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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 2935249" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter Fifty-one, “More Grandfatherly Advice”, Monday, May 29th, 1882, 6:45 P.M.As Isby's Monday meeting breaks up Jake follows Pierre out.  "Just the man I was looking to see.  Can I follow you back and get my gun?  I find that I miss her since leaving her with you for that long overdue work."  Jake makes small talk until they are alone at his shop.  "I am looking forward to trying her out tomorrow."  He adds with a wink, "I will be impressed right?" "Oh, and did you happen to prepare some of your own special rounds for it?  A man cannot be too prepared."  Jake pays him for his work and wishes him good night.  Jake contemplates heading over to the Lucky Lady to check on Harry, but decides against it.  Instead he just heads back home taking his rest from a turbulent several days.Job shows his cousin Al up to a room. She dumps her pack on the floor and collapses across the bed without even taking off her hat. She's exhausted. But for some reason, unable to just roll over and sleep.  She sits up, takes off her hat and boots, and removes the armor from her sore chest. Then she lies on the bed, thinking for a while. Job sure has gone up in the world. Eventually, she closes her eyes and drifts off to sleep.Over at the El Parador Kate enters the special room and says, "Grandpere?  Are you here?"  Mr. Gonzales comes out of the library. He says, "Ah hello my little sandpiper!  Yes, I am indeed home and I have no plans to go anywhere again else any time soon."  "Good," Kate said and hugged him.  "We have not seen nearly enough of each other lately.  I understand Mrs. Aracadiam was here, so you'll know how the meeting went?"He says "I heard.  I'm still not going to get too optimistic.  If anything this result will probably help rather than hurt the Vigilance Committee's chances to make this a human-only vote."   "I don't like the delay myself.  I'm afraid it's more likely they will be able to change the Merchant's Association's vote than the other way around.  Mrs. Arcadiam's ideas have merit, but with only two days I'm afraid there won't be enough time. I had another run in with some of the Vigilance Committee today," Kate said, explaining what had happened with the school.  "We have a lot of advantages over a school set up in the town hall with no permanent teacher.  Hopefully the parents will see that."   Manuel says, "You worry too much little sandpiper.  Morgana's idea has merit, especially in regards to Cook's General Store and Condon's Bank.    You can't change the entire world, only our own little corner of it.  But don't give up, have faith.   Now, tell me how your family's visit is going.  I am sorry that I haven't had time to spend with them yet.""The way to change the world is one little corner at a time," Kate said simply.   Mr. Gonzales sat down in a chair and Kate took her usual spot on the floor.  "I wish I had more time to spend with them, but it's good that they can experience the town on their own.  Phillip is bouncing from one thing to the next, and he seemed susceptible to the charms of your granddaughter," she laughed.   "Henry's been getting to know Conrad.  Papa has found a group of veterans to spend time with.  He and Maman went to a prayer meeting Judge Lacey's tonight.  He looked so proud at the meeting.  Mrs. Arcadiam suggested a religious argument, so I pulled up what I could remembered and argued that equality follows the gods' example.  His face...."  Kate closed her eyes for a moment.  "He asked me if I wanted to go to the prayer meeting tonight, but my feelings about that haven't really changed."He replies, “"I understand but please be gentle with both of them on that subject.  You've come a long way to seeing eye-to-eye with them and those bridges need to continue to be repaired between now and December.”  She replies, "I'm not sure I understand what you mean.  You're referring to the baby, of course, but they will love him no matter what."   He says, “I'm referring to your relationship with the gods, something near and dear to them.   You have your own relationship with Diana, but it is not one that I think they will ever really understand.   Kate still looked confused.  "I won't make a hypocrite of myself and attend services when I don't feel it's the right thing.  Before or after December.  I know my parents wish it was different, but it's not."  He replies, "That was exactly my point.  They seek to have you believe as they do.  Let me tell you my opinion on religion in this country.   When Congress recorded their census of the United States in 1880 they discovered that there were just over fifty million people.   From that I believe that there are fifty million different views on religion.   Each person has their own; the key is to find the form of worship that best works for you.  Some people see that as organized religion, others do not.  In the case of your parents, you are vastly far apart.  This baby will help to bridge some of that gap, as you and they will both see it for the true gift of the gods that it is."She says, "I hope so.  I truly do.  But I think it's more than just them wanting me to believe the way they do.  When I was a little girl, I loved going to services.  We would go inside and I would feel overwhelmed by light and love.  I asked question after question, and I prayed gladly.  