Silver Moon
Adventurer
Chapter 71, “Ruby’s Apology”, Monday, January 9th, 1882:
Tom Whipple is busy frying up some chicken and baking some potatoes when Katherine enters the room. He is a little startled by her entry into the kitchen and seems to be uncomfortable in her presence. He says, "Thanks for coming back. I'm sorry for messing things up."
Kate says, "No, don't apologize. You didn't really do anything. I'm not sure why Ruby was so bothered, but I should have come back in after she pulled me out. It was wrong to leave you in the lurch like that. All of this is not my business, I know, but I feel responsible. I want to help if I can. If I’m overstepping my boundaries, I'm sorry. I don't like to see people I care about hurting. If it helps I admire you for giving up so much to protect your sister." Kate tilted her head down and looked up from beneath her lashes. "And I'm flattered you...took an interest in me."
She lifted her head again with a little blush to her cheeks. "Will you listen to my idea?" "Yes Ma'am" is his reply. "Katherine will be fine," she said gently. "I wondered if myself, and perhaps Jake and Ruby, were to buy interests in the business and become it's public face for a while, that you and Maggie could come clean without damaging the business. After the dust settles and people got used to thinking about you as siblings, we would sell our interests back to you.
We could run some ads stating the Lone Star is under new management, and perhaps have some news stories written about how the misunderstanding came about. It does require laying out your personal business, but I'm sure you can see the necessity. Do you think this could work?"
He replies, "Well...Katherine. I don't think that we should be making any drastic changes until I have a chance to discuss this situation with my father. He and my cousin will be arriving tomorrow night. He obviously has a strong interest in our success. I.....at this point I, well, I don't know what to do. Last week everything was going so well and then it all fell apart just as quick. I wish I never came to this awful place. What was I thinking? Two years ago this was no place for a lady and I brought two of them here and subsequently ruined both of their lives."
Kate says, "Nothing has really changed from last week. We had a misunderstanding, and now it's cleared up. Jake and Ruby will be along in a little while, and we'll all get back to our work. What has changed is that you and Maggie are facing the fact that you can't continue to go on like this.
And you listen to me now. Those two ladies came here of their own accord, I'm sure. A place such as this, there have to be a few people like them willing to come and start making it civilized. A series of unfortunate circumstances has caused all of you a great deal of pain, but its not too late to recover. But as you say, you want to talk to your Father before you go any farther, so I'll hold my tongue until then. Please call on me to do anything I can to help." Kate heads back to the El Parador and joins Riley and Chester.
Meanwhile, Ruby gets some fresh food from Dorita, puts in a small box and leaves the Lone Star. She arrives at the Marshall's Office and jail. Wyatt Earp is around and insists on inspecting the food before allowing it to be given to Job Kane. He prods it all with a knife. Job is appreciative of the food and is in a happy mood. He tells Ruby "The Judge got back in town around two hours ago. The trials will be held tomorrow morning a the Comique starting at 10:30 in the morning. It will be nice to finally get out of here and back to my own bed."
Ruby says, “Hey, that is great news! It’ll be nice to have you back, although I guess there might not be room for Jake anymore. Anyway, I’m sure it will be good to get back to your own bed.” She wants to bring up the whole Maggie and Tom thing but while she guesses Job has to know something she isn’t sure how much. She talks to him about some of the other happenings around town and whatever gossip she has heard. “Oh I guess I should get going now. I’ll tell everyone about the trial tomorrow. Can we all come? I’m sure some of us will just show up anyway,” she winks.
He replies “Anyone can come, it's a public trial. The Judge would probably want you all to be there anyway as possible witnesses, since you were at the Lone Star when the shooting happened and were there for the end of it. If you get a chance try to find out where that Suzie Foreman disappeared to, as she'd probably be the main witness at this thing. Don't try to bring her in though, leave that to the Marshall.” Any idea where I should look for her?"
She thanks him and says, “Get a good night’s rest and I’ll see you tomorrow.” Ruby walks over to Earp. “So, how does a girl go about getting her gun back? They, uh, confiscated it Saturday night at the Palace Saloon.” Wyatt Earp looks up at her and says, "Oh, you're the one. I didn't get a name. What were you thinking? According to Deacon McCoy you threatened to shoot Adair and then walked over and asked for your gun." He takes out the gun and says "Promise me you that if I give this back you won't head back to the Palace with it and try again."
Ruby smiled sweetly at him. "Oh, I promise I won't." Ruby decides not to add the "as long as he doesn't call me a harlot again" part. "As a matter of fact I'm going to go and apologize. It was just a misunderstanding after all." She waits until he gives her back her gun and she puts it back in it's usual spot. "Thanks Marshall Earp and good night Job, I'll see you tomorrow!"
