Silver Moon
Adventurer
Chapter 63, “Ruby's Disappearance", Thursday, March 16th, 1882:
The words were like physical blows, Ruby West has been murdered. Each one pounding the air from Jake's chest. When Willis had finished speaking others were talking around Jake Cook but he didn't hear them. He was still facing Adair and Willis but didn't see them, didn't really see anything. It felt like the world stopped, he couldn't breath.
After what seemed like an eternity Jake finally says, "Where.... where is she?" Willis responds, "They went out to look for her. Eastman came into the Lucky Lady looking for you. To tell you if he couldn't have her you couldn't either."
His hand unconsciously brushed his revolver and such a dark look crossed Jacob Allistair Cooke's face that Willis had a moment of uncertainty and took a step back. Even the smile left Adair's face for a brief second. But then he just turned and left the Palace saloon. He didn't hear the whispers, the talking, and one man laughing and ignored the hand that tried to gently restrain him. He did not utter another word as he strode purposefully towards the Lucky Lady saloon. His thoughts grew darker and darker.
Minerva hears the words and turns to see the shock on Jake's face. It quickly turns from disbelief to murderously dark anger. She gently places her hand on his shoulder to restrain him but he takes no notice and purposefully turns and leaves the Palace Saloon. Jake parted the crowd easily and climbed the porch and was stopped at the door. He wasn't even looking at who it was, nothing registered. He was looking for just one face. "Where is Eastman." Jake says as calmly and as simply as if he misplaced his hat. His face muscles gave away nothing but his eyes seethed of hatred and unnatural anger.
Back at the Lucky Lady, Kate reassures Maria that Ruby is fine. Maria exclaims, "No! He say she is gone forever! I know something bad happen today!" Maria continues to sob. "How can you not feel bad? She was your friend too! She was good to you! Poor Senor Jake, what will he do without his Senorita?" Maria's crying gets more hysterical and she runs into Niles Hoover's arms, burying her face. Job looks up and sees Jake at the door. He hurries over and lets him in, having to push back some of the other crowd from getting inside. Job gives Jake a sympathetic hand on the shoulder. "I guess you heard..."
Katherine pulled herself up as tall as possible and bellowed, "THERE IS NOTHING TO HAVE HEARD, DAMN IT!" Every eye in the room turned to the usually gentle Kate. She spoke again with an unfamiliar dark edge. "You listen to me, all of you. I will NOT mourn a death that we aren't even certain happened! 'She is gone from me forever' is not a murder confession! How many times have some of you been so drunk you couldn't get home? Hmm? I WILL NOT believe she is dead until I see it for myself. Why don't we do something useful and go find her. I HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF DEATH, I WILL NOT BORROW IT."
Maria looks up from her crying and says, "Pedro and Dorita already send people out looking. We would hear if they found her. And Miss Ruby never not made it home from drinking," before she buries her head again, still crying hysterically.
Minerva hurried after Jake and heads into the Lucky Lady where she saw him bursts through the door with a wild look in his eyes. As she enters the Lucky Lady they are met by the sight of the usually docile Katherine Yelling and trying to reason with the bloodthirsty crowd. Minerva places herself squarely in Jake's path and stops him.
Jake had vaguely heard Job Kane, other people are talking too. Then Katherine yelled and he looks at her and stares without emotion. He continues looking around the room, everyone is looking at him. Face after face after face looking at him, not one of them the face he is searching for. In a cold monotone voice he begins to say again, "Where is Ea..." but he is interrupted by the priestess who suddenly appears in his path.
She looks him in the eye "Senor Jake, please listen! You know, things are not always as they appear. Do not let your fear get the best of you." "Look at me!" He hears those words but he can't concentrate any more on what she is saying. Her lips are moving but all Jake can feel is the cold hard feeling in his belly, the one that started as hot anger and now has changed by a flood of emotions to a murderous hate that burns him worse than any heat he has ever felt.
Minerva commands and places her hand firmly on his chest, and casting a remove fear spell onto Jake. She then compassionately pleads, "Let us get to the bottom of this before you do something that both you and Ruby will regret." Jake suddenly feels an easy warmth and confidence flow over him, taking the edge off the burning cold feeling in the pit of his stomach. He blinks hard a few times and says, "What? What are you saying?"
Minerva sees a glimmer of recognition in Jake's eyes and in a desperate attempt to focus his attention on her she shakes him hard. " Do you hear me Jake? Things are NOT always as they appear!" Jake looks her in the eyes and says "I heard you. What in Hades are you trying to tell me?"
She replies, "I'm trying to tell you not to let your fear rule your actions. Don't go off half-cocked. Think! You of all people should know that gossip isn't fact. NO ONE has seen her! NO ONE knows anything! There is no evidence to indicate that anything has happened to her at all! She may be fine, she may be hurt but we don't know anything. "We need to find Ruby! and we're standing here wasting time! Let me go talk to Eastman and find out what really happened. If he really killed her than I won't stand in your way."
Nanuet waited for what seemed like an eternity. He heard an outburst of laughter from the saloon. Then only a few moments later, an odd silence. He waits only a moment longer before he feels his continued tardiness would be detrimental to the situation at hand. Nanuet makes his way back to the front of the saloon in time to see the Marshall leading a man down the street restrained with his own belt. He sees the dwarf loitering nearby, obviously unhappy that his prey was still walking. "Flint, where is Mr. Jake?" Flint replies, "He just left, headed that way." he says pointing. "Somebody told him that Ruby was dead, something about some Eastman fella not wanting anyone to have her."
That was all Nanuet needed to hear. He knew Eastman would be trouble sooner or later. He sprinted in the direction Flint had pointed scanning the area for Jake. He saw him just as he parted the mob and entered the Lucky Lady. Nanuet followed him inside his pistol still in his hand just in time to hear the exchanges.
Job states, "Katherine, why don't you take Chester and maybe some of those people outside and start looking then? If she was sick on the way you will find her." Warren Earp pushes his way through the crowd and enters the Lucky Lady. Helen Eastman Barker uses the opportunity to follow right behind him. "All right now, what's going on here?" Warren asks.
