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<blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 2813744" data-attributes="member: 8530"><p><strong>Chapter 103, “Hello Mr. Ringo”, Sunday, March 19th , 1882, 3:00 P.M. </strong> </p><p></p><p>Jake and Ruby make their way to the Marshall's office before dinnertime and find Rodriguez sharpening a knife and Gifford looking bored. "Hola Eduardo, Cómo es usted?" "Bien, Senor. Y ti?" The deputy replies looking up from his knife "Muy bein, muy bien." Ruby enters right behind Jake and flashes Eduardo Rodriguez a dazzling smile. </p><p></p><p>Jake and Ruby enter the building. Lane Gifford is locked in the far cell. Eduardo is behind the desk. He gets up and walks towards Ruby and Jake after they enter asking softly "Have you heard anything else about the Cowboys?" Jake nods yes and winks at Rodriguez before he continues, "We would like to have a word with your guest, if you don't mind. You are welcome to listen in." </p><p></p><p>Eduardo replies, "Go ahead, but don't expect him to tell you anything. His lips are sealed." Jake says, "Ruby, could you check and see if anybody is about outside before we begin so we are not interrupted for a few minutes?" Ruby nods, says, "Why certainly," and steps outside and around the corner. </p><p></p><p>Ruby carefully glances around to make sure no one is in the area and as quiet as she can she casts her Detect Thoughts spell. She starts concentrating on the thoughts inside the jail building, as usual first having to block out Jake. She turns her concentration on Gifford and returns inside. Jake begins, "Mr. Gifford, I was interested in knowing who gave you the silver back some months ago that you used to purchase all those twenty dollar bills in Tombstone. It seems they were later used to pay some desperados to attack some miners and their friends." </p><p></p><p>Gifford does not respond. Jake continues, "I was hoping you would be more helpful to me. I don't think I have met a man who needed a friend more than you in many years." Jake pauses only briefly. "You have some folks accusing you of the murder of an old prospector some months ago, the Cowboy gang is sure you gave away the location of their hidden ranch which only yesterday was raided and burnt to the ground, and an important and dangerous man in town which doesn't want to be linked to any of these incidents knows you can link him." Again Jake pauses for emphasis. </p><p></p><p>"I'm sure that man is wondering just how tight lipped you are staying. I hear he is not the trusting sort. I hear bad things happen to those who cross him. I'm sure the rumor will somehow get to him that you told the Marshall all you know to save your hide. You are probably safer in jail than out don't you think?" Jake turns and looks to Ruby and shrugs. Then to Rodriguez, "How much is his bail? If someone paid it he'd have to leave wouldn't he?" Jake let's the question hangs. </p><p></p><p>Gifford turns his back. Jake interjects, "I'd say you need some help Mr. Gifford." Gifford finally turns around and says, "Not from the likes of you." Ruby gives a little snort. "That's not very smart Mr. Gifford," and turns her back to him, leaning up against the desk. She nods her head to Jake in a 'watch him' kind of motion. </p><p></p><p>"To answer your question, Marshall Rodriquez, many, many Cowboys met their very untimely death as of late. As a matter of fact I personally blew the head off of Billy Claibourne, although not before he gave me this." Ruby pulls her dress strap off her shoulder to show him her scar. "Like Jake said, there was an unfortunate accident at their farmhouse and it completely burnt down to the ground. I don't believe anyone made it out, except our friends of course." </p><p></p><p>Jake seems a little surprised when Ruby says out loud that she killed Claibourne but quickly recovers. "Len won't be visiting you again Gifford, unless you believe in ghosts. Ringo is going to be mad when he finds out you told us the location of the farmhouse and about the Gattling Gun. I think your friend in town will be angry too over implicating him in the miner raid." Jake chuckles to him, "You know that old saying? If I was a gambling man.... Well, I AM a gambling man and I'd say with all the people that want you dead the only really long money is on you surviving