Silver Moon
Adventurer
Chapter Five, “"He’s Back”, Thursday, March 9th, 1882, 11:15 P.M.
Kate took a few steadying breaths and approached Chumbley and Jeff. Ruby was about to start singing when Kate got up and walked away from the piano. "Uh, Kate...Kate...?" But she was ignored. So she continued to sing a few more songs unaccompanied, keeping a close eye on Kate.
"Jeff, can I have a brandy? I'd meant to ask why you were so late today," Kate said to Chumbley, hiding her shaking hands in the folds of her skirt. "What prisoner was that? He must be dangerous if the Deputy Marshall had to come back with him."
Chumbley replies "Pony Deal, the same guy Wyatt went out looking for with a posse last month. He showed up back in town yesterday but without his pony, came in on the train. He heard from his friends that the Earps were looking for him. He apparently laid low until the stage was ready to leave today and then got on it at the last minute, apparently with a ticket that a friend picked up for him. But somebody else saw him and told the Earps so they rode out to get him. Stopped the stage around four miles out and made it head back to town, that's why we were late."
Kate responds, "Can't be very smart to get on a stage from a town where the Earps are the law to another town where the Earps are the law." Chumbley replies, "I doubt he would have stayed long in Promise City. He would have headed out to Galeyville the first chance he got."
She took a sip of her brandy and casually added. "So the Deputy Marshall will probably be staying with his brother for the night. over at his boarding house?" He replies, "No, you misunderstood. They had the stage drive back to Tombstone with the prisoner. Once he was dropped off at the jail the Earps stayed there with him."
"Oh, I see," Kate said quietly. "Well, I'm sure it was very exciting." She drained her brandy in one gulp. "Another Jeff?" Kate didn't go back to the piano, but sat at the bar instead. It was quieting down, no one really needed her at the moment. Ruby's singing was just fine without her playing. She finished that brandy and just had Jeff keep refilling the glass each time it emptied.
Nanuet had been sitting to the side, minding his own business most of the night, but had been steadily consuming whiskey. He got up deciding it was time to tell his friends how much he appreciated all they had done for him and how welcome they made him feel. He scanned the room and his bleary eyes immediately found Jake and standing at the bar. He saw Ruby give Jake a peck and then head back towards the stage as he got up from his seat, noting that he was dizzy, so he stands still for a few minutes.
Nanuet eventually lumbers across the room, bumping into and knocking over a chair on his way. He walks right behind Jake and pats him strongly on the back. In a loud, very slurred voice he says "Mr. Jake, have I ever told you what I think about you? You guys" swinging his arm in the general direction of the kitchen and stage "You guys, are the best companions an elf could ask for! I don't know what I would do without you. I just wanted to tell you that..." He then slumps onto the bar smiling from ear to ear. "I need another whisky."
"You are most welcome my friend." Jake goes around the other side and pours Nanuet another. "Why don't you just take one of the extra rooms tonight, looks like you could use it." He smiles and chats with the increasingly maudlin Indian, but Jake is watching Ruby and Katherine out of the corner of his eye.
Ruby had started the song like she intended to be accompanied by Katherine’s piano, but quickly switched to an unaccompanied style. Jake had heard enough of Ruby's singing to know the difference rather well. He also caught her watching Katherine, though not obviously. Katherine was facing away from Jake, so he couldn't read her expression. Nothing to do but wait or let it blow over. "Whoa there, don't be drinking that so fast. I'm not inclined to be carrying you up the stairs."
The Indian replies, “What? You think I can't handle my whiskey? I can handle myself Mr. Jake, you won't need to be carrying me nowhere." Nanuet turns and watches Ruby singing onstage with an admiring look in his eye. "You know what else Mr. Jake? You are a lucky man, cause you sure got yourself a fine woman there in Miss Ruby. You better take care of her, she is a fine woman she is." "I will not argue the point. I count myself lucky indeed," he replies.
Nanuet watches intently as Ruby sings the completion of the song. He claps loudly and tries to whistle but only manages to blow air and make little or no sound. He then makes his way up towards the stage, yelling as he stumbles across the room "Let's hear it for Miss Ruby! Prettiest girl and best singer in Promise City!"
Ruby sees Nanuet working his way across the room. Worried that he might fall or knock someone over she hops off the stage and heads towards him, hoping to reach him and avert potential disaster. She reaches the drunken Indian and extends a hand to help steady his stumble but instead he grabs her and wraps her up in a bear hug lifting her off the ground for a moment.
