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Wizards, Whiskey and Wonderful Things - Concluded
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<blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 2670974" data-attributes="member: 8530"><p><strong>Chapter 66, “Back from beyond the grave", Friday, March 17th, 1882, 11:00 A.M. </strong> </p><p></p><p>Once Minerva has seen that Ruby is safe she returns to the Comstock House to give thanks to the gods for the girl's safe return. During lunch she shares her ideas for a Dionysus Festival with Beatrice and then spends some time in the yard practicing with her rapier. After returning to Lori Gilson's for a much-needed bath, she braids her hair and dresses carefully in a simple deep green gown, which hugs her bodice and flares, at her tiny waist. Her only adornment is the familiar olive leaf pendant, which signifies her devotion to the Goddess Minerva. Placing her derringer in the secret pocket within the folds of her gown and hiding her silver dagger in her heeled boot her ensemble is complete. She clicks to Luna to follow, glances in the mirror and holds her head up high. There is a defiant look in her eyes and a regal air about her as she returns to the Palace Saloon in search of Senor Adair. </p><p></p><p>Minerva took a deep breath, squared her shoulders and walked briskly into the Palace saloon in search of Senor Adair. The Palace is open but only a few people are inside. Two are sitting at the bar drinking coffee. The other is behind the bar, but not somebody that she saw the night before. "Get you something Ma'am?" he asks. She replies, "Si Senor, Could you please inform Senor Adair that the Priestess Florencia has arrived."</p><p></p><p>He replies, "He's asleep, I have orders not to wake him. And didn't I hear that he threw you out of here last night?" Minerva hisses out a breath and prays for patience. "No senor, You are mistaken. It was I who had little time to spare for him." She taps her foot "As is now the case. It is unfortunate for him that he has not kept our appointment. I have attempted to be courteous but it appears that he is no more than a ruffian in gentleman's clothing. Please advise him that I will waste no more time on him. If he is interested in hearing my proposal he may attend the Merchants Committee meeting." She turns on her heel and heads for the door.</p><p></p><p>Kate had followed Jake and Ruby back to the Lucky Lady and watched Jake takes her upstairs. After a few minutes it was obvious they weren't coming back down. "They'll probably sleep most of the day. I suppose there's not much point to sitting around here waiting. I can't go talk to parents today, not looking like I do. But I do have a building to sell." Kate departs and runs some errands during the next hour. </p><p></p><p>After seeing that Ruby and Jake are settled in Nanuet heads back to the El Parador. "Dorita, is Sonoma out at the ranch? I will speak to her and see what she says. I am sure your grandfather is OK, but she might be able to tell me more details." Dorita replies, "No, I talk to her yesterday. He say he going to danger, not take her. Bring crazy Jiminez woman. I worry." He replies, "Well is there anything I can do to put your mind at ease? I know you are worried, but he is wiser now than he was in the past, that will help him. There is nothing you can do Dorita, worrying will help no one." Nanuet finally gives up after realized Dorita is not going to respond to his comforting.</p><p></p><p>Kate arrives and asks, "Nanuet, Chester, do you have any idea where I might find Patrick Seawell?" Chester thinks for a moment. "He might be at the smelters today. If not, he'll be at the mine. I can go out with you to the mine, if he's there." Nanuet says, "Sorry Miss Kate, off the top of my head I do not know." He returns to the Lucky Lady and takes the puppies out for some training.</p><p></p><p>She replies, "Thanks Chester, I appreciate that. I just need to get changed and then we can go to the smelters. I'm not sure I want to go out to the mine today, we'll see what happens at the smelters first." Kate and Chester then head off to the El Parador where Kate changed into the new leather clothes she'd bought from Frye's. She also snuck some time to study spells, just in case she should need them later. Once she was ready she went back downstairs to meet Chester. Kate and Chester arrive at the Breakheart Stamping Mill and Smelter. The Mine Foreman arrives and introduces himself as 'Boston' Harker in a voice thick with Boston accent.</p><p></p><p>Chester asks, "Morning Mr. Harker. Is Patrick Seawell here? We want to speak wit' him." Harker replies, "Said he'd be by mid-afternoon with another load of ore. Why don't you come back around two or three." Chester replies "OK. Thanks."</p><p></p><p>"Good morning," Katherine said in her own Bostonian accent. "How nice to hear a familiar accent. We'll be certain to stop by later, but if we happen to miss him, could you ask to him to stop by the El Parador and see Mrs. Kale please?" Kate waited a few moments and Harker didn't respond an odd look on his face. "Uh, Mr. Harker?" He exclaims, "Wow, you do sound like somebody from the old neighborhood! I'm from the North End, what part of the city are you from?" She says, "Beacon Hill. My husband ran a livery business, among other things. What brought you west?"</p><p></p><p>He says, "This'll probably sound silly to you but it was a hole in the ground. My father wanted to see the Grand Canyon before he died. We saw it, he went back east, I stayed." She says, "It's not silly at all, as good a reason as any. You must have liked it here, to leave him and stay. I find I like it here a great deal more than I thought I would. Although I imagine it's a bigger change for me." </p><p></p><p>He replies, "I like not having to shovel snow. And I like the work better here too. I never had a formal education, worked as a janitor in textile mill. Out here, this job, the main thing you need is common sense and the right attitude. Dangerous work here in the stamping mill but I love it."