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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 2884730" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter Forty-two, “Heading Home”, Sunday, May 28th, 1882, 9:00 A.M.Ruby’s bag hits every step as she makes her way back to the dining area and Mr. Gonzales.   She plops sullenly into the chair next to him. "Are you coming back with us?" A waiter comes over with a plate and some coffee but Ruby turns her head and pushes it away. "I'm not hungry."   He replies, "Actually no, in the last two hours I've gone from Europe to Promise City to Tucson. I think I'll stay put for a little while now. I also have some letters to mail for Madge that a fairly local postmark would be helpful to have on them, especially if Wyatt Earp ties to find her. The Tucson Post Office is closed today but I can mail them here first thing tomorrow. By then I'll also have my transportation spell back so I should be back home some time tomorrow morning. Plus there is some shopping that I'd like to do while I'm here.""What were you doing in Europe?" Ruby asks, glad to be distracted. "And what kind of shopping do you have to do here? What's going on with Madge?"   He replies, "Madge is now there, safe and sound. Please do not repeat that, I've gone to quite an effort to get her where Mr. Earp will not find her and it is best if he thinks she is still in the region. The shopping is just for some local items for my workshop, nothing magical, I got those while I was away.""Lucky her," Ruby mutters. "I'm jealous." She pauses, "I won't tell anyone, I don't want her to get hurt. You never know what that Wyatt will do. But we do know he'll be in Promise City, since I invited Josie to help with the stupid play. Another one of my smart decisions," she rolls her eyes. She looks Gonzales in the eyes, "Really though, thank you for coming here. I wasn't sure you would, and I was worried."He replies, "The only thing that could keep me from one of my little birds in need is another little bird needing me more. In this case getting Madge away from Earp's guns was my top priority. And as for the play, I am very much looking forward to seeing you on stage as Juliet. And I have never seen Conrad Booth more excited."Ruby smiles sadly. "Yes, I know he is. And that's a good thing I guess." She pulls some hair off her face and shrugs, "Suddenly not in the mood to do it any more." She attempts to change the subject. "Where will you stay while you are in Tucson? Will you stay here?"He replies, "Here? Most certainly not, I do not follow the gods worshipped here although I do believe in their existence. I may stop by later though to speak to Mr. Van Horne. He spoke briefly of wanting to hire me to assist with some upcoming poker tournament that he is sponsoring. Don't worry, I have friends elsewhere in the city who I can visit with. I haven't seen them since January when I brought Jake here and joined up with Maggie Whipple."  "Oh." Ruby is quiet for a moment. "It's always good to see friends." She then asks, "What does Van Horne want you to do with the poker tournament?"  Gonzales replies, "To make sure there isn't any magical cheating going on I suppose. He's known that I could detect that ever since I caught him doing so himself at the El Parador last November. He and I came to an understanding at that point in time. Interesting that he and Jake are now getting along, I didn't think they liked each other."Ruby doesn't directly answer Gonzales. "Well, all I know is that Jake lost a share of the Lucky Lady to him, so we might be seeing him around Promise City more. Now since my friend Jane hates me I don't know how much we'll be coming back here anyway." Ruby puts her head on Gonzales shoulder. "I just wish I could find a place where there wasn't all these problems."Jake is descending down the staircase when he sees Cornelius Van Horne climbing up them. Van Horne glances at the bags and says in his thick Georgia accent "I see that you're leaving us. Good travels to you Mr. Cooke."  Jake replies, "Thank you. I suspect you have heard of the unfortunate events in Promise City. I am afraid I must attend to them. Wire me and let me know about the tournament. I trust all went to your satisfaction last night?" Jake contemplates saying more, but decides against it.Van Horne replies, "Last night proved to be very profitable for us all. I will keep in touch about the tournament. We'll hold it in a few weeks if I can get a hold of the right people by then."  "Very good sir. Until then. Have a care with your long term investment decisions; make quite certain you have put your resources in a compatible portfolio before making any commitments." Jake nods politely and continues down the stairs. Ruby spends some time in silence with her head on Gonzales shoulder.   Finally she speaks, "What do you think will happen with the election? Do you think there will be more people trying to kill each other?"  He says, "Perhaps, but Judge Isby is in charge and I've never known that man to tolerate any improper behavior from anybody. You should have faith in him to square things away.""You're right. I haven't even thought about him in all this." She lifts up her face and looks at Gonzales. "Did you know I meet him for dinners? He takes me to the Promise City Hotel. Something strange happened with him lately, he says he feels a lot younger all of a sudden. He even looks younger. Maybe he found the fountain of youth. I'd like to know his secret."Gonzales replies, "I think that most of the town knows of your dinners with him. As for getting younger, there are a number of magics that can accomplish that but using those are not without great dangers. I would hope that Isby would be wise enough to avoid those risks."Once downstairs Jake tells Ruby and Gonzalez that he is ready to go. He also makes arrangements with Richard to have the trunk delivered to the train with them.  