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<blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 2813756" data-attributes="member: 8530"><p>Chapter 105, “Ringo‘s Threats”, Sunday, March 19th , 1882, 3:30 P.M. </p><p></p><p>In response to Ruby’s earlier comment Chester tells her "I hate to say it, but Kate's right. You're better than Ringo, and now he knows that." Ruby tells Kate, "I thought I heard you yell that across the street but I wasn't sure. I have no idea what is going on. Did anyone get hurt inside?" Kate answers, "I don't think so. The men haven't come back from upstairs yet, but I think if someone had been hurt they'd be hurrying down for the Doctor.” </p><p></p><p>Across the street, Ike Sherman, manager of the Papago Cash Store, rides Johnny Ringo's horse up to the Marshall's Office. He ties the horse to the rail out front and heads inside. Kate asks Ruby, “What was going on in the Marshall's office? I'd guess you and Jake were trying to find out what happened last night, but is Johnny Ringo there? Mr. Sherman just brought his horse over." </p><p></p><p>"Last night?" Ruby says while rubbing her temples slowly, "Um, Jake wanted to try to question Gifford before we leave for Tombstone." Nanuet shows up just as Minerva does. "Huh, everyone is here. Anyway he thinks he's the key to who sold us out on our little excursion to the mine. He wouldn't talk though, then someone came in and," Ruby glances around to make sure no one is close enough to hear her whisper, "I overheard him say 'you shouldn't have told the Earps about the farmhouse' then he left and Gifford freaked out. Guess he's in trouble now..." Ruby shrugs, "Then the shooting started." She starts unconsciously rubbing her wound. "It sure is hot out here," she says tugging on her neckline, glancing around nervously. </p><p></p><p>"They just started shooting at the building? That seems rather pointless." Kate looked at Ruby, seeing the fatigue on her face. "I think you need some more rest, Ruby dear. After we're finished here you should go back to the Lady and relax. Did you say if Ringo was there? I thought the next time we'd see him it would be at the other end of a gun." </p><p></p><p>"Yes, yes Ringo was inside. He still is. He got shot but he took a potion to help himself, I'm pretty sure." Suddenly Ruby remembered what she heard him say. "Oh Kate, it's... it's... he was trying to tell..." Ruby rubs her scar again. "It IS hot out here, I think I need some something to drink." Kate replies, "Ruby, just a few hours ago I told you, less whiskey until your blood recovers itself. Do you need to sit down?" Kate stepped next to Ruby and slipped a supporting arm around her waist. "What could Ringo have to say that could possibly upset you this much? He can't hurt us with words." "Water, I just want some water." Ruby is quiet for a moment, Kate can tell she is thinking. "You're wrong Kate, words can hurt us..." </p><p></p><p>Chester calls over Nanuet saying, "Hey Nanuet, let's see if we can track these guys down. I hope the crowd hasn't messed things up too much." Nanuet replies, "Good idea, let's do that if we can. It's still muddy from the rain yesterday, that might help." </p><p></p><p>Nanuet and Chester are able to locate the tracks of the man Kate had been grabbing at. Nanuet deduces that he started to walk slowly away and then began to run. "Must have been when the flaming stuff started to rain down," Chester chuckles. They manage to follow the tracks up the street to the Papago Cash Store where they enter the corral. The horses in the corral have disturbed the dirt too much to track further. There are five different fresh horse tracks heading off in three different directions from the corral, so they are unsure exactly which one was his. Nanuet says, "Well there are only two of us and three different directions to go. I think we are out of luck here, let's go back and tell the others what we found out." </p><p></p><p>At that moment Jake exits the jail and comes over to where Kate, Minerva and Ruby are standing. He notices Ruby rubbing her scar and Kate's arm around her waist but says nothing. She turns to give him a small smile and notices something on his duster. With a furrowed brow she steps towards him and takes a closer look at the two scuffs. “What happened to your jacket?” Ruby asks with a puzzled look on her face. </p><p></p><p>Jake is hesitant at first but finally says, “It’s from two bullets, when I was closing the door. They deflected off my jacket.” “What?” Ruby’s face drop as she runs her fingers over the scuffs, right over where Jake’s heart would be. “You... you got shot?” Ruby hands start to tremble and she starts getting pale. “Ruby, they deflected off my jacket, I didn't get shot,” Jake answers. “You got shot?” she says again, almost daze like. She looks up at her friends, her eyes starting to well up with tears. </p><p></p><p>She says nothing, but grabs the bottom of her skirt, pulling it up to her knees, turns on her heel and starts running, running as fast as she can back to the Lucky Lady. Halfway there she finds herself on the ground, having run into