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Wizards, Whiskey and Wonderful Things - Concluded
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<blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 2050533" data-attributes="member: 8530"><p><strong>Chapter Ten, “The Bank Job”, Friday, March 10th, 1882, 9:15 A.M.</strong></p><p></p><p>Chester wakes up and readies himself for work at the bank. He has a quiet breakfast and goes over to the bank. "Hi, Mr. Condon. How are you?" "Fine, thanks, Chester. How are you. I heard the grand opening of the Lucky Lady went well." "It did. Everyone had fun, and Jake and Ruby were happy." Condon replies, "I hadn't pictured Jake as a saloon owner. But I had a feeling he wouldn't satisfied with being a bank guard. How about you?" Chester says, "Haven't thought too much about it, to tell you the truth." Condon replies, "Fair enough. It's almost opening time now."</p><p></p><p>At around 11:00 AM Danby Jones comes in to get the lunch orders. When he is over near Chester he whispers "Let Silver Dollar know that tonight's the night. You two meet me in the alleyway between the Indian Head Saloon and the Promise City Herald right after dark." Chester replies, "Um. Sure, Danby. Why tonight?" </p><p></p><p>Jones answers, "It's Friday, they won't discover we're gone until Monday. Gives us the longest amount of time for the getaway. That part of the plan was Silver Dollar's." Chester answers, "OK. Where'd you plan on going? Silver, uh, Dollar hasn't told me much. Do you have a hideaway set up already?" Jones replies, “Of course I do, I'm the brains of our trio. Look I gotta go, I'll see you later."</p><p></p><p>Chester opens his mouth, as if to speak, but closes it. He rubs his forehead and thinks to himself, “If it weren't for the people shooting at me, that guy would be the death of me. I'll have to tell Jake about this.” A customer walks into the bank just then. "Morning, sir. Please check your weapon at the door. You'll get it back when you leave." The man hands over his pistol. "Thank you."</p><p></p><p>Morning came with it's bright sunlight streaming in through the windows. For the first time in weeks, Kate woke alone in her room and with a splitting headache. Ginnie must have been out and about already. Kate managed to get herself dressed and downstairs to the Cantina. Dorita came hurrying over a few moments later with a loaded plate, but Kate waved it away. "Just tea and toast for now Dorita, I'll eat more later, I promise." </p><p></p><p>Dorita replies "You not more hungry than that? You sleep the morning away. It almost time for lunch!" Kate says, "My stomach is just a little bit delicate this morning. I don't want to make myself sick. If this goes alright I'll think about having some more. Did Ginnie pass through this morning?" "Sonoma take her to ranch. Bring back later," Dorita answered before going off to bring the tea and toast. </p><p></p><p>Kate ate slowly, waiting to make sure that everything stayed where it belonged. Riding today would be stupid, she wasn't up to it yet. But it seemed a shame to waste the time that she had to herself. She lifted her eyes after a while and looked around the room, noticing Conrad Booth come in for his late breakfast. She smiled slightly and went back to her tea.</p><p></p><p>Conrad Booth walks over to Kate's table and asks "Would it be possible for me to join you this fine morning? Oh wait, I recognize that complexion, not so fine. Dorita, we need a glass of my 'wake up special' for Mrs. Kale." "Wake up special? Why do I get the feeling that's going to be worse than the headache I've got now?" He says, "Oh, it will be the worst thing you have ever tasted but it is a great cure for a hangover. Trust me, Dorita has served it up to me on more than one occasion." </p><p></p><p>Dorita brings her a mug with a hot bubbly liquid inside that is the color and consistency of mud. Kate blew over the liquid a few times and took a swallow. "Ugh, that's foul. You drink this? On purpose?" Booth tells Kate, "No, I drink that to function. And you do too. Don't worry, I'll order us both up a fine meal to get that taste out of your mouth. She comments, You think I'll be able to eat after this? You have a high opinion of my stomach.” </p><p></p><p> He says, “Now I see that saloon you work at has a new name. I guess I'll get jealous to know that you are the Lucky Lady of that place, I wanted you to fill that role at my gaming table." Kate smiles and replies, “And I'm sure you know the Lucky Lady in that saloon is Ruby. I don't think Jake told her before he unveiled the sign. They're very happy there, and I think they're both surprised about it," she said and laughed. "So there is no reason for you to be jealous."