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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 2814895" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter Twelve, “Confrontation on the Train”, Thursday, May 25th, 1882, 12:15 P.M "Good job honey," Ruby whispers, then kisses Jake softly while looking him in the eyes. She runs her hand inside his jacket and Jake gets his trademark smile but Ruby suddenly pulls her hand out, with a small silver case in it. She smiles innocently and says, "Let's play cards to pass the time." They play for around a half-hour and are about ten minutes away from Tucson when Jake senses that there is somebody else near them although he can't determine exactly where. Jake loses the next hand poorly and then grumpily says, "My deal," and grabs the cards. As he is shuffling he drops the queen of diamonds on the floor. "Clumsy of me," he says and reaches down for it. He surreptitiously listens and looks around before he puts it back in the deck. "Sure is nice being alone for a change." Ruby had gotten Jake's subtle message and had been looking around for anything out of place. The silence of their game is broken by Wyatt Earp's voice, softly saying loud enough only for Jake and Ruby to hear "And some are now too alone." After Wyatt speaks she looks to the area from where the voice came from. "Wyatt?" she whispers back. "I'm here," he states. Ruby and Jake now see the cushion of the seat across the table from them depress slightly. The voice then says, "Did you think you could escape me?" Ruby feels Jake immediately tense up and she quickly puts her hand over his to keep him from reaching for his Colt. She looks directly to the area where Wyatt is sitting. She replies easily, "Escape you? What exactly do you mean? We're on vacation." Wyatt replies, "Is that what you call it? It looks to me like you were trying to get away before I found you. Seems like you failed." "Get away from what? You?." Jake says to Wyatt Earp while pretending to talk to Ruby. "What reason have I to get away from you? Frankly, I would rather not be seen with you and give Behan cause to haul me in. He probably already suspects me to be an Earp sympathizer, not to mention near the top of the revenge list with whatever Cowboys remain." Earp replies, "So Cook, you're saying that it wasn't you who betrayed us? Behan knew we were coming...and that we'd be invisible. Only five people knew that information and you're two of them. Seems like quite a coincidence that you picked right now to skip town." Jake replies, "I am avoiding Promise City politics. If I was avoiding you, I could do a bit better than wandering through Tombstone. I may be an opportunist, but I am not stupid." Jake looks around the car to make sure no one is looking. "Behan knew about you being invisible? Mierde." He scratches his chin and continues, "Was the explosion an accident?" Earp replies, "An accident? No, we fell into a trap. Not sure if it was Behan or the cavalry who came up with it, but it appears that the artillerymen from Fort Huachuca set up cannon on some of the higher peaks of the Dragoon Mountains. They waited until we'd relaxed our guard and then trained their sights on our camp. Incendiary shells rained down on us from multiple directions, I was the only survivor." His voice shifts direction and Earp states, "Okay West, who did you tell about us? I want the truth." Ruby replies, "I have no reason to lie to you Wyatt. I didn't tell anyone, not even my friends in Promise City. Why would I do that to one of my best friends?" There is a long pause before Earp's voice says, "I believe you Miss. West. I know Josie didn't betray us. That only leaves Dumont and Duprey. They'll soon regret making me their enemy." Ruby continues quickly, "Madge would never ever do that, Wyatt. She was already scared to death of you and what might happen. I highly doubt Dumont would do that either. I believe Mr. Dumont already left town but I would not take her teacher's warning lightly." Ruby pauses then speaks slowly, "Maybe it's possible someone else saw us that day? I mean, you are a wanted man, maybe you were followed." Earp replies, "We weren't. No, somebody betrayed us. Behan told his men that three of us were invisible, he had first hand information. Well, I'll deal with those other two. I'll advise you not to make any attempt by you to warn them. Good day to the both of you." Jake scratches his chin some more while they are talking. Then he says quietly to no one in particular. "We took several potions that make folks invisible off various dead Cowboys. I wonder if they still have a way to get them after Ringo's death? Hard to know what an invisible person might have overheard or seen." He seems to snap out of his reverie. "It does not make sense that any of the five you mentioned would rat you out. I can only speak for