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Wizards, Whiskey and Wonderful Things - Concluded
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<blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 2471220" data-attributes="member: 8530"><p><strong>Chapter 50, “A Night of Fun Among Friends”, Wednesday, March 15th , 1882:</strong></p><p></p><p>After Jake thanks and says his goodnights to the players he meanders over to the bar, grabs a bottle of whiskey and bourbon and returns to the table that Nanuet, Minerva and Ruby are sitting at. Chester is somewhere with Clairese, but Jake didn't notice where. He puts the bottles on the table, leaving the bourbon closer to he and Ruby. </p><p></p><p>Putting a deck of cards on the table he says to Senorita Florencia, "Still want to learn how to play poker?" "I was just going to say Minerva that this is the man you want to ask about Poker." Nanuet says, pointing to Jake. "I never learned the game as most people wouldn't sit at the table with an Indian, so I never bothered. Can't say gambling holds much appeal to me either, so I guess it worked out for the best." Nanuet sits at the table willing to keep the others company as Jake begins his poker lessons. Minerva pulls her chair up closer to the table taking the bottle from Jake she pours herself a generous serving "I am very excited to learn. Nanuet was unable to explain the rules to me but perhaps we can both learn!" </p><p></p><p>Jake lays the cards out face up on the table. "Five cards are dealt. You try and make the best hand of five cards you can. We usually play draw poker, so we'll stick with that. You get one chance to discard and draw some new cards." Jake then begins rearranging the cards on the table to create groups of hands in order of lower to higher. "One pair, two pair, three of a kind, ...." He continues through all the hands while he and Ruby answers questions. "We'll cover betting in a little while. Oh, and never draw to an inside straight UNLESS you are absolutely sure the goddess has stacked the deck." Jake laughs. Minerva raises her eyebrows at Jake. " The Goddess always stacks the deck, Senor, but not always in ones favor."</p><p></p><p>Minerva looks at Jake with a sly look " You know Senor Jake it never hurts to stack the deck in your favor. Perhaps if you held a game night where you give the proceeds to the church building fund. You would earn the favor of the more people in Promise City. You may find that this not only will draw a larger crowd to your saloon but could make things easier for you in other ways."</p><p></p><p>"And what ways are you referring to, Miss Minerva, if I may ask?" Ruby does not look up from her hand. "Seeing as how most of the people who want a church are the kind of people who don't want our sort around anyway, I can't see how having a card game here for them would make things easier on us..." Ruby glances up quickly then back again to her hand. "But do we have to talk business? I thought we were going to relax tonight?" Ruby again pours herself a large glass of bourbon and starts working on it quickly.</p><p></p><p>As the poker lessons began, Katherine and Ginnie got the saloon cleaned up and ready for the next day. Not feeling like playing cards, Kate then sat down at the piano. She played quietly, beginning with an Irish song Tom had taught her, but then meandering away, playing as her fancy took her. It was a habit that had frustrated her teachers, who felt their job was to teach her to play the classics, not produce her own compositions. There was happy laughter behind her, and a few minutes later Ginnie sat down on the bench next to her. She sighed contentedly and played on.</p><p></p><p>Now that the place was empty except for the help and his friends Nanuet relaxes considerably. "How do you find that bourbon? I have always preferred whiskey, but you two (pointing to Ruby and Jake) seem to have a taste for that stuff. Let me try it." Nanuet pours himself a glass from Ruby's bottle and sips lightly tasting the liquor. "Well, it's not too bad. I'll have to add it to my short list of vices." Nanuet says with a smile.</p><p></p><p>"Tell me Nanuet, how does one get a short list of vices? My list seems to be growing considerably, to my downfall I'm afraid." Ruby has a grin on her face but she looks to Nanuet, expecting an answer. Nanuet blinks, not expecting that question and not having an immediate answer. He hems and haws for a moment, then replies blankly. "Well, one keeps themselves busy with work. That leaves little time for vices." Ruby nearly spits her drink out. "Work! No wonder I'm a lost cause. I might as well admit my vices will eventually get the best of me and enjoy the ride then, eh?" She finishes her bourbon and pours another one.</p><p></p><p>"I think Ruby, that you will find that "civilized" people like Mrs. King hide behind their moral outrage as a way to gain power. It is not your vices that they object to but the idea that they are not in control. It makes them uneasy. But not all of the people who want the church are like Mrs. King. Some genuinely want to help the community grow. I think that you will find that those kind of people have no objection to "your sort". And hopefully not to my sort either." Minerva continues to deal the cards. "But you are right this is not the time to discuss business. The idea just popped into my head. I apologize if I offended you." Nanuet laughs heartily. "I think it takes a lot more than that to offend Ruby Miss Minerva."</p><p></p><p>Ruby laughs too. "Nanuet is right, it does take a lot more than that to offend me, Senorita, I think that's what you say. But I will say that there are a lot of civilized people hiding behind their outrage in this town, people who judge you without even meeting or knowing you. Take your Mr. Lacey, for example. He was quick to judge me based on some false accusations, without ever asking if they were true. At any rate, I don't envy you, you have a hard job ahead of you." </p><p></p><p>"I think we're missing all the fun, Ginnie," Kate said as she finished playing. "But it was nice to play just for myself for a little while." She got up and took a seat at the table with her friends, waving the cards away when Jake moved to deal her in. "Welcome back Katherine. I was just about to propose a toast. "To enjoying the ride!" "Minerva raises her glass.</p><p></p><p>"Jake, deal her in anyway, I'll help her." Ruby turns to Kate. "Don't you think you should learn how to play? I mean, it is what Mr. Booth does for a living..." Ruby is saved by Minerva's toast. Ruby giggles at it and raises her glass, "To enjoying the ride!" She downs her drink and realizes she is already enjoying it, having that happy fuzzy feeling. </p><p>"Now, poker isn't really about the cards, its about people. You have to learn to play the people at your table and be able to read them. Everyone does something to give themselves and the cards they have away, even the best poker players." </p><p></p><p>"For example, Chester here gets a good hand and reaches for his drink, every time. When he is trying to bluff he adjusts his collar." Ruby shrugs. "Sorry Chet, but you do. And Minerva, you and Kate are the same. You both smile when you get good cards. That's a fairly obvious giveaway," Ruby giggles again. "But poor Nanuet. I could probably tell you his exact hand by reading his face. The whole lot of you need to work on your poker faces."