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<blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 2091434" data-attributes="member: 8530"><p><strong>Chapter Sixteen, “A Quiet Night”, Friday, March 10th, 1882, 4:00 P.M.</strong></p><p></p><p>Kate replies with a laugh, "The next time I need to blow something up, I'll be sure to ask your expertise. It will be nice to have a home again. Actually, it will be nice to have a parlor again. I think Ginnie and I will be happy there, and I know I'll like my neighbor. I am a little worried about keeping up my lessons though. It's going to become fairly obvious that I come here for something other than lunch fairly quickly."</p><p></p><p>Sonoma replies, “You are already teaching Ginnie and you have the education you need to run a school. Why not start one? That way you could come to town every day for your own lessons and no one would think twice about it” Kate answers, "Why I... I wouldn't even know where to start. Isn't that the purview of the town? But then, there are private schools everywhere. I'd need a building, supplies....," Kate's eyes took on that light of deep thought. "Ruby is always saying I should be teaching. But Sonoma, I spent little enough time helping on the ranch as it is. If I took up teaching when would I help out?"</p><p></p><p>Sonoma says, “You would make money to buy supplies that we need until we get through the first year. Also you would come home after school and be there on weekends to train your horses which will make us more money but not right now. It is winter we can not plant yet. You are my friend but not a knowledgeable builder, I need money for boards and provisions. If you teach we can buy lumber. You would do better in a class than trying to make adobe or swinging a hammer. It will also give the town someone human to trust when it comes time for us to create deals for the ranch. If the children of town know you the parents will buy lamb and wool and beef from you. It is a practical business decision. And you will have a reason to be in town for your own lessons and everyone knows that the food here at the El Parador is the best in town.</p><p></p><p>Kate says, "It does make sense, although I'm not sure how much money a teacher makes. If I were able to teach in the town's school I would have a salary. If I have to start it myself there will be costs. I'll have to the Merchant's Association, they run most everything here. But if money is an issue now, I just got my share of some things Jake sold for us. I can take care of the lumber, depending on how much it is. My life would become very busy. I still help out at the Lucky Lady, which I need to be getting to it must be getting late. Sonoma, if you're going we can walk over together. I'll keeping thinking about the school."</p><p></p><p>Chester and his lawyer continue to talk in the room at the boarding house. He tells Upton "I don't have that with me, but in my room at the El Parador, there should be enough. Just ask at the bar, the owners, Pedro or Dorita, can help you. So what do you want to know? I came to town a couple moths ago. I got a job as a guard at Condon's bank. The handyman, Danby Jones, tried to get me involved with his scheme to rob the bank. I refuse and tell the Condons. A month later Jones comes up to me again saying he wants to go today. I figure I can wait until closing to tell the Condons. Then the Marshall arrests me and here I am."</p><p></p><p>Attorney Upton asks Chester questions regarding a few more details. He then says, "Well, that'll do for now." He turns Chester back over to the Deputy Marshall who walks him back to the jail cell. Upton then goes to visit Pedro and Dorita. Dorita visits the jail afterwards, to confirm from Chester that he has given permission for them to get money from his room to pay Upton. She tells both Chester and Jake "I bring you over breakfast tomorrow."</p><p></p><p>After securing a room at the El Parador, Luc headed over to the bathhouse and took a much-needed warm bath. His muscles relaxed so much eh almost fell asleep in the tub and drowned. After getting out of the bath he picked out mostly clean clothes and washed the rest in the bath water. He wrung everything out and once he got back to his room he draped it over the bedposts in his room. Luc dressed in the best clothes he had and left his shotgun hanging in the closet. After hearing about the trouble at the bank Luc kept his gunbelt on with his black and silver colts. </p><p></p><p>He decided to go back to the Lady Luck for dinner after his last meal there had been some of the best saloon food he had ever had. Luc walked in and left his guns with the big wall of a man. He found a nice cozy table in the front corner a distance away from the stage. He found those looking for entertainment wouldn't bother to sit with him because that would mean they would have to sit far from the stage. He sat to the right of the window and looked out wanting to watch the sunset.