</p><p></p><p>Kate took another drink of the foul liquid. "I have to say, I wonder at your judgement. I don't seem to be a very lucky person." He answers, "That's absurd Katherine, my luck improved the moment I laid eyes on you. No need to drink any more, that should suffice for someone of your size. Give it a few minutes and you head should be clear of your prior overindulgence."</p><p></p><p>"Oh thank heaven. Sometimes being small pays off," she said pushing the glass away. "That brew works two ways, makes you feel better and encourages you not to get in that condition again." Amazingly the brew did work and when the meal Conrad ordered arrived she was able to eat it. "I hope we haven't pulled too many people away from your table over at the Long Branch. We're hoping to get most of them from the Palace. I'd hate to think our success came at your expense."</p><p></p><p>He laughs at that and says "The Long Branch is the oldest saloon in town. Kate Higgins knows what her customers like, and some of that can't be obtained over at your place. I heard that the Palace was none too pleased about you guys, but with Hoover as an owner that Adair won't cut off his nose to spite his face. Expect to be upstaged soon though. The story is that once the Tombstone paper was out yesterday with the full page ad for your place that Adair's boy Bob Scull physically pulled Parker Baxter out of the Gay Lady to get him started on an edition of his paper for today.”</p><p></p><p>She replies, "Poor Mr. Baxter. If not for Adair his paper would be out of business and the good people of Promise City would have nothing to line their birdcages with. Competition we can handle. It's outright sabotage that upsets us. The Palace crowd is different than our crowd anyway. Things should settle down in a few weeks. Well, I have a little time to myself today and nothing planned. Any suggestions as to what to do with my time?"</p><p></p><p>Booth says, "I have no plans until evening. If you'd like, I could rent us a buggy from Drover's Livery and you could then show me this ranch you keep telling me all about." "I don't know, I...." Kate stopped for a moment. "Well, I could use some cheering up. I'm sure you've guessed I did not have a good night last night. Why not? If you're interested in seeing horses and cattle I'll be glad to show them to you. Perhaps you can help me choose a spot for a house." She then thinks to herself, “And it will keep me from thinking about Morgan Earp. I have to let that go...there's too much at risk now to be foolish, and I promised.”</p><p></p><p>He exclaims, "A house? You'd be moving out of the El Parador? I'm sorry to hear that. Well if you're moving away then I would definitely want to find out where you live. I've enjoyed your companionship and would hate for that to end." </p><p></p><p>She answers, "It's really not far. And it will be some time before I have the money I'd need to build there. I'd like to stay in the El Parador, but especially with Ginnie it's getting a little cramped in my room. I'd like to have something a little more than just a bedroom for myself. I'd still be here everyday, you know that." He says that he is happy to hear that. Following the meal he says that he will go make arrangements for the buggy and that he'll pick her up out front in a half-hour.</p><p></p><p>Kate went back up to her room to get her hat and jacket. It was March and fairly warm now, but she might want it. She picked up her dress from last night, still on the floor. She cast a Prestidigitation to clean it up, then folded it carefully into her trunk. As she stood back up she saw Tom's picture in it's frame on the nightstand. </p><p></p><p>"I made a fool of myself last night my dear, but I said something that maybe I should have said sooner." She sat on the bed and folded her hands in her lap. "I am so angry with you! You know that I've never objected to you having a drink, or to playing cards. But what were you doing getting drunk with people like Frank Leslie and Johnny Ringo? And then to leave alone and go down an alley? I know you know better. After everything we went through to keep you here, to be so careless!" </p><p></p><p>She was silent for a moment. "I don't know if you can hear me or not. I like to think you can. No matter how angry I am you know I love you and that's not going to change. No matter what else happens in my life, I could never love anyone the same way I love you." She gently touched the picture and laughed. "And I could never be angry at someone the same way either." </p><p></p><p>A deep sigh came up from her throat as she stood and put on her hat. "Now, I'm going to go for a nice drive and show off the ranch. I think you'd be proud of it." With that she quietly shut the door and went downstairs.