</p><p></p><p>"Yes, the lack of snow is rather nice, although I miss it a bit. It's hard to know it's spring when there's no snow to melt. I've gotten myself into a ranch, and I'm starting a school, so if you ever decide you'd like that education...." Kate left it hanging and smiled. "How is the work here dangerous? I don't know much about how smelting works." </p><p></p><p>Harker gives Kate and Chester a tour of the mill. The massive machinery essentially uses a combination of steam power and hydraulics to have huge pile-drivers mash the ore, which is then washed away into filers by water from the creek while more water pours onto the equipment to keep it from overheating. The room itself exceeds one hundred degrees and most of the men working inside are shirtless. He explains that it takes about an hour to process a ton of ore.</p><p></p><p>"It looks like most of the danger here is either getting something caught under those pile drivers, or heat prostration. It's hard work, sir, but honest. I'm not sure I understand liking it," she smiled. "I suppose Chester and I should be going and let you get back to your work. Thank you for your help, Mr. Harker. "I'm glad to have met you, Mr. Harker. We'll see each other again this afternoon, I'm sure." Kate and Chester walked outside the hot smelter. "Back to the Lucky Lady, Chester?" </p><p></p><p>He replies, "Yeah, it's about lunch time. So where was Ruby all this time? I hadn't heard what happened." "She was at Gilson's bath house," Kate said. "Apparently she was sick last night and stopped there. Mrs. Gilson got her cleaned up and put her to bed. She sent Dorita a note this morning to let her know where Ruby was." </p><p>Kate felt a bit strange in her leather pants and vest with the duster flapping around her legs as they walked. </p><p></p><p>Chester says, "That's good that she slept indoors last night. I was worried that she'd spent the night outside... Has anyone told the Marshall, so Mr. Eastman can get cut loose?" Kate answers, "I told the Marshall she was safe this morning. I couldn't tell him exactly where she was though. And for now it might be safer for Mr. Eastman to stay there until word that Ruby is fine filters through town. There are those that might still try to hurt him."</p><p></p><p>Back at the Lucky Lady Niles Hoover arrives and walks up to Nanuet, placing his hand on the Indian's shoulder. "I'm sorry, I just heard the news. Is Jake up to visiting Richard Lester or should I do that on his behalf?" Nanuet stands up from playing with the pups. "Huh? Oh, you mean about Ruby. I forgot that not everybody knows yet. We found her, safe and sound. No harm done. Let's just say she didn't have it in her to make it all the way home last night, so she found a safe place to rest till morning. She is upstairs right now, but I think her and Jake wish to not be disturbed right now."</p><p></p><p>Niles states, "What? But people saw Jake carrying her dead body back here, it's all around town. That was the last thing that halfling saw as he boarded the stage to Tombstone to go write the Ruby West Memorial Edition of his newspaper." Nanuet exclaims, "Oh, that's just perfect! That little one will spread it everywhere. I guess the stage is probably all the way to Tombstone by now. Jake is not going to be happy when he hears about this. Ruby was just too tired to walk home under her own power... what a mess!"</p><p></p><p>Niles says, "Yeah, but he won't be back here until tomorrow. We could probably stop him from printing it, Friday is that day that Wells Fargo make two stagecoach runs from Promise City to Tombstone." Seething with anger, and muttering un-Preistess-like oaths, Minerva stomps into the Lucky Lady. She orders a whiskey and sits staring out the window envisioning all the nasty things she would like to do to Senor Adair and the Vigilance Committee.</p><p></p><p>"Miss Minevera?" Nanuet turns to Niles and says "I don't speak Spanish, but that didn't sound like something a lady would normally say. Let me see what is going on with her." Nanuet heads over to the bar and grabs two more glasses of whiskey then sits down next to Minerva. "Something troubling you?" he says as he hands her a second glass of whiskey.</p><p></p><p>Minerva turns to him and looks at him over the rim of her glass. Her normally cheerful facade is shattered and her rich chocolate eyes are flashing in anger. She slams down her glass. "I have been here less than a week and there has been nothing but trouble! I have the narrow-minded power hungry Vigilance committee trying to dismiss me as a "misunderstanding" and now that dirty, no-good swine Senor Adair arghhh.... They are two sides of the same coin! I W i l l n o t be d i s m i s s ed. I will not tolerate it!</p><p></p><p>Hoover starts to laugh in response. She turns and gives him an icy stare. He says, "Sorry, but I found that funny. You seeing Adair and the Vigilance Committee as alike, they are probably about as opposite as you can find in this town. But if you aren't fond of Adair then join the club, Ruby and Jake have been scheming to put him out of business for a while now."</p><p></p><p>Minerva attempts to compose herself when she realizes that Nanuet is not alone. I apologize for my outburst Senor . I don't believe that we have been introduced. However if you are in agreement with my assessment of that snake in the grass, Senor Adair than I am certain that you are a man of good judgement. However I must disagree. Adair and the Committee although they have different goals are like two peas in a pod. " she continues to sip her drink thoughtfully and seethe.</p><p></p><p>He replies, "Niles Hoover Ma'am, I'm one of the owners of this place. I attended your worship service last Sunday, probably the only one of the Lucky Lady owners that you'll see regularly at services. I'm no fan of that Vigilance Committee either, as they want to prohibit alcoholic beverages and I run all of this town's liquor distribution."</p><p></p><p>"I am quite pleased to meet you Senor. why don't you sit and keep me company." Minerva states as she motions to the chair." Nanuet says, "So, what can we do to make sure you stay around for a while? This is not usually my area of expertise, but you can count me as one on your side for sure. I understand your problem and I we will do what we can to keep you in town."</p><p></p><p>Minerva takes his hand. "Gracias Senor Nanuet. . Although I have only been in town a short while you have proven to be a true and loyal friend." She smiles up at him and teases "I am grateful that you no longer consider me a stranger." I assure you I have no intention of leaving Promise City. It is important that the town does not fall under the power of the Vigilance Committee. I have been devising a plan..." She tells Nanuet and Mr. Hoover about her ideas for the Dionysus Festival. As she tell them of her plans her anger fades and her enthusiasm bubbles over.