the week." </p><p></p><p>Gifford glares at Jake, saying nothing. Jake takes Rodriguez out on the porch and says quietly, "Ruby wasn't making that up. I don't know what Warren told you but quite a few of the Cowboy gang are gone now. I'm going to be out of town for a couple of days, we are going to Tombstone, but I'll ask a few friends to look in on you it you'd like?" </p><p></p><p>Jake and Rodriguez notice a man approaching on foot. He is wearing a gray cowboy hat, brown leather vest over a blue and green plaid cotton shirt. He has on leather pants and cowboy boots. He appears to be unarmed. He approaches the door to the Marshall's Office and Rodriguez asks "May I help you?" "Is Marshall Earp in today?" the man asks. Rodriguez replies, "No sir, is there something you wish me to ask him?" </p><p></p><p>The man replies, "I was going to ask about that Gifford guy. Is he still here?" Rodriguez says, "Yes he is. Are you a friend of his?" The man says, "I wouldn't exactly call myself a friend but I would like to speak to him if you don't mind." Rodriguez comments, "You appear to be unarmed." He replies, "I am". Rodriguez says, "Then you may go see him." Ruby sees the Deputy Sheriff enter the Marshall's Office followed by the unknown man and Jake following. </p><p></p><p>Ruby takes a good look at the man as he walks in and she flashes him a smile. She continues to lean against the desk, pretending to look at her fingernails, while trying to listen to what they say. The man goes right up to the bars and gets Lane Gifford's attention. Gifford moves over closer and the man says something softly to him that Jake and Rodriguez are unable to hear. They do hear Gifford reply "I didn't, I swear it!" The man turns, having apparently said all that he has to say, and starts to walk back towards the door. </p><p></p><p>"I don't believe we have had the pleasure, I'm Jake Cook." He says to the man and nods in a friendly manner. "I run a game over at the Lucky Lady." "Cook?" the man says, "I think I've heard of you. Thanks for the invitation. Have a nice day." The man departs. Lane Gifford does not say anything after the man leaves but Ruby and Jake both note that his hands are shaking and he has started to sweat. </p><p></p><p>Ruby glances over to Gifford. "Well, I guess we were right about someone being mad at you giving away too much info, huh? Giving away valuable information like that, it could really get you in trouble... I think Mr. Cook could be persuaded to offer his help again..." Gifford looks at Ruby and Jake then turns to Eduardo and says "You gotta move me to some place safe. They're coming for me!" Eduardo says, "You're not going anywhere." Gifford says, "Then I want to talk to my lawyer, right now! Go get Fisk!" Eduardo smiles and replies, "I don't believe he has Sunday office hours." </p><p></p><p>"Ruby, I don't think there is anything else we can do here." Jake shrugs his shoulders. "We ought to get back to the saloon. Senior Rodriguez, I'll speak to my friends, be careful. Mr. Gifford, I... well make your peace with the gods, sir. I wouldn't bet on us meeting again. It's a shame." Jake offers his arm to Ruby. </p><p></p><p>Ruby and Jake stroll towards the door arm-in-arm. They are five feet from the door when the doorknob turns and the door quickly opens up. Standing immediately before them is Mr. John Peters Ringo. He pushes the door back so that it is completely open. Rather than a suit he is attired in his standard Cowboy clothes including chaps over denim pants, a leather jacket over a yellow cotton shirt, red bandana around his neck and a brown leather cowboy hat. Jake and Ruby both note that he isn't wearing a gun belt and has no visible weapons. </p><p></p><p>"Leaving so soon? Did I come at a bad time?" he asks. Jake says, “Hello Mr. Ringo. No not a bad time. We were finished speaking with Senor Rodriguez, and didn't wish to keep him from his business any longer." Ringo looks towards Eduardo and says, "Deputy Rodriquez, I just heard about what happened to Morgan Earp and wanted to come by and offer my condolences to Warren. Would he be around?" Eduardo replies, "He is not available at the moment." </p><p></p><p>"So, Mr. Ringo, you decided to stick around town? I thought you might have left by now," Ruby says, looking directly at him. He replies, "Yes I did leave. I was