There’s A Storm Moving In
It took a minute or two for Jack’s eyes to adjust to the dim lighting of the saloon. It sure felt good to be out of that blazing heat. Jack could feel every eye in the place on him as he made his way to the bar.
He knew he must look like quite a sight in his dusty travelling cloak, unshaven face, and long scraggly hair. But that stuff never bothered Jack Rowley. He was there for one reason and one reason only; and it wasn’t to make friends.
“What’ll it be partner?” the bartender asked as Jack took a seat at the bar. The man looked young and Jack’s mind immediately flagged him as an easy target. But he’d think about that later. Right now there was only one thing on his mind.
“Whiskey,” he grunted as he looked around the saloon. “The best you got.” His eyes fell on a woman sitting at a poker table across the room. Her dress was low cut, showing a hint of the soft, creamy skin of her chest. Her shiny black hair was loose, hanging around her shoulders. She was the most beautiful woman Jack had ever seen. Seeing as how she was dressed, and how she was flirting with the men at the table, Jack assumed she worked there. “And a go with that woman,” he said still looking over his shoulder at her.
Just then, a rather large man stepped into his line of vision, blocking the girl from his view. “I think you got the wrong idea about this place, son,” the man said, his voice deep and husky. “We don’t do that kind of business in this town.” Jack could see the glaring of a sheriff’s badge on the man’s vest.
“Then just the whiskey,” Jack said as he turned back to the bartender. Jack could feel the sheriff standing behind him, and noticed the tension fill the entire room. Every ear was listening to what would be said next.
The bartender looked at the sheriff, who must have given a nod of approval as the bartender poured the drink and set it in front of Jack. “Haven’t seen you around these parts before,” the deep voice said from behind him. “You just passing through?”
Jack took a long drink of his whiskey, relishing the burn and the immediate warmth course through his body. He made no reply.
“I asked you a question boy,” the sheriff said. Jack could tell this guy wasn’t going to back down.
He downed the rest of his whiskey, and turned on his stool to face the big man. “I ain’t no boy,” he said, meeting the sheriff’s stare; something few men had the nerve to do. “And I ain’t here to talk.”
“Then you best be payin’ for your drink and movin’ along.” The sheriff was using the kind of force in his tone that Jack remembered his Pa used to use, right before he’d beat his Ma. He also noticed how the room was suddenly dead quiet.
Jack looked at the bartender who seemed to be frozen in place, and tapped his finger on the bar; a signal for another round of whiskey.
“That’s mighty expensive whiskey partner,” he said avoiding eye contact with Jack. “And I don’t start no tab for strangers.”
Jack looked at the man long and hard. Finally, he put a few coins on the bar, and tapped his finger once more.
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Love your Westward Ho! Challenge. I think I’ll give it a try but could I leave out the sheriff related jobs because I want to set it in 19th century Ireland. Your families are great, BTW!!!
Comment by Ruth — June 17, 2006 @ 9:33 pm
Hey Ruth thanks for the comment! Yes, it is perfectly fine for you to leave out the sheriff job. But think about having a constable, or whatever law enforcement job Ireland had in the 19th century. It opens up so much room for story growth, and it adds some realism to the whole challenge! I can’t wait to read all about your families!
Comment by Paige — June 18, 2006 @ 2:30 pm
Hi Paige! Wonderful start to your Westward Ho challenge! I love Jack so far — what a scoundrel. Nice eyes! And his son is cute, even if he’s a scoundrel-in-training.
Excellent job with the props, clothing, and buildings! I love the saloon! I can’t wait to read more.
By the way, I still plan on trying this challenge…I’ve been spending the past few days thinking of how I want to approach it. I hope you don’t mind if I do a little twist on it, just for kicks. I don’t want it to be too much like my Annabel Island stories, so that’s why I’m tweaking it a tad.
See you around!
Comment by jen — June 20, 2006 @ 3:13 am
Thanks for the comment Jen! And yeah, it is completely fine if you want to twist the rules any way you want! Creativity is the only rule that I had in mind when I first started it! I can’t wait to see what you do!
Comment by Administrator — June 20, 2006 @ 4:30 pm
Oh, yay! Your Westward Ho Challenge is a great idea! I wish I had time to participate.
I’m such a sucker for Westerns. I’m also a sucker for bad boys…so I love Jake. I can’t wait to meet the other characters.
Comment by Kara — June 21, 2006 @ 4:23 pm
This is a great story! I will be checking back for updates.
:-)
Comment by Jade — June 21, 2006 @ 6:54 pm
Can I ask a quik Question?!!! How do you spawn the teacher and the stundents onto a lot?
Comment by Ruth — June 21, 2006 @ 7:06 pm
Thanks for all the comments guys! It’s good to hear some feedback!
Ruth: I have a hack called “The Insiminator” and it has a function that lets you spawn any sim you want onto a lot. I’m not sure if there is a regular cheat for it, but I’ll check into it. And I’ll try to find where I got the hack also. =D
Comment by Administrator — June 21, 2006 @ 11:23 pm
Jake is soooo mean! Gee, hopefully your next family will be a little, happier or something of the sort. This “family” depresses me a little!
Comment by Queenofsimtopia — June 22, 2006 @ 1:34 am
Thanks! I’ve downloaded the insiminator. It’s a great help!
Comment by Ruth — June 23, 2006 @ 1:14 pm
Hey Paige! I noticed you added my blog to your roll, which cheered me up no end! I hope you don’t mind if I do the same? Anyway, I used to read your blog a lot and every few days I checked and checked to see if you’d updated. I thought that maybe you’d taken a oneway ticket to the moon or something, you were gone so long, but then you posted about your password and I was just so relieved.
I love your new challenge - since I’ve started a Victorian-y town myself, I may try my hand at it (IF my computer stops playing up!).
Can’t wait to hear more from your Sims!
Comment by amalinaball — June 24, 2006 @ 10:07 am
Hey guys! Yay comments! It makes me soooo happy! =D
Queen: Hehehe, they are outlaws! Of course they are mean and depressing. But yes, the other families are better (although still filled with drama!)
Ruth: So glad to hear you found it! And even happier to hear it works!
Amalinaball: Yay! Glad you’re back! I can’t wait to start reading more of your fabulous stories. I’ve got another update in the works; and no, I didn’t go to the moon!
Comment by Paige — June 24, 2006 @ 12:50 pm
Hey Paige! This Westward Ho! Challenge sounds like so much fun. Maybe I’ll start this challenge. It really looks like it’s set in the west…great job!
Comment by Rachel — July 3, 2006 @ 6:36 pm
Thanks, Paige, for your comment on my blog!!! I was on holiday for a while and couldn’t check it. It really cheered me up, seeing as I’ve had such a bummer of a day!!! Thanks again!
Comment by Ruth — July 4, 2006 @ 9:19 pm
Wow, Paige! This challenge looks awesome so far. I’ll have a go at it I think.
Keep it up!
Comment by Alex — July 7, 2006 @ 6:33 pm