</p><p></p><p>Ruby takes her time walking to the bathhouse. She soaks in the bath for a long time, completely lost in thought. She then makes her way back to the Lucky Lady and waits for the night to begin. When Ruby arrives at the Lucky Lady Tony's game is already in progress. That is typical, with his games usually starting by 7:30, Job Kane at around 8:00 and Jake's at around 8:30. While Jake had inherited players from Job's table on Wednesday and Thursday nights that was not the case with the weekends. So far Jake had picked up a few semi-regulars but none that he could count on each and every week. Therefore few would be overly upset by his not being here this night. </p><p></p><p>Niles Hoover had a full crowd at the bar, redeeming ads from the previous day's newspaper. Jeff Mills was on hand. As of late he had gotten into the habit of leaving early on Friday's unless there looked to be trouble, letting Chester handle the last hour or two. Ruby wasn't sure if anyone had spoken to him yet about Chester not being available tonight.</p><p></p><p>Ruby approaches Jeff. "How are you doing today, Jeff? Listen, Jake's not going to be around tonight, or the next few days for that matter. Neither is Chester. I need you to stick around and be on your toes." Ruby adds quietly, "Please." </p><p></p><p>Ruby glanced around the busy saloon. Nanuet was there helping out, and she was happy to see Sonoma keeping busy. Every time someone approached Ruby she would put a fake smile on her face and chat with them, but every time only half listening. She noticed that Kate wasn't there yet, but it was still a bit early. She didn't want to blow this night and this crowd but her heart just wasn't in it.</p><p></p><p>Kate headed downstairs with Sonoma, but remembered on their way out that Ginnie might want to come along. She told Sonoma to go on ahead and went into the kitchen looking for her ward. </p><p>"I'm off to the Lucky Lady, did you want to come and help out again? I'm sure Ruby and Jake would appreciate it." </p><p></p><p>Ginnie quickly agreed and after sticking her finger in another of Dorita's pots ran out of the kitchen with Kate. They walked over to the Lucky Lady, where it was again very busy. Ginnie ran inside and started clearing tables while Kate looked for Ruby. She saw her leaning against the bar and hurried over. "Ruby honey, Mr. Gonzales said you were hurt. Are you alright?"</p><p></p><p>Ruby had been waiting to sing, for what she didn't even know. She heard Kate's concerned voice and turned to her, glad to see her face. "Oh my leg, it hurts but Nanuet healed the damage. It should be fine in a few days. And the day that started out bad only got worse." Ruby explains to Kate how Jake and Chester are in jail and the story of what happened with Scarface Jones. She tells it with barely any emotion, her energy waning from this long, busy day.</p><p></p><p>Katherine reached out and put her arms around Ruby. "I'm so sorry I wasn't here for you. I should have been. Oh honey." She was quiet for a moment as she held her friend. "But they are innocent, and Mr. Berg is an excellent attorney." She brushed back some of Ruby's hair from her face. "And Judge Isby always gives the option of a fine. He may come out poorer, but he'll be okay."</p><p></p><p>"Judge Isby hates us, Kate." Ruby looked away from her friend. "Yes, I guess now we have to rely on Mitchell Berg." Ruby rubbed her eyes. She really wanted to start drinking, and keep drinking until she couldn't remember any of this. She knew that was a bad idea, Jake was going to be counting on her to be sharp and who knew what she was going to have to do before this was over. She hugged Kate again then slid off her seat. "Ok, let's go do some entertaining." </p><p></p><p>Ruby saw the Cowboy from the night before and waved at him as she walked by. He took her up on her offer to hear her sing and from the looks of it so did many others. So while Ruby's heart wasn't in it, she was a good actress, and she did her best to fool everyone into thinking she was fine.