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<blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 3281056" data-attributes="member: 8530"><p><strong>Chapter 217, “Preparations“, Saturday, April 1st , 1882, 12:00 P.M.</strong></p><p></p><p>Jake says, “Pierre my friend I have reason to believe my name is on one of those shells. Wish me luck. Unless you can do better than that." Jake only pauses there a moment with Pierre before he runs to the Comique. He asks around to see if anyone knows where Van Horne is staying. "I want to make it clear just how welcome he is at the Lucky Lady."</p><p></p><p>Al Brower assumes Jake is being sarcastic by that comment and says, "He indicated to my dealer, Rolf Larsen, that he was staying at the Palace again. Took us for over $ 500 last night. I'm sure that guy is cheating, we just can't figure out how." Jake states, "Hard to believe anyone is that good. Ya, I want to lay down the law to that guy before he does the same at the Lady. Thanks." </p><p></p><p>Jake runs back to Ruby who is standing outside the restaurant looking for him. "I know where the letters were delivered," she says quietly yet beams with pride. "Good." Jake says but doesn't seem happy. "Then we know who's names are on the bullets. Literally." Ruby starts to question him but he says, "No time, I can't say it twice. Where to next?" </p><p></p><p>"Uh, the Judge. Jake, what's wrong baby-" She doesn't finish because he is pulling her along towards Isby's residence at the old Trail Dust Saloon. Once close, Jake once again fades into the background. "Damn," she says quietly to herself, "he is starting to get good at that." She knocks on the door. Ruby knocks again on the door to the Trail Dust and calls out, "Hello? Judge Isby, Kevin?"</p><p></p><p>Isby answers the door, letting Ruby in and locking the door behind him. Kevin's fencing outfit is sitting out on the table alongside two foils. Isby says, "Your friend Mr. Kane brought these back from Wilcox. Kevin believes he will be able to fence much better with them. But I'm sure you're not here about the fencing tournament."</p><p></p><p>She says, "No I'm not. Although I have to say, I have enjoyed our time together and will actually be sad for it to come to an end." Ruby walks over to the outfit and runs her fingers over it before turning back to the Judge. "Ringo is in town. He has threatened my friends and other associates of my friends. He plans on murdering us today during the festival." The Judge spends the next ten minutes listening to whatever details Ruby wishes to tell him about what she knows.</p><p></p><p>Ruby is totally upfront with the letters that have circulated and possible plans that her and her friends will take by burning the books to draw him out. "I just wanted to let you know," she sighs, "We are going to try to keep Ringo out of town but he probably has Cowboys everywhere. It could be a tragedy and the law is going to be busy today."</p><p></p><p>The Judge thanks her for the information and tells her to be careful. He adds, "Kevin and I were both going to be armed anyway today but this calls for some special measures. Exactly what type of gun do you use Miss West?" "Uh, this kind?" She pulls the gun out of the band of her skirt. It's a six-shot double action pistol. She shrugs, "Jake is the one who knows about the gun stuff. Why?" Isby examines it and says, "Ah, a Colt Lightning, the Peacemaker's younger sibling. Weighs one-third less than it's mightier brother. A good reliable weapon, this was what Pat Garret used. Pat's killer died less than 200 feet from where we are right now." </p><p></p><p>Isby goes over to a locked wooded cabinet which he unlocks with a key. He then removes an iron strong box from it which has both a key lock built into it and a padlock on a chain around it. He unlocks both and opens it. He says, "A Colt Lightning uses a thirty-eight caliber shell. Here we go." He takes out a cloth pouch where the number '38" is written in ink on the pouch. </p><p></p><p>He removes five bullets from the pouch placing them on the table and then replaces the pouch into the box. He then opens the chamber on Ruby's gun, unloads the shells, and replaces them with the five on the table. He closes the chamber, making sure that it set on the empty chamber. He then wraps her original ammunition in a handkerchief and hands her back the gun as well as the handkerchief.</p><p></p><p>"Thank you?" She says questioningly. "What is it, I mean what are they?" She puts her old ammunition in her pocket. He says, "Well, officially you didn't get those from me. As a lawman I can't support the use of what the Federal Government has declared is illegal ammunition. As a practical matter, I'm not one to throw away useful things that I confiscate in the course of doing my job." </p><p></p><p>He moves a little closer and lowers his voice to a whisper. "Those shells will cause paralysis to the limb struck, slows down the circulation of blood in the immediate area. It will work even if it is only a grazing shot. To disarm a man strike him anywhere on his gun arm. A leg shot will cause a man to lose his footing. Most effective would be a shot in the torso to stop the heart or anywhere above the shoulders to stop all brain activity."</p><p></p><p>Ruby nods. "I understand and I thank you very much. I'm sure these will help and we both know how much they have to use against us," Ruby shudders. "Alright, I should be going, take care." She stops, then turns back to the Judge and kisses his cheek. She heads to the door. "And please tell Mr. Tomlinson that I think his fencing match with Chester will have to wait for another day."