</p><p></p><p>While Ruby was distracted with the toast, Kate again indicated not to deal her in. "I already know how to play, you taught me yourself Ruby, remember? I just don't care to tonight. I'll watch everyone instead, and see if I can spot how they give themselves away." "Kate, playing once does not make you know the game! Poker is something you need to practice at. And if you are going to play, you'd better be good. Believe me I learned that the hard way."</p><p></p><p>Nanuet looks at his cards and looks back at Ruby. "I am glad you can tell what cards I have, because I sure can't!" </p><p>"What's the matter Miss Kate? Just a friendly game, why don't you want to play?" Kate sighed. "There's nothing the matter, I'm fine. I just don't particularly like poker. Really, nothing more than that. Please go on with the game." </p><p></p><p> Jake interjects, "Katherine, when you sit at Mr. Booth's table it's good that you at least know the basics and the etiquette. I believe it is a way of telling him you appreciate his friendship and respect his table." Jake cuts the deck, does a fancy bridge and shuffle and produces the ace of spades from the deck. He flips it around with his fingers before returning it to the deck. "Thanks for entertaining us on the piano by the way." She exclaims, "Alright Jake, you win. But you all need to learn to take no for an answer now and then. You read a bit too much into the word. </p><p>As for the piano I was really just playing for myself, but it's nice to hear someone else enjoyed it as well."</p><p></p><p>Jake manages to get a glass from the rapidly diminishing bourbon bottle. "You can tell quite a bit about someone from their behavior at a poker table. Sometimes it's subtle, other times not. Ruby is right that everyone gives away something, even the best. You'll pardon me if I don't care to discuss mine." Jake just smiles. Ruby raises her glass, "Mr. Cook's poker wisdom! I'd like to hear more of your analysis about that some time." She hiccups and takes a sip. </p><p>"Kate would you prefer to dance instead? I'll dance with you, or you can dance with me I should say..."</p><p></p><p>Kate laughed and covered her face with her hands. "Stop! I'm fine. We're at the table, we're playing poker, and we’re slowing down on the bourbon so we don't give away our hands. Please just go on!" The elf says, "Slowing down? I think I need to drink twice as much so I have a chance!" Nanuet looks at his cards and says "When they are all the same color is that a good thing?" "Heh, could be. They need to be all the same shape too!" Jake laughs and slaps the table. Nanuet asks, "Same shape? All the cards are rectangles aren't they?"</p><p></p><p>Jake gives up. "Alright, enough of this poker, philosophy and is everyone OK chit chat. Everyone IS OK. Time to dance. I'll play for a bit." Jake gets up quickly and goes to the piano with his glass of bourbon. Jake starts playing and Ruby recognized the song. It was an old standard that she had sung early in the night, but somehow the style was different. She recognized the underlying melody, but there was a playful and uplifting quality to it. That and a whole lot more finger work was going on. It was nothing like the sweet, clear, and disciplined classical playing that Katherine could do. Though Ruby herself couldn't play the piano, she had been around enough to recognize the small bits of classical training that she heard peaking through the lively music coming from his playing. It wasn't quite as good as Katherine’s playing but it was enjoyable. </p><p></p><p>Kate sat at the table with a stunned look on her face for a few moments. She thinks to herself, “How did a simple ‘I don't care to play,’ turn into the game breaking up? Maybe it's because I'm still sober, or more likely because they are all drunk." Nanuet offers his arm to Minerva. "I won't admit to being much of a dancer, but I am willing to have some fun and act like I know what I am doing. Care to join me?" </p><p></p><p>Ginnie watched the adults with an eye to their interactions with Ma'am Kate thinking about heading back to the keyboard now would be the time to talk to Miss Ruby. But she realizes that Ruby is well on her way to a happy drunk. "Well no time like the present" Ginnie thinks to herself "Everyone here knows about he magic so this is as good a place as any to start with. I'll just try cleaning up that table and if I end up setting it on fire or anything Ma'am Kate is here to fix it so I should be ok." </p><p></p><p>Ginnie focused on the lay lines that crossed the room, weaving the energy just like she would for a piece of lace crossing and twisting it creating the spell until she knew that the forces around her would do her bidding. The words, candance and intonation that she had heard Ruby use came to her with no problem as she released the forces she had formed to do her bidding. It was harder than Ginnie expected to control the spell but it did work. She realized that she could do the magic she just needed time to work on it.</p><p></p><p>Ruby was watching Jake play while out of the corner of her eye she saw Ginnie trying to cast a spell. It was successful, and the table was cleaned. Ruby smiles and as she is walking her way over to Jake she says to Ginnie quietly, "Good job..." The girl looks up at Ruby and she winks. Ruby stands next to Jake at the piano. "Good job, baby. I like your playing. Play some fun songs and I'll sing." Jake plays some more rowdy saloon songs and Ruby happily sings along. </p><p></p><p>Kate was looking around the room when she noticed Ginnie making some subtle but familiar gestures, then the table she was standing next to was clean. Thankfully Minerva had been distracted dancing with Nanuet. Katherine got up and hurried over as Ruby passed the girl on her way to the piano. "Ginnie, come with me please." She hurried the girl over to a quiet corner by the kitchen, then got down on her knees so she could look in her eyes. "That was incredibly dangerous Ginnie," she said seriously. "We hardly know Miss Florencia, but we do know she is a Priestess. She doesn't know about me or Ruby. Beside the fact that you have no formal training, to be caught is dangerous for you, for me, and for my teacher. Please don't... don't frighten me like that Ginnie."</p><p></p><p>Ginnie replies, “I was careful Ma'am Kate. After all magic is magic, priest or magician you take the energy around you and fold it into what you need it to do. She wasn't paying attention and if anyone didn't know what I was doing they would have just thought I cleaned the table with this rag. How am I ever going to get good at it if I don't get a chance to practice? There really isn't anyone here who doesn't understand people using magic and if Mr. Jake didn't see it why would anyone else? You saw because you watch me all the time. Miss Ruby saw and said I did a good job! I made sure that she was close enough to stop any problems that might happened. And after all I just cleaned the table I didn't try the transport spell or anything big.” </p><p></p><p>Kate answers, "It's not that simple, Ginnie. There is a great deal you don't know, and as much as magic of any kind may be similar, people have a great many prejudices. And those prejudices can get you killed." Kate hugged the girl tightly. "Please, no more until we can talk to Mr. Gonzales. I love you, and I don't want you to get hurt. I don't think I could.... just wait a few days, alright?" </p><p></p><p>After a while Ruby walks over to Chester and asks him to dance. They dance around the floor, Chester tripping Ruby