"Marshall," Katherine said with a curt nod. "Mr. Eastman arrived here not long ago, very drunk. He said Miss West had announced she would not marry him, and he used the words 'She is gone from me forever.' Many of our patrons took that to mean he had killed her. Mr. Hoover closed the saloon and got them out of here before they could do Mr. Eastman any harm. Ruby left the El Parador shortly before he did and has not arrived here. I was just going out to look for her. It's my feeling she just got lost or distracted on her way."
The Deputy exclaims, "Got lost? It's only two blocks away! And she's walked it probably a hundred times. Ma'am, I understand your not wanting to give up hope but it certainly sounds suspicious. Now where is this Eastman fellow?" Helen interjects, "Yes, where is my cousin?"
Kate says, "I understand she was very drunk, Marshall. That does make a difference. I'll take you to Mr. Eastman, it's up to you whether you allow Mrs. Barker to accompany us." Kate turned to Ricardo. "Please tell Naki-Yai that we will go back to the El Parador as soon as I am finished with the Marshall."
Helen refuses to be left behind and moves directly up to and behind the Marshall as they follow Kate to the stairs. "Here, take these" Job says as he hands the Marshall the smelling salts. Kate wasn't quite sure which room they had put Eastman in, but assumed it would be the one Nanuet occasionally used. She opened the door to see Eastman lying on the bed. She says, "He passed out on his own, we didn't wake him right away. With the patrons so worked up we thought it would be better to wait until we could get a Marshall. He hasn't been out long."
"Alright." Jake says quietly. He points, "They are headed upstairs to see him, go ahead." Like you could really stop me he thinks. Minerva turns and runs up the stairs calling out behind, "Don't do anything rash." Jake lets her go, assumes a not threatening posture and blends into the background for a moment before he quietly follows them up the stairs like it was the most natural thing in the whole world.
Warren Earp hands Helen the smelling salts and draws his gun. "See if you can get him to wake up without those, otherwise use them." She tries talking to him, then shaking him. Neither is successful. She then takes the smelling salts and breaks them under his nose. There is no reaction at first, then he coughs and starts to move his face, and eyes still closed. Jake and Minerva enter the room just then. Helen leans over and says, "Georgie, it's me Helen. You had yourself too much to drink." He opens his eyes and starts to sit up in the bed. His eyes then cross and he collapses back again.
Kate looked over at Warren Earp. "That's the other reason I don't believe he did anything. He can't hold his liquor. I'm a better drunk than he is." She moved casually across the room to stand on the other side of Jake from Minerva. Earp says, "Well, we tried. When he finally wakes up I want him behind bars. Go get that big guy downstairs to help get him out of here." Helen starts to protest until Warren says, "Do you see that mob outside? The town jail is the safest place for him at the moment even if he's innocent."
Kate looked at Minerva, then went back downstairs to get Jeff. "They tried the smelling salts," Kate said, "But he's so drunk he passed out again as soon as he tried to sit up. Marshall Earp wants to take him to the jail and needs a hand." She and Jeff went back upstairs to the room where Eastman was laid out. Warren says, "Okay, we'll carry him downstairs and take him out the back. Please try to distract the crowd out front so that they don't notice us leaving." Helen announces "I'm going with you Marshall."
Maria waits downstairs, still crying. Finally she heads upstairs to the room. Standing outside the door she says, "What did he say? Did he say where she is? Are we still going to look?" She turns to Nanuet who had followed her up, "Senor Jake upset, you must stay with him. Oh what are we going to do?" She looks down at the puppies under feet who are crying, "And what we do with them? They sad too."
"I'm not going to just stand here, where was she last seen? At the El Parador?" Jake asks to the room in general. He doesn't wait for an answer and heads down the stairs. Nanuet head after Jake. "You don't mind if I join you, do you Mr. Jake? Ruby was my friend too." "Was?" Jake replies, "You think she's dead too?" Nanuet says, "Mr. Jake, I have no idea. You know more than I do. I came in the door after you and just heard you say, "Where is Eastman?". Then I heard Kate's explanation. If you really want my opinion, I don't think Eastman is a killer, he just doesn't seem to have that in him."
Minerva follows Jake out the door. "Wait for me Senor. We will find her together." as they exit the building Minerva makes a clicking noise and Luna flies down from the roof top to land on Minerva's outstretched arm. She casts a Speak with Animal Domain spell and commands the owl, "Find Ruby and show me where she is Luna" . She raises her arm to the sky and Luna flies off.
She turns to Jake. "I don't know if she'll have any luck finding her, but she can see much more from above. and she has a keen sense of hearing and sight. If Ruby is outdoors anywhere she should be able to locate her. Let's check out the El Parador and see if anyone saw anything."
Maria's crying was getting on Kate's. "He didn't say anything, he just passed out again." Kate helped get Eastman downstairs, thankful Jake hadn't tried anything rash. When she got downstairs she stood over by Mr. Hoover and pretended to have a heated conversation, including a good deal of pointing at the crowd outside the door. In actuality she explained the situation to him.
Jake, Nanuet and Minerva take their time walking from the Lucky Lady to the El Parador looking for clues along the way. They find nothing in the block east on Main and block south on Fremont. As they turn left onto South Street Jake sees something shiny in dirt near the porch steps of the El Parador. He picks it up finding it to be one of the custom earrings he had given Ruby. Jake picks up the earring. "This is hers. We knew she was here already though."
"Well, Mr. Jake, I am the scout and you are the one who has found the trail. If I may?" Nanuet kneels down on the ground and begins searching for any clue of Ruby's passage. Jake turns and calls into the El Parador, "Hey, is Pedro here?" Jake sighs and looks around in all directions. "Any ideas Nanuet?"
Pedro comes out "Oh Mr. Cook, we are so sorry to hear that trouble may have befallen Ruby. She was having such a good time here earlier. I spoke to her not long before she left. I think it was my talk with her that had her make the announcement about loving you and not that other man. We've looked all around and asked the neighbors but nobody had seen her."
