pryde_and_grit | A small mountain town

A small mountain town

The town wasn't much to look at. Just your average small place nestled between mountains on the east coast. It wasn't important, just a pit stop for people taking the less traveled paths. The day was beautiful. Warm and bright with the hint of Autumn's coming bite in the air.

But there were strangers in town.

They'd come with trailers and campers and all manner of things. Pleasant people, polite people...

...and they'd put up fliers.

"Something like a revival group I guess." Pat, of Pat's Diner, laughed to her nearest neighbors in the small 'business' area of town. "Rented out the church to do some speaking. Hell, I'll go, nothing else going on tonight..."

Yes, the group had put up fliers everywhere. Tucked in every mailbox, posted on business windows (with permission). It was a simple print out. It read:

Please join us in a memorial service for Katherine Pryde
Sept 3 at 6pm, Whitehall Baptist Church
Main speaker: Terri Pryde
Presented by PURITY

Simple words. And at the bottom of each poster was the picture of a very familiar girl, though she was only twelve. And smiling for the photo.

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He'd seen one of the fliers on a pump at the gas station but didn't pay much attention to it. When he noticed the colored leaflets marking various poles and window fronts as he rode through town Logan grew curious.

When he stopped to read one before entering the diner for a quick bite his eyes narrowed and he growled as he pulled it off the window.

"The hell?"

"Oh, I know, wrong time of year for preachin." Pat chuckled, wandering up with a menu. "But some folks feel driven I guess. What can I get for you handsome?"

Logan looked up from the flyer to Pat then back down at the sheet of paper.

"Steak an' eggs. Rare an' over easy with a cup a' coffee. These people been here before?"

PURITY. For some reason that name didn't sound right at all. Even without the names on the page it might have got his hackles up.

Pat pursed her lips slightly. It wasn't often people ignored her mock flirting. It was a fun game to while away the hours on shift. Oh well. "Not that I can say." she admitted. "They drifted in last week, and if my guess is right they'll be headed on within a few days. Probably working their way to DC if you know what I'm saying." she bustled off to get the order in, then came back with his coffee.

"Sounds right like a mother got herself a calling when something bad happened. Like when old Janet started lecturing about drinking after her boy was hit by a drunk..."

"Hm." Logan grunted and studied the paper some more, eyes narrowing on the time listed for the service.

When Pat returned he looked up at her, folding the page up and tucking it away into his shirt pocket.

"Yeah, that's what it sounds like."

"Either way, it'll be something for folks to go see." she sighed, more than content to lean on the booth back and chat. What? She didn't have any other custom at the moment.

"But not something I'd think a man passing through would be interested in." curious AND chatty, Pat. "You aren't visitin are you?"

"Just ridin' through," He answered.

Chit chat wasn't something he was good at or liked overlymuch but he was too distracted with thoughts about the flyer to scare her off.

And, she still might have some useful information.

"You met any of these folks?"

Hell, small town like this? Scaring her off would either be very, very hard...or turn the whole town against him. Could go either way!

"Shame. Got the chili cook off coming up next week too." she sighed. "Oh, sure. Folks from all over like most religious groups you know? Why I talked to a man from Ottawa when he came in for a bite. Seems to be alot of them lost a kid...or feel really badly the people that did. He'd lost a son see, and there's the lady that's going to talk lost a daughter. You'd think it was a plague o' firstborns..." she shook her head.

Small towns were useful and annoying that way. If something came up it was obvious and word spread quick which made information gathering easier, but led to problems when the welcome was worn out.

"They say how the kids were lost?"

"Oh this and that probably." she shrugged "Poor things. No doubt that's what they'll be telling us, though I do hope it wasn't drugs. Drugs is such bad news here..."

"They a problem here?" He asked, not really very interested.

It seemed he'd have to go to this meeting to get more information after all. He was planning on it anyways, he needed to check these people out before sending word back to the mansion.

"Oh for a little while it was a thing, when things got bad you know? Couple of the nearby towns shut down when the mines ran out and then you had folk here depressed as anything." she sighed, then bustled off to bring back his order.

And refill his coffee.

"We're all mostly clean now, though the kids might smoke a little weed. That never hurt no one though, and they always get a whipping when they're caught..."

He started in on the food immediately, cutting up the steak and running the pieces through the egg yolk.

"Hmm." She could keep talking but for now he was done with the questions and answering.

And my, she was quite happy to keep talking. The subject rambled from the weather after the drugs, to the local football team, honor rolls, her dead husband (God bless his soul), Pumpkins...

...and then, like a sign from God, another customer came in. A woman, there to pick up a rather large order of pies. For the evening sermon of course.

Logan didn't give much indication of paying attention but that didn't seem to deter her. She kept his mug filled though and the chow was decent so he put up with it until the door opened.

It was always good to know one's surroundings so while Logan didn't lift his head or turn around when the brass bells on the door rang he was scenting and listening, checking out the woman who had come in.

Hearing the order of pies he finally did glance up, mildly curious like anyone would be towards something like that.

The woman that came in was dressed almost aggressively neutral. Beige button down shirt, khaki pants, both pressed and ironed to a fare-thee-well. Her make-up was understated, her hairstyle short and neat...

...a woman who actually worked to be forgettable. "Thank you ma'am." was all the comment she offered as she stacked pie boxes. No accent, no inflection.

"I made sure there's enough to go around sweetie." Pat beamed. "They should take up one of them long church tables if you lay the spread proper...see you tonight!"

Logan watched the exchange then stood, pulling out his wallet and heading over towards the pair.

Setting money on the counter for his bill he looked over the pie boxes and then at the woman.

"Sure is a lotta pies ya got there."

"I was not in a position to bake myself." the bland woman stated quietly. She didn't particularly care to draw notice...but with so many pies it was, perhaps, unavoidable.

"And she didn't bring no cart or anything" Pat sighed, clucking in a matronly manner "Would you be a dear and help her carry some of these before you head off? I'll give you a milkshake for the road..."

Logan looked over the woman and the pies and nodded.

"Sure, be glad to." He reached for some of the pies before she could reject the offer.

The bland woman froze a moment; simple, utter stillness as Logan was summarily added to her chores. Most wouldn't notice as she was mostly hidden behind pie boxes now but...

"That a good man" Pat grinned and slipped around the counter to open the door. "Now don't you worry dear, he'll take good care of you..."

Logan noticed but seemed oblivious as he loaded up his arms with pies then stood by waiting for her to lead the way.

And lead the way she did, after a moment at least. Seemed Logan was a necessary evil for now...

...she headed straight to the church and inside. There were teams of people setting up for the evening ahead with the usual clutter. Chairs, tables, a large video screen off to the side...

And Logan followed.

In the church he looked around, carefully observing everything and making mental notes but outwardly appearing to just be curious.

"Ya'll go all out, dontcha?" He remarked, eyeing the large video screen.

"Spreading the word is incredibly important..." the woman replied very, very quietly. "It may seem fancy, but it is for a good cause..." she led him to a table on the far side, wending through all the equipment and chairs. Seemed you had to battle the 'message' to get to the refreshments.

"An' what word is that?"

He still appeared just curious, setting the pies down and eyes going from her to travel around the room.

Edited 2009-02-03 08:01 (UTC)

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