Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 2814910" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter Seventeen, “Talking with friends”, Thursday, May 25th, 1882, 5:00 P.M. Once they are out of earshot of the ladies Jake says, "Well that answers one of my questions already, how much does Jane know. I did not wish to reveal any secrets you may still be clinging to. Let me know what she should NOT know about if anything. The other question is the same one I had in Promise City but decided not to ask it; when did you first meet Jane's mother? If I am like a son is she like my sister?" Jake stops their walking and looks him in the eye. "Like always you will make me guess, and my guess is no that you are NOT Jane's father. Most people would assume that if you were her father, that would complicate things. However, I know better. Things here are very complicated, are they not you old besotted Irishman?" Red says, "No, I am not Jane's father, she was twelve when I first met Jane's mother Amalie in Chicago. That was by far not the right age to be living in a brothel, both younger and older are okay but not for girls whose bodies are just starting to change. So Jane was sent away to live with relatives for a few years. Amalie was fraught with guilt and sadness over not having her precious daughter around. Many years later when you and I reached Kansas City I found my Amalie again. I had never forgotten her. Jane was nineteen and working there with her mother. I never brought you with me there because....well....I was afraid you'd see me and Amalie together and tell me some unpleasant truths. It all but killed me to see how shabbily Adair treated Jane and I swore that I would do what I could to help the girl. She's done a remarkable job with this Meeting House, and it's nice to have somewhere that I can finally show my real face. But there are times that I am overwhelmed by this place. I retreat next door to the old Water Hole and hide out in my safe room, just staring at my paintings." "Errr, they are nice paintings," Jake rubs his neck and looks a bit uncomfortable. "Perhaps it is not in my nature to worry so much about details like that. I just sort of do what comes naturally, whatever that is." They start walking again but in silence. They get to the door and Red stops. Jake tells him, "I may not be the wisest man, partner, but it seems to me it is not the meeting house which overwhelms you. You told me you want some of what I have. I wonder if you are having trouble deciding whether you care for Jane as a daughter, or as a woman." Jake runs a hand through his hair and settles his flat brimmed black hat upon his head. "I will be back in a little while. I cannot put into words how good it is to see you again." Uncharacteristically, Jake gives the Irishman a hug. Red hugs him back and says, "I'm glad you're here, I've needed somebody to talk to. Jacob me boy, the real problem isn't my feelings towards her, it's hers towards me. I was deeply in love with Jane's mother but she did not feel the same...I'm not sure if a Priestess of Aphrodite really can. The person that Jane brings upstairs after the service...Jane doesn't choose him or her, the Goddess does...Jane is drawn to a specific individual. And up until now I haven't been chosen. And the truth is, even if she did choose me once, that might just make matters worse thereafter." "And I thought I was the one that got into complicated messes," Jake says and gives him a little bit of a smile. "I for one could not stomach my woman taking other men to her bed, religious ceremony or not. I do not know how in Hades to figure that part out. In my case, Ruby will always be Ruby and will always be a flirt for men's attention. As long as it does not cross a line, I must learn to live with it. If I was in your shoes, it would all come down to a relatively simple but difficult to answer question. If you want her, and want her badly enough, then the worst thing that can happen is to not do everything you can to make you two a couple. If you think the hurt of trying to make it work and failing is worse than looking in the mirror for the rest of your life and wishing you had tried harder.... Well then, she is not the one for you and settle for giving me a step sister." Jake gives him a smirk, "Otherwise, you should be wooing the woman you love. I hear tell a little bit of indulgence towards Aphrodite herself might be a helpful thing too. You are the most masterful opportunistic scheming conniver I have ever met; if there is a way you will find it. You just need to decide you want it bad enough." Red says, "Jacob me boy, ye gives this tired old man much to think about. I will see you soon enough. Would you like for one of my men to go with you?" He replies, "Jake Cook never turns down an extra hand when there is lifting to do." After a good laugh he finishes with, "Besides it will get me back quicker, avoiding all that bellyaching on the way here with luggage." Red goes and gets a man who he introduces to Jake as Francesco Fracanzani, another junior partner. After Jake and Red leave Ruby stands next to Jane. "So, why don't you show me what the rooms look like and while you do you can