Menu
News
All News
Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
Pathfinder
Starfinder
Warhammer
2d20 System
Year Zero Engine
Industry News
Reviews
Dragon Reflections
Columns
Weekly Digests
Weekly News Digest
Freebies, Sales & Bundles
RPG Print News
RPG Crowdfunding News
Game Content
ENterplanetary DimENsions
Mythological Figures
Opinion
Worlds of Design
Peregrine's Next
RPG Evolution
Other Columns
From the Freelancing Frontline
Monster ENcyclopedia
WotC/TSR Alumni Look Back
4 Hours w/RSD (Ryan Dancey)
The Road to 3E (Jonathan Tweet)
Greenwood's Realms (Ed Greenwood)
Drawmij's TSR (Jim Ward)
Community
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Resources
Wiki
Pages
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Downloads
Latest reviews
Search resources
EN Publishing
Store
EN5ider
Adventures in ZEITGEIST
Awfully Cheerful Engine
What's OLD is NEW
Judge Dredd & The Worlds Of 2000AD
War of the Burning Sky
Level Up: Advanced 5E
Events & Releases
Upcoming Events
Private Events
Featured Events
Socials!
Twitch
YouTube
Facebook (EN Publishing)
Facebook (EN World)
Twitter
Instagram
TikTok
Podcast
Features
Top 5 RPGs Compiled Charts 2004-Present
Adventure Game Industry Market Research Summary (RPGs) V1.0
Ryan Dancey: Acquiring TSR
Q&A With Gary Gygax
D&D Rules FAQs
TSR, WotC, & Paizo: A Comparative History
D&D Pronunciation Guide
Million Dollar TTRPG Kickstarters
Tabletop RPG Podcast Hall of Fame
Eric Noah's Unofficial D&D 3rd Edition News
D&D in the Mainstream
D&D & RPG History
About Morrus
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
Wizards, Whiskey and Wonderful Things - Concluded
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 2192124" data-attributes="member: 8530"><p><strong>Chapter 29, “Information and Anxieties”, Sunday, March 12th, 1882:</strong></p><p></p><p>Nanuet spends his Sunday morning with Maska. She had recovered from her long journeys that she took while helping with the Apache treaty. The two played and Nanuet worked on Maska's training a bit before heading back to town. It was almost lunchtime at that point so he headed to the Lucky Lady to see if Ruby would be bringing lunch to Chester and Jake. When he arrives he finds out that Ruby has not been seen since the night before. </p><p></p><p>He heads upstairs to find her lying in bed, a mostly empty bottle of liquor nearby. "Alright Miss Ruby. Enough is enough!" He walks over and wraps the sheets around her so that she is unable to move her arms and legs. He then hoists her up over his shoulder and heads downstairs and out the door. At some point Ruby wakes up and realizes what is going on and begins to fuss, kicking and screaming. "Hey, put me down! You can't just... What are you doing? Where are we going?" </p><p></p><p>Nanuet replies, "You Miss Ruby are a drunk. You need to snap out of it and wake up. You can't help Mr. Jake and Mr. Chester lying in bed all liquored up." "I am not a drunk!" Ruby yells as she keeps trying to kick her way free. Nanuet makes his way through town to the bathhouses. He barges in, past the attendants, and finds the first unoccupied bath. He then unwraps the sheet and before she can kick and flail too much he dumps her into the bath. </p><p></p><p>He says, "There! Now are you awake? No more liquor for you until after this whole deal is sorted out. You drink too much! Whiskey is not for solving problems and neither is Bourbon." </p><p>Nanuet finds a towel and throws it to the edge of the bath. He stands nearby watching the drenched woman, waiting for her response.</p><p></p><p>Ruby sat in the tub, Jake's shirt soaked through, a pout on her face, arms crossed. She started to get out of the tub but when she saw Nanuet's scowling face she slid back in. "You....I....Not fair..." Her voice trailed off. "You don't understand." Then she was quiet. It seemed just a few days earlier Jake had made a comment about her drinking too. She thought it over as Nanuet stood guard over her. </p><p></p><p>"I'm afraid something will happen to Jake. And Chester. I went to Wyatt Earp, unless Kate goes to him he will lie about Jake's innocence and Judge Isby will..." She can't finish the thought. "It's not fair!" She continues quietly, "And there is absolutely nothing I can do about it."</p><p></p><p>Nanuet's scowl softened a bit. He could tell Ruby was genuinely concerned about Jake and Chester. "Miss Ruby, life is not always fair and you can't be the one to solve all the problems. I know it is hard and you are scared. We will figure out how to help Mr. Jake and Mr. Chester. There has to be a way. I know I need Mr. Jake out of jail, because I can't handle you myself too much longer!" </p><p></p><p>Nanuet ducks and dodges as the towel, the soap and then the bath brush comes flying at him. He chuckles as the soap hits his face with a splat! "Nice shot! Finish your bath, I will get some clothes for you and have someone who works here bring them to you. We can talk about this when you are done. Then you can explain to me what you mean about going to Mr. Earp and what he wants with Miss Kate."