</p><p></p><p>Isby replies, "I understand, the lawmen have their hands full. No time for foolishness like sword fighting. I'll tell Kevin that Mr. Martin will take a rain check. Be careful Miss. West." Once the door is open and literally dozens of folks are looking their way the Judge makes a point of giving her a warm embrace goodbye and kissing her hand. Ruby smiles, then walks out the door heading in the direction of the El Parador</p><p></p><p>Kate had just told Conrad he didn’t have to stay with her any longer. He laughs and say. "Ah, but I do have to stay. You forget, this is when and where I dine every day. Pedro has even saved me a space at my favorite table." "Just don't fall asleep in your soup," Kate said with an attempt at a smile. "I'll be back down in a bit, the others are meeting here." </p><p></p><p>She then went quickly up the stairs and into her teacher's rooms. "Professeur amie," she said, walking into the library and beginning to help separate the volumes. "Ginnie is safe, Jeff Mills is keeping watch over her. She didn't get a note. Mary Kelley did." He replies, "Really? That's odd. You don't know her that well, why would Ringo threaten her?" Kate replies, "Because he knows me too well. He knows I can't tolerate him murdering innocent people. If he only included my friends, we would be likely to band together and fight back. Which we are likely to do anyway." </p><p></p><p>"The others will be here to make plans soon. We all went to gather what information we could. It sounded earlier like you wanted to be involved. Do you want me to let you know when they're here so you can plan with them?" </p><p></p><p>He replies, "Dorita and I still need to get these books together. It looks as though we can spare over half of the Greek and Latin ones, which should help with the deception if that is what you wish to do. I still have mixed feelings, although in truth I can always bring Dorita and her family elsewhere if necessary. Just keep me informed of the plans and how you think I can help." Kate answers, "I hope it won't be necessary. I think the others want to know if you were planning on going with them. Ginnie also said she might need your help or Sonoma's this afternoon."</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Ruby heads inside the El Parador and finds Kate and Conrad, with Jake walking in behind her. Jake spots Pedro and tells Ruby, "I'll be out in a moment." Jake takes Pedro into the kitchen. "Listen Amigo, you must keep your wife where ever they are hiding her." Jake grabs Pedro’s arms just below the shoulders. "Her life is in danger. There is bad magic on a bullet that will be after her if she shows her face. Once we get that Johnny Ringo character and take his gun, then it is safe. If she shows her face you put it back where it was hiding." Jake shakes him once. "Understand? This is not the time for her to be the boss." </p><p></p><p>"I need you to do two things for me. No one must know these notes are from me. Get someone to the Palace and deliver this short one to Mr. Van Horne." He hands him a short note that says in red ink - <em>Parador Porch "When he shows up outside on the porch, have someone sneak him the second one. Maybe Ricardo, the boy is good with his hands, or maybe Ginnie if she is around."</em></p><p></p><p>The second note says in black ink: <em> am in trouble. Johnny Ringo and the Cowboy Gang have it in for me and lots of folks around town. Gone to somewhere near the Last Ditch Mine, three miles northwest of Promise City to try and give him a sucker punch first. He's after some books. His favorite trick is to have his men invisible. They have loads of SPECIALLY ENHANCED rounds. Including one with my name on it. I hope to see you when I get back. I'll buy the bourbon if we can work it out. This one is bad my friend. Wish me luck. </em> Pedro agrees and Jake returns out to wait for the others.</p><p></p><p>Ruby quietly waits for Jake to return. She takes his hand while they wait for the others to arrive and at one point she leans to him and whispers in his ear, "We need to see Pierre again to pick up an item I left there, before we leave town." Jake nods in understanding. </p><p></p><p>Nanuet and Minerva head upstairs in the Lucky Lady to his room. He gathers his bow and arrows, rifle, pistol, both knives, the magical powder from Kajika and all his ammunition. Nanuet then escorts Minerva to the Comstock house so that she may get whatever he needs. They then spend a few minutes walking the streets of the town looking for anything suspicious before returning to the El Parador. Minerva and Nanuet arrive, with Chester behind them.</p><p></p><p>"Everybody is here?" He looks around and smiles. "Katherine, I am afraid we need you do prepare a candle again." She nods solemnly and prepares the candle. Jake begins, "Did we figure out the numbers? I'll let Ruby tell you what she learned in a minute. I figured out what Ringo meant. We weren't taking him literally enough. He really does have bullets with names on them. Six bullets, stolen from Pierre that can hunt down the warm body whose name is on it." </p><p></p><p>Jake’s smile doesn't waver as he relates what Pierre told him. "Nanuet my friend, to your earlier comment about Mr. Ringo. One doesn't go to all that trouble making ammunition like that and not use at least some of it. Books or not." He looks to Ruby. "Go ahead, tell them where the letters were delivered."</p><p></p><p>Ruby's mouth drops open and stays that way. No words come out of her mouth for a long moment as she realizes what Jake is saying. Suddenly her head spins to Jake and she blurts out, "You're not coming with us... you have to stay here... even better we have to have Mr. Gonzales take you or us away! You can't, you have to stay away from him and anyone else who got a letter too." Ruby's chest rises and falls rapidly with the excited words that pour from her mouth. "No way Jake, you're not doing it."</p><p></p><p>"Ruby honey," Jake says in soothing voice, "no decisions have been made yet." He says that and yet knows that he and his friends all around the room have made decisions of one kind or another in this matter already. "We all need to hear what you learned. Please, tell them what you know."</p><p></p><p>Ruby's face shows her obvious concern and anxiety. She starts biting her lip and pulling on her hair as she speaks. She takes a big breath in, "Well, I, uh, spoke to Eddie and he gave me the uh, route he took this morning to deliver the other letters. He started at the Marshall's Office, then came here for Dorita's I guess, then to the Comstock House for Minerva's, then the Long Branch," she glances at Conrad, "Then to Jake at the Lucky Lady. After that over to the Tailor Shop, then the Palace where he gave one to Jane then finally back here again for Kate's." She looks back at Jake practically pained and looks to speak but says nothing.