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Post by Christine Lucinda Dallas on Nov 14, 2012 20:55:14 GMT -5
Lu was confused beyond confusion. Ana insisted that there was no desert here and that they were in England. Ana seemed very sincere and Lu really believed that Ana thought they were in England. However, that was clearly impossible. "Do ya wanna come with me to the edge of the forest and I'll show you were I come from?" asked Lu. That way it wouldn't seem as if she were trying to act smart and arogant.
For some reason, Lu liked this woman. "Where d' you live, Ana?" said Lu. "Hope ya don't mind first names. Can't remember your last name for the life o' me." She laughed and signalled to Effie to continue forward, but this time at a slower trot. "So what's a nice American girl like you doing in England then?" asked Lu, wondering about this.
Then Ana mentioned Carrière. "Yeah, that's him! That's the one! Nice Frenchy fella, like I said." Then she thought for a moment. "Wonder what a Frenchy fella's doin' here?" She was more confused than ever, but when they would reach the end of the forest, she would feel better and know her way home. Still, the presence of the the Mansion, the forest and the Frenchman all seemed rather odd, whether they were in the American southwest or in England.
Effie continued her leisurely walk and she mentioned the room with her name on it at the Manor. Lu wondered at Ana's strange look when she mentioned it. She looked sad and concerned. Then she said that Lu was now a prisoner of the mansion. Lu pulled up on the reins and Effie stopped. She looked concerned and puzzled. "Prisoner? What do you mean?"
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anastasia
Senior Member
Making a point is a matter of opinion. I'd rather make a difference
With me? Expect the unexpected!
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Post by anastasia on Nov 15, 2012 13:04:31 GMT -5
Ride to the end of the forest? Well, she could do that. It wasn't that massive a track of land anyways. At least that's not how it looked on the map of the area. "Alright. To the edge of the forest," she agreed with a mellow tone. But where the other woman came from, that would we a whole different issue. There was no way that Lu would be able to show Ana where she came from. She wouldn't say this though. Not yet.
A weak smirk, "Well, I've from Illinois - as you know," since she mentioned it a moment ago, " but just recently arrived in England because of some work. I work for Billie Cristofersen who's a really good horse trainer. We brought a stallion prospect over for the new owner and am pick up extra jobs such as teaching and training and transporting around the area." At least England was not as massive as the US. Transporting horses for over 12 hours was more than a monumental task! "Nope. I don't mind first names at all," she smiled back at Lu while gathering up the reins of her big black. "It's Goodwin-Hart. Anastasia Grace Goodwin-Hart," stating her name with pride and yet humble about it at the same time.
The pleasant appearance disappeared into utter bewilderment. Carriere? He existed?!? Lenoir mentioned his partner in some restoration. It was impossible for her to contain her absolute surprise to the point it nearly paled her. Making a noise in her throat that was like a 'huh' but said nothing in response to what Lu said other than a shrug. First Lenoir. Now Carriere! Did she even want to speculate who else occupied that Manor believing their were some Phantom of the Opera?!? Bringing Daredevil to a halt as she looked back and over to Lu. Then turned Daredevil upon the forehand to face the other woman better. Looking at little pained and baffled with a furrowed brow and hard look. "That's what Mister Lenoir told me the other day." Lenoir. The very man she's been trying so hard to get out of her mind and somehow he always kept coming back up! Would she ever be rid of the thoughts of him?!? Shaking her head, " I know how or why or any other reason. But Mister Lenoir stated that and perhaps you should seek him out to get the answer from him." She looked a little bothered by the mere thought of Lenoir.
"Come on," as she turned her big black towards the direction they were going. "Let's find the end of this forest." Anything to change the subject from Lenoir!
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Post by Christine Lucinda Dallas on Nov 16, 2012 22:05:22 GMT -5
Ana agreed to ride to the end of the forest so that Lu could show her the direction in which she had come. Lu smiled and headed Effie toward the direction she thought she had come upon first entering the forest. She liked this woman with the long name. "Glad people call you Ana. Your whole name is purdy, but real hard to say...least for me.." Lu smiled again.