Jake replies, "Gracias Pedro, I know you are trying. She left alone and Eastman left alone after her? No one saw them outside or what direction they went?" The hard edge in Jake's voice is gone and instead replaced by a plaintive tone.
Pedro says, "She left right after her announcement. Since she had just declared her love for you I assumed she was going straight back to the Lucky Lady to be with you. Nobody dared to stop or bother her at that point. Eastman was sad after she say she would not marry him. He stay at bar drinking for another fifteen, maybe twenty minutes. When he leave he head north onto Fremont. He was alone." "Twenty minutes!" Jake exclaims and twirls on Nanuet, "Any luck Indian?"
After the Marshall got Eastman out the back Kate gathered Ricardo and Naki-Yai and met the others back at the El Parador. Inside she looked for Dorita and asked her to watch out for the Apache woman. "I can't take her with me out looking for Ruby, and I certainly can't take Ricardo. He can speak with her, so just get him if you need to speak to her. Hopefully Flint will think to come back here to find her." She then went out front to join the others, where Nanuet was studying tracks. Nanuet looks up and tells Jake, "No, no luck. I won't be able to track anything, there are too many fresh tracks. Now what, Jake?"
He states, "If she was out getting liquored up outside the Lucky Lady it would either be the El Parador or to see Madge at the Gay Lady. Has anybody checked there? I hope somebody besides Eastman didn't try to get her tonight. It's not like we are without enemies."
Almost automatically Jake pushes the right side of his duster around the back of his holstered Colt. He then looks around his gathered friends. "I don't know what to think any more, but if somebody was out after Ruby tonight they could still be out here so be careful and don't be out alone. I'm going to look in every street and alley in this damn town until I find her."
Minerva says, "Senor we need a plan if we are going to find her. I don't know what frame of mind Senorita Ruby was in but it seems to me that if she had just announced to the world that she loves you that she would have come to find you after that. I'm going to start knocking on the doors that lead from the El Parador to the Lucky Lady. If Ruby was coming to find you and something happened on the way maybe somebody on the street heard something. Which way would she normally have walked home from the El Parador. Fremont St. or Allen St.?" He replies, "Freemont. Thanks for helping."
Once the Marshall takes Eastman away, Chester comes back downstairs. "Miss Townsend? Would it OK if I ended our date now? With all that's going on, I can't pay attention to you like you deserve. Maybe sometime soon we can pick up where we left off. I'm really sorry." She responds, "I understand. Would you escort me home, please?" He says, "Of course. Let me get your coat."
Chester takes Clarisse back to the Promise City Hotel. They say goodnight and he kisses her on the cheek. "I'll see you later. OK?" Chester rushes to the Lucky Lady. He sees Hoover cleaning the bar. "Mr. Hoover? Have you seen Jake and the others?" "Nope. They left not long after you did. They'll probably still looking for Ruby. Maybe Eastman took her back to his cousin house. That's where he's staying." Hoover tells Chester the way. "I'll try there, then. Thanks." Chester grabs his gunbelt from his room. He runs to the Barker home and knocks on the door.
Stanley Barker opens the door, "Yes? May I help you?" he asks Chester. "Evening, Mr. Barker. I'm Chester Martin and I'm looking for Miss Ruby West. She's missing. Have you seen her? Your wife's cousin, George, was the last person to see her." Stanley replies, "No, but I believe that she and George are together so I wouldn't worry if I were you. They're engaged you know." That's the thing. They aren't together. He came back to the Lucky Lady alone saying that she's gone from him forever. People are out looking for Ruby and he's in the Marshall's hoosegow. You haven't seen them, so goodnight." Chester makes his way to the Lucky Lady.
The Gay Lady proves to be have no Ruby there, nor has anyone seen her this evening. Several people there had heard the 'news' and offer Jake their condolences. Nanuet turns to Jake. "What do you believe Mr. Jake? You think she's still out there?" He says, "I believe I am going to keep looking for her until I find her." He looks down and wanders off to begin checking every street and alley in the dirty little town of Promise City. Nanuet states, "I have prayed to my ancestors for help, we will find her. Should we split up and make two groups? We can cover the city faster that way."
Minerva says, "Senorita Katherine, You come with me to knock on doors. I'll take the left and you take the right. Let's not wander too far from one another though. As Senor Jake has said. there may be others that we should fear. Are you armed? Senor Jake it would be beneficial if you started your search on the alternate route to the Lucky Lady so that we are not covering the same area. Nanuet you go with him you can knock on those door while you keep him from doing anything foolish." Minerva and Katherine start from the El Parador and head up Fremont Street.
Kate says, "That's what I had been planning to do before the Marshall arrived. If she had been out in the streets someone would have found her by now. Yes, I'm armed. I learned early on not to go around without my pistol." Kate moved up Freemont Street and began knocking on doors.
Kate balled up her fist and pounded as hard as she could on each door. She would waited a few more moments if there was no answer. This was repeated from house to house. It was getting harder to believe that Ruby was alright. She still didn't believe Mr. Eastman had done her any harm, but the fact that they couldn't find her.... Kate had seen Ruby drunk often enough to know that she should be able to get herself home. Ruby had warned her more than once what could happen to a woman alone on the street at night. Kate moved resolutely on to the next building and knocked.
Kate and Minerva continue pounding on doors desperately seeking information as to Ruby's whereabouts. Disheartened, they circle around to the Lucky Lady to check if there is any news. They continue the loop down Allen Street, knocking on doors as they go, while they search for Nanuet and Jake. Minerva looks up at the clear night sky to see Luna's ghostly form, silently circling the town. "It doesn't appear that she's having any luck either," she thinks worriedly. "Where could that girl be?"
Minerva clasps her olive leaf amulet. "Please Goddess Minerva, I have been your true and faithful servant. Help me find Ruby for there is more than one life at stake this night. Ruby and Jake have come to mean much to me in such a short period of time. Please do not let this dark night end in tragedy. I ask for your guidance," she prays fervently. Minerva receives no answers from her prayers. The group continues to search until almost midnight when they gather back at the Lucky Lady.