a man walking down the street. She could barely see, her tears running down her cheeks. “I’m..I’m..so-soory,” she stutters as the man tries to help her up. “Oh you tore your stockings… Are you ok Miss West?” he asks but Ruby is already running again, all the way back to the Lucky Lady. </p><p></p><p>She enters and ignoring Harry and Nile’s questions about what happened continues to run up the stairs into her room. Out of breath she stands in front of the closet and pulls out her bag from up high on a shelf. She starts yanking out clothes throwing dresses left and right. She jams a few dresses into the bag, stuffs some shoes in, carelessly throws in jewelry, before her emotions overwhelm her. She grabs the edge of the bed and sinks to the floor, facing the wall as she sobs, gasping for breath. </p><p></p><p>"Ruby!" Kate looked around the scene and then over at Jake. "What in the world? Listen, ah, the shooters got away, I think at least one was using magic to make himself invisible. Nanuet and Chester are trying to track him. I'll go after Ruby, unless you want to. I don't know what has upset her so, except the idea of you being shot again. She might need you more than me right now." </p><p></p><p>Nanuet and Chester head back to where they left the others. Nanuet asks, "Where Ruby go?" </p><p>"She ran off towards the Lucky Lady" is echoed back and several arms point in that direction. </p><p>Nanuet says, "Well we followed the tracks to the stables but there are a few fresh sets of horse tracks leading off, no way to tell which are his." Nanuet pauses then begins again "Ran off you say? Is everything alright?" </p><p></p><p>"I'll go see what is wrong." Jake tells Katherine, "I don't seem to be much help here." Jake walks back to the Lucky Lady. Kate tells Nanuet, “I'm not sure. I think the last couple days have been hard on her, and she's not resting enough. Hopefully she just needs a good cry, and Jake knows the best way to comfort her.” </p><p></p><p>Chester says, "Nanuet, I've got to get back to Clarisse. Put my rifle back in the gun cabinet. Thanks." Chester walks back to the Promise City Hotel. Clarisse is sitting with Julia in the parlor. Clarisse asks, "What was the matter, Mr. Martin? Gunfire is becoming more common these days." </p><p></p><p>"Someone was shooting at the Marshall's office. No one was hurt as far as I can tell. Don't worry. Deputy Sheriff Hunter and Deputy Marshall Rodriguez are looking for the shooter." Clarisse's eyes get big. "He got away? What if he starts shooting again?" "Since you or Miss Barbeau aren't lawmen, you're not a target, I'm sure. Now, I'll see you before six. Try to keep your mind off it. Bye ladies." </p><p></p><p>Jake quickly tells Harry and Nile that there was shooting at the jail but everyone is fine. They let him know that Ruby ran upstairs a minute before Jake arrived. When he enters there room he sees some of Ruby's dresses strewn about the floor and a travel bag covered with some of her possessions. He hears someone sobbing and finds Ruby on the floor facing away. Jake deposits his hat on the bed and lowers himself on the floor next to her head. "We have this big beautiful room full of comfortable places to rest and you choose the hard wood floor." He reaches out and strokes her hair. </p><p></p><p>Ruby jumps when she hears Jake speak. She hadn't heard him come in or even sit next to her. She quickly wipes her eyes but doesn't turn to face him. "I-I-w-we have to leave," she continues to sob, although more quietly than before, "We have to leave Promise City. We have to go far away where no one knows who we are. I don't want to stay here anymore." "Ah, I see. Had enough then." Jake replies in a neutral tone. </p><p></p><p>"Yes." Ruby wipes her eyes again. "Have-haven't you?" Her chest rises and falls with each sob, but her hair still hides her face. "Hmmmm. That is a good question. I am tired of being shot at, and having to be nice to folks that I don't like." Jake scratches his chin, "Hanging around to fight IS something I am not accustomed to. I suppose we could sell off everything at a loss....." He leans back against the bed. "I'm sure Chester, Nanuet and Katherine would write. Well at least Chester and Katherine would, I'm not sure Nanuet knows how to write." </p><p></p><p>"I'm tired of being shot at too. I almost DIED yesterday. If you didn't have that jacket on, you might have died tonight. Last week you were in jail to further the stupid Earps cause. We're in the middle of everything and we didn't ask for any of it." Ruby finally turns to look up at Jake, tears steaming down her face. "They'll understand," she says, "They have to. If they were smart they would leave too." </p><p></p><p>Jake replies to Ruby, "Smart, now there is something I've not been accused of many times. So are you really willing to leave the others to whatever the Cowboy gang is going to do to them?" She replies, "No, let's stay and get murdered instead because they don't want to leave." Ruby stands up off the floor and starts stuffing more random things in her bag. She gulps, "Maybe you should leave me alone right now and