Howdy, Ma'rm
Afternoon. Kasumi liked to drift around town, let the dust kick over her boots, stop outside the jail and gossip with the deputies, Ai and Rina, about who and what was expected to come in on the next stagecoach. Slow time at the saloon. No one wanting a tune or someone to deal out a hand of poker or blackjack. So Kasumi roamed around, with a smile for everyone, encouraging them to stop in later for her evening performance. The personal touch, the friendliest of persuasion. Kasumi had mastered it.
As she neared a stand of trees marking the outskirts of town, Kasumi heard a strong clear voice ringing out.
“Alas, what danger will it be to us,
Maids as we are.”
Kasumi’s ears pricked up at danger. Was someone in distress?
"Were it not better,
Because that I am more than common tall"
Kasumi stumbled across a twig.
“Who’s there?”
Kasumi pushed through the trees, hand on the handle of her Colt revolver, “Kasumin has come to save you!”
Kasumi found herself being inspected by serious blue eyes. This almost familiar woman wore a blue checked shirt tucked into faded denims, sturdy boots, hat held in one hand, dark hair tied back.
“I am in no danger.”
“But you said…”
“Shakespeare. As You Like It. I am preparing for a performance.”
Kasumi remembered. Schoolteacher, Miss Osaka, usually in a mousy dress, not boldly striding in ranch hand clothes.
“Ms. Osaka. Are you really safe alone here?"
The schoolteacher knelt, then stood and swift stepped Kasumi-ward, who suddenly found herself at rapier point.
“I have ten hearts; I have a hundred arms;
I feel too strong to war with mortals-
BRING ME GIANTS!”
Kasumi, though confused, knew an insult when she heard it, “I’m almost as tall as you are.”
Ms. Osaka shook her head, giggling, “Cyrano.”
“That’s a weird name.”
“You can call me Shizuku.” Shizuku raised Kasumi's captive hand to her lips.
Kasumi had no idea what was happening, but schoolteachers now were more exciting than she recalled.