here on Friday night but yesterday I had business in the town of Dos Cabezas. In fact, you can ask your friend Patrick Seawell about that, I played poker with him and his father last night at the Lobo Grande Saloon in that town. I came here today to attend the worship services but arrived too late. Then I heard about poor Mr. Earp and decided to come by to talk to Warren. I am so sorry that I've missed him." </p><p></p><p>Ruby says, "Well, that really isn't my business, is it? Too bad you missed the service, the new priestess has some inspiring words for her congregation. And I'm sure Warren will appreciate you dropping by to give your condolences, it's so nice of you." Ringo steps into the room and looking towards Ruby and Jake says, "Well, I won't be keeping the two of you." He then glances towards Eduardo and says, "I do have a few more things to say to Mr. Rodriguez regarding this particular matter." </p><p></p><p>Ruby catches Ringo's eye, and as she does deftly pulls her hanky out of her pocket using her body to block the move from him. She drops it on the desk then breaks her glance with Ringo. "All right then, have a good night." Ruby walks to the door and waits for Jake to follow. Jake follows Ruby out the door. He tries not to make it obvious but looks around outside the jail for any of Ringo's friends. </p><p></p><p>"So, should we leave Marshall Rodriquez to his own devices or walk back in there? Ringo is forcing us to choose sides right now," Ruby whispers. "I really like him, I might feel bad if something happened to him." As they walk a few steps Jake continues to surreptitiously look for Cowboy gang members and says, "I don't know if Ringo has the nerve to do anything in broad daylight or not. Rodriguez is alright, let's keep an eye on him. I just wish we could get word to Nanuet or Chester or someone. If this turns ugly it would be nice to have more of our friends around, and NO I'm not leaving you alone to go get them." </p><p></p><p>Ruby smiles at Jake and runs her fingers over his cheek, "You know me too well baby." She pauses, "But... I can HIDE and they wouldn't even see me..." "Ok, ok... damn Ringo, why did he have to go and get us involved? Good thing I loaded those bullets when you gave them to me, huh?" She rolls her eyes at Jake. "How long do we wait until we go back in? I wouldn't wait too much longer." </p><p></p><p>Jake replies, "If he was going to do something to Rodriguez, why would he wait unless he is watching us?" They keeping walking slowly. "Turn around now, hide or go around the corner on Main Street load you gun and come back. I don't have a good guess which is right. You did something before you left the office, what was it?" </p><p></p><p>"I left something for us to go back and get," she says quietly. "My gun is already loaded, let's go back in." Before they turn back Ruby reaches into her pocket and then says loudly, "Of honey, I must have left it in the Marshall's office. I have to go back and get it." Ruby takes Jake's hand and they casually walk back to the Jail, entering without knocking. </p><p></p><p>Ruby and Jake quietly enter the office. Ringo has his back to the door and Eduardo is looking him square in the eye. Eduardo clearly sees the door open and the two in the doorway but his eyes never waiver from Ringo's gaze. Johnny either doesn't hear the door or just doesn't care, with Ruby and Jake catching the tail end of his conversation with the lawman. </p><p></p><p>"....feel somewhat responsible for what happened. But I didn't expect her to up and run off to Tombstone and kill him." Eduardo answers, "That's all just speculation. Do you have any evidence that she was responsible?" </p><p></p><p>Ringo replies, "Well, her landlady and ward both indicated said that she had gone out of town, she wasn't at her job last night nor did anybody see her around town, and her horse was back in the stables this morning. She knows her way around Tombstone and had both motive and opportunity. I think that's more than enough for you to bring her in for questioning. Look, all you really need to do is go check her firearms and see if they've been used recently." </p><p></p><p>Jake gestures for Ruby to stay quiet and back out of the door. He then knocks on the door and opens it noisily. "Excuse us, Ruby forgot something." Ruby walks in and over to