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Wizards, Whiskey and Wonderful Things - Concluded
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<blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 3442588" data-attributes="member: 8530"><p><strong>Chapter 240, "Ruby’s Visitors" Sunday, April 2, 1881, 3:30 P.M. </strong> </p><p></p><p>Ruby wakes slowly when she hears the door open. She stretches but goes a little too far, moaning as her injury reminds her of its presence. She looks to Jake, flowers in his hand. "You brought me flowers? You're so sweet darling and they're beautiful." She sits up in bed, taking a moment to let the haze of sleep fall away. </p><p></p><p>He replies, "I should take credit, but these are from your friends in town. I'll have Maria bring the rest up later." He places one her nightstand and one across the room in her view. "The rest?" Ruby says with a yawn. Then she smiles. "Oh so people were worried about me, huh?" He replies, "You DO have many friends and admirers. I'll let you sort out which is which." </p><p></p><p>Ruby smiles. "Friends... admirers, they're all the same to me." Slowly, the smile drops off her face. She looks at Jake from the bed before deciding to continue. She says, "So, are you going to tell me what happened? Who shot me?" </p><p></p><p>Jake looks a little surprised. "You really don't know?" The surprised look changes to something else briefly, one that Ruby doesn't recognize before his face settles back to a more neutral look. "Ringo was impersonating Eduardo. You were shot by Johnny Ringo with the bullet that had your name on it." </p><p></p><p>"What was that face about?" She ask curiously. He says, "Ah, I was just surprised. I thought you knew." Why don't you just let this go? She says, "No, I didn't know what happened. I didn't see Rodriquez, well, I guess Ringo. I was trying to use the wand then I just felt the bullet. What happened after that? Who killed him?" </p><p></p><p>Jake says, "He was hit in the hand by a couple of shots, I'm not even sure who fired them because I was wrestling with him, um, trying to get the gun away. Once Katherine cast the scroll and his disguise faded, I drew and shot at him several times at close range. One of them went near his heart. Something struck him in the head and he toppled over. After that....after that I just made sure he was dead. Berg is going around saying my shot killed him." Jake forces a smile on his face, "It matters not a whit, so long as he is dead." </p><p></p><p>Ruby closes her eyes and ponders what Jake told her for a few minutes. She opens her eyes and looks back to Jake. "You're right, it doesn't matter. We should celebrate the fact that he's dead." Ruby looks at Jake with admiration in her eyes, "How did you know Rodriquez was really Ringo? I don't think I would have known even if I did see him." </p><p></p><p>Jake says, "Rodriguez never carries a gun and he didn't even know we were going to be there. The pistol he pulled looked just like the one that Ringo pulled out when he was pretending to be Clemens." Jake pauses and looks like he is thinking. "Even when folks use an enchantment to change their looks, there is something about the eyes that does not seem to change. I can't explain it because I don't understand it. I was pretty sure it was him even before I saw his eyes." </p><p></p><p>Ruby nods and smiles. "You're so smart, you saved my life. Because if you didn't recognize him and you didn't shoot him he probably would have continued to shoot me." Jake says, "No Nanuet saved your life, I failed to stop him from shooting you. I knew what he was thinking, it was awful. I just kept at it to keep him from shooting Nanuet who was your only chance. I thought you were dead. Jake doesn't respond and keeps his face neutral. </p><p></p><p>Ruby doesn't continue to think on the topic. "Hey, I have something interesting to tell you. I met Red at the ball, he danced with me. Actually he..." The thought occurs to Ruby to just tell Jake about how relieved she was for Red to find her but she doesn't want to make Jake feel bad, so she drops it for the moment. "Well, we danced. He's really nice" </p><p></p><p>"He's a worse scoundrel than me, it that is possible. He's the best." Jake's smile is faint and genuine. She replies, "Scoundrel? No, he was very gentlemanly and actually... he was there at a very good time. I couldn't find you, I was getting nervous, this man..." Ruby's voice trails off. </p><p></p><p>"What man?" Jake snaps alert. Ruby states, "He's a customer here, a business man with money. He came by a few months back then left. But now he's back again. He's..." Ruby tries to carefully choose he next words. "He makes me feel..." I can't say what I really feel... "Uncomfortable." </p><p></p><p>"You point him out to me next time he is in. I will make it CLEAR to him that he is to leave you alone." Jake says with some finality. "Don't be worrying about that right now. Just rest and get better." Ruby is filled with emotion over Jake's protection of her. "I am, resting I mean. And I will show you, although I am kind of hoping he doesn't come back. He said..." she looks at Jake </p><p>then looks away, "Well, never mind like you said." </p><p></p><p>Ruby lies back down in the bed and snuggles herself into the pillows. "Something else. I wanted to see Red again before he left. And guess what? He's taking Jane with him! He offered her a job at his saloon in Tucson... as someone named Michael? But his business partner Mr. Van Horne is escorting her back tomorrow."" </p><p></p><p>Jake says, "Michael, huh? Maybe that is just a name he used when not in disguise. He has Van Horne and another. Well, had another, I actually have one of his disguises. I've been holding onto it