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Wizards, Whiskey and Wonderful Things - Concluded
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<blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 2057336" data-attributes="member: 8530"><p><strong>Chapter Eleven, “Kate’s Date”, Friday, March 10th, 1882, 11:45 A.M.</strong></p><p></p><p>Kate sees that Conrad Booth has rented the fanciest rig that Drover's Livery owns. It is painted an off-white color with a white fringe curtain over the back and sides. Two fine animals are hooked up to it and Conrad gets down to help her up and into the seat. As she gets in she notices a small picnic basket tucked into the back corner of the floor with what looks to be breadsticks, cheese and a bottle of wine. </p><p></p><p>"What's this all about?" Kate asked with a laugh. "It's a bit fancy for an afternoon ride isn't it? And a short ride at that." She got herself settled on the seat and smiled. "It's a nice day for a picnic though." He replies "You did not eat very much at lunch time and I thought that you might get hungry for a snack." She responds, "I'm not exactly notorious for eating much." </p><p></p><p>As Conrad picked up the reins Kate described the best way to get out to the active area of the ranch. "Sonoma, Ginnie, and Flint should all be out there. We can look around a bit, and maybe drive some. It seems a shame to only go a mile or so when you went to all this trouble." Conrad replies, "Well, maybe we could take a longer ride afterwards. I know some very scenic places in the area." "I wouldn't have suspected you of knowing the country well. I would have thought you preferred cities." </p><p></p><p>Katherine enjoyed the short ride out to the ranch, talking of nothing in particular and watching the scenery. She enjoyed riding Meribel out, but it was nice to just ride again. Before long they approached the adobe buildings. "Sonoma did most of the work to get the buildings up. I helped as I could, but my knowledge of such things is lacking." Sonoma smiles with pride as she shows the buildings to Mr. Booth. Kate notes that she is very comfortable with this man from all of his meals at the El Parador. She shows him the four existing structures. </p><p></p><p>She explains that the first two are for storage, one being a root cellar and pantry for the humans that also has the spring planting seed. The other is a storeroom for feed the animals. She explains "The grasslands give them much of what they need to graze, but to maximize both size and fertility it helps to flush their system with some other grains and nutrients as well." </p><p></p><p>She points to a pile of larger thicker trees that Flint has cut, stripped and hauled to the site and says "Those are being shaped by Flint into the beams for the barn. There is a shortage of lumber in town at the moment so we will need to wait a while until we can get to the barn boards. We'll start to put up the frame soon regardless. Once the barn is up we can use the animal feed storehouse for other purposes." </p><p></p><p>Next she shows them her house, which she has started to decorate with a combination of wood elvan and high elvan decor. The last building is an empty two-room structure with more walls being added onto the side. She says, "This will be Kate's. It had originally been designed for just her, but that was before Ginnie came into the picture. We're now making it bigger so that both can live here." Booth just nods and does not comment further.</p><p></p><p>Kate exclaims, "Sonoma, you've worked wonders here, I'm still amazed. And the house is more than I had hoped for so soon. I think Ginnie and I will be happy here. I'll have to get a stove, and I suppose I'll have to learn to cook. I don't think we can live on tea. I wonder if I could get a piano out here. Of course, I'd have to get a piano first." </p><p></p><p>Kate looked over at Conrad. She was going to ask what he thought of her little house, but changed her mind. "Perhaps you'd like to see the horses?" He answers, "Yes indeed. I've known how to ride for the last decade but I've never owned my own horse, and actually don't know that much about them.</p><p></p><p>Kate gently took his arm and led him toward the area where the horses were corralled. She kept her voice cheerful. "We could have ridden out today then. I can't imagine living without a horse, but I suppose you don't have much need for one. Tom taught me so much. I already knew how to ride when we met, but he taught me how to train horses." </p><p></p><p>They arrived at the corral where the wild mustangs are housed. "Of course, he never taught me how to train wild horses, so this is new territory for me. You can always come here to ride, if you like. Training horses is the only skill I have that will support me here. And I like to think Tom and I would have built a place like this," she said with a soft smile. Booth replies, "I'm sure that he would be proud of what you are accomplishing here."