</p><p></p><p>Ruby sang only short sets tonight, but Sonoma was on hand for the longer pieces and Clairesse Townsend came in for her 8:00 PM and 10:00 PM sets as well. Both Job Kane and Tony Lucky had reasonably good nights at the table, with an ample number of new players taking over as others dropped out. The coupon proves to have been a good draw this night as well, plus there are several faces of people who had visited the night before for the first time. </p><p></p><p>A number of patrons enter carrying the other paper, The Promise City Herald. Ruby snags a copy at the first opportunity to confirm that there is no mention of the afternoon's arrests. There is no mention at all of it. The front-page story is about the unknown bodies found recently in the Dragoon Mountains, with speculation that they were either Cowboy Gang members or victims of that gang. The second and third pages of the four-page paper have a long story of the Merchant Association’s fund drive to establish fire protection for the town, with a detailed history of all fires to date in Promise City. Half of page three is an ad for Frye's Harness Shop and Bootmaker. The back page is a full page Ad for the Palace Saloon announcing a new entertainment, "Bare knuckled boxing every Saturday Night". It also features a two-for-one drink coupon good for Saturday night only. </p><p></p><p>Katherine tried to keep her playing especially energetic, hoping to buoy Ruby's singing. Those who didn't know Ruby wouldn't guess anything was wrong, but Kate could see the tightness around her eyes and hear the tone in her voice that said her heart was hurting. </p><p></p><p>While Kate had been pretending everything was fine, Ruby had needed her. Conrad's foul brew had cleared up her headache so easily, she wished there was something like that for Ruby. Something that could fix real problems. She spent the night playing and serving, until nearly 11:30. Once everything was cleaned up Kate approached Ruby. "Would you like me to stay with you tonight?"</p><p></p><p>Ruby gave Kate a small smile. Thank you, but I'll be ok. I want to stay here." Ruby thanked everyone for his or her help. It had been successful tonight, hopefully the new people would want to come back. She helped clean up with her thoughts somewhere else then said goodnight. Niles and Jeff could take care of anything that came up. </p><p></p><p>Ruby made her way upstairs, put on Jake's shirt and with a sigh went to bed. Even though she was exhausted sleep would not come. She tossed and turned for hours until she finally got up. She lit a candle and went to the desk. There she sat writing and writing and writing until there were no more thoughts in her head. She smiled at the letter and left it on the desk. When she went back to bed she fell right asleep. </p><p></p><p>Nanuet spent the night doing what he could to help out. It was a busy night again with the coupon doing what it was intended. The girls seemed to mostly have the place under control and security was not much of an issue. After helping to clean up Nanuet spent the night at the Lucky Lady in one of the spare rooms. Not needing much sleep he spent some time with Sonoma asking her how she was and how the ranch was going. Finally he went to the spare room and did his nightly meditations.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Silver Moon, post: 2091434, member: 8530"] [B]Chapter Sixteen, “A Quiet Night”, Friday, March 10th, 1882, 4:00 P.M.[/B] Kate replies with a laugh, "The next time I need to blow something up, I'll be sure to ask your expertise. It will be nice to have a home again. Actually, it will be nice to have a parlor again. I think Ginnie and I will be happy there, and I know I'll like my neighbor. I am a little worried about keeping up my lessons though. It's going to become fairly obvious that I come here for something other than lunch fairly quickly." Sonoma replies, “You are already teaching Ginnie and you have the education you need to run a school. Why not start one? That way you could come to town every day for your own lessons and no one would think twice about it” Kate answers, "Why I... I wouldn't even know where to start. Isn't that the purview of the town? But then, there are private schools everywhere. I'd need a building, supplies....," Kate's eyes took on that light of deep thought. "Ruby is always saying I should be teaching. But Sonoma, I spent little enough time helping on the ranch as it is. If I took up teaching when would I help out?" Sonoma says, “You would make money to buy supplies that we need until we get through the first year. Also you would come home after school and be there on weekends to train your horses which will make us more money but not right now. It is winter we can not plant yet. You are my friend but not a knowledgeable builder, I need money for boards and provisions. If you teach we can buy lumber. You would do better in a class than trying to make adobe or swinging a hammer. It will also give the town someone human to trust when it comes time for us to create deals for the ranch. If the children of town know you the parents will buy lamb and wool and beef from you. It is a practical business decision. And you will have a reason to be in town for your own lessons and everyone knows that the food here at the El Parador is the best in town. Kate says, "It does make sense, although I'm not sure how much money a teacher makes. If I were able to teach in the town's school I would have a salary. If I have to start it myself there will be costs. I'll