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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 2814879" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter Six, “Ruby’s Next Dinner Date”, Wednesday, May 24th, 1882, 6:00 P.M. Ever since Bill Watkins made his pronouncement that only human male landowners should vote Minerva sat quietly, clenching her folded hands together as she struggled to control Mar's influence upon her temper. She reminds herself, "I told Nanuet that I would be patient and I will, but 'by the god's, that man should be horse whipped!” She sat for a long time then glanced around the room and noticed that many were looking at her to gauge her reaction to discussion. She was unable to keep the look of distaste from her face but was re-assured to see her feelings mirrored those on many other faces in the room, including Katherine's. She also noticed Helen reaching for her gun and gives a small smile of satisfaction. "It is good to know that other's share my views." As soon as the meeting is adjourned she plastered a smile on her face and made non-committal small talk with all those that approached her. After some time she is finally able to make her way over to the Lucky Lady in search of Nanuet, a kiss and a good stiff drink. Nanuet is surprised to see Minerva back so quickly. "Well that meeting was much shorter than I figured it would be. Is everything OK?" "It went as expected." she sighs and gives him a kiss before she tosses her hat on the table and plops herself down on the nearest chair. With quick impatient movements, she peels off her gloves while she continues to vent her feelings to her lover. Her rapid words and thick Spanish accent reveal her disgust and frustration. "That buffoon, Bill Watkin's got up there and started spouting horse manure about how 'male human land owners' should be the only ones allowed to run for office or vote since, according to his snake-in-the-grass view, they are the ones who do everything around here. Can you believe that he had the audacity to say such a thing? It took all of my will and that of the gods to prevent me from leaping up and giving him a piece of my mind and the back of my hand as well!" She smiles crookedly at him. "You would have been proud of me, Mi Amor. I managed to sit and hold my tongue." But, "she laughs. "Helen Baker on the other hand, would have shot him right between the eyes, if she could have gotten away with it! She looks up at the bar. "I could really use a drink right now... and perhaps that wine that you promised me later?" Back at the Town Hall, Jake makes his way across the room and to Ruby, going outside with her. "I want to talk with Shaw and Morand before they leave, Seawell too I think." He pulls her aside so they can talk without being heard while he watches for those men. "If you have a mind to use the play to build some relationships that might be used by our Priestess or School Marm to sway some vigilance committee votes I have some suggestions for you for those bit parts. Consider Liza Brown or Derik Avery, just be sensitive that it may make Cole Rixton unhappy if you are too friendly with Derik. Also, Zeb and Helen Cook might be a vote that can be swayed. I doubt that Watkins will change his tune, but speaking of tunes.... if Frank Condon can sing, I wonder if he can act? I have no idea if Doc Eaton is a lost cause or not, he seems like a tough one and I do not know if he can be gotten to through his wife. Of course, all this would depend on our Priestess or School Marm being involved in your play and helping you out to gain access to those folks." Jake shrugs. "Elections aside, I bet Chet would be happy if you involved Caressed. It might be a nice gesture to include the Gilson woman. That would keep Berg in our camp." He notices Ruby is giving him a doe eyed look and he says, "I know, that was a bit much to take all in one bite. Lest you think I am interested in a political career, fear not. I just want to help our friends out and make sure we have, if not a friendly town government, at least one that does not hate us." She replies, "I figured on asking Claresse and Laurie, probably her boyfriend Judge Lacey too." She continues innocently, "I don't understand though, why would Kate or Minerva care who I put in the show? I mean, how is that helping them?" He replies, "Access is the first stage in manipulation, my dear. Once you become a trusted friend, when folks can know you for real, then they are more inclined to listen to your point of view. If they feel good about how you have just made their life better, made their dream come true, improved their standing in the community, then all the better." Jake grins, "Manipulation