</p><p></p><p>She says, "I hope so," she said and let the subject drop. Instead she began telling him about the Apache and how they had brought the stock to them. "Nanuet is their ambassador you know, and I am, sort of his assistant. I doubt anyone else would have taken this bit of land, but we are on friendly terms with the Apache in the mountains." </p><p></p><p>Kate then took him to the already trained horses and began to explain some of the simpler parts of knowing a good horse, hoping to bring his cheerful mood back. After a while she says, "You know, I'm getting hungry. You must have the gift of prophecy, predicting that," she teased. "Why don't we go find a good spot for a snack?" He is agreeable to that. He suggests "Why don't we ride a mile or so to the east over near the Cochise Head rock formation. I know of a steam that runs down from that to a grove of shade trees. Should be a nice place for a picnic."</p><p></p><p>Kate agreed and they walked back to the fancy rig Conrad had rented. "Hopefully no one's cut the trees for lumber," Kate said as he helped her in. They rode out toward the formation, and Kate kept her eyes open, knowing this would be near the border with the Apache. Booth brings the rig to a location near the rock formation. He points out to her how the mountain gets its name, as it looks like a side view of the Indian chief's head. </p><p><a href="http://www.davis-family.org/Sites/Sites-Pages/Image23.html" target="_blank">http://www.davis-family.org/Sites/Sites-Pages/Image23.html</a> </p><p></p><p>He ties up the horses where they can drink from the stream and gets a cotton red-checked pattern blanket out of the back along with the picnic basket. Kate helped spread the blanket, then sat down and watched the water bubble over the rocks as the stream wound through the trees. "It's lovely here," she said after a time. "So peaceful. In Massachusetts the ground will still be covered with snow and everyone will be inside curled up by their fires." </p><p></p><p>She listened as Conrad laid out the food and opened the wine. "Thank you for this," she said before turning to look at him. "I know you don't understand everything about, how do I say it, what I've been going through in the last few months. But you've been a friend to me anyway, without pushing to know more. And you've given me someone to spend time with for no reason other than the pleasure of one another’s company. You've helped me more than you know," she finished, turning back to watch the water again.</p><p></p><p>Booth replies to Kate "I too have appreciated your company these past months as well. Katherine, you are a special person. You do not realize the transformational effect that you have upon others but I have seen it and experienced it first hand. Everyone whose life you have come into contact with comes away better from it. </p><p></p><p>I have tried not to pry into your past. The last thing I wish is to bring you pain. I get the impression that this was not how you were brought up, this ranching and house building." The twenty-eight year old handsome young man pauses and it appears that he is carefully trying to decide his next words. He says, "Katherine, the subtle things about you, your mannerisms, your speech patterns, speak of a level of refinement, your upbringing was clearly....better than this. </p><p></p><p>Now please do not get the wrong impression about me. I will not deny that I am a fortune hunter, but the fortune that I seek I plan to fully earn myself, not gain from any woman who I might be attached to. However, I am naturally curious about your upbringing and background. You spoke before of your parents having brought you to the theater in New York but I know no more than that about you."</p><p></p><p>Katherine turned back from the water and looked at him, surprised. "You really don't know any more than that? That first day when I asked you about Irby Cole, you seemed to know so much already. And you always know what's going on around town, I thought you would know about me already." He replies, "I know what I hear and what I observe. But I have not asked anyone about your background because it would not have been appropriate. From the conversation I had with Mr. Cook it appears that your friends are all very protective of your privacy, so I have respected that." </p><p></p><p>She says, "Yes, they are protective. But it's protective for you as well. There are things that it might be dangerous for you to know," she said, her mind flashing back to Morgan Earp. "You had a talk with Jake, about me?" Booth replies, "More of a case of him having a talk with me. Sounded more like a father than a friend, it was along the lines of 'what are your intentions'. Don't be angry at him, I would have probably done the same if the situation were reversed." Kate suddenly laughed. "That's so like him. He tries to play this part of the roguish gambler, but