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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: 1940908" data-attributes="member: 8530"><p><strong>Chapter 70, “Girl’s Talk”, Monday, January 9th, 1882:</strong></p><p></p><p>Ruby walks right up to Jake and smiles at him. She nods at the others and waits for Kate and Sonoma to be out of earshot and involved in other conversations. “I missed you this morning, when I woke up, I wished you were there. You must trust me to leave me alone in your room, although I guess there isn’t much left of yours for me to steal, huh?” She tugs on his coat. “How did you sleep?”</p><p></p><p>Jake smiles warmly at her. "I had some business that I was supposed to take care of last night that I did first thing in the morning. Turns out I had something more important to do last night. I slept great." Jake takes his hat off and runs his hand through his hair. And then rhetorically, "That's an interesting question. Is there anything I have that you haven't stolen?" He puts his hat back on and then pulls out a chair for her to sit down.</p><p></p><p>"Good afternoon, gentlemen, I trust you had a pleasant day," Kate said as she took a seat between Nanuet and Mr. Martin. Chester replies with a slight bow, "Good afternoon, Mrs. Kale. I worked a half-day over at the Breakheart mine. It's rough work, believe me. But, it's a job." He shrugs. "How was your day?" "Lovely, thank you." She looked at the faces of her friends and leaned over to Mr. Martin. "We seem to be the odd men out here, don't we?" she whispered with a little laugh. </p><p></p><p>He looks at her a bit quizzically. Whispering back, he says, "What do you mean? I'm not sure I understand." "Oh, I just happened to notice that my companions seem to be pairing off,"she whispered before she raised her voice. "Mr. Riley isn't here? I left him a note." Chester replies "I haven't seen him since last night. He was still in the common room when I went to bed. Did you come back after I left?" She answers, "No, I'm sorry. I hope you didn't wait long, something came up."</p><p></p><p>"Katherine Kale" Jake cocks his head slightly to one side with just the touch of a smile, "you are positively glowing today." She can tell by slight flexing of his nostrils that he has noticed her perfume. "Yes, something is different today." His smile widens and looks about the table. "If I may be so forward, we have the most beautiful women in Promise City arrayed around us and they are all positively radiant today. Well what ever it is, I for one am grateful." </p><p></p><p>Jake asks Nanuet if he was able to ask the others about the wagon and learns he has not. "I am helping out these miners," He tells them all, "and it turns out they are in need of a good sturdy wagon. They offered us $1,500 for ours. I assume that is a fair price, should I sell it on our behalf?"</p><p></p><p>Ruby states, I don't know anything about wagons, but that sounds like a lot of money for one. You should sell it. So... what does everyone have planned for tonight?" Ruby glances at Jake. "Maybe Nanuet, Sonoma, Mr. Martin and Mr. Riley, if he shows up, would like to join us at the Lone Star?" Chester states, "I would be honored, Miss West. Will you and Mrs. Kale be performing tonight?" </p><p></p><p>Jake states "Hearing Ruby sing is well worth the trip, Mr. Martin," Kate encouraged him. "We'd be pleased to have you." "Thank you for the compliment, Jake, I had a good night. I doubt we'll be offered a better price for the wagon, we should sell it. Flint should be able to get a good deal of lumber for his new ranch. Perhaps I'll go out there tomorrow. It might be a good place for those shooting lessons we talked about, Jake."</p><p></p><p>Ruby answers, "Oh, yes I will be singing. Kate doesn't sing but she plays the piano. Right now she serves the tables but I think that is below her." Ruby glances over to her friend. "I think she should be a teacher or something smart like that. It's been very exciting at the Lone Star recently. I hope you like excitement, Mr. Martin."</p><p></p><p>Jake raises his eyebrows at the mention of everyone going to the Lone Star. I guess everything is mended with the Whipples. At least enough to go back in. He chuckles quietly. "I don't know if we'd have enough time after I get off from the bank tomorrow. But I'm not working Wednesday if that works."