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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 2892146" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter Forty-three, “The Wake”, Sunday, May 28th, 1882, 6:30 P.M. Kate had made her way over to Don and Sandra Wainwright and spoke quietly with both of them as well as the Barkers, then Mr. Lumley and Mr. Shaw. After a little while she sat down at the piano and played. While she obviously didn't play anything cheerful, she tired to avoid anything overly maudlin, eventually letting herself play no particular piece but making soft, soothing music. Ruby and Jake arrive at the Lucky Lady. Ruby cuts through the crowd, heading right over to Harry and Job. She doesn't say anything at first she just hugs them both tightly and cries. Kate left the piano as the saloon got more crowded to meet the newcomers. She was talking with the Caudells when Ruby and Jake entered the saloon. "Would you excuse me, please?" she said and walked over to where Ruby had gone over to Job and Harry. "Ruby," Kate said and hugged her friend. Ruby hugs her back and Kate can feel even though she is crying her body is tense and she is holding herself back. "Kate," Ruby says almost emotionless, "It's good to see you." "You too, honey," Kate said, knowing better than to try to draw Ruby out. Just being here was probably a big step for her friend. "We've missed you." Kate pulled out an extra handkerchief and handed it to Ruby. "Just in case you didn't have one." "I didn't." Ruby takes the hankie and holds it tightly in her hand. "Thanks Kate. I can't say I'm glad to be back." Even though the hankie is in her hand she wipes her eyes with the back of her hand. "What happened here?" she asks softly, "Did everyone go mad?" "That depends on your definition of madness. Just last night I was telling Niles how proud I was of him. He and a few others had put a whole page ad in Chumbley's paper as the Committee for Racial Equality. Pierre Jaquet came in a bit after ten for Chester and Mrs. Barker, saying there was trouble at the jail. Chester and Nanuet had brought in some rustlers earlier yesterday; they happened to be elves. A mob had come from the Palace, demanding the elves be given to them to hang, right there and then. Marshall Berg refused. When Chester and Mrs. Barker went to help, Niles, Mr. Calhoun, and Mr. Cassidy went as well. Considering the ad they'd placed, they wanted to back up their words with action. Chester deputized them right then and they all went over. I got my bag of bandages and my brother Henry and I went to the corner near the Comique. My father was with some other Army veterans, and they armed themselves to support the Marshalls. Berg gave the crowd a chance to disperse peacefully, and when they didn't the lawmen fired. They only shot to disarm but the mob shot to kill. I was too far away at that point, once the smoke got thick I couldn't see much. I understand the man who shot Niles was killed himself. The shooting stopped once the veterans arrived to back up the law. Nanuet, Miss Florencia and I helped with treating the wounded along with Doctor Eaton and Mr. Valdez. Adair and Ike Sherman were big in that crowd, making a lot of noise. Adair and Bob Scull were both shot, which is some comfort," she finished. "Is it really Kate?" Ruby says as she glances around the room. "I don't think there is comfort to be had. Nothing is going to bring him back." Ruby looks at Kate, "And you were all crazy enough to somehow be involved in this. I told you before I left nothing good was going to come of this election." Ruby sighs. "I am glad you are ok." Kate says, "It's only comfort that they didn't come unscathed out of what they started. I stayed far enough away to avoid being hurt, much as I itched to do something." Kate turned to Helen Barker as she and Ruby talked. They are interrupted by Helen Barker who says that she has to leave, that she is on duty soon with Eduardo. She adds, "The other lawmen are all planning to come by this evening. Please watch what you say to Mitch, he's taking this really hard." Ruby wipes her eyes again. "Thank you for coming Helen. We all appreciate it." She pauses. "What should we not say to Marshall Berg?" She replies, "He's blaming himself for what happened last night. It wasn't like he really had any choice. That drunkened up mob wanted to string up every elf at the jail, including Eduardo. If they'd been allowed to do that I'm sure that Cornflower Peck and your friend Nanuet would have been next for their lynching party. But Mitch is thinking of resigning, which is not what this town needs at the moment. Things are tense enough what with Adair's gambler Nick Karp getting killed, my fault I'm afraid. We've been ordered to stay clear of the Palace tonight so as to not enflame things further. Judge Isby asked Sheriff Hunter to keep an