"Ballots & Bullets" (TSR Module BH3) Concluded!

[Silver Moon]

Chapter One-hundred-seventy, “Fisk’s House”, Thursday, June 15th, 5:30 P.M.

Kate suggests, “My thoughts were to take Fisk's place first, but then we'll use up resources we'll need for the heavier populated headquarters. So I think the headquarters first. There are four, or were, downstairs. I'd say you and Mr. Tomlinson just worry about getting past them and up the stairs. Chester stays outside. Minerva, Nakomo and I can worry about keeping the men downstairs away from you until the creature is dead. Hopefully the freeing of a few minds will make them stop fighting."

Jake looks at her for a moment or two with a blank look on his face. "Just worry about getting past four men that would kill me whether they were controlled by vampires or not? You have great confidence in me, Katherine Kale. Jake Cook is not the cavalry, that is more Chester Martin's expertise. I require subterfuge." She replies, "You asked for a plan. You didn't say anything about it being a good plan. I'm listening for a better one."

Jake laughs. "I shall learn to be more specific in the future. Your first idea is more to my liking. We start at Fisk's. Gather round outside and hide. Listen carefully to what happens inside and rescue me if my actions go awry. With luck, I can get us by the guardian without firing a shot." Kate replies, “You want us to let you go in there alone? Is that what you're saying?" "Yes, at first. Do not be shy about my rescue though if I have miscalculated by a bit." Jake gives her a charming smile. "The gods abhor inaction." He turns and starts towards Fisk's place.

On the way there he turns up the collar of his duster and pulls his hat down. He unbuttons the duster. He knocks on Fisk's back door. After around twenty seconds he hears somebody approaching the back door. Jake affects a scowl, quite unlike his normal facial expression and pushes the duster aside to keep his belt buckle visible. Further back, Kate shared an alarmed glance with the others, then looked for a close-by place to conceal herself where she would be able to hear and respond, wishing she had learned the invisibility spell. Chester waits outside nervously, looking side to side. If anyone catches him out here, it'll be a big blow to his election hopes. But the mission comes first

A man who Jake doesn't recognize opens the door and says "Yeah, what ya want? Fisk ain't here now." Jake taps the belt buckle twice and gives the man a dangerous look. He looks around as if to make sure no one is listening. "Vaughn is ready to move on Cook. He says Elmer ought to do it.... it'll be his right as kin. Where is he?" The man glances from side to side and says, "I'm right here! Clifford is just an ali..ali..fake name. An don't call him Vaughn, he wants folks to think he's Madson."

Jake pushes his way in the house. "Ya, right, I know. Here, you take the Cook disguise and I will take yours. The plan is simple. Cook is home in bed 'cause of the sleeping potion 'Madson' gave him. You walk in looking like Cook, cut his throat and walk out like nothing is wrong. I watch things here. Got it?" Jake holds out his hand. He reaches out and takes to the buckle and says, "Yeah, I can go kill Cook." He holds the buckle and says, "But I don't know how to make this magic thing work? Doesn't Vau...Madson, or that French guy, have to say some hocus pocus stuff first?"

Jake replies, "Ya, that's right, you need the word. But first you need to give me yours. From what I heard it won't work with'n two of 'em on ya. He told me the word and you just need to repeat it after I say it." Jake keeps his hand out impatiently. "Hurry up, that potion won't last all blasted day." Elmer has a confused look on his face and says, "I don't remember them words that French guy used and I can't cast no magic. Look, tell me what to say and I'll go kill Cook. You can go up and help Mike guard Steve until it gets dark."

Jake says, "You don't have a thing like the buckle? Shoot, those bloody wizards make me so darned mad it makes me want to," Jake fast draws his Colt, smoothly clicks the hammer and points it at the mans chest, "kill me an outlaw. If I was you, I would not do anything other than breath. Deputy Martin, you should come in here right now and collect your fugitive Elmer Koontz."

The man in front of Jake takes on a confused facial expression and says, "Huh? What you talking about Willis? Don't you want me to go kill Cook?" His voice then fills with anger and he says, "How do I use that belt buckle Willis, tell me right now!" Chester strides to the back of the house. "Thank you Mr. Cook. I believe this provides us with enough to enter the house. Harboring a fugitive is serious business." He reaches for his manacles. "Elmer Koontz. You're under arrest. Hold out your hands."

Koontz glances at Chester then back at Jake, finally putting the pieces together and realizing that Jake‘s appearance hadn‘t changed when he gave up the buckle. Koontz screams out "COOK! You killed my brother". He then makes a flying leap towards Jake with his hands outstretched as though he is planning to strangle the gambler. The Deputy exclaims, "And you almost killed us, Koontz." Chester tries to hit the man on the head with the manacles.

Jake is tempted to shoot the man, and may still do so but instead he feints to one side and then shifts to the other and gives Elmer a boot towards the groin and attempts to dodge aside. Jake is knocked aside as Koontz's left hand strikes his face. Chester then clubs Koontz's head with the manacles and the man crashes to the floor, dazed but not yet unconscious. Jake states, "That is what I get for being a nice guy," Jake kicks Koontz behind the ear. Koontz's head hits the floor and he ceases to move, although they can see that he is still breathing.

Once Koontz was down Kate ran forward to make sure both her friends were alright. Kate arrived at the back door and looked inside. "Sounds like we now have reason to search this house and the headquarters. Can we just shackle him and leave him here while we search the house?" Chester replies, "OK. Let's get him up. Let me shackle him first. It could be a trick." Jake retrieves the belt buckle and tells Kate, "Come in all. Someone named Mike is guarding someone named Steve upstairs."

Jake keep his revolver pointed at Elmer Koontz. "Anyone else is welcome to handle the next part." Kate said with a half-smile "I think I'll need a little more help than just myself. We need Minerva, Nakomo, and Mr. Tomlinson. Chester and I are good, but not that good." Chester says, "Can you get them, Kate? I wouldn't feel right leaving you here with Koontz while Jake goes inside." Minerva and Nakomo walk up behind Chester. "Get who?"

Kate stepped out to collect the others from the quiet corners they'd hidden themselves in and brought them to the back door of Fisk's house, wondering why the one upstairs hadn't come down to see what the fuss was about. Jake shakes his head and rolls his eyes. "Shackle Koontz quick, then hide about the room or at least away from the stairs. Get your weapons ready." Chester slaps the manacles on Koontz and drags him to the side of the house. He crouches next to the unconscious man and draws his Remington.

Jake waits a moment for everyone to be in position and says very loudly in his best Elmer Koontz impression, "Mike, get your ass down here. Willis is here. Madson wants you and Elmer to meet him and take care of Cook. Pronto!" Jake moves away to a favorable angle to the stairs and points his pistol at them. Mnerva and Nakomo both find places to hide facing the stairs. Nakomo pulls back on his bow string and Minerva steadies her rifle. Kate actually stepped back outside the door into the fading daylight.

A man descends the staircase who Jake recognizes as 'Mad Dog' Mike Moore, a quick-tempered Faro dealer who used to play at Porter Norris's Indian Head Saloon until the building owner shut it down in March. Moore has a revolver in his hand put it is pointed down towards the floor rather than into the room. Minerva and Nanuet remain hidden but keep their weapons aimed at Mike.

Jake points his trusted Colt at Mike quite ready to fire if the man makes a threatening move and says in a friendly voice, "Good afternoon, Mike. If you ever want to turn another card, drop your pistol or you will be dead before you hit the ground." Moore says, "It's a Colt. It'll go off if I drop it." "I am quite aware of how sensitive a Colt is, Mike." Jake says keeping his pointed at the man's chest. "Sadly for you, I am a bit more sensitive than my Colt. You have three and a half seconds to put it gently on the ground before I have four witnesses that say your drew on me."

Moore bends his knees slightly and moves his hand back, lowering the pistol onto the staircase two steps up. He then raises his hands up in a surrendering motion and says, "Don't shoot. I give up." Jake states, "Take three steps forward. Deputy, here is another one." This Moore was the first outlaw Kate had ever heard talk sense. Kate faced the wall to hide her hands and cast a detect magic before walking back into the room and looking at the newest prisoner. Jake checks Mad Dog for weapons before sitting him in a chair and tieing his hands together through the back of the chair with Elmer’s belt. He then moves to the center of the room where he can watch both Mad Dog and the unconscious Elmer.

Kate walked over to the stairs and picked up Moore's weapon. "Mr. Tomlinson, if you'd care to accompany me upstairs?" She didn't wait for an answer, instead heading upstairs using her enhanced sight to look for anything unusual. Chester asks, “Who's upstairs, Mad Dog? He should come down peacefully." "Nobody's up there," is his reply.

Chester taps his chin. "Well that's odd. Elmer here said you were guarding someone named Steve. So spill the beans. We're going to find him one way or the other. And why does he need guarding? Hmm?" Moore says, "Elmer's not right in the head, don't pay no never mind to what he says." Chester states, "Then what were you doing in here. Elmer's a fugitive from that bank robbery. Hiding someone like that is a crime. I can't imagine Fisk would risk his freedom for him."

"You lie as well as you deal Faro," Jake says to him. He holsters his Colt and draws the slim dagger from his boot. "Unlike poor Elmer here who is famous in the Post Office, you could perhaps salvage yourself by providing some useful information. Later you could claim to have been threatened by the Cowboy Gang into participating in their schemes. Isby might buy that if the deputy backs it up."

Jake takes a step towards him and does not disguise a thoroughly nasty smile on his face. "If that does not motivate you, I might come up with some other ideas to loosen your tongue." Moore states, "I want to see my lawyer, why don't you arrest me Deputy and get me away from this madman!"

Wasting no more time, Minerva and Nakomo climb the stairs, careful to keep quiet as they do so. Nakomo takes a stake out of his pack and hands it to Minerva. They reach the second floor. There are two rooms, the windows and drapes drawn shut in both rooms. One is a library with two bookcases, a desk and several chairs. The other appears to be Fisk's bedroom, with a four-posted bed, an upright wardrobe cabinet, a long and low four-drawer dresser with a large mirror mounted atop it, a nightstand and a coat rack with two coats and three suits on hangers. There is nothing resembling a casket in the room.

"Meirde" Minerva swears softly, looking around the room for hidden doors, while Nakomo rips the curtains down to draw in the remaining light of day. Minerva prays to the gods to assist her in finding the evil that she is certain present. She gets a feeling in her head and her attention is drawn towards the low and long four-drawer dresser.

She motions to Nakomo that the Vampire is hidden in the drawer and prays to the gods to protect her from evil. She draws the stake, raises it over her head to strike and opens the drawer. Nakomo stands behind her with a bottle of holy water. The drawer does not open. Checking further, none of the four drawer will open, although there does not appear to be any visible locking mechanism in place.

Back downstairs Chester exclaims to Moore, “Who's your lawyer? Fisk? Right now it looks like he was hiding Elmer in his house. That's against the law. Judge Isby won't like that at all." Jake shrugs, leans against the wall and cleans his finger nails with the large knife. "Yes, deputy, you stay here and protect poor Mr. Moore. He must be in good shape for Isby's rope."

Chester says, "Come on now, Jake. He probably didn't know what was going on. Fisk just told you to guard this guy, right?" Moore says, "Fisk told me to guard his house. Looks like I haven't done a very good job of that. Fisk didn't know who he was, he thought his name was Clifford Clavin." Chester says, "So he just took him in out of the kindness of his heart? That doesn't sound like Hamilton Fisk." Moore states, "Fisk is paranoid since seven candidates got their houses or businesses blown up last Sunday morning. He didn't want his place to be next so he hired some muscle to protect it."

Jake states, "Mighty chivalrous of you Mr. Moore, standing up for Mr. Fisk while admitting that you knew about the outlaw. You are a courageous man. Certainly a soon to be hung man, but a courageous man none the less." Moore lets off a string of profanity at Cook and says, "Well? Are you going to arrest me or let me go? Make up your mind."

Upstairs, Minerva turns to Kate who is just making it to the top of the stairs, "Well, l know he's in there. I can feel the stench of his power. Any ideas on getting him out?" Kate recognizes the dresser, having seen it as one of the pieces that Cole Rixton had for sale a short while back when she was picking out furniture for her home and school. At that point in time the drawers did indeed open. "They must have added some kind of latch or something. Or perhaps it opens from the top or back instead."

Kate approached it, looking for any magical means as well as physical means to open it. She also tried pulling up the top and pulling it open from the sides and back. Kate discovers that top is indeed hinged on one of the sides, so that it will open the long way. She also discovers a locking mechanism concealed on opposite side holding it shut.

Kate states, "It opens from the top, but there's a mechanism that locks it. I don't know how to open it myself. Jake might be able to do it, or we could try to force it. Let me rephrase that, someone strong could try. Mr. Tomlinson perhaps?" Minerva moves in front of her. "There is no one here stronger than me. Certainly not Jake at any rate." She tries to force the mechanism. Kate backed away, holding the colt ready in her hands. Minerva is unable to get the mechanism to work.

Downstairs, Jake slides his dagger back into his boot. "Yes, yes, deputy Martin, poor Mr. Moore is probably just a victim of circumstances. I am sure he was fooled into his misbehavior. I will not trouble your prisoner any more." With that Jake mounts the stairs. Chester nods as if Moore is just filling in the blanks. "Looks like it's just me and you. Did Fisk tell you who he thought was behind this? They must be bad news for him to hire you. And you still haven't told me who Steve is."

Back upstairs, Tomlinson says, "Let me have a crack at that." He gets out some small tools and fiddles with the lock for a few minutes. "Sorry, no luck. We'll try Plan B". He stands up, steps back, and begins stating Latin phrases while making gestures with his hands. A pair of magical beams not unlike those from the Wand that Kate has used before fly out from his fingertips and arch away from his hand towards the lock, intersecting upon the locking mechanism.

There is a "click" sounds while some smoke pours from the lock and a sulpher smell fills the room. Minerva is about to say "Well that should do it, when she is assailed by the overwhelming smell of rotten eggs. She quickly puts her hand over her nose and runs towards the doors. Nakomo drops to the floor and moves toward the window to open it. Kate coughed and covered her nose but kept her eye on the dresser. After Mr. Tomlinson's unabashed display of magic, she didn't worry so much about hiding her own abilities and openly pulled out the wand.

 

[Silver Moon]

Chapter One-hundred-seventy-one, “Hell Breaks Loose”, Thursday, June 15th, 6:00 P.M.

As smoke seeps out from the piece of furniture Tomlinson grabs the bottle of holy water from Nakomo and splashes it onto the lock, causing the smoke to stop. He says, "I'm not sure what kind of trap that was, but it's probably better that we didn't wait for it to go off." Kate states, "Well, let's not wait any longer to put down this monster. I can't believe it hasn't wakened yet, but lets not lose the advantage."

Jake entered the room as the smoke was clearing. "It's in the chest of drawers," she told him quietly with her hand still over her nose. "It flips open from the top. We were just about to get a look at him." As the smell assails his nose, Jake waves a hand in front his grimaced face and says, "Whoa." He then waves the air about him with his hat. "Someone has had more than their share of frijoles."

Trying to ignore the acrid smell, he returns the hat to his head and draws his long barreled Colt. He removes the one shell he added back on the hillside and replaces it with one of Pierre’s simple enchantments. He re-holsters the weapon. Finally Jake fishes out the small vial of holy water Minerva had given him. "I am not much good at driving stakes. I will let someone else do that. Perhaps it will go well and I will not need to shoot anything." Jake shrugs and gives a half hearted smile. "I have one of those pyrotechnical rounds in this one," and gives the long barreled Colt a friendly pat.

He looks about the room, making certain that as much light is coming in as possible. After that is done he stands near the window and says, "I suppose I am about as ready as I am going to be." Kate stayed back by the door with Moore's magical colt in one hand and the wand in the other. "Mr. Tomlinson, Nakomo? Best if one of you opens it, I think."

Tomlinson goes to the end and braces himself to lift the entire six-and-a-half foot lid, however once he starts to slowly lift it only a six-inch part starts to go up, apparently separate from the remaining six-feet. He immediately stops and looks down the crack of the half-inch section that has started rise up. He then lowers it back down and says "It's wired and the wires were now taut. If I lifted it any higher....who knows." Kate's detect magic was still working, so she moved next to Kevin. "Lift it again, please. I need to see."

He lifts it again the same half inch. Kate sees a pair of wires attached to the lid go tight. There appears to be a metal wall six inches in, dividing this front section of the dresser from the rest of it. She detects no magic, this situation apparently being mechanical rather than magical. Kate says, "It's not magical. How much will it take to wake the creature? A crowbar to the other end should open it easily enough."

Tomlinson says, "Yes, that might work, but it would certainly wake the occupant. It is probably that this trap was set from the inside, so that it can only be opened when the monster wishes it to be." "We can't just wait for it to wake up, we still have to go into the party headquarters." Kate tapped her finger against her chin for a moment. "Everyone back away, I'm going to set it off." Once the others had all moved to the far end of the room where she stood, she pointed her finger at the end where the trap was and used a Mage hand spell to fling it back.

As the lid rises the wires are pulled which triggers the spark attached to the two sticks of dynamite in the trap. That end of the furniture explodes, showering outward a large quantities of nails and other hardwood built into it. The overwhelming majority of the projectiles fly towards the end where Tomlinson had been standing just moments before but others do fly elsewhere in the room, connecting with the party with Nakomo, Jake, Minerva, Kate and Tomlinson all receiving minor wounds.

The flying nails and hardware also rip the curtains and shatter three of the windows in the room, plus do considerable damage to Fisk's bedroom. The charred and red hot debris from the dresser is starting to smolders on his bedspread and one of the curtain which are starting to smoke but haven't burst into flame yet. Regarding the dresser itself, the wooden frame of the dresser is blasted away revealing a metal casket where most of the dresser had stood.

The lid remains shut and Tomlinson comments "Crap, that would have awakened him, and half the town now knows we are here, including the folks next door." Jake pops a nail out of his leg before tearing down the smoldering curtain and shoving it out the broken window where he is standing. He tosses it a couple of feet from the house to avoid it starting the exterior on fire.

Downstairs, upon further questioning Moore tells Deputy Martin "Fisk is paranoid since seven candidates got their houses or businesses blown up last Sunday morning. He didn't want his place to be next so he hired some muscle to protect it." The then hear the noises above with Chester's two prisoners showing considerable concern regarding the explosion that just transpired.

Kate exclaims, “Who puts dynamite next to the place they're resting?” Jake replies, "Someone with a penchant for a rather loud alarm clock?" Kate states, “I'm sorry, I should have waited. Let's put this thing down before it can gather it's wits."

