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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 2911795" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter Forty-six, “Nile’s Funeral and Will”, Monday, May 29th, 1882, 8:45 A.M. Nanuet listens to the trial and the fate of his former fellow tribe members. Although his head tells him that they have to be dealt with it pains his heart to hear that they will be put to death. He walks, his head down and shoulders slumped back to the Lucky Lady to see if there is work for him to do. Work that would keep his mind busy. Minerva watches Nanuet leaves. Knowing that he must be having mixed emotions about what has transpired she lets him go allowing him the time he needs to work through his feelings. She motions for Nakomo to wait for her and walks over to the Judge.” If it would please the court, Your Honor, I am willing to take responsibility for Nakomo while he carries out his community service. "I shall return home now to thank the goddess for your wisdom in this matter." She turns to Nakomo. "Come with me. I do not think that it is safe for you to walk alone yet." Nakomo follows the Priestess back to her house. He says, "Where will I live? The Marshall had asked you to watch me until the trial, but I should no be intruding any longer in your home." Nonsense, Nakomo. You are not an intrusion, you are a gift from the gods, and if they have chosen to set us upon the same path that we may traverse it together for a while, than I am quite content to enjoy your company while we do so." She smiles and places her arm through his. "Come now, let us go home and get a bite to eat before the funeral. I fine man has entered the house of Olympus today. We must bury his remains with honor. And this evening we shall celebrate your homecoming and introduce you to our friends. Would you like that? There is a little girl by the name of Ginny who I think will be quite fascinated by you. She is a bit younger than you but she has lived a rather unusual life also and, like you are wise beyond her years. I think you will find much comfort and camaraderie in one another’s company." The two enter the house and have a quick snack, before Minerva dresses in her Priestly robes and meets Nanuet at the saloon. A few blocks east Ruby wakes and stretches, rubbing her now sore neck. The puppies were curled up, Lucky squeezed next to her legs on the couch and Mischief on the floor. They both had grown much since Ruby had found them starved on the back steps of the Lucky Lady. They both had grown strong, they had beautiful shiny coats and were good natured dogs, no doubt in part from Nanuet’s training. Ruby pets both of them for a while before getting off the couch and going back upstairs. She dresses slowly, almost as if she is stalling. When it looks like Jake is ready to go she turns to face him, leaning herself up against the dresser. Her eyes red and puffy from crying she says, “Jake, I don’t think I can do this anymore.” He replies, "This? What do you mean?" She states, "I just mean this," she waves her arm around. Finally she adds flatly, "I mean the funeral. You should go without me." Jake just stares at her for a minute. Finally he says, "Alright, if that is your wish. I will see you when it is finished." With that Jake heads out. "Wait!" Ruby hurries over to him. "Just wait a moment." Ruby looks at him pleadingly. "Tell me you love me and kiss me before you leave. Please Jake." "What is eating you woman? Of course I love you." He kisses her. "Everything is going to work out. You will see." Ruby's eyes well up with tears but she smiles heartedly anyway. "I love you too Jake, I really do. I hope everything works out the way it should." She puts her hands on his face and kisses him again, long and soft. Confused, Jake assures her again that they will make it all work out before going out. Ruby stands, like a statue except for the tears, in the spot Jake left her for many moments. Finally she returns upstairs. She sits at the desk, trying to write through her tears, going through page after page of paper. When she is done she seals the envelope and leaves it on Jake's pillow. Working quickly but numbly she takes her still unpacked bag from the Tucson trip and places it on the bed. She takes out her green dress, leaving it spread on the bed. She puts in some clean clothes and various other small items before closing up the bag. She doesn't let herself look at their home, their belongings, even the puppies only get a brief glance before she takes the bag and hurries to the stage coach office. Wells Fargo manager Kris Wagner explains to Ruby that the stagecoach to Tombstone has already left, that Judge Isby needed it to be sent on a special run. He says that they won't have another one until Tuesday, but that he believes the Morand Cartage stagecoach to Willcox will be leaving in about an hour if she wants to take that one out, that a train runs between Willcox and Tucson, and she could then catch another train from Tucson to Tombstone if that is her final destination. Ruby wipes her eyes and nods, thanking Mr. Wagner. She heads over to the Morand Cartage office and inquires about a ticket to Wilcox. Zack Morand greets her and says, "It will be leaving in around an hour. It's a relatively short ride to Willcox, around two-and-a-quarter hours with a stop along the way in Dos Cabezas. The