</p><p></p><p>She then asks, "Please, Senor Hoover, I am quite interested to know what you think of my ideas for the Festival. I really think that this would be a wonderful way to unite the town and show them that fun is not evil and can also be quite profitable to the local merchants. May I ask, are you on the Merchants committee? I need to meet with them and secure their cooperation if we are going to succeed in holding this celebration." Nanuet says, "Good. Well, right now however I have more urgent matters to attend to." Nanuet leaves his glass of whiskey for Minerva and scrambles up the stairs to Jake and Ruby's room. </p><p></p><p>Earlier, Jake had woken up early afternoon to find Ruby still sleeping. He washed some, puts on some clean clothes and wandered downstairs. There he had Maria make him a platter of leftover food and a pot of coffee. When it is ready he brought it upstairs, munching as he climbed. He poured a cup of the steaming brew and placed it next to Ruby on the nightstand, directing the vapors with his hand across Ruby's face. He sat in a stuffed chair with food on the side table. </p><p></p><p>He poured some whiskey into his coffee and slouches down comfortably in the chair before he says loudly, "It's time to wake up." Ruby smells the coffee and hears Jake's voice calling her. She opens her eyes slowly, but with much less effort than earlier. "Morning Jake." She sits up, a little too quickly, "Oohh, my head. I need this." She stays in bed but drinks her coffee. She looks at Jake to try to gauge his mood before saying anything further.</p><p></p><p>Jake finishes chewing his mouthful of food and washes it down with some of the whiskey coffee followed by a satisfying "Ahhhh." He watches Ruby watch him and decides to speak first. "You know if I hadn't spent all night worried sick that you might be hurt or worse, I'd probably contemplate killing you myself." He has another sip of coffee. "It's hard to stay angry under those circumstances. Not impossible mind you but hard." Just the hint of a smile breaks on one side of his face. </p><p></p><p>He continues "Apparently Eastman showed up at the Lucky Lady last night, drunk out of his mind looking for me. Folks thought they heard him saying something like 'I lost her' or 'She's gone forever' or some other such words. Next thing you know the whole town thinks he's killed Ruby West. The whole blasted town!" Jake takes another sip of coffee. "Now I don't give a rat's tail what the town thinks, except that the whole blasted town is telling me you are dead. That and Adair is the first one to tell me the news." He pauses and look down into his coffee. "So I spent the whole night walking around Promise City looking for you and wondering if I found you whether you would be alive or not." He stops gazing into the coffee and drinks some more. "So how was your night?"</p><p></p><p>"Dead? You thought I was dead?" Ruby is silent for a few moments, and she looks down at the sheets on the bed. "You really thought I was dead? What did Eastman think he was doing?" Ruby says to herself and shakes her head before looking up at Jake. "Uh, somehow sorry doesn't seem like enough. I was just, um, angry that you left me, after telling me not to leave you, that we had to stay together. And Kate was late, that was annoying. Plus I was, well, really upset over what I told you earlier. I don't feel like we finished talking about that."</p><p></p><p>She looks up, "So I went to the El Parador, but I didn't know he was going to be there. So I spent the time trying to convince him I wouldn't marry him. Then I found out the party that was going on was an engagement party... for the two of us. And I got really mad. And I embarrassed myself. And maybe you too." She blushes and looks away again. "Then I left to find you but I guess I uh, didn't make it home."</p><p></p><p>Jake comments, "Angry that I left you, after telling you not to leave me, that we had to stay together. I did say that. Then Nanuet was going to run off with Flint to either get shot up by the Cowboy Gang or shoot someone and get arrested. So I ran around the block to get the Marshall, so I could convince him to go with them and I could come back here. I couldn't find the Marshall, so I came back here to get YOU because I didn't want YOU to be alone and I needed YOUR help to keep OUR friend alive. I asked Minerva to keep Eastman away from you while I was gone around the block." </p><p></p><p>Jake downs the rest of the coffee and stands. "The whole damn think makes me angry." He walks over to the bed. "The whole damn thing makes me loco." He snatches the coffee out of her hands and places it with a loud 'thuck' on the nightstand. "And the whole damn thing pushes me right over the edge, and I should have done this earlier and not stewed about it!" His hands shoot out and grab her shoulders and he gives her a hard kiss right on the lips. "There! Damn you."</p><p></p><p>Ruby kisses him back before pushing him away slightly. "So... damn me what? What does that mean? Are you still angry with me?" "No." He says quickly. Then, "Yes. I mean no. Well yes, but no. Arrrrggg." He covers his head with his arms. "Of course I'm angry. And I was frightened." He sits on the bed with a dejected sigh. "And more relieved than I can possibly describe when I saw you sleeping in Laurie Gilson's bed. And I have already forgiven you but," his arms drop back to his sides, "things are going to change."</p><p></p><p>“It must have been horrible for you to think I was dead. I mean, I felt horrible watching you bleed to death. That’s the day I realized that I really cared for you, because I didn’t want to lose you. Was that how you felt Jake? I’m really sorry I did that to you.” Ruby starts biting her lip. "What's going to change?" she asks quietly.</p><p>Jake says, "I was hollow and angry and full of hate, plus I was," Jake puts his thumb and index finger a hairs breadth apart, "this close to killing Eastman. But that is not what I want to talk about." He takes a couple breaths.</p><p></p><p>"There is probably a lot to say between you and me. We don't have to rush we have plenty of time. It can be said when it feels right. What I need to say today is this; I was giving you all the freedom you wanted to keep you around as long as I could. No more. I can't do it. Things have changed for us, both of us. You are mine, Ruby West, mine. I'm not going to share you. You belong here. Just you and me. No more worrying that somebody is going to run, or somebody is sleeping with somebody else, or somebody is in love with somebody else. Done. I want to get back to enjoying every day with you, not trying to figure out how to keep you around another day, week or month." Jake looks at her with a blank expression that he then forces a smile upon. "Can we do that? Can we?"