only a few times (or maybe it was the other way around). Ruby giggles and they talk about Clarisse, with Chester impressing Ruby with the fact they have a date the next night. "Hey Chet, why don't you ask Kate to dance, I'm going to dance with Nanuet." Ruby approaches Nanuet, "Will you dance with me?" "Excuse me Miss Minerva." Turning to Ruby Nanuet winks and says "It would be an honor Miss Ruby." Nanuet puts his right hand on Ruby's hip and lifts his left arm to about shoulder height. As Ruby reaches for his hand Nanuet switches hands several times with a confused look on his face. Finally Ruby grabs his wrists and guides his hands to the proper position. </p><p></p><p>The two sloppily dance around the saloon, as Jake continued to play in his lighthearted style. As they moved around the floor they watched Jake's hands dance lively over the keys, transforming the somewhat staid old standard into a lively toe tapping little tune. Ruby's innate musical ability and years of experience told her quickly that he was improvising most of what he was playing, the only remnant of the original song was the underlying melody. She almost wanted to stop dancing and watch, transfixed on how nimble the hands traveled pleasantly but unorthodoxly across the ivories. </p><p></p><p>Suddenly Nanuet's feet get tangled and he stumbles to the ground, interrupting Ruby's fixation on Jake and pulling her down with him. Nanuet immediately scrambles over to the fallen beauty and says "Oh Miss Ruby, I am so sorry! Are you OK? I think I fell, I mean I think I made you fall, I mean..." He stands up and offers to help Ruby off the floor.</p><p></p><p>"Oowww. I don't think I had enough to drink to break that fall." Ruby rubs her butt then laughs. "It's ok, Nanuet, I know you didn't mean to throw me on the floor." Before she can say anything else the two puppies come running over and start jumping on Ruby and licking her. Ruby giggles uncontrollably, "Help me up before I drown!" She takes his Nanuet's hand and lets him help her up. "Maybe I should teach you how to dance. What do you think?" She smiles at him sweetly, "But maybe not tonight. I'm sure my alcohol consumption contributed to that accident." The pups are still running around their feet, nipping at them.</p><p></p><p>The elf says, "I suppose it could come in handy sooner or later. Learning how to dance that is. In the meantime, let me deal with these little rascals." Nanuet begins speaking to the dogs in his native tongue. The dogs seem to respond a bit but they are too excited to pay full attention. He heads towards the back door with the pups eagerly following. "I am going to take them for a stroll. Be right back."</p><p></p><p>"Good idea, thanks Nanuet." Ruby sees Kate lecturing Ginnie in the corner and she wanders over to them. "Kate, please come dance with me. Chester is dancing with Minerva and I already had my nightly fill of being thrown to the floor by Nanuet. Please," Ruby gives her a big smile. Kate wiped her eyes a bit and let go of Ginnie. "If you promise not to step on my toes, I'll dance, Ruby."</p><p></p><p>Ginnie hugs Kate back and smiles as she goes to dance with Miss Ruby. "Ok" she thinks to herself "no more new spells until we see Mr. Gonzalas. But I didn't promise anything about this one and I know I need to work on it. So I'll just play with it when no one is around it's a lot more fun than cleaning my room another way." With that she smiles to herself and watches as the adults dance wishing she had something other than two left feet. "I promise Kate, let's go." Ruby takes Kate's arm and guides her away from Ginnie, but turns her head and winks at the girl. She mouths the word, "Tomorrow," to her as she walks with Kate. </p><p></p><p>Nanuet watches the dogs play outside and takes in the cooler night air. After a few minutes he comes back inside, puppies in tow. He finds a few appropriate treats and hands them to the puppies careful not to get his fingers nipped. As he pets the dogs he watches his friends around the room. He notices Ginnie standing on the side watching the dance floor. He gets up and makes his way over to her. </p><p></p><p>Nanuet asks, "Ginnie, would you care to take a turn on the dance floor?" She replies, I'd love to but I can't dance at all. I have two left feet and no rhythm, can't even clap to music and get it right. I love music but I can't hold a tune in a bucket. I'm more likely to hurt you than anything but watching is fun. I'll try if you want but you might want to keep that healing spell you use ready.” He answers, "I have thick skin, I don't break so easily." Nanuet fingers the totem around his neck. "And I have this on standby if needed." he says with a laugh. Nanuet leads the young girl out on the dance floor and bows low before they start dancing. The two dance slowly, and a bit clumsily but it is obvious to anyone watching that they are both having fun.</p><p></p><p>Ruby asks, "You would like to lead or follow, Mrs. Kale?" "Follow please, I never learned the man's part." Kate laughed. "Just try not to knock me over." Ruby grabs Kate and starts spinning her around. "And why would I knock you over? I've been dancing almost my whole life. I even used to get paid to do it, although not quite like this," Ruby giggles. Kate asks, "Did you dance on stage then, like Alexsis did when she was here? Or like the girls in New Orleans?" "Oh I never told you about my dancing career?" Ruby continues to dance Kate around the floor. "Yes I used to dance on the stage like Alexsis and the girls in New Orleans..." Ruby stops talking and Kate can tell she is thinking something over, before she continues slowly, "And I used to do some more, uh, private dancing, too." "Private dancing...." Kate repeated slowly. "You mean one man would pay you to dance with him? Or, or for him?" She answers, "Both."</p><p></p><p>Kate asks, “And you've worked in places like the Palace, haven't you? Worked like the girls at the El Parador work," Kate said, her hands shaking slightly. "Yes," Ruby replies slowly, "I used to work at places like the Palace. I told you I danced and I would sing too, but mostly danced." Ruby shakes her head then stops dancing. "What does it matter what I did to get by?" "It doesn't," Kate said softly, laying her hand on Ruby's cheek. "I just hate to think of you having to do those things...But you came here for a different life, and you are building it. And only one man gets Miss Ruby West's attention now.”</p><p>"Yes," Ruby says softly, as she watches Jake deftly play the piano, "One man has my attention... As for the rest, we can talk about that another time. After all, tonight is for fun." The smile comes back on Ruby's face and she twirls Kate around in a quick circle. Kate put her hand back in Ruby's and let her spin her around the floor. Ruby would tell her the rest when she was ready; Kate was just happy she was willing to tell this much. </p><p></p><p>Her smile came back as they whirled around the room to Jake's lively playing. "Thank you, Ruby. I don't dance enough these days, and you're the only one who asks!" She replies, "Oh that's because I know you don't want the attention of strange men so I make sure to keep them away with a threatening glance when you're not looking," Ruby teases. Then she giggles again before dipping Kate. "Besides, it's funnier this way..." “Funnier?" Kate laughed. "I doubt anyone's really looking Ruby. It's not that I don't like a little attention now and then, but attention from men here usually means buying a girl and drink and trying to pinch her. That kind of attention I don't want."