Lu listened as Ana told her of Billie, her employer's name and said that he was an excellent horse trainer and that she and Billie had come to England to pick up jobs relating to teaching and horse training. Apparently they did quite a bit of horse training.
When Lu mention Carrière, Ana seemed quite surprised. "Oh, you know him from somewheres?" asked Lu. Then Lu repeated the other name that Ana pronounced. "Len-wah? Them Frenchys have the damndest names..." She paused. "So who is this Len-wah fella? He own the place? An' I should look him up? Okay, I will if I ever gits back to the manor. But now, I got my sights set on seein' Gunner again." She smiled with anticipation, but a bit of fear that he might still be angry with her. Then Ana suggested that they find the end of the forest and Lu nodded.
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anastasia
Senior Member
Making a point is a matter of opinion. I'd rather make a difference
With me? Expect the unexpected!
Posts: 285
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Post by anastasia on Nov 17, 2012 19:26:29 GMT -5
Riding alongside Lu, the bigger black a slight contrast to the smaller black, glancing at Lu with a smile followed by a snicker, while expertly handling the reins all English style. "I've gotten used to people calling me 'Ana'. It really was easier for people. At first I did not like it but, as I said, I got used to it." Pausing as she was keeping her eyes in front of her and the gelding. "Could be worse," then she smirked. "Had a lot of people enjoy using my middle name for puns though, especially when I stumbled or fell." Glanced over at Lu with a slight wounded smirk.
Carriere... Pausing a moment while they continued on, "I know of him," she stated finally. "But I have not met him... personally." What would it be like to meet another Phantom that she knew a lot about when she was younger? Would it be like her encounter with Lenoir or a bit different? "Long story," she slightly shook her head. How ever could she explain to this other woman that she knew of Carriere from a TV mini-series of the Phantom of the Opera from many years ago? She hadn't the heart or guts to say a thing about that.
Another snicker at Lu's statement about 'French names'. True, they did indeed have interesting names. But not as crazy as Russians! Belaying a wince as Lu inquired about Lenoir. No, she will never escape from him, will she? Having to do her best to keep a pleasantness about her. Shrugging, "I don't know." Couldn't remember if he said something or not. He sure acted as though he was familiar with the place. "And yes you should." Then turned to look a Lu's, "he's much like... Carriere... sort of. But... he wears a half mask-" as she shifted the reins into one hand and covered the right side of her face with her hand, "-instead of a whole mask." Which is what Carriere wore, well, more a three-quarters mask that left the mouth open and free in Carriere's cast.
Nodding as the other woman mentioned seeing this Gunner once more. The pain of loneliness stung her slight and she filled that quickly with the reminder of how often she's been used and played. Men simply were not worth it ... it seemed. She no longer held her breath at finding Love. "I wish you luck," and tried to smile, doing her best to be sincere. Finally they came to the end of the forest with English fields and wide open spaces of low rolling hills and dales with old English farms dotting the countryside and smaller little plots of woods in a couple areas. There was no desert.
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Post by Christine Lucinda Dallas on Nov 17, 2012 23:30:36 GMT -5
Ana said she knew Carrière from before, but she was vague about it. "He's a nice fella, he is.," said Lu. "Real polite and all. So this Len-wah fella wears only half a mask? Strange that they's more than one man wearin' a mask at all. Can't figger out that one. But it don't matter. I'm goin' home and all the problems of the manor I can fergit. Although, maybe Gunner'd like to see the place." Lu could see it now. All the rich people handing over all their jewels and valuables to Gunner. She smiled. But all that was not important now. It was Gunner she needed to see and to heck with the gold and jewels. But later, she and Gunner could have a field day robbing the place. If he were angry with Lu when she got back, this little secret would surely make him happy with her again.
