Later that afternoon Ruby woke slowly, stretching her arms way over her head. It suddenly felt like a real luxury sleeping twice in a day and in a bed no less.
To Ruby, it felt like forever since Ruby and George had spent any quality alone time. The previous evening they finally gotten to sleep in a bed, together, but they were both so tired they just passed out.
Ruby glanced over at George, who was seated in a large cushioned chair over by the window, still reading over some paperwork. Ruby dragged herself out of bed and smiling she walked over to him, squeezing herself in between his arms and sitting in his lap.
She looked into his eyes, the same smile on her face. "Hi," she said simply.
George smiled and put the paperwork down on the floor. No matter how important it was, no matter how urgent, when Ruby needed attention, it did no good to try to avoid her. Nothing got in the way of what that woman wanted. "Hi back," says a grinning George pulling her in for a long kiss. "I take it you wanted more than just a place to sit?"
"A place to sit and a kiss are always a good start!" She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him again before pulling her face away. "I had a delightful nap. And then I started thinking, well, maybe we could go out tonight? We haven't had any time alone to catch the sights. We haven't had any time alone to just breathe! So, a little date night? I don't really care what we do, as long as we are together."
George stared into Ruby's eyes for a moment. "Alright my love. I can get the rest of this done later. The bulk of the work is done for the Queen. There are a few little details to take care of. In fact there are a few things to be taken care of out on the Red Sea. Why not make a date weekend out of it? Let's get away from the city and all the work. They have beautiful beaches there," said George.
"A whole weekend!" Ruby squealed and squirmed in George's lap in excitement. "Yes! That is perfect!" She squeezed his neck tighter and kissed his cheek. "I have so much to pack! You could finish your work while I pack and..." Ruby paused, considering. “I can ask Ela for a place to stay, she should know of somewhere good."
Ruby suddenly scrunched up her nose. "What do you have to do there?"
"Ela? The girl from earlier? As for what I have to do there, well it is an extension of my work for the Queen negotiating an end to this war. So I need to just inspect the canal itself and get things underway for the new Canal Security Force. That is where we are putting a portion of the rebels we don't disband." replied George. "So it is a working vacation, but that won't take but a day, or maybe half a day and the rest I have with you."
“Ela is the hotel’s um, concierge thingie, yes, from earlier. You know, she knows all the shopping and restaurants and stuff like that. She’s the one who took me shopping. According to the Queen, James might offer her a job.”
George raised an eyebrow in the ‘what are you talking about’ manner. “Oh right. So, the Queen told me that James, you know my grandmother’s husband, which I guess kind of makes him my grandfather, sorta…” Ruby paused here as a painful look crossed her face. She shook her head and kept going, “So he asked for a meeting with her. Remember Nana went to meet him on his ship? Anyway, he wants to set up a business here. Probably because of the, you know,” she leans in and whispers softly, “Gate.” She pulls her head back to look in his eyes. He is listening intently so she continues. “So he is going to set up a business here and the Queen thinks Ela would be good at working for him. Since she knows what is going on around here, it’s probably a good match. She seems smart and levelheaded. Of course, what would I know about that?” Ruby laughed.
"Indeed. Well I have been considering setting up a business here as well, for more mundane things, like supporting the Queen. Perhaps I can steal Ela away to help get my business going."
Ruby chuckled. “That poor girl won’t know what hit her. What kind of business were you thinking of setting up? Hasn’t she used enough of your knowledge for her benefit already?”
George gave Ruby an appraising look before speaking slowly. “Well, yes she has used much of my knowledge for her benefit. This would be….mutually beneficial. I am planning to build a munitions factory here. My goal is to provide modern firearms for the army so that they can defend themselves on a more equal footing with other nations who wish to take advantage of them.”
“Munitions? You mean, guns?” Ruby looked confused. “Darling, I know you have had many an innovative and clever idea before, but this idea doesn’t seem much like you. Guns?”
“Yes, my love, guns. Rifles, pistols, even artillery. It does no good to go to all this trouble to save Egypt, to leave Her unequipped to defend Herself. The military must modernize, and to do that they need comparable equipment. Only by creating a strong Egypt, will the other colonial powers not interfere. I know it is not ….the best industry to be in, and I don’t foresee this becoming a huge part of my businesses, but I feel that NOT doing this is a disservice to Neferka and all we have accomplished here,” replies George.
Ruby just raised her eyebrow at George. “This will be a conversation for another time I think. I’d like to know more about your plans but it will probably be a very long conversation.”
