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<blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 2813765" data-attributes="member: 8530"><p><strong>Chapter 106, “Another Miracle”, Sunday, March 19th , 1882, 4:00 P.M. </strong> </p><p></p><p>Jake replies to Ruby, "Too damn serious. So let's go to Tombstone and take in a show, and have some fun. They we come back to Promise City or we don't. Oh, forgot my hat..." Jake strides to the bed as he hears more gunshots. "Mierda, not again." Jake runs out of the room and heads towards the stairs. Ruby wipes off her face, and assuming it again has something to do with the Cowboys grabs a shotgun and rifle. She sniffles and goes down the stairs a minute after Jake. </p><p></p><p>At the gun shop, Chester says, "That's great. Here you go. I'll be back tomorrow then." Rifle shots echo down the street. Pierre says, "Most unusual to hear that twice in one day." </p><p></p><p>"What the..." Chester's face goes pale. "Damn. That sounded like a Spencer. I gotta go, Pierre." Chester runs towards the noise, reaching the intersection of Main and Fremont to see Nanuet firing at the fleeing Ringo. He yells to the Indian, "What in Hades are you doing? Are you trying to get yourself killed?" Another shot rings out and Nanuet collapses into the street. </p><p></p><p>Kate sees the shooter, a man dressed in cowboy garb, sixty feet up the street in front of the Town Hall building. He is holding a rifle and shifts his aim towards Kate. "Get down!" Kate screamed into the Cantina, then dove inside, hoping the door would block any shots. </p><p></p><p>"Nanuet! He's hit." Chester sees the shooter appear out of thin air. "There you are. I should have known." Chester ducks around the corner of the town hall and cross-draws his two revolvers. </p><p>Jake arrives at the front door of the Lucky Lady. He sees Chester move behind the corner of the building 75 feet away and prepare his weapons. Jake draws his Colt. Ruby follows behind Jake, although she is a bit behind him. She sees Jake pull his gun, so she starts running and as she does double checks the rifle is ready to go. </p><p></p><p>No sooner had Minerva left the El Parador when gunshots split the air. “Mierda" she says and doubles back around the corner. when she sees that Nanuet has been hit she rushes into the street Shouting his name. "Nanuet!" Chester cocks the hammers and reaches around the building to fire at the man. He yells to the Priestess, "Minerva. Get out of the street. The Cowboy's not that far from you." She moves herself to block the cowboy from Nanuet's body. and casts a Sanctuary spell on herself. </p><p></p><p>Chester fires both his pistols at the Cowboy. "You're not getting away this time." The left-handed shot is not well aimed and the shot goes wild. The pistol in his right hand however is perfectly aimed and fired as the bullet hits the back of the man's head and the shooter falls to the ground. </p><p></p><p>Jake runs up to the corner with Chester, "What in Hades is going on?" Chester replies, </p><p>“Nanuet was shooting at somebody. Then an invisible guy shot him in the back. I think I got him. He's probably alone, as no one else has started shooting." With these words Ruby runs faster than before, past Jake. </p><p></p><p>Minerva bends down and cradles his head in her lap. "Johnny.... Ringo... he's…….getting away. He has Ginnie and is going to... to do something terrible at the Lucky Lady." he says in a weak voice, blood trickling from his mouth as he speaks. Minerva sits in the street, holding Nanuet and praying to the goddess "Please don't let him die!" she begs He softly mutters, “Miss Minerva, it is okay if I die. My ancestors call to me, this is my time.” </p><p></p><p>She states, “No Senor it is NOT your time! I am not done with you yet!!!” She rips the necklace from Nanuet's Neck and begins to pray. "The necklace will not work for you, you must be of Elvan blood, Nanuet says. She says, “No Senor, I will not believe that, lie still and pray with me!” A long stone on the necklace, the second largest one, begins to glow. His eyes widen a bit in disbelief as the stone starts to glow. Nanuet says, " Am not sure I have the strength left to pray Miss Minerva... and Ringo, he is getting away... and Ginnie and the Lucky Lady... Ruby went back there..."his voice trails off. Nanuet looses consciousness as the entire necklace now begins to glow. </p><p></p><p>Kate stayed crouched down for a moment, then realized the shot she thought was coming at her never materialized. She cracked open the door to see the shooter falling from to the Street. Eduardo Rodriguez exits the Marshall's Office holding a rifle. Some of the others had already reached Nanuet, she dashed out into the street to join them. Chester calls out to Deputy Rodriguez. "Some guy just shot our friend. He's over here." </p><p></p><p>Miss Florencia was praying over him, the stone from the necklace was glowing, trying to do its work, but Minerva didn't quite know how. Kate says, "Put the stone in his hand, Senorita, and close his fist around it." Minerva, helplessly crying and stroking Nanuet’s hair looks up when she hears Kate yell. She places the stone in Nanuet’s hand and prays with all she has. "Please, Please don't let him die. She bends down and kisses his fore head "The necklace too, Senorita," Kate said, gently putting one end in Nanuet's hand while leaving the other in Minerva's. She spared a quick glance to see if Ringo was still in sight. </p><p></p><p>Not slowing at the intersection Ruby