</p><p></p><p>Ruby is quiet and starts playing with her hair. "So, what you're saying is... you want me and you need me, Mr. Cook?" The grin starts growing on Ruby's face. "Can we do it? Do you think we can do it?" Ruby stands on the bed next to Jake and starts jumping. "Oh but I think it'll take lots of bribing... you know jewelry, perfume, clothes, drinking and dancing, puppies and sex, lots of sex," Ruby giggles. "Can you do that?"</p><p></p><p>"I'm not so sure about the puppies and sex part, but if we leave them out of the bed I can handle it." Jake puts his hands on his hips and smiles as she bounces. "Damn that bed really does squeak." "Not sure about the sex part? Wait a minute..." Ruby stops bouncing and gets a serious look on her face. "Are you sure you don't want to reconsider that?" She falls onto her knees on the bed. "I might have to reconsider my answer," she tries not to giggle again.</p><p></p><p>Jake shakes his head and laughs, "I am quite sure I can take care of your bedroom needs Ruby dear. I was just hoping that we could separate the puppies from that particular activity. I told you I don't want to share you, especially in bed." "Jake!" Ruby squeals while smacking him in the arm and more giggling. She continues to laugh for a few minutes before calming down. "I know I can do that Jake. If you know you can do it, then we can do it," she smiles at him. "Let's kiss on it then...." She leans half the way to Jake and waits for him to finish the distance.</p><p></p><p>Jake leans in readily and kisses her. Then slowly and insistently he pulls her off the bed to stand on the floor with him and kisses her again with his arms wrapped around her. "I can do this. I want to do this. I will do this." He kisses her again, and holds her for a while before he let's go and says, "There were a few other people who spent no small effort looking for you and worrying about you last night. I think you ought to get dressed and we can go down stairs for a little while and reassure them."</p><p></p><p>Downstairs, Kate and Chester walked into the Lucky Lady. As Kate and Chester entered the Lucky Lady, Miss Florencia was sitting at a table with Niles Hoover talking animatedly. Kate heard the named Dionysis several times, and she could only assume the Priestess was again talking about a festival. She smiled as they sat down at the table. Minerva says, "Buenos Tardes Senorita Kate and Senor Chester, Please join us! " I was just sharing my ideas for the Festival with Senor Hoover. He was just about to share his views on it. Chester takes a seat. "How is the planning going?"</p><p></p><p>Hoover states, "As for the Merchant's Association, I am and in good standing with them. Mr. Cook is a member too, but he tends to miss most of the meetings as they are held early in the morning. We will be meeting next week if there is anything in particular that you would like me to present. Personally, I think the celebration sounds great, and not just because I'll sell lots of alcohol. I believe in the gods, they've always steered me right. Even things that appear to go wrong for me turn out to be blessings in disguise."</p><p></p><p>She replies, 'Gracias Senor Hoover, It would be wonderful if you would present my idea to them. As I am not a member of the committee I would not presume to be able to present the idea myself but I would like to attend this meeting if I may." she sweetly smiles.</p><p></p><p>Meanwhile, Nanuet has reached the third floor upstairs. He knocks lightly when he arrives and says "Sorry to disturb you, but I need to talk to Mr. Jake." "Wait," Ruby says quickly. "I have to say something else." Ruby pulls away, but keeps holding Jake's arms, and she sighs. "About what I said yesterday... about what I used to do, things I did, about," she whispers, "Jimmy... It's important, please don't tell anyone. I don't think our friends would understand, I don't want them to know about any of it." Ruby looks away from Jake clearly embarrassed. </p><p></p><p>Nanuet raps on the door a bit louder and raises his voice. "Mr. Jake, I know you are in there and I need to talk to you for just a minute. Then I will let you alone again, I swear!" Ruby jumps as she is talking about sensitive information and there is a loud knock on the door. She grabs a sheet to cover herself. "You'd better get that."</p><p></p><p>Jake cracks the door open, "Hey there Indian friend, what is so urgent? We were just talking about coming downstairs." Ruby starts dressing again as Jake talks to Nanuet at the door. Nanuet says, "Sorry, hope I didn't interrupt anything. Just though you would like to know that Chumbly is on the stage heading back to write up a story about Ruby's death. Told Hoover he saw you carrying her dead body this morning. Should I go stop him?"</p><p></p><p>"Mierda." Jake says flatly. "We'll be right down. We should try and stop that from getting printed, this has gotten really out of hand. Wait for us." Jake closes the door and waits until he hears Nanuet walk away. "That part of your life is your story to tell. If you want anyone to hear it, you'll have to tell them." Jake collects his hat and gunbelt. "I've known things like that were in your past since I met you, and I never said a word. That won't change. Let's go before you are headline news all over the country." "I'm not done talking yet..." She trails off. "Wait what do you mean headline news all over the country?" She furrows her brow at him and he explains as they head downstairs.</p><p></p><p>Nanuet returns downstairs and sees Minerva talking with Hoover, Chester and Kate. "I didn't mean to be rude Miss Minerva. The festival sounds great and as long as I have things here under control I would be glad to offer my help." Nanuet smiles and winks. Minerva is very glad that she decided to come to the Lucy Lady. Her mood is much improved and she is enjoying the light banter. With a crooked smile on her full lips she replies. "What would we all do without you Senor. She raises her glass to him and laughs merrily. "How are things up there, Nanuet? Do you think we'll see either of them before dinner?" Kate laughed. Nanuet gestures to the staircase. </p><p></p><p>As they enter the main room down stairs Jake says in a loud voice, "Back from beyond the grave for an encore performance the phenomenal, Miss Ruby West!" He applauds. Ruby makes a curtsey. Chester stands. "Damn it, Ruby. We were so worried about you. We looked all over. I'm mighty glad you're safe." "Yes, reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated. I am harder than that to kill," she laughs.