Gonzales leaves with them, telling Jake he will be staying in Tucson for the day. Richard sends two workers to drive them to the train depot in a carriage owned by the business. It is fortunate that the men are along to help, as Jake and Ruby barely make it to the train before it departs to Tombstone, and would have missed it if Jake had been forced to deal with the trunk by himself.After rushing onto the train Jake and Ruby have to walk through a couple of cars to find a seat. They find an empty row and Ruby plops herself down in the window seat. Her body is turned slightly away from Jake, her gaze set out of the window. She pulls her knees up to her chest and rests her head against the window. She doesn’t speak to Jake the whole ride, but she doesn’t sleep either, she just stares. They arrive in the Tombstone station, or what was the Tombstone station, which is now just a large tent. They get off the train and Ruby stares off into the town as Jake arranges to have their belongings and the trunk delivered to the Wells Fargo Office. The western part of town is in essence gone, completely burnt to the ground. Ruby blinks, not believing what she is seeing until Jake comes up next to her and mutters, “Mierda.” <a href="http://ferncanyonpress.com/tombston/wyatt/fire82.shtml" target="_blank">http://ferncanyonpress.com/tombston/wyatt/fire82.shtml</a> They stand in silence for a while until Jake mentions being hungry. He guides Ruby to Big Nose’s Kate’s. Jake orders lunch for both of them. When it arrives he digs in and she just plays with her food. He gives her a concerned glance but doesn’t say anything to her, finishing his lunch. Finally Ruby speaks, her voice low. “I don’t have anything black. I need to get something to wear.” Jake nods and they head to whatever clothing store they can find standing. Without thought Ruby chooses a black dress, something between appropriate and what she would choose to wear. She also chooses a lacy veil for her hair. She wasn’t exactly sure of the proper etiquette of funerals these days but it was the best she could do. After their two hour layover Jake and Ruby get on the stage. The ride is uneventful, with Ruby again keeping to herself.   After the uncomfortable traveling day they arrive, tired and dirty back in Promise City. Ruby takes her bag and heads right to their house, leaving Jake to deal with the trunk.After Ruby dumps her bag in their room she quickly gathers a simple dress and returns downstairs where Jake has just entered. She doesn't make eye contact with him she just says, "I'm going to take a bath before..." her voice trails off and she doesn't finish her thought. "I'll be back soon." She pushes past Jake and heads to Gilson's.Laurie Gilson greets Ruby and orders Jules Huerta to go and prepare a bath for her. "It is good to see you again, I had heard that you were out of town," Laurie states.  Ruby gives her a small smile. "I was, I just got back. I was attempting to have a relaxing vacation. I suppose I should accept that relaxing isn't a part of my life anymore." She faces Laurie. "How are you doing? I haven't seen you in a while."She says, "I've been seeing a lot of Judge Lacey lately, and since he won't enter a saloon we can't visit with you. That is truly too bad, I know he would love to hear the Barkers play on Saturdays. I understand the promise to his wife, but it was his drinking to excess that she was concerned about, not physically being inside of a building. I wish I could convince him of that. Oh well, at least the Silver Dollar Restaurant will soon be an alternative to go to instead of just the Promise City Hotel. Not that I mind Mrs. Smith's cooking, it is excellent, I would just like some variety for a change.""A man who keeps his promises is rare, Laurie, just remember that." Ruby looks a bit uncomfortable but keeps the smile on her face. "It's probably for the best about not visiting me. I don't think Mr. Lacey would really want to anyway. We had a... ah... not very smooth start to our relationship."   She smiles and says, "Yes, I've heard about that infatuation. But I see that you've now moved on to being with another elderly Judge."Ruby bites back the real remark she wants to make. "Infatuation? He asked ME out. I was trying to be friendly since I know he was lonely."   She has a sharp tone in her voice. "As for Judge Isby, that is my business. Laurie, you know I'm with Jake."  She smiles and says, "Of course I do my dear, Mr. Cook is a wonderful man. I hear that his Silver Mine hasn't been very successful yet but I'm sure that fortune might change.""He doesn't need money for me to love him." Ruby softens a bit before continuing, "I'm sorry Laurie, I'm just feeling very strained right now... and upset. I had a long day traveling and my trip cut short with such bad news...I didn't mean to yell at you. I am very glad you are finding company with Judge. You deserve it."She says, "I understand, I am under a strain myself too. I'm not sure exactly what you heard about what happened last night, but Judge Lacey was a part of it. He and his soldier friends helped to restore order, but that awful Ike Sherman made an implied threat at Judge.  I'm so sorry about poor Mr. Hoover. I will be by this evening for the wake. Judge won't be able to attend due to his promise but he does plan to attend the funeral tomorrow.""What time is the wake, Laurie?"   Laurie says, "I don't know the time for the wake, the newspaper just said tonight at the Lucky Lady. I'm assuming it will be for the entire evening given that Niles was an owner." Ruby pauses. "I didn't hear much. I never got to read the paper, so I don't know the story. What happened, if you don't mind me asking?"  She says, "As for last night, I didn't see it, I just heard the gunshots. Judge Lacey was playing cards with his veteran friends over at the Morand-Seawell Office when an angry mob flowed out of the Palace Saloon and marched to the Marshall's office, demanding that some elf prisoners that Deputy Martin brought in be given to them for hanging. The Marshall and his deputies refused and shooting started. Two of the mob were killed as was poor Mr. Hoover. Marshall Berg almost died too but your friend Nanuet saved him. The veterans then arrived and were able to persuade everybody to stand down."  "Sounds like some crazy things went down. I am glad more people weren't hurt. I haven't seen any of my friends yet, I just wanted to get clean and try to get my mind together. I'm not handling this very well. I've never been good at emotional stuff." Ruby sighs. "I am glad that Judge is ok. Sounds like what he did was very brave." And stupid, she thinks. "If that bath is ready... I need to get to the Lucky Lady."  "Of course," Laurie states. Ruby takes her bath in peace.Ruby tries her best to relax, but this time soaking away her troubles isn't working so well.   After her bath she heads home, where she dresses simply in her new black dress and black lace veil covering her red hair. She ties the familiar black velvet ribbon around her neck. She avoids Jake the best she can.  Ruby and Jake head over to the Lucky Lady.</blockquote>

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