</p><p></p><p>Ruby says, "First of all, you are wrong about men looking. This is the last time I will yell at you for saying that! Conrad looks, and you can't deny it so don't even try. Getting pinched is a compliment, it means someone thinks you have something worth pinching. And the same thing with buying a drink, they wouldn't offer if they didn't want to share a drink with you. You can't be picky about the kind of attention you get, we're in the west, not in stuffy New York or Boston. Out here men buy drinks and pinch to show their affections instead of doing the stupid courting stuff and you're just going to have to get used to it!"</p><p></p><p>Kate answers, "Ruby, you don't need to get so worked up about it. I fail to see how making it hard to sit is a sign of affection. It is impossible for a man I've never met to have 'affection' for me. If he's pinching it's because he wants something else. And I realize the courting I know wouldn't work here, but it's all like a foreign language. And Conrad," Kate stopped as she seemed to run out of steam. "Oh Ruby, I'm so confused. Maybe tomorrow afternoon we could have a talk."</p><p></p><p>Ruby giggled again. "I am NOT worked up Kate, only explaining to you how things work around here is all. You need to lighten up." Ruby glances at Jake, still playing the piano. "Yes, let's talk about Conrad, tomorrow, we can straighten you right out about him" she says somewhat distracted. She looks back at Kate. "I suppose that would be before my date with Mr. Eastman." Ruby shivers at the thought. "Would you play for Jake and I? I'll ask him if he wants to dance with me if you will."</p><p></p><p>Kate says, "Of course I'll play Ruby, that's something I do know how to do." "Oh Kate you know how to do plenty. Look at what a good dancer you are too!" Ruby gives her a little kiss on the cheek. Then she whispers, "Make sure to play some slow ones at the end..." and she skips off to the piano. For the second time that night she comes up behind Jake and wraps her arms around him. He continues his lively play as Ruby kisses him and tries to distract him. "Come and dance with me now, you've played enough..."</p><p></p><p>"Alright, alright, I'll dance. Who's going to play the piano? Does anyone besides Katherine know how?" Jake says as he gets off the bench taking his empty glass with him. "I have no idea, I haven't seen anyone else play and Kate said she would." Ruby shrugs, "But I don't want to force to you dance with me and if you want to keep playing go ahead. You're doing a great job at it, I knew you could really play." She turns and starts walking back to the table to refill her drink.</p><p></p><p>Jake follows her over holds his glass out after she fills hers. "Force me Miss West? Not hardly, just got carried away with the piano playing. I don't get to do that much any more. Didn't realize I missed it." He drinks some bourbon and puts his glass down. "Ready?" "Well then maybe you should play more often Mr. Cook. I insist on it." Ruby drinks her bourbon, then places her glass down. "I'm ready," she smiles and takes his arm.</p><p></p><p>Whether it was the drink, Katherine’s lively piano, the evening or their general lack of inhibitions; Jake and Ruby danced in great circles around their friends with exaggerated motions and much twirling, swirling and spinning. There was occasional bumping of a chair or friend, but the pair quickly recovered almost daring the floor to pluck them from their orbit around the room. "My goodness Miss West," Jake says panting and a light sweat glistening on his forehead, "you dance divinely."</p><p></p><p>Ruby wipes her hand gently across Jake's forehead. "Thank you," she whispers, looking up at him, "We dance well together, Mr. Cook." She puts her hands on his face and gives him a soft kiss. With a twinkle in her eye she says, "And now I'll wait until you're ready for bed." She leans up against the bar and slowly sips at her drink. He replies, “"Let's stay up just a little bit longer, but not too long, eh?" Jake has a few more drinks, and dances with Minerva and even Ginnie. More accurately, he danced with Ginnie on his feet. "Katherine, we'll have to teach someone else to play the piano, or else we'll never get to dance." Jake tells her and sits down next to her at the piano. "But it's getting late tonight, and I am just about ready to call it a night."</p><p></p><p>"Yes, it's getting late. Playing for all of you is no hardship, I enjoy it. We'll have to get Mr. Gonzales next time. He can't really play, but he can do a good imitation. I haven't seen much of you lately, you're almost a stranger." "Well Mrs. Kale we will have to rectify that. I'll try and stay out of jail and such and you'll have to come by and socialize more often." Jake holds up his glass and says, "To knowing me as well as you dare!" He grins and downs it. "You may regret that toast, Mr. Cook. I seem to be daring a lot more than I used to lately." "I believe that you are, Katherine Kale, and it becomes you." Jake replies with no hint of sarcasm. </p><p></p><p>Kate smiled and laid a hand on Jake’s arm for a moment as the other continued to play. She brought the hand back but kept looking at Jake and said, "I understand you had a talk with Conrad. He said you sounded rather like a father," she laughed. Jake laughs too. He stops to answer and then laughs again. "That is the funniest thing I've heard in a long time. I only meant to tell him that you have friends that wouldn't take kindly if he didn't have your best interests at heart, and that they would welcome him if he did." Jake scratches his beard a couple of times and grins, "Probably didn't come out that way." He shrugs. </p><p></p><p>She calmed her own laughter enough to say, "It came out fine, he told me not to be mad at you about it. But I do appreciate it," she added more seriously. "It's a little bit like having my brothers back." Probably a little drunker than he would admit, Jake's laughter fades to a more serious expression. He reaches behind him and removes a safely hidden small leather wallet and removes a picture. He looks at it for a moment before handing it to Katherine. In her hand is a small well-worn photograph of a slight young woman with dark eyes, long dark hair and a milky-pale complexion. Hand written on the back is 'I love you Jacob, Virginia'. Though not like looking in the mirror, Katherine is slightly startled to see a close resemblance to herself. "My sister." Jake says quietly. </p><p></p><p>"She's lovely," Kate said with a little smile. "You love her, and miss her very much, don't you? What happened to her?" Jake takes the picture back and puts it away. "I assume she is still in Philadelphia. I don't know. I think about her a lot." He stands. "Last time I saw her I had interrupted some wedding plans. It was all for the best." Jake forces a yawn. "You have a pleasant night's sleep, we'll have to do this again soon. What good is owning a saloon if you can't enjoy it." "Not much good at all," she answered lightly. Katherine took his hand and kissed his cheek. "Good night, Jake."