tell me how you like it here?" Ruby smiles down at Jane and offers her hand to help her up. Jane begins by showing Ruby to Jake's room which is fifteen-foot square and nicely furnished with an oak four-posted bed, matching dresser and nightstand, table and pair of chairs. A maroon and navy braided circular rug is on most of the floor with matching curtains over the windows. Ruby asks, "This is really nice," she says hopping on the bed, running her fingers over the soft bedspread, "But you didn't answer my question. Is something wrong Jane?" Jane replies, "Yes and no. This place is wonderful, like a dream come true. The only problem is with Michael....Patrick....Red. He's been a perfect gentleman...too much so. Maybe it's because he was my mother's lover, but he shows no interest in being anything more than friends and business partners." "Oh?" Ruby sits up straight in the bed and stops playing with the spread. "And you want more than friends or business partners?" She replies, "I honestly don't know, this is confusing. I've never had a man who I was close to and not intimate with." Ruby replies, "I know what you mean. Until recently that is anyway." "Well, he might be thinking of you like a daughter, since he did have a relationship with your mother and you are, I think Jake's and my age." Ruby shrugs, "Is it such a bad thing to have a man look after you and not, you know... look after you? You have to decide if you really want something else with him before you get upset about it. But it is soon too, maybe just let some time pass and see what happens?" Jane replies, "I suppose you're right. It is so good to have you here Ruby to talk with." Ruby smiles, "I missed you too Jane." She pauses, and picks at some unseen fuzz on the blanket. "My friends at home, they aren't like us, they're different." She continues quickly, "I mean, it's good they are different... they just can't understand. They don't know about the things I've done or things we've been though. I guess it's better that way but it makes it hard for me to talk to them about stuff, stuff I know you know about. Anyway..." she lifts her face and smiles, "I missed you too." "Red seems like a real nice guy who has your best interests at heart. Look at all he's done for you," she waves her arm around. "He really cares about you, one way or the other. It's never bad to have a man like that on your side, you know? Having that is new for me too so I understand why you are confused. But it's something I'm sure you don't want to lose." Ruby swings her legs like a schoolgirl off the edge of the bed. "So, tell me about this ceremony of yours. Is it everything you've always wanted to do? Does Aphrodite tell you want to do or do you decide?" Jane replies, "I pray to the Goddess during the dance and ceremony. She enables me to better connect with the audience. Most of the men just have selfish intentions, motivated by pure lust rather than love. The Goddess lets me see through that, to see those who really have love in their hearts. I find the person who I am feeling most connected with and this is who I share the love with." Ruby ponders for a few moments. "Wow, that is really cool. I wonder what would happen if I did that too." Jane says, "I haven't trained you in that, and you might not care for the result. The Goddess may connect you with somebody other than who you expect, somebody very young, very old, very ugly or possibly of the same gender. Some of my acolytes still need help with this aspect too, motivated by their own desires rather than the Goddess. I try to watch out for all us during the performance and sure that each of them have a solo dance as part of the routine for me to help identify possible people in the audience." Ruby nods. "I understand. I was just curious. The goddess has already shown me she wants me and Jake to be together. Anyway, I didn't ask him if he minded I helped you yet he may not want me to. He didn't like the last time I danced in public. But no matter I will definitely perform with you tomorrow night." She looks into her friends eyes. "I just want you to be happy Jane, and it seems like you are happy here. And it sounds like you are doing what you should be doing." "I wonder, maybe you can give Jake and I a blessing or something? Do you do that? I try to honor the goddess the only way I know how but maybe coming from you it would be better." Jane replies, "I am certain that before you leave I will have an opportunity to show you blessings from the Goddess, as will my two fellow priests at the Meeting Hall." Ruby leans over and hugs Jane tightly. "Yes, we are going to enjoy ourselves and have so much fun! I love vacation, especially one with friends so special." After Jake Francesco head off Francesco says, "Last time you were here Blackstone and I were doing the external security, watching the Water Hole from a distance, so we were never introduced. It is a pleasure to finally meet your Mr. Jacob, or if you prefer, Mr. Cook of the Lucky Lady." He replies, "Does everyone know that, or only the most clever of you?" Jake's tone is cordial and non-threatening. He replies, "None of the senior partners have said anything, but my specialty is security. I