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<blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 2062617" data-attributes="member: 8530"><p><strong>Chapter 96 “Taking Out the Trash”, January 10th, 1882, 9:30 PM </strong> </p><p></p><p>Ruby finishes up the set and calls for a break. There is a loud round of applause from the room. Several dozen people go up to the tip cups deposit some bills, coins and one hotel room key. Around a dozen people exit the saloon at this point and Tony calls for another break at his poker game. </p><p></p><p>Tom's Cousin Teddy joins up with his girl Alexis, who had been mangling the piano at the start of the night, and says, "Let us take a crack at that." He sits at the keyboard and begins to bang out some fast paced bar songs while she takes to the stage and starts singing the lyrics in a lively alto voice. While her talents with musical instruments apparently leave something to be desired her singing voice is extremely good and she soon has the half the patrons singing along with her. </p><p></p><p>'Louise' makes her way out from the kitchen carrying two platters with an array of cooked foods on them. She then begins to circulate around the tables serving food bringing drinks and all the while singing a full counterpoint to the songs being sung on stage in a clear soprano that is slightly lower than Ruby's voice. Katherine hearing this realizes that if she could get the three of them to actually sing together it would be a concert like this town had never seen before... provided she could get cousin Teddy off the keyboard before he killed it</p><p></p><p>Katherine put the tip cups behind the bar, slipped into her apron and got busy helping Sonoma. This was the biggest crowd yet, and Sonoma was a great help. Kate tried to keep an eye on her, watching for any tricks she could pick up. If the crowds were going to keep on like this, it would be more than she and Maggie could handle. </p><p></p><p>Despite the incident in the kitchen, Kate found herself smiling at the thought of Evan Adair grinding his teeth in a half-empty saloon. With all the beautiful voices singing in here, she wouldn't be surprised if no one made it past the Lone Star's door to the Palace. Kate took care of the table of "pinchers" and spent several minutes just trying to keep up with the orders. She also noticed Mr. Martin come and breathed a sigh of relief. If he was back safely, Jake and Nanuet should be as well. When she had a chance she stopped by the Elder Mr. Whipple's table. "I hope you're enjoying your evening. Do you have everything you need?" He indicates that he is fine. </p><p></p><p>Billy Comstock and his two same-aged friends Mizner and Whittemore arrive at the Lone Star and sit down at one of the recently vacated tables. Chester gets off his stool and walks over to them. "Glad you fellows could make it. Mind if I join you?" Comstock replies, "No, go right ahead, Mr. Martin. Have a seat." Chester says, "So, what brings you to Paradise City, if I may ask?" The three men exchange glances, unsure of who will answer. Elisha Whittemore finally says, "We're going to be doing some hunting up in the mountains." </p><p></p><p>Billy Comstock adds to that "Actually, it's a hunting contest. An old rival of mine will be along in a few days. Back fifteen years ago I lost a title to him in a hunting contest and so I've been waiting a very long time for this rematch. We figured it wouldn't hurt to get here a few days early to familiarize ourselves with the territory." “That's an interesting reaction”, Chester says casually then says, "Oh, hunting what? Bison or bighorn sheep?" Comstock replies "I'm not sure actually, my rival knows the details of this hunt and was a bit vague in his telegram. But I wasn't going to pass on the chance to win my old title back."</p><p></p><p>"That's odd. I guess he didn't want you to have an advantage by being able to study the prey." Chester gets Kate's attention as she walks past. "Mrs. Kale, have you seen Mr. Cook or Nanuet? I thought they would've ended up here by now." She replies, "Not yet. They did return with you then?" He replies, "Yes, ma'am. We got ambushed again on the road back from the mine. A couple of the miners got wounded, but then we ran into these gentlemen who brought us back to town." Chester gestures toward the men, who tip their hats to Kate. "Last I saw, they were at the edge of town while I got the Marshall. I didn't see them at the doctor's, so I thought they'd be here. Where else could they be..." His voice trails off. "Uh-oh. They may have gone looking for the guys who shot at us."</p><p></p><p>Kate closed her eyes for a moment and sighed. "That sounds like them. I think Jake is getting tired of being shot at, and they would have taken the opportunity to go after them without endangering anyone else." She looked around the busy Saloon. "I wish there was something I could do, but I can't leave here, and I doubt we could find them anyway, the fools. I'm glad to see you return unhurt, Mr. Martin. Gentlemen, thank you for helping my friends get back safely, even if they did run right back out. Your next round is on me." </p><p></p><p>Katherine scanned the room, looking for Ruby. Even more than she, Ruby would want to go looking for them. But she had the right to know what was going on. Kate slipped over to the bar and whispered in Ruby's ear. "Mr. Martin says he, Jake, and Nanuet got back alright, but they were ambushed on the road back again. Jake and Nanuet have shown up here yet. Mr. Martin thinks they may have gone looking for the men that shot at them."</p><p></p><p>"He thinks or he knows?" Ruby sighs. It didn't really matter either way; she knew they had gone back out. Jake and Nanuet were both impulsive types. Ruby replies nonchalantly, "Oh well then, we don’t know what happened and there is nothing we can do about it anyway, right?" She pauses and looks around the busy room. "It's hot in here, I’m going outside for air." Ruby pauses again. "Plus it looks like she has the stage under control," as Ruby glances at the stage. "Please come and get me if you need me." Ruby walks outside and sits on the porch of the Lone Star. So much for her brilliant plan of not worrying.