continues to run to Nanuet, throwing herself on the ground next to him. "Nanuet, hold on," Ruby says trying not to look at his blood soaked shirt, "Look your necklace is working," Ruby sobs as she takes his hand. Nanuet starts to smile, then coughs weakly. "Miss Ruby is that you?" His free hand reaches out in the direction of her voice. </p><p>"Miss Ruby, can you sing for me? Sing me a pretty song, just one last time... " </p><p></p><p>Ruby's face scrunches in pain as she hears Nanuet's words. She shakes her head as she cries, "No... you're going to be ok..." But the color has drained out of Nanuet and he is grower paler by the second. She gulps and fights back her tears, and tries to sing Nanuet's favorite song, an old Elvan tune. Her voice cracks as she sings and her tears fall onto him as Minerva continues her fervent prayers. </p><p></p><p>Jake peaks around the corner and sees a man lying in the street, the same one that threatened Gifford in the jail not long before. Then he notices Minerva, Ruby and Katherine bending over what he assumes is Nanuet. Jake runs over to make sure the man down is dead and scans the area for any other danger. Chester runs to Nanuet. He asks to nobody in particular, "How is he doing? Can you heal him? He's got this necklace." </p><p></p><p>Minerva feels a flow of energy around her as her hands begin to glow a bright white/yellow color similar to what you see when looking directly into the sun. Simultaneous to this Nanuet's hand begins to glow green. The glow from all three hands then move out over his body and towards his chest. The gold light then begins to spiral clockwise and wind into smaller circles as the green light spirals counterclockwise, also winding into smaller circles. As the two paths of light intersect the colors merge until a swirl of gold/green light then covers over the wound. </p><p></p><p>The blood covering his chest then begins to recede back into his chest and the wound begins to heal. The healing then stops and begins to reverse itself, the blood starting to flow outward again. Minerva hears a feminine voice inside her head telling her to cast her remaining healing spell. She does so and a new wave of golden light flows out from Minerva hands and onto the wound. The blood then changes color from red to a reddish gold color as it flows back into his body. </p><p></p><p>The wound seals up as the skin folds back over itself, leaving an X shaped scar where the bullet had exited. The glowing color then begins to fade. The green fades completely. Nanuet's hand falls open, revealing a combination of green and gold dust. The necklace then stops glowing. The six stones remaining in the necklace are no longer pure turquoise in color as they now all have specks of gold as well. Minerva is physically and emotionally drained and can barely remain conscious. Minerva gently kisses the x-shapped scar and lays her head down on Nanuet’s chest. "Thank you goddess" she whispers and closes her eyes. </p><p></p><p>Kate let out a long explosive breath. "Good job, Senorita. Thank you." Two miracles in one day.” She laid one hand on Nanuet's for a moment before she stood next to the pile of books she had dropped when she arrived. She began to scan the streets, looking for Ringo. He is nowhere to be seen. </p><p></p><p>Now that the second round of shooting in less than a half-hour has ended people begin to come out of hiding to find out what is going on. Kate sees an oddly dressed man wearing standing in the doorway of the El Parador wearing only red long underwear, a cowboy hand and a gun belt. Bill Watkins gives him a dirty look and the man heads back inside. </p><p></p><p>Chester looks on in awe. "Miss Florencia, you are truly blessed by the gods. Thank you." Minerva starts to slump over. Chester catches her. "Easy there. That must have taken a lot out of you. Let me get you into the boarding house to sit. Can he be moved?" Minerva replies in a barely audible whisper. ""Si, It is best to get Senor Nanuet out of the road." Her voice trembles "Please, Senor... I am unable to stand." If you could carry me..." </p><p></p><p>"Actually, the Lucky Lady's not too far. I can take you there." Chester reaches for his rifle and slings it onto his back. Then he lifts Minerva and cradles her. "Jake, Ruby, she says that we can move him. Can you do it?" </p><p></p><p>Ruby stops singing and pulls some hair off Nanuet's face. "We need to get him back to the Lucky Lady to rest. And it looks like Minerva needs to rest too." Ruby kisses Nanuet's cheek and makes her way over to the man she recognizes from earlier. She starts searching him over, especially looking for any kind of identifying information, keeping his weapon close to her. </p><p></p><p>Finding the man dead, and not seeing any danger he holsters his weapon. "Ruby he's the same one that visited Gifford." Jake turns and sees Katherine running, "Now what?" "Katherine, what is wrong now?" "Oh no, no, no." Kate scrabbled in the dirt for the books, then ran with her arms full toward Mary Kelly's shop. She yells "Ringo said he has Ginnie! She's supposed to be at Mary Kelly's, I have to look! If she's not there..." Kate kept running. </p><p></p><p>Jake says, "Ruby, I'll follow Katherine. I'll meet you at the Lady, get everyone there." Jake runs after Katherine. Minerva immediately falls asleep in Chester's arms. Ruby says, "Chester, bring her to the Lucky Lady please. We'll put her in a spare room." </p><p></p><p>Everyone is gone, leaving Ruby with Nanuet. "Hey you," Ruby calls out to some guy