is not a bad thing. We all do it. Some of us just do it better than others. Is that not true?" He asks and taps her lips ever so gently. "It is also important to pick the right people to help along in life. So, if our friends want to try and influence the opinions of certain committee members who just happened to be having a great time all working together to bring some culture to this little town....." Jake glances up at the sky and whistles a little drinking tune. While Jake is looking up Ruby lightly pinches his belly. "So what you are saying is you think that the priestess and the school teacher are going to care about this stupid election? Do YOU care about this stupid election?" He replies, "Just enough to make sure it does not mess with our lifestyle or our investments." "Ugh Jake." Ruby rolls her eyes. "Have I mentioned how much I HATE politics?" She slides up next to him, "Didn't you say you were going to take me away to celebrate? To Tucson? Isn't it time to go there? Wouldn't that be soooo convenient?" Ruby continues to look with at Jake with big green eyes and a mischievous smile. He says, "Yes, well that certainly sounds better than worrying about this election. Fortunately or unfortunately, I happen to own a share of a silver mine here, and WE happen to own half of a saloon here, and WE happen to now own a house here, so unless we suddenly do not care about the value of those investments we ought to pay a little teeny tiny bit of attention to all these goings on." He lets her wiggle her way in for a moment before he adds, "On the other hand at some point here I am certain to get sick of this and need a break. I did promise you and Red we would go to visit. We will, let us just see what is developing here first." "Fine," Ruby says with edge but is still smiling, "I'll just consider it you owing me... something, making me suffer though an election and all. However will you make it up to me?" Her face turns innocent again, although Jake knows it's not real. "Oh! I almost forgot, I have to get to dinner on time, I don't have much time to get ready!" Ruby looks Jake in the eyes and bites on her lip, "You can tell me later how you'll make it up to me." She kisses him on the lips then runs off to their house to dress. He watches her run, and shakes his head. "No politics, eh, my love? So why are you meeting with Isby?" He chuckles pleasantly and goes about looking for Shaw and Morand, trying to catch up with them before they leave. Ruby dresses in her mauve gown and quickly does her hair up. She ties a black velvet ribbon around her neck, grabs her shawl and hurries to the Promise City Hotel. Ruby actually arrives before the Judge. Melissa Smith escorts her to the table that has been reserved for them and asks Ruby what she'd like to drink. She states, "I'll take two iced teas please. I'm sure the Judge will be along any moment." Chester arrives at Claresse's hotel. He sees her and says, “Evening, Clarisse. Do you want to catch some dinner? The meeting went alright. No troubles at all." She says, "Sure Chet. Just let me get my things." Once she's ready. they go to the Lucky Lady and get a table. Ruby has been waiting for fifteen minutes when Judge Isby finally arrives. He heads directly to the table and says, "Please forgive me darling, I was confronted by a number of people immediately after the meeting and had a hard time getting away. I'll make it up to you." Ruby smiles and stands when she sees him, offering the Judge her cheek. "That's alright, I know you are a busy man. But I will take that promise," she laughs. "Have a seat, I ordered you an iced tea." The middle-aged Judge says, "Wonderful, you're getting to know me better. Well, you should be seeing a lot of me as I should be here for a solid month. So dearest Ruby, what have you been doing with yourself for these past eight weeks or so that I've been away?" "But I am sure you'll be quite busy with the upcoming election." Ruby pulls her napkin into her lap and glanced around to make sure no one is nearby. "It's been a busy eight weeks, to say the least." She waits until they order before beginning her tale. As long as they are alone Ruby proceeds to quietly tell the Judge about the conclusion to the Cowboy Gang story. She elaborates on the section where she was shot by Johnny Ringo with the special bullet and almost died. "So...Mr. Cook shot and killed Johnny Ringo, thank goodness we don't have to worry about him anymore. But the Earps are still on the warpath, I had a visit from them just a couple of days ago." He replies, you did? They're wanted men. You had better tell me about this visit." She answers, "Well, before I continue I have to make sure we're still