While Jake is at the window he sees three armed men beginning to rush out of the back door of the Liberty Party Headquarters next door. He exclaims, "Oh. Bad news, the neighbors are restless. We will have company if a few moments from the Liberty Party gang. Chet is going to need help. Unless..." Jake glances up the hill towards Wyatt Earp. Kate says, "We can't depend on that." Kate said with her eyes fixed on the metal casket. "That thing can't still be asleep. We can't be that lucky."

Once the fourth man emerges from the Liberty Party Headquarters Wyatt Earp does indeed start firing. His first shot fatally goes through the head of Liberty Party Town Marshall candidate Charlie Villars. His second shot hits the chest of former Indian Head Saloon manager and Town Council candidate Porter Norris. The other two men dive to the ground.

However before he gets his third shot fired Liberty Party Town Council Candidate Bronco Madson, now at the back door of the party headquarters building, waves his hands in a flowing manner. The entire hillside where Wyatt is at then erupts in a massive fireball rivaling any explosion that Jake has ever seen before.

"Hermes!" Jake exclaims, astonished. He leaps from the window towards the large metal casket. While he draws his long barreled Colt he says, "Tomlinson, open this thing two inches, fast!" He then turns the cylinder on his pistol back one and cocks the hammer, "I have work to do downstairs and no more time for playing around.

Tomlinson attempts to open the casket but the lid won't budge. He exclaims, "It's locked and I don't see any locking mechanism. It must be secured from the inside." She says, "Try again after I speak." Kate was running out of magical power rapidly, but she had enough left to get the casket open. She spoke the words to complete a Knock spell, hoping it was not locked in several places.

At the sound of a click Tomlinson tosses up the lid, revealing beneath a fanged version of Liberty Party Town Council candidate Denny Geurin, the body of real Geurin having been found by them earlier at the Cunningham Mine. The vampire sits up and makes a lunge at Tomlinson who moves back into the protective cover of the setting sunlight that is shining through the window which Jake pulled the curtain down from. Across the room the smoldering ashes on Fisk's bedspread cause the bed coverings to ignite in flame.

Jake yells, "Damn, Tomlinson, I said two inches!" Reluctantly, Jake takes a step back and gently puts the hammer back to avoid shooting off the pyrotechnic round in the unprotected room, while keeping the pistol pointed at the vampire. He rotates the cylinder one more time, "Sorry for all the noise before you were ready to rise Steve," and then snaps off a shot at the Denny Gaurin look alike. Kate lifted the wand and fired it at the creature. Jake's shot and the wand projectile both strike the vampire but not fatally. He hisses and noticing the sunlight almost upon the casket attempts to pull the lid back down with himself inside.

Jake exclaims, "Mierde, not again." He quickly moves and counts four cylinder clicks while yelling, "Duck!" If he still has time before the lid closes, he fires the pyrotechnic round into the chest of the creature. As the creature sank back down Kate fired off the wand again, hoping to hit it again before it was out of view.

The creature's hand is on the inside handle of the lid pulling it shut when Kate strikes the creature's hand and it howls in pain. Her move has the effect of delaying him slightly, allowing the time for Jake Cook to get the gun barrel into the casket just as the metal lid slams shut on the barrel. The shot hits and the inside of the casket erupts into a blast which is mostly contained by the metal container. Jake's gun, however, is stuck and he is unable to pull it free as it too gets caught in the blast which has the effect of igniting the remaining rounds in the chamber

Kate ran to the bed and threw the ends of the comforter over the burning spot, then pounded with her hands to try to put the fire out or at least slow it so she could toss the burning fabric out the window. "Ouch!" Jake pulls his hand from the Colt now stuck protruding from the casket. "Damn, that is not exactly what I had in mind. The last of my enchanted rounds from Pierre were in that." Jake immediately starts for the stairs pulling out rounds from a special leather pouch he keeps in an inside pocket of his duster. As he runs down the stairs three at a time he hollers back, "I would appreciate it you would finish up here and come save my sorry behind. I have to go help Chet and kill Vaughn, not necessarily in that order."

Bounding into the room below he speaks quickly to Chet while he exchanges some rounds in his pistol. "Earp shot Villars and Norris before Madson-Vaughn blew up the hillside." He places a pyrotechnic round along with a round taken from the cowboy gang that prevents magic healing into the sixth and fourth chambers respectively. He is regretting having only one pistol on him, but there is no time. He walks around behind the tied Moore and says, "I am surprised the shock wave of the explosion did not know you folks unconscious."

With that, he takes the butt of his pistol and strikes Mad Dog in a vulnerable spot behind the ear to knock him unconscious. He states, "There is no time, shall we go?" Before Jake and Chet can exit the room the back door busts open and an armed man charges in, his pistol pointed at Chester.

Upstairs, Kate throws the burning blankets out of the window. She sees the man posing as Daniel Madson alongside another man, both carrying rifles, and charging south towards Sam Slade's house. Kate stepped back as far as she could and still see the two men. Hoping she couldn't be seen through the window she cast her last spell, a sleep spell, at the two men. Beyond Slade’s the hillside is still a churning cloud of dust and tumbling rocks.

Madson's companion drops to the ground where he stands. Madson continues to run forward until he reaches the cover of Sam Slade's outhouse and then looks around, rifle in hand. The dust along the dynamited hillside begins to settle. Kate felt the heavy weight of Moore's colt in one hand and the lighter of the wand in the other. The sleep spell was invisible. Missiles flying from the window were not and she wasn't the kind of shot that could hit him from here. Finally she lifted the colt with the wand against it and waited, ready to fire if he moved.

Tomlinson yells to Minerva and Nanuet, "Help me ensure that the monster is destroyed" as he slides his wooden stake in the crack held open by Jake's ruined pistol to lift the lid again. Nakomo and Minerva rush to the casket and muscle the lid open. The body inside the casket is burning and not moving. Tomlinson ignores the flames and shoves a wooden stake into the heart of the corpse.

Downstairs, Jake's look changes darkly as his hand flies to his pistol thinking, “I do not have time for you fool, more the pity for you.” Standing behind Mad Dog already, Jake crouches slightly and fires two shots. Jake's first shot is completely on target right between the eyes. The second shot also hits the head of the falling man who is already dead. Nobody else enters the building. Jake and Chester hear rifle shots outside.

Jake immediately moves to the side of the door frame and peeks out to see if it is safe. "I trust you will have the courtesy to say I shot him because he was about to kill you. I believe I am in some significant trouble with the law today. I am off to find Vaughn." While he is speaking Jake ejects the two spent shells, and replaces them with two fresh normal rounds. Unlike most times, he does not holster his weapon figuring he will need every fraction of second going up against a wizard. "Have a care, Chester Martin, I have a nice bottle of bourbon waiting for us if we get out of this alive and not behind bars."

Not seeing any danger near the door, he taps his pistol barrel to his hat in salute to the still stunned lawman and dives out the door. He bounces across the distance to the nearby Liberty Party headquarters and pushes his back against the wall looking in all directions for danger.

At this point, Madson indeed does move, but not in the direction of the building that the watching Kate is in. Rather, he pivots towards the destroyed hillside and fires two rifle bursts in that direction although from the second floor window Kate cannot see his intended target, her view possibly blocked by Sam Slade's house in between. Kate fired off the colt and the wand together, not expecting to hit with the bullet.

Madson begins to cast a spell but before he manages to complete the incantation the missile from her wand strikes him, doing some damage, but the main impact is in his loosing of the spell. She then sees who he was firing at as Wyatt Earp charges into her field of vision now fifty feet from Madson and running towards him as fast as his feet will carry him. To say that Earp is unarmed would be an understatement, he is not only carrying no weapons of any kind but hasn't on a single stitch of clothing, his body covered only with a thin coating of dirt, dust and ash. "My gods, the man has completely lost his mind," Kate said with eyes the size of saucers and cheeks bright red.

Out back, Madson raises his rifle once more and fires point blank at the naked madman rushing towards him. Kate watches in astonishment as the bullet travels straight at Earp and then harmlessly deflects off of his chest. She quickly turned back to the others. She states, "The guardians are cleared out of the Headquarters. I'm out of tricks, I won't be much use to you but now is the time to take out the other creature." Kate didn't look back but ran down the stairs to where Chester waited.

Jake slows when he sees two armed men inside the Liberty Party Headquarters, one at the back door another at a back window, who both point rifles south and fire. The bodies of Porter Norris and Charlie Villars lie on the ground not far from the back door. Staying low against the wall between the two buildings and out of their field of vision Jake looks south to see who they are shooting at.

Some sixty-five feet away he sees Madson/Vaughn cowering behind Sam Slade's six-by-ten foot storage shed situated at the base of Silverbell Hill. Slade's Hardware originally kept the store's shed behind the store on Front Street but following a dynamite explosion that damaged and destroyed several buildings last January the town had insisted that he move it further away so this structure was built, a brick windowless structure built into the hillside with a solid oak door secured by a steel padlock. Madson/Vaughn waves his hands and a trio of projectiles similar to those created by Kate's wand and Tomlinson's recent spell shoot forth from his fingertips.

The target of the spell is the same individual that the two men inside the building are firing at....Wyatt Earp. Earp is now fifteen feet away from Madson/Vaughn and charging towards him. He is also completely naked and appears unarmed, although he is clinching his left fist tightly so may have something inside of it. A coating of dust, dirt and ash over his body gives evidence that he was at least near the earlier hillside explosion although as far as Jake can tell there isn't even a scratch on the man.

One of the rifle shots misses, the other strikes Earp's right shoulder....and bounces off. The three magical missiles however do appear to cause injury when they strike, which temporarily slows his forward momentum towards his opponent. Vaughn/Madson begins another spell. Inside, Kate reaches the bottom of the staircase seeing that one of the prisoners is unconscious and that Chester has handcuffed the other to a large piece of furniture. Jake is no longer present.

Kate ran over to the door and looked out, holding the wand at the ready. There had been rifle shots outside and she was already hurt. Running across that gap was likely a very bad idea. Jake quietly moves to the corner of the Liberty Party building, and slides along the wall so they cannot see him unless they exit the building or stick their heads out.

Vaughn/Madson throws a spell and a large bright bolt of lightening flies from his fingertips piercing Earp through the chest. Earp is thrown back off of his feet and onto the ground. He lies unmoving on the ground some fifteen feet from the storage shed. Vaughn/Madson then takes the moment to reload his rifle, putting inside a pair of shells from a leather bag that had been inside of his coat pocket. Kate stepped outside the door just so she could see. Madsen was reloading his rifle from a leather bag. She edged back so she could just barely see that bag, then fired the wand at the bag and dove back inside without waiting to see the result.

Jake sighs, knowing what he has to do and knowing how exposed his is. He is not sure if he is doing so to save Earp or not. It is just time. Carefully steadying his pistol with two hands, he gently rotates the cylinder to the fourth position. A slight holding of his breath and he does what he came outside to do. The calling card of the Colt 45, the loud unmistakable retort is heard three times in rapid succession. A magic round with the side effect that wounds inflicted by it cannot be healed magically, a normal round and then lastly a pyrotechnic round speed their way to the wizard reloading his gun to kill the infamous Wyatt Earp.

The first bullet goes through Madson's leg and he begins to bleed but otherwise ignores it. Kate's spell then strikes, splitting the pouch and causing some of the shells to spill onto the ground while Jake's second shot then goes through Vaughn's wrist, causing him to drop the rifle. While this is going on Earp begins to move, first rolling over to his side and grabbing something on the ground with his left hand. He then begins to rise, a dark burn wound visible on his chest where the lightening bolt had struck.

Earp begins to rise just as Jake's third bullet arrives, missing Madson but continuing on to strike the oak door of the storage shed. The pyrotechnic round explodes, blowing the door off of its hinges as the pieces of flaming door debris shower into the shed filled with cases of dynamite. Seeing that, Masson turns to run but only gets three steps with his wounded leg before he stumbles and falls. Earp is now on his feet and moves towards him as the two men inside the headquarters building fire at him again, both bullets bouncing off. Madson slaps something from his pocket over his wound which doesn't have the desired effect. A trail of smoke begins to pour out of the doorway of the shed.

Surprised and pleased that the man in the window closest has ignored him, Jake squeezes himself to the wall and covers the last few steps to the window frame. Crouching and then coming up fast Jake pushes the rifle barrel up and away with his left hand while firing a single shot towards the man's gut with his right. He then attempts to hop back to hug the wall so he can see both the window and the doorway. Gunshots continued to ring outside but Kate ran back for the stairs and the window in Fisk’s bedroom where she could safely cover Jake's back while he was still outside.

The gut shot man falls to the floor. The other man steps out of the doorway to fire at their assailant but before he can get of a shot the dynamite storage shed explodes. When Sam Slade's previous storage shed had blown up in January it had contained fewer than three cases of dynamite. Due to the increased mining activity in the region he now has in storage five times that amount. The explosion that erupts makes the fireball thrown five minutes earlier look insignificant by comparison.

 

[Silver Moon]

Chapter One-hundred-seventy-two, “Aphrodite’s Lesson”, Thursday, June 15th, 11:00 P.M.

Once everybody else has retired for the night Jane brings her upstairs to the room she is staying in. Jane gets out some candles and a book of love sonets and stories. First she states a prayer to Aphrodite. Then as Ruby watches she reads from the book, some poems in English, others in Latin and French which she translates into English for Ruby's benefit. The short stories and poems tell of endless loves, unrequainted loves and eternal loves. "Ah," Ruby sighs, "That's all so romantic Janie. Wouldn't it be nice if our stories could have happy endings too?"

Jane says "Shhh...the stories are to set the mood, to get us both mentally receptive for the ceremony to follow. Lay back on the bed, close your eyes and listen, picture the characters in your mind, make your image of the woman yourself if you wish...I will read a few more." Ruby nods and does as instructed. She lies back on the bed, closes her eyes and stretches out, her long hair fanning out around her head. She takes a few deep breathes in and out and listens to Jane's soft silky voice as she reads. Occassionaly her mind wanders to her own love life but each time she guides her thoughts back to Jane's voice and the feelings of love that accompany her readings.

Ruby senses a different feeling as Jane continues to read, hearing words in Latin intermixed with the English and her mind begins to wander....she falls into a state somewhere between consciousness and sleep and as the story continues sees the man and the woman in the story. But both then change, the woman becoming Ruby and the man...no specific individual, but rather a composite of every man she was ever attracted to...a feeling of lust rather than love.

A third person then is present, who begins as Jane but them changes into the Goddess Aphrodite herself. She approaches the man and caresses his chin, letting her finger flow down to his chest. She turns to Ruby and asks, "Is he the one who you desire my child?" "No," Ruby replies in a soft voice, "No, I desire true love." She states "You have chosen wisely". The man then fades away until he is gone.

Aphrodite says, "True love must be mutual. There is one who loves you dearly, who desires you more than you can know. The last three weeks have been difficult, this journey bringing about a re-examination of feelings and questioning of the truth of what true love is. But you must examine your own feelings my child, decide if you feel the same way. If you feel that you do then turn around.....otherwise come forward to me and we will try to explore what you truly feel."

Even in this dream like state Ruby trembled. "I do... do love him. But I don't think he feels the same. And I need... more. More than he will give. More than he can." Tears fall down Ruby's cheeks, unsure for moments of what to do. Finally she steps towards the blond haired woman. "I... I need your help goddess. Please help me."

Ruby then hears the sound of crying coming from behind her...a woman's voice, and realizes that it was not Jake was standing behind her but was instead Jane. Aphrodite says to Ruby, "This was hard lesson but she needed to know the truth. Now that she does she can properly train you." The goddess fades and the dream ends. Ruby is still lying on the bed and Jane is sitting at the foot of the bed, tears streaming from her eyes and down her face.

Ruby sits up slowly, obviously confused. She glances around the room trying to get her bearings before she focuses on Jane. She scoots down towards her friend. "Janie," she says softly, laying a hand on Jane's arm, "What's wrong? What happened?" Jane says, "We can talk about it tomorrow. I need to be alone." She gets up and leaves Ruby's room shutting the door behind her.

"Jane!" Ruby calls out after her friend but she is already half out the door. Ruby follows but by the time she gets to the hallway Jane is gone. Ruby, still confused, heads downstairs to get another drink. She wipes her own eyes, still wet from her own tears in her dream. She slumps into a chair with her bourbon and pulls her feet up underneath her as she sips at her drink and wonders what happened.

Not much time goes by before Ruby finishes her drink and heads to bed. She opens the window as wide as it will go, being a hot summer night in New York the air was moist and heavy. Ruby lies restlessly in bed, tossing and turning. She was still confused about the evening…Her visit from Aphrodite, what happened with Jane, her feelings for Jake. She knew her time away from Promise City was coming to an end and she needed to start figuring things out, she couldn’t put it off any longer.

Her new crisp cream nightgown felt constricting, her legs wanted to feel free, her whole body wanted to feel free. She climbs out of bed and goes to her bag. After rifling through it for a few moments she comes out with a wrinkled white men’s shirt. She puts it to her nose and inhales deeply. The scent had faded but was still there and it made her heart start to beat faster. With a small smile she drops her nightgown to the floor and puts the shirt on. She grabs one final item from her nightstand, keeping it safe in the palm of her hand.

She heads downstairs and quietly slips out the back door. She finds a small patch of soft grass and lies down. She breathes in deeply, and runs her hands and feet through the long blades. Her eyes close as memories of her youth crowd her brain, memories of playing in the grass and getting in trouble for it. The air was heavy, humid, very unlike her new home in Arizona. Even the grass there was different. The lightning bugs lit up around her, one of her most favorite memories of all.

She lets the good thoughts surround her for as long as she can before the confusion sets back in. Her mind races from one thought to the next, her breathing intensifies as they flood her with all the problems she faces. The old Ruby would have never let things get like this but the new Ruby, well, she wanted things to be different and the only way to make that happen was to deal with the problems, not ignore them or run from them.

Hours go by as she stares up at the stars lost in thought. Tears come and go, come and go. She prays again for the goddess to help her, unsure of what to do, which path to follow. The stars were supposed to be hers, hers and Jakes, and they were always supposed to lead her to her destiny. They always had. Always calming, always there for her.

But not tonight. Tonight they were there, many and bright but they felt cold and far away. “Why haven’t you called for me Jake, why haven’t you come for me like you promised?” she calls to them, her voice melancholy, but they do not answer. They only twinkle back at her as if they were laughing. More hours pass. Sleep is finally almost upon her. Her body relaxes as the hot humid night finally breaks, a calming breeze gently blowing around her. It dries her tears and washes over her like cool water. Her eyes close briefly, but something keeps her from her final sleep. She feels it; the item in her hand is lifted away from her, not pulled or dropped but taken carefully by the wind. Her eyes, open only a crack, still witness what happens.