</p><p></p><p>Ruby states, “I’m starving so let’s eat! We had a busy afternoon today, we…uh…well, we were busy.” Ruby realizes she doesn’t know if she can trust Mr. Martin with information about their “training”. Trying to change the subject, “Well, I have to go get my gun from the Marshal after dinner. Anyone care to join me? Oh and Kate did you talk to Maggie today? I thought you were going to.” Kate answers, No, I haven't. I got up quite late today. I thought I might go over early and speak to her. I'm not sure how well I can present the idea, but I"ll try. I'll go right after dinner." "She trusts you, you can do it. I'd be more concerned looking Tom in the face..." Ruby says laughing. Kate blushed and fiddled with her napkin. "Well, maybe I can use that to my advantage. I think he'll behave himself, Ruby," she laughed. "Apparently Maggie gave him a rather large piece of her mind."</p><p></p><p>Conversation at dinner was light, and Kate found herself smiling through it, even with the prospect of talking to Tom Whipple afterwards. Without Mr. Riley there they really couldn't discuss his dreams, so any business of the wagon was quickly finished. Kate wasn't sure she'd make it back to the El Parador before it was time to begin work, so she would have to put the bustle cover on now. There was no way she could manage it alone in these skirts, so she asked Ruby to come upstairs with her. </p><p></p><p>Kate shut the door with a quiet click and unbuttoned the top button of her dress. Ruby sprawled out on her bed and propped her head up on her hands. "You look very happy today," Kate laughed. “I am very happy today,” Ruby replied. “Today, for the first time in a long time, I woke up somewhere I wanted to be.” Ruby didn’t have to look at Kate to know she had a questioning look on her face. She wasn’t sure how her friend was going to take the news but she was dying to tell her anyway. “I woke up in Jake’s room.” </p><p></p><p>Kate's face turned a deep crimson. "Ruby! I knew you were, well... interested. Last night you were both almost shouting that you wanted to be alone, but...so soon?" “So soon? We waited a week!” Ruby laughs at Kate’s shocked expression. “Kate, I’m kidding.” Ruby shrugged. “I don’t know, it just happened, not like it was planned or anything...” Ruby drifts off for a moment then continues softly, “But it was wonderful. It felt… different.” </p><p></p><p>Kate sat on the bed next to her friend. "I don't have a lot of experience with this," she began slowly. "There was only Tom. But it seems it should be different. Jake isn't any other man, is he?" Ruby sighed. “I don’t know. Why should he be any different? They are all the same in my experience and will take advantage of you if you let them. But I wanted to stay and I never stay Kate,” she pauses, “Ever.” She gets a sly smile on her face. “Oh, but it was worth it…” </p><p></p><p>"Then your experience is just a limited as mine. Not every man is out for an advantage. After all..." Kate paused, considering. "Tom still married me, even though we....well, you know," she finished blushing. Ruby says, “Oh my experience is not limited. Believe me, it’s not. I’m sure Jake is a happy boy today. It’s just I don’t ever stay afterwards… that’s when you can really get yourself into trouble.” Ruby pauses, then continues with a laugh, “But are you admitting to being a bad girl before you got married?” Ruby laughs. “I bet your family would love to know that. What would they think?” Ruby takes Kate’s hand. “Kate, those kinds of things don’t matter in my world.” Ruby gets serious. “And if there are men out there not trying to take advantage I haven’t found one yet. But…” Ruby sits up on her feet, “Jake was worth every second.” </p><p>Sonoma excuses herself to help bring out their dinners.</p><p></p><p>"Just don't get too set in your ideas. Jake may surprise you, in more ways then he did last night," she said with a mischievous little laugh. "Oh but Ruby, I had the most wonderful night last night as well. Of course, I spent my night with a much older man." </p><p></p><p>Ruby arches her eyebrows. “And what is that all about? You do seem different today…” Kate answers, "I went back up to see Mr. Gonzales after you went upstairs last night. I was curious about him telling Sonoma to stay with us, and I wanted him to look at that box I got from the caves. He was getting ready for bed, poor man. I disturbed him I think. But he was very kind and agreed to teach me another spell. After that we just kept going. He wanted to stop after we finished the novice spells, but I've never felt anything like the magic. I didn't want it to stop. I didn't want to go back to my room and try to go to sleep alone. So we drank potions to refresh us and kept going. It was the most amazing thing. </p><p></p><p>And it was good to tell someone, about Tom. I drank myself to sleep almost every night in Tombstone, did you know that? Ruby, I woke up this afternoon, and my head was clear. No hangover, no nightmares. Just this lightness. Like I'd found Katherine again." </p><p></p><p>Ruby smiled. “I am good at reading people and I can tell he has taken a liking to you, Mr. Gonzales that