go find out what everyone else is up to. I'm sure Ringo has something up his sleeve and the Cowboys are around." She continues to stiffly put things in her bag, avoiding catching Jake's glance. He says, "Maybe. Is that what you really want? To be alone?" </p><p></p><p>She exclaims, "I think you should be concerned about our friends, they need you." She eyes her bag, stuffed full. "I told you what I wanted. I don't want to die here in this crappy town. The rest is up to you." "Is it?" Jake replies. . </p><p></p><p>Chester makes his way to the Morand Cartage office to see if everything is OK with security of the ore trips. Zach Morand tells Chester, "Everything is running smoothly. Haven't even heard much from the Cowboy Gang." "That's good. Hopefully they'll stay quiet." Chester walks back to the Lucky Lady to fetch his gunbelt and the magic bullets. </p><p></p><p>Back at the Marshall's Office, Ike Sherman helps Johnny Ringo out of the building and up onto his horse. Johnny glares over in at where Minerva and Kate are standing near the boarding house. Kate met Johnny Ringo's eyes and unflinchingly stared back. She patted Minerva's arm and moved until the crowd was behind her, leaving only the street between Kate and Ringo. Ringo rides across the street towards Kate, never breaking eye contact with her. He stops his horse right beside her. </p><p></p><p>Kate lifted her hand and laid it on the horse’s muzzle. It nickered softly, familiar with Kate. "This is a good animal," she said quietly. "I didn't expect to see you here again." He replies, "I believe that you still have something of mine. We need to discuss my getting it back." She answers, "I think you already got the most important piece. It's a shame we can't be on the same side, we might have been friends under different circumstances." </p><p></p><p>He answers, "Circumstances change. It would be to your advantage to return my property to me. Surely a pile of books is not more important to you than...say....your place of employment." She looks him square in the eye and replies, "I've been thinking of leaving my employment, actually. Life is so busy you know, and waitressing isn't what I was made for. Seems to me you place a great deal of value on that pile of books. A man going into war can't even know if he'll be around to read them tomorrow." </p><p></p><p>Ringo says, "I've always found that it is important to make the time to read a good book. Expanding one's knowledge should never be underestimated with. And it's probably a good thing that you're not set on being at the Lucky Lady forever, since it won't exist for very much longer." </p><p></p><p>She asks, "Why would you trust me again? Not that I didn't intend to keep my end of the bargain, but it did become moot. You didn't have anything to offer me anymore." He replies, "Oh? I don't? Have you seen that little girl of your lately? Ginnie I believe her name is." </p><p></p><p>Kate took a deep breath and tried to keep her voice steady. "This morning. She's a smart girl, she knows to watch out for you." He replies, "Very confident of you. I'll make you a deal. Go back to your room at the El Parador and find me eight of the books that I asked about. That's about all that will fit in my saddlebag for now. Then I will tell you where you can find Ginnie. Don't worry, she's still alive, and if I get what I want no harm will come to her." </p><p></p><p>Out in the street in front of the jail, the priestess Minerva listens to the conversation between Johnny Ringo and Katherine with growing alarm. She shifts uneasily where she is standing and continues to listen. Kate's eyes went flat. "Where do I bring them?" He replies, "Get them now. I'll wait." </p><p></p><p>Kate turned her back to Ringo and walked calmly back to the El Parador. She made no fast moves until she was inside the Cantina, then she made a beeline for Dorita. "Have you seen Ginnie in the last few minutes, Dorita?" Dorita says, "Last few minutes? No, she go to Kelly Dry Goods to make lace two hours ago. Why you ask?" </p><p></p><p>"Damn it! I'm sorry Dorita, I can't explain now. I...." She ran out of the kitchen and upstairs. First into her room, where she made a mess throwing her clothes around, making sure there was no one invisible inside. Then she went across the hall and into Mr. Gonzales outside room. She repeated the procedure there with a blanket, waving it into every part of the room, making sure it didn't hit anything it shouldn't. Once she was sure she was alone she went into the secret rooms and tried to pick out the most harmless of the books he wanted. </p><p></p><p>Minerva watches Ringo for a few minutes before heading over to the El Parador to locate Katherine. Kate cannot read Greek or Latin but does recognize Atlanetean text so ignores the volumes written in those languages. She selects eight of the thinnest volumes and fans the pages to ensure that Atlantean writing is not intermixed as it had been in his spell book. </p><p></p><p>Chester is at the Lucky Lady and thinks “I bet Pierre can tell me what these do.” Chester cinches up his belt and makes sure his new Colt is