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"Revenge, Renewal and the Promise of a New Year" (Boot Hill/D&D)
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<blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 1936784" data-attributes="member: 8530"><p><strong>Chapter Sixty-nine, “Afternoon Business”, Monday, January 9th, 1882:</strong></p><p></p><p>At the mining office Chester says, "Thank you, Mr. Hogan. I really appreciate this. I can go today. I just have to go back to my room to drop off my gun. I don't think I'll need it down in the mine." He looks at his pocket watch, taking note of the time. "Is the mine near here?" Getting an answer, he trots back to the El Parador to leave his gun. He thinks to himself “I heard mining was dangerous, but three men in a week? I better watch my step.”</p><p></p><p>Ruby grabs a fast lunch then heads over for a bath. After her bath she stops in the General Store to see Mr. Lacey. She walks in and he is behind the counter wrapping up someone’s purchase. After the customer leaves she approaches him. </p><p></p><p>“Hello, Mr. Lacey. Did you get my note yesterday? I left it under the door for you. I’m really sorry I couldn’t make lunch with you. You see, something very important came up and it had to be done right away. I’m sure you understand.” He smiles back at her and says in a casual tone "Nothing to worry about Miss. West, I understand that you have lots to do." She notes that there is no enthusiasm at all in his voice, nor do his eyes have the wide vibrant look that she saw in them on Friday night. She answers, “Can we make it another day perhaps? I did promise to make it up to you.” She smiles sweetly at him. "Perhaps." is all that he says in response to that question and comment.</p><p></p><p>Ruby thought she should leave well enough alone, she didn't know why she had agreed to lunch with him in the first place. But she knew he was upset with her, and lonely. "Oh don't be mad at me, Mr. Lacey. I couldn't bare the thought. Now I have some things I need to buy, but not right now. So when I come back I expect you to have a new date in mind for us to share a meal. Don't disappointment me!" With that she heads out. </p><p></p><p>Since it was getting late Ruby decided to use any excuse she could to avoid her chat with Mr. Adair. It could wait another day. No, next stop would be Mr. Gonzales. That she was looking forward to. She heads back to the Cantina.</p><p></p><p>Shortly after noon Jake sees a familiar face as Neil Cassidy arrives to make a deposit. "Good Afternoon Mr. Cassidy." Says Jake with a friendly smile. "Aren't you going to leave some out for me to win back?" Jake just gives him a friendly wave and leaves him to his transaction. </p><p></p><p>Cassidy replies, "Mr. Cook, what are you doing here?" "It's my day job," Jake replies. Cassidy laughs and says, "Okay, just make sure that the James Gang doesn't come back. Can't go losing my favorite dealer." </p><p></p><p>When it is slow, Jake will deposit $300 of his own money in the bank. During the day he takes whatever opportunities he has with the bank owners or customers to find out what he can about the Lawyers Fisk and Berg. He discovers that Mitchell Berg is highly ethical and will not take cases to defend people who he feels are guilty of crimes. Fisk however, will take any case he can. Fisk also has the reputation of being a compulsive gambler. </p><p></p><p>He's also curious to learn what he can about the silver mining and processing business in casual conversations, but most depositors that day are not involved directly with the business.</p><p></p><p>Scarface Jones returns with the lunches. Morgan Condon gives him some money to go buy some paint and brushes. He returns with the supplies and a stepladder just before the bank closes at 3PM. Once the customers are gone Jones starts painting one of the interior walls. The counting is going on simultaneous to that and Jake keeps a close eye on the handyman. </p><p></p><p>Kate didn't wake until the sun was well past it's zenith. She pushed her hands up above her head and stretched, releasing a long sigh. How strange it was to wake with a head not muddled by nightmares or alcohol. Strange and wonderful. </p><p></p><p>Last night seemed like a dream. Had she really learned so much? Once they had started, it seemed impossible to stop learning. To be honest, it had surprised her how quickly her mind jumped forward to welcome the new knowledge. For the last months it had been sluggish, refusing to respond to much of anything. </p><p></p><p>Kate slipped out of bed and padded across the floor in her bare feet, first feeling the cool smoothness of the wood floor, and then the sun-warmed texture of the woven rug. As she had yesterday, she looked at her face in the mirror. </p><p></p><p>A different woman than yesterday looked back. Yesterday a