The playing card, the one she had held onto for so long, the one she kept always near her heart, lifted from her hand and slowly took flight on the wind. The jack of spades, her jack of spades, flitted back and forth precariously. For a moment it looked as if it would fall back to the earth but instead it slowly rose higher and higher until she could no longer see it. She doesn’t move to catch it, she doesn’t panic, she just watches it go. As she drifts to sleep Ruby imagines it makes it to the heavens, plucked from her by Aphrodite herself.

Early the next morning Nana makes her way downstairs. She is surprised to find Ruby awake so early and dressed in what looks like a men’s shirt. Even more surprising is that she is standing in the hallway in front of the long mirror with a pair of scissors in her hand and a pile of deep red hair surrounding her feet. Nana takes a good look at Ruby’s hair, which no longer hits her rear end but her mid back, about a foot of it lying on the floor.

Ruby grins at Nana’s reflection in the mirror. “I thought it was time for a change. I haven’t cut it since I left home. Can you help me straighten it out?” Nana says, "Let's draw you a bath and wash it again first. Then I'll teach you a few tricks with....special talents, to help fix hair quickly and easily. You should look your best when you arrive in Rochester."

"You think so? I think so too," Ruby grins. "About looking my best that is. I always try to look my best. It wouldn't do to waste the gifts we are given, right? But I do think this trip deserves an extra special effort. I admit, I'm a little nervous and it always helps me to know I look good."

Ruby lets Nana lead her to the bath room. The room is painted in soft blues and greens and decorated with scenes of the beach, a nearby beach that Ruby knows well. Ruby sighs, "I haven't seen the beach in forever. I think it's also time to remedy that." She helps Nana draw the bath. Nana scents the water with flower petals and then fills the tub to the top with bubbles. Without a thought Ruby slips out of the shirt and slides into the cool water. The window in the bath is open and the warm breeze blows the sheer curtains back and forth.

Ruby leans back in the bath and lets her grandmother wash her hair. She is quiet and enjoys the touch of her grandmother's worn but soft hands. Finally she asks, "Nana, do you believe in the gods? Do you believe that they watch over us and have a plan for us? Do you think Aphrodite has blessed us with the gift of beauty and given us the powers we have?"

She says, "I believe in a greater deity my dear, but not one of the Greek or Roman Pantheon. Long before the Roman's conquered the British Isles the local populations worshipped the Celtic Gods. Among them was Math Mathonwy also known as Mathu. He ruled over the realm of Sorcery, magics and enchantment and as far as I am concerned still does to this day. It is he who we derive our powers from."

"Really? I don't know anything about him. I'd like to know more about him and what he's like." Ruby is quiet again as she runs some water through her fingers. "Nana, I want to tell you something. I am glad you believe in a god of some kind, it will make it easier for you to believe me." Ruby takes a deep breath in. "I don't want you to think I'm crazy but... Aphrodite speaks to me. She comes to me in my dreams. She came to me last night." Nana replies, "Well Ruby, that actually is no surprise. Your friend Jane is a Priestess of Aphrodite so I am not surprised that when you are with her the goddess may communicate to the both of you."

Ruby replies, “It's not just when I am with her Nana. Actually, the first time I hadn't even met Jane yet. She told me I am a chosen of hers, whatever that really means. She has showed me things in my dreams, things I wanted or thought I wanted... well, we don't need to get into all that now. I'm not sure what really happened last night, I need to speak to Jane. Both Jane and Aphrodite herself want me to be trained in her ways. Again, I'm not really sure what that is but I admit I am curious to find out."

"Couriousity is a trait that we share," Nana states. She then asks, "Shall we wake up the rest of the household up or let them sleep in? Your train isn't until around noon time." Ruby's bath is done and she climbs out of the now cool water, wrapping herself in the nearest bathrobe. "I suppose we should wake them soon. But I am enjoying our time alone together and you did say you would fix my hair..."

Ruby dries her hair off with the thick blue towel then sits at the vanity. She holds out her hand with the scissors in it. "I admit, I am nervous about seeing George. I don't even know why, I'm not normally an anxious kind of person." Nana says, "Of course you're nervous, he is the man who you were planning to marry. It is natural to have these mixed feelings about seeing him again."

Ruby replies, "Actually, I was never planning on marrying him. That, and boarding school, were the final straws in why I left home. You know Mother, she would have forced father to make me do it too. George was just unfortunately in the middle. At the time I never thought I would even consider getting married. Now... well, I don't know." Nana replies, "Ruby, you were still a child. Too young to make decisions at that age. You are now older and wiser so better able to decide what it important and what is not."

"Of course, Nana. You're happy being married, right?" Ruby gazes at herself in the vanity mirror. She certainly didn't look like she did when she left home five years earlier. She runs a hand through her now considerably shorter hair and smiles. With some of the weight gone her hair curled up a bit, leaving big, bouncy, thick curls. "This has been an eventful trip so far. I don't see Rochester being any different."

Nana says, "Yes, perhaps, but you need to be careful up in Rochester. Your parents have already left the city to summer up their at their other home." Ruby sighs, "You don't think they've given up on getting me back and making me do what they want, do you?" She sighs again and continues to stare at herself in the mirror. "I will be careful Nana. Believe me, the last thing I want to do is see them or have some sort of confrontation with them." Ruby shudders at the thought. She had been thinking lately that with Jake by her side she would eventually face them but now... Ruby shakes the thought out of her head and smiles again. "And I trust George, he will do what he can to keep me safe. Even if he isn't happy to see me."

Nana says, "But how can you trust him? You said that he went away disappointed from your last meeting. Who knows what is going through his head now? And yes, your parents will never give up on having you back, how could they?" "Yes... he was disappointed for sure. And one of the reasons I need to see him is to talk to him about what happened. I never got the chance to make sure he was okay."

"But Nana, we were such good friends as children... there is something special between us and there always will be. He was my best friend for a while. I didn't really tell anyone back in Promise City about it, I didn't want to tell Jake, he was already jealous about George." Ruby smiles wistfully. "I need to make sure whatever it was is still there. I guess I've always taken for granted that it would be."

"The truth is, I don't know for sure that I can trust George. But I believe I can so I will. And maybe this time when I leave he won't be so upset, our friendship will remain in tact and he can forgive me for the poor way I handled our last meeting. George IS a good man, probably one of the best I've ever known, and he deserves it. And... I'm just excited to see him." She shrugs, "I don't know why."

Nana replies, "You must follow your heart Ruby, plus you will have your friends Richard and Jane with you, they will look out for your safety and best interests. It is good to have friends like them." Yes," Ruby smiles, "Yes, it is VERY good to have friends like them. I didn't know Richard too well before this trip, I am glad I got to spend time with him. Besides," she laughs, "He's cute. It's never a bad thing to spend time with a handsome man who tries to protect you." Ruby is quiet for a bit as she again gazes at her reflection.

"But it does remind me, I should go talk to Janie about what happened last night. It was odd...," Ruby's voice trails off. "Nana, do you want to do my hair now or later? I will go speak to Jane now if you'd like." Nana says, "No Darling, let her sleep, we can do your hair now. How exactly do you want it?" Ruby nods. "I just want you to straighten out the ends to make sure they are even. I think today I'll wear it mostly down with some clips holding the sides up. Long, loose and curly. What do you think?"

Nana replies "I think that will look lovely." She works at her hair for a while and says "So what do you think of my James?" Ruby watches Nana work on her hair in the mirror. "I think he's amazing... seems everything that a companion and husband should be. Handsome, intelligent, caring, kind and protective. Adventerous." Ruby smiles, "What do YOU think of him? That's what really matters."

Nana replies, "I think I've been blessed twice, how else can I explain having had two wonderful men in my life. When Andrew died I thought I would never find another like him...no, I misspoke. It is not that James is actually like him but I feel the same type of bond as I had with my first love." Ruby turns from the mirror and faces the older woman. She takes her hand in hers, "Nana, who is Andrew? I didn't know there was someone besides James. I'd like to hear about this first love of yours."

Nana replies, "Well, I guess you are now old enough to know. Andrew was your real Grandfather Ruby, not Mr. Hamilton." "Umm... what? Grandpapa wasn't my grandfather? Tell me more, Nana, I want to know," Ruby says instantly. She indicates for Nana to sit next to her and looks to her expectantly.

Nana replies, "Andrew was my first true love. He was from a fine New York family. He was born at the very turn of the century, on January 1st, 1800. As a boy he sought a path of adventure, and at the age of twelve enlisted to serve in the United States Navy as a cabin boy. He was one of thirty boys assigned to the U.S.S. Constitution, the brave ship that fought in the War of 1812, and is now anchored in Boston.

After the war he returned home and attended Yale University where he studied Law. He was very charismatic and joined an illustrious firm in the city. He was later elected to Congress where he served two terms. It was during those years that I met him. Our courtship lasted for several years and was....very intense. Then in 1836 he went away with his best friend Davy Crockett, who had served as a Congressman in Tennassee. They headed down to Texas to defend it from attack from Mexico. Andrew died in March 6th of that year as one of the defenders of the Alamo.

I...found that I was with child, your mother Alma. Mr. Hamilton was a family friend who had always fancied me. A hasty marriage was arranged. But I never loved him, I thought I would never find one who I felt as I did about Andrew....but then I met James."

Ruby sighs, "I'm sorry you lost your Andrew, Nana." Ruby squeezes her grandmother's hand. "Your first love... your true love... can't be replaced. It sounds like he was very important, not just to you but to history. Things larger than us conspire against us sometimes, and just can't be overcome. I am learning this unfortunate fact of life." "Does anyone else in the family know? Does Mother or Grandfather know?"

Nana replies, "I honestly don't know if your mother knew or not, I never told her but any number of relatives could have. I imagine that she did, just one more reason to keep you and others away from me." "Oh, I'm so sorry." Ruby scoots next to the woman and hugs her. "But it IS wonderful that you have James now. See, everything happens for a reason. You wouldn't have been with him if things didn't work out with Andrew. Besides, I never cared for grandfather anyway. They were all the same, stuffy and uncaring. Cut from the same cloth. I wish I could have known your first love. I am glad I can at least know this love." Nana answers, "Yes, you would have liked Andrew. But enough of the past, let's speak more of the future. What exactly are your plans?

 

[Silver Moon]

Chapter One-hundred-seventy-three, “One More Vampire”, Thursday, June 15th, 6:15 P.M.

The dynamite shed exploding has the entire town rock with the equivalency of a major earthquake, causing glassware and ceramic pottery to fall from shelves and break throughout the community. The shed itself disintegrates into smaller pieces of brick and mortar which along with several tons of dirt and gravel from what had been the eastern end of Silverbell Hill rain down over a quarter-mile radius. Glass in nine out of every ten southbound facing windows becomes either broken or shattered due to raining debris, as do seven out of every ten westbound facing windows on the eastern two-thirds of town.

Silverbell Hill takes on a new shape, with the mine shafts and tunnels of the Breakheart Mine taking considerable damage. The timing of the blast was fortunate, as the miners were leaving for the day as it went off, with the only serious injury coming to Shamus O'Hara who sustains a broken collarbone and arm from a falling support beam near the entrance.

Atop the hill the Breakheart Stamping Mill and Smelter take considerable damage as well, with the building being pushed back from it's foundation due to the shifting earth below. Quick action by supervisor Boston Harker has the 'Emergency Stop's switch thrown, shutting down all machinery and preventing permanent damage to most of the machinery. Outside, the water pipes providing water to the building fall off their moorings although the cutting of power prevents the pumps from drawing more water, thus averting a flood. In the nearby Boot Hill cemetery three dozen grave stones and markers fall over.

To the east, the shaft and corridor supports at the Lucky Deuce mine completely give way. Thankfully to three owners and workers had stopped working five minutes earlier when the fireball had struck their hill, heading up to investigate. They were at the doorway of the minehead when the explosion occurred, sustaining only minor injuries other than the outcome of death had they still been below.

With the storage shed's wooden doorway gone the brunt of the flaming explosion had flowed eastward, obliterating the wooden outhouse and two-story home that had belonged to Sam Slade who was thankfully still working at his store two blocks to the north.

The five closest buildings also take considerable damage. The southern wall of the wooden Liberty Party Headquarters is pummeled by debris, with the man who was standing just outside the doorway being fatally speared through the chest by a jagged board that had been part of the wooden outhouse ten feet away. Part of the southern wall of the building falls in, knocking over tables, chairs and a large stuffed bear inside and leaving part of the second floor exposed. At the corner of the building Jake Cook is stuck by rocks and brick fragments.

Hamilton Fisk's house is made of brick and remains standing although the south door and south and east windows are all blown in. Chester, Kate, Minerva, Tomlinson and Nakomo all loose their footing and fall down.

The building partially protects Ray Singer's wooden house east of it, although the building's tin roof is blown off. Hamilton Fisk's wooden storage shed behind it is flattened, revealing it filled with wooden furniture most of which becomes broken as well. Further east Ruby Baines brick butcher shop, house and smokehouse remain relatively undamaged.

Elsewhere throughout the town over one-hundred people are injured by either flying debris of flying glass. For the next hour Doctor Eaton, Father Valdez and Mother Jiminez will be busy treating injuries sustained, almost all of them thankfully minor. The two more serious injuries are those sustained by Billy Glass of Wells Fargo who gets a broken leg when a horse that he was tending falls onto him and town blacksmith Henry Weller who receives burns to his leg when a forge full of hot coals falls over.

The only other serious injuries come to the pair caught inside of the explosion. Immediately prior to the explosion the wizard named Vaughn Palmer had attempted to stand again to run but his attempts to heal the leg had failed and he only got two more steps before collapsing again. His world then came to an abrupt end as his body was ripped to shreds by the explosion, leaving no evidence of his existence behind smaller than a dime-sized bone fragment.

The other one caught in the immediacy of the explosion is Wyatt Earp, still clutching inside his hand the enchanted artifact that prevented bodily harm to him. However, he was still impacted by the combination of the ground beneath his feet disintegrating and a force the equivalent of a one-hundred miles-an-hour freight train striking him.

The former Town Marshal is lifted up into the air and flung back 125 feet to the northeast, his forward momentum stopping as he strikes the bricks of the second-floor of Rudy Baines's home. The magical artifact prevents bodily harm from the impact but the suddenness of the stop has the involuntary reaction of him opening his hand and the object falling from it. Earp falls fifteen feet to the ground, striking hard and falling into unconsciousness due to the injuries sustained from the fall.

As she was thrown to the ground Kate covered her head with her hands and scrunched up her knees, trying to make as small a target as possible. Her ears were ringing from the sound, so when she stopped hearing glass falling she lifted up her head to see the others were alright. On the floor but unharmed. She slowly pushed herself up and moved to the door to look for Jake.

Immediately before the blast Jake had turned fast in an attempt to shoot the man coming out the door before he can get his rifle aimed at him and instead is thrown to the ground by the force of the explosion. Bleeding in any number of places and bruised in twice as many he staggers to his feet. "Mierde," he states simply. He coughs up a trace of blood, "I believe, cough, cough, that I got him." He bends and picks up his treasured Colt, blows the dirt off it and sets it in the holster. He limps to the back of Fisk's house, throws himself back on the ground, and surveys the wreckage of the Liberty Party headquarters.

Inside the building, Chester collapses to the ground from the force of the blast. He says, "Oof," as the wind gets knocked out of him. He shakes his head to clear it, then calls out. What in blazes just happened? Is everyone OK?" The deputy crawls to his prisoners to check on them, then gets to his feet.

A crater where the dynamite shed used to be that is forty feet in diameter and twenty feet deep in the center stands an answer to Chester's question. Elsewhere throughout town hundreds of other begin asking themselves the same question and heading outside to investigate. By the gods!, "It sounds like the gates of Hades have been blown wide open!!" Minerva shouts as she leaps to her feet and runs to the window. Her mouth drops open when she see's the smoldering crater. "Meirde!" is all she says. Before running down the stairs past Chester and into the street in search of Jake.

Nakomo also rushes down the stairs. "Chester, is everyone here o.k? We have to find out what happened to the other creature!" Chester rubs his head and looks around. "Yeah. We're OK. Just a couple bumps and bruises. How are you and Minerva?" Nakomo replies, "We're much the same."

Kate pretended she hadn't seen Jake flop himself down close to Fisk's house and ran out to kneel next to him. "How bad are you hurt? What in Hades happened?" Jake answers Kate “"I have been hurt worse, just not in so many places at the same time." He cracks a smile and winces. He removes his Colt and begins emptying spent shells and loading it with normal rounds from his belt. "Slade's dynamite shack exploded. Right after I shot at Madson-Vaughn Palmer a fireball exploded nearby and blew the door to the shed open."

He shrugs and winces again. "I thought I had a little more time before it went off after I saw the door blown in. Guess I was wrong. I could have that many bricks thrown at me again today and survive. However, I am fortunate that there is only one dynamite shack in town." With a groan he gets back to his feet. He is covered in dust and dirt, clothes torn in several places, traces of blood escaping in most of those places and a few others. Though he still has his hat. "Hard to imagine that either Palmer or Earp survived."

He coughs and wipes his lips with a sleeve. "The whole damn town will be here shortly," Jake is saying as the others emerge from Fisk's house. "We need to move fast if we want to get at the last vampire before town folk arrive. Daylight is failing too. Nakomo, could you run and fetch my damaged pistol before we leave? It has sentimental value for me." No leaving any unnecessary evidence behind.

"We have dealt with most, if not all, of the Cowboy gang that were standing between us and the vampire in that building. Chet should get those prisoners out of Fisk's house and off to jail somehow. The rest of us good Samaritans should move quickly and search the Liberty building for survivors from this terrible event." Jake winks. "I will live, but I am hurt and mostly out of ammo that can harm one of those creatures. I would be hesitant to use anything explosive in that building given its current state."

He wipes some grime from his face. "I will be with you all and will keep you from ordinary trouble, but I am afraid someone else needs to put an end to Mortimer Turner." He accepts his badly charred pistol from Nakomo, and with a look of some sadness places it in his left side holster. Looking tired and sore he forces a bright smile to his face. "This is what we came to do. Just one more to go."

"Hold up a second." Nakomo says to Jake and places his hand on him to heal some of the wounds. The Indian says, "There, that should help a little. Let's go." Minerva rounds the corner as Nakomo is healing Jake. She nods her approval to her apprentice and the group makes their way to the Liberty head quarters. "I know you would like to take care of Turner yourself after what was done to Ruby. If you would like me to, I could heal you more and offer some protection from him."