us two. We did not even speak what we saw again between us for someone else to overhear." After a pause he finishes, "Mierda, the army is involved." Jake feels Ruby's body tense up. "I don't take well to people threatening my friends Wyatt." Earp replies "And I don't take well to my brother and my friends being murdered." They both hear his footfalls move away as the train enters the Tucson train station. After the footsteps fade away, "Damn It Jake!," Ruby says under her breath, obviously still tense and not attempting to move our of her seat, "How can I not tell Madge?" He replies, "Blasted Earps always seem to be causing trouble for us." Jake then snaps his fingers. He leans in close to Ruby and whispers in her ear. "He did not say anything about Josie not telling Madge." She replies, "Why would Josie warn Madge that her boyfriend is on the way to get her? That makes no sense. And how do we get to Josie to tell Madge anyway? And what makes you think she would?" There is an air of annoyance in Ruby's voice, "And why do our vacations always get ruined?" she pouts as she crosses her arms over her chest. "Details, details. How would you tell Madge anyway?" Jake pauses and listens around him to make sure Wyatt is still not there. Continuing the whisper, "Get a secret message to Madge, convince Josie to tell Madge later. That would make it look like we did not tell Madge. Wyatt also did not say we should not tell YOUR teacher. What HE chooses to do is an entirely different matter. Get a message to him and then it is not our problem any more. Voila, vacation begins." The train comes to a complete stop at the Tucson train depot and the passengers begin to depart. Ruby sighs and lets her arms drop. "Always something," she mutters under her breath as she collects the cards. She carefully places them back in their home and slips the silver case back inside Jake's pocket. "Let's go to the Saloon. I have an idea." She gathers her bag and wrap and waits for Jake to exit the train, a scowl still attached to her face. He replies, "What saloon?" Ruby furrows her brows. "Uh, Reds?" He says, "Yah, that. Well since I did not exactly tell him we were coming, he is not expecting us. I am not even sure the place is open all the time. With Jane around, things might be different. He uses the place as a hide out, I would not want Earp following us there. Let us go get a hotel room, and then I figure out how to get in touch with him." Jake shrugs his shoulders sheepishly. "Oh," Ruby says with a hint of disappointment, "I thought we were staying with them. I thought he wanted us to come and visit." Ruby is quiet for a moment. "Let's just get our stuff and go." They gather all their bags together. "Do you know of a place to stay or should we just wander?" "Just wander," Jake replies, so they drag their bags around looking for a nice hotel. They soon come upon the Arizona Arms, a reasonably priced three-story wooden structure along one of the main roads through town. They are able to get a room for $ 1 a night. They check in and after dropping their bags off Jake says, "Red does want us to visit. I just feel wrong about possibly dropping Earp on his doorstep. I know, we can do a bit of saloon hopping and hit a couple other places before we go there. Then we can see how he wants to handle things. For all I know things could be really different since I visited last. He might have the place fully open for business if Jane is involved. Besides, that gives us a reason to be there in public. You would not turn down some drinks on the way?" "Course not." She sits on the bed and is quiet for a moment. "I guess Mr. Gonzales can take care of himself. I just worry about Madge. I wish I had a way to get a telegram there at least." She is quiet again. "You know what? Let's get drunk and maybe a solution will present itself." Ruby pulls her gowns out of her bag and throws them on the bed. "How about the red one?" she says out loud but to herself. She begins freshening up and when she is finally satisfied she turns to Jake. "Drinks plus a boyfriend who is good at distractions, that is just what I need." She giggles as both her straps fall off her shoulders. "Just like the old days," she laughs, leaving them where they are. "Let's go." They head out into the city of Tucson to find a saloon for their first stop. It doesn't take Ruby and Jake long to find them a place to drink, The Brown Oxen Saloon over on Broad Street. They slide up to the bar and order two whiskeys. When the bartender returns Ruby asks, "So, anything interesting going on here in the city of Tucson?" The bartender says, "Oh yes, lots of excitement. Warren Earp's body came here today. Arrived a while back, will be heading on to California sometime soon. His brother Virgil is with him." She says, "I did hear that. I wonder when they'll move on. I guess it'll be busy