</p><p></p><p>Chester watches Kate speak with Ruby, then Ruby leaving the Saloon. "Excuse me, please. I need to do something. He gets up from the table and goes over to Kate. "If you want, I can try looking for them. I have a fair idea of where they would've started looking. Is Miss West worried about them?" Kate answers, "She didn't say so, but I think she is. I don't think it's a good idea to go running off on your own to find them. Whoever's been doing the shooting has seen you now. You might want to go speak to Miss West though. I'll need her back in here soon." "I'll go do that," he replies. </p><p></p><p>Chester walks out the door to the porch. "Miss West? Mrs. Kale needs you back in there. I hope Mr. Cook and Nanuet are OK." "Already? I just got out here." Ruby pauses and sighs. "I hope they're ok too, Mr. Martin, I really do." Ruby rises from the porch and starts to head back inside. As she passes Chester she puts her hand on his arm and smiles. "You can call me Ruby, Mr. Martin." "And you can call me Chester, Ruby. They seem to be able to take care of themselves." </p><p></p><p>Alexis and Teddy finish up their set and she raves at the applause that follows. A crowd begins to gather around Job Kane's poker table as a high stakes hand has developed. Katherine thinks that she hears Jeff Mills talking out in the kitchen to somebody. Katherine walked back to the kitchen and peeked in the door. "Everything alright back here Jeff?" Katherine sees that the back door of the kitchen is open and that Jeff is standing in the doorway and pointing the shotgun at somebody. She hears the tail end of Jeff's sentence "....don't believe you for one minute."</p><p></p><p>Ruby walks inside and sees Kate standing at the kitchen door. Walking up to her, "You needed me?" Kate looked back and whispered to Ruby. "There's something going on back there. Let's be quiet." She slipped in the door and pulled out her derringer as soon as she was out of sight of the patrons. Kate made sure Ruby had noticed the precaution and then moved slowly to where she could see whoever Jeff had at the other end of his shotgun. "I'm tired of being quiet, Kate. It's been too long a day." Ruby walks right into the room and gets near Jeff. "Is there a problem? You need some help Jeff?"</p><p></p><p>Jeff Mills has the shotgun pointed at a man standing six feet away. The man is dressed in a light tan suit with a white shirt and western style tie. He has on a derby-style hat the same color brown as the western boots on his feet. A single-action Colt Peacemaker is hanging from the man's gunbelt. Jeff says "He came back to the scene of the crime. I caught him trying to break in." "I was just taking a walk through that alley. That ain't against the law!" the man exclaims.</p><p></p><p>Ruby exclaims, "Jeff, what do you mean break in And why do you think it was this guy?" Jeff answers, "A number of reasons. First, he works at the Palace Saloon as a gambler. Second, he was touching the doorknob to our back door when I heard the sound and opened it. Third, he's Evan Adair's best friend and roommate. And fourth, he's known for playing crocked games so I wouldn't believe one word that he says."</p><p></p><p>"It certainly doesn't sound like you were just 'taking a walk in the alley.'" Kate said calmly, the derringer clearly visible. "What do you recommend for someone who gets 'lost' in alleys Jeff?" Ruby asks, "Should I get the Marshall and let him straighten this out?" Jeff replies "I'm tempted to jus shoot him right here and now. That'll teach Adair to leave our place alone." Ruby states, "I'm all for it. All you had to say was the name Adair. Have fun."</p><p></p><p>Kate says, "As tempting as that is, I don't think he's worth wasting the ammunition on. A beating might suffice. So you're Adair's roommate? The man owns an entire Saloon but he needs to share?" The man says "I'm his bodyguard. I go where he goes." "Yeah, so where is he?" Ruby says with narrowing eyes... He answers, "Safe and sound back at the Palace. He was over here last week so he's already used up his quota for slumming."</p><p></p><p>"Jeff, give me that gun so I can shoot him myself..." Ruby says walking up to Jeff. Mills replies "Sorry Miss Ruby, I wouldn't want you to dirty your pretty dress on scum like this one." The man protests "The other lady suggested getting the Marshall. Maybe you'd better do that before you get your boss Whipple in even more trouble."</p><p></p><p>Back inside, Chester had sat back down at the table. "Sorry about that. What did you hunt last time? Anything challenging?" Comstock replies "Well, the big hunt was fifteen years ago when I was chief of scouts at Fort Wallace. I would hunt buffalo meat for the Army. I got really good at it and got the nickname of "Buffalo Bill". This other guy showed up, William Cody, and he was also using that nickname. So I filed protest. My friends all said that I was Cody’s superior as a buffalo-hunter. So a match was arranged to determine whether it should be "Buffalo Bill’ Cody or "Buffalo Bill" Comstock. </p><p></p><p>The hunting ground was fixed near Sheridan, Kansas, and quite a crowd of spectators was attracted by the news of the contest. Officers, soldiers, plainsmen, and railroadmen took a day off to see the sport, and one excursion party, including many ladies came up from St. Louis. Referees were appointed to follow each of us and keep a tally of the buffaloes slain. I was mounted on my favorite horse, and carried a Henry rifle of large caliber. We both rode side by side until the first herd was sighted and the word given, when off we dashed to the attack, separating to the right and left. In this first trial Cody killed thirty-eight and I got twenty-three. We had ridden miles by the time we were done and the carcasses of the dead buffaloes were strung all over the prairie. </p><p></p><p>Luncheon was served at noon, and scarcely was it over when another herd was sighted, composed mainly of cows with their calves. The damage to this herd was eighteen and fourteen, in favor of Cody. In those days the prairies were alive with buffaloes, and a third herd put in an appearance before our rifle-barrels were cooled. Unfortunately Cody saw it must sooner and got a head start. To add to the spectacle Cody pulled off his saddle and bridle, and advanced bareback to the slaughter. That closed the contest. Score, he had sixty-nine to my forty-eight. He won fair and square so Cody was dubbed "Champion Buffalo Hunter of the Plains. He's used that nickname ever since. He wired me last week challenging me to a rematch. I couldn't let that pass." Chester comments, "No, I can see why not. Riding bareback sounds like taunting."