in case I feel like killing Adair." Ruby looks for the usual I'm joking smirk on Jake's face but does not find it. He continues, "Red always was an opportunist and had an eye for the ladies as well. With all the time we spent in Kansas City you'd have thought we'd have met Jane." </p><p></p><p>The words come out of his mouth before he realizes the implications, he recovers with, "but it is a big city. Still seems like a coincidence...." "Are you saying you slept with Jane?" Ruby asks bluntly. The tension is apparent even though Ruby is trying to keep it hidden. </p><p></p><p>He exclaims, "No, I am NOT saying I slept with Jane. Hermes! I said I don't remember ever meeting her." Jake puts his hands on his hips. "Ruby, what are you going to do when some day you meet some poor woman who claims to have slept with Silver Jake Cook? Is her last memory going to be you standing over her with blood dripping from a knife?" Jake shakes his head. </p><p></p><p>"You may just think I don't trust anything, but I don't believe in coincidences and Red wouldn't bring just any woman into his saloon and safe house. There is more to this story....." Jake goes to scratch his beard and again finds it missing. "Blast, I'm growing this back right away." An inkling of an idea creeps into his head and he laughs. "Anyway, let's wait and see if that old lecher O'Brien takes a romantic interest in your friend Jane, or a more paternal </p><p>one." </p><p></p><p>Ruby blinks at Jake yelling at her before snipping back, "I told you I was jealous, damn it. I know you had a life before me, am I supposed to be happy about it? Just say, I'm so happy that there were others who had your attentions? I seem to remember you not taking kindly when my past showed up at the door Mr. Jealousy." Ruby turns her head and crosses her arms even though she is laying down. </p><p></p><p>Even though she isn't looking at Jake, she continues speaking. Oh, I forgot.... she said that he said he knew her mother. Her mother was a priestess of Aphrodite too. She worked there with Jane." Ruby keeps her arms crossed but turns her head back to Jake. "Perhaps I can be happy with the fact you met and slept with her?" </p><p></p><p>Jake comments, "Red knew her mother.... hmmm. What? You think I slept with Jane's mother? I don't even know who these people are?" An exasperated sigh escapes his lips. "Ruby, darling, don't have this dominate your thoughts.. We BOTH had lives before, so we both have pasts that will appear from time to time. Until I met you there was no woman I wanted to stay with, and no woman who wanted me for who I really was. There is no woman in my past with whom I wish to go back. Isn't that enough?" A wicked smirk grows on his face, "Besides, I thought I behaved rather well with Eastman all things considered. He was alive when he left Tombstone....." </p><p></p><p>Ruby finally cracks a smile. "You're not going to let me be even a little bit jealous, are you? Not even a tiny bit? I suppose all your old lovers will be forgotten in comparison to me anyway," she giggles. He replies, "You may be a tiny bit jealous if any of those women from my past, NONE of whom stirred me in the ways you do, have the temerity to show up. </p><p></p><p>"As for George, he was run off by Helen before you could really get your hands on him. If he had stuck around... who knows." Ruby stretches her arms over her head, "Perhaps I'd be grieving girlfriend right now, after Helen came to shoot you that is," she teases. "I DO look good in black you know." </p><p></p><p>He replies, "You look marvelous in any color, but under those circumstances I find black my least favorite color." Jake walks over to her, kisses her on the forehead and puts his hand over her eyes in an attempt to close them. "Now, no more worrying today. Rest." "Yes baby," Ruby replies, already half asleep. Jake starts walking out but Ruby calls after him, "Jake! Wait!" She waits for him to turn back to face her. "Kiss me again before you leave." She continues quietly, "Please." He comes back and kisses her again. "Thank you...," her voice tails off and she is asleep. Jake heads downstairs. </p><p></p><p>In the early evening Kate changed had changed into the dress she had worn for the grand opening of the Lucky Lady, and tucked a purple velvet bag into her pocket. She then headed unescorted over to the Lady to see Ruby. The inside of the saloon was packed with flowers to the point where the air was thick with the scent. Apparently the news of Miss West's injuries had flown rapidly. Although a few could possibly be for Chester. </p><p></p><p>Kate looked around the room, finally spying Jake. "Do you think Ruby's up to a visitor?" she asked once she made her way through the crowd. "Or that she'll even want to see me? I know she's angry, and I don't want to upset her when she's recovering." Jake indicates that it would probably be good for Kate to head upstairs for a visit. </p><p></p><p>Kate rapped lightly on the door, then opened it a crack. "Are you up to another visitor? I think you must have every flower in town in this saloon." Ruby hears the familiar voice of her friend and smiles. "Of course, Kate, come in. I just got up from a nap that Jake insisted I have." After Kate enters Ruby asks, "Do you want a drink?" as she pours herself one. She glances over at her friend and laughs lightly, "No, of course you don't." She sits in the padded chair near the window and sighs, "What a crazy thing, huh? It feels strange to be over." </p><p></p><p>Kate says, "Hmmm... strange doesn't begin to describe it. I didn't realize how much of our lives revolved around it until it was suddenly gone. I haven't known quite what to do with myself today, just that I could do it an not be afraid." Kate looked over at