," she says, saying to Jim afterward, "Set the table, Jim." He does so, pouring the second bucket of water into a pitcher, placing three bowls on the table, and three cups. By the time he is done Loretta is spooning the stew into each of the bowls.

The woman sigh as she sits down, "Now, Holt," she starts, "No need worrying about cloths, we can do. When those cattle come back around and start producing some dairy we can worry about all that." She waits expectantly for Holt to say grace.

[Vardaen]

OOC

I updated my entry in THe Gang thread to fill in info on the family. Including a birthday that is coming up soon.

We got ourself a beef cattle form too of course. Not too much a dairy ranch, but I would understand that the can double as both for a bit even without the right equipment.

Holt nods to his wife, and doesn't argue further on the matter. He lowers his head and folds his hand together, "Lord thank you for this meal, and for my good family. Amen." He's never been one for long speaches or pious retortic. He looks up at Jim, "Pass your pa the biskets boy." He reaches out and takes the basket of warm biskets to dunk into the stew. He proceeds to eat, and eat his hearty share, but makes sure his wife and son eat plenty too, going lean if he must.

[TetNak]

Jim passes the biscuits and everyone eats. There is plenty of food for the moment. The stew is good, by Holt's standards, plenty of beef, carrots and potatoes, what more could a man ask for?

The rain falls harder outside. The farmers will be happy, Holt knows. Near the end of dinner, unexpectedly, there is a loud knock at the door. More like banging. A voice yells through, "McCoy! Its Reverend Clancy! Open up!"

The reverend has a place not too far away, maybe a couple miles, and often travels around from farmstead to ranch, spreading the word of God. This does not seem like a time when he should be here.

[Vardaen]

Holt bolts upright as the banging is on the door. He motions to Loretta and Jim to stay put and moves to the door. He cracks it open just a bit at first to see who is out there with the Reverend. If he sees its just the Reverend he opens the door wide to let the man in out of the rain, "Reverend Clancy are you alright? What's going on?" Holt helps the man inside, glances around out into the rain, and then closes and bolts the door behind him.