snug in its holster. He enters the Gun Shop two doors down. "Afternoon, Pierre. I was wondering if you could help me figure out what this ammo does. You know, like that hand cannon a couple months ago." Chester lays out his magic bullets. Pierre examines them. "Oui, these are special. If you leave me one of each I will be able to figure them out for you by tomorrow." </p><p></p><p>Back at the Lucky Lady, Jake stands and looks at Ruby, "We can't get a stage tonight, I don't know if I want to ride out of here on horse just now." He walks to the door, "I have some work to do to sell some assets." He waits a moment and then turns to leave </p><p></p><p>Ruby looks down at her bag. "It's Sunday. You can't get anything done today. Why don't you just take me to Tombstone then you can come back and do your business and I'll wait there for you." </p><p>She plops down on the bed and puts her head in her hands. The tears are still streaming down her face. "I just can't do it anymore, Jake, I can't," she says quietly. "It's not fair, nothing is ever fair for me." </p><p></p><p>Jake says, "No, I believe it has not been. Ruby, I don't think it is safe to ride to Tombstone tonight. Tombstone might not be safe either. But you are wrong about one thing, I can give Berg power of attorney to make transactions for me and talk to Hoover about buying our shares of the saloon. I'll be back in a little while." </p><p></p><p>"I didn't mean tonight, I meant tomorrow, for Tombstone," she says softly. "And from there..." her voice trails off. "I know you don't want to leave here, why would you? You're happy here, aren't you? But aren't you tired of all this? We never get to just play cards and sing and get drunk. It's so serious all the time." </p><p></p><p>Over at the El Parador, Kate took the slim volumes in her shaking hands, took a deep breath, and left the rooms. As she came down the stairs and saw Minerva just starting up. "Miss Florencia? I'm sorry, I have to go, and whatever it is will have to wait." She replies, "Senora, getting your young friend back should not wait, no?" Minerva looks sharply at Katherine, "Let me help you make sure we get the chica back safely." </p><p></p><p>Kate replies, "It seems pretty simple to me. I give Ringo these, he tells me where she is, and I go get her. I'm not even sure he does have her. I almost expect him to tell me she off making lace at Kelley's and laugh while he rides away. I've already taken longer than I should have. If you have a suggestion make it quickly." Minerva replies, "Then let me run to Senora Kelley's and check for you?" Kate replies, "If you can manage it without being seen.” Minerva goes to the back door and looks about carefully to be sure that no one is watching. </p><p></p><p>Outside, Nanuet who had been standing idly by, not sure what he should be doing, his head swiveling back and forth watching the action decided that now was the time to act. He lifted the rifle and pointed it towards Johnny Ringo, specifically his head. "Mr. Ringo, I want you to get off that horse right now and then keep your hands up. I want you to march right over to the Marshall's office and tell them just exactly what you told Miss Kate about Ginnie. I don't think we allow kidnapping around these parts." </p><p></p><p>Ringo calmly says to Nanuet "Don't be stupid Indian. Lower that gun right now and the girl will live." Nanuet states, "I was kind enough to use your name Mr. Ringo, you can use mine. Get off the horse and you will live. You think that bullet in your leg hurt? How do you think one in your head will feel? I don't take kindly to your threats towards my friends." </p><p></p><p>Ringo answers, "And do you think that your friend Katherine will appreciate you getting her girl Ginnie killed through an act of foolish bravado? Go ahead and shoot. I can guarantee that you'll die before I do." </p><p></p><p>Nanuet answers, “Like I told your lackeys Mr. Ringo, I am not afraid of dying, I have a better place to go to when I die. You however will lie in eternal torment in Hades for the poor choices you have made in life. This is the last time I will tell you to get off that horse. You will mention to the Marshall what you said about destroying the Lucky Lady as well." </p><p></p><p>Nanuets voice does not waver as he speaks and he takes two steps forward as he talks louder exclaiming, “Marshall, I need your assistance out here please. Mr. Ringo has a few confessions he would like to make." Ringo kicks his horse and starts to gallop off across South Street towards the south end of Fremont Street. </p><p></p><p>Nanuet raises the rifle takes as many shots as he can once he sees Ringo spur the horse, deciding to save the last shot for the horse. Even as Minerva was leaving Kate heard more shots ring out in the street. She ran back outside and saw Ringo riding away with Nanuet firing after. "No! Nanuet stop! Please!" Nanuet hears the cries from Kate but she is too late. He continues firing. </p><p></p><p>Kate sees Nanuet's first shot miss. The second hits Johnny's back but deflects harmlessly off of his leather coat. The third shot also misses. The fourth shot is perfectly aimed, striking the back of Johnny's head just above the jacket collar but it also bounces off with no effect. </p><p></p><p>Another shot then rings out. Nanuet feels bullet hit him in the center of the back. Kate sees the bullet exit out of the front of the chest as her friend as Nanuet collapses into the street.