</p><p></p><p>"I've always been the one to say life isn't fair. But things have changed for me and I like the way they are. So yes, I am scared that something will happen, and to Jake, I just don't want to think about it." </p><p></p><p>Ruby is quiet again, then reaches for some shampoo. "Alright I guess I needed a bath anyway," She laughs. As Nanuet is walking though the door she yells out, "And I'll get you back for this!" And under her breath she adds, "But thanks." Ruby strips off Jake's wet shirt and soaks for a long while. As the liquor wore off the pain in her leg started to throb. "Ugh," was all she could say looking at the bruise. She would have to find a way for Jake not to look at it, as it would remind him of what happened. </p><p></p><p>Laurie brings in her fresh clothes and Ruby finishes her bath. She heads back to the Lucky Lady, where Nanuet is waiting with coffee. She gladly takes it and sits next to him, recounting the events of the evening before. "Hopefully Kate will have something useful to say when she gets back from Boston." He exclaims,"Dang, I knew I forgot about doing something this morning. Well I am sure they are fine without me." </p><p></p><p>Ruby shrugs. "Like you said, I can't solve all the problems. Now how about we go see Jake and Chester before I starve them again?" He replies, That sounds like a good idea. Nanuet and Ruby get some food from Maria and bring an extra plate for whomever may be guarding the prisoners today. They take a brisk walk joking about the bath incident and enter the jail with the food.</p><p></p><p>Nanuet is nervous around the two men in jail, especially after hearing what Ruby had to say about Wyatt's response to her actions the previous night. He makes sure to keep his distance from the Marshall and since Ruby is playing cards with Jake he figures he will keep Chester company. "Hey there Mister Chest.... I meant hey there Chester. How is that book? I never did learn to read English. Maybe Miss Kate can teach me someday." </p><p></p><p>He replies, "It's very good. An interesting story of the lives of the ogres. Next chance you get, ask her to teach you. I'm sure she'll be glad to do it. It'll expand your horizons. By the way, do you have any written histories of your people? I'd be interested in reading them." Nanuet says, "Of my people, my tribe specifically I don't there has been much written, but I am sure there are books written about elves in general. Maybe Kate would know better. I will ask her.</p><p></p><p>Ruby ignores the Earps while Nanuet waits for them to finish going through the food. "Hi Baby," Ruby says with a smile, walking over to Jake's cell. "I really really miss you." She throws her wet hair from one shoulder to the other. "I can't wait for you to get out of here." Nanuet brings over the lunch and hands them to Jake and Chester. "We're going to stay a while today, hope you won't object."</p><p></p><p>Jake puts the cards down that he was manipulating with his fingers when they come in. "Object? Hardly, I'm happy to see some friendly faces," He gives her a little grin, "and some other friendly parts. Of course I have been able to put this time to good use." He picks up a card and smoothly flips it over and back, in and out with his fingers from one side of his hand to the other and back again. "Impressive, huh?" He gives her a weak grin and a shrug.</p><p></p><p>"You never know when something like that will come in handy, sometime when you least expect it I'm sure." Ruby pulls up the chair and takes a seat. "Friendly parts, huh? Then maybe I should lose the shawl." She pushes her shoulders back and lets the wrap fall back onto the chair, revealing her usual neckline and falling straps. "How about we play some cards while we talk?" Jake nods and deals a hand, in between eating his lunch. </p><p></p><p>"So, it's been, um, hectic around the Saloon. I hired a new guy to take Chester's place while you are in here and then help build the expansion but I'm not sure he's going to work out. He's a tough boy cowboy type. Gave Nanuet some problem last night, although I didn't get the whole story. Plus Adair had some boxing match at his Saloon and most customers left to go there. I had a lot on my mind so I didn't give a damn but in the future we're going to have to do something about that."</p><p></p><p>Jake carefully catches her eyes as he shuffles and deals again. "Let Adair have his full saloon for now. We really don't care, as long as ours is full. His turn will come soon enough anyway." Jake replies cryptically. Ruby looks at her cards and discards three. "Got yourself a tough boy, huh? As long as he doesn't create trouble, you should be fine. Glad to see you've got it all under control." Jake waits until she looks at him and reacts to his statement so she won't notice him dealing two cards from the bottom and the last from the top. Ruby starts to answer him in an exasperated tone and stops when she picks up her cards; the queen of hearts, jack of spades and seven of clubs. "You ARE doing just fine. It will work out. Our luck will turn. Sometimes luck just needs a little help."</p><p></p><p>Ruby smiles at her cards then looks up at Jake. "I like what you do to my luck Jake." She keeps smiling at him for a bit before looking back down at her cards. She starts to say something, then stops, and then starts again, then stops. Jake gives her a raised eyebrow. "Just spit it out." "Well, I wasn't going to say anything, not until you got out anyway. There is something else...." Ruby looks away uncomfortably. "Someone showed up last night. That damn Helen Barker... she's a sneaky one... Anyway, this person, the one who showed up, I told you about him, mentioned him really, in passing. George Eastman, do you remember?"