have to the Merchant's Association, they run most everything here. But if money is an issue now, I just got my share of some things Jake sold for us. I can take care of the lumber, depending on how much it is. My life would become very busy. I still help out at the Lucky Lady, which I need to be getting to it must be getting late. Sonoma, if you're going we can walk over together. I'll keeping thinking about the school." Chester and his lawyer continue to talk in the room at the boarding house. He tells Upton "I don't have that with me, but in my room at the El Parador, there should be enough. Just ask at the bar, the owners, Pedro or Dorita, can help you. So what do you want to know? I came to town a couple moths ago. I got a job as a guard at Condon's bank. The handyman, Danby Jones, tried to get me involved with his scheme to rob the bank. I refuse and tell the Condons. A month later Jones comes up to me again saying he wants to go today. I figure I can wait until closing to tell the Condons. Then the Marshall arrests me and here I am." Attorney Upton asks Chester questions regarding a few more details. He then says, "Well, that'll do for now." He turns Chester back over to the Deputy Marshall who walks him back to the jail cell. Upton then goes to visit Pedro and Dorita. Dorita visits the jail afterwards, to confirm from Chester that he has given permission for them to get money from his room to pay Upton. She tells both Chester and Jake "I bring you over breakfast tomorrow." After securing a room at the El Parador, Luc headed over to the bathhouse and took a much-needed warm bath. His muscles relaxed so much eh almost fell asleep in the tub and drowned. After getting out of the bath he picked out mostly clean clothes and washed the rest in the bath water. He wrung everything out and once he got back to his room he draped it over the bedposts in his room. Luc dressed in the best clothes he had and left his shotgun hanging in the closet. After hearing about the trouble at the bank Luc kept his gunbelt on with his black and silver colts. He decided to go back to the Lady Luck for dinner after his last meal there had been some of the best saloon food he had ever had. Luc walked in and left his guns with the big wall of a man. He found a nice cozy table in the front corner a distance away from the stage. He found those looking for entertainment wouldn't bother to sit with him because that would mean they would have to sit far from the stage. He sat to the right of the window and looked out wanting to watch the sunset. Ruby takes her time walking to the bathhouse. She soaks in the bath for a long time, completely lost in thought. She then makes her way back to the Lucky Lady and waits for the night to begin. When Ruby arrives at the Lucky Lady Tony's game is already in progress. That is typical, with his games usually starting by 7:30, Job Kane at around 8:00 and Jake's at around 8:30. While Jake had inherited players from Job's table on Wednesday and Thursday nights that was not the case with the weekends. So far Jake had picked up a few semi-regulars but none that he could count on each and every week. Therefore few would be overly upset by his not being here this night. Niles Hoover had a full crowd at the bar, redeeming ads from the previous day's newspaper. Jeff Mills was on hand. As of late he had gotten into the habit of leaving early on Friday's unless there looked to be trouble, letting Chester handle the last hour or two. Ruby wasn't sure if anyone had spoken to him yet about Chester not being available tonight. Ruby approaches Jeff. "How are you doing today, Jeff? Listen, Jake's not going to be around tonight, or the next few days for that matter. Neither is Chester. I need you to stick around and be on your toes." Ruby adds quietly, "Please." Ruby glanced around the busy saloon. Nanuet was there helping out, and she was happy to see Sonoma keeping busy. Every time someone approached Ruby she would put a fake smile on her face and chat with them, but every time only half listening. She noticed that Kate wasn't there yet, but it was still a bit early. She didn't want to blow this night and this crowd but her heart just wasn't in it. Kate headed downstairs with Sonoma, but remembered on their way out that Ginnie might want to come along. She told Sonoma to go on ahead and went into the kitchen looking for her ward. "I'm off to the Lucky Lady, did you want to come and help out again? I'm sure Ruby and Jake would appreciate it." Ginnie quickly agreed and after sticking her finger in another of Dorita's pots ran out of the kitchen with Kate. They walked over to the Lucky Lady, where it was again very busy. Ginnie ran inside and started clearing tables while Kate looked for Ruby. She saw her leaning against the bar and hurried over. "Ruby honey, Mr. Gonzales said you were hurt. Are you