</p><p></p><p>"Louise" floats around the room filling drink orders checking on customers and making sure that the senior pain the father is well taken care of the drinks are flowing freely but Louise realizes that she needs to get back to the kitchen stove for a bit to make some more food for her serving platters and she needs to get Ruby back on stage to slow things down a little so that she can keep up with the room</p><p></p><p>At the standoff out back, Ruby notices the guy reaching for his gun. Ruby starts muttering to herself as she picks up a frying pan. She turns suddenly, hitting the guy in the head with the frying pan while she finishes the spell, hoping one or the other will work. </p><p></p><p>The skillet strikes the man squarely in the head as he reaches his right hand down onto his gun. Jeff sees the movement but cannot shoot the shotgun without getting Ruby in the blast. As Ruby simultaneously utters the final word of her incantation she sees the man's eyes suddenly cross and he collapses onto the ground in from of her and Jeff. Mills looks down at the skillet in her hand and says, "You're pretty handy with that thing. Maybe I should find a new line of work, you make a better bouncer than I do." </p><p></p><p>"A girl does what she can, Jeff," Ruby says smiling. "Now let's get this jerk out of here. He can sleep it off next to the outhouse." Jeff says "Not our outhouse. He's worse than what we allow customer to leave there. And I'm not sure how smart it would be for me to be seen carrying him back towards the Palace." "Yeah, probably not too smart to be seen carrying him. </p><p></p><p>As Ruby slammed the pan into the man’s head, Kate ran back toward the door into the saloon proper and peeked inside. He was probably bluffing, but she couldn't think of any trouble Tom was in right now." She checked quickly to make sure all was fine in the saloon. “Huumm, Kate, what do you think," Ruby yells across the kitchen. Kate turned her head back as she was opening the door. "I don't know Ruby. If we can't drag him away, can't we just leave him lay there and lock the door?" She turned back to look through the door into the main saloon for any signs of trouble.</p><p></p><p>"I don't think we can leave him here with no one watching. And then what do you do with him when we wakes up?" Ruby ponders the question. "Kate, why don't you ask Chester? Maybe he has an idea? My area of expertise has already been used," she says with a smile, looking at the man out cold. Kate turns back into the room. "Jeff, how do you get rid of the trash? Any large barrels, boxes we could haul him out in after a while? The rubbish seems an appropriate place for him." </p><p></p><p>"I need to get back out there. I'll send Mr. Martin. Ruby, you should come back out as soon as you can. We don't want the patrons knowing there's something wrong." Kate went out into the main room and found Chester. "Would you mind stepping into the kitchen? Miss West would like to speak with you." Katherine then went over to the piano and started playing an energetic classical piece, hoping the crowd would enjoy it until Ruby could come back out and sing.</p><p></p><p>Chester comes to the kitchen. Ruby explains that the guy tried to break in so she hit him with a frying pan and now he needs to go sleep it off, and that Kate suggested in the trash. "I have to go back out and sing, can you help Jeff take care of him?" Chester says, "Sure thing, Ruby. Why'd he try to break in during business hours?"</p><p></p><p>"Why does anyone ever break in? To cause trouble. He's a friend of that Adair guy, the one who caused all the trouble for me today at the trial. They are jealous that the Lone Star does so well and that I wouldn't come and work for them. I don't know what he was trying to get at but he was pulling a gun, so be careful. Thanks sweetie," she says as she winks and turns on her heel to go back out and sing.</p><p></p><p>Chester says, "You're welcome." Chester takes the gun out of the man's holster and removes the bullets. He puts it back into the holster. "OK Jeff. Where do we put him after we toss him in the trash?" Jeff smiles and says "You know. The Hooten family raise hogs up on the northwest end of town......" Chester comments, "Nice thinking. Now, can we carry him all that way, or do we need a wagon or cart?"</p><p></p><p>Jeff replies "You grab one arm I'll get the other. Just drape it over your shoulder. It will look like we're just helping a buddy home and if anyone asks we'll just say he had too much to drink." "Let's go. I'll get the left." Chester and Jeff take the man to the Hooten farm. "Hmm. Let's put him into the pen, face-up, of course. That'll teach him not to break into places."</p><p></p><p>Sonoma is glad to have the kitchen to herself again and makes up several more trays of food. Katherine and Ruby have the place almost enthralled with their very impressive music. The facial expressions of the woman Alexis vary as she watches Ruby - from awe to jealousy. </p><p></p><p>Jeff and Chester head north up Allen Street and then cut through the alleyway west between Hudson's Bakery and the Silver Dollar Saloon. They continue west behind all of the businesses on the south side of Sierra Street until the reach Pine Creek. They then follow the creek north to the Wooten place. The pigsty has six hogs inside it wallowing in the mud. "Woah. This place sure smells bad. Into the pen he goes. Won't he be surprised when he wakes up. Oh, and let me do something with this." Chester takes the empty revolver and tosses it in the opposite end of the pen.</p><p></p><p>Ruby is more concerned about Jake and Nanuet than ever. As the time goes by she gets more and more upset. She gets up on stage and again tries to immerse herself in her singing to forget her worried thoughts. </p><p></p><p>Katherine tried to enjoy playing, but there were too many other things going on. She was worried about Jake and Nanuet, worried about Jeff Mills and Mr. Martin, and worried about what Evan Adair would try next. This was twice already, and they had barely been there two hours. She realized that no one had been about to tell Tom Whipple what had happened in the back yet, and she didn't even know how it had gotten resolved. The saloon seemed too crowded with too much going on. At least in a couple more hours this long, long day would be over and she could sleep.</p><p></p><p>When she sees Sonoma pass close by with a tray of food, she motions for her to come over with her head. Kate speaks as quietly as she can and still have Sonoma hear. "Mr. Martin said Jake and Nanuet got back to town alright, but they were ambushed on the way back. Since they haven't shown up here, we think they went back to track down the shooters. I thought you'd want to know."