the drink and shook her head a little. "I still have to be careful with drinks. Nothing stronger than wine for me now. You associate drinks with fun, they only make me think of.... well, things that hurt." </p><p></p><p>"I know our lives completely revolved around it, always wondering when the next bullet was going to come." Ruby laughs again, "I guess I got my answer to that question." She shakes the thought out of her head, "Besides, I'm not sure drinking is good for the baby. You might get drunk and actually decide to marry Conrad to give that baby a father or something foolish like that." Ruby's tone is teasing but Kate picks up a hint of truth in her words. </p><p></p><p>Kate sat down in a chair next to Ruby and smiled wryly. "This baby is going to have more fathers than he knows what to do with. I seem to know a great many protective men. I already gave Conrad his answer, and it was no. What other people think matters less than what I think of myself. I couldn't marry again, not yet. But it's hard to tell someone that when you see how much it's hurting them." She paused. "Love can pull us in a lot of different directions, Foolishness being one of them." </p><p></p><p>"I can see that you think you're not ready to get married but to everyone else it's fairly obvious that you love him." Ruby takes a sip of her drink then laughs. "You don't need to tell me about foolish, I have become the queen of foolishness when it comes to Jake and love. I have never been so foolish in my life." </p><p></p><p>Kate replies, That's the other side of love. It makes us lose our heads a bit. I don't know if I love Conrad. It might just be the idea of him. I miss Tom. His humor, his voice, his touch. But I also miss the feeling of support, of someone always with me, that soft place to fall. You know what I mean, that closeness you feel to Jake, far beyond the love you have for any of the rest of us. </p><p></p><p>Until I'm sure I'm not just in love with that feeling, that it's the man himself I want, I can't marry him. There is one thing I'm sure of, how much I love all of you." Kate pulled the velvet bag from her pocket. One silver ring already glittered on her right hand. "I haven't seen Ginnie yet since I found it. What's this about?" she asked gently. </p><p></p><p>Ruby smiles. "Oh, it's a gift. I saw it when I was shopping and thought you would like it." She shrugs, "Something to remember me by." Her smile fades slightly, "I had a feeling...no actually I knew I was going to get shot. What I didn't know was if I would still be sitting here today." </p><p></p><p>Kate answers, "Which is why I had to go, to make sure you would be. Only you and I could make Ringo vulnerable so the others could take him down. And if something happened to you and I wasn't there.... Well, there might not have been a chance to heal you. And you had to be healed. How would I get along without you?" </p><p></p><p>Ruby's general good mood faded quickly. "No matter what happened I'm not going to be happy about what you did. I am surprised and disappointed in your choice but it was yours to make. And I'm not going to say I wasn't grateful you were there because you were needed. But that isn't the point at all. What if you had been the one to get shot? And couldn't be healed? That's two lives lost, not one. And sticking your head into a cave that had bullets flying out of it when you promised to stay behind? You couldn't have been more careless." Ruby takes her cup and instead of sipping as she had been she throws the rest of her drink down in one shot. </p><p></p><p>Kate replies, I'm not asking you to be happy about it, I'm just happy you're still here. I'll admit I wasn't at my brightest last night. I had intended to stay in that tent, but I stopped thinking clearly when some people I love took off toward that cave mouth. Can you explain something to me, Ruby? Do you really think me having a baby is such a bad thing? You're awfully protective." </p><p></p><p>Ruby exclaims, "And you're awfully naive about this whole thing. You think Diana, who had granted you this gift, is up there watching happily as you risk this child's life? You're practically slapping her in the face. Perhaps you're proving to her that you're not ready. You think you're the only one who cares about others feelings? It's awfully selfish of you to put the rest of us in even more danger, knowing that you're with child and one of us might try to protect what you're so willing to put in harm's way? </p><p></p><p>No, you having a baby is a great thing for you, since it is what you wanted. But to me you're not acting like things are any different. Even if you weren't pregnant I wouldn't be happy with you sticking your head into that cave. It's just not your life, it's not the life you've lived in the past and not the one you should live in the future." Ruby is obviously riled up at this point. </p><p></p><p>Tears shimmered in Kate's eyes as she answered, "Let's just agree I'm stupid and naive then for thinking the best way to protect him was to make the danger stop. And if Ringo had gotten past all of you, how safe would I have been? And no, Diana is not "watching happily." She is protecting us which is something the Arch-Bishop confirmed for me today. You don't think she already knew what was going on in my life and that I might need some extra help? </p><p></p><p>But never mind all that. You know what I really hate hearing you say? That for some reason you seem to think I deserve a better life than you do. You want to take all the risks for me because I shouldn't have to. So I'm supposed to live with it when one of those risks finally kills you because I'm too good to take care of myself? Or least help take care of myself? You deserve just as wonderful a life