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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 2830460" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter Thirty, “The Indian Prisoners”, Saturday May 27th, 1882, 2:00 P.M.Minerva spends the morning in her back yard practicing with her whip. It is a good exercise to relieve the anger and frustration that she is feeling about the views of certain town folk. After a light lunch she heads back to the schoolhouse to listen in on the lecture.Pickering begins his lecture. He spends the next ninety minutes lecturing about the Arizona night sky of this time of year, using the slate chalk board to illustrate the various star constellations and planets that can be seen first with the naked eye and then adding those that will be visible through the telescopes. The final thirty minutes of the lecture is for questions, with most coming not from his students but instead from Ginnie and Angela.Once the lecture started Kate let go of everything else and enjoyed learning something new. She wasn't surprised with Ginnie's questions, but Mrs. Young did surprise her a bit. As a reporter of course it was her job to ask questions, but she grasped the lecture so well that Kate would have thought she'd had some prior education on the subject. Minerva listens to the Professor as he scientifically explains away the upcoming Solar Eclipse. Although she finds his lecture rather interesting from a secular point of view, she is mostly amused by his neat and tidy explanations. As she walks home in the late afternoon heat, to prepare the evening meal in preparation of Nanuet's return, she can't help wonder what the gods really have up their divine sleeves and if the coming eclipse has anything to do with the current political unrest that is dominating the minds and souls of the inhabitants of Promise City.After the lecture everyone got up and mingled together. Kate smiled at Miss Florencia who has slipped in just before Mr. Pickering began his talk. She turned to Angela and asked, "Will you follow the Professor and his students through their visit?"Angela replies, "I at least plan to interview him for a story. It's not every day that a Harvard Professor and Director comes to Promise City. Oh, on a similar note, please excuse me a minute. I almost forgot the reason I was sent here in the first place." Angela then walks up to the podium and takes out a stack of papers from her satchel and yells out "Promise City Mirror for sale! Tombstone Fire Exclusives! Information on Monday's Meeting! Only a nickel a copy!"  Kate followed and paid the nickel. "Mr. Chumbley knew there would be a gathering here? I swear, his ears must be so sharp he could hear a whisper from a mile away." She let Angela get on with selling her papers and took a quick look through to see what was in this issue, especially about Monday's meeting.Most of the news in the twenty-page Mirror consists of updates on the Tombstone Fire. Angela apparently spent a considerable amount of time at Schieffelin Hall interviewing dozens of townsfolk and the articles are filled with short human interest stories about the fire's impact. There is also a half-page ad from Tombstone Mayor John Carr and Acting Marshall Marshall Williams thanking the town of Promise City for the loan of the Fire Wagon. Regarding the meeting, there is mention of how the Tombstone Fire emphasizes the need for Incorporation, as current Arizona law would require the Arizona Territory to have telegraph lines running to the town by no later than the election day. The article quotes Dave Melany stating that "A telegram now travels faster from Paris, France to Tombstone than from Tombstone to Promise City." Chumbley has a front page editorial about the importance of all races getting the right to vote that continues on into two interior pages. Angela Young has an interior editorial emphasizing her own age and background and stating how the town has many working adults like herself that are younger than eighteen and how that should be taken into consideration when deciding who can vote. The biggest piece is support of allowing all races to vote is a full page editorial sponsored by the "Committee for Racial Equality". All six of the committee members are male human business owners and their names are prominently stated. These men are: Travis Calhoun of the Gunsight Brick Yard , Neil Cassidy of Cassidy Lumber, Rufus Davis of the Arizona Billiard Hall, Roger Fly of Fly's Photo Studio and Boarding House, Niles Hoover of Hoover Liquor and the Lucky Lady Saloon, and Cole Rixton of Rixton's Furniture. The back page of the paper is a full-page ad for the Palace Saloon. It mentions Saturday Night Boxing with a highly-anticipated bout between the favorite Finnegan and Boston Harker, foreman of the Breakheart Stamping Mill and Smelter. The ad also has a pair of coupons for two free drink this evening only, one drink between the hours of 8:00 and 10:00 PM and the other between the 10:00 PM and Midnight.Kate laughed delightedly even as tears filled her eyes when she read the editorial from the "Committee for Racial Equality." She already knew most of those men to be good people, but the pride she felt in them at that moment was almost overwhelming. "It seems we know the first place to go for some help," Kate said to Ginnie, showing her the article. "That is one committee I'm certain I want to be part of. Look Papa," she said louder as she caught her father's eye.   