here until they do." She sips at her whiskey. "Anything else? I like to hear all the new gossip." He replies, "Only other active rumor is that Chief of Police Souther will be fired soon for taking bribes on the side. Don't know if there's any truth to that one." "Good to know, you know, just in case," Ruby laughs and throws back her whiskey. They order another round, which they take their time drinking before heading to another Saloon, where they don't even bother looking at the name. Here they enjoy one whiskey before Ruby becomes overly impatient. She rubs up suggestively against Jake, "Come on baby, I want to go now and see Jane and..." she stops herself, "Well, Jane. Pleassseee," she pleads, looking up with big doe eyes. Jake can't resist laughing, "Alright, alright, let's go." He pays the bills and taking her by the hand leads Ruby to Red's Saloon. They head to the far end of town. The old run-down clapboard fifteen-by-forty-five-foot building just off of Court Street still stands although the sign "Water Hole Saloon" is no longer there. The biggest change however is the massive one-hundred-by-sixty foot four-story building attached to it. The large structure appears to be brand new and the front has a multi-colored twenty-foot wide and twenty-foot-high stained glass window over the ornate front doors, giving it a cathedral look. Adjacent to the doors is an emerald green sign with silver and gold lettering that reads "Three Gods Meeting House". Jake shrugs, "I am starting to believe nothing surprises me any more." He opens the door for Ruby. The front room of the meetinghouse runs the full sixty-foot width of the building and back for thirty feet. The room itself is a massive lobby, rising up the full thirty-six foot height of the building. There are staircases in both corners rising up to the second, third and forth floors, with balcony corridors on both side walls heading back to the remainder of the room. An elaborate gas chandelier hangs down from the center of the ceiling. The remainder of the lobby features full-sized statues of Dionysus, Aphrodite and Hermes. Red-velvet covered furniture fills the remainder of the lobby. On the opposite wall are three doors, one on either side and another in the middle. Seated in a chair behind a desk near the center door is a man in a suit and tie who Jake recognizes as Red's main guard Richard. He has no visible weapons but Jake notes the man's shoulder and chest are larger than before, indicating a shoulder holster on each arm. Jake hooks his arm in Ruby's and saunters over to the desk like someone who owns the place. "I am suitably impressed." Jake lets his gaze wander over the room again. "Richard, may I introduce the inimitable Ruby West. Would Mr. Patrick or Mr. Van Horne be about?" Before the man can answer Jake adds, "Forgive me, or the priestess? Miss West here is close friends with Jane." Richard replies "Hello Mr. Jacob, I will let some of your partners know that you have arrived. Mr. Alistair said to expect you at any time. Would you like to freshen up in your room first or go directly in?" Ruby's eyes are still lit up taking in all the splendor of the building. She grips Jake's arm tighter, "We have a room here? Let's go see it!" she says excitedly. "No! Wait, let's go see them first..." she turns to Richard and is practically jumping up and down, "We want to go in please." Jake smiles broadly. "It is important the we make Miss West happy. Let us go directly in, and we will freshen up after we make some long overdue greetings." Richard opens the drawer to his desk and removes a Bell Telephone. He says, "Charles, it's Richard, Mr. Jacob has arrived." A moment later one of the side doors opens and a well-dressed clean-shaven man in a tailored silk suit comes out. It is only after Jake sees the man's eyes that he recognizes that he has met him before, as the last time Jake saw him the man was posing as a disheveled drunk with a week's growth of beard who was drinking at the old Water Hole Saloon. Charles leads Jake through the center door into a vast room. It is fifty-foot square and windowless, a wall extending on both sides five feet parallel the outside walls. The room ceiling to the room is 18 feet high, taking up the equivalent of the first and second floors. The second floor railed balcony's extending down both sides of the room. The room has chandeliers although Ruby recognizes from the magical aura that it is some sort of magical light illuminating the room rather than the light fixtures. The center room itself is filled with gambling tables, set for Poker, Blackjack and Faro. The entire right wall is comprised of a long wooden bar with two dozen velvet-covered barstools in front. The left wall has elaborate paintings of the Greek Gods and shelves with various urns, gold braziers and statues made of different materials. The far