as I do." </p><p></p><p>She stood up and gathered her things. "It was a mistake to come. I should have just let us keep smiling and nodding at each other and pretending no one was upset. You need rest, not this." She hurried to the door. "I'm sorry." </p><p></p><p>"Katherine Kale, don't you be getting me all riled up then run out the door." Ruby waits for Kate to hesitantly stop in the door before she continues. "I know you think you're helping. And even though you may not think so, my life right now is as wonderful as it can be. I finally have a man that I believe truly loves me, friends who care about me and a place to call home. I don't want to die but if I did I would be glad that I had this even if for a short time." </p><p></p><p>"You, on the other hand, have Ginnie who needs you, a baby on the way, and a family at home who loves you. They all NEED you. I am not needed like you are needed, that's just the facts. And... this is not the life you have lived. You don't know about guns and shooting people and you shouldn't. I wish I didn't but I've had to. So why would I knowingly stand by and let this become of you? Who is going to take care of Ginnie if we came back and said you didn't make it? You don't seem to understand that if I saw a bullet coming for you I would have no choice but to take it, because too many people need you. And if I have to be worrying about you than I can't worry about myself and fixing the problem. </p><p></p><p>I know you don't want to stay behind. And you being there with us was helpful. But you promised me you would stay in the tent and you didn't. And when I saw you there with bullets flying by your head, I didn't think, I just reacted. I wanted to make sure that no one else came out of that cave. To the point where I didn't even SEE Ringo was there or taking aim to shoot me. So unfortunately, I proved my own point." </p><p></p><p>"You are an adult and can make your own decisions. I'm not going to tell you what to do or what I think you should do or would like you to do. You have to make your own decisions to protect your family." Ruby wearily sits back in her chair. She runs her fingers though her hair. "I'm sorry about all this too. But I worry because I care about it. It doesn't only go one way. But now that Ringo is gone I plan to going back to not worrying as much as I can." </p><p></p><p>Kate stepped back over to Ruby and kissed her forehead. "Do you realize just how much you've changed? The girl I rode into Promise City with wouldn't have said any of that. I'll try to understand what you've said if you'll try to understand this. My family includes you. And since I need you, all those people who need me need you too. And you really should rest now." </p><p></p><p>"Alright, Mom," Ruby teased. "One adopted mother is enough, especially when that mother is Dorita. But you're right, I should rest. As for changing, what can I say? It's been a busy three months." Ruby sighs, "I'm tired of getting full of bullet holes, I'm going to have to do something about that." She gently runs her hands across her upper belly. "It's tender and needless to say going to scar." Ruby looks back up to Kate, "I know, back to worrying about the important stuff," she laughs again. </p><p></p><p>Ruby is quiet and beings to look out the window again, but speaks suddenly, "Kate? What happened after I got shot? I mean, what did Jake do?" Kate pauses and the says, "Well, he had grabbed onto Ringo. He had actually got the gun pointing away from you, but the bullet... well you know. Jake put his gun to Ringo's chest and unloaded it. One of the bullets made it through his protective jacket and seriously wounded Ringo. Then I cast magic missile and hit Ringo in the head and he went down. </p><p></p><p>Jake went a little crazy then. He took his knife and began stabbing Ringo in the chest. Over and over. I was a little afraid for him. I finally yelled to him the Ringo wasn't going to get any more dead, and he seemed to wake up." Ruby eyes widen, only slightly at hearing about Jake and the stabbings. She ponders then continues, "Jake forgot to mention the stabbing part," she gives a small smile. I would have down the same or even worse. But I meant after that." </p><p></p><p>"After? He came over to you and stayed there, watching Nanuet heal you. Chester said he was going to pray for you and asked Jake if he wanted to join him. Jake agreed, although I don't know that he thought praying would do much good. You woke up very soon after. You only seemed to want Jake then, so I went away. I can't tell you anything past that." </p><p></p><p>Ruby's eyes widen more, "Praying? MY Jake? You sure?" She falls silent and goes back to pondering. "Uh, thanks Kate. Take care of yourself today, you had a rough day too. And thanks. I DO know you were a big help this morning." Kate answers, "As I said, I don't know if he really prayed, but he didn't say no." </p><p></p><p>Kate kissed her forehead again. "I'm going to go spend some time with my Ginnie. I guess I'll be leaving the El Parador in the next few days. I want to enjoy it while I'm there. Get some sleep Ruby." "Oh, where are you going?" Ruby stands and walks over to the bed, pulling the blankets back. </p><p></p><p>Kate answers, "To my house in town. I bought furniture for the school, and Ginnie and I will live upstairs during the week, and probably out at the ranch on the days when I don't teach. I put off having the furniture moved in, I didn't want Ringo to know, and I couldn't go live there, just Ginnie and I. I love the El Parador, but we need a little more room." </p><p></p><p>"Yes," Ruby yawns and climbs into bed, "It's time for you and all of us to move on." She lays back on the bed, settling into the puffy blankets. "A house is a good thing to raise a family." Ruby looks at Kate with sleepy eyes. "I hope you won't forget about us, you're going to be so busy." A small smile comes to Ruby's lip, "Good busy, but busy. Don't forget if you need anything, we'll be here." Her eyes start to close, "You were right, I am more tired then I thought..." "I won't forget you." Kate waited there for a few minutes until Ruby's breathing was quiet and regular, then slipped out the door.