is. Why wouldn’t he, you’re very smart and likable. He must get lonely after all having to hide his talents. And magic, well it is something isn’t it. Of course, I don’t know what it’s like to learn it out of a book but it is a very special feeling. Kinda tingly, no?” “Oh, but I didn’t know you drank every night Kate. I’m very sorry I should have guessed. You must be lonely and missing Tom so badly.” </p><p></p><p>Ruby looked away. “You know I never really had friends to talk to, especially not girls. But I couldn’t wait to tell you about Jake. It’s a funny thing for me. And maybe you need to tell me about Tom. Or maybe you just need someone to tell you it’s going to be ok.” Ruby moves closer to Kate and hugs her. “I really hope it is going to be ok. And I’m glad you found something to believe in, we all need that to keep us going.” Ruby stroked Kate's hair as she had done for her earlier. She hoped her words helped and that Kate believed her. </p><p></p><p>"Well, you have friends now, and I'm lucky to be one of them." Kate continued to lean against Ruby as she haltingly began to tell her about Tom. About how they'd met in his stables and their courtship over the course of two years. About his delight in poking fun at polite society even as he moved perfectly though it, his deep love of horses and how he taught her to train them, and even how they sometimes fought over going to church. "My mother's French, you know. When Papa went to the war, she stopped taking us, and when he returned he didn't force the issue. It drove Tom crazy how I wouldn't go." </p><p></p><p>Kate pulled in a long, slow breath and sighed. "Thank you Ruby, I've been needing to do that for a long time." She sat up and smiled. "No matter how much it hurts, I wouldn't trade being with him for anything. And now it's time to start again, and maybe this new life can be just as wonderful in its own way." Ruby says, "Why not, Kate? That's what starting over is all about." </p><p></p><p>Katherine pinned her hat on and adjusted the neckline of her dress, removing the high collar that choked her and clasping a necklace around her throat. Once the shocking bustle was in place the ladies went back downstairs and Kate headed to the Lone Star.</p><p></p><p>Katherine arrives a the Lone Star. It is still early in the evening and there are only five customers inside, at two of the smaller tables eating dinner. She recognizes four of them, Stanley and Helen Barker at one table and Al Brower with Pierre Jaquet and another man. Maggie has just finished bringing food to both tables, Jeff Mills in standing behind the bar and she hears Tom Whipple out in the kitchen. Maggie checks with both tables to make sure that they have what they need. </p><p></p><p>She then asks Katherine to join her upstairs for a brief chat. Once they get in Maggie’s room she says “I had a long talk with Tom. He’s physically and mentally spent and is ready to just walk away from this town and start over at this point. </p><p></p><p>Tom went to the telegraph office this morning to wire Father not to come, but it was too late. There was a telegram waiting that Father sent from Pueblo, Colorado saying that they were already on their way. They apparently left Denver yesterday morning right after the church services. He expects to arrive here by Tuesday night or Wednesday morning. He’ll be bringing Cousin Teddy and Teddy’s fiancé Alexis with him and wired to let us know we'll need an extra room available for her. Poor Job, he'll probably be out of jail only to have us then kick him out of his room." </p><p></p><p>"I hope you won't be upset with me Maggie, but I have a suggestion for you. I thought it was important to tell Ruby and Jake what is happening. They would have been concerned about my returning here if they didn't know the truth. Jake made a very interesting suggestion. A bit radical, but it is an unusual situation. Rather than try to tell the truth, you could let it be known that you and Tom are getting a divorce. Say you each retain half-ownership and will continue on with the business. You still may not be able to be known as siblings, but you would be free." </p><p></p><p>Maggie replies “Do you think that we haven’t already thought of that? Last year when the whole town was talking and Tom’s affair with Flossie we approached Judge Isby to obtain a divorce. He wouldn’t grant it. He told Tom to stop fooling around and for the two of us to work out our differences.”</p><p></p><p>Kate answers, "Oh Maggie, I'm so sorry. I feel responsible. I know this happened long before I arrived here, but it seems what happened Saturday has brought it all to a head. There must be something we can do. Go to another town for the divorce perhaps?" Kate began to pace around the room. "I know you don't want to give up this business, and you shouldn't have to. I can't believe people would think worse of Tom for protecting his sister than they do for cheating on his wife."