Then those priests tried to take us away from Maman while Papa was serving the Union.  They tried to steal everything I had left because without Papa there they decided any French woman must practice magic.  And even if she didn't, she would fill our minds with heresy.   I was terrified to go to services after that.  And I wasn't going to let them fool me again.  I think, to Maman and Papa, if I were to return to services they would feel I had finally healed that wound.  They see a hurt they can't heal, and like any parent it hurts them too."Manuel Gonzales places his hand around her shoulder and says, "Listen to me sandpiper, your distain for those priests is justified but it is not their religion that you should fight but their prejudices.    The school that you have just started stands in the face of prejudices and it says that all people are equal.   You made the same statement months ago when you chose a high elf, a wood elf and a dwarf to partner with you on your first venture.  And I know for a fact that your parents are proud of you for taking those stands, probably prouder than they have ever been in their lives.   When we visited Boston last month they could have tried to make you stay, and quite frankly, they had every reason to after what Colby Tucker had told them about the problem with the Earps.  For your own safety they could have insisted that you and Ginnie remain in Boston, but they did not.  They do respect you Katherine and in time they will come to respect your own independence when it comes to worship."   Kate nodded and wiped her eyes.   He changes the subject asking, “Now about your school, which day of the week were you planning to make Ranch Day?"  She says, "Ranch Day?  I had hoped to have Professor Pickering give them some basic astronomy lessons, and perhaps to view the eclipse, but otherwise I had not planned to take them to the ranch."He states, "Well the eclipse will be on Thursday and I believe they will be leaving shortly thereafter.   As for 'Ranch Day', that was Sonoma's idea.  She suggested that maybe one day every-other-week you would bring the students out to the ranch to learn other skills such as planting, riding and caring for livestock.  Even if they don't go into those professions they will be interacting with those who do, so the more they know the better they will be able to communicate with others."Kate states, "She didn't mention that on Sunday when we were there, but there was a great deal of ranch business to discuss.  It's a good idea, but I'll have to discuss it with the parents and the other teachers and see what they think.  I would likely make it every other Friday if they agree."After a minute she said, "I should go.  I should have been at the Lucky Lady a while ago.  I actually came up to ask if there was some way to protect the house.  After the mob I'm a little worried.  Something that could warn me, perhaps, if someone tried to get in the house in the night?""I won't.  I plan on telling them tonight that I'm not going to be able to officially work anything but Friday and Saturday anymore.  I'll stop in the other nights but I just have too much going on to do it all.  They're going to have to hire on more people anyway." Kate pushed herself up from the floor and kissed her teacher's cheek.  "Good night.  I'll stop by again tomorrow." She left her teacher's rooms and made her way over to the Lucky Lady.  Job was standing next to a table where young Burt Hoover sat with Miss Florencia and Chester.  "I'm sorry I'm late," she said quietly when she approached them.   Chester replies, "Late? Don't worry about it. I'm just happy you're here. I heard that women have the right to vote. Congratulations."She says, "Thank you, but it's only half the battle.  I talked as fast as I could to get all races the vote.  The Merchant's Association passed it.  We try again Wednesday.     Minerva states, "I am sorry to have missed the meeting, but I was busy outfitting my new ward." "You can be certain that I will speak my mind on Wednesday and every day until then. It will take more than just prayers and talk to get the Vigilance Committee to change their mind. We will have to show them just how poor their 'all human' lives will be if other races are not able to contribute. I have instructed the members of the church NOT to do business with ANY who do not vote for the equality of all races.  Tomorrow when Senor Chumbley publishes the names of those who voted against race inclusion, they will see a sharp drop in their business she says with a sly grin. "If this is to work everyone must participate. Please, spread the word to everyone that you meet."  Chester says, "That halfling's one sharp cookie. There'll be some backlash, but you can't help that. If you go to the meeting, your words will carry a lot of weight."    Kate says, "Mrs. Arcadiam had the same idea.  If you can't convince someone through their conscience, try their wallet."“How are things here?"   Chester replies, "Not much going on. The town was quiet during the meeting. Seems like Harry is starting to cheer up. Getting back on stage is helping. How does the vote for non-humans voting look?"  Kate replies, "It just barely got past the Merchant's.  Surprisingly, it got one vote on the Vigilance Committee.  