Ruby giggles and returns the hug as Nanuet swings her around. He puts her down and promptly falls on the floor. She offers him a hand with a smile, just as Jake makes his way over to help. Feeling woozy he then puts Ruby down, takes a step back and attempts to sit in a chair, missing the seat and ending up on the floor instead.
Jake is laughing himself silly watching Nanuet. He sees Jeff Mills heading over towards Nanuet but waves him off. Jake strolls over and offers him a hand up saying, "I've been meaning to get some better chairs, by the end of the evening the ones we've got are just too slippery."
Ruby says, "Nanuet, it's much better to see you enjoying yourself then being all serious. I must admit I'm a tiny bit jealous of your current state." Jake and Ruby pull him up, with Jake taking much of the weight. "Thank you for the sweet words," as she gives Nanuet a kiss on the cheek. "Let's go have another drink, shall we?" They lead him over to a table in the corner and help him sit.
Nanuet laughs heartily at his own antics and accepts the assistance from his friends. Sitting down he puts his head in his hands. "See, this is what I mean with friends like this who needs... uh wait, that didn't come out right. I still don't get many of the white man sayings."
Nanuet continues to laugh with his friends for a few moments. Another round of drinks is brought over and he sips at his slowly. As the conversation continues Nanuet's complexion becomes pale. He jumps up from the table and pushes anyone in his path out of the way as he bolts for the back door. Immediately after the door closes behind him, the sound of retching can be heard.
Chester says, "Oh, boy. Jeff, hand me a clean rag, please. And put on a fresh pot of coffee, too." Chester strolls out back where Nanuet is vomiting in the alley. "Hey there. Looks like you had too much to drink." He hands the rag to the Indian. "Wipe your mouth with this. I asked Jeff to make some fresh coffee. How are you feeling. I don't think I've ever seen you drunk before. What's up?"
"Well, I have felt worse, and I have felt better." Nanuet says. "So where does that put me? Somewhere in the middle I guess." He wipes his mouth with the rag, but it still doesn't take the smile from his face. Guess I drank too much huh? I was just sitting there thinking about things, and all the nice people I have met recently and all the adventures we have had and uh, the whiskey kept coming so I kept drinking."
Jake turns to Ruby, "You still jealous of his condition? No, don't bother answering." They watch Chester attempt to help Nanuet. "That Mr. Martin is a real salt of the earth kind of guy. I can't really picture him punching his superior." Ruby raises her eyebrow and says, "It was Lieutenant Gamble, wasn't it?" Jake replies. "Yes. Right. Ok, I can picture it." "Mr. Martin is a good man, a real gentleman, a genuine nice guy." Ruby laughs, "And if I had to spend time with that Gamble guy I probably would have done worse than punch him."
"Well, no sense in wasting this, right?" She picks up the remainder of Naneut's whiskey and drinks it down. She hears poor Nanuet out back and makes a face. "Oh, he's going to regret this night in the morning." "Girl, I'm not sure where you put all that alcohol you drink." He says shaking his head. Jake looks around and sees that the place is nearly empty, but Niles and Rote are still working to clean up. He continues with a sly grin, "When you're through talking to everyone down here, I'm willing to resume looking."
"Are you complaining that I drink too much Mr. Cook?" Ruby looks at him with furrowed brows. "And resume looking at what?" "I wasn't complaining, Ruby dearest. I was simply at a loss to explain where it all goes. And my natural curiosity about such things drives me to look very carefully and thoroughly to find it." Jake smiles and looks away innocently. "No matter where you may be hiding it."
Ruby’s face relaxes and she giggles. “Oh for a moment I thought there was something about me that you didn’t like. Silly me!” She leans over and gives him a kiss. “Well, then let’s wish everyone a good night and help get Nanuet in bed. Then we can go looking. I’m afraid for your part I’ve hidden it very well and it might take a long time of searching for you to discover my secret.” She slowly gets up, then starts walking towards the kitchen. Knowing Jake is watching her she swings her hips and winks at him over her shoulder. She yells into the kitchen, "Is everything ok in here Maria? If so we are going to say good night and head to bed soon." Maria replies, "I was just cleaning up. Go on up, I'll head back to the El Parador with Mrs. Kale and Mr. Martin." "Thanks, Maria. By the way, the food was excellent, you did a great job yet again. I think tomorrow will be just as busy, so you might want to stock up. Take Harry with you of you need help. Have a good night!"