</p><p></p><p>Meanwhile, across town, Luc's eyes cracked open around noon. Disorientation took him as he was unsure of where he was. The light streamed through the spaces in the boards of the stable. Wanderer nudged Luc's arm trying to rouse his owner. "I'm up already," Luc said laughing," Ya ain't got to get so pushy." Luc stood up and stretched. He hadn't had a good sleep like that in months. Luc took out his pocket watch and looked at it and saw the time was four past noon. </p><p></p><p>"Haven't slept this long since that drinking binge back in Virginia." He hadn't felt this good after sleep in a long time. Luc patted the horse’s side and walked out of the barn pulling his hat on as he hit the sunlight. "Missed breakfast," he thought as he walked down the street. His stomach rumbled a reply as if saying " No kidding! You gonna feed me or what?!" Luc decided to go back to the Lucky Lady, as it was the only place he knew in town. </p><p></p><p>Luc looked around seeing many new faces and what seemed to be a thriving town. Luc hadn't seen a town this prosperous in a long time. Luc walked up to the doors of the Lucky Lady and it hit him. When the Hell would he learn to leave his guns on his saddle. Luc sighed and shook his head as saying " Oh well." He then proceeded to head over to the saloon and get a bite to eat. </p><p></p><p>Back at the bank, Frank Condon comes in to see his brother. The two of them head back to the vault to chat in private. Frank then leaves and Morgan stays behind. Chester thinks, “I wonder what that was about. Well, they don't pay me to be curious. If it were important, they'd tell me.” </p><p></p><p>A short while later Danby Jones returns with the lunches from the kitchen of the Double Eagle Boarding house. Morgan is happy to take the steak sandwich that had been ordered for Frank. When Danby gets near Chester he whispers "Has Silver Dollar been in yet today? Do you expect him?" Chester whispers back, "No, he hasn't. I don't think he'll be here today." Danby answers "No problem, I'll stop by that saloon he hangs out with. Have to get him the spare set of keys to swap over."</p><p></p><p>Over at the Lucky Lady, Postmaster Eddie Palmer stops in to the Lucky Lady with a small shipping crate for a J. A. Cooke before sitting down to dinner. Jake had just apologized to Ruby. She waves to Niles to bring Jake a drink. She doesn't look up from her lunch, "I know you are sorry. And I know you didn't do it on purpose. But Jake," she finally looks up at him and looks right into his eyes, "I don't like it when you don't talk me, when you ignore me." She looks away from Jake's gaze and pushes her plate away.</p><p></p><p>"I didn't mean to ignore you. I just..., sort of..., you know..." Jake looks down. "Of course you don't know, how could you?" He leans with his back to the bar, his face looking away from hers. He is close enough to her that their arms are touching. "I was inadequate, felt inadequate. I've never shot someone I cared about. There is no time for thinking doing what I do, when it's time to draw instincts take over. Thinking is too slow. There is no room for doubt." He glances over at her. "I just needed to shake that feeling, I'll be alright. If you are."</p><p></p><p>"Inadequate? You saved me from getting bit by a snake. That could have been much worse than your shot." Ruby is quiet, Jake can tell she is thinking. She whispers, "I've had much worse things happen to me in my life. I just don't want you running away from me. I thought we were past that." Ruby looks back up at Jake, "Please don't do that to me." "I wasn't running away." Jake locks eyes with her. "I just needed some time to get my head back together. I'll quit whining, it was you that got shot."