</p><p></p><p>While Ruby is talking, the impact of what Jake said penetrates the little group. To Jake Chester seems angry, but not as angry as Nanuet. Minerva is unreadable to him. Katherine seems to teeter from anger to fear, but when Ruby says that a letter has been delivered to the Long Branch Saloon Katherine's hand went to her mouth and gasped. Jake had also been watching Conrad Booth pretend to eat his lunch while watching their table. When Katherine reacted, Booth nearly leapt from his seat and was halfway to their table in one stride. </p><p></p><p>"Katherine, does Conrad know about the letters in detail?" Jake asks. Her hand still on her mouth, she nods yes as Conrad arrives at her side. "Katherine, what is wrong?" Conrad Booth looks up to Jake angrily. Jake meets his stair with a cool stare of his own, "We all just learned that one of the special delivery letters went to the Long Branch Saloon this morning. Did you know that?" </p><p></p><p>Conrad is momentarily speechless, but quickly recovers. "No I did not. I should go and see about it." He looks down at Katherine and looks uncertain. "I think you should." Jake says simply. "Please make it quick, we will wait for you. Chester can you go with him? Tell him about the names on the bullets on the way back." Conrad looks to Katherine, who just nods yes. He and Chester leave quickly. </p><p></p><p>Jake says, "I'm going to ask Pedro for something we can eat, it will be a long day and we will need our strength." I can't let them know just how afraid I really am, he thinks, I hope I can really eat something. Conrad returns a short while later and says, "The letter was for Kate Higgins. It was a card that had written on it only the word Six." Jake has a confused look on his face. "How does that add up?"</p><p></p><p>Ruby shakes her head. "I don't know how it adds up. There is something we don't know or more likely Ringo doesn't want to tell us." She wrenches her hands together under the table but stops that to pull on her hair. "What's the plan? Are we sending Nanuet out to scout?"</p><p></p><p>Jake seems to be thinking out loud. "Mitchell Berg, Jake Cook, Dorita Figueres, Minerva Florencia, Mary Kelly and Kate Higgins; what do they have in common? Do they have anything in common besides terrorizing the town? I wonder if Fisk has a hand in this too..." </p><p></p><p>Ruby suggests, "Maybe each of those letters is really not meant for who got it, but one of us. Ringo's way of saying after the fact, ha... that was my plan and I succeeded." Ruby shudders before continuing. "Dorita's is for Sonoma, Berg's is for Chester, Higgins’s is for Conrad, Mary's is for Ginnie, Minerva's is for Nanuet and yours is for..." Ruby doesn't finish her thought. "It's the only other thing I can think of." </p><p></p><p>Kate says, "That could be it. The only thought I had was that he might be trying to convince me by not only threatening people I care about, but the people they care about as well. And in doing that he threatens me with being completely alone. The Kelley's, the people here in the El Parador, those at the Long Branch, Ruby and Nanuet... those left behind would likely abandon me. I think Ringo's been watching me enough to know that I couldn't bear that. But Ruby's thought makes more sense. He must have known I'd come running to all of you, and it hurts all of very personally." </p><p></p><p>Jake starts talking fast. "Do we know who owns the Last Ditch Mine? Maybe they can tell us the layout. His note says it should be deserted, so he's not sure. I wonder if some of us could go looking like miners making a Saturday delivery of equipment or something. How else do we get there? Nanuet is probably right he should scout ahead but we need to get everyone there right behind him. Damn I wish we could do something about his invisible folks. Is there a way that Gonzalez could get us there?" </p><p></p><p>Jake stops for a breath, "We are not even sure that Ringo will be there, he is likely to be in town and just have lackeys there. But we need to know that, stop them and find out how Ringo would know whether he got the books or not. Maybe he doesn't even care if he gets them or not for what he has planned for tonight. We don't have much time and if we go, we need to not give them time to react." Jake looks down at his feet for only a second before looking back up. "I think we should go anyway. What do you think and who is coming?" While Jake listens to his friends respond, a little part of him is quietly whispering, If you can get back from the mine in one piece Ringo will be waiting in Promise City for you.</p><p></p><p>Ruby turns and forgetting the others, she stares Jake in the eyes, "Baby, you already know whatever fool plan we come up with, I'm going with you. Don't go where the other can't follow, right?" She gives him a small scared smile.</p><p></p><p>Nanuet states, "Well do all the people who received the actual letters understand what we think is going on? They all deserve to know. We have to decide if we are going to try and deliver fake books and then ambush the ambush so to speak or if we are going to try and burn the books and draw him out. I still think scouting with Maska is a worthy idea. Also it is not a bad idea to check out the layout of the mine if we can find the owners, but we have little time so if we do that is has to be quick. </p><p></p><p>Do we think the numbers have anything to do with the order that Ringo wishes to go after people? If so, who got one and two? Let’s make sure they are as safe as possible. I know nobody is truly safe right now but we can minimize their risk. So what do we think? Burn the books and try and draw him out or deliver the books in an ambush?"</p><p></p><p>Kate interjects, "I didn't say anything to Mary Kelley. Conrad, did you tell Kate Higgins?” He replies, "No, I wanted to get back here. She has a curious nature though so I'm sure she will ask me when she sees me next. I'll need to know what to tell her." Despite the others at the table, Kate reached over and took his hand. "I know. I wish I knew what it was. Do you think she can handle knowing what's really going on?"