Ana said she wished Lu luck at finding Gunner. "Oh, I know he'll be there waitin' fer me." Then she looked frightened for a moment. "Unless ...unless he's hurt." The thought ounly stayed with Lu for a moment. "But Gunner knows how to take care o' himself. He'll be all right." A little fear crept into her heart though. She hadn't thought of that before...that something could have happened to him. Otherwise, surely he would have come after her...
Finally they reached the end of the forest and as they came out of the shelter of the trees, Lu fully expected to see the desert with its little scrub, yucca trees and tall cacti. Instead, she beheld the green rolling hills, country farms and small thatched houses of the English countryside. Lu couldn't believe her eyes. She dismounted Effie and walked a few steps to take it in as if her first glance might be wrong. "Well, I'll be a snake's auntie," sha said to herself more than to Ana. She turned back to the other woman. "You was right..."
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anastasia
Senior Member
Making a point is a matter of opinion. I'd rather make a difference
With me? Expect the unexpected!
Posts: 285
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Post by anastasia on Nov 18, 2012 0:18:11 GMT -5
Listening to Lu describe Carriere as she nodded slightly looking a bit distant. Vaguely a scene or two played silently in her mind of that old TV series. Recalling the ones that Carriere was in and how kind he could be. "I suppose he is, isn't he?" softly spoken more to herself than to Lu. "Yes," a little more in volume so Lu could hear her. "Only a half mask. And yes, I agree." Was all she truly could conjure up for a response to Lu.
Keeping at a pretty good walk-clip and looked at Lu. "I'm sure he's fine," and smiled in hopes to at least put the other woman at ease. Not knowing who this Gunner was but one had to stay optimistic, right? Otherwise the negativity would just ruin a person.
Once they reached the edge of the forest, she gazed about then watched Lu dismount with a somber look. She hated the fact that she was right more often than not. The poor woman seemed to determined and eager to return home. Who wouldn't! So.... now what? She sat there upon Daredevil as her big gelding shifted, silently watching Lu for what to do next. "Are you sure this is the way that you came?" Not that it was helping any but how can a person ride off the American desert of the Southwest from the Old West and into modern day England?
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Post by Christine Lucinda Dallas on Nov 18, 2012 21:42:04 GMT -5
Lu was amazed, then frightened. Where was she? How could this possibly be? She turned to Ana. "I know the way I come like the back o' my hand. I ride t his way often. There's a good place to stand by the yucca trees if you're waitin' fer a train." Her eyes twinkled momentarily as she thought of the times Gunner and she had held up the trains. But she didn't go into detail. Then she became serious again. "So...this is England. It would be a'right if I knowed where Gunner is..."
"What do I do now?" She asked as more of a rhetorical question than a question posed to Ana. She felt completely empty and confused. What does one do when one is taken completely out of their environment and dumped in a strange place. "Oh I shoulda never got mad at Gunner," she murmured.
"So what do I do now? I lost Gunner forever. Do you think he'll come here too and find this place? Maybe I should go back to the mansion ans wait fer him?" Lu was so confused. It wasn't easy thinking about being in such a strange place. "So it's true?" She turned and looked up at Ana, still on the back of her horse. "So they ain't no way to git home?" She looked sad and forlorn and looked to the one friend she had made since coming here, outside of Carrière, and he was back at the mansion.
Suddenly the vision of the suite she had been given flashed across her mind's eye. Perhaps she was meant to stay here, at least for a time. "Maybe we should go back then?"
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anastasia
Senior Member
Making a point is a matter of opinion. I'd rather make a difference
With me? Expect the unexpected!
Posts: 285
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Post by anastasia on Nov 19, 2012 17:33:19 GMT -5
Watching Lu the whole time while now allowing Daredevil to graze. Twice and the horse got rather upset and shifted. But Ana keep her focus on the needs of Lu at that time. Listening to every word that other woman spoke. Silence was key in this moment to allow the peace and shock settle. She truly felt for Lu. The situation that she was in was an unlikely but awful one. To be separated from all you know and love? What a hellish fate that is indeed! "Hard to say."