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Silver Moon, post: 2670974, member: 8530"] [B]Chapter 66, “Back from beyond the grave", Friday, March 17th, 1882, 11:00 A.M. [/B] Once Minerva has seen that Ruby is safe she returns to the Comstock House to give thanks to the gods for the girl's safe return. During lunch she shares her ideas for a Dionysus Festival with Beatrice and then spends some time in the yard practicing with her rapier. After returning to Lori Gilson's for a much-needed bath, she braids her hair and dresses carefully in a simple deep green gown, which hugs her bodice and flares, at her tiny waist. Her only adornment is the familiar olive leaf pendant, which signifies her devotion to the Goddess Minerva. Placing her derringer in the secret pocket within the folds of her gown and hiding her silver dagger in her heeled boot her ensemble is complete. She clicks to Luna to follow, glances in the mirror and holds her head up high. There is a defiant look in her eyes and a regal air about her as she returns to the Palace Saloon in search of Senor Adair. Minerva took a deep breath, squared her shoulders and walked briskly into the Palace saloon in search of Senor Adair. The Palace is open but only a few people are inside. Two are sitting at the bar drinking coffee. The other is behind the bar, but not somebody that she saw the night before. "Get you something Ma'am?" he asks. She replies, "Si Senor, Could you please inform Senor Adair that the Priestess Florencia has arrived." He replies, "He's asleep, I have orders not to wake him. And didn't I hear that he threw you out of here last night?" Minerva hisses out a breath and prays for patience. "No senor, You are mistaken. It was I who had little time to spare for him." She taps her foot "As is now the case. It is unfortunate for him that he has not kept our appointment. I have attempted to be courteous but it appears that he is no more than a ruffian in gentleman's clothing. Please advise him that I will waste no more time on him. If he is interested in hearing my proposal he may attend the Merchants Committee meeting." She turns on her heel and heads for the door. Kate had followed Jake and Ruby back to the Lucky Lady and watched Jake takes her upstairs. After a few minutes it was obvious they weren't coming back down. "They'll probably sleep most of the day. I suppose there's not much point to sitting around here waiting. I can't go talk to parents today, not looking like I do. But I do have a building to sell." Kate departs and runs some errands during the next hour. After seeing that Ruby and Jake are settled in Nanuet heads back to the El Parador. "Dorita, is Sonoma out at the ranch? I will speak to her and see what she says. I am sure your grandfather is OK, but she might be able to tell me more details." Dorita replies, "No, I talk to her yesterday. He say he going to danger, not take her. Bring crazy Jiminez woman. I worry." He replies, "Well is there anything I can do to put your mind at ease? I know you are worried, but he is wiser now than he was in the past, that will help him. There is nothing you can do Dorita, worrying will help no one." Nanuet finally gives up after realized Dorita is not going to respond to his comforting. Kate arrives and asks, "Nanuet, Chester, do you have any idea where I might find Patrick Seawell?" Chester thinks for a moment. "He might be at the smelters today. If not, he'll be at the mine. I can go out with you to the mine, if he's there." Nanuet says, "Sorry Miss Kate, off the top of my head I do not know." He returns to the Lucky Lady and takes the puppies out for some training. She replies, "Thanks Chester, I appreciate that. I just need to get changed and then we can go to the smelters. I'm not sure I want to go out to the mine today, we'll see what happens at the smelters first." Kate and Chester then head off to the El Parador where Kate changed into the new leather clothes she'd bought from Frye's. She also snuck some time to study spells, just in case she should need them later. Once she was ready she went back downstairs to meet Chester. Kate and Chester arrive at the Breakheart Stamping Mill and Smelter. The Mine Foreman arrives and introduces himself as 'Boston' Harker in a voice thick with Boston accent. Chester asks, "Morning Mr. Harker. Is Patrick Seawell here? We want to speak wit' him." Harker replies, "Said he'd be by mid-afternoon with another load of ore. Why don't you come back around two or three." Chester replies "OK. Thanks." "Good morning," Katherine said in her own Bostonian accent. "How nice to hear a familiar accent. We'll be certain to stop by later, but if we happen to miss him, could you ask to him to stop by the El Parador and see Mrs. Kale please?" Kate waited a few moments and Harker didn't respond an odd look on his face. "Uh, Mr. Harker?" He exclaims, "Wow, you do sound like somebody from the old neighborhood! I'm from the North End, what part of the city are you from?" She says, "Beacon Hill. My husband ran a livery business, among other things. What brought you west?" He says, "This'll probably sound silly to you but it was a hole in the ground. My father wanted to see the Grand Canyon before he died. We saw it, he went back east, I stayed." She says, "It's not silly at all, as good a reason as any. You must have liked it here, to leave him and stay. I find I like it here a great deal more than I thought I would. Although I imagine it's a bigger change for me." He replies, "I like not having to shovel snow. And I like the work better here too. I never had a formal education, worked as a janitor in textile mill. Out here, this job, the main thing you need is common sense and the right attitude. Dangerous work here in the stamping mill but I love it." "Yes, the lack of snow is rather nice, although I miss it a bit. It's hard to know it's spring when there's no snow to melt. I've gotten myself into a ranch, and I'm starting a school, so if you ever decide you'd like that education...." Kate left it hanging and smiled. "How is the work here dangerous? I don't know much about how