As Conrad came over Kate pointed out the Palace ad and said, "It looks like it'll be a quiet night at the Long Branch and the Lucky Lady. Something is going to have to be done about that soon."Frederick Seagram points out that he will be joining his army friends for dinner so not to expect him. Amelie Seagram suggests that the others dine at the Promise City Hotel, as she has heard good things about Melissa Smith's cooking. Conrad declines, stating that he will have his usual meal at the El Parador, as Dorita's cooking helps to put him in the proper frame of reference for work. Phil offers to join him but Conrad suggest instead that he should eat with his mother and brother.Kate says, "I'll join you there around six o'clock? I'm sorry Phil, I know we'd planned to go to the ranch today, but we'll have to put that off until tomorrow. I was supposed to meet the Caudells earlier and I forgot, I should be here when they return for their things.  You're all welcome to stay here with me, but it's going to be rather quiet so you might prefer to explore the town further instead. I'll have to work tonight, if you'd care to spend some time at the Lucky Lady."Conrad says, "You folks will want to do that. They have a classical pianist perform on most Saturday nights who you will definitely want to hear."  After a short discussion they agreed to meet for dinner, then go over to the Lucky Lady afterward. Friedrich, Amelie, and Phil all headed out to find their own amusement. The room eventually cleared until there was no one left but herself and Henry tiding up. Once that was finished they retired to kitchen for tea and wait for the Caudells to return or for it to be time for dinner. "I'm feeling overwhelmed," Kate said honestly. "There is so much happening it makes my head spin and I can't get a handle on where to begin. But there will be people for me to talk to at the Lady tonight. Perhaps I can find some direction."   "You'll find it, Jacqueline," Henry said quietly. "This is an unusual situation. Back home everything is established and you knew how to move though that quagmire. Here it's all nebulous and unformed, constantly changing around you. That Mrs. King wants to be the Old Guard, the Lady of the town without whose approval nothing can be done. The subtle pressures of society in Boston aren't here yet. A little push here, the pull there that you would have exerted before now won't make a dent. That's what she wants to create. Seems others here don't want that, and neither do you. Be who you are, follow your instincts, and stick to your principles. I can't guarantee you'll win, but even if you don't you'll still be able to respect yourself in the morning." Kate squeezed her brother's hand and smiled. "Life is an adventure," she said, echoing something Ruby had said not so long ago. "Perhaps it's time to take my cue from Phil and just jump in."  The two continued to talk until the Caudell family returned to the house.Across town, Chester arrives at the Sheriff's Office. He knocks on the door. "Sheriff Hunter? It's Deputy Martin. I've got a situation."  Hunter says, "Come on in, Deputy. What can I help you with?"  Chester replies, "I tracked a bunch of livestock thieves to their hideout. My friend and a couple ranch hands have them in custody at a cave. Since the crimes happened outside of town and we captured them outside, I've got no jurisdiction. Can you come out to arrest them?"Hunter replies, "Sure, no problem. We'll have to put them in your jail though instead of mine. I don't have any assistance here at the moment to help guard them and until Wyatt Earp is caught I have a rather full plate. Too much else to do than guard prisoners."Chester replies, "I don't see a problem with that. I'll go clear this with the Marshall first. We'll need a wagon since there are a few prisoners. Can you set that up?" Hunter says, "No problem. See you later."  "Thanks Sheriff." Chester hustles to the Marshall's Office. Berg is behind the desk. "Mitch? Me and Nanuet were looking into some livestock thefts. We got the guys, but they were outside of town. Sheriff Hunter's willing to take them in, but he can't hold them. Is it OK to put them in our hoosegow?"Berg replies, "Sure, there's four of us to help guard them. Who are these thieves? Not Cowboy Gang I hope."  Chester replies, "No, they're Indians. It looks like they're rogues, not a raiding party. But we can figure that out later." Berg agrees and says that he'll round up both Helen and Eduardo while Chester is off with the Deputy Sheriff. As per Renner's suggestion Chester also gets Rudy Baines to ride along with a wagon to pick up the partially smoked meat. Hunter rents a wagon from Drover's Livery to transport the prisoners in. They arrive back at the cave mid-afternoon. Deputy Sheriff Colin Hunter sends both Renner and Flynn back to their respective farm and ranch to get the owners to come back to identify the livestock in the cave. It takes about an hour for Greene and Oldfield to return, where they confirm the calf and chickens are theirs. Both men state that they will press changes and come to town Monday morning for a trial. Oldfield negotiates a price with Baines for the meat and the butcher heads back to town with a full cart load. The farmer and rancher leave with their livestock. Chester, Nanuet ride alongside Colin Hunter as the man brings the five shackled Indians back to town. They are then secured in the two cells inside the Town Jail. With five prisoners the Marshall suggests two guards on duty instead of one. Berg assigns Chester and Helen to guard until supper time. He says that he and