Nanuet looks over his exhausted friends. He can sense their dejection and worry. "My friends, do not despair. We still do not know Ruby's fate. Instead of thinking the worst, let us hope for the best. It is very late and we are all very tired. We must be strong for Ruby and for each other. Please get some rest. I need little sleep, which I will now take and then begin my prayers. My ancestors will help guide us." As Nanuet turns away a single tear falls from his eyes.
The atmosphere is wake-like. Kate and Nanuet are talking softly while Jake broods in a corner of the room. Eyeing him, Minerva grabs a bottle of bourbon from the bar walks over and splashes a generous portion into two glasses. "Drink this" she says handing him the glass. And downing hers. She places the empty glass on the table.
"I know you're worried. We all are. But this is a time for cool judgement. Nanuet is right. There is still hope. We were unable to check thoroughly. Several doors were left unopened and no one we spoke to saw Ruby with Eastman after they left the El Parador. I just don't think he killed her. You need to trust Ruby's instincts Jake. You of all people, know how resourceful she is. There is nothing more we can do before morning and Eastman isn't going anywhere. In the light of day we will find the answers we seek. I think Nanuet is very wise. We should heed his words," she says and pours them each another round.
Hiram and Edna Cooke were regular churchgoers. As in everything, Hiram's devotion was equal parts belief and facade to improve the families' chances of moving into higher circles of society. Edna's devotion was from her heart, and she tried to instill that same devotion in her children. She was for the most part successful. The only exception was the Cooke family's constant exception, little Jacob.
Even at an early age he was unruly and belligerent about going to the temple. During services he would often sneak off, how he managed to do so was a mystery to the Cooke parents. Often they would find him with his friends outside the temple and he would be punished. Edna noticed that just as often he simply wandered the temple. She also noticed a pattern, as often as not he would be playing or simply standing and staring at the statue in the alcove dedicated to the messenger of the gods. It was very strange and little Jacob Allistair Cooke always seemed at home there.
"Hope." Jake laughs a humorless laugh and walks to Nanuet. Taking him by the shoulders he says, "I will try, I will try." Jake drinks the bourbon offered by Minerva. It is warm going down but only reminds him that he introduced the drink to Ruby, but he says nothing about that to them. He turns to face the three of them and says, "Friends, you have done all you can tonight. I may not look like I appreciate it but I do more than you can know. Go to your beds and get some rest we have done all we can do tonight. I'll walk you ladies home."
Silently Jake escorts them back to the El Parador and then to the Comstock house. They each say words to comfort him but he only nods and attempts a smile. When the door to the Comstock house closes, Jake turns and walks a few steps towards the Lucky Lady before he looks over his shoulder to make sure Minerva is not observing him.
"Keep an eye on Jake tonight please," Kate said quietly to Nanuet. "Don't let him do anything stupid, to himself or anyone else. He just got out of jail, I don't want to see him back in. I'm going home." She finished flatly with the beginnings of the dead look she had worn after learning just how her husband had died.
"OK Miss Kate, I will do what I can to keep him out of trouble." Nanuet said quietly, looking over his shoulder at Jake and watches him drink the Bourbon that Minerva offered him and felt pity for the man. "I can only imagine how he feels right now."
Kate walked back to El Parador, alone despite the others with her. She muttered something to Jake before he left, she had no idea what. Before she went inside she checked the stables. Ruby's horse was still there, so she hadn't managed to ride off anywhere. Finally she went inside and to her room. Strange, on this day where she had moved non-stop, now there was nothing left to do. Flint and Naki-Yai each had a room here and Kate no longer was responsible for watching out for her. Ginnie was sleeping, or more precisely had gone back to sleep once she knew who entered the room.
By rote Katherine managed to get herself undressed and ready for bed. It was the second time she'd worn that amethyst-colored dress, and once again a promising night had ended in disaster. Sitting on the bed she could feel that place she had gone to once before. The dark place where everything was quiet and nothing touched her, nothing hurt, and nothing was. She looked across the room at the cot and the girl sleeping there. Much as the darkness tempted her, she couldn't go. She finally allowed herself to fear, and then to cry.
Jake once again walks the streets of Promise City. He steps take him back over every street and alley but to no avail. He stops, tired, sore and emotionally drained. Looking up he finds he is outside the church. He takes a few steps towards the door but he does not enter. "So, I know better than to ask for help this is not your realm. Will you at least tell me if she lives or not? Will you give me at least that?" There is no response.
"I have always honored you, and I have never asked for much. Not even this little boon, this one time?" There is no response. "Fine, have it your way. It is always your way." Jake trudges off in the direction of the Lucky Lady. He enters the dark saloon and grabs a half-empty bottle of whiskey. Returning to the porch he drinks slowly and watches the sky begin to grow lighter in the east. Jake Cook was never a man of hope. Things were or they were not. He took action when needed and ran away when it was not. As he finally nodded off to sleep a strange emotion took hold of him replacing some of the fear and hate that was consuming him. He idly wondered if that was the thing people called hope.
After Kate's pleading Nanuet figured he would not sleep just yet. He waited for a few moments after Jake and the women left before following. He kept himself far enough away and walked quietly enough that Jake never saw him. Nanuet himself scanned the streets and alleyways they walked through looking for a sign, anything that might give him a clue to Ruby's fate.
He was surprised to see Jake end up at the church for other than taking them in vain Jake seemed to ignore the Gods of his people. Nanuet again felt pity for Jake and wondered how it must feel to think you have lost someone so close to your heart. He was so deep in thought when Jake turned from the church and headed back home that he almost missed him walking past.
Nanuet again followed Jake, trying to remain hidden, wondering if spying was the right thing to do. Well at least he is heading back to the Lucky Lady he thought to himself as they arrived at the familiar building. Nanuet continued to observe Jake until he nodded off. "Sleep well Mr. Jake, tomorrow the light will reveal the mystery that the dark night shrouds from us."
With that Nanuet left for the grove since tonight he wanted to be out of doors, no roof over him to block the sight of his ancestors in the heavens. He reached the grove and almost immediately entered his usual trance, hoping daylight would come quickly.