Nanuet stands up straight putting both hands on Chester's shoulders and looks him in the eyes. "Chester, you're alright. Now did you say something about coffee?" Nanuet wobbles his way back inside and finds a seat at a table somewhere near the bar. Chester waits for the coffee to finish brewing and brings a large mug of it over to the elf. By the time he sets the mug on the table Nanuet is slumped over, asleep in his chair.
Ruby heads back out to the main room and sees Chester sitting over by Nanuet. Chester chuckles. He walks over to Jake. "Mr. Cook? Help me get Nanuet up to a room where he can sleep this off. He's not going to feel good tomorrow." Together, Jake and Chester carry the sleeping elf up to a spare bed.
Ruby sees Kate sitting at the bar with Ginnie quietly next to her. Kate looks to be swaying slightly so Ruby approaches her. "Um, Kate, is everything alright?" Kate threw back the most recent in the long line of glasses of brandy she'd consumed in the last half-hour. "He's back," she said dully. "In Tombstone." Ruby is confused and asks, "Who's back? Did someone go somewhere?" Kate replies, "Morgan Earp, back in Tombstone. He'd gone somewhere, now he's back."
Ruby takes Kate's glass and bottle and puts it behind the bar. "Kate what are you doing?" She stares hard at her before walking around the bar to the opposite side of where Ginnie is sitting. "You want the kid to see you like this?" she whispers in Kate's ear. Kate tried to focus her eyes and look around the room. Mr. Austin was still at his table, but she couldn't see what he was doing. She could just see Ginnie a bit behind Ruby. "She's seen worse. Weren't you saying that earlier when you tried to give her a drink?"
Ruby says, "Yes but she trusts YOU now to take care of her. How can you take care of her if you're drunk?" "I didn't know that Morgan Earp went anywhere." Ruby leans in close and whispers in Kate's ear. "Darlin', you need to decide once and for all what you want to do about this problem, and then let's go do it. You'll never move on with your life this way." Jake and Chester come back down the common room. Ruby pulls away from Kate and says loudly, "Chester, would you be a sweetheart and escort Kate and Ginnie back to the El Parador please?"
Kate continues to stare at the wall and says, "What I want is ten minutes alone with him. His brothers have different ideas. Chester can catch up with us." "Ten minutes," Ruby says to herself. "Ten minutes we can do." Kate got up and got her wrap, her walk unsteady by not dangerously so, and headed for the door. Ruby turns back to Jake. "Ready to go looking for trouble?"
Kate took a few steadying breaths and approached Chumbley and Jeff. Ruby was about to start singing when Kate got up and walked away from the piano. "Uh, Kate...Kate...?" But she was ignored. So she continued to sing a few more songs unaccompanied, keeping a close eye on Kate.
"Jeff, can I have a brandy? I'd meant to ask why you were so late today," Kate said to Chumbley, hiding her shaking hands in the folds of her skirt. "What prisoner was that? He must be dangerous if the Deputy Marshall had to come back with him."
Chumbley replies "Pony Deal, the same guy Wyatt went out looking for with a posse last month. He showed up back in town yesterday but without his pony, came in on the train. He heard from his friends that the Earps were looking for him. He apparently laid low until the stage was ready to leave today and then got on it at the last minute, apparently with a ticket that a friend picked up for him. But somebody else saw him and told the Earps so they rode out to get him. Stopped the stage around four miles out and made it head back to town, that's why we were late."
Kate responds, "Can't be very smart to get on a stage from a town where the Earps are the law to another town where the Earps are the law." Chumbley replies, "I doubt he would have stayed long in Promise City. He would have headed out to Galeyville the first chance he got."
She took a sip of her brandy and casually added. "So the Deputy Marshall will probably be staying with his brother for the night. over at his boarding house?" He replies, "No, you misunderstood. They had the stage drive back to Tombstone with the prisoner. Once he was dropped off at the jail the Earps stayed there with him."
"Oh, I see," Kate said quietly. "Well, I'm sure it was very exciting." She drained her brandy in one gulp. "Another Jeff?" Kate didn't go back to the piano, but sat at the bar instead. It was quieting down, no one really needed her at the moment. Ruby's singing was just fine without her playing. She finished that brandy and just had Jeff keep refilling the glass each time it emptied.
Nanuet had been sitting to the side, minding his own business most of the night, but had been steadily consuming whiskey. He got up deciding it was time to tell his friends how much he appreciated all they had done for him and how welcome they made him feel. He scanned the room and his bleary eyes immediately found Jake and standing at the bar. He saw Ruby give Jake a peck and then head back towards the stage as he got up from his seat, noting that he was dizzy, so he stands still for a few minutes.