</p><p></p><p>Chester and Jeff head back by way of the Promise City Hotel, as Jeff now needs to change his shirt, as the other got splattered with mud. He says that he normally has a room at the Lone Star but had to temporarily relocate to make room for the visiting Whipples. On the way out Jeff introduces Chester to Eric Lee Smith, the owner of the hotel. Smith says "Oh yes, I think I saw you earlier today at Condon's Bank." </p><p></p><p>They arrive back shortly after 10:45 P.M. Job Kane's table is now done for the evening. The whole saloon is talking about the back-to-back high stakes hands that were played. In the first Neil Cassidy won a pot of over $ 300 and in the second Job took in a pot almost as large. The game stopped because all of the other players were broke and nobody else in the place feels up to the challenge of those two. Neil Cassidy is now sitting at a table with Tom and William Whipple and Tom is busy negotiating prices for lumber and other building supplies to build the third floor. </p><p></p><p>Katherine and Ruby wind up their current set of music when they see that Chester and Jeff are back. Cousin Teddy takes to the keyboards again as his fiancée hits the stage. Rather than singing she goes into a wide-stepping dance routine choreographed to the lively tunes that Teddy provides.</p><p></p><p>Katherine tries to not listen to Teddy's mediocre playing, and definitely avoids watching the dancing as she goes back to serving drinks. She hadn't been under the impression that Tom's guests would be doing any entertaining while they were here. Katherine went over to Mr. Martin and Jeff. "Did you take care of everything?" Jeff smirked. "We took him someplace just like home." Kate looked at him quizzically. "We left him in a pigsty," Jeff grinned. "That's perfect," Kate laughed. "I love it. Certainly where the trash belongs. I'm glad you're back." </p><p></p><p>Kate made her way over to Job Kane. "It's nice to have you back, and having such a good night. A little busier than when you were here last." Job replies "Yeah, and tonight was especially challenging. Tom really needed Neil to be a in a good mood for the lumber negotiations and your friend Jake really blew it last night. Jake had a good night, but at Neil's expense. Tonight we both managed to have a good night though so Tom should get the prices he needs. </p><p></p><p>The important thing though is for William to be convinced that Tom can handle himself in negotiations, which looks like that is happening. You may want to go over there and make sure that Neil has everything he needs as far as drinks and food. That woman Louise has done a good job of that up until now but she's back in the kitchen again."</p><p></p><p>"I'll take care of it, and I'll have a word with Ruby to be pleasant to him. Most gentlemen seem to enjoy a conversation with her. Of course, they're already negotiating, I'm not sure there's much she can do now." </p><p></p><p>Katherine went over to the table and waited for an appropriate moment. "Gentlemen, Mr. Cassidy, is there anything I can get you? You must be hungry after that game." After she got the tables orders, she made sure to walk near Ruby. "Tom's negotiating for the lumber, if the chance presents itself, you might stop by and pay a bit of attention to Mr. Cassidy." Kate felt her face flushing. Even a week ago it wasn't a suggestion she would have thought to make.</p><p></p><p>Ruby glances over to Cassidy. "Sure Kate, I can do that," Ruby says with a smile, albeit a distant one. "How did Chester and Jeff make out?" When she sees Tom and Neil take a break from their negotiations Ruby approaches Neil. "Mr. Cassidy? Are you busy or can you join me for a drink at the bar?"</p><p></p><p>"Happy to enjoy the company of a pretty lady Miss. West. Had me a good night at Job's table, close to $ 200 more than when I started, just like last Friday with Mr. Cook. At this rate I might be able to retire from the lumber business!" They head over to the bar and he orders drinks for both of them. He asks "So, what is it that brings such a lovely young woman as you to this backwards corner of the universe?"</p><p></p><p>"Well, Mr. Cassidy, you flatter me," Ruby says blushing. "And you seem to be very skilled at the poker table, so maybe you can get your wish... to retire that is." "Me? I think I was meant to come here and work at the Lone Star. I mean, I've met some very interesting people," she says smiling at him. "How about you? Have you been in Promise City long?"</p><p></p><p>He replies, "Nobody's been here long Miss West, silver was only discovered here two years ago. I grew up in the timber business, my father and grandfather have a sawmill back in Ohio. I realized that lumber would be needed in these parts. </p><p></p><p>Went to Tombstone first, silver was found there a few years earlier, but the forests near there had already been bought up and they already had a sawmill by the time I got there. Hung around there for a while and am glad that I did. Once silver was found here so I high tailed it out here. The hills were crawling with speculators looking for silver but I was looking for trees. Bought all of the best hardwood within ten miles. If you want lumber you see me, if you ask me it's as good as silver. And after you take it from the ground it even grows back if you're willing to wait long enough."</p><p></p><p>Ruby laughs, "Mr. Cassidy, you certainly know how to take advantage of a situation. I respect that in a man." She pauses checking the door before continuing. "We're going to be building here you know, at the Lone Star. I'm sure Tom will be asking for your help. I mean, who else would be go to," Ruby flips her hair. He says, “Well it's a brick building so he'll be needing bricks as well as timber. But the brickyard owner also plays here, last night in fact. Didn't do too well at Cook's table but he had a good game at Tony's afterward." </p><p></p><p>Ruby says, "But enough of business. How long have you been playing poker? You are really good." He says, "You flatter me. I'm not really good, I'm occasionally good. Tonight just happens to be one of those occasions. Although I do owe you an apology. This is the fifth night that I'm been enjoying your wonderful singing voice but I've been too preoccupied with poker to ever wander up to the glass by the stage and show my appreciation. Please accept this as a belated oversight." He slides her a $ 10 bill.</p><p></p><p>"Mr. Cook did do well last night, that is true. And I am sure you don't give yourself enough credit when it comes to the cards." In a teasing tone, "Now, Mr. Cassidy, a girl could get insulted to hear that poker was more enthralling then her singing. But I will take this," she reaches for the $10 bill, touching his hand as she takes it, "as your apology, and hope that you will sometimes consider stopping by not just for the poker but for me as well." She takes the $10 and sticks it down her corset. "I don't want to keep you from your game. Thank you for sharing a drink with me, I hope it won't be the last." </p><p></p><p>Cassidy excuses himself and goes back to the table with Tom. Ruby glances around the room. Kate is busy tending tables, especially to the elder Mr. Whipple and Sonoma was still in the back, cooking and singing. Ruby decides to continue her break outside. She again sits on the porch in the cool night air, trying not to worry. And not doing a good job of that.