woman with dark circles under her eyes and grief wrapped around her like a cloak had occupied that mirror. Today wide, bright eyes looked back from the glass. The shadow had receded. It was still there, but it no longer dominated. Kate hummed as she began to brush her hair, stroke after stroke until it shone in the sun. Then she braided and pinned it up in a softer style than usual. </p><p></p><p>Kate dressed in a lovely cream dress with a layered skirt and vibrant purple trim. As she reached into the lid for the matching hat, her hand touched a small glass bottle. Why not? She pulled out the little bottle and applied the perfume behind her ears and in the hollow of her throat. The familiar aroma brought thoughts of Tom, and she smiled toward his picture. </p><p></p><p>She pinned on her hat, picked up her letters to her family, and went humming downstairs to get a quick meal. Hopefully she could still make it to the post office. Kate sat at a table downstairs in the El Parador writing notes, with another note from Jake at her elbow. Dinner tonight with all of them, including Mr. Riley and Mr. Martin was a good idea, and if she'd risen earlier it would have been simple to arrange. The only thing she could think of to do was leave them all notes and hope they got them in time. She left the notes with Pedro with an apology for the trouble, and left for the post office.</p><p></p><p>Katherine finishes her errand to the post office and then returns to the El Parador for another quick bite to eat. Ruby soon joins her and the two then head up to the room of Manuel Gonzales. The old elvan wizard says that he would like to teach Kate another spell that she might find useful, one to help put people to sleep, but before he does so he would like to teach his little bird Ruby a few pieces of magic as well.</p><p></p><p>Ruby says, Mr. Gonzales, I brought up these items for you to look at. We found them in the cave and thought they might be of some use to us. Maybe when you have a chance you can look at them?" She shows him the piccolo, Jake's coat and the dagger from Jake's room. "I know you mentioned this jacket could protect but how does that work? Is there a way to change the appearance of it? There is someone I would like to keep safe," she says with a slight blush. </p><p></p><p>"So I've noticed," he says with a mischievous grin. He then explains to her how magic is something that he personally can use but that he is a wizard which means that he has to first study his spells. As such, he has to guess in advance what spells might be needed. One such spell is used to identify the magic properties of items, however he has only studied one of that particular spell so could only identify a single item on this day. Of the three items that she has presented he asks her to choose which one she would like him to do this with.</p><p></p><p>She then asks, "Oh, and why do you call us your little birds? I'm curious." He says "It is what I call all of my apprentices, as well as my daughters, granddaughters, great granddaughters and great great granddaughters. You are all my little birds, but each of you is unique so you are your own species of bird. Katherine is my sandpiper while you are my golden eagle."</p><p></p><p>She replies, "How about you look at the jacket? Maybe tomorrow you can look at the other stuff." Ruby pauses in thought. "Why a golden eagle? I don't know anything about birds." Manuel smiles and says "Because the golden eagle is a bird that has a keen sense of observation just as you do. In fact, few other birds can match it's superb vision. </p><p></p><p>It is also one of the more beautiful birds, standing out among other birds as one of majesty and grace. It makes sounds that can carry over long distances. It is also a bird that is very capable of defending itself." She says, "Well, that is a lovely compliment, but I'm not sure I could live up to all that."</p><p></p><p>He has the ladies follow him into his workshop where he takes some colored dust from inside of a bucket and sprinkles it over the coat. He then casts a spell and they see light radiating from his hands and then encompassing the leather duster. Unlike other spells, this one ends quickly and the light fades. </p><p></p><p>He tells the ladies "It is a Duster of Protection. It is similar to a magical armor spell that I taught last night to you my sandpiper. The difference is that anyone could wear this, not just a mage. It would afford the wearer protection from physical attacks and also stop some spells. While it would probably not stop a bullet fired directly into it from point blank it would deflect those that would otherwise graze or cause minor injury. </p><p></p><p>As to changing it's appearance, if you were to cut or otherwise physically alter the coat you could cause it to lose its magical properties. Furthermore, the magical protections on it would make it resistant to natural dyes or minor color change spells. However, given some time I could probably create a magical dye that would hold. Ask your friend exactly what color he wishes it to be I and will start preparing the enchanted pigments." She states, “Am I that obvious Mr. Gonzales?" Ruby glanced at Kate. She hadn't had a chance yet to tell her what happened. How could the old elf know anyway? "I'll ask him tonight."