Ruby paused while she considered what to say next and then continued slowly. “There is something else that happened; I haven’t had a chance to tell you yet. I’m not really supposed to tell anyone but…” George can see the discomfort return in Ruby’s posture. She hugs him for a moment, taking refuge in his arms. He feels her sigh deeply before letting go. “My teacher Mr. Gonzales came to me at breakfast in disguise. He was… he was… was saying goodbye.” Ruby’s lips tremble as she speaks. “He told me about something that happened a long time ago. The short version is, he killed someone. During the war situation. The best friend of that person promised revenge on Mr. Gonzales. He says he will kill him if he ever sees him again.” She waited for George’s response.
George thinks back “Civil War? Mexican-American War? Doesn’t matter. Why on earth would Gonzales be fearful for his life, I am sure he can handle anything that this person can bring to bear.”
“It was the one at the Alamo. Is that the Mexican-American War?” Ruby shrugged. “Mr. Gonzales was one of Santa Anna’s chief wizards at the time. He fought against the American wizard and I guess when he killed him he didn’t do it nicely. Well, that person who Mr. Gonzales killed was my grandmother’s true love, her first fiancé. Not that she doesn’t love James, but…” Ruby stopped and sighed again. “My grandmother lost the love of her life. After that she was with James.”
“So Gonzales killed Mina’s fiancé. And then who is it who wants to kill him?”
“The best friend of the man he killed. He swore a lifelong promise to hunt down Mr. Gonzales and kill him. That man is arriving here today, which is why my teacher says he must go. That man is arriving with my grandmother.” Ruby’s lips were pulled in a tight line as she looked expectantly at George.
“Ok” says George slowly. “I don’t really understand. I am sure Gonzales can handle anyone who comes after him, he is quite capable. And if he wants to avoid the conflict, well we can handle it. But wait, why is Mina coming with him?” asks George curiously.
“Oh yes, he can handle himself against most threats. However he has chosen not to defend himself if it comes down to it.” Ruby looked up into George’s eyes, her own hazel green eyes, cloudy and sad. “The person who seeks revenge is my grandfather, James. I think I mentioned he’s not my real grandfather? My mother was born to Nana and her first love, Andrew. And that is the man that my teacher killed. My REAL grandfather. He killed my real grandfather.” Saying the words out loud seemed to make it more real, and Ruby’s eyes began to water up.
George pulls Ruby in closer, hugging her tightly to him. "Now, now my love. No need for that. So in 60 years James' thirst for blood hasn't diminished huh?
Wasn't this in a war? Stuff happens in wars, always has and always will. I mean look at the Civil War, brother against brother right? But after the war families put the differences aside and though they had been trying to kill each other before, resumed life. I don't know that James has that right honestly." says George narrowing his eyes as he thinks "Oh he can claim it alright, but I don't think it is a righteous claim. During the war yes, after the war, no. Does your grandmother know about this feud? And of Gonzales' meaning to you? She might have a better claim on vengeance than James. Besides James seems to have taken Deuteronomy 25:5 to heart." George looks at the confusion on Ruby's face before reciting, “If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband's brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of a husband's brother unto her."
George continues on, "Anyway, why don't I talk to James. It may not do any good if the lust for vengeance has burned this long, then again, I am rather persuasive," adds George with a grin that couldn't help but make Ruby giggle, tears and all.
Ruby released the breath she didn’t know she was holding. “Thank you baby,” she said before leaning into a soft kiss. “Yes, it was during war time. I offered to talk to my grandmother, I was sure she would listen to me. But Mr. Gonzales was insistent, he said he doesn’t want me talking to her because he doesn’t want to bring it up and cause more pain for her. That I understand, not wanting to bring up memories that could be painful." She was quiet, not elaborating on that. “Maybe that would work, you speaking to James. I just… it was hard to say goodbye to Mr. Gonzales, I didn’t want to and I won’t stay away from him but I don’t want James doing anything to hurt him. This is just terrible!”
She buried her face into George’s shoulder for a long moment before sighing again. “But I know you can help me make it right.” Another long pause. “What the heck were you talking about brothers and husbands and wives…” Ruby looked up at George with her eyebrows furrowed together, confused.
"Oh, it is from a holy book from a small religion that died out some time ago. It was a rule that if your brother died you had to marry his widow. Which brings us back to James. I will talk to James. If he won't listen to me he won't listen to anyone, well maybe Mina, which is the last option. But you should not have to choose between two friends because of an old grudge. It is hanging onto anger like that that leads to wars. Texas did win out and joined the Union after all. Andrew sacrificed himself for the liberty of the Republic and he knew that was a risk when he served. James has no legal, moral, ethical, or monetary right to exact any kind of revenge on Gonzales. And I will tell him so. Further I may tell him that if he DOES harm Gonzales, I will personally shoot him." George pauses at Ruby's gasp, "Ok, not lethally. But still he cannot go around as judge, jury and executioner in a lawful society. Lastly and most importantly, his ridiculous old oath is causing my dear Ruby distress. And I will not have that. I will remove any distress." George puts his finger under Ruby's chin and lifts her head for a gentle kiss. "By any means necessary."