</p><p></p><p>"To tell anyone the whole truth reveals secrets that could cost folks here their lives. Tell anyone outside this circle with a number simply that the Cowboy Gang is blackmailing the town and they are at risk of being killed." Jake looks at Chester, "That is all Berg knows right?" "Chester looks a bit uneasy. "That's all he knows. I didn't say who else got them, just that others have.” </p><p></p><p>Kate then says, “Number one is Mitchell Berg, and number two is Jake. Neither of whom is in a particularly safe position, nor are they likely to agree to hide. Jake we might be able to find out where exactly Ringo is. My teacher used a spell once to locate someone, he might able to do it for Ringo." </p><p></p><p>Jake looks stunned. "If that was true Katherine, why didn't we hunt down Ringo a week ago? You can ask him, I'm still going to make plans assuming that is not possible." She replies, "We didn't hunt him down because it's not that specific. I meant only that we can get an idea if he is in town or not. Also, we needed something of his. I've had the books to long for them to count, but these notes have been in his hands probably within the last twenty-four hours. They might work."</p><p></p><p>Minerva has been quiet up to this point, too angry to trust her voice. She was not afraid of catching a bullet with her name on it if dying would keep her friends safe and rid this town of such an evil bully as Johnny Ringo and his gang. But as suggestions were tossed on the table, her fear that her friends would act on their emotions and come to harm grew. </p><p></p><p>She would speak up even though she new that it might draw their anger. "It is not wise to run off on our own Nanuet and as Ruby has pointed out we should not go where others cannot follow, because they will. I will. I would not have you captured again or risk the lose of your life if there is another way. Must you accompany Maska on this scouting mission? Can she not communicate with you from a distance also? I will send Luna to the Mine. Although I do not know if I can speak to her from such a distance, she can fly and will return swiftly with information.</p><p></p><p>Chester says, “I'm not too keen on keeping back to the Marshall who else got these notes. But I realize that telling others about out special talents is no good either." "Well, tell him who got them but don't let slip about what is special about the books." Jake sighs. "Maybe get him to see who follows us? Whatever you do, make it quick."</p><p></p><p>"Nanuet," Jakes says, "to answer your question I think we plan on both. We try to ambush the ambushers and if that does not work we attract attention. Katherine or somebody who they will believe is Katherine takes the books to outside the mine. If she goes alone, the trunks are too heavy for her to unload. She can't return without the wagon so it needs to be unloaded. People could hide in the wagon, crates or invisible. The books are loaded with dynamite, and maybe some alcohol to make starting the fuses easier. I'll leave that to our demolition expert. That Katherine will have to play it by ear and draw them out if we can't or don't assault the mine. </p><p></p><p>Nanuet takes Maska and someone else who can be reasonably quiet with him and attempts to get there and scout it out before the wagon arrives. That could be me or Ruby, but she might need to be somewhere else. I don't know if anyone else can be stealthy enough. The wagon is a distraction. Nanuet can then spring an ambush or support the wagon folks. If we don't see anyone we'll need to examine the mine. If nothing is there then we can just trap the books and come back, hoping that Ringo didn't fool me into doing this for his own purposes." Jake looks around again at his friends. "Now, each one of you can help me improve that plan, or tell me I am a lunatic and abandon it. Who can we count on?"</p><p></p><p>Booth interjects "Hold on, am I missing something? This man has threatened the life of the Marshall? Why don't we just letting him take charge of this situation? That is what the town pays him for." Jake says, "We could wait until five O'clock and watch the results of bullet number one. Unfortunately, that would be the Marshall, and even more unfortunately I am number two." Jake shrugs. "I have no confidence that the law can handle this by themselves or that we'll all be alive when they do. I'm either fighting the Cowboys or leaving town. You don't have to involve yourself Conrad, I only want volunteers."</p><p></p><p>Conrad says, "I'm no hero. I put my life on the line last Monday to save Katherine's and wouldn't hesitate to do so again. But I don't plan to go looking for trouble either. <em>How brave</em>, Ruby thinks. She interjects, "You may not want trouble, Conrad, but trouble's coming to you whether you wish it or not." </p><p></p><p>Conrad says, “Hold on, I may be able to help you though. You referenced the Last Ditch Mine. Several of that mine's dwarven miners have dined here before. Why don't I go grab Pedro and Estaban, we could try to locate one or more of them for you. We'll start with crowds at that group of traveling merchants." Jake says, "Good, hurry." </p><p></p><p>Ruby says, "I'll go as Kate, take the wagon full of books. Don't put anyone on the wagon, that's too dangerous. But people can find the best spots they can around the area. Jake and Nanuet go, possibly invisible. If Katherine insists on going she will be invisible too." She adds, "Let's just get this over with." Whatever it may be... Jake says, "Inside the wagon may be the safest way to get them there. If they are hidden or invisible they can get off just before stopping. Who else besides Nanuet, you or me could be quiet enough or hide well enough? Unless they can arrive out of thin air."</p><p></p><p>Ruby states, "There are going to be eyes on that wagon from the minute it leaves here. Even you or I would have hard time jumping off unseen. No, invisible people maybe, the others have to ride far behind or if you're hinting at a trip on the Gonzales express you'll have to ask him. But I'd HATE to use that up, it's our only way of getting out of here if things get too crazy."