on the street. "Can you help me move my injured friend please?" They each take a side and carry Nanuet back to the Lucky Lady, Ruby with some difficulty. As soon as she gets in the Lucky Lady Harry and Niles run over and take Nanuet carrying him up the stairs. Ruby sighs, takes a bottle of bourbon and heads up to Nanuet's room, puppies in tow. </p><p></p><p>Kate covers the four blocks to the corner of Front and Sierra in record time. Jake has a longer running stride and manages to reach the front door of Kelly's Dry Goods and Tailor right behind her. Kate barges in without knocking to see Mary Kelly and Ginnie sitting in a pair of chairs working on lace. Ginnie looks up and says, "Ma'am Kate, is something wrong?" Mary asks "Was that shooting we heard?" </p><p></p><p>"Ginnie!" Kate dropped the books with a clatter and rushed over, taking the girl in her arms without regard for the lace in her hands. "Oh thank goodness," she said softly as she began to cry and rock back and forth. </p><p></p><p>Jake is right behind her and says, "Katherine talk later, let's get you two either back to the Lucky Lady or the El Parador right now." Jake is looking out the front door up and down the street. "Now, gather up your stuff Ginnie. Right now." "I'm sorry, Jake. Of course, we should go," Kate said, letting go of Ginnie. "Yes, that was shooting. You'll be fine here, Mrs. Kelley. Some members of the Cowboy Gang with a personal grudge. We have to go. Hurry now Ginnie." </p><p></p><p>At the Lucky Lady, Ruby fetches some water and clean cloth. She sends Harry to get some of Jake's fresh clothes. She pulls off Nanuet's shirt and begins to clean him off, a task she is growing weary of. She gently washes him and changes his clothes. In between she takes long gulps of bourbon. Once he is clean she gets him settled, and sings to him as she strokes his hair. </p><p></p><p>Chester brings the sleeping priestess into the Lucky Lady and puts her in the nearest spare room. "Rest easy, Minerva." He leaves the door ajar and knocks on Nanuet's door. "Ruby? It's Chester. Can I come in? Minerva's sleeping in one of the spare rooms." Ruby says in a weary voice, "Come on in, Chet." </p><p></p><p>"Now that is the song I wanted to hear." says Nanuet weakly as he stirs. He reaches for Ruby's hand as it strokes his hair and holds it. "Now, were even." he says managing a smile and light laugh. " </p><p></p><p>Ruby breathes a huge sigh of relief. "Oh Nanuet," as she starts to cry again. "Damn It! Why am I always crying around you!" She takes a swing of the bourbon. "You want some?" She holds out the bottle to Nanuet. "Or Chet, you want some?" He says, "Yeah. Give me the bottle." He takes a drink. "This has not been a good week." </p><p></p><p>She turns back to Nanuet. "What do you mean we're even?" He says, “We're even because you saved me now. Not quite sure, but I think I was pretty bad shape for a moment there." "How did I save you?" Ruby asks while taking another drink. "I'm really going to need this tonight. It's just getting too dangerous around here." </p><p></p><p>He replies, "I held on to the sound of your voice, that is the thread that kept me in the weave of the living world. I think I would be gone without it. Thank you." Nanuet says, before getting choked up too much to speak. Tears fall from his eyes and run down his face. "Oh, that is so very sweet. I.. I can't believe I did that for you." Ruby reaches over and wipes the tears off Nanuet's face. The puppies run into the room but Chester keeps them from jumping on the bed. They both give small barks in protest. </p><p></p><p>He asks, is everyone else OK?" She pauses, "Yes everyone else is alright, except the guy who shot you. Chet here blew his brains out." She gestures for Chester to sit on the bed next to her. He replies, "It was nothing. I just happened to get there first. Ruby, did you find out who he was?" He sits on the bed and grins. "Jake won't be jealous, will he?" He says to Nanuet. "What happened? I thought once the invisible guy left and that was it. Did he have help?" </p><p></p><p>"He had come in earlier to the jail and threatened Gifford. He said 'You shouldn't have told the Earps where the farmhouse was.' Gifford was really scared after that and said they were coming for him." Ruby takes the bottle back and drinks. "Why would Jake be jealous?" Chester gives Ruby an innocent look, "Jake might be jealous that you're alone with two men with him not being one of them." Ruby starts to give a sly smile and smart aleck answer but the smile drops off her face before she does. </p><p></p><p>Ruby continues with Nanuet, "Minerva did something, I don't even know, like a miracle or something. She used your necklace. She's exhausted so we put her in the other room to rest." Nanuet answers, "I'll pass on the bourbon for now, thanks. he says with a wink. "Nice shot Chet, thanks for protecting the ladies. Sounds like I owe my biggest thanks to Minerva though." </p><p></p><p>Nanuet then says, "I think I really might have screwed up though, he got away and he has Ginnie, he said he did. Oh my, and he said, he said that he would do something to the Lucky Lady too!" Chester exclaims, "What? Kate's little girl? We got to look for her. Do we know where the cowboys have another hideout? I got to get that jacket." </p><p></p><p>Nanuet says, "What invisible guy? I was going to kill that Johnny Ringo guy. I couldn't listen to him threaten Miss Kate about the books and Ginnie and then say that he was going to destroy the Lucky Lady too. I lost my