The words were like physical blows, Ruby West has been murdered. Each one pounding the air from Jake's chest. When Willis had finished speaking others were talking around Jake Cook but he didn't hear them. He was still facing Adair and Willis but didn't see them, didn't really see anything. It felt like the world stopped, he couldn't breath.
After what seemed like an eternity Jake finally says, "Where.... where is she?" Willis responds, "They went out to look for her. Eastman came into the Lucky Lady looking for you. To tell you if he couldn't have her you couldn't either."
His hand unconsciously brushed his revolver and such a dark look crossed Jacob Allistair Cooke's face that Willis had a moment of uncertainty and took a step back. Even the smile left Adair's face for a brief second. But then he just turned and left the Palace saloon. He didn't hear the whispers, the talking, and one man laughing and ignored the hand that tried to gently restrain him. He did not utter another word as he strode purposefully towards the Lucky Lady saloon. His thoughts grew darker and darker.
Minerva hears the words and turns to see the shock on Jake's face. It quickly turns from disbelief to murderously dark anger. She gently places her hand on his shoulder to restrain him but he takes no notice and purposefully turns and leaves the Palace Saloon. Jake parted the crowd easily and climbed the porch and was stopped at the door. He wasn't even looking at who it was, nothing registered. He was looking for just one face. "Where is Eastman." Jake says as calmly and as simply as if he misplaced his hat. His face muscles gave away nothing but his eyes seethed of hatred and unnatural anger.
Back at the Lucky Lady, Kate reassures Maria that Ruby is fine. Maria exclaims, "No! He say she is gone forever! I know something bad happen today!" Maria continues to sob. "How can you not feel bad? She was your friend too! She was good to you! Poor Senor Jake, what will he do without his Senorita?" Maria's crying gets more hysterical and she runs into Niles Hoover's arms, burying her face. Job looks up and sees Jake at the door. He hurries over and lets him in, having to push back some of the other crowd from getting inside. Job gives Jake a sympathetic hand on the shoulder. "I guess you heard..."
Katherine pulled herself up as tall as possible and bellowed, "THERE IS NOTHING TO HAVE HEARD, DAMN IT!" Every eye in the room turned to the usually gentle Kate. She spoke again with an unfamiliar dark edge. "You listen to me, all of you. I will NOT mourn a death that we aren't even certain happened! 'She is gone from me forever' is not a murder confession! How many times have some of you been so drunk you couldn't get home? Hmm? I WILL NOT believe she is dead until I see it for myself. Why don't we do something useful and go find her. I HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF DEATH, I WILL NOT BORROW IT."
Maria looks up from her crying and says, "Pedro and Dorita already send people out looking. We would hear if they found her. And Miss Ruby never not made it home from drinking," before she buries her head again, still crying hysterically.
Minerva hurried after Jake and heads into the Lucky Lady where she saw him bursts through the door with a wild look in his eyes. As she enters the Lucky Lady they are met by the sight of the usually docile Katherine Yelling and trying to reason with the bloodthirsty crowd. Minerva places herself squarely in Jake's path and stops him.
Jake had vaguely heard Job Kane, other people are talking too. Then Katherine yelled and he looks at her and stares without emotion. He continues looking around the room, everyone is looking at him. Face after face after face looking at him, not one of them the face he is searching for. In a cold monotone voice he begins to say again, "Where is Ea..." but he is interrupted by the priestess who suddenly appears in his path.
She looks him in the eye "Senor Jake, please listen! You know, things are not always as they appear. Do not let your fear get the best of you." "Look at me!" He hears those words but he can't concentrate any more on what she is saying. Her lips are moving but all Jake can feel is the cold hard feeling in his belly, the one that started as hot anger and now has changed by a flood of emotions to a murderous hate that burns him worse than any heat he has ever felt.
Minerva commands and places her hand firmly on his chest, and casting a remove fear spell onto Jake. She then compassionately pleads, "Let us get to the bottom of this before you do something that both you and Ruby will regret." Jake suddenly feels an easy warmth and confidence flow over him, taking the edge off the burning cold feeling in the pit of his stomach. He blinks hard a few times and says, "What? What are you saying?"
Minerva sees a glimmer of recognition in Jake's eyes and in a desperate attempt to focus his attention on her she shakes him hard. " Do you hear me Jake? Things are NOT always as they appear!" Jake looks her in the eyes and says "I heard you. What in Hades are you trying to tell me?"
She replies, "I'm trying to tell you not to let your fear rule your actions. Don't go off half-cocked. Think! You of all people should know that gossip isn't fact. NO ONE has seen her! NO ONE knows anything! There is no evidence to indicate that anything has happened to her at all! She may be fine, she may be hurt but we don't know anything. "We need to find Ruby! and we're standing here wasting time! Let me go talk to Eastman and find out what really happened. If he really killed her than I won't stand in your way."
Nanuet waited for what seemed like an eternity. He heard an outburst of laughter from the saloon. Then only a few moments later, an odd silence. He waits only a moment longer before he feels his continued tardiness would be detrimental to the situation at hand. Nanuet makes his way back to the front of the saloon in time to see the Marshall leading a man down the street restrained with his own belt. He sees the dwarf loitering nearby, obviously unhappy that his prey was still walking. "Flint, where is Mr. Jake?" Flint replies, "He just left, headed that way." he says pointing. "Somebody told him that Ruby was dead, something about some Eastman fella not wanting anyone to have her."
That was all Nanuet needed to hear. He knew Eastman would be trouble sooner or later. He sprinted in the direction Flint had pointed scanning the area for Jake. He saw him just as he parted the mob and entered the Lucky Lady. Nanuet followed him inside his pistol still in his hand just in time to hear the exchanges.
Job states, "Katherine, why don't you take Chester and maybe some of those people outside and start looking then? If she was sick on the way you will find her." Warren Earp pushes his way through the crowd and enters the Lucky Lady. Helen Eastman Barker uses the opportunity to follow right behind him. "All right now, what's going on here?" Warren asks.
