**Sorry for the gap in the real-time, I got wrapped up in the beautiful springtime duties outside and forgot to keep this story going.**
As the sun was sinking behind the Catskills, and the office emptied out, Corina felt a strange pull coming from across the town square. She knew Mrs. Ramsey was waiting for her and decided not to make the little eccentric lady wait a moment more.
As much as the history of her homestead intrigued her, she wished that she had chosen a less infamous plot of land. It wasn't that she minded so much attention, at least in the past, but right now she not only desired seclusion and privacy, she felt it was a must. She feared that Roger might find her and God help her if he does.
The familiar bell rang as she stepped into the smoky dive once more, immediately greeted by the whithering Mrs. Ramsey. "I knew you'd be back! Can't pass up a good story, can you?" She asked knowingly, as if she knew Corina was a reporter, which sent momentary chills down the young journalist's spine.
"Good evening Mrs. Ramsey, it is good to see you again," She said with genuine kindness. "What's the special for the night?"
With a laugh, Mrs. Ramsey chided, "It's no secret you're new around here, don't you know that everything Pops cooks up is special," she continued with a wink. "Why don't you try the Backhill Burger, it has swiss, mushrooms, and Pop's secret sauce--you'll love it, I swear!"
"Actually, a burger is just what I need," Corina decided, "I'll have that and a vanilla shake, if you can?"
"Right away hun, I'll let you eat before I continue the story of Mama and the Mimosa Ranch," Mrs. Ramsey sounding grandmotherly, before she walked away with Corina's order.
The burger was fantastic, if she were a food critic, she would've given the meal all five stars along with a fantastic rave review. Mrs. Ramsey, as promised, didn't bother Corina until her last bite was gone. She arrived, smiling rather knowingly, and proud of her husband's fine country cookin'. "Did you like it dear?" She asked, knowing full well what Corina's answer would be.
"You know I did," Corina teased and then seriously, "I want to know what happened to the Ranch. Why was it burned down? Do you know who did it? Did he pay for his crimes?"
"Slow down chil', let's do this one thing at a time." The gentle little lady began, "First off, there wasn't another place like the Mimosa Ranch. Men, mostly ranch hands that rode along in cattle drives, as well as the occasional gang--bank robbers and the such, would travel hundreds of miles for a night at the Mimosa Ranch.
Mama had a place to tie off your horse and hang your hat. She had a special group of women whose only job was to bathe the weary travelers and clean their clothing. It really was an amazing establishment and service of their time, when I look back on it. She was one of the first female entrepreneurs. Of course the men were charged separately for each of the services, but most of them were glad to do so. And when they weren't, well, Madame Mimosa would take them out back by the creek, and get rid of them, the old fashioned way." Mrs. Ramsey paused for effect, leaving Corina to ask the inevidable.
"You mean, she killed them?" Corina asked instinctively.
"Now don't be suprised, it was a different time back then. And not too many neighbors were willing to stand behind my mother, nor defend her, so she learned to be tough early on. Unfortunately, one of the last men she shot, for not paying for services rendered, had a very vindictive and very criminal brother. His name was Steal Will Sharpton, a notorious bankrobber, and a frequent customer of Mimosa Ranch. Mama hated Steal Will, but loved a buck, so she tolarated him and gladly sent him off with Madame Rose, who as you will find, is as thorny as her name projects her to be."
to be continued :)
>SpaceCase<
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