"I would?" Jake stops and looks dumbfounded. Recovering he says, "No, I do not want any of the glory. He is not even the same Turner. I will be satisfied regardless of who gets to end his menace." Jake looks a bit sheepish. "Really." He coughs and wipes a faint trace of blood of his lips. "Besides those stakes give me splinters." "I did not believe glory to be your motivation. It certainly isn't mine. But never mind. "she shrugs her shoulders. "I will do it myself. I am not afraid of a few splinters and will revel in the moment of his destruction." she says and walks on toward the headquarters.

Kate stayed with the others, unsure she should even be entering this building. She hurried next to Kevin Tomlinson and tried not to think about the consequences of all this chaos. Tomlinson says, "Mr. Cook is correct, we should go in now while we can still use the excuse of searching for survivors. This building will be out of the direct sunlight in another twenty minutes or so, after which time our foe will be able to leave on his own. Deputy Martin, bring those two prisoners out and turn them over to whichever of your law associates arrives first then stay by the back door in case we need you." Chester replies, “OK, Tomlinson. Don't you get into too much trouble without me." Chester half-drags the two men outside.

"Revel away," Jake bows follows behind Minerva into the damaged building. On the way he scouts for another serviceable rifle or pistol one of the gang may have dropped. “Jake, you said you're almost out of ammunition?" Kate handed him the pistol she'd picked up. "It's Moore's. It's either magical or there is magical ammunition in it." He says, “Thanks. Out of magical rounds, I have plenty of regular rounds." He tucks it in his belt. "I will attempt to have a care with it, not knowing what I am firing for rounds." She looked around the building. "Are there still stairs up somewhere?"

The first floor has overturned chairs, tables and the large stuffed bear strewn about all over the floor, as well as large quantities of dirt, rubble, brick pieces, mortar pieces and splintered parts of wood that had previously been part of the south wall. The staircase up to the second floor looks to be relatively intact although the railing post at the bottom is damaged. Jake cautiously leads them up the stairs, testing each one for soundness as he goes. Kate started carefully up the stairs. "I can't imagine he was resting here on the first floor."

The staircase ends in the center of the east wall of the second floor with a hallway down the center to the left wall. There are four shut doors along the hallway, two on the right and two on the left. Those to the left would be along the south wall, where several of the clapboards are now missing, letting in the remaining light of the setting sun. She states, "Let's try the southern rooms first. Maybe we'll get lucky." Kate firmed up her grip on the wand, the only defense she now had.

The first door is locked. The next one is not, and opens into a room with three double-bunk beds. There are hooks on the wall, one with a longcoat, on the floor in the corner are two more longcoats and five hats, apparently blown off the hooks by the blast. There are wooden boxes on the floor near the base of each bunk bed, each of which has minor personal belongings such as socks, dice, cards, loose change, handkerchiefs, matches and cigarettes. A few loose clapboards on the wall to the other southern room are down and they see it is a room similar to his but with two double-bunks instead of three. That room also has no casket or any furniture large enough to conceal a body.

Kate says, "Well, we won't have to put a vampire down in full view of the entire town." Kate kept to the back of the group as they moved to the right hand doors. "We'll want to get the windows open." Both doors on that side are locked. Tomlinson says, "It is too bad we don't have John Harbrace with us now, he has skills with lockpicking." Jake replies, "I have none. Unless I can talk it open, or challenge it to some poker where the loser opens up, we are going to have to make some noise." Jake listens to each door in turn.

Kate says, "I'm out of tricks. It's brute force this time." Minerva looks at Kate in puzzlement. "You can't make this open? Hmmm. It could be trapped." She turns to Nakomo, Before we waste our time kicking in the wrong door, perhaps you could ask the gods for a little assistance in determining which is the correct one." Nakomo steps forward and focusing on the doors, he prays. As Nakomo tried to sense the creature's presence, Kate explained, "I've exhausted my magical energies. Right now I couldn't light a candle magically without an item of some kind." Nakomo senses the door to the left (west) has a concentration of evil behind it.

Outside, Berg arrives on the scene with Jeff Mills and some of the fire brigade. Berg asks, "What in blazes happened out here, Deputy?" He looks at the crater. "Slade's shed blew up again? And who are these men?" Chester says, "This here's Elmer Koontz, wanted for robbing Condon's Bank last January. Mad Dog Moore was helping Elmer hide out in Fisk's house." The newspaperman Chumbley is nearby and hears Chester's summary while taking vigorous notes in his notebook.

Marshall Berg tells Chet to keep an eye on the prisioners as he heads up Silverbell Hill to inspect the damage to the stamping mill, smelter and mine and make sure there are no serious injuries there. Chester replies, "Yes, sir. Looks like Liberty Party headquarters didn't make out so good."

Jeff Mills and his fire company put out the buring blankets and curtains that had been previously thrown out the windows of Fisk's house as well as small brush fires caused by the previous fireball. A small crowd has gathered further west down by Baines Butcher Shop. Chester sees the members of Arcade's Gang over there. Marshal candidate Hank Hill notices Chet and starts to head over in his direction.

Deputy Marshall Chester looks down at the prisoners to note where they are, then he looks up at Hank and waves. "Coming out for all the excitement, Hank?" Hank says "Yep, I hear that Sam Slade was careless with his dynamite again. Looks like this building took quite a beating. You have things under control over here?"

Chester nods. "Something like that. He's going to have to store that stuff outside of town from now on. That's twice this year." He nudges the unconscious Koontz with his foot. "These two aren't giving me any problems. Looks like the Liberty Party is having some problems, losing their house and all.”

Hank kneals down and looks closer at the three dead bodies near the door, recognizing one as Marshall candidate Charlie Villars and another as council candidate Porter Norris. "These guys weren't killed by the dynamite, those are gunshot wounds. Looks like Earp decided to take out the Liberty Party. I wonder if he was the one who blew up the shed to try to cover up his handiwork?"

"Hard to say. I was inside when the shed went up. If Earp did this and he's still around, the other Liberty Party guys should stay out of sight." Chester thinks to himself “Jake must have seen Earp back there. This vendetta of his has got to stop. Sooner or later he's going to kill an innocent man.”

Hank tells Chester, "Oh Earp is around, my friends have him. I'll bring him over to the jail right now." Chester does a double-take. "They... what? Uh, yeah, bring him by. I'm going to take these two in now." Chester hauls Moore to his feet. He slaps Koontz in the face. "Let's go, you two. Time to go."

 

[Silver Moon]

Chapter One-hundred-seventy-four, “The Slayer”, Thursday, June 15th, 6:45 P.M.

Kate asks, "Kevin, would you be able to get that door open? Maybe with the hammer you have for driving stakes?" Tomlinson glances out the window and says, "We could get Jeff Mills to kick it in, he's strong enough and is right outside with his firefighters. He already knows about these creatures."

"I'll bring him," Kate said and went back down the stairs to look for Jeff Mills. It took her a few moments to locate him and get his attention. "Jeff, we're looking for survivors in the Headquarters, but we can't get past some of the debris, can you give us a hand?" Certainly," Jeff states. He heads inside and back up the stairs with Kate.

When Jeff Mill enters Nakomo points to the door on the left. "That one." he instructs. Minerva impatiently fiddles with the vial of holy water in her pocket, while praying to the gods to keep them all safe. Jeff steps up and kicks the door open. The door flies inward towards the darkened room. The room is furnished with a bed and a long mirrored dresser identical to the one that was in Fisk's house.

Kate exclaims, "Oh, not again. We can't just set off more dynamite, we might need a crowbar after all." Her eyes fell on the mirror. "We should get the windows uncovered, but that's not going to help much. Could we use that mirror to reflect light in from the hallway?" "It is going to be dark soon." Minerva says as she tears the curtains down. "We are running out of time." She looks around the room for something that can be used to pry the dresser open. "I could attempt to cast a silence spell and we could get out of the way of the dynamite if we had to."

As Minerva pulls down the third curtain a black bat that had been curled up upside of it flies across the room and out the door into the hallway. Kate quickly points the wand at the bat and fires. Kate's missiles strike the bat but it continues onward down the corridor and towards the staircase down. Kate ran after it, firing again. The bat ducks out of Kate's field of vision as it flies down the stair below towards the main room.

Nakomo chases it down the stairs and aims his arrow ands shoots. Minerva communicates with Luna. "Luna, Do not let the bat get out the door." While Chester is attempting to wake the two prisoners he sees Minerva's owl Luna rapidly fly into the building from the opening in the back. Chester whistles, "Where's Minerva's owl going in such a hurry?" He looks around and finds no one he can trust with guarding the prisoners. "Dang it. Tomlinson wanted me to guard the back. But I have to bring these guys in. Come on, get up." Hank Hill says, "I'll take them Deputy, I'm going over to the Jail anyway, do whatever you have to do."

Kate continued down the stairs after the bat, ready to fire the wand as soon as she could see it again. Just in case, she pulled out Tom's pistol as well. If she couldn't see it again until she was visible to others she would try the pistol instead. Nakomo's arrow strikes the flying rodent but unlike the magical arrows given to him by Diana this is a regular arrow and glances off of the leathery wings to no effect. The bat reaches the bottom of the stairs and flies into the main room temporarily out of Kate and Nakomo's field of vision as they are both still on the staircase down. Kate continued chasing as fast as possible, with both wand and pistol in hand.

Luna dives toward the bat and attempts to grab it in her razor sharp talons. The claws latch onto the bat and draw blood. The rodent then begins to change, transforming back into a human form, which is too much weight for Luna to hold. Luna lets go and flies to the ceiling. communicating to Minerva what is happening. Minerva stake in hand, runs for the stairs. Nakomo reaches the foot of the stairs and sees the bat transforming into a man. The owl releases him and he falls towards the floor, landing almost cat-like with his hind legs and one arm extended.

Outside, Chester doesn't hesitate. "Thanks, Hank. That's mighty kind of you. Elmer's wanted for the Condon's Bank job." Chester gives him the keys to the manacles and rushes into Liberty party headquarters. He arrives in time to see the bat change into a man. Kate and Nakomo made it to the bottom of the stairs on each others heels. The bat was gone, in it's place was what at least looked like a man. He quickly rises to his feet, the deep scratches on his shoulders where the owl held him healing over as they watch. He is naked and short, standing perhaps five-foot-six, with a long uniquely trimmed beard. Kate arrives immediately behind Nakomo, recognizing the man as being same one from Messier's photograph.

Kate checked to make sure no one outside their group could see her before she fired the wand again. Kate checked to make sure no one who shouldn't see was looking and raised the wand. A prayer that was more feeling than conscious thought went to Diana, a desperate plea for this to end, then she fired the wand. Chester then arrives on the scene and fires his revolver at the man. Chester's bullet connects but bounces off of the man. Kate's wand blast strikes but to minimum effect. The man gives her a toothy smile, the fangs showing, and says, "Uncle Colin was right, you are an interesting group!"

Kate dropped the pistol and pulled out the derringer. When this vampire mess had begun she'd removed the sleep bullets in exchange for the magical ones. She yelled for Kevin even as she fired the magical bullet at the creature. Kate's shot misses. The creatures takes a step forward that is more of a glide than an actual step, him sliding across the floor towards Kate and Nakomo his arms outstretched and says, "You can do me no harm, you haven't the power. Now you are all mine."

Minerva rushes down the stairs faces the vampire and fires her rifle with the sleep bullet in it. The bullet penetrates the skin and blood is visible. He flings his wrist backwards and she sees a large semi-solid hand appear in the air before her strikes her as it knocks her back up onto the stairs, the rifle falling to the ground. "And they send a novice priest against me! What fools you are!" Tomlinson arrives at the top of the staircase and the vampire bursts out laughing.

Kate hopes him being closer will give her a better chance and fires again. Nakomo throws caution to the wind when the vampire knocks over Minerva and rushing toward him throws holy water in his face. The water strikes the man's face as he casually steps to the side and swings his hand down, grasping onto the back of Nakomo's belt and tossing him across the room and into Chester as though he was a rag doll. Chester grunts when Nakomo hits him and drops his pistols. He draws his magic Bowie knife as he gets up from the floor. "You OK, kid?" To the vampire, he says, "'Uncle' Colin was right. We are very interesting."

Another missile flies from Kate's wand striking him until the semi-translucent hand jumps up and closes over the wand, yanking it from Kate's hand. Tomlinson says, "Minerva....I....I can't move, my feet feel frozen in place." Minerva holds out her holy symbol and prays feverishly to the gods to turn this evil creature. Kate dove to the side as if she were trying to hide, then ran for the fading daylight near the door, grabbing for the mirror in her pocket.

The vampire Mortimer Turner laughs again this time at Tomlinson and says, "Did you think that you could harm me watcher! You are no slayer! I will..." His speech is then interrupted when a silver platter flies across the room from the front doorway, striking the forehead and drawing blood. The vampire pivots around in a move that would make a ballet dancer proud to see who his new opponent is. Standing before him, still attired in the suit that she wore to work, a silver candlestick clutched in her left hand, is seventeen-year-old Shannon O'Hara. In her Irish accent she exclaims, "Looking for me?"

Kate took advantage of Shannon's arrival, trying not to think of what it meant for Meghan’s daughter. She dove behind her outside, then tried to catch the fading sunlight with her mirror and reflect it into the room unto the creature. Chester yells to Shannon, "Get out of here, girl. This isn't a game. This man is very dangerous." He charges the vampire. The sunlight strikes the creature, causing it pain and requiring it to leap across the room and out of Chester's immediate reach.

The creature reaches to throttle Shannon but she casually steps aside and strikes it in the back of the head with the candlestick, knocking it towards the ground. She kicks up, ripping the side of her gray suit skirt with the kick connecting to his chest. The creature is propelled upward as though shot from a cannon, striking the ceiling and falling back downward.

Shannon has already moved beneath him and swings the candlestick upward, striking it's head as a baseball player would swing at a ball as he flies backward, striking the wall near the stairs and slumping to the ground, temporarily dazed. Chester's jaw drops. Apparently they aren't the only interesting ones in town. Chester looks around for anything to use as a stake. He finds a piece of banister that'll do in a pinch. He rushes over to the stunned creature.

Minreva sees her opening and charges in with a stake aimed at the heart. She connects with the creature's chest but misses the heart, the stake sticking inside of his chest. Shannon leaps across the room, kicking the creature into and through the south wall. It flies outside and into the final rays sunlight, bursting into flames. The flaming creature charges back into the building still aflame and lunges forward while screaming "DIE SLAYER!"

Kate lifted the derringer and fired again as soon as the creature was close enough. Kate's shot is perfectly aimed, the magical bullet going through the creature's heart. It crumbles onto the floor and says with it's dying breathe "Colin...will...avenge...me." The flaming husk continues to burn, starting to set the floor on fire. Minerva picks her way past the smoldering vampire. Leaving the fire for someone else to put out she makes her way over to the slayer "Well done Shannon O'Hara."

Tomlinson finds that he can move again and descends the staircase. Jeff Mills and Jake Cook follow, both of them having also found their legs frozen in place before. Tomlinson approaches Shannon and says, "We have much to talk about young lady."

Kate stood stunned for a moment, amazed she'd managed to strike the creature. Eventually the danger of the fire sunk in and she looked around the room and ripped down another drape to smother the fire. Jeff stops her and says, "Relax Kate, my firemen are outside with the fire wagon. Why don't you all head out and we will take care of it." She nodded, noticing for the first time her hands shaking. "Thank you, Jeff."

Kate scrambled through the room, retrieving her wand and Tom's pistol before following the others toward the door. Kevin Tomlinson was standing with Shannon, an odd look on his face. "Thank you, Shannon," she said, stopping near them. "I guess you know now there's a lot more to the world than most people think. And to us. If you ever want to talk..." She started to move on, then stopped. "And don't worry, I won't say a word to your mother."

Chester picks up his guns from where he dropped them, then walks over to Shannon. "You fight damn well, Shannon. Guess that makes you the Slayer we've heard about." Shannon says, "I...I guess. I was just coming home to the boarding house from the bank when I suddenly felt different, and compelled to come here. I sensed that I needed silver, so borrowed the platter and candlestick. I guess I should return them before Mrs. Hooten thinks they were stolen."

Kate adds, "After they get a good cleaning, at least. Talk with Mr. Tomlinson, Shannon, he can tell you more than any of the rest of us. As I said, if you ever want to talk you know where to find me. For the next hour I think that's going to be Mrs. Gilson's bathhouse." Chester adds, "I'm sure glad you came by. We would have been toast without your help." He smiles. "If Mrs. Hooten gives you any grief, I'll tell her I asked you to. You should go with Mr. Tomlinson, he'll fill you in on what just happened. I have to get back to the office."

Then Jake falls behind and lets the others go down the stairs. He quickly disappears back upstairs. He searches the open rooms rather rapidly, being careful not to disturb the large dresser in what appeared to be Turner's room. He is looking for anything unusual, interesting or valuable. Not spending more than a couple of minutes in each room, he then comes quietly and non-chalantly down the stairs and blends into the crowd and disappears out the door.

Kate said a few words to the others, not wanting to just run off. After a minute she began a long, slow walk back to her house for some clean clothes before heading to Laurie Gilson's, hoping she would be open. Gilson's is indeed open and Laurie is happy to see Kate. In the process of greeting her Laurie Gilson makes it a point to wave around her shiny new engagement ring from Judge Lacey.

Kate kissed Laurie's cheek and hugged her. "He's an excellent man, I'm sure you'll be very happy. It's good to see you so happy now." She let go and stepped back. "I'm sorry, I'm all dirty." Not to mention bloody. "I could really use that bath." Oblivious to any blood on Kate Laurie leads her to a room where Jules Heurta has just drawn a bath. Thank you. When I'm clean and rested you'll have to tell me about when Mr. Lacey gave you that," Kate said with a tired smile.

Laurie sailed out of the room leaving Kate blissfully alone. She pulled off the dark, elaborate dress carefully, trying not to peel off skin along with it. Despite the lure of the steaming water, she took a moment to examine the cuts and just forming bruises on her arms and neck. The corset and layers of skirts had protected the rest of her body. With her body exposed her pregnancy was obvious, probably because she had been so small to begin with. She sighed and carefully stepped into the tub, lowering herself gingerly into the water. She washed her hair, then let it hang outside the tub while she got the rest of the days grime off her skin. The shaking of her hands and the days stress slowly melted into the water and she soon found herself nodding off in the warm water.

Chester makes his way over to the Marshall's Office. Hank Hill is there along with his friends Josiah and Morgana Arcadiam, Sureshot Sam and the half-orc Louie. Deputy Rodriguez is also present and has locked Moore and Koontz into the same cell with Ike Clanton, with Wyatt Earp in the other cell. Earp is conscious now, a blanket draped around his otherwise naked body, with visible bruises and scratches on his face, arm and shoulder.