"Marshall," Katherine said with a curt nod. "Mr. Eastman arrived here not long ago, very drunk. He said Miss West had announced she would not marry him, and he used the words 'She is gone from me forever.' Many of our patrons took that to mean he had killed her. Mr. Hoover closed the saloon and got them out of here before they could do Mr. Eastman any harm. Ruby left the El Parador shortly before he did and has not arrived here. I was just going out to look for her. It's my feeling she just got lost or distracted on her way."
The Deputy exclaims, "Got lost? It's only two blocks away! And she's walked it probably a hundred times. Ma'am, I understand your not wanting to give up hope but it certainly sounds suspicious. Now where is this Eastman fellow?" Helen interjects, "Yes, where is my cousin?"
Kate says, "I understand she was very drunk, Marshall. That does make a difference. I'll take you to Mr. Eastman, it's up to you whether you allow Mrs. Barker to accompany us." Kate turned to Ricardo. "Please tell Naki-Yai that we will go back to the El Parador as soon as I am finished with the Marshall."
Helen refuses to be left behind and moves directly up to and behind the Marshall as they follow Kate to the stairs. "Here, take these" Job says as he hands the Marshall the smelling salts. Kate wasn't quite sure which room they had put Eastman in, but assumed it would be the one Nanuet occasionally used. She opened the door to see Eastman lying on the bed. She says, "He passed out on his own, we didn't wake him right away. With the patrons so worked up we thought it would be better to wait until we could get a Marshall. He hasn't been out long."
"Alright." Jake says quietly. He points, "They are headed upstairs to see him, go ahead." Like you could really stop me he thinks. Minerva turns and runs up the stairs calling out behind, "Don't do anything rash." Jake lets her go, assumes a not threatening posture and blends into the background for a moment before he quietly follows them up the stairs like it was the most natural thing in the whole world.
Warren Earp hands Helen the smelling salts and draws his gun. "See if you can get him to wake up without those, otherwise use them." She tries talking to him, then shaking him. Neither is successful. She then takes the smelling salts and breaks them under his nose. There is no reaction at first, then he coughs and starts to move his face, and eyes still closed. Jake and Minerva enter the room just then. Helen leans over and says, "Georgie, it's me Helen. You had yourself too much to drink." He opens his eyes and starts to sit up in the bed. His eyes then cross and he collapses back again.
Kate looked over at Warren Earp. "That's the other reason I don't believe he did anything. He can't hold his liquor. I'm a better drunk than he is." She moved casually across the room to stand on the other side of Jake from Minerva. Earp says, "Well, we tried. When he finally wakes up I want him behind bars. Go get that big guy downstairs to help get him out of here." Helen starts to protest until Warren says, "Do you see that mob outside? The town jail is the safest place for him at the moment even if he's innocent."
Kate looked at Minerva, then went back downstairs to get Jeff. "They tried the smelling salts," Kate said, "But he's so drunk he passed out again as soon as he tried to sit up. Marshall Earp wants to take him to the jail and needs a hand." She and Jeff went back upstairs to the room where Eastman was laid out. Warren says, "Okay, we'll carry him downstairs and take him out the back. Please try to distract the crowd out front so that they don't notice us leaving." Helen announces "I'm going with you Marshall."
Maria waits downstairs, still crying. Finally she heads upstairs to the room. Standing outside the door she says, "What did he say? Did he say where she is? Are we still going to look?" She turns to Nanuet who had followed her up, "Senor Jake upset, you must stay with him. Oh what are we going to do?" She looks down at the puppies under feet who are crying, "And what we do with them? They sad too."
"I'm not going to just stand here, where was she last seen? At the El Parador?" Jake asks to the room in general. He doesn't wait for an answer and heads down the stairs. Nanuet head after Jake. "You don't mind if I join you, do you Mr. Jake? Ruby was my friend too." "Was?" Jake replies, "You think she's dead too?" Nanuet says, "Mr. Jake, I have no idea. You know more than I do. I came in the door after you and just heard you say, "Where is Eastman?". Then I heard Kate's explanation. If you really want my opinion, I don't think Eastman is a killer, he just doesn't seem to have that in him."
Minerva follows Jake out the door. "Wait for me Senor. We will find her together." as they exit the building Minerva makes a clicking noise and Luna flies down from the roof top to land on Minerva's outstretched arm. She casts a Speak with Animal Domain spell and commands the owl, "Find Ruby and show me where she is Luna" . She raises her arm to the sky and Luna flies off.
She turns to Jake. "I don't know if she'll have any luck finding her, but she can see much more from above. and she has a keen sense of hearing and sight. If Ruby is outdoors anywhere she should be able to locate her. Let's check out the El Parador and see if anyone saw anything."
Maria's crying was getting on Kate's. "He didn't say anything, he just passed out again." Kate helped get Eastman downstairs, thankful Jake hadn't tried anything rash. When she got downstairs she stood over by Mr. Hoover and pretended to have a heated conversation, including a good deal of pointing at the crowd outside the door. In actuality she explained the situation to him.
Jake, Nanuet and Minerva take their time walking from the Lucky Lady to the El Parador looking for clues along the way. They find nothing in the block east on Main and block south on Fremont. As they turn left onto South Street Jake sees something shiny in dirt near the porch steps of the El Parador. He picks it up finding it to be one of the custom earrings he had given Ruby. Jake picks up the earring. "This is hers. We knew she was here already though."
"Well, Mr. Jake, I am the scout and you are the one who has found the trail. If I may?" Nanuet kneels down on the ground and begins searching for any clue of Ruby's passage. Jake turns and calls into the El Parador, "Hey, is Pedro here?" Jake sighs and looks around in all directions. "Any ideas Nanuet?"
Pedro comes out "Oh Mr. Cook, we are so sorry to hear that trouble may have befallen Ruby. She was having such a good time here earlier. I spoke to her not long before she left. I think it was my talk with her that had her make the announcement about loving you and not that other man. We've looked all around and asked the neighbors but nobody had seen her."
