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<blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 1900718" data-attributes="member: 8530"><p><strong>Chapter Fifty-eight, “Maggie’s Confession”, Sunday, January 8th, 1882:</strong></p><p></p><p>It was nearly 10:30 before Katherine woke. Her mouth felt stuffed with cotton and the sun stabbed into her eyes. She sat up very slowly, trying to keep her head from spinning. A few minutes later she was able to get up and look at herself in the small mirror. She was pale and drawn with dark circles under her eyes. On the bright side, no man would look twice at her in this condition. </p><p></p><p>She dressed herself in a prim blue with a high neck and carefully bushed and plaited her hair before heading downstairs. Kate found an empty table and asked for coffee and dry toast. It arrived a few moments later with a note from Jake. She read it and sighed. Dealing with the Whipple's what not something she wanted to do today. But if it had to be done, it was better done sooner rather than later. </p><p></p><p>Kate stopped at Gilson's bath house before lunch, taking time for a good soak in the pleasantly fragrant water. After her bath she put her hair back up despite it being wet, and went over to the Promise City Hotel and Cafe. She enters the twenty-by-twenty-five foot two-story clapboard building, the first floor consisting of an open kitchen and a dining area. A sign on the wall reads "Breakfast 5-cents, Lunch 10-15 cents, Dinner 15-40 cents". Another sign reads "Alcoholic Beverages Not Served on These Premises" </p><p></p><p>There are around twenty tables in the room, most of them with patrons. Two people are busy moving around, a middle-aged plump woman in a calico dress and a slightly overweight older man wearing an apron over work clothes. They are alternating between cooking food and bringing it to the tables. She sees Judge Lacey sitting by himself at a table on the far end of the room, a sad look on his face. She then remembers that Ruby had made a lunch date with the man. Kate wished there was something she could say to make him feel better. On any other morning the smells in the cafe would have been delicious, but today they only made her a bit nauseous. </p><p></p><p>Kate thinks “She must have forgotten about the lunch”. She then hears Maggie's voice behind her saying "Katherine, thank you so much for coming." She turns around as Mrs. Whipple enters the building. Katherine replies, “Yes. Well, you did ask." Katherine held her head up and met Maggie's eyes, but her fingers were fidgeting with her small clasp purse. "Shall we sit?" she asked and led Maggie to the nearest empty table. Kate laid her purse on the table and laid the napkin across her lap, waiting for Maggie to speak.</p><p></p><p>Maggie appear to be rather uncomfortable. She beings "Katherine, first of all, I would like to apologize for whatever it was that Tom did to upset Ruby so. I'm sure he meant no harm and I would never want to cause her any distress. She was so happy at the Lone Star the night before and I was anticipating that you would be with us for a long time." Kate answers, “I would think any apology should come from Mr. Whipple. And if he doesn't know what to apologize for, how can he be sorry? </p><p></p><p>Maggie replies “Ruby was very happy on Friday. It had something to do with her visit to Mr. Valdez, I understand." Kate paused. Maggie obviously didn't know what had caused the trouble. She took a deep breath and replies, "Ruby was upset on my account, Maggie. On Friday night I noticed that he seemed to be watching me quite a bit," she explained, her face turning red. "But I thought it might just be my imagination, so I asked Ruby to keep an eye on him. I didn't tell her why. She noticed the same thing I did, but I didn't expect her anger. All Mr. Whipple did was look, but it was a look Ruby knew well." The redness had spread to Kate's neck. She was hot and uncomfortable. "She pulled me out then, and I was glad to go. I do not wish for that kind of attention, especially from the husband of a friend."</p><p></p><p>Maggie's hand begins to shake. She opens up her mouth but no words come out and she shuts it again but her chin is quivering. Her eyes then begin to tear up. "Ka..Katherine I....." she begins to say but stops. Maggie's posture then changes, with the shoulders slumping, as she again looks for the words to speak. </p><p></p><p>Last night it was Ruby who had recognized something she was familiar with. Now it was Katherine's turn. She had been though so much emotional distress for the last three months that she could see that Maggie was on the verge of an emotional breakdown. And that breakdown was about to occur right here in this restaurant unless she got this woman to somewhere more private, and rather quickly.