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Silver Moon, post: 3442588, member: 8530"] [B]Chapter 240, "Ruby’s Visitors" Sunday, April 2, 1881, 3:30 P.M. [/B] Ruby wakes slowly when she hears the door open. She stretches but goes a little too far, moaning as her injury reminds her of its presence. She looks to Jake, flowers in his hand. "You brought me flowers? You're so sweet darling and they're beautiful." She sits up in bed, taking a moment to let the haze of sleep fall away. He replies, "I should take credit, but these are from your friends in town. I'll have Maria bring the rest up later." He places one her nightstand and one across the room in her view. "The rest?" Ruby says with a yawn. Then she smiles. "Oh so people were worried about me, huh?" He replies, "You DO have many friends and admirers. I'll let you sort out which is which." Ruby smiles. "Friends... admirers, they're all the same to me." Slowly, the smile drops off her face. She looks at Jake from the bed before deciding to continue. She says, "So, are you going to tell me what happened? Who shot me?" Jake looks a little surprised. "You really don't know?" The surprised look changes to something else briefly, one that Ruby doesn't recognize before his face settles back to a more neutral look. "Ringo was impersonating Eduardo. You were shot by Johnny Ringo with the bullet that had your name on it." "What was that face about?" She ask curiously. He says, "Ah, I was just surprised. I thought you knew." Why don't you just let this go? She says, "No, I didn't know what happened. I didn't see Rodriquez, well, I guess Ringo. I was trying to use the wand then I just felt the bullet. What happened after that? Who killed him?" Jake says, "He was hit in the hand by a couple of shots, I'm not even sure who fired them because I was wrestling with him, um, trying to get the gun away. Once Katherine cast the scroll and his disguise faded, I drew and shot at him several times at close range. One of them went near his heart. Something struck him in the head and he toppled over. After that....after that I just made sure he was dead. Berg is going around saying my shot killed him." Jake forces a smile on his face, "It matters not a whit, so long as he is dead." Ruby closes her eyes and ponders what Jake told her for a few minutes. She opens her eyes and looks back to Jake. "You're right, it doesn't matter. We should celebrate the fact that he's dead." Ruby looks at Jake with admiration in her eyes, "How did you know Rodriquez was really Ringo? I don't think I would have known even if I did see him." Jake says, "Rodriguez never carries a gun and he didn't even know we were going to be there. The pistol he pulled looked just like the one that Ringo pulled out when he was pretending to be Clemens." Jake pauses and looks like he is thinking. "Even when folks use an enchantment to change their looks, there is something about the eyes that does not seem to change. I can't explain it because I don't understand it. I was pretty sure it was him even before I saw his eyes." Ruby nods and smiles. "You're so smart, you saved my life. Because if you didn't recognize him and you didn't shoot him he probably would have continued to shoot me." Jake says, "No Nanuet saved your life, I failed to stop him from shooting you. I knew what he was thinking, it was awful. I just kept at it to keep him from shooting Nanuet who was your only chance. I thought you were dead. Jake doesn't respond and keeps his face neutral. Ruby doesn't continue to think on the topic. "Hey, I have something interesting to tell you. I met Red at the ball, he danced with me. Actually he..." The thought occurs to Ruby to just tell Jake about how relieved she was for Red to find her but she doesn't want to make Jake feel bad, so she drops it for the moment. "Well, we danced. He's really nice" "He's a worse scoundrel than me, it that is possible. He's the best." Jake's smile is faint and genuine. She replies, "Scoundrel? No, he was very gentlemanly and actually... he was there at a very good time. I couldn't find you, I was getting nervous, this man..." Ruby's voice trails off. "What man?" Jake snaps alert. Ruby states, "He's a customer here, a business man with money. He came by a few months back then left. But now he's back again. He's..." Ruby tries to carefully choose he next words. "He makes me feel..." I can't say what I really feel... "Uncomfortable." "You point him out to me next time he is in. I will make it CLEAR to him that he is to leave you alone." Jake says with some finality. "Don't be worrying about that right now. Just rest and get better." Ruby is filled with emotion over Jake's protection of her. "I am, resting I mean. And I will show you, although I am kind of hoping he doesn't come back. He said..." she looks at Jake then looks away, "Well, never mind like you said." Ruby lies back down in the bed and snuggles herself into the pillows. "Something else. I wanted to see Red again before he left. And guess what? He's taking Jane with him! He offered her a job at his saloon in Tucson... as someone named Michael? But his business partner Mr. Van Horne is escorting her back tomorrow."" Jake says, "Michael, huh? Maybe that is just a name he used when not in disguise. He has Van Horne and another. Well, had another, I actually