>>>“Evenin’ fellahs. You wanna come join me for a drink upstairs?” she offered, motioning with her head towards the lone table at the top of the second-floor landing. She led the way, gripping her skirt tight against her so she wouldn’t step on it as she ascended the steps. “So, Onyx Landing excitin’ enough for you fellahs?”<<<<br/><br/>Jeb stood politely and tipped his cap at her approach, "Evening Ma'am. I'd like that very much." He followed her upstairs, not failing to notice her hips swaying beneath her skirt as she ascended the steps. "You folks sure do know how to welcome a feller into town. A bank robbery and all. Are we stampeding cattle tomorrow morning for an encore?" Jeb took the seat across the table from Miss Vickie and thanked her for the offered whiskey. After a drink, he paused to repack his pipe and light it, the unmistakable aroma of the poppy laced tobacco floating around his head.<br/><br/>>>>> “I wish I could join you two for more’n just the one drink, but business calls. Don’t worry, though, I’ll leave you two the bottle to finish off.” She took another sip of her whisky, and giggled as the heat made it’s way to her head. “Though, if I’m bein’ honest here, I’d much rather be off my feet this evenin’ if you catch my meanin’.” <<<<<br/><br/>Jeb smiled and cocked his head at the thinly veiled invitation, "Well Miss Freeman, I would echo that sentiment wholeheartedly, and if its not too bold of me to say, if you'd care to save the last dance of the evening for Ol' Jeb, I'd be much obliged to ya." Jeb lifted his glass in a toast to her and took a long swallow. The whiskey was far better than the stuff he normally drank, Eastern Kentucky if he had to make a guess, and very fine. Slightly sweet from the corn mash, and tasting of the white oak cask where it aged. "This is a fine whiskey Ma'am. Thank you for the hospitality. I hope my distraction was a benefit this morning, though it appeared you Ladies had things well in hand."