</p><p></p><p>Kate dropped a small coin on the table even though they hadn't ordered anything yet. Then she moved around the table and put her arm around Maggie's shoulders. "Why don't we go back to my room where it's quiet, Maggie, hmm?" She got Maggie up and lead her out the door and back toward the Cantina. Maggie clung to Katherine's side for the short walk back. She barely looked up or took any notice of her surroundings until they were inside the room. Kate hoped Maggie wouldn't mind going to a place that harbored harlots as she brought her inside and upstairs to her room. She shut the door quietly behind her. "There now, that's better, isn't it?" </p><p></p><p>Katherine just let her sit for a while, arm draped across the woman's shoulder. When Maggie finally spoke tears filled her eyes and began dripping down her face. "Oh Katherine..." she sobbed. "My marriage....it's a sham....and it's all my fault." "No dear," Kate said, softly stroking the other woman's hair. "It takes two to make a marriage. Nothing is ever only one persons fault. Why don't you tell me about it?"</p><p></p><p>Maggie regains her composure. "It happened almost two years ago, around a month after Tom, Flossie and I arrived here. We had bought the building from Elton Hubbard right at the main intersection of the first two established streets. The only other Saloon in town at that point was the Long Branch, and we got plenty of business. Things were going well for us. </p><p></p><p>Whenever the three of us walked around town nobody ever paid any attention to me, only Flossie. I somehow came to the foolish realization that it was safe for me to walk around town by myself. At that point the town wasn't civilized like it is today. There were around two-hundred men, all the roughneck types, and I was one of only five women. A pair of drunken men cornered me in a back alleyway and threatened to do vile things to me. </p><p></p><p>I didn't know what to do. I thought of screaming but was afraid that would only attract more lowlifes. I backed against the wall and buried my hands into my pockets, and felt my mother's wedding band. I always wore it on a chain around my neck, but at Tom's insistence would unfasten and pocket it when we went out. </p><p></p><p>So I had an idea. I slipped it off of the chain, onto my finger, and then pulled out my hand. I waved it in their faces and with every ounce of strength I could muster declared that I was a married woman, that my husband Tom was within earshot, and if they took one step closer I would scream. I then began rattling off lies about Tom being the top marksman in Colorado, and that he could shoot a flea off of a prairie dog at 500 yards. </p><p></p><p>The bluff worked. They turned and ran. Tom and Flossie both laughed at my ingenuity. Word got around town soon about Tom's no-nonsense wife and how never to cross me. Tom thought I would be safer if people continued to think that. But Katherine, he and I aren't married! We never have been. He's not my husband.....he's my brother."</p><p></p><p>Kate's hand stilled on Maggie's hair. Her heart seemed to stop and then leap forward and pound hard. So much made sense now. Maggie's room upstairs at the Lone Star, the way she and Tom got along so well but didn't seem to act like a married couple. Suddenly she felt terrible for the things she'd thought of Tom Whipple. It still wasn't polite to watch a woman, but he was not a married man. Not only that, he was a single man who could not even look for a wife. Looking was the most he could do. </p><p></p><p>"Listen to me, Maggie," Kate said, turning to look her in the eye, "You did nothing wrong. I would have done the same and more to keep a man from trying to harm me in... that way." Kate's hands shook as she took Maggie's. "I can't imagine what that would have been like. Still, I think it's time for the truth, don't you? That's why Flossie left, isn't it? She wanted Tom to marry her, and he couldn't, because in order to do that he would have to tell the truth."</p><p></p><p>Maggie answers, "Oh yes, that was it exactly. When we first arrived we were all just friends, but as time went on he and Flossie fell in love with each other, but my lie kept them from being together in public. They saw each other secretly, and tried to be discreet, but in a town this small that was impossible. Word got around quickly about Tom's affair, and Flossie hated what people then thought about her. </p><p></p><p>They had decided that they would reveal the truth last year. But then our Father arrived with Cousin Teddy to put on the second floor. He told Tom that we had to keep living the lie. Our saloon was established for gambling, so our business's reputation was the most important thing. If it became known that Tom was a liar then people would never come here again, they wouldn't trust the games run at the Lone Star to be honest. Tom tried to explain that to Flossie, but she had had enough. She walked out on Tom and me and has been at the Comique ever since. </p><p></p><p>This last year has been difficult for Tom. He is still deeply in love with Flossie. Up until this week I don't think he ever even looked at another woman. I don't know if Flossie still has feelings for him or not, but she hasn't seen anybody else in all that time. Oh Katherine, I can't keep this up. That awful lie has brought nothing but misery and unhappiness to everyone."