Eduardo will take over then and watch until morning, at which time he asks Helen and Chester to return.Once the prisoners are secure Nanuet heads out to find Minerva. He heads to her home and finds her working on the evening meal. His mood lightens a bit once he sees her and he announces his presence with a bear hug and a kiss. "I'm glad to be home Minerva, today was a trying day. How did your day go?" he says as he begins sampling the meal that she is working on.Minerva playful slaps his hand away from the food and at the same time turns into his embrace and wraps her arms around him in return. "You will ruin your appetite, mi amor." she teases and kisses him warmly before he can respond. "I managed to keep myself amused but I missed you." she leans her head back to examine his face. "You DO look like you have had a difficult day. Come and sit. I will rub your shoulders while you tell me what has happened."Nanuet is glad to feel Minerva's caring touch. He laughs at her comments about ruining his appetite. "I think my appetite is incapable of being ruined" he says with a smile as he does as she requests and makes his way over to a comfortable chair. He breaths deeply through his nose letting Minerva rub the stress out of his shoulders. "We went to the ranches early as you know, Chester and I, to investigate the disappearing livestock. I feared it may have been the Apache violating the treaty and feared the worst. We were able to follow some tracks out to a cave, a cave we had visited previously." He stops and reaches back gently pulling her hand from his shoulder to his lips so that he can kiss it lightly before continuing. He turns towards her saying "Remember the Yavapi that we met at the train station before heading out for our training?"   She replies, "Yes Mi Amor, I remember the ruffians, they seemed a troublesome bunch, and your cousin, was he not part of that group?" Nanuet nods and a painful look appears in his eyes. "It was them who were stealing the livestock. The two from that day and my cousin were all there. They were hiding out in the cave and using it as a base for raiding the nearby ranches. We had a gunfight with them and eventually they were all arrested, save one who escaped through a chimney hole in the back of the cave. I arrested my own people today, I had no choice, but I still can't help but feel like I betrayed them."Minerva takes his hands and looks into his eyes to be sure that he understands. "No mi amore, You are not the betrayer! It is those despicable ruffians who have betrayed your people. By denouncing and arresting them, you have sent a clear message to the humans that they are not your people, that your people are good and honest and do not tolerate such savagery. But what of Nakomo? He is but a boy. We should do something to help him. Perhaps I should go to the sheriff and speak on his behalf."Nanuet replies, "Yes, he is just a boy. The sheriff is not the one too decide his fate, I fear. I am not sure what good talking to him will do, but I suppose it might lay the groundwork for future discussions on his behalf. They are being held in the jail here, as there were not enough men to watch them elsewhere. I hope it is not too late for him, that these men have not poisoned him so much that he is beyond redemption."Nanuet replies, “I do not think that he is beyond saving. He was not unkind when he spoke to you in Tempe. I believe he has done their bidding out of fear and a misplaced sense of loyalty. They were not kind to him and treated him little better than a slave. We shall explain this to the sheriff. He may be willing to remand Nakomo to my custody if you are willing to take on such a responsibility. Then we could return him to the tribe.""I am certainly willing to take on that responsibility, he is my family, of which I did not even realize any were left. The elders have kicked them out of the tribe, but I am sure they too do not know the full story, then again, truly neither do we. I would like to try and do something for the young elf and set him on a better path, at least give him a chance."Minerva replies, “Well then , we shall go and speak with the Marshall... but for now it will do him good to sit in a cell and worry about the consequences of what he has allowed himself to be a part of." she places a meal of fresh baked bread and elk stew on the table before him.Nanuet smiles, both at the advice and the food. He eats the hearty meal, deep in thought and not saying another word until he finishes. He thanks Minerva for the meal and asks what her plans are for the rest of the day. "I have to go check on Ruby and Jake's house and then I'll be at the Lucky Lady working, do you have any plans?"Minerva moves around the room clearing the table and tidying up the kitchen. "I think that I will visit the Lucky Lady later this evening.   “Would you like to go and speak to the Marshall before then or would you prefer that I speak to him on your behalf?   I really do not know how he feels about elves in general.  It may be wise to have a word or two with your cousin before hand to see where he stands on the matter? Does he speak English?""I think we should both go now. I will come with you so that my cousin sees me and can get an idea about what is going on. I will allow you to most of the talking with the sheriff if you don't mind. Come, let's go now."   Nanuet cleans his plate and helps with the clean up and then he and Minerva head to where the renegade elves are being held.</blockquote>

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