</p><p></p><p>"You told me you got sent off to boarding school to prepare you for a marriage to a Mr. Eastman. That same guy is here? We never did finish that story," Jake continues in a lower voice, "and I'm not sure here is the right time. Is this a problem? Should I be worried about you?" Jake looks her in the eyes. "Or me?"</p><p></p><p>“Yes, that same guy is here. I can’t believe it either. Mr. George Eastman of Rochester, New York. Apparently his cousin is Helen EASTMAN Barker and as soon as she saw my real name in the paper she telegraphed him. I KNEW I should have lied about that.” Ruby runs her hand through her wet hair. </p><p></p><p>“Is it a problem? Well, he’s made his fortune, his company is a huge success, his world travels are over and now he thinks I’m going to marry him, as a matter of fact I think he’s convinced. Does that sound like a problem to you? Or something you would be worried about?” Jake responds with his poker face on. "Maybe I don't get it. It's only a problem for me if it's you who convinced him. Only a problem for you if I'm in the way. Not a problem at all if he's just plain mistaken, get me out of here and I'll take care of him."</p><p></p><p>Ruby blinks at Jake, her face not hiding her disappointment. "How can you even say those things to me? Obviously, you don't get it, any of it." Ruby looks away from Jake and begins fidgeting with the cards in her hands. "You think I convinced him that I wanted to marry him, and that you're in the way?" Ruby laughs, but she's not smiling. She pulls her eyes upward holding Jake's gaze. "Neither of those things would be problems for me if that's the way I wanted it, Jake, and you know it." Ruby throws the cards on Jake's bed. "And there is just a slight problem with getting you out or don't you think I tried?" Ruby stands and pushes the chair back. "Maybe I should marry the handsome rich easterner, it's possible that HE would be stupid enough to trust me." For a moment Ruby looks like she is going to leave, but instead slowly takes a seat again, crossing her arms across her chest and pouting.</p><p></p><p>Nanuet is trying to mind his own business but he has almost automatically taken to keeping an extra eye on Ruby the past few days. "Everything OK Miss Ruby? Maybe it's time we go? he says, not looking at Jake as he speaks. Jake leans his forehead against the bars and looks her in the eye again. He gives a dark glance at Nanuet for a moment before he turns his eyes to Ruby and says in a low voice "I'm feeling a bit helpless and useless here." </p><p></p><p>Jake’s hands squeeze the bars tightly. "I do think you are doing everything you can to get me out. I never doubted that. You give me a letter that among other things says you might be doing something crazy and not be coming back. So I worry. Now you come back and I feel better. Then you seem afraid to tell me about this Eastman guy and I start to think, why would she be afraid to tell me? Maybe I'm stupid and don't get it. Maybe the letter is a way of saying goodbye?" His hands release the bars and fall to his sides, his head still pressed against the bars. "I'm sorry if I made you angry. I don't think straight in here. Please tell me I'm stupid and make me feel better." Jake is still looking at her but the poker face has melted away to be replaced with an anxious look. “You’re stupid,” She replies. </p><p></p><p>Ruby had been looking up at Jake from her chair and her expression relaxed as he talked. She stood up so she was standing in front of him, her face almost level with his. “I didn’t want to tell you about Eastman because I didn’t want to give you another thing to worry about in here. I think you have enough on your mind. Plus,” Ruby blushes slightly, “I thought you might be jealous, well maybe I was hoping you would be.” She continues quickly, “I don’t know what kind of trouble he will be. I imagine I will tell him I don’t want to marry him and he’ll go away. But sometimes they are more persistent and they don’t go away. And from there I don’t know what to do but I’ll figure it out.” </p><p></p><p>Ruby steps in closer to the cell, and puts her hands on the bars where Jake’s were. “You're not stupid, I am the stupid one. I shouldn’t have given you that letter or said what I said, at least not while you’re in here and maybe even if you weren’t, it’s not the right time for it. Maybe you’re just not ready to hear it, maybe you never will be, I don’t know.” Ruby starts biting her lip. “I should have kept it to myself. I thought it might make you feel better but instead gave you other things to worry about. But you are right, I wanted you to know in case something did happen to me.” </p><p></p><p>Ruby eyes had gone from cloudy to clear while she spoke. She closes the distance to the cell and whispers softly, “Jake, I know you said you didn’t want to talk about it now and that’s fine but understand something. The letter is a way of saying I don’t want to say goodbye. You