cool and started shooting at him when he wouldn't get off his horse. Then I think I got shot in the back." </p><p></p><p>Chester says, "The guy who shot at Jake and Ruby from the boarding house. The one we tracked to the livery. He must have doubled back. When you shot Ringo, he shot you. Did you hit him?" Nanuet replies, "I did hit him, I mean I should have hit him, one of my shots was a good one for sure, but it just bounced away from his head, even without the jacket for protection." Chester whistles. "So, Ringo is a wizard like you and Mr. Gonzalez, Kate? That sounds like that protection spell you use. We can't let him get those books. Who knows what's inside." </p><p></p><p>Ruby takes a big breath in. "I don't know about Ginnie. I guess Kate ran off to see where she was. I wouldn't put it past Ringo to lie about having her, but I also wouldn't put it past him to take her either. Try not to worry about that now, you need to rest." She squeezes his hand. "And he's threatened to do something to the Lucky Lady before also, but we're still here. Try to rest, that's an order." Ruby finally gives him a smile, while fixing his hair again. "You're so brave." Nanuet answers, "Brave or stupid? I will try and rest, but I need to know where the others are before I will get any peace." </p><p></p><p>Jake escorts them to where ever Katherine feels safest. He nervously scans the streets and buildings as they make their way, all the while urging them to move quickly. Jake, Kate and Ginnie travel the two blocks back to the Lucky Lady without incident. </p><p></p><p>Kate let Jake take them back to the Lady for now. Since Ginnie was with her, she wanted to check on Nanuet and Minerva. "We'll need to go back to the El Parador in a while. I can keep Ginnie safer there." Kate shuffled the stack of books and realized she still had her note for Conrad crumpled up in her hand. She would just have to explain later, there was no time for that now. </p><p></p><p>Kate put her arm around the confused Ginnie's shoulders and said, "Let's go up and see Nanuet. He'll be worried about you. Mr. Ringo was just here, he told me he'd taken you. I wasn't sure if I should believe him or not, but I wasn't taking any chances. I don't know how the shooting started, but Nanuet was hurt. Not to worry, he'll be fine." </p><p></p><p>Kate knocked lightly on the door to Nanuet's room then came quietly in. "As you can see, the reports of Ginnie's kidnapping were greatly exaggerated. The only thing Ringo could have told me was that she was at Mary Kelly's, exactly where she was supposed to be." Chester says, "Glad to see you safe and sound, Ginnie. We'll all have to be extra watchful for the Cowboys from now on." </p><p></p><p>Nanuet lets out an audible sigh. "I am so glad you are safe, both of you. Is Mr. Jake with you? I am so sorry Miss Kate, I shouldn't have put that little girl in danger." Nanuet becomes choked up again and puts his hands to his face. Ruby breathes another sigh of relief. "Thank goodness she's ok. She's too smart to get caught by someone like Ringo, right Ginnie?" Ruby doesn't sound very convinced. </p><p></p><p>She walked over and gently took his hands away from his face. "Enough of that, now. We've all had a few hard days. If I'd spent the last day held captive, I don't think I'd have much patience either. Don't punish yourself anymore.” Nanuet takes his hands from his face at Kate's urging. </p><p></p><p>Nanuet says, "Thank you Miss Kate, I am just glad that everyone is OK." </p><p></p><p>Kate continues, “I can tell you, Ringo really wants those books. I wish I could read them; at least get an idea why." Ruby says, "Can't we ask Mr. Gonzales? He has probably read them, at least looked them over.. or can." "Where is Jake?" Ruby asks concerned. Kate answers, "Jake is back, he should be up in a minute. Mr. Gonzales is gone again, no note this time. He was so exhausted last night we didn't get a chance to talk. I think Ringo might have spells hidden in some of the books." </p><p></p><p>"Where did he go now?" Ruby says exasperated. "Running off again. Ringo can NOT get those books back. And they are safe enough he can never find them. The problem is, he knows where we all stay and can find us." </p><p></p><p>"Yes, Ringo is a wizard. He has the ability to protect himself with spells that can stop bullets. Since he got shot earlier, he must have protected himself with a potion. I tried to stop him from drinking it but he grabbed me. I think the whole him getting shot thing might have been a ruse, to distract us from Gifford. Why would one of the Cowboys shoot him? Unless that guy wasn't a Cowboy... but he was a Cowboy he is the one who threatened Gifford. Unless Ringo isn't a Cowboy, but he is... Oh!" </p><p></p><p>Ruby sits back on the bed. "I'm confused. Jake is the smart one, he should figure this out. And someone should check on Minerva. I'll be back in a few minutes." Chester says, "I can do it." He creeps down the hall, so as to not wake Minerva. Bottle in hand, Ruby heads downstairs and finds Harry and Niles, and Jake. She explains the situation and the fact that they need to find Jeff. "We desperately need to keep a vigil on this place, Ringo has threatened to blow up the Lucky Lady." </p><p></p><p>Chester pushes open the door and peeks his head into the room. "He whispers, "Minerva, are you awake?" He only hears her measured breathing. Chester walks back to Nanuet's room. "She's still asleep. Nanuet, does that happen to you when you've healed people?" Kate replies, "She did more than that Chester. The necklace was made for an Elf, the power of the Apache is in it. Minerva's power comes from other gods. I don't know what was involved in making it work, but I think she might have been a sort of bridge." Kate reached out and lifted one of the stones, looking at the gold flecks winking back at her. “More than that, another god or goddess left their imprint as well."