have one of his disguises. I've been holding onto it in case I feel like killing Adair." Ruby looks for the usual I'm joking smirk on Jake's face but does not find it. He continues, "Red always was an opportunist and had an eye for the ladies as well. With all the time we spent in Kansas City you'd have thought we'd have met Jane." The words come out of his mouth before he realizes the implications, he recovers with, "but it is a big city. Still seems like a coincidence...." "Are you saying you slept with Jane?" Ruby asks bluntly. The tension is apparent even though Ruby is trying to keep it hidden. He exclaims, "No, I am NOT saying I slept with Jane. Hermes! I said I don't remember ever meeting her." Jake puts his hands on his hips. "Ruby, what are you going to do when some day you meet some poor woman who claims to have slept with Silver Jake Cook? Is her last memory going to be you standing over her with blood dripping from a knife?" Jake shakes his head. "You may just think I don't trust anything, but I don't believe in coincidences and Red wouldn't bring just any woman into his saloon and safe house. There is more to this story....." Jake goes to scratch his beard and again finds it missing. "Blast, I'm growing this back right away." An inkling of an idea creeps into his head and he laughs. "Anyway, let's wait and see if that old lecher O'Brien takes a romantic interest in your friend Jane, or a more paternal one." Ruby blinks at Jake yelling at her before snipping back, "I told you I was jealous, damn it. I know you had a life before me, am I supposed to be happy about it? Just say, I'm so happy that there were others who had your attentions? I seem to remember you not taking kindly when my past showed up at the door Mr. Jealousy." Ruby turns her head and crosses her arms even though she is laying down. Even though she isn't looking at Jake, she continues speaking. Oh, I forgot.... she said that he said he knew her mother. Her mother was a priestess of Aphrodite too. She worked there with Jane." Ruby keeps her arms crossed but turns her head back to Jake. "Perhaps I can be happy with the fact you met and slept with her?" Jake comments, "Red knew her mother.... hmmm. What? You think I slept with Jane's mother? I don't even know who these people are?" An exasperated sigh escapes his lips. "Ruby, darling, don't have this dominate your thoughts.. We BOTH had lives before, so we both have pasts that will appear from time to time. Until I met you there was no woman I wanted to stay with, and no woman who wanted me for who I really was. There is no woman in my past with whom I wish to go back. Isn't that enough?" A wicked smirk grows on his face, "Besides, I thought I behaved rather well with Eastman all things considered. He was alive when he left Tombstone....." Ruby finally cracks a smile. "You're not going to let me be even a little bit jealous, are you? Not even a tiny bit? I suppose all your old lovers will be forgotten in comparison to me anyway," she giggles. He replies, "You may be a tiny bit jealous if any of those women from my past, NONE of whom stirred me in the ways you do, have the temerity to show up. "As for George, he was run off by Helen before you could really get your hands on him. If he had stuck around... who knows." Ruby stretches her arms over her head, "Perhaps I'd be grieving girlfriend right now, after Helen came to shoot you that is," she teases. "I DO look good in black you know." He replies, "You look marvelous in any color, but under those circumstances I find black my least favorite color." Jake walks over to her, kisses her on the forehead and puts his hand over her eyes in an attempt to close them. "Now, no more worrying today. Rest." "Yes baby," Ruby replies, already half asleep. Jake starts walking out but Ruby calls after him, "Jake! Wait!" She waits for him to turn back to face her. "Kiss me again before you leave." She continues quietly, "Please." He comes back and kisses her again. "Thank you...," her voice tails off and she is asleep. Jake heads downstairs. In the early evening Kate changed had changed into the dress she had worn for the grand opening of the Lucky Lady, and tucked a purple velvet bag into her pocket. She then headed unescorted over to the Lady to see Ruby. The inside of the saloon was packed with flowers to the point where the air was thick with the scent. Apparently the news of Miss West's injuries had flown rapidly. Although a few could possibly be for Chester. Kate looked around the room, finally spying Jake. "Do you think Ruby's up to a visitor?" she asked once she made her way through the crowd. "Or that she'll even want to see me? I know she's angry, and I don't want to upset her when she's recovering." Jake indicates that it would probably be good for Kate to head upstairs for a visit. Kate rapped lightly on the door, then opened it a crack. "Are you up to another visitor? I think you must have every flower in town in this saloon." Ruby hears the familiar voice of her friend and smiles. "Of course, Kate, come in. I just got up from a nap that Jake insisted I have." After Kate enters Ruby asks, "Do you want a drink?" as she pours herself one. She glances over at her friend and laughs lightly, "No, of course you don't." She sits in the padded chair near the window and sighs, "What a crazy thing, huh? It feels strange to be over." Kate says, "Hmmm... strange doesn't begin to describe it. I didn't realize how much of our lives revolved around it until it was suddenly gone. I haven't known quite what to do with myself today, just that I could do it an not be afraid." Kate looked over at the drink and shook her head a little. "I still have to be careful with drinks. Nothing stronger than wine for me now. You associate