Marshall Berg arrives shortly thereafter. Hank Hill lowers his voice and whispers to Berg and Martin "Glad you're here. We thought we'd stick around until you two got here since Clanton told us that Rodriguez and Earp were close friends. We had the others put in with Clanton, figured it wouldn't be safe to put any of 'em in with Earp." Chester says to Hank and the others, "Thanks. Earp has been a slippery one."

Chester opens the cell and puts Koontz and Moore in the cell with Clanton. "There you go, nice and comfy. I don't expect you want to share a cell with Wyatt here. Koontz is wanted for robbery and assault. Moore is here for hiding Elmer in Hamilton Fisk's house." Berg thanks Arcade's Gang for their help and the five depart. He tells Chet "With four of them in here, and with who knows for friends, we should keep two of us on duty at all times, probably one inside and the the other out of the porch with the door locked in between." "I agree. I'm going to check them for sorceress items." Chester frisks the prisoners for potions, belt buckles and the like.

Jake walks over to Pierre’s gun shop. He waits until there is no one else in the shop and passes his badly damaged Colt across. He asks, "Can she be saved?" Pierre examines it thoroughly and says "Oui, it can be saved, but I haven't the skill. The man in Mexico who helped Jeff with that hand canon could do the work. I might know of one or two others with the skill. It would probably be less expensive though to just purchase a new one."

Jake shrugs. "I expected as much. Pity. Please remove the grips, I will keep them for sentimental value. Can I purchase a box of your special Colt 45 ammunition? It has been a busy week and I seem to have used my previous purchase all up." Jake grins, "You may be glad to hear the number of Cowboy gang members and their associates are now far fewer, thanks in part to your fine workmanship." Pierre says, "You can, but they are expensive. I charge $ 100 for each, but you can get a box of a dozen for an even $ 1,000."

Jake raises an eyebrow at the price, "Glad I get the good customer discount." He sighs and says, "Here is $400, I do not carry that much on me. I will get the rest at the bank tomorrow if that is acceptable." After he finishes with Pierre he goes to his house and gathers up his poker clothes and heads over to Gilson’s for a bath.

 

[Silver Moon]

Chapter One-hundred-seventy-five, “Clean Again”, Thursday, June 15th, 7:30 P.M.

Weary in both bone and spirit, Minerva leads Nakomo to the church so that they may dutifully show the gods their gratitude. As she lowers her eyes in prayer they pass over her torn and blood splattered gown rousting the resentment that is buried beneath her fatigue "Another gown ruined", she sighs fingering the tear in her skirt. "It seems as though I have been covered in blood and grime since I arrived in this town. Is it blood that you seek of me? Am I to walk the earth as an avenging angel until some monster sends me to my grave? And what of Nakomo? Is it your will that he confront and destroy every horror that walks the earth also? He is but a child, has he not suffered enough? It is not what I desire, this life of fear and bloodshed. I would have a normal life, filled with the innocent laughter of children and the love of a good man. And what of Nakomo? Does he not deserve better?” She lowers her forehead to her hands and silently weeps.

Minerva sits for a while until she has cried herself out. When she finishes she notices that her gown is no longer ripped but looks as it did when it was brand new. Her body is also free of grime and blood, as clean as they would be following a long bath. Minerva runs her hands down the front of her skirt and looks up at the statue of Minerva. A crooked grin blooms on her face "Nice trick, ... but I do not believe that this means you are letting me off of the hook. Ah well, I suppose it will do no good to lament my lot in life."

She sighs resignedly and bows to the statue. "Your Will be done Mother. Come Nakomo. It would appear that I no longer require a bath and I could use something warm in my belly." Nakomo, mouth agape stares at her and sputters, "Miss Minerva, your clothes...What happened?"
"The gods have told me to quit my whining," she chuckles and walks out the door of the church, leaving Nakomo to wonder if the events of the day have overcome her sensibilities.

Minerva is stopped at the doorway of her house by Josiah Young, the typesetter for the Promise City Mirror. He says, "Priestess, could I trouble you to go over to my house. My wife Angela has gone into labor and Doctor Eaton is still busy dealing with injuries from the explosion." Minerva replies, "Go to your house? She has gone into labor?" Umm, I do not know anything about birthing babies, senor, I am a priestess. Perhaps we should locate Senora Eaton. I am told she knows of such matters."

He replies, "She is? Oh, okay, she's probably at their house with the children. I will go get her. Thanks!" He hurries off. She watches him hurry off before breathing a sigh of relief ""Thank the gods for Senora Eaton, My Life is complicated enough without adding the title of midwife to my list of offered services." She looks up at the sign before her gate "The Priestess Minerva Garcia Florencia, weddings; funerals; demon slayings; midwifery; spiritual leader. No I could not possibly fit it all on the sign."

Minerva then notices that Deputy Sheriffs Nagle and Leslie are now both over at Fisk's house and the Liberty Party Headquarters looking around with Hamilton Fisk. "What in Hades are they up to now? She looks down at her clean skirt and then up at the heavens. "I choose a hot meal and warm tequila. Oh, all right I will ask what they are about" she says to the sky " but that is all I am going to do."
She strides over to Nagle and Leslie. "Is all well here, Gentlemen?" Dave Nagle says, "Yes Priestess, just collecting evidence for Wyatt Earp's trial." Fisk says with an icy tone in his voice, "Yes, things are quite under control here Priestess, why don't you run off to some place where you are actually welcome." Minerva ignores Fisk. "Perhaps you should be sure that Senor Fisk is not involved before you include him in the searching for evidence. Have you found any evidence?" Buckskin Frank Leslie exclaims, "Lady, these are his buildings. He is within his rights to be present while we search. As for what we've found, that's none of your damned business."

Her eyes darken dangerously as she warns, "Si Senor Leslie, what happens in this town is my damned business. It is also my business to warn you that you will burn in Hades for such disrespectful behavior towards a servant of Olympus. And you, Senor Fisk" she says, poking him in the chest, "You cannot hide your evil actions from the eyes of the gods the way you disguise them here. They know what is in your heart and will not be deceived."

Turning to the lead Sheriff she states, "Senor Nagle, If I were you I would be careful about letting these two in here while you search. They are a couple of scallywags and could compromise your case. Judge Isby would not be pleased. If you do find evidence connecting Senor Earp to this mess you will never be sure if it was planted by one of these two." She turns her back and huffs away. Deputy Sheriff Leslie yells out to Minerva "We don't need any more evidence against Earp, we already have more than enough for Isby to sentence him to hang ten times over!" Minerva does not respond to Leslie' tirade but straightens her back and quickens her pace instead. "Sounds like he's a bit riled up. Good. I suppose that something to warm my belly will have to wait."

Before she could fall asleep completely in the bathtub at Gilson‘s, Kate roused herself and regretfully left the bath. She was probably already late for dinner, so she left her hair to hang loose after dressing in the simple lavender dress she'd brought from home. From Gilson's Kate headed for the El Parador. She considered stopping by the furniture store to make sure Cole Rixton was well, but since she was exhausted and without any magical defense she thought better of it.

She went inside the El Parador and looked for Conrad. She is there a very short while when Mary Wong enters the building with Angelica Young's young son Mark in tow. She has a stack of newspapers in her hands and says "Promise City Mirror Five Cent". Kate dug out a nickel. "I'll take one of those, Mary. Did Angela's baby come? I've wondered, but my last few days have been bursting at the seams and I haven't been able to inquire."

Mary replies, "She's having her baby now, the explosion got her excited and her water broke. This paper was almost finished when everything went crazy so the Arcadian’s said to get it distributed now and then put out a special edition later tonight " "Thank goodness she was nearly ready to deliver anyway. I'll say a prayer for a safe and easy delivery." She looked down at the little boy and felt a genuine smile. He smiled shyly back as Mary continued to sell the papers, then led him back out into the street.

The front page of the paper reads:
Promise City Mirror – Thursday June 15, 1882
Josiah & Morgana Arcadiam Proprietors – Hezekiah B. Chumbley Editor – Vol. 1, Issue 34

Koontz Brothers Return to Town

The story reads:
Elmer and Brice Koontz, who had joined the Douglas Gang for the robbery of Condon’s Bank last January, made the mistake of returning to Promise City. Using magical disguises to concealed their faces the Koontz brothers had found employment at Daniel Madson’s Hardware and Taxidermy under the assumed names of Clifford Clavin and Norman Peterson. Madson’s was established in Promise City after their original shop burned to the ground in last month’s Tombstone fire. Daniel Madson’s brother Ansel ‘Bronco’ Madson is a rancher at the Thayer Ranch and is currently a candidate for Town Council with the Liberty Party.

This was discovered when Deputy Marshal Chester Martin, the Unity Party’s candidate for Town Marshal, was investigating a shooting incident that took place at the Lucky Lady Dance Hall and Saloon on Wednesday night. The incident occurred when an unknown and apparently intoxicated man refused to have his gun checked upon arrival and fired it into the room, shattering the mirror behind the bar. The man then fled. Martin’s investigation led him to Madson’s Hardware where Brice Koontz was working.

When confronted Brice Koontz and his coworkers drew on the Deputy and the two Lucky Lady employees who had accompanied him. Shots were exchanged, resulting in Koontz’s death as well as Madson employees Wesley Fuller and Billy Clanton. Fuller and Clanton were both former Tombstone residents rumored to have been part of the cattle rustling Cowboy Gang. Ike Clanton, Billy’s brother, surrendered and was arrested at the store. Both Clanton brothers had been reported killed by former marshal Wyatt Earp and both were wearing magical disguises to conceal their true identities.

Martin’s investigation, presumably from information supplied by Clanton, next led him to Elmer Koontz. The man was arrested at the home of the Liberty Party’s Mayoral candidate Hamilton Fisk. Faro dealer ‘Mad Dog’ Mike Moore was arrested along with Koontz and admitted to having known the Koontz brothers true identities but stated that Fisk was unaware of that. Attorney Fisk confirms that he did not know that and has now refused to serve as the attorney for Clanton, Koontz and Moore. He states that he had hired those men to help protect his home against the hooded riders who on Sunday had attacked the Freedom Party Headquarters as well as homes and businesses of Freedom, Liberty and Unity Party members.

Speculation is that the Koontz brothers were in town to steal the $ 50,000 in prize money from the upcoming poker tournament to be held this Saturday and Sunday at the Lucky Lady Dance Hall and Saloon. Their associate apparently shattered the Lucky Lady’s mirror on Wednesday to provide the Koontz brothers as hardware store employees access to the saloon to replace it, at which time magical devices would have been planted to help facilitate a robbery and escape.

But thanks Deputy Martin’s thorough detective work and quick action their scheme has now been thwarted. Tournament organizer Cornelius Van Horne has assured this reporter that several Priests will be hired to inspect the saloon, as well as scrutinize the tournament participants and the spectators, to ensure that no magic is present so that honesty and the safety of those present will be upheld.

The remainder of the paper is mostly advertisements, mostly political, although there is also a full-page advertisement for the upcoming play. One interior story talks about the hooded riders return to Vidkin Gerhardsohn's mine and the miners being ready for them and counter attacking. It says that there was one casualty among the hooded riders, a man from Galeyville identified as John Daphnis.

Kate was certain Conrad would already have been here, but if she could be late, so could he. She sat down and read the paper, relieved to see such a logical reason for their actions put down. And to see it was made clear the Mr. Fisk did not know. Whether he had or not, it was better for the Unity Party tonight if he didn't. Dorita came over and Kate dutifully ordered her food. "Have you seen Mr. Rixton this afternoon?"

Dorita says, "He still working at his store. He work too much lately, but not feel much like being around people these days. Him being blamed for Mr. Avery's murder hit him hard. It too bad those hooded riders escape before truth find out. Priest say Mr. Rixton innocent but some people still not believe that." Kate replies, "I know, he's far too nice a man to be hiding away." She hesitated. "I was going to stop and talk to him but I didn't want to be wandering alone with everything going on today. If you'll lend me Grant I'll step over. I'm to meet Conrad and he isn't here yet, so I have a few minutes." Dorita replies, "Conrad still in last play rehearsal over at Town Hall. They were interrupted by big boom, so running long. I bring them all food to eat half-hour ago. I go get Grant for you."

Kate states, "I think we were all interrupted by the big boom. Thank you, Dorita." Miss Marcus wouldn't know yet that Wyatt had been captured. For Conrad's sake, she hoped his arrest wouldn't upset her so much that she was unable to go on with the play. Grant arrived and they stepped over to Rixton's Furniture. Kate knocked soundly on the door and waited. They wait a short while until Rixton answers the door, a fresh shirt and tie now on. "Hello Grant, Kate, what can I do for you?" he asks.

Kate replies, "I wanted to check on you. I came by earlier and the door was locked, and after the way the ground shook... I wanted to make sure you were alright. We haven't seen you for a while." He replies, "I've been very busy, making beds mostly, first for Count Von Zeppelin's workers, then the Lucky Lady, and then for Mr. Fisk's party headquarters. I really should think about hiring another worker to help me, I certainly have enough business these days to support it."

"Some of my older students might be glad to find an apprenticeship in a useful occupation," Kate offered. "Why don't you come over to dinner? Dorita would be happy to see you, and you need to eat if you're working that much." "Why thank you, that sounds like a wonderful idea," Rixton states. "Good." Kate stepped back so Mr. Rixton could close and lock his door and they started over to the El Parador. "Seems we've had quite a bit of excitement today. I hope the shaking didn't damage anything you were working on." Cole replies, "No, it stirred up a lot of sawdust in the shop but thankfully I wasn't doing any painting or staining today."

Grant nodded and went back to his work as she and Cole sat down at a table. "I already ordered my own dinner, but I'm sure Dorita will be by in a minute. She still thinks I'm too thin and I've gotten positively round eating her food." Kate hesitated for a moment. "May I show you something?" She pulled back her still damp hair to reveal the pale, fading scars of her bite from Greeley. "I saw you in your workshop today, through the window. What I really wanted to be sure of, is that you felt yourself again."

Cole looks at Kate's neck and says, "My Katherine, what happened to you? Did a dog bite you?" Kate let her hair drop. "No, a different sort of animal, several months ago. When I saw you earlier I thought I'd seen a similar wound on your neck. It must have been a trick of the light. I apologize for my forwardness.” He replies, "Earlier? We didn't meet earlier, and I have no animal wounds on my neck or anywhere else." She answers, "I explained, remember? I was coming around the back of the El Parador and saw you through the window of your workshop. But that's no matter, my eyes deceived me. Perhaps as a reminder not to peek in windows."

She then says, “Will you attend the debate tonight? I've been shirking I'm afraid and missed most of the others." "Certainly", he replies, "I would be honored to accompany you." Kate smiled. "Thank you. I'm a little hesitant to go about alone tonight and I thought you might be interested. With everything that happened today I have to wonder if Mr. Fisk will attend or not. Either way it should be very interesting." Cole and Kate continue their meal at the El Parador.

Before the meal is over Emery Shaw drops by to inform her that Judge Isby has postponed the Mayoral debate until Sunday night instead. "Oh," she said, disappointed. "Well, I suppose it's for the best. There was too much chaos today to give all of you a fair hearing. You and Emily are both all right after today’s excitement?"

Shaw says, "We're fine, a some broken windows in our house but that's about it. The reason that Judge Isby postponed it is that he doesn't have time, he has a 7:00 AM trial tomorrow to prepare for. He has six men in jail right now awaiting trial including three wanted men, Elmer Koontz, Bob Skull and Wyatt Earp, plus three accomplices arrested with them and charged with harboring fugitives, namely Ike Clanton, Mike Moore and Evan Adair."

Kate replies, "I knew about the Koontz brothers, but Skull and Adair? What were they arrested for? This is wonderful news." Shaw answers, "Three for being fugitives the other three for harboring them. I imagine that the lawmen and Judge will be scrambling to put their cases together, the jails are all full!" She replies, "Of course. Forgive me, my mind seems to have gone to sleep. It's been a long, trying day. It's ending, however, is quite satisfying. What will you do with your free evening, Emery?"

Shaw replies, "Probably take my family out to dinner. My three children came into town for the debate and I know that Emily will enjoy spending some time with them. It's nice to do things as a family." She says, "Yes. You must miss being on your ranch with them, but at least you're close enough to see each other whenever you like," Kate said, clearly thinking of her own family. "I should stop by the Lady myself, and then I should probably go home and spend some time with Mrs. Fly. I've hardly been there since she came to stay with us; I'm afraid I've been abominably rude."

Shaw says, "You haven't got a rude bone in your body Katherine, you are just rather busy. I'm certain that Mrs. Fly understands that." Kate answers, "I hope so. When we have the leisure, I'll fill you in on what I've been up to. Some of them are things our Mayor should be aware of. Right now, you should get to that dinner with your family. I haven't gotten the impression the Emily's greatest virtue is patience."

Shaw laughed and made his farewells. Kate and Cole Rixton finished their dinner, talking mostly about the people they knew from the El Parador and the upcoming election. Kate's eyes kept going to the door, hoping Conrad would arrive before she would have to give up and go to the Lady. Conrad stops in shortly thereafter. When Conrad arrived Mr. Rixton thanked her for dinner and went over to the bar to catch up with Pedro. Kate motioned for Conrad to take a seat and quickly made their conversation private.

Back over at Gilson’s, Jake takes his time getting undressed. Removing his clothing caused more aches than simply walking. It took an extra minute to get in the tub. His cuts and bruises complained at first but gradually became grateful for the respite. After his bath, it took quite a while to wrap bandages. He wished there was someone else he could have do this for him, but for now he was forced to do it himself.

After leaving Gilson's he leaves his dirty and torn clothing at home and arrives at the Lucky Lady looking his usual sharp dressed self. He moved cautiously to avoid any pains or spasms that might show on his face. Jake smiled easily and walked to the bar. "Hello Harry. I could use a whiskey right now." Harry says, "Sure thing, celebrating the good news are you!" It has been a long trying day, and Jake has no energy to play along and pretend he is in the know and milk this from Harry. "Good News?"

 

[Silver Moon]

Chapter One-hundred-seventy-six, “Good News”, Thursday, June 15th, 8:00 P.M.

“Good News?“ Jake asks. Harry slides him the newspaper and says, "Yeah, Chester got a pair of those guys who shot the two of you up last January in that bank robbery. One's in jail, the other is at Lester's Funeral Parlor. The paper says a couple of guys from here helped Chet out. Jeff says they were him and that new security guy who you hired, Boston Harker's cousin Jonathan. Jeff said that Harker got hurt but the Doc is patching him up and he should be fine to work the tournament. According to the paper the tournament money is what they came to town for."

