The life and times of Belle Plain...

[LazyK Pejay]

Morning all,

We just finished up out "Three Word Story" and are looking at a different way to have a great running story that is more than three words. For a while this Spring some of us kinda got a story line going at "Move the card game here." Irish Tom and I have shared a few messages about doing something different.

I began to look at Ghost Towns in Texas and the name Belle Plain had a nice ring. Here is some history:

"One of the most promising towns in West Texas during the 1870s was Belle Plain. The town experienced slow growth with only three businesses operating during its first year, which was 1876. By 1880, however, the population had increased to around three hundred and supported a hotel, several mercantile stores and a newspaper among a number of other businesses. Doctors and lawyers were among the town's professionals. One of the first institutions of higher learning in West Texas was the Belle Plain College. The school offered the full classical course of studies as well as the sciences and liberal arts. However, the reputation of Belle Plain College rested with its music department and its twelve grand pianos. The college flourished as well as the town for a few years until the severe drought of 1886-1887 from which neither could recover. The school closed its doors in 1892. By 1897, only four families inhabited the town."

I see a story much like we did in "Move the card game here," where a person can write a sentence or two or some paragraphs. I will do a trail start and see what happens. Thx and have a good day...

LazyK Pejay

[LazyK Pejay]

The morning sun rose slowly east of town as the early rising coyotes say good morning to each other. Maurice Stokey lays on the steps of the White Elephant Saloon while Silent Ed the bartender sweeps around him with a scruffy broom. Lights are on at Miss Pruitts Eating Emporium, and at the edge of town the night watchman opens the doors of the just built Belle Plain School for Women. A cowboy staggers slowy out to his horse as one of the alley roses from Ruby's waves from an upper window. The morning stage is due in and the train surveyors are setting up west of town. It looks like another good day in Belle Plain...

LazyK Pejay

We can change the name of the town if you like.

[Wildcat Will]

A young man with well kept, but dusty clothes came riding out of the east with the sun at his back.  As he sat in the saddle of his jet black stallion Smokey, William Feld just wanted a town where a fella could get some rest.  He had been on the trail looking for work for 3 weeks now.

As he rode in he eyed the sign over the saloon "White Elephant Saloon" and pull Smokey to a halt.  He calls over to Silent Ed, "You folks got some law in this town?"  Ed looks the young man up and down, sees the pair of Colts in holsters riding low and takes a deep breath thinking to himself "another young gunfighter".

"Yep the sheriff is located down the street on the left just Bolton's Dry Good store.  His name is Bat Guano."

[Arcey]

Fits.......  Stinkin' job........

[LazyK Pejay]

In the livery stable Horst Hockey the smith sips his first cup of coffee while watching his apprentice Lesley Limps fire up the small furnace. As sparks fly outside the open doors he could see the newcomer walking toward the Sheriff's Office. "Hey Les another young gunfighter's in town. Wonder what he wants with the law?" Horst comment spitting out some coffee grains..." better get a new sock Les for the coffee; the old one's got a hole in it I think.

In the distance the bell in the tower of the Belle Plain Academy begins it's morning peal. A buzzard circles over the hills to the west, and dust rises in the street as the sun begins to heat things up in Belle Plain...

[Wildcat Will]

Will leads his faithful horse Smokey down Main Street as the bell rings over at the school.  He ties up Smokey outside the Bat Guano's office and takes a couple of steps up to the jailhouse and looks at the wanted posters.

WANTED FOR CATNAPING  Bob "The Hound" Dogg.  $50 posted by C.E.    Strange poster and it don't seem worth the effort.  Odd that someone would personally post the reward.

WANTED FOR HORSE STEALING  Horis Pucky.  $300    That is more like it.

WANTED FOR CATTLE RUSTLING  Mite Stepinit  $400  This one sounds like a good one.

Will tears off the posted and walks in to see Sheriff Guano.

[LazyK Pejay]

As the morning passes clouds roll in from the south. Dust on the horizon might be the next cattle herd coming in. Belle Plain buisnessman Howard Cantell built a stockyard west of town now that the train is comming through in a few months. Some town folks are not happy because when the wind is from the west it brings a smell only a cattle baron could love.

On a bluff to the south a man watches the cattle drive slowly head over the last hill. Mite Stepinit puts down the glass and smiles. He turns to his gang, Henry Newpattie, Juan Mescal, Trudy Bodine, and Harley Manewa "Well folks, looks like another killin' for us. Let's ride!" he says laughing.

Back in town the stage arrives...

[Wildcat Will]

The stage comes to a halt with a cloud of dust.  The driver, Davy Mickelson, hollers down "Belle Plain folks".  The door opens and dire looking man steps off with a long case in his hand.  His face looks like it had been chiselled out of granite and the dark close set eyes had the look of death to them.  He steps off and heads for the White Elephant Saloon. 