</p><p></p><p>"Is your head back together then?" Ruby pauses. "So what? I got shot. I'm still here. Let's not fight, ok? It's done with. I'm going to take a bath." She smiles, "Do you want to join me?" He sighs. "I told you I was fine now. A bath is probably a good idea."</p><p></p><p>Jake notices Danby Jones enter the Lucky Lady and try to get his attention. Jake walks over. "Hi Jones. Trying a different place for lunch today?" Jones says, "Hi Silver Dollar, nice place you have here," as he extends his right hand to Jake for a handshake. Jake extends his hand cautiously, this is not like Jones he thinks. "Thanks. I think we are doing pretty well for ourselves." The hands clasp and Jake can feel a key ring with five keys cupped into Jones's palm. Jones gives him a nod.</p><p></p><p>Jake puts on a confused face. His hand comes away from the clasp with the keys. He holds his hand palm up with the keys on them between him and Jones. "What's this for?" Jones whispers over "The plan Silver, the plan! Morgan's at the bank now. You need to switch that set with Frank's. Martin is all ready too for this. We roll tonight after it gets dark." Jake closes his fingers around the keys and lowers his arm. "What in Hades are you babbling about. There is NO PLAN! Why do you keep following me around spouting nonsense?"</p><p></p><p>Jones takes a quick glance around, noting the other dozen or so people in the place. "Ah, I get it," he says softly. He then turns and exits, leaving Jake standing there with the key ring. Nanuet says, "Something wrong Mr. Jake? You don't seem like yourself today?" Jake was just staring out the door after Jones when Nanuet comes over and speaks to him. Ruby came over right after Nanuet. </p><p></p><p>"That Scarface is either the most clever or the most stupid person I have ever met," Jake says as he holds his fingers closed tightly around the keys and brings his fist up to his lips to think. "I'm pretty sure it's the stupid one. Besides shooting my girl friend on an errand to get the Earps mad enough to kill us, and Scarface Jones trying to get me to rob a bank I think that the day has gone remarkably well so far." Jake puts his finger through the key ring and twirls them around his finger. "Of course it is still early." </p><p></p><p>"Scarface thinks I'm going to do a switch with Condon and get him the keys he needs to get in the bank. No amount of telling that man I'm not interested seems to slow him down." He stops spinning the keys and holds them tight again. "I'd pull a scam and have him caught, but I'm afraid it will backfire. I need to get these keys back in Condon's possession just in case something goes wrong. I don't need evidence on me."</p><p></p><p>"Excuse me," says a male wood elf who had been dining alone at one of the tables in the center of the room, as he approaches the swinging exit doors that Jake, Ruby and Nanuet are currently blocking. "Whoops, sorry," Ruby says, pulling Jake and Nanuet out of the way. "Did you enjoy your lunch?" She takes a good look at the man as he walks by. He replies "Yes, thank you. It is good to find places where those of my race are welcome."</p><p></p><p>Ruby thinks better of starting a whole conversation with the man. "Well, you are welcome here and glad you enjoyed your lunch. Come back again soon, or if you'd really like an enjoyable experience come back tonight and hear me sing." She gives him a warm smile and watches him walk away. </p><p></p><p>She turns back to face Jake and Nanuet. "This might not be the best place to discuss Jones. Let's go upstairs to our room." They make their way upstairs and head to the smaller section. Ruby plops down on the couch with a winch, forgetting about her tender thigh. "So, how do you propose we get Mr. Condon back his keys? I don't understand why you don't just tell them. If it comes out that you knew about this and weren't honest they will suspect you."</p><p></p><p>"If you two weren't standing there to talk to, I'd have walked right over to the bank." Jake looks back from one to the other. "I have talked to them about him this morning, but more in general terms. I also told Chester to watch him and do something, but he hasn't either. At least not that I know." Jake paces a couple of times. "I think I should just go there now, see what is said, leave the keys and then we can talk about it." Ruby asks, "You want company or are you going alone?" "I'd accept company." Jake starts twirling the keys again. "There is a risk to you two being with me if something goes awry." Jake shrugs. "That's nothing new."