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Silver Moon, post: 2813756, member: 8530"] Chapter 105, “Ringo‘s Threats”, Sunday, March 19th , 1882, 3:30 P.M. In response to Ruby’s earlier comment Chester tells her "I hate to say it, but Kate's right. You're better than Ringo, and now he knows that." Ruby tells Kate, "I thought I heard you yell that across the street but I wasn't sure. I have no idea what is going on. Did anyone get hurt inside?" Kate answers, "I don't think so. The men haven't come back from upstairs yet, but I think if someone had been hurt they'd be hurrying down for the Doctor.” Across the street, Ike Sherman, manager of the Papago Cash Store, rides Johnny Ringo's horse up to the Marshall's Office. He ties the horse to the rail out front and heads inside. Kate asks Ruby, “What was going on in the Marshall's office? I'd guess you and Jake were trying to find out what happened last night, but is Johnny Ringo there? Mr. Sherman just brought his horse over." "Last night?" Ruby says while rubbing her temples slowly, "Um, Jake wanted to try to question Gifford before we leave for Tombstone." Nanuet shows up just as Minerva does. "Huh, everyone is here. Anyway he thinks he's the key to who sold us out on our little excursion to the mine. He wouldn't talk though, then someone came in and," Ruby glances around to make sure no one is close enough to hear her whisper, "I overheard him say 'you shouldn't have told the Earps about the farmhouse' then he left and Gifford freaked out. Guess he's in trouble now..." Ruby shrugs, "Then the shooting started." She starts unconsciously rubbing her wound. "It sure is hot out here," she says tugging on her neckline, glancing around nervously. "They just started shooting at the building? That seems rather pointless." Kate looked at Ruby, seeing the fatigue on her face. "I think you need some more rest, Ruby dear. After we're finished here you should go back to the Lady and relax. Did you say if Ringo was there? I thought the next time we'd see him it would be at the other end of a gun." "Yes, yes Ringo was inside. He still is. He got shot but he took a potion to help himself, I'm pretty sure." Suddenly Ruby remembered what she heard him say. "Oh Kate, it's... it's... he was trying to tell..." Ruby rubs her scar again. "It IS hot out here, I think I need some something to drink." Kate replies, "Ruby, just a few hours ago I told you, less whiskey until your blood recovers itself. Do you need to sit down?" Kate stepped next to Ruby and slipped a supporting arm around her waist. "What could Ringo have to say that could possibly upset you this much? He can't hurt us with words." "Water, I just want some water." Ruby is quiet for a moment, Kate can tell she is thinking. "You're wrong Kate, words can hurt us..." Chester calls over Nanuet saying, "Hey Nanuet, let's see if we can track these guys down. I hope the crowd hasn't messed things up too much." Nanuet replies, "Good idea, let's do that if we can. It's still muddy from the rain yesterday, that might help." Nanuet and Chester are able to locate the tracks of the man Kate had been grabbing at. Nanuet deduces that he started to walk slowly away and then began to run. "Must have been when the flaming stuff started to rain down," Chester chuckles. They manage to follow the tracks up the street to the Papago Cash Store where they enter the corral. The horses in the corral have disturbed the dirt too much to track further. There are five different fresh horse tracks heading off in three different directions from the corral, so they are unsure exactly which one was his. Nanuet says, "Well there are only two of us and three different directions to go. I think we are out of luck here, let's go back and tell the others what we found out." At that moment Jake exits the jail and comes over to where Kate, Minerva and Ruby are standing. He notices Ruby rubbing her scar and Kate's arm around her waist but says nothing. She turns to give him a small smile and notices something on his duster. With a furrowed brow she steps towards him and takes a closer look at the two scuffs. “What happened to your jacket?” Ruby asks with a puzzled look on her face. Jake is hesitant at first but finally says, “It’s from two bullets, when I was closing the door. They deflected off my jacket.” “What?” Ruby’s face drop as she runs her fingers over the scuffs, right over where Jake’s heart would be. “You... you got shot?” Ruby hands start to tremble and she starts getting pale. “Ruby, they deflected off my jacket, I didn't get shot,” Jake answers. “You got shot?” she says again, almost daze like. She looks up at her friends, her eyes starting to well up with tears. She says nothing, but grabs the bottom of her skirt, pulling it up to her knees, turns