the desk, acting like she doesn't notice what is going on. "There it is!" she says as she reaches for her hanky, laying on the desk on some papers. She picks it up and dusts it off, then looks up at Rodriquez and Ringo. She furrows her brows. "Is everything ok in here? You two look serious." Her back is mostly to Ringo and she gives the slightest glance of acknowledgement to Rodriquez. </p><p></p><p>Johnny says, "I think I'm just about done here. I guess I'll be going now." He turns to head towards the door. "Well, good bye again, Mr. Ringo." Ruby turns again to Rodriquez. "And I forgot to remind you earlier to stop by the Lucky Lady for dinner again. We do enjoy your company." </p><p></p><p>Jake steps out of the way and lets Ringo pass out the door. Ringo heads out the door. While exiting a rifle shot rings out. Ruby, Jake and Eduardo see a bullet pass within inches of Johnny's head and flies into the room, striking the front of the wooden desk. </p><p></p><p>Ringo quickly moves back into the Marshall's Office while diligently looking outside for the shooter. Two more shots are fired. One strikes the floor just inside the doorway where Ringo had been a moment before. The other hits his upper right leg and apparently hits a bone based upon a loud 'crack' sound. Ringo falls to the floor, blood pouring from the wound. </p><p></p><p>"Damn It!" Ruby yells at Ringo, "I'm not getting shot because of you AGAIN!” </p><p></p><p>Katherine's head snapped up as she heard shots ring out in the distance. It was obviously in town. She snatched up her letters, hitched up her skirts and ran toward the sound. </p><p></p><p>Nanuet's head turns at the sound of gunshots. “That must right in town!“, he thinks and runs towards the door. Before he exits the Lucky Lady he casts Sanctuary upon himself and checks that his pair of knives are secure. He then exits the saloon and heads towards the direction of the gunshot in full sprint. </p><p></p><p>Chester pulls her down onto the floor. He says to Julia, "Get down, ma'am. I don't know where that's coming from. Stay here. I'll find out. The next two shots follow. It's coming from the east. That's the Marshall's office." He reaches for his pistol, only to remember he didn't bring it with him. "Damn. I'd be a lot more useful, if I were heeled. Stay down until you know it's safe. I'll be back." Chester hurries toward the Lucky Lady to grab his rifle from the gun cabinet.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Silver Moon, post: 2813744, member: 8530"] [B]Chapter 103, “Hello Mr. Ringo”, Sunday, March 19th , 1882, 3:00 P.M. [/B] Jake and Ruby make their way to the Marshall's office before dinnertime and find Rodriguez sharpening a knife and Gifford looking bored. "Hola Eduardo, Cómo es usted?" "Bien, Senor. Y ti?" The deputy replies looking up from his knife "Muy bein, muy bien." Ruby enters right behind Jake and flashes Eduardo Rodriguez a dazzling smile. Jake and Ruby enter the building. Lane Gifford is locked in the far cell. Eduardo is behind the desk. He gets up and walks towards Ruby and Jake after they enter asking softly "Have you heard anything else about the Cowboys?" Jake nods yes and winks at Rodriguez before he continues, "We would like to have a word with your guest, if you don't mind. You are welcome to listen in." Eduardo replies, "Go ahead, but don't expect him to tell you anything. His lips are sealed." Jake says, "Ruby, could you check and see if anybody is about outside before we begin so we are not interrupted for a few minutes?" Ruby nods, says, "Why certainly," and steps outside and around the corner. Ruby carefully glances around to make sure no one is in the area and as quiet as she can she casts her Detect Thoughts spell. She starts concentrating on the thoughts inside the jail building, as usual first having to block out Jake. She turns her concentration on Gifford and returns inside. Jake begins, "Mr. Gifford, I was interested in knowing who gave you the silver back some months ago that you used to purchase all those twenty dollar bills in Tombstone. It seems they were later used to pay some desperados to attack some miners and their friends." Gifford does not respond. Jake continues, "I was hoping you would be more helpful to me. I don't think I have met a man who needed a friend more than you in many years." Jake pauses