Nanuet eventually lumbers across the room, bumping into and knocking over a chair on his way. He walks right behind Jake and pats him strongly on the back. In a loud, very slurred voice he says "Mr. Jake, have I ever told you what I think about you? You guys" swinging his arm in the general direction of the kitchen and stage "You guys, are the best companions an elf could ask for! I don't know what I would do without you. I just wanted to tell you that..." He then slumps onto the bar smiling from ear to ear. "I need another whisky."
"You are most welcome my friend." Jake goes around the other side and pours Nanuet another. "Why don't you just take one of the extra rooms tonight, looks like you could use it." He smiles and chats with the increasingly maudlin Indian, but Jake is watching Ruby and Katherine out of the corner of his eye.
Ruby had started the song like she intended to be accompanied by Katherine’s piano, but quickly switched to an unaccompanied style. Jake had heard enough of Ruby's singing to know the difference rather well. He also caught her watching Katherine, though not obviously. Katherine was facing away from Jake, so he couldn't read her expression. Nothing to do but wait or let it blow over. "Whoa there, don't be drinking that so fast. I'm not inclined to be carrying you up the stairs."
The Indian replies, “What? You think I can't handle my whiskey? I can handle myself Mr. Jake, you won't need to be carrying me nowhere." Nanuet turns and watches Ruby singing onstage with an admiring look in his eye. "You know what else Mr. Jake? You are a lucky man, cause you sure got yourself a fine woman there in Miss Ruby. You better take care of her, she is a fine woman she is." "I will not argue the point. I count myself lucky indeed," he replies.
Nanuet watches intently as Ruby sings the completion of the song. He claps loudly and tries to whistle but only manages to blow air and make little or no sound. He then makes his way up towards the stage, yelling as he stumbles across the room "Let's hear it for Miss Ruby! Prettiest girl and best singer in Promise City!"
Ruby sees Nanuet working his way across the room. Worried that he might fall or knock someone over she hops off the stage and heads towards him, hoping to reach him and avert potential disaster. She reaches the drunken Indian and extends a hand to help steady his stumble but instead he grabs her and wraps her up in a bear hug lifting her off the ground for a moment.
Ruby giggles and returns the hug as Nanuet swings her around. He puts her down and promptly falls on the floor. She offers him a hand with a smile, just as Jake makes his way over to help. Feeling woozy he then puts Ruby down, takes a step back and attempts to sit in a chair, missing the seat and ending up on the floor instead.
Jake is laughing himself silly watching Nanuet. He sees Jeff Mills heading over towards Nanuet but waves him off. Jake strolls over and offers him a hand up saying, "I've been meaning to get some better chairs, by the end of the evening the ones we've got are just too slippery."
Ruby says, "Nanuet, it's much better to see you enjoying yourself then being all serious. I must admit I'm a tiny bit jealous of your current state." Jake and Ruby pull him up, with Jake taking much of the weight. "Thank you for the sweet words," as she gives Nanuet a kiss on the cheek. "Let's go have another drink, shall we?" They lead him over to a table in the corner and help him sit.
Nanuet laughs heartily at his own antics and accepts the assistance from his friends. Sitting down he puts his head in his hands. "See, this is what I mean with friends like this who needs... uh wait, that didn't come out right. I still don't get many of the white man sayings."
Nanuet continues to laugh with his friends for a few moments. Another round of drinks is brought over and he sips at his slowly. As the conversation continues Nanuet's complexion becomes pale. He jumps up from the table and pushes anyone in his path out of the way as he bolts for the back door. Immediately after the door closes behind him, the sound of retching can be heard.
Chester says, "Oh, boy. Jeff, hand me a clean rag, please. And put on a fresh pot of coffee, too." Chester strolls out back where Nanuet is vomiting in the alley. "Hey there. Looks like you had too much to drink." He hands the rag to the Indian. "Wipe your mouth with this. I asked Jeff to make some fresh coffee. How are you feeling. I don't think I've ever seen you drunk before. What's up?"
"Well, I have felt worse, and I have felt better." Nanuet says. "So where does that put me? Somewhere in the middle I guess." He wipes his mouth with the rag, but it still doesn't take the smile from his face. Guess I drank too much huh? I was just sitting there thinking about things, and all the nice people I have met recently and all the adventures we have had and uh, the whiskey kept coming so I kept drinking."