Next comes a portly well dressed gentleman who steps down and quickly wipes his brow with a dirty rag.  Michael Bodette thinks the deal he made with Mr. Cantell to open a hotel in town was a good one.  He turns to help a middle aged, but lovely, lady off the stage. 

Miss Darlene Pristine steps down with help from Mr. Bodette and with a polite nod quickly opens her parasol.  She calls up to Davy and asks "Can you direct me to the School for Women please?"  Davy replies, "Rite over yonder Madam."  Darlene replies, "Thank you so much.  Would you please have your man bring ma things over as that will be where I shall be staying."

Meanwhile the Sheriff eyes Will as he steps into the office.

[LazyK Pejay]

The bat wings of the White Elephant Saloon swing open, "flippida, flippida." Walking slowly into the dim room the dire looking man places his long case against the edge of the bar. He slowly turns and looks around the room. Near the doorway a group of locals are playing cards; seems early, but it's their job. He turns back to the bar and looks at Silent Ed. In a voice that sounds like a mix between a snake whisper and a rasp file on metal he says, "Coffee, black and hot." Silent Ed looks at the man and his case then turns to get a cup for the coffee. The man puts his hand on the case eyes glinting...

[Wildcat Will]

As Silent Ed silently sets the hot coffee on the bar in front of the dire looking man, he sees the man start to unlatch the case.   Silent Ed silently moves away and ducks behind the bar.  The fellas playing cards stop and with I wide open watch as the man opens the case. 

He opens the case and pulls out a . . . . .

Meanwhile at the Jail Sheriff Guano asks the young man, "What can I do fur ya young fella?"

Will responds, "I aint that young and it is what I can do for you.  What can you tell me about Mite Stepinit and his gang?"

"Last I heard he was out in Kansas somewhere causing trouble." replies Guano.

Just then Lesley limps in and shouts to Bat, "Sheriff someone is attacking the cattle drive heading this way.  The leader of the gang is a guy with smelly boots and a scare just below his left eye."

Will looks at the picture of Mite and smirks at Bat, "In Kansas huh?!?  Your an idiot Bat."

Will brushes past Lesley and out to his horse.

[LazyK Pejay]

...a empty hand as a voice calls from the upper stairway, "Why as I live and breathe if it isn't Mr. Cass Kett!" Slowly walking down the stairs, Faye Tallity the  singer at the White Elephant, smiles as the dire looking man stands and looks up at her. "Hello Faye, long time no see," he says showing white teeth and a slight smile. "You do get around lady. I thought I saw the last of you after that river boat explosion in New Orleans..." "Why Cass you do remember..."

The batwings fly open "flippida, crash, "The Sheriff is calling for able bodied men, it's cattle rustlers agin," a short man in a large hat shouts nealry out of breath. One of the card players stands and looks at the panting man, "Don't bang the batwings open little man, you're so short you could walk under them..." The short man walks over to the card table and says, " My name is Stu Piddy, Deputy Stu Piddy to you. Now are you coming or just runnin' your mouth?"

Out in the street people are shouting...

[Lucky Irish Tom]

A supply wagon rolls into town and the driver notes the gathering crowd near the Saloon.  Rolin Wagonner notes that the railroad is coming along meaning that his services won't be needed in Belle Plains any longer, time to head for a Town the railroad hasn't reached yet.  As he rolls down the street heading for the General Stores he hears cries of cattle rustlers coming from the crowd.  As he pulls up at the General Store he sees a young feller come out of the Sheriff's Office and swing into the saddle of a black horse and head out of town.

[Arcey]

BOOM! BOOM!  Wimmen start ta scream 'cept fer one particularly pretty one whut laffs hysterically..

Folks watch as an ole crotchety cosie does a fast walk 'cross the street, yellin' 'n swattin' at his backsides.

Fellah in a wide brimmed straw hat busts open a short barreled double, dumps the empties 'n blows the smoke out 'fore he slams it shut 'n sticks it in a scabbard attached ta a sleek, muscular black hoss.

"Had it comin'.  Payback is all.  Caught 'im bent o'er tryin' ta pick up a stray cat", 'e sez lookin' up it the wagon driver.  "Rock salt.  It'll stop stingin' in a few days.  Loaded 'em special for the occasion."

The fellah swings up ta the saddle.  "Reckon I'd best find some place ta go.  Ole Bat Crap gonna be wantin' ta talk ta me 'n I don't feel much like conversation wit a fellah with a tin can lid pinned on 'is vest.

"Ya take care yerself, wagon man."

With that, he's gone.....................

[LazyK Pejay]

Under the porch of Miss Pruitts Eating Establishment a cat lies in the dark licking a paw and rubbing it's ear. "Dang rock salt, burns like the dickens," Fluffy snarls. Rolin Waggoner stops at the General Store and steps down. The store owner Verge Enwool reaches up for the Rolin's supplies list. "I guess we won't be doing much business with the railroad comin' in," he says looking at the list of supplies. "Dang steam machines, make too much noise, I'm heading to Amarillo!" Rolin shouts spitting a stream of tobacco over his mules ears.