drinks with fun, they only make me think of.... well, things that hurt." "I know our lives completely revolved around it, always wondering when the next bullet was going to come." Ruby laughs again, "I guess I got my answer to that question." She shakes the thought out of her head, "Besides, I'm not sure drinking is good for the baby. You might get drunk and actually decide to marry Conrad to give that baby a father or something foolish like that." Ruby's tone is teasing but Kate picks up a hint of truth in her words. Kate sat down in a chair next to Ruby and smiled wryly. "This baby is going to have more fathers than he knows what to do with. I seem to know a great many protective men. I already gave Conrad his answer, and it was no. What other people think matters less than what I think of myself. I couldn't marry again, not yet. But it's hard to tell someone that when you see how much it's hurting them." She paused. "Love can pull us in a lot of different directions, Foolishness being one of them." "I can see that you think you're not ready to get married but to everyone else it's fairly obvious that you love him." Ruby takes a sip of her drink then laughs. "You don't need to tell me about foolish, I have become the queen of foolishness when it comes to Jake and love. I have never been so foolish in my life." Kate replies, That's the other side of love. It makes us lose our heads a bit. I don't know if I love Conrad. It might just be the idea of him. I miss Tom. His humor, his voice, his touch. But I also miss the feeling of support, of someone always with me, that soft place to fall. You know what I mean, that closeness you feel to Jake, far beyond the love you have for any of the rest of us. Until I'm sure I'm not just in love with that feeling, that it's the man himself I want, I can't marry him. There is one thing I'm sure of, how much I love all of you." Kate pulled the velvet bag from her pocket. One silver ring already glittered on her right hand. "I haven't seen Ginnie yet since I found it. What's this about?" she asked gently. Ruby smiles. "Oh, it's a gift. I saw it when I was shopping and thought you would like it." She shrugs, "Something to remember me by." Her smile fades slightly, "I had a feeling...no actually I knew I was going to get shot. What I didn't know was if I would still be sitting here today." Kate answers, "Which is why I had to go, to make sure you would be. Only you and I could make Ringo vulnerable so the others could take him down. And if something happened to you and I wasn't there.... Well, there might not have been a chance to heal you. And you had to be healed. How would I get along without you?" Ruby's general good mood faded quickly. "No matter what happened I'm not going to be happy about what you did. I am surprised and disappointed in your choice but it was yours to make. And I'm not going to say I wasn't grateful you were there because you were needed. But that isn't the point at all. What if you had been the one to get shot? And couldn't be healed? That's two lives lost, not one. And sticking your head into a cave that had bullets flying out of it when you promised to stay behind? You couldn't have been more careless." Ruby takes her cup and instead of sipping as she had been she throws the rest of her drink down in one shot. Kate replies, I'm not asking you to be happy about it, I'm just happy you're still here. I'll admit I wasn't at my brightest last night. I had intended to stay in that tent, but I stopped thinking clearly when some people I love took off toward that cave mouth. Can you explain something to me, Ruby? Do you really think me having a baby is such a bad thing? You're awfully protective." Ruby exclaims, "And you're awfully naive about this whole thing. You think Diana, who had granted you this gift, is up there watching happily as you risk this child's life? You're practically slapping her in the face. Perhaps you're proving to her that you're not ready. You think you're the only one who cares about others feelings? It's awfully selfish of you to put the rest of us in even more danger, knowing that you're with child and one of us might try to protect what you're so willing to put in harm's way? No, you having a baby is a great thing for you, since it is what you wanted. But to me you're not acting like things are any different. Even if you weren't pregnant I wouldn't be happy with you sticking your head into that cave. It's just not your life, it's not the life you've lived in the past and not the one you should live in the future." Ruby is obviously riled up at this point. Tears shimmered in Kate's eyes as she answered, "Let's just agree I'm stupid and naive then for thinking the best way to protect him was to make the danger stop. And if Ringo had gotten past all of you, how safe would I have been? And no, Diana is not "watching happily." She is protecting us which is something the Arch-Bishop confirmed for me today. You don't think she already knew what was going on in my life and that I might need some extra help? But never mind all that. You know what I really hate hearing you say? That for some reason you seem to think I deserve a better life than you do. You want to take all the risks for me because I shouldn't have to. So I'm supposed to live with it when one of those risks finally kills you because I'm too good to take care of myself? Or least help take care of myself? You deserve just as wonderful a life as I do." She stood up and gathered her things. "It was a mistake to come. I should have just let us keep smiling and nodding at each other and pretending no one was upset. You need rest, not this." She hurried to the door. "I'm sorry." "Katherine Kale, don't you be getting me all riled up then run out the