smelting works." Harker gives Kate and Chester a tour of the mill. The massive machinery essentially uses a combination of steam power and hydraulics to have huge pile-drivers mash the ore, which is then washed away into filers by water from the creek while more water pours onto the equipment to keep it from overheating. The room itself exceeds one hundred degrees and most of the men working inside are shirtless. He explains that it takes about an hour to process a ton of ore. "It looks like most of the danger here is either getting something caught under those pile drivers, or heat prostration. It's hard work, sir, but honest. I'm not sure I understand liking it," she smiled. "I suppose Chester and I should be going and let you get back to your work. Thank you for your help, Mr. Harker. "I'm glad to have met you, Mr. Harker. We'll see each other again this afternoon, I'm sure." Kate and Chester walked outside the hot smelter. "Back to the Lucky Lady, Chester?" He replies, "Yeah, it's about lunch time. So where was Ruby all this time? I hadn't heard what happened." "She was at Gilson's bath house," Kate said. "Apparently she was sick last night and stopped there. Mrs. Gilson got her cleaned up and put her to bed. She sent Dorita a note this morning to let her know where Ruby was." Kate felt a bit strange in her leather pants and vest with the duster flapping around her legs as they walked. Chester says, "That's good that she slept indoors last night. I was worried that she'd spent the night outside... Has anyone told the Marshall, so Mr. Eastman can get cut loose?" Kate answers, "I told the Marshall she was safe this morning. I couldn't tell him exactly where she was though. And for now it might be safer for Mr. Eastman to stay there until word that Ruby is fine filters through town. There are those that might still try to hurt him." Back at the Lucky Lady Niles Hoover arrives and walks up to Nanuet, placing his hand on the Indian's shoulder. "I'm sorry, I just heard the news. Is Jake up to visiting Richard Lester or should I do that on his behalf?" Nanuet stands up from playing with the pups. "Huh? Oh, you mean about Ruby. I forgot that not everybody knows yet. We found her, safe and sound. No harm done. Let's just say she didn't have it in her to make it all the way home last night, so she found a safe place to rest till morning. She is upstairs right now, but I think her and Jake wish to not be disturbed right now." Niles states, "What? But people saw Jake carrying her dead body back here, it's all around town. That was the last thing that halfling saw as he boarded the stage to Tombstone to go write the Ruby West Memorial Edition of his newspaper." Nanuet exclaims, "Oh, that's just perfect! That little one will spread it everywhere. I guess the stage is probably all the way to Tombstone by now. Jake is not going to be happy when he hears about this. Ruby was just too tired to walk home under her own power... what a mess!" Niles says, "Yeah, but he won't be back here until tomorrow. We could probably stop him from printing it, Friday is that day that Wells Fargo make two stagecoach runs from Promise City to Tombstone." Seething with anger, and muttering un-Preistess-like oaths, Minerva stomps into the Lucky Lady. She orders a whiskey and sits staring out the window envisioning all the nasty things she would like to do to Senor Adair and the Vigilance Committee. "Miss Minevera?" Nanuet turns to Niles and says "I don't speak Spanish, but that didn't sound like something a lady would normally say. Let me see what is going on with her." Nanuet heads over to the bar and grabs two more glasses of whiskey then sits down next to Minerva. "Something troubling you?" he says as he hands her a second glass of whiskey. Minerva turns to him and looks at him over the rim of her glass. Her normally cheerful facade is shattered and her rich chocolate eyes are flashing in anger. She slams down her glass. "I have been here less than a week and there has been nothing but trouble! I have the narrow-minded power hungry Vigilance committee trying to dismiss me as a "misunderstanding" and now that dirty, no-good swine Senor Adair arghhh.... They are two sides of the same coin! I W i l l n o t be d i s m i s s ed. I will not tolerate it! Hoover starts to laugh in response. She turns and gives him an icy stare. He says, "Sorry, but I found that funny. You seeing Adair and the Vigilance Committee as alike, they are probably about as opposite as you can find in this town. But if you aren't fond of Adair then join the club, Ruby and Jake have been scheming to put him out of business for a while now." Minerva attempts to compose herself when she realizes that Nanuet is not alone. I apologize for my outburst Senor . I don't believe that we have been introduced. However if you are in agreement with my assessment of that snake in the grass, Senor Adair than I am certain that you are a man of good judgement. However I must disagree. Adair and the Committee although they have different goals are like two peas in a pod. " she continues to sip her drink thoughtfully and seethe. He replies, "Niles Hoover Ma'am, I'm one of the owners of this place. I attended your worship service last Sunday, probably the only one of the Lucky Lady owners that you'll see regularly at services. I'm no fan of that Vigilance Committee either, as they want to prohibit alcoholic beverages and I run all of this town's liquor distribution." "I am quite pleased to meet you Senor. why don't you sit and keep me company." Minerva states as she motions to the chair." Nanuet says, "So, what can we do to make sure you stay around for a while? This is not usually my area of expertise, but you can count me as one on your side for sure. I understand your problem and I we will do what we can to keep you in town." Minerva takes his hand. "Gracias Senor Nanuet. . Although I have only been in town a short while you have proven to be a true and loyal friend." She smiles up at him and teases "I am grateful that you no longer consider me a stranger." I assure you I have no intention of leaving Promise City. It is important that the town does not fall under the power of the Vigilance Committee. I have been devising a plan..." She tells Nanuet and Mr. Hoover about her ideas for the Dionysus Festival. As she tell them of her plans her anger fades and her enthusiasm bubbles over. She then asks, "Please, Senor Hoover, I am quite interested to know what you think of my ideas for the Festival. I