</p><p></p><p>Maggie replies, "We can't go to another town. No other Judge would know us and would require seeing a Marriage License before granting it. And we can't get a license because we were never married. You're right about one thing, it has gotten worse. Tom is so angry and bitter, more so since I asked him about his feelings to Flossie. He indicated that he’d propose marriage to her right now if he could, but after all this time apart he’s sure that she would not accept.”</p><p></p><p>"Maggie, what if you were to take on partners in the Lone Star?" Kate said suddenly. "For example, say I, and Jake and Ruby, if they're amenable, were to buy shares in it? We could buy enough to have the controlling interest. You said Tom was ready pick up and leave anyway. If we take over as the public owners, could you and Tom tell the truth? It would no longer be your reputation that mattered. You would continue running the business, of course, I don't have that kind of skill. After a time you could buy your interest back from us. Do you think it could work, or am I naive to believe it would make a difference?"</p><p></p><p>She replies, "Well, Tom's ready to leave, but I don't think he'll go without me and I'm not going. He'd probably go back to Denver with Father if he could, but that would really but up to our Father. I'd say the real issue though is Flossie, although I don't know how we'd ever manage to get her and Tom back together to talk without the whole town finding out."</p><p></p><p>Kate says, "I'm a little confused. Are you saying that if Tom knows Flossie will still have him, he'll do what? Just tell the truth and be done with it? Or go along with my idea? I'm sure we could manage to get them in the same place somehow." Maggie starts to cry "I don't know. It's all a mess. He won't even discuss it at this point. And if we get them together and she breaks his heart worse than it already is that will just make matters worse."</p><p></p><p>Kate leaned down and put her arms around Maggie. "I'm not so sure about that. He needs to know if there is hope or not. If there isn't, he can finally get on with his life. It may be worse for a while, but it will be better in the end. I'll go down and talk to Tom." She stayed a few more minutes until Maggie was able to pull herself together a bit, then left the room and went down into the kitchen looking for Tom Whipple.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Silver Moon, post: 1940908, member: 8530"] [B]Chapter 70, “Girl’s Talk”, Monday, January 9th, 1882:[/B] Ruby walks right up to Jake and smiles at him. She nods at the others and waits for Kate and Sonoma to be out of earshot and involved in other conversations. “I missed you this morning, when I woke up, I wished you were there. You must trust me to leave me alone in your room, although I guess there isn’t much left of yours for me to steal, huh?” She tugs on his coat. “How did you sleep?” Jake smiles warmly at her. "I had some business that I was supposed to take care of last night that I did first thing in the morning. Turns out I had something more important to do last night. I slept great." Jake takes his hat off and runs his hand through his hair. And then rhetorically, "That's an interesting question. Is there anything I have that you haven't stolen?" He puts his hat back on and then pulls out a chair for her to sit down. "Good afternoon, gentlemen, I trust you had a pleasant day," Kate said as she took a seat between Nanuet and Mr. Martin. Chester replies with a slight bow, "Good afternoon, Mrs. Kale. I worked a half-day over at the Breakheart mine. It's rough work, believe me. But, it's a job." He shrugs. "How was your day?" "Lovely, thank you." She looked at the faces of her friends and leaned over to Mr. Martin. "We seem to be the odd men out here, don't we?" she whispered with a little laugh. He looks at her a bit quizzically. Whispering back, he says, "What do you mean? I'm not sure I understand." "Oh, I just happened to notice that my companions seem to be pairing off,"she whispered before she raised her voice. "Mr. Riley isn't here? I left him a note." Chester replies "I haven't seen him since last night. He was still in the common room when I went to bed. Did you come back after I left?" She answers, "No, I'm sorry. I hope you didn't wait long, something came up." "Katherine Kale" Jake cocks his head slightly to one side with just the touch of a smile, "you are positively glowing today." She can tell by slight flexing of his nostrils that he has noticed her perfume. "Yes, something is different today." His