</p><p></p><p>Ruby stops herself from saying "No kidding". Jake can tell Ruby was going to speak and he says, "What?" She shakes her head. "Bad joke. You know I'm coming with you. I like risks." She smiles at him. "The risks have been worth it." Nanuet comments, "I wouldn't go if there wasn't a risk involved."</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Silver Moon, post: 2050533, member: 8530"] [B]Chapter Ten, “The Bank Job”, Friday, March 10th, 1882, 9:15 A.M.[/B] Chester wakes up and readies himself for work at the bank. He has a quiet breakfast and goes over to the bank. "Hi, Mr. Condon. How are you?" "Fine, thanks, Chester. How are you. I heard the grand opening of the Lucky Lady went well." "It did. Everyone had fun, and Jake and Ruby were happy." Condon replies, "I hadn't pictured Jake as a saloon owner. But I had a feeling he wouldn't satisfied with being a bank guard. How about you?" Chester says, "Haven't thought too much about it, to tell you the truth." Condon replies, "Fair enough. It's almost opening time now." At around 11:00 AM Danby Jones comes in to get the lunch orders. When he is over near Chester he whispers "Let Silver Dollar know that tonight's the night. You two meet me in the alleyway between the Indian Head Saloon and the Promise City Herald right after dark." Chester replies, "Um. Sure, Danby. Why tonight?" Jones answers, "It's Friday, they won't discover we're gone until Monday. Gives us the longest amount of time for the getaway. That part of the plan was Silver Dollar's." Chester answers, "OK. Where'd you plan on going? Silver, uh, Dollar hasn't told me much. Do you have a hideaway set up already?" Jones replies, “Of course I do, I'm the brains of our trio. Look I gotta go, I'll see you later." Chester opens his mouth, as if to speak, but closes it. He rubs his forehead and thinks to himself, “If it weren't for the people shooting at me, that guy would be the death of me. I'll have to tell Jake about this.” A customer walks into the bank just then. "Morning, sir. Please check your weapon at the door. You'll get it back when you leave." The man hands over his pistol. "Thank you." Morning came with it's bright sunlight streaming in through the windows. For the first time in weeks, Kate woke alone in her room and with a splitting headache. Ginnie must have been out and about already. Kate managed to get herself dressed and downstairs to the Cantina. Dorita came hurrying over a few moments later with a loaded plate, but Kate waved it away. "Just tea and toast for now Dorita, I'll eat more later, I promise." Dorita replies "You not more hungry than that? You sleep the morning away. It almost time for lunch!" Kate says, "My stomach is just a little bit delicate this morning. I don't want to make myself sick. If this goes alright I'll think about having some more. Did Ginnie pass through this morning?" "Sonoma take her to ranch. Bring back later," Dorita answered before going off to bring the tea and toast. Kate ate slowly, waiting to make sure that everything stayed where it belonged. Riding today would be stupid, she wasn't up to it yet. But it seemed a shame to waste the time that she had to herself. She lifted her eyes after a while and looked around the room, noticing Conrad Booth come in for his late breakfast. She smiled slightly and went back to her tea. Conrad Booth walks over to Kate's table and asks "Would it be possible for me to join you this fine morning? Oh wait, I recognize that complexion, not so fine. Dorita, we need a glass of my 'wake up special' for Mrs. Kale." "Wake up special? Why do I get the feeling that's going to be worse than the headache I've got now?" He says, "Oh, it will be the worst thing you have ever tasted but it is a great cure for a hangover. Trust me, Dorita has served it up to me on more than one occasion." Dorita brings her a mug with a hot bubbly liquid inside that is the color and consistency of mud. Kate blew over the liquid a few times and took a swallow. "Ugh, that's foul. You drink this? On purpose?" Booth tells Kate, "No, I drink that to function. And you do too. Don't worry, I'll order us both up a fine meal to get that taste out of your mouth. She comments, You think I'll be able to eat after this? You have a high opinion of my stomach.” He says, “Now I see that saloon you work at has a new name. I guess I'll get jealous to know that you are the Lucky Lady of that place, I wanted you to fill that