</p><p></p><p>Ruby chats with Nanuet while Jake dances with Minerva. She thanks him for taking good care of the puppies and for being a good friend, but she feels the message is lost on Nanuet in his current state. Ruby quietly watches Jake dance with Ginnie. He is tender and silly with her, and Ruby is surprised to find it a very endearing moment. A smile comes unbidden to her face and Ruby does not stop it. She bids Chester goodnight also and he promises to make sure Nanuet, Minerva, Kate and Ginnie all get home safe. Kate is talking with Jake, and as Ruby walks by gives Kate’s shoulder a squeeze and whispers goodnight. A quick wave to Minerva and she leaves the room. Ruby makes her way upstairs to their room, with the puppies in tow.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Silver Moon, post: 2471220, member: 8530"] [B]Chapter 50, “A Night of Fun Among Friends”, Wednesday, March 15th , 1882:[/B] After Jake thanks and says his goodnights to the players he meanders over to the bar, grabs a bottle of whiskey and bourbon and returns to the table that Nanuet, Minerva and Ruby are sitting at. Chester is somewhere with Clairese, but Jake didn't notice where. He puts the bottles on the table, leaving the bourbon closer to he and Ruby. Putting a deck of cards on the table he says to Senorita Florencia, "Still want to learn how to play poker?" "I was just going to say Minerva that this is the man you want to ask about Poker." Nanuet says, pointing to Jake. "I never learned the game as most people wouldn't sit at the table with an Indian, so I never bothered. Can't say gambling holds much appeal to me either, so I guess it worked out for the best." Nanuet sits at the table willing to keep the others company as Jake begins his poker lessons. Minerva pulls her chair up closer to the table taking the bottle from Jake she pours herself a generous serving "I am very excited to learn. Nanuet was unable to explain the rules to me but perhaps we can both learn!" Jake lays the cards out face up on the table. "Five cards are dealt. You try and make the best hand of five cards you can. We usually play draw poker, so we'll stick with that. You get one chance to discard and draw some new cards." Jake then begins rearranging the cards on the table to create groups of hands in order of lower to higher. "One pair, two pair, three of a kind, ...." He continues through all the hands while he and Ruby answers questions. "We'll cover betting in a little while. Oh, and never draw to an inside straight UNLESS you are absolutely sure the goddess has stacked the deck." Jake laughs. Minerva raises her eyebrows at Jake. " The Goddess always stacks the deck, Senor, but not always in ones favor." Minerva looks at Jake with a sly look " You know Senor Jake it never hurts to stack the deck in your favor. Perhaps if you held a game night where you give the proceeds to the church building fund. You would earn the favor of the more people in Promise City. You may find that this not only will draw a larger crowd to your saloon but could make things easier for you in other ways." "And what ways are you referring to, Miss Minerva, if I may ask?" Ruby does not look up from her hand. "Seeing as how most of the people who want a church are the kind of people who don't want our sort around anyway, I can't see how having a card game here for them would make things easier on us..." Ruby glances up quickly then back again to her hand. "But do we have to talk business? I thought we were going to relax tonight?" Ruby again pours herself a large glass of bourbon and starts working on it quickly. As the poker lessons began, Katherine and Ginnie got the saloon cleaned up and ready for the next day. Not feeling like playing cards, Kate then sat down at the piano. She played quietly, beginning with an Irish song Tom had taught her, but then meandering away, playing as her fancy took her. It was a habit that had frustrated her teachers, who felt their job was to teach her to play the classics, not produce her own compositions. There was happy laughter behind her, and a few minutes later Ginnie sat down on the bench next to her. She sighed contentedly and played on. Now that the place was empty except for the help and his friends Nanuet relaxes considerably. "How do you find that bourbon? I have always preferred whiskey, but you two (pointing to Ruby and Jake) seem to have a taste for that stuff. Let me try it." Nanuet pours himself a glass from Ruby's bottle and sips lightly tasting the liquor. "Well, it's not too bad. I'll have to add it to my short list of vices." Nanuet says with a smile. "Tell me Nanuet, how does one get a short list of vices? My list seems to be growing considerably, to my downfall I'm afraid." Ruby has a grin on her face but she looks to Nanuet, expecting an answer. Nanuet blinks, not expecting that question and not having an immediate answer. He hems and haws for a moment, then replies blankly. "Well, one keeps themselves busy with work. That leaves little time for vices." Ruby nearly spits her drink out. "Work! No wonder I'm a lost cause. I might as well admit my vices will eventually get the best of me and enjoy the ride then, eh?" She finishes her bourbon and pours another one. "I think Ruby, that you will find that "civilized" people like Mrs. King hide behind their moral outrage as a way to gain power. It is not your vices that they object to but the idea that they are not in control. It makes them uneasy. But not all of the people who want the church are like Mrs. King. Some genuinely want to help the community grow. I think that you will find that those kind of people have no objection to "your sort". And hopefully not to my sort either." Minerva continues to deal the cards. "But you are right this is not the time to discuss business. The idea just popped into my head. I apologize if I offended you." Nanuet laughs heartily. "I think it takes a lot more than that to offend Ruby Miss Minerva." Ruby laughs too. "Nanuet is right, it does take a lot more than that to offend me, Senorita, I think that's what you say. But I will say that there are a lot of civilized people hiding behind their outrage in this town, people who judge you without even meeting or knowing you. Take your Mr. Lacey, for example. He was quick to judge me based on some false accusations, without ever asking if they were true. At any rate, I don't envy you, you have a hard job ahead of you." "I think we're missing all the fun, Ginnie," Kate said as she finished playing. "But it was nice to play just for myself for a little while." She got up and took a seat at the table with her friends, waving the cards away when Jake moved to deal her in. "Welcome back Katherine. I was just about to propose a toast. "To enjoying the ride!" "Minerva raises her glass. "Jake, deal her in anyway, I'll help her." Ruby turns to Kate. "Don't you think you should learn how to play? I mean, it is what Mr. Booth does for a living..." Ruby is saved by Minerva's toast. Ruby giggles at it and raises her glass, "To enjoying the ride!" She downs her drink and realizes she is already enjoying it, having that happy fuzzy feeling. "Now, poker isn't really about the cards, its about people. You have to learn to play the people at your table and be able to read them. Everyone does something to give themselves and the cards they have away, even the best poker players." "For example, Chester here gets a good hand and reaches for his drink, every time. When he is trying to bluff he adjusts his collar." Ruby shrugs. "Sorry Chet, but you do. And Minerva, you and Kate are the same. You both smile when you get good cards. That's a fairly obvious giveaway," Ruby giggles again. "But poor Nanuet. I could probably tell you his exact hand by reading his face. The whole lot of you need to work on your poker faces." While Ruby