fare is $ 2.00 one-way or $ 3.00 for a round trip ticket." Ruby hands him $2.00. "Is there somewhere to wait?" she sniffles. He brings her into his office. It has a desk and a couple of chairs. He asks, "Would you like something to eat while you wait? I could head across the street to the Double Eagle and get you something." Ruby shakes her head no as she sits on the edge of a chair. Even though she hadn't eaten in a whole day her stomach felt ill. "No thank you Mr. Morand. I'm just going to wait here. I won't be much trouble." It is a little after 10:00 A.M. when the carriage arrives. It is the same one that Ruby has ridden on twice before including the one time that it was a runaway coach barreling down a mountain without any horses pulling it. On that occasion Ruby and Ruby alone saved the lives of herself, Jake and a dwarven miner named Torvald MacNaulty. She boards the stage, seeing that it has been refurbished since she was last on it. Also boarding with her are two male wood elves who are the human equivalent of around twenty and an older human woman with gray hear who is wearing a calico dress. Ruby sighs as she takes a seat near the window. Her eyes are drawn to the floor and the panel the dwarf had ripped off so she could climb through and hang underneath an out of control stage. She actually smiles as she recalls the memory. For a moment the thought crosses her mind 'I should have died that day'. As she sits and waits for the stage to leave she ponders why she didn't die that day. The old Ruby would have never been having these kinds of thoughts and emotions and the truth was, she just had no way to handle them, no where to put them or work through them. She was like a little lost child, unable to even accept nonetheless handle the realities of being lost. Even though Jake tried to help, she felt like a burden to him, always having to console her, help her work through her deficiencies, and chase after her. And she had promised him she would never leave and here she was sitting on the coach trying not to look back. She couldn't keep doing this to herself and to him. It was unfair to both of them. She loses track of time as she stares off at the floor, lost in her thoughts. She is jolted into awareness as the horses are being hitched to the stage. She takes a final glance out the window, at Promise City, Arizona. It felt like a part of her would always remain no matter where she went. The dirt kicked up as the coach rode off. Ruby stood in the street, coughing and waving her hand in front of her face, trying to clear the cloud of dust so she could breathe. She watched the coach leave and her chance at escaping was gone. Instead she didn't really see it as her chance at escape, but the decision she would have regretted the rest of her life. She hurries home and throws her bag in the closet. She tears up the note on Jake's pillow. At a quarter until noon she dresses in her lavender evening gown, Niles favorite, and finds her way to the funeral. By the time she arrives the ceremony is almost over. She finds Jake and squeezes her way next to him, wraps her arms around him and buries her face in his shoulder as she cries, although not for the reason he thinks. At noon the mourners all gather at Lester's Funeral Parlor. It appears that nearly one-hundred people have turned out to pay their final respects for Niles Hoover. The casket is closed and the same photograph that had been displayed at the wake is atop it. Harry Rote delivers the eulogy, talking about his long friendship with Niles and of all the bad investments they made over the years. He says that despite their poor judgment in financial matters that Niles had an uncanny knack for making friends and acquaintances. He says that "All of our lives will be richer for having known you." A few other people get up to speak. George Kilgore says, "Most of you don't know me, but I have been a family friend of the Hoover family for over ten years now. I originally met them through Niles' brother Jesse, who past on two years ago. They were a good family, traditional Iowa farmers whose lives centered on bringing in the next crop of corn and beans. Niles wanted to do more than that, and he did. He was a good man and I will miss him." The pallbearers consist of Harry Rote, Marshall Berg, Neil Cassidy, Chester Martin, Travis Calhoun, and George Kilgore. They carry him to the hearse wagon which then brings the casket the two blocks to the cemetery. The pallbearers carry the casket up and lay it onto the ropes which lower it to the ground. Priestess Minerva Florencia is then asked to come forward to say the final words. When Minerva begins to speak, Chester removes his hat and lowers his head. A large crowd has gathered at the cemetery. It would seem that the whole town, minus those who are the cause of Sr. Hoover's death have turned out. Minerva looks about and notices Jake standing with Chester. Ruby is conspicuously absent and although she is concerned, it does not surprise her that Ruby would avoid such a sad event. When all is in readiness, Minerva steps forward and sprinkles oil upon the lid and recites: "We are gathered here on this solemn day to celebrate the life of Niall Hoover. He was a brave man and righteous man, who did not fear to stand against evil. He was a true friend to those who where blessed to know him, We are here, not only to lay his body to