Blinking a couple times as she watched Lu then nodded. "Not much else you can do. I wouldn't recommend just staying right here hoping you can go back." Pausing a moment at how Philosophical that sounded and weakly smirked. "You can only go forward." But the smile never stayed and she nodded. "May as well return to the Manor." That place had become the strangest establishment ever known to humanity!
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Post by Christine Lucinda Dallas on Nov 22, 2012 17:46:11 GMT -5
Lu brushed away a tear, trying not to let Ana see. She didn't care so much where she was except for the fact that she had lost Gunner. She mounted Effie again. "Well, back to the Manor then. Maybe they's somebody there what can help find Gunner." She said it without much real hope. She turned her face away from Ana again, for more tears were forming in her eyes. "Damn," she whispered softly. She didn't like to show that she was vulnerable, especially to someone she hadn't known for very long. Although Ana seemed very sweet and helpful. Lu hardly ever opened up to anyone except Gunner. Perhaps she would with Ana, but not yet. It was too soon. And it wasn't likely she would tell her about her little tangles with the law back in the Arizona Territory....unless she came to know and trust her much more.
Lu wiped her eyes on her sleeve and headed Effie back to the mansion. She was quiet and didn't say anything for a long time. Then she said, "You met any o' them other people living at the mansion? Any of them friendly? I only met the fella with the mask. There a lotta people living there?" Lu couldn't think of anything else to say, except to ask questions. Even the thought of shaking someone up for money or jewels or swiping some artifacts from the mansion, or even finding a stage to rob didn't excite her at this moment. She was just plain scared.
As they came within sight of the mansion again, it seemed more dark and forboding that it had before. Lu swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat. "Ana, will ya come an' visit me sometime?" She felt like she was going to prison or some such thing...
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anastasia
Senior Member
Making a point is a matter of opinion. I'd rather make a difference
With me? Expect the unexpected!
Posts: 285
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Post by anastasia on Nov 24, 2012 14:41:34 GMT -5
Keeping her gaze forward in order to focus on the immediate task at hand and that was the return trip. At a walk instead of a race this time. It will take a little longer to return to the Manor. With a hefty sigh as her fingers wiggled and wrapped around the reins then after a brief pause she nodded, "Yes. I met one man there." And her stomach turned, not because of his face for which she practically had been prepared for, seeing it in pictures from long ago, but the fact that he was real and what all had transpired. It unsettled her in both good and bad ways. "He... wore a... half mask. His name... is Lenoir." A sharp inhale then released it just as quickly. "He's the only one I met." So far at least, she thought. Did she even want to know others there? Perhaps she should avoid the Manor just as she had been warned before to stay away from the haunted place. Her lips moved as she contemplated what to say about Lenoir. How could she really say anything about him, good or bad. But for the sake of her good soul, she would at least put him in a good light, "He was interesting." Nodding, "Yes, a fairly decent... Gentleman." that caused her blood to stiff her form and Daredevil tossed his head and swished his tail as the change washed over Ana. Calling Lenoir a Gentleman was over extending herself there. But he was fairly good. She didn't want to put that Phantom in a bad light that was undeserved.
The sight of the Manor as they eventually returned in due time made her stomach turn once again. She could not smile but gaze upon the place with such a hollow gaze. Setting her jaw stiff and swallowed, too. This place had suddenly become something she may or may not dread. Even if it held within it's walls the Phantoms whom she had dreamed about in her youth. "Yes. I will," trying not to force herself into doing that nor force out the words, but for the sake of another, she will sacrifice herself for the comforts of another. That's how she is, deep down, she was a caring soul who would do anything for others.
Nearly there, she finally glanced over at Lu. "You really do like him, don't you." Like? Sounded more like love in a way. "Your Gunner." Curious about the man she spoke of. But she was a bit off by the thoughts of love because of the many times she'd been in love and yet turned out to be nothing more than fake.