was distracted with the toast, Kate again indicated not to deal her in. "I already know how to play, you taught me yourself Ruby, remember? I just don't care to tonight. I'll watch everyone instead, and see if I can spot how they give themselves away." "Kate, playing once does not make you know the game! Poker is something you need to practice at. And if you are going to play, you'd better be good. Believe me I learned that the hard way." Nanuet looks at his cards and looks back at Ruby. "I am glad you can tell what cards I have, because I sure can't!" "What's the matter Miss Kate? Just a friendly game, why don't you want to play?" Kate sighed. "There's nothing the matter, I'm fine. I just don't particularly like poker. Really, nothing more than that. Please go on with the game." Jake interjects, "Katherine, when you sit at Mr. Booth's table it's good that you at least know the basics and the etiquette. I believe it is a way of telling him you appreciate his friendship and respect his table." Jake cuts the deck, does a fancy bridge and shuffle and produces the ace of spades from the deck. He flips it around with his fingers before returning it to the deck. "Thanks for entertaining us on the piano by the way." She exclaims, "Alright Jake, you win. But you all need to learn to take no for an answer now and then. You read a bit too much into the word. As for the piano I was really just playing for myself, but it's nice to hear someone else enjoyed it as well." Jake manages to get a glass from the rapidly diminishing bourbon bottle. "You can tell quite a bit about someone from their behavior at a poker table. Sometimes it's subtle, other times not. Ruby is right that everyone gives away something, even the best. You'll pardon me if I don't care to discuss mine." Jake just smiles. Ruby raises her glass, "Mr. Cook's poker wisdom! I'd like to hear more of your analysis about that some time." She hiccups and takes a sip. "Kate would you prefer to dance instead? I'll dance with you, or you can dance with me I should say..." Kate laughed and covered her face with her hands. "Stop! I'm fine. We're at the table, we're playing poker, and we’re slowing down on the bourbon so we don't give away our hands. Please just go on!" The elf says, "Slowing down? I think I need to drink twice as much so I have a chance!" Nanuet looks at his cards and says "When they are all the same color is that a good thing?" "Heh, could be. They need to be all the same shape too!" Jake laughs and slaps the table. Nanuet asks, "Same shape? All the cards are rectangles aren't they?" Jake gives up. "Alright, enough of this poker, philosophy and is everyone OK chit chat. Everyone IS OK. Time to dance. I'll play for a bit." Jake gets up quickly and goes to the piano with his glass of bourbon. Jake starts playing and Ruby recognized the song. It was an old standard that she had sung early in the night, but somehow the style was different. She recognized the underlying melody, but there was a playful and uplifting quality to it. That and a whole lot more finger work was going on. It was nothing like the sweet, clear, and disciplined classical playing that Katherine could do. Though Ruby herself couldn't play the piano, she had been around enough to recognize the small bits of classical training that she heard peaking through the lively music coming from his playing. It wasn't quite as good as Katherine’s playing but it was enjoyable. Kate sat at the table with a stunned look on her face for a few moments. She thinks to herself, “How did a simple ‘I don't care to play,’ turn into the game breaking up? Maybe it's because I'm still sober, or more likely because they are all drunk." Nanuet offers his arm to Minerva. "I won't admit to being much of a dancer, but I am willing to have some fun and act like I know what I am doing. Care to join me?" Ginnie watched the adults with an eye to their interactions with Ma'am Kate thinking about heading back to the keyboard now would be the time to talk to Miss Ruby. But she realizes that Ruby is well on her way to a happy drunk. "Well no time like the present" Ginnie thinks to herself "Everyone here knows about he magic so this is as good a place as any to start with. I'll just try cleaning up that table and if I end up setting it on fire or anything Ma'am Kate is here to fix it so I should be ok." Ginnie focused on the lay lines that crossed the room, weaving the energy just like she would for a piece of lace crossing and twisting it creating the spell until she knew that the forces around her would do her bidding. The words, candance and intonation that she had heard Ruby use came to her with no problem as she released the forces she had formed to do her bidding. It was harder than Ginnie expected to control the spell but it did work. She realized that she could do the magic she just needed time to work on it. Ruby was watching Jake play while out of the corner of her eye she saw Ginnie trying to cast a spell. It was successful, and the table was cleaned. Ruby smiles and as she is walking her way over to Jake she says to Ginnie quietly, "Good job..." The girl looks up at Ruby and she winks. Ruby stands next to Jake at the piano. "Good job, baby. I like your playing. Play some fun songs and I'll sing." Jake plays some more rowdy saloon songs and Ruby happily sings along. Kate was looking around the room when she noticed Ginnie making some subtle but familiar gestures, then the table she was standing next to was clean. Thankfully Minerva had been distracted dancing with Nanuet. Katherine got up and hurried over as Ruby passed the girl on her way to the piano. "Ginnie, come with me please." She hurried the girl over to a quiet corner by the kitchen, then got down on her knees so she could look in her eyes. "That was incredibly dangerous Ginnie," she said seriously. "We hardly know Miss Florencia, but we do know she is a Priestess. She doesn't know about me or Ruby. Beside the fact that you have no formal training, to be caught is dangerous for you, for me, and for my teacher. Please don't... don't frighten me like that Ginnie." Ginnie replies, “I was careful Ma'am Kate. After all magic is magic, priest or magician you take the energy around you and fold it into what you need it to do. She wasn't paying attention and if anyone didn't know what I was doing they would have just thought I cleaned the table with this rag. How am I ever going to get good at it if I don't get a chance to practice? There really isn't anyone here who doesn't understand people using magic and if Mr. Jake didn't see it why would anyone else? You saw because you watch me all the time. Miss Ruby saw and said I did a good job! I made sure that she was close enough to stop any problems that might happened. And after all I just cleaned the table I didn't try the transport spell or anything big.” Kate answers, "It's not that simple, Ginnie. There is a great deal you don't know, and as much as magic of any kind may be similar, people have a great many prejudices. And those prejudices can get you killed." Kate hugged the girl tightly. "Please, no more until we can talk to Mr. Gonzales. I love you, and I don't want you to get hurt. I don't think I could.... just wait a few days, alright?" After a while Ruby walks over to Chester and asks him to dance. They dance around the floor, Chester tripping Ruby only a few times (or maybe it was the other way around). Ruby giggles and they talk about Clarisse, with Chester impressing Ruby with the fact they