only briefly. "You have some folks accusing you of the murder of an old prospector some months ago, the Cowboy gang is sure you gave away the location of their hidden ranch which only yesterday was raided and burnt to the ground, and an important and dangerous man in town which doesn't want to be linked to any of these incidents knows you can link him." Again Jake pauses for emphasis. "I'm sure that man is wondering just how tight lipped you are staying. I hear he is not the trusting sort. I hear bad things happen to those who cross him. I'm sure the rumor will somehow get to him that you told the Marshall all you know to save your hide. You are probably safer in jail than out don't you think?" Jake turns and looks to Ruby and shrugs. Then to Rodriguez, "How much is his bail? If someone paid it he'd have to leave wouldn't he?" Jake let's the question hangs. Gifford turns his back. Jake interjects, "I'd say you need some help Mr. Gifford." Gifford finally turns around and says, "Not from the likes of you." Ruby gives a little snort. "That's not very smart Mr. Gifford," and turns her back to him, leaning up against the desk. She nods her head to Jake in a 'watch him' kind of motion. "To answer your question, Marshall Rodriquez, many, many Cowboys met their very untimely death as of late. As a matter of fact I personally blew the head off of Billy Claibourne, although not before he gave me this." Ruby pulls her dress strap off her shoulder to show him her scar. "Like Jake said, there was an unfortunate accident at their farmhouse and it completely burnt down to the ground. I don't believe anyone made it out, except our friends of course." Jake seems a little surprised when Ruby says out loud that she killed Claibourne but quickly recovers. "Len won't be visiting you again Gifford, unless you believe in ghosts. Ringo is going to be mad when he finds out you told us the location of the farmhouse and about the Gattling Gun. I think your friend in town will be angry too over implicating him in the miner raid." Jake chuckles to him, "You know that old saying? If I was a gambling man.... Well, I AM a gambling man and I'd say with all the people that want you dead the only really long money is on you surviving the week." Gifford glares at Jake, saying nothing. Jake takes Rodriguez out on the porch and says quietly, "Ruby wasn't making that up. I don't know what Warren told you but quite a few of the Cowboy gang are gone now. I'm going to be out of town for a couple of days, we are going to Tombstone, but I'll ask a few friends to look in on you it you'd like?" Jake and Rodriguez notice a man approaching on foot. He is wearing a gray cowboy hat, brown leather vest over a blue and green plaid cotton shirt. He has on leather pants and cowboy boots. He appears to be unarmed. He approaches the door to the Marshall's Office and Rodriguez asks "May I help you?" "Is Marshall Earp in today?" the man asks. Rodriguez replies, "No sir, is there something you wish me to ask him?" The man replies, "I was going to ask about that Gifford guy. Is he still here?" Rodriguez says, "Yes he is. Are you a friend of his?" The man says, "I wouldn't exactly call myself a friend but I would like to speak to him if you don't mind." Rodriguez comments, "You appear to be unarmed." He replies, "I am". Rodriguez says, "Then you may go see him." Ruby sees the Deputy Sheriff enter the Marshall's Office followed by the unknown man and Jake following. Ruby takes a good look at the man as he walks in and she flashes him a smile. She continues to lean against the desk, pretending to look at her fingernails, while trying to listen to what they say. The man goes right up to the bars and gets Lane Gifford's attention. Gifford moves over closer and the man says something softly to him that Jake and Rodriguez are unable to hear. They do hear Gifford reply "I didn't, I swear it!" The man turns, having apparently said all that he has to say, and starts to walk back towards the door. "I don't believe we have had the pleasure, I'm Jake Cook." He says to the man and nods in a friendly manner. "I run a game over at the Lucky Lady." "Cook?" the man says, "I think I've heard of you. Thanks for the invitation. Have a nice day." The man departs. Lane Gifford does not say anything after the man leaves but Ruby and Jake both note that his