She heads over to the Cantina and looks around except for Sanoma, who is busy waiting tables. Not seeing anyone else she goes up to her room. She finds the flowers from Jake, which she smells and giggles over. She leaves her guns in a drawer so she isn't tempted and heads over to the Palace Saloon. Ruby arrives at the Palace Saloon but the bouncer McCoy won't let her in, moving to block the door. "I told you to go away Saturday night. You threatened the boss. I don't want to see you here ever again." In the background Ruby notices the harlot Suzie Foreman sitting the lap of a potential customer.
"Listen, I can completely understand why you wouldn't want to let me in. I actually came to apologize to Mr. Adair for the way I acted on Saturday night. I didn't bring any weapons and you can check for yourself if you don't believe me. I can wait here and you can ask Mr. Adair if he'd like to talk to me." McCoy lets her enter the building and calls over the woman named Kitty, who had brought drinks to Adair at the Lone Star on Friday night and had been on Adair's lap on Saturday night. He has Kitty perform a quick search of Ruby to confirm that there are no concealed weapons.
McCoy then calls the bartender to come watch the door while he accompanies Ruby over to the piano, where Adair is playing some fast-paced dance hall tunes and actually playing rather well. McCoy waits until the current song finishes and says "Boss, the young lady here would like to apologize to you for her behavior on Saturday night." He then steps behind Ruby. Adair turns and gives Ruby a stern look, then sizes her up from head to toe. He then looks straight into her eyes and waits for her to speak.
“Mr. Adair, thank you for seeing me. I wanted to explain about Saturday night. I wasn’t…myself you could say. I don’t normally get all worked up like that or take offense so easily.” Ruby takes a big breath in. “I am sorry I slapped you.” She continues slowly, “After all, you were kind enough to offer me a job. But I am not that kind of girl and I don’t plan on becoming one. I can sing and dance, but that’s it. Now I have to apologize for my friend Kate also. She’s not from around here you could say and she doesn’t like being considered a woman of the night.” Ruby pauses to find the right words. “I don’t want you being mad at the Whipples for my behavior is all. I know you like to gamble there.”
He laughs "Gamble there? Why would I want to waste my time in a run down tavern like that run by a pair of old prudes. I was only there to see if your boyfriend was worth stealing, but he couldn't play poker worth a damn. So you claim that you're here to apologize but then you go and insult the fine women who work here. I'll have you know, they make more money in a month than your precious Maggie Whipple makes in a year. So go back to your Lone Star, just don't come crying to me when Old Tomboy comes creeping into your bedroom at night. You high and mighty types make me sick. Now get out before I have you thrown out."
Ruby tries to control her temper. She speaks slowly and with purpose. "Alright Mr. Adair. I had enough apologizing for one night. You won't get the same courtesy again. And one day you will regret some of the things you said, believe me."
Tom Whipple is busy frying up some chicken and baking some potatoes when Katherine enters the room. He is a little startled by her entry into the kitchen and seems to be uncomfortable in her presence. He says, "Thanks for coming back. I'm sorry for messing things up."
Kate says, "No, don't apologize. You didn't really do anything. I'm not sure why Ruby was so bothered, but I should have come back in after she pulled me out. It was wrong to leave you in the lurch like that. All of this is not my business, I know, but I feel responsible. I want to help if I can. If I’m overstepping my boundaries, I'm sorry. I don't like to see people I care about hurting. If it helps I admire you for giving up so much to protect your sister." Kate tilted her head down and looked up from beneath her lashes. "And I'm flattered you...took an interest in me."
She lifted her head again with a little blush to her cheeks. "Will you listen to my idea?" "Yes Ma'am" is his reply. "Katherine will be fine," she said gently. "I wondered if myself, and perhaps Jake and Ruby, were to buy interests in the business and become it's public face for a while, that you and Maggie could come clean without damaging the business. After the dust settles and people got used to thinking about you as siblings, we would sell our interests back to you.
We could run some ads stating the Lone Star is under new management, and perhaps have some news stories written about how the misunderstanding came about. It does require laying out your personal business, but I'm sure you can see the necessity. Do you think this could work?"
He replies, "Well...Katherine. I don't think that we should be making any drastic changes until I have a chance to discuss this situation with my father. He and my cousin will be arriving tomorrow night. He obviously has a strong interest in our success. I.....at this point I, well, I don't know what to do. Last week everything was going so well and then it all fell apart just as quick. I wish I never came to this awful place. What was I thinking? Two years ago this was no place for a lady and I brought two of them here and subsequently ruined both of their lives."
Kate says, "Nothing has really changed from last week. We had a misunderstanding, and now it's cleared up. Jake and Ruby will be along in a little while, and we'll all get back to our work. What has changed is that you and Maggie are facing the fact that you can't continue to go on like this.
And you listen to me now. Those two ladies came here of their own accord, I'm sure. A place such as this, there have to be a few people like them willing to come and start making it civilized. A series of unfortunate circumstances has caused all of you a great deal of pain, but its not too late to recover. But as you say, you want to talk to your Father before you go any farther, so I'll hold my tongue until then. Please call on me to do anything I can to help." Kate heads back to the El Parador and joins Riley and Chester.