on her heel and starts running, running as fast as she can back to the Lucky Lady. Halfway there she finds herself on the ground, having run into a man walking down the street. She could barely see, her tears running down her cheeks. “I’m..I’m..so-soory,” she stutters as the man tries to help her up. “Oh you tore your stockings… Are you ok Miss West?” he asks but Ruby is already running again, all the way back to the Lucky Lady. She enters and ignoring Harry and Nile’s questions about what happened continues to run up the stairs into her room. Out of breath she stands in front of the closet and pulls out her bag from up high on a shelf. She starts yanking out clothes throwing dresses left and right. She jams a few dresses into the bag, stuffs some shoes in, carelessly throws in jewelry, before her emotions overwhelm her. She grabs the edge of the bed and sinks to the floor, facing the wall as she sobs, gasping for breath. "Ruby!" Kate looked around the scene and then over at Jake. "What in the world? Listen, ah, the shooters got away, I think at least one was using magic to make himself invisible. Nanuet and Chester are trying to track him. I'll go after Ruby, unless you want to. I don't know what has upset her so, except the idea of you being shot again. She might need you more than me right now." Nanuet and Chester head back to where they left the others. Nanuet asks, "Where Ruby go?" "She ran off towards the Lucky Lady" is echoed back and several arms point in that direction. Nanuet says, "Well we followed the tracks to the stables but there are a few fresh sets of horse tracks leading off, no way to tell which are his." Nanuet pauses then begins again "Ran off you say? Is everything alright?" "I'll go see what is wrong." Jake tells Katherine, "I don't seem to be much help here." Jake walks back to the Lucky Lady. Kate tells Nanuet, “I'm not sure. I think the last couple days have been hard on her, and she's not resting enough. Hopefully she just needs a good cry, and Jake knows the best way to comfort her.” Chester says, "Nanuet, I've got to get back to Clarisse. Put my rifle back in the gun cabinet. Thanks." Chester walks back to the Promise City Hotel. Clarisse is sitting with Julia in the parlor. Clarisse asks, "What was the matter, Mr. Martin? Gunfire is becoming more common these days." "Someone was shooting at the Marshall's office. No one was hurt as far as I can tell. Don't worry. Deputy Sheriff Hunter and Deputy Marshall Rodriguez are looking for the shooter." Clarisse's eyes get big. "He got away? What if he starts shooting again?" "Since you or Miss Barbeau aren't lawmen, you're not a target, I'm sure. Now, I'll see you before six. Try to keep your mind off it. Bye ladies." Jake quickly tells Harry and Nile that there was shooting at the jail but everyone is fine. They let him know that Ruby ran upstairs a minute before Jake arrived. When he enters there room he sees some of Ruby's dresses strewn about the floor and a travel bag covered with some of her possessions. He hears someone sobbing and finds Ruby on the floor facing away. Jake deposits his hat on the bed and lowers himself on the floor next to her head. "We have this big beautiful room full of comfortable places to rest and you choose the hard wood floor." He reaches out and strokes her hair. Ruby jumps when she hears Jake speak. She hadn't heard him come in or even sit next to her. She quickly wipes her eyes but doesn't turn to face him. "I-I-w-we have to leave," she continues to sob, although more quietly than before, "We have to leave Promise City. We have to go far away where no one knows who we are. I don't want to stay here anymore." "Ah, I see. Had enough then." Jake replies in a neutral tone. "Yes." Ruby wipes her eyes again. "Have-haven't you?" Her chest rises and falls with each sob, but her hair still hides her face. "Hmmmm. That is a good question. I am tired of being shot at, and having to be nice to folks that I don't like." Jake scratches his chin, "Hanging around to fight IS something I am not accustomed to. I suppose we could sell off everything at a loss....." He leans back against the bed. "I'm sure Chester, Nanuet and Katherine would write. Well at least Chester and Katherine would, I'm not sure Nanuet knows how to write." "I'm tired of being shot at too. I almost DIED yesterday. If you didn't have that jacket on, you might have died tonight. Last week you were in jail to further the stupid Earps cause. We're in the middle of everything and we didn't ask for any of it." Ruby finally turns to look up at Jake, tears steaming down her face. "They'll understand," she says, "They have to. If they were smart they would leave too." Jake replies to Ruby, "Smart, now there is something I've not been accused of many times. So are you really willing to leave the others to whatever the Cowboy gang is going to do to them?" She replies, "No, let's stay and get murdered instead because they don't want to leave." Ruby stands up off the floor and starts stuffing more random things in her bag. She gulps, "Maybe you should leave me alone right now and go find out what