hands are shaking and he has started to sweat. Ruby glances over to Gifford. "Well, I guess we were right about someone being mad at you giving away too much info, huh? Giving away valuable information like that, it could really get you in trouble... I think Mr. Cook could be persuaded to offer his help again..." Gifford looks at Ruby and Jake then turns to Eduardo and says "You gotta move me to some place safe. They're coming for me!" Eduardo says, "You're not going anywhere." Gifford says, "Then I want to talk to my lawyer, right now! Go get Fisk!" Eduardo smiles and replies, "I don't believe he has Sunday office hours." "Ruby, I don't think there is anything else we can do here." Jake shrugs his shoulders. "We ought to get back to the saloon. Senior Rodriguez, I'll speak to my friends, be careful. Mr. Gifford, I... well make your peace with the gods, sir. I wouldn't bet on us meeting again. It's a shame." Jake offers his arm to Ruby. Ruby and Jake stroll towards the door arm-in-arm. They are five feet from the door when the doorknob turns and the door quickly opens up. Standing immediately before them is Mr. John Peters Ringo. He pushes the door back so that it is completely open. Rather than a suit he is attired in his standard Cowboy clothes including chaps over denim pants, a leather jacket over a yellow cotton shirt, red bandana around his neck and a brown leather cowboy hat. Jake and Ruby both note that he isn't wearing a gun belt and has no visible weapons. "Leaving so soon? Did I come at a bad time?" he asks. Jake says, “Hello Mr. Ringo. No not a bad time. We were finished speaking with Senor Rodriguez, and didn't wish to keep him from his business any longer." Ringo looks towards Eduardo and says, "Deputy Rodriquez, I just heard about what happened to Morgan Earp and wanted to come by and offer my condolences to Warren. Would he be around?" Eduardo replies, "He is not available at the moment." "So, Mr. Ringo, you decided to stick around town? I thought you might have left by now," Ruby says, looking directly at him. He replies, "Yes I did leave. I was here on Friday night but yesterday I had business in the town of Dos Cabezas. In fact, you can ask your friend Patrick Seawell about that, I played poker with him and his father last night at the Lobo Grande Saloon in that town. I came here today to attend the worship services but arrived too late. Then I heard about poor Mr. Earp and decided to come by to talk to Warren. I am so sorry that I've missed him." Ruby says, "Well, that really isn't my business, is it? Too bad you missed the service, the new priestess has some inspiring words for her congregation. And I'm sure Warren will appreciate you dropping by to give your condolences, it's so nice of you." Ringo steps into the room and looking towards Ruby and Jake says, "Well, I won't be keeping the two of you." He then glances towards Eduardo and says, "I do have a few more things to say to Mr. Rodriguez regarding this particular matter." Ruby catches Ringo's eye, and as she does deftly pulls her hanky out of her pocket using her body to block the move from him. She drops it on the desk then breaks her glance with Ringo. "All right then, have a good night." Ruby walks to the door and waits for Jake to follow. Jake follows Ruby out the door. He tries not to make it obvious but looks around outside the jail for any of Ringo's friends. "So, should we leave Marshall Rodriquez to his own devices or walk back in there? Ringo is forcing us to choose sides right now," Ruby whispers. "I really like him, I might feel bad if something happened to him." As they walk a few steps Jake continues to surreptitiously look for Cowboy gang members and says, "I don't know if Ringo has the nerve to do anything in broad daylight or not. Rodriguez is alright, let's keep an eye on him. I just wish we could get word to Nanuet or Chester or someone. If this turns ugly it would be nice to have more of our friends around, and NO I'm not leaving you alone to go get them." Ruby smiles at Jake and runs her fingers over his cheek, "You know me too well baby." She pauses, "But... I can HIDE and they wouldn't even see me..." "Ok, ok... damn Ringo, why did he have to go and get us involved? Good thing I loaded those bullets when you gave them to me, huh?" She rolls her eyes at Jake. "How long do we