</p><p></p><p>Kate tried to suppress a grin and nodded at Ruby. Ruby and Jake had been dancing around each other for days. Subtly perhaps, but it was there. Kate doubted Mr. Gonzales was one to miss any clues, however. Suddenly she wondered what he had gathered about her.</p><p></p><p>Sanoma returns from her day with Nanuet with a glow to her face a song in her voice and a smile that seems to stay well into the late afternoon. After catching up on her chores and placing the flowers on Ruby's bed with a note saying they are from Jake she heads to Manuel's room for her studies as she thinks she will have need of anything else he can teach her soon. Kate smiled at Sonoma she came glowing into her great-grandfathers workshop. One by one her new friends were pairing off, but Katherine didn't feel left out. She had discovered something else to love last night. "Did you have a good day?" Kate asked Sonoma as she came in. "You look as if you did. We were just getting started."</p><p></p><p></p><p>It's around a quarter past four when the counting and painting are done and the bank is locked up for the day. Jake heads back to the Cantina and will spend a few minutes downstairs chatting with anyone he knows there before he goes back upstairs.</p><p></p><p>Jake is in luck in that the gambler Conrad Booth is there having supper. Booth plays at the Long Branch Saloon, the same place where Hamilton Fisk plays. Booth tells Jake that Fisk doesn't normally play at his table, choosing to play with a dealer named Edsel Trask instead, but Booth has been around Fisk long enough to know him rather well. Booth's gut feeling about Fisk is that he is the type of lawyer and gambler who an analogy can be made to a snake or lizard. Really pushes the envelope on ethics or honesty, doesn't outright cheat due to the risk of getting caught, but probably would if he could get away with it.</p><p></p><p>Jake heads up to his room. He finds the revolver that he had loaned to Ruby, and decides it is a good time to handle some business at the gunsmith. He takes the single and double action revolver with him and heads over to Pierre’s, and hopes Al Brower is there. </p><p></p><p>"Hi Al," Jake greets the man who he's gambled with, "Introduce me to your gunsmith." He shows the man his prized single action fast draw Colt 45 peacemaker, and the similar weapon he recovered from the rustler's cave. "I want the fastest, most reliable pistol I can own. I had this worked over by a smith a while back. Do I have it already?" </p><p></p><p>He also wants to trade the two extra pistols and holsters he brought in for a double action long barrel colt 45 with holster. "I don't care if it is new or not, just in good shape. And I don't want to carry two different cartridges." Pierre Jaquet is rather impressed with how well Jake has maintained his weapon, commenting that "Most people don't clean their weapons as often as they should. It is good to see someone who takes pride in maintaining one in peak condition." </p><p></p><p>He does have a new long barrel colt 45 in stock. He says that he has doesn't have any used ones at the moment. Of the two pistols being traded in one is in better shape than the other. Pierre calculates the trade value, subtracts that from the cost of the colt, and charges Jake $ 10.00 for the balance. Pierre then gives him a cigar as well, with Al explaining "We also own the cigar store around the corner as well as this store and most of the Comique."</p><p></p><p>Chester spends the afternoon at the Breakheart mine finding it to be very tiring work. His coworkers are all rugged men by the names of Alcorn Roony, Shamus O'Hara, Brian Kelso, Ajax Gormly, Rafe Dobbins and Nutly Bester. He is surprised to see that all of them are wearing side arms. He then finds out that the three who died were not killed in a mining accident, they were shot dead by Arcade's Gang who were apparently out to get one for what the men believes was a case of mistaken identity. He thinks “Wow. This burg is a dangerous place--even miners have to worry about getting shot.”