role at my gaming table." Kate smiles and replies, “And I'm sure you know the Lucky Lady in that saloon is Ruby. I don't think Jake told her before he unveiled the sign. They're very happy there, and I think they're both surprised about it," she said and laughed. "So there is no reason for you to be jealous." Kate took another drink of the foul liquid. "I have to say, I wonder at your judgement. I don't seem to be a very lucky person." He answers, "That's absurd Katherine, my luck improved the moment I laid eyes on you. No need to drink any more, that should suffice for someone of your size. Give it a few minutes and you head should be clear of your prior overindulgence." "Oh thank heaven. Sometimes being small pays off," she said pushing the glass away. "That brew works two ways, makes you feel better and encourages you not to get in that condition again." Amazingly the brew did work and when the meal Conrad ordered arrived she was able to eat it. "I hope we haven't pulled too many people away from your table over at the Long Branch. We're hoping to get most of them from the Palace. I'd hate to think our success came at your expense." He laughs at that and says "The Long Branch is the oldest saloon in town. Kate Higgins knows what her customers like, and some of that can't be obtained over at your place. I heard that the Palace was none too pleased about you guys, but with Hoover as an owner that Adair won't cut off his nose to spite his face. Expect to be upstaged soon though. The story is that once the Tombstone paper was out yesterday with the full page ad for your place that Adair's boy Bob Scull physically pulled Parker Baxter out of the Gay Lady to get him started on an edition of his paper for today.” She replies, "Poor Mr. Baxter. If not for Adair his paper would be out of business and the good people of Promise City would have nothing to line their birdcages with. Competition we can handle. It's outright sabotage that upsets us. The Palace crowd is different than our crowd anyway. Things should settle down in a few weeks. Well, I have a little time to myself today and nothing planned. Any suggestions as to what to do with my time?" Booth says, "I have no plans until evening. If you'd like, I could rent us a buggy from Drover's Livery and you could then show me this ranch you keep telling me all about." "I don't know, I...." Kate stopped for a moment. "Well, I could use some cheering up. I'm sure you've guessed I did not have a good night last night. Why not? If you're interested in seeing horses and cattle I'll be glad to show them to you. Perhaps you can help me choose a spot for a house." She then thinks to herself, “And it will keep me from thinking about Morgan Earp. I have to let that go...there's too much at risk now to be foolish, and I promised.” He exclaims, "A house? You'd be moving out of the El Parador? I'm sorry to hear that. Well if you're moving away then I would definitely want to find out where you live. I've enjoyed your companionship and would hate for that to end." She answers, "It's really not far. And it will be some time before I have the money I'd need to build there. I'd like to stay in the El Parador, but especially with Ginnie it's getting a little cramped in my room. I'd like to have something a little more than just a bedroom for myself. I'd still be here everyday, you know that." He says that he is happy to hear that. Following the meal he says that he will go make arrangements for the buggy and that he'll pick her up out front in a half-hour. Kate went back up to her room to get her hat and jacket. It was March and fairly warm now, but she might want it. She picked up her dress from last night, still on the floor. She cast a Prestidigitation to clean it up, then folded it carefully into her trunk. As she stood back up she saw Tom's picture in it's frame on the nightstand. "I made a fool of myself last night my dear, but I said something that maybe I should have said sooner." She sat on the bed and folded her hands in her lap. "I am so angry with you! You know that I've never objected to you having a drink, or to playing cards. But what were you doing getting drunk with people like Frank Leslie and Johnny Ringo? And then to leave alone and go down an alley? I know you know better. After everything we went through to keep you here, to be so careless!" She was silent for a moment. "I don't know if you can hear me or not. I like to think you can. No