have a date the next night. "Hey Chet, why don't you ask Kate to dance, I'm going to dance with Nanuet." Ruby approaches Nanuet, "Will you dance with me?" "Excuse me Miss Minerva." Turning to Ruby Nanuet winks and says "It would be an honor Miss Ruby." Nanuet puts his right hand on Ruby's hip and lifts his left arm to about shoulder height. As Ruby reaches for his hand Nanuet switches hands several times with a confused look on his face. Finally Ruby grabs his wrists and guides his hands to the proper position. The two sloppily dance around the saloon, as Jake continued to play in his lighthearted style. As they moved around the floor they watched Jake's hands dance lively over the keys, transforming the somewhat staid old standard into a lively toe tapping little tune. Ruby's innate musical ability and years of experience told her quickly that he was improvising most of what he was playing, the only remnant of the original song was the underlying melody. She almost wanted to stop dancing and watch, transfixed on how nimble the hands traveled pleasantly but unorthodoxly across the ivories. Suddenly Nanuet's feet get tangled and he stumbles to the ground, interrupting Ruby's fixation on Jake and pulling her down with him. Nanuet immediately scrambles over to the fallen beauty and says "Oh Miss Ruby, I am so sorry! Are you OK? I think I fell, I mean I think I made you fall, I mean..." He stands up and offers to help Ruby off the floor. "Oowww. I don't think I had enough to drink to break that fall." Ruby rubs her butt then laughs. "It's ok, Nanuet, I know you didn't mean to throw me on the floor." Before she can say anything else the two puppies come running over and start jumping on Ruby and licking her. Ruby giggles uncontrollably, "Help me up before I drown!" She takes his Nanuet's hand and lets him help her up. "Maybe I should teach you how to dance. What do you think?" She smiles at him sweetly, "But maybe not tonight. I'm sure my alcohol consumption contributed to that accident." The pups are still running around their feet, nipping at them. The elf says, "I suppose it could come in handy sooner or later. Learning how to dance that is. In the meantime, let me deal with these little rascals." Nanuet begins speaking to the dogs in his native tongue. The dogs seem to respond a bit but they are too excited to pay full attention. He heads towards the back door with the pups eagerly following. "I am going to take them for a stroll. Be right back." "Good idea, thanks Nanuet." Ruby sees Kate lecturing Ginnie in the corner and she wanders over to them. "Kate, please come dance with me. Chester is dancing with Minerva and I already had my nightly fill of being thrown to the floor by Nanuet. Please," Ruby gives her a big smile. Kate wiped her eyes a bit and let go of Ginnie. "If you promise not to step on my toes, I'll dance, Ruby." Ginnie hugs Kate back and smiles as she goes to dance with Miss Ruby. "Ok" she thinks to herself "no more new spells until we see Mr. Gonzalas. But I didn't promise anything about this one and I know I need to work on it. So I'll just play with it when no one is around it's a lot more fun than cleaning my room another way." With that she smiles to herself and watches as the adults dance wishing she had something other than two left feet. "I promise Kate, let's go." Ruby takes Kate's arm and guides her away from Ginnie, but turns her head and winks at the girl. She mouths the word, "Tomorrow," to her as she walks with Kate. Nanuet watches the dogs play outside and takes in the cooler night air. After a few minutes he comes back inside, puppies in tow. He finds a few appropriate treats and hands them to the puppies careful not to get his fingers nipped. As he pets the dogs he watches his friends around the room. He notices Ginnie standing on the side watching the dance floor. He gets up and makes his way over to her. Nanuet asks, "Ginnie, would you care to take a turn on the dance floor?" She replies, I'd love to but I can't dance at all. I have two left feet and no rhythm, can't even clap to music and get it right. I love music but I can't hold a tune in a bucket. I'm more likely to hurt you than anything but watching is fun. I'll try if you want but you might want to keep that healing spell you use ready.” He answers, "I have thick skin, I don't break so easily." Nanuet fingers the totem around his neck. "And I have this on standby if needed." he says with a laugh. Nanuet leads the young girl out on the dance floor and bows low before they start dancing. The two dance slowly, and a bit clumsily but it is obvious to anyone watching that they are both having fun. Ruby asks, "You would like to lead or follow, Mrs. Kale?" "Follow please, I never learned the man's part." Kate laughed. "Just try not to knock me over." Ruby grabs Kate and starts spinning her around. "And why would I knock you over? I've been dancing almost my whole life. I even used to get paid to do it, although not quite like this," Ruby giggles. Kate asks, "Did you dance on stage then, like Alexsis did when she was here? Or like the girls in New Orleans?" "Oh I never told you about my dancing career?" Ruby continues to dance Kate around the floor. "Yes I used to dance on the stage like Alexsis and the girls in New Orleans..." Ruby stops talking and Kate can tell she is thinking something over, before she continues slowly, "And I used to do some more, uh, private dancing, too." "Private dancing...." Kate repeated slowly. "You mean one man would pay you to dance with him? Or, or for him?" She answers, "Both." Kate asks, “And you've worked in places like the Palace, haven't you? Worked like the girls at the El Parador work," Kate said, her hands shaking slightly. "Yes," Ruby replies slowly, "I used to work at places like the Palace. I told you I danced and I would sing too, but mostly danced." Ruby shakes her head then stops dancing. "What does it matter what I did to get by?" "It doesn't," Kate said softly, laying her hand on Ruby's cheek. "I just hate to think of you having to do those things...But you came here for a different life, and you are building it. And only one man gets Miss Ruby West's attention now.” "Yes," Ruby says softly, as she watches Jake deftly play the piano, "One man has my attention... As for the rest, we can talk about that another time. After all, tonight is for fun." The smile comes back on Ruby's face and she twirls Kate around in a quick circle. Kate put her hand back in Ruby's and let her spin her around the floor. Ruby would tell her the rest when she was ready; Kate was just happy she was willing to tell this much. Her smile came back as they whirled around the room to Jake's lively playing. "Thank you, Ruby. I don't dance enough these days, and you're the only one who asks!" She replies, "Oh that's because I know you don't want the attention of strange men so I make sure to keep them away with a threatening glance when you're not looking," Ruby teases. Then she giggles again before dipping Kate. "Besides, it's funnier this way..." “Funnier?" Kate laughed. "I doubt anyone's really looking Ruby. It's not that I don't like a little attention now and then, but attention from men here usually means buying a girl and drink and trying to pinch her. That kind of attention I don't want." Ruby says, "First of all, you are wrong about men looking. This is the last time I will yell at you for saying that! Conrad looks, and you can't deny it so don't even try. Getting pinched is a compliment, it means