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Silver Moon, post: 2062617, member: 8530"] [B]Chapter 96 “Taking Out the Trash”, January 10th, 1882, 9:30 PM [/B] Ruby finishes up the set and calls for a break. There is a loud round of applause from the room. Several dozen people go up to the tip cups deposit some bills, coins and one hotel room key. Around a dozen people exit the saloon at this point and Tony calls for another break at his poker game. Tom's Cousin Teddy joins up with his girl Alexis, who had been mangling the piano at the start of the night, and says, "Let us take a crack at that." He sits at the keyboard and begins to bang out some fast paced bar songs while she takes to the stage and starts singing the lyrics in a lively alto voice. While her talents with musical instruments apparently leave something to be desired her singing voice is extremely good and she soon has the half the patrons singing along with her. 'Louise' makes her way out from the kitchen carrying two platters with an array of cooked foods on them. She then begins to circulate around the tables serving food bringing drinks and all the while singing a full counterpoint to the songs being sung on stage in a clear soprano that is slightly lower than Ruby's voice. Katherine hearing this realizes that if she could get the three of them to actually sing together it would be a concert like this town had never seen before... provided she could get cousin Teddy off the keyboard before he killed it Katherine put the tip cups behind the bar, slipped into her apron and got busy helping Sonoma. This was the biggest crowd yet, and Sonoma was a great help. Kate tried to keep an eye on her, watching for any tricks she could pick up. If the crowds were going to keep on like this, it would be more than she and Maggie could handle. Despite the incident in the kitchen, Kate found herself smiling at the thought of Evan Adair grinding his teeth in a half-empty saloon. With all the beautiful voices singing in here, she wouldn't be surprised if no one made it past the Lone Star's door to the Palace. Kate took care of the table of "pinchers" and spent several minutes just trying to keep up with the orders. She also noticed Mr. Martin come and breathed a sigh of relief. If he was back safely, Jake and Nanuet should be as well. When she had a chance she stopped by the Elder Mr. Whipple's table. "I hope you're enjoying your evening. Do you have everything you need?" He indicates that he is fine. Billy Comstock and his two same-aged friends Mizner and Whittemore arrive at the Lone Star and sit down at one of the recently vacated tables. Chester gets off his stool and walks over to them. "Glad you fellows could make it. Mind if I join you?" Comstock replies, "No, go right ahead, Mr. Martin. Have a seat." Chester says, "So, what brings you to Paradise City, if I may ask?" The three men exchange glances, unsure of who will answer. Elisha Whittemore finally says, "We're going to be doing some hunting up in the mountains." Billy Comstock adds to that "Actually, it's a hunting contest. An old rival of mine will be along in a few days. Back fifteen years ago I lost a title to him in a hunting contest and so I've been waiting a very long time for this rematch. We figured it wouldn't hurt to get here a few days early to familiarize ourselves with the territory." “That's an interesting reaction”, Chester says casually then says, "Oh, hunting what? Bison or bighorn sheep?" Comstock replies "I'm not sure actually, my rival knows the details of this hunt and was a bit vague in his telegram. But I wasn't going to pass on the chance to win my old title back." "That's odd. I guess he didn't want you to have an advantage by being able to study the prey." Chester gets Kate's attention as she walks past. "Mrs. Kale, have you seen Mr. Cook or Nanuet? I thought they would've ended up here by now." She replies, "Not yet. They did return with you then?" He replies, "Yes, ma'am. We got ambushed again on the road back from the mine. A couple of the miners got wounded, but then we ran into these gentlemen who brought us back to town." Chester gestures toward the men, who tip their hats to Kate. "Last I saw, they were at the edge of town while I got the Marshall. I didn't see them at the doctor's, so I thought they'd be here. Where else could they be..." His voice trails off. "Uh-oh. They may have gone looking for the guys who shot at us." Kate closed her eyes for a moment and sighed. "That sounds like them. I think Jake is getting tired of being shot at, and they would have taken the opportunity to go after them without endangering anyone else." She looked around the busy Saloon. "I wish there was something I could do, but I can't leave here, and I doubt we could find them anyway, the fools. I'm glad to see you return unhurt, Mr. Martin. Gentlemen, thank you for helping my friends get back safely, even if they did run right back out. Your next round is on me." Katherine scanned the room, looking for Ruby. Even more than she, Ruby would want to go looking for them. But she had the right to know what was going on. Kate slipped over to the bar and whispered in Ruby's ear. "Mr. Martin says he, Jake, and Nanuet got back alright, but they were ambushed on the road back again. Jake and Nanuet have shown up here yet. Mr. Martin thinks they may have gone looking for the men that shot at them." "He thinks or he knows?" Ruby sighs. It didn't really matter either way; she knew they had gone back out. Jake and Nanuet were both impulsive types. Ruby replies nonchalantly, "Oh well then, we don’t know what happened and there is nothing we can do about it anyway, right?" She pauses and looks around the busy room. "It's hot in here, I’m going outside for air." Ruby pauses again. "Plus it looks like she has the stage under control," as Ruby glances at the stage. "Please come and get me if you need me." Ruby walks outside and sits on the porch of the Lone Star. So much for her brilliant plan of not worrying. Chester watches Kate speak with Ruby, then Ruby leaving the Saloon. "Excuse me, please. I need to do something. He gets up from the table and goes over to Kate. "If you want, I can try looking for them. I have a fair idea of where they would've started looking. Is Miss West worried about them?" Kate