there's more good in him than he likes to admit." </p><p></p><p>In answer to his request she says, "I wouldn't say that my upbringing was better than this, just different. I have freedoms here I never dreamed of in Boston. But yes, I was raised very differently than this." Katherine then began to sketch in her life in Boston. How growing up her family's home had often been full of important people, her family being firm abolitionists. The days while her father was gone in the war between the states and the loss of his arm, and how her mother had stopped taking them to church while he was gone. She laughed while explaining that her brother Phillip's first words were in French because it's what they spoke while her father was gone. </p><p></p><p>She told him about the happy years after her father came home, and then her two years at finishing school. Her debut ball and the years spent in the whirl of social life where all the girls were looking to find a husband. And then how she met Tom in the stables. She was able to speak about him and remember how happy they were. The only time tears threatened was when she spoke of the times he was so ill he didn't know her. </p><p></p><p>"But he finally recovered, but everything was gone and he wouldn't stay well in Massachusetts. So he came here to set up a place for us, and sent for me in October. You can imagine how shocked I was when I got off the train and was told he had died." She looked back out over the water. "I spent three months drinking myself into oblivion in Tombstone before I realized I couldn't stay there. And I couldn't face going back to Boston, so I came here."</p><p></p><p>He reaches across and places his hand on her arm. "I am sorry that I asked. I have upset you. The last thing that I wish is to cause you pain. But if it any consolation, I am glad that you have come here." "Don't be sorry, Conrad," she said gently. "Talking helps." </p><p></p><p>He releases her arm and then makes a poor attempt at changing the subject, telling her about some of the plants and trees that they can see from where they are sitting. She let Conrad change the subject then, listening with interest to what he told her about the landscape. If she was going to live and work here she should know these things.</p><p></p><p>Kate is surprised by his knowledge as he describes for her the subtle differences between the trees that they can see. Most are the Arizona pine. He says that is the most common, but pointing over to Cochise Head explains that the green at the higher elevations are Ponderosa Pine and Conifer trees and how to tell them apart and that peaks further east also have spruce tree and how those are unique. He then points out the oak trees and explains to her the differences between the Emery Oak, Mexican Blue Oak and Arizona Oak, all of which are growing within their field of vision. </p><p></p><p>He says that on the way back he will also point out to her the big-tooth maple and alder trees that grow in the lower canyons. He then identifies for her several types of flowers, the Yucca plant, Indian Paintbrush and Gaillardia being the ones growing in the most immediate area. The basket was nearly empty now, except for the wine, which Kate had gone light on, conscious of the condition in which she'd awoken that morning. </p><p></p><p>She picked up the basket and wandered around the clearing, picking a few of the flowers that Conrad had just identified for her. She chose them carefully, one from here, one from there, so as not to leave any spot lacking for beauty. She took two of the flowers and stripped the leaves from the stem. One she tucked behind her ear, and the other she slipped into Conrad's buttonhole. "There. You're such a dandy, you weren't complete without a flower," she teased. Kate looked around the spot and sighed. "I suppose, we should be heading back."</p><p></p><p>"Yes, I suppose we should," he states. He begins to fold up the blanket, the stops and looks up to her. He clearly wants to say something but hesitates. She prompts him and is surprised by his question of "You spoke of your father, is he still alive?" She answers, "Yes, I've been fortunate. He and my mother are both well. I got a letter not long ago. Why do you ask?"</p><p></p><p>He hesitates and while still standing eight feet away from her and making no attempt to get any closer says "Katherine. You appear to think that I am a fop and a dandy, disinterested in females, because I have knowledge of plants. That is hardly the case at all. In December I would have not been able to tell you the difference between a pine and a maple tree. I only acquired that knowledge recently so that I could be of help to you. My knowledge of magic is limited, but I do know that components are needed for spells and that many of those components are found in the flora and fauna of the area where wizards reside." </p><p></p><p>After a pause he continues "Katherine, I must be totally honest with you. While I greatly appreciate our friendship I had hoped that at some point in the future, after an appropriate period of mourning had passed, our relationship might be more than that. But based upon what you told me today I have to accept the fact that our relationship will never be more than it is now. You have such great love and respect for your parents, and your father being an abolitionist and wounded Union Army veteran I have no doubt that he would never accept you having a relationship with the nephew of the man who murdered President Lincoln."