alright?" Ruby had been waiting to sing, for what she didn't even know. She heard Kate's concerned voice and turned to her, glad to see her face. "Oh my leg, it hurts but Nanuet healed the damage. It should be fine in a few days. And the day that started out bad only got worse." Ruby explains to Kate how Jake and Chester are in jail and the story of what happened with Scarface Jones. She tells it with barely any emotion, her energy waning from this long, busy day. Katherine reached out and put her arms around Ruby. "I'm so sorry I wasn't here for you. I should have been. Oh honey." She was quiet for a moment as she held her friend. "But they are innocent, and Mr. Berg is an excellent attorney." She brushed back some of Ruby's hair from her face. "And Judge Isby always gives the option of a fine. He may come out poorer, but he'll be okay." "Judge Isby hates us, Kate." Ruby looked away from her friend. "Yes, I guess now we have to rely on Mitchell Berg." Ruby rubbed her eyes. She really wanted to start drinking, and keep drinking until she couldn't remember any of this. She knew that was a bad idea, Jake was going to be counting on her to be sharp and who knew what she was going to have to do before this was over. She hugged Kate again then slid off her seat. "Ok, let's go do some entertaining." Ruby saw the Cowboy from the night before and waved at him as she walked by. He took her up on her offer to hear her sing and from the looks of it so did many others. So while Ruby's heart wasn't in it, she was a good actress, and she did her best to fool everyone into thinking she was fine. Ruby sang only short sets tonight, but Sonoma was on hand for the longer pieces and Clairesse Townsend came in for her 8:00 PM and 10:00 PM sets as well. Both Job Kane and Tony Lucky had reasonably good nights at the table, with an ample number of new players taking over as others dropped out. The coupon proves to have been a good draw this night as well, plus there are several faces of people who had visited the night before for the first time. A number of patrons enter carrying the other paper, The Promise City Herald. Ruby snags a copy at the first opportunity to confirm that there is no mention of the afternoon's arrests. There is no mention at all of it. The front-page story is about the unknown bodies found recently in the Dragoon Mountains, with speculation that they were either Cowboy Gang members or victims of that gang. The second and third pages of the four-page paper have a long story of the Merchant Association’s fund drive to establish fire protection for the town, with a detailed history of all fires to date in Promise City. Half of page three is an ad for Frye's Harness Shop and Bootmaker. The back page is a full page Ad for the Palace Saloon announcing a new entertainment, "Bare knuckled boxing every Saturday Night". It also features a two-for-one drink coupon good for Saturday night only. Katherine tried to keep her playing especially energetic, hoping to buoy Ruby's singing. Those who didn't know Ruby wouldn't guess anything was wrong, but Kate could see the tightness around her eyes and hear the tone in her voice that said her heart was hurting. While Kate had been pretending everything was fine, Ruby had needed her. Conrad's foul brew had cleared up her headache so easily, she wished there was something like that for Ruby. Something that could fix real problems. She spent the night playing and serving, until nearly 11:30. Once everything was cleaned up Kate approached Ruby. "Would you like me to stay with you tonight?" Ruby gave Kate a small smile. Thank you, but I'll be ok. I want to stay here." Ruby thanked everyone for his or her help. It had been successful tonight, hopefully the new people would want to come back. She helped clean up with her thoughts somewhere else then said goodnight. Niles and Jeff could take care of anything that came up. Ruby made her way upstairs, put on Jake's shirt and with a sigh went to bed. Even though she was exhausted sleep would not come. She tossed and turned for hours until she finally got up. She lit a candle and went to the desk. There she sat writing and writing and writing until there were no more thoughts in her head. She smiled at the letter and left it on the desk. When she went back to bed she fell right asleep. Nanuet spent the night doing what he could to help out. It was a busy night again with the coupon doing what it was intended. The girls seemed to mostly have the place under control and security was not much of an issue. After helping to clean up Nanuet spent the night at the Lucky Lady in one of the spare rooms. Not needing much sleep he spent some time with Sonoma asking her how she was and how the ranch was going. Finally he went to the spare room and did his nightly meditations. [/QUOTE]
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