I don't know, Chester."He says, "If one of the Vigilance Committee folks voted for it, then there's still hope yet. Figure out why the people who voted 'no' voted that way. Then you can gear your argument to those reasons. It'll be best to target the leaders. You change their minds and the followers will fall in behind them."Ginnie appears rag in hand looking for empty glasses and spare change left on the tables. "Ma'am Kate, have you told Burt about my idea or talked to the Barkers? I think that would solve all of the problems that he has right now. What would you think of spending some time with one of the deputy's Burt? Providing they like the idea that is.”Kate says, "I just got here Ginnie, I haven't had the chance to do much of anything." Kate took a step closer to Job as Ginnie talked to Burt and said quietly.  Minerva says, "Buenas Nochas, Ginny!  I was wondering if you had time to come to dinner one night this week. Nanuet's cousin is staying with me for a time and I thought that perhaps the two of you could spend some time together.  I think that you will find him interesting."Chester spots Ginnie. "Evening, Ginnie. How've you been?"   She replies,  "I've been doing ok I'm investigating the acidic properties in some of the flora that surrounds the ranch in hopes that I can intensify it to use it to eat small holes in some of the softer rocks so that mining caps could be placed in select areas without harming the metal veins.  I also have been working on some other components that may come in handy if we ever come up with a situation where a stealth approach to cause paralysis rather than killing someone who is trying to kill us might be useful." Ginnie then looks him right in the eye "I've also been working on trying to turn some lead into gold and if not that then at least turn it into cookies." She says it with a straight face and then turns to Burt and giggles.   Chester gives Ginnie a confused look. He says, "Uh. That's great, Ginnie. I'm sure that, uh, mining for soft lead will make Flint happy."   Kate laughed and said, "You did ask.  "Oh, My!" the Priestess says with a straight face, but unable to hide the twinkle in her eye. "When you figure out how to do that, I would love the recipe! Everyone knows that a good cookie is worth twice it's weight in gold."  Now about dinner. Will you be free anytime this week? "Ginnie gives her a smile. "I should be why do you ask? Hey I think I figured out how to let Burt stay in town in a way his mother would approve but I need some help. What do you think of having him put up with the Barkers? She's a deputy and they have the room. It would be better than the bar and I think Mr. Barker would like the company, he's been kind of lonely with his wife working all the time.”She replies, “I would like you to come to dinner. Nanuet's cousin is staying with me and I think that the two of you will have a lot in common. He is a very bright boy!"  She thinks for a moment. "The Barker's? That is an excellent idea Ginny.  I had not thought of them, but I am sure that Sr. Burt's Madre would approve, the question is, and will the Barker's be willing to take on a ward for the summer? Sr. Barker seems very paternal and I'm sure he would welcome such a fine lad for company.. And he is an excellent cookie maker." she chuckles.   "Burt, what do you think?" would you like me to speak to the Barker's on your behalf? Now, I do not know how they will respond so do not get your hopes too high. If we are going to convince them it will have to be this evening, since you are leaving tomorrow. "Ginnie replies, “Mr. Barker isn't paternal, he's maternal, but that seems to work for them.  I know that Burt doesn't want to go where he's not wanted but if he leaves tomorrow he's going somewhere he's not wanted anyway. And Mr. Barker does make the best cookies in town... except maybe for Dorita and she catches me snitching them all the time it would be nice to have an in with another supplier. I guess I'd like to meet the boy but isn't he in trouble with the law? I don't want to get myself in trouble by hanging around with a problem waiting to happen I do that naturally myself way too often.”Minerva's eyes alight in unpleasant surprise at Ginny's words. "I am surprised to hear you say such a thing. A trouble maker?  No, Nakomo, is not a trouble maker, On the contrary, HE is a hero, Ginny!  You should not be so quick to believe everything that you hear," she chides. "Especially in a town that is biased against elves. You should read the paper. Senor Chumbley has given a more accurate account of the incident's that led up to Nakomo's arrest and his release.  Nakomo is very much like his cousin Nanuet. He has the true Yavapi values running though his veins."Ginnie replies, “It's always useful to see what the reaction of the person who has actually had contact with an individual is when general consensus is otherwise pointed. If I was really worried about trouble makers would I spend as much time as I do doing what I do on my own? I like the idea of meeting new people you never know what they might know about that you don't. That's part of the reason I have my lunch deliveries. I get to see just about every person in this town at some point during the day. It keeps things umm...interesting talking to all of them.”Minerva replies, “"You are a very wiley chika, Ginny. So are you free tomorrow then?  I am going to find Sr. Barker now. Since it was your idea, would you like to come along? Perhaps it would be good if Burt came along also so that I can make introductions."</blockquote>

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