</p><p></p><p>"Conrad, I.... Do you remember what I said the day you told me why you were no longer allowed in the Comique? It's wrong to punish you for the crimes of another who just happens to be related to you, and whom you've never met. My father raised the woman who feels that way, where do you think I learned it? My parents had high hopes for me when it came to marriage. When I fell in love with Tom they were disappointed. At first. Socially his family was newly wealthy, and not as high in social circles as we were. And he was Irish." </p><p></p><p>She paused and looked Conrad in the eye. "And it didn't make a bit of difference once they saw how happy he made me. As for calling you a dandy," she said as she stepped up to him and straightened his lapel, "I was only teasing you. You're always so well dressed you stand out among all the cowboys and miners here. I never thought you had no interest in women." She blushed a little and stepped back. "I'm not blind. You know I'm not.....ah, ready. And it may be some time yet before I am. I appreciate everything you've done learning all this, keeping my secrets, and respecting my mourning. I want to continue spending time with you, and maybe someday, well..... that will be then."</p><p></p><p>He appears to be at a loss for words and merely nods. He folds up the blanket and gathers up any of there other belongs, placing them back inside the carriage. He does extend his hand to help her up into the carriage but aside from that refrains from any other physical contact. On the ride west out of the mountains he continues to point out various other tress and flowers that he has learned of. He asks "Should we go back to your ranch or directly back to town?"</p><p></p><p>"The ranch please. I want to see if Ginnie wants to go back into town now. I think she's tired of lessons, so she may want to stay out here with Sonoma, which will be up to her. But I do have my own lessons to get to, and then work tonight." Katherine and Conrad arrived back at the ranch and he again offered his hand to help her down. She held onto it a moment longer than strictly necessary as she reached the ground. "I'll go find Ginnie and see if she's ready." </p><p></p><p>She found Ginnie with the horses and called her over. "Mr. Booth and I headed back now. Did you want to ride in with us or stay with Sonoma?" Ginnie considered for a moment and decided to stay out on the ranch with Sonoma. "Alright dear, I'll see you later then," Kate said, and resisted the urge to hug the girl. She still didn't seem comfortable with that sort of thing. "Have a good time." </p><p></p><p>She walked back out to the rig and let Conrad help her in. "It's just us on the ride home," she said with a smile. As Conrad shook the reins and got the team started Kate asked, "Who's been teaching you about the local plantlife?" He replies "An old wood elvan woman named Mother Jaminez. She knows more about the plants of this region than anybody, been living here for centuries. I tell you Katherine, one advantage to our spending considerable time at the El Parador is that we are among the few humans in town who the long-established wood elves have accepted onto their land. The key is to just treat people as people regardless of race. Not that I have to tell you that, seems your father already did a good job with that lesson."</p><p></p><p>"He did, but I didn't learn what that really meant until I came here. Nanuet was on the stage when I came from Tombstone, and I was afraid of him. And angry with myself for being afraid. He's the sweetest man, of course, but I let my fears rule me for a while on that ride. I'm still ashamed of myself. But I'm so thankful I got over those fears. I don't know what I would have done without the El Parador and everyone in it. I needed family and they took me in without a second thought. As did you, in your own way," she said lightly touching his arm. "I have been transformed as much I have transformed anyone else," she said lightly as she laid her hand back in her lap.