Harry smiles and says, "But there's more, it just hasn't made the paper yet. Chumbley says they'll be a special edition out in a few hours to cover it, that enterprising halfling hit me up for ads for both the Liquor business and Lucky Lady to go in it. I said yes since he let me in on the stories, he should sell hundreds of papers. And the story is not just about Sam Slade's place blowing up. It seems that Wyatt Earp decided to shoot up the Liberty Party Headquarters, killing all of their candidates except Fisk, who wasn't home at the time. The irony is that Fisk wasn't there because he was visiting a client in jail, and now it's Earp who is rotting in jail."

"Really?" Jake pretends to eagerly read the paper. Good, let others have the fame. A small grin sneaks its way to his face. "This is worth celebrating. I had not heard all the news, thanks Harry. You are getting to be rather good being an insider. A singularly fine and useful skill to hone." He raises his glass to Harry.

He muses silently while sitting and chatting with Harry. How are you feeling about all this Mr. Cook? The more Cowboy gang members dead, the better. Who would cry over blood suckers being vanquished? Did you enjoy shooting the smarter Koontz brother? Was the revenge sweet?
No. There was no pleasure there. I did not have a vendetta against the Koontzs. Really? I do not believe you. If I had, then the stupid one would be dead too. No, Bryce was shooting his gun and was going to kill either the Priestess or the Deputy. I could not allow that. Neither of them caused Dead Eye to shoot me. I caused that trying to get at Pinto. That is all water under the bridge now. I do not give a rats tail that they tried to rob Condon's bank. It is just good that they are not a risk to the tournament.

What about Earp. Why did you save him? Did I save him? Perhaps I did. It was my opportunity to kill that wizard and I took it. I still do not know how Earp survived that explosion. He should have been blown to a thousand pieces. Are you going to help him avoid a rope? There is just too much evidence against him. Whether Isby wants to or not, he will hang him. Yes, that seems likely. However my thoughts about that matter are still unclear. There is something of a camaraderie between us. Yet, he would have sacrificed me willingly and easily if he had need.
What will you do? A fine question. One that does not have an answer yet. I will bide my time.
The questioning voice inside him goes silent. Jake is grateful he can enjoy the whiskey in peace.

At the El Parador, Conrad walks over to Kate and whispers "Is it true that Earp is in jail? Josie called off the rehearsal when she heard that rumor." She says, "It's true. Earp took advantage of some chaos that happened during the arrest of the second Koontz brother to take out some of the Liberty Party members. The dynamite shed went up in the crossfire. I'm not sure how he was hurt or found, but he was. I wondered how Miss Marcus would take it. You have an understudy for her, I hope?"

He gives a reluctant smile and says, "Actually she was the understudy, Miss West was supposed to play Juliet. In fact, there's only one other woman in town who knows the part....." Kate replies, "You must have realized Ruby wasn't going to come back in time to rehearse the part and act it when she wasn't back early this week. My dear, I don't even know if I can act at all, or know where to stand, what to do..." She took a few deep breaths. "I would try. For you. Wyatt will be tried tomorrow and I don't think the verdict will give her much comfort."

He replies, "Ah, but she is a professional. The show must go on....yes, I know, I'm kidding myself. If he gets hung, and quite frankly I don't see any other outcome, then she will be in no shape to perform." Kate nodded. "I don't see any other outcome either. He's guilty. He's been a danger to the Cowboy Gang and innocents alike. But... I know how the desire for revenge can eat at your soul." She tangled her hand in her hair. "His capture could be considered my fault. I gave him the opportunity. I didn't mean to, but my impatience set everything off."

Conrad replies, "Katherine, you're not responsible for the actions of that madman. He was determined to kill those men and would have whether it was now or later." She took one of his large hands in her two small ones. "I know. But I can't help going over it all again and finding fault with myself. The good news is, amongst that all we destroyed the last two vampires left in this town." Kate went on and described what had happened , leaving out the identity of the new slayer, saying only they'd gotten some help near the end. "I know you'll think I shouldn't have been there, and you're not wrong. But it had to be done and there were things only I could do."

He hesitates to answer for a moment. "Well it is at least over now," he states. She nodded and held his hand tighter. "It's alright to disagree with me, you know. It was stupid, and..." The tears she had been too exhausted to cry at the bathhouse broke through and her shoulders shook. "I'm sorry," she managed to whisper and dug for her handkerchief. Conrad says, "Well, we can discuss it later my Juliet. I must get going over to the Long Branch. My relationship with Mrs. Higgins is strained enough as it is, I should not be late, especially since my father and his friends plan to stop by for a few hands of poker with me."

"I'll walk with you if you don't mind, since it's on my way to the Lady." She wiped her eyes and got hold of herself. "I apologize, I'm just exhausted. I could use a week of absolute quiet." She stood up, took his arm, and walked with him over to the Long Branch. "Give your father my greetings and my thanks for coming to the school tomorrow," she said before giving him a quick kiss.

He hugs Kate and gives her a longer kiss in return. He says, "My father's traveling companions may want to talk to the students as well. One is a New York City politician and another is a coal baron from Philadelphia." She states, I'll take every opportunity to show the students what's beyond Promise City. They'd be very welcome." She took a moment to enjoy the embrace before pulling back. "Just send word if you need me tomorrow. I could have a very busy day."

He comments, “I should know Josie's status by late morning since the trial is earlier than that. Too early for me to actually want to attend," he replies. She answers, "Hmm, I wish I could sleep in too," she said. "You'd best get to work. I'll see you tomorrow. Tonight I guess I'll be brushing up on my Shakespeare." With that he walks away saying "Parting is such sweet sorrow." Kate shook her head with a smile and walked over to the Lady.

Inside the Lucky Lady, Burton Lumley stops by and joins Jake at the bar, ordering a glass of scotch from Harry. "Well Jake, I guess I owe you an apology, you were right about Adair. I've resigned from his Freedom Party and am back to running for Town Council as an independent." Jake replies, “Apology accepted. I am pleased you learned before it cost you too dearly, that would have been a pity. What did he do that changed your mind?"

Lumley says, "He got himself arrested. I was just over at the County Jail talking to him. He was with Bob Skull, who was invisible and walking around alongside Adair through town. Neither one of them was apparently bright enough to figure that with the town covered in fresh layer of dust and rubble that an invisible person would still be kicking up dust and getting a thin layer over their feet and legs. The Deputy Sheriffs saw the dusty feet walking and arrested them both."

Lumley drinks half of his glass of scotch and continues, "Adair claims he didn't know Skull was there but I've played poker long enough to tell when somebody is lying. No way I'm going to support folks who murdered Derek Avery." "Sounds like it is getting mighty crowded over at the Jail." Jake comments between sips of whiskey. "Still a shame about Avery. Ironic that they went after the wrong guy too. Not that I condone going after the folks who might have blown up his saloon that way."

Jake shrugs, "I expect that Adair will manage to get out of jail regardless. I feel a bit better with Skull being behind bars. I believe I am on the Palace folk's short list of people to ruin, so having Skull wandering about was a concern." Jake thinks for a minute. "Do you have any idea what Adair has on McCoy's wife that keeps old Prosper in line?"

Lumley finishes his glass and orders another. "No, can't say that I do. But I do know that she hates Adair with a passion." He starts the second scotch and says, "You're probably right about him getting out, especially if they have no hard evidence that he knew Skull was there. But that won't happen until tomorrow at the soonest. Isby will have to hold a trial with all of the jail cells now full. Can't have that at the start of the poker tournament can we, they might be needed for cheaters!"

Jake chuckles at Lumley's jest. "As a fine upstanding citizen of Promise City I would be willing to contribute to expanding our jail capacity for both purposes." His mouth loses his smile for a moment and adds, "You well know I cannot stomach cheaters in my saloon. Sadly, I expect we will have at least a couple with the temerity to engage is such base activity at the tournament. We shall have to be vigilant." Jake clicks Lumley's glass and the smile returns. "I do look forward to this tournament. I expect to enjoy myself greatly."

Lumley replies, “And attended by some of the most famous gamblers. The Wells Fargo Stage just arrived and off of it came Commodore Duvall, Willy Spinner, Brett Maverick, Twitchy Brooklyn and John Wesley Hardin. Word is that Ben Thompson also just rode into town." Jake comments,
"If my memory serves me, Ben Thompson is a little too fond of drawing that pistol of his and has been getting ornery as time passes. I wonder if he has any money on his head. I do not want our tourney interrupted by bounty hunters."

Harry says, "You remember correctly, he has over a dozen killings to his name but always manages to get off by waiting for the other guy to shoot first so he can claim self defense. No fear of Bounty Hunters though, he now wears a badge himself! Austin Texas actually elected that no-good-nick as their Marshal! That may keep him in line, although I hear he rode in with his brother Billy, who is even more of a loose canon than Ben."

Jake taps his pursed lips a couple of times. "I do not know Brooklyn and Spinner, but I have heard of Maverick. I did not care for the Commodore last time I watched him play on the river. Ah, well, their money is green. I thought Hardin was a wanted outlaw?" Lumley states, "Convicted prisoner actually, but he was recently pardoned after serving only four years of a twenty-five year sentence. Ben Thompson has the reputation of an angel compared to Hardin. He once shot a man just for snoring too loudly."

Jake replies, "Spectacular. We are certainly blessed with a wide range of participants." Several ideas come to Jake but he chooses to keep them to himself. Jake stays and socializes with Harry and Lumley until the owner of the Gay Lady takes his leave. Afterwards Jake locates Maria and has her make him some dinner. He stays at the Lucky Lady relaxing until game time.

The first two of Jake’s players to arrive at the Lucky Lady are Al Brower and Helen Barker. Stanley Barker is in tow and goes to the piano to play until all of the players are present. Helen ignores Jake, giving her husband her undivided attention. Al heads up to the bar and orders a whiskey from bartender Michael George. Next to arrive for the game is Zach Morand. Jake asks, "Good evening Zach, you in for the winner take all game tonight?"

Zach Morand says, "Indeed I am. My brother Forest is playing in the tournament. The entry fee is too rich for my blood, but I can spare the $ 500 for tonight. I'm glad that Helen thought of this." Town blacksmith Henry Weller is the next to arrive for the game. Jake realizes that it is highly unlikely that the reckless gambler will win, but does recall a few times when Henry has had hot nights at his table.

Jake says "Hmmm, simple math tells me that means six players. Weller, Barker, Brower, Morand only makes four. Who are the other two?" Henry Weller replies, "Cassidy and Shaw I believe. We may have to wait a while longer, Neil is still on duty with Chester over at the Jail. They'll both be along once Berg and Rodriguez relieve them."

Inside was a larger crowd than Kate expected on a Thursday, with Stanley Barker at the piano. Only Jake was there out of everyone who'd been in the mess earlier. Apparently they'd all gone their separate ways. She sat down at an empty table and listened to Stanley's music, trying not to think about tomorrow.

Priestess Minerva strides over to the jail in search of Berg or Chester. She sees Chester on the porch of the Marshal's Office, the door shut behind him. Minerva strides purposefully toward Chester. "Hola, Deputy Martin. I hope you did not get too banged up this after noon. I Thank the gods and you that we came out of it reasonably unscathed. Did you know that Nagle is over at Fisk's place with Fisk and Leslie searching for evidence? "

Chester says, "Hey there Priestess. I got a few aches and pains. Not too bad. I didn't know the Deputy Sheriff was over there. I'd like to go there myself, but with all the people we have in the hoosegow, I can't leave." Minerva raises an eyebrow at Chester "Are you not a bit concerned that they may be up to no good?"

Chester looks around and says, "Of course I am. But like I said, I'm needed here. We know these guys broke the law, so a bird in the hand and all that. Have you tried to stick your nose in?" Minerva huffs, "I did and they made it clear that I wasn't welcome there. So I decided to tell you." She shrugs her shoulders "I have done my duty. I am off to the Lady in search of something to warm my belly. Usta Luego, Deputy Martin. May the gods keep the wolves from your door, for a time at least."

She shrugs her shoulders "I have done my duty. I am off to the Lady in search of something to warm my belly. Usta Luego, Deputy Martin. May the gods keep the wolves from your door, for a time at least." She chuckles and hurries to the Lady before something else can keep her from a hot meal and a warm drink. As she departs Chester says "I'll see you around, Priestess. Thanks for the warning."

Deputy Neil Cassidy comes by to relieve Mitchell Berg so that he can go get some supper. He reminds Berg that he has a prior engagement that evening at the Lucky Lady. Mitch says, "Yeah, I remember, you and Helen both needed the night off. Eddie and I will come back in a few hours so that you guys and Chet can go relax for a bit, but I'll be needing all of you back here by 6:00 AM tomorrow as we'll all be needed for the trial given the number of prisoners."

Chester says, "Got it Mitch. Having all of them in here makes me nervous. I keep expecting a jailbreak." Berg nods, "So do I Chet. We'll just have to be extra vigilant, then." Chester adds, "By the way, I heard that the deputy sheriffs were over at Fisk's place and Liberty party headquarters looking for evidence with Fisk." Berg replies, "Let them, it's his house. We already have enough evidence for Isby to hang most of this bunch." Chester answers, “OK. That's fine by me. I'll see you later. We'll hold down the fort."

Berg leaves and Chester settles down on the porch. The day passes uneventfully. Berg and Eduardo come back to relieve Neil, Helen, and Chester. Chester says, "Things have been quiet here. We'll see you in the morning." He stops by Clarisse's place to visit. She rushes up to him and hugs him closely. She says, "I was so worried about you when I heard the explosion. Were you hurt?" Chester replies, "Not too bad. Earp was knocked around from what I hear. How have you been, dear?" She answers, "Pretty good. The sewing circle and singing at the Lucky Lady have kept me busy."

 

[Silver Moon]

Chapter One-hundred-seventy-seven, “A Friendly Game of Poker”, Thursday, June 15th, 8:00 P.M.

At the Shaw house, Emily had swept up all the broken glass from when the dynamite shed exploded. Not too many windows broke in their new house, but enough that there was a good breeze coming in that she found rather nice. She put on the new, lavender dress Uncle Emery had bought her, feeling like a grown-up. At fifteen, she almost was truth be told. She just didn't always like that truth. But Uncle Emery didn't seem in any hurry for her to be a grown-up and she was going to take advantage of that. She brushed her hair and tied it back, then ran down the stairs to find out where they would be eating tonight.

Emery Shaw leads his niece over to the Silver Dollar Restaurant where they have a reservation. They arrive and are seated. They are soon joined by Humphrey, Ellen and Patricia Shaw. Emery asks "How was your trip into town? I'm sorry that you came all this way for a debate that was cancelled." Humphrey says, "That's okay, a nice meal with our father and favorite cousin is always a good thing. We can come back again to hear you debate on Sunday." Ellen says, "Actually, if it alright with you Father I would like to stay in town for the weekend. Would you have room at your house for me?" Patricia interjects "Hey! That's not fair! I was going to ask about staying over in town." Ellen says, "Well I asked first."

Emily choked back a laugh. They were exactly like she and Eliza were back home. "There's lots of room in the house, although we're down a few windows. It would be awful nice to have another girl around." Emery laughs and says, "Yes, there is room for both of you. In fact, I will sleep on the couch downstairs and the two of you can have my bed." Patricia says, "Oh no father, that wouldn't be fair to you. Keep your room, I'll take the couch, Ellen can share with Emily." Ellen says, "Oh no dear Tricia, I insist that you take the bed, the couch will suit me just fine."

Emily looked back and forth between her cousins. How was it that Uncle couldn't see these girls both had some reason to stay in town beside his company? She would far prefer Ellen share with her, she liked her better than Tricia. But she'd also rather Ellen got to do whatever she was trying to. "I'm used to sharing a bed, and mine here is so big you could have fit all five of us kids in it. I don't mind sharing, Tricia." Emery Shaw says, "Then it's settled."

Haywood Smith brings them the menus. Tonight's choices are a roast leg of lamb with potatoes and green beans, a marinated beef steak with brown rice and butternut squash, and the house special of homemade beef stew served in a bread bowl. Emily ordered the lamb dinner, still not used to eating like this. "We're reading Shakespeare in school since there is a play tomorrow," she said when Humphrey asked her about it. "It's not so hard to understand when you say it instead of just reading it to yourself. Were you going to go to the play, Uncle? Emery smiles and says, "Yes, and it appears that I will be taking three young ladies with me."

Emily grinned at her cousins. "Tomorrow night? I've never been to a play, thank you, Uncle!" She ate a few bites of the good, hot dinner. "Mrs. Kale left school again today, and just after that all sorts of interesting things happened in town. Are you sure she just has ranch business?"

At the Lucky Lady, Al Brower comes over and says "Thanks for doing this Jake, we all appreciate it. Van Horne said that Promise City residents will be charged $ 175 less to enter the tournament since there are no transportation or lodging costs for us. Since we're each tossing in $ 500 tonight I guess that the $ 175 will be your fee for the evening. Probably not what you're used to earning for a high-stakes game so thanks for doing this.” Jake replies, "My pleasure Al. I am glad one of you will make it to the tournament. I expect it will be memorable."

Kate managed to catch hold of Ginnie as the girl flew around the room, bussing the tables and collecting tips. She had Maria bring out dinner and watched to make sure Ginnie ate plenty of it before letting her go back to her self-appointed job. As Jake's players continued to arrive Stanley Barker left he piano. Kate was already yawning, and much as she'd have liked to see the results of Jake's game, she knew she wasn't going to make it much longer. With a reminder to Ginnie to come home early and not walk alone, Kate went home. She let herself in the kitchen door and peeked in the parlor to see if Janet was there.

Janet Fly is in the sitting room with her spinning wheel feeding in the wool roving and getting a spool of wool yarn as the output. While she is working on that she is simultaneously reading the Promise City Mirror which is laid out on the floor beside the wheel. She sees Kate enter and says "Hello Katherine, what an exciting day in Promise City".

Kate notices that the paper on the floor is the 2nd edition for the day, with the headline "Wyatt Earp Captured after Murdering Liberty Party Candidates". Further down the page are two other headlines "Bob Skull Arrested" and "Sam Slade Does it Again!" Kate comments “"I haven't seen this edition yet, I saw the earlier. Sam Slade does it again? That seems a little unfair. He did build a brick shed and move it to the edge of town. I'm not sure what more the poor man could do." Kate sat down on the floor next to the paper so she could read as well.

She looks at Janet and says, "I hope you've been comfortable. I'm sorry I haven't been here to make sure of it myself.” Janet replies, "Oh, don't be silly Kate. I more-or-less invited myself to stay here, I hardly expected you to put your life on hold to wait on me. I'm just glad for some time away from Roger. I...I'm almost certain that I believe him, that he didn't do anything at that brothel except play the piano, but there is still a smidge of doubt about that."