really think that this would be a wonderful way to unite the town and show them that fun is not evil and can also be quite profitable to the local merchants. May I ask, are you on the Merchants committee? I need to meet with them and secure their cooperation if we are going to succeed in holding this celebration." Nanuet says, "Good. Well, right now however I have more urgent matters to attend to." Nanuet leaves his glass of whiskey for Minerva and scrambles up the stairs to Jake and Ruby's room. Earlier, Jake had woken up early afternoon to find Ruby still sleeping. He washed some, puts on some clean clothes and wandered downstairs. There he had Maria make him a platter of leftover food and a pot of coffee. When it is ready he brought it upstairs, munching as he climbed. He poured a cup of the steaming brew and placed it next to Ruby on the nightstand, directing the vapors with his hand across Ruby's face. He sat in a stuffed chair with food on the side table. He poured some whiskey into his coffee and slouches down comfortably in the chair before he says loudly, "It's time to wake up." Ruby smells the coffee and hears Jake's voice calling her. She opens her eyes slowly, but with much less effort than earlier. "Morning Jake." She sits up, a little too quickly, "Oohh, my head. I need this." She stays in bed but drinks her coffee. She looks at Jake to try to gauge his mood before saying anything further. Jake finishes chewing his mouthful of food and washes it down with some of the whiskey coffee followed by a satisfying "Ahhhh." He watches Ruby watch him and decides to speak first. "You know if I hadn't spent all night worried sick that you might be hurt or worse, I'd probably contemplate killing you myself." He has another sip of coffee. "It's hard to stay angry under those circumstances. Not impossible mind you but hard." Just the hint of a smile breaks on one side of his face. He continues "Apparently Eastman showed up at the Lucky Lady last night, drunk out of his mind looking for me. Folks thought they heard him saying something like 'I lost her' or 'She's gone forever' or some other such words. Next thing you know the whole town thinks he's killed Ruby West. The whole blasted town!" Jake takes another sip of coffee. "Now I don't give a rat's tail what the town thinks, except that the whole blasted town is telling me you are dead. That and Adair is the first one to tell me the news." He pauses and look down into his coffee. "So I spent the whole night walking around Promise City looking for you and wondering if I found you whether you would be alive or not." He stops gazing into the coffee and drinks some more. "So how was your night?" "Dead? You thought I was dead?" Ruby is silent for a few moments, and she looks down at the sheets on the bed. "You really thought I was dead? What did Eastman think he was doing?" Ruby says to herself and shakes her head before looking up at Jake. "Uh, somehow sorry doesn't seem like enough. I was just, um, angry that you left me, after telling me not to leave you, that we had to stay together. And Kate was late, that was annoying. Plus I was, well, really upset over what I told you earlier. I don't feel like we finished talking about that." She looks up, "So I went to the El Parador, but I didn't know he was going to be there. So I spent the time trying to convince him I wouldn't marry him. Then I found out the party that was going on was an engagement party... for the two of us. And I got really mad. And I embarrassed myself. And maybe you too." She blushes and looks away again. "Then I left to find you but I guess I uh, didn't make it home." Jake comments, "Angry that I left you, after telling you not to leave me, that we had to stay together. I did say that. Then Nanuet was going to run off with Flint to either get shot up by the Cowboy Gang or shoot someone and get arrested. So I ran around the block to get the Marshall, so I could convince him to go with them and I could come back here. I couldn't find the Marshall, so I came back here to get YOU because I didn't want YOU to be alone and I needed YOUR help to keep OUR friend alive. I asked Minerva to keep Eastman away from you while I was gone around the block." Jake downs the rest of the coffee and stands. "The whole damn think makes me angry." He walks over to the bed. "The whole damn thing makes me loco." He snatches the coffee out of her hands and places it with a loud 'thuck' on the nightstand. "And the whole damn thing pushes me right over the edge, and I should have done this earlier and not stewed about it!" His hands shoot out and grab her shoulders and he gives her a hard kiss right on the lips. "There! Damn you." Ruby kisses him back before pushing him away slightly. "So... damn me what? What does that mean? Are you still angry with me?" "No." He says quickly. Then, "Yes. I mean no. Well yes, but no. Arrrrggg." He covers his head with his arms. "Of course I'm angry. And I was frightened." He sits on the bed with a dejected sigh. "And more relieved than I can possibly describe when I saw you sleeping in Laurie Gilson's bed. And I have already forgiven you but," his arms drop back to his sides, "things are going to change." “It must have been horrible for you to think I was dead. I mean, I felt horrible watching you bleed to death. That’s the day I realized that I really cared for you, because I didn’t want to lose you. Was that how you felt Jake? I’m really sorry I did that to you.” Ruby starts biting her lip. "What's going to change?" she asks quietly. Jake says, "I was hollow and angry and full of hate, plus I was," Jake puts his thumb and index finger a hairs breadth apart, "this close to killing Eastman. But that is not what I want to talk about." He takes a couple breaths. "There is probably a lot to say between you and me. We don't have to rush we have plenty of time. It can be said when it feels right. What I need to say today is this; I was giving you all the freedom you wanted to keep you around as long as I could. No more. I can't do it. Things have changed for us, both of us. You are mine, Ruby West, mine. I'm not going to share you. You belong here. Just you and me. No more worrying that somebody is going to run, or somebody is sleeping with somebody else, or somebody is in love with somebody else. Done. I want to get back to enjoying every day with you, not trying to figure out how to keep you around another day, week or month." Jake looks at her with a blank expression that he then forces a smile