found out that after you left Tucson you returned to Promise City. My first cousin Anthony Corleone lives there and I wrote to him asking about you. He wrote me back, telling me a great deal about both you and Miss. West." They get to the Arizona Arms and Jake ceases the conversation on that topic until they retrieve the luggage. On the way back to the meeting house Jake starts it up again. "So many questions you raise when you tell me things like that. Did your cousin also tell you I am a bit paranoid? So, Francesco, I do not recall your cousin. Do I know him? What does he do in Promise City? And what pray tell, is your cousin saying about Jake Cook and Ruby West?" Francesco gives him an odd look and says, "What does he do? Anthony works for you! He says you even chose the name Lucky Lady to help promote his gambling name, that he's the saloon's top gambler. Most of his letter talks of Miss. West and her beauty. I must say that have to agree, she is quite breathtaking." "You bring to mind that I have been incredibly lax with checking out my employees," Jake nearly groans. "I inherited Tony from the previous owners." Jake is silent for a minute and the laughs. "So your cousin thinks he is a better poker player than the owners does he? I am not surprised. For the record Francesco, your cousin is only right about one thing, that Ruby West is the most desirable woman for thousands of miles around. The Lucky Lady is named after her. There are times when I want to sit Mister Lucky down at a poker table, show him who really knows how to play poker and then take him out back and show him who knows how to handle a Colt." Jake laughs again, "Fortunately for Tony, that mood passes. The other senior partners here tend to be very thorough with their choice of trusted employees. Therefore I suspect you are better at security than your cousin is at poker. I would most appreciate knowing if he starts shooting his mouth off saying things that would be detrimental to Miss West or myself. Sometimes Tony gets carried away." He replies, "Mr. Cook, I am assuming that you will be accepting Mr. Patrick and Mr. Allister's generous offer of junior partner. That will make us business partners, and you can rest assured that the security of my partners is my highest concern. As for Anthony, he has always been the 'blacksheep' of the family. My Uncle Vito Corleone, Tony's Father, has asked me to keep a close eye on him while we are both here in Arizona. But the one-hundred miles distance between us is quite frankly as close as I choose to get to him. I have told him nothing about the Three Gods Meeting House, nor do I intend to. As far as Tony knows I work here as the bodyguard for a local banker." "Good enough Francesco, I will not hold your relationship with Tony against you." Jake replies humorously. They arrive back at the meeting house and haul the gear inside. "Thanks for the help." They get the bags and head back to the Three Gods Meeting House. Upstairs at the Three Gods Meeting Hall Ruby says, "Hey, guess what? Jake and I bought a house together. Can you believe it?" Jane replies "A house? I thought you enjoyed living at the Lucky Lady." She answers, "I did. But certain unpleasant circumstances arose from us living there. I don't want to get into all that, but I'll give you one example. Someone tried to blow up the Lucky Lady because he hates me. And Jake. And although I've never said this to Jake, I just couldn't bare it if the other innocent people who lives there were hurt because of me." Ruby shrugs. "So we bought a house. I know, how domestic of me. But so far I really like it." Jane's face grows angry and she says, "I'll kill him!" Ruby states, "Whoa, whoa... calm down. I am guessing you think it was your old boss? That particular incident was not, but rather a member of the Cowboy Gang who has since departed this world. Although..." Ruby taps her lips, "That jerk, and I am so glad you got away from him sweetie, did try to burn the Lucky Lady once, and it was full! We caught his lackey, knocked him out and left him in a pigpen." Ruby giggles, "That part was funny anyway. And then once he shot at Jake and me too but I bet you already heard that story. We're biding our time with that man." Jane says, "Ruby...please...never underestimate Evan Adair. He has promised to kill you and he's not likely to change his mind. Probably the only thing that's kept him from it is that Deputy living upstairs at the Lady." Ruby sighs again, this time unhappily. "I hadn't thought about this in a while, we've been so busy. And to think about it on vacation..." She shakes her head. "I don't know what we can do about it. Jake and I were working on something but... Have any ideas?" she asks sheepishly. Jane says, "Yes, let me talk to Red about it. There might be ways to better increase the security around the Lady." "I would appreciate that Jane. Sometimes I feel like I'm so alone and everyone is out to get me, all this revenge crap all the time." Ruby pulls her hair off her face and forces a smile, which momentarily turns genuine. "Enough if this nonsense, should we prepare for our evening under the stars?" "Oh yes, follow me upstairs."</blockquote>

Verification