"Brothel? I was under the impression it was a saloon?" Kate shook her head. "That's no matter. One thing I've learned working at the Lucky Lady; most people just come in because they want a place to socialize and pass a few hours. And I know the allure of a piano," she smiled. "Your husband is a friendly, sociable man. I can very easily believe he only sought a piano play and people to talk to. I cannot imagine he sought more. But you are in a position to know him far beyond mine."

Kate continued to chat with Janet for a while, then pulled out her copy of Shakespeare's works and made sure she really did remember the lines. Her memory seemed to be good, and she hoped she wouldn't have to use it. It wasn't long before she began to doze off in the chair, so she excused herself and went to bed.

When they are all ready, Jake starts up the game for them. As he falls into the pattern of the game, his various discomforts are temporarily forgotten. "Now, have you all come to agreement on the rules of this winner take all game?" Neil Cassidy soon arrives. They are then joined by the final player, who rather than Emery Shaw turns out to instead be his daughter Ellen. Cassidy says, "It would make sense to mirror whatever rules you will be using this weekend for the actual tournament, since the idea is that the best of us will be the one playing in that game." Jake nods and begins to deal. "Luck to all." He explains the rules as he deals.

The game runs for two straight hours until Henry Weller is broke, at which point Jake calls a break. Jake commiserates with Weller for a few minutes before heading back to refresh his drink. He avoids speaking with any of the others alone, not wishing anyone to wonder if he is giving advise. He tarries about at the table, ready when the others are. "If you are going to be ready for the tournament, you need to be ready for a marathon poker session." Helen glances at Zack and says, "The way tonight has been going we may have one now."

Helen Barker is having a particularly good night to this point and has a commanding lead. Zack Morand is also doing well, the only other player still ahead of where he started. Ellen Shaw is just a little below where she started, but her main advantage is the other players and dealer being unfamiliar with her so that advantage is declining as the game goes on. Both Al Brower and Neil Cassidy are doing rather poorly to this point, with Al down to his last $ 150 and Neil down to his last $ 100.

They resume play and continue until Ellen Shaw is eliminated an hour later. Everybody else at the table has one a hand or two in the meanwhile and Neil, Helen and Zack are all about where they at the last break. The big winner for this past hour was Al Brower, who is now almost to where Zack was. Jake proposes another break but Helen suggests they continue, as breaks in the tournament will be at the two-to-three hour marks rather than one. They actually play for another ninety minutes at which point Neil is eliminated. Helen now more of a lead over Zack Morand but he is still holding his own. Al Brower is now a very distant third but still in the game.

Jake uses the break to visit the outhouse and get another drink. It could well be a long night, and he needed some rest to be in top shape. He moved about to avoid his muscles from stiffening up. I doubt many other of the tournament players where blown up the day before it began. He pushes that thought away and returns to the table.

Jake's game goes another forty-five minutes until Al Brower becomes broke. The showdown between Helen and Zack goes another two hours until the very determined Helen Barker becomes the winner. Zack Morand congratulates her and says that she earned it. It is late so Stanley only plays one song before the happy couple depart. A tired and sore Silver Jake Cook calls it a night.

Chester arrives at the office before 6:00 AM. Stifling a yawn, he meets with Berg and the other deputies. "Are we ready to take these guys to the see the judge?" Berg says, "Yep. We'll take them over in a group to speed up the trials. Also it'll make them easier to guard."

Kate woke ridiculously early in the morning. Despite rolling over and pulling the covers tighter, sleep would not return, so she got up and dressed, then carefully plaited her hair and pinned it up. She knew she should go down to the school this morning, but there was also the trial going on, and somehow she had to see for herself what happened to Wyatt Earp. She left a quick note for Meghan and Mollie and went over to the Town Hall.

When Kate arrives at the Territorial Office Building every seat is already taken, although Cole Rixton and Judge Lacey both offter to give up their seats to her. None of the prisoners are present yet. Kevin Tomlinson calls the Court to order and Judge Isby enters, attired in his dark robes. Judge Isby cautions all present to refrain from interruptions or they could be held in contempt of court.

The first two prisoners are brought in, Bob Skull and Evan Adair, accompanied by the two Sheriff's Deputies. Attorney Hamilton Fisk is walking beside Adair. Isby states, "Mr. Skull, we had you before me not that long ago. You are charged with the murder of Mr. Derek Avery, how do you plead?" He speaks for himself and says, "Not guilty, Rixton framed me."

Judge Isby says, "At that time we recessed the court to wait for the High Priest to arrive before holding the trial. At that point the evidence of Mr. Avery's death clearly pointed to you. You decided to use that time to mount an escape, a clear indication of your guilt, as an innocent man would have had no reason to flee. Your attorney implied that Mr. Rixton might have been responsible for killing Mr. Avery rather than you. We had the Priest confirm Mr. Rixton was not at all responsible. Based upon the overwhelming evidence against you I find you guilty of murder and sentence you to hang before sunset today."

Kate blinked. "Well, that was... fast," she said under her breath. "But well deserved." She looked up at Cole Rixton and nodded her satisfaction. The Judge states "Deputy Sheriff Leslie, since Mr. Skull has already demonstrated an ability to escape from the Town Jail I will impose upon you to continue to hold him in your jail instead. Please return him there." Leslie departs with Skull.

Judge Isby states, "Mr. Adair, you are charged with aiding and abetting a fugitive from justice, namely Mr. Skull. How do you plead?" Hamilton Fisk stands and says, "My client pleads Not Guilty Your Honor." Fisk then goes into a long and well rehearsed speech about how Mr. Adair was completely unaware that Mr. Skull had returned to town and had no contact with him. The Judge asks both Marshall Berg and Deputy Sheriff Nagle if there is any solid evidence to prove that Adair had indeed helped Skull. Unfortunately they have none.

Judge Isby says, "I therefore must take you at your word Mr. Adair, however under the circumstances, I feel obligated to still pass sentence. Mr. Adiar, you are hereby given a suspended sentenced of one month in prison for associating with a known criminal. If you are caught in the company of any known criminals during the next month you will be incarcerated." He pounds the gavel. Adair asks Fisk about appealing. Fisk replies, "Don't be stupid, you were given no prison time. That could get reversed upon appeal." Adair leaves.

Fisk remains, moving to the back of the room and standing near the corner alongside Prosper Deacon McCoy. Kate sighed softly. Adair seemed to slip in and out of trouble with equal ease. At least he would have to watch his step for the next month.

 

[Silver Moon]

Chapter One-hundred-seventy-eight, “Friday Morning Trial”, Friday, June 16th, 8:00 A.M.

Berg heads out and returns with Chester. They have their three prisoners shackled together, namely 'Mad Dog' Mike Moore, Ike Clanton and Elmer Koontz. The Judge orders Moore to be unshackled and to come take the witness stand.

Judge Isby says, "Mr. Moore, this is your lucky day. Unlike your two associates, who have serious charges against them, the charges against you are less severe. You are charged with harboring a fugitive and participation with the use of wizard magics. Combined, I could sentence you to five years in prison. Instead, I plan to sentence you to only five months in exchange for your cooperation. I will ask you a number of questions and you will answer them. If you do not answer them to my satisfaction you will receive the maximum sentence. Do you understand what I have just said?" Moore replies, "Y...yes Sir."

Chester looks at Moore to see what he'll say about Koontz and Fisk. Kate relived the day before her mind, trying to remember if she had exhibited any talents in front of Moore. She couldn't remember doing so, so still sat up straighter to listen to his testimony. Isby says, "Mr. Moore, both Koontz brothers and both Clanton brothers were wearing false faces and living under assumed names. Tell me what you know about that."

Moore says, "Earp was after the Clantons. They got Vaughn Palmer, who had been in town before as Stephen Murdock, to change them. Ike Clanton posed as Daniel Madson and Billy Clanton posed as Morris Noah. The Koontz brothers were also wanted and pretended to be Norman Peterson and Clifford Clavin." Isby then says, "Three of those were fictitious but what became of the real Dan Madson? He lived in Tombstone."

Moore says, "He and his brother Bronco died last year in Mexico with Old Man Clanton so their identities were available. Johnny Ringo had his friends impersonating them since, and after he died then Palmer took over with that identity." Isby asks, "And the Bronco Madson running for Town Council? Who was he?" "That was Palmer," Moore replies. Isby says, "Were there any other false identities associated with Palmer?"

Moore hesitates while staring at Fisk and then says, "Yes, Town Council Candidate Denny Guarin. The real Guarin died last week, a miner named Stephen Wicks was using that identity." Chester whistles, drawing a sharp glance from the judge. Chester stops and looks down at the ground for a moment. This conspiracy ranges wide. Kate nodded. Messier had told them about Wicks wearing Guerin's face. She wondered how they were going to tell this whole story without mentioning the creatures.

Isby says, "So, two of these wanted men were Liberty Party candidates. What about Porter Norris or Hamilton Fisk? They were part of the party too, how were they involved?" Moore replies, "I don't know. You'll have to ask them yourself." Isby says, "That will be hard to do with Mr. Norris, he's dead. What is your...speculation...about Mr. Fisk's involvement." Fisk yells out "Objection! You can't ask for speculation! His answer has no merit."

The Judge pounds the gavel and says, "I assure you Mr. Fisk, you will be given an opportunity to speak this morning. But if you speak up again out of turn I will have you jailed for contempt." He turns back to Moore and says, "Please answer my question." Moore says, "They wanted Fisk for his money, they used to be bankrolled by the Clantons but that ended when Phinny Clanton got tossed in prison. So they needed him to bankroll Vaughn's operation. Magic stuff don't come cheap and Fisk is rich. I don't think Fisk knew what was really going on, they did all of the secret stuff at Madson's store and the Ordway Mine, not at either of Fisk's places."

Chester shook his head slightly. Fisk is one slippery devil. He managed to keep himself at arm's length. Unfortunately this was also what Kate expected. Fisk would sink fairly low, but dealing was monsters didn't seem his style. He would want to be in charge, and with vampires you don't get the option to be in charge.

Isby says, "Alright Mr. Moore. You mentioned the Ordway Mine. What can you tell me about the deaths of Jasper Ordway, Nicholas Thayer and Deputy Sheriff Colin Hunter?" He replies, "Only what I overheard afterwards, a lot of which was just guessing, so some of this may not be altogether true. Palmer and his second in command, Dooley Wilson, were using that as their base. Hunter somehow got wise to them and so they tricked him to come out there, figuring a remote spot would be the best place to kill him.

But Earp showed up and ruined their plans. Earp shot Ordway. Then Vaughn shot at Earp and being a crack shot hit him once or twice, just wounds apparently, as Earp then rode off on Ordway's horse. Earp had a partner too, that was who shot Thayer, I'm not sure who it was." Isby asks, "And what became of Mr. Wilson?" Berg speaks up and says, "He's dead. According to what I heard he got too clever and tried to trap Deputies Martin and Rodriguez in the mine. I believe he died in a cave-in that he himself caused."

Kate had not been there herself when Dooley Wilson died, but she knew that he didn't die in a cave-in. Mr. Berg had jumped in to answer that question pretty quickly. Of course, she would not have trusted Moore to know what to keep to himself either. The Judge says, "Thank you Mr. Moore. It is probably not safe to return you to the same jail cell as Mr. Koontz and Mr. Clanton. Deputy Sheriff Nagle, will you please bring Mr. Moore over to your jail instead?" The man agrees to do so, handcuffing Mike Moore and bring him out.

Isby calls for Ike Clanton to take the stand. He says, "Mr. Clanton, you are wanted in Tombstone. In fact, I believe the only reason you haven't been formally charged is because people thought that you were dead. You will be extradited to stand trial for those charges as well but I am charging you with the use of wizard magics. How do you plead?" He says, "Not Guilty." Isby says, "Very well. Deputy Martin, I believe that you know otherwise. Please come forward and testify as to what transpired at Madson's Hardware Store yesterday afternoon."

Chester takes the stand. "Well, your honor. Me and a few friends of mine went to Madson's hardware store because I heard that Brice Koontz was hiding out there. Clanton and him were in some sort of sorcerer’s disguise. When confronted him, Koontz tried to shoot me. During the fight, Clanton caused a few stuffed animals to come to life. They attacked us, but we got the upper hand on them." The Judge says, “Thank you Deputy." He turns to Clanton and says, "Magical disguises and magical enchantments of animals?"

Clanton says, "That was Vaughn's doings, I'm no wizard." Tomlinson speaks up and says, "Vaughn Palmer wasn't there, I believe that you stated the command word to activate the magic Mr. Clanton." Clanton begins to speak with Judge Isby pounds the gavel and says, "I have heard enough. I will not tolerate the use of wizard magic under my jurisdiction. I sentence you to three years in the Territorial Prison added to whatever sentence my Tombstone counterpart assigns to you."

Clanton is removed from the bench and replaced by the man whose face still resembles the man who went by the name of Clifford Clavin. Father Thomas Valdez is called in and the Judge asks, "Can you call on your gods to strip the magic from this man?" Valdez states, "I can." Isby says "Then proceed." Valdez waves his hand and states an incantation as the seated man's appearance transforms back into the form of Elmer Koontz. Several people in the audience react to witnessing this change.

Judge Isby calls the court back to order and says, "Elmer Koontz, I had previously found both Pinto Joe Weams and Pamela Yeats to hang for their participation in January's robbery of Condon's Bank. As a participant in the same robbery I grant that sentence to you as well, the execution to take place today. If it is any consolation to you, you have managed to live for three days longer than your associate Weams and I trust that a similar fate also awaits Mongo Bailey, Sally Fox and Pamela Yeats, who are now in the Colorado State Prison.”

Inside her, Kate spared a prayer for Pamela Yeats. Whatever she had done, Katherine had seen the woman's pain at the death of her husband. And even though they had committed the crimes and deserved the punishments, the sentences to hanging made her skin crawl. Perhaps it was the idea of the spectacle that would surround them.

Marshall Berg and Deputy Martin depart with the prisoners Koontz and Clanton. Chester’s eye dart up to the roof of Rixton's Furniture, where Neil Cassidy is positioned with a rifle to monitor the route between the Jail and Territorial Office in case associates of theirs attempt anything. They arrive back at the office where Helen Barker is guarding on the porch with Earp's attorney Elihu Upton patiently waiting. Helen unlocks the door to the office and they head inside, Eduardo indicating that Earp has been cooperative.

The two prisoners are secured in their cell before Wyatt Earp is removed. He is handcuffed to Berg with Martin told to walk a short distance back with his weapon ready. Chester says, "OK, Marshall. I'll be extra careful. There's a whole bunch of people in town who'd like to take a shot at Mr. Earp here." Chester checks his shotgun to make sure both barrels are loaded. "I'm ready when you are." Berg says, "Let's get going then. We don't want to keep the judge waiting."

Marshall Berg and Deputies Martin and Rodriguez enter the courtroom with Attorney Elihu Upton Wyatt Earp. Earp is attired in a new suit. Wyatt Earp is handcuffed to the Marshall and is escorted to the witness chair where Berg unfastens the handcuff on his wrist and reattaches it to the chair. Frank Leslie also arrives. Tomlinson announces that Deputy Sheriff Leslie will serve as the prosecutor of this case.

Judge Isby says, “I have modified the initial list of charges that had been submitted to me by the Deputy Sheriffs based upon new evidence presented this morning in the testimony of Mr. Michael Moore.” He turns to the defendant and says, “Mr. Earp, you are charged with the murders of Gordon Bryson, Claude Buckley, Dennis Garvin, Porter Norris, Jasper Ordway, Vaughn Palmer, Charlie Villars and Stephen Wicks. How do you plead?”

Frank Leslie stands and says, “Judge Isby, I object. I appreciate that Moore’s testimony indicated that Garvin and Madson were actually Wicks and Palmer. However, Moore’s testimony that Earp was not be responsible for the deaths of Nick Thayer and Colin Hunter was based upon hearsay and rumors. I request that those two names remain in the charges as well.” Isby says, “Granted, although the burden-of-proof still rests upon you Sheriff Leslie. Including those two might weaken your case if what Moore said proves to be correct, as it would also cast doubt on your other accusations.”

Frank Leslie says, “Sir, it is not just those two. You also omitted the names of another twenty-six individuals killed by Earp’s vigilante gang within the Arizona Territory during the prior three months.” Judge Isby says, “I did indeed. And charges will not be filed in any those cases unless you can present me with evidence that those individuals were killed specifically by Wyatt Earp
rather than at the hands his brother Warren Earp or Warren’s friends Sherman McMasters, Turkey Creek Johnson, Charlie Smith and Texas Jack Vernillin. Mr. Leslie, aren’t ten murder victims enough for you to prove your case? Do you really need three-dozen?” “I guess ten will have to do. I only need to prove one for a hanging,” is Leslie’s reply.

Kate sat up straighter. She had forgotten that along with being a hanging judge, Isby was also a stickler for the regulations. Was it actually possible Wyatt Earp could escape this without a noose going around his neck?

The Judge repeats his earlier question regarding a plea. Elihu Upton stands again and says, “We are not prepared to enter a plea at this time. I hereby formally request to withdraw as Mr. Earp’s legal council. My area of expertise is primarily financial and contract law rather than criminal law so he would be better served by another attorney with more experience in criminal matters. Given the notoriety of this case I doubt you will have trouble finding lawyers volunteering to serve.”

Judge Isby states, “Mr. Upton, just two weeks ago you defended Marshal Berg and Deputy Marshal Barker in a criminal matter and did a fine job. You have passed the bar examination for criminal law and have earned a reputation for honesty and good citizenship which also enhance your defense. I for one have no desire to see this case turned into a national media circus in the hands of some opportunist lawyer more concerned with self-promotion than the actual facts of the case.

So Mr. Earp will be tried as expediently as possible which means that you will be his attorney as the town’s two other lawyers, Berg and Fisk, both have conflicts of interest while you do not. Any new lawyer would also request a continuance to have more time to spend with the client. Given the potential national attention that you referenced I do not feel that a delay would be in Mr. Earp’s best interest in regards to receiving a fair trial.”

Upton replies, “Judge Isby, if I am required to serve then I too am asking now for a continuance of at least the week-end. I have barely had time to work with my client and when I did meet with him Mr. Koontz and Mr. Moore were both within earshot, which limited what he could communicate to me. And regarding conflicts, I now formally request that you not be the one who gives the verdict in this case.” Judge Isby’s face grows red and he angrily retorts “Are you questioning my impartiality Sir?” Kate's cringed a bit along with most of the others in the room. Judge Isby's impartiality was legendary. What could Mr. Upton give as his argument?

Upton remains calm and replies, “No sir, nor would anybody who has had the privilege of being in your court room. However a number of other people, including the courts of appeal, might question the decision Sir given that those individuals have not personally met you. I am not saying that you shouldn’t hear this case, in fact, I would prefer that you be the presiding judge. I am saying that for you to serve as both judge and jury might raise questions regarding conflicts of interest given that you served here as Judge during the same time period that Mr. Earp served as Town Marshall. I am therefore formally requesting a twelve-person jury be seated to decide the outcome of this case rather than a directed verdict from the bench.”