on the same terms as before... and what I tell you is confidential. It's really important to me." He says, "Then maybe you'd better keep what you know to yourself. I have an obligation to the Territory to enforce the law, including going after wanted criminals despite my friendship and admiration for Wyatt Earp." Ruby nods her head. "I appreciate you not forcing me to explain. For being honest with me, I will tell you this and you can take it or leave it. I believe that Wyatt and his companions were headed to Tombstone." Ibsy says, "Ah, then I don't have to do anything, that's out of my Jurisdiction. Now, what else have you been doing with yourself, you look absolutely radiant." Ruby pauses for a moment, wondering if maybe someone had wandered close enough to be listening in on him or her. A small blush comes to her face, "Thank you Your Honor, that's very sweet," she says while delicately touching her hair. "Well, let's see... We are renovating the Lucky Lady, making it larger and nicer. We're even thinking of turning it into a hotel. I'm very excited about that." She continues excitedly, "And I'm putting on a production of Romeo and Juliet on the new stage in a few weeks. Oh, say you'll come!" He replies, "Of course I will come. Can I safely assume that you are playing Juliet?" "I'm so pleased you will come! It's really my pet project, I've always wanted to act for real. But it's going to be a lot of work." She smiles and pulls some hair off her face, "Yes, I'll be playing Juliet, our tragic heroine. It's such a beautiful love story, I hope I can do it justice. So what have you been up to these past two months? Staying out of trouble I hope?" He answers, "Well, I spent over a week in Prescott presenting the town's petition to the Governor. I finally got him to agree, he was hesitant at first because of the expense to the Territory, which he said would take him a month to locate the funding before he could approve it. So I spent that month in the other three communities where I hold trials, taking care of everything up until now and letting the local law know that I won't be back until July. I've also spent some more time with Kevin, my teaching him better marksmanship with rifle and revolver and having him teach me swordsmanship. I feel physically better than I have in years. I still weigh the same, 171 pounds, but the small amount of fat that I was carrying around my stomach is now replaced with muscle higher up. I've also given up smoking a pipe." She says, "This election is going to be all the town is talking about for a while. I'm glad you're here to make sure things go smoothly. The potential for scam artists is great, particularly with a last minute "political party" bait and switch of candidates or even as simply as massive buying of votes from the poorer uneducated folks." Ruby lifts her glass of iced tea off the table, cradling it in her hands. A few condensed droplets run down her fingers, dropping into her lap. "I've also taken lessons with Kevin, although I'm just beginning. Ironically, I find it very relaxing. It IS a good workout and Kevin is a generous teacher." Ruby takes a sip of her iced tea. "So," she continues curiously, "What has brought on your sudden renewed vigor? Losing weight and even stopping your pipe..." The tall, dark hair, square-shaped face man with a chiseled jaw looks back at Ruby and says, "I feel better." He drinks another sip of tea and says, "I wish I could say it was your influence but I first started to feel this around a week or two after I had seen you last. Perhaps it is Kevin's instruction that has caused my health to improve. I'm now forty-seven years of age, which is incidentally the average life expectancy in the United States today, but rather than being on death's door I feel again like I did when I was half my age. My limp has also improved. And amazingly, with my latest haircut I've noticed that my graying sideburns have become dark again. Most would suspect that I have been using dye to make myself appear younger, but I have not, it occurred on its own. I have no explanation other than I feel better about myself." Ruby smiles, "Well, I wish I could take the credit for your turnaround. You do look better, more alive. And actually happy. I guess you just needed a hobby. I suppose you'd better keep up with Kevin, huh?" she laughs. "But it is odd that it started two weeks after leaving here...were you somewhere special at the time?" "At any rate, take what works. I wish I knew the secret of youth. My birthday is coming soon and I don't like adding the years on." She exaggerates, "One day my beauty will fade and then what will I be left with? I'll be just another old redhead with nothing