</p><p></p><p>"Chester has a potion that can make him invisible. What does the potion that our invisible dynamite friend donate do? Maybe the same? Perhaps Gonzalez can make whoever else we need invisible that way, so you can save your, um, special abilities?" Jake turns to Kate and says, "Katherine you need to coach me on this, uh, stuff. In the future, if you have tools and need things for them to work tell me. Sometimes I can be very clever with mundane things. See what you can do quickly."</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Silver Moon, post: 3281056, member: 8530"] [B]Chapter 217, “Preparations“, Saturday, April 1st , 1882, 12:00 P.M.[/B] Jake says, “Pierre my friend I have reason to believe my name is on one of those shells. Wish me luck. Unless you can do better than that." Jake only pauses there a moment with Pierre before he runs to the Comique. He asks around to see if anyone knows where Van Horne is staying. "I want to make it clear just how welcome he is at the Lucky Lady." Al Brower assumes Jake is being sarcastic by that comment and says, "He indicated to my dealer, Rolf Larsen, that he was staying at the Palace again. Took us for over $ 500 last night. I'm sure that guy is cheating, we just can't figure out how." Jake states, "Hard to believe anyone is that good. Ya, I want to lay down the law to that guy before he does the same at the Lady. Thanks." Jake runs back to Ruby who is standing outside the restaurant looking for him. "I know where the letters were delivered," she says quietly yet beams with pride. "Good." Jake says but doesn't seem happy. "Then we know who's names are on the bullets. Literally." Ruby starts to question him but he says, "No time, I can't say it twice. Where to next?" "Uh, the Judge. Jake, what's wrong baby-" She doesn't finish because he is pulling her along towards Isby's residence at the old Trail Dust Saloon. Once close, Jake once again fades into the background. "Damn," she says quietly to herself, "he is starting to get good at that." She knocks on the door. Ruby knocks again on the door to the Trail Dust and calls out, "Hello? Judge Isby, Kevin?" Isby answers the door, letting Ruby in and locking the door behind him. Kevin's fencing outfit is sitting out on the table alongside two foils. Isby says, "Your friend Mr. Kane brought these back from Wilcox. Kevin believes he will be able to fence much better with them. But I'm sure you're not here about the fencing tournament." She says, "No I'm not. Although I have to say, I have enjoyed our time together and will actually be sad for it to come to an end." Ruby walks over to the outfit and runs her fingers over it before turning back to the Judge. "Ringo is in town. He has threatened my friends and other associates of my friends. He plans on murdering us today during the festival." The Judge spends the next ten minutes listening to whatever details Ruby wishes to tell him about what she knows. Ruby is totally upfront with the letters that have circulated and possible plans that her and her friends will take by burning the books to draw him out. "I just wanted to let you know," she sighs, "We are going to try to keep Ringo out of town but he probably has Cowboys everywhere. It could be a tragedy and the law is going to be busy today." The Judge thanks her for the information and tells her to be careful. He adds, "Kevin and I were both going to be armed anyway today but this calls for some special measures. Exactly what type of gun do you use Miss West?" "Uh, this kind?" She pulls the gun out of the band of her skirt. It's a six-shot double action pistol. She shrugs, "Jake is the one who knows about the gun stuff. Why?" Isby examines it and says, "Ah, a Colt Lightning, the Peacemaker's younger sibling. Weighs one-third less than it's mightier brother. A good reliable weapon, this was what Pat Garret used. Pat's killer died less than 200 feet from where we are right now." Isby goes over to a locked wooded cabinet which he unlocks with a key. He then removes an iron strong box from it which has both a key lock built into it and a padlock on a chain around it. He unlocks both and opens it. He says, "A Colt Lightning uses a thirty-eight caliber shell. Here we go." He takes out a cloth pouch where the number '38" is written in ink on the pouch. He removes five bullets from the pouch placing them on the table and then replaces the pouch into the box. He then opens the chamber on Ruby's gun, unloads the shells, and replaces them with the five on the table. He closes the chamber, making sure that it set on the empty chamber. He then wraps her original ammunition in a handkerchief and hands her back the gun as well as the handkerchief. "Thank you?" She says questioningly. "What is it, I mean what are they?" She puts her old ammunition in her pocket. He says, "Well, officially you didn't get those from me. As a lawman I can't support the use of what the Federal Government has declared is illegal ammunition. As a practical matter, I'm not one to throw away useful things that I confiscate in the course of doing my job." He moves a little closer and lowers his voice to a whisper. "Those shells will cause paralysis to the limb struck, slows down the circulation of blood in the immediate area. It will work even if it is only a grazing shot. To disarm a man strike him anywhere on his gun arm. A leg shot will cause a man to lose his footing. Most effective would be a shot in the torso to stop the heart or anywhere above the shoulders to stop all brain activity." Ruby nods. "I understand and I thank you very much. I'm sure these will help and we both know how much they have to use against us," Ruby shudders. "Alright, I should be going, take care." She stops, then turns back to the Judge and kisses his cheek. She heads to the door. "And please tell Mr. Tomlinson that I think his fencing match with Chester will have to wait for another day." Isby replies, "I understand, the lawmen have their hands full. No time for foolishness like sword fighting. I'll tell Kevin that Mr. Martin will take a rain check. Be careful Miss. West." Once the door is open and literally dozens of folks are looking their way the Judge makes a point of giving her a warm embrace goodbye and kissing her hand. Ruby smiles, then walks out the door heading in the direction of the El Parador Kate