</p><p></p><p>Chester's muscles and back are hurting by the time 5PM rolls around and the workday ends. He heads back to the Cantina wondering if there might be some easier work elsewhere. Chester's clothes are covered in rock dust. He trudges up to his room and changes into fresh ones. Remembering what he learned at the mine, he straps on his gun. The ex-soldier heads downstairs for supper. Seeing some familiar faces, he walks over to Jake and Nanuet. "Good evening gentlemen. Can I sit wit' you?" </p><p></p><p>Jake replies, "Hi Chester. We were just waiting for the ladies. Have a seat. You look tired." </p><p></p><p>"Yep. I just spent a half-day at the Breakheart Mine. That's real back-breaking work. What have you two been up to today?" At the mention of working at the Breakheart Jake visibly winces. "My condolences." He takes out the cigar Al Brower gave him and offers it to Chester. "I've never acquired a taste for these foul things. Care to have this for your after dinner smoke? A man who works that hard ought to have some pleasure." Chester accepts the cigar. "Thank you kindly, Mr. Cook. I think a cigar is just what the doctor ordered." </p><p></p><p>The man called Silver Jake Cook leans his chair back on two legs and props his feet on one of the empty chairs. "I had a few errands to run, did my stint at the Condon's bank and then went and bought myself a new long barrel Colt six shooter. No where near as destructive to my body as your job. Though I am getting pretty busy and if things work out right I may be giving up the bank job." </p><p></p><p>"The bank? Are you a teller there? I'm not sure I'm cut out for the mining business." Chester says with some chagrin. "Teller?." Snorts Jake. "Hardly, I pass for what they call security. I'm the hired gun there." "Will the bank be looking for new people?" Asks Chester "I don't think so. But if I decide to give up the guard job I'll let you know." Then Chester turns to the other, "And you, Mr. Nanuet, what do you do for a living?" Jake chats with the two of them a while. </p><p></p><p>Meanwhile, the women spend the entire afternoon with Gonzales. He begins Katherine, having her review the Dancing Lights, Daze, Detect Magic, Mage Hand, Prestidigitation and Charm Person spells. He then has Sanoma and Ruby try all of those. He then has Katherine work alone on her magical armor spell, while he gives Sanoma and Ruby the lecture about magical writings and an introductory lesson in that. </p><p></p><p>He gives both Bards a lesson in how to "sing" magic, and they find that he has a rich tenor voice. He asks them to practice, while he goes and has a private conversation with Katherine. </p><p></p><p>He then has the women come back together and teaches all three of them the spell that will put people or animals to sleep. By the time he concludes they are all tired and hungry and the three women head out and back to the Cantina to eat. They arrive to see Chester, Jake and Nanuet at one of the larger tables waiting for them. When the ladies arrive Jake stands to greet them. Chester stands as well.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Silver Moon, post: 1936784, member: 8530"] [B]Chapter Sixty-nine, “Afternoon Business”, Monday, January 9th, 1882:[/B] At the mining office Chester says, "Thank you, Mr. Hogan. I really appreciate this. I can go today. I just have to go back to my room to drop off my gun. I don't think I'll need it down in the mine." He looks at his pocket watch, taking note of the time. "Is the mine near here?" Getting an answer, he trots back to the El Parador to leave his gun. He thinks to himself “I heard mining was dangerous, but three men in a week? I better watch my step.” Ruby grabs a fast lunch then heads over for a bath. After her bath she stops in the General Store to see Mr. Lacey. She walks in and he is behind the counter wrapping up someone’s purchase. After the customer leaves she approaches him. “Hello, Mr. Lacey. Did you get my note yesterday? I left it under the door for you. I’m really sorry I couldn’t make lunch with you. You see, something very important came up and it had to be done right away. I’m sure you understand.” He smiles back at her and says in a casual tone "Nothing to worry about Miss. West, I understand that you have lots to do." She notes that there is no enthusiasm at all in his voice, nor do his eyes have the wide vibrant look that she saw in them on Friday night. She answers, “Can we make it another day perhaps? I did promise to make it up to you.” She smiles sweetly at him. "Perhaps." is all that he says in response to that question and comment. Ruby thought she should leave well enough alone, she didn't know why she had agreed to lunch with him in the first place. But she knew he was upset with her, and lonely. "Oh don't be mad at me, Mr. Lacey. I couldn't bare the thought. Now I have some things I need to buy, but not right now. So when I come back I expect you to have a new date in mind for us to share a meal. Don't disappointment me!" With that she heads out. Since it was getting late Ruby decided to use any excuse she could to avoid her chat with Mr. Adair. It could wait another day. No, next stop would be Mr. Gonzales. That she was