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[hider= Early's Inn and Eatery -- Shanty Town]
[u][b]Early's [/b][/u] -- Inn and Eatery 

On the edge of Shanty Town, right along the road leading out of town, is not only a group of houses for Colored laborers-- formerly slaves having been emancipated , having traveled West, and many of them having taken up station as cowboys, bounty hunters, and assorted laborers-- there's of course the local eatery. Started by an old woman by the name of [b]Earlene Dukes[/b], the property was built by her hand and that of her family. It was simply her hospitality, always cooking enough to feed the neighbors or anyone that came by, that launched the idea of opening a restaurant. The weariness and late hours at which some hungry folk came knocking initiated the idea of the "inn". 

Early's is a single level wooding building, with four private rooms, but plenty of space in the common area where travelers have propped their feet up, taken rest on the floor, or atop any gap of space in the often crowded inn. For the reasonable price of ten cents, a traveler can eat all day at Early's, and there are even wooden tokens handed out for a "lottery" that awards a free meal to a returning customer.

Currently, Earlene resides in the residence, always keeping the doors open and the stove warm, with two of her seven children in town, and four grandchildren between them. A small farm supplies her food and meat, maintained by several people in the neighborhood-- which largely supports itself. Her loyalties lie solely with the colored people of Serpent's Snag, no matter who or what they are, as long as they keep the peace and take their scuffles outside. Some say that Earlene's husband's ghost can be heard singing from the kitchen on Sunday nights-- that he has a voice worthy of praise and misty eyes.


[u][b]NPC's Associated:[/b][/u]
[sup]Everyone mentioned in this list is "colored" and have a deep skin tone. Unmistakable west African slave-trade ancestry.[/sup]
Earlene Dukes -- 56 -- Proprietor and Cook: Steel-Willed, Cold Blooded, Warm Hearted, but ain't no fool. Chews tobacco and spits with the best of 'em. Extremely superstitious. Formerly a house slave. Can and Will shoot a man over 100 paces away. Never far from any sort of gun.

Mary Dukes-Freeman -- 25 -- Daughter of Earlene, Wife of Booker, mother of two: Meaner than a starved coyote and always singing beautifully. She can play the piano and fiddle [i]extremely[/i] well. Usually babysitting. So short fused she's about to snap on you [i]right[/i] now. Has a soft spot for Viernes-- those damn mothering instincts.

Booker Freeman -- 28 -- Husband of Mary, Carpenter, Farmer: Quiet, passive, and loves the hell out of his wife. Loves to smoke and drink with the boys. Stutters when he's excited.

William and Benjamin -- Twins 6 -- Mary and Booker's Children: Extremely curious, never where they should be, perpetually snot-nosed, constantly scraped, and usually dirty. Benjamin has a heavy lisp. William loves toy guns.

Elijah "Kettle" Dukes -- 34 -- Son of Earlene, Husband of The Other Mary, Cook, Butcher: Ill-tempered, loud, but kinda cowardly. Usually taking horses to the stables or cutting meat. Speaks in a YELL.

Mary Dukes aka, "No, no, the OTHER Mary!" -- 28 -- Wife of Elijah, Wife, Cook, Maid, Mother of Two etc.: Always tired, passive-aggressive, aloof as hell, reasonably apathetic, currently pregnant. Always cleaning or hauling something.

Rose and Dandelion Dukes -- 9 and 8 respectively -- Daughters of Elijah and Mary: Skinny, tag-team bullies, love throwing stuff at ghosts and antagonizing animals. Dandelion thinks she's the prettiest "woman in the west." Rose longs to marry a "real Injun cowboy" and won't shut up about it.[/hider]