upon. "Can we do that? Can we?" Ruby is quiet and starts playing with her hair. "So, what you're saying is... you want me and you need me, Mr. Cook?" The grin starts growing on Ruby's face. "Can we do it? Do you think we can do it?" Ruby stands on the bed next to Jake and starts jumping. "Oh but I think it'll take lots of bribing... you know jewelry, perfume, clothes, drinking and dancing, puppies and sex, lots of sex," Ruby giggles. "Can you do that?" "I'm not so sure about the puppies and sex part, but if we leave them out of the bed I can handle it." Jake puts his hands on his hips and smiles as she bounces. "Damn that bed really does squeak." "Not sure about the sex part? Wait a minute..." Ruby stops bouncing and gets a serious look on her face. "Are you sure you don't want to reconsider that?" She falls onto her knees on the bed. "I might have to reconsider my answer," she tries not to giggle again. Jake shakes his head and laughs, "I am quite sure I can take care of your bedroom needs Ruby dear. I was just hoping that we could separate the puppies from that particular activity. I told you I don't want to share you, especially in bed." "Jake!" Ruby squeals while smacking him in the arm and more giggling. She continues to laugh for a few minutes before calming down. "I know I can do that Jake. If you know you can do it, then we can do it," she smiles at him. "Let's kiss on it then...." She leans half the way to Jake and waits for him to finish the distance. Jake leans in readily and kisses her. Then slowly and insistently he pulls her off the bed to stand on the floor with him and kisses her again with his arms wrapped around her. "I can do this. I want to do this. I will do this." He kisses her again, and holds her for a while before he let's go and says, "There were a few other people who spent no small effort looking for you and worrying about you last night. I think you ought to get dressed and we can go down stairs for a little while and reassure them." Downstairs, Kate and Chester walked into the Lucky Lady. As Kate and Chester entered the Lucky Lady, Miss Florencia was sitting at a table with Niles Hoover talking animatedly. Kate heard the named Dionysis several times, and she could only assume the Priestess was again talking about a festival. She smiled as they sat down at the table. Minerva says, "Buenos Tardes Senorita Kate and Senor Chester, Please join us! " I was just sharing my ideas for the Festival with Senor Hoover. He was just about to share his views on it. Chester takes a seat. "How is the planning going?" Hoover states, "As for the Merchant's Association, I am and in good standing with them. Mr. Cook is a member too, but he tends to miss most of the meetings as they are held early in the morning. We will be meeting next week if there is anything in particular that you would like me to present. Personally, I think the celebration sounds great, and not just because I'll sell lots of alcohol. I believe in the gods, they've always steered me right. Even things that appear to go wrong for me turn out to be blessings in disguise." She replies, 'Gracias Senor Hoover, It would be wonderful if you would present my idea to them. As I am not a member of the committee I would not presume to be able to present the idea myself but I would like to attend this meeting if I may." she sweetly smiles. Meanwhile, Nanuet has reached the third floor upstairs. He knocks lightly when he arrives and says "Sorry to disturb you, but I need to talk to Mr. Jake." "Wait," Ruby says quickly. "I have to say something else." Ruby pulls away, but keeps holding Jake's arms, and she sighs. "About what I said yesterday... about what I used to do, things I did, about," she whispers, "Jimmy... It's important, please don't tell anyone. I don't think our friends would understand, I don't want them to know about any of it." Ruby looks away from Jake clearly embarrassed. Nanuet raps on the door a bit louder and raises his voice. "Mr. Jake, I know you are in there and I need to talk to you for just a minute. Then I will let you alone again, I swear!" Ruby jumps as she is talking about sensitive information and there is a loud knock on the door. She grabs a sheet to cover herself. "You'd better get that." Jake cracks the door open, "Hey there Indian friend, what is so urgent? We were just talking about coming downstairs." Ruby starts dressing again as Jake talks to Nanuet at the door. Nanuet says, "Sorry, hope I didn't interrupt anything. Just though you would like to know that Chumbly is on the stage heading back to write up a story about Ruby's death. Told Hoover he saw you carrying her dead body this morning. Should I go stop him?" "Mierda." Jake says flatly. "We'll be right down. We should try and stop that from getting printed, this has gotten really out of hand. Wait for us." Jake closes the door and waits until he hears Nanuet walk away. "That part of your life is your story to tell. If you want anyone to hear it, you'll have to tell them." Jake collects his hat and gunbelt. "I've known things like that were in your past since I met you, and I never said a word. That won't change. Let's go before you are headline news all over the country." "I'm not done talking yet..." She trails off. "Wait what do you mean headline news all over the country?" She furrows her brow at him and he explains as they head downstairs. Nanuet returns downstairs and sees Minerva talking with Hoover, Chester and Kate. "I didn't mean to be rude Miss Minerva. The festival sounds great and as long as I have things here under control I would be glad to offer my help." Nanuet smiles and winks. Minerva is very glad that she decided to come to the Lucy Lady. Her mood is much improved and she is enjoying the light banter. With a crooked smile on her full lips she replies. "What would we all do without you Senor. She raises her glass to him and laughs merrily. "How are things up there, Nanuet? Do you think we'll see either of them before dinner?" Kate laughed. Nanuet gestures to the staircase. As they enter the main room down stairs Jake says in a loud voice, "Back from beyond the grave for an encore performance the phenomenal, Miss Ruby West!" He applauds. Ruby makes a curtsey. Chester stands. "Damn it, Ruby. We were so worried about you. We looked all over. I'm mighty glad you're safe." "Yes, reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated. I am harder than that to kill," she laughs. [/QUOTE]
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