Jake replies, "Gracias Pedro, I know you are trying. She left alone and Eastman left alone after her? No one saw them outside or what direction they went?" The hard edge in Jake's voice is gone and instead replaced by a plaintive tone.
Pedro says, "She left right after her announcement. Since she had just declared her love for you I assumed she was going straight back to the Lucky Lady to be with you. Nobody dared to stop or bother her at that point. Eastman was sad after she say she would not marry him. He stay at bar drinking for another fifteen, maybe twenty minutes. When he leave he head north onto Fremont. He was alone." "Twenty minutes!" Jake exclaims and twirls on Nanuet, "Any luck Indian?"
After the Marshall got Eastman out the back Kate gathered Ricardo and Naki-Yai and met the others back at the El Parador. Inside she looked for Dorita and asked her to watch out for the Apache woman. "I can't take her with me out looking for Ruby, and I certainly can't take Ricardo. He can speak with her, so just get him if you need to speak to her. Hopefully Flint will think to come back here to find her." She then went out front to join the others, where Nanuet was studying tracks. Nanuet looks up and tells Jake, "No, no luck. I won't be able to track anything, there are too many fresh tracks. Now what, Jake?"
He states, "If she was out getting liquored up outside the Lucky Lady it would either be the El Parador or to see Madge at the Gay Lady. Has anybody checked there? I hope somebody besides Eastman didn't try to get her tonight. It's not like we are without enemies."
Almost automatically Jake pushes the right side of his duster around the back of his holstered Colt. He then looks around his gathered friends. "I don't know what to think any more, but if somebody was out after Ruby tonight they could still be out here so be careful and don't be out alone. I'm going to look in every street and alley in this damn town until I find her."
Minerva says, "Senor we need a plan if we are going to find her. I don't know what frame of mind Senorita Ruby was in but it seems to me that if she had just announced to the world that she loves you that she would have come to find you after that. I'm going to start knocking on the doors that lead from the El Parador to the Lucky Lady. If Ruby was coming to find you and something happened on the way maybe somebody on the street heard something. Which way would she normally have walked home from the El Parador. Fremont St. or Allen St.?" He replies, "Freemont. Thanks for helping."
Once the Marshall takes Eastman away, Chester comes back downstairs. "Miss Townsend? Would it OK if I ended our date now? With all that's going on, I can't pay attention to you like you deserve. Maybe sometime soon we can pick up where we left off. I'm really sorry." She responds, "I understand. Would you escort me home, please?" He says, "Of course. Let me get your coat."
Chester takes Clarisse back to the Promise City Hotel. They say goodnight and he kisses her on the cheek. "I'll see you later. OK?" Chester rushes to the Lucky Lady. He sees Hoover cleaning the bar. "Mr. Hoover? Have you seen Jake and the others?" "Nope. They left not long after you did. They'll probably still looking for Ruby. Maybe Eastman took her back to his cousin house. That's where he's staying." Hoover tells Chester the way. "I'll try there, then. Thanks." Chester grabs his gunbelt from his room. He runs to the Barker home and knocks on the door.
Stanley Barker opens the door, "Yes? May I help you?" he asks Chester. "Evening, Mr. Barker. I'm Chester Martin and I'm looking for Miss Ruby West. She's missing. Have you seen her? Your wife's cousin, George, was the last person to see her." Stanley replies, "No, but I believe that she and George are together so I wouldn't worry if I were you. They're engaged you know." That's the thing. They aren't together. He came back to the Lucky Lady alone saying that she's gone from him forever. People are out looking for Ruby and he's in the Marshall's hoosegow. You haven't seen them, so goodnight." Chester makes his way to the Lucky Lady.
The Gay Lady proves to be have no Ruby there, nor has anyone seen her this evening. Several people there had heard the 'news' and offer Jake their condolences. Nanuet turns to Jake. "What do you believe Mr. Jake? You think she's still out there?" He says, "I believe I am going to keep looking for her until I find her." He looks down and wanders off to begin checking every street and alley in the dirty little town of Promise City. Nanuet states, "I have prayed to my ancestors for help, we will find her. Should we split up and make two groups? We can cover the city faster that way."
Minerva says, "Senorita Katherine, You come with me to knock on doors. I'll take the left and you take the right. Let's not wander too far from one another though. As Senor Jake has said. there may be others that we should fear. Are you armed? Senor Jake it would be beneficial if you started your search on the alternate route to the Lucky Lady so that we are not covering the same area. Nanuet you go with him you can knock on those door while you keep him from doing anything foolish." Minerva and Katherine start from the El Parador and head up Fremont Street.
Kate says, "That's what I had been planning to do before the Marshall arrived. If she had been out in the streets someone would have found her by now. Yes, I'm armed. I learned early on not to go around without my pistol." Kate moved up Freemont Street and began knocking on doors.
Kate balled up her fist and pounded as hard as she could on each door. She would waited a few more moments if there was no answer. This was repeated from house to house. It was getting harder to believe that Ruby was alright. She still didn't believe Mr. Eastman had done her any harm, but the fact that they couldn't find her.... Kate had seen Ruby drunk often enough to know that she should be able to get herself home. Ruby had warned her more than once what could happen to a woman alone on the street at night. Kate moved resolutely on to the next building and knocked.
Kate and Minerva continue pounding on doors desperately seeking information as to Ruby's whereabouts. Disheartened, they circle around to the Lucky Lady to check if there is any news. They continue the loop down Allen Street, knocking on doors as they go, while they search for Nanuet and Jake. Minerva looks up at the clear night sky to see Luna's ghostly form, silently circling the town. "It doesn't appear that she's having any luck either," she thinks worriedly. "Where could that girl be?"
Minerva clasps her olive leaf amulet. "Please Goddess Minerva, I have been your true and faithful servant. Help me find Ruby for there is more than one life at stake this night. Ruby and Jake have come to mean much to me in such a short period of time. Please do not let this dark night end in tragedy. I ask for your guidance," she prays fervently. Minerva receives no answers from her prayers. The group continues to search until almost midnight when they gather back at the Lucky Lady.