door." Ruby waits for Kate to hesitantly stop in the door before she continues. "I know you think you're helping. And even though you may not think so, my life right now is as wonderful as it can be. I finally have a man that I believe truly loves me, friends who care about me and a place to call home. I don't want to die but if I did I would be glad that I had this even if for a short time." "You, on the other hand, have Ginnie who needs you, a baby on the way, and a family at home who loves you. They all NEED you. I am not needed like you are needed, that's just the facts. And... this is not the life you have lived. You don't know about guns and shooting people and you shouldn't. I wish I didn't but I've had to. So why would I knowingly stand by and let this become of you? Who is going to take care of Ginnie if we came back and said you didn't make it? You don't seem to understand that if I saw a bullet coming for you I would have no choice but to take it, because too many people need you. And if I have to be worrying about you than I can't worry about myself and fixing the problem. I know you don't want to stay behind. And you being there with us was helpful. But you promised me you would stay in the tent and you didn't. And when I saw you there with bullets flying by your head, I didn't think, I just reacted. I wanted to make sure that no one else came out of that cave. To the point where I didn't even SEE Ringo was there or taking aim to shoot me. So unfortunately, I proved my own point." "You are an adult and can make your own decisions. I'm not going to tell you what to do or what I think you should do or would like you to do. You have to make your own decisions to protect your family." Ruby wearily sits back in her chair. She runs her fingers though her hair. "I'm sorry about all this too. But I worry because I care about it. It doesn't only go one way. But now that Ringo is gone I plan to going back to not worrying as much as I can." Kate stepped back over to Ruby and kissed her forehead. "Do you realize just how much you've changed? The girl I rode into Promise City with wouldn't have said any of that. I'll try to understand what you've said if you'll try to understand this. My family includes you. And since I need you, all those people who need me need you too. And you really should rest now." "Alright, Mom," Ruby teased. "One adopted mother is enough, especially when that mother is Dorita. But you're right, I should rest. As for changing, what can I say? It's been a busy three months." Ruby sighs, "I'm tired of getting full of bullet holes, I'm going to have to do something about that." She gently runs her hands across her upper belly. "It's tender and needless to say going to scar." Ruby looks back up to Kate, "I know, back to worrying about the important stuff," she laughs again. Ruby is quiet and beings to look out the window again, but speaks suddenly, "Kate? What happened after I got shot? I mean, what did Jake do?" Kate pauses and the says, "Well, he had grabbed onto Ringo. He had actually got the gun pointing away from you, but the bullet... well you know. Jake put his gun to Ringo's chest and unloaded it. One of the bullets made it through his protective jacket and seriously wounded Ringo. Then I cast magic missile and hit Ringo in the head and he went down. Jake went a little crazy then. He took his knife and began stabbing Ringo in the chest. Over and over. I was a little afraid for him. I finally yelled to him the Ringo wasn't going to get any more dead, and he seemed to wake up." Ruby eyes widen, only slightly at hearing about Jake and the stabbings. She ponders then continues, "Jake forgot to mention the stabbing part," she gives a small smile. I would have down the same or even worse. But I meant after that." "After? He came over to you and stayed there, watching Nanuet heal you. Chester said he was going to pray for you and asked Jake if he wanted to join him. Jake agreed, although I don't know that he thought praying would do much good. You woke up very soon after. You only seemed to want Jake then, so I went away. I can't tell you anything past that." Ruby's eyes widen more, "Praying? MY Jake? You sure?" She falls silent and goes back to pondering. "Uh, thanks Kate. Take care of yourself today, you had a rough day too. And thanks. I DO know you were a big help this morning." Kate answers, "As I said, I don't know if he really prayed, but he didn't say no." Kate kissed her forehead again. "I'm going to go spend some time with my Ginnie. I guess I'll be leaving the El Parador in the next few days. I want to enjoy it while I'm there. Get some sleep Ruby." "Oh, where are you going?" Ruby stands and walks over to the bed, pulling the blankets back. Kate answers, "To my house in town. I bought furniture for the school, and Ginnie and I will live upstairs during the week, and probably out at the ranch on the days when I don't teach. I put off having the furniture moved in, I didn't want Ringo to know, and I couldn't go live there, just Ginnie and I. I love the El Parador, but we need a little more room." "Yes," Ruby yawns and climbs into bed, "It's time for you and all of us to move on." She lays back on the bed, settling into the puffy blankets. "A house is a good thing to raise a family." Ruby looks at Kate with sleepy eyes. "I hope you won't forget about us, you're going to be so busy." A small smile comes to Ruby's lip, "Good busy, but busy. Don't forget if you need anything, we'll be here." Her eyes start to close, "You were right, I am more tired then I thought..." "I won't forget you." Kate waited there for a few minutes until Ruby's breathing was quiet and regular, then slipped out the door. [/QUOTE]
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