have nothing to worry about.” She reaches through the bars and puts her hands on his face. “Does any of that make you feel better?” </p><p></p><p>Jake pries his head off the bars and sits down. "You don't have to apologize, you didn't do anything wrong." He puts his elbows on his knees and covers his face with his hands. "I just can't think straight in here. I wanted to make sure I knew what you were saying, not imagining things." </p><p></p><p>Jake rubs his eyes a couple of times and drags his hands off his face. "We'll talk. Just not in here, not now." He pushes himself off the bed to stand again. "I know you all are doing everything you can to get us out. I'll try and be patient. I do trust you. Tell me if I can do anything. I wish I could be more help with Eastman." </p><p></p><p>He forces a smile to his face. “I've never been glad before that a beautiful woman told me I'm stupid." He puts his hands over hers on the bars. "Thanks Ruby." Ruby smiles back at Jake and whispers, "You know I don't think you're stupid. And you're welcome."</p><p></p><p>Katherine and Booth had entered the room. Katherine looked around the room and saw Jake and Ruby intent in their conversation while Nanuet watched concerned from his chair by Chester's cell. She didn't want to interrupt whatever was going on there, so she and Conrad went over to the Marshal's desk. "I have something for you," Kate said calmly, laying the papers down on the desk. "Warren, keep an eye on things" Wyatt says. He picks up the envelopes and heads out the door, gesturing for Kate to follow. Conrad looked down at her and she said quietly, "It's alright. I'll be back." </p><p></p><p>Kate followed Wyatt out the door. They cross the street to the Great Western Boarding House. Kate looks hesitant, but Wyatt says "It's okay, we'll stay in the common room as long as nobody is in there". The common room is empty, being after lunch and before the dinner hour. Peg Watkins is around but head upstairs after Wyatt asks her for some privacy. Wyatt sits down and gestures for Kate to do the same. </p><p></p><p>He looks at both envelopes and then opens the earlier one. He reads through the letter and looks at the photograph. He says "Your friend Miss West said he was with your family in Boston....says he's going to Europe." He then examines the envelope with the Paris stamp and the letters inside, the one from Tucker and a "cover letter" that Seagram had written to Kate saying that he was forwarding it on. Kate breathes a sigh of relief when Wyatt takes only a quick glance at the Paris photograph. </p><p></p><p>He hands them both back and says "Hang on to these. He makes some comments about some of the Cowboy Gang so I might need to use them as his testimony." Wyatt appears to be satisfied and looks like he is about to stand up. Kate tucked the papers back into her handbag. "They will be at your disposal should you need them. Can I assume the Cowboy Gang will now be your primary investigation?" </p><p></p><p>He replies "Yes, my investigation of the attempted robbery of Condon's band does not appear to have progressed any further than before." She replies, "Will you stay for just a moment?" She took a deep breath. "Marshal, we have been at odds with one another, and I do not wish to continue to be so. I never believed Colby Tucker was part of the Cowboy Gang. You saw what he said about Tom looking for investors, and how he felt people would have to get to know him before they would consider it. It's why they were spending time in the Oriental. </p><p></p><p>Tom was many things, but not always a good judge of character when it came to business partners. He trusted his assistants in Boston and they robbed us blind while he was ill. It doesn't surprise me that he might have made the same mistake in Tombstone, but he would not have been involved in anything illegal. I hope that you will acquit he and his friend of involvement with the gang. </p><p></p><p>I have protected Mr. Tucker's whereabouts from you until now for a different reason, and I'm sure you already know what that is. I had enough circumstances to lend credibility to those rumors, especially the behavior of your brother. Your explanation was perfectly reasonable, except that his strange behavior began before the incident where I helped to save his life. He apologized to me that day, and at the time I didn't understand why. Well, what I'm trying to say in my long-winded way is I consider all of that to be over now. Mr. Tucker is gone and not returning, and all I want is to move on with my life. I hope we understand one another."</p><p></p><p>He answers, "I believe that we do. You're wrong in believing the lies that Johnny Ringo told you, but your mind seems to be made up on that. But if you're content to leave it at that we will too." "Johnny Ringo didn't claim to know anything, Marshal. He suggested Frank Leslie. I only tell you that so you know the truth of things." </p><p></p><p>With that he stands up and exits, holding the door for Kate. She sees Booth standing on the porch of the Marshall's Office, a worried look on his face. Kate walked through the door and back across the street to the porch where Conrad stood. "I'm alright, Conrad," she said quietly. "How about you?"