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Post by Christine Lucinda Dallas on Nov 24, 2012 21:29:35 GMT -5
Ana related to Lu, as they rode slowly back to the mansion, her thoughts about the one man she had met there. She said he was a gentleman, fairly decent, and his name was Lenoir. The way she spoke of him made Lu glance at her riding companion. Ana hesitated and seemed as if she was choosing her words carefully. Lu could tell Ana held some strong emotions for the man, but she couldn't tell if they were good or bad. Lu decided not to ask at least at this point. It did pique her interest and she hoped she might meet this fellow with the strange name.
"You say he wear a mask? Like Mr Carrière? Hmmm. That is very odd." She wondered about this strange mask phenomenon. And there was something else..."Mr Len-wah...what did'ja say his given name is? Seems Mr Carrière's given name is Erik and so's my Gunner." She paused. "Gotta tell you the truth 'bout Gunner. His name is Erik too, like I said.. And he has only half a face. He wear a kerchief across th' bottom of his face, lest he might scare somebody." She laughed. "Oh not me. He had a accident when he was a young'un. Looks a bit scary, not much skin on his face...looks like a skeleton what's been out in the desert a bit too long." She smiled. "It's okay. He don't mind funnin' about it."
Speaking about Gunner perked Lu's spirits up a bit. "Like? Yeah, I like Gunner a lot. In fact, I like Gunner so much, I'm gonna marry him...now that's more like love." She giggled, then became solemn again. "That is if I can find him..."
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anastasia
Senior Member
Making a point is a matter of opinion. I'd rather make a difference
With me? Expect the unexpected!
Posts: 285
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Post by anastasia on Nov 25, 2012 15:34:41 GMT -5
Nodding in response to the inquiry from Lu that the man wore a mask. "MmHmm," but kept her eyes forward almost in a rather unsavory daze. It took a moment for her to look at Lu when it came to the given name. After a moment of furrowing her brow she turned her head to look at Lu still looking rather baffled. "Erik," she simply stated in bewilderment as it was not difficult to recall. Nor did it surprise her. But the more she listened to Lu, the more it bewildered her and she was trying to understand this awkward situation. She began to contemplate... "His first name is Erik." This was becoming rather strange. Even this gal's guy was a sort of Phantom, some strange western version. Oh, how strange indeed! She tried not to look disgusted with the description of this Gunner. He sounded like some corpse or zombie which would sound about right for an Erik or Phantom. That was one thing she could never seem to handle was the dead.
A weak smile then spread across her face as Lu mentioned how much she liked Gunner. Nay she loved him, so she said. She could help but feel a little forlorn so to speak. Forcing a smile as she glanced at Lu, "I wish you luck and hope you find him." Then stopped her big black and sighed, gazing at the Manor. "Sorry if I hesitate going further," shifting her gaze to look at Lu with a slight smile. "I do hope we see one another soon enough though. Maybe another ride? It's been nice to have another person along for the ride."
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Post by Christine Lucinda Dallas on Nov 25, 2012 18:04:08 GMT -5
Lu glanced at Ana out of the corner of her eye and saw a strange look come across her face when she described Gunner. Perhaps she shouldn't have been so graphic about his looks. It never bothered her, maybe a bit of a shock at first look, but after that, nothing really. Ana must never have seen anyone deformed before. It was okay. She knew Gunner frightened people. It was something he could use too as a tool, sometimes his enemies were frightened away just getting a glance under the kerchief. She wondered then, about the masks. Were all the masked men deformed? Were they all named Erik? That was terribly odd. Ana was very nice though, and told her she hoped Lu would find Gunner soon. Lu nodded. "Thank ye. I'm sure I will," she said without much conviction. "And thanks for all what you done fer me...takin' me to the edge of the woods to show me it ain't Arizona. Don't know how this is possible, but...since I do have a suite here, I'll stay until I figger something else out." Lu dismounted and offered her hand to Ana in friendship. She touched her hat and nodded at the woman. "Hope I see you again. Lookin' forward to it." Then she took Effie to the stable and put her in a stall, giving her food and water. She curried the horse and spoke to her softly. Then she went back to the mansion, entered and went to her suite and made ready for bed. THE END
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