looking forward to. She heads back to the Cantina. Shortly after noon Jake sees a familiar face as Neil Cassidy arrives to make a deposit. "Good Afternoon Mr. Cassidy." Says Jake with a friendly smile. "Aren't you going to leave some out for me to win back?" Jake just gives him a friendly wave and leaves him to his transaction. Cassidy replies, "Mr. Cook, what are you doing here?" "It's my day job," Jake replies. Cassidy laughs and says, "Okay, just make sure that the James Gang doesn't come back. Can't go losing my favorite dealer." When it is slow, Jake will deposit $300 of his own money in the bank. During the day he takes whatever opportunities he has with the bank owners or customers to find out what he can about the Lawyers Fisk and Berg. He discovers that Mitchell Berg is highly ethical and will not take cases to defend people who he feels are guilty of crimes. Fisk however, will take any case he can. Fisk also has the reputation of being a compulsive gambler. He's also curious to learn what he can about the silver mining and processing business in casual conversations, but most depositors that day are not involved directly with the business. Scarface Jones returns with the lunches. Morgan Condon gives him some money to go buy some paint and brushes. He returns with the supplies and a stepladder just before the bank closes at 3PM. Once the customers are gone Jones starts painting one of the interior walls. The counting is going on simultaneous to that and Jake keeps a close eye on the handyman. Kate didn't wake until the sun was well past it's zenith. She pushed her hands up above her head and stretched, releasing a long sigh. How strange it was to wake with a head not muddled by nightmares or alcohol. Strange and wonderful. Last night seemed like a dream. Had she really learned so much? Once they had started, it seemed impossible to stop learning. To be honest, it had surprised her how quickly her mind jumped forward to welcome the new knowledge. For the last months it had been sluggish, refusing to respond to much of anything. Kate slipped out of bed and padded across the floor in her bare feet, first feeling the cool smoothness of the wood floor, and then the sun-warmed texture of the woven rug. As she had yesterday, she looked at her face in the mirror. A different woman than yesterday looked back. Yesterday a woman with dark circles under her eyes and grief wrapped around her like a cloak had occupied that mirror. Today wide, bright eyes looked back from the glass. The shadow had receded. It was still there, but it no longer dominated. Kate hummed as she began to brush her hair, stroke after stroke until it shone in the sun. Then she braided and pinned it up in a softer style than usual. Kate dressed in a lovely cream dress with a layered skirt and vibrant purple trim. As she reached into the lid for the matching hat, her hand touched a small glass bottle. Why not? She pulled out the little bottle and applied the perfume behind her ears and in the hollow of her throat. The familiar aroma brought thoughts of Tom, and she smiled toward his picture. She pinned on her hat, picked up her letters to her family, and went humming downstairs to get a quick meal. Hopefully she could still make it to the post office. Kate sat at a table downstairs in the El Parador writing notes, with another note from Jake at her elbow. Dinner tonight with all of them, including Mr. Riley and Mr. Martin was a good idea, and if she'd risen earlier it would have been simple to arrange. The only thing she could think of to do was leave them all notes and hope they got them in time. She left the notes with Pedro with an apology for the trouble, and left for the post office. Katherine finishes her errand to the post office and then returns to the El Parador for another quick bite to eat. Ruby soon joins her and the two then head up to the room of Manuel Gonzales. The old elvan wizard says that he would like to teach Kate another spell that she might find useful, one to help put people to sleep, but before he does so he would like to teach his little bird Ruby a few pieces of magic as well. Ruby says, Mr. Gonzales, I brought up these items for you to look at. We found them in the cave and thought they might be of some use to us. Maybe when you have a chance you can look at them?" She shows him the piccolo, Jake's coat and the dagger from Jake's room. "I know you mentioned this jacket could protect but how does that work? Is there a way to change the appearance of it? There is someone I would like to keep safe," she says with a slight blush. "So I've noticed," he says with a mischievous grin. He then explains to her how magic is something that he personally can use but that he is a wizard which means that he has to first study his spells. As such, he has to guess in advance what spells might be needed. One such spell is