to do with her time but reminisce about the old days when life was exciting..." Isby replies, "We were in the town of Clifton at the time, one of my other court towns. We were going to move on to Safford but Kevin insisted that we had to go back to Wilcox instead, even though we had just been there a few days before. Actually, come to think of it, I didn't actually start to feel a lot better until after we were back in Wilcox. But enough of that, it is good to be back here and with this election I'll finally get to stay put for a change. That will be nice, especially since I now have a nice place to stay at." She exclaims, "I KNOW you're not talking about that old saloon... where are you staying?" He answers, "Oh, it won't even look like a saloon by the time that Kevin and I are through with it. The territory appropriated $ 300 for us to remodel it. We've already been to Rixton's to buy proper furniture and to both Lacey's and Cook's to get curtains, linens and other odds and ends." Ruby smiles "Very good! If you need help, let me know. I consider myself talented in the art of decorating. So... I was wondering... we started having these dinners to help each other with the Cowboy problem. Now that is mostly taken care of, do you still see a benefit in us meeting like this?" Ruby's smile is easy but she is anxious to hear the answer. Isby says, "You honestly think the Cowboy problem is over?" She answers, "Well, not entirely I guess...It was just that Ringo was the one harassing us." He states, "And Ringo was financed by Hamilton Fisk, although we were never able to prove it. And Fisk is planning to run for Mayor. I always suspected Deputy Colin Hunter was part of that mess too, and now he's Fisk's handpicked choice for Town Marshall. No Miss Ruby, this is far from over." She says, "I understand. I wish that wasn't so but I see it is. I quite enjoy our dinners anyway. It's just... you see... well... I am actually very much in love with my boyfriend. People think I am sleeping with you, makes me look like I'm, well, you know what. And even though Jake says he doesn't mind, I just wanted to make sure I could still be of use, you know what I mean? I don't mind it, as long as it's necessary, I want to help." Isby says, "Well, if you're calling off our heated love affair I guess I'll just have to wallow back home and cry myself to sleep. But I should point one little tidbit to you first though, the Governor put me in charge of all aspects of this community Incorporation. That mean's that for the next month I'm pretty-much in charge of this town and nobody will want to get on my bad side. I'll have the Cowboys, the Vigilance Committee and anybody else looking to run for office being extra nice to me. I wouldn't be surprised if that was extended to my lady friend…if I had one." Ruby stares at him for a moment than laughs. "How can a lady turn that down? Please don't take what I said in the wrong way, I was trying to break you with you," she laughs again. "Just wanted to make sure I can still be of use." Isby replies, "We'll probably have to play it differently this time, play up the fact that you're sharing information with me. We may be able to turn this Jake Cooke thing to our advantage as well, make people think this is all some sort of love triangle." He smile and winks adding, "Of course, I guess it really is until he decides to give up." Ruby fakes a blush. "My now, Your Honor, you'd fight over me?" she giggles. She says, "Alright, whatever you think is best, you let me know and I'll play along. Is there anything I can do for now?" He replies, "I'm sure that there is, but then, we should probably save that for our honeymoon." He laughs out loud and says, "Actually, I believe that I see a couple over there eating an apple cobbler, how do two pieces of that sound." "My, my Judge... you DO have some new vigor about you," she says with a raised eyebrow. Then she laughs, "Apple cobbler sounds wonderful." After they finish their cobbler Ruby delicately dabs at her lips. "Well, that was another wonderful dinner. Thank you so much for inviting me. I do enjoy it." “It was my pleasure,” he replies. "Well Your Honor, I should go prepare for the show tonight. The Saloon is always more crowded when something like today's meeting occurs. Everyone like to come out and gossip," she giggles. She stands and offers him her hand. "Thank you again. I'm certain you'll let me know when you want me again," she says, her dazzling smile appearing on her face. The Judge walks her to the door of the restaurant and kisses her hand. He then heads back inside to settle the bill as Ruby scampers away.</blockquote>

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