matter how angry I am you know I love you and that's not going to change. No matter what else happens in my life, I could never love anyone the same way I love you." She gently touched the picture and laughed. "And I could never be angry at someone the same way either." A deep sigh came up from her throat as she stood and put on her hat. "Now, I'm going to go for a nice drive and show off the ranch. I think you'd be proud of it." With that she quietly shut the door and went downstairs. Meanwhile, across town, Luc's eyes cracked open around noon. Disorientation took him as he was unsure of where he was. The light streamed through the spaces in the boards of the stable. Wanderer nudged Luc's arm trying to rouse his owner. "I'm up already," Luc said laughing," Ya ain't got to get so pushy." Luc stood up and stretched. He hadn't had a good sleep like that in months. Luc took out his pocket watch and looked at it and saw the time was four past noon. "Haven't slept this long since that drinking binge back in Virginia." He hadn't felt this good after sleep in a long time. Luc patted the horse’s side and walked out of the barn pulling his hat on as he hit the sunlight. "Missed breakfast," he thought as he walked down the street. His stomach rumbled a reply as if saying " No kidding! You gonna feed me or what?!" Luc decided to go back to the Lucky Lady, as it was the only place he knew in town. Luc looked around seeing many new faces and what seemed to be a thriving town. Luc hadn't seen a town this prosperous in a long time. Luc walked up to the doors of the Lucky Lady and it hit him. When the Hell would he learn to leave his guns on his saddle. Luc sighed and shook his head as saying " Oh well." He then proceeded to head over to the saloon and get a bite to eat. Back at the bank, Frank Condon comes in to see his brother. The two of them head back to the vault to chat in private. Frank then leaves and Morgan stays behind. Chester thinks, “I wonder what that was about. Well, they don't pay me to be curious. If it were important, they'd tell me.” A short while later Danby Jones returns with the lunches from the kitchen of the Double Eagle Boarding house. Morgan is happy to take the steak sandwich that had been ordered for Frank. When Danby gets near Chester he whispers "Has Silver Dollar been in yet today? Do you expect him?" Chester whispers back, "No, he hasn't. I don't think he'll be here today." Danby answers "No problem, I'll stop by that saloon he hangs out with. Have to get him the spare set of keys to swap over." Over at the Lucky Lady, Postmaster Eddie Palmer stops in to the Lucky Lady with a small shipping crate for a J. A. Cooke before sitting down to dinner. Jake had just apologized to Ruby. She waves to Niles to bring Jake a drink. She doesn't look up from her lunch, "I know you are sorry. And I know you didn't do it on purpose. But Jake," she finally looks up at him and looks right into his eyes, "I don't like it when you don't talk me, when you ignore me." She looks away from Jake's gaze and pushes her plate away. "I didn't mean to ignore you. I just..., sort of..., you know..." Jake looks down. "Of course you don't know, how could you?" He leans with his back to the bar, his face looking away from hers. He is close enough to her that their arms are touching. "I was inadequate, felt inadequate. I've never shot someone I cared about. There is no time for thinking doing what I do, when it's time to draw instincts take over. Thinking is too slow. There is no room for doubt." He glances over at her. "I just needed to shake that feeling, I'll be alright. If you are." "Inadequate? You saved me from getting bit by a snake. That could have been much worse than your shot." Ruby is quiet, Jake can tell she is thinking. She whispers, "I've had much worse things happen to me in my life. I just don't want you running away from me. I thought we were past that." Ruby looks back up at Jake, "Please don't do that to me." "I wasn't running away." Jake locks eyes with her. "I just needed some time to get my head back together. I'll quit whining, it was you that got shot." "Is your head back together then?" Ruby pauses. "So what? I got shot. I'm still here. Let's not fight, ok? It's done with. I'm going to take a bath." She smiles, "Do you want to join me?" He sighs. "I told you I was fine now. A bath is probably a good idea." Jake notices Danby Jones enter the Lucky Lady and try to get his attention. Jake