wall has a wooden stage, starting five feet above the main floor and ten-feet deep and running forty-feet across. On both ends of the stage are staircases both down to the first floor and up to the second floor balconies. On both ends of the stage are doors. Those to the right of the stage appear to go to a kitchen area in the final twenty-feet of the building given the waiters emerging from there with trays of food. The doors to the left of the stage are shut with a pair of armed guards standing before them. The doors open and the man Jake recognizes as the Alistair disguise exit from them. One of the guards accompanies him. "Mr. Jacob, it is so good to see you again," he states. Jake states, "It is a great pleasure to be back. I came to see good friends but it appears I also need a tour." Ruby smiles at the stranger, waiting to be introduced. She stops suddenly, pulls up her shoulder strap with one hand and grips Jake's hand tighter in her other. She whispers in his ear, "Jake, I'm not dressed nice enough for this place. This dress doesn't even really fit. I didn't know it was going to be so fancy." Jake turns briefly from Mr. 'Alistair' and says, "Ruby darling, you are the prettiest thing in the place. I was just thinking they need to run out and get some additional gold and satin decorations just to keep from being embarrassed themselves." For once Jake's compliments don't work and she whispers back, "I need a new dress if we come back," but she squeezes his hand for the effort. She stands a little taller and says in a louder, sweet voice, "Baby why don't you introduce me to your friend?" "I apologize, Miss West this is Mr. Alistair. He is one of the partners in this enterprise." Without trying to be rude Jake attempts to discern by looking at Mr. 'Alistair' if it is indeed his friend Patrick O'Brien. She says in a sweet voice and with a smile, "Mr. Alistair, it is a pleasure to finally meet you." She extends her hand gracefully and waits for the stranger to take it. The eyes assure Jake that this is indeed his friend Red. He looks to Ruby and says, "Do not be self conscious about your attire, as you can see, we only have a handful of people here at the moment and they are otherwise pre-occupied. And weeknights tend to be rather quiet here, fancier attire would not be necessary until tomorrow evening." Red's 'handful' is more like a dozen, with three people seated at the bar, another five playing poker with a dealer who Jake recognizes from a previous visit as Red's main dealer Isaac V. Stevens, and four more comprised of two couples seated at a far table having dinner. He then says, "Have you eaten? Perhaps you would like to head upstairs to the Partners dining room. I believe Mr. Patrick will be dining there soon and we can ask Miss. Boag if she would like to join you as well. She no doubt has other clothing Miss. West that you could borrow." Ruby says, "But she is much smaller than me, I would really have to squeeze and would not want to ruin her fine dresses. We will figure it out by tomorrow, I will ask her for suggestions. Enough of talk of my clothes, I want to see Jane! We haven't eaten, maybe you can show us around on the way to the dining room?" Mr. Alistair says that he will alert the kitchen to prepare two extra plates and that he will notify Miss. Boag and Mr. Patrick that they will have company for dinner. He walks them over to the bar and introduces them to the main bartender, a plump middle-aged Italian gentleman named Carlo Grappini. He explains that Mr. Grappini formerly served with the Roman/Greek Church as a Priest of Dionysus. He tells Mr. Grappini to serve them whatever they would like and that as escort will bring them upstairs when the dinner is ready. Alistair then departs through the door that he entered from, the bodyguard taking up position again by the doorway. "Mr. Grappini I believe you will be one of our very best friends while we stay here," Ruby laughs. "You must have some Kentucky Bourbon for us?" He replies, "We have cases of it. I'm tempted to rename it Ambrosia, the drink of the gods, given how much the owners of this establishment favor the drink." He pours them each a glass. "The drink of the gods, I like that. Thank you Sir," she says and flashes him her special smile. Keeping the drink in her hands she turns her back to the bar and leans up against it, so the bartender can't hear her. "You know, I think I may have to be adventurous and try something different while I am here. Perhaps a fine champagne," she sips at her bourbon. She turns her face towards Jake. "So... the Mr. Jacobs I know has a wife. Care to tell me what is going on? A little background perhaps? What should I be calling you?" He replies, "As soon as I figure out completely what is going on, I will let you know."</blockquote>

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