smile widens and looks about the table. "If I may be so forward, we have the most beautiful women in Promise City arrayed around us and they are all positively radiant today. Well what ever it is, I for one am grateful." Jake asks Nanuet if he was able to ask the others about the wagon and learns he has not. "I am helping out these miners," He tells them all, "and it turns out they are in need of a good sturdy wagon. They offered us $1,500 for ours. I assume that is a fair price, should I sell it on our behalf?" Ruby states, I don't know anything about wagons, but that sounds like a lot of money for one. You should sell it. So... what does everyone have planned for tonight?" Ruby glances at Jake. "Maybe Nanuet, Sonoma, Mr. Martin and Mr. Riley, if he shows up, would like to join us at the Lone Star?" Chester states, "I would be honored, Miss West. Will you and Mrs. Kale be performing tonight?" Jake states "Hearing Ruby sing is well worth the trip, Mr. Martin," Kate encouraged him. "We'd be pleased to have you." "Thank you for the compliment, Jake, I had a good night. I doubt we'll be offered a better price for the wagon, we should sell it. Flint should be able to get a good deal of lumber for his new ranch. Perhaps I'll go out there tomorrow. It might be a good place for those shooting lessons we talked about, Jake." Ruby answers, "Oh, yes I will be singing. Kate doesn't sing but she plays the piano. Right now she serves the tables but I think that is below her." Ruby glances over to her friend. "I think she should be a teacher or something smart like that. It's been very exciting at the Lone Star recently. I hope you like excitement, Mr. Martin." Jake raises his eyebrows at the mention of everyone going to the Lone Star. I guess everything is mended with the Whipples. At least enough to go back in. He chuckles quietly. "I don't know if we'd have enough time after I get off from the bank tomorrow. But I'm not working Wednesday if that works." Ruby states, “I’m starving so let’s eat! We had a busy afternoon today, we…uh…well, we were busy.” Ruby realizes she doesn’t know if she can trust Mr. Martin with information about their “training”. Trying to change the subject, “Well, I have to go get my gun from the Marshal after dinner. Anyone care to join me? Oh and Kate did you talk to Maggie today? I thought you were going to.” Kate answers, No, I haven't. I got up quite late today. I thought I might go over early and speak to her. I'm not sure how well I can present the idea, but I"ll try. I'll go right after dinner." "She trusts you, you can do it. I'd be more concerned looking Tom in the face..." Ruby says laughing. Kate blushed and fiddled with her napkin. "Well, maybe I can use that to my advantage. I think he'll behave himself, Ruby," she laughed. "Apparently Maggie gave him a rather large piece of her mind." Conversation at dinner was light, and Kate found herself smiling through it, even with the prospect of talking to Tom Whipple afterwards. Without Mr. Riley there they really couldn't discuss his dreams, so any business of the wagon was quickly finished. Kate wasn't sure she'd make it back to the El Parador before it was time to begin work, so she would have to put the bustle cover on now. There was no way she could manage it alone in these skirts, so she asked Ruby to come upstairs with her. Kate shut the door with a quiet click and unbuttoned the top button of her dress. Ruby sprawled out on her bed and propped her head up on her hands. "You look very happy today," Kate laughed. “I am very happy today,” Ruby replied. “Today, for the first time in a long time, I woke up somewhere I wanted to be.” Ruby didn’t have to look at Kate to know she had a questioning look on her face. She wasn’t sure how her friend was going to take the news but she was dying to tell her anyway. “I woke up in Jake’s room.” Kate's face turned a deep crimson. "Ruby! I knew you were, well... interested. Last night you were both almost shouting that you wanted to be alone, but...so soon?" “So soon? We waited a week!” Ruby laughs at Kate’s shocked expression. “Kate, I’m kidding.” Ruby shrugged. “I don’t know, it just happened, not like it was planned or anything...” Ruby drifts off for a moment then continues softly, “But it was wonderful. It felt… different.” Kate sat on the bed next to her friend. "I don't have a lot of experience with this," she began slowly. "There was only Tom. But it seems it should be different. Jake isn't any other man, is he?" Ruby sighed. “I don’t know. Why should he be any different? They are all the same in my experience and will take advantage of you if you let them. But I wanted to stay and I never stay Kate,” she pauses, “Ever.” She gets a sly smile on her face. “Oh, but it was worth it…” "Then