eye on that gathering and he sent his man Tomlinson over there too." "Poor Mr. Berg. I hope he doesn't resign or things will get really messy." Ruby pauses and pulls some hair off her face. "Helen, do you know where Judge Isby is now?" Helen says, "Probably at the Territorial Office where he stays when he is in town. I imagine that he'll be getting to bed early tonight since he holding court at 8:00 AM tomorrow morning." Kate replies, "I said everything I could think of to Mr. Berg this morning, I just hope he listened. Tomorrow morning will be difficult for him. Thank you too, Mrs. Barker. I know it was your job to be there, but I also know you wouldn't have been anywhere else." "If you spoke with him Kate, I'm sure it did some good. You have that way about you." Ruby pauses again, in thought. "I think I'll try to visit with the Judge and see what he thinks of what happened." And get away from here... "Besides, I'm not very good at all this," she waves her arm around. Ruby again bid Helen good bye then excuses herself. She spends some time wandering around, greeting everyone who stops by. She keeps herself together the best she can but eventually she succumbs to the sadness of the event and heads out to the porch. The sun was setting and the stars would soon be out, as they always were. She sildes back up on the railing and just tries to breathe. After Ruby left Kate went back to moving around the room and speaking with the other mourners. She stopped by the Seawells to say hello. To Colonel Seawell she said, "Thank you for helping last night. I know you don't need any thanks but knowing people like you are willing to step up makes me feel safer. I'm afraid my father shooting early was my fault. I have seen magic used when helping Deputy Martin track down Johnny Ringo and told him about it. He saw one of the men acting like he was using magic and time seems to be important in stopping that." Chester and Clarisse arrive at the Lucky Lady. Ruby is out on the porch. "Hey there. How was Tucson? You missed one hell of a fire in Tombstone." Ruby hops off the railing and hugs Chester tightly and overlong. Finally she says, "For a moment, we thought it was you." She continues to hug him before she pulls back and wipes her eyes. "Hello Clarisse. Thanks for coming." Chester pats her awkwardly on her back. "It's OK. It's OK. I'm safe and sound. Niles gave as good as he got." Clarisse answers Ruby, "Good evening, Miss West. I wish it was a happier time. Mr. Hoover had been nice to me since I started singing here." "I know Clarisse." Ruby slides back on the railing. "Tuscon was ok. The fire and then this sorta ruined the trip, for me anyway. I am so glad you are ok though Chester. What would we do without you?" She gives him a weak smile. Chester smiles warmly. "I'd say 'Get into trouble,' but we do that even with me here. I plan on sticking around for a long time." He pauses and takes a deep breath. "It's my fault Niles got killed. He volunteered to come with me to the office. I should have told them to stay behind. But I deputized them instead." "Chester!" Ruby begins sternly, "It is ABSOLUTELY not your fault, and I wasn't even here! You didn't force Niles to come with you. And you didn't make that crazy mob want to string up Indians. Kate said he was standing up for what he believed in. I don't believe for one second that you're to blame. Clarisse, will you talk some sense into Mr. Martin please?" Ruby shakes her head at him. She replies, "Believe me, I've tried. But he takes everything so personally. Don't you dear?" "Guilty as charged. Let's go in and pay our respects." Ruby smiles at them as they walk inside the Lucky Lady. She truly was glad that Chester was ok. Jake just wanders around the Lucky Lady, speaking with those that look like they need to talk, adding good words towards Niles Hoover whenever he can. It was easy, Jake liked Niles and respected him. Jake does not make any statements affirming that he died for a good cause, he just stays away from that topic. Jake keeps an eye on Ruby but gives her space, deciding that he cannot bear this burden for her. Finally, when Harry is between those giving condolences Jake approaches him and offers his hand. "I counted him as one of my friends. He was a good man, Promise City loses much without him." After speaking with Chester and finding him alright, Ruby quietly leaves the somber Lucky Lady and heads to the Territorial Building. She knocks quietly but persistently on the door. "Judge?" she calls out softly. He answers the door. "Hello Ruby, what brings you here at this time of the evening?" "Well, I was just at the... the... I thought I would come and see you." She wipes her eyes. "Can I come in?" "Certainly, certainly, do come in." She enters and he shuts the door. "How can I help you?" he asks. Ruby comes into the room. It looked so different than