used to identify the magic properties of items, however he has only studied one of that particular spell so could only identify a single item on this day. Of the three items that she has presented he asks her to choose which one she would like him to do this with. She then asks, "Oh, and why do you call us your little birds? I'm curious." He says "It is what I call all of my apprentices, as well as my daughters, granddaughters, great granddaughters and great great granddaughters. You are all my little birds, but each of you is unique so you are your own species of bird. Katherine is my sandpiper while you are my golden eagle." She replies, "How about you look at the jacket? Maybe tomorrow you can look at the other stuff." Ruby pauses in thought. "Why a golden eagle? I don't know anything about birds." Manuel smiles and says "Because the golden eagle is a bird that has a keen sense of observation just as you do. In fact, few other birds can match it's superb vision. It is also one of the more beautiful birds, standing out among other birds as one of majesty and grace. It makes sounds that can carry over long distances. It is also a bird that is very capable of defending itself." She says, "Well, that is a lovely compliment, but I'm not sure I could live up to all that." He has the ladies follow him into his workshop where he takes some colored dust from inside of a bucket and sprinkles it over the coat. He then casts a spell and they see light radiating from his hands and then encompassing the leather duster. Unlike other spells, this one ends quickly and the light fades. He tells the ladies "It is a Duster of Protection. It is similar to a magical armor spell that I taught last night to you my sandpiper. The difference is that anyone could wear this, not just a mage. It would afford the wearer protection from physical attacks and also stop some spells. While it would probably not stop a bullet fired directly into it from point blank it would deflect those that would otherwise graze or cause minor injury. As to changing it's appearance, if you were to cut or otherwise physically alter the coat you could cause it to lose its magical properties. Furthermore, the magical protections on it would make it resistant to natural dyes or minor color change spells. However, given some time I could probably create a magical dye that would hold. Ask your friend exactly what color he wishes it to be I and will start preparing the enchanted pigments." She states, “Am I that obvious Mr. Gonzales?" Ruby glanced at Kate. She hadn't had a chance yet to tell her what happened. How could the old elf know anyway? "I'll ask him tonight." Kate tried to suppress a grin and nodded at Ruby. Ruby and Jake had been dancing around each other for days. Subtly perhaps, but it was there. Kate doubted Mr. Gonzales was one to miss any clues, however. Suddenly she wondered what he had gathered about her. Sanoma returns from her day with Nanuet with a glow to her face a song in her voice and a smile that seems to stay well into the late afternoon. After catching up on her chores and placing the flowers on Ruby's bed with a note saying they are from Jake she heads to Manuel's room for her studies as she thinks she will have need of anything else he can teach her soon. Kate smiled at Sonoma she came glowing into her great-grandfathers workshop. One by one her new friends were pairing off, but Katherine didn't feel left out. She had discovered something else to love last night. "Did you have a good day?" Kate asked Sonoma as she came in. "You look as if you did. We were just getting started." It's around a quarter past four when the counting and painting are done and the bank is locked up for the day. Jake heads back to the Cantina and will spend a few minutes downstairs chatting with anyone he knows there before he goes back upstairs. Jake is in luck in that the gambler Conrad Booth is there having supper. Booth plays at the Long Branch Saloon, the same place where Hamilton Fisk plays. Booth tells Jake that Fisk doesn't normally play at his table, choosing to play with a dealer named Edsel Trask instead, but Booth has been around Fisk long enough to know him rather well. Booth's gut feeling about Fisk is that he is the type of lawyer and gambler who an analogy can be made to a snake or lizard. Really pushes the envelope on ethics or honesty, doesn't outright cheat due to the risk of getting caught, but probably would if he could get away with it. Jake heads up to his room. He finds the revolver that he had loaned to Ruby, and decides it is a good time to handle some business at the gunsmith. He takes the single and double action revolver with him and heads over to Pierre’s, and hopes Al Brower is there. "Hi Al," Jake greets the man who he's gambled with, "Introduce me to your gunsmith." He shows the man his prized single action fast draw