someone thinks you have something worth pinching. And the same thing with buying a drink, they wouldn't offer if they didn't want to share a drink with you. You can't be picky about the kind of attention you get, we're in the west, not in stuffy New York or Boston. Out here men buy drinks and pinch to show their affections instead of doing the stupid courting stuff and you're just going to have to get used to it!" Kate answers, "Ruby, you don't need to get so worked up about it. I fail to see how making it hard to sit is a sign of affection. It is impossible for a man I've never met to have 'affection' for me. If he's pinching it's because he wants something else. And I realize the courting I know wouldn't work here, but it's all like a foreign language. And Conrad," Kate stopped as she seemed to run out of steam. "Oh Ruby, I'm so confused. Maybe tomorrow afternoon we could have a talk." Ruby giggled again. "I am NOT worked up Kate, only explaining to you how things work around here is all. You need to lighten up." Ruby glances at Jake, still playing the piano. "Yes, let's talk about Conrad, tomorrow, we can straighten you right out about him" she says somewhat distracted. She looks back at Kate. "I suppose that would be before my date with Mr. Eastman." Ruby shivers at the thought. "Would you play for Jake and I? I'll ask him if he wants to dance with me if you will." Kate says, "Of course I'll play Ruby, that's something I do know how to do." "Oh Kate you know how to do plenty. Look at what a good dancer you are too!" Ruby gives her a little kiss on the cheek. Then she whispers, "Make sure to play some slow ones at the end..." and she skips off to the piano. For the second time that night she comes up behind Jake and wraps her arms around him. He continues his lively play as Ruby kisses him and tries to distract him. "Come and dance with me now, you've played enough..." "Alright, alright, I'll dance. Who's going to play the piano? Does anyone besides Katherine know how?" Jake says as he gets off the bench taking his empty glass with him. "I have no idea, I haven't seen anyone else play and Kate said she would." Ruby shrugs, "But I don't want to force to you dance with me and if you want to keep playing go ahead. You're doing a great job at it, I knew you could really play." She turns and starts walking back to the table to refill her drink. Jake follows her over holds his glass out after she fills hers. "Force me Miss West? Not hardly, just got carried away with the piano playing. I don't get to do that much any more. Didn't realize I missed it." He drinks some bourbon and puts his glass down. "Ready?" "Well then maybe you should play more often Mr. Cook. I insist on it." Ruby drinks her bourbon, then places her glass down. "I'm ready," she smiles and takes his arm. Whether it was the drink, Katherine’s lively piano, the evening or their general lack of inhibitions; Jake and Ruby danced in great circles around their friends with exaggerated motions and much twirling, swirling and spinning. There was occasional bumping of a chair or friend, but the pair quickly recovered almost daring the floor to pluck them from their orbit around the room. "My goodness Miss West," Jake says panting and a light sweat glistening on his forehead, "you dance divinely." Ruby wipes her hand gently across Jake's forehead. "Thank you," she whispers, looking up at him, "We dance well together, Mr. Cook." She puts her hands on his face and gives him a soft kiss. With a twinkle in her eye she says, "And now I'll wait until you're ready for bed." She leans up against the bar and slowly sips at her drink. He replies, “"Let's stay up just a little bit longer, but not too long, eh?" Jake has a few more drinks, and dances with Minerva and even Ginnie. More accurately, he danced with Ginnie on his feet. "Katherine, we'll have to teach someone else to play the piano, or else we'll never get to dance." Jake tells her and sits down next to her at the piano. "But it's getting late tonight, and I am just about ready to call it a night." "Yes, it's getting late. Playing for all of you is no hardship, I enjoy it. We'll have to get Mr. Gonzales next time. He can't really play, but he can do a good imitation. I haven't seen much of you lately, you're almost a stranger." "Well Mrs. Kale we will have to rectify that. I'll try and stay out of jail and such and you'll have to come by and socialize more often." Jake holds up his glass and says, "To knowing me as well as you dare!" He grins and downs it. "You may regret that toast, Mr. Cook. I seem to be daring a lot more than I used to lately." "I believe that you are, Katherine Kale, and it becomes you." Jake replies with no hint of sarcasm. Kate smiled and laid a hand on Jake’s arm for a moment as the other continued to play. She brought the hand back but kept looking at Jake and said, "I understand you had a talk with Conrad. He said you sounded rather like a father," she laughed. Jake laughs too. He stops to answer and then laughs again. "That is the funniest thing I've heard in a long time. I only meant to tell him that you have friends that wouldn't take kindly if he didn't have your best interests at heart, and that they would welcome him if he did." Jake scratches his beard a couple of times and grins, "Probably didn't come out that way." He shrugs. She calmed her own laughter enough to say, "It came out fine, he told me not to be mad at you about it. But I do appreciate it," she added more seriously. "It's a little bit like having my brothers back." Probably a little drunker than he would admit, Jake's laughter fades to a more serious expression. He reaches behind him and removes a safely hidden small leather wallet and removes a picture. He looks at it for a moment before handing it to Katherine. In her hand is a small well-worn photograph of a slight young woman with dark eyes, long dark hair and a milky-pale complexion. Hand written on the back is 'I love you Jacob, Virginia'. Though not like looking in the mirror, Katherine is slightly startled to see a close resemblance to herself. "My sister." Jake says quietly. "She's lovely," Kate said with a little smile. "You love her, and miss her very much, don't you? What happened to her?" Jake takes the picture back and puts it away. "I assume she is still in Philadelphia. I don't know. I think about her a lot." He stands. "Last time I saw her I had interrupted some wedding plans. It was all for the best." Jake forces a yawn. "You have a pleasant night's sleep, we'll have to do this again soon. What good is owning a saloon if you can't enjoy it." "Not much good at all," she answered lightly. Katherine took his hand and kissed his cheek. "Good night, Jake." Ruby chats with Nanuet while Jake dances with Minerva. She thanks him for taking good care of the puppies and for being a good friend, but she feels the message is lost on Nanuet in his current state. Ruby quietly watches Jake dance with Ginnie. He is tender and silly with her, and Ruby is surprised to find it a very endearing moment. A smile comes unbidden to her face and Ruby does not stop it. She bids Chester goodnight also and he promises to make sure Nanuet, Minerva, Kate and Ginnie all get home safe. Kate is talking with Jake, and as Ruby walks by gives Kate’s shoulder a squeeze and whispers goodnight. A quick wave to Minerva and she leaves the room. Ruby makes her way upstairs to their room, with the puppies in tow. [/QUOTE]
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