</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Silver Moon, post: 2813765, member: 8530"] [B]Chapter 106, “Another Miracle”, Sunday, March 19th , 1882, 4:00 P.M. [/B] Jake replies to Ruby, "Too damn serious. So let's go to Tombstone and take in a show, and have some fun. They we come back to Promise City or we don't. Oh, forgot my hat..." Jake strides to the bed as he hears more gunshots. "Mierda, not again." Jake runs out of the room and heads towards the stairs. Ruby wipes off her face, and assuming it again has something to do with the Cowboys grabs a shotgun and rifle. She sniffles and goes down the stairs a minute after Jake. At the gun shop, Chester says, "That's great. Here you go. I'll be back tomorrow then." Rifle shots echo down the street. Pierre says, "Most unusual to hear that twice in one day." "What the..." Chester's face goes pale. "Damn. That sounded like a Spencer. I gotta go, Pierre." Chester runs towards the noise, reaching the intersection of Main and Fremont to see Nanuet firing at the fleeing Ringo. He yells to the Indian, "What in Hades are you doing? Are you trying to get yourself killed?" Another shot rings out and Nanuet collapses into the street. Kate sees the shooter, a man dressed in cowboy garb, sixty feet up the street in front of the Town Hall building. He is holding a rifle and shifts his aim towards Kate. "Get down!" Kate screamed into the Cantina, then dove inside, hoping the door would block any shots. "Nanuet! He's hit." Chester sees the shooter appear out of thin air. "There you are. I should have known." Chester ducks around the corner of the town hall and cross-draws his two revolvers. Jake arrives at the front door of the Lucky Lady. He sees Chester move behind the corner of the building 75 feet away and prepare his weapons. Jake draws his Colt. Ruby follows behind Jake, although she is a bit behind him. She sees Jake pull his gun, so she starts running and as she does double checks the rifle is ready to go. No sooner had Minerva left the El Parador when gunshots split the air. “Mierda" she says and doubles back around the corner. when she sees that Nanuet has been hit she rushes into the street Shouting his name. "Nanuet!" Chester cocks the hammers and reaches around the building to fire at the man. He yells to the Priestess, "Minerva. Get out of the street. The Cowboy's not that far from you." She moves herself to block the cowboy from Nanuet's body. and casts a Sanctuary spell on herself. Chester fires both his pistols at the Cowboy. "You're not getting away this time." The left-handed shot is not well aimed and the shot goes wild. The pistol in his right hand however is perfectly aimed and fired as the bullet hits the back of the man's head and the shooter falls to the ground. Jake runs up to the corner with Chester, "What in Hades is going on?" Chester replies, “Nanuet was shooting at somebody. Then an invisible guy shot him in the back. I think I got him. He's probably alone, as no one else has started shooting." With these words Ruby runs faster than before, past Jake. Minerva bends down and cradles his head in her lap. "Johnny.... Ringo... he's…….getting away. He has Ginnie and is going to... to do something terrible at the Lucky Lady." he says in a weak voice, blood trickling from his mouth as he speaks. Minerva sits in the street, holding Nanuet and praying to the goddess "Please don't let him die!" she begs He softly mutters, “Miss Minerva, it is okay if I die. My ancestors call to me, this is my time.” She states, “No Senor it is NOT your time! I am not done with you yet!!!” She rips the necklace from Nanuet's Neck and begins to pray. "The necklace will not work for you, you must be of Elvan blood, Nanuet says. She says, “No Senor, I will not believe that, lie still and pray with me!” A long stone on the necklace, the second largest one, begins to glow. His eyes widen a bit in disbelief as the stone starts to glow. Nanuet says, " Am not sure I have the strength left to pray Miss Minerva... and Ringo, he is getting away... and Ginnie and the Lucky Lady... Ruby went back there..."his voice trails off. Nanuet looses consciousness as the entire necklace now begins to glow. Kate stayed crouched down for a moment, then realized the shot she thought was coming at her never materialized. She cracked open the door to see the shooter falling from to the Street. Eduardo Rodriguez exits the Marshall's Office holding a rifle. Some of the others had already reached Nanuet, she dashed out into the street to join them. Chester calls out to Deputy Rodriguez. "Some guy just shot our friend. He's over here." Miss Florencia was praying over him, the stone from the necklace was glowing, trying to do its work, but Minerva didn't quite know how. Kate says, "Put the stone in his hand, Senorita, and close his fist around it." Minerva, helplessly crying and stroking Nanuet’s hair looks up when she hears Kate yell. She places the stone in Nanuet’s hand and prays with all she has. "Please, Please don't let him die. She bends down and kisses his fore head "The necklace too, Senorita," Kate said, gently putting one end in Nanuet's hand while