rest, not only to celebrate the life that he shared with us when he walked upon this earth, but also his new life. It is a sad time for us, there is no denying it. The gods gain is our loss and Niall Hoover will be sorely missed. But let us take comfort in the knowledge that at the moment of death, Niall Hoover obtained a higher level of consciousness. He has met Charon, crossed the lake and passed through the underworld to reside in Elysium, the wondrous realm located at the western end of the earth, which is inhabited by those who have lived an exemplary life in the favor of Zeus. Those who reach this heaven are shown sample lives and returned to the earth… born to a new life of their choosing. Minerva holds up her arms to the heavens and says in a clear voice. " I say to you, do not mourn! For although we do not recognize him, Niall Hoover is alive and well, for he was a good man." The priestess places a crown of celery on the head of the casket and snipping off a lock of her own hair places it on the casket alongside the crown. Once the ceremony is complete the entire group begins to sing and move around the casket in a pattern resembling a dance. The funeral ends. Several people thank the Priestess for her words. Minerva and Nanuet walk back home. "I have told the Judge that I would like Nakomo to live with me at least until he has finished his community service. I considered telling him that you would also be his guardian, but given the current political climate I thought it unwise to mention that we are living as one, since we are not married in the eyes of the law. I am not ashamed but I did not want to put the boy in harms way. I hope I have not offended you, mi Amore. You know how I feel about you and that it does not matter to me what others think." She says, "I told Nakomo that we would take him on the town tonight and introduce him to our friends. The more people he has looking out for him the safer he will be." "No Minerva, I am not angry. I know what we share and that is all I need. I don't understand the ways of politics and civilization and I trust you have our best interests in mind. I am pleased that you are willing to take Nakomo into our care. I hope that he agrees to stay with us, it will be nice to have the young elf around. I agree that Nakomo could do with a few more allies, so your idea has merit, let's introduce him to everyone tonight." Nanuet stops Minerva in mid-stride and explains that he is needed at the Lucky Lady for the reading of the will. Minerva heads home after Nanuet leaves for the reading of the will. "Buenas Dias" Nakomo. I am going to change out of these robes and then we will see about getting you a bath and some clean clothes, and while we are out perhaps we can find a way to decorate your room more to your liking. I know that it is a bit frilly and since it is to be your room you it should reflect who you are. Did you have any belongings with you?" He replies, "I had a few things in a bag but I gave them all to the Marshall. The Judge's ruling were that the possessions of all five Indians were to be sold for restitution, which included me. That's okay, it wasn't anything special." "Possessions can be replaced. Let us go and see what can be done." She takes him to Judge Lacey's store to see about new clothing. The mourners that work at the Lucky Lady return to there along with Mr. Kilgore, young Bert and a few close friends. They are soon joined by Attorney Mitchell Berg who is accompanied by Clay and Hannah Milford of the Double Eagle Boarding House. Nanuet heads back there and sits quietly in the back not understanding what exactly going on. The doors are then locked so that they will not be interrupted for the reading of Niles Hoover's will. Jake settles in quietly and waits for Berg to begin. Ruby gets them each a big glass of bourbon and sits quietly next to Jake, sipping and waiting. Kate hadn't been aware there was to be a reading of the will, so she followed the others to the Lucky Lady, surprised that her presence would even be required. She sat down between Chester and Job Kane and waited. Berg has with him a leather satchel from which he removes a paper. He begins reading “Last Will and Testament of Niles Hoover. Being of sound mind and body I wish to bequeath to my loved ones and associates my worldly possessions to be distributed under the direct supervision of my executor, Attorney Mitchell Berg.” “To Harry Rote, my long-time friend and junior partner of my primary business by the name of Hoover’s Liquors, I leave my 80% share of the business now making the liquor distribution business entirely yours. To my eleven business associates and employees of the Lucky Lady Dance Hall and Saloon, specifically Jake Cook, Maria Fuente, Katherine Kale, Job Kane, Tony Lucky, Chester Martin, Jeff Mills, Nanuet, Thom, Clarisee Townsend and Ruby West I leave my hopes and dreams. I presently have outstanding investments ranging from twenty-percent to eighty-percent of seven different mining properties within Eastern Cochice County which Attorney Berg has combined into the Hoover Mining Trust and of which I new leave each of you a nine-percent share. Nanuet has a puzzled look on his face when his name is mentioned. To Clay and Hanna Milford, who provided me with a roof over my head during my first year in Promise City I leave all of the possessions within my room at the