A woman with wild, graying hair, a fiddle strapped to her back, and arms corded with muscle rides up on a nasty looking black and white pinto pony. After she has watered the evil-eyed little fellow, she hitches him to the rail and steps lightly in the door.

Howdy LEJ. Glad to see the stage is here. I could use a bit of sugar. So what do these layabouts want for food? She says, tying her hair back under a bandana and heading for the big black cookstove. Oh, for you new folks, my name's Susan Bean,and if you bring it in, and it can be cooked, I can cook it.

Rummaging in the pie safe, she pulls out beans, salt pork from the crock, and some dried herbs. Soon there is a pot of beans boiling merrily on the cookstove.

There. Now, who wanted that fiddle tune?