everyone else is up to. I'm sure Ringo has something up his sleeve and the Cowboys are around." She continues to stiffly put things in her bag, avoiding catching Jake's glance. He says, "Maybe. Is that what you really want? To be alone?" She exclaims, "I think you should be concerned about our friends, they need you." She eyes her bag, stuffed full. "I told you what I wanted. I don't want to die here in this crappy town. The rest is up to you." "Is it?" Jake replies. . Chester makes his way to the Morand Cartage office to see if everything is OK with security of the ore trips. Zach Morand tells Chester, "Everything is running smoothly. Haven't even heard much from the Cowboy Gang." "That's good. Hopefully they'll stay quiet." Chester walks back to the Lucky Lady to fetch his gunbelt and the magic bullets. Back at the Marshall's Office, Ike Sherman helps Johnny Ringo out of the building and up onto his horse. Johnny glares over in at where Minerva and Kate are standing near the boarding house. Kate met Johnny Ringo's eyes and unflinchingly stared back. She patted Minerva's arm and moved until the crowd was behind her, leaving only the street between Kate and Ringo. Ringo rides across the street towards Kate, never breaking eye contact with her. He stops his horse right beside her. Kate lifted her hand and laid it on the horse’s muzzle. It nickered softly, familiar with Kate. "This is a good animal," she said quietly. "I didn't expect to see you here again." He replies, "I believe that you still have something of mine. We need to discuss my getting it back." She answers, "I think you already got the most important piece. It's a shame we can't be on the same side, we might have been friends under different circumstances." He answers, "Circumstances change. It would be to your advantage to return my property to me. Surely a pile of books is not more important to you than...say....your place of employment." She looks him square in the eye and replies, "I've been thinking of leaving my employment, actually. Life is so busy you know, and waitressing isn't what I was made for. Seems to me you place a great deal of value on that pile of books. A man going into war can't even know if he'll be around to read them tomorrow." Ringo says, "I've always found that it is important to make the time to read a good book. Expanding one's knowledge should never be underestimated with. And it's probably a good thing that you're not set on being at the Lucky Lady forever, since it won't exist for very much longer." She asks, "Why would you trust me again? Not that I didn't intend to keep my end of the bargain, but it did become moot. You didn't have anything to offer me anymore." He replies, "Oh? I don't? Have you seen that little girl of your lately? Ginnie I believe her name is." Kate took a deep breath and tried to keep her voice steady. "This morning. She's a smart girl, she knows to watch out for you." He replies, "Very confident of you. I'll make you a deal. Go back to your room at the El Parador and find me eight of the books that I asked about. That's about all that will fit in my saddlebag for now. Then I will tell you where you can find Ginnie. Don't worry, she's still alive, and if I get what I want no harm will come to her." Out in the street in front of the jail, the priestess Minerva listens to the conversation between Johnny Ringo and Katherine with growing alarm. She shifts uneasily where she is standing and continues to listen. Kate's eyes went flat. "Where do I bring them?" He replies, "Get them now. I'll wait." Kate turned her back to Ringo and walked calmly back to the El Parador. She made no fast moves until she was inside the Cantina, then she made a beeline for Dorita. "Have you seen Ginnie in the last few minutes, Dorita?" Dorita says, "Last few minutes? No, she go to Kelly Dry Goods to make lace two hours ago. Why you ask?" "Damn it! I'm sorry Dorita, I can't explain now. I...." She ran out of the kitchen and upstairs. First into her room, where she made a mess throwing her clothes around, making sure there was no one invisible inside. Then she went across the hall and into Mr. Gonzales outside room. She repeated the procedure there with a blanket, waving it into every part of the room, making sure it didn't hit anything it shouldn't. Once she was sure she was alone she went into the secret rooms and tried to pick out the most harmless of the books he wanted. Minerva watches Ringo for a few minutes before heading over to the El Parador to locate Katherine. Kate cannot read Greek or Latin but does recognize Atlanetean text so ignores the volumes written in those languages. She selects eight of the thinnest volumes and fans the pages to ensure that Atlantean writing is not intermixed as it had been in his spell book. Chester is at the Lucky Lady and thinks “I bet Pierre can tell me what these do.” Chester cinches up his belt and makes sure his new Colt is snug in its holster. He enters the Gun Shop two doors down. "Afternoon, Pierre. I was wondering if you could help me figure out what this ammo does. You know, like that hand cannon a couple months