</p><p></p><p>Conrad chuckles, "You were afraid of him? And now you own a ranch together! What a wonderful world this is that we live in." The carriage arrives back in town just before 3:30 PM. Conrad brings her to the front door of the El Parador and helps her down. "Thank you for a wonderful picnic" he says. Before he lets go of her hand he gives her a kiss on it and then releases it. </p><p></p><p>"Thank you for brightening my day. I... Well, I'll see you at dinnertime. And if not then, tomorrow I'm sure." She plucked the flower she'd worn in her hair out and dropped it on the seat as she picked up the small bouquet she'd picked. "To bring you some luck," she smiled before she turned and went into the Cantina.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Silver Moon, post: 2057336, member: 8530"] [B]Chapter Eleven, “Kate’s Date”, Friday, March 10th, 1882, 11:45 A.M.[/B] Kate sees that Conrad Booth has rented the fanciest rig that Drover's Livery owns. It is painted an off-white color with a white fringe curtain over the back and sides. Two fine animals are hooked up to it and Conrad gets down to help her up and into the seat. As she gets in she notices a small picnic basket tucked into the back corner of the floor with what looks to be breadsticks, cheese and a bottle of wine. "What's this all about?" Kate asked with a laugh. "It's a bit fancy for an afternoon ride isn't it? And a short ride at that." She got herself settled on the seat and smiled. "It's a nice day for a picnic though." He replies "You did not eat very much at lunch time and I thought that you might get hungry for a snack." She responds, "I'm not exactly notorious for eating much." As Conrad picked up the reins Kate described the best way to get out to the active area of the ranch. "Sonoma, Ginnie, and Flint should all be out there. We can look around a bit, and maybe drive some. It seems a shame to only go a mile or so when you went to all this trouble." Conrad replies, "Well, maybe we could take a longer ride afterwards. I know some very scenic places in the area." "I wouldn't have suspected you of knowing the country well. I would have thought you preferred cities." Katherine enjoyed the short ride out to the ranch, talking of nothing in particular and watching the scenery. She enjoyed riding Meribel out, but it was nice to just ride again. Before long they approached the adobe buildings. "Sonoma did most of the work to get the buildings up. I helped as I could, but my knowledge of such things is lacking." Sonoma smiles with pride as she shows the buildings to Mr. Booth. Kate notes that she is very comfortable with this man from all of his meals at the El Parador. She shows him the four existing structures. She explains that the first two are for storage, one being a root cellar and pantry for the humans that also has the spring planting seed. The other is a storeroom for feed the animals. She explains "The grasslands give them much of what they need to graze, but to maximize both size and fertility it helps to flush their system with some other grains and nutrients as well." She points to a pile of larger thicker trees that Flint has cut, stripped and hauled to the site and says "Those are being shaped by Flint into the beams for the barn. There is a shortage of lumber in town at the moment so we will need to wait a while until we can get to the barn boards. We'll start to put up the frame soon regardless. Once the barn is up we can use the animal feed storehouse for other purposes." Next she shows them her house, which she has started to decorate with a combination of wood elvan and high elvan decor. The last building is an empty two-room structure with more walls being added onto the side. She says, "This will be Kate's. It had originally been designed for just her, but that was before Ginnie came into the picture. We're now making it bigger so that both can live here." Booth just nods and does not comment further. Kate exclaims, "Sonoma, you've worked wonders here, I'm still amazed. And the house is more than I had hoped for so soon. I think Ginnie and I will be happy here. I'll have to get a stove, and I suppose I'll have to learn to cook. I don't think we can live on tea. I wonder if I could get a piano out here. Of course, I'd have to get a piano first." Kate looked over at Conrad. She was going to ask what he thought of her little house, but changed her mind. "Perhaps you'd like to see the horses?" He answers, "Yes indeed. I've known how to ride for the last decade but I've never owned my own horse, and actually don't know that much about them. Kate gently took his arm and led him toward the area where the horses were corralled. She kept her voice cheerful. "We could have ridden out today then. I can't imagine living without a horse, but I suppose you don't have much need for one. Tom taught me so much. I already knew how to ride when we met, but he taught me how to train horses." They arrived at the corral where the wild mustangs are housed. "Of course, he never taught me how to train wild horses, so this is new territory for me. You can always come here to ride, if you like. Training horses is the only skill I have that will support me here. And I like to think Tom and I would have built a place like this," she said with a soft