Chester lets out a breath he didn't know he was holding and thought to himself “Good thing Judge Isby is as fair as he is severe. Otherwise, Upton would be in a heap of trouble. Is the judge also going to act as the prosecutor? If not, then who?” After a long pause the Judge says, “Those are both valid points Attorney Upton and you have expressed them well. This court will reconvene at 7:00 A.M. on Monday morning at which time jurors will be randomly drawn from the listing of registered voters. Council for both the prosecution and defense may raise objections to potential jurors at that time although merely knowing the accused or one of the deceased will be insufficient to disqualify an individual, a truly substantial reason must be presented to invalidate a juror. Once the jurors have been gathered and then questioned as to whether they could render a fair and impartial verdict the trial will begin.”

Attorney Upton asks, “And regarding my motion for alternate counsel for the accused?” Isby says, “You may retain whomever you wish as co-council Mr. Upton but you will remain Mr. Earp’s primary lawyer.” Frank Leslie says, “Sir, if we are waiting until Monday for the trial I would request that my boss, County Sheriff John Behan, act as the chief prosecutor.” “Granted,” Judge Isby replies. He then says, “Given the number of potential spectators for this trial the venue will be the Promise City Town Hall."

Kate reflected that thankfully she wouldn't have to sit on that jury. The fact that Wyatt had saved Henry's life should be enough to keep her off it without having to say anything else. He pounds the gavel and states, “Court is adjourned until that time.” Simultaneous to the gavel being pounded down the door opens and in walks independent candidate for Town Marshall Hank Hill. He states, “Not so fast Judge, I’ve got a few more guys here for ya.”

 

[Silver Moon]

Chapter One-hundred-seventy-nine, “Jane’s Confession”, Friday, June 16th, 9:30 A.M.

Nana asked Ruby, “What exactly are your plans? From what Jane said earlier you now own part of two saloons." Ruby answers, "Exact plans? Well, that's hard to say. I'm used to going where the wind blows me. But these past six months have really changed me, I yearn for something more than what I had. I mean, I think inside I really didn't like the life I was living and wanted to be different I just didn't know if I could do it or how. Promise City, and my friends, helped changed that.

So now I'm going to go back home and try to make it there on my own, on my terms. I own one-quarter of a Saloon, Dance Hall and Hotel there. The hotel part might even be open by now. I sing there, I'm the main entertainment and I really enjoy it. I have a lot of fans and people who come to see me. Eventually I'd like to own more of it. I told you about Niles, our partner, he was murdered and now his nephew own his share. Maybe I can do something with that."

"Now I also own a small part of a Saloon and Hotel in Tucson too, it was a gift from Jane and her boyfriend who is Jake's best friend. That was really a big surprise. But I don't think they need me there for anything, for decision making or anything so I'll stay in Promise City. I guess I'll just return there and try to make it like a normal person. The truth is it's very rough and dangerous out there. My life has been in danger more than one, I was shot a few times and almost died twice. I‘m hoping things will be a little more settled than that," Ruby laughs. "And I hope you'll come and visit soon but with that testimony I'm not sure you'll want to!"

Nana laughs, "You know Ruby, most people would start to choke if you extended an invitation to them after explaining the deadly dangers of the place! But you know I always look for adventure, as does my spouse. We may take you up on that offer once he manages to convince those people after us to leave us alone. After all, it wouldn't do to have you safely bring the items there only to have us follow with the villains in tow."

Ruby returns the laugh, "I know, I know, I should be the tourist poster for Promise City! I do understand about coming to visit and hopefully you can get rid of those pesky people soon so you can come. If you need any other help with that Nana I hope you'll contact me. I have friends too who would be willing to help." Nana answers, "Thank you dear, you're already doing enough."
Ruby stands and hugs her grandmother tightly, "I'm so glad I found you. As a child I used to dream you were out there somewhere having adventures but always thinking of me. And it turns out you were." She squeezes her grandmother, "I love you Nana." Ruby releases her grandmother from the hug. “Alright Nana, I need to get dressed. I’ll see you in a bit.”

Ruby returns to her room and takes her time choosing a dress. She can’t decide what to wear, nothing seems appropriate; nothing seems to be just what she is looking for. She isn’t even sure what that is or why she cared that much. Finally she chooses a cream colored skirt and top. The top is a satiny plum corset over a sheer blouse with a low squared neckline showing off just enough cleavage. The skirt is long and snug with a slit up the side, cream with plum accents. There is a matching jacket but she keeps that off for now. She chooses her favorite pair of boots, shoes that have been neglected lately. She didn’t like to wear them as they made her taller than Jake. But Jake wasn’t here today and she pulled them on with a smile. She adds a black velvet choker before deciding she is finished getting ready. She heads back downstairs.

Ruby hears sounds in the main room and go out to see that both James and Richard are up and in the next room engaged in a discussion about European politics. "Morning gentlemen, I trust you slept well?" Ruby asks. "Like a log," Richard replies. "Not I," says James, "I was worried about intruders again. I will be relieved when those documents are out of this house." Ruby sighs. "That stinks James. Well, it won't be long until we take the papers out of here and hopefully you'll be more safe. Not long at all actually. Time seems to fly by so fast here. Richard, is Jane awake yet? I really need to talk to her."

"She was still sleeping when I checked earlier," he replies. Turning back towards James he says, "So you think that Queen Victoria was actually responsible?" James replies, "I see no other possibility, clever of her wasn't it?" "Responsible for what?" Ruby butts in. Richard says, "The overthrown of the French Government earlier this year." James says, "Yes, a powerful nature priestess who had opposed the government was freed from a remote prison. She then raised a small army of followers and persuaded them to do a bloodless overthrow of the government that was in power. I believe that the priestess was rescued by Royal Army soldiers under orders from the Queen." [DM’s Note: This transpired in the Arcade’s Gang module “League of Extraordinary Cowboys”]

Ruby asks "What's her name? The priestess?" He replies, "Her name is Louise Michel She is a French author, poet, revolutionary and anarchist. She was born in 1830 and has had a very colorful life. She was a French patriot who helped fight in the wars against Germany. When Paris surrendered to the Prussian Army in 1871 she helped to lead the insurgency against the occupying army. After the war she was a founder of the French Commune, which strongly opposed the Versailles Government." Ruby exclaims, "My goodness, that certainly is a lot for me to digest this early in the morning. I admit to being terribly uneducated about history. I think I'll leave the world politics discussions to the men."

With a smile and a small curtsey Ruby excuses herself and heads to Jane's room. She knocks softly on the door. Not getting an answer she enters the room anyway, finding Jane asleep.
Ruby approaches the bed and sits next to Jane. She pushes some hair off her sleeping friend's face and speaks quietly. "Janie, Janie wake up." Jane slowly awakens. Her eyes are all red and her hair is an unkempt mess. She looks at Ruby and says, "Just let me sleep."

"No Jane, I won't," Ruby says sternly. "I let you be last night but now you have to tell me what's going on. You wanted to train me, you wanted me to be able to speak to the goddess. And she comes, but I don't know what she is talking about. And you... you leave me alone just when I need you." Ruby's voice grows softer and she looks down at her friend with much concern in her eyes. "Tell me what's wrong. We're supposed to be friends, you're one of me BEST friends and friends confide in each other. Talk to me now Janie."

Jane yells back "I don't want to be your friend! I mean, I do, but I don't just want to be friends. I love you Ruby, I'm totally in love with you. I thought this trip would bring us together, but it hasn't. The Goddess has finally showed that to me. You don't share my feelings and one-sided love is not true love." Ruby sits for a few long moments before she realizes her mouth is hanging wide open in shock. Finally she speaks, keeping her voice as soothing as she can. "Janie, I had NO idea about this. None at all. I mean, I was with Jake... you were with Red... what about Red? I thought you loved him?" Jane begins to cry and exclaims, "I like Red a lot, but it is not true love either. You are the one who I have fallen in love with."

Well crap, Ruby thinks but the actress in her doesn't let it show on her face. She takes her friends hand in hers. "Jane, you know that I love you too. I'm sure that you know I've been very focused on Jake, and everything that goes with that. I've loved him and haven't really been open to anything else." Or I might have realized this was coming... "You once told me that you let the goddess guide you... That night, when we did the dance together... did she guide you to Red?" Jane replies in a half-speak, half-cry manner "No...just away from you. She showed me that my feelings were not mutual and that I had to get beyond them in order to properly train you."

"I'm so sorry, I really am. I do love you Jane, don't think that I don't." Ruby pushes back away from Jane a bit and looks at her friend with compassion. "What do you want me to do Jane? I'll do whatever you ask." "Just leave me alone for now," is Jane's reply. "Alright Jane, I will." Ruby stands and heads to the door, stopping a moment to look over her shoulder at her still crying friend. Ruby felt horrible that Jane was in so much pain because of her. She quietly closes the door behind her and returns downstairs.

"Richard, I need to speak to you for a moment. Would you please take a walk with me outside?" "Of course Ruby," he replies and follows her out back into the gardens. Ruby takes his arm and walks them away from the house. Finally Ruby speaks. "Richard, I really think you need to take Jane home now." Before Richard can interrupt she puts a finger on his lips, "Let me finish please. Jane has been too long away from the West. She needs the comfort of home. As for me, I'll be fine, I've been on my own for five years now and I think I can manage a couple more days without having a tragedy occur. I'm positive I'll be alright. I really think Jane needs to get away..." Ruby pauses and looks up at a bird singing in the nearby tree. "From me."

Richard states, "This seems rather sudden. Did the two of you have another argument?" "Not really an argument per say...." Ruby's voice trails off. She looks Richard in the eyes, "Let's just say it's for the best." Richard says, "Well I for one am not allowing you to go up to Rochester without me. That is where the potential danger lies and I was sent along on this journey to keep you safe."

Ruby exclaims, "Richard, I am sure you realize that I am not a child, I am a woman and can take care of myself. Jane's well being is very important to me and I think she really needs this. Besides, who sent you to keep me safe anyway? If you're talking about Jake, he doesn't even care I'm gone. He hasn't even tried to contact me, not once." Ruby shrugs, "And Red will be much happier with Janie back. I know everyone is trying to be nice... in light of new circumstances it just doesn't make sense to drag her along."

Richard replies, "Miss Boag is also a grown woman, quite capable to making a railroad trip by herself. The concern was from Red that your parents might attempt to force you to stay here and nothing your Grandmother has stated has led me to think otherwise. I take my charge quite seriously, I am to protect the Partners of the Meeting House to which you are now one." "Alright Richard," Ruby sighs, "I see that you aren't going to let me go alone. I am just worried about Jane, I'm sure you understand. I don't know what else to do."

He states, "Jane can take care of herself. We will leave a little earlier than we planned and I will make sure she gets herself safely aboard a train west and also telegram the Three Gods Meeting House with her itinerary. I also have some things I can give her to further help protect herself. But it does mean that we will need to bring James's documents with us, I wouldn't want to put Jane in any further danger."

Ruby states, "Richard, I need you to understand something though. I don't want Jane to leave and if she doesn't want to, I don't want to force her. It should be up to her. But I can't see her not choosing to leave. Maybe you should speak to her and see what she wants to do. And then we have to get the documents together to take with us, although I think Nana and James already did that." Ruby sighs again and looks to the sky. "It's pretty cloudy out. I wonder what the weather will be like in Rochester. I just want to get there."

Richard says, "I can go talk to her. Care to tell me what you two fought about?" Ruby ponders for a moment. "I shouldn't say anything but it's probably going to come out eventually." Pauses again. "Jane is attracted to me." Richard replies, "So are half the men on the continent from what I can tell, and as a Priestess of Aphrodite she' has indicated before that she doesn't limit herself to a single gender. So what? Are you saying that she's jealous of you?"

"I might not have been entirely truthful with my last statement." Ruby pauses again. "She thinks she's in love with me." Richard laughs, "Of course she is, she's a Priestess of Aphrodite! Last week she was in love with Patrick, today you, tomorrow somebody else. You're worrying yourself over nothing." "Perhaps. I hope so." Ruby looks up to the sky again and sighs.

"You don't think I've been though this before? And how many times? I don't like losing friends like this. And I care about her, I don't want her to be hurt. I hope you're right. Well, if you could offer her to stay or go, it's up to her. And I guess we should get ready to go, it's almost time."
Richard says, "I'll go speak to her now. Enjoy your time with your grandmother." "Thanks Richard." Ruby gives him a little kiss on the cheek before bouncing back into the house and finding Nana.

"So...," Ruby teases, "Any other burning secrets I should know before I have to leave?" Nana states, "Yes Ruby, please follow me." She leads her into James's study and over to his desk. Atop it is a leather-bound book that looks to be rather old. She says, "This book about the Glydenlove War with the painting by Claus Msinichen that James referenced yesterday. Ruby notes that the entire book is written in a foreign language. On one page intermixed with a group of dwarven warriors is a human military officer. While it isn't an exact match of the man today, appearing to be perhaps five years younger, it is the unmistakable portrait of Richard.

Ruby studies the picture for a long moment. "How could this be? I mean, could it really be him and not a relative? You said this was... how many years ago?" Nana replies, "That battle took place over two centuries ago, in 1675. And the Czar who he said his family fled Russia to escape, that would have been Ivan the Terrible, who ruled in the mid-1500's." Ruby says, "There must be some mistake then, it can't be him. He looks human, I mean, not some other long lived race... What do you think is going on? Do you think he's dangerous? He's been protecting us all along." Thoughts of Colin Turner come to Ruby's mind but she quickly pushes them away.

Nana replies, "I think he is one of the most honest and honorable men I have ever had the pleasure to have met. If he were intent on keeping his secrets he wouldn't have answered us when we questioned him about his past. Ruby, there are a number of magics that can extend a human lifespan, how old do you think that I am?" Ruby answers, "Well, you are my grandmother, but you look like you could be my mother really. I don't know, maybe sixty? I don't know how old you were when you had mother."

Nana replies, "Ruby, I'm ninety-six. And James is one-hundred-and-two." Ruby tries to keep her mouth from dropping open. "Are you teasing me? I know there are magics but... how is it possible? I haven't seen anything like it..." Nana says, "Of course not Ruby, up to now your body has still been growing. You are almost at your full adult development, at which point we can then consider utilizing some magics to slow down your physical aging." Ruby's eyes widen. "That would be... amazing. I have to admit that I dread getting old. Well, not to much getting old but turning ugly. How do you do it?" she asks with much curiosity.

Nana says, She says, "It's a lengthy process actually, a collaboration of spells, potions and being in places with high concentrations of both earth and wizard magics. We can start when I visit you out in Arizona." Ruby ask, "Does it hurt? How long does it last? I mean, how long can you live?" Nana replies, She replies, "Usually somewhere in the neighborhood of one-twenty-to-one-fifty, in generally twice as long as normal from approximately your twentieth year on. Richard obviously has something else working for him, possibly a magical artifact although I haven't detected one on him. Then again, most artifacts are immune from normal detection. "

Ruby's eyes almost pop out of her head. "One hundred and fifty years? Oh my ....." She stops the expletives from coming out of her mouth. "Artifact?" Ruby shakes her head. "I have learned so much in the past six months, about so many things I didn't know were possible. It's been an eventful year." Ruby's lips turn upward into a huge grin. "I can't say I'm not excited at the thought of staying beautiful for a hundred years! Plus that means you and have have lots of time to spend together."

Nana replies, "Yes, probably another half-century or so for me. Although the extended life is linked to the areas where the ley-lines of the earth intersect, where wizard and earth magics are strongest. There are some two-dozen such places on the world, still allowing plenty of choices of places to live, but limiting none-the-less. New York City is one such place. Fortunately for you another one lies in southeastern Arizona." The younger woman replies, "This is pretty... I don't even know the word. Amazing like I said before. And exciting."

Ruby shrugs, "I won't spend my life in Arizona, I want to see the world. I guess I have plenty of time to figure out where these other places are. Course, it'll depend too on what my partner wants... but for now I'll be there, proving I can make it on my own." Nana states, "That is a good attitude to have. You are only nineteen, no reason to make major life decisions right now, especially since you now know that the life going forward will probably be twice as long as what you had expected when you woke up this morning."

Ruby grins again before jumping into her grandmother's arm. She excitedly babbles, "Think of all the adventuring I can do! All the things I can see! All the loves I can have! Oh, it's all going to be so wonderful. Thank you Nana, you've made my... well, more than my day. Meeting you has changed everything!" She squeezes her Nana, genuinely happy. "Now I have to make sure I make enough money so I can do the things I want to." Ruby releases her grandmother and looks around the house. "You look like you've done alright. How did you do it? Until Promise City I was just making money as I could. And sometimes in unsavory ways that I'd rather not have to revert to anymore."

Nana states, "One thing I have learned about money my dear is that if you chase after it too badly it passes you by. Instead of having the money itself be the goal you should instead make it one of many components towards a greater goal, then the resources will find themselves to you one way or another."

Ruby states, "Well, I haven't really concerned myself that much with money, it always seems to fall into my lap somehow. But since I've changed my life I'm not so sure I can count on that method anymore." Ruby laughs, "You know, the rich old men method. I don't think my boyfriend would like it." Nana replies, She replies, "Given what I know of rich old men I wouldn't imagine that you really like it either." The smile falls off Ruby's face. "No, you're right. I don't really like it."

Ruby states, "You're right, I should set some goals. I mean, I've just been wandering where the wind takes me up until now but maybe I should decide what I really want to do. I know I want to travel all over, just like you Nana." Ruby shrugs, "Not today though. Today I have to see George. And that will take enough of my thoughts to figure out." Nana says, "That is a good attitude to have."

She forces the smile on her face until it turns genuine. "Enough of that. Off to see George today. Another day, another man in love with me. I wonder if he still is? In love with me that is. After all that happened." She shrugs, "I guess I'll find out. So Nana, what are your future plans? Have any adventures coming up? Or just dealing with this 'what's in the crate' mess?"

Nana replies, "My plan? Whatever project James decides to throw himself into next to distract our pursuers I imagine. Probably archeology again, that would have nothing to do with current century American politics." Ruby answers, "Sounds exciting. Maybe one day I'll be able to accompany you on one of your trips. Well Nana, I can't believe our time is almost over. Any words of wisdom for me before I go? You can guarantee that I'll be wearing your dress on a regular basis to remind me of you. I'm rather sad to be leaving." Nana replies, "And I will miss you too Ruby, but under the circumstances with those after the documents it is probably safer for everyone."