leaving the other in Minerva's. She spared a quick glance to see if Ringo was still in sight. Not slowing at the intersection Ruby continues to run to Nanuet, throwing herself on the ground next to him. "Nanuet, hold on," Ruby says trying not to look at his blood soaked shirt, "Look your necklace is working," Ruby sobs as she takes his hand. Nanuet starts to smile, then coughs weakly. "Miss Ruby is that you?" His free hand reaches out in the direction of her voice. "Miss Ruby, can you sing for me? Sing me a pretty song, just one last time... " Ruby's face scrunches in pain as she hears Nanuet's words. She shakes her head as she cries, "No... you're going to be ok..." But the color has drained out of Nanuet and he is grower paler by the second. She gulps and fights back her tears, and tries to sing Nanuet's favorite song, an old Elvan tune. Her voice cracks as she sings and her tears fall onto him as Minerva continues her fervent prayers. Jake peaks around the corner and sees a man lying in the street, the same one that threatened Gifford in the jail not long before. Then he notices Minerva, Ruby and Katherine bending over what he assumes is Nanuet. Jake runs over to make sure the man down is dead and scans the area for any other danger. Chester runs to Nanuet. He asks to nobody in particular, "How is he doing? Can you heal him? He's got this necklace." Minerva feels a flow of energy around her as her hands begin to glow a bright white/yellow color similar to what you see when looking directly into the sun. Simultaneous to this Nanuet's hand begins to glow green. The glow from all three hands then move out over his body and towards his chest. The gold light then begins to spiral clockwise and wind into smaller circles as the green light spirals counterclockwise, also winding into smaller circles. As the two paths of light intersect the colors merge until a swirl of gold/green light then covers over the wound. The blood covering his chest then begins to recede back into his chest and the wound begins to heal. The healing then stops and begins to reverse itself, the blood starting to flow outward again. Minerva hears a feminine voice inside her head telling her to cast her remaining healing spell. She does so and a new wave of golden light flows out from Minerva hands and onto the wound. The blood then changes color from red to a reddish gold color as it flows back into his body. The wound seals up as the skin folds back over itself, leaving an X shaped scar where the bullet had exited. The glowing color then begins to fade. The green fades completely. Nanuet's hand falls open, revealing a combination of green and gold dust. The necklace then stops glowing. The six stones remaining in the necklace are no longer pure turquoise in color as they now all have specks of gold as well. Minerva is physically and emotionally drained and can barely remain conscious. Minerva gently kisses the x-shapped scar and lays her head down on Nanuet’s chest. "Thank you goddess" she whispers and closes her eyes. Kate let out a long explosive breath. "Good job, Senorita. Thank you." Two miracles in one day.” She laid one hand on Nanuet's for a moment before she stood next to the pile of books she had dropped when she arrived. She began to scan the streets, looking for Ringo. He is nowhere to be seen. Now that the second round of shooting in less than a half-hour has ended people begin to come out of hiding to find out what is going on. Kate sees an oddly dressed man wearing standing in the doorway of the El Parador wearing only red long underwear, a cowboy hand and a gun belt. Bill Watkins gives him a dirty look and the man heads back inside. Chester looks on in awe. "Miss Florencia, you are truly blessed by the gods. Thank you." Minerva starts to slump over. Chester catches her. "Easy there. That must have taken a lot out of you. Let me get you into the boarding house to sit. Can he be moved?" Minerva replies in a barely audible whisper. ""Si, It is best to get Senor Nanuet out of the road." Her voice trembles "Please, Senor... I am unable to stand." If you could carry me..." "Actually, the Lucky Lady's not too far. I can take you there." Chester reaches for his rifle and slings it onto his back. Then he lifts Minerva and cradles her. "Jake, Ruby, she says that we can move him. Can you do it?" Ruby stops singing and pulls some hair off Nanuet's face. "We need to get him back to the Lucky Lady to rest. And it looks like Minerva needs to rest too." Ruby kisses Nanuet's cheek and makes her way over to the man she recognizes from earlier. She starts searching him over, especially looking for any kind of identifying information, keeping his weapon close to her. Finding the man dead, and not seeing any danger he holsters his weapon. "Ruby he's the same one that visited Gifford." Jake turns and sees Katherine running, "Now what?" "Katherine, what is wrong now?" "Oh no, no, no." Kate scrabbled in the dirt for the books, then ran with her arms full toward Mary Kelly's shop. She yells "Ringo said he has Ginnie! She's supposed to be at Mary Kelly's, I have to look! If she's not there..." Kate kept running. Jake says, "Ruby, I'll follow Katherine. I'll meet you at the Lady, get everyone there." Jake runs after Katherine. Minerva immediately falls asleep in Chester's arms. Ruby says, "Chester, bring her to the Lucky Lady please. We'll put her in a spare room." Everyone is gone, leaving Ruby with Nanuet. "Hey you," Ruby calls out to some guy on the street. "Can you help me move my injured friend