Meanwhile, Ruby gets some fresh food from Dorita, puts in a small box and leaves the Lone Star. She arrives at the Marshall's Office and jail. Wyatt Earp is around and insists on inspecting the food before allowing it to be given to Job Kane. He prods it all with a knife. Job is appreciative of the food and is in a happy mood. He tells Ruby "The Judge got back in town around two hours ago. The trials will be held tomorrow morning a the Comique starting at 10:30 in the morning. It will be nice to finally get out of here and back to my own bed."
Ruby says, “Hey, that is great news! It’ll be nice to have you back, although I guess there might not be room for Jake anymore. Anyway, I’m sure it will be good to get back to your own bed.” She wants to bring up the whole Maggie and Tom thing but while she guesses Job has to know something she isn’t sure how much. She talks to him about some of the other happenings around town and whatever gossip she has heard. “Oh I guess I should get going now. I’ll tell everyone about the trial tomorrow. Can we all come? I’m sure some of us will just show up anyway,” she winks.
He replies “Anyone can come, it's a public trial. The Judge would probably want you all to be there anyway as possible witnesses, since you were at the Lone Star when the shooting happened and were there for the end of it. If you get a chance try to find out where that Suzie Foreman disappeared to, as she'd probably be the main witness at this thing. Don't try to bring her in though, leave that to the Marshall.” Any idea where I should look for her?"
She thanks him and says, “Get a good night’s rest and I’ll see you tomorrow.” Ruby walks over to Earp. “So, how does a girl go about getting her gun back? They, uh, confiscated it Saturday night at the Palace Saloon.” Wyatt Earp looks up at her and says, "Oh, you're the one. I didn't get a name. What were you thinking? According to Deacon McCoy you threatened to shoot Adair and then walked over and asked for your gun." He takes out the gun and says "Promise me you that if I give this back you won't head back to the Palace with it and try again."
Ruby smiled sweetly at him. "Oh, I promise I won't." Ruby decides not to add the "as long as he doesn't call me a harlot again" part. "As a matter of fact I'm going to go and apologize. It was just a misunderstanding after all." She waits until he gives her back her gun and she puts it back in it's usual spot. "Thanks Marshall Earp and good night Job, I'll see you tomorrow!"
She heads over to the Cantina and looks around except for Sanoma, who is busy waiting tables. Not seeing anyone else she goes up to her room. She finds the flowers from Jake, which she smells and giggles over. She leaves her guns in a drawer so she isn't tempted and heads over to the Palace Saloon. Ruby arrives at the Palace Saloon but the bouncer McCoy won't let her in, moving to block the door. "I told you to go away Saturday night. You threatened the boss. I don't want to see you here ever again." In the background Ruby notices the harlot Suzie Foreman sitting the lap of a potential customer.
"Listen, I can completely understand why you wouldn't want to let me in. I actually came to apologize to Mr. Adair for the way I acted on Saturday night. I didn't bring any weapons and you can check for yourself if you don't believe me. I can wait here and you can ask Mr. Adair if he'd like to talk to me." McCoy lets her enter the building and calls over the woman named Kitty, who had brought drinks to Adair at the Lone Star on Friday night and had been on Adair's lap on Saturday night. He has Kitty perform a quick search of Ruby to confirm that there are no concealed weapons.
McCoy then calls the bartender to come watch the door while he accompanies Ruby over to the piano, where Adair is playing some fast-paced dance hall tunes and actually playing rather well. McCoy waits until the current song finishes and says "Boss, the young lady here would like to apologize to you for her behavior on Saturday night." He then steps behind Ruby. Adair turns and gives Ruby a stern look, then sizes her up from head to toe. He then looks straight into her eyes and waits for her to speak.
“Mr. Adair, thank you for seeing me. I wanted to explain about Saturday night. I wasn’t…myself you could say. I don’t normally get all worked up like that or take offense so easily.” Ruby takes a big breath in. “I am sorry I slapped you.” She continues slowly, “After all, you were kind enough to offer me a job. But I am not that kind of girl and I don’t plan on becoming one. I can sing and dance, but that’s it. Now I have to apologize for my friend Kate also. She’s not from around here you could say and she doesn’t like being considered a woman of the night.” Ruby pauses to find the right words. “I don’t want you being mad at the Whipples for my behavior is all. I know you like to gamble there.”
He laughs "Gamble there? Why would I want to waste my time in a run down tavern like that run by a pair of old prudes. I was only there to see if your boyfriend was worth stealing, but he couldn't play poker worth a damn. So you claim that you're here to apologize but then you go and insult the fine women who work here. I'll have you know, they make more money in a month than your precious Maggie Whipple makes in a year. So go back to your Lone Star, just don't come crying to me when Old Tomboy comes creeping into your bedroom at night. You high and mighty types make me sick. Now get out before I have you thrown out."
Ruby tries to control her temper. She speaks slowly and with purpose. "Alright Mr. Adair. I had enough apologizing for one night. You won't get the same courtesy again. And one day you will regret some of the things you said, believe me."