walks over. "Hi Jones. Trying a different place for lunch today?" Jones says, "Hi Silver Dollar, nice place you have here," as he extends his right hand to Jake for a handshake. Jake extends his hand cautiously, this is not like Jones he thinks. "Thanks. I think we are doing pretty well for ourselves." The hands clasp and Jake can feel a key ring with five keys cupped into Jones's palm. Jones gives him a nod. Jake puts on a confused face. His hand comes away from the clasp with the keys. He holds his hand palm up with the keys on them between him and Jones. "What's this for?" Jones whispers over "The plan Silver, the plan! Morgan's at the bank now. You need to switch that set with Frank's. Martin is all ready too for this. We roll tonight after it gets dark." Jake closes his fingers around the keys and lowers his arm. "What in Hades are you babbling about. There is NO PLAN! Why do you keep following me around spouting nonsense?" Jones takes a quick glance around, noting the other dozen or so people in the place. "Ah, I get it," he says softly. He then turns and exits, leaving Jake standing there with the key ring. Nanuet says, "Something wrong Mr. Jake? You don't seem like yourself today?" Jake was just staring out the door after Jones when Nanuet comes over and speaks to him. Ruby came over right after Nanuet. "That Scarface is either the most clever or the most stupid person I have ever met," Jake says as he holds his fingers closed tightly around the keys and brings his fist up to his lips to think. "I'm pretty sure it's the stupid one. Besides shooting my girl friend on an errand to get the Earps mad enough to kill us, and Scarface Jones trying to get me to rob a bank I think that the day has gone remarkably well so far." Jake puts his finger through the key ring and twirls them around his finger. "Of course it is still early." "Scarface thinks I'm going to do a switch with Condon and get him the keys he needs to get in the bank. No amount of telling that man I'm not interested seems to slow him down." He stops spinning the keys and holds them tight again. "I'd pull a scam and have him caught, but I'm afraid it will backfire. I need to get these keys back in Condon's possession just in case something goes wrong. I don't need evidence on me." "Excuse me," says a male wood elf who had been dining alone at one of the tables in the center of the room, as he approaches the swinging exit doors that Jake, Ruby and Nanuet are currently blocking. "Whoops, sorry," Ruby says, pulling Jake and Nanuet out of the way. "Did you enjoy your lunch?" She takes a good look at the man as he walks by. He replies "Yes, thank you. It is good to find places where those of my race are welcome." Ruby thinks better of starting a whole conversation with the man. "Well, you are welcome here and glad you enjoyed your lunch. Come back again soon, or if you'd really like an enjoyable experience come back tonight and hear me sing." She gives him a warm smile and watches him walk away. She turns back to face Jake and Nanuet. "This might not be the best place to discuss Jones. Let's go upstairs to our room." They make their way upstairs and head to the smaller section. Ruby plops down on the couch with a winch, forgetting about her tender thigh. "So, how do you propose we get Mr. Condon back his keys? I don't understand why you don't just tell them. If it comes out that you knew about this and weren't honest they will suspect you." "If you two weren't standing there to talk to, I'd have walked right over to the bank." Jake looks back from one to the other. "I have talked to them about him this morning, but more in general terms. I also told Chester to watch him and do something, but he hasn't either. At least not that I know." Jake paces a couple of times. "I think I should just go there now, see what is said, leave the keys and then we can talk about it." Ruby asks, "You want company or are you going alone?" "I'd accept company." Jake starts twirling the keys again. "There is a risk to you two being with me if something goes awry." Jake shrugs. "That's nothing new." Ruby stops herself from saying "No kidding". Jake can tell Ruby was going to speak and he says, "What?" She shakes her head. "Bad joke. You know I'm coming with you. I like risks." She smiles at him. "The risks have been worth it." Nanuet comments, "I wouldn't go if there wasn't a risk involved." [/QUOTE]
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