please?" They each take a side and carry Nanuet back to the Lucky Lady, Ruby with some difficulty. As soon as she gets in the Lucky Lady Harry and Niles run over and take Nanuet carrying him up the stairs. Ruby sighs, takes a bottle of bourbon and heads up to Nanuet's room, puppies in tow. Kate covers the four blocks to the corner of Front and Sierra in record time. Jake has a longer running stride and manages to reach the front door of Kelly's Dry Goods and Tailor right behind her. Kate barges in without knocking to see Mary Kelly and Ginnie sitting in a pair of chairs working on lace. Ginnie looks up and says, "Ma'am Kate, is something wrong?" Mary asks "Was that shooting we heard?" "Ginnie!" Kate dropped the books with a clatter and rushed over, taking the girl in her arms without regard for the lace in her hands. "Oh thank goodness," she said softly as she began to cry and rock back and forth. Jake is right behind her and says, "Katherine talk later, let's get you two either back to the Lucky Lady or the El Parador right now." Jake is looking out the front door up and down the street. "Now, gather up your stuff Ginnie. Right now." "I'm sorry, Jake. Of course, we should go," Kate said, letting go of Ginnie. "Yes, that was shooting. You'll be fine here, Mrs. Kelley. Some members of the Cowboy Gang with a personal grudge. We have to go. Hurry now Ginnie." At the Lucky Lady, Ruby fetches some water and clean cloth. She sends Harry to get some of Jake's fresh clothes. She pulls off Nanuet's shirt and begins to clean him off, a task she is growing weary of. She gently washes him and changes his clothes. In between she takes long gulps of bourbon. Once he is clean she gets him settled, and sings to him as she strokes his hair. Chester brings the sleeping priestess into the Lucky Lady and puts her in the nearest spare room. "Rest easy, Minerva." He leaves the door ajar and knocks on Nanuet's door. "Ruby? It's Chester. Can I come in? Minerva's sleeping in one of the spare rooms." Ruby says in a weary voice, "Come on in, Chet." "Now that is the song I wanted to hear." says Nanuet weakly as he stirs. He reaches for Ruby's hand as it strokes his hair and holds it. "Now, were even." he says managing a smile and light laugh. " Ruby breathes a huge sigh of relief. "Oh Nanuet," as she starts to cry again. "Damn It! Why am I always crying around you!" She takes a swing of the bourbon. "You want some?" She holds out the bottle to Nanuet. "Or Chet, you want some?" He says, "Yeah. Give me the bottle." He takes a drink. "This has not been a good week." She turns back to Nanuet. "What do you mean we're even?" He says, “We're even because you saved me now. Not quite sure, but I think I was pretty bad shape for a moment there." "How did I save you?" Ruby asks while taking another drink. "I'm really going to need this tonight. It's just getting too dangerous around here." He replies, "I held on to the sound of your voice, that is the thread that kept me in the weave of the living world. I think I would be gone without it. Thank you." Nanuet says, before getting choked up too much to speak. Tears fall from his eyes and run down his face. "Oh, that is so very sweet. I.. I can't believe I did that for you." Ruby reaches over and wipes the tears off Nanuet's face. The puppies run into the room but Chester keeps them from jumping on the bed. They both give small barks in protest. He asks, is everyone else OK?" She pauses, "Yes everyone else is alright, except the guy who shot you. Chet here blew his brains out." She gestures for Chester to sit on the bed next to her. He replies, "It was nothing. I just happened to get there first. Ruby, did you find out who he was?" He sits on the bed and grins. "Jake won't be jealous, will he?" He says to Nanuet. "What happened? I thought once the invisible guy left and that was it. Did he have help?" "He had come in earlier to the jail and threatened Gifford. He said 'You shouldn't have told the Earps where the farmhouse was.' Gifford was really scared after that and said they were coming for him." Ruby takes the bottle back and drinks. "Why would Jake be jealous?" Chester gives Ruby an innocent look, "Jake might be jealous that you're alone with two men with him not being one of them." Ruby starts to give a sly smile and smart aleck answer but the smile drops off her face before she does. Ruby continues with Nanuet, "Minerva did something, I don't even know, like a miracle or something. She used your necklace. She's exhausted so we put her in the other room to rest." Nanuet answers, "I'll pass on the bourbon for now, thanks. he says with a wink. "Nice shot Chet, thanks for protecting the ladies. Sounds like I owe my biggest thanks to Minerva though." Nanuet then says, "I think I really might have screwed up though, he got away and he has Ginnie, he said he did. Oh my, and he said, he said that he would do something to the Lucky Lady too!" Chester exclaims, "What? Kate's little girl? We got to look for her. Do we know where the cowboys have another hideout? I got to get that jacket." Nanuet says, "What invisible guy? I was going to kill that Johnny Ringo guy. I couldn't listen to him threaten Miss Kate about the books and Ginnie and then say that he was going to destroy the Lucky Lady too. I lost my cool and started shooting at him when he wouldn't get off his horse. Then I think I got shot in the back." Chester says, "The guy who shot at Jake and Ruby from the boarding house. The one we tracked to the livery. He must have doubled back. When you shot