</p><p></p><p>He replies, "Just worried about you. Not sure what this is all about, but those are your friends in there behind bars and you're in mourning clothes again. Then you talk privately with the Marshall. My overactive imagination is putting together lots of scenarios but I honestly have no idea what is going on. Why don't we head back to the El Parador and get us a bite. It's a tad early for supper but you look like you can use something to eat."</p><p></p><p>"It's best you don't understand everything," she said casually as Wyatt went back into the office. "What I could really use is some sleep, but I'll eat a bit before I come back to visit." Kate led him away from the office and once she was sure they were out of earshot said, "I promised I would explain, and I will. But that's a conversation that will have to wait until we have a private place to hold it." The two reached the El Parador and Kate went upstairs to change her clothes. She reappeared a few minutes later in the green dress Ruby had given her. "It's been a very long day," Kate said as she sat.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Silver Moon, post: 2192124, member: 8530"] [B]Chapter 29, “Information and Anxieties”, Sunday, March 12th, 1882:[/B] Nanuet spends his Sunday morning with Maska. She had recovered from her long journeys that she took while helping with the Apache treaty. The two played and Nanuet worked on Maska's training a bit before heading back to town. It was almost lunchtime at that point so he headed to the Lucky Lady to see if Ruby would be bringing lunch to Chester and Jake. When he arrives he finds out that Ruby has not been seen since the night before. He heads upstairs to find her lying in bed, a mostly empty bottle of liquor nearby. "Alright Miss Ruby. Enough is enough!" He walks over and wraps the sheets around her so that she is unable to move her arms and legs. He then hoists her up over his shoulder and heads downstairs and out the door. At some point Ruby wakes up and realizes what is going on and begins to fuss, kicking and screaming. "Hey, put me down! You can't just... What are you doing? Where are we going?" Nanuet replies, "You Miss Ruby are a drunk. You need to snap out of it and wake up. You can't help Mr. Jake and Mr. Chester lying in bed all liquored up." "I am not a drunk!" Ruby yells as she keeps trying to kick her way free. Nanuet makes his way through town to the bathhouses. He barges in, past the attendants, and finds the first unoccupied bath. He then unwraps the sheet and before she can kick and flail too much he dumps her into the bath. He says, "There! Now are you awake? No more liquor for you until after this whole deal is sorted out. You drink too much! Whiskey is not for solving problems and neither is Bourbon." Nanuet finds a towel and throws it to the edge of the bath. He stands nearby watching the drenched woman, waiting for her response. Ruby sat in the tub, Jake's shirt soaked through, a pout on her face, arms crossed. She started to get out of the tub but when she saw Nanuet's scowling face she slid back in. "You....I....Not fair..." Her voice trailed off. "You don't understand." Then she was quiet. It seemed just a few days earlier Jake had made a comment about her drinking too. She thought it over as Nanuet stood guard over her. "I'm afraid something will happen to Jake. And Chester. I went to Wyatt Earp, unless Kate goes to him he will lie about Jake's innocence and Judge Isby will..." She can't finish the thought. "It's not fair!" She continues quietly, "And there is absolutely nothing I can do about it." Nanuet's scowl softened a bit. He could tell Ruby was genuinely concerned about Jake and Chester. "Miss Ruby, life is not always fair and you can't be the one to solve all the problems. I know it is hard and you are scared. We will figure out how to help Mr. Jake and Mr. Chester. There has to be a way. I know I need Mr. Jake out of jail, because I can't handle you myself too much longer!" Nanuet ducks and dodges as the towel, the soap and then the bath brush comes flying at him. He chuckles as the soap hits his face with a splat! "Nice shot! Finish your bath, I will get some clothes for you and have someone who works here bring them to you. We can talk about this when you are done. Then you can explain to me what you mean about going to Mr. Earp and what he wants with Miss Kate." "I've always been the one to say life isn't fair. But things have changed for me and I like the way they are. So yes, I am scared that something will happen, and to Jake, I just don't want to think about it." Ruby is quiet again, then reaches for some shampoo. "Alright I guess I needed a bath anyway," She laughs. As Nanuet is walking though the door she yells out, "And I'll get you back for this!" And under her breath she adds, "But thanks." Ruby strips off Jake's wet shirt and soaks for a long while. As the liquor wore off the pain in her leg started to throb. "Ugh," was all she could say looking at the bruise. She would have to find a way for Jake not to look at it, as it would remind him of what happened. Laurie brings in her fresh clothes and Ruby finishes her bath. She heads back to the Lucky Lady, where Nanuet is waiting with coffee. She gladly takes it and sits next to him, recounting