had just told Conrad he didn’t have to stay with her any longer. He laughs and say. "Ah, but I do have to stay. You forget, this is when and where I dine every day. Pedro has even saved me a space at my favorite table." "Just don't fall asleep in your soup," Kate said with an attempt at a smile. "I'll be back down in a bit, the others are meeting here." She then went quickly up the stairs and into her teacher's rooms. "Professeur amie," she said, walking into the library and beginning to help separate the volumes. "Ginnie is safe, Jeff Mills is keeping watch over her. She didn't get a note. Mary Kelley did." He replies, "Really? That's odd. You don't know her that well, why would Ringo threaten her?" Kate replies, "Because he knows me too well. He knows I can't tolerate him murdering innocent people. If he only included my friends, we would be likely to band together and fight back. Which we are likely to do anyway." "The others will be here to make plans soon. We all went to gather what information we could. It sounded earlier like you wanted to be involved. Do you want me to let you know when they're here so you can plan with them?" He replies, "Dorita and I still need to get these books together. It looks as though we can spare over half of the Greek and Latin ones, which should help with the deception if that is what you wish to do. I still have mixed feelings, although in truth I can always bring Dorita and her family elsewhere if necessary. Just keep me informed of the plans and how you think I can help." Kate answers, "I hope it won't be necessary. I think the others want to know if you were planning on going with them. Ginnie also said she might need your help or Sonoma's this afternoon." Ruby heads inside the El Parador and finds Kate and Conrad, with Jake walking in behind her. Jake spots Pedro and tells Ruby, "I'll be out in a moment." Jake takes Pedro into the kitchen. "Listen Amigo, you must keep your wife where ever they are hiding her." Jake grabs Pedro’s arms just below the shoulders. "Her life is in danger. There is bad magic on a bullet that will be after her if she shows her face. Once we get that Johnny Ringo character and take his gun, then it is safe. If she shows her face you put it back where it was hiding." Jake shakes him once. "Understand? This is not the time for her to be the boss." "I need you to do two things for me. No one must know these notes are from me. Get someone to the Palace and deliver this short one to Mr. Van Horne." He hands him a short note that says in red ink - [I]Parador Porch "When he shows up outside on the porch, have someone sneak him the second one. Maybe Ricardo, the boy is good with his hands, or maybe Ginnie if she is around."[/I] The second note says in black ink: [I] am in trouble. Johnny Ringo and the Cowboy Gang have it in for me and lots of folks around town. Gone to somewhere near the Last Ditch Mine, three miles northwest of Promise City to try and give him a sucker punch first. He's after some books. His favorite trick is to have his men invisible. They have loads of SPECIALLY ENHANCED rounds. Including one with my name on it. I hope to see you when I get back. I'll buy the bourbon if we can work it out. This one is bad my friend. Wish me luck. [/I] Pedro agrees and Jake returns out to wait for the others. Ruby quietly waits for Jake to return. She takes his hand while they wait for the others to arrive and at one point she leans to him and whispers in his ear, "We need to see Pierre again to pick up an item I left there, before we leave town." Jake nods in understanding. Nanuet and Minerva head upstairs in the Lucky Lady to his room. He gathers his bow and arrows, rifle, pistol, both knives, the magical powder from Kajika and all his ammunition. Nanuet then escorts Minerva to the Comstock house so that she may get whatever he needs. They then spend a few minutes walking the streets of the town looking for anything suspicious before returning to the El Parador. Minerva and Nanuet arrive, with Chester behind them. "Everybody is here?" He looks around and smiles. "Katherine, I am afraid we need you do prepare a candle again." She nods solemnly and prepares the candle. Jake begins, "Did we figure out the numbers? I'll let Ruby tell you what she learned in a minute. I figured out what Ringo meant. We weren't taking him literally enough. He really does have bullets with names on them. Six bullets, stolen from Pierre that can hunt down the warm body whose name is on it." Jake’s smile doesn't waver as he relates what Pierre told him. "Nanuet my friend, to your earlier comment about Mr. Ringo. One doesn't go to all that trouble making ammunition like that and not use at least some of it. Books or not." He looks to Ruby. "Go ahead, tell them where the letters were delivered." Ruby's mouth drops open and stays that way. No words come out of her mouth for a long moment as she realizes what Jake is saying. Suddenly her head spins to Jake and she blurts out, "You're not coming with us... you have to stay here... even better we have to have Mr. Gonzales take you or us away! You can't, you have to stay away from him and anyone else who got a letter too." Ruby's chest rises and falls rapidly with the excited words that pour from her mouth. "No way Jake, you're not doing it." "Ruby honey," Jake says in soothing voice, "no decisions have been made yet." He says that and yet knows that he and his friends all around the room have made decisions of one kind or another in this matter already. "We all need to hear what you learned. Please, tell them what you know." Ruby's face shows her obvious concern and anxiety. She starts biting her lip and pulling on her hair as she speaks. She takes a big breath in, "Well, I, uh, spoke to Eddie and he gave me the uh, route he took this morning to deliver the other letters. He started at the Marshall's Office, then came here for Dorita's I guess, then to the Comstock House for Minerva's, then the Long Branch," she glances at Conrad, "Then to Jake at the Lucky Lady. After that over to the Tailor Shop, then the Palace where he gave one to Jane then finally back here again for Kate's." She looks back at Jake practically pained and looks to speak but says nothing. While Ruby is