<i>Just like you, mother. </i>Catherine gazed mindlessly out of the window of the train as her past kept her present in check. Just like her mother had left her without word or warning, so too had Catherine left....time and time again it seemed. First Wallace and New Orleans, then New York City. She was repeating a painful pattern of running away, but never finding the solace she so desperately sought. She hoped Onyx Landing would be enough of a change to make her settle, and put some roots down. She had heard from a few wealthy prospectors back in New York that it had great potential, so she took the chance, and the train.<br/><br/>She disembarked the train into dry, hellish heat, with the sun relentlessly beating down upon her.<i>So this is Onyx Landing....</i><br/>She had never been afraid of travel, or change, so Onyx Landing would be no exception. But she could already tell it would be a challenge to her. Dressed in a peach colored dress embellished with fine Irish lace, her corseted figure and finery certainly caught the gaze of the men around her. She pretended not to notice as she collected her bag. Now was not the time to seduce or solicit. First she needed to procure some lodging. She looked at the card the gentleman in New York had given her.<i>The Dusky Belle. </i><br/><br/>He had told her it was a well-tended saloon and brothel, but he warned her of the men. “Your standard miner fair. Weathered. Rough hewn. Unkempt. Hard drinking, hard living men who want their booze, perhaps a game of poker, and a good whore. Not exactly what you are used to, Kitty. They make the seedy brothels in the Burroughs look like paradise.” He said, giving her a fair warning of what she could expect, should she venture into<i>the wilds, </i>as he called it. He himself was a gentleman of refinement, and had rewarded her often with exquisite gifts and generous tips for her services.<br/><br/>He was spot on.<br/><br/>It was indeed a rough place, that she was certain of, but she was here, and she would stay. Until the tug at her soul made her leave out to somewhere new. She considered asking where the Dusky Belle might be, but took a moment to look around for herself. Exuding an air of confidence, she would not begin her stay here by asking a man for help. Soon enough, they would be asking<i>her. </i><br/><br/>As she figured, the Dusky Belle was not too far from the train station, and within eyesight. Typical set up out West, brothels near the train station equates to good business. Catcalls and wolf whistles did not deter her as she made her way to the saloon. She was quite use to it from the big city. Men were men no matter where you went. She had heard of the owner, a woman by the name of Victoria, from her gentleman client with the sage advice. By his story, Catherine and Victoria had a few things in common. One, being they were both from Louisiana. The other, Catherine would try to keep to herself. Her great-grandmother had been a slave, but Catherine was fair-skinned. Only her silky, dark brunette hair and possibly her emerald green eyes might give a keen observer a clue, more likely than that would be the subtle hint of a Creole accent. Her mother’s family had hidden their heritage, even though it was fairly common back in Louisiana.<br/><br/><i>Creole. </i><br/><br/>She drew a deep breath of confidence as she entered the Dusky Belle. Walking to the bar, she politely addressed the tender, trying, as always, to disguise her Creole accent. Even in New York City she hid it, with only one or two keen folk ever catching it. Soft, Southern, with an essence of French. Unforgettable. “I’m looking for the owner of this establishment, Victoria Freeman. I would like to inquire about a room, and....work.” Her emerald eyes searched the saloon for a likely candidate for this Victoria. Sure enough, Catherine was certain she saw her. A lovely woman, just as had been described to her by Donal Riordan. He had been here months before for a stay, using the services this place had provided him, before returning to New York City. He was the one who had given Catherine the information.  One of her best gentlemen. She would miss him dearly.<br/><br/>She gave who she was positive was Victoria, a soft but confident smile. She had money to hold her over, but it was clear to her that here in Onyx Landing, she would definitely be needing work to earn more. Not a bad place, but not the lap of opulent luxury.<br/><br/>And so her new adventure out West had begun.