Nanuet looks over his exhausted friends. He can sense their dejection and worry. "My friends, do not despair. We still do not know Ruby's fate. Instead of thinking the worst, let us hope for the best. It is very late and we are all very tired. We must be strong for Ruby and for each other. Please get some rest. I need little sleep, which I will now take and then begin my prayers. My ancestors will help guide us." As Nanuet turns away a single tear falls from his eyes.
The atmosphere is wake-like. Kate and Nanuet are talking softly while Jake broods in a corner of the room. Eyeing him, Minerva grabs a bottle of bourbon from the bar walks over and splashes a generous portion into two glasses. "Drink this" she says handing him the glass. And downing hers. She places the empty glass on the table.
"I know you're worried. We all are. But this is a time for cool judgement. Nanuet is right. There is still hope. We were unable to check thoroughly. Several doors were left unopened and no one we spoke to saw Ruby with Eastman after they left the El Parador. I just don't think he killed her. You need to trust Ruby's instincts Jake. You of all people, know how resourceful she is. There is nothing more we can do before morning and Eastman isn't going anywhere. In the light of day we will find the answers we seek. I think Nanuet is very wise. We should heed his words," she says and pours them each another round.
Hiram and Edna Cooke were regular churchgoers. As in everything, Hiram's devotion was equal parts belief and facade to improve the families' chances of moving into higher circles of society. Edna's devotion was from her heart, and she tried to instill that same devotion in her children. She was for the most part successful. The only exception was the Cooke family's constant exception, little Jacob.
Even at an early age he was unruly and belligerent about going to the temple. During services he would often sneak off, how he managed to do so was a mystery to the Cooke parents. Often they would find him with his friends outside the temple and he would be punished. Edna noticed that just as often he simply wandered the temple. She also noticed a pattern, as often as not he would be playing or simply standing and staring at the statue in the alcove dedicated to the messenger of the gods. It was very strange and little Jacob Allistair Cooke always seemed at home there.
"Hope." Jake laughs a humorless laugh and walks to Nanuet. Taking him by the shoulders he says, "I will try, I will try." Jake drinks the bourbon offered by Minerva. It is warm going down but only reminds him that he introduced the drink to Ruby, but he says nothing about that to them. He turns to face the three of them and says, "Friends, you have done all you can tonight. I may not look like I appreciate it but I do more than you can know. Go to your beds and get some rest we have done all we can do tonight. I'll walk you ladies home."
Silently Jake escorts them back to the El Parador and then to the Comstock house. They each say words to comfort him but he only nods and attempts a smile. When the door to the Comstock house closes, Jake turns and walks a few steps towards the Lucky Lady before he looks over his shoulder to make sure Minerva is not observing him.
"Keep an eye on Jake tonight please," Kate said quietly to Nanuet. "Don't let him do anything stupid, to himself or anyone else. He just got out of jail, I don't want to see him back in. I'm going home." She finished flatly with the beginnings of the dead look she had worn after learning just how her husband had died.
"OK Miss Kate, I will do what I can to keep him out of trouble." Nanuet said quietly, looking over his shoulder at Jake and watches him drink the Bourbon that Minerva offered him and felt pity for the man. "I can only imagine how he feels right now."
Kate walked back to El Parador, alone despite the others with her. She muttered something to Jake before he left, she had no idea what. Before she went inside she checked the stables. Ruby's horse was still there, so she hadn't managed to ride off anywhere. Finally she went inside and to her room. Strange, on this day where she had moved non-stop, now there was nothing left to do. Flint and Naki-Yai each had a room here and Kate no longer was responsible for watching out for her. Ginnie was sleeping, or more precisely had gone back to sleep once she knew who entered the room.
By rote Katherine managed to get herself undressed and ready for bed. It was the second time she'd worn that amethyst-colored dress, and once again a promising night had ended in disaster. Sitting on the bed she could feel that place she had gone to once before. The dark place where everything was quiet and nothing touched her, nothing hurt, and nothing was. She looked across the room at the cot and the girl sleeping there. Much as the darkness tempted her, she couldn't go. She finally allowed herself to fear, and then to cry.
Jake once again walks the streets of Promise City. He steps take him back over every street and alley but to no avail. He stops, tired, sore and emotionally drained. Looking up he finds he is outside the church. He takes a few steps towards the door but he does not enter. "So, I know better than to ask for help this is not your realm. Will you at least tell me if she lives or not? Will you give me at least that?" There is no response.
"I have always honored you, and I have never asked for much. Not even this little boon, this one time?" There is no response. "Fine, have it your way. It is always your way." Jake trudges off in the direction of the Lucky Lady. He enters the dark saloon and grabs a half-empty bottle of whiskey. Returning to the porch he drinks slowly and watches the sky begin to grow lighter in the east. Jake Cook was never a man of hope. Things were or they were not. He took action when needed and ran away when it was not. As he finally nodded off to sleep a strange emotion took hold of him replacing some of the fear and hate that was consuming him. He idly wondered if that was the thing people called hope.
After Kate's pleading Nanuet figured he would not sleep just yet. He waited for a few moments after Jake and the women left before following. He kept himself far enough away and walked quietly enough that Jake never saw him. Nanuet himself scanned the streets and alleyways they walked through looking for a sign, anything that might give him a clue to Ruby's fate.
He was surprised to see Jake end up at the church for other than taking them in vain Jake seemed to ignore the Gods of his people. Nanuet again felt pity for Jake and wondered how it must feel to think you have lost someone so close to your heart. He was so deep in thought when Jake turned from the church and headed back home that he almost missed him walking past.
Nanuet again followed Jake, trying to remain hidden, wondering if spying was the right thing to do. Well at least he is heading back to the Lucky Lady he thought to himself as they arrived at the familiar building. Nanuet continued to observe Jake until he nodded off. "Sleep well Mr. Jake, tomorrow the light will reveal the mystery that the dark night shrouds from us."
With that Nanuet left for the grove since tonight he wanted to be out of doors, no roof over him to block the sight of his ancestors in the heavens. He reached the grove and almost immediately entered his usual trance, hoping daylight would come quickly.