Ringo, he shot you. Did you hit him?" Nanuet replies, "I did hit him, I mean I should have hit him, one of my shots was a good one for sure, but it just bounced away from his head, even without the jacket for protection." Chester whistles. "So, Ringo is a wizard like you and Mr. Gonzalez, Kate? That sounds like that protection spell you use. We can't let him get those books. Who knows what's inside." Ruby takes a big breath in. "I don't know about Ginnie. I guess Kate ran off to see where she was. I wouldn't put it past Ringo to lie about having her, but I also wouldn't put it past him to take her either. Try not to worry about that now, you need to rest." She squeezes his hand. "And he's threatened to do something to the Lucky Lady before also, but we're still here. Try to rest, that's an order." Ruby finally gives him a smile, while fixing his hair again. "You're so brave." Nanuet answers, "Brave or stupid? I will try and rest, but I need to know where the others are before I will get any peace." Jake escorts them to where ever Katherine feels safest. He nervously scans the streets and buildings as they make their way, all the while urging them to move quickly. Jake, Kate and Ginnie travel the two blocks back to the Lucky Lady without incident. Kate let Jake take them back to the Lady for now. Since Ginnie was with her, she wanted to check on Nanuet and Minerva. "We'll need to go back to the El Parador in a while. I can keep Ginnie safer there." Kate shuffled the stack of books and realized she still had her note for Conrad crumpled up in her hand. She would just have to explain later, there was no time for that now. Kate put her arm around the confused Ginnie's shoulders and said, "Let's go up and see Nanuet. He'll be worried about you. Mr. Ringo was just here, he told me he'd taken you. I wasn't sure if I should believe him or not, but I wasn't taking any chances. I don't know how the shooting started, but Nanuet was hurt. Not to worry, he'll be fine." Kate knocked lightly on the door to Nanuet's room then came quietly in. "As you can see, the reports of Ginnie's kidnapping were greatly exaggerated. The only thing Ringo could have told me was that she was at Mary Kelly's, exactly where she was supposed to be." Chester says, "Glad to see you safe and sound, Ginnie. We'll all have to be extra watchful for the Cowboys from now on." Nanuet lets out an audible sigh. "I am so glad you are safe, both of you. Is Mr. Jake with you? I am so sorry Miss Kate, I shouldn't have put that little girl in danger." Nanuet becomes choked up again and puts his hands to his face. Ruby breathes another sigh of relief. "Thank goodness she's ok. She's too smart to get caught by someone like Ringo, right Ginnie?" Ruby doesn't sound very convinced. She walked over and gently took his hands away from his face. "Enough of that, now. We've all had a few hard days. If I'd spent the last day held captive, I don't think I'd have much patience either. Don't punish yourself anymore.” Nanuet takes his hands from his face at Kate's urging. Nanuet says, "Thank you Miss Kate, I am just glad that everyone is OK." Kate continues, “I can tell you, Ringo really wants those books. I wish I could read them; at least get an idea why." Ruby says, "Can't we ask Mr. Gonzales? He has probably read them, at least looked them over.. or can." "Where is Jake?" Ruby asks concerned. Kate answers, "Jake is back, he should be up in a minute. Mr. Gonzales is gone again, no note this time. He was so exhausted last night we didn't get a chance to talk. I think Ringo might have spells hidden in some of the books." "Where did he go now?" Ruby says exasperated. "Running off again. Ringo can NOT get those books back. And they are safe enough he can never find them. The problem is, he knows where we all stay and can find us." "Yes, Ringo is a wizard. He has the ability to protect himself with spells that can stop bullets. Since he got shot earlier, he must have protected himself with a potion. I tried to stop him from drinking it but he grabbed me. I think the whole him getting shot thing might have been a ruse, to distract us from Gifford. Why would one of the Cowboys shoot him? Unless that guy wasn't a Cowboy... but he was a Cowboy he is the one who threatened Gifford. Unless Ringo isn't a Cowboy, but he is... Oh!" Ruby sits back on the bed. "I'm confused. Jake is the smart one, he should figure this out. And someone should check on Minerva. I'll be back in a few minutes." Chester says, "I can do it." He creeps down the hall, so as to not wake Minerva. Bottle in hand, Ruby heads downstairs and finds Harry and Niles, and Jake. She explains the situation and the fact that they need to find Jeff. "We desperately need to keep a vigil on this place, Ringo has threatened to blow up the Lucky Lady." Chester pushes open the door and peeks his head into the room. "He whispers, "Minerva, are you awake?" He only hears her measured breathing. Chester walks back to Nanuet's room. "She's still asleep. Nanuet, does that happen to you when you've healed people?" Kate replies, "She did more than that Chester. The necklace was made for an Elf, the power of the Apache is in it. Minerva's power comes from other gods. I don't know what was involved in making it work, but I think she might have been a sort of bridge." Kate reached out and lifted one of the stones, looking at the gold flecks winking back at her. “More than that, another god or goddess left their imprint as well." [/QUOTE]
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