</p><p></p><p>"Then don't. It's cruel of your father to insist that you do. If I were you, I'd go talk to Tom right now. Get the truth out before your Father arrives. Have Tom go talk to Flossie and marry her tomorrow if she's willing." Maggie replies, "Oh no Katherine, he would never do that. Father would disown him and leave the family Saloon in Denver to Cousin Teddy instead. Tom's lifelong dream has always been to run it. </p><p></p><p>Katherine, you should see Father's Lone Star Dance Hall, Saloon and Hotel. It is very impressive, nearly ten times the size of ours. And very successful despite being the only Saloon in Denver without prostitution. After our Mother died Father insisted that Tom and I had to go and make our own way in the world, to prove that we could do this on our own. He said that anybody who just had success handed to them wouldn't have the right business sense needed to maintain it." </p><p></p><p>Kate smiled. "But if you tell the truth you'd be free, as well. I'll come with you, if you like. It seems I owe Tom an apology rather than the other way around." Maggie replies, “Oh no, he definitely owes you one. I saw how he was looking at you on Friday night. That was totally inappropriate, you being recently widowed and all. I let him have a piece of my mind that night after you left. He said he would behave himself last night, but apparently he didn't. You owe him a stern tongue-lashing, not an apology.” She answers, “He tried Maggie. I didn't notice him watching last night. If I hadn't asked Ruby to keep an eye on him I never would have known." </p><p></p><p>Kate continues, "You both need to decide what's most important to you. It could be many, many years before Tom inherits the family business. Is that really worth both of you living such lonely lives until then? You've already proved you can run a successful business. If you can't tell the truth here, maybe you need to move on. Go somewhere that no one knows you and start again, this time as brother and sister. I'll admit though, I hope you'll stay here."</p><p></p><p>Maggie exclaims "I couldn't bear leaving. I've put so much of myself into this place these last two years. After Flossie left we almost lost the business. Tony's mediocre card playing and my substandard piano playing were just not enough. We struggled for five months until Job Kane came and joined us. During that short period I must have aged five years. Look at me Katherine, I have the appearance of an old woman. I'm only twenty-nine. </p><p></p><p>But I've accomplished what I set out to do. I've taken this untamed place and created an oasis of respectability. People like you, people like Stanley and Helen have proven that it is possible. I've had some pretty radical ideas, and Tom has fought me tooth-and-nail along the way, but I have proven that I am right. DAMN IT! I've worked hard for what I've created and I'm not giving it up for anything. Her face then turns beet red and she exclaims "Gods! I swore. Oh Katherine, please forgive me for using such foul language in your presence. I don't know what came over me."</p><p></p><p>Katherine laughed right out. "Would you believe that very word has passed my lips on any number of occasions? Swearing can be a very satisfying experience. Now, let me make sure I have this straight. You want to stay here and run the Lone Star, so starting again is not an option. But you cannot continue on like this. You won't tell the truth before your Father arrives. The only option left that I can see is to open the issue with him again when he arrives. But Maggie, nothing will change if you don't do something. You think about that." </p><p></p><p>Kate put her arms around Maggie and hugged her. "This is tearing you apart, honey. You should talk to Tom and see what's to be done." She went downstairs and got some tea. Up in her room she sat with Maggie until she had cried herself out. She brushed the other woman’s hair out, giving Maggie some time to pull herself together. After the tea was gone and Maggie calm again, Kate gave her one last hug. "Now, you go on home and let Tom know what the trouble was. Then the two of you should have a nice, long talk about what you're going to do." She kissed her cheek and then walked Maggie down to the front door of the Cantina. "I'll see you Monday evening," she smiled as Maggie started home.