talking, the impact of what Jake said penetrates the little group. To Jake Chester seems angry, but not as angry as Nanuet. Minerva is unreadable to him. Katherine seems to teeter from anger to fear, but when Ruby says that a letter has been delivered to the Long Branch Saloon Katherine's hand went to her mouth and gasped. Jake had also been watching Conrad Booth pretend to eat his lunch while watching their table. When Katherine reacted, Booth nearly leapt from his seat and was halfway to their table in one stride. "Katherine, does Conrad know about the letters in detail?" Jake asks. Her hand still on her mouth, she nods yes as Conrad arrives at her side. "Katherine, what is wrong?" Conrad Booth looks up to Jake angrily. Jake meets his stair with a cool stare of his own, "We all just learned that one of the special delivery letters went to the Long Branch Saloon this morning. Did you know that?" Conrad is momentarily speechless, but quickly recovers. "No I did not. I should go and see about it." He looks down at Katherine and looks uncertain. "I think you should." Jake says simply. "Please make it quick, we will wait for you. Chester can you go with him? Tell him about the names on the bullets on the way back." Conrad looks to Katherine, who just nods yes. He and Chester leave quickly. Jake says, "I'm going to ask Pedro for something we can eat, it will be a long day and we will need our strength." I can't let them know just how afraid I really am, he thinks, I hope I can really eat something. Conrad returns a short while later and says, "The letter was for Kate Higgins. It was a card that had written on it only the word Six." Jake has a confused look on his face. "How does that add up?" Ruby shakes her head. "I don't know how it adds up. There is something we don't know or more likely Ringo doesn't want to tell us." She wrenches her hands together under the table but stops that to pull on her hair. "What's the plan? Are we sending Nanuet out to scout?" Jake seems to be thinking out loud. "Mitchell Berg, Jake Cook, Dorita Figueres, Minerva Florencia, Mary Kelly and Kate Higgins; what do they have in common? Do they have anything in common besides terrorizing the town? I wonder if Fisk has a hand in this too..." Ruby suggests, "Maybe each of those letters is really not meant for who got it, but one of us. Ringo's way of saying after the fact, ha... that was my plan and I succeeded." Ruby shudders before continuing. "Dorita's is for Sonoma, Berg's is for Chester, Higgins’s is for Conrad, Mary's is for Ginnie, Minerva's is for Nanuet and yours is for..." Ruby doesn't finish her thought. "It's the only other thing I can think of." Kate says, "That could be it. The only thought I had was that he might be trying to convince me by not only threatening people I care about, but the people they care about as well. And in doing that he threatens me with being completely alone. The Kelley's, the people here in the El Parador, those at the Long Branch, Ruby and Nanuet... those left behind would likely abandon me. I think Ringo's been watching me enough to know that I couldn't bear that. But Ruby's thought makes more sense. He must have known I'd come running to all of you, and it hurts all of very personally." Jake starts talking fast. "Do we know who owns the Last Ditch Mine? Maybe they can tell us the layout. His note says it should be deserted, so he's not sure. I wonder if some of us could go looking like miners making a Saturday delivery of equipment or something. How else do we get there? Nanuet is probably right he should scout ahead but we need to get everyone there right behind him. Damn I wish we could do something about his invisible folks. Is there a way that Gonzalez could get us there?" Jake stops for a breath, "We are not even sure that Ringo will be there, he is likely to be in town and just have lackeys there. But we need to know that, stop them and find out how Ringo would know whether he got the books or not. Maybe he doesn't even care if he gets them or not for what he has planned for tonight. We don't have much time and if we go, we need to not give them time to react." Jake looks down at his feet for only a second before looking back up. "I think we should go anyway. What do you think and who is coming?" While Jake listens to his friends respond, a little part of him is quietly whispering, If you can get back from the mine in one piece Ringo will be waiting in Promise City for you. Ruby turns and forgetting the others, she stares Jake in the eyes, "Baby, you already know whatever fool plan we come up with, I'm going with you. Don't go where the other can't follow, right?" She gives him a small scared smile. Nanuet states, "Well do all the people who received the actual letters understand what we think is going on? They all deserve to know. We have to decide if we are going to try and deliver fake books and then ambush the ambush so to speak or if we are going to try and burn the books and draw him out. I still think scouting with Maska is a worthy idea. Also it is not a bad idea to check out the layout of the mine if we can find the owners, but we have little time so if we do that is has to be quick. Do we think the numbers have anything to do with the order that Ringo wishes to go after people? If so, who got one and two? Let’s make sure they are as safe as possible. I know nobody is truly safe right now but we can minimize their risk. So what do we think? Burn the books and try and draw him out or deliver the books in an ambush?" Kate interjects, "I didn't say anything to Mary Kelley. Conrad, did you tell Kate Higgins?” He replies, "No, I wanted to get back here. She has a curious nature though so I'm sure she will ask me when she sees me next. I'll need to know what to tell her." Despite the others at the table, Kate reached over and took his hand. "I know. I wish I knew what it was. Do you think she can handle knowing what's really going on?" "To tell anyone the whole truth reveals secrets that could cost folks here their lives. Tell anyone outside this circle with a number simply that the Cowboy Gang is blackmailing the town and they are at risk of being killed." Jake looks at Chester, "That is all Berg knows right?" "Chester looks a bit