smile. Booth replies, "I'm sure that he would be proud of what you are accomplishing here." She says, "I hope so," she said and let the subject drop. Instead she began telling him about the Apache and how they had brought the stock to them. "Nanuet is their ambassador you know, and I am, sort of his assistant. I doubt anyone else would have taken this bit of land, but we are on friendly terms with the Apache in the mountains." Kate then took him to the already trained horses and began to explain some of the simpler parts of knowing a good horse, hoping to bring his cheerful mood back. After a while she says, "You know, I'm getting hungry. You must have the gift of prophecy, predicting that," she teased. "Why don't we go find a good spot for a snack?" He is agreeable to that. He suggests "Why don't we ride a mile or so to the east over near the Cochise Head rock formation. I know of a steam that runs down from that to a grove of shade trees. Should be a nice place for a picnic." Kate agreed and they walked back to the fancy rig Conrad had rented. "Hopefully no one's cut the trees for lumber," Kate said as he helped her in. They rode out toward the formation, and Kate kept her eyes open, knowing this would be near the border with the Apache. Booth brings the rig to a location near the rock formation. He points out to her how the mountain gets its name, as it looks like a side view of the Indian chief's head. [url]http://www.davis-family.org/Sites/Sites-Pages/Image23.html[/url] He ties up the horses where they can drink from the stream and gets a cotton red-checked pattern blanket out of the back along with the picnic basket. Kate helped spread the blanket, then sat down and watched the water bubble over the rocks as the stream wound through the trees. "It's lovely here," she said after a time. "So peaceful. In Massachusetts the ground will still be covered with snow and everyone will be inside curled up by their fires." She listened as Conrad laid out the food and opened the wine. "Thank you for this," she said before turning to look at him. "I know you don't understand everything about, how do I say it, what I've been going through in the last few months. But you've been a friend to me anyway, without pushing to know more. And you've given me someone to spend time with for no reason other than the pleasure of one another’s company. You've helped me more than you know," she finished, turning back to watch the water again. Booth replies to Kate "I too have appreciated your company these past months as well. Katherine, you are a special person. You do not realize the transformational effect that you have upon others but I have seen it and experienced it first hand. Everyone whose life you have come into contact with comes away better from it. I have tried not to pry into your past. The last thing I wish is to bring you pain. I get the impression that this was not how you were brought up, this ranching and house building." The twenty-eight year old handsome young man pauses and it appears that he is carefully trying to decide his next words. He says, "Katherine, the subtle things about you, your mannerisms, your speech patterns, speak of a level of refinement, your upbringing was clearly....better than this. Now please do not get the wrong impression about me. I will not deny that I am a fortune hunter, but the fortune that I seek I plan to fully earn myself, not gain from any woman who I might be attached to. However, I am naturally curious about your upbringing and background. You spoke before of your parents having brought you to the theater in New York but I know no more than that about you." Katherine turned back from the water and looked at him, surprised. "You really don't know any more than that? That first day when I asked you about Irby Cole, you seemed to know so much already. And you always know what's going on around town, I thought you would know about me already." He replies, "I know what I hear and what I observe. But I have not asked anyone about your background because it would not have been appropriate. From the conversation I had with Mr. Cook it appears that your friends are all very protective of your privacy, so I have respected that." She says, "Yes, they are protective. But it's protective for you as well. There are things that it might be dangerous for you to know," she said, her mind flashing back to Morgan Earp. "You had a talk with Jake, about me?" Booth replies, "More of a case of him having a talk with me. Sounded more like a father than a friend, it was along the lines of 'what are your intentions'. Don't be angry at him, I would have probably done the same if the situation were reversed." Kate suddenly laughed. "That's so like him. He tries to play this part of the roguish gambler, but there's more good in him than he likes to admit." In answer to his request she says, "I wouldn't say that my upbringing was better than this, just different. I have