ago." Chester lays out his magic bullets. Pierre examines them. "Oui, these are special. If you leave me one of each I will be able to figure them out for you by tomorrow." Back at the Lucky Lady, Jake stands and looks at Ruby, "We can't get a stage tonight, I don't know if I want to ride out of here on horse just now." He walks to the door, "I have some work to do to sell some assets." He waits a moment and then turns to leave Ruby looks down at her bag. "It's Sunday. You can't get anything done today. Why don't you just take me to Tombstone then you can come back and do your business and I'll wait there for you." She plops down on the bed and puts her head in her hands. The tears are still streaming down her face. "I just can't do it anymore, Jake, I can't," she says quietly. "It's not fair, nothing is ever fair for me." Jake says, "No, I believe it has not been. Ruby, I don't think it is safe to ride to Tombstone tonight. Tombstone might not be safe either. But you are wrong about one thing, I can give Berg power of attorney to make transactions for me and talk to Hoover about buying our shares of the saloon. I'll be back in a little while." "I didn't mean tonight, I meant tomorrow, for Tombstone," she says softly. "And from there..." her voice trails off. "I know you don't want to leave here, why would you? You're happy here, aren't you? But aren't you tired of all this? We never get to just play cards and sing and get drunk. It's so serious all the time." Over at the El Parador, Kate took the slim volumes in her shaking hands, took a deep breath, and left the rooms. As she came down the stairs and saw Minerva just starting up. "Miss Florencia? I'm sorry, I have to go, and whatever it is will have to wait." She replies, "Senora, getting your young friend back should not wait, no?" Minerva looks sharply at Katherine, "Let me help you make sure we get the chica back safely." Kate replies, "It seems pretty simple to me. I give Ringo these, he tells me where she is, and I go get her. I'm not even sure he does have her. I almost expect him to tell me she off making lace at Kelley's and laugh while he rides away. I've already taken longer than I should have. If you have a suggestion make it quickly." Minerva replies, "Then let me run to Senora Kelley's and check for you?" Kate replies, "If you can manage it without being seen.” Minerva goes to the back door and looks about carefully to be sure that no one is watching. Outside, Nanuet who had been standing idly by, not sure what he should be doing, his head swiveling back and forth watching the action decided that now was the time to act. He lifted the rifle and pointed it towards Johnny Ringo, specifically his head. "Mr. Ringo, I want you to get off that horse right now and then keep your hands up. I want you to march right over to the Marshall's office and tell them just exactly what you told Miss Kate about Ginnie. I don't think we allow kidnapping around these parts." Ringo calmly says to Nanuet "Don't be stupid Indian. Lower that gun right now and the girl will live." Nanuet states, "I was kind enough to use your name Mr. Ringo, you can use mine. Get off the horse and you will live. You think that bullet in your leg hurt? How do you think one in your head will feel? I don't take kindly to your threats towards my friends." Ringo answers, "And do you think that your friend Katherine will appreciate you getting her girl Ginnie killed through an act of foolish bravado? Go ahead and shoot. I can guarantee that you'll die before I do." Nanuet answers, “Like I told your lackeys Mr. Ringo, I am not afraid of dying, I have a better place to go to when I die. You however will lie in eternal torment in Hades for the poor choices you have made in life. This is the last time I will tell you to get off that horse. You will mention to the Marshall what you said about destroying the Lucky Lady as well." Nanuets voice does not waver as he speaks and he takes two steps forward as he talks louder exclaiming, “Marshall, I need your assistance out here please. Mr. Ringo has a few confessions he would like to make." Ringo kicks his horse and starts to gallop off across South Street towards the south end of Fremont Street. Nanuet raises the rifle takes as many shots as he can once he sees Ringo spur the horse, deciding to save the last shot for the horse. Even as Minerva was leaving Kate heard more shots ring out in the street. She ran back outside and saw Ringo riding away with Nanuet firing after. "No! Nanuet stop! Please!" Nanuet hears the cries from Kate but she is too late. He continues firing. Kate sees Nanuet's first shot miss. The second hits Johnny's back but deflects harmlessly off of his leather coat. The third shot also misses. The fourth shot is perfectly aimed, striking the back of Johnny's head just above the jacket collar but it also bounces off with no effect. Another shot then rings out. Nanuet feels bullet hit him in the center of the back. Kate sees the bullet exit out of the front of the chest as her friend as Nanuet collapses into the street. [/QUOTE]
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