when she had first been summoned here. She wanders around the room, letting her fingers run across furniture. Finally she turns back to the Judge. "I don't know if you know, I was away, in Tucson, when this all happened. I mean, last night I wasn't here." She is silent. "Things got so... out of control... and Niles..." she shakes her head and sniffles. "I mean... I'm so nervous that the situation will get worse. And I will lose someone else I love and care for. Someone I trust very much said I should trust you to fix things around here." She stops fidgeting and looks up at Isby with wide eyes. "Do you think you can?" He replies, "I am going to do my best. I will be holding court tomorrow morning and addressing all of the issue from yesterday. And then tomorrow night I will facilitate the meeting regarding the election. Hopefully by this time tomorrow things will have stabilized." Ruby looks away and replies softly, "And if they don't?" Isby says, "We'll have to wait and see, but relax Ruby Dear, first things first. By tomorrow the two instigators from yesterday should both be behind bars. That alone should deter others from doing the same." Ruby breathes in deeply. "Don't get me wrong, I know if anyone can deal with things you can. I'm just... upset...about Niles. And scared too. I don't like admitting that." Ruby shrugs. "Who are you going to put in jail?" He replies, "Well, actually it is too premature to say. Marshall Berg said he will be bringing charges against the two instigators of the riot, I can only guess who they are based upon the article in the Promise City Mirror. We will have to wait until the trial to see what evidence the Marshall presents. But even if it is weak I plan to follow through with jail time for those who he names, even if my ruling is later overturned on appeal. Ruby nods. "You are very wise. And also very brave." She glances at him with a look of admiration on her face before looking away. She slides herself back onto a table. "What do YOU think about all this voting stuff? I mean, do you think that woman and non-humans should be able to vote?" He replies, "That is not for me to say. I am not a citizen of this town, nor should the voting be in any way biased by my own personal beliefs and opinions. I plan to see that the issues are openly discussed and that those decisions are decided fairly. What the town decides to ultimately do is up to the town. But I will say that I strongly favor the Incorporation of Promise City. It will give the local law enforcement officers more authority and the town council will be able to make laws to deal with situations unique to this town. Having telegraph lines running to here will also make my job much easier." She says, "Oh, I know you won't be biased. I was only asking about your personal feelings on the matter. I don't care either way, I have to be honest, I hate politics. No matter how you try, things never seem to turn out fair." Isby replies, "I am not a politician, I am a Judge. I try to be fair. I was appointed by politicians but as long as I continue to live and rule based upon my own moral convictions then I do not fear any politician seeking to take the job from me. Of course, it doesn't hurt my standing that I also provide a significant amount of revenue to the Territorial coffers due to the fines associated with my rather strict rulings." She says, "Don't take that the wrong way, I didn't mean you. No, not at all. I haven't really told many people this but my family, well, my father, is in politics. Or at least he was anyway the last I heard. I've seen some things..." Ruby slides off the table. "Thanks for seeing me Judge. I know you are busy and want to rest for tomorrow, early day and all. I do feel better having spoken with you. I only hope things don't get worse before they get better." Ruby walks closer to the Judge and a small smile comes to Ruby's face. "You are pretty strict in the courtroom. But I'm glad I got to see the other side of you." He smiles and says, "When all this is finished I hope that you will see some other aspects of my personality as well. But not now, Mr. Hoover after all was your business partner and I wouldn't want people to accuse you of influencing my rulings. Good night Ruby." "I wouldn't want people thinking that either. You've worked very hard for your reputation." She cocks her head and stares at him for a moment. He was just about as opposite from Jake as one could get and it made her want to giggle. "I do need to get back. Good luck tomorrow." Ruby kisses his cheek then heads out the door. She walks slowly on her return to the Lucky Lady. She breathes in deeply before heading back in the door. She looks around for Jake and when she finally finds him she softly wraps an arm around his waist and snuggles into his shoulder.</blockquote>

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