freedoms here I never dreamed of in Boston. But yes, I was raised very differently than this." Katherine then began to sketch in her life in Boston. How growing up her family's home had often been full of important people, her family being firm abolitionists. The days while her father was gone in the war between the states and the loss of his arm, and how her mother had stopped taking them to church while he was gone. She laughed while explaining that her brother Phillip's first words were in French because it's what they spoke while her father was gone. She told him about the happy years after her father came home, and then her two years at finishing school. Her debut ball and the years spent in the whirl of social life where all the girls were looking to find a husband. And then how she met Tom in the stables. She was able to speak about him and remember how happy they were. The only time tears threatened was when she spoke of the times he was so ill he didn't know her. "But he finally recovered, but everything was gone and he wouldn't stay well in Massachusetts. So he came here to set up a place for us, and sent for me in October. You can imagine how shocked I was when I got off the train and was told he had died." She looked back out over the water. "I spent three months drinking myself into oblivion in Tombstone before I realized I couldn't stay there. And I couldn't face going back to Boston, so I came here." He reaches across and places his hand on her arm. "I am sorry that I asked. I have upset you. The last thing that I wish is to cause you pain. But if it any consolation, I am glad that you have come here." "Don't be sorry, Conrad," she said gently. "Talking helps." He releases her arm and then makes a poor attempt at changing the subject, telling her about some of the plants and trees that they can see from where they are sitting. She let Conrad change the subject then, listening with interest to what he told her about the landscape. If she was going to live and work here she should know these things. Kate is surprised by his knowledge as he describes for her the subtle differences between the trees that they can see. Most are the Arizona pine. He says that is the most common, but pointing over to Cochise Head explains that the green at the higher elevations are Ponderosa Pine and Conifer trees and how to tell them apart and that peaks further east also have spruce tree and how those are unique. He then points out the oak trees and explains to her the differences between the Emery Oak, Mexican Blue Oak and Arizona Oak, all of which are growing within their field of vision. He says that on the way back he will also point out to her the big-tooth maple and alder trees that grow in the lower canyons. He then identifies for her several types of flowers, the Yucca plant, Indian Paintbrush and Gaillardia being the ones growing in the most immediate area. The basket was nearly empty now, except for the wine, which Kate had gone light on, conscious of the condition in which she'd awoken that morning. She picked up the basket and wandered around the clearing, picking a few of the flowers that Conrad had just identified for her. She chose them carefully, one from here, one from there, so as not to leave any spot lacking for beauty. She took two of the flowers and stripped the leaves from the stem. One she tucked behind her ear, and the other she slipped into Conrad's buttonhole. "There. You're such a dandy, you weren't complete without a flower," she teased. Kate looked around the spot and sighed. "I suppose, we should be heading back." "Yes, I suppose we should," he states. He begins to fold up the blanket, the stops and looks up to her. He clearly wants to say something but hesitates. She prompts him and is surprised by his question of "You spoke of your father, is he still alive?" She answers, "Yes, I've been fortunate. He and my mother are both well. I got a letter not long ago. Why do you ask?" He hesitates and while still standing eight feet away from her and making no attempt to get any closer says "Katherine. You appear to think that I am a fop and a dandy, disinterested in females, because I have knowledge of plants. That is hardly the case at all. In December I would have not been able to tell you the difference between a pine and a maple tree. I only acquired that knowledge recently so that I could be of help to you. My knowledge of magic is limited, but I do know that components are needed for spells and that many of those components are found in the flora and fauna of the area where wizards reside." After a pause he continues "Katherine, I must be totally honest with you. While I greatly appreciate our friendship I had hoped that at some point in the future, after an appropriate period of mourning had passed, our relationship might be more than that. But based upon what you told me today I have to accept the fact that our relationship will never be more than it is