Out in the street a dust covered cowboy named Tex Huss watches the rider in the straw hat head out of town. He looks around and wonders where is everybody. He is in town ahead of the cattle drive to check on the stockyard and get something to eat. He wants something good like, fried steak, cream gravy, biscuits, fried okra, corn on the cob and ice tea. But first a drink. He walks over to the White Elephant and through the batwings, "flippida, flippida," and stands at the bar. Silent Ed's assistant Bart Ender asks, "what will it be?" Tex looks around and says "information, and and tequila." Bart smiles and says, "well I don't know much, but here's your drink." The dire looking man turns picks up his case and walks out, "flippida, flippida." The cowboy sips the cactus juice and asks, "who was the cowboy in the straw hat with the fast coach gun and I'm lookin' for a fella named Cyrille..."

The piano player Ossie Phyde begins to play Maryland My Maryland, and moves into Dixie the slow way. Faye Tallity begins to hum and asks Ossie to play Annie Laurie. Out in the street the dire looking man heads to the Silver Reef Hotel, "funny name for a hotel out in the middle of Texas he mutters."

[Wildcat Will]

Will spurs Smokey to get some distance from a rider coming fast from behind wearing a large straw hat.  He wondered if this was the one who set off the coachgun just as he was leave town.  If this guy keeps me from getting that low life, no good scallywagg Mite, I will have to find a way to take care of him too.  Mite and Will had tangled before and this time Will would make sure he finished the job. 

Back in town Cass and Faye were catching up on old time.  "Faye where is that gentleman friend of yours Mort Alitea.  Never did care for them fellas from Italy."  "Heck Cass, you knocked him senseless the last time you saw him because you thought he was edging in on your business." Faye says.  "Well I sur didn't have to hit him very hard!  That fella did not have much sense ta begin wit.", replies Cass.

[LazyK Pejay]

Cass begins to rock in his chair on the porch of the Silver Reef Hotel. Next to him in a rocker Fay smiles. "You hit him harder than you think. When you swung at him the air moving past your hand knocked over his made man Eddie Fication, that was really something." Cass looks out to the street, "well he had it coming..." The hotel manager Salty Sees steps out from the lobby, "Mr. Kett, shall I set your table for two..."

The cattle rustler led by Mite Stepinit ride off the bluff into a switch back along Cantell Creek, then down to a thicket of mesquite. A thorn snags the jeans of Trudy Bodine, "Dang $%#@& mesquite, and these was new jeans." she snarls. Juan Mescal laughs and says, "I thinks maybe you look much better in a dress..." Trudy quick draws and sticks the muzzel of her Army Colt under his nose. "Say that again and you be breathing through one big hole; cause women can shoot real good! I got a friend back in the Carolinas who taught me to shoot, so shet your face..."

The man in the straw hat slaps the reins on his horse urging him on. Up ahead Will turns again in his saddle wondering if he needs to have gun in hand rather than hat in hand.

[Camille Eonich]

Camille Eonich had stepped out the door of the stable just in time to see Arcey blast Del's behind with the rock salt.  She begins to howl with laughter tears streaming out of her eyes.


That'll teach the old fart to mistreat the strays.

Camille turns and heads back into the stable to check on Whoa.  She's shaking her head and still chuckling at the site of the old coosie grabbing his hind end.

[Delmonico]

The crotchty cosie heads back out to his camp along the crick, as he's soakin' his hindside in one of his wreck pans he plans what he is gonna do to get revenge.   

[Camille Eonich]

As Camille brushes Whoa she wonders to herself how the crotchty cosie will get revenge.


Hmmm....I may have to stay in town long enough to see this she thinks.  She grins again.

[LazyK Pejay]

The Mayor of Belle Plain Dee Sepsun, stands at the south end of town looking at stakes set for the new town hall. His assistant and personal secretary Ima Crook is taking notes as he pontificates on it's soon to be grandeur. "Yes, my dear a dome, a copper dome to be seen miles off, and marble lions by the doors..." Ima frowns and says, "who is going to pay for it?" The mayor frowns then smiles, why the people of fair Belle Plain; I'm selling bonds. I'm having dinner will several of our fine but easily led locals t'nite, like that gun toting lady with the new hat, Howard Cantell, and that nice Mr. King who goes by the odd name of LazyK and works for the railroad. Then I'll check with that chef who camps down by the creek, he looks poor, but has fixed our stray cat and dog problem, and he can cook for my Greater Belle Plain Bond Raising Supper and Dance next week." They both smile and look at the stakes, not knowing the big problem brewing near the cattle drive.