answers, "She didn't say so, but I think she is. I don't think it's a good idea to go running off on your own to find them. Whoever's been doing the shooting has seen you now. You might want to go speak to Miss West though. I'll need her back in here soon." "I'll go do that," he replies. Chester walks out the door to the porch. "Miss West? Mrs. Kale needs you back in there. I hope Mr. Cook and Nanuet are OK." "Already? I just got out here." Ruby pauses and sighs. "I hope they're ok too, Mr. Martin, I really do." Ruby rises from the porch and starts to head back inside. As she passes Chester she puts her hand on his arm and smiles. "You can call me Ruby, Mr. Martin." "And you can call me Chester, Ruby. They seem to be able to take care of themselves." Alexis and Teddy finish up their set and she raves at the applause that follows. A crowd begins to gather around Job Kane's poker table as a high stakes hand has developed. Katherine thinks that she hears Jeff Mills talking out in the kitchen to somebody. Katherine walked back to the kitchen and peeked in the door. "Everything alright back here Jeff?" Katherine sees that the back door of the kitchen is open and that Jeff is standing in the doorway and pointing the shotgun at somebody. She hears the tail end of Jeff's sentence "....don't believe you for one minute." Ruby walks inside and sees Kate standing at the kitchen door. Walking up to her, "You needed me?" Kate looked back and whispered to Ruby. "There's something going on back there. Let's be quiet." She slipped in the door and pulled out her derringer as soon as she was out of sight of the patrons. Kate made sure Ruby had noticed the precaution and then moved slowly to where she could see whoever Jeff had at the other end of his shotgun. "I'm tired of being quiet, Kate. It's been too long a day." Ruby walks right into the room and gets near Jeff. "Is there a problem? You need some help Jeff?" Jeff Mills has the shotgun pointed at a man standing six feet away. The man is dressed in a light tan suit with a white shirt and western style tie. He has on a derby-style hat the same color brown as the western boots on his feet. A single-action Colt Peacemaker is hanging from the man's gunbelt. Jeff says "He came back to the scene of the crime. I caught him trying to break in." "I was just taking a walk through that alley. That ain't against the law!" the man exclaims. Ruby exclaims, "Jeff, what do you mean break in And why do you think it was this guy?" Jeff answers, "A number of reasons. First, he works at the Palace Saloon as a gambler. Second, he was touching the doorknob to our back door when I heard the sound and opened it. Third, he's Evan Adair's best friend and roommate. And fourth, he's known for playing crocked games so I wouldn't believe one word that he says." "It certainly doesn't sound like you were just 'taking a walk in the alley.'" Kate said calmly, the derringer clearly visible. "What do you recommend for someone who gets 'lost' in alleys Jeff?" Ruby asks, "Should I get the Marshall and let him straighten this out?" Jeff replies "I'm tempted to jus shoot him right here and now. That'll teach Adair to leave our place alone." Ruby states, "I'm all for it. All you had to say was the name Adair. Have fun." Kate says, "As tempting as that is, I don't think he's worth wasting the ammunition on. A beating might suffice. So you're Adair's roommate? The man owns an entire Saloon but he needs to share?" The man says "I'm his bodyguard. I go where he goes." "Yeah, so where is he?" Ruby says with narrowing eyes... He answers, "Safe and sound back at the Palace. He was over here last week so he's already used up his quota for slumming." "Jeff, give me that gun so I can shoot him myself..." Ruby says walking up to Jeff. Mills replies "Sorry Miss Ruby, I wouldn't want you to dirty your pretty dress on scum like this one." The man protests "The other lady suggested getting the Marshall. Maybe you'd better do that before you get your boss Whipple in even more trouble." Back inside, Chester had sat back down at the table. "Sorry about that. What did you hunt last time? Anything challenging?" Comstock replies "Well, the big hunt was fifteen years ago when I was chief of scouts at Fort Wallace. I would hunt buffalo meat for the Army. I got really good at it and got the nickname of "Buffalo Bill". This other guy showed up, William Cody, and he was also using that nickname. So I filed protest. My friends all said that I was Cody’s superior as a buffalo-hunter. So a match was arranged to determine whether it should be "Buffalo Bill’ Cody or "Buffalo Bill" Comstock. The hunting ground was fixed near Sheridan, Kansas, and quite a crowd of spectators was attracted by the news of the contest. Officers, soldiers, plainsmen, and railroadmen took a day off to see the sport, and one excursion party, including many ladies came up from St. Louis. Referees were appointed to follow each of us and keep a tally of the buffaloes slain. I was mounted on my favorite horse, and carried a Henry rifle of large caliber. We both rode side by side until the first herd was sighted and the word given, when off we dashed to the attack, separating to the right and left. In this first trial Cody killed thirty-eight and I got twenty-three. We had ridden miles by the time we were done and the carcasses of the dead buffaloes were strung all over the prairie. Luncheon was served at noon, and scarcely was it over when another herd was sighted, composed mainly of cows with their calves. The damage to this herd was eighteen and fourteen, in favor of Cody. In those days the prairies were alive with buffaloes, and a third herd put in an appearance before our rifle-barrels were cooled. Unfortunately Cody saw it must sooner and got a head start. To add to the spectacle Cody pulled off his saddle and bridle, and advanced bareback to the slaughter. That closed the contest. Score, he had sixty-nine to my forty-eight. He won fair and square so Cody was dubbed "Champion Buffalo Hunter of the Plains. He's used that nickname ever since. He wired me last week challenging me to a rematch. I couldn't let that pass." Chester comments, "No, I can see why not. Riding bareback sounds like taunting." "Louise" floats around the room filling drink orders checking on customers and making sure that the senior pain the father is well taken care of the drinks are flowing freely but Louise realizes that she needs to get back to the kitchen stove for a bit to make some more food for her serving platters and she needs to get Ruby back on stage to slow things down a little so that she can keep up with the room At the standoff out back, Ruby notices the guy reaching