wait until we go back in? I wouldn't wait too much longer." Jake replies, "If he was going to do something to Rodriguez, why would he wait unless he is watching us?" They keeping walking slowly. "Turn around now, hide or go around the corner on Main Street load you gun and come back. I don't have a good guess which is right. You did something before you left the office, what was it?" "I left something for us to go back and get," she says quietly. "My gun is already loaded, let's go back in." Before they turn back Ruby reaches into her pocket and then says loudly, "Of honey, I must have left it in the Marshall's office. I have to go back and get it." Ruby takes Jake's hand and they casually walk back to the Jail, entering without knocking. Ruby and Jake quietly enter the office. Ringo has his back to the door and Eduardo is looking him square in the eye. Eduardo clearly sees the door open and the two in the doorway but his eyes never waiver from Ringo's gaze. Johnny either doesn't hear the door or just doesn't care, with Ruby and Jake catching the tail end of his conversation with the lawman. "....feel somewhat responsible for what happened. But I didn't expect her to up and run off to Tombstone and kill him." Eduardo answers, "That's all just speculation. Do you have any evidence that she was responsible?" Ringo replies, "Well, her landlady and ward both indicated said that she had gone out of town, she wasn't at her job last night nor did anybody see her around town, and her horse was back in the stables this morning. She knows her way around Tombstone and had both motive and opportunity. I think that's more than enough for you to bring her in for questioning. Look, all you really need to do is go check her firearms and see if they've been used recently." Jake gestures for Ruby to stay quiet and back out of the door. He then knocks on the door and opens it noisily. "Excuse us, Ruby forgot something." Ruby walks in and over to the desk, acting like she doesn't notice what is going on. "There it is!" she says as she reaches for her hanky, laying on the desk on some papers. She picks it up and dusts it off, then looks up at Rodriquez and Ringo. She furrows her brows. "Is everything ok in here? You two look serious." Her back is mostly to Ringo and she gives the slightest glance of acknowledgement to Rodriquez. Johnny says, "I think I'm just about done here. I guess I'll be going now." He turns to head towards the door. "Well, good bye again, Mr. Ringo." Ruby turns again to Rodriquez. "And I forgot to remind you earlier to stop by the Lucky Lady for dinner again. We do enjoy your company." Jake steps out of the way and lets Ringo pass out the door. Ringo heads out the door. While exiting a rifle shot rings out. Ruby, Jake and Eduardo see a bullet pass within inches of Johnny's head and flies into the room, striking the front of the wooden desk. Ringo quickly moves back into the Marshall's Office while diligently looking outside for the shooter. Two more shots are fired. One strikes the floor just inside the doorway where Ringo had been a moment before. The other hits his upper right leg and apparently hits a bone based upon a loud 'crack' sound. Ringo falls to the floor, blood pouring from the wound. "Damn It!" Ruby yells at Ringo, "I'm not getting shot because of you AGAIN!” Katherine's head snapped up as she heard shots ring out in the distance. It was obviously in town. She snatched up her letters, hitched up her skirts and ran toward the sound. Nanuet's head turns at the sound of gunshots. “That must right in town!“, he thinks and runs towards the door. Before he exits the Lucky Lady he casts Sanctuary upon himself and checks that his pair of knives are secure. He then exits the saloon and heads towards the direction of the gunshot in full sprint. Chester pulls her down onto the floor. He says to Julia, "Get down, ma'am. I don't know where that's coming from. Stay here. I'll find out. The next two shots follow. It's coming from the east. That's the Marshall's office." He reaches for his pistol, only to remember he didn't bring it with him. "Damn. I'd be a lot more useful, if I were heeled. Stay down until you know it's safe. I'll be back." Chester hurries toward the Lucky Lady to grab his rifle from the gun cabinet. [/QUOTE]
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