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Silver Moon, post: 1900718, member: 8530"] [B]Chapter Fifty-eight, “Maggie’s Confession”, Sunday, January 8th, 1882:[/B] It was nearly 10:30 before Katherine woke. Her mouth felt stuffed with cotton and the sun stabbed into her eyes. She sat up very slowly, trying to keep her head from spinning. A few minutes later she was able to get up and look at herself in the small mirror. She was pale and drawn with dark circles under her eyes. On the bright side, no man would look twice at her in this condition. She dressed herself in a prim blue with a high neck and carefully bushed and plaited her hair before heading downstairs. Kate found an empty table and asked for coffee and dry toast. It arrived a few moments later with a note from Jake. She read it and sighed. Dealing with the Whipple's what not something she wanted to do today. But if it had to be done, it was better done sooner rather than later. Kate stopped at Gilson's bath house before lunch, taking time for a good soak in the pleasantly fragrant water. After her bath she put her hair back up despite it being wet, and went over to the Promise City Hotel and Cafe. She enters the twenty-by-twenty-five foot two-story clapboard building, the first floor consisting of an open kitchen and a dining area. A sign on the wall reads "Breakfast 5-cents, Lunch 10-15 cents, Dinner 15-40 cents". Another sign reads "Alcoholic Beverages Not Served on These Premises" There are around twenty tables in the room, most of them with patrons. Two people are busy moving around, a middle-aged plump woman in a calico dress and a slightly overweight older man wearing an apron over work clothes. They are alternating between cooking food and bringing it to the tables. She sees Judge Lacey sitting by himself at a table on the far end of the room, a sad look on his face. She then remembers that Ruby had made a lunch date with the man. Kate wished there was something she could say to make him feel better. On any other morning the smells in the cafe would have been delicious, but today they only made her a bit nauseous. Kate thinks “She must have forgotten about the lunch”. She then hears Maggie's voice behind her saying "Katherine, thank you so much for coming." She turns around as Mrs. Whipple enters the building. Katherine replies, “Yes. Well, you did ask." Katherine held her head up and met Maggie's eyes, but her fingers were fidgeting with her small clasp purse. "Shall we sit?" she asked and led Maggie to the nearest empty table. Kate laid her purse on the table and laid the napkin across her lap, waiting for Maggie to speak. Maggie appear to be rather uncomfortable. She beings "Katherine, first of all, I would like to apologize for whatever it was that Tom did to upset Ruby so. I'm sure he meant no harm and I would never want to cause her any distress. She was so happy at the Lone Star the night before and I was anticipating that you would be with us for a long time." Kate answers, “I would think any apology should come from Mr. Whipple. And if he doesn't know what to apologize for, how can he be sorry? Maggie replies “Ruby was very happy on Friday. It had something to do with her visit to Mr. Valdez, I understand." Kate paused. Maggie obviously didn't know what had caused the trouble. She took a deep breath and replies, "Ruby was upset on my account, Maggie. On Friday night I noticed that he seemed to be watching me quite a bit," she explained, her face turning red. "But I thought it might just be my imagination, so I asked Ruby to keep an eye on him. I didn't tell her why. She noticed the same thing I did, but I didn't expect her anger. All Mr. Whipple did was look, but it was a look Ruby knew well." The redness had spread to Kate's neck. She was hot and uncomfortable. "She pulled me out then, and I was glad to go. I do not wish for that kind of attention, especially from the husband of a friend." Maggie's hand begins to shake. She opens up her mouth but no words come out and she shuts it again but her chin is quivering. Her eyes then begin to tear up. "Ka..Katherine I....." she begins to say but stops. Maggie's posture then changes, with the shoulders slumping, as she again looks for the words to speak. Last night it was Ruby who had recognized something she was familiar with. Now it was Katherine's turn. She had been though so much emotional distress for the last three months that she could see that Maggie was on the verge of an emotional breakdown. And that breakdown was about to occur right here in this restaurant unless she got this woman to