for his gun. Ruby starts muttering to herself as she picks up a frying pan. She turns suddenly, hitting the guy in the head with the frying pan while she finishes the spell, hoping one or the other will work. The skillet strikes the man squarely in the head as he reaches his right hand down onto his gun. Jeff sees the movement but cannot shoot the shotgun without getting Ruby in the blast. As Ruby simultaneously utters the final word of her incantation she sees the man's eyes suddenly cross and he collapses onto the ground in from of her and Jeff. Mills looks down at the skillet in her hand and says, "You're pretty handy with that thing. Maybe I should find a new line of work, you make a better bouncer than I do." "A girl does what she can, Jeff," Ruby says smiling. "Now let's get this jerk out of here. He can sleep it off next to the outhouse." Jeff says "Not our outhouse. He's worse than what we allow customer to leave there. And I'm not sure how smart it would be for me to be seen carrying him back towards the Palace." "Yeah, probably not too smart to be seen carrying him. As Ruby slammed the pan into the man’s head, Kate ran back toward the door into the saloon proper and peeked inside. He was probably bluffing, but she couldn't think of any trouble Tom was in right now." She checked quickly to make sure all was fine in the saloon. “Huumm, Kate, what do you think," Ruby yells across the kitchen. Kate turned her head back as she was opening the door. "I don't know Ruby. If we can't drag him away, can't we just leave him lay there and lock the door?" She turned back to look through the door into the main saloon for any signs of trouble. "I don't think we can leave him here with no one watching. And then what do you do with him when we wakes up?" Ruby ponders the question. "Kate, why don't you ask Chester? Maybe he has an idea? My area of expertise has already been used," she says with a smile, looking at the man out cold. Kate turns back into the room. "Jeff, how do you get rid of the trash? Any large barrels, boxes we could haul him out in after a while? The rubbish seems an appropriate place for him." "I need to get back out there. I'll send Mr. Martin. Ruby, you should come back out as soon as you can. We don't want the patrons knowing there's something wrong." Kate went out into the main room and found Chester. "Would you mind stepping into the kitchen? Miss West would like to speak with you." Katherine then went over to the piano and started playing an energetic classical piece, hoping the crowd would enjoy it until Ruby could come back out and sing. Chester comes to the kitchen. Ruby explains that the guy tried to break in so she hit him with a frying pan and now he needs to go sleep it off, and that Kate suggested in the trash. "I have to go back out and sing, can you help Jeff take care of him?" Chester says, "Sure thing, Ruby. Why'd he try to break in during business hours?" "Why does anyone ever break in? To cause trouble. He's a friend of that Adair guy, the one who caused all the trouble for me today at the trial. They are jealous that the Lone Star does so well and that I wouldn't come and work for them. I don't know what he was trying to get at but he was pulling a gun, so be careful. Thanks sweetie," she says as she winks and turns on her heel to go back out and sing. Chester says, "You're welcome." Chester takes the gun out of the man's holster and removes the bullets. He puts it back into the holster. "OK Jeff. Where do we put him after we toss him in the trash?" Jeff smiles and says "You know. The Hooten family raise hogs up on the northwest end of town......" Chester comments, "Nice thinking. Now, can we carry him all that way, or do we need a wagon or cart?" Jeff replies "You grab one arm I'll get the other. Just drape it over your shoulder. It will look like we're just helping a buddy home and if anyone asks we'll just say he had too much to drink." "Let's go. I'll get the left." Chester and Jeff take the man to the Hooten farm. "Hmm. Let's put him into the pen, face-up, of course. That'll teach him not to break into places." Sonoma is glad to have the kitchen to herself again and makes up several more trays of food. Katherine and Ruby have the place almost enthralled with their very impressive music. The facial expressions of the woman Alexis vary as she watches Ruby - from awe to jealousy. Jeff and Chester head north up Allen Street and then cut through the alleyway west between Hudson's Bakery and the Silver Dollar Saloon. They continue west behind all of the businesses on the south side of Sierra Street until the reach Pine Creek. They then follow the creek north to the Wooten place. The pigsty has six hogs inside it wallowing in the mud. "Woah. This place sure smells bad. Into the pen he goes. Won't he be surprised when he wakes up. Oh, and let me do something with this." Chester takes the empty revolver and tosses it in the opposite end of the pen. Ruby is more concerned about Jake and Nanuet than ever. As the time goes by she gets more and more upset. She gets up on stage and again tries to immerse herself in her singing to forget her worried thoughts. Katherine tried to enjoy playing, but there were too many other things going on. She was worried about Jake and Nanuet, worried about Jeff Mills and Mr. Martin, and worried about what Evan Adair would try next. This was twice already, and they had barely been there two hours. She realized that no one had been about to tell Tom Whipple what had happened in the back yet, and she didn't even know how it had gotten resolved. The saloon seemed too crowded with too much going on. At least in a couple more hours this long, long day would be over and she could sleep. When she sees Sonoma pass close by with a tray of food, she motions for her to come over with her head. Kate speaks as quietly as she can and still have Sonoma hear. "Mr. Martin said Jake and Nanuet got back to town alright, but they were ambushed on the way back. Since they haven't shown up here, we think they went back to track down the shooters. I thought you'd want to know." Chester and Jeff head back by way of the Promise City Hotel, as Jeff now needs to change his shirt, as the other got splattered with mud. He says that he normally has a room at the Lone Star but had to temporarily relocate to make room for the visiting Whipples. On the way out Jeff introduces Chester to Eric Lee Smith, the owner of the hotel. Smith says "Oh yes, I think I saw you earlier today at Condon's Bank." They arrive back shortly after 10:45 P.M. Job Kane's table is now done for the evening. The whole saloon is talking about the back-to-back high stakes hands that were