the events of the evening before. "Hopefully Kate will have something useful to say when she gets back from Boston." He exclaims,"Dang, I knew I forgot about doing something this morning. Well I am sure they are fine without me." Ruby shrugs. "Like you said, I can't solve all the problems. Now how about we go see Jake and Chester before I starve them again?" He replies, That sounds like a good idea. Nanuet and Ruby get some food from Maria and bring an extra plate for whomever may be guarding the prisoners today. They take a brisk walk joking about the bath incident and enter the jail with the food. Nanuet is nervous around the two men in jail, especially after hearing what Ruby had to say about Wyatt's response to her actions the previous night. He makes sure to keep his distance from the Marshall and since Ruby is playing cards with Jake he figures he will keep Chester company. "Hey there Mister Chest.... I meant hey there Chester. How is that book? I never did learn to read English. Maybe Miss Kate can teach me someday." He replies, "It's very good. An interesting story of the lives of the ogres. Next chance you get, ask her to teach you. I'm sure she'll be glad to do it. It'll expand your horizons. By the way, do you have any written histories of your people? I'd be interested in reading them." Nanuet says, "Of my people, my tribe specifically I don't there has been much written, but I am sure there are books written about elves in general. Maybe Kate would know better. I will ask her. Ruby ignores the Earps while Nanuet waits for them to finish going through the food. "Hi Baby," Ruby says with a smile, walking over to Jake's cell. "I really really miss you." She throws her wet hair from one shoulder to the other. "I can't wait for you to get out of here." Nanuet brings over the lunch and hands them to Jake and Chester. "We're going to stay a while today, hope you won't object." Jake puts the cards down that he was manipulating with his fingers when they come in. "Object? Hardly, I'm happy to see some friendly faces," He gives her a little grin, "and some other friendly parts. Of course I have been able to put this time to good use." He picks up a card and smoothly flips it over and back, in and out with his fingers from one side of his hand to the other and back again. "Impressive, huh?" He gives her a weak grin and a shrug. "You never know when something like that will come in handy, sometime when you least expect it I'm sure." Ruby pulls up the chair and takes a seat. "Friendly parts, huh? Then maybe I should lose the shawl." She pushes her shoulders back and lets the wrap fall back onto the chair, revealing her usual neckline and falling straps. "How about we play some cards while we talk?" Jake nods and deals a hand, in between eating his lunch. "So, it's been, um, hectic around the Saloon. I hired a new guy to take Chester's place while you are in here and then help build the expansion but I'm not sure he's going to work out. He's a tough boy cowboy type. Gave Nanuet some problem last night, although I didn't get the whole story. Plus Adair had some boxing match at his Saloon and most customers left to go there. I had a lot on my mind so I didn't give a damn but in the future we're going to have to do something about that." Jake carefully catches her eyes as he shuffles and deals again. "Let Adair have his full saloon for now. We really don't care, as long as ours is full. His turn will come soon enough anyway." Jake replies cryptically. Ruby looks at her cards and discards three. "Got yourself a tough boy, huh? As long as he doesn't create trouble, you should be fine. Glad to see you've got it all under control." Jake waits until she looks at him and reacts to his statement so she won't notice him dealing two cards from the bottom and the last from the top. Ruby starts to answer him in an exasperated tone and stops when she picks up her cards; the queen of hearts, jack of spades and seven of clubs. "You ARE doing just fine. It will work out. Our luck will turn. Sometimes luck just needs a little help." Ruby smiles at her cards then looks up at Jake. "I like what you do to my luck Jake." She keeps smiling at him for a bit before looking back down at her cards. She starts to say something, then stops, and then starts again, then stops. Jake gives her a raised eyebrow. "Just spit it out." "Well, I wasn't going to say anything, not until you got out anyway. There is something else...." Ruby looks away uncomfortably. "Someone showed up last night. That damn Helen Barker... she's a sneaky one... Anyway, this person, the one who showed up, I told you about him, mentioned him really, in passing. George Eastman, do you remember?" "You told me you got sent off to boarding school to prepare you for a marriage to a Mr. Eastman. That same guy is here? We never did finish that story," Jake continues in a lower voice, "and I'm not sure here is the right time. Is this a problem? Should I be worried about you?" Jake looks her in the eyes. "Or me?" “Yes, that same guy is here. I can’t believe it either. Mr. George Eastman of Rochester, New York. Apparently his cousin is Helen EASTMAN Barker and as soon as she saw my real name in the paper she telegraphed him. I KNEW I should have lied