somewhere more private, and rather quickly. Kate dropped a small coin on the table even though they hadn't ordered anything yet. Then she moved around the table and put her arm around Maggie's shoulders. "Why don't we go back to my room where it's quiet, Maggie, hmm?" She got Maggie up and lead her out the door and back toward the Cantina. Maggie clung to Katherine's side for the short walk back. She barely looked up or took any notice of her surroundings until they were inside the room. Kate hoped Maggie wouldn't mind going to a place that harbored harlots as she brought her inside and upstairs to her room. She shut the door quietly behind her. "There now, that's better, isn't it?" Katherine just let her sit for a while, arm draped across the woman's shoulder. When Maggie finally spoke tears filled her eyes and began dripping down her face. "Oh Katherine..." she sobbed. "My marriage....it's a sham....and it's all my fault." "No dear," Kate said, softly stroking the other woman's hair. "It takes two to make a marriage. Nothing is ever only one persons fault. Why don't you tell me about it?" Maggie regains her composure. "It happened almost two years ago, around a month after Tom, Flossie and I arrived here. We had bought the building from Elton Hubbard right at the main intersection of the first two established streets. The only other Saloon in town at that point was the Long Branch, and we got plenty of business. Things were going well for us. Whenever the three of us walked around town nobody ever paid any attention to me, only Flossie. I somehow came to the foolish realization that it was safe for me to walk around town by myself. At that point the town wasn't civilized like it is today. There were around two-hundred men, all the roughneck types, and I was one of only five women. A pair of drunken men cornered me in a back alleyway and threatened to do vile things to me. I didn't know what to do. I thought of screaming but was afraid that would only attract more lowlifes. I backed against the wall and buried my hands into my pockets, and felt my mother's wedding band. I always wore it on a chain around my neck, but at Tom's insistence would unfasten and pocket it when we went out. So I had an idea. I slipped it off of the chain, onto my finger, and then pulled out my hand. I waved it in their faces and with every ounce of strength I could muster declared that I was a married woman, that my husband Tom was within earshot, and if they took one step closer I would scream. I then began rattling off lies about Tom being the top marksman in Colorado, and that he could shoot a flea off of a prairie dog at 500 yards. The bluff worked. They turned and ran. Tom and Flossie both laughed at my ingenuity. Word got around town soon about Tom's no-nonsense wife and how never to cross me. Tom thought I would be safer if people continued to think that. But Katherine, he and I aren't married! We never have been. He's not my husband.....he's my brother." Kate's hand stilled on Maggie's hair. Her heart seemed to stop and then leap forward and pound hard. So much made sense now. Maggie's room upstairs at the Lone Star, the way she and Tom got along so well but didn't seem to act like a married couple. Suddenly she felt terrible for the things she'd thought of Tom Whipple. It still wasn't polite to watch a woman, but he was not a married man. Not only that, he was a single man who could not even look for a wife. Looking was the most he could do. "Listen to me, Maggie," Kate said, turning to look her in the eye, "You did nothing wrong. I would have done the same and more to keep a man from trying to harm me in... that way." Kate's hands shook as she took Maggie's. "I can't imagine what that would have been like. Still, I think it's time for the truth, don't you? That's why Flossie left, isn't it? She wanted Tom to marry her, and he couldn't, because in order to do that he would have to tell the truth." Maggie answers, "Oh yes, that was it exactly. When we first arrived we were all just friends, but as time went on he and Flossie fell in love with each other, but my lie kept them from being together in public. They saw each other secretly, and tried to be discreet, but in a town this small that was impossible. Word got around quickly about Tom's affair, and Flossie hated what people then thought about her. They had decided that they would reveal the truth last year. But then our Father arrived with Cousin Teddy to put on the second floor. He told Tom that we had to keep living the lie. Our saloon was established for gambling, so our business's reputation was the most important thing. If it became known that Tom was a liar then people would never come here again, they wouldn't trust the games run at the Lone Star to be honest. Tom tried to explain