Lucky Lady. The furnishings should be of use to you for your boarding house and I believe that Clay and I are of comparable size in regards to my clothing. Lastly, to my nephew Burt, I leave the only investment that I have ever made that has proven to be profitable, namely my twenty-five percent interest in the Lucky Lady Dance Hall and Saloon. You have always shown great potential and so Attorney Berg will see to it that you receive a fair and reasonable price should you decide to sell, with the majority of the proceeds invested to provide for your college education.” Berg folds up the paper and says, “So ends the reading of the will." Jake laughs inwardly despite the somber occasion. My uncle never left me a share in a saloon, and I was eminently qualified to have one. Jake forces himself to not smirk. He was sad over the death of his friend Niles Hoover, and surprised that he was included in the man's will. Chester looks up in surprise at being named in the will. "A nine-percent stake? I had no idea he had so many interests." Harry says, "He called it a whole lot of nothing. He and I both had a soft spot for prospectors who needed a grubstake to get started. So far none of those mines have done anything. The one that Attorney Berg referenced Niles owning 80% of was because he bought out the prospectors after it went bust to give them enough money to move on and make a fresh start elsewhere. I'm just as much of a sucker, I own the other 20% of that one." Chester replies, "Well, you never know when one will pay out. How's Thom working out? He seems to know the business well enough." Harry says, "That he does, which is good. Job seems to be in a bit over his head with this management stuff." Chester scratches his chin. "Ruby and Jake aren't much for the details, I gather." Harry says, "You figure right, Chester." "You should get a manager. I'm sure Jake and Ruby would want that." Berg looks to the youngster and says, "I have the paperwork here for you to sign Burt, to transfer your Uncle’s ownership of this building to you.” He gets them out of the satchel. The boy takes the papers and on the appropriate lines signs his full legal name of Herbert Clark Hoover. "Well Burt," Ruby says, pushing hair our of her eyes, "Looks like you can stay here as long as you'd like." She tries to give the boy a reassuring smile. "Yes Ma'am," he states. She turns to Harry. "I think you'll do a fine job as Promise City's new liquor distributor. I hope you'll agree to stay here in the Lucky Lady." "Works for me," he states. He adds, "But you might want to think about hiring on another bartender or bouncer since that business will keep me mighty busy and with Jeff also now focused on being the town's Fire Marshall." Ruby sighs. "I don't think now is the time to be making the business decisions but yes, you are right. We need someone else to help, maybe more than one person. Niles ran the Lucky Lady besides running the liquor operation. And with us opening as a hotel we also need someone who can help run that. We partners have a lot of decisions to make." She glances quickly at Burt and almost laughs. "Maybe tomorrow we can discuss it. Job, will you be here?" Job says, "Yes I will. Now that there's a daily stagecoach to and from Willcox I think that I may have finally convinced my Bernice to actually come here for a visit instead of my having to go there." "So we finally get to meet the mystery woman! How exciting," Ruby smiles. "So then is tomorrow ok for you to go over business? Today just doesn't seem right." Job says, "Yes, that's fine. I figure that I'll spend tonight managing the place instead of dealing. Monday's are slow nights anyway and between Nile's funeral and the Incorporation meeting I doubt that most of my Monday regulars will be in much of a mood to play anyway." Ruby nods, "Yes you are right." She pauses. "But then again, people may need friends and drinks, so who knows. Tomorrow we will figure out what to do." "Is the meeting soon?" He replies, "Yes, in around two hours." Ruby nods. "Time to get some food and rest. I'll see you later." She returns to Jake's side, sticking close by him. Kate moved around the room, saying goodbye to everyone with the notable exception of Tony Lucky. Ruby and Jake were last. There wasn't much to say, so she simply hugged them both. "It's been an eventful day. I have some things to tell you about later, but now I have to get back to the school. I'll see you later." "Good luck Kate. Try to enjoy your first day." Ruby squeezes her back but still seems far away. Nanuet approaches Jake once things start to settle down and asks "So am I to understand that Mister Hoover has left something of value to me? I am not certain what has taken place here." "Niles has indeed left you something, but whether it has any value besides his good wishes remains to be seen." Jake shakes Nanuet's hand, "You are now the proud owner of shares in some mining claims that have yet to produce any ore. They perhaps never will. Who can say? Do you know what a mine is?" Before the Indian can respond Jake says, "It is a hole in the ground owned by a liar." Laughing Jake adds, "At least some folks think that way. Others believe they will strike it rich beyond their wildest imaginations. I personally do not believe that. Never underestimate my imagination."</blockquote>

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