Jake turns to Ruby, "You still jealous of his condition? No, don't bother answering." They watch Chester attempt to help Nanuet. "That Mr. Martin is a real salt of the earth kind of guy. I can't really picture him punching his superior." Ruby raises her eyebrow and says, "It was Lieutenant Gamble, wasn't it?" Jake replies. "Yes. Right. Ok, I can picture it." "Mr. Martin is a good man, a real gentleman, a genuine nice guy." Ruby laughs, "And if I had to spend time with that Gamble guy I probably would have done worse than punch him."
"Well, no sense in wasting this, right?" She picks up the remainder of Naneut's whiskey and drinks it down. She hears poor Nanuet out back and makes a face. "Oh, he's going to regret this night in the morning." "Girl, I'm not sure where you put all that alcohol you drink." He says shaking his head. Jake looks around and sees that the place is nearly empty, but Niles and Rote are still working to clean up. He continues with a sly grin, "When you're through talking to everyone down here, I'm willing to resume looking."
"Are you complaining that I drink too much Mr. Cook?" Ruby looks at him with furrowed brows. "And resume looking at what?" "I wasn't complaining, Ruby dearest. I was simply at a loss to explain where it all goes. And my natural curiosity about such things drives me to look very carefully and thoroughly to find it." Jake smiles and looks away innocently. "No matter where you may be hiding it."
Ruby’s face relaxes and she giggles. “Oh for a moment I thought there was something about me that you didn’t like. Silly me!” She leans over and gives him a kiss. “Well, then let’s wish everyone a good night and help get Nanuet in bed. Then we can go looking. I’m afraid for your part I’ve hidden it very well and it might take a long time of searching for you to discover my secret.” She slowly gets up, then starts walking towards the kitchen. Knowing Jake is watching her she swings her hips and winks at him over her shoulder. She yells into the kitchen, "Is everything ok in here Maria? If so we are going to say good night and head to bed soon." Maria replies, "I was just cleaning up. Go on up, I'll head back to the El Parador with Mrs. Kale and Mr. Martin." "Thanks, Maria. By the way, the food was excellent, you did a great job yet again. I think tomorrow will be just as busy, so you might want to stock up. Take Harry with you of you need help. Have a good night!"
Nanuet stands up straight putting both hands on Chester's shoulders and looks him in the eyes. "Chester, you're alright. Now did you say something about coffee?" Nanuet wobbles his way back inside and finds a seat at a table somewhere near the bar. Chester waits for the coffee to finish brewing and brings a large mug of it over to the elf. By the time he sets the mug on the table Nanuet is slumped over, asleep in his chair.
Ruby heads back out to the main room and sees Chester sitting over by Nanuet. Chester chuckles. He walks over to Jake. "Mr. Cook? Help me get Nanuet up to a room where he can sleep this off. He's not going to feel good tomorrow." Together, Jake and Chester carry the sleeping elf up to a spare bed.
Ruby sees Kate sitting at the bar with Ginnie quietly next to her. Kate looks to be swaying slightly so Ruby approaches her. "Um, Kate, is everything alright?" Kate threw back the most recent in the long line of glasses of brandy she'd consumed in the last half-hour. "He's back," she said dully. "In Tombstone." Ruby is confused and asks, "Who's back? Did someone go somewhere?" Kate replies, "Morgan Earp, back in Tombstone. He'd gone somewhere, now he's back."
Ruby takes Kate's glass and bottle and puts it behind the bar. "Kate what are you doing?" She stares hard at her before walking around the bar to the opposite side of where Ginnie is sitting. "You want the kid to see you like this?" she whispers in Kate's ear. Kate tried to focus her eyes and look around the room. Mr. Austin was still at his table, but she couldn't see what he was doing. She could just see Ginnie a bit behind Ruby. "She's seen worse. Weren't you saying that earlier when you tried to give her a drink?"
Ruby says, "Yes but she trusts YOU now to take care of her. How can you take care of her if you're drunk?" "I didn't know that Morgan Earp went anywhere." Ruby leans in close and whispers in Kate's ear. "Darlin', you need to decide once and for all what you want to do about this problem, and then let's go do it. You'll never move on with your life this way." Jake and Chester come back down the common room. Ruby pulls away from Kate and says loudly, "Chester, would you be a sweetheart and escort Kate and Ginnie back to the El Parador please?"
Kate continues to stare at the wall and says, "What I want is ten minutes alone with him. His brothers have different ideas. Chester can catch up with us." "Ten minutes," Ruby says to herself. "Ten minutes we can do." Kate got up and got her wrap, her walk unsteady by not dangerously so, and headed for the door. Ruby turns back to Jake. "Ready to go looking for trouble?"