about that.” Ruby runs her hand through her wet hair. “Is it a problem? Well, he’s made his fortune, his company is a huge success, his world travels are over and now he thinks I’m going to marry him, as a matter of fact I think he’s convinced. Does that sound like a problem to you? Or something you would be worried about?” Jake responds with his poker face on. "Maybe I don't get it. It's only a problem for me if it's you who convinced him. Only a problem for you if I'm in the way. Not a problem at all if he's just plain mistaken, get me out of here and I'll take care of him." Ruby blinks at Jake, her face not hiding her disappointment. "How can you even say those things to me? Obviously, you don't get it, any of it." Ruby looks away from Jake and begins fidgeting with the cards in her hands. "You think I convinced him that I wanted to marry him, and that you're in the way?" Ruby laughs, but she's not smiling. She pulls her eyes upward holding Jake's gaze. "Neither of those things would be problems for me if that's the way I wanted it, Jake, and you know it." Ruby throws the cards on Jake's bed. "And there is just a slight problem with getting you out or don't you think I tried?" Ruby stands and pushes the chair back. "Maybe I should marry the handsome rich easterner, it's possible that HE would be stupid enough to trust me." For a moment Ruby looks like she is going to leave, but instead slowly takes a seat again, crossing her arms across her chest and pouting. Nanuet is trying to mind his own business but he has almost automatically taken to keeping an extra eye on Ruby the past few days. "Everything OK Miss Ruby? Maybe it's time we go? he says, not looking at Jake as he speaks. Jake leans his forehead against the bars and looks her in the eye again. He gives a dark glance at Nanuet for a moment before he turns his eyes to Ruby and says in a low voice "I'm feeling a bit helpless and useless here." Jake’s hands squeeze the bars tightly. "I do think you are doing everything you can to get me out. I never doubted that. You give me a letter that among other things says you might be doing something crazy and not be coming back. So I worry. Now you come back and I feel better. Then you seem afraid to tell me about this Eastman guy and I start to think, why would she be afraid to tell me? Maybe I'm stupid and don't get it. Maybe the letter is a way of saying goodbye?" His hands release the bars and fall to his sides, his head still pressed against the bars. "I'm sorry if I made you angry. I don't think straight in here. Please tell me I'm stupid and make me feel better." Jake is still looking at her but the poker face has melted away to be replaced with an anxious look. “You’re stupid,” She replies. Ruby had been looking up at Jake from her chair and her expression relaxed as he talked. She stood up so she was standing in front of him, her face almost level with his. “I didn’t want to tell you about Eastman because I didn’t want to give you another thing to worry about in here. I think you have enough on your mind. Plus,” Ruby blushes slightly, “I thought you might be jealous, well maybe I was hoping you would be.” She continues quickly, “I don’t know what kind of trouble he will be. I imagine I will tell him I don’t want to marry him and he’ll go away. But sometimes they are more persistent and they don’t go away. And from there I don’t know what to do but I’ll figure it out.” Ruby steps in closer to the cell, and puts her hands on the bars where Jake’s were. “You're not stupid, I am the stupid one. I shouldn’t have given you that letter or said what I said, at least not while you’re in here and maybe even if you weren’t, it’s not the right time for it. Maybe you’re just not ready to hear it, maybe you never will be, I don’t know.” Ruby starts biting her lip. “I should have kept it to myself. I thought it might make you feel better but instead gave you other things to worry about. But you are right, I wanted you to know in case something did happen to me.” Ruby eyes had gone from cloudy to clear while she spoke. She closes the distance to the cell and whispers softly, “Jake, I know you said you didn’t want to talk about it now and that’s fine but understand something. The letter is a way of saying I don’t want to say goodbye. You have nothing to worry about.” She reaches through the bars and puts her hands on his face. “Does any of that make you feel better?” Jake pries his head off the bars and sits down. "You don't have to apologize, you didn't do anything wrong." He puts his elbows on his knees and covers his face with his hands. "I just can't think straight in here. I wanted to make sure I knew what you were saying, not imagining things." Jake rubs his eyes a couple of times and drags his hands off his face. "We'll talk. Just not in here, not now." He pushes himself off the bed to stand again. "I know you all are doing everything you can to get us out. I'll try and be patient. I do trust you. Tell me if I can do anything. I wish I could be more help with Eastman." He forces a smile to his face. “I've never been glad before that a beautiful woman told me I'm stupid." He puts his hands over hers on the bars. "Thanks Ruby." Ruby smiles back at Jake and whispers, "You know I don't think you're