Cyrus elbowed Phineas Cloud and muttered,"Watch how a pro does it!" Phineas muttered back,"Don't do it." Cyrus sashayed up to the young woman in red, waiting outside the store and said,"A pleasure to meet your acquaintance,M'am. I'm Cyrus Harding, from America and I wonder if you can help me out?" She focused on him eyes that gave him fear as he felt on the field at Gettyburg, facing the Rebel cannons. They were dark violet and stared at him as if measuring him for a coffin, and said,"If you're looking for a handout, you certainly came a long way, American Cyrus Harding." Cyrus fought past his fear and said,"Hey! Y'all a foreigner,too! You aren't Scottish." She sneered,"Good God,NO! I was born a world away from this place!" Phineas came up and asked,"And what world would that be?" The look she gave him was more intense and frightening than the one Cyrus received. He stepped back half a step and said,"I apologize for interrupting. My name is Professor Phineas Cloud of London. This man is my traveling companion. We've just arrived in Rhynie Village to discover the inn's roof..." "...Is blown off and there's no where to spend the night after seeing the old fort on the hill. It blew off two days ago during a thunderstorm.So why are you two playing tourist? You don't seem the types. Especially the gunslinger!" She watched with seemingly unblinking eyes like a hawk. Cryus tipped his hat and smiled,"M'am, I am no gunslinger! I just carry my piece in case I need it. I ain't looking for any trouble from no man!" She snorted and said,"I'd hope not with that piece of junk! Is that an Army 1860 Colt smoothbore cap and ball pistol firing a 128 grain ball at 990 feet per second? I couldn't get a one inch grouping at FIFTY FEET with that piece of junk!" Cyrus looked amazed and outraged and shocked at the same time,"THAT is some awful guff from a woman who hasn't even told us her name! Besides, what do ladies know about guns anyway?" She almost sneered as she said,"Apparently a LOT. I prefer a wildcat design of my own. It fires a 128 grain steel-core BULLET out of a long cylinder at 2100 feet per second, capable of giving me a grouping of one inch at ONE HUNDRED YARDS and punching through 1/4 inch sheet iron. My name is Maeve Mardalan." Cyrus stood speechless and Phineas said,"Impressive. We're accompanying Jules and Madam Honorine Verne to the Tap O'Noth fort before catching the train to Ness county to investigate sightings of the river monster in the Ness River. What's your grandfather a professor OF? Math?" Cyrus looked at Maeve and muttered,"I think I'm in love." Maeve and Phineas both rolled there eyes and groaned. They looked at each other and laughed. Cyrus exclaimed,"HEY,NOW!" Maeve said,"You can ask him yourself. My Grandfather,Archibald Mardalan." The door opened and a short, bandy legged man came out with Jules Verne. The short man looked at the two men with the same unnerving gaze. "So, who're these two louts, sniffing around me grand-daughter like they're dogs, and she's a juicy bone?" She said curtly,"We were just talking of River Monsters!" His mien somehow became terrifying as he looked at them. Maeve went on to explain,"They're going up to the Ness River to investigate a sighting." Jules remarked,"I am interested in all such strange things! Phineas suggested it to me as a side trip." Professor Mardalan locked his frightening gaze on Phineas. Phineas quailed, but stood his ground and nodded. After a moment of eternity, Archie smiled and came forward to grab his hand in an overly firm handshake. "I think we have many things in common! We have a spare bedroom. You should spend the night. The Inn..." Maeve said,"I told them that! I think dinner will be very interesting." Cyrus asked,"Can I court your Grand-daughter,sir?" Archie looked at him and broke out laughing. He said,"It should be VERY interesting!" --TO be continued!--