played. In the first Neil Cassidy won a pot of over $ 300 and in the second Job took in a pot almost as large. The game stopped because all of the other players were broke and nobody else in the place feels up to the challenge of those two. Neil Cassidy is now sitting at a table with Tom and William Whipple and Tom is busy negotiating prices for lumber and other building supplies to build the third floor. Katherine and Ruby wind up their current set of music when they see that Chester and Jeff are back. Cousin Teddy takes to the keyboards again as his fiancée hits the stage. Rather than singing she goes into a wide-stepping dance routine choreographed to the lively tunes that Teddy provides. Katherine tries to not listen to Teddy's mediocre playing, and definitely avoids watching the dancing as she goes back to serving drinks. She hadn't been under the impression that Tom's guests would be doing any entertaining while they were here. Katherine went over to Mr. Martin and Jeff. "Did you take care of everything?" Jeff smirked. "We took him someplace just like home." Kate looked at him quizzically. "We left him in a pigsty," Jeff grinned. "That's perfect," Kate laughed. "I love it. Certainly where the trash belongs. I'm glad you're back." Kate made her way over to Job Kane. "It's nice to have you back, and having such a good night. A little busier than when you were here last." Job replies "Yeah, and tonight was especially challenging. Tom really needed Neil to be a in a good mood for the lumber negotiations and your friend Jake really blew it last night. Jake had a good night, but at Neil's expense. Tonight we both managed to have a good night though so Tom should get the prices he needs. The important thing though is for William to be convinced that Tom can handle himself in negotiations, which looks like that is happening. You may want to go over there and make sure that Neil has everything he needs as far as drinks and food. That woman Louise has done a good job of that up until now but she's back in the kitchen again." "I'll take care of it, and I'll have a word with Ruby to be pleasant to him. Most gentlemen seem to enjoy a conversation with her. Of course, they're already negotiating, I'm not sure there's much she can do now." Katherine went over to the table and waited for an appropriate moment. "Gentlemen, Mr. Cassidy, is there anything I can get you? You must be hungry after that game." After she got the tables orders, she made sure to walk near Ruby. "Tom's negotiating for the lumber, if the chance presents itself, you might stop by and pay a bit of attention to Mr. Cassidy." Kate felt her face flushing. Even a week ago it wasn't a suggestion she would have thought to make. Ruby glances over to Cassidy. "Sure Kate, I can do that," Ruby says with a smile, albeit a distant one. "How did Chester and Jeff make out?" When she sees Tom and Neil take a break from their negotiations Ruby approaches Neil. "Mr. Cassidy? Are you busy or can you join me for a drink at the bar?" "Happy to enjoy the company of a pretty lady Miss. West. Had me a good night at Job's table, close to $ 200 more than when I started, just like last Friday with Mr. Cook. At this rate I might be able to retire from the lumber business!" They head over to the bar and he orders drinks for both of them. He asks "So, what is it that brings such a lovely young woman as you to this backwards corner of the universe?" "Well, Mr. Cassidy, you flatter me," Ruby says blushing. "And you seem to be very skilled at the poker table, so maybe you can get your wish... to retire that is." "Me? I think I was meant to come here and work at the Lone Star. I mean, I've met some very interesting people," she says smiling at him. "How about you? Have you been in Promise City long?" He replies, "Nobody's been here long Miss West, silver was only discovered here two years ago. I grew up in the timber business, my father and grandfather have a sawmill back in Ohio. I realized that lumber would be needed in these parts. Went to Tombstone first, silver was found there a few years earlier, but the forests near there had already been bought up and they already had a sawmill by the time I got there. Hung around there for a while and am glad that I did. Once silver was found here so I high tailed it out here. The hills were crawling with speculators looking for silver but I was looking for trees. Bought all of the best hardwood within ten miles. If you want lumber you see me, if you ask me it's as good as silver. And after you take it from the ground it even grows back if you're willing to wait long enough." Ruby laughs, "Mr. Cassidy, you certainly know how to take advantage of a situation. I respect that in a man." She pauses checking the door before continuing. "We're going to be building here you know, at the Lone Star. I'm sure Tom will be asking for your help. I mean, who else would be go to," Ruby flips her hair. He says, “Well it's a brick building so he'll be needing bricks as well as timber. But the brickyard owner also plays here, last night in fact. Didn't do too well at Cook's table but he had a good game at Tony's afterward." Ruby says, "But enough of business. How long have you been playing poker? You are really good." He says, "You flatter me. I'm not really good, I'm occasionally good. Tonight just happens to be one of those occasions. Although I do owe you an apology. This is the fifth night that I'm been enjoying your wonderful singing voice but I've been too preoccupied with poker to ever wander up to the glass by the stage and show my appreciation. Please accept this as a belated oversight." He slides her a $ 10 bill. "Mr. Cook did do well last night, that is true. And I am sure you don't give yourself enough credit when it comes to the cards." In a teasing tone, "Now, Mr. Cassidy, a girl could get insulted to hear that poker was more enthralling then her singing. But I will take this," she reaches for the $10 bill, touching his hand as she takes it, "as your apology, and hope that you will sometimes consider stopping by not just for the poker but for me as well." She takes the $10 and sticks it down her corset. "I don't want to keep you from your game. Thank you for sharing a drink with me, I hope it won't be the last." Cassidy excuses himself and goes back to the table with Tom. Ruby glances around the room. Kate is busy tending tables, especially to the elder Mr. Whipple and Sonoma was still in the back, cooking and singing. Ruby decides to continue her break outside. She again sits on the porch in the cool night air, trying not to worry. And not doing a good job of that. [/QUOTE]
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