Ruby smiled up at George. “You are so sweet.” She kissed him again and snuggled closer in his lap. “Well, I don’t think shooting James will solve anything, after all, he is sort of my grandfather now. I’m afraid though… of saying something and of not saying anything. Nana’s been through enough. Especially after this crazy week, we all need to relax.” Ruby looked out the window dreamily, “I wonder what my grandfather was like.”
“Well, not saying anything doesn’t change anything, so better to say something. But I am sure, now that you know, Mina can tell you as could James come to think of it, about Andrew,” replies George.
“Yes, she could. But I am afraid to bring up these memories for her." She paused for a very long moment. "Like I said, talking or even thinking about lost loves can be… very painful. Maybe I could ask James.” She shrugs. “I will think on it and maybe see what comes from you talking to James. For now, let’s think happier thoughts.” She runs a finger across his cheek. “I’d like to have a look around here too, before or after or during our little vacation. I’d like to see the city or perhaps Cairo if we could manage it. I want to know what it’s like to live here, in a city that accepts magic for what it is.”
“Of course my love. I would like to see the pyramids in the day and without anyone shooting at us,” laughs George. “After this weekend there are still a few things to get rolling, but I am sure we can get some sightseeing in.”
“Okay then! You prepare whatever you have to prepare for and I will… pack?” She laughed but still seemed slightly worried. She glanced out the window for a long moment, her smile fading slightly. “When will you try to talk to James? He should be arriving today. I would feel badly seeing him and cornering him right away but it would be better for me to not to have to worry about this. My teacher said he would be around for a few days and I know how to contact him. It would be nice to be able to give him pleasant news.”
“Oh, I think cornering him, or rather ambushing him right away is a good idea. That way he doesn’t get wind of anything and get his nose out of joint too soon. And, yes that will put your pretty little head at peace,” says George, tickling Ruby in the ribs. She squealed and pulled away while trying to hit George to make him stop, instead he grabbed her hand and pulled her back to him, planting a long, deep kiss on her soft lips. Ruby pulled away, a look of love on her face as she stroked George’s face.
Her large grin suddenly returned as she asked curiously, “So how did today go? I mean, you know, saving the world or whatever you did?”
George sighed. “It went well enough. The old adage is that if nobody is happy it is a good compromise. All in all I think I came out with less than the Queen wanted but far more than she could have expected. It was a fine line to walk I will tell you.” George paused for a moment. “Here imagine this, you have three sticks of dynamite in your left hand, and you have a handful of incendiary rounds in your right hand. You have a lit cigarette in your mouth, and you have to walk a 6 inch wide board across Rattlesnake Gulch back in Promise City. That was pretty much what today was. I nearly set the dynamite off today too,” chuckled George. “I pulled out a wild card on the British that they weren’t expecting. I don’t know if they thought I was bluffing or not, I am not sure if I was still. I was prepared to see it through if need be. But it put them on their heels and gave me leverage I didn’t think I was going to have, and honestly that the British aren’t used to giving up. But in the end, yes, I saved Egypt, prevented further war, and proved yet again the pen is mightier than the sword,” said George as he looked into Ruby’s eyes. “Of course it doesn’t hurt to have a sword in the other hand when you are writing,” he said smiling.
Ruby continued to look at George with large, bright green eyes, admiring him as he spoke. She laughed and tapped his nose, “You really did save the world. Wow. I’ve never done anything important like that.” She scrunched her nose and tapped her full red lips, “Well, I mean, I did help save Promise City from the Earps and Cowboy Gang and also from some unwanted attention from Aphrodite and Johnny Ringo and Ares. And an Earth Spirit. And some Vampires, including Colin Turner. But that was small peanuts compared to… THIS.” She waved her arm around the room, like that would indicate something. “I’m so proud of you.”
She leaned in for another long kiss. “Now, we should get working on whatever we have to do, so we can leave tonight. Or soon. Don’t distract me!” She giggled, climbing out of George’s lap, trying to decide where to start and what to bring.
George laughed, "You are the distracting one woman!" he said as he pinched her butt. Ruby squealed at the pinch and started towards her closet. "Pack up and we will leave tonight, I want to talk to James before we leave, but after that we will head out if we can. Maybe let Mina know I want to talk to him ASAP so we can meet up," suggested George getting out his own suitcase.
Ruby watched him out of the corner of her eye and smiled. It was going to be a good couple of days.
Keep up the good work!