Colt 45 peacemaker, and the similar weapon he recovered from the rustler's cave. "I want the fastest, most reliable pistol I can own. I had this worked over by a smith a while back. Do I have it already?" He also wants to trade the two extra pistols and holsters he brought in for a double action long barrel colt 45 with holster. "I don't care if it is new or not, just in good shape. And I don't want to carry two different cartridges." Pierre Jaquet is rather impressed with how well Jake has maintained his weapon, commenting that "Most people don't clean their weapons as often as they should. It is good to see someone who takes pride in maintaining one in peak condition." He does have a new long barrel colt 45 in stock. He says that he has doesn't have any used ones at the moment. Of the two pistols being traded in one is in better shape than the other. Pierre calculates the trade value, subtracts that from the cost of the colt, and charges Jake $ 10.00 for the balance. Pierre then gives him a cigar as well, with Al explaining "We also own the cigar store around the corner as well as this store and most of the Comique." Chester spends the afternoon at the Breakheart mine finding it to be very tiring work. His coworkers are all rugged men by the names of Alcorn Roony, Shamus O'Hara, Brian Kelso, Ajax Gormly, Rafe Dobbins and Nutly Bester. He is surprised to see that all of them are wearing side arms. He then finds out that the three who died were not killed in a mining accident, they were shot dead by Arcade's Gang who were apparently out to get one for what the men believes was a case of mistaken identity. He thinks “Wow. This burg is a dangerous place--even miners have to worry about getting shot.” Chester's muscles and back are hurting by the time 5PM rolls around and the workday ends. He heads back to the Cantina wondering if there might be some easier work elsewhere. Chester's clothes are covered in rock dust. He trudges up to his room and changes into fresh ones. Remembering what he learned at the mine, he straps on his gun. The ex-soldier heads downstairs for supper. Seeing some familiar faces, he walks over to Jake and Nanuet. "Good evening gentlemen. Can I sit wit' you?" Jake replies, "Hi Chester. We were just waiting for the ladies. Have a seat. You look tired." "Yep. I just spent a half-day at the Breakheart Mine. That's real back-breaking work. What have you two been up to today?" At the mention of working at the Breakheart Jake visibly winces. "My condolences." He takes out the cigar Al Brower gave him and offers it to Chester. "I've never acquired a taste for these foul things. Care to have this for your after dinner smoke? A man who works that hard ought to have some pleasure." Chester accepts the cigar. "Thank you kindly, Mr. Cook. I think a cigar is just what the doctor ordered." The man called Silver Jake Cook leans his chair back on two legs and props his feet on one of the empty chairs. "I had a few errands to run, did my stint at the Condon's bank and then went and bought myself a new long barrel Colt six shooter. No where near as destructive to my body as your job. Though I am getting pretty busy and if things work out right I may be giving up the bank job." "The bank? Are you a teller there? I'm not sure I'm cut out for the mining business." Chester says with some chagrin. "Teller?." Snorts Jake. "Hardly, I pass for what they call security. I'm the hired gun there." "Will the bank be looking for new people?" Asks Chester "I don't think so. But if I decide to give up the guard job I'll let you know." Then Chester turns to the other, "And you, Mr. Nanuet, what do you do for a living?" Jake chats with the two of them a while. Meanwhile, the women spend the entire afternoon with Gonzales. He begins Katherine, having her review the Dancing Lights, Daze, Detect Magic, Mage Hand, Prestidigitation and Charm Person spells. He then has Sanoma and Ruby try all of those. He then has Katherine work alone on her magical armor spell, while he gives Sanoma and Ruby the lecture about magical writings and an introductory lesson in that. He gives both Bards a lesson in how to "sing" magic, and they find that he has a rich tenor voice. He asks them to practice, while he goes and has a private conversation with Katherine. He then has the women come back together and teaches all three of them the spell that will put people or animals to sleep. By the time he concludes they are all tired and hungry and the three women head out and back to the Cantina to eat. They arrive to see Chester, Jake and Nanuet at one of the larger tables waiting for them. When the ladies arrive Jake stands to greet them. Chester stands as well. [/QUOTE]
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"Revenge, Renewal and the Promise of a New Year" (Boot Hill/D&D)
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