uneasy. "That's all he knows. I didn't say who else got them, just that others have.” Kate then says, “Number one is Mitchell Berg, and number two is Jake. Neither of whom is in a particularly safe position, nor are they likely to agree to hide. Jake we might be able to find out where exactly Ringo is. My teacher used a spell once to locate someone, he might able to do it for Ringo." Jake looks stunned. "If that was true Katherine, why didn't we hunt down Ringo a week ago? You can ask him, I'm still going to make plans assuming that is not possible." She replies, "We didn't hunt him down because it's not that specific. I meant only that we can get an idea if he is in town or not. Also, we needed something of his. I've had the books to long for them to count, but these notes have been in his hands probably within the last twenty-four hours. They might work." Minerva has been quiet up to this point, too angry to trust her voice. She was not afraid of catching a bullet with her name on it if dying would keep her friends safe and rid this town of such an evil bully as Johnny Ringo and his gang. But as suggestions were tossed on the table, her fear that her friends would act on their emotions and come to harm grew. She would speak up even though she new that it might draw their anger. "It is not wise to run off on our own Nanuet and as Ruby has pointed out we should not go where others cannot follow, because they will. I will. I would not have you captured again or risk the lose of your life if there is another way. Must you accompany Maska on this scouting mission? Can she not communicate with you from a distance also? I will send Luna to the Mine. Although I do not know if I can speak to her from such a distance, she can fly and will return swiftly with information. Chester says, “I'm not too keen on keeping back to the Marshall who else got these notes. But I realize that telling others about out special talents is no good either." "Well, tell him who got them but don't let slip about what is special about the books." Jake sighs. "Maybe get him to see who follows us? Whatever you do, make it quick." "Nanuet," Jakes says, "to answer your question I think we plan on both. We try to ambush the ambushers and if that does not work we attract attention. Katherine or somebody who they will believe is Katherine takes the books to outside the mine. If she goes alone, the trunks are too heavy for her to unload. She can't return without the wagon so it needs to be unloaded. People could hide in the wagon, crates or invisible. The books are loaded with dynamite, and maybe some alcohol to make starting the fuses easier. I'll leave that to our demolition expert. That Katherine will have to play it by ear and draw them out if we can't or don't assault the mine. Nanuet takes Maska and someone else who can be reasonably quiet with him and attempts to get there and scout it out before the wagon arrives. That could be me or Ruby, but she might need to be somewhere else. I don't know if anyone else can be stealthy enough. The wagon is a distraction. Nanuet can then spring an ambush or support the wagon folks. If we don't see anyone we'll need to examine the mine. If nothing is there then we can just trap the books and come back, hoping that Ringo didn't fool me into doing this for his own purposes." Jake looks around again at his friends. "Now, each one of you can help me improve that plan, or tell me I am a lunatic and abandon it. Who can we count on?" Booth interjects "Hold on, am I missing something? This man has threatened the life of the Marshall? Why don't we just letting him take charge of this situation? That is what the town pays him for." Jake says, "We could wait until five O'clock and watch the results of bullet number one. Unfortunately, that would be the Marshall, and even more unfortunately I am number two." Jake shrugs. "I have no confidence that the law can handle this by themselves or that we'll all be alive when they do. I'm either fighting the Cowboys or leaving town. You don't have to involve yourself Conrad, I only want volunteers." Conrad says, "I'm no hero. I put my life on the line last Monday to save Katherine's and wouldn't hesitate to do so again. But I don't plan to go looking for trouble either. [I]How brave[/I], Ruby thinks. She interjects, "You may not want trouble, Conrad, but trouble's coming to you whether you wish it or not." Conrad says, “Hold on, I may be able to help you though. You referenced the Last Ditch Mine. Several of that mine's dwarven miners have dined here before. Why don't I go grab Pedro and Estaban, we could try to locate one or more of them for you. We'll start with crowds at that group of traveling merchants." Jake says, "Good, hurry." Ruby says, "I'll go as Kate, take the wagon full of books. Don't put anyone on the wagon, that's too dangerous. But people can find the best spots they can around the area. Jake and Nanuet go, possibly invisible. If Katherine insists on going she will be invisible too." She adds, "Let's just get this over with." Whatever it may be... Jake says, "Inside the wagon may be the safest way to get them there. If they are hidden or invisible they can get off just before stopping. Who else besides Nanuet, you or me could be quiet enough or hide well enough? Unless they can arrive out of thin air." Ruby states, "There are going to be eyes on that wagon from the minute it leaves here. Even you or I would have hard time jumping off unseen. No, invisible people maybe, the others have to ride far behind or if you're hinting at a trip on the Gonzales express you'll have to ask him. But I'd HATE to use that up, it's our only way of getting out of here if things get too crazy." "Chester has a potion that can make him invisible. What does the potion that our invisible dynamite friend donate do? Maybe the same? Perhaps Gonzalez can make whoever else we need invisible that way, so you can save your, um, special abilities?" Jake turns to Kate and says, "Katherine you need to coach me on this, uh, stuff. In the future, if you have tools and need things for them to work tell me. Sometimes I can be very clever with mundane things. See what you can do quickly." [/QUOTE]
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