now. You have such great love and respect for your parents, and your father being an abolitionist and wounded Union Army veteran I have no doubt that he would never accept you having a relationship with the nephew of the man who murdered President Lincoln." "Conrad, I.... Do you remember what I said the day you told me why you were no longer allowed in the Comique? It's wrong to punish you for the crimes of another who just happens to be related to you, and whom you've never met. My father raised the woman who feels that way, where do you think I learned it? My parents had high hopes for me when it came to marriage. When I fell in love with Tom they were disappointed. At first. Socially his family was newly wealthy, and not as high in social circles as we were. And he was Irish." She paused and looked Conrad in the eye. "And it didn't make a bit of difference once they saw how happy he made me. As for calling you a dandy," she said as she stepped up to him and straightened his lapel, "I was only teasing you. You're always so well dressed you stand out among all the cowboys and miners here. I never thought you had no interest in women." She blushed a little and stepped back. "I'm not blind. You know I'm not.....ah, ready. And it may be some time yet before I am. I appreciate everything you've done learning all this, keeping my secrets, and respecting my mourning. I want to continue spending time with you, and maybe someday, well..... that will be then." He appears to be at a loss for words and merely nods. He folds up the blanket and gathers up any of there other belongs, placing them back inside the carriage. He does extend his hand to help her up into the carriage but aside from that refrains from any other physical contact. On the ride west out of the mountains he continues to point out various other tress and flowers that he has learned of. He asks "Should we go back to your ranch or directly back to town?" "The ranch please. I want to see if Ginnie wants to go back into town now. I think she's tired of lessons, so she may want to stay out here with Sonoma, which will be up to her. But I do have my own lessons to get to, and then work tonight." Katherine and Conrad arrived back at the ranch and he again offered his hand to help her down. She held onto it a moment longer than strictly necessary as she reached the ground. "I'll go find Ginnie and see if she's ready." She found Ginnie with the horses and called her over. "Mr. Booth and I headed back now. Did you want to ride in with us or stay with Sonoma?" Ginnie considered for a moment and decided to stay out on the ranch with Sonoma. "Alright dear, I'll see you later then," Kate said, and resisted the urge to hug the girl. She still didn't seem comfortable with that sort of thing. "Have a good time." She walked back out to the rig and let Conrad help her in. "It's just us on the ride home," she said with a smile. As Conrad shook the reins and got the team started Kate asked, "Who's been teaching you about the local plantlife?" He replies "An old wood elvan woman named Mother Jaminez. She knows more about the plants of this region than anybody, been living here for centuries. I tell you Katherine, one advantage to our spending considerable time at the El Parador is that we are among the few humans in town who the long-established wood elves have accepted onto their land. The key is to just treat people as people regardless of race. Not that I have to tell you that, seems your father already did a good job with that lesson." "He did, but I didn't learn what that really meant until I came here. Nanuet was on the stage when I came from Tombstone, and I was afraid of him. And angry with myself for being afraid. He's the sweetest man, of course, but I let my fears rule me for a while on that ride. I'm still ashamed of myself. But I'm so thankful I got over those fears. I don't know what I would have done without the El Parador and everyone in it. I needed family and they took me in without a second thought. As did you, in your own way," she said lightly touching his arm. "I have been transformed as much I have transformed anyone else," she said lightly as she laid her hand back in her lap. Conrad chuckles, "You were afraid of him? And now you own a ranch together! What a wonderful world this is that we live in." The carriage arrives back in town just before 3:30 PM. Conrad brings her to the front door of the El Parador and helps her down. "Thank you for a wonderful picnic" he says. Before he lets go of her hand he gives her a kiss on it and then releases it. "Thank you for brightening my day. I... Well, I'll see you at dinnertime. And if not then, tomorrow I'm sure." She plucked the flower she'd worn in her hair out and dropped it on the seat as she picked up the small bouquet she'd picked. "To bring you some luck," she smiled before she turned and went into the Cantina. [/QUOTE]
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