your experience is just a limited as mine. Not every man is out for an advantage. After all..." Kate paused, considering. "Tom still married me, even though we....well, you know," she finished blushing. Ruby says, “Oh my experience is not limited. Believe me, it’s not. I’m sure Jake is a happy boy today. It’s just I don’t ever stay afterwards… that’s when you can really get yourself into trouble.” Ruby pauses, then continues with a laugh, “But are you admitting to being a bad girl before you got married?” Ruby laughs. “I bet your family would love to know that. What would they think?” Ruby takes Kate’s hand. “Kate, those kinds of things don’t matter in my world.” Ruby gets serious. “And if there are men out there not trying to take advantage I haven’t found one yet. But…” Ruby sits up on her feet, “Jake was worth every second.” Sonoma excuses herself to help bring out their dinners. "Just don't get too set in your ideas. Jake may surprise you, in more ways then he did last night," she said with a mischievous little laugh. "Oh but Ruby, I had the most wonderful night last night as well. Of course, I spent my night with a much older man." Ruby arches her eyebrows. “And what is that all about? You do seem different today…” Kate answers, "I went back up to see Mr. Gonzales after you went upstairs last night. I was curious about him telling Sonoma to stay with us, and I wanted him to look at that box I got from the caves. He was getting ready for bed, poor man. I disturbed him I think. But he was very kind and agreed to teach me another spell. After that we just kept going. He wanted to stop after we finished the novice spells, but I've never felt anything like the magic. I didn't want it to stop. I didn't want to go back to my room and try to go to sleep alone. So we drank potions to refresh us and kept going. It was the most amazing thing. And it was good to tell someone, about Tom. I drank myself to sleep almost every night in Tombstone, did you know that? Ruby, I woke up this afternoon, and my head was clear. No hangover, no nightmares. Just this lightness. Like I'd found Katherine again." Ruby smiled. “I am good at reading people and I can tell he has taken a liking to you, Mr. Gonzales that is. Why wouldn’t he, you’re very smart and likable. He must get lonely after all having to hide his talents. And magic, well it is something isn’t it. Of course, I don’t know what it’s like to learn it out of a book but it is a very special feeling. Kinda tingly, no?” “Oh, but I didn’t know you drank every night Kate. I’m very sorry I should have guessed. You must be lonely and missing Tom so badly.” Ruby looked away. “You know I never really had friends to talk to, especially not girls. But I couldn’t wait to tell you about Jake. It’s a funny thing for me. And maybe you need to tell me about Tom. Or maybe you just need someone to tell you it’s going to be ok.” Ruby moves closer to Kate and hugs her. “I really hope it is going to be ok. And I’m glad you found something to believe in, we all need that to keep us going.” Ruby stroked Kate's hair as she had done for her earlier. She hoped her words helped and that Kate believed her. "Well, you have friends now, and I'm lucky to be one of them." Kate continued to lean against Ruby as she haltingly began to tell her about Tom. About how they'd met in his stables and their courtship over the course of two years. About his delight in poking fun at polite society even as he moved perfectly though it, his deep love of horses and how he taught her to train them, and even how they sometimes fought over going to church. "My mother's French, you know. When Papa went to the war, she stopped taking us, and when he returned he didn't force the issue. It drove Tom crazy how I wouldn't go." Kate pulled in a long, slow breath and sighed. "Thank you Ruby, I've been needing to do that for a long time." She sat up and smiled. "No matter how much it hurts, I wouldn't trade being with him for anything. And now it's time to start again, and maybe this new life can be just as wonderful in its own way." Ruby says, "Why not, Kate? That's what starting over is all about." Katherine pinned her hat on and adjusted the neckline of her dress, removing the high collar that choked her and clasping a necklace around her throat. Once the shocking bustle was in place the ladies went back downstairs and Kate headed to the Lone Star. Katherine arrives a the Lone Star. It is still early in the evening and there are only five customers inside, at two of the smaller tables eating dinner. She recognizes four of them, Stanley and Helen Barker at one table and Al Brower with Pierre Jaquet and another man. Maggie has just finished bringing food to both tables, Jeff Mills in standing behind the bar and she