stupid. And you're welcome." Katherine and Booth had entered the room. Katherine looked around the room and saw Jake and Ruby intent in their conversation while Nanuet watched concerned from his chair by Chester's cell. She didn't want to interrupt whatever was going on there, so she and Conrad went over to the Marshal's desk. "I have something for you," Kate said calmly, laying the papers down on the desk. "Warren, keep an eye on things" Wyatt says. He picks up the envelopes and heads out the door, gesturing for Kate to follow. Conrad looked down at her and she said quietly, "It's alright. I'll be back." Kate followed Wyatt out the door. They cross the street to the Great Western Boarding House. Kate looks hesitant, but Wyatt says "It's okay, we'll stay in the common room as long as nobody is in there". The common room is empty, being after lunch and before the dinner hour. Peg Watkins is around but head upstairs after Wyatt asks her for some privacy. Wyatt sits down and gestures for Kate to do the same. He looks at both envelopes and then opens the earlier one. He reads through the letter and looks at the photograph. He says "Your friend Miss West said he was with your family in Boston....says he's going to Europe." He then examines the envelope with the Paris stamp and the letters inside, the one from Tucker and a "cover letter" that Seagram had written to Kate saying that he was forwarding it on. Kate breathes a sigh of relief when Wyatt takes only a quick glance at the Paris photograph. He hands them both back and says "Hang on to these. He makes some comments about some of the Cowboy Gang so I might need to use them as his testimony." Wyatt appears to be satisfied and looks like he is about to stand up. Kate tucked the papers back into her handbag. "They will be at your disposal should you need them. Can I assume the Cowboy Gang will now be your primary investigation?" He replies "Yes, my investigation of the attempted robbery of Condon's band does not appear to have progressed any further than before." She replies, "Will you stay for just a moment?" She took a deep breath. "Marshal, we have been at odds with one another, and I do not wish to continue to be so. I never believed Colby Tucker was part of the Cowboy Gang. You saw what he said about Tom looking for investors, and how he felt people would have to get to know him before they would consider it. It's why they were spending time in the Oriental. Tom was many things, but not always a good judge of character when it came to business partners. He trusted his assistants in Boston and they robbed us blind while he was ill. It doesn't surprise me that he might have made the same mistake in Tombstone, but he would not have been involved in anything illegal. I hope that you will acquit he and his friend of involvement with the gang. I have protected Mr. Tucker's whereabouts from you until now for a different reason, and I'm sure you already know what that is. I had enough circumstances to lend credibility to those rumors, especially the behavior of your brother. Your explanation was perfectly reasonable, except that his strange behavior began before the incident where I helped to save his life. He apologized to me that day, and at the time I didn't understand why. Well, what I'm trying to say in my long-winded way is I consider all of that to be over now. Mr. Tucker is gone and not returning, and all I want is to move on with my life. I hope we understand one another." He answers, "I believe that we do. You're wrong in believing the lies that Johnny Ringo told you, but your mind seems to be made up on that. But if you're content to leave it at that we will too." "Johnny Ringo didn't claim to know anything, Marshal. He suggested Frank Leslie. I only tell you that so you know the truth of things." With that he stands up and exits, holding the door for Kate. She sees Booth standing on the porch of the Marshall's Office, a worried look on his face. Kate walked through the door and back across the street to the porch where Conrad stood. "I'm alright, Conrad," she said quietly. "How about you?" He replies, "Just worried about you. Not sure what this is all about, but those are your friends in there behind bars and you're in mourning clothes again. Then you talk privately with the Marshall. My overactive imagination is putting together lots of scenarios but I honestly have no idea what is going on. Why don't we head back to the El Parador and get us a bite. It's a tad early for supper but you look like you can use something to eat." "It's best you don't understand everything," she said casually as Wyatt went back into the office. "What I could really use is some sleep, but I'll eat a bit before I come back to visit." Kate led him away from the office and once she was sure they were out of earshot said, "I promised I would explain, and I will. But that's a conversation that will have to wait until we have a private place to hold it." The two reached the El Parador and Kate went upstairs to change her clothes. She reappeared a few minutes later in the green dress Ruby had given her. "It's been a very long day," Kate said as she sat. [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
Wizards, Whiskey and Wonderful Things - Concluded
Top