that to Flossie, but she had had enough. She walked out on Tom and me and has been at the Comique ever since. This last year has been difficult for Tom. He is still deeply in love with Flossie. Up until this week I don't think he ever even looked at another woman. I don't know if Flossie still has feelings for him or not, but she hasn't seen anybody else in all that time. Oh Katherine, I can't keep this up. That awful lie has brought nothing but misery and unhappiness to everyone." "Then don't. It's cruel of your father to insist that you do. If I were you, I'd go talk to Tom right now. Get the truth out before your Father arrives. Have Tom go talk to Flossie and marry her tomorrow if she's willing." Maggie replies, "Oh no Katherine, he would never do that. Father would disown him and leave the family Saloon in Denver to Cousin Teddy instead. Tom's lifelong dream has always been to run it. Katherine, you should see Father's Lone Star Dance Hall, Saloon and Hotel. It is very impressive, nearly ten times the size of ours. And very successful despite being the only Saloon in Denver without prostitution. After our Mother died Father insisted that Tom and I had to go and make our own way in the world, to prove that we could do this on our own. He said that anybody who just had success handed to them wouldn't have the right business sense needed to maintain it." Kate smiled. "But if you tell the truth you'd be free, as well. I'll come with you, if you like. It seems I owe Tom an apology rather than the other way around." Maggie replies, “Oh no, he definitely owes you one. I saw how he was looking at you on Friday night. That was totally inappropriate, you being recently widowed and all. I let him have a piece of my mind that night after you left. He said he would behave himself last night, but apparently he didn't. You owe him a stern tongue-lashing, not an apology.” She answers, “He tried Maggie. I didn't notice him watching last night. If I hadn't asked Ruby to keep an eye on him I never would have known." Kate continues, "You both need to decide what's most important to you. It could be many, many years before Tom inherits the family business. Is that really worth both of you living such lonely lives until then? You've already proved you can run a successful business. If you can't tell the truth here, maybe you need to move on. Go somewhere that no one knows you and start again, this time as brother and sister. I'll admit though, I hope you'll stay here." Maggie exclaims "I couldn't bear leaving. I've put so much of myself into this place these last two years. After Flossie left we almost lost the business. Tony's mediocre card playing and my substandard piano playing were just not enough. We struggled for five months until Job Kane came and joined us. During that short period I must have aged five years. Look at me Katherine, I have the appearance of an old woman. I'm only twenty-nine. But I've accomplished what I set out to do. I've taken this untamed place and created an oasis of respectability. People like you, people like Stanley and Helen have proven that it is possible. I've had some pretty radical ideas, and Tom has fought me tooth-and-nail along the way, but I have proven that I am right. DAMN IT! I've worked hard for what I've created and I'm not giving it up for anything. Her face then turns beet red and she exclaims "Gods! I swore. Oh Katherine, please forgive me for using such foul language in your presence. I don't know what came over me." Katherine laughed right out. "Would you believe that very word has passed my lips on any number of occasions? Swearing can be a very satisfying experience. Now, let me make sure I have this straight. You want to stay here and run the Lone Star, so starting again is not an option. But you cannot continue on like this. You won't tell the truth before your Father arrives. The only option left that I can see is to open the issue with him again when he arrives. But Maggie, nothing will change if you don't do something. You think about that." Kate put her arms around Maggie and hugged her. "This is tearing you apart, honey. You should talk to Tom and see what's to be done." She went downstairs and got some tea. Up in her room she sat with Maggie until she had cried herself out. She brushed the other woman’s hair out, giving Maggie some time to pull herself together. After the tea was gone and Maggie calm again, Kate gave her one last hug. "Now, you go on home and let Tom know what the trouble was. Then the two of you should have a nice, long talk about what you're going to do." She kissed her cheek and then walked Maggie down to the front door of the Cantina. "I'll see you Monday evening," she smiled as Maggie started home. [/QUOTE]
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