hears Tom Whipple out in the kitchen. Maggie checks with both tables to make sure that they have what they need. She then asks Katherine to join her upstairs for a brief chat. Once they get in Maggie’s room she says “I had a long talk with Tom. He’s physically and mentally spent and is ready to just walk away from this town and start over at this point. Tom went to the telegraph office this morning to wire Father not to come, but it was too late. There was a telegram waiting that Father sent from Pueblo, Colorado saying that they were already on their way. They apparently left Denver yesterday morning right after the church services. He expects to arrive here by Tuesday night or Wednesday morning. He’ll be bringing Cousin Teddy and Teddy’s fiancé Alexis with him and wired to let us know we'll need an extra room available for her. Poor Job, he'll probably be out of jail only to have us then kick him out of his room." "I hope you won't be upset with me Maggie, but I have a suggestion for you. I thought it was important to tell Ruby and Jake what is happening. They would have been concerned about my returning here if they didn't know the truth. Jake made a very interesting suggestion. A bit radical, but it is an unusual situation. Rather than try to tell the truth, you could let it be known that you and Tom are getting a divorce. Say you each retain half-ownership and will continue on with the business. You still may not be able to be known as siblings, but you would be free." Maggie replies “Do you think that we haven’t already thought of that? Last year when the whole town was talking and Tom’s affair with Flossie we approached Judge Isby to obtain a divorce. He wouldn’t grant it. He told Tom to stop fooling around and for the two of us to work out our differences.” Kate answers, "Oh Maggie, I'm so sorry. I feel responsible. I know this happened long before I arrived here, but it seems what happened Saturday has brought it all to a head. There must be something we can do. Go to another town for the divorce perhaps?" Kate began to pace around the room. "I know you don't want to give up this business, and you shouldn't have to. I can't believe people would think worse of Tom for protecting his sister than they do for cheating on his wife." Maggie replies, "We can't go to another town. No other Judge would know us and would require seeing a Marriage License before granting it. And we can't get a license because we were never married. You're right about one thing, it has gotten worse. Tom is so angry and bitter, more so since I asked him about his feelings to Flossie. He indicated that he’d propose marriage to her right now if he could, but after all this time apart he’s sure that she would not accept.” "Maggie, what if you were to take on partners in the Lone Star?" Kate said suddenly. "For example, say I, and Jake and Ruby, if they're amenable, were to buy shares in it? We could buy enough to have the controlling interest. You said Tom was ready pick up and leave anyway. If we take over as the public owners, could you and Tom tell the truth? It would no longer be your reputation that mattered. You would continue running the business, of course, I don't have that kind of skill. After a time you could buy your interest back from us. Do you think it could work, or am I naive to believe it would make a difference?" She replies, "Well, Tom's ready to leave, but I don't think he'll go without me and I'm not going. He'd probably go back to Denver with Father if he could, but that would really but up to our Father. I'd say the real issue though is Flossie, although I don't know how we'd ever manage to get her and Tom back together to talk without the whole town finding out." Kate says, "I'm a little confused. Are you saying that if Tom knows Flossie will still have him, he'll do what? Just tell the truth and be done with it? Or go along with my idea? I'm sure we could manage to get them in the same place somehow." Maggie starts to cry "I don't know. It's all a mess. He won't even discuss it at this point. And if we get them together and she breaks his heart worse than it already is that will just make matters worse." Kate leaned down and put her arms around Maggie. "I'm not so sure about that. He needs to know if there is hope or not. If there isn't, he can finally get on with his life. It may be worse for a while, but it will be better in the end. I'll go down and talk to Tom." She stayed a few more minutes until Maggie was able to pull herself together a bit, then left the room and went down into the kitchen looking for Tom Whipple. [/QUOTE]
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"Revenge, Renewal and the Promise of a New Year" (Boot Hill/D&D)
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