XI - The Valley
Whoever the hell came out of that hut with her eyes wet and clean streaks down her dusty cheeks from all the tears looked like Kansas Kate, but sure as hell didn't act like Kansas Kate.
The troupe was "treated" to the dubious presence of a ridiculously sunny woman who had taken to singing in the saddle and laughing and pointing at everything like she'd never seen it before, like they'd taken in an idiot girl.
The singing... well, it wouldn't be fair to call it good, in any way, but it massively, massively improved quickly at least, and it might be the better end of the bargain to listen to the singing over her talking.
Kansas Kate did have a raspy voice, but normally she really leaned into it and grudgingly spat out out her words, chewing on them, talking in the lowest register her physiognomy would support. It was purposeful to make her speech sound as unpleasant as possible, but also effortlessly so, for she'd been doing it for so long. That habit would be hard to break, though singing, which stretched syllables and put them to rhythm, accelerated the process and made her sound more like, well, herself.
"From this valley they say you are going.
We will miss your bright eyes and sweet smile,
For they say you are taking the sunshine
That has brightened our pathway a while.
So come sit by my side if you love me.
Do not hasten to bid me adieu.
Just remember the Red River Valley,
And the cowboy that has loved you so true."
But there was no singing once she saw town, in fact she cut off right in the middle of Green Grow the Lilacs. She saw some problems. She wasn't happy for one damn minute, it was like a vacation for the posse.
"We should stop that feller a headin' over ta